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  A Cross-national Study of Whole Number Addition and Subtraction

  Mary Margaret Ghiloni

  While mathematical fluency is of great value in everyday life, in a changing world where information is easily accessible to students, problem solving skills and deep understanding of why math works over how it works is of more value and can be applied to both mathematical and non mathematical situations. When students move on from formal schooling and take their place in the “real world,” they will excel when they have the skills to create new ideas, evaluate new and existing ideas, and defend their own will allow students to effectively analyze the world around them. This study examines 1st-3rd grade textbooks from Singapore, Finland and the United States in an effort to pinpoint how these countries develop mathematical concepts. In particular, this study looks at whole number addition, subtraction by analyzing textbook problems, how they utilize different representations, algorithms and cognitive levels. This study increases our understanding of how math is being taught in different countries and how this might contribute to disparities in international test results.

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  A CTC and D2D based Network Architecture for Reliable and Energy-Efficient Public Safety Communication

  Jielun Zhang

  Public Safety Communication (PSC) is responsible to provide reliable communications between the first responders and the victims in public safety scenarios. Some state-of-the-art wireless communication technologies, such as Cross-Technology Communication (CTC) and Device-to-Device (D2D) communication, are providing more possibilities of the connectivity amongst different communication devices. For instance, CTC enables communications between heterogeneous wireless devices (e.g. Wi-Fi, ZigBee, and Bluetooth) operating in the same ISM band, and D2D communication allows direct communication between wireless devices without traversing a base station. These features make them be promising to be applied for reliable PSC network establishments. They can replace those traditional wireless communication technologies which are not specially designed for PSC networks. In this research work, we propose a novel PSC network architecture based on CTC and D2D communication technologies. To be specific, we propose a novel device clustering scheme to expand the coverage of the PSC network. Cluster heads and cluster gateways in the scheme are chosen from a group of user equipment (UE) based on particular metrics, e.g., residual battery power, received signal strength indicator, etc. Moreover, we propose a scheduling scheme for managing the UE in our PSC network to improve energy efficiency. The simulation results demonstrate that our proposed PSC network architecture can provide reliable public safety communications with high energy efficiency.

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  Addressing Food Insecurity through the use of Cooking Demonstrations at a Local Mobile Food Pantry

  Marie Frances Harla

  Food insecurity and lack of cooking skills are issues that are prevalent in Dayton, Ohio. Many individuals and families visit food pantries and utilize other forms of nutrition assistance programs as a hunger safety net. With God’s Grace, a mobile food pantry, is providing monthly food distributions at East End Community Center in Dayton to those in need. In order to build cooking skills and nutrition education, a cooking demonstration was added to the monthly food distribution at East End. University of Dayton dietetic students run the cooking demonstration, and the purpose of this is to provide nutrition education and build cooking skills. The purpose of this study is to explore if the cooking demonstrations will increase utilization of the food that is distributed. Data will be collected from a survey after the participants have seen the cooking demonstration and tasted the sample. Recipes will also be distributed so that the participants can re-create the meal at home. The goal is to create healthy and easy recipes that participants will want to make on their own. The survey collects data on if they liked the recipe, why they would make it, and what are any barriers to making it. Survey results have been collected from September 2018 through February 2019, and they will be analyzed to explore how effective the cooking demonstration was to increasing people’s likelihood of utilizing the food provided by the mobile food pantry.

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  Adjusting the existing health documents to raise awareness about health risks of smoking for the Intensive English Program students

  Lauren Brooke Alvarez, Jake Michael Knight, Teresa Yuk Yu Wong

  Far too often in the U.S., healthcare documents are published at a level of reading well above what the intended audience can comprehend. When people cannot comprehend health-related materials, they are said to have low health literacy, which involves the wide range of skills and competencies to comprehend, evaluate and use health information to make informed health-related decisions to lower their health risks. Inability to read patient education materials can lead to poor overall health and high mortality. For this project we partnered with students in UD’s Intensive English Program (IEP), and revised two existing healthcare documents on smoking, a topic that was of interest to them, and made a single document that was more readable and useful for the IEP students. During this project, we tested the readability level of both the original documents and the revised brochure using the Microsoft Word test, SMOG test and the Health Literacy Load Analysis test to ensure the readability level was appropriate for the IEP students who read at a 3rd to 4th grade level to comprehend. Based on the results of our research, we reduced the reading levels of the original documents from a 10th and 11th grade level to a 4th and 7th grade level. We also visited the IEP students twice to collect information that they would like to know about our topic and to field test a draft of our brochure. In the end, our goal was to provide these students with a readable, informative, and useful document that can help them better understand the health effects of smoking, the health risks of secondhand and thirdhand smoke, and the reasons that smokers continue to smoke so that they can take preventative health measures if needed.

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  Advanced Data Analytics and Optimal Control of Building Energy Systems

  Abinesh Selvacanabady

  This research addresses key issues for applying advanced building data analytics to energy efficient control opportunities. First the research identifies advancements and potential hurdles around the three primary means for acquiring data: energy management systems, dedicated measurement systems, and advanced computer software that accesses and archives data from energy management systems. These are described using case studies from commercial building control systems and web-based real time dedicated measurement technology. Next, the research describes effective rule-based data analytics and control strategies that are traditionally used. Rule-based data analytics utilize specific knowledge about HVAC systems to identify key data points and analytical methods to identify energy saving opportunities and develop improved control algorithms. The research describes both theory and application of these rule-based analytics for the control of systems like air-side economizer, ventilation fans, pumping and chilled water systems. Finally, the research proposes a framework to apply advanced machine learning and data mining techniques to the same problem. Machine-learning control differs from rule-based control in that this control type requires less specific knowledge about HVAC systems. The proposed framework uses existing data, where available, to pattern match and build robust models emulating the performance of the system under consideration. To these models, classical optimization algorithms (knapsack, greedy and shortest distance) and mathematical framework (Game theory and Design of Experiments) are adapted and applied to reach the best control strategy. For systems without past performance data, a stochastic framework using decision chains (Markov processes) and adaptive controls using the reinforcement learning method is proposed for the same. These techniques are demonstrated on select systems e.g. Pumping plants and HVAC systems.

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  Aerodynamic Feasibility Study on Highly Distributed Lifting Configurations for Aircraft

  Michael Mongin

  Preliminary experimental results showed that a highly distributed lift system (200 mini-wings) generated approximately 45% of the lift of the conventional mono-wing of equal wing area and equivalent aspect ratio. This performance was shockingly good given the penalty associated with the subscale Reynolds numbers under consideration. Hence, improvement in aerodynamic efficiency of the distributed lift configuration would be expected when scaled up to a General Aviation aircraft class scale. Taken in combination with the potential dramatic savings in wing weight, these preliminary results were considered sufficient justification to examine the concept more deeply. This paper will include the promising results of a parametric study performed using a Vortex Lattice Technique and compares those numerical results to experimental results. The results continue to suggest the possibility that the distributed lift configuration may have a practical niche when operational constraints are taken into consideration with some multi-wing configurations obtaining upwards of 60% of the lift of the equivalent mono-wing configuration.

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  Age-Dependent Effects of Short Chain Fatty Acids on Bacterial Burden In Vivo After Oral Infections with Listeria monocytogenes strains 10403s and 07PF0776

  Leah O'Malley Allen, Julia I Chapman, Ashton Nicole Dix, Paul Robert Maricocchi, Melani Muratore, Sam Lee Neanover, Erica Marie Rinehart, Nathan C Wallace

  Listeria monocytogenes (LM) is a foodborne pathogen that establishes its intracellular life cycle inside mammalian host cells. In elderly individuals, LM infections can spread to peripheral organs, causing meningitis with high mortality rate. We have previously shown that short chain fatty acids (SCFAs), fermentation acids found in large quantities in the intestinal lumen, exhibit strong regulatory effects on LM virulence gene regulation. In this study, we investigated the effects of SCFAs on LM virulence using an oral feeding model of LM infection with two different LM strains in young (2 months) as well as old (16-18 months) female BALB/c mice. LM strains used in this study include the serotype 1/2a strain 10403s and the cardiotropic serotype 4b strain 07PF0776. Mice were given SCFAs, individually as well as in two different combinations, in drinking water for four weeks, starved for 24 hours, and orally infected with LM-ladened Nutella. At five days post infection, organs (spleens, liver, heart, gallbladder, ileum, and colon) were harvested and homogenized to enumerate LM colony forming units. We found that for both LM strains, SCFA supplements render the young mice more susceptible to infections but prevent old mice from succumbing to infections. Furthermore, low levels of SCFA mixtures led to a decrease in bacterial burden in the heart of old, but not young, animals infected with the cardiotropic strain 07PF0776. To better understand the different infection outcomes by strains 10403s and 07PF0776, we characterized their LLO production in response to SCFAs in vitro under aerobic or anaerobic conditions. We noted that the presence of low levels of SCFA mixture under anaerobic conditions significantly enhanced LLO production in 10403s but not in 07PF0776. These results indicate that there is a strain-dependent difference in LM response to SCFAs. Moreover, there is an age-dependent effect of exogenous SCFAs on the outcome of animal infections.

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  A hybrid tree method using Heston-Hull-White type models.

  Nouf Alsomali

  In this poster, we consider a recently introduced hybrid tree pricing model. We consider the case where there are two stochastic processes and we consider the Heston-Hull-White model, and a generalized Hull-White stochastic interest rate model. We build two trees (X, V) and then take the cross product to construct the mesh of the tree. We then predict prices analogous to the binomial asset pricing model. To validate the model we compare the results to a simulation using the Monte Carlo method. We shall consider the case where there is zero correlation between the two stochastic processes and the case where there is nonzero correlation between the two stochastic processes.

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  Air Pollution and Environmental Justice

  Alan Matthew Theisen

  The air quality throughout the state of California varies from county to county. California also contains several large urban areas with a diverse population of varied racial and socioeconomic background. The aim of this study is to examine how people of different race and socioeconomic status are affected by air pollution as indicated by PM2.5 (particulate matter <2.5µm). PM2.5 is known to trigger and worsen chronic diseases such as asthma. In this study, we are going to examine (1) the links between asthma and PM2.5; and (2) the associations between PM2.5 concentrations and the socio-demographic characters of the population. We are also going to examine how such relationships vary in space through geographically weighted regression models. Investigating air quality with a focus on environmental justice helps us to consider the inequalities of more vulnerable social groups, and can help us learn more about what can be done to mitigate such inequalities.

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  Alcohol: A More Effective and Culturally Accessible Explanation for UD’s Intensive English Program Students

  Nick Patrick Andriole, Paige Rene Christine Hallstrom, Kennedy Cozette Sana, Megan Lynn Watson

  Alcohol consumption is a part of the college culture in the United States and is, therefore, a common health topic of concern on university campuses. However, students in the University of Dayton Intensive English Program (IEP) have limited exposure to and knowledge about alcohol due to the religious practices and the laws in their home countries. Most existing healthcare documents in the U.S. about alcohol are written at a high reading level, which limits the resources available for the IEP students to learn about this topic. Our team conducted a Health Literacy Load Analysis, SMOG test, and Flesch-Kincaid test on a document about alcohol published by the South Australia government. We found that this public health text was written at a 11th grade reading level. Over the course of the project, we met with the IEP students twice: once to assess their information needs and once to field test how well the IEP students understood a draft of our team’s revised brochure. The main purpose of our brochure was to educate the IEP students about alcohol, including common reasons why people drink as well as the effects of consuming alcohol on the body. Our revised brochure was written at a 4th grade reading level and addressed the cultural context of the IEP students. Through our collaboration with the IEP students, we gained a perspective on the necessary work required to make health information accessible to low literacy groups.

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  Alien tree’s sugary SOS exploited by thieving tramp ant: unidirectional benefit in a tritrophic mélange

  Emily Elizabeth Jones, Natalie Christina Martin

  Triadica sebifera (Euphorbiaceae), a centuries old invader of southern ecosystems, was virtually free from natural enemies until the specific, hypermetamorphic moth Caloptilia triadicae (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae) appeared in 2004. Simultaneously, populations of the destructive tawny crazy ant, Nylanderia fulva (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), spread cospatially across the southeast. To examine potential interactions among these species, we sought answers to these questions: 1) does Caloptilia induce extrafloral nectar production in Triadica; 2) does N. fulva consume nectar, larvae, or both; and 3) does N. fulva provide indirect defense to the tree, or to its attacker? To understand these interactions, and their implications for southern ecosystems, we conducted a series of lab, greenhouse, and field experiments in coastal Texas. In response to herbivory by Caloptilia, potted Triadica saplings strongly induced extrafloral nectar production. Percent leaf damage explained 57% of the variation in cumulative nectar volume (p<.0001), and nectar volume on saplings with >20% of leaves damaged was significantly greater than on controls (p=0.0005). Nylanderia fulva exploited available nectar resources without attacking Caloptilia larvae. On potted saplings, nectar volume was significantly lower when ants were present (p=0.008), while no differences were observed in Caloptilia survivorship (p=0.56). Likewise, no differences in Caloptilia abundance or parasitism rates were observed when ants were excluded from naturally recruited Triadica saplings (p=0.97;p=0.8). Large Caloptilia infestations reduced trunk elongation in Triadica saplings (R2=0.32, p<.0001), but had no effect on leaf production, biomass, or survivorship. Because Triadica saplings supplied N. fulva workers a carbohydrate resource while sustaining heavy damage, and because neither Triadica nor Caloptilia benefited from worker foraging, N. fulva was the only beneficiary in this alien, tritrophic interaction.

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  Alternative Routes for Ethanol Extraction Using Green Solvents and Nanotechnology

  Joseph Daniel Knurek

  Ethanol has emerged as a promising alternative biofuel source in recent years. However, current separation techniques for ethanol processing require high energy consumption, causing large scale production to be inefficient. One area of potential improvement in separation cost could be in nanoparticle-enhanced liquid-liquid extraction; removing ethanol from an aqueous solution utilizing castor oil as a green solvent. A castor oil-ethanol mixture would allow for easier separation and purification of ethanol, due to the large difference in the species’ boiling points. It is hypothesized that adding lignin-coated iron oxide nanoparticles to the aqueous solution would increase the transfer efficiency of the solute. Additionally, these nanoparticles would render the mixture superparamagnetic properties, allowing for a magnetic field to be induced around the fluid in separation, further increasing the transfer efficiency due to the magnetic motion in the liquid. This work focuses on setting up prototype equipment that includes a mixer with a magnetic field generator for liquid-liquid extraction magnetic separations. The ultimate goal of this research is to determine if an increase in ethanol transfer efficiency can be seen from the addition of the lignin coated magnetic nanoparticles to the aqueous and green solvents mixture, and if a further increase in transfer efficiency can be seen from the introduction of a magnetic field to the fluids during separation.

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  Alumni Perceptions of Collegiate Recreation

  Cody Gene Christianson

  Collegiate Recreation professionals at Fort Lewis College design learning for student employees based upon assumptions, undergraduate student feedback, and personal experience. The purpose of this study is to provide collegiate recreation professionals at Fort Lewis College a better understanding of how the student employee experience benefits the personal and professional lives of alumni after they leave the comforts of the campus. This study provides insight into the understanding and application of skills developed throughout a student’s time within collegiate recreation. By utilizing interviews with six student employee alumni of Fort Lewis College Recreational Services, this study uncovers the essence of the student employment experience while highlighting core components that create a transformational experience. The results of this study helps collegiate recreation professionals at Fort Lewis College intentionally design the student employment experience in order to enhance and accentuate the components that make the experience truly transformational.

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  A Mathematical Model of Stock Price and Some Related Analysis

  Yitian Wang

  In this poster, a mathematical model is used to characterize the price of a stock over time. By utilizing the model, we can estimate the average and variation of the stock price, and hence predict the trend of the future stock price.

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  A Mobile Robot System for 2D/3D SLAM

  Tao Peng

  This project presents a mobile robot system for solving the simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) problem, a key issue for autonomous navigation in unknown environments. The considered scenario is that of a mobile robot using range scans, provided by a 2D LiDAR, to update a map of the environment and simultaneously estimate its position and orientation within the map. Experimental tests performed within a real-world indoor environment demonstrate the performance of the proposed SLAM mobile robot system.The mobile robot system can be easily modified to be a 3D SLAM system based on RGB-D camera.

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  Analysis and Review of the Effects of Bacterial Competition on Efflux Pump Inhibition

  Bo A Leszcynski

  Multidrug resistant antibacterial strains are a dangerous problem in modern medicine. One way that bacterial strains can become resistant to common antibiotics is by overexpressing efflux pumps, which are transporters in the cells’ membranes that pump antibiotics out of the cell. The goal is to find inhibitors of bacterial efflux pumps that might reverse the multidrug resistance characteristic. The potential for solving this problem might be found in mother nature. When cells of two different strains are grown together, they must compete with each other for nutrients. This competition can lead to the production of compounds that are toxic to the competing strain. One such compound may be a compound that inhibits the efflux of antibiotics from the cell. To address the multidrug resistance problem, microbes that are known producers of antibiotics will be analyzed and it will be determined if they can produce efflux pump inhibitors that might be therapeutically valuable for us. Preliminary results indicate that two strains, S. griseus and P. polymyxa, might indeed produce an efflux pump inhibitor when they are grown together.

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  Analysis and Synthesis of Ring-Fused Boron Dipyrromethenes

  Eduardo J Rive Lockwood

  Recently, there has been a growing interest in the boron dipyrromethene (BODIPY, 4,4′- difluoro-4-bora-3a,4a-diaza-s-indacene) compounds. BODIPY compounds have fascinating properties that allow for the absorption and emission of light in the near-infrared region of the electromagnetic spectrum. These molecules are highly modifiable making them ideal chemicals for the use of photoelectric energy conversion such as for commercial use in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). It has been previously shown that different meso compounds have only a slight effect on the absorptive capabilities of these BODIPY compounds. We believe that the BODIPY compounds’ lack of planarity is one of the major obstacles in more efficient absorption in the NIR and IR regions. Because of this, we are focusing on modifying recently synthesized BODIPY compounds in an attempt to align their meso group with the rest of the compound’s framework. Synthesis of various BODIPY compounds was attempted in order to perform the ring fusion reaction between the meso group and the body of the compound. Computational analysis on several BODIPY compounds was performed on these in addition to other compounds from the literature.

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  Analysis of Safety Impact of Raising Trucks Speed Limit on Rural Freeways in Ohio

  Nayabtigungu Hendrix Ouedraogo

  Large trucks play a key role in the overall safety of the highway transportation system. Previous studies have shown that in Ohio large trucks are over-represented in crashes that lead into serious and fatal injuries [1,2]. Critical factors in truck-related crashes can be divided into environmental, road geometric related, human and driver-related, or vehicle related factors. A previous study that analyzed factors affecting truck-related crashes in Ohio found that posted speed limit and speed-related factors were among the significant factors impacting crash severity of truck-related crashes [1]. Several studies have shown that increasing speed limits on roadways has a significant impact both on safety and operating speeds [3-5]. On July 1, 2013 the Ohio’s legislature raised the speed limits on rural freeways from 65 mi/h to 70 mi/h for passenger vehicles, buses and trucks and to date the safety impact of this speed limit raise has not been evaluated. The current study is investigating the impact of raising the speed limit on crash severity specifically with interest with large trucks and buses on rural freeways in Ohio. Statewide crash data have been obtained from the Ohio Department of Public Safety (ODPS) between January 1, 2010 and December 31, 2017. Given the numerous number of rural freeway segments located all over the state and traffic volumes for each segment over the study period are not easily obtainable, therefore the use of standard observational before/after study empirical Bayes (EB) method is not feasible in this case. This research will utilize the time series analysis model, which is a statistical method that can take care the differences in crashes occurring in different years and recognize trends in different periods of times. In essence, time series analysis is a statistical technique that deals with time series data, or trend analysis. Time series data means that data is in a series of particular time periods or intervals. Currently we are analyzing the data and the study will be completed before the Stander Symposium date.

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  Analysis of the Social and Political Factors of the Twin Towers Community

  Maura N Hohl, Olivia Kathryn McGann, Maria Elizabeth Plevris

  Twin Towers is located in Montgomery County, on the eastside of Dayton, and is home to 6,380 low-income residents. Dayton, Ohio itself is ranked 11th in the U.S. for food hardship and many of the children living in Twin Towers area qualify for the National School Lunch Program. The purpose of the community assessment is to analyze the social and political factors associated with the Twin Towers community. The objectives of this project are to analyze, through primary and secondary sources, factors including: food access, employment, income, housing, food policies and programs, political structure, business, and healthcare access in the Dayton Twin Towers community. Major findings include frequent fast food consumption of the Ruskin Elementary students, over half the Twin Towers residents making less than $25,000 per year, the lack of Twin Towers businesses due to the building of the I-35 highway, and barriers associated with accessing National food programs. These barriers include: language barriers, lack of ID for access of food programs, lack of transportation, and lack of education on where and how to obtain access to food programs. In conclusion, addressing these barriers may lead to better dietary outcomes.

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  Analyzing Bacterial Soil Isolates for New Antibiotic Production

  Meagan Nicole Lovin

  The last class of antibiotics to be discovered was in 1987, and no new antibiotics agents have been identified since. Bacteria have become increasingly resistant to our current stock of antibiotics and these strains have even been found to contain resistance to all known antibiotics. In the search for new antibiotics, the Tiny Earth Network has culminated labs all over the world to encourage students to join the search and learn about how to test and find new antibiotics. We collected soil samples from the University of Dayton and diluted them down to better separate out the individual bacterium. The selected bacteria are screened against various ESKAPE pathogens, specifically Acinetobacter baumannii and Staphylococcus aureus via their safe relatives, A. baylyi and S. epidermidis, respectively. This screening process showed six promising bacteria with significant zones of inhibition. Additional lab testing including Gram staining, catalase testing, triple sugar iron testing, MacConkey agar, motility identification, mannitol salt agar testing, chia seed testing, and finally PCR, extraction, and DNA sequencing will be utilized to determine the identity of the bacteria we discover. This research brings hope to the discovery of a new antibiotic that can be used on the pharmaceutical counter.

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  An Incomplete Guide to all Plants, Animals, and Insects in the Environmental Research Area at Old River Park

  Mary Catherine Lloyd, Celia Montemurri, Caroline Marie Shepherd, Taylor Marie Sparbanie

  An important first step in managing an ecosystem is discovering the biodiversity already present, to have the opportunity to bolster it, protect it, and manage for it. One way to document biodiversity is to perform a BioBlitz. A BioBlitz is an event where a group of people, usually including volunteers, aid a research group in identifying all species of living things in a certain area. During the one semester, or approximately four months, of this project the lab team focused on identifying certain categories of species. The Environmental Research Area is approximately 60-70 acres and surrounded by a moat-shaped lake. The research team focused on birds, plants, insects, mammals, and trees. Other categories are included in a master plan to be completed in the future. 104 species were identified in total within the set taxa. Many factors, such as time and resource constraints, contributed to the lower numbers of identification for other major groups of organisms. With further surveying to compile a more complete list of species, this list can serve as a useful tool in making management decisions to best protect the natural inhabitants of Old River Park, the Great Miami River, and Dayton.

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  An Investigation Correlating Bioluminescence and Metal Reduction Utilizing Shewanella woodyi

  Allison L Theberge

  The internal transfer of electrons through proteins from high to low electrochemical potentials is a fundamental aspect of life. Some microbes possess the unique ability to transfer internally derived electrons to external insoluble electron acceptors such as electrodes, redox proteins, and other cells in a process known as extracellular electron transfer (EET). Currently, this microbial process is applied in creation of microbial electrochemical systems (MESs). These systems are used in renewable energy and wastewater treatment research and applications. Shewanella woodyi is a cold tolerant, marine microbe that is an understudied candidate for its metal reduction capabilities, although it is closely related to other well-characterized strains in the Shewanella genus. Additionally, S. woodyi has bioluminescent properties and previous research indicated a relationship between bioluminescent intensity and EET existed. The bioluminescence enzyme luciferase relies on reduced flavins to generate light, therefore changes in flavin redox state can have an impact on bioluminescence. Throughout this research, the general growth of S.woodyi under a variety of conditions was characterized. Additionally, the relationship between EET and bioluminescence was confirmed utilizing the soluble electron acceptors of cobalt(II) and nitrate as the substrate for EET. Through high throughput luminescence assays and open circuit potential experiments, it was determined that increasing concentrations of the electron acceptors resulted in decreased bioluminescence output from the cells. Cell viability staining concluded that the increased concentrations of acceptors were not decreasing cell density and thus luminescence output, indicating a valid relationship between EET and bioluminescence.

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  A novel Zinc Porphyrin as an Antimicrobial

  Nehaben Nik Patel

  One of the greatest threats to human health, and life, is the rise of antibiotic resistant bacterial infections. National summary data from the CDC estimates that at least 2,049,442 million illnesses and 23,000 deaths occur each year as the result of antibiotic resistant bacteria and fungi. Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic bacterium that causes infection ad forms biofilm that are difficult to treat due to antibiotic resistance. We are the co-inventors of two patented novel technologies for the treatment of antibiotic resistant bacteria. Both treatments make use of a novel porphyrin ZnPor (US Patent # 9,364,537) that does not require using traditional photo-activation i.e., it exhibits unique dark toxicity. Current studies have indicated the utility of photodynamic therapy using porphyrins in the treatment of bacterial infections. Photoactivation of porphyrins results in the production of singlet oxygen that damages biomolecules associated with cells and biofilms, e.g., proteins, polysaccharides, and DNA. The effect of a ZnPor on P. aeruginosa PAO1 biofilms and planktonic cells was assessed without photoactivation. Biofilms were visualized using confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) and cell viability determined using the LIVE/DEAD BacLight viability assay and standard plate count was used for planktonic cell viability. At a concentration of 25µM ZnPor, there was substantial killing of P. aeruginosa PAO1 wild-type biofilms with significant disruption of the biofilm matrix or structure. Biofilms pretreated with ZnPor without photoactivation were substantially more sensitive to tobramycin than untreated biofilms. 4-log10 reduction in viable cells of wild-type PAO1 planktonic cells was observed at a concentration of 12.5 µM. Our results suggest that ZnPor permeates into the PAO1 cells and makes the cell membrane permeable/compromised. Also, the interaction study of ZnPor with the PAO1 DNA shows that the porphyrin interacts strongly with the DNA and aggregates around the helix of the DNA.

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  Antibiotic Producing Bacteria in Soil Samples at the University of Dayton

  Erin Elise Pellot

  Within recent years there has been a rise in the number of antibiotic resistant bacterial strains. These resistant strains have no known treatments and thus pose a threat to society. Bacterial strains form resistance by evolving past the mechanisms behind a given antibiotic. With bacteria’s unrelenting ability to evolve and adapt there is an ever present need for new antibiotics. To relieve this need, the Tiny World Initiative was formed to provide students the chance to conduct antibiotic research in the classroom setting. For this in class research experience, an on-campus soil sample was collected and analyzed for possible antibiotic producing microbes. After cultivating and selecting bacterial colonies, samples were tested against two pathogen safe relatives of the ESKAPE pathogens. ESKAPE is an acronym to describe the six most antibiotic resistant opportunistic pathogens which pose a threat to society. The ESKAPE relatives tested against in this experiment were Pseudomonas putida and Staphylococcus epidermidis. After finding seven antibiotic producing colonies the samples were put through multiple classification tests which include a gram stain, catalase test, hemolysis, triple sugar iron, mannitol salt agar, MacConky agar, citrate, gelatinase and a motility test. After classifying the samples they were tested against Eukaryotic cells in the hopes of finding a safe antibiotic treatment.

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  Antibiotic Resistance to Rifampin, Streptomycin, and Penicillin in Grasshopper Bacterial Isolates

  Lauryn E Brasch, Melani Muratore

  Antibiotic resistance is a growing epidemic from excessive use of available antibiotics that is leading to a global health crisis. As more antibiotics are being misused, killing susceptible bacteria, more resistant bacteria grow to be prominent in the population. Given the ability of bacteria to exchange genetic information, high prevalence of antibiotic resistance poses a great threat to make killers out of bacteria that were formerly treatable. Grasshoppers are critical players in the ecosystem serving as a connector between soil, plant, and animal. Grasshoppers are also the most consumed insect by humans. Therefore, if grasshoppers can serve as a vector to spread antibiotic resistance in the environment, they might provide a potential target to halt the antibiotic resistance epidemic. In this study, we examined whether antibiotic resistant bacteria are present in a wild grasshopper. A male grasshopper was dissected and its gut content was diluted and plated on LB agar. Different bacterial isolates were obtained. To test for antibiotic susceptibility in these bacteria, disc diffusion assays were performed by spreading the bacterial isolate on LB agar and placing discs that contain antibiotics Rifampin, Streptomycin, and Penicillin on the agar. After 24 and 48 hours, the diameter of the growth inhibition zone was measured in mm. The bigger the diameter, the more susceptible the bacteria are to the antibiotic. Out of the 17 isolates, only three were susceptible to Penicillin, demonstrating that there was a high level of Penicillin resistance. In contrast, 16 out of 17 isolates show susceptibility to Rifampin. Fewer isolates are susceptible to Streptomycin but the diameter for the zone of inhibition was larger. From these results, it is clear that antibiotic resistant bacteria are indeed present in the grasshopper, potentiating grasshoppers as a vehicle of antibiotic resistance transmission.