McNair Scholars Research Competition and Graduate School Fair
University of Delaware ● October 18, 2013
Research Poster Competition
Poster Abstracts
Binding of DU145 Prostate Tumor Cells on SiC
Ayobami Adeleke
Delaware State University
Mentor: Tina Brower-Thomas
General research category: Engineering
The efforts of this investigation are towards the development of a device that can differentiate cells by their electrical
properties. Three forms of SiC were used as substrates and include 6HSiC, highly doped 6HSiC Silicon Carbide (SiC) and
3CSiC grown on Si. Prostate tumor cells from the DU145 cell line were cultured and counted. The cells were then bound to
the given substrates at various concentrations. The many cell types within the DU145 cell line were observed by optical
microscopy. It was determined that 5x104 was the most effective concentration for distinguishing the different types of cells.
The Highly Doped (HD) 6H SiC substrate was the most effective substrate for the binding of the cells. Luminal epithelial
cells, Basal epithelial cells, Stroma muscle cells, Stem Cells were observed. Measuring these heterogeneous cells with a
caliper we were able to determine the different length and width of the cells. Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) was
employed and additional details about the cell morphology were observed to include three dimensional images. Scanning
tunneling microscope (STM) will be employed to determine the difference in electrical properties of the heterogeneous
DU145 prostate tumor cell line.
Understanding Barriers to Care a Review of Disability Services in Delaware
Oluwatimilehin Adeyemo
University of Delaware
Mentor: Mia Papas
General research category: Social Sciences
Purpose: People with disabilities (PWD) experience health disparities that are not due to the disability itself. Health
promotion programs and activities result in improved health and can reduce disparities among minority populations. In
Delaware, It is unclear as to whether these programs specifically target PWD. A public health needs assessment was
conducted to describe the state of health of individuals with disabilities as well as their participation in health promotion
programs and activities. Methods: As part of a public health needs assessment a survey was administered to 38 health
promotion programs overseen by Delaware Health and Social Services (DHSS) and 121community-based health promotion
programs. Questions focused on identifying the number of PWD served by these programs and understanding barriers to
accessing health promotion activities. Results: Twenty-eight (74%) DHSS programs responded. 86% (24) did not know how
many PWD the program served. The majority of these programs (n=16; 57%) indicated that they were either unaware of any
challenges a PWD would encounter in the program or that there were no challenges. Sixty-seven (55%) community groups
responded. 69% (46) did not know how many PWD the program served. Half of these programs (n=35; 67%) were unaware
of any challenges a PWD may encounter or believed there were no challenges. Conclusion: It was difficult for many health
promotion programs to identify the number of PWD served. The majority of programs did not believe there were any
barriers PWD would face in order to participate in their program. Moving forward collection of data and open
communication between programs and PWD will be key in addressing barriers to services.
Role of glia in synchronized activity of neurons in culture
Nkoli Agbazue
Delaware State University
Mentor: Murali Temburni
General research category: Sciences
Synchronous activity is thought to play a role in the establishment of functional neuronal networks in the developing nervous
system. Though the specific mechanisms are still unknown, astrocytes have been shown to modulate bursting activity in
neuronal networks. To unravel the role of astrocytes in synchronous firing, we aim to culture neurons alone or with astrocytes
on multielectrode arrays and record bursting activity. The objective of my experiment is to obtain pure populations of
neurons in culture from the optic tectum of E7 chicken embryos. Using the mitotic inhibitor FUdR in the cultures killed
astrocytes in four days leaving a pure population of neurons. Immunofluorescence using astrocyte (GFAP) and neuron
specific (betaIII tubulin) confirmed that the cultures contained only neurons. We will next culture pure neurons on MED64
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multielectrode arrays in the presence or absence of astrocytes. The data obtained will be analyzed for differences in
synchronous bursting properties between neurons growing alone or in the presence of glia.
An Invitation to Friendship as a Method of Reducing Bias
Darren Agboh
University of Delaware
Mentor: Samuel Gaertner
General research category: Psychology
The present research explores the effect of social acceptance or inclusion by outgroup members on a person’s intergroup
attitudes. Shelton & Richeson (2005) discovered that both Black and White participants report that they are interested in
developing cross-group friendship, but members of each group are reluctant to initiate these friendships because they also
incorrectly believe that members of the other group are not interested developing friendships with members of their
group. To address this issue, we seek to explore whether an invitation to friendship by an out-group member will reduce bias
toward the out-group as a whole, leading to a more positive evaluation of out-group members both individually and as a
whole on both implicit and explicit measures. With White participants, 75% accepted an invitation to friendship by a White
interaction partner, while just 31% accepted an invitation by a Black interaction partner, χ2 (1, N = 32) = 4.52, p <.05 (with
Yates correction), suggesting that dispelling pluralistic ignorance may not be enough to encourage intergroup friendship.
However, participants invited to friendship expressed less explicit bias than those who were positively evaluated by an
outgroup member or participants who interacted with an outgroup member and received no feedback, F(2,102)=3.60, p<.05.
ET-B Responses in Premenopausal and Postmenopausal Women
Charris Allen
University of Delaware
Mentor: Megan Wenner
General research category: Sciences
Postmenopausal women have a higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease (CVD). Endothelial dysfunction precedes
atherosclerosis, and results from an imbalance between vasodilationand vasoconstriction. Purpose: The purpose of this study
was to test the hypothesis that postmenopausal women have greater ET-1 mediated vasoconstrictor tone via ET-B receptors.
Methods: Four female subjects were used for this preliminary study. Two subjects were premenopausal (both age 20) and two
were postmenopausal (57, 65 years). The premenopausal women performed the study during the mid lutealphase of their
menstrual cycle. Laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF) coupled with cutaneousmicrodialyisiswas used to assess ET-1 mediated
vasoconstrictor tone. Four microdialysisfibers were placed intradermallyon the dorsal side of the forearm, and infused with
the following substances: saline, ET-B receptor antagonist BQ-788 (300nM), ET-A receptor antagonist BQ-123 (500nM),
and combination BQ-788 (300 nM) +BQ-123(500 nM). Laser Doppler probes were placed on the surface of the skin over
each microdialysissite. After the receptor antagonists were infused, we infused sodium nitroprusside(28 mM) and the laser
Doppler probes were heated to 43°C to elicit maximal dilation. Cutaneousvascular conductance (CVC) was calculated as
laser Doppler flowmetry (in V) divided by mean arterial pressure and expressed as percentage of maximal dilation. Beat-bybeat blood pressure (Finometer) was measured throughout. Results: Saline CVC values were similar in premenopausal
(10±4%) and postmenopausal (8±3%) women. The perfusion of BQ-788 decreased skin blood flow compared to saline in
premenopausal women (6±4%) but increased skin blood flow compared to saline in postmenopausal women (26±2%). The
perfusion of BQ-123 did not alter blood flow compared to saline in premenopausal(10±1%) and postmenopausal (7±3%)
women. Conclusion: These preliminary data suggest that ET-B receptors mediate vasodilationin premenopausal women, but
mediate vasoconstriction in postmenopausal women.
Specialized Court Analysis (Mental Health and Prostitution Courts)
Akilah Alleyne
University of Delaware
Mentor: Chrysanthi Leon
General research category: Social Sciences
Rather than being afforded the opportunity to receive treatment for mental health issues, offenders typically cycle throughout
the traditional criminal justice system between courtrooms, jails, and prisons. Specialized court systems were established to
offer a therapeutic alternative to cases involving specific types of offenders. A thorough literature analysis finds that even
though specialized court systems continue to grow, there are issues; specifically involving the roles and procedures of the
system. Preliminary secondary data analysis of two such courts finds surprising expression of care in the courts; in particular,
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Probation Officers overshadow case managers and public defenders in displaying a positive and lenient attitude toward
defendants.
Design of a Heating Element for the Gravity-fed Solar Thermochemical Receiver / Reactor
Stanley Anderson
University of Delaware
Mentor: Ajay Prasad
General research category: Engineering
The Gravity-fed Solar Thermochemical Receiver/Reactor is the dissertation project of PhD candidate, Erik Koepf. His
invention promises to create green fuels through a two-step process that both decomposes and reduces ZnO to produce
synthesis gases for hydrocarbon synthesis. The reactor is being tested before being further developed, but is challenged by the
large radiant flux needed for operation. Under the direction of Ajay Prasad, the design of a heating apparatus that could
reach the threshold temperature between 1873 – 2273 K was undertaken. Before physical tests could be developed, a
computer model was written first. A finite volume algorithm was used to model the heat transfer. Simulations were designed
to determine what design features (shape, size, orientation) could reach the temperature needed. Upon completion, tests
confirmed the reactor cavity would not reach the desired temperatures, but could potentially reach the alternate threshold of
1473 K for a carbon-assisted reaction. Orienting the heating surface walls also provide a better response, but are more
difficult to manufacture or find. Future study will focus on impediments to the simulation accuracy and roadblocks to
prototyping.
Factors Influencing Achievement amongst Immigrant College Students
Binta Bah
University of Delaware
Mentor: Caroll Izard
General research category: Social Sciences
There is a need to understand factors influencing achievement in the young adult immigrant population. A discrepancy exists
between a steadily increasing immigrant population and low graduation rates among minority students. Research has thus far
examined relations between acculturation, self-efficacy, sex, and achievement. However, the Latino population, most
specifically Mexican Americans, is the only group frequently studied. A gap in the literature exists in regards to other
immigrant cultural groups. This study examined relations of acculturation, self-efficacy, sex, and achievement among small
samples of Latino, Middle Eastern, and Asian immigrant students at the University of Delaware. Middle Eastern students
reported less identification with the American culture along with lower self-efficacy compared to the other cultural groups.
Overall, greater identification with the American culture was positively related to self-efficacy, and self-efficacy was
positively related to levels of achievement. No sex differences were found. Implications and future directions are discussed.
Gender Differences in and Gender Moderation of Peer Victimization and Its Correlates
Jordan Barnada
University of Delaware
Mentor: Julie Hubbard
General research category: Social Sciences
The goals of this study were to assess: a) if gender differences are present in peer victimization during middle childhood and
b) if gender moderates the relations between victimization and psychological correlates including depression, anxiety,
somatization, peer rejection, social withdrawal, and school avoidance. Participants (N=1760 4th and 5th graders) completed
self-report measures of victimization and depression, and peer nominations were obtained for both victimization and peer
rejection. Teachers also reported on children’s victimization, depression, anxiety, somatization, peer rejection, social
withdrawal, and school avoidance. Overall, findings indicated that boys experienced more peer victimization than girls.
Gender moderated the relations between victimization and three constructs (teacher-reported depression, peer-reported peer
rejection, and teacher-reported peer rejection) such that the relations were stronger for boys than girls. This evidence suggests
a need for gender-specific anti-bullying programming. Findings are also discussed in terms of the strengths and limitations of
the study and suggestions for future research.
Locally Pattered Carbon Nanotubes for In Situ Sensing of Deformation and Damage in
Composite Materials
Rossiny Beaucejour
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University of Delaware
Mentor: Erik Thostenson
General research category: Engineering
Exploiting the chemical’s properties of Carbon Nanotubes (CNT) allow the material to be multi-functional and able to be
used for screen printing applications. CNT improves the overall strength, modulus, fatigue life, and thermo properties of
polymers and composites. Each individual strand of CNT possesses strain dependent electric properties that enable CNT
deposited sensors to be used as health monitoring systems. The addition of cellulose, Polyox, and Polyvinylpyrrolidone PVP
provide the inks and the desired rheology to enhance print quality onto glass fibers. Concentration and Performance
evaluations enable the creation of tailorable inks depending on different precursor solution and application. Screen Printing is
a safe way to incorporate CNT ink into composite fabric without damaging the CNT or composite. Percolating conductive
network of CNT sensors are capable of detecting deformation and damage in materials. Characterizing CNT inks to desired
attributions for screen printing will provide preliminary knowledge on how the inks will behave. The accuracy and effective
of the CNT sensors are mechanically tested under quasi-static and cyclic loading conditions. Acoustic emissions and Edge
Replication is used to confirm the ability of the CNT to be used as health monitoring systems and monitor crack, strain, and
permanent deformation in composite materials.
The Effect of Kinesio Taping® for the Gluteus Medius on Dynamic Postural Stability in Healthy Female Subjects
Ashli Bottino
University of Delaware
Mentor: Thomas W. Kaminski
General research category: Sciences
Context: Decreases in dynamic postural control have been associated with lower extremity injuries. Poor stability during
dynamic tasks is associated with lower activation of the hip abductors and medial rotators. Kinesio ® taping (KT) is a
therapeutic tape that may contribute to increased muscle activation. Objective: To examine the effect of KT application to
the gluteus medius on dynamic postural control. Participants: 5 female subjects with no previous lower extremity pathology.
Interventions: Participants performed single-legged hops onto a force plate and were instructed to stabilize themselves as
quickly as possible. Participants were tested prior to KT application, immediately after application, after 24-hours of tape,
and following tape removal. Main Outcome Measure(s): Time-to-stabilization and postural stability indices for the anteriorposterior, medial-lateral, and vertical planes were calculated from forces and moments for each trial. Results: Current results
support a trend toward improvement in postural stability following KT application for the backwards and lateral directions.
Conclusion: Our current data support some mild effects of KT on dynamic postural stability. Power analysis from our current
data support collecting approximately 25 additional subjects to achieve statistical significance for several variables.
Screening Neurotoxicity of commonly used Pesticides in the U.S. in Parkinson's Disease in vitro model
Nicole Brown
Delaware State University
Mentor: Y. Hwan Kim
General research category: Sciences
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the most common neurodegenerative movement disorder. Most PD patients (over 95%) are
sporadic, suggesting that the cause is likely environmental. Particularly pesticides have been reported to induce sporadic PD,
however, the neurotoxicity of some pesticides can be elevated in combination with another pesticide; e.g. the toxicity of a
fungicide paraquat will be synergistically increased when it is used with another fungicide, Maneb. Here we focus on testing
potential combinational damage among currently using common pesticides in the US. Using a PD in vitro model, we measure
the cell viability after exposure of pesticides in N-27 rat dopaminergic cell line for 24 hours. Our hypothesis is that some
pesticides will induce dopaminergic cell death and the combination of pesticides will result in synergistic damage. These
results will allow us to understand what pesticides and combinations cause dopaminergic neurodegeneration and further
possibly prevent sporadic PD.
The Origins of the Dead Sea Scrolls
Michael Cohen
University of Delaware
Mentor: Alan Fox
General research category: Humanities
The Dead Sea Scrolls and the identity of their compilers has been the subject of much scholarly debate since the discovery of
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the scrolls at Qumran in 1946. Many scholars now agree that the society that collected and wrote some of these scrolls were
the Essenes, an ascetic group of Jews who mainly lived on the outskirts of civilization. Despite this general agreement, the
origin of the Essenes remains an open question. Through the examination of the texts authored by the members of the Dead
Sea Scroll community, this paper offers support for the theory that the Essene movement began in Babylon and migrated to
Palestine in the second century BCE. This support is found through the comparison of theological elements in the Dead Sea
Scrolls and the Zoroastrian tradition. The abundance of similarities indicates prolonged contact between the two groups,
which most likely occurred in Babylon.
Mami y yo: Exploring mother-daughter relationships in Latina literature
Cristina Cruz
University of Delaware
Mentor: Philip Penix-Tadsen
General research category: Humanities
The thesis of my current research focuses on gaining a better understanding of the depiction of mother-daughter relationships
in contemporary Latina literature. My study used the novels of Esmeralda Santiago, When I was Puerto Rican and Almost a
Woman, as well as critical and theoretical texts to explore the connection and disconnect between mother and daughter in the
Latina world. This study expands upon eight themes in the aforementioned novels. Using both evidence from the literature,
and theory pertaining to the topic, this investigation pinpoints and expands upon the most important elements of the novel.
These eight themes are the cornerstones of the mother daughter relationships as depicted in these novels. Using evidence
from the literature, and critical sources, I unravel and explain each theme in conjunction to its importance as part of the
mother daughter relationship. Heavily explored is the link between immigration and discord between mother and daughter.
The relationship between Esmeralda and her mother reveal a larger disharmony between “Old” and “New” world, LatinAmerica and the United States. This powerful literary illusion speaks to the modern-day United States, one which can be
considered a “salad bowl” of cultures, and the conflicts risen from these conflicting cultural ideals.
Nitroxidation of Si(111) Surfaces with Nitrobenzene and Nitrosobenzene
Yuexing Cui
University of Delaware
Mentor: Andrew Teplyakov
General research category: Sciences
Ultrathin silicon oxynitride films have attracted substantial attention as gate dielectrics. In this work, we investigate a wetchemistry approach to introduce one-monolayer-thick silicon oxynitride film by reacting H-terminated Si(111) surface with
nitro- or nitrosobenzene. The bifunctional aromatic molecules serve as a source of oxygen and nitrogen, while phenyl ring
remains intact after the reaction and can be further used for further modifications. Fourier-transform infrared spectrometer
(FTIR) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) were used to confirm surface reaction and quantify surface coverage.
Density functional theory (DFT) cluster calculations were employed to explore feasible reaction pathways, and compare the
observed XPS binding energies with calculated N 1s core level energies. Substantial differences in reactions of these two
molecules on silicon provide the opportunity to tune the nitroxidation process to achieve the desired levels of oxygen and
nitrogen by chemical means at relatively mild conditions.
Effect of High Fat Diet-Induced Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes on Tendon Repair
Michael A. David
University of Delaware
Mentor: Robert A. Mooney
General research category: Engineering
It has been proposed that the hyperglycemia of diabetes accelerates changes in the collagen structure through increased
glycation of collagen chains, which possibly could be further accelerated following an injury. To investigate tendon repair as
a consequence of diabetes, a flexor digitorum longus (FDL) tendon injury/repair model was developed in a high fat-diet
model of diabetes in mice. Following a novel “stab injury”, progression of the FDL tendon healing process was assessed via
biomechanical and histological analysis at 7, 14 and 28 days post-injury. Biomechanical testing resulted in statistically
significant differences in maximum force (p< .01) and work to maximum force (p<.05) at 28 days post-injury with the High
Fat-fed mice being lower in each case. Furthermore, injured tendons from HF-fed mice lacked the parallel alignment of
collagen fibers that was seen in the lean fed mice and displayed evidence of decreased cellularity at the injury site.
Combined, this study indicates that the metabolic dysfunction associated with obesity/type 2 diabetes has a detrimental effect
on the normal healing process of the FDL tendon leading to subnormal biomechanical properties.
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Harnessing Entrepreneurial Potential in South Africa’s Townships as a Catalyst for Inclusive Growth: A Case Study
of Soweto
Alexandra Davis
University of Delaware
Plastino Scholarship Program/McNair Scholars Program (no mentor)
General research category: Political Sciences & International Relations
Increasingly, over the course of the past several decades, there has been an emergence of a global consciousness with regard
to the linkage between entrepreneurial activity and economic growth, and the catalytic effect that the proliferation of small
business can have on growth rates and job creation. In line with this global consciousness, South Africa, a nation
experiencing depressed entrepreneurial activity, sluggish growth rates, and unemployment rates just under thirty percent, has
adopted the development of the small, medium, and micro enterprise (SMME) sector as a national priority. In addition,
according to the World Bank, South Africa is regarded as the one of the most unequal countries in the world with a Gini
Index of 63.1 in 2009. This makes strategies for inclusive growth in South Africa of the utmost importance going forward.
Despite this, it was hypothesized that the accessibility of supports in place for SMME development would be gravely
restricted in historically underrepresented communities in the country, particularly in urban settlements colloquially referred
to as “townships”, where tens of millions of South Africans live. Via a case study of the communities of South Africa’s
largest and oldest township, Soweto, research concluded that, in fact, there is a severe lack of access to SMME supports,
which is critically hindering the establishment and advancement of local SMMEs.
Prisoner Reentry Programs: Age Variation in Attitudes and Experiences among Street Life Oriented Black Men
Neraliz Diaz
University of Delaware
Mentor: Yasser Payne
General research category: Social Sciences
This research examines former inmates’ attitudes and experiences toward reentry programs. Participants are African
American men, ranging from ages 18 to 35, who reside in the Eastside and Southbridge neighborhoods of Wilmington,
Delaware. This secondary analysis uses interviews to explore the lived experiences of inmates transitioning from prison to
reentry in the community. The study is guided by the following research question: To what extent does age influence
attitudes and experiences toward reentry programs in the city of Wilmington among African American men? The data
includes 13 individual interviews, 2 group interviews and 1 dual interview. The data shows that factors, such as the lack of
support services (such as substance abuse and mental health treatment, job opportunities, and education) during probation,
recidivism, employer stereotypes and unemployment, have resulted in many former inmates expressing a negative attitude or
experience toward reentry programs. These findings point to the need for an improved reentry system where the reentry
program begins while inmates are incarcerated, as well as the need to provide support services that help probationers
maintain stable living once released from prison.
After the Relationship Ends: Post-Termination Issues Faced by Battered Women with Children
Nafissatou Dicko
University of Delaware
Mentor: Susan Miller
General research category: Social Sciences
Being in a violent relationship is difficult enough; finding the courage to finally leave may be even harder. Many people
think once domestic violence victims leave, they are free of all abuse and can go on to live a happy and safe life. However,
it’s a complicated process and is even worse when children are involved. This research focused on women as the victims of
abuse and men as the perpetrators. After reviewing the literature, three themes that emerged were issue of system
responsiveness, lack of understanding intimate partner violence, and bias in the courts. I used a deductive strategy to
determine if these three themes were present in in-depth interviews conducted with mothers who were domestic violence
victims and had children with their abusers. The 13 women who had children with their abusers talked at length about the
three themes`. In conclusion, the interview data and the literature review reinforce the issues related to the continuation of
violence after the relationship ends and I raise recommendations for the criminal justice system to follow to do a better job of
protecting the women and their children.
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Observing Invisible Corpses: Gender and Violence in Teresa Margolles's "Embroidered Fabric"
Omar Durán
University of Delaware
Mentor: Monica Dominguez-Torres
General research category: Humanities
Upon invitation to the XVIII Bienal Arte Paiz of Guatemala held in 2012, Mexican artist Teresa Margolles decided to submit
a textile artwork that encouraged viewers to observe a colorful piece darkened by the physical presence of death. Margolles’s
work titled “Tela bordada” (Embroidered Fabric, 2012) was made in a two-step process. First, the artist submerged a piece
of white fabric into the bodily fluids of an unknown murdered woman in Guatemala City. Subsequently, she handed over the
fabric to an activist women’s group in Santa Catarina Polopó, Guatemala who excel in the art of embroidery. The members
of the group embroidered traditional colorful Maya imagery associated with themes of hope and power that were juxtaposed
to ideas of death and injustice highlighted by the dark bodily stains on the textile. Margolles’s “Tela bordada” does not only
serve the purpose of presenting a visually dynamic work of art, but also, it addresses the issue of feminicide; the practice of
men killing women because they are women, while governmental institutions take minimal actions to stop these
crimes. Formally, feminicide has been present in the Guatemalan society for almost a century, but the statistics of women
who are brutally murdered by men has increased in the last couple of decades. Thus, Teresa Margolles’s “Tela bordada,”
becomes an artistic object that, created in a ritual-like process, symbolically condenses death into a textile, addressing the
issue of feminicide while it denounces social and governmental injustice.
Analysis of nucleophilic substitution in substituted phenyl chloroformates
Gabriel Fernandez Bueno
Wesley College
Mentor: Malcolm J. D'Souza
General research category: Sciences
Mono substituted phenyl chloroformate esters such as 2-methoxyphenyl chloroformate have found use in the preparation of
symmetrical urea’s that have patented herbicidal control applications against certain weeds, fungi, and bacteria. With the
recent introduction of novel synthetic methodology, the interest in the synthetic utility of such aryl esters is further enhanced
due to their supplemental increased use in pharmaceutical formulations. The specific rates of solvolysis of 2-methoxyphenyl
chloroformate are studied at 25.0o C in a series of binary aqueous-organic mixtures. The rates of reaction obtained are then
analyzed using the extended Grunwald-Winstein (G-W) equation and the results are compared to previously published G-W
analyses for phenyl chloroformate, p-methoxyphenyl choroformate, and p-nitrophenyl chloroformate.
A Celebration of Culture: Women's Carnival Dress in St. Vincent
D'Janna Hamilton
University of Delaware
Mentor: Margaret Stetz
General research category: Humanities
St. Vincent is an island located in the Caribbean Sea and is the biggest of a chain of islands called St. Vincent and the
Grenadines. The most fascinating part of the culture today is the annual celebration of Carnival, which is called “Vincy Mas”
by the locals. Carnival is a cultural festival that takes place from the end of June through the beginning of July and
culminates with a large parade. To many Vincentians it is a time to commemorate their history and show the pride that they
have in their culture. The purpose of this research is to understand how women participate in this event through their choice
of costume, a subject about which there is relatively little scholarly research in print. The lack of information drove my
interest in finding out more about Carnival in that nation. Using an interdisciplinary approach, I read articles and books from
the fields of cultural anthropology, history, feminist studies and fashion studies. I also conducted interviews with women
from St. Vincent and their children. I found that although Carnival is important to the people of St. Vincent, and the costumes
are something in which everyone takes pride, some women today are uncomfortable with the costumes that women are
wearing or are being encouraged to wear. Starting in the early 2000s, these costumes became increasingly eroticized, and
they emphasized the display of women’s bodies. My paper will raise questions regarding the costumes and women’s roles
and offer a few tentative conclusions.
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Automated construction, tuning, and analysis of neuronal models using multi-objective evolutionary algorithms and
fuzzy logic
Myles Johnson-Gray
Delaware State University
Mentor: Tomasz G. Smolinski
General research category: Sciences
Multi-objective evolutionary algorithms (MOEA) can generate or tune neuronal models by optimizing multiple, often
conflicting, objectives simultaneously. However, one weakness of this approach is that it largely ignores the plethora of
available biological knowledge, and instead relies on the convergence efficiency of the algorithm alone. We propose to
remedy this situation by hybridizing MOEA with fuzzy logic in order to supply it with expert knowledge that can improve
the algorithm’s effectiveness. Fuzzy logic comprises easily understood fuzzy IF-THEN rules that can be used to determine
the best adjustment to the evolutionary process in order to meet some predefined criteria. Importantly, as the loop executes,
novel rules can be extracted from the evolutionary algorithm by identifying the changes across the generations that produce
improvement, and mapping that information onto the fuzzy logic domain, which in turn can inspire new physiological
experiments and discoveries.
Addressing the Ultimate Education Attainment Gap in Delaware
Melany Justice
University of Delaware
Mentor: Theodore Davis
General research category: Social Sciences
In the state of Delaware, the African-American high-school dropout rate has increased from 4.95% to 5.23% from 2009 to
2012. Any increase in the dropout rate, whether large or small, is significant, as it results in a series of negative projectors of
each student’s life. Poverty, academic hardship unmet by extra academic support, a lack of student engagement, and a lack of
institutional support are all causes for the increasing dropout rate. Such dropouts later experience the consequences of
government dependence, poverty, unemployment that leads to involvement in illegal activities, and ultimately incarceration.
After examining the solutions of implementing early warning systems, incorporating dropout prevention programs in schools,
and increasing postsecondary and high-school collaborations, I recommend that the Diplomas Now affiliate, Communities In
Schools Program (CISDE), be expanded throughout the state of Delaware. This dropout prevention program has
demonstrated consistent success in achieving dropout reduction among particularly African-American students.
Sympathetic Reactivity in Women with a Family History of Hypertension
Christopher Kaiser
University of Delaware
Mentor: Megan Wenner
General research category: Sciences
Healthy young adults with a family history of hypertension have an increased risk of developing hypertension, a contributing
factor of cardiovascular disease, which is the leading cause of death among women. The sympathetic nervous system plays
an important role in regulating blood pressure, and has been implicated in the development of hypertension. To test the
hypothesis that young women with a family history of hypertension (+FH) have exaggerated sympathetic reactivity compared
to young women without a family history of hypertension (-FH), we measured beat-by-beat blood pressure (BP), heart rate
(HR) and muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) in 9 women -FH and 7 women +FH. Each participant performed two
sympatho-excitatory maneuvers. BP increased at the onset of exercise in both groups, but tended to be greater in +FH. +FH
women had greater increases in BP during the last minute of exercise. Similarly, +FH tended to have a greater increase in BP
during the cold pressor test. The increase in MSNA during exercise tended to be greater in +FH, but were similar during
CPT. These preliminary data suggest that +FH women have greater sympathetic reactivity compared to –FH women.
Effects of Heparin and Heparin-Binding Growth Factor on Human Cardiovascular Cells
Fanta Kalle
University of Delaware
Mentor: Robert E. Akins, Jr.
General research category: Sciences
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Bypass graft surgery and angioplasty are primary treatments for cardiovascular diseases; unfortunately, these procedures
often lead to maladaptive tissue remodeling resulting in stenosis, fibrosis, and eventual vessel failure. Methods to improve
procedural outcomes are needed. We are developing instructive biomaterials for placement along the abluminal surface of atrisk vessels to provide mechanical support and to deliver bioactive molecules and cells to help attenuate maladaptive
responses, encourage healing, and improve clinical outcomes. In the present study we investigate the effects of critical
biomaterial components including heparin and basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF2) on human vascular cells. Cell
morphology, proliferation, and viability were assessed using fluorescence microscopy. Data indicate that pharmacologic
agents and cytokines including heparin and FGF2 can influence the phenotype of cardiovascular cells like AoAFs. Further
studies to determine the mechanisms accounting for these effects and to establish combined effects on cell phenotype will be
needed to enable development of injectable formulations that may be useful in improving clinical outcomes.
Size at Settlement of Mytilis californianus and Mytilis galloprovincialis
Travonya Kenly
Cheyney University
Mentor: Christina Frieder
General research category: Sciences
Successful settlement is important for the persistence of mussel populations because mussels are the main stake holders of the
rocky intertidal. Size at settlement is important for the performance of juveniles and can be influenced by differing factors
such as site, temperature, tides, local predation, salinity and pH. In this project, I determined the size at settlement of two
mussel populations: Mytilis californianus and Mytilis galloprovincialis. Settlers were collected from nine rocky intertidal
sites along the southern California coast. Image analysis was used to determine the size of both the larval component of the
settler shell and the settler shell. Data were compared with existing information to determine if size varied among sites, with
temperatures at the sites, between species, between seasons, with larval origin, and elemental composition. Preliminary
results revealed that there were differences in size among sites for each species and also, that size decreased with increasing
U/Ca of the larval component of the settler shell. Results from this study indicate that size at settlement varies among sites
within southern California and could be an important parameter for the sustainability and persistence of these mussel
populations.
Degradation of Asphalt by Microbial Species
Joseph Kerridge
University of Delaware
Mentor: Julia A. Maresca
General research category: Sciences
The purpose of this project was to study the microbial degradation of asphalt and the process by which the microbes degraded
it. Seven random samples of asphalt were taken from streets around Newark, DE and used as sources for bacteria. The
bacteria were extracted with the use of Tris-Base EDTA (TE) buffer and applied to solid medium. Due to asphalts
hydrophobic nature surrogate carbon sources were used for the medium. These carbon sources included Naphthenic acids
(NA), and Styrene-Butadiene-Styrene block copolymer (SBS). After a waiting period, in which the bacteria were allowed to
grow, specific strains were reapplied to new dishes of solid medium to isolate them. The project is currently in this stage of
development; different species of bacteria are observed under microscope for purity and reapplied to new solid media if
contaminants are found. Once the bacteria are isolated DNA testing will be done so that the specific species can be found.
Stress testing will then begin in which the growth rate and degradation rate of the carbon sources will be tested under
different conditions including varying temperatures, pH levels, nitrogen sources. During this process high powered gas
chromatography (HPGC) will be used to determine the types reactions that the bacteria use to degrade the carbon
compounds.
Effect of Relative Humidity on the Thickness of a PEM Fuel Cell Membrane
Samuel Kurkoski
University of Delaware
Mentors: Michael Santare and Anette Karlsson
General research category: Engineering
Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) fuel cells are a highly efficient way of turning chemical energy into electrical energy.
The fuel cell takes in only hydrogen and oxygen, and its only byproducts are electricity, water and heat; and it has a high
power density per unit volume. This combination of unique properties suggests that PEM fuel cells are a viable option for the
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automobile industry. However, there are a few barriers to widespread commercial use- including premature mechanical
failure. The fuel cells undergo extreme changes in temperature and humidity, which causes the membrane materials to
expand and contract and eventually causes mechanical failure. In order to mitigate these failures, a thorough understanding of
the swelling and mechanical behavior of the membrane materials is needed. This research involves measuring the out-ofplane expansion of PEM materials (DuPont’s Nafion™ 212 and Nafion™ 211) subject to a change in relative humidity. To
do this, a Thermomechanical Analyzer (TMA) machine, designed to measure small deformations under controlled
temperature changes, has been modified for relative humidity control as well. This device was then used to measure the
change in thickness for the different membrane materials under humidity changes at fixed temperature. The results presented
are preliminary, but future work will help quantify the expansion of the PEM materials due to relative humidity.
A New Tetrapyrrole Macrocycle Displaying Multielectron Photochemistry
Benjamin Lefler
University of Delaware
Mentor: Joel Rosenthal
General research category: Sciences
Organic chromophores are inexpensive light-harvesting molecules that have applications in solar energy conversion with uses
in organic dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) and organic photovoltaic cells (OPVCs). Properly designed chromophores can
also play a role in photocatalytic schemes for solar fuel production. Attributes of a good chromophore include large molar
absorptivity that is well matched to the solar-power spectrum and redox potentials that are well-matched for solar energy
storage. We are currently developing new tetrapyrrole scaffolds that are based on the calix[4]phyrin (C4P) framework. These
systems show properties that meet many of the requirements for uses in solar energy capture and storage. The C4P platform
is a strongly absorbing chromophore that is also redox active, displaying multi-electron redox for prospective catalysis in
multi-electron processes. This ligand system is easily metallated, enhancing their potential for use as light harvesters or
scaffolds for catalysis. Here we present the novel synthesis, absorption profiles, and redox properties of the free base, zinc
and copper C4P derivatives.
College students’ desire for money and professional success and students’ subjective well-being
Julianne Lewis
Cheyney University
Mentor: Janet Manspeaker
General research category: Social Sciences
Past research shows that, while making money is important to college students, it is negatively correlated with subjective
well-being. This study asked 130 undergraduate students about the importance, motivation and love of making money, the
desire to attain professional success, and several aspects of subjective well-being: satisfaction with life, self-actualization, and
positive and negative affect. Making money remains very important to college students. This study will be exploring whether
a predominantly African-American college population shows similar results to previous findings of predominantly White
college studies.
Analyzing recovery of function after neuromodulation deprivation in lobster stomatogastric neuron models using
multi-objective evolutionary algorithms
Atish Malik
Delaware State University
Mentor: Tomasz G. Smolinski
General research category: Sciences
The activity of neurons in the crustacean stomatogastric ganglion (STG) depends on neuromodulatory inputs from other parts
of the nervous system. When neuromodulation is removed, the activity of STG neurons initially ceases, but--amazingly--it
reappears within 24 to 96 hours without any external intervention. Here, we propose a computational approach to study this
phenomenon in two important STG neurons: the anterior burster (AB) and pyloric dilator (PD), which together form a
pacemaking kernel driving the rhythmic activity of the pylorus in the animal. We utilize multi-objective evolutionary
algorithms (MOEA) to explore a parameter search space of two biophysical models of the AB/PD neurons in search of
models that exhibit electrical activity resembling that of neurons in presence of neuromodulation, despite being simulated
without it. We consider such models "recovered," and we analyze their properties to determine how they differ from models
representing intact neurons.
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Understanding men who commit crimes in the name of honor
Arpita Mandal
University of Delaware
Mentor: Michael Cotsell
General research category: Humanities
Honor killing has unfortunately been associated with Islam and the Middle East and Far East countries. Though my paper
does focus on the phenomena in the Middle Eastern countries, my objective is to define honor killings and explain the
parameters in which these crimes occur. By understanding the strong societal and cultural forces in place that perpetuate such
violence, my hope is to explain why men themselves are victimized also through this cruel tradition. To help explain this, I
have relied on ethnographic data and journalistic evidence. I have further extrapolated these data and integrated them with
fiction and non-fictional book to demonstrate how laws and society have created a system that requires men to “avenge their
honor” and further protects them by hypocritical judicial laws. My paper takes into account the portrayal of men in literature
who murder in the name of honor. I wish to reveal the depiction of men in these works and how close to reality they are
according to case studies. Moreover, another one of my attempts is to dispel misconceptions surrounding honor killing.
Namely, I wish to reveal the disparity between what Islam preaches and what the cultural forces require and enable people to
practice.
Analysis of Multi-Protein Interactions Involved in Human Bone Stromal Cell (HS-5)-Derived Factor(s) That Induce
Prostate Cancer Cell Death
Irene Marwa
University of Delaware
Mentor: Robert Sikes
General research category: Sciences
Intercellular communication between prostate cancer cells and bone marrow stromal (BMS) cells affects cancer cell survival
and subsequent growth. According to previous data, the size of the Human BMS cell (HS-5) derived factor(s) inducing
prostate cancer cell death was shown to be between 30kDa and 100kDa. We hypothesize here that the derived factor involves
oligomerization and/or multi-protein interactions through disulfide bonds. The HS-5 conditioned media (CM) was directly
treated with Dithiothreitol (DTT) followed by size selection in order to determine the relative size of the death factor.
Reduction of the disulfide bonds significantly lowers the death effect of the derived factor on the prostate cancer cells, as well
as reduces the size of the factor. These findings therefore support the hypothesis that the BMS cell derived factor(s) utilizes
disulfide bonds to form multi-protein or multi-subunit interactions.
Reduction of magnetic resonance imaging processing time for the assessment of leg muscle volume in children with
cerebral palsy
Kimberly Milla
University of Delaware
Mentor: Christopher Modlesky
General research category: Sciences
Cerebral Palsy (CP) is a non-progressive group of disorders that affect the motor function of 17 million individuals
worldwide. A major consequence for many children with CP is substantially reduced muscle volume, especially in the lower
extremities. A criterion method used to assess muscle volume is magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Although MRI offers
unparalleled quantification of the musculoskeletal system, the processing procedures can be extremely labor intensive. My
research project aims to determine the proportion and location of magnetic resonance images that need to be processed to
yield accurate estimates of leg muscle volume in children with CP. To address this aim, a GE 1.5 T MRI will be used to
collect T-1 weighted images of the leg (12 cm field of view, 0.5 cm thick and 0.5 cm spacing between images) from 30
children with spastic CP (3-12 years). The volume of the individual leg muscles will be quantified using software developed
in-house with Interactive Data Language (Research Systems, Inc, Boulder, CO). The agreement between volume measures
using the full image set and partial images will be assessed using Bland-Altman plots and regression analysis. Resulting
regression equations will be cross-validated using the leave-one out technique.
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Does Calvin Klein's "Obsession" for Men Affect the Detection of Mesocarnivores?
Shyanne Miller
University of Delaware
Mentor: Jacob Bowman
General research category: Sciences
The focus of this study was to assess the effect of a particular scent, Calvin Klein’s Obsession for men, on the detection of
mesocarnivores. Much research has been done comparing monitoring techniques, and testing baits and lures. On the other
hand, not much has been done on the use of commercial scents. The area of study was 21 of University of Delaware’s
FRAME sites. We used generic dry cat food as a bait, predator lure, and Calvin Klein Obsession for men for scent. Over the
course of three survey periods (ten days per survey) we tested the perfume to see what mesocarnivores were most attracted.
We found that mostly raccoon and red fox were detected. Domestic cat and Virginia opossum were detected as well. Results
showed that Calvin Klein did affect the detection of red fox. However, the scent did not affect the detection of raccoon,
domestic cat, or Virginia opossum.
Knowledge of Reproductive Coercion among Delaware's Health Professionals
Kaitlin Mitchell
University of Delaware
Mentor: Ruth Fleury-Steiner
General research category: Social Sciences
Women suffering from violence from their partners require support and assistance from society. Healthcare administrators
and physicians can provide this support to victims of intimate partner violence. Through the improved screening process of
female patients by physicians, and the implementation of effective training for healthcare professionals on how to do so, the
nation could see a significant change in the number of women experiencing violence. My research focused on a specific form
of intimate partner violence called reproductive coercion (American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists Committee,
2013). Through an extensive, in-depth literature review on the screening process by and training of physicians, I developed a
plan for future key informant interviews with healthcare professionals within the state of Delaware about their perspectives
and their patient's experiences with reproductive coercion. I expect that there will be little familiarity with reproductive
coercion among the healthcare professionals, as well as little to no previous training addressing reproductive coercion. The
results of this literature review and of the future interviews can be used to better train healthcare professionals about
reproductive coercion.
A Simple Analytical Model for Cartilage Contacts
Axel Moore
University of Delaware
Mentor: David Burris
General research category: Engineering
Articular cartilage functions as the physiological bearing material in anatomical joints. The role of cartilage is to support load
and allow for nearly wear-free and frictionless sliding. The degradation of cartilage, both through mechanical and biological
means, leads to joint pain, inflammation, and infection in over 40 million Americans. The goal of our research is to develop a
viable replacement for damaged cartilage. In an effort to better design synthetic materials and predict their functional
outcomes we have developed an analytical model that describes the normal healthy function of articular cartilage. The model
is based on Hertzian contact mechanics and Darcy’s law to predict the lubrication and load support response of cartilage. The
model was recently validated by results from literature and will soon be validated by direct measures of material properties
and contact conditions.
Youth Group Leadership
Jocelyn Moore
University of Delaware
Mentor: Anthony Middlebrooks
General research category: Social Sciences
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In a study conducted by the Barna Research group, 6 out of every 10 young adults in their twenties do not attend church,
even though they attended regularly as teenagers. This study suggests that the solution to this problem lies within the
leadership styles employed by adult youth group leaders. Christian youth groups are essential to the emotional, social and
spiritual growth of teenagers within the church. However, in order for a youth group to be successful, proper and effective
leadership must be utilized. Largely exploratory in nature, this research takes a look at the leadership styles exhibited by adult
youth group leaders within two Baptist churches in order to answer the question of how to best decrease the church dropout
rate for teenagers. Through ethnographic observations of and interviews with the youth group leaders and volunteers,
significant traces of transactional, transformational, empowering and servant leadership were found. This study then
concludes by offering suggestions on how to effectively lead a youth group, including, but not limited to, creating clear goals
that are catered to the needs of the youth.
Exploring How Skin Color is Represented in Teaching Materials and May Impact Physicians Perspectives on Certain
Skin Conditions
Arianna Morton
Univeristy of Delaware
Mentor: Barret Michalec
General research category: Social Sciences
It is commonly believed that certain skin conditions are under or mis-diagnosed in darker skinned individuals, and this has
led to under-studied health disparities. Some scholars have argued that this mis/under-diagnosis is due, in part, to the lack of
proper exposure by physicians to pictures of conditions on dark skinned patients during medical training. Consequently, this
project aims to investigate any possible disparities that could be present in medical dermatology textbooks and to see how
this impacts physicians’ perspectives on certain skin conditions. This study focuses on two primary directives: a) to assess the
representation of light and dark skin in dermatologically-oriented reference materials in regards to examples (pictures) of skin
conditions, specifically rosacea and skin cancer, and b) to better understand any difficulty practicing physicians may
encounter in diagnosing certain skin conditions, namely rosacea and skin cancer on darker skin; if this potential difficulty
may be related to particular reference materials utilized during their training and/or professional practice; and their
perspectives on whether this potential difficulty may exacerbate current disparities in diagnosis of particular skin conditions
among dark and light skinned patients.
Neighborhood Poverty and Political Participation: Survey Evidence from Black Neighborhoods in Six Cities
N’Kosi Oates
University of Delaware
Mentors: Dorian T. Warren and Robert Y. Shapiro
General research category: Social Sciences
Conventional political knowledge notes that low-income people are less likely to vote than high-income people. My research
project aims to examine the extent to which neighborhood poverty and political isolation correlated with African Americans’
willingness to political participate. I conduct a bivariate correlation and a logistic regression to examine the relationship of
independent and main dependent variables which are political isolation, political participation and neighborhood poverty. I
analyze a sample of 200 African Americans living in poor neighborhoods conducted in six cities: Chicago, Houston, Los
Angeles, New York, Phoenix and San Francisco. I also obtained the percentage African Americans living below the poverty
line from the US Census 2010 American Communities Survey. Updating Cohen and Dawson (1993) with recent data, this
research project illuminates that neighborhood poverty did not affect political participation or our measure of political
isolation in the 2008 presidential election.
In Vitro Co-culture of MCF-7 Cells and Preadipocytes to Observe Cell Proliferation
Edna Ofori
University of Delaware
Mentor: Arun Kumar
General research category: Sciences
Breast cancer, which accounts for 18% of all female cancers worldwide, is the most common form of cancer in women. The
interactions of cancer cells with other elements of the breast’s microenvironment such as fat cells, and other stromal elements
may play a role on progression of breast tumor cells. Preadipocytes are a component of the stromal elements found within the
breast. Its effects on breast tumor proliferation have been studied but the findings have been inconsistent. Since preadipocytes
are preliminary fat cells and fat cells have been implicated in exacerbating the growth rate of cancer cells we hypothesized
that growing the MCF-7 cells with preadipocytes will increase the growth of the cancer cells. In this study we observed the
growth of MCF-7 cells grown in a co culture with preadipocytes, and compared the growth to MCF-7 cells grown in a mono
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culture. We utilized two methods to achieve a co culture. For the first method we used a polylactic acid membrane as a
template for growing the cells. The cells were to be grown in a mono culture for five days than in a co culture for five
additional days. For the second method we attempted a co culture without the aid of the membrane. We added a known
concentration and volume of each cell type to one plate. The plates were observed daily and grown for eight days. The first
method was unsuccessful because we were unable to visualize any cell growth on the membranes. Due to this reason we were
unable to create a co culture. However, there was cell growth surrounding the membrane but this growth was sparser than the
control plates. We achieved a successful co culture for the second method. The cell growth was reduced when grown in the
co culture with the preadipocytes so we concluded that preadipocytes reduce MCF-7 cancer cell proliferation.
Statistical Properties of Colonial New Jersey's Monetary System from 1709 to 1775
Lucero Pizano
University of Delaware
Mentor: Farley Grubb
General research category: Social Sciences
The British North American Colonies, from 1690 to 1775, were the first western economies to emit sizable amounts of paper
money, called bills of credit. The colonies turned to paper money as a means of exchange due to the scarcity of gold and
silver coins (specie). Unlike other colonies New Jersey's legislatures printed the face value in species on the face of each
paper bill. This feature allowed for more precise statistical analyzes on New Jersey's paper money. By measuring the liquidity
premium of Colonial New Jersey's paper money from 1709 to 1775 it was discovered that the liquidity premium varies over
time and may be affected by historical events. The Full Augmented Dickey-Fuller Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) Estimation
Equation was ran on Colonial New Jersey's exchange rates to pounds sterling from 1709 to 1775 and the liquidity premium.
Based on these tests, it was found that the exchange rate is a stationary times series but the liquidity is a non-stationary time
series. These findings led to the conclusion that Colonial New Jersey’s monetary system was unstable and chaotic over time.
Ontogeny of Object-in-Context Learning in the Rat
Adam Ramsaran
University of Delaware
Mentor: Mark E. Stanton
General research category: Sciences
The novel object recognition (OR) paradigm (Ennaceur & Delacour, 1988) exploits rats' propensity for exploring novel
objects more than familiar objects (Berlyne, 1950), and thus variants of the paradigm can be used to assess many other forms
of incidental recognition memory. The object-in-context recognition (OiC) task (Dix & Aggleton, 1999) serves as an index of
incidental contextual memory. In the OiC task, a rat explores two different pairs of identical objects located within two
distinct contexts, then encounters both types of objects in either context following a delay. Preferential exploration of the
object mismatched to the testing context indicates that the rat remembered the previously encountered object-context
pairings. Unlike standard OR which is mediated in part by the perirhinal cortex (Barker et al., 2007; Norman & Eacott, 2005;
Mumby et al., 2002; Barker and Warburton, 2011), it is thought that OiC also requires the hippocampus (Mumby et al., 2002;
Balderas et al., 2008). The hippocampus is critical for consolidating contextual information into conjunctive context
representations, which are necessary for forming the object-context associations during OiC training (Rudy, 2009). The
present study examined the ontogeny of the OiC task between postnatal days (PD) 17 and 32. Rats in all age groups—PD1718, 21, 26, and 31-32—were able to remember the object-context pairings experienced during training, suggesting that the
neural mechanisms responsible for OiC learning emerge by PD17.
Gene editing using TALE-Nucleases and ssODNs
Natalia Rivera-Torres
Delaware State University
Mentor: Eric Kmiec
General research category: Sciences
Transcription Activator-Like Effector Nucleases (TALENs) are being used as tools for genome engineering due to their
activity as site-specific endonucleases. TALENs are chimeric enzymes that can be designed to make a unique cut in the
genome after exogenous introduction into human cells. The site specific double strand break increases the efficiency of gene
editing without causing high levels of cytotoxicity. Our lab has reported that TALENs increase the frequency of gene editing
directed by ssODNs while simultaneously reducing the amount of ssODN required to direct productive and stable gene
correction. In these studies TALENs were used to enable ssODN entry into the target site by creating the specific double
strand DNA break near the mutant base, the nucleotide designated for correction. The efficiency of gene editing is dependent
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on the inclusion of both TALEN arms, the specific ssODN designed to align with the target site and an optimized
TALEN:ssODN (µg/µg) ratio in the reaction. The aim of this project is to identify a set of TALENs that will enhance the
correction efficiency frequency of the gene editing using a standard reaction ratio previously identified TALEN:ssODN
(2µg/1.35µg). Two important parameters will be taken in consideration: (1) spacer length and (2) position of cut site form the
nucleotide designated for correction. Unsynchronized HCT116-19 cells were transfected with the ssODN and/or TALEN
plasmid constructs both designed to direct gene editing. Cells were then recovered 48hr time prior to analysis. Fluorescence
(eGFP) was measured by Flow Cytometery to calculate correction efficiency. Identifying the polarity of the TALENs
respective to the nucleotide designated for correction permit us to better understand the TALEN/ssODN reaction parameters
that enable the enhancement of correction frequency. Gene editing can lead to inheritable nucleotide changes for use in the
treatment of inherited disorders such as sickle cell anemia.
A survey of RAS mutations in Costello Syndrome patients and non-syndromic patients with embryonal
rhabdomyosarcoma reveals diversity of mutations in non-syndromic population
Rebecca Sahraoui
Delaware State University
Mentor: Katia Sol-Church
General research category: Sciences
The goal of our research was to compare and contrast the molecular hallmarks of embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma (ERMS) in
Costello Syndrome (CS) and non-syndromic (NS) patients. Costello Syndrome is a rasopathy caused by germline
heterozygous mutation in the HRAS oncogene, leading to an increased risk for malignancies, specifically ERMS. In the
general population, non-syndromic ERMS is a relatively common pediatric cancer. It is rarely associated with HRAS
mutations, but is characterized at the molecular level by loss of heterozygosity (LOH) at 11p15.5. Eight ERMS tumors from
6 unrelated CS patients were available for molecular evaluation, as well as eight formalin fixed paraffin embedded (FFPE)
samples. DNA was extracted from ERMS samples. PCR was used to amplify region of interest in candidate genes. STR
genotyping of FFPE specimens was done. Sequencing was performed using Sanger dideoxy sequencing. All CS patients
carried germline paternally derived p.G12S or p.G12A mutations in HRAS, with complete loss of heterozygosity along
chromosome 11. NS tumors were found to have mutations in HRAS, NRAS and KRAS. Three FFPE samples showed no
RAS mutations. All NS samples displayed either partial or complete loss of heterozygosity along chromosome 11.
The Car-Free Guide: An Outcome of the Assessment of Transit-Friendliness in the City of Newark, Delaware
Nicole Seymour
University of Delaware
Mentor: Jerome Lewis
General research category: Social Sciences
The City of Newark, Delaware is one of many American small cities that have incorporated transit-friendly development into
its city planning goals. Presently, many homeowners are in support of living in areas where public transportation is easily
accessible and readily available, which will lead to affordable lifestyles. However, New Castle County residents have cited
transportation as one of the most critical issues facing the area. Newark, Delaware serves as the perfect case study because of
its population diversity, as it is both a college town and a city for "aging in place". This policy analysis assesses the transitfriendliness of Newark through planning, policy development, and community design principles that will promote transitfriendly development, and enhance multi-modal transportation options (e.g, bikeability, walkability, public transit, car
sharing). Ultimately, this policy analysis recommends 1) integrating transit-friendly principles within its updated 2013/2014
Comprehensive Plan; 2) improving public awareness through the first Car Free Newark Guide; 3) continuing to adopt landuse policies that support walkability and Downtown Newark Development districts (e.g, mixed-use development); 4)
continuing to partner with the Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT) to implement "Complete Streets". This
policy recommendation was completed through individual observation and literature review analyses from the University of
Delaware's Institute for Public Administration and Center for Transportation, and the Wilmington Area Planning Council.
Love Prejudice: An Underestimated Social Problem
Tyler Sharp
University of Delaware
Mentor: Nicole Shelton
General research category: Social Sciences
In order to improve intergroup relations, past research has examined how changing people’s perception about the outgroup
generates positive intergroup contact. Alternatively, another approach is to change people’s perception of the ingroup to
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facilitate positive intergroup relations. This research explores love prejudice, defined by Allport as the tendency to
overgeneralize our categories of attachment and affection - as an underestimated social problem and looks at how love
prejudice presents itself through language. The linguistic intergroup bias model predicts that when a person describes an
ingroup member or an outgroup member performing a positive behavior, that person will use more abstract (Sarah is
helpful) or concrete (Sarah carried the old woman’s bags) language respectively. The opposite is true for describing negative
behavior. This model suggests that in order to see the ingroup member more positively, more abstract language should be
used to describe positive behavior of outgroup members because abstract language is more resistant to disconfirmation. In
this paper, it is hypothesized that thinking about the ingroup member in a concrete manner makes the ingroup member see the
outgroup member more positively. It is suggested that changing the language used to describe ingroup, rather than outgroup
members behavior and using more objective, concrete language across all behavior. Expected results are that if we
understand and relate to our ingroup members in more objective and concrete ways, we can reduce bias towards outgroup
members. Potential implications of this research are discussed.
Celebrity News Overpowering News Media
Zelika Shillingford
Cheyney University
Mentor: Poe
General research category: Social Sciences
Teenagers are affected by the excessive celebrity reporting by news organizations and tabloids. This type of reporting
adversely affects a teenager’s self-esteem, awareness of significant worldwide events, and identity. Increased access to
technology has encouraged teenagers to constantly consume the lives of celebrities. Through online media, television, and
print media, fictitious relationships became common in the United States between teens and their idols. Ongoing celebrity
news coverage not only causes identity problems for teens but tens can become overinvolved in celebrities’ lifestyles. Current
media outlets encourage teens’ addiction towards celebrity news. Media helps the problem to become more of a concern.
There should be a limit to how much coverage of celebrities it should be on tabloids. Similarly because of the many options
there are to get hold of celebrity news, news organizations should reduce or get rid of celebrity coverage all together. News
organizations should continue as past times to only report about weather forecasts, traffic, local, and worldwide events that
their audience should know. The time being spend on celebrity news should be spend on news that are rather significant to
keep the people informed about what can affect them the most in their community.
Ultrathin Cu(In,Ga)Se2 thin film solar cells with transparent back contacts
Hamed Simchi
University of Delaware
Mentor: William Shafarman
General research category: Engineering
Cu(InGa)Se2 thin film solar cells have attracted a lot of interest because they have achieved highest efficiency among thin
film photovoltaic materials and they provide many different manufacturing options. One approach to lower the
manufacturing cost of the Cu(In,Ga)Se2 solar cells is to reduce the Cu(In,Ga)Se2 absorber thickness. This leads to lower
material usage and opens the possibility for increased manufacturing throughout, since the deposition time can be reduced. In
this research, a novel backwall superstrate device structure that outperforms conventional substrate Cu(In,Ga)Se2 devices for
ultrathin (<0.7 μm) absorbers is demonstrated. The backwall structure (glass/ITO/MoO3/Cu(In,Ga)Se2/CdS/i-ZnO/Ag)
utilizes a recently developed MoO3 transparent back contact to allow illumination of the device from the back. The
characteristics of the interface between the Cu(In,Ga)Se2 absorber layer and the back contact is studied by x-ray
photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) to understand the band alignments and surface chemistry of the absorber layer-back
contact interface.
Mediating the Effects of Parental Incarceration; Does the Source of Support Alter Behavioral Outcomes?
Lakeisha Smith
University of Delaware
Mentor: Cynthia Robbins
General research category: Social Sciences
The authors examine the relationship between the source of social support and differences in delinquency rates for children
with histories of parental incarceration. Using data from a self-report survey administered to 8th grade classrooms in
Delaware public schools they found that children who did not have a father incarcerated had lower scores on the delinquency
scale that was created using 12 questions from the 195 question survey. Two controls were used; those without a father
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incarcerated, and those with a father incarcerated who indicated that they received no support at all. For the first control
group, any type of support was found to be significant. In contrast, they found that children who had a father incarcerated
experienced much higher rates of delinquency and that the delinquency scores for the participants were negatively correlated
with support from an interested adult, as well as from a parent. When examining the effects of peer support, the focus sample
did not show any significant differences in delinquency in comparison to participants who reported having no support at all.
Findings highlight the importance of conducting more research on the benefits, and disadvantages that each source of social
support can have within various trauma settings.
Identifying Cytokines Associated with Acute and Chronic Lyme Arthritis
Ramya Sridharan
University of Delaware
Mentor: Paul T. Fawcett
General research category: Sciences
Symptoms of untreated infection with Borrelia burgdorferi, which is the causative agent of Lyme disease (LD), frequently
include arthritis, particularly of large joints. In pediatric patients, symptoms of arthritis typically resolve following treatment
with an adequate course of antibiotics. However, in 10 to 20 percent of pediatric patients with Lyme arthritis, symptoms
persist despite patients having received what is generally considered adequate treatment with antibiotics. Patients whose
symptoms resolve in less than 6 months after initiation of antibiotic therapy are classified as having acute Lyme arthritis.
Patients whose symptoms do not resolve within 6 months are classified as having chronic Lyme arthritis. Prior studies
indicate that pediatric patients with chronic Lyme arthritis do not have an active infection with the spirochete and causes of
chronic Lyme arthritis remain undetermined. Primary cell cultures obtained from the synovial fluid were analyzed to
determine if cytokines produced by synoviocytes could be used to predict the outcome of treatment with antibiotics.
IGF-1 and WIsp3 (LIBC) in Inflammatory Breast Cancer
Sydney Sudler
Delaware State University
Mentor: Cynthia van Golen
General research category: Sciences
IGF-1 and Wisp3 (LIBC) in Inflammatory Breast Cancer Sydney Sudler Delaware State University Cynthia van Golen and
Kenneth van Golen Oral Presentation General Research Category: Sciences Inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) is an
aggressive form of cancer that results in invasion of tumor emboli in lymphatic vessels. IBC is characterized by early age of
onset, rapid progression and highly invasive capabilities. Previous work has shown that insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I)
plays a role in the progression of breast cancer. IGF-I receptor (IGF-IR) overexpression induces cell-cell adhesion in breast
cancer cells; therefore, our hypothesis is that IGF-IR activation in IBC promotes emboli formation through cell adhesion
protein upregulation. We have grown IBC cells with the addition of IGF-I to look at the effect of IGF-I on emboli formation.
The addition of IGF-I does not significantly increase emboli formation. We hypothesize that the emboli are producing their
own IGF-I, preventing a further increase with exogenous IGF-I. Therefore, our current focus is on preventing activation of
the IGF-IR using a neutralizing antibody and analyzing emboli formation.
Making Sense of Large Scale Cancer Data Using Continuous Bayesian Networks
Stacey Wallace
University of Delaware
Mentor: Nii Attoh-Okine
General research category: Engineering
Currently the increased number of sensors, imaging systems, and other emerging techniques in critical chemical and
biomedical testing, monitoring, and control are enabling massive amounts of data to be generated at unprecedented scales.
Data are generated in such volumes making it very difficult to draw appropriate conclusions. Since in some cases, the data
include noise and incomplete information, processing of these large sets, which are the magnitudes of terabytes to petabytes
demand new tools such as algorithmic, probabilistic and statistical techniques. Based on recent studies, large data sets are
being collected in the laboratories to develop efficient and appropriate prediction algorithms tools for lung cancer. This study
uses continuous Bayesian Networks, a machine learning method, in conjunction with large data analytics to predict and make
inferences about lung cancer progression. The combination of large data analytics and continuous Bayesian Networks may
provide a more accurate prediction of lung cancer progression in patients.
To fold and insert or To insert and fold… That is the Question
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Hongbin Wan
University of Delaware
Mentor: Sandeep Patel
General research category: Sciences
Membrane proteins are playing pivotal roles in many cellular processes. However, our knowledge of folding pathways of
such membrane proteins is controversial due to different simulation protocols and force fields used in molecular dynamics
simulations. In this project, we perform our simulation with an all-atomic force field to study the folding behaviors of
WALP-16 in the solvated membrane, DPPC. We employ a NPT ensemble with Umbrella Sampling method and RMSD
restraint in Plumed, which yields the free energy landscape in order to monitor the native state of WALP16 at each position
within the membrane system. We use the Weight Histogram Analysis Method (WHAM) to extract PMF, which is defined as
the free energy landscape along one reaction coordinate. The local minimum on the plot of PMF verses RMSD represents the
stable structure of the peptide at that position.
Junctional Adhesion Molecule A (JAM-A): Expression in the Murine Epididymal Tract and Accessory Organs and
Acquisition by Maturing Sperm
Kathie Wu
University of Delaware
Mentor: Patricia A. Martin-DeLeon
General research category: Sciences
JAM-A, Junction Adhesional Molecule A, has been shown to be a membrane protein essential for sperm motility. We
hypothesized that JAM-A may be expressed in the murine epididymis and the objective of this study was to determine
whether JAM-A is expressed and secreted in the epididymal tissues and the luminal fluid, as well as the accessory organs.
We also sought to determine if it can be taken up by sperm from the luminal fluid in vitro. Our results show differential
expression of JAM-A in the three regions of the epididymis, being highest in the caput and lowest in the cauda. Consistent
with this, caput sperm showed a 6-fold increase in the level of JAM-A expression, compared to caudal ones. JAM-A was also
found to be present in the accessory organs: prostate and seminal vesicle, and was shown to be secreted in the epididymal
luminal fluid (ELF). When ELF was co-incubated with sperm in in vitro uptake assays, caput/corpus sperm showed a 12-fold
increase in uptake levels of JAM-A compared to the PBS control, while there was only a 7-fold increase for caudal sperm.
Our results suggest that JAM-A expression is involved in epididymal sperm maturation.
Dynamic Rheological Properties of Field-Responsive Nanomaterials for Applications in Transtibial Prosthesis
Keyi Xu
University of Delaware
Mentor: Norman Wagner
General research category: Engineering
STFs (shear thickening fluids) are non-Newtonian fluids that display increases in viscosity at high rates of shear. This unique
behavior of STFs can be utilized in various types of protective gear applications. Ultimately, the goal of this project is to
design and implement an STF device into a transtibial prosthetic. Those who wear transtibial prosthesis are prone to
degenerative joint disease due to elevated loading in the intact extremity of the leg. An STF damper located in the ankle of
the prosthetic will absorb gait stresses and protect the intact extremity. With this goal in mind, the current work seeks to
understand the mechanism behind shear thickening and shear thinning at the microstructure level, characterize the STF
through steady state and dynamic rheology, and to investigate the dynamic response of the STF to time-scale dependent
deformations. The experiments probed the STF response to both constant and dynamic deformations, and allowed for a
greater understanding of the material as well as an evaluation of STF effectiveness in a transtibial prosthetic. Overall,
experimental results demonstrated that the STF increased in both energy dissipation and elasticity with an increase in
oscillatory strain. This unique property motivates for further research into the damper capabilities of STFs.
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