BRONX-MANHATTAN C/STEP 2022 RESEARCH EXPO BOOK OF ABSTRACTS

20 PSY
22BIO
BR NX-MANHATTAN

C/STEP REGI N

RESEARCH E P ENGR

EAS

B KF

ABSTRACTS

PHYSICS

MATH

PUBLIC CHEM
HEALTH

SATURDAY, APRIL 30

MATH PHYSICS
CHEM

BIO

Dear C/STEP Bronx-Manhattan Regional Research Expo Attendees,

Greetings and welcome to the sixth Annual C/STEP Bronx –Manhattan Regional Research Expo.

For more than 36 years, STEP and CSTEP have provided a range of activities, support services, and
learning communities for our students to develop and excel academically, professionally, and personally.

One of the key things we pride ourselves on is the ability to provide our STEP and CSTEP scholars’ with
opportunities to be involved in scholarly research experience and internships in various fields. These
opportunities create the environment for our scholars to cultivate the necessary skills required to
change the world for the better. Staff and most especially mentors guide them throughout this process.

These opportunities are never without challenges. One of the recent challenges is the COVID -19
pandemic that the whole world experienced. This pandemic had a negative impact on the ability of our
scholars to engage in their research projects. None withstanding, our scholars were able to push
through various obstacles to continue their projects or start a new one.

Today, the presentations you are about to hear are the results of our scholars’ determination,
motivation and brilliance. You will hear topics in Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Medicine, Public Health,
Engineering and others.

On behalf of the Expo Planning Committee, the STEP and CSTEP program directors, administrator,
instructors, mentors, and other staff that work diligently to develop and run our programs, I want to tell
all our students that we are proud of them and their accomplishments.

Student presenters, we look forward to listening to your talks. Keep up the hard work. You are helping
to make our future beautiful and brighter.

Sincerely,

NkemStanley

Nkem Stanley-Mbamelu
Research Expo Convener
CCAPP Associate Director
City College of New York CSTEP program

Message from the Bronx- Manhattan Regional Representative

The Bronx- Manhattan C/STEP Research Expo is an event that highlights the work of the STEP
and CSTEP research students in the Bronx and Manhattan Region. The presentations are
designed to describe the students’ research projects and explain the theories on which the
projects are based, and how the research is an application of these theories. When appropriate,
results are shown on the presentations.
This book is a collection of abstracts of the work presented during the event.
On behalf of students and staff of the Bronx and Manhattan Region’s STEP and CSTEP
programs, I would like to thank you for your support of our students and participation in this
extraordinary event.
Yours truly,
Millicent Roth
Prof. Millicent Roth
Director of City College Academy for Professional Preparation (CCAPP), the CSTEP Program at
the City College
Deputy Dean of Science for Undergraduates
Bronx-Manhattan Regional Representative

Expo Committee Members

Dr. Moise Koffi Anna Chavolla-Ortega
Hostos Community College -CUNY New York University

Dr. Shu-Yuan Cheng Jonathan Berenguer
John College of Criminal Justice- CUNY Lehman College - CUNY

Nkem Stanley-Mbamelu- Convener
City College of New York- CUNY

Moderators

Jolene Brown Hostos Community College - CUNY
Mikka Gay Bronx Community College - CUNY
Diandra Jugmohan Hostos Community College - CUNY
Edgardo Sanabria-Valentin John Jay College of Criminal Justice - CUNY
Carlos Restrepo College of Optometry - SUNY
Meagan Zayas Hostos Community College - CUNY

Judges

Harrison Asare
Chavonna Brooks
Briseida Cortez-Rodriguez

Laxmi Mishra
Jamie Parker
Greagory Rodriguez
Lennon Safe
Diana Samaroo
Christine Ta
Tiffany Wong

BRONX- MANHATTAN C/STEP REGION

STEP PROGRAMS

Columbia University VP&S
CUNY Baruch College
CUNY Bronx Community College
CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice
CUNY Lehman College
CUNY The City College of New York
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai (ISMMS)
New York University
NYU Grossman School of Medicine
Columbia University VP&S
CUNY Hostos Community College
Fordham University
New York Institute of Technology (Manhattan Campus

CSTEP PROGRAMS

Barnard College
CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice
CUNY School of Labor and Urban Studies
CUNY The City College of New York
Manhattan College
Pace University
SUNY College of Optometry
CUNY Hostos Community College
Fordham University
New York University

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Agenda Page 1

Guest Speaker Page 2

Breakout rooms Page 3 – Page 7

Breakout room # 1 Abstracts Page 9 – Page 10

Breakout room # 2 Abstracts Page 11- Page 12

Breakout room # 3 Abstracts Page 13 – Page 15

Breakout room # 4 Abstracts Page 15- Page 18

Breakout room # 5 Abstracts Page 19 – Page 21

Expo Agenda

1:00 p.m. – 1:05 p.m. Nkem Stanley-Mbamelu, Zoom Event Opens
Expo Convener
Opening Remarks
1:05 p.m. – 1:20 p.m. Dr. Millicent Roth,
Bronx-Manhattan Regional Presentations and Q&A
Representative STEM : Our Contributions
Matter
1:25 p.m. – 2:10 p.m. Breakout Session I Presentations and Q&A
(replay)
2:15 p.m. – 2:45 p.m. Dr. Arden Warner Awards and Closing
Keynote Speaker

2:50 p.m. – 3:35 p.m. Breakout Session II

3:40 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Anna Ortega Chavolla

1

GUEST SPEAKER

Arden Warner, Ph.D.

Senior Accelerator Physicist, Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory

Arden Warner, PhD is the founding partner of Natural
Science, LLC and the inventor of Electromagnetic
Remediation Technology; the concept of using
electromagnetic forces to remediate oil spills and pollution.
As Principal Scientist of Natural Science, LLC, he, and the
team built the company’s first product, EMOP™ -
Electromagnetic Oil Spill Remediation Technology. The
technology has introduced a new paradigm to natural
environmental remediation.

Arden is also a Senior Accelerator Physicist and Engineer at Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory
where he leads the team responsible for the Machine Protections Systems on the Proton
improvement Plan-II Project (PIP-II). The PIP-II particle accelerator is a state-of-the-art, high-power
superconducting radio frequency (SRF) linear accelerator that will enable the most intense high-
energy neutrino beam for the laboratory’s flagship project—the Long Baseline Neutrino Facility and
Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (LBNF/DUNE). LBNF/DUNE is an international project to
study neutrinos.

Arden is a proud graduate of The City College of New York class of 1989 with a BS in Physics and is the
recipient of the 2020 Division of Science Distinguished Alumni Award. He received a PhD in Accelerator
Physics from the State University of New York at Stony Brook (1995). He is also the recipient of the
2016 Barbados Golden Jubilee Award for Innovation and Technology given in recognition of
contributions to oil remediation technology, innovative energy research in solar and wind energy and
meritorious service to the nation of Barbados.

2

Breakout Room #1 – Biology – STEP (1)

Moderator: Jolene Brown
Judges: Briseida Cortez-Rodriguez and Diana Samaroo

Primary Presentation Institution Project Title

Presenter Code

Aminata BS-1 New York The Effect of the COVID-19 Vaccine on
Gueye University Our Community

(STEP)

Christopher BS-2 CEYE Mount Effects of CART- originated Cytokines on
Cruz Sinai (STEP) Tumor Cell Sensitivity to T-cell Killing

David BS-3 New York Exploring the Effects of Ultraviolet
Mercado
University Radiation on Model DNA: Yeast Colony
Kaizia
Johnson (STEP) Growth

BS-4 CEYE Mount Racial and Ethnic Difference in Children

Sinai (STEP) with Eosinophilic Esophagitis

3

Breakout Room #2 – Biology – STEP (2)

Moderator: Meagan Zayas and Diandra Jugmohan
Judges: Tiffany Wong and Christine Ta

Primary Presenter Presentation Institution Project Title

Code Implementation of a Rapid and
Scalable qPCR-based T-Cell
Kemuel Nunez BS-5 CEYE Mount Activation Assay
Sinai (STEP) The Mirrored Eye Dropper

Yash Patel BS-6 City College of The Epidemiology of Obesity
Tri Dinh New York
(STEP) Stroke
Tri Dinh
BS-7 Albert
Einstein
College of
Medicine
(STEP)

BS-8 Albert
Einstein
College of
Medicine
(STEP)

4

Breakout Room #3 – Biology – CSTEP

Moderator: Edgardo Sanabria-Valentin
Judges: Jamie Parker and Laxmi Mishra

Primary Presentation Institution Project Title
Presenter Code
Adebayo BS-9 New York Identifying and Validating a Novel
Efunnuga BS-10 University Gene Expressed in the Prefrontal
Jalen Crespo
BS-11 (CSTEP) Cortex
Lya Bueno BS-12 City Passivation of Fluorescent Nanosensor

Mykel Barrett BS-13 College of for in vivo Sensor Development
New York
Yvette Somersel (CSTEP) Aquaponics in the Classroom
Lehman
College Bioinformatic Identification and
(CSTEP) Experimental Evaluation of the
Onecut1 and Otx2 Transcription
City Factors in the ThrbCRM1 and ThrbICR
College of Enhancer Genomic Elements
New York Functional Characterization of FOXP1
(CSTEP)
Mutations
New York
University

(CSTEP)

5

Breakout Room #4 – Social Science – STEP/CSTEP

Moderator: Mikka Gay
Judges: Chavonna Brooks and Lennon Safe

Presentation Institution Project Title
Primary Presenter Code

Alfredo Tapia SS-1 Baruch The Effects of Jealousy and
James Pyne
Nusrat Mim College Competitiveness
Daniel Tolbert
(STEP)
Goodness Njoku
Austin SS-2 New York Rising Sea Levels: What Caused Them

Leury Santana University and How They Will Affect You

(STEP)

SS-3 Baruch The Effects of Screen Time on

College Academic Success

(STEP)

SS-4 Hostos The Effects of a Summer Program on

Community Students’ Perceptions on

College Mathematics

(CSTEP)

SS-5 City College Factors Associated with Poor

of New York Outcomes of Childhood Cancer in

(CSTEP) Africa: A Systematic Review

SS-6 Hostos The Impact of Social Media on

Community Students’ attitudes of activism.

College

(CSTEP)

6

Breakout Room #5 – Mixed – STEP/CSTEP

Moderator: Carlos Restrepo
Judges: Gregory Rodriguez and Harrison Asare

Primary Presenter Presentation Institution Project Title

Code

Afifa Tanisa O-1 New York Assessing Factors Necessary for
Grace Addo
Ivanna Nwokeji University Sustainable Buildings
Tyler Escudero
(STEP)
Scarlet Martínez
Cardoze O-2 New York How Your Daily Routine Impacts

University Sleep

(STEP)

O-3 Hostos Understanding Evolution from the

Community Basis

College (STEP)

O-4 Mount Saint The Technology Behind

Michael Dermatology

Academy

(STEP)

O-5 Hostos In Silico Discovery of Neutralizing

Community Agents Targeting SARS-CoV-2

College Spike Glycoprotein

(CSTEP)

7

MATH PHYSICS
CHEM

ABSTRACTS

BIO

The Effect of the COVID-19 Vaccine on Our Community

Aminata Gueye- STEP - New York University
Co-presenters- Jarif Khaled, Samantha Mazariego
Mentor- Gabrielle S. Li – New York University
Biological Sciences

The purpose of our study is to analyze how our environment can influence the community's
feelings on the COVID-19 vaccine. With the spread of misinformation, it is important to be
aware of the benefits of getting vaccinated. The vaccine helps recognize a disease and
produce proteins called antibodies against it. The body prepares to fight off a virus, giving us
immunity to the virus. We created a survey that asked questions, ratings, and opinions of how
society affected their perception of the vaccine. As we analyzed the responses, many
participants found it difficult to commit to decisions that can possibly have negative side
effects from the vaccine. However, many of our participants still chose to be vaccinated
because of the positive experiences from other vaccinated community members. Therefore,
our community can create a positive influence on the decisions that we make.

Exploring the Effects of Ultraviolet Radiation on Model DNA: Yeast Colony
Growth

David Mercado- STEP- New York University
Co-presenter- Tyrone Offei-Okyne
Mentor: Juan Azcona, Ph.D New York University
Biological Sciences

Objective: Bakers and brewers rely on Saccharomyces cerevisiae (Baker's yeast) for their
creations. Saccharomyces cerevisiae is a eukaryote often used as a model organism in
laboratories. S. cerevisiae has a nucleus, mitochondria, and other organelles which are
characteristic of other eukaryotic cells such as those found in humans. Their small size, quick
generation time, widespread availability, and well-studied genetics are all qualities that make
them appealing as model organisms. The population can double every two hours under ideal
growing conditions so a single cell can grow into a viable colony in 24–48 hours.
Furthermore, yeast cultures could be grown at room temperature which is ideal in temperature
variable settings. Sunlight is a source of UV light which potentially will damage DNA if
exposed for too long. S. cerevisiae will be used in this study to explore the effect of UV light
on the growth of these microorganisms.

Expected Results: This experiment will be studying the amount of DNA damage in reaction
to the amount of UV exposure. This will be measured by counting cell numbers under a
microscope prior and post exposure to UV light. CO2 production measured by bubbling will
be used to measure metabolic activity of yeast. We hypothesize that UV light would
negatively impact the growth and metabolic activity of yeast.

9

Effects of CART- originated cytokines on tumor cell sensitivity to T-cell
killing

Christopher Cruz- STEP- CEYE Mount Sinai
Mentor: Alfonso Rodriguez- Mount Sinai
Biological Sciences/ Medicine

During my research stay in the Brown lab as a part of the CEYE Biomedical Science
Enrichment Program 2021, I am exploring the hypothesis that the targeting of mouse tumor-
associated macrophages with CAR-T cells will indirectly sensitize tumor cells in their vicinity
to T-cell killing, thanks to the release of cytokines leading to an increase of tumor antigen
presentation. Specifically, I am conducting in vitro experiments to understand which elements
are necessary for the increase in tumor antigen presentation to happen in this context. The
goal of my research is to generate preliminary data that can be used to set up therapeutic
experiments in mice, using CAR-T cells to target macrophages and TCR-transgenic T-cells to
kill tumor cells.

Racial and Ethnic Difference in Children with Eosinophilic Esophagitis

Kaizia Johnson - STEP- CEYE Mount Sinai
Mentors: Talaya McCright-Gill & Mirna Chehade- Mount Sinai
Medicine

Introduction: Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EoE) is a chronic esophageal inflammatory disease.
Studies report that >70% of children diagnosed with EoE are White. We aimed to investigate
differences in histological and endoscopic severity of EoE among various racial groups in
children treated at the Mount Sinai Center for Eosinophilic Disorders.

Hypothesis: We hypothesize that racial minority patients have more severe disease than White
patients.

Methods: A retrospective chart review was performed. Inclusion criteria were age 0-19 years,
histologically active disease (esophageal eosinophil count 15/HPF) on initial endoscopy, and
absence of concurrent non-EoE. We compared racial and ethnic groups with respect to age at
diagnosis and endoscopic and histological inflammatory disease severity.

Results: 263 subjects were identified, mean age 9.7±4.9 years. Race distribution was 83.1%
White, 5.3% Black, 3.4% Asian, 7.1% other/unknown. As for ethnicity, 8.3% were Hispanic,
85.3% non-Hispanic, 1.1% unknown. White patients were significantly older than Black and
Asian patients (10.2 vs. 6.0 and 6.8 years, respectively, p<0.05), no difference was seen with
respect to ethnicity. No differences were seen in peak esophageal eosinophil counts among
racial/ethnic groups. Endoscopic furrows were significantly different among racial groups
(White 81.8% vs. Black 61.5% vs. Asian 37.5%, p<0.01), but not white exudates.
Conclusions: Racial differences exist in EoE children with respect to age at presentation and
endoscopic features of inflammation. Investigation is ongoing to examine other measures of
disease severity (symptoms, comorbidities, response to therapy). This will help tailor
diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to children with EoE for better outcomes.

10

Implementation of a rapid and scalable qPCR-based T-cell activation assay

Kemuel Nunez –STEP - Mount Sinai
Mentor - Megan Schwarz- Mount Sinai
Biological/Life Sciences

The rapid deployment of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines argues in favor of new approaches to measure
the duration of the immune response and the potential need for boosters. We aim to test the
persistence of SARS-CoV-2 specific T cells in selected populations. The goal is to use the
dqTACT assay to test the presence of T cells due to natural infection or vaccination, in adults
and children. This will possibly aid in nationwide booster strategy decisions. Then we will
evaluate the capability of the dqTACT assay to detect antigen-specific T cells beyond SARS-
CoV-2. This includes the influenza vaccine and pediatric patients affected by food allergy.

The Mirrored Eye Dropper

Yash Patel – STEP- City College of New York
Co-Presenters: Mashraf Rodan, Navkarn Daroch
Biological/Life Sciences/ Medicine

Eye drops are supposed to be put in the inner corner of the eye. However, they are not properly
applied due to the common factor of people not being able to see where to put them. Forty
percent reported that the most common problem of eye-drop installation regards difficulty with
applying the eye drop in the proper place. Our innovation includes a small mirror attached to the
eyedropper, allowing individuals to properly instill the drops in the correct location. This mirror
would allow them to increase their ability to view what they are doing and to make sure the
drops are placed correctly in the eyes. We gathered 30 random people who instill eye drops on a
regular basis. They were monitored while instilling eye drops for one week. About 25 of the
thirty people instilled eye drops in a manner which caused most of the liquid solution to fall out
of their eyes. After being informed of the proper manner of inserting eye drops, these individuals
continued to insert the drop incorrectly as they were unable to visualize where they were placing
the drop. They were then provided with the mirror attached to their eye drops. 23 out of the 25
people were able to instill the eye drop exactly in the inner left corner of the eye. This did not
lead to any waste of the solution. This solves the issue to a decent extent. This product can also
be used for nonmedical purposes such as plucking unibrow.

11

The Epidemiology of Obesity

Tri Dinh - STEP - Einstein Enrichment Program
Medicine/Biological Sciences
Obesity is a complex, multifactorial disease that can cause death to humans. However, this
disease can also be prevented if people have a proper understanding and knowledge of it. As a
common knowledge, obesity is caused by eating too much and moving too little, creating a
high amount of energy that can not be released. It will then turn into body fat and cause
obesity. This research paper is designed to provide a deeper understanding of what causes
obesity, different types of obesity, different symptoms of obesity, who is more at risk of
obesity (age, gender, etc.), the ranges of BMI that various groups of age should be in, the
consequences, and ways to prevent this disease.

Stroke

Tri Dinh – STEP- Einstein Enrichment Program
Medicine/Biological Sciences
This research paper is about Stroke - a very dangerous disease that can cause death to humans.
It happens as the continuous blood flow to the brain is blocked suddenly which causes an
interruption and makes brain cells die. Understanding the fundamental notion of stroke is very
important. This research paper is going to dive deeper into things that cause strokes, different
types of stroke, who is more at risk of stroke (age, gender, race, etc), symptoms,
consequences, and what are the best ways that we can prevent ourselves from this disease.

12

Identifying and Validating a Novel Gene Expressed in the Prefrontal Cortex

Adebayo Efunnuga- CSTEP - New York University
Mentor: Yoav Hadas- Mount Sinai Hospital
Biological Sciences

This project focuses on identifying risk genes and biological pathways in neurodevelopmental
disorders, including autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Before we can identify if a gene is a
risk gene, we need to first identify all the genes present. Long-read RNA sequencing (RNA
Isoseq) and single-cell RNA sequencing were carried out on a neurotypical postmortem
human brain to profile all the isoforms that are expressed, and in which cells the genes are
expressed. With this approach, we found a novel gene which was expressed in only excitatory
neurons. To confirm whether this gene was truly present and if it was only expressed in this
individual, we used transcripts from eight neurotypical human postmortem prefrontal cortex
(four males, four females) to validate this gene through Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR).
We designed primers for all three isoforms expressed by this gene and optimized the
condition for the reaction. We were able to confirm that these isoforms were truly present in
the brain and were also expressed in other human brains.

Passivation of Fluorescent Nanosensor for in vivo Sensor Development

Jalen Crespo - CSTEP - City College of New York
Mentor - Ryan Williams
Biological Sciences/ Medicine

Advances in the sciences have created implantable nanosensors to detect cancers at early
stages of development. Fluorescence optical properties of single-walled carbon nanotubes are
used as a tool for detection of biomarkers which indicates early-stage cancer. In breast cancer
for example, the 5-year survival rate at the distant stage, on the SEER scale of breast cancer
development, is 28%. The Estrogen Receptor Alpha protein plays an important role in the
progression and development of breast cancer. The survival rates can be increased with the
use of nanosensors to detect the spread of cancers at early stages of development. The
limitation of nanosensor application often is the risk of non-specific interactions with other
proteins. This compromises the selectivity with which the biomarker of interest can be
detected. In our research, we are focusing on improving the selectivity of Estrogen Receptor
Alpha (ERA) nanosensors. The ERA nanosensor is designed to detect ERA protein as an
analyte of interest. We have performed studies with the base construct of this nanosensor. We
use base construct of this nanosensor SWCNT-TAT6 as a model system for evaluating
success of different passivating agents reducing the nonspecific interactions. Protein based
and polymer based passivating agents were used. BSA and PEG were the chosen candidates
from each of these groups. Our studies indicate that BSA is the better candidate for
passivation than PEG. With this in mind, using these optimized agents will help increase the
SWCNTs’ selectivity to detect the biomarker of interest, thus finding cancers early in
development.

13

Aquaponics in the Classroom

Lya Bueno- CSTEP - Lehman College
Mentor- Soraya Abdelaziz- Lehman College
Biological Sciences

This project was designed due to my interest in discovering how a modern day agricultural
technique could cultivate plants with the help of a fish. Aquaponics is the combination of
aquaculture (raising fish) and hydroponics (growing plants in water, without soil). The basic
principle of aquaponics is very simple. Fish are grown in aquaculture tanks where nutrient-
rich water from fish culture is pumped into hydroponic beds to irrigate and fertilize plants.
The nutrient-rich water from raising fish provides a natural fertilizer for the plants and the
plants help to purify the water for the fish. To create this project, I used a Betta fish, three
gallon tank, three grow pods with grow medium to cultivate the plants, two types of organic
seeds (wheatgrass and radish microgreens), a water pump to recycle the nutrient-rich water,
and water conditioner to remove the chlorine contaminated tap water. The results were very
surprising. I discovered how fish and plants can be cultivated efficiently with minimal waste,
space, and maintenance. The plants usually are supposed to grow in a total of 7-10 days to
harvest, however, the growing process was very fast and the plants took about 4- 5 days in
total to reach full growth. For example, my wheatgrass plants grew up to 7.5 inches in total in
just 5 days. These results most likely suggest that the environment in which the plants were
grown in was healthy and full of nutrient-rich water which allowed for optimal plant growth
and quick results.

Bioinformatic Identification and Experimental Evaluation of the Onecut1
and Otx2 Transcription Factors in the ThrbCRM1 and ThrbICR Enhancer
Genomic Elements

Mykel Barrett- CSTEP - City College of New York
Mentor- Mark Emerson, Ph.D.
Biological Sciences

During retinogenesis, Thrb gene products play a critical role in the establishment of unique
cone cell subtypes through the regulation of opsin expression in response to thyroid hormone
signals. Developmental transcription of Thrb is known to be regulated in-part by ThrbCRM1,
and ThrbICR, two cis-regulatory enhancer elements that exhibit sequence divergence across
species within their transcription factor binding sites. To explore the functional consequences
of this divergence, as well as the discord that exists between in vitro and in vivo transcription
factor binding motifs, plasmid vectors containing mutant cis-regulatory sequences driving
fluorescent reporters were electroplated into developing G. gallus retinal tissue. Flow
cytometry data suggest that variant transcription factor binding sites drive patterns of activity
distinct from that of wild-type motifs, suggesting particular permutations of nucleotides were
selected for because of the unique patterns of gene expression that they drive. Our findings
demonstrate that mutations in ThrbCRM1 and ThrbICR can change the expression levels of
the Thrb gene and underlie species-specific evolutionary changes in developmental cone cell
physiology. They also highlight the limitations of in vitro studies of transcription factor
binding preferences which fail to recapitulate the molecular milieu of the authentic
physiological setting.

14

Functional Characterization of FOXP1 Mutations

Yvette Somersel- CSTEP - New York University
Biological Sciences

Abstract Background: De Novo mutations altering the forkhead box protein 1 (FOXP1) gene,
essential in encoding the FOXP1 transcription factor that is key in early brain development,
causes FOXP1 syndrome (Lozano et al., 2021). This neuro-developmental disorder is
phenotypically delineated by bouts of Intellectual Disability (ID), language impairment, and
motor delays. FOXP1 syndrome is highly associated with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
Methods: HeLa cells were cultured in DMEM and passaged frequently to avoid over-
confluency. Transfection was performed using P.O. to coat the 24-well plates, PEI, and Opti-
MEM buffer to increase the transfection efficiency and DMEM medium to dissolve excess
PEI. Cells were then transferred to coated poly-L-lysine coverslips and fixed for 24h after the
initial transfection. Flag-Wild Type (WT), Flag-FOXP1, and V513A were visualized using
antibodies ms-HA (1:1000), Rb-HA (1:500), and Rb-HA (1:200), respectively. Results: As of
current, we have not been able to identify nor verify any de novo mutations from the previous
research of similar studies. Only one round of WT FOXP1 staining was performed, and the
immunostaining results were not adequate. Co-localization occurred slightly, but it was
difficult to tell due to a large amount of noise and lack of visibility of the red channel. We
determined that the antibody dilutions were too weak to definitively say anything about these
possibly pathogenic mutations. Our next steps involve altering the dilution factors and
running a digestion and western blot analysis to check to see if the FOXP1-HA tag is correct.

The Effects of Jealousy and Competitiveness

Alfredo Tapia – STEP - Baruch College
Mentor: Yuliya M. Cheban
Social Sciences

Most people view jealousy and competitiveness as maladaptive traits. Research has even linked
the two to relationship dissolution. The present research aimed to assess two ideas using a
convenience and snowball sampling methodology: (1) whether jealousy and competitiveness
results to difficulty keeping friends and (2) the adaptive, more positive, qualities of these two
traits in an adolescent sample. It was found that although participants did perceive the traits as
maladaptive, they also found the traits to facilitate innovation, growth, and performance.

15

Rising Sea Levels: What Caused Them and How They Will Affect You

James Pyne – STEP - New York University
Mentor: Amateka Morgan – New York University
Social Sciences

My experiment was to see what the primary effect of rising sea levels is and how the rise of
sea levels affects different populations. I researched the causes of rising sea levels by using
different online sources and then used this information to see its effect on different
environments and people. What I found was that with methane gasses creating holes in the
ozone layer, global average temperatures have increased and caused ice to melt, greatly
increasing sea level rise. Another large source of sea level rise is ocean pollution. Trash in the
ocean greatly increases the mass of the seas and leads to high amounts of sea level rise. On
average sea levels have risen eight inches in the past 140 years according to NATIONAL
GEOGRAPHIC. I conclude that levels will continue to increase at even faster rates as society
“progresses.”

The effects of a summer program on students’ perceptions on mathematics

Daniel Tolbert- CSTEP- Hostos Community College
Co-Presenters- Jeremy Whyte, Ashley Holland
Mentors: Prof. Reginald Dorcely, Dr. Moise Koffi
Mathematics/ Social Sciences

With no choice but to adhere to quarantine protocol, many academic programs had to adapt to
the medium of online education, including the STEP and STEM Programs. The science
technology entry program (STEP) is not well understood. Undermined by the pandemic, the
proportion of underrepresented minority (URM) students graduating with Science,
Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) degrees and entering the STEM
workplace continues to be significantly low. Our purpose is to examine archival data of
surveys over two summers to show the impact of the virtual program on students' perceptions.
Approximately 130 students completed an impact evaluation survey on the summer program
activities. The results indicated that the virtual programs students' perceptions of the program
were above average for both summers. Overall, students believe that the virtual summer
program has improved their program solving skills. Students felt that they had learned better
by using hands-on techniques. Overall, the virtual summer sessions were engaging.

16

The Effects of Screen Time on Academic Success

Nusrat Mim- STEP- Baruch College
Mentor: Yuliya M. Cheban
Social Sciences

The amount of time adolescents are spending on their phone has steadily increased. The current
study sought to examine whether the type of screen time (e.g., educational versus recreational)
impacted motivation in online and/or in person schooling. Additionally, the current study
examined what adolescents’ phones served as a distraction from (e.g., unpleasant life events). In
this adolescent sample, it was found that the phone does distract from unpleasant life events;
however, no relationship was found between that and motivation.

Factors Associated with Poor Outcomes of Childhood Cancer in Africa: A
Systematic Review

Goodness Njoku Austin- CSTEP- City College of New York
Mentor- Tanya M. Trippett MD- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
Social Sciences

Introduction: A disproportion exist where the capacity for pediatric cancer research is limited
in Ghana compared to the U.S. The 5-year survival rate of childhood cancers has surpassed
80% in the U.S whereas Ghana has a survival rate of 30% or less. This literature review
evaluates factors associated with poor outcomes of childhood cancer (POCC) in Africa.
Methods: Search of PubMed, Embase, and Scopus using key word combinations “cancer,”
“neoplasm,” “tumor,” “malignancy,” AND “pediatric,” “childhood,” “children,” AND
“Africa,” “Ghana,” yielded 5,569 articles. Applying inclusion criteria of childhood cancer
diagnosis in Sub-Saharan Africa excluded 5,540 articles. Of the remaining 29 articles, 19
(66%) addressed causes of POCC in Africa. Results: Of the 19 articles, shortage of financial
capital was noted in 89% and considered critical reason for POCC in 32%. Resource
shortages, medical and professional, were noted in 68% and considered critical in 26%. Late
presentation of symptoms was in 42% and were critical for POCC in 16%. Limitations in
oncology training was in 47% and socioeconomic factors was a prognostic indicator in 16%,
but no articles characterized either of these factors as a primary cause of POCC. Notably, 26%
articles did not rank proposed causes of POCC into orders of importance. Conclusion:
Suggests that shortages of finances, resources, oncology training and late symptom
presentation in addition to socioeconomic factors contribute to POCC. We are creating a
pediatric cancer hospital in Ghana, to offer the resources of a comprehensive cancer center to
save lives of children with cancer in Africa.

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The impact of social media on students’ attitudes of activism

Leury Santana- CSTEP- Hostos Community College
Co-Presenters – Jose Gonzalez, Aaron Arjunelall
Mentor: Dr. Lauren Wolf
Social Sciences
Social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter, Orkut, etc., divert students from their studies.
Students spend more time on social media than they do use personal email. Even though there
is a loss of privacy and safety, social media provides opportunities for connecting with
friends, classmates, and people with shared interests. Students should receive stellar education
that can prepare them for their future careers. Our study will show how students’ activism can
help people of color interpret issues that impact their academic attitudes. After reading posts
for Instagram, we hypothesize that students will be motivated by activism activities such as
insecurities, Black lives matter, CUNY’S racist Austerity budget, environmental justice, and
equity in healthcare. A mixed research approach will indicate if there is a positive correlation
between reading posts on Instagram and students’ involvement in activism. A questionnaire is
designed to determine various factors of social media that impact students’ perceptions of
activism.

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Assessing Factors Necessary for Sustainable Buildings

Afifa Tanisa- STEP- New York University
Co-Presenter- Raffer Chen
Mentor: Dr. Ignatius Tan New York University
Physical Sciences

Infrastructure sustainability integrates development amid diminishing natural resources and
the accumulation of climate change. Specifically, sustainable buildings address resource
conservation, energy efficiency, and human adaptation. Implementing sustainability principles
in buildings mitigates the balance between environmental, social, and economic conditions.
Characteristically, thermal comfort, a subjective environmental measure defined by air
temperature, radiant temperature, air velocity, and indoor humidity, is applied in the life cycle
of sustainable buildings. Energy use, carbon footprint, maintenance cost, and occupant
satisfaction, derived from the thermal environment, measure the effectiveness of sustainable
buildings. Modifications to the thermal environment reveal which factor(s) directly impact the
sustainability of buildings, allowing for maintainable and improvable conditions. Most
sustainable buildings receive adequate funding to produce environment-friendly conditions
but limiting sustainability to commercial buildings and skyscrapers limits mitigation.
Therefore, our work studies the essential factors of sustainable buildings to expand
sustainability principles to government-funded and other residential dwellings cost-effectively
and advantageously.

How Your Daily Routine Impacts Sleep

Grace Addo- STEP- New York University
Co-Presenter- Nour Mohamed
Mentor: Angel Pena, PharmD- New York University
Human Services

Sleep hygiene is a concept that encompasses the collective healthy sleep habits that promote
an individual’s ability to fall and stay asleep. Maintaining a regular sleep schedule, restricting
caffeine consumption to mornings, and shutting off electronics at least 30 minutes before
bedtime are a few of the recommended practices from the American Academy of Sleep
Medicine. Practicing good sleep hygiene has also been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic,
as more individuals are required to work remotely, thus increasing their electronic device
usage and their reliance on consuming products to increase wakefulness. We believe that
specific routine habits, such as caffeine intake and electronic device use, affect sleep more
than other sleep hygiene habits. In this study, we will challenge our subjects’ sleep hygiene by
enabling and restricting their access to caffeine and electronics. We expect these changes in
daily habits will have immediate effects on sleep hygiene.

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Understanding Evolution from the Basis

Ivanna Nwokeji- STEP- Hostos Community College
Co-Presenter: Lacy Ann Brady
Mentor: Dr. Damaris-Lois Lang
Human Services

There has been ineffable controversy regarding the theory of evolution and creation based on
faith. The supernatural concept of creation and the theory of evolution have been deemed as
being mutually exclusive. This is partly because creationism - also known as special creation
(or special formation) - being proposed as a ‘scientific’ theory, has marred the supernatural
concept of creation based on faith. This research analyzes the various defining components of
each theory by categorizing and comparing them side by side to identify the misnomer that
may present them as mutually exclusive. The factors that substantiate each theory as a natural
and/or as a social science will be identified. Data has been collected and analyzed to
determine a general mindset from students and religious people regarding evolution, special
formation and creation. Preliminary data showed that the distinct identification of the
evolution theory as a natural science concept and not a social science concept is missing.
Furthermore, the supported and accepted theory of evolution which is the Darwinian evolution
has been misconstrued and mislabeled with the understanding of the Lamarckian evolution
theory instead, which is the rejected and unsupported theory of evolution. The special
formation theory (creationism), on the other hand, is being misconstructed as a scientific
theory based on the supernatural and religious belief of creation. However, creation, as a
religious belief falls under the social science concept.

The Technology Behind Dermatology

Tyler Escudero- STEP - Einstein Enrichment Program
Mentor- Amira Williams- Einstein University
Medicine/Technology

This presentation illustrates the positive impact of technology on the field of Dermatology.
Dermatology is the study of skin, hair, and nails. The presentation demonstrates the many
importances of keeping your skin healthy and taking care of it. The effects of technology on
dermatology have pioneered new methods for addressing hair, skin, and nail conditions that
help efficiently diagnose and cure diseases. The presentation highlights new technological
methods such as IPL Lasers, Laser Genesis, and Sclerotherapy. Additionally, this presentation
also examines technological advancements in cosmetic procedures such as Fraxel & Secret
Rf, Microdermabrasion, and Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP). The findings express how the field
of dermatology continues to become more advanced with the current growth in technology.
This allows the field of dermatology to detect and cure skin diseases at a higher proficiency
rate than before, consequently saving more lives.

20

In Silico Discovery of Neutralizing Agents Targeting SARS-CoV-2 Spike
Glycoprotein

Scarlet Martinez Cardoze- CSTEP- Hostos Community College
Co-Presenter: Onyinyechi Winner Obineche
Mentor: Yoel Rodríguez, Ph.D.
Chemistry
The Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has caused the
coronavirus diseases 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The SARS-CoV-2 Spike (S) glycoprotein
via its receptor-binding domain (RBD) recognizes the hACE2 receptor facilitating viral entry
into target cells. Despite the available SARS-CoV-2 vaccines, there is still a keen need to
identify selective antivirals against this virus and the S glycoprotein RBD is a key target to
neutralize the virus. We hypothesize that small molecules could disrupt its interaction with
hACE2, and therefore affect SARS-CoV-2 replication. Towards this end, we performed
structure-based virtual screening of a commercially available compounds database against S
glycoprotein RBD models using OEDocking. The Chemguass4 scoring function was used to
rank the screened molecules based on affinity. The best candidate compounds were tested
using the SARS-CoV-2 pseudotyped lentivirus assays. Three of these compounds showed
antiviral selectivity. These compounds could eventually lead to effective antiviral therapeutic
treatment options against COVID-19.

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