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 posters 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 displayed in 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 2023 C/STEP Bronx-Manhattan Regional Research Expo Planning Committee: Elida Martinez-Gaynor (Barnard College) - Convener Edgardo Sanabria-Valentin (John Jay College of Criminal Justice) Nkem Stanley Mbamelu (The City College of New York) Shu-Yuan (Demi) Cheng (John Jay College of Criminal Justice) Carolina Salane (Fordham University)
Dear C/STEP Bronx-Manhattan Regional Research Expo Attendees, Greetings and welcome to the 5th Annual C/STEP Bronx-Manhattan Regional Research Expo. For over 35 years, CSTEP and STEP have provided a wide range of activities, support services, and learning communities for our students to develop and grow academically, professionally, and personally. CSTEP and STEP have provided historically underrepresented students the opportunity to receive comprehensive support toward successful degree completion within STEM and health-related fields. CSTEP and STEP are highly regarded, nationally recognized programs committed to access, equity, and nurturing academic excellence. The Research EXPO showcases students' hard work in undergraduate research, one-on-one research mentorships/internships, and field experiences. “Early exposure to STEM can bring about a spark in a child's mind that encourages them to continue this path through college and into the professional world.” Why STEM Education Is Essential for the Youth of Tomorrow, Morgan Appel, July 2020 Today, our students will present their natural, physical, behavioral, and social sciences projects. By engaging in research through these projects, our students develop a deeper understanding of the subject matter than is possible through classroom instruction alone. They have worked incredibly hard to get here and have spent much time doing experiments, analyzing data, and developing new ways to look at our world. We hope this 5th Annual Research Expo can serve as a moment for the scholars to present their research, network, and enjoy and celebrate their hard work. On behalf of our Planning Committee and of all the program directors, administrators, instructors, advisors, and other staff that help develop and run our programs, I want to tell you how incredibly proud all of you make us every time you raise your hand, every time you ask more questions. Every time you all go above and beyond to represent your program. Today, we look forward to hearing you present your work and demonstrate all the skills you have developed. Our future is already better because you are here, representing the future of New York City and ensuring all our voices are heard. Sincerely, Elida Martinez-Gaynor, M.A. Research Expo Convener CSTEP Director, Barnard College
BRONX- MANHATTAN C/STEP REGION STEP PROGRAMS Columbia University VP&S CUNY Baruch College CUNY Borough of Manhattan Community College CUNY Bronx Community College CUNY Hostos Community College CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice CUNY Lehman College CUNY The City College of New York Fordham University Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai (ISMMS) New York University New York University Grossman School of Medicine New York Institute of Technology (Manhattan Campus) CSTEP PROGRAMS Barnard College CUNY Hostos Community College CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice CUNY School of Labor and Urban Studies CUNY The City College of New York Fordham University Manhattan College New York University Pace University SUNY College of Optometry
# Presenter's First Name Presenter's Last Name Program Page # 1 Fatma Abu Ganba STEP 9 2 Kimberly Acevedo Ramirez STEP 7 3 Lucas Arocho STEP 9 4 Duaa Baig STEP 9 5 Emma Bautista STEP 9 6 Aishnalya Beharry STEP 8 7 Kai Bradley STEP 8 8 Lya Bueno STEP 6 9 Tanvir Chahal STEP 10 10 Michael Faloye STEP 8 11 Amanda Fang STEP 2 12 Caren Fu STEP 9 13 Saul Garcia Gonzalez STEP 1 14 Aya Hamdan STEP 4 15 Lucas Heidbreder STEP 9 16 Mason Herman STEP 8 17 Fiona Jablonowski STEP 3 18 Emma Jae Rivera STEP 10 19 Saradine Jean Louis STEP 4 20 Nathaniel Kassa STEP 10 21 Chloe Li STEP 4 22 Jefferson Lian STEP 9 23 Laura Maca Vela STEP 2 24 Tazeem Mahashin STEP 7 25 Marianna Mancebo STEP 9 26 Ariadny Morocho STEP 3 27 Alexander Munoz Esquivel STEP 10 28 Salma Nassar STEP 7 29 Ivanna Nwokeji STEP 6 30 Vanya Nyarko STEP 3
# Presenter's First Name Presenter's Last Name Program Page # 31 Chukwuemeka Okwuka STEP 10 32 Mariah Pabon STEP 5 33 Josh Ramdass STEP 9 34 Tamima Rohman STEP 4 35 Nicole Santos STEP 3 36 Natalia St. Helen STEP 1 37 Tasnim Sumaita STEP 5 38 Victoria Torres STEP 1 39 Zadia White-Regis STEP 3 40 Jack Yang STEP 8 41 Noor Aayla CSTEP 20 42 Raghd Ahmed CSTEP 19 43 Grace Assabil-Bentum CSTEP 16 44 Leah Barcelo CSTEP 16 45 Sylvie Bural CSTEP 14 46 Julianne Cepero CSTEP 11 47 Andy Cuzco CSTEP 10 48 Claudia Dabie CSTEP 18 49 Jhoanna Diaz CSTEP 14 50 Daphne Hernandez CSTEP 15 51 Irma Hernandez CSTEP 19 52 Brianna Jenkins CSTEP 12 53 Mariam Kamissoko CSTEP 17 54 Nusrat Khan CSTEP 17 55 Kayla Lucas CSTEP 18 56 Brandon Pedroza Ceron CSTEP 15 57 Maria Rosario CSTEP 11 58 Dewan Sadiyah CSTEP 13 59 Fatima Topia CSTEP 14 60 Veronika Zenkeviciute CSTEP 12
1 Investigating gene expression patterns in Schizophrenia genes Saul Garcia Gonzalez, Paul O'Reilly, Ph.D.* Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Schizophrenia is a debilitating psychiatric disorder that affects ~1% of the population worldwide (Owen et al., 2016). Schizophrenia is usually detected around adolescence and early adulthood and manifests into positive symptoms (like hallucinations and delusions) and negative symptoms (like disorganized speech, lack of motivation, and trouble thinking) (NHS, 2021). Although extensive research has been conducted to understand the genetic factors predisposing to schizophrenia, a lot is still unknown. For example, 109 genes have been recently identified as potentially affecting genetic risk to develop schizophrenia (Trubetskoy et al., 2022), but the tissues where these schizophrenia genes are expressed in the human body are still unknown. In this paper we investigated gene expression across tissues gathered from the Gene Tissue Expression (GTEx) database (“The Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx) Project,” 2013) and used these data to evaluate the gene expression levels of the 109 schizophrenia genes identified by Trubetskoy et al., 2022. We found that the schizophrenia genes were highly expressed in brain tissue as expected. However, these same genes were also expressed in non-brain tissues. This leads us to conclude from this study that genes related to schizophrenia not only affect the brain but rather the whole body. Our findings could lead to future developments to better understand the biological mechanisms predisposing to schizophrenia, and ultimately improve the way medicines are produced to treat this psychiatric disorder. Effect of E2 on the Human SOD1 & CAT Gene Expression Natalia St. Helen, Victoria Torres, Patricio Menses* Fordham University Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually-transmitted virus in the United states. 75% to 89% of men and women will contract a form of HPV.1 HPV is divided into two subgroups: high and low risk. Generally, low risk HPV is harmless, causing only warts on the hands, feet or genitals. However, high-risk HPVs (e.g. HPV 16) are associated with anal and genital cancers, more specifically cervical cancers. High-risk HPV infections are associated with 99.7% of cervical cancer cases.2 HPV 16 has circular DNA consisting of different genes, such as E2, E6, and E7. E2 is a transcriptional regulator that inhibits proteins E6 and E7. When HPV DNA is integrated with human DNA the functionality of E2 is lost. E6 and E7 proteins inhibit tumor suppressor proteins p53 and Rb, which regulate the cell cycle. Without them, the cell then divides uncontrollably, resulting in cancer. Our results suggest that E2 was present in the E2-transfected samples after gel electrophoresis of the RT-PCR products. After confirming its presence, we could then proceed to observe the effects of E2 on SOD1 and CAT expression using gel electrophoresis. By performing one-step RT-PCR using primers specific to SOD1 and CAT, we observed that SOD1 and CAT expression is decreased in samples where E2 is expressed compared to samples transfected with pcDNA, suggesting that E2 is a transcriptional regulator, suppressing SOD1 and CAT in C33-A cells, which can lead to higher risk of oxidative stress.
2 TLS Polymerase Activity in B. Subtilis in MMS Laura Maca Vela, Elizabeth Thrall* Fordham University Bacillus subtilis are bacteria that inhabit the soil, roots of plants, and aquatic environments. It is not considered to be a human pathogen. Limited information is known about how it and other gram-positive bacteria do translesion synthesis (TLS), compared to gram-negative bacteria like E. coli, in which TLS is very well understood. When DNA damage occurs, it causes the regular replication machinery to be unable to copy the DNA. Understanding TLS is important because it has been implicated in bacterial antibiotic resistance. Antibiotic resistant bacteria have been found to have higher levels of TLS polymerases, which prevents treatments from being effective. B. subtilis has two TLS polymerases that replicate damaged DNA: Pol Y1 and Pol Y2. In this research, we are performing survival assays using experimental strains that lack Pol Y1 or Pol Y2 and exposing them to the DNA damaging drug methyl methanesulfonate (MMS). Their survival rate was tested to see which of the two polymerases promotes cell survival upon MMS treatment. Our results suggest that removing Pol Y1 from B. subtilis yielded the lowest survival rate of the bacteria, particularly after 2 mM of MMS dosage. Our data showed that the Pol Y1 knockout had a survival rate that was 2 times lower than the wild type and Pol Y2. Meanwhile, Pol Y2 knockout had a survival that was very consistent like the wild type, therefore, it can be concluded that Pol Y2 plays no role in the TLS response to MMS. iMALT: Improving Medication Adherence in Adolescents who had a Liver Transplant Amanda Fang, Rachel Annunziato* Fordham University Current liver transplant patients have proven to have a higher recovery rate and fewer complications under the right conditions and recovery process. However, non-adherence (not taking medication as prescribed) to immunosuppressants is a leading cause for poor long-term outcomes in transplant recipients. Long term outcomes such as late acute rejection is still a common problem, occurring in more than 7 to 40 percent of cases. In hopes of improving long-term outcomes, a new intervention, improving Medication Adherence in Adolescents who had a Liver Transplant (iMALT), has been created to target nonadherence to medication. iMALT focuses on communicative encouragement that occurs weekly for patients. Through both the monitoring of Medication Level Variability Index (MLVI), which measures and keeps track of adherence, and the positive effects of a support system, patients are more likely to report adherence to their medication. Taken together, the purpose of these studies is to provide targeted support for patients above and beyond what has already been implemented by the system. Furthermore, by ensuring a consistent treatment, iMALT can focus on the effective matters of the interventions and erase the non influential topics in their tailored interventions. This saves both time and resources for future incorporations to treatments for adolescents liver transplant patients.
3 Circadian Rhythm in Adolescents Nicole Santos, Soraya Abdelaziz* Lehman College This study explores how the circadian rhythm in adolescents affects their performance in school. Circadian rhythms are physical, mental, and behavioral changes that follow a 24-hour cycle. These natural processes respond primarily to light stimuli and affect most living things. I am interested in this topic because I noticed I am more mentally active later in the day. The internal sleep hormone melatonin is released later at night in teens than in kids and adults. This resets the body’s internal sleep clock so that teens fall asleep later at night and wake up later in the morning. Most teens are not tired enough for bed before 10 pm. The use of electronic devices before bed can make it hard to fall asleep. Bright lights and the blue light from electronic devices can further delay the release of melatonin, adding to the problem. I surveyed students in a small urban high school to determine whether external factors affect teens' sleep cycles or whether they are predisposed to later bedtimes. Based on the survey, the average sleep time is after 10 pm and wake up time before 6 am. The majority of students expressed that they feel tired, fatigued, or sleepy throughout the morning. Lastly, students expressed they were energetic in the afternoon (12pm – 4pm). Schools with early start times and packed schedules can take away the hours needed for sleep. Based on these results, students may benefit from later school start times to maximize their mental capacity. The Effect of Curcumin on Simazine Triggered Cytotoxicity in PC-12 Cells Vanya Nyarko, Zadia White-Regis, Alejandra Lopez-Rojas* John Jay College of Criminal Justice Simazine known as a herbicide has been found to have negative effects on reproductive systems and on neuron system via disrupting dopamine synthesis. Curcumin found in turmeric has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. The purpose of this study was to reveal whether curcumin can attenuate simazine-triggered cytotoxicity. The experiments were conducted to measure mitochondrial activity and apoptotic caspase status in neuronal PC12 cells. The data obtained from the experiments showed that simazine halted cell growth and curcumin can enhance cell growth after 48 hours exposure. And the result from apoptotic caspase assay showed that curcumin reduced the apoptotic caspase activity triggered by simazine after 24 and 48 hours exposures. These findings further support that curcumin could provide the beneficial effect on reducing herbicide simazine triggered cytotoxicity. Effect of Curcumin on Mancozebinduced Cytotoxicity in PC12 Cells Fiona Jablonowski ,Ariadny Morocho, Jagoda Tarnawa* John Jay College of Criminal Justice Mancozeb as a fungicide has known to trigger deteriorated effects on neuronal system and maybe associates with Parkinson’s disease. Curcumin, the active compound in turmeric, has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. The purpose of this study was to reveal whether curcumin can attenuate mancozeb-triggered cytotoxicity. The experiments were conducted
4 to measure mitochondrial activity, apoptotic caspase status, and oxidative stress in neuronal PC12 cells. The data obtained from the experiments showed there were attenuation effects of curcumin on mancozeb triggered mitochondrial damage after 24 hours chemical exposures, but not 48 hours. The elevated Caspase activity induced by mancozeb were lowered by curcumin after 24 hours and 48 hours exposures. The oxidative stress triggered by mancozeb was also reduced by curcumin after 48 hours chemical treatments. These results further support that curcumin could provide the beneficial effect on reducing pesticide toxicity. Antioxidant Curcumin Effect on Acetaminophen Toxic Metabolite Cytotoxicity in PC12 Cells Aya Hamdan, Tamima Rohman, Hannah Tetreault* John Jay College of Criminal Justice Acetaminophen commonly used to treat fever and pain is known to cause liver and kidney damages due to its active toxic metabolite Nacetyl-p-benzoquinone imine (NAPQI). Acetaminophen increases oxidative stress by depleting glutathione. Curcumin, a rhizome extract of curcuma longa, is commonly used as food coloring and flavoring agent. Curcumin has the ability to halt or prevent certain types of cancer, stop inflammation, and improve cardiovascular health. The purpose of this study was to demonstrate that curcumin can attenuate NAPQI-triggered cytotoxicity. The experiments were conducted to measure mitochondrial activity, apoptotic caspase status, and oxidative stress in neuronal PC12 cells. The data obtained from the CCK-8 mitochondrial activity assay showed there were attenuation effects of curcumin on NAPQI triggered mitochondrial damage after 24 hours chemical exposure. However, NAPQI has no effect on caspase 3/7 activations at the testing time points. Interestingly, curcumin was able to reduce the oxidative stress when cells were treated with NAPQI at the concentration below 10uM after 48 hours chemical exposure. These results further support that curcumin could provide the beneficial effect on reducing acetaminophen toxicity. Identifying Relationships Between Pandalus Borealis and an Unknown Species Using DNA Barcoding and Analysis Saradine Jean Louis, Chloe Li, Cyntra Bernardo, PhD* Gateway to Higher Education The purpose of this experiment was to identify the unknown species found in commercially available packaging of Northern Shrimp and to determine the evolutionary relationship between the unknown species and the Northern Shrimp, Pandalus borealis. Whiteleg shrimp, Penaeus vannamei, was used as a closelyrelated substitute for Northern Shrimp during DNA extraction due to Northern Shrimp not being optimal for extraction. DNA extraction was performed on the unknown species and samples of Whiteleg shrimp. The DNA sequence for the Northern Shrimp was identified through the GenBank database. All DNA extracted from the samples were amplified through Polymerase Chain Reaction using COX1 primers. The samples were then sent out for DNA sequencing and subsequent bioinformatics and sequence analyses were performed. Based on the sequencing results, the unknown species was identified as Psolus fabricii, a genus of sea cucumbers in the family Psolidae. From this identification we found that there was no
5 evolutionary relationship with Pandalus borealis. Using sequence alignments and phylogenetic trees we compared the unknown species, to Whiteleg shrimp, Northern Shrimp, and a fourth Clam species, Mercenaria mercenaria, and found the unknown species was most closely related to Whiteleg shrimp. This research speaks to how consumers may purchase unintended products due to mislabeling. Validation and Optimization of Fluorescent Probes to Detect Dkk2 mRNA Mariah Pabon, Alicia Ho* Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai The Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway is crucial in hair follicle (HF) development and tissue homeostasis. In the dermis, secreted Wnt-inhibitor, Dkk2 (Dickkopf-related protein 2), regulates the formation and maintenance of HFs with significant concentration in hairless regions. Current research on Dkk2 in HF regulation uses conditional knockout mice with floxed alleles of Dkk2 to delete exons 2 and 3 via Cre-recombinase. However, commercially available RNAscope probes detecting Dkk2 mRNA expression have demonstrated nonspecific binding to truncated transcripts of Dkk2 rather than exclusively to the deleted regions of this construct. To address this, I use a custom RNAscope probe designed for the deleted region, but early trials indicate weak signaling due to the smaller size of the probe. My work focuses on optimizing the RNAscope protocol to amplify the custom probe’s signal and distinguish between levels of Dkk2 expression in wildtype and mutant mice, as well as validating prior results using the commercial probe. I used in-situ hybridization to localize mRNA produced by Dkk2 and tag it with fluorescent probes to visualize the amount present, altering one factor of the protocol at a time to observe differences (i.e. annealing temperature, embedding procedure, etc.). Subsequently, I used epifluorescent microscopy and LasX computer software to image the samples and analyze results. Preliminary data shows the custom probe depicts Dkk2 expression in expected regions of the HF and that cryosections portray stronger signals than paraffin sections, while adjusting annealing temperature does not. Further investigation is underway. Impact of UV-exposure and Polycomb activity on H3K36me2 expression in epidermal stem cells Tasnim Sumaita, Meng-Yen Li* Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Skin epidermis provides a barrier to protect the body from harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation. UV exposure increases epidermal pigmentation to mitigate UV-induced damage. However, the molecular mechanisms regulating changes in epidermal stem cells (EpSCs) and the way that they interact with melanocytes in response to UV irradiation are largely unknown. The Polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2), a key chromatin regulator, marks transcriptional silencing by tri-methylation of histone H3 at lysine 27 (H3K27me3). Our lab has previously determined that UV exposure decreases PRC2 and H3K27me3 levels in murine epidermis. Moreover, previous studies have demonstrated an increase of di-methylation at lysine 36 (H3K36me2) alongside a coinciding decrease of H3K27me3 expression. The inverse expression levels of H3K36me2 and H3K27me3 are suspected to be crucial for epigenetic state stabilization. In this study, we use immunofluorescence and confocal microscopy to examine H3K36me2 expression in PRC2 deficient (Eed null) versus wild-type mouse EpSCs to decipher the role of PRC2 in UVexposed and control. Our work will advance the
6 understanding of the UV-mediated changes in transcriptional silencing markers, such as H3K36me2 and H3K27me3, in EpSCs. Aquaponics in the Classroom: Betta or Goldfish? Lya Bueno, Soraya Abdelaziz* Lehman College 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). There are a variety of fish that can be used in this process where nutrient-rich water from fish waste is pumped into hydroponic beds to irrigate and fertilize plants. I compared a Betta fish and a goldfish to determine which would be ideal for aquaponics in a classroom setting. I found there were benefits and consequences to both types of fish so I put that to the test. In my research, I discovered that goldfish naturally produced high levels of ammonia in their waste. Ammonia is a key component in the nitrogen cycle, however, ammonia cannot be used directly by plants. To convert it to nitrates, a bacteria-enzyme supplement was added to the tank to be able to convert the ammonia into a usable form for the plants. In comparison, the betta fish did not produce such high levels of ammonia, so there was no need for an extra component intervening in the process. The results revealed that the growing process of the plants grown with a goldfish was reduced in half the time to reach full growth. 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. The misnomer of "mutual exclusivity between evolution and creation Ivanna Nwokeji, Prof. Damaris Lois Lang* Hostos Community College 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.
7 Effects of osmolarity using onion tissue Kimberly Acevedo Ramirez, LaTasha Fraser* New York University Grossman School of Medicine The purpose of this project was to find out if osmolarity will increase when you add salt solution to the onion tissue. The experiment involved removing a small section of tissue from the epidermis of the onion on the purple side. Prepare a wet mount using the epidermis. Add 2-3 drops of NaCl solution under the cover slip. With a microscope make observations under all levels. Add several drops of distilled water under the coverslip and wait about 2 minutes. The measurement confirmed my hypothesis that once we add the salt solution to the onion tissue the osmolarity will increase because water molecules move from an area of low osmolarity and hypotonic to an area of high osmolarity and hypertonic. I discovered that When you add distilled water into the onion tissue the cells regain their original shape and are able to absorb more water making it a hypotonic solution. Investigation of potential benefits using NeRF to improve medical imaging of the GI tract generated by gastrointestinal endoscopy Tazeem Mahashin, LaTasha Fraser* New York University Grossman School of Medicine This research project aimed to investigate the potential benefits of using NeRF to improve medical imaging of the GI tract generated by gastrointestinal endoscopy. The project addressed the need to remove noise and artifacts, from the images captured by gastrointestinal endoscopy, that can affect the accuracy of diagnosis and treatment of patients with GI disorders. A literature review was conducted to examine the current state of research on medical imaging using NeRF, and the Kvasir-SEG dataset was selected for input into a NeRF model. However, attempts to generate a prototype were hampered by limitations in computing resources. Nevertheless, the literature review suggests that NeRF has the potential to significantly improve diagnosis and treatment for patients with GI disorders, and more research is required to address technical and practical challenges. Continued research and development are needed to fully realize the potential benefits of NeRF for medical imaging of the GI tract. A Biomimetic Approach to Serotonin Regulation: Examining Serotonin Degree of Association to Select Aromatic Dipeptides Salma Nassar, Rein Ulijn* New York University Grossman School of Medicine Serotonin is one of the critical neurotransmitters that play an essential role in the body’s nervous system, both in the central and peripheral nervous systems. The regulation of serotonin in the nervous system has potential uses in treating mood disorders like depression. This research paper aims to propose and study dipeptides that bind to serotonin as a first step in developing biocompatible materials that can sequester and release it in a controlled manner. This was investigated through a series of experiments: widefield microscopy (DIC) and liquid chromatography-mass spectroscopy. This experiment's results highlighted the molecular interactions between serotonin and the selected dipeptides: tryptophan-tryptophan, tyrosinephenylalanine, phenylalanine-tyrosine, tryptophan-glutamic acid, isoleucine-
8 phenylalanine. The results from this paper suggest that serotonin has a higher degree of association with tryptophan-tryptophan, most likely due to strong aromatic interactions between tryptophan and serotonin. In terms of future research, the results from this paper can be translated into a larger-scale study aiming to regulate serotonin levels in the brain effectively. Does school lunch meet the nutritional requirements in adolescents? Aishnalya Beharry, Soraya Abdelaziz* Lehman College The nutritional quality of school food has a significant impact on students' academic performance, physical health, and overall wellbeing. Unhealthy food options in schools, such as fast food, sugar-sweetened beverages, and high-fat snacks have been associated with increased rates of obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases among students. These negative health outcomes are further linked to poor academic performance, including lower test scores, decreased attention and memory, and increased absenteeism. In addition, a lack of access to healthy food options in schools can contribute to food insecurity and malnutrition, which may also adversely affect students' academic and social outcomes. Therefore, ensuring the availability of nutritious food options in schools can help to promote the physical and cognitive development of students, ultimately leading to improved academic performance and lifelong health benefits. I conducted a study to see how the learning environment and school meals affect students. Out of the students surveyed, I discovered that 64.4% of students are dissatisfied with their meals and 33.3% are tired after eating school lunch. The body demands more calories during early adolescence than at any other time of life. Boys require an average of 2,800 calories per day. Girls require an average of 2,200 calories per day. [1] School lunch only accounts for an average of 600-800 calories. According to The Counter New York, 30 million children rely on free school lunch. My research will go further into students' nutritional demands and correlate their dissatisfaction with their learning. Sensors: War on Plastic Mason Herman, Jack Yang, Michael Faloye, Kai Bradley, Anthony Mai* New York University Plastic waste is a major environmental problem, and sorting and recycling plastic is a complex and labor-intensive process. Allowing excessive amounts of unrecyclable materials to enter a recycling facility can lead to inefficiency, damaged equipment, and contamination of recyclable materials. Since the existing approach can be inefficient and tedious, we have chosen to automate this process. Using the difference in vibration transmission between materials, we can isolate recyclable materials and categorize them to allow for a more efficient method of recycling materials. We intend to carry out research on particular methods for use in the production stage, where we’ll be using software and sensors designed for differentiating between plastic and non-plastic to create a sorting algorithm. Using the results of this project we hope to create an applicable technology to further prevent pollution and make a more effective process to recycle plastics.
9 Clean Energy: What are Alternative Energy Sources to Diminish Coal and Other Fossil Fuels? Lucas Heidbreder, Caren Fu, Emma Bautista, Marianna Mancebo, Safia Massoud* New York University Climate change is an increasingly harmful world issue. However, there are many things that can be done to diminish the overuse of fossil fuels. The best of these solutions are the alternative and renewable types of energy: wind, hydro, nuclear, and solar power. For example, solar energy is a better alternative to fossil fuels as it reduces carbon emissions and conserves water. However, it has a higher upfront cost than fossil fuel. This research will also cover the advantages and disadvantages of nuclear power, such as its production of radioactive waste and its minimal carbon footprint, while also explaining the many ways to regulate, store, and dispose of nuclear waste as well as future research in the field of nuclear power. We will also be looking at the pros and cons of Hydropower, how good it is for our planet and how it actually affects our environment and animals. Finally, the last type of clean energy covered will be wind energy. It can reduce air pollution by replacing other forms of energy, but can impact the wildlife and create more noise pollution. Motion-Activated Vibrating Cushion Fatma Abu Ganba, Anthony Mai* New York University Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental condition that affects behavior and concentration. Children with ADHD often seem restless, impulsive, or distracted; but the right diagnosis, treatment and support can make a significant difference to a child’s learning. There are many tools to help manage ADHD. One of the strategies promising results in helping to improve performance, attention, and in-seat behavior is alternative seating which is a sensory-based intervention that aims to support a child’s need for sensory stimulation by substituting the regular chair for active seating solutions. The vibrating cushion will help kids sit still by offering gentle vibrations when they are squeezed or sat on. Therefore, our project uses a motion sensor built into the seat that automatically starts the vibrations when the child starts moving. We hope to design and eventually build a prototype that we can use for testing. The Ultrasonic Cane Duaa Baig, Jefferson Lian, Josh Ramdass, Lucas Arocho, Anthony Mai* New York University For around a century, blind individuals have continuously used old fashioned mobility canes. The issue with this type of cane is that it can only detect objects ahead of the individual on foot level. This means even with the canes; they can still crash into objects above their legs. With our developed device, we use ultrasonic sensors to detect objects on body and head level. We intend to make a unit with an ultrasonic sensor to detect nearby objects and a vibration unit to signal individuals. These would be attached to a regular mobility cane. After completing the procedures above, we expect to determine if ultrasonic sensors can detect objects close to body and head level within an acceptable range that minimizes the danger of blind individuals and further improve the quality of life of blind individuals.
10 DESTIN’D: Dog Eye Sensors To Improve Natural Dependabilities Emma Jae Rivera, Alexander Munzo Esquivel, Nathaniel Kassa, Tanvir Chahal, Maria Mercado* New York University There are many dogs that do not have the ability to recognize their surroundings due to blindness. Daily tasks become difficult for these dogs as they run into walls and harm themselves. There are products available that aim to aid blind dogs, but there are many limitations. Our goal is to create a product that is comfortable and allows dogs to see. We started by examining the issue and formulating potential solutions. Then, for the various solutions we gathered information or conducted study. After gathering and analyzing the data, we thought of potential issues with some of the ideas, and sorted those from the ones that would work. We aim to develop a device that uses sensors to enable dogs to detect their surroundings. By using a collar with a sensor that alerts the dog if there is any nearby obstruction, we would train the dog to read the sensors. Project FRESH Air Chukwuemeka Okwuka, Stephen Holler* Fordham University Air pollution in The Bronx has had detrimental public health effects such as asthma and other respiratory diseases, prompting a research interest about how it may affect students' performance in schools in the borough. The aim of the project is to investigate whether Arduino could be an effective method for collecting wind speed data, which would help us know where the particle matter is heading towards. The ongoing study will contribute to our understanding by showing the harmful effects of air pollution and how it can decrease our cognitive function. Overall, this study aims to make people more aware of the dangers of air pollution and create a positive change in the Bronx community. Arduino could be used to collect the same amount of wind speed as the Davis anemometer. However, the hypothesis could not yet be supported. In manual testing, the anemometer connected to the Arduino read wind speed, and direction accurately. During manual testing, the Arduino anemometer was not spinning as easily as the Davis weather station. This could help account for the lower readings on the Arduino sensor. Since this is an ongoing experiment, it is still unknown how air pollution impacts learning outcomes in the Bronx. However, what we do know is, as air pollution keeps worsening, the health of Bronx students gets worse. Mitigation methods can be taken to prevent this issue from progressing, including adding ventilators inside school buildings and adding air filters as well. Opsin Signaling in Beta Ionone Induced Airway Smooth Muscle Relaxation Andy Cuzco, Dr. Peter Yim* Fordham University Asthma is a chronic disease characterized by airway narrowing and inflammation. Excessive airway smooth muscle (ASM) contraction in asthma results in acute bronchoconstriction. ASM relaxation is thus a major therapeutic goal in asthma management. Current therapeutics for asthma work through beta adrenergic receptors. However, these receptors are susceptible to desensitization, so there’s a growing need for research on therapeutics that can relax ASM through alternative signaling pathways. Opsin-3 is a light sensitive GPCR
11 receptor that has been shown to mediate photorelaxation of ASM in response to blue light. Beta-ionone, a carotenoid derivative and analog of 11-cis-retinal, the endogenous chromophore for ocular OPN receptors, can activate OPN3 in the absence of light by binding to the empty opsin chromophore-binding pocket. It is thought that beta ionone mediates ASM relaxation through a cAMP- PKA signaling pathway. Using a live cell cAMP assay, we show that beta-ionone increases cAMP in ASM cells, correlating with trends in airway tissue. These results also provide evidence that OPN3 can be activated by endogenous signaling molecules. The Development of Online Digital Tools for Science Courses through the Learner Perspective Julianne Cepero, Prof. Nelson Nunez Rodriguez* Hostos Community College This project co-creates pedagogy by creating digital animations based on science lab procedures. This undergraduate research opportunity requires translating the science language into enticing digital animations. In doing so, the project interrogates the feasibility of creating an online material for Scientific Methods and Measurements lab sessions. The involved student discussed the animation script with science and digital media faculty, created a storyboard with simple basic drawings that allow to plan out the course of the animation in reference to the script, assisted in the voice recording over the animation, edited the recorded audio, and discussed the final product with the faculty mentor. Overall, this project brings the student voice to the current postpandemic conversation where administrators and instructors question the relation between instruction modality and the need to preserve course rigor and quality. This is particularly critical in STEM disciplines where some skills such as scientific reasoning skills are usually related to hands-on experiences while the pandemic teaching scenarios uncover new teaching possibilities. In addition, including student voices in the co-creation of pedagogy represents another opportunity to redress inequities within the postsecondary-curriculum design and delivery and definitely creates an intergenerational bridge between the dissimilar ways faculty and students create and consume content today. School Climate Regarding LGBTQ+ Students at an All-Boys Catholic High School Maria Rosario, Dr. Lindsay Hoyt* Fordham University Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer/Questioning (LGBTQ+) youth face unique difficulties that exacerbate the stressors that accompany developmental change, resulting in disproportionally high rates of mental health struggles compared to cis-gender and straight youth (Su et al., 2016; Mongelli et al., 2019). Previous research has observed that hostile school environments exacerbate the risk of substance abuse and depression (Birkett et al., 2009). High school and college student co-investigators created a 15-minute survey to be completed during school after receiving IRB approval for a waiver of consent. The survey included questions on well-being, attitudes towards LGBTQ+ people, including repulsion and homophobia, and an adapted version of the GLSEN Local School Climate Survey, as well as open-ended questions about ally-ship and belonging. Preliminary results presented here
12 are based on 181 student responses; data collection will be completed in Spring of 2023 (expected N = 300). Data suggests that the school climate is hostile towards sexual and gender minority students. Students that are not allies to the LGBTQ+ community show higher signs of repulsion than ally-identifying students. Given the amount of self-identified non-allies at the school, these sentiments may be impacting the population of LGBTQ+ students at the school. However, due to the small amount of LGBTQ+ student participants, the impact of this climate on their well-being is unclear. Higher neuropathic pain in Latinx rheumatoid arthritis patients can be mediated by inactivation of JNK through loss of miR-656-3p Veronika Zenkeviciute, Lissette DelgadoCruzata, PhD*; Milena Rodriguez Alvarez, MD* John Jay College of Criminal Justice Racial and ethnic minority groups in the United States experience worst health outcomes for several diseases including rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Some studies have implicated epigenetic mechanisms in the etiology of RA, which represent changes in gene expression that can be impacted by environmental factors and/or can also be inherited potentially impacting disease development. Unequal environmental and socioeconomic exposures experienced by some US populations, among them Latinx groups, might cause the deregulation of specific pathways through epigenetic alterations. In a pilot study of Latinx RA patients, we identified 9 miRNAs associated with high neuropathic pain. Neuropathic pain is a common symptom of RA patients that impacts their quality of life, and its etiology is fairly unknown. We used bioinformatic tools to predict pain signaling pathways possibly relevant in this population. By using three databases we identified 1482 targets and 14 pathways that are predicted to be affected by the deregulation of the 9 miRNAs. Of these miRNAs, lower levels of miR-656-3p in those with high neuropathic pain suggest higher phosphorylation of JNK might lead to the increase of neuropathic pain mediators, such as TNF-α (low pain group=32.36 vs high pain group=21.52, p=0.0239). While deregulation of the MAPK signaling pathway has been previously linked to RA and pain, our study is the first one to uncover a role for miR-656-3p in this disease. Our findings have the potential to help us better understand neuropathic pain in Latinx RA patients. African genetic ancestry and the slave trade in Brazilian women with triple negative breast cancer Brianna Jenkins, Lissette Delgado-Cruzata, PhD* John Jay College of Criminal Justice White women are more frequently diagnosed with breast cancer, but women of African descent have a higher mortality. Several factors have been thought to impact this racial survival disparity in breast cancer, including tumor biology, cancer screening, economic patterns, and the quality of cancer care. Triple-Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC) is the most aggressive subtype of breast cancer and has the lowest survival rate. The lifetime risk of TNBC is higher in African American women than non-Hispanic Whites. It is not clearly known the impact TNBC has on women of mixed ancestry, most significantly because studies used self-reported race and ethnicity. We set out to determine the genetic ancestry of women that self-reported their race as Black or Brown in a study including Brazilian women living in Rio de Janeiro, and explore the percentage of African ancestry in those diagnosed with TNBC in this population. We extracted DNA from twenty-one women previously diagnosed with breast cancer and genotype a panel of 46 ancestry informative
13 marker (AIMs)-Indels in a single multiplex PCR followed by capillary electrophoresis, in which dye-labeled amplified fragments were separated and detected using an ABI 3500 Genetic Analyzer. We used GeneMapper software to make automated allele calls and estimated the apportionment of genetic ancestral contributions using the STRUCTURE software. We ran the program with 100,000 Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) iterations and a tri-hybrid ancestral contribution from Native Americans, Europeans and Africans. We found that our population had an overall average 39% African, 44% European and 17% Indigenous ancestry proportions respectively. Women that selfreported their race as Black had a higher percent of African ancestry (56.4±15.0%) than those that reported mixed race or Brown (34.5±13.5%, p=0.04). 42% of the cancer patients included in this study were diagnosed with TNBC; however, their percentage of African ancestry was not different from those diagnosed with other forms of the disease (TNBC:37.5±18.5% vs 42.1±16.6%, p=0.24). These findings agree with historic records on the slave trade on this region pointing to traffic of people from the Congo-Angola region into Rio de Janeiro. Prevalence of TNBC is lower in these African countries than in other parts of the continent, which can explain our results and shed light into the relationship of race and TNBC. Further research with larger samples are needed to better understand this association and dissect the impact of tumor biology, ancestry and social determinants in TNBC. Neuropathic pain in Latinx patients: Clinical measures and new molecular markers Dewan Sadiyah, Lissette Delgado-Cruzata, PhD*; Milena Rodriguez Alvarez, MD* John Jay College of Criminal Justice Neuropathic pain is commonly known to be linked with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). This pain occurs when the nervous system is not working effectively which leads to pain being felt throughout the brain, spine, and peripheral nerves. As the Latinx community grows in our country, little is known about Latinx patients who suffer from neuropathic pain due to rheumatoid arthritis. Health disparities that exist within neuropathic pain in the Latinx community include high pain rates and are less likely to be given treatments for the pain. Epigenetics mechanisms are seen to play a major role in the pathogenesis of neuropathic pain. microRNA (miRNA) which are a class of noncoding RNAs assist in gene regulation by binding to their target mRNAs and downregulating their stability or translation. Changes in miRNA levels have been previously associated with rheumatoid arthritis. Altered miRNA levels have been linked to increased inflammation at the joints, exacerbated disease activity and increased bone erosions. In a previous study conducted by our group, we identified a total of 9 exosomal miRNAs associated with neuropathic pain in a population of Latinx RA patients. To learn more about these processes, we are conducting a statistical analysis to determine associations of our identified miRNAs with clinical measures of neuropathic pain using the ID pain index. We determined the Pearson correlation coefficients and found that all coefficients showed miRNA levels had inverse associations with ID pain; however, only one miRNA, miR-3151-5p, had a statistically significant negative correlation (Pearson correlation coefficient=-0.41, p=0.04). Lower levels of miR-3151-5p are correlated with
14 higher neuropathic pain in this population, indicating that miR-3151-5p might be a good biomarker for this clinical manifestation of the disease in the Latinx population. Race disparities in breast cancer subtypes in Brazilian women Jhoanna Diaz, Lissette Delgado-Cruzata, PhD* John Jay College of Criminal Justice Breast cancer is more prevalent in Brazil than in other high income countries. While mortality rates due to breast cancer have decreased since the early 1990s in countries with similar economic metrics, in Brazil mortality rates have increased steadily throughout all age groups since 1979. One important factor that impacts a high breast cancer mortality rate in this country is that 40% of women with this disease are diagnosed at a later stage which decreases their chances of survival. Data suggest that differences in breast cancer mortality exist among ethnic and racial groups. A recent study showed that Black and Brown Brazilian women have higher excess mortality from breast cancer than those that are White. Findings also point out that disease is diagnosed at a later stage in these women and particularly when they have received little or no formal education. In the US, women of African descent are more commonly diagnosed with a more aggressive form of breast cancer, triple negative breast cancer (TNBC), than White women. This has not been explored specifically in a population of Brazilian women and this is the objective of this work. We hypothesized that TNBC is more prevalent in Black and Brown Brazilian women. To explore this, we conducted an analysis on women that attended the Instituto Nacional do Câncer Hospital in Rio de Janeiro in 2016 and 2017. We extracted subtype information from their pathology reports and used the Registros Hospitalares de Câncer (RHC) database to collect data on demographic/lifestyle factors such as age, race, education, and disease stage at time of diagnosis. We conducted statistical analysis on data from 243 women, using multivariate logistic regression. We found that 41.2% of TNBC were found in Black women, while only 23.5% and 35.3% of the TNBC tumors were found in Brown and White women, respectively (p=0.028). When adjusted for age and clinical stage, being Black was still significantly associated with being diagnosed with TNBC (β=1.57, 95% Confidence Interval 1.67-13.75, p=0.004). We did not find an association between race and TNBC diagnosis for Brown women in this group, our findings suggest TBNC is more prevalent in Black Brazilian women. These results add important information to our knowledge of breast cancer in Brazil and the associations between race and TNBC. miR-16-5p is a potential mediator of the anticancer properties of green tea polyphenolic compounds in breast cancer Fatima Topia, Sylvie Bural, Lissette DelgadoCruzata, PhD*, Yoel Rodriguez, PhD* John Jay College of Criminal Justice Increased green tea consumption has been linked to decreased breast cancer risk in Asian populations. These chemopreventive properties of green tea are attributed to phytochemical compounds like catechin hydrate (CH), catechin gallate (ECG), and epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG). Catechins can induce cell apoptosis and inhibit proliferation in breast cancer, but the molecular mechanisms underlying these anticancer effects are still unknown. Data suggests it involves the regulation of microRNAs (miRNAs), miRNAs also known as microRNAs are short non-coding RNAs that are single-stranded. They are a type of epigenetic regulatory mechanism, and regulate gene expression by
15 binding to an untranslated RNA region and repressing protein production. In breast cancer, miR-16-5p has shown to be a tumor suppressor that regulates the expression of YTHDF1 and ANLN. These two genes encode for proteins that promote proliferation and carcinogenicity. Studies have also revealed that EGCG can upregulate miR-16 in murine breast cancer cells, which would indicate, if replicated in humans, that catechins like EGCG anticancer effects can be mediated by this miRNA. Little is known about the mechanism through which miR-16-5p mediates catechins' chemopreventive and anticarcinogenic properties. We used structure prediction analysis to determine the likelihood of catechins binding miR-16-5p. We generated 2D secondary structures using RNAstructure and RNAfold and SimRNA and iFoldRNA to generate 3D tertiary structures. Catechin 3D structures were also optimized and all 3D structures were inputted into MOE software for structure-based molecular docking. We used MOE GBV/WSA dG scoring function to rank the catechins’ affinities toward miR-16-5p. We predicted the structure of miR-16-5p and identified the interacting nucleotides in miR-16-5p to be U’1, A’2, C’4, A’5, G’6, U’15 and A’16. Interestingly previous studies using reporter systems have shown that U’1, A’2, G’3, C’4 and A’5 are important nucleotides in the regulation of expression by this miRNA. These findings point to a mechanism through which miR-16-5p might mediate the action of these chemicals. In our future experiments we will conduct mutational analysis in breast cancer cells to better decipher catechins anticancer properties. Phenolic profiles and antioxidant activity of AriZona tea samples Daphne Hernandez, Elmer-Rico E. Mojica* Pace University AriZona tea is a brand of ready-to-drink tea widely available and popular among consumers. Tea produced by AriZona boasts a delicious flavor and is available in different varieties such herbal teas, green teas, and black teas. Since they contain polyphenols, they are expected to exhibit antioxidant activity. In this study, eleven Arizona samples were tested for phenolics, flavonoids and antioxidant activity using colorimetric methods. Results show that the green tea cucumber citrus had the lowest IC 50 value, or the strongest antioxidant activity based on the DPPH and ABTS assays. FolinCiocalteu reagent and aluminum chloride colorimetric assay was used to measure total phenolic and flavonoid content, respectively. Blueberry white tea ranked the highest in phenols while iced tea cranberry juice showed the highest level of flavonoids. Antioxidant activity of tulsi tea samples Brandon Pedroza Ceron, Elmer-Rico E. Mojica* Pace University Tulsi (Ocimum sanctum Linn) is an aromatic shrub in the family Lamiaceae that is thought to have originated in north central India. It is rich in antioxidants which can help protect cells from damage and reduce the risk of certain diseases. Within Ayurveda, tulsi is known as “The Incomparable One,” “Mother Medicine of Nature” and “The Queen of Herbs,” and is revered as an “elixir of life” that is without equal for both its medicinal and spiritual properties. It has been found to protect organs and tissues against chemical stress from industrial
16 pollutants and heavy metals and physical stress from prolonged physical exertion, ischemia, physical restraint and exposure to cold and excessive noise. In this study, six tulsi based tea samples mixed with other active ingredients were screened for their antioxidant property. Phenolic and flavonoid content were determined and correlated with their antioxidant activity. Results show that ginger & lemon tea has the highest phenolic content while chamomile and lemon tea have the highest flavonoid content. The same samples were also found to have strongest antioxidant activity. Exploring the Evolution of Drosophilid Walking Behavior Leah Barcelo, Himanshu Pawankumar Gupta*, Richard Mann* Barnard College Over time insects have developed the capacity to adapt their locomotor behaviors across a wide range of environmental contexts and to confront numerous challenges. Fruit flies are nearly unique in being both a genetic and an evolutionary model system, representing a broad range of life histories and ecological contexts that provide strong contexts for interand intra-specific comparisons (York et al., 2022). Through the regulation of walking speed and kinematic parameters, insects can modify stereotype gaits as needed. Here we aim to determine how Drosophilid behavior has evolved within species across various points of divergence. We believe that identifying these changes or consistencies in behavior will provide a better understanding of the evolution of neural circuits and how they shape behavior. Our methods utilize frustrated Total Internal Reflection (fTIR) coupled with high-speed video imaging. The custom analysis by the name of Flywalker allows for the extraction of many parameters of fly walking behavior, including gait, coordination between legs, and footprint positions (Mendes et al., 2013). Using this method, we demonstrate walking behavior of different Drosophila species can be comprehensively characterized. The Health and Social Impact of the Implementation of SBIRT-OEND by Volunteer RAs Grace Assabil-Bentum, Heather Anderson Keightly* City College of New York The effectiveness of Screening, Brief Intervention, Referral to Treatment, Opioid Education, and Naloxone Distribution (SBIRTOEND) in substance use has been validated. However little research examines whether volunteer research associates (RA) can effectively provide SBIRT-OEND services to patients in the emergency department. From February 1, 2022 to September 30, 2022, 44 RAs approached 9,349 patients and screened 5,980 patients during their stay in the Emergency Department. Of the 9,349 approached, 54.3% were males, 45.4% were female, 0.2% were another gender, and 0.1% refused to disclose this information. Of those screened, when asked the frequency of consuming greater than 4-5 drinks per day, 75.9% had more than 4-5 drinks less than monthly, 4.5% had more than 4-5 drinks monthly, 5.5% had more than 4-5 drinks weekly, 6.5% had more than 4-5 drinks daily and 0.4% refused to answer. Of those who indicated illicit substance use, 2.2% used drugs less than monthly, 1.9% used drugs monthly, 3.6% used drugs weekly, 8.3% used drugs almost daily and 0.8% refused to answer. Of those that indicated substance use 43% were interested in changing their substance use. 363 patients were given a
17 Naloxone kit. There have also been 371 referrals to addiction social work for help with substance abuse. Results indicated that Volunteer RAs can effectively provide SBIRT-OEND services to ED patients. Volunteer research associates can successfully deliver SBIRT-OEND services in the emergency department setting. Modulating liver cancer as a chanelopathy by leveraging the specificity of teretoxins on transient receptor potential channels. Nusrat Khan, Mande Holford* City College of New York Ion channels maintain the intracellular signaling pathways by delivering bivalent and trivalent ions crucial for cell survival. The dysregulation of ion channels results in a variety of pathologies collectively referred to as channelopathies. Transient receptor potential (TRP) channels – ion channels that discriminate for calcium ions – have gained notoriety for their involvement in different cancer types including liver cancer. Intracellular modulation of calcium ions plays a critical role in maintaining proper cellular function in hepatocytes. TRP channel dysregulation has been implicated as a culprit in the development and progress of liver tumors. Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) is the most common form of liver cancer with the highest mortality rate. Currently, the only treatment option available for advanced HCC is sorafenib, a multi-kinase inhibitor. Treatment with sorafenib improves patient survival rates by a mere 3-5 months with multiple side effects. Therefore, there is an unmet need to identify new treatment options that give patients improved survival rates with little or no side effects. Venom peptides provide a diverse array of selective ligands that target ion channels and are largely understudied and uncharacterized. Terebrid venom peptides obtained from the terebrid snails have been reported to selectively target ion channels. Previous studies show that terebrid venom peptide, teretoxin Tv1, obtained from the Terebra variegata snails, interacts with TRP channels in mouse liver tumors resulting in apoptosis and tumor reduction. Tv1 was reported to act by blocking calcium ion influx through the TRP channels, which facilitates downstream inhibition of tumor proliferation, angiogenesis, and metastasis. This research will elucidate the mechanism of interaction between teretoxins and TRP channels. It will also identify and validate other teretoxins that show similar anti-HCC activity. Using the phylogeography of South American Birds to study past connections between the Amazon and the Atlantic forest Mariam Kamissoko, Ana Carnaval, Ph.D.* City College of New York Our lab investigates where and when climatic changes in South America led to connections between populations of two passerine bird species - Dysithamnus mentalis and Arremon taciturnus - isolated today in the Amazon and Atlantic forests, impacting their distribution and patterns of genetic diversity. Specifically, we aimed to 1) understand the patterns of intraspecific genetic variation of Dysithamnus mentalis and Arremon taciturnus in the Amazon and the Atlantic forests and 2) identify possible routes of past forest connections between these ecosystems. For that, DNA from samples of the two species has been extracted by using a saltprecipitation protocol. After quantifying the DNA with a Qubit fluorometer, we amplified the mitochondrial gene cytochrome b through Polymerase chain reaction (PCR). We verified the success of the amplification protocol with gel electrophoresis. We have extracted DNA from 23 samples of D. mentalis and five samples
18 of A. taciturnus. The results include DNA concentrations ranging from 1.4 ng/uL to 392 ng/uL for D. mentalis and we successfully amplified three samples of species D. mentalis. As for A. taciturnus, we successfully amplified four samples from extractions with DNA concentrations ranging from 4.49 ng/uL to 920 ng/uL. The next steps will be to amplify the remaining individuals and sequence these amplified markers. With the sequence in hand, our findings will be used to construct a phylogenetic tree to infer how and when possible connections between the Amazon and the Atlantic forests happened. Infrared spectroscopy of commercial bee propolis products Kayla Lucas, Elmer-Rico E. Mojica* Pace University Honeybees gather materials from plant parts, buds, and secretions to create propolis, a natural resinous substance. This serves as a protective and buildable component for the hive. Pollen (5%–10%), oil and wax (30%–50%), resin (50%–70%), and other chemical components make up propolis. The chemical content of bee propolis varies depending on the season, bee type, vegetation, and region of collecting. Currently, propolis is utilized in a range of over-the-counter supplements as solid, liquid, and spray samples. It's a valuable ingredient applied in medicine and food products since it possesses various biological properties. In this study, IR analysis was performed on different commercial bee propolis products. IR (Infrared) spectroscopy is a valuable tool for the characterization and identification of chemical compounds in a given sample. Results show the presence of various functional groups such as esters, alcohols, aldehydes, and phenols. Derivative spectroscopy was performed to discriminate the samples from one another. Only the zero derivative or raw data (IR spectra) can discriminate the samples from one another. Clickbait: A Survey of Mammal Diversity and Detection Rate in a Large Urban Park Claudia Dabie, Max Falkenberg* Fordham University As cities drastically alter the environment, they present new challenges and opportunities for wildlife. Compared to their rural counterparts, some urban species are able to exploit the niches and resources provided by humans and a relative scarcity of predators. The continuing fragmentation of landscapes caused by urbanization may shift mammal distribution patterns, as animals that thrive in urban settings develop a selective advantage over other species. Along an urbanization gradient, overall species diversity decreases as urbanization levels increase. In this study, we sought to understand how the detection rate and species diversity of mammals in an urban context is influenced by naturally occurring factors and anthropogenic pressures, which we defined as factors resulting from human activities. We also conducted tests to see if the use and type of bait used at camera trap sites had an impact on the frequency with which mammal species were detected. Our research leads us to the conclusion that urban mammals prefer habitat patches that allow them to live separately from humans, despite the fact that they may be dependent on certain human resources for survival. Urban mammals move across sites in search of elements that are advantageous to them like preferable food options. We can predict that mammals will select the larger, more uninterrupted spaces over other patches,
19 like the sites in the zoo that are a product of low habitat connectivity and a high amount of human interactions. Understanding the palliative and supportive care services needed to develop a meaning-centered intervention for Muslims undergoing treatment for stage III or IV cancer Raghd Ahmed, Claudia Ayash* City College of New York Background: When cultural and spiritual disparities arise, end-of-life care becomes aggressive, and depletion of health care resources becomes common. Thus, there has been a need for palliative care interventions for Muslims that are culturally and spiritually sensitive to reduce health care inequities. Objective: The focus of our study is to collect data from 120 patients on the quality of life, symptoms of depression and anxiety, as well as the spiritual health and well-being among Muslim patients diagnosed with stages III & IV cancer to develop and implement spiritually sensitive palliative care. Methodology: This study is a cross-sectional for Muslim patients undergoing active treatments or surveillance cancer. Participants are being recruited from the MSKCC database, Immigrant Health and Cancer Disparities, and referrals from other organizations in the New York City metropolitan area. The questionnaire consisted of the following sections:1) socio-demographic information, 2) clinical characteristics, 3) quality of life and spiritual well-being, 4) symptoms of distress, 5) symptoms of anxiety & depression, 6) acculturation, 7) social support, and 8) adherence to Islam. Trends observed: To date, 70 surveys have been completed. Preliminary findings could point to potential trends among the participants surveyed including the majority of patients viewing themselves as highly spiritual, experience high levels of unexplained distress, worrying, nervousness, and fears while half reported prolonged feelings of sadness. Next steps: The upcoming steps are to complete surveying all 120 patients and to analyze the data to confirm the trends in order to develop and implement spiritually sensitive palliative care Use of Genomic Data to Establish a New Species in the Genus Spananthe Irma Hernandez, Dr. Antoine Nicolas* Manhattan College We investigated whether the genus Spananthe includes more than one species than the neotropical S. paniculata. Morphological studies of curated specimens led us to recognize three distinct groups that fall under three names: S. paniculata var. paniculata, S. paniculata var. peruviana and S. angulosa. We produced, assembled, and annotated next generation sequence data from eight specimens of Spananthe that cover its main morphological variations and geographic distribution. Phylogenetic trees based on whole chloroplast genomes and the nuclear rRNA genes supported the recognition of S. peruviana as a species, but not S. angulosa. Spananthe peruviana can be distinguished based on leaf, fruit (seed), and flower characteristics. It also has a narrow distribution in specialized habitats of northern Peru and southern Ecuador.
20 Analyzing the Computational Electrostatics Function of Ethacridine to Topoisomerase I in Escherichia coli Noor Aayla, Dr. Daniel Strahs* Pace University This research will be conducting experiments to determine water’s role in the inhibition of topoisomerase IA from Escherichia coli when treated with ethacridine. This project is a direct continuation of previous research conducted by prior research students. Undergraduate researcher Noor Aayla will learn how to use several software packages to examine the molecular interactions of both water and ethacridine on topoisomerase IA and interpret the changes in molecular conformation of the enzyme. Noor will meet with Prof. Strahs at least once a week to discuss the latest findings. Computer equipment and software are already present within Prof. Strahs’s laboratory; no animals or consumable biological resources will be required. The only foreseeable projected costs are associated with computer depreciation and repair. Since the laboratory utilizes an open-source model, software costs are minimal.
● ●