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  192.Apofasi - novel global events pattern detection engine

  Karthi Balasundaram

  Since the beginning of mankind, global occurrences were found to be directly impacted by the emotions of a common man. However people became aware via newspapers and televisions only after the event had occurred. As technology became instant, faster, and handy, it started impacting the occurrences directly as the tweets/posts posted in the Social media platforms; such as twitter directly initiates conversations about earth shattering events. One such event taken as an experiment is the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine. Language barrier is a real life challenge and it indirectly impacts the events because of misunderstandings. In this work, a dataset of 10014 tweets posted in 40 different languages from Feb, 21 2022 till Mar, 17 2022 are collected and an attempt to categorize those tweets into positive, negative and neutral sentiments are performed. Upon inferring the pattern using event extraction and sentiment analysis techniques that lie as a branch of natural language processing, it is astounding to note meaningful information. Also, impressive data are collected directly from a community in Africa called “Masakhane” and have been successful in analyzing the sentiments for swahili language. Between the two experiments made using ‘192.Apofasi’ - the engine based out of NLP with nltk python library, found a sentimental correlation exists between the war and the tweets. The real challenge is in gathering and preprocessing the dataset to make it a machine understandable model. As a result, 5094 neutral, 2788 positive and 2132 negative tweets are obtained. It is therefore a strong evidence that by developing and deploying a machine learning model into handheld devices, every human being will be able to understand the patterns of the current events irrespective of the language thereby opening numerous opportunities for its betterment. Keywords : Natural Language Processing, Event extraction, Sentimental analysis, Emotive tweets, Russia, Ukraine

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  3D Printing with Recycled Plastics: Opportunities and Challenges

  Peter Anthony Fabe

  Plastic waste is a significant global health and environmental issue. Inefficiencies and lack of regulated disposal have made waste plastics commonplace in every corner of planet Earth. But what if we could turn waste plastics into any object we want? 3D printing technologies utilize the same base plastics that are readily disposed of in single use plastic applications and can make custom product designs that drive innovative and sustainable solutions. However, there are many barriers that need to be overcome in the path of creating circular economies around plastic waste and 3D printing. This presentation will identify explored mechanisms and methodologies for transforming and using plastic waste in 3D printing applications, important factors in retaining performance and mechanical properties of plastics over repeated use, and infrastructural systems that need to be established to form a truly circular economy around 3D printing and plastic waste.

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  41 Years of Historical Canopy Gap Dynamics in Hueston Woods Old-Growth Preserve

  Grace Katherine Attea

  Late-successional forests development takes place on the scale of centuries and, therefore, understanding long-term dynamics requires research techniques that unfold over decades. Species-specific data collection in repeatedly sampled permanent plots provides researchers and land managers with a toolset for understanding how forests shift with global change drivers. In this project I will leverage nearly 30 years of numerical and spatial data of Hueston Woods State Nature Preserve. This site is amongst <1% of land in the eastern United States classified as old-growth, making it a relic of midwestern landscape history. It has been the subject of several studies due to its steady, infrequent natural disturbances, known as gap-phase dynamics. This is a process of tree regeneration that happens when a canopy tree falls, puncturing the overstory with a gap that becomes a center for the establishment of seedlings and the growth of extant trees as they vie for new resources of nutrients and light. Archetypes of late-successional forests are theorized to be structured on gap-phase dynamics, as they create a unique mosaic of young and aged forest patches, emblematic of old-growth. Miami University professor Dr. Vankat established our study site in 1981 and resampled it in 1988, 1994, and 2000, for woody species diameter, height, species ID, and location providing a unique standard for exploring shifts in distribution, canopy gap development, and recruitment. Field maps will be georeferenced and digitized in ArcGIS software. Next, we will estimate canopy gaps by using the buffer tool with diameter-based size-classes in ArcGIS. Gap ingrowth and recruitment will then be quantified to better understand long-term forest turnover. Findings will contribute to ongoing research, provide context to manipulative studies, and lay a baseline for land managers, investors, and research ecologists in creating strategic conservation plans in a time of increasing biological pressures on natural systems.

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  Accepting Privilege: Considerations of a White Music Therapist

  Lauren Elizabeth Drzewiecki

  Music therapy is a growing field in the medical and mental health system. As a white identifying student music therapist, I explore the way I can accept my white privilege and use it for advocacy without taking the space of people of color in the field.

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  Access to Proper Sanitation and Water in Impoverished Communities

  Alexandria E. Battaglia, John Paul A. Yoseph

  The importance of handwashing has recently become a growing topic of interest due to Covid-19, but this has always been an issue in undeveloped countries. Hotels across the world throw out bars of soap which have been seldom used every day. For developing countries, these scraps of soap could mean life or death. According to the World Health Organization, the eighth leading cause of death globally is diarrheal diseases, which occur from disease-ridden water and poor sanitation habits. This problem arises from both lack of potable water and lack of soap. The Borgen Project and the Sundara organization are just two of many organizations that gather used soap and shampoo bottles from hotels then sanitize and redistribute them to developing countries to address the lack of soap (Williams 2020). In addition, in developed countries, homeless and impoverished individuals often lack access to bathrooms and showering facilities which cause an increased risk of disease and illness (Leibler). Catholic Social Services and the Miami Valley Housing Opportunities are organizations located here in the Dayton area that provide these resources to those experiencing homelessness and poverty. This poster explores affected populations in developing countries and homeless populations, possible solutions, and critiques problems found with their proposed solutions. These solutions include increasing access to communal showers and survival kits (including soaps, shampoos, toothpaste, etc.), teaching proper washing techniques, and promoting their services, where these establishments can be found, and how to contact them. These projects would lead to a decrease in illnesses acquired due to living circumstances and would reduce this issue.

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  Activation of hippo pathway enhances Tau mediated neurodegeneration in Alzheimer’s Disease

  Prajakta D. Deshpande, Caitlin R. Masters

  Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), the most common progressive neurodegenerative disorder, marked by memory loss and cognition issues, has no cure till date. AD is caused by extracellular accumulation of amyloid-beta 42 (Aβ42) plaques and intracellular accumulation of neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs). NFTs are formed from the hyperphosphorylated forms of Tau, a microtubule-associated protein (MAP). The biological function of this MAP is determined by its degree of phosphorylation. The dephosphorylated version of Tau is responsible for promoting the assembly of microtubules and maintaining their structure, while hyperphosphorylated Tau becomes toxic and loses its ability to assemble microtubules. Intracellular accumulation of NFTs trigger aberrant signaling resulting in neuronal cell death by unknown mechanism(s). We employed the Gal4/UAS system in Drosophila melanogaster to misexpress human Tau mutant (TauR406W) within the developing fly retina, exhibiting AD-like neuropathology. Using candidate based forward genetic screening, we identified hippo (hpo) as one of the genetic modifiers of GMR>TauR406W reduced eye phenotype. Gain-of-function of hpo in GMR>TauR406W background worsens the neurodegenerative phenotype, whereas the loss-of-function of hpo in the GMR>TauR406W background rescues it. Here, we propose that modulating hippo pathway members will affect Tau mediated neurodegeneration in AD.

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  Advocating for all medical professionals to be trained in geriatric mental health services

  Angela Catherine Galluzzo, Kathryn Mary Pfeiffer

  As HELP volunteers, we have witnessed patients suffering from various mental health issues, including depression, anxiety, or even suicidal thoughts; however, these older patients often do not express these hardships. Various studies have revealed that around 35% of hospitalized elderly patients show depressive symptoms throughout their hospital stay (Koenig et. al). Being able to recognize any signs of struggle allows for the initiation of assistance that patients might need, increasing the quality of their stay and overall quality of life, as supported by a study that found that counseling improved depression scores for depressed hospitalized elders (Mossey, et. al). Backed by this research, it is essential that healthcare professionals receive training, including how to administer a mental health screening tool, that enables them to recognize signs and symptoms of distress, specifically in elderly patients. Currently, many health professional schools, such as medical, PA, and nursing, do not include this type of extensive training on mental health in their curriculum (“Behavioral Health Training for Primary Care Providers”). In this poster, we evaluate the curriculum at the University of Dayton’s PA school and Wright State's Boonshoft School of Medicine to determine what training is included. Then, we determine if this training is incorporated in a hospital setting, specifically in Miami Valley’s HELP program, and we conclude whether there are practical changes to education and implementation that should be made.

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  A Factor-Mimicking Portfolio Weighting Model for the Information Technology Sector: An Empirical Analysis of Information Technology Portfolio Returns (2009-2021)

  Cameron Grant Beachler, Hayden Lee Gray, Kevin McLeeson

  We developed a portfolio weighting model for the information technology sector with consumer spending as the state economic variable and revenue per share as the principal factor loading using the top twenty stocks in the information technology sector as our portfolio. We test the hypothesis that our portfolio weighting model will outperform the market (S&P 500).

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  Ain't no sunshine when they're gone: Pollinators in a solar prairie

  Nicolette A. Engelmeier, Brigid Maeve Morgan

  The solar array at Curran Place in Dayton, Ohio is home to many communities of pollinators and wildlife in the restorative prairie that was planted under the panels in 2019. My research aims to answer the following questions: What is the composition of pollinators using this solar prairie? How are the solar panels affecting the pollinators? Routine maintenance of the solar prairie may also be affecting the pollinator community. The results of my research will be able to show how renewable and sustainable energy resources are impacting the wildlife in the area. So far, it seems like the distribution and abundance of pollinators differ between locations in between rows of solar panels and outside of the panels, but solar panels are not harmful to the pollinators. Instead, the area under the panels went from being unused to a pollinator habitat.

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  Anaerobic propionate exposure and its effect on the virulence and pathogenesis of Listeria monocytogenes Strain 07PF0776

  Allison Elizabeth Herceg

  Listeria monocytogenes is a prevalent food-borne pathogen, and a clear understanding of its pathogenesis can enhance our capability to treat infections. L. monocytogenes is ingested through contaminated foods, enters the intestinal lumen, and is able to spread throughout the rest of the body. While the pathogen spreads to tissues outside of the intestines, it resides in macrophages and travels through the bloodstream. It is currently understood that L. monocytogenes is able to disseminate into heart tissues from the intestines, however this aspect of infection is not clearly understood. A cardiotropic strain of L. monocytogenes, 07PF0776, that can cause life-threatening endocarditis has been isolated and can be used to understand pathogenesis in the heart. Dr. Erica Rinehart from Dr. Sun’s lab previously found that short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) have an effect on the pathogenesis of both strains 10403s (a commonly used laboratory strain) and 07PF0776, but there are distinct differences in bacterial growth and efficiency of infection in these two strains. Therefore, I intend to determine the effects of prior anaerobic exposure of SCFAs, specifically propionate, on strain 07PF0776 by using hemolytic assays to measure the activity of secreted LLO as an indication of bacterial virulence. If propionate treatment results in an increase of LLO production, there would be a higher red blood cell lysis in the mixture. Ultimately, this research will help us better understand the role of propionate and its potential applications in promoting cardiac health.

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  Analysis of “St. Joseph Trusting in Dreams” Using Symbolic Convergence Theory

  Karly Ruzicka, Maeve Madden, Ella Doyle, Grace McGinley

  The statue of Joseph and Jesus represents the stories of the humanity of Joseph and the Divinity of Jesus as told in the bible and throughout generations. Dramatism The symbolism of Jesus stretching his arms represents his future of reaching out to the world and mimics the future of the cross. Dramatization could be represented in this statue by Jesus holding out his hands, which depicts that he is open and there for his people to save them from sin. In addition, the way his hands and arms are positioned foreshadows Jesus hanging on the cross.

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  Analyzing the Intersection Between Race, Gender, Sexual Orientation, and Romantic Relationships on PWIs

  Amira Celeste Fitzpatrick

  The intersection between race and gender is important because it makes romantic experiences unique based on which identities individuals hold and which groups they belong to. Because Black women face racist, sexist, and classist oppression simultaneously, their concerns and needs are distinct from white women and Black men. My research explores the intersection between race, gender, and sexual orientation and its impact on romantic relationships on college campuses. Although there is research surrounding college students’ dating preferences, much of this research neglects the experiences of people of color, particularly Black women. The purpose of this study is to analyze the unique ways Black women experience romance and relationships, and how they are impacted by other identities and college demographics. The participants include undergraduate participants at UD who are over the age of 18 and self-identify as Black, female, and heterosexual. Four separate focus groups, held at the Women's Center, were recorded through a handheld recorder then transcribed via Temi, a speech recognition software. The data were coded using an inductive approach and then assigned different codes to different excerpts. Results explore the ways that female African American college students’ dating and sexual experiences have been impacted in regards to their racial identity.

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  Analyzing the Pros and Cons of Electronic Health Records

  Joshua R. Besl, Lindsey Renee Mayer

  Since the early 1970s electronic health records have been an alternative option to paper documentation. Nowadays, more than 95% of hospitals across the United States use electronic health records (American Hospital Association). Originally, EHRs were intended to improve quality of care through reducing time spent documenting and increasing direct patient time. Additionally, EHRs enable collaborative communication between healthcare professionals. However, studies from the American Journal of Emergency Medicine found that EMR are significantly less accurate compared to paper documentation. Despite their original intentions, EHRs have been correlated with an increased burn-out rate and elevated stress levels. Although EHRs have been known to save space in the office, they also carry the risk of medical records being lost, “Medical records of at least 173 million of people, gathered since Oct 2009, have been breached and might have adversely influenced over half of the population in the USA” (Koczkodaj, et al, 1). The goal of this poster is to demonstrate the pros and cons of both electronic and paper documentation methods.

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  An Exploration of Taxicab Geometry through Conic Sections

  Hayley Elizabeth Carroll

  How do you get from point A to point B? Most would say to draw a straight line from one point to the other, or the distance as the crow flies, which is the Euclidean ideology. However, if you are discussing how to get from point A to point B in New York City, we need to consider the route using roads and walkways which run vertically and horizontally. This idea uses a special kind of geometry called 'Taxicab Geometry'. This project will compare Euclidean and Taxicab geometries, discuss conic sections formed using Taxicab, and provide answers to questions such as where to live so that you have the shortest walking distance to work in your city.

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  Anomaly Analysis in Medical Images

  Kim Anh Phung, Nileshkumar Sadanand Wangad

  Deep learning provides smart alternatives and efficient algorithms on data-driven models for data processing. The approach of learning from medical image data can deliver reliable findings and analysis which in turn can give us more accurate results in less time with low utilization of resources. Through neural network implementation, we can get much better results in classification which other methods fail to replicate. Deep learning based methods have shown to be beneficial in a variety of fields, and its application has aided us to consider the implementation of the COVID-19 epidemic. One challenging task observed is the recognition of COVID-19 symptoms. The most relevant type of detecting the symptoms is from human lung X-ray images without manual intervention. For this purpose, we implemented a novel algorithm to classify the positive epidemic cases from the dataset consisting of human X-rays labeled under covid and non-covid. The dataset is used for training through a series of different deep learning models to extract the feature and classify the images respectively, and then finally feed into a classifier to get the desired output. The training yielded an accuracy of 95% from this approach and can be considered for further implementation on different research topics in the near future.

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  Antibiotics in the Environment: Isolating Antibiotics for Medical Purposes

  David Robert Bowler

  Bacteria isolated from the soil can be indicators of the health of an environment and its residents. Unfortunately, due to the overuse and misuse of antibiotics both in environmental and clinical settings, many strains of pathogenic bacteria have become resistant to common antibiotics making the treatment of infections much more challenging. The urgent need for new strategies at antimicrobial management has led our study to evaluate antimicrobial compounds extracted from soil bacteria. Isolating these antibiotics gives us a pure colony These antibiotics that we can then use for medicinal purposes as well as creating new antibiotics for bacterial diseases. This study started by collecting a soil sample from the side of a student house near the downspout of the gutter. Samples were diluted in water and purified using the streak plate technique. Colonies were tested through a series of biochemical tests such as gram staining and were genetically sequenced to determine the exact identification of the bacteria. Antibiotics contribute to the medical field and the area of prescription drugs and medication used before and after treatments. A new discovery of antibiotics could help eliminate current and future bacterial infections.

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  A Numerical Study of Radiative Fin Performance with an Emphasis on Geometry and Spacecraft Applications

  Natalie Starr Douglass

  Radiative fin technology is used in a wide variety of applications: automotive, electronics, and space. However, radiative fin is generally only analyzed along the thickness profile. This work analyzes radiative fin planar geometry and thickness profile in tandem. From there, the findings are used to investigate a novel dynamic spacecraft radiator system. Fins are analyzed to optimize for a variety of performance criteria, including maximum heat transfer, tip temperature, or fin efficiency. For analysis of both static and dynamic fins, a two-dimensional mathematical heat transfer model is developed. It is found that a triangular thickness profile is most critical for heat rate maximization. A fin with a triangular thickness profile increases heat rate by 38.8% when compared to a fin with identical planar geometry and volume, but with a uniform thickness profile. Planar shape is also found to influence fin performance. A fin with a rectangular planar geometry has a 6.8% increase in heat transfer as compared to a fin with a triangular planar geometry and identical thickness profile and volume. Additionally, it is also found that triangular thickness profiles produce the maximally efficient fins. Following these results, a novel design for a dynamic spacecraft radiator with annular geometry and varied thickness is presented. It is found that turndown ratios of 3.33 are capable with the novel system. Furthermore, it was found that fins with tapered thickness profile have the highest efficiency and turndown ratio. Finally, it is shown that turndown ratio and fin efficiency decrease as operating temperature increase.

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  A Pandemic Project: The Design, Construction, and Study of the Pipe Organ

  Nicholas Christopher Koch

  My lifelong fascination with mechanical devices and music led me to design and construct a pipe organ in my home during the pandemic. This ongoing, multidisciplinary, independent, design project shows the convergence of my internship experiences and studies in Mechanical Engineering, Physics, Music, Visual Arts, History, and many other trades. My work was influenced by my study and measurement of existing pipe organs throughout the state of Ohio. The goal of responsible consumption and production has been maintained throughout the project by reusing and refurbishing parts from other pipe organs originally installed around the country. Some of the parts reused in this new installation are over 112 years old. In addition to highlighting the stages of the design and construction process of my instrument, I will also discuss my research in the acoustics of organ pipes. This project illustrates the result of years of independent work and my experience gained through my internships at UDRI and Leek Pipe Organ Company in Berea, Ohio.

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  Applying Burke’s Pentad to Serenity Pines

  Andrew Moyer, Grace Fuller, Joe Beischel, Liza Florczak, Claire Constantino

  Serenity Pines is a garden dedicated in October 2001 to the memory of campus administrator Joe Belle and others who died while they were students, faculty or staff members at UD. Belle called it Mother Mary’s Sanctuary and had preliminary plans drawn that included a pine grove setting for uplifting the spirit, a water feature for reflection, intimate areas for private thoughts, and a Mother Mary sculpture for inspiration. Presenters analyze it in terms of Burke's Pentad — Act, Agent, Purpose, Scene, and Agency.

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  Approximate Motion Synthesis by Using the Poles of Planar Displacements

  Tianze Xu

  The primary objective of this research work is to reformulate and solve a basic machine design problem called approximate motion synthesis. The need for this reformulation is that prior techniques rely on numerical methods and the need for significant user input. The pole method being proposed herein is a more straightforward approach that is simpler to implement and requires fewer inputs to find a solution. Our research focuses on approximate motion synthesis for the simplest of linkages, a planar four-bar. The reason for this is that a four-bar can produce an approximation solution to a manufacturing or assembly problem, and then modest variation in its components can be added to create an exact solution to the problem. The variation in its components is essentially the mingling of the four-bar with robotic components, which generates a new class of low DOF machines called metamachines. Hence, the four-bar is the approximate solution, and the metamachine is the mixture of the four-bar with the robotic components having the capacity to produce an exact solution.

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  Are Bone Fractures Related to Vitamin and Mineral Deficiencies in College Basketball Athletes at the University of Dayton?

  Conor M. Coyne, Devin Anderson Fedele, Lindsey Michelle Paniszczyn

  The purpose of this study is to gain a broader knowledge and understanding of the relationship between vitamin supplementation and bone fractures among college student-athletes. Both men and women athletes from the Division I and club basketball teams at the University of Dayton will be asked to participate in this case-control study. The goal is to collect at least 60 survey responses. Athletes will be sent a Google form survey in which they will answer both closed-ended and open-ended questions. These questions will address potential vitamin supplementation, knowledge and beliefs surrounding supplementation, and the prevalence of bone fractures among athletes. Participants will also be asked information such as year in school, sex, ethnicity, if they've previously had a fracture, currently have a fracture, what supplements they currently use, and ingredients found within those supplements. The participation will take approximately five to ten minutes. In alignment with research ethical standards, athletes will be asked to read and electronically agree to take the survey and provide their consent. They will be made aware that all answers are anonymous and no personal information will be shared outside of the conductors of this research study. Data collection and results are forthcoming.

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  Are Exercise Habits Related to Mental Health in College Students?

  Lauren M. Banke, Anna Terese Coghlan, Jayne Elise Lawson, Jessica Ann Moore, Brianna Marie Tersigni

  Mental health is an umbrella term that refers to mental, cognitive, and psychological factors. Physical activity is a way to heal and improve a person’s health both mentally and physically. The purpose of this study is to measure the correlation between exercise habits and mental health in undergraduate college students attending the University of Dayton. It is essential to find if there is a positive relationship between the two that can improve the overall well-being of college students. The participants will be undergraduate college students from the University of Dayton, 18-22 years old. They completed a 20 question survey that included their demographics, current exercise habits, and their mental health status. The exercise questions include, frequency, time, and type of exercise, as well if they exercise in groups or individually. The survey will ask the participants if they ever feel stressed, anxious, overwhelmed, depressed, have low self esteem, body dysmorphia, never experience any of these feelings, or may experience other feelings. There will be questions asked using a scale from 1 being the lowest/worst to 5 being the highest/best about how exercise affects their mental health. Data collection will occur between March 28th and April 4th, therefore the results will be forthcoming.

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  Aretha Franklin’s Power in Music

  Colton Miller Levey

  This poster presentation examines the impact of Aretha Franklin on Black feminism. Through her voice, she displays her call for equality for all women. This presentation will dive deep into how her song “Respect” has become a “feminist anthem” and the significant effect it had on the women during the late 60s throughout the civil and women’s rights movement. This poster presentation, through a close read of the song "Respect" will juxtapose the impact of specific lyrics to larger contexts of the feminist movement, particularly second wave feminism and the call for inclusion of Black women in the movement

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  A Rhetorical Analysis of “Give Us This Day our Daily Quest” Using Burke’s Pentad

  Will Clark, Sarah Harper, Kyra Hughes, Paige Wavrek

  Students use Burke's Pentad (Act, Purpose, Agent, Agency, Scene) to analyze the Martin Luther King Jr. memorial on campus.

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  A Root Mean Square Error Forecasting Model for Inflation: An Empirical Analysis, 2009-2021

  Sydnee C. Haymore, John V. Ruma, Kristen N. Timko

  The purpose of this study is to determine if Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) forecasting models for different inflation indexes (e.g. Personal Consumption Expenditure Price Index (PCEPI) are statistically reliable and efficient for one and two years out of sample. Our benchmark for success is a 12 month average forecast error of 2.5% or less. We use time trend regressions to develop our RMSE inflation forecasting models. Our trend regression time periods are 2009-2017 and 2009-2018. 2019, 2020, and 2021 are the out-of-sample forecasting years.