FYR 2024 Undergraduate RISE Impact Report- Research & Innovation- Prairie View A&M University by PVAMU Research&Innovation

UNDERGRADUATE

Research & Innovation for Scholarly Excellence Grant Program

RESEARCH & INNO VA TIO N TION

Magesh T. Rajan, Ph.D., P.E., M.B.A. Vice President, Research & Innovation

Message from the Vice President

The Division of Research & Innovation (R&I) is dedicated to enhancing the research and innovation efforts at PVAMU by promoting faculty-mentored undergraduate research, scholarship, and creative inquiry through the Faculty RISE-Undergraduate Research Grant Program. This program provides students with a wide range of opportunities and challenges to thrive such as academic support, networking, and diverse collaborative experiences.

R&I is proud to showcase the research reports from the Faculty-RISE undergraduate students in this compendium. Faculty and staff collaborated in interdisciplinary teams on a variety of research projects. The reports included in this booklet represent contributions from seven colleges and two schools within the university.

R&I is also excited to highlight some of the accomplishments of the RISE undergraduates this year: 65 RISE students presented their research progress during Student Research Day as part of the 2024 Research & Innovation Week, held in collaboration with the Conference for Interdisciplinary Student Research under the Texas Juvenile Crime Prevention Center at PVAMU. Six RISE students earned awards in the research competition. Over 154 PVAMU students participated in the event, sharing their research findings. Through this annual Faculty RISE-Undergraduate Research Report, R&I recognizes and celebrates the research achievements of our undergraduate students.

in a model of human corneal epithelial cell

Spaces and Digital Mapping: Alta Vista Plantation and Recreating Slavery’s

Digital PV Panther Project ......................................................................................

Carbon Nitride Catalyze Reduction of Azo Bond under Visible LED Light

Locating BlackPlanet.com: A Mixed Methods Analysis of User Engagement with an Early Online Social Media Platform

Green Synthesis and Preliminary Characterization of Transition Metal Complexes of a Schiff Base Containing Acetylacetone and L -Histidine ..................................................

Environmentally Friendly Preparation and Characterization of Metal Complexes Using L-histidine and Salicylaldehyde as Ligands ...................................................................

the Effects of Occupational Stress and Trauma among First Responders: A Teleservices Group-Based Intervention Using Affect Regulation Training (ART) .........

Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources

Agriculture , Food, and Natural Resources

Charting a STEAM Path for K -12 Youths by Using an Agricultural Model

Alexis Brown and Donald G Stoddart*

Department of Agriculture, College of Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources

Introduction:

In STEM related jobs and businesses, the United States hires about 16 million workers with a bachelor’s degree and 20 million without (Burke, Okrent, Hale, & Gough 2022). This is a total of approximately 36 million workers. According to Fry, Kennedy, and F unk (2021), the percentage of minorities involved with STEM in the US adds to 33%, but out of that, only 9% are African American workers. In addition to this troublesome data, youths, especially minorities, are not encouraged or motivated to pursue STEM sp ecialization area (Burke et. al 2022). As an agent at a historically Black university, it is our duty to find ways to level the playing field so that our students, who unfortunately are called minority students, can excel academically and become mentors to their juniors. As such, we are using the NextGEN project, which partners with the K12 educational systems to build student’s interest and motivation to pursue STEAM concentration areas.

The NextGEN is a science-based teaching model that integrates a hands -on interactive approach to learning by using all elements of the STEAM concepts to increase students’ academic learning. NextGEN uses a highly technological agricultural model to project the Science, Technology, Engineering, Agriculture and Mathematics (STEAM) concept to educate students in a fun life engaging way. As such, students are motivated to engage in STEM areas whi le at the same time helping to solve our food security problems in the world today. The seed of this project was sown in 2019, by Dr. Gerald D’Souza, Dean of the College of Agriculture Food and Natural Resources forward thinking regarding the projected population increase by 2050. The survey reflected the need for the use of technology in schools in agriculture, especially in low -income communities. Further literature review showed that there was a great disparity in the number of Black students engaging in STEAM related fields. This data is supported by Riegle-Crumb, King, & Irizarry, (2019). A team was developed to come up with a solution and NextGEN was born. One unit was established at Jones Elementary school,

and we observed that it provides a wealth of knowledge in crop production. This includes how to manage and maintain the crops, enhance student interests in crop and soil management, and create a pathway to engage the STEAM curriculum in a way that is appea ling to students. In doing so, we are not only promoting the matriculation of our undergraduate students into industry roles that are related to crop production systems and teaching, but we are creating a pipeline for K-12 students to better understand STE AM concepts and thus matriculating to careers in that area.

Objectives:

The overall goal of this project is to provide an opportunity, during the Fall 2023 and Spring 2024 semesters, for K-12 students to have practical, technical, and “hands on” knowledge about STEAM related concepts using a crop production model. The followin g objectives of the project include: 1) to provide learning opportunities for undergraduate students in collaboration with extension through workshops, where cutting edge crop production practices are highlighted, and demonstrated to students while providing the opportunities for them to practice the same.

2) to collect data to create a comprehensive profile about the effects of management on the overall yield and quality of crops as a guide for making future production decisions.

3) to increase the awareness of students to the various aspects of soil and crop production practices that might lead to new career choice and 4) to use hands on interactions and critical thinking decision to equip students with current cutting -edge skillset, rendering them highly marketable to enter the workforce.

Methods:

Using various data collected from the current infrastructure of the PVAMU and Waller ISD at Jones Elementary school, a model unit will be developed on the university farm. Consultation with farm manager, extension agent and team members with specialty in t he areas of crop and soil management will be utilized for guidance on design and functionality of space to be used. Additionally, we will seek assistance from the design and construction science department of the college of architecture at PVAMU. As a pilo t study, students will be asked to select a specific crop to grow. They will conduct comprehensive research on the specific crop and present it at one of our weekly seminars. Each group will be assigned one raised bed in the greenhouse and

will be responsible for all aspects of crop management. From the selection of the variety to harvesting, postharvest treatment and plan of marketing of the product. It is anticipated that this will begin in the fall semester and end with harvesting. This pilot study will firstly serve to address the ability of the students to access and utilize available data to make informed decisions on various aspects of crop and soil management practices. Following the initial crop growth, data will be collected o n quality and quantity of product harvest and compare it to what is recommended per square feet in the available data. Results from these studies will be presented at local, national and if possible international forums and conferences as the data becomes available. Additionally, the units established within the various school districts or community organizations will be closely monitored and each STEAM lesson developed will be recorded and communication with the teachers and representatives on K-12 students’ behavior and assessment data towards the lesson recorded. From this data, we will determine whether students were motivated to participate in STEAM based on the project and whether the TEKS were mastered or not.

Preliminary Results and Discussions :

Unofficial conversations with k-12 teachers revealed that k-6 students were very excited to work on various projects which included crop production practices. Teachers revealed that during the crop production activities, students were exposed to various STEAM related TEKS. This is very promising and the proposal for the formal research is being prepared for data collection during fall 2024.

Additionally, undergraduate students gained needed experiences by interacting with K -12 students. Students also gained experience to share their work at various forums including local and national conferences. The undergraduate students reported that they gained experiences in crop production, curriculum development, research, and public presentation. The work provided the opportunity for K-6 students to engage in STEAM TEKS with great excitement as well as engaging graduate students

Impacts/Benefits:

The student is presented at PVAMU Campus Research Symposia. Students also presented at the national conference Association of 1890 Research Directors, Inc. (ARD) Nashville Tennessee in

April 2024, NUEL Southern & 1890's Regional Conference, Houston Texas in August 2023 and at the American Association for Adult and Continuing Education Lexington Kentucky, October 2023. Students’ presentations received positive reviews.

References:

1. Burke, A., Okrent, A., Hale, K., & Gough, N. (2022). The State of US Science & Engineering 2022. National Science Board Science & Engineering Indicators. NSB -2022-1. National Science Foundation.

2. Fry, R., Kennedy, B., & Funk, C. (2021). STEM Jobs See Uneven Progress in Increasing Gender, Racial and Ethnic Diversity. Pew Research Center, 1.

3. Riegle-Crumb, C., King, B., & Irizarry, Y. (2019). Does STEM Stand Out? Examining Racial/Ethnic Gaps in Persistence Across Postsecondary Fields. Educational Researcher, 48(3), 133-144. https://doi.org/10.3102/0013189X19831006

Soil pH Spatial Variability in Wockley Soils at PVAMU

Ashley C. Mills and Richard W. Griffin, PhD, PG

Agriculture, Nutrition and Human Ecology (ANE); Cooperative Agricultural Research Center (CARC); College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources

Introduction:

Soil pH, also known as soil reaction, is a measure of the acidity or alkalinity (basicity) of the sample. The results can provide some indication of the potential availability of nutrients to plants, if the soil nutrient level is adequate for plant growth (Shoeneberger et al., 2012). Soil pH is a primary indicator for soil health as well as soil quality, since it provides a reflection of growth potential for beneficial plants such as row crops (annual), pasture (grazing or hay), shrubs and trees (permaculture).

Problem Statement:

The Upper Gulf Coast Prairie physiographic unit comprises parts of East Central Texas and the soils have varying pH conditions based on materials that were deposited in shallow seas and near shore settings. Presently, the soils of East Central Texas exhibit varying levels of pH which impacts soil physical, chemical, and microbiological properties that also have an impact on plant productivity.

Objectives/Goal(s):

The overall goal of this project was to provide an opportunity, during the Fall 2023 and Spring 2024 semesters, for an undergraduate student to gain practical, technical, and "hands on" knowledge about an important chemical indicator (pH) within the soil profile that can be used to infer additional knowledge about chemical, biological, and microbiological conditions, and plant growth.

The following objectives of the project included: I) to measure soil pH, salinity, color and texture for 1,080 soil samples from the 6 soil sites, 5 subsites, at 3 depths, and 3 replicates (triplicates) at each soil site located on the PVAMU Farm, 2) to compare and contrast the soil chemical and physical data by soil layer depth, site and subsite using descriptive statistics to determine spatial

variability; and 3) to use inferential statistics to analyze the soil chemical and physical parameters within and across the 6 soil sites.

Methods:

Soil pH was measured using the 1:1 soil to deionized water method described in the USDA NSSL methods manual (USDA NRCS, 2004). The materials used in the project included : l) pH setting Oakton Soil Multiparameter Testr50 ; 2) Salinity setting on Oakton Soil Multiparameter Testr50; 2) 3) Soil Color from the Munsell Soil Color Book; and 4) Soil Texture Triangle. Soil samples were collected from 6 soil sites and 5 subsites: 1) Northwest Pasture; 2) Northeast Pasture; 3) West Central Pasture; 4) East Central Pasture; and 5) Southeast Pasture, and 6) Southwest Pasture. Subsites within each Soil Site included: I) Northwest Point, 2) Northeast Point, 3) Center Point, 4) Southwest Point, and 5) Southeast Point. Soil samples w ere collected from the following 3 soil depths: 1) 0-6 inches; 2) 6-12 inches; and 3) 12-24 inches (or subsoil level). Also, triplicate (3) subsamples were collected at each soil depth which aided in statistical analyses of the collected data. The data results w ere entered into a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet for graphical, descriptive, and inferential statistical analyses. Also, the data were summarized and compiled to develop a depth and land use function model.

Anticipated Results:

Anticipated results were that the pH w ould be higher in soils that are on the edge of the depressional areas that have ponded water during the winter and spring seasons. In addition, soils on the side slopes of ridges w ould have higher salinity values due to salt wicking and leaching from the seasonal water tables. The dissemination plan for the project research was focused on local, regional, state, and national outlets that include technical reports, seminars, webinars, research symposia posters, research symposia presentations, and trade/scientific journals. The student was expected to participate in the TAMUS Pathways Symposium and PVAMU Campus Research Symposia.

Actual Results:

(Extracted in Summary from Research Symposia Poster, presented at Land Grant Seminar Series (LGSS) and CROPPS Meeting with Cornell University Faculty hosted by PVAMU

CAFNR in October 2023): Preliminary results for pH values in Wockley soil ranged from 5.53 (strongly acid) to 6.63 (neutral) which matches the historical pH values obtained in this area of the Texas Gulf Coast Prairie (Table 1). The Electrical Conductivity (EC) values ranged from 549 to 1463 uS/cm which corresponded with the presence of salt forming ions in the soils. The Salinity values ranged from 0.3 to 0.4 ppt, indicating a low level of salt presence in these old coast plain sediments.

(Extracted in Summary from Research Symposia Poster presented at February 2024 meeting hosted by Texas Land Grant Conference) : This phase of the soil monitoring focused on Site 1 (Sorghum Control) and Site 3 ( Pasture Treatment 1) before application of the designed treatment (Tables 1 and 2). Across the two sites, the pH ranged from 5.12 (strongly acid) to 7.07 (neutral). The pH values of the surface horizons (A) ranged from 5.12 to 6.41 (slightly acid). The pH values of upper subsoil horizons (B) ranged from 5.55 (strongly acid) to 6.94 (neutral). The pH values of lower subsoil horizons (C) ranged

from 5.95 (moderately acid) to 7.07 (neutral). The EC values ranged from 1.43 to 483.00 (nonsaline). The Salinity values ranged from 0.00 to 0.27 (non-saline). Preliminary results for pH values in Wockley soil ranged from 5.12 (strongly acid) to 7.07 (neutral) which matches the historical pH values obtained in this area of the Texas Gulf Coast Prairie with a clear distinction between nonlimed, strongly acid soils and limed, neutral soils (Table 1). The Electrical Conductivity (EC) values ranged from 1.43 to 483.00 uS/cm which corresponded with a very low level of salt forming ions in the soils. The Salinity values ranged from 0.0 to 0.27 ppt, indicating a very low level of salt presence in these old coastal plain sediments.

(Extracted in Summary from Research Symposia Poster presented at April 2024 meeting hosted by 1890 Association of Research Directors (ARD) at Nashville, Tennessee):

Results gathered from the study indicated that the pH of the Wockley soil ranged from 5.57 (strongly acid) to 6.90 (neutral) across the 6 sites and 3 depths (Table 1). The 0 -6” depths tended to have more acidic conditions as compared to the more neutral conditions in the deeper (612” & 12-24”) depths. The EC (Electrical Conductivity) values ranged from 66.34 to 509.15 uS/cm which reflected low salt conditions that corresponded with the ancient marine sediments that underlie the soils in this region. The Salinity of the soils ranged from 0.04 to 0.23 ppt, which is an additio nal reflection of the low sodium conditions associated with marine salt spray deposited on the soil surfaces located 100 miles from the Gulf of Mexico. A comparison of the 0-6” depths (Sites 1A6A) indicated that the pH ranged from 5.57 (strongly acid) to 6.37 (slightly acid), followed by the 6-12” depths (1B-6B) with pH values that ranged from 5.91 (moderately acid) to 6.68 (neutral), and the 12-24” depths (3C-6C) with pH values that ranged from 5.90 (moderately acid) to 6.90 (neutral) (Table 2). The EC for 0-6” depths (Sites 1A -6A) ranged from 66.34 to 476.15 uS/cm, followed by the 6-12” depths (1B-6B) with EC values that ranged from 86.07 to 412.19 uS/cm, and the 12-24” depths (3C-6C) with EC values that ranged from 77.16 to 509.15 uS/cm. The salinity values for 0-6” depths (Sites 1A-6A) ranged from 0.05 to 0.20 ppt, followed by the 6-12” depths (1B-6B) with salinity values that ranged from 0.04 to 0.21 ppt, and the 12 -24” depths (3C6C) with salinity values that ranged from 0.04 to 0.23 ppt. The soil pH values varied with depth and the topsoil had the more acidic conditions which was most likely due to the increased organic matter levels associated with plant biomass above (leaves and stems) and below (roots) ground. The EC and salinity levels indicated a low level of salt in the entire soil profile which was expected based on the prevailing summer winds and the proximity to the Gulf of Mexico. Data results are important in efforts to determine differences in crop productivity based on pH, EC, and salinity conditions. The soil chemical and physical data from the 1080 samples from the PVAMU Farm will provide spatial variability information that will assist the overall project goals of determination of soil chemical and physical characteristics that impacts f ield crop and pasture management as well as water quality in the surrounding environment with effects that are potentially detrimental to animals, humans, plants, and water in these ecosystems. In conclusion, the most important results gathered from the study included: 1) the pH of the Wockley soil ranged from strongly acid to neutral across the 6 sites; 2) the topsoil tended to have more acidic conditions as compared to the subsoil depths; 3) the EC reflected low salt conditions that corresponded with the soil parent material; 4) the Salinity values were low which served as an additional reflection of the low sodium

conditions associated with the underlying parent material, prevailing winds in the summer, and the proximity to the Gulf of Mexico; and 5) the spatial distribution of the pH, EC, and salinity is an important factor that must be considered in soil management decisions.

(Extracted in Summary from previously noted ARD Research Symposia Poster that was reformatted and presented in April 2024 CISR meeting held at PVAMU) :

Significance: Data results are important in efforts to determine differences in crop productivity based on soil texture, color, pH, and salinity conditions. The soil chemical and physical data from the l,080 samples from the PVAMU Farm provide spatial variability information that will assist the overall project goals of determination of soil chemical and physical characteristics that impacts field crop and pasture management as well as water quality in the surrounding environment with effects that are poten tially detrimental to animals, humans, plants, and water in these ecosystems.

References:

1. Schoeneberger, P.J., D.A. Wysocki, E.C. Benham, and Soil Survey Staff. 2012. Field book for describing and sampling soils, Version 3.0. Natural Resources Conservation Service, National Soil Survey Center, Lincoln, NE.

2. United States Department of Agriculture-Natural Resources Conservation Service. 2004. Soil Survey Laboratory Methods Manual. Soil Survey Investigations Report No. 42, Version 4.0. U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC.

Synthesis and Characterization of Chitosan-Silver-Zinc Oxide Nanocomposites : Evaluating their Potential for Food Safety Applications

LeAndrea Stovall, Addisie Geremew, Laura Carson*

Cooperative Agricultural Research Center, College of Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources

Introduction:

Food safety is a critical issue that impacts public health globally. Efficient methods to prevent food contamination and spoilage are essential. The natural biopolymer chitosan, derived from chitin, has garnered attention for its antibacterial, biodegradab le, and biocompatible properties. Zinc oxide (ZnO NPs) and silver (AgNPs) nanoparticles exhibit strong antibacterial activity against various microorganisms. Combining chitosan with ZnO and Ag nanoparticles can create a nanocomposite with enhanced antibacterial properties, making it ideal for use in food packaging. This nanocomposite can help prevent microorganism contamination and potentially extend the shelf life of packaged food. Therefore, this study aimed to synthesize and characterize chitosansilver-zinc oxide nanocomposites and evaluating their potential for food safety applications. Specifically, in this report we highlighted the synthesis of silver nanoparticles prior to nanocomposite synthesis.

Materials and Methods:

Plant Extraction

Leaves of two medicinally important plant species namely Mentha piperita and Thymus schimperi were obtained from the garden at Prairie View A&M and the African market in Houston, respectively. The leaves were freeze-dried and grinded using a mortar and pestle. Next 15gs of the dried M. piperita and T. schimperi leaves each were added to 250 mL of deionized water separately. It was then stirred and heated for 30 minutes. After cycles of heating, the mixture was sonicated under ultrasonic bath (Bransonic® MH -series, CPX-952-217R) for 90 min at 25 ◦C. The resulting solution was further filtered using polyvinylidene fluoride syringe filter with a pore size of 0.45 μm. The filtrate was stored at 4 ◦C pending the synthesis of nanoparticles.

Silver nanoparticle biosynthesis

To synthesize silver nanoparticles briefly, a .01M silver nitrate (AgNO 3) solution was made. Then 20mL of the silver nitrate solution was added to 5ml of each extract. The pH was measured, and a 1M NaOH solution was used to raise the pH to a more basic level to optimize nanoparticle

synthesis. After the pH was optimized the two solutions were stirred and heated at approximately 40℃ for 30 minutes. Once the flask cooled down, it was wrapped in aluminum foil and topped with parafilm and aluminum foil to prevent photo activation while being stored

Characterization of biosynthesized nanoparticles and nanocomposites

UV–Vis spectrophotometer (SpectraMax ® PLUS 384) was employed to further monitor and confirm the formation of AgNPs in the absorption spectra ranged from 200 to 75 0 nm. Dynamic light scattering (DLS) was employed to determine the average particle size and distribution, polydispersity index (PDI) and zeta potential of the biosynthesized AgNPs with Litesizer ™ 500 (Anton Paar, Austria). To characterize the functional groups of phytochemicals serving as reducing and stabilizing agents, FTIR spectra of plant extr acts and AgNPs were acquired using a JASCO/FTIR-6300 spectrophotometer, covering the range of 4000 –500 cm 1 with a resolution of 4 cm 1 via the KBr disc technique. In similar way the characterization of the nanocomposites will be carried out.

Results and Discussion:

Mint-AgNPs and Thymus -AgNPs size

Particle size and surface charge were measured using the DLS method. The particle size distribution curve revealed that synthesized AgNPs were monodispersed in aqueous solution, with average diameters of 22.3 and 27.3 nm for Mint-AgNPs and Thymus-AgNPs, respectively (Figure 1 a, b). It is noteworthy that nanoparticles with sizes below 100 nm are recognized as being suitable for biological applications and cellular uptake [57]. This characteristic is of particular significance for applications in the food safety and biomedical fields, owing to the nanoparticles’ capacity to efficiently penetrate cell membranes and disrupt microbial cells. The variation in particle size between Mint-AgNPs and Thymus -AgNPs, despite employing the same synthesis method, can likely be attributed to differences in the phytochemical composition of their extract.

Functional Groups Analysis

The functional groups surfacing biosynthesized Mint -AgNPs and Thymus-AgNPs were examined using FTIR spectroscopy. Fig. 2 displays the spectra of fabricated Mint-AgNPs and ThymusAgNPs, highlighting key vibrational bands at 2001, 2982 and 3501cm 1, corresponding aldehyde (C=O), aliphatic alkane (C-H) and hydroxyl (O-H) functional groups, respectively. In addition, the Mint-AgNPs demonstrated that weak vibration of spectrum of amines at 3953 cm 1 (Geremew et al., 2022, 2024).

Figure 1. Particle size distribution of Mint-AgNPs and Thymus-AgNPs from the DLS analysis

Figure 2 FTIR spectra of Mint-AgNPs and Thymus -AgNPs.

Conclusion and Future Activities :

In conclusion, the study elucidated the green synthesis of silver nanoparticles (Mint AgNPs and Thymus AgNPs) using Mentha piperita and Thymus schimperi leaf extracts. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analysis identified different functional groups in shielding the nanoparticles, suggesting the involvement of phytochemicals as reducing and stabilizing agents. Particle size analysis revealed monodispersed nanoparticles with average diameters suitable for food safety and other biological applications. The synthesis of ZnO NPs, Ag -ZnO NPs Chitosan-ZnO NPs, Chitosan-AgNPs and Chitosan-Ag-ZnO NPs and their application for food safety will be continue.

Reference:

1. Geremew A, Carson L and Woldesenbet S (2022), Biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles using extract of Rumex nepalensis for bactericidal effect against food-borne pathogens and antioxidant activity. Front. Mol. Biosci. 9:991669. doi: 10.3389/fmolb.2022.991669.

2. Geremew, A.; Gonzalles, J., III; Peace, E.; Woldesenbet, S.; Reeves, S.; Brooks, N., Jr.; Carson, L. Green Synthesis of Novel Silver Nanoparticles Using Salvia blepharophylla and Salvia greggii: Antioxidant and Antidiabetic Potential and Effect on Foodborne Bacterial Pathogens. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25, 904. https://doi.org/ 10.3390/ijms25020904.

Assessment of SMAP Soil Moisture Data in West Texas: A Comparison with West Texas Mesonet Observations

Ehiguese Obiomon, Anoop Valiya Veettil, Ripendra Awal, and Ali Fares

Cooperative Agricultural Research Center, College of Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources

Introduction:

Understanding soil water is crucial because it directly affects our food and water security. It plays a big role in dealing with droughts and wildfires, to better predict and prepare for droughts, floods, and landslides, making our communities safer. It he lps crops grow better, which is important for keeping our food supply steady.

In-situ and satellite-based remote sensing methods are the most well-known soil moisture measurements. The West Texas Mesonet (WTM) provides station -based realtime soil moisture information of the South Plains region of western Texas, transmitted every 15 minutes. Although In-situ measurements have high accuracy, the spatial coverage is challenging. The Soil Moisture

Active Passive (SMAP) is the most utilized satellite - based remote sensing method to measure soil moisture data.

The specific objectives are: (a) to compare grid interpolated values using WTM soil moisture with the corresponding SMAP values, (b) to classify WTM stations into different clusters and compare the soil moisture interpolated values with the corresponding S MAP data (c) to compare the SMAP with WTM during extremely wet and dry conditions.

Materials and Methods :

The SMAP soil moisture data is collected from CROP CASMA (Condition and Soil Moisture Analytics), a web-based geospatial application designed for users to utilize the remotely sensed geospatial soil moisture and vegetation index. Crop CASMA derives data fr om NASA SMAP and MODIS missions to assess conterminous U.S. crop vegetation and soil moisture conditions. NASA and USDA-NASS fund this application. It was designed and developed by USDA -NASS and the Center for Spatial Information Science and Systems at Geo rge Mason University. The SMAP and WTM products are downloaded for the topsoil, representing the top 5 cm depth.

Figure 1: Observed WTM stations (in red) overlaid the SMAP data

Spatial interpolation is the process of using points with known values to estimate values at other points. It helps to predict the data pattern at ungauged/semi -gauged locations. To interpolate the WTM data to fit a 9km grid (Figure 1), we used three different interpolation techniques: Inverse Distance Weightage (IDW), Natural Neighbor (NN), and Kriging (KRG) (Figure 2).

Figure 2: WTM soil moisture interpolated output based on different interpolation methods

Results:

Kriging showed the highest correlation with an r-value of 0.21. The lowest correlation coefficient was that of NN, with an r-value of 0.11 (Figure 4a) . The WTM data is classified into different clusters to improve the correlation with the SMAP data (Figure 3). The results showed that cluster 1 correlates well with the SMAP data. Once clustered, NN showed the highest correlation with an r-value of 0.43 (Figure 4b). Kriging showed the lowest correlation coefficient with an r-value of 0.31. We then took the 90th and 10th percentile data points to evaluate SMAP’s consistency under extreme conditions. Data points in the extremely wet conditions (90 th) showed a higher correlation (Figure 4c) than data points in the extremely dry conditions (10 th) (Figure 4d).

Figure 3: Clusters derived. Cluster 1 is yellow. Cluster 2 is purple.

Figure 4: (a) Correlation analysis by considering all the WTM stations (b) Correlation analysis by considering all WTM in cluster 1 (c) Correlation analysis by considering the 90th percentile data points in cluster 1 (extremely wet conditions) (d) Correlation analysis by considering the 10 th percentile data points in cluster 1 (extremely dry conditions)

Conclusion: SMAP is a relatively reliable satellite soil moisture system. The highest r-value is observed for NN interpolation in the cluster analysis. SMAP can assist the agricultural industry through better water management practices, such as irrigation scheduling. We will analyze why SMAP records more

considering all WTM in cluster 1 (c) Correlation analysis by considering the 90 percentile data points in cluster 1 (extremely wet conditions) (d) Correlation analysis by considering the 10 th percentile data points in cluster 1 (extremely dry conditions) .

Conclusion:

SMAP is a relatively reliable satellite soil moisture system. The highest r-value is observed for NN interpolation in the cluster analysis. SMAP can assist the agricultural industry through better water management practices, such as irrigation scheduling. We will analyze why SMAP records more

wet areas more accurately than drier areas . Future analyses will use Artificial Intelligence Techniques, e.g., Random Forest and ANN -based interpolations.

Architecture

Real-Time Rendering For Cost Reduction, Efficient Workflows And Faster Iterations For 3d Content Visualization

Jaden Jones and Hira T. Roberts* Department of Digital Media Arts, School Of Architecture

Introduction:

The goal of the research project was to streamline the process of exporting scene descriptions from various 3D content creation programs as USDs to Unreal Engine, leveraging its real -time rendering capabilities to increase processing speeds. The aim of thi s initiative was to enhance research specifically in the area of real-time rendering in animation and 3D visualization, with the assistance of undergraduate research assistants. Initially, the project was divided into four parts, encompassing two research topics and two projects componenets.

The project encountered several challenges that delayed the start of the research. However, I do not anticipate these issues arising with future funding.

1. One of the major challenges that the project faced was during the recruitment process. The position to hire the identified student from the summer industry course was not listed until November, therefore, the identified student could not apply until the en d of the Fall semester.

2. The student who was originally identified as the undergraduate researcher was unable to provide documentation for university employment further hindering the hiring process. He declined to reapply to the position after he was given an extension to gather h is paperwork and the position was re-opened. Therefore I had to submit a new request for removing the pre-requisite for the summer industry course for applicants and re-open the position with an updated description.

3. Identifying a new student for the position took until Spring Break 2024. Given the limited time remaining, I received permission to hire two students to expedite the research process.

4. The two recruits began onboarding after Spring break 2024 leaving us with a little over two months of research time. Since these students did not have the necessary experience gained from the summer industry course, they needed more training before they co uld begin working on the project.

Objectives:

The project's primary objective was to research tools that improve workflow and develop a pipeline for rendering in real-time using USDs and reduce resources such as time and equipment allocated to rendering out single images for faster visual iterations. According to the documentation provided by the student workers, the following measures listed in the proposal document were met either with full success or partial success. Progress was made on all parts of the project. The hired students met with me weekly for progress

Methods And Results :

Methodology Objective

Research Topic 1 Study current rendering engines for animations and game development

Expected Outcome and Result

Set target engines to develop tools for transferring materials:

Result

Student 1 studied and made a document listing three major rendering engines used and their integrations with multiple 3d modeling programs. Also included in the list was a price analysis that would assist in future selection of a dedicated renderer. He tes ted out the rendering speeds and image quality however was unable to complete the test for various shaders due to the lack of time resulting from the delay in hiring.

Success

Fully

Research Topic 2 Study OpenUSD (universal scene description) and similar tools.

Project 1 Develop tools and techniques to transfer geometry, animation, lights, materials and shaders to Universal

Set target goals of shader types to transfer to be used universally.

Result

Student 2 researched OpenUSD and its implementation techniques for major 3D modeling and game development software and submitted a document describing his progress. Fully

Using techniques in animation rendering for game development and real-time rendering.

Result

Student 2 successfully transferred meshes from one program to the others using USDs, per his submitted report. He was working on finding solutions on transferring materials and textures before the final submission.

Partiall y

Scene Descriptions (OpenUSD)

Project 2 - add a comparison assignment of the render times Develop a prototype Virtual Reality animation/scen e to test realtime rendering capabilities.

Conclusion an Impact:

Test results and successful implementation of developed tools.

Result

Students began putting together a scene for VR however due to the time restrictions were unable to complete this part of the project. Not met

With the identified student researchers, and the pipeline for transferring USDs to realtime renderers streamlined, students will be able to render out images and prototype much faster. Additionally the progress on the project should be a lot more efficient as we plan to use prebuilt architecture models to set up test environments and run renders in realtime and VR simulations.

Future Implementations

I plan on introducing version control tools for large-scale projects that will allow multiple students to work on a single project simultaneously. Not only do I see version control preparing students better for the industry, but with the realtime rendering i anticipate improved quality in student projects.

The History Box Extended: Utilizing Design and Computer Graphics to Create A Digital Interactive Historic Preservation Experience

Cory Minor, Jr., and Tracey L. Moore*

Department of Digital Media Arts, College of Architecture

Introduction:

New technologies have emerged to expand the possibilities of creating 3D renderings and interactive, virtual/augmented reality environments of historical figures and places using archival photographs.

Every spring semester since 2020, third-year Digital Media Arts majors enrolled in DGMA 3313 Layout II complete the studio project entitled The History Box. The project serves several functions including: 1. Teaching students how to create a cohesive design system across different mechanisms, 2. Engaging students in historical research utilizing the University Archives and conducting focus groups and/or interviews, and 3. Creating designed artifacts that serve to preserve the history of prominent African Am erican residing in or hailing from Texas. This project has spurred a renewed interest in the early leaders of Prairie View A&M University and the necessity to amplify their personal histories. As with most early principals, we were only left with initials and a last name. The latest round of Histo ry Box project led to the discovery of a full name: Lawrence Washburne Minor, a once enslaved and then freed man of color born at the Linwood Plantation in Ascension Parish, Louisiana around 1829. Due to one of his progeny, John Lawrence Minor, living out his life in New Orleans, the probability arose that the student who selected Minor as the subject of his project could also be a descendant of Principal Minor. All of this new information begged the question of how do we tell his story in an engaging way? What is the likelihood that a descendant of a forgotten principal resurfacing at the very institution Minor began his tenure leading A&M College for Colored Youth in 1878? All of these answers can come together and telling a compelling story. As we look to emerging technologies and the telling of PVAMU history, there lies an opportunity. 3D selfies can be made with one photograph, while AI tools can be used to take the 3D selfie and make it “talk”. Could it be possible to take the lone photogra ph that exists of Lawrence Washburne Minor and create an avatar or a virtual host for an historical tour of the campus?

The objectives of this experiment are to: 1. Research and document the life and history of Lawrence Washburne Minor; 2. Explore current trends regarding computer graphics and storytelling. As previously mentioned, new technologies and software make it poss ible to create 3D renderings and drawings of historical figures using photographs as well as creating digital environments of landscapes; and 3. Develop a digital interactive experience to tell the history of the first principal of Prairie View A&M Univers ity.

The goals are: 1. Develop a foundation for telling the story of PVAMU’s first principal and the early years of the university; 2. Create a 3D model of Principal Minor; and 3. Design an interactive storytelling experience that can be a model to create futur e digital history series.

Aims:

This study aims to explore various modeling software to create a 3D model of PVAMU’s first principal, Lawrence W. Minor, and create an interactive experience documenting the university’s early history. The emphasis is centered on the 3D bust of Lawrence W. Minor since there is only one known photograph of the first principal. So, by researching the online applications that would work best with this kind of project I chose ones suitable to the industry standards. To create Minor’s 3D bust, the following applications were used: Avatar SDK, Blender, and Houdini. Avatar SDK is a web application that uses AI to create photo -realistic 3D avatars from photographs. Blender is a free/open-sourced 3D computer graphics software used to create animated films, visual effects, art, 3D printed models, and more. Houdini is a 3D software for modeling, animation, etc.

Materials and Methods:

To create Minor’s 3D bust, the following applications were used: Blender, Avatar SDK, and Houdini. Blender is a free/open-sourced 3D computer graphics software used to create animated films, visual effects, art, 3D printed models, and more. Avatar SDK is a web application that uses AI to create photorealistic 3D avatars from photographs. Houdini is a 3D software for modeling, animation, etc.

During the process of using Avatar SDK, I encountered a feasibility issue because Avatar SDK was unable to produce an accurate avatar due to the quality of Minor’s photograph. For example,

the details of Minor’s right eye were not visible, and the resolution of the photograph was too poor. The work requires more than one photograph to construct a more accurate 3D Bust with proper grooming (hair textures and other simulated fuzz).

Creating the model in Blender proved to yield better results than the AI -generated tool, Avatar SDK. I incorporated different views of my face to fill in for the parts of the head that could not be rendered from the original photograph. I used KeenTools Fa ceBuilder for Blender, which is add-on, to construct Minor’s head structures from his and my portraits. Once that was completed, I had to set up nodes to add the hair. These nodes were used in conjunction with BGEN Groom, a blender add-on developed by MUNORR to create Afrocentric hair textures. The skin texture and color were added using The Human Generator add -on. Finding the profile for Minor in the Freedmen’s Bureau, I was able to get information on his height, which is 5’ 11”, and his complexion, which was noted as mulatto. The Human Generator allowed me to complete the full body.

Results & Conclusion:

Overall, Avatar SDK was ideally the most user -friendly online application to use one image to make a bust. Unfortunately, it was a trial version, which gave me limited access to its full features. I could not edit certain parts of the face. The photograph’ s quality made the bust pixelated and blurry.

Houdini possessed an AI feature, but the process lacked good reference documentation to produce an acceptable result. Houdini is more suited for rigging, world -building, and creating assets. Rigging the head is needed later down the line. Creating the mode l in Blender proved to yield better results than the AI-generated tool and the procedural software. I was excited to learn how to use blender, due to hearing that It’s the best for 3D modeling. In addition, it had add -ons for face building, rigging, hair growth, etc. I was able to get most of my work done with Blender. New modeling tools, both software and web applications, are used to create 3D renderings from photographs work best when there are a series of photographs of one subject from multiple views. The limitations of the singular photograph of Lawrence Washburne Minor yielded poorer results/ Utilizing the photograph as a template from which to build the 3D model in Blender, at this time, is the most appropriate solution to this study. Blender possesses more user -friendly application tools and allows the end-user to better control the outcome of the 3D rendering. And the next step is to learn how to rig the face (making it talk and move) and to use motion capture.

Software that can be used for this process includes Houdini, Unreal Engine, Live Link Face, and Blender.

The short history of L. W. Minor was captured in a video featuring the finished 3D avatar. Although the video did not include the intended environment, my hope is that this serves as a catalyst to produce more digital storytelling of early Prairie View A&M University leaders.

Keywords: 3D modeling, 3D rendering, historic preservation, computer graphics, AI-generation

The Story of L. W. Minor Video

Developing an alternative method to formulate an efficient set of Student Learning Outcomes (SLO) for Architectural Design Studio

Priscila Saint Pasteur Soto and Dr. Tareef Khan

Department of Architecture, School of Architecture

Introduction:

Formal education has moved from a teaching -oriented to a learning-oriented curriculum. Student learning outcomes (SLO) were introduced in order to measure student learning. Specifically, it has focused more on outcomes than the learning process (CLO 2024). More concerns and efforts are now put into how much the students have learned in a course rather than how much has been taught; and a list of outcomes is set as a target the students must produce at the end of the course to prove they have learned those. The teachers must find methods to successfully measure or assess what the students have learned at the end of the course and match it with the initial goal. Student Learning Outcomes (SLO) are those measurable sets of goals. The hypothesis was that the SLO s address all four types of learners mentioned in Kolb’s theory of different types of learners.

Objectives:

The objective of the study was to determine whether the SLOs address all types of learners and, if so, to what extent.

Methods:

Questionnaire Survey

A questionnaire was designed to determine the relationships between the SLOs from different design studios and the four ‘Action Verbs’ from Kolb’s study (Feel, Watch, Think, and Do). Statistical methods were used to obtain the results.

Sampling Method and Sample Size

Initially, a bigger sample was planned. However, once the interviewer's engagement became more significant, a purposive sampling method was adopted, where the survey stopped as the data started to get saturated. In addition, a convenience sampling method w as also adapted to reach that saturation point in a convenient amount of time. The sample size was 20.

Results:

Step 1:

Each SLO from each studio was broken down if necessary. They were checked to see if they contained more than one Power Verb that could create ambiguity when linked with the four Action Verbs. In those cases, they were broken down into parts so that one SLO had only one Power Verb.

There were 116 such SLOs across the 10 design studios.

Table 1: Example of SLOs broken down in order for each sentence having only one ‘Power Verb’ (in bold)

Be able to identify, describe, and apply

Primary elements and principles of architectural design.

Step 2

Be able to identify Primary elements and principles of architectural design. Be able to describe Primary elements and principles of architectural design. Be able apply Primary elements and principles of architectural design.

There is a probability that one particular SLO can be linked to multiple action verbs. So, each SLO allowed four options for each respondent.

Table 2: Example showing one SLO having the option to ben kinked with one or more ‘Action Verbs’

SLO: 1A Action verbs

Be able to identify Primary elements and principles of architectural design. Feel Watch Think Do

Step 3

Four demographic variables gender, age group, education level, and primary language were also recorded.

Gender: Female (F), Male (M)

Age group: 15-30, 30-45, 45-60

Education level: Below undergrad, bachelor’s degree, Higher degree

Language: English, Spanish

Step 4

The next step was counting the numbers for the four Action Verbs for each SLO. A maximum of two ‘more frequent’ ones were counted. The threshold was set as the difference of 2. For example,

if four action verbs occur: 1, 13, 14, and 3 times, respectively, as shown in Table 3 below, 14 is automatically chosen as it is the highest one. The second highest, 13, is also chosen as it is equal to or less than a difference of 2 from 14. 3 and 1 are n ot chosen as the difference between 3, or, 1, and the highest one (14) is more than 2. In this example, only ‘Watch’ and ‘Think’ were selected to be associated with ‘SLO Studio 1A’ for the next step of analysis.

Table 3: Example showing the relevant ‘Action Verbs’ to be associated with the SLOs

SLO: Studio 1: 1A Action

This result was then reinterpreted as follows:

Table 4: Revised version of Table 3

SLO: Studio 1: 1A

Be able to identify Primary elements and principles of architectural design. Watch (13 count) Think (14 count)

Step 5

The next step was to extract the ‘Power Verbs’ from the SLOs. During the interview, the Power Verbs became the key for the respondents to relate the SLOs to Action Verbs. This made sense because the Power Verbs truly represent the essence of the SLOs irres pective of the rest of the content (CLO, 2024).

Table 5: Example showing the new list reducing the SLOs into ‘Power Verbs

SLO: Studio 1 Power Verbs

Be able to identify Primary elements and principles of architectural design. Identify

Be able to describe Primary elements and principles of architectural design. Describe

Be able apply Primary elements and principles of architectural design. Apply

Be able to understand how Ordering systems can be used to organize elements in 2D and 3D compositions - point, plane, line, and objects.

Be able to communicate ideas effectively through visual, written, and oral means to internal / independent jurists.

Be able to produce quality architectural models, drawings and other methods of representation that portray design intent visually.

Be able to produce an individual design that successfully responds/integrates to a larger class- wide design.

Be able to understand the need to design effective, usable spaces which provide for the health, safety, and welfare of users.

Step 6

Understand

Communicat e

Produce

Understand

A new list was developed to link the SLOs, the ‘Power Verbs,’ and the ‘Action Verbs.’ Hereafter, the longer description of the SLOs was removed and replaced by the ‘Power Verbs.’ In this way, the association of an SLO with a particular Studio has been remo ved.

Table 6: Example showing a revised list of relating SLOs with the frequency of the ‘Action Verbs’ with the top one (or more) in shaded cells

Step

The next step was to relate the Power Verbs with the Action Verbs. The number of Action Verbs associated with the Power Verbs across different studios was counted. In this way, the effects of the Studios were removed, and the Power Verbs were correlated with the Action Verbs. Only the most frequent ones were considered.

Table 7: Full list of the ‘Power Verbs’ and the respective frequency of the ‘Action Verbs’

The most frequent Action Verb(s) associated with each Power Verbs was chosen. The new -look table is below.

Table 8: The full list replacing the frequencies with the name of the ‘Action Verbs’ Power Verbs Actions Verbs Identify Watch Think

Describe Think Apply Do Understand Think Communicate Feel Think Do Produce Do

Analyze Think

Synthesize Watch Think Do Develop Think

Demonstrate Do

Employ Do

Convey Do Use Do

Evaluate Think Test Do

Execute Do

Comprehend Think Establish Think Present Do Utilize Do

Construct Do Prepare Do

Measure Think Make Think Do

Design Think Do

Conceptualize Think Do

Integrate Do Practice Do

Step 8

Next, the responses from the survey participants and the peer reviewers were compared. Two comparative analyses were carried out: the first before replacing the SLOs with the Power Verbs and the second after replacing the SLOs with the Power Verbs. For eac h studio, the respective instructor was the peer reviewer.

Table 9: Example showing comparative data between the responses to SLOs by the survey respondents and the peer reviewer before replacing the SLOs with the Power Verbs

Survey results

Peer review

Table 9: Example showing comparative data between the responses to SLOs by the survey respondents and the peer reviewer before replacing the SLOs with the Power Verbs Survey results Peer review

4(A)-G

4(A)-H

4(A)-I

4(A)-J

4(A)-K

4(A)-L

For the comparison, a matching of all the Action verbs between the two groups corresponding to a particular SLO was given a value of 3. A matching of only one difference was given a value of 2, a matching of two differences was given a value of 1, and no m atching was given a value of 0. Then, these counts were summed up. The result is below.

Count of 3: 79 (63%)

Count of 2: 29 (23%)

Count of 1: 10 (8%)

Count of 0: 8 (6%)

This result showed that 63% of the SLOs had exact matching, and (63 + 23) or 86% of the SLOs matched all or all but one.

Step 9

After replacing the SLOs with the Power Verbs, the responses from the survey participants and the peer reviewers were compared.

Table 10: Full list showing the relationship between the Power Verbs and the Action Verbs comparing the two groups of respondents

Power Verbs Survey Responses Peer Review

Identify

Produce Do Do

Analyze Think Watch Think

Synthesize Watch Think Do Do

Develop Think Do

Demonstrate Do Do

Employ Do Do

Convey Do Do

Use Do Do

Evaluate Think Think

Test Do Think Do

Execute Do Do

Comprehend Think Feel Think

Establish Think Think Do Present Do Do

Utilize Do Do

Construct Do Think Do

Prepare Do Think Do

Measure Think Watch Think

Make Think Do Do

Design Think Do Think Do

Conceptualize Think Do Think

Integrate Do Think Do

Practice Do Do

For the comparison, correlation analysis was done between the results from the Peer review and the survey respondents. By using SPSS and giving a nominal value of 1 -4 for the four Action Verbs, the R values show a strong correlation between the responses o f the survey participants and the peer reviewers.

Table 11: Correlation analysis between the Survey responses and the peer review responses for the ‘Action Verbs’ corresponding to each Power Verb

The following table shows the comparison result and the two basic themes generated subsequently.

Table 12: Results of Statistical Analysis

1 63% matching of all Action verbs and 86% matching of all or all but one show that the results between the survey responses and the peer review strongly correlate.

2 There is a strong correlation for the choice of action verbs for the Keywords between the Survey respondents and the peer reviewers.

Step 10:

The next step was to compare the distribution of the four Action Verbs in particular studios.

Table 13: Distribution of the Action Verbs in SLOs at different academic levels

Chart 1: Distribution of the Action Verbs in SLOs at different academic levels in architectural design studios

Several themes were extracted as the initial findings of this study.

Table 14: Basic Themes from Step 10

1 ‘Feel’ is always less in all levels. It gradually diminishes at higher levels

2 ‘Do’ is always a huge part of the composition, increasing in higher levels.

3 The F, W, T, and D ratio is almost similar in every level, and each one is progressively more than the previous one, except only for sophomore, where the T component is maximum.

Significance of the Study

The F, W, T, and D ratio is almost similar in every level, and each one is progressively more than the previous one, except only for sophomore, where the T component is maximum.

Significance of the Study

Studies showed that an architectural design studio comprises all types of learners. Therefore, the expectation is that it might be fair if the learning objectives address all types of learners. The results showed that there is an excessive concentration of the ‘Do’ component and a trivial amount of the ‘Feel’ component in the SLOs. Based on the hypothesis derived from the literature review, lacking the ‘Feel’ component may deprive ‘creativity’ in Architectural Design Studios. In contrast, the excessive amount of the ‘Do’ component may encourage only those who are efficient in finishing the job regardless of the level of creativity. Whether this kind of composition of the SLOs in the Architectural Design Studios is appropriate can be the target for future stu dy.

Conclusion:

The research is still in progress. The next part is to complete the qualitative analysis. The project is expected to be completed by the end of summer 2024.

References:

1. Adam, S, (2004), “Using learning outcomes. A consideration of the nature, role, application and implications for European education of employing ‘learning outcomes’ at the local, national and international levels”, United Kingdom Bologna Seminar, Edinburgh, Scotland, 2004.

2. Adam, S. (2006), An introduction to learning outcomes: A consideration of the nature, function, and position of learning outcomes in the creation of the European Higher Education Area, https://pedagogie-universitaire.blogs.usj.edu.lb/wp-content/blogs.dir/43/files/2013/03/Anintroduction-of-learning-outcomes.pdf, accessed on May 26, 2024

3. Akinyode, B.F., Khan, T.H. (2018), Step by step approach for qualitative data analysis, International Journal of Built Environment and Sustainability, Vol 5 (3).

4. Archimash (2024). Architecture Design Studio class: What you’ll learn and why. ArchiMash.com. https://archimash.com/articles/architecture-design-studio-class/, accessed on May 26, 2024)

5. CSA, California State University (2024), Adapted from California State University, Bakersfield, PACT Outcomes Assessment Handbook (1999).

6. Haseeb, Q. S. (2011), Creativity in Architecture Definition and Its Affect on Architectural Thought, European Journal of Scientific Research, 62(2), 267 -272.

7. Honey, P., and Mumford, A. (2006), The Learning Styles Questionnaire, 80 -item version. Maidenhead, UK, Peter Honey Publications, 2006.

8. Joy, S., and D. A. Kolb (2009), Are there cultural differences in learning style? International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 33, (2009), 69–85.

9. Kalman, A. (2012), Comparative Analyses Based on the Kolb's Learning Style Inventory, retrieved from http://www.qub.ac.uk/alpine/ALPINE/6_2_1_2.htm, accessed on May 26, 2024.

10. Kurt, S. (2020), Kolb’s Experiential Learning Theory & Learning Styles, Educational Technology, URL: https://educationaltechnology.net/kolbs -experiential- learning-theorylearning-styles/#google_vignette, Posted on December 28, 2020, accessed on May 26, 202 4.

11. Kolb, A. Y., and David A. Kolb (2009) The Learning Way, Meta- cognitive Aspects of Experiential Learning, Simulation Gaming, 40(3), (2009), 297 -327.

12. Kolb, D. A. (1984), Experiential learning: Experience as a source of learning and development. Prentice-Hall Inc.

13. Lueth, P. L. O. (2008). The Architectural Design Studio as a Learning Environment: A Qualitative Exploration of Architecture Design Student Learning Experiences in Design Studios from First- through Fourth-Yea. https://doi.org/10.31274/rtd-180813-16991, accessed on May 26, 2024.

14. Mahajan, M. and Singh, M. K. S. (2017), Importance and benefits of Learning Outcomes, IOSR Journal of Humanities and Social Science (IOHS -JHSS), Vol 22 (3), pp 65-67, e-ISSN 22790837, p-ISSN 2279-0845, March 2017, https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Manvender-KaurSarjit Singh/publication/315637432_Importance_and_Benefits_of_Learning_Outcomes/links/599c4 0d1aca272dff12b6eec/Importance-and-Benefits-of-Learning-Outcomes.pdf, accessed on May 26, 2024

15. Muniandy, S., Khan T.H., and Ahmad A.S. (2015), Evaluating the physical environment of design studios: A case study in Malaysian private architecture schools . International Journal of Built Environment and Sustainability 2 (3), 2015.

16. Robinson, G. (2002), Do general practitioners’ risk taking propensities and learning styles influence their CME preferences? Medical Teacher, Vol. 24, 71 –78.

17. Saleemarain, H., Bhai, P., Shar, K., Shams, F., Jamshoro, P., & Jamshoro, M. (2018). Architecture Pedagogy: Investigating the Physical Environment of Design Studio for Pedagogical Needs. International Research Journal of Innovations in Engineering and Technology, 2(9), 7–12.

https://irjiet.com/common_src/article_file/1564474755_6cd0eb2371_2_irjiet.pdf , accessed on May 26, 2024

18. Wood, A. (2017). Architecture as a social science?. Architecture and Education. https://architectureandeducation.org/2015/10/27/architecture-as-a-social-science/, accessed on May 26, 2024

19. UA, UMass Amherst, (2024), Adapted from OAPA Handbook PROGRAM -Based Review and Assessment. UMass Amherst.

20. UNO (2024). Student learning outcomes. The University of New Orleans. https://www.uno.edu/office-academic-programs/outcomes, accessed on May 26, 2024

Arts and Sciences

Characterization of Different DNA Repair Variants in Cancer Cells

Kamiyah Anglin, Shani Siddiq, Rukiyah Smith, Jaylia Jackson, Victory Eromosele, and Victoria Mgbemena*

Department of Biology, College of Arts and Sciences

Introduction:

Prostate cancer is the second-leading cause of death among cancer cases in US men. The American Cancer Society estimates that there will be over 190,000 new cases of prostate cancer in the US in 2020 [1]. It is estimated that one out of 9 men will receive a prostate cancer diagnosis in their lifetime, with African American men and older men being affected disproportionately [1]. In the U.S., approximately 63000 cases of uterine cancer develop each year (6). In a 2017 study, the number of patients developing uterine cancer with a BRCA2 mutation was reported to be double the expected number (7). A study examining molecular mechanisms of health disparities identified 362 differentially expressed genes in signaling pathways regulating tumor aggressiveness [2]. Risk factors which contribute to cancer include advanced age, smoking, ethnicity, inheritance, and to a certain degree—although less clear— diet, obesity, inflammation and chemical exposure [1]. Although known variants of pathogenicity have been linked to disease for prominent DNA repair genes BRCA1 and BRCA2, it has become increasingly unclear whether there is a contribution for the key-related gene PALB2. Recent studies suggest, however, a heritage-specific significance of PALB2 unknown variants in patient samples [3].

We seek to investigate:

1)How inherited mutations may contribute to pathogenesis and perturbed immunity in reproductive cancers

2) Methods for targeting cancer cells based on the gene signatures. Briefly, PALB2 was knocked-down in PC3 prostate cancer cells. In addition to PALB2 expression, marker of DNA damage pH2AX and pro-apoptotic protein DAPK1 will be observed. Further studies will warrant expression of purported pathogenic PALB2 patient variants and a functional assessment of their effects.

A number of DNA repair pathway components, including BRCA1/2, are required for hematopoiesis, stem cell maintenance, and cancer suppression. BRCA1 -deficient mice develop hematological disorders by four weeks, which include pancytopenia (1, 2) and display a pronounced inability to reconstitute stem cells. Although aplastic anemia does not develop, epithelial tumors are observed at a greater incidence in BRCA2 null mice and these mice also demonstrate a marked failure to reconstitute in competitive transplant ation assays (3). Although clinical reports have statistically explored cases relating BRCA mutations to uterine cancer, the mechanisms that play a role in the pathogenesis of the disease is not clear.

The Partner and localizer of BRCA2 (PALB2) encodes for a protein that may function as a tumor suppressor (8). It binds to BRCA2 and is assumed to facilitate their accumulation during homologous recombination repair of DNA breaks (9). While other investigat ors have reported an increased risk of developing cervical cancer for women with a familial history of BRCA1/2related disease(s) or other high-risk factors (10, 11, 12, 13), the mechanism for oncogenesis triggered by germline mutations in other DNA repair genes for cervical cancer and other cancers remains unclear.

Objective :

Our group seeks to study the mechanisms governing prostate and cervical cancer in the presence of germline mutations, and investigate the functional importance of variants for which the clinical impact is unknown.

Hypothesis:

We hypothesize that we will observe DNA repair-related and cytokine expression changes in cells expressing variants of PALB2, BRCA2, BRCA1, and others that confer functional changes.

Specific Aim 1: Investigate the effect of DNA repair gene knockdown on gene expression in prostate and cervical cancer cell lines.

Specific Aim 2: Investigate the effect of inflammatory cytokines in the presence of different germline and somatic DNA repair gene mutations in prostate and cervical cancer cell lines.

Materials and methods:

Specific Aim 2: Investigate the effect of inflammatory cytokines in the presence of different germline and somatic DNA repair gene mutations in prostate and cervical cancer cell lines.

Materials and methods:

Prostate and cervical cancer lines will be grown in -vitro using cell growth medium and factors. Cells will be transfected stably with plasmid vectors made to encode various PALB2 mutations. Cells will be transfected with factors Sox -2, Oct-4 and Nanog and supplemented with growth medium. Cells will then be incubated for 24 hours in 37-degree Celsius incubator. Cell lysates will be collected and analyzed using microarray (Affymetrix Gene Chip). Later, PALB2 mutations will be expressed in cell lines and cells will be assayed for changes in gene expression. Finally, different cell lines will be co- cultured in a 2D model in the presence of pro -inflammatory cytokines.

Briefly, siRNA duplexes were transfected for 24 hours into PC3 -cell line

Control and treated cell extract were collected for Western blot expression analysis PALB2, pH2AX and DAPK1 assessed .

Results/Expected Results :

Knockdown of PALB2 was observed. There were no differences in cellular morphology of control and PALB2-siRNA-treated cells. Transfection of prostate cancer cells was observed. There were significant differences in proliferation and apoptosis in the mutant -transfected cells versus cells transfected with a wildtype construct.

Figure 2. Transfection efficiency of PALB2 mutation into prostate cancer cell line.

Figure 1. Palb2 expression from whole cell lysates of PC3 adenocarcinoma cell lines.

Wildtype Mutant

Figure 3. Assay for proliferation and apoptosis in cells transfected with mutant pcDNA.

Figure 4. Assay for proliferation and apoptosis in cells transfected with mutant pcDNA, experiment #2.

Conclusions:

One prostate cancer adenocarcinoma cell line used expresses detectable levels of PALB2, and RNAi is a reliable method to study gene expression following knockdown. One prostate cancer cell line used does not express detectable levels of PALB2, and will be a useful tool to study the role of PALB2 in regulating survival, proliferation, and apoptosis. Future directions include an assay for pH2AX, BRCA2 and DAPK1. We will also perform protein array, and assess transcript of PALB2, pH2AX, BRCA2 and DAPK1. We als o plan to treat cells with a mutagen and assess the transcriptome.

Significance and Impact:

Our research will study the transcriptomic profiles of prostate and cervical cells. Environmental conditions such as media composition, and temperature will be modified to assess the impact on gene expression. We will look at both transcriptomic and protein expression levels from the treated cells to determine the effect of the variants on the prostate and cervical niches. Knowledge about these mechanisms may provide insights for clinical targets of cancer, as well as observe impacts of mutations on cell functions.

References:

1. Mgbemena VE; Signer, RAJ; Wijayatunge, R; Dietrich, M; Laxson, T; Morrison SJ & Ross, TS. (2017). Distinct Brca1 mutations differentially reduce hematopoietic stem cell function. Cell Reports PMCID: PMC5267932

2. Vasanthakumar, A., Arnovitz, S., Marquez, R., Lepore, J., Rafidi, G., Asom, A., Weatherly, M., Davis, E. M., Neistadt, B., Duszynski, R., Vardiman, J. W., Le Beau, M. M., Godley, L. A., & Churpek, J. E. (2016). Brca1 deficiency causes bone marrow failure a nd spontaneous hematologic malignancies in mice. Blood, 127(3), 310 - 313. Accessed August 01, 2018. https://doi.org/10.1182/blood-2015-03-635599.

3. Navarro, S., Meza, N.W. Quintana-Bustamante, O., Casado, J.A., Jacome,A., McAllister,K., Puerto,S., Surrallés, J., Segovia, J.C., Juan A. & Bueren,J.A. (2006). Hematopoietic Dysfunction in a Mouse Model for Fanconi Anemia Group D1. Molecular Therapy, (14) 4, 525535.

4. Alter, B. P. (2014). Fanconi anemia and the development of leukemia. Best Practice & Research. Clinical Haematology, 27(0), 214–221.

5. Rebbeck, T. R., Mitra, N., Wan, F., Sinilnikova, O. M., Healey, S., McGuffog, L., … the CIMBA Consortium. (2015). Association of Type and Location of BRCA1 and BRCA2 Mutations With Risk of Breast and Ovarian Cancer. JAMA, 313(13), 1347 –1361. http://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2014.5985

6. The American Cancer Society. (2018) https://www.cancer.org/cancer/endometrialcancer/about/key- statistics.html.

7. Lee, Y.C., Milne, R.L., Lheureux, S., Friedlander, M., McLachlan, S.A., Martin, K.L., Bernardini, M.Q., Smith, C., Picken, S., Nesci, S., Hopper, J.L. & Phillips, K.A. (2017) Risk of uterine cancer for BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carriers. European Journal of Cancer, 114(84), 120-125.

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Synthesis and characterization of CuS nanoparticles deposited over graphene nanosheets

Racheal Ighomena and Gururaj M Neelgund*

Department of Chemistry, College of Arts and Sciences

Introduction:

The employment of near-infrared (NIR) radiations in photothermal therapy (PTT) to treat cancer is a currently high-pitched interest aside from its classical applications such as telecommunication, sensing ablation, etc. [1]. The reason is that the NIR region (700-1100 nm) is an ideal clinical phototherapeutic window for PTT as attenuation of NIR radiations by skin, blood, and tissues is low, and it allows for the treatment of deep-seated tumors. [2]. The application of PTT in the treatment of tumors has been identified as a minimally invasive alternative to conventional hyperthermia treatment o wing to its remote controllability, low systemic toxicity, and minor side effects [3]. While, the implementation of PTT relies on the development of suitable pho tothermal coupling agents. On account of the importance of photothermal agents in PTT, herein we designed the robust NIR active agent, GR-CuS, by deposition of CuS nanoparticles over graphene (GR) nanosheets.

Materials and Methods:

Preparation of GR-CuS: Graphene oxide (GO) needed to produce GR nanosheets was obtained by the Hummers and Offeman method with slight modifications [4,5]. 1 g of graphite powder (<20 μm, Aldrich) was added to 40 mL concentrated H2SO4 and stirred for 1 h under ice-cooling conditions. Then, 15 mL fuming HNO 3 was slowly added and stirred the mixture for 30 min. To this, 5 g of KMnO4 was gradually added with stirring and cooling, and the r esulting mixture was stirred at roo m temperature for 12 h, followed by the addition of 150 mL DI water After stirring the mixture for 30 mins, 30 mL of H2O2 (30%) was slowly added, which turned the color of the reaction mixture to bright yellow. The resulting mixture was centrifuged and washed with 1:10 HCl in water solution in order to remove metal ions. Further, the mixture was washed with DI water until complete removal of the acids and thus obtained dark-yellow colored GO was dried under vacuum at 40 °C for 12 h. The drying process of GO was carried out at a lower temperature in order to avoid its deoxygenation. Then GO (50 mg) was dispersed in EtOH (50 mL) by sonication for 5 mins, subjected to centrifugation, and EtOH was removed. Then GO was re-dispersed in ethylenediamine (EDA) to yield the y ellow-brown suspension, which was

subjected to refluxing for 1 hr at 80 °C. The resulting black suspension of GR nanosheets was then centrifuged, subsequently washed with EtOH and DI water, and dried under vacuum at 40 °C for 5h. Subsequently, 100 mg GR nanosheets were dispersed in 50 mL DI water by sonication, and 20 mL aqueous solutions of CuCl2 (0.01 mol) and Na2S (0.01 mol) were added to it. The resulting mixture was allowed to stir for 4 hr at room temperature to yie ld GR-CuS.

Results and Discussion:

The prepared GR-CuS will be characterized using various instrumentation viz., IR, UV-vis-NIR, XRD, SEM, TEM, Raman, EDX, and XPS. The photothermal effect of GR -CuS will be estimated by exposing its aqueous dispersion to 980 nm laser system and monitored its rise in temperature.

Fig. 1. ATR-IR spectrum of GR.

Fig. 2. ATR-IR spectrum of GR-CuS.

Conclusion:

The robust NIR active agent, GR-CuS has been successfully prepared. The characterization of GR-CuS was performed using different instruments.

References:

1. Q. Tian, F. Jiang, R. Zou, Q. Liu, Z. Chen, M. Zhu, S. Yang, J. Wang, J.Wang, J.

2. Hu, ACS Nano 5 (2011) 9761–9771.

3. R.A. Weissleder, Nat. Biotechnol. 19 (2001) 316-317.

4. D. Lane, Nature Biotechnol. 24 (2006) 163-164.

5. W.S. Hummers, R.E. Offeman, J. Am. Chem. Soc.80 (1958) 1339 .

6. G. M. Neelgund, V. N. Bliznyuk, A. Oki, Appl. Catal. B 187 (2016) 357 –366.

ImageJ Assessment of Pneumococcal Keratitis Damage in a New Zealand Rabbit Keratitis Model

Siah Green and Quincy C. Moore III, PhD* Department of Biology, College of Arts and Sciences, The Honors Program

Abstract:

This study investigates Pneumococcal keratitis, a condition characterized by cornea inflammation resulting from Streptococcus pneumoniae infection. The gram-positive bacterium threatens ocular health, and keratitis is a common manifestation. If left untreated, the infection can progress to irreversible vision impairment. Using the New Zealand Rabbit Keratitis model, the study examines the bacterial strain’s impact on ocular tissues to transcend beyond the superficial understanding of corneal infections. With the employment of ImageJ software, 3D visualizations extend beyond the corneal epithelium, providing insights into the infection’s depth and distribution within the eye. Following analysis from ImageJ inputs and plugins, the study aims to create an array of visual representations, including plot graphs and 3D developments from diverse perspectives. These visualizations offer a broader understanding of an infection’s progression, unveiling its infiltration into deeper layers of the eye, like Bowman’s layer and the stroma. By integrating cross-referenced articles, new methodologies emerged, and manipulating ImageJ models presented novel perspectives. This approach surpasses prior research limited to 3D models and plot graphs. Incorporating external data inputs enhanced the resulting output, yielding more precise data points regarding keratitis infections for the research group. By clarifying and confirming the distribution and extent of the infection, these insights contribute to valuable insights into the pathophysiology of Pneumococcal keratitis, paving the way for more targeted treatment strategies. Then, it emphasizes the importance of timely interventions to prevent vision impairment further.

Introduction:

Streptococcus pneumoniae is an important cause of bacterial keratitis, an infectious disease of the cornea. Bacterial keratitis is a devastating infection of the cornea that can lead to corneal scarring and vision loss (Wagoner et al. 2007). Streptococcus pneumoniae keratitis frequently follows surgery or trauma to the eye and is more common in patients with coexisting ocular

disease (Bharathi et al. 2007). Traditionally, pneumococcal infections affect primarily elderly individuals or young children due to their weakened immune systems (Robinson et al., 2001). Our laboratory recently developed the mouse model of pneumococcal keratitis which will allow the elu cidation of the host factors directly involved in the host response, especially regarding innate immunity (Moore et al., 2009). The ImageJ Application is being used to measure the diameter of the infection site from Day 1 to Day 5 to view the progression and growth of it. A widely used alternative to the commercially available Photoshop program is ImageJ, a public domain Java-based image processing and analysis program developed by Wayne Rasband of the National Institute of Mental Health at NIH (Rasband, 1997; Schneider et al. 2012). ImageJ has been extensively used for image processing in immunohistochemistry (Schneider et al. 2012), tissue segmentation in microscopy images (Collins, 2007), and muscle morphometric measurements (Fortin & Battié, 2012). The purpose of this study is to develop an accurate procedure to determine the impact of Bacterial Keratitis on the eye.

Objectives:

The analysis of the keratitis infection with ImageJ should provide a more detailed evaluation of the ocular damage and render an alternative tool for assessing the ocular damage. Using ImageJ different inputs and plugins, the study will provide the best way to visualize the effects of this bacteria on the eye. The goal of the study is to seek to provide a tool that will analyze the damage done to a rabbit’s cornea beneath the surface lay er.

Methodology:

This study observed the processing of viewed areas of infection by Streptococcus pneumoniae keratitis by ImageJ through 3D modeling and Plot Graphing. Through these efforts of trial and error with ImageJ, the study was able to discover new ways to utilize the software for more detailed visualization of biological models. Discoveries from this sof tware provided different perspectives of how invasive keratitis infections can impact the cornea. ImageJ is a public Javabased image processing and analysis program inspired by the National Institute of Mental Health available for Windows, Macs, and Linux. ImageJ was used to create display the impact of infection and analysis for the ocular images. The program can easily adapt to required tasks in laboratories and in research.

Infection profiles consist of isolation of the infectious zone based on the presence of the disease in the ocular environment. 3D image of keratitis infection (displaying the depth of infection), Plot Graphs (displaying metric impact of infection). Each image is an assessment of a different rabbit ocular samples obtained from research studies in the Marquart lab (Univ. of MS Medical Center, Jackson, MS).

Results:

The analysis of the keratitis infection with ImageJ provided a more detailed evaluation of the ocular damage and rendered an alternative tool for assessing the ocular damage. The goal of the study was to seek to provide a tool that will analyze the damage done to a rabbit’s cornea beneath the surface layer. The outcomes of the study proved ImageJ’s ability to render a possible alternative research option for animals and provide a library of detailed analyses of ocular damage related to bacterial keratitis. Use of animals cannot be completely removed due to the lack of real time responses that cannot be generated with a computer model thus the use of ImageJ analysis will further substantiate an animal study. Further analysis with ImageJ with this study has continued to provide a more detailed evaluation of the ocular damage and has rendered an alternative tool for assessing the ocular damage. The goal of the study is to seek to provide a tool that will analyze the damage in a rabbit’s cornea beneath the surfac e layer. The project continues to utilize ImageJ’s ability to offer alternative research for animals and provide a library of detailed analyses that can further animal related studies.

Figure 2. 24 hours following the Keratitis infection, an photograph of the ocular surface revealed the presence of infective infiltrate. For analysis purposes of the ocular infection, the area in question was magnified and ImageJ allowed for direct focus and emphasis on the infective area.

Figure 3. 17.82% of cornea infection Figure 4. 19.77% of cornea infection Figure 5. 32.94% of cornea iInfection profiles: a) 3D image of keratitis infection (displaying the depth of infection), b) Plot Graphs (displaying metric impact of infection) Colored asterisks (*) correspond to peaks in graphs .

Figure 6. Measurement comparisons utilizes ImageJ tools with or without contrast to increase the correct measurement of the area of infection.

Figure 7. Enhanced colorization of the keratiits images for illustration A) Uninfected Keratitis B) Mild Keratitis Infection C) Moderate Keratitis Infection D) Severe Keratitis Infection E) Image 04 F) Image 07 G) Image 13 H) Image 15 I) Image 21 J) Image 24 K) Image 27 L) Image 29 M) Image 36 N) Image 45 O) Image 49 P) Image 54 Q) ICA Contrast R) ICA Contrast S) Magenta Hot Contrast T) Magenta Hot Contrast U) Orange Hot Contrast V) Orange Hot Contrast W) 5 Ramp Contrast X) 5 Ramp Contrast Y) Mexican Hat Filter Z) Mexican Hat Filter AA) Enhanced Contrast AB) Enhanced Contrast

Impact/Benefit:

This study evaluated Pneumococcal keratitis caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae and the serious implications of the corneal infection in the various ocular samples in the rabbit model. S. pneumoniae is a gram-positive bacterium with over ninety different capsular serotypes and is responsible for varying pneumococcal diseases such as keratitis. This analysis included

producing 3D imaging and plot graphs from various perspectives providing a greater understanding of the depth of the infected areas. The 3D imagery analysis revealed various levels of the corneal infection. It was not localized among the images and was not localized to a particular region of the eye. The construction of the 3 -dimensional image revealed the infection penetrates beyond the epithelial layer of the cornea and went into Bowman's layer and the stroma. This study’s perspective is beneficial becaus e on the eye from this bacterium ranging from resolving after prompt treatment to serious and threatening one’s quality of vision. In this study, the infectious potential of the bacteria has been further analyzed and provides further evidence of the need for prompt treatments when such infections are discovered.

References:

1. Wagoner MD, Al-Ghamdi AH, Al-Rajhi AA. Bacterial keratitis after primary pediatric penetrating keratoplasty. Am J Ophthalmol. 2007; 143:1045 –1047

2. Bharathi MJ, Ramakrishnan R, Meenakshi R, Padmavathy S, Shivakumar C, et al. Microbial keratitis in South India: influence of risk factors, climate, and geographical variation.

Ophthalmic Epidemiol.2007; 14:61–69.

3. Robinson KA, Baughman W, Rothrock G, Barrett NL, Pass M, et al. Epidemiology of invasive Streptococcus pneumoniae infections in the United States, 1995–1998: Opportunities for prevention in the conjugate vaccine era. JAMA. 2001:1729 –1735.

4. Moore QC, 3rd, McCormick CC, Norcross EW, Onwubiko C, Sanders ME, et al. Development of a Streptococcus pneumoniae Keratitis Model in Mice. Ophthalmic Res. 2009; 42:141–146.

5. Rasband WS. ImageJ. Bethesda: US National Institutes of Health; 1997.

6. Schneider, Rasband & Eliceiri (2012) Schneider CA, Rasband WS, Eliceiri KW. NIH Image to ImageJ: 25 years of image analysis. Nature Methods. 2012; 9:671 –675. doi: 10.1038/nmeth.2089

Determining the effective concentration of encapsulated gentamicin in treating bacterial keratitis in a model of human corneal epithelial cell infection

Reagan

Hagewood and Quincy Moore, Ph.D.*

Department of Biology, College of Arts and Science

Abstract:

Keratitis, characterized by corneal inflammation due to pathogenic microbes, is a significant sight-threatening disease of the eye, with Streptococcus pneumoniae most frequently occurring in cases of disease. The outermost layer of the cornea is composed of epithelial cells that develop ulcers during infection, which can lead to corneal scarring and in severe cases, vision loss. Current treatment of bacterial keratitis consists of anti-bacterial eye-drops containing gentamicin sulfate to be applied anywhere from every four hours to every thirty-minutes per day. However, less than approximately 5% of the applied drug penetrates the cornea to the site of intraocular infection (Jarvinen, K, et al.,1995). Objective: The objective of this study is to utilize novel therapeutic hydrogel contact lenses, which provide direct contact between the drug to be dispensed and the site of infection, to deliver the preferred antibiotic, gentamicin. More specifically, the study aims to determine the effective concentration of gentamicin that maximizes death of the pathogen while minimizing harm to ocular tissue when treating bacteria ocular infections. Materials and Methods: The established Human Corneal Epithelial Cell (HCEC) line model was tested with various formulations of gentamicin in a chitosan delivery system to examine the toxicity effects in the in vitro ocular environment. The cytotoxicity on exposed cells was measured using Trypan blue exclusion and counted with a Thermo-Fisher counter Results: The viability of HCEC exposed to chitosan alone behaved like those exposed to media alone, resulting in high viability rates. Adversely, in the presence of gentamicin alone, significant cell death was observed, which renders the novel compound currently requiring additional testing for use. Conclusion: Based on the unexpected cell death with gentamicin, the study is currently evaluating efficient concentrations of the antibiotic that ensure elimination of the bacteria, while maintaining the integrity of the ocular cells.

Introduction:

Sight is the most valued and critical sense to mankind, as one perceives the world mainly visually and dictates the use of other senses, such as taste and smell, based on visual input.

Diseases of the cornea are the leading cause of blindness worldwide. Within the spectrum of diseases of the cornea, diseases that cause corneal ulcers, such as keratitis, constitute a large portion of these cases. Keratitis can be infectious or non -infectious, coordinated with systemic or strictly ocular disease. Infectious keratitis can be caused by bacterial, viral, protozoal, or fungal infections. “Historically, 1.5-2 million cases of infectious keratitis are estimated to cause unilateral blindness” (Ting, D.S.J, et al., 2021). It is considered rare in developing countries but is increasingly prevalent in low -income countries, due to lack of sanitation procedures, lack of access to quality healthcare, and lack of education on preventing the spread of infe ction. In developed countries, keratitis remains a relevant and prevalent disease with infection usually occurring following ocular trauma, nasolacrimal destruction, and/or subsequent surgery to the eye.

Here, we focus on infectious bacterial keratitis, specifically caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae, which is the leading bacterial cause of keratitis following Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus infections. Common causes of bacterial keratitis also include Staphylococcus epidermis , Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Enterobacteriaceae (Table 1). Each of these bacterial species are commonly found in environments that we interact with daily, and many of them occur naturally inside or on the human body. This implies that these bacteria are opportunistic, which are typically non-pathogenic and do not cause harm to healthy individuals. However, these bacteria can become pathogenic and cause disease when an opportunity arises for the microbe to invade the hos t via a previous infection, an open wound, or in keratitis, cases of ocular trauma, as mentioned previously.

Table 1. Common Causes of Bacterial Keratitis. Keratitis can be viral, bacterial, protozoal, or fungal. Here, we will focus on bacterial keratitis, specifically caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae (Shuja, et. Al., 2019).

To thoroughly characterize and grasp the progression of corneal ulcers and keratitis along with their sight- threatening potential, it is vital to understand the anatomy of the human eye (Fig 1). The iris is the colored portion of the eye, encasing the roun d pupil in its’ center. The conjunctiva is the inner lining of the eyelid, and it functions to protect and lubricate the eye by the production of mucus and tears. The cornea is the outermost covering of the eye, just within the conjunctiva, and the cornea itself is composed of five layers. These layers include the epithelium, Bowman’s membrane, stroma, Descemet's membrane, and endothelium. "The corneal epithelium acts as a protective barrier to invasion of foreign substances and also a barrier to ion transp ort” (Jarvinen, K, et al.,1995). As the outermost layer of the cornea, the corneal epithelium is the first barrier of defense for the eye and contains tight junctions that make it selectively permeable, allowing only small molecules to enter the remaining corneal layers.

During infection with keratitis, ulcers form in the cornea, causing obstruction to these various layers of this protective ocular structure. The greater the depth of the ulcer and the more corneal layers the ulcer invades determines the severity of the in fection. A superficial ulcer is characterized as an ulcer that solely penetrates the corneal epithelium, while a deep ulcer is characterized by an ulcer that penetrates the corneal epithelium, Bowman’s membrane, and eventually, the stroma (Fig 2). In sever e cases, the ulcer can penetrate the Descemet’s membrane and the prognosis is most likely loss of vision. The ability of the bacteria Streptococcus pneumoniae to accumulate and lead to the development of these ulcers is rooted in its virulence.

Fig 1. Human Eye Anatomy. Simplified illustration of the anatomy of the human eye (NIH).

Fig 2. Severity of corneal ulcers due to the pathogenic microbes. A simplified illustration of the corneal layers, including the epithelium, Bowman's membrane, the stroma, Descemet’s membrane, and the endothelium, affected by a superficial ulcer and a deep ulcer (Lee, et. Al., 2021).

Bacterial Keratitis caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae

Streptococcus pneumoniae is a gram-positive, cocci- shaped bacterium, exhibiting small, round colonies (Fig 3). The bacterium has evolved to exhibit various virulence factors, which contribute greatly to its’ success in causing disease by evading the host’s immune response (Fig 4). Toll-like receptors (TLRs), specifically TLR2 and TLR4, play a crucial role in the host's innate immune response to pneumococcal keratitis, initiating a cascade of responses including cytokine production, neutrophil infiltration, and bacterial phagocytosis (Tullos NA, et Al., 2013).

Streptococci pneumonia's attachment to human tissues involves many bacterial surface proteins (MSCRAMMs), and Pneumococcal surface protein C (PspC) has been linked to adhesion and uptake into epithelial cells. Pneumolysin (PLY), a pneumococcal virulence factor, plays an important role in keratitis, making it a potential candidate for vaccine development. Also, in a strain capable of causing clinical keratitis, PLY contributes greatly to damage in the cor nea. In vivo findings show increased inflammation and tissue edema in corneas infected with strains producing PLY (Norcross EW, et. Al., 2011). S. pneumoniae displays varying sensitivities to antibiotics, including increased sensitivity to vancomycin and cefazolin but limited sensitivity to trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. However, the increasing resistance to fluoroquinolones in patients with bacterial keratitis is concerning, potentially restricting their future use in treatment. Understanding the role of virulence factors like PLY and the immune response mediated by TLRs is crucial in developing effective treatment and preventive strategies for bacterial keratitis, especially those caused by S. pneumoniae

Fig 3. Gram Stain of Streptococcus pneumoniae. Gram-positive bacterium.

Fig 4. Cell surface of Streptococcus pneumoniae. An illustration of virulence factors and molecules that elucidate protection of S. pneumoniae during an infection ( Simell, 2003).

Topical Eyedrops as the Current Treatment for Bacterial Keratitis

The current treatment of this disease consists of antibacterial eyedrops containing gentamicin sulfate to be applied anywhere from every four hours to every thirty minutes daily (Jarvinen, K, et al.,1995). However, only about five percent of the antibiotics reach the site of infection, and most of the applied antibiotics are absorbed systemically (Fig 5). The impermeability of the corneal epithelium plays a major role in the limitation of penetration of ocular drugs. Most of the five percent of the applied eyedrops that are absorbed ocularly is lost to the conjunctiva of the eye. “Due to the relative leakiness of the membrane, rich blood flow and large surface area, conjunctival uptake of a topically applied drug from the tear fluids is typically an order o f magnitude greater than cornea uptake” (Jarvinen, K, et al.,1995). Drugs that are absorbed via the conjunctival route, due to its larger permeability and surface area, do not make direct contact with the infection site and eventually are eliminated from t he body via excretion. The smaller portion of the five percent that is absorbed ocularly is absorbed via the corneal route, through the aqueous humor, and delivered to infected ocular tissue.

Fig 5. Ocular absorption following topical delivery. Topical eyedrops are the current treatment for keratitis, containing 0.3% gentamicin sulfate. Less than 5 % of the applied antibiotic is absorbed by the human eye, while much of the dosage is absorbed systemically (Jarvinen, et. Al., 2021).

Utilizing Chitosan/PEGDA Nanoparticles for Gentamicin Drug Delivery

To target the bacterial infection site more efficiently, we plan to use novel therapeutic hydrogel contact lenses containing Chitosan nanoparticles which encase the antibiotic, gentamicin.

Contact lenses show significant potential, given their direct conta ct with the affected area for efficient dispensing of medication (Rodriguez-Gonzalez, C.G., et al., 2012). Chitosan is a polymer that forms particles that lysozymes can degrade, which will release the embedded antibiotic. Lysozymes are present at their hig hest concentrations in human tears, and they catalyze the hydrolysis of the β- glycosidic bonds of Chitosan (Raquel de Castro, et al., 2023). However, gentamicin, the drug to be encased, is negatively charged, and Chitosan is positively charged, meaning the two compounds are likely to repel each other. To counteract these opposing charges, poly (ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA) has been proven to be an effective dispersing agent, increasing drug encapsulation efficiency (Fig 6A) (Raquel de Castro, et al. , 2023). Altogether, the fabricated nanoparticle consists of Chitosan, PEGDA, and gentamicin, which is released upon interaction with naturally occurring lysozymes (Fig 6B).

Figure 6A. Chitosan/PEGDA nanoparticle as a novel DDS in treating keratitis. An illustration of the components of the Chitosan/PEGDA nanoparticle. Figure 6B. Further degradation of the encapsulated antibiotic, gentamicin. Lysozymes in the eye degrade the CsPs upon direct contact with the infection site (Castro, et. Al., 2023).

Methods:

The innate immune response and therapeutic recovery that occurs when various compounds when exposed to human corneal epithelial cells (HCEC), was investigated. We aimed to determine the outcome of application of the compound to healthy human corneal epithe lial cells (HCEC) to determine whether the compound itself caused harm to ocular cells.

Human corneal epithelial cells (HCEC) were maintained in EpiGro Human Ocular Epithelia Complete Media (Millipore) supplemented with growth factors and antibiotics supplied by the manufacturer. HCEC cells were grown to confluency in 6 -well tissue culture pl ates. Each monolayer was exposed to media alone, an 50ul or 100 ul aliquot of media alone, chitosan, and chitosan + gentamicin in individual wells for 24 hours at 37°C with 5% Carbon dioxide. The cytotoxicity on exposed HCEC was measured using Trypan blue exclusion and counted with

Thermo-Fisher counter. Trypan blue was used to determine the number of viable cells present in a cell suspension. Following incubation, the media and exposure conditions were removed from each well and trypsin was added to the cells. Following incubation, the cells were centrifuged in 1 ml of fresh media for 5 minutes. An aliquot of the suspension is mixed with 0.4% trypan blue and was added to the cell counter slide for counting.

Results:

Human Corneal Epithelial Cells Exposed to Gentamicin Exhibited Low Viability Rates

The HCEC exposed to chitosan alone exhibited high viability rates, much like the HCEC exposed to media alone (Fig 7). These results demonstrated that chitosan is not toxic to HCEC and because of this, has strong implications as a drug delivery system in th e treatment of keratitis. The HCEC exposed to gentamicin alone exhibited very different results, with very low viability rates. This shows that compared to the starting cell count, after cells were exposed to gentamicin, many of the cells died.

Figure 7. HCEC exposed to Chitosan Gentamicin exhibited low viability rates. Chitosan alone exhibited very high viability rates, while Chitosan Gentamicin exhibited very low viability rates. From this, we conclude that Gentamicin is toxic to HCEC, and we will use this preliminary data to guide further experimentation.

Discussion:

Characterization of the Antibiotic Gentamicin

Gentamicin is in the aminoglycoside family of drugs, is bactericidal, and exhibits concentrationdependent killing. The antibiotic enters the bacterial cell via an oxygen -dependent transport mechanism and binds to bacterial ribosomes, which disturbs mRNA t ranslation and subsequently leads to non-functional bacterial proteins (Chaves BJ, et. Al., 2024). Due to its mechanism of action, it proves to be efficient in the demise and clearing of S. pneuomoniae infections; however, this process is dependent on the amount of gentamicin administered to the site of infection. “The bactericidal capacity of aminoglycosides correlates with their peak concentration so that the greater the concentration, the greater the bacterial killing” (Chaves BJ, et. Al., 2024). Because of this, it is important to closely monitor possible systemic side -effects when using the antibiotic for treatment in the clinical setting. With this, gentamicin can accumulate and reach high concentrations specifically in the kidney, causing nephrotoxici ty and ototoxicity becomes common in frequent, long-term gentamicin therapy (Chaves BJ, et. Al., 2024). For current patients undergoing treatment for keratitis, the administration of eyedrops containing 0.3% gentamicin is to be applied at a relatively high frequency throughout the course of infection. This increases the risk of ototoxicity greatly, and patients of older age and preexisting ocular trauma have a higher risk for aminoglycoside toxicity.

Because gentamicin is concentration-dependent, it creates much difficulty in determining the most effective and safest concentration of encapsulated gentamicin to deliver a more convenient and direct treatment option for keratitis. Through experimental eff orts, we plan to evaluate and quantify toxicity to ocular cells and the clearance of S. pneumoniae. We aim to determine the effective concentration of gentamicin within hydrogel contact lenses that maximizes death of the pathogen while minimizing toxicity to human corneal epithelial cells.

Conclusion:

Based on the results, we can conclude that gentamicin is toxic to HCEC, and the concentration of this antibiotic must be meticulously determined before treating bacterial keratitis. While gentamicin is sufficient in the killing of bacterial cells, it also causes damage to ocular cells, which defeats the purpose of the treatment. Due to the low viability rates when treated with gentamicin,

future studies include testing various concentrations of gentamicin in the treatment of bacterial keratitis to maximize clearing the infection and minimize its’ toxicity.

References:

1. Chaves BJ, Tadi P. Gentamicin. [Updated 2023 Apr 10]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK557550/

2. Järvinen K, Järvinen T, Urtti A. Ocular absorption following topical delivery,Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews,Volume 16, Issue 1,1995,Pages 3 -19,ISSN 0169409X,https://doi.org/10.1016/0169-409X(95)000105.(https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/0 169409X95000105)

3. Kolb H. Gross Anatomy of the Eye. 2005 May 1 [Updated 2007 May 1]. In: Kolb H, Fernandez E, Nelson R, editors. Webvision: The Organization of the Retina and Visual System [Internet]. Salt Lake City (UT): University of Utah Health Sciences Center; 1995. Figure 6, [Near-axial (near-horizontal) section of the adult human eye.]. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK11534/figure/A25/

4. Lee, Jason & Somerville, Tobi & Kaye, Stephen & Romano, Vito. (2021). Staphylococcus aureus Keratitis: Incidence, Pathophysiology, Risk Factors and Novel Strategies for Treatment. Journal of Clinical Medicine. 10. 758. 10.3390/jcm10040758.

5. Norcross EW, Sanders ME, Moore QC 3rd, Marquart ME. Pathogenesis of A Clinical Ocular Strain of Streptococcus pneumoniae and the Interaction of Pneumolysin with Corneal Cells. J Bacteriol Parasitol. 2011;2(2):108. doi: 10.4172/2155-9597.1000108. PMID: 22229113; PMCID: PMC3251264

6. Raquel de Castro, Gurshagan Kandhola, Jin- Woo Kim, Quincy C. Moore III, and Audie K. Thompson, Molecular Pharmaceutics 2023 20 (11), 5532 -5542 DOI: 10.1021/acs.molpharmaceut.3c00415e

7. Rodriguez-Gonzalez, C.G., et al., Prevalence of medication administration errors in two medical units with automated prescription and dispensing. J Am Med Inform Assoc, 2012. 19(1): p. 72-8.

8. Shuja, F. (2019, November 15). Smart strategies for using antibiotics to treat corneal infection. Review of Cornea and Contact Lenses.

https://www.reviewofcontactlenses.com/article/smart -strategies-for-using-antibiotics-to-treatcorneal- infection

9. Simell, Birgit. (2003). MUCOSAL ANTIBODIES TO PROTEIN AND CAPSULAR POLYSACCHARIDE ANTIGENS OF STREPTOCOCCUS PNEUMONIAE IN CHILDREN Relation to pneumococcal carriage and acute otitis media. 10.13140/RG.2.1.1484.5041

10. Ting, D. S. J., Ho, C. S., Deshmukh, R., Said, D. G., & Dua, H. S. (2021). Infectiouskeratitis: an update on epidemiology, causative microorganisms, risk factors, and antimicrobial resistance. Eye (London, England), 35(4), 1084–1101. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41433-02001339-3

11. Tullos NA, Thompson HW, Taylor SD, Sanders M, Norcross EW, Tolo I, Moore Q, Marquart ME. Modulation of immune signaling, bacterial clearance, and corneal integrity by toll -like receptors during streptococcus pneumoniae keratitis. Curr Eye Res. 2013 Oct;38( 10):103648.doi: 10.3109/02713683.2013.804094. Epub 2013 Jul 10. PMID: 23841825; PMCID: PMC9335516.

Antebellum Spaces and Digital Mapping: Alta Vista Plantation and Recreating Slavery’s Virtual Landscapes

Alexis

Touré and Dr. Robinson, Ph.D.

Ruth J. Simmons Center for Race and Justice, College of Arts and Sciences

Introduction:

The Antebellum p eriod in American history represents a time of significant social, economic, and cultural development. This era witnessed the peak of slavery, which profoundly shaped the American South's economy and society. During this period, the for mation of living spaces for enslaved people was integral to plantation life, reflecting the complex dynamics of power, resistance, and survival. Scholars and researchers have long studied these spaces, the inhabitants, and the related material and non-material culture. However, many of these studies lack an interdisciplinary approach that incorporates the innovative tools and methodologies offered by digital humanities. This project aims to fill that gap by employing a comprehensive, interdisciplinary process to explore and visualize the lived experiences and environments of enslaved people.

Objectives:

This project focuses on the Alta Vista Plantation, formerly owned by Jarod Kirby and now the site of Prairie View A&M University, as a case study to delve into the multifaceted aspects of environments where enslaved people lived. The central questions guiding this study include:

1. How did power dynamics and physical space impact the lives of enslaved individuals at Alta Vista?

2. What were the nature and intricacies of relationships between the various inhabitants and the physical environment?

3. How can digital methods be best utilized to excavate, preserve, and present these historical spaces? By addressing these questions, the project aims to create detailed visualizations of the plantation landscape that once stood in Prairie View. Through architectural studies and alternative methods, both virtual and physical models will be developed to offer a deeper understanding of the stories, culture, and daily lives of the Antebellum period's enslaved population. Additionally, the project seeks to provoke thoughtful discussions on Prairie View's transformation from a plantation to a

university and the enduring impact of this history on current students and the broader community.

Methods:

Given the limited information available on the Alta Vista Plantation, this project employs a robust and diverse set of research methods. These include extensive online research, the use of digital archives, and the analysis of historical documents. Key ste ps in the research process include:

Online Research and Digital Archives: Gathering precedents and historical context to develop a detailed understanding of Texas Antebellum architecture. This involves studying articles, architectural journals, and other scholarly sources to identify important elements from the period.

Virtual and Physical Modeling : Utilizing digital archives to access official plans of nearby plantation houses and integrating unconventional sources like voice recordings from formerly enslaved individuals. These sources will help in creating accurate imagery land models of the planta tion landscapes.

Current Landscape Analysis: Examining the current landscape of Prairie View A&M University alongside historical photographs from the time close to the fall of Alta Vista Plantation. This analysis will help locate key structures such as the main house and slave cabins and other prominent structures to better understand their relationship to the present -day environment.

Comparative Studies: Referencing plantations with more available information, such as the Liendo Plantation and other Southern plantations in Texas, to ensure the accuracy and authenticity of the architectural landscape reconstruction.

Agricultural and Flora Research: Investigating the historical agriculture and flora of the region to further enrich the understanding of the plantation's physical and cultural environment.

Results and Discussion:

1. Antebellum Architecture

Early slave and master houses were constructed from logs. As plantations prospered, these buildings were expanded or rebuilt using brick. Log buildings required significant maintenance and cleaning, increasing the labor demands on slaves. Slave quarters, t ypically 20'x20', initially

had dirt floors covered with animal skins, later replaced by wooden panels as plantations grew. These cabins featured a fireplace for cooking and heating, wood -shuttered windows, front and back doors, and a front porch. Furnishings included Georgia Hoss -style beds with mattresses stuffed with hay, straw, corn husks, or cotton, trunks for clothing, cowhide stools, and a table. Master houses often showcased large columns, a stately staircase behind the front door, and were usually painted white in the Greek Revival style.

2. Virtual Modeling and Comparative Studies

The Liendo House at the Liendo Plantation shares the same floorplan as the Kirby House, simplifying the virtual reconstruction of the Kirby House using digital archives. Voice recordings, including those from freed slave Laura Smalley, provided detailed in sights into the plantation landscape from the perspective of the enslaved.

3. Landscape Analysis

Slave cabins were typically situated a quarter mile from the main house. On larger plantations, slaves were often housed near the fields they worked. At Prairie View, slave quarters would have been located near the Hobart Taylor building, while the Kirby H ouse would have been close to the G.R. Woolfolk Social & Political Science Building and the fountain in the central courtyard along University Drive.

4. Flora Research

Researching the typical trees found on Southern plantations was essential. Many trees from the original plantation still exist on the campus today. Large oak trees line the sidewalks from the central courtyard to University Drive, reflecting the historical landscape.

Conclusion:

By utilizing an interdisciplinary approach that combines digital humanities and archival research methods, this project aims to shed light on the lived experiences of enslaved people and provide a comprehensive understanding of the functionality of plantation spaces. The creation of a dedicated website and the development of 3D environments replicating the historical settings of Alta Vista will serve as valuable tools for historic preservation and education. Through these

efforts, the project will contribute to a deeper appreciation and understanding of the complex history of the Antebellum period, fostering a greater awareness of its lasting impact on contemporary society.

References:

1. Antebellum Plantations of Brazoria County. 1960. https://jstor.org/stable/community.30191152.

2. Carr, Pat. “Slave Quarters.” In Death of a Confederate Colonel: Civil War Stories and a Novella, 15–22. University of Arkansas Press, 2007. https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt1ffjjxf.4.

3. Curlee, Abigail. “The History of a Texas Slave Plantation 1831 -63.” The Southwestern Historical Quarterly 26, no. 2 (1922): 79–127. http://www.jstor.org/stable/30234854

4. DABNEY, EMMANUEL. The Register of the Kentucky Historical Society 108, no. 4 (2010): 402–4. http://www.jstor.org/stable/23387403 .

5. Ellis, Clifton and Rebecca Ginsburg, editors. Cabin, Quarter, Plantation: Architecture and Landscapes of North American Slavery, Yale University Press, 2010. A&AePortal, aaeportal.com/?id=-22207.

6. Southern Oaks: Black and white photographs of the Majestic Old Oak Tre. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://keithdotson.com/blogs/news/southern -oaks-black-and-white-photographs-of-themajestic-old-oak-trees-of-the-southern-us

7. The history of Pre-Civil War Architecture. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://renewurban.net/thehistory-of-pre-civil-war-architecture/

Synthesis and characterization of CuS nanoparticles deposited over graphene oxide nanosheets

Pearl Gerald-Emesih and Gururaj M Neelgund Department of Chemistry, College of Arts and Sciences

Introduction:

Cancer is one of the current major causes of morbidity and mortality in humans [1]. So, advanced therapies having high efficiency and precision present a critical need for the effective treatment of cancer. Over this passion, a promising therapy is photothermal therapy (PTT), in which cancer cells are selectively targeted and destroyed by exposure to near-infrared (NIR) mediated high temperature. PTT is an innovative technique in cancer therapy, and it relies on the conversion efficiency of photon energy into heat through a photosensitizer, called a photothermal agent, under illumination to a NIR laser. In consideration of the importance of photothermal agents in PTT, herein we designed a NIR active agent, GO-CuS, by deposition of CuS nanoparticles over graphene oxide (GO) nanosheets.

Materials and Methods:

Preparation of GO-CuS: GO was prepared from graphite powder according to the Hummers and Offeman method with slight modifications [2,3]. In a typical procedure, 1 g of graphite powder (<20 μm, Aldrich) was added to 40 mL concentrated H2SO4 and stirred for 1 h under ice-cooling conditions. Then, 15 mL fuming HNO3 was slowly added and stirred the mixture for 30 min. To this, 5 g of KMnO4 was gradually added with stirring and cooling, and the resulting mixture was stirred at room temperature for 12 h, followed by the addition of 150 mL DI water. After stirring the mixture for 30 mins, 30 mL of H2O2 (30%) was slowly added, which turned the color of the reaction mixture to bright yellow. The resulting mixture was centrifuged and washed with 1:10 HCl in water solution in order to remove metal ions. Further, the mixture was washed with DI water until complete removal of the acids and thus obtained dark-yellow colored GO was dried under vacuum at 40 °C for 12 h. The drying process of GO was carried out at a lower temperature in order to avoid its deoxygenation. Subsequently, 100 mg GO nanosheets were dispersed in 50 mL DI water by sonication, and 20 mL aqueous solutions of CuCl2 (0.01 mol) and Na2S (0.01 mol) were added to it. The resulting mixture was allowed to stir for 4 hr at room temperature to yield GO-CuS.

Results and Discussion:

The prepared GO-CuS will be characterized using various instrumentation viz., IR, UV-vis-NIR, XRD, SEM, TEM, Raman, EDX, and XPS. The photothermal effect of GO -CuS will be estimated by exposing its aqueous dispersion to a 980 nm laser system and monitored its rise in temperature.

Conclusion(s) or Summary:

The robust NIR active agent, GO -CuS has been successfully prepared. The characterization of GO-CuS was performed using different instruments.

Fig. 1. ATR-IR spectrum of GO.

Fig. 2. ATR-IR spectrum of GO-CuS.

References:

1. J.H. Lim, D.E. Kim, E.J Kim, C.D. Ahrberg, B.G. Chung, Macromol. Res. 26 (2018) 557565

2. W.S. Hummers, R.E. Offeman, J. Am. Chem. Soc.80 (1958) 1339

3. G. M. Neelgund, V. N. Bliznyuk, A. Oki, Appl. Catal. B 187 (2016) 357 –366.

Efficient removal and detection of small ring polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from water

Viviana Salazar, and Harshica Fernando*

Department of Chemistry, College of Arts and Sciences

Introduction:

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) are bypr oducts of combustion processes and can be found in air, food, water and soil (Figure 1). They even occur naturally in coal, crude o il and gasoline. PAHs are molecules with two or more fused carbon rings. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has identified 16 PAH molecules that should be monitored due to potential health risks from exposure There have been reports of PAH molecules being linked to oxidative stress, cancer, and cardiovascular diseases Due to these reports it is imperative to for efficient identification and removal methods of these compounds. Using Green Iron Oxide Nanoparticles (GIONPs), small ring PAHs can be removed and monitored using fluorescence spectroscopy. Through many efforts in removing PAHs, are attempted using different metal ions and green nanoparticles, iron is found to be low cost, low toxicity and abundant making this nanoparticle system a cost-effective method of PAH removal. This study shows show that GIONPs, have the potential to be used to remove PAHs from water

Objective:

Figure 1. PAH contamination of water and soil

The aim of the project is to identify and analyze the removal process of PAHs using GIONPs synthesized from a green source and iron salts. Some structures of PAH’s are shown in Figure 2.

Figure 2: Structures of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons used.

Methods:

Synthesis of Fe nanoparticles:

GIONPs were prepared at room temperature using FeSO4 in a 500 ml beaker. Distilled water was added and stirred. 10.0 ml of the green source was then added and the mixture stirred. The solution was then mixed with 2M NaOH and stirred until a dark brown prec ipitate was formed. The precipitate was then centrifuged at 6000 rpm for 15 minutes. The nanoparticles were then separated and washed with distilled water. After decanting the supernatant, the precipitate was dried at 70 C overnight and used in characteriz ation and PAH removal experiments.

Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and Electron - Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS) measurements:Analyses from SEM and EDS were performed using a scanning electron microscope and In TouchScope software. The samples were prepared on carbon -coated adhesive tape with backscattered electron images that were collected using an accelerating voltage of 10 kV and a load current of approximately 90uA with a working distance of 9 mm. EDS spectra were gathered at a magnification of 2000x and the analyzed area was 0.15 mm2.

PAH Removal:

Naphthalene, Anthracene, Fluorene and Pyrene were prepared in Acetonitrile. To each PAH solution prepared, 10.0 mg of GIONPs were added and the mixture allowed to mix for 2 to 3 hours. The mixture was then centrifuged at 1000 rpm and scanning at 30 minutes followed by scanning in 15 minute intervals using the Jasco FP -8300 fluorescence spectrometer.

Identification of PAH’s:

Preliminary experiments were carried out to establish the method of identification using a fluorescence energy transfer method. Small ring PAH’s were tested with the fluorophore rhodamine molecule to identify the efficient energy transfer process. All expe riments were carried out using a fluorescence spectrometer.

Results and Discussion:

Results from Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) picture on the left, and Electron -Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS) picture on the right (Figure 3) are shown below.

Figure 3. SEM and EDS scans of the synthesized nanoparticles.

The results of the fluorescence intensity scans for four small ring PAH’s are shown in Figure 4.

Figure 4: Fluorescence Intensity Scans of Naphthalene, Anthracene, Fluorene and Pyrene, respectively from left to right. These show the removal of the PAH after the addition of the GIONPs over time.

The graphs below represent the Fluorescence Intensity vs Time plots for the removal of PAHs, this shows a clearer progression over time of the NPs PAH removal over the amount of time indicated in the graphs (Figure 5).

Figure 5: Fluorescence intensity vs time plots.

In the results, focusing on the PAH removal and intensity scans, it can be seen that GIONPs are consistent in removing PAHs from compounds. Although the PAH molecule

removal using GIONPs takes place at varying minute ranges, it is still seen that PAH molecules intensity is decreasing over time.

Significance:

PAH molecules can be found in air, food, water and soil. They also occur naturally in coal, crude oil and gasoline. There have been reports of PAH molecules being linked to oxidative stress, cancer, and cardiovascular diseases, 16 PAH molecules have been i dentified to be potential high risk from exposure. Because they are so widespread, it is important to develop an efficient and effective method of detecting and removing PAH molecules. The results presented here support GIONPs as an efficient and effective method of PAH molecule removal.

Future and ongoing work:

Preliminary work on identification of PAH’s using a fluorescence-based method is established. More work needs to be performed in identifying a suitable dye that allows detection of all sixteen priority PAH’s.

References

1. Zang, Y., Zhang L., Huang, Z., Li, Y., Wu, N., He, J., Zang, Z., Liu, Y., Niu, Z. Pollution of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in drinking water of China: Composition, distribution and influencing factors. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety. 20 19, 177, 108-116.

2. Sun, K., Song, Y., Zong, W., Tang, J., Liu, R. Anthracene-induced DNA damage and oxidative stress: a combined study at molecular and cellular levels. Environmental Science and Pollution Research. 2020, 27, 41458-41474.

3. Adeniji, A.O., Okoh, O.O. & Okoh, A.I. Levels of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in the Water and Sediment of Buffalo River Estuary, South Africa and Their Health Risk Assessment. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol 2019, 76, 657–669.

4. Ambade, B., Sethi, S. S., Kurwadkar, S., Kumar, A., Sankar, T. K. Toxicity and health risk assessment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in surface water, sediments and groundwater vulnerability in Damodar River Basin, Groundwater for Sustainable Development. 2021, 13, 100553.

5. Al-Dossary, M. A., Abood, S. A., Al-Saad, H. T. Effects of physicochemical factors on PAH degradation by Planomicrobium alkanoclasticum. Remediation 2021, 31, 29037.

6. Racicot, J. M., Mako, T. L., Healey, A., Hos, B., & Levine, M. Efficient Detection and Removal of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons Using Cyclodextrin -Modified Cellulose. ChemPlusChem, 2020, 85(8), 1730–1736.

7. Serio, N., Miller, K., Levine, M. Efficient Detection of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons and Polychlorinated Biphenyls via Three-Component Energy Transfer. Chem. Commun. 2013, 49, 4821-4823.

8. Serio N, Prignano L, Peters S, Levine M. Detection of Medium -Sized Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons via Fluorescence Energy Transfer. Polycycl Aromat Compd. 2014, 4(5):561-572.

9. Fernando, H., Ju, H., Kakumanu, R., Bhopale, K. K., Croisant, S., Elferink, C. Distribution of petrogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in seafood following Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Marine Pollution Bulletin. 2019, 45, 200 -207.

10. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) Toxicologial profile for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons 1995. (http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxprofiles/tp69.pdf).

11. Pampanin DM in Petrogenic Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in the aquatic environment. Chapter 1.2017. Edited by Pampanin DM, and Sydnes MO pp3 –13.

12. Poster D. L., Schantz M. M., Sander L. C., Wise S. A. Analysis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in environmental samples: a critical review of gas chromatographic (GC) methods Anal. Bioanal. Chem 2006, 386, 859 –881.Ramalhosa M. J., Paiga P., Morais S., Delerue-Matos C., Oliveira M. B. Analysis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in fish: evaluation of a quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe extraction method. J. Sep. Sci. 2009, 32, 3529–3538.

13. Rotkin-Ellman M, Wong K. K., Solomon G. M. Seafood Contamination after the BP Gulf Oil Spill and Risks to Vulnerable Populations: A Critique of the FDA Risk Assessment. Environ. Health. Perspec. 2012, 120, 157–161.

Healthcare Traditions at PVAMU: Exploring the Experiences of Black Nurses in Texas during the Jim Crow Era (1865-1968)

Samira Matlock and Marco Robinson, Ph.D.* Ruth J. Simmons Center for Race and Justice, College of Arts and Sciences

Introduction:

Following the Post-Reconstruction Era and the emergence of the Jim Crow Era, opportunities for healthcare across the American South were limited for Black Americans due to the scarcity of healthcare professionals who provided medical services for people of color. During this time, non-black professionals refused to help people of color, leading to a lack of opportunity for people of color to receive healthcare. The area that became the City of Prairie View was not exempt from this dilemma. This conundrum forced the University and local community to provide solutions to this issue. As a result, in 1918, the nursing school at Prairie View A&M University was established. It was a two-year diploma program for blacks in Texas. Ten years later in 1928, the program was lengthened to three years. In 1930, the first off-campus facility, Jefferson Davis Hospital, opened in Houston, Texas where the nursing students performed clinicals in obstetrics and pediatrics. In 1941, clinical training at Jefferson Davis Hospital added surgical, operating room, and medical nursing, and by 1948, the required clinical training expanded to 18 months. In 1952, the three-year diploma program became a 4-year baccalaureate program, with 12 students in the first cohort.

Black nursing students from PVAMU did not have the easiest time during clinicals and training. They experienced a different training than white students during their time at Jefferson Davis Hospital. Given the time frame, the Reconstruction Era had just ended, these nurses in training had to navigate the challenges of living in segregated Texas. The Jim Crow era, in summary, was the time of legalized racial segregation in the southern states. Black students during this time experienced discrimination in nearly every aspect of life. Attending nursing school and working in the field came with a completely different experience due to the existence of this racial caste system.

Objectives/Goals:

This study explores healthcare traditions at PVAMU, the establishment of the nursing program at Prairie View, and the experiences of nursing graduates working during the Jim Crow Era. This

project employs archival and qualitative research methods to illuminate this mostly undocumented and rich history. The nursing program at PVAMU is vital to the university. The first degree from PVAMU was obtained in nursing. The nursing program's history i s a major portion of the university's history. It is dismaying that the experiences of nursing students from PVAMU during the Jim Crow Era are not documented. My goal for conducting this research is to gather the experiences of these students and, with the ir permission, deposit my research into the PVAMU archive to provide access to this information for others. I am also developing a digital timeline to outline the dates of major events that have taken place regarding the nursing school and healthcare in Waller County.

Materials and Method:

To conduct this research, I will conduct oral histories within a non -probability availability study utilizing convenience sampling. I will apply historical analysis to the interviewees’ responses. As of now, I have completed 3 interviews, and that number is constantly increasing over time. I am using many resources with date stamps and any oral facts I receive during the oral interviews and creating a digital timeline using Knight Lab.

Results and Discussion:

The goal of this project is to create a digital collection of interviews with former nurses and medical staff who graduated from PV’s Nursing Program. During the data collection portion of my research and the oral interviews, I have heard stories that are unimaginable and collected photos to provide a visual. Since this research is incomplete, I am still using my time to conduct interviews and research to enhance my findings. I will be able to use my research to teach others about this vital part of PVAMU history.

Impact/Benefit:

This research will impact not only our university, but the entire population. This is black history that is undocumented and has the potential to leave a lasting impact. Anyone interested can access this information through the PVAMU digital archive.

References:

1. Marco Robinson and Farrah Cambrice, Southern Communities of Color and University Relations at a HBCU: An Examination of the History of Community Relations and Recent Faculty Community Engagement Activities at Prairie View A &M University , Special Issue of Southern Studies: An Interdisciplinary Journal of the South v. 30, n. 1 (Spring 2023).

2. Engaging the Public with and Preserving the History of Texas's first Public Historically Black University. KULA: knowledge creation, dissemination, and preservation studies X(X): X DOI,: https://kula.uvic.ca/articles/10.5334/kula.33/, 2018.

3. https://www.pvamu.edu/nursing/about/#:~:text=Established%20in%201918%2C%20it% 20was,campus%20affiliation%20begun%20in%201930

4. https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/prairie- view-a-m-university-college-ofnursing

5. https://digitalcommons.pvamu.edu/do/search/?q=nursing&start=0&context=15878344&f acet=

Electroactive Materials for Energy Conversion and Catalysis

Francine Strachan, Jada Marie Henry and Sameh Abdelwahed* Department of Chemistry, College of Arts and Sciences

Introduction:

Efficient long-range energy and electronic transport within supramolecular structures are pivotal in modern materials science. Understanding the intricate relationships between intrinsic electronic structures and properties of complex materials is paramount. Chemical systems adopting the general structure (D1–Bridge–D2) serve as exemplars for nanoscale electronic devices, such as molecular wires and chemical sensors based on nanowires, as well as switches. The application of various chemical or physical actions to the group D1 (e.g., reduction/oxidation, complexation, irradiation) induces changes in its structure/electronic state. These alterations are then transmitted through bridging B to the D2 moiety, where the structural/optical/electronic response of D 2 can engender a d esired target effect or initiate subsequent physical/chemical transformations. This proposal investigates the structural and electronic response of a donor group D2 following the removal of one electron from the donor group D1, separated from D2 through different bridging oligofluorenes moieties denoted as B. Two crucial mechanisms for electron transmission through short and long organic molecules have been identified: direct electron quantum tunneling from donor to acceptor (D2 → D1) and a single -step or multistep hopping mechanism (D2 → B → D1), involving one or more intermediate states B.

hn + e - e A reply

Objective:

The objective of this research is to design and study a D –B–D system capable of tolerating effective electronic coupling based on methylene -bridge oligofluorenes. This includes investigating the electrochemistry and interaction between D + and D through oligofluorenes, and conducting optoelectronic and morphological characterization using AFM, Four -point probe, and STM. The ultimate goal is to advance our understanding of electronic coupling mechanisms in complex materials, with potential implications for the development of molecular devices exhibiting enhanced performance.

Bridge (B) D2

Material and Methods:

Synthesis

Employ Suzuki coupling reactions using available precursors for the synthesis of various oligofluorenes. Rigorously characterize all monomers and materials through NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. Utilize alkyl groups to enhance the solubility of lo ng-chain oligophenylenes in organic solvents.

Cyclic Voltammetry

Evaluate donor strength and cation radical stability through cyclic voltammetry. Electrochemically oxidize various oligofluorenes at a platinum electrode.

Generation and Spectral Analysis of Cation

- Radicals

Implement oxidation methods to generate reversible electrochemical oxidation of all oligofluorene series, forming corresponding cation-radicals. Utilize chemical compounds or electrochemical oxidation in dichloromethane solution to induce redox titrations. Conduct redox titrations to confirm electrontransfer processes, leading to mono- cation radicals and dicharged cation radicals.

Optical Properties Analysis

Record ground-state UV-vis absorption spectra of oligofluorene derivatives in dichloromethane solution to analyze their optical properties. Determine absorption maxima and molar extinction coefficients to gain insights into the behavior of polyfluorene moieties.

Results and Discussion :

Preliminary results indicate that various oligofluorenes have been successfully synthesized with excellent solubility in organic solvents. Comprehensive characterization using 1H/13C NMR and X-ray crystallography confirmed the structure and purity of these compounds. Cyclic voltammetry analyses demonstrated a decrease in the first oxidation potential with an increasing number of fluorene moieties. Additionally, the UV-Vis near-IR absorption spectra of the radical cation revealed a prominent peak, indicating a delocalized cationic charge. NMR spectroscopy played a crucial role in material identification, allowing for the confirmation of synthesized compound structures. The student gained proficiency in interpreting spectra,

Fig. 9. NormalizedUV-Vis absorption spectra ofvarious FP2 Oligofluorene Series

identifying key signals corresponding to different functional groups, and preparing NMR samples. This hands-on experience provided a deeper understanding of the structural characteristics and purity of the compounds, essential for determining their potential as electroactive materials.

Impact:

This research advances the fundamental understanding of electronic coupling mechanisms in complex materials. The findings have significant implications for the development of molecular devices, such as molecular wires and chemical sensors, with enhanced pe rformance. The insights gained from this study contribute to the broader field of materials science, particularly in energy conversion and catalysis, paving the way for innovative applications and improved efficiency in electronic and optoelectronic devices.

References:

1. D. Wang, M.R. Talipov, M.V. Ivanov, R. Rathore, Energy Gap between the Poly -p-phenylene Bridge and Donor Groups Controls the Hole Delocalization in Donor –Bridge–Donor Wires, Journal of the American Chemical Society, 138 (2016) 16337 -16344.

2. D. Sun, S.V. Lindeman, R. Rathore, J.K. Kochi, Intramolecular (electron) delocalization between aromatic donors and their tethered cation – radicals. Application of electrochemical and structural probes, Journal of the Chemical Society, Perkin Transactions 2 , (2001) 15851594.

3. W.B. Davis, W.A. Svec, M.A. Ratner, M.R. Wasielewski, Molecular-wire behaviour in pphenylenevinylene oligomers, Nature, 396 (1998) 60 -63.

4. L.A. Bumm, J.J. Arnold, M.T. Cygan, T.D. Dunbar, T.P. Burgin, L. Jones, D.L. Allara, J.M. Tour, P.S. Weiss, Are Single Molecular Wires Conducting?, Science, 271 (1996) 1705 -1707.

5. J. Chen, M.A. Reed, A.M. Rawlett, J.M. Tour, Large On -Off Ratios and Negative Differential Resistance in a Molecular Electronic Device, Science, 286 (1999) 1550 -1552.

6. V. Lukeš, A. Aquino, H. Lischka, Theoretical Study of Vibrational and Optical Spectra of Methylene-Bridged Oligofluorenes, The Journal of Physical Chemistry A, 109 (2005) 1023210238.

Exploring Problematic Histories in Black Spaces: Memorializing and Commemorating Enslaved

Jaimi Ingram and Marco Robinson, Ph.D.

Ruth J. Simmons Center for Race and Justice, College of Arts and Sciences

Introduction:

Many issues influence erecting statues and memorials in historically Black spaces, especially when factoring in the legacy of slavery and considering the imposed social restrictions of the Jim Crow Era. At Historically Black Colleges and Universities, sites often directly impacted by these eras, commemoration, and memorialization are complex processes involving projecting a hopeful future for destitute people. This also is true for Prairie View A&M University, Texas’s oldest state-supported university.

Honoring the past of these institutions acknowledges the achievements, resilience, and progress of African Americans in our country. Over time, monuments honor the legacies of those in the past and provide a foundation for on which to advance our future. Memorials provide the opportunity to educate, reflect, and motivate to progress society to a more equitable future. More importantly, this will aid in the creation of a universal understanding of enslavement, from the eyes of African Americans, and eliminate myths. It will prohibit the neglect of discussing this system of brutality and hatred, and force our communities to engage in constructive conversation that highlights the wrongs but celebrates the triumph of African Americans along the lines of commemoration.

Above all, commemoration gives a voice to those who are no longer with us and honors the stories they passed due to their lineage. Additionally, memorialization provides a space for mourning and reflection, that can be used to bring people together.

Objectives:

This project centers on examining the complex history of and efforts towards commemoration at Prairie View A&M University (PVAMU), the former site of Alta Vista Plantation. It focuses on the issues that emerge when memorializing slavery, how Emancipation factors into commemorating slavery, and how respectability politics play into what black communities choose to celebrate. It will focus on the deeper inequalities that arise from racial disparities, memory, and celebrating our shared history.

Material and Method:

Taking an interdisciplinary approach, this study analyzes archival, qualitative, and geographical data to answer these questions. Finally, employing tenants of Afrofuturism and architectural methods, virtual/3D renderings of a proposed slavery memorial on PVAMU’s campus are presented to provide avenues of exploration into what public displays of contemporary black hope look like. This ensures the research is performed considering spatial and cultural contexts, historical accuracy, and personal narratives. Using resources such as the PVAMU archives, and secondary sources that discuss issues relevant to the topic, will provide a more thorough analysis of the historical situations. Conducting interviews with faculty, staff, and students at the university as well family of former enslaved individuals of Alta Vista Plantation, will ensure the memorial plaza highlights all obstacles that were faced. Performing a geographical analysis us ing software such as ArcGIS, SketchUp, AutoCad, and Revit, aids in mapping and spatial analysis.

Results:

A memorial plaza will be created to honor and infuse the history of Prairie View into what it is today. This plaza will help form a community on our campus while telling the story of our origin. It also will act as a meaningful space for alumni to reconnec t with their Alma mater. This will help create discussion throughout the state of Texas on the impact Prairie View A&M has on the university system. It will act as a living classroom, and promote the preservation of archives.

Significance:

The preliminary findings of this multi-year study illuminate the silences and voids around the black educational experience in Texas, women’s experiences, and legacy of slavery in the Lone Star State. Being that this is a historically Black university it i s a disservice to continue without properly educating individuals on Prairie View’s historical impact. T his project represents a step towards rectifying this historical oversight and fostering a more inclusive and truthful narrative of Prairie View's legacy. It addresses the broader problem of historical erasure and the demand for a more thorough historical records, that is maintained by different communities for accuracy purposes. This will be a starting point to a more equitable and inclusive understanding o f history.

References:.

1. Kobayashi, Audrey. “The Dialectic of Race and the Discipline of Geography.” Annals of the Association of American Geographers 104, no. 6 (October 27, 2014): 1101–15. https://doi.org/10.1080/00045608.2014.958388

2. Aoki, Keith. “Race, Space, and Place: The Relation between Architectural Modernism, Post-Modernism, Urban Planning, and Gentrification.” Fordham Urban Law Journal 20 (1992):699. https://heinonline.org/HOL/LandingPage?handle=hein.journals/frdurb20&di v=42&id= &page=.

3. Bass, Sandra. “Policing Space, Policing Race: Social Control Imperatives and Police Discretionary Decisions.” Social Justice 28, no. 1 (83) (2001): 156–76. https://www.jstor.org/stable/29768062?searchText=race%20in%20space&searchUri = %2Faction%2FdoBasicSearch%3FQuery%3Drace%2Bin%2Bspace&ab_segments= 0%2Fbasic_search_gsv2%2Fcontrol&refreqid=fastly -default%3Acb46e29896f596aa 87dd6018f84aaf19.

4. Chavez, Lauren. “A Theory of Systemic Racism in America and a Partial Remedy.” CMC Senior Theses , January 1, 2019. https://scholarship.claremont.edu/cmc_theses/2276/.

5. Dorn, Renee. “The Relevance of Historically Black Colleges and Universities.” Theses and Dissertations , January 1, 2013. https://digitalcommons.pepperdine.edu/etd/376/.

6. Jones, Keara. “Are Historically Black Colleges and Universities Necessary? It’s Not That Black and White.” Master of Liberal Studies Theses , January 1, 2015. https://scholarship.rollins.edu/ml

Digitally Re-Interpreting Historically Black Spaces and Landscapes: An Exploration of Preservation Efforts at Prairie View A&M University and Within the C ity of Prairie View, Texas

Amaya Moss, Dr. Pegram Bequita, and Dr. Marco Robinson*

Ruth J. Simmons Center for Race and Justice, College of Arts and Sciences

Introduction:

Digital Platforms and tools provide a dynamic space from which to analyze and explore the issues of public space. This approach is particularly useful for re-creating and re-interpreting historically black spaces and landscapes. Currently, faculty and student r esearchers at Prairie View A&M University are working to bring light to the history of the campus and city by creating 3D virtual renditions of the spaces, as they existed during the Antebellum and Jim Crow Eras. In addition, archival and qualitative data collection are b eing used to inform the composition of these historic areas and create n arratives around the important history. Further, merging digital, architectural, and historical methods, the team is re -creating and re-interpreting these spaces to build a h istorical walking trail through the community. This study seeks to halt erasure and highlight the local campus-community’s vibrant history.

Currently, the Prairie View African American Cultural Heritage Commission, Prairie View A&M University (PVAMU), and the City of Prairie View have been collaborating on initiatives to document, preserve, and rebrand the local community’s history along more wholesome storylines. The C ity of Prairie View is primed for a p ublic artist intervention that revitalizes the image of and speaks to the importance of the town’s past. The proposed artistic intervention has the potential to change the trajectory of race r elations in Waller County and restore hope for racial reconciliation in the r egion of Texas.

Objective:

This project is a collaboration between the Ruth J. Simmons Center for Race and Justice, Prairie View African American Cultural Heritage Co mmission, Prairie View A&M University, and the City of Prairie View, Texas. For this project, the gro ups agreed to consolidate their efforts to conduct the research for and create a cultural heritage walking trail on Sandra Bland Parkway and erect a historical monument in Sandra B land Park.

Method:

Phase one of this project entails conducting research related to designated spots along the proposed trail. Heritage Commission Members, PVAMU Faculty, and students will engage in conducting oral histories with local residents and archival research to docu ment the historical significance of designated spots on the trail. The data collected from the archival searches and interviews will be used to create narratives for the historical markers on the trail. In conjunction with the data collection, the project leaders plan to host community meetings to discuss local history and implement the trail. Phase two of the project will include pulling local artists and experts together to begin designing the markers and finalizing the path of the trail. And design the monument. During this phase, project leaders will work closely with the artists and designers to ensure the collective ideas from the community meetings are integrated into the markers and monument. Phase three will involve taking bids and contracting with vendors to finish the project. Once bids are received, careful evaluation will be conducted to select suitable vendors based on criteria such as cost, expertise, and reputation. Negotiations will then occur to finalize contractual agreements and ensure all parties are aligned with project objectives. Throughout this phase, diligent project management is crucial to monitor progress. Phase four will include the unveiling of the project and a public dedication. This will generate excitement and raise awareness about the project’s significance. Members of the community will enjoy the dedication and monument.

Results:

Engaging with people directly along the trail and through community gatherings provided invaluable feedback on draft designs, ensuring they aligned with the community’s needs and standards. By listening to diverse perspectives and preferences, multiple draft designs were developed to accommodate various preferences and requirements. Traveling the trail enabled designers to understand the site’s unique characteristics and incorporat e them into the drafts, resulting in designs that harmonized with the natural environment. Ultimately, the collaborative approach ensured that the final designs reflected the collective vision of the community, creating a sense of ownership and pride in the project.

Summary:

Through the project, direct engagement with residents of Prairie View, Texas was facilitated via community meetings and outreach events, which created open communication. These interactions provided valuable insights into the city, uncovering rich cultural narratives and untold stories that influenced the project’s design. Learning about Prairie View’s history informed architectural decisions, guiding the incorporation of elements that resonate with the community’s heritage and identity. This approach ensur ed that the project not only met the functional needs, but also honored the local history, culture, and traditions.

References:

1. Gaynor, Tia Sherèe, Seong C. King, and Brian N. Williams. “Segregated Spaces and Separated Races: The Relationship Between State-Sanctioned Violence, Place, and Black Identity.” RSF: The Russell Sage Foundation Journal of the Social Sciences 7, no 1 (2021): 50-66. https://doi.org/10.7758/rsf.2021.7.1.04.

2. Grandison, Kendrick Ian. “Negotiated Space: The Black College Campus as a Cultural Record of Postbellum America.” American Quarterly 51, no. 3 (1999): 52979. http://www.Nestor.org/stable/3004218

3. Rogers, Ibram H. “The black Campus Movement and the Institutionalization of Black Studies, 1965-1970.” Journal of African American Studies 16, no. 1 (2012): 21 -40. http://www.Nestor.org/stable/43525473.

Introduction:

Regional Powers in the Horn of Africa and the Israel-Gaza Conflict

Demetria Bolden and Ronald E. Goodwin Ph.D. (Faculty Mentor)

Division of Social Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences

The region encompassing the Horn of Africa h as consistently held significant importance for global powers. Against the backdrop of recent outbreak of open hostilities, the Israel-Gaza conflict, it b ecomes imperative to examine the impact of this conflict o n regional powers, namely Israel, Iran, Egypt, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. The scope of this project covers the first 100 days of the recent hostilities, from October 7, 2023 through January 15, 2024.

Objective:

The objective of this study is to explore the extent to which the Israel-Gaza conflict impacts the dynamics among regional powers in the Horn of Africa.

Materials and Methods:

In this mixed methods study, a comprehensive review of articles sourced from diverse n ews outlets and educational journals were und ertaken to illuminate the current dynamics within the regional powers in the Horn of Africa. To uncover relevant articles, keywords such as Horn of Africa, Israel-Gaza conflict, economy, politics, and the names of influential regional countries were employed. It was essential to refine the research scope to the specific 100 -day period under study. Filters were applied to the search criteria to maintain focus within this lens.

Complementing textual analysis, graphical representations and maps were utilized to augment the qualitative insights with quantitative data.

Results:

Examination of the published articles in conjunction with quantitative data illuminates the deep and complex engagement of regional powers in the conflict, extending across both factions. The findings underscore the intricate involvement of regional powers in the conflict, encompassing

political affiliations, economic motives, and humanitarian initiatives, underscoring their significant influence on its dynamics.

Summary:

The ongoing conflict in Gaza is causing widespread human suffering and is expected to continue contributing to significant economic consequences for the broader Middle East and North Africa region. The impact includes disruptions to tourism, trade, and inv estment, with potential longterm effects on growth. Nations in the Horn of Africa must carefully manage potential disruptions to their economies and security landscape. The conflict has significantly influenced the political landscape in both the Middle E ast and the Horn of Africa, with wide-ranging effects. This includes the validation of protests across the region, the increased influence of groups like the Houthis, and the strategic implications for nations bordering the Red Sea, such as Egypt and Saudi Arabia.

The Red Sea has emerged as a focal point of contention, with concerns over potential Houthi attacks posing significant threats to trade routes and coastal nations in the Horn of Africa. Key regional players, including Iran, Egypt, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, have acknowledged Palestine's statehood, offering various forms of support ranging from financial aid to political backing for Gaza's residents and Hamas militants. Global superpowers like the United States, Russia, and China have historically wielded significant influence in this global conflict. However, it's becoming increasingly evident that the ramifications of this conflict could have profound effects on the countries within the Horn of Africa. These regional powers are pivotal in shaping the course of the conflict and may even contribute to the escalation of a largerscale conflict. While this study focused on a mere 100 days of the conflict, it's essential to recognize that this narrative has unfolded over decades. Future re search endeavors should delve into the historical backdrop of the conflict to offer valuable context to the ongoing warfare.

Exploring the Role of Poly ADP-Ribose Polymerase Inhibitors in Cancer Therapy:

A Comprehensive Review

Deja Livingston and Gloria Regisford* Department of Biology, College of Arts and Sciences

Introduction:

Genomic instability resulting from d efective DNA repair mechanisms is a fund amental hallmark of cancer. Fortunately, poly ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP) inhibitors have emerged as a promising therapeutic approach in cancer treatment, particularly in tumors with DNA repair deficiencies. PARP proteins play a crucial ro le in DNA repair pathways, including base excision repair, homologous recombination, and non- homologous end joining. The discovery of synthetic lethality between PARP inhibition and homologous recombination deficiency has led to the development of PARP inhibitors as a targeted therapy in cancer. FDA approval of PARP inhibitors such as Olaparib for ovarian cancer has paved the way for their use in clinical pr actice. However, challenges remain in identifying optimal p atient populations, understanding mechanisms of resistance, and expanding the application of PARP inhibitors to other cancer types.

Objectives/ Aims:

This comprehensive review aims to synthesize existing literature on the use of PARP inhibitors in cancer therapy. It examines the mechanism of action, clinical efficacy, and ongoing research efforts surrounding PARP inhibitors. Additionally, this review discusses the challenges and future directions in optimizing the use of PARP inhibitors in cancer treatment.

Methods:

A systematic review of published literature was conducted using databases such as PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science. Search terms included variations of "PARP inhibitor" and "cancer therapy." Additionally, clinical trial registries were searched such as c linicaltrials.gov to identify ongoing and completed trials investigating PARP inhibitors in cancer. Relevant patents related to PARP inhibitors were also examined to provide insights into emerging research and development in this field.

Results and Discussion:

Poly ADP-ribose polymerase inhibitors have demonstrated significant clinical activity in cancer therapy, particularly in tumors with DNA repair deficiencies. Future research efforts will focus on expanding the use of PARP inhibitors to other cancer types, identifying predictive biomarkers of response, and overcoming resistance mechanisms.

Significance:

With further investigation and clinical trials, PARP inhibitors have the potential to improve outcomes for a broader range of cancer patients.

References:

1. Buzzonetti, A., Fossati, M., Catzola, V., Scambia, G., Fattorossi, A., & Battaglia, A. (2014). Immunological response induced by abagovomab as a maintenance therapy in patients with epithelial ovarian cancer: relationship with survival -a substudy of the MIMOSA trial. Cancer immunology, immunotherapy : CII, 63(10), 1037 –1045. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00262-014-1569-0

2. Dulaney, C., Marcrom, S., Stanley, J., Yang, E., Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1700 6th Avenue South, 176F Hazelrig -Salter Radiation Oncology Center, Room 2232-N, Birmingham, AL 35249-6832, United States. https://do i.org/10.1016/j.semcdb.2017.01.007

3. Kurnit, K., Fleming, G., Lengyel, E. Updates and New Options in Advanced Epithelial Ovarian Cancer Treatment. Obstet Gynecol. 2021 Jan 1;137(1):108 -121. doi: 10.1097/AOG.0000000000004173. PMID: 33278287; PMCID: PMC7737875.

4. Lim, H., Ledger, W. Targeted therapy in ovarian cancer. Womens Health (Lond). 2016 Jun;12(3):363-78. doi: 10.2217/whe.16.4. Epub 2016 May 24. PMID: 27215391; PMCID: PMC5384518.

5. Mittica, G., Ghisoni, E., Giannone, G., Genta, S., Aglietta, M., Sapino, A., & Valabrega, G.(2018). PARP Inhibitors in Ovarian Cancer. Recent patents on anti - cancer drug discovery, 13(4), 392–410. https://doi.org/10.2174/1574892813666180305165256

Exploring MIRLET7C and its Association with Leiomyoma in African

Kamari Russell and Gloria Regisford

American Women

Department of Biology, College of Arts and Sciences

Introduction:

Uterine fibroids (leiomyoma) are the most common benign tumors found in women of childbearing age. Uterine leiomyomas, or fibroids, are non -cancerous tumors in the uterus affecting up to 70% of women by age 50. Although they are general non -cancerous, recent studies suggest that microRNA (miRNA) involvement in the development of uterine fibroids is associated with cancer. Fibroids are large muscle cells and other tissues that line/grow the walls of the uterus and womb. Their cause is not known, but it is be lieved that genetic, hormonal, and environmental factors may play a role. Uterine fibroids are most likely to develop in women ages 30 to 40 and are 3 to 9 times higher in African-American women. Obesity is also a risk factor and increases the chances of development. Although women with fibroids typically do not show any clear signs, symptoms may include: heavy/painful periods, painful urination, pain during sex, reproductive issues, and lower back pain. Clinical management of these symptoms include: pharmaceutical drugs, myomectomy (surgical treatment), embolization (non -surgical treatment), and hysterectomy (an invasive surgical treatment).

Evidence shows that genetics may be a contributing factor to the development of fibroids, however, this does not indicate that the primary cause is genetic. MicroRNA Let 7c is a gene that belongs to the miRNA class and is associated with leiomyoma. There i s growing evidence that the racial component of genetics affects miRNA expression in uterine leiomyomas. MiRNA expression patterns have been compared between different racial groups and unique signatures have been identified in African-American and Caucasian women with uterine leiomyomas. These differences in race-associated miRNA expression may be related because of underlying genetic variations, environmental factors, or both.

The size of the tumor is also an important factor when dealing with uterine leiomyomas. The bigger the tumor, the more severe the symptoms and complications it may cause. Researchers have studied the relationship between the tumor size and miRNA expression profiles. They found that small and large leiomyomas have different expression patterns. This suggests that these miRNAs can be used as biomarkers to track the severity and progression of the disease. The two research questions are: What mutations/variations that occur in this gene contribute to the

development of uterine fibroids? Is there an increased presence of the miRNA mutations of this gene in African-American Women? If so, does it contribute to the presence of uterine fibroids in African-American women?

Objectives/ Goals:

The objective of this project is to annotate and characterize the MIRLET7C gene and its association with leiomyoma through bioinformatics databases and journal articles. It was hypothesized that increased levels of microRNA expression in African -American women are the cause of leiomyoma in African-American Women.

Materials and Methods:

To test this hypothesis, bioinformatics databases including GeneCards , University of California Santa Cruz (UCSC) Genome Browser, Ensembl, and National Center of Biotechnology Information (NCBI), in addition to the Basic Local Alignment Tool (BLAST), were used to characterize and annotate the gene.

Results and Discussion:

Research showed that the way miRNAs behave in uterine leiomyomas is different from the way they behave in adjacent normal myometrium. These miRNAs are responsible for controlling many different cellular processes, such as cell growth, cell death, and the r ebuilding of the extracellular matrix, which are all important in the development of uterine leiomyomas. The cytogenic location of MIRLET7C is 21q21.1 and it is localized within the Endosome and Nucleus. MIRLET7C is expressed in several tissues, the highes t in the Reproductive Organs.

Orthologs of MIRLET7C can be found in Lizards, Dogs, Mice, Chickens, and Zebrafish. MIRLET7C has no essential paralogs. In summary, MIRLET7C is an RNA Gene that is affiliated with the miRNA class, that causes the increased exp ression of leiomyoma in African American Women.

Significance

By identifying specific miRNA signatures linked to uterine leiomyomas, we can better understand the biological pathways that lead to the formation and progression of these tumors.

By understanding the molecular mechanisms that cause these changes in miRNA expression with tumor size, researchers can find ways to stop leiomyoma growth and develop targeted therapiesespecially for African-American women who are the most susceptible.

References:

1. Hellwege JN;Jeff JM;Wise LA;Gallagher CS;Wellons M;Hartmann KE;Jones SF;Torstenson ES;Dickinson S;Ruiz-Narváez EA;Rohland N;Allen A;Reich D;Tandon A;Pasaniuc B;Mancuso N;Im HK;Hinds DA;Palmer JR;Rosenberg L;Denny JC;Roden DM;Stewart EA;Morton CC;Kenny EE; (2017, October). A multi-stage genome-wide association study of uterine fibroids in African Americans. Human genetics.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28836065/

2. Harley, John. Genome-Wide Association Study in African-Americans with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. Children’s Hospital Medical Center.

https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/tr/pdf/ADA574794.pdf

3. Keaton, J.M., Jasper, E.A., Hellwege, J.N. et al. Evidence that geographic variation in genetic ancestry associates with uterine fibroids. Hum Genet 140, 1433 –1440 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00439-021-02322-y

4. Myungshin Kim, Mi Yeon Kwon, HeeJeong Lee et al. MicroRNAs as Potential Indicators of the Development and Progression of Uterine Leiomyoma, 03 September 2021, PREPRINT (Version 1) available at Research Square. https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs846283/v1

5. Lynn M Marshall, Donna Spiegelman, Robert L Barbieri, Marlene B Goldman, JoAnn E Manson, Graham A Colditz, Walter C Willett, David J Hunter, Variation in the Incidence

Unraveling the Ties – Investigating the Influence of Social Determinants of Health on the Prevalence of Hypertension in African Americans

Calah Burros and Charcacia Sanders* Department of Biology, College of Arts and Science

Introduction

The initially proposed project on investigating molecular mechanisms in Drosophila melanogaster spermatogenesis could not be scaled to Prairie View A&M University due to delays in funding and facility infrastructure. As a result, the project fo cus shifted to "Unraveling the Ties: Investigating the Influence of Social Determinants of Health on the Prevalence of Hypertension in African Americans." This report details the progr ess made so far and outlines the projected timeline for the r emaining tasks.

Progress to Date: Cohort Creation

The student h as successfully created a cohort of participants using the All of Us Researcher Workbench. This cohort includes anonymized health and demographic data from African American adults, which forms the foundation for analyzing the relationships between hypertension and various social determinants of health. The cohort creation process involved the following detailed steps:

Establishing Three Cohor ts:

• The first cohort was based on family history of hypertension. This included participants with documented family history data, allowing for the assessment of genetic and familial risk factors.

• The second cohort was based on access to healthcare and income. This cohort was intricately designed to account for various aspects of healthcare access, including availability, accessibility, affordability, acceptability, quality, and information about healthcare services.

• The third cohort will focus on the combined influence of access to healthcare and income, controlling for additional lifestyle factors.

Controlling for Variables:

• BMI: Research was conducted to determine the BMI range for normal weight. Participants were categorized based on their BMI to control for weight -related health risks.

• Physical Activity Levels: Extensive research identified physical activity levels and types that reduce the risk of hypertension. Variables were selected to include moderate to vigorous physical activities known to be beneficial.

• Diet: The availability of a variable for a heart-healthy diet in the All of Us Researcher Workbench was investigated. The criteria for a heart- healthy diet were based on current dietary guidelines.

• Lifestyle Factors: Variables related to alcohol and tobacco use, as well as stress levels, were included to control for their impact on hypertension risk.

Age Criteria:

Based on previous research, the age group most at risk for essential hypertension was identified and included in the cohort criteria. This ensured that the cohort specifically targeted those at higher risk.

Healthcare Access Criteria:

• Availability: Ensured participants had access to an adequate supply of healthcare services, including hospitals, clinics, and health professionals.

• Affordability: Assessed the financial accessibility of healthcare, ensuring that participants could access services without financial hardship.

• Information: Ensured that participants had access to information about healthcare services and their health rights to make informed decisions.

Remaining Tasks and Projected Timeline

September 2024

Week 1-2: Data Preparation and Quality Control

1. Perform a thorough quality control assessment of the cohort data.

2. Address potential issues such as missing data, inconsistencies, and outliers using R Programming for statistical analysis.

3. Ensure data integrity and reliability for subsequent analyses.

Week 3-4: Descriptive Statistics and Initial Analysis

1. Calculate means, medians, and modes for continuous variables (e.g., income, BMI).

2. Generate frequency distributions for categorical variables (e.g., hypertension status, healthcare access, family history).

3. Summarize the demographic and health characteristics of the cohort.

October 2024

Week 1-2: Chi-Square Test of Independence

1. Conduct chi-square tests to assess the association between hypertension (dependent variable) and categorical independent variables (e.g., healthcare access, family history of hypertension).

2. Identify significant associations and their implications for hypertension prevalence.

Week 3-4: Logistic Regression Analysis

1. Perform logistic regression to evaluate the impact of multiple factors (e.g., income, family history, healthcare access) on the likelihood of having hypertension.

2. Control for potential confounders such as age, gender, BMI, and lifestyle factors.

3. Interpret the significance and strength of relationships between independent variables and hypertension.

November 2024

Week 1-2: ANOVA or T-Test

1. Conduct ANOVA or t-tests to compare mean income levels across groups with different hypertension statuses or healthcare access levels.

2. Analyze the differences in income and their potential impact on hypertension prevalence.

Week 3-4: Advanced Data Analysis

1. Integrate findings from chi-square tests, logistic regression, and ANOVA/t-tests to develop a comprehensive understanding of the relationships between social determinants and hypertension.

2. Use multivariate analysis to account for interactions between variables.

December

2024

Week 1-2: Interpretation and Contextualization

1. Interpret the statistical results in the context of existing literature on social determinants of health and hypertension.

2. Discuss the practical implications of the findings for public health interventions and policy.

Week 3-4: Report Writing and Dissemination

1. Compile the findings into a detailed research report, highlighting key insights and recommendations.

2. Prepare manuscripts for submission to peer-reviewed journals.

3. Plan presentations for academic conferences and community outreach to disseminate the findings.

The Digital PV Panther Project

Kendall L. Douglass and Tyler DeWayne Moore* Department of Social Science, College of Arts and Science

Introduction:

The Digital PV Panther Project is dedicated to preserving the history of Prairie View A&M University. Our goal is to digitize and archive important artifacts, documents, and media to protect the university's legacy. This project ensures that PVAMU's histor y is accessible to everyone, from students and alumni to researchers and the general public. This progress report highlights the key milestones, achievements, and ongoing work of the Digital PV Panther Project, showing our commitment to safeguarding the rich heritage of Prairie View A&M University.

Objective/Goals:

The Digital PV Panther Project aims to preserve and protect the history of Prairie View A&M University by creating a digital archive of its important items and stories. We will digitize physical artifacts, documents, photos, and media related to PVAMU's hi story and store them in a secure, organized digital archive. This archive will be easily accessible online for students, alumni, researchers, and the public. We will use best practices to keep the digital materials safe and intact for the future. The project also aims to encourage learning and research, raise public interest in PVAMU's history, and collaborate with university departments, alumni, and other partners to continuously improve and expand the archive. Finally, we will ensure the archive is maintained and grows over time, making it a valuable resource for future generations.

Materials and Method:

Managing the organization of the collections within the Digital PV project can often be quite tedious. Even seemingly basic supplies like folders, pens, markers, and stickers play crucial roles in maintaining the order and condition of our collections. The state of the collections, in particular, significantly influences this process. This thorough organizational approach not only facilitates efficient access to critical information but also enhances the project's overall clarity

and transparency. By maintaining clear categorization and logical structuring of files, the project's integrity is preserved, allowing for seamless collaboration and future reference.

Results:

All essential documents, including contracts, reports, and research findings, have been methodically organized into their respective folders for easy retrieval and reference. Similarly, photographs capturing key milestones, records documenting progress, an d detailed notes outlining strategies and insights have been cataloged systematically, ensuring a comprehensive and well-documented project archive.

Significance/Impact:

The Digital PV Panther Project has made a significant impact on our campus by fostering meaningful partnerships with a diverse array of student organizations and nonprofits. Through these collaborations, we've been able to reach a broad audience with valua ble knowledge and insights. Our collective dedication is focused on safeguarding the rich legacy of our cherished HBCU for future generations. Moreover, the project serves as a poignant reminder to all Americans that while our fundamental goals of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness endure, we must continue to address the historical legacies of slavery and segregation, and strengthen our democratic institutions for a better future.

Introduction:

The

Digital PV Panther Project

Jaylynn Brantley and Dr. Tyler Moore*

Department of Social Science, College of Arts and Science

Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) hold a profound place in American history, serving as beacons of education, empowerment, and cultural affirmation for African American communities since their inception in the 19th century. Established during a time of pervasive racial segregation and limited educational opportunities for African Americans, HBCUs have provided pathways to higher education, fostering academic excellence and producing generations of influential leaders and professionals. The preservation of HBCU history is not merely a matter of academic interest; it is a crucial endeavor that honors the rich legacy, cultural signifi cance, and ongoing contributions of these institutions to society. By safeguarding their stories, achievements, and impact, we ensure that the vital narratives of resilience, progress, and excellence continue to inspire and inform future generations, while also recognizing the indispensable role HBCUs have played in shaping the landscape of American education and social justice.

Prairie View A&M University is a Historical Black College and University (HBCU) founded in 1876. Prairie View A&M University is a public university and the second oldest in the state of Texas. The university’s focus is to continue to preserve our history a nd spread the knowledge to incoming freshmen but it has been very challenging to continue to spread the word beyond our incoming freshmen beyond panther camp.

Objective/Goals:

The primary objective of preserving the history of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) specifically, The Prairie View Panther Project is to ensure that the rich legacy and profound contributions of these Prairie View A&M University are rec ognized, celebrated, and accessible to future generations. This endeavor aims to document, archive, educate, and inform.

Materials and Method:

To effectively preserve the history of Prairie View A&M University, a comprehensive approach utilizing various materials and methods is essential. This approach ensures that the historical

records and cultural heritage of the University are meticulously documented, preserved, and made accessible for future generations. Materials that were used were archival materials such as historical documents, photographs, videos, artifacts, and oral histories. Oral histories included conducting interviews of descendants of the Wyatt Chapel Community Cemetery. I had the pleasure of interviewing Ms. Marie Henderson and Ms. Faye Stanley. Other materials that were used were the library and the archival datab ase. Methods that were used such as documentation, archiving, preservation, and, digitizing, collaboration.

Results and Discussion:

The result of the PV Panther Project was to spread the word about the university’s history by processing and digitalization and thus has yielded significant and impactful results. The project was able to process a large amount of documents onto the online archival database. The PV Panther Project wants to continue to make an impact on spreading the university’s history. This project aimed to advocate the importance of preserving history but also by ensuring that others know about it.

Significance/Impact:

The significance of the PV Panther Project has not only helped students who were on the project but it has helped the students get a better understanding of the university’s history. The project has helped the students dive deeper into the history. By continuing to preserve and promote the history of Prairie View, we ensure that their invaluable legacy continues.

In Conclusion:

Jaylynn Brantley proved a most productive research assistant. She came to work each day with a level of determination that is rarely seen in undergraduates at PVAMU. She transcribed more than 20 lectures and oral histories from the 1970s and 1980s, including this one by former History Dept chair George Ruble Woolfolk - https://pvpantherproject.com/2023/11/dr-georgeruble-woolfolk-prairie-view-a-success-story-1981-homecoming-convocation/ Jaylynn also processed several of the most difficult boxes of archival material in the Cooperative Extension and Home Demonstration Collection. Largely due to her efforts, the DPPP completed the processing of all the counties in the CE&HD Collection. Moreo ver, Jaylynn digitized

numerous archival documents, including the earliest years of local newspapers in Hempstead. Jaylynn was an exceptional student archivist, and I wish she wa staying for another year.

References:

1. Brantley, Jaylynn, and Faye Stanley. “Wyatt Chapel Community Cemetery Interview.” 2024.

2. Brantley, Jaylynn, and Marie Henderson. “Wyatt Chapel Community Cemetery Interview.” 2024.

3. “The Digital PV Panther Project.” The Digital PV Panther Project, pvpantherproject.com/. Accessed 30 June 2024.

4. “University Archives.” Site, digitalcommons.pvamu.edu/university -archives/. Accessed 30 June 2024.

Graphitic Carbon Nitride Catalyze Reduction of Azo Bond under Visible LED Light

Emily Nneka Irikannu and Yingchun Li* Department of Chemistry, College of Arts and Science

Introduction:

Graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) has attracted great attentions of material scientists due to its interesting graphite-like layered structure and expected unique electronic properties for applications in various fields, such as hard material(Liu and Cohen 1989)，semiconductors (Lin and Wang 2013), catalysts and even as disinfectants. It has been well documented that g -C3N4 could be made from different precursors with different methods into different morphologies. Since the discovery of its photocatalytic capability of splitting water under visible light, most of research in the fields have been focused on the photocatalyti c property of g-C3N4 and material based on it. It has been reported that g-C3N4 based material catalyze degradation of organic pollutants in water under visible light. One kin d of such pollutants are azo dyes which have been released into environment as residues from fabric-dying industry in developing countries. The degradation of these compounds which is indicated by color disappearance has been attributed to oxidation by oxygen gas in the air catalyzed by g-C3 N4 under visible light. Because hydrogen gas is a product in a water splitting process catalyzed by g -C3N4 under visible light, the color disappearance in degradation of azo dyes could also possibly be caused by reduct ion of azo bond to to hydrazine or amine. Here we report that g -C3N4 catalyze the reduction of azo dyes to amines under visible LED light using methyl orange (MO), methyl Red (MR) and alizarin yellow (AY) as examples.

1. Experiments

Materials

and

Equipment:

Photocatalysts (g-C3N4) are prepared following a slightly reported method. Azo dyes: methyl orange (sodium p-dimethylaminoazobenzenesulfonate, MO) is purchased from J.T. Baker

Chemical Co.; methyl red (4-Dimethylaminoazobenzene-2′-carboxylic acid sodium salt, MR) from Mallinckrodt Baker; alizarin yellow R (sodium 2-hydroxy-5-[(E)-(4-nitrophenyl) diazoenyl] benzoate, AY) from National Aniline Division, Allied Chemical corporation. FurnaceBarnstead Thermolyne 1300. Centrifuge-minispin Eppendorf 5452, UV-spectrometer

LED light source

Methods:

Methods for preparation of photocatalysts

Photocatalysts used in our experiments are prepared using a previously reported method with slight modification. In general, melamine around 5 grams was ground and transferred into a porcelain crucible. The crucible was then covered with a porcelain cap, put into a muffle furnace, heated to the preset temperature and maintained at that temperature for a total time of 1 to 2 hours from starting of heating. After heating is stopped, the furnace cools down to room temperature and the product in the crucible is collected. The product was grounded， characterized and used as photocatalysts.

Method for assessment of activity of photocatalyst

The assessment of photocatalytic effect of g -C3N4 on the reduction of azo dyes by hydrazine in aqueous solution was carried out with a method as described following. Into a glass Pyrex petri dish (100 mm in diameter and 20 mm in height) was added sequentially 50.0 mL of deionized water, 0.50 mL of hydrazine (99% in purity) and 25 mg of photocatalyst. The mixture is stirred magnetically at room temperature for 10 minutes. Then 1.50 mL of stock solution of methyl orange (1.00 mg/mL) is added into the mixture which is stirred for 5 minutes. The LED lights are turned on focused on the solution in the petri dish and timing started. For every 5 -minute interval since light shedding on the sample, 1 mL of the reaction mixture was taken out and put into a 1.5 mL plastic snap-lock microcentrifuge tube. The suspension was centrifuged at 13,000 rpm for 10 minutes. The clear solution in the tube was then transferred into a 1 mL cuvette and its absorbance at 464 nm was measured with a uv -spectrometer. The plot of abs orbance of the reaction mixture versus the reaction time under light showed the rate of the reaction in the presence of photocatalyst under LED light

The procedure has also been carried out for reduction of methyl red and alizarin yellow at the same reaction conditions except for the absorbance that are measured at 464 nm and 368 nm respectively.

The reaction rate of reduction of each azo dye has been studied with the procedure described above at three different conditions: 1) presence of hydrazine but catalyst and light; 2) presence of hydrazine and catalyst but LED light. 3) presence of hydrazine and LED light but catalyst.

Results and Discussion:

Methyl Orange

To demonstrate the photocatalytic effect of g -C3N4 on the reduction of azo compounds by hydrazine, methyl orange was the first to be chosen as a model in this project because it has been wildly used in study of photocatalytic degradation of organic dyes. The visible LED light (15 W) is chosen as a light source in this study for three reasons: first, LED light is more energy efficient than 300 W Xenon lamp which has been widely used in previous studies; second, LED light does not raise the reaction temperature significantly due to it heating effect; and third, the LED light is safer than ultra violet light in biologically related applications.

METHYL RED DEGRADATION REACTIONS

hydarzine + no light + no catalyst

hydrazine + light + no catalyst

hydrazine + no light + catalyst

hydrazine + light + catalyst

Linear (hydarzine + no light + no catalyst)

Linear (hydrazine + light + no catalyst)

Linear (hydrazine + no light + catalyst)

Expon. (hydrazine + light + catalyst)

Methyl red

METHYL RED DEGRADATION REACTIONS

hydarzine + no light + no catalyst

y = -0.0033x + 1.5768 R² = 0.9859

y = -0.005x + 1.6361 R² = 0.679

y = -0.0083x + 1.6493 R² = 0.9885

y = 2.7455e-0.026x R² = 0.9152

hydrazine + light + no catalyst

hydrazine + no light + catalyst

hydrazine + light + catalyst

Linear (hydarzine + no light + no catalyst)

Linear (hydrazine + light + no catalyst)

Linear (hydrazine + no light + catalyst)

Expon. (hydrazine + light + catalyst)

ALIZARIN YELLOW DEGRADATION

REACTIONS

y = -0.0017x + 1.3772 R² = 0.5375

y = -0.0005x + 1.2299 R² = 0.453

y = -0.0025x + 1.3287 R² = 0.7483

y = 2.047e-0.026x R² = 0.9288

hydarzine + no light + no catalyst

hydrazine + light + no catalyst

hydrazine + light + no catlyst

hydrazine + light + catalyst

Linear (hydarzine + no light + no catalyst)

Linear (hydrazine + light + no catalyst)

Linear (hydrazine + light + no catlyst)

Expon. (hydrazine + light + catalyst)

Alizarin

Major products identified in the discoloration process.

Conclusion:

Our results demonstrated that azo compounds are reduced to amines in the initial stage of degradation catalyzed by g-C3N4 under visible LED light. The reduction leads to discoloration of the solution. Degradation of the amines to the ultimate product as carbon dioxide or carbonate needs to be studied further in the future. The experiments revealed that g -C3N4 made under temperature higher than 600 OC is of high photocatalytic activity. In addition to the reduction of azo bond to amine, a nitro group in organic compounds is also reduced to an amino group in this process. Therefore, this photocatalytic process may provide practical methods for reduction of other functional groups in organic synthesis.

Reference:

1. Lin, Z. and X. Wang (2013). "Nanostructure engineering and doping of conjugated carbon nitride semiconductors for hydrogen photosynthesis." Angewandte ChemieInternational Edition 52(6): 1735-1738.

2. Liu, A. Y. and M. L. Cohen (1989). "Prediction of New Low Compressibility Solids." Science 245(4920): 841.

3. Lei Li, Huanhuan Liu, Chao Cheng, Xinyan Dai, Fang Chen, Jiqiang Ning, Wentao

Wang, and Yong Hu 'Photochemical Tuning of Tricoordinated Nitrogen Deficiency in Carbon Nitride to Create Delocalized π Electron Clouds for Efficient CO2 Photoreduction'ACS Catalysis 0, 14, DOI: 10.1021/acscatal.4c01636

Locating BlackPlanet.com: A Mixed Methods Analysis of User Engagement with an Early Online Social Media Platform

Gabriel R. London and Malachi D. Crawford, PhD* Department of Social Science, College of Arts and Science

Introduction: Twitter, SnapChat, GroupMe, InstaGram, WhatsApp, Threads. Social media seems to have pervaded every aspect of human life in developing countries; but, before Twitter, SnapChat, and InstaGram, there was Facebook. Before Facebook, there was MySpace; and, before MySpace, there was BlackPlanet: an online platform that h ad become the most popu lar and most visited website for African Americans by December of 1999. That date is noncoincidental; it s its at one of the biggest boo m-and-bust cycles in American economic history: the Dot-Com era Bubb le. As many of the nation’s initial and seemingly most p romising websites failed during this period (e.g., Netscape, AltaVista.com), BlackPlanet.com thrived. If BlackPlanet.com and its users provided a proving ground and exemplar for the use of the internet as a social n etworking space during this initial and critical p eriod of economic un certainty, it would be reasonable to expect African Americans to be well represented in the ownership, management, and workforce in this industry.

Racial diversity within employment in the tech industry continues to be a prob lem, however, with white and Asian employees dominating the workforces of the nation’s largest tech corporations and, in particular, the social media sector in companies such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.1 For example, in 2022, African Americans made up approximately 8% of employees in the tech industry, despite r epresenting 12% of the overall U.S. workforce. 2 Terms such as “achievement gap,” “skills deficiency,” “access disparity,” “digital divide,” and “knowledge imbalance,” h ave been used to explain racial disparities in employment within the

1 Sara Harrison, “Five Years of Tech Diversity Reports and Little Progress,” WIRED, accessed February 25, 2024, https://www.wired.com/story/five-years-tech-diversity-reports-little-progress/; “Social Media’s Diversity Problem,” SocialMediaToday, accessed February 25, 2024, https://www.socialmediatoday.com/content/social-mediasdiversity-problem

2 Jan Shelly Brown, Matthew Finney, Mark McMillan, and Chris Perkins, “How to close the Black tech talent Gap,” McKinsey Institute for Black Economic Mobility, February 2, 2023, accessed February 25, 2024, https://www.mckinsey.com/bem/our-insights/how-to-close-the-black-tech-talent-gap

tech industry. This study suggests that initial users of BlackPlanet.com, a pioneer in the emergence of social media companies, actively participated on the platform as web designers, coders/programmers, influencers, entrepreneurs, networkers, and activist

Aim/Objective:

Although arguments pointing to a racial skills and educational achievement gap have been used to explain the relative dearth of African American employees in tech and other industries, this study examines the initial use cases and engagement of early users with BlackPlanet.com: an online platform that had become the most visited website among African Americans by December of 1999.

Significance:

If early users of BlackPlanet.com engaged in social media activities such as networking, website development of personal pages, and the writing and sharing of code, arguments pointing to skill deficiencies or knowledge gaps (i.e., Black capacity) to explai n the lack of employment diversity in the tech industry, specifically in the social media sector, are null. Similarly, the objective of this study can help explain the role BlackPlanet.com (and by extension African Americans) played in the evolution and transition of the internet into a “social” space and coproducer (alongside other early social networking pioneers, such as AsianAvenue.com) of the internet’s first “content creators”. We hypothesize that users principally utilized the site in a social manner, that is, to facilitate the formation of friendships and social circles, discuss hobbies, learn computer skills (coding), or develop commercial enterprises.

Methods: the research study employs a two-phase mixed methods approach to triangulate the question under investigation. The study employed secondary analysis of journal articles. To enhance the validity of these results, the study employed documentary analysis of press reports and trade publications using a five-category coding scheme to locate persistent keywords in how scholars, expert analysts, and industry professionals identified BlackPlanet.com’s purpose.

Findings:

Initial research suggests that scholars and industry experts identified BlackPlanet.com as a space for socializing. For example, according to Mildred Antenor of Black Enterprise, from its inception, BlackPlanet.com members “enjoyed free personal pages, e - mail, games, forums, chats, news, instant messaging, and internet telephony,” as features of their online experience. 3

The results of this project revealed that there was a significant diversity regarding how people engaged with the app.

References:

1. Antenor, Mildred and Gerda Gallop- Goodman. "Out of this World." Black Enterprise 30, no. 10 (2000): 62. https://search- ebscohostcom.pvamu.idm.oclc.org/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=3005359&site=ehost - live.

2. Donaldson, Sonya A. "Black Dot Com Shake-Up." Black Enterprise 31, no. 5 (2000): 134. https://search-ebscohostcom.pvamu.idm.oclc.org/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=3787173&site=ehost - live.

3. Elkin, Tobi. “Community Connect Clicks Deals.” 23, October 2000. Advertising Age

2. Donaldson, Sonya A. "Black Dot Com Shake-Up." Black Enterprise 31, no. 5 (2000): 134. https://search-ebscohostcom.pvamu.idm.oclc.org/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=3787173&site=ehost - live.

3. Elkin, Tobi. “Community Connect Clicks Deals.” 23, October 2000. Advertising Age.

4. Foston, Nikitta A. 2003. “‘I Met My Husband Online’’.’” Ebony 58 (6): 78–82. https://search-ebscohostcom.pvamu.idm.oclc.org/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ofm&AN=510239247&site=ehost -live.

5. "BlackPlanet.com's Open Mic Night Offers African American Musicians The Opportunity of a Lifetime." PR Newswire, 13 Apr. 2000. Gale In Context: Biography, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A61804270/BIC?u=txshracd2540&sid=bookmarkBIC&xid=d756a32d. Accessed 31 Mar. 2024.

6. "BlackPlanet.Com Premiers as Number One Site for African-Americans." New York Amsterdam News 90, no. 51 (1999b): 18. https://search-ebscohostcom.pvamu.idm.oclc.org/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=2642871&site=ehost - live.

3 Mildred Antenor, "Out of this World: BlackPlanet.Com is One of the Fastest -Growing New Community Portals." Black Enterprise, 05, 2000, 62, https://login.pvamu.idm.oclc.org/login?url=https://www.proquest.com/magazines/out -this-world-blackplanet-comis-one-fastest/docview/217869018/se-2.

7. "Fast Facts." Interactive Week 8, no. 6 (2001): 62. https://search-ebscohostcom.pvamu.idm.oclc.org/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=4097063&site=ehostlive.

8. "Omar Wasow. (Cover Story)." People 54, no. 20 (2000a): 100. https://search-ebscohostcom.pvamu.idm.oclc.org/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=3728188&site=ehostlive.

9. "Wasow Directs Movement of Blackplanet." Advertising Age 71, no. 9 (2000b): 56. https://search-ebscohostcom.pvamu.idm.oclc.org/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=2841533&site=ehostlive.

Documentary Analysis Coding Scheme

Category Abbreviation Description

Social Networking/Dating & Relationships SN

Engagement with friends, family, community, and peers; sharing updates, photos, and other content; creating profiles; direct messaging. Using the platform for meeting and connecting with potential romantic partners; discussions about dating, relationships, and love.

Professional Adv. PA Seeing career opportunities; professional networking; or promoting business or services.

Activism/Social Justice SJ

Participation in activism, advocacy, and organizing efforts; discussions and raising awareness about social justice issues and causes.

Education NW Seeking support, advice, or informationon topics such as coding, programming, web design, etc.

Community, family, social, common, collective, friend, relationship, lifestyle

"We make it easy for people to find others who share their same interests and aspirations."

"BlackPlanet is a community Web destination that places a strong emphasis on user-to-user interaction."

Career, job, employment, business, profession, work, occupation

Advocate, justice, petition, strike, protest, activis(t), organize

Information, news, learn, educate, data, reseaerch

"We'd like to include professional development tools like an online class to help people find jobs.

We tell [members] that if you recruit someone to this site, we will make a donation to the blackoriented nonprofit organization of your choice."

"We give our members building blocks so that they can build their homestead."

Green Synthesis and Preliminary Characterization of Transition Metal Complexes of a Schiff Base Containing Acetylacetone and L-Histidine

Erin LaFleur, Dr. Gina Chiarella Department of Chemistry and Physics, College of Science and Arts

Introduction:

Amino acids are biological molecules. They are building block units of proteins. Enzymes are proteins that perform catalytic functions, accelerating biological reactions. One third of all the enzymes have a metallic atom in their composition and are classi fied as metalloenzymes. These enzymes support a wide variety of reactions including hydrolytic and oxidation -reductions processes. On each occasion, the metal cation has a unique role acting as a Lewis acid or a redox partner, and enables the catalyzed reaction by increasing substrate binding, raising the ground state energy of reaction partners, or stabilizing reactive intermediates. L -Histidine is one of the most frequent residues involved in transition metal ion binding in the active sites of metalloenzymes. Examples include vitamin-B dependent enzymes that transfer methyl groups between two molecules, nitrogenase that fixes nitrogen from the atmosphere, superoxide dismutase that destroys superoxide anion, Hydrogenases that promote uptake of molecular hydrogen, and ribozymes that undergo self- cleaving reactions.

Methods:

Synthesis of L-Histidine-Acetyl Acetone Ligand

• Take a 1:1 ratio of L-histidine and acetylacetone to water and ethanol

• Put solution into microwave synthesizer for one hour at 100°C

• Evaporate until crystalized

• Take 2:1 ratio of the ACAC-HIS ligand to acetate salts and mix

• Zinc acetate, Copper acetate, Nickle acetate, Cobalt acetate

o Put into microwave synthesizer for 20 minutes at 70°C

o Observe changes

• If precipitate formed, remove from the remaining liquid

• If color the changed, evaporate until the formation of crystals

• Put resulting products into IR Spectra and observe chemical changes

Results:

• The ligand ACAC-HIS was prepared in shorter time than reported in the literature by using a microwave technique.

• Four metal complexes using ACAC-HIS ligand were prepared in short time and successfully characterized by FTIR.

Discussion:

The IR spectra demonstrate a chemical change in the ACAC -HIS ligand when created in the microwave synthesizer. This proves that the synthesis of this ligand, which would normally take 144 hours, was narrowed down to about an hour. The same is true for the IR spectra of the metal salts. Various changes can be observed in the graph indicating there was a reaction that successfully took place.

Significance:

The purpose of this experiment is to synthesize metal histidine derivative Schiff bases with possible catalytic activity, to use an environmentally friendly synthetic technique, as microwave assisted synthesis to reduce energy consumption and solvent, and to reduce the reaction time (from 144 hours to 30 minutes)

References:

1. Hecel, A., Garstka, K., Kozłowski, H., Rowinska-Zyrek, M. 2024 –HH and –HAAAH motifs act as fishing nets for biologically relevant metal ions in metallopeptides. Journal of Inorganic Biochemistry 252 1124562

2. Holm, R. H., Kennepohl, P., and Solomon, E. I. 1996, Structural and Functional Aspects of Metal Sites in Biology. Chem. Rev. 96, 2239-2314

3. Ross, M. R., White, A M., Yu, F., King, J. T., Pecoraro, V. L. and Kubarych, K. J. 2015, Histidine Orientation Modulates the Structure and Dynamics of a de

4. Novo Metalloenzyme Active Site J. Am. Chem. Soc. 137, 10164−10176

Environmentally Friendly Preparation and Characterization of Metal Complexes Using Lhistidine and Salicylaldehyde as Ligands

Cyrai Young and Dr. Gina Chiarella* Department of

Chemistry, College of Arts and Science

Introduction:

Metal complexes are versatile compounds present in natural and artificial materials. Their presence in biological structures is remarkable. They are several times, are structurally associated with amino acids, particularly with L-histidine. Examples of those cases are hemoglobin and myoglobin, essential pro teins in the transportation of oxygen. The goals of the experiment were to synthesize metal complexes from Schiff bases containing L-histidine, with possible catalytic activity, and to use a green chemistry synthetic technique, as microwave synthesizer to reduce energy and solvent consumption.

Methods:

Synthesis of L-Histidine-Salicylaldehyde Ligand

This experiment was conducted using a Discover 2.0 microwave synthesizer.

Step 1: The d evice allowed to react Salicylaldehyde and L-Histidine to form a multifunctional ligand in the ratio 1:1 (L-histidine/Salicylaldehyde) at 100°C for 20 minutes in water/ethanol solution. After taking of from the microwave, the pr oduct was cooled and evaporated and storage for further use.

Step 2: The ligand SAL-HIS reacted with acetate salts of zinc(Il). copper(II), nickel(Il) and cobalt(Il) in the ratio 2:1 (ligand/metal salt) in ethanol. This reaction took place in 20 minutes at 70°C using microwave synthesizer. The products were then removed from the synthesizer for further study.

Results:

• The ligand SAL-HIS was prepared in shorter time than reported in the literature by using a microwave technique.

• Four metal complexes using SAL-HIS ligand were prepared in short time and successfully characterized by FTIR.

Discussion:

In this research, we have prepared transition metal complexes of a Schiff base containing LHistidine and salicylaldehyde (SAL-HIS) and four transition metal derivatives using copper(Il), zinc(il), nickel(il), and cobaltil) acetate salts. The preparation o f the SAL-HIS ligand consisted of a microwave-assisted synthesis, reducing several days of refluxing into a few minutes. The preparation of the metal derivatives required the use of microwave techniques. All the resulting compounds were characterized using Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy. The procedure is innovative, less contaminant, and clean. If this is proven to be possible, this will bring a new era in green synthetic chemistry. Possible substitutes to change current contaminated catalysts will be given from the catalytic activity.

Significance:

The Schiff base SAL-HIS was prepared in a shorter time than reported in the literature by using a microwave technique. Metal complexes of copper(II), nickel(II), cobalt(Il) and zinc(Il) were prepared using SAL-HIS ligand in a short time and successfully ch aracterized by FTIR.

References:

1. N.Y. Jin, W.H. Li, Synthesis and Crystal Structures of Dioxomolybdenum(VI) Complexes With Catalytic Property. Synth. React. Inorg. Met. - Org. Nano-Met. Chem. 42 (2012) 1167.

2. Zamanifar, E., Farzaneh,F., Simpson, J. and Maghami, M. Synthesis, crystal structure and catalytic activity of a new Mo Schiff base complex with Mo histidine immobilized on AlMCM-41 for oxidation of sulfides. Inorganica Chimica Acta 414 (2014) 63 –70

Mitigating the Effects of Occupational Stress and Trauma among First Responders: A Teleservices Group-Based Intervention Using Affect Regulation Training (ART)

Akilah Mosley, Jane Ambe, Marsha HoSang* and Temilola Salami, Ph.D*

Department of Psychology, College of Arts and Sciences

Introduction:

Due to the nature of their work, first responders experience a wide variety of occupational stressors, including traumatic stress. These experiences of traumatic stress can range from learning about a colleague’s injurious accident to directly experiencing a traumatic event (Benjet et al., 2016; Brandl & Stroshine, 2003; Knipscheer et al., 2020; Weiss et al., 2010). For example, over half of the participants surveyed by Komarovskaya et al. (2011) reported being exposed to at least one life-threatening event within the first three years of working as a police officer, with 9.8% having to kill or seriously injure someone while on duty (Komarovskaya et al., 2011).

Relative to the general population, first-responder populations have higher rates of depression, obesity, cardiovascular disease, metabolic syndrome, sleep disorders, and higher cholesterol levels (French, 2017; Hartley et al., 2011; McCanlies et al., 2018). These deleterious health outcomes profoundly affect quality of life, negatively impacting relationships both within and outside the work environment. They also decrease job satisfaction, work quality, and employee retention (e.g., Adams & Buck, 2010; Ali & Kakakhel, 2013; Thorsteinsson et al., 2014). In conjunction with these work-related trauma experiences (i.e., critical incidents), first responders regularly experience other work-related stressors, including stress as a result of shift work, a large workload, and poor emotional support from supervisors and colleagues (McCreary & Thompson, 2006). Exposure to high rates of stress amongst this population has been associated with severe mental and physical health outcomes, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD; Komarovskaya, et al., 2011; Soomra & Yanos, 2018; Weiss et al., 2010), anxiety (Violanti et al., 2014), alcohol use (Ménard & Arter, 2013), increased blood pressure (McCraty & Atkinson, 2012), and sleep disturbance (Chr istopher et al., 2016). Thus, programs to help mitigate the detrimental consequences of work-related stress and trauma exposure are needed for this population.

Objectives/Goals:

Provide a teleservices group-based intervention for first responder personnel. The program uses a brief version of the Affect Regulation Training (ART) protocol (Berking & Schwarz, 2015) to help support emotional expression and regulation among first respo nders. The ART intervention spans a total of 8-12 hours over three or four days.

Project Approach & Activities:

The project approach and activities were conducted as follows:

1. We renewed the Institutional Review Board (IRB) application.

2. The intervention protocol was revised and finalized.

3. We conducted a supervisor information session via Zoom for participating agencies, lasting 30 minutes to 1 hour. This session aimed to educate supervisors about the importance of organizational and peer support in mitigating the negative consequences of oc cupational stress for first responders.

4. Interested organizations received our program flyer to distribute within their agencies.

5. Participants signed up for the general first responder intervention (Affect Regulation Training; ART) and completed a pre-intervention battery of questionnaires (baseline measures) online using Qualtrics. The ART program includes five skills: relaxation, n onjudgmental awareness, acceptance and tolerance, compassionate self -support, and analyzing and modifying emotions. After completing the 8–12-hour telehealth group-based program, participants opted to complete a post-intervention battery of questionnaires .

6. Although the program has ended, a grant renewal was submitted to the Office of the Governor to extend the program.

7. The RISE grant team has been working on updating the program components based on feedback from past participants.

Results:

Although we do not have sufficient data to assess the effectiveness of the intervention portion of the program, the current data examined the psychological health of the first responders who completed the pre-test surveys (n = 42; Mage = 43.55; see Table 1). The psychological measures

included the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for DSM -5 (PCL-5) to assess the presence and severity of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms (Weathers et al., 2013), the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) to assess the severity of depres sive symptoms (Kroenke et al., 2001), the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test -C (AUDIT-C) to identify patients who have active alcohol use (Bush et al., 1998), the General Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) to assess the severity of anxiety symptoms (Spitzer et al., 2006).

Table 1:

For posttraumatic stress symptoms, the mean score was 15.85 ( SD = 1.94). The mean score fell below the commonly used clinical cut-off score of 31. For depressive symptoms, the mean score was 5.54 (SD = .70). Thus, the average symptom severity fell within the mild range. For anxiety, the mean score was 6.02 (SD = 0.63). Thus, the average symptom severity fell within the mild range. For substance use, the mean score was 5.6 ( SD = 0.33). This variable falls within the range indicating hazardous or harmful alcohol use, typically defined as a score of 4 or higher (see Figure 1).

Figure 1:

Conclusion/Impact

Although the current sample of first responders reported levels of depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, and symptoms of PTSD at levels that were mild or below clinical cut -offs, they reported high levels of substance use. Thus, alcohol use may potentially be a coping mechanism for first responders. The high levels of substance use found within this population indicate a need for support services geared toward addressing potential underlying issues. In additio n, substance use can exacerbate mental and physical health concerns and impact job performance. Thus, addressing issues related to substance use is important for overall well -being and work performance.

References:

1. Adams, G. A., & Buck, J. (2010). Social stressors and strain among police officers: It’s not just the bad guys. Criminal Justice and Behavior, 37 (9), 1030-1040.

2. Ali, N., & Kakakhel, S. J. (2013). Relationship between occupational stress and organizational commitment (empirical evidence from pharmaceuticals industry). Journal of Managerial Sciences, 7(2), 292-298.

3. Benjet, C., Bromet, E., Karam, E. G., Kessler, R. C., McLaughlin, K. A., Ruscio, A. M., ... & Koenen, K. C. (2016). The epidemiology of traumatic event exposure worldwide: results from the World Mental Health Survey Consortium. Psychological Medicine, 46(2), 327-343.

4. Berking, M., & Schwarz, J. (2014). Affect regulation training. In J. J. Gross (Ed.), Handbook of emotion regulation (2nd ed., pp. 529–547). Guilford Press.

5. Brandl, S. G., & Stroshine, M. S. (2003). Toward an understanding of the physical hazards of police work. Police Quarterly, 6(2), 172-191.

6. Bush, K., Kivlahan, D. R., McDonell, M. B., Fihn, S. D., & Bradley, K. A. (1998). The AUDIT alcohol consumption questions (AUDIT-C): An effective brief screening test for problem drinking. Archives of Internal Medicine, 158 (16), 1789-1795.

7. Christopher, M. S., Goerling, R. J., Rogers, B. S., Hunsinger, M., Baron, G., Bergman, A. L., & Zava, D. T. (2016). A pilot study evaluating the effectiveness of a mindfulness -based intervention on cortisol awakening response and health outcomes among law enforcement officers. Journal of Police and Criminal Psychology, 31, 15-28.

8. French, A. T. (2017). A risky business: Examining the prevalence and correlates of posttraumatic stress disorder symptomology and social support in Kentucky's adult correctional staff. (Unpublished doctoral dissertation). University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky.

9. Hartley, T. A., Burchfiel, C. M., Fekedulegn, D., Andrew, M. E., & Violanti, J. M. (2011). Health disparities in police officers: Comparisons to the US general population. International Journal of Emergency Mental Health, 13 (4), 211-220.

10. Knipscheer, J., Sleijpen, M., Frank, L., de Graaf, R., Kleber, R., Ten Have, M., & Dückers, M. (2020). Prevalence of potentially traumatic events, other life events and subsequent reactions indicative for posttraumatic stress disorder in the Netherlands: A general population study based on the Trauma Screening Questionnaire. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(5), 1725.

11. Komarovskaya, I., Maguen, S., McCaslin, S. E., Metzler, T. J., Madan, A., Brown, A. D., Galatzer-Levy, I. R., Henn-Haase, C., & Marmar, C. R. (2011). The impact of killing and injuring others on mental health symptoms among police officers. Journal of Psychiatric Research, 45(10), 1332-1336. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychires.2011.05.004

12. Kroenke, K., Spitzer, R. L., & Williams, J. B. W. (2001). The PHQ -9: Validity of a brief depression severity measure. Journal of General Internal Medicine, 16 (9), 606-613. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1525-1497.2001.016009606.x

13. McCanlies, E. C., Kook Gu, J., Andrew, M. E., & Violanti, J. M. (2018). The effect of social support, gratitude, resilience and satisfaction with life on depressive symptoms among police officers following Hurricane Katrina. International Journal of Social Psychiatry, 64 (1), 6372.

14. McCreary, D. R., & Thompson, M. M. (2006). Development of two reliable and valid measures of stressors in policing: The operational and organizational police stress questionnaires. International Journal of Stress Management, 13 , 494-518.

15. Ménard, K. S., & Arter, M. L. (2014). Stress, coping, alcohol use, and posttraumatic stress disorder among an international sample of police officers: Does gender matter? Police Quarterly, 17(4), 307-327.

16. Soomra, S., & Yanos, P. T. (2018). Predictors of mental health stigma among police officers: The role of trauma and PTSD. Journal of Police and Criminal Psychology, 1 -9

17. Spitzer, R. L., Kroenke, K., Williams, J. B. W., & Löwe, B. (2006). A brief measure for assessing generalized anxiety disorder: The GAD -7. Archives of Internal Medicine, 166 (10), 1092-1097. https://doi.org/10.1001/archinte.166.10.1092

18. Thorsteinsson, E. B., Brown, R. F., & Richards, C. (2014). The relationship between workstress, psychological stress and staff health and work outcomes in office workers. Psychology, 5(10), 1301–1311

19. Violanti, J., Mnatskanova, A., Michael, A., Tara, H., Desta, F., Penelope, B., & Cecil, B. (2014). Associations of stress, anxiety, and resiliency in police work. Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 71, A132.

20. Weathers, F. W., Litz, B. T., Keane, T. M., Palmieri, P. A., Marx, B. P., & Schnurr, P. P. (2013). The PTSD Checklist for DSM -5 (PCL-5). Scale available from the National Center for PTSD at www.ptsd.va.gov.

21. Weiss, D. S., Brunet, A., Best, S. R., Metzler, T. J., Liberman, A., Pole, N., ... & Marmar, C. R. (2010). Frequency and severity approaches to indexing exposure to trauma: The Critical Incident History Questionnaire for police officers. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 23(6), 734743.

Modeling semiconductor materials for optoelectronic devices

Christopher Williams and Eric Welch* Department of Physics, College of Arts and Sciences

Introduction:

Understanding the way materials function in optoelectronic d evices is crucial to improving the next technological g eneration. To that end, material modeling methods like density functional theory (DFT) may be used to study the interaction between external stimuli e.g., electromagnetic fields, mechanical stress/strain, and the constituent atoms that comprise a material to better understand potential device applications and how to improve current ones. Material modeling is at a current state of art that can both explain anomalous behavior seen in experiment as well as predict pho tophysical properties using modern high-power computing (HPC) facilities.

During this grant period, Christopher was taught the foundations of material modeling using DFT. We will next explore the effects of small concentration doping of rare earth metals of the lanthanide series (elements 57-71) in gallium oxide ( Ga2O3), a promising material in numerous optoelectronic applications. The PI’s previous work studying gadolinium (Gd) doping in Ga 2O3 revealed the pro mise of this composite system (Gd 0.02Ga0.98)2O3 for transparent conducting oxide applications [1]. Thus, these are the materials of interest.

Objectives:

1. Understand the basics of material modeling

2. Learn and interface with state-of- the-art material modeling software VASP, preprocessing software like VESTA, and postprocessing software like python

3. Optimize the input parameters for Gallium Oxide (Ga2O3)

4. Create the crystal structure inputs of rare earth doped Ga2O3

5. Gain professional experience presenting scientific results at a conference

Methods:

Material modeling using DFT was done within the Vienna Ab -initio Simulation Package (VASP) software. To ensure maximum accuracy within the confines of computational limitations, certain parameters must be optimized for each new system of study. First, th e number of numerical

values to be computed within the spatial framework of the simulation cell are optimized and compared to a very large value i.e., the number of points we’d like to use for all calculations but would be too computationally taxing and thus would be untenable across all computations, to determine the required level of accuracy (usually 1 meV). These numerical values are called KPOINTS and form a uniform mesh of points that may be used for a calculation. This mesh of values has a constraint that requires it to be symmetric to the crystal structure of the unit cell, and thus this is imposed during optimization. Once the mesh size is determined, this mesh will be used for all subsequent calculations unless the simulation cell size changes since the mesh and the cell size are inversely proportional to one another. Second, the size of the basis in which these numerical values will be chosen is optimized. A basis is in essence the way to represent space so that any combination of what are called basis vectors will result in a numerical value in space e.g., the Cartesian coordinate x, y, z system commonly used in mathematics. This value is called ENCUT and is a single numerical value that is increased and compared to a very large value of ENCUT, much in the same way as the KPOINTS optimization is done. These two values are optimized to ensure the maximum level of accuracy while also minimizing the total computational time of simulations. Last, the volume of the unit cell i.e., the smallest number of atoms that when repeated in space will form the crystal structure of the material, must be optimized. This is done using a method called constrained relaxation where the volume for a single simulation is fixed and the atomic positions within that volume are shifted dur ing a selfconsistent field (SCF) calculation. The energy from this calculation is recorded and the volume is changed to a new value where the SCF calculation is repeated. This is done for numerous values of the volume and the energy versus volume data is fit to the Birch-Murnaghan equation of state to determine the minimum volume i.e., the point at which the derivative of the equation of state is equal to zero and the second derivative is positive. From these three optimization steps, numerous properties may be evaluated. (1) Ionic/electronic relaxation may be studied to understand bonding and reconstruction that occurs in the system; (2) the electronic structure may be studied by plotting the energ y versus momentum relationship known as the band structure, and the number of states per unit energy known as the density of states; (3) the optical properties may be studied by calculating the frequency dependent dielectric response function and calculating the common optical parameters from experiment e.g., absorption, reflectivity, refractive index, conductivity; (4) defect properties may be studied by

using python libraries like Shake-n-Break [2] and doped [3] to determine the likely charge states and transitions in formation energy calculations; (5) surfaces and interfaces may be studied using the supercell method in VASP; (6) diffusion processes may b e studied by using molecular dynamics simulations built upon the ground state energy calculations from VASP.

Results:

For monoclinic (beta phase) Ga2O3 with lattice constants (length of each side of the simulation cell equal to the distance between the edges of the repeat unit) a = 12.2 Å, b = 3.0 Å, and c = 5.8 Å, with an angle between b and c of �� = 103.73°, the KPOINTS

Figure 1. Crystal structures of Ga2 O3 and lanthanide doped Ga2 O3 .

mesh that results in the lowest energy difference was found to be �� = 2 × 8 × 4 i.e., 2 points in the x direction, 8 in the y, and 4 in the z. The value of ENCUT was found to be 500 eV while the optimized volume was found to be ��0 = 211.5 Å. The VESTA software was used to visualize the optimized volume and then a supercell (large, continuation of the unit cell) was formed so that the sides were all approximately equal length; this is required in what is known as the dilute limit for defect modeling which is required for our simulations. Then, a separate crystal structure file was created from the supercell where a single gallium (Ga) atom was replaced with a single lanthanide series atom at the octahedral site (Figure 1); Ga 2O3 has two symmetry inequivalent sites for Ga to reside and the one with 6 O neighbors is the lower energy substitution site. These simulation cells will be the crystal structures used for our next steps: defect modeling. Also, this was presented by Christopher at the recent CISR conference as a poster.

Significance:

The optimization steps ensure the simulations are done at the highest level of accuracy possible on the computational hardware available. These optimized structures are required for defect modeling as DFT uses periodic boundary conditions. This means tha t cells are repeated in space and any defect in a cell will also be repeated. If the systems are not optimized, there is a chance that an unphysical proximal interaction may occur between neighboring cell defects which would taint the output data. Thus, our defect studies may proceed with confidence.

References:

1. Welch, E., Borges, P. and Scolfaro, L. Physica B: Condensed Matter, 2023, 651, 414558. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physb.2022.414558

2. Kavanagh, S., Squires, A., Nicolson, A., Mosquera-Lois, I., Ganose, A., Zhu, B., Brlec, K., Walsh, A., and Scanlon, D. Journal of Open-Source Software (preprint), 2024.

3. Mosquera-Lois, I., Kavanagh, S., Walsh, A., and Scanlon, D. Journal of Open -Source Software, 2022, 7, 80, 4817. https://doi.org/10.21105/joss.04817

Introduction:

Business

Are Scandals a Reset Button for Driving Change?

Hesam Shahriari, Ph.D.

Department of Accounting, Finance, and MIS, College of Business

Corporate scandals manifest themselves in many ways, ranging from allegations of financial malfeasance or suppression of information to discrimination in the workplace. The source notwithstanding, corporate scandals may, and often do, have far-reaching consequences. The individuals responsible are often subject to numerous sanctions and penalties. Other stakeholders may be affected, too. Indeed, the consequences of the scandal may n ot be limited to the firm itself. The rash of financial scandals of the late 1990’s involving well -known companies like Enron and WorldCom undermined the faith of investors in financial markets and the ability of regulatory oversight to protect their inter ests. More recently, the #MeToo movement has highlighted the abuse of power in the workplace. The potential misalignment of management and shareholder interests is a well -known feature of the corporate finance literature. This conflict manifests itself in various ways, one of the most egregious of which is corporate scandal. The literature to date has focused primarily on accounting fraud and securities violations. The purpose of the proposed project is to cast a much wider net and investigate how corporate misbehavior in all of its forms affects the firm and its shareholders when this behavior finds its way into the public domain. Once revealed, scandals may precipitate significant costs for the firm and a diminution of the wealth of its shareholders but, at the same time, provide the impetus for change. The investigation will provide a comprehensiv e platform for both academics pursuing further studies in the area and for legislators and regulators devising policies for addressing the problems revealed by corporate scandals.

Objectives:

Corporate scandals can act as a catalyst to implement changes that benefit investors. Former White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel famously, or infamously, stated at a 2008 Wall Street Journal Forum, “[y]ou never want a serious crisis to go to waste.” Conflict can be an essential

resource for mobilizing others to meet the demands of needed adaptive change. In this study, we propose a new perspective: a scandal can ultimately serve the long - term interests of the firm.

Context:

There is no doubt that scandals can be, and often are, extremely damaging for firms and other organizations, leading to legal sanctions, deterioration of financial performance and employee morale, loss of customers and suppliers who no longer trust them, a nd even bankruptcy (Cole et al., 2021). Examples of the latter include the well-known cases of Enron and WorldCom. With stories of corporate misbehavior frequently reported in the popular press and social media, CEOs are finding their firms and themselves under increasing scrutiny by stakeholders. It took several years for Cendant Corporation’s CEO, Henry Silverman, to repair damage from a 1998 scandal involving substantially overstated operating income. Cendant paid a record $2.85 billion to settle a consolidated shareholder lawsuit. Then, to earn back investors’ trust, Cendant improved transparency by committing to more detailed accounting disclosure; barred its auditors from consulting functions; set limits on senior executives’ trading in the company’s stock; capped future severance packages for top executives; made its board more independent; rid itself of staggered board elections; installed independent directors on the compensation, nominating, and audit committees; and put out press releases pointing out the actions taken ( Silverman, 2002).

By 2008, bribery had become a regular feature of Siemens AG’s corporate culture and business practice. Once revealed, a new CEO, M. Loscher, quickly moved to replace eighty percent of the company’s top- tier executives, seventy percent of the second tier an d forty percent of the third tier. The authority CEO Loscher obtained from responding decisively, allowed him to make significant changes in the way the company did business, leading analysts to describe the company as having “set the gold standard over ho w to respond to scandal” (Gilles et al, 2020). Scandals as a means of changing the rules of the game at the institutional level (as evidenced by the 2002 Sarbanes-Oxley Act, which followed a wave of financial scandals in the United States) have been examined previously (Bhattacharya et al, 2007). At the firm level, the results of two more recent studies provide background for our hypothesis. Janney and Gove (2011) examine the market reaction to stock option backdating scandals. They find that the sanctions are harsh but less severe for firms that self-disclose. Jory et al (2015) document that the operating performance

of firms involved in CEO-linked scandals is better than that of their matched counterparts in the years after the scandal.

However, there is no systematic evidence for the effect of a scandal from an inside perspective: that is when the organization or the individual(s) involved see it as a necessary cost to ignite real change. Companies affected by corporate scandals have an opportunity to implement an array of changes, ranging from improved disclosure, modifications in corporate governance and changes in corporate culture.

Methodology:

The data on corporate scandals are hand- collected by searching through related news in Factiva, Nexis Uni, and NewsBank using keywords such as ‘fraud’ and ‘scandal’ (we have built a lexicon for this purpose). Our sample includes all disclosed scandals invo lving global public corporations between 1980 and 2020. We will also collect data on all corporate governance, disclosure, and culture enhancement changes undertaken over the three -year period after the scandal. We have built a lexicon to capture corporate announcements of the changes in response to a scandal. We shall classify all post-scandal improvements into three broad groups: corporate governance, disclosure, and culture enhancements. For each firm, we will construct three indices, with indices taking values based on the number of enhancements in each category.

To test our hypotheses, we investigate share value and operating performance effects following corporate scandals, conditional on the three aforementioned indices, news and social media sentiment, legal and regulatory environment, and other firm-, industry-, and country-level control variables. We further conduct multivariate regression analysis to identify determinants most conducive to improved long term outlook utilizing panel regression models such as the following:

where ��,��,�� is the annual cumulative abnormal return following scandal �� involving firm �� in year �� ; �� ,�� ,

,�� , and

are the post-scandal improvement indices for firm �� in the three years following the scandal year �� ; ��,�� 1 and ��,�� 1 are the country �� ’s rule of law score and firm �� ’s

sentiment index in year �� 1, respectively; and ��,�� 1 and �� ,�� 1 are the set of (lagged) firm- and country-level control variables, respectively.

Results:

We use the short- term event study methodology (Brown & Warner, 1985; MacKinlay, 1997) based on daily stock returns (Brown & Warner, 1980) to measure the effect of scandals on firm stock returns. The event study is implemented in two steps. In the first step, reported at this stage, the CARs around the first news of the scandal are estimated using the market model. We use the seven-day (-3, +3) window (i.e., the three days preceding the first news and the four following days) as our primary event window. However, multiple other event windows will be considered in the robustness tests. If there is no indication of the scandal before the first public announcement, and if stock markets are efficient, one should observe its effect on the stock price shortly after the scandal is revealed (Malkiel & Fama, 1970)

The preliminary results, presented in Error! Reference source not found. and Error! Reference source not found., show the effect of scandals on shareholder wealth in our sample. The impact is negative and significant, but more so for firms in countries with a mixed or civillaw legal system (vs. the common- law countries).

Significance/Impact:

The proposed research goes beyond the current literature in that it links post -scandal profitability and shareholder wealth to initiatives taken by the company in its response to the scandal. The study contributes to the literature on corporate wrongdoing by providing a new, unique perspective on scandals as a reset button to drive positive change. The channels that we identify for putting the firm on the path to recovery will also be of interest to public policymakers. While we focus primarily on the firm and its shareholders, these events and how firms respond to them have important implications for employees, suppliers, customers, and the public good. We expect our work to lay a broad foundation for further research on this topic and related public policy discourse.

References:

1. Bhattacharya, U., Groznik, P. and Haslem, B. (2007). Is CEO certification of earnings numbers value-relevant? Journal of Empirical Finance 14, 611–635.

2. Brown, S. J., & Warner, J. B. (1980). Measuring security price performance. Journal of Financial Economics, 8(3), 205-258.

3. Brown, S. J., & Warner, J. B. (1985). Using daily stock returns: The case of event studies. Journal of Financial Economics, 14 (1), 3-31.

4. Cole, R., Johan, S., & Schweizer, D. (2021). Corporate failures: Declines, collapses, and scandals. Journal of Corporate Finance 67, 101872.

5. Gilles, G., Alain, M., & Naoufel, M. (2020). Scandals: A ‘reset button’ to drive change?. Organizational dynamics . 2020 Aug 9:100783.

6. Janney, J. J., and Gove, S. (2011). Reputation and corporate social responsibility aberrations, trends, and hypocrisy: Reactions to firm choices in the stock option backdating scandal. Journal of Management Studies 48(7), 1562-1585.

7. Jory, S. R., Ngo, T. N., Wang, D., and Saha, A. (2015). Market response to corporate scandals involving CEOs. Applied Economics 47(17), 1723-1728.

8. MacKinlay, A. C. (1997). Event studies in economics and finance. Journal of Economic Literature, 35(1), 13-39.

9. Malkiel, B. G., & Fama, E. F. (1970). Efficient capital markets: A review of theory and empirical work. Journal of Finance, 25(2), 383-417.

10. Silverman, H. (2002). Henry Silverman on fraud and recovery, Bloomberg Businessweek, July 30. Available at http://www.businessweek.com/stories/ 2002-07-30/henry-silvermanon-fraud-and-recovery.

Introduction:

EDUCATION

Education

Untold Stories of URM Middle School STEM Teachers

Katianna Lemons-White and Camille S. Burnett, Ph.D *

Department of Curriculum and Instruction, College of Education

There is a critical need for recruiting, preparing, and retaining science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) teachers. It is well known that there is a shortage of K -12 STEM teachers nationwide (Cross, 2017; Feder, 2022). Moreover, fewer than 20 percent of mathematics and computer science teachers and fewer than 20 percent of natural science teachers identify as underrepresented and racially minoritized (URM) persons (National Center for Education Statistics, 2011-2012). This shortage of STEM teachers is caused by supply and demand factors (Cowan et al., 2016). The supply of STEM teachers is low; that is, an insufficient number of STEM teachers are being prepared (Fuller & Pendola, 2019). In contrast, the demand for STEM teachers is high; that is, attrition and turnover rates of STEM teachers are problematic in many high-need local educational agencies (Fuller & Pendola, 2019). Little is known about how URM middle school STEM teachers choose their profession and remain in their profession despit e the factors that lead to high attrition and turnover rates. Thus, there is a critical need to understand how URM middle school STEM teachers select the K -12 setting for their career and persist in the K-12 setting despite the challenges. Without this kno wledge, educators and policymakers will be unable to create effective teacher recruitment, preparation, and retention strategies, and the shortage of URM STEM teachers will continue.

Objectives/Goals:

The goal of this proposed project was to understand the journey taken by URM middle school STEM teachers to enter their profession to better inform recruitment, preparation, and retention strategies. For the proposed project, the journey into the teaching profession will include before, during, and after the teacher preparation phase. The initial interpretation of the phenomenon of this journey is that the pathways to and through teaching for URM middle school STEM teachers are unique and meaningful for each person yet may have intersecting commonalities and can be

used to inform teacher recruitment, preparation, and retention practices. Thus, the objective of the proposed project was to report the stories of URM middle school STEM teachers’ journey to and through the teaching profession.

Methods:

The first phase of the project began with a mapping review to determine what research has been undertaken that focuses on the experiences of middle school STEM teachers in choosing their profession. Several article searches were conducted. The one that pro ved most fruitful used keywords such as “STEM teachers,” “Preservice teachers or student teachers or pre -service teachers or prospective teachers or teacher candidates,” and “career choice or career decision or career selection or career motivation.” The n umber of articles was reduced by focusing on articles written in English within the last 20 years, peer-reviewed, and the full text was available through our library. Articles that focused on special education or pre -school and elementary school teachers w ere excluded from the collection. The identified articles were categorized and presented in a map.

The second phase of the project focused on instrument development. Three instruments were drafted – the Participant Profile Questionnaire, the Interview Protocol, and the Artifact Protocol (see Results and Discussions for more details). Additionally, the I RB Application for the project was drafted.

The third phase of the project was to include data collection through the following steps:

1. Identify participants.

2. Obtain participants’ consent.

3. Collect participants’ profile information.

4. Interview participants (must be video-taped).

5. Examine relevant artifacts.

6. Transcribe interviews.

The fourth phase of the project was to entail data analysis. This phase was to commence after the first participant’s three-part interview sequence was transcribed. The plan was to use the following sequential analysis steps adapted from Mills & Gay (2019) and Fisher’s Narrative Paradigm (Communication Theory, 2014) as a framework.

1. Identify key elements of the story.

2. Review artifact data.

3. Rewrite the stories.

Data analysis would then be followed by member checks, i.e., participants would have the opportunity to review their stories before dissemination to ensure the credibility, and therefore the trustworthiness (Mills & Gay, 2019) of the stories reported.

Results and Discussion:

Before the first phase of the project could begin, the research assistant was required to complete several trainings including CITI, Qualtrics, and Library Use. Upon completion of these trainings, then the first phase of the project began. The third and final search for articles yielded 382,203 articles available through our library, but after applying several limitations, the number of articles was reduced to 108. The articles were all carefully reviewed; however, most did not help to answer the research question, “What empirical research has been undertaken on the experiences of middle school STEM teachers in choosing (and remaining in) their profession?” This made it quite difficult to thoroughly complete the mapping review. Three instruments were drafted during the second phase of the project – the Participant Profile Questionnaire, the Interview Protocol, and the Artifact Protocol. The Participant Profile Questionnaire includes questions about demographics, educational backg round, teacher preparation, professional experience, and other information that may be useful in developing a profile of each participant. It also requests additional location and contact information for each participant as a means of planning for later in terview data collection. The Participant Profile Questionnaire was drafted in Qualtrics to ensure that the data is systematically collected, safely stored, and easily accessible for later analysis. The Interview Protocol is divided into three sections (see Table 1), adapted from the in-depth interview structure developed by Seidman (2006). The interview questions ask the participants to describe the who, what, where, when, why, and how of their journey to and through the teaching profession to better unders tand the participants’ experiences. The Artifact Protocol is an intake sheet that will be used to log relevant information about the artifact. It allows for a description of the type of artifact and the connection of the artifact to the participant’s journ ey to and through the STEM teaching profession. Depending on the nature of the artifact, a photograph, hyperlink, or other documentation is also included in the Artifact Protocol to aid in later analyses and triangulation

of data. Like the Participant Profile Form, the Artifact Protocol is housed in Qualtrics to ensure that the data is systematically logged, safely stored, and easily accessible for later analysis.

Table 1. Sample Interview Questions

Interview

Sample Interview Questions

1. Life History How did the participant come to be a secondary STEM teacher?

2. Contemporary Experience What is it like for the participant to be a secondary STEM teacher? What are the details of the participant’s work as a secondary STEM teacher?

3. Reflection on Meaning What does it mean to the participant to be a secondary STEM teacher? How does the participant make sense of their work as a secondary STEM teacher?

Impact/Benefit:

The findings from the mapping review were presented at the annual Research Association of Minority Professors Conference in Washington, DC. in February 2024 (see Lemons -White et al., 2024). Phase 3 of the project will begin in Summer 2024 after IRB approva l is received. The findings obtained from this project will be used to support the development of a proposal for the NSF Faculty Early Career Development Program.

References:

1. Communication Theory (2014, July 7). The narrative paradigm. https://www.communicationtheory.org/the-narrative- paradigm/

2. Cowan, J., Goldhaber, D., Hayes, K., & Theobald, R. (2016). Missing elements in the discussion of teacher shortages. Educational Researcher, 45(8), 460 -462.

3. Creswell, J. W., & Poth, C. N. (2017). Qualitative Inquiry and Research Design: Choosing Among Five Approaches. Sage.

4. Cross, F. (2017, May). Teacher shortage areas: Nationwide listing 1990 -1991 through 2017-2018. U.S. Department of Education, Office of Postsecondary Education. https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ope/pol/bteachershortageareasreport201718.pdf

5. Feder, T. (2022). The US is in dire need of STEM teachers. Physics Today, 75(3), 25 -27. https://doi.org/10.1063/PT.3.4959

6. Fuller, E. J., & Pendola, A. (2019). Teacher preparation and teacher retention: Examining the relationship for beginning STEM teachers. American Association for the Advancement of Science.

7. Lemons-White, K., Love-Perkins, J., Barnett-Price, S., & Burnett, C. (2024). Becoming a STEM teacher: A behind the scenes look using a mapping review. 41st Annual Research Association of Minority Professors Conference, Washington, DC.

8. Mills, G., & Gay, L. (2019). Educational research: Competencies for analysis and applications (12th ed.). New York, NY: Pearson.

9. National Center for Education Statistics. (2011 -2012). Percentage distribution of teachers, by school type, race/ethnicity and selected main teaching assignment: 2011 –12. [Data table]. https://nces.ed.gov/surveys/sass/tables/sass1112_21022407_t12n.asp

10. Riessman, C. K. (1993). Narrative analysis. Sage.

11. Seidman, I. (2006). Interviewing as qualitative research: A guide for researchers in education and the social sciences (3rd ed.). Teachers College Press.

Post Analysis of Engineering Students’ Persistence During COVID -19

Sequoia Barnett-Price and Camille S. Burnett, Ph.D * Department of Curriculum and Instruction, College of Education

Introduction:

Post-secondary institutions awarded two million bachelor's degrees in 2017 -2018 in the United States, and of these degrees, only six percent were in the field of engineering (National Center for Education Statistics, 2020). Engineering students’ persistenc e has been investigated by researchers such as Ferrare and Miller (2020), Meyer and Fang (2019), Richardson et al. (2020), and Winberg et al. (2018). More specifically, it has been found that persistence in engineering is impacted by engineering self -effic acy (Wu et al., 2020) and engineering identity (Patrick et al., 2018). Persistence in engineering is also affected by social-cognitive, environmental, and personality variables (Navarro et al., 2019). The COVID-19 pandemic impacted students’ persistence in unforeseen ways, as documented by Amin et al. (2024, 2023), Burnett et al. (2022), Callahan et al. (2022), Esparza et al. (2023a, 2023b), and Rambo-Hernandez et al. (2023) from data collected from the same project (Burnett et al., 2021-2022).

Objectives/Goals:

Thus, the goal of this proposed project was to further investigate the impact of the COVID19 pandemic on engineering students’ persistence. The objective of this project was to use archived qualitative data to better understand engineering students’ persi stence during COVID-19 in terms of their self-efficacy, engineering identity, and engineering interest.

Methods:

The first phase of the project began with a state-of- the-art review to examine the literature on the impact of the COVID -19 pandemic on engineering students' persistence. Articles published between March 2020 and September 2023 were considered using keywor ds such as “undergraduate engineering students,” “covid -19 or coronavirus or pandemic,” and “persistence”. The number of articles was reduced by focusing on articles written in English,

geographically located in the USA, peer-reviewed, and the full- text was available through our library. Identified articles were synthesized and discussed.

The second phase was to entail an analysis of an existing data set previously collected from the Burnett et al. (2021-2022) project. The existing data set comprised institutional data and survey data that was previously collected from the Burnett et al. (2 021-2022) project; however, due to the amount of data, not all had been analyzed. The survey data included responses to both closed- and open-ended questions from engineering students at Texas A&M University (n = 540) and Prairie View A&M University (n = 6 9). The intent of this phase of the project was to focus primarily on the responses to the open -ended survey questions. These responses were to be analyzed using an inductive approach to identify categories and codes. The codes would then be used to determine emerging themes within the data. The aim was to better understand students’ persistence during the COVID -19 pandemic and to connect the qualitative responses to the quantitative data pertaining to students’ selfefficacy, engineering identity, and engineering interest.

Results and Discussion :

Impact/Benefit:

The findings from the state-of-the- art review were presented at the annual Research Association of Minority Professors Conference in Washington, DC. in February 2024 (see Barnett-Price et al., 2024). Phase 2 of the project will begin in Summer 2024. The fi ndings obtained from this project will be used to explain and support quantitative analyses previously conducted and disseminated (see Amin et al., 2024; Amin et al., 2023; Burnett et

al.,2022; Callahan et al., 2022; Esparza et al., 2023a; Esparza et al., 2023b; RamboHernandez et al., 2023). Additionally, the collection of all disseminated findings from this and the original project will serve as the foundation for a collaborative larg er-scale project with faculty at Texas A&M University. The intent is to submit a proposal to NSF IUSE, INCLUDES, or RFE program.

References:

1. Amin, S., Rambo-Hernandez, K., Pedersen, B., Nepal, B., Burnett, C., & Diaz, N. V. M. (2024, April). Examining the effects of the COVID-19 interruptions on first-year engineering persistence at two diverse institutions [Paper presentation]. American Educational Research Association 2024 Annual Meeting, Philadelphia, PA, United States.

2. Amin, S., Rambo-Hernandez, K., Pedersen, B., Burnett, C., Nepal, B., & Mendoza Diaz, N. (2023). A Comparison of Engineering Student Persistence Prior to and During COVID-19 Interruptions. Proceedings of the 2023 Frontiers in Education IEEE Conference. College Station, TX, United States.

3. Barnett-Price, S., Lemons-White, K., Love-Perkins, J., & Burnett, C. (2024). A work-inprogress review of the impact of COVID -19 on collegiate engineers. 41st Annual Research Association of Minority Professors Conference, Washington, DC., United States.

4. Burnett, C. S. (Principal Investigator), Rambo-Hernandez, K. E. (co-Principal Investigator), & Nepal, B. P. (co-Principal Investigator). (January 2021 – August 2022). Analyzing Impact of Covid-19 on Student Learning and Persistence: A MultiDimensional Study [Grant]. Prairie View A&M University Panther Research & Innovation for Scholarly Excellence (RISE) – Grant Program.

5. Burnett, C., Rambo-Hernandez, K., Nepal, B., Lockett, L., Callahan, S., Pedersen, B. (2022, April 8). Trends in first-year engineering student attrition rates: An examination of institutional data [Poster Presentation]. Prairie View A&M University Faculty Research Day, Prairie View, TX, United States.

6. Callahan, S., Pedersen, B., Lockett, L., Burnett, C., Nepal, B., & Rambo -Hernandez, K. (2022, June). Work in Progress - Persistence and the Pandemic: Retention of Historically Underrepresented First-Year Engineering Students Before and After COVID -19.

Proceedings of the 2022 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Minneapolis, MN, United States. https://peer.asee.org/41652.

7. Esparza, A. M., Rambo-Hernandez, K. E., Burnett, C. S., & Nepal, B. P. (2023a). Perception matters: Student educational experiences in COVID -19 are related to engineering self-efficacy and persistence intentions. International Journal of Engineering Education, 39(5), 1038-1048.

8. Esparza, A. M., Rambo-Hernandez, K. E., Nepal, B. P., & Burnett, C. S. (2023b, April).

Was it all bad? Engineering Student Perceptions of COVID -19’s Impact on their career development [Paper presentation]. American Educational Research Association 2023 Annual Meeting, Chicago, IL, United States.

9. Ferrare, J. J., & Miller, J. M. (2020). Making sense of persistence in scientific purgatory: A multi- institutional analysis of instructors in introductory science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) courses. Journal of Higher Education, 91(1), 113138. https://doi.org/10.1080/00221546.2019.1602392

10. Meyer, M., & Fang, N. (2019). A qualitative case study of persistence of engineering undergraduates. International Journal of Engineering Education, 35(1), 99 -108.

11. National Center for Education Statistics. (2020). The Condition of Education: Undergraduate Degree Fields. U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences. https://nces.ed.gov/programs/coe/indicator_cta.asp

12. Navarro, R. L., Legerski, J., Brionez, J., Suh, H. N., Hang -Shim Lee, Hunt, H. K., BoHyun, L., Diaz, D., Flores, L. Y., May, S. F., Slivensky, D. R., Tapio, F., Garriott, P. O., Desjarlais, C. D., Zhu, J., Ae-Kyung Jung. (2019). Social cognitive predictors of engineering students' academic persistence intentions, satisfaction, and engagement. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 66(2), 170-183. https://doi.org/10.1037/cou0000319

13. Patrick, A. D., Borrego, M., & Prybutok, A. N. (2018). Predicting persistence in engineering through an engineering identity scale. International Journal of Engineering Education, 34(2), 351-363.

14. Rambo-Hernandez, K. E., Apata, O. E., Amin, S., Pedersen, B. A., Burnett, C. S., Nepal, B. P., & Mendoza Diaz, N. V. (2023, June). Student Persistence in Engineering Majors: A Description of Engineering Students at Two Universities Before and During COVID -19.

Proceedings of the 2023 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Baltimore, MD, United States. https://peer.asee.org/44318

15. Richardson, R. L. S., Guy, B. S., & Perkins, K. S. (2020). "I am committed to engineering": The role of ego identity in black Women's engineering career persistence. The Journal of Negro Education, 88(3), 281. https://doi.org/10.7709/jnegroeducation.88.3.0281

16. Winberg, S. L., Winberg, C., & Engel-Hills, P. (2018). Persistence, resilience and mathematics in engineering transfer capital. IEEE Transactions on Education, Education, IEEE Transactions on, IEEE Trans.Educ., 61(4), 281 -288.

https://doi.org/10.1109/TE.2018.2825942

17. Wu, F., Fan, W., Arbona, C., & de la Rosa-Pohl, D. (2020). Self-efficacy and subjective task values in relation to choice, effort, persistence, and continuation in engineering: An expectancy-value theory perspective. European Journal of Engineering Educati on, 45(1), 151-163. https://doi.org/10.1080/03043797.2019.1659231

Ventaja Panamá: Bringing STEM and Literacy to underserved ELL students through curriculum integration

Thompson, Jalen and Beverly A. King Miller Department of Curriculum

and Instruction, College of Education

Introduction:

The purpose of this research project is to bring quality STEM and literacy education to underserved Afro Caribbean and Latina students in Panama City, Panama. Ventaja means ‘advantage’. Using a social justice education model, the program foci include: a cu lturally relevant curriculum integrating STEM and literacy; experiential learning that is tied to the curriculum, and nutritional meals provided for each student. Bandura’s (1995) theory of selfefficacy is used as a theoretical lens to demonstrate the effectiveness of the curriculum strategies because as self-efficacy increases so does motivation for learning. The Ventaja Panama STEM and Literacy camp completed its 7th year June 5 -9, 2023. It is a weeklong camp program for children in grades K-12 in Panama City, Panama. This year launched a one-day program in Colon City, Panama as well for 18 students.

The education system of Panama is described as one of the worse in the world (“Education System in Panama”, 2020). This system is divided into pre- primary, ages 4-5, primary, ages 611, secondary, ages or 12-17 and tertiary, and ages 18-22. Education is compulsory from age 414 (“UNESCO Panama”, 2020). The largest number of students are in the primary division world (“Education System in Panama”, 2020).

Panama boasts the fastest growing economy in Central America with a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of 5.4% in 2017 (“The World Bank”, 2020). In 2016 it was ranked the highest foreign direct investment (FDI) for the region because it received 44% of investmen t funds including $11.97 billion from the United States alone (Guzman, 2018). The largest employment opportunities in Panama are the Panama Canal, tourism and banking related trade (Guzman, 2018; CIA, 2020). The Panama Canal represents about 40% of the Pan amanian economy and is responsible for about half of the GDP (Guzman, 2018).

In spite of its booming economy, the average Panamanian lives on about $550 per month.

Teachers make an average of $11,000 a year; nurses’ salaries are $17,000 (“Salaries in Panama”, 2019). Apartments, which can range from $1900 to $2500, do not match the income for most of the population leaving the vast majority marginalized and excluded (Guzman, 2018).

Objectives/Goals:

The Ventaja Panama program foci is 3-fold providing: a) STEM and literacy instruction that is taught in Spanish and English, b) nutrition and meals that include daily breakfast and lunch, and, c) a field trip tied to the academic experience and focus. The goal is to increase the educational attainment of students in order to prepare them for university education that would open doors to careers to improve their economic attainment.

The research goal for 2024 included the focus on study abroad and global opportunities for PVAMU students to encourage global citizenship and enhance cultural identity. Therefore, data was collected to capture the students’ experience as study abroad stud ents rather than only their experience as volunteer teachers as part of the camp program.

Materials and Methods :

This qualitative longitudinal study has a working IRB from PVAMU. Participants for the 2024 data came from 7 PVAMU students and one Professor from the College of Arts and Sciences who joined the team. Photovoice as a participatory research places the parti cipants at the center of the research and affords them greater decision -making than is found in a traditional research. Photovoice allows participants to share their own experiences through photos and self -explain its meaning (Budig et. al, 2018). In photovoice participants produce knowledge through pictures, narratives, and words (Meyers, 2024).

Anticipated Results and Significance:

This proposed research centers on Photovoice as a participatory research framework that can be used to promote cultural identity to develop a global identity for HBCU students on a Study Abroad program to Panama. There is already a pending book chapter based on this new research. Further, the PI has been invited to an international conference in Manchester, UK based on her work around Study

Synergistic Activities

Abroad for college students. These findings will be important for not only HBCUs, but all institutions working with underrepresented and historically marginalized students. The undergraduate student is being challenged in research output and presentations. Below, is his poster presentation from the RISE conference. He has completed two conference presentations. He attended the Panama Study Abroad where he is deepening his sk ills in photovoice methodology in order to co-present with the PI in the Fall 2024.

Summary of Synergistic Activities 2023 -2024

Conference Presentations

RAMP Feb. 2024

1.Thompson, Jalen (Feb. 3, 2024). Education Through M&M’s by Jalen Thompson

Research Association of Minority Professors

RISE Conference April 2024

Thompson, Jalen ( April 2024). Using Photovoice: A look through the lens of a research assistant attending a field trip to Space Center Houston Conference for Interdisciplinary Student Research (CISR)

References:

1. Budig, K., Diez, J., Conde, P. et al. (2018). Photovoice and empowerment: evaluating the transformative potential of a participatory action research project. BMC Public Health 18, 432. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-018-5335-7

2. Education System in Panama (2020). www.Scholar.com/pro/countries/panama/educationsystem

3. Guzman, M. (2018). Panama housing market heats up as country booms. Retrieved from: https://www.globalpropertyguide.com/Latin-America/Panama/Price-History

4. Meyers, L. (2024). “You Know, Let Me Put My Two Cents In”: Using Photovoice to Locate the Educational Experiences of Black Girls Chapter Author(s): in Esther O. Ohito and Lucía Mock Muñoz de Luna (Eds), Black Schoolgirls in Space Book Subtitle: Stories of Black Girlhoods Gathered on Educational Terrain Book. (pp. 148 -171). Berghahn Books. URL: https://www.jstor.org/stable/jj.9165196.11

5. The World Bank in Panama. (2020). retrieved from: https://www.worldbank.org/en/country/panama/overview#1

6. The World Factbook (2020). https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the -worldfactbook/geos/pm.html

7. United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). (2020). Inclusion And Education: All Means All. Global Education Monitoring Report 2020. https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:48223/pf0000373718

ENGINEERING

Engineering

Numerical Quantification and Prediction of Mast Cell Desensitization Rate

Franck Kouoba and Kazeem Olanrewaju*

Department of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering

Introduction:

Allergies rank as the 6th leading cause of chronic illness in the United States, affecting over 50 million individuals annually and incurring an annual cost exceeding $18 billion [1]. Among children, allergic conditions are notably prevalent, with more tha n 90,000 emergency room visits annually due to anaphylaxis, a severe and sometimes fatal allergic reaction if not treated promptly [1]-[3]. The most common indoor and outdoor airborne allergens triggering immune inflammatory responses include pollen from trees, grass, and weeds. While a complete cure for allergic reactions remains elusive, they can be managed to significantly reduce the frequency and severity of episodes [4].

Current methods for diagnosing and treating allergies face several challenges, such as an uncertain recovery rate from immunotherapy and lengthy treatment durations. Other issues include unpredictable interactions between species and various physiological units, difficulties with species delivery rates, and bioavailability concerns [5]. These challenges stem from limited realtime accessibility to immune system studies using in -vivo and in-vitro experimental approaches [6]. Key processes involved include the transport, transformation, and interaction of species (such as mast cells and allergens) at different physiological levels (systems, organs, tissues, and cells) [7]-[9]. Moreover, the current therapeutic approach, which focuses on the desensitization of mast cells to allergen immunogenicity, struggles with unpredictable temporal adaptability between the cells and allergens.

This research project aims to address some of these challenges through computational modeling of the immunodynamics of mast cells and airborne allergens within virtual microvascular and interstitial systems, combined with the use of machine learning algori thms. A detailed process flow scheme is formulated to outline the steps involved in species transport and transformation mechanisms leading to immunogenicity and adaptability. These mechanisms are numerically defined to establish an immunogenicity and adap tability numerical scheme on a computational

platform. The physiological effects of the various species involved in sensitization, effector, and adaptability phases as depicted in the mechanistic models are quantitatively assessed. Numerical experiments on mast cells' inflammatory response and desens itization to allergens show significant potential to enhance the predictive accuracy of mast cells' temporal adaptability to allergens.

Objective:

The objective of this research is to accurately quantify the immunogenic (allergenic) response of mast cells and predict their temporal adaptability to airborne allergens through advanced numerical modeling techniques.

Methodology:

Create a detailed mechanistic flow chart that outlines the steps involving species transport and transformation mechanisms leading to mast cell hypersensitivity to allergens, as well as the desensitization mechanism. Specifically, identify and numerically define the distinct transport and transformation mechanisms involved in both the sensitization and desensitization phases. Set up the modeling scheme in MATLAB to quantify these processes. Assess the pathophysiological effects of various variables, including pollen, dendritic cells, antigens, and inflammatory mediators (cytokines, chemokines, etc.), as specified in the mechanistic models. The flow chart has been developed, and the relevant equations to model the mechanisms are currently being formulated. Incorporate the estimated desensitization period derived from numerical experiments into a machine learning algorithm that has already been trained and validated with real data. This integration will help generate simulated predictors for further analysis.

Results and Discussion:

A mechanistic flow chart to delineate steps involving species transport and transformation mechanisms leading to mast cells hypersensitivity to allergen and the desensitization mechanism was developed as depicted in figure 1. The mathematical model to qua ntify specific transport and transformation mechanisms in both the sensitization and desensitization modeling scheme has been formulated to be deployed in MATLAB platform. Evaluation of the various biomarkers in the modeling scheme and the pathophysiological effect of these immunological biomarkers (pollen, dendritic cells, antigen, inflammatory mediators (cytokine, chemokine, etc) are in

progress. Numerical experimentation of the causative mechanism of the immunogenicity and adaptability of mast cells to innocuous pollen is to help improve the predictability of Allergen –Specific Immunotherapy as it relates to patients’ recovery.

Figure 1: Immune cells sensitization and adaptability to allergens

Development of an equation-based modeling rate scheme for the first half of the sensitization phase. In the first phase of sensitization, the mechanisms are modeled within a physiologicallybased framework. This includes the transformation of dendritic cells (DC) into antigenpresenting cells (APC) through chemokine inducement. The DCs are transported t o the exposure site where they phagocytose pollen grains (allergens) to produce APCs. Subsequently, the APCs interact with naïve T-cells in the lymph node, secreting interleukin 4 (IL-4) to activate and differentiate the T cells into T-helper cells (Th2). This results in the expansion of allergenspecific Th2 cells that secrete various cytokines and factors, enhancing immune cell activity during allergic reactions.

The model also considers the transport of Th2 cells to the exposure site to activate naïve B cells through interactions with cytokines like interleukin 4 (IL-4) released by Th2 cells. These mechanisms are incorporated into a partial differential equation ( PDE) to model the immune responses involved in the first half of immune cell sensitization to the antigen. The mathematical model quantifies the immune response players such as allergens, DCs, APCs, T cells, cytokines, chemokines, and B cells based on mechanistic rates like secretion, activation, decay, uptake, diffusion, chemotaxis, and regulation. Equations (Eq. 1, Eq. 2, and Eq. 3) in the PDE describe the rates of antigen, DC, and APC. Other immune response players will be addressed in the ongoing research project.

where the antigen is denoted as Ag, dendritic cells as DC, antigen -presenting cells as APC, and chemokine as CH, �� is the degradation (decay) rate of the antigen, �� uptake (e.g. phagocytosis) rate, �� is the diffusion rate of antigen, g (x,t) is the source term rate, �� is the decay rate of dendritic cell, and �� is the activation rate of the dendritic cells. �� and �� are the diffusion rates of the dendritic and antigen presenting cells respectively, while �� and �� are the respective chemotaxis rates of dendritic and antigen presenting cells. Initiation and boundary conditions of the PDEs for each participant in the first half of the sensitization phase will be adequately addressed while numerically solving the equ ations.

Significant and Impact:

The model will be used as a virtual platform to systematically assess the immunodynamics of mast cells' interaction with an allergen, the resulting inflammatory response caused by cytokine release, and the desensitization of immunogenicity of mast cells th rough a gradual subcutaneous influx of allergen insufficient to initiate an allergic reaction. The outcome of this project will exceed current multiscale modeling for hypersensitivity of mast cells to pollen grain by incorporating the bio-physicochemical m echanisms and desensitization timeframe prediction of mast cells to the allergens. The project will improve on the conjecture approach, premised on historical observation, of predicting the timeframe for patients to recover to a more deterministic and quantifiable recovery rate prediction. By utilizing biomedical and computational science research, this project aims to enhance science education across different academic levels and advance the understanding of allergy treatment. Allergies are the 6th leading chronic illness in the US, affecting over 50 million people and costing more than $200 million annually in allergy

skin tests. The treatment of allergies and patient recovery often face significant uncertainties regarding when a patient may become entirely free of allergic reactions. This project seeks to enhance the current conjecture-based approach, which relies on historical observations, to predict more precise recovery timelines for patients.

References:

1. Allergy Facts. Available: https://acaai.org/allergies/allergies -101/facts-stats/.

2. S. Clark et al, "Frequency of US emergency department visits for food -related acute allergic reactions," J. Allergy Clin. Immunol., vol. 127, (3), pp. 682-683, 2011.

3. P. J. Turner et al, "Fatal anaphylaxis: mortality rate and risk factors," The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In Practice, vol. 5, (5), pp. 1169-1178, 2017.

4. N. Allergy and Asthma. (). Allergy Statistics in the US | Allergy & Asthma Network . Available: https://allergyasthmanetwork.org/allergies/allergy -statistics/.

5. S. Hurst et al, "Impact of physiological, physicochemical and biopharmaceutical factors in absorption and metabolism mechanisms on the drug oral bioavailability of rats and humans," Expert Opinion on Drug Metabolism & Toxicology, vol. 3, (4), pp. 469-489, 2007.

6. C. Ekmekcioglu, "A physiological approach for preparing and conducting intestinal bioavailability studies using experimental systems," Food Chem., vol. 76, (2), pp. 225-230, 2002. Available: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0308814601002916 . DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0308-8146(01)00291-6.

7. Blaustein P. Mordecai, Kao P.Y.Joseph , and Matteson R. Donald, Cellular Physiology and Neurophysiology. (2nd ed.) St.Louis, Missouri 63043: Elsevier, 2011.

8. G. A. Truskey, F. Yuan and D. F. Katz, "Transport in organs," in Transport Phenomena in Biological Systems Anonymous Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Pearson Prentice Hall, 2009, pp. 461-71.

9. J. S. Ultman, H. Baskaran and G. M. Saidel, Biomedical Mass Transport and Chemical Reaction: Physicochemical Principles and Mathematical Modeling. Hoboken, New Jersey: John Wiley and Sons, 2016.

Numerical Experimentation of Glucose Quantification in the Gastric Unit

Favor Ifeomachukwu Louis and Kazeem Olanrewaju * Department of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering

Introduction:

Glucose quantification within the gastric unit is paramount for understanding metabolic processes and managing diseases such as diabetes. Accurate measurement of glucose levels is essential for diagnostics and therapeutic interventions. Recently, numerical experimentation has gained prominence as an invaluable tool in this area. This approach leverages computational models and simulations to elucidate complex biological processes that influence glucose dynamics.

Numerical experimentation involves the creation of detailed mathematical models that replicate the physiological processes occurring in the gastric unit[1], [2]. These models can simulate glucose absorption, metabolism, and regulation under various conditions, providing insights that are not always attainable through traditional experimental methods. For instance, advanced computational techniques can be employed to analyze the impact of different dietary compositions on glucose levels, offering a more thorough understanding of gastric glucose pathways [3], [4].

By conducting simulations that mimic real physiological scenarios, researchers can validate hypotheses and optimize existing models for better accuracy [5]. This method also opens avenues for testing new therapeutic approaches in a controlled, virtual environment before their application in clinical settings. Consequently, numerical experimentation holds great promise for the advancement of personalized medicine, especially in tailoring treatments for individuals with glucose regulation disorders.

This project aims to highlight the significance of numerical experimentation for glucose quantification in the gastric unit. Through comprehensive simulations and analyses, such approaches can contribute significantly to the improvement of diagnostic methodologies and the development of more effective treatment strategies. This report details the progress made in developing a numerical model for quantifying glucose concentration in the gastric unit. The goal is to create a reliable in-silico tool for studying and predicting glucose behavior within the stomach .

Objective:

The primary objective of this report is to analyze the hydrolysis of starch and the subsequent formation of glucose within a gastric unit using MATLAB simulations. This involves a detailed

investigation into the enzymatic breakdown of starch, which is a polysaccharide, into simpler glucose molecules under gastric conditions. The use of MATLAB – a high-level language and interactive environment for numerical computation, visualization, and pr ogramming – enables the modeling and simulation of this biochemical process with high precision and accuracy.

Methodology:

The MATLAB code was developed and deployed to simulate the hydrolysis of starch and the subsequent formation of glucose within a gastric unit, leveraging differential equations to model the kinetics of the biochemical reactions involved. This section details the methodologies adopted in the development and implementation of the simulation model. The core of the simulation involves a system of differential equations that describe the rates of change of starch concentration (Cs) and glucose concentration (Cg) over time (t). These equations incorporat e various physiological and biochemical factors that influence the hydrolysis process within the gastric unit. The model considers the influx and outflux of oligosaccharides and glucose in the gastric unit. The differential equations are implemented in MATLAB using built-in solvers involving a combination of diff and dsolve functions, which are suitable for solving ordinary differential equations (ODEs). The rates, parameters used, and differential equations adopted in the MATLAB simulation are presented be low:

Parameters:

• V (Volume of the gastric unit): 2000 cm^3

• Qing (Glucose influx emptying rate from esophagus into gastric unit): 0 cm^3/min

• Qoutg (Glucose outflux emptying rate into small intestine): 12 cm^3/min

• Qins (Oligosaccharide influx emptying rate from esophagus into gastric unit): 100 cm^3/min

• Qouts (Oligosaccharide outflux emptying rate into small intestine): 22 cm^3/min

• Rh (Rate of hydrolysis in the gastric unit): 0.08 mg/cm^3/min

• K (Kinetic constant): 0.024 min^-1

Equations:

1. The rate of change of starch concentration (Cs) with respect to time is given by:

2. The rate of change of glucose concentration (Cg) with respect to time is given by:

Results and Discussion:

The MATLAB code solves the differential equations and plots the concentrations of starch (Cs) and glucose (Cg) over time (t) within the gastric unit. The resulting plot provides insights into the dynamics of starch hydrolysis and glucose formation. The plotted curves depict the concentrations of starch and glucose with in the gastric unit as they change over time. The hydrolysis of starch results in the formation of glucose, which is evident from the relationship between the concentrations of Cs and Cg while the influx and outflux rates influence the dynamics of starch and glucose concentrations within the gastric unit. The rate of hydrolysis (Rh) and kinetic constant (K) play significant roles in determining the rates of starch hydrolysis and glucose formation. Figure 1 shows the hydrolysis of starch in the gastric unit to form glucose. With an initial starch concentration (Cso) of 1 g/cm³, 40% of the starch is hydrolyzed, yielding a glucose concentration of 0.6 g/cm³ after 8 minutes, at which point the concentra tions of glucose and starch are equal. When the initial star ch concentration is increased to 1.2 g/cm³, the equilibrium concentration, where glucose and starch each reach 0.8 g/cm³, is achieved at 11 minutes. Similarly, in Figure 3, with an initial starch concentration of 1.5 g/cm³, the equilibrium concentration, where both glucose and starch are 1.1 g/cm³, is reached 14 minutes into the reaction. Thus, an increase in the initial starch concentration leads to higher equilibrium concentrations of starch and glucose as well as a longer time required to reach equilibri um.

and glucose formation with initial Cs=1g/cm3

and glucose formation with initial Cs=1.2g/cm3

Figure

Starch hydrolysis

Figure

Starch hydrolysis

Figure 3: Starch hydrolysis and glucose formation with initial Cs=1. 5g/cm3

Significant and Impact:

The findings of this study underscore the critical role of numerical experimentation in enhancing our understanding of glucose quantification within the gastric unit. By employing MATLAB simulations, the research has successfully modeled the hydrolysis of starch and its conversion into glucose, capturing the dynamic interplay of physiological and biochemical factors involved. The results demonstrate that varying initial starch concentrations significantly impact the equilibrium concentrations and the time required to reach these levels. This study not only validates the effectiveness of computational models in accurately simulating complex biological processes but also highlights their potential in refining diagnostic methodologies and advancing personalized treatment strategies for glucose regulation disorders. Moving forward, leveraging such in -silico tools can pave the way for more precise and individualized medical interventions, ultimately contributing to better management of metabolic disorders like dia betes. Recommendations: Explore the effects of different parameter values on the dynamics of starch hydrolysis and glucose formation. Validate the model against experimental data to ensure its accuracy and reliability. Investigate the impact of dietary factors and physiological conditions on carbohydrate digestion within the gastrointestinal tract.

References:

1. S. Singh and R. P. Singh, "Gastric digestion of foods: Mathematical modeling of flow field in a human stomach," in Food Engineering Interfaces, 2011, .

2. P. V. Trusov, N. V. Zaitseva and M. R. Kamaltdinov, "A multiphase flow in the antroduodenal portion of the gastrointestinal tract: a mathematical model," Computational and Mathematical Methods in Medicine, vol. 2016, (1), pp. 5164029, 2016.

3. H. Alkhateeb et al, "Modelling glucose dynamics during moderate exercise in individuals with type 1 diabetes," Plos One, vol. 16, (3), pp. e0248280, 2021.

4. A. Mari et al, "Mathematical modeling for the physiological and clinical investigation of glucose homeostasis and diabetes," Frontiers in Physiology, vol. 11, pp. 575789, 2020.

5. W. Kainz et al, "Advances in computational human phantoms and their applications in biomedical engineering a topical review," IEEE Transactions on Radiation and Plasma Medical Sciences, vol. 3, (1), pp. 1-23, 2018.

JUVENILE JUSTICE

Juvenile Justice

Law Enforcement Readiness and Responses to Recent Ransomware Attacks in the United States

Lauren D.

Ready and Camille Gibson*

Justice Studies, College of Juvenile Justice

Introduction:

There has been a significant increase in cyberattacks, especially ransomware incidents. One study by Motorola Solutions indicated 74 cyberattacks against law enforcement in 2021 alone (Kaine, 2022). In 2020 the average ransom payment was $3 00,000 (Olsen, 2022). In 2021, this increased to $541,010 (Palo Alto Networks, 2022). Law enforcement entities, at all levels, have been victimized by rather bold demands that include threats to leak potentially life -threatening case details and sensitive personnel files. Overall much of the nation’s law enforcement technology is decentralized and outdated. There is also often a shortage of expertise to properly see to agency cybersecurity best practices. Thus many law enforcement agencies are vulnerable targets.

Objectives:

The study aimed to determine:

1. To what extent have law enforcement agencies been the targets of cyberattacks in recent years?

2. How ready have law enforcement agencies been for cyberattacks?

3. How do metropolitan agencies compare to more rural agencies in terms of cyber readiness?

Methods:

The study offered a qualitative content analysis of news stories regarding the vulnerability of law enforcement agencies in the United States to cyberattacks. Using pre -determined criteria, online news sources from newspapers and television news reports were reviewed for the past 11 years (2014-2023) Data were coded, entered into a spreadsheet, and then analyzed qualitatively by noting the details of the news stories and by running basic descriptive statistics to see patterns in the data These cases are not all law enforcement department cyber-victimizations but reflect only those with sufficient media details available per this study’s search criteria.

Results:

From the cases included (N=31) 16% of attacks were DDOS and 84% involved the loss of access to files or stolen data. The interruption included trouble accessing websites, phones, emails, theft of investigative data (video evidence, polygraphs, fingerprints , investigative files), personnel files (background checks), etc. Attackers were willing to negotiate the ransom amount and most frequently wanted payment in bitcoins. Threats included permanent loss of the data or their release on the dark web. At times , the law enforcement attack was a part of a broader city cyberattack. Some metropolitan agencies that were attacked have paid the ransom but in most cases, this fact is either unknown or the victimized agency denied making a payment. Payments ranged from $ 500 to hundreds of thousands of dollars. Most often attacked were metropolitan departments, followed by suburban, then rural departments. Most attacks were in eastern states; but in the west, they were mostly in California cities. Per Motorola Solutions (2022) there have been an average of 17 to 19 attacks per month against public safety agencies [154 in 2019, 126 in 2020, 199 in 2021, 225 in 2022 , and more in 2023]. For the most part, departments seem to have been caught off guard by the attacks. Metropolitan departments are commonly plagued with the effects of old decentralized technological infrastructure, much like rural departments, thus there is no clear indicat ion amongst these media cases that they are more target-hardened against ransomware attacks than more rural agencies. The metropolitan advantage is greater access to persons with cyber expertise and the resources to pay ransoms.

The findings indicate a need for public-private partnerships to develop secure technology systems for law enforcement per the NIST expectations of confidentiality, integrity, and availability of critical infrastructure systems. While progress is being made in opportunities for training to improve the cybersecurity workforce, the dedication of resources to revamp outdated technological infrastructure is going at a much slower pace. These findings suggest an urgent need to promptly address law enforcement technology infrastructure deficits .

Impact/Benefit:

The findings make clear that cyber security expertise is crucial for ongoing best practices utilization against cyberattacks in law enforcement The results have implications for leadership

decision-making toward prioritizing system resilience for a short recovery meantime post- attack. The results were presented via a poster at the Prairie View A&M University Annual Student Research CISR/Symposium during Research Week. Incidents since 2023 are being added to the cases for analyses before submission to a journal for peer review summer 20 24.

References

1. Olsen, R. (2022). Average ransom payment up 71% this year, approaches 1 million. Palo Alto Networks. https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/2022/06/average -ransomware-paymentupdate/

2. Motorola Solutions (2023). 2022 Cyber threats to public safety. https://www.motorolasolutions.com/content/dam/msi/docs/dt/services/cybersecurity/cyberthreats-to-public-safety-report.pdf.

3. Palo Alto Networks (2022). Ransomware payments hits new records in 2021 as Dark Web leaks climbed. https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/company/press/2022/ransomwarepayments-hit-new-records-in-2021-as-dark-web- leaks-climbed according- to-new-reportfrom-palo-alto-networks-unit-42

MEDICAL ACADEMY

Medical Academy

Biocompatible Scaffolds for Tissue Engineering: Materials, Fabrication Techniques, and Future

Directions

Anisa Cole and Naznin Sultana, PhD*

Undergraduate

Medical Academy

Introduction:

The development of biocompatible scaffolds is of great importance in tissue engineering. This review explores the materials, fabrication techniques, and future directions of biocompatible scaffolds. Key findings highlight the significance of scaffold prope rties such as porosity, mechanical strength, degradation rate, and bioactivity in promoting effective tissue regeneration. The review underscores the importance of innovative scaffold development in advancing regenerative medicine, addressing critical challenges in tissue engineering, and meeting the growing demand for biocompatible tissues and organs.

Regenerative medicine is an interdisciplinary field that applies principles from the life sciences and engineering to promote regeneration or restoration of injured tissues and organs. Using regenerative medicine, tissues and organs that have been damaged through aging, trauma, or disease can be healed or even replaced. (Mao & Mooney, 2015). Central to regenerative medicine is tissue engineering. Tissue engineering is a field where both biological and engineering principles are employed in the creation of n ew tissues and organs (Dzobo et al., 2018). Tissue engineering is important because it allows for an alternative source of biocompatible tissues and organs. This addresses the crucial gap where there is a high demand for tissues and organs but a limited supply.

For tissue engineering to be useful, a strategy of regenerating tissues and organs, a triad of cells, scaffolds, and growth factors are usually employed. The goal is to either stimulate the original tissue to regenerate or to replace the original tissue. A scaffold is used to not only provide the similar structure to that provided by an extracellular matrix, but also to provide a framework where biological cues can be used added or infused to promote regeneration and mimic an environment found naturally in healthy tissues and organs (Dzobo, et al., 2018).

Objectives:

The primary objective of this review is to provide a comprehensive analysis of biocompatible scaffolds used in tissue engineering, focusing on their materials, fabrication techniques, and future directions. This review aims to synthesize current knowledge on scaffold properties and their impact on tissue regeneration. By examining various materials and methods, the review seeks to identify the strengths and limitations of each approach, offering insights into potential advancements in scaffold technology. The scope of the literature reviewed spans from foundational principles to the latest innovations to ensure a thorough understanding of the field's current state and future possibilities.

Materials Used in Scaffolds:

• Natural Polymers

Surav et al. (2024) discussed the use of natural polymers in scaffolds for applications in bone tissue engineering. According to Hasnain et al. (2019), biodegradable polymer matrix nanocomposites are highly effective for bone tissue engineering (Surav et al., 2 024). These materials have regenerative capabilities as they were shown to stimulate regeneration of bones and tissues. Furthermore, Surav et al. Emphasize natural biopolymers because they are cost effective, have high availability, cause low immune respon se, have negligible toxicity, and are biocompatible. Natural biopolymers such as Hyaluronic acid, elastin, alginate, collagen, gelatin, chitosan, and GAGs (glycosaminoglycans), are some of the natural polymers used in scaffolds for bone tissue engineering and they are also the most researched (Surav et al., 2024).

1: SEM micrograph of natural Gelatin scaffold.

• Synthetic polymers

Scaffolds can also be derived from synthetic origins. Synthetic scaffolds lack the inconsistency found in natural scaffolds that tend to differ batch to batch. Furthermore, the same ethical concerns that arise about the use of animal-derived scaffolds do not apply to synthetic ones. With synthetic scaffolds, there is room for modification, higher availability, and low costs. In bone tissue engineering, both polyglycolic acid (PGA) and polylactic acid (PLA) have been investigated extensively (Wong, Yee, Chin, & Ima-Nirwana, 2023). PGA scaffolds, made from a material with high crystallinity, also demonstrated controlled degradation - with a decrease in mechanical strength- after implantation. Osteoblasts have been shown to proliferate and calcify on PGA scaffolds. PLA scaffolds are known for their mechanical and thermal properties. In addition to being biocompatible, pure PGA scaffolds also allow for expression of osteogenic bone markers and formation of calcium nodules (Wong, Yee, Chin, & Ima-Nirwana, 2023).

Fig.

• Composites

Composite scaffolds contain a combination of materials. When creating scaffolds for a tissue that is naturally a composite material, such as bone, it is logical to utilize a composite scaffold for increased biomimicry and bioactivity (Turnbull et al., 2018). There are a plethora of materials used in these composite scaffolds, Turbull et al. outline polymers, hydrogels, metals, ceramics, and bio-glasses as a few. These composite scaffolds demonstrate desirable mechanical properties and cell interactions. Furthermore, it has been concluded that ceramic and polymer composite scaffolds have the most success (Turnbull et al., 2018).

Methods of Scaffold Fabrication:

In addition to the material used in the scaffold, the method of scaffold fabrication is also fundamental in tissue engineering (Kaviani & Geramizadeh, 2023). Sachlos and Czernuszka (2003) defined scaffold fabrication as the process 'by which scaffolds with a continuous, uninterrupted pore structure can be made' (Kundu et al., 2014).

• Traditional methods

A traditional method of scaffold fabrication is solvent casting, a technique where a polymer solution is poured into a mold and the solvent is evaporated to form a scaffold. This method allows for the creation of the desired architecture. (Joseph et al., 2023) Another traditional method is gas foaming, a method of fabrication of synthetic scaffolds that avoids solvents. In this method, a polymer is compressed under high temperatures and molded into a solid disc. This disc will then be placed in a carbon dioxide chamber for several days. This process, described by Mooney et al., 1996 allows gas to infiltrate the polymer disc and create a porous structure ( Gorth & Webster, 2011).

• Advanced methods

3D printing and electrospinning are advanced methods of tissue scaffold fabrication. These techniques are believed to craft scaffolds that are intricate with enhanced characteristics compared to traditional methods (Ejiohuo, 2023). As described by Ngo et a l., (2018), 3D printing is “an additive manufacturing (AM) technique for fabricating a wide range of structures and complex geometries from three-dimensional (3D) model data. The process consists of printing successive layers of materials that are formed o n top of each other.” Despite allowing for a broader range of geometries to be fabricated, 3D printed polymer scaffolds tend to have inferior

mechanical properties compared to scaffolds fabricated through other methods. Electrospinning is a fabrication technique that uses an electric field to propel and spin a polymer solution into nanofibers on a substrate (Ejiohuo, 2023). Electrospinning is valued as it creates structures with higher surface area to volume ratios, which is useful in tissue engineering (Xue et al., 2019).

Ejiohuo (2023), goes on to explain that combining 3D printing and electrospinning when creating a scaffold, can structures superior to those when the methods are used alone.

• Nanotechnology in scaffold fabrication

Revisiting the function of the scaffold, to direct cellular behaviors such as proliferation, migration, and differentiation, there are a few requirments of the scaffold that must be met. These requirements discussed earlier such as a porous structure, larg e pore sizes, and a uniform interconnectedness of the pores can be met using nanotechnology. Nanotechnology can manipulate a scaffold at the atomic, molecular, and macromolecular levels (Wen et al., 2005). In addition the scaffold can be constructed into the specific geometrical and topological structures found in natural tissue. The use of nanotechnology in scaffolds has been connected to higher mechanical strength, porosity and enhanced biocompatibility (Wen et al., 2005).

Conclusions and Future Direction:

This review has highlighted the critical role of biocomposite scaffolds in tissue engineering, focusing on the materials, fabrication techniques, and future directions. Key findings emphasize the importance of scaffold properties such as porosity, mechanic al strength, degradation rate, and bioactivity in promoting effective tissue regeneration. Innovations in scaffold materials, including natural, synthetic, and composite options, each offer distinct advantages and challenges. The choice of fabrication tech niques, from traditional methods like solvent casting and gas foaming to advanced techniques such as 3D printing and electrospinning, significantly impacts the efficiency, cost, and suitability of scaffolds for various tissues.

References:

1. Al-Abduljabbar, A., & Farooq, I. (2022). Electrospun polymer nanofibers: Processing, properties, and applications. Polymers, 15(1), 65. https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15010065

2. Amza, C. G., Zapciu, A., Constantin, G., Baciu, F., & Vasile, M. I. (2021). Enhancing mechanical properties of polymer 3D printed parts. Polymers, 13(4), 562.

3. Dzobo, K., Thomford, N. E., Senthebane, D. A., Shipanga, H., Rowe, A., Dandara, C., & Motaung, K. S. C. M. (2018). Advances in regenerative medicine and tissue engineering: innovation and transformation of medicine. Stem cells international, 2018.

4. Ejiohuo, O. (2023). A Perspective on the Synergistic Use of 3D Printing and Electrospinning to Improve Nanomaterials for Biomedical Applications. Nano Trends, 100025.

5. Gang, F., Ye, W., Ma, C., Wang, W., Xiao, Y., Liu, C., & Sun, X. (2022). 3D printing of PLLA/biomineral composite bone tissue engineering scaffolds. Materials, 15(12), 4280. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15124280

6. Joseph, B., Jose, C., Kavil, S. V., Kalarikkal, N., & Thomas, S. (2023). Solvent‐Casting Approach for Design of Polymer Scaffolds and Their Multifunctional Applications.

Functional Biomaterials: Design and Development for Biotechnology, Pharmacology, and Biomedicine, 2, 371-394.

7. Kaul, H., & Ventikos, Y. (2015). On the genealogy of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. Tissue Engineering Part B: Reviews, 21(2), 203 -217.

8. Kaviani, M., & Geramizadeh, B. (2023). Basic aspects of skin tissue engineering: Cells, biomaterials, scaffold fabrication techniques, and signaling factors. Journal Name. Taiwanese Society of Biomedical Engineering.

9. Krishani, M., Shin, W. Y., Suhaimi, H., & Sambudi, N. S. (2023). Development of scaffolds from bio-based natural materials for tissue regeneration applications: A review. Gels, 9(2), 100.

10. Kundu, J., Pati, F., Shim, J. H., & Cho, D. W. (2014). Rapid prototyping technology for bone regeneration. Rapid prototyping of biomaterials, 289 -314.

11. Mao, A. S., & Mooney, D. J. (2015). Regenerative medicine: Current therapies and future directions. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 112(47), 14452 -14459.

12. Surav, S., Sharma, P., Kumar, A., Tabassum, Z., Girdhar, M., Mamidi, N., & Mohan, A. (2024). Harnessing natural polymers for nano -scaffolds in bone tissue engineering: A comprehensive overview of bone disease treatment. Current Issues in Molecular Biology, 46(1), 585-611. https://doi.org/10.3390/cimb46010038

13. Turnbull, G., Clarke, J., Picard, F., Riches, P., Jia, L., Han, F., Li, B., & Shu, W. (2018). 3D bioactive composite scaffolds for bone tissue engineering. Bioactive Materials, 3(3), 278314. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bioactmat.2017.10.001

14. Wen, X., Shi, D., & Zhang, N. (2005). Applications of nanotechnology in tissue engineering. In Handbook of nanostructured biomaterials and their applications in nanobiotechnology (Vol. 1, pp. 1-23).

15. Wong, S. K., Yee, M. M. F., Chin, K.-Y., & Ima-Nirwana, S. (2023). A review of the application of natural and synthetic scaffolds in bone regeneration. Journal of Functional Biomaterials, 14(5), 286. https://doi.org/10.3390/jfb14050286Xue, J., Wu, T., Dai, Y., & Xia, Y. (2019). Electrospinning and electrospun nanofibers: Methods, materials, and applications. Chemical Reviews, 119(8), 5298-5415. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.chemrev.8b00593

- Dr. Naznin Sultana is a Clinical Associate Professor with research interests in tissue engineering and bionanomaterials.

- Anisa Cole is a rising Junior, majoring in biology with a minor in chemistr y

Investigation of Biopolymers-based Scaffolds for Tissue Regeneration

Katie Johnson and Naznin Sultana, PhD *

Undergraduate Medical Academy

Introduction:

In order for skin healing there is a need to be an interaction between the extracellular matrix, cells, growth factors, cytokines and chemokines. (Pereira et al., 2018). Tissue engineering, or regeneration, is the method that is used to develop artificial human tissue to provide a more efficient way for the cellular components to interact to allow for skin to heal. For this to happen, scaffolds have been created to act as a template for the skin to regrow properly. Scaffolds are porous structures that must have characteristics like high water uptake, have an ability to retain water, and be biodegradable which allows human tissue and cellular components to thrive in and around. (Agarwal et al., 2018). When preparing scaffolds, there are several biopolymers th at are necessary for the scaffold to be viable such as pectin and chitosan. Pectin and chitosan are favorable to use in scaffold preparation because of their biodegradability, water solubility, and biocompatibility. In addition, with their antibacterial an d anti- inflammatory properties, pectin and chitosan are often used in the development of hydrogels, which are a kind of scaffold, are used in the research of tissue engineering. There are many benefits in using hydrogels because they are very similar to the composition of the extracellular matrix, they are elastic, provide a stable environment for tissue to regenerate, and are very favorable because of their ability of spatiotemporal control of the gel formation. However, with pectin and chitosan not being the most favorable for cartilage repair, it has been shown that the addition of cellulose nanocrystal improves the overall function of pectin and chitosan hydrogels from increasing the compact nature of the network structure to lowering the equilibrium swe lling ratios. (Ghorbani et al., 2018). One very important technique used in engineering a scaffold is freeze drying. Freeze drying is a process used in research that removes excess fluid from a sample, turning it into a solid compound making it easier to test with cell function. In tissue engineering, freeze drying allows for the scaffold to be held together when placed in water, increasing its strength as its compatibility with cell growth is studied. The objective of this study was to generate scaffolds using biopolymers to improve the interactions between the artificial human tissue and the preexisting cellular components.

Materials and Methods:

Scaffold Preparation: 0.1g of pectin and 0.5g of chitosan were placed into a small beaker after weighing. 1 ml of acetic acid and 99 ml of deionized water were mixed to prepare a 1% acetic acid solution which was placed in the beaker of polymers. For 5 minutes, the beaker was then placed on a magnetic stirrer to dissolve the polymers. The solution was placed into two vials then placed into a freezer at a temperature of -18 degrees celsius to undergo the process of freeze drying. Figure 1.

Figure 1: Schematic Diagram of Scaffold Fabrication Technique

Physical Characterization : Following the primary and secondary drying steps of lyophilization in the vaccum apparatus, the prepared scaffolds were then measured for diameter, height, volume, water uptake, and porosity. Taking these measurements, specficially water uptake and porosity ensures that the human skin fibroblast cells are able to attach to the scaffold in order to have sufficent cell-scaffold interaction for the desired cell growth. Found in table 1, the water uptake of the samples, 2,741% and 2,312%, were calculated usin g the formula: (Ww-Wd)/Wd X 100. The porosity of the scaffolds were calculated to be 71% and 80% using the formula: (V1V3)/(V2-V3).

Cell Culture: Using DMEM, or Dulbecco’s Modified Eagle’s Medium composed of 10% fetal bovine serum, human skin fibroblast cells were cultured in a CO2 incubator at 37 degrees celcius with 5% CO2. Every three days, the DMEM was changed until the fibroblast cells achiev ed 8090% confluence. After the percentage of confluence was reached, the human cells were placed in trypsin, neutralized, and observed using an inverted mircoscope. Following the observation, the cells that were placed in a T-flask were placed in a 24-well plated using mediums. Lastly, the cells were observed under a microscope once again.

Results and Discussion:

With the 0.1g of pectin and 0.5g of chitosan mixed with the 1% acetic acid solution in the two vials, the freeze-drying technique proceeded in the 4 steps of pretreatment, freezing, primary drying, and secondary drying. The pretreatment occurs by decreasin g a high vapor pressure solvent and increasing product surface area. Freezing the sample below its triple point allows for the maintenance of the product stability and increasing the speed of reconstitution. The third step of primary drying consists of placing the vials in a vacuum chamber to increase the rate of sublimation at low pressure and minimal heat to maintain product structure. By increasing temperature up to or above 0 degrees Celsius, secondary drying removes the water molecules from the product resulting in a 1%-4% range of residual water. With this process, porous 3D scaffolds were successfully cultivated as shown in Figure 2. Table 1 shows the properties of the scaffolds which are crucial for the growth of HSF cells on to the scaffolds.

Physical

appearance (A) and Scaffolds microstructure (B)

Table 1. Physical and chemical properties of the scaffolds

Conclusion:

The results of the properties of the fabricated scaffolds, such as the water uptake, pore sizes, porosity and in vitro cell/ scaffold interactions, it can be concluded that the scaffolds are promising for further research in tissue engineering.

Figure

2::

(A)

(B)

References:

Markov, P. A., Krachkovsky, N. S., Durnev, E. A., Martinson, E. A., Litvinets, S. G., & Popov, S. V. (2017). Mechanical properties, structure, bioadhesion, and biocompatibility of pectin hydrogels. Journal of biomedical materials research. Part A, 105(9), 2572–2581.

https://doi.org/10.1002/jbm.a.36116

Marjan Ghorbani, Leila Roshangar, Jafar Soleimani Rad, Development of reinforced chitosan/pectin scaffold by using the cellulose nanocrystals as nanofillers: An injectable hydrogel for tissue engineering, European Polymer Journal, Volume 130, 2020, 109697

Rúben F. Pereira, Cristina C. Barrias, Paulo J. Bártolo, Pedro L. Granja, Cell -instructive pectin hydrogels crosslinked via thiol-norbornene photo-click chemistry for skin tissue engineering, Acta Biomaterialia, Volume 66, 2018, Pages 282-293

Sarada Prasanna Mallick, Bhisham Narayan Singh, Amit Rastogi, Pradeep Srivastava, Design and evaluation of chitosan/poly(l-lactide)/pectin based composite scaffolds for cartilage tissue regeneration, International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, Volu me 112, 2018, Pages 909920

Tarun Agarwal, Rajan Narayan, Somnath Maji, Shubhanath Behera, Senthilguru Kulanthaivel, Tapas Kumar Maiti, Indranil Banerjee, Kunal Pal, Supratim Giri, Gelatin/Carboxymethyl chitosan based scaffolds for dermal tissue engineering applications, Internationa l Journal of Biological Macromolecules,Volume 93, Part B, 2016, Pages 1499 -1506,

- Dr. Naznin Sultana is a Clinical Associate Professor with research interests in tissue engineering and bionanomaterials

- Katie Johnson is a senior, majoring in biology with a minor in chemistry

NURSING

Nursing

Adapting to Change: How Nursing Students Navigate Post COVID -19 Realities?

Bayleigh

Sanders and Mona Hassan PhD, RN * College of Nursing

Introduction:

College students experience significant changes in their academic settings, particularly in schedules and courses. The COVID -19 pandemic brought unprecedented challenges, affecting students' emotional, motivational, and cognitive states during the shift to face- to-face learning. These disruptions have negative impacts on students' intelligence, emotional resilience, mental flexibility, and self-efficacy, influencing their academic performance. A solid academic base and relevant skills are vital for students ' success, alongside personal attributes and institutional environment which affect satisfaction and enrollment rates (Awad & El -Adham, 2019). Therefore, continual monitoring and improvement of teaching quality are crucial for creating enriching educational environments.

Methods:

• The Aim of the study was to evaluate the academic experiences of undergraduate students before the onset of the COVID -19 Pandemic, to assess the academic experiences of undergraduate students during the course of the COVID -19 Pandemic. and to gauge the academic experiences of undergraduate students subsequent to the conclusion of the COVID19 Pandemic.

• A qualitative approach was employed, involving a survey of 36 students aged 19 -23 who are currently enrolled in the College of Nursing in Houston. Convenience sampling was used to gather insights into their academic experiences. The survey took approximate ly 10 minutes to complete and was conducted anonymously. Thematic analysis was employed to explore the academic experiences of undergraduate students across three distinct phases: before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, during the pandemic, and after its conclusion.

Results:

Two main themes were imaged Engagement and Empowering Academic Success .

academic experiences of undergraduate students across three distinct phases: before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, during the pandemic, and after its conclusion.

Results:

Two main themes were imaged Engagement and Empowering Academic Success

1. Engagement: Many students have reported experiencing various benefits from in -person learning. They have noticed significant improvements in their socialization skills and ability to foster relationships. They have also enjoyed more meaningful interactions with professors and peers, formed new friendships, gained valuable insights from their peers, and established a strong rapport with professors.

2. Theme Two: Empowering Academic Success: Several students highlighted the need for additional financial support to attain their academic objectives. One student mentioned the necessity of skipping meals to cover expenses, while another explained that they had to sacrifice study time to work and m eet their needs. They expressed frustration at professors urging them to be full-time students without considering the financial pressures they face to afford essentials.

Discussion:

The COVID-19 pandemic has presented unique challenges to various sectors, particularly education. The disruption caused by the pandemic has uniquely and significantly impacted the education and training of nursing students. Environmental changes, altered s chedules, and the loss of traditional routines have uniquely challenged students' emotional resilience, mental flexibility, and self-efficacy. These unique factors have directly and significantly impacted their academic performance.

Limitations:

• The survey did not include extensive data on the student’s experience; hence, there is little mention about details of the challenges in this study.

• All of the students were those from one College of Nursing, which limited methodological data variability. Only one time short survey may not have accurately captured all of the experience that the student can report about. Furthermore, transferability is another important concern. Most of the students were females, which may limit the transferability of the results across genders

Recommendations:

• Further qualitative research is needed that addresses whether similar themes emerge using an individual interview methodology rather than a survey analysis.

• In-depth interviews may provide a clearer understanding of the phenomenon

References:

1. Antoniadou, M., Mangoulia, P., & Myrianthefs, P. (2023). Quality of Life and Wellbeing

2. Parameters of Academic Dental and Nursing Personnel vs. Quality of Services. Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland), 11(20), 2792. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare11202792

3. Barr, T. L., Malloch, K., Ackerman, M. H., Raderstorf, T., & Melnyk, B. M. (2021). A blueprint for nursing innovation centers. Nursing outlook, 69(6), 969–981. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.outlook.2021.05.006 (8)

4. Bittar, N., Cohee, A., Bhamidipalli, S. S., Savoy, A., & Ismail, H. M. (2022). Emotional distress, stress, anxiety, and the impact of the COVID -19 pandemic on early- to mid-career women in healthcare sciences research. Journal of clinical and translational science, 6(1), e93. https://doi.org/10.1017/cts.2022.417 (10)

5. Bolt, S. R., van der Steen, J. T., Mujezinović, I., Janssen, D. J. A., Schols, J. M. G. A., Zwakhalen, S. M. G., Khemai, C., Knapen, E. P. A. G. M., Dijkstra, L., & Meijers, J. M. M. (2021). Practical nursing recommendations for palliative care for people with dementia living in long-term care facilities during the COVID -19 pandemic: A rapid scoping review. International journal of nursing studies , 113, 103781. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2020.103781 (9)

6. Cai, P., Shi, Y., Cui, J., Wang, J., Ren, J., Hambly, B. D., Bao, S., & Xu, Z. (2023). The impact of COVID-19 lockdown on nursing higher education at Chengdu University. PloS one, 18(6), e0286290. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0286290 (6)

7. Donelle, L., Hall, J., Hiebert, B., Shelley, J. J., Smith, M. J., Gilliland, J., Stranges, S., Kothari,

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10. Adebayo, O. M., Adekanmbi, V., Adeyinka, D. A., Afzal, S., Ahinkorah, B. O., Ahmadi, K., Ahmed, M. B., Akalu, Y., Akinyemi, R. O., Akunna, C. J., Alahdab, F., Alanezi, F. M., Alanzi, T. M., … Local Burden of Disease sub-Saharan Africa HIV Prevalence Collab orators (2022). Mapping age- and sex-specific HIV prevalence in adults in sub -Saharan Africa, 2000-2018. BMC medicine, 20(1), 488. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12916-022-02639-z (4)

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13. Munn, A. C., George, T. P., Phillips, T. A., Kershner, S. H., & Hucks, J. M. (2022). Resilience and GRIT among undergraduate nursing students during the COVID 19 pandemic. International journal of nursing education scholarship , 19(1), 10.1515/ijnes2022-0012. https://doi.org/10.1515/ijnes-2022-0012 (1)

14. Rosa, W. E., Downing, J., Ferrell, B. R., Grant, L., Matula, S. T., Pandey, S., Sey -Sawo,

15. J., Sowe, M., & Upvall, M. (2021). Global palliative nursing partnerships in the face of COVID-19. International journal of palliative nursing, 27(8), 410–416. https://doi.org/10.12968/ijpn.2021.27.8.410 (3)

16. Xu, T., Zhu, P., Ji, Q., Wang, W., Qian, M., & Shi, G. (2023). Psychological distress and academic self-efficacy of nursing undergraduates under the normalization of COVID -19: multiple mediating roles of social support and mindfulness. BMC medical education, 23(1), 348. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-023-04288-z (2)