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Relations between Social Motivation and Gaze Behavior in Autistic and Non-Autistic Adolescents
(2025) Plastino, Sofia; McNaughton, Kathryn; Redcay, Elizabeth; Redcay, Elizabeth
Autistic individuals experience challenges in their social interactions. One factor that may underlie these challenges is social motivation, which may also be related to variations in eye contact. Perspectives on this relation consist of several mixed views, potentially due to the fact that most research has been done in static, non-real world settings. My research uses mobile eye-tracking to bridge this gap by analyzing gaze patterns in individuals from three different dyad types: N-AUT (Non-autistic)-N-AUT (n = 37), AUT (Autistic)-N-AUT (n = 24), and AUT-AUT (n = 6), with a total of 67 participants, exploring the link between gaze-to-face behavior and social motivation during live interactions. I hypothesize that there will be a significant positive correlation between gaze and social motivation. The visit my research focuses on simulates a real-world environment, allowing better assessment of the underlying aspects of peer social interactions. It consists of both an interactional and individual section. Throughout the duration of the interaction, both participants of the dyad are wearing eye-tracking glasses, which I will use to quantify their gaze-to-face behavior. To assess social motivation, I am focusing on an individual task, which uses money as a reward. In the task, the participant is given options to choose between learning more about their partner, other kids their age, or trivia facts. I am measuring social motivation by comparing the percentage of time participants select trivia over their partner, and other kids over their partner. Once all data is collected, I will assess the correlation between gaze-to-face behavior and social motivation, furthering understanding of their link in a real-world setting.
Evaluating the Impact of Socioeconomic Factors on Timing and Quality of Autism Diagnosis in Maryland
(2025) Alagarsamy, Darsana; Adefisan, Olutobi; Bowman, Raquel; Esteves, Amanda; O’Hara, Nell; Serrano, Abigail; Valenzuela, Melannie; Yonas, Kalkidan; Kang, Veronica
Previous research has established that early diagnosis and intervention for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) significantly improve the effectiveness of interventions. However, obtaining a diagnosis can be challenging for some families. This study aims to explore whether socioeconomic status (SES) and related factors contribute to delays in receiving an ASD diagnosis, and if so, how. A mixed-methods approach is used, combining surveys and interviews with a subset of participants. The goal is to provide a comprehensive understanding of the obstacles parents and caregivers in Maryland face when seeking an ASD diagnosis for their child. The study begins with an initial survey and interviewees are randomly selected from participants who express interest in further involvement. As the survey is currently ongoing, preliminary results are not yet available. If specific obstacles are identified, future research can validate these findings and help inform strategies to reduce barriers, making the diagnostic process more accessible for families.
Elevated Fluid Shear Stress Decreases Ras Expression and Activation in Glioblastoma
(2025) Benjumea, Sarah; Acle, Grace; Seas, Alexandra; Komatsu, Masanobu; Anastasiadis, Pavlos; Anastasiadis, Pavlos
R-Ras, a small GTPase and member of the Ras superfamily, is involved in cellular signal transduction, migration, proliferation, and differentiation. R-Ras and FLNA (a cytoskeletal protein) form the R-Ras/FLNA complex, which is critical for maintaining the integrity of the endothelial barrier and promoting endothelial homeostasis. Cells that lack FLNA expression have impaired locomotion function, making them unable to migrate. The R-Ras/FLNA complex plays a prominent role in the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Glioblastoma (GBM), the most lethal primary brain tumor in adults, has a compromised BBB. We hypothesize that R-Ras activity affects GBM metabolic activity and migration. Ras activity in a cell line can be determined by performing an Active Ras Pull-Down Assay and running Western blots (WB) to probe them with an anti-Ras primary antibody. Ras activity monitors all Ras small GTPase activation, not just R-Ras. To emulate the fluid shear stress found in the BBB, we utilized cell spinpods at different shear stress levels. The results of this study will help us better understand how R-Ras and FLNA are involved in regulating the blood-brain barrier in infiltrative gliomas in future experiments.
Sampling Respiratory Viruses in Exhaled Breath Using the Gesundheit-II (G-II)
(2025-04-21) Hoffman, Maya B.; Spielman, Tyler J.; Monteparte, Nathan F.; Sawyer, Madison L.; Hasani, Ali; Pulley, Anna; Lubet, Philippe P.; Tai, Sheldon; Esparza, Yi; Kehinde, Saratu; Volchansky, Olga; Smith, William C.; Smith, Alycia A.; Coleman, Kristen K.; Milton, Donald K.; Coleman, Kristen K.; Milton, Donald K.
From COVID-19 to the emerging H5N1 “bird flu,” many diseases are airborne and can cause infection through inhalation. In this study, we are using the Gesundheit-II (G-II) machine, an exhaled breath (EB) sampler, to better understand the transmission of respiratory infections such as influenza, COVID-19, and RSV. By analyzing the viral shedding among infected individuals, we aim to determine how humans shed common respiratory viruses through their EB.
We sampled from a cohort of 70-75 University of Maryland dormitory roommate pairs to provide a mid-turbinate (MT) swab and 30-minute EB samples using the Gesundheit-II bioaerosol sampler. Study participants were selected based on self-reported onset of symptoms. MT swabs and EB samples were screened for common respiratory viruses using Cepheid, and TaqMan Array Cards (TAC). Samples were cultured for influenza A virus using TCID₅₀ assay.
Thus far, we have collected a total of seven MT swabs and seven G-II fine aerosol (≤5 µm) samples. Testing using TAC identified various pathogens in five of the MT swabs (influenza A virus, coronavirus OC43, S. aureus, and M. catarrhalis). Among the MT swabs cultured for influenza A virus, three yielded positive results. The influenza A Cepheid test results for MT swabs aligned with these TCID₅₀ findings. For fine aerosol samples, TAC results are pending and viable virus has not been detected.
These data can provide insight into the airborne spread of various respiratory pathogens to better inform public health interventions needed to control outbreaks and mitigate future airborne virus pandemics by setting new standards for infection control.
The Association Between Ghost Gun Usage and Neighborhood Disadvantage
(2025) Petersen, Anna; Jacobsen, Wade
This study examines the relationship between Privately Made Firearm (PMF) usage and multiple characteristics of neighborhood disadvantage in a large metropolitan city. PMFs, also known as ghost guns, are unserialized firearms typically ordered as parts and constructed by hand at home. Since they are unserialized, they are untraceable by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Thus, PMFs are frequently owned by individuals who are unable to purchase a firearm through legitimate means. Police data containing PMF recovery incidents, categorized as criminal or non-criminal incidents, from 2020 to 2023 were obtained and mapped onto census data to find the PMF rate per 1,000 people in each census tract. A linear regression analysis was conducted to determine neighborhood disadvantage from 2015 to 2019 was predictive of PMF use. Neighborhood disadvantage was measured through unemployment rate, poverty rate, and rate of residents over 25 without a high school diploma. Results show that higher neighborhood disadvantage is associated with a higher PMF rate per census tract for all PMF recovery incidents, criminal incidents alone, and non-criminal incidents. This research provides important contributions to firearm research and demonstrates that PMF use is associated with neighborhood disadvantage in the same way as violent crime.