RAM Scholars Present at SURC

Bryan Mendez Andrade

Construction Management Engineering Technology

New Construction/ Code Built House or Prefabricated Passive House?

As technology advances and the Earth progresses, building smarter using the Passive House system will greatly benefit in reducing an owner’s carbon footprint and energy costs. By choosing Passive House construction, one is able to reduce a building’s ecological footprint by minimizing greenhouse gas production. In an effort to build smarter and reduce construction costs and product waste, this study compares prefabricated Passive House construction to construction following the 2015 NYS Residential Building Code. In this comparison, required materials, heating and cooling costs, and energy efficiency ratings are used to determine how beneficial building Passive House prefabricated construction is to the environment. After thorough research of both of these construction methods, this study found that a prefabricated Passive House is more economical and beneficial for the homeowner and planet for years to come.

Imran Jan

Bioscience

Characterizing immature Purkinje Cells and their regenerative capacity when Purkinje cells are depleted

Immature Purkinje Cells (iPCs) are capable of giving rise to Purkinje Cells (PCs) when the cerebellum is damaged (CB) in the early development stage of the brain. However, iPCs will lose their ability to make PCs soon after postnatal day 5 (P5). Following their maturation, they will not be able to differentiate any further. Given the potential of iPCs to produce new PCs in a damaged CB during the early developmental period opens up the possibility of using iPCs for therapeutic purposes. Using previous literature as guidance, we developed a proposal on how to isolate iPCs from postnatal day 1 (P1) mice and introduce the isolated iPCs to the mice CB that would be damaged after P5. To differentiate iPCs from PCs, we would be using neurogenin-2 (ngn2) as a target marker for iPCs. The marked iPCs will be collected using Fluorescent Activated Cell Sorting (FACS) and then cultured in complete media before the transfusing procedure. Then, using ngn2 targeted iPCs, we would transfer them into P5 mice that are damaged by diphtheria toxin (DT) to observe their regenerative capability. Our results would focus on observing the histology of the recovering brain in time increments and the physiology/behavior of adult mice.

Pedro Gelabert

Applied Psychology

Online/In-person Competitive Gaming Behavior

Since the latter end of 2018, a particularly new competitive video game–Super Smash Bros. Ultimate–has been gaining momentum impressively quickly in terms of popularity and helping grow the gaming industry. Most competitions were held in person at various locations around the world. Super Smash Bros.Ultimate was on the path to long-lasting success—that is, until the coronavirus hit the globe and forced all events to go online or just disappear. Koch & Pongratz (2020) found that playing online is not ideal for competitions, and the COVID-19 pandemic confirmed this finding. The purpose of this project is to further study the suitability of remote competitions within Super Smash Bros. This research study focuses on the effects of losing in a competitive environment on young adults’ social behavior, in both isolated online formats and in-person events. Surveys will be constructed similarly to the Prosocial and Antisocial Behavior in Sport Scale (PABSS) developed by Kavussanu and Boardley in 2009. Data collection and results are pending. This study will open a path for competitive tournament organizers to have a more developed understanding on whether to build tournaments in an online or an offline environment.

Salvator Anterie

& 

Christopher Haddock

Construction Management Engineering Technology

Renovation Construction, Passive House vs. Code House

Since the 1950s the United States has utilized the same methods for building residential houses. Since then, some materials and methods have gotten much better and there have been some improvements along the way but, the overall basic system has remained unchanged. Building systems like platform framing that utilized 2x4 wall studs packed with an insulation followed by plywood sheathing were used extensively. this building method was advanced for their time but are archaic with the knowledge we have today. In recent years, through research and innovative thinking a new form of building has arisen and is gaining popularity. This concept is called Passive House building, “Passive building comprises a set of design principles used to attain a quantifiable and rigorous level of energy efficiency” (PHIUS). These houses are extremely airtight with every seam taped and sealed on the exterior. Utilizing large amounts of insulation with high resistances to heat transfer placed all around the house, the flow to heat energy is almost stopped between the interior and exterior walls. The houses heat themselves by passive means. Heat is generated from the occupant's body heat, their cooking, electrical equipment, and sun orientation.  They also require an advanced ventilation system to prevent mold growth and poor air quality. Where passive houses really shine is the fact that they are so efficient they require minimal heating and cooling systems. This in turn, saves energy and saves the occupants money.

Liz Marcelino

Professional Communication 

The Relationship between Oral Hygiene Habits and Bacterial Infection

Dentists recommend specific oral hygiene habits to ensure oral health. These include brushing one’s teeth two times a day. flossing before going to bed, and regular dental check ups. This research study revolves around oral hygiene practices and how they prevent bacterial infection and gum disease. The hypothesis being tested is an increase in the number of oral hygiene habits will decrease the risk of bacterial infection. To test this hypothesis, a survey will be developed to determine the extent that oral hygiene habits impact the risk of bacterial infection. Data will be categorized by oral hygiene habits and comparisons will be made among the participants. This study is currently proposed and data collection has not begun.

Richard Wittneben

Security Systems 

Assessing Student Learning Before and During COVID-19

Remote learning in higher education is when courses are moved online, using both asynchronous and synchronous formats. Due to the threat of COVID-19, colleges and universities have faced decisions about how to continue advancing education beginning with the Spring semester of 2020. There has been little research done on the impacts of pandemics within higher education. Teachers and students had to use other means of interacting with each other to maintain a normal learning environment.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of remote learning on student learning outcomes. To participate in this study, undergraduate students will complete a remote learning semester. Upon completion of the semester, the students will participate in a quantitative survey to determine the impacts of remote learning on their course outcomes. The anticipated outcome of this research is a better understanding of the effectiveness of various modes of instruction for students during a pandemic. Other results of this study will be the identification of the preferential methodologies used to deliver course content online. This is a proposed study and data collection has not begun.

Carol Sung

Interaction Design

Influence of “Visual and Linguistic Clues” on User Experience

As technology continues to advance, designers are more aware that people of different ages have different understandings of how to use technology. With the increase use of technology and the use of the Internet, it is important for web page designers to be aware of how their users interact and engage with their websites. This research studies the extent of how “visual and linguistic clues” on websites influence teens and middle age users’ experiences. The purpose of this study is to know the effect of visual and linguistic clues on different website users. It is predicted that teens have a more positive experience on a website with visual clues compared to middle age users who would have a more positive experience on a website with linguistic clues. I will be conducting a small study where teens and middle age users will complete a task by navigating through a visual clue based website and then a linguistic clue based website. In the end, users’ experience and time of completion for the task will be collected. From the data collected, I will compare the different effects of visual and linguistic clues on teens and middle age website users. While the websites have been created and the potential interviewees have been contacted, results and conclusions are currently pending. Because of the advancement of technology, this study can shed light on web page designers so they can give users of different age groups a good overall experience on their website.

Christopher Ospina

Computer Programming and Information Systems

Storing Search Ontologies Locally

Ontology search engines are used to search for webpages related to a concept and its subtopics. These types of search engines improve user experience by allowing users to access a variety of websites relating to a shared family of topics. The purpose of this study is to prove that users can produce up to five ontology searches and save them for when the user resets the system. Based on my research and consultation from previous developers of the project, I hypothesize that by modifying the state attribute of the ontology class, it is possible to write a few functions that fulfill the project requirements. The research project uses local storage to capture user's data from the web. This way when a user logs back to the webpage, the stored data is displayed to the user. I tested my hypothesis through a series of code modifications to the existing JavaScript class. First, I brainstormed possible methods to which the plan would be executed properly. To do that, I produced a flowchart that helped me navigate through the code. My tasks consisted of creating a button that saves the user’s ontology as well as one that allowed the user to create a new one while still having the data saved into the system. While my research was able to save the ontologies and create new ones, it was unable to allow the user to display their saved ontologies. Future research is necessary for users to view their saved ontologies. This research is significant because it allows web developers to understand how to use the latest web technologies, such as ES6 and React, to create sites that would store the user’s data similar to how a video game can save its players’ progress so that they can access where they left off.

Aris Pierre-Louis

Computer Security Technology

Using AI Algorithms to build robust cybersecurity infrastructure

 The title of my article is called Harnessing Artificial Intelligence Capabilities to Improve Cybersecurity. The premise of the article focuses on the growing advent of technological systems including that of cybersecurity, but also the growing advent of the threat to online security and information through increasingly sophisticated hackers and systems to breach/steal from computers/spread malware. Next, the article discusses the integration of artificial intelligence systems with cybersecurity to help combat the growing problem of cyber threats through systems of machine learning, enhanced tracing/detection systems, natural learning, automated reasoning, logic, and other things to help better improve the security sector.

Angelique Roberson

Business Management

Evaluating the Effectiveness of Mentorship on Girls on Long Island

According to the New York Times, the four-year graduation rate for students in New York State public schools is around 80% (Harris, 2018). However, students in low-income towns on Long Island, NY have a graduating rate as low as 37%. While there are many factors that contribute to this staggeringly low graduation rate, gender biases in the classroom have been well-researched and identified as an essential component.  In 2013, less than 20% of young women between the ages of 15 to 19 took Advanced Placement exams for disciplines such as math and computer science (Loewus, 2014). Previous research has documented the disconnect young girls feel in the public education system. To rectify this problem, Girls, Inc. of Long Island provides a pro-girl environment with research-based programming, where girls can voice their opinions, have a safe space to discuss how they feel, and learn more about themselves as strong, young women. Girls, Inc. collaborates with multiple school districts across Long Island to provide mentorships opportunities in areas such as financial literacy, college and career preparedness, leadership, STEM, and more. The purpose of this qualitative research study is to evaluate the effectiveness of mentorship on girls on Long Island. Data was collected through focus groups and survey instruments in the 2018-2019 school year. This study found a correlative relationship among mentorship relationships, academic achievement, and student civic engagement. Results from this study shed light on the importance of mentorship for low-income, women of color.

Susana Pariona 

Bioscience

The Role of Genomic Architecture in Wrinkle Associated Genes

How does transcription factor binding to collagen affects the skin differentiation? Aging of our organs begins from the moment we are born, yet it is seen most prominently on our skin as we progress through life. Skin changes associated with chronologic aging or photoaging, such as wrinkling, laxity, and changes in pigmentation, prompt individuals to seek cosmetic procedures to improve the appearance of their skin. In this research, we aim to understand the architecture role on collagen I and III. For each of the collagen genes we are investigating, we have narrowed down the areas of interest to regions where the transcription factors are that set up the genomic landscape for skin development. It is a process of initiation factors (AP2A, AP2C ,GATA3 or GRHL2) and p63 binding to the genome.  At the same time, we are focusing on untranscribed regions of the genome since these areas are not well studied. Therefore, we used these factors and chromatin IP data from the Organic lab to determine which parts of the genome we will be studying to test our hypothesis that the removal of transcription factor binding in untranscribed regions on collagen genes would inhibit skin differentiation

Victoria Mazaras

Bioscience

The Role of Non-gonad Sexual Identity on Fertility in Drosophila

Drosophila melanogaster is a sexually dimorphic organism. Just like in any other sexually dimorphic organism, fertility in Drosophila is quite complicated and involves many other factors. In adult Drosophila, the majority of sexually dimorphic gene expression occurs within the germline tissues (Pairsi et al, 2010). Fat bodies are tissues that store fat or glycogen. Body size in  Drosophila melanogaster seems to play a key role in fertility and is regulated by the body fat tissues. These non-gonad tissues surprisingly are affected by the sex determination gene transformer (Rideout et al., 2015). However, non-gonad tissues might also affect fertility. Expression or inhibition of sexual determination gene transformer (tra) can up- or down-regulate fat body tissues in male and female Drosophila (Rideout et al, 2015). Our data suggest that the sex identity of fat body count also affects fertility. Moreover, we show that changing the sex identity of fat body tissues has an effect on the germline stem cells and on the mating behavior of male and female Drosophila. Mutation in the transformer gene affects the body size which in turn affects the fertility rate. These mutations in body fat tissues can affect the germline stem cells (GSCs). It can change the amount of GSCs differentiating into gametes and affect reproduction. One of the other major factors in determining Drosophila fertility is courtship and mating behaviors. In order to successfully mate with a female, Drosophila male follows the female, taps her legs, and also sings species-specific courtship songs (Pavlou and Goodwin, 2013). Changing the amount of body fat tissues in Drosophila can change these behaviors and affect fertility. 

Cesar Hernandez, Thawanhathai Kiatsutthakorn, and Yailin Paulino

Bioscience

Function of Chemoattractant Signaling on the Migration of Nestin-Expressing Progenitors During Cerebellar Regeneration

After granule cell ablation in the external granule layer(EGL) resulting from traumatic brain injury to the cerebellum, nestin-expressing progenitor cells(NEPs) migrate to the EGL and become granule cells instead. Although typically meant to give rise to Purkinje cells and Astroglia in the Purkinje cell layer (PCL), NEPs migrate to support cell regeneration. The migration of these cells is a crucial component of post-injury cell behavior, and has been known to be mediated by sonic hedgehog signaling, however, new research has uncovered new pathways that can also be held accountable for the migratory patterns of NEPs to the EGL, such as the SDF1-CXCR4 chemoattractant pathway. The purpose of this study is to demonstrate how the SDF1-CXCR4 chemoattractant pathway contributes to the migration of NEPs. The proposed hypothesis is that the main signaling pathway for the migration of NEPs to the EGL upon cerebellar injury is regulated by SDF1-CXCR4. The proposed investigation of SDF1-CXCR4 signaling will first begin by analyzing the characterization of expression patterns of SDF1 and other pathway components in irradiated and nonirradiated mice. Secondly, using western blot and immunofluorescence analysis, the SDF1 signaling post injury will be examined to see whether the signaling is still required. Thirdly, GFP-Cre will be used to remove parts of the CXCR4 gene and ultimately make the receptor nonfunctional. Lastly, a transwell migration assay and SDF1 coated beads with slice cultures will test whether local overactivation of SDF1 signaling changes the migration of the NEPs. Researching the effects of this pathway is critical to the understanding of the regenerative capacity of the brain to allow for advancements in future regenerative therapies. Overall, this research contributes to the advancement of the field of regenerative medicine.

Ellaiza Caragan

Applied Psychology

The Future of Essential Workers

Essential workers who are less educated often have lower income and limited access to healthcare. As a result, they have a higher risk of bearing the burden of the COVID-19 pandemic. The ones more likely to bear this burden are those who do not work from home, have higher physical proximity to each other, have less income, have limited healthcare, and are less educated (Mongey, Pilossoph, & Weinberg,2020). Remote workers often don’t face these same challenges. This means that they face less economic vulnerability (Savić, 2020). The purpose of this study is to determine which burden(s) college-aged grocery store essential workers found to have the more significant impact on their lives. A quantitative survey has been drafted to ask participants about their work conditions (financial situations and mental health). This survey has been reviewed by 20 individuals for its suitability. This survey will be administered to a larger participant pool including grocery and supermarket workers between the ages of 18 and 24 via Qualtrics. The participants will be asked about the following topics: changes in monthly salary, work hours, number of employees, stress and performance levels, enforcement of COVID-19 protocols, and employee benefits. The survey review has provided the following findings. They suggested that the most significant economic impact will be paid sick leave, weather and safety leave, worsening stress and performance levels, and hazardous pay if an employee and/or family member has been exposed to COVID-19. This project is significant because it can shed light on the working conditions for essential workers and their needs during a global pandemic. While the survey has been drafted and reviewed, full data collection has not begun. IRB approval will be sought prior to administering the survey to the full participant pool.

Konstantinos Neofitos

Architecture Engineering Technology

Improving Food System with Architectural Design
 

The Question our group is Proposing is, “How can Architectural Design improve upon the Food System in America”? This is an important question because it could improve upon delivering fresh produces to the locals and local businesses within the city. The Participants within this research would be the local restaurants and the people within the city. The Independent variable to this experiment would be adding an architecturally designed garden in an area that does not get much attraction where the Dependent variable would be the mass number of people that will come to visit due to the garden. My Hypothesis for this experiment is seeing how the locally designed garden will allow for a better influence on food production per yield. This will allow the locals to have a nice community environment to gather their vegetation. The methodology to solving this question is by first, interviewing the local people and see what they want through new vegetables and what type of sight would they want in the city. The following step afterward would be our group designing and taking those people considering those people’s feedback. Finally, when all the preparations are completed the result will be this garden in the city that brings people within the city to gather their fresh produces and have a new structure for people to see that was originally an empty open space. Where our research committee stands, this is all just a theory that would help benefit many different cities and towns within the United States. However, for us as a group where we stand, there is still room for us to grow and for us to keep researching more about plant life and getting grants to put this into a reality.