Undergraduate Research Day 2025

Permanent URI for this collectionhttp://hdl.handle.net/1903/33815

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A Tri-Factor Model of Relationship-Specific Intellectual Humility
(2025) Benvenisti, Laura; Diamond, Romi; Mizrachi, Sarah; Davis, Alexander J.; Lemay Jr, Edward P.; Lemay Jr, Edward P.
The current study (N = 498) examined the existence, predictors, and consequences of relationship-specific intellectual humility (R-IH). Intellectual humility refers to the degree to which people recognize that their beliefs may be wrong (Leary et al., 2017). While most research has treated intellectual humility as an individual difference variable that is seemingly stable across situations, it is possible that intellectual humility varies depending on who one is interacting with. R-IH refers to one’s tendency to acknowledge that their beliefs might be wrong when interacting with a specific relationship partner who holds different beliefs or brings forth contradictory evidence. Participants received partial course credit in exchange for participation and completed well-established, reliable scales assessing respect for partner knowledge, concern for partner’s well-being, psychological safety with partner in making mistakes, and level of conflict with regard to three relationship partners: someone they are close to, someone they interact with frequently but are not close to, and someone they conflict with. Findings revealed that R-IH in fact varied significantly across participants’ multiple relationships via a tri-factor model, in which R-IH was uniquely predicted by respect, care for one’s partner, and psychological safety, while R-IH predicted reduced conflict frequency. Results suggest that individuals are more intellectually humble in certain relationships as compared to others; that care, respect, and safety in relationships can strengthen intellectual humility in those relationships; and that intellectual humility toward specific partners may lead to fewer conflicts.
Accessible, In-Lab Cell-Free Expression System for Biosensor Development
(2025-04) Meyer, Jonathon; Amankwah, Amma; Bansal, Navya; Kotoulek, Klara; Marin, Andrea; Sembria, Maricka; Spirito, Catherine
Early detection of medical and environmental conditions is difficult, as external markers may develop long after cellular and molecular markers do. There is a need for point-of-care devices that can quickly and easily detect these markers in various samples. RNA-based fluorescent biosensors offer an easily customizable solution for detection and reporting. A major limiting factor in the deployment of biosensors is their reliance on living cells; cell-free protein expression (CFPE) systems can overcome this barrier. However, commercial CFPE kits are expensive, which hinders their overall use and deployability, especially in low-income settings. To address this pressing challenge, we developed our own Rosetta 2(DE3)pLysS E. coli cell-free protein expression system that can be produced at a lower cost. To evaluate its performance, we compared it to a commercially available kit with standardized fluorescent reporters. While our design underperformed commercially available lysate, it performed comparably to a lysate developed by the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command (DEVCOM). We aim to optimize our lysate and protocols to further increase performance and develop point-of-care devices for disease biomarkers of interest.
Advanced Characterization of Engineered Living Materials
(2025) Anderson, Shiv; Molinari, Sara
Engineered Living Materials (ELMs) are biological structures composed of cells embedded in a self-produced protein matrix [Molinari et al. 2021]. Our lab pioneered de novo ELMs made of elastin-like polypeptides (ELPs) displayed on the cell surface [Molinari et al. 2022]. Previous studies show that a fraction of ELPs detach from the outer membrane to be secreted into the media, contributing to the formation of macroscopic ELP-cell aggregates [Molinari et al. 2022]. Since the secretion of ELPs was not intentional, it is impossible to calculate the exact ELP-cell ratio within ELMs. However, this ratio is critical for the control of final ELM mechanical properties. To characterize the ELP-cell ratio within ELMs, I inserted a Tobacco Etch Virus protease (TEVp) cut site between the ELP and the surface anchor. This allows the ELP to be cleaved from the cell surface by adding TEVp to the media. In this way, I will quantify the protein content via immunoblotting and the cell number by measuring colony-forming units and the production of fluorescent proteins.
Associations between social responsiveness and brain structure in children
(2025) Karan, Anna; Blaustein, Madison; Collins, Mia; Perry, Aleyah; Dr. Tracy Riggins PhD
Early childhood is critical for assessing socioemotional development, especially to identify risk of a disorder developing. Research exists showing relations between brain development and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Damage to the amygdala can result in impaired response and perception of social cues (1). Additional findings show larger amygdala and hippocampal volumes (2) and cortical thinning (3) in individuals with ASD. Behavioral studies have shown that social responsiveness as a key indicator of risk (4). However, children with differences in social behavior without ASD are understudied. This project will investigate relations between neurological variations and differences in social responsiveness in 4- to 8-year-old typically developing children. We will explore relations between amygdala volume, hippocampal volume, and cortical thickness of frontal, parietal and occipital lobes and Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS) scores (3). Our study includes approximately 200 children (ages 4-8 years), with neuroimaging and questionnaire data. We measured social responsiveness using the SRS, a parent-report questionnaire (4). We measured amygdala and hippocampal volumes and cortical thickness from structural brain scans using Freesurfer. Correlations between measures will be conducted using R. We hypothesize that lower levels of social responsiveness will be associated with larger amygdala and right hippocampal volumes and decreased cortical thickness. Conducting this research will expand brain research in relation to socioemotional development in all children. (1) Skuse et al., 2003 (2) Barnea-Goraly et al., 2014 (3) Richter et al., 2015 (4) Aldridge et al., 2011
Automated Cell Identification Methods for Stained Images using FIJI
(2025-04-21) Tudor, Robert; Vargas Munoz, Laura A.; Anderson, Roy; Haider, Redwan; Smela, Elisabeth; Araneda, Ricardo C.
Accurate identification of stained cells in images is critical for many applications. One of the current methods is manual identification which is time consuming and has risk of human bias. Standard image processing methods consist of basic thresholding and water shedding. However, they struggle with segmenting cells when there are variations in cell morphology, large range of fluorescence intensity, and background artifacts. In addition to false positives and false negatives, errors include overcounting, undercounting, and inaccurate cell areas. In this project, we developed an automated cell counting approach in ImageJ (Fiji) that incorporates a series of optimized image processing steps that include background subtraction, edge detection, and adaptive thresholding. We also investigated using information from Hoechst nuclear staining to assist with segmentation of Calcein-stained images showing cell metabolism. In order to assess the performance of the various approaches, we manually identified cells in a set of challenging images and compared the results of the existing and proposed automated methods. Results show that the method improves throughput and also provides a robust tool for analysis of complex sample images.
Cognitive Measures Explain Variance in Speech-in-Noise Among Older Adults
(2025) Mosinyan, Ani; Subramanian, Supreeta; Avenilla, Seren; Kim, Yuri; Goupell, Matthew; Bilokon, Anhelina; Goupell, Matthew
Binaural hearing, the ability to hear with two ears, helps individuals localize sound and understand speech in noisy environments. As individuals age, speech-in-noise understanding becomes more difficult, and this decline has been linked to both auditory and cognitive changes. This study investigates how processing speed, the rate at which the brain processes and receives stimuli, affects speech-in-noise understanding. The Coordinate Response Measure (CRM) evaluates how well a person separates speech from background noise. We hypothesized that individuals with higher processing speed would exhibit better speech-in-noise ability, with age acting as a moderator. Processing speed was measured with the NIH Pattern Comparison test, and binaural hearing abilities were assessed with CRM. Results revealed that higher Pattern Comparison scores significantly predicted better speech-in-noise recognition at 45° (p = 0.00026, R² = 0.478), suggesting that processing speed plays a role in spatial listening ability. However, when age was added to the model, Pattern Comparison was no longer a significant predictor (p = 0.5675), and age itself became the dominant predictor of performance (p = 0.0129). This indicates that age may act as a confounding factor in cognitive influences on speech-in-noise recognition. These findings highlight the role of cognitive factors in spatial and speech processing, particularly in more complex listening environments. Future research should explore how cognitive training can enhance binaural hearing, particularly in older individuals, and whether targeted interventions can improve spatial listening abilities.
Collaborative Online Creation of Political Knowledge
(2025) Siles-Diaz, Martin; Ashlock, Jennifer
Discrepancies Between Parent- and Child-Reported Anxiety Symptoms in Autistic and Non-Autistic Youth
(2025) Resnick, Rachel; Yarger, Heather
Anxiety is one of the most common co-occurring conditions in youth on the autism spectrum (ASD) and can manifest differently compared to non-ASD youth, making it difficult to identify anxiety in ASD youth. The Screen for Child Anxiety-Related Emotional Disorders (SCARED; Birhmaher et al., 1997) is a gold-standard measurement tool that aims to provide a dual-informed perspective of anxiety symptoms (Behrens et al., 2020). However, discrepancies between parent and child reports have been observed, suggesting a need for further analysis of whether discrepancies vary by diagnostic group (ASD or non-ASD). This study aimed to determine if discrepancies existed between parent- and self-reported anxiety symptoms and if there was a difference between diagnostic groups. Data were obtained from a larger study examining anxiety and heart rate variability in youth. Results of a correlation test showed that parent and child-reported anxiety symptoms scores were not statistically significantly correlated (r = 0.33, p = .07). An independent samples t-test indicated that there was a significant difference between parent-reported and child-reported anxiety symptoms (t = - 3.00, p = .01), such that parent anxiety symptom ratings were 7.4 points lower than child anxiety symptoms (95% CI [-13.33, -2.5]). There was a significant mean difference between the discrepancies for the ASD and non-ASD groups (t = -3.41, p = .001) with a higher rate of discrepancy in the non-ASD group (95% CI [-15.44, 0.07]). These results indicate that parents of non-ASD youth are more likely to underreport their child’s anxiety symptoms, while parents of ASD youth are more likely to align with their child’s report.
DNA Aptamer Against Alzheimer’s β-Amyloid 42 Protein
(2025) Abasi, Keon; Alcoleas, Mariana; Kothale, Siya; Munyaneza, Joey; Spirito, Catherine
Alzheimer's disease is a chronic neurodegenerative disorder. Currently, there are 6.9 million cases in individuals aged 65+ in the US, with an expected rise to 13.8 million by 2060. Current diagnostic methods, such as spinal taps and brain scans, are invasive and not widely accessible, exacerbating public health inequities. Recently, antibody-based blood tests have been developed to detect Alzheimer's, but aptamer-based diagnostics can be a cheaper and more accessible alternative to these antibody-based diagnostics. This study aims to develop a DNA aptamer capable of binding to the β-amyloid 42 protein, a biomarker associated with Alzheimer's, for a wide range of potential diagnostic applications. We conducted positive and negative selections using a Ni-NTA bead-based in vitro selection method against a His-GST tagged β-amyloid 42 protein. During selection, we utilized asymmetric PCR and gel extraction to amplify the single-stranded DNA. Results indicated enrichment of target-binding sequences in early selection rounds, though we encountered issues with low yields from gel extraction. Future work includes optimizing gel extraction protocols, gel shift assays to measure binding affinity, and increasing selection stringency to enhance aptamer specificity and binding affinity. This research aims to further contribute to developing non-invasive, cost-effective diagnostic tools for early Alzheimer's detection, aligning with the broader goals of improving access to diagnostic resources for all.
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.
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.
Examining Contributors to Black Maternal Health Experiences in Prince George’s County, MD
(2025-04-23) Battish, Isabella; Eskinder, Aden; Fishkin, Stephanie; Harris, Madison; Nnabue, Alexis; Onyekwere, Christal; Owie, Esohe; Redwood, Sidney; La Touche-Howard, Sylvette
Black women in the United States face a maternal mortality rate three times that of white women, a disparity mirrored in Prince George’s County, Maryland (Hoyert, 2023; Maryland Department of Health, 2022). In 2019, the Prince George’s County Health Department reported that between 2008 and 2017, Black, non-Hispanic mothers experienced the highest pregnancy-related maternal mortality rate (37.4 deaths per 100,000 live births) in the county (“Maternal Infant and Health Report,” 2019). This study explores how maternal access to healthcare and provider cultural competency training influence maternal health disparities in Prince George’s County. Using a mixed-methods approach, the research team surveyed and interviewed two key populations: Black mothers ages 18-34, residing in Prince George’s County, Maryland, and maternal health providers practicing in the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia (DMV) region. By examining patient-provider interactions and gaps in medical education, this research aims to inform policy and curricular reforms to improve Black maternal health outcomes.
Generating Functions for Horses
(2025-04-23) Schreyer, Benjamin; Gasarch, William
Before the photo-finish, ties were common in races. With ties we call these arrangements weak orderings. If we have n horses in a race we define that there are H(n) ways for the horses to be ranked. Further we want to more easily count outcomes of horse races where some horses have ”rigged”the race.
Inferring the Early History of Northern South America through Mitochondrial DNA Analysis
(2025) Rojas, Mateo; Vilar, Miguel
Prior to the mass colonization of the Americas, early peopling consisted of Indigenous Americans who, over the course of tens of thousands of years, came to occupy the continents that would later be settled by the ambitious European powers of the time. Through the use of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequencing throughout numerous samples, as well as temporal analysis of genetic mutations within samples of the same haplogroup, the migrations of different early indigenous populations can be tracked across the geography of the continent, and the ethnographic composition of different regions can be reconstructed with respect to the time period. Given that haplogroups belonging to maternal Amerindian descent are identified by haplogroups A, B, C, and D, and that genetic variations in haplogroups can be tracked over time, it is possible to approximate a model of the early genetic composition of Colombia and other regions of northern South America through the use of samples from model haplogroups like A2al, B2d14, C1d2, and D4h3a. For this study, 94 samples across these haplogroups have been surveyed, and individual phylogenetic trees have been constructed, which each infer a genetic timeline for the mutations found under each haplogroup. With the construction of a phylogenetic tree for each of the four haplogroups, a larger, cumulative phylogenetic tree was also constructed, which in combination with the known presences of haplogroups across the geography of Colombia, can provide insight into the early migration and settling patterns of these early pre-columbian Indigenous Americans.
Intersectionality of Race, Autism, and Anxiety in Marginalized Youth
(2025) Gyimah, Davina; Thomas, Stephen; Yarger, Heather; Yarger, Heather
The prevalence of anxiety in marginalized (i.e., non-White) populations has been largely overlooked in literature. Autistic research and its focus on comorbidities with anxiety are mostly focused on White youth and their families (Malone et al., 2022). These gaps in literature are often due to an overrepresentation of White individuals in studies and a lack of wide scale Non-White studies. This may be due to systematic disparities that marginalized populations often face. Research geared towards non-White populations is vital in creating a better understanding of their life experiences and how to treat their diagnoses. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of anxiety in non-White adolescents relative to White adolescents, and to examine the intersectionality with autistic diagnoses and experiences of discrimination. The Anxiety Scale for Children- ASD (ASC-ASD; Rodgers et al., 2016) scale was used to assess anxiety and the Everyday Discrimination Scale (Williams et al., 1997) was used to capture experiences of discrimination. Participants were 30 adolescents (12 Non-Hispanic White, 20 non-White), aged 11-14 years, and their parents. Results of an independent samples t-test indicated that marginalized autistic youth reported higher levels of anxiety in comparison to their non-White counterparts (p = 0.08). When evaluating whether experiences of discrimination moderated relations between race and anxiety, we found that the effect of discrimination varies by race, although not statistically significant (p = .13). Further, being a member of a marginalized group was associated with a 19.18-point increase in anxiety (holding experiences of discrimination constant).
Investigating The Role of E.Coli Fumarase In Bacteriophage Replication
(2025) Weaver, Trinity; Festekjian, Shaunt; O'Hara, Jessica
Bacteriophages are viruses that specifically infect and hijack Escherichia coli's metabolic processes to proliferate, ultimately destroying the host cell in the process. The Tricarboxylic Acid Cycle (TCA Cycle) is a multi-step aerobic enzyme-catalyzed pathway that occurs in the cytoplasm of E. coli and is responsible for generating the electron-carrier molecules NADH and FADH2 which are crucial for generating ATP for the cell in future steps of cellular respiration. The E. coli genes, sdhA, fumA, fumB, fumC and mdh, encode enzymes that catalyze different reactions that are necessary for the TCA cycle. We hypothesize that the removal of these genes would negatively impact the growth rate and ATP levels of E. coli and, as a result, inhibit or slow the replication of bacteriophage. To determine the effects of the removal of these genes, enzyme assays, comparative growth curves of the knockout strains, and plaque assays of bacteriophage replication were measured and investigated. Furthermore, we quantified the knockout’s effects by collecting lysis curves as well as performing an ATP assay using bioluminescence.
Language Models Generate Multiple-Choice Questions with Artifacts
(2025-04) Desai, Atrey; Balepur, Nishant; Rudinger, Rachel
Modeling Recurrent Emergency Department Trends in the United States
(2025) Bair, Amanda; Rowland, Todd
Emergency departments around the United States struggle with staff shortages and overcrowding following the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting shutdowns. This study aims to create and examine models representing the probability of patients requiring multiple emergency department visits to better understand why some patients require recurrent emergency department treatments. The two models considered in this experiment are the Poisson Process and the “Frequent Flyer” Hypotheses. Ultimately, analyzing the data provided by the National Center for Health Statistics revealed that the Poisson Process does not accurately represent the realities of recurrent emergency department visits, but the “Frequent Flyer” Hypothesis does in some situations. It also revealed that there may be several lurking variables that compound to determine if a patient will require multiple emergency department visits, accounting for the inconsistencies of the “Frequent Flyer” Hypothesis.
Morphological Characterization of Ipsilaterally and Contralaterally-Innervated Neurons in the Mouse Superior Colliculus
(2025-04-02) Ezeiza-Ortega, Miguel; Saluja, Jasmine; Triplett, Jason
The superior colliculus (SC) is a major retinorecipient nucleus that regulates visually driven behaviors. Recently, binocular vision and innervation of the SC by ipsilaterally projecting retinal ganglion cells (ipsi-RGCs) were demonstrated to be necessary for prey capture behavior in mice. To better understand this, we sought to define the neuronal populations innervated by contralateral- (contra-RGCs) and/or ipsi-RGCs. We injected trans-synaptic AAV1-Cre and AAV1-Flp intraocularly in separate eyes and Cre- and Flp-dependent reporters in the SC. Reporter signal was amplified, and cell-specific markers labeled by immunohistochemistry, followed by collection of confocal images on cleared tissue, 3D reconstruction, and quantification of reconstructed cells. Out of a total of 353 reconstructed neurons, we found that 40.6% were innervated solely by contra-RGCs, 39.1% solely by ipsi-RGCs, and 20.3% were innervated by both. For each population, we found cells distributed across the entire rostro-caudal and mediolateral axes of the SC. Additionally, ipsi-RGC-recipient cells displayed a significantly smaller soma than contra-RGC-recipient cells. We also analyzed their morphology based on topographic location in the SC. Ipsi-RGC-recipient neurons in the rostro-medial and rostro-central SC have a higher dendritic complexity and a larger overall dendritic length than contra-RGC-recipient cells. In contrast, ipsi-RGC-recipient neurons in the caudo-medial SC have considerably less complexity in their proximal dendrites. These data suggest that neurons solely innervated by contra- or ipsi-RGCs may be comprised of distinct neuronal subtypes and, potentially, subserve different functions.
Nanogel-Based Drug Delivery: Tailoring BMP-2 Release for Bone Regeneration
(2025) Umansky, Sophie; Mirdamadi, Eman; White, Cameron; Lowe, Hannah; Lowe, Tao
Critical sized bone defects (CSBDs) do not heal spontaneously, requiring medical intervention. Continuous bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) delivery to an injured site is necessary for CSBD regeneration. However, direct BMP-2 delivery is ineffective due to the protein’s short half-life. Nanogels can be used to encapsulate and sustain bioactive BMP-2 release for long time periods. In this study, novel BMP-2 loaded nanogels composed of thermosensitive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAAm) and hydrolytically degradable dextran-poly(lactate (PLA)-2-hydroxyethyl-methacrylate) or dextran-poly(caprolactone (PCL)-2-hydroxyethyl-methacrylate) macromer were synthesized using emulsion polymerization. Macromers containing PCL or PLA with different degrees of substitution and degree of polymerization (DP/DS), 6/3.8, 6/2.49, 8/3.73 and 8/4.7 were used during synthesis. All nanogels load BMP-2 with approximately 90% encapsulation efficiencies, and range in hydrodynamic diameter between 80 and 196 nm with increasing DP and DS. In vitro BMP-2 release from the nanogels were carried out for 18 days, and released BMP-2 was quantified by ELISA. Among nanogels sustain releasing BMP-2, PCL macromer nanogels with a DP/DS of 6/3.8 had the slowest overall cumulative BMP-2 release, while BMP-2-loaded nanogels containing PLA macromers showed the slowest release with increasing DP and/or DS. Nanogel vehicle cytotoxicity to dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) was tested using MTT and showed that nanogels were not cytotoxic to DPSCs at concentrations up to 5mg/mL. Overall, the nanogel systems demonstrate a promising approach to sustain BMP-2 release with tailored release kinetics for CSBD regeneration.