Research Days Posters 2020

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  Taste of Attraction: Observing the effects of starvation resistance on mating success in D. melanogaster

  Rachel Santana Felipes, Ali Machrone, and Nicholas Shleiwet

  Drosophila melanogaster have reduced mating success after being exposed to starvation selection pressure that results in increased body weight. Many insect are capable of finishing their metamorphosis before larva reaches their final size. This results in smaller but viable adults. Previously, flies were put through a rescue protocol to reduce their size in efforts to increase mating. This method was not successful across all genetic lines of starvation resistant flies. We suspect that the increased cuticle hydrocarbon released by starvation resistance flies impacts their mating success. We will test this hypothesis by following a performing a pheromone exchange protocol.

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  Postpartum Smoking Cessation Video. A Qualitative Study

  Wendi Gallagher, Lauren Katz, Valerie Cruz, Gianna Degrezia, Gabriella DiMuro, Rebecca Krabill, Ciara McNeill, and Megan Sutton

  Despite knowledge of the risks of tobacco and environmental smoke to peripartum women and their newborns, there are few interventions designed for use in the postpartum period. Previous research eliciting input from pregnant smokers and their providers led to the development of three educational videos, including one specific to the postpartum period. These videos were produced prior to the dramatic rise in the use of electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS). The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of postpartum women and the perinatal nurses who care for them related to tobacco use and ENDS products. Participants also viewed the postpartum video and shared their impressions. Data were collected from four focus groups; two groups of postpartum women, and two groups of perinatal nurses. Focus group methodology was employed, using a semi-structured question format. Discussions were audiotaped, transcribed verbatim and analyzed using the Delphi consensus method. Themes were identified and included a) a lack of education for both peripartum women and RNs, b) motivations and barriers to quitting c) acceptability of the video format, and d) suggestions for improving the video. These results will be used to inform the editing of the postpartum video prior to pilot testing.

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  It's not a phase mom: How Parental Acceptance Influences Long Term Well Being for Sexual and Gender Minorities

  Jonathan Gaughan

  Disclosure of sexual and/or gender minority status, or "coming out", is often an important step for sexual and gender minorities (SGM) that, along with components of familial acceptance such as support, discussion, and expression of affection, are critical in identity formation. While many studies have examined the harms of familial rejection on emerging SGM adults, few studies have examined the possible benefits of family acceptance. Our study examined the influence of SGM's reported levels of accepting parental behaviors in regards to self-image, sexual satisfaction, and outlook on relationships which may have far-reaching implications for long-term health and happiness of emerging SGM adults.

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  Investigating the Correlations between Frequency of ADHD Medication Use with Perception, Dependence, and Undesired Side Effects

  Lee Ann Genussa, Dennis Cregin, Camille Guo, Rebecca Koltun, Eva Kristoferson, Sana Malik, Haley Norton, Adelle Ricci, and Lina Begdache

  ADHD medications are widely used by students across college campuses in order to enhance academic performance and concentration. Often times, students use these medications illicitly and are unaware of the side effects that may be caused by use. This study collected survey based data from 879 college aged students in the Northeast United States in order to better understand the scope, causes, and effects of the misuse of ADHD medications. Data was collected using a Google Survey and analyzed using Pearson's Correlation Coefficient in SPSS, Version 25.0. Our results revealed significant correlations between frequency of ADHD medication use and perception of these types of medications. Specifically, use of ADHD medication "about once a day" was significantly correlated with nearly all of the undesired side effects inquired about in the survey, including panic attacks, aggression, and headaches. Despite experiencing these side effects, the "about once a day" users reported that they still perceived Adderall and similar medications to be more safe than caffeine and marijuana use. These findings shed light on the implications of ADHD medication use and suggest that outreach activities are needed to promote awareness on side effects of misuse.

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  It doesn't hurt to smile ...Or Does It? Tend and Befriend Reactions to Stress During Hookups

  Renate Gerstenberger, Kimberly Cola, Skyler Powers, Diana Riestra, Juan Riestra, Jordana Weissman, and Jason Zheng

  Acquiring clear consent during hookups can be challenging. Previous research suggested that humans engage in a "fight or flight" response under stress. More recently, a "tend and befriend" model was hypothesized by Taylor (2000, 2002) to explain how many people, especially women, respond with friendly or nurturant behavior in stressful situations. Young adults completed a survey assessing their various behaviors during stressful hookup encounters. Behaviors were categorized as either "tend and befriend" or "fight or flight" response. Tend and befriend behaviors included "smiling nervously" and more. This study looked at gender differences in regards to stressful hookup situations.

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  The Effect of Where You Live and How You View the Binghamton Economy

  Steven Gieseler Jr.

  Everyone believes they affect something more than they do. Last semester, a study was done to see how students believed they affected the local Binghamton economy and over 80% believed they contributed to a majority of the economy, when in reality they only contributed about 13%. This leads into questions about if where people come from can affect how much a student believes they affect the economy. For this research, first year students at Binghamton University will be studied to see if where they grew up affect how they think they affect the local economy. A survey will be given out with questions regarding where these subjects grew up and how much they believe they affect the local economy of Binghamton. It's believed that students from richer areas will believe they have a bigger effect on the economy than those from poorer areas. This can help lead to a bigger understanding on how implicit biases- feelings that people have without realizing it- work and what affects them. It can also lead to helping businesses learning how their consumer base looks at their effect on them and they can adjust accordingly.

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  Improving the Stability of Manganese-Substituted Cs(Pb/Mn)Br3 Inorganic Perovskite Quantum Dots Through Silica-Coating

  Jacob Hard

  Inorganic perovskite quantum dots (IPQD) are semiconductor nanoparticles with high color tunability, making them optimal materials for optoelectronic devices. Current CsPbBr3 IPQDs have high quantum yields (QY) and broad absorption and emission profiles, but are limited in commercial implementation due to the toxicity of lead. This poster will discuss the synthesis of silica-coated manganese-substituted Cs(Pb/Mn)Br3 IPQDs. Replacing lead with manganese reduces the toxicity of the nanoparticles while maintaining the high QY, and the addition of a silica shell improves the stability of the IPQD. These modifications produce higher quality nanoparticles with broadened applications in optoelectronic devices.

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  Sharing Isn't Always Caring: STI Concerns

  Matt Heider

  This study examined the relationship between gender and concern about contracting a sexually transmitted diseases during oral sex. It was hypothesized that concern regarding contracting a sexually transmitted disease would be higher in females in general than in males in general. College students completed a survey with questions regarding their concern levels about contracting an STI while having oral sex. The implications are discussed regarding the variance in concern from “never concerned” to “always concerned” of contracting an STI.

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  Behind Bars in Binghamton: Exploring the Incarceration Rate of Broome County

  Jackson Hengsterman

  Broome County has the highest incarceration rate in New York State, with 39 people incarcerated per every 10,000 residents. This number has grown 680% since 1980 when the incarceration rate of Broome County was only 5 per 10,000. The purpose of this study is to uncover what social, political, or economic factors lead to Broome County having the highest incarceration rate in the state. To answer this question, I spoke first-hand with many important players in the criminal justice system - including activists, scholars, and prosecutors. I also underwent participant observations at community meetings, court arraignments, protests against incarceration, as well as visiting the Broome County jail itself multiple times. Factors that lead to high incarceration rates, such as poverty and housing insecurity, are experienced in most counties in New York state, but Broome County struggles with them more than the average county. This study sheds light on the impact of mass incarceration on local jails, as well as the factors that lead to an increase in incarceration locally. If we understand the factors that contribute to high incarceration rates, we will be able to create policies and programs to mitigate these factors and combat mass incarceration.

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  Exploring Multi-electron Redox for Na-ion Battery Electrodes

  Grayson Hoteling

  As the energy density of conventional Li-ion batteries approaches its limit, other chemistries such as multi-electron redox offer a way to further the development of energy storage on the cathode side of a battery. Na2CoSiO4 (NCSO) has the potential to exploit the multi-electron redox process to increase energy density, while lowering cost of production due to the ubiquity of Na. Our experiments show a successful synthesis of pure NCSO, which undergoes a reversible charge/discharge process with one Na ion, but it is not known what occurs past one Na extraction. We expect to discover what kinetic and thermodynamic barriers effect the mobility of the second Na ion. Our research shows that NCSO is a promising cathode material for its low cost and high energy density potential, which could offer a viable material for large scale electrochemical energy storage.

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  Sex Influences Behaviors and Neurochemistry of the Neonatal Clomipramine Model of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

  Erika Hryhorenko, Julia Mende, Abigail Reilly, Sydney Tse, Sophia Valerino, and Hannah Wojcik

  Current treatments for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) are ineffective. This study evaluated the neo-clomipramine (neoCLOM) animal model of OCD using elevated plus maze (EPM) testing and HPLC analysis of dopamine (DA) and norepinephrine (NE) in punches of the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and orbitofrontal cortex (OFC). Treatment had an effect on total arm entries, whereas Sex had an effect on open arm entries: (a) neoCLOM females had increased total arm entries compared to neoSAL females; (b) both female groups had more closed and total arms entries compared to respective male groups; (c) neoCLOM females spent more time in the open arms compared to neoCLOM males. The hyperlocomotion exhibited by the females in the EPM suggests alternative interpretations of female expressions of anxiety in the EPM may be needed. HPLC analysis showed that both NE and DA levels in the ACC and OFC were affected by Treatment and Sex. Although traditional interpretation of behaviors in the Elevated Plus Maze do not support the face validity of the neoCLOM model, promise for the construct validity of the neoCLOM model is suggested by the increased levels of NE and DA in the orbitofrontal and anterior cingulate cortices.

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  My Partner or My Parents? Parent-Specific Effects on Relationship Attributional Styles

  Katherine Iwasiutyn and Samantha Wagner

  Relationship attributional styles, or the tendencies to attribute a partner's behavior to intrinsic (e.g., personality) or extrinsic (e.g., situational) factors, affect the way one interprets and reacts to relationship conflict and partner behavior (Fincham & Bradbury, 1992). Typically, the tendency to attribute negative behaviors as intrinsic to one's partner is considered problematic and is predictive of relationship dissatisfaction (Kimmes, Durtschi, Clifford, Knapp, & Fincham, 2015a; Fincham & Bradbury, 1992). There is little known about the origin of relationship attributional styles (Kimmes et al., 2015b), but studies have suggested that they may be parent-specific and may be transmitted intergenerationally (Benson, Arditti, Reguero de Atlies & Smith, 1992a; Werner, 2012). The current poster explores if reports of parental bonding style is associated with current relationship attribution tendencies. Preliminary correlations indicate that men who reported having more over-protective fathers in childhood tended to have more maladaptive attributional styles. Contrarily, women who reported having more caring mothers tended to have less maladaptive attribution styles. Relationship attribution style was otherwise uncorrelated with parental bonding. Our data are consistent with other findings, as a positive maternal relationship has been previously linked with less maladaptive attributional styles (Benson et al., 1992b), and paternal overprotection with separate problematic outcomes in adult sons (Yan, Han, & Li, 2016; Patock-Peckham & Morgan-Lopez, 2009).

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  Attitudes Towards Sexual Assault: The Influence of Athletic Background and Media Portrayal on Perceptions of Rape

  Bridget Jules

  Societal attitudes towards athletes may influence media depictions of sexual assault perpetrators and individuals' responses to these portrayals, which can thereby shape reactions and outcomes affecting perpetrators and victims. This study presented participants (N=616) with actual news articles depicting sexual assaults committed by athlete and non-athlete perpetrators. Articles were reliably coded for various characteristics. Analyses indicated that athlete perpetrators were characterized more positively than non-athletes. Analyses indicated that characteristics of the participant were more relevant to shaping attitudes than article-level factors, with attributes including sports fanaticism and beliefs about rape predicted how blame was apportioned to victims versus perpetrators.

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  A Head Start in Science: Parent-child interactions and children’s science process skills

  Ariel Kachuro, Dennis Cregin, Arlicia Gross, Samantha Herlands, Julia Kolodny, Briana Squires, Danielle Wolfe, Kayla Yim, and Samantha Ziesel

  Supporting early STEM learning in children is important in formal and informal settings, especially for underrepresented families. Head Start partnered with the Sciencenter to engage parents and children in STEM related activities once a month during free Family Engagement Night. It was hypothesized that children’s school readiness was related to the amount of science-process language used between parents and children. Children’s school readiness scores were evaluated throughout the academic year. Science process language was categorized into observations, predictions, categorization, math and measurements, and spatial. It was found that school readiness scores were correlated with math related conversation but not science and technology, rs> .53, ps< .05. Gender differences were also found in overall STEM related conversation, F(1,21)=13.27, p< .05, ��2=.43. Future studies will evaluate the significance between gender differences on STEM related assessments and parent-child interactions during Family Engagement Night.

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  Systematic Racism in the U.S.: Disproportionate African American Maternal Mortality Rates

  Jillian Karlicek, Connor Barry, and Mackenzie Johnson

  Black mothers in the United States have significantly higher mortality rates than all other American racial or ethnic groups, even when factors such as education, income, and overall health are controlled for. We considered whether life experiences of systemic racism contribute to poor maternal health for black women. Through literary analysis and an interview with a medical anthropologist, we found indications that higher incidences of maternal mortality are not due to genetic factors shared among African-American women. Rather, along with other cultural factors, continuous exposure to racism strains the body in ways that negatively impact maternal health. Our research highlights the often misunderstood health outcomes of black mothers in the United States that results from a system of inequality.

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  Implementation of a heart failure clinic: strategy for reduction in 30-day readmissions

  Laurinda Karpel

  Purpose: The aim of the project was to start a multi-disciplinary Heart Failure (HF) clinic to reduce 30-day readmissions or ED visits within a large multi-specialty clinic. Methods: In a community hospital in Northeastern Pennsylvania, a team of providers developed a HF clinic to evaluate patients who had recently been discharged from the hospital with a principal admission diagnosis of heart failure. The visit was primarily conducted by one of two heart failure nurse practitioners, in collaboration with a HF registered nurse (RN), and a pharmacist. Framework of this project was guided by the Logic Model. This model is utilized by planners, funders, and evaluators of programs and interventions. The model includes process and outcomes components as well as indicating when to expect certain change. Results: Readmission for HF within 30 days of hospital discharge occurred in 16.92% of patients during the first three months of the study period, in the sample group. In the comparison group, readmission for HF had occurred in 23.62% of patients. Thus, we achieved an absolute risk reduction of 6.03% and a relative risk reduction of 0.26% in 30-day HF readmissions. Conclusion: Our Study demonstrates the feasibility of starting a nurse practitioner lead HF clinic in collaboration with a RN and a pharmacist, with specific intent to reduce 30-day readmissions and ED visits.

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  Gas and Oil Drilling: A Look at Waste Management

  Logan Kinney

  Hydraulic fracturing is a method of extracting oil and gas developed in the 1940s. The purpose of hydrofracking is to gain access to fossil energy deposits that had previously been inaccessible. This process produces a large majority of the world’s waste, in addition to polluting air and water. Due to this, hydrofracking in the state of New York was banned in 2014, yet continues in surrounding states such as Ohio and Pennsylvania. Being that high-volume fracturing was banned in New York I chose to focus on Pennsylvania, more specifically Susquehanna County. I want to determine how waste management processes have changed in this area since the ban in New York. The Department of Environmental Protection in Pennsylvania collects production and waste reports for the wells located throughout the state. I examine these reports, in order to determine the factors that negatively affect the environment. I expect that waste will have been managed in a way that is more conscious of the environmental impacts this industry is having, however with the continued practice of hydraulic fracturing I do expect to see an increase in the number of waste products being produced. This affects today’s society in everyday life, gas and oil are a necessity for many aspects of our lives, for example they generate heating and electricity. It is important to minimize the waste produced from this industry to prevent further contribution to polluting the environment.

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  Potential Negative Cyclical Effects of ADHD Medication, Mental Health, and Academic Performance

  Eva Kristoferson, Dennis Cregin, Lee Ann Genussa, Rebecca Koltun, Sana Malik, Haley Norton, Adelle Ricci, Devon Umeozor, and Lina Begdache

  In the past decade, the misuse of non-prescription ADHD medication among college students for the goal of achieving academic success has seen a marked increase. In order to determine if there is a relationship between study drugs, mental health, and GPA, an anonymous survey was distributed asking participants questions regarding demographics, prescribed and non-prescribed Adderall use, its effects, and perceptions. A total of 879 college-aged students from several US colleges completed the survey. Using Pearson's Correlation Coefficient, there was a positive correlation between using non-prescribed Adderall use and a decrease in GPA, as well as a negative impact on mental health. The survey also showed that those who have a lower GPA exhibited several mental health symptoms, suggesting that there could be a vicious cycle at hand: non-prescribed study drugs, low GPA, and negative impact on mental health all act reciprocally, inexorably worsening the effects of the drug. Our results may indicate a lack of knowledge among non-prescribed users about the effects of Adderall, demonstrating a need for education outreach and alternative study methods. Data was collected from a multiple-choice survey and analyzed using SPSS, Version 25.0.

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  Can Practice Make Perfect: Sexual experience and consensual behaviors in hookups

  Emily Lancia and Emily Mendelson

  College students have significantly varied levels of sexual experience due to differing numbers of previous partners, years sexually active, and frequency of sexual activity. As repeated practice often improves performance in both psychological and physical behaviors, this poster analyzes whether the extent of one’s sexual experience has an effect on the consensual behaviors they elect to utilize during hookup encounters, and how confident they are that these behaviors are effective in obtaining and submitting consent. Data is taken from a survey of undergraduate students from a mid-size northeastern university who were asked questions about their most recent hookup experiences, including their frequency and duration of sexual activity, and methods used to consent to sexual activity. Results are analyzed across trends in consensual practices.

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  Acculturative Stress and Substance Use Among Chinese International Students

  Liam Lane

  Substance use among domestic US college students has been studied at length, but research surrounding substance use among international students in the US remains minimal. Many international students experience acculturative stress (commonly known as "culture shock") and how students cope with this stress is a topic of interest in promoting their well-being. This research focuses on Chinese international students, in particular, as this demographic is one of the largest international populations on US college campuses. Considering the increased availability of substances to students in the US, Chinese international students may turn to substance use as an outlet for their experienced acculturative stress. This study reports preliminary findings from a larger study assessing the relationship between acculturative stress of Chinese international students and overall well-being .

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  Tourism and Public Health: the case for Thailand

  Liam Lane

  From its unique history, Thailand has embraced its independence and benefited from its cultural and natural beauty. With a developing economy centered around a strong tourism industry, Thailand experienced a period of intensive industrialization that shaped Thai lifestyle. At the same time, this industry gave way to the emergence of regional and social disparities that have seemingly divided Thai society. Public health statuses have also suffered; with threats of harmful air qualities second to transportation and poor agricultural practices, the abundance of single-use plastics, growing trends in medical tourism, and noticeable changes in subsistence strategies. This capstone highlights Thailand's experience with tourism and the impacts that this industry has had on the nation's public health statuses.

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  Collapse at the Confluence: A Comprehensive Analysis of the Binghamton City School District

  Bryn Lauer and Lucas Peterka

  This project analyzes the performance of the Binghamton City School District (BCSD) in comparison to New York State averages and to the school districts in Troy, Schenectady, Utica, and Niagara Falls. By collecting data from twenty-one different school years, provided by New York State on the New York State Education Data Site (NYSED), we illustrate a clear decline from the state mean in Binghamton’s academic performance that remains in line with the pattern of academic performance in the other four, previously mentioned, school districts. To look at why this is occurring, we collected population data from the U.S. Census Bureau; gathered budgeting data from NYSED and the United States Department of Education; and conducted interviews with district leaders in order to understand factors that influence student achievement. Our analysis reveals a rate of population mobility and a pattern of per-pupil expenditure - within the Binghamton community - that is disproportionately higher when compared to others of similar socioeconomic standing. This study indicates that, despite increased school expenditures, the academic underperformance that BCSD generates is linked to above-average mobility in the city. Our results suggest state education should reform through policies that promote greater parental involvement and revise testing standards.

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  Effects of Maternal Care and Estrogen Treatment on Dopamine Receptor D2 Expression in the Ventral Hippocampus of Male and Female Long Evans Rats

  Deven LoSchiavo and Ashley Bui

  Expression of the dopamine receptor D2 (D2R) has been extensively studied in connection with alcoholism. Experimentally increasing D2R expression reduces ethanol consumption and the inverse result has been found when D2R expression is decreased. Ethanol consumption is also affected by maternal care. Previous studies in our lab found that animals which received lower maternal licking/grooming (LG) displayed a higher ethanol preference and drank more ethanol g/kg than High LG animals. These effects were particularly driven by females. Animals of both phenotypes decreased ethanol consumption following an acute estrogen treatment. Downregulation of D2R was found in the ventral tegmental area (VTA), but not the nucleus accumbens or dorsal striatum, of Low LG rats, with no differences due to sex. Hippocampal D2R expression is implicated in several neurological functions, and the hippocampus experiences neuronal loss following binge alcohol exposure. The current study aimed to expand our knowledge by using western blotting to examine D2R expression in the ventral hippocampus (vHPC) of control and estrogen-treated High and Low LG male and female rats. We expect to report results similar to those found previously in the VTA and find lower levels of D2R expression in Low LG rats with no significant sex difference.

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  Maximizing the Efficiency of Prednisolone in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy through reformulation

  Antonietta Macri and Rebecca Harris

  Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a genetic disease in which skeletal muscle membranes lack the protein dystrophin, decreasing membrane stability and causing progressive muscle degeneration. DMD has no cure, but is commonly treated with glucocorticoids such as, prednisolone to reduce inflammatory symptoms and prolong ambulation. However, chronic use of Prednisolone yields systemic side effects, thus we aim to reduce the dose needed and preferentially target this drug to muscle tissue. To this end, we have focused on two strategies for improved prednisolone formulation: 1.) combination with thiamine (vitamin B1) to synergistically improve anti-inflammatory properties and 2.) entrapment within liposomes to allow a concentrated payload ultimately targeting muscle cells. Thiamine, in its diphosphate form, is a cofactor to enzymes in the TCA cycle and pentose-phosphate pathway. Mechanistically, thiamine supplementation should improve muscle weakness and inflammatory symptoms beyond prednisolone alone. Our approach used DMD and iHSKM cells treated with LPS to induce inflammation and rescued with prednisolone alone and in combination with thiamine. IL-6 protein expression by Western blot and mRNA expression by real-time PCR will be monitored, along with reactive oxygen species measurements in live cells. Further, we have prepared a liposomal prednisolone formulation co-entrapping fluorescent dye for understanding the uptake mechanism in these cells using fluorescence microscopy.

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  The Effects of Prenatal Methadone Exposure on Learning and Memory in Sprague Dawley Offspring

  Rhea Marfatia

  The opioid epidemic has escalated in recent years and while this widespread usage is recognized as a public health crisis, a significant component of this epidemic that is understudied is opioid abuse during pregnancy. The fetal brain and placenta are permeable to opioids, so usage during gestation may have consequences for offspring. While studies have reported that animals prenatally exposed to opiates exhibit deficits in memory and learning, neither the onset nor the duration of these effects are known. Therefore, we assessed the effects of prenatal methadone exposure on learning and memory across ontogeny. Pregnant female Sprague Dawley rats were injected with methadone subcutaneously twice daily, from gestational days 3 through 20. Learning and memory were tested using Novel Object Recognition over 3 days (habituation, familiarization, and test day) on postnatal days (P) 27 (juveniles), 45 (adolescences), and 70 (adulthood) in both male and female offspring. At P45, it was found that the methadone exposed males exhibited decreased exploratory behavior overall, during their familiarization period. At P70, methadone exposed animals displayed preference to the known object, in contrast to control animals that preferred the novel object. These data suggest that prenatal exposure to methadone may have long-lasting effects on learning and memory.