Little is known about how male and female Pieris rapae behave during territorial behaviors, making this project particularly significant. Through our previous experiment, we have uncovered intriguing insights into the unique behaviors exhibited by male P. rapae when interacting with pseudo-females (males in disguise). Our observations suggest a complex interplay between competitive instincts and courtship behaviors. Specifically, male Pieris rapae display distinct responses when encountering pseudo-females, indicating a potential recognition of the sex of the interacting butterfly. This recognition may trigger competitive behaviors like a territorial move if perceived as a rival male or foster a display of courtship if perceived as a potential mate. Additionally, we aim to study how female P. rapae interact with other females to determine if there are any behavioral differences in these interactions. By studying the intricacies of both male and female courtship and/or territorial behaviors in P. rapae, this project seeks a deeper understanding of the factors shaping mating systems and reproductive success in this species and beyond.

We present BIOGEM, a fully biodegradable McKibben actuator with integrated sensing, made from gelatin-based composites. By tailoring the material compositions, we customize the mechanical and electrical properties of the biodegradable composites, creating an integrated biodegradable system that combines both actuation and sensing functionalities. BIOGEM integrates a McKibben actuating structure by using stiff gelatin as outer braiding and the stretchable gelatin as air chambers. It also integrates resistive strain sensing through ionic gelatin, allowing the actuator to monitor its own deformation without relying on conventional electronics. We characterize the actuator’s performance across key parameters including braid angle, wall thickness, and material stiffness, demonstrating reliable contraction and repeatable force output at low pressures. Biodegradation is validated through both enzyme-assisted and backyard soil studies, confirming the material’s sustainable end-of-life behavior under realistic conditions. We illustrate the potential of this platform through interactive, edible, and environmentally-degradable prototypes across human–computer interaction and soft robotics scenarios.

Depression is one of the most commonly co-occurring mental health conditions among individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) for which there are not currently effective strategies to minimize onset. Given that early caregiver support in autism-specific and general areas of functioning predict the development of a range of adaptive social and behavioral patterns, leveraging caregiving processes in childhood and adolescence may represent one approach to decreasing the risk for psychological disorder. However, current research recognizes that the high levels of stress experienced by many families with an autistic child may undermine the quality of support caregivers are able to provide. As a result, there is limited understanding of caregiving strategies that will reliably confer resilience to depression and that will support the successful implementation of mental health-related interventions in autism. As such, this project assesses caregiver involvement in childhood and adolescence as a predictor of depressive symptomatology in autistic adults, and additionally to evaluate the family environment as a moderator of this relationship. It is hypothesized that there will be a negative association between caregiver involvement and severity of depression symptoms, and that the association will be stronger under conditions of high familial warmth but reversed in family environments characterized by high control or rejection. Taken together, family environment will account for appreciable variations in the effectiveness of parent involvement as protecting against the development of depression. This survey study will lay the groundwork for researchers and autism service providers to develop an informed approach to leveraging parent involvement as a preventative measure against depressive symptoms in adulthood.

As climate change increases temperature, Pieris rapae caterpillars' feeding habits may be affected. As their feeding habits are altered, P. rapae may begin to migrate to different plants; this can be detrimental for agriculture because these defoliating caterpillars are pests. P. rapae caterpillars are known to feed on Brassica species, including collards and kale. It is also shown that caterpillars increase their feeding rate at higher temperatures (Kingsolver 2000). However, little is known about how temperature influences their feeding preferences. In this experiment, we find the consumption rate of P. rapae 4th instar larvae eating kale (Brassica oleracea var. sabellica) and collards (Brassica oleracea var. viridis) to find consumption preference between these two plants at 14°C, 23°C, and 35°C. Larvae were placed on a moist filter paper in petri dishes containing 2 collard and 2 kale leaf disks placed in an alternating fashion. Petri dishes were placed in three separate incubators set to the three temperatures. We predicted that P. rapae would have a preference for collards since they are reared on collards in the lab and they would increase their consumption of the preferred plant. We also examined the percentage per hour of each leaf eaten and compared this data between types of leaves and temperatures. The data showed that as temperatures increased, the consumption rate of P. rapae caterpillars also increased. Though, there was no change in preference as the P. rapae caterpillars consistently preferred collards over kale. This suggest that higher temperatures from climate change will increase the rate at which caterpillars eat, but will not affect preference. It is important to consider the change in consumption rate of caterpillars with temperature when aiming to prevent crop damage in the face of climate change.

Dense-core vesicles are membrane-bound structures that carry neuromodulators such as insulin, dopamine, and serotonin. The peptides within dense-core vesicles are initially larger precursor proteins that undergo enzymatic processing to achieve their functional forms. During the defecation motor program in Caenorhabditis elegans, dense-core vesicles released from the intestine harbor neuropeptides that trigger neurons which activate enteric muscles, promoting the act of defecation. Failure of certain proneuropeptides to mature into neuropeptides results in decreased frequency of defecations. CPD-1, a conserved transmembrane carboxypeptidase, is a poorly understood processing enzyme that affects the defecation motor program. I built on our knowledge of EGL-21, another carboxypeptidase known to process neuropeptides and peptide hormones, to better understand CPD-1’s function. I show here that these two carboxypeptidases, EGL-21 and CPD-1, process neuropeptides necessary for successful defecation patterns. Mutants lacking egl-21 had decreased defecation frequency while worms lacking both egl-21 and cpd-1 had an even lower defecation frequency. Additionally, my results show that CPD-1 is expressed in intestinal cells and can compensate for EGL-21’s function. Finally, I am conducting experiments to determine whether one of CPD-1’s targets is NLP-40, an important neuro-like peptide released from the intestine that regulates defecation. These results contribute to our broader knowledge of peptide processing in dense-core vesicles.

Liver fatty acid binding protein (FABP1) is highly expressed in the liver, kidney, and gut and is known for its role in binding endogenous lipids. FABP1 has also been shown to bind drugs and modulate metabolism in the liver. A high frequency single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP T94A) in FABP1 is shown to correlate with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. We hypothesize that this SNP also affects drug binding. To evaluate drug-FABP1 binding, I measure equilibrium dissociation constants (K_ds) by fluorescent displacement assays for both FABP1 wild-type and T94A using two fluorescent probes, 11-(dansylamino)undecanoic acid (DAUDA) and 8-anilino-1-naphthalenesulfonic acid (ANS). FABP1 has a large binding pocket that can accommodate 2 ligands simultaneously in a ‘high affinity’ and ‘low affinity’ binding site. When DAUDA-FABP1 or ANS-FABP1 are titrated with a drug, a drug-FABP1-probe ternary complex is formed rather than the probe being fully displaced. This complicates data analysis and suggests that endogenous lipids may change the affinity of drugs for FABP1. Therefore, I use multiple fluorescent probes with different binding affinity to obtain drug K_d values. I use singular value decomposition (SVD) to isolate individual fluorescent components from the overall observed fluorescence spectra. I then estimate drug and probe K_ds for FABP1 T94A and T94T by fitting the fluorescent change due to binding to dynamic models in COPASI software. From forward and reverse titrations, DAUDA K_d for FABP1 wild-type was found to be 0.194 µM while ANS binds more weakly (K_d = 1.38 µM). From DAUDA displacement assays, diclofenac was found to have a K_d of 3.90 µM for wild-type FABP1 and 3.78 µM for T94A. I anticipate measurement of K_ds for 8 other drugs using both DAUDA and ANS in the coming months. The developed methods will enable evaluation of FABP1’s role in drug disposition.

The focus of this research was to test the effectiveness of a silicone-based paint in the marking of Pieris rapae in a manner that was non-invasive and durable. Previous studies have tested other marking methods but have faced challenges such as harm to the organism. By using a paint made from red cabbage (Brassica oleracea), I aim to minimize the harm to larvae in current marking methods while retaining durability under moist conditions. This experiment examined both the durability and health effects of cabbage-based paints on P. rapae caterpillars. Preliminary experiments tested a water-based version, which did not appear to affect survival but faded under moist conditions, and a silicone-based version, which withstood moisture but raised concerns about potential effects on health due to the additional ingredients required for the silicone base. My research continued testing the cabbage paint with a cosmetic-grade dimethicone base and aimed to determine the extent that the cabbage paint may have on caterpillar health and survival. Survival experiments were conducted on 4th and 5th instar caterpillars to determine larva mortality rates when exposed to the pigment. Weight change experiments were conducted from the 4th instar to pupation to be used as a metric of the overall health of the larvae. I conclude that the silicone-based cabbage pigment is a promising marking method for larger caterpillars, offering improved durability and minimal impact on overall health compared to many conventional methods. These findings contribute to the development of safe durable marking techniques suitable for ecological research on soft-bodied insects.

Mycoplasma genitalium (MG) is a common sexually transmitted bacterium that causes serious health problems such as pelvic inflammatory disease, urethritis, and pregnancy complications. The efficacy of antibiotics has significantly decreased due to antibiotic resistance; about 50% of US strains are resistant to azithromycin, a common treatment path, and resistance reaches 100% in high-risk populations. Preliminary research done in our lab has shown that MG is susceptible to tinidazole (another antibiotic) in vitro. We hypothesize that tinidazole is effective against MG because it creates superoxide radicals that MG cannot detoxify. To test this, the sodA and katA genes, encoding enzymes that detoxify reactive oxygen species, were introduced into the MG genome. The insertion site was determined by whole genome sequencing, and we selected two mutants with insertions unlikely to affect other genes. These two strains were compared to the parent strain in time-kill experiments to measure susceptibility to tinidazole. Cultures of these strains were incubated for 10 days with two-fold dilutions of tinidazole, plating aliquots onto agar plates each day to quantify surviving MG. The individual colonies present on the plates are counted and graphed, allowing us to compare the efficacy of tinidazole on the separate strains. To confirm the enzymes are being expressed, we used a hydrogen peroxide assay to measure the levels of hydrogen peroxide, which is formed from the radicals released from the cells. In conclusion, we hypothesize that the radicals produced by tinidazole kill MG by inducing DNA damage. We, therefore, measured the susceptibility of 10 DNA repair mutants to tinidazole and found that deletion of MG_360 enhances susceptibility. Results from these experiments can be used to understand the mechanism by which tinidazole and other nitroimidazoles kill MG. This data is critical in the battle against antibiotic resistance and can improve treatment options globally. 

The metabolite of vitamin A, retinoic acid (RA), plays a critical role in regulating cell differentiation in mammals. RA and its metabolites exist as different geometric isoforms (all-trans, 13-cis, 9-cis, 4-oxo-all-trans, 4-oxo-13-cis .). All-trans-RA is the biologically active isomer, and 13-cis-RA is found as the drug “Accutane” used to treat severe acne. Cellular retinoic acid binding proteins are evolutionarily conserved intracellular proteins that regulate RA tissue concentrations. The all-trans isomer is known to bind tightly to CRABP1 and 2, but little is known about the binding of the other four isomers and metabolites. No data on the binding affinities of the 4-oxo isomers is available. I hypothesize that the RA and 4-oxo-RA isomers that have not been extensively researched, have different binding affinities between the two CRABPs. To test this hypothesis, I use fluorescence spectroscopy coupled with single value decomposition (SVD) analysis and stopped-flow analysis to measure the equilibrium dissociation constant (Kd), association rate constant (kon), and dissociation rate constant (koff) for retinoid binding to CRABPs. My current data generated by the fluorescence spectroscopy method shows that binding affinities of the tested retinoids are comparable between CRABP 1 and 2, except for 13-cis-RA which bound CRABP2 significantly more tightly than CRABP1. (CRABP1 Kd  = 609 nM, CRABP2 Kd  = 70.5 nM) . All-trans-RA (atRA) has the tightest binding to both CRABP 1 and 2, (CRABP1 Kd  = 0.51 nM, CRABP2 Kd  = 0.73 nM), followed by 4-oxo-atRA, (0.39nM, 1.4 nM), 9-cis-RA, (61.5 nM, 96.2 nM), and finally 4-oxo-13-cis (779.5 nM, 743.6 nM) with the lowest binding affinity. These relationships will be further investigated using the stopped-flow method.

Since 2005, the United States has experienced a significant and sustained decline in juvenile delinquency, often attributed to increased arrest and incarceration rates. However, scholars have sought alternative, non-punitive approaches to further reduce delinquency. One such approach is after-school programs, which have been tested for their effectiveness. This article develops a theoretical framework using a utility-maximizing decision model that incorporates uncertainty and time allocation to analyze the market for juvenile delinquencies. The model suggests that extended school hours by investing in After-school programs reduces juvenile delinquency through limiting opportunities for criminal behavior— decreasing availability of potential victims. Additionally, the model suggests that aligning school hours with societal working hours strengthens the effectiveness of delinquency prevention policies. The findings also offer valuable insights for countries with weak law enforcement, where juvenile delinquency disrupts education and lowers its returns.

Intrinsic hand muscles and tendons are crucial for joint stabilization, fine motor control, and coordinating flexion—functions essential for performing dexterous tasks such as typing, grasping, and tool manipulation. However, monitoring strength and real-time activities remains challenging. Surface electromyography (EMG) struggles to isolate signals from interior tissue due to low signal-to-noise ratios. Devices like the Rotterdam Intrinsic Hand Myometer measure strength but are cumbersome for continuous monitoring. Electrical Impedance sensing offers a promising alternative. This technique passes a low-frequency electrical current through electrode pairs (injectors and receivers) on the skin and measures the resulting voltage changes to model tissue impedance. Through this approach, we can track and classify the activity of hand muscles and tendons in real-time, targeting the challenge of capturing signals within the hand. Our approach integrates a custom conductive fabric electrode array into a wearable form, such as a glove or a flexible bandage, to detect impedance variation with muscle contractions. These signals are processed through a regression-based machine-learning algorithm that predicts hand poses. A dynamic simulation further visualizes the motion and corresponding muscle activity, providing feedback on intrinsic muscle coordination. By offering real-time monitoring of deeper musculoskeletal dynamics, our system opens new avenues for analyzing muscle function and optimizing performance. Beyond research, this system can inform a range of applications—from enhancing human-computer interaction and prosthetic control to supporting personalized rehabilitation protocols. Looking ahead, we plan to optimize electrode designs for improved comfort and precision and to incorporate advanced machine-learning techniques for enhanced pose prediction. Through refinements, we aim to make EIS-based hand muscle monitoring a versatile tool for researchers, clinicians, and innovators across diverse fields.

Learner experiences are under-examined in environmental learning research. Our research consists of studies of experiential aspects of environmental learning by undergraduate researchers, conducted over three years, culminating in a focus on how community-engaged learning (CEL) fosters connections between social justice, ecological consciousness, and student well-being. Research questions we came to consider were: What connections are students drawing between social justice and ecological consciousness? How does engaging in community-based environmental learning affect students’ well-being? Methods such as coding, memoing, reflecting through learning diaries, whole-part-whole analysis, and group collaboration all contributed to establishing an adaptable infrastructure of undergraduate research (UGR) in experiential aspects of the course. Our findings on students’ connections between social justice and ecological consciousness revealed their thoughts about becoming advocates, or “leaning toward justice”, though they had diverse prior knowledge and experiences. Findings on the CEL experience within the large course with regard to well-being showed how students integrate environmental education with community engagement, particularly in addressing issues such as food insecurity, environmental justice, and language barriers for immigrant communities. Some key themes found were that CEL promoted personal growth through unexpected learning, connection to nature & emotional relief, and a sense of belonging in research participants’ experiences. The significance of this research has been to establish a way for undergraduate researchers to drive experiential learning research, and to find research outcomes about how learning experiences foster awareness of social and ecological justice, encouraging students to see themselves as advocates for change. 

Mycoplasma genitalium (MG) is a sexually transmitted bacterial pathogen commonly associated with urethritis in men and cervicitis, endometritis, pelvic inflammatory disease, infertility, and preterm birth among women as it invades the upper reproductive tract. Due to antimicrobial resistance, infections can persist for months to years, and first-line drug choices fail in over half of all patients. Whole-genome sequencing reveals that natural nitroimidazole (NDZ)-resistant mutants have mutations in or near MG_342, which encodes a flavin mononucleotide-dependent oxidoreductase required for activation of NDZs to the toxic form. We hypothesize that these mutations reduce oxidoreductase expression or activity, impairing drug efficacy. To determine if these mutations reduce MG342 protein expression, I used molecular techniques to engineer MG strains expressing FLAG-tagged alleles of MG342 including wild type and four spontaneous resistance mutations in or near the MG_342 start codon. FLAG-tags are peptide tags that bind to commercially available, high-affinity antibodies for protein quantification. My study aims to examine how these MG342 mutations affect (1) protein levels using quantitative immunoblots and (2) NDZ susceptibility using qPCR-based minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) assays. As MG_342 is an essential gene, we hypothesize that an alternate downstream start codon allows sufficient expression for viability of MG while reducing activation of NDZs, leading to resistance. Future RNA sequencing will examine how mutations, particularly a 92 base pair deletion upstream of MG_342, impact transcription. Developing this RNA sequencing method will help define mechanisms of resistance as new mutations are identified. Since physicians are already beginning to treat MG patients with NDZ drugs, insight into the resistance mechanisms could help determine which mutations to screen for to prevent drug-bug mismatch and treatment failure.

Physical rehabilitation sensing technologies play a critical role in enhancing patients’ recovery through real-time monitoring and help doctors evaluate the effectiveness of rehabilitation treatment. However, traditional sensing devices are bulky which may not only limit the patients’ movement and reduce the accuracy of doctors’ evaluation but also add additional burden to the patients. Thus, we want to develop a unified multimodal sensing wearable, capturing multimodal data in a more compact and efficient form factor, allowing the patients to perform rehab tasks in a more natural way. While a multimodal wearables strategy does exist, their sensors usually stack on top of each other for multimodality, which sacrifices flexibility, and compactness, making patients inconvenient to wear. To address these limitations, we developed a novel multifunctional smart oversleeve, integrating a customized portable sensing circuit that can perform joint deformation monitoring and measure muscle activities through electrical impedance tomography (EIT) and electromyography (EMG). The sensors of the circuits are highly unified as well as the readout circuit. Compared with traditional bulky sensors with multiple layers, patients can easily wear them as regular sleeves, which combines the function of reading all of the signals that are mentioned above (EMG, EIT, etc.). From the perspective of the circuit, it can effectively calculate the bending angles of the elbow and track the activities of the bicep, triceps, and forearm muscles, reflecting the patients’ recovery performance. These capabilities provide valuable insights into patient recovery performance and highlight the potential of this device as a versatile tool for physical rehabilitation monitoring.