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  The Effect of Acetate on Listeria monocytogenes Pathogenesis

  Nicole L Steinbicker

  Affecting 1 in 6 Americans annually, foodborne illnesses range from mild gastroenteritis, to life- threatening conditions in high risk individuals with weakened immune systems. Those with chronic alcohol dependency fall in to the last category. Research on elucidating the mechanism of alcohol toxicity has focused on the intermediate of alcohol metabolism: acetaldehyde. However, it is not clear if acetate, the final product of alcohol metabolism, plays any role in individual susceptibility to foodborne infections. Therefore, my research project aims to determine the role of acetate in foodborne infections by using the Gram-positive bacterium Listeria monocytogenes as the model foodborne pathogen and establishing the effects of acetate on Listeria pathogenesis. Listeria pathogenesis was assayed by two different methods. First, the production of the toxin listeriolysin O (LLO) was determined in Listeria culture supernatant by hemolytic assays. Second, the ability of Listeria to cause infections was determined using a cell culture-based infection model. My results showed that the presence of acetate (50mM) significantly increased the anaerobic LLO production but not aerobic LLO production, suggesting that oxygen is critical in modulating the effect of acetate on Listeria. My preliminary results on cell culture infections showed that Listeria grown with acetate had an equal or slightly less infection rate in macrophages. I plan to expand the cell culture infection work in the following year to address the effect of acetate on cell susceptibility to Listeria infections using a human colonic epithelial cell line as another relevant cell types. Together, we will obtain a more comprehensive understanding on how acetate influence Listeria-host interactions. In the long run, we hope to contribute to the development of treatments for chronic alcohol dependency to lessen the financial and medical burden of alcoholism on individuals and on the society.

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  The Effect of Depersonalization and Derealization Symptoms on Olfaction and Olfactory Hedonics

  Rhiannon A Gibbs

  Depersonalization and derealization symptoms affect sensation, perception, and emotion, and typically result in subjective experiences of unreality and affective numbing (Simeon, 2004). Abnormalities in the amygdala, which is known to be associated with emotional reactions such as anxiety and fear (LeDoux, 1993) have been observed in depersonalization and derealization and other psychiatric disorders, such as anxiety and depression (Sierra & Berrios, 1998). Olfactory deficits have been posited as a potential marker for psychiatric disorders, including depression (Atanasova, 2008). This may be due to the fact that within the brain, the olfactory system projects directly to the primary olfactory cortex, which includes the amygdala (Stockhorst & Pietrowsky, 2004). The relationship between depersonalization and derealization and olfactory function has yet to be examined. This study will investigate whether the presence of depersonalization and derealization symptoms is correlated with olfactory identification ability, odor threshold detection, and hedonic ratings of odors. It is hypothesized that: 1) odor identification ability will be negatively correlated with reported depersonalization and derealization symptoms; 2) odor detection threshold will be positively correlated with depersonalization and derealization symptoms; and 3) hedonic ratings of both pleasantness and unpleasantness of odors will be negatively correlated with depersonalization and derealization symptoms. Participants (N = 80) will be administered the Sniffin’ Sticks odor identification and threshold tests, rating scales of odor pleasantness and unpleasantness, the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-Item Scale, the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale-Revised, and the Cambridge Depersonalization Scale. Hypotheses will be analyzed using multiple regression analyses.

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  The Effect of Motivation Factors on Group Performance

  Kacie M Kinkade, Gabriella L Silone

  Research suggests that people exert less effort when working in a group compared to working individually, and groups often have trouble coordinating their efforts (Emich, 2014). These effects are partially explained by transpersonal efficacy, an individual's confidence in another's ability to produce a specific outcome and which can motivate performance on a task (Emich, 2012). However, extant research has been limited to physical performance tasks, such as basketball. The present research investigates the effects of over-confidence and motivational factors on group performance within an academic sphere. In this study, groups of three to four participants will work together to complete logic puzzles. Prior to working on the puzzles, we will assess participants’ baseline motivation to perform well. The expectations about the difficulty of a performance task will be manipulated by telling some groups that the task will be easy and others that the task will difficult. The participants will then estimate how well they will perform on the puzzles, work on the puzzles as a group, and complete follow-up questions assessing motivation, effort, and individual and group performance. We hypothesize that groups led to believe that the puzzles are difficult will put in more effort, not perform as well, and be less confident in their correct answers than groups who are led to believe that the puzzles are easy (Merkle, 2009; Pelham, DeHart, & Carvallo, 2001), thus demonstrating under-confidence. However, we hypothesize that groups who are led to believe that the puzzles are easy will put in less effort, perform better, and be more confident in their correct answers than the groups led to believe that the puzzles are difficult, thus demonstrating over-confidence. We predict that both groups will complete the same amount of puzzles regardless of the informed difficulty of the questions, even though motivation and effort will vary.

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  The Effects of Adolescent Housing Condition and Voluntary Exercise on Alcohol Intake and Stress Response in Male Long-Evans Rats

  Caroline A Lynch

  Can regular exercise during adolescence, combined with living in a social environment, lead to lower stress levels and alcohol intake later in life? The aim of this research is to combine the variables of adolescent housing condition and voluntary exercise in the form of wheel running to discover the impact on rats’ subsequent response to a stressor and alcohol intake/preferences. Since chronic stress has been discovered to be linked to the development of alcohol use disorders (AUDs) in humans, this study attempts to model this phenomenon in rats while incorporating a behavioral intervention with the intention of reducing the effects of chronic stress on anxiety-like behavior and alcohol intake/preference. Gaining an understanding of how housing condition and exercise can play a role in subsequent alcohol intake and stress hormone levels will be beneficial to understanding the physiological effects of chronic stress, and may be useful for the advent of new pharmacotherapies for individuals with an alcohol use disorder.

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  The Effects of Structural Modi cation of the Wing Helix Domain of PriA on Bacterial DNA

  Erich N Auer

  During a cell’s life it must copy itself or face death. For the cell to form a new copy it must replicate its DNA, this DNA is the blueprint for the essential components of the cell. The replication process does not always go to completion, which is necessary for the cell to survive, so there are mechanisms to keep the replication process running smoothly. In bacteria, PriA is used to restart replication after damage to the DNA. By looking at the structure of PriA we can start to determine how exactly it works with the damaged DNA to fix it and restart the replication process. Specifically looking at the portion of PriA that attaches to DNA we are attempting to determine why this method of attachment is beneficial to the entire replication process. This is done by modifying the structure of PriA and observing the changes in DNA repair.

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  The History of Physical Education-Activity, Sport, and Related Disciplines: Stories for the Ages and Lessons from the Legends of Memorable Moments, Events, Trends, Tales, Phenomena, and Famous Women and Men: Their Teams and Times - From The University of Dayton to the Chicago Cubs: Year XI

  Nicholas A Cheesman, Molly O Gearin, Astrid Margarita Jetter, Paul Nikolaus Karthan, Andrew M Kramer, Kelly A Mcguire, Colin M Mcmahon, Megan E Nemecek, Christopher J Papalia, John T Schlembach, Connor Patrick Stease, John A Thesing, Evan J Wypasek

  The purpose of these studies was to describe and interpret major events, trends, phenomena, and the lives and times of significant individuals in the history of sport and physical education-activity throughout the millennia. At once interesting, inspirational, edifying, and enlightening, the stories told by the Teaching Assistants (N=13) and students (N= 58) of two (2) separate sections of the course HSS 275 - History of Physical Education/Activity and Sport – during the spring semester of 2017 speak powerfully to the transcendent nature of sport and physical activity across all generations, cultures, and topical interests. This year’s project titles include: 1. The History of the Departments of Health-Physical Education and Sport Science at UD: 1850-2016 2. The Tough and Triumphant Life and Times of Tom Blackburn 3. Sweetness and Sadness on the Gridiron - The Life and Times of Walter Payton 4. The Magic Moments and Controversial Calls of the 1975 World Series 5. Running With The Bulls: An Autoethnography of the Most Exciting Sporting Event in the World 6. History of the Chicago Cubs 7. The History of Technology in Umpiring 8. Pursuit to Be the Best: Who is the REAL Richard Sherman 9. The Curse of the Bambino is Broken - The Boston Red Sox and the 2004 World Series 10. Art and Anatomy in Sport and Physical Education 11. History and Success of the University of Dayton Women’s Volleyball Program 12. The History of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) In Football 13. Michael Phelps: The Legacy of the Greatest Swimmer of All-Time These original research projects utilized an array of primary and secondary sources, including interviews, personal narrative, documents, print media, photographs, artifacts, and vintage video to bring alive the past to teach anew life's lessons from the worlds of sport and physical activity to inform, inspire, enlighten, and edify participants in the 2017 Stander Symposium.

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  The Hookup Culture and How it Effects Men At The University of Dayton

  Jacklyn E Bertsch

  This research will examine the effect that the hook up culture has on young men from the ages of 18 to 24 that attend college at the University of Dayton. The research aims to examine if men are similar to the literature provided about how young men act in the hookup culture. A recent study conducted by Elaine M Eshbaugh and Gary Gute, in 2010 shows that young women on college campuses regret hookups (pg. 78). In addition, Rachel Allison and Barbara J. Risman’s study revealed similar findings when they interviewed young college women. They state that there is a double standard between men and women when it comes to hookups (pg. 4). However, there seems to be little to no research about how men feel on the hookup culture and how it affects them. In this research project I will explore how young college men at University of Dayton view and experience the hook up culture. Do they engage in hook ups? Do they look at other men positively for being involved in the hook up culture? Do they view men in a negative way for being involved in the hook up culture? Most importantly, how do their personal views about relationships impact their willingness to engage in the hook up culture? Do they view their participation in a positive way? Do they view it in a negative way? Do they feel any type of peer pressure to participate in the hook up culture? Are they similar to women in their desire to have relationships instead of hookups? These are the questions I hope to explore in my research.

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  The Impact of a Dynamic Environment on Deposition and Cellular Response to Silver Nanoparticles

  Madison Frazier Bourbon, Robert Forrest Uhrig

  Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are utilized in many different applications, such as an antibacterial agents or as protective coating against ultraviolet light. However, these AgNPs are known to cause potentially harmful biological effects, including toxicity, induction of stress, and immune activation. In this study, the effects of AgNPs on a human lung cell model were examined within both a static and dynamic environment. Most NP-based research is carried out in static environments, but do not accurate reflect dynamic physiological conditions. Dynamic fluid movement was introduced to the cell culture through the use of a multi-channel peristaltic pump. To further characterize the influence of fluid movement, two different sized AgNPs were tested, 5 nm and 50 nm. The AgNPs were then introduced to the lung cells, under either static or dynamic conditions for a duration of 24-hours. Following this exposure, the cells underwent evaluation for NP deposition, cell viability, cell stress, and inflammatory responses. The results indicated that biological responses were dependent on the delivered NP dosage, which was substantially diminished in a dynamic environment. This work highlights the necessity of carrying out NP-evaluation studies in a cell system that more closely mimics a true physiological environment.

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  The Impact of Volatility on S&P 500 Stock Market Returns: A Closer Look at the Bloomberg Propagation Model

  Daniel Robert Caponi

  In recent years the stock market has experienced wide swings in market value much more frequently. Taking the Dow Jones Index as an example, it is not uncommon to see daily swings of 200 points or more in the DOW Index. In this study I examine the impact of volatility on stock returns. Using the Bloomberg Propagation Model I determine which stocks by market sector are less sensitive to market volatility. I take the top 5 stocks in each sector and develop a “Volatility Dampening Portfolio” (V). Using two weighting strategies, market value and expected return, I develop a 50 stock portfolio and determine its performance over the period 2010-2016. I test the hypothesis that V outperforms the market in highly volatile market periods.

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  The Influence of Structured Yoga Classes versus Individual Exercise Routines on Flexibility

  Madeline Marie Connaughton, Christine M Diluia, Alyssa M Marchiando, Megan E Nemecek

  The purpose of this project was to determine if participation in three weeks of structured yoga class will reflect a greater increase in flexibility compared to individuals that exercise regularly, but do not participate in a structured yoga class. All participants signed an Invitation to Participate document acknowledging their willingness to volunteer. Data was collected on N = 20 University of Dayton female students; 10 of which participated in a structured yoga classes at the RecPlex, and 10 of which perform other forms of exercise besides yoga, and utilize their own stretching routine. For pre- and post- test sessions, participants were guided through a brief dynamic warm up before performing the flexibility-based assessments. The following measurements were collected and recorded during both pre- and post- test sessions: age, height, weight, leg length, torso length, arm length, YMCA sit-and-reach, and a standing toe touch test. Data was analyzed using SPSS, and result and conclusions will be presented via poster session at the Stander Symposium.

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  The Influence of Summer Bridge Programs on Student Social Development

  Tyrone L Spencer Ii

  Transitioning to college can be tough. Students must adjust to new routines, environments, and academics. However, one of the most important aspects of the college transition is the adjustment to the social issues and development that occurs on college campuses. While many students transition through their own stages of social development and process social issues differently, this process can be difficult for students of diverse backgrounds at predominantly white institutions. These students may have to process racism and discrimination from a multitude of systems at their university. This is where transition bridge programs can be effective. These programs can assist students’ social development in creating a dialogue with other students who may understand racism or discrimination. However, bridge programs have shown that while academics are improved, social development is often left behind. Through personal interviews, I received insight from students about their summer bridge experience. Some students stated that they would like to see more of an emphasis on social development, while others stated that their bridge program did adequately prepare them socially. The findings indicate that how students are prepared socially through bridge programs is dependent on the individual student’s experience.

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  The Influence of Women's Self-Esteem on Mating Decision Making Across the Menstrual Cycle

  Kathleen Dolores Golterman

  The proposed study seeks to determine if self-esteem has an influence on the decision- making process of choosing a mate. When women are ovulating, they are more attracted to men who are physically attractive and have strong genes in an effort to ensure reproductive success (i.e., a strong, healthy offspring). However, these men are typically unwilling to commit to any one woman and lack the desire for a committed relationship. However, recent research finds that when women are ovulating, they erroneously perceive attractive, genetically strong men as more willing to commit to them as long-term partners (Durante, Griskevicius, Simpson, Cantu, & Li, 2012). The proposed study extends this research by examining the role of women’s self- esteem in mating decisions. Women with high self-esteem may be more likely to perceive attractive, genetically strong men as more willing to be in a committed relationship, whereas women with low self-esteem might have more accurate appraisals of his commitment level.

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  The Linkage Between Vaccinations and Autism Portrayed Through Mass Media

  Alexandria G Aytay

  The world is much different today than it was 20 years ago. Since the technology boom, media has been running through people’s phones every day. A massive downfall that has come to light over the past few years is the controversy linking autism to vaccines. We see it on the news and we read it online and we wonder the accuracy of it all. The purpose of this project is to examine this fable and look at the vaccination coverage that has been lurking through the media and how people have received the wrong idea. In doing this, I have taken an online class from Poynter NewsU on plagiarism and fabrication which I will put to use while researching this topic as well as looking through my own personal research paper. Poytner Institute is well-known and respected in the field of mass communication. I have also interviewed Dayton’s own Dr. Teresa Thompson. Dr. Thompson has not only edited multiple resources to conclude that the linkage between autism and vaccinations is fabricated but she also has personal experience with the negative consequences of not vaccinating children at an early age. I plan on furthering my research through academic articles and news sites to see which station “got it right”. This topic is very important to academia and the mass communication field because this is what mass communication does in the wrong hands. Through a fabricated article, people began to not vaccinate their children in fear that doing so will cause autism. Now, many people are affected and not vaccinated.

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  The modification of a pleiotropic cis-regulatory element shaped the contribution of Ddc to a novel dimorphic pigmentation trait.

  Lauren N Gresham, Sumant Grover, Victoria Rene Spradling

  Understanding the genetic and molecular underpinnings for morphological diversity remains a central goal of evolutionary and developmental biology research. While it is now understood that these traits arise by the orchestrated expression of numerous genes, a so called gene regulatory network, what remains poorly understood is how these networks of genes and their expression patterns are initially assembled and subsequently diversify. Gene expression is controlled by DNA sequences that are often referred to as cis-regulatory elements (CREs). Each CRE possesses binding sites for transcription factor proteins whose cumulative binding results in a specific pattern of gene expression. It is anticipated that gene expression evolution frequently occurs through the formation, modification, and destruction of CREs, presumably through changes that create or remove binding sites for transcription factor proteins. However the binding site level of CRE evolution has been worked out in very few cases. The fruit fly species Drosophila melanogaster has a male-specific pattern of abdominal pigmentation for which the enzyme encoding genes and several of their upstream transcription factor regulators are known. However, the details of how these regulators interact with CREs remain largely uncharacterized. One such enzyme gene that is necessary for this species’ pattern of pigmentation is Dopa decaboxylase (Ddc). Here we share the results of our efforts to uncover the CRE-basis for this gene’s expression pattern, and how this regulation and pattern of expression has evolved during the origin and diversification of this male-specific trait. Success here will advance a leading model for the CRE and gene network basis for morphological diversity.

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  The Promise of Justice: Are Public and Private Defense Equal?

  Alicia A Linzmeier

  This thesis will attempt to uncover whether or not public defense lawyers and private defense lawyers achieve the same or similar results for their clients facing serious felony charges in southwestern Ohio. The outcomes of interest are conviction rates, guilty plea rates, incarceration rates, and sentence lengths. Though people facing equally serious charges should receive roughly equal outcomes, this is not always the case. Existing literature suggests that some of the differences could be dependent on the type of lawyer that a defendant has, or whether or not he or she can afford to pay for his or her own representation. Other variables that could have an influence, such as age, gender, race, and number of prior felony convictions, will be controlled for in order to isolate the impact that representation has. This thesis examines whether the differences in outcome manifest themselves in three counties in southwestern Ohio by studying unclassified and first degree felony cases that have been filed since January 1, 2000.

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  The RASSO - A Robotic Assistant for Surgical LaparoScopic Operations

  Sean Patrick Duffin

  The Rasso robot is a biomimetic robot expected to be used in place of standard laproscopic surgery. Being inserted through a 3-4 cm incision, the robot is designed to navigate along the top of the abdominal wall. This is made possible due to the stomach being inflated by a gas throughout the surgery. The Robot, having pads attached to its legs that mimic a gecko's limbs, allow for the robot to adhere itself upside down to the wall of the inflated stomach. The micro-structure of this material allows for adhesion to a wet surface just as a gecko's would. Utilizing a peeling motion to detract the legs, the robot is capable of moving across the surface without dropping towards the surgical area. It is hoped that eventually laproscopic tools can be attached to the robot that will allow this surgery to be performed remotely. My contribution specifically involves the introduction of a new kinematic design that allows for improved movement along the abdominal wall. Within that redesign I also am working towards improving the necessary peeling motion of the gecko-like material so as to minimize reactionary forces acting on the robot.

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  The Regulatory Role of Pravastatin™ in the Venous Shear Stress Dependent Induction of Aquaporin 1 Protein Expression in Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells in vitro.

  Raphael J Crum

  Background: Aquaporins (AQPs) are transmembrane water channels that facilitate osmotically-driven water flux. AQP1 is expressed in vascular endothelium. AQP1 protein abundance is enhanced in cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) in response to fluid shear stress. The cholesterol-lowering statin drugs have been shown to regulate the expression of specific AQPs by altering their abundance and/or subcellular localization. Therefore, it is hypothesized that AQP1 may function as a component of the mechanosensory complex in endothelial cells, and therefore, is subject to shear-stress induced gene regulation and modulation of expression by statins. Methods: HUVECs were cultured under static (0 dynes/cm2) and venous fluid shear stress (6 dynes/cm2) in the presence or absence of 5 µM Pravastatin™. Fluorescent immunocytochemistry was used to detect AQP1 protein expression. Images were captured using confocal laser scanning microscopy. Mean fluorescent intensity (in arbitrary units) of AQP1immunofluorescence was determined using ImageJ software, and normalized to control conditions (time zero, static culture with no Pravastatin™). 25-30 cells from two independent experiments were analyzed for each experimental condition. Results: AQP1 immunofluorescence increased 1.3-fold (p<0.05) after 24 hours, and 1.7-fold (p<0.05) after 48 hours in cells cultured under venous fluid shear as comparted to the control. This shear stress-induced expression was blocked by incubation with Pravastatin™ (p>0.05; control vs. venous shear with Pravastatin™). Pravastatin™ had no effect on AQP1 immunofluorescence in static cultures (p>0.05 vs. control). These data indicate that Pravastatin™ prevents shear stress induction of AQP1 in cultured HUVECs. Conclusions: The results presented show that the shear stress induction of AQP1 protein expression is prevented by Pravastatin™. These results further demonstrate a possible tissue-independent function of statin drugs in regulating the expression of AQPs in general and specifically a potential cardioprotective benefit of statins, independent of their cholesterol-lowering function, related to the regulation of AQP1 in vascular endothelial cells.

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  The Relationship between Divorce, Parenting, and Childhood Outcomes

  Lisa E Stone

  Recent research has focused on how divorce can potentially cause and contribute to adjustment problems in children, such as behavioral and emotional problems (Donahue, et. al, 2010; Hetherington & Stanley-Hagan, 1999; Price & Kunz, 2003). Multiple factors can mediate and moderate the relationship between divorce and negative outcomes, causing certain children to be more susceptible to the effects of divorce than others. Parenting can change drastically after divorce, such as decreased amount and quality of time spent with parents. Researchers suggest that this change in parenting can mediate the relationship between divorce and negative child adjustment, with negative parenting characteristics increasing the likelihood of negative adjustment (Forehand, Thomas, Wierson, Brody, & Fauber, 1990; Martinez & Forgatch, 1999; Lansford, 2009). The present study examined how parenting is related to the relationship between divorce and juvenile delinquency and the relationship between divorce and depression. It was hypothesized that parenting, as measured by maternal emotional support, would mediate the effects of divorce on both delinquency and depression. Data came from an extensive, nationally representative longitudinal study, consisting of both mothers and their offspring, totaling approximately 11,500 participants. Analyses explored both the direct relationship between divorce and delinquency/depression and the indirect relationship between divorce, parenting, and delinquency/depression. Results indicated that divorce predicts lower levels of maternal emotional support, which predicts higher levels of delinquency. Results also indicated that there is a direct relationship between divorce and delinquency, meaning that parenting only accounted for a portion of the effects of divorce on delinquency. Results also showed that there was not a mediated relationship between divorce, maternal emotional support, and depression, meaning that divorce and parenting did not predict levels of depression. It is important to identify what factors moderate and mediate the effects of divorce because identification of the factors can lead to potential positive interventions.

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  The Relationship Between Parental Communications About Race and Their Children’s Racial Identity

  Briana J Moore

  While racial and ethnic identity (REI) has been studied extensively among older children and adults, we know little about its emergence in early childhood. Using measurements developed for this study, we investigate REI among kindergartners as well as its relationship with cross-race inclusion. In addition, we examine the contribution of parental communications (e.g., preparation for bias, ethnic pride, and egalitarianism) toward the development of REI. We determined African-American children’s individual preferences for 6 different leisure activities (e.g., playing a musical instrument, playing a video game, etc.), establishing a rank order for each child. Subsequently, pairs of photographs were presented, each pair depicting two activities. Children were asked to pick the activity that would be “most fun.” While one photo depicted a Black child engaged in one activity, the other depicted a White child engaged in a different activity. Based upon each child’s baseline order of preferences, any unexpected choice was noted as a shift toward the “same-race” or “cross-race” model. A REI score is defined as the number of same-race minus cross-race shifts. REI scores were compared with scores obtained from two other tasks. The “Racial Inclusion Task” requires each child to select 4 children who they would like to invite to their birthday party. One-half of the potential choices are Black, while the remaining half are White. The “Activity Preference Task” requires children to rate how much fun it would be to participate in a variety of activities (e.g., a tug-of-war game). Each activity was depicted by a photograph of Black children or of White children. We predicted that parental communications involving ethnic pride would be related to REI scores, cross-race inclusion, and activities depicted by cross-race models. Implications of our findings for the development of positive racial identities and the encouragement of inclusive attitudes are discussed.

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  The Role of M1BP in Eye Development of Drosophila melanogaster

  Neha Gogia, Ankita Sarkar, Evan J Wypasek

  Many genes in the Drosophila melanogaster have Pol II paused at the promoter proximal region, because the binding of either the GAGA factor or the Motif 1 binding protein (M1BP). M1BP resides on chromosome 2 of Drosophila melanogaster and directs a distinct transcriptional mechanism evolved from the TATA box. M1BP is highly conserved across the species and encodes a 55kDa protein containing five C2H2 zinc-fingers domains. A battery of highly conserved genes regulates drosophila eye development. Based on high throughput studies, it has been suggested that M1BP may regulate gene expression during Drosophila eye development, but its exact role is unknown. Our aim is to study the role of M1BP during eye development. We have used Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP) marker to identify intended regions to be expressed. This GFP marker has expressed the dorsal, ventral, morphogenetic furrow and the entire eye. This aim is further focused with absence of M1BP being produced in the stock fly and then focusing on the phenotype and genotype when crossed with another set of flies that have a suppression in development of some aspect of the eye. We found that absence of M1BP function in dorsal and ventral eye margins results in the suppression of eye fate. This suppression of eye fate was found when both the dorsal and ventral margins were expressed, along with a suppression of eye fate when the dorsal and ventral regions were expressed separately. The absence of M1BP also led to the suppression of the gene from the complete eye, giving us a head loss phenotype. This head loss phenotype shows the destruction and absence of photoreceptors in the developmental stages of the eye.

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  The role of micronutrients: because what we put into the soil actually matters to plants

  Kiersten P Angelos, Carly Christine Delois, Madison J Dembinski, Amanda N Finke, Kaitlin M Gawkins, Shania E Hurst, Madeline R Norman, Ryan W Reihart, Mackenzie E Ryan

  A critical need exists to understand what affects plant communities in coastal tallgrass ecosystems that are considered endangered ecosystems. We conducted an experiment in a coastal tall grass prairie in Texas that manipulated the amount of macronutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus) and micronutrients (calcium, sodium and potassium) in all possible combinations on a large scale. We estimated percent cover of every plant species in 4 pooled quadrats in all plots. Plant biomass was estimated by vegetation clipping. We found that when macronutrients were abundant then micronutrients had more profound effects on plant biomass and species richness, and some species seem co-limited by macro- and micronutrients. This data should be used to determine how to restore and treat coastal tallgrass prairies to understand their potential restoration.

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  The Role of Quality in S&P 500 Stock Returns: An Empirical Analysis 2007-2015

  Sam William Verrilli

  In this study, high quality stocks are defined as stocks with high returns on equity (ROE). Low quality stocks have low ROEs. The first hypothesis to be tested is that high ROE stocks outperform low ROE stocks over long periods of time (the persistence factor). A second hypothesis to be tested is that high ROE stocks outperform low ROE stocks in periods of market downturns and high volatility. A third hypothesis to be tested is that low ROE stocks outperform during market rebound periods. S&P 500 stocks are used in the analysis and the S&P 500 SPDR ETF (SPY) is used as a performance benchmark.

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  The Role of Safety and Leverage in S&P 500 Stock Returns: An Empirical Analysis, 2007-2015

  Kevin Michael Wargo

  In this study I use debt-to-equity as both a measure of safety and leverage. Low debt-to-equity stocks provide a measure of safety while high debt-to-equity stocks offer leverage. Using S&P 500 stocks ranked from low to high debt-to-equity I test the following hypotheses: (1) Low debt-to-equity portfolios outperform high debt-to-equity portfolios over long periods of time (i.e. persistence), (2) In periods of market growth, high debt-to-equity portfolios outperform low debt-to-equity portfolios, and (3) In market downturns, low debt-to-equity portfolios outperform high debt-to-equity portfolios.

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  The Social and Mental Health Factors Impacting Academic Achievement

  Sarah E Rolfsen, Stephanie Sheikh

  This presentation will explore how students develop socially and the impact that concussions may have on student learning. Specifically, Identifying the effect educational practices have on student social development and influences the academic progress of students with concussions.

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  The Social Media Campus Intervention

  Alexander J Beattie

  Social media is a form of documentative communication that is used by people to express and evoke emotions, actions, thoughts, visuals, and messages of various depths in their experiences and through various stages of life. Told like a story of an individual, social media conveys incredibly personal struggles, extravagant nights out, celebrations, and overcoming life obstacles only few could imagine during their lifetime. Social media in higher education can be like attempting a very risky walk on a tightrope of immeasurable height, especially when there is no awareness showcasing “the life,” peer pressure, and/or possible implications on their future, such as employment. While some students believe they have the level of awareness necessary in relation to displaying appropriate social media practices, others disregard the rules and/or use alternative and multiple forms of deception to express what they really want to convey to certain audiences. If reflection, critical thinking, and evaluation regarding the appropriateness and impact that a social media post can have on a student’s future are absent, students risk losing everything they have worked for in the hopes of achieving better opportunities.