Digital Commons Network^™

Effectiveness Of Electric Barriers In Preventing Spread Of Invasive Invertebrates Apocorophium Lacustre And Procambarus Clarkii, Zalia Cook

Undergraduate Research and Engagement Symposium

The Chicago Area Waterway System (CAWS) connects the Mississippi River and Great Lakes Basins. An electric barrier system in the CAWS aims to deter the spread of bighead and silver carp. The barrier is not designed, nor has it been tested, for other invasive species including the amphipod Apocorophium lacustre (scud) and the crayfish Procambarus clarkii (red swamp crayfish). We built a lab-scale electric barrier to mimic the barrier in the CAWS and studied the effects of the electric field on scud and red swamp crayfish to investigate the efficacy of the barrier in deterring these species.

Implementation Of A Small-Scale Anaerobic Digester, Brooke Mcdonald, Anna Zachary, Valentine Geze

Undergraduate Research and Engagement Symposium

The team, comprised of three senior environmental engineering students from Loyola University Chicago, is working with the non-profit organization Plant Chicago to design an anaerobic digester system that focuses on circular economy and waste diversion. Anaerobic digestion is a microbial process that is used to convert agricultural and organic waste into liquid digestate and biogas. Liquid digestate can be a useful fertilizer, and biogas can be used in both heat and electricity applications. In order to create a system that is efficient and useful for Plant Chicago’s operations, the team executed a series of experiments to study anaerobic digestion on …

Atomic Oxygen On A Curved Silver Crystal, Faith Lewis

Undergraduate Research and Engagement Symposium

Scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) is a technique that is used to take atomic-scale images. Using the STM, the surface of a curved silver crystal was imaged after it had been exposed to atomic oxygen (AO). The images were then analyzed, looking at the differences of the features on a silver’s surface. My project specifically looked at absorption patterns. A homogeneous pattern shows oxygen migrates from the surface to subsurface of the crystal at random locations; there would be no pattern predicting where it absorbs. A heterogeneous process shows migration around defects where oxygen would dominate areas.

Automated Kidney Segmentation Of Murine-Based Volumetric Ultrasound With A U-Net Based Neural Network​, Naxi Shah, Xavier Oberhelman, Sophia Sklar, Benjamin Dziechciowski

Undergraduate Research and Engagement Symposium

The Computer Engineering Capstone Design Project (2020-2021) was to implement an automated kidney segmentation system for SonoVol’s three-dimensional (3D) ultrasound analysis software, SonoEQ. SonoVol’s current kidney segmentation system is manual and user-driven which leads to human error, fatigue, and an overall waste of money, resources, and time. Manual image segmentation results in lower accuracies and less precise results. A new automated segmentation system will allow SonoVol to produce segmentations at higher rates.

Non-Electric Social Distancing Device, Damian Gonzalez, Jonathan Drysdale-Anderson

Undergraduate Research and Engagement Symposium

With Covid-19 being a part of everyone's daily lives it is our duty to try to control the spread of the virus and to try to stay as healthy as possible. This requires us to adhere to the six feet social distancing guidelines that have been put in place for our safety. However, at times in public areas it is difficult to stay this required distance from one another and hard to really measure 6 feet of distance. For that reason, the goal of the project was to create a non-electronic device that would help people in their everyday lives …

Next-Generation Prenatal Testing, Ryan Bonate, Rebecca Sullivan, Hannah Crowley, Anna Bielanski, Victor Suarez

Undergraduate Research and Engagement Symposium

Since the advent of prenatal genetic testing, the amount of information available to prospective parents has expanded rapidly. Whole genome sequencing and machine learning will see this expansion of information become an explosion in the near future, overwhelming parents with information that may prove empowering or toxic.

This poster will analyze the moral dimensions of next-generation prenatal testing. We analyze information overload, value neutrality in genetic testing, and the intersection of testing and termination. We conclude that advances in prenatal genetic testing must be accompanied by rigorous reflection and self-moderation, lest this information affect parents, pregnancy, and society, negatively.

The Impact Of Discipline Fairness On School Connectedness: Exploring The Role Of School Discipline Approaches, Jamie Kessler, Cynthia Onyeka M.A., Yael Granot Ph.D., Maryse H. Richards

Undergraduate Research and Engagement Symposium

This study examines perceptions of fairness of school disciplinary actions and the impact that has on a sense of school connectedness. School resource officers, exclusionary discipline, and restorative justice are assessed. Results indicate that fairness mediates relationships between trust in school resource officers, restorative justice, and school connectedness.

Perception And Attribution Of Benevolent And Hostile Sexism In Intimate Partnerships, Eva Baer

Undergraduate Research and Engagement Symposium

It is never the intention to dismiss a thoughtful gesture from a romantic partner, but what if those gestures have sexist roots? We explored how hostile and benevolent sexism were perceived in heterosexual, romantic partnerships and whether the women attributed them sexist or harmful. We found that women perceive and attribute different forms of sexism differently. Perceived harm and perceived intent are important predictors of whether women attribute partner sexism.

Offering Educational Support To Rogers Park’S Refugee Population, Emma O'Driscoll

Undergraduate Research and Engagement Symposium

This year I was able to intern with the local nonprofit Madonna Mission where I hosted a writing group for middle school girls, helped to facilitate the After School turning program and raised reflections on the contrast between the racial makeup of the clients and the staff.

Transit Funding: Progress Or Partisan?, Braden Perry

Undergraduate Research and Engagement Symposium

Why do some metros get a larger share of their transit funding from state and local governments than others? Public transit funding has been steadily devolved over the years, especially in Republican lead states, where local transit authorities hold most of the funding responsibility. We found that metro areas with multiple years of unified Democratic control in the state government would provide more funding through the state level of government. Infrastructure and transit are typically thought of as “bipartisan”, but this research would argue alternatively.

.

Genetically Engineering Phages For Therapeutic Use In Treating Utis, Laura Maskeri

Undergraduate Research and Engagement Symposium

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are infections that occur in the bladder, kidneys, ureter, urethra or prostate, and are considered one of the most common bacterial infections of the body. The most common cause of UTIs is Escherichia coli; a Gram-negative bacterium that is typically a healthy part of the body’s bacterial biome. The management of reoccurring UTIs has become substantially more difficult to treat due to increasing antibacterial resistance. An alternative to antibiotics is bacteriophage therapy. Bacteriophages (or phage) are viruses that infect bacteria, injecting their DNA, replicating, and then lysing (killing) the bacterial host. Phages usually only infect …

The Role Of Caffeine, Nicotine And Theobromine In The Biodiversity And Function Of The Human Gut Microbiome, Thomas Stanila

Undergraduate Research and Engagement Symposium

The human gut microbiome plays a fundamental role in physiological processes and homeostatic relationships in the body, with research proving its effects beyond gastrointestinal functioning such as in immune response, psychological operation, and nutritional metabolism. Caffeine, nicotine, and theobromine—the principal bioactive compounds in regularly consumed products like coffee, cigarettes, and dark chocolate, respectively—may yield significant and variable influences on human health beyond their normal pharmacodynamics through affecting gut microbiota. Using metagenomic modelling, predictions can be determined regarding intestinal community activity as well. I hypothesize that the compounds will alter microbial community composition in a time- and dose-dependent manner.

The Effectiveness Of Co2 Snow Cleaning On The Surface Of Sample Carriers, Jessica Luc

Undergraduate Research and Engagement Symposium

Surfaces, such as those of sample carriers, are highly susceptible to contamination, especially during sample handling. Carbon dioxide snow is a useful technique that can remove particles and organic contaminants off surfaces. Utilizing the noninvasive chemical and physical cleaning properties of carbon dioxide snow, sample carriers are analyzed before and after the cleaning process to assess the method parameters. By developing an optimal and efficient cleaning method, surface contamination of sample carriers can be eliminated or reduced to improve the accuracy of chemical analysis.

Journey Towards Change: Justice To Come, James Marshall, Mia Gardner, Blake Hall, Faith Puthenpurakal

Undergraduate Research and Engagement Symposium

Research symposium that addresses and seeks solutions on how to combat toxic leadership models and oppressive systems. Focus on mutual aid and interview with Antonio Gutierrez with mutual aid organization OCAD (Organized Communities Against Deportations).

Cccs-Voting Experiences In Cook County, Sophia Bardelli

Undergraduate Research and Engagement Symposium

I am presenting some of my data analysis from the political section of the Cook County Community Survey.

Constructed Wetlands For Removing Excess Nutrients, Katrina S. Ziemniak

Undergraduate Research and Engagement Symposium

There is a growing area in the Northern Gulf of Mexico void of any oxygen so that no marine life can survive. The main contributor to this phenomenon is excess nutrients, like nitrogen and phosphorus, from farms across the Mississippi basin culminating in the Gulf. This research investigates constructed wetlands as a solution by learning about their components, removal process, and costs. This analysis of multiple sources shows constructed wetlands can be a practical option to reducing nutrient waste before it reaches main waterways. This concludes the widespread implementation of this process should begin immediately to begin saving the NGOM.

Effects Of Treatment For Invasive Elodea Canadensis On Aquatic Insect Communities Of The Copper River Delta, Alaska, Christina Mangano

Undergraduate Research and Engagement Symposium

The aquatic macrophyte, Elodea canadensis is invasive in Alaska, and can be found in coastal wetland ponds on the Copper River Delta. Elodea may outcompete native macrophytes and may alter insect populations. The herbicide fluridone (Sonar®) was used to target Elodea infestations. The goal of this analysis was to assess the effects of fluridone on aquatic insect communities. Aquatic insects were collected from Elodea and native macrophyte samples. Six genera had significantly different densities between years. This research provides insight into the effects of fluridone on aquatic insects and has important implications for a proposed broad scale fluridone application.

Construction And Development Of An Autonomous Vehicle For Data Collection Using Lidar, Daisy Reyes, Spencer Johnston

Undergraduate Research and Engagement Symposium

This project concerns the construction of an autonomous vehicle utilizing a control system, LIDAR, camera, wireless communication, and on-board/off-board data processing/storage. A lack of trust currently exists in autonomous vehicles due to the lack of data available on its safety and mechanisms. Therefore, the goal is to collect data for public use, including LIDAR and camera data as well as data for the purpose for investigating its ability to map nearby objects. Our data yielded LIDAR wavelets which was able to summarize the data given.

Cccs: The Role Of Police In Cook County, Andrew P. Byrne

Undergraduate Research and Engagement Symposium

This project presents finings from the Cook County Community Survey regarding public opinion of policing in cook county. In it I analyze data that explains how people that self-identify into different racial/ethnic groups and political parties view police budgets and the role of police in society differently from one another.

Atomic Absorption Detection Of Chromium In Biological Samples, Alli Lueders

Undergraduate Research and Engagement Symposium

The alarming prevalence of heavy metals in the environment necessitates examining how these toxic substances impact physiological health. This project seeks to analyze how concentrations of heavy metals relate to eye cataracts. Elemental detection of eye cataract samples is performed using Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (GFAAS) and Total Reflection X-Ray Fluorescence (TXRF) Spectrometry. Confirmation of the established GFAAS method will be performed using chromium, a potentially toxic trace element. Spectral detection of heavy metals will then begin on yeast cells, and a selectivity study will examine how the presence of alternative trace elements may interfere with GFAAS chromium detection.

Gene Annotation Of Wdb In Drosophila Simulans, Anjali Parikh

Undergraduate Research and Engagement Symposium

The evolution of biological pathways can be studied through the analysis of gene transcription. To understand the functions of biological pathways, such as the insulin- signaling pathway, it is vital to first understand the specific genes and proteins that regulate insulin release. We worked in conjunction with the Genomics Education Partnership (GEP) to annotate the widerborst gene which encodes a B’ regulatory subunit of the serine/ threonine phosphate complex PP2A in the insulin- signaling pathway in Drosophila simulans. The long-term goal of this project is to investigate how the regulatory regions of genes evolve in regards to their positions …

My State Of Mind, Trevor Bunger

Undergraduate Research and Engagement Symposium

My presentation is about my internship experience with SocialWorks, a Chicago based nonprofit. At SocialWorks, my work on the My State of Mind initiative contributed towards the building of a mental health resource that will change the way people in Chicago find and access mental health care.

The Impact Of A Mindfulness Mobile Application On Compassion And Psychological Well-Being, Marie Chamberlain, Carol Hundert, Colleen Conley

Undergraduate Research and Engagement Symposium

For the present ongoing project, we are examining the relationship between self-compassion and compassion for others and how the use of Headspace, a mindfulness meditation mobile application, affects compassion and, consequently, mental health. Participants for the current study consist of undergraduate college students with elevated depression symptoms. Participants are randomized into a mindfulness intervention group or a waitlist control group, take part in an 8-week trial of self-guided Headspace use, and complete surveys at four time points: pre-intervention, 4 weeks, 8 weeks (post-intervention), and 1-month follow-up. As a part of these surveys, participants complete measures of compassion for others, self-compassion, …

Energy Chimney Design Project, Matthew Trejo, Paul Israelyan

Undergraduate Research and Engagement Symposium

For our energy chimney, the group will discuss the issues that plague the current chimney system that is installed in the Flex Lab. Our group will also discuss our ideas for improvement and how the design process could be improved using new materials. Another discussion was to implement the improvements without exceeding the 100 dollar budget. We will discuss which improvements would allow for the best optimization of budget, airflow, and design.

Black And Latino Parents’ Socioemotional Support For Teens’ Post-High School Plans, Daniela Vanessa Ugalde

Undergraduate Research and Engagement Symposium

This research counters deficit models by recognizing how low-income parents provide their teens with valuable forms of socio-emotional support during post-high school planning. This study looks at 160 responses from low-income, predominately Black and Latino parents. Responses about socio-emotional support were divided into four sub-themes: parents discuss post-high school plans with teens, parents give advice relating to academics, parents provide encouragement, and parents give advice over more general life matters. In this qualitative study, the responses of the parents were analyzed to give a more complete picture of the types of support low-income, minoritized parents provided their teenagers.

Stream Water Quality Assessment Using Benthic Macroinvertebrates In Ashwaubenon And Dutchman’S Creek, Wisconsin, Jack Liang

Undergraduate Research and Engagement Symposium

As part of a larger project assessing changes in streamwater quality resulting from improved wastewater management, two streams (Ashwaubenon Creek and Dutchman’s Creek) near Green Bay, WI, were monitored and sampled seasonally from Fall 2018 to Fall 2020. Benthic macroinvertebrates are useful for monitoring water quality as their diversity and specific taxa tolerances can be indicators of pollution. We found that both creeks fell into the “fairly poor” water quality category determined by the Hilsenhoff Biotic Index (HBI). However, Dutchman’s Creek displayed a higher mean equitability (evenness of invertebrate distribution across taxa) derived from the Shannon-Weiner Diversity Index.

Approaching Clarity And Reproducibility In Coding And Data Sharing, Aaron Myrold, Yoel E. Stuart

Undergraduate Research and Engagement Symposium

Modern computers increase our ability to make data clear and reproducible. By changing parts of our workflow, we can create a self-contained project that anyone can access and understand. To achieve this, we should follow three guidelines for every project. 1: Create a clear, self-contained directory to house our scripts and data. 2: Create an explicit outline that follows the planned outline for the manuscript. 3: Thoroughly comment each chunk of code. By keeping the project simple yet thorough, we ensure that it is easy to see where our data comes from and the process of generating it.

Microplastic In Invasive Freshwater Clams (Corbicula Fluminea) In Urban And Agricultural Streams, Teresa Lee

Undergraduate Research and Engagement Symposium

Microplastics, plastic particles <5 mm, are increasingly common in marine and

freshwater ecosystems worldwide and are easily ingested by filter feeding bivalves like oysters, mussels, and clams. Bivalves can have a major impact on ecosystem dynamics, including water clarity and invertebrate abundance, but there are no assessments of microplastics in invasive Asian clam (Corbicula fluminea). We collected water and clams from urban and agricultural streams in Northeastern Illinois and processed them for microplastics based on clam size, location, and microplastic color. Feeding trials and additional samples will be needed to determine mechanistic links between microplastics and Corbicula in future research.

Genetic Basis Of Partner Specificity In Medicago Truncatula-Ensifer Meliloti Mutualism, Akankhya Behera, Roberto Flores

Undergraduate Research and Engagement Symposium

Nitrogen is the main nutrient limiting plant productivity in both agricultural and natural ecosystems (Vitousek 1997). Plants in the legume family can overcome this constraint by forming symbiotic relationships with nitrogen-fixing bacteria (called rhizobia). This mutualistic relationship is both economically and ecologically important because it is the main source of non-anthropogenically fixed nitrogen in terrestrial systems. The genetic mechanisms controlling strain level specificity (e.g. partner choice) are still largely unknown.

We have attempted to identify the genetic basis of partner specificity in Medicago truncatula, through GWAS analysis and tested whether Medicago genotypes can preferentially associate with the highest quality rhizobial …

“Socioeconomic Status And Child Death In 19th Century Rochester, New York”, Akanksha Aggarwal

Anthropology

Socioeconomic status, or SES, is the measure of one’s individual/familial social and economic position in society in relation to others. The higher one’s SES, the better their financial and social standing and, consequently, the better chance for a healthy and long life. This was especially the case for infants and children in the 19th century, when the United States lacked social safety net programs. During the latter part of the 19th century, deaths in urban areas like Rochester increased, due to growing populations and reduced sanitation. This study focuses on the correlation between socioeconomic status and the death of children …