Office of Undergraduate Research
Permanent URI for this communityhttp://hdl.handle.net/1903/20157
Emphasizing equitable and inclusive access to research opportunities, the University of Maryland's Office of Undergraduate Research (OUR) empowers undergraduates and faculty to engage and succeed in inquiry, creative activity, and scholarship. This collection includes materials shared by undergraduate researchers during OUR events. It also encompasses materials from Undergraduate Research Day 2020, Undergraduate Research Day 2021, and Undergraduate Research Day 2022, which were organized by the Maryland Center for Undergraduate Research.
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Item Groundwater Contamination and Property Values: A Hedonic Price Analysis(2024) Keane, Jack; Cropper, MaureenAbout 15% of the United States population (~43 million people) rely on private wells for their source of drinking water. This water is not regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency, and as a result, the water in these wells can contain harmful contaminants (e.g., arsenic, nitrates, and nitrites) that go undetected by homeowners unless otherwise tested. Using a dataset of housing transactions (n=3,908) in the Orlando, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area, I examine the impact of testing well water on the property value at time of sale. In Florida, not all homes with wells are tested before sale. I address the possibility of selection bias by using a subsample of homes from this dataset (n=1,566) that had all tested their well water before being sold. Using a hedonic pricing model, I test the impact of a well water test finding a contaminant above the detectable limit on sales price, controlling for housing characteristics, geospatial characteristics, and the date of sale. My results indicate a 10% decrease in property value when a well test revealed a contaminant to be above the detectable limit, relative to properties with well tests that did not reveal any contaminant above the detectable limit. The most robust, significant effects are found when homes were tested within a 3-year window prior to transaction. This has implications for the public health and financial stability of homeowners using private well water.Item Mitochondrial Morphology in Orbitofrontal Cortical Neurons During Incubation of Oxycodone Craving(2024) Luo, Xiang; Olaniran, Adedayo; Matheson, Chloe; Lin, Hongyu; Li, XuanMitochondrial morphology in orbitofrontal cortical neurons during incubation of oxycodone craving Relapse is a major challenge in treating opioid addiction, including oxycodone, a commonly abused prescription opioid. In rats, cue-induced oxycodone seeking progressively increases during abstinence. Our previous work demonstrated that orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) plays a critical role in this incubation of oxycodone craving. However, the molecular mechanisms in OFC that contribute to this incubation are unknown. Here, we focus on mitochondrial dynamics in OFC and characterize the mitochondrial morphology in OFC neurons during incubation of oxycodone craving. We used a dual-virus approach to sparsely label mitochondria in OFC neurons by injecting the adeno-associated virus (AAV)-hSyn-GFP together with AAV-CMV-mitoDsRed bilaterally into OFC. Next, we trained male rats to either self-administer saline (as the control group) or oxycodone (0.1 mg/kg/infusion) for 6 h/day over 10 days. On abstinence day 15, we perfused both groups of animals and processed the brain for confocal microscopy. Our image analysis showed that in the somas of OFC neurons, there was a significant increase in the size-frequency of the smallest mitochondria, accompanied by overall increased mitochondria density, in oxycodone rats compared with saline rats. This finding suggests that mitochondria in OFC neuronal cell bodies enhanced fission after 15-day abstinence from oxycodone self-administration. In contrast, we did not observe the differences in primary dendrites of OFC neurons between the two groups. Studies are underway to examine whether enhanced mitochondrial fission in OFC somas is time-dependent after abstinence and whether there are sex differences in mitochondrial morphology during incubation of oxycodone craving.Item Fostering Empathy in Children: The Role of Maternal Supportive Response to Child Distress and Child Attachment Security(2024-04-17) Diphilippo, Emma; Patel, Vacha; Parrott, Jayla; Awao, Sayaka; Cassidy, JudeMaternal response to child distress has been linked with child attachment security (Isabella et al., 1989); child attachment security has been associated with child empathy (Xu et al., 2022). This study examines whether child attachment security is a mechanism for the association between maternal response to child distress and child empathy. Ninety-five mother-child dyads participated (Mchild age=4.5 years). Mothers self-reported their likelihood of responding to child distress in unsupportive and supportive ways (Fabes et al., 1990). Child empathy was measured through (1) mother report (Kochanska, et al., 1994), (2) child self-report (Bryant, 1982), and (3) observation (Schrandt et.al, 2009). Observed child attachment security was measured through the MacArthur Story Stem Battery (Bretherton et al., 1990). Mother’s unsupportive response to child distress did not predict child attachment security or child empathy. Mother’s supportive response to child distress did not predict child attachment security but did predict mother-reported (but not child reported or observed) child empathy (p=0.03). Higher child attachment security predicted higher observed (but not mother or child reported) child empathy (p < 0.01). Child attachment security was not a significant mechanism between maternal response to child distress (unsupportive/supportive) and child empathy. Findings highlight the importance of supportive (but not unsupportive) maternal response and child attachment security for development of child empathy. Findings also underscore the importance of considering reporter bias. Future studies should examine this model, with careful attention to how constructs are measured.Item The effect of cannabis use and race on sentencing outcomes.(2024) Mauris, Alexander; Tomlinson, TracyCannabis is the most commonly used illicit drug in the U.S., but its legality and public acceptance is changing in many states (Martins et al., 2021). Nonetheless, incarceration for cannabis related offenses continues to disproportionately affect the Black community, with African Americans receiving harsher judicial treatment across all offenses compared to other racial/ethnic groups (Devylder et al., 2021; Doerner & Demuth, 2010). Thus, the aim of this research was to assess whether the race and cannabis use history of a defendant impact sentencing recommendations in a state where recreational cannabis use has been legalized. We hypothesized Black defendants would be sentenced most harshly, especially if the defendant was also a cannabis user. Undergraduate participants from the University of Maryland read one of four fictional shoplifting case summaries differing only in how the suspect’s race (Black or White) and history of cannabis use (used or not used) were portrayed. Participants were then asked to recommend a sentence length. Surprisingly, there was no difference in sentencing recommendations for Black and White defendants. However, if the defendant was a cannabis user, recommended sentences were significantly shorter than for non-cannabis users. These unpredicted results may reflect an integration of cannabis in American college culture, suggesting college-aged Americans may be more sympathetic towards cannabis users in judicial settings (Kilwein et al., 2022). Future research is needed to confirm if similar trends are present across the broader jury eligible population and to understand any implications for the criminal justice system in legalized states.Item Observational Study: Good Nutrition and Psychological Well-Being(2024) Chavan, Sidharth; Tomlinson, TracyPsychological well-being appears important to one’s sense of fulfillment and harmony in life as psychological well-being may include positive emotions, life satisfaction, personal growth, and a sense of purpose. Previous research has found a link between adequate nutrition and higher psychological well-being (Veenhoven, 2019). Building on this research, this study aims to explore the relationship between restaurant choice and psychological well-being among University of Maryland students. A naturalistic observational research design was used to assess if students who choose healthier restaurants, such as Saladworks or Qdoba, exhibited greater psychological well-being behaviors such as smiling, laughing, and sitting upright rather than slouched, compared to those who opted for unhealthier establishments, such as Union Pizza or Chick Fil A. As predicted, students who frequent healthier restaurants demonstrated significantly more signs of psychological well-being. These findings could have implications for mental health advocates, highlighting the importance of promoting healthier eating habits among college students. Implementations of these findings can be used to support social media campaigns raising awareness of disproportionately high prices of healthy food and the promotion of making healthy food more affordable. Future research could further explore this relationship experimentally, potentially leading to interventions aimed at improving psychological well-being through dietary choices.Item Parental support and artistic creativity at the beach: an observational approach(2024) Pattanaik, Sragvi; Desai, Rituparna; Tomlinson, TracyArtistic creativity is the production of novel resources that contribute to the arts (Chemi, 2017) and can be integral towards improving the mental health of both artists and consumers of art. When studying factors that may contribute to artistic creativity, parenting may be an important consideration. Supportive parenting contributes to child development by practicing parental sensitivity, cognitive stimulation to learning, and unconditional love (Lin, 2023), and may encourage children to find healthy ways of expressing their emotions artisitically. An observational research design was conducted to assess the relationship between parental support and artistic creativity. We hypothesized that children with parental supervision engage in artistic hobbies more frequently compared to children without supervision. A total of 60 young children were observed for a minute each on a web camera featuring the coast of Maho Beach in Sint Marten. Parental supervision was coded as present if a child was present alongside a guardian and artistic creativity was measured, based on if participants engaged in artistic hobbies. Contrary to predictions, results indicate that children with parental supervision do not engage in artistic hobbies more frequently than children without supervision. Lack of statistical support for the relationship between parenting and creativity may be due to limited time in observing participants and using parental supervision as an indicator for parental support. Future research should be conducted with longer observation periods and coding for different kinds of parental support towards children.Item AI and Ted Bundy: Exploring Artificial Intelligence usage in criminal profiling(2024) Mor, Abigail; Tomlinson, Tracy; Ellenberg, MollyWe have seen a meteoric rise in Artificial Intelligence (AI) creation and usage; yet little attention has been paid to using AI for societal benefits. To leverage AI in new ways, this study focused on integrating AI in criminal profiling. We assessed the accuracy of AI-generated profiles by modifying well-documented criminal cases with a known, and convicted, perpetrator to compare to published perpetrator data created by (human) experts. Using profiling inputs from the crimes of infamous serial killer Theodore ‘Ted’ Bundy, we prompted ChatGPT 3.5 to create profiles for the first eight attacks Bundy committed and compared the accuracy of the outputs to the known information. Initial results show AI creates vague but detailed, and fairly accurate, profiles compared to known information from cases and can find patterns between crimes. But, these profiles were created with specific prompts and the prompt type impacted accuracy. Our findings suggest that using AI in profiling warrants further research and consideration in ongoing investigations, potentially saving time and lives. Caution is advised given the limitations regarding specificity of details and we do not yet know if human-generated profiles are more accurate as we only compared the AI profiles to known information. Future research should compare AI-generated profiles with human-generated profiles and explore paid versions of AI that might reveal further capabilities which might be useful in law enforcement, where costs of using AI may be nominal, especially in relation to the savings of lives and in manpower hours.Item Attention! Data Helps Diagnoses: A machine learning approach to predicting ADHD(2024) Navaleza, Irene; Coutts, JacobAttention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is often dismissed as a “childhood condition”, since easy-to-identify features (e.g., hyperactivity) are more prevalent in children. Yet, for almost half of diagnosed individuals, the effects of ADHD persist through adulthood, impacting important areas such as jobs/academic performance and relationships. These implications make early diagnoses and effective treatments salient issues for medical professionals. However, as ADHD affects brain development, symptoms often greatly vary person to person. Further, research suggests that the high comorbidity of ADHD with other disorders compounds this issue, explaining why many diagnoses do not come until adulthood. One solution to more accurate diagnoses is machine learning, a class of models that have become increasingly prevalent in research. However, few researchers have developed models to predict ADHD diagnoses. In this study, we performed a secondary data analysis from a study on 103 anonymous participants (51 diagnosed with ADHD, 52 clinical controls). We employed a K-nearest neighbors algorithm to identify key features of ADHD (e.g., prevalence of comorbid disorders) that can accurately predict one’s diagnosis. The results of our analysis suggest: 1.) Objective metrics like this may improve ADHD diagnoses, since current methods are subjective and vary by physician, 2.) Some comorbidities are more predictive than others, and 3.) Research should continue in this area to include more predictive features. Implications for practitioners and researchers are discussed.Item An observational study on the impact of caffeine and anxiety in college students.(2024) Williams, Stephanie; Tomlinson, Tracy; Johnson, SamanthaObserving students on a college campus, it is not hard to see signs of anxiety in students. College students’ have the compounded stress of numerous classes, assignments, jobs, and maintaining relationships, which may lead to losing sleep and turning to caffeine to help. Caffeine is a substance commonly used in an attempt to alleviate anxiety and exhaustion, particularly in young adults (Hughes, 1996). However, some side effects of caffeine can mimic or amplify the symptoms of anxiety (Sawyer et al., 1982). The goal of this research was to assess if there is a positive correlation between observed caffeine intake and anxious behaviors. This study was conducted through a naturalistic observational design where participants (N = 60) were observed in the Adele H. Stamp Student Union and McKeldin Library. Participants were coded on the seconds spent drinking from their caffeinated beverage and seconds spent exhibiting an anxious behavior such as leg bouncing, playing with hair, and zoning out. We found that students exhibited significantly greater amounts of anxious behavior when their time spent drinking caffeine increased. These findings indicate that students may benefit from being made aware of this negative effect of caffeine consumption and educated on caffeine alternatives, such as adequate sleep, hydration, or meditation instead. However, keeping in mind this was an observational study, we can not assess causation and this was an observational design that had a limited definition of caffeine consumption and anxious behaviors. To better assess these effects, future research should assess participants in an experimental environment.Item A Balancing Act: An Empirical Analysis of Unions and Monopsony Power in US Labor Markets(2024) Delavan-Hoover, Logan; Kaplan, EthanThis paper empirically examines the intersection of recent literature regarding the effect on wages of both labor market concentration and unionization, using a fixed-effects model controlling for both occupation and geographical area, applied to a combination of 2016 Current Population Survey data and labor market concentration data derived from the universe of online job postings in the United States. This paper found a positive effect of the interaction of unionization and concentration on wages in most model specifications, consistent with similar literature in other countries, but failed to produce significant results in the most granular model, likely due to attenuation bias exacerbated by large double fixed effects.