A Systematic Review of Cultural Competency in Home and Hospice Care and the Opportunities Presented by Health IT
Nour Aboumatar, Anna Opoku-Ayegman, Dari Alhuwail, Aisha Ahmadi
Gunes Koru, Information Systems
A systematic review was conducted to identify the key components of cultural competency in home and hospice care and how Health IT can be used to improve cultural competency among health care providers. The search terms used across CINAHL, PubMed/Medline, and Google Scholar were cultural competency, home health care, health IT and hospice. The search term for SAGE journals was cultural competency AND home health care AND disparit*. We identified several themes for providing culturally competent care that were consistent across the literature; language, race and ethnicity, lack of awareness/misinformation on the health care system, spirituality, and communication. Literature suggested that Health IT can be utilized to improve cultural competency training for providers through web-based trainings and virtual communities. The authors found that improving cultural competency among home health care and hospice providers can improve patient satisfaction and quality of care. However, the authors concluded that there is not enough information on the efficacy or cost-effectiveness of online or in-person cultural competency training, and that more research is needed to draw conclusions on whether cultural competency training improves patient satisfaction and overall health outcomes.
Christian Adams
Esther Read, Ancient Studies; Timothy Phin, Ancient Studies, UMBC
Frescos were a common decoration in the homes of the elitethroughout the Roman Empire. A fragment of a fresco border from Caesarea Maritima in Israel in the UMBC Spiro Collection is an example of this type of decoration. This fragment has prompted my desire to conduct a larger scale research effort into the role of frescos in Roman Culture. Research done into other Roman villas, such as those excavated at Pompeii, suggests that specific workshops often created identical frescos for different clients. While this may not have held true during the later years of the Roman Empire, the fragment of fresco could help to spur exploration of the state of fresco creation across the empire, and if possible trace patterns of diffusion. Additionally, the fragment can be used to discuss cultural and religious syncretism, such as occurred between Jewish and Roman populations in Caesarea. While the piece itself cannot be readily matched to any known frescos, it provides entry to discussion regarding Roman influence on its colonies and conquered territories, as well as ways of identifying the role of frescos within culture, beyond the homes of the elite, such as within religious complexes.
Mehki Adams
Maleda Belilgne, UMBC English Department
“Super Predator” is a video art piece that reflects on the ways in which the media negatively depicts black identity and how that negative depiction is used to validate the social, legal, and physical mistreatment of black bodies. To create this piece, I compiled different images depicting negative black stereotypes and the physical mistreatment of black people. These clips, which range in historical time periods, constantly switch back and forth to resemble someone switching the channels on a television and to mimic the way stereotypes are typically spread. I show how these stereotypes and racist depictions have been nuanced throughout the years: ranging from images of docile slaves to super predators. The purpose of this piece is to bring attention to the circulation of negative stereotypes in the media and to display how racist narratives are used to justify unequal and brutal treatment of black people. The piece also illustrates the ubiquity of certain stereotypes, the context in which they are deployed, and through repetition forces viewers to confront their biases and assumptions.
Sabbir Ahme, Jeffrey Osazuwa, Howard To, Brian Weber
Charles LaBerge, Computer Science and Electrical Engineering
The Galois Field Arithmetic Unit (GFAU) generated all the elements in the Galois field of a binary-coded decimal primitive polynomial. The arithmetic logic unit (ALU) computed the degree of the inputted polynomial and the order of its finite field and allowed addition, subtraction, multiplication, division and logarithm between the elements. GFAU utilized a Spartan 6 FPGA for the computations, a pair of 512Kb asynchronous integrated circuit SRAM memory chips for storage, and an Arduino microcontroller for user interface. Galois fields, consisting of a finite number of elements, are represented by GF(q), where q must be a power of a prime. The binary field is the most frequently used Galois field. The GFAU handled primitive polynomials in GF(2n), where 2 ≤ n ≤ 15. Galois fields have various applications in error detection and correction (EDAC). Specifically, cyclic redundancy checks (CRC) is an EDAC that employ GF(2). EDAC has many expensive calculations that are difficult for low powered and inexpensive microcontrollers to handle. The GFAU project made Galois field computations more accessible to such low powered devices.
Development of Biopapers using Electrospinning and Crosslinking
Christopher Animashaun, Taylor Patrick
Christopher Animashaun, Zahra Ghassemi, Taylor Patrick, Joel Tyson, Gymama Slaughter, PhD, Bioelectronics Laboratory UMBC
Development of gelatin nanofibers using electrospinning and Crosslinking. Electrospinning, electrostatic forces to form ultrafine synthetic fibers for development of nanofibers has proven to be useful for applications of tissue engineering, wound healing, and drug delivery. This article discusses the use of electrospinning to develop durable biopapers intended for tissue engineering. In order to improve mechanical properties and biocompatibilty of the electrospun biopaper, crosslinking the biopaper and adding other polymers is also being investigated.
This investigation was sponsored by NIH/NIGMS MARC U*STAR T3408663 National Research Service Award to UMBC.
Monks, Merchants, and Wives: Loan-making and Repayment in Chaucer’s Shipman’s Tale
Julia Arbutus
Kathryn McKinley, English
Though The Canterbury Tales presents both scenes of counting houses and of merchants making loans, scholars have surprisingly neglected Chaucer’s crucially deep familiarity with London merchant class banking practices. My project spans two disciplines, medieval economics and literary criticism, to address this problem. My research so far, collected from the best recent scholarship on medieval economic history, shows that monks, innkeepers, merchants, banks, and pawn-brokers might finance an array of questionable loans to others. I argue that in the Shipman’s Tale, Chaucer accurately constructs the loan-making process between a monk and a merchant, whose wife secretly barters her body for the money. Born to a vintner, and serving as Comptroller, Chaucer regulated trade in both London and Flanders. The Chaucer Life-Records documents his involvement in personal loans to the crown and his familiarity with foreign currency exchange and merchant money-lending. I will study Chaucer’s handling of trade documents such as enrolled accounts and their vadia, pledges to meet debts, as well as receipt rolls that record revenue entering the Exchequer, the royal treasury. My examination of these sources will provide an urgently-needed historicization of Chaucer’s merchant narratives for modern readers and offer us new perspectives on his merchant-class reading circle.
Investigating Structural Diversity in Acyclic Fleximer Analogues Targeting Ebola Virus
Yafet Arafeayne
Katherine Seley-Radtke, Chemistry and Biochemistry
There are currently no FDA approved treatments for the deadly Ebola virus (EBOV), which has a mortality rate up to 90%. After the recent 2014 outbreak in West Africa, research has focused on treatment post-infection. One possible approach is the use of nucleoside analogues, which can be designed to inhibit important viral replication enzymes. Most nucleoside analogues typically do not have enough flexibility to adapt to mutations in the viral enzyme binding site which can lead to drug resistance. The Seley-Radtke lab has developed a series of flexible nucleoside analogues with modified heterobase scaffolds, termed “fleximers”. This flexibility comes from splitting the purine ring into its imidazole and pyrimidine moieties which remain connected by one C-C bond. The fleximers are designed to increase the nucleoside’s activity against its target enzyme by allowing for additional interactions. Previously, a fleximer guanosine mimic based on the FDA approved nucleoside analogue Acyclovir, showed antiviral activity against EBOV, leading us to perform a Structure Activity Relationship (SAR) study to identify additional analogues to potentially increase the anti-EBOV activity. This project focuses specifically on the synthesis of four targets, and the progress made thus far is discussed herein.
This work was funded, in part, through an Undergraduate Research Award from the UMBC Division of Academic Affairs, and by NIH/NIGMS MARC U*STAR T3408663 National Research Service Award to UMBC.
Characterization of CMI-7000 Membrane for Implementation in Resource Recovery Systems
Hannah Aris, Utsav Shashvatt1
1Chemical, Biochemical, and Environmental Engineering
Lee Blaney, Chemical, Biochemical, and Environmental Engineering
Dense poultry production operations border many major waterways, including the Chesapeake Bay, and the waste from these facilities is often applied to agricultural land as a soil amendment. However, when poultry litter-amended fields are irrigated or experience a rain event, nutrients, namely nitrogen and phosphorus, are released from the poultry litter and increase the potential for eutrophication of water bodies. The Donnan Membrane Principle can be employed to separate phosphorus and other important resources (e.g., Mg2+, NH4+, etc.) from animal manure and prevent negative environmental outcomes. This concept involves the spontaneous separation of nutrients across ion exchange membranes due to electrochemical potential gradients. The aim of this research was to determine the capacity and selectivity of CMI-7000 membranes to separate important nutrients from organic matter and other dissolved species. The capacity was determined by conditioning membrane swatches in potassium chloride solutions, rinsing the membranes with deionized water, equilibrating the membrane samples in sodium chloride solutions, and measuring the potassium concentration in the solution. Membrane selectivity for cations was confirmed by investigating the potential transport of phosphate anions across the membrane. The results of this work confirm the potential for the Donnan Membrane Principle to be applied to innovative nutrient recovery technologies.
This work was funded, in par, through an Undergraduate Research Award from the UMBC Division of Academic Affairs. In addition, we acknowledge the National Science Foundation NSF CBET 1706819 for funding this project.
Investigating the Climate Drivers of the Maunder Minimum
Mary Aronne
Jeffrey Halverson, Geography and Environmental Systems
The Maunder Minimum was a period from approximately 1645 to 1715 characterized by low solar activity and evidence of a cooler climate on Earth, the cause of which has been the subject of great debate. This occurred during a larger period known as the Little Ice Age from approximately 1310 to 1850. Evidence for the Maunder Minimum is based off of records from tree rings, ice cores, and written accounts, primarily from Europe. One explanation is that variation in the solar cycle caused a dip in temperature. Others claim that plague, warfare, and reduced agriculture impacted the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Variability in the North Atlantic Oscillation or volcanic activity may have also played a role. Individually each explanation may not provide sufficient evidence to demonstrate the climate impacts seen on Earth, especially in the Northern Hemisphere, and there is debate as to whether the Maunder Minimum and Little Ice Age were abnormal periods in Earth’s climate history at all. I was able to investigate the different drivers of climate by examining data through proxies and historical accounts. Study of the Maunder Minimum can help to better understand the drivers of short term climate variability.
AUMI: Music Composition for the Disabled
Pamela Arroyo
Anna Rubin, Music
Pauline Oliveros, an important figure in the development of experimental music, was an American composer, author, performer and philosopher. The focus throughout her career was to push across boundaries and abilities, to create an all-inclusive community to experience a creative, richer life more in tune with the harmonies of the world. She is known for the development of Deep Listening and the development of an innovative software interface, Adaptive Use Musical Instruments (AUMI) Deep Listening as described by Pauline Oliveros is “listening in every possible way to everything possible to hear no matter what one is doing.” Through er research, deep listening experiences, and her desire of inclusivity, she developed AUMI, a software interface enabling anyone to play musical phrases and sounds through movement and gestures. It fosters improvisation through noise and pitches and can be used independently or with others. Although the interface is available to anyone, it’s focus has primarily been with children with profound disabilities. I will explore the development and principals of AUMI, the relationship between Deep Listening and the AUMI project, and the effects of the program on its participants, showing the benefits of her work.
Optimizing delivery of CRISPR/Cas9 and sgRNA vectors via electroporation into Chlamydomonas reinhardtii
Holly Asbury, Rudolph Park
Stephen Miller, Biological Sciences
CRISPR/Cas9 is a gene editing system used for highly targeted gene alterations. The Hegemann laboratory at Humboldt University of Berlin in Germany has published a well-documented protocol for CRISPR/Cas9 electroporation in the model green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, that involves cotransformation of two plasmids: one encoding Cas9 endonuclease, and the other encoding single guide RNA (sgRNA) and paromomycin resistance. They chose to disrupt the phytoene synthase-1 gene (PSY1), which results in white colonies, meaning that successfully mutated clones/colonies can be visually distinguished from green wild type colonies. We attempted to replicate their protocol using a more standard, widely-available electroporator that cannot execute the wave pattern described in the published protocol, to make the protocol more accessible to other researchers. Using the same Cas9 and sgRNA plasmids as the Hegemann group and electroporation conditions that best matched their conditions, we obtained white colonies, though at a much lower rate than they did. We will attempt some minor modifications to improve our gene editing efficiency and will use this protocol in the future to target genes related to carbon capture. Our overall goal is to increase carbon fixation efficiency in order to develop strains that are more efficient for biofuel synthesis.
These results were obtained with support from an REU supplement to award NSF-EFRI-1332344 from the National Foundation Directorate for Engineering (ENG) Office of Emerging Frontiers in Research and Innovation (EFRI), made to SMM.
Quantitatively Modeling Distribution of Chemoattractants in a Heterogeneous Tissue Using Simplified Geometries
Katherine Atwell, Jessie Cooley
Bradford Peercy, Mathematics and Statistics
Cell cluster migration is a key function in living organisms. In order to better understand how this process occurs in human bodies, we study Drosophila melanogaster, more commonly known as fruit flies, for a simplistic and easily observable template for cell cluster migration. The goal is to improve a pre-existing model of the cell migration created using MATLAB. The current code creates the egg chamber then uses a partial differential equation (PDE) to simulate the diffusion of chemoattractants across the egg chamber of the fruit fly. This chemoattractant then triggers a cluster migration of polar and border cells through the chamber full of nurse cells. As the current model is very complex, models were developed to quantitatively resemble and test the extremely small extracellular space between the nurse cells and the epithelium, the outer wall of the egg chamber. Although the geometry is not complex, the quantitative spacing of the drosophila egg chamber is reflected in these models. These simplified geometric models test numerical solutions without the complexity of ridged cells.
Settling (Down) For Less: How Housing Values and Rent Affect Latino Population Growth in America’s Most Populous Cities
Evan Avila
Carolyn Forestiere, Political Science
Are uncontrolled gentrification and skyrocketing rent significant factors in where Latino households are settling down when it comes to America’s biggest cities? As Latino populations and spending power continue to increase at a tremendous pace, it is increasingly important to understand where these households are settling down and why. Since the Great Recession, Latino households have had it hard because many Latino families bought houses right before the market crash due to widespread predatory lending practices. Many are bouncing back but as middle and lower class families increasingly are shut out of housing markets, some may need to leave the neighborhoods they have called home. Through a combination of bivariate analysis, regression analysis, and case studies, it is shown that high median owner-occupied housing values have been associated with low Latino population growth in America’s biggest cities from 2010 to 2015. The median rent level of a city was shown to be insignificant in the matter. This analysis has important insights for how the cities of the future will maintain their vibrant diversity and keep Latino neighborhoods intact.
Strata: Layers in Space and Time
Emma Ayala
Corrie Parks, Visual Arts
“Strata” is a synonym for layers, and Strata Animation is an animation technique where cells are successively placed so that many frames are visible at once. Strata animation is relatively new; it was first explored by animator Javan Ivey in 2007. I have experimented with this technique since I took ART488, the Handcrafted Animation special topics class, two years ago. Initially, a 9 second animation took 25 hours to complete—since then, I have built multiple rigs, learned to use a laser cutter, and developed multiple registration techniques in order to expedite the process. Additionally, I have employed variable and expressive lighting to add color to my animation, which is a new development for the medium of. I intend to show a rough cut of my senior project film, Monsterance, in which my exploration of handdrawn animation, animated objects, and strata animation are culminated.
This work was funded, in part, through an Undergraduate Research Award from the UMBC Division of Academic Affairs.
Design and Analysis of Hydrogels to Protect Biosensors from Enzyme-Catalysed Degradation
Peter Bailer, Howard Nicholson III1, Laura Simpson1
1Chemical, Biochemical, and Environmental Engineering, UMBC
Jennie Leach, Chemical, Biochemical, and Environmental Engineering
Surface bound electrochemical aptamer-based (E-AB) biosensors, synthesized from small RNA and DNA aptamers, can provide a platform for effective monitoring of the concentration of therapeutic drugs. These sensors are susceptible to catalysed degradation by RNAse, therefore E-AB biosensors must be amply protected from degradation before they can be marketed for long-term use. The biosensors react with target molecules smaller than 700 g/mol. Based on previous work in the lab, we chose to make protective hydrogels out of two materials: collagen and crosslinked polyethylene glycol (PEG). Collagen will be layered on the sensor surface first because its large mesh size allows the biosensors to properly bind to the target molecule. PEG hydrogel will be layered on top of the collagen because its smaller mesh size should minimize RNAse from diffusing and degrading the biosensors. To test hydrogel mesh size permeability, we measured the amount of myoglobin, a protein of similar but smaller size than RNAse, that had diffused out of the hydrogel and into the surrounding phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) solution. As of now, we have begun to optimize the experimental protocol for measuring myoglobin release from the gels.
This work was funded, in part, through an Undergraduate Research Award from the UMBC Division of Academic Affairs.
Impact of Pornography and Gay Dating Apps on the Mental Health of Men Who Have Sex With Men
Steven Bailey
Shuyen Sun, Psychology
Online pornography and dating apps are used for a variety of reasons, ranging from online sexual exploration, connecting with other potential sexual partners, and engaging in both online and offline sexual activity. Recent research has suggested that prolonged use (over five hours a week) of use of online pornography can lead to increased rates of psychopathology, especially depression and low self-esteem. This connection is particularly common among gay and bisexual men, or MSM (Men Who Have Sex With Men). Through an extensive literature review, this study summarizes the empirical evidence of the connection between use of pornography and gay dating apps among gay and bisexual men. Preliminary analyses of 35 articles suggest that there seems to be a medium-sized correlation between the use of gay dating apps and the rise of sexual compulsivity, risk of psychological harm resulting from discrimination, and risk of eating disorders among MSM. These empirical data are imperative in understanding the risks faced by gay and bisexual men. They could inform the development of interventions for gay and bisexual men adversely affected by online pornography and gay dating apps and spur further research in this population.
Design and Implementation of a Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation Home Therapy Robot
Aakash Bajpai
Joel Burdick, Mechanical Engineering
The spinal cord is an essential electrochemical mechanical system in vertebrates. Affliction to this system can carry large physical, social, and financial burdens for people worldwide. Previous work has made great progress with the spinal stimulation, where an electrode is inserted in the lumbosacral region and stimulated. These therapies have shown promise when accompanied by physical therapy in a hospital environment. Due to difficulties in transport, ease of use, and desire for comfort; a stand frame for home training use is preferable. Additionally, evidence shows the central nervous system is likely to encode complex motor activity into low-dimensional units called muscle synergies. To investigate this, perturbations will be imposed on the patient to excite and find these supposed synergies. This study proposes a home rehabilitation system for stand training. It is designed to have integrated sensors, a low-profile tilting novel mechanism, and a small footprint to fit within patient’s homes.
This investigation was supported in part by Southern Edison and a MARC Undergraduate Student Training in Academic Research National Research Service Award (NSRA) Institutional Research Training Grant (2T34 GM008663) from the National Institutes of Health, National Institute for General Medical Sciences.
Mosquito-borne Illness Following Hurricane Harvey
Haley Bast
J Lee Jenkins, Emergency Health Services
In recent years, extreme storms like Hurricane Harvey, that made landfall in Texas in August 2017, have been increasing in both frequency and intensity. These storms often cause flooding, resulting in large amounts of standing water, which provides an ideal environment for disease-carrying mosquitoes to breed. Mosquitos are known to be vectors of multiple diseases such as Malaria, Dengue Fever, Zika Virus, and Chikungunya. Furthermore, the potential loss of shelter and resources after a disaster may increase the risk of exposure to disease-carrying mosquitoes, thus potentially increasing the prevalence of vector-borne illnesses among this population. The purpose of this study is to examine the correlation between flooding in four major counties throughout Texas after Hurricane Harvey and the prevalence of mosquito-borne illnesses among individuals in those counties. Research has shown that increased water levels correlate with a rising mosquito population. Therefore, it is predicted that counties with significant flood water levels will have an increased prevalence of vector-borne diseases after hurricane Harvey as compared to pre-disaster prevalence levels.
This work was funded, in part, through an Undergraduate Research Award from the UMBC Division of Academic Affairs.
Paving the Path – Scaffolding Instruction to Improve Claim-Evidence-Reasoning Responses
Monica Batterden
Jonathan Singer, Education
An essential skill in many disciplines, especially science, is the ability to make a valid claim that is supported by evidence and reasoning. This research project focuses on scaffolded instruction to improve the quality of Claim-Evidence-Reasoning (CER) responses in a standard level 9th grade Biology class in an urban high school. Direct instruction, as well as a scaffolded workshop day were provided to instruct students on how to formulate ideal CER responses. Scaffolded instruction followed a gradual release method, where exemplary responses were modeled first, then each of the following responses released more responsibility on the student to complete. Student responses were critiqued to provide constructive feedback to improve future responses. Data is collected from student responses on both CER workshop days and lab activity conclusions. Quality of student responses is graded according to a 5-point rubric. Preliminary data shows that the aforementioned method of instruction improved scores significantly after one workshop day however data collection is ongoing.
When Axes are Allies: Overcoming Misconceptions in Analysis of Graphical Data
Nicholas Bazemore
Jonathan Singer, Education
The ability to interpret and present data clearly and coherently is an important life skill with major relevance in and outside the biology classroom. Understanding graphical information in particular is important for students to discover trends and analyze data as a whole. The objective of this project is to increase students’ ability to analyze graphical information through instruction based on a flow chart support model. Student ability in interpreting data will be improved by modeling a clear and organized set of steps. This research focuses on developing the ability of 22 Honors Biology students in a suburban high school to analyze graphical information. The effectiveness of this project will be determined by observing student growth on multiple assessments over a two month period. These assessments will be scored using a standardized school district assessment (The Office of Science Constructed Response Rubric). Preliminary findings show that students scored an average of 2.05 with a median score of 2.
Does Internalized Stigma Moderate the Association between Anxious Symptoms and Sickle Cell Disease Pain?
Nicholas Bellamy
Shawn Bediako, Psychology
Sickle cell disease (SCD) is the world’s most common genetic blood disorder and is characterized by episodes of severe pain. Recent studies have shown a link between SCD pain and anxiety, but little is known about the influence of other psychosocial factors. We evaluated the potential moderating effect of internalized stigma (i.e., negative personal feelings about having SCD) on the association between anxious symptoms and pain episode frequency in a sample of 69 adults (35 female; mean age = 35.4 years) attending a comprehensive SCD clinic. Bivariate correlation analyses showed a positive association only between anxious symptoms and pain frequency (r=0.40, p<.05). The test of moderation was non-significant (b=-0.001, p=.54); only the main effect of anxious symptoms on SCD pain frequency (b=0.03, p<.005) was observed. These results indicate that anxious symptoms are strongly associated with SCD pain frequency and that internalized stigma does not play a moderating role. Further study is needed to elucidate the mechanisms of anxiety that influence clinical aspects of SCD pain.
Dendritic Delivery System for Chemotherapy Drug Cisplatin
Siya Bhagat
Marie-Christine Daniel, Chemistry and Biochemistry
Ideal drug treatment for cancer requires that cancer cells be targeted with high efficiency, accuracy, and potency. Current treatment for cancer metastasis consists largely of chemotherapy drugs. However, due to its nonspecificity, many healthy cells are detrimentally affected, limiting its overall use. Drug delivery systems, specifically gold nanoparticles, have the potential to selectively target cancer cells and deliver a controlled yet potent dosage of chemotherapy drugs. In the overall project, gold nanoparticles are functionalized with branched molecules called dendrons that are terminated with chemotherapy drugs, imaging tags and antibodies, forming an overall multifunctional dendrimer. This project specifically focuses on the attachment of chemotherapy drugs to a dendron that will become part of the drug delivery vehicle. Diaqua cisplatin, a modified chemotherapy drug, was synthesized and subsequently coupled to second generation dendron TA-TEG-G2COOH. Structural integrity was evaluated using mass spectrometry (MS) and proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR). Although initial data shows that the dendritic delivery system is highly stable, payload capability and potential for cytosolic delivery need to be determined with further studies.
This work was funded, in part, through an Undergraduate Research Award from the UMBC Division of Academic Affairs.
A Software Tool for the Curation of Planarian Gene Expression Patterns
Junaid Bhatti, Joy Roy
Daniel Lobo, Biological Sciences
Scientists have been captivated by the regenerative capabilities of the planarian flatworm, which can regenerate a complete body from almost any amputation. During the last centuries, their regenerative prowess has been studied worldwide through experiments designed to unravel the mechanisms behind regulation of regeneration. However, the literature describing expression patterns is dispersed over many sources, including hundreds of papers, each with unique subjects and description styles of the results. In order to aid the regeneration community, we developed Plangex, a freely-available resource to centralize and standardize planarian expression patterns currently disseminated in the literature. As part of this effort, we have created the Plangex curation software tool, which allows to formalize unambiguously information about planarian gene expression patterns and the experiments to obtain them, including immunochemistry and in situ hybridization techniques and their resultant microscopy images. This software tool also curates information regarding morphology, species, and any additional comments of interest for the community. Importantly, information curated in Plangex will not only be a useful resource for scientists studying regeneration, but will allow the application of automated artificial intelligence techniques to infer mechanistic knowledge about planarian regeneration from this huge dataset.
National Science Foundation (NSF) under award #1566077.
Multifunctional Hydroxyapatites: Design of Materials for Bone and Laser Host Applications
Jayati Bhavsar
Narsingh Singh, Chemistry and Biochemistry; Bradley Arnold, Department of Chemistry, UMBC
Hydroxyapatites are well known for their applications as laser host materials. Czochralksi and flux growth methods have been utilized to achieve single crystals of these materials. For several years, we have developed low temperature processing methods for preparing multinary oxides for applications including soft and hard bone materials and novel large wide bandgap materials. To achieve the desired morphologies, we utilized organic melt processing which oriented the crystalline grains by directional solidification. These organic treated materials have different characteristics than coarsened oxide materials. Our approach involved low temperature processing using nanoengineered powders of the material system MgO-Na2O-K2O-CaO-SrO-SiO2 inaddition to titanate, and borates materials were processed by sintering and grain growth. Our results indicate that substitution of calcium and strontium with some other elements such as gallium and magnesium have great potential for bone replacement. In this presentation we will discuss the correlation between the micromorphology and the performance parameters of these oxides.
This work was funded, in part, through an Undergraduate Research Award from the UMBC Division of Academic Affairs.
Improving Argumentative Writing of FrenchIV Honors Students
Bernadette Bidime Ewane
Linda Oliva, Education
This study investigated the effect of specific teaching strategies on the writing performance of high school students on argumentative essays. The subjects were twenty-eight diverse French IV students in a suburban high school. The instructional strategies that were employed focused on: content knowledge about the subject, organization of the thesis, defense of the position, syntax, and grammar. Baseline data were collected at the beginning of the marking period on a writing task in which students argued for the artistic styles such as impressionism, classic, and modern arts. A four-point rubric was used to reveal differences in writing performance from the baseline task and the summative assessment.
This work was funded, in part, through an Undergraduate Research Award from the UMBC Division of Academic Affairs.
Brain Responses to Different Forms of Pain in Female Migraineurs
Jessica Black, Jing Zhang1, David A. Seminowicz1
1UMB, Pain and Neural Sciences
Raimi Quiton, Psychology
Migraine is a debilitating neurological condition associated with abnormal activity in cortical pain networks, including possible hypersensitivity in the trigeminal pain pathway. By applying painful heat stimuli to the face (which activates the trigeminal pathway), we induced a migraine-like pattern of activation in the brain to determine what areas are contributing to the abnormal functioning that results in migraines. Migraine is known to disproportionately affect women, with higher prevalence and more severe symptoms than in men. Despite this, there is a lack of information available on the female migraine experience. This study explored the neural activation patterns of female migraineurs and healthy controls in response to painful heat stimuli on the face and arm. We found that migraineurs showed greater activation in important parts of the cortical pain matrix (frontal gyrus, insular and cingulate cortices, and putamen) during stimulation of the face, while during painful arm stimulation, migraineurs showed less overall activation than controls with the exception of some areas (cingulate cortex, thalamus, and frontal gyrus). These novel findings reveal that pain is processed differently by the brains of migraineurs. This work may help provide greater insight to potential causes and symptoms of migraine.
This work was funded, in part, through an Undergraduate Research Award from the UMBC Division of Academic Affairs.
Improving Recombinant Human Erythropoietin Glycosylation using Microsome Supplementation in a CHO Cell-free System
Shayan Borhani, Aniruddha Rao
Chandrasekhar Gurramkonda, Chemical, Biochemical, and Environmental Engineering
Cell-Free Protein Synthesis (CFPS) offers many advantages for the production of recombinant therapeutic proteins using the CHO cell-free system. However, many complex proteins are still difficult to express using this method. In order to further optimize the production process, we chose erythropoietin (EPO) as an object of investigation, an essential endogenous hormone which stimulates the development of red blood cells. Using this method, EPO was expressed and purified with a twofold increase in yield when the cell-free reaction was supplemented with CHO microsomes. The protein was purified to near homogeneity using an ion-metal affinity column. We were able to analyze the expressed and purified products, positively identifying the presence of glycan moieties by a PNGase shift assay. The purified protein was predicted to have ∼2,300 IU in vitro activity. Additionally, we tested the presence and absence of sugars on the cell-free EPO using a lectin-based assay system. The results obtained in this study indicated that microsomes augmented in vitro production of the glycoprotein and was useful for the rapid production of a single dose of a therapeutic glycoprotein drug.
Defense Advanced Projects Research Agency
Madison Bramley
Doug Hamby, Dance
“Standing On Two Feet,” the product of my research, premiered in UMBC’s First Works concert Fall of 2017. While there are many purposes to create a dance spectacle for an audience, what I find most interesting is when dance portrays an idea that would otherwise be an uncomfortable subject for everyday conversation. By utilizing human movement and body language, we can create a wider range of expression. I began my research with a focus on morality and altruism. The object of the study was to identify how many different ways a person might react to, or deal with a scenario as it is instigated. During my time in the fall 2017, I studied the basics of personal interaction, snap judgments, and coping mechanisms. The purpose of the study was to take a quick reaction, and elongate it into a visual representation that that would allow an audience to analyze it subjectively. This research provides an introduction of dance’s ability to interpret what would normally be a passing moment, into a larger depiction. Further analysis and research concerning this topic is necessary to determine the significance of the subject as this represents only a narrow range of circumstantial outcomes.
Urban Heat Islands and the Great American Eclipse
Peter Braunschweig
Jeffery Halverson, Geography and Environmental Systems
The urban heat island effect is a phenomenon in which, due to human activity, cities exhibit higher temperatures than their surroundings, especially at night. The goal of this study is to determine whether the heat island effect is similarly pronounced during a total solar eclipse. During the “Great American Eclipse” on August 21, 2017, surface temperature data was collected from weather stations across Missouri, focusing on the city of St. Louis and the surrounding area. Temperature measurements were made every five minutes from 1700 UTC to 2000 UTC. Additionally, weather balloons were used to collect data from higher in the atmosphere, with multiple launches across three different launch sites. The change in temperature near St. Louis was compared to the change in temperature in nearby suburban and rural environments. Our studies so far confirm more cooling in rural areas than in the St. Louis area. We expect that these results could be useful to improve weather forecasting for these rare astronomical events.
This work was funded, in part, through an Undergraduate Research Award from the UMBC Division of Academic Affairs.
The Freedom to Boycott: An analysis of state interactions between BDS movements and Israel.
Jordan Brown
Laura Hussey, Political Science
My research paper explored the motives behind states’ increased legislation against Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movements and its correlation with the strength of states’ connections with Israel. My first hypothesis stated that if a state has economic investments with Israel, it will be more likely to adopt anti-BDS legislation, so to avoid interruptions with a prominent trading entity. My second hypothesis stated that the percentage of Jewish residents would correlate with the likelihood of having anti-BDS laws, because the larger a group within a population is, the more representation said group has to influence policy within the state. I compared the percentage of the Jewish population, exports to Israel in 2015, and the gross domestic product in 2015 of 13 states against whether or not each state had anti-BDS legislation. My findings suggested that higher rates of Jewish residency and economic investment in Israel both increase the probability that states will pass anti-BDS legislation. The research also provided a qualitative analysis of the legislation’s motivations and its likely effects on 1st amendment rights. This research is important to inform the general public of the implications of enacted legislative bans and current proposals being presented nationwide as well as possible solutions.
Joshua Budd, Natalia Mitiuriev, Chris Hamer, Jess Brackett
Eric Jordan, Visual Arts
Created in the Capstone Games Group Project course, Project Fadoodle is a multiplayer third person 3D platformer where the players have to work together to solve puzzles and advance through the level. Using a three-dimensional space, the player controls two characters as they solve environmental puzzles and travel around the said environment. The nature of 3D modelling and programming makes this project a difficult task to take on for both the artists and the programmers. The artists were challenged with creating efficient models that correspond with level design and properly rigged character models. The programmer had the difficult responsibility of making the characters and assets work within the game itself, and additionally code the different interactions between the two playable characters and within their environment. A few of the interactions that the players will face include: throwing one player across a gap to advance, shrinking in order to fit through small gaps, growing in size to jump and reach unreachable heights, and collaborating with each other’s varying abilities in order to progress.
The Effect of High Fat Diet on Stress Response and Resiliency: A Test with Drosophila
Tonya Burge, Ifeoma Azinge
Jeff Leips, Biological Sciences
The aim of this experiment is to test the effects of differences in diet on stress and resiliency with respect to age. We are also examining the effect of a drug called Entresto, on age-specific stress responses and asking if dietary fat influences the response to this drug, using the model organism, Drosophila melanogaster. We will rear flies on a high and low fat diet and test the influence of diet on the ability to recover from cold stress with age. The purpose of this is to emulate typical low and high fat human diets. We will also add a commonly prescribed drug for hypertension, Entresto, to each diet to test its effect on stress response and resiliency. The flies will be put on their respective diets for one week. Two groups of flies will be used, the first group will be younger flies and the second group will be older flies. Both groups will be stress tested and their resiliency will be tested in subsequent weeks. Our results will provide insight into the role of diet on the ability to recover from stress and the potential benefit of Entresto to enhance stress response and resiliency.
Investigation of Neuropsin (OPN5) Deactivation Mechanisms
Thomas Burnett
Phyllis Robinson, Biological Sciences
Neuropsin (OPN5) is a membrane receptor and part of the G-Protein Coupled Receptor (GPCR) superfamily. OPN5 is expressed in the mammalian retina and is responsible for photoentrainment of the retinal circadian rhythm. OPN5 is maximally activated by light with wavelengths in the blue (417nm) and UV-A (360nm). As a Gi-coupled receptor, OPN5 has been shown to activate the MAP Kinase pathway and trigger intracellular release of Ca2+. While the processes of activation and action have been described elsewhere, little is known of OPN5’s deactivation mechanism. Based on its relation to other GPCRs, we hypothesize that OPN5 undergoes endocytosis for desensitization. To investigate this, we constructed a plasmid with an epitope-tagged human OPN5. The plasmid was amplified in E. coli, then transfected into HEK293 cells for expression. Expression of OPN5 was evaluated via fluorescence microscopy and Western blot analysis. Protein association with OPN5 necessary for desensitization is being investigated using mass spectrometry, fluorescence microscopy, and Western Blot analysis. Our data suggests that OPN5 uses an endocytosis-mediated desensitization pathway.
This investigation was funded, in part, by NIH/NIGMS MARC U*STAR T3408663 National Research Service Award to UMBC, NIH Grant 5RO1EY027202-02, and the Undergraduate Research Award from the UMBC Division of Academic Affairs.
Effect of Environmental Sand and Light Coloring on Reflectance of Neogonodactylus oerstedii
Anya Byrd
Tom Cronin, Biological Sciences
The Caribbean stomatopod crustacean Neogonodactylus oerstedii displays many colors and shades. We wanted to learn whether or not the reflectance spectrum, which determines color, of this mantis shrimp species changes with the coloring of its environment. To do this, we placed different individuals in tanks with varying colors of sand on which to live (blue, orange, green and white) along with a colored light filter to go around the tank (light blue, dark blue, orange, and green). Clear plastic wrap was used for individuals on white sand, to serve as controls. Weekly reflectance readings were taken on various parts of the body (carapace, thorax, abdomen, and telson) and graphed using Excel. Based on previous experimental results, we do not expect individuals to match backgrounds precisely. However, we do expect there to be differences in change over time between sexes, sand color-type, and body area. We also expect there to be dramatic color changes, should individuals molt during this experiment.
This work was funded, in part, through an Undergraduate Research Award from the UMBC Division of Academic Affairs.
Investigating the Role of Yes-Associated Protein (YAP) in Matastasis
Bryanna Canales
Richard Hynes, MIT
The most threatening aspect of cancer is metastasis, which is responsible for the majority of cancer-associated deaths. Our lab has previously shown that Yes Associated Protein (YAP) can promote metastasis in mice. YAP is regulated by the Hippo pathway, which plays a key role in regulating organ size, proliferation, survival, and differentiation. When the Hippo pathway is off, YAP can bind to the TEAD family of transcription factors to regulate over 1800 genes. However, it is unclear which of these genes are contributing to metastasis. We over-expressed an activated form of YAP in A375 human melanoma cells. After confirming that YAP enhanced their metastasis in our zebrafish model, our goal was to better understand how YAP might be promoting metastasis. We observed that, following intravenous injection, cells were better able to escape the tail vasculature upon YAP-AA overexpression. Additionally, YAP-AA overexpression increased cell migration in transwell migration assays. We performed immunofluorescence and western blot analysis to investigate if YAP was enhancing migration through cytoskeletal components. Though there were no obvious differences in cytoskeletal components, future directions are to look at cell stiffness and assay F:G action rations in order to more clearly understand how YAP might be promoting metastasis.
This investigation was sponsored by NIH/NIGMS MARC U*STAR T34 12463 National Research Service Award.
Developing a Bioreactor to Increase Organ Lifespan
Ricardo Cardoza, Olaoluwa Akinsola
Gymama Slaughter, Computer Science and Electrical Engineering
In transplanting organs, time is crucial. With the current organ preservation methods, the lifespan of organs can vary depending on the organ but still leaves minimal response time from obtaining the organ to surgery. This research is aimed to develop a bioreactor which will extend the lifespan of organs for transplant. The bioreactor uses a solution that mimics the conditions of the human body to preserve the organ. The solution will be monitored using electrodes which cannot come in contact with the biological material, in order to keep them separated a device needed to be developed to hold the four working electrodes. These electrodes are vital to gather data on the circulating fluid. The bioreactor itself holds four misters that are used to lightly moisturize the organ to keep it preserved while preventing swelling caused by soaking. It also holds various outputs to enable the organ to receive electrical stimulation to further preserve the organ. The organ that is used for testing is rat tissue and these devices have gone through many alterations to make the bioreactor more viable. Further testing needs to be done to determine any potential issues that could occur before moving on to more sensitive organs.
This investigation was sponsored by NIH/NIGMS MARC U*STAR T3408663 National Research Service Award to UMBC.
Black Radio: The Robert Glasper Experiment
Ellington Carthan
Anna Rubin, Music
Robert Glasper is an American pianist and producer who in 2012 won a Grammy for his album Black Radio. This album is notable due to its usage of Fender Rhodes, acoustic piano, electronic and acoustic drums. Black Radio is a brilliant blend of jazz sensibilities and harmonies with modern electronic instruments, vocal processing, audio engineering, and acoustic sounds. Throughout the album, he uses elements of musique concrete, the classic recording technique of everyday sound first developed in the 1940s. Furthermore, Glasper draws inspiration from Miles Davis as a foundational figure. I will describe in detail the ways in which Glasper’s work breaks musical, social, and cultural barriers through his approach to electronic sound and processing.
Development of Fast Reconstruction Techniques for Prompt Gamma Imaging during Proton Radiotherapy
Johnlemuel Casilag, Aniebiet Jacob
Matthias Gobbert, Mathematics and Statistics
Proton beam radiation treatment was first proposed by Robert Wilson in 1946. The advantage of proton beam radiation is that the lethal dose of radiation is delivered by a sharp increase toward the end of the beam range. This sharp increase, known as the Bragg peak, allows for the possibility of reducing the exposure of healthy tissue to radiation when comparing to x-ray radiation treatment. As the proton beam interacts with the molecules in the body, gamma rays are emitted. The origin of the gamma rays gives the location of the proton beam in the body, therefore, gamma-ray imaging allows physicians to better take advantage of the benefits of proton beam radiation. These gamma rays are detected using a Compton Camera (CC) while the SOE algorithm is used to reconstruct images of these gamma rays as they are emitted from the patient. This imaging occurs while the radiation dose is delivered, which would allow the physician to make adjustments in real time in the treatment room, provided the image reconstruction is computed fast enough. This project focuses on speeding up the image reconstruction software with the use of parallel computing techniques involving MPI.
This work was funded, in part, by the NSA.
Do State Political Party and Past Participation of Women in State Legislature Predict Future Participation?
Morgan Chadderton
Carolyn Forestiere, Political Science
How do the percentage of women in 2012 state legislature andstate political party influence the percentage of women in 2016 state legislature? Understanding the variation among political parties and representation of women in state legislature allows for a better understanding of the relationships between these groups. In addition, understanding the relationship between the women in 2012 and 2016 state legislatures provides interesting insight into the factors influencing the representation of women in these legislatures. Using a mixed-methods approach and a most similar systems design, combining quantitative analysis of data from online sources with 2 hypothesis-testing case studies of Arizona and Mississippi, it was found that Republican states are more likely to have a smaller percentage of women in state legislature than Democrat states. Additionally, it was found that states with a high percentage of women in 2012 state legislature are more likely to have a high percentage of women in 2016 state legislature than states with a low percentage of women in 2012 state. These results provide insight into the factors that enable women to win elections, which is increasingly valuable as more and more women enter the political field.
Exploring Functional Implications of Structural Differences in the Primer Binding Site (PBS) of the HIV Genome by Using Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) Spectroscopy
Issac Chaudry
Michael Summers, Chemistry and Biochemistry
The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) affects over thirty million people worldwide, and is the causative agent for acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). The viral RNA genome folds to a monomer or dimer conformation contingent on the 5′ leader region. The monomer functions as mRNA that codes for viral proteins while the dimer is packaged as the genomic material in new virions. Following infection, the dimeric conformation must be reverse transcribed before integrated into the DNA-based host genome. Host tRNALys3 attaches to a region known as the primer binding site (PBS) in the 5’ leader where it functions as the primer for the reverse transcriptase enzyme. The monomer and the dimer have identical sequences, so it is conceivable that structural differences promote tRNALys3 binding to the dimer. The structures of the monomer and dimer conformations have been shown using NMR spectroscopy to be significantly different; however, the PBS region has not been fully solved. We have designed truncated PBS-only RNA oligomers that have been confirmed by NMR to conform to the PBS structure in the full length leader, and these oligomers will be used to solve the structure of PBS and to prepare gel binding studies that test the affinity of tRNALys3.
This investigation was sponsored by NIH/NIGMS MARC U*STAR T3408663 National Research Service Award to UMBC.
A Centralized Database and Website of Planarian Gene Expression Pattern
Eric Cheung, Abraar Muneem, Junaid Bhatti, Joy Roy
Daniel Lobo, Biological Sciences
The planarian flatworm is known for its remarkable regenerative ability and has emerged as a regeneration model organism for biologists worldwide. Scientists have conducted studies to identify the precise expression of many genes to better understand the underlying regenerative biological mechanisms of the planarian flatworm. Genome sequencing has provided further insight on how certain genes function and regulate neoblast proliferation and differentiation during regeneration. Despite the numerous studies, there remains no centralized database that contains all published patterns of gene expression for the different planarian species, which hinders our ability to extract comprehensive knowledge. A central repository with standardized gene expression is needed for better understanding of the regenerative properties of planaria. Here, we present a novel database, Plangex, that formalizes gene expression patterns in planarian worms. Information curated into Plangex is accessible in a user-friendly website that allows any scientist to navigate and search the dataset. The website is a public repository for gene expression patterns in planaria, including Schmidtea mediterranea and Dugesia japonica. Any user can locate and search for publications, expression patterns, and other supplementary planarian references. This centralized resource will accelerate the discovery of the planarian key regulatory mechanisms responsible for their outstanding regenerative capacity.
This work is partially supported by the National Science Foundation under award #1566077.
Methods of Disseminating Researches on Health Information Technology to Stakeholders
Min Cho
Gunes Koru, Information Systems
Conducting research is very important, but disseminating research findings is also crucial to serve the society. In order to find the approaches to effectively and efficiently disseminate health IT research, we must first identify to whom we are trying to disseminate research to. We used textbooks, reliable online resources, and researches to identify who the stakeholders are and analyze the stakeholders to better understand how and for what they utilize health information technology. We also identified and analyzed types of methods to disseminate research. The sources indicated that the stakeholders range from a variety of groups: clinical healthcare providers, healthcare administrative providers, and federal and state governments. The sources also indicated numerous types of dissemination: sending messages via organizations, social media, websites, e-mail, mail, and conferences. Although there are many types of dissemination, depending on the target, a slight difference in the effectiveness exists.
Freight Shipment Monitoring Device (FSMD)
Lillie Cimmerer, Dominick Kroupa, Michael Daugherty, Andrew Ecker, Yu Fu
Charles Laberge, Computer Science and Electrical Engineering
Upon the receipt of sensitive equipment, a significant amount of equipment failure has been noticed. One possible cause of these failures may be destructive or damaging handling during the shipment process. To determine if this was the cause of the damages, the Freight Shipment Monitoring Device (FSMD) was designed for NovaTech, a process solutions company that creates their own hardware and software. NovaTech has been experiencing issues with receiving malfunctioning hardware. This device was implemented to actively monitor vibration intensity and duration, and package orientation during shipments. If the shipment experienced potentially threatening vibration intensities or durations, the vibration data was recorded and stored on the device. Also if the device detected tipping or falling, the data was recorded and stored. If any of these events occurred, the data was timestamped and the location was recorded using GPS. After the shipment, if the recipient noticed damages, they were able to send the data to NovaTech for analysis. The data was either mailed electronically or physically to NovaTech.
This work was funded, in part by the Department of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering.
Pathway Networks Generated from Human Disease Phenome
Ann Cirincione
Maricel Kann, Biological Sciences
Understanding the effect of human genetic variations on disease can provide insight into phenotype-genotype relationships and improve the effectiveness of personalized medicine. While some genetic markers linked to disease susceptibility have been identified, a large number are still unknown. Here, we propose a pathway-based approach to extend disease-variant associations and find new molecular connections between genetic mutations and diseases. We compiled over 80,000 human genetic variants with known disease associations from the Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM), Clinical Variance database (ClinVar), Universal Protein Resource (UniProt), and Human Gene Mutation Database (HGMD). Furthermore, we used the Unified Medical Language System (UMLS) to normalize variant phenotype terminologies, mapping 87 percent of variants to disorder concepts. Lastly, variants were grouped by UMLS Medical Subject Heading (MeSH) identifiers to determine pathway enrichment in Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways. Subsequent linking of KEGG pathways through underlying variant associations helped to elucidate connections between the variant-based disease phenome and metabolic pathways, suggesting novel disease connections not otherwise produced through gene-level analysis. We found many complex diseases, such as cancer, to be highly linked by common pathways. This study constitutes an important contribution to extending disease-variant connections and new molecular links between diseases.
This investigation was sponsored by NIH/NIGMS MARC U*STAR T3408663 National Research Service Award to UMBC.
Jolee Cohen
Eve Muson, Theatre
This project involves the honing of a theatrical craft via new materials, techniques, teachers, and environments. I spent a month in London, UK, at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, studying in their Shakespeare Short Course. There, I was introduced to classical acting and research techniques for working with and performing Shakespeare. These techniques came from classes, rehearsals, and performances surrounding voice, stage combat, movement, dance, and textual analysis. All of it culminated in a final performance of the play As You Like It on my last day of the course. That process continued when I took what I learned and implemented it into my performance work in UMBC's recent production of Twelfth Night, as well as using it to help others around me in the production when necessary.
This work was funded, in part, by the Linehan Summer Research Award from the Linehan Artist Scholars Program, as well as through an Undergraduate Research Award from the UMBC Division of Academic Affairs.
Ryan Coleman, Samuel Enomanna, Yorick Cobb, Kevin Stumme
Eric Jordan, Visual Arts
Created as part of the Team-based Game Development course at UMBC, Steel Giants is a three-dimensional robot beat them up. Built in the Unity game engine, Steel Giants uses dynamic physics and methodical pacing to evoke a sense of scale in fights between giant robots. The project was approached with a focus on designing distinct characters and control schemes that rewarded practiced players. The programmer for the project had to learn to develop AI and physics interactions between the game objects, as well as script the player character’s behavior and animation transitions. The artists on the team had the opportunity to create both 3D and 2D assets, had to learn to prepare, and finally implement them in the Unity engine. Artists also had to familiarize themselves with Autodesk Maya’s animation tools and create motions that convey the robots’ size and weight in combat. This game project expanded both the Programmer and Artists’ skills and imagination.
The Impact of Parents’ Sacrifices on First-generation College sStudents’ Educational Utility Beliefs
Fatema Colombowala, Alison Cohen, Carly Compton, Brittany Gay
Susan Sonnenschein, Psychology
First-generation college students are less likely to graduate college within 6 years and more likely to drop out of college than their peers (Ishitani, 2006). Research has found that college students’ views of the importance and usefulness of education, or educational utility, is related to their academic persistence (Walsh & Robinson-Kurpuis, 2016). There remains a need to investigate what predicts students’ educational utility beliefs. One possible predictor is parents’ sacrifices (e.g., what parents do or go without so that their children can get an education). Easley et al. (2012) found that students stated that their parents’ sacrifices motivated them to do well in school. This study explored the sacrifices that college students recalled their parents making, whether the types of sacrifices differed based on first-generation college student status, and whether parents’ sacrifices differentially predicted the educational utility beliefs of first-generation and continuing-generation college students. Participants included 380 UMBC students who completed an online questionnaire. Although the types of parents’ sacrifices were similar for both groups, parents’ sacrifices only predicted the educational utility beliefs of first-generation college students. Qualitative differences in students’ responses may explain why the relation between sacrifice and educational utility varied by college-generation status.
Terrorists or Freedom Fighters? Media framing of the Kurdish Question
Carrie Cook
Brigid Starkey, Global Studies; Ian Anson, UMBC
The denial of a post-Ottoman, independent Kurdish state in the Middle East presents a puzzling case study to students of international relations. My research focuses on an important element of this rejection by Iran, Iraq, Syria and Turkey, where the majority of Kurds reside. Specifically, it centers on the image of the Kurdish people and their cause as portrayed by news outlets within the region. I examine how these disparate government regimes continue to sustain a negative public image of the Kurdish minority populations in their countries. This is accomplished through quantitative content analysis of the framing of the Kurds in articles appearing in state-run outlets. I identify certain key terms, themes, and images that pervade coverage from Tehran to Damascus. By focusing on subject, valence, and sources of information in each article, an analysis of the nature of the coverage is possible. It reveals a very different characterization of the Kurds than that which now appears in the West, where they have most recently been celebrated as heroes in the fight against ISIS.
The effect of press freedom and educational attainment on domestic terror in sub-Saharan Africa
Carrie Cook
Carolyn Forestiere, Political Science
Do press freedom and educational attainment influence acts of domestic terror? My research examined how and why these factors affect terror attacks, ideally adding to the existing literature that seeks to explain the factors behind terrorism, the study of which may prevent future incidents. Specifically, I examined states in sub-Saharan Africa, many of which experience disproportionately high levels of terror. Quantitative data for the 46 countries included in the analysis came from the Global Terrorism Database, the CIA World Factbook, and Reporters Without Borders. Two brief case studies of Benin and Somalia were also examined. Press freedom was found to have a significant effect: higher levels of press freedom were associated with fewer incidents of domestic terrorism. Despite theoretical expectations, the effect of educational attainment, measured by literacy rate in each country, was found insignificant in accounting for domestic terror.
John Corbett
Jonathon Singer, Education
A significant obstacle for HS student understanding in Physics is related to student knowledge of mathematics. Students need to know not only fundamental algebraic operations but also need to recognize how/when to apply the appropriate mathematics. The focus of this project was to examine using a problem-based teaching strategy for expanding students abilities to exercise appropriate algebraic processes. The sample population is a set of 125 honors students in 5 classes, of various backgrounds. Students were assessed based upon their ability to apply the needed math skill and whether they were able to apply the given skill correctly. Student growth was measured using two distinct measures, one related to algebraic operations and the second related to the appropriate application across quizzes/assessments. The measures employed a 5pt rubric. The primary strategy employed to support student growth was the integration of Problem-based learning. Students were encouraged to try and work their way through problems when faced with new situations. Preliminary observations show a weakness in students abilities to use these skills in new contexts.
Examining Electronic Level II HCPCS Applications in the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)
Alexis Couser, Chidera Agwu, Francesca Alvarez
Meryl Cozart, Sociology and Anthropology
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) have discussed allowing Level II Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) applicants to submit applications electronically. The purpose of this study was to examine the implications of electronic application submission and review, which differs from the current method of paper submission through the U.S. Postal Service. We utilized the beta testing method of qualitative data collection to evaluate electronic application submission. Furthermore, we included questionnaire data from CMS employees revealing their viewpoints towards the electronic applications. We included the positive projected outcomes of electronic submission and review, including improving cost-effectiveness and organization within the department, as well as the negative projected outcomes such as the need for increased cyber surveillance of proprietary information. This study gives insight into the way in which informatics can impact efficiency in the policy-making process. We aim to spark a broader conversation about informatics, cyber security, and health policy.
Monitoring Blood Biomarkers of Immune Responses before and after Therapy in a Mouse Melanoma Model
Nicole Couturier, Michael Zhang
Gregory Szeto, Chemical, Biochemical, and Environmental Engineering
T cells are a major component of the adaptive immune system that specifically direct an immune response to antigens (foreign substances) in the body. Tumor biopsies are commonly used to characterize how T cells respond in cancer, but this approach is often invasive and inconsistent and so an alternative method of analysis is needed. The purpose of this study is to discover signatures of T cell responses to stimulation and treatment to identify biomarkers in the blood that predict therapeutic outcomes. Here, biomarkers were measured in C57BL/6 mice that were injected subcutaneously with B16F10 melanoma tumor cells followed by combination immunotherapy treatment with intratumoral injections of CTLA-4 checkpoint blockade antibody with CpG oligonucleotide for two weeks. At the end of this period, tumor, blood, spleen, and lymph node samples were taken and analyzed using fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) to identify biomarkers and quantify T cell response.
This investigation was sponsored by NIH/NIGMS MARC U*STAR T3408663 National Research Service Award to UMBC.
Mosaics in the Byzantine Empire
Maegan Crew
Esther Read, Ancient Studies
Between the fourth and sixth century CE, Caesarea Maritima in Israel was an important Christian Center in the Byzantine Empire. Churches, other public buildings, and private spaces in the city were decorated with mosaics of tile and stone. These included mosaics used for floor decoration and as utilitarian floor coverings. Others were wall mosaics that included glass tesserae. The Byzantine Empire utilized specialized colored glass tesserae and gold backings on wall art to create a spiritual effect. Mosaics in the early Byzantine Empire typically depicted Christian motifs . The walls of Jewish synagogues were also decorated with mosaics featuring glass tesserae. My research will focus on artifact SP – 215 in the UMBC Spiro collection, a mosaic fragment defined by its unique blue glass tiles, known as tesserae. It is representative of mosaic wall art in Caesarea during the Byzantine period and the syncretic fusion of different cultural and ritual elements in the public and religious buildings of the city. This research will include a discussion of ancient religious mosaic art and how it conveyed ritual meanings to those viewing it. This work is part of an ongoing effort to add to our knowledge of the Spiro Collection.
Using Drosophila to validate candidate genes involved in human motoneurondegeneration
Abby Cruz, Ketu Mishra-Gorur1, Tanyeri Barak1, Murat Gunel1
1Department of Neurosurgery, Yale School of Medicine
Fernando Vonhoff, Biological Sciences
Motor neuron degeneration (MND) is considered one of the most common disorders of neurodegenerative diseases yet the genetic basis of MND remains poorly understood. In collaboration with the Gunel Lab at Yale School of Medicine, we aim to identify genes associated with MND. Sequencing data from MND patients have been analyzed using a computer-based algorithm, providing a list of candidate genes likely involved in human MND. We use the model system Drosophila melanogaster to examine whether these candidate genes are involved in degenerative processes in the fly central nervous system. Using specific RNAi constructs and the GAL4/UAS system, we knock down the expression of each candidate gene in motoneurons. Flight performance of control and RNAi flies was tested in flies of different ages (2, 10, and 30 days) to determine the effects of neurodegeneration. Preliminary data indicate that 16 out of 54 RNAi lines (which include 10 different genes) showed a motor deficit in 30 day old flies which was stronger than controls of the same age. Additionally, signs of lethality were observed in 7 RNAi lines. We are now testing whether anatomical effects of degeneration are visible in motoneuron dendrites and axonal terminals in knockdown animals compared to controls.
This investigation was sponsored by NIH/NIGMS MARC U*STAR T3408663 National Research Service Award to UMBC.
Routine Screening for Risky Drinking in a Psychology Training Clinic
Ely Cuff
Rebecca Schacht, Psychology
Among adults seeking mental health treatment, alcohol consumption is comorbid with mental illnesses, such as anxiety and depression. However, screening for alcohol use is not standard practice in training clinics. This study assessed drinking patterns among patients at the UMBC Psychology Training Clinic (N = 126). Questionnaires included the Beck Depression Inventory-II; Beck Anxiety Inventory; and the Alcohol Use and Disorders Identification Test-C (AUDIT). Mean age was 31.97 years (SD = 11.67). One-half (50%; n = 64) identified as White; the remainder identified as Black (33%; n = 42), or multiracial/other (17%; n = 22). About one-half (57%; n = 83) were nonstudents. Mean AUDIT score was 2.52 out of a possible 12 (SD = 2.45). Thirty-eight percent (n = 48) of scores were at or above the cutoff for hazardous drinking (4 for women; 3 for men). Additional analyses will assess correlations between AUDIT, BAI, and BDI scores; and differences based on student status. Many clients reported consuming potentially unsafe levels of alcohol. Routine screening for alcohol use in training clinics will enable providers to pinpoint dangerous drinking and discuss clients’ drinking goals to minimize adverse effects.
Implications regarding associations between drinking and mental health will be discussed.
Courtney Culp
Corrie Parks, Visual Arts
Color of Me is an abstract animated short, representing how I felt about my cultural identity as a child and how I embraced it as I grew up. In the story, a young girl notices the color of people around her and her lack thereof, so she embarks on a mission to obtain a color for herself. Only after several failed attempts does she realize that there are many people like her without color and is happy to belong.
The film was done using both traditional stop motion techniques and computer animation. I hand crafted and cut out every aspect of the film. I shot the majority of the footage at the stop motion station, filming with a green screen background to allow myself more manipulation when editing in PremierePro. I also used a program called Character Animate, which allowed me to build/rig a “puppet” in Photoshop. Character Animate also provided additional controls where I could change my facial expressions through my laptop camera for more fluid movement in the facial expressions of my character. This film allowed me to share a personal part of my life while also allowing the audience to make connections to their own lives as well.
The Influence of Islamic Science and Art on the Western World
Bruce Curry
Esther Doyle Read, Ancient Studies
The core of this project is a fragment of decorated tile found within the Spiro Collection. The artifact is an example of Iznik tile, which was produced in the Ottoman town of Iznik (now Turkey) between the fifteenth and seventeenth centuries. Production of Iznik ceramics was the result of demand for wares similar to expensive Chinese porcelains, which were traded along the silk roads. Iznik ceramics eventually became a commodity traded along the same routes. Just as tiles like this one spread throughout Europe and the Middle East, so too did the art, culture, and ideas of the society that created them. In particular, my research focuses on the scientific advancements of Islamic scholars and how their ideas were transported into the Western world along the same trade routes. By consulting a wide range of scholarly resources, I intend to explore both the artifact itself and the greater exchange of information that it represents. This research will also be used to improve documentation of the UMBC Spiro Collection as part of an ongoing effort to extensively study all of the artifacts contained within it.
Ralph Cyrus, Luwam Gebreyesus, Kevin Rapa
George Musgrove, History
The D.C. Black Power Movement Map is an effort to document the Black Power Movement started by the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee Legacy Project and UMBC Professor George Derek Musgrove. In an effort to document the black power movement in Washington D.C. and and its movement across the cityscape over time, the identify all of the major black power events and organizations that occurred in Washington D.C. between 1961 and 1971. UMBC student interns Ralph Cyrus and Luwam Gebreyesus used secondary sources, newspaper databases to identify and describe all major black power events and organizations in the city during the period under study. We documented these events and organizations through the development. that UMBC intern Kevin Rapa created a web based interactive map that displays a past and present geographic location for the corresponding black power event.
HaloWeb: An Integrated Web Application Suite for Prokaryotic Genomic and Transcriptomic Analysis
Satyajit DasSarma
Shiladitya DasSarma, University of Maryland School of Medicine
HaloWeb is a web application suite for highly integrated genomic and transcriptomic analysis of prokaryotic microorganisms. With the arrival of new high-throughput sequencing technology, more genomic information is available than ever before, with an accompanying need for bioinformatic analysis tools. Several major data providers including NCBI's RefSeq and GEO projects as well as analogous offerings from EMBL fill the need for a generalized data repository. However, these large public repositories may be outperformed by purpose-built knowledge management systems, especially for specific clades of organisms. Through a major enhancement of the HaloWeb project, powerful new features for transcriptomic analysis, enhanced visualizations, comparative genomics, and curated commentary have been added. In addition, a Sequence Editor and other auxiliary tools were revamped, and the interface of the site was refreshed utilizing a new JSON API. The new HaloWeb represents an innovative bioinformatic resource incorporating analysis tools in an integrated website that is useful both in the research laboratory and in the bioinformatics classroom. This current iteration is being used for cutting-edge intersectional data analysis of extreme microorganisms called Haloarchaea.
This work was supported by NASA Grant NNX15AM07G.
Characterization and Evolution of Undular Bore Waves
Kendall Dawkins
Belay Demoz, JCET
This study characterizes the evolution of an undular bore wave which was triggered by a density current on July 14th, 2015 and observed in Greensburg, Kansas during the Plains Elevated Convection at Night (PECAN) experiment. A major impact of bores is that they cause the stable boundary layer to rise and moisture to mix deeper into the troposphere there by making it easier for parcels to reach the condensation level. This effect is contrary to the nighttime settling and stabilization that should occur and is thought to be the cause for the nighttime precipitation in the summer that is hard to forecast. However, network lidar instruments available in the NOAA data network but not well exploited could help answering the frequency of occurrence question. In this study, we use lidars to characterize the evolution of the observed wave by sensing important atmospheric variables: water vapor mixing ration, aerosol backscatter, and wind. Lidars can provide vertical structural data at different points of the bore’s lifecycle. We will also comment how a network of lidars could be used to build on the evolution and statistics of bore wave occurrence in the mid-west.
Variant calling format file manipulation and use of heterozygous allele depth for ploidy detection
Daniel DeWaters
Mercedes Burns, Biological Sciences
Facultative parthenogenesis is a rare reproductive mode in which females can reproduce sexually and/or asexually. Parthenogenic species are frequently polyploids, as having more than two chromosomal copies often confers parthenogenetic ability. Leiobunum manubriatum is a Japanese harvestman (Arachnida: Opiliones) that is facultatively parthenogenetic, with males more common in southern Nagano, Gifu, and Toyama Prefectures. A potential ploidy transitional zone for the species has been found in Nagano Prefecture, as females of L. manubriatum north of this zone are mostly tetraploid, while females south of this zone are diploid. Female L. manubriatum and their offspring were genotyped by sequencing (GBS), and these data will be used to estimate the individual ploidy by analyzing allelic ratios with the new R package GBS2ploidy. We describe a method developed to convert variant call format (VCF) files to a heterozygous allele depth (HAD) files using Python scripts to parse GBS data in a format suitable for GBS2Ploidy. The estimated ploidy of specimens from HAD will be used to identify gene flow between cytotypes, as maternal-offspring mismatches may signal sexual reproduction. Understanding the distribution of polyploidism in L. manubriatum will be critical for evaluating the role of sexual reproduction in a promising model for facultative parthenogenesis.
This work was funded, in part, by the Supplement for Undergraduate Research Experiences award.
Production and Quantification of Fc-IL-2 Protein
James Dizon
Gregory Szeto, Chemical, Biochemical, and Environmental Engineering
Fusion proteins are combinations of proteins joined at the gene level. Fc-IL-2 is a fusion protein of the cytokine IL-2 and the Fc region of an antibody. Fc-IL-2 combines the immune regulatory functions of IL-2 with the extended serum half-life of mutant Fc, and can be used in diverse applications such as the stimulation of immune cells to kill tumor cells and inducing anti-inflammatory functions to treat autoimmunity. Plasmid DNA carrying the Fc-IL-2 gene was isolated from bacterial cells and sequenced, then used for transfection of 293-F cells to secrete Fc-IL-2. Cells were removed and the supernatant collected for purification and analysis. The fusion protein bears a histidine tag, which was used for purification by binding to nickel-bearing beads. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) specific for IL-2 was used to analyze the supernatant before and after purification to quantify Fc-IL-2 concentration. Purified Fc-IL-2 was also analyzed by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy to confirm protein identity. Secondary confirmation was performed by gel electrophoresis and Western blot will also be done. Once fully quantified, these proteins can be used to study immune function in disease models.
Heat Fluctuations in Dissipative Nanocircuits
Christopher Dottellis
Sebastian Deffner, Physics
Recent advances in nanotechnology have developed the need for an understanding of thermal fluctuations of heat, work and temperature. Stochastic Thermodynamics is a new area of research which is dedicated to statements of the second law accounting for these random fluctuations. The main results of this theory are macroscopic predictions from ensembles of non equilibrium realizations of thermodynamic processes.
In our research we are studying an electric circuit driven by a dissipative magnetic field. The dynamics of this circuit will be described by the Langevin Equation. Our objective is to compute the distribution of the fluctuating heat leaving and entering the circuit. Previous work in this field has predominantly focused on work fluctuations. However, we will be focusing on heat fluctuations, since this will give us a model of the resistance in nanoelectronics.
Narrative Constructions of Collective Memory: Representing the Armed Conflict in Colombia
Kelly Dunn
Tania Lizarazo, Modern Languages, Linguistics, and Intercultural Communication; Christine Mallinson, Language Literacy and Culture
This investigation aims to examine the narrative processes at work in the construction of historical memory within the context of the Armed Conflict in Colombia as well as the ways in which community leaders and state organizations orient themselves to the ongoing project of reconciling the atrocities of a decades long civil war. Using a multimodal approach incorporating Labov’s theory of narrative analysis as well as J.R. Martin’s appraisal theory of discourse analysis, accounts presented by the state-run center of historical memory – Centro Nacional de Memoria Histórica (CNMH) – are contrasted with the narratives of community activists working with survivors (predominantly in the Chocó Department, one of the more heavily afflicted regions in the country). The close examination of evaluations and judgments made in public recognitions of the war as well as the cultural and communal identities constructed in relation to these narratives shed light onto the influences and implications of large-scale, unified practices of collective memory.
This work was funded, in part, through an Undergraduate Research Award from the UMBC Division of Academic Affairs.
Using Data Visualization in order to Analyze Student Performance at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County
Christopher Dunstan, Shantanu Sengupta, Christine Abraham, Malakhi Hopkins
Penny Rheingans, Computer Science and Electrical Engineering; Don Engel, Computer Science and Electrical Engineering, UMBC
The University of Maryland, Baltimore County stores a large amount of student data in its data warehouse. Part of this data includes student demographics, grades, and completed courses. Since introductory courses play a crucial role in the performance of computing majors in later classes, this data can be analyzed in order to help improve student performance. One technique to complete this is data visualization. This allows for data to be displayed over a visual interface. Additionally, data visualization can be used to see hidden patterns that other analysis techniques cannot. Due to the semester based nature of the data and the clear course path of the students, hierarchical edge bundles and sunburst charts can be used to map common characteristics of a group in a sequential fashion. These visualizations will be able to highlight information such as the math background of students and the use of office hours to show their effect on student performance. We will be able to display these visualizations across a platform of 24 monitors in the PI squared lab. Presenting the visualizations on the PI squared monitors will create a great way to spread information about student performance in the computing majors.
The Geological and Cultural Significance Of Impact Melt Nodules from Lake Mistastin in Northern Labrador
Tania Evans
Cari Corrigan, Smithsonian Institution
After a meteorite collides with the ground, intense shock waves and extremely high temperatures melt the target rock, which then cools to form a glass: impact melt. Lake Mistastin in Northern Labrador, Canada is a meteorite impact site where the native Innu, obtain materials for arrowheads. Before the impact, the rocks at this location were anorthosites/granodiorites. The impact melt is an obsidian-like, black, shiny material, which looks very similar to lithic raw materials that have been found in several parts of North America. This study chemically characterized, using scanning electron microscopy, the impact melt in order to determine if recovered stone tools originate from the Mistastin region. It was found that the impact glass contained significantly less SiO2 than obsidian. The impact glass was also found to be ~7% FeO and ~9% CaO, which are found in obsidian in only trace amounts. These findings could help archaeologists better determine the origin of artifacts, which can provide valuable insight into cultural exchange and trading practices.
This investigation was sponsored by NIH/NIGMS MARC U*STAR T3408663 National Research Service Award to UMBC.
Design, Synthesis, and Biological Evaluation of Flexible Acyclic Nucleoside Analogues for Antiviral Therapeutics
Arissa Falat
Katherine Seley-Radtke, Chemistry and Biochemistry
Several deadly pathogens have emerged recently for which there are no cures available. These include the coronaviruses such as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS); filoviruses, like the Ebola (EBOV), Sudan (SUDV), and Marburg (MARV) viruses; and flaviviruses, including Dengue virus (DENV) and Zika virus (ZIKV). With high mortality rates, the potential reemergence of SARS, recent outbreaks of MERS, EBOV, DENV, and severe side effects of ZIKV, it is imperative that safe and effective treatments are developed. One potential option involves the use of nucleoside analogues, long known to exhibit potent antiviral activity, to disrupt viral DNA or RNA synthesis. The Seley-Radtke lab has developed several types of flexible nucleoside analogues, termed “fleximers,” which have demonstrated the ability to increase interactions in the binding pocket that were previously unattainable. Preliminary results have revealed potent activity for several acyclic fleximers against all of these viruses in vitro. Unfortunately, bioavailability is an obstacle to nucleoside delivery; however, this may be overcome by using prodrug moieties such as the McGuigan ProTides. A series of nucleotide prodrugs were synthesized in order to more effectively deliver the monophosphate form of the nucleoside into the cell. The results are reported herein.
This work was funded, in part, through an Undergraduate Research Award from the UMBC Division of Academic Affairs.
One Heart and One Soul? Popular Media as a Reflection and Narrativization of National Identity in 1970s Germany
Mary Farrell
Susanne Sutton, Modern Languages, Linguistics, and Intercultural Communication
Traditionally, scholarly research on national identity has focused on “high” culture when discussing the creation and representation of national identity, however, recent research has come to recognize the importance of popular or “low” culture. This research investigated the role of popular media in reflecting and narrativizing discourses of national identity using the German sitcom Ein Herz und Eine Seele (One Heart and One Soul) as a case study. The show aired from 1973 to 1974 and was both popular and controversial due to its inclusion of expressly political themes during a period of significant unrest in German history. Through textual analysis, themes reflective of national identity were identified and analyzed. Those themes which arose included the East and West German divide, collective memory of World War II, and the shifting relationship of Germany to the rest of the international order. These themes were established as reflective of popular discourse at the time through historical research and survey data on viewer attitudes towards the show. Ein Herz und Eine Seele is a prime example of how popular media can serve to reflect and therefore narrativize discourses of national identity.
The Influence of the East-West Divide and Immigration on the Far Right Vote Share in the 2017 German Federal Elections
Mary Farrell
Carolyn Forestiere, Political Science
The rise of far right parties in Europe has garnered significant attention in recent years. In Germany, this issue came to the fore during the federal elections of 2017, when the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) won a greater portion of the vote than ever before and received a large number of seats in the German parliament. However, support for the AfD is not uniform across Germany. This paper examines Germany's historical legacy with communism and its current struggles with immigration as potential explanatory factors for differing amounts of support for the AfD. Quantitative analysis was performed for each of the 299 voting districts in Germany, using a) whether the district was a part of East or West Germany and b) the percentage of residents with an immigration background as independent variables. In addition, qualitative process tracing was performed on two German states, one in West Germany and one in East Germany to examine correlations between the variables in more depth. The conclusions from the study will help to create a more comprehensive picture of the far-right vote distribution not just in Germany, but throughout Europe.
Luke Ferguson
Corrie Parks, Visual Arts
In this 49 second self-portrait animation two siblings go sledding at their neighborhood hill and a sequence of funny gags ensue. As they slowly carve a path down the hill a series of mishaps hinder their progress. Will they even make it to the bottom? I chose the activity of sledding due to its potential as an encouragement for perseverance as each time you go down you carve out more of a path allowing you to go further the next time. Even the runs that seem to end in disaster impart experience needed to make a stronger future attempt. Created in the raster based software Krita, The Longfellow Hill utilizes a digital painting style approach in its animation. This method was chosen for its unique visual look after being previously used in a rotoscoping assignment. Sound design, which drew from stock sound libraries, is primarily diegetic in nature emphasizing the actions taking place and helping to build the atmosphere of the short.
Characterizing The Dynamic Capsid-SP1 Junction Hellix of the HIV-1 Gag Polyprotein and Maturation Inhibitor Interaction
Hana Flores, Emily Cannistraci, Carly Sciandra
Michael Summers, Chemistry and Biochemistry; Pengfei Ding, Chemistry and Biochemistry, UMBC
The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV-1) utilizes host cell machinery to manufacture the Gag polyprotein, which is derived from mRNA. This polyprotein includes the domains of Capsid SP1 peptide (CA-SP1). Preceding assembly, immature CA-SP1 exhibits a random coil conformation. During assembly, CA-SP1 forms a 6-helix bundle, which rapidly oligomerizes into a hexagonal lattice. The virus undergoes maturation by proteolytically cleaving the individual domains of Gag. The final cleavage occurs between CA-SP1 by viral protease, driving the immature virus to a mature, infectious virion. Therefore, the CA-SP1 junction helix is proposed to be dynamic. A single hexamer of the CA-SP1 junction helix was isolated using a scaffolding protein, and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) is used to understand the structure. While the wildtype CA-SP1 junction helix is proposed to exist in an equilibrium between random coil and alpha helix, the T8I mutant in the SP1 region was found to have increased propensity towards helical structure. T8I mimics maturation inhibitors, an HIV-1 drug that stabilizes the CA-SP1 junction helix and reduces viral infectivity. Characterizing the dynamic properties of the CA-SP1 junction helix will assist in elucidating the mechanisms of maturation Inhibitors, thus stimulating the development of more potent drugs against multiple strains of HIV-1.
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.
Role of Phosphatases in Melanopsin Resensitization
Jair Flores
Phyllis Robinson, Biological Sciences
G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) make up the largest superfamily of membrane receptors which are involved in most physiological processes in mammals. Melanopsin is expressed in a small population of light-sensitive ganglion cells in the mammalian retina called intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells. Melanopsin regulates non-image forming tasks such as circadian photoentrainment and pupillary light reflex. Our studies of melanopsin signaling have been focused on the activation and deactivation of its signaling cascade. However, GPCRs must undergo resensitization to new stimuli to sustain G-protein signaling for extended periods of time. We hypothesize that there are phosphatases of the Protein Phosphatase family that resensitize melanopsin; and this contributes to melanopsin’s capability to sustain prolonged signaling. We performed Reverse Transcriptase-PCR (RT-PCR), Western blot, and immunohistochemistry to test if Protein Phosphatases are expressed in mice retina. Preliminary results suggest expression of many phosphatases of Protein Phosphatase types 1-4, and 6 using RT-PCR. Western blot analysis suggests expression of Protein Phosphatases of the type 1 family. Immunohistochemistry suggests Protein Phosphatase 1β is expressed in all cell layers of the retina. Future work aims to test which of these phosphatases interacts with melanopsin in ipRGCs and to test the significance of phosphatase activity in melanopsin signaling.
This investigation was sponsored by NIH/NIGMS MARC U*STAR T3408663 National Research Service Award to UMBC.
K-12 Arts Education Funding and Risk Factors of Substance Use Disorder
Jason Fowler, Daniel Knoblach, Alicia Wiprovnick
Carlo DiClemente, Psychology
This study explores relationships between arts education funding and youth risk factors for substance use disorders. Arts education has been shown as a protective factor against substance use; however, educational systems continue to reduce art program funding nationwide. The analyses compare 2013 public school approved budgets from three Maryland counties and the national 2013 Youth Risk Behavioral Survey, analyzed on the county level (n= 12,246). Howard, Prince George’s, and Allegany County were selected due to population sizes and locations across the state. Total arts, funding per student, and overall budgets will be investigated as predictors of several risk factors for substance use. Selected risk factors included substance use behaviors and physical violence. Arts funding variables will predict prevalence of cigarette smoking and alcohol consumption defined as presence of behavior within past 30 days along with the presence of a physical fight within the past 12 months. To aid in verifying independent associations, budgets also will be tested against amount of 100% fruit juices consumed in the past 30 days, as this is not believed to be related to arts funding. This study can inform school boards on how arts budgets are related to important student risk behaviors.
Connecting Human Diseases Through Domain Mapping of Disease Associated Variants
Ashley Funai
Maricel Kann, Biological Sciences
Leveraging protein functional information into the analysis of disease mutations is critical for a better understanding of the molecular basis of diseases and design of drug therapies. In this study, we analyzed a database of over 66,376 unique mutations to find disease connections at a molecular level through mapping the functional units of the protein, i.e. protein domains. By clustering the database by protein domain position, over 50,000 disease connections were found. Fisher’s exact test and Bonferroni correction were performed for each connection to identify their significance, 97 percent and 23 percent respectively. The significant disease pairs identified genes of interest, which were further analyzed for common pathways (KEGG and Reactome) and targeted drugs. Our preliminary results showed high connections between Musculoskeletal Diseases and Skin and Connective Tissue Diseases. An instance is Noonan syndrome and Cardiofaciocutaneous (CFC) syndrome with mutations in genes RAF1 and MAP2K1 respectively. These target genes have over 30 pathways and one drug in common, and have been cited in literature together 68 times. By identifying the patterns found at a molecular level and disease connections, we gained a unique insight into the similarity in the molecular basis of diseases with great potential to advance drug repurposing.
Student Research: Methods to Improve the Researching and Citation Skills of High School Students
Brandon Galuska
Timothy Johnson, History
One of the major skills in Social Studies thatcan be taught and broadened to other subjects is research and citations. The ability to find sources, evaluate them, utilize them, and cite them are necessary for intellectual discourse in all fields. This research project focus is on the development of the evaluation and citation of sources in an urban school to determine which intervention(s) resulted in improved skills. The data is collected from a class of thirty predominate African-Americans students. The data was collected from completed research projects and scored using the provided rubric. After each intervention lesson(s) to improve the skills the students completed a project that had them find sources on the internet or library books, and completing an artifact that shares the information.
Trauma and the Invocation of Sound in Afro-diasporic Literature
Luwam Gebreyesus
Maleda Belilgne, UMBC English Department
My research examines how trauma resurfaces through the reproduction and recollection of sound in literature of the African diaspora. Ethiopian-American novelist Dinaw Mengestu highlights this relationship in How to Read the Air, through the experience of Ethiopian immigrant, Yosef. For Yosef, sounds, and songs of the past haunt and remind him of the realities of obtaining the American dream. Although he flees persecution in Ethiopia, the life he has created in America is bound to the traumas of his harrowing voyage. It is at this intersection of sound and trauma that memories of the past have the ability to manifest into the actuality of the present. Mengestu explores this strained relationship between the past and the present and reveals the influence sound has in constructing the memories we recall and spaces we comfortably occupy. I will investigate how the abruptness and violence of a traumatic event dictate the parameters of past, present, and future space occupancy by those experiencing the trauma. With the use of ideas developed by sound scholar Jonathan Sterne and trauma theorist Cathy Caruth, I propose that the intersection of sound and trauma reveal the problems of the diaspora as everlasting both in the past and future.
The Impact of Arts-Integration on the Learning Identity of Sixth Grade Social Studies Students in AACPS
Alex Getachew
Vickie Williams, Education; Kimberly Moffitt, American Studies; Steven McAlpine, Interdisciplinary Studies
In order to assess whether arts integration impacts the learning identity of 6th-grade social studies students in Anne Arundel County Public Schools (AACPS), I have applied the Learning Identity Scale (LIS), an experiential learning measurement tool that has never been used to measure the impact of arts integration before. I have collected LIS survey data from both an arts integrated intervention group, and a control group of students. The next step in my research will be to analyze the data, with the hope that it will provide a broader context for understanding arts integration, and show whether there is a correlation between arts integration and the core learning identity traits. I hypothesize that the students exposed to arts integration will have significantly higher scores on the LIS.
This work was funded, in part, through an Undergraduate Research Award from the UMBC Division of Academic Affairs.
Inclusion and Diversity Interventions in Higher Education: A Cross-institutional Comparative Study
Frances Ghinger, Haider Butt, Staci Powell, Keller Trotman
Nicole Cousin-Gossett, Sociology and Anthropology
Cultural competency and topics of racial justice are issues in the world of higher education that are often mentioned but rarely discussed in length. The Race and Inclusion Scholars engaged in a cross-institutional comparative research study in order to assess where UMBC stands in comparison to its peer and aspirational institutions in terms of its racial and cultural interventions. These peer and aspirational institutions have been assigned by UMBC’s administration and allow for an in depth examination of best practices for inclusion initiatives. By interviewing representatives from these institutions and UMBC itself, we gained insight into how culturally competent UMBC truly is in comparison to other institutions by ranking all the institutions on a numerical scale from least to most culturally competent. This ranking allows for UMBC to identify areas of weakness so better practices can be adopted for the benefit of the campus community.
Modeling Adaptation in the Melanopsin Phototransduction Cascade
Sam Giannakoulis
Kathleen Hoffman, Mathematics and Statistics; Phyllis Robinson, Biological Sciences; Hye Won Kang, Mathematics and Statistics
The mammalian retina contains three photoreceptors, rods, cones, and intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (IPRGC’s). IPRGC’s, unlike rods and cones, function primarily in non-image forming vision such as circadian photoentrainment and the pupillary light response. There are five subtypes of IPRGC’s, all of which express melanopsin, a G-protein coupled receptor encoded by the OPN4 gene. It is currently unknown through which GPCR pathway each IPRGC subtype functions. Our previous work using data obtained from M1 IPRGC cells, alongside our mathematical simulations support that the mechanism functions through a Gq pathway. The goal of this study is to investigate melanopsin adaptation in M1 IPRGC’s from multi-flash experiments. Our approach towards modeling melanopsin adaptation was to write additional differential equations to our current model that will help to model calcium dynamics, the hypothesized second messenger in the pathway. The differential equations were numerically solved using MATLAB, and after solving, parameter fitting was used to match the numerical solutions to the experimental data within a specified margin of error. Parameter sensitivity analysis determined the most important parameters within the pathway. In the future, we hope to use our adaptation model as a backbone for the investigation of the pathway found in M2 IPRGC’s.
This work was funded, in part, through an Undergraduate Research Award from the UMBC Division of Academic Affairs.
Comprehending and Conveying Complex Texts
Katherine Giitter
Cheryl North, Education
Growing up in the age of technology, students are constantly surrounded by an excess of information. Understanding this information is only half the battle— students need to learn how to decipher what to share and how to share it. Whether working towards conducting research at a university or processing information for work, students will be expected to efficiently and effectively convey their understanding of various texts. The objective for this research is for students to increase their proficiency in comprehending complex texts, as calculated by the school district’s 20-point Holistic Scoring Rubric for Summarizing, according to Literary Standards for Grades 6-12. The study assesses students across four classes of Honors 12 English in a suburban high school, focusing on the 15 students who have a documented learning disability or who are overcoming a language barrier. This research investigates the effect of instructional intervention on students’ summarization of three informational texts: a pre-assessment, a mid-interval monitoring, and a post-assessment. Classroom instruction includes the use of cognitive and structural models, collaborative annotations, close reading, and reverse outlines. The target outcome is for 65% of selected students to increase their proficiency score for summarizing complex text by at least 10% on the rubric.
Chinese and Korean Immigrant Mothers’ Social Network and Support in the United States and Associations with their Parenting Styles
Jasmine Gim, You Jung Seo
Charissa S. L. Cheah, Professor, Department of Psychology
Greater social support and larger social networks have shown to be associated with more positive (authoritative) and less negative (authoritarian) parenting in immigrant groups. Although Chinese and Korean immigrants in the U.S. are often grouped together under the “Asian-American” umbrella and share Confucian and interdependent cultural values, past studies suggest that the characteristics and functions of social support networks and their associations with parenting styles vary across different ethnic/cultural groups. Thus, the present study examined and compared Chinese-Immigrant (CI) and Korean-Immigrant (KI) mothers of preschool-aged children on their social support and networks in the U.S. and their associations with their parenting styles. CI (N=205) and KI (N=173) mothers reported their: (1) social network members and relationships, (2) types of social support received (emotional vs. instrumental support), and (3) parenting styles. Results revealed that KI mothers had significantly larger social networks consisting of greater kin members than CI mothers. CI mothers perceived receiving greater emotional support than KI mothers. In both groups, greater emotional support was positively associated with authoritative parenting, after controlling for years of U.S. residency. The significance and implications of these findings for promoting the well-being of CI and KI mothers and their children were discussed.
This work was funded, in part, through an Undergraduate Research Award from the UMBC Division of Academic Affairs.
Impact of Executive Function on Pain Tolerance in Children
Sara Gliese
Lynnda Dahlquist, Psychology
Cognitive processes, such as aspects of executive functioning, can affect pain outcomes. The present study examined the relation between inhibition (an executive function) and pain tolerance in children. Participants included 64 children aged 6-12 years. Parents completed the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BRIEF), which yielded scores across seven domains of executive function within the context of daily life; higher scores indicate greater levels of dysfunction. Children completed a cold pressor trial in which they submerged their hand in 7˚C cold water for as long as possible. Pain tolerance was defined as the number of seconds the child’s hand remained submerged. A significant correlation was found between pain tolerance and age. However, none of the BRIEF scores was significantly associated with pain tolerance. Future studies should examine the relation between inhibition and pain tolerance through the use of behavioral measures of inhibition, which may be more sensitive than parent report.
Department of Psychology Faculty Research Support Grant.
The Most Dangerous Game: How Game of Thrones Plays in Orientalism
Megumi Gomyo
Andrew Holter, American Studies
The HBO primetime television fantasy drama Game of Thrones (GOT) occupies a major role in American popular culture and is an intriguing case study at the intersection of Media and Asian American Studies. GOT, with its complex plots and characters, features underlying Orientalist themes and tropes. For that reason, it classifies as an example of American Orientalism, which manifests itself in popular culture, often through dangerous or exotic portrayals of the “East,” and reflects a long tradition of othering Asia. My research focused on a textual analysis of the Orientalist themes present in GOT and argues that through three aspects of the show’s narrative (Daenerys Targaryen’s storyline as a Western foreigner in the Eastern continent of Essos, the representation of the religion of the Lord of Light, and the depiction of Essos as uncivilized), GOT confirms and perpetuates Orientalist ideology. As an award-winning show with an extensive audience, Game of Throneswarrants investigation and analysis for its ability to sustain Orientalist ideology and influence viewers’ racial attitudes.
Development of a Method for Quantitating Caffeine in Tea
Frank Gorelik, I. Shaffer, J. Wilhide
William LaCourse, CNMS
Tea is one of the world’s most popular beverages. Although its water extract is known to contain many solubilized components, this research will focus on caffeine. The goal of this project is to develop an analytical method to quantitatively determine the amount of caffeine in commercially available teas using gas chromatography with flame ionization detection (GC-FID). Samples were prepared by placing tea bags into boiling water, and letting the tea steep for a set amount of time. The tea solutions were directly injected into the GC-FID, a PerkinElmer Clarus 580 equipped with a DB-5 column (30 meters length) for analysis. In all samples, the peak for caffeine (with a retention time 12.7 minutes) was manually integrated using TotalChrom version number 6.3.2. Analytical figures of merit were determined, and a direct calibration approach was used to quantitate caffeine in the tea solutions. This presentation will focus on the method development for detecting levels of caffeine in tea, which allows for the comparison of teas from various manufacturers including those that are caffeinated and decaffeinated.
Improving Written Literacy of Middle School Students
Joseph Gorrell
Timothy Johnson, Education
The ability to construct a well-written response to an historical question and to use evidence to support conclusions are essential skills for student success. This study examined the effect of literacy instruction on the writing skills of students in a Middle School World Cultures class. The instruction focused on writing a thesis statement, providing supporting details, and reaching a conclusion. The subjects were 23 6th grade students from varying gender, racial, and socio-economic backgrounds in a suburban middle school. A variety of writing tasks were assessed with a 15-point rubric before, during, and after the intervention period.
Games vs. Gaps: Using Games to Increase Student Engagement and Achievement in Standard Biology Classes
Ekaterina Goryunova
Jonathan Singer, Education
Students in standard science classes are often less engaged and have lower performance compared to their honors counterparts. This study investigates how using games for instruction and review can increase the engagement and decrease the achievement gap between students in standard biology and students in honors biology classes. Students’ engagement and achievement were measured before, during and after implementing games in instruction. Students’ engagement was measured using self-report questionnaires. The baseline data for students' performance were students’ grades from the previous quarterly exam. The games used for this study included online games and role-playing games. During the span of seven weeks students played at least one game per week. Each time, students’ performance was assessed using exit tickets covering the content taught that day. Students’ performance in standard classes was compared to their honors counterparts. Fifty-eight students in standard biology classes were subjects in this study. The control group included fifty-eight honors biology students. This investigation was conducted in a large suburban high school where the majority of students come from culturally and linguistically diverse low-income families.
From First to Final: Tracing the Significance of Elizabeth Bishop’s Revision Process
Emily Grace
Lia Purpura, English
From First to Final: Tracing the Significance of Elizabeth Bishop’s Revision Process is a dual-natured project which investigates Elizabeth Bishop’s approach to the process of composition. Bishop is known for her exacting care and emotional and autobiographical reserve. To understand how these aesthetics manifest in her writing process, I undertook a close study of her drafts, noting how a piece evolved from first conception to published product. I framed these observations in relation to her gender and sexuality, explored how she cultivated a philosophy of restraint, and postulated why studying her writing process is crucial for writers. To put this final point into practice, I also approached my own process of writing with a “Bishop-bent;” I wrote poetry with a sense of precision and heightened attention to traditional forms, explored ways to remove myself from the poem in order to more fully realize the intimacies of distance and the nuances this distance allows in expression, and revised unceasingly. My presentation will present both my own work and Bishop’s as I analyze the compositional methods employed and the successes and failures of my mimesis.
Rethinking Telerehabilitation: It’s Not The Metrics
Yasmin Graham, Adegboyega Akinsiku1
1Department of Information Systems, University of Maryland, Baltimore County
Helena Mentis, Information Systems
Telerehabilitation is providing rehabilitation services outside of a formal rehabilitation center through information and communications technology (ICT). Currently, emphasis is placed on the computational work – recognizing movement and quantifying it for use in home-based rehabilitation systems. For this study we wanted to further understand what information a rehabilitation specialist (occupational therapists and physical therapists) currently use, and how they would use that information in a telerehabilitation context when providing care to stroke survivors living in low-resource communities. We conducted a series of observations and interviews of stroke survivors and rehabilitation specialists and then categorized information and interaction behaviors into themes using an event logging software, Noldus Observer. We discovered rehabilitation specialists were not solely interested in the movements performed, but preferred more contextual and subjective information on their patients. Additionally, these specialists were eager to learn more regarding the everyday tasks their patients are completing to ensure the exercises that are prescribed translate to everyday tasks and functions. From our findings, we assert that telerehabilitation needs to centralize the experience of the patient and use movement data as a secondary supporting information source.
This investigation was sponsored by NIH/NIGMS MARC U*STAR T3408663 National Research Service Award to UMBC.
"Urban Transportation Landscapes: A GIS and Political Historical Narrative of Baltimore's Transportation Deficiency"
Ethan Griffin
Laszlo Korossy, Political Science; Symmes Gardner, Director of Programs, Center for Arts Design and Visual Culture
The intent of the research is to represent the extent of Baltimore City’s transportation deficiency through the use of an interdisciplinary mixed method analysis utilizing the lens of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Political History. Metropolitan transportation is a complex network of mobility which contributes to the success of tangential urban systems which include but are not limited to access to green space, education and economics. Baltimore is in a state of transportation deficiency which is leading to one of the greatest injustices in the city right now and has thus affected other urban systems and services. A GIS network analysis was conducted for each method of transportation in Baltimore city currently (i.e. transit, automobile and walking) in order to understand access to jobs and the influence of the deficiency on various population demographics. A political historical review was conducted in order to understand the impact of various policies from both state and city officials, which has contributed to the current state of deficiency. The research spotlights the potential for improvements to the system and the general urgency with which new policy and action must be taken to improve the inequities that currently exist.
Microscale chromatography toolkits for rapid screening and purification of therapeutic proteins
Erick Gutierrez, Sevda Deldari, David Burgenson, Mustafa Al-Adhami
Abhay Andar, Chemical, Biochemical, and Environmental Engineering; Govind Rao, Chemical, Biochemical, and Environmental Engineering; Center for Advanced Sensor Technology (CAST)
Biopharmaceutical separations require tremendous amounts of characterizations and optimization to achieve a high level of acceptable purity. Typically, such optimization techniques require large volumes of reagents and biological materials for testing different parameters. There is immense interest in emerging technologies that can help address this gap. This study demonstrates a versatile and customizable microfluidic screening tool for biopharmaceutical separations using metal affinity method as a quick first pass method to identify key parameters. These microscale chromatography columns (µCol) were fabricated in thermoplastic materials with excellent precision, efficiency and reproducibility. These devices are equipped to accommodate most chromatography-based resins and is compatible with any HPLC system. The work presented here provides a cost-effective solution for quick prototyping of columns and process development for affinity-based purification of proteins. µCols improved purification outcomes for the granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (GCSF) protein, expressed using a cell-free CHO in-vitro translation (IVT) system, compared to conventional 1mL immobilized metal affinity chromatography (IMAC) column. Experimental data revealed comparable purity with a 10-fold reduction in the amount of buffer, resin and purification time in mCols, compared to conventional columns for similar protein yields.
This work was funded, in part by DARPA, Biologically-derived Medicines on Demand (Bio-Mod) Project Grant (N66001-13-C-4023) and UMBC Technology Catalyst fund (113-021-10622-TCF17ABH).
The Woven Ocean: The Colonial Ideoscape Against Intersectional Identity in Jamaica Kincaid and Dionne Brand
Rebecca Haddaway
Lindsay DiCuirci, English; Jessica Berman, English, UMBC
Annie John (1985) by Jamaica Kincaid and the chapter, “In a Window” from At the Full and Change of the Moon (1999) by Dionne Brand each focus on young women who have grown up in the Caribbean, immigrating away from home to a colonizing country. Annie of Annie John and Maya of “In a Window” each face challenges stemming from the intersection of gender, sexuality, race, and colonialism that impede their abilities to establish and reestablish home in the Caribbean and in England and the Netherlands, respectively. My presentation will explore the role of maternal influence in the construction and rehearsal of feminine, heterosexual identities in these texts, and the connection between these inherited ideologies and a network of those diffused as a result of Western colonialism. Ultimately, because Annie and Maya’s queer, black, colonial identities stand in contrast with the colonial ideologies particular to their experiences, neither woman can comfortably define a space of home or belonging. Both texts explore the potential of occupying an alternative, liminal space between the Caribbean and Europe through literal and figurative representations of the ocean.
Endogenous Pain Modulation: The Contribution of Psychosocial Factors
Maya Hale, Rebecca Hill
Raimi Quiton, Psychology
Better function of endogenous pain inhibitory systems is associated with less everyday and chronic pain. Functionality of these systems is measured using a conditioned pain modulation (CPM) paradigm, in which perceived intensity of a painful test stimulus is reduced in the presence of a second painful stimulus. Individuals at greater risk for chronic pain or who experience chronic pain report an increase (facilitation) in pain during CPM. This study tested the hypothesis that psychosocial factors would differ in CPM responders and non-responders or facilitators, with responders having lower depression, and greater optimism and social support. Healthy participants (n=80, 44 female) underwent a CPM paradigm using a painful heat test stimulus and a painful pressure conditioning stimulus. Participants were divided into Responders (heat pain ratings decreased by ≥1%, n=51) and Non-Responders/Facilitators (heat pain ratings either did not change, n=6, or increased by ≥1%, n=23). Participants completed questionnaires for depression, optimism, and social support. The Non-Responder/Facilitator group had significantly greater optimism (t=3.2, p=.002) and social support from friends (t=2.3, p=.025) than the Responder group (p.05). These unexpected findings suggest that social support and optimism may have adverse effects on endogenous pain modulatory systems.
The Role Of miR-8 In Cell Migration.
Joel Hayford
Michelle Starz-Gaiano, Biological Sciences
Cell migration is a very important biological process in living organisms. Disruptions in this process may result in birth defects and metastasis. We used Drosophila melanogaster as a model organism to study the genetic mechanisms involved in cell migration signaling. MicroRNAs (miRs) regulate gene expression through translational inhibition or cleavage of mRNA molecules. This study focuses on how miRs affect the well-conserved Janus Kinase/Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription (STAT) pathway and how they may be needed for cell migration in egg development. To conduct this study, we used transgenic fly lines to determine if overexpression or depletion of miR-8 impacts cell migration. We examined ovaries from our miRNA engineered flies and found abnormal cell migration in a significant percentage of egg chambers when miR-8 function or expression was changed. We conclude that miR-8 is involved in cell migration and may alter the levels of STAT activity. Further experimentation will examine how exactly the miR-8 affects the STAT pathway. This study may provide evidence to test miR-8 homologs for a role in STAT signaling and cell migration in humans.
This work was supported by National Science Foundation IOS- #1656550 (to MSG) and by the STEM BUILD at UMBC Initiative, which is funded by the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIH grants 8TL4GM1189897, 8UL1GM118988, and 8RL5GM118989).
Steven Herrera, Soheila Pimienta, Reenah Sheikh, Youssef Zaki
Sreedevi Sampath, Information Systems
At some point in their academic career, students at UMBC will find themselves struggling to understand a challenging topic in class. The web platform, Tutor On Campus, incorporates an active solution by allowing students to connect with their peers. Our website aims to create an online space emphasizing collaboration between students, with the goal of helping one another succeed. We developed the website, Tutor on Campus, as a semester-long project in the IS448: Markup and Scripting Languages class. Some of the features of the web application are, (a) students can register for the free service, (b) decide whether they want to tutor and/or be tutored, (c) share their contact information, (d) provide their availability, and (e) access online resources shared by other students. The content of the web application was created with HTML and PHP, the design was implemented using CSS, various dynamic features of the application were rendered by implementing JavaScript, MySQL was used to store and query the database containing the user’s information, and Ajax was implemented to retrieve data asynchronously from the server. This platform allows students to actively interact and collaborate in a way that will promote higher engagement and understanding of course material.
Radio Maps of Jets from Black Holes
Jennifer Hewitt
Eileen Meyer, Physics
We now know that supermassive black holes live at the heart of all large galaxies. These black holes are a million to a billion times as massive as our sun, and some fraction of the time are actively accreting matter, which produces an accretion disk of hot material that can outshine the host galaxy, with its billions of stars. These active black holes can also sometimes produce jets of ionized plasma moving very near the speed of light. Radio interferometry has revolutionized the study of these jets, giving us the highest-resolution images ever of the outflowing plasma. These jets emit radio waves from very low-frequencies (MHz) all the way up to 1 THz because they contain energetic charged particles which spiral in a magnetic field, producing synchrotron radiation. I will present my work in imaging radio jets using the Very Large Array (VLA and Atacama Large Millimeter Array (ALMA), many of which have never before been imaged at high frequencies. This work has allowed me to build spectral energy distributions for the emission from the jet, work that is critical to understanding the energetics and high-energy (X-ray) emission.
This work was funded, in part, through an Undergraduate Research Assistantship Support (URAS) Award from the UMBC Office of the Vice President for Research.
Jesse Hinman, Monica Forsythe, James Lambert, Aaron Lewis, Antony Harris
Eric Jordan, Visual Arts
Patchwork Knight, a two-dimensional video game, was created for the Senior Game Project course by our team. The game uses a randomizing feature to make each play of the game unique to the person playing it. The player races against a clock to gather equipment and weapons to fight off an impending goblin horde. Animators and programmers joined forces in a small team to create the game and overcome the various hurdles in development. Both of these groups had to learn Unity, a game development engine, to create this game. The programmers were challenged with in-depth artificial intelligence, as well as difficult player movement and armor coding. The animators were tasked with creating many different armor sets and animations for the playable character as well as the enemies. The two teams had to work together to implement these two aspects of the game together seamlessly. We are happy to present Patchwork Knight and our development process.
Study of the Efficiency of Electro-Optic Polymers in THz Detection
Blake Hipsley, Joe Soderstrom
Michael Hayden, Physics
Terahertz (THz) photonics, the science of the generation and detection of THz frequency radiation, shows promise in the fields of package inspection, medical diagnostics, high-speed data communications, and material science. Recent studies have investigated integrating electro-optic (EO) polymers into THz photonics because of their cost-efficiency and strong nonlinear optical properties. The nonlinear properties of EO polymers come from the bulk orientation of molecules within the polymer, which occurs when an electric field is applied across the polymer to rotate the molecules in a process known as poling. We compared two different EO polymers, one made using the molecule Lemeke-e and another polymer made with DCDHF-6-V. For both types of polymers, we poled samples at increasing electric fields and then measured the corresponding EO coefficient using a field dependent ellipsometric technique. We then compared spectroscopy scans of a THz signal using the different polymer samples. From our data, we see that the DCDHF-6-V polymer samples result in larger EO coefficients, but are not large enough to be effective THz detectors, and future work will be on producing higher poled polymers.
This work was funded, in part, by UMBC McNair Scholars Summer Research Institute
Synthesis of Near Infrared Imaging Dendron for Use in Theranostic Systems
Lisa Hong
Marie-Christine Daniel, Chemistry and Biochemistry
Efficient drug delivery systems are essential to effective treatment. For treatment of complex diseases like cancer, using multifunctional systems could lead to optimal treatment by combining therapeutic, targeting, and imaging agents. With nanotheranostics, nanoparticles can be tailored with distinctive dendrons. Two dendrons could be synthesized specifically to target and track/label cancer cells, respectively, so doctors can visualize them better. Near Infrared (NIR) fluorescent dyes are useful because they do not harm somatic cells and their longer wavelengths of absorption can penetrate the skin more efficiently. The objective of this project is to synthesize a NIR fluorescent tag and to couple it to a dendron that will provide the imaging building block of a multifunctional drug delivery system. This method consists of two steps: (1) the synthesis of Indocyanine green (ICG) NIR optical tag, and (2) the attachment of ICG to the TA-TEG-G3NH2 dendron. ICG was characterized using UV-visible spectroscopy and mass spectrometry; the dendron was analyzed using 1H NMR spectroscopy. The overall goal is to combine the ICG dendron with other dendrons like therapeutic dendrons around the same gold particle core to create nanotheranostic systems. Further fluorescence studies will be performed on this final multifunctional system.
This work was funded, in part, through an Undergraduate Research Award from the UMBC Division of Academic Affairs.
Development of Growth Selection Condition for AdaptiveEvolution of Enzymes
Justin Hosten, Matthew Faber1
1Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Michigan State University
Timothy Whitehead, Michigan State University
Proteins are biological macromolecules that can perform jobs within the body, but they also can serve to be functional outside of the body. Proteins are useful in industry, by converting chemicals into useful products in less steps, and the medical field, by fighting diseases. Proteins can be even more useful if we understand their function and rate of evolution. We want to see if there is a relationship between ancestral protein stability and rate of evolution. To study this, we are studying a destabilized variant of Amidase-E (Ami-E) within E. coli by looking at its distribution of fitness effects (DFEs). We can use deep mutational scanning, which uses saturation mutagenesis, high-throughput screens, and deep sequencing, to study the impact of mutations on a protein’s function to find it’s DFEs. Currently, we have developed a site-saturation mutagenesis library and we are screening all of the point mutants for Ami-E within a growth selection condition. Afterwards, we can quantify which variant does better or worse using deep sequencing allowing us to generate DFEs from that data. We will then be able to generate another mutant library, preform selection, analyze them, ultimately allowing the DFEs for the destabilized variant Ami-E to be found.
This investigation was sponsored by NIH/NIGMS MARC U*STAR T3408663 National Research Service Award to UMBC.
Correcting differences in experimental protocols with dynamic time warping
Sophia Hu
Daniel Lobo, Biological Sciences
Equivalent biological experiments can generate different time-series data with variations between them due to deviations in experimental procedures or protocols and preventing an accurate combined analysis. Here, we propose a novel methodology based on dynamic time warping to extract an optimal dynamical alignment between two equivalent temporal sequences that can then be applied to correct any other experimental data set using those conditions. Any time series from one experimental condition can then be transformed into the other using the calculated warp, aligning it to the other time scale. As a proof of concept, we applied our methodology to two sets of time-series optical density data measuring the growth of mutant bacterial strains in different substrates over a period of 24 hours. Each data set was obtained using a different but equivalent protocol which resulted in the bacteria growing at different rates and making it difficult to analyze together. After applying our proposed method using a warp calculated from the wild-type strains, we corrected the deviations, resulting in similar growth curves from two different protocols. This novel methodology allows for the combined analysis of time-series omics- data generated by equivalent but different experimental procedures that otherwise could not be analyzed together.
SURE award, Supplement for Undergraduate Research Experiences.
Melissa Hudson
Doug Hamby, Dance
This research project has focused on the creation of an original contemporary dance work with a prominent theme and deeply-explored compositional ideas. In order for every viewer to be able to relate to the core concept of the dance, the main creative goal of this research has been to bring ordinary, everyday activities to the stage in an intriguing way. This capstone work explores the inevitable human experience of having to sit and wait. Included in the dance are seven dining-room chairs that are used as both a physical and emotional confinement to the dancers and to the choreography, as well as adding an exciting, architectural obstacle to the stage. Showcasing an array of dynamics and musicality, the eye-catching movement utilized throughout the piece illustrates an ever-changing, internal rhythm. Using a variety of dance styles, the seven dancers and choreographer have collaborated closely to create movement that displays the emotional journey of waiting in a way that is recognizable for all people. This creative project has involved a passionate and diverse company of movers who dance as both strong individuals and as a cohesive group, working together to overcome the confinement of stagnancy.
How to Turn Drummers into Percussionists in Two Clefs or Less!
Lexis Hutchinson
Nana Vaughn, Music
An essential skill for music students is the ability to identify, read, and write in the clef of the instrument that they play. For most students, this will be one clef, treble or bass. Percussion students usually play multiple instruments, including various pitched percussion such as bells, marimba, chimes, and timpani. Because of this, they will need to be able to identify, read, and write in both treble and bass clef. This project focuses on improving the knowledge of treble and bass clef in 8th grade percussion students at a suburban middle school. At this school, all students get the opportunity to play on bells and timpani, which are treble and bass clef instruments respectively. As a baseline, the ability of all students to read and identify notes in bass and treble clef will be measured. For each clef, students can score 0-8 points. 0-2 missed being Skilled, 3-5 missed being Needs Improvement, and 6-8 missed being unskilled/unknown. After each section, students will be instructed to indicate whether they guessed or knew. The goal of this project is to determine what students need to learn in regards to their clef/note reading and what interventions can help improve these skills.
Optimization of Quantum Heat Engines
Gregory Huxtable
Sebastian Deffner, Physics
A Nano heat engine with a single ion as its working medium was first created in 2016. This proof-of-principles experiment opened the door to realistic investigations of small thermodynamic devices, which generically operate far from thermal equilibrium. Similar to how the classical heat engine has been central to the development of classical thermodynamics, the quantum heat engine will be a key experimental tool to quantum thermodynamics. We are generally interested in the efficiency of engines when operating at maximum power output (non-equilibrium), as opposed to when they remain in equilibrium, since we cannot operate engines infinitely slow. To find the maximum-power efficiency of the single-ion heat engine, we employed endoreversible thermodynamics, which has the advantage that all quantum effects are fully encoded in the equation of state for the single ion. We determined the theoretical efficiency of this engine, when producing maximum power output, to be 1-(TC/TH)1/2. This shows that the efficiency obtained by Curzon and Ahlborn’s analysis of the Carnot cycle operating at maximum power output may be more general than previously thought.
I am a recipient of the The Donald N. Langenberg Undergraduate Research Award in Physics.
Engineering Tertiary Transient Protein Interactions
Anthony Huynh, Erin Kennedy1, Kristen Irons2
1Chemistry and Biochemistry, UMBC, 2Chemistry, UVA
Minjoung Kyoung, Chemistry and Biochemistry
Proteins interact with other components to carry out regulatory processes like cell growth. It is necessary to understand the temporal regulation of cellular mechanisms, which can be achieved using total internal reflection fluorescence (TIRF) microscopy. Throughout the cell, transient protein-protein interactions (PPI) occur in various systems, which contribute to a cell’s regular function. To evaluate our tool, a lipid-based nano-reaction chamber, we designed a set of transiently interacting protein pairs: the FK506 binding protein (FKBP) and FKBP-rapamycin binding (FRB) domain of mTOR complex one. Normally, these proteins interact strongly in presence of rapamycin, but we introduced mutations to FRB through cloning, which would decrease binding affinity and lead to the transient interactions. After protein purification, spectrally different fluorescent dyes were attached to FRB and FKBP to allow for PPI detection via Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET). By tracking the FRET signal over time, the interaction between mutant FRB and FKBP will be quantified. This work enables us to demonstrate the feasibility of the new nano-reaction chamber and will contribute to quantitatively tackling critical and druggable short-lived PPIs in signaling and metabolic pathways.
This work was funded, in part, through an Undergraduate Research Award from the UMBC Division of Academic Affairs.
Phototransformation of five macrolide antibiotics in UV-254 engineered systems
Temitope Ibitoye
Lee Blaney, Chemical, Biochemical, and Environmental Engineering
Macrolide antibiotics are primarily used to treat respiratory tract and soft tissue infections caused by gram-positive bacteria. These antibacterial compounds aredetected in wastewater effluent and surface water, suggesting incomplete removal during wastewater treatment. We posit that these contaminants of emerging concern will undergo transformation during UV-based processes in wastewater/drinking water systems. The absorbance properties of five macrolides, namely azithromycin, clarithromycin, erythromycin, roxithromycin, and tylosin, were studied by measuring molar extinction coefficients for 200-500 nm in phosphate-buffered solutions at pH 2-12. The photochemical reaction kinetics for individual macrolides were measured using a merry-go-round Rayonet reactor equipped with bulbs emitting at 254 nm. The pseudo-first-order rate constants and quantum yields were determined for all five macrolides; furthermore, second-order rate constants for macrolide reaction with hydroxyl radicals were quantified using the UV-H2O2 system. Solution pH influenced the photoreaction kinetics for these antibiotics due to the presence of an acid dissociation site on the desosamine group. For instance, clarithromycin exhibited fluence-based rate constants of 2.98×10-5 cm2/mJ and 1.85×10-4 cm2/mJ at pH 4.1 and 10.7, respectively. The magnitude of these parameters highlights the recalcitrance of macrolide antibiotics in wastewater/drinking water treatment systems and emphasizes the need for advanced treatment processes capable of removing these contaminants.
This investigation was sponsored by NIH/NIGMS MARC U*STAR T34 12463 National Research Service Award to UMBC and NSF CBET 1510420.
Social Ties and Receptivity to Online Media
Bradley Ingram
Ian Anson, Political Science
What is the influence of close-tie network relationships and the characteristics of online political content on the political behavior of social media users? This study measures political behavior and engagement of individuals when consuming political content shared from close-tie friends via social media. As social media structure is based on network ties (friends and followers) and reactive engagements with posts (likes and shares), measuring reactions to political content is a strong indicator of subsequent political behavior. The first part of this research entailed recruitment of an original convenience sample of over 100 participants. It consisted mostly of college-aged community members. Subjects took a survey with an experimental research design which measured engagement of respondents to a social media post. Results of this study provided initial evidence that peers’ perceived expertise and closeness influences whether respondents accepted information in a political message. Next was to examine tweets by 2018 Maryland Gubernatorial candidates to measure engagement with certain political subjects. This research is poised to demonstrate the underappreciated importance of peer characteristics in an era of frequent social media usage. Political campaigns are reliant on influence, so measuring influence on friends is useful for prescribing effective political campaign strategy.
Zakari Jaworski
Doug Hamby, Dance
My research at the American Dance Festival led me to choreograph “Scheduled Interruption” which premiered in the UMBC 2016 Fall Dance Showcase. The choreographic process developed from the study of several contemporary dance techniques, including improvisation, hip-hop, authentic jazz, house and the history of each genre. My dance explores the cross-pollination between these dance styles, as well as a mix of ideas and perspectives that challenge the assumptions of physical and emotional relationships between people. The dancers and I took an improvisational path. We experimented with each other to discover how to make physical contact and how to respond to various physical prompts, in order to go beyond our habitual ways of moving. Through these processes we developed a performance work that illustrates various aspects of functional or dysfunctional human relationships.
This work was funded, in part, through an Undergraduate Research Award from the UMBC Division of Academic Affairs.
“Our Freedom Shall Never Be Betrayed”: Kwame Nkrumah’s Pan-Africanism and the Complications of the Nation-State
Damarius Johnson
Gloria Chuku, Africana Studies
During the African independence movements of the 1940s-1960s, the formation of African nation-states initiated the demise of European colonial power. This achievement of flag independence was complemented by the creation of political theories that defined the appropriate structure and tasks of independent African governments. For Kwame Nkrumah, political theorist and Ghana’s first president, Ghanaian independence signaled the restoration of a Pan-African cultural and historical identity within the privileged political order of the colonial powers: the nation-state. Nkrumah’s Consciencism (1964) directly addresses a first-order inquiry of African political philosophy: Can African peoples’ independence from European imperialism be achieved through European political theory? Governance of the Ghanaian nation was addressed to the forms of the state apparatus: the rule of law, the constitution, and the standing army. This presentation will examine how the philosophical assumptions of the nation state—factional self-interest, perpetual conflict, and coercion—undermine Nkrumah’s vision for Pan-African liberation. The argument here is that the regime of the nation-state is neither necessary nor sufficient for achieving the emancipatory possibilities of African independence. African peoples have practiced endogenous forms of governance that provide for the harmonious coexistence of diverse cultural communities.
Don’t Worry about DBQs: How to Improve in Writing Data-based Question Essays
Timothy Johnson
Timothy Johnson, Education
Writing essays is a skill that school systems are trying to improve in their students, the latest craze are data based essays. The students struggle with breaking down the specific parts of a data based essay to obtain a high score. This research will attempt to raise scores of a diverse population of honors students by practicing various skills of critical writing. That involves connecting supporting and opposing documents, and high level document analysis. The school that this research is being conducted in is a middle class suburban school with a large minority population. The success of this research will be determined though quarterly assessments in the form of databased question essay that will be graded on a county-wide standard rubric.
Shuffle, not Repeat: Grammatical Instruction in Sentence Variation
Corbin Jones
Cheryl North, Education
An examination of writing in a class of 30 Gifted and Talented tenth grade students from a suburban high school showed a difficulty with complex sentence structures. Many of these students relied on the same repetitive clauses that characterize primary school writing and produced writing that lacked a mature voice. While traditional instruction, focusing on understanding rules and diagramming sentences, is useful for linguists or grammar teachers, research suggests students learn better from learning grammar in context (Crovix and Devereaux). This research project focuses on exposure to different sentence structures and practice where students imitate and utilize different clause combinations in order to practice combining ideas into interesting and varied sentences. This program will concentrate on integrating distinct sentence structures into their writing, including participle phrases, prepositional phrases and adverb clauses. Their essays in particular have a third of the rubric devoted to assessing their sentence structures. By comparing both grammar assessments and major essays across quarters, it will be possible to see the desired change in the use of complex sentence structures. Crovitz, D., & Devereaux, M. D. (2017). Grammar to get things done : a practical guide for teachers anchored in real-world usage. New York : Routledge, 2017.
Near-Infrared Emitting Organometallic Hydroporphyrin Derivatives
Marcus Jordan, Nopondo Esemoto, Adam Meares
Marcin Ptaszek, Chemistry and Biochemistry
Chlorins, a type of hydroporphyrin, absorbs light around 650-670 nm, at the edge of the therapeutic window of 650-900 nm. Photoexcited chlorins are able to react with oxygen in order to generate cytotoxic reactive oxygen species that can eliminate cancer cells.Unfortunately, this functionality is severely limited in hypoxic environments. A better known anticancer agent that has been in use for a little over five decades is cisplatin. It is able to eliminate cancer cells through DNA intercalation which ultimately interferes with the cells’ DNA replication and repair mechanisms and leads to apoptosis, or programmed cell death. However, cisplatin is highly nephrotoxic, and it is subject to cellular resistance, ultimately rendering it ineffective in the long term. The goal of this project is to combine these two moieties and study their spectroscopic properties. Two organometallic, i.e. organoplatinum and organogold chlorin derivatives were prepared, as a model compounds which combines both photodynamic and chemotherapeutic functions. Their photochemical properties (absorption, emission, singlet oxygen photosensitization), were determined.
This investigation was sponsored by NIH/NIGMS MARC U*STAR T3408663 National Research Service Award to UMBC.
Talk Like Your Write and Write Like You Talk: Developing High School Writing Skills
Willie Justiniano
Cheryl North, Education
Writing is a critical skill that students need to succeed in college, the workplace, and the community. This research focuses on increasing student proficiency in writing for five students at an urban high school. These five students achieved writing scores of 48%, 60%, 33%, 73%, and 33% on their diagnostic test. The average score was 12.4 points out of 20 possible points (62%), and since no student attained mastery with 16 points on this baseline diagnostic the goal of this research is to get them to 80% mastery or 16 points on subsequent diagnostic tests. The teacher will track progress of student mastery through formative writing tasks which will focus on writing a good thesis statement, outlining, and organizing. This will be achieved modeled and guided writing samples, self and peer revision, and the use of graphic organizers in order to gain writing proficiency.
Araby Kaba
Carolyn Forestiere, Political Science
What is the impact of regime instability and/or armed conflict and the percentage of a population using basic sanitation services on freedom in the world in sub-Saharan Africa? This paper outlines whether or not having regime instability and/or armed conflict in a sub-Saharan African country influences its freedom in the world score. It also discusses whether the percentage of a population using basic sanitation services has an effect on a country’s freedom in the world score. Quantitative and qualitative analysis were used to reach a conclusion with data coming from Freedom House, the Center for Systemic Peace, the World Bank, and case studies from academic journals and research reports such as Afrobarometer, Sage Publications, and JSTOR. The results showed that there is a positive relationship between regime instability and/ or armed conflict and freedom in the world. There is, however, no significant relationship between the percentage of a population using basic sanitation services and freedom in the world. These analyses allow for important insight on sub-Saharan African countries as there is hardly ever research done on the African continent in general. This research reveals the role regime instability and basic sanitation services play on democracy and freedom in these countries.
Qualitative Study Examining Health Literacy in Older African American Adults
Laiyana Kabir, Emily Tillett, Ghaziyah Khalid, Zeina Antar
Jasmine Abrams, Psychology; Sarah Jung, Psychology, UMBC
Aging African Americans are known to experience the greatest number of health disparities compared to other aging ethnic groups (Bailey, 2002; Hop & Duffy, 2000). Research has shown that a lack of health literacy, associated with low socioeconomic status, may be an important factor to consider (Sudore et al., 2006; Sentell & Haplin, 2006). Health literacy is the capacity to which an individual has the ability to obtain, communicate, and understand the processes of basic health services and information to make appropriate health decisions (Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010). A health needs assessment was conducted with older African American adults (N = 40) at a senior living facility in Baltimore, MD to identify the health-related needs of the residents. A lack of knowledge in navigating the healthcare system and education regarding healthy living were two health needs that were identified. Together, these variables negatively affected the overall health of the population and further illuminated variables contributing to health disparities among aging African Americans. Members faced obstacles in adapting methods to living healthy lifestyles as well as obtaining appropriate health care for their personal needs. We recommended educational workshops to address these barriers to health.
Tetracysteine Tagged OVA(323-339) Peptide as a Novel Tool for Tracking Peptide-MHCII Complexes In Primary Mouse Cells
Rahul Kamdar
Billur Akkaya, National Institutes of Allergies and Infectious Diseases ; Ethan Shevach , National Institutes of Allergies and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health
The antigen presenting cell (APC) plays a critical role in the adaptive immune response. In this particular project, the APC consists of the dendritic cell (DC) and the ovalbumin (OVA) peptide-MHC-II complex. The steps for a cell to turn into a professional APC include: having the extracellular peptide enter the DC, digesting the peptide using lysosomes, and then loading the epitopic fragment onto the MHC-II peptide to be presented on the surface of the DC to CD4+ T-Cells. Our study aims to track the movements of the OVA peptide in real time as it moves within the DC and undergoes the processes to present the APC to an OVA specific T-cell. Our study tests a six amino acid long motif known as tetracysteine coupled with a labeling reagent known as FLAsH EDT-2 that is used to bind to OVA . The study is divided into roughly three sections that test for antigenic integrity, determining the optimal location to add the tetracysteine and FLAsH tag on the antigen, and using confocal microscopy to track the antigen activity in the APC, as well as monitoring the dynamics between the APC and the OTII CD4+ T-Cell.
This work was funded, in part by the Office Of Intramural Training and Education (OITE) from the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
Scratching the Surface of Bahama Oriole Pine Forest Nesting
Matthew Kane
Kevin Omland, Biological Sciences
The Bahama Oriole is a critically endangered songbird endemic to the Bahamas that is currently found only on the Andros island complex. Loss of coconut palms due to lethal yellowing disease, brood parasitism by the Shiny Cowbird, and introduced predators are the most commonly cited threats to the species. However, due to our recent finding that Bahama Orioles nest more frequently in pine forests than what was previously believed, we saw the need to study further into previously overlooked pine forest habitat. Our research aimed to identify potential predators in the pine forests of our North Andros study area using camera trapping. We documented the presence of feral cats in developed areas as well the most remote parts of the pine forest. These findings are of particular concern given that feral and domesticated cats are well-documented predators of birds and have led to the extinction of more than 30 island-endemic bird species. Moving forward, we will conduct more research on the Bahama Oriole and its pine forest habitat in order to assess the threat of predation, accurately measure the population size, and lead effective conservation efforts.
This work was funded, in part, through an Undergraduate Research Award from the UMBC Division of Academic Affairs.
Empirical study on Defining Reliable Features for Detecting Malicious Users of Web Applications
Jared Keirle
Sreedevi Sampath, Information Systems; Sara Sprenkle, Computer Science, Washington & Lee University
This research aims to produce ways of distinguishing valid user sessions from malicious and/or bot sessions on websites. With more services relying on the Internet, it is important to be able to detect malicious users visiting a website. Detecting a malicious user would allow for taking preventive measures to stop an attack. In previous work, valid user sessions have been gathered by collecting click stream data of requests made by users on a web application, Logic, and malicious user sessions were collected by running vulnerability scanners on Logic and logging the requests these scanners made. The user sessions were combined, clustered, and analyzed to see which features work well for distinguishing valid from malicious user sessions. My research explores how to collect malicious user sessions for a new web application, Schoolmate, which, unlike Logic, implements a dispatcher model web application. I will also combine previously collected valid user sessions and the malicious sessions that I will generate and apply existing clustering methods. This will determine if the same features that worked for the Logic application also work for the Schoolmate application. Studying whether features and clustering work well for multiple web applications goes toward supporting the generalizability of the research.
MONETA AVGVSTI: Second and Third Century Coin Imagery and the Influence of Emperors in Roman Britain
Flora Kirk
Melissa Kutner, Ancient Studies
In the Roman empire, money had both economic and communicative purposes. Analysing coin composition and images reveals patterns that shed light on Roman emperors’ propaganda. In particular, the coins of the second and third centuries display a juxtaposition between an era that was broadly stable – economically and politically – and one that was broadly unstable. While my senior thesis covers coin image and composition, this presentation will to focus on the latter half, studying levels of use-wear in Romano-British coin hoards buried in these centuries. This research, using data from the third century Beau Street Hoard and the second century Weston Lawrence Hoard, was conducted to identify any effect the imperial message had on spending in Roman Britain. Findings ultimately revealed that while there was little correlation between image and use-wear, there was suggestion of relation between weight and wear. This suggests that the emperor’s message had little effect on the perception of coin value among users. However, wear patterns do point towards an acknowledgement of debasement in the silver content, and subsequent hoarding of more valuable coins.
This work was funded, in part, through an Undergraduate Research Award from the UMBC Division of Academic Affairs.
Anger Expression and its Relation to Fasting Glucose Levels
Dana Kobrin, Antoine Taylor1
1UMBC
Shari Waldstein, Psychology
Anger is an emotional state that has been linked to increased risk for cardiovascular and metabolic disease. Common anger expression styles are described as “anger-in” (suppressed anger), “anger-out” (outward expression of anger), and “anger-control” (ability to manage anger). Greater anger-in and anger-out scores have been associated with higher fasting glucose levels, but anger-control remains understudied. The present study evaluated relations of anger expression styles to fasting glucose among 170 non-diabetic (by concurrent standards) older adults [aged 65-95 years (M = 66.3), 57% male, 43% White] who were participants in a larger cardiovascular health study at the Baltimore Veterans Affairs Medical Center. Fasting blood glucose levels were obtained, and Spielberger’s State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory was administered; anger-in, anger-out, and anger-control subscales were recorded. Results of multiple regression analyses showed that, after controlling for age, sex, body mass index and race/ethnicity, participants with higher anger control scores had lower fasting glucose levels (b = -.48, t(5,163)= -2.76, p .05). Results suggest that greater ability to manage one’s anger may be associated with better glycemic control. Findings may contribute to improved screening efforts for diabetes risk.
Language Endangerment in Thailand
Amie Kong, Julia Marcos, Aliyah Smith
Renée Lambert-Brétière, Modern Languages, Linguistics, and Intercultural Communication
Although modern Thailand sees itself as strictly monolingual, Thailand’s ethnolinguistic minorities speak their mother tongues with their family within the same community, while Central Thai is spoken in schools, business, and politics, which lead to reductions in diglossia. The five registers of Standard Thai play a critical part of social life in Thailand, and serves as the official language. With eighty percent of youth in Thailand abandoning their ethnic languages for the prestigious Standard Thai language, minority language communities created efforts to protect their languages. The Chong language research project held by the local community to promote language and culture for the Chong language achieved passing the language to the younger generation. The Office of Non-Formal Education Commission (ONFEC) of the Thai Ministry of Education piloted a project to use bilingual education to maintain the Northern Pwo Karen language through a writing system, in efforts to create a connection to the Thai language and culture. Analyses of how language maintenance is initiated in the Chong and Northern Pwo Karen language exhibit the importance of reducing the likelihood for minority language extinction in Thailand.
Comprehensive literature review of data quality improvement: problems, needs, method and tools
Sophie Kozolan
Gunes Koru, Information Systems
Despite a large volume of healthcare data is available for research, data quality is often an overlooked, yet an important problem. The quality of data is important for both healthcare researchers and practitioners. The lack of data quality is contributed by factors such as inconsistencies, missing values, and duplicate records. A number of tools to improve data quality have been built to alleviate the problem to a certain extent. This paper compares some of the data quality tools available on the market and discusses their functionality to improve the quality of healthcare administration data.
Does Delayed Postsecondary Enrollment Explain the Relationship Between Race and Academic Performance?
Phoebe Kuwornu
Karen Watkins-Lewis, Psychology
Socioeconomic status, race/ethnicity, gender, familial income, financial aid availability, and tuition are few characteristics that influence the prospects of students obtaining a postsecondary education immediately after high school. The decision to delay the attendance of college has implications that may impede academic success or the failure to receive an undergraduate degree. Blacks are more likely than their White counterparts to delay or make the decision to not enroll in a postsecondary education because of their lack of financial resources, academic achievement and preparation, parental involvement and whether or not a parent had obtained a degree. While numerous studies have investigated the reasons students delay their postsecondary education, few address how delayed enrollment explains the relationship between race and academic success and the differences in grades between students who immediately enroll compared to students who delay. This longitudinal t-test study used 50,000 Black and White students between the ages of 18 and 80 and grade point averages. Data was collected through computer assisted telephone and in-person interviews (CATI), institutional databases, financial aid/loan databases, and high school testing databases. Based on the analysis, there were less success rates in delayed enrollment students with a greater decrease in Black students.
Emily Lambros, Neil Posner, Adam Leneski, Joey Eller, Kaitlin Morrish
Eric Jordan, Visual Arts
In the Spook Room, a dedicated team of artists and programmers has labored to produce a game to both challenge and frighten players. The development of this game offered a better understanding and insight of the mixed media of game design as the team explored new ways to apply art and programming. The player must escape a multitude of rooms and a wide variety of monsters, armed only with their flashlight and objects which they scavenge from within the rooms. The Spook Room walks the line between puzzling and gently intuitive, with natural controls for the player and careful level design to showcase the various quirks and characteristics of the monsters. The team endeavored to avoid the frustrations incurred by unfriendly level design and busywork puzzles, all the while being careful to insure an immersive horror experience. The Spook Room employs problem solving combined with haunting visuals for a thrilling and exciting adventure. With both the challenge of learning an entirely new game engine, and learning what makes horror fun, the team has overcome many challenges to bring the player a delightfully ghoulish horror experience that is sure to be remembered.
Determining the Impact of Gold Nanoparticles bound with Propyl Poly oxo-norbornenes to D. rerio
April Jay Laranang
Zeev Rosenzweig, Chemistry and Biochemistry; Rebecca Klaper, University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee
Synthetic Mimic of Antimicrobial Peptides (SMAMPS) are novel poly oxy-norbornene (PONs) based nanoparticle coatings designed to imitate natural defense-host peptides that regulate the ability to act as an organism’s first line of defense and to act as antimicrobial agents. PONs can be synthesized with a variety of different charge densities. In this study, our goal was to utilize gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) coated with SMAMPS in order to understand how differences in the charge of the coating will impact the model organism,D. rerio. To alter the charge of the ligands, the SMAMPS were synthesized with different ratios of amine to propyl, either 50% or 75% amine. D. rerio embryos were then exposed for 5 days to various concentrations of either coated AuNPs or to ligands alone. At lower concentrations, we saw that the viability of the embryos was similar to the control despite the charge; however, there were differences with the higher concentrations of ligands. For the ligand-coated NP solutions, the 75% amine ligands induced lower viability, while for the ligand-only solutions, the 50% amine ligands induced a lower viability compared to the 75% amine ligands. The following project is currently being repeated to further investigate the observed impacts.
This investigation was sponsored by NIH/NIGMS MARC U*STAR T3408663 National Research Service Award to UMBC.
Inferring Mathematical Dynamic Models of Tumor Sub-Clonal Interactions to Predict Optimal Treatment Targets
Caroline Larkin
Daniel Lobo, Biological Sciences
Tumors are characterized by various cell types called sub-clones that dynamically interact among themselves and their surrounding environment. This results in heterogeneous cancer phenotypes, such as increased tumor growth, depending on sub-clonal compositions. Tumor heterogeneity is poorly understood and can grant new insights for cancer therapeutic development. Sub-clones have varying impacts on overall tumor growth and their interactions are essential for maintaining tumor proliferation. Perturbing specific sub-clones has been shown to significantly affect tumor development, with results ranging from accelerated tumor proliferation to even collapse. To elucidate the sub-clonal dynamics and predict the effects of targeted therapeutic interventions, we developed a computational framework to infer dynamic mathematical models of sub-clonal interactions. Our method utilizes high-performance computing to automatically construct these models, which can accurately recapitulate tumor volume and clonal frequency dynamics from mice xenograft experimental data of genetically-engineered human breast cancer cells. Importantly, the reverse-engineered models can predict results of novel experiments, thus determining optimal target clone(s) for therapeutic intervention. These results provide significant insight to potential therapeutic targets, and provide substantial understanding into the complexity of tumor sub-clonal dynamics. This approach will provide essential information for the development of personalized medical treatments based on a patient’s unique tumor composition.
This project was funded in part by a grant from the PhRMA Foundation. This investigation was sponsored by NIH/NIGMS MARC U*STAR T3408663 National Research Service Award to UMBC. We would also like to thank the UMBC Meyerhoff Scholars Program for their support. Computations used the UMBC High Performance Computing Facility (HPCF) supported by the NSF MRI program (grants CNS-0821258, CNS-1228778, and OAC-1726023), the SCREMS program (grant DMS-0821311), and UMBC.
Cognitive Performance and Neuronal Function Disrupted by Exposure to Low Doses of Helium Particles
Alison Larsen, Christina Spadafora, Nicholas Zolnerowich, Lorraine Anastacia Dell’Acqua, William Pagden, Rishit Patel1, Randy Heng1, Elizabeth Hawkins
1UMBC
Bernard Rabin, Psychology
On exploratory class missions, such as a mission to Mars, astronauts will be exposed to types and doses of radiation (cosmic rays) that are not experienced in low earth orbit. A significant portion of this radiation will be composed of low linear energy transfer (LET) helium (4He) particles, which because of their low LET, may not affect neuronal function and cognitive performance. Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to 4He particles at doses ranging from 0.01 to 0.5 cGy. Following exposure, the brains were removed from a subset of rats for analysis of oxidative stress by measuring NADPH oxidase expression. The remaining rats (n = ten/dose) were shipped to UMBC for behavioral testing, including elevated plus maze (baseline anxiety); novel object and novel spatial recognition (learning and memory); and operant responding on an ascending fixed-ratio schedule (motivation to work for reward). The results indicated changes in behavioral and neurochemical endpoints following exposures to 4He particles at doses as low as 0.01 to 0.05 cGy. Because 4He particles constitute a significant fraction of the radiation in which astronauts will be exposed, the present results suggest that astronauts on exploratory class missions may be at a greater risk for cognitive deficits than anticipated.
I am a recipient of a UMBC Travel Award from the UMBC Division of Academic Affairs
Generation and Analysis of dp1 Mutants in the Green Alga Volvox carteri
Michael LaScola
Stephen Miller, Biological Sciences
Cellular differentiation is one of the most important attributes of complex life, but also one of the least understood. Studying simple multicellular species such as the green alga Volvox carteri should lead to a better understanding of the mechanisms that regulate cell differentiation. V. carteri possess two cell types with complete division of labor, somatic and reproductive cells. Through CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing methodology we set out to knock out a V. carteri cell cycle regulatory gene, dp1, which encodes a product known to interact with the GlsA protein—a factor required to produce reproductive cells through asymmetric cell division. We expected that mutating dp1 might disrupt asymmetric cell division such that only somatic cells would be produced. We generated four different sgRNAs that target different regions of dp1 and transformed them into V. carteri along with a nitrate-inducible transgene encoding Cas9. We obtained a total of 19 transformants from the sgRNAs and cultured them in medium containing nitrate to induce Cas9 expression. We are in the process of characterizing the transformant progeny by genomic PCR to determine whether any of them are mutated at dp1. Any mutants we identify will help elucidate the role of dp1 in V. carteri development.
This work was funded, in part, through an Undergraduate Research Award from the UMBC Division of Academic Affairs.
Exploring Genomic Locations Leading to High Levels of Protein Expression and Secretion in Aspergillus nidulans
Kelsi Lawson, Dr. Michael Garant, Avvim Funtanilla
Mark Marten, Chemical, Biochemical, and Environmental Engineering
The goal of this project is to create a fungal mutant which expresses and secretes high levels of recombinant protein. In the past, we have observed non-homologous rDNA transformations in filamentous fungi often lead to transformants with differing levels of protein expression. Thus, we hypothesize insertion of a recombinant gene-cassette, at certain genomic locations, will lead to high levels of recombinant-protein expression and secretion. To test our hypothesis we will use green fluorescent protein (GFP) and have three specific aims: (1) assemble a recombinant DNA plasmid containing GFP and a fungal promoter, terminator and selection marker, (2) use this plasmid to create a large number of non-homologous A. nidulans transformants (>100), and (3) screen these transformants to identify the five highest expressing strains. Thus far, GFP has been inserted into the pEXPYR plasmid, which contains the pyrG gene used as an auxotrophic selection marker. This plasmid will be used to transform a pyrG- A. nidulans strain, which cannot grow without added uridine and uracil. This transformation process will be repeated until 100 transformants are collected. These will eventually be subjected to whole genome sequencing to identify genomic locations leading to high levels of protein expression.
This work was funded, in part, from the National Science Foundation (Awards 1601935 & 1517309).
Role of N-Myc Downstream Regulated Genes in Low Oxygen Adaptation
Nguyet Le
Rachel Brewster, Biological Sciences
The absence of oxygen in organs with high metabolic rate, such as the brain, heart and kidney, can lead to cell damage and death in humans. However, under anoxia (0% oxygen), zebrafish embryos enter a hypometabolic state that enables them to conserve cellular energy (ATP) and survive for up to 50 hours. Currently, the molecular mechanisms that initiate and maintain the hypometabolic state in zebrafish are unknown. The knowledge of such mechanism would be extremely beneficial for therapeutic purposes. In an effort to identify molecules that promote developmental arrest, we carried out a metabolic profiling and found that lactate is one of several metabolites that are up-regulated in embryos exposed to anoxia. Lactate has previously been shown to bind to NDRG3 in hypoxic cancer cells and to promote cell survival, thereby identifying lactate/NDRG as a candidate signal for adaptation to low oxygen. This finding lead us to ask the question whether NDRGs could function in a similar manner in the zebrafish embryo by binding lactate and promote low oxygen survival and adaptation. To address this question, my project was to identify where in the zebrafish embryos are the ndrgfamily expressed by performing in situ hybridization.
Helping Students with Multiple Choice Strategies
William Leisher
Cheryl North, Education
Although reading and writing are important components of English Language Arts, the ability to read multiple choice questions and do well on tests is a skill that will be necessary. Not only does reading the question become a concern, but students need to read the options and evaluate which one is the appropriate choice. Student will be taught to closely read the question, narrow on keywords in a sentence, and use the process of elimination in order for them perform better on exams. This research examines a class of 35 SAT Prep students in a suburban neighborhood, which based on a diagnostic exam, averaged 540. The goal is that the intervenstions will help raise their SAT scores by 50 points. The teacher will track the progress of student mastery through several multiple choice exams and can be achieved by modeled test taking and providing reading tips for students to utilize during test taking.
Synthesis of Functional CRISPR-Cas9 System to knockout Melanopsin Mutations in Transgenic Mouse Cells.
Sanae Lembirik, Alexis Rubin1
1UMBC
Phyllis Robinson, Biological Sciences
Melanopsin is a vertebrate photopigment belonging to a group of light sensitive retinal proteins called opsin. Melanopsin is expressed in a subset of ganglion cells known as intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (ipRGCs) which play a key role in non-image forming vision including circadian photoentrainment, and light regulation of sleep, and mood. When light hits the pigments, the chromophore isomerases and changes conformation to allow the binding of G-proteins that then activates the photo transduction pathway. To understand the role of specific phosphorylatable regions on melanopsin functioning in vivo, we will use the powerful genome editing tool CRISPR-Cas9 system to generate transgenic mice. The goal is to design fully functional Cas9-gRNA plasmid constructs by co-expressing the endonuclease Cas9 and guide RNAs specific to the gene for melanopsin. We will then create different lines of melanopsin mutant mice using the CRISPR/Cas9 system and the gRNAs that have been tested in a heterologous system. The result of this study will be used to investigate the impact of melanopsin phosphorylation on non-image forming behaviors.
This investigation was sponsored by NIH/NIGMS MARC U*STAR T3408663 National Research Service Award to UMBC.
Identifying a Kinase Responsible for Increasing Translational Accuracy in Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Anna Lilly
Philip Farabaugh, Biological Sciences
Translation is the cellular process by which complexes of proteins known as ribosomes synthesize proteins from messenger RNA. This integral process creates proteins that execute numerous cellular processes and maintain cellular function. Because of their role, it is important for protein to perform accurate and replicable translation. Errors in translation cause misfolded proteins, resulting in functionally different proteins. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, researchers found that the ribosomal protein, Rps2, regulates translational accuracy of the ribosome. Researchers observed an increase in accuracy when proteins called kinases add phosphate groups to specific amino acids in Rps2 through the process of phosphorylation. Previously, we identified the kinase Ctk1 for its role in phosphorylating Rps2, resulting in increased translational accuracy. We believe that Ctk1 indirectly promotes accuracy by activating a downstream kinase responsible for phosphorylating Rps2, causing the ribosome to increase accuracy. To investigate which downstream kinase directly phosphorylated Rps2, we designed kinase deletion S. cerevisiae strains. We measured the rate of translational error in vivo. Elimination of the kinase directly phosphorylated Rps2 to increase translational accuracy would cause increased translational error. Our lab aims to find the kinase downstream of Ctk1, responsible for increasing accuracy.
Structure and Function of the FeoA protein in the Ferrous Iron Transport System
Richard Linkous
Aaron Smith, Chemistry and Biochemistry
Iron is essential for virtually all organisms, as it is used in indispensable biological processes such as oxygen transport, DNA biosynthesis, and aerobic cellular respiration. FeoA is an essential soluble protein that is part of the Feo system, which is a series of proteins responsible for the acquisition of ferrous iron (Fe2+) by bacteria. Currently little is known about how the Feo system functions, and the role of FeoA within this system remains enigmatic. Previous research indicates that FeoA interacts with membrane-bound FeoB within whole cells, however the molecular interactions between these proteins are unclear, as are the biological ramifications of these interactions. The goal of this work is to utilize biophysical and enzymatic assays to characterize FeoAs from two pathogenic bacteria, Escherichia coli, (EcFeoA), and Klebsiella pneumoniae (KpFeoA). This work demonstrates the recombinant expression and purification of EcFeoA and KpFeoA. Far-UV solution circular dichroism spectra of these proteins demonstrate the expected secondary structure, and size-exclusion chromatography indicates that both proteins exist as a mixture of oligomers. Pull-down assays have confirmed that an interaction exists between FeoA and FeoB from both pathogenic organisms. The work also reports on the preliminary crystallization of KpFeoA, which is actively being optimized.
This work was funded, in part, by Start-Up funds (UMBC) and by a Strategic Award For Research Transitions (UMBC) to A.T.S.
Reaping the Rewards of Reading Rhythm
David Lopez
Nana Vaughn, Music
The ability to read standard notation is a staple in modern music education. While this can include reading notes, articulations, symbols and others, rhythm remains one of the most invaluable aspects of reading music. This project examined the musical growth of a group of 10 seventh grade students who play a string instrument in a suburban middle school with limited resources. To acquire baseline data, a set of different rhythms rated at grade two spanning 8 measures were created for strings students to individually clap/play. Students are evaluated by how many mistakes they made while reading and placed into categories of ability. If a student made 0-3 mistakes, this demonstrated adequate rhythmic reading and placed in category 1. If a student made 4-7 mistakes, this demonstrated subpar rhythmic reading and placed in category 2. If a student made 8 or more mistakes, this demonstrated a lack of ability to read rhythm and placed in category 3. The goal of this project seeks to develop and improve rhythmic reading through differentiated instruction and constant exposure to rhythm, moving to the next higher category ability (3 to 2, 2 to 3, etc…), demonstrating growth.
Courtney Lovett, Khang Ngo, Andrew McFarland, Emanuel Felipe, Jacob Crouse
Eric Jordan, Visual Arts
Abduction is a two dimensional bullet dodging game created for UMBC’s capstone game project class. In the game, the player is placed in control of an alien spacecraft participating in an invasion of earth. As a twist, the alien craft will have nearly no destructive weapons, instead relying on dodging and utilizing various other tools to abduct humans while staying alive. The controls of the alien ship seek to give the player the feeling of piloting a floaty, yet precise stereotypical flying saucer, one which carves fast arcs through the sky and is able to make near-instant sharp turns. Mastering this control scheme will be a challenge for players. As the game increases in difficulty and complexity, the player will be able to improve their assets and cover their weaknesses through the usage of level up systems and various upgrades. Construction of the game allowed the computer science, visual arts and animation major students involved to explore the various roles and tasks of an independent game development team. Development of Abduction was an effective exercise in game mechanics design, animation, and programming.
Huckel’s Theory: A Mathematical and Theoretical Approach to Determine the Properties of Conjugated Pi Systems
Joshua Lucker
Joel Liebman, Chemistry and Biochemistry
There are times in chemistry when experiments cannot be done in a lab. In these cases, chemists must find other approaches for answers to their questions, usually in the form of computational or theoretical methods. One such method is Huckel’s molecular orbital theory, which is used to investigate the orbital properties of compounds with conjugated pi bonds. To do this, an adjacency matrix of the compound would be created based on which atoms are connected to each other. Then, by using MATLAB, the eigenvalues and eigenvectors of said matrix would be found. The eigenvalues would correspond to the energy levels of these orbitals, and the eigenvectors would correspond to other orbital properties. The project also focused on the striking similarities of the molecular orbitals of para-1,4-divinylbenzene and 2-phenylbutadiene that were discovered when these compounds were evaluated using this method. According to Huckel’s Theory, it has been found that these two molecules, although very different, have orbitals with identical eigenvalues, and thus, identical energy levels. By conducting this project, my mentor and I hope to introduce others to a mathematical and theoretical approach that investigates the orbital properties of certain compounds that cannot otherwise be conducted in a laboratory.
Investigation of The Biological Pathways and Interacting Partners Of The Lysine Methyltransferase Set6 In Budding Yeast
Joanna Lum
Erin Green, Biological Sciences
Histone proteins are scaffolds within the nucleus that provide structural and organizational integrity for DNA. In addition to providing the DNA its structure, histones are also a common site for lysine methylation, which is a post translational modification catalyzed by SET-domain containing chromatin regulatory proteins. Recent studies suggest that histone abnormalities are linked to latent defects in chromatin structure, leading to cancer and other developmental complications. In the current experiment, we used the budding yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, as a model organism to study the cellular function of Set6 – an uncharacterized SET-domain containing lysine methyltransferase. The aim of our project was to investigate biological pathways in which Set6 is involved by performing genetic interaction and protein-protein interaction studies of Set6. According to our preliminary data, cells without Set6 are sensitive to the antimitotic drug, benomyl. Also, our immunoprecipitation and mass spectrometry data revealed a candidate protein that showed the strongest interaction with Set6: Gim3. This protein is part of the co-chaperone prefoldin complex that is important for microtubule assembly, chromatin localization and transcriptional elongation. Overall, our data has opened new avenues of investigation for understanding the function of Set6, including determining its potential roles in microtubule assembly and transcription elongation.
This investigation was sponsored by NIH/NIGMS MARC U*STAR T3408663 National Research Service Award to UMBC.
Marital Status, Partisanship, and Voting Behavior
Meghan Lynch
Ian Anson, Political Science
Does a female candidate’s marital status influence the likelihood they receive support from voters? There has been a surge of female candidate recruitment despite a persistent representation gap, therefore we need to understand why women aren’t winning office. In November of 2017, 529 Americans were recruited on the Amazon MTurk platform to participate in an original omnibus survey. This survey included a randomized experiment which asked respondents to gauge their support for fictional candidates. These profiles randomized both the partisan affiliation and the marital status of a fictional female candidate running against a male candidate. Following a statistical analysis of the Amazon MTurk survey, the data suggests that there is a connection, however small it may be, between being a married woman and receiving a voter’s support. It also suggests that Democrats are more likely to support a female candidate under all circumstances, whereas Republicans prefer a married female candidate. The results align with preconceived notions of the Republican Party as holding traditional family ideals while the Democratic Party is more progressive and inclusive. As women have gained more equality in political institutions, this study can identify possible hindrances to the success of female candidates.
Hrabowski Innovation Grant.
The Utility of In-hospital Postoperative Radiographs Following Surgical Treatment of Traumatic Cervical Spine Injuries
Zanaib Malik
Steven Ludwig, Unversity of Maryland Medical Center
Post-operative radiographs are routinely obtained following the surgical treatment of traumatic cervical spine injuries.This routine imaging comes at a financial cost to the healthcare system in addition to exposing the patient to an increased radiation dose. We hypothesized that routine post-operative x-ray imaging following surgical treatment of cervical spine traumatic injuries are unwarranted in the absence of changes in clinical findings. We conducted a retrospective chart review of the patients who underwent surgical treatment of traumatic cervical spine injuries over an eight-year period between January 2008 and December 2016. 295 patients (177 males and 118 females). Advanced imaging (CT/MRI) was ordered in 13 patients, 9 of which required additional surgery: In the cases requiring additional surgery, the post-operative radiographs added no value in guiding treatment in the absence of clinical findings. Routine in-hospital and postoperative radiographs following surgical treatment of traumatic cervical spine injuries are of little value, especially in the absence of changes in examination or symptoms. With today’s increasing emphasis on cost efficiency and evidence-based practice, we recommend against obtaining routine post-operative imaging in the absence of new clinical findings.
Teaching What’s Best for Students: Applying Grammar in the Classroom.
Ryan Manceri
Cheryl North, Education
An essential skill of English Language Arts is the ability to identify and utilize proper grammar and parts of speech. Perhaps, most of all, is that this knowledge would then be reflected in other aspects of learning, causing student writing to improve. Tenth grade students at an urban high school were evaluated at the beginning, middle, and end of the school year using a grammar based diagnostic exam to gauge student’s prior information. Students were given grammar and parts of speech drills at the beginning of each class period while also receiving assignments and class work that provided grammar instruction; delivering material in context through means such as: peer editing, reading articles and identifying errors, providing one on one conferences with students for writing revision, and navigating the editing process as a class in order to properly scaffold the information to students. The goal was that all students that received below a 60% on their baseline essay at the beginning of the year would raise their score to at least a 60% by the end of the year. All students that scored between a 60%-80% would score an 80% or greater by the end of the school year.
California v. Brock Turner (2016): The Injustice of Inequitable Sentencing of Sexual Assault Offenders
Samiksha Manjani
Jeffrey Davis, Political Science
This research analyzes and reveals the inequities in sentencing sexual assault convictions. It highlights various cases, but most notably analyzes the sentencing in People of the State of California v. Brock Allen Turner (2016). Brock Allen Turner was convicted of three felony sexual assault charges yet was only sentenced to six months confinement in a county jail. He was then released after serving three months, and subsequently on probation for three years. The public outcry in response raised questions regarding sentencing leniency for some sex offenders; especially when factors of race and social class are considered. The Californian legislature responded in 2016 with the passage of mandatory minimum sentences for sexual assault offenses as an attempt at adequate and uniform retribution. This research analyzes the consequences of mandatory minimum sentences on minority populations, and its constitutionality. Furthermore, it analyzes and suggests alternative sentencing approaches including non-binding sentencing guidelines, restorative justice, and rehabilitation.
This work was funded, in part, through an Undergraduate Research Award from the UMBC Division of Academic Affairs.
Can Local Governments and Nonprofits Affect Immigrant Settlement?A Review of Local Programs for Immigrant Homeownership
Jason Mascelli
Felipe Filomeno, Global Studies Program
Immigrants in the United States have repopulated old urban neighborhoods, contributing to urban revitalization throughout the country. With this in mind, some local governments and nonprofits have adopted programs and policies for immigrant integration, some of which focus on increasing immigrant homeownership. Knowledge about the characteristics and efficacy of these programs and policies is, however, very limited. This study identified and characterized such programs through a systematic review of the websites of local government and nonprofit members of Welcoming America, a national network of immigrant-supporting members. In addition, it examined in depth a set of five well established and diverse initiatives through semi- structured interviews to explore factors that have contributed to their success or failure. The review of websites revealed that, while few local governments and organizations offer programs that specifically aim to increase immigrant homeownership, those that do typically offer homeownership education, financial counseling, and cost assistance. The case studies suggest that factors such as collaboration with government bodies and community organizations as well as engagement with immigrant communities contribute to a program’s success, though barriers arise as homeownership is a long-term need and part of a broader housing problematic.
This work was funded, in part, through an Undergraduate Research Award from the UMBC Division of Academic Affairs.
The Role of Olfactory Cues in Male Mate Choice in Etheostoma zonale
Courtney Mattson
Tamra Mendelson, Biological Sciences
Although male choice has long been overshadowed by female choice in studies of sexual selection, the topic has become more studied in recent years to gain a more complete understanding of sexual behaviors that drive evolution. An experiment was conducted to determine the presence of male preference for the olfactory cues of conspecific females over heterospecific females in the darter fish species Etheostoma zonale. Ten male E. zonale were used in 20 dichotomous trials in which they were introduced to water from two stimulus tanks positioned above either end of a focal test tank. One stimulus tank contained females of either E. zonale(conspecific) or Etheostoma barrenense (heterospecific), and the other stimulus tank was a plain water control. No preference for either conspecific scents over heterospecific scents, or conspecific scents over the control were found. These results should be further explored to determine the cause for a lack of result.
This work was funded, in part, through an Undergraduate Research Award from the UMBC Division of Academic Affairs.
Characterizing Protein-RNA Interactions that Nucleate the HIV-1 Viral Assembly
Ugonna Mbaekwe
Michael Summers, Chemistry and Biochemistry; Pengfei Ding, Chemistry and Biochemistry, UMBC
During the HIV-1 life cycle, viral assembly is initiated by interactions between unspliced dimeric viral RNA (vRNA) and its translated product, the Gag polyprotein, for selective genome packaging. Gag contains three structured domains: Matrix (MA), Capsid (CA), and Nucleocapsid (NC). The NC domain recognizes and binds to exposed guanosines within the 5′-Leader (5′-L) of the vRNA, while the CA domain is responsible for Gag-Gag interactions. We seek to characterize essential Gag-RNA interactions using a truncated 5′-L derivative and Gag protein constructs. The basic unit of the immature viral shell is a hexamer of Gag; mutations at the hexameric interface significantly reduce Gag’s selectivity towards the vRNA. We hypothesize that the hexameric structure of the CA domain contributes to genome selection and the vRNA is needed to promote hexamer formation of Gag. We have seen that there are sixteen NC binding sites and that only in the presence of the vRNA will Gag hexamerize. We aim to deduce more thermodynamic parameters and structural information using Electrophoretic Mobility Shift Assays, Isothermal Titration Calorimetry, Electron Microscopy, and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance. These studies will elucidate the mechanism of the HIV-1 genome selection, a stage in the life cycle that can be targeted with therapeutics.
This investigation was sponsored by NIH/NIGMS MARC U*STAR T34 08663 National Research Service Award to UMBC and was supported by NIH/NIGMS grant 1P50GM103297, the NIH-funded STEM BUILD at UMBC Program (NIH Grants 8TL4GM118989, 8UL1GM118988, and 8RL5GM11898), the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Precollege and Undergraduate Science Education Program, UMBC, and the Meyerhoff Scholars Program.
The Effect of NADH Cofactor on the Output of a Lactate Biofuel Cell
Naomi Mburu
Gymama Slaughter, Computer Science and Electrical Engineering
Continuous measurement of lactate is potentially useful for real-time monitoring of organ viability prior to organ transplantation, thereby increasing viable clinical treatment options for the treatment of complex limb defects and upper extremity transplants. Here the functionality of a self-powered lactate monitoring system is presented both with and without the presence of Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) cofactor. The system is based on a dense mesh network of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) electrodes to generate electrical energy from the biochemical energy stored in lactate while simultaneously sensing lactate. The system consists of a lactate bioanode immobilized with D-lactate dehydrogenase (D-LDH). The biocathode is immobilized with laccase. The average initial open circuit voltage and short circuit current values were 554.5 mV and 273 µA without the presence of NADH, and 530 mV and 262.5 µA with the presence of NADH, respectively. The open circuit voltage and short circuit current values exhibited decreased performance when tested in the presence of NADH over a period of several days, which led to the conclusion that NADH has no positive effect on the performance of the lactate biosensor.
This investigation was sponsored by NIH/NIGMS MARC U*STAR T3408663 National Research Service Award to UMBC.
Live Performance Sound Looping: Origins and Practice
Mary Ann McAllister
Anna Rubin, Music
I am researching Ms. Meyer’s work as a looping violist. Her music retains an organic lyricism, celebrating less conventional qualities of the viola, while using the technology of electronic looping. By adding this element to my own set of tools, I am learning how Ms. Meyer set about making her own compositions, studying the lineage of looping, focusing on Terry Riley. In C, a composition by Terry Riley, was written in 1964, and has been performed worldwide; both with looping, and with a vast variety of instruments indigenous to many cultures. My final element of this project, will be to create my own piece with a composition by a one of UMBC’s own faculty that pays homage to Terry Riley’s In C, titled In A Minor. I will perform it as a vocalist and guitarist, using looping technology.
The Effects of Mindfulness Meditation and Yoga on Anxiety in College Students
Maureen McAllister
Diane Alonso, Psychology
Anxiety rates have increased significantly among students and many colleges are unequipped to deal with the rising pressure for treatment. This study attempts to identify cost-effective and easily-accessible methods for students to treat stress-related anxiety. Students need to be made aware of not just immediate treatment methods, but preventative methods, as well. It was hypothesized that yoga, mindfulness meditation, and yoga combined with mindfulness meditation, as measured by four self-report measures, would decrease anxiety when compared to a control. Participants were 103 college students recruited from a university campus. For four weeks, students participated in either daily meditations, a weekly yoga practice that met for three days, both treatments combined, or no treatments. Repeated measures ANOVA were used to measure mean differences between conditions. Results found students who only meditated showed the greatest reduction in anxiety and stress, followed by both meditation and yoga practices when compared to a control. Mindfulness did not co-vary with findings according to ANCOVA and may help account for findings. This research is important to address the growing demand for mental health resources among college students and can guide society in its efforts to reform its healthcare model with alternative methods for treatment.
Use of Piezoelectric Material for Advanced and Cost-Effective Tumor Screening
Lucas McCullum
Soobum Lee, Mechanical Engineering; Liang Zhu, University of Maryland, Baltimore County
The use of piezoelectric materials including lead zirconate titanate (PZT) has emerged as one of the most promising sources for energy harvesting and defect detection applications. More recently, the use of PZT materials has progressed towards investigating areas of advanced defect detection and fatigue-life estimation for engineering systems, and biomedical applications such as tumor detection. In this research, we looked at the effectiveness of PZT materials towards the detection of tumors and similar forms of malignancies through the utilization of the PZT’s piezoelectric properties. More specifically, by monitoring the changes in the impedance-frequency response of the PZT material, accurate predictions can be made about the tumor’s depth and location relative to the sensor. We utilize only the real part of the impedance (resistance) to increase the data quality and tumor detection accuracy. Successful development of a transducer for tumor detection utilizing PZT materials will contribute to accumulating knowledge base for PZT-related bio-sensing, wide use of cost-effective sensors, and improving quality of life.
This work was funded, in part, through an Undergraduate Research Award from the UMBC Division of Academic Affairs.
Evaluation of a Virtual Pointer System as a Laparoscopic Instructional Aid
Hannah McGowan, Azin Semsar, Yuanyuan Feng
Helena Mentis, Information Systems; Andrea Kleinsmith, Information Systems, UMBC
Laparoscopic surgery has many benefits for patient care, but experienced surgeons expend great effort in instructing surgical trainees in using the indirect view of anatomy. For this study, we evaluated a virtual pointing and telestration system using the Microsoft Kinect movement sensor for a surgical trainer to point and draw on the laparoscopic display. Surgical residents (trainees, n=7) performed four simulated laparoscopic tasks, two with the system (telestration condition) and two without (standard condition), under the guidance of an experienced surgeon (trainer, n=2). Following each task, questionnaires assessing the trainee’s performance on the task and the cognitive load experienced were completed by both trainer and trainee; additionally the quality of the trainer’s instruction was completed by the trainee. Wilcoxon signed rank tests were performed and a p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. The benefit of the Virtual Pointer indicates improved trainee performance as assessed by the trainer (p =0.004) and a near significant improved quality of trainer instruction as assessed by the trainee (p=0.058). Additionally, both groups did not report significantly higher cognitive load in the telestration condition over the standard condition and, in fact, cognitive load is significantly lower for the trainers in the telestration condition (p=0.008).
This work was funded, in part, by NSF Grants IIS #1422671 and #1552837.
Optimism Mediates the Relation Between Stress and Physical Activity
Gordon McIntire
Shawn Bediako, Psychology
Although several studies suggest that optimism (the general tendency toexpect positive outcomes) is significantly associated with health promotion and stress inhibits it, the relative importance of the two variables is studied less. We examined whether optimism explained the association between stress and physical activity among 486 college students (80% female; mean age = 21.36 years) who completed a survey for course credit. Tests of mediation were evaluated with a series of regression analyses using the PROCESS macro for SPSS. Results indicated statistically significant unique effects for both stress (b = -0.198) and optimism (b = 0.156) on physical activity. However, when stress and optimism were both included in the model, stress was no longer associated with physical activity (b = -0.077). The 95% confidence intervals for the indirect effect of stress on physical activity did not include zero (-.191 to -.053), indicating that optimism mediated the relationship, although its effect was relatively small, k2 = -.11. These findings suggest that optimism explains the association between stress and physical activity, supporting prior studies that highlight psychological aspects of health.
The Role of Protein Synthesis in Cellular Arrest and Organismal Survival Under Low Oxygen
Darius McKoy
Rachel Brewster, Biological Sciences
Oxygen is a critical component of oxidative phosphorylation that is required to generate cellular energy (ATP). Consequently, low oxygen triggers an imbalance in ATP levels in many organisms, which can lead to cell death. However, some organisms, including the zebrafish have evolved adaptive mechanisms to survive low oxygen by arresting development, thereby preserving ATP. Previously published work reveals that under anoxia Adenosine Monophosphate-Activated Protein Kinase (AMPK) is activated and inhibits the mechanistic Target Of Rapamycin (mTOR) protein, leading to inhibition of protein synthesis. We further know that protein synthesis is essential for cell cycle and developmental progression. Based on these observations, we hypothesize that AMPK activation triggers developmental arrest in part by blocking the cell cycle in a mTOR-dependent manner. I am currently testing this hypothesis using rapamycin, an mTOR inhibitor, to determine whether mTOR inactivation is sufficient to cause arrest. Preliminary data indicates that this may be the case, as mTOR-treated embryos exhibit severe developmental delay. Future experiments will entail testing whether forced activation of mTOR under low oxygen prevents arrest. Identifying the molecular pathway that links AMPK to developmental arrest will help bridge a significant gap in our understanding of how organisms adapt to low oxygen.
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.
Improving our Expressions about Expressions
Sarah Merica
Christopher Rakes, Education
This study focused on applying properties of mathematical operations to add, subtract, factor, and expand linear expressions with rational coefficients and understanding that rewriting an expression in different forms to solve problems. Study participants were 30 seventh grade students in a suburban middle school. Data were collected from a pre- and post-test for a common formative assessment (CFA) along with a quarterly assessment and quarterly assessment reflection. Over a period of three months, participants applied a problem-solving strategy named CUBES, which involves the marking of text for understanding. The intervention also included productive and purposeful grouping, student reflection, and a “Tutoring Tuesday” session to focus on how to solve equations. Initial findings indicate that students have increased their ability to understand what is being asked of them, especially in word problems when using CUBES. Student attitudes have moved from considering mathematics a difficult subject to an achievable challenge.
Creating Lifelong Writers by Developing their Voice
Emily Merritt
Cheryl North, Education
This research focuses on how thirty-three honors twelfth graders at a suburban high school utilize and improve upon their voice in their writing throughout the school year. This research specifically examines narrative assignments such as college application essays, summative assignments, timed writings, or free writing activities. There was a total of five narrative writing assignments assigned and the goal was for 80% of students to improve at least one data point (out of 1-5) more than where they were performing when baseline data was acquired. Narrative writing of various lengths was periodically assigned to survey student progress. Opportunities to conference and receive feedback on their narrative writing both via verbal and written communication with a teacher were offered. Rubrics were also utilized and provided so students were aware of how to make progress. The students were studying narrative writing styles through written and verbal texts. The hope was that targeting voice will help the students prepare for future college and career writing in which they must assume the proper voice for a certain situation.
The effects of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder for Women: The Need for Increased Access to Social Supports
Niteara Mickey
Carolyn Tice, Social Work
Women are twice as likely as men to experience Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a mental health condition triggered by a terrifying event in their lifetime (American Psychological Association, 2018). This condition can have a significant impact on how women interact with their environment, decreasing their ability to experience success in various life aspects.The proposed study explores the interactions of women between the ages of 20-40 years diagnosed with PTSD. The study is based on a survey of women who have been diagnosed with PTSD in the Baltimore/Washington, DC area. Specifically, the women’s life stressors, availability to access post-trauma social support, and pre-existing mental health issues are examined in relation to this disorder. The goal of this study is to identify existing community supports for this group of women and to consider what gaps in services need to be addressed.
This work was funded, in part, through an Undergraduate Research Award from the UMBC Division of Academic Affairs.
Humphrey Jennings and the Documentary of the “People’s War”
Morgan Miller
Daniel Ritschel, History
The purpose of my research is to examine the work of Humphrey Jennings, a British documentary filmmaker during the Second World War. My particular focus is to examine how his highly influential films helped lay the foundations for what historians today refer to as the myth of the “People’s War”; a widespread belief in Britain that the war effort had rested in large measure on the extraordinary efforts and resilience of ordinary civilians on the home front. My central question is whether Jennings’ wartime documentaries recorded and reflected this contemporary belief, or whether his popular films helped construct and shape the popular narrative of the “People’s War.” Historians agree that his innovative documentaries both shaped the genre and had a major impact on how people viewed the Second World War, particularly the myth of the “People’s War.” It is important to study Humphrey Jennings and his films because the narrative of the “People’s War” has solidified into the dominant popular narrative of the British experience in the war.
Slaves at Sea: Justice and Accountability for Victims of Fishing Slavery
Roopa Mistry
Jeffrey Davis, Political Science
Although universally prohibited, forced labor is a frequent practice in countries that supply products for Western nations. Forced labor in the fishing industry or “fishing slavery” is a prevalent practice in Southeast Asia, especially in Thailand. Fishing slavery is not only illegal under several international treaties, including the Forced Labor Convention but also human rights violation. The purpose of my research was to find human rights violations in fishing slavery, determine obstacles to justice and reconciliation, and propose a legal remedy with the intention of bringing justice to human rights violations. I conducted my research through content analysis of court cases, statutes, and treaties. My research evaluated the Alien Tort Statute and analyzed the efficacy in bringing forth a lawsuit under the statute in a case similar to Doe v. Unocal. Furthermore, many products sold within the United States are either manufactured or procured by forced labor. Despite this fact, the United States does not have national legislation discouraging corporations from purchasing such products. Therefore, I explored the California Transparency in Supply Chains Act of 2010 and the UK Modern Slavery Act as potential examples for future legislation.
Magnetic Coil Actuated Transportation
Alex Miu, Brian Woronowicz, Casey Borror
Neil Rothman, COEIT
Electromagnetism can be used in a variety of transportation applications, from moving materials rapidly to maglev trains. This project focuses on the consistent and accurate control of the acceleration of a target object (representing materials being transported between distant locations) using electromagnetic coils. We designed a model “train” that will be accelerated and decelerated by electromagnetic coils as it travels along a track. The current model consists of a steel tube acting as the train, and a clear PVC pipe acting as the track. Initial tests with a our prototype coil proved that high speeds are easily achievable using these coils. To investigate the physical nature of this design, we hope to perform three different experiments. First, we will investigate how the coils perform when gravity is directly opposing their acceleration. Then we will fine tune coil performance when powered solely by capacitor banks. Finally, we will develop automatic circuits employing analog sensors to determine the location and speed of the train. Analyzing the the results of these experiments will give us a better understanding of how we can employ this technology as a form of transportation.
This work was funded, in part, by the IEEE, UMBC Student Branch.
Regulation of Arginine Transferases
Ijaz Mohamed
Aaron Smith, Chemistry and Biochemistry
The goal of the proposed research is to elucidate the structural,mechanistic, and regulatory aspects of the arginine tRNA transferases (ATE1s). ATE1s are essential eukaryotic enzymes that are involved in a variety of physiological processes such as cardiovascular development, apoptosis, meiosis, chromosomal segregation, and the stress response. Currently little is known about the mechanistic details of these indispensable enzymes, as there is no structural (and minimal biochemical) information of the ATE1s. This work reports on efforts of recombinant ATE1 expression, purification, and enzymatic assays of yeast and mouse ATE1s. Previous results have also indicated that these ATE1s are regulated by iron protoporphyrin IX (heme). However, we have spectroscopic evidence that suggests these proteins instead bind an iron sulfur cluster. This work also reports on the attempts to optimize incorporation of this cluster in vivo. Iron-sulfur cluster incorporation appears to be favored when components of the iron-sulfur cluster (ISC) biosynthesis machinery are constitutively expressed during ATE1 coexpression. We are currently exploring whether the presence or absence of this cluster is linked to alterations in ATE1 arginylation activity.
This work was funded, in part, through an Undergraduate Research Award from the UMBC Division of Academic Affairs.
ALT.MASC: Redefining Masculinity through Fashion and Photography
Emmanuel Mones
Mark Durant, Visual Arts
The most prominent images of masculinity in film, television, and other forms of media is that of white cisgender heterosexual men. Yet despite the changing demographics of the American social landscape, the masculinities of men of color, queer men, and trans men remain largely underrepresented. Meanwhile, expressions of masculinity characterized by aggression, and social and emotional detachment (toxic masculinity), have had real and lasting consequences on the physical, mental, and social well beings of both men and women. The purpose of this research is to challenge these models and begin representing and conceptualizing “alternative” forms of masculinity, ones sensitive to the needs of an ever-changing and awakening global community striving for equality. ALT.MASC is a men’s streetwear brand redefining the image and expression of masculinity. Through fashion and photography, the brand explores the potential of commercial art forms as mediums that can encourage accessible public discourse regarding the concepts of gender, sexuality, and equality by bringing them into the realm of popular culture. As the clothes are worn and the advertising campaigns circulate in the public sphere, the hope is to begin a greater collective dialogue contemplating and rewriting the rules of manhood.
This work was funded, in part, through an Undergraduate Research Award from the UMBC Division of Academic Affairs.
Community-Identified Barriers to Health Promotion for Aging African Americans
Hulon Morgan, Lisa Stewart, Sarah Jung
Jasmine Abrams, Psychology
Access to quality resources that promote healthy living is key for extending life and decreasing mortality rates among aging populations. In addition to providing direct healthcare, health professionals can manage conditions through health education and promotion. In order for these strategies to be most impactful, facilitators must consider barriers that may prevent or limit participation from the target population (Troutman-Jordan & Heath, 2017). Current literature recognizes the importance of identifying and alleviating barriers to health promotion for the aging population; however, little research has been done to consider such barriers for aging African Americans. Therefore, we conducted a qualitative research study at Wayland Village, a senior living community for African Americans, to better understand barriers that hinder desired health outcomes and participation. Residents and members from the surrounding community participated in one of seven focus group discussions. Utilizing grounded theory methodology, we investigated barriers that prevented residents from accessing healthcare and participating in health promoting activities. NVivo analysis indicated motivation, communication, and lower socioeconomic status were main contributors to low attendance and participation for community members. Identifying barriers is an important step for implementing changes to health promotion programming developed to improve the quality of life for African American seniors.
Freely You Have Received, Freely Give: A Documentary of Catholic Missions in Peru
Rachel Morin
Sarah Sharp, Visual Arts
Christian missionaries travel to impoverished areas where they build and paint houses, move rocks, and give snacks to hungry children – but what is the ultimate purpose of this service work? What drives people to leave their comfortable homes to endure cold showers and less than six hours of sleep in a place where they are seen as foreigners? Are these young people really making a difference? This film explores the missions of a Catholic University in Lima, Peru, which has orchestrated service work in the poorest areas of the city for over seventeen years. From June to early August of 2017, I traveled to the site of these missions with my bulky DSLR camera to interview student missionaries, their mentors, and the people they served. What I found was that while the material wealth and manual labor were a welcome help, the most distinguishing aspect of these missions was the lasting partnership formed between communities in need and the university students.
This work was funded, in part, through the Linehan Artist Scholar Summer Study Award, and was a recipient of the Undergraduate Research Award from the UMBC Division of Academic Affairs.
The Impact of Exhibition Design on Free-Choice Learning in the Albin O. Kuhn Library Rotunda
Heather Mortimer
Sandra Abbott, CADVC
Museum exhibits provide an opportunity for people to engage with educational content in a way that is fun and accessible. This study explored whether visual, interactive, and participatory exhibit design techniques would result in greater visitor engagement within the AOK Library Rotunda, which is often used for small exhibitions. Previous work done in museums and other free-choice learning situations has shown that including less text and more visual, interactive, and participatory experiences increases visitor engagement. The Rotunda presents a unique challenge in that there are many reasons to visit the library other than to see an exhibition. As a result, the exhibit must attract and hold visitors’ attention regardless of their reason for visiting. To test this, two exhibits were developed using the same objects and content, but different design techniques, and they were evaluated using timing and tracking methods. Over four, one-hour evaluation periods, the exhibit developed without visual, interactive, and participatory techniques had three visitors; while the exhibit developed with these techniques had 23 visitors over four, one-hour evaluation periods, providing support for the use of these techniques. This research has implications within other fields that utilize free-choice learning, such as health and science communication.
This work was funded, in part, through an Undergraduate Research Award from the UMBC Division of Academic Affairs.
The Public Opinion of Gender Non-Conformity: An Intersectional Analysis
Tristan Mountcastle
Ian Anson, Political Science
In 2017, an experiment was conducted which analyzed Americans’ reactions to violations of prescribed gender roles. The study sought to determine whether these violations were evaluated more harshly when shown text that evokes consideration of traditional gender discourse. A convenience sample of participants (N=83) was shown eight vignettes generated through a factorial design. In the vignettes, three independent variables pertaining to the identities of fictional people were systematically varied: gender, race, and gender conformity. The study sought to fill a gap in the public opinion literature by introducing a racial component to the analysis, investigating whether evaluations of gender nonconformity vary with regard to the combination of gender and race of the person being evaluated. In response to each vignette, subjects indicated the perceived level of appropriateness of a behavior, whether this behavior should be changed, and their level of comfort with the behavior. Results indicated that the gendered rhetoric treatment did not have a significant effect, however, the evaluations made about vignettes coded as black had far lower variance in responses than those made for whites. This illustrates a tangible difference in how evaluations are made for black and white people, suggesting a need for similar scholarship going forward.
Mathematical Models used to Study Nuclear Influx and Efflux of Foxo1 in Skeletal Muscle Fibers
Saida Muktar
Bradford Peercy, Mathematics and Statistics
Skeletal muscle atrophy is a decrease in the mass of the muscle that usually occurs during disuse and aging or as an accompaniment of a disease like cancer, diabetes, and many more. The Foxo transcription factors, including Foxo1, serve as key activators of muscle protein breakdown during atrophy. The time course of nuclear-cytoplasmic distribution of Foxo1 was studied and mathematical models were used to show the modulation of nuclear influx and efflux of Foxo1 by IGF-I/PI3K/Akt pathway in skeletal muscle fibers. The mathematical model of nuclear-cytoplasmic movements of Foxo1 provides values for unidirectional influx and efflux under various experimental conditions, and help determine the properties of Foxo1 phosphorylation/dephosphorylation status in nuclei and cytoplasm of skeletal muscle fibers. A two-state mathematical model, reduced from a four-state mathematical model, has been used to study the Foxo1 nuclear-cytoplasmic movements. Using Matlab we test the model by fitting to data from blocking nuclear efflux with Leptomycin.
Self-esteem and the perceived life impact of sickle cell disease
Noor-Ul-Ain Naeem
Shawn Bediako, Psychology
People living with sickle cell disease (SCD) experience pain, frequent hospitalizations, and social disruptions that challenge their self-esteem. However, very little is known about positive aspects of self-esteem and the way in which it contributes to patient perceptions about SCD. This study explored the association between self-esteem and its perceived life impact among 121 adults (72 females; mean age = 24.5 years) who participated in the Cooperative Study of Sickle Cell Disease. A multiple regression analysis showed that self-esteem accounted for a significant proportion of variance in the perceived life impact of SCD [R2D = .08, F (1, 114) = 10.31, p = .002], after adjusting for gender and health locus of control (i.e., how much patients believed that their health is due to internal, external, or chance factors). Higher levels of self-esteem were positively related to a more favorable perception of the disease’s impact on one’s life, over and above the variance accounted for by gender and health locus of control. The results suggest the possibility that affirming SCD patients’ self-evaluation might positively influence the perceived life impact of the disease.
Subcellular Localization of the Enzyme in Serine Biosynthesis
Bailey Nance
Songon An, Chemistry and Biochemistry; Minjoung Kyoung, Chemistry and Biochemistry, UMBC
Serine biosynthesis uses 3-phosphoglycerate, an intermediate of glycolysis, to catalyze the first reaction by phosphoglycerate dehydrogenase (PHGDH). This reaction produces 3-phosphohydroxypyruvate, which eventually becomes serine through two additional steps. Upregulation of serine biosynthesis has been characterized as a hallmark of cancer cell metabolism, as serine is an essential metabolite that provides precursors for various building blocks supporting cancer cell growth and proliferation. We hypothesize that the enzymes involved in serine biosynthesis may associate with each other in the cytoplasm of human cancer cells. To test this hypothesis, we use molecular cloning techniques to tag human PHGDH and others with a fluorescent protein. We will then transfect the plasmids into human cancer cells to examine the localization of PHGDH and others using fluorescent live-cell imaging. Ultimately, we will contribute to our understanding of the spatiotemporal regulation of serine biosynthesis in human cancer cells.
This work was supported by UMBC Start-up fund (S.A.) and partially by NIH/NIGMS R01GM125981 (S.A.). This investigation was also sponsored in part by NIH/NIGMS MARC U*STAR T3408663 National Research Service Award (B.N.).
End of Life Care for Ex-Offenders Through Nursing Home Facilities
Jamar Nash
Bronwyn Hunter, Psychology
The United States (US) by far has the largest number of individuals who are involved in the criminal justice system. For example, the US has approximately 5% of the world’s population and 25% of the world’s incarcerated population. This is especially problematic, because this large group of individuals are aging, which increases the cost of comprehensive health care in prisons. Many of these individuals are nonviolent and low risk inmates who could be better cared for in nursing homes, especially once they are considered end-of-life. This qualitative study seeks to understand nursing home residents (ex-prisoners and non ex-prisoners), nursing home staff, and administrators’ perspectives and experiences related to end-of-life care for formerly incarcerated patients in nursing homes.
This work was funded, in part, through an Undergraduate Research Award from the UMBC Division of Academic Affairs.
Learning To Listen: The Sound of the Brain's Alpha Waves
Tziona NessAiver
E F Charles LaBerge, Computer Science and Electrical Engineering; Susan Bachus, Psychology
While electroencephalogram, (EEG) data is commonly used to investigate the brain through analytical graphs of electrical output, this study tests the possible use of EEG data when converted to sound; specifically to augment human communication. An EEG gathers electrical signals from the neural cortex via electrodes placed on the scalp. This study converted to sound the alpha wavelength signals collected from a subject’s visual cortex during two distinct brain-states: eyes-closed and eyes-opened. We tested whether it was possible to distinguish between these two states by listening to the sounds produced. This was compared to the ability to distinguish the same brain-states by looking at a graph of the alpha waves. The auditory test bypasses more common numerical and spatial analysis, allowing a listener to make more intuitive interpretations of brain signals. This use of EEG data could give care providers a tool to identify when brain state changes occur in patients such as those in-locked in states, or suffering from PTSD. It could also be used in neurofeedback to learn self-regulation of brain states for improved focus on tasks, such as drone piloting.
This work was funded, in part, through an Undergraduate Research Assistantship Support (URAS) Award from the UMBC Office of the Vice President for Research.
Different Dimensions and Distinct Profiles of Engagement in College Math Courses
Tiffany Nguyen
Shuyan Sun, Psychology
Research demonstrates that learning engagement improves academic performance and contributes to long-term involvement in education. Despite the vast empirical research on engagement, the conceptualization and measurement of engagement were inconsistent. This study aimed to examine the dimensionality and factor structure of engagement and exploring different engagement profiles in college math courses. Participants were 322 UMBC students (35% females; 18% Black, 29% Asian, 6% Latinx; 54% freshmen; 60% living on campus) taking a 100-level math course in Fall 2017. They completed a demographic questionnaire and a 36-item engagement measure online. Four factors were obtained from exploratory factor analyses: social engagement (i.e., work with teachers and peers), cognitive-behavioral engagement (i.e., strategies and efforts), cognitive-behavioral disengagement (i.e., lack of strategies and efforts), and emotional engagement (i.e., interest and excitement). Cluster analyses revealed four distinct engagement profiles. Disengaged learners were low on social, emotional, and cognitive-behavioral engagement, while highly-engaged learners showed the opposite. Social learners were high on social engagement but low on emotional and cognitive-behavioral factors. Indifferent learners showed the average level of engagement on all factors. These findings have important implications for college math teaching and learning.
Comparing The Re-Differentation Of Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cell Lines Grown On Various Substrates
Howard Nicholson
Debra Thompson, University of Michigan; Kecia Feathers, University of Michigan
The retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) of the eye acts as a protective barrier and transports nutrients to the retina. RPE cells can be grown in culture but they do not perfectly maintain in vivo properties. The aim of this study was to compare marker expression for RPE cells grown on plastic and transwell substrates. In order to test this, three different cell lines (RPEJ, ARPE19, and D407) were plated and grown over the course of multiple weeks to determine which surface is best for differentiation. After the cells reached confluency, they were harvested, sonicated, and a protein assay was conducted to quantify the protein present in each cell line. The protein samples were analyzed by Western blotting. Beta-actin, MERTK, and OTX2 were visualized by alkaline phosphatase detection to evaluate protein loading and expression. The results showed that there was more protein per surface area from cells grown on transwells; the D407 cell line had the most protein present. The RPEJ cell line showed the biggest difference in protein whereas ARPE19 showed the biggest difference in marker expression between cells grown on transwells and plastic. From these data, I can conclude that culture conditions affect RPE cell growth and marker expression.
This work was funded, in part, by the UM-SMART Program.
Irene Vizcarra Nolan
Esther Doyle Read, Ancient Studies
Views of women have constantly changed across time and cultures. The evolution and importance of the female figure in the ancient world is reflected through Venus or Aphrodite figurines, which generally represented fertility, womanhood, and were possibly used for religious purposes. The Aphrodite figure in the UMBC Spiro collection is posed as Pudica, the modest Venus, with her right arm folded over her breasts and her left arm reaching down to cover her womanhood. The figure is probably Roman, as pudicitia was an important Roman value regarding modesty and the Pudica pose is found among ancient Roman female figures, such as the Capitoline Venus. Earlier female figurines from Mediterranean cultures displayed more sexual and powerful motifs, while Venus Pudica reflects a modest, feminine goddess who acts as a standard for beauty and behavior. The Aphrodite figure reflects changes associated with the roles and social statuses of women in the ancient world through time and across cultures. My research considers how ancient art defines the role of women, as well as the societal standards imposed upon them, with parallels drawn to contemporary attitudes towards females.
Fostering Productive Mathematical Critiques; Helping students learn how to communicate effectively and respectfully
Alexis O'Malley
Christopher Rakes, Education
This study investigated ways to improve students’ ability to communicate effectively about mathematics. The intervention focused on communication-oriented mathematics projects and engagement in argumentation and discussions. The study hypothesized that communication-oriented projects would enhance students’ ability to construct viable arguments about mathematics and to critique the reasoning of others. The sample consisted of 10 eighth grade students in an Algebra 1 course in an urban school district. Over a period of two months, these students created posters, letters, and/or pamphlets to help each other review particular topics. Initial findings indicated that students can generally identify the errors in the work on imaginary peers, but they struggled to identify the errors in the work of their actual peers. This finding suggests that explicit discussions about how to communicate effectively and respectfully in a critique and to receive critical feedback without becoming defensive is an important component of developing students’ mathematical reasoning and critiquing skills. Initial findings also indicate that the ability to explain faulty logic/reasoning that led to an error was problematic for students.
Managing Compliance Debt in Software Development
Fayokemi Ojo
Carolyn Seaman, Information Systems
This project investigates techniques for managing compliance debt. In software development projects, technical debt can be summarized as the cost of today’s shortcut tomorrow and it occurs when minor issues are not addressed during development. These minor issues fester and grow as the software is modified and released. As more and more tech companies move towards an agile method of software development, technical debt becomes more visible to the development team and so researchers are looking for ways to explicitly manage it. Our method for this project includes examining the literature on technical debt to search for techniques that can be applied to the management of compliance debt, a type of technical debt that occurs when companies decide to delay compliance with laws and regulations related to their product. The results of this work will be a well-formed research question and a detailed study design for investigating the effectiveness of the chosen technique for management of compliance debt. This topic is relevant to different aspects of society that depend on software that is compliant with rules, especially concerning privacy and security of electronic systems and data.
Bending Language to the Will of the Author
Matthew OKeefe
Ana María Schwartz Caballero, Modern Languages, Linguistics, and Intercultural Communication
A necessary skill in both academic writing and professional reports is the ability to accurately portray thoughts into writing. This research strove to improve students' vocabulary, diversity of syntax, and accuracy of grammar when writing in Latin as well as the recognition of such practices in the native language, English. Students reviewed their first writings in the target language compared with news articles of current events in the native language so that they understood the importance of different linguistic structures and vocabulary for constructing meaning in written form. The study of rhetoric granted students to see how subtle differences in syntax or diction can alter a sentence entirely. The study focused to show students how history and culture affect connotations of particular words, as well as to inform students how orators and entertainers use the rules of language to influence the audience. The study aimed to bestow to students the linguistic faculties to make valid persuasive arguments for any field of study and the cognitive faculties for recognizing when others are attempting to persuade.
Newborn Care Practices in Rural Regions in Ethiopia
Debbie Olawuyi
Jennifer Callaghan-Koru, SAHAP
Although newborn mortality in Ethiopia has been decreasing, newborn mortality rates in rural areas remain high at 43 per 1,000 live births. There is limited published literature on newborn care practices in rural areas in Ethiopia and the beliefs supporting those practices. The objective of the study is to explore newborn care practices and the role that Health Extension Workers (HEWs) play in promoting essential newborn care in communities. This study is a secondary analysis of qualitative data collected with recent mothers, community members, HEWs, and health program managers in rural areas of four regions of Ethiopia. A total of 91 individuals participated in thirteen focus group discussions (FGDs) and 14 individuals participated in in-depth interviews (IDIs). The student will conduct an inductive thematic analysis following the “Framework approach” and utilizing the Nvivo software package. Through this analysis, we expect to identify common newborn care practices and to illuminate the local understandings behind these practices. We plan to make recommendations regarding beneficial practices that should be promoted, potentially harmful practices that should be addressed through health education, and the potential role of Health Extension Workers in promoting improved newborn care practices in rural Ethiopia.
Prevalence and outcomes of P. falciparum infections detected only by ultra-sensitive PCR in southern Malawi
Anna Gifty Opoku-Agyeman, Gillian Mbambo1, Sudhanshu Joshi2, Matthew Adams2, Lauren Cohee2, Miriam Laufer2
1University of Maryland School of Medicine, 2Institute for Global Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine
Lauren Cohee, Institute for Global Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine; Miriam Laufer, Institute for Global Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine
Ultra-sensitive Polymerase chain reaction (us-PCR) techniques can detect P. falciparum malaria infections below the limit of detection of traditional molecular methods. These infections may lead to disease and may perpetuate malaria transmission. We used specimens from a primary school-based study in Malawi to evaluate us-PCR as a detection method in a high transmission setting. The burden of malaria infection was determined by interviewing the students and parents about symptoms and treatment, and measuring axillary temperature. Samples were also collected for microscopy, standard PCR (qPCR), rapid diagnostic test (RDT), and hemoglobin measurements at baseline and after 1, 2 and 6 weeks. Using logistic regression, we found that infection prevalence was estimated as 39% using traditional qPCR versus 49% using us-PCR. The proportion of infections detected only by us-PCR was inversely correlated with prevalence detected by qPCR. Infections detected by only us-PCR were not associated with fever, treatment, or anemia at the time of the evaluation or in the subsequent six weeks. Therefore, our results do not suggest a need for ultra-sensitive techniques to detect low-density infections in high burden settings, such as Malawi.
This investigation was sponsored by NIH/NIGMS MARC U*STAR T3408663 National Research Service Award to UMBC.
Analyzing the Monomeric Conformation of the HIV-1 5′ Prime-Leader RNA Using Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
Matthew Orellana
Michael Summers, Chemistry and Biochemistry
The human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) infects millions of individuals worldwide and is currently treated with a medication cocktail, where each drug targets a specific viral protein. The high rate of mutation of these non-conserved proteins leads to the frequent emergence of resistant strains. The 5′ Leader of the HIV-1 RNA genome is a highly conserved region that is constantly in equilibrium between a monomeric and dimeric conformation, which has not been exploited as a therapeutic target. While the dimeric conformation of the HIV-1 RNA has been studied, the monomer remains elusive. In the monomeric conformation, the RNA is translated into proteins necessary for virus replication while the dimeric conformation is packaged as the genomic material for the new virion. We have used nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy to extensively probe the secondary structure of the monomeric conformation through the use of various fragment controls and nucleotide-specific labeling schemes. Structural findings include data that suggest the U5:DIS region is in an extended form; as well as the polyA region in the monomeric conformation being unstructured, which would support the translation of the RNA. We hope to determine the secondary structure and ultimately the 3-D structure of the monomer with the native cap.
This investigation was sponsored by NIH/NIGMS MARC U*STAR T34 12463 National Research Service Award to UMBC, the NIH/NIGMS grant 1P50GM103297, and was conducted at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute at UMBC with support in part by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute's Precollege and Undergraduate Science Education Program.
Laser-Induced Plasma Infrared Spectroscopy
Angela Ossana
Bradley Arnold, Chemistry and Biochemistry
This presentation describes our recent advances in laser-induced plasma infrared emission spectroscopy. Infrared emission spectroscopy (IRES) combines the advantages of infrared spectroscopy with those of UV-fluorescence detection. IRES provides information that is molecular structure dependent, like infrared spectroscopy, and is “zero-background” like UV-fluorescence spectroscopy. High energy laser impulses excite materials of interest. After excitation, excess energy is released from these samples through multiple pathways which commonly include fluorescence and the dissipation of heat energy. The release of heat occurs via emitted infrared wavelength photons. Just as infrared absorption spectra contain more information than UV-visible absorption spectra, infrared emission spectra contain more chemical information of a material than its UV-visible emission spectrum. This additional information is molecularly specific and may allow single molecule detection limits to be achieved. A neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet laser was used to excite samples of interest and the resulting infrared emissions were measured with a mercury cadmium telluride (MCT) detector. The resulting voltage readings from the MCT detector were monitored as a function of time and wavelength. This research has confirmed that these emissions are observable and allow differentiation of multiple sample types.
This work was funded, in part, through an Undergraduate Research Award from the UMBC Division of Academic Affairs.
Enduring Patterns of the Capitalist World-system: Class Struggle and Solidarity in the 2017 AT&T Strike
Aylin Ozturk
Felipe A. Filomeno, Political Science
The goal of this study is to demonstrate that key processes of the capitalist world-system theorized by Karl Marx and Immanuel Wallerstein are still present today. This goal is pursued through a case study of the 2017 strike of the Communication Workers of America against AT&T. This case was selected because of AT&T’s position in the United States (the hegemonic center of the world-system) and the company’s position in a leading world industry (telecommunications). AT&T’s precarization of employment relations and outsourcing policies led to a nationwide strike that began on May 19, 2017. The event epitomizes the ongoing struggle between the bourgeoisie and the proletariat under capitalism. The outsourcing of AT&T operations with the purpose of reducing labor costs is indicative of the capitalist world-system’s tendency to incorporate peripheral areas. Actions taken by the Communication Workers of America, in turn, show how the transnationalization of capital can contribute to working class solidarity within a country (USA) and transnationally (USA and Dominican Republic). The case study is based on information from digital news stories, which were collected systematically and analyzed in light of the theories of Marx and Wallerstein.
The Poetry of Jordann Allen: An Animated Documentary
Ezra Pailer
Corrie Parks, Visual Arts
Baltimore and D.C. are home to remarkable communities of writers and artists who use poetry as a powerful tool to explore personal inner narratives. I’ve collaborated with D.C. area poet Jordann Allen to create an animated documentary that presents a selection of her writings and reveals how an artist’s intimate realms of imagery can be expressed across both visual and spoken mediums. The film provides a vivid glimpse into the worlds of Allen’s personal symbolism by combining hand-drawn animation with live-action film. Guided by the imagery in Allen’s poems, each scene was crafted in Adobe After Effects from an assortment of hand-illustrated Photoshop animations, digitally manipulated found images, and collections of live-action footage that were gathered in places ranging from local farms to friends’ gardens to coastal landscapes. The audio of Allen reading her poetry has a serene and fluid quality; this presented an interesting challenge in designing animated sequences that complement the flowing nature of a medium like poetry. The vision for this documentary is that it will invite viewers into the intricate worlds of imagery within Allen’s work as well as exhibit ways written or spoken art forms can be translated into motion. Allen will be joining me at URCAD in the presentation of the film.
This work was funded, in part, through an Undergraduate Research Award from the UMBC Division of Academic Affairs.
Electrospun Gelatin Composite-Silk Fibroin Biopaper Fabrication for Neural Cell Culture
Taylor Patrick, Zahra Ghassemi, Christopher Animashaun
Gymama Slaughter, Computer Science and Electrical Engineering
Electrospinning of gelatin (GEL)/silk fibroin (SF) blend solutions was investigated for the fabrication of mechanically strong and biocompatible biopapers for tissue engineering and drug delivery. A series of GEL/SF blend solutions (GEL/SF =100/0, 70/30, 50/50, 30/70, w/w) were electrospun into biopapers and tensile strength tests of samples (40×10 mm2) were done using a biomechanical testing instrument at cross-head speed of 1 mm min -1 . Polymer composites, made by adding multiple polymers to a mixture to be electrospun, often display different properties from their original polymers. Natural electrospun biopolymers, are often mechanically weak and display low immunogenicity in comparison to synthetic polymer fibers, but are often more biocompatible and biodegradable. It has shown that the addition of SF to a composite polymer not only increases the mechanical strength (ultimate tensile strength and elasticity), but its biocompatibility. Electrospinnning GEL/SF results in a composite biopaper with a larger mechanical strength than electrospun GEL alone and is biodegradable and elicits low inflammatory response. The GEL/SF composite also mimics the structure and biological function of the native extracellular matrix (ECM), which is ideal for cell culture and tissue engineering.
This investigation was sponsored by NIH/NIGMS MARC U*STAR T3408663 National Research Service Award to UMBC.
Using Data Visualization Methodology to Explore and Interpret Qualitative Data in Educational Research
Ismenia Perez Bone, Madhura Belli, Tejus Chandrashekar, Caroline Kery
Penny Rheingans, Director, Center for Women in Technology; Danyelle Ireland, Associate Director, Center for Women in Technology
The descriptive nature of qualitative data makes it a particular challenge to visualize data, especially considering the nature of data that we get from transcripts of interviews. This visualization gives us an insight as to how to display a set of transcribed conversations amongst students at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) showcasing areas of concern within the College of Engineering and Information Technology (COEIT). Our goal is to show an informative, and easy to work with visualization for Dr. Danyelle Ireland, Associate Director for the Center for Women in Technology (CWIT). The first step taken in creating this visualization was to note down similarities between the provided transcripts. Each transcript was read, and tags representing universal characteristics seen throughout the transcripts were added. Due to the fact that our data has various opinions, communicated by the students within COEIT, our visualization shows a multitude of negative, positive, and neutral implications.
A Behavioral Approach to Measuring Empathy
Trevor Pitts, Mai-Han Trinh, Kavita Kumar
Simon Stacey, Honors College
Empathy is critical on college campuses, where it improves students’ relationships with peers, and beyond the campus community, where employers increasingly seek candidates with strong affective skills. This study explores a novel approach to evaluating students’ levels of empathy. Traditional approaches to measuring empathy consist of Likert scales that are susceptible to response bias. To reduce the influence of factors such as social desirability, the current measure uses participants’ responses to simulated situations that evoke empathic reactions. The study’s instrument is disguised as a high-stakes, computer-administered math quiz in which subjects interact digitally with an online technological service representative after the program apparently crashes. The representative inserts a sympathetic but irrelevant story about problems in their life into the discussion about resolving the crash. Following this interaction, participants are asked to provide a qualitative evaluation of the service received; these ratings assess capacity for empathy from the extent to which participants seek to understand the IT representative’s personal situation or rate them exclusively on the quality of technical assistance. This study samples UMBC students, aged 18 to 25, to psychometrically evaluate a newly designed behavioral measure of empathy as well as compare the measure to previously developed scales of empathy.
This work was funded, in part, through an Undergraduate Research Award from the UMBC Division of Academic Affairs.
Meaningful Use in Medicare and Medicaid: Status Report and the Challenges Ahead for Health IT Implementation
Joseph Portugal
Gunes Koru, Information Systems
The Electronic Health Records (EHR) Incentive Program, spearheaded by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, allows for eligible hospitals and professionals to receive money for adopting, implementing, upgrading (AIU), and utilizing EHRs to reach meaningful use (MU) criteria. This report will be addressing the current status of MU for Medicaid and Medicare and challenges in achieving AIU of EHRs and MU. The methodology used for this report is a systematic literature review, utilizing Google Scholar, PubMed, and the Albin O’ Kuhn Library databases to retrieve information from. The following search terms were used: meaningful use AND medicaid AND medicare AND incentive AND framework. Other journals were cross-referenced from articles’ citations. Research shows that MU for Medicaid is under performing compared to Medicare and that there is a huge gap between how many Medicaid providers actually achieved MU. The data also shows that the barriers to AIU and MU are holistic. They encompass organizational, healthcare provider, technical, medical, and demographic problems. To address these multi-level problems, authors suggest that a new framework based on socio technical theories need to be emplaced to further improve the usability and outcomes of Health IT implementations.
Genotype Matters: Lisinopril and its Impact on Aspects of Homeostasis in Drosophila melanogaster
Anagha Rama Varma
Jeff Leips, Biological Sciences
Lisinopril is a drug approved by the FDA for use in treating high blood pressure in humans. It works by restricting the Angiotensin Converting Enzyme (ACE) in the human renin-angiotensin system (RAS). ACE converts the hormone angiotensin type 1 (Ang I) to angiotensin type 2 (Ang II), a vasoconstrictor. The drug Lisinopril is associated with beneficial side effects, such as reduced frailty. Many studies have credited these effects to the drug’s interaction with the human RAS. However, work in the Leips lab has shown that Lisinopril-treated Drosophila melanogaster experience effects similar to those observed in humans despite lacking RAS. D. melanogaster does possess genes homologous to the ACE gene in humans. Analysis of gene expression has shown that Lisinopril impacts expression of Drosophila genes that are related to homeostasis. Desiccation resistance, or the ability to withstand exposure to a desiccant, is an aspect of homeostasis. Similarly, recovery from cold stress, or exposure to low temperatures for extended periods of time, is modulated by genes that are responsible for homeostasis. To better understand Lisinopril’s effect on homeostasis, Lisinopril-treated and untreated flies of three different genetic lines were tested using a desiccation assay and a cold stress assay, and the results compared.
Role of TRPM5-expressing Microvillous Cells in Maintaining Olfactory Epithelium Morphology during Chemical Exposure
Prasiddha Ramachandran, Kayla Lemons
Weihong Lin, Biological Sciences
The main olfactory epithelium (MOE) is a specialized tissue located in the nasal cavity that contains olfactory sensory neurons (OSNs) which detect environmental odors and mediate the sense of smell. It is well established that MOE undergoes protective structural and functional changes to adapt to the external environment and protect the olfactory system, but how this adaptation occurs is still unclear. Previous studies in our lab have provided evidence that transient receptor potential channel M5 expressing microvillous cells (TRPM5-MCs) in the MOE may play a role in sending signals to neighboring OSNs to alter olfactory activity based on environmental conditions. We hypothesize that TRPM5-MCs protect the OSNs from damage when exposed to chemicals. To test this, we are exposing wild type and Skn-1a knockout mice lacking TRPM5-MCs to chemicals via inhalation for 1 week, and examining the morphology of the MOE by performing immunohistochemistry and quantitative analysis to determine the number of microvillous cells and OSNs in the MOE after exposure. By investigating the protective function of TRPM5-MCs in the MOE of the mouse olfactory system, we may be able to better understand olfactory dysfunction in humans.
This study is supported by NIH/NIDCD DC012831 to Dr. Lin.
RNA Purification for Biophysical Studies
Ghazal Ramezanifoukolaei
Michael Summers, Chemistry and Biochemistry
RNA plays an important role in regulating function through structure. The highly conserved 5´ leader of the HIV RNA genome plays a crucial role in determining the RNA’s function. Structural analysis of the 5´ leader can provide crucial information on how the virus regulates its functions and can potentially help to find future therapeutics. In order to perform structural studies on the HIV RNA, the crucial step is to find an efficient method to prepare the RNA. First, DNA is ordered with a specific sequence corresponding to the desired RNA sequence. Next, is microliter sized trial transcription by making DNA samples in varying salts, DNA template, and nucleotide triphosphate amount. The yield is observed by running on a small gel by electrophoresis and the best condition is used in a large-scale reaction. The RNA is purified by gel electrophoresis and separated from the gel by electroelution. Finally, the RNA is washed and rescued to ensure that pure RNA was obtained and can be used for biophysical studies. Using this purification protocol, we have prepared RNA and used nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy to unveil novel structure-function relationships of the HIV RNA genome.
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.
Characterization of Aspergillus nidulans nrc2 deletion mutant and Putative Phosphorylation Site of the nrc2 Gene Product
Alexis Ramsey, Jessica Ramsey, Sirasa Iambamrung, Raj Purohit, Alex Doan
Mark Marten, Chemical, Biochemical, and Environmental Engineering
This project characterized the Aspergillus nidulans nrc2 deletion mutant (A1284) to further develop understanding of the Protein Kinase A (PKA) phosphorylation cascade. A. nidulans is a model fungus, and has been used to better understand the fungal lifestyle, physiology, and morphogenesis. A previous study in the Marten Lab involved phosphoproteomic analysis of the A. nidulans, nutrient-sensing, PKA deletion mutant. It was determined that PKA phosphorylates (directly or indirectly) the Nrc2 protein. Further studies with strain A1284 showed the strong morphological phenotype of hyper-branching during growth which has potential industrial benefits. It was also determined that strain A1284 has weaker cell walls than its isogenic parent strain (A1405), implying the Nrc2 protein is potentially involved in cell wall repair pathways. A1284 also had larger spore size than strain A1405 implying the nrc2 gene product may play a role in germination. Further studies are planned to test the hypothesized phosphorylation site for the Nrc2 protein and show that this phosphorylation is involved in Nrc2’s function.
Support for this project was provided, in part, from the National Science Foundation (Awards 1601935 & 1517309) and through an Undergraduate Research Award from the UMBC Division of Academic Affairs.
Creating Cybersecurity Knowledge Graphs from Text
Priyanka Ranade
Anupam Joshi, Computer Science and Electrical Engineering
Although machines can rapidly identify attack signatures inlarge pools of data, syntactic variations of attacks can often times undermine cyber threat categorization. Despite this widespread issue, there are not readily available tools designed to specifically support information extraction for cybersecurity. In order to address this issue, we have utilized a semantic methodology to cognitive cybersecurity by leveraging the Unified Cyber Security Ontology (UCO) and integrating security related information from various databases, standards, and websites, into a data repository which serves as a comprehensive spectrum of cybersecurity threats. This central repository contains annotations from various text corpuses, such as CVE (Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures) databases. Classifications such as “attacker” “exploit target” and “means/consequence” guided text extraction and annotation of corpuses. Raw annotation data will be used to support NLP pursuits, in determining relationships between words and cyber threat. These relationships, will show us vulnerabilities to later analyze and integrate into machine learning.
This work was funded, in part, through an Undergraduate Research Award from the UMBC Division of Academic Affairs.
Ribosomal Protein Binding to Ribosomal RNA in Stress-free Conditions
Rebekah Rashford, Jesse Fox
Lasse Lindahl, Biological Sciences
Ribosomes are essential to life, as they synthesize all proteins. Past studies advanced the structural understanding and function of the ribosome, yet ribosomal biogenesis is not fully understood. In both bacteria and eukaryotes, ribosomal ribonucleic acid (rRNA) is transcribed and processed into mature moieties, while ribosomal proteins are added in a hierarchical manner to form ribosomal precursor particles. This coordination of rRNA processing and addition of ribosomal proteins is not well characterized. Saccharomyces cerevisiae has long been utilized as a model organism for studies of ribosomal assembly mechanisms to better understand this process. However, virtually all investigations were done under biological stress imposed by inhibiting the synthesis of individual ribosomal proteins or ribosomal assembly factors. Other studies have indicated cases of massive turnover of pre-ribosomes, potentially generating erroneous conclusions about ribosome assembly mechanisms. In the current study, we have developed a method for the isolation of precursor ribosomal particles at different stages of stress-free assembly, without disruption in or to the process. Our results show that ribosomal proteins L4 and S9 bind prior to the separation of the rRNA moieties destined for the two separate subunits and before the internal transcribed spacers are excised from the early ribosomal assembly intermediates.
This investigation was sponsored by NIH/NIGMS MARC U*STAR T34 12463 National Research Service Award to UMBC.
Domineka Reeves
Carol Hess, Dance
This research project focused on one group of suburban high school dance students learning to execute a dance triplet using a variety of traveling patterns and timing. The ability to incorporate different elements of dance such as timing and space is essential to success in dance performance. Participants were 25 students in a 9th grade dance class. The class was made up primarily of 90% female students of various dance and racial backgrounds. Over a period of three weeks, students practice slow progression across the floor to help them comprehend each step . Learning how to execute a dance triplet and then including triplets in multiple ways is a multi-tiered process. Data consisted of giving the students a dance combination in the beginning/end of the semester. They would be recorded each week to keep track of their progress until the last week of midterms. The objective is that 80% of the students attain a grade of at least 85% on their summative assessment. Initial findings indicate that students struggled in the beginning of the semester, but improved every week through dance progression. Almost every student became technically efficient in demonstrating a dance triplet.
Multiple Methods for Conceptual Understanding in Mathematics
Tammy Richards
Christopher Rakes, Education
The study investigated how the use of various methods to solve equations can improve student success in mathematics. The intervention included illustrating more than one method during instruction. After practicing each method, students were permitted to choose any method to solve equations. The study hypothesized that solving equations in multiple ways would improve students’ conceptual understanding and ability to represent and solve equations in unfamiliar situations. The sample consisted of 30 tenth and eleventh grade students in a standard pre-calculus course in an urban high school. Over a period of three months, students have completed task rotations, described each step using mathematical terminology, and completed homework assignments to solve equations. The study followed a single-group, mixed-methods pre-post design with multiple data points collected during the intervention period. Data consisted of informal and formal quizzes and a mid-term exam. Classwork and homework was assessed daily.
Seeing the Stories: How Art Can Impact Human Trafficking Awareness
Mia Rickenbach
Nate Sinnott, Theatre; Stephen Bradley, Visual Arts, UMBC
This research was a study of theatrical scenic art, which evolved into a project investigating the impact of visual storytelling on human trafficking awareness. The study of scenic art included working in large-scale, trompe l'oeil illusion painting, matching paint color, and faux finishes such as marble and wood grain. These techniques were developed at Cobalt Studios’ Summer Scene Painting, and employed in the scenic design and painting of UMBC’s Department of Theatre productions. Unexpectedly, Half the Sky, UMBC’s first-year experience book, influenced this study with its content regarding human trafficking. While continuing investigation of modern-day slavery, the focus became the lack of awareness about the issue, particularly in the United States. It was also found that large statistics have a numbing effect on audiences, whereas personal stories lead to empathy and response. The art of theatre is that of telling a story, often with the intention of connecting with audience members. The result of this research was a development of a form of visual storytelling to engage the public in a meaningful conversation about the realities of human trafficking.
This work was funded, in part, through an Undergraduate Research Award from the UMBC Division of Academic Affairs. This work was also funded, in part, by the William T. Brown Shakespeare on Wheels Scholarship Award from the UMBC Department of Theatre.
Not Clickbait: An Analysis of Vlogging and its Effects on Romantic and Familial Relationships
Nicolette Riggin
Bryce Peake, Media and Communication Studies
This project will explore how vloggers’ relationships unfold and fall apart under the scrutiny of massive online communities, and how vloggers come to understand love and intimacy both in front of and behind the lens. Vlog is an online video genre where content creators share details of their daily lives with their audiences. This format is most common on Youtube, and creators of vlogs are referred to as vloggers. In one popular subgenre, vloggers document their lives alongside their significant others and family members, making their audiences a part of their romantic relationships. While humanities scholars have written about vlogs, and others about social media and romance, none have focused on the impacts of relationship vlogging as it speaks to wider issues of contemporary intimacy in a hypermediated world. My research will help us better understand how vloggers describe experiences of love and intimacy, and how they negotiate external constraints like race, economy, and celebrity. By using discourse, ethnographic, and political economic analysis, I hope to promote self-care and empathy within the community, and my work will be successful if members of the vlogging community recognize the ways vlogging affects their lives both in front of and behind the camera.
This work was funded, in part, through an Undergraduate Research Award from the UMBC Division of Academic Affairs.
Avoiding Nihilism and Making Meaning in Slaughterhouse-Five and Cat’s Cradle
Zachary Riggins
Jessica Berman, English
One of the central concerns of both Slaughterhouse-Five and Cat’s Cradle by writer Kurt Vonnegut is the challenge of finding meaning after the horrors of the Second World War. This concern echoes the work of philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche. Nietzsche believed that God had become an integrated and necessary part of meaning-making and understanding the world in the 19th century; however, he thought that mankind’s unrelenting “will to truth” would eventually lead to the “death of God”. Without God to make meaning, Nietzsche was worried that mankind would succumb to complete nihilism. In order to avoid this, Nietzsche conducted a re-evaluation of morality. In this project I analyze the novels Slaughterhouse-Five and Cat’s Cradle, arguing that, by drawing on elements of Nietzschean thought and by utilizing metafictional techniques in order to deconstruct the grand, universal narratives of causality, religion, linear time, and human progress through scientific advancement, Vonnegut conducts a sort of re-evaluation of the narrative form, and finds meaning in the narrative act itself. Today, as society becomes increasingly secular, and the threat of nuclear war looms over mankind, the question of how to find meaning in what sometimes seems to be a meaningless world is as relevant as ever.
Jacqueline Rivera, Sacha Belinda Mapombo Choupa
Stephen Miller, Biological Sciences
Protein detection is a key aspect of the analysis of gene expression and function. Western blotting is one of the most commonly used methods to determine protein size and abundance. A difficulty investigators often have with western blotting is the step when protein transferred to a membrane is exposed to a primary antibody specific for the protein. Binding efficiency can be low such that the signal is weak or undetectable, background can be high such that signal is obscured, or the signal resolution can be poor. We hypothesize that the conditions of protein/antibody interaction can impact all of these issues. Little has been published on optimization of western blotting conditions. Here, ranges of pH and buffer ionicity were tested to determine their impact on the quality and intensity of the western signal. We tested the standard condition of pH 7.5, in addition to pH 6, 6.5, 7, and 8. We also tested four different ionicity levels–50mM, 100mM, 150mM, and 200mM NaCl (the standard ionicity is 137 mM NaCl). Future efforts will involve modifications to the blocking agents used and testing powdered milk vs BSA (Bovine serum albumin) and testing a Tris-based buffer compared to saline buffered solution.
These results were obtained with support from an REU supplement to grant NSF-EFRI-1332344 from the National Foundation (NSF) Directorate for Engineering (ENG) Office of Emerging Frontiers in Research and Innovation (EFRI) to SMM.
Synthesis of Sugar Moieties in Flexible Anti-Flavivirus Compounds
Nia'mani Robinson, Brian Cawrse
Katherine Seley-Radtke, Chemistry and Biochemistry
The flavivirus genus contains more than 70 potentially fatal viruses endangering public health including Zika and Dengue. To date, there are no treatments available for most of them. Many potential inhibitors of Dengue and Zika viral replication have been pursued but none have been identified as suitable to date. The Seley-Radtke Lab has been focused on creating a unique class of novel flexible nucleosides (known as “fleximers”) wherein the purine nucleobase is split into its separate pyrimidine and imidazole components but remains connected by a C4-C5 single bond. These nucleosides are able to adjust to flexible binding sites better than the more rigid parent nucleosides and can engage alternative amino acid residues to remain active and overcome viral resistance mechanisms. The focus of this project involves applying the fleximer approach to a nucleoside analogue developed by Gilead Pharmaceuticals (GS-5734) which was shown to inhibit a number of viral polymerases, including Dengue and Zika, although not to an extent that they are clinically viable. Over the last several months, my project has been to synthesize the adenosine analogue of Flex-GS-5734 sugar moiety starting from the commercially available D-(-)-ribose. Herein the progress to date will be reported.
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.
DETERMINING THE STRUCTURE OF THE HIV-1 5′-LEADER DIMERIC CONFORMATION
Tatiana Rodriguez
Michael Summers, Chemistry and Biochemistry
The structure of the 5′-Leader (5′-L) of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) viral RNA genome is under intense study, due to its role in determining the fate of the RNA. Within the host cell, the 5′-L is in equilibrium between a monomeric and dimeric conformation. The monomer is translated into the Gag-polyprotein, while the dimer is packaged as the new genomic material for virions. Although, a three-dimensional structure of a truncated core dimer 5′-L has been solved, the overall conformation of the full-length capped 5′-L has yet to be determined due to the size limitation. Using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, the two-dimensional structure of multiple regions of the dimer have been solved, however there has been difficulty assigning regions near the native cap residue. In order to overcome this obstacle, we use (NMR) spectroscopy techniques including nucleotide-specific deuteration and oligo control overlap. The results for these methods suggests that a novel end-to-end stacking conformation is formed by adjacent two hairpins over forty nucleotides in length each. This interaction sequesters the cap residue needed for translation initiation and thus attenuating functions of the monomer.
This investigation was sponsored by NIH/NIGMS MARC U*STAR T3408663 National Research Service Award to UMBC.
Jonson, Beckett, and Love of the Loathed Word
Joel Ronning
Raphael Falco, English
This presentation will explore the lingual and philosophical underpinnings of the works of Ben Jonson, an English playwright, poet, and contemporary of Shakespeare, and Samuel Beckett, a 20th century Irish novelist and playwright most prominently known for his contributions to what may broadly be termed Absurdist literature. Ben Jonson’s characters possess an agency in their use of language which Beckett’s characters largely lack. Their world of language is filled with exuberance, and their schemes and games give them a sense of fulfillment that is only fleetingly found in the work of Beckett. The latter’s vision of language is at once pessimistic, and yet at the same time tinged with more than a hint of potentially paradigm-shifting language horizons. I will argue that the connection between Jonson and Beckett lies, not in a common worldview, but rather in a shared tendency to conceptualize linguistic expression as being in some sense intrinsic to the human condition. It is this particular linkage which my presentation is intended to address.
This work was funded, in part, through an Undergraduate Research Award from the UMBC Division of Academic Affairs.
Non-Breeding Season Habitat Usage of the Critically Endangered Bahama Oriole
Michael Rowley
Kevin Omland, Biological Sciences
The Bahama Oriole (Icterus northropi) is a critically endangered songbird endemic to Andros, The Bahamas. An accurate understanding of the Bahama Oriole’s habitat use is essential to implement effective conservation strategies. Previous research led by Price et al. (2011) concluded that Bahama Orioles depend heavily on coppice (broadleaf forest) during the non-breeding season. Recent findings of nests in pine forest by Stonko et al. (in press) demonstrated that Bahama Orioles use a wider variety of habitats than previously realized. We conducted point count surveys on North Andros during the breeding and non-breeding seasons across two years to comprehensively address habitat use. We found no indication that Bahama Orioles depend heavily upon coppice. This conclusion contradicts previous findings, and most likely reflects a more complete understanding of the Bahama Oriole’s habitat usage. Whereas broadleaf coppice habitats are sometimes used by birds on nearby territories for foraging, efforts to save the Bahama Oriole from extinction will likely need to protect a broad range of habitats, especially pine forest.
This work was funded, in part, through an Undergraduate Research Award from the UMBC Division of Academic Affairs.
Instagram’s Influence on a Generation of Women
Emily Ruppert
Amy Bhatt, Gender and Women's Studies
The rise of social media, specifically Instagram, creates lasting effects on young women. Instagram culture is toxic for women because it showcases digitally altered images that are unattainable. These images are often curated to generate likes and may not be a true representation of reality. For instance, “Users of Instagram can not only choose the most flattering images of themselves to upload to the site, but also manipulate those images using filters to highlight their best features” (Hendrickse, J; et al., 2017). Thus, women strive to have the same body type, complexion, and clothing as “Instagram Models”. I argue that Instagram culture has influenced women’s view of the self. Using Instagram as an example, I investigate how the app creates low self-esteem and body dysmorphia in millennial women. This project will include the experiences of millennials by administering a questionnaire and interviewing women between the ages of 21 and 28. This project contributes to literature on feminism, body image, gender performance, cultural beauty standards, and patriarchy. This research is imperative for all women who use social media because it unearths the harm it may cause to self and body.
Genetic Analysis of a Bacillus subtilis Strain Showing Inhibition Against Virulent Strains of Vibrio parahaemolyticus
Susannah Ruzbarsky, Sarah Avery, Amanda Hise
Harold Schreier, Marine Biotechnology, UMBC
Introducing a probiotic Bacillus subtilis strain into shrimp populations offers a practical alternative to using antibiotics to prevent diseases such as acute hepatopancreatic necrosis disease (AHPND), which has upset the global shrimp aquaculture industry in the last decade. AHPND, which immobilizes the digestive tract of shrimp such as Litopenaeus vannamei, is caused by a toxic Vibrio parahaemolyticus strain that has previously demonstrated susceptibility to B. subtilis strain T1. To evaluate genes involved in activity against virulent V. parahaemolyticus strain D4, approximately 3,000 transposon insertion mutants of T1 were screened using a plate overlay assay for loss of inhibition against D4. Eighteen mutants were identified as having partial or complete loss of activity. Of these, eleven were found having transposon insertions within a 30-kb DNA cluster encoding secondary metabolite polyketide and lipopeptide antimicrobial compounds. Others were found having insertions within genes involved in the regulation of stationary phase activities, including spoOA, a sporulation gene regulator, and oppA, the first gene of the oligopeptide transporter system operon. These results indicate that T1 activity against strain D4 is related to metabolites produced during stationary phase metabolism. Understanding the nature of these products and their role in inhibition will be determined in future studies.
This work was funded, in part, by Epicore Bionetworks, Inc. and the Northeast Regional Aquaculture Center, U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Further Examination of The Impact of Religious Identity and Religious Practices on Behavioral Measures of Self Control
Iman Said, Leah Franklin, Viet Dang, Naomi Cano, Lorraine Anastacia Dell'Acqua, Marissa Daly, Mariana Castillo, Eric Turnquist, Taylor Caldwell, Lorraine Dell'Acqua, Victor Enomanna, Morgan Hull, Ghaziyah Khalid, Jonah Kracke-Bock, Sadia Mondale, Ahsan Mushtaq, Elizabeth Nudelman, Oluwakemi Odumeru, Kirtan Patel, Adelaide Ruekgauer, Steven Samuel, Wouhib Tamrat, Emily Tillett
Jolene Sy, Psychology; John Borrero, Psychology, UMBC
Religion can influence identity, behavior, and beliefs. Despite this, there is limited research on the relationship between religion and self control. Religion may make future consequences (e.g., afterlife) more salient, and this may affect the extent to which delayed consequences affect choice during everyday life. In this ongoing study, all participants must be UMBC students 18 or older. Participants complete a demographics form assessing religious identity and frequency of religious practices (e.g., frequency of prayer or attendance at a place of worship) to group them into either high, medium, or low religiosity. Participants then complete a monetary discounting questionnaire (Kirby, Petry, & Bickel, 2009) which assesses self-control (i.e., selection of a larger, delayed amount of money over a smaller, immediate amount of money). To date, we have obtained data from large groups of individuals identifying as Catholic, Muslim, Other-Christian, Agnostic, Baptist, Hindu. Upon recruiting a sufficient number of participants in highly represented religious groups, we hypothesize there will be a correlation between religious identity, the degree of religious practice, and behavioral measures of self-control. By understanding the relationship between religious identity, religious practices, and self-control, we can see whether religious involvement can help increase self-control.
The Role of Socioeconomic Status on the Relationship Between Number of Marginalized Identities and Mental Health
Iman Said
Jasmine Abrams, Psychology
Despite the correlation between experiences of marginalization and negative mental health outcomes, little research exists regarding the effect of socioeconomic status on this relationship. Although socioeconomic status can increase access to resources (e.g., healthcare, therapy, higher education) the impact of these privileges on the mental health of marginalized individuals is understudied. The present study assessed two main hypotheses: 1) higher number of marginalized identities will predict higher stress and depressive symptoms and 2) higher socioeconomic status will decrease the strength of the relationship between number of marginalized identities and stress and depressive symptoms. Participants were 218 undergraduates recruited from a university in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States through an online research subject pool to complete an online questionnaire. In support of Hypothesis 1, results of a correlation analysis revealed a statistically significant positive relationship between number of marginalized identities and stress and depressive symptoms. Hypothesis 2 was partially supported as socioeconomic status did not moderate the relationship between number of marginalized identities and depressive symptoms but did moderate the relationship between number of marginalized identities and perceived stress. This study provides new information regarding the mental health of marginalized populations. Implications and future directions are discussed.
This work was funded, in part, through an Undergraduate Research Award from the UMBC Division of Academic Affairs.
Vehicle Tracking using GPS in an Autonomous Convoy
Ted Sakellariou, Marina Miragliotta, Moustafa Nassar, Mike Hammond, Thomas Ranneberger
Charles LaBerge, Computer Science and Electrical Engineering
Accurate position tracking is a critical requirement of any autonomous vehicle system. The outcome of this project was to enable vehicles to automatically follow a lead vehicle through a series of turns, accelerations, and decelerations. There are a variety of applications for this device, but the scope of this project focused on a military convoy system. Our team determined that it is possible to create a low-cost processor device that updated its own position every second. A goal of this project was to achieve a positional accuracy of three meters, which is sufficient for operation in a rural or urban setting. The design utilized a mathematical algorithm known as an extended Kalman filter to optimally estimate position from GPS data. Communication with other modules in the system is a critical task and was achieved using the Inter-Integrated Circuit universal standard. This approach can be extended to operate with any vehicle in military and civilian applications.
This project was funded by the UMBC Department of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering.
Sterilization, the “Only” Form of Contraception for Chicana Women.
Gabriela Salas
Felipe Filomeno, Political Science
In my research I explore the use of involuntary sterilization in the United States,analyzing specifically the use of forced and coerced sterilization of women of Mexican origin in California. Throughout the 20th century, there were programs in the U.S. that focused on the assimilation of and the control of minority populations. Through these programs, sterilization became a funded form of contraception, which primarily ended up targeting marginalized women. In the 1960s and 1970s, the increased rates of sterilization among Mexican-American women led to the 1975 Madrigal v. Quilligan court case. This case incorporated intersections of ethnicity, gender, and sexuality; further bringing the issue of forced sterilization in Chicana/Latina populations to light. Through this exploration, I have analyzed the historic influence that the eugenics movement and biopolitics had on the use of sterilization, and the way in which policies regarding sterilization where written, as a form of population control of the Latinx community. In addition, I further looked into whether the historic use of sterilization – along with the accompanying rhetoric surrounding the contraceptive use of sterilization – had an effect on the amount of Latina women that have voluntarily chosen to use sterilization as their preferred contraceptive method.
The Leadership Alliance (Columbia University).
Dual Glucose and Lactate Electrochemical Biosensor
Ressa Reneth Sarreal
Gymama Slaughter, Computer Science and Electrical Engineering
Detection of glucose and lactate is important for clinical diagnosis and monitoring of organ or tissue viability during transplantation. We report a sensitive amperometric dual glucose and lactate biosensor based on pyroloquinoline quinone glucose dehydrogenase (PQQ-GDH) and a lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) for the detection of glucose and lactate, respectively. The electrochemical sensing platform comprise multi-walled carbon nanotubes for the immobilization of the PQQ-GDH and LDH at the respective working electrodes. Platinum and Ag/AgCl counter and reference electrodes were integrated to construct a three-electrode system. The lactate biosensor component exhibited a linear response towards lactate over a concentration range of 1 to 10 mM lactate (r2 = 0.998) and exhibit a sensitivity of 2.9 μA mM-1 cm-2, whereas the glucose biosensor exhibited a linear response range of 1 to 10 mM glucose (r2 = 0.990) and a sensitivity of 345.7 μA mM-1 cm-2. Upon interfacing the sensor component with the fabricated potentiostat circuit, a linear dynamic range of 1 to 10 mM glucose (r2 = 0.9929) and sensitivity of 208.255 μA/mM · cm2 was observed in the presence of glucose. These results show that the dual glucose and lactate biosensor possess important potential for application in clinical analysis and sports medicine.
This investigation was sponsored and funded by the NSF CAREER AWARD and NSF EAGER AWARD and by NIH/NIGMS MARC U*STAR T34 08663 National Research Service Award to UMBC.
Characterizing Current and Potential Cannabinoid Therapy Users in a Patient Registry Observatrional Survey
Ryan Scalsky
Ryan Vandrey, Johns Hopkins Medical Institute, Department of Psychiatry, Behavioral Psychology Research Unit; Nicholas Schlienz, Johns Hopkins Medical Institute, Department of Psychiatry, Behavioral Psychology Research Unit
Rapid expansion of medicinal cannabis availability in the absence of traditional drug development raises questions with respect to the safety and efficacy of cannabinoids as therapeutic agents. This study aimed to characterize demographic and health profiles of patients (mean age: 36.91; 61% female; 82% Caucasian) from an Observational Research Registry who are currently using cannabinoids for therapeutic purposes (N = 424) versus those who were interested in trying cannabinoids, but had not yet started (N = 279). Independent samples t-tests and chi-square analyses were used to assess differences between groups on a variety of demographic and health outcomes. Current cannabinoid users were older than non-users and were more likely to have chronic pain but less likely to have a neuropsychiatric condition as their primary medical condition. Users reported significantly better ratings of quality of life, satisfaction with health, sleep, average pain, anxiety and depression scores. Users also reported fewer ER visits and fewer sick days taken from work/school in the past month than non-users. No group differences were observed for other medication use. Though this is not a representative patient sample, these results suggest there may be some added benefit of cannabinoid use on a variety of health-related outcomes.
This investigation was sponsored by NIH/NIGMS MARC U*STAR T3408663 National Research Service Award to UMBC.
Maia Schechter
Doug Hamby, Dance
"Now Elsewhere" is a dance performance work I created for Senior Projects in Dance. I chose to explore the feelings and emotions experienced when someone loses a person very close to her. I developed themes and ideas for the movement from personal experiences and from my dancers. The dance is in three distinct sections. The first section explores the idea of how the world keeps spinning even after someone experiences the profound loss of a loved one. This idea is illustrated by the dancers constantly moving in and out of the stage space, as well as through each other. Some continue dancing while others simply walk back and forth to reflect the idea of the world's constant flow. The second section shows how loss effects a person physiologically. In this section, the audience witnesses the states of shock and the journey of devastation each dancer experiences. The third and final section illustrates a final goodbye. Each dancer performs a unique solo as a personalized farewell. Throughout the dance, I also worked with many movement motifs and pedestrian movement. The result is a compelling dance performance work that draws audiences in as it takes them on a visual and emotional journey.
Emotional, Physical, and Sexual Trauma Events and PTSD Symptoms in Survivors of Intimate Partner Violence
Kara Seidel, Steffany Torres1
1Psychology Doctoral Student, UMBC
Christopher Murphy, Psychology
This study investigates the types of events that survivors of IPV report as their worst traumatic experience and PTSD symptoms. Specifically, the goal is to see if there is a relationship between physical, emotional, or sexual trauma, respectively, and severity of PTSD. Participants were recruited from a local domestic violence shelter as part of a larger parent study about coping and self-efficacy in survivors of IPV. Survivors were asked structured and unstructured questions about their trauma histories, as well as what they consider their worst-event. I hypothesized that those who classified their worst event as emotional trauma will have higher PTSD severity than those who classified their worst event as physical or sexual trauma. I also hypothesized that those who classified emotional trauma as their worst event will have higher centrality of events (i.e., the trauma is more integrated into their identity). Understanding this can inform future research as to where to focus efforts of treatment interventions.
Visualization of Cancer Immunotherapies and Cytokine Concentrations
Shantanu Sengupta, Joe Lagnese, Peter Gottleib
Penny Rheingans, Computer Science and Electrical Engineering; Gregory Szeto, Chemical, Biochemical and Environmental Engineering, UMBC
This visualization introduces two different choices of visualization techniques – ScatterPlot Matrix and Parallel Coordinates-for representing high dimensional biological data about cytokine levels from different cancer immunotherapies. It explains the effectiveness of Parallel Coordinates over Scatterplot Matrix for finding trends and patterns in the data. It also discusses the design choices and interactivity built on top of Parallel Coordinates to provide the user with an array of options for exploring the data. Using this visualization tool, we intend to allow our user to make significant findings and discover correlations regarding the effectiveness of different treatment options and the cytokine levels.
Gradient-Based Optimization of Entangling Quantum Logic Gates
Arman Setser, Michael Goerz1
1Computational and Information Sciences Directorate, U.S. Army Research Laboratory
Jason Kestner, Physics
A typical computer consists of a number of bits which flip between 0 and 1 states. The manipulation of these bits allows the computer to perform the operation desired by the user. Similarly, a quantum computer consists of what are known as quantum bits (qubits). The power of a quantum computer comes from the exploitation of the quantum properties possessed by a qubit, mainly superposition and entanglement. Controlling qubits can be challenging however, as unwanted external stimulation from the environment (also known as noise) can easily corrupt their quantum state. Here, we attempt to suppress noise in a two-qubit entangling gate. This is done by inserting single-qubit rotations between applications of the desired entangling gate, in order to “rotate-out” any unwanted noise from the environment. The optimal set of rotations are found by using a gradient-based optimization approach in Python. Remarkably, this approach is shown to work for noise which is constant and noise which varies over time. The generality of this approach allows for application to any two-qubit system, regardless of the details of the experimental implementation.
This work was supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 1620740.
Radio-Frequency Identification Bird Tracking System
Arjav Shah, John Messiha, Alberto Torres, Ryan Batt
Colin Studds, Chemical, Biochemical, and Environmental Engineering; Charles Laberge, Undergraduate Program Director, Computer Science and Electrical Engineering
Environmental scientists and engineers often study the activity of the biological class Aves in Linnaean taxonomy (birds) i.e. what they eat, where they fly, etc. However, since humans cannot keep up with the movement of the species, several machines/programs have been developed in order to track the bird’s motion. As a team, we have researched and investigated a way to overcome the problem of uncertainty within bird activity. We developed a radio-frequency identification bird tracking system (bird feeder) that detects when birds with RFID tags want to feed, and dispenses food accordingly. This data is immediately recorded and sent to the customer’s database with the use of Xbee communication. Thereafter, whenever a bird has relocated to a different bird feeder, all relevant data will get recorded and sent to the customers database. The Xbees work like relays in a “Mesh Network”. There will be an Xbee connected to the bird feeder at all times, another on the top of the customer’s building, and another near the receiving end computer. With more Xbees present, the range is limitless.
Studying Cell Polarization Using a Stochastic Model
Jamshaid Shahir
Hye-Won Kang, Mathematics and Statistics
Under chemical stimulation, motile eukaryotic cells polarize in response to external stimuli. This polarization involves the recruitment of various proteins from the Rho GTPase family to the plasma membrane, where they segregate to the front or back end of the cell. Previous studies have explained the mechanisms of cell polarization using a partial differential equation (PDE) model consisting of a single active/inactive protein pair with positive feedback. The polarization of the protein is maintained in the spatial domain after a transient time, a phenomenon called wave pinning, which is characterized by a halt of a propagating wave of protein activation. In this study, we create a continuous-time Markov chain model, simulated by the Gillespie’s algorithm, and investigate how inherent noise affects the dynamics of cell polarization. In this model, we use spatial compartments to describe the diffusion of molecules in the domain. We then simulate a traveling wave model of cell polarization and compare the results with a PDE model under various cell volumes. As the cell volume increases, we observe similar results to the PDE model and qualitatively identify wave pinning behavior. Finally, we examine how different values of the system parameters affect the wave propagation in the model.
This investigation was sponsored by NIH/NIGMS MARC U*STAR T34 12463 National Research Service Award to UMBC and is supported in part by the National Science Foundation (DMS-1620403).
"The Military-Entertainment Complex": Hollywood Imagery as a Recruitment Tool
Geeta Shanbhag
Elizabeth Patton, Media and Communication Studies
According to a 2011 study from the Peter G. Peterson Foundation, the United States’ military budget exceeded the defense spending of the next 11 countries combined. Most of this budget strengthened the military’s weaponry and coercive power internationally; however, a portion helped shape domestic public opinion. One factor shaping public opinion is the military’s portrayal within popular culture, specifically within mainstream Hollywood films and video games. How do popular depictions of the US military relate to the Department of Defense’s recruitment techniques? This study demonstrates how anti-Vietnam war films morphed into blockbuster Hollywood movies and video games, which consequently glorified the U.S. military and male veterans. This study analyzed the symbiotic connection between the shift in the portrayal of the military within popular culture since the late 1960s and how the Department of Defense capitalized on ultra-masculine representations of the military using official recruitment data and publicity materials. These forms of “militainment” within the military-entertainment complex contribute to the jingoistic, ultra-nationalistic fervor within this country that leads to more division, social instability, and fear of “the other.”
Dissolvable polymer microneedle patches for drug therapy
Eric Shaner
Abhay Andar, Chemical, Biochemical, and Environmental Engineering; Govind Roa, Chemical, Biochemical, and Environmental Engineering; CAST
Microneedles (MNs) are a fairly recent technology and presents an opportunity for passively administered drugs. MNs have shown effective penetration the stratum corneum, creating micropores to enhance drug flux through the skin. MNs typically range from about 0.5 mm to 1 mm in length, which facilitates a minimally invasive treatment. This has led to an increase in the application of MN-based transdermal drug delivery of various molecules. We focused on the fabrication and design of polymer microneedle molds for rapid prototyping of microneedles using hydroxymethyl cellulose acetate succinate (HPMCAS) and Polyvinyl methyl ether/maleic anhydride (PVME/MA) enteric polymers. We tested the polymer MN physico-chemical properties of needles with active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) (for model drug Caffeine). When comparing dissolvable polymer microneedles with commercially available caffeine patches in vitro, our preliminary MN patches resulted in a 5-fold improved permeation of caffeine over a 4 – 24h exposure.Through this pain-free dissolvable polymer MN transdermal patch, we will attempt to develop formulations cable of delivering a therapeutic dose across the skin.
Supplement for undergraduate research experience.
Modeling the Interactions between the Autonomic Nervous System, the Cardiovascular System, and Behavioral Performance
Theresa Sheets
Kathleen Hoffman, Mathematics and Statistics; Justin Brooks , Army Research Laboratory, Aberdeen Prooving Ground
Many methods have been proposed to estimate physiologic measures of autonomic nervous system (ANS) activity. One of the more prevalent methods is heart rate variability (HRV). HRV has been shown to be a correlate of ANS activity and a surrogate to mental states like stress and anxiety. Despite success in many circumstances, HRV is limited in its ability to characterize ANS activity due to the non-specific and coarse treatment of the cardiovascular system. To address this gap, we model the baroreflex response using a set of coupled delay differential equations and compare predictions of ANS activity to traditional HRV measures. We use these equations to develop a time series estimate of sympathetic effect on heart rate, parasympathetic effect on heart rate, and sympathetic effect on arterial resistance. In this work, we examine data from sixteen participants who perform a cognitive depletion task for followed by a Stroop task with continuous heart rate and blood pressure monitoring. Features from the time series were related to accuracy and reaction time in the performance of the Stroop task. Results are presented in comparison to and ultimately combined with traditional measures of HRV to quantify the relationship between measures of autonomic control and behavior.
This work was funded, in part, by the Eclipse Lab and the Army Research Laboratory.
Van-Gogh-Like 2, Frizzled, Knypek, and N-Cadherin Control Distinct Aspects of Polarized Cellular Migration During NC
Karndeep Singh
Rachel Brewster, Biological Sciences
The neural plate shapes into a tubular structure called the neural tube through neural convergence (NC), regulated in part by the planar cell polarity (PCP) pathway, containing transmembrane co-receptors Knypek (Knyfr6), Van gogh-like 2 (Vangl2vu67), and Frizzled 7a-/7b- (Fzd7ae3-; Fzd7bhu3495). Evidence from the literature and our laboratory suggests that NC in zebrafish requires elongation and polarized migration of neural plate cells. Delayed NC can result in severe neural tube defects (NTDs) such as spina bifida and anencephaly. Although the PCP pathway is associated with NTDs, the underlying neural cell behaviors remain elusive. To investigate the cellular function of the pathway, we analyzed zebrafish lines carrying null mutations in KnyFr6, Vangl2vu67, and Fzd7ae3-; Fzd7bhu3495. We confirmed that all PCP mutations delay NC via in situ hybridization. We performed a comparative analysis of cell elongation and membrane dynamics in these embryos. Using time-lapse confocal imaging, we showed that WT cells elongate and medially restrict membrane protrusions while mutants failed to elongate and extended randomized protrusions, resulting in delayed NC. To address whether these abnormal cells behaviors are caused by defective cell adhesion, we performed several assays to investigate the relationship between PCP components and neural adhesion molecule N-cadherin.
This investigation was sponsored by NIH/NIGMS MARC U*STAR T3408663 National Research Service Award to UMBC.
Enhancing Immune Responses against Cancer using Membrane-inserting TLR2 Agonists
Emily Slaby, Michael Zhang
Gregory Szeto, Chemical, Biochemical, and Environmental Engineering
Cell-based therapies have shown efficacy in clinical trials for cancer patients; however, less than 50 percent of solid tumor patients respond to these therapies due to tumor immunosuppression. Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) is a receptor on the surface of immune cells that can activate cells to help overcome immunosuppression. We utilize TLR2 agonists, Pam2CSK4 (P2) and Pam3CSK4 (P3), on the surface of immune cells, a process called depoting, for enhanced drug delivery to the tumor site and improved immune cell function in immunosuppressive environments. Neighboring immune cell activation by the TLR2 pathway was measured by quantifying the phosphorylation of p38 MAPK and IκBα. Splenocytes depoted with P2 showed a two-fold increase in activation over normalized non-depoted controls after 30 minutes in p-p38. A three-fold increase after 15 minutes and a five-fold increase after 1 hour was seen in p-IκBα for P2 and P3 depoted cells, respectively. The functionality of TLR2 agonists was studied using flow cytometry to measure B-cell activation markers – MHC II, CD69, and CD86. Depoted cells sustained activation of neighboring B-cells for greater than three days and effectively activated surrounding immune cells through the TLR2 pathway. Further studies will test the efficacy of this approach in vivo.
This work was funded, in part, by the Supplement for Undergraduate Research Experiences award from UMBC (to Emily M. Slaby), an Undergraduate Research Award from the UMBC Division of Academic Affairs (to Emily M. Slaby), an award from the Elsa U Pardee Foundation (to Gregory L. Szeto), UMBC Summer Faculty Fellowship (to Gregory L. Szeto), the National Cancer Institute grants R25CA186872 (to Bret A. Hassel) and P30CA134274 (to Kevin J. Cullen), and the UMMS Foundation Nathan Schnaper Fund.
Textile Culture and Elite Women in Ancient Greece
Nathalie Smallidge
Esther Read, Ancient Studies
Warp-weighted looms were standing frames used to weave cloth in the ancient world. The frames were vertical with warp threads pulled taut by weights tied to the ends of bundles of threads. The type of threads used while weaving determined the heaviness of the weights. Warp-weighted looms were used to weave varieties of cloth, and the weights had a wide range of size, shape, and composition. Extant weights include compositions of rock, clay, or bone, with a distinct hole near the top or through the middle, which allowed for fastening to warp threads. While weaving sometimes took place in factory-like facilities, these looms were commonly used in private homes. In the social sphere, warp-weighted looms played an active role among elite women and are symbols of their daily routine, status, and perhaps even piety. Women were not considered independent members of society but rather as members of the husband’s or father’s household. Did women contribute to the economy of the home, and how? My research of the two loom weights in the Spiro Collection is an entrance point into women’s textile culture in the ancient world and how it enabled them to engage in wider social and economic circles.
Henpecked Husbands and Proverbial Parrots: Revisiting Prudence’s Rhetorical Agency in Chaucer’s Tale of Melibee
Joe Smith
Kathryn McKinley, English
In Chaucer’s Tale of Melibee, Melibee’s wife Prudence and their daughter are brutally attacked, and Prudence urges her incensed husband against taking revenge. My research has shown a striking lack of critical attention to this tale, although scholars have recently considered its relationship to King Richard II’s increasing despotism (1377-99), illustrated by his executions of Chaucer’s peers. Even so, Prudence is often dismissed by critics who deny her agency because her speech relies on proverbs. I argue instead for Prudence’s role as a political advisor and consider how Chaucer surprisingly resists medieval notions of feminine speech, using her advice to Melibee as veiled counsel to Richard II. Indeed, Prudence’s rhetoric suggests the popular medieval genre of advice to kings, speculum principis. In addition to secondary literature on medieval female subjectivity, I will use primary sources to fully historicize Prudence’s speech and explore her agency. Namely, I plan to study medieval sermons discussing prudence, medieval theology on the nature and speech of women, medieval conduct books, as well as visual representations of prudence in medieval manuscripts. Modern readers have failed to recognize the significance of Prudence’s, and thereby Chaucer’s, intervention in political discourse, a remarkable achievement for any medieval female character.
Female size influences mating preference of male Rainbow Darters
Olivia Soudry, Shabnam Parsa, Hatib Kaira
Tamra Mendelson, Biological Sciences
The purpose of our study was to address the role that male mate choice plays in sexual selection of the Rainbow Darter (Etheostoma caeruleum). The role that female mate choice plays in sexual selection is well studied but there is very little focus on male mate choice. Recent studies show male mate choice also plays a role in sexual selection. This study investigated male preference for indicators of female fecundity, specifically length of females, and their belly size. We found that male Rainbow Darters prefer larger females, both in dichotomous choice tests and in behavioral tests with full access to females. We discuss our results in light of sexual selection theory.
Significance of Shape and Color in Landmark Recognition in the Mantis Shrimp Neogonodactylus oerstedii
Ben Sparklin, Veniamin Khil, Rickesh Patel
Thomas Cronin, Biological Sciences
Mantis shrimp are crustaceans which live in vibrant coral and rock structures on the ocean floor and have impressive color and spatial vision. In this study, we aim to investigate how N. oerstedii use shape and color to recognize potential landmarks in their environment. We will train N. oerstedii to navigate a y-maze with conspicuous landmark cues placed at the end of each arm of the maze, using food as a reward. They will be trained to associate the reward with a specific landmark cue of a designated shape and color. After training, we will test if N. oerstedii is able to differentiate the color and shape of a landmark independently from another. We will conflict the shape and color of the landmarks tested to those which animals were trained to in order to determine whether color or shape is more important to N. oerstedii when it identifies a learned landmark. The results gathered from these tests will indicate if N. oerstedii can identify landmarks using color and shape and if either of these visual qualities is more important for landmark identification, inferring how N. oerstedii may identify landmarks as they navigate their colorful and structurally complex environments.
Reducing Wind Power Prediction Uncertainty with Improved Turbine Rotor Layer Characterization
Meredith Sperling, Alexandra St.Pé1, Aditya Choukulkar2, Cristina L. Archer3, Ruben Delgado4
1E.ON Climate and Renewables, Austin, TX, 2NOAA Earth System Research Laboratory, Boulder, CO, 3College of Earth, Ocean, and Environment, University of Delaware, 4Joint Center for Earth Systems Technology
Ruben Delgado, Joint Center for Earth Systems Technology
Accurate and precise wind turbine energy yield predictions are necessary both for preconstruction justification of wind farm viability and real-time, cost-effective power grid balancing. However, a lack of measurements in the offshore turbine rotor-layer and a lack of methods to characterize atmospheric conditions that deviate from expected conditions introduce uncertainty into wind power predictions. During the VERTical Enhanced miXing (VERTEX) campaign, scanning Doppler Wind Lidar was used to collect wind speed data at varying heights and locations around an operational coastal turbine. In this work, a systematic method is introduced to evaluate the site-specific power prediction uncertainty associated with a power predictor during a given set of atmospheric conditions. Overall, results demonstrate that uncertainty can be reduced by using remote sensing technology to obtain measurements throughout the rotor-layer and by classifying vertical wind profiles. Using a Rotor Equivalent Wind Speed (REWS) instead of hub-height wind speed alone reduces power prediction uncertainty. The magnitude of the improvement increases as classified wind profiles deviate from expected, near power-law shapes. This work elucidates that turbine power is not a function of hub-height wind speed alone; therefore, the impact of additional atmospheric conditions must be considered for wind energy yield estimates.
This work was funded by the following grants: NOAA Office of Education: Educational Partnership Program NOAA Center for Earth System Sciences and Remote Sensing Technologies (NOAA-CESSRST) Fellowship Cooperative Agreement Grant # NA16SEC4810008. Maryland Energy Administration (Contract # U00P3400325) National Science Foundation (Award # 1564565).
Surface Phenomena Driving Natural Surfaces
Jethro Ssengonzi
Lindsay Shuller-Nickles, Clemson University; Marian Kennedy, Materials Science & Engineering, Clemson University
Two projects were explored during the 10-week period. Through both phases of research, computational skills were gained and advancement in the understanding of surface reactions was accumulated, under the mentorship of Dr. Lindsay Shuller-Nickles. The first project looked at how chirality affects surface reactions between pesticides and soils, while the second project focused on determining the morphology of coffinite (USiO4). The first project was worked on for the first five weeks and then halted because minimal results were yielded due to the large atomic systems under investigation using quantum-mechanical calculations. The second phase of research involved the continuation of graduate student Megan Hoover’s work on coffinite. The coffinite calculations took less time to finish and yielded more definitive results. A profound takeaway was that the coffinite slabs with uranium atoms on or near the surface had lower surface energies, and were therefore more stable, than those without uranium atoms on or near the surface.
This work was funded, in part by the National Science Foundation.
Analyzing the Intracellular Trafficking and Processing of Lipid-tailed Peptides in Immune Cells
Georgina Stephanie
Gregory Szeto, Chemical, Biochemical, and Environmental Engineering
Cell-based therapy is a drug delivery platform in which cells from a patient or donor are modified and used as biological drug carriers for more effective and targeted treatment. Antigen presenting cells (APCs),are a class of immune cells that promote immune responses by recognizing and presenting antigens to T cells. Modified APCs have been developed as cancer immunotherapies, but antigen delivery and presentation have remained a technical hurdle. Here, we characterize intracellular trafficking of two engineered lipid-tailed peptides (LPs) into APCs for antigen processing and presentation to T cells. After 1 hour of incubating(depoting) the cells with the LPs,we show through confocal microscopy that LPs are loaded in a consistent ring-like pattern in B cells, suggesting plasma membrane insertion or association. LPs show a more punctate pattern in dendritic cells, suggesting different uptake patterns in the different cell-types. We show through fluorescence-activated cell sorting(FACS) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA),that LPs depot onto the cell as early as 15 minutes at a concentration of 6105 ligands/cell and are still present after 1 hour at 8105 ligands/cell. A better understanding of the dynamics and mechanisms of LP uptake, processing, and presentation to T cells will increase the efficiency and design of LPs for drug delivery.
This work was funded, in part, through an Undergraduate Research Assistantship Support (URAS) Award from the UMBC Office of the Vice President for Research.
An Economic Analysis of the Potential End-of-Life Pathways for Electric Vehicle Batteries
Taylor Stephen, Dipti Kamath1
1Michigan State University
Annick Anctil, Michigan State University
One of the barriers of large-scale market penetration of electric vehicles (EV) is their high cost in comparison to internal combustion vehicles. This is due in part to the high cost of the lithium-ion batteries (LIB) utilized in EVs. Reducing the cost of the batteries can, therefore, reduce the cost of the EVs. The goal of this study is to analyze two closed-loop, end-of-life (EOL) pathways for LIBs to determine the potential impact on their initial cost. Pathway (1) follows that EOL EV batteries are recycled, and recoverable materials replace virgin materials in the beginning of the closed-loop system. Pathway (2) follows that viable EOL EV batteries are repurposed for stationary energy storage applications, and after their second-life, the repurposed batteries as well as the batteries unable to be repurposed follow pathway (1). The economic impact of each pathway on the original cost of EV batteries is determined through extensive literature review, consideration of life-cycle data, and policy analysis. The study shows that pathway (2) provides the most savings for EV customers. These savings could be enhanced given the implementation of regulatory and incentive policy such as recycling mandates and insurance of ownership rights for companies.
Paying Dividends: Universal Basic Income, Income Inequality, and Public Opinion
Jacob Street
Cynthia Hody, Political Science; Ian Anson, Political Science
Since public awareness of inequality is generally widespread, the debate over economic inequality does not lie in the question of its existence. Instead, the debate is more centered on finding agreement on what solution best fits. One of the proposed solutions to income inequality is universal basic income (UBI), or a fixed income given to every individual regardless of their work. Surprisingly, compared to the extensive theoretical literature on UBI, American public opinion polling regarding UBI is lacking. This paper seeks to lay the groundwork for future research into UBI by testing public opinion of UBI through survey questions with several issue framings compared to a control. Collecting original polling data from Amazon’s Mturk, I find that, in the overall sample population, using an excerpt from the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is the only statistically significant framework that results in a change in support levels. Drilling down into just respondents that identify as conservative, however, demonstrates that the strength of a given framing is not universal; the resonance of each was impacted strongly by political persuasion.
This work was funded, in part, through an Undergraduate Research Award from the UMBC Division of Academic Affairs.
BigData2Knowledge Online Genetic Calculator: SOLAR-Eclipse
Fatima Talib
Peter Kochunov, Maryland Psychiatric Research Center
Analyses of psychiatric, metabolic and neurological disorders data, together with complex multidimensional measurements such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), constitute a bioinformatics challenge because of the large size of the human genome (~108 markers). The Sequential Oligogenic Linkage Analysis Routines (SOLAR-Eclipse), is a genomic data processing software package that allows researchers to create a processing backend based on the latest algorithmic developments that utilize Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) computing. SOLAR-Eclipse offers many standard genetic analyses that have been accelerated to be 103-6 linkage faster to address the demands of BD2K analysis. We are developing a front-end/back-end genetic calculator approach. The SOLAR-Eclipse and the genomic data provided by BD2K will reside on the Amazon cloud system. Users will be able to provide their phenotypes and requests analyses through a website interface. The flexibility of the cloud-computing will perform the demanding analyses that may take days-to-months on a single computer in near-interactive time. Currently, the backend has been developed singularly, while the front end has been created and is capable of merger with the backend. It is currently undergoing security and parameter development for successful initiation on the Amazon cloud system.
Meditation and Knowledge Retention
Wouhib Tamrat
Jolene Sy, Psychology
Meditation refers to the wide range of methods aimed at improving attention, promoting relaxation, and managing difficult emotions. This practice has a wide range of possible applications in learning and education. Meditation has been shown to increase college student knowledge retention during lecture using a between-group design (Ramsburg & Youmans, 2014). We systematically replicated work by Ramsburg and Youmans (2014) using a single- subject design. Participants were 10 undergraduate students awarded extra course credit for participation. A meditation condition and simple relaxation condition were alternated across six visits. During the meditation condition, participants were instructed to practice a simple meditation technique for 6 min. In the relaxation condition, participants were instructed to simply relax with their eyes closed for 6 min. During each visit, participants were asked to watch a video lecture (a TED Talk) and take a 10-question quiz assessing retention of the information presented. There was no statistically significant difference in quiz performance between the two conditions.
Cooling Module for Low-cost Neonatal Incubator
Elizabeth Tan, Deepika Sagar
Govind Rao, Center for Advanced Sensor Technology
Three million babies die annually in low resource environments from hypothermia and sepsis. In advanced countries, newborns are kept in incubators that provide temperature regulation and sanitary environment. Though advanced incubators exist in low-resource countries, they are not affordable to all, especially where temperatures are routinely above 40 °C. An environmental friendly cooling module was integrated into a low-cost incubator which can provide cool air to help maintain the optimal body temperature of 36.5 °C. The prototyped design was tested using temperature and humidity sensors to measure temperature, and humidity gradient utilizing convective cooling methods. A heat exchanger was added to control the humidity level and offer indirectly cooled air. The design consisted of an automated, closed loop system in which the continuously-running heater directly flowed into the incubator and cool air from the cooling system indirectly flowed in to prevent harming the neonate by breathing contaminated air. Through extensive testing, the cooling module cooled the incubator from 39 to 30 °C at ambient temperature of 40 °C and with a 60 percent humidity level. Convective cooling and prototype design will be optimized to increase the survival rates of neonates.
This project is supported by Award Number P50FD004895 from the Food and Drug Administration. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the FDA.
Bodies of Devotion: The Display of Buddhist Statues
Julian Tash
Preminda Jacob, Visual Arts
Statues of the Buddha are seldom created for museums. Theyare instead intended to be displayed in temples, where they might be distanced from viewers by partitions or obscured in darkness—a stark contrast to well-illuminated museum spaces in which visitors can closely approach displays. Despite this distance, however, the temple context is intimate. Before entering a temple, physical rituals, such as wafting incense smoke over one’s head, physically connect devotees to Buddhism. This study begins by investigating major themes in Japanese Buddhism by combining secondary materials with primary research conducted at Buddhist sites in Kyoto, Nara, Nagoya, Fukuoka, Nagasaki, and Tokyo. Then, it explores how these contexts relate to the role of museums in displaying Buddhist statuary. The role of museums and temples are fundamentally different and museums risk creating a disingenuous exhibition when they try to recreate a temple space. However, museums also have a unique opportunity to resonate with visitors by using the physical museum space in addition to object texts to communicate information. This study concludes by utilizing first hand observations, personal experience from an internship at the Walters Art Museum, and secondary research in museum studies to recommend display strategies for Buddhist statues.
This work was funded, in part, through an Undergraduate Research Award from the UMBC Division of Academic Affairs.
Putative Autophagy Proteins Atg8, Atg13, and Atg17 Affect Morphology in Aspergillus nidulans
Donnel Thomas, Sammie Maygers, Ethan Ericta, Dorra Benmohamed
Mark Marten, Chemical, Biochemical, and Environmental Engineering
The goal of this project is to determine the role of autophagy, a cellular recycling pathway, in mediating branching regulation in the model filamentous fungus Aspergillus nidulans. When A. nidulans spores germinate, germ tubes (i.e., hyphae), emerge from the spore, elongate, and eventually form additional hyphae or branches. Normally, fungi branch profusely in the presence of abundant nutrients, and show few branches when nutrients are scarce. Yet, it is unclear how this regulation takes place. Previous Marten-Lab results imply autophagy plays a role in branching regulation. To test this hypothesis, the specific growth and branching rates of several strains of A. nidulans with deletions of putative autophagy genes were elucidated under varying nutrient conditions. Our results imply a complex relationship exists between these autophagy deletion strains and morphological development. These findings are significant because fungi are used prevalently in the biotechnology industry to produce billions of dollars of a diverse mixture of products ranging from therapeutics (e.g., statin drugs), enzymes (e.g., cellulase), and commodity chemicals (e.g., citric acid). These products are produced in large-scale fermentations where particular fungal morphologies can lead to increased overall yield. Thus, controlling fungal morphology could potentially improve fungal fermentation productivity and impact the bioprocessing industry.
Support for this project was provided, in part, from the National Science Foundation (Awards 1601935 & 1517309) and through an Undergraduate Research Award from the UMBC Division of Academic Affairs.
Spatial Regulation of PFKL is a Promising Target in Cancer Therapy
Mekha Thomas, Ying Zhang1, Kojo Bonsu1
1Chemical, Biochemical, and Environmental Engineering
Gregory Szeto, Chemical, Biochemical, and Environmental Engineering; Songon An, Chemistry and Biochemistry, UMBC
Glucose is a key nutrient for cell viability and proliferation. Tumor and immune cell interactions in the tumor microenvironment can lead to limited nutrient availability and metabolic stress. Cancer cells are known to compensate under such conditions by forming multi-enzyme complexes. It is important to determine whether immune cells utilize similar metabolic complexes to properly design anti-tumor therapies targeting metabolism. The main source of cancer-related inflammation is macrophages. Their plasticity allows them to readily switch between pro- and anti-tumor phenotypes. We differentiated macrophages from murine bone marrow, primed with bacterial lipopolysaccharide, and metabolically stressed them through the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome via N-acetylglucosamine. The glycolytic enzyme phosphofructokinase (PFKL) was stained and imaged using confocal fluorescence microscopy. Macrophage differentiation and inflammasome activation were confirmed through flow cytometry and Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA), respectively. Our data showed PFKL aggregates of varying sizes in the cytoplasm of stimulated macrophages. The results suggested that macrophages form enzyme clusters, similar to tumor cells, under metabolic stress. Initial analysis showed a wider range of cluster sizes in metabolically stressed macrophages. Future studies must be conducted to confirm the presence of metabolic clusters in vivo and design therapies targeting metabolism in cancer cells without impairing immunity.
This investigation was sponsored by NIH/NIGMS MARC U*STAR T34 08663 National Research Service Award to UMBC and an Undergraduate Research Award from the UMBC Division of Academic Affairs.
Computational Studies of the Rotational State of Comet Nuclei
Garrett Tignall
Susan Hoban, JCET
Comets are like time capsules, they contain the elements that were present in the birth of our solar system and were a source of Earth’s water inventory during the era of heavy bombardment. Improved understanding of the physical and chemical properties of comets and how these properties evolve over time will inform understanding of processes that determine the nature and history of volatiles and organic compounds, and the sources of simple chemicals that contribute to prebiotic evolution. Using CCD narrow-band filter imaging allows for the detection of light signals emitted by the comet and its gases. The observations can be used to study the chemical composition of the cometary coma, as well as using the changes in morphology to study the dynamics of the comet’s nucleus. Figuring out the rotation of the comet from a time series of images of coma morphology is the problem we are researching. Using python programming I have developed a set of functions to produce an animation that represents the rotational behavior of the comet as a function of time and viewing geometry. These functions also include comet jet enhancement capabilities and other image manipulation techniques. This research is ongoing, and a work in progress.
This work was funded, in part, through an Undergraduate Research Award from the UMBC Division of Academic Affairs.
Sexual Health Education, Knowledge, and Behavior
Emily Tillett
Jolene Sy, Psychology
The merits of comprehensive vs. abstinence-only sexual health education have been highly debated in both politics and education for years. Some parents and teachers argue that teaching minors sexual health topics encourages them to start having sex. As a result, many states and countries teach abstinence-only education. In states that more strongly emphasize abstinence only ideals in their school system’s sexual health curriculum, teenage pregnancy rates are significantly higher. The Center for Disease Control estimates that nearly 20 million new cases of STD/STIs are reported each year. In November of 2017, the CDC predicted that nearly every sexually active individual will get HPV at some point in their life. The group at the highest risk of contracting an STD/STI is individuals between the ages of 18-35. Little data are available on the relationship between sexual health education, sexual health knowledge, and risky sexual behavior of adults. The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between these variables, and examine the relationship between behavioral measures of impulsivity and risky sexual behavior.
Why Does Peach Need Mario, Zelda Need Link and Moxxi Get Slut-Shamed?: Gender and Sexual Representation in Video Games
Jamie Tingler
Amy Bhatt, Gender and Women's Studies
Whether it’s a role-playing game, first person shooter, or a mobile game, the number of people that enjoy video games are increasing (Ward, 2018). With popular series like Super Mario, The Legend of Zelda and Borderlands being almost household names, my research offers a look into how the representations of characters (or lack of) impact players emotionally and psychologically. While there is growing research on the representations in video games, my project adds to the field by focusing on player’s experiences. I use online surveys and interviews with self-identified gamers to explore how they feel about gender, sexual, and racial representations in the (predominately single-player) games that they play. I plan on conducting approximately six interviews and aim to showcase the ways the video games can be helpful and harmful to a person’s psychological and mental health. This research contributes to the literature on video games, gender and sexuality, and representation.
The Role of Mg2+ in Stabilizing MA:tRNA Interactions
Emre Tkacik, Christy Gaines, Amalia Rivera-Oven
Michael Summers, Chemistry and Biochemistry
Human immunodeficiency virus-1’s (HIV-1) matrix domain (MA) of the Gag polyprotein targets Gag to the cell membrane through interactions between MA’s highly basic region and phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate [PI(4,5)P2] on the cell membrane. This is critical for the assembly of the virus. Cross Linking Immunoprecipitation studies showed that MA specifically binds to certain tRNAs, including tRNALys3 and tRNAGlycGCC, in vivo. Host tRNALys3 acts as a primer for reverse transcription and is packaged into budding virions. Using isothermal titration calorimetry, we determined that key residues in the highly basic region are vital for both membrane binding and tRNA binding. Hence, it is hypothesized that tRNA binds to MA early in the replication cycle with a high affinity, and is only displaced by PI(4,5)P2, allowing MA to target the plasma membrane rather than other membranes within the cell. We conducted 1-D NMR liposome binding assays to examine MA interactions in the presence and absence of tRNALys3, with various mimetic membranes. If we can characterize the structure of the MA: tRNA complex using NMR, it would allow for better understanding of the mechanism by which HIV specifically targets the cell membrane and how viral assembly and budding occur.
This investigation was sponsored by NIH/NIGMS MARC U*STAR T3408663 National Research Service Award to UMBC.
Perceived Oppression, Stress, and Health Behaviors Among College Students
Jenny Torres
Shawn Bediako, Psychology
Recent events on college campuses have highlighted students’ perception of social oppression. Few studies, however, have explored the health-related consequences of perceived oppression. This study examined the association of perceived oppression with perceived stress and their relative association with healthy behaviors. We administered the Felt Oppression Questionnaire, the Perceived Stress Scale, and the Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile II to 485 undergraduates using a convenience sampling method. Results showed that felt oppression and perceived stress were positively correlated (r = 0.10, p < .05). Interestingly, perceived stress was negatively correlated with health-promoting behaviors (r = -0.34, p < .01), while felt oppression was positively correlated with health-promoting behaviors (r = 0.09, p < .05). These findings reveal that stress and perceived oppression are related – but not identical – concepts, and that they are associated with healthy behaviors in different ways. Future studies should explore the potential role that active coping mechanisms play in determining an individual’s response to perceived oppression and stress. Individual differences in coping may explain why some students respond to stress in a way that negatively affects health behaviors and respond to perceived oppression in a way that appears to positively affect health behaviors.
An Efficient Parallelizing C Compiler for a Many-Core Architecture
Erfan Tuerdi
Tinoosh Mohsenin, Computer Science and Electrical Engineering
A compiler is an essential software to translate programs into specific machine instructions to be executed by the processor. The purpose of this research project is to develop a machine-specific C language compiler for the Power Efficient Nano Cluster (PENC) processor and research current technologies to tackle the parallel programming challenges presented by the emerging architectures. Compiler construction is divided into independent stages and each stage of compiler design such as lexical scanning, parsing, semantic analysis, intermediate representation and optimization, and code generation is implemented as modules using the standard techniques emerged from the long years of compiler research. Compilation for the multiple cores are done by compiling multiple partitioned files. In addition, various parallel and distributed computing technologies such as OpenMP, MPI, and CUDA are investigated as a feature to optimize the running performance of the program on the massively parallel architecture. The project produced a functional compiler and a framework to study various compiler design techniques. The compiler can take a C program file and translate it into target-machine’s instruction set. The introduction of a compiler is a promise to reduce both time and error in writing sophisticated program statements.
This work was funded, in part, through an Undergraduate Research Award from the UMBC Division of Academic Affairs.
Numerical Simulation of Vibrations of Mechanical Structures
Adaku Uchendu
Bedrich Sousedik, Mathematics and Statistics
We develop an implementation of finite element method to simulate vibrations of mechanical structures. Specifically, we use a 2D frame model and corresponding stiffness, mass and damping matrices to set up a system of ordinary differential equations, which is solved in Matlab. We also consider uncertainties in the model parameters by taking the Young's modulus as a random variable. We use Monte Carlo simulation, and the effect of uncertainties is studied by numerical experiments.
This work was funded, in part, through an Undergraduate Research Award from the UMBC Division of Academic Affairs.
The Role of the Neogenin Intracellular Domain (Neo-ICD) in Neurulation
Eudorah Vital
Rachel Brewster, Biological Sciences
The development of the central nervous system (CNS) depends on early, dynamic cellular behaviors that narrow and elongate the neural plate (NP) during the process of neural convergence (NC). During NC, NP cells narrow the NP by migrating medially; consequently, increasing the tissue length while reducing the distance between the edges of the neural plate, facilitating neural closure. Insufficient NC perturbs neural tube formation and can result in neural tube defects (NTDs), the second most common congenital birth defect worldwide. By studying the proteins regulating cell polarity and migration during NC, we provide greater understanding of why mutations in the genes that encode them promote NTDs. One such polarity regulator, the Neogenin receptor (Neo) transduces signals from repulsive guidance molecules (RGMs) to its host cell using poorly understood mechanisms. We show that depletion of Neo or RGM paralog A (RGMa) results in delayed NC. We found that RGMa-Neo interaction promotes the sequential cleavage of Neo by alpha- and gamma-secretases to produce an intracellular domain, Neo-ICD. The Neo-ICD translocates to the nucleus of neural plate cells where it is predicted to activate the transcription of several pro-migratory genes. Future work will test these candidate genes as downstream regulators of NC.
This investigation was sponsored by NIH/NIGMS MARC U*STAR T3408663 National Research Service Award to UMBC.
Comparing Mammal Biodiversity Between Baltimore Forest Patches
Austin Vong
Colin Studds, Geography and Environmental Systems
Urban environments have only recently been studied as unique ecosystems themselves, but are becoming increasingly important as human populations and cities grow. Baltimore is already at the forefront of urban ecosystem research, but there has been little research on mammal diversity within the city. Mammals are mostly confined to a limited home range, so mammal communities could help indicate the quality of habitat they live in. Camera traps were placed in fifteen forest patches within Baltimore and operated roughly between May to October 2017. Mammals were manually identified and tagged using camera tagging software, and the patches were compared using R. Species composition between the forests patches did not vary greatly, likely because of the general proximity of all the forest patches and similar regional conditions. White-tailed deer, common raccoons, and domestic cats were among the most common sightings although abundance and richness was influenced by the size of the forest and surrounding land use. This project is part of a long-term research study and more data will be collected in the future.
This work was funded, in part, through an Undergraduate Research Award from the UMBC Division of Academic Affairs.
Khadijah Wali, Hailey Partin, Shannon Irwin, Tiffany Pierce, Joey Napolitano
Eric Jordan, Visual Arts
Marscapone is a video game that follows Marscapone, a witch with the ability to control and manipulate food. The game is a two-dimensional sidescrolling platformer where you can run jump, and attack the various food-based monsters that inhabit the environment. What makes the game unique is that Marscapone also has the ability to take control of the monsters, making her opposition work for her instead. The artists of the team showcase their fun and creative side with the colorful food-based landscapes and creatures. The programmers work to develop interesting attack styles for the enemies to make them fun and challenging to defeat.
Reading on Her Own: Parents’ Views on How Home Literacy Environment Impacts their Preschool Child’s Emergent Literacy
Lyndsie Walker, Linda Baker1, Laura DeWyngaert1
1Psychology, UMBC
Linda Baker, Psychology
Researchers have long been interested in what activities parents do at home to help their young children develop literacy (Baker, Sonnenschein, & Serpell, 1995). Many studies have shown significant relations between the home literacy environment and preschool children’s emergent literacy (Schwanenflugel & Knapp, 2016). Furthermore, having positive experiences with print, such as shared book reading, can improve children’s literacy learning and motivation in early school settings (Baker et al., 1995). This study is part of a larger project examining the oral language competencies that contribute to subsequent reading comprehension. The sample consisted of 34 parents and their children attending pre-kindergarten programs. Parents were asked to complete a questionnaire about their beliefs and practices related to literacy at home. Of interest was whether and how their responses related to their child’s performance on a series of tasks assessing narrative comprehension, receptive vocabulary, and conceptual knowledge. Preliminary results show little correlation between rated frequency of various home literacy activities, such as shared book reading, and the child’s scores on our tasks. However, an ongoing analysis of open-ended comments will give a more nuanced understanding of how parents contribute to their child’s early literacy development.
Structural Characterization of the Protein: RNA Interactions that Nucleate HIV-1 Viral Assembly
Alexis Waller, Nansen Kuo, Sapna Basappa, Aaron Kidane, Ugonna Mbaekwe
Michael Summers, Chemistry and Biochemistry; Pengfei Ding, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, UMBC
During the viral life cycle of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 (HIV-1), interactions between the unspliced viral RNA and its translated product, the Gag polyprotein, initiate the viral assembly. We seek to characterize the Gag – RNA interactions essential to selective genome packaging. Our lab identified the Core Encapsidation Signal (CES), the minimal region needed for packaging to occur from the dimeric 5’Leader (5’-L) of the viral genome. We solved the structure using solution nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. Preliminary data suggested that clustering of Gag on CES promotes the formation of Gag hexamers that potentially function as the nucleation site to initiate viral assembly. To structurally characterize the initiation complex, we fused the nucleocapsid (NC) domain of Gag to a hexameric protein scaffold to mimic a Gag hexamer found in the immature virus like particle. Using electrophoretic mobility shift assays, we determined the hexameric NC protein forms a 1:1 complex with CES and preferentially binds to the dimeric 5’-L in comparison to the monomeric 5’-L. Currently, we are structurally characterizing the initiation complex using Cryo-Electron Microscopy. These studies will further our understanding of the mechanism of HIV genome packaging, which can be helpful for structure–based therapeutic developments.
This research was funded by NIH/NIGMS grants 1P50GM103297 and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute at UMBC, with support by the NIH-funded MARC U STAR program at UMBC under National Research Service Award T34 GM 008663.
Give Them a Hand: Improving the Bowholds of Cello Students
Lauren Waller
Nana Vaughn, Music
One essential skill for beginning string instrument players is a proper bowhold. Not only is this needed to look appropriate as a performer, but it also allows the student to produce a stronger sound and feel comfortable rather than tense while playing.
This project focuses on improving bowholds within two groups of third grade cello students in a suburban elementary school. The study is made up of both male and female students of varying ages and racial backgrounds. These students have been studying the cello for one year or less.
Students will be videotaped playing a given piece or other assignment to assess the deficiencies in their current bowholds.* Afterwards, they will be given specific bowhold exercises to implement in their class time as well as during their home practice sessions. They will be given direct instruction in group settings and individual settings and will be provided with techniques and strategies in bowholds and playing. After the students have had a period to practice these techniques, they will be assessed again to measure their progress and success.
*The videos were taken for personal analysis and will not be used in the actual presentation so as to maintain student privacy.
Self-Paced Workbooks used to Teach Adults with Intellectual Disabilities about Disability Legislation in College
Eliana Walter, Abigail Pollock
Jolene Sy, Psychology; Marissa Daly, Psychology
Self-paced instruction may be beneficial when there are ranges of student abilities in a classroom, as self-paced instruction allows learners to proceed at their own pace (Rae, 2011). The purpose of this study was to determine whether self-paced instruction would affect the number of correct responses on quiz questions about covered course material for eight students with intellectual disabilities. Each workbook lesson contained information on disability rights, a reading quiz, six real-world examples followed by four follow up questions, and a final quiz on the material. Students were provided with an answer key so they could check and correct their responses. In addition, undergraduate peers and research assistants were available to guide students through the workbook. After finishing each lesson, students were given a quiz on the material and, if they received a 90% or above, they progressed to the next lesson. If a student earned below 90%, they were asked to review the information and retake the quiz. This process continued until a mastery criterion was met. Students completed an average of four lessons (range, zero to eleven).
Baltimore’s Chinatown: Preserving Memory and a Conflicted Community
Kelly Wan
Nicole King, American Studies
Most of Baltimore’s histories revolve around African American and Caucasian neighborhoods, but an obscure part of the city near the intersection of Park Avenue and Mulberry Street has forced us to look into a lesser known demographic and its narrative. Baltimore’s Chinatown presents a unique case study examining the transformation of a site of segregation and isolation to a center of celebration and connection for the greater Asian American community. My research focused on reasons to remember and preserve the area. Using urban ethnography, interviews, and supporting textual analysis, I explored Chinatown’s complex origins, prime, decline, and wishes for future revitalization. Upon examination, I discovered that Chinatown functioned as a place for cultural exchange and shared background, facilitating political, economic, and social networks among residents. For many Chinese immigrants, Chinatown was their support system. However, with suburban flight and assimilation into American society, the next generation of Chinatown lost their physical and cultural ties to the community. For us, Chinese Americans, Chinatown has become the segue to reconnect with our heritage, foster belonging in a diverse space, and open a dialogue on both contemporary Asian American urban identity and Chinatown’s importance on the overall patchwork of Baltimore.
Maximizing extractable information for IBM's Quantum Experience
Kevin Weber
Sebastian Deffner
Unlike classical computers quantum computers give their answers to computations in the form of what are called quantum states rather than directly readable electrical signals. In order to determine exactly what these states are one must take measurements of the system. These measurements give you some information about the quantum state, but also destroy some of the information. Thus maximizing how much information can be obtained is vital in building optimal quantum computers. Specifically, we are interested in maximizing the amount of information that can be extracted from the qubits in IBM’s Quantum Experience. To this end, we compute the “accessible information” which is the upper bound of the extractable information the system has for an arbitrary spin measurement direction. We then maximize this function in terms of the measurement direction.
Fast Implementation of Mixed Finite Elements and Applications to Flow in Porous Media Using MATLAB
Theodore Weinberg
Bedrich Sousedik, Mathematics and Statistics
Understanding and modeling flow in porous media is important in many areas including managing groundwater reserves, maintaining CO2 storage facilities, and simulating petroleum reservoirs. This has created a growing need to efficiently describe flow in porous media. Models are typically described by partial differential equations (PDEs). We have developed an efficient implementation of the mixed finite element method for the lowest order Raviart-Thomas elements (RT0), which can be used to discretize problems related to flow in porous media. This implementation was created in MATLAB. As MATLAB is inefficient with iterative operations, the code had to be vectorized, replacing loops with array operations. In other words, instead of interacting with one element at a time the code interacts with all the elements simultaneously. The code supports two-dimensional and three-dimensional domains, and the finite elements can be triangles, quadrilaterals, tetrahedrons, or blocks. Based on numerical experiments, we have shown that our implementation is significantly more efficient than the standard approach.
This work was funded, in part, through an Undergraduate Research Award from the UMBC Division of Academic Affairs and through the U.S National Science Foundation under grant DMS1521563.
Advice and Decision Making among Pregnant Women in Sri Lanka
Doopashika Welikala
Bambi Chapin, Sociology and Anthropology
The importance of hierarchy in Sri Lankan society is well documented in the scholarship on the region. In this system, senior people are expected to advise the people they care for. Accordingly, those who have a health condition are regularly given advice, both in the family and in the medical setting. Coming from a Sri Lankan background myself, I knew that pregnant women are frequently the recipients of advice, on matters ranging from managing their own health to caring for their children. At first glance, it seems that pregnant women have no choice in their decision making, deferring instead to the advice from those around them. However, the formal participant observation and interviews I conducted at a maternity hospital in Sri Lanka in June 2016 revealed that pregnant women are active in decision making. In this paper, I present the results of this research, outlining ways in which pregnant mothers receive and respond to advice within families and medical settings. I argue that pregnant women do not merely take up all advice given to them; rather, they exercise autonomy in making their own decisions within the parameters of that advice.
An Unbiased Computer-aided Literature Review Using Co-citation Networks and Multivariate Text Analysis
Elias Weston-Farber
David Lansing, Geography and Environmental Systems; Matthew Fagan, UMBC
The growing amount of scientific papers published worldwide each year presents a challenge: how can researchers identify coherent sets of ideas, and critically important papers, among a vast amount of literature? Scientific review articles attempt to do that but it remains difficult to limit bias and ensure that the full scope of a field has been adequately represented. In addition, statistical tools are needed to identify influential articles for particular literatures. Using research on “antimicrobial resistance”, our objective was to use computer modeling, textual analysis, and statistics to identify both coherent research clusters, and influential papers within various sub-fields. Our approach created a co-citation network from articles identified from a Web of Science search. The text of the titles and abstracts of the articles in those networks were then used to perform a principal components analysis (PCA) in order to identify coherent research clusters. This analysis was compared to a blind qualitative characterization of a random sample of papers in the network and showed a moderate alignment between the two methods. This method may be useful for identifying meaningfully distinct subgroups of researchers and/or classes of articles among a large data set of papers.
Determining the Impact of the REACH Initiative on High School Students
Shiona Wijesekara, Sienna Young
Mariano Sto. Domingo, Psychology
REACH was established as a program to build up confidence among high school students and grow their knowledge of the STEM fields, and prepare them for the college application process, which fulfills the vision of diminishing the current underrepresentation of women in STEM specifically in Baltimore City. Six survey questions that captured the above-mentioned goals were administered to the scholars on the first day back after the winter break asking for their opinion before and after participating in the program for a semester. The multiple questions for each goal was set up to pinpoint the positive or negative impacts precisely.The results were analyzed by a paired t-test to examine the impact of the program. While the statistical results are mixed, the findings indicated that the program made significant influence in a number of areas. The findings confirmed that a program such as REACH can increase the awareness of STEM fields and become more comfortable with the college process. These results mean that the program is successful overall and that the STEM sector are moving in a promising direction. Among the limitations of the study are a small sample and a potential selection bias.
This work was funded, in part, through an Undergraduate Research Award from the UMBC Division of Academic Affairs.
Home Sweet Homo: An Ethnography of Queer Living Space
Daniel Willey
Amy Bhatt, Gender and Women's Studies
Why are queer people drawn to living together? How does living space shape relationships? Does queer domestic life enrich the lives of queer people? Drawing on Sara Ahmed’s insights on orientation and space in Queer Phenomenology (2006), this research is an ethnographic study of queer adults which seeks to understand how family structure and relationships are built within and shaped by queer domestic life and the space of the queer home. Research will be conducted first with a preliminary survey to screen potential research subjects and provide initial information and context, followed by recorded ethnographic interviews and participant-observation of five to eight self-identified queer adults from at least four queer households. I will focus on non-romantic domestic situations, such as friends or strangers living together, and domestic situations in which the people involved exist in a variety of relationship structures, such as romantic partners living with friends, multiple romantic partners, or parents and children. This study contributes knowledge to the fields of kinship studies, safe spaces, and queer theory. Queer households push the boundaries of what it means to be a family and challenge us to imagine the many ways in which we love and care for one another.
Effects of Elicitor-Induced Defense Activation on the Circadian Clock in Arabidopsis
Linda Wiratan, Chong Zhang
Hua Lu, Biological Sciences
It has recently been shown that crosstalk exists between the circadian clock and innate immunity in the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana. To further characterize this crosstalk, my project examined the effect elicitors, pathogen-derived compounds that induce plant defense responses, have on the circadian clock in terms of period, phase, and amplitude. Using the luciferase assay, a bioluminescent method of measuring gene expression, we describe the effect of coronatine, methyl jasmonate, elf26, flg22, fumonisin B1, and methyl viologen on circadian expression of the luciferase (LUC) reporter gene driven by a clock-regulated promoter, the CCA1 or GRP7 promoter (CCA1pro::LUC or GRP7pro::LUC). For CCA1pro::LUC, all phases were reduced, and elf26 and fumonisin B1 shortened period, while coronatine lengthened it. For GRP7pro::LUC, all treatments reduced amplitude, though only methyl viologen and coronatine lengthened the period. Repeat assays supported the observation that coronatine is consistently period-lengthening; this elicitor is a subject of further study. Overall, these results show that induced plant defenses have an elaborate impact on CCA1 and GRP7 circadian expression; we will expand our study towards more clock components and wider elicitor types. My project contributes to a deeper understanding of plant immunity, which directly impacts agricultural disease control and human medicine development.
This work was funded, in part, through an Undergraduate Research Award from the UMBC Division of Academic Affairs.
Andrea Wozniak, Shea Sandifer, Khadijah Wali
Marc Olano, Computer Science and Electrical Engineering
The UMBC Game Developers’ Club is presenting its 2017-2018 projects. Game Developers’ Club serves to create a unique environment for creative expression where programmers, musicians, artists, and designers work shoulder to shoulder to produce interactive works. Club members cooperate to create several group projects, as well as multiple independent projects, using a wide variety of technologies. This year's group projects include: Star Marten, a platformer with mini games to boost your abilities; Phantom, a point and click mystery game where the detective player and victim’s ghost work together to solve crimes; Little Golem, a game about a golem that pushes, rolls, and tilts gravity to solve puzzles; Rock Dog, a turn-based role-playing game where you control a rock-star; Fansail, an arcade style survival game as you pilot a parachute through dangerous terrain while protecting passengers; Top Cop, a beat em’ up game where you battle against gangsters; Marzipan, a platformer that lets the player navigate around using moon gravity to solve puzzles; Baby Dragon Assassin, a stealth platformer where you play as an imaginative child in daycare through their eyes and stealthily try to get your ball back from a bully; and Ultrariah, a top-down shooter/stealth game with recruiting mechanics.
The Effects Of Mothers’ Emotion Socialization Practices On Children’s Emotional Regulation In Chinese-Immigrant Families
Claudia Xie, Kathy Vu
Charissa Cheah, Psychology
Chinese immigrant mothers often hold values of collectivism, and may view children’s negative emotions as disruptive to their relationships with others and group harmony. Chinese-immigrant mothers’ use of practices that dismiss their children’s emotions may hinder their children’s development of effective emotion regulation strategies, including cognitive reappraisal. In turn, children who are unable to reinterpret negative emotional experiences as more positive may experience emotional problems in school. However, these associations have not been extensively investigated in Chinese-immigrant families with preschool-aged children. Thus, the present study examined the mediating role of Chinese-immigrant children’s use of cognitive reappraisal in the relation between mothers’ use of emotion dismissing practices and children’s emotional problems in school. Chinese immigrant mothers and their preschool-aged children (N = 52) were observed during a recorded disappointment experimental task. Mothers’ use of emotion dismissal and children’s use of cognitive reappraisal were coded. Teachers reported on children’s emotional problems in the classroom. Children with mothers who dismissed their negative emotions expressed after being disappointed were less likely to use cognitive reappraisal to regulate, which was associated with more emotional problems in the classroom. The implications of examining emotion socialization and emotion regulation through a cultural lens were discussed.
This work was funded, in part, through an Undergraduate Research Award from the UMBC Division of Academic Affairs.
Nest Site Characteristics of the Critically Endangered Bahama Oriole
Briana Yancy, Jennifer Christilf
Kevin Omland, Biological Sciences
The Omland Lab at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) has been conducting research on the Bahama Oriole (Icterus northropi) since 2015. This is a critically endangered species, restricted just to Andros Island. In May 2016, UMBC undergraduates found new breeding habitat with the birds nesting in a native understory thatch palm (Leucothrinax morrisii) in remote pine forests. In May 2017, our team found several more nests in pine forests. For each nest tree, we measured the tree height, diameter, and nest height. At each nest tree, we took measurements of the habitat characteristics. These characteristics include 1) number and height of thatch palm, 2) number and height of pines, 3)average height of pine understory and 4) the burn history. We then measured two randomly selected control plots 50 meters from the nest. Then we measured the same characteristics for the control plots as well in order to statistically compare the actual nest site to the control points. The purpose of my research is to determine which specific habitats the Bahama Oriole needs.
This work was funded by The Explorers Club.
Two-Way Optical Time Transfer System
Malachi Yeh, Taylor Patrick, Steven Smith, Dominic Schellin, Michael Maduako
E.F. Chuck LaBerge, Computer Science and Electrical Engineering
The purpose of the Optical two-way Time Transfer System (OTTS) is to facilitate rapid, large-scale data transfer between two hubs via the communication medium of fiber optics. One of the fundamental qualities of such a system is the ability to synchronize the clocks of each hub to within a negligible margin of error, on the sub-nanosecond level, with far more definition than computer systems are generally capable of. Because optical signals are able to transfer information close to the speed of light, any disparity in time between systems regarding the transmission rate would lead to catastrophic loss of information in transit. Thus, the time propagation delay must be precisely accounted for even over short distances. The OTTS must calculate the distance and time delay of two input signals via a laser through fiber optic cables as a transfer medium to successfully synchronize the clocks of two systems in real-time. The OTTS team has utilized Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA ) hardware and a synthesizable Hardware Description Language (HDL) software model to implement the functionality of the two-way optical time transfer system.
Army Research Lab.
Supporting Caregivers And Care Recipients After The Onset Of Cognitive Impairment With Home Based Technology
Nida Yousfi, Zachary Pohuski, Hannah Paul, Zulkarnain Choudhury
Galina Madjaroff, Aging Studies
Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) causes a decline in cognitive abilities in an individual which includes memory loss. Individuals with MCI have a higher chance of developing Alzheimer’s or dementia. This study focuses on understanding the narratives of people living with mild cognitive impairment and their partners through the use of home technology. The participants in this study were older couples in which one partner was recently diagnosed with cognitive impairment and the other acted as their caregiver.The focus was to examine whether the home-based intelligent speaker- Amazon Echo “Alexa” supported both caregiver and care recipient with mild cognitive impairment. Amazon Alexa units were installed in the home of all the participants. After the installation, the participants were interviewed about their expectations of using Alexa and to gauge how the couples were adjusting to the recent diagnosis of MCI. Usage data from Amazon Alexa unit was retrieved every three weeks. The data was then analyzed, and conclusions were drawn based on treads and interesting questions that were asked by the participants.
Environmental Imagination: The Natural World and its Human Connections through Marquez and Murakami
Morgan Zepp
Jessica Berman, English
This paper seeks to explore and better understand the environment and its relationship to people through two literary texts, Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World by Haruki Murakami and Monologue of Isabel Watching it Rain in Macondo by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. It takes an eco-critical approach, illuminated by the stance that humanity is not separate from what society normally considers the “environment.” Theorist Tim Morton believes that there is no separation between humans and the natural world, and his concept of “human ecology,” or the idea that humans are a deeply important part of ecology, reflects the arguments I make regarding the positions of the characters in their environments. I argue that the first-person narrators of both texts face extreme environmental pressures that involve the onset of time, and their perceptions of events drive the plot and inform the reader’s understanding of the natural world. I explore the crucial link between the mind and the environment and understand what it is about those environments that leave characters subject to harm. I put these analyses of the texts in broader contexts regarding a global environmental imagination and understand the texts at both a cultural and global level.
Comparison of When European American, Chinese Immigrant and Korean Immigrant Mothers Engage in Control
Yuwanyun Zhu
Charissa Cheah, Psychology
Parental control are behaviors intended to modify children’s thoughts, emotions and behaviors according to adult expectations. Examining key socialization moments when mothers engage in control across cultural groups can illustrate culturally-unique and shared parenting priorities.Therefore, we aimed to identify and compare the situations when mothers express control towards their children across European American (EA), Chinese immigrant (CI) and Korean immigrant (KI) mothers. Fifty EA mothers (Mage=37.49; SD=4.84), 50 CI mothers (Mage=37.74; SD=4.38) and 33 KI mothers (Mage=36.03; SD=3.62) identified situations when they expressed control towards their preschool-age children during semi-structured interviews. Six situation codes emerged from the interviews: Prevention of Danger, Daily Behavior, Child Difficult Behavior, Interpersonal Relations, Interpersonal Behavior, and Moral Development. Multivariate Analysis of Variance (MANOVA), follow-up ANOVA and t-tests revealed that EA mothers were more likely to use control than CI mothers during situations of danger prevention and interpersonal relationships. CI mothers expressed control more than EA mothers when their child displayed difficult behavior. Both CI and KI mothers emphasized control more often for moral development than EA mothers. Finally, KI mothers reported using control more often for interpersonal behaviors than both EA and CI mothers. Findings were discussed with regard to each group’s cultural priorities.
This work was funded, in part, through an Undergraduate Research Award from the UMBC Division of Academic Affairs.