热点大瓜

Nicholas Janzen

The goal of these interventions is to decouple a binary relationship typically associated between deer and hunters to educate publics of a more ethical way to kill deer, challenging the way humans think of hunting and its relationship to landscape. Hunters have a unique view of the landscape and see it on a less granular scale than the mosaic. This perspective has the potential to understand land fragmentation on a more intimate level with ecologies, therefore hunting becomes a driver for design. Under the deconstructivist design paradigm the thesis will unpack and dismantle the word prey that looms between humans, fauna, and landscape. The design will develop several scenarios based on land configuration of fragmentation to develop corridors and patches with implanted objects that allow fauna to travel among the landscape, for flora to grow, and for hunters and non-hunters to reside in. This would be a novel approach that sets itself apart from White tail habitat design which are hunter centric. 

Ethan Ikegami and Edwin Sanchez

"Social Skin" functions as an intermediary, bridging the gap between what is public and private, exterior and interior, residential and commercial. It acts as a versatile boundary that not only delineates but also facilitates interaction. The flexible skin wraps around two buildings, extending from the rooftop and cascading down the facade, moving through one building before stretching across to the other. Along its path, it transforms to serve various purposes: shading rooftop gardens, acting as an operable privacy screen along the facade, and creating a space for social interactions throughout the year. This space accommodates activities such as a farmers market in the summer, a winter market, and various community gatherings or pop-up events, fostering a year-round connection between the buildings and the surrounding community.

Jessica Renn and Ying Wang

"Urban Sponge" is a residential housing project that utilizes the fluidity and porosity of the sponge as guiding design language, to establish an adaptable living environment that bridges buildings, community, and nature. Designed with an intention to develop architecture that goes beyond the scope of typological functions, a narrative was thoughtfully constructed to promote a sense of belonging and social interaction between residents, raising the urgent need for community-oriented urban living.

Dami Bankole and Tanmayee Ashok Yadav

The Project Gridshell is a research project by the Situated Technologies Research Studio, exploring the integration of mixed reality (MR) technology into architectural design and construction. The project aimed to construct a pavilion using reclaimed materials, which had been pre-cut for a previous project, and to develop a workflow that eliminated the need for traditional construction documents. Utilizing Microsoft HoloLens 2 headsets, students engaged with a real-time, full-scale hologram of the pavilion, manually placing points to identify lap joint locations. These points were then cross-referenced with a catalog of available materials, and the MR system automatically optimized material usage by matching segment lengths, reducing waste. This data was used for real-time fabrication of new structural components. The Gridshell Project demonstrates MR's potential to streamline the design and construction process, enhance material efficiency, and reduce waste, offering a glimpse into the future of digital fabrication, sustainable construction, and immersive design methodologies in architecture.

Arianna Cinotti and Juliet Luers

Art Street is a proposed housing project designed around a new pedestrian street that thrives as a part of the Buffalo art scene. The design fosters a vibrant cultural atmosphere while maintaining a strong sense of community through facilitating markets and festivals. The apartments feature three entrances that connect the residents to Hertel Avenue, Beard Avenue, and a landscaped connection to Shoshone Park. Cutouts create both physical and visual connections between the user and the space they occupy. A central courtyard that residents use to access their units fosters connections between residents. This is furthered by recessed balconies in each unit that overlook the courtyard and shared terrace. A multi-use public building turns it back to Main Street, but through cutouts on the ground floor creates a porosity from Main Street to Art Street. It houses a gallery, private studios, public workspaces, and a café, fostering creativity and engagement.

Alexander Anderson and Erica Fredes

This project was about analyzing and studying specifically historic Niagara River boats then using that info to later construct and race these boats on the same water that many before us have road on. After the research on the boats, we also had to investigate what it took to make boats like these. Focusing on form, structure, and sustainability, we designed and fabricated a folding boat that was very light in weight and was able to glide across the water effortlessly with two passengers in it. A project like this taught us about the "frame and skin" style of designing that many building use, how to think about sustainability, as well designing in a large team while trying to reach a similar outcome. 

Nishitkumar Gandhi, Pradeep Kondayapalepu, Prafull Manolkar and Vaidehi Vagal

The research project explores the integration of mixed reality in the design and testing of tensile membrane structures, enhancing precision, efficiency, and structural performance. The project began by experimenting with various materials at a small scale, using mixed reality to generate dynamic forms that pushed each material to its failure threshold. Subjecting materials to directional tension and point loads, we analyzed their behavior under extreme stress conditions. Further, according to the analysis and results a life-scale model was designed using mix-reality to enable real-time visualization and interactive refinement. This approach streamlined the process, ensuring unmatched accuracy and efficiency compared to conventional methods. Beyond optimizing structural performance, the research highlights mixed reality as a transformative tool in architecture and engineering-bridging the gap between digital simulation and physical construction while opening new frontiers in structural innovation.

Joseph Amirato, Olivia Chiarella, Kaitlin Lafferty, Carolina Rios and Mark Zamiarski

AirWave is a proposal for a new kind of community that blends urban planning practices, sustainability, multi-modal transportation, accessibility, and economic vitality above all else. Located in a industrial area left to waste by the City of the Cleveland, this neglected plot of land has created a vision for the future merging existing plans created for the area and new ones that connect this disadvantaged neighborhood back to Cleveland's waterfront all while uplifting the economy of East Cleveland and generating jobs - especially in the growing aviation and maritime industries - providing workforce training programs as well as fostering local business development through incubator spaces. AirWave is based on the practices of self-sustainability and pedestrian-focused mobility, serving as a model for sustainable living and what a green community could look like, integrating passive systems to reduce flooding and irrigate community gardens.

Ursula Ramos Estrada, Jasmin Ferreiras, Joseph Glatz, Shweta Kakade, Ian Simmons, Yerlene Torres, Faith Vale, Melanie Wu and Sandra Zarub

The Twin Arch is a research-driven prototype exploring innovative techniques in concrete fabrication. Inspired by Santiago Calatrava's works, such as Oriente Station and the Milwaukee Art Museum, the design embraces elegance, structural precision, and material efficiency while drawing from organic forms. The process combined material studies, iterative 3D modeling, and finite element analysis via Karamba 3D to minimize weight and waste while ensuring structural integrity. The final parabolic arch was organically manipulated to twist, distributing force through four supporting legs, reminiscent of an X-brace. Constructed at full scale, the 465-lb prototype utilized 3D-printed molds, 5-axis waterjet-cut formwork, and corbelling to achieve its asymmetric vault geometry. This project reimagines concrete as a sustainable, adaptable material, integrating advanced technologies to enhance both function and aesthetics while reducing waste through efficient structural design. 

Lydia Diboun and Daniel Schiavo

Shoshone Village is designed to promote human-scale living, social interaction, and sustainability within an urban context near Hertel Avenue and Main Street. Organized on a 12 x 12-foot grid, the site features 25 buildings, including 76 residential units and 8 program spaces offering amenities like a café, laundromat, and wellness center. Residents benefit from a hierarchy of outdoor spaces, including public pathways, landscape nodes, private backyards, back decks, and rooftop terraces. Each unit maximizes natural light with large windows, balcony doors, and skylights, while front stoops provide privacy and separation. Sustainable design elements, such as solar panels, green roofs, and passive heating and cooling, enhance energy efficiency. The distinctive Buffalo Double housing typology offers live/work options, blending seamlessly with the neighborhood. Through fragmented building clusters, Shoshone Village creates both public and private circulation, fostering a connected, active community while giving residents a sense of ownership and belonging.

Gavin Carroll

Markets have played a vital role in city development, creating connections within communities. The Mercat de la Boqueria in Barcelona, originally on an informal meat market in 1217, exemplifies this evolution. Now situated on La Rambla, the market offers a variety of fish, meat, fresh produce, and local vendors who maintain family traditions. ||Throughout its history, the market has faced many relocations due to significant events, such as urban development and the arrival of King Carlos IV, highlighting a cycle of movement and resilience. By examining its history, we can understand how events have shaped Barcelona and its community responses. This project maps the history of Mercat de la Boqueria along a timeline, represented as a map of the Gothic Quartet, showing its various locations through a GIF illustrating its journey through the city's streets to its current site. 

Omar Suri

My work evokes Hieronymus Bosch's The Garden of Earthly Delights. To both explore a world that materializes climate justice and describe the history that makes this world possible I structured my piece, left to right, into the past, present, and future. Before our ways of living were disrupted by "progress" we relied on the earth, and the earth relied on us. To remember this, planners must be able to look past the dominant systems that have been carved into our collective memory (Davoudi, 2023). This piece presents a prefigurative musician-narrator who can recollect the past and see past his present. He poses the thought, first articulated by Lorenz (2023), "perhaps you and I, ... can learn to live together amongst the dying, and die together amongst those who will outlive us" (p.41). His vision is one where we have stopped disrupting the natural cycle of life and death.

Alyssa Warrior

There has been over a century of discharges into Cattaraugus Creek, upstream from the Seneca Nation Cattaraugus Territory. Under University at Buffalo's NSF Rules of Life Antimicrobial Resistance grant, work has been completed to understand the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in wastewater systems and the subsequent discharge into our waterways. Although, this is only one concern on this primary tributary of Lake Erie. The Peter Cooper Site, located in Gowanda, NY operated for decades on Cattaraugus Creek, prior to implementation of water quality protections. Additionally, the Western NY Nuclear Service Center historically released radionuclides into this environment with continued permitted discharges through today. This work is focused on the cumulative impact of point source pollution has had upon the Seneca community.

Madison Niespodzinski

Olfaction is a prominent sense of Lorisiformes, which include slow and slender lorises, pottos, and bush babies. Within this group, these primates display various diet types, and as a result  they may differ in nasal cavity morphology to effectively deliver odorants to olfactory receptors. While much of the current research in primate nasal cavity geometry focuses on its function in warming air before it reaches the lungs, there is less knowledge of how odorants travel to the olfactory bulb. In this study, we landmarked nasal cavities in thirteen Lorisiform species using computed tomography (CT) scans. Landmarks were compared using principal component analyses and diet types were assigned to each of the species. We expect species within diet types to cluster together, showing distinctions in nasal cavity morphology between groups. Furthermore, we hope to contextualize the differences in morphology with associated diet groups and how this may relate to olfactory behaviors.

Aubrey Monaco

Bengal slow lorises (Nycticebus bengalensis) are nocturnal primates that exhibit behaviors such as feeding, foraging, and grooming. As nocturnal animals, the occurrence and priority of such behaviors may depend on the hour of the night. To understand how the hour of the night affects behaviors exhibited by Nycticebus bengalensis, behavioral observations recorded between January and November of 2024 at the Sakaerat Research Station in Thailand were analyzed. The occurrences of 21 behaviors were sorted into 12 categories based on hours of observation and graphed. Within the analyzed period, data was recorded between 7:00 p.m. (hour 19) and 6:00 a.m. (hour 6). It was observed that most loris behaviors occur between 10:00 p.m. (hour 22) and 12:00 a.m. (hour 0). Feeding, foraging, and traveling were found to be the most common behaviors.

Juliana D'Orazio

To access various food resources, primates must adjust their posture, position, and technique based on the unique challenges presented by each food item. All of these factors can influence their|overall habitat utilization. Our goal in this project was to characterize the postural repertoire of the Bengal slow loris (Nycticebus bengalensis) while feeding in a wild context. The Bengal slow loris is|an arboreal, nocturnal primate in South and Southeast Asia. They are known to have a diverse diet, including fruits, insects, and exudates, and traverse an array of habitats throughout their geographic|range. We analyzed data collected at the Sakaerat Slow Loris Project in Northeast Thailand between July 2023 and March 2024. The research team completed more than 350 hours of direct behavioral|observation on 17 Bengal slow lorises; recording their behavior, posture, position in tree, and|feeding technique. We documented 18 different postures while feeding and foraging. The slow lorises in this population most frequently used a vertical, downward position with four limbs on the|branch (16%). They were most often found in the periphery of the tree (47%), and gouging was|their primary feeding technique (55%). The diversity in postures recorded while feeding is also seen|in other slow loris species, like the Javan slow loris (N. javanicus) in Indonesia and the pygmy slow loirs (Xanthonycticebus spp.) in Vietnam. These results reflect the variation in food items|consumed and their availability due to seasonality.

Keely Maynard and Luke Quarles

In Thailand, palm oil and rubber plantations contribute to continual deforestation, a problem species with specialized diets. To counter declines, conservation efforts focus on reforestation and identifying forested areas for protection. To inform decisions, we must identify tree species that benefit primates and people. Here we identify preferred tree species of a specialist primate and discern mutual benefits they may have for people. Using 17-months of focal follow data on wild Thai Bengal slow lorises (Nycticebus bengalensis), collected between July 2023- November 2024, we identified key tree species that contribute to their exudate-rich diet. From 1,302 feeding events, we identified 23 species that N. bengalensis feed on and four species of flora that are primary food sources that can provide medicinal and material uses for humans. These findings contribute to our overall understanding of slow loris feeding ecology and should be considered when selecting species for reforestation and agroforestry projects. 

Cassandra Wagener

Obsidian was an essential resource in pre-Hispanic Mesoamerica, with a significant industry fostered in the Valley of Mexico. The importance of obsidian in Teotihuacan is evident through the presence of numerous workshops, deposits, and varying degrees of craft specialization. This research investigates the tool types as well as the sources and movement of obsidian artifacts obtained during René Millon's 1959 excavations of Teotihuacan. By studying the tool types and raw material sources of obsidian from both residential and public spaces, we gain valuable insights into economic and political dynamics at both local and regional levels. The distribution of different tool types and production debris allow for the identification of areas of production, use, and discard. This project also utilizes pXRF techniques to analyze the chemical compositions of these obsidian artifacts and assess the relationship between Teotihuacan and local obsidian sources in Central Mexico. Together, tool identification and sourcing allow us to collect new information on a legacy collection.

Meagan Killian

My work focuses on the intersections of the human body and cathedral architecture. Iron, stone, glass, timber, bones, cartilage, tendons, and ligaments; are structural systems that provide stability and determine how the structure responds to external forces and internal stressors. By thinking of the body in this manner, where the skin is the surface of the cathedral and its openings as the conjoining of the inside and outside, I can weave together a motif in which we can enter into the body beyond our physical limits. Bringing in aspects of architectural lineage I explore the influences of familial genes to the individuals understanding and perception of our own bodies. |Working with acrylic paints I can manipulate perception and spatial orientation within the works and create tenuous moments of overlap between the conscious and subconscious mind, the circulatory system, and the skeletal system. By working with layered wood cutouts I can create physical spaces that combine both the body and cathedral inviting the viewer in and allowing for a space of reflection on the everyday inner workings of the body that are often overlooked. Through the use of a variety of media, my objective is to create moments of a symbiotic relationship between the structures of the body and elements taken from the architecture of Gothic cathedrals. Drawing inspiration from the surrealists movement I Strive to defy the conscious understanding of the traditional rigid and structural forms associated with cathedrals. While they still evoke the associated understanding of strength, their loose and unusually twisted forms bring forth the idea of fragility and a defiance of normalcy. The lack of traditional representation of objects and the interconnected quality of the compositions create a sense of timelessness where the viewer can enter a realm beyond reality.

Ligia Teixeira Sato

Drawing connections to Edmund Husserl's concept of Natural Attitude within the field of Phenomenology studies, which refers to the typical everyday way humans experience life as being unaware of their habitual behaviors and surroundings, I argue that this unawareness is heightened by the perceptual experience of driving. To break this disconnection in an urban setting, one must walk. The body of artwork in Wanderer Phenomenon delves into a pedestrian's phenomenological experience as influenced by the built structures of the urban environment. Through a series of photographs mounted as street signs, and a series of short videos, I investigate my sense of safety and well-being in walkable, human-scaled spaces. In contrast, through a set of slow shutter speed photographs and documentations of performative actions, I express my feelings of unsafety and smallness in relation to vast, vacant, and car-centered environments.

Carsyn Bonesteel

This study investigates the genomic, evolutionary, and functional impact of the human-specific ACOT1 gene duplication, which originated from ACOT2 and remains polymorphic across populations. ACOT1 copy number variation (CNV) is linked to liver function, fat mass, diabetes, breast milk fat, and lipid metabolism, but its evolutionary history and mechanisms remain unclear. Using long-read sequencing from 107 individuals and short-read sequencing from thousands more, we reconstructed the structural haplotypes at the ACOT locus. Our findings show that the ACOT1 duplication predates the out-of-Africa migration, occurring over 50,000 years ago. We aligned ACOT1 and ACOT2 sequences across individuals and species to characterize sequence divergence, identify duplication breakpoints, and assess population variation. Future work will integrate genome-wide association study data to explore links between ACOT1 CNV and metabolic traits. Population genetic approaches will assess whether selection influenced ACOT1 CNV frequencies, providing insight on its potential adaptive role in metabolic regulation.

Christopher Page and Nicholas Pratt

Carnivorous plants have uniquely evolved to thrive in nutrient-poor environments. Sarracenia purpurea, the purple pitcher plant native to northeastern North America, captures prey using a passive pitfall trap. Similar trapping mechanisms have evolved independently in distantly related lineages like Nepenthes and Cephalotus, making pitcher plants an ideal model for studying convergent evolution. This project explores convergent evolution  of digestive mechanisms between S. purpurea and other pitcher plants. At the genomic level, we analyze orthologous genes of closely related species and other carnivorous plants. At the protein level, we examine convergence in digestive enzymes potentially shaped by positive selection. To conduct these analyses, we are assembled and annotated the S. purpurea genome. This research sheds light on how convergent evolution operates across biological scales, revealing recurring solutions to ecological challenges in diverse plant lineages.

Catherine Clark

The invasive benthic invertivore, round goby (Neogobius melanostomus), was introduced to the Great Lakes in 1990. It has since spread into the Niagara River and many of its tributaries, negatively affecting native aquatic invertebrate and fish communities. An assessment of an opportunistic vs. preferential feeding strategy is a significant gap in our understanding of the full impact of round goby invasion. To assess round goby feeding strategy, we quantified macroinvertebrate communities along two Niagara River tributaries, Ellicott and Tonawanda Creek. This available prey was compared to the gut content of round goby collected at the same sites. If round goby exhibit strong dietary preferences, sites with the appropriate prey bases may be more vulnerable to invasion impacts. If round goby are truly opportunistic feeders, prey base may not be informative in guiding management activities, in which case we can focus monitoring efforts on other factors. 

Jennifer Gasser

The radiation of North America wood warblers unraveled the role of ecological niche partitioning in generating biodiversity. A knowledge gap remains on their mating signal divergence and acoustic niche partitioning. We analyzed the breeding song patterns of five Setophaga Warbler species within the North Atlantic/ Great Lakes habitats. To gain a comprehensive understanding of warbler song repertoires, we built a species-specific song "dictionary" encompassing song types over hundreds of warbler songs. We discovered dramatic variation in song repertoire, frequency, and bandwidth among species studied. This study characterized the divergence of acoustic niches of warbler species coexisting in the summertime boreal forests around the Great Lakes. 

Sarah Kassem

Amylase is the enzyme for starch digestion. The amylase gene (AMY) is variable in copy-number across mammals, with higher copy-numbers correlated with higher starch consumption. In humans, it is thought that lower amylase copy numbers may predispose individuals to obesity and diabetes. The Nile Rat (Arvicanthis niloticus) has served as the ideal model for studying metabolic diseases due to their similar circadian rhythms to humans and ability to develop diabetes, as compared to other rodent models. Using digital droplet PCR of 96 Nile Rats and Oxford Nanopore long-read sequencing technology, we explore whether individuals with higher amylase gene copy numbers exhibit diabetes while on high starch diets. Our results show that amylase is copy number variable between individuals, independent of diet, ranging from 4 to 12 copies in diploid cells. Contrary to our original hypothesis, we find that individuals with higher copy numbers of amylase develop diabetes more often compared to individuals with lower copy numbers while on high starch diets. Our data proposes a downstream mechanism of starch metabolism that may be specific to Nile Rat biology. Furthermore, this work opens up several avenues of exploration involving gene expression of amylase in Nile Rats, and more broadly, its role in susceptibility to diabetes.

Doaa Kanan

The complement system enhances antibody function in clearing pathogens, with Complement Component 3 (C3) playing a key role. Factor H (FH) regulates C3 in the alternative pathway, and its deficiency leads to uncontrolled complement activation, contributing to diseases like Dense Deposit Disease and Age-related Macular Degeneration. Our research examines FH's role in blood flow and C3 deposition in the kidneys using mouse models. We confirmed genotypes via PCR and analyzed kidney blood flow with laser speckle imaging and C3 deposition through immunofluorescence. Results showed no change in blood flow, but FH deficiency led to C3 deposition, indicating that C3 breakdown generates anaphylatoxins that attract immune cells by chemotaxis rather than increasing perfusion. These findings provide insight into FH deficiency's role in kidney damage and function impairment.

Skye Rothman

Our research project focuses on conducting a paleogenetic investigation of life and climate history in Southeast Alaska. We have gathered ancient bone samples of various mammals from the caves located within the Alaskan Alexander Archipelago to determine the timing of the last Local Glacial Maximum (LGM) and to analyze how these ancient samples relate to modern mammals through genome analysis. Our research investigates the habitat preferences of Harbor (Phoca vitulina), Ringed (Pusa hispida), and Bearded (Erignathus barbatus) seals in arctic and southerly regions, considering the influence of the LGM on their distribution. By analyzing mammalian samples alongside established habitat data, we aim to elucidate how the LGM shaped the spatial dynamics of these seal species. 

Bailey Rouse

Hybrid zones provide unique opportunities to unravel the evolutionary rate of reproductive isolation in the origin of species. The selection against hybrids accrues with increased genetic incompatibilities, driving evolution of reproductive isolation in the face of gene flow. There have been decades of debates over the relationship between the selection against hybrids and the genetic divergence between parental lineages. The debates occur primarily among three models: (1) the Linear Effect Model predicts a linear growth of selection against hybrids with the divergence of parental lineages; (2) the Snowball Effect Model predicts exponential growth of selection; whereas (3) the Slowdown Effect Model predicts a logarithmic growth of selection. Here, we tested the three models with 116 animal hybrid zones worldwide. The Slowdown Effect Model is best supported with the full dataset. This data synthesis in the early stage of animal speciation reveals a gradual development of reproductive isolation with mitonuclear genetic divergence.

Annie Potter

Southeast Alaska, a biologically diverse region, has long been postulated to have provided ice-free refugia for local species during the Last Glacial Maximum. How past ecosystems developed and responded to the Holocene warming following the LGM is poorly known, except for an incomplete pollen record. This project investigates the history of fox species based on subfossil remains excavated from caves in the Alexander Archipelago, particularly red and arctic foxes that have been dated to before, during and after the LGM in Southeast Alaska. Because of challenges in identifying subfossils to species level due to morphological similarity between these fox species, we are using ancient DNA methods for species identification. We are also performing phylogenetic analyses to investigate the relationships of these foxes and their modern relatives to explore if they survived in refugia in this region. This project is supported by a UB ELN award and is part of a larger, interdisciplinary NSF-funded research program.

Max Striedl

Freshwater mussels (Unionidae) are a highly diverse and imperiled group of organisms that contribute to biodiversity and ecosystem functioning in rivers. Previous mussel surveys revealed that Tonawanda Creek and its tributaries provide habitat for one of the most diverse assemblages of freshwater mussels in New York state. However, in this region of the Great Lakes, we are missing key information regarding population sustainability. We returned to six previously surveyed sites to determine (1) how mussel assemblages have changed over time; (2) if the mussel populations in Tonawanda Creek are actively reproducing; and (3) if mussel populations are associated with specific habitat types. For seven of sixteen species we found individuals that were less than 30 mm long, indicating that these mussels are successfully reproducing. However, we detected fewer species at multiple sites compared to historic surveys, highlighting the importance of continued monitoring and conservation for these populations. 

Zachary Hodur

The evolution of sexually selected signals is central to adaptive radiation.The tempo and directionality of sexual versus natural selection on the same trait could have complex consequences at the species' boundaries. Here, we compiled the evidence of dual functional sexually selected characters targeting different sensory modalities: visual, acoustic, and chemosensory, in various stages of avian speciation to understand the mode of synergy and antagonism of divergent sexual and natural selections behind avian radiation. With phylogenetic analyses of 109 species boundaries, we found chemosensory signals had a strengthening effect on species boundaries while the other modalities were evenly distributed. Additionally, we found directional gene flow across the species boundaries following the energetic gradient of sexually selected signals. This rich synthesis reveals evolutionary trajectories during character divergence. We further highlight the major knowledge gaps and exciting future directions in the emerging frontier of sexual selection energetics.

Aashi Acharya

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurological disorder that commonly leads to uncontrolled movements and affects nearly 8 million people worldwide. The protein, alpha-synuclein (α-syn), plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of PD by contributing to mitochondrial dysfunction present in the disease. By accumulating in Lewy bodies in sporadic and familial PD brains, α-syn can hinder mitochondrial dynamics and promote oxidative damage-leading to neuronal degeneration and dysfunction, which are key factors in PD progression. Previous work in the lab has shown that excess α-syn causes mitochondrial fragmentation. Here we test the hypothesis that mitochondrial proteins associate with the α-syn C-terminus to mediate mitochondrial homeostasis. Larvae expressing human α-syn and α-syn with a C-terminal deletion in the context of TOM70 mutation will be stained with Tetramethyl rhodamine, methyl ester (TMRM) to evaluate mitochondrial health. Preliminary analysis shows TOM70 mutants exhibited decreased mitochondrial area like excess α-syn expression. The TOM70 mutant line had the lowest mitochondrial area among all groups.

Lindsey Siao

Human digestive enzymes have been shown to be evolving adaptively in response to dietary differences. Pepsinogen genes (PGAs) encode for the zymogens of pepsins, the primary enzymes that digest proteins in the stomach. The objective of this project is to investigate the extent of PGA copy number variation across different human populations with different dietary traditions. In this study, we integrated genome sequencing data from 84 populations to map the copy variation of the PGA gene locus in over 3,700 individuals across the world.  We documented a remarkable copy number variation among PGAs, ranging from 2 to 24 copies per diploid cell. We used droplet digital PCR to confirm our results. Our results shed light on the evolutionary history of an essential digestive enzyme, setting the stage for specific comparative studies on human dietary adaptation to different levels of protein consumption. 

Dennis Kogos and Ivy Mon

FOXG1 Syndrome (FS) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that occurs due to a mutation on the FOXG1 gene. Patients with FS experience impacted motor, cognitive and social abilities and thus, significant decrease in quality of life. Some anatomical landmarks found in FOXG1 patients include microcephaly, corpus callosum agenesis and simple gyral patterns. Clinical symptoms such as movement disorders, epilepsy, and impaired social contact are observed along with the changes in brain structures. Severity of the structural deficits have also been found to be linked to clinical severity. The phenotypic expression of G216S mutation of the Foxg1 gene in mice brain closely mimics the G224S mutation of FOXG1 found in human patients. The objective of this experiment is to identify structures that may be significantly affected by the G216S missense mutation in the mouse brain. Results of this study may give us more insight into clinical manifestations and severity seen in the G224S mutation in human patients.  Here, we have found that the structure of the corpus callosum is compromised in mice with G216S mutation in the FOXG1 gene in terms of thickness and length, resulting in poor connectivity between the two hemispheres. Data obtained from sagittal sections will be cross-analyzed to produce a clearer picture of the impacted structures. Further studies will be conducted to explore clinical symptoms such as sleep apnea and social anxiety in G216S mutation mice by utilizing behavioral assays. 

Tanmayee Durshelwar

Cisplatin is a platinum-based drug that induces chemotherapy-induced cognitive impairment (CICI). CICI negatively affects up to 40% of cancer survivors. Although neuroinflammation contributes to CICI, the role of peripheral immune cell infiltration mediated neuroinflammation remains unclear. To examine whether cisplatin promotes peripheral immune cell brain infiltration associated with CICI, we performed multiplex immunofluorescence in C57BL/6J female mice with antibodies specific to CD31+ endothelial cells and CD45+ peripheral immune cells in the hippocampus and choroid plexus. We found decreased CD45+ cells at the hippocampal adjacent choroid plexus, a known immune cell trafficking location, suggesting that cisplatin decreases surveillance by border-associated peripheral immune cells. Our ongoing research will reveal the degree by which cisplatin alters peripheral immune cell dynamics at the hippocampus, a structure that controls memory and is vulnerable in CICI. Understanding how peripheral immunity contributes to CICI will reveal new therapeutic targets to improve cognitive outcomes for cancer survivors.

Esther Wan

FOXG1 syndrome is a rare congenital neurodevelopmental disorder caused by mutation of the Forkhead box G1 (FOXG1) gene leading to developmental delay, intellectual disability, epilepsy, absence of speech, etc. Currently, there is no cure or targeted therapy, with treatment limited to symptom management. Understanding the disease pathology is crucial to developing effective treatment for the FOXG1 patients. This study investigates the role of FOXG1 in cortical neuron development using human embryonic stem cells. The K15X mutation was introduced to generate FOXG1-deficient cell lines (K15X/+ and K15X/K15X). The two mutated and a control cell line (RUES; WiCell) underwent 24 days of cortical neuronal differentiation progress in vitro, followed Western blot and immunofluorescent staining to analyze the expression of cell markers. This study will help us to understand the effect of K15X mutation, which enhances our comprehension of FOXG1's significance in cortical neuron development.

Amia Gonzalez

Chemotherapy-induced cognitive impairment, or "chemobrain," affects around 14 million cancer survivors in the United States alone. Without a current treatment, chemobrain, is typified by memory and motivational impairments. Previous research has shown that blocking adenosine A2A receptors (A2AR ) provides neuroprotection from aging and neurodegenerative diseases in the hippocampus, a region involved in memory and emotive behavior. Caffeine, a nonspecific A2AR antagonist, has demonstrated protective effects in neurodegenerative diseases  such as Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease. However, the impact of cisplatin (a platinum-based chemotherapy treatment) on medium spiny neurons (MSNs) in the striatum, a key region for motivation, remains unexplored. Our study investigates the extent to which cisplatin negatively affects striatal MSN morphology and whether caffeine attenuates  dendrite spine density impairments in association with motivation-related deficits. By evaluating caffeine's neuroprotective potential through A2AR antagonism, our research aims to identify novel therapeutic strategies for improving cognitive and motivational outcomes in cancer survivors.

Mindula Wijayahena

The biodegradation of perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), 6:2-fluorotelomer sulfonic acid (6:2 FTS), and 5:3-fluorotelomer carboxylic acid (5:3 FTCA), were evaluated using Labrys portucalensis F11. Cultures were grown in media with individual PFAS in separate flasks. In PFOS-spiked media, perfluoroheptane sulfonic acid (PFHpS), perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS), perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA), perfluoropentanoic acid (PFPeA), perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA), perfluoropropanoic acid (PFPrA) and three de-fluorinated metabolites were identified: PFOS-F (m/z = 480.940, PFOS-2F (m/z = 462.980), and PFOS-3F (m/z = 442.943). During 5:3 FTCA biodegradation, PFHxA, PFPeA, PFBA, PFPrA, and two fluorotelomer unsaturated carboxylic acids (5:3 FTUCA and 7:2 FTUCA) were observed. The 6:2 FTS biodegradation was slower, with only 21% decrease in concentration observed after 100 days, forming 4:2 FTS. In contrast, 90% of PFOS and 58% of 5:3 FTCA were degraded after 100 days. These results indicate that L. portucalensis F11 can be potentially used for PFAS biodegradation in contaminated environments.

Peter Zhang

Single-stranded RNAs (ssRNA) play important roles in many physiological processes, one of which is regulating molecular recognition in biomolecular condensates. Despite having only 4 simple building blocks, ssRNA adopts a complex array of structures, often with the help of counterions, hindering structural characterization by conventional experimental and theoretical techniques. To faithfully capture the structural ensemble of ssRNA, we optimized our coarse-grained RNA model, where each nucleotide is represented by three interaction sites (TIS) and interactions between RNA and Mg ions are modeled with liquid-based integral equation theory. We adjusted stacking interactions between two consecutive nucleotides along the RNA chain, which is essential for RNA folding and structure prediction, to reproduce thermodynamics as described by the nearest-neighbor model. The updated model captures well the structural ensemble of ssRNA homopolymers (rA30 and rU30), reproducing known experimental results such as radii of gyration, small angle X-ray scattering profiles, and ion counting experiments. We demonstrated that ssRNA homopolymers, unlike well-folded RNA, primarily bind to diffusive Mg. Additionally, we showed that ssRNA forms biomolecular condensates in the presence of Mg, driven mainly by electrostatic interactions. Our model provides a comprehensive treatment of ion-RNA interactions in terms of both energetic and structural features, allowing us to study ion-dependent RNA folding and phase transition.

Shwetha Prakash

Electrochemical quinone-mediated CO2 capture in aqueous media offers a sustainable, energy-efficient alternative to traditional carbon management approaches. we systematically investigated the effect of aromaticity and electronic structure on quinone-mediated CO2 binding in aqueous media. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) studies revealed that quinones with smaller aromatic systems exhibited stronger CO2 binding, attributed to their higher nucleophilicity. To evaluate performance under continuous operation, a three-stage flow cell configuration was implemented for the first time in aqueous quinone-based CO2 capture. Among the quinones studied, 1,2-Naphthoquinone-4-sulfonic acid (NQS), exhibited the highest performance due to optimized electron delocalization, enhancing quinone-CO2 adduct formation for efficient CO2 capture. At 10 mA/cm2 under a 20% CO2 feed, NQS achieved a CO2 release rate of 227 μmol/min, maintaining 45% electron utilization (EU) over 16 hours. These findings establish a foundation for optimizing quinone-based electrochemical CO2 capture technologies, advancing scalable carbon capture solutions.

Amelia Kelly

Aluminum Oxide (Al2O3), also known as alumina, is an abundant component in the interior of rocky planets. It plays an important role in the geochemistry and geodynamics of planetary bodies, such as Earth, Mars, and similar exoplanets. However, few theoretical and experimental studies have investigated the physical-chemical behavior of this compound above 500 GPa, and none have examined the effect of aluminum’s core electrons on the stability and properties of its compounds. This computational study investigates aluminum oxide from 0 to 1 TPa, assessing the role of aluminum’s core electrons on the stability of high-pressure Al2O3 crystalline phases. Ab initio Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations were performed with the Vienna Ab initio Simulation Package (VASP) and meta-generalized gradient approximations (meta-GGAs). Structural optimizations were conducted to determine 0 K phase diagram of Al2O3 up to 1 TPa. Additionally, crystal structure searches at 500 GPa and 1 TPa, using the XtalOpt evolutionary algorithm-based code, identified a previously unreported stable monoclinic phase (P2₁/m) with a formula unit of 6, which may have been overlooked in prior studies due to methodological limitations. These findings offer initial insights into how aluminum’s outer core electrons influence Al₂O₃ stability at high pressures. Further phonon calculations are on the way to determine and refine the P-T phase diagram of this important planetary compound.

Preston Bova

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are anthropogenic organic chemicals known for their stability and surfactant properties. Their widespread use raises environmental and health concerns due to their persistence and bioaccumulation. Current PFAS treatment methods, like granular activated carbon and ion exchange resins, are costly, have limited sorption capacities, and pose regeneration and disposal challenges. This study explores mycelium-based biodegradable myco-membranes as a cost-effective, scalable, and sustainable alternative for PFAS remediation. We assessed the sorption capacity of mycelium for four representative PFAS under environmentally relevant pH conditions using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. We conducted kinetic studies at the optimized pH to understand the sorption process. Our results demonstrate that myco-membranes effectively capture PFAS from water, with the sorption process driven by PFAS head group chemistry and hydrophobic interactions. Our results will facilitate the development of fungal filtering systems as a sustainable method to reduce PFAS contamination in groundwater and soil.

Li Yi Hu

Colon cancer is the second deadliest cancer in the United States, with the American Cancer Society estimating 50,000 deaths out of the 150,000 diagnosed annually. However, early detection, surgical intervention, and chemotherapy can make it treatable. α-Tocospiro C, a compound isolated from the plant Cirsium Setosum, exhibits anti-colon cancer properties [IC50 (HCT-8) = 0.03 μM], but its extraction in large quantities is challenging. Our objective is to derive a novel synthesis route to α-tocospiro C using commercially available materials by utilizing established reactions and a new, enantioselective alkene iodoetherification reaction the Chemler lab is developing. We are currently optimizing the synthesis by testing iterations of the route and analyzing outcomes to confirm efficacy before proceeding further. With the synthesized product in hand, we will collaborate with cancer biologists to further investigate the therapeutic potential of α- tocospiro C for the treatment of colon cancer as a chemotherapeutic agent. 

Hao Chen and Byeong-hyeon Lee

Narrative persuasion has been employed across a range of topics to shape the attitudes and behaviors of target audiences. Research has attempted to apply tailoring strategies to narrative messages to enhance the persuasive effects of stories or narrative messages. Tailoring refers to matching the message to some aspect of the audience (e.g., having a character who is the same age or gender as the audience member; having a character with similar health concerns). Research to date has found mixed results with respect to tailoring and persuasive impact. We conducted a meta-analysis to assess the relative persuasive effects of narrative tailoring compared to non-narrative tailoring studies. Specifically, the current quantitative review synthesized research findings comparing the relative persuasiveness between tailored and non-tailored narratives (k = 50 from 12 studies). In addition, four possible moderators were tested to identify if the variance in experimental results could be meaningfully explained: sample type, health-related topic, outcomes, and type of narrative tailoring. The analysis revealed that tailoring led to higher intended outcomes with small effect sizes (Cohen's d = .11), which is consistent with previous tailoring meta-analyses. Moderator analyses indicated tailoring effects were greater in studies using cultural tailoring. Finally, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Dr. Tom Feeley and Dr. Melanie C. Green for their invaluable guidance and support throughout this project.

Jason Sirianni

This is a podcast aiming to help students with Communication degrees learn about the opportunities they are capable of getting with their degree post-grad. 

Irina Andreeva

Self-compassion is a beneficial self-attitude that entails extending compassion and kindness to oneself in moments of hardship and suffering. We sought to examine the effects of modeling self-compassion through a narrative. We conducted two longitudinal experiments (N1 = 126, N2 = 404) in which at T1 participants were randomly assigned to either read a self-compassion narrative (i.e., a story in which an individual is introduced to and learns how to apply the tenets of self-compassion to their daily life) or to a no-story control condition. Two weeks after the first session, participants were invited to read a continuation of the narrative (for those in the story condition) and report their levels of state self-compassion. Although small, both studies demonstrated increases in situational self-compassion at T2, providing initial support for the possibility of increasing self-compassion through narrative means and a valuable direction for future investigations.

Madeline Taggart

Guided by affective disposition theory, the present work aimed to investigate whether audiences' familiarity with narrative characters based on real criminals can act as a schema that governs audiences' judgments about those characters. Participants (N = 397) were exposed to one of four stories in a 2 (character type: perfect villain, imperfect villain) x 2 (character familiarity: known, unknown) experiment that assessed pre- and post-exposure character morality, approbation of behavior, character liking, and story enjoyment. Results suggested that although the character type had no effect on evaluations of the character and narrative, the character familiarity affected audiences' perceptions of character morality before reading the story, as well as story enjoyment. Further, an interaction between character familiarity and character type affected post-exposure perceived character morality, and the post-exposure perceptions of character morality affected the audiences' character liking and enjoyment of the story. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.

Tahleen Lattimer

Due to their widespread impact, Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD) are seen as critical public health and communication issues. Existing for over a decade, the #EndAlz campaign is an initiative led by the Alzheimer's Association to raise awareness and support for ADRD across the globe. The present study analyzes discourse surrounding the campaign and hash tag #EndAlz in tweets published from 2012 - 2023 (N=1,600,000) using the mixed-methods analysis of topic model network (ANTMN) approach. Results examine how social media users harness this hash tag to discuss experiences related to ADRD, and how campaigns provide opportunities for engagement and identify critical moments in care. Findings discuss challenges related to care, including care management, need for support, and health disparities. Together, this work offers a framework for scholars and practitioners to consider how social media can be used for both engagement and advocacy and its role in health communication-related campaigns.

Madison Neurohr

The ANCODI hypothesis posits that the combination of anger, contempt, and disgust significantly increases before acts of aggression, motivating individuals toward violent action. While this framework has been applied to terrorist organizations and extremist groups, its presence in school shooters' content remains under explored. This study examines the documented writings, journals, and online postings of Columbine shooters Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold to assess the prevalence of ANCODI emotions. Through a content analysis of 486 utterances, we found a strong correlation between anger, contempt, and disgust, consistent with the ANCODI hypothesis. Fear and sadness did not correlate with these emotions and were expressed less frequently. These findings suggest that tracking the rise of ANCODI emotions in individuals' writings could serve as a tool for early intervention in preventing future school shootings.

Ilsa Kloiber

Introduction: Understanding speech in background noise requires neural coding. It has been thought that young adults with difficulty perceiving speech in background noise have impaired neural processing, but prior evidence is mixed. The objective of this study is to delve deeper into this by testing speech-in-noise perception sensitive to neural processing. Experimental Methods and Results: Sixteen young adults attended to sentences spoken by a target talker and ignored sentences spoken by a competing talker. Sentences were filtered to leave sounds that do not produce cochlear peaks. Each participant underwent physiological and cognitive tests. Statistical analysis compared measures of neural and cognitive function to speech perception task performance. Conclusions and Future Directions: Cognitive factors were a stronger predictor of speech perception scores. Executive function and attention best predicted speech perception task performance. This suggests that young adults can compensate for reduced auditory perception with better executive function and attentional skills.

Emily Freer

This research examines whether different pictures used during a picture description task affect the production of grammatical sentences in children. It's crucial that children with language impairment are quickly and correctly identified to prevent or minimize further social and academic difficulties. Previous research conducted by Eisenberg and Guo (2013) discovered pictures can be used to identify language impairment through percentage grammatical utterances (PGU) with 80% accuracy. When comparing language samples obtained from children aged three to five years old using two different picture sets, each containing 15 pictures, it was determined the PGU between them were significantly correlated after controlling for age. This suggests that the pictures chosen by clinicians when evaluating sentence skills in children do not influence children's production of grammatical sentences.

Faegheh Hajhosseini

My research examines the concept of the "secret" as a dynamic interplay of presence and absence, bridging continental philosophy with Iranian theosophical texts in order to challenge static interpretations of "Western" and ""Islamic"" philosophy. This project emerged in response to current Iranian politics, which prompted me to search for an open-minded, "democratic" model of thinking that can be grounded in Iranian cultural heritage rather than exclusively in Western paradigms. I engage in particular Heidegger's concept of the secret (Geheimnis), which grounds Derrida's philosophy of the "meaning to come"-namely, a meaning that is withdrawn, that is unavailable to the present and to presence, and thus cannot be possessed by any single being who can impose it with certainty on others. These two concepts allow me to draw connections with Iranian medieval thought, especially with Persian medieval philosopher Suhrawardi, whose philosophical, theosophical, and literary works develop much earlier a similar phenomenology of the secret. Finally, Corbin's work on phenomenology and Persian Illuminationism serves as an actual historical bridge that first attempted to synthesize the Western tradition of phenomenology with Persian Illuminationism. My research is relevant and urgent, as it reveals a strain of democratic thinking within Iranian culture while highlighting how Eastern philosophy may have in some way "anticipated" certain Western philosophical ideas.

Xiaotian Liu and Cadence Lux 

The project aims to describe patterns of nasality spread in three Amazonian languages (GuajaÌ, Kubeo, and Kawaiwete). Amazonian languages are noted for nasal harmony, in which a goal for nasal airflow can come to characterize entire words, spreading either from the left or the right side of the word to cover the entire word. We processed multi-channel sound and airflow data from these languages collected during field work by collaborators, to determine whether there are different patterns when nasality spreads from the left or right. We discuss differences observed in terms of the three languages, and suggest that the two directions of spread have to be modeled differently in terms of how the spread is planned and produced. 

Martin Harris

The viscosity of natural lava controls flow dynamics, runout distance, and velocity, which are critical factors in assessing and mitigating associated risks of effusive eruptions. Natural lava viscosity is driven by a dynamic interplay of melt, crystals, and bubbles in response to the emplacement conditions. This study presents the first comprehensive investigation of multiphase lava viscosities using both laboratory experimentation conducted at the Laboratory for Experimental Volcanology and Petrology at the University at Buffalo (LAVAP-UB) and in-situ, measurements performed on actively flowing lavas from the Litli-Hrútur (Iceland) eruption in 2023. The findings quantify how bubbles and crystals influence the flow properties of lava which is crucial information that can be used in future eruptive response modeling of lava transport during these natural disasters. 

Rebecca Topness

Lake sediments preserve chemical clues called 'proxies' that represent what past climate was like, such as times when Earth was warmer than today. However, these proxies are not directly comparable to climate variables like air temperature and precipitation amount. Proxy system models (PSMs), which simulate how a climate signal is encoded in a proxy, allow us to translate climate variables into proxy values. Lake PSMs need lake-specific calibration, which can be challenging in remote locations with limited observations. We aim to optimize and simplify a lake PSM using two well-monitored lakes in western New York with contrasting depths and mixing regimes. We identify key model parameters, and parameters that can be ignored, thus reducing calibration complexity. We test the best depth and season to collect observations (lake water temperature and isotopes) for optimal calibration. These findings help streamline fieldwork and calibration, improving lake PSM applications for interpreting past climate.

Kris Ogilvie

Plant roots secrete organic compounds, known as exudates, into the rhizosphere - or the soil directly surrounding the root . These exudates impact the rhizosphere by increasing the amount of soil organic carbon. Previous research measured root exudates primarily in heavily aqueous environments. Measuring the amount of organic carbon in drought conditions can be done using diatomaceous earth's adsorption properties. This allows us to measure the amount of soil organic carbon over the course of long periods of drought without disrupting experimental conditions.

Samuel Rivera

Historically, Caribbean coral reefs were dominated by scleractinians, but an increase in the abundance of octocorals has occurred on many reefs, making it important to gain a better|understanding of these organisms, which have been historically understudied. We examined colony development, astogeny, of four octocoral species; Pseudoplexaura wagenaari, Plexaura homomalla, Antillogorgia americana, and an undescribed Antillogorgia sp. Colony form was|characterized using frontal and overhead images to obtain each colony's height, width, frontal area, planar area and the distribution of branches as a function of height. Results indicated that species differed from each other. In general, the total area occupied by each colony was linearly related to height. The use of space relative to the maximum height differed between species but was similar for different sized colonies of the same species, suggesting a colony's shape is conserved as it grows.

Justus Rodriguez

Accelerating Arctic warming warrants investigation into past responses to similar warming events at high latitudes. Current Arctic climate databases are limited spatially. By examining an existing sediment core from Siberia, we generate a paleoclimate record of regional responses to periods well described in the North Atlantic. We measure abundance and hydrogen isotope ratios of fossil leaf wax n-alkanoic acids spanning 17 ka. We infer this proxy to reflect changes in local paleoclimatological systems. High preference for even n-alkanoic acid chain lengths suggests minimal n-alkanoic acid degradation. Dominance of long n-alkanoic acid chain lengths suggests largely terrestrial input into the lakebed. Periods of 2H-enrichment and 2H-depletion of n-alkanoic acids tend to align with known periods of warming and cooling.  Differences between the aquatic and terrestrial record disclose aridity of the catchment. Ultimately, the n-alkanoic acid record provides another tool to bolster understanding of wider Arctic climate responses to rapid warming events.

Taekyu Eom

Starting in the 2013 academic year, the South Korean government implemented a policy limiting students to a maximum of six college applications. This paper examines the impact of this application cap on matching quality and the socioeconomic gap in college prestige. Using college-level administrative data, I find that matching quality decreases as second-tier colleges are able to attract more desirable students following the introduction of the cap. This finding aligns with theoretical predictions from a simplified model in which colleges compete for top applicants and applicants exhibit ability noise. Moreover, I extend the model to incorporate application constraints influenced by socioeconomic status (SES). The theoretical framework suggests that the cap reduces the socioeconomic gap: after the cap, the number of students from lower socioeconomic backgrounds attending more prestigious colleges increases, as the constraints primarily limit applicants from higher socioeconomic groups. Empirical analysis supports these theoretical predictions. These findings may provide valuable policy insights for the U.S. higher education market.

Arghyadip Gupta

Digital platforms connect buyers and sellers, job seekers and employers, and even people seeking relationships. But how do pricing models shape platform behavior and user experience? In this paper, I explore how subscription and commission models influence platform incentives. Subscription-based platforms, like LinkedIn Premium or Bumble, charge monthly fees and often benefit from keeping users engaged longer-even if it delays successful matches. However, commission-based platforms, such as Airbnb or real estate services, only earn when users complete transactions, aligning more closely with user outcomes. By examining how these models affect participation and match success, I highlight why some platforms struggle to attract users despite offering free services, and how pricing strategies shape overall platform design. My findings provide insights into user behavior and platform dynamics.

Smruti Vaity

The dynamic interplay between extensive economic research and rigorous policy implementation has been a subject of intense debate among economists, social-scientists and policy makers. This comprehensive research paper titled "Policy assessment of minimum wage regulation: From theoretical debates to promising economy" contains critical review of the economic literature and a retrospective assessment using qualitative, empirical, historical and philosophical approaches. Labor market is the crucial segment of the economy and minimum wage legislation has a prolonged history, especially in the United States of America, in terms of both legal implementation and its interaction with economic research. The minimum wage has definitely been a core element of public policy; however, the question still exists perhaps yet to be unraveled is that can we use minimum wages as a policy toolkit to increase an economic self-sufficiency? This paper represents cost-benefit analysis of minimum wage and also, it delves into the complexities and appropriateness of such policy perhaps to investigate how it affects employment, equity, social and economic well-being in the labor market. Utilizing appropriate methodology such as literature review, economic analysis, data treatment, and econometric modelling, I believe this paper would contribute significantly to the discipline of economics by offering substantial policy recommendations and bringing new perspectives. 

John Ambrosi

Light rail usage as a form of commuter transportation has been proposed for the Amherst suburban area of Buffalo, New York. The 2013 proposal by the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority presented an expanded light rail system from the currently existing Buffalo City light rail. This report addresses the costs and benefits associated with constructing and operating an expanded light rail system. Costs and benefits include fiscal and social factors such as materials, labor, maintenance, emissions, noise pollution, and personal vehicle wear savings over 50 years at a federal discount rate of 2%. Data are Erie County tax parcel data, US Census and Environmental Protection Agency information, and published sources. ArcMap and Microsoft Excel were used for analysis. Roadway expansions by eminent domain property acquisition is a significant cost beyond those of the railway construction. Project costs are too large to recommend the project based on benefit-cost analysis.

Haylee Sipos

This research estimates the causal effect of a syringe exchange program (SEP), Prevention Point Pittsburgh (PPP), in Pennsylvania on crime. SEPs provide sterile syringes and a disposal site to prevent the spread of illnesses from needle sharing among drug users. Funding for SEPs continues to expand, despite the sparse or mixed evidence about the intended and unintended consequences of these programs. I construct a novel dataset of PPP locations, opening dates, and weekdays of service with daily census block group (CBG) police reported incidents. I use an event study framework with treatment defined based on the rollout and schedule of PPP locations. For CBGs within 1-mile, I find a decrease in all incidents, possession and distribution of a controlled substance the day of and day after a location's weekday of service. There are decreases in incidents of burglary and assault, while there is no effect on theft, homicide, or robbery.

Alfie Chen

Student read pedagogical theories on critical reading, attended a previously- completed class, surveyed students, and wrote a college-level syllabus to showcase her work with rethinking collaborative methods for engaging critical readers in the writing classroom. This work stems from current discussions across all levels of education that investigate how to engage students as deep writer-readers ("wreaders") in our age of increasingly brief digital media reading landscapes. Student considers methods for delivery to engage writer-readers of multiple levels, especially multilingual learners.

Jenna Itwaru

Through interviews, archival research, and consultations with sustainability experts, I explore the conflicts between economic priorities and environmental preservation. My project shows how protecting natural lands can drive economic growth, and how sustainable business procedures can prevent the destruction of the natural world. By focusing on unique regions, I highlight the physical, emotional, financial, and environmental benefits of the efforts made to invest time and money into alternatives. I aim to educate the public on the feasibility of renewable energy such as wind and solar, over extractive industries like oil drilling and logging in protected areas. The findings of this project encompass perspectives from laypeople and experts to advocate the possibility of balancing financial interests with sustainable movements to preserve a region's success in livability for not only humans but also biota. 

Dyllan Amato

This project examines the growing threat of large-scale industrial developments to small, rural, and green communities, using the case studies of the proposed Amazon warehouse and the Huntress development on Grand Island. By analyzing these proposals, the project explores the environmental, infrastructural, and social challenges posed by such developments, particularly in communities with limited resources to mitigate their impacts. The study highlights the critical need for reforming zoning laws that were not designed to accommodate these massive projects and advocates for greater community involvement in the decision-making process. Through this work, the project aims to provide insights into how towns can balance economic growth with environmental preservation, while ensuring that local residents have a say in how their communities evolve. Ultimately, the project seeks to offer strategies to protect the unique character of rural areas and ensure their long-term sustainability amidst increasing pressures from large-scale industrial development.

 Jaylin Mixon

For many years, Black children within the American public education system have been deemed at a "higher risk" for criminal behavior going into their adult years. Among this group particularly, young Black boys are labeled to be more "at risk" and susceptible to violent behavior later in life. The ongoing issue that exists within this educational system is a direct product of data which includes suspension rates and redlining in urban city school districts. The qualitative, analytical, research conducted over the course of the summer examines the Buffalo City Schools District and their high suspension rate among young Black children in both Elementary School and High School. Within this study, test performance, psychological development, and the impacts of the suspension itself reveal a cross-institutional disadvantage many Black children face as they develop into adulthood

Annika Rauschelbach

The unique natural history of the Niagara River Corridor attracts international attention due to its significant migratory bird populations and wetland ecosystems, and yet most locals do not seem to be aware of this. Putting an emphasis on the value of one's local environment is often the gateway into protecting that space, and is especially important today as global wetland ecosystems and the species that rely on them decline at rapid rates. I analyze different forms of environmental education throughout the region-signage, formal classroom education, community events, etc.-to understand the effectiveness of current methods and suggest possible alternatives. This information can then be used to address the public about local environmental issues, encourage sustainable lifestyles, and foster an appreciation for the natural world.

Julia Dorr

Music venues produce significant amounts of waste due to the volume of people attending concerts every year. In recent years, entertainment companies and musical artists have put more effort into sustainability for their concerts, specifically with solid waste sorting and diverting. However, most concert venues are still not reaching zero waste through sorting practices and have not focused on educating concert goers about their waste. Moreover, human excreta is rarely, if ever, addressed in discussions about waste management in the concert venue space. In typical wastewater treatment, nutrients are not separated from the waste stream, which can cause runoff from treatment plants to increase the toxicity of rivers, streams, and other waterways, potentially impacting the quality of drinking water and irrigation supplies. This potential impact is especially prevalent in rural areas where outdoor music events are frequently held because the surrounding area typically relies on agriculture for economic stability. Therefore, this research investigates current practices in solid and human waste management and opportunities for improving these practices, including assessing the feasibility of implementing a urine recycling wastewater system in concert venues. These questions involved a literature review of current sustainability practices and sustainability goals in music venues, ethnographic observation of waste sorting practices at an outdoor amphitheater managed by Live Nation, the largest concert event company in the world, and interviews with a variety of users and stakeholders in the waste and music industries. Key findings from this research include the importance of balancing fiscal responsibility with sustainability initiatives, the limited education of concert venue employees and attendees about the importance of proper sustainability practices, and the overall lack of concern for sustainable wastewater management within the concert industry. Based on these findings, this report includes suggestions for better managing solid waste and implementing urine recycling for human waste management. 

Fiona Serrano

In 1920, Soviet revolutionist and social theorist, Nikolai Bukharin, gave a speech addressing the concerns and achievements of the Bolshevik project. There were various challenges impacting their society and their ability to create a stable government. Despite this, Bukharin argued that the Bolshevik project was making significant strides for equality, exemplified through women's new positions in society. They were participants due to higher literacy rates, education, and laws. However, sexism continued to impact women even within the Bolshevik party.  This project analyzes the "stickiness" of the years 1917-1930 in Soviet History. The Soviet government promoted women's liberation and perpetuated harmful gender roles; however, this was not the only convolution. Soviet citizens and their experiences varied due to their gender and class, curating further societal distinctions. Utilizing a series of sources in both English translation and Russian, this project analyzed the triangulation between the Bolshevik intentions, their actions, and women's experiences within this early Soviet period. This research recognizes the complexities between the Soviet government and its citizens, addressing the impact on their experiences. 

Olivia Annunziato

Between 1941 and 1945, the United States Office of War Information, in partnership with Hollywood studios and directors, produced and presented hundreds of films and newsreels to United States soldiers and to the public. I examine the films specific to the Pacific Theatre: the contents, who produced them and finally, how they portrayed the Imperial Army and Japanese civilians. This work confirms that during World War II, the United States military, in conjunction with Hollywood, influenced the portrayal of the Japanese people in media and film to effectively boost morale. This in turn was used to justify war violence and instill feelings of apathy in U.S. civilians, with the end goal of dropping the atomic bomb in 1945.

Jack Mills 

Geometric Group theory is the study of groups acting on metric spaces in a certain way. Metric spaces of curvature bounded above have proven to be incredibly useful for studying and classifying finitely generated groups. Cube complexes are of special interest as the curvature bound is often encoded in the combinatorial structure of the space. In particular, we can decide if a cube complex is of non-positive curvature by checking if the space of directions around each vertex, a simplicial complex, is missing any simplices. This result is due to Gromov and it is the primary focus.

Katherine Betz

Recent developments of eco-evolutionary models have shown that evolving feedbacks between behavioral strategies and the environment of game interactions can impact the underlying population dynamics in various manners. We propose and analyze an eco-evolutionary game dynamics model on a network with two communities such that players interact with other players in the same community and those in the opposite community at different rates. In our model, we consider two-person games with pairwise interactions occurring on individual edges and assume that the environmental state depends on edges. We analytically determine the equilibria and their stability under a symmetric population structure assumption, and we also numerically study the replicator dynamics of the general model. The model shows rich dynamical behavior, such as multiple transcritical bifurcations, multistability, and anti-synchronous  oscillations. Our work offers insights into understanding how the presence of community structure impacts the eco-evolutionary dynamics within and between niches.

Rachel Mavrovichx 

Ontology is the philosophical study with the aim of understanding how things are categorized, their properties and the relations between them. Applied Ontology applies these metaphysical principles using a well-defined controlled vocabulary of terms and relations, to facilitate interoperability between complex systems. A dry run of this project was to create an Ontology of a politician, the one chosen was Aldo Moro. A psychological profile was drafted on Aldo Moro which was then mapped into an Ontology. Further aspirations of this project are to take Aldo Moro's narrative that is projected in media, in the letters sent out during his kidnapping and compare them through two Ontologies. By comparing them we hope to see whether or not the State is correctly judged in their actions. Uses of this project are in political or crime analysis, taking big amounts of data, including that related to behavior and identity, and being able to parse through said data. 

Olivia Hobai

Intentional patterns are a type of unity put forth in Pattern as an Ontological Category by Ingvar Johansson. In the way squares make a chess board, yarn makes a scarf, and varying steps makes a dance, an intention makes objects into a unity. As will be shown, one's personal life depends on unities in this manner. Sensing wholeness brings consistency and order to one's perception, intellect, and endeavors. Furthermore, intentional patterns let one understand the past and guide the future, a path to being in the world. Further detailing this picture is the theory of meanings and purposes from work on the meaning of life by Bary Smith and Berit Brogaard. Meaning and purpose are qualitative dimensions to the unities that characterize one's life as it is. This dynamic requires Gestalt formation, of which Smith again provides an ontological basis from which to derive this theory.

Dylan Kleehammer and Owen Penhollow

Thomas Schelling developed the seminal agent-based model of emergent, de facto segregation. The Schelling model outlines how even minor individual preferences can lead to segregated communities. Further modifications of Schelling's model describe more complex social systems, such as those which include agents with multiple attributes to consider in their movement decisions. This reflects the heterogeneity and intersectionality of human identity. However, another important attribute of human identity is its capacity to change given the influence of an individual's social environment. By integrating this process into the Schelling segregation model, we evaluate how social learning may influence the composition of communities. The original Schelling model concluded that, even in the absence of discriminatory policy, minor and benign preferences for similarity leads to intense segregation. However, this model evaluates whether the diversity and adaptiveness of individuals in complex society changes those conclusions. 

Federico Donato

The Arguments Ontology (ArgO) is a new ontology designed to represent arguments with precision, interoperability, and scalability. Unlike ad hoc or domain-specific approaches, ArgO leverages Basic Formal Ontology (BFO) to provide a rigorous, realist foundation for argument structure, distinguishing between sentences, their contents, and their roles in reasoning. ArgO captures the complexity of arguments-premises, suppositions, conclusions, and subconclusions-while remaining adaptable to diverse logics, from classical to imperative reasoning.

Tharun Selvam Mahendran

Intracellular aggregation of repeat expanded RNA has been implicated in many neurological disorders. Here, we study the role of biomolecular condensates on irreversible RNA clustering. We find that physiologically relevant, and disease-associated repeat RNAs spontaneously undergo an age-dependent percolation transition inside multi-component protein-nucleic acid condensates to form nanoscale clusters. Homotypic RNA clusters drive the emergence of multiphasic condensate structures, with an RNA-rich solid core surrounded by an RNA-depleted fluid shell. The timescale of the RNA clustering, which accompanies a liquid-to-solid transition of biomolecular condensates, is determined by the sequence features, stability of RNA secondary structure, and repeat length. Importantly, G3BP1, the core scaffold of stress granules, introduces heterotypic buffering to homotypic RNA-RNA interactions and impedes intra-condensate RNA clustering in an ATP-independent manner. Our work suggests that biomolecular condensates can act as sites for RNA aggregation. It also highlights the functional role of RNA-binding proteins in suppressing aberrant RNA phase transitions.

Thomas McEntire

We explore the direction of solving quantum chromodynamics (QCD) on quantum computers. QCD is the theory of strong forces among quarks and gluons, the constituent particles that form protons and neutrons. Quarks and gluons only exist in bound states, rendering theoretical predictions of interactions between these particles difficult. We propose that simulating these interaction processes on a quantum computer is a possible solution. These quantum devices can numerically calculate the field theory and maintain continuous time, allowing for the exploration of real-time dynamics. With limited near-term quantum technology, we limit studies to smaller systems with similar characteristics to QCD such as the Schwinger model, (quantum electrodynamics in 1+1 dimensions). We applied quantum optimal control to prepare the Schwinger model for time evolution. This simulation further motivated studies in quantum simulations of QCD, paving the way for calculations such as baryon decays and parton distribution functions.

Bridget Crandall

Alzheimer's disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disease. Early symptoms of Alzheimer's, such as communication deficits, may provide an accessible biomarker for early detection. The 3xTg-AD mouse model of AD provides the opportunity to observe whether communication deficits are correlated with anatomical disruptions such as amyloid-beta plaques and tau protein tangles. |We used ten 3xTg-AD mice and ten control (wildtype (WT)) mice to track ultrasonic vocalization production at three points over the lifespan (11, 24, and 52 weeks of age) and monitored for differences between strains and timepoints. After three social exposure/isolation periods, mice were recorded in isolation. We calculated the total number of vocalizations produced and the proportions of vocalization types. Mice were trained to detect ultrasonic vocalizations of various intensities daily throughout the lifespan. Increased age and Alzheimer's progression were expected to correlate with hearing loss and altered vocalization production in 3xTg-AD mice.

Emma Ogilvie

Alzheimer's disease is characterized by disruptions to neuronal function, leading to cognitive impairments in speech production, language recognition, hearing, and memory. To determine whether an Alzheimer's disease pathology affects hearing and/or vocalizations in mouse models, we first measured daily hearing thresholds throughout the lifespan. Then, vocalization recordings of the mice were taken to determine if communication changes with age and the progression of Alzheimer's disease. We expect the hearing thresholds for all mice to increase with age, and that the APP/PS1 mice will have more severe age-related hearing loss than the control mice. We also expect that vocalizations will change throughout the lifespan as the mice lose their hearing. If we discover that hearing and vocalizations are significantly impacted by Alzheimer's disease, then hearing loss and abnormal speech production could be early warning signs of the disease in humans, allowing for earlier detection and more effective treatment.

Katherine Kremer

The COVID-19 pandemic had a large impact on preschool-aged children. Previous literature in this age group has shown an impact of both the COVID-19 pandemic and basal cortisol on executive function. The present study examined the role of cortisol as a moderator of the relations between COVID-19 and executive functioning. Examining the impact of the pandemic on young children is critical to identify the lasting effects that it may have caused.

Samantha Syracuse

An unexplored cognitive dissonance reduction method involves self-distancing, which entails adopting an outside observer's perspective and has been shown to reduce negative emotions. I am investigating the novel proposition that self-distancing can serve as a buffer to cognitive dissonance. Students (N = 309) who are strongly against a tuition increase will be randomly assigned to write an essay in first or third-person language. Students will be encouraged to write a counter attitudinal essay, told the counter attitudinal essay topic was randomly assigned, or will be encouraged to write a neutral essay. Dependent variables will include dissonance-related affect and attitude regarding the tuition increase. I hypothesize that when participants self-immerse, writing a counter attitudinal essay under high choice will lead to higher dissonance-related affect and a more positive attitude regarding the increase. When participants self-distance, the reduced intensity of negative emotions will act as a buffer for cognitive dissonance. Data collection is currently in progress. 

Katy Szynkowski

College students frequently engage in substance use before or during sexual activity. The proposed study is designed to examine differences in the rates of negative sexual consequences associated with engaging in simultaneous alcohol and marijuana (SAM) use prior to sexual encounters compared to engaging in marijuana only, alcohol only, or no substance use. We will recruit current undergraduate students from the Psychology Department's research participant group. A total of 180 participants, who report using SAM (n = 45), alcohol only (n = 45), marijuana only (n = 45), or no substance use (n = 45) will complete an online survey about their alcohol and marijuana use habits, sexual partners, and negative sexual consequences (e.g. hooking up, failure to use a condom, regretted sex, sexual aggression) they have experienced when under the influence. Data collection is expected to be completed during early April 2025. I hypothesize that participants who engage in SAM use prior to a sexual encounter will experience more negative sexual consequences than participants who only use alcohol, only use marijuana, or do not consume any substances. I also hypothesize that college students who engage in only alcohol or only marijuana use prior to a sexual encounter will experience more negative sexual consequences than students who do not consume any substances. The findings from this study may provide information to aide university prevention initiatives designed to reduce the negative sexual consequences associated with student substance use.

Lowell Santoro

Trauma is associated with psychological problems, including PTSD. PTSD is a categorical diagnosis, comprised of four distinct symptom clusters (i.e., re-experiencing, avoidance, negative cognitions and mood (NCM), hyperarousal) which have been shown to predict problematic alcohol use. However, the individual relationships of the clusters and underlying mechanisms driving these relationships remain unclear. The present study provides a fine-grained conceptualization of PTSD by examining clusters as precursors to problematic drinking, incorporating the self-medication hypothesis by positing drinking to cope (DTC) as a mediating factor. Using secondary data from a four-year longitudinal study of young adult women (N = 174; M age = 22.6), we analyzed annual online reports of PTSD symptoms, drinking behaviors, and drinking motivations. Analyses will examine DTC's mediating role between PTSD symptom clusters and problematic drinking. Findings aim to clarify the link between PTSD symptoms and alcohol misuse, informing interventions to mitigate alcohol problems.

Gabriella Filipski

Child-directed-speech (CDS), characterized by varied pitch, limited vocabulary, and shorter utterances (Fernald et al., 1989), is thought to grasp infant attention and promote language development (e.g. Kuhl, 2007). While CDS is typically defined as directed towards a target infant, we do not yet know the dynamics of attention to CDS when multiple children (e.g. siblings) are present. We investigate attention during triadic interactions involving a parent, their 9-15-month-old infant, and 3-4-year-old sibling. Families were recorded for 15 minutes of unstructured free play, and we coded each individual's locus of attention (to other people or toys). Infants and siblings attend primarily to toys, parents equally divide their attention between both children. Future analyses will explore speech directed to younger and older siblings. Combined, these analyses will measure younger sibling's linguistic input and attention to other people and toys in their environments.|

Riley Godwin

The Pre-K to Kindergarten transition is a critical period influencing children's overall adjustment. Central to this transition is social-emotional development, which is shaped by various environmental contexts. Chaotic environments may contribute to adverse social-emotional outcomes such as depression and aggression. This longitudinal study (N = 326; Mage = 51.74 mo) explored the link between household chaos and depressive symptoms and aggression during the Pre-K to Kindergarten transition. The roles of loneliness as a mediator and prosocial peer support as a moderator were also examined. Measures were collected at three time points (fall Pre-K, spring Pre-K, fall Kindergarten). Time 1 depressive symptoms directly predicted increased loneliness at Time 2 (b = -.05, SE = .01, t = -5.95, p < .001) and depressive symptoms at Time 3 (b = .27, SE = .11, t = 2.54, p < .05). No significant indirect effects emerged. This research highlights the importance of screening for depressive symptoms among young children.

Marzieh Samimifar

Processing speech that is non-canonical (i.e., child-produced speech) and/or presented in background noise can pose challenges for listeners. We investigated how listening to child-produced speech affects young adult's word recognition under varying noise conditions. Participants (n=121) completed a two-picture eye-tracking task in one of three conditions: no background noise, pink background noise, and real-world background noise from LENA recordings. Participants heard a child or adult (Speaker) direct attention to a generic (e.g., keys) or child-specific (e.g., potty; ItemType) item. We examined the effect of Speaker and ItemType on participants' looking time. In silence, accuracy was high, but participants were more accurate for adult speech (p=.013) and generic items (p=006). Both pink noise (p<.001) and real-world noise (p<.001) increased task difficulty, adding real-world noise removed the effects of Speaker and ItemType, suggesting participants use background noise to predict who will speak and what they might speak about.

Noor Al-Khaouli and Katie Johnson

This study explores the expectations of diverse adults regarding end-of-life (EOL) care and their views on integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into advance care planning (ACP). There is a notable gap in ACP engagement across racial and ethnic groups, with many individuals expressing concerns about healthcare providers not respecting or understanding their cultural needs (McCleskey & Cain, 2019; Rhee & Jang, 2019). This disconnect may lead to lower participation rates and dissatisfaction with EOL care (Orlovic et al., 2018). Understanding diverse adults' expectations in ACP is crucial for improving the process, as current ACP frameworks often rely on Western medical models that may conflict with cultural preferences, such as communal decision-making (Rosenberg et al., 2019). Using an exploratory design, the study will survey U.S. adults, including healthy individuals, patients with life-limiting illnesses, and ACP/EOL experts, to analyze their expectations for EOL care, ACP, and openness to AI integration in ACP. 

Precious Alamu

Adolescence is a critical period marked by significant neural development, especially in the prefrontal cortex (PFC), which is crucial for social, emotional, and cognitive development. Deficits in PFC development are seen in several mental health disorders.|During adolescence, there is an increase in parvalbumin (PV), a protein vital for PFC microcircuitry development and function. The mechanisms that trigger adolescent PV development are not known. One possibility involves the increased gonadal hormones at puberty, which coincides with adolescence. Pubertal hormones are thought to influence PFC development.  Furthermore, PV-expressing cells contain estrogen receptors, suggesting estradiol might facilitate adolescent increases in PV. Using juvenile female Siberian hamsters, the present research tests the hypothesis that estradiol increases parvalbumin in the PFC.

Manaal Azad

HIV remains a critical global health issue. Many people with HIV use cannabis to manage symptoms like pain and anxiety. Cannabis may also reduce inflammation, which plays a pivotal role in the progression of HIV, contributing to comorbidities such as cardiovascular disease, making it a key factor to study in this population. However, limited research has examined the effects of cannabis on inflammation and cognitive function in this population. This study explores how cannabis use (people who use cannabis vs. people who do not use cannabis) and HIV status (people with HIV [PWH] vs. people without HIV [PWOH]) relate to inflammation and cognition. Inflammation will be assessed using high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), Interleukin-6 (IL-6), and Interferon Gamma (IFNG). Cognitive function will be evaluated through measures of verbal learning and working memory. I hypothesize that PWH will show higher inflammation than PWOH, while people who use cannabis will have lower inflammation than people who do not use cannabis. I also hypothesize that PWH will exhibit lower cognitive performance scores compared to PWOH, and people who use cannabis will have lower cognitive performance scores than people who do not use cannabis. By examining these main effects, this study aims to provide insights into the association of cannabis use and HIV with inflammation and cognition. Additionally, this study will explore interaction effects between cannabis use and HIV status for both inflammation and cognitive outcomes, providing a deeper understanding of how these factors may jointly influence health in this population.

Giulianna Roth

Women face and witness sexual harassment. Opinions witnesses form about targets may be influenced by the target's response. This study investigates the relation between endorsement of gender roles and perceptions of responses to sexual harassment, with female participants. In an IV x PV quasi-experimental design, participants witness a sexual harassment scenario where the target woman responds passively or assertively (independent variable). Participants' traditional gender roles beliefs are assessed (participant variable). This study has three dependent variables: (1) participants' ratings of the target, (2) participants' ratings of similarity to the target, (3) participants' assessment of how they may react. I hypothesize when the target woman has a passive, compared to assertive, response to sexual harassment, the more participants endorse traditional gender roles, the more likely they will be to: (H1) rate the target positively; (H2) see themselves as similar to the target; (H3) report they would react in a similar way.

E. Wisdom Akinyele

Nicotine causes relapse even after long abstinence periods. Previously, the psychedelic drug psilocybin promoted cessation from smoking in humans. However, in rat studies, psilocybin increased nicotine consumption, perhaps due to the lack of immediate negative consequence to nicotine consumption in rats. Thus, we sought to develop a rat paradigm in which nicotine consumption competes with social interaction, a beneficial reinforcer. However, few studies have examined psilocybin's effects on social reinforcement. In this initial experiment, we determined whether psilocybin would increase social self-administration. 24 Sprague Dawley rats underwent psilocybin and nicotine treatment over a four week period. We investigated the psychedelic's effects of social self-administration, social motivation, social learning, and nicotine within the social paradigm. This experiment establishes the foundation for a choice paradigm. We hypothesize psilocybin will increase social interaction at the expense of nicotine self-administration. This work enables future studies to further determine the feasibility of psychedelic-assisted nicotine therapy.

Caramia Michno

Many students feel a lack of connection/belonging to their universities. Students may feel greater connection with ingroup members (e.g., members of their same minority group or religion) than the broader university community. I propose that collective experiences will increase university belongingness by stimulating collective effervescence (i.e., a sensation of sacredness and connection with others), especially during rare/special collective experiences (i.e., "events") versus everyday collective experiences (i.e., "gatherings"). To test this hypothesis, 400 undergraduate students will imagine themselves at an event or gathering with ingroup members or broader ingroup members (i.e., the broader university community). Thinking of events (vs. gatherings) should produce greater university belongingness via collective effervescence, especially when with broader ingroup members (vs. ingroup members).This study will highlight situational factors that promote university belongingness, paving the way for future work focusing on more specific groups of students, such as minorities.

Sydney Jameson-Blowers

My study attempts to expand on conversations of creole distinctiveness and advocate for the inclusion of creole languages in typological studies by exploring which types of underspecification occur in narrative descriptions of causal chains in Lengua Palenquera, a Spanish-lexified creole language. To do this, I collected data from a sample of 12 speakers of Lengua, 6 male and 6 female. Participants watched a series of 43 video clips depicting people performing actions such as knocking over a tower of cups or tearing a piece of paper. After watching each clip, they were asked to verbally describe what had happened in the video in Lengua, as if describing it to someone who had not seen it. Their responses were recorded and coded for the presence and type of underspecification that occurred. All three types of underspecification were found in Lengua. Of the 337 descriptions included in the final analysis, 55% included underspecification. Underspecification of subevent kind was the most frequently occurring type in LP, patterning similar to Yucatec and Japanese in the Bellingham et. al. (2020) study. These results indicate not only the presence of underspecification in Lengua, but the merits of including creole languages within typological datasets.

Ella Hankinson and Olivia Lopez

Our work "Cut From the Same Stone" will be presented at the American College Dance Association Northeast Conference. This project adds new thought and exploration to the art world by explored how intimacy and relationships are automatically viewed as romantic in society. Although with an additional goal of entertainment, this piece combined our strong narrative with the education and methods of choreography and teaching we have learned during our time at UB. Our project was performed during ECS 2024, a Department of Theatre and Dance showcase, and was chosen to represent the department and university at American College Dance Association Northeast Conference. The dancers, Ella and Ava, will perform my piece in front of other college students, college professors and faculty, and dance professionals. 

Charity John

Vumani, meaning "acceptance" or "to agree in harmony," is an African-inspired dance that explores the emotional journey of life and the process of healing wounded psyches through movement. It emphasizes the transformative power of embracing life and feelings as they are, recognizing that acceptance can often pave the way forward. This piece is a fusion of African and Modern dance genres, reflecting the choreographer's roots as an African dancer while integrating broader influences that furthers her research in dance and spirituality. A significant element of the choreography is the use of lanterns, symbolizing individuality, intimacy, and the unique paths we navigate in life. The lanterns embody the deeply personal nature of each person's experience-a journey that cannot be lived by another. This piece highlights the connections between culture, spirituality, and shared human experiences. It invites audiences to engage with open hearts and minds, allowing the work to resonate in ways that are personally meaningful. Through Vumani, viewers are reminded of life's complexities and the reality that some of the most important moments may be celebrated without those dearest to us. Yet, in this shared space of movement and rhythm, there is healing, connection, and the possibility of forward motion. 

Ariana Romeo-Mullin

The Doctor Is In is a choreographic work that evolved from a vivid dream into a fully realized dance performance. The piece follows a sinister narrative where three jazz-influenced doctors abduct individuals and conduct experiments that alter their movements, ultimately leading to malfunction and rebellion. I refined the storyline, movement qualities, and overall production elements through an iterative creative process to enhance clarity and impact. The development involved extensive experimentation with movement dynamics, character-driven improvisation, and stylistic variation tailored to individual dancers. I also frequently used Laban movement theory to support my design. Feedback from faculty and peers played a crucial role in shaping the piece, encouraging me to embrace different external perspectives and choreographic adjustments.  Collaborations with mentors and designers introduced new challenges, particularly in lighting, costuming, and set design, which expanded my understanding of theatrical storytelling. This project provided valuable insights into my choreographic voice, highlighting strengths in storytelling and movement invention while revealing areas for growth in collaboration and production design. 

Shannon Brien and Juliana Hassouna

"Fading Ties" is a contemporary dance piece that follows eight dancers in distinct relationships, each marked by the eventual departure of one person. Inspired by the flow of relationships in life, this piece captures the stages of loss and acceptance through movement. The choreography blends structured phrases with vulnerable improvisation from the dancers, allowing each person to embody their personal interpretations of holding on to a person and then having to let them go. The music is melancholic and provides surprising accents, which created the challenge of creating movement to mirror the emotional tone of the music, rather than letting the sound overpower the dancers. The purpose of this piece is to be relatable to the audience, and to allow people to understand that loss and grief is a universal part of life. Every time you watch the piece, if you follow a different dancer, you learn a different story. 

Kelly Quinn

"Not Dinner Table Conversation" is a piece generally about the complexities of LGBTQ+ relationships - familial, romantic and platonic. Inspired by 'She is the poem' a sapphic poetry book written by June Bates, Kelly has created a piece near and dear to their heart encapsulating the feeling of both the written poetry and the lyrics and rhythms of the songs. Always choreographing with detail, rhythm, style and eccentricity, Kelly hopes this piece is relatable to other LGBTQ+ community members. "not Dinner Table conversation" is a complex story about self love and realization that asks the audience to take a look at themselves and how they spread love each and every day.

Lauren Guarna, Jenna Hartke, Juliana Hassouna, Kelly Quinn and Jasmine White

"EmPATHy", choreographed by Rich Ashworth was an extraordinary and fulfilling process to be a part of. This process required teamwork, listening, commitment, and countless hours of rehearsal and preparation. "EmPATHy" is a tap piece. This piece helped to tell a story of unknown travelers embarking on a long journey and attempting to "get home", a prominent lyric in the song which marks the end of the piece. All four dancers discover their own journey and slowly come together as the dance continues. This helps to signify the togetherness and companionship that is sometimes needed when a hard path is brought upon us. This piece included an a cappella section, incorporating complex rhythmic body percussion and foot work. In addition, the piece also had a portion which incorporated music. This helped to complement the taps and body percussion, helping to bring the story together and making Rich's vision come to life.

Mahmud Amin, Dipti Kalshetti, Mienziu Tang and Ridham Varsani

Skin healing relies on epithelial migration, and accelerating this process improves recovery. Photobiomodulation (PBM) enhances wound healing, but conventional dosing often overlooks wavelength-specific energy, leading to suboptimal outcomes. We propose a harmonized dosing approach using Photonic Fluence and Einstein as a reference standard. In vitro scratch assays with human keratinocytes were performed using various PBM wavelengths, with dose adjustments based on photon energy. Our findings indicate that Einstein-adjusted doses of 450 nm  significantly improved wound closure (p < 0.05). Mechanistic studies implicate ATP, ROS, and TGF-β1 in PBM-mediated responses. Seven compromised wound models, including diabetic and hypoxic conditions, were standardized. Ongoing evaluations aim to refine PBM protocols for clinical applications. This precise, cost-effective, and non-invasive approach holds promise for optimizing wound care and expanding PBM's therapeutic potential.

Sebastian Pardo

The PITX2 gene is essential for early tooth development and is the first active gene to mark the dental lamina. PITX2 initiates epithelial-mesenchymal interactions necessary for advancing tooth morphogenesis. Mutations in PITX2 result in Axenfeld-Rieger Syndrome, a developmental disorder affecting the teeth, eyes, heart, and lungs. While PITX2's roles are known, the mechanisms underlying its function remain poorly understood. Future investigations into PITX2 require a reliable reporter line to map its expression. In this study, we verified the specificity of a proposed reporter line using human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), engineered to fluoresce when PITX2 is expressed. iPSCs were directly differentiated into Anterior Foregut Endoderm (AFE) cells, a lineage known to express PITX2. Fluorescence microscopy and RT-qPCR analysis of PITX2 and its downstream target GPC3 confirmed reporter activation and gene expression. This validated reporter line enables future research into PITX2's mechanisms in early development and efforts towards tooth bioengineering.

Julianna Castle

We examined the trafficking and differentiation of M-MDSCs into osteoclasts in ligature-induced periodontitis (LIP) animal models. RFP donor mice were fed either a low-fat (LFD) or high-fat diet (HFD) for 16 weeks. Purified M-MDSCs were collected and injected into non-obese mice, followed by LIP induction. Immunohistochemistry using anti-ACP5/TRAP and anti-td Tomato fluorescent proteins assessed donor vs. recipient M-MDSCs at the LIP site. Statistically significant differences were observed in osteoclast numbers between HFD and LFD groups at all time points, with HFD groups consistently showing higher osteoclast counts. This suggests that M-MDSCs from HFD-fed animals traffic more efficiently to the periodontium and differentiate into osteoclasts at a higher rate than those from LFD-fed animals. Our findings highlight the role of obesity in promoting osteoclastogenesis in periodontitis via M-MDSC trafficking and differentiation.

Abdallah Al-Khaouli

Tannerella forsythia is a gram-negative anaerobe that is linked to periodontitis, it secretes β-glucanase enzymes that hydrolyze β-glucans into glucose, possibly promoting plaque development and bacterial growth in the oral microbiome. To develop our understanding on T. forsythia β-glucanase function in the oral microbiome, our study assessed both substrate specificity and kinetic parameters of β-glucanase. Laminarin, a β-1,3/β-1,6-glucan model, was used to measure the amount of recombinant β-glucanase expressed in E. coli. Enzymatic activity was measured through the usage of DNS reagent assays under varied pH and temperature increments. The results of the experiments showed that 40°C and pH 6.4 produced optimal activity of glucan cleavage in Laminarin by β-glucanase enzymes. Km and Vmax values will be determined in future research to compare with those of other microbial β-glucanases. Understanding the catalytic characteristics of β-glucanase may help in developing treatment plans for periodontitis via the inhibition of β-glucanase activity. 

James Lee, Taona Maphosa and Thomas Scotto

Periodontal disease occurs from a lack of teeth brushing, leading to bone loss and tissue breakdown. Osteoblastic cells, the cells involved in bone|formation, and growth (such as when a bone breaks and has to repair), induces bone regeneration which can be used to combat this disease. This is done with hydrogels, a carrier for the cells, also providing a|central location that improves cellular adhesion and function. Human osteoblastic cells were obtained|from a commercial supplier and cultured. An MTT assay was then used to measure the cells' activity, after 72 hours of incubation. Different groups were|made by using different combinations of 1,4 DPCA, and strontium citrate. For each group, a sample size of 4 was used for the control, and the 3 experimental groups. After gaining absorbance readings, ANOVA was used for statistical analysis. The results suggest that significant effects of the drug occur at lower concentrations and that strontium may inhibit that effect. It appears that alginate hydrogels can be an|effective way to deliver 1,4,DPCA but that strontium may not enhance the effects of the drug on osteoblastic activity.

Victoria Radomski and Zachary Wu

Bacteriophages are viruses that infect bacteria, which hold potential in microbiology and the medical field. In this research, an Escherichia coli bacteriophage was isolated from sewage. This phage can rapidly clear bacterial lawns, which suggests its virulent tendencies; besides, its chloroform resistance suggests the possibility of a lack of lipid components and the presence of a structural tail. According to genome analysis, this phage is a new species of podovirus with a 39,095 bp genome. The closest well-described relative of this phage in taxonomy is E. coli phage T7. Our findings contribute to the growing body of knowledge on phage biology and may support future applications in medical and environmental treatment.

Jennifer Serniuk

The mass movement of refugee populations to the U.S. has redefined our contemporary understanding of belonging in society, mobility trajectories, and how historical and political processes aid in the production of inequality. This in-depth interview study utilized 52 individual interviews and 2 focus groups to investigate how two generations of racially different populations of former refugees in Buffalo, N.Y. narrate their lived experiences within the opportunity structure of school and the labor market. Findings indicate that participants located themselves in "lower" quality institutions of education as low SES migrant communities of color because of various structural barriers. Consequently, parents purposefully leveraged capitals like "labor time" allowing their children to accumulate their own capitals which aided their educational transitions. Participants perceived their opportunity for upward mobility in the labor market to be limited based on their racial minority status as "non-White", which defined their sense of belonging in the United States.

Joey Fung, Ngo Hna, Julian Livingston and Natalie Stoner

Until the 1990s, most American families attended neighborhood schools assigned by residential location, a practice linked to disparities for marginalized students (Orfield et al., 2015, p. 12). In response, school choice emerged to expand educational opportunities. A mid-sized northeastern city implemented a lottery-based school assignment system to replace traditional zoning in an effort to promote equity. However, 70% of families do not receive their first-choice school (personal communication, S. Radford, 2024), leading to inconvenient commutes, strained family dynamics, and declining district enrollment. At the request of a local equity coalition, our neighborhood pilot study examines how this system influences families' decisions. Interviews with 17 families who entered the lottery but later chose private or charter schools highlight the impact of family structures and social capital on school choice. This study is part of a larger mixed-methods project analyzing district-wide data and family experiences to inform policy improvements.

Bingwan Tian

This qualitative research explores how Beijing's public primary teachers perceive and identify students with suspected disabilities in general classrooms under the Learning in Regular Classrooms (LRC) policy. Utilizing Critical Disability Studies and Inclusive Education in the Global South theories, the study highlights three findings: 1) Teachers' perspectives, backgrounds, experiences with disabilities, subjects taught, interaction levels with students, and their roles in the school's structure significantly influence the identification process. 2) Teachers utilize flexible communication strategies with parents, such as "scarcity marketing," to facilitate the identification of disabilities, exhibiting their rhetorical arts. 3) Educators adopt flexible disciplinary measures for students with disabilities and serve as emotional buffers for parents during identification. This research illustrates how Chinese teachers integrate global inclusive education trends with local practices. It also encourages greater state support for special education and resources that enhance teachers' creativity while cultivating a cultural model of disability in China.

Iman Lathan, Jessica Shields and Allen Williams

Previous research on the impact of My Brother's Keeper (MBK) programs has reported on short-term outcomes and experiences. This study explores the long-term experiences of young men who participated in an MBK initiative program for at least three years. We examined the forms of social support they received, their views on their overall multi-year participation in the program, and its impact on their current disposition. The findings indicate that the benefits of the MBK program are rooted in the bridges it builds to other programs, which result in various enrichment opportunities for young men.  The study participants also emphasize the formation of relationships to each other as well as other men of color. Overall findings suggest that participation in MBK leads to a more positive future orientation through expanded peer networks, increased social capital, and additional social support.

Yafei Su

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI), such as osimertinib have been the first-line treatment for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients harboring EGFR mutations. Despite the initial promising clinical responses to EGFR-TKI, the development of resistance to EGFR-TKI in the majority of patients compromises the clinical efficacy of therapy. The development of resistance primarily arises from drug tolerant cells (DTC), which survive and withstand therapy via epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), alter the transcriptional state of specific signaling pathways and eventually develop drug resistance. To overcome EGFR-TKI resistance, we developed an AXL-targeted lipid nanoparticle platform for the co-delivery of miR-34a and miR-200c, aiming to reverse drug tolerant state and restore sensitivity to EGFR-TKI, thereby preventing the development of tolerance in the early stage and solving the EGFR-TKI resistance problem when it just starts. In this formulation, miR-34a and miR-200c synergistically suppressed EMT, while the conjugated Axl aptamer enabled targeted delivery of nanoparticles to DTC. Axl-LP-miR-34a-200c exhibited robust therapeutic efficacy in both osimertinib- and erlotinib-tolerant cell lines.

Lauren D'Angelo, Hyuna Oh and Sivanamdavijay Periyasamy

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a gold standard imaging technology to diagnose and manage retinal diseases, such as age-related macular degeneration. High-resolution OCT offers an axial resolution of 2-3 micrometers, revealing ultrastructural features in the retina. In this project, we have integrated a rotating diffuser in a custom-built high-resolution OCT prototype imaging instrument to modulate the phase. We performed imaging on a phantom optical eye and a healthy adult volunteer under an approved human subject research protocol. The results with and without a rotating diffuser were compared to show the improvement on the retinal image contrast. The improved image contrast may be used to quantify small image biomarkers and reveal new disease biomarkers in retinal diseases.

Jacob Licht

Plastics are widely used across industries such as food, beverage, textile, health care, automotive, aerospace, construction, and agriculture. Only a small fraction of the plastics produced is being recycled (less than 10% in the US). There is great interest nowadays in increasing the recycling rate of plastic waste. Mechanical recycling is currently used to recycle plastic waste; however, this method cannot handle plastic film which constitutes about 40% of all plastic packaging used. Research in our group advances solvent-based "molecular" recycling, whereby polymers are selectively dissolved and precipitated to achieve separation and recovery. This project addresses the molecular recycling of multilayer films which comprise multiple layers or polymer combined into a single film to achieve consumer specifications. This presentation highlights the recovery of polyethylene from multilayer films via solvent-assisted delamination and separation processes that we have developed, which leave the majority component, polyethylene, in the solid form for subsequent recycling. 

Matthew Bablin

The US plastic recycling rate, currently around 10%, is far from reaching its full potential. Recent developments in recycling technologies can help increase this rate. Through our work, we will provide a thorough analysis of the environmental and economic impact of these technologies by creating a computational framework using data from life cycle and techno-economic assessments. This is a necessary step to ensure feasibility before implementation. Additionally, we will review the current US legislature regarding plastic waste management and assess where changes should be made to allow novel technologies to increase the national plastic recycling rate.

Oluwatoyin Campbell

Lipid monolayers encapsulate lipid droplets (LDs), organelles that function as storage for neutral lipids. Liver cancer interrupts normal LD metabolism and promotes accumulation of cholesteryl esters (CEs). This changes LD chemical content, which can have effects on the organizational behavior of lipids within them. We hypothesize that this may play into the increased persistence of LDs in liver cancer patients. To investigate this, all-atom molecular dynamics simulations were used to model LD micropipette aspiration and gain insight into the effect of CE concentration on LD structural and mechanical properties. The results show increased phospholipid packing due to insertion of CE acyl tails into the monolayer. Increasing CE concentration induces notable stiffness and increased exposure of CEs at the LD surface. These insights improve our understanding of the physical properties of LD interfaces during liver cancer progression and can be practically applied during the development of cancer therapeutics.

Alex Dunkleberger

With growing infrastructure, an increasing vulnerability to mechanical wear and failure calls for new methods of predicting these events. This research explores ways of detecting corrosion on surfaces using properties of self-resonant coils. These coils can form a standing wave within them when engaged by an electrical frequency known as the coil's resonant frequency. This "supply" wave carries itself through a conductor to reach an exposed wire at the base of the coil. The coil, consisting of a magnet wire wrapped around an insulator, increases the amplitude of the signal when resonance is achieved. As the wave propagates through the conductive material, it can undergo phase shifts and other alterations as it encounters impurities or other materials, such as an oxidated layer. Determining the location and severity of corrosion using this technology may hopefully lead to answers for finding corrosion under insulation.

Arundhati Das

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are a leading cause of deaths across the globe, often requiring surgical replacement of damaged and occluded blood vessels. Although autologous vessels like saphenous veins have served as the gold standard for vascular grafts, their limited availability, high morbidity at donor site and high rate of long-term failure have prompted the search for alternatives. To address this, our group developed a completely cell-free graft, coated with a novel fusion peptide called H2R5, that harnesses the host immune system to regenerate itself post-implantation. However, aging is known to dysregulate the immune system, and most of the vascular grafts recipients are the elderly. Therefore, we investigated the performance of our cell-free vascular grafts in young and old mouse models to assess how host age may impact the behavior of immune cells during graft regeneration. Overall, the results highlight an exciting potential for our grafts in future clinical applications.

Emmitt Stores

Plastic, is a widely favored material across various industries such as: packaging, textiles, construction, and electronics. Among plastics, annual film production represents an estimated 40% of all packaging-related plastic, with multilayer films constituting approximately 26% of the total films. Multilayer films often contain bound polymer layers with each layer being as thin as 20 µm. Multilayer plastic films offer: customizable properties based on film composition, gas and moisture barriers, lightweight nature, and cost-effectiveness. Recycling of multilayer films is challenging due to the multiple bound polymer layers. Solvent-based delamination, a type of molecular recycling, induces separation and enables the recycling of bound polymers in a multilayer film. Solvent-based delamination is induced by targeting binding layers of multilayer films for dissolution by compatible solvents, freeing bound polymer layers as monolayer films with no degradation and less energy and materials than dissolution-precipitation recycling. This is accomplished at varying temperatures and different solvent-solute systems.

Sarita Das

Wet (neovascular) age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) is an aggressive eye condition caused by the formation of abnormal leaky blood vessels in the retina. These blood vessels are associated with an increased amount of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) within the eye. Many current treatment options for nAMD aim to suppress VEGF levels through repeated intravitreal injections. Repeated injections cause disturbance for patients, and drug delivery systems (DDS) offer a solution to provide extended drug delivery. Here, we connected pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic models of intravitreal injection of abicipar, ranibizumab, and bevacizumab to a mathematical model of drug release from a bi-layered polymeric microsphere DDS (chitosan core and outer polycaprolactone layer), aiming to quantify drug release dynamics and VEGF suppression. The DDS was optimized by varying parameters including inner and outer radius, and initial drug loading. Stimulated results demonstrated that this DDS can provide extended drug release and increased VEGF suppression over time. 

Greg Congdon

This presentation discusses the numerical models recently developed and calibrated to a series of full-scale shake tests conducted at the University at Buffalo. The test data set is quite unique as the structure incorporated a complete, retrofitted, unreinforced masonry building system that represented historic US construction practices, and was retrofitted following current building codes and design practice. It was subjected to simultaneous bi-directional shaking until partial collapse of the parapet and other significant damage prevented further testing. The detailed numerical model combines contacts and solid elements to simulate the highly nonlinear structural response, to a near collapse damage state, including cracking in mortar joints, cracking through bricks, and crushing of masonry. The timber roof and the steel retrofit system were included in the numerical model. The comparison with the experimental data indicates that the model can represent the complex behavior in wall corners, rocking, as well as shear sliding.

Jimin Shin, Ye Wang and Gongda Yu

The goal of the project was to build up the virtual reality environment for the pilot research to understand bicyclist behavior when different warning messages are provided to bicyclists when the automated vehicle is approaching. For the following research, I created a phone and phone application of GPS and warning messages in the virtual reality environment. Moreover, our team created an extended environment that has both urban and suburban areas to explore further bicyclist behavior in a larger environment.

Pranay Singh

Bridge sections with deeper and thinner webs offer structural efficiency, reduced material cost, and longer spans. However, due to conventional concrete's low tensile strain capacity and stress concentration at high prestressing forces, consistent crack patterns have been observed at prestress transfer in these girders' anchorage zones. These cracks pose durability concerns by providing a pathway for deleterious materials into the concrete, resulting in accelerated rates of reinforcement corrosion. State-of-the-art suggests multiple methods; however, there exists a need for more innovative solutions. An integrated approach spanning non-linear analysis, performance-based material tailoring, and 3D-concrete printing-based fabrication methodology is proposed to address these cracking issues. The proposed approach utilized a 3D-printed Strain hardening Cementitious Composite (SHCC) cover at the anchorage zone of bridge girders to reduce surface cracks exposed to the environment by leveraging the distributed micro-cracking capabilities of SHCC. The presentation also shows the intricacies of 3D printing of fiber-reinforced composites. 

DJ Ruszkowski

Creekside Energy Solutions is a startup pioneering small-scale hydroelectric solutions to tap into the 72% of untapped hydro potential in creeks, streams, and rivers. Our innovative Water Watt system provides a low-impact, renewable energy source for households, businesses, and communities, reducing reliance on fossil fuels and promoting energy independence.

Yihe Yu

We investigate how sensitive return predictability results in Chinco, Clark-Joseph, and Ye (2019) are with respect to how returns are estimated. We find that 1-minute returns are|predictable only if returns are calculated from quote midpoint prices in the sequence in which|quotes are reported in TAQ, i.e., when returns capture both time-series and cross-sectional variation across exchanges. Predictability is largely due to spikes in prices, leading to strong|negative autocorrelations. Return predictability is significantly lower if we remove spikes or when using other methodologies to construct returns based on prices without spikes.

Charvi Kusuma and Tarun Reddi

This research is a novel approach to pedestrian safety by combining Vision Transformers with Parameter Efficient Fine-Tuning (PEFT) techniques to enable multi-task classification using a single model, with dynamic adaptation through interchangeable adapters. Trained on the Joint Attention in Autonomous Driving (JAAD) Dataset, our model integrated with various adapters, reduces trainable parameters by 99%, while maintaining 90% accuracy. It can classify pedestrian density, road type, weather, and behavior (e.g., crossing intent, gaze direction, occlusion), while using You Only Look Once (YOLO) to detect pedestrians and further analyze their behavior. We propose an adaptive system that dynamically selects the best approach based on context, optimizing computational efficiency and increasing adaptability. We explored variations of PEFT techniques for a scalable, compact and real-time solution for pedestrian safety in dynamic urban environments. It is adaptable to vehicles with lower computational power, advancing safe and efficient autonomous driving system.

Ethan Canton, Claire Huyck, Doyoon Kim and Julia Montuori

We would like to present Pirouette, a programming language for typed higher-order functional choreographic programming. Pirouette allows programmers the ability to write a centralized functional program and compile it via endpoint projection into programs for each node in a distributed system. As the undergraduate team for Pirouette, we worked on the language's compiler and its back end, developing features such as the type checker, or the code generation, and we tested and verified it ourselves as well. 

Zaid Arshad

Teaching students to trace program execution and create diagrams of what is occurring in memory has been shown to improve student learning in introductory computer science classes. Hand-generated memory diagrams are especially effective as they force students to|participate in the creation, which is what provides the benefit to learning. We have developed the Online Trace Tool to increase the scalability of these Memory Diagrams. This web-based tool removes all reliance on paper while recreating the paper-like environment. It also provides an instructor portal to easily create tracing assignments, monitor possible cheating behavior during exams, and grade assignments.

Wei Bo and Shuwei Hou

Over 42 million people in the U.S. struggle with speech and language disorders, yet critical shortages of Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs) lead to long wait lists, delayed diagnoses, and clinician burnout. With a 7.5% annual shortage rate and over 55% of SLPs managing excessive caseloads, timely care remains out of reach for many. SATE is an AI-powered platform designed to support SLPs by automating time-consuming tasks-such as transcription, mispronunciation detection, disfluency analysis, and grammar assessment. It rapidly identifies speech patterns and generates detailed reports with clinical metrics, reducing the assessment workload by over 80%. Compared to traditional tools, SATE offers a more intuitive interface, faster turnaround, and mobile accessibility, making it suitable for both clinical and educational environments. As the first solution to provide end-to-end automatic transcription and annotation tailored for SLP work flows, SATE has demonstrated strong early potential to enhance efficiency, improve job satisfaction, and expand access to care.

Wei Bo, Kritarth Dandapat, Alexander Gherardi and Puru Soni

Oral diseases represent a significant health burden for older adults worldwide, with periodontal disease and dental caries being particularly prevalent. These conditions not only impact oral health but also have established bidirectional relationships with numerous systemic conditions including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and neurodegenerative disorders. Despite this, many older adults face barriers to regular dental care due to mobility limitations, financial constraints, and accessibility issues. To address these challenges, we have developed OralScan, a smartphone application that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to detect common oral conditions through user-taken photographs. This paper describes the design, implementation, and evaluation of the OralScan app through a Community Engagement Studio with older adults (n=13, age range 60-76 years). Results indicate strong interest in the application (100% of participants), with approximately half of participants expressing concerns about ease of use without assistance. Participants identified key benefits including reduced need for in-person visits, potential for early detection of oral conditions, and value for caregivers managing elderly patients with limited mobility. Challenges identified included concerns about photo quality, privacy, and integration with existing dental care systems. Our findings suggest that AI-powered oral health screening applications have significant potential to improve access to oral health care for older adults, particularly when implemented with attention to user experience, privacy concerns, and integration with traditional dental care pathways.

Addison Yam

Predictions of 3-D structures of protein complexes have always been a challenge. Tasked with finding relevant features of protein complexes, this project involved bioinformatics and computer science backgrounds and methods. With contributions to the decoy (tertiary protein structures) prediction project made by comparing actual native decoys with computer-program-predicted decoys. Investigations have been made into various Critical Assessment of Techniques for Protein Structure Prediction (CASP) experiments and decoy prediction methods. Several scripts have been made and modified with the goal of producing comparable results to AlphaFold to better investigate the effects of functional groups on 3D structure.

Avein Joseph

Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) swarms have a plethora of practical uses within the distribution, surveillance, and emergency service industries. However, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) rules limit the number of drones per operator due to mid-air collision concerns. Therefore, control software paired with UAV simulators is a simple way to test multi-UAV experiments. A new control software is needed at UB since the original control software (UBANC) was based on non-standard application programming interfaces (APIs) and was not properly documented. This research aims to develop and implement new control software using Python's finite state machine, Pymavlink, and socket programming APIs for multi-UAV control and inter-communication. The developed control software will be simulated and visualized using UB's latest UAV simulator (UBANC G2). The system is well-documented and written in Python to enhance accessibility and enable advancements in future multi-drone experiments.

Megh Khanal

The Metal Halide Perovskites (MHP) solar cells, considered for space applications, are influenced by several factors including ambient degradation, radiation exposure, and temperature cycles. Studies show that unencapsulated MHP devices are affected by environmental conditions like high temperature and humidity experienced during pre-launch. Interestingly, these exposed devices exhibited self-healing properties and performance improvement after proton irradiation. Additionally, metal halide perovskites shows the resilience against various space relevant stressors like UV, temperature, and biases, making them promising candidate for space applications.

Eshanee Chowdhury

Over the past decade, β-Ga2O3 has garnered significant interest for its ultra-wide bandgap, high breakdown field making it a promising candidate for high-frequency applications in telecommunications and defense. In this work, we explored novel AlGaO/β-Ga2O3 HFET designs to enhance the short-circuit current gain cutoff frequency and power gain cutoff frequency. Two device architectures were investigated: a double-channel HFET and an inverted back-barrier double-channel HFET. To determine sheet charge density and parallel channel density, MATLAB was employed for numerical integration. Results revealed that Design C achieved a higher sheet density, ensuring improved charge confinement and reduced parasitic conduction. The designed inverted back-barrier double-channel HFET demonstrated a threshold voltage of -10 V, a peak transconductance of 0.49 S/mm at 1.7 V gate voltage. Enhanced RF performance was observed surpassing prior records. Future work involves capacitor fabrication for electrical characterization, followed by HFET fabrication to validate the proposed design.

Sama Ghoreyshi

Learning to solve real world problems is an essential learning outcome for any engineering graduate. Real world problems are messy as they have many different elements and not a clear solution path. However, engineering graduates often are ill-prepared to solve real world problems as they have mostly practiced solving well defined textbook problems in their undergraduate courses. So, instructors should be providing students with opportunities to engage with messy problems. Designing, implementing and assessing these kinds of problems in engineering class space could be challenging though. Although we agree that the process students adopt to solve the problem is more important than their final product, instructors often struggle at how to best do this and they may feel more comfortable to just evaluate the correctness of the final solution. In my research I am using a theoretical framework that characterizes messy problems in terms of their structure and complexity. Through exploratory mixed methods research I am investigating how students understand and work to resolve of ill-structuredness and complexity within messy problems. Findings show that resolving ill-structuredness requires engaging strategies rooted in experiential forms of domain knowledge, like making assumptions and using engineering judgment. Resolving complexity is rooted in conceptual, structural and procedural knowledge, and the ability to synthesize those forms of knowledge to reach a solution. The implications of this study will help in designing and facilitating learning environments that help students acquire transferable problems solving skills that they can implement for future problems in different contexts and with different levels of difficulty. It will also help us to understand what types of knowledge instructors should be integrating into the course design and what should be the nature of discourse around these knowledge types and what should be the expectation from students to get out of the class.

Aaron Alexander and Amelia Fuller

Interdisciplinary teams need to be able to navigate conflict to draw on the perspectives of all disciplines and develop innovative solutions with them. Individuals have their own communication styles which we define as being comprised of language, tone, attitudes, and beliefs. We can expect that overlapping styles of communication contribute to a group culture towards approaching and resolving conflict. We observed the recorded meetings of an interdisciplinary team for instances of conflict and evaluated the instances for language, tone, path of initiation and response to conflict, core norms, affirmation of response and engagement regardless of disagreement. Evaluations from both undergraduate researchers were compared to identify themes of how the team manages conflict. A consistent theme of conflict management included engaging regardless of disagreement, polite and respectful tone, asking questions to gain understanding, usage of "I" statements, and seeking opinions from other team members. 

Christopher Romeo

This project was a systematic review of the (empirical) research literature related to troubleshooting in engineering education. We synthesized descriptive statistics and findings of studies that investigated different aspects of student troubleshooting, as well as curricular troubleshooting interventions, in science and engineering education contexts. Then we identified apparent gaps in the literature, provided suggestions for future research in this area, and discussed implications for implementing effective troubleshooting exercises in undergraduate engineering classes. Future studies and teaching activities that involve troubleshooting should: (1) Occur in all engineering disciplines, not just electrical (2) Map directly to the stages of the (theoretical) troubleshooting process(es) (3) Focus more granularly on students' troubleshooting strategies, difficulties, and proficiencies/deficiencies (4) Utilize more holistic methods for assessing students' troubleshooting skills and performance, such as think-aloud protocols, tracking generated hypotheses, and prompted reflection (not just quantified metrics like correct/incorrect solutions, or the time taken to solve a problem) (5) Test "troubleshooting-based learning."

Siddharthsinh Jadeja

Nowadays AI in education often travels well-worn roads and yet trade-offs on enhancing the thinking ability of the students by AI agents are still in early stages. There is a continued need to investigate the variety of pedagogical and technological approaches to learner and AI-agent collaborations to develop complex skills like design thinking and even more importantly enhance design thinking abilities for open-ended problems. Literature has focused extensively on the design and implementation of  AI systems for close-ended problem solutions in STEM education. However, there remain primarily scattered efforts to build AI systems for open-ended problems. This work has often been done in isolation and little work has sought to synthesize them. This poster represents a review of scholarship to identify approaches and strategies for conceptualizing an AI agent system to support learning in open-ended problems. This work will point researchers in the direction of supporting design thinking with comprehensive strategies for AI agents. 

Duncan Mullins

Graduate school is a fundamental time of growth for students, particularly those in STEM who wish to return to academia as a faculty themselves. As teaching is a core element of a faculty role, the views one holds towards knowledge are important, and known to inform the techniques and approaches used in teaching, yet this population has not been studied on their views of knowledge. This study used a descriptive phenomenological approach to examine the epistemological beliefs of engineering graduate students intent on a faculty position. Data was examined through a three phase approach that centered interviews. Findings indicate that this population has very nuanced views of learning, considering engineering as a mindset and process rather than a set of concepts or techniques. Implications of this work include better ways to train these students to align their beliefs with effective teaching practices and future directions for research. 

Allison Bourgeois

An Open-Ended Modeling Project (OEMP) is a loosely defined modeling goal or problem that intends to promote student agency in solution-finding and problem formulation. This analysis focuses on what students experienced as restrictions from OEMPs due to outside limitations, project structure, or to accountability standards. Six interviews from past OEMP students in Mechanics courses have been analyzed inductively through qualitative coding. Preliminary results show an expansion of previously identified restriction categories, with some potential connections. Additions to outside limitations include course scope and prior OEMP experience. Additions to structure restrictions include instructor inhibition of mistakes and group work advantages. Accountability additions involve a model that describes different levels of student accountability to learning, the engineering profession, and an ability to explain model robustness. These results can inform engineering courses with similar open-ended projects, and knowledge of potential restrictions can benefit student learning and inform how instructors provide support.

Melanie Valladares

Understanding the evolving needs of Generation Z college students is essential to design effective educational intervention. Metacognition and time management skills can play an essential role in the success of first-year undergraduate students, while also holding potential to catalyze wellbeing among students. This study extends previous research on metacognition, time management , and wellbeing in first- year engineering students by exploring changes throughout different points of the academic semester and among different subgroups based on demographics, including gender, race/ethnicity, first generations status, and international status. Using established and validated instruments, we explore the changes between three points in time during the Fall 2024 semester and whether different student groups experience unique trajectories. Initial findings using two data points indicated variable gain in metacognition but no statistically significant improvement in time management skills. Similarly, wellbeing scores showed a concerning decline around the mid-semester. By integrating the third data point, we aim to capture a comprehensive picture of these trends and determine whether different student subgroups have different trends in these measures. This analysis will provide deeper insights into the varied experiences of first-year engineering students, informing targeted interventions to support academic and wellbeing.

Tiffany Cai

This project will develop a cross-platform mobile app to help undergraduate engineering students track and reflect on their daily time use. Students can log time spent on activities like classes, homework, clubs, and personal tasks, with an option to note how their day went. The app supports research on time use patterns while also helping students build self-awareness and time management skills.

Setareh Kazemi Kheiri

Predicting upper extremities' fatigue in dynamic tasks is crucial for system safety in warehouses. New technologies, like wearable sensors, can facilitate worker safety monitoring. This study proposes a Bayesian mixed-effects model that incorporates random slopes, intercepts, and non-linear terms to enhance prediction accuracy for upper extremities' fatigue. Data were collected from a laboratory experiment involving 14 participants who performed order picking tasks over four days under varying task conditions. Wearable sensors attached to the wrist, trunk, and upper arm recorded accelerometer and gyroscope signals. The proposed model utilized task conditions, individual characteristics, and signal features, with prior distributions of parameters continuously updated over time. The results demonstrate that incorporating random effects significantly improves the prediction accuracy. Updating priors over time effectively reduced prediction errors for the subjective fatigue indicators. Our approach enables more precise and individualized fatigue prediction in dynamic tasks, contributing to improved system safety in smart warehouses.

Yusuf Tokel and Yiqi Zhao

In recent years, the United States has remained a top destination for asylum seekers from around the world. Following the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a significant increase in asylum seekers from countries outside the Americas. However, existing research primarily focuses on migration trends from Mexico, Northern Triangle of Central America, and South America countries, leaving a gap in the study of asylum trends from other regions. This paper in particular examines the complex migration pathways and associated risks of asylum seekers from China, India, and Türkiye, identifying key factors influencing their decisions, including economic push and pull dynamics, social networks, and policy barriers. Drawing on data from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), statistical correlation analysis, and case-specific policy evaluations, this study provides a systematic analysis of non-American migration patterns and their underlying causes. Findings indicate that policy shifts have diversified migration routes from China and India, while social media and transnational networks play a crucial role in shaping migration decisions and facilitating movement. Moreover, rising migration costs, economic pressures, and policy constraints are increasingly influencing migration flows, while gaps in enforcement strategies further impact unauthorized migration dynamics. Notably, the relaxation of Canada's visa policies has led to a shift in Indian migration patterns, with migrants now entering the U.S. via the northern border instead of the traditional route through Mexico. Meanwhile, changes in third-country visa policies have also altered migration routes for Chinese nationals. To address unauthorized migration, we recommend enhancing regional cooperation among border and transit countries, refining visa policies, improving information regulation, strengthening socioeconomic conditions in origin countries, and increasing enforcement and repatriation efficiency. Policymakers should also focus on adaptive enforcement strategies and international collaboration to effectively manage the evolving landscape of global migration.

Rowan Daly and Abhijeet Kadam

This project aims to develop an in-house designed high-speed, high-precision large-scale 3D printer with a 1m X 1m X 1m build volume with superior print quality at a reasonable cost. By utilizing 3D-printed parts optimized through iterative design and Design for Assembly (DFA) principles, and with input shaping algorithms, the system minimizes defects and enhances accuracy. The printer consists of four key subsystems: Mechanical System - A CoreXY gantry and bed driven by 4 NEMA23 stepper motors enable fast, precise extrusion. Control System - An Octopus 3d printing board and Raspberry Pi with powerful drivers ensure precise motor and nozzle control.|Extrusion System - A specialized extruder and hot-end maintain consistent material flow. Software System - Klipper firmware with self-developed input shaping algorithms to improve print precision. This project offers a cost-effective solution for high-quality, large-format additive manufacturing and a testbed for future vibration control research.

Angelo Soto

This research presents an optimization framework for designing TinyML-LoRaWAN-enabled geolocation systems to improve post-disaster survivor detection. Traditional search-and-rescue (SAR) operations are limited by resource constraints and delayed information. Our approach consists of an optimization model for sensor and repeater placement that incorporates TinyML to enable real-time detection of human presence via voice and environmental audio signals, ensuring communication paths in disaster-affected areas. A path loss propagation model supports sensor coverage maximization, while a Priority Indicator based on social vulnerability and population risk guides the deployment strategy. Preliminary simulations using terrain data (e.g., Gramalote, Colombia) demonstrate the system's potential to enhance SAR response by rapidly identifying survivors in high-risk zones. This framework supports faster decision-making and more efficient resource allocation, ultimately increasing the effectiveness of emergency response operations.

Mohamed Mousa

Mechanical computing has gained prominence in recent years, presenting a secondary yet viable computation mechanism in off-grid and low-access environments. The vast majority of research efforts in the domain of mechanical computing have focused on realizing logic gates and Boolean operations in mechanical form. In our current work, we present a first attempt to perform parallel mechanical computing within a prescribed acoustic domain, by exploiting time-modulated metasurfaces which enable simultaneous multi-wave beaming in distinct frequency channels. The realization of parallel processing in analog computing lays the foundation for substantial advancements in both acoustic and optical domains, and unlocks several features which thus far have been elusive in physical neuromorphic and reservoir computing.

Zachary Cespedes and J'Louis Gutierrez

Current enhanced oil recovery methods lack effectiveness in retrieving oil and care for the environment. Despite this, the development of a cleaner, more efficient alternative has been limited. Currently, enhanced oil recovery methods include thermal recovery methods that involve the flowing of heated gas typically CO2 into an oil reservoir to lower the viscosity and increase its flow or a chemical approach that uses surfactants and polymers to reduce surface tension. Both these methods involve the usage of a brine that can contaminate the environment such as contaminating drinking water supplies with heavy metals. Nanofluids are an effective method for oil removal in porous media that can improve enhanced oil recovery or remediation with significantly less environmental damage. Nanofluids possess a unique ability to concentrate at contact lines and produce pressure called structural disjoining pressure that allows for oil to be removed from complex low permeability geometries that cannot be reached with current Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) methods. By enhancing the structural disjoining pressure created by nanofluids, nanofluid efficiency for oil recovery can be drastically improved offering a cleaner more efficient EOR method. Beyond this, due to its efficiency in complex geometries, its application can be expanded to clean deep intricate three-dimensional designs. 

Iyitunde Akinsola

Mechanical Computers (MCs) were once used for tasks like astronomical calculations and economic modeling but became obsolete with digital computing. However, MCs remain valuable in extreme environments where digital systems fail. Mechanical wave-based computing leverages acoustic wave properties for processing but is vulnerable to disturbances. Metamaterials, with properties like vibration absorption and tunable band gaps, offer a solution. This research examines the immunity of metamaterial-based MCs to external noise by analyzing unit cells with local resonators. By predicting wave propagation and optimizing unit cell geometry, unwanted noise can be filtered out. Findings show these systems can perform computations without interference, making them viable for extreme conditions. 

Kristian Dalland

Accurate models of human energy expenditure are vital for health monitoring and performance in demanding environments. Estimating energy cost and traversal time in complex terrain helps prevent overexertion injuries and supports time-sensitive missions like search and rescue. These scenarios involve challenges such as varied terrain, equipment load, and individual fitness. This project uses publicly available hiker GPS data to examine terrain traversal time. We present a hybrid model that combines two existing frameworks to predict velocity, energy use, and time profiles while accounting for fatigue. By linking energy estimates with human and terrain factors, our approach offers a more complete view of exertion. Compared to traditional hiking-time formulas, our model shows significantly improved accuracy, making it a valuable tool for planning and decision-making in high-stakes settings.

Jesse Maxime

Electronic Throttle Bodies are used in traditional internal combustion engines to control the speed of the motor. This device consists of a valve attached to a spring and driven by a motor. This project requires the student to integrate an Arduino hardware with the electronic throttle and implement a controller for position control of the valve. 

Toluwani Adebayo, Osama Al-Kayyali and Mason Guo

Scale formation significantly impacts the efficiency of various industrial systems including energy generation and water treatment. In heat exchangers, the deposition of inverse solubility salts can lead to lower heat transfer and increased pressure drop and corrosion. In this study, we explore the critical role of nucleation sites in the scaling processes. To investigate the scaling dynamics, an open loop pipe system was designed to circulate calcium sulfate (CaSO4) solution through heated tubing, mimicking the conditions typically seen in HVAC&R applications. Heterogenous nucleation mechanism on heat transfer surfaces was examined using optical microscopy, and the effects of surface properties on scaling was quantified by classical nucleation theory. We created low-surface energy coatings as a potential strategy for reducing scale development. By systematically analyzing nucleation sites and scaling under controlled flow conditions, this study aims to advance our understanding of scale mitigation strategies and improve the performance of thermal energy systems.

Uma Bhattacharjee

Digital Light Projection (DLP) has recently become a powerful additive manufacturing method for printing complex 3D structures with great precision. However, there are challenges regarding the current techniques involving the material, design complexity and other manufacturing constraints. To address these issues, a hybrid DLP-based process named Nozzle-Assisted Continuous Printing was developed. This process uses nozzle-based material deposition and continuous solidification to reduce printing times and to maintain high part quality. This project focuses on the use of computational fluid dynamics to determine the optimum nozzle orientation during the continuous material deposition into the resin tank. Three 2D models were created in ANSYS Fluent to simulate three different input nozzle angles (outward, straight, inward). Animation videos of the resin filling demonstrate that the inward nozzle orientation produced the least turbulence and therefore is best for smooth deposition. 

Umar El-Amin

This research explores the fabrication of bioinspired microstructures using single layer photopolymerization (SLP), employing UV light patterns to solidify resins such as LV and Spot E. The primary focus is to replicate cactus-inspired structures using the novel SLP process and analyze their hydrodynamic properties. By manipulating the microstructure geometry and distribution, this study aims to enhance our understanding of surface interactions with water, which has significant implications for applications in self-cleaning, fog harvesting, and biomedical coatings. Through controlled photopolymerization, the research investigates how different processing parameters influence structural integrity and, ultimately, hydrodynamic functionality, contributing to advancements in functional surface engineering and additive manufacturing.

Sabrina Johnson

In the United States, 795,000 people suffer from stroke annually, with approximately 80% sustaining motor impairments. Traditional physiotherapy has drawbacks such as intensity and uncertainty, leading to inadequate patient participation and inconsistent progress evaluation. Rehabilitation robotics has proven more effective in patient recovery. However, interfaces between users and robots are not intuitive due to the nature of human motion. We aim to use a classifier that detects patient engagement in physical therapy activities using IMU and sEMG signals. This information will be used to adjust the force exerted by a rehabilitation robot. The robot should provide more force when the patient is engaged but unable to move the robot's end-effector, and less force when the patient's engagement is passive or their force is adequate. The force parameter can be tuned in real time using the developed classifier, optimizing the patient's effort during therapy tasks and accelerating recovery time. This research is a starting point for machine learning in rehabilitation robotics using IMU and sEMG signals. The developed algorithm could serve as a foundation for more complex and intuitive computer-human interaction detection.

Mohammed Gayasuddin Sahik

Digital Light Projection (DLP)-based additive manufacturing (AM) has emerged as a powerful tool for fabricating complex three-dimensional (3D) structures with high precision and resolution. However, the current techniques involve challenges related to material availability, design complexity, and manufacturing constraints. Higher viscosity resins, often necessary for better mechanical properties, further complicate the printing process by slowing down resin flow, leading to longer print times. Moreover, the separation force between the cured layer and the build platform can cause defects or incomplete curing during large and solid cross-sectional area printing, limiting scalability. To address these limitations, this work explores the rapid and layerless fabrication technique using a hybrid DLP-based AM process named Nozzle-Assisted Continuous Printing (NCP). Unlike traditional techniques, the proposed method leverages nozzle-based material deposition and continuous solidification to optimize the material refilling and bonding, resulting in faster printing. This paper first presents a novel NCP process and demonstrate the working principle and printing mechanism based on the continuity equation. The effectiveness of the NCP process was validated using various three-dimensional (3D) mesoscale models with solid, hollow, and complex cross-sections. The effect of printing speed on the surface quality and printing accuracy was studied. Compared to the existing layer-by-layer processes, the prepared samples exhibited enhanced surface quality, mechanical strength, and reduction in printing time. As a proof-of-concept application, rapid and precise fabrication of complex three-dimensional (3D) stents for biomedical application was demonstrated. The proposed technique presents a pathway to overcome the limitations of viscosity and cross-sectional constraints while maintaining high speed and part quality. The experimental results demonstrate the potential of the NCP process for applications requiring rapid prototyping and production of detailed mesoscale components with minimal surface defects, including aerospace, biomedical, and mechanical fields. 

Matthew O'Hara

My research investigates whether states can require out-of-state companies to agree to be sued in their courts as a condition of doing business there. When companies do business in a state, they often have to register with that state's government. Some states, like Pennsylvania, say that by registering, companies agree they can be sued in that state's courts - even for events that happened elsewhere. In a recent Supreme Court case, Justice Alito suggested these registration laws might be unconstitutional because they unfairly burden interstate commerce. My analysis argues that such laws are actually constitutional. First, they don't discriminate against out-of-state businesses. Second, states have an ethical interest in providing a forum for people to seek justice, even if those people aren't state residents. Just as California can ban the sale of unethically produced pork, Pennsylvania can open its courts to people seeking redress for injuries. When states make moral choices like this, courts should respect their decisions.

Shelby MacSwan

This project critiques the Second Circuit's decision in ABKCO Music v. Sagan, which held that the only person who may be liable for direct copyright infringement is the one who physically ""presses the button"" to upload infringing materials online. The ruling significantly narrows the scope of direct liability by requiring the defendant be the person who physically executed the infringing act, rather than including those who instruct or force another to commit infringement. This departure from established precedent creates a circuit split, weakens copyright enforcement, and creates a gray area in the law concerning the rise of artificial intelligence. The project argues for a broader interpretation of direct infringement that aligns with traditional notions of liability in copyright law and other legal domains. A redefined standard would ensure accountability for those who orchestrate infringement, protect artists' rights, and maintain the effectiveness of copyright law in an evolving technological landscape.

Jahna Mott

The Domestic Violence Summit at Buffalo State University, held on October 15, 2024, brought together professionals, students, and community members to engage in meaningful discussions on domestic violence prevention and response. Organized in collaboration with the Buffalo State Social Work Department, the University at Buffalo School of Law's Family Violence and Women's Rights Clinic, and Child & Family Services, the event featured interactive activities, expert panels, and networking opportunities. A key highlight was the ""In Her Shoes"" simulation, which provided participants with insight into survivors' experiences. Panel discussions covered topics such as cultural considerations in domestic violence cases, housing resources, and the legal and criminal justice responses. Attendees had the opportunity to earn Continuing Legal Education (CLE) and Continuing Education Unit (CEU) credits. The summit served as a vital platform for fostering awareness, collaboration, and policy discussions aimed at improving support for survivors and addressing systemic challenges in domestic violence prevention.

Serena Brahaspat

The purpose of the Access to Justice LibGuide serves as a visual resource and repository for the work and research obtained by the Access to Justice clinic students in the Fall 2024 semester and Spring 2025 semester. 

Asia Alexander

This research summarizes the legislative history of the right to abortion in New York State (NYS), NYS response to the decision of the Supreme Court in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Org.(2022), NYS incorporation of Proposal One conferring a right to abortion to the NYS constitution, and the impact of these legislative actions. 

Yiling Shen

This is a project to investigate the relationship between CEO inside debt and insider trading profits.

Nathan Kosakowski

Over the last several years, a German asset management company known as DWS has been put into the spotlight for over optimistic statements they have made about their contributions to ESG. Desiree Fixler, the former Chief Sustainability Officer for the company brought up problems she saw while working for the company but was silenced and ousted from the company. I used Chat GPT to analyze the earnings call transcripts for sentiment of fraud and discussed implementations of the fraud triangle. There were changes in tone and detail from before where they weren't being watched to after they were given a fine and had to make more conservative statements. The SEC has settled with DWS for $25 million but there are still ongoing investigations outside of the U.S. This is the first major fine that the SEC has given regarding ESG and this move shows the world that they are serious about statements being put out and don't want to see puffery.

Adrija Aditya, Alexandra Sima and Gabrielle Wendt

This study examines how different factors affect maternity leave in New York City. Data was sourced from the New York City Open Data and the U.S. Department of Labor Women's Bureau's Work and Family Leave Survey (WFLS). The analysis focused on income levels (low: $57,000, mid-to-high: >$57,000), employment types (government, private, other), delivery methods (natural vs. cesarean), and satisfaction. Results indicated low-income women were more likely to take 1-8 weeks of maternity leave, below the NYC average of 12 weeks, while higher-income women received longer leave. C-section deliveries were associated with longer leave durations, peaking at 8 and 12 weeks, compared to 6 and 12 weeks for natural deliveries. No significant differences were found in leave duration across income levels, satisfaction, delivery methods, or employment types. These findings underscore the need to explore additional factors and assess the impact of new paid family leave policies. 

Jerry Fiorini, Daniel Matas, Ananya Singh and Evan Vulcano

Our poster talks about our experience participating in the Odoo Inter Club Case Competition and how we were able to secure first place. We go over the case problem, our process, our proposed solution and what we think made us stand out as a top contender in the case competition.

Martin Kin and Sanskar Narang

Through UB's Experiential Learning Nextwork, we explored a project on how storytelling can create impact across multiple businesses, sustainability, and the arts. My team collaborated with renowned Buffalo environmental artist Chantal Calato, the sustainable brand Circular, Buffalo Fashion Runway, and Rameiro, an entrepreneur launching a chiropractic startup. We experienced many highlights throughout this journey of crafting compelling narratives tailored to each partner. Some of these included organizing a radio interview, developing social media content, and building marketing strategies, all while applying communication theory to real-world scenarios. This experience enhanced our digital storytelling and creative marketing skills, while demonstrating how purposeful storytelling can engage communities and support meaningful causes.

Wansoo Choi

We investigate prices around timestamped informed trades using approximately 500,000 transactions from activist investors, as reported in 13D filings and matched to TAQ trades. Activists are more price-sensitive than non-activists and are more likely to wait or use limit orders when liquidity is low. Activists have marginally lower execution quality, higher price impact, and lower realized spreads, suggesting that activists, on average, fail to hide among the uninformed, especially ex-post. Activists with less information (lower returns) are better in hiding (better execution quality). Results are the opposite for hedge funds. Hedge funds with better execution quality also have higher returns.

Yi-Da Tsai

I provide plausibly identified evidence for the role of ESG practices in corporate tax behavior. My natural experiment exploits the staggered implementation of the mandatory environmental, social, and governance disclosure laws (ESGDL) around the world, which induces an increase in ESG performance. I document a substantial decrease in corporate tax avoidance following the implementation of ESG disclosure mandates, suggesting that ESGDL significantly weakens managers' tax avoidance. The effects are strongest if the disclosure requirements are implemented by countries with weak formal institutions (e.g., legal enforcement and rule of law) or strong informal institutions (e.g., long-term oriented culture, social trust, and media freedom). My results support the view that ESG practices mitigate corporate tax avoidance and can serve as a remedy for institutional voids.

Tajmeen Anjum, Josh Lemke and Sara Socualaya

The objectives and purpose of the project are to see how well artificial intelligence compares to a team of human analysts for stock selection and analysis. AI has swept the finance industry, the NASDAQ is up 116% over the past five years, and the S&P is up 97%. Is the AI frenzy over hyped, and could the very analysts who predicted the rise of such systems find themselves replaced within the next couple of years?||This project aims to conduct various analyses on the stock BLK (BlackRock), including DCF, comparable, fundamental, and macroeconomic analysis to determine price targets. ChatGPT was asked to do the same thing. Who can predict the future better, a human analysis or a BlackBox analyzing BlackRock?

Raechel Williams

This internship at Harmac Medical Products, Inc. provided invaluable experience in accounting within the medical device manufacturing industry. Over 7.5 weeks, I actively contributed to accounts payable processing, inventory costing, and general ledger reconciliations. Working alongside experienced professionals, I developed key soft skills such as adaptability and communication while refining hard skills in accounting and data modeling. Through strategic efforts, I overcame shyness, enhanced my Excel proficiency, and gained insights into corporate finance operations. This experience affirmed my career aspirations in Business Administration and Finance, exposing me to a positive company culture and reinforcing my passion for detail-oriented tasks. A proud moment was successfully preparing the Indirect Hours Report, a crucial component for payroll processing. Overall, this internship has shaped my professional growth and broadened my global perspective through comparative experiences in both Jamaica and the United States.

Kathryn Kerwan and Trey Ricigliano

Our poster showcases the global impact of UN SDG initiatives through experiential learning. The First Year Global Experience in London empowered us to examine how academic institutions, renewable energy projects, and community organizations contribute to sustainability efforts. We'll explore key takeaways from discussions with Oxford University's Environmental Sustainability Department, Rampion Wind Farm's role in renewable energy, and our community engagement at Brixton Soup Kitchen. These experiences offered a unique opportunity to engage with global sustainability frameworks and deepened our understanding of how business practices intersect with SDGs to inspire actionable change.  

Azadeh Arjmanddavarani

Predicting the life cycle of new products is crucial for businesses to optimize marketing efforts and respond to changing market dynamics. Based on the literature, rare studies have considered the effects of covariate information on product life cycle (PLC) curve fitting problem, however it is crucial to identify these influential attributes and understand how these features may influence the sales patterns of different products. In this research, we focus on data from the gaming industry to improve PLC estimation and enhance prediction accuracy.  We include visual specifications of products to understand their influence on products' sales and utilize time series clustering and classification techniques to identify crucial features that differentiate sales patterns among similar products.

Meirgul Kaleshova

Existing research presents mixed evidence regarding individuals' reactions to being granted leadership roles by others. Some studies suggest that people enjoy and respond positively to a granted leader identity, while other research highlights the increased job demands, responsibilities, and risks associated with leadership, which may lead to greater concerns and worries. These contrasting perspectives motivate our study to explore the double-edged sword effects of other-granted leader identity. On one hand, people might experience positive affect when others see them as a leader; on the other hand, they might be concerned about maintaining their leader identity. Additionally, we examine the role of gender, specifically investigating whether women respond more negatively than men to other-granted leader identity. These findings underscore the internal biases women leaders hold against themselves when others grant them leadership, negatively impacting their well-being. 

Gorkem Bogubaev

The mismatch repair (MMR) pathway plays a crucial role in maintaining genome integrity by correcting errors during DNA replication. In eukaryotic organisms, Msh2-Msh3 detects and directs repair of insertion/deletion loops up to 17 nucleotides long. Six distinct mutations in the Msh3 gene have been identified within African American colorectal cancer patients, primarily in the ATPase and Msh2-Msh3 interaction regions, both critical for protein function. The conserved MMR pathway and Msh2-Msh3 complex across eukaryotes make yeast an ideal model for studying MMR defects and their role in genomic instability and disease. This project aims to characterize how Msh3 mutations drive colorectal cancer and impact genome stability. We will test the kinetics of wild-type and mutant Msh2-Msh3 DNA-binding activity using Biolayer Interferometry (BLI). Site-directed mutagenesis will be used to introduce specific mutations for in vivo analysis in yeast. Mutator reporter assays will be performed to evaluate DNA slippage events, and we will evaluate the role of these Msh3 alleles in 3′ non-homologous tail removal (3′ NHTR). 

Madison Enser

Neural crest cells (NCCs) are a multipotent cell population essential for embryonic development, contributing to craniofacial tissues, peripheral neurons, and cardiac structures. Mutations in key transcription factors regulating NCC formation cause congenital disorders such as Mowat-Wilson Syndrome (MWS) and Hamamy Syndrome. This study investigates the roles of Zeb2 and Irx5 which are genes mutated in MWS and Hamamy Syndrome, respectively, by using human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs), directed differentiation, brain organoids, and chick embryos. We examine how Zeb2 loss affects neuroectoderm differentiation and how Irx5 loss disrupts NCC establishment. Initial siRNA knockdown experiments indicate Irx5 is critical for early NCC formation, while patient-derived iPSC models reveal Zeb2 perturbations impair neurodevelopment. Ongoing analyses include gene expression profiling (RNA-seq) and protein-level validation (Western blotting). Our findings enhance understanding of NCC gene regulation and provide a platform to identify molecular targets for potential therapeutic interventions.

Sarah Bukhari, Katherine Casazza, Lauren Johengen, 
Charanya Kumar, Ashley McDougall, Gavin Twoey and Gregory Williams

Mismatch repair (MMR) is a critical DNA repair mechanism that protects genomic stability|through correcting polymerase errors at the replication fork. Deficiencies in the MMR system result in increased mutagenesis and can lead to Lynch syndrome, a predisposition to cancer and microsatellite instability. While MMR is critical for protecting the genome by ensuring high fidelity DNA replication, components of the MMR system have been implicated in promoting trinucleotide repeat (TNR) expansions. TNR expansions are the cause of over 40 neurodegenerative and neuromuscular diseases. In stark contrast to their function in promoting replication fidelity, components of the MMR system exhibit a pathogenic role through promoting TNR expansions. Using an in vivo TNR assay to measure expansion frequencies in S. cerevisiae, we previously demonstrated that MMR proteins can promote genome instability through both CAG and CTG expansions in vivo. Our work aims to elucidate mechanistic details of MMR promoted expansions.|

Jack Forster

Methyltransferase-like protein 11A (METTL11A) is an N-terminal trimethylase. Our lab has discovered that METTL11A is regulated by methyltransferase-like protein 11B (METTL11B) and methyltransferase-like protein 13 (METTL13), and they can all form a complex together. Preliminary data suggests METTL11B and eEF1A2 have similar tissue-specific expression patterns, and we hypothesize that METTL11B regulates METTL13 activity against eEF1A2. We also hypothesize this activity becomes more ubiquitous with lost METTL11A expression. This study aims to characterize METTL11B and eEF1A2 expression levels in various mouse tissues. ||Mouse tissues were extracted from METTL11A knockout and wild-type mice. Tissue RNA was isolated for quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, and resulting cycle values were analyzed for expression of METTL11B, eEF1A1, and eEF1A2 in METTL11A knockout mice compared to wild-type mice. Results demonstrated METTL11B and eEF1A2 expression patterns correspond in WT mice tissues, and loss of METTL11A significantly alters METTL11B, eEF1A1, and eEF1A2 expression in a tissue-dependent fashion. 

Leighton Lee and Emma Murray

To break symmetry, all cells polarize making one part of the cell structurally, functionally, or computationally different than another. Polarization requires a complex arrangement of active processes including the production of force to produce the cornucopia of cell shapes and structures found throughout life. In humans force is produced in part through tiny molecular motors that act upon the cytoskeleton. This project focuses on the human gene products of Myo9B and MYH9 which are both myosin motors that produce force and motion on the actin cytoskeleton. Disruption of the proteins deriving from these genes, results in multiple human disease of the gut including Celiac disease. This project involves working with a team of graduate and post graduate level trainees to study the function of these motors in human cells using state of the art light microscopy, cell biology and biochemistry. 

George Dimopoulos, Parmita Mondal, Parisa Naghdi, Ahmad Rahmatpour, Sabrina Reverol, Michael Udin and Kyle Williams

Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) demands precise imaging for effective treatment. Digital subtraction angiography (DSA), despite being the gold standard, broadly visualizes blood flow. This study integrates a 3D neurovascular atlas with 2D DSA images to permit region-specific quantitative analysis, enhancing prognostic accuracy during interventions. DSA data was generalized to a binary mask showing the perfused area of the contrast material. This mask facilitated the initial alignment of the 3D atlas to the DSA perfused territory using deformable registration techniques, ensuring a precise overlay with the DSA's perfused territories. The coregistration process revealed that deformable registrations achieve precise overlay results. This approach enabled the extraction of targeted quantitative parameters, essential for detailed vascular assessment in SAH treatments. The integration of the 3D atlas registration with 2D DSA projections provided labeling of affected arterial territories, which was linked to potential patient outcomes such as Delayed Cerebral schemia or hydrocephalus. 

Lucas Davis, Zahid Manzar, Erik Munoz, Tyler Rolland and Karl Swanson

Extracellular vesicles are cell-derived nanoparticles whose paracrine effects to neighboring cells are partly mediated by their mitochondrial cargo. This project aims to (a) investigate mechanisms that may improve the quality of mitochondria in extracellular vesicles released by vascular endothelial cells, and (b) assess the therapeutic potential of horizontal mitochondrial transfer via extracellular vesicles, uniquely in the context of mitochondrial diseases. Completion of this project will fill in gaps in our understanding of endothelial cell dysfunction in mitochondrial diseases, and provide the framework for a new research direction that may burgeon into a novel therapeutic strategy for mitochondrial disease patients with vascular manifestations.

Ava Cunningham

The International Classification of Orofacial Pain (ICOP) provides a detailed terminology for various orofacial pain subtypes. This project transforms ICOP into an ontological framework to be used in relation with the Pain Ontology and the Oral Health and Disease Ontology (OHD). By integrating high-level pain classes from the Pain Ontology and OHD, we enhance its representation of orofacial pain and related dental conditions. Our approach involves breaking down ICOP terms into ontological components-definitions, parent terms, contributing factors, and anatomical locations-before incorporating them into OHD using the ProtÃ漏gÃ漏 Ontology editor. This structured integration enables improved data annotation, inferencing, and interoperability between ontologies. Future work will refine contributing factors and relationships among terms, further enriching both OHD and the Pain Ontology.

Katelyn Hawkins

Poor health literacy is a prevalent issue in our society. The inability to understand, process and make decisions based on health-related information is crucial for optimal health and well-being. In this scoping review we aim to develop a comprehensive overview of the literature on health literacy applications (apps) to find out what types of health literacy mobile apps currently exist. Our search revealed that there are currently several mobile health applications that exist to help improve health literacy. However, we found suggestions for how to improve on the existing mobile applications as well as a gap that exists in the literature when it comes to apps on vaccine promotion and hesitancy. Based on our findings, we've concluded that mobile applications can be beneficial in improving health literacy. Our goal is to implement useful, easy to understand, accurate and trustworthy information to all users locally, nationally and globally.

Melodie Loya

Food insecurity poses a significant challenge in the United States, impacting numerous low-income individuals and households by limiting their food access and increasing|the variability of their meals. This issue is particularly prevalent among college students who are first-generation, from lower socioeconomic backgrounds, or belong to ethnic minority groups, making them more susceptible to food insecurity and, consequently, obesity. In the study being done, we have surveyed 100 participants that includes questions related to childhood unpredictability and socioeconomic status. The study examined the relationships between childhood socioeconomic status (SES), food insecurity (FI), and childhood unpredictability using zero-order Pearson correlation and a regression analysis. It was found that lower childhood SES is significantly associated with higher FI (r = -0.295, p = 0.003), and greater childhood unpredictability is positively associated with higher FI (r = 0.25, p = 0.01). A regression analysis including both childhood socioeconomic|status and childhood unpredictability showed socioeconomic status was an independent|predictor of Food Insecurity. F (2, 97) = 5.91, p = 0.03 and childhood unpredictability was not a|significant predictor of FI (p = 0.13). The results showed that low socioeconomic status in|childhood is a strong predictor of developing food insecurity later in life.

Badar Goraya

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a critical condition in pediatric patients, often leading to significant morbidity and mortality. While dialysis is a key intervention in severe cases, it is not always required. This case report presents a pediatric patient admitted with AKI and anuria secondary to acute post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis (ASPGN). The patient underwent medical management, including intravenous fluids and diuretics, without requiring dialysis. Despite 72 hours of anuria, the patient achieved full renal recovery. This case highlights the importance of individualized treatment approaches and supports the notion that anuria alone is not an absolute indication for dialysis. Delaying renal replacement therapy (RRT) in hemodynamically stable patients, in the absence of emergent indications, may be a viable approach. At the six-month follow-up, the patient had fully recovered without residual renal impairment. 

Anagha Betadpur, Manmeet Pal Singh Bhalla, Andrew Khalil, and Essi Yayra Ines Tchalla

The incidence of Streptococcus pneumoniae infections remains higher in males compared to females despite immunization with pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV). However, this sex-based differences PCV responses remain unexplored. To investigate that, we vaccinated adult male and female mice with PCV and assessed cellular and humoral immunity. Compared to females, male mice displayed altered neutrophil phenotype, higher Tregs and lower T follicular helper cells plus germinal center B cells that are required for antibody production. Subsequently, males had lower antibody production and function following vaccination. In vivo, while the vaccine was fully protective in females, males succumbed to pneumococcal infection more readily . We verified these findings in human participants and found that neutrophils from vaccinated female donors had an altered phenotype compared to males and were more suppressive to Tregs. These findings can help us design strategies to improve vaccines in the future.

Jaivarshaan Rajkumar

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is a complex autoimmune disorder impacting predominantly women, at a ratio of 9:1. Existing therapies though effective, carry significant risks due to toxic side effects. Thus, there's an urgent need for innovative treatments. Despite SLE's recognized impact on the brain, underlying mechanisms remain incompletely understood, forming the crux of this research. Melatonin, diminished in lupus patients and correlating with disease severity, presents a promising avenue. Our study investigates melatonin's role in alleviating central nervous system (CNS) pathology associated with SLE, focusing on its therapeutic benefits. MRL/lpr lupus mice supplemented with melatonin exhibited improved wellness, bone density preservation, reduced complement activation and cytokine levels, and enhanced brain architecture. This study highlights the importance of integrating lifestyle interventions like melatonin supplementation into SLE management, paving the way for future investigations into optimal administration timing, gender-specific variations, and its impact on different organs. Such efforts hold promise for advancing SLE understanding and refining therapeutic strategies.

Brandon Chiang and Evan Delles

Miniaturized neurochemical sensors have provided invaluable information for the real-time studying of neurotransmission and its correlation with behavior and disease states. Especially, carbon-fiber microsensors (CFM) encased in a glass capillary have been widely used to determine the regulation (release and uptake mechanisms) of catecholamines such as dopamine (DA) and norepinephrine (NE) in the brain. However, traditional glass-encased CFMs are very fragile and therefore unable to record neurochemicals in vivo over long periods of time (days to months). Additionally, they can cause tissue damage due to repeated implantation and have limited use for studying neurotransmission in awake-behaving animal experiments. This project addresses a critical need for improved methods of long-term monitoring of rapid changes in extracellular catecholamine transmission in the brain.

Khandoker Ifaz Ahmed

Krabbe disease (KD) is a rare and fatal neurodegenerative disorder caused by mutations in the GALC gene, leading to the accumulation of galactosylceramide and psychosine, resulting in demyelination. Our previous studies indicated that GALC deficiency primarily affects oligodendrocytes (OL), crucial cells for myelin production. However, the mechanisms underlying their degeneration remain unclear. This study investigates the pathways involved in OL death in KD, which is vital for developing therapeutic techniques. We utilized Krabbe diseased and control mice, genotyping them through PCR and gel electrophoresis, followed by culturing OL precursor cells. Differentiated OLs were analyzed for cell death markers using staining techniques and fluorescent microscopy. Our findings indicate that apoptosis plays a significant role in GALC-deficient OL death, and ongoing studies focus on parthanatos and pyroptosis pathways. 

Jacob Favret

In 2006, New York became the first state to screen newborns for Krabbe disease (KD), a severe lysosomal storage disorder caused by GALC mutations, leading to demyelination, neuroinflammation, and early mortality. In February 2024, KD was officially added to the Recommended Uniform Screening Panel, marking a significant milestone toward nationwide screening; nonetheless, our understanding of KD pathophysiology and ability to treat it remains stagnant. Our research aims to elucidate the underlying pathological mechanisms to pave the way for novel therapeutic intervention. Prior work has shown that loss of GALC in oligodendrocytes; the myelinating glia of the CNS, is necessary and sufficient to induce Krabbe pathology. Moreover, we have identified the pro-inflammatory NFkB pathway to be dysregulated in these cells. Therefore, current research efforts aim to dissect the role of NFkB in diseased oligodendrocytes demonstrating that oligodendroglia NFkB inhibition exacerbates molecular pathology, suggesting a potentially maladaptive but protective function in KD.

Rayan Masoom

Krabbe Disease (KD) is a neurodegenerative disorder caused by GALC gene mutations, leading to demyelination. Our lab studies the role of microglia, immune cells that clear myelin debris, in KD pathology. In GALC-deficient microglia stressed with galactocylceramide (GalCer), we observed increased cytokine release, including CCL17, IL-1α, and IL-28A. These cytokines activate the NFkB inflammatory pathway in oligodendrocytes, potentially influencing disease progression. Using a profile profiler array, we aim to validate these cytokines and assess their individual roles in NFkB activation via RT-qPCR, western blotting, and immunohistochemistry. Our findings suggest that the conditioned media is sufficient to induce NFkB in primary oligodendrocytes, offering a possible therapeutic angle through targeted immune modulation. In the larger scale of KD, the inflammation from NFkB activation in the brain may be attenuating the disease progression. The desired outcome would be a solidified understanding of which specific cytokines are inducing NFkB and to what extent.

Samantha Peterman

Introduction: Many veterans experience challenges reintegrating into civilian life, however, art therapy may lessen these hardships. The Odyssey Project is a unique non-clinical participatory photography program for veterans. We aimed to evaluate the impact of the Odyssey Project on participants' quality of life, reintegration, and explore how the arts can support veterans. Methods: Semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted with 25 Odyssey Project participants. Transcripts underwent rapid qualitative analysis, whereby matrixed summaries were produced, and inductive content-based analysis identified themes across these summaries. Results: Veterans reported experiencing profound benefits, including improved mental health, social relationships and sense of belonging, perspectives on their military service, sense of self, and self-acceptance. Participants expressed that art was helpful for veterans. Conclusions: The unique program characteristics of Odyssey Project allowed participants to experience multiple positive impacts that had ripple effects through their lives, including mental health, social connection, belonging, and relationships to their military service.

Lauren Guterman

Proteus mirabilis is a predominant cause of catheter associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI), and a key virulence factor is its urease enzyme which hydrolyzes urea to ammonia. This process results in the formation of urinary stones, facilitating catheter blockage and bacteremia. The only FDA approved urease inhibitor, acetohydroxamic acid (AHA), has side effects that limit its clinical use. Common urinary tract colonizers modulate P. mirabilis urease activity via secreted small molecules. A metabolomics analysis of modulatory bacterial species revealed 31 candidate urease-dampening metabolites, seven of which were verified to decrease P. mirabilis urease activity. Six metabolites decreased the activity of purified urease enzyme and all seven dampened urease activity in at least two other urease-positive bacterial species. One metabolite (D-imidazole lactate) demonstrated antimicrobial activity and decreased expression of the urease operon in P. mirabilis. All pairwise combinations of metabolites and AHA were assessed for synergistic reduction in P. mirabilis urease activity. Ten combinations demonstrated significant synergistic dampening, and two were further validated to prevent catheter encrustation in an in vitro model for CAUTI. Prophylactic use of urease dampening metabolites with AHA could improve the efficacy of antimicrobial treatment against catheter biofilms.

Emily Ivey

Viruses are obligate intracellular pathogens that overcome a complex network of host defenses to mount an infection. This includes host restriction factors, an important part of the cell intrinsic immune response. Restriction factors target a wide array of viruses. Furthermore, they play important roles in blocking zoonosis and can assist in antiviral drug development. One such restriction factor, LGALS3BP/90K blocks HIV-1 by an unknown mechanism, while its effect on other viruses is unknown. Our work has mechanistically characterized the role of 90K against SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic. We found that 90K targets the SARS-CoV-2 envelope glycoprotein, Spike by binding to the furin-cleavage-site and blocking Spike incorporation into nascent virions, thereby inhibiting virus replication. Furthermore, the antiviral effect of 90K extends to all viruses tested, whose viral envelopes contains a furin-cleavage-site. Thus, we have identified a potent antiviral factor that has a broad antiviral effect.

Chloe Picciano

Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus) are Gram-positive bacteria that asymptomatically colonize the nasopharynx. Influenza A Virus (IAV) infection is a major risk factor for the transition of pneumococci from asymptomatic colonizers to disease-causing pathogens. Neutrophils, or PMNs, are innate immune cells that function to kill and clear bacteria in several ways. IAV infection significantly impairs the ability of PMNs to kill pneumococci. This study aimed to determine which PMN antimicrobial effector function(s) are impaired upon IAV infection. We utilized a novel murine model to study the effect of IAV/S. pneumoniae co-infection on PMN responses. Utilizing flow cytometry-based and plate-based assays, we determined that phagocytosis is not impaired, but intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) production was significantly increased in PMNs isolated from IAV-infected hosts. |We are examining the source of intracellular ROS. Advancements in our understanding of PMN function in IAV/S.pneumoniae coinfection can help improve therapies to boost host defense against coinfection.

Taran Devgun

Cystic Fibrosis (CF) is a genetic disease that leads to thick mucus buildup in the lungs, promoting chronic Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) infections, which are a major cause of CF-related mortality. This study examines how PA evolves during early lung colonization, particularly in response to degraded mucins from coexisting microbiota. To investigate this, P. aeruginosa strain PA14 was cultured in four different media-glucose, mucin-based, anaerobe-degraded mucin, and nutrient-rich broth-for ten days. Colony morphology changes were tracked daily, and whole-genome sequencing identified mutations that emerged during adaptation. More complex nutrient environments led to greater genetic diversity, with key mutations appearing in lasR and morA, genes associated with motility regulation and adaptation. These findings suggest that PA undergoes rapid evolution in response to different lung-like conditions. Future work will explore biofilm formation, additional host factors, and competition assays to better understand PA's persistence in CF airways and inform targeted therapies.

Flora Qu

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a serious respiratory condition characterized by airflow obstruction and chronic pulmonary inflammation driven by immune dysfunction. Signaling molecule Programmed Death Ligand 1 (PD-L1) is found on small extracellular vesicles (EVs) and plays a role in immune suppression in cancer. Its role in COPD and presence in lung EVs remains unexplored. Given that COPD patients exhibit increased PD1 expression on T-cells, we hypothesize that PD-L1 influences T-cell function in COPD. We aim to determine if PD-L1 is present on lung-derived EVs from COPD patients and elucidate any correlation with disease severity.|Small EVs were isolated from Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and examined via western blot. PD-L1 was detected in both control and COPD, with levels positively correlating with COPD severity.|PD-L1 in BALF-derived EVs may contribute to COPD immune dysfunction. Future studies will use TEM imaging and in vitro bioassays to assess its immunosuppressive effects.

Caleb Buerger and Ronzon Shihab

Toxoplasma gondii establishes a chronic infection with non-resolving inflammation and loss of motor function in mice. Damage to the two main sites of infection, the central nervous system and skeletal muscle, is established. However, the peripheral nervous system (PNS) remains unexplored. We hypothesize that chronic inflammation results in PNS damage, impairing motor function. Using flow cytometry, we demonstrated peripheral neuritis during chronic infection. To investigate PNS pathology, we assessed morphology of the connection between motoneurons and myofibers, the neuromuscular junction (NMJ), in fast- and slow-twitch muscles using two mouse strains with varying susceptibility to infection-associated pathology. Chronically infected mice had NMJ morphology consistent with damage to both myofibers and nerves. Intriguingly, some pathologies varied between mouse strains, whereas others varied between muscle types. Investigating further, we found that parasite burden varied significantly by muscle type, correlating with certain NMJ pathologies, suggesting that some are immune-mediated while others are parasite-mediated. 

Miles Stefko

Streptococcus pneumoniae Serotype 3 remains a prominent global health threat, leading to pneumonia, empyema, bacteremia, meningitis, and cardiac toxicity, with high mortality, especially in those over 65 or with comorbidities. Notwithstanding its inclusion in pneumococcal conjugate vaccines, serotype 3 evades immune response, leading to breakthrough infections. This study tested the efficacy of a modified Liposomal Encapsulation of Polysaccharides (LEPS) vaccine platform against serotype 3 infection. LEPS allows non-covalent coupling of pneumococcal polysaccharide and protein antigens, including PncO and PspA. In young and aged mice, LEPS induced antibody production and significantly reduced bacterial burden in the lungs compared to PCV13. It prevented bacterial spread to the heart, spleen, and meninges, which PCV13 did not. LEPS increased neutrophil and dendritic cell recruitment at the injection site and effectively protected against invasive and lung-localized infections. Future studies will explore immune responses in lymphoid organs and efficacy in influenza coinfection models.

Brandon Waxmn

Viruses and the hosts they infect exist in a constant state of conflict. While viruses are unable to replicate on their own, and as such, must utilize the machinery found within their hosts to propagate, the host immune system simultaneously seeks to eradicate infection. One way in which hosts fight infection is through the innate immune response. Upon detecting viral infection, the host immune system produces antiviral proteins, referred to as host restriction factors, which serve to target the virus. In our work, we describe for the first time how the host protein, Heparanase, acts as a host restriction factor which specifically opposes infection with retroviruses, such as human immunodeficiency virus. Specifically, we found that Heparanase blocks production of the viral genome and thus inhibits viral replication. Furthermore, we found that Heparanase achieves this inhibition by sequestering SP1, a protein known to be essential for retroviral transcription.

Elizabeth Castro

Diffusion magnetic resonance imaging (dMRI) allows the investigation of sport-related concussion (SRC)-associated microstructural brain changes. Understanding of these changes remains incomplete since prior work has focused on limited aspects of the injury. Here, we performed comprehensive analyses and hypothesized that adolescents with SRC will have network and diffusion changes with individual patterns distinct from controls. Diffusion scans were collected from adolescents (n= 35) within 10 days of SRC (V1) and after recovery (V2) and from controls (n= 34). Network and diffusion measures were calculated and differential tractography was computed to assess individual variability. Statistical analysis used linear mixed effect models and differential tractography was qualitatively assessed. There were no network or diffusion differences between groups or visits. Females had greater network and diffusion measures than males. Differential tractography showed distinct individual patterns between groups. These results suggest the need for focused sex-specific differences and tract-specific analyses in future research.

Rhonda Drewes and Gabrielle Inserra

Cardiac fibrosis is a common pathological and structural remodeling process resulting from heart injury and is a risk factor for heart disease. Fibrosis alters the phenotype of cardiac cells, affecting the structure and function of heart tissue. Heart injury triggers the trans-differentiation of cardiac fibroblasts into myofibroblasts, which are characterized by their proliferative capacity and extracellular matrix (ECM) synthesis. Excessive accumulation of ECM proteins in the heart causes cardiac dysfunction through increasing stiffness. Additionally, cardiac stiffening has been shown to drive further proliferation and ECM synthesis. Survivin (BIRC5) is an inhibitor of apoptosis protein found to regulate stiffness-stimulated proliferation and ECM production in vascular smooth muscle cells. The objective of these studies is to investigate survivin's role in cardiac fibroblast proliferation and ECM production signaled by fibrotic ECM stiffening. Results may advance our understanding of the mechanisms which drive cardiac fibrosis and highlight survivin as a mediator of fibrotic progression.

Richard Nicosia

The transferrin receptor (TfR) is a transmembrane glycoprotein that is essential for iron uptake, which is often over expressed in malignant cancer cells allowing for rapid proliferation. Due to its role in cancer pathology, blocking transferrin (Tf) mediated iron uptake could serve as an anti-cancer mechanism. Tf-TfR endocytosis is mediated by the AP2 complex through a tyrosine motif on TfR recognized by the AP2 mu subunit. In the present study, fluorescently tagged transferrin was used to track cellular endocytosis in the presence of lipidated decoy peptides containing endocytic motifs that are recognized by AP2. Results indicated that transferrin endocytosis is blocked when in the presence of a peptide inhibiting the mu subunit, but not when inhibiting the sigma subunit. These results indicate that Tf-TfR endocytosis can be blocked through selective inhibition of the AP2 mu subunit and suggests potential as a novel strategy for inhibiting iron influx in malignant cancer cells.

Kymani Getfield

Progressive Supranuclear Palsy-Richardson's Syndrome (PSP-RS) is a rare neurodegenerative disorder with similar symptoms of Parkinson's Disease, often leading to misdiagnosis. Unlike Parkinson's Disease, PSP-RS involves abnormal tau protein aggregation, causing atrophy in the midbrain and cholinergic neurons of the pedunculopontine nucleus (PPN). In this study, AAV8 viral vectors were used to express 1N4R wild-type human tau (hTau), eGFP, or a Null control in PPN cholinergic neurons of rats. Each animal underwent three live imaging sessions and one postmortem scan using a 4.7 Tesla MRI scanner. The midbrain-to-pons volume ratio is decreased in PSP-RS patients; therefore, we hypothesize that there will be a progressive decrease in this ratio in hTau rats over 7, 12, 17, and 23 months correlating with the emergence of PSP-RS-like behavioral deficits. This ratio could serve as a valuable metric for assessing neurodegenerative disease progression in PSP-RS and identify points of early therapeutic intervention before symptoms appear.

Huy Lu

Fatty acid-binding protein 7 (FABP7) aids in the intracellular transport of endogenous cannabinoids and is involved in regulating the stress response system. This study examined the role of FABP7 in chronic stress exposure through the binding of CB1 receptors. Adult male FABP7+/+ and FABP7-/- mice were treated with the unpredictable chronic mild stress (UCMS) procedure. After 28 days of treatment, mice were euthanized, and CB1 was measured with in vitro autoradiography using [3H] SR141716A. FABP7-/- mice, irrespective of stress treatment, showed reduced [3H] SR141716A binding in the amygdala, secondary somatosensory cortex, and ventral caudate putamen compared with the FABP7+/+ mice. Additionally, FABP7-/- mice treated with UCMS exhibited a reduction in CB1 binding in the globus pallidus with UCMS-treated FABP7+/+ mice. Genetic deletion of FABP7 can decrease CB1 expression in various brain regions; however, the underlying mechanism remains unclear.

Rebecca Howell

Dopamine is a neurotransmitter produced by a group of neurons in the midbrain that controls motivation and motor functions. While previous studies made significant progress in unravelling the properties and function of dopamine neurons, most of these failed to elucidate the role of glial cells in regulating DA neuronal activity. Astrocytes are the most abundant glial cell in the brain, performing a variety of functions that support neuronal activity in health and disease. Here, we show that astrocytes play a previously unsuspected role in gating the balance of excitatory and inhibitory drive to dopamine cells. Importantly, we demonstrate that astrocytes scale the responses of dopamine cells to various drugs, such as opioids. These findings enhance our fundamental understanding of dopamine neuron biology, which is indispensable for developing therapeutic strategies for a range of dopamine-related disorders, from substance use disorder to Parkinson's disease.

Jessica Gurbacki

The Cross-Cutting Symptom Measure (CCSM) was developed by the American Psychiatric Association to address concerns about the restricting nature of the categorical methods used to diagnose psychopathology in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5; American Psychiatric Association, 2013). The CCSM defines 13 psychiatric domains that transcend across multiple psychiatric disorders, and was intended to track symptomatology across time, providing clinicians with a fuller picture of all present symptomatology (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). However, little research addresses the CCSM's potential screening utility in a psychiatric treatment-seeking sample. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the screening properties of four domains of the CCSM to detect clinician-determined psychiatric diagnoses. Participants were 165 adults (Mage  = 41.2 years, 72% female, 72% White) with initial visits at an outpatient psychiatric center in the northeastern United States. Prior to their psychiatric appointments, participants completed the CCSM among other self-report symptom measures. Patient demographic information and psychiatric diagnoses were obtained from electronic medical records. The psychiatric diagnoses were then coded into the CCSM domains (e.g., Domain I, Depression; Domain II, Anger; Domain III, Somatic Symptoms, etc.), as demonstrated by Mikhalyuk and colleagues (2024). Notably, anxiety (79%), depression (72%), repetitive thoughts and behaviors (44%), and substance use (26%) were common self-reported psychiatric problems among this sample. Moreover, there was a significant discrepancy between self-reports of psychiatric symptomatology as indicated by the CCSM and psychiatric diagnoses provided by psychiatrists. ROC analyses reporting area under the curve indicated values of .546(SE = .063; 95% CI: .422-.669) for anxiety, .623(SE = .053; 95% CI: .519-.727) for depression, .559(SE = .046; 95% CI: .468-.650) for repetitive thoughts and behaviors, and .542(SE = .053; 95% CI: .438-.646) for substance use. These findings suggest current CCSM domain thresholds do not predict clinical diagnoses beyond chance and points to a greater need to identify sources of discrepancy between self-report and mental health providers diagnoses.

Abdullah Alam

The Alternative Model of Personality Disorders (AMPD) in the DSM-5 integrates personality functioning (Criterion A) and maladaptive traits (Criterion B) to improve understanding and treatment of psychopathology. This study uses archival treatment outcome data from 224 patients who received treatment at an outpatient psychiatric clinic. Patients met criteria if they had a MDD or anxiety disorder diagnosis. Patients completed the DSM-5 Cross-Cutting Symptom Measure (CCSM; APA, 2013), WHODAS 2.0, 12-item version (Üstün, et al., 2010), and PID-5 Brief Form (Krueger et al., 2013). Higher personality functioning impairment was found to predict both greater symptom severity and also greater symptom improvement between visits. Significant time × personality functioning interactions for depression, anxiety, and functional outcomes were found as well. Although maladaptive personality traits showed limited predictive value, disinhibition significantly predicted increased depressive symptoms. These findings support integrating personality assessment into routine clinical practice and may potentially guide clinical decision-making.

Jacob Tondreau

SLC4A11 is a pH-sensitive H+ transporter expressed in the corneal endothelium; mutations result in vision loss. Xenopus oocytes expressing SLC4A11 exhibit conductances >10 µS: akin to cells expressing ENaC, despite [H+] being 5-million times lower than [Na+] in physiological solutions. The feasibility of H+ supporting µS conductance is often questioned. We set out to compare SLC4A11-mediated H+ and elementary-charge fluxes to determine if such conductances are feasible. We expressed human SLC4A11 in oocytes and used two electrode voltage-clamp to drive H+ into or out of the cell and recorded surface pH. We calculated subsurface pH to determine if H+ current into the cell was sufficient to cause such a change in subsurface pH. We estimate passage of 15e13 H+ independent of current direction. This is in excess over the 7e 13 elementary charges moved the clamp period, demonstrating the feasibility of large H+ currents.

Tyler Rolland

Objective: Systemic inflammation in post-cardiac arrest syndrome (PCAS) is driven by mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) released after resuscitation. We investigated how post-ROSC plasma and its extracellular vesicles (EVs) activate porcine peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), focusing on the role of EV-encapsulated mtDNA. Methods: Plasma samples were collected from swine before and 4 hours after resuscitation from induced cardiac arrest. PBMCs were incubated with baseline or post-ROSC plasma, with or without EV lysis and DNase I treatment, and supplemented with mtDNA transfection. Immune activation was assessed via flow cytometry, ELISA, and qPCR. Results: Post-ROSC plasma elevated inflammatory gene expression, cytokine secretion, and immune cell markers. EV lysis reduced these responses, whereas DNase I had limited effects. Restoring mtDNA reactivated inflammatory responses, underscoring that intact EV-encapsulated mtDNA drives innate immune activation in PCAS. Conclusion: Targeting EV uptake may mitigate mtDNA-mediated inflammation in PCAS.

Emily Hudson

Introduction: Diastolic dysfunction is a common feature of heart disease that impairs left ventricular (LV) filling and contributes to poor patient outcomes. We aimed to investigate the mechanistic contribution of passive myocardial stiffness to diastolic dysfunction using ex vivo mechanical testing of pressure-overloaded myocardium. Methods: Swine underwent two-weeks of repetitive pressure overload (RPO) through intermittent phenylephrine administration. LV diastolic function was assessed in vivo using pressure-volume relations. Afterward, whole or decellularized heart tissue samples were subjected to ex vivo uniaxial tensile testing to assess passive stiffness.  Results: RPO led to diastolic dysfunction, characterized by a significant increase in LV chamber stiffness in vivo. However, ex vivo testing revealed no significant differences in the passive stiffness of whole or decellularized tissue compared with controls. Conclusion: Changes in the passive stiffness of whole myocardium or the cardiac extracellular matrix do not contribute to the increased LV chamber stiffness that develops after RPO. 

Anna Freitas

Objective: Post-cardiac arrest syndrome (PCAS) is marked by neuroinflammation. This study aimed to investigate regional differences in neuroinflammatory gene expression and leukocyte infiltration following sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) and assess the effect of ischemia duration. Methods: Swine underwent 7-mins or 10-mins of VF before CPR, defibrillation, and epinephrine administration to achieve return of spontaneous resuscitation (ROSC). Hemodynamics, leukocyte levels and cytokines were assessed at baseline, 1hr, and 4hr post-ROSC. The frontal cortex, caudate nucleus, and hippocampus were assessed for inflammatory gene expression and leukocyte infiltration. Results: Despite a longer ischemic interval in the prolonged-SCA group, inflammatory markers increased similarly in both groups. The caudate nucleus exhibited the highest inflammatory gene expression, particularly CCl2. Conclusion: Findings reveal regional heterogeneity in post-ROSC neuroinflammation, with the caudate nucleus exhibiting pronounced inflammation regardless of SCA duration; this underscores its vulnerability to stress and highlights the need for targeted interventions to improve neurological outcomes.

Kaden Lewis

The nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (AChR) at the neuromuscular junction plays a fundamental role in muscle contraction. Upon binding of the endogenous agonist, acetylcholine (ACh), to the two binding pockets, the receptor undergoes a conformational shift from a low-affinity to a high-affinity state. This transition allows cation influx, membrane depolarization, ultimately triggering muscle contraction. The molecular events governing this transition remain incompletely understood. This study aims to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of AChR using molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of the agonist carbachol (CCh) binding to its extracellular domain. The simulations revealed a consistent pattern of conformational changes at both binding sites. Receptor loop C exhibited a downward shift, while loop F displayed an upward shift, and the ligand underwent a near 180-degree flip. This research will enable the identification of structural motifs critical for receptor activation and support the rational design of more selective agonists for therapeutic applications.

Torin Steele

Cancer Cells, unlike normal human cells, are thought to be entirely dependent on glucose for their metabolic needs. However, a number of cancer lines have been found which are resistant to glucose deprivation therapies. This indicates that these cancers possess the capability to metabolize another energy source, such as Ketone Bodies - the products of oxidation of Fatty Acids in the Liver and an essential source for acetyl-CoA for use in the Citric Acid Cycle. The objective of this project is to determine the variations in a panel of Lung Cancer Cell Lines in their ability to metabolize Ketone Bodies when in a glucose-deficient environment. By analyzing cell proliferation and quantifying the expression of Ketolytic Enzymes amongst these Lung Cancer Cell Lines, this study could provide novel markers to determine the efficacy of glucose deprivation therapies such as fasting diets or pharmaceuticals which affect the process of gluconeogenesis (e.g. Metformin).  

Bryan Lukyanenko

The superior olivary complex (SOC) in the brainstem mediates sound localization in many mammals. In non-human mammals, the SOC is composed of multiple distinct nuclei. However, in humans, only one nucleus, the medial superior olive (MSO), has been consistently identified. We have found individual variability in the rostrocaudal extent of the MSO. We then asked whether the shape, area, and cell density of the MSO also vary. We studied 14 human brainstems from the Witelson Normal Brain Collection, preparing and examining Nissl and immunostained transverse brainstem sections. We found individual differences in MSO area, neuronal density, and shape. There were also examples of left-right asymmetry in the extent of the MSO. These findings provide a deeper understanding of the structural variability in the MSO, which suggest individual differences in sound localization. These results could be relevant for developing individualized auditory treatments in the future.

Prachetas Patel

To reveal epigenomic aberrations in neurodegenerative disorders that may contribute to gene dysregulation, we employed a multifaceted approach to investigate how histone modifications, H3K4me3 (linked to gene activation) and H3K27me3 (linked to gene suppression), are altered at gene promoters in humans with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) or Alzheimer's Disease (AD). We found that, compared to controls, permissive H3K4me3 had significantly reduced binding on synaptic genes and increased binding on transcriptional regulators, while repressive H3K27me3 had significantly increased binding on synaptic genes, in MCI and AD samples. We then used Weighted Gene Correlation Network Analysis (WGCNA) to cluster differentially bound genes by H3K4me3 and H3K27me3 modifications into modules, revealing key binding patterns across disease stages. By comparing ChIP-seq and RNA-seq data, we further found that these epigenomic changes are well correlated with gene expression changes in AD. Our results have unveiled critical epigenetic events that may underlie AD progression.

Emily Eichner

Opioid use disorder (OUD) is a major public health concern. A common behavioral phenotype associated with OUD is persistent responding for opioids despite changes in contingent outcomes, reducing drug reinforcement. In a non-habitual state behavior is adaptive to current goals, and responses change according to prior experiences. Habitual responding is inflexible despite changes in the value of the reinforcer and other external and internal circumstances. Further research is necessary to understand the neurobiological mechanisms which underlie the development of habitual-like responding for opioids. Dopamine (DA) released from the ventral tegmental area (VTA) critically underlies drug reinforcement. Preliminary data demonstrate that ablation of DA-ergic projections from VTA to insular cortex (IC) results in disrupted learning about interoceptive properties of drug paired with associated stimuli. The objective of the present study was to further characterize the role of this VTAIC pathway in opioid motivation. 

Xinluan Dong

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that leads to severe impairment in multiple cognitive domains. Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is the prodromal stage of AD, marked by cognitive deficits that exceed typical age-related decline. Anosognosia is one clinical symptom commonly observed in AD and MCI patients, and is characterized by an impairment in self-awareness, or more specifically, a failure to recognize one's own neurological deficit. While anosognosia is a well-recognized syndrome, there is no consensus regarding the most effective measure. The present study is a retrospective cross-sectional design that includes a clinical sample of 106 AD and 64 MCI patients. The primary aim is to evaluate the construct validity of different anosognosia measures. 

Taylor Wicks

Ketone bodies could be useful biomarkers in multiple sclerosis (MS) because the pathophysiological processes underlying MS disease progression induce metabolic stress. The purpose was to assess the relationships of ketone bodies with biomarkers of metabolic, inflammatory, and oxidative stress in MS. Blood samples and neurological assessments were obtained from 153 healthy controls (HC), 187 relapsing-remitting (RRMS), and 91 progressive MS (PMS) patients. Acetoacetate (AcAc), Beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB), and acetone nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. Indices of inflammatory vulnerability (IVX), metabolic malnutrition (MMX), and metabolic vulnerability (MVX) were computed from the NMR profiles. Cholesterol, apolipoprotein, lipid peroxidation, and antioxidant profiles were obtained. Regression analysis adjusted for age, sex, body mass index, and HC, RRMS, or PMS disease status. AcAc and BHB levels were greater in MS compared to HC. BHB and ketone bodies were positively associated with disability on the MS Severity Scale. AcAc, ketone bodies, and BHB were assocatied with increased ambulation time. BHB was positively associated with IVX, MMX, and MVX. AcAc was positively associated with MMX and negatively associated with IVX and MVX. Ketone bodies are associated with inflammatory vulnerability, metabolic vulnerability, and ambulatory disability measures of MS.

Siyuan Wu

Mass spectrometry-based proteomics offers a reliable approach to quantitative analysis, but benchmarking frameworks are essential for evaluating accuracy and robustness. This study benchmarks a data-independent acquisition (DIA) workflow using pooled lysates from Mus musculus, Escherichia coli, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The proportion of E. coli to mouse lysates was adjusted (1.0, 1.5, and 3.0) while yeast maintained constant total protein levels. Sample preparation used SP3 with Kingfisher automation, followed by LC-MS for peptide detection. DIA raw data were processed with DIA-NN for library-free quantification. The median coefficient of variation (CV) was 6%, and ~15% for the lowest 25% abundance, demonstrating high data quality. False acceptance discovery rates (FADR) were 3.8% for 1.5-fold and 3.3% for 3.0-fold changes. These results highlight the sensitivity, reproducibility, and robustness of DIA-based quantitative proteomics workflows.

LingLing Huang and SeongJun Jo

The rearranged during transfection (RET) proto-oncogene encodes a tyrosine kinase that causes various cancers, including thyroid and non-small cell lung cancers(NSCLCs). Although, the FDA has approved 2 RET inhibitors, selpercatinib and pralsetinib, with great efficacy. However, cancer cells developed acquired resistance to them. Hence, this project investigates a new generation of RET inhibitors - HSN 608, 748, and 468. Their physiochemical properties, including blood-to-plasma (BP) ratios, log P values, and pharmacokinetic parameters, were measured and evaluated throughout the research. BP ratios range from 0.7 to 1.35 across species, with no significant difference between high and low concentrations, showing concentration independence. Log P values were 3.48 for HSN 608, 3.71 for HSN 748, and 3.00 for HSN 468, indicating lipophilicity. These values are critical in contributing to predicting the tissue-to-plasma partition coefficient (Kp), which is significant in building the physiologically based pharmacokinetic(PBPK) model.

Maisara Chowdhury

Pharmacogenomics (PGx) is crucial in healthcare, but inconsistent educational standards hinder its full potential. PGx education varies widely across nursing, pharmacy, and medical schools. Standardizing PGx education and delivery methods is essential for pre-healthcare students. Interprofessional education (IPE) events are effective for teaching PGx, fostering communication and collaboration among healthcare students. Last year, the STRIPE organization convened experts to tackle challenges in clinical practice, laboratory procedures, study design, clinical decision support, and education. The STRIPE education team led small group discussions to identify key concerns, notably the lack of PGx IPE events. These discussions resulted in consensus statements to support educational initiatives, which were presented and voted on to establish a gold standard for IPE events in healthcare education, focusing on next-generation training programs in fields like pharmacy.

Amruta Gajanan Bhat

Age and aging are important predictors of health status, disease progression, drug kinetics, and effects. The purpose was to develop ensemble learning-based physiological age (PA) models for evaluating drug metabolism. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data were modeled with ensemble learning to obtain two PA models, PA-M1 and PA-M2. PA-M1 included body composition, blood and urine biomarkers, and disease variables as predictors. PA-M2 had blood and urine-derived variables as predictors. Activity phenotypes for cytochrome-P450 (CYP) CYP2E1, CYP1A2, CYP2A6, xanthine oxidase (XO), and N-acetyltransferase-2 (NAT-2) and telomere attrition were assessed. Bayesian networks were used to obtain mechanistic systems pharmacology model structures for PA. The study included n=22,307 NHANES participants (51.5% female, mean age 46.0%years, range: 18-79%years). The PA-M1 and PA-M2 distributions had greater dispersion across age strata with a right skew for younger age strata and a left skew for older age strata. There was no evidence of algorithmic bias based on sex or race/ethnicity. Klotho, lean body mass, glycohemoglobin, and systolic blood pressure were the top four predictors for PA-M1. Glycohemoglobin, serum creatinine, total cholesterol, and urine creatinine were the top four predictors for PA-M2. The models also performed satisfactorily in independent validation. Model-predicted PA was associated with CYP2E1, CYP1A2, CYP2A6, XO, and NAT-2 activity. Telomere attrition was associated with greater PA-M1 and PA-M2. Ensemble learning models provide robust assessments of PA from easily obtained blood and urine biomarkers. PA is associated with Phase I drug-metabolizing enzyme phenotypes.

Euibeom Shin and Yifan Yu

To assess ChatGPT 4.0 (ChatGPT) and Gemini Ultra 1.0 (Gemini) large language models on NONMEM coding tasks relevant to pharmacometrics and clinical pharmacology. ChatGPT and Gemini were assessed on tasks mimicking real-world applications of NONMEM. The tasks ranged from providing a curriculum for learning NONMEM, an overview of NONMEM code structure to generating code. Prompts in lay language to elicit NONMEM code for a linear pharmacokinetic (PK) model with oral administration and a more complex model with two parallel first-order absorption mechanisms were investigated. Reproducibility and the impact of "temperature" hyperparameter settings were assessed. The code was reviewed by two NONMEM experts. ChatGPT and Gemini provided NONMEM curriculum structures combining foundational knowledge with advanced concepts (e.g., covariate modeling and Bayesian approaches) and practical skills including NONMEM code structure and syntax. ChatGPT provided an informative summary of the NONMEM control stream structure and outlined the key NONMEM Translator (NM-TRAN) records needed. ChatGPT and Gemini were able to generate code blocks for the NONMEM control stream from the lay language prompts for the two coding tasks. The control streams contained focal structural and syntax errors that required revision before they could be executed without errors and warnings. The code output from ChatGPT and Gemini was not reproducible, and varying the temperature hyperparameter did not reduce the errors and omissions substantively. Large language models may be useful in pharmacometrics for efficiently generating an initial coding template for modeling projects. However, the output can contain errors and omissions that require correction.

Mfonabasi Ette

Our central hypothesis is that antibody PK is determined by the interplay between molecular physicochemical properties of compounds and species physiology and that these relationships can be integrated into predictive mathematical models using contemporary modeling and computational systems.  This work aims to develop a hybrid model for a series of mAbs in humans and preclinical species.  A QSPKR model of a non-congeneric series of monoclonal antibodies revealed that patches of positive charge and hydrophobicity were associated with clearance.  Assessment of classification model performance with receiver operation characteristic (ROC) curves indicated that random forest classification outperformed the genetic algorithm (Test AUC = 0.933 vs. Test AUC = 0.687) for slow vs fast clearance.  The random forest algorithm was then used for regression to establish an association between descriptors and clearance.    The important descriptors were used as inputs in a neural network to predict total systemic clearance.

Jeiyun Cao, Kshitee Sandeep Kharve, Kyle Pasquariello and Aayush Shroff

Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) are widely used for cancer treatment; however, their use is constrained by adverse events such as gastrointestinal distress or hypoglycemia affecting the quality of life in patients. The underlying mechanism remains elusive; however, similar complications are observed in the absence of sodium-glucose-linked transporter 1 (SGLT1). Our studies confirmed decreased transporter activity with reduced 14C-α-methyl-D-glucopyranoside uptake in-vitro in the presence of seven TKIs (p < 0.05) with no changes in the localization of SGLT1 to the plasma membrane (p < 0.05). We observed loss of transporter phosphorylation at the Y144 site in the presence of regorafenib (p < 0.05), which was deemed important for SGLT1 function. Transient transfection with Y144 mutant abolished SGLT1 activity despite translocation to the plasma membrane (p < 0.05). As BRAF was a common target in SGLT1 inhibiting TKIs, we identified siRNA-mediated knockdown of BRAF kinase, resulting in a 40% reduction of SGLT1 function (p < 0.05). 

Adam Plecha

Background: Immunogenicity, driven by anti-drug antibodies (ADAs), affects the efficacy and safety of therapeutic proteins. Bococizumab, a monoclonal antibody targeting PCSK9 to lower LDL cholesterol, was discontinued after phase 3 SPIRE trials revealed high ADA incidence and reduced LDL-lowering effects at 52 weeks. Current immunogenicity assessment methods lack predictive power and mechanistic insight. A key immune response step is the migration of mature dendritic cells (DCs) to T-cell zones, especially relevant for subcutaneously administered proteins. Methods and Results: We evaluated Bococizumab's effect on human monocyte-derived DCs by assessing activation markers (CD40, IL-12) and CXCR4 expression, a receptor guiding migration. A transwell assay revealed enhanced DC migration in response to Bococizumab and chemokine gradients (CCL21, CXCL12), indicating high immunogenic potential.  Conclusions: This study supports using dendritic cell activation and migration markers-especially CXCR4, CD40, and IL-12-as predictive tools for immunogenicity risk in therapeutic protein development.

David Schnell

The creation and implementation of an AI database to predict immunologic factors will allow scientists to increase the efficiency and safety of clinical trials. This database integrates therapeutic data (e.g., dose, amino acid sequence, drug modifications) and clinical data (e.g., HLA phenotypes, disease indication, ADA information) to identify trends and underlying features driving immunogenicity. By collecting and standardizing this information, we will be able to assists drug makers in risk assessment and decision-making during drug development. In collaboration with Generate AI, the database is being made queryable, enabling researchers to leverage collective data points for improved immunogenicity prediction. To provide application of this process, we will be assessing trends between Humira and it's biosimilars found in our database. This will allow us to conduct a comparative analysis between these therapeutics and help identify differences that may affect future protein therapeutics. 

Liam Hubbard

In tumor microenvironments, an immunosuppressive effect has been seen using high surface density of phosphatidylserine exosomes. Current research has suggested that this immunomodulatory activity is from a relationship between phosphatidylserine and TIM-4 receptors on the antigen presenting cells. Using an anti-human TIM-4 antibody should block this immunosuppressive effect. The structural features and stability of anti-human TIM-4 antibody was investigated in comparison to rituximab. Rituximab and anti-human TIM-4 Antibody were put through Fluorescence and far-UV Circular Dichroism (CD) scans, both normal and thermal scans. The CD scans indicated that anti-human TIM-4 antibody showed a comparable CD profile to the reference rituximab. The fluorescence thermal scans showed that there was some red shift in the peak wavelength in both the rituximab and anti-human TIM-4 antibody. Anti-human TIM-4 antibody shows a predominantly beta sheet secondary structure just like rituximab. Furthermore, the anti-human TIM-4 antibody appears to follow the melting profile trend of denaturation.

Se Jin Kim and Sandra Salib

Prostate cancer (PrCa) is the second leading cause of cancer-related death in the U.S. African American (AA) men have nearly twice the incidence and mortality rates compared to European American (EA) men, though the biological basis of this disparity remains unclear. To explore cell line-specific vulnerabilities, personalized Boolean network models screened 116 combinatorial targets involving androgen receptor (AR) inhibition. Dual AR and MYC_MAX inhibition emerged as a promising combination, especially in MDA-PCa-2a/2b cell lines. In vitro validation showed that Enzalutamide (AR inhibitor) is more potent in LAPC4 and LNCaP than MDA-PCa-2a and MDA-PCa-2b with IC50 values of 55.3 and 95.7 vs. 436 and 467 uM. Drug interaction analysis showed synergy to additivity in AA derived cell lines (ψ 0.24 and 1.00), but antagonism in EA derived lines (ψ 1.44 and 3.68). Simulated node trajectories showed significant AUC changes in metabolic, AKT, and cell cycle pathways, and validated by Western blot analysis of LDHA, GSH, GLUT1, PDK1, and Cyclin D.

Soobin Lee, Yun Sang and Samjhana Shrestha

With the development of CRISPR technologies, somatic genome editing has enabled new opportunities for treating many intractable genetic disorders. However, delivery of CRISPR components is the key to unleashing the full potential of these emerging CRISPR technologies. Taking the advantages of viral vectors in efficient gene transfer, we adapt their structural proteins to form self-assembled nanocarrier for CRISPR delivery. This could preserve viral vector's delivery efficiency without having virus' genetic materials. Co-transfection of Cas9 gene editors with these structural proteins to the producer cell enabled the production of our nanocarrier loaded with Cas9 ribonucleoproteins. Both light-scattering and transmission electron microscopy confirmed its monodispersity and small size (72nm), while ELISA and qPCR confirmed its loading of Cas9 ribonucleoproteins. We further optimized the nanocarrier production and validated its gene editing in vitro. Our findings provide biophysical insights into this delivery system, and it may add to the armamentarium to advance CRISPR-based therapies.

Se Jin Kim

Objectives: Oxaliplatin is a platinum-based chemotherapy agent for the management of colorectal cancer (CRC) in combination regimens with other agents. Oxaliplatin-induced peripheral neuropathy (OIPN) is a dose-limiting toxicity with a prevalence of 85-95% and 10-15% for acute and chronic. There are no approved agents for prevention, and duloxetine is the only available pharmacological treatment, which leads to dose reduction, poor adherence, and termination of therapy. Histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors can prevent and reverse neuropathic pain after exposure to chemotherapy and potentiate cytotoxic effects, but the mechanism of action is unknown. The aim of this study was to utilize a network modeling approach to assess differences in signal transduction for synergistic combinations of oxaliplatin and HDAC inhibitors in CRC cell lines. Methods: 3 CRC cell lines (Caco2, HCT15, HT29) were incubated with oxaliplatin as a single agent and as a combination with each of three HDAC inhibitors (vorinostat, romidepsin, and SW100) for 24 hours. The extent of cell kill and protein expression of 16 proteins were measured at time 0 and 24 hours. A prior CRC logic model was modified to include key proteins of interest. Proteomic data were used construct cell-line specific models through CellNOptR5. Estimated parameters were fixed to simulate the time-course of signaling proteins using Odefy, and the area under the curve (AUC) of each protein was calculated6. Results: Oxaliplatin exhibited the most synergistic cell killing effect across all cell lines with SW100. Model parameters that describe the signaling activity of KRAS were statistically correlated with the fold change (FC) in cell killing for oxaliplatin combinations. Direct upstream regulators of KRAS and their interactions with KRAS were statistically greater than KRAS and its interaction with direct downstream species. A smaller AUC for AKT and mTOR were associated with greater FC in cell kill (R > 0.7, p-value < 0.05), which is consistent with literature experiments where a decrease in signaling was observed in the MAPK/ERK pathways in colon cancer after HDAC KO7. AUC of KRAS was better correlated with the FC in cell killing than the raw proteomic data (R=0.66, p-value=0.054 vs. R=0.42, p-value=0.26). Conclusion: Our cell-line specific CRC logic models identified differential KRAS signaling as a potential mechanism for the enhanced cell kill efficacy of oxaliplatin and SW100. This study highlights the capabilities of generating cell-line specific logic models to compare signaling transduction and potential mechanisms of drug interaction. Such models may inform target selection for additional combination regimens for CRC and inadequate responders to current chemotherapy options.

Arthur Germakovski, Hajra Jamil and Allison Warmuth 

The monocarboxylate transporter 6 (MCT6) is an orphan protein with an undefined physiological role. However, past investigations indicated that a MCT6 genetic variant with predicted diminished activity was protective of cisplatin-induced hearing loss, an adverse that is often irreversible and can impact up to 70% of patients. Our group has since found that MCT6-mediates uptake of a toxic cisplatin metabolite, underscoring the need to identify potential inhibitors that would mitigate cisplatin-induced adverse events. To identify potential MCT6 inhibitors, we tested the ability of MCT6 over expressing MDCK cells with a doxycycline-regulated inducible promoter to mediate uptake of 5-carboxyfluorescein (5-CF). We hypothesized that 5-CF cellular accumulation would be greater in MCT6 over expressing cells and that this model could be used to identify MCT6 inhibitors.

Angel Vasquez

The Undergraduate Public Health Program at the University at Buffalo's School of Public Health and Health Professions (SPHHP) began in 2017, enrolling its initial cohort of incoming first-year students in the Bachelor of Science in Public Health (BSPH) in Fall 2018. Beginning in the Spring 2022 semester, anonymous surveys were conducted with BSPH students (N=233) in their capstone course regarding their experiences as a public health student. Using the surveys, we found that students were primarily female (74.7%) and racially diverse with an average age of 21.8 years. We also found that out of the whole most weren't first generation students (73.8%) and about almost half (46.4%) go on to continuing their education, while during their education some individuals (24.5%) worked and 100% of the time interfered with school. Understanding these trends in BSPH student characteristics helps us prepare the next generation of undergraduate public health students. 

Hayden Litten and Mia Mychajliw 

Community health needs assessments are vital for understanding the health of a particular area of a community and are used to inform health promotion projects. In an attempt to capture the needs of the Seneca-Babcock community, surveys were distributed throughout the neighborhood and weekly at the community food pantry. The data gathered from the assessment will be utilized for the upcoming Mobile Health Unit that will serve the community. Results from the survey showed that even though 66% of respondents see their primary physician regularly, only 41% of respondents saw a dentist in the past year. Various gaps in access to health care were evident from the survey results. This information is vital for implementing the Mobile Health Unit to ensure community needs are being met. |

Parker Polston

Background: Fiber intake is suggested to influence cognition, but few prospective studies have evaluated how dietary and supplemental fiber intake influence cognitive impairment risk. Objectives: We evaluated the association between dietary fiber intake and fiber supplement use with risk of mild cognitive impairment (MCI), dementia, and any cognitive impairment (combined MCI or dementia) in postmenopausal women. Methods: Dietary data and cognitive outcomes were assessed in 4,962 women who participated in the Women's Health Initiative Memory Study (1996-2021). Cox proportional hazards regression was used to estimate risk according to dietary fiber intake and fiber supplement use. Results: No associations were observed between total, soluble, or insoluble dietary fiber intake and any cognitive impairment, MCI, or dementia. Fiber supplement use was associated with an increased risk of any cognitive impairment and MCI. Conclusions: Fiber supplement use, but not dietary fiber intake, was associated with an increased risk of cognitive impairment.

Lindsay Wise

Characterizing metabolic energy demand and primary fuel sources during walking with a weighted backpack informs food and fluid intake requirements for successful activity in military, occupational, and recreational settings where load carriage is common. While previous studies have examined the energy requirements of load carriage, none have directly compared load mass and footwear separately and combined. Our novel study analyzed metabolic responses and fuel use during treadmill walking at increasing speeds across six footwear-load conditions (sneakers only, military boots only, sneakers with a backpack equal to 22.5% body mass (BM), military boots with 22.5% BM, sneakers with 45% BM, and military boots with 45% BM). We found that walking speed and load carriage separately and synergistically increased metabolic rate, favoring carbohydrate use, while footwear had little effect. The next steps include using this data to generate stand alone or integrate into existing metabolic models to estimate energy expenditure during load carriage.

Sean Connors

Understanding the cardiovascular and psychological demands of walking while carrying a weighted backpack is crucial in military, occupational, and recreational settings. While the demands of load carriage have been previously studied, none have accounted for the influence of both load mass and footwear in their study designs. Our novel study explored the cardiovascular and psychological responses to treadmill walking at increasing speeds during six footwear – load iterations (sneakers only, boots only, sneakers plus backpack load equal to 22.5% body mass (BM), boots plus 22.5% BM, sneakers plus 45% BM, and boots plus 45% BM). For the first time we show that walking speed and load carriage independently and synergistically increased cardiovascular and psychological responses while footwear was inconsequential. Hikers, backpackers, students, military personnel, and others that carry load should consider walking speed and load mass but not footwear selection when attempting to moderate the physical and mental burden of walking.

Elizabeth Lavoie and Daniel Sweet

Cardiac events have been the predominant cause of on-duty firefighter death for more than three decades. The reactive hyperemia index (RHI) is a metric of microvascular function and predicts future cardiovascular events. PURPOSE: Test the hypothesis that RHI is impaired after simulated firefighting and explore predictors of change. METHODS: Nineteen healthy adults completed a VO2max protocol with blood pressure measured. In a separate visit, the firefighting tasks of walking, carrying, lifting, striking, and pulling were completed in a heated chamber (40°C). RHI was measured before and after the firefighting work. RESULTS: Impaired RHI was observed when heart rate exceeded 90% maximum during firefighting and in individuals with systolic blood pressure > 165 mmHg during the VO2max protocol. CONCLUSION: Firefighting tasks that elicit near-maximal heart rate may lead to impaired microvascular function, even in healthy individuals. High exercise blood pressure responses are associated with post-exercise microvascular impairment.

Lydia Clark, Ayesha Jannat, Arthika Kandasamy and Mylin Ngo

Chronic Mn fumes inhalation by welders results in neurodegeneration of basal ganglia, manifesting a disorder referred to as "Manganism". The mechanism of neurotoxicity following chronic exposure to low-level Mn is unclear. However, it is evident that the progression of chronic inflammation without resolution results in increased reactive oxygen species and cell death.  Hence, in the present study, our objective is to study the differential gene expression of pro-inflammatory markers and mediators of the synthesis of leukotrienes.  ||In our pilot run, we found that within the Mn fumes-exposed microglial cells, the pro-inflammatory leukotrienes were differentially expressed compared to the mediators of the synthesis of the leukotrienes. ALOX5/15 and LTB4, a critical component of lipid metabolism/immune response, help resolve inflammation by regulating leukotrienes and promoting tissue healing. The identified differential expression of inflammation resolution markers needs to be validated with protein expression as it has great potential as both a biomarker of an occupational hazard and a therapeutic target for Mn exposure related neurodegeneration.

Wenjie Ji, Alvina Li, Joy Lin and Shadine Stoney

Background: Spinal cord injury (SCI) impairs cardiovascular autonomic, cerebrovascular, and cognitive functions, with no effective non-drug interventions. While exercise benefits these functions in non-injured populations, its effects in SCI remain unclear. This study examined the impact of high-intensity interval exercise (HIIE) on these functions in SCI. Methods: Twelve individuals with SCI and 12 age- and sex-matched non-injured (NI) controls completed a single HIIE session. Mean blood pressure (MBP), heart rate (HR), middle (MCAv) and posterior cerebral artery blood velocity (PCAv), and Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT) scores were assessed pre- and post-exercise. Results: Post-HIIE, MBP (p>0.21), HR (p>0.56), MCAv (p>0.64), and PCAv (p>0.70) did not differ between groups. However, SDMT scores declined significantly in SCI (p=0.005). Conclusion: SCI participants exhibited similar cardiovascular and cerebrovascular responses but greater cognitive fatigue post-exercise. Future research should address cognitive workload when designing study protocols.

Ignacio Novoa Cornejo and Kruti Ashok Vyas

Background: Neuroplasticity, the nervous system's ability to adapt throughout life, plays a critical role in|recovery after neurological damage, such as stroke. Non-invasive targeted-dependent plasticity using the conditioning of spinal reflexes has proven beneficial for common problems in neuropathologies such as muscle weakness, spasticity, and hyperexcitability. The increased activity in wrist flexors (Flexor Carpi Radialis, FCR) observed after stroke, spinal cord injury, or multiple sclerosis disrupts upper limb function and limits activities of daily living. Currently, operant conditioning protocols have been extensively reported in the lower limb muscles, but feasibility in the upper limb is yet to be explored. Thus, this study will evaluate the feasibility of an operant down-conditioning (ODC) protocol on wrist flexor muscles (FCR) in a non-disabled participant. This protocol promotes beneficial plasticity by utilizing feedback-guided training on|the magnitude of the Hoffman reflex (HR). This reflex -a monosynaptic analog of the myotatic stretch reflex- serves as a key neurophysiological marker to assess spinal cord excitability and track plasticity induced by operant conditions; by conditioning the HR in the upper limb, this protocol has the potential to significantly impact individuals with CNS, impact individuals with CNS, damage, enhancing functional recovery and quality of life. Objective: This study aimed to explore the effects of ODC on spinal reflexes, specifically targeting the FCR muscle in a young, healthy adult. By analyzing reflex responses, this research provides insights|into how ODC modulates spinal reflex excitability and contributes to our understanding of neuroplasticity in the spinal cord and how it can be helpful for future studies. Methods: One healthy female (24 years old) participant underwent ODC targeting the HR in FCR. The|participant was seated with the shoulder flexed, elbow slightly flexed, and wrist in a neutral|position, while the forearm was maintained in a neutral (mid-prone) orientation. The|participant maintained 20% of maximal FCR EMG activity with the arm supported. Following collecting 20 baseline HR (80% of H-max), 75 conditioning trials were administered across six training sessions. Control and conditioned HR were recorded during each session and normalized to baseline values. Success rates were calculated to track conditioning efficacy. Data were analyzed in Matlab and R to quantify changes in spinal excitability across sessions. Results ODC progressively reduced FCR spinal excitability across six sessions, decreasing amplitude from baseline to -49.3% by session 6. The most significant drop occurred between sessions 1 and 2 (from 96.5% to 57.3% of baseline). Control H-reflexes initially decreased from baseline to|session 2 and thereafter remained relatively stable (52.5-66.8%). Since this method is based on a reward biofeedback, success rates varied across training, with the highest performance in sessions 3 (88.0%) and 4 (89.3%), followed by a notable drop-in session 5 (58.7%) before|recovering in session 6 (78.7%). The percentage difference between conditioned and control reflexes showed progressively increasing negative values in sessions 4 (-8.0%) and 6 (-6.0%), indicating successful neural adaptation through operant conditioning. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that ODC effectively modulates FCR HR amplitude, reducing spinal excitability by approximately 50% over six sessions. The significant HR reduction and high success rates in middle sessions confirm this non-invasive intervention's viability for inducing neural plasticity in upper limb spinal circuits

Ignacio Novoa Cornejo and Kruti Ashok Vyas

Background: The role of vestibulospinal projections, a key bulbospinal pathway, in modulating upper limb spinal excitability has not been fully explored, particularly in the context of muscles involved in the abnormal flexor synergy after stroke. Vestibular pathways project to various levels of the spinal cord and significantly influence motoneuron activity, primarily contributing to postural control, balance, and coordination of head and eye movements. Emerging evidence suggests that altered vestibulospinal signals may play a role in abnormal muscle coactivation and motor impairments commonly observed in stroke survivors. However, little is known about vestibulospinal contributions to upper limb motor control in healthy individuals, which is a critical first step toward understanding their role in pathological conditions. Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effects of galvanic vestibular stimulation (GVS) on spinal excitability in the flexor carpi radialis (FCR) muscle of healthy adults. By establishing baseline responses, this research provides foundational knowledge for future studies involving stroke survivors. Methods: Three healthy participants were recruited for this exploratory study. GVS, a non-invasive method of modulating vestibular pathways via electrical stimulation, was applied in the mastoid process using the cathode ipsilaterally to the tested arm. Median nerve H-reflexes were recorded from the FCR muscle to assess changes in spinal excitability, while subjects were sitting with the arm straight and supported, while holding 10% of FCR maximal EMG value. 20 baseline H-reflex recordings were collected targeting 50% of HR-maximum value. Same procedure was followed using cathodal-GVS application.  Results: cathodal-GVS consistently increased FCR H-reflex amplitudes in healthy participants. FCR H-reflex amplitude increased 1.726± 0.126 times from the control values. Conclusion: This finding confirms that vestibulospinal pathways exert measurable influence on upper limb motoneuron activity. This establishes a reference framework for normal vestibulospinal function and highlight the feasibility of using GVS to study spinal excitability in upper limb muscles. 

Stephanie Durfee

The United States has one of the highest maternal mortality rates among high-resource countries, with rural pregnant persons experiencing significantly worse outcomes than their urban counterparts. Fragmented healthcare data limits the ability to track pregnancy-related health disparities and inform targeted interventions. This study refines the extraction of pregnancy data using health information exchange (HIE) data. It examines maternal health disparities across urban Erie County and rural Genesee, Orleans, and Wyoming counties in Western New York. Using a refined ICD-10-based definition of pregnancy, we identified county-level differences in perinatal complications, healthcare utilization, and social risk factors. Findings revealed higher rates of chronic conditions and reduced healthcare access in rural counties, with over 50% of pregnant persons in Orleans County having no outpatient visits. This study presents a replicable model for enhancing the accuracy of maternal health data and underscores the importance of integrating multiple Health Information Exchanges (HIEs) to address rural-urban disparities in maternal health.

Amarjot Gill

This study examines older persons' participation in life-enhancement activities in a Canadian long-term care (LTC) facility. Naturalistic observations of 20 sessions were conducted in a single LTC facility that includes 111 older persons in September 2024. Data were collected through field notes and guiding questions. Quantitative analysis found significant differences in engagement levels across activities (p < 0.001). Social interactions also differed by mobility status (p = 0.014). Interpersonal conflict incidents (p < 0.001), positive emotional expressions (p < 0.001), and number of distractions (p = 0.001) varied across activity locations. Four themes emerged from qualitative thematic analysis: 1) participation barriers, 2) activity contextual factors, 3) facilitator support strategies, and 4) social interactions and emotional well-being. Individual and situational factors can influence older persons' engagement in life-enhancement activities. For older persons to achieve active participation in life-enhancement activities, we must consider their mobility needs, a non-disruptive environment, and facilitator support.

Lorenzo Sanguedolce

Background and Significance: Pulmonary aspiration of gastric contents is a major cause of airway-associated morbidity and mortality in the anesthesia setting. Point-of-care ultrasound (PoCUS) is gaining popularity among anesthesia providers as an effective risk-stratification tool, showing great potential to improve patient outcomes and reduce costs related to complications in the perioperative setting. Current curricula provide insufficient PoCUS training, contributing to a lack of proficiency and expert trainers. Purpose, Aims, and Objectives: The purpose of this Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project was to minimize risk of pulmonary aspiration through improvements in knowledge and skill confidence of anesthesia providers performing gastric PoCUS. It aimed to determine the effect of a blended learning intervention. A review of the literature identified gaps in training and knowledge, a blended learning protocol was developed to address these gaps using Lewin's Theory of Planned Change and the I-AIM framework (Indications, Acquisition, Interpretation, Medical decision making). Primary data was collected and analyzed, and findings were publicly disseminated. Design and Methods: Single-armed prospective quasi-experimental study with pre-post design. Anesthesia providers completed an online educational module with pre-/post assessment and live, simulated scans with a final assessment. Results: The intervention demonstrated a significant increase in knowledge and skill confidence following the blended learning activities. Conclusion: A blended learning model can effectively improve the knowledge and skill confidence of anesthesia providers performing gastric PoCUS. Future Implications and Recommendations: Recommendations for training protocols include the addition of expert instruction and a brief hands-on workshop. An academic practice partnership would quickly increase the availability of expert trainers. 

Ameemah Khan

Loneliness is a distressing emotional state that arises when an individual's actual social relationships do not align with their desired social connections. As loneliness becomes increasingly prevalent among adults, its adverse effects on mental health have grown more evident. Research links loneliness to poor sleep quality, suicidal ideation, severe depressive symptoms, and heightened stress. These effects are particularly pronounced in underserved communities, where social determinants of health disproportionately impact African Americans, contributing to poorer health outcomes. However, limited research explores the relationship between loneliness, sleep, and depression specifically within African American populations. This study aims to determine whether loneliness predicts sleep quality, depression, and psychological well-being in underserved communities. A cross-sectional design was employed to analyze baseline data from a randomized controlled trial conducted in underserved communities in Western New York. Participants completed a series of questionnaires via REDCap. Four key variables including sleep quality, depression, loneliness, and psychological well-being were examined. Regression analysis was conducted to assess associations between these variables. The study included 250 participants, the majority of whom were African American (71%) and female (84%). Regression analysis revealed that loneliness significantly predicted sleep quality and depression (p < 0.05), with the strongest association observed between loneliness and psychological well-being (p < 0.001). Participants with higher loneliness scores reported poorer sleep quality, more severe depressive symptoms, and lower psychological well-being. Loneliness is a significant predictor of mental health outcomes in underserved communities. Addressing loneliness may improve sleep quality, alleviate depressive symptoms, and enhance psychological well-being. Future research should explore these associations in a more demographically representative sample and consider longitudinal designs for a deeper understanding of long-term effects of loneliness. Additionally, cost-effective and accessible interventions should be developed to mitigate loneliness and its associated mental health consequences.

Kaleigh Wagner

Corneal abrasions (CA's) are the most frequent ocular injury to occur under general anesthesia. Although risk factors and recommended preventative measures are established to reduce ocular injury rates, CA's still occur due to lack of knowledge and inconsistent practices amongst anesthesia providers. The goal of this project was to develop and execute an educational training module covering CA risk factors and evidence-based prevention strategies for anesthesia providers, focusing on how to improve current practice regarding perioperative CA prevention. The aim was to increase awareness regarding CA development and improve confidence to follow evidence-based practice recommendations. The execution of this project was a non-experimental, pre-post survey design. The intervention being assessed was an educational module synthesized from an extensive review of the literature. Providing education to anesthesia providers regarding evidence-based practices for CA prevention helped increase provider awareness and can cultivate improvements to the safety of adult patients undergoing general anesthesia. 

Yanjun Zhou

This study examined how negative emotions, e-cigarette, and marijuana use influenced suicidality among U.S. adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic using 2021 YRBS data (n = 9,716). About 36% reported poor mental health, 20% used e-cigarettes, and 17.7% used marijuana. Suicidality was prevalent: 23.3% considered suicide, 19.2% made a plan, and 10.7% attempted it. Logistic regression showed that negative emotions significantly increased suicidality risk (p < .001). Co-use of e-cigarettes and marijuana, but not individual use, was also linked to higher suicidality (p < .01). Findings highlight the compounded risks of poor mental health and substance co-use.

Ifeoma Ezelio, Laura Saturnino and Jaden Troiano

Depression and mental health disorders are widespread in the United States, impacting neurofunction and increasing cognitive impairment and dementia risk. Therefore, depression screening should include biological and social assessments. Here, we used secondary data analysis from a clinical trial to examine the relationship between depression, anxiety, and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BNDF ), a neuroplasticity biomarker. Participants aged 65-85 were recruited during the COVID-19 pandemic for a study on frailty and exercise. Blood samples were drawn from participants during baseline visits. The serum was analyzed with ProteinSimple ELLA. Psychosocial factors like anxiety and depression were screened using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Score (HADS). Findings revealed a negligible correlation between the total HADS score and BDNF concentration (r-total=0.042). However, there was a low positive correlation between the subsection for depression on HADS and BDNF concentration (r-dep=0.114). BDNF could be a potential annual blood biomarker for preventative healthcare and mental health disorder screening. 

Petrina Harrison

Background and Significance: Early detection of ovarian cancer (OC) is critical to improving survival, yet many patients are diagnosed at advanced stages due to delays in follow-up. Purpose, Aims and Objectives: This quality improvement project evaluated provider practices in diagnosing and managing OC at a gynecology clinic. The project aimed to assess the effectiveness of strategies that facilitate timely and accurate diagnoses. Theoretical Framework: Avedis Donabedian's conceptual model. Methods and Design: A retrospective chart review was conducted on 13 patients diagnosed between January 2022 and December 2023. Results: Most patients over 50 were diagnosed at stage III or IV. While statistical significance was limited by the small sample size and pandemic-related challenges, findings highlight process gaps in timely diagnosis. Discussion and Limitation: The project supports the need for implementing a Clinical Decision Support System (CDSS) to enhance follow-up of abnormal findings and reduce late-stage diagnoses. Future research should explore longitudinal data and larger populations to further evaluate early detection and health outcomes.

Sarah Fermin

Adolescent risky sexual behaviors (RSBs) can lead to unintended pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections (STIs). This study examines how race, age, and sexual identity predict RSB engagement and potential pregnancy outcomes. Using data from the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS), responses from U.S. adolescents aged 13 and older were analyzed. Key measures included early sexual initiation, number of partners, contraceptive use, drug use, and sexual activity frequency. Cross-tabulation with estimated marginal means assessed RSB prevalence across demographic categories, with significance set at p < 0.05. Results show that older adolescents (16+), non-white adolescents, and females exhibited higher RSB engagement. Findings emphasize the need for targeted interventions, including culturally competent healthcare, school-based sex education, and community programs. Study limitations include the absence of state-specific data and pregnancy outcomes. Future research should integrate broader social determinants to improve understanding and intervention strategies for adolescent sexual health.

Alyssa Hamel

Background: Substance Use Disorders (SUDs) are a category of complex and chronic brain disorders that impact an individual's physical, mental, and psychosocial wellbeing. Persons dealing with SUDs experience stigmatizing attitudes from the public and clinicians alike, creating a cascade of adverse outcomes that delay recovery and lead to premature death. As of December 2023, federal legislation requires all licensed providers who hold a Drug Enforcement Agency registration to complete a one-time eight-hour training on treatment opioid and SUDs. The goal of that legislation is to expand access of life-saving medications and treatment for persons with opioid use disorder or other SUDs. Given the long-standing gap in substance use-related education, urgent efforts are needed to ensure advanced practice nursing students can identify, treat and manage patients with SUDs. Objectives: 1. To infuse at least 8-hours of evidence-based content into core courses required for all Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) advanced practice nursing (APN) students: advanced health assessment, advanced pathophysiology, and advanced pharmacology. 2. To measure students' attitudes related to caring for persons with alcohol, drug use, and stigma toward persons with SUD prior to and after receipt of the enhanced courses. Methods: Course content, aligned with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Core Curriculum Elements on Substance Use Disorder for Early Academic Career was added to each course. Using a pre-post-test quasi experimental design, three established surveys for assessing attitudes and stigma were administered prior to and after students engaged in the enhanced courses. Due to the small sample size and unequal groups, a Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare differences between pre and post intervention groups. The pre-and post-surveys had no identifier to protect students' privacy, and thus could not be matched in the analyses. Results: Across the 3 courses, about 10 hours of content related to SUD was provided. Of 40 students enrolled in these courses, 14 students voluntarily consented to complete the surveys. Across all 3 measures, scores improved from pre- to post-test in the expected direction, yet did not reach significance. Conclusion: The findings of this study align with prior efforts to enhance SUD education within APN curricula. To the best of our knowledge, this University is the second to substantiate that DNP APN graduates in all specialties can attest to attaining at least 8 hours of SUD-related content in their curriculum. Attitude and stigma scores appeared to improve with a relatively modest amount of SUD-related content added to the 3 courses. However, results would need to be replicated in a larger sample, using paired data to establish significance. To ensure that DNP APN students are prepared to manage and treat persons with SUDs, a future study will focus on measuring students' attitudes, perceptions, knowledge and skills upon completing a curriculum in which additional content is added to didactic and clinical specialty courses.

Cory Wolf

Veterans with mental illness are at an increased risk for developing emergence delirium (ED) after surgery. There is misinterpretation by anesthesia providers to which interventions are best practice in reducing ED. The purpose of this DNP project is to implement an educational training workshop for anesthesia providers to promote the knowledge and understanding of ED among veterans. Anesthesia providers at a local Veteran Affairs Medical Center were given quantitative pre- and post-education surveys with an educational workshop that delivered background information, current practices, and protocols on ED prevention. All anesthesia providers reported having increased knowledge of risk factors and triggers associated with ED as well as improved feelings of confidence and comfortability in using ED screening tools. There were statistically significant differences in pre-post survey analysis that determined providers had a better appreciation for the negative correlation between using benzodiazepines or volatile anesthetics and ED in veterans with mental illness.

Jill Margolies

Addressing Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) factors that adversely affect patient health and well-being can minimize health disparities and enhance health outcomes in primary care settings (de Saxe Zerden et al., 2020). In comparison to other professions, physicians are at risk almost twofold for burnout (Wright & Katz, 2018). There is growing evidence, however, that the ability to link resources to meet patients' social needs may mitigate physician burnout (Kung et al., 2019). The hypothesis, in alignment with previous research, is that having a social worker conduct SDOH assessments and interventions will improve physician-patient relationships, physician job satisfaction, and reduce physician burnout.

Rebecca Rasnake

Suicide mortality rates in the United States increase each year and disproportionately impact certain groups of people (CDC, 2024). In 2022, the national suicide rate reached 14.2, a 37% increase since 2000, despite increases in suicide supports (CDC, 2024). Dominant paradigms in suicide research, prevention strategies, and intervention development most often pathologize suicide and suicide-related behavior as an aspect of mental health (White, 2017). This approach neglects the broader structural factors that exacerbate suicide risk for individuals and perpetuate suicide disparities for groups (Marsh, 2020). This exploratory study aims to examine the suicide disparity in Central Appalachia, where the suicide rate is 31% higher than the national rate (ARC, 2017). Through correlation and regression analysis, findings indicate counties with higher suicide rates have more opioid prescribing, less education, and more reliance on the coal industry. 

Alisa Chirico

My poster seeks to clarify the nature of interconnectedness between the various factors that make up the current polycrisis, and, in turn, to illuminate the tools available to Social Workers to create positive change through our work, so that we may be empowered to understand our role as a multifaceted yet unified force for justice. Because we bear witness to the direct effects of policy on communities and individuals, and because we have the compassion and desire to create a fairer, more just world, Social Workers are uniquely poised to create positive change through our skills and work as advocates, therapists, and organizers.

Barbra Bassaw

The issue of galamsey (illegal small-scale mining) in Ghana presents significant challenges across economic, environmental, and social domains. This asset map explores three key forms of capital-physical, social, and human-to provide a comprehensive understanding of the factors driving and affected by galamsey activities. Physical capital examines the tools, land, and infrastructure used in mining, while social capital highlights community networks, governance structures, and local responses. Human capital focuses on the skills, knowledge, and labor dynamics involved in these operations. Galamsey, derived from the phrase "gather them and sell," reflects the informal and unregulated nature of these mining activities. While galamsey provides economic opportunities for many, it also leads to severe environmental degradation, water pollution, deforestation, and social conflicts. To gain deeper insight into the lived experiences of those directly involved, interviews were conducted with miners, community members, and local leaders. These firsthand accounts reveal the motivations behind illegal mining, the daily struggles miners face, and the broader social and economic impact on affected communities. This research aims to inform a community-driven action plan rooted in sustainable organizing principles to mitigate the adverse effects of galamsey while promoting long-term economic alternatives. By incorporating voices from within these communities, this study provides a more nuanced understanding of the crisis and explores pathways toward sustainable solutions.

Emily Chambers

Large language model (LLM) chatbots, such as ChatGPT and Gemini, have rapidly transformed how people obtain information from online sources. This rise in the popularity of using AI to perform internet search functions has prompted scholars to assess AI responses for key factors such as accuracy, bias, and comprehensibility, especially when referencing polarizing issues such as abortion, gun control, and gender constructs. This analysis examines the current body of literature on LLMs as sources of information on controversial topics and evaluates responses from ChatGPT, Gemini, and Google AI to prompts seeking decision-making guidance on unintended pregnancy. This study consisted of two phases: 1. A systematic review of the literature focusing on LLMs as sources of information about abortion. 2. A content analysis of LLM responses to unwanted pregnancy queries.

Aisha Makama

Cancer is a disease that occurs due to uncontrollable cell growth. Pancreatic cancer is the third deadliest cancer type, with a five-year survival rate of 12.8 percent due to its low detection rate and dense tumor microenvironment (TME) composed of Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs). CAFs can be divided into 2 major sub-types - the more tumorogenic inflammatory CAFs (iCAFs) and the tumor-restraining myofibroblastic (myCAFs). My goal is to create a reporter tool that will allow us to test the effect of different compounds on their ability to modify CAF fate. The cell line will express the myCAF-specific marker a-SMA and the iCAF-specific marker IL-6 with a fluorescent readout that can be visualized microscopically. This will allow us to simultaneously screen multiple types of drugs at various concentrations and at different time points. Understanding how these compounds affect CAF fate will allow us to better predict their impact on tumors in mice.

Jacob Wright

Venetoclax, a BH3 mimetic that inhibits the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2, is a potent therapy for chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), a B-cell lymphoma. Beyond inducing apoptosis in malignant B cells, its broader effects on the tumor microenvironment and T-cell populations remain unclear. Our lab observed increased circulating T-cell frequency, cytotoxicity, and proliferative capacity in venetoclax-treated patients, suggesting potential synergy with T-cell-based immunotherapies like chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy (CAR-T). To investigate this, we performed transcriptomic analysis on peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 13 CLL patients before and one month after venetoclax treatment. Immune cell deconvolution and flow cytometry confirmed decreased B-cell and increased T-cell populations. Differential gene expression analysis revealed enrichment in pathways related to T-cell differentiation and negative regulation of B-cell receptor signaling. These findings suggest venetoclax enhances T-cell fitness beyond its canonical apoptotic role, supporting its integration with immunotherapies to improve clinical outcomes in CLL.

Priyanka Rajan

My work revealed a novel therapeutic axis in metastatic breast cancer which claims 40,000 lives every year. The tumor microenvironment is often immune suppressive hindering anti-tumor immunity and promoting metastasis. However, the mechanisms that induce immune suppression remain unclear. We found that the activity of p38 protein kinase promotes an immune suppressive tumor microenvironment and metastasis. This is done by facilitating the production of tumor derived factors that induce expansion and recruitment of immune suppressive cells. Therapeutic blockade of p38 altered the immune landscape to promote activation of anti-tumor immunity, leading to decreased tumor growth and metastasis. Thus, p38 blockade may represent a new paradigm for reducing immune suppressive mechanisms that interfere with optimal therapeutic efficacy. Our findings highlight a previously unrecognized p38 driven pathway that promotes immune suppression and metastasis. This work has important implications for improving anti-tumor immunity and patient outcomes in metastatic breast cancer.

Brian Morreale

Tumors secrete components that reshape the tumor microenvironment (TME) and confer resistance to various immunotherapies. Therapeutic barriers are tied to several TME-related factors, including a high infiltration of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) and a low infiltration of antigen (Ag)-specific T cells. To overcome these obstacles our laboratory developed a novel approach to mitigate MDSC suppressive function and increase frequencies of Ag-specific T cells. Therefore, we hypothesized that a vaccine in combination with a previously established dual-agent immunotherapy regimen will result in tumor eradication by expanding frequencies of Ag-specific T cells. We showed that an optimized triple therapy caused significant antitumor responses with some cases developing complete tumor regression. Additionally, there was high infiltration of antitumor immune cells within the tri-therapy treated TME that correlated with increased cytotoxicity and immunological memory. Altogether, our results suggest that a novel multimodal strategy has important therapeutic implications to improve outcomes against refractory solid tumors.

Elif Irmak Bektas

Over the years, lung cancer cases in never-smokers have increased. Studies have shown that air pollution is one of the non-smoking related factors that can promote lung cancer. Air pollution has been associated with immune cells called group 2 innate lymphoid cell (ILC2) and T helper 2 (Th2) cells and lung scarring. However, their role in lung cancer progression is not known. We propose that air pollution activates ILC2 and Th2 cells which promotes lung scarring and lung cancer. To address this, we exposed an animal model of lung cancer to air pollution and assessed lung cancer growth, lung scarring and immune cells. We found a trend toward an increase in lung cancer with air pollution but no impact on ILC2 and Th2 responses and lung scarring. Understanding how air pollution promotes lung cancer can help identify ways to treat lung cancer in polluted areas. 

Mauricio Flores

Lineage plasticity has been recognized in various cancers as a driver of therapeutic resistance, but its mechanism remains undefined. Evidence from the literature shows that inactivation of RB1 and TP53 in prostate cancer (PC) causes the emergence of alternative cell lineages, resulting in resistance to traditional PC treatments. How RB1 and TP53 loss causes lineage plasticity is unclear. This study proposes RB1 and TP53 restrict chromatin accessibility to regulate the fidelity of lineage specific gene expression. Changes in chromatin accessibility and lineage gene expression were monitored in prostate cells over time following deletion of PTEN or PTEN/RB1/TP53 (TKO). TKO cells possess increased transcriptional diversity over time and expression of pathways linked to lineage plasticity like JAK-STAT. They also possess increased overall chromatin accessibility and expression of chromatin modifiers histone methyltransferase EZH2 and DNA methyltransferase DNMT1. Future directions will assess the increase of lineage plasticity over time to highlight therapeutic targets.

Laibah Ahmed, Ashfa Akram and Kazi Himi

Adverse drug effects (ADEs) are a leading cause of medical errors, despite typically being preventable. They harm patient safety, increase healthcare costs, and compromise hospital accountability. This paper petitions for national reforms to the Continued Medical Education (CME) system to make it more effective, efficient, and affordable. The goal is to ensure that clinicians stay updated in their knowledge and provide care most effectively. Current CME requirements vary from state to state and often lack rigor and specifications, which lead to inconsistencies in healthcare provider education. By proposing a more rigorous and nationally standardized CME curriculum, this petition paper aims to reduce ADEs by improving clinical decision-making and preparedness, to benefit patients, healthcare providers, and hospitals.

Tyler Brown, Connor Devans and Owen Penhollow

This project examines Community Land Trusts (CLTs) as a framework to address the unattainability of homeownership. It aims to evaluate the effectiveness of CLTs in various contexts by analyzing their impact on housing affordability and homeownership. Our analysis of CLTs' impact included reviewing existing literature, consolidating empirical data, examining case studies and resident perspectives, and drawing on CLTs' historical and theoretical foundations. By exploring the internal structure of CLTs (i.e., how they are constructed, who are included, and how they operate) and external factors (i.e., policies and community history), we determine factors that affect a CLT's viability and effectiveness. Ultimately, our paper aims to develop a guideline for communities, local governments, and NGOs to determine, given their circumstances and attributes, if CLTs are an effective tool for creating long-term affordable homeownership and fostering community resilience.

Jonah Ruddock and Kartikey Sharma

Electronic waste is one of the fastest growing solid waste streams in the world. Because e-waste often contains both valuable, recyclable materials (such as copper, aluminum, and gold) and materials hazardous to human and ecosystem health (such as lead, cadmium, and mercury), its management is fraught with social, economic, and environmental tensions. Though the United States lacks a federal e-waste management policy, many states have implemented their own. This paper aims to assess existing regulatory frameworks in California and New York State, namely California's Electronic Waste Recycling Act and New York's Electronic Equipment Recycling and Reuse Act. We will also collect data on the public's awareness/perception of electronic waste as an environmental and social issue, information which will help direct our final policy recommendations. We will conclude with a series of policy recommendations toward the end of increasing efficiency and public engagement with e-waste management in New York State. 

Aisha Makama

The rise of social media has shifted individuals' self-presentation in digital form. Studies have shown frequent exposure to idealized online content, particularly selfies, and its effects on individuals' self-worth through reinforcement of appearance-based self-worth, social comparison, and external validation from others. This study uses a cross-sectional survey to assess social media behavior, selfie posting, viewing frequency, and its impact on self-worth. We aim to examine how different forms of selfie exposure-whether from peers, influencers, or self-posted content-affect self-worth with appearance, competition, and social approval. Additionally, this study seeks to determine whether social media engagement moderates these effects, investigating whether higher levels of interaction (e.g., liking, commenting, or receiving engagement on posts) intensify the relationship between selfie exposure and self-perception outcomes. These research findings will provide insight into the psychological implications of social media engagement, contributing to broader discussions on the consequences of digital self-presentation.

Ashley Johnson and Fatima Makama

The institution of Senate Bill 8 (SB 8) or the Texas Heartbeat Act within Texas legislation has resulted in numerous implications for the health and socioeconomic outcomes of Black women, most especially those in underserved communities. SB 8 has further widened the gap that exists between Black women and women of other racial groups by perpetuating maternal and reproductive health disparities, leading to poorer health outcomes. Furthermore, it has led to economic hardships and financial challenges, while also imposing barriers to education for pregnant women seeking abortion. The enactment of SB 8 may also have resulting policy implications in neighboring states, by influencing other state legislatures in favor of instituting their own restrictive abortion laws, subsequently impacting more women across the United States. As such, this policy brief proposes the repeal of SB 8 to ensure the availability of safe, legal, and accessible abortion services within the state of Texas.

Alyssa Krieger

The UBC 399 UB Curriculum Capstone portfolio recounts the overall academic experience of undergraduate students at UB. It helps us to understand the courses we have taken and how they have applied to both our specific major and our education in general. Components of the UB Curriculum including the UB Seminar, Foundations courses, and Pathway courses are discussed and expanded upon throughout each student's portfolio. Meaningful connections are made to provide insight into the benefit of each course that UB students take throughout their time as an undergraduate student.

Hailey DeGroff

My UB Curriculum Capstone was an assignment I completed after finishing my UB Curriculum courses. It helped me make connections between my coursework as well as real-life experience. Over the course of 8 weeks, I created a Microsoft Sway presentation that allowed me to build connections between my coursework at UB, as well as how these skills I have learned will benefit me post-college.

Addison Yam

The UB Curriculum Capstone is the culmination of my undergraduate experience in and outside of the classroom. While creating a Capstone ePortfolio, I reflected on these experiences and how these experiences have impacted my goals and future trajectory. This opportunity allowed me to draw connections between courses and extracurriculars, strengthen my motivation and the reasons why I want to pursue what I want to pursue, and remind myself of important lessons I've learned throughout the years. I've also been able to realize what pertinent experiences I would recommend to a new student or someone just starting out in my field. 

Buthaina Al-Harthi

What happens when life pushes reset on everything you thought you knew? My UBC 399 ePortfolio captures the courageous journey of starting over as an international student navigating three cultures: New Zealand, Oman, and the U.S. This reflection highlights how the UB Curriculum became more than just coursework, it became a lifeline. Through global learning, student leadership, and self-discovery, I found not only my purpose, but a voice that had been waiting to rise. This is a story of courage, culture, and becoming.