Annual Student Research Poster Session

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  Longitudinal Monitoring of Particle Counts in the Pfotzer Maximum (2017-2025)

  Scott Anderson, Jason Benyousky, Walae Dahmany, and Tri Duong

  The Balloon Assisted Stratospheric Experiments (BASE) measures atmospheric muons using an array of instruments carried by weather balloons. We seek to spend extended time in the region of highest intensity, the Regener-Pfotzer Maximum (Pfotzer Maximum). The effects of the cosmic ray- induced ionization that comprises the Pfotzer Maximum are relatively unknown and may include cloud formation, precipitation, cyclogenesis, aerosol formation, atmospheric transparency, and more. With Geiger counters, we can measure the secondary particles produced by atmospheric cascades in order to better understand the Pfotzer Maximum and how it changes over time.

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  Chasing Storms & Career Goals: My Summer REU Experience at The National Weather Center

  Miranda Bognar

  This past summer, I had the incredible opportunity to participate in a 10-week research experience at the National Weather Center in Norman, Oklahoma. As part of the program, I was assigned a research topic assessing how wildfire risk has evolved over the past 40 years, with particular attention to meteorological factors influencing fire potential and severity. This experience allowed me to engage with leading atmospheric scientists, collaborate with peers from across the country, and immerse myself in the unique culture of Oklahoma’s storm-chasing community.

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  Navigating Permitting Reform: A Comparative U.S. Analysis with Illustrative Evidence from Indiana

  Toan Minh Bui

  This study examines the effects of permitting reform on infrastructure performance in the United States, highlighting the trade-offs between regulatory efficiency and environmental oversight. Using a comparative multi-case design, we analyze twelve transportation, energy, and public facility projects across six states—two each representing high, moderate, and low reform intensities. The analysis combines quantitative performance indicators (cost overruns, schedule delays, environmental oversight scores) with qualitative assessments of legal frameworks, administrative capacity, and political context. Findings show that moderate-intensity reforms—those that streamline procedural steps while retaining environmental safeguards—deliver the most consistent balance of timely delivery, cost control, and regulatory integrity. High-intensity reforms often accelerate timelines but create fiscal volatility and oversight risks, while low-reform states preserve strong procedural protections yet frequently face significant delays. To complement these national findings, the poster also includes an illustrative case from Indiana, where two infrastructure projects were examined using the same methodological framework. The Indiana results provide an additional point of reference, situating the state within broader national patterns. Overall, the study suggests that “smart permitting” approaches offer the most sustainable pathway for reconciling speed and accountability in infrastructure governance.

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  The Grape Cries Out!: Revising and Updating an Anthology of Contemporary Wine Poetry

  Sarah Cecil, David Alvarez, and Elly McCausland

  This project aimed to update an anthology of poetry about wine to make “winespeak” more accessible to the general public. While professional wine critics have a nuanced palette and experience with wine, casual readers of wine poetry can unlock the sensations of wine that may escape them otherwise. In total, over 140 contemporary poetry books were read, primarily focusing on a list of 56 contemporary poets. This project was advised by DePauw Professor of English David Alvarez, as well as Elly McCausland, a professor of English Literature at the University of Ghent and published author of books on Taylor Swift.

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  Forecasting Nuclear Energy Consumption in the U.S. and France: An Optimized Grey Model Approach

  Alae Chahid

  This study investigates nuclear energy consumption trends in the United States, and France by applying advanced time-series modeling and computational optimization techniques. Using annual consumption data from 2005 to 2023, the research compares the predictive accuracy under data scarcity of the AutoRegressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA), Grey Model (1,1,t), Grey Model(1,1,t²), and an Optimized Structure-Adaptive Grey Model (OSGM). This OSGM (1,1,t) extends the traditional Grey Model (1,1) by introducing time-dependent terms and parameter tuning through particle swarm optimization and Monte Carlo simulations. Models are trained and tested using an in-sample and out-of-sample period framework. Then, forecast accuracies are compared using Mean Absolute Percentage Error, and the Root Mean Squared Error. The results show that the new Optimized Structured Grey Model and the ARIMA models surpass the other models in achieving accuracy forecasts. While ARIMA performs well with sufficient data, the OSGM (1,1,t) , however, offers greater adaptability to nonlinear patterns and structural shifts, adapting to country-specific dynamics. The integration of informatics-driven optimization into grey system modeling presents a viable approach for energy forecasting in data-constrained environments. These results validate the model's suitability for situations with limited data and offer a useful tool for climate-aligned decision-making and sustainable energy planning.

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  Preliminary Microbial Community Analysis of Non-Native and Native Plants in the DePauw Nature Park Quarry Bottom

  Madeleine Cruz and Dana Dudle

  The DePauw Nature Park Quarry Bottom is a former limestone quarry that was mined for decades and then lay dormant. Through the years, it has developed from being uninhabited to being populated by a diversity of organisms at every scale of life. All organisms in the Quarry Bottom must withstand the changing conditions of the quarry, including the proliferation of invasive plants that are well-adapted to stress. In particular, two invasive wetland grasses, Phragmites and Typha have observed competitive interactions, increased spatial distributions, and possible influence on native species. We have studied these species at our scale of life, but seldom at a microbiological level. Although microorganisms are indicators of change, we have little understanding of their relationship to the Quarry Bottom or its plants. The microbial communities of different plant species might have distinct metabolic footprints from each other. To ascertain this, we conducted preliminary microbial community analysis using rhizosphere samples. A total of eighteen samples were collected from three species: the invasive Phragmites and Typha and a native sedge, Scirpus. From these, rhizosphere fractions were produced and inoculated onto corresponding EcoPlates. The EcoPlate contains 31 carbon sources that turn purple if metabolized. Absorbance (OD at 590 nm) was measured for a week and the average well color development calculated. Subsequent principal component analysis determined a strong correlation between PC 1 and species. PC 1 is associated with positive metabolic activity, i.e., carbon source utilization. We observed Scirpus to have a stronger relationship to PC 1 than Phragmites or Typha. One-way ANOVA confirmed this. Analysis of species metabolic activity by location revealed a species-location interaction. While this work is preliminary, it provides a basis for us to further explore the relationships between plants, rhizospheres, microbiomes, and the Quarry Bottom.

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  Congresswoman Pat Schroeder and the Pursuit for Women’s Health and Economic Equity

  Kalina Dickinson

  Pat Schroeder was the first congresswoman ever elected in Colorado, serving twenty-four years in the House of Representatives from her initial election in 1972 until 1997 when she retired. This timeline takes viewers through several legislative bills Schroeder introduced that attempted to secure economic independence for “displaced homemakers,” improve women’s health and reproductive access, and ensure economic equity for all women.

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  Ullem Campus Farm Internship Experience

  Kalina Dickinson

  Over the summer, I worked on DePauw's Ullem Campus Farm and practiced sustainable agriculture. Throughout my story map, I highlight memorable and humorous experiences of my time working on the farm, such as my never-ending relationship with growing tomatoes, concocting compost tea to improve nutrient- poor soil, setting tarps down to prohibit pesky weed growth, building tools for the farm in woodshop, and making new beds for the next generation of produce.

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  The Heart of the Crab: Analyzing the VHE Emission from the Crab Pulsar

  Adi Empie, Thao Nguyen, and Avery Archer

  The Crab Nebula is one of the most studied astrophysical objects at very-high-energies (VHE) and is one of the brightest sources of VHE gamma-rays. The Crab Nebula is a pulsar wind nebula with the Crab pulsar providing the energy and particles to power the nebula. The gamma-ray emission from the nebula and pulsar are understood to come from relativistic particles but the processes that are responsible for accelerating these particles is not well understood. Studying the highest energy emission from the Crab Nebula can provide valuable insight into the underlying emission mechanisms at work. This project was intended to examine an additional 2 years of Crab Nebula data taken by the Very Energetic Radiation Imaging Telescope Array System (VERITAS) to be added to previous dataset. Due to some issues with our computational resources at NERSC, we shifted from analyzing the data with a focus on the nebula to analyzing the pulsed-emission from the pulsar. The central engine of the Crab nebula is the Crab pulsar. Timing studies of the pulsed emission from the pulsar can improve understanding of the physics at work near the pulsar. To date only two pulsars have been observed to emit VHE photons, so our current understanding of the VHE emission mechanisms is in its infancy.

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  Low Vitamin D diet effects on RNA Expression in Kidney and Mammary tissue of mus musculus (mice)

  Ibilola Fasogbon, Graham Read, Adriana Duraki, and Larisa Nonn

  Vitamin D is a steroid hormone whose active form binds to Vitamin D Receptors (VDR), triggering cancer-associated pathways involved in inducing apoptosis, inhibiting inflammation, improving immunity, and regulating cell proliferation. Ongoing studies have shown a significant correlation between Vitamin D deficiency and the development of aggressive prostate cancer. African American men are more likely to experience vitamin D deficiency, develop prostate cancer at a high rate, and have a higher mortality rate than their non-Hispanic white counterparts. African American women are also disproportionately burdened with aggressive breast cancer and have higher rates of vitamin D deficiency. Understanding how a low vitamin D diet alters gene expression in the mammary and kidney tissue of mus musculus (mice) subjects bred from Vitamin D-deficient dams would help in diagnosing and treating breast cancer patients. We hypothesized that mice fed a low vitamin D diet would show significantly altered vitamin D-related gene expression in the benign kidney and mammary tissue compared to mice fed a controlled diet. We evaluated gene expression in tissue samples using Reverse Transcription quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR). Kidney tissue, the primary site for active Vitamin D synthesis, was used as a positive control for the effect of the diet. We probed for GAPDH and the Vitamin D metabolism genes in kidney samples. Mammary tissues were probed for Vitamin D metabolism genes, some VDR target genes, and breast cancer-related genes. Kidney tissue from the experimental group showed significantly lower expressions of Vitamin D metabolism genes, namely VDR, Lrp2, and CYP24a1, and significantly higher expressions of CYP27B1 compared to the control group. For the mammary tissue, the change in expression of the probed genes between our control and experimental groups were not statistically significant, except for VDR, which was higher in the low vitamin D diet group compared to the control group. In addition to this, we saw a trend in the expression of VEGF, which was lower in our experimental group compared to the control group. These findings indicate that a low vitamin D diet significantly alters expression of vitamin metabolism-related transcripts in kidney tissue, but it does not show a significant effect on VDR target genes in Mammary tissue. From this, we can infer that the intake of vitamin D does not affect gene expression and thus the overall health of benign mammary tissue. We can build on this knowledge with future experiments looking into how a low vitamin D diet changes gene expression in cancerous mammary tissue.

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  Comparing Family-level Insect Diversity Between Habitats at the DePauw Nature Park

  Samantha Floyd, Sahit Liyanage, Thomas Manning, and Madison Stillabower

  The DePauw Nature Park hosts a broad diversity of life and insects represent a significant portion of that diversity. However, the insect diversity in the park has never been formally studied. We sought to document species composition across two habitat-types at the DePauw Nature Park. We sampled and identified insects in two woodland and two prairie habitats in the park using both active sampling (e.g., insect nets) and passive sampling (e.g., insect traps) methods. All specimens were mounted, labeled, and databased. Preliminary data suggests that the woodland habitat has higher family-level diversity than the prairie habitat. About half of the families were found in only one habitat-type, suggesting that the habitat diversity found in the park supports higher overall insect diversity. Future work includes assessing species level diversity in the two habitats and creating a checklist of species found in the nature park.

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  Examining Pro-Arrhythmic Changes in Heart Rate Under Augmented Parasympathetic Stimulation

  Cora Gilbert, Isabel Stumpf, Tanya Seward, and Abhilash Prabhat

  Brugada syndrome is a congenital heart disease characterized by an increased susceptibility to potentially fatal arrhythmias when people are resting or sleeping, suggesting a potential link between arrhythmia risk and parasympathetic signaling. To investigate the role of autonomic signaling in Brugada syndrome, we utilized a mouse model of Brugada syndrome (Scn5a+/- mice). We measured the electrocardiographic (ECG) properties of wild-type (WT) and Scn5a+/- mice under conditions that augment parasympathetic signaling to the heart. We initially studied the electrocardiographic (ECG) properties of WT and Scn5a+/- mice housed at room temperature (25 °C) and thermoneutrality (30 °C), as switching mice to thermoneutral housing decreases sympathetic signaling (Swoap et al., 2008). Because the daily rhythm in the heart rate reflects changes in autonomic regulation of the heart in response to feeding behavior, we studied the ECG properties of WT and Scn5a+/- after inverting their feeding rhythms by restricting food access to the light cycle (Ono et al., 2024).

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  AOT in isooctane Reverse Micelles Varying Size and Phase Stability with Amides: Comparison of Urea Formamide and Acetamide

  Josh Heitert, Bridget Gourley, Nancy Levinger, and Yayo Virgen

  Acetamide, Formamide, and Urea are all polar, highly water-soluble molecules; this makes them useful as osmolytes in model systems for nanoconfinement. These model systems form from Aresol-OT (AOT) in isooctane reverse micelles with the osmolyte present at the interface, forming an AOT/isooctane/polar phase system. The systems are characterized by their Wo,which is a measurement that can impact the size of the reverse micelles and is defined as Wo = [Polar phase]/[Surfactant]. Here, we measure the impact of these various osmolytes on the size of the reverse micelles at different concentrations and at different Wo using dynamic light scattering (DLS). The size of the reverse micelles, as quantified by hydrodynamic diameter using DLS, follows an observable trend, with size increasing following the addition of osmolytes. Additionally, by adding a high concentration of these osmolytes, we see the partitioning of the sample into multiple reverse micelle groups. Along with measuring size using the DLS, we measured phase stability by creating ternary phase diagrams based on the formation of reverse micelles at various concentrations and Wo. This data shows an observable trend regarding the stability levels of each osmolyte’s system; systems with formamide are the most stable, followed by those with acetamide, and then those with urea. Furthermore, the diagrams show that the addition of any of the three osmolytes shrinks the single-phase microemulsion, indicating that stability is reduced as a result of the osmolytes having a destabilizing impact.

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  Breaking Up or Bound Together? Unraveling US-China Economic Interdependence

  Vinh Huynh and Guangjun Qu

  This study investigates the extent to which the U.S.-China trade war has altered bilateral trade flows and economic interdependence between the two largest economies in the world. The question at the heart of this research is whether the two countries have truly begun to “decouple” or whether they remain deeply interconnected despite political and economic tensions. Drawing on U.S. and Chinese trade data from multiple official sources, we examine both the scale and persistence of trade disruptions over time. Our analysis extends beyond the pre-pandemic years to include 2020 through 2024, allowing us to distinguish between the trade war’s temporary and persistent effects. Preliminary findings suggest that the trade war’s effects have been both persistent and profound, with total bilateral trade in 2024 falling to less than half of the level predicted by the gravity model. While economic ties remain significant, evidence of sustained decoupling is clear, especially the U.S. import from China.

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  Dimension of subalgebras of Fomin-Kirillov algebras

  Taro Ikeda and Sirous Homayouni

  One of the central open problems concerning the Fomin-Kirillov algebras was whether their dimension is finite or infinite. This question was recently resolved in one research by C. Barligea, where it was shown that FK(n) is infinite-dimensional for all n ≥ 6. In our work, we investigate the dimension of a certain subalgebra of FK(6).

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  Ecology of Eupatorium altissimum galls: Extrapolating timing of oviposition using plant growth curves

  Tomofumi Inoue, Dana Dudle, and James Benedix

  This study aims to investigate the timing of oviposition by the gall fly Neolassioptera perfoliata on tall boneset (Eupatorium altissimum) populations throughout the DePauw University Nature Park. I initially measured the heights of 176 plants total in 5 different locations, out of which I randomly selected 12-17 plants per location to measure height on a weekly basis. When galls were spotted, their heights were recorded so that they could be compared to the plant heights to produce an estimate for when the egg was laid by the gall fly. I also collected galls from plants that were excluded in the initial measurements and dissected them using razorblades in order to identify and describe the development of the gall-forming fly and its predators. I fitted curves to the weekly height data from individual plants using Microsoft Excel, which were representative of the plants’ growth patterns. In turn, this indicates that my estimates of timings of oviposition by gall flies are reliable given that these insects lay their eggs in meristematic tissue, which is found at the tips of the plant. I was also able to photograph and identify and photograph the fly and two predatory wasp species in larval, pupal and adult stages under a microscope. These results help fill the gap in our knowledge on gall-forming insects and their ecology, which allows us to better prepare for the conservation of these species if and when they are threatened. Future studies that I plan on conducting will investigate the relationship between plant fitness and gall timing. Other work that should be done includes conducting controlled observations of mating and oviposition behavior in order to better understand how the different species interact in their adult stage. Funding for this project was provided by the DePauw Faculty Development Committee.

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  The Role of Temporal Predictability in Sustained Attention

  Miho Kato, Harun Yörük, and Thomas S. Redick

  Attention requires sustaining focus on information and goals over time. Sustained attention performance is affected by time and temporal predictability. Specifically, previous research showed that performance in sustained attention tasks decreases when the focus of attention is required to be sustained over a longer period of time, and performance increases when the duration to sustain attention is predictable (known as temporal predictability). The current research examines the relationship between the duration of sustained attention and temporal predictability with two cognitive tasks. In the Sustained Attention to Cue Task (SACT), participants were required to sustain their focus of attention on a cued location to detect a subsequent target. In the antisaccade task, participants were required to fixate on the center of the screen until a cue appeared either on the left or right side of the screen, and asked to immediately shift their attention to the opposite side to detect the target. In the data presented here, 29 young adults (13 in the unpredictable and 16 in the predictable group) completed 10 sessions with both tasks. We predicted that longer wait/fixation times would be associated with decreased accuracy, and that increased temporal predictability would enhance their sustained attention and lead to increased accuracy. Preliminary results showed that SACT performance decreased over longer wait times, regardless of temporal predictability. In the antisaccade task, performance decreased from medium to long fixation times only when the fixation duration was predictable.

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  Impact of Ionizable Lipid Variation on the Immunogenicity of Lipid Nanoparticles

  Chloe M. Krueger, Abbey L. Stokes, Shilpi Agrawl, and Christopher E. Nelson

  Lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) are a leading nonviral delivery system for nucleic acid therapeutics due to their scalability and efficiency. However, certain formulations may trigger undesired immune responses. This study aimed to assess the inflammatory potential of LNPs formulated with different ionizable lipids using a murine macrophage reporter cell line (RAW-IRCs). RAW-IRCs express GFP upon successful mRNA delivery and mRFP1 upon activation of inflammatory pathways. A library of LNPs was synthesized via vortex mixing and characterized for hydrodynamic diameter, polydispersity index, and encapsulation efficiency. Treated RAW-IRCs were analyzed by flow cytometry to evaluate GFP and mRFP1 expression. Our results highlight seven ionizable lipids that show higher transfection with a lower inflammatory response. Additionally, when RAW-IRCs were treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS), an inflammatory stimulant, there is a drop in transfection efficiency regardless of the ionizable lipid being changed. These findings contribute to the rational design of LNPs with reduced immunogenicity for safer gene therapy applications.

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  3D Visualization for Teaching and Learning in Organic Chemistry: orbital hybridization and bonding

  Bao Le and Jeffrey Hansen

  This research focuses on developing techniques to create 3D visualizations for use in an electronic textbook. In this age of technology, traditional textbooks have become less appealing to the new generation compared to phones or tablets. Student learning can be enhanced by not only bringing the textbook online but also elevating the comprehensive experience for the students with 3D animations. We will show how animations of orbital hybridization and chemical bonding are made in Blender using Signed Distance Field (SDF) modeling. The orbitals’ models are mathematically combined allowing for smooth animation. We have used this technique to animate the transformation of atomic orbitals to hybrid orbitals and to show sigma and pi bond formation in Ethane, Propene, Acetylene, and Allene. This technique has the potential to illustrate other important bonding concepts such as resonance and aromaticity. We hope that this process helps guide those who would like to upgrade their teaching materials.

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  CRISPR Generated Gene-Knockout Mutants for Studying Nicotine-Seeking and Avoidance Behavior in Zebrafish

  Caroline Le, Gabe Eggleston, Kimario Davis, and Seohyun Bae

  The use of tobacco products remains one of the leading causes of preventable diseases worldwide and in the United States. Although the use of tobacco products in the United States declined about 28 million adults in the United States still smoke. Both environmental and genetic factors contribute to nicotine use behavior. To identify targets for potential pharmacotherapeutics that could lower nicotine use behavior, we used a nicotine seeking and avoidance behavioral assay to test larval zebrafish with nonfunctional acetylcholine receptor subunit genes (knockout genes) that we generated in our lab using CRISPR. Genotyping of individual zebrafish was used to identify mutants with one (heterozygous) or two (homozygous) mutant alleles. Off-spring from homozygous mutants was used for behavioral tests. The knockout of different acetylcholine receptor genes resulted in differential shifts of nicotine seeking behavior of larval zebrafish related to cumulative time spent in the nicotine compartment and to tested nicotine concentrations. The gene knockouts also impacted the percentages of nicotine seeking and avoiding larval zebrafish slightly. Overall, the results indicate that acetylcholine receptor subunits play a role in nicotine-seeking and avoidance behavior in larval zebrafish.

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  Effects of Air Pollutants on Trabecular Meshwork Cells

  Thao H.P. Le, Andrew C. Jubintoro, and Jie J. Zheng

  The trabecular meshwork (TM) is a specialized tissue located in the irido-corneal angle of the eye that regulates the aqueous humor outflow and maintains the intraocular pressure (IOP). TM cells function as a biological filter and are inherently phagocytic, clearing cellular debris in the aqueous humor (Stamer & Clark, 2016). Environmental factors, such as air pollution, have been associated with an increased risk of glaucoma (Kitayama et al., 2025). One such pollutant is 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD), a chlorinated organic pollutant found in smog and other forms of ambient air pollution (Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) et al., 1998). TCDD is highly persistent in the environment and can activate cellular signaling pathways that alter gene expression. This study investigates the effect of TCDD on the phagocytic activity of TM cells and whether the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) signaling pathway is active in TM cells after TCDD exposure. Gene expression of CYP1A1, CYP1B1, and TIPARP was measured as readouts of AhR pathway activation.

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  Digital Content Creation for the Trasimeno Regional Archaeological Project (TRAP)

  Nathalia Martinez-Baca and Rebecca Schindler

  The Trasimeno Archaeology Field School is a component of the Trasimeno Regional Archaeology Project (TRAP). The six-week field school is managed by the Umbra Institute (Perugia, IT) in collaboration with DePauw faculty (R. Schindler and P. Foss, Department of Classical Studies). The program provides the opportunity for students to engage with primary archaeological research while also taking two courses through the Umbra Institute. The archaeological project, which is based in the territory of Castiglione del Lago just west of Lake Trasimene, has three primary research goals: mapping the known archaeological sites in the region, excavating particular Roman sites, and developing a new archaeological museum, which is a community-based project in conjunction with the city of Castiglione del Lago. Students participate in all aspects of the research project, including excavation, site documentation, artifact inventory and analysis, and creation of the museum exhibitions. In the summer of 2025, TRAP will be continuing the excavation of a Roman villa site located on the slopes of Castiglione del Lago and finalizing the displays for the new museum in Castiglione del Lago (Trasimeno Museo Archeologico), which is set to open at the end of June 2025. In returning to Castiglione del Lago, Nathalia has not only served as a teaching assistant (TA), supervising one of several excavation sites, but has simultaneously created digital content for the exposure of the TRAP field work. Combining Nathalia's familiarity with the commune as a TRAP veteran, her intermediate Italian skills, and her experience in producing social media content for several student organizations back at DePauw, she is able to bring bilingual Italian-English media to reality for the project.

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  Getting to the root of the problem: A comparison of rhizome extracts for the control of cogongrass (Imperata cylindrica)

  Mia Martin-Fuller, Elizabeth Esser, and Ashley Schulz

  Cogongrass is a perennial grass that was introduced to the southeastern United States in 1912 and has since spread aggressively throughout the region. It is very resilient to disturbances as it can propagate through seed and rhizome, which makes it extremely difficult to control. Most efforts to control cogongrass populations have used synthetic herbicides, though burning and tilling have also been explored. A new method applies autotoxic leachates produced by the target plant to the plant for control. Although this method of control has been demonstrated in giant salvinia (Salvinia molesta), researchers have not yet identified the methods to control cogongrass. In this study, we compared how ethanol- and water-derived leachates impact cogongrass growth. We collected cogongrass rhizome from Winston County, MS, chopped it in a blender, then added 700 g of chopped rhizome to each of two jars, one with 1.1 L of water and one with 1.1L of 50% ethanol. Both jars soaked for 24 hours, then were strained to extract the liquid. The ethanol leachate was evaporated and resuspended in distilled water. In addition to the two leachates, we had three control treatments: distilled water, 5% ethanol, and 15% ethanol. Each treatment was applied as a soil drench to three cogongrass specimens. We measured the height and number of leaves daily and photographed each plant every other day. After seven days, we measured the wet and dry biomass of the above- and below-ground tissue of each plant. Preliminary results show that the ethanol treatments all had significantly less dry belowground mass than the water control (p < 0.05), but there were no other significant differences among treatments. Additional analyses and trials are going to be conducted to further explore the use of plant extracts for the control of cogongrass and other invasive plants.

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  Human Transferrin Receptor Bispecific TREM2 Antibody Creation and Its Insightful Use in Alzheimer's Disease

  Amelia McLaren and June Javens-Wolfe

  Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the leading cause of dementia, affecting an estimated 7.2 million seniors in the United States. AD can develop in the brain for twenty years or more before symptoms appear, such as memory loss, which could enable a diagnostic window for intervention. AD causes neurons to be damaged or destroyed due to the accumulation of amyloid-beta protein fragments and an abnormal form of tau protein. The protein Transmembrane Receptor Expressed by Myeloid Cells, TREM2, is essential in regulating the microglial response to amyloid-beta and tau accumulation in the AD brain. Microglia, the brain’s resident immune cell, has two different paths of activation: one that is anti-inflammatory (M2), and one that is pro-inflammatory (M1). TREM2 is expressed in microglia and myeloid cells. It has a role in regulating microglial inflammatory responses. The TREM2 receptor is connected to DAP12—a signaling adaptor inside the cell that phosphorylates Syk (Spleen Tyrosine Kinase). By creating a TREM2 antibody with an LALAPG mutation, the interaction between the Fc region and the Fc gamma receptor was abolished, which stimulates SYK phosphorylation and phagocytosis. Portions of the antibody were developed from two different companies (e.g., Elana and Denali), who provided the aTREM2 and the hTfR (human transferrin receptor) binding domain, which was inserted in the aTREM2 fc portion. An hTfR receptor allows for two TREM2 antibodies to bind to TREM2 protein and mediate a stronger response via receptor clustering. The hTFR receptor also allows a therapeutic to surpass the blood-brain barrier—hTfR normally transports iron in the body. By inserting hTfR, then inversely, testing could show an elevated production of phospho-Syk using western blots, alphaLISA, and ELISA. Activating Syk matters because it activates the PI3K/AKT pathway that leads to M2 microglia, ultimately protecting those seniors from rapidly declining toward AD.

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  Analyzing the Evolving Digital Public Dialogue on Juneteenth

  Ky Nguyen, Quan Nguyen, Khusi Singh, and Annie Tran

  This research explores how public conversations surrounding Juneteenth have evolved over time by analyzing 10,000 tweets. Through annotation of sentiment, emotion, and topics, the project provides insight into how Juneteenth is celebrated, debated, and understood across diverse cultural and political contexts. The resulting dataset lays the groundwork for a machine learning model capable of identifying large-scale patterns in language, tone, and narrative.