Annual Student Research Poster Session

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  Targeting The OPN-CD44 Axis as a Therapeutic Strategy to Chemo-sensitize Ovarian Tumors

  Fikayo Odusanya, Sam Forouzan, Kouta Niizuma, and Cristabelle De Souza

  Epithelial ovarian cancer is one of the most aggressive gynecological cancers with a 49% 5-year survival rate due to its late diagnosis and its development of resistance to standard chemotherapy such as platinum based drugs. By chemosensitizing the ovarian cancer cells, existing therapies would be more effective in treating the disease and potentially reduce the recurrence risk. Our goal was to investigate the role of OPN in driving chemoresistance in ovarian cancer patients and to create recycling therapeutic antibodies to block the interaction between OPN and the CD44 integrin on the ovarian cancer cells. By blocking the interaction, we aim to reduce and eliminate the chemoresistance of the cells to chemotherapy.

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  Entrepreneurship over the Business Cycle

  Ryan Rudderham and Miyu Aoki

  During economic recessions, individuals face a challenging decision: whether to seek traditional employment or start their own business. While recessions are a poor time for entrepreneurship due to reduced consumer spending and business productivity, these periods also feature high unemployment, which makes finding wage work difficult. This project developed a theoretical framework to study entrepreneurship over the business cycle by introducing labor market frictions, creating a tractable yet realistic structure for occupational choice. Traditional macroeconomic models struggle to capture entrepreneurial decision-making across business cycles. As such, this project looked at labor market frictions in building a theoretical framework. Over the summer, we conducted a comprehensive literature review, constructed the model using scholastic processes, and programmed simulations and visualizations using Current Population Survey microdata in Julia.

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  Creating Environmental Curriculum through The Castle

  Sydney Scarbrough and Harry Brown

  My presentation focuses on the education of environmental sciences within the public school classroom. Partnering with The Castle I created Earth Day curriculum to educate middle school students on the environmental topics of Earth Day, carbon footprints, contact tracing, and recycling. I designed innovative activities allowing for a wide variety of engagement and exploration.

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  Therapeutic Silencing of Integrin α11 Attenuates Myofibroblast Activation in Vocal Fold Fibrosis

  Linh P. Schiffer, Ryan M. Friedman, Yashna Gupta, and Riccardo Gottardi

  Vocal fold scarring (VFS), a fibrotic condition of the lamina propria, commonly results from prolonged intubation or laryngeal trauma and leads to impaired vocal function and often irreversible dysphonia. Following injury, fibroblasts are activated by proinflammatory cytokines—particularly transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGFβ1)—which induces their differentiation into contractile, ECM-producing myofibroblasts. A key marker of this activation is alpha-smooth muscle actin (αSMA). Among the drivers of this fibrotic response is integrin α11β1, a collagen-binding transmembrane protein encoded by the ITGA11 gene. ITGA11 has been implicated in multiple fibrotic diseases due to its role in enhancing TGFβ1 signaling and promoting myofibroblast activation. To investigate the contribution of ITGA11 to VFS, we performed siRNA-mediated knockdown of ITGA11. We hypothesized that silencing ITGA11 would attenuate myofibroblast activation and reduce fibrotic remodeling in the vocal folds. Our findings support a potential therapeutic role for ITGA11 targeting in the treatment of vocal fold scarring.

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  Underrecognized Classics in Philosophy: Expanding the DePauw Philosophy Curriculum

  Ian Smith, Jeremy Anderson, Rich Cameron, Erik Wielenberg, and Jen Everett

  The Philosophy Department spent the summer developing a reading list for a future Phil. 200 course that would focus on classics not currently represented in the curriculum. One way we framed our goal was through the question, “what works should students have read by the time they reach their 300 and 400 level philosophy courses?” To this end, a work’s potential to broaden the scope of how I—as a current undergraduate philosophy major—understand my discipline, provided the department with an evaluative perspective to complement that of the faculty.

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  K847A Mutation and Anionic Lipid-Presence Modify Opa1 Enzyme Kinetics and Function

  J. Rafael Tolentino, Kate Walsh, and Andrew D. Kehr

  Opa1 is a dynamin superfamily protein that is responsible for the fusion of the mitochondrial membrane. However, nobody knows the specific chemical mechanisms of how it interacts with lipids. Our research focuses on investigating how Opa1 interacts with lipids. In other words, we want to figure out which amino acids are crucial for Opa1's ability to bind with lipids. In hopes of understanding how Opa1 mutations affect neurodegenerative diseases, such as dominant optic atrophy.

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  CUMath: A Benchmark and Evaluation Framework for LLMs on Mathematical Reasoning in Undergraduate Computational Math

  Quyen Tran and Sutthirut Charoenphon

  Large Language Models (LLMs) perform well on popular math benchmarks but still struggle with fundamental undergraduate tasks such as basic integrals. This suggests a diagnostic gap: existing datasets are either trivial, synthetic, or overly advanced, limiting their usefulness for exposing reasoning failures. To address this, we introduce CUMath, a benchmark of 2,100 real problems from undergraduate courses in Calculus, Linear Algebra, Differential Equations, and related fields. Each problem includes step-by-step solutions, enabling evaluation of both final answers and intermediate reasoning. Moreover, current evaluations treat accuracy and reasoning separately, overlooking their joint role in problem-solving. To address this, we propose a multi-layered evaluation framework that combines automatic metrics with an LLM-as-a-grader pipeline, integrating symbolic encoding and external verification. Using this setup, we evaluate 15 LLMs across various prompting strategies. Our results show that even advanced models often misuse symbolic methods and rely on shortcuts, leading to polished but flawed solutions. Our findings reveal the ongoing issue of inconsistent reasoning, highlighting the need for improved benchmarks, evaluation frameworks, and the development of models with enhanced consistency and reasoning capabilities. The code and data will be available upon publication.

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  Light Stress and Leaf Characteristics in Prairie Fleabane in a Limestone Quarry

  Guoqing Evelyn Tuohy

  DePauw’s nature park was an active limestone quarry for 60 years and has been going through primary succession since 1977. This harsh and disturbed environment can make it difficult for plants to survive. In this study, I aimed to investigate the Erigeron strigosus (Prairie Fleabane), a native plant commonly found in open, disturbed areas. I wanted to examine how the amount of light affected leaf traits in Erigeron strigosus because I had observed and hypothesized that in sunny areas, the leaf orientation changed, and the size of the leaves was smaller, and in shady areas, the leaves would be in a neutral position, and the leaf size was larger. To conduct this experiment, I measured leaf size, photosynthetically active radiation, leaf angle, and stomatal density of 40 plants in full sun and 40 plants in partial shade in 16 different locations. While some results were not statistically significant, I did find a significant pattern in height and number of flowerheads, where sunny plants were shorter, but had more flowerheads than partially shaded plants. I also found that the leaf orientation and stem phototropism did change between the two light environments. This has led me to question whether leaf movement and orientation are indicators of stress or if they actually have a positive impact on plants that are in full sun and are an adaptation that increases the plant’s fitness. Answering these questions would be the next step if I were to continue my research, and also provide insights into how this plant survives in the harsh quarry environment.

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  Creating Blender Animations to Help Students Visualize Organic Chemistry Concepts

  Vasilina Vikareva and Jeffrey Hansen

  Many students struggle with organic chemistry because they find it difficult to visualize molecular structures and interactions in three dimensions. Concepts like bond rotation for conformational isomers and intermolecular forces require strong spatial imagination, which traditional 2D drawings fail to develop effectively. This spatial visualization deficit contributes significantly to high failure rates and student anxiety in organic chemistry courses, creating a substantial barrier to success in STEM fields. This project aims to solve this problem by creating animations that demonstrate complex chemical concepts in clear, visual ways that enhance student comprehension and retention. The research methodology involves developing a comprehensive library of educational videos using industry-standard software, including ChemDoodle 2D, ChemDoodle 3D for molecular structure creation and Blender for creating advanced animations which are later rendered and edited to final versions of educational materials. These videos will help students gain a deeper understanding of organic chemistry through visualization.

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  Visualizations and Interactive Resources for Organic Chemistry Education

  Anh Vu and Jeffrey Hansen

  Organic chemistry education presents significant learning challenges due to its heavy reliance on spatial reasoning, abstract molecular representations, and complex spectral data interpretation. To address these difficulties, this project involved the development of interactive digital tools designed to improve conceptual understanding and student engagement. We optimized and developed a game-based learning application for isomer identification and an interactive web-based tool for spectroscopy practice. These resources provide active, hands-on learning experiences that help demystify complex topics. The tools demonstrate the potential of digital interventions to make organic chemistry more accessible and approachable for learners.

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  Glutamine Metabolism Regulates CD4+ T Cell Inflammation in Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease

  Ethan S.O. Williams Fonner and et al.

  Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is becoming increasingly prevalent worldwide. Yet, the knowledge of disease mechanisms and available therapies are highly limited. To better understand the disease and provide potential treatments, our lab utilized various mice and in vitro models in order to determine the effects of Glutamine (Gln) metabolism and its Gls1-mediated metabolic pathway on CD4+ T cell inflammatory functions. Combined, our findings and prior work in the lab demonstrate the crucial role of Gls1-mediated glutaminolysis in limiting hepatocellular damage and hepatic CD4+ T cell inflammatory capacity in MASLD, and provide novel insights for potential predictive, preventive, and therapeutic avenues.

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  Birth Outcomes in the Hispanic Population in the United States: Trends, Variation, and Determinants (2011–2021)

  Yanchao Yang, Thinh Nguyen, and Sota Fuji

  Infants born to mothers who self-identify as Hispanic account for a substantial and growing share of births in the United States, yet limited research has examined disparities in birth outcomes across Hispanic origin subgroups. This study aims to document trends and identify important factors associated with Cesarean section (C-section), low birthweight, and prematurity within the Hispanic population. We use data from the National Vital Statistics System (2011–2021), covering nearly all U.S. births. We compare outcomes across Hispanic, non-Hispanic White, and non-Hispanic Black mothers and further disaggregate by Hispanic origin (Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, Central/South American, and Other/Unknown). We use logistic regression and classification tree models to assess associations between maternal, infant, and clinical factors and birth outcomes. We find that Hispanic mothers have birth outcomes similar to non-Hispanic Whites and better than non-Hispanic Blacks. However, prematurity rates among Hispanics have slightly increased over time. Mexican mothers exhibit the most favorable outcomes, while Cuban mothers show higher rates of C-section, and Puerto Rican mothers show higher rates of low birthweight and prematurity. Logistic regression results highlight multiple births, breech presentation, and hypertensive conditions as important factors associated with adverse birth outcomes. Our biomedical approach emphasizes physiological and clinical risk factors such as multiple births, breech presentation, hypertensive conditions, and obesity. In parallel, our biosocial analysis incorporates demographic, socioeconomic, and behavioral variables to contextualize how social determinants interact with biology to influence outcomes. Complementing these findings, our classification tree analysis identifies inadequate gestational weight gain (less than 15 pounds) as a prominent risk factor for both low birthweight and prematurity. Additionally, obesity emerges as a significant factor linked to an increased likelihood of C-section. While birth outcomes among Hispanic mothers are generally favorable, subgroup differences and emerging disparities highlight the need for disaggregated research and culturally tailored public health interventions.

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  Zermelo's Theorem: How To Reach A Standard of Perfect Play in Chess

  Elisha Amadasu '26

  Zermelo’s theorem establishes that in any two player zero-sum game with perfect information (without the element of chance), either one side can force a win regardless of how the other side plays, or both sides can force a draw (if allowed in the rules). This theorem encouraged me to see how I could better my chess to see if I could exploit the existence of this perfect standard. I considered how chess engines play, as they are currently the strongest at playing chess. I understood that they often look 60-70 moves deep from the opening stage of the game, which leads to the endgame. I decided to mimic this method by finding a statistical correlation between opening moves and the type of endgames that may occur from them.

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  Comparison of two disaccharides and their saccharide components in AOT reverse micelles: Impacts of D-trehalose and D-sucrose

  Delaney Collier '25, Bridget L. Gourley, and Nancy E. Levinger

  Reverse micelles, featuring an AOT surfactant with a polar head group and nonpolar tail, encapsulate a polar phase at the nanoscale. With water as the polar phase, the nanoconfined water pool interactions and water-interface interactions mimic biological nanoconfinement. Thus, we investigated the impact of osmolytes on AOT reverse micelles to explore the role they play in biological systems. We investigated two disaccharides, D-trehalose and D-sucrose, and their monosaccharide components, glucose+glucose and glucose+fructose. We chose these molecules for their biological significance and to allow us to investigate whether subtle structural changes in the osmolyte impacts the intermolecular interactions in confinement as strongly as is found with monosaccharides (Halliday). In determining the size of reverse micelles, Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) indicates saccharide-containing reverse micelles are smaller than reverse micelles with the same volume of water. Additionally, DLS shows there is no difference in reverse micelle size between D-trehalose and sucrose or their saccharide components. We further probed the system using a fluorescent dye molecule for lifetime measurements to determine the impact confinement and saccharides have on relaxation processes. Optical spectroscopy experiments, such as fluorescence anisotropy measurements, indicate relaxation processes are slowed by confinement and by increasing saccharide concentration. Similar to DLS results, there is seemingly no difference between the impact of D-trehalose and sucrose or their saccharide components on relaxation processes. Halliday et al. Langmuir. 2024.

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  What Meney Meney Mothers There Are With Whom I Would Not Trade: Scanning & Transcribing the 1916 Diary of Frederika Heinen

  Laney Collier '25 and Caroline Gilson

  Laney Collier scanned and transcribed a 1916 diary owned by Caroline Gilson, passed down from her mother, Arlene Abel Luchsinger. The diary was kept by Caroline’s great-great grandmother, Frederika Heinen. Frederika recorded her daily activities, the weather, community events, household activities, and family member interactions. Laney and Caroline created a manuscript transcription style guide and appendices to aid in the reading of the diary. Diary research included women and diary-keeping practices, personal communication, Kansas history, and history of Clay County/Green, Kansas. This diary serves as a historical artifact that tells the story of a family and community in 1916.

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  A Community-Level Investigation of Heavy Metal Pollution in Street Sediments from Terre Haute, Indiana

  Kyra Copp '25, Kenneth Brown, Nora Bedwell '26, and Camden Brown '25

  Urban environments contain environmental legacy issues that can have long-term negative public health consequences. Investigating these legacy issues can help constrain potential sources and their impact on communities. This study focuses on street sediment found in Terre Haute, Indiana, a city with an extensive history of coal-fired power production, high-traffic volumes, steel manufacturing, and Pb-based paint usage. This research specifically focuses on Terre Haute’s Sheridan Park community. Six bulk street sediment samples were analyzed by pXRF at DePauw University. This analysis revealed elevated concentrations of Pb (22-152 ppm), As (8-15 ppm), Cu (35-237 ppm), and Zn (149-634 ppm) in all six samples. Street samples collected near automotive buildings had the highest concentrations of heavy metals, with some concentrations seven times higher than background concentrations reported for natural soils in the area. Particle types found within the street sediment were identified using a standard stereomicroscope. This revealed four main categories: geogenic sediments, organic matter, anthropogenic debris (e.g., plastic), and metal particles. A more detailed investigation of the particle types was completed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). This analysis revealed Fe-rich spheres, silica-rich micro-beads, and other minor heavy metal-bearing particles. This study confirms the presence of heavy metal pollution within this community. Present-day sources of these metals include the automotive industry (e.g., mechanic shops) and vehicle transportation. The Fe-rich spheres may be a byproduct of past steel manufacturing and coal-combustion within the city.

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  Avoidance behavior of Oppia nitens (oribatid mites) to herbicide: Glyphosate compared to microplastics in standard artificial soil.

  Thi Doan '27 and Philips Akinwole

  Despite growing public interest in environmental issues, awareness of contaminants affecting soil organisms remains broadly lacking, despite decades of research. This study investigated the impacts of a common herbicide; glyphosate, (Roundup), on the avoidance behavior of Oppia nitens - a soil mite species used as an indicator of soil health, and soil moisture content. The study involved exposing O.nitens to standard artificial soil treated with glyphosate concentrations ranging from 47.8 to 501.6 mg/kg. Avoidance behavior was assessed by observing mite distribution between treated and untreated soil over a 48-hour period. Results demonstrated clear avoidance behavior at higher glyphosate concentrations (501.6 mg/kg), with EC50 of 4,630 mg/kg suggesting that glyphosate contamination can negatively impact soil ecosystems by affecting key organisms. The testing of water loss between glyphosate and other microplastics such as Polyethylene (PE) and Polystyrene (PS) showed that glyphosate enhances water loss as a desiccant and this is an inverse trend compared with PS and PE. Moreover, when juxtaposing their EC50 with other bioplastics consisting of Poly Vinyl Alcohol (PVA) and Sodium Polyacrylate (NaPa), glyphosate is only less toxic than PS, but significantly more toxic than PE, PVA and NaPa. Loss of soil moisture content can contribute to the overall avoidance behavior in the exposure of Oppia nitens with glyphosate. The observed avoidance of glyphosate-treated soils by O. nitens and possibly other soil fauna such as earthworms or springtails could have significant cascading effects on soil ecosystems. The consequent alteration in mite distribution could potentially impact soil quality and obstruct degradation processes, highlighting the need for further investigation into the long-term impacts of glyphosate on soil biodiversity and health.

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  Designing an Attachment Assay for Keratinocytes Stimulated by Fibroblast Conditioned Media

  Linh "Kas" Do '26 and Colleen L. Doçi

  Cell attachment involves the interaction between an individual cell with its neighbors and the extracellular matrix. These interactions are often regulated by the signaling molecules, including a variety of proteins, cytokines and growth factors. It is found in several studies that keratinocytes in the epidermis communicate with dermal fibroblasts in a bilateral paracrine model, in which they were simultaneously stimulated by the byproduct of the others. We developed this protocol with a simple, low-cost, and effective model to examine keratinocyte attachment that could be applied to examine the effects of fibroblasts on cell adhesion. For this method, we collected the conditioned media from fibroblasts and use it as a treatment for keratinocytes. Treated keratinocytes are then plated in a matrix and quantified with immunofluorescence techniques to determine the amount of attachment based on different treatment concentrations.

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  Foreign Direct Investment and Global Supply Chain Reshaping in ASEAN

  Nam Khanh Hoang '25 and Guangjun Qu

  The intensifying geopolitical tensions between the United States and China have led to profound changes in global supply chains, particularly in recent years. Additionally, China's strict Zero Covid policy has further complicated the operations of multinational corporations during the pandemic. These developments have forced companies to rethink their sourcing strategies, diversify their suppliers, and relocate manufacturing to reduce tariff impacts and minimize supply chain risks. This study examines how the trade war and the Zero Covid policy have accelerated the diversification of foreign direct investment (FDI) flows from the U.S. and China into Southeast Asia. We analyze FDI data from key ASEAN economies, exploring correlations between the trade war and the evolving FDI patterns of the U.S. and China in the region. Our research finds that neither the trade war nor the COVID-19 pandemic has had a statistically significant impact on the growth and pattern of U.S. FDI into the region. However, there has been a notable shift in the distribution of Chinese FDI across the region. This suggests that U.S. government policies aimed at reshaping global supply chains have partially succeeded—not by altering American manufacturers' supply chains in the region, but by prompting their Chinese counterparts to restructure theirs.

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  Comparison of S100β Expression in SK-MEL-25 and A-375

  Nev Hommel '26, Ayusha Pokharel '27, and Nipun Chopra

  Traumatic brain injury (TBI) affects more than 2 million Americans each year. S100β protein acts as a biomarker for TBI– studies have shown that micromolar levels of S100β are dangerous to neuronal health. Our plan for the summer was to experiment with whether miRNA-4705 could inhibit the production of S100β or not. To get started on the transfection, we had two hurdles to overcome. One of them was to find an efficient s100B primary antibody and the second was to ensure our s100B siRNA worked. By analyzing various research papers and their western blot, we identified and selected two s100B primary antibodies. Our study investigated the ability of two S100β siRNA - used to confirm successful transfection of RNA into the selected cell lines - to silence the S100β genes in two cell lines: A-375 and SK-MEL-28. These cells were cultured and plated in 24-well plates. Each plate had 6 conditions: mock (transfection agent RNAiMAX and media), untreated (just media), negative control siRNA (not expected to reduce S100B levels), beta-actin siRNA (A positive control for transfection), S100β-1 siRNA, and S100β-2 siRNA. After 72 hours of incubation, the cells were lysed for the purpose of running a gel electrophoresis and Western blot. Our Western blots showed varying results, though we determined that A-375 cells do not produce enough endogenous S100β protein to be detectable, while SK-MEL-25 does produce S100β protein above levels of detection. Furthermore, we found that S100β siRNA-1 can be used to effectively silence the S100β genes. This will allow us to use S100β siRNA as a positive control for future research with miR-3705. Further research is required to determine whether miR-3705 effectively suppresses the S100β protein. We plan to continue work with the SK-MEL-25 cells and culture a new cell line called C6.

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  Inhibition of Integrin Binding: Exploring Its Impact on Epidermal Cell Attachment

  Erin R. Johnson '25 and Colleen L. Doçi

  I worked with HaCaT cells, human epidermal cells that are sticky and like to attach to their surroundings in the skin. They have a surface protein called integrin, which interacts directly with collagen to induce cell attachment. I was particularly interested in interrupting this connection between integrin and collagen. I achieved this by using an inhibitory peptide that bound to the active site of integrin. This would allow me to calculate the cell attachment of HaCaT cells while in the presence of collagen. If we were able to target this treatment to tumor cells, we could help to stop them from metastasizing.

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  Bacteriostatic effects of Hydroxyl Radical-Generating Device on Klebsiella and Pseudomonas

  Caroline Le '26, Philips Akinwole, and Nipun Chopra

  Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) serve as one of the most pressing problems in the medical field. On any given day, one in 31 hospital patients has at least one HAIs and even though the average duration of inpatient admissions has decreased, the frequency of HAIs has increased. The most popular treatment for HAIs is antimicrobial medications such as antibiotics, however, bacteria have been documented to develop resistance to several antibiotics. Hydroxyl radical is being explored as an alternative preventative treatment to HAIs as it has microbicidal effects on planktonic bacteria and fungi over short treatment time, but few studies have looked into the effects of hydroxyl radicals on Klebsiella and Pseudomonas, two most commonly found HAIs bacteria. This study aims to 1) observe Strl AIR’s (a hydroxyl radical generator developed by DexTech) effects on Klebsiella and Pseudomonas, 2) determine if the device is bacteriostatic or bactericidal, 3) quantify reduction rate of the bacteria, and 4) analyze the difference in genetic makeup between the control and treatment groups using PCR. The treatment groups were divided into groups and subjected to two variables: distance from the device (1 meter, 2 meters, and 3 meters) and exposure time (24 hours, 48 hours, and 72 hours). After that, they were removed from Strl AIR, left to continue growing at room temperature, and monitored the number of colonies over time. Results show that, first, the device indeed has bacteriostatic effects on the bacteria and, second, exposure time and distance away from the device affect the regrowth rates of bacterial colonies. For distance, at 24 hours after collecting, percentage reductions in the number of colonies were 1.49 SE ± 4.93, 29.65 SE ± 3.18, and 52.99 SE ± 3.46 respectively for the 24hr 1m, 24hr 2m, and 24hr 3m groups. The numbers peaked at 48 hours after collecting for three groups (25.43 SE ±4.04, 43.93 SE ± 2.9, and 59.54 SE ±3.92) before decreasing slightly at the 60 hours mark (df=2, F=12.51, p0.05). However, more studies need to be conducted to confirm the effects of exposure time on bacterial regrowth rate. These findings suggest that Strl AIR can serve as a potential replacement for antibiotics and other preventative methods as a solution to HAIs; nonetheless, long-term and more in-depth studies need to be conducted to confirm the effectiveness of Strl AIR, especially over longer exposure periods, and factors that may or may not inhibit its efficacy so as to instruct healthcare experts in hospital and medical clinics on where to place the device for maximized sterilization. Moreover, research into Strl AIR’s effects on other types of pathogens like viruses or fungi need to be conducted to further expand our knowledge on artificially generated hydroxyl radicals.

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  A Quantitative Survey of Goldenrods and their Galls in Greencastle, Indiana.

  Chiamaka Ndubuokwu '27, Danielle Sommerman '25, and Rose Keith

  During the spring to summer months, galls—an abnormal growth of plant tissue—are commonly found on goldenrod plants. Some of the most common galls that plague goldenrods are the rosette, ball, and elongated galls caused by different flies and midges. This study set out to quantitatively survey goldenrod galls of those three types in Greencastle, Indiana and their potential fitness effects. The literature currently available focuses heavily on the relationships between ball galls and goldenrods, while the other gall types are understudied. This finding was especially surprising considering that the results of our data analysis suggests that the rosette galls were the most popular— with the difference being significant across sites.

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  Synthesis of Drug-Like Molecules and Investigation of Their Biological Activity

  Duyen Nguyen '25, Sunny Nguyen '26, and Jeffery A. Hansen

  This study examines the products derived from the ring-opening reactions of two novel epoxides—chlorobenzene epoxide and furan epoxide—highlighting their notable biological activity, particularly in the context of potential anticancer agents. One key finding: a synthesized stereoisomer of a hexylamine-derived β-amino alcohol exhibited a remarkably low LC50 value of 6.6 ppm in the Brine Shrimp Lethality Assay, significantly outperforming the other isomer compound’s LC50 value, at 13 ppm. This discovery underscores the critical role of stereochemistry in enhancing bioactivity, as evidenced by the distinct physical and chemical properties of the two hexylamine-derived isomers, including differences in appearance and solubility. Building on these results, a β-amino alcohol was also synthesized with ethylenediamine. We plan to couple this with the fluorescent dye BODIPY to probe its intracellular interactions—particularly in the context of anticancer activity. Meanwhile, the ring-opening of furan epoxide with methanol yielded a methoxy derivative, expanding the chemical diversity of the compounds available for further biological screening. Epoxides, renowned for their high reactivity, offer a gateway to structurally diverse and biologically potent compounds. This study highlights their versatility and lays the groundwork for future exploration into their therapeutic potential, particularly in cancer research.

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  The Impact of Fintech Lending on Small Business Bankruptcies in California (2008-2023)

  Lam Nguyen '25 and Bin Qiu

  This study examines the impact of fintech lending on small business bankruptcies at the county level in California from 2008 to 2023. Using UCC filings and FJC bankruptcy records, we find that increased fintech lending is associated with decreased bankruptcy rates across counties. This suggests that fintech lenders play a crucial role in supporting small businesses by maintaining credit access, even during economic downturns, thereby helping to mitigate the impact of reduced bank lending.