Contrary to humans, some vertebrates have an exceptional ability to regenerate damaged tissues including the Spanish newt (Pleurodeles waltl) which can regenerate a range of complex structures. Retinal regeneration in some newt species has been reported after the removal of the whole retina. Our focus is to characterize the reprogramming of the retinal pigment epithelium […]
B06: Rewriting Marginality: Depictions of Greek Myth in Contemporary Literature
In recent years, a notable number of novels that reimagine Ancient Greek mythology have been published and received considerable attention among popular audiences. These novels deserve equal attention by scholars in the field of classical reception, which focuses on the treatment and appropriation of ancient myth. Classical reception asks, what features of ancient myth have […]
B08: What Do First-Year Miami Students Know About Human Trafficking?
Our research question is “What level of knowledge does the average Miami University first-year student have on the subject of human trafficking and how can the University better provide resources to increase awareness?”. The general research area of our project is social sciences with a focus on social justice. We began to research this topic […]
B09: The Influence of Media Bias
Our general research area is media bias. This project questions how influential the media’s bias is on its viewers when portraying racial minorities, women, and protesters. This study is relevant for all fields because everyone is a media consumer. We surveyed the current first-year class at Miami University to understand how influential the bias is […]
B10: Longterm Effects of Amur Honeysuckle (Lonicera maackii) and Deer on Forest Floor Plant Composition
The negative impacts of overabundant white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) and invasive species in deciduous forests have been well documented. However, their combined impacts are less understood. We tested the impacts of 11 years of exclusion of deer and removal of the invasive shrub Amur honeysuckle (Lonicera maackii) on forest floor plant composition in deciduous forests […]
B11: Synthesis and Conformational Analysis of Oligo-Pyrazine Foldamers
As a part of the Hartley research lab, this organic chemistry project is focused on the synthesis and structural study of pyrazine foldamers. Foldamers, which are a class of compounds that fold into an ordered state in solution, can mimic the geometries of nucleic acids and proteins. The goal of the project was to determine […]
B12: Substituent Effects of Carbodiimide Fuel Reactivity
In biology, out-of-equilibrium, or “dissipative,” systems are crucial to functionality, using a constant supply of energy to continually function. We can mimic this behavior simply using chemical fuel reactions that result in the formation of a transient bond. Most other groups studying systems of this kind have used 1-Ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide (EDC) as the fuel. Here, […]
B13: Global Health Issue: Neoliberal Ideologies and the Cultural Blame Associated with the Use of Food Assistance Programs in the U.S.
Food insecurity is a global health issue that leads to detrimental effects to physical and mental health. This study looks closely at the barriers people experience in obtaining reliable and nutritious food, as well as the prevalence of chronic illnesses among families that experience food insecurity. This study was conducted at a local food pantry […]
B14: Characterizing the Role of NHE11 in Mammalian Sperm Physiology Using Crispr/Cas9 Gene Edited Mice
Sodium Hydrogen Exchangers (NHEs) are a family of proteins which are important for regulating the pH of a cell. Previous studies have found certain NHE proteins to be essential for sperm cell motility and fertility. There still remains one completely uncharacterized NHE protein: the NHE11 protein. Work in our lab has found that in mammals, […]
B15: Periodical Cicadas: The Potential Effects of Habitat Destruction on the Density of Magicicada spp. From 1987 to 2021.
Every 17 years, the Brood X periodical cicadas of the genus Magicicada (M. cassini, M. septemdecim, and M. septemdecula) emerge in Indiana and western Ohio. Like many other species, these cicadas are facing the effects of habitat destruction and climate change. Magicicada needs a specific ground temperature in order to emerge. Given that warmer temperatures […]