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 […]
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, […]
B23: Surficial Geologic Map of the Miami University Natural Areas near Oxford, Ohio
This project examined the surface geology of the primary floodplain in Harkers Run, located in Oxford, OH. The primary focus for this project was to determine and map the surface and subsurface geology of Harkers Run. For this study, a team of students in Geoenvironmental Field Methods (GLG 311VA) used topographic base maps and GPS […]
B22: Organic Carbon/Nitrogen Content in Age-Calibrated Soils At-Depth
Four Mile Creek is an important watershed in Southwestern Ohio, including floodplain deposits that have historically been used for agriculture. However, due to extensive anthropogenic use, it is difficult to determine pre-human geochemical norms. Organic carbon and nitrogen abundances are important for understanding the soil health overall, as well as providing important benchmarks for carbon […]
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 […]
B18: Investigation of a Novel Pyrolyzed PDMS/Ni Catalyst for Dry Reforming of Methane (DRM)
The release of methane and carbon dioxide into the atmosphere is an issue that continues to plague society due to high usage of fossil fuels and expanding landfills. In an effort to combat the levels of CO2 and CH4 accumulating, chemical engineers have turned to the dry reformation of methane to produce syngas (H2 and […]
B16: Tightening the Safety Net: Mental Health Services for Hispanic Patients in Free Clinics
This project focuses on the role of free clinics as an essential part of the healthcare “safety net” that serves those without sufficient healthcare coverage and how free clinics have the potential to provide better mental health care for Hispanic patients. My research draws from both my experience as a Spanish-English translator and public health […]
B15: Does Gender Moderate the Relation Between Parasympathetic Regulation and Empathic Behaviors
The area of research that I have focused on in this study pertains to psychology and is specifically about children’s socioemotional development. Participants were 100 children (44 girls, 56 boys) and their mothers participating in an ongoing longitudinal study, with a visit at age four and age five. To measure child empathy coders scored overall […]