Logan Baerman 
Hometown: St. Louis, Missouri
Major: Biology
Faculty Mentor: Ryan Mohan
Mentor's Department: School of Science and Engineering, Division of Biological and Biomedical Systems
Funding Source: NIH NINDS
Modifying Fruit Fly Protein Expression through Sleep Deprivation
In Missouri, there are 17,000 active-duty military personnel, 200,000 healthcare workers, and countless shift workers, all of whom experience sleep disruption. Sleep is a physiologically necessary process for most animals and is characterized by temporary immobility, reduced responsiveness to stimulation, and regulation by homeostasis. Extensive research has shown inadequate sleep is implicated with poor health outcomes. For instance, chronic sleep disruption may increase the risk of neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease. Previous work has shown how sleep deprivation influences protein levels in the brain which may be involved in the aforementioned diseases, but the exact molecular underpinnings are still largely unknown. In the Mohan laboratory, we seek to investigate these questions within the context of neurological disease. Understanding these complex biochemical processes can offer insights into how to protect against the negative consequences of sleep deprivation. Though just a fruit fly, Drosophila Melanogaster was the animal model used to characterize the circadian clock and can be used to conduct research that is translational to humans. Using mechanical sleep deprivation, we can manipulate the biochemical makeup of fruit fly brains and measure those changes through advanced laboratory techniques. Here, we present our work on showing the efficacy of the model. These insights will be some of the first steps to understanding the extent of how sleep deprivation impacts the human brain and how we can protect against its consequences.
Zalyia Carr
Hometown: Overland Park, Kansas
Major: Psychology
Faculty Mentor: Erin Hambrick
Mentor's Department: Psychology
Funding Source: N/A
Diagnosis Differences in Childhood Mental Disorders
In both mental and physical health, it is well known that early detection and treatment of problems is best. This is especially true when diagnosing and treating childhood mental disorders (Fineburg, 2019). Some common childhood mental disorders are Autism, ADHD, and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD). While these are normally diagnosed in early childhood or adolescence, rates of early diagnosis likely differ amongst the demographics. For example, Autism and ADHD are more likely to be diagnosed in boys. Not because there are fewer girls with ADHD and Autism in the world, but because symptoms display differently in girls making it harder to detect (Wood-Downie, 2021). Black children have lower rates of diagnosis for ADHD than White children even though symptoms appear at similar rates (Coker, 2016). Black children are more often diagnosed with disorders such as Oppositional Defiant Disorder and Conduct Disorder than their White counterparts (Fadus, 2019). Studies that analyze signs and symptoms of these disorders aren't diverse. Participants in these studies typically come from the western culture which prevents researchers from accounting for global differences. In studies that do ask for race, the participants are majority White. Studies are more likely to not ask for race, which prevents researchers from identifying and analyzing potential trends among races (Qu, 2020). Because of these factors, I hypothesize that Black women/ girls are at higher risk for delayed accurate diagnosis of mental health problems that typically first appear during childhood, such as Autism, ADHD, and SLD.
Suha Cho
Hometown: Seoul, South Korea
Major: Information Technology
Faculty Mentor: Jejung Lee
Mentor's Department: School of Science and Engineering, Division of Natural and Built Environment
Funding Source: UMKC SUROP Grant; UMKC SEARCH Grant
Development of Weed Detection Robot Using Deep Learning
Weeds are one of the most important factors affecting agricultural production. They are aggressive, competing for light, water, nutrients and space for crops, garden plants or lawn grass. Globally, weeds have become responsible for 45% of the agricultural industry’s crop losses due to the competition with crops. In the United States, harvest yield loss due to weeds has been estimated to exceed $8 billion annually. These hard-to-control weeds can also introduce bacteria, fungi, and nematodes. Site-specific weed control system and selective application of herbicides can minimize cost and maximize crop yields. This eco-friendly technique can reduce the consumption of chemical pesticides and their environmental impact on farms as well. The purpose of this project is to generate a weed detection robot using Deep Learning(DL) techniques to support local farmers in Missouri to grow crops in more efficient ways. The work presented suggests DL techniques with image processing-based framework and aims at identifying, classifying the weeds from the desired crop using the learning algorithm. Missouri had 95,320 farms, second in number only to Texas, and these farms covered 27.8 million acres, 63% of the state. With this techno-efficient method for weed detection, it will result technological improvements in Missouri’s agriculture production, and allow the residents to have better green environments.
Hannah Edwards
Hometown: Independence, Missouri
Major: Music Therapy
Faculty Mentor: Dawn Iwamasa
Mentor's Department: Music Therapy
Funding Source: N/A
Music Therapy as a Nonpharmacological Treatment for Post-Stroke Depression: A Scoping Review
Nearly 8,000 Missourians had a stroke in 2020 according to the CDC. Post-stroke depression (PSD) is a well-documented phenomenon which affects upwards of 30% of stroke survivors. Stroke survivors with PSD experience reduced outcomes from rehabilitation, increased healthcare costs, and higher mortality rates. The primary treatment for PSD is pharmacological, and research on nonpharmacological intervention is limited. Music therapy uses music to achieve nonmusical goals, such as physical wellness or emotional regulation. While music therapy is often used to address other areas of stroke recovery, research on using it to treat PSD is also limited. PSD increases post-stroke healthcare costs and mortality rates while decreasing the benefit from rehabilitation services. A scoping review was conducted to evaluate current research on nonpharmacological interventions for PSD. Implications for the application of music therapy for PSD, including a clinical framework for using music therapy to treat PSD, is discussed along with further research needs.
Sarah Herndon
Hometown: Raytown, Missouri
Major: History
Faculty Mentor: David Trowbridge
Mentor's Department: History
Funding Source: N/A
The Clio: Your Guide to the History and Culture around You
Across Missouri, there are hundreds of museums, historic sites, and historical buildings. From small museums to large, sites of battle to sites of protest, or grand historic buildings to log cabins, Missouri is rich with a history that reflects the nation’s growth during westward expansion, the Civil War, black American history, and more. In my research for The Clio, a free non-profit app bringing people closer to their local history, I have created and contributed to over 50 entries, a majority of which covers Kansas City or St. Louis history. My research has included the use of documents from the National Register of Historic Places and primary documents such as newspapers, birth certificates, death certificates, and military records. I have also conducted interviews with employees from different archives, museums, and historical societies in order to learn more about the history I’m covering and create audio files in which those close to the history can contribute their voice to the conversation. In working on this project, my research has included a vast array of different subjects regarding Missouri’s history including, but not limited to, LGBT history, black history, the Civil War, and German immigrant history. I’ve even created entries highlighting notable Kansas Citians such as the Hall family. Through virtual tours and guides, The Clio makes all this history (and more) accessible to the public.
Nusaybah Ibrahim
Hometown: Kansas City, Missouri
Major: Biology, emphasis in Clinical Laboratory Science
Faculty Mentor: Hillary McGraw
Mentor's Department: School of Science and Engineering, Division of Biological and Biomedical Systems
Funding Source: UMKC SEARCH Grant
Foxg1a Regulates Craniofacial Development in the Zebrafish
Many human developmental disorders are related to genetic mutations and a critical method for understanding these mutations is through the study of biological model organisms. Our project uses the zebrafish as a model to study the development of the jaw and how this relates to human development. Foxg1 is a gene that is critical for embryonic development. In particular, Foxg1 regulates the development of the forebrain as well as ear and eye formation. Foxg1 regulates cellular proliferation, differentiation and morphogenesis. Our work focuses on a zebrafish foxg1aa266 mutant line, which was generated using CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing (Thyme et al. 2019). Preliminary analysis of the foxg1aa266 mutants reveals defects in cartilage elements of the developing jaw. The mutants have abnormal joint development, narrow heads, and early lethality. In humans, Foxg1 mutations are linked to Foxg1 syndrome, which is defined by defects in neural development, intellectual disability, disrupted circadian rhythm, and social withdrawal. Our research focuses on the craniofacial abnormalities, specifically in the lower jaw in a Zebrafish with a foxg1 mutation. Understanding these connections of craniofacial defects and the foxg1 mutation will help in uncovering how the mutation affects human development.
MaAh Kyi
Hometown: Kansas City, Missouri
Major: History; English
Faculty Mentor: Virginia Blanton
Mentor's Department: English
Funding Source: UMKC SEARCH Grant
Developing Skills with Big Data: Colonel Greene’s Antiphonal Collection as a Resource
During the Spanish Civil War, a mob of protestors attacked a monastery and was burning its books. Colonel Howard Greene, a native of Wisconsin, was outraged when 12 volumes of antiphonals (choir books of Gregorian chant) were to be destroyed, so he purchased them and brought them to the US in 1931. He spent many years studying the books, applying chemicals to them to preserve them and transcribing their contents. He later donated this collection to Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. My research project includes digitizing, measuring, and recording data on these antiphonals that were made in 1562. In addition, I am working to transcribe the lyrics of the antiphonals and make inventories of them in CANTUS: A Database for Latin Ecclesiastical Chant ( https://cantus.uwaterloo.ca/ ). The importance of inventorying the antiphonals is to make them accessible for research by musicologists, historians, and others invested in cultural heritage, and eventually all of the antiphonals’ images will be uploaded in the CANTUS database. This research project not only helps preserve the legacy of the these books, but it also allows me to develop key skills as a researcher: working in archival environments, researching and identifying key historical resources, and developing transferable skills in working with big data.
Laylah Liwaru
Hometown: Kansas City, Missouri
Major: Biology
Faculty Mentor: Hillary McGraw
Mentor's Department: School of Science and Engineering, Division of Biological and Biomedical Systems
Funding Source: UMKC SEARCH Grant
Foxg1a Regulates Craniofacial Development in the Zebrafish
Many human developmental disorders are related to genetic mutations and a critical method for understanding these mutations is through the study of biological model organisms. Our project uses the zebrafish as a model to study the development of the jaw and how this relates to human development. Foxg1 is a gene that is critical for embryonic development. In particular, Foxg1 regulates the development of the forebrain as well as ear and eye formation. Foxg1 regulates cellular proliferation, differentiation and morphogenesis. Our work focuses on a zebrafish foxg1aa266 mutant line, which was generated using CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing (Thyme et al. 2019). Preliminary analysis of the foxg1aa266 mutants reveals defects in cartilage elements of the developing jaw. The mutants have abnormal joint development, narrow heads, and early lethality. In humans, Foxg1 mutations are linked to Foxg1 syndrome, which is defined by defects in neural development, intellectual disability, disrupted circadian rhythm, and social withdrawal. Our research focuses on the craniofacial abnormalities, specifically in the lower jaw in a Zebrafish with a foxg1 mutation. Understanding these connections of craniofacial defects and the foxg1 mutation will help in uncovering how the mutation affects human development.
Tinh Nim
Hometown: Kansas City, Missouri
Major: Biology
Faculty Mentor: Jeffrey L. Price
Mentor's Department: Genetics, Developmental, and Evolutionary Biology
Funding Source: UMKC SEARCH Grant
The Effects of Visual and Circadian Proteins on BDBT and of BDBT on Visual Proteins
Genetic analysis of Drosophila is critical because new discoveries and analysis can be relevant to equivalent genes in humans. Work involving Bride of Doubletime (BDBT) protein was published by our lab in 2013 (2). It is an essential protein in the regulation of circadian rhythms. Circadian rhythms are 24-hour cycles that carry out essential functions and processes. They regulate an individual's mental, physical, and behavioral state throughout the day. However, these cycles can be influenced by environmental factors such as light or temperature. In the absence of light, BDBT protein is expressed highly and broadly in photoreceptor foci. Conversely, in the presence of light, BDBT is expressed in low amounts. BDBT then interacts with a myriad of different circadian proteins in a series of negative feedback mechanisms. Specifically, we observed the effects of Arrestin-1 and ninaE mutants on BDBT levels. Through our observations, we were able to conclude that rhodopsin-1 was necessary to suppress BDBT foci and the foci was not a product of an Arrestin endocytic pathway because they are generated in an Arr1-1 LOF mutant. Our future work will determine if BDBT regulates subcellular localization and activities of visual transduction proteins in a light-dependent manner.
Lindsy Todd
Hometown: Grain Valley, Missouri
Major: Biology, emphasis in Biomedical Sciences
Faculty Mentor: Ryan Mohan
Mentor's Department: School of Science and Engineering, Division of Biological and Biomedical Systems
Funding Source: NIH
A New Regulator of Ataxin-7 Cleavage in Spinocerebellar ataxia type 7
People diagnosed with a genetic neurodegenerative disorder called spinocerebellar ataxia type 7 (SCA7) experience loss of motor function and blindness. Current treatments are limited to the treatment of symptoms as they develop. We must understand that in the presence of SCA7, it is the polyglutamine expansion in the Ataxin-7 gene that we think causes symptoms. Ataxin-7 (Atxn7) anchors the deubiquitinate module (DUBm) to the SAGA chromatin modifying complex, which is a critical regulator of gene expression. However, pathways regulating the DUB module entry and exit from SAGA remain mysterious. In humans, caspase 7 cuts Atxn7 and we hypothesize that polyglutamine expanded Atxn7 is more prone to being cut. Preventing caspase-mediated cleavage of Atxn7 can reduce cytotoxicity. Therefore, our working model is that the cutting of Atxn7 and the release of the DUBm causes SCA7, presumably by allowing the DUBm to target other proteins. We developed an unbiased method to discover novel interactors of Atxn7 and successfully identified a protein possibly responsible for preventing caspase cleavage of Atxn7. In our follow-up studies we tested the cleavage pattern of Atxn7 in the presence and absence of this factor and we are currently testing how this factor can modulate SCA7.
Chris Vierman
Hometown: Lee's Summit, Missouri
Major: Biology
Faculty Mentor: Jeffrey L. Price
Mentor's Department: Genetics, Developmental, and Evolutionary Biology
Funding Source: UMKC SEARCH Grant
Unraveling the Mysteries of Circadian Rhythms: Exploring the Mechanism and Implications for Human Health
Circadian rhythms are biological cycles that regulate an organism's mental, physical, and behavioral state throughout the day. These rhythms are influenced by environmental factors such as light and temperature, and they are essential for normal physiological processes. Therefore, understanding the proteins that govern circadian regulation is critical for developing treatments and therapies for various diseases. In fruit flies, Bride of Doubletime (BDBT) is a crucial circadian protein that interacts with other circadian proteins to regulate circadian rhythms. Disruptions to BDBT can lead to altered circadian rhythms, which have been linked to numerous health problems in humans. In this study, we aimed to determine how two known circadian proteins, Arrestin-1 and ninaE, interact with BDBT. We observed that Rhodopsin-1 was necessary to suppress BDBT foci and that BDBT foci were not a product of an Arrestin endocytic pathway. These results helped us to narrow down the mechanism by which circadian proteins affect BDBT. In the absence of light, BDBT is expressed highly and broadly in photoreceptor foci. Conversely, in the presence of light, BDBT is expressed in low amounts. Our findings shed light on the complex interactions between circadian proteins and suggest that Rhodopsin-1 may be an important mediator of BDBT function. Overall, our work highlights the importance of BDBT in regulating circadian rhythms and provides insights into the mechanisms by which circadian proteins interact with BDBT. These findings could have significant implications for developing new treatments and therapies for various diseases associated with disrupted circadian rhythms.
Judy Vun 
Hometown: Kansas City, Missouri
Major: Nursing
Faculty Mentor: Anita Skarbek
Mentor's Department: Nursing
Funding Source: UMKC SUROP Grant
A Secondary Data Analysis of the Child Obesity and Health Messaging Preferences among Missouri Policymakers (CHAMP) Study
Background. Enacting policy changes which promote nutrient-dense foods and daily physical activity can play an important role in addressing childhood obesity. Little is known how the framework and delivery of health messaging to policymakers influences the development of obesity-related policies (1).
Aim: How does the inclusion of visual media incorporated into policy messaging influence if Missouri policymakers would advocate for changes in child and obesity-related health policy?
Methods. The CHAMP survey is an independently developed 19-point questionnaire. Recipients were randomized to either receive or not receive a visual media (graphic/message) prior to answering questions about childhood obesity policy (1).
Data Groups: Party (Republican or Democrat), age (≤ 55 years or > 55 years), years in office (≤ 3 years or > 3 years).
Analysis: Conducted using SAS 9.4, alpha 0.05, mean ±SD or N (% sample) for demographics, N (% sample) for frequencies, T-test for group differences.
Results. One hundred and fifteen surveys were completed by Missouri policymakers (1). The parent analysis of the CHAMP survey had a 65.3% response rate (64% male), and the majority were members of the Republican party and serving in the House of Representatives. Members of the Democratic party who received a visual media were more likely to perceive the food industry and different levels of the government as more responsible for preventing childhood obesity than those who did not receive a visual media. Participants who received a visual media overall were more likely to support the following prevention strategies: sidewalks and crosswalks, policies on advertisements, healthy items at concession stands, healthy items at food pantries, improving breastfeeding abilities for moms, healthy items in vending machines, more fresh fruits and vegetables at school, and increasing physical activity in schools compared to those who received no visual media.
Conclusion. Inclusion of visual media in health policy messaging may positively impact the promotion of child and obesity-related policies. In particular, use of schools in the visual media was most influential.
