BHHS ASR Symposium 2021

“Peek-a-boo”: Determining the latency to laughter in the case of three different jokes within infants aged six to eighteen months Sophie Stumacher Laughter is universally experienced by humans, and infants usually begin exhibiting this behavior at three months. By understanding laughter, we can strengthen the important relationship between a parent and their child. Because of this importance, scientists have investigated infant humor perception based on factors including parental effect and social referencing. Thus far, infant response time to a joke (known as the latency period) has not been explored. Strengthening our understanding of the latency period allows us to predict what factors may lead to the quickest laughter. This study is one of the first of its kind to investigate whether the latency period varies depending on age and joke type. Parental perception of their child’s laughter responses was also investigated. The current work focused on three joke types: absurd (Not A Hat), conceptual (Peek-a-boo), and uncategorized (Tearing Paper). Participants were aged 6-18 months. It was found that the conceptual joke (Peek-a-boo) had a significantly shorter latency time than the other joke types (x̄ = 1.46s, p<0.001). In addition, infants aged 12-18 months obtained a longer latency time than those aged 6-12 months (x̄ = 1.91s, p>0.05), although the difference was not significant. This study can help scientists predict patterns about what infants are more likely to laugh at and help parents determine the quickest way to elicit laughter at different developmental stages. As laughter is one of the first forms of vocal communication, this study is vital for parents so they can better nurture a secure attachment to their child. Honors and Awards: 2021: Author of article published by International Youth Research Conference Westchester Rockland Junior Science and Humanities Symposium (Local) 2nd Place in Behavior Westchester Science and Engineering Fair 3rd Place in Behavioral & Social Sciences BHHS ASR Symposium PowerPoint Presenter 2020: BHHS ASR Symposium Poster Presenter 2019: BHHS ASR Symposium Poster Presenter Mentor: Dr. Caspar Addyman Goldsmiths, University of London InfantLab London, England Will be attending: The College of William & Mary 50

Testing recurrent proximal policy optimization models and various reward functions in assessing the performance of neural networks on financial markets Jake Teitelbaum Reinforcement learning is a new machine learning concept that has been shown to be viable in predicting data in many fields. Reinforcement learning models are not given explicit information on what is a correct prediction (what would be determined by the data outputs) and as a result, very noisy data could impede a model’s accuracy. This poses a great challenge when using data from financial markets. Furthermore, there has been a recent growth in the use of reinforcement learning algorithms in neural networks. Specifically, a new 2017 model, proximal policy optimization, has already shown to effectively predict data across several fields, including robot control and videogames. However, few studies have assessed utilizing a variety of parameters on this specific model. Thus, this study evaluated the effectiveness of proximal policy optimization models, recurrent layers, and an economic reward function when trading on exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and foreign exchange (Fx) data. The combination of these tested parameters created a novel study with varying results. The more complex models, or ones with recurrent layers and economic utility function as a reward function, did not perform as well as opposing, simpler models. It was concluded that the recurrent layers are not as effective in complex models compared to simpler models seen in this study and other studies. The findings of this research could aid in developing reliant neural network algorithms that consistently return a profit when trading on financial markets, giving anyone the ability to return a profit off the financial market trading. Honors and Awards: 2021: BHHS ASR Symposium PowerPoint Presenter 2020: BHHS ASR Symposium Poster Presenter 2019: BHHS ASR Symposium Poster Presenter Mentor: Dr. Vasant Dhar New York University Stern School of Business New York, NY Will be attending: Washington University in St. Louis 51

The association between marital relationship adjustment and the number of children in families with pediatric cancer Chloe Weissman Every day, 43 children are diagnosed with pediatric cancer. The stress of diagnosis and treatment not only affects the cancer-stricken child, but also other family members. Pediatric cancer can place considerable strain on whole familes, leading to heightened levels of family conflict, especially in the marital relationship. Many variables affect the marital dyad, including the intensity of treatment, economic strain, and the impact of additional children. This study examined the association between marital relationship adjustment and family size while controlling for parent gender, time since diagnosis, and patient adjustment. The analyzed data (N = 97) are from an ongoing study with parents/caregivers of children diagnosed with pediatric cancer. Participants completed a demographic questionnaire, the Dyadic Adjustment Scale, and the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. The study’s findings illustrated the complexity of factors associated with marital relationship adjustment and how gender differences are relevant following a diagnosis of pediatric cancer. There was no significant association between the number of children in the family and marital relationship adjustment (p = 0.287); however, mothers reported significantly lower marital satisfaction compared to fathers (p = 0.011). This is consistent with past research that shows stereotypically gendered emotional responses. Mothers openly share their realistic perspective of their child’s situation, while fathers are more reluctant. This difference in parent responses illustrates the importance of interventions targeting the partner relationship. In the context of cancer, strong relationships are essential in providing support to patient family members and ultimately preventing family conflict and lasting emotional effects. Honors and Awards: 2021: Westchester Rockland Junior Science and Humanities Symposium (Local) 1st Place in Behavior Westchester Science and Engineering Fair 4th Place in Behavioral & Social Sciences BHHS ASR Symposium PowerPoint Presenter 2020: BHHS ASR Symposium Poster Presenter 2019: BHHS ASR Symposium Poster Presenter Mentors: Dr. Erin Rodriguez and Ms. Savannah Davidson The University of Texas at Austin The Pediatric Coping and Language Lab Austin, TX Will be attending: Vanderbilt University 52

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Please note: As scientists, the ASR community strongly endorses the wearing of masks and the practice of social distancing. Many of these pictures were taken prior to the pandemic. 54

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- Dr. Matthew’s Limericks - Lauren Amico Lorraine DiSano A child who has cancer is stressed A dog in a shelter has less And their parents can become depressed Human contact and so they get stressed Finding the factors (four) But others do not That make this risk more It depends on the mutt Will help their treatment be the best. We must work out what suits each one best. Luke Briody Mia Dittrich Age-related CNS disease Stress disorders and PTSD Can involve the BCNSBs. Impact women disproportionately. Using RNA-seq Cdk5 effects To find causes of leaks Vary by sex. Luke found drugs through his analyses. Treatment target? Potentially! Marleigh Canter Kristin Eickelbeck Identical twins aren’t the same Sagittarius A*’s hard to see, It’s their epigenome that's to blame As the black hole in our galaxy. With forensics in mind Modelling Faraday rotation Marleigh set out to find Found that light polarization From which factors these changes came. Measurements could be biased (possibly). Olivia Canter Dylan Ertel Agin’ makes telomeres short ALS is a dreadful disease But when quails have some friendly support Impacting patients and their families. Instead of aggression When faced with this fact, Their aging progression How do teens’ friends react? Is slower than previously thought. Feelings of control put them at ease. Joseph Cipriano Skyler Goldin Alien life has yet to be found For pain in cows use flunixin, Although exoplanets abound You can rub it right into their skin. Using their atmosphere But what of the horse? Signs of life may appear We should test it of course! Through finding specific compounds. Skyler showed it could do the same thing. Alexa Cohen Bailey Goldstein College searching is full of vexation NPQ offers plants light protection Linked to parental expectation But it’s slow to stop when the sun goes in. And how they’re involved To make the crop yield As the process evolves Optimal from the field, Can help move toward stress mitigation. We need to speed the relaxation. Alexander Dec Ali Hafez Bad news for the loving cat owner The FET is ubiquitously Feline injection site sarcoma! Found in laptops and phones, so you see Diagnostic techniques With AI simulation Could do with some tweaks Testing CN formation To see that it isn’t lipoma. We’ll speed design substantially! Lily Deitelzweig Haley Harris Mice with AD and diabetes Dolphins just love to play games Have an unusual form of disease And create moves that aren’t the same Though their memory lacks Each one is unique They don’t have Aβ plaques In their chosen technique And so Lily said “quelle surprise!”. And Haley knew each one by name! 66

Jared Ilan Gabrielle Ripka Find which type of plant or veggie could be Speakers can make folk happy or frown Used to grow meat cells artificially Through the use of personal pronouns Turns out celery’s best (Like I, us, or we) When put to the test But unfortunately Of modulus of elasticity. These choices sometimes keep women Alexa Jindal down. The new PRP therapy Could be just what you need for your knee Melissa Rivera If it’s sore with OA Though white dwarfs can be hard to observe And you falter or sway Melissa looked at their light curves This could improve your mobility. And she found two blips Raquel Kanner Showing things in orbit A stutter could not stop Raquel Which delighted her as she deserved. From presenting and winning as well Chloe Sampere How stutters disclose Young children learn languages fast, (Raquel’s research shows) Many adults do not, by contrast. Doesn’t change how a teenager feels. Could they learn more like kids? Anika Kumar Would it help if they did? A stroke must be treated with speed This was the question that Chloe asked. But we’re not sure which best meets the Tessa Schwartz need… For the cellular-based bio bot Should stems cells be Light flexes the muscles it’s got Given IA or IV? The forces increase Anika showed both can succeed! With the size of the beast But it’s rather small, so not a lot! Lizzie Manowitz Drew Siskin Predicting what word will come next CDI, a bacterial infection, Uses processing based on context Suffers from inconsistent detection. To find a therapy Is testing efficient? For kids with ASD Reliable? Proficient? Look at pictures instead of just text. This work might help protocol perfection. Griffen Nenner Sophie Stumacher For frogs and newts in the NE Sweet babies will giggle or coo, Cases of chytrid have increased When Mum or Dad play peek-a-boo! (Over the past few years) Or joke not-a-hat, Raising scientists’ fears Well just fancy that! That the frogs will all soon be deceased! But how long will it take ‘til they do? Elaina Piecyk Jake Teitelbaum When a limb is lost, the inflammation Stocks and shares can be fickle at best Acts against any regeneration So to put their patterns to the test IL-33 tests A neural network model Were confusing at best Will decide buy or sell Leaving Elaina in fits of frustration To see where you ought to invest. William Quinn Chloe Weissman Space debris can cause a disaster Pediatric cancer news can be But HVLs need to shoot faster Quite disruptive to a family To see if shields block Between husband and wife A real space bolt or rock It can result in strife So Will found the best shape for the blaster. Interventions help, ultimately. 67

Juniors 68

- A Message to the Juniors - You are accomplishing more with this project than most adults accomplish in their entire life. You are also learning to become adults during one of the most turbulent, stressful, and uncertain times in your teenage life while the world confronts its own existential and systemic challenges including racial inequities and inequality, a pandemic, and environmental sustainability, to name just a few. At this point, you have demonstrated and proven you can do the hard work, and as parents, we know you feel the grind of it all. We feel your disappointments and setbacks. We cheer your small and big wins and cheer even harder when we watch you tackle and conquer the inevitable setbacks and challenges along the way. We all try not to get involved and truly want you to figure it out on your own because we know you can do it. In fact, we’re learning too alongside you. We are learning to let go. It’s hard to watch your child struggle and falter at times. “Nana korobi, ya oki” is an old Japanese proverb which means “fall down seven times, stand up eight.” It means choosing to never give up and always striving for excellence. It’s heartbreaking to watch you fall, but exponentially rewarding to witness your resilience and passion for your project. In the next 12 months, you will present your findings to the scientific community as both a scientist and an educator with the respect and dignity you have earned. More importantly, you will teach, enlighten and enrich the world with topics and ideas previously unbeknownst to them. Many of you will win external validation in the form of awards and accolades. This amazing experience will anchor all of you in unimaginable ways: your ability to think critically, create persuasive narratives, present and speak in public, advocate for an idea or cause, analyze and synthesize complex datasets and problems….the list goes on. I promise, you will get through this and you will be incredibly proud of yourself. You will never forget this moment, and it will become a life marker for you, carrying you on through your next chapter in life. This Science Research journey will become the base of your adult life; when you are faced with hard situations, you will know that you can get through it because you have done it before. Good luck to you this summer as you conduct your research and write your paper. Your parents are here for you. We are your biggest fans and cheerleaders. So please come to us and ask for our advice when things aren’t going right and even when all is well. We can’t wait to celebrate you next year when you graduate. Thank you Stephanie Greenwald, Dr. Caroline Matthew, Megan Salomone, James Gulick, and Rhonda Santini for all of your hard work and dedication to our children. We know you are as proud of them as we are. Tessa & Aaron Kwittken 69

The role of aryl hydrocarbon receptor metabolites in suppressing food allergy Olivia Addeo Food allergies are a growing concern and currently affect 32 million Americans. Recent studies have highlighted the considerable role of the microbiota, which are the microorganisms that live in our bodies, in the development of allergies. Certain bacteria prevent food allergies by inducing immune cells that regulate immune responses. One way the microbiota impacts the immune system is through metabolites, molecules created by metabolism. One type of metabolite in particular appears to be important for tolerance to allergens, which are indoles created through the metabolism of tryptophan, an amino acid. These metabolites activate a transcription factor, the aryl hydrocarbon receptor, which induces regulatory T cells to suppress food allergic reactions. Olivia’s study will determine if this metabolite is necessary for tolerance by treating mice with genetically modified bacteria that lack the ability to make tryptophan metabolites. This research could lead to therapies to suppress food allergies that involve indole metabolites. Honors and Awards: 2021: BHHS ASR Symposium Poster Presenter 2020: BHHS ASR Symposium Poster Presenter Mentor: Dr. Talal Chatila Boston Children’s Hospital Chatila Laboratory Boston, MA Elucidating the role of carbon burial and environmental context in the carbon sequestration and preservation of a blue carbon ecosystem through analysis of sediment grain size and organic carbon lability Derek Araki-Kurdyla Oceanic blue carbon (BC) ecosystems are among the most productive on the planet, sequestering atmospheric carbon dioxide at significantly higher rates than terrestrial ecosystems. Acting as natural solutions in the mitigation of climate change, BC ecosystems have preserved stored carbon for thousands of years in the low oxygen conditions of their underlying sediment. Carbon stocks vary significantly among sites, and recent literature suggests that not all stored organic carbon is at equal risk of remineralization, raising the question of which biotic or abiotic factors influence this resistance. Further studies are needed to strengthen these findings and potentially alter the understanding of carbon sequestration in BC ecosystems. By sampling the sediment grain size and carbon lability of tidal marshes along Long Island Sound, Derek hopes to elucidate the influence of carbon lability on tidal marsh carbon stocks across an environmental gradient. Honors and Awards: 2021: BHHS ASR Symposium Poster Presenter 2020: BHHS ASR Symposium Poster Presenter Mentor: Dr. James W. Fourqurean Florida International University Department of Biological Sciences Miami, FL 70

Differential gene expression analysis of the colonial polyp versus the regenerated polyp of Turritopsis dohrnii (Cnidaria, Hydrozoa): “The immortal jellyfish” Morgan Aronsky The jellyfish species Turritopsis dohrnii possesses the ability to reverse its life cycle and is therefore classified as biologically immortal. T. dohrnii begins as a planula, a free-swimming larva which settles on a surface. It then develops into a polyp, where it grows into a colony and produces medusa jellyfish. Once faced with unfavorable conditions, the medusa will undergo reverse development and transform backwards into the cyst stage, then returning to the polyp stage. The two directions of development in the life cycle result in two different types of polyp stages: colonial and regenerated. In Morgan’s study, the colonial and regenerated polyp transcriptional profiles will be compared through a pairwise differential gene expression analysis in order to identify the differences in gene expression. This identification could provide insight for future scientific research involving developmental biology and potentially assist in unlocking the secret to immortality. Honors and Awards: 2021: BHHS ASR Symposium Poster Presenter 2020: BHHS ASR Symposium Poster Presenter Mentor: Dr. Maria Pia Miglietta Texas A&M University College Station, TX The effects of storytelling vs. story reading on the executive functions of fourth grade suburban students Edith Bachmann Executive functions are key skills linked to success in school and in adulthood. These skills help one respond appropriately to different situations and include paying attention, maintaining self-control, and having a working memory. Finding ways to improve executive functions is critically important, yet there is limited research on this topic. Thus, Edith will be investigating the impact of a six- week storytelling intervention for fourth-grade students. Each week, pairs of students in the control group will either read stories to each other or tell stories to each other. Students will then be assessed on their memory, sustained attention, and language skills before and after the six weeks to determine which skills are improved. She hopes to learn more about how these two ways of relaying a story affect cognitive skills so critical for student success. Honors and Awards: 2021: BHHS ASR Symposium Poster Presenter 2020: BHHS ASR Symposium Poster Presenter Mentor: Dr. Adele Diamond University of British Columbia Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience Lab Vancouver, British Columbia 71

Elucidating the role of endosomal anionic lipid composition and calcium ions in Ebola virus entry Alex Berkman The Zaire Ebola virus (EBOV) is characteristic of potent, episodic outbreaks within West Africa. However, virus entry currently remains understudied in drug development. During entry, EBOV relies on its surface glycoprotein (GP). Niemann-Pick Cellular 1 (NPC1), calcium, and low pH have all been implicated in this process as well. Yet, recent literature has led researchers to conjecture that EBOV may also be dependent on cellular lipid composition. Specifically, it is proposed that EBOV requires the presence of anionic lipids for fusion and that this GP-membrane interaction is facilitated by Ca+2 ions. Therefore, in this study, fluorescence cross correlation spectroscopy (FCCS) will be employed to elucidate the precise conditions required for entry. In the end, Alex hopes to aid in establishing a fundamental understanding of EBOV pathology and potentially expose new interactions/pathways susceptible to antiviral action. Honors and Awards: 2021: BHHS ASR Symposium Poster Presenter 2020: BHHS ASR Symposium Poster Presenter Mentor: Dr. James Munro University of Massachusetts Amherst Medical School Amherst, MA Comparing relationship-oriented versus self-oriented goals created by caregivers using the Wish Outcome Obstacle Plan (WOOP) strategy in their efficiency in producing positive outcomes for spouses living with dementia Sophia Berland An estimated 50 million people worldwide have dementia, most of whom receive care from their spouse. A difficult concept for caregivers to grasp is that they do not have control over their partner’s actions nor disease progression. Therefore, caregivers must use goal-setting to focus on their own actions that could result in positive outcomes for their care recipients. One tool, Wish Outcome Obstacle Plan (WOOP), has helped people create goals in multiple contexts. Sophia will be looking at goals created by caregivers and categorizing them as self-oriented or relationship- oriented in order to reveal which type is most impactful in creating positive outcomes for partners with dementia, as current statuses will be measured before and after the intervention. Sophia hopes her findings will help determine which type of goal-setting should be implemented in future clinical settings and more broadly, how wording of a goal for one person affects quality of life for another. Honors and Awards: 2021: BHHS ASR Symposium Poster Presenter 2020: BHHS ASR Symposium Poster Presenter Mentor: Dr. Joan K. Monin Yale School of Public Health Monin Lab New Haven, CT 72

“Keep your eye on the ball”: A comparative study of the visual tracking accuracy of baseball batters and non-athletes during knuckleball tracking Jack Blackmar Visual tracking is an important skill to have in order to be successful in any sport. However, in baseball, the eyes play a vital role in the success of players. Batters have only 250 milliseconds to see the pitch and then determine if, when, and where to swing. Researchers have looked extensively at how batters' eyes behave while tracking both fastballs and curveballs, but there is a lack of literature pertaining to how the eyes of experienced batters track a knuckleball. In Jack’s study, he will observe the accuracy of both experienced batters and non-athletes while visually tracking three types of pitches: fastballs, curveballs, and knuckleballs. An eye tracking device will record the focal point of the participants in order to determine their tracking accuracy. By expanding upon our knowledge of the capabilities and limitations of a batter’s eyes, this study aims to maximize the hitting potential of batters at all levels. Honors and Awards: 2021: BHHS ASR Symposium Poster Presenter 2020: BHHS ASR Symposium Poster Presenter Mentor: Dr. Takatoshi Higuchi Fukuoka Institute of Technology Fukuoka, Japan Exploring signaling-dependent inflammatory gene transcription responses in IL-33-treated human skin mast cells through IgE receptor cross-linking stimulation Sydney Charron Mast cells (MCs) are resident hematopoietically-derived granulocytes that form and/or store preformed and newly synthesized lipid mediators, including numerous cytokines, proteases, and neurotransmitters; MCs are central effectors for the innate immune response. MC surfaces present numerous high-affinity fragment crystallizable epsilon receptors (FCεR1); antigen-specific immunoglobulin-E (IgE) antibodies are attached to the FC region of these receptors. When antigens then bind to the IgE antibodies, FCεR1 receptor cross-linking around the antigen binding site occurs, allowing the FCεR1 receptors to indirectly bind to the pathogen. This results in MC degranulation and initiation of allergic immune responses by secretion of inflammatory mediators and chemical messengers. Interleukin 33 (IL-33) has been shown to have a dual functional role in MCs, both inducing cytokine release and regulating transcription, the extent of which has not been explored. Sydney hopes to find how treating MCs stimulated by IgE receptor cross-linking with IL-33 impacts inflammatory gene expression. Honors and Awards: 2021: BHHS ASR Symposium Poster Presenter 2020: BHHS ASR Symposium Poster Presenter Mentors: Dr. Hua Huang and Dr. Samantha Reese National Jewish Health Huang Lab Denver, CO 73

Breviolum versus Durusdinium: Transcriptomic description of two symbiont types in Pseudodiploria strigosa Amelia Chung Coral reefs worldwide are in mortal peril, disappearing in mass mortality events stemming from anthropogenic stressors. Coral reefs must be preserved as they contribute to the persistence of the ocean ecosystem and provide coastal protection, food, and income to billions. Corals’ symbionts, zooxanthellae, are critical to the host’s survival. Ergo, it is vital that symbionts are better understood. Pseudodiploria strigosa coral colonies inhabiting the shallow inshore Port of Miami and a deeper offshore reef are partnered with Breviolum or Durusdinium symbiont types. To elucidate the molecular mechanisms underpinning symbiont performance, the technique RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) can be utilized to analyze the corals’ transcriptomes, showing gene expression. Amelia hopes to perform differential gene expression (DGE) analysis using RNA-seq data and the programming language R to compare the symbionts between sites. She hopes her results will contribute to developing a greater understanding, and thus better preservation, of corals as a whole. Honors and Awards: 2021: BHHS ASR Symposium Poster Presenter 2020: BHHS ASR Symposium Poster Presenter Mentor: Dr. Ewelina Rubin University of Miami The Cooperative Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Studies (CIMAS) Miami, FL Elucidating the involvement of the long non-coding RNA Morrbid in the development of inflammatory bowel disease Gabriella Colabello Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is characterized by an overabundance of myeloid cells, which are short-lived immune cells required for innate immune responses. Research has focused on protein-coding mechanisms associated with IBD manifestation, yet the role of non-coding RNAs that could be associated with IBD development remains unclear. With the help of single nucleotide polymorphisms, prior research has identified long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) to have potential implications in IBD. Current research has determined that Morrbid lncRNA has a regulatory role in myeloid lifespan. Morrbid interacts with Bim, a protein-coding gene inducing apoptosis, and halts cell death. However, researchers have yet to determine the role of Morrbid in IBD development. Gabriella will be studying Morrbid interaction in IBD patients to determine potential therapeutic targets for IBD. She hopes to reveal a direct relationship between Morrbid levels and myeloid cell abundance, thus introducing Morrbid as a potential therapeutic candidate for IBD patients. Honors and Awards: 2021: BHHS ASR Symposium Poster Presenter 2020: BHHS ASR Symposium Poster Presenter Mentor: Dr. Kate Fitzgerald University of Massachusetts Medical School Worcester, MA 74

Determining a biomarker in adult human iPSC-derived cardiomyocyte samples in the presence of adequate cell proliferation throughout various CHIR 99021 concentrations Beth Corelli Heart disease is the leading cause of death across the United States and takes 17.9 million lives globally each year. After a traumatic heart injury, such as a myocardial infarction, mammalian cardiac tissue undergoes ischemic injury, which occurs due to a lack of proper oxygen supply to cells. Thus, the affected cardiac scar tissue becomes stiff, fibrotic, and dysfunctional. Adult mammalian cardiac cells are widely known to have minimal capacity for regeneration as a result of exiting the cell cycle at merely a few weeks postnatally. The field of cardiac regenerative medicine aims to explore optimal manufacturing techniques for replacement tissue and determine proliferative biomarkers that are highly prevalent in cells with a large proliferative capacity. Beth plans on delving into the latter portion of the field to conduct a study that will provide information regarding proliferative biomarkers as a means of testing the clinical efficacy of implemented regenerative medicine. Honors and Awards: 2021: Westchester Science and Engineering Fair 4th place in Cellular and Molecular Biology Westchester Science and Engineering Fair Society for In Vitro Biology Award in Cellular & Molecular Biology BHHS ASR Symposium Poster Presenter 2020: BHHS ASR Symposium Poster Presenter Mentors: Dr. Ravi Karra and Dr. Paige Debenedittis Duke University Durham, NC Are you listening dear? Investigating communication strategies mothers and daughters use when facing a breast cancer diagnosis Alana Curley Mothers and daughters play an essential role in each other’s lives, and these roles become more crucial when a mother/daughter is diagnosed with breast cancer. In order to maintain this relationship, it is important that mothers and daughters converse with each other in an effective manner, as this communication can influence one’s coping with the disease. Given the importance of mother-daughter communication, Alana’s study will look at communication strategies between mothers and daughters when a breast cancer diagnosis occurs. Her study aims to facilitate healthy mother-daughter communication after breast cancer diagnosis by enhancing adolescent-young adult (AYA) daughters' comfort levels and reducing AYA daughters' avoidant behaviors, as well as capturing knowledge central to tailoring the development of a healthy communication practice intervention for AYA daughters and their diagnosed mothers. Overall, this research could help mothers and daughters understand how to communicate with each other beneficially when coping with breast cancer. Honors and Awards: 2021: BHHS ASR Symposium Poster Presenter 2020: BHHS ASR Symposium Poster Presenter Mentor: Dr. Carla Fisher University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications Gainesville, FL 75

Semaglutide ameliorates Western diet-induced matrix metallopeptidase (MMP) changes in the hippocampus and lowers MMP levels at the blood-brain barrier Elizabeth Deeks High in saturated fats and sugars, Western diets (WDs) have become increasingly common throughout the world. Previous studies have found a WD leads to impairment of memory, learning abilities, and appetitive control, all in the hippocampus. This results in inability to suppress responses to environmental food cues. The same model is observed after consumption of addictive drugs, such as cocaine and methamphetamine. To protect from toxins, the brain’s hippocampus utilizes the blood-brain barrier (BBB), composed of tight junction proteins. However, the BBB can be degraded by a family of enzymes known as matrix metallopeptidases (MMPs). A WD triggers an upregulation of MMPs, allowing toxins into the brain. Elizabeth will use the drug semaglutide, a therapy for type II diabetes, to ameliorate the effects of WD-induced MMP damage on the hippocampus. This could pave the way for future research to examine protecting the hippocampus from a WD and addictive drugs. Honors and Awards: 2021: BHHS ASR Symposium Poster Presenter 2020: BHHS ASR Symposium Poster Presenter Mentor: Dr. Terry L. Davidson American University Department of Neuroscience Washington, D.C. An exploration of youth’s sense of purpose and goal setting/adjustment Dani Eder In authentic science research programs, students choose a topic and ultimately conduct their own study. Throughout this process, students set personal goals while striving to work to the best of their abilities. Research shows most goal- driven behavior is fueled by a definite sense of purpose. Having purpose helps people overcome obstacles, and in turn, develop determination and resilience, known as grit. One aspect of grit is the ability to adjust goals in appropriate and effective ways. Currently, there is a lack of literature on how one's sense of purpose influences goal setting and adjustment. Working with a youth organization, Dani will investigate how teens’ sense of purpose throughout personal learning journeys impacts their ability to set effective goals. Her hope is that the results, along with her own personal science research experience, will elucidate the relationship between one’s sense of purpose and the alteration of goals through learning journeys. Honors and Awards: 2021: BHHS ASR Symposium Poster Presenter 2020: BHHS ASR Symposium Poster Presenter Mentor: Dr. Gaoxia Zhu Cornell University Purpose and Identity Processes Lab Ithaca, NY 76

Determining the relationship between Alzheimer’s disease biomarkers, sleep habits, and driving behaviors Ella Fleischer Alzheimer’s disease (AD), a progressive neurodegenerative condition, affects about 10% of people ages 65 and older. Besides having a detrimental effect on memory, AD also impacts activities of daily life such as sleep and driving behavior. Driving decline has been linked to the progression of AD, as has sleep deprivation, specifically that of slow-wave sleep (SWS). SWS deprivation has also been linked to increased concentrations of AD biomarkers. Although the relationships amongst these constructs are established, the issue remains that sleep, AD, and driving behavior have yet to be researched holistically. With current age prognostications, the number of Americans with AD will certainly increase, causing the prevalence of safety concerns for AD patients to rise. Ella hopes to identify how AD and sleep interact in order to predict driving decline in a quantifiable way. Identifying older adults who need early intervention regarding potential driving issues is paramount. Honors and Awards: 2021: BHHS ASR Symposium Poster Presenter 2020: BHHS ASR Symposium Poster Presenter Mentor: Dr. Ganesh Babulal Washington University St. Louis, MO Using a convolutional neural network to increase efficiency of a P300 speller as a communication assisting device Owen Fleischer Millions of people around the world are living with debilitating injuries and diseases, often suffering from limited communication abilities. Many of these individuals turn to communication assisting technology that relies on users having control of their motor functions to operate. However, this is an issue for people without control of their motor functions. Fortunately, systems such as brain- computer interfaces (BCIs) operate using only brain signals to control a computer program. One specific type of BCI, especially helpful for communication, is the P300 speller. Current P300 spellers encounter problems with operating slowly due to the system needing multiple P300 flashes to confidently spell one letter. In his study, Owen will use a convolutional neural network to analyze and determine if a P300 flash is intentional or accidental. He hopes to find a method that works more efficiently than previous models, enabling people with neurodegenerative diseases to communicate more naturally. Honors and Awards: 2021: BHHS ASR Symposium Poster Presenter 2020: BHHS ASR Symposium Poster Presenter Mentor: Dr. William Speier University of California, Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA 77

Classification of COVID-19 misinformation on Twitter based on diffusion pattern Alana Foreman Since the outbreak of COVID-19, there has been an overabundance of information characterized as an “infodemic.” Dissemination of misinformation and conspiracy theories about the pandemic can be harmful to mental health, increase stigmatization, and lead to poor observance of public health measures, thus reducing their effectiveness and endangering countries’ abilites to stop the pandemic. In particular, this misinformation spreads rapidly throughout Twitter. Previous studies on social media misinformation classification have used image or content features; however, the noisy data makes these approaches difficult. Alana hopes to instead classify coronavirus-related Tweets solely on the basis of their propagation pattern through Twitter, which does not require access to content or user identities. Determining if diffusion patterns alone are indicative of content allows for the understanding and mitigation of COVID-19 misinformation on social media, which is key to building a safer web and improving the effectiveness of public health measures. Honors and Awards: 2021: BHHS ASR Outstanding Junior Award BHHS ASR Symposium Poster Presenter 2020: BHHS ASR Symposium Poster Presenter Mentor: Dr. Graciela Gonzalez-Hernandez University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PA Identification of antibiotic-producing bacteria isolated from the epidermal mucus layers of species of shark Danielle Freedman Due to the overprescription of antibiotics, human wound infection pathogens have become increasingly resistant to treatments. This resistance, already responsible for 700,000 deaths per year, is becoming a great issue for human health. Identifying new resources for novel antibiotics will help combat widespread antimicrobial resistance. One potential source could be the epidermal mucus of sharks. Sharks are cartilaginous fish known for their exceptional wound healing capabilities. Marine bacteria can establish symbiosis with sharks through their epidermal mucus. Previous marine studies show these bacteria can provide bioactive compounds for utilization in host defenses. Danielle will be growing cultures of bacterial colonies isolated from shark epidermal mucus and identifying them using online databases. Employing an agar overlay assay, Danielle and her mentor will test the bacteria for broad-spectrum antibiotic activity against many non-pathogenic and pathogenic test strains in hopes of finding a new resource for antibiotics. Honors and Awards: 2021: BHHS ASR Symposium Poster Presenter 2020: BHHS ASR Symposium Poster Presenter Mentor: Dr. Kim Ritchie University of South Carolina Beaufort Bluffton, SC 78

Sharing is caring: Determining if group music classes enhance sibling prosocial skills Rebecca Frieden As children grow up, they need to develop mental skills, physical skills, and intellectual well-being to prepare them for independence as adults. Music and the arts may aid in the development of these critical life skills, specifically, prosocial skills, which are skills that benefit others. Although research has extensively investigated the effects of music training on helping, sharing, and overall prosociality in various groups of children, little is known about the specific effects of group music training on prosocial behaviors in sibling dyads. Therefore, Rebecca hopes to investigate whether music enhances the sharing behaviors of sibling dyads following six weeks of group music classes compared to six weeks of group art classes. She hopes that determining the effects of group music classes on sibling dyads may help determine how musical engagement can be used in family households, schools, and life in general. Honors and Awards: 2021: BHHS ASR Symposium Poster Presenter 2020: BHHS ASR Symposium Poster Presenter Mentor: Dr. Beatriz Ilari University of Southern California Los Angeles, CA The maternal microbiome as a mediator of the impact of prenatal malnutrition on offspring neurodevelopment and behavior Eliza Goldman Humans have coevolved with the trillions of microorganisms found in the gut, and a mother's distinct set of microbes influences her child's microbiome and health. These microorganisms have been shown to impact the neurochemistry of the mother and child through the production of neuroactive molecules. Researchers have found that abnormalities within the microbiome composition may contribute to childhood malnutrition. Approximately one in three people suffer from malnutrition globally, creating an increasing global health burden. Current interventions to treat malnutrition, using standard therapeutic diets, are found to be ineffective. However, microbiome-targeted interventions show promise. Eliza hopes to identify the mechanisms by which the maternal microbiome impacts the brain development of the offspring in the context of malnutrition. She is optimistic that this research will lead to an increased understanding of neural deficits and the influence of the microbiome on neurodevelopmental behaviors impacted by malnutrition. Honors and Awards: 2021: BHHS ASR Symposium Poster Presenter 2020: BHHS ASR Symposium Poster Presenter Mentor: Ms. Elena Coley University of California, Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA 79

Investigating teen e-cigarette usage and perceptions of peers who vape, prior to and during the COVID-19 pandemic Jake Goldman Prior to the outbreak of COVID-19, approximately 25% of all adolescents in the United States had used an e-cigarette. This prevalence led to many teen problems including nicotine addiction, dependence on e-cigarettes, further substance use, and health problems, most notably e-cigarette or vaping product use associated lung injury (EVALI). However, there has been a dearth of research regarding the usage of e-cigarettes in teens since the onset of the pandemic. Thus, Jake will utilize a survey to assess how COVID-19 and other demographic factors have impacted teen e-cigarette use, as well as perceptions of both vaping and teens who vape. A statistical analysis of this data will help inform the public about changes in perceptions and usage of e-cigarettes among teens. Results of his study may help to create preventative legislation, effective educational programs, and hopefully, regulate and restrict teen e-cigarette use. Honors and Awards: 2021: BHHS ASR Symposium Poster Presenter 2020: BHHS ASR Symposium Poster Presenter Mentors: Dr. Lucy Popova and Mr. Robert Fairman Georgia State University School of Public Health Atlanta, GA “The Good Samaritan” donor: An investigation of profiling living altruistic kidney donors Samantha Grech Currently, over 107,000 individuals need lifesaving organ transplants; however, in 2020, only 39,035 transplants occurred. Kidney transplants, specifically, face a lack of living donors. Despite 90% of adults supporting donation, only 60% actually donate. In 2017, around 2,100 altruistic donors graciously gave their kidney to complete strangers out of 147,000 live organ donations. Traditional donors, who have relationships or biological connections to recipients, typically make up two- thirds of all live kidney donors in the U.S. Samantha’s work is to further profile these altruistic donors to learn more about these unique and generous individuals. By exploring patient charts from the past ten years at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, a leading center for kidney donation, Samantha intends to analyze multiple demographics including age, sex, race, and yearly income to further profile these individuals in order to help physicians locate these essential and charitable living donors. Honors and Awards: 2021: BHHS ASR Symposium Poster Presenter 2020: BHHS ASR Symposium Poster Presenter Mentor: Dr. Robert R. Redfield III University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PA 80

The therapeutic effects of the electrically and optogenetically stimulated cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway in the lungs Dylan Haber Inflammation, the innate immune system’s natural defense mechanism, becomes dangerous when unregulated. It is responsible for autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, and in cases of organ injury, it can lead to long-term damage. Inflammation is also heavily involved in the COVID-19 virus. Therapeutic treatments looking to abate inflammation target cytokines, the signaling molecules that induce inflammation. These treatments stimulate the vagus nerve to activate the cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway, an inflammatory response mechanism that limits cytokine release. Some treatments, like electrical vagus nerve stimulation (VNS), have been widely tested. Others, such as optogenetic VNS, which involves stimulating the vagus nerve with light, are fairly new. Dylan plans to utilize electrical and optogenetic VNS in a model of inflammation in the lungs to determine the efficacy of these treatments. He hopes to further the understanding of these techniques as well as potentially reveal a treatment that could benefit patients with COVID-19. Honors and Awards: 2021: BHHS ASR Symposium Poster Presenter 2020: BHHS ASR Symposium Poster Presenter Mentor: Dr. Mark D. Okusa University of Virginia Center for Immunity, Inflammation and Regenerative Medicine Charlottesville, VA Using single-nuclei RNA-sequencing on axolotls at three different stages—embryonic, larval, and adult—to investigate the genetic signatures of axolotl spinal cord regeneration Alicia Huang Despite the collective efforts of current treatment, the mammalian spinal cord does not have the ability to completely regenerate or heal from a spinal cord injury. However, a unique type of salamander, the axolotl, is able to do exactly what we cannot: completely reattach axons, regenerate spinal cord tissue, and restore motor function below the lesion site. Studying the genetic and cellular activities of axolotls could provide valuable insights into how natural spinal cord regeneration is possible. Alicia hopes to use single-nuclei RNA-sequencing, a method that sequences the RNA transcripts of individual nuclei from different cells, to conduct precise analysis on the genetic signatures of axolotls. This method can be expanded further to generate genetic atlases of regeneration at three different stages of development— embryonic, larval, and adult—to compare the regenerative process in axolotls of different ages. Honors and Awards: 2021: BHHS ASR Symposium Poster Presenter 2020: BHHS ASR Symposium Poster Presenter Mentor: Dr. Stephen Randall Voss University of Kentucky Lexington, KY 81

Representational similarity analysis (RSA) to determine hand and foot correlations inter-individually and within an individual Jessica Kahn Something phenomenal happens when an individual is born without hands: Their feet develop the dexterity to perform everyday tasks. The foot’s potential to play such a role raises the question: What properties of the motor cortex allow for the foot to reach this high level of control? Jessica will use a representational similarity analysis to compare the trajectory of foot movements and hand movements during reaching and grasping tasks within an individual as well as between individuals. A similarity matrix will be composed to reveal levels of correlation. Her hope is that individuals display more similarities between their own hand and foot than others in comparison. This finding would suggest there is a pattern within the motor cortex unique to each individual. In the end, exploring the untapped potential of the brain is valuable in providing aid to people born with motor deficits or without hands. Honors and Awards: 2021: BHHS ASR Symposium Poster Presenter 2020: BHHS ASR Symposium Poster Presenter Mentor: Dr. Ella Striem-Amit Georgetown University Sensory and Motor Plasticity (SAMP) Lab Washington, D.C. Identifying the genetic factors responsible for varying immune responses to the MMR vaccine in previously vaccinated individuals Jamie Kaplan The measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine is highly effective, protecting around 97% of people after the suggested two doses; however, during recent outbreaks, individuals with the standard two doses still become infected. This creates uncertainty about whether an individual is able to produce robust immune responses. Such a lack of response may be due to differences in gender or prior antibody responses, as well as microRNA (miRNA) and gene expression. Here, a third dose of MMR vaccine will be used to trigger immune responses similar to those after the first two doses. By examining cultured white blood cell samples at specific time points and using systems biology, a better understanding of the causes of these variations is possible. Jamie hopes to identify innate and humoral immune response signatures that may predict immune responses to the measles virus. The genomic signatures identified could lead to the development of a better vaccine, producing longer and more robust immunity. Honors and Awards: 2021: BHHS ASR Symposium Poster Presenter 2020: BHHS ASR Symposium Poster Presenter Mentor: Dr. Richard B Kennedy The Mayo Clinic Rochester, MN 82

Elucidating correlations between post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome (PTLDS) and decreased quality of life (QoL) as well as elucidating the QoL differences between PTLDS and other chronic illnesses Ilana Kersh Lyme disease is an infectious disease that can be characterized by symptoms of fatigue, joint pain, headaches, and cognitive deficits. Despite treatment, some individuals continue to face chronic deficits impeding their quality of life (QoL), referred to as PTLDS (post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome). However, PTLDS is not widely recognized, and physicians often see this illness as psychosomatic, not physical. Thus, Ilana hopes to find correlations between PTLDS symptomology and decreased QoL. Additionally, she aims to compare and contrast the QoL of individuals with PTLDS to the QoL of individuals with other chronic illnesses. These measures will not only provide context for the severity of PTLDS symptoms in comparison to other illnesses, but will also aid in characterizing the symptoms of PTLDS. Ultimately, Ilana hopes to shed light on the symptoms that correlate most strongly to decreased QoL as well as the severity of these symptoms in comparison to other illnesses. Honors and Awards: 2021: BHHS ASR Symposium Poster Presenter 2020: BHHS ASR Symposium Poster Presenter Mentor: Dr. John G. Keilp Columbia University Lyme and Tick-Borne Diseases Research Center New York City, NY A hypothesis-driven approach to examining how DNA methylation of stress-sensitive genes predicts infant outcomes Lucy Kwittken Pregnant women in the top 15% for prenatal anxiety and depression have children with a twofold increased risk for a mental disorder. Direct prenatal stress involves the placenta, the first organ to develop during pregnancy, as a mediator, communicating stress from the mother to the developing fetus. It is hypothesized that the transferred stress results in epigenetic modifications, namely DNA methylation, in the placenta, causing it to function improperly. DNA methylation of certain genes that encode viral proteins can be harmful to a developing infant later in life. Lucy will analyze eight different placental-encoding genes linked to physiological disorders in infants and correlate methylation status to prenatal stress and infant outcomes, hoping to pinpoint which genes are the most affected by prenatal stress. In the end, Lucy hopes to further our knowledge of placental epigenetics and stress-mediated DNA methylation with the eventual goal of improving infant health. Honors and Awards: 2021: Chair of the BHHS ASR Symposium Tech Committee BHHS ASR Symposium Poster Presenter 2020: BHHS ASR Symposium Poster Presenter Mentor: Dr. Elisabeth Conradt University of Utah Child Adaptation and Neurodevelopment (CAN) Lab Salt Lake City, UT 83

Elucidating mechanically-induced regional fibrosis resulting from mitral valve prolapse Sydney Levy Mitral valve prolapse (MVP) is a degenerative heart disease affecting one in 40 individuals. MVP can lead to mitral regurgitation (MR), potentially causing arrhythmias and sudden death. While MR is reversible through surgery, left-ventricular (LV) dysfunction is present in 15-20% of post-surgical patients and is associated with adverse LV remodeling and heart failure. Research suggests fibrosis is contributory to this LV dysfunction. Tension from the prolapsing valve leads to a reactive response which translates to fibrosis; however, the mechanisms underlying mechanically-induced regional fibrosis remain unknown. Sydney will investigate these mechanisms by employing high-resolution microscopy, biomechanical techniques, and molecular and biochemical approaches to generate a mechano-molecular landscape underlying LV dysfunction in MVP patients. Determining whether mechanical stress activates fibrogenesis through a mechanosensitive-ATP-purinergic signaling mechanism, or from another mechanism, will identify a mechanism to target. Sydney’s study could pave the way for therapeutics to prevent post-repair LV dysfunction in MVP patients. Honors and Awards: 2021: Chair of the BHHS ASR Symposium Web Design Committee BHHS ASR Symposium Poster Presenter 2020: BHHS ASR Symposium Poster Presenter Mentor: Dr. Russell Norris Medical University of South Carolina Charleston, SC Making sense of disorder: Investigating intrinsically disordered proteins in the tardigrade proteome via a computational approach Nora Lowe Tardigrades represent a phylum of extremotolerant micrometazoans with the ability to withstand desiccation for years (anhydrobiosis). Tardigrade-specific intrinsically disordered proteins (TDPs) can be used to transfer desiccation tolerance to heterologous systems and have been shown to mitigate cellular damage by vitrifying and sequestering reactive oxygen species. However, there is a paucity of research regarding how these proteins operate. Thus, Nora is employing DISOPRED, an intrinsic disorder prediction server, to investigate the location/extent of disordered regions in tardigrade proteins and better characterize the molecular transition to the anhydrobiotic state. She has helped construct a comprehensive, non-redundant pan-species database composed of the phylum’s publicly available protein sequences, and will utilize disorder metrics to generate a list of novel TDP candidates based on disorder properties, homology to known TDPs, and phenotypic properties derived from literature curation. The findings could contribute to developing more affordable biomaterial preservation methods, potentially increasing global medical equity. Honors and Awards: 2021: Editor-in-Chief of the BHHS ASR Symposium Program BHHS ASR Symposium Poster Presenter 2020: New York Winner and National Semifinalist in the High School Category of NASA's Name the Mars Rover Contest BHHS ASR Outstanding Sophomore Award BHHS ASR Symposium Poster Presenter Mentor: Dr. Roger Larken Chang Harvard Medical School The Silver Laboratory Boston, MA 84

Elucidating the relationship between vagus nerve stimulation and a7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors on T cells Julia Lucchino Around one percent of the world’s population suffers from rheumatoid arthritis (RA), a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by systemic inflammation. T cells in the joints play a key role in the perpetuation of RA. Current medications for RA are ineffective and result in negative side effects, like immunosuppression, which has led researchers to develop new treatments for RA, such as vagus nerve stimulation (VNS). VNS specifically works through the cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway (CAP), which is dependent on a7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (a7nAChR). Electrical stimulation of the CAP has reduced pro-inflammatory cytokine production and increased resolvin production, attenuating disease severity. However, what remains unclear is if the positive effect observed after VNS in the joints is dependent on a7nAChR, specifically in T cells. Thus, Julia wants to elucidate these specific cellular dependencies of VNS, aiming to provide key insight into VNS and the identification of new targets for RA. Honors and Awards: 2021: Chair of the BHHS ASR Symposium Press & Publicity Committee BHHS ASR Symposium Poster Presenter 2020: BHHS ASR Symposium Poster Presenter Mentor: Dr. Yaakov Levine The Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research Manhasset, NY Elucidating the interactions between herpes virus-mediated oncolytic virotherapy and natural killer cells in glioblastoma John Ndocaj Glioblastoma (GBM) is a devastating form of brain cancer with a survival rate of six percent. It is characterized by a subpopulation of glioblastoma-like stem cells that cause resistance to conventional treatments, such as chemotherapy and radiation. Alternatively, immunotherapy is a treatment option that harnesses the natural immune response as a method of combating tumors. We know immune cells like CD8+ T cells and natural killer cells (NK) appear to be important for the antitumor immune response by recognizing tumor cells aberrantly expressing MHC- 1 molecules; however, efficacy is hindered by the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME). Importantly, a specific type of immunotherapy, oncolytic virotherapy (OVT), has the ability to circumvent the TME by attracting immune cells to the tumor and releasing signaling proteins. Though, NK cells serve an antiviral role in the body, which may hinder the efficacy of OVs. John is investigating the NK- OVT relationship and its potential to influence new therapeutics. Honors and Awards: 2021: BHHS ASR Symposium Poster Presenter 2020: BHHS ASR Symposium Poster Presenter Mentor: Dr. Gregory Friedman University of Alabama at Birmingham Birmingham, AL 85

Investigating the drug target-potential of the Nav1.3 voltage-gated sodium channel utilizing the scorpion venom-derived peptide Tf2 David Pavlenishvili Chronic pain is a major health issue, affecting around 100 million people in the United States alone. Yet, current treatments for chronic pain have detrimental side effects or addictive properties. As a novel approach, researchers are targeting the Nav channel, a subtype of ion channel that carries electrical signals recognized as somatic sensations such as pain. Due to the Nav channel’s role in pain, drugs that modulate certain Nav channel subtypes may help reduce chronic pain. Nav1.3, a recently discovered Nav channel subtype, could play a role in sensing and transmitting mechanical pain signals. However, the channel is understudied, making its viability as a drug target unclear. David aims to determine whether Nav1.3 is a valuable drug target for pain treatments by using Tf2, a Nav1.3 channel activator, to identify where Nav1.3 is expressed in the body and elucidate its role in pain sensation. Honors and Awards: 2021: BHHS ASR Symposium Poster Presenter 2020: BHHS ASR Symposium Poster Presenter Mentor: Dr. Frank Bosmans Ghent University Ghent, Belgium Differences between females and males in types and clusters of synesthesia Emily Pizzorusso Most of the neurotypical population uses their five senses discreetly; however, one to five percent of people have heightened and intertwined senses due to a phenomenon known as synesthesia. Synesthesia is the integration of different sensory regions within the brain. When one sense is triggered by a stimulus, another sense is activated in response. These associations are involuntary, idiosyncratic, and vivid. There are hundreds of types of synesthesia, but the majority of studies only examine the most common and easily testable types. Consequently, around 94% of the less common types of synesthesia are overlooked. Thus, it is unclear whether females tend to experience different, more uncommon types or clusters of synesthesia compared to males. Emily will explore gender differences regarding types of synesthesia. Research on atypical brains demonstrates how neurotypical brains function as well, which is crucial to understanding why we all perceive, act, and behave in different ways. Honors and Awards: 2021: BHHS ASR Symposium Poster Presenter 2020: BHHS ASR Symposium Poster Presenter Mentor: Dr. Sean Day Trident Technical College Charleston, SC 86

Examining the effect of lymphovenous anastomosis location during immediate lymphatic reconstruction on lymphedema development Tanya Postian Lymphedema is a chronic disorder of the lymphatic system that causes painful swelling and increased risk of bacterial infection. About 20-40% of breast cancer patients develop lymphedema in the arm due to axillary lymph node dissections (ALND) and/or radiotherapy targeted towards the axilla during breast cancer treatment. Immediate lymphatic reconstruction (ILR) is a surgery conducted immediately after ALND that can reconnect severed lymphatic vessels to prevent damage to the lymphatic system. As ILR is a relatively recent development within the field of lymphatic surgery, no previous studies have observed the effect of surgical reconnection location within the axilla on the development of lymphedema and its symptoms. In her study, Tanya will be observing the relationship between surgical reconnection in different lymph node regions and the frequency of lymphedema development. She hopes the findings will aid future ILR surgeries. Honors and Awards: 2021: BHHS ASR Symposium Poster Presenter 2020: BHHS ASR Symposium Poster Presenter Mentor: Dr. Dhruv Singhal Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center Boston, MA What’s a dax? Investigating the impact of language exposure on disambiguation of novel words in bi- and monolingual toddlers Hannah Rippy The ability to connect a novel term to a novel object, called disambiguation, is a word-learning strategy that supports language acquisition in toddlers. To date, related studies exploring this have resulted in indeterminate data, suggesting that bilingual toddlers in particular do not rely on this process because they are aware that two words may identify one object. Hannah will video conference with bilingual toddlers and their parents, presenting an interactive video to show either two known or unknown objects. Auditory commands, in Spanish and English trials, both including a pseudoword, will direct participants’ attention. Disambiguation would occur if the child connects the novel pseudoword to the novel object. By recording these sessions and coding the looking time to each item, Hannah will analyze how exposure level to a language impacts the ability to disambiguate in two-year-old to three-year-old bilingual toddlers, aiming to further expand the understanding of bilingual language learning processes. Honors and Awards: 2021: BHHS ASR Symposium Poster Presenter 2020: BHHS ASR Symposium Poster Presenter Mentor: Dr. Maria Arredondo The University of Texas at Austin The Child Language and Development Studies (ChiLDS) Lab Austin, TX 87

Using the Big 5 Personality Scale to predict animal attachment Katerina Schmidt In the United States, 85 million people self-identify as pet owners, and even more work closely with animals through animal-assisted therapy (AAT), service animals, and in their chosen careers. Katerina’s study examines the correlation between one’s personality traits, such as openness, consciousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism (OCEAN), and affinity for animals. She will survey Byram Hills High School students to measure personality traits and attachment to pets. Establishing a relationship with an animal can benefit people suffering from depression, anxiety, and addiction, as well as treat health conditions and identify candidates for AAT. This study could also help determine if all members of a family will bond with a pet and if an individual would be compatible with a career associated with animals. Katerina hopes that her research will enable others to make confident decisions in including animals in their lives and careers, as well as improving their well-being. Honors and Awards: 2021: BHHS ASR Symposium Poster Presenter 2020: BHHS ASR Symposium Poster Presenter Mentor: Mrs. MaryEllen Salamone Grief and Trauma Recovery Advocate Independent Consultant Connecticut, NY Exploring markers of microglial activation, as well as cognitive and epileptic data, to elucidate the correlation between epilepsy and Alzheimer’s disease Eva Shrayer Microglia, non-neuronal cells of the central nervous system, regulate brain homeostasis by maintaining the neuronal networks and facilitating injury repair. When microglia release mediators, like inflammatory cytokines, a cycle of inflammation forms between amyloid-beta accumulation, activated microglia and microglial inflammatory mediators, which in turn increases Aβ deposition, a major hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease. Microglia activate in Alzheimer's disease and are triggered after status epilepticus in epilepsy. Because microglia play a critical role in both epilepsy and Alzheimer’s disease, Eva hopes to examine this correlation by analyzing human brain tissue samples for proteins and genes that cause activation of this critical glial cell. She hopes to examine these samples using immunohisto- chemistry and Western Blot analysis and to compare her findings with previously recorded data from the same brain samples. She hopes the results will elucidate the correlation and pathology of both microglia and its role in these two diseases. Honors and Awards: 2021: BHHS ASR Symposium Poster Presenter 2020: BHHS ASR Symposium Poster Presenter Mentor: Dr. Delia Talos University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine Philadelphia, PA 88

Determining if NS1 internalization is required for activation of the p38 MAPK pathway in DENV-infected human endothelial cells Arianna Tabankin Dengue virus (DENV) is the world’s most prominent mosquito-borne virus, with over 390 million annual infections and 3.9 billion people living in high-risk areas. There are currently no treatments or vaccines for dengue, making the virus even more dangerous. Non-structural protein 1 (NS1) is a glycoprotein continuously secreted by DENV-infected cells that has been shown to contribute to dengue pathogenesis and immune evasion. NS1 activates the p38 MAPK pathway in endothelial cells—a pathway that contributes to the common, hemorrhagic symptoms of severe dengue. However, it is currently unknown whether NS1 activates this pathway on the surface of cells or within cells via endosomes. Arianna hopes to determine whether NS1 internalization is required for activation of the p38 MAPK pathway. With a better understanding of this pathway and the mechanisms of DENV infection, more specific treatments can be produced to ease the burden of dengue. Honors and Awards: 2021: Chair of the BHHS ASR Symposium History & Invitations Committee BHHS ASR Symposium Poster Presenter 2020: BHHS ASR Symposium Poster Presenter Mentor: Dr. Christine King SUNY Upstate Medical University Syracuse, NY Building the crops of the 21st century: Using novel symbiotic microbial endophytes to confer abiotic stress tolerance in plants as an adaptation to climate change Sebastian Vasquez Anthropogenic climate change is projected to lead to an 11% global crop yield reduction and a 20% crop price increase by 2050. If the international community is unable to adapt to rising demands for a stable food supply, humanity risks mass starvation, migration, and disease. Previous findings have shown that co- evolutionary symbiotic microbes in plants—known as endophytes—promote plant growth and health by enhancing plant survival, yield, and abiotic stress tolerance. Building upon previous studies, Sebastian is focusing on the endophytes’ ability to confer heat and drought stress tolerance in a natural environment. By testing a series of bioinoculant strains under stress conditions, he will monitor nutrient acquisition, physical parameters, and microbiome responses. Microbial endophytes may prove to be one of the most revolutionary and effective solutions to what is arguably the greatest threat to human civilization in our lifetime. Honors and Awards: 2021: BHHS ASR Symposium Poster Presenter 2020: BHHS ASR Symposium Poster Presenter Mentor: Dr. Sharon Doty University of Washington Seattle, WA 89

Exploring pride and happiness in firefighters through visual expression and mask-making Marianna Vataj Firefighters are known to take extreme pride in their duties, properly executing their job without excuse, and putting their best efforts toward what they were sworn in for: the protection of life and property. However, approximately 7-37% of all firefighters meet the criteria for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), as witnessing morbid scenes can be a normal occurrence. Recent research shows that art therapy has helped others prone to PTSD, such as war veterans. This therapy is an effective method of treatment, yet no prior research has explored if art therapy can elicit positive emotions, such as pride, in firefighters. Marianna will work with local Armonk firefighters to assess pre- and post-changes in pride and happiness after an art session in which subjects create 3D masks. Marianna’s hope is that mask-making will become an effective tool, as it has been with war veterans, for the benefit of our heroic firefighters. Honors and Awards: 2021: BHHS ASR Symposium 2021 Program Cover Artist BHHS ASR Symposium Poster Presenter 2020: BHHS ASR Symposium Poster Presenter Mentor: Dr. Girija Kaimal Drexel University Philadelphia, PA The creation of a novel revenge-interpreting machine learning model and the application to vengeful Tweet frequency surrounding a recent sport failure Hayden Weiss Many dangerous actions and crimes are rooted in revenge; such acts may include mass shootings, crimes of passion, and political extremism. Vengeful feelings and plans are often revealed online in the form of leakage. Using a novel method of linguistically vectorized elements of revenge (such as humiliation, injustice, and sadism), Hayden will utilize vectorial comparisons as dimensions for a machine learning model, and using a novel corpus of vengeful texts, he will create a vengeful classifier. Targeted support or potential early intervention may be possible with such a classifier. To test his classifier in a real-world setting, Hayden will review vengeful tweets in relation to a selected sport controversy/mistake to determine if the model will classify vengeful tweets and create a temporal visualization of fan vengefulness pre- and post-event. His data will be analyzed to provide a proof-of- concept for more relevant topics for future review. Honors and Awards: 2021: Co-author of paper published in Computers in Human Behavior BHHS ASR Symposium Poster Presenter 2020: BHHS ASR Symposium Poster Presenter Mentor: Dr. Yair Neuman Ben Gurion University of the Negev Be'er Sheva, Israel 90

Evaluating the role of zooxanthellae symbiont density on determining a coral’s susceptibility to and severity of bleaching Jane Zeltner Coral reefs are ecologically, economically, and aesthetically important to our global ecosystem, yet they face extreme mortality due to climate change-induced bleaching. In fact, around 30% of the world’s corals experienced bleaching that resulted in mortality between 2014 and 2017. Bleaching is the process by which a coral expels their necessary algal symbionts, causing them to turn white from a lack of pigmentation. There are multiple factors associated with a coral’s susceptibility to bleaching, including coral genetics and symbiont identity. One aspect of coral holobiont biology that is quite understudied is symbiont density and its effects on bleaching susceptibility. Jane will evaluate the role that zooxanthellae symbiont density plays on bleaching susceptibility and bleaching severity by comparing the densities of bleached, stressed, and unaffected corals in a meta-analysis. This will allow for a more thorough understanding of coral bleaching and enable researchers to develop better reef management strategies. Honors and Awards: 2021: BHHS ASR Symposium Poster Presenter 2020: BHHS ASR Symposium Poster Presenter Mentor: Dr. Mikhail Matz The University of Texas at Austin Austin, TX 91

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- A Message to the Sophomores - Congratulations on completing your sophomore year. Looking back a year ago, many of you were unsure of what you wanted to study or what the Authentic Science Research program was truly about. You may have had a vague idea — but you knew you wanted to be a part of the unique Authentic Science Research community. Your inquisitive minds were intrigued and wanted to be challenged beyond the norm. Throughout this year, and as you continue for the next two years, you will be faced with many trials and tribulations and learn many life lessons that you will carry with you to college and beyond into the “real world.” By completing the first part of this program, you have all demonstrated your commitment to the scientific community and a dedication to academic excellence. We, as parents, have had the privilege and pleasure of watching the sophomore class begin a three year journey of scientific discovery and a pursuit of academic excellence. We have watched you read countless journal articles, write endlessly your review guide, and send letters to mentors in the hopes of securing a research opportunity with them in the field you have chosen to pursue. We have watched your frustrations as well as the gleam of excitement in your eyes as something came together. It was heartbreaking to watch as you may have had to regroup and approach from a different perspective. Yet, while we silently cried, you pushed aside valuable hours of work with an attitude of “it’s okay,” showing an energy and perseverance that demonstrated incredible diligence and commitment—many would have given up, but that is not in your vocabulary or even perhaps more poignant, in your DNA. This program teaches you the joys of success but also the lessons of failure and rejection—lessons just as important as the awards you will win as you enter science competitions in the future. The remarkable resilience will make you a stronger person and provide you with life tools for whatever you encounter in the future, whether it be in a scientific field or an area totally unrelated. As Albert Einstein said, “Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving.” We urge you to have patience, as “The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existence,” said Einstein. The program teaches you to work both independently and collaboratively, to meet deadlines, budget your time, and create and deliver oral presentations to a variety of audiences. The uniqueness of the Authentic Science Research Program has enabled each of you to individually choose a topic you are passionate about and work with the peers in your sophomore class as well as the juniors and seniors in the program who have become your buddies and mentors. This is a program where you have chosen an individual project that enables you to still work in a collaborative environment. This community and family will provide you the support and guidance you need to flourish during the next two years and give you the skills to succeed far beyond your time in Authentic Science Research. You have all become a group of friends that 93

- A Message to the Sophomores Continued - might not otherwise have interacted. Your successes were shared while one’s disappointments troubled you all. You all cheered one another on. As sophomores, you watched in awe as seniors and juniors achieved success— whether it be results in their research or their college admissions, academics, extracurricular activities, and everything in between. The relationships you have developed here are also a valuable gift. We thank Mrs. Greenwald, Dr. Matthew, Mrs. Salomone, Mr. Gulick, and Mrs. Santini for their support and guidance. You have allowed our children to quench their thirst for scientific exploration and assisted them on their course for scientific discovery. We are all very proud of what you have accomplished thus far, and we are confident that we will be amazed by what the future will bring. We wish you the best of luck and continued success on your Science Research journey. Meredith and Steven Milewicz 94

The resilience, nutritional impacts, and applications of probiotic bacteria strains in fermented products Joshua Arnold Fermented foods are incredibly popular in the diets of many, yet proper fermentation is difficult to achieve. Traditionally, the bacteria in fermented foods, such as kimchi, are introduced through the addition of ingredients that the bacteria reside in. While this process of trial and error has resulted in the creation of many popular food recipes, it leaves much room for fermentation failure: when unwanted bacteria makes food taste bad. Fermentation failure occurs because most homemade fermented foods lack starter cultures, which introduce necessary bacteria to foods without relying on the ingredients to provide them. Joshua hopes to identify the necessary bacteria for the proper fermentation of kimchi in order to improve kimchi made without a starter culture. This food is incredibly popular, but it often ferments inconsistently, demonstrating the need for bacteria identification in food science. Honors and Awards: 2021: BHHS ASR Symposium Poster Presenter Mentor: Pending Investigation of the effects of marine plastic pollution on sea turtle populations Carolina Baquero Every year, 380 million tons of plastic are produced, 8 million of which enter the ocean. Estimates suggest that 150 million tons of this waste already exist in the marine environment, not only endangering marine life daily, but also disrupting ecosystems and reducing biodiversity. One animal that has been adversely impacted is the sea turtle. Six of the seven species of marine turtles are endangered or vulnerable to endangerment due to extreme population loss linked with plastic. Abundant plastic particles within the ocean lead to consumption, during which lethal chemicals in the material often lead to mortality of the organism. Carolina plans to study which plastics are most likely to be consumed by turtles and evaluate the most effective ways to reduce plastic pollution in marine environments. Ultimately, she hopes her future study will find an effective way to reduce the adverse effects of plastic waste on sea turtle populations. Honors and Awards: 2021: BHHS ASR Symposium Poster Presenter Mentor: Pending 95

Predicting the spread of disease using social data Zachary Berkowitz As COVID-19 continues to affect our daily lives, attention has been brought to our current disease surveillance system, which failed to track and contain COVID-19. A primary reason for this is the length of time it takes to identify an outbreak, which is usually seven to 10 days. Zachary plans to research the use of social data in disease surveillance, including social media posts and trending search terms, to supplement the existing system. Since social data are continuously updated, it could give researchers an idea of the spread of disease in real time. Zachary hopes to learn more about the use of machine learning in collecting and analyzing these data from sites like Google Trends and the Twitter Streaming API to automate the data collecting process, making this method much faster and easier to perform. Reforming our disease surveillance system to be more responsive and efficient could prevent future pandemics. Honors and Awards: 2021: Somers Science Fair Presenter BHHS ASR Symposium Poster Presenter Mentor: Pending Bioremediation of polyethylene terephthalate pollution through the optimization of PETase by rational design and directed evolution protein engineering techniques Chloe Bernstein Approximately 50 million tons of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) accumulate in the environment each year, making it the leading cause of plastic pollution. Recently, the bacterial thermophilic hydrolase PETase was found to catalyze PET hydrolysis and convert PET into biodegradable products. Nonetheless, the efficiency of PETase degradation must be improved before it can be used as a feasible solution to plastic pollution. Researchers are working to enhance said degradation efficiency by strategically redesigning its active site through protein engineering techniques and synthetic biology. Chloe is hoping to engineer highly effective PETase mutants that can be implemented to mitigate plastic pollution. Additionally, she is planning to study protein engineering techniques, such as rational design and directed evolution, and apply her knowledge to engineer multi-complex forms of PETase. Ultimately, synthetic biology has widespread applications in plastic degradation efforts and can be used to limit PET accumulation in the biosphere. Honors and Awards: 2021: BHHS ASR Symposium Poster Presenter Mentor: Dr. Danielle Tullman-Ercek Northwestern University Evanston, IL 96

Parasocial phenomena with fictional television characters Ethan Cherry While watching television, there exists a one-sided relationship between the viewer and the media personality. This bond is part of a wider span of experiences known as parasocial phenomena, in which a consumer of media forms a connection between themselves and characters or personalities, despite the persona being unaware of an individual viewer’s existence. Ethan plans to specifically examine parasocial relationships with fictional television characters and observe the many potential effects and benefits that these connections can have on the viewer. He aspires to study how parasocial phenomena can act as a temporary replacement for traditional social interaction, also known as the social surrogacy hypothesis. The subject of parasocial phenomena is necessary to research due to the commonality of viewing television programs as a regular leisure activity, and is especially relevant during social isolation because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Honors and Awards: 2021: BHHS ASR Symposium Poster Presenter Mentor: Dr. Jaye L. Derrick University of Houston Social Processes Lab Houston, TX Graphene and its applications in photovoltaics Max Colella As humans become more reliant on renewable energy, the need for efficient solar cells has increased substantially. Although solar panels are becoming more commercially available, issues that limit their total energy output remain, such as poor stability and little durability of the semiconductor. One potential solution is implementing the nanomaterial graphene in solar cells, which can help address and possibly resolve these problems. Due to its high conductivity, thinness, and strength, graphene possesses the ability to resolve current issues in photovoltaic devices. This can be done by graphene nanofluids serving as a cooling system or by transforming graphene into a semiconductor, making it viable as a light harvesting layer. Max is interested in improving the usage lifetime and efficiency of current solar cells using graphene. Additionally, Max hopes to make solar cells more commercially attractive and thereby reduce the use of non-renewable energy like gases and oils. Honors and Awards: 2021: Somers Science Fair Presenter BHHS ASR Symposium Poster Presenter Mentor: Dr. Jeffrey L. Blackburn National Renewable Energy Laboratory Golden, CO 97

The neural mechanisms underlying human cognition Rohini Das A fundamental goal in cognitive and computational neuroscience is to identify the key coding principles of the brain that enable human thought; in particular, understanding how the dynamics activation patterns of interconnected neurons in the brain code for specific, discrete thought processes like memory, learning and decision-making. Recent work describes neuronal parallels between spatial and non-spatial cognition, pointing to a general coding mechanism capable of all kinds of knowledge organization. These principles explain how we utilize the GPS-like system observed in spatial cognition to learn and use abstract, generalizable knowledge. Rohini hopes to explore how this GPS-like system plays a role in higher-level cognition, such as decision-making and analogical thinking. A better understanding of these coding principles will help in the identification of novel biomarkers for neurodegenerative diseases in old age, like Alzheimer’s. It may also provide means of quantification for knowledge acquisition and learning among students. Honors and Awards: 2021: Somers Science Fair Presenter BHHS ASR Symposium Poster Presenter Mentor: Pending Domus, urban residences of the Roman elite William Dyer Villas are symbols of the ancient Roman elite in popular culture, viewed as lavish, columned country residences where senators and their patrician families lived decadently. However, the urban mansions (called domus) of these aristocrats often go relatively underexamined, especially when compared to the aforementioned country villas. With the exception of those at Pompeii, Herculaneum, and the Domus Augusti on Palatine Hill in Rome, almost no domus have been extensively excavated or explored. This has led to a lack of public awareness about them along with sparse knowledge about the materials employed and the decorations used, particularly in Rome itself. Will hopes to explore domus in more detail than has previously been done before. Specifically, he is interested in how they were constructed, their cost to build, buy, and own, the length of construction and materials used in assembly/ decoration, as well as their functional lifespan. Honors and Awards: 2021: BHHS ASR Symposium Poster Presenter Mentor: Pending 98

The use of biocompatible polymer conduits as nerve guides for peripheral nerve regeneration Abby Eickelbeck Around 20 million Americans suffer from peripheral nerve injuries annually and are forced to deal with loss of nerve function. Flaws of current treatments have given way to research for a new alternative: biocompatible polymer conduits. Their unique tube-like structures and use of natural polymers allow for supportive yet permeable structures, which also possess biodegradable capabilities. To enhance regeneration and functional recovery, other materials are often incorporated into these conduits, such as neurotrophic factors or extracellular matrix molecules. Both of these additions are confirmed to boost Schwann cell proliferation and migration, leading to fully bridged axon growth and healthy remyelination. Abby is interested in researching the incorporation of different materials into these conduits as well as how these materials are able to stimulate enhanced responses. This research could lead to a successful treatment for peripheral nerve injuries, helping to advance the field of regenerative medicine. Honors and Awards: 2021: BHHS ASR Outstanding Sophomore Award Senior Showcase Liaison BHHS ASR Symposium Poster Presenter Mentor: Dr. Bryan Brown University of Pittsburgh The McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine Pittsburgh, PA The influence of exposure to air pollution on the development of Alzheimer’s disease Alaska Fairbanks Over six million people in the United States suffer from Alzheimer’s disease, a number that’s expected to nearly triple by 2050. Since Alzheimer’s lacks an effective treatment, researchers have begun pursuing preclinical prevention. Alaska is investigating the impacts of air pollution on the human brain in relation to the development of Alzheimer’s. Prolonged pollution exposure has been associated with systemic inflammation and neurological deficits, along with the formation of tau tangles and amyloid plaques characteristic of Alzheimer’s progression. Thus, Alaska is focusing on pollution’s role as a major culprit in the recent influx of Alzheimer’s cases and how blockage of the destructive immune response that is stimulated may be the key to preventing Alzheimer’s symptoms. Alaska is excited to research the contribution of air pollution to neuronal and cognitive decline, as well as the use of inflammasome inhibition to slow the detrimental effects of this highly common neurological disease. Honors and Awards: 2021: Somers Science Fair Presenter Senior Showcase Press/Publicity Organizer BHHS ASR Symposium 2021 Program Cover Artist BHHS ASR Symposium Poster Presenter Mentor: Pending 99