Microbial Ecology explores the way microbes interact with their environment, and the greater impact it has on their ecosystems both local & global. Aquatic ecosystems are dependent on primary production by algae to fix carbon, which contributes to over 50% of CO2 fixation globally. This is especially the case for microbial communities found within Antarctic […]
B32: MBI 475: Influence of Extreme Environmental Conditions on Antarctic Lake Algae
There are a multitude of factors which affect both the growth and distribution of marine microbial environments, such as nutrient availability, salinity levels, temperature, and light. In Antarctic marine environments, microbes are exposed to extreme conditions, which further affect the community composition. In this project, we have analyzed the effect that different salt concentrations have […]
B24: The effect of acid treatment on the magnetic and magnetocaloric properties of Al-rich Al0.85+xSi0.15Fe2B2
The magnetocaloric effect (MCE), or the tendency of some materials to change temperature upon exposure to an external magnetic field, is the cornerstone of many eco-friendly technologies such as magnetic refrigeration. The compound AlFe2B2 is known to exhibit a large MCE at room temperature, and previous studies have shown that varying the stoichiometry, synthesis method, […]
B25: Effects of Adolescent Lorazepam Exposure on Alcohol Drinking Behavior in Adulthood
My general research area is adolescent drug exposure and its long-term consequences. For this study, I investigated the effects of adolescent exposure to benzodiazepines (BZDs) on alcohol intake, preference, and neural response to alcohol in adulthood. This is important for the field because although adolescent alcohol exposure has been thoroughly researched, the long-term effects of […]
B21: Persistent Effects of Early Life Acute Versus Chronic Footshock Stress on Fear and Anxiety Behaviors in Adulthood.
Anxiety is the most common mental illness in the United States affecting nearly 1 out of 4 Americans and is a major cause of mortality. Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is the fifth most common psychiatric disorder diagnosis in the United States. Women are 2-3 times more likely to be diagnosed with PTSD and anxiety disorders. […]
B20: Role of Mu-Opioid Receptor expression on FoxP2 neurons in Aversion-Resistant Drinking
Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is an issue facing many Americans, and many neural mechanisms can lead to the development of this disorder. The present study aimed to characterize the development of AUD behaviors using a new transgenic line of mice with their mu-opioid receptors (MORs) genetically deleted on intercalated (ITC) cells. MORs are the most […]
B19: Examining Sex Differences in Ethanol Consumption Using the Four Core Genotypes Model
Previous research has shown that female rodents have higher rates of alcohol consumption than males, but the mechanisms underlying these behavioral differences have yet to be uncovered. Here, we used the Four Core Genotype mouse model along with Intermittent Access to evaluate the effects of gonadal hormones and sex chromosomes on drinking habits. Four Core […]
B14: Legacies of Conflict: Influences on Public Opinion in Germany and Lithuania on the War in Ukraine
The Russian invasion of Ukraine has revealed an apparent disunity in Europe. This was evident during a June 2022 study abroad program in Lithuania, where Ukrainian flags and “Slava Ukraini” were everywhere, compared to Germany where only a single Ukrainian flag was seen. Lithuanian politicians and advisors would constantly bring up the conflict and their […]
C40: Nanoparticle Infection of Virus Infectivity
My research area is biochemistry about cancer cell. Elevated levels of HMGA1 in cancer cells cause mis-regulation of gene expression and are associated with increased cancer cell proliferation and increased chemotherapy resistance. We used engineered viruses to deliver a decoy hyper binding site (HBS) for HMGA1 to the nucleus of cancer cells. The purpose of […]
B03: Connecting Marginalized Communities to Amenities: Evaluating Lake Shore Drive Crossings on the South Side of Chicago
The South Side of Chicago has long been the site of systemic disinvestment and larger populations of color than both the broader city of Chicago and the Chicago metropolitan area. The South Side of the city is separated from the shore of Lake Michigan and its amenities by a substantial linear geographic barrier- Lake Shore […]