Abstracts 2024

(Return)

Fluorophore-Modified Self-Assembled Monolayers on Gold Films

Susana Agyako-Wiredu, Chemistry and Biochemistry
Marie-Christine Daniel, Chemistry and Biochemistry

Self-Assembled Monolayers (SAMs) are formed when molecules with high affinity for a particular surface adhere themselves to that surface, forming a layer to which additional molecules can bond. These surfaces can be used to improve sensing capabilities of atomic force microscopy (AFM) sensors used to image the topography of nanomaterials. In this experiment, the surface is a gold film coated with monolayers composed of 1-Dodecanethiol (DTH), 4-Aminothiophenol (ATP), a near-infrared fluorophore (MB 660 R), and a 100 nm gold nanoparticle. The 4-Aminothiophenol acts as a linker between the gold film and fluorophore due to its thiol groups, which have a high affinity for the gold film, and due to its amino group that can react with the fluorophore. 1-Dodecanethiol acts as a filler, assembling onto the gold surface in between the linker and fluorophore structures to prevent fluorophore clustering and subsequent quenching. The modified gold film was functionalized with the fluorophore through formation of an amide bond between the primary amine group of ATP and the NHS group of the fluorophore. The purpose of this experiment is to produce a dispersed fluorophore SAM between a gold film and gold nanoparticles, leading to metal-enhanced fluorescence which is beneficial for photonics applications.

(Return)

Investigating Genetic Interactions Between FLK and HOS1 in Plant Defense and Flowering Time

Asiya Ahmed, Leah Vrydagh, Biological Sciences
Hua Lu, Biological Sciences

Understanding how plants defend against pathogens is essential for protecting agricultural systems. Our research team has been working to elucidate plant defense mechanisms by investigating the role of FLK, a known flowering time regulatory gene, in defense regulation. Previous studies showed that the FLK protein interacts with several proteins, including HOS1, an E3 ubiquitin ligase. We hypothesize that HOS1 could influence FLK function and we are using a genetic approach to test this hypothesis. We will identify the hos1 x flk double mutant and will examine the plant with control plants, a wild type (Columbia-0) and two single mutants, in defense response. The genotyping process included DNA extraction, PCR reactions, and gel electrophoresis. So far, several double mutant candidates have been identified. We are currently reconfirming these plants’ genotypes followed by bulking up the homozygous double mutant seeds. The future plan is to conduct a panel of defense assays with the double mutant and control plants. If time permits, we will work with these plants regarding their flowering time. Together, these phenotypic analyses shall reveal the epistatic relationship between HOS1 and FLK and uncover a possibility that HOS1 could affect FLK function in development and/or defense regulation.

(Return)

Design of a Stable Antibody:HIV-1 RNA Complex Suitable for Structural Studies

Fairine Ahmed, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Michael Summers, HHMI

Determining macromolecular structures of the human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1) is vital in developing therapeutic strategies to eradicate this illness. Currently, many large structures (>30kDa) of RNA are unsolved, hindering our understanding of its biological roles in viral assembly. However, even using high-resolution imaging techniques, such as cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM), is difficult due to the RNA’s flexibility, creating uncertainty in the orientations. Herein, we describe a methodology development to create hybridized samples of Fab-bound RNA to characterize the RNA through cryo-EM. Prior studies confirmed the structure of the Core Encapsidation Signal (CES), an HIV-1 RNA genome segment that provides the minimum required signal for genomic packaging. In this study, we used Fab BL3-6 as a tag that recognizes and binds to CES. Specifically, we constructed a CES heterodimer, to emulate the natural RNA conformation, where one construct (CCCC) has a Fab binding site and another construct (GGGG) that lacks the site. With various RNA sequence ratios (0 to 2), we observed the constructs’ binding affinity to one another and Fab BL3-6 using electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSAs). In the future, we aim to add a binding protein (Legobody) on Fab BL3-6 to increase its size, ensuring its visibility under cryo-EM.

This work was funded, in part, through an Undergraduate Research Award from the UMBC Division of Undergraduate Academic Affairs.

(Return)

A Comparison of Teaching Two Foreign Languages Simultaneously and Sequentially to Adults

Iman Ahmed, Psychology, Tianjiao Li^1
1Psychology, UMBC
Mirela Cengher, Psychology

As many as 22% of individuals in the United States of America spoke a language other than English at home in 2019. We evaluated the optimal procedures for teaching two unfamiliar languages (i.e., Japanese and Chinese) to native-English-speaking adults. All six participants were undergraduate students, ages 18-22. We taught the participants to label items in pictures across two conditions: sequentially (i.e., learn one language, then another), or simultaneously (i.e., learn the two languages at the same time). We then compared the efficiency of learning the two languages across conditions by comparing the number of sessions needed to master each condition. We also evaluated the emergence of translations between the two languages by asking participants to translate words in the other language. We conducted labeling and translation probes to establish the baseline knowledge level and repeated the same probes for comparison after training. The majority of participants reached mastery when learning sequentially. Participants also expressed a preference for learning sequentially as compared to simultaneously. Finally, the translation probes had mixed findings. This study suggests that sequential bilingualism is more efficient when compared to simultaneous bilingualism; however, translation skills do not differ between the two conditions.

This work was funded, in part, through an Undergraduate Research Award from the UMBC Division of Undergraduate Academic Affairs.

(Return)

Measuring Visual Acuity Through Behavior In Two Darter Species: Etheostoma Caeruleum and E. Olmstedi

Maxine Akunnakwe, Biological Sciences
Tamra Mendelson, Biological Sciences; Yseult Héjja-Brichard, Biological Sciences, University of Maryland Baltimore County

Darter fish (Etheostoma) are benthic indicator species whose presence or absence can indicate the health of a freshwater body. Visual communication is important for these fish, but there are no studies measuring their ability to visually distinguish details. These tests are important to provide knowledge on their response to activities that disturb their habitats such as pollution and eutrophication. This experiment utilizes behavioral visual acuity tests to quantify visual processing in darters, an area where anatomical tests are limited. Trials of males and females in two darter species E. caeruleum and E. olmstedi are currently being conducted. Stimuli consisting of vertical stripes of white and black lines, and varying units of spatial frequency, known as cycles per degree, are presented in a random order, and responses are recorded. An optomotor drum constructed of 3D-printed parts powered by electricity rotates the stimuli at a fixed speed. The responses are classified as positive if the fish mimic the direction of stimuli rotation, and this indicates whether the fish can distinguish details at the frequency represented by the stimulus. This project would provide information necessary for basic knowledge and conservation.

This work was funded, in part, through an Undergraduate Research Award from the UMBC Division of Undergraduate Academic Affairs.

(Return)

Evaluation of Electron Ionization Mass Spectra Prediction for Astrobiologically Relevant Organics

Evan Allgair, Biological Sciences
Stephen Freeland, Biological Sciences; Sean Brown, Biological Sciences

Here we address the broad question of how to identify previously uncharacterized organic compounds. One common strategy for unknown compound identification, from toxicology to prebiotic chemistry, is to use mass spectrometry (MS). The equipment is ubiquitous and it is time-efficient to run a sample, however, identifying unknown compounds requires previously identified spectra. Therefore we use state-of-the-art algorithms to predict these spectra for biomolecules relevant to prebiotic chemistry and biosignatures (e.g. xeno amino acids). We then evaluate these predictions with experimental data. Having established accuracy, we then use a combinatorial structure generator to create an entire library of theoretical organic compounds previously unrecognizable to mass spec. By removing the need for time-consuming, traditional case-by-case experimental work for each molecule of interest, our findings create a foundation for high-throughput compound identification. This offers a real and practical step forwards for the detection and identification of current astrobiology as it searches for biomolecules other than life-as-we-know-it.

(Return)

Innovative Technologies for Diabetes Prevention and Management

Danielle Anane, Information Systems
Tera Reynolds, Information Systems

Diabetes, a prevalent chronic condition characterized by elevated blood sugar levels, poses significant health risks, including vision impairment and even death, if not properly managed. Social support plays a crucial role in preventing and managing diabetes. Understanding patients’ support needs is the first step to improving available social support. One place that patients go when they experience support needs is online health communities (OHCs). These peer-to-peer virtual spaces offer a unique opportunity to study individuals at high risk for diabetes or living with diabetes as they seek support. We leveraged this opportunity to qualitatively analyze data from diabetes-focused forums in one OHC, to identify common themes and support needs among individuals seeking support related to diabetes prevention and management. We analyzed 769 posts from 3 diabetes-focused forums. The results show several key support needs, including the desire for personalized advice, emotional support, and practical tips for managing diabetes. These findings highlight the importance of tailored support in OHCs and other tools such as patient portals to meet the diverse needs of individuals seeking information on diabetes prevention and management. Our results offer crucial insights for improving the support available to individuals with diabetes.

I was part of the LSAMP Fellowship in the Fall.

(Return)

Advancing Precision Oncology: Developing Benchmarks for Machine Learning Tools in Lung Cancer Patient Classification

Rodolfo Argueta-Rios, Biological Sciences
Maricel Kann, Biological Sciences

Lung cancer poses a significant challenge as the leading cause of cancer-related mortality. The development of biomarkers and immunotherapies have enabled the current use of targeted treatments and immunological therapies to address the threat of cancer. However, some patients develop resistance to these therapies and others show no response to current therapies. The field of precision oncology aims to develop tools to categorize patients into groups likely to respond to specific therapies. This will facilitate the creation of hypotheses for biomarker discovery that can lead to better diagnosis, prognosis, and drug therapy. Computational tools designed to classify patients require the retrospective analysis of existing data to validate and train these machine learning tools. In this research, we built a database for benchmarking machine learning tools designed to classify lung cancer patients. We constructed three distinct cohorts: LUAD and LUSC patients, immunotherapy recipients, and EGFR mutation patients. We intend to use our methodologies to address the problems of resistance and lack of response to treatment. The machine learning tools we developed for patient classification will improve prognosis and avoid the administration of unnecessary treatments.

(Return)

Transcriptional Characterization of Nephrogenic Adenoma

Ajeetha Arudchandran, Bioinformatics and Computational Biology
Rahul Mannnn, University of Michigan, Department of Pathology

The nephrogenic adenoma (NA) is an uncommon benign lesion in the urothelium most commonly found in the bladder. After excision, it has the potential to reoccur frequently and may even become malignant. Transcription factors PAX-2 and PAX-8 markers are used to identify the lesion, but the cell of origin, the biological and genomic background, and the biomarker of NA are unknown. Two NA patients (male and female) were selected to generate a mutation profile associated with the disease. RNA sequencing data was generated from these patients using standard in-house protocol and processed through standard pipelines to estimate gene expression levels. The differential gene expression (DEG) analysis highlighted the upregulated gene FOXF1 between the tumor and normal kidney, and the upregulated genes HIF1A and ALPK2 between the tumor and normal bladder. Immune pathway genes such as PTGS2, CD68, and NR442A were found to be upregulated and this was corroborated by our gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA). DEG analysis on tumor samples shows similarity with kidney, suggesting migration of renal tubular cells. GSEA analysis indicates the role of the immune pathway in the genesis of NA. This project highlights new genetic information about the NA and nominates biomarkers- FOXF1, HIF1A, and ALPK2.

This research was funded, in part, by a grant to UMBC from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute through the Pre-college and Undergraduate Science Education Program.

(Return)

Celebrating South Asian Culture at UMBC

Mashaal Awan, Global Studies, Meghna Chandrasekaran, Manav Vaishnav, Shawn Abraham
Zareen Taj, Global Studies

The University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) is a recognized Minority Serving Institution. It is home to a beautiful campus and a diversity of cultures. South Asian culture is one of the most prevalent of these, bringing together students from up to 9 nationalities and ethnic backgrounds. They practice their culture on this campus through participation in student organizations, cultural events, and even simple conversations. Utilizing advanced filmmaking techniques, our team produced a documentary to showcase the richness of South Asian culture at UMBC. Our comprehensive approach involved conducting both long and short interviews with members of the South Asian community. We highlighted daily life and vibrant celebrations throughout the Fall 2023 semester. These events included Hindu Student Council (HSC)’s Diwali and Pakistani Student Association’s Mehndi Ki Raat. Through this in depth qualitative research, we aim to tell a story about UMBC, the members of its South Asian community, and how they ultimately explore their own identities through interacting with culture.

(Return)

Quantitative Analysis of Youth Incarceration in Maryland’s Juvenile Justice System

Pakeeza Awan, Political Science
Carolyn Forestiere, Political Science

This research aims to understand racial discrepancies in incarcerating youth of color. Utilizing data from the Maryland Department of Juvenile Services (DJS), the ambition of the project is to compare U.S. Census data for Maryland’s counties to the percentages of youth processed by the Department of Juvenile Services from three main racial categories: White, Black, and Hispanic/Other. A cursory glance at the data from the DJS clearly shows discrepancies between the proportion of each racial category living in each county to the proportion of youth representing those racial categories who are ‘in the system.’ The actual disproportion between the census and the youth in the juvenile justice system will be evaluated and discussed. Numerous research studies have indicated that racial inequalities further accumulate as youth move through the system. This study will contribute to this scholarship by quantifying the discrepancies within the juvenile justice system.

(Return)

Investigating the Role of Elys Gene in Collective Cell Migration

Shahabal Azhar, Biological Sciences, Alexander George
Michelle Starz-Gaiano, Biological Sciences

Investigating cell migration will help in gaining valuable insight into metastasis, immune response, and embryogenesis. The Starz-Gaiano laboratory investigates a migratory group of cells called border cells. They detach from an epithelium and migrate collectively during Drosophila Melanogaster oogenesis. Border cell migration has genetic mechanisms that are well-conserved with migratory human cells and serves as an efficient model system to study migration in Vivo as the cells can be manipulated genetically and imaged with relative ease. I investigate the role of the gene, Elys, a transcription factor that was identified in a screen of proteins that interact with Mind bomb 2 (Mib2), which was previously shown to be important for migration and is responsible for targeting proteins for ubiquitination. I hypothesize that modifying Elys’s expression in border cells, using RNA interference, will result in delayed migration and possible changes in gene expression. We will further investigate the role of Elys by knocking down the gene in other cell-types relevant for border cell migration. Understanding Elys’s role will give us valuable insights into the migratory process and could be applied to the broader context of human development.

This project was funded in part by National Science Foundation Award IOS-2303857.

(Return)

Structural and Procedural Confirmation of Saccharomyces Cerevisiae RAS G19C for Modeling KRAS G12C Cancers

Samuel Barnett, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Joseph Sparenberg, Howard Community College

Cancer is characterized by uncontrolled cell growth due to mutations and is often caught in later stages. Mutations in the proto-oncogene KRAS can prevent GTP to GDP conversion leading to unregulated proliferation. We propose a method to model the glycine to cysteine substitution at the 12th amino acid in KRAS-based cancers (KRAS G12C) in humans using Saccharomyces cerevisiae (baker’s yeast) by modifying RAS1 (an analog to KRAS). Mutations in the RAS1 gene translating the erroneous G12C protein may disrupt signaling by restricting the protein from being deactivated, leading to rapid cell proliferation (analogous to KRAS tumorigenesis). We amplified and confirmed the KRAS gene using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and are developing primers to optimize PCR. We will then visualize the RAS1 mRNA using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) with a two-plasmid system. Our model could visualize a live cell to observe pathways and mimic tumor growth in real-time. Using S. cerevisiae cells as a carcinogenesis model may elucidate inhibitors to potentially create an on/off switch for replication implicated in the KRAS G12C mutation. Future collaborations could produce promising results in human cell lines. If successful, this project may aid in understanding why cancer exists and could potentially delay metastasis.

I am a recipient of a UMBC Travel Award from the UMBC Division of Undergraduate Academic Affairs, but for a different project.

(Return)

Lidar Occupancy Analysis and Detection System (LOADS)

Bharg Barot, Satvik Racharla, Sumedh Kane, Sai Malkireddy, NathanSamson, Jason Chan, Fadlulah Omitogun, Computer Science
and Electrical Engineering
Roberto Yus, Computer Science and Electrical Engineering

Long queues in retail environments can frustrate customers and negatively impact their experience. Traditional queue monitoring methods, like cameras, raise privacy concerns due to potential personal identification and data collection. This research offers a privacy-preserving IoT solution for measuring queue lengths and estimating waiting time in retail settings. We created a prototype with an RPLidar A1 sensor to collect and transmit real-time data to a server via MQTT broker that uses the pub-sub method. Strategic positioning of the sensor ensures data primarily represents people in the queue, data is then processed by a spatial clustering algorithm based on DBSCAN to estimate the number of customers. To support efficient storage and access to the data, we leveraged a Time Series Database Management System and subsequently transferred to a Relational Database Management System for analysis. Additionally, a Seasonal Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average algorithm predicts future queue lengths by analyzing historical data patterns. We are building an app and website for real-time data. Our goal is to deploy the system at UMBC’s Starbucks, Chick-fil-A, and other locations for campus members to access real-time and historical queue data. Ultimately, we aim to develop a universal approach for queues of various shapes and sizes.

(Return)

Optimizing Vertical TEGs: Microstructure and Post-Fabrication Enhancement for Diverse Applications

Kojo Benefo, Mechanical Engineering
Deepa Madan, Mechanical Engineering

The escalating demand for cost-efficient, flexible thermoelectric generators (TEGs) is growing, necessitating the utilization of p-type and n-type thermoelectric materials. This research addresses the global demand for TEGs with diverse applications, including health monitoring sensors, automobile engines, and defense equipment. The microstructure of the films was effectively controlled through a binder fluid comprised of Dimethyl Sulfoxide (DMSO), Salicylic Acid (SA), and Chitosan, prepared by stirring at a temperature ranging from 75 to 80 ℃. This binder fluid can then be mixed with and sonicated with Bi2Te2.7Se0.3 (BTS) and Bi0.5Sb1.5Te3(BST). The resulting mixture was used to fabricate thermoelectric films, followed by energy-efficient post-fabrication methods, including low-temperature curing and a brief application of mechanical pressure. The fabricated thermoelectric films achieved a high electrical conductivity and Seebeck coefficients which are comparable to the best reported printed films using BST and BTS. The study focuses on achieving a higher electrical conductivity and Seebeck coefficient by varying the conditions of the post-fabrication methods, including increasing or decreasing the curing time and temperature and the pressure and pressing time. This research contributes to the development of efficient vertical TEGs with potential applications across various.

This research was funded in part by the Meyerhoff Vivian Thomas Scholars Initiative at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC).

(Return)

Lifting Condensation Level and MPLNET Interactions in Beltsville, Maryland

Benaya Berhane, Kylie Hoffman, Physics
Belay Demoz, Physics

Our goal for this study was to use MPLNET, NASA’s global network of Micro-Pulse Lidar (MPL) systems, to conduct an in-depth analysis of the relationship between Lifting Condensation Levels and Cloud Base Heights. MPL systems are active remote sensors that measure normalized return backscatter (NRB), which is a proxy for aerosol and cloud vertical structures, as well as planetary boundary layer heights. Lifting Condensation Levels (LCLs) were derived from direct surface meteorology measurements of temperature, relative humidity, and pressure.We searched through MPL data, resolving mistakes and creating functions to build new data columns that give insights on dew points. The prior mixing diagram research’s LCL function was changed to accept temperature and dew point temperature inputs, yielding appropriate LCL values. To give a full analysis using MPLNET data, we generated pseudo-color plots of NRB, which illustrate vertical profiles of the atmosphere over time. We then overlaid newly calculated LCL heights on our plots as dotted lines, allowing us to investigate the complicated interactions between NRB and LCL at various points throughout the diurnal cycle. This technique improved our understanding of atmospheric circumstances related to lifting condensation levels, aerosol-cloud vertical structures, and cloud base heights.

This work was funded, in part, through an Undergraduate Research Award from the UMBC Division of Undergraduate Academic Affairs.

(Return)

An Exploration of the Natural World Through Art: Series of Landscape Paintings Made with all Natural Pigments

Jenna Beshara, Visual Arts
Lee Boot, Visual Arts

Is it possible to make paintings in a traditional manner using a non-traditional medium that better serves environmental concerns than current products sold? My goal is to make a series of landscape paintings all made by natural, foraged goods and turpentine oil, and showcase the paintings as well as the paint-making process. I went abroad for the first time last year to Wales, and the way Welsh culture is deeply integrated into the natural world has guided my art and art process ever since. Acrylic paint is made from plastic, and oil paint can have toxic chemicals, like mercury, that is harmful to the environment. I find it hypocritical that one can be a landscape artist and use these paints, so I’d like to research and experiment with creating my own natural pigment, and mixing those pigments with linseed oil. This series is, at the heart of it, a love letter to the environment, as I find something poetic about making a series of landscape paintings used by natural, foraged ingredients. Additionally, it reflects what I’ve learned in my time abroad, and the respect and connection I gained for the environment and an environment-centered approach to art.

(Return)

Influence of Solution PH on PFAS Accumulation in a Novel Equilibrium Passive Sampler

Alvin Bett, Chemical, Biochemical, and Environmental Engineering
Lee Blaney, Chemical, Biochemical, and Environmental Engineering

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are synthetic chemicals incorporated into nonstick pans, firefighting foams, stain-resistant fabrics, and other industrial and household products. PFAS do not readily degrade in the environment therefore, pollute our water, soil, and air. Recent studies have reported the toxicological concerns of PFAS ingestion through drinking water or other means. The objective of this study focused on assessing the impact of pH on the uptake of over 20 different PFAS by one anion-exchange membrane – FAD-PET-75.Tests were conducted by adding membrane coupons into solutions with environmentally-relevant PFAS concentrations and variable pH (i.e., pH 3 – 10) prepared with 1 mM sodium bicarbonate buffer. The batch reactors were mixed for three days or more and both aqueous and membrane samples were collected for PFAS analysis. The measured PFAS concentrations were used to calculate selectivity coefficients, which describe the affinity of the membrane for PFAS over the background anion (e.g., bicarbonate). We found that PFAS with a low acid-dissociation constant (pKa |t|=0.830) and Chi-Square analyses (P=0.143). Future steps include refining the protocol to distinguish white vs. grey while including cataract diameter as an additional parameter in hopes of developing a better predictive model for post-cataract surgery outcomes for young patients.

This work was funded by the NIH K23EY032525 grant.

(Return)

Black Women And The Struggle For Reproductive Justice

Grace Briglia, Africana Studies
Tammy Henderson, Africana Studies

The goal of this project was to determine how being a black woman in America can negatively impact treatment and survival during pregnancy and childbirth. To do this, I analyzed a variety of sources, both scholarly and non scholarly, addressing concerns in access to maternal care and the effects of systemic racism on childbirth and medical care. I found that “rates of pregnancy-related mortality and infant mortality are substantially higher among Black women compared with White women.” (Backes, Scrimshaw 2020. 114) This is frequently attributed to lifestyle choices and genetics, but systemic racism within the American medical system is a large cause of this disparity. In addition, many areas with high black populations are “maternity care deserts”(Ashley, 2023), and black women have low access to abortion, comprehensive sex education, contraceptives, and family planning programs. (Sudhinaraset, 2020) Black women also experience more stress and trauma during pregnancy than other races, resulting in “weathering.” These factors violate reproductive rights including the right to have children under one’s own chosen circumstances, the right not to have children via one’s own chosen methods, and the right to raise children in safe and healthy environments. (Backes, Scrimshaw 2020)

(Return)

Hierarchical Cluster Analysis Of Male And Female Oriole Song

Olivia Brooks, Biological Sciences
Kevin Omland, Biological Sciences

Historical precedent has assumed that only male birds sing; however, female song is prevalent in many species and this previous standing is rooted in gender and geographic bias. Our research is focused on two oriole species: the orchard, Icterus spurius, and the Puerto Rican, Icterus portoricensis, and the particulars of both male and female song. Oriole song was recorded at different locations around central Maryland and field sites in Puerto Rico. We contrasted song by breaking recordings into syllables: isolated frequencies identified as darker, unconnected bands on a spectrogram. We used hierarchical cluster analysis based on the presence or absence of key syllables to determine if male and females were using similar sets of syllables. The resulting dendrogram from this statistical analysis indicated that females and males are broadly intermixed in the dentrogram. Generally, males and females are both using some of the same syllables. Our research helps combat biases about female song prevalence and improves our behavioral understanding of orioles to aid conservation strategies.

(Return)

A Study Of Adversarial Attacks On Campus Network Data Anonymization

William Brooks, Computer Science and Electrical Engineering
Alan Sherman

We present results from the 2024 UMBC Scholarship for Service (SFS) Research Study, which analyzed the effectiveness of the anonymization method UMBC’s Division of Information Technology (DoIT) uses to protect user privacy when releasing campus network data in support of UMBC research projects. DoIT applies a pseudonymization technique, which replaces unique identifiers (e.g., IP addresses) with unrelated pseudonyms. We demonstrate a chosen-plaintext attack that completely re-identifies the anonymized dataset. First, using a Scapy Python library, we craft custom packets containing identifiable tags within the header data, and we transmit these packets to every node on the UMBC network. Second, we observe the resulting anonymized data produced by DoIT. With knowledge of the intended packet destinations, we generate a one-to-one mapping from our crafted packets into the anonymized captured network traffic. We offer technical and policy-based recommendations for improving DoIT’s anonymization method.

This work is funded, in part, by the National Science Foundation.

(Return)

Effect Of Various E-Vapor Components On Olfactory-Guided Behavior And Neuronal Turnover In Mice

Caylee Brown, Biological Sciences
Weihong Lin, Biological Sciences

As the rate of e-cigarette use continues to rise in the United States, particularly in middle- and high-school-aged adolescents, it is becoming increasingly necessary to understand the effects of e-vapor components on human health. Growing evidence indicates that e-vapors contain strong flavor molecules, humectants, and other toxicants. However, we lack understanding regarding how the effects of e-vapor exposure on the olfactory system may differ between young and aging populations. As organisms age, their olfactory sensory neurons (OSNs) become less sensitive to chemical signals due to accumulated damage and reduced neurogenesis, leading to a reduced sense of smell. This project aims to investigate the effect of e-vapor exposure on different aged mice using olfactory-guided behavioral assays and immunohistochemistry. We hypothesized that daily exposure to e-vapor reduces neuronal turnover rates in all age groups, and that this turnover deficit is more significant in aging mice. Our preliminary research suggests that e-cigarette use may result in olfactory deficits among older groups. Preliminary behavioral studies suggest that older mice have more difficulty distinguishing between competing scents, which we hypothesize may indicate e-vapor-accelerated as well as age-related neurodegeneration. Further research is needed to fully elucidate the impact of e-vapors on olfactory health.

This work was funded, in part, through an Undergraduate Research Award from the UMBC Division of Undergraduate Academic Affairs. This experience was funded in part by the EDUCATE Program at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC), which is supported by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA/NIH) under award R25DA051338.

(Return)

Pyrodinium Bahamense Growth Dynamics In Response To Antibiotic And Selenium Amendment

Nicole Brown, Biological Science
Kathleen Cusick, Biological Science

Pyrodinium bahamense is a bioluminescent marine dinoflagellate that produces saxitoxin which can cause illness and death in both aquatic species and humans. Our lab maintains multiple strains of Pyrodinium bahamense (Pyb16, Fwc, and Pyb21A) to examine various aspects of growth, toxicity, and genome biology. My work is focused on the experimentation with the growth of these cells in response to amendment with antibiotics and various selenium concentrations. Response is currently assessed via growth rate. Growth rate is determined by the cell count method by using a Sedgewick Rafter counting chamber. Results thus far show that of all the strains, only Fwc can survive and grow with antibiotics, and that overall addition of antibiotics slightly inhibits growth. Our most recent data shows there is approximately a 3,000 cells/mL difference between the cultures containing antibiotics and the cultures that do not. This could be due to the fact that there is a symbiotic relationship between the pyrodinium and the bacteria as has been suggested for other species. Among the three strains, Fwc strain appears to be able to withstand most conditions tested. The addition of selenium has been initiated. Future work will include studying the effect of selenium on growth.

UMBC SURE funding.

(Return)

Nubble’s Adventure

Zachary Brown, Thomas McCormick, Nahili Lemu, Hazel Basden, Marelen Soto, Keonte Wilson-Robinson, and Alena Kowalewski
Marc Olano, Computer Science and Electrical Engineering

Nubble’s Adventure, a 3D puzzle platformer inspired by Super Mario Odyssey and Astro’s Playroom, invites players of all ages to a vibrant world where nature reclaims the remnants of a machine-driven era. Players guide Nubble, an energetic and resourceful character, through overgrown landscapes and decaying industrial structures, collecting pieces of lost tech and saving his friends. Accessible controls and intuitive design make Nubble’s Adventure welcoming to newcomers, while the innovative mechanic of rebuilding forgotten technology with scattered blueprints and components adds depth and appeals to seasoned players seeking an engaging challenge. Nubble’s Adventure offers optional challenges and hidden collectibles for deeper exploration and replayability, catering to players of all experience levels. This unique blend of platforming, puzzle-solving, and a captivating, nature-reclaimed industrial world sets Nubble’s Adventure apart, offering a refreshing and enjoyable experience for everyone.

(Return)

Our Collective Capacity To Shape The World: Development Of A Civic Agency Measure

Katie Brungard, Social Sciences
Ian Anson, Political Science
This project is focused on questions of operationalization and measurement of individuals’ civic agency. According to Dr. David Hoffman, civic agency is the extent to which individuals see themselves as “active agents shaping their world”. A desired outcome across Center programs is an increase in this sense of civic agency. While feedback has largely indicated that participants do feel higher levels of civic agency after program participation, we have not previously collected data that captures this specifically. A list of constructs that capture different elements of this concept is developed based on existing literature, and survey items in the literature that seem to capture similar constructs are compiled. From this compilation we determine which items are the closest to the definition of civic agency, and use those as a basis for our own survey. The survey is tested among a sample of 100 college students crowdsourced through Prolific. We assess the validity and reliability of the instrument by evaluating the relationship between this measure and other measures of social control as well as the internal consistency of the items. This study is still ongoing; however, results will be used in further development of a comprehensive measure of civic agency.

(Return)

Using Behavioral Assays To Study Genes Associated With Autism In Drosophila Fruit Flies

Francesca Burton, Biological Sciences
Fernando Vonhoff, Biological Sciences

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a complex developmental disability characterized by distinctive, abnormal behaviors. One of the most notable behavioral characteristics of ASD is low sociability levels. Individuals with ASD typically have little to no desire to socialize, and often struggle with understanding the meaning of nonverbal forms of communication. While a direct cause has not yet been identified, there are a number of genetic mutations associated with this disorder. We use the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, as a model to study genes associated with ASD at the cellular and behavioral level. We used a previously established behavioral assay to assess the effects of gene misregulation on sociability. We will compare the social patterns of control flies to those of flies with genetic manipulations of Neurexin, a gene associated with the development of ASD in humans. Our goal is to determine whether this gene will have an effect on social patterns when misregulated in the fly brain. Future studies will further characterize the molecular role of other identified genes following anatomical and cellular approaches. Developing accurate and predictive animal models may be critical in further understanding the origin of this disorder, as well as developing a more definitive diagnosis test.

This research was partially funded by the USM LSAMP program, supported by NSF LSAMP Award #1619676, The EDUCATE Program, supported by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA/NIH) under award R25 DA 051338, and through an Undergraduate Research Award from the Office of Undergraduate Academic Affairs.

(Return)

Keyboard Warriors: An Analysis Of Sudden Politicized Spirals WithinYouTube Comment Sections Of Non-Political Videos

Ziegfried Byrd, Political Sciences
Carolyn Forestiere

Video-form internet content and the comment sections attached to them have become increasingly tied to human existence and personal interactions. Some people have grown up alongside such content, and thusly it highly influences both their online and offline lives. The purpose of this study is to understand how and why the comment sections of seemingly non-political YouTube videos become politically charged. For this research, the comment sections of short and long-form YouTube videos will be analyzed to showcase and explain this phenomenon. One ambition of the study is to further understand the impacts and implications of these political discussions in a real-world context. Ultimately, it is hoped that the research will provide recommendations for how such comments should be viewed, especially from the point of view of left-wing politics.

(Return)

Development Of A Method For D-Allulose Using HPAEC Coupled With PED

Joana Camacho-Nathan, Chemistry and Biochemistry
William LaCourse, Chemistry and Biochemistry

D-allulose, a rare and naturally occurring sugar found in figs and raisins, has properties that could help those with Type-2 diabetes manage their condition. Specifically, D-allulose is a zero-calorie sweetener that has a similar sweetness to table sugar, anti-hyperglycemic effects, and is metabolized and eliminated by the body within 24 hours. Since D-allulose is limited in quantity in nature, production and research of this sugar is important due to its beneficial properties. Although there is research about D-allulose’s effects in biochemical systems, there is still a need to develop a robust and sensitive analytical method to identify and observe D-allulose in consumer products. High Performance Anion Exchange Chromatography (HPAEC) coupled with Pulsed Electrochemical Detection (PED) has been used for the detection and analysis of carbohydrates, making it the ideal technique for the analysis of D-allulose. This poster will discuss the development of a method to separate and observe D-allulose and other monosaccharides using HPAEC with PED.

(Return)

Understanding Neurobiological Basis To Sex Differences In Response To Variable Stress

Jalane Campbell, Biological Sciences
Tara LeGates, Biological Sciences

Sex differences in the development of stress-related psychiatric disorders has complicated our understanding and treatment of these debilitating conditions. Males and females exhibit demonstrable differences in the prevalence and presentation of stress-related psychiatric disorders. While it is clear that responses to stress differ between the sexes, the basis for these differences remain elusive. To gain insight into the neurobiological basis underlying these differences, we are using a variable stress paradigm to recapitulate stress-induced sex differences in mice. We will use social interaction and sucrose preference to examine stress-induced effects on reward-related behaviors and examine expression of key synaptic proteins in areas that are important for mediating stress effects and reward-related behaviors. Our findings will provide key insight into the neurobiological basis of sex differences in stress susceptibility.

This work was funded, in part by the Johns Hopkins Vivian Thomas Scholars Initiative.

(Return)

Foward Image Modeling Of DragonCam

Katherine Carver, Physics
Shannon MacKenzie, John Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory

Titan, one of Saturn’s moons, has been a target of interest for astrobiologists and planetary scientists. In particular, chemical reactions generate organic molecules in Titan’s atmosphere. Dragonfly, a NASA mission that will explore Titan in the 2030s, will measure the surface composition at multiple locations to identify whether any of these organic molecules that fall to the surface are the signature of prebiotic chemistry. Mass spectroscopy is essential to the Dragonfly mission; however, since the rotorcraft will be operating billions of miles away from Earth, we must be strategic with the surface samples we analyze with the mass spectrometer. My project aims to create a tool that informs the decision of when to use the mass spectrometer by making the imaging data that Dragonfly’s cameras return a more helpful diagnostic for composition. To accomplish this, I developed functions to forward model detector signals for different surface materials, illumination conditions, and camera types. This tool generates simulated images of Titan’s surface, thereby facilitating the characterization from images, which provides crucial context for selecting sites worthy of sampling.

(Return)

Cataract Opacity As An Independent Predictor Of Visual Outcome Following Congenital Cataract Surgery

Sera Chase, Biological Sciences
Janet Alexander, Biological Sciences

Congenital Cataracts, the calcification of the lens, is the leading cause of blindness in infants and children (Tătaru et al., 2020). This calcified lens can be removed and replaced through cataract surgery. This project aims to investigate a correlation between cataract type and vision outcomes by using data from the Infant Aphakia Treatment Study (IATS). Cataracts were assigned to two categories: white or grey. We then matched those cataract assignments to the documented patient vision outcomes. These vision outcomes are numerically denoted by the LogMAR and matched with the corresponding Snellen value. The LogMAR is a visual acuity test that utilizes decimal values to indicate eyesight quality with 0.0 indicating standard eye vision (equivalent to the Snellen value of 20/20) (Daiber and Gnugnoli, 2023). Currently, we have determined a slight difference between vision outcomes for white (0.863 or 20/145) and grey (0.816 or 20/130) cataracts. However, this difference is not statistically significant according to the T-Test (Pr>|t|=0.830) and Chi-Square analyses (P=0.143). Future steps include refining the protocol to distinguish white vs. grey while including cataract diameter as an additional parameter in hopes of developing a better predictive model for post-cataract surgery outcomes for young patients.

This work was funded by the NIH K23EY032525 grant.

(Return)

Spinning Poetry, Weaving Tales: Latin Literature and the Reconstruction of Roman Textile Techniques

Mare Chavez, Ancient Studies
Molly Jones-Lewis, Ancient Studies

In the Roman world, the task of spinning thread and weaving cloth was largely the responsibility of women, both in the domestic sphere and within local textile industries. Wool-working scenes feature prominently in Latin literature, but they were written primarily by men and have often been mistranslated by scholars due to a lack of technical knowledge and experience. I have translated Ovid’s passages in the Metamorphoses which described this textile process and used it to recreate the stages of spinning thread on a spindle to weaving cloth on a loom. I sought to reconstruct the experience of Roman wool-working and to preserve historical practices by applying them in a real-world context. Performing the actions of spinning and weaving revealed to me the nuances of the textual descriptions that were missed in prior translations. It also showed me that while spinning thread could be performed individually, weaving was a process that had to be done with other people. This experience supports prior literary, artistic, and archaeological evidence that weaving was a social activity involving multiple women in a household.

This work was funded, in part, through an Undergraduate Research Award from the UMBC Division of Undergraduate Academic Affairs.

(Return)

Integration of Molecular Networks into Computational Tools for the Stratification of Lung Cancer Patients.

Ethan Chen, Bioinformatics and Computational Biology
Maricel Kann, Biological Sciences

Cancer is an ongoing healthcare problem, due to its nature of multiple mutations and fast growth of cells. What makes cancer difficult to solve is its molecular complexity, making it difficult to unveil the molecular underpinning of the disease. There are plenty of existing immunotherapy and biomarkers being used to treat cancer patients, however the prognosis varies across patients. We use various machine learning tools to help us predict which treatments would benefit patients the most, taking into account various interactions that could interfere with treatment. By analyzing the molecular interactions related to each cancer patient retrospectively, we can determine the relationship between the gene variants’ effect in the molecular network and the prognosis of the patient. Through the use of precision oncology techniques and our molecular interactions, we built gene networks for each cancer patient and used Cytoscape to visualize them. The nodes are genes that embed information about their variation and gene expression related to the patient. The edge nodes are determined through filters of functional interactions between the genes. This graphical representation of the patient was inputted into our machine learning techniques allowing a better classification of patients with impact on their prognosis, and treatment options.

(Return)

The Effect Of Loss Of rkd4 on Embryogenesis And Gonidia Specification In Volvox Carteri

Kevin Chen, Biological Sciences
Stephen Miller, Biological Sciences

Volvox carteri is a model organism to study the evolution of cellular differentiation in multicellular organisms as it has two types of cells with division of labor (somatic and gonidia). My project focuses on the rkd4 gene that is highly repressed by the overexpression of a gene (rlsD) that represses growth. rkd4 might have a role in embryogenesis and gonidial specification as knockouts of the orthologous gene in Arabidopsis thaliana exhibit embryonic defects such as premature germination and embryonic lethality. In contrast, ectopic expression of the same gene in Arabidopsis causes dedifferentiation of affected tissue. This project aims to perform a successful knockout of rkd4 to see if colonies will produce smaller or fewer gonidia than wild-type Volvox. I am using biolistic DNA transformation to introduce sgRNA and Cas9 genes to do CRISPR knockouts in V. carteri. So far, we have generated two transformants, but they do not have the rkd4 mutation. Currently, we are aiming to create more transformants with additional sgRNAs in an attempt to identify rkd4 mutants. rkd4 mutants will be analyzed to determine the effect of loss of rkd4 on embryogenesis and gonidial specification.

(Return)

A Hyperbolic Variant of Tic-Tac-Toe

Sarah Chen, Mathematics and Statistics
Manil Suri, Mathematics and Statistics

We consider a variation of tic-tac-toe played on a truncated hyperbolic plane, the inspiration for which arises from using crochet to create hyperbolic geometry. Instead of a 3×3 grid, we now have 13 cells. We show that using some modified rules, each player can again force a draw, as is the case for the usual flat version. We briefly consider tic-tac-toe on a sphere as well, for which we show that the same outcome of a draw holds. Finally, we present a strategy that can be used to choose the best move. Our game variations can be used pedagogically to engender more familiarity with non-Euclidean geometry.

This work was funded, in part, through an Undergraduate Research Award from the UMBC Division of Undergraduate Academic Affairs.

(Return)

Investigating The Role of ADCK5 and SOX9 Interactions in Ovarian Cancer Carcinogenesis

Tadiwa Chiduza, Megha Pandya, Biological Sciences
Achuth Padmanabhan, Biological Sciences

Ovarian Cancer is the most lethal gynecological cancer that ranks 5th in cancer-associated deaths in women. If detected early the 5-year survival rate among patients is ~90%, however once metastatic it drops to 40% ovarian cancer patients and is associated with decreased survival rates in patients. SOX9 was identified as substrate of ADCK5 and was shown to induce cell proliferation and inhibit apoptosis in lung cancer cells. My research aims to characterize the interaction between ADCK5 and SOX9 in ovarian cancer cells. To achieve this goal, I will clone SOX9 gene into lentiviral expression vector to allow for its expression in ovarian cancer cells. I will use these cells to perform in vitro assays to determine the impact of SOX9 on ovarian cancer progression. I will also clone SOX9 into bacterial expression vector to purify recombinant SOX9 for in vitro assays using ADCK5. Developing these reagents will allow me to investigate the potential role of ADCK5 and SOX9 in ovarian cancer.

(Return)

Investigating the Binding Interactions and Structure of the HIV-1 Rev Protein and the Rev Response Element

Pal Chokshi, Chemistry and Biochemistry
Michael Summers, Chemistry and Biochemistry

The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) requires its full-length or partially spliced viral RNA to be exported from the nucleus to the cytoplasm for translation or packaging into new virions. It is therefore essential for the unspliced viral RNA to exit the nucleus, however, host quality control mechanisms prevent this. Instead HIV regulates the export of its incompletely spliced RNA through production of an accessory protein, Rev, which enters the nucleus and oligomerizes on the Rev response element (RRE), a landmark on these viral RNAs. This complex is then exported via the host Crm-1 pathway. The RRE is a highly conserved region of the viral RNA which contains multiple high affinity binding sites for Rev. The previously characterized Rev binding sites on the RRE include purine rich bulges in stem-1A, stem-2B, and the stem 2 junction site. We aim to characterize the binding interactions between Rev and the RRE, with the ultimate goal of determining the complete structure of the Rev-RRE complex. We are developing a mutant Rev protein modified to reduce protein aggregation for NMR studies. A thorough understanding of the REV-RRE interaction could pave the way for the development of targeted therapies against HIV.

This work was funded, in part, by the Center for Structural Biology of HIV RNA and by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute.

(Return)

Unveiling the Diversity of Fusobacterium in Colorectal Cancer

Zam Cing, Bioinformatics and Computational Biology
Jessica Queen, The John Hopkins School of Medicine

Fusobacterium nucleatum, a prominent member of the human oropharyngeal microbiota, has emerged as a focal point in colorectal cancer (CRC). F. nucleatum is a heterogeneous species consisting of four subspecies: animalis, nucleatum, polymorphum, and vincentii. This study aims to isolate and characterize F. nucleatum within a Malaysian CRC cohort of 110 patients. We hypothesized that F. nucleatum would exhibit higher abundance in CRC tumor biopsies compared to paired normal tissue, with differential representation of the subspecies. 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing revealed that F. nucleatum was significantly enriched in the tumor microbiome compared to paired normal tissue (p<0.0001) specifically in biofilm positive tumors (p<0.0001). There was no association between F. nucleatum abundance and tumor stage or location, or patient sex or ethnicity. Subspecies-specific PCRs performed on tumor DNA identified animalis as the most prevalent subspecies, with a trend toward an association with biofilms. In parallel, F. nucleatum strains were isolated using selective culture, with 11 Fusobacterium strains isolated to date, with subsp. animalis most frequently isolated. In summary, F. nucleatum, and specifically subsp. animalis, is enriched in the CRC microbiome, specifically in tumors that have biofilms. These findings lay the groundwork for further exploration into subspecies-specific mechanisms underlying CRC carcinogenesis.

This investigation was sponsored by the organizations below, including the U-RISE Program at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC), which is supported by the National Institute Of General Medical Sciences of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number T34GM136497. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.

(Return)

Healthcare in the Korean Joseon Dynasty

Michaela Clark, Modern Languages, Linguistics, and Intercultural Communication
Kyung-Eun Yoon, Modern Languages, Linguistics, and Intercultural Communication

The Joseon dynasty was the last and longest living dynasty of Korea. In the 15th century, healthcare within the Joseon dynasty began to expand. Healthcare in the Joseon dynasty has been shown to be more complex and advanced than previously thought. Recent research has found how similar their practices were to modern healthcare. This paper will examine some of these practices, including the writing and updating of medicinal texts, the creation of widespread pharmacies, and the mass production of "cure-all" medicines. Additionally, syphilis is presented as a case study of an illness that was treated under the Joseon-era healthcare system. This presentation will examine and build upon literature of the Joseon dynasty’s healthcare system.

(Return)

Stitch Quest: Video Game

Jenny Claudet, Jessica Jung, Kyle Williford, Stephen Bollinger, Sydnee Conigland, Brent Macek, Felicia Edet
Marc Olano, Computer Science and Electrical Engineering

Stitch Quest is a video game that explores the possibilities of 2D puzzle platformers and involves knitting and sewing mechanics, allowing the player to manipulate their environment and explore a whimsical world. The player is able to subtract or add to the environment by unraveling objects in the world or knitting objects into existence. The player must also manage resources as creating objects requires material collection in the environment. This creative work has potential to innovate on the experience of 2D puzzle platformers, as well as challenge both the creators’ and player’s creativity, spatial reasoning and problem solving skills through fun puzzles. The project was completed with a team of programmers and artists. The programmers worked in Unity, using C# to program player movement and environment manipulation. The artists designed the world, characters, and levels to bring a whimsical and fun element to the project.

Stitch Quest is a video game that explores the possibilities of 2D puzzle platformers and involves knitting and sewing mechanics, allowing the player to manipulate their environment and explore a whimsical world. The player is able to subtract or add to the environment by unraveling objects in the world or knitting objects into existence. The player must also manage resources as creating objects requires material collection in the environment. This creative work has potential to innovate on the experience of 2D puzzle platformers, as well as challenge both the creators’ and player’s creativity, spatial reasoning and problem solving skills through fun puzzles. The project was completed with a team of programmers and artists. The programmers worked in Unity, using C# to program player movement and environment manipulation. The artists designed the world, characters, and levels to bring a whimsical and fun element to the project.

(Return)

White, Pink, and Pretty: How Barbie’s Feminism Fails its Viewers

Carrington Cline, Tanzila Malik, Abby Claytor, Nati Acuña, Media and Communications Studies
Lauren Allen, Women's Center; Amelia Meman, Women's Center

The 2023 film Barbie (Gerwig, 2023) is the highest-grossing live-action comedy film of all time; it has been lauded as a feminist film that cunningly subverts gender roles and thoughtfully addresses issues of diversity that are fraught in most Hollywood films. Barbie is an easily digestible media that portrays basic feminist principles for the general public. But if Barbie is a feminist film, is it also intersectional? This study examines the limitations of the Barbie movie’s portrayal of feminism and its failings in regard to intersectionality. We aim to inspire critical thinking around media and intersectionality and shed light on the prevalence of White feminism in popular media. Using content analysis informed by intersectional feminist theory, we analyzed instances in the film that demonstrated (pseudo-)feminist principles and themes in order to determine how intersectional Barbie’s brand of feminism is. We also explored avenues by which Barbie could better depict intersectionality and contemporary feminist thought.

(Return)

Impact of Physical and Social Isolation During COVID-19 on Fall Risks for Older Adults in Assisted Living Facilities

MaryRose Cohn, Aging Studies
Louise Murray, Aging Studies

How did social and physical isolation measures, implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic, impact the incidence of falls among older adults in assisted living communities? The physical and psychological impacts of falls among older adults are well documented on both population and individual levels (AHR, 2021; Liu et al., 2021). The COVID-19 pandemic and the social and physical distancing measures implemented in assisted living communities in response to the pandemic added further complexity to the incidence and prevalence of falls and fall prevention measures among this population (Jenq, 2020). Physical activity among older adults was shown to decline significantly during the first 10 months of the COVID pandemic (Gavin, 2021) which is believed to have increased fall rates among older adults (Akosile et al., 2021; Schoene et al., 2019). This mixed-methods study will explore the Assisted Living Administrator’s perspective of the impact of these measures on both the incidence of falls and the ability to prevent falls within their communities. Data was collected using qualitative (open-ended survey questions and in person interviews) and quantitative (closed-ended survey questions) methodology. It is anticipated that 15 participants respond to the online survey and 5 participate in the follow-up interview portion of the study.

This work was funded, in part, through an Undergraduate Research Award from the UMBC Division of Undergraduate Academic Affairs.

(Return)

The Politics of Unwanted Pregnancy: A Social Work Perspective

Tessa Cone, Social Work
Lisa Vetter, Political Science; Jayshree Jani, UMBC, Department of Social Work

In a country where bodily autonomy and reproductive freedom are no longer guaranteed, social workers have a responsibility to understand the current political climate and legislation, educate themselves and others on safe sex practices, and advocate for increased services and resources for pregnant people. Through a variety of qualitative and quantitative research, including first hand experiences, this research will guide social workers as they continue to provide support to pregnant people who have unwanted pregnancies in the post Roe era.

This work was funded, in part, through an Undergraduate Research Award from the UMBC Division of Undergraduate Academic Affairs.

(Return)

The Effects of Lisinopril on the Motor Network of Aging Drosophila M. Lacking App-Like Protein

Sophia Conrad, Solom Harraz^1
1Biological Sciences, UMBC
Fernando Vonhoff, Biological Sciences

Using Drosophila Melanogaster as a model for studying AD has become common due to the presence of an APP homolog in flies, APP-like (APPL), showing high levels of conservation at the structural and functional levels. The human angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) is closely associated with hypertension and physical decline in older adults. ACE inhibitors (ACEi), like Lisinopril, are prescribed for hypertension and improve blood flow. It is thought that Lisinopril slows down neurodegeneration and has been shown to mitigate the physical symptoms of AD. However, there is a disparity in its effectiveness.

In this study, we aimed to explore the beneficial effects of Lisinopril on the motor network of flies mutant for Appl. We predicted that Lisinopril would improve the locomotion of the Appl-mutant flies as they aged. We conducted climbing and flight performance assays. We used a wild-type genotype as a control to compare to our Appl-mutant flies. Multiple cohorts of flies were tested at various ages. Our results indicate that Appl-mutant flies treated with Lisinopril showed significantly better performance than the control flies in each assay, with a distinct difference at 30 days old. These results suggest there is great potential for Lisinopril to slow the progression of neurodegeneration.

This research was partially funded by the USM LSAMP program, supported by NSF LSAMP Award # 2207374.

(Return)

Phosphate Recovery by Donnan Dialysis: Impact of Operating Parameters in a Batch-Recycle Reactor

An Dang, Chemical, Biochemical, and Environmental Engineering
Lee Blaney, Chemical, Biochemical, and Environmental Engineering

New technologies are needed to address the grand challenge of nutrient pollution. We propose Donnan dialysis as a promising option for nutrient treatment and recovery. Donnan dialysis enables selective separation of nutrients across ion-exchange membranes due to electrochemical potential gradients induced by saline draw solutions. The objective of this study was to measure orthophosphate (P(V)) removal and recovery in lab-scale Donnan dialysis reactors designed to emulate continuous flow processes. Experiments were conducted in batch-recycle mode using two-chamber Donnan dialysis reactors equipped with anion-exchange membranes separating the nutrient-laden waste and saline draw solutions. The waste solution initially contained 10 mM NaH2PO4, and the draw solution was designed to achieve 90% recovery. The system was operated with variable mixing modes (with, without), volumetric flow rates (150, 300, 630 mL min–1), and waste-to-draw solution volume ratios (1:1, 3:1, 6:1). The optimal volumetric flow rate achieved almost 90% P(V) removal and over 87% P(V) recovery after 48 h. When the waste-to-draw solution volume ratio was changed from 1:1 to 6:1, the P(V) flux out of the waste solution increased by 30.2%, suggesting scale-up benefits. These outcomes highlight the potential of Donnan dialysis to be employed for effective nutrient recovery in continuous flow systems.

We acknowledge funding from the United States Department of Agriculture (project #MD.W-2019-06552).

(Return)

Strengthening World History Students’ Ability to Provide Evidence for Responses Through the Application of Relevant Info

William Darago, Education
Cheryl North, Education

High school students often excel at signifying the correct answer to short response questions yet, they are unable to use the appropriate context and/or evidence to support their claim. This study investigated the effects of interventions aimed to support students to understand and use evidence to support their claims. The subjects of this study were 44 Honors Modern World History Students who were tasked with ways to structure their arguments in the 4-Point Paragraph format where it is required that students practice and reiterate evidence collected throughout lessons. Class activities were designed to develop the comprehension abilities of students in relation to sources and pictures. Students were given a baseline writing assignment and a final writing assignment. The 4-Point Paragraph format was used to effectively assess and grade students using a standardized rubric. Students demonstrated the development of both evidence used in argumentative reasoning, along with the proper structure of including evidence within their answers.

(Return)

Effect Of SLBO-dependent APT Degradation In A Bistable Jak/Stat System

Joshua Davis-Carpenter, Mathematics and Statistics
Bradford Peercy, Mathematics and Statistics

Cell migration is important for many biological functions such as development, wound healing, and cancer metastases. Externally triggered signaling within a cell will determine whether that cell will be motile or idle. Such a signal within epithelial cells is the JAK/STAT receptor-transcription factor combination followed by a cross-repression system between APT and SLBO which determines the paused or active cell fate.

We previously explored the model described by Ge and Stonko modified to seven variables for gene states, mRNA, and protein for APT and SLBO. These seven differential equations were then simulated within MATLAB to give a visual outcome for these biochemical processes over a period of time. We explored the bistability between the two cell fate states in time by showing hysteresis in APT/SLBO as it depends on the STAT level as well as tracking bifurcations in the system. Achieving either of the two steady states depends on initial state variables and a parameter for the STAT level. Now we alter the rate of SLBO-dependent degradation of APT to mimic the effect of micro RNA interference and show a change in the bifurcation. Modeling mathematically the properties of JAK/STAT interactions could help us expand our knowledge of cell migration.

NSF-NIH (DMS-NIGMS) Hybrid mathematical modeling for cell fate determination in clustered cell migration, (#1953423).

(Return)

Determining the Impact of MAPK15 Depletion on Ovarian Cancer Cells

Courtney de Leon, Biological Sciences
Achuth Padmanabhan, Biological Sciences; Fatimah Alfaran, Biological Sciences Dept., UMBC

Due to vague symptoms and the ineffectiveness of current biomarkers, over 85% of ovarian cancers are diagnosed metastatic. Current treatments are ineffective in treating metastatic ovarian cancer, consequently, the 5-year survival rate is 20 kb remains a challenge in the generation of large synthetic genomes. Current methods for assembling DNA fragments >20 kb require time consuming procedures including stepwise bacterial transformations followed by selection, resulting in inefficiency and low yield. To address this challenge, we developed Cyclic Heteroduplex Thermostable Ligase Assembly (CHTLA), an innovative in vitro method capable of assembling DNA fragments >20 kb with high yield. In this project, our strategy utilizes rolling circle amplification (RCA), a circular DNA amplification technique that generates CHTLA precursors in high yield. Compared to polymerase chain reaction (PCR), RCA offers several advantages, including easier product isolation by distinct gel electrophoresis bands and robust amplification of larger precursor fragments. Here we demonstrate RCA success in generating an 8 kb CHTLA precursor. Two 4 kb fragments were PCR amplified and ligated to generate the precursor template for RCA. By addressing the challenge associated with efficient in vitro assembly of DNA fragments >20 kb, our integrated approach using RCA and CHTLA holds promise for advancing synthetic genome construction.

This work was funded in part of the Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation.

(Return)

Investigating Inhibition Control in Two Darter Fish Species: Etheostoma Caeruleum and Etheostoma Olmstedi

Gabriella Dennis, Biological Sciences
Tamra Mendelson, Biological Sciences; Yseult Hejja-Brichard, Biological Sciences, UMBC

This URA-funded study aims to address the scarcity of research on behavioral inhibition in two darter fish species, Etheostoma caeruleum and Etheostoma olmstedi. As a part of the ManyFishes Big Team Science initiative, it will contribute to a greater understanding of cognition across diverse fish species. A detour task will be used to test inhibitory control in darters. It requires the darters to successfully navigate around a glass cylinder to reach a food reward signaled by a green dot on a plate. This experiment includes three acclimation phases to familiarize the subjects with the different elements separately and a fourth test phase. This study’s data will amplify our insights into the cognitive processes of darters, shedding light on their inhibitory control abilities. This research will not only study non-traditional organisms but will also enable phylogenetic comparisons of the cognitive ability of fishes, which will ultimately impact our scientific and public understanding of animal intelligence.

This work was funded, in part, through an Undergraduate Research Award from the UMBC Division of Undergraduate Academic Affairs.

(Return)

Investigating Gag-RNA Interactions of HIV-1

Kush Desai, Chemistry and Biochemistry
Michael Summers, Chemistry and Biochemistry

Human Immunodeficiency Virus type-1 weakens the host immune system by destroying CD4+ cells leading to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Antiviral therapies exist, but drug resistance necessitates novel therapeutic strategies and calls for a better understanding of the viral replication mechanisms. In the late phase of HIV-1 replication, a few Gag proteins transport two copies of viral genomic RNA to the plasma membrane, initiating assembly. This stage, crucial for replication, is highly conserved, underscoring the importance of understanding it for improved therapeutics. Our aim is to analyze the structure of the dimeric RNA packaging signal in HIV-1MAL and investigate RNA-Gag interactions crucial for genome selection. Gag proteins transport two gRNA copies to the membrane, initiating assembly. Gag consists of N-terminal myristoylated matrix (MA), capsid (CA), and nucleocapsid (NC) domains. Although each domain’s function is known, our focus is on understanding how full-length Gag integrates their functions and regulates viral assembly through Gag/RNA interactions. Using nuclear magnetic resonance, we’ll structurally characterize gRNA, and employ isothermal titration calorimetry and competitive binding assays to study Gag/gRNA interactions. These insights should aid in developing novel antiretroviral therapies targeting Gag/RNA interactions.

Howard Hughes Medical Institute and NIH.

(Return)

Daylight

Ky DeSilva, Evan McRae, Joshua Epstein, Computer Science and Electrical Engineering
Marc Olano, Computer Science and Electrical Engineering

Daylight is a two-dimensional story-based adventure game where the player explores a monster-ridden, eternally daylit world as a warrior dog. These monsters attack the last dogs existing in the region, and the player must fight back against the monsters, attend to the needs of fellow dogs in the town, and traverse the land to find out what caused it to become so bleak. This project provided a great creative space for all members of the team to collaborate and incorporate various ideas to help develop the game’s universe. Prior backgrounds of contributing programmers, musicians, writers, and artists helped form a stable groundwork for the project, though diving in with neither completed world-building nor a clear story roadmap was a challenge at first. The continued development of this project helped strengthen each team member’s collaborative skills as they worked towards creating a captivating world for players to experience.

(Return)

The Effect Of Urbanization On Macroinvertebrates in Freshwater Aquatic Ecosystems

Jameelah Destry, GES
Abraham Borker, Ecology & Evolutionary Biology

Understanding the impact of human disturbance on aquatic ecosystems is critical for conservation efforts and sustaining biodiversity. This research investigates the effects of urbanization on the diversity and distribution of aquatic macroinvertebrates in coastal habitats. Macroinvertebrates serve as vital indicators of water health due to their varying tolerance levels to pollution. Our study aimed to determine how human activities influence macroinvertebrate communities, hypothesizing that areas with minimal human disturbance would exhibit greater species richness and evenness. The implications of our research extend beyond academic interest, highlighting the need for public awareness and action in urban planning and environmental protection. Urbanization’s detrimental effects on aquatic ecosystems emphasizes the importance of sustainable practices to preserve water quality and biodiversity. By protecting and restoring these vital habitats, we can ensure the health of our water bodies for future generations and maintain the ecological balance necessary for all forms of life, including our own. Our study demonstrates the value of macroinvertebrates in assessing the health of aquatic ecosystems. It illuminates conservation and restoration efforts, ultimately promoting a sustainable coexistence between human activities and natural habitats, both aquatic and terrestrial.

(Return)

From Trash to Treasure: Toxic Tourism, Subjunctive Measures of Safety, And Redevelopment in the Baltimore Inner Harbor

Tristan Diaz, Sociology, Anthropology, and Health Administration and Policy
Nicholas Welcome, Anthropology; Bambi Chapin, Anthropology

The Baltimore Inner Harbor has long been a site of immense industrial production. Since the 1700s, the resulting pollution has become synonymous with the Inner Harbor, creating a distinct notion that the water was inherently harmful to those who came into contact with it. The question for many has become, “What do we do about it?” This study explores how people around the Baltimore Inner Harbor perceive and work to rehabilitate water and water life in areas long deemed polluted. One innovative way that some have chosen to help rehabilitate the harbor is by using magnets to fish out metal debris in the Baltimore Inner Harbor. Magnet fishing is a practice that uses large neodymium magnets and grappling hooks tied to heavy ropes to collect metal refuse that lies below the surface of the water. Using ethnographic methods, including participant observation and interviewing, this project explores these perceptions through the lens of those who come into direct contact with pollutants while magnet fishing in the Baltimore Inner Harbor. This exploration of people’s relationship with the Inner Harbor provides important insight into current debates about risk and redevelopment in the Inner Harbor area.

(Return)

Enhancing Analytical Proficiency Through Historical Sources

Ousmane Diop, Visual Arts
Linda Oliva, Education

This study assessed the ability for seventh grade students to correctly analyze primary and secondary sources, a foundational skill for historians. The objective of this research is grounded in the understanding that honing analytical skills in source evaluation is fundamental for cultivating critical thinking and historical literacy. Oftentimes, in social studies students struggle to analyze and craft historical arguments with primary and secondary sources to write an effective response. Furthermore, a large portion of the students in this study are multilingual learners with limited English proficiency who need additional help with writing. The subjects of the study were 43 seventh graders from a suburban middle school who were given a pre- and post-writing assignment that examined their ability to write an effective response using primary and secondary sources. Throughout the course of the study, students practiced identifying primary and secondary sources, assessing reliability, and recognizing biases. Students were scored using the 8-point Middle School Evidence-Based Rubric to further understand whether they met their own growth target. The findings will not only serve as a basis for refining future instructional practices but will also contribute valuable insights to the broader discourse on effective strategies for developing analytical skills.

This work was funded, in part, through the UMBC Education Department.

(Return)

Infinite Spectrum: A Queer Self-Portrait Exhibition, Echoes Of Mapplethorpe, Muholi And Many Other Queer Artists

Ousmane Diop, Arts
Mentor: Julie Oakes

Infinite Spectrum is an evocative self-portrait exhibition that draws inspiration from the impactful legacies of Robert Mapplethorpe and Zanele Muholi, bringing forth a deeply personal exploration of the queer experience. This project seeks to amplify individual voices within the LGBTQIA+ community by providing a platform for artists to express the nuances, challenges, and triumphs of their unique journeys. The self-portraits featured in this project will transcend conventional boundaries, employing a myriad of mediums such as photography. Artists are encouraged to delve into the raw authenticity of their lived experiences, embracing the influence of Mapplethorpe’s unapologetic exploration of sexuality and Muholi’s unyielding commitment to documenting black LGBTQIA+ narratives. This research unfolds as a kaleidoscopic journey, reflecting the diversity within the queer community. Each self-portrait serves as a vibrant brushstroke contributing to a larger canvas that honors the multiplicity of queer identities. Infinite Spectrum seeks to create an immersive experience, inviting viewers to navigate the intricacies of queer existence. By channeling the spirit of Mapplethorpe and Muholi, Infinite Spectrum aspires to be more than an art exhibition; it aims to be a celebration, a testament, and a testament to the resilience and beauty inherent in the queer experience.

(Return)

Spatiotemporal Variations in Ethnic and Racial Disparities of U.S. Heart Disease Mortality

Julie Do, Public Health, Cristina Miller^1
1USDA Rural Development Innovation Center
Cristina Miller, USDA

Heart disease remains the leading cause of death amongst individuals living in the United States despite various efforts in health promotion and disease prevention. To increase knowledge concerning disparities in heart disease mortality, this study provides descriptive statistics and geographic visualizations of ethnic, racial, geographical, and temporal variations in heart disease mortality across the United States at the county level using data from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Wide-Ranging Online Data for Epidemiologic Research (CDC WONDER) and Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s County Health Rankings spanning 1999-2020. By creating and analyzing multiple choropleth maps over time, we find that heart disease mortality rates decrease overall; however, different races and ethnicities experience varying changes in heart disease mortality rates with Hispanic and Latino, American Indian and Alaskan Native, and Asian and Pacific Islander populations witnessing increased mortality rates while African American and White mortality rates decrease slightly. In addition, we also explore how specific social determinants of health such as median household income, food insecurity, and obesity correlate geographically with racial and ethnic health disparities. This research indicates which populations are disproportionately affected and geographic areas where potential efforts are needed.

(Return)

Phenotypic Characterization of an Aspergillus Nidulans ∆mpkA∆hogA Strain

Casey Douglas, Chemical, Biochemical, and Environmental Engineering
Mark R. Marten, Chemical, Biochemical, and Environmental Engineering

Previous experiments have provided insight into the regulation of kinase phosphorylation in cell signal transduction pathways in the model filamentous fungus Aspergillus nidulans in response to micafungin, an antifungal compound. This research created interest in exploring if two key signaling pathways, the cell wall integrity signaling (CWIS) and high osmolarity glycerol (HOG) pathways, participate in crosstalk with one another to mount responses to cell-wall stress. Determining if the CWIS and HOG pathways participate in crosstalk was tested by characterizing the phenotype of an ∆mpkA∆hogA strain by comparing the growth rate and average particle size of this deletion strain to the wild-type fungus and single deletion strains corresponding to the same genes. While average particle size of ∆mpkA∆hogA in osmotically stabilized media did not differ from ∆mpkA, growth rate and average particle size in non-osmotically stabilized media rescued the normal phenotype of the wild-type strain, implying the two genes manipulate a common signaling pathway. Since Aspergillus fungi are implicated in both industrial processes and healthcare issues, being used for large scale enzyme production while also being responsible for multiple life-threatening respiratory infections, being able to understand and potentially manipulate the cellular mechanisms utilized by this organism make its study worth pursuing.

This work was funded, in part, through the National Science Foundation (Award 2006189) and also through an Undergraduate Research Award from the UMBC Office of Undergraduate Education.

(Return)

Interaction Between Mutants of the SWI/SNF Domino and the Ecdysone Signaling Pathway in Border Cell Migration

Isabella Dressler, Biological Sciences, Alanna Carter1, Alex George1
1UMBC
Michelle Starz-Gaiano, Biological Sciences

Cell migration is a fundamental biological process, which plays an important role in development. Fruit flies or Drosophila are commonly used to identify genes that control cell migration. We are examining the mutant domino and the ecdysone signaling pathway affecting cell migration in Drosophila Melanogaster. Domino encodes a protein of the SWI2/SNF class of DNA-dependent ATPases, acting to modify chromatin structure. The ecdysone signaling pathway plays a central role in regulating timing and coordination of development by hormonally activating the Ecdysone Receptor (EcR). To investigate effects of domino and EcR interaction in cell migration, we used mutant analysis and immunofluorescence techniques to visualize and analyze cell migration dynamics. We found stronger defects in cell migration when both dom and EcR are disrupted than when either alone is. Domino has a human ortholog SRCAP, which is genetically linked to Floating-Harbor Syndrome, characterized by developmental delay, hypotonia, musculoskeletal defects, and behavioral abnormalities. Investigation into fly cell migration serves as an ideal model for understanding general migratory processes due to conservation of signaling pathways across species and spatiotemporal visualization of collective cell movement. Understanding the impact of domino mutants will provide a greater comprehension of SRCAP’s mutations and its effects in humans.

(Return)

Middle Eastern HCI: Current View and Development of the HCI Discipline in Academic Environments

Amina El-Ashry, Information Systems
Foad Hamidi, Information Systems

Similar to most emerging technologies or revolutionary ways of thinking in our digital age, the field of Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) has spread rapidly around the globe. In the past decade, its methodologies have primarily matured and developed in geographical areas centralized in American and European contexts, as opposed to Asian, African, or Middle Eastern ones. We are interested in better understanding the characteristics of this movement, focusing on how researchers and practitioners working in the Middle East have navigated the field. How these experts discuss and spread knowledge and progress their careers uncovers how HCI matures in the context of the region’s sociocultural factors. Six researchers/professors from the academic sector in four Middle Eastern countries (Egypt, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait) were interviewed. Our initial findings show that in an academic environment, the growth of HCI is driven by individual agents rather than a systematic effort. These individual agents are heavily influenced by external trends (ie. Private sector success) rather than standardized best practice, which makes it challenging to establish programs or courses within their institutions. We discuss how student initiative and connection to the larger HCI community are necessary for the practical use of HCI methods in the region.

(Return)

A Synthetic Data Generator To Accelerate Machine Learning Algorithm Development

Evalynn Ellison, Chemical, Biochemical, and Environmental Engineering
Brandon DeKosky, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Machine learning algorithms for antibody mutations are lacking in diverse datasets to learn from. Without high-quality datasets, the predictions made by these algorithms are inaccurate. The DeKosky Lab at MIT has established a high-quality dataset approach for anti-malaria antibody screening. However, these datasets are time-consuming to develop, as many experiments are required to gather a robust number of data points. The focus of the current project is to create a synthetic data generator to use to explore algorithm development and test parameters while waiting for the experimental data from antibody engineering efforts. The synthetic data generator uses Python to create mutations in the wild-type amino acid sequence across two different malaria antibodies. Mutated sequences are then randomly assigned a corresponding binding affinity. The program outputs a specified number of mutated sequences, each with a binding affinity. This synthetic data can then be used to explore different data representations and as trial data for machine learning algorithms. These algorithms can then be used to help create a machine-learning model for highly effective monoclonal antibody treatments.

This work was funded in part by the MIT Summer Research Extension Program.

(Return)

Decoding Hand Movements from Electromyographic Signals Toward a Near-Natural Prosthesis

Caly Ferguson, Computer Science and Electrical Engineering
Ramana Vinjamuri, Computer Science and Electrical Engineering

Injuries, diabetes, and amniotic band syndrome are examples of situations that have caused approximately 50 million people worldwide to have a limb amputated. Recent technological advancements have allowed missing limbs to be replaced by mechanical prosthetic limbs that act as assistive devices but do not offer a natural full range of motion and sophistication. The Vinjamuri Lab aims to study Brain-Machine Interfaces, while the specific objective of this project is to create a computational neuroscience model using machine learning that can decode electromyographic (EMG) signals from forearm muscle groups, and predict diverse hand movements based on EMG to improve prosthetic devices. In this project, the Classification Learner application within MATLAB was used to train a model that can effectively differentiate EMG signals from a fist or a flat hand gesture, and a model that can do the same with the flexion of the five different fingers. The fist and flat hand gestures and the individual finger flexion prediction models’ accuracies are respectively 100% and 98% effective. Currently, the models cannot predict intermediate positions of the hand gestures and finger flexions, but future aims are to improve the versatility of this model so that it can actuate more complex hand positions.

A special thanks to the National Science Foundation (CAREER Award HCC-2053498), the Meyerhoff Scholars Program at UMBC, the UMBC HHMI Undergraduate Scholars Program, the LSAMP Program, the Department of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering at UMBC, the Vinjamuri Lab and Dr. Ramana Kumar Vinjamuri for supporting this research. Additionally, this research was supported in part by a grant to UMBC from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute through the Driving Change Initiative.

(Return)

Incarceration History’s Impact on Employability

Isabella Filoia, Psychology
Diane Alonso, Psychology

Individuals who have been formerly incarcerated face stigmatization and discrimination. One important aspect of a successful reentry into society and reducing recidivism is employment. Eighty students from a Mid-Atlantic University participated in this study. They were assigned into two groups, the Clean group and the Incarcerated group, based on their birthday. Both groups were given resumes of the same applicants except Applicant X had an incarceration history in the Incarcerated group. They were then asked to rate their employability based on a job advertisement for a position in IT support. An independent samples t-test was used to compare the scores of Applicant X when they had a history of incarceration versus when they did not. The estimated outcome was that Applicant X received a lower score of employability when they had a history of incarceration than when they did not. This research is important because employment is a key aspect of a successful reentry into society as well as reducing recidivism.

(Return)

The Role of Feedback and Attention in Learning During Educational Instruction

Rachel Fischer, Psychology
Karrie Godwin, Psychology

Children are developing the ability to sustain and regulate their attention. In order to learn, children must attend to relevant information while inhibiting irrelevant information (Godwin et al., 2019). Task relevant feedback can help bridge the gap between prior knowledge and the to be learned information (Sadler, 1989 as cited in Hattie & Timperley, 2007). This study aims to investigate how attention and feedback work together to enhance children’s learning. In this study, children view a computer-based lesson about insects. In the condition of interest, children are shown pictures of animals and prompted with a lesson question (e.g., “Which one is the insect?” [ladybug or worm]) and then given visual feedback (ladybug is encircled) and categorical information about insects (e.g., “Insects are hard on the outside”). Participants’ attention to the lesson and to key lesson features (e.g., target, lure) are measured with eye tracking technology. The analysis will increase our understanding of where children are allocating their attention while receiving feedback, thus clarifying if feedback is an effective tool to increase children’s attention to specific instructional content. We will analyze a subset of the data from the larger parent study. Results are forthcoming.

(Return)

A Cross-Cultural Exploration of Children’s Reading Patterns in the U.S., Kosovo, and Turkey

Megan Flagg, Besjanë Krasniqi, Psychology
Susan Sonnenschein, Psychology; Michelle Stites, Education, UMBC

Bedtime reading in the U.S. is a common tradition positively related to children’s literacy skills (Mindell et al, 2017). However, far less is known about the frequency of bedtime reading and other reading patterns in other countries. This study describes children’s reading patterns in the U.S., Kosovo, and Turkey. Children in the U.S. typically score higher on international literacy assessments than in Kosovo and Turkey (PIRLS, 2021). In the current study, parents of 4-9 year-olds in the U.S. (N = 326), Kosovo (N = 94), and Turkey (N = 290) completed an online Qualtrics Survey about the frequency with which children read books at bedtime and other times. On average, U.S. parents reported a higher frequency of bedtime reading compared to Kosovo and Turkey. Reading at other times was lower and comparable across countries. U.S. parents reported having a higher number of children’s books. There also was a positive correlation between the number of children’s books and frequency of bedtime reading. Future research should consider how differential resources and parental beliefs affect the amount of bedtime and other reading in other nations.

(Return)

Comparing Alphabets: Bridging Human Orthography and Biochemical Structures Through Computational Analysis

Corleigh Forrester, Bioinformatics and Computational Biology
Stephen Freeland, Biological Sciences

Would life originating beyond Earth use the same biochemical building blocks? For the past 15 years, the Freeland lab at UMBC has studied this question for the specific case of amino acids. On Earth, one “alphabet” of 20 amino acids has served all life for more than 3 billion years. Research to produce the world’s first xeno (alien) amino acid alphabet is now well underway, but focused on two examples of a theory that suggests millions of other possibilities.
My project therefore seeks new ways to compare alternative alphabets. Specifically, I build from well-established computer science methods of OCR (optical character recognition) software to first measure similarity between the English, Cyrillic and Hawaiian alphabets (character sets). By implementing, benchmarking, and adapting this program my intent is to then explore different methods to measure similarity between sets of amino acid structures. My goal is to establish a computational framework that provides insight into xeno amino acids as plausible alternative building blocks for life. By using computational methods to bridge orthography with astrobiology, a successful outcome to my research will expand the theoretical foundations of biochemistry.

This project was funded in part by a grant from the JHU Vivian Thomas Scholars Initiative to the Meyerhoff Scholars Program at UMBC.

(Return)

Analyzing the Accuracy of NASA’s Aura Satellite’s Retrieval of Water Vapor Mixing Ratios using GRUAN Data

Trisha Joy Francisco, Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, Kylie Hoffman^1
1Atmospheric Science Grad Student, UMBC
Belay Demoz, Physics

NASA’s Microwave Limb Sounder (MLS) is a passive instrument onboard the Aura satellite that measures the microwave spectrum at a millimeter and submillimeter wavelength to retrieve vertical profiles of water vapor in the atmosphere. MLS provides the first global measurements of stratospheric data which helps improve our assessment of climate change however, the retrievals in the vertical profiles are not as precise as in-situ measurements. Therefore, this project aims to quantify the difference between MLS and Cryogenic Frostpoint Hygrometers (CFH) in-situ measurements.

GRUAN is an international reference observing network of sites measuring essential climate variables above Earth’s surface. This includes the use of CFH which measures water vapor mixing ratios through the chilled mirror principle. A decade of GRUAN CFH data located in Beltsville, MD is being used for these analyses. Early analyses show that MLS vertical profiles follow a similar trend but are not as precise as CFH profiles. This research can be used to provide more context in the measurements used to assess climate change and a better understanding of stratospheric processes.

This work was funded, in part, by GRUAN.

(Return)

Determining the Atmospheric Properties of Smoke Plumes

Antonio Galindo-Zabel, Physics, Amanda Vieira dos Santos, MS
Belay Demoz, Physics

The goal of this research is to analyze atmospheric properties of smoke plumes using data from ground based LIDAR and radiometers. Understanding the properties of these smoke plumes will give insights on how similar aerosol and particulate plumes affect the atmosphere and in particular the planetary boundary layer. The planetary boundary layer is very important in the atmospheric mixing of pollutants from the surface and the transfer of moisture and energy to the cloud forming regions of the atmosphere. Using radiometer and LIDAR data, the effects and properties of the smoke plumes can be measured. Composition of the smoke plumes is estimated by looking at absorption and scattering of sunlight at a range of wavelengths. The LIDAR data is used to verify the presence of the smoke plume and its overall size and density as well as looking at the properties of the planetary boundary layer before, during and after the smoke event. From the combination of these results the effect of the smoke can be correlated and classified. The research has just begun but data from a smoke plume event on March 8th, 2020 has already provided answers and even more questions.

This work was funded, in part, through an Undergraduate Research Award from the UMBC Division of Undergraduate Academic Affairs.

(Return)

A Text Mining Framework for Uncovering the Molecular Basis of Current Therapy Response of Lung Cancer Patients.

Ray Gao, Biological Sciences
Maricel Kann, Biological Sciences

Lung cancer remains a significant global health challenge, claiming millions of lives annually. In the face of this deadly disease, there is an urgent need to harness the wealth of information embedded within research studies and abstracts. By analyzing genomic data, machine learning algorithms can uncover hidden connections between genes, diseases, and biological processes. By systematically profiling tumors at various molecular levels, omic data enables the identification of driver mutations, dysregulated pathways, and potential therapeutic targets tailored to individual patients. However, most omic data is buried in a body of literature among over 30 million manuscripts. We generated a corpus of 440,000 abstracts relevant to lung cancer with a wealth of genomics and responses to therapy. However, our sample database, cBioportal, which is a public database for lung cancer genomic data, has no data for targeted treatments and only six studies for immunotherapies. During analysis, we optimized the lung cancer corpus to 4,500 abstracts relating to lung cancer, genomic data, and patient drug response. With the genomic and clinical information extracted from the literature, we will test new methodologies for the stratification of patients based on their molecular markers, great impact on the field of precision oncology.

(Return)

Back to the Basics: Improving Standard Music Notation Literacy

Imani Geary, Education
Cheryl North, Education

Identifying and interpreting standard music notation including rhythms, letter notes, solfège, melodic scales, dynamics, and articulations are crucial skills that will aid students in reading musical scores. Developing fluency in these skills is crucial for the development of a student’s individual musical literacy, ultimately leading to more productive and efficient choral rehearsals. Students will also find these skills transferable to solo vocal, solo instrumental, band, and orchestral contexts. This research focused on an intervention group of 16 high school chorus students who scored 70% and below on an initial baseline assessment. This study divided the intervention group into three brackets: Bracket A (six students who scored between 55% and 70%), Bracket B (five students who scored between 35% and 50%), and Bracket C (five students who scored below 30%). The study’s goal was for students to demonstrate a progressive understanding and recognition of standard music notation by participating in learning activities and completing formative assessments over one quarter, concluding in a retake of the initial baseline assessment. On the retake assessment, students were expected to achieve a score of at least 95% in Bracket A, 85% in Bracket B, and 75% in Bracket C.

(Return)

The Effect of Bisphenol a on Repetitive Behaviors of OCD

Leila Ghaffari, Biological Sciences
Fernando Vonhoff, Biological Sciences

The purpose of this project is to use current knowledge on repetitive behaviors as it relates to obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) in Drosophila Melanogaster, and the effects of bisphosphate A on generations resulting in repetitive behaviors quantified through grooming resistibility. Obsessive compulsive disorder afflicts much of the population with a lifetime prevalence of 1-3% of the population (Nestadt et al., 2010). Additionally, there are epigenetic changes that result from environmental toxins to the human genome that can have adverse effects of neurological behaviors (Faulk et al., 2015, Kochmanski et al., 2017), including repetitive behaviors related to OCD and Autism (Kaur 2015, Nguyen et al., 2021). Our experiments our developed to test the effects of BPA on behavior, and whether this behavior is inherited epigenetically. First, we will grow the Drosophila larvae in BPA infused food. Then, this parent cohort will continue through F1 generations, and be tested at different ages in our grooming assay. This will continue through several generations. Alongside this, we will observe the behavior of the HTR2A knockout Drosophila and compare this to the generations of BPA exposed flies. For all the Drosophila, we will induce grooming and observe their ability to resist dysfunctional consistent grooming.

(Return)

Online ATP Monitoring in Cell-Free Protein Synthesis

Elias Gilotte, Chemical, Biological, and Environmental Engineering, Chad Sundberg^1
1Chemical, Biological, and Environmental Engineering, UMBC
Govind Rao, Chemical, Biochemical, and Environmental Engineering

A barrier to cell-free protein synthesis (CFPS) scale-up is the lack of options for process monitoring of energy substrates. CFPS has the potential to replace live-cell bioreactors for rapid, large-scale manufacturing of biologics. A vital substrate is adenosine triphosphate (ATP) because it is the energy currency in CFPS. Existing ATP quantification methods are resource-intensive making them impractical for continuous ATP monitoring. To address this challenge, we designed a low-cost sensor, ≈$15 per chip for online, automated ATP monitoring. The recognition element is a fluorescent protein that selectively binds ATP, leading to changes in fluorescence intensity upon ATP binding. The protein is immobilized in a microfluidic chip and interfaced with the Center for Advanced Sensor Technology’s proprietary biochemical analyzer, an adaptable platform for collecting and processing signal data. One microfluidic chip can be used for 20 consecutive samples at a maximum rate of one sample every 10 minutes. The ATP sensor’s broad detection range of 150 uM to 10 mM ATP was validated by comparison with a standard luciferase based ATP assay. Continuous ATP monitoring could enable further CFPS process development efforts to improve reaction longevity and product yields.

This work was funded, in part, through an Undergraduate Research Award from the UMBC Division of Undergraduate Academic Affairs.

(Return)

Contextualizing STEM Student Political Engagement: An Investigation of the Self-Selection Factor

Olivia Giuliano, Political Science
Carolyn Forestiere, Political Science

At U.S. higher education institutions, students majoring in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines vote at significantly lower levels than their peers majoring in other fields (e.g., social sciences majors). At the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC), this trend is largely true of students pursuing majors in the College of Engineering and Information Technology (COEIT) and the College of Natural and Mathematical Sciences (CNMS). Researchers have previously focused on college students’ curricular and co-curricular experiences in an effort to understand this disparity in political engagement. They have not, however, investigated the important possibility that STEM students may have chosen their majors, in part, because they were already less interested in sociopolitical processes and issues. This quantitative study fills that gap. Through an online survey, I will gather information about UMBC undergraduate STEM students’ reasons for choosing COEIT or CNMS majors, various aspects of their identities, and their previous election participation. The main research questions are: To what extent does a lack of interest in sociopolitical processes and issues influence STEM students’ choice of major? How does this relationship vary across identity groups and election participation levels? My findings should inform future efforts to rectify political underrepresentation.

(Return)

Examining The Effect Of Genetic Compensation In The Chlamydomonas TAG Pathway

Seth Glassner, Biological Sciences
Stephen Miller, Biological Sciences

Understanding the relationship between the environment and algae creates the possibility of a sustainable, cheaper energy source. Under environmental stress, the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii produces triacylglycerol (TAG) which is of interest due to its easy conversion into biofuel. This study investigates whether genetic compensation occurs in the TAG pathway when two related TAG genes are mutated. This will be done by analyzing the double mutant dgtt1 pdat1 in C. reinhardtii. The genes pdat1 and dgtt1 are responsible for the majority of TAG production. These genes work in two separate pathways: acyl CoA independent synthesis (pdat1) and acyl CoA dependent synthesis (dgtt1). To examine expression of TAG genes related to dgtt1 and pdat1 in the double mutant, C.reinhardtii was cultivated in phosphorus-and nitrogen-deficient media to induce TAG gene expression. Then we measured gene expression of TAG-related genes dgtt2, dgtt3, and pdg1 using RT qPCR. Data from this study will determine if genetic compensation occurs in the TAG pathway and how it might affect TAG production in the double mutant. Studying how TAG-related genes are expressed when homologs are defective should shine light on algal TAG regulation that can be used to improve biofuel production.

Thank you to the NSF for funding the REM supplement to NSF award 1332344.

(Return)

Optimizing Solution of Chitosan-Based Electrolytes in Zn-ion Batteries

Nathaniel Glover, Mechanical Engineering, Usman Ali-Khan, Jaden Somerville
Deepa Madan, Mechanical Engineering

While lithium currently acts as our primary source for rechargeable batteries, concerns with its environmental harm and hazardous properties give cause to search for sustainable alternatives for energy storage. Zinc-ion batteries provide an exciting avenue for a safe and eco-friendly alternative to lithium-ion batteries. However, two primary challenges prevent Zn-ion batteries from being reliable energy storage devices. One is the lack of an optimal electrolyte and the other is dendrite formation from the zinc anode reducing the recyclability of the batteries. This project sought to address these challenges with the development of a densified chitosan-based electrolyte. These electrolytes are made from polyvinyl-alcohol (PVA) which absorbs potassium hydroxide (KOH), the active reagent in the electrochemical reaction that takes place within the battery, with chitosan acting as a binding agent. Our team tested a series of compositions of chitosan and PVA to maximize ionic conductivity, producing more effective electrolytes. Additionally, to improve the recyclability of our batteries, we sought to test the efficacy of adding Zn(OTF)2 to our electrolyte solution. Our results show a promising trend that will allow us to develop optimal electrolytes with consistently high ionic conductivities while improving the recyclability of Zn-Mg batteries.

This work was funded, in part, by the Vivian Thomas Scholars Initiative at Johns Hopkins University.

(Return)

Determining Regions within UCHL3 that Regulates its Stability and Turnover in Ovarian Cancer Cells

Sethumadhavan Gokulakrishnan, Biological Sciences, Achuth Padmanabhan¹, Ayokunnumi Ogunsanya^1
1Biological Sciences
Achuth Padmanabhan, Biological Sciences

Ovarian cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-associated deaths among women. Currently, there are no early biomarkers which tragically results in ovarian cancer cases being diagnosed at advanced stages where the survival rates are much lower. Thus, there is a pressing need for new therapeutics to help address this issue. Previous research has discovered that UCHL3 is a gene that is overexpressed in metastatic ovarian cancer cells. However, there is not much information explaining how UCHL3’s stability is regulated in cells. The purpose of my research project is thus to understand the mechanisms controlling the regulation of UCHL3 levels. I will clone full length flag-tagged UCHL3 and truncated, shortened mutants of UCHL3 into pcDNA3.1, a mammalian expression vector. I will then transfect the cloned plasmids into mammalian cell lines. Finally, by performing cycloheximide chase assay and western blot analyses, I can determine the half-life for each truncated version of the UCHL3. Using this data, I can determine the effect of specific regions within UCHL3 important for its stability and turnover. Understanding mechanisms that regulate UCHL3 in ovarian cancer cells could lead to development of new strategies to target this important ovarian cancer promoting factor.

This work was funded, in part, through an Undergraduate Research Award from the UMBC Division of Undergraduate Academic Affairs.

(Return)

Finding Accessible Performance Options in the Instrumental Theater Canon

Brandon Gouin, Music
Lisa Cella, Music; Dustin Donahue, UMBC Music Dept

Physical barriers have prevented people from engaging in the field of percussion music due to the repetitive nature of the standard techniques used and the constant moving of heavy instruments. Setting up or tearing down instruments and hardware is inseparable from the experience of a percussionist. Within the last 70 years a musical genre focusing equally on the visual and sonic aspects of music making has given rise to works that this author believes to offer more accessible options to performers on the contemporary concert stage. Development of nontraditional skill sets, such as theatrical/gestural performance, work with electronics as an extension of the performer, and maximizing the sounds of the body, all push the contemporary musician to expand their artistry. These new skill sets however, are not exclusive to percussionists or even musicians. Any person who has been unable to engage in other avenues of traditional performance may find a selection of approachable works in this paper. In addition to a literature review of the subject, the author has engaged in a collaborative process with several composers, opening new discussions on what is necessary to write or perform one of these works.

This work was funded, in part, through an Undergraduate Research Award from the UMBC Division of Undergraduate Academic Affairs.

(Return)

Biophysical Characterization of BqsR, the Response Regulator of the Pseudomonas aeruginosa BqsR/S Two-Component System

Darryn Greene, Chemistry and Biochemistry, Alexander Paredes^1
1Chemistry and Biochemistry, UMBC
Aaron Smith, Chemistry and Biochemistry

Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) is an infectious Gram-negative bacterium that can grow planktonically or within biofilms. Biofilms are a serious health threat as bacteria living within these environments are significantly resistant to antibiotic treatments. Studies have uncovered a two-component signal transduction system (BqsR/S) that regulates biofilm formation in P. aeruginosa through Fe2+ sensing. However, the sensing mechanism of this system is not understood. My project investigates the structural and biophysical properties of PaBqsR, a cytosolic, DNA-binding response regulator. Based on modeling data, we hypothesized that PaBqsR would bind metal ions. To test this possibility, we expressed, purified, and performed in-vitro metal-loading experiments on PaBqsR. Using electronic absorption spectroscopy and mass spectrometry, we observed that PaBqsR bound Fe2+ in a 1:1 ratio. Interestingly, we found the reported PaBqsR DNA-binding consensus sequence upstream of genes involved in virulence and metal homeostasis, including the feo operon, the primary bacterial Fe2+ uptake system. We hypothesized that PaBqsR would bind to this DNA region, and electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSAs) supported this hypothesis, but only when PaBqsR was in a pseudo-phosphorylated state. Current studies are underway to reveal how PaBqsR binds metal and regulates feo, an important P. aeruginosa virulence factor.

This research was partially funded by the USM LSAMP program, supported by NSF LSAMP Award #2207374.

(Return)

Context of Hellenistic Equine Remains in Human Burials

Jolie Greer, Ancient Studies
Molly Jones-Lewis, Ancient Studies

Equine archeology is a field that investigates the realities and cultures behind horses in history using remains. This project provides valuable context to the tapestry of the places of horses in antiquity and, by extension, its impact on burial practices. While there are publications involving analyses on horse burials, they seldom pursue further research on the same areas of a site nor consider the interconnection between horse and human in this context. This research seeks to perform a systematic meta-study on the existing site publications in archeology to examine the intricacies of human-equine relationships and husbandry in antiquity; seeking evidence that will elucidate the interaction between humans and horses. In this study, I have examined two different archaeological reports from the Hellenistic burial sites of Vergina and Sindos. After analyzing the positioning, state of the bones, and burial objects, I drew conclusions about the human-equine relationships in antiquity using the proximity of the equine bones to that of the humans, cultural precedent, and the state of the bones. These findings are a deviation from the utilitarian lens that ancient societies were considered to view their horses through which reframes calvary culture in Macedon during the Hellenistic period.

This work was funded, in part, through an Undergraduate Research Award from the UMBC Division of Undergraduate Academic Affairs.

(Return)

A Tale of Two Cities: An Autoethnographic Exploration of Spatial Apartheid in Baltimore and Cape Town

Jada Gross, Political Science
Jessica Cook, UMBC Sondheim Public Affairs Scholars Program

Spatial apartheid often has historical roots, with discriminatory practices from the past continuing to shape modern society. Utilizing autoethnographic and comparative sociological methods, I explored how spatial apartheid has contributed to the persistence of racial disparities across generations of people in Baltimore, Maryland, USA and Cape Town, South Africa. This research is supported by an account of what it was like to experience and witness these disparities firsthand as a native Baltimorean and a visitor to Cape Town. Both cities have a legacy of spatial apartheid, which is the physical segregation of different racial, ethnic, or social groups within a specific geographic area. Spatial apartheid results in unequal access to resources causing the accumulation of disadvantages. These disadvantages show up as negative socioeconomic outcomes, fewer educational opportunities, health disparities, and lower quality infrastructure in communities of color. In Baltimore and Cape Town, the effects of spatial apartheid and ongoing discriminatory practices have accumulated, and have perpetuated unequal outcomes for people of color in these two cities.

This research seeks to contribute to a broader understanding of spatial apartheid, promote social justice, empower communities, and facilitate efforts to address systemic inequalities.

(Return)

12th Graders’ Writing Craft

Alejandro Gutierrez, Education
Cheryl North, Education

Writing is an essential skill for all students because it promotes creativity, sharpens memory, improves self-expression, and more. Students in this research struggled with the writing that delves into the how-to of analysis and synthesis. The research studied a diverse group of forty-six 12th graders from an urban high school in Baltimore City. The students were asked to develop a research paper which assessed writing through a eight point rubric scale that assessed them in the areas of analysis, language usage/ organization, mechanics usage/ grammar. Throughout the school year, students analyzed one excerpt weekly, in the hopes of preparing them for the real assessment. Feedback was provided immediately, and students’ revised according to the teacher’s feedback. Students’ writing skill development was tracked through three differentiated assignments: a pre-assessment that determined where students need improvement, a post assessment that indicated progress, and a third assessment that showed continuity of skill development. Of the students studied, all of them improved at-least one point out of eight on one of the rubric categories. The study demonstrates that with weekly practice and immediate feedback writing improves in analysis, language usage, and mechanics.

(Return)

Spatial Examination of the Settling Patterns of the Puerto Rican Oriole

Sahaadat Hammed-Owens, Biological Sciences
Kevin Omland, Biological Sciences

This project applied Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to create a visual representation of the settling patterns of the Puerto Rican Oriole (Icterus portoricensis) to inform the species current endangerment classification. This research is valuable in the promotion of informed conservation efforts and biodiversity which benefits ecosystems. The Puerto Rican Oriole is a species of bird in the family Icteridae and the genus Icterus endemic to the island of Puerto Rico. The species has a preference for tropical climates and nesting in various palms. The Puerto Rican Oriole experiences a particular threat to their population through nest parasitism by the Shiny Cowbird (Molothrus bonariensis). According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), as of 2023, the Puerto Rican Oriole is currently classified as a species of least concern, but the nature of their settling patterns and preferences make the species difficult to detect and may contribute to this classification. Data that provides coordinate locations and photographs of the species, elevation data could be extracted and mapped to examine the spatial patterns of the oriole by age class over the years 2018-2020. The data can give insight into the settling preferences and survivability of the species over the years.

Vivien Thomas Scholars Initiative.

(Return)

Effect of WNT Signaling on Gene Expression in a Genetically Engineered Mouse Model of Prostate Cancer

Lily Handwerger, Biological Sciences, Alexander Chin, M.S.
Charles Bieberich, Biological Sciences

In the U.S. alone, approximately 1 in 8 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer (PCa). Animal models provide a valuable system to dissect the molecular basis of PCa and to test new therapeutics. Genetically engineered mice with gain of the human MYC oncogene and loss of the tumor suppressor Phosphatase and Tensin Homolog (PTEN) develop PCa that closely mimics human PCa. We have developed this model, termed BMPC, on both FVB and C57BL/6 (B6) genetic backgrounds and have observed highly aggressive prostate cancer progression. BMPCFVB and BMPCB6 tumors share common histopathologic features; however, there are marked differences in tumor kinetics. We hypothesize that differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in BMPCB6 and BMPCFVB mice underlies differences in tumor progression. The FLi and BLn cell lines were derived from tumor cells in BMPCFVB and BMPCB6 mice, respectively. From these cell lines, we performed bulk RNA sequencing. DEGs were analyzed using the DAVID Bioinformatic Database. Our analysis revealed associated pathways that may underlie differences in disease progression including WNT signaling, which may contribute to disease progression in human PCa cases.

(Return)

United or Divided: Examining Desegregation in Anne Arundel County Schools

Spencer Hanks, American Studies
Sarah Fouts, American Studies

My research will attempt to look at how the experiences of students, teachers, and parents during segregation and desegregation shape their sense of identity and community in Anne Arundel County schools. Historical newspaper archival research and oral history interviews will foster a better understanding of these experiences prior to and after the Brown v. Board of Education decision. Comparative discourse analysis of language and rhetoric in The Baltimore Sun and Afro-American articles will allow me to see how the desegregation of schools was discussed depending on the racial audience of the newspaper. Oral history interviews with participants at once segregated schools in Anne Arundel County, the Carver school in Crofton, Maryland and the Galesville Rosenwald School in Galesville, Maryland will provide perspective on the experiences of the affiliates of these institutions during the segregation and desegregation of schools. Initial findings suggest that Anne Arundel County had a very lengthy integration process which negatively affected students. Therefore, I argue that throughout the desegregation era in Anne Arundel County, students, teachers, and parents’ sense of identity and community were negatively impacted by a slow, flawed integration process.

(Return)

Detection of Ceramides, Sphingomyelins, and Phosphatidylcholines in the Mouse Brain Corpus Callosum Region

Logan Harris, Chemistry and Biochemistry, Nav Phulara
Herana Kamal Seneviratne, Chemistry and Biochemistry

Brain disorders such as Schizophrenia affect females and males differently and are known to be associated with altered lipid levels in the brain. Specifically, the corpus callosum (CC) region of the brain has been reported to be affected in Schizophrenia. However, sex-specific localizations of lipid molecules in the brain are poorly understood. To investigate sex-specific alterations in lipid localizations in the CC, matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry imaging (MALDI MSI) was employed. MALDI MSI experiments were performed on brain tissue sections obtained from adult female and male mice utilizing 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid as a chemical matrix. Data acquisition was performed using a rapifleX MALDI mass spectrometer in positive ion mode. MALDI MSI analysis enabled the detection of a range of ceramides (Cer), sphingomyelins (SM), and phosphatidylcholines (PC) in the CC. Interestingly, Cer(d18:1/20:0) exhibited high abundance in the male CC compared with the female CC. In contrast, HexosylCer(d42:2), SM(d18:1/20:0), SM(43:2), PC(36:1), and PC(38:6) showed high abundance in the female CC compared with the male CC. Notably, MALDI MSI analysis enabled the visualization of lipid precursors and metabolites, including SM(d18:1/20:0) and Cer(d18:1/20:0). These preliminary findings form a foundation for elucidating the sex-specific lipid localizations in the brain.

(Return)

The Stochastic Thermodynamics of Music

Maxfield Hartley, Physics
Sebastian Deffner, Physics; Emery Doucet, Physics, UMBC

We seek to connect the perceived directionality of a piece of music to a thermodynamic arrow of time. The series of notes that make up a melody only sound correct to a listener when played in the forward order but not in the reverse order. We believe this ‘irreversibility’ in music can be quantified by treating melodic lines as if they were particle trajectories arising from some stochastic physical process. Using the tools of non-equilibrium thermodynamics, we will compute the phase space distribution from an ensemble of trajectories (melodies), and from this we will compute the entropy production associated with the underlying process. We anticipate the entropy production to be positive, indicating that our imagined process is irreversible. We will then develop a test to determine the likelihood that a given piece of music has been reversed.

This work was funded, in part, through an Undergraduate Research Award from the UMBC Division of Undergraduate Academic Affairs.

(Return)

Education in the Xinjiang the Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR)

Dilnaz Hasim, Economics
David Mitch, Economics

This study delves into the transformative impact of Chinese central government policies and affirmative action programs on educational attainment and literacy in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR). While focusing on Han and Uyghur populations, the two largest ethnic groups in Xinjiang, and employing a cohort approach using census data from 1982, 1990, and 2000, this study identifies the factors behind the educational shift in Urumqi, the regional capital, to find that affirmative action policies in education and Putonghua promotion contributed to the Uyghur community surpassing the Han in literacy and educational attainment by the year 2000, coinciding with the start of the Great Western Development Strategy (GWDS). Examining the impact of Mandarin literacy, key questions on educational trends among Uyghurs across a range of age cohorts and the potential long-term effects of Xinjiang’s shift from a bilingual education model towards a Mandarin Learning Education (MLE) model are addressed to enhance the understanding of ongoing challenges, social dynamics, and linguistic shifts in Xinjiang’s ethnically diverse educational landscape.

(Return)

Developing Noninvasive Marker-Assisted Methods of Detecting Inflammation in Mouse Model of Chronic Prostatic Inflammation

Emily Hernandez, Apurv Rege, Biological Sciences
Charles Bieberich, Biological Sciences

Chronic inflammation is a common feature of human prostate glands. The impact of chronic inflammation on the development and/or progression of prostate neoplasia remains unclear. To study the effects of chronic inflammation we have created a mouse model termed RIG (rtTA;IL1-β;GFP), that allows inducible expression of Interleukin-1 Beta (IL-1β), a cytokine that has been implicated in inducing prostate inflammation. Within the RIG model, we have observed lineage-dependent differences in IL-1β expressivity, leading to highly variable inflammation that can only be quantified postmortem. To identify living mice with high inflammation, we are developing non-invasive in Vivo imaging and quantifying techniques. Using the IVIS spectrum CT in Vivo imaging system, we attempted to measure expression of the GFP reporter gene in live mice. GFP signal quantification and was then correlated with histopathological analysis of prostate inflammation. Our preliminary results demonstrate that one lineage of mice showed higher GFP expressivity and consistency among individuals that correlated with higher prostate inflammation. These data have allowed us to identify a superior RIG lineage that can be leveraged to study the role of inflammation in prostate cancer initiation and progression.

1U54CA274370-01 from the National Institutes of Health.

(Return)

Exploring the Fate of RNA in Moloney Murine Leukemia Virus

Lesley Hernandez, Lalitha Ravipati, Dipo Akinbamowo, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Michael F. Summers, Howard Hughes Medical Institute; Brea A. Manuel, Howard Hughes Medical Institute

The Moloney Murine Leukemia Virus (MoMuLV), a virus that causes leukemia and neurological diseases within rodents, has been studied since the 1950s to act as a model to further understand the underlying mechanisms of retroviruses. Our laboratory mainly focuses on the human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1), most particularly the segment of the HIV-1 RNA genome important for viral replication, known as the 5’-Leader (5’L). The 5’L exists in two conformations: the dimeric conformation beginning with one guanosine (Cap1G) in which the cap is sequestered, and the monomeric conformation beginning with two or three guanosines (Cap2G and Cap3G respectively) where the cap is exposed. It has been found that a sequestered cap is packaged, while an exposed cap is translated. MoMuLV contains a unique transcription start site, meaning the virus consists of only one start site (Cap1G), yet it has been shown that MoMuLV’s 5’L can still adopt a dimeric or monomeric form. In this work, we aim to explore what drives RNA packaging versus translation in a retrovirus that contains unique start sites. Our work will provide more information on the mechanisms of retroviruses with unique start sites, and hopefully allow answers on how to stop replication of all retroviruses.

This research was funded, in part, through the Howard Hughes Medical Institute.

(Return)

Phenotypic Characterization of Aspergillus Nidulans Protein Kinase PrkA

Garrett Hill, Chemical, Biochemical, and Environmental Engineering
Mark Marten, Chemical, Biochemical, and Environmental Engineering

In industrial contexts, filamentous fungi are exploited as “cellular factories,” secreting high amounts of small molecules and enzymes that are required in a variety of products, from household cleaners to pharmaceuticals. To better utilize these fungi in this context, it is crucial to understand how the fungal cell mediates intracellular signaling, so these signaling pathways can be modulated or targeted in the genetic engineering of fungal strains. This project aimed to characterize the signaling protein kinase PrkA in the filamentous fungus Aspergillus nidulans. Based on homologous protein function, PrkA was hypothesized to be involved in the disassembly of actin polymerization machinery at endocytic sites after vesicle internalization. Morphological assessment using fluorescence microscopy revealed that the deletion of PrkA has little to no effect on the number of endocytic vesicles during growth. To examine actin organization in the deletion mutant, a genetic fluorescent reporter was designed and constructed that, when inserted into the genome, will bind to and fluorescently label actin. It is hypothesized that the development of cortical actin aggregates resulting from unrestricted actin polymerization at endocytic sites will be observed in the deletion mutant, providing evidence for PrkA’s role in endocytosis.

This work was funded through an Undergraduate Research Award from the UMBC Division of Undergraduate Academic Affairs and Grant No. 2006189 from the National Science Foundation.

(Return)

Evaluating Individual Stress Tolerance: A Physiological Approach to Predicting Cognitive Arousal

Morris Hirsch, Computer Science and Electrical Engineering
Justin Brooks, Computer Science and Electrical Engineering

Cognitive processing produces reflexive physiologic responses that are predictive of cognitive arousal. The Yerkes-Dodson law posits a relationship between cognitive arousal and performance, suggesting individuals may perform optimally within a certain range of arousal; however, this range varies significantly per individual. Differing cognitive processes such as short term memory and task switching utilize unique neurobiological processes and may result in unique stress and performance responses. We have developed a cognitive battery capable of challenging participants’ working memory and ability to switch between tasks at multiple difficulty levels. Physiological stress levels during the battery may serve as a predictive biomarker for stress tolerance. Inter-test survey data from 14 university students was collected to evaluate participant attitudes towards performance and perceived mental exertion. To investigate the convergent construct validity of the cognitive battery the type and difficulty order of three cognitive tasks was randomized to assess their effects independently. This data was compared with physiological metrics to assess if self-reported stress and performance align with true performance and biological stress indicators. Preliminary statistical analyses suggest significant differences in responses between the type of cognitive task and its difficulty supporting the model’s validity in identifying individual differences in stress tolerance.

(Return)

Slow Fashion in the Washington Metropolitan Area

Lien Hoang, Global Studies
Felipe Filomeno, Global Studies

Fast fashion is characterized by mass production of inexpensive clothing items at a rapid pace, employment of global supply chains, cheap outsourced labor, and large-scale distribution networks to cut costs and keep demand high in a cyclical manner. The fast fashion industry has gained rapid attention for its violation of human rights, unsustainable business model, and predatory marketing targeting young people. In response to the rise of fast fashion, a slow fashion movement has emerged, consisting of second-hand stores, independent designers, textile recycling programs, and more. This research study describes the presence and spatial distribution of actors contributing to the slow fashion movement in the Washington metropolitan area. Based on a web search of small second-hand resale businesses, including thrift, consignment, and vintage stores, the study maps their locations to visually display the regional and local impact of this countermovement. Preliminary findings suggest a substantial presence of the slow fashion industry in the Washington metropolitan area given the concentration of second-hand clothing markets here. The study concludes with a discussion on the implications of that geographical distribution to economic inequalities and environmental racism on a global level.

(Return)

Characterizing the Role of Zinc Finger 217 in Ovarian Carcinogenesis

Jessica Hoffman, Biological Sciences
Achuth Padmanabhan, Biological Sciences

Due to vague symptoms and lack of early biomarkers, ovarian cancer is mostly diagnosed at the metastatic stage. At this stage the current therapeutics are ineffective. There is an urgent clinical need to develop novel late-stage therapeutic targets. One possible target is ZNF217, a transcription factor overexpressed in ovarian cancer. ZNF217 promotes tumor progression and metastasis through in vitro and in Vivo models. Of its eight Zinc fingers, numbers six and seven can bind DNA, conferring its activity as a transcription factor. I hypothesize ZNF217 plays a critical role in promoting ovarian cancer metastasis through transcriptional activity. Replacing histidine to alanine at position 489 (H489A) produces a non DNA-binding ZNF217 protein. I used site-directed mutagenesis to introduce the H489A mutation and then cloned the mutant into a vector. I transfected this plasmid (pLVX_ZNF217-H489A) along with lentiviral packaging plasmids in human embryonic kidney cells to generate ZNF217-H489A lentivirus particles. To confirm the mutant, I collected stable cell lines I generated, lysed them to isolate the mRNA, and am performing reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction to measure the expression of direct ZNF217 target genes. I am running assays such as proliferation and transwell migration to understand the mutant’s impact on ZNF217’s behavior.

This work was funded, in part, through an Undergraduate Research Award from the UMBC Division of Undergraduate Academic Affairs.

(Return)

Gold Nanoparticle-Based Sensor for the Detection of Lead Ions in Water

Ryan Hoffman, Chemistry and Biochemistry
Marie-Christine Daniel, Chemistry and Biochemistry

Lead poisoning is a problem that people all over the world are facing. Although medicine has made vast improvements to help treat lead poisoning, the best way to avoid contamination is to detect and remove lead from the population’s drinking source. The aim of this project is to create a system of gold nanoparticles that changes color in the presence of lead, with the goal of detecting the Environmental Protection Agency’s limit of 15 parts per billion (ppb) lead in drinking water. One molecule used in this system is called glutathione. Glutathione selectively binds with heavy metal toxins such as lead and has a thiol group that readily bonds with gold nanoparticles. Gold nanoparticles are coated with glutathione and purified. In the presence of lead, the color of the glutathione-coated gold nanoparticle solution changes from red to blue. Chloride salts are used to help further induce color change. 20 nm gold nanoparticles coated in glutathione were able to detect limits as low as 10 ppb lead ions in water. Thus, a system of gold nanoparticles, functionalized with glutathione and assisted by chloride salts, can detect lead ions within the EPA’s limit of 15 ppb in drinking water.

This investigation was sponsored by the U-RISE Program at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC), which is supported by the National Institute of General Medical Sciences, National Institutes of Health (NIGMS/NIH) under National Research Service Award T34 GM 136497.

(Return)

Equity in The Eye of the Storm: Unveiling Environmental Injustices and Cultivating Resilience in Harlem Park, Baltimore

Nyla Howell, Geography and Environmental Systems, Angela Francis¹, Tony Francis¹, Charles Walter¹, Harlem Park Community Members¹, Assata Hanif^2
1Baltimore’s Coalition for Positive Change, ²UMBC
Dawn Biehler, Geography and Environmental Systems; Lauren Clay, University of Maryland Baltimore County, Emergency and Disaster Health Systems

Climate change-induced environmental disasters disproportionately affect racial minority communities, highlighting the need to address systemic racism’s role in disaster experiences. Harlem Park in Baltimore, Maryland, is located on the west side of Baltimore City. Though the community has a rich history of activism, it has also struggled with systemic discrimination through housing, redlining, and education.This research, focusing on Harlem Park, investigated how residents and stakeholders define “environmental hazards” and “disaster preparedness” through working with 15 Harlem Park Community Members and Stakeholders. Rooted in an abolitionist climate justice approach, it sought to understand the interplay between equity, resilience, and preparedness. Methodologically, this research adopts a Community-Based Participatory Action Research (CBPAR) approach, utilizing focus groups and photovoice methods. Data analysis involved qualitative coding to unveil community perspectives and their connections between racial oppression and climate justice.The project’s significance lies in advocating for tailored and place-based disaster preparedness interventions rooted in the community’s experiences and perceptions. Ultimately, this research seeks to empower the Harlem Park Community by generating actionable data for climate and racial justice.

This work was funded, in part, through an Undergraduate Research Award from the UMBC Division of Undergraduate Academic Affairs.

(Return)

Advancing in Vitro Tissue Models: The Development of an Innovative High Throughput Model of the Colon

Raey Hunde, Chemical, Biochemical, and Environmental Engineering
Erin Lavik, Chemical, Biochemical, and Environmental Engineering

The ancient technique of screen printing, traditionally used for graphic designs on various surfaces including T-shirts and microelectronics, has sparked interest in its potential application for tissue modeling. Unlike conventional 3D printing methods for tissue models, which often subject cells to damaging ultraviolet radiation and shear stress, screen printing offers a simpler, cost-effective, and reproducible alternative. This project specifically explores the viability of screen printing for creating a high throughput colon model, utilizing the Caco-2 cell line to mimic epithelial and goblet cells. Initial results indicate successful cell printing and the reproducible creation of 3D structures, though further experimentation is needed to assess tight junction formation critical for tissue functionality. The overarching goal aligns with the growing demand for enhanced in vitro models to advance disease understanding and therapy development. By striving to develop an extrusion-limited, cost-effective colon tissue model, this project aims to facilitate more effective therapies for colon-related diseases, contributing to the broader effort to improve biomedical research and treatment approaches.

This investigation was sponsored by the U-RISE Program at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC), which is supported by the National Institute of Gen-eral Medical Sciences, National Institutes of Health (NIGMS/NIH) under National Research Service Award T34 GM 136497.

(Return)

Campus Food Insecurity: Maryland Public 2- and 4-year Colleges

Maya Hunn, Public Health
Andrea Kalfoglou, Public Health

Having limited access to nutritious foods has become a growing problem on college campuses as the demographics of college students are changing to include low-income and non-traditional students. Currently, three in five of college students experience food insecurity. This study aimed to understand what public 2- and 4-year colleges in Maryland are doing to address this basic need. Using a qualitative approach, public health students created an interview guide. Students identified key informants from college websites and from Maryland Hunger solutions hunger-free campus network. Students interviewed these key informants, took notes, and produce 29 individual reports. We created an Excel spreadsheet to identify common themes. We found that almost all campuses have created programs to address campus food insecurity, ranging from small closets of donated food items to large, robust programs using multiple methods to support students lacking access to basic needs. These methods include: free grocery stores, Save-a-swipe, food recovery programs, free farmers’ markets, grocery store gift cards, campus emergency funds, SNAP application support, and referrals to community-based services. These data will be used to identify best practices and inform future state-wide efforts to address campus food insecurity.

(Return)

CRISPR Mutagenesis of rlsB & rlsC Genes in Volvox Carteri

Ahmad Hussin, Biological Sciences
Stephen Miller, Biological Sciences

The green alga Volvox carteri is a model organism for investigating developmental mechanisms and their evolution. It contains two cell types (somatic & germ), which are differentiated by the gene regA. When regA is mutated, all cells become germ cells. Like regA, regA-related genes rlsA, rlsB, and rlsC are somatic-specific and are believed to mediate differentiation, but their functions are unknown. An rlsA mutant is not defective for cell differentiation, suggesting that upregulation of related genes might occur to compensate for the loss of rlsA. To test this idea, we are using CRISPR to create rlsB and rlsC mutants (and double/triple mutants) to understand the relationship between rls genes and whetherVolvox exhibits genetic compensatory mechanisms. We introduce Cas9 and single-guide RNA (sgRNA) plasmids via particle bombardment transformation. In short, we precipitate DNA onto gold and launch it at high speeds at Volvox early embryos. Using antibiotic markers in our plasmids we can select survivors that take up the plasmids, which we then sequence to identify mutants. Here we report the outcome of our experiments to date. Ultimately this work should help us understand the evolutionary features that gave rise to multicellular life as it exists today.

This work was funded, in part, by NSF (award 1332344).

(Return)

Effects of Child Abuse and Acute Stress on the Experience of Emotion in People with Schizophrenia

Olivia Hutchinson, Psychology, Jacob Nudelman¹, Eric Neutzling, Gabrielle Pakravan², Adriann Lai¹, Elie Holzel^1
1Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 2University of Maryland, College Park
Raimi Quiton, Psychology; James Waltz, Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine

Early-life adversity and psychosis can alter sensitivity to stimuli. We used images from the International Affective Pictures Set (IAPS) to examine how diagnosis and abuse history influence picture ratings under stress. We hypothesized that stress would heighten reactivity to unpleasant stimuli and reduce reactivity to pleasant ones.

52 people with schizophrenia (PSZ) and 32 healthy volunteers (HVs) performed the Emotional Experience Task (EET) – requiring subjects to view and rate the “positivity” and “negativity” of emotions evoked by pictures twice – once after experiencing an acute stressor and once after a neutral event. We assess abuse history with the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire.

PSZ exhibited reduced rating range, relative to HVs. PSZ rated positive pictures as less positive (t = 1.958; p = 0.05) and negative pictures as less negative (t = 2.711; p = 0.008) than HVs. Physical abuse (PA) scores correlated with aversive image ratings (r = 0.309; p = 0.035) and the acute stressor’s impact on positive (r = 0.333; p = 0.022) and neutral stimuli (r = 0.300; p = 0.040). Higher PA was associated with greater stressor impact on IAPS ratings.
Diagnosis and abuse history impacted affective picture ratings. These factors did not interact in influencing picture ratings.

I am a recipient of a UMBC Travel Award from the UMBC Division of Undergraduate Academic Affairs

(Return)

With Love, Elio: An Artist’s Path To Happiness

Beatrice Ieronimo, Psychology
Gail Prensky, The Jüdische Kulturbund Project

As transgender Italians seek medical care to affirm their gender identities, financial, political, and cultural barriers make this care inaccessible to the general public, often requiring trans Italians to go to lengths to receive life-saving treatment. To raise awareness of the struggle for and importance of gender-affirming care in Italy, this project detailed the story of Elio Aga Rossi, an Italian artist who self-funded his gender transition by selling t-shirts printed with his artwork. Through a series of interviews compiled into a documentary film, this project delved into Aga Rossi’s path to self-discovery, focusing on how he came to terms with his transgender identity and how he used art to actualize this identity in the face of extreme oppression. The story that emerged is one of trans resilience, showcasing art as a form of resistance to the limits that Italian bureaucracy and society place on trans people. Though set in Italy, Aga Rossi’s struggle to attain gender-affirming care is a struggle shared by trans people all around the world. This project aimed to motivate viewers to embrace and support worldwide transgender efforts to receive necessary medical care.

(Return)

The Biophysical Characterization of BqsS in Pseudomonas Aeruginosa’s Two-Component System, BqsR/S

Chioma Iheacho, Alexander Paredes, Chemistry and Biochemistry
Aaron Smith, Chemistry and Biochemistry

Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa), a Gram-negative bacterium that can exist planktonically or within biofilm, causes many antibiotic-resistant nosocomial infections. The nature of the biofilm provides advantageous protective qualities that exacerbate drug resistance. Studies have discovered a two-component system in P. aeruginosa known as BqsR/S that regulates the formation/decay of biofilm. My project investigates the biophysical properties of PaBqsS, the transmembrane sensor histidine kinase of this system. Data suggests that PaBqsS recognizes Fe2+ through an RExxE motif in its periplasmic domain, but details of this metal-protein interaction have not been explored. Our goal is to alter the RExxE motif through site-directed mutagenesis, to perform in-vitro metal-loading experiments, and to use spectrophotometric-based assays to determine the metal-binding capabilities and stoichiometry of Fe2+ bound to PaBqsS. Our results show that WT PaBqsS binds Fe2+ with a stoichiometry of one Fe2+ ion per dimer interface. We tested two protein variants, RAxxE and RExxA, and found that the former binds Fe2+ like WT, while the latter binds no Fe2+. These results indicate that binding involves the latter Glu residue, and provide the first biophysical characterization of the BqsR/S two-component system that could be a target for novel therapeutics in the future.

This work was funded, in part, by a grant to UMBC from the National Institute of Health through the U-RISE Program.

(Return)

Investigating the Role of BomS2 in Fat Body Cells on the Immune Response, Using Drosophila Melanogaster

Laiba Iqbal, Uswa Hanif, David Shaker, Dhruvi Patel, Biological Sciences
Jeff Leips, Biological Sciences

BomS2 is a secreted protein produced by Toll signaling in Drosophila melanogaster that contributes to resistance to infection by gram-positive bacteria. A recent genome-wide association study in our laboratory identified BomS2 as a candidate gene contributing to the immune response against the gram-negative bacteria, Escherichia coli. In this study, we aimed to validate the role of BomS2 in the immune response against gram-negative bacteria. Utilizing the GAL4/UAS system, we knocked down expression of BomS2 in the fat body cells of Drosophila melanogaster by activating RNA interference specific to BomS2. We injected one-week-old virgin flies with reduced and normal expression of BomS2 in fat body cells and allowed the flies 24 hours to survive the infection, before homogenizing and plating them to measure bacterial clearance. Colony counts revealed that flies with reduced BomS2 expression had improved ability to clear infection of E. coli compared to flies that had normal expression of BomS2, though more research is needed to confirm. By discovering this novel effect of BomS2 in fat body cells on the immune response, we have gained a new understanding of the immunological role of BomS2 and hope to inspire further research regarding the unknown mechanism behind this phenomenon.

(Return)

A Novel Mouse Model to Study the Effects of Telomere Shortening in Prostate Cancer Initiation

Ashher Irfan, Biological Sciences
Charles Bieberich, Biological Sciences; Michael Rubenstein, Biological Sciences

Telomeres, resembling aglets of shoelaces, safeguard genomic DNA by capping chromosome ends. Telomere shortening is prevalent in various cancers, including prostate cancer, and is correlated with genomic instability. Still, mechanisms underlying telomere shortening and the resulting genomic instability remain unclear. Telonase, an engineered fusion protein, cleaves telomeres. We generated a transgenic mouse model with prostate-restricted and inducible telonase expression. In this system, reverse tetracycline-controlled transactivator (rtTA) binds to regulatory elements that drive expression of the telonase gene in the presence of Doxycycline. The gene encoding rtTA is driven by the prostate luminal epithelial cell-specific Hoxb13 promoter. Doxycycline was provided ad libitum to mice carrying both Hoxb13-driven rtTA and inducible telonase transgenes. Fluorescent in situ hybridization analyses revealed altered telomere structure in telonase-expressing prostates. However, no histological changes were observed in prostate epithelial cells with shortened telomeres. Experiments are currently underway to determine the consequences of telomere shortening in combination with tumor suppressor gene loss. This work provides the first in Vivo experimental system in which the role of telomere shortening in the natural history of prostate cancer can be explored.

This work was funded, in part, through an Undergraduate Research Award from the UMBC Division of Undergraduate Academic Affairs and by a grant from the Patrick C. Walsh Prostate Cancer Foundation.

(Return)

Black College Students’ Mental Health Service Utilization: Examining the Influence of Family and Friends

Ehizele Iyoriobhe, Psychology, Jordyn Beschel, Tristan Templeton, Janelle Billingsley, Ariana Rivens^1
1University of Virginia
Janelle Billingsley, Psychology

Previous research indicates racial disparities in mental health service utilization among college students, such that Black students are less likely to utilize formal mental health services (e.g., counseling and psychological services) relative to their peers. Black college students’ underutilization of mental health services is of great concern given the long-term health consequences associated with untreated psychological distress. Thus, it is important to consider messages that may influence Black college students’ utilization of mental health services. Using Bronfenbrenner’s ecological model as a theoretical basis, this qualitative study examined messages that may have discouraged or encouraged Black college students’ (n = 26) utilization of college counseling centers. We were particularly interested in understanding the influence of family and friends as these persons are often the most immediate force of influence in an individual’s life. Furthermore, we examined the utilization of college counseling centers given their accessibility to students. Implications for the promotion of mental health service utilization among Black college students will be discussed.

(Return)

In Vitro Assembly Of Large DNA Fragments Using RCA and Cyclic Heteroduplex Thermostable Ligase Assembly

Jihae Jang, Biological Sciences
Charles Bieberich, Biological Sciences, Xiang Li

Genome engineering is a powerful tool that can be applied to a diverse range of problems, from vaccine development to environmental remediation. However, efficient in vitro assembly of DNA fragments >20 kb remains a challenge in the generation of large synthetic genomes. Current methods for assembling DNA fragments >20 kb require time consuming procedures including stepwise bacterial transformations followed by selection, resulting in inefficiency and low yield. To address this challenge, we developed Cyclic Heteroduplex Thermostable Ligase Assembly (CHTLA), an innovative in vitro method capable of assembling DNA fragments >20 kb with high yield. In this project, our strategy utilizes rolling circle amplification (RCA), a circular DNA amplification technique that generates CHTLA precursors in high yield. Compared to polymerase chain reaction (PCR), RCA offers several advantages, including easier product isolation by distinct gel electrophoresis bands and robust amplification of larger precursor fragments. Here we demonstrate RCA success in generating an 8 kb CHTLA precursor. Two 4 kb fragments were PCR amplified and ligated to generate the precursor template for RCA. By addressing the challenge associated with efficient in vitro assembly of DNA fragments >20 kb, our integrated approach using RCA and CHTLA holds promise for advancing synthetic genome construction.

This work was funded in part of the Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation.

The Quest for the White Coat: An Ethnographic Exploration of Students’ Pre-Med Journeys

Mica Jardine, Sociology, Anthropology, and Health Administration Policy
Bambi Chapin, Sociology, Anthropology, and Health Administration Policy

At UMBC and colleges across the country, many students are pursuing a “pre-med” track, taking required courses and preparing themselves to apply to medical school with the aim of becoming physicians. What shapes their passion to persist on this difficult journey to medical school? Pre-med students’ experiences are significant to explore as most medical education research focuses on the latter stages of medical school, residency, and working in the public sector. This ethnographic research study investigates the experiences of pre-medical students who participate in the Phi Delta Epsilon fraternity, focusing on the social, cultural, and academic factors that influence these students to pursue the medical field. Using methods of participant observation and semi-structured interviews, this study provides a window into the decision-making processes and life choices of students preparing to apply to medical school. By employing these methodologies, the study provides a richer understanding of how pre-medical students craft their own pathways and identities. The findings from this study offer valuable insights for educators, institutions, and aspiring medical practitioners.

(Return)

Association Between Race and Incidence of Dementia Among Older Black and White Men.

Bosola Jerry-Asooto, Public Health
Roland Thorpe, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
Association Between Race and Incidence of Dementia Among Older Black and White Men.Authors: Bosola Jerry-Asooto, Alison Huang, Ph.D.; Beoun Kim, PhD; Joseph J. Gallo, M.D., M.P.H.; Roland J. Thorpe, Jr., Ph.D.

Although there is a growing body of literature documenting stark disparities in dementia. There is a paucity of research focusing on dementia disparities among men. We sought to determine if there are race differences between older Non-Hispanic Black (NHB) and Non-Hispanic White (NHW) men in incidence of dementia. Data are from the National Health and Aging Trends Study, a nationally representative longitudinal study of US Medicare beneficiaries aged 65 and above. Of the 2,110 community dwelling men free of dementia at baseline, 28% had developed dementia between the years of 2011 and 2021. After adjusting for demographic and health characteristics, older NHB had an increased risk of dementia (hazard ratio: 1.47, 95% confidence interval: [1.20,-1.81]) than older NHW men. Chronic conditions, limited medical access, cultural barriers, financial disadvantages, and mistrust of the healthcare system might be explanations for the observed dementia disparities between older NHB and older NHW men. Identifying factors that are associated with incident dementia for older NHB men is a critical next step.

The Hopkins Undergraduate Summer Training and Research Program (USTAR) was supported by National Institute on Aging R25 AG076635-01.

(Return)

Lights Changing-The Impact of LED Lighting on Theatre

Niya John, Theatre
Adam Mendelson, Theatre

UMBC’s Theatre Department currently has a production initiative titled ‘Plays for the Planet’. The purpose of this series is to bring awareness to the environmental impact we, as humans, have on the Earth and to see what we, as Theatre makers, can do to lessen the impact that a single production can have. There are many eco-friendly changes that can be made, especially in the field of lighting. Most notably, the switch from incandescent to LED fixtures. This project takes place over the course of six months covering the production of three plays with varying electrical capabilities and requirements: I Will Eat You Alive (Assistant Lighting Designer) at The Voxel, Shutter Sisters (Assistant Lighting Designer) at 1st Stage, and Green Theatre Revolution (Lighting Designer) at the UMBC Black Box Theatre. I Will Eat You Alive was an all LED rig, Shutters Sisters was a 50/50 LED- incandescent rig, and Green Theatre Revolution will be an all LED rig. I plan to gather research about power saved with LED units compared to incandescents. The cumulative outcome behind my project is to provide a local testament that the economic investment of LED fixtures is economically and environmentally beneficial long term.

(Return)

Creating Readers: Increasing Reading Comprehension

Jillian Johns, Education
Cheryl North, Education

Reading comprehension is a critical skill that individuals need to practice and master not only for academic success but also for success in the real world. From recent observation, this skill has declined. This research examined twenty ninth graders at a suburban school that included a high number of English Language Learners. These students struggled to comprehend persuasive, narrative, expository, and descriptive writings. More specifically, they struggled when asked to identify narrators or the voice of the author(s), summarize plotlines, dissect plots for major details, and foreshadow what might occur within or beyond the story. This research project tracked students’ reading endurance, comprehension, and inference skills in these areas. A set of short story prompts were introduced which gradually increased in readability and complexity to challenge reading endurance. Quizzes consisting of five questions were applied to each prompt. Student scores ranged broadly at first with many in each level. Scores steadily increased over the course of targeted lessons, prompts, and quizzes with the number of students increasing their reading comprehension.

(Return)

Racial-Ethnic Socialization Facilitates Civic Engagement in Asian American Adolescents through Character Development

Rachael Joslow, Bumo Zhang, Psychology
Charissa Cheah, Psychology

Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, Asian American adolescents (AAA) actively countered racial bias through civic engagement (CE) (Lee et al., 2022) but we knew little about potential factors contributing to CE among this population. Parent’s racial-ethnic socialization, especially their preparation of youth to identify, address, and cope with racism (RES) may facilitate adolescents’ positive character development (PCD; Cheah et al., 2021), which may further motivate AAA to advocate for social justice (Suyemoto et al., 2014). Therefore, we examined whether AAA PCD mediated the link between their parents’ RES and their own CE. AAA (N=445, M age =14.75, SD age =1.83; 51% female) reported on their parents’ engagement in RES, their own PCD, and CE. After controlling for adolescent age, ethnicity, and gender, parental RES was positively related to adolescents’ PCD, which in turn was associated with higher levels of adolescent CE. Our findings revealed that parental RES is essential for AAA to endorse moral values and societal norms that uphold the common good and to develop a strong orientation to justice (Chen et al., 2022; Lannegrand-Willems, 2018; Lerner, 2018). Positive youth programs should support Asian American families in having more racial-ethnic conversations to facilitate PCD and promote youth CE.

This work was funded, in part, through an Undergraduate Research Award from the UMBC Division of Undergraduate Academic Affairs.

(Return)

Elucidating Possible Interactions between HIV-1 Rev and Gag on Stem 1 of the Rev Response Element

Arjun Kanjarpane, Chemistry and Biochemistry
Mike Summers, HHMI; Jan Marchant, UMBC Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

HIV-1 replication mandates the nuclear export of unspliced RNA transcripts. However, host cell surveillance systems prevent such export. HIV-1 bypasses this by coding for Rev, a nuclear-cytoplasmic shuttle protein, which binds to the Rev Response Element, a structured genomic RNA. Two high-affinity Rev binding sites, Stem 1A and Stem 2B, have been identified. Gag, a viral cytoplasmic protein that mediates genome packaging, has been shown to bind to the RRE near or overlapping with the S1A site, giving rise to the possibility that Gag: RRE interactions destabilize the Rev: RRE complex, thereby enabling Rev recycling. This project seeks to stoichiometrically, thermodynamically, and structurally characterize these events, including the possible competition between Rev and Gag for the RRE S1A binding site. We have or will employ a series of truncated Stem 1 RNA constructs, a Rev ARM peptide, and the nucleocapsid domain of Gag, NC, in EMSA, ITC, SEC, NMR, and X-Ray crystallography experiments. Our results suggest NC may preferentially bind S1A over Rev Peptide, and the purine-rich bulge is crucial for high-affinity Gag: RRE binding. Understanding this interaction could establish a physiologically relevant basis for RRE-Gag binding and provide insight when designing therapeutics that target HIV proteins or RNAs.

This work was funded, in part, by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, NIH/NIAID, CRNA, NIH/NIGMS, and a UMBC Undergraduate Research Award.

(Return)

Optimizing Singlet Oxygen Detection from Photoexcited Metal Organic Frameworks

Aeon Kaplowitz, Chemistry and Biochemistry, Logan Logan¹, Lisa Kelly¹, Madison Conte¹, Sukhvir Singh¹, Ann Kulisiewicz², Sergio Garibay², Jared DeCoste^2
1Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, Baltimore MD 21250, ²Protection Division, U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Chemical Biological Center, Maryland, 21010
Lisa Kelly, Chemistry and Biochemistry

This study explores 2-(10-(bis-ethoxycarbonyl-et)-anthracen-9-ylmethyl)-malonic acid diethyl ester (eABDA) as a singlet oxygen (1O2) probe for pyrene-based metal-organic frameworks (MOFs). It is hypothesized that 1O2 can catalyze the breakdown of sulfur mustard, a deadly Chemical Warfare agent. ABDA was found to have a higher photostability than previously used diphenylisobenzofuran (DPBF). However, challenges arose as the carboxylic acid groups of the ABDA coordinated with the MOF, impacting analysis. This project tests the hypothesis that esterification of the carboxylic acid groups on ABDA, to make eABDA, inhibits coordination while maintaining its 1O2 reactivity. It was found that eABDA photobleached in the presence of a known singlet oxygen generator, confirming its use as a 1O2 probe. However, photodegradation was found on direct 455-nm irradiation of eABDA. By assessing a variety of light filters and intensities, a combination was found where no direct eABDA photobleaching was observed. Next, MOF suspensions were illuminated for various times in the presence of eADBA. Following centrifugation to remove the MOF particles, photobleaching was assessed using UV-Vis spectroscopy. The amount of photobleaching was found to depend on the duration of illumination. This work demonstrates that eABDA can be used to quantify 1O2 detection from irradiated MOF suspensions.

This work was funded, in part, by the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command (DEVCOM) through MSRDC (contract W911SR-14-2-0001-0045).

(Return)

Reading the Library: An Ethnography of Place in one Baltimore City Library

Polina Kassir, English
Lucille McCarthy, English

The Enoch Pratt Free Library in Baltimore aims in its mission statement to “empower, enrich, and enhance the quality of life for all through equitable access to information, services, and opportunity.” At the branch level, I argue that a successful public library must encourage dialogue between the institution and its users. This dialogue is influenced by the library’s physical spaces. Understanding space as an ecology of interactions, I report how a brick-and-mortar library building successfully facilitates a dynamic institution-user relationship. My findings come from a six-month ethnographic study of a Pratt branch in Northeast Baltimore that asks how its users shape the greater Pratt mission through their interactions within the branch’s physical spaces. Along with providing traditional library services, this branch library functions as a location where users both directly and indirectly create community through the manipulation of static spaces. Despite these successes, this library building exists in a state of underlying tension as to the future of its physical infrastructure. I use my reading of space in this library to probe the function of branch libraries in general.

This work was funded, in part, by a UMBC Honors College Special Session Scholarship.

(Return)

Synthesis of Hydroxamic Acid-Based Inhibitors for Metallo-β-Lactamases

Shauna Kearney, Chemistry and Biochemistry
Paul Smith, Chemistry and Biochemistry

Β-lactam antibiotics are very commonly used clinically to treat bacterial infections, but are rendered inactive through hydrolysis by bacterial enzymes called β-lactamases. While effective inhibitors exist for serine β-lactamases, no FDA-approved inhibitors exist for the mechanistically distinct metallo-β-lactamases, an emerging class of β-lactamases that constitute a serious public health threat. This study aims to synthesize novel heterocyclic-containing hydroxamic acids as potential inhibitors of metallo-β-lactamases. Using a previously synthesized inhibitor as a model, 1-Hydroxy-2-naphthoic acid is activated with 1,1′-Carbonyldiimidazole (CDI), and reacted with methyl 3-hydroxyanthranilate to provide the corresponding amide. This is refluxed with p-toluenesulfonic acid (p-TsOH) in xylene, providing the core benzoxazole structure. The resulting ester is then reacted with an N-substituted hydroxylamine to give the hydroxamic acid. This allows for hydrophobic groups attached to the hydroxylamine to be added to the inhibitor. These hydrophobic groups can be changed and lengthened as long as they can be attached to the hydroxylamine, and will allow for more effective metallo-β-lactamase inhibitors.

This work was funded, in part, through an Undergraduate Research Award from the UMBC Division of Undergraduate Academic Affairs.

(Return)

When Puigpardines was Lord of Karditsa

India Kelly, Ancient Studies
Michael Lane, Ancient Studies

In “When Puigpardines Was Lord of Karditsa,” I aim to understand what life was like in Frankish Greece under the rule of Catalonian Lord Pedro de Puigpardines. The circumstances surrounding Puigpardines’s rule were peculiar: there are no traces of his residence, no administrative records left behind, and only a single ruined church left to suggest his possible alliance with a particular French knight. Focusing on the relationship between Lord Puigpardines, the existing Frankish nobility, and the Greek peasantry, this project argues that Puigpardines was an absentee landlord who, astonishingly, allowed the enemy he once fought in battle to retain control over his territory in the province of Boeotia. This project draws information from secondary sources written in English, Greek, and Catalan and relies on local informants and material culture sources during my visit to the town of Karditsa (now Akraifnio). I also employed online mapping to find possible areas for Puigpardines’s castle. As few primary sources exist about the period of Catalonian Rule during the Duchy of Athens, this project will be the first work specifically about the lordship of Karditsa during the period, and one of the few works other than “The Chronicle of the Morea” on Frankish Boeotia.

This work was funded, in part, through an Undergraduate Research Award from the UMBC Division of Undergraduate Academic Affairs.

(Return)

Identity Formation of Half-Korean Biracial Individuals Living in South Korea

Gina Khan, Modern Languages, Linguistics, and Intercultural Communication
Kyung-Eun Yoon, Modern Languages, Linguistics, and Intercultural Communication

This research focuses on the topic of multiracial identity formation in South Korea; this includes how multiracial individuals’ identities are developed in South Korea and which aspects of South Korean society may contribute to their identity formation.

This research aims to understand the experience of Half-Korean biracial individuals living in South Korea to provide a new perspective in the discourse of biracial identity formation. Using qualitative content analysis, this research understands the identity formation of biracial Koreans in Korea by seeking patterns in the individuals’ described experiences. The questions addressed are, how these individuals perceive their identities, what sociocultural aspects of Korea and how does the concept of “Koreaness” affect their identities, and how societal views of monoracial Koreans change or alter their identities.

Most of the current research in this field focuses on biracial people in the U.S., leaving out entire communities of multiracial individuals. To fill this gap, this research will focus on the community of half-Korean multiracial individuals living in South Korea to highlight their identity development process. As the number of mixed individuals is growing around the world, understanding this complex identity is imperative to further research on education, diversity studies, and intercultural communications.

This work was funded, in part, through an Undergraduate Research Assistantship Support (URAS) Award from the UMBC Office of the Vice President for Research.

(Return)

Investigating the Role of Rho1 in Lifespan and Age-dependent Bacterial Clearance in Drosophila Melanogaster

Nimra Khan, Mukta Sangar, Moriah Thompson, Biological Sciences
Jeff Leips, Biological Sciences

The ability of the immune response to clear infection declines with age, known as immunosenescence. The rate of decline in the immune response varies among individuals and this results, in part, from genetic differences among individuals. Little is known about the genes that contribute to this variation. In this study we will characterize the role of the gene, Rho1, and its effects on life span and bacterial clearance at young and old age, using Drosophila melanogaster. This experiment is to corroborate two findings in our lab. Felix et al., 2012 identified Rho1 as a candidate gene affecting age-dependent immune function. Campbell (unpublished) found that decreased expression of Rho1 in blood cells increased lifespan. I used the GAL4-UAS system coupled with RNAinterference to knock down the expression of Rho1 in blood cells and measured the effect on lifespan and the immune response. My results confirm that reduced expression of Rho1 extends life span. The experiments on the immune response are ongoing. Future work to understand how Rho1 impacts life span the innate immune response can help find new ways to improve the health span of the elderly.

This work was funded, in part, through an Undergraduate Research Award from the UMBC Division of Undergraduate Academic Affairs.

(Return)

Targeting Influenza by Inhibiting Palmitoylation

Lilly Kidd, Chemistry and Biochemistry
Paul Smith, Chemistry and Biochemistry

Seasonal influenza is an acute respiratory infection caused by influenza viruses, and continues to be a global health concern. Palmitoylation of the viral protein hemagglutinin allows its viral localization to the cell membrane, a process that plays a critical role in viral infectivity. Given there are few effective treatments available, our research proposes to synthesize a series of palmitoyltransferase inhibitors as potential therapeutics for influenza. It has been shown that (hydroxyphenyl)benzoxazoles, particularly those containing hydrophobic substituents, are effective against various strains of influenza H1N1. It is possible that this activity is due to the ability of these compounds to bind one of the two structural zinc ions in the binding pocket of human palmitoyltransferases. Therefore, we hypothesize that molecules containing both a zinc-binding moiety and a long alkyl chain to mimic the palmitoyl group would be effective inhibitors of human palmitoyltransferases. The importance of alkyl chain length and the geometric relationship between the alkyl chain and the zinc-binding moiety will be evaluated with a series of new potential inhibitors. We previously encountered technical difficulties in the synthesis of a key intermediate compound with regard to its solubility. Progress involving a revised synthetic route to our target compounds will be presented.

This work was funded, in part, by the U-RISE Program through the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS).

(Return)

Seasonal Comparison of Disease and Microbial Communities in the Eastern Oyster, Crassostrea Virginica

Christopher Kim, Kristina Colaccico, Marine Biotechnology
Allison Tracy, Marine Biotechnology

This research compared the variation of oyster microbial communities to understand how differences in season impact oyster health and symbionts. The eastern oyster, Crassostrea virginica, is a keystone species in the Chesapeake Bay providing shelter for aquatic species and filtering the waters they inhabit. Populations of this sessile creature have decreased due to pollution, overharvesting, and disease which has significantly impacted the ecosystem and market overall. Diseases such as dermo (caused by Perkinsus marinus) have been highly problematic for mass oyster mortality. Microbial communities are essential regulators of an oyster’s well-being, however, environmental imbalances and disease can alter the symbiosis of an animal and its microbes, resulting in negative effects on the oyster’s health. Throughout this research project, I sought to understand the relationship between the microbiome, dermo, and bio-eroding Polydora worms across two seasons. The variability in microbiomes of oysters from the Severn River between summer and winter was compared. Dermo was diagnosed using RFTM, bio-eroding worms with ImageJ, and microbiome analyses were conducted in Rstudio. Results revealed a difference in microbial communities and oyster size by season. This research may contribute to additional studies and initiatives facilitating the restoration of oysters in the Chesapeake Bay and adjacent estuaries.

This work was funded, in part, by an IMET Angel Investors grant to A. Tracy.

(Return)

Evaluating the Function of Set6 in Proteostasis

Oluwaseun Kintunde, Savannah Pearson, Biological Sciences
Erin Green, Biological Sciences; Deepika Jaiswal, Biological Sciences, UMBC

In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Set6 is one of a family of twelve proteins that include the SET domain. By catalyzing the methylation of lysine residues on their targets, several members of this protein family change the function of histones and nonhistone targets. Although Set6 has relatively little research conducted, it has been found to methylate various proteins in previous in vitro investigations, and our team has preliminary results indicating additional candidates crucial for controlling protein homeostasis, or proteome quality control. To define Set6’s role, our lab evaluates TDP-43, a frequently misfolded protein involved in transcriptional repression and pre-mRNA splicing. Disorders such as ALS, Alzheimer’s, and other neurodegenerative diseases are characterized by the presence of this protein and its misfolding in cellular nuclei. TDP-43 is inherently prone to aggregation, rendering it significantly more probable to follow hazardous misfolding pathways and result in cell death. We aim to find the biological function of Set6 in the proteostasis network and determine if it has a role in TDP-43 folding regulation and aggregation in cells. Our lab continues to work with Set6 to discover its role in protein folding, its function concerning TDP-43, and how it can potentially be used to look further into neurodegeneration.

This work was funded by the Dr. Erin Green Lab.

(Return)

A Cunt by Any Other Name – Where Has It Been and Where Can It Go from Here?

Erica Koenig, Gender and Women’s Studies
Kate Drabinski, Gender and Women’s Studies

When it comes to derogatory terms used against women, cunt is still considered to be “one of the few remaining words in the English language with a genuine power to shock” (Zoladz). My objectives with this research project were to delve deeply into this ‘dirty’ word’s etymology and historical uses; to investigate how it is both viewed and used by different generations and specific groups of people; to find examples of important attempts to reclaim its powerful essence and reinstate the word back into feminine discourse; and to investigate its potential future in a society so heavily influenced by patriarchal dominance. The importance of this research can be easily simplified by saying that “the context in which cunt is presently perceived does not serve women, and should therefore be thoroughly re-examined” (Muscio, xxv).

(Return)

Autistic People in the Workplace, Housing, and Transportation

Larissa Kuonen, American Studies
Sarah Fouts, American Studies

When determining what are the factors of success, many often view having a job, having a place to live, and having access to transportation as common practice. However, there are numerous external and internal barriers that prevent certain groups from harnessing these pieces of general advice. Those who are diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and are between the ages of 18-24, in particular, are one of many marginalized groups who experience high difficulty in finding work, obtaining advice on housing, and utilizing any means of transportation. Furthermore, even when Autistic people manage to fall under at least one of these three realms, they often experience more workplace discrimination, housing discrimination, and limited means of transportation, in comparison to their neurotypical counterparts. This research is divided into three sections: the workplace, housing, and transportation. In order to identify how Autistic individuals fair in these three life-sectors in comparison to neurotypical people, I am analyzing eight academic peer-reviewed journals per topic in conjunction with a campus wide survey which will gather thirty responses anonymously from voluntary participants. From there, I will produce a three episode podcast to combine and relay these findings as part of a public humanities project.

(Return)

Improving Retirement Prospects for Low-Income US Citizens

Arvind Kuruvilla, Peter Wilschke, Matthew Dyson, Economics
Douglas Lamdin, Economics

We propose a set of policy solutions to address retirement security in the US. Today, many people are not adequately prepared for retirement through personal or employer-sponsored savings plans, and retirement insecurity is most prevalent among the poorest Americans. Additionally, Social Security is both insufficient on its own to fund retirement and also at risk of future insolvency. We engage with a variety of data on Americans’ personal finances and retirement savings to understand the demographics at play. This data analysis allows us to suggest a set of comprehensive reforms to the retirement system as a whole based on the data. These include repealing tax preferences for individual savings accounts, expanding the payroll tax cap, ending the Social Security Trust Fund prohibition on investment, and creating a universal individual retirement program. We conduct distributional and fiscal analyses of our suite of reforms. Our proposals would raise overall US retirement security, particularly among the lower echelon of income-earners and those who currently have little to no retirement savings.

(Return)

Mathematical Modeling of Clustered Cell Migration in the Drosophila Melanogaster

Meghan Kwon, Mathematics and Statistics
Bradford Peercy, Mathematics and Statistics; Michelle Starz-Gaiano, Biological Sciences, UMBC

Clustered cell migration is a crucial biological process involved in embryonic development, tissue healing, and cancer metastasis. We developed mathematical representations of the various intra- and intercellular forces within the Drosophila Melanogaster egg chamber. Implementing our system as a differential equation in MATLAB, we apply adhesion, repulsion, volume, membrane, and migratory forces to every boundary point of our cells. We have conducted parameter testing of our model with an initial planar implementation, varying one parameter with fixed baseline values for the others. After narrowing the testing range for our parameters, we used a Latin Hypercube Sampling (LHS) method to investigate the force-balance sensitivity of our system. To do so, we used the High Performance Computing Facility (HPCF) at UMBC to run parallel simulations with each set of parameters generated using the LHS method. While our current model is non-dimensionalized, we are presently working to add unit values to each of our parameters. This will allow us to quantitatively compare our mathematical model with in Vivo migration imaging data and make predictions regarding the effects of drugs, mutations, and other possible variants in this process.

NSF #1953423 to BEP and MSG.

(Return)

Effects of E-Cigarette Aerosol on Olfactory Sensory Neuron Axon Connectivity in the Olfactory Bulb of Mice

Bianca Lamptey-Mills, Sean O’Sullivan, Ashkon Hazrati, Biological Sciences
Weihong Lin, Biological Sciences

The main olfactory epithelium (MOE) is a specialized epithelial tissue located in the nasal cavity. The MOE houses olfactory sensory neurons (OSNs), which are responsible for the detection of odors. Additionally, the MOE relays sensory information to the olfactory bulb (OB) for cognitive processing. The MOE is superficially exposed to the external environment, allowing for direct access to odorant molecules. This leaves the MOE vulnerable to harmful substances, such as those present in e-cigarette aerosol. There is strong evidence that supports that e-cigarettes can damage epithelial cells. Interestingly, the MOE is able to regenerate OSNs from stem cells after cell senescence or death. As these new OSNs mature, the axons grow towards the OB to reestablish proper functional connections. Despite the recent popularity of e-cigarette usage, there is little understanding regarding how e-cigarettes impact the axonal connections of renewed OSNs with the OB. In this study, groups of adult mice were exposed to e-cigarette aerosol and an e-cigarette aerosol/heavy metal mix twice daily for four weeks. The tissues of the MOE and the OB were collected and analyzed using an immunohistochemistry protocol. This investigation aims to highlight the potential long-term consequences e-cigarettes may have on olfactory perception.

This work was funded, in part, through an Undergraduate Research Award from the UMBC Division of Undergraduate Academic Affairs.

(Return)

Analyzing the Relationship Between Outputs and Parameters in a Structured Treatment Interruptions Model for HIV Patients

Matthew Lastner, Mathematics and Statistics
Kathleen Hoffman, Mathematics and Statistics; Animikh Biswas, Mathematics and Statistics, University of Maryland, Baltimore County

Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has increased the life expectancy of individuals infected with HIV; however, constant treatment may not be readily available and can result in adverse reactions and drug resistance. Structured treatment interruptions (STI) has been proposed as an alternative treatment where thresholds in CD4+ T-cell count determine the duration of treatment. We investigate the relationship between observable outputs, such as total CD4+ T-cell count and viral load, and the parameters in an STI model with first-order coupled ordinary differential equations. Applying Sobol sensitivity analysis and partial rank correlation coefficients, we measure the outputs’ sensitivity to small changes in the numerical values of the parameters. We also determine whether each parameter’s numerical value can be uniquely identified from sample data. Applying differential algebra, we first determine which subsets of parameters are structurally identifiable with respect to noiseless data. Monte Carlo simulations are applied to determine if these structurally identifiable subsets can be practically identified through stochastic data. We then estimate the numerical values of these practically identifiable subsets using simulated annealing and nudging. By analyzing these output-parameter relationships, the viability of STI can be further characterized, potentially providing an alternative treatment method to tackle the ongoing HIV epidemic.

This work was funded, in part, by NSF grant DMS-2000044, the Merck Data Science scholarship, and the UMBC START grant.

(Return)

Investigating Experimental PH Evolution of Halobacterium Salinarum

Jan Le, Biological Sciences
Jeffrey Robinson, UMBC TLST program

This investigation aims to determine the frequency and distribution of genetic mutations in experimentally evolved haloarchaea, Halobacterium salinarum. Halobacterium species are Archaeal Prokaryotes adapted to saturated-salt environments. From the H. salinarum NRC-1 strain, experimentally derived isolates were compared to reference genomes from two separate strains. The experimental isolates were selected with four stress regimes: low pH, low pH and high iron levels, high pH, high pH and high iron levels. For this analysis, we developed a computational workflow with Python and R running in Linux Virtual Machines, and using open-source apps to automatically search, download, process, and align raw NextGen sequencing data associated with NCBI BioProject accessions. The resulting ‘app’ published as a GitHub repository generates a set of ‘circos-style’ genome annotation plots (Circos plots) for easy visual analysis and comparison of genetic mutations accumulated in the experimental isolates. While these results do not identify specific phenotype-associated mutations, these results do demonstrate the capability of triangulating mutations and mutation rates originating after accession of the reference genome sequences in GenBank vs. those originating during the experiment. The working pipeline we published also gives the capability of extending this analysis to many other microbial systems.

This work used Jetstream2 at Indiana University (IU) through research allocation BIO220099 from the Advanced Cyberinfrastructure Coordination Ecosystem: Services & Support (ACCESS) program, which is supported by National Science Foundation grants #2138259, #2138286, #2138307, #2137603, and #2138296. This work used Jetstream at Indiana Universery/Texas Advanced Computing Center (IU/TACC) through research startup allocation BIO210100 from the Extreme Science and Engineering Discovery Environment.

(Return)

Checked Out: Public Libraries as Sites of Assimilation

Juelle Lee, American Studies
Sarah Fouts, American Studies

Public libraries are in a current moment of increased threat of underfunding and political suppression through book bans and other forms of censorship. In defense of libraries, many espouse the necessity of libraries, positioning them as one of the few remaining public spaces in an era of neoliberal commodification and privatization and constructing a narrative of political neutrality within libraries that is at risk of becoming political. I argue that while public libraries do provide necessary and critical services for the public, public libraries have exclusionary histories which manifest through the embrace of modern philosophies which aim to place monetary value on knowledge. As a result of a diminished public sector, public libraries serve larger marginalizing systems and ideologies of American exceptionalism with the limited services offered to immigrants, non-white and poor people. I use secondary source analysis, interviews, and content analysis to develop a podcast and capstone project where I explore marginalizing foundations of public libraries, politics within the institution, political implications of services provided to un-resourced populations, and perceptions of public libraries held by people who have worked within them. I hope to reveal ways that libraries can realize their stated mission of truly being a public good.

(Return)

Caribbean Birdsong Analysis: Syllable Sharing Between Male And Female Puerto Rican Orioles (Icterus Portoricensis)

Emerson Lehnert, Biological Sciences
Kevin Omland, Biological Sciences

The Puerto Rican Oriole is a species of blackbird endemic to the island of Puerto Rico. Recent documentation of female birdsong in the Puerto Rican Oriole led us to ask if there are differences between males and females. We banded and recorded 13 male and 14 female Puerto Rican Orioles. We categorized the syllables of males and females from these recordings to determine whether syllable sharing occurs between the sexes. We used Raven Pro computer software to categorize syllables from five songs per individual. Anecdotally, the categorization of syllable sharing shows that the level of syllable sharing is low between the sexes. Distinct syllables at the individual level may lead to an overall low probability of syllable sharing between the sexes. We will conduct statistical tests to further determine the similarity of syllables used between males and females. We hope to use our data on sex-specific singing behavior to determine sex based on acoustic differences to better monitor the population of the Puerto Rican Oriole.

I am a recipient of a UMBC Travel Award from the UMBC Division of Undergraduate Academic Affairs

(Return)

Spelldown – Information Delivery in Action Games

Abi Lehr, Al Smith, Mariel Chavez-Barragan, TJ Colligan, Gabe Doersam, Lukas Proctor, Brian McKenzie, Katerina Vasiliou
Marc Olano, Computer Science and Electrical Engineering

Games often take mechanics from multiple genres but some genres are avoided due to the complexity and mechanics required to make them fun. Spelldown mixes two typically unassociated genres in a way that provides players with a challenge that utilizes both technical skills and a strategic mindset. As both an action game and a card game, players are tasked with creating a deck of card spells to take into a dungeon. They need to create a strategy for each run and perform technically in fast-paced scenarios. In order to make this project a possibility, the team focused on providing a wide range of information in a way that is quick to understand but doesn’t require the player to remember what anything does. This was both a design and art challenge, and conveying this visual information will be a success if blind playtests of the game can quickly understand how the cards work.

(Return)

Empowering Communities Through B2G Learning Centers: A Collaborative Approach with Community College Students

Kevin Lemus, Information Systems
Patricia Ordóñez, Information Systems

In the pursuit of alleviating educational, financial, and health disparities in marginalized communities, the following research explores the transformative potential of B2G Learning Centers. A program developed at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, and piloted in Anne Arundel County to help bring in-person computer and tech training to women in low-income communities. The initiative aims to engage community college students as mentors, leveraging the train-the-trainers model to underscore their crucial role in fostering a growth mindset, building a learning community, and instilling self-efficacy among participants. The study focuses on integrating computing curricula, including creative technology, cyber hygiene, digital literacy, and entrepreneurship. Community college students share their educational experiences, inspiring and guiding participants toward understanding the potential for social mobility through education. By concentrating on technical skills, leadership, teaching methodologies, and community building, the program aims to create a sustainable ecosystem for women and their families. Anticipated outcomes include expanded learning centers and the development of a self-sustainable model, empowering participants to confidently pursue a more self-sufficient future.

This Work was funded, in part, by the Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation.

(Return)

Exploring Barriers to the Hispanic Community of Baltimore: Perceived Discrimination in the Workplace

Natan Lichtman, Social Work
Kerri Evans, Social Work

Many Hispanic immigrants, especially those that are undocumented, endure poor working conditions and long hours while maintaining jobs that are significantly underpaid (Fernández et. al., 2021). That being said, their stories often remain unheard due to language barriers and/or not speaking up in fear of consequences. This research takes a deeper dive into a previous quantitative study with Dr. Evans regarding barriers to employment experienced by the Hispanic immigrant community of Baltimore, MD. The initial results found that many participants reported not having experienced discrimination, contradicting what we know to be true. To understand this discrepancy, 20 individuals from varying demographics that attend the Esperanza center, a social service organization that supports this population, participated in a 45-minute to one-hour interview regarding their pay, opportunity for advancement, workplace relationships, treatment by their employers, and discrimination based on various identities. At this point, the results have showed the common theme of a paradoxical relationship with their employers: on one hand, they pay them below minimum wage, deny requests off, and laugh off their attempts at self-advocacy; on the other, they provide them the opportunity to work in this country and support their families, and for that they are grateful.

This work was funded, in part, through an Undergraduate Research Award from the UMBC Division of Undergraduate Academic Affairs.

(Return)

Creating Melodies: Cultivating Musical Literacy through Composition

Valarous Lingham, Education
Cheryl North, Education; Brian Kaufman, UMBC

In the past, many music programs primarily focused on performance as a form of musical expression and creativity. However, there is another form of musical expression and creativity, which is through composition. Composition is a crucial part of musical literacy and is becoming a focal point in K-12 music education. Over four months, eighteen 6th-grade brass students completed composition assignments that consisted of writing melodic themes, collaborative compositions, and recognizing and correcting melodic errors. Their growth was measured by a rubric that focused on using the correct number and types of rhythms and imagination within compositions. The composition assignments were given to advanced and underperforming students to explore and use prior knowledge of musical concepts. The advanced students were expected to achieve a higher score on the post-test than on the pre-test. The underperforming students were expected to improve their scores from the pre-test by at least half. In the pre-test, the average of the advanced students was 77%, and the average of the underperforming students was 56%. In the post-test, the average of the advanced students was 90%, and the underperforming students were 68%.

(Return)

The Effect of Formaldehyde on Mitochondria Morphology: A Three-Dimensional Analysis

Megan Lisk, Biological Sciences, Farhan Augustine¹, Ashkon Hazrati
¹Biology
Weihong Lin, Biological Sciences; Tatsuya Ogura, Biology

Mitochondria are essential indicators of cell health due to their role in energy production and managing oxidative stress. Formaldehyde, a ubiquitous cytotoxic environmental compound, stimulates apoptosis through mitochondrial oxidative stress and electron transport chain disruption by reducing membrane potential. Formaldehyde is known to exist in electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) aerosols, though there is minimal research exploring e-cigarette-induced effects on mitochondrial health in humans and animals. This project investigates the cytotoxic effects of formaldehyde in mouse olfactory neurons through live-cell mitochondrial imaging. Cells from mouse olfactory epithelium were harvested and incubated in MitoLite, a fluorescent dye that accumulates in mitochondria in a membrane-potential-dependent manner. MitoLite intensity, therefore, is proportional to membrane potential, indicating the extent of oxidative phosphorylation. Cells were then exposed to e-cigarette-equivalent formaldehyde concentrations or control solutions and imaged via three-dimensional confocal microscopy. Image data was analyzed using Mitochondria Analyzer (an ImageJ plugin). Preliminary data demonstrated changes in volume and mitochondrial network connectivity in formaldehyde-exposed versus control cells. Because mitochondrial structure and function are closely related, these structural changes indicate formaldehyde exposure may alter mitochondrial function, serving as a model for e-cigarette-induced oxidative stress.

This work was funded, in part, by an ATIP grant.

(Return)

Introduction to Density Functional Theory, Band Structures, and Projected Density of State of LiZnSb, HZnSb, and KZnSb

Mei Liu, Chemistry and Biochemistry
Joseph Bennett, Chemistry and Biochemistry

This research utilizes density functional theory (DFT) to create polar and nonpolar materials using AZnSb hyperferroelectric structures as the starting material design platform. The stuffing site (A) were changed to include organic cations and protons such as H+, H3O+, NH4+, CH3NH3+, and etc. Using the open-source software Quantum ESPRESSO, variable cell relaxation calculations were conducted for these new structures. Each atom was represented by a GBRV pseudopotential and utilized a 6 x 6 x 6 k point grid for each structure. Convergence was reached at 1 x 105 eV for each calculation, employing the Wu-Cohen (WC) generalized gradient approximation (GGA) exchange correlation functional. The study revealed that the symmetry, size, and orientation of the stuffing site can modulate the polar buckling of the ZnSb layer. This research aims to develop 2D materials for easy polarization switchability, enabling ferroelectric behavior in non-ferroelectric materials, which is essential in various applications such as infrared sensors and SONAR.

(Return)

The Effects of Myosin Heavy Chain Like on Border Cell Migration in Fruit Flies

Jarrett Lloyd, Biological Sciences
Michelle Starz-Gaiano, Biological Sciences

Drosophila Melanogaster, commonly known as the fruit fly, serves as a prominent model organism for studying cell motility and migration, particularly through the examination of specialized cells called “border cells” within the egg chamber. The migration of these border cells within the fruit fly egg chamber offers insights applicable to understanding cell movements in humans, such as those involved in cancer metastasis, growth, or wound repair. The fruit fly’s genetic similarity to humans enhances its suitability for such studies, as numerous genes are homologous, ensuring conservation in protein structures. This research project focuses on revealing the impact of specific genes, particularly the myosin heavy chain-like gene (mhcl), on border cell migration in fruit flies. Mhcl encodes a motor protein that crucial for actin filament binding, a known mechanism for cell movement. Positioned in both sarcomeres and the egg chambers of the fruit fly, mhcl has drawn interest for its potential influence on border cell migration. The Starz-Gaiano laboratory has identified Mhcl as a key element, and through manipulating its expression in fruit fly egg chambers, the study aims to uncover the effects of this gene on border cell migration.

(Return)

Using Optogenetics to Study the Relationship Between Food Deprivation and Pain Sensitivity in Drosophila Melanogaster

Keiko Luke, Biological Sciences
Fernando Vonhoff, Biological Sciences

Anorexia nervosa is the mental illness with the highest mortality rate, affecting almost 30 million individuals worldwide. It is associated with a combination of psychological and sociological factors, but the neuronal mechanisms underlying anorexic starvation behaviors remain poorly understood. At the fundamental level, current models suggest that pain and hunger represent competing signals, prioritizing certain stimuli to ensure the organism’s survival. When the body is starved, the brain may ‘suppress’ feelings of pain to address the more immediate threat of food deprivation. To study the interaction between starvation and pain sensitivity, optogenetic methods were used to stimulate mechanical nociception – the encoding of painful stimuli – in Drosophila Melanogaster. When activated by a precise stimulation pattern, larvae engaged in escape behaviors such as rolling or curling. Preliminary data is consistent with previous literature; while more than 50% of fed animals carrying optogenetic constructs show a reliable rolling response, starvation decreased the percentage of animals showing rolling responses to less than 15% in experimental animals. By deepening our understanding of anorexic starvation behaviors, we may inform the development of targeted pharmaceuticals and treatment plans addressing various aspects of anorexia, potentially paving the way for more effective interventions to treat eating disorders.

This work was funded, in part, through an Undergraduate Research Award from the UMBC Division of Undergraduate Academic Affairs.

(Return)

Parameter Estimation Applied to a Novel Malaria Outbreak Introduced by The Invasive A. Stephensi In Dire Dawa, Ethiopia

Mac Luu, Mathematics and Statistics
Kathleen Hoffman, Mathematics and Statistics; Animikh Biswas, University of Maryland Baltimore County

Malaria, a devastating vector-borne disease, poses a global public health threat. The emergence of invasive Anopheles stephensi in the traditionally non-malarial Dire Dawa region of Ethiopia presents a chance for the exotic vector to cause a malaria outbreak. We consider a mechanistic Susceptible-Exposed-Infected-Recovered (SEIR) model for human malarial transmission where the parameters of interest are the rates individuals are exposed to malarial mosquitoes β, exposed individuals become infected α1, and infected individuals are recovered α2.We utilize Sobol sequence sensitivity techniques to identify sensitive parameters of the model and subsequently apply Bayesian inference and data assimilation techniques to estimate parameters in the SEIR model from a novel epidemiological dataset collected in Dire Dawa. Using Bayesian inference, we update prior knowledge on the transmission parameters based on the observed data, thereby refining the estimates of β and α1 with derived posterior distributions. Concurrently, nudging was employed to iteratively adjust the SEIR model’s state towards the observed state, enhancing the model’s fidelity to real-world data. These methods ensure that the model remains aligned with the observed outbreak dynamics, improving the reliability of predictions and providing a framework for parameter estimation models where parameters cannot be observed.

This work is possible by the Merck Data Science Scholarship and the UMBC START grant to PI A. Biswas and co-PI K. Hoffman.

(Return)

Investigations of Vibrio Cholerae Ferrous Iron Transport Protein B (FeoB) Nucleotide Specificity

Kate Magante, Chemistry and Biochemistry
Aaron Smith, Chemistry and Biochemistry

Ferrous iron (Fe2+), essential for critical metabolic processes, is key to the virulence of pathogenic bacteria, including Vibrio cholerae, the causative agent of the disease cholera. Pathogenic bacteria acquire Fe2+ via the ferrous iron transport (Feo) system, the most widely conserved Fe2+ acquisition system across the prokaryotic domain. FeoB, the most conserved component, is a polytopic transmembrane protein that bears a soluble N-terminal G-protein-like domain termed NFeoB, facilitating the translocation of Fe2+ across the lipid bilayer. Intriguingly, V. cholerae NFeoB exhibits nucleotide promiscuity, hydrolyzing both GTP and ATP, but the structural basis of this phenomenon remains unclear. Using recently determined X-ray crystal structures of apo and GDP-bound V. cholerae NFeoB, several variants of V. cholerae NFeoB were generated based on the hypothesis that these amino acids are critical for nucleotide binding. This work reports the overproduction, purification, and oligomeric analyses of each variant. We then analyzed the nucleotide binding capacity of each variant using isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) and tested their ability to crystallize and diffract. Coupled with our recent structures, these results begin to elucidate the nucleotide promiscuity of the V. cholerae FeoB protein, which could be targeted in the future for therapeutic developments to treat cholera.

(Return)

An Approach to Camera-Based Contact-less Breathing Rate Monitoring

Matthew Makila, Zahid Hasan, Azim Khan, Computer Science and Electrical Engineering
Nirmalya Roy, Information Systems

Respiratory rate (RR), measured by breaths per minute, is a major human vital sign. Experts recommend checking RR regularly as it provides early signs of common cardiovascular diseases across different age groups. To facilitate a ubiquitous contactless RR monitoring system, we proposed using cellphone video and a video processing mechanism to track the spatiotemporal movements to infer RR instead of using pressure-based wearables. We created a dataset to train and validate contactless RR methods and are conceiving a lightweight, robust approach to extract RR from video data. Data was collected from diverse subjects, considering varying frequencies of RR, variance in clothes, lighting, backgrounds, RR-induced body parts (shoulder, abdomen, chest), and body postures. Our data will be open source to validate RR methods and attract wider research. This work offers a spatiotemporal model, analyzing edge and point movements and instance segmentation, to localize the RR-induced body parts and track their subtle movements to infer the underlying breathing rate. In the future, we plan to test our model’s efficiency against deep-learning-based methods and develop data-efficient deep-learning approaches to learn breathing rates from video automatically.

This work was funded by the UMBC NSF-REU.

(Return)

Detection of Efavirenz and Darunavir Using MALDI Mass Spectrometry

Elizabeth Maloy, Nav Raj Phulara, Chemistry and Biochemistry
Herana Kamal Seneviratne, Chemistry and Biochemistry

Efavirenz (EFV) and darunavir (DRV), commonly used antiretroviral medications for the treatment of human immunodeficiency virus, have been reported to cause neurotoxic and cardiotoxic effects, respectively. Currently, the molecular mechanisms of the above drug-induced organ toxicities are unknown. To understand the above toxicities, visualization of the drugs and metabolites in target tissues is important. For this purpose, we developed a matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) mass spectrometry method to detect EFV and DRV. Ionization of the above drugs was investigated using a range of chemical matrices , including α-cyano-4-hydroxycinnamic acid, 1,5-diaminonaphthalene, 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid, and 9-aminoacridine in positive and negative polarities of the mass spectrometer. Based on our preliminary data, α-cyano-4-hydroxycinnamic acid in the positive ion mode was found to be the best condition for ionization of both drugs. The molecular ions of EFV and DRV were detected at m/z 316.0345 and 548.2421, respectively. Furthermore, the identification of the above drugs was confirmed through collision-induced dissociation fragmentation experiments. From these, EFV and DRV exhibited major fragment ions at m/z 272.8406 and 413.9642, corresponding to [C13H10ClF3N]+ and [C20H29N3O3S+Na]+ moieties, respectively. Future work will involve applying this methodology to visualize the distribution of EFV, DRV, and their metabolites in brain and heart tissues.

This work was funded, in part, through an Undergraduate Research Award from the UMBC Division of Undergraduate Academic Affairs.

(Return)

Japanese Knitting: Understanding the Style and Migration into America

Jamie Mamana, Asian Studies
Meredith Oyen, History and Asian Studies

There has been a recent resurgence of interest in knitting and crocheting as more and more people in the public eye craft. This presentation explores Japanese knitting and the effect it has on audiences outside of Japan. Japanese style knitting is heavily influenced by a wide variety of cultures and techniques, creating something completely different and new even to people familiar with knitting. This media study examines how Japanese knitting patterns and tools have spread and gained popularity into North America and assesses the opinions of knitters in the United States, including the experiences of some Japanese Americans. By taking a look at many different sources from passionate knitters to mainstream media, this presentation will offer a better understanding of Japanese knitting and the impact it has had across cultural and language barriers. The desire for something new and unique is present in many people, helping to fuel this interest into Japanese knitting in America.

(Return)

Building a Dialogue Classification System for Human-Robot Interactions

Zachary Margulies, Ekele Ogbadu, Computer Science and Electrical Engineering
Cynthia Matuszek, Computer Science and Electrical Engineering

Our work revolves around understanding and making use of the SCOUT (Situated Corpus of Understanding Transactions) data, a corpus of human-robot dialogue for an Urban Search & Rescue scenario. In this dataset, a human “commander” gives instructions to a robot that is navigating an urban setting. We have conducted an extensive user study in which participants were asked to select the most appropriate robot action in response to a human instruction (sampled from the SCOUT data). We determined the classification accuracy of participant-selected robot actions compared to the corresponding real output performed by the robot. Then, using a random forest classifier we built a system to translate the human commands into robot actions. Treating the user study as a baseline, we evaluated the performance of our new classifier. In future studies, we will implement a more sophisticated transformer-based model to more effectively classify dialogue.

(Return)

Immigrant Parents’ Views on the Role of Language and Culture at Home in their Children’s Readiness for Preschool

Ciomara Matamoros, Psychology, Dr. Susan Sonnenschein
Susan Sonnenschein, Psychology

This study explored the perceptions of Dominican and Salvadoran immigrant parents regarding the influence of their home culture and language on their preschool children’s school readiness skills. Forty-three parents, 49% Dominicans and 51% Salvadorans, participated in the study, which utilized semi-structured interviews and an acculturation measure. Preliminary analysis identified five key themes from parents’ responses. Four emphasized the role of children’s cultural background in their classroom performance. The fifth theme highlighted the broader impact of language on children’s functioning within families and society beyond the school context. Notably, there were some differences in the beliefs held by Dominican and Salvadorian parents. Future research will consider how these beliefs are influenced by parents’ levels of acculturation and enculturation.

(Return)

Identifying Ectopic Synapses in Neuromuscular Junctions of Drosophila Larvae Carrying Candidate Autism Gene Manipulation

Munachi Mbaekwe, Shreya Singh, Claudia Gualtieri, Biological Sciences
Fernando Vonhoff, Biological Sciences

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that results in lifelong management and interventions. This condition can include deficits in social interaction, repetitive behaviors and limited interests, sensory hypersensitivity, abnormal speech tone or rhythm, and other diagnoses that may interfere with the ability to function in life. Synaptic elimination, a process through which ectopic synapses on off-target partners are eliminated during neuronal development, has been linked to several neurodevelopmental disorders including autism, as it is essential for the maintaining the plasticity of the central nervous system. There are over 100 candidate genes associated with the development of autism, and for my project I analyzed the effects of knocking down the Drosophila genes USP8 and Prosap. I set out to identify ectopic synapses at the neuromuscular junctions in abdominal muscles 6 and 7 in the manipulated Drosophila larvae to determine how it compares to the control larvae. I dissected the larvae as fillet, leaving only the brain, preparations and counted the number of ectopic synapses in the immunostained neuromuscular junctions. This project contributes to the ongoing goal of understanding the process of synaptic elimination in Drosophila larvae associated with these candidate autism genes to provide translational research.

This research project is funded by the U-RISE Program at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC), which is supported by the National Institute of General Medical Sciences of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number T34GM136497.

(Return)

Left Behind Misrepresented Afro-latinas

Cielo McClain, Media and Communication Studies
Tracy Tinga, Media and Communication Studies

The purpose of this study is to examine the representation of Afro-Latina women in telenovelas. This study is important because consistently misleading interpretations about a group of people televised to the public often creates a skewed perception of the group. This research will explore ideological patterns and symbolisms such as colorism in telenovelas series like Rubí, Celia and Xica de silva that continue to reinforce stereotypical representations of Afro Latina women. This study will also include interviews with 10 female and 10 male participants to ask their perception of the presentation of Afro-latinas in telenovelas because how audiences engage with media content is important by telling their beliefs and knowledge about this group of people. This study uses the function of subculture, intersectional feminist and representation theory to explain the relationship between media representation, ideology and identity for Afro-Latinas.

(Return)

Misophonia through the Choreographic Lens: Visualizing Complex Fight or Flight Responses

Eva McLaughlin, Dance
Ann Sofie Clemmensen, Dance

Through the medium of dance, this research sought to investigate and bring awareness to the neurological condition known as Misophonia. The research specifically addresses how to employ choreographic tools in the creation of a dance to effectively immerse the audience into the lived experience of an individual with Misophonia in order to expose its damaging effects on a person’s daily life. Misophonia, or “select sound sensitivity syndrome” is characterized by a strong aversion to specific sounds, including but not limited to chewing, breathing, pen clicking, and many other noises specific to the individual. Exposure to these noises can induce anxiety, distress, and anger, as well as intense physiological symptoms. With this disorder emerging as a recent discovery, research is limited, and it is generally unclear whether it can be characterized as being caused by auditory, psychiatric, or neurological factors. Through survey results collected from over 60 individuals with Misophonia, personal experiences as someone with the condition, and extensive choreographic exploration, a final work of choreography was created, using experimental sound, lighting, and movement choices to highlight the motivation and purpose of the work.

This work was funded, in part, through an Undergraduate Research Award from the UMBC Division of Undergraduate Academic Affairs.

(Return)

The U.S. Healthcare Sector and the Covid-19 Pandemic: A Financial Analysis

Nayib Mejia, Economics
Douglas Lamdin, Economics

Covid-19 disrupted health and economies globally. In the first quarter of 2020, the U.S stock markets declined -19.6%, while others declined more or less. For all of 2020, the U.S return was 18.0% as global markets recovered. A focus on the U.S healthcare sector revealed that in the first quarter of 2020, those stocks declined -12.7%. Furthermore, the returns of the five healthcare subsectors varied. For example, the Healthcare Providers, and Genomics and Immunology sector returned -16.8% and -10.0%. For all of 2020, the returns for the healthcare stocks were 15.3%, and the subsector returns diverged substantially. For example, the Healthcare Providers returned 24.4%, while Genomics and Immunology returned -4.0%. A final analysis considered the three vaccine stocks: Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson. For the first quarter and all of 2020, the respective returns were: Pfizer -15.7%, 2.9%, Moderna 53.1%, 434.1%, Johnson & Johnson -9.4%, 10.6%. This study illustrates the use of market data to measure the financial impact of the pandemic on healthcare-related stocks at different levels of granularity.

This work was funded, in part, through an Undergraduate Research Award from the UMBC Division of Undergraduate Academic Affairs.

(Return)

Enhancing Plasmonic Current using Gold Colloids and Reducing Fluorescence Quenching

Aiden Mihalik, Lahari Saha, Chemistry and Biochemistry
Chris Geddes, Institute of Fluoresence

Biological chromophores present a unique opportunity in solar energy harvesting. Currently, solar conversion efficiency rate %’s are in the low 20s, which translates to using multiple panels to generate electricity. This is a problem since many agricultural farms are transitioning into solar farms, supporting the growing demand for electricity and further deepening the existing food crisis. Advances in plasmonic materials offer promising results due to their compatibility with fluorescent biosensors and various fluorophores, suggesting potential applications in solar energy conversion. In this presentation, we discuss a technology called plasmonic current (PC), where plasmonic thin films and a fluorophore solution are used to generate current. We consider a few methods to increase current produced by FIPC for example, incorporating metallic colloids in the fluorophore solutions and removing dissolved oxygen from the solution. Key takeaways on metallic colloids mixed with fluorophore solutions indicate an exceptional increase in current generation. Preliminary data on argon purged solutions suggest an increase in PC in the absence of dissolved oxygen, suggesting that the excited-state lifetime of the fluorophore nano-antenna has a role in the magnitude of plasmonic current generation. Future work in this project will translate our present findings to suitable chromophores.

(Return)

Genetically Encoded Fluorescent Magnesium Sensor to be used in an Industrial Cell-Free Bioreactor

Terra Miley, Chad Sundberg, Elias Gilotte, Chemical, Biochemical, and Environmental Engineering
Govind Rao, Chemical, Biochemical, and Environmental Engineering

Cell free protein synthesis, otherwise known as in-vitro protein synthesis, provides opportunities for easy reaction condition manipulation, high-throughput potential, and rapid large-scale production, compared to live-cell bioreactors. With the application of a cell-free system, transcription and amino acid synthesis can be completed in the same compartment in cell-free protein synthesis, which makes the job of regulating magnesium, a cofactor, much more difficult, thus why a magnesium sensor would be essential to this process. Magnesium has various importance in cellular processes such as transcription, translation, energy metabolism, and replication. Cell-free protein synthesis is important in this process to be able to replicate and focus on the energy on production of a protein of interest. To address this challenge we have designed a fluorescent magnesium sensor to be used in a low cost fluidic chip. The sensor makes automated measurements from a bioreactor while immobilizing a fluorescent protein in micro-fluidic columns on Ni-NTA resin.

This work was funded, in part, through an Undergraduate Research Award from the UMBC Division of Undergraduate Academic Affairs.

(Return)

Terahertz Time Domain Spectroscopy of Carbon Nanotube Yarns

Anthony Miller, Physics
Randy Paffenroth, WPI Industrial and Applied Mahtematics; Theodosia Gougousi, UMBC Physics

Carbon Nanotube Yarn is a versatile material. Amongthe most significant properties of Carbon Nanotube Yarn is its high tensile strength and conductivity. A polarized terahertz laser was used to capture insight into the structure of the yarn, particularly its alignment of carbon nanotubes.

The goal of the project was to determine improved methods for determining the strength of a Carbon Nanotube Yarn without breaking it. Van der Waals forces between the nanotubes hold the yarn together, so it was believed that the more aligned yarns might be stronger. Could measuring the alignment of the yarn’s carbon nanotubes substitute as a measure of the yarn’s strength?

A terahertz laser was focused perpendicular to a length of fiber. Absorption was measured. Those measures were used to calculate the polarization of the laser as it passed through the wire, giving insight into the alignment of the carbon nanotube fibers within the yarn. It was found, though, that alignment of carbon nanotube fibers did not correlate with yarn strength. Rather, lower variances in alignment measures correlated with yarn strength.

This work was funded by the NSF.

(Return)

Whatʻs The Difference? An Ethnographic Exploration of Diversity and Connection on a Multicultural University Campus

Moanililia Miller, Sociology, Anthropology, and Health Administration and Policy
Bambi Chapin, Sociology, Anthropology, and Health Administration and Policy

Even as DEI initiatives come under threat throughout the country, university campuses continue to prioritize diversity as an essential aspect of the collegiate experience. UMBC offers a variety of diversity and inclusion programs commensurate with its ethnically diverse student population. Yet diversity can mean different things to different people, whether fostering interconnectedness, blurring racial divides, or even highlighting segregation. This ethnographic study explores how university students experience on-campus programs designed to bring people together and how connections are enacted within and across groups in these spaces. Through participant observation and interviews with participants at the MOSAIC Center for Cultural Diversity, as well as attending other on-campus activities, I examine the ways students from various backgrounds interact in an intentionally multi-cultural environment and how diversity plays out in these group dynamics. The findings from this qualitative study elucidate ways that diversity and inclusion initiatives on university campuses can open up space for meaningful intercultural connections amongst students and shape their educational experience.

(Return)

Impact of Bias on Birdsong Research: Male and Female Syllable Categorization in Orchard Orioles

D’Juan Moreland, Biological Sciences
Kevin Omland, Biological Sciences

Much of birdsong research historically focused on male song. Consequently, female song was thought to be nonexistent. Recently, researchers documented that most songbird species have female song, and now scientists have begun addressing the knowledge gap between male and female birdsong. We compared the subunits of song – syllables – between male and female Orchard Orioles to investigate sex-specific patterns in syllable usage. We first categorized a syllable repertoire by selecting three songs from 23 males and 16 females for syllable categorization. Using the sound analysis software Raven Pro, we divided each song into syllables and visually categorized and labeled them into syllable types. We found that males use more syllable types than females with males using 187 unique syllable types and females using 143 unique syllable types. We found that females use syllables more variably than males, which may indicate female song stereotypy is under relaxed selection pressure. We observed that females are more likely to share any given syllable type with a male than another female, while males are equally likely to share syllables both within and between sex. Syllable sharing between sexes may indicate that there is no sex-specific pattern in syllable usage in Orchard Orioles.

This investigation was sponsored by the U-RISE Program at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC), which is supported by the National Institute of General Medical Sciences, National Institutes of Health (NIGMS/NIH) under National Research Service Award T34 GM 136497.

(Return)

Family Abolition and Mythologized Motherhood in Jesmyn Ward’s Bois Sauvage Series

Grace Morris, English
Keegan Finberg, English

Does the nuclear family structure have a clear path forward in an age of scant institutional support systems, declining social welfare, and increasing climate insecurity? My Honors thesis considers this question through Jesmyn Ward’s Bois Sauvage Series, novels that focus on poor and working class Black rural communities living on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. In my primary text, Salvage the Bones (2011), which I examine through a family abolitionist lens, the impoverished Batiste family struggles to provide adequate care in their household without reliable external support. When the main character Esch—the lone girl in her family—discovers she is pregnant, she is left alone to wrestle with questions of what family means to her. Esch looks to unlikely mother figures she finds nearby as potential models: China, her brother’s prized pitbull; Medea, a character from her summer reading; and even Hurricane Katrina. I analyze the central device through which the novel’s family abolitionist themes are conveyed: its unique mode of classical reception of the Medea myth, wherein Esch attributes various characteristics of the sorceress to these other mother figures and, ultimately, herself. I argue that by the novel’s end, a new model of family develops based in community involvement and investment.

(Return)

Characterizing the Aspergillus Nidulans Kinase Deletion Library for Septation in Response to Cell Wall Stress

Meredith Morse, Joshua Dayie, Chemical, Biochemical, and Environmental Engineering, Alexander Doan, Mael Ndalamba¹, Shavier Small², Feonil Limiac³, Raina Miller⁴, Rianna Minter⁵, Greeshma Tarimala^6
1Biochemistry, Loyola University Maryland, ²Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, ³Department of Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, and Bioinformatics, Towson University , ⁴Department of Biology-Chemistry, Southern Nazarene University, ⁵Department of Biological Sciences, Delaware State University, ⁶Applications and Research Laboratory, Mount Hebron High School
Mark Marten, Chemical, Biochemical, and Environmental Engineering

Filamentous fungi employ complex signaling pathways to regulate cell-wall integrity and repair, predominantly mediated by protein kinases. However, many of the 98 nonessential protein kinases in the model fungus Aspergillus Nidulans are uncharacterized. Previous research in our lab has shown septation is important for surviving cell wall stress. By determining which kinases are involved in septation, we can generate targets for more effective antifungal drugs that inhibit septation. Antifungal drugs that deplete the response to cell wall stress are essential for treating patients with fungal infections. For this purpose, various strains were grown from the A. nidulans kinase deletion library, each lacking one specific kinase gene. To test the hypothesis that certain kinases are involved in responding to cell-wall stress, the library strains were grown for 16 hours under two conditions: with and without micafungin, a cell-wall perturbant triggering septation. Fluorescent microscopy captured images of the fungal cells, which were analyzed for extent of growth and number of septa formed. By comparing the phenotypes of the mutant strains to an isogenic control strain, the involvement of the various kinases in responding to wall stress can be inferred.

This work was funded through the National Science Foundation (Award 2006189 and Award 2050728 ) and also through an Undergraduate Research Award from the UMBC Office of Undergraduate Education.

(Return)

The Relation Between Depersonalization and Academic Self-Efficacy

Amina Muhammad, Psychology
Lira Yoon, Psychology

Around 25% to 75% of adults have experienced a depersonalization episode in their lifetime. Depersonalization is characterized by the detachment from one’s own feelings and thoughts, and it is often associated with the detachment from reality itself (i.e., derealization). Previous studies have shown that those with high levels of depersonalization often have low confidence in their cognitive abilities, which could potentially lead to lower beliefs in their ability to achieve academic success, complete academic tasks, and understand the material being taught (i.e., lower academic self-efficacy). Thus, the current study examined if individuals with higher levels of depersonalization exhibit lower levels of academic self-efficacy. 150 American college students completed a survey assessing their symptoms of depersonalization and belief of their academic capabilities. Considering that depersonalization is common, it is important to understand its impact on everyday life. Understanding the relation between depersonalization and academic self-efficacy is the first step to help individuals with high levels of depersonalization achieve academic success.

This work was funded, in part, through an Undergraduate Research Award from the UMBC Division of Undergraduate Academic Affairs.

(Return)

Investigating the Role of The Intracellular Domain of Amyloid Precursor Protein Like (AICD) in Drosophila

Rameesha Mustafa, Zachary Smith, Biological Sciences
Fernando Vonhoff, Biological Sciences

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive brain disorder that is the most common cause of dementia. Through disease progression, aggregates accumulate as neurofibrillary tangles and Amyloid-Beta (Aβ) plaques; thus, disrupting the connections between nerve cells, which are critical for the transmission of messages throughout the brain and body. The Aβ plaques are formed by the Human Amyloid Precursor Protein (APP) cleavage. There is much research on the extracellular domain but not on the intracellular domain (AICD), especially in regard to its role in development. Drosophila has the Human APP ortholog called dAPP-like protein (dAPPL), which can be studied to conserve mechanisms relevant to AD onset. Through the deletion of one of the six amino acids conserved sequences within the intracellular domain in APPL: YENPTY, we hope to pinpoint the change in protein localization between mutants and wild-type flies. We hope to create and validate novel fly lines containing mutations of the APPL and APPL-AICD. This study aims to determine the effects of the YENPTY deletion on the transcription of genes, protein expression, and neuronal anatomy. Through this, we hope to gain insight into the basic pathology of AD and understand what to target in the future.

This investigation was sponsored by the U-RISE Program at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC), which is supported by the National Institute of General Medical Sciences, National Institutes of Health (NIGMS/NIH) under National Research Service Award T34 GM 136497.

(Return)

Scale Study – Improving Music Literacy: Critical In The Evolution Of Music Making

Keiko Myers, Education
Cheryl North, Education; Brian Kaufman, Music

The ability to perform scales is every musician’s mainstay. Learning scales improves students’ overall technique, fluency of recognizing patterns in music, and ability to sight-read, thereby improving their musical literacy. This study assessed fifty-three 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students in a diverse suburban Title I middle school and measured those students’ ability to perform a two-octave major scale: A two octave D major scale for violins and a two octave G major scale for violas and cellos. All but five students performed less than a 3/4 for the pre-assessment based on the given rubric; they were expected to improve their score by at least two points or attain a minimum score of 3/4 on the post-assessment. The five students that earned a 3/4 for the pre-assessment were expected to improve their score enough to attain a 4/4 on the post-assessment. To help their progress before the post-assessment, students were given aural, visual, and kinesthetic strategies to guide them through note identification, finger placements, and shifting techniques needed to perform the scales. Upon completion of the post-assessment all students improved their score by at least two points or attained the minimum target goal of 3/4.

(Return)

A Legacy Of Courage: Minnie Lee and Mary Alice Relf

Scherrie Newton, Africana Studies
Bill Shewbridge, Media and Communication Studies

This documentary thoughtfully tells the story of two sisters who were highly influential in the fight for reproductive justice in the United States in the 1970s. Through extensive research and a compelling interview, including Dr. Tammy Henderson about eugenics, it highlights the appalling story of Mary Alice and Minnie Lee Relf, who were forced to get sterilized by a government-funded clinic without their permission or their parent’s knowledge. Their brave stand against this wrong caused the important court case Relf v. Weinberger, which fought against unfair practices that hurt disadvantaged groups. Showcasing how strong the sisters were in the face of hardship, demonstrating how race, gender, and reproductive rights all affect each other. Not only does it celebrate the Relf sisters’ lasting heritage, but it also stands as a strong reminder of the ongoing fight for freedom and equality in reproductive health care.

(Return)

Rendering 2D and 3D Image Data: Defining Cell Boundaries in Fruit Fly Egg Chambers

Julia Neylan, Mathematics and Statistics
Bradford Peercy, Mathematics and Statistics

Cell migration is essential for various biological mechanisms such as wound healing and cancer metastasis. An experimental model for this phenomenon is the Drosophila Melanogaster, where a cluster of cells migrates through the egg chamber during oocyte development. We seek to accurately rebuild the geometry of this model in three dimensions to then be used to simulate cell migration in Matlab. Using high-resolution microscopy, we have acquired a series of 2D images of the egg chamber which are then used to construct a 3D model through automatic rendering. The reconstruction can then be brought into MAYA where non-realistic holes can be filled in and patched. Afterward, the geometry can be imported into Matlab where we worked on automating the process to have individual matrices of points for each cell. We created a function that takes in the entire chamber and returns individual matrices with the coordinates of the boundary of each cell in three dimensions. We seek to automate this process so any chamber can be taken from microscopy slides to be used in Matlab for a simulation. The findings of my research will assist in creating a simulation including that of chemoattractant in both two and three dimensions.

This work was funded in part by NSF #1953423 to BEP and MSG.

(Return)

Mapping From The Heart Out: Digital Storytelling and Interracial Asian American Narratives

Kira Ng, Global Studies
Tania Lizarazo, Global Studies

There is a current gap in qualitative data for interracial Asian Americans. Simultaneously, many qualitative research techniques reproduce power hierarchies between the researchers and participants. This project sought to generate an archive of narratives using digital storytelling techniques to work collaboratively and ensure the storytellers had full authority over the creation and dissemination of their stories. Story Maps provided the structure to tell narratives in a new format by emphasizing spaces. The five storytellers were initially found through personal relationships with the facilitator. During individual facilitation sessions, storytellers were taught how to use Knightlab, an open-access software, to create Story Maps themselves in their own time. During those sessions, storytellers were encouraged to share whatever they were comfortable with–both in the session and in their final product. Storytellers have full authority over how their Story Maps are used, in a way that non-collaborative research does not always allow. These Story Maps opened opportunities for dialogues between interracial Asian Americans during their production and dissemination. In turn, they blur the boundaries between researchers, participants, and the audience. Story Maps provided a new avenue for qualitative research that empowered rather than exploited, and produced new data on interracial Asian Americans.

This work was funded, in part, through an Undergraduate Research Award from the UMBC Division of Undergraduate Academic Affairs.

(Return)

Determining the Role of Hoxb13 in Prostate Cancer Initiation and Progression in a Mouse Model

Nhi Nguyen, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Charles Bieberich, Biological Sciences

Prostate cancer is the second most lethal cancer in men. Although disease risk is most closely associated with age, there are a few hereditary gene variants that contribute to disease initiation and progression. Hoxb13 is a homeobox protein that plays a role in prostate epithelium development. Two Hoxb13 variants have been identified that coincide with an increased risk of prostate cancer. To study the role of Hoxb13 in prostatic carcinogenesis we used the transgenic Hi-Myc mouse prostate cancer model, which overexpresses the human oncogene MYC in a prostate-specific manner, crossed with Hoxb13 knockout mice. We observed a significant decrease in tumor initiation in mice carrying mutant Hoxb13 alleles. Our results suggest that Hoxb13 contributes to the transcriptomic changes that permit transformation in MYC-driven prostate cancer. Future analysis of mRNA and protein expression in this model aims to confirm the role of Hoxb13 in proto-oncogene downregulation and tumor-suppressor upregulation.

This work was funded, in part, through an Undergraduate Research Award from the UMBC Division of Undergraduate Academic Affairs.

(Return)

Learning Lanes: Diverse Paths to Mastery

Virginia Njuguna, Education
Cheryl North, Education; Christopher Rakes, UMBC MATH Education; Jonathan Singer, Education

Fostering student success hinges on their ownership of learning and the provision of varied instruction that suits diverse learning styles. In a project-based physical science unit focused on energy transfer, transformation, and conservation, students were encouraged to explore content through different formats and contexts, aiming to deepen their understanding. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of differentiated instruction among 7th-grade science students. Four participants were divided into two groups based on individual needs: Group A, comprising students with special education accommodations, aimed for a mastery level of 60% on the post-assessment. Group B, without special education accommodations but facing focus challenges, targeted a 70% mastery level. Using mixed methods, including pre and post-assessments and observations, this study analyzed both quantitative mastery data and qualitative behavioral insights, of which all the students were able to meet with success.

(Return)

Evaluating The Effects of Gadolinium Functionalized Dendrons on MRI Contrast

Paisley Nowell, Chemistry and Biochemistry
Marie-Christine Daniel, Chemistry and Biochemistry

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is an important tool for imaging the human body, and as such can aid in the diagnosis of cancer. Gd3+, a paramagnetic ion that aids in the contrast of cancerous areas through interaction with water present in the body, altering its relaxation time to provide better contrast. Tetraazacyclododecanetetraacetic acid (DOTA), a cyclic compound with four nitrogen atoms and three carboxylic acid groups, is commonly used to chelate Gd3+. DOTA-Gd is actively undergoing investigation for its ability to provide contrast when conjugated to a specific class of polymers known as dendrons. This investigation requires the synthesis of an azide-modified DOTA-Gd chelator, which will be used to react with a first-generation nitrile terminated dendron through an azide-nitrile cycloaddition reaction. Since the first generation dendron has two nitrile functionalities, DOTA-Gd conjugation is limited to two sites per dendron. The resulting DOTA-Gd dendron will then be added onto the surface of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs). Previously, a third generation dendron had been utilized where eight Gd/dendron was observed but reduced MRI contrast of the final AuNPs due to over packing Gd. Therefore, it is hypothesized that the use of a first-generation dendron will increase the MRI contrast of the final AuNPs.

This work was funded, in part, through an Undergraduate Research Award from the UMBC Division of Undergraduate Academic Affairs.

(Return)

Characterizing the Distribution of GADD45B, a Candidate Mediator of Hypoxia-Adaptation

Arian Nyandjo, Biological Sciences
Rachel Brewster, Biological Sciences; Tim Hufford, Biological Sciences, UMBC

Oxygen is crucial for cellular respiration, with hypoxic conditions triggering metabolic shifts. In the absence of oxygen (or even in normal developing tissues where oxygen is limited), Hif represents a key upstream factor in orchestrating adaptive responses. Hypoxia-inducible factor (Hif-2a) plays a pivotal role in hypoxic response, particularly in red blood cell production and angiogenesis. Zebrafish are uniquely adept at enduring anoxia and hypoxia, making them ideal for studying the harmful reoxygenation phase post-hypoxia, relevant to stroke damage. Growth arrest and DNA-damage inducible 45 beta (Gadd45b) has been identified for its role in the stress response of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), which differentiate into various blood cells. My research focuses on Gadd45b’s function within the circulatory system. Utilizing Tg(fli1:EGFP) zebrafish embryos, I conducted immunolabeling for Gadd45b, pinpointing its localization in the HSC niche along the embryo’s axis. To assess Gadd45b’s impact on circulatory cell populations, I employed a splice blocking morpholino against gadd45ba and subsequent hbae1 hemoglobin marker labeling, which suggested a reduction in circulating cells upon gadd45ba knockdown. Future work involves validating these findings and ensuring the specificity of the gadd45ba antibody, differentiating it from its paralog gadd45bb in identified regions.

This research was partially funded by the USM LSAMP program, supported by NSF LSAMP Award #1619676.

(Return)

Dance As Language: A Choreographic Exploration of the Interpretation of Idiomatic Phrases in the English Language

Katelyn O’Connor, Dance
Ann Sofie Clemmensen, Dance

This research addressed an interpretation of English idioms on a literal to figurative scale, with the presentation being dance performance. The motivation for this research stemmed from interacting with a variety of people with English as their second (or non-primary) language. There are an estimated 25,000 idioms in the English language, and while there are idioms in other languages as well, research has shown it is not nearly as extensive as in the English language. Through personal interpretations, surveys collected from over seventy native and non-native English-speaking adults, and in-depth choreographic exploration, this research showed that there is a large depth of interpretations when it comes to English idioms, ranging from extreme ends of the scale of literal to figurative. The final presentation included an exploration of body, object, and space, utilizing props and movement in tandem to convey the tension between the literal and figurative language.

This work was funded, in part, through an Undergraduate Research Award from the UMBC Division of Undergraduate Academic Affairs.

(Return)

Fueling Diversity: Understanding Student-athletes’ Dietary Habits

Luke O’Neill, American Studies
Sarah Fouts, American Studies

Diet plays a pivotal role in the performance of student athletes, serving as the body’s primary fuel source. However, what we eat is entrenched in social and cultural factors not commonly studied in conjunction with performance. Through a combination of 6-8 qualitative interviews and approximately 50 surveys conducted among student athletes at UMBC, this study examines how globalization, cultural backgrounds, and campus living arrangements influence dietary practices among college athletes. Initial findings reveal notable shifts in dietary patterns among college athletes, often influenced by limited food availability, cultural norms, and the prevalence of unhealthy options. The existing research highlighted three key themes–globalization, cultural influences, and campus living – each contributing a unique perspective to our understanding of athlete nutrition. Integrating these themes contributes to a holistic framework that can guide professionals in developing targeted and culturally sensitive nutritional interventions for athletes, promoting optimal health and performance. By understanding these complexities, sports medicine professionals can develop tailored nutritional interventions to optimize athlete health and performance.

(Return)

The Effect of BomS2 on the Clearance of Bacterial Infection

Ellison Ober, Yamini Ravi, Isabella Tiboni, Mike Olalemi, Shonda Campbell, Biological Sciences
Jeff Leips, Biological Sciences

Immunosenescence is the decline of immune response throughout lifespan and has a genetic basis. Candidate genes were identified in Drosophila Melanogaster that affect immunosenescence, including BomS2. This gene is involved in Toll-receptor signaling pathways and the clearance of gram-positive bacterial infection. However, a genome-wide association study identified BomS2 as a candidate gene associated with clearing gram-negative bacterial infections. We aim to examine the role of BomS2 on age-specific immune response against Escherichia coli (E.coli) using a bacterial clearance assay. Using the Gal4/UAS system, we activated RNA interference to knock down BomS2 expression in hemocytes, which are crucial in clearing infection. We injected 1- and 5-week-old flies with a standard volume of E. coli. Flies were given 24 hours to clear the infection and surviving flies were homogenized, plated on bacterial growth plates, and incubated for 24 hours. The resulting colonies on the plates represented a phenotype to reflect immune response. Our preliminary results indicated knockdown of BomS2 improves clearance ability at young age while significantly reducing it in old age. Further studies are in progress to validate this gene’s contribution to immunity. These results could aid in developing a genetic target for precision medicine to combat immunosenescence.

This work was funded, in part, through an Undergraduate Research Award from the UMBC Division of Undergraduate Academic Affairs.

(Return)

Decoding Glucosome: Revealing the Function-Dependent Composition of Glucosomes

Augustine Obisesan, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Ashesh Sharma, Elijah Mugabe
Songon An, Chemistry and Biochemistry

Glucosome is a multi-enzyme assembly that regulates glucose flux between glycolysis and building block biosynthesis (i.e., the pentose phosphate pathway and serine biosynthesis) in human cells. Initially, glucosome was discovered to be composed of at least four rate-determining enzymes from glucose metabolism, including phosphofructokinase, fructose bisphosphatase, pyruvate kinase, and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase. Subsequent high-content imaging assays and mathematical modeling approaches have revealed that glucose flux is regulated by glucosomes in an assembly size-dependent manner. However, the current understanding of the glucosome composition does not explain the mechanism behind the size-dependent functions of glucosomes. We hypothesize that the rest of enzymes in glucose metabolism also play an important role in controlling glucose flux through glucosome assemblies in human cells. Here, we have constructed fusion proteins of phosphoglucose isomerase, aldolase, triose phosphate isomerase, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, phosphoglycerate kinase, phosphoglycerate mutase, and enolase with a monomeric enhanced green fluorescent protein. Fluorescent live-cell imaging has been then used to determine if the reversible enzymes present any spatial relationship with the rate-determining enzymes in glucosomes. Collectively, we envision that this study would advance our understanding of how glucose metabolism is regulated inside living human cells, thereby leading therapeutic intervention toward the treatment of human metabolic diseases.

This work was funded, in part, through an Undergraduate Research Award from the UMBC Division of Undergraduate Academic Affairs.

(Return)

Examining the Effects of Chronic Pain in Drosophila Melanogaster

Inioluwa Oluseyi, Biological Sciences
Fernando Vonhoff, Biological Sciences

My research aims to deepen our understanding of nociception and chronic pain, utilizing the Drosophila Melanogaster model. Nociception, the neural encoding of noxious stimuli, is central to chronic pain, a condition characterized by persistent discomfort beyond normal recovery periods. Through thermogenetics, chronic pain is induced in flies by activating thermosensitive TRP cation channels, providing valuable insights into pain mechanisms.This study investigates the role of the reward network, particularly ethanol response, in modulating nociceptive behaviors post-chronic pain induction. We hypothesize that chronic pain alters the anatomical and functional properties of the reward network. By elucidating how nociception and reward networks interact in chronic pain, our study contributes to understanding pain modulation and adaptation. Ultimately, insights gained from Drosophila Melanogaster may inform strategies for managing chronic pain in humans.

This work was funded, in part, through an Undergraduate Research Award from the UMBC Division of Undergraduate Academic Affairs.

(Return)

Creating A high Throughput Screening Platform to Identify post-translational Regulators of USP15 in Ovarian Cancer Cells

Emmanuel Omole, Biological Sciences
Achuth Padmanabhan, Biological Sciences; Noel Amadu, University Of Maryland Baltimore County

Due to the lack of effective therapeutics, ovarian cancer continues to be the most lethal gynecologic cancer and the 5th leading cause for cancer associated deaths among women in the United States. To improve clinical outcomes it is important to identify key factors that drive ovarian cancer progression and understand mechanisms that regulate them in cells. Previous studies suggest USP15 plays an important role in ovarian cancer progression. However, mechanisms that regulate USP15 stability and turnover have remained unknown. My project aims to address this knowledge gap. To achieve this goal, I cloned USP15 with a C-terminal mCherry tag in a lentiviral plasmid. I used this plasmid to generate lentiviral particles, which was then used to generate stable ovarian cancer cell lines that expressed USP15 with a c-terminal mCherry tag. As mCherry is fused to USP15, mCherry expression, measured as fluorescence intensity, will serve as a surrogate for USP15 levels in these cells. In future, I will treat these cells with a library of siRNAs targeting different protein kinases to identify novel upstream regulators of USP15. My work will thus identify novel upstream regulators of USP15 stability in ovarian cancer cancer cells.

This work was funded,in part,by the EDUCATE Scholars.

(Return)

Cognitive Assessment and Care Planning in Primary Care

Obehi Oniha, Public Health
Halima Amjad, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine

Dementia care often occurs in primary care and quality is variable. Medicare introduced cognitive assessment and care planning (CACP) to improve dementia care. Our objective was to assess interdisciplinary staff and patient/caregiver perspectives on potential CACP implementation in primary care. We conducted interviews with 28 primary care team members and 15 patients and caregivers from community-based practices. Maximum variation sampling was used to recruit participants diverse in race and clinic characteristics. Qualitative content analysis was used to identify themes related to acceptability, appropriateness, and feasibility of CACP. All participants felt CACP was acceptable. Staff expressed motivation for providing quality dementia care. CACP was felt to be appropriate for primary care. Staff noted that they already addressed most care domains in Annual Wellness Visits. Feasibility of CACP in primary care was threatened by time and staffing constraints. Access to an interdisciplinary primary care team and telehealth were recognized as tools to enhance feasibility. CACP training and education were also needed for feasibility. As a mechanism to improve dementia care in the primary care setting, CACP is felt to be acceptable and appropriate. Feasibility is unclear, however; successful implementation requires addressing time constraints while optimizing interdisciplinary team roles; and training needs.

This research was funded, in part, by the NIH/NIA and the Undergraduate Summer Training and Research Program.

(Return)

SMYD3 Inhibition Used to Identify and Block Main Metastatic Pathways Within Prostate Cancer

Brandon Onochie, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Sabeen Ikram¹, Luke Mason^1
1Biological Sciences Department, UMBC
Erin Green, Biological Sciences

Aberrant lysine methylation of histone and non-histone proteins mediated by deregulated lysine methyltransferases (KMT) and lysine demethylases (KDM) has been associated with numerous malignancies. SMYD3, a member of the SMYD family of lysine methyltransferases, is overexpressed in multiple cancers including prostate cancer. Increased expression levels of SMYD3 in prostate cancer cells promotes survival, migration, invasion, and metastasis, indicating that it plays a significant role in prostate carcinogenesis. However, the molecular and the biochemical mechanisms that regulate substrate identification and lysine methyltransferase activity of SMYD3 remain undefined. We hypothesize that SMYD3 has a preferred substrate through which it facilitates development and progression of malignancy. In prostate cancer cells, using subcellular fractionation and immunofluorescence we found SMYD3 to be primarily localized in the cytoplasm. Preliminary data indicates that subcellular localization of SMYD3 changes when nuclear export is blocked. Essentially, our goal is to study the contribution of different regions of the uniquely regulated proteins. Structurally, SMYD3 contains a conserved SET domain, which catalyzes methylation, a zinc finger MYND domain, a cysteine rich post-SET domain and a TPR-like region comprising C-terminal domain (CTD). Through immunofluorescent imaging, we aim to define the role of the different domains of SMYD3 in regulating its localization.

This work was funded, in part, through an Undergraduate Research Award from the UMBC Division of Undergraduate Academic Affairs.

(Return)

Verification of Hemostatic Nanocapsules Through Rotational Thromboelastometry Analysis

Chiad Onyeje, Chemical, Biochemical, and Environmental Engineering
Erin Lavik, Chemical, Biochemical, and Environmental Engineering

Trauma-induced bleeding can be beneficially impacted by blood clot formation, though few methods currently exist to increase the clotting rate for internal first aid. Bleeding is a leading cause of preventable, post-injury death; with recent innovations in therapeutics, there is a keen focus on such preventability. As such, we have produced polymer-based hemostatic nanocapsules as drug delivery vehicles that intravenously induce blood clots within injury models—and are a potential method of trauma aid. Synthesized as polyurethane shells from a polymerization emulsion, the nanomaterial is conjugated with a peptide moiety (GRGDS) which targets and initiates clotting in activated platelets during hemorrhage. Through rigorous characterizations, these nanocapsules have shown sizing and charge acute to the expected bio-environment, as well as successful peptide conjugations through PEG linkages between the shell and conjugate. The current research tested nanocapsule hemostatic strength through rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM) machinery, working to accelerate clot formation time in a monitored, in-vitro modality. For this phase, anticoagulant Heparin was drug-loaded to showcase evidence of clotting-unclotting control of the nanocapsule, both essential to assuring patient safety. As we continue ROTEM testing, our coming results perceive finely controlled clotting nano-biomaterials capable of acting as internal bandages.

This work was funded, in part, by the USM LSAMP Program. This work was also funded, in part, by the AIMM Research Award.

(Return)

A Role of Heparan Sulfate Proteoglycans in Mediating Cell Migration in Drosophila Melanogaster Egg Chambers

Andrew Opincar, Alexander George¹ Biological Sciences
Michelle Starz-Gaiano, Biological Sciences

Investigating cell migration is essential to understanding development, homeostasis, and disease states. Our model system is the border cell cluster, which arises during Drosophila Melanogaster oogenesis and has features that are well-conserved with human cell motility. A chemoattractant directs the border cells to move toward the oocyte, but how it is distributed and the sensing mechanism by border cells are unclear. We predict that extracellular heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGs) regulate border cell migration by facilitating the diffusion of chemoattractants. We predict that disruption of the expression of glycosylation enzymes using RNA interference will disrupt cell migration. Using cell type-specific enhancers, we downregulated the expression of an HSPG sulfotransferase, Heparan sulfate 6-O-sulfotransferase, within the border cells or the surrounding substrate cells and observed migratory delays and some trailing cells, supporting our hypothesis. We are conducting experiments in which we knock down another sulfotransferase, sulfateless, to support our findings. In the future, we will conduct genetic screens to discern which proteins are affected by glycosylation. To discern subtle phenotypes within the egg chamber, we are developing techniques to optimize imaging to resolve tissue structures in finer detail. Novel imaging techniques will complement our ability to better characterize egg chamber development.

This research is funded in part by the Arnold & Mabel Beckman Foundation through the Beckman Scholars program at UMBC. It is also funded in part by the grant NSF IOS-2303857.

(Return)

Food Insecurity Among College Students at a Minority Serving Institution

Emmanuella Osei, Public Health
Sameera Nayak, Public Health

Food insecurity (FI) is the lack of consistent access or availability of healthy foods. In the United States (U.S.), food insecurity affects college students at almost three times the rate of the general population. Students at minority-serving institutions (MSI) face food insecurity at a higher rate in comparison to predominantly white institutions. This study aims to (1) investigate the prevalence of FI at an MSI and (2) identify student-driven strategies for FI. Using an anonymous electronic survey, the study will measure demographic characteristics, levels of food insecurity, and knowledge of campus resources. Students will also be asked to identify the best strategies to combat food insecurity on a college campus. Data from this study will be analyzed using bivariate and multivariable logistic regression. Findings will identify which students are most vulnerable to experiencing food insecurity, will identify the most effective strategies to reduce food insecurity, and can provide recommendations to other institutions on ways to address this problem.
The IRB is in process, data collection will commence later in February, and preliminary results will be ready for presentation at URCAD in April.

UMBC McNair Scholars Research Institute.

(Return)

Investigating GD2 Expression In Oligodendrogliomas

Gabriel Otubu, Biological Sciences
Michelle Monje, Neurological Sciences, Stanford University

Throughout life, especially during critical developmental periods, the central nervous system is supported by glial cells that protect neurons and regulate brain signaling. Mutations in Children, adolescents, and adults can result in the development of malignant glial cells which alter neuronal function. The most common pediatric glial cancer, also known as gliomas, is Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG), which is an aggressive and universally lethal central nervous system cancer. In the Monje lab, we utilized Chimeric antigen receptors (CAR) T cell therapy against a cell surface antigen, GD2, in a clinical trial to treat DIPG. The cell surface antigen that we target in the clinic and lab, GD2, was found to be upregulated in many solid tumors, such as oligodendrogliomas, which arise from mutated oligodendroglia. I tested the expression of GD2 in oligodendroglioma samples to see how it compared to the expression of GD2 in DIPG control samples. My main research questions were: do oligodendroglioma’s express GD2 and to what degree? And is expression homogenous throughout the tumor? I found that GD2 expression is increased but varies among the fifty oligodendroglioma samples tested. These findings provided background for a potential application of the GD2 CAR T cell therapy to oligodendrogliomas.

This work was funded by Oligo Nation Foundation.

(Return)

Writing, It’s Fundamental

Lorraine Owuor, Education
Cheryl North, Education

For students to graduate from high school ready for college or a career, it is imperative that they are able to write clearly and effectively in a variety of modes. Furthermore, students need to be able to combine the elements of argument writing, explanatory writing, and narrative writing in order to produce complex texts. This study focused on 14 students in a 7th grade English Language Arts suburban classroom who struggled with effectively composing arguments, explaining evidence, writing structure, and identifying the central idea/ theme of a text. Over a six month period, students were given explicit instructions on the writing structure through the story elements (plot, tone, setting, characters, theme, conflict, and point of view), figurative language devices, finding relevant supporting details and evidence, elaboration of evidence, and sentence fluency, and used graphic organizer for their pre-writing. They were provided a variety of questioning techniques in order to generate critical thinking followed by writing opportunities. They received verbal and oral feedback, and evaluated exemplars and non-exemplar work to build knowledge in expectations of writing. Students demonstrated growth toward mastery in writing by effectively composing arguments, explanatory pieces with effective citations, and narratives with a clear central idea/ theme.

(Return)

Pushed To The Edge: Homeland Outcasts

Julia Palmer, Global Studies
Tania Lizarazo, Global Studies; Mirjam Voerkelius, History, UMBC

This paper examines the impact of British colonization on the present Australian Aboriginal diet and health. Two crucial timelines are included in this paper. The first follows the foodways of the Natives, with evidence of lingering foodways present today. The second describes the increased presence and power of the British government, specifically in policies relating to Aboriginals. The research questions grounding this paper are, how did British colonization marginalize and displace Aboriginals? In what ways did the diet of Aboriginals change due to British colonization? And, what are the long-term health consequences for Aboriginal Australians today? My paper is in conversation with much ongoing research that focuses on the impact of colonial policies on Native populations worldwide. At-home research included modern-day footage and interviews of Aboriginals. I relied mainly on present-day sources for Aboriginal perspectives as much of their knowledge had been traditionally spread via word-of-mouth. British writers were also utilized with their description of Native foodways. Most highlighted the biases, which greatly justified disproportionate British policies present in Australia. The final piece of research included the experience and conversations of an Aboriginal-run food tour in Cairns, Australia.

This work was funded, in part, through an Undergraduate Research Award from the UMBC Division of Undergraduate Academic Affairs.

(Return)

Temporal Regulation of AQP1 Protein Expression in Human Lung Microvascular Endothelial Cells, Due to Shear Stress

Daisy Parry, Biological Sciences, Simin Yan^1
1Pulmonary and Critical Care, Johns Hopkins

Larissa Shimoda, Johns Hopkins University, Pulmonary and Critical Care; Todd Kolb, Pulmonary and Critical Care, Johns Hopkins University
Aquaporin-1 (AQP1) protein expression is low in endothelial cells (ECs) cultured under static conditions but high in ECs exposed to shear stress for at least 24 hours. Shear stress, a force generated by blood flow upon endothelial cells, preserves the endothelium with pulmonary and cardiovascular implications. This study observed the relationship between exposure to shear stress and the upregulation of AQP1 protein expression in ECs. We hypothesized that: (1) increased exposure would induce a temporal increase in AQP1 protein expression while: (2) cessation would cause a temporal decrease. We cultured Human Lung Microvascular Endothelial Cells (HLMECs) under static conditions and then exposed them to physiological shear stress (12 dynes/cm2) for increasing durations or exposure for 24 hours. Afterward, we obtained AQP1 protein from HLMEC lysates, isolated them using western blot analysis, and quantified them with Image J software. Results showed that prolonged exposure increased AQP1 protein expression between 4 and 16 hours. Alternatively, the protein expression increased at 4 hours post-removal but then decreased. These findings establish that shear stress rapidly regulates AQP1 protein expression in HLMECs, suggesting that in-vivo conditions of altered shear stress cause changes in AQP1 protein expression, which might contribute to altered EC function.

This research was funded by the NIH under the grant #R25HL084762.

(Return)

High-resolution Crystal Structure of the Coxsackievirus B3 Replication-linked RNA

Alisha Patel, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Deepak Koirala, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

The coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3) belongs to the enterovirus B species of the enterovirus genus within the Picornaviridae family, which causes human illnesses such as myocarditis and pancreatitis. CVB3 contains a positive-sense single-stranded RNA genome that is a template for genome replication and viral protein translation. The 5′ untranslated region of the CVB3 genome contains multiple RNA domains, promoting and regulating genome replication and translation, including a cloverleaf-like (5’CL) domain that interacts with human PCBP2 and viral 3CD proteins to assemble the genome replication complex. However, the structural basis of how this ribonucleoprotein complex facilitates genome replication remains largely unknown. Here, we have determined the crystal structure of CVB3 5’CL at 1.54 Å resolution, made possible by a Fab chaperone. The RNA structure folds into an H-type four-way junction architecture rather than the predicted cloverleaf and contains a long-range tertiary interaction between the subdomains. The structure thus positions the PCBP2 and 3CD binding sites distal to each other. Given a highly conserved sequence of the 5’CLs across enteroviral species, our CVB3 5’CL structure will not only help elucidate the mechanism of enteroviral replication but also provide unparalleled opportunities for developing therapeutics targeting this RNA-mediated replication platform to treat enteroviral infections.

(Return)

Investigating the Impact of Histone Modifications On Age-Related Traits of Drosophila Melanogaster

Shivam Patel, Zoya Syed, Yashitha Yarubandi, Devonique Brissett, Biological Sciences
Jeff Leips, Biological Sciences

Genomic regulation is fundamental to a healthy lifespan. In eukaryotic nuclei, DNA is packaged with histone proteins to form chromatin, which is subject to reversible chemical modifications that can regulate gene expression. Age-related changes in histone modification patterns have increasingly been linked to aging. We are studying the role that age-related changes in the tri-methylation of lysine 4 on the histone protein H3 (H3K4me3) plays in producing genetic differences in lifespan, using Drosophila as a model organism. Currently, there are no studies on how levels of H3K4 trimethylation vary across genotypes, ages, and sexes in Drosophila. We used two Drosophila genotypes consisting of long and short-lived lifespans (DGRP 304 and DGRP 229), to test the hypothesis that genetic and sex-specific differences in age-dependent H3K4me3 levels are responsible for producing differences in lifespan. We measured age-dependent H3K4me3 levels in fat body and muscle tissues through microdissections, histone extractions, and western blot analysis. Previous data generated survivorship curves which showed that lifespan is influenced by sex and genetic background, but we aim to explore more about tissue-specific and muscle-specific patterns of aging. Our results will lead to future studies to understand how lifespan is affected as a result of histone modifications.

(Return)

Phenotypic Characterization of the Aspergillus Nidulans Double-deletion Mutant ΔmpkAΔnrc2

Tatiana Perez, Chemical, Biochemical, and Environmental Engineering, Andrea Sequeira¹, Garrett Hill², Walker Huso^3
1Biological Sciences, UMBC, ²Chemistry & Biochemistry, UMBC, ³Chemical, Biochemical, and Environmental Engineering, UMBC
Mark Marten, Chemical, Biochemical, and Environmental Engineering

The cell-wall integrity signaling (CWIS) pathway in the model fungus Aspergillus Nidulans is responsible for cell-wall maintenance and repair, and is activated in response to various forms of wall stress. The final kinase in the CWIS pathway,MpkA, mediates phosphorylation of many other protein kinases. Preliminary data implies Nrc2 protein kinase is involved, as it has been shown to play a role in the CWIS response, but is not well characterized. The aim of these experiments was to gain insight into the role of Nrc2, and its relationship to MpkA, by using phenotypic characterization of a double deletion strain (∆mpkA∆nrc2). This project used growth, particle size and fluorescent microscopy to make valuable observations of wall strength, morphology, and other phenotypic characteristics. It was found that the double-deletion mutant strain grows more slowly than its isogenic parent and has a smaller cell size. This reveals that the cells grow normally in the absence of Nrc2 alone, but at a slower rate in the absence of both genes suggesting that Nrc2 cannot function without MpkA. Optimization for analyzing the morphology and branching rate of mycelia was also completed. These crucial insights have applications across many industries including antifungal drug manufacturing and bioprocessing.

This work was funded, in part, through the National Science Foundation (Award 2006189) and also through an Undergraduate Research Award from the UMBC Office of Undergraduate Education.

(Return)

Adaptive Gust Mitigation using Retrospective Cost Adaptive Control with a Pitching Airfoil

August Phelps, Jhon Portella, Mechanical Engineering
Ankit Goel, Mechanical Engineering; Meilin Yu, Mechanical Engineering

Small aerial vehicles are susceptible to wind gusts that can affect lift generation and cause instabilities during flight. Reducing the undesirable effects of gusts is thus instrumental to the reliability and stability of these aircraft. This project focuses on using an learning-based adaptive controller to control the angle-of-attack of an airfoil to maintain a constant lift coefficient in an unstructured and unsteady flow environment. Computational simulations were run on UMBC’s High Performance Computing Facility using a high-order accurate computational fluid dynamics model to simulate unsteady flow with Reynolds numbers between 1000 and 12000. The adaptive controller utilizes Retrospective Cost Adaptive Control algorithm to learn a controller to regulate the lift coefficient of the airfoil. In this project, we investigate the ability of the learning controller to adapt to changes in the operating conditions as well as dynamics of the airfoil while maintaining a constant lift coefficient in presence of unstructured and unsteady flow conditions.

This project was funded in part by a grant from the JHU Vivian Thomas Scholars Initiative to the Meyerhoff Scholars Program at UMBC.

(Return)

Parameter Sensitivity and Estimation for an in Vivo HIV Model

Caleb Phillips, Rileigh Mansfield, Mathematics and Statistics
Kathleen Hoffman, Mathematics and Statistics; Animikh Biswas, Mathematics, UMBC

Human immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is an incurable, infectious virus that affects over 30 million people globally. We investigate the relationship between state variables that represent the CD4+ T-cell counts and viral load and the parameters of a system of first-order coupled ordinary differential equations. We first investigate the sensitivity of the state variables to changes in the parameters using a Sobol sequence based parameter sensitivity algorithm. Identifying the sensitive parameters allows us to target the parameter estimation to those which significantly affect the CD4+ T-cell counts and viral load. We then use a data assimilation method, also known as nudging, to estimate the values of the more sensitive parameters. The model of CD4+ T-cells and virions contains parameters which are difficult to estimate using experimental data. Data assimilation methods use time series data on CD4+ T-cell counts and viral load and the model to estimate the parameters by minimizing the difference between the model output and the data. Being able to accurately model HIV gives us a better understanding of the disease, and can identify which treatment and prevention interventions lead to the largest decrease in disease prevalence.

This work was funded, in part, by the UMBC START grant.

(Return)

Evolution of the Planetary Boundary Layer: An Analysis of Maryland Radar Wind Profilers

Dahne-More Pluck, Kevin Carbajal-Rodriguez, Maurice Roots, Physics
Belay Demoz, Physics; Ruben Delgado, Physics, Hampton University

The Planetary Boundary Layer (PBL) is the lowest atmospheric layer closest to the ground that holds nearly all water vapor, trace gases, and particulate matter or pollutants. Due to the harmful effects of air pollution (i.e. particulate matter), accurately forecasting air quality conditions is crucial for public health. The PBL Height (PBLH) affects the dispersion of these constituents and is an important parameter in air pollution forecasting. PBLH varies diurnally due to the convection induced by radiative heating of the Earth’s surface from the Sun. Our research seeks to utilize Maryland Department of Environment (MDE) radar wind profilers to understand how the PBLH changes on climate-relevant scales (decade). Radar wind profilers (RWP) are active remote sensing instruments that emit radio pulses (915 MHz) and measure vertically-resolved wind speeds. Using computational methods on the RWP data, we estimated and performed a statistical analysis of PBLH diurnal evolution and variability over climate-relevant scales. Our research serves as a basis for understanding the PBL in regions of complex surface terrain influences, with the hope of aiding in the validation and advancement of weather and air quality models.

This work was funded, in part, through an Undergraduate Research Award from the UMBC Division of Undergraduate Academic Affairs.

(Return)

Thinking Critically in Order to Improve Critical Thinking Skills

Kylie Plumb, Education
Linda Oliva, Education

The ability to think critically and to use a critical lens when reading are skills essential to success in Social Studies. This study investigated the effect of the disciplinary practice of Claim, Evidence, Reasoning (CER) writing to support critical thinking skills. The subjects were 30 students in an honors 11th grade classroom at a local high school. This study focused on the reasoning aspect of CER, to determine which evidence best supports their claim and explain why using their critical thinking skills. Students were given a pretest to assess the skills they already had. Students then received multiple CER assignments throughout a semester that required them to practice their reasoning skills. Student work was evaluated on a scale of 1-8 using the International Baccalaureate® Middle Years Programme rubric for critical thinking. The final data point was their quarterly assessment essay about the Renaissance.

(Return)

Leveraging Multi-Omic Cancer Public Repositories for Advancing Lung Cancer Therapies

Alexander Plunkett-Reid, Bioinformatics and Computational Biology
Maricel Kann, Bioinformatics and Computational Biology

Lung cancer is responsible for the highest loss of life of any cancer. While specialized treatments targeting the disease can be effective, many patients are resistant or even unaffected by current therapies. Public data repositories contain a vast amount of information with great potential for mapping patient’s therapy resistance to the molecular changes derived from their genomic data. However, patient’s multi-omic data related to clinical relevant events is buried in the literature or specialized databases and hard to access. We developed a framework for in-silico identification lung cancer patients’ cohort, which contains multi-omic and clinical data related to their response to therapies. We identified search filters in genomic and phenotypic public repositories, database of Genotypes and Phenotypes (dbGap) and the European Genome-Phenome Archive (EGA) targeting studies with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. Our cohort is suitable as input for machine learning tools specifically geared to stratify NSCLC patients based on their molecular markers. The analysis of the molecular events of the patients identified by our methods will result in new associations between molecular networks and the patient’s response to treatment. We expect our research to have a high impact on the development of new biomarkers for lung cancer therapies.

(Return)

Comparing Cusp Dispersion Signatures from DMSP Observations and Global MHD Simulations with Test Particles

Azzan Porter, Yohannes Girma, Physics
Brandon Burkholder, Goddard Planetary Heliophysics Institute, NASA GSFC

When magnetic field lines at the day-side magnetopause reconnect, the strength and direction of the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) are key parameters determining the resulting space weather impacts. However, the erratic behavior of the solar wind makes predicting space weather challenging. To gain a more profound understanding of space weather impacts, it is crucial to enhance our insight into how the IMF orientation structures the three-dimensional day-side reconnection x-line. While flying a satellite through the diffusion region only happens by chance, cusp ion dispersion signatures provide a way to remote-sense properties of the day-side reconnection x-line, and flying a satellite through the cusp is much easier. This study compares properties of observed cusp ion dispersion signatures from the DMSP satellite in a low-earth-orbit and global MHD simulations with test particles. In particular, overlapping dispersions during strongly southward IMF are reproduced in the simulation with similar properties to the observations. By examining the trajectories of those particles the origin of the overlapping dispersion can be traced to flux ropes generated by secondary magnetopause reconnection.

Goddard Planetary Heliophysics Institute, NASA GSFC.

(Return)

Maryland Perspectives on the use of the Phrase “Defund the Police”

Karla Press-Porter, American Studies
Sarah Fouts, American Studies

This research project surveyed 70 individuals across Maryland to explore perceptions of “defund the police” in the context of the 2020 Black Lives Matter movement and subsequent public opinion shifts. Through a comparative analysis considering race, class, gender, and political identity, the study examines Maryland residents’ evolving perspectives on this phrase from 2020 to 2023. The project generated a map featuring 18 profiles derived from survey responses, offering geographical insights into diverse viewpoints across the state, encompassing rural, suburban, and urban populations. By delving into individuals’ experiences and understanding how perspectives intersect, the research provides a comprehensive understanding of this culturally significant issue. Noting from the data collected, 66 out of 70 responses share the stance on issues relating to how police-to-resident interactions are handled since 2020. This approach offers a nuanced exploration of the topic, shedding light on the complex dynamics shaping public opinion in Maryland regarding the “defund the police” movement.

Public Humanities Department funding.

(Return)

Flood Patterns and Community Engagement: Mapping Flood Perceptions in a Coastal Belizean Community

Samara Pyfrom, Geography and Environmental Systems
Timothy Hawthorne, University of Central Florida

In the coastal village of Hopkins, Belize, the persistent problem of flooding has deeply impacted the community. Coastal flooding poses a significant threat to many communities and its effects are being felt worldwide. This research investigates the impacts of flooding on Hopkins Village and the local community’s response. By combining local knowledge and geospatial technologies, the 2023 Citizen Science GIS Flood Team has created a comprehensive overview of the debris problem within the village. Our research approach involved both quantitative and qualitative data collection methods. The quantitative data was collected by surveying structures and the infrastructure in the village. Qualitative data was gathered through interviews with residents to gain insights into flood-related issues within the village. Findings displayed that the western side of the village experiences the most adverse effects from flooding. Hopkins residents are aware of these trends and propose significant solutions. However, individuals from the community have expressed a need for additional resources to effectively address the issue. Collaborative research such as this provides a resource for the local community to influence local policy.

National Science Foundation.

(Return)

Experiencing Grants Research Administration: Two Students’ Journeys in Research Administration

Andy Quach, Alexis Johnson, Education
Christine Mallinson, Language, Literacy, and Culture

Funded research includes not only researchers themselves but staff who help submit proposals and administer awards that are received. Research administration is usually unfamiliar to students, however, which prevents their awareness of research support and of this career path. In this presentation, two students discuss their experiences with a National Science Foundation funded internship program in research administration at UMBC. The first student who interned in the College of Engineering and Information Systems shadowed different research administrators, learned about post-award processes including reports and budgets, organized payroll, and learned about travel reimbursements. The second student who interned in the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences learned about grant account reconciliation and how to understand internal and external grants guidance. Both students learned how research occurs collaboratively across faculty, staff, and departments. They also worked with other interns across universities and attended two professional research conferences as part of the internship. The students will discuss what they learned in these roles and how learning about research administration applies to and benefits their future educational and career goals. Overall, the students’ experiences were both research-driven and informative about how research is supported within a university environment.

Growing Research Access for Nationally Transformative Equity and Diversity (GRANTED) program of the National Science Foundation, Awards: #2324412, 2324413, 2324414.

(Return)

High Throughput Screens to Discover Uncharacterized Cell Wall Signaling Kinases in Aspergillus Nidulans

Matthew Quintanilla, Chemical, Biochemical, and Environmental Engineering
Mark Marten, Chemical, Biochemical, and Environmental Engineering

In MartenLab, research focuses on filamentous fungi, in particular, the cell wall and its clinical and industrial importance. This research seeks to reveal more about the underlying processes that govern cell wall properties in filamentous fungi by looking at regulatory signaling pathways, such as the cell wall integrity signaling (CWIS) pathway. These signaling pathways all involve protein kinases that transmit signals by attaching phosphate groups to other proteins. To explore protein-protein interactions involving the CWIS pathway, previous work in MartenLab used transcriptomic, phosphoproteomic, and phenotypic analyses. These analyses suggest cross-talk with other signaling pathways, implying that kinases outside of the established CWIS pathway influence cell wall stress response. This research project seeks to identify these kinases by screening a library of all 98, non-lethal Aspergillus nidulans kinase knockout (K.O.) strains for their ability to survive 3 distinct cell wall perturbants. Within a 95% confidence interval, only 30 single K.O. strains displayed statistically significant survival rates. These included 2 under all three cell wall perturbants, 2 under just two, and 22 under only one. For screens done on double K.O. strains, 3 strains displayed statistically significant survival rates.

This work was funded by an Undergraduate Research Award from the UMBC Division of Undergraduate Academic Affairs and the National Science Foundation through award no. 2006189.

(Return)

Anatomical Variations in Appl-d Mutant Drosophila: Implications for Alzheimer’s Model

Nandini Rajpara, Biological Sciences
Fernando Vonhoff, Biological Sciences

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder caused by the deposition of amyloid beta (Aβ) plaques in the brain. Cleaving the amyloid precursor protein (APP) gene results in production of Aβ peptides, which are linked to Alzheimer’s disease. Appl-d (APPL deletion) mutant flies in Drosophila Melanogaster lack the gene that encodes for Aβ plaques, making them a unique model for studying the normal function of APP proteins. Our study will examine the brain anatomical differences in olfactory network between Appl-d mutant and W1118 control flies, with the W1118 strain serving as a control with intact Appl gene expression. We concentrate on the angles between specific glomeruli in antennal lobe, as variations in brain morphology may indicate underlying developmental abnormalities in young, two-day-old flies. Male Drosophila Melanogaster of both genotypes will be investigated, and glomerular angles will be measured using established techniques. We believe that if Appl-d mutant flies show anatomical abnormalities in young flies, this may indicate a predisposition to enhanced degeneration and behavioral decline at later stages as observed in Alzheimer’s disease. Our findings provide light on the role of the APP gene in the development of neuronal networks and its potential consequences for normal connectivity and neurodegenerative diseases.

Vonhoff Lab start up.

(Return)

New Insights into the Life History of Eastern North American Opiliones (Arachnida)

Megan Ramirez Cuenca, Sophia Nawaz, Nadja Bloetner, Sarah Ruotolo, Tyler Brown, Ryan Bacon, Biological Sciences
Mercedes Burns, Biological Sciences

Opiliones (“harvesters”) is a relatively unknown order of Arachnida; their behavior, phenology, and the nuances of their reproduction are currently understudied in academia. These baseline ecological studies can provide a critical bedrock for future research, enhancing our understanding of Opiliones behavior, evolution, and natural history. This work could hold a myriad of applications and potentially provide further insight into various other arachnids and arthropods. We designed a series of related projects, including rearing the first lab-born generation of leiobunine harvesters, to describe the poorly understood opilionid life cycle, including egg development, juvenile morphology, adult ecology, mating, and oviposition. We conducted mating and oviposition trials to better understand substrate preferences, egg development, and hatching success. We then reared wild caught and lab raised juveniles to determine the number of molts to maturity and juvenile morphology. Finally, abundance surveys allowed for a deeper understanding of opilionid phenology and ecology, such as plant preference and species richness. We found clear patterns in the seasonal distributions, oviposition preferences, and developmental patterns of the common species of harvesters, all of which contributed to a clearer understanding of Opiliones.

This work was funded, in part, by the Washington Biologists’ Field Club.

(Return)

Peace Corps: Effective Tool of International Development or Neocolonial Presence?

Megan Rehbehn, Political Science
Carolyn Forestiere, Political Science

This study aims to gauge the nature of Peace Corps (PC) presence in communities by analyzing subjective ex post facto assessments of former Peace Corps Volunteers (PCVs). It specifically seeks to determine to what degree the PC serves as an effective tool of international development versus a neocolonial apparatus by viewing PC presence through the lens of those who participated in the activities, lived in the communities, and experienced the cultural exchange. Public discourse concerning American international development initiatives has largely failed to analyze the tone and narrative of the PC presence in partner countries. By asking former PCVs about how they perceive their time in the PC, the project seeks to develop a more comprehensive understanding of the nature of the PC presence, which can then be added to existing research on the topic of the role and effect of the PC. Utilizing a mixed methods design, survey data compiled from former PCVs participating in online PC forums is used for collecting quantitative data; qualitative data is compiled through interviews with select survey participants. Overall I hope this approach of gathering information from the workers ‘on the ground’ provides a more comprehensive picture of the efficacy of the PC.

(Return)

Examining Learned Associations Between Contextual Cues and Stress-Inducing Experiences

Ella Reinders, Olivia Edoigiawerie, Maya Tondravi, Se Rin Lee, Eden Beyene, Biological Sciences
Tara LeGates, Biological Sciences

The ability to associate stress-inducing stimuli with contextual information is important for survival, but it remains unclear how the brain integrates this information to guide behavior. We used a behavioral paradigm where mice learn to associate contextual cues in a two chamber arena with aversive stimuli (restraint or footshock). To determine what brain regions may be responsible for mediating this behavior, we measured cFos expression in mice that were restrained in the CPA chamber. cFos protein quantification allowed us to visualize the brain regions that are activated during various restraint-context pairings. We focused on the hippocampus, nucleus accumbens, and basolateral amygdala due to their prominent roles in contextual learning and memory, motivated behaviors, and fear. In the nucleus accumbens and hippocampus, the mice had the highest brain activity when restrained in the CPA arena. In the basolateral amygdala, mice experienced the highest neural activation when in their home cage without restraint. Our findings help to advance understanding of the neurobiological basis of stress with implications for understanding stress-related neuropsychiatric disorders.

Support for this research was provided by a grant to UMBC from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute through the Driving Change Initiative, the EDUCATE Program at UMBC through the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA/NIH) under award R25 DA 051338, and funding from the UMBC Startup Package.

(Return)

Navigating Gender Identity in Dance

Ren Reiter, Dance
Ann Sofie Clemmensen, Dance

The world is a difficult place for individuals who do not fit into a binary system. Gender binarism is the classification of gender into two distinct forms of masculine and feminine, whether by social system, cultural belief, or both simultaneously. The dance world is a prime example of this, and being gender non-conforming in a two-gendered dance world can cause a lot of stress if nothing is done about it. My creative research resulted in a ten-minute-long choreographed dance that was performed in December 2023. In this work, I explored choreography and prop-exploration as tools to portrait the internal struggle of navigating a two-gendered [dance] world, as well as how gender binarism causes harm by limiting individual expression and liberties.

This work was funded, in part, through an Undergraduate Research Award from the UMBC Division of Undergraduate Academic Affairs.

(Return)

Interfacing Chromatographic, Mass Spectrometry, and Ionization Techniques for better Profiling Metabolites in Human Milk

Aliyah Remoroza, Biological Sciences, Meghan Burke¹, Tytus Mak¹, Stephen E. Stein^1
1National Institute of Standards and Technology
Yamil Simón-Manso, National Institute of Standards and Technology

Metabolite profiling has become the dominant technology for screening potential disease biomarkers in complex biofluid samples, such as urine, blood, and human milk. NIST Human Milk Standard Reference Materials (1 mL each of pooled milk) were centrifuged and treated with Folch reagent for lipid extraction and ethanol for protein precipitation. Solid phase extraction resulted in eight samples, followed by drying and reconstituting with 0.1% formic acid. High-performance liquid chromatography coupled to a trapped ion mobility time-of-flight mass spectrometer was used to analyze targeted and untargeted metabolites. Identification was performed by mass spectral library searching using the NIST 2023 Tandem MS Library, fragmentation, retention times, and collision cross-section. Mass spectra of 350 metabolites having match factor scores >700 specific to mammalian milk were identified, of which 105 were potentially new metabolites. We verified all information available regarding breast milk metabolites and exogenous components using private and public resources (i.e., SciFinder-n, HMDB, PubChem, ChemSpider, and CompTox), and used it as a prior probability to enhance identification confidence. Ion mobility data and chromatographic separation were instrumental in distinguishing milk metabolites. For example, Theobromine, Paraxanthine, and Theophylline are isomers with the same precursor mass (m/z 181.07) but different retention times and collision cross-sections.

(Return)

Shakespeare and Gender

Monica Richardson-Mitchell, English
Michele Osherow, English; Tanya Olson, Gender and Women’s Studies

Throughout Shakespeare’s plays, there’s an evident queering of gender roles and expectations amongst his protagonists. This queering of gender and expectations is evident of the gender roles of the times, which Shakespeare made a point to subvert in his works. With a focus on gender articulated by scholars such as Judith Butler and Jack Halberstam, I used that research to analyze the gender subversion in Twelfth Night and As You Like It through the characters. I built upon the studies done by Shakespearean scholars such as Valerie Traub and Jami Ake about the queer nature of these two plays. I used my results to create monologues for these characters that illustrate their exploration of gender and/or the queer nature of their relationships. This study contributes to the growing research of the queerness of Shakespeare’s works and, more importantly, to a general understanding of Shakespeare through his texts and his characters.

(Return)

The Effects of Exercise on Phenotypes Caused by Genes Associated with Alzheimer’s Disease in Drosophila

Stephen Roberts, Omer Sherif, Anurag Katiyar, Biological Sciences
Fernando Vonhoff, Biological Sciences

Alzheimer’s disease is classified as a neurodegenerative disorder that leads to cognitive decline, along with decreased life expectancy. Current studies show associations between Alzheimer’s related cognitive decline and decreased motor function. Recent studies have shown there to be a correlation between exercise and decreased neurodegenerative decline seen in those with Alzheimer’s disease. This study uses Drosophila Melanogaster as a model organism to study the effects of exercise on motor function and cognitive decline. The flies used in this study were exercised and tested via climbing, endurance, and learning and memory assays. Data from these experiments were then analyzed to determine whether there was a positive, negative, or no visible correlation to the effects of exercise on cognitive decline. Current results from completed experiments show a slight improvement to cognitive decline when flies are exercised versus not exercised. Further experiments hope to establish a connection between a visible decrease in motor neuron degeneration exposure to exercise. Due to the large number of individuals diagnosed with Alzheimers, results from this study can be used to better understand the development of cognitive decline.

(Return)

Modelling Dynamic Systems using Neural Networks

Turibius Rozario, Mechanical Engineering
Ankit Goel, Mechanical Engineering

In this presentation, we demonstrate the ability and methodology of utilizing neural networks to model dynamic systems. Neural networks are large non-linear mathematical functions whose parameters can be procedurally tuned to reduce the error between predicted and expected outputs. Popular AI models utilize neural networks with trillions of parameters for language processing, image recognition, image generation, and more. Meanwhile, dynamic systems are systems whose current states are dependent on its previous states. Many real world systems — such as a swinging pendulum, flow of particles, and Lorenz attractors — lack an analytical solution and can only be computationally estimated. This is often a cause of non-linearity in the governing equations for such systems. We showcase neural networks successfully simulating non-linear functions with relatively small number of parameters. Moreover, we demonstrate its efficacy over recurrent neural networks which suffer greatly from accumulating errors. Finally, we propose the use of filtering techniques to further reduce the error of neural networks and provide resilience against noise. The use of neural networks for simulating arbitrary non-linear functions provides the opportunity for better predictions in complex physical systems where the relationship between states may not be mathematically well defined, but its data points empirically known.

This project was funded in part by a grant from the JHU Vivian Thomas Scholars Initiative to the Meyerhoff Scholars Program at UMBC.

(Return)

Redefining What it Means to be a Special Education Student

Tasnim Rushdan, Global Studies
Zareen Taj, Global Studies

In an era of expanding inclusivity, the traditional notions of special education are undergoing a seismic shift. People with disabilities are not merely support recipients; they are trailblazers, redefining themselves as valuable contributors to the workforce and taking a stand for their rights. Individuals once marginalized are seizing opportunities to showcase their talents, skills, and unique perspectives. Challenging stereotypes fosters empowerment and propels us all toward a more equitable future.

The documentary includes interviews with special education teachers about initiatives that challenge what it means to be a student with a disability and about their own experiences within the school systems. They reveal the complex challenges within the educational ecosystem, from classroom struggles to policy barriers. The documentary also challenges the effectiveness of special education programs and uncovers the challenges that come along with that label. The documentary highlights the profound impact of educators and students, who urge action to address systemic inequities. It calls for recognition and respect for teachers’ invaluable educational contributions, envisioning a future where their dedication is honored with dignity.

(Return)

Rapidly Fielded Attritable UAV

Aaron Sadowski, Nolan Smith, Nick Jones, Matthew Duphily, Raymond Kucharyk, Jonathan Sardin, Mechanical Engineering
Charles LaBerge, Computer Science and Electrical Engineering

The Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) capstone team, in conjunction with Northrop Grumman, was tasked with further developing a previous capstone project targeting a low-cost, attritable, rapidly fielded UAV using additive manufacturing techniques. Designed to operate out of Forward Operating Bases in austere and openly hostile environments across the globe, this system is intended to provide cost-effective methods of both visual and technical reconnaissance, as well as long-range payload delivery. This project used numerical optimization to maximize the system’s operational range for a payload of ten pounds, while computational fluid dynamics (CFD) was used to simulate aerodynamic performance. Additionally, finite element analysis (FEA) was used to find and eliminate stress concentrations in the airframe that were causing critical failures during flight. The propulsion system was designed for maximum efficiency, while preserving the ability to perform evasive maneuvering techniques. An object detection and avoidance system was equipped to support autonomous, low-altitude flight, while simultaneously reducing cognitive load during manual flight operations. Integrated with global navigation constellations as well as redundant payload safety mechanisms, the system is well-equipped for close contact operations in harsh environments all around the world.

This work was funded, in part, by Northrop Grumman.

(Return)

Iron Feeding and Aging-Dependent Degeneration: Insights from D. Melanogaster and the Alzheimer’s-Associated APPL Gene

Isabella Salguero Cespedes, Hanna Jin, Justine Anne Guevarra, Biological Sciences
Fernando Vonhoff, Biological Sciences

This study utilizes Drosophila Melanogaster as a genetic model delving into the intricate relationship between iron ingestion, aging-dependent degeneration, and Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s pathophysiology involves the formation of senile plaques, comprising aggregations of beta-amyloid peptides derived from the beta-amyloid precursor protein (Zhang et al., 2011). The D. Melanogaster APPL gene, an evolutionary counterpart to the human amyloid precursor protein, is suggested to play a role in brain metal homeostasis. Iron is a vital nutrient for both humans and flies, however its potential overexposure as an environmental pollutant raises questions about the consequences of excess intake. Through comparing APPL loss of function mutant flies (APPLd) and wild-type (WT) strains exposed to varying concentrations of iron, we investigate the influence of iron feeding on flight recovery, assessing both fly mortality by quantifying survival rates and aging-dependent locomotor decline through a flight assay. Preliminary results suggest moderate iron concentrations may be protective, while higher concentrations may be toxic. In conclusion, this research contributes to our understanding of the complex interactions between iron, aging-related motor degeneration, and Alzheimer’s disease. D. melanogaster as a model provides insight on potential neuroprotective and neurotoxic outcomes of iron toxicity, calling for further investigations into the underlying molecular mechanisms.

This investigation was sponsored by the U-RISE Program at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC), which is supported by the National Institute Of General Medical Sciences of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number T34GM136497. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.

(Return)

Explainable AI for Digital Forensics: Opportunities and Challenges

Iverson Scarlett, Information Systems
Houbing Song, IEEE

The proliferation of Internet of Things (IoT) devices and social networks has significantly expanded the digital landscape, introducing complex challenges in digital forensics. This research explores the application of Explainable Artificial Intelligence (XAI) to enhance forensic analysis within these domains, focusing on the development of a digital fingerprinting framework for mobile devices. By leveraging machine learning techniques, we propose methods for the identification and verification of cyber users and devices, aiming to address the uncertainties and imprecisions inherent in IoT and social network data. This work contributes to the field by offering a novel approach to forensic analysis, emphasizing the importance of explainability in AI to foster trust and manageability in security applications. Our findings suggest promising directions for future research in applying XAI to complex forensic challenges, highlighting the potential for XAI to revolutionize digital forensic practices by providing transparent, understandable, and effective analytical tools.

(Return)

Characterization of ΔmpkAΔsnf1 Double Deletion Strain in Aspergillus Nidulans

Andrea Sequeira, Chemical, Biochemical, and Environmental Engineering
Mark Marten, Chemical, Biochemical, and Environmental Engineering

Filamentous fungi play an important role in the production of large-scale commodity chemicals as well as causing large-scale crop damage and human disease. The cell wall plays an important role in all of these applications and industries. The cell-wall integrity signaling (CWIS) pathway is responsible for mediating wall repair. Existing research shows that MpkA, the terminal protein kinase in the CWIS cascade, plays an important role in this regulation. Snf1, a nutrient-sensing protein kinase, has been linked to the CWIS pathway for its role in glucose repression through previous characterization using cell-wall perturbants. This study focuses on the phenotypic assessment of a ∆mpkA∆snf1 double-deletion mutant to make important discoveries about the role of Snf1 in the CWIS cascade. This project aims to better understand the CWIS pathway through the characterization of the phenotype of the ΔmpkAΔsnf1 double-deletion strain. This was accomplished using phenotypic experiments such as growth curves, particle size analysis, and coverslip assays, which helped to determine how the double deletion affects the growth rate, cell wall strength and size, fragmentation rate, and branching rate. These results will help to characterize and further understand the CWIS cascade, which has wide-ranging implications across multiple industries.

This work was funded through the National Science Foundation (Award 2006189) and also through an Undergraduate Research Award from the UMBC Office of Undergraduate Education.

(Return)

Impacts of Medicaid Expansion on Hospital Prices

Timothy Shaia, Economics
Morgan Henderson, The Hilltop Institute

As part of the 2010 Affordable Care Act, states were given the option to expandtheir Medicaid programs to cover individuals up to 138% of the federal poverty line, to which 41 have done. Medicaid is publicly funded health insurance for low-income individuals. While much research exists on the various impacts of Medicaid expansion, there is a lack of research on the impact of Medicaid expansion on hospital prices. Hospitals constitute almost one-third of health-related spending in the US, and Medicaid expansion could affect hospital prices by encouraging “cost-shifting”: which is the increase in negotiated rates with private health insurers due to the increase in enrollment in the relatively low-reimbursement Medicaid program. This study estimates the impact of Medicaid expansion on hospital prices in North Carolina (which expanded Medicaid in December 2023) using hand-collected, novel data on hospital pricing in North Carolina and Virginia from 2022 and 2024. Using a difference-in-differences methodology, this study compares the change in hospital prices in North Carolina to neighboring Virginia, and attributes the differential change to Medicaid expansion. By providing early evidence on the impact of Medicaid expansion on hospital prices, this study aims to urge further research on the understudied impacts of Medicaid expansion.

(Return)

Using Fluorophore Quantum Yield as an Indicator of Determining Plasmonic Current

Shoyab Shaik, Lahari Saha, Chemistry and Biochemistry
Chris Geddes, Institute of Fluoresence

The Institute of Fluorescence (IoF) has long developed a technology that electrically measures fluorescence called, Plasmonic Current (PC). Thus far, PC has generally been used for biological detection. However, an underexplored area to use the technology is in solar energy conversion. Currently, solar energy conversion efficiency rates (i.e. %’s) are in the low 20s, necessitating the need for multiple panels to generate ample electricity. Advances in plasmonic materials offer promising results due to their compatibility with fluorescent biosensors and various fluorophores, suggesting potential applications in solar energy conversion. Until recently, selecting a fluorophore or a chromophore was dependent on its molar extinction coefficient, concentration of the solution, and the spectral overlap of the fluorophore with the metal surface. In this presentation, we compare two fluorophores namely, Rhodamine 6G and Rose Bengal, to demonstrate yet another important factor in improving PC response: i.e. quantum yield of fluorescence. These two fluorophores are structurally very similar, but with markedly different photophysical characteristics in terms of fluorescence lifetime and quantum yield. Our findings explain the reason some chromophore candidates cannot be considered for the purpose of generating PC.

(Return)

Cyber Civics: Gen Z’s Political Altruism in the Digital Evolution of Democracy

Nathan Sharma, Political Science
Ian Anson, Political Science

Democracy is an evolving institution, and integral to understanding the state of democracy is examining the attitudes of its youngest constituents. Gen Z is an important cohort for investigating how digital modes of civic discourse have fostered values of political altruism in policy preferences. The novel forms of expression embodied by online platforms poses an important question: how have digital and mobile technologies influenced Gen Z civic activity and subsequently their political socialization? This study examines a theory that the emergence of online civic participation in a digital era of democracy has altered the nature of youth civil society resulting in a shift towards political altruism. Data from an experimental survey module tests two hypotheses related to the influence of online participation on civic activity and levels of political altruism across a nation-wide multigenerational sample (n=1,079). Survey items are operationalized to measure variance in online participation and political altruism between generational cohorts and across treatments. Statistical analysis provides sufficient evidence in support of both hypotheses and suggests that the future of democracy relies on a merger of offline and online participation.

(Return)

Periodic Solutions in Wave-Heat Interaction Problems

Evan Sheldon, Mathematics and Statistics
Justin Webster, Mathematics and Statistics; Jason Howell, Department of Mathematical Sciences, Carnegie Mellon University

Oscillating systems are ubiquitous in physical systems. Examples include mass-spring systems, flow-induced flutter in aircraft paneling, and even in biological phenomena driven by blood flow. Many of these systems can be generalized to a hyperbolic-parabolic (i.e. wave-heat) system of partial differential equations coupled across an interface. Thus, by understanding this coupled wave-heat system, we may further understand a wide variety of phenomena. However, mathematical challenges for this system arise due to the difference in behavior of the hyperbolic and parabolic components, as well as their complex interaction along the coupling interface. Although we understand resonance and periodic solutions in each component, whether periodic behavior in coupled wave-heat systems is possible in two spatial dimensions remains an open problem. In one spatial dimension, we simulated a model system using a finite difference scheme and additionally determined the spectral properties of the system. In two spatial dimensions, we similarly modeled the dynamics using a finite difference scheme. With this code, we can now numerically investigate whether resonance can occur in this coupled system.

This work was funded, in part, through a Sustained Research Stipend by the Vivien Thomas Scholars Initiative (VTSI) at Johns Hopkins University, and NSF Grant #1908033.

(Return)

Effects of using Long Term, Low Dosage Alcohol on Neurodegeneration Abstract

Christina Shrestha, Omer Sherif, Biological Sciences
Fernando Vonhoff, Biological Sciences

Neurodegeneration has been associated with aging in a lot of organisms. The purpose of this research is to use Drosophila to test if the constant exposure to a low dosage of ethanol would have an effect on the rate of aging dependent neurodegeneration. For this, adult wildtype flies were exposed to ethanol in their food throughout their lifespan. In uniform intervals, behavioral tests were used to observe signs and the extent of behavioral decline in all cohorts. Flight tests were performed each week in order to quantify neurodegeneration as the distance that the flies fell. Sedition experiments were used to identify tolerance and the effect it had on the behavioral data. Following the behavioral tests, GFP was used to examine the ventral cord of the control and experimental flies. Since there was the most variation in the data of the 0% (control) and 1% ethanol (v/v) cohorts, we raised the GFP flies in similar conditions and performed neuroanatomical imaging during the fourth week. Future studies will quantify the fluorescence displayed in the imaging as well as work more with the genes involved with neurodegeneration. Our results may be relevant in understanding the beneficial effects of ethanol exposure on aging-dependent neurodegeneration.

This work was funded, in part, through an Undergraduate Research Award from the UMBC Division of Undergraduate Academic Affairs.

(Return)

Circular Polarization in Our Solar System

Katie Slotten, Physics
Eileen Meyer, Physics

The goal of this project was to study the polarization of light from planets and moons within our solar system, with a particular emphasis on circular polarization, which is far more rarely studied than linear polarization. While some non-biological processes can produce circularly polarized light, it can also be a signature of life. The characteristics of the polarization induced from scattering off bio-molecules such as amino acids, proteins, and other molecular elements are expected to differ from non-organic origins. The UMBC telescope was utilized for data collection, along with two newly built polarimetry instruments. Venus was the primary focus of this project due to high interest in its upper atmosphere as a possible location for hosting life, however other planets and moons were investigated as well. A circular polarization survey of the objects within our solar system has not been done since the 1970s, when instrumentation was much less sensitive. New observations with the UMBC observatory would yield some of the most sensitive circular polarimetry observations in decades, even if negative for signs of bio-molecules, and will yield important reference points for future surveys that will search for extraterrestrial life on distant planets.

This work was funded, in part, through an Undergraduate Research Award from the UMBC Division of Undergraduate Academic Affairs.

(Return)

Data-Enabled Computational Chemistry to better Understand Water Quality

Rayal Smith, Chemistry and Biochemistry
Joseph Bennett, Chemistry and Biochemistry

The research employs crystallographic database mining, density functional theory (DFT) simulations, and thermodynamic data to understand how lead (Pb) is released from complex solids into water, crucial for comprehending atomistic processes in water distribution systems across varying pH and concentration levels. Correctly utilizing DFT, a quantum mechanical modeling method, is essential for this. The focus is on known model systems like lead oxides, carbonates, and phosphates, utilizing crystallographic data for input and refining calculations by adjusting exchange-correlation functionals and incorporating a Hubbard U to minimize errors and enhance computational efficiency. Molecular or crystal structures are specified using 3D coordinates, optimized via DFT software Quantum ESPRESSO. The obtained results are analyzed to interpret electronic structures and properties in the context of the studied systems, facilitating the creation of realistic surfaces and computation of ion release thermodynamics across a wide pH range. This interdisciplinary approach aids in unraveling Pb release mechanisms, vital for mitigating water contamination risks.

This research was partially funded by the USM LSAMP program, supported by NSF LSAMP Award # 2207374.

(Return)

The Role of Anchor Gene in Alcohol Disorders in a Drosophila Knockdown Model

Adekemi Sobukunola, Emmanuelle Johnson, Kamille Chestnut, Biological Sciences
Fernando Vonhoff, Biological Sciences; Laurie Sutton, Department of Biology, University of Maryland Baltimore County

Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is an illness characterized by an impaired ability to stop alcohol usage despite negative effects. Not all genes involved in AUD have been identified. A novel gene that may be involved in alcohol-related behaviors is GPR155. In vertebrates, GPR155 is a marker of the dorsolateral striatum (DLST); a brain region involved in reward processing, habit development, and decision-making, and is important in studying alcohol use disorder (AUD). To efficiently understand its role in ethanol-related behavior, we used a Drosophila model with a pan-neuronal anchor knockdown of the GPR155 homolog, anchor.

We hypothesized that a Drosophila model with pan-neuronal anchor knockdown would affect ethanol-induced sedation and olfactory ethanol attraction. We conducted an experiment on the Drosophila homolog, anchor, by studying Drosophila’s behavioral responses to ethanol, utilizing a pan-neuronal anchor model, and assessing its ethanol-induced sedation. Specifically, we found that male and female anchor knockdown flies sedate more slowly than genetic controls. Additionally, preliminary data shows that preference was reversed in male and female anchor knockdown flies compared to genetic controls. Future research involves cell-specific knockdown experiments to determine Anchor’s function in controlling ethanol-related behaviors and determine whether these findings persist in a mice model with GPR155 deletion.

This research was partially funded by the USM LSAMP program, supported by NSF LSAMP Award # 2207374.

(Return)

Mold

Kiersten Snyder, Joey Kihn, Max Emil, Kaoru Naung, Zach Nelson, Myles Jones, Ian Yaider
Marc Olano, Computer Science and Electrical Engineering

Inspired by puzzle platformers such as INSIDE or Little Nightmares, the world of Mold takes players on an adventure through a world invaded by aliens. The young protagonist is a small child evading mind-controlled humans and aliens alike, attempting not to succumb to mind control themselves. The project utilizes a unique method of rendering character sprites with the use of a normal map on 2D animations. This method provides a “moldy” look to the enemies as well as a faux 3D model style despite being a 2D game. The gameplay consists of traditional platformer movement, featuring platforms to run towards and jump between, in addition to its various sections that require puzzle solving skills to create a path forward or to defeat potential enemies. The game aims to provide audiences with a horror experience with satisfying platformer mechanics and puzzles to solve in order to fight a variety of enemies found in this world. With the limited time allotted to this project, a successful project will require teamwork and cooperation amongst the small development team as well as coordination between the programming team and the art team to create a consistent experience.

(Return)

Precision Aquaculture For Land-Based Atlantic Salmon Farming in the US

Yemmy Sogbesan, Computer Science and Electrical Engineering
Don Engel, Computer Science and Electrical Engineering

Salmon consumption has greatly increased globally over the years, and it is the most popular fish in the US, so there is a great demand for it. To meet these higher demands, there is a need for higher production. A promising approach for meeting the growing demand for salmon while reducing its negative effects on the environment and enhancing its economic viability is precision aquaculture. Precision Aquaculture utilize technologies, machine learning and deep learning to collect data that are observed and analyzed to make informed decision to optimize the production of salmon in land-based aquaculture facilities. By utilizing images, sensors, and automation systems, precision aquaculture enables precise control over environmental conditions and health management in aquaculture operations. This project explored the technologies employed, as well as the benefits, challenges, and intrinsic limitations of using precision aquaculture to increase salmon production.

(Return)

The Role of MAP3K13 in Ovarian Cancer Progression

Kieran Soliday, Biological Sciences
Achuth Padmanabhan, Biological Sciences; Ayo Ogunsanya, University of Maryland, Baltimore County

Ovarian cancer is the most fatal gynecological cancer, with a five-year survival rate of 47.4%. The lethality of this disease largely stems from a lack of a definitive screening tool and its vague, nonspecific symptoms during the early stages, when treatment is most effective. Consequently, over 70% of cases are diagnosed during stage III or IV, at which point the cancer has metastasized and chemoresistance is more common. Therefore, there is an urgent need to identify targets that drive ovarian cancer progression, and to develop novel therapeutic strategies. One potential target is MAP3K13, a gene involved in the JNK/MAPK signaling pathway regulating cell proliferation, apoptosis, and invasion. Gene expression datasets reveal that MAP3K13 expression is elevated in metastatic ovarian tumors; this is also associated with poorer patient prognosis. MAP3K13 has been shown to promote oncogenic properties in some cancers, though its role in ovarian cancer, specifically, has not been characterized. We have successfully cloned MAP3K13 into a lentiviral vector. In the future, we will over-express MAP3K13 in ovarian cancer cells, and test its effect on ovarian cancer progression and metastasis.

This work was funded, in part, by NIH Training Grant T34.

(Return)

Identification and Cloning of Planarian Genes Controlling Fission Behavior

Sanjana Srimath, Biological Sciences
Daniel Lobo, Bioinformatics and Computational Biology; Andrew Wolff, UMBC

Planarian worms are flatworms with the ability to regenerate any body part and reproduce asexually. Through the process of fission they can divide iteratively across regions known as fission planes that are formed along the anterior-posterior axis. The fragments that result from fissioning regenerate and form new worms. However, there is a lack of understanding on how exactly fission planes are formed and whether specific genes control their location along the anterior-posterior axis. Here, we compared gene expression between fissioning and non-fissioning worms to reveal genes with differential expression during fissioning. We hypothesized that these genes may be expressed in fission planes. From this dataset we identified four genes normally expressed higher in either the head or tail region and with ectopic expression in the presumptive fission planes. Each of these genes were amplified using PCR and cloned into a vector using a novel Golden Gate Assembly system. Gel electrophoresis and sequencing confirmed a successful construction. Using these vectors, future work will synthesize riboprobes and determine the expression patterns of the fission genes towards an understanding of the genetic regulation of planarian fission.

(Return)

“Is that a Fish Hat?”: Analyzing Gender Differences in Question-Asking Amongst Preschoolers

Riya Suthar, Psychology, Joy Clayborne^1
1Psychology, UMBC
Mirela Cengher, Psychology

The purpose of this study is to explore differences in curiosity across gender and age amongst preschoolers, which hasn’t been explored in prior research. Specifically, we are interested in understanding the developmental trajectory of preschoolers’ curiosity and language ability by observing how they play at baseline conditions with full access to toys, compared to manipulated play/test conditions (i.e., denied access, task completion, unusual scenario, and missing information) meant to prompt question-asking. So far, we have an unbalanced sample size of 10, favoring boys. On average, boys asked more questions in the task completion condition, girls asked significantly more questions in the missing information and unusual scenario conditions, and boys and girls showed similar frequencies of question-asking in the baseline and denied access conditions. When we complete data collection, we expect to find differences in the frequency and type (e.g., who, what, where) of questions asked across genders, influenced by gendered behaviors, toy play, and socialization. For future studies, researchers may investigate specific modes of gender socialization to determine how they contribute to the type or frequency of questions asked across genders. Further implications of this include reevaluating the developmental consequences of teaching boys and girls gendered behaviors and skills.

This work was funded, in part, through an Undergraduate Research Award from the UMBC Division of Undergraduate Academic Affairs.

(Return)

Locating the Orient in Irish Musical Traditions

Leonardo Swafford, English
Lindsay Johnson, Medieval and Early Modern Studies Minor

Whether mythical, historical, linguistic, racial, romantic, political, or musical, Celtic-Oriental comparisons have persisted throughout history. This study traces real and imagined links between Ireland and lands such as Scythia, India, Persia, and Arabia from ancient history to modern day with a particular focus on musical traditions, supplemented by research at the National Archives of Ireland and testimony from practicing musicians in Dublin.

This work was funded, in part, by the Caroline Iannone Travel Abroad Scholarship.

(Return)

Perceptions of Democracy in Non-Democratic Countries

Navara Syed, Political Science
Carolyn Forestiere, Political Science

Democratization has become increasingly important topics in today’s world. Established democracies like the United States have aimed to be against authoritarianism. However, when targeting authoritarian states, the input of the citizens who live there is hardly ever considered, thus leading to the question: do people living in authoritarian contexts consider themselves to be oppressed? By learning about people’s views of democracy in non-democratic contexts, democratic states can learn how to properly target authoritarianism and understand whether or not the people from authoritarian countries believe democratization is desired. This mixed methods paper aims to understand how democracy is perceived by citizens in non-democratic countries, including China, Iran, and Russia. Using information from the World Values Survey for quantitative analysis and utilizing convenience and snowball sampling methods to interview international college students in Maryland from the countries mentioned for qualitative analysis, I will inquire about their experiences with democracy in their home country and in the United States. I am particularly interested in learning if impressions about democracy have changed upon studying in the United States. It is hoped that this strategy will provide a comprehensive picture of how perceptions of democracy vary for people who have experience with authoritarian contexts.

(Return)

Mental Health Implications of the Religious Beliefs of Shia Muslim Immigrants

Zoonash Syed, Global Studies
Felipe Filomeno, Global Studies

When examining factors that may contribute to immigrant health, religion is often overlooked, even though religious beliefs can influence multiple aspects of life. This research study looks into Islam, with a focus on Shi’ism, and how those religious beliefs may impact the mental health of Shia immigrants in the United States. The study applies a thematic analysis to ten interviews with immigrants with a Shia Muslim background in Maryland. Interviews were designed to encourage discussion about participants’ personal experience of faith and mental health. Preliminary data analysis suggests that there are more positive associations between faith and mental health than otherwise. The study brings about much needed open discussions regarding mental health among Muslims in the United States.

This work was funded, in part, through an Undergraduate Research Award from the UMBC Division of Undergraduate Academic Affairs.

(Return)

Deceptive Shields For IoT Defense

Leon Tang, Information Systems
Zhiyuan Chen, Information Systems

In the rapidly evolving landscape of Internet of Things (IoT) and Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS), securing autonomous devices and networks against sophisticated cyber threats has become paramount. This project, titled “Deceptive Shields for IoT Defense,” delves into the innovative use of deception techniques as a proactive defense mechanism against cyber intrusions. By exploring the dual facets of deception—honeypots, honey tokens, and deceptive behaviors—our research aims to fortify the security of IoT devices and systems, particularly focusing on autonomous vehicles, drones, and intelligent transportation systems. Through a comprehensive survey and analysis of current deception strategies and their efficacy against side-channel attacks and other cyber threats, we identify and propose novel deceptive defense methodologies. Our work encapsulates the development of synthetic traffic generation and decoy deployment strategies to mislead attackers, thereby enhancing the resilience of IoT/CPS against cyber-attacks. By integrating advanced cybersecurity measures with deception tactics, “Deceptive Shields for IoT Defense” sets the foundation for a new era of cyber defense, significantly reducing the vulnerabilities inherent in IoT and CPS environments.

(Return)

A Survey of Deceptive Techniques in Mobile Autonomous Systems: Attacks and Defenses

Leon Tang, Information Systems
Zhiyuan Chen, Information Systems

Mobile Autonomous Systems refer to robots, ground vehicles, drones, etc. that can move autonomously. Such a system relies on sensors such as cameras and GPS to learn the states of the system itself as well as its surroundings and often machine learning (such as computer vision) and AI for autonomous decision making (e.g., to navigate). Deception is a serious threat to securing such systems because both the input to sensors as well as the machine learning models used in decision making can be misled by injected deceptive information. This project conducts a comprehensive survey of existing deception-based attacks against mobile autonomous systems and identifies gaps in the existing research. Compared to existing surveys, our survey considers various degrees of sophistication of the attacking strategies and the type of data being altered. Our work also identifies gaps in existing research such as relatively little work has been done on multi-stage attacks and attacks that influence long-term decision making. Our work can be used to help better understand deception-based attacks as well as develop better defense strategies.

(Return)

Using Student Exemplars to Improve Writing

Jorith Taylor, Education
Linda Oliva, Education

This research investigated the effectiveness of integrating student exemplars to enhance writing skills in a foreign language classroom. The primary objective of this study was to evaluate how the use of student exemplars influenced writing proficiency, as measured by a grading rubric. The ultimate target was for students to demonstrate improvement in their essays and attain a grade of 70 percent or higher. This study focused on 13 students enrolled in a German three course in a suburban public high school. Students underwent a structured process where they wrote a short essay, engaged in peer feedback sessions where they critically evaluated and provided insights on each other’s work. This culminated in them editing and refining their drafts using this feedback and guided by examples from their peers. Preliminary findings suggest a positive correlation between the incorporation of student exemplars and enhanced writing outcomes, providing valuable insights for educators seeking effective strategies to elevate writing skills in foreign language learners. This research contributes to the ongoing research into pedagogical approaches, emphasizing the significance of peer feedback and exemplar utilization to improve and demonstrate language proficiency in the foreign language through writing.

(Return)

The Amish Project, Making of

Renata Taylor-Smith, Theatre
Adam Mendelson, Theatre

What actually happens behind the scenes of a stage production? How does doing a theatre project across language barriers and borders differ from doing one with an all-American cast and crew? This audiovisual essay, entitled The Amish Project, the Making Of, will explore the behind the scenes for lighting a theatre show and follow my experience as Associate Lighting Designer for Jessica Dickey’s The Amish Project, which is a fictional exploration of the 2006 Nickle Mines schoolhouse shooting in a Pennsylvania Amish community. The ensemble based theatre piece is powerful and timely especially since in 2019 Amnesty International and a few foreign governments issued travel advisory warnings to those traveling to the United States because of high rates of gun violence. This theatre piece debuted in Munich, Germany, in collaboration with the Munich Film Akademie and UMBC’s Theatre Department. This presentation includes show footage, interviews with the show’s director and creative team, and a recording of the light board operator calling the show.

This work was funded, in part, through an Undergraduate Research Award from the UMBC Division of Undergraduate Academic Affairs.

(Return)

Targeting Hypoxia-driven Cell Signaling in Oral Cancers

Naafia Thangalvadi, Chemistry and Biochemistry
Subramanya Pandruvada, Dept. of Biomedical and Community Health Sciences, MUSC College of Dental Medicine

Hypoxia is an essential feature of solid tumors because it is linked to the atypical gene expression driving normal cell differentiation into more proliferative, dysregulated, and metastatic cancers. C-Jun N-terminal Kinases (JNKs) are the most crucial Mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) and regulate Hypoxia Induced Factor 1α (HIF-1α) in ischemic tissues. The tumor microenvironment (TME) plays a significant role in tumorigenesis, particularly in cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs). CAFs are a crucial component of the TME, and they have diverse functions, such as matrix deposition, remodeling, and extensive signaling interactions with cancer cells. Exploring these pathways and generating a profile of the critical proteins involved by targeting JNK upstream of hypoxic pathways can help prevent this cellular shift from normal to malignancy. Our goal was to determine the effectiveness of JNK inhibition and its downstream effectors in the normoxic and hypoxic TME. We performed TNZ inhibitor (Tanzisertib, JNK inhibitor) treatment on four sets of samples: control and TNZ-treated in normal oxygen levels (40 mmHg) and low oxygen levels (>20 mmHg). Interestingly, TNZ treatment suppressed hypoxia, PI3K, and the MAPK pathways, suggesting dampened downstream signaling and promoting its tumor suppressor effects. We show that CAFs can serve as potential targets for optimizing cancer treatment.

(Return)

A Genomic Framework for Ancestry Based Precision Oncology

Sreeyasha Thapa, Bioinformatics and Computational Biology
Maricel Kann, Bioinformatics and Computational Biology

Cancer is a multifaceted disease expected to have diverse outcomes across populations. Our research addresses the significant oversight in current cancer studies and databases, which often overlook the genetic diversity across populations, typically relying on self-reported ethnicity that biases data towards dominant ethnic groups. To bridge this gap, we analyzed discrepancies in the data by building a framework to extract lineage information from existing genomic data, contrasting it with self-reported ethnicity. Utilizing established genomic databases such as the Genomics Evidence Neoplasia Information Exchange (GENIE) and The Cancer Genome Atlas Program (TCGA), we focused on identifying specific genetic markers, employing cutting-edge techniques to pinpoint Ancestry Identification Markers (AIMs). Integrating AIMs derived from whole exome sequencing with cancer somatic mutations observed in patients, enables the study of genetic variations associated with cancer susceptibility and treatment responses in traditionally underrepresented populations. This approach not only addresses the disparities in current oncological practices but also stands to significantly advance precision medicine. By tailoring cancer therapies to individuals’ unique genetic profile, we aim to further push precision oncology barriers, ensuring more effective and equitable treatment options for all patients.

(Return)

Medieval West Africa and its Influence on Cross-Cultural Interactions in the Early Modern Atlantic Region

Amina Thiam, History
Amy Froide, History

This project examines how the narrative of the history of the trans-Atlantic world changes when we include the history of West Africa during the medieval and early modern eras (1400-1700). This research aims to highlight West African medieval and early modern societies through a visual presentation of artifacts emblematic of African politics, cosmology, and broader material culture in the pre-modern era. A key question this research will address is how one can de-center the imposition of the European perspective on the historiography and chronology of West Africa. Early modern history has been significantly influenced by pre-colonial African culture and politics, yet Africa’s role in the global evolution of the early modern era has been underrepresented in collective historical memory. This is not to be mistaken for a research project devoid of any mention of the Atlantic or Europe. This project will establish West African societies as sovereign polities and then relate them to the diverse and evolving Atlantic region. These artifacts, mainly from Mali, Nigeria, and Ghana, were examined at the SOAS University of London and the British Library, and include transcriptions of oral histories, musical instruments, and military weaponry, along with written historical analysis about their significance.

Caroline Iannone Scholarship for Study Abroad.

(Return)

Fishing for Social Inequities: An Exploration of the Sexual and Oriental in Les Pêcheurs De Perles

Khoa Tran, Music
Lindsay Johnson, Music

Fishing for Social Inequities: An Exploration of the Sexual and Oriental in Les pêcheurs de perles explores Georges Bizet’s opera, Les pêcheurs de perles in order to highlight works outside of the canon and focus on social progress through an artform that can oftentimes feel conservative. Deceivingly like the typical 19th-century French opera, this opera subverts conservative views of alternative sexuality and separate spheres through a reflection of France within an exoticised narrative. Bizet satirized France’s treatment of women and colonial practices through methods of dramatization and characterization commonly part of 19th-century exoticist operas which is seen through Leila’s symbolic and voyeuristic depiction. Exoticism in opera is typically coupled with alternative sexuality which is present in Les pêcheurs de perles with the two main male characters, Nadir and Zurga in their intimate duet, “Au fond du temple saint,” as they display characteristics of Foerster’s “heterosexual trouble” and Sedgwick’s “homosocial desire.” These explorations within the opera attempted to open a dialogue about feminism and alternative sexuality which was shut down through Parisian music periodicals. Despite the opera’s failed reception, it routinely pops up in the program for larger opera houses and proves to be a significant piece for social progress.

This work was funded, in part, through an Undergraduate Research Award from the UMBC Division of Undergraduate Academic Affairs.

(Return)

Fostering Strong Academic Writing for Continued Academic Success

Alex Trupkiewicz, Education
Linda Oliva, Education

The ability to critically examine information from various sources in order to develop and support an informed stance on a topic is a key skill that serves students not only in the classroom, but beyond. This study examined the efficacy of direct instruction and analysis of peer examples to strengthen students’ skills in developing a claim, selecting appropriate evidence, and providing reasoning to defend a stance on a given topic. This study examined 26 honors eighth grade history students in a suburban middle school. A standard four point writing rubric was applied to a pre-assessment at the beginning of the academic year and a mid-year assessment at the beginning of the third quarter. After instruction, the number of students scoring 80 percent or below was reduced by more than half. Students demonstrated stronger argumentative skills overall, with notable improvements in the strength and clarity of their claim statements and in the selection and organization of relevant evidence and reasoning to support their claim.

(Return)

Developing An In Vitro Model For Asthma Pathogenesis

Ayeoritse Tuedon, Math and Science
Maureen Kane, Math and Science

Asthma is a prevalent chronic respiratory condition primarily affecting the pulmonary airways. Among its subsets, allergic asthma is associated with cytokines, particularly Interleukin-13 (IL-13), a pivotal mediator in the disease pathogenesis. IL-13’s is involved in the activation of Activator-Protein 1 (AP-1), a transcription factor elevated in asthma patients, contributing to airway inflammation. Pharmacological strategies aimed at alleviating asthma symptoms involve targeting AP-1 and modulating extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK1/2) activity, a pathway implicated in AP-1 activation. Elevated ERK1/2 activity in asthmatic individuals exacerbates AP-1 levels, further exacerbating airway inflammation. This study aimed to establish an in vitro model of asthma pathogenesis to facilitate accurate testing of pharmacological interventions prior to animal studies. A549 lung epithelial cells were subjected to IL-13 treatment, with cells cultured and treated over varying time intervals (24, 48, and 72 hours). Subsequent proteomics analysis evaluated ERK1/2 and AP-1 expression compared to controls. Findings indicated that IL-13 treatment induced apoptosis and increased total protein content in treated cells. These results suggest a potential role for IL-13 in modulating cellular processes implicated in asthma pathology. Furthermore, this model offers a valuable tool for investigating drugs and treatments aimed at reducing AP-1 activity, thus mitigating asthma symptoms.

(Return)

Designing Dialogue: Exploring the Intersection of Graphic Design and Community Preservation

Alexis Tyson, American Studies
Nicole King, American Studies

My community art in practice research project investigated how graphic design and radical cartography promotes community involvement and a better understanding of how neighborhoods change over time. I worked with Southwest Baltimore’s Poppleton Now Community Association and President Sonia Eaddy to improve resident communication and outreach initiatives. As a student researcher, I worked collaboratively with residents using public art and humanities methods of shared authority and community asset mapping to revamp the association’s website to improve accessibility while effectively communicating messaging around neighborhood activism and future plans. As part of the research project, I produced a mural in the community, a walking tour brochure linked to a virtual ArcGIS project, and participated in a community celebration to create a deeper understanding of the needs and goals of the residents.The research emphasizes how essential it is to include design knowledge in community projects to develop dialogue and engagement for community empowerment through design.

This work was funded, in part, through an Undergraduate Research Assistantship Support (URAS) Award from the UMBC Office of the Vice President for Research.

(Return)

Determining Regions in USP15 that Regulate its Stability and Turnover in Ovarian Cancer Cells

Pavan Umashankar, Emmanuel Omole, Noel Amadu, Biological Sciences
Achuth Padmanabhan, Biological Sciences

Due to a lack of early diagnostic markers and effective therapeutics, human ovarian cancer remains the most lethal gynecologic malignancy. This unfortunate clinical reality highlights the urgent need to identify novel therapeutic targets and more effective treatment strategies. Recent studies show that deubiquitinase USP15 plays an important role in ovarian cancer progression and therapeutic response. Despite this, mechanisms that govern USP15 stability and turnover remain unknown. Our project aims to address this knowledge gap by identifying regions in USP15 that regulate its stability in ovarian cancer cells. To this aim, we are cloning epitope-tagged USP15 isoforms and truncation mutants into mammalian expression vectors and transfecting cloned plasmids into human ovarian cancer cell lines. A small-molecule drug called MCB-613 was previously identified to impact USP15 stability. We are investigating the mechanisms by which MCB-613 impacts the stability of the USP15 isoforms and truncation mutants using western blot and mass spectrometry analyses. Preliminary findings demonstrate that MCB-613’s effect could be specific for USP15 isoform 2, which lacks a 29 amino acid region compared to USP15 isoform 1. The discovery of mechanisms that regulate USP15 stability will allow the development of new therapeutic strategies that target USP15 in ovarian cancer cells.

This project was funded, in part, by a grant from the JHU Vivien Thomas Scholars Initiative to the Meyerhoff Scholars Program at UMBC, through an Undergraduate Research Award from the UMBC Division of Undergraduate Academic Affairs, and through the Padmanabhan Lab START-UP.

(Return)

Identifying Areas of Convergence Between Dorsal and Ventral Hippocampal Pathways in the Nucleus Accumbens

Sydnee Vance, Ashley Copenhaver, Biological Sciences
Tara LeGates, Biological Sciences

Establishing learned associations between rewarding stimuli and the context under which those rewards are encountered is critical for survival. Input from the hippocampus, a brain region integral in learning and memory, to the nucleus accumbens (NAc), a key area regulating motivated behaviors, is important for establishing associations between rewarding stimuli and related contextual information. This connection consists of two independent pathways originating from the dorsal (dHipp) or ventral (vHipp) hippocampus, which have previously been considered as functionally and anatomically distinct. Recent findings from our lab have led us to challenge this view and raise new questions regarding the interactions between these two pathways in the NAc. We hypothesize that a subset of NAc neurons are innervated by both dHipp and vHipp to mediate contextually-based reward learning. To address our hypothesis, we used an innovative transsynaptic labeling technique in mouse models. Our models allow us to visualize dHipp innervated neurons, vHipp innervated neurons, and dually innervated neurons in the NAc. Our preliminary data shows that both the vHipp and dHipp can innervate the same neuron in the NAc. This research will allow us to understand how single neurons can integrate spatial and contextual information and how it influences learning processes.

This investigation was funded, in part, by the U-RISE Program at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC), which is supported by the National Institute Of General Medical Sciences of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number T34GM136497. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.

(Return)

Establishing a Model For Resistance to Cancer-causing Mutations

Gabriel Vaughn, Biological Sciences
Michelle Starz-Gaiano, Biological Sciences; Alana O’ Reilly, Cancer Signaling and Microenvironment, Fox Chase Cancer Center; Alanna Carter, Biological Sciences, UMBC; Alex George, Biological Sciences, UMBC

Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is the cause of a common sexually transmitted disease and is responsible for 5% of cancers worldwide. We are investigating alternative therapeutic solutions to HPV-induced cancers utilizing ferroptosis. Ferroptosis is an iron-dependent form of cell death. This research is critical since not only is there no cure for HPV, but there are also major racial disparities in those affected by HPV-related cancer. Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) is a receptor in the cell that receives signals for regulation of cell growth and division, and mutant forms can promote cancer growth. We hypothesized that EGFR-mutant resistance plays a role in ferroptosis induction of HPV-induced cancer cells. To understand this mechanism, we are researching how it works in fruit flies. Establishing a model of “EGFR-mutant resistance” was the goal of this project. We exposed fruit flies to a EGFR inhibitor for up to three weeks and observed whether or not there were heightened levels of a downstream signaling molecule “pERK” in extracted protein of the flies. We expected to see increased EGFR activity in response to continuous dosage of the inhibitor. In addition to pERK, we will look for changes in ferroptosis and other types of cell death next.

This project was funded in part, by NSF-IOS-2303857 to MSG and the Community Pilot Award, Office of Community Outreach and Engagement, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA.

(Return)

Void Spot Assays to Detect Prostate Inflammation in a Mouse Model of Chronic Prostatitis/Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome

Christian A. Verastegui, Biological Sciences
Charles J. Bieberich, Biological Sciences; Apurv Rege, Biological Sciences,

Chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS) is a prevalent yet poorly understood urologic disorder that affects 35-50% of men during their lifetime. To study the etiology and pathobiology of CP/CPPS we have generated a mouse model that develops prostatic inflammation. The RIG model is characterized by the expression of three genes; the reverse Tetracycline transactivator under the control of Hoxb13 regulatory elements (R ) IL1-ß, a proinflammatory cytokine (I) , a marker gene (GFP, G). Two cohorts of RIG mice were generated with different lineages to determine the lineage-dependent expressivity of the genes. We hypothesize that prostate inflammation will alter the process of micturition in RIG mice. To test this hypothesis, we performed series of experiments to establish a correlation between abnormal urination patterns determined by Void Spot Assays (VSAs) and prostate inflammation to develop a predictive non-invasive method to detect severity of prostate inflammation. Our preliminary data show that prostate inflammation confirmed by histological analysis correlated with altered urination patterns. This data strongly suggests that VSAs can be used as a surrogate marker for prostatic inflammation. This work will support further development of the RIG model as a system to study CP/CPPS and other prostate pathologies associated with inflammation.

This work was funded, in part by the National Institutes of Health (Grant ID:1U54CA274370-01).

(Return)

Hypoxia-Responsive Regenerative Genes in the Zebrafish Inner Ear

Anya Viswanathan, Biological Sciences
Rachel Brewster, Biological Sciences

Diseases involving hypoxia, such as sickle cell anemia and mitochondrial diseases, have been associated with hearing loss in humans, however underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. Interestingly, zebrafish can survive hypoxic conditions, where zebrafish hair cells regenerate following injury in contrast to mammalian hair cells. Given the similarities between inner ear cells in zebrafish and mammals, zebrafish are a valuable model to study and identify conserved critical targets in their regenerative response. Our lab previously identified genes transcriptionally upregulated in zebrafish embryos exposed to anoxia using bulk RNA sequencing. As many of these genes are expressed in the inner ear and function in hair cell development and regeneration, I hypothesize that they play a role in promoting regeneration of new hair cells following hypoxic damage. Here, I confirm transcriptional upregulation of one of these genes, SOX2, following anoxia using RTqPCR, suggesting SOX2 may regulate the hair cell regenerative response. In ongoing studies, I will characterize cellular localization of SOX2 transcript and protein, and test whether SOX2 is required to preserve inner ear function under anoxia using SOX2 mutants. These findings are significant, given that SOX2 function is conserved in humans, and modulation of its function could be exploited for therapeutic benefit.

This research was funded by U-RISE at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC), which is supported by the National Institute of General Medical Sciences, National Institutes of Health (NIGMS/NIH) under National Research Service Award T34 GM 136497. This research was also funded by NIH/NICHD under the grant R21HD089476 (Signaling mechanisms that mediate anoxia-induced cellular arrest) in Dr. Rachel Brewster’s lab.

(Return)

Depression, Community Connectedness and Sense of Support in College Students: Comparing Different Student Groups

Khady Wade, Psychology
Laura Ting, School of Social Work

Depression continues to be a problem among college students. Possible risk factors are a lack of support, sense of community and belonging. Latinx and multiracial students are more likely to be more severely depressed relative to Non-Hispanic White students. Understanding the role of community and support in depression is important. In this study, 136 UMBC undergraduates were surveyed via Qualtrics on social support from friends/family, depression symptoms, and their sense of community connectedness. We hypothesized a negative correlation between depression and sense of belonging/community connectedness, and lower SES and first-generation students will have less support, sense of community and more depression. Nearly two-thirds of students scored in the depressed range; Pearson’s correlation indicated negative relationships between sense of belonging and community connectedness. MANOVAs indicated statistically significant differences in support scores of low-income students compared to first-generation only and other groups, with low-income students reporting the least amount of support. No other differences were found between groups. Understanding the needs of college students and reasons behind high levels of depressive symptomology can lead to different approaches to help students maintain their mental health while in school.

This work was funded, in part, through an Undergraduate Research Award from the UMBC Division of Undergraduate Academic Affairs.

(Return)

Undocumented College Students’ Access to Health Care

Fatima Wajid, Global Studies
Felipe Filomeno, Global Studies

According to the Migration Policy Institute, undocumented immigrants constituted 3.2-3.6% of the US population in 2019, with 1.9% being college students. Existing research on undocumented immigrant access to healthcare has focused on the Latinx community, leaving a gap in understanding the healthcare access of other subgroups like undocumented college students. This research explored the experiences of undocumented college students accessing healthcare in the United States, recognizing the unique challenges they encountered. Through a structured online questionnaire distributed to organizations that serve undocumented college students at various campuses nationwide, the study sought to understand their healthcare-seeking behaviors, barriers, and experiences, including those related to chronic health conditions. By collecting demographic information and assessing perceptions of healthcare accessibility, the research aimed to identify common patterns, challenges, and potential solutions. Ultimately, this study sheds light on the nuanced dynamics of healthcare access among undocumented college students and hopes to inform policies and interventions to promote equitable and inclusive healthcare for all members of society.

(Return)

Automatic Multisite Intracerebral Therapeutic Delivery System

Miki Walczak, Ben Brooks, Jackson Wright¹, Tyler Bryson¹, Joe Hoskins¹, Andrew Smith^1
1Computer Science and Electrical Engineering, UMBC
Charles Laberge, Computer Science and Electrical Engineering; Yajie Liang, University of Maryland Baltimore, School of Medicine

Medical research relies on animal models, including therapeutics, such as drugs or stem cells, administered via intracerebral injection to the brain. Among the models currently in use, mice are the most prevalent. However, manually injecting therapeutics into the small brain of a mouse with a high degree of precision is very challenging and time consuming. This issue is compounded. when multiple injections are necessary to increase dispersion. Working with Dr. Yajie Liang at University of Maryland Baltimore, we are developing an automatic injection system that will be capable of performing multiple injections with greater precision, accuracy, and speed than would be possible manually. We aim to inject with a precision range of 10µm at rates of 1 – 20 nL/s. The device will be capable of automatically detecting and avoiding blood vessels on the surface of the brain to prevent unnecessary injury to the mouse, leading to a heightened subject survival rate. The device will also include an adjustable containment system with built-in anesthesia to securely hold the mouse during the procedure. This will enable new research into intracerebrally-injected therapeutics aiding in the development of new treatments for human diseases such as brain cancer.

This work was funded, in part, by the Program in Image Guided Neurointerventions.

(Return)

Community Investment in Baltimore Hospital Systems

Molly Quinn Walker, Political Science
Carolyn Forestiere, Political Science

The purpose of this research is to understand the impact of Baltimore hospital systems’ investment and involvement in neighboring communities from the perspectives of Community Health Center leaders, employees, providers, and nurses. Community Health Centers are often run by mission-focused non-profits or hospital systems to facilitate programs for wellness, prevention, education, and screening. Hospitals like Johns Hopkins Hospital and the University of Maryland Medical System Hospitals are renowned across the country and, in some cases, the world for high-quality care and innovative healthcare treatments. However, the residents living in direct proximity to the hospitals in Baltimore do not share the same respect for the billion-dollar institutions. In the pursuit of research, documented incidents of Baltimore hospitals harming local community members have created distrust for the institutions (Josefson, 2001; Baptist et al., 2022). Additionally, people the neighborhoods in which many Baltimore hospitals are located experience worse health outcomes than the average resident of the city. I will thus conduct interviews with Community Health Center employees in Baltimore to understand the ongoing needs of residents in nearby communities that are unfortunately not being met by the community health programs of such large and renowned hospitals.

(Return)

Monitoring Free and Natural Behavior of Mice in 3D

Nia Walker, Biological Sciences Lucas Williamson¹, Rowan Gargiullo^1
1Emory University
Christopher Rodgers, Department of Neurosurgery, School of Medicine at Emory University

We wanted to understand a mouse’s ability to adapt and navigate man-made environments, and how the brain plays a role in their behavior. To accomplish this, we used a design software called Fusion 360 to design a transparent box to house the mouse. The box included two walls with ladders and two walls that would allow a thin balance beam to go through. This is an aspect of a “challenge” for the mouse, as we would like to see how the mouse will use its whole body to interact with the balance beam and the wall with ladders, which is a more difficult skill for the mouse than simply walking around but is something that they do have a natural ability to do. To further analyze the mouse’s behavior, we used multiple cameras to capture the mouse from different angles, and we are currently using 3D tracking software to identify the position of each body part in 3D. For ongoing research, we would like to understand how a part of the brain called the motor cortex controls these behaviors by using a stroke model to show what happens when that part of the brain is lost.

This work was funded by the LGS-SOAR Program at Emory University.

(Return)

Enhancing Representation in Educational Technology and Multimedia Strategies

Joy Ware, Education
Ramon Goings, Education; Mark Berczynski, Information Technology and Engineering, UMBC; Patricia Young, Education Department, UMBC

Although the field of educational technology has evidently worked as a catalyst for student learning, there is still a notable oversight in working within the field of educational technology to incorporate inclusive and diversified methods into the teaching model. Through a theoretical framework of multiculturalism and representation, this study hypothesizes that enhancing and implementing multicultural educational technology in the classroom will positively affect the learning experiences of diverse student communities. The preliminary research focuses on five major areas: culturally relevant pedagogy, educational technology integration, experimental student learning experiences, academic motivation, and academic achievement. This study considers both quantitative and qualitative methods, and data collection was theorized through analytical research methods proposed to be in the form of confidential student course evaluation forms that quantify student demographics, engagement levels and test scores. For qualitative data, specifically, the forms provide open-ended questions where students are prompted to give feedback on their learning experience. In the context of my research hypothesis in this study, my purpose is to campaign for underrepresented learning communities to have access to a model of educational media that reflects both their cultural identities and backgrounds and stimulates their learning experience.

(Return)

Student Choice Study Guide – A Differentiated Guide to Music Literacy

Olivia Wendler, Education
Cheryl North, Education; Brian Kaufman, Music

As young musicians build their knowledge and abilities, music notation is critical. As an instrumental music student, successful performance and musical growth relies on one’s understanding of the system of written music, as well as the executive skills, physical demands and coordination required to play from standard music notation. This research followed a class of fourth and fifth grade string players, including bass, cello, viola, and violin players. This group included students in both beginner and advanced strings classes. Through differentiated instruction and guidance the students explored different ways to apply the fundamentals of standard music notation in relation to their instrument of study. Through modeled and individualized study guides, various reading and writing activities, as well as aural, visual and kinesthetic interpretations of standard music notation, students had available to them a multitude of choices to engage and improve. These activities centered on reading and performing coordination, gaining familiarity and fluidity with notes written on the musical staff, and overall pattern recognition in music exercises, excerpts, and songs – all skills necessary for future music experiences. Students were encouraged to find what worked best. Research found that visual support and hands on music writing was most helpful.

(Return)

The Stochastic Thermodynamics of Aging

Maggie Williams, Physics
Sebastian Deffner, Physics

High school biology traditionally attributes aging to DNA mutation, resulting in cellular dysfunction during self-replication. A novel perspective now arises, emphasizing the statistical interpretation of cell mutation. Healthy cells exhibit low entropy and high energy production, indicative of order. Conversely, mutating cells experience reduced efficiency, lower energy production, and increased entropy. Upon cell death, entropy reaches its maximum. The probabilistic nature of DNA prompts a shift toward understanding aging through statistical thermodynamics, enabling the formulation of a mathematical model. This research delves into the thermodynamics of biological processes, framing macroscopic aging as entropy’s function. The focus is on a three-state mechanical model akin to Maxwell’s demon, which reaches a periodic steady state with an incoming bitstream over time. The research introduces a time-dependent modification to the rotation rate of the demon, gradually decreasing until the demon’s ability to transcribe information becomes too inefficient, mimicking system ‘death’ analogous to cell demise. Solving the master equation analytically reveals a monotonically increasing entropy over time. This study bears significant implications, suggesting living systems operate statistically, allowing for the construction of probabilistic models to quantify their behavior.

This work was funded, in part, through an Undergraduate Research Award from the UMBC Division of Undergraduate Academic Affairs.

(Return)

The Political Economy of State Fiscal Cyclicality

Peter Wilschke, Political Science
Eric Stokan, Political Science

I examine political-economic factors influencing the cyclicality of US state fiscal policy. Today most developed countries, including the US, pursue countercyclical fiscal policy, where spending rises (falls) as GDP falls (rises), smoothing economic fluctuations. US states, however, largely pursue procyclical fiscal policy. Many institutional factors, such as balanced-budget rules, have been studied as influences on state cyclicality. However, there are political factors that have not yet been considered. I examine the impact of electoral competitiveness, political polarization, and government turnover on state fiscal cyclicality, estimating cyclicality per state-year and using the result to estimate the impacts of political factors. Additionally, I examine how the influence of these factors depends on the state of the business cycle. I find that the combination of polarization and turnover is significantly associated with procyclical policy, while the effect of competition on cyclicality is conditional on year from election. Additionally, both factors are asymmetrical with respect to the business cycle: polarization and turnover are more influential in upturns, and competition leads to procyclicality (countercyclicality) in upturns (downturns) immediately prior to elections. Results have implications for state fiscal institutional design. Potential policy solutions to prevent politically oriented fiscal policy fluctuations while encouraging countercyclical spending are discussed.

This work was funded, in part, through an Undergraduate Research Award from the UMBC Division of Undergraduate Academic Affairs.

(Return)

The Impact of Market Concentration on Hospital Prices

Peter Wilschke, Political Science
Morgan Henderson, Hilltop Institute; Morgane Mouslim, Hilltop Institute

This study examines the impact of market concentration on hospital pricing. A better understanding of factors that affect hospital prices is important to inform healthcare policy proposals aimed at reducing healthcare costs, particularly as healthcare spending and costs continue to rise. Previous research has indicated that policies focused on increasing hospital competition, whether with payors or other hospitals, may help to lower hospital prices. I leverage rich, intensively hand-collected data on hospital standard charge files detailing hospital charges per procedure and insurer, which have only been publicly available since 2021 and have received little scholarly attention. Independent variables are constructed by merging pricing data from hospitals in over ten states with CMS data on hospital beds and healthcare referral regions (HRRs) to produce two measures of market concentration – one based on the market share of beds per HRR, and one based on the number of insurers serving each hospital. I examine the relationship between hospital and payer concentration and hospital prices, considering separately cash prices, government-negotiated prices, and private insurance prices. Results have implications for future health policy focusing on lowering costs for different insurance types, whether that takes the form of targeting payer-level or hospital-level competition.

This work was funded, in part, by an NSF Build and Broaden grant.

(Return)

Upper EXTremity Examination for Neuromuscular Diseases

Tetevi Wilson, Computer Science and Electrical Engineering
Laura Barnes, University of Virginia

This study aims to assess treatment efficacy and motor changes in neuromuscular diseases like Spinal Muscular Atrophy and Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. The proposed system offers an innovative method for evaluating motor function, influencing future clinical trials, and accelerating pediatric neuromuscular disease treatments. Data from 48 individuals at the University of Virginia Children’s Hospital (21 DMD, 11 SMA, and 17 healthy) were recorded using a camera and MetaMotionR+ sensor. The analysis involved assessing extremity, average joint, autocorrelation, and joint angle velocity variabilities about factors including the Brooke score, Normalized Elbow Torque, Average Echogenicity, and age. The average joint velocity negatively correlates (-0.41) with Average Echogenicity, indicating decreased velocity with increased muscle fat infiltration and subsequent muscle degradation. Additionally, extremity velocity negatively correlates with age (-0.61), suggesting temporal muscle degradation. This study identified wearable sensor features correlating with clinical and demographic factors, enabling real-time personalized feedback to motivate patients and ensure consistency and compliance. This approach aids in understanding disease progression in neuromuscular diseases. As an ongoing longitudinal cohort study, we will continue to gather data and refine techniques toward establishing a composite muscle function index.

This work was funded by grant award #1950374.

(Return)

Can Posterior AFOs Be 3D Printed With Optimized Mechanical Performance And Lower Cost Compared To Traditional AFOs?

Meklit Yante, Mechanical Engineering
Mark Edelen, Mechanical Engineering

This research focused on creating a posterior Ankle Foot Orthotic (AFO) for individuals with foot drop, addressing two main issues: the expense of functional AFOs often not covered by insurance and the ineffectiveness of cheaper alternatives sold online. This study utilized 3D printing of a novel design with continuous carbon fiber reinforcement to develop a cost-effective, mechanically equivalent AFO compared to high-cost commercial options. A carbon fiber reinforced nylon AFO was designed, printed, and then tested using a PASCO material testing apparatus to compare stiffness with a purchased polyethylene AFO and a purchased carbon fiber AFO. Results showed plantar flexion stiffness for the 3D printed AFO: 0.7985 Nm/degrees, similar to the purchased carbon fiber AFO (0.6429 Nm/degrees) and the polyethylene AFO: 0.2847 Nm/degrees. Cost analysis revealed the printed AFO was substantially cheaper at $30.79, compared to $509.99 for the purchased carbon fiber AFO and $44.50 for the polyethylene AFO. Therefore, the research demonstrates that a 3D printed AFO made using continuous carbon fiber reinforcement produces comparable stiffness to traditional commercial carbon fiber AFOs at a cost 16.6 times lower, providing a viable solution for patients with foot drop.

(Return)

Investigating the Potential Role of the Molecular Chaperone ProSAAS in Protecting Neurons against Degeneration

Madison Yorkowski, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Iris Lindberg, UMB

Alzheimer’s disease is a neurodegenerative disorder of increasing health concern, being the most common cause of dementia in Americans. A hallmark of disease progression is the presence of extracellular plaques formed by the aggregation of β-Amyloid oligomers, resulting in the dysfunction of protein regulation in neurons. Molecular chaperones play a key role in managing this process through their assistance in protein folding, inhibition of protein aggregation, and clearance of misfolded aggregates. This project aims to test the ability of the chaperone proSAAS to protect neurons against these toxic Aβ oligomers. ProSAAS is a small neuroendocrine protein that functions as a secretory pathway chaperone in neuronal proteostasis. Its secondary structure and biochemical properties contribute to its anti-aggregant and cytoprotective behavior in response to cellular stress. We seek to determine if cells overexpressing proSAAS can protect themselves better from toxic Aβ oligomers than cells only expressing endogenous levels of proSAAS. To examine the cytoprotective mechanism of action of proSAAS, we transfected Neuro2A cells with cDNA encoding proSAAS or a control, treated the cells with Aβ oligomers, and compared the levels of a known mediator of cell death (Caspase-3) between the two groups through Western Blotting.

This work was funded, in part, by a grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to the lab (grant number AG 062222).

(Return)

Characterizing The Molecular Interactions Of Myocyte Enhancing Factor 2 C (MEF2C) In Alzheimer’s Disease

Briana Young, Biological Sciences
Ania Podlesny-drabiniok, Genetics and Genomics

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease that impacts approximately 50 million individuals around the world. To identify an approach against this disease, Genome Wide Association Studies (GWAS) have conducted genetic screens to analyze genes implicated in AD risk. Myocyte Enhancer Factor 2C (MEF2C) is a transcription factor that was identified by GWAS and nominated as a regulator of disease-associated microglia (DAM) and – a population of macrophages involved in lipid and amyloid clearance. Although associations with MEF2C were identified, its role in AD pathology is not understood. My project aims to characterize the role of MEF2C in human myeloid cells using human THP-1 macrophages with a transient reduction (MEF2C knockdown), and human iPSC-derived microglia (iMGL) with genetic inactivation (MEF2C knockout). Utilizing targeted gene expression, live imaging, and flow cytometry, I found that reduction of MEF2C is associated with increased expression of phagocytic receptors, therefore increasing phagocytosis of myelin fragments and zymosan particles. I have also found that iMGL lacking MEF2C, showed decreased lysosomal mass and hydrolysis. Future studies should focus on how iMGL lacking MEF2C communicates with neurons and astrocytes using co-culture models of chimeric mouse models, and its impact on AD pathology in these disease-relevant models.

(Return)

Merging, Comparing, and Translating Genome-scale Metabolic Models with mergem and Fluxer

Arveen Zarrabi, Archana Hari, Bioinformatics and Computational Biology
Daniel Lobo, Bioinformatics and Computational Biology

Genome-scale metabolic models function as mathematical representations of an organism’s metabolism. While there currently exist numerous methods to produce and refine them, the lack of a universal identifier system for metabolites and reactions makes computing the metabolic differences and similarities of such models a challenge. Further, currently there are no tools able to create comprehensive models by merging different drafts. Here, we introduce mergem, a novel method to compare, merge, and translate two or more metabolic models. mergem utilizes a universal metabolic identifier mapping system which is constructed from multiple metabolic databases in order to employ a modular approach for model comparison, merge the common elements of the models, and translate identifiers of a database system into another. mergem is implemented as a command line tool, a Python package, and on the web-application Fluxer, which allows simulating and visually comparing multiple models with different interactive flux graphs. Through the ability to compare, merge, and translate any number of genome-scale metabolic models, mergem allows for the curation of comprehensive reconstructions and the discovery of unique and common metabolic features among different organisms.

This work was supported by the National Institute of General Medical Sciences of the National Institutes of Health with grant R35GM137953. A.Z. and A.H. were supported in part by fellowships from Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp.

(Return)

Investigating the Effects on Cowbird Parasites on Puerto Rican Oriole Reproductive Success

Nathan Zekarias, Michelle Moyer, Michael Ocasio^1
1Biological Sciences, UMBC
Kevin Omland, Biological Sciences

Populations of organisms may have better fitness in areas where the populations of their predators or parasites are fewer. The Puerto Rican Oriole (Icterus portoricensis) is an understudied tropical songbird, and understanding the threats it faces is crucial for conservation. The Shiny Cowbird (Molothrus bonariensis) is a brood parasite that poses a serious threat to the orioles. We hypothesized that orioles have more successful reproduction at higher elevations due to a lack of cowbirds in the area. To investigate this, we looked through the citizen science website eBird where users upload photos of birds.Young Puerto Rican Orioles are all yellow or olive colored with no black and as they become mature, they turn black with small yellow patterns. We noted the age classes of the photos of Puerto Rican Orioles and their coordinates in order to get the elevation of the eBird sighting. We will test the hypothesis that there are more young birds at higher elevations across the island due to fewer cowbirds.

This research is funded by an NSF training grant to the Omland Lab UMBC – International Research Experience for Students (IRES).