Hometown: Olathe, KS
Major: Computer Science
Faculty Mentor: ZhiQiang Chen
Mentor's Department: Division of Natural and Built Environment
Custom-Trained AI for substance abuse prevention
Substance abuse prevention requires tailored, accurate, and responsive educational tools to effectively support families, individuals, and professionals. This poster presents a framework for developing a custom-trained AI model, leveraging Large Language Models (LLMs) and advanced techniques like Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG), to enhance substance abuse prevention efforts. The AI is fine-tuned using specialized datasets to address the unique needs of different audiences, including families, healthcare providers, and individuals at risk. Key features include customizable interfaces, integration with up-to-date scientific literature, and task-specific data training to improve relevance and accuracy. Data privacy, security, and legal compliance are emphasized to ensure ethical and responsible AI deployment. This approach aims to create an adaptive, secure, and effective digital resource that supports informed decision-making and fosters proactive substance abuse education and intervention.
Hometown: Wentzville, Missouri
Major: Biomedical Engineering
Faculty Mentor: Stefan Lohfeld
Mentor's Department: Oral and Craniofacial Sciences
The Vortex Funnel Elimination System and its Effect on Microsphere Production
More than 1,600 people in Missouri are on a transplant waiting list. Tissue engineering uses a combination of cells and engineering to restore or improve different types of biological tissues, and the goal of tissue engineering is to dramatically reduce this number, or abolish it altogether. Microspheres are small, solid spherical particles used to make scaffolds: small porous structures used for tissue engineering. While various microsphere production methods exist, the Büchi Encapsulator B-390 produces monodisperse microspheres (i.e., of the same size). But so far, in the lab’s use the maximum yield for a given microsphere size has been limited to 60-70% in the desired size range of 106-180 µm. To prevent lumping of soft microspheres the collection solution is agitated by stirring, but the vortex formed during agitation has been affecting microsphere production. So, I hypothesized that by eliminating vortex forces in microsphere production, there can be a higher yield of microspheres in the desired size range. To eliminate the vortex forces I designed and 3D printed three ‘column’ models to shield the polymer stream from the vortex. This study showed that the microspheres made using all three models had a tighter size range than the control. For the model with the highest efficiency, about 82.7% of the microspheres produced fell within the desired size range (106-180 µm) vs. the control with only about 66.0%. The research showed that blocking the vortex with the column helps to reduce the microsphere’s size spread during manufacturing.
Hometown: Clarksville, Arkansas
Majors: Professional Communication & Spanish Language and Literature
Faculty Mentor: Alberto Villamandos
Mentor's Department: World Languages and Cultures
Oral Literature In Modern Day Cusco: Language and Cultural Attitudes in Two Generations
Peruvian oral literature has an expansive history in the Andes region which dates back to the Pre-Columbian era. During the early Colonial period, these stories were translated from Quechua to Spanish, with some works being transcribed, such as the Huarochirí manuscript (1608) (Ballón Aguirre 531). Such documents became an important source for historiographic purposes as in Comentarios Reales de los Incas, by Inca Garcilaso de la Vega (1609) . Later on, during the 20th century, anthropologists and intellectuals such as José María Arguedas documented the myths, legends and stories from Peru . This academic work is still active, with publications such as El Mito de Inkarri en Los Cantos Quechuas by Mauro Mamani Macedo (2021), on the myth of a returning leader. Now oral written stories have a tendency to change over time, or to become influenced by newer generation’s cultural attitudes. This is because the effects of fictional narratives on oral narratives do increase over time (Markus Appel and Tobias Richter 2007). Current trends in the study of oral literature in Peru are focusing on changes in transmission and how age differences play a role in this phenomenon. This research aims to address how bilingual and heritage speakers of Quechua in Generation Z perceive and retain Quechua and Spanish oral literature and how their linguistic attitude has changed in contrast with their parents’ generation by comparing the stories, myths, and legends of both age groups.
Hometown: Kansas City, MO
Majors: Political Science & Environmental Studies
Faculty Mentor: Mona Lyne
Mentor's Department: Political Science and Philosophy
The Political Economy of Critical Material Acquisition: Regime, State, and Society
With states’ technological advance and economic dynamism relying heavily on scarce critical materials, stable access to these materials becomes a strategic priority for governments. In this paper we develop a general framework for how variation in governance and property rights has a systematic and predictable impact on host states’ ability to access and develop these materials. While assumed that quality of governance is the overriding factor driving successful and stable development, we draw on Acemoglu and Robinson’s (2019) typology of the balance between state and civil society to develop predictions for material exploitation. In democracies, where state and society are balanced, neutral property rights facilitate the stable commercial development of critical materials which serve public interests. In contrast, in strong states with limited institutionalized civil society, property rights and development of critical materials is stable yet non-neutral, with benefits heavily favoring regime supporters. Lastly, in weak states where governments are unable to make and enforce stable rules, access to and development of critical materials will be unstable and often violently contested by non-state actors through violence. We apply our framework to three cases, Canada, China and Afghanistan, to illustrate our argument and trace the impact on stable access to these materials.
Hometown: Kansas City, MO
Majors: Political Science & Chemistry
Faculty Mentor: Mona Lyne
Mentor's Department: Political Science and Philosophy
The Political Economy of Critical Material Acquisition: Regime, State, and Society
With states’ technological advance and economic dynamism relying heavily on scarce critical materials, stable access to these materials becomes a strategic priority for governments. In this paper we develop a general framework for how variation in governance and property rights has a systematic and predictable impact on host states’ ability to access and develop these materials. While assumed that quality of governance is the overriding factor driving successful and stable development, we draw on Acemoglu and Robinson’s (2019) typology of the balance between state and civil society to develop predictions for material exploitation. In democracies, where state and society are balanced, neutral property rights facilitate the stable commercial development of critical materials which serve public interests. In contrast, in strong states with limited institutionalized civil society, property rights and development of critical materials is stable yet non-neutral, with benefits heavily favoring regime supporters. Lastly, in weak states where governments are unable to make and enforce stable rules, access to and development of critical materials will be unstable and often violently contested by non-state actors through violence. We apply our framework to three cases, Canada, China and Afghanistan, to illustrate our argument and trace the impact on stable access to these materials.
Hometown: Bentonville, Arkansas
Major: Biology
Faculty Mentor: Stephane Dissel
Mentor's Department: Division of Biological and Biomedical Systems
Appetitive Olfactory Short-Term Memory Detection Utilizing Y-Maze Paradigm in Drosophila melanogaster
This project aims to investigate the mechanisms of associative learning in Drosophila melanogaster using a Y-maze appetitive olfactory conditioning paradigm, focusing on how flies form associations between specific odors (octanol/OCT, and methylcyclohexanol/MCH) and a sucrose reward. The study will build on established research that highlights the role of specific stimuli in associative learning, specifically olfactory conditioning in flies. The research question explores whether Drosophila can reliably form associations between odors and rewards and whether this varies with different odors. By using OCT and MCH as test odors, we will assess how flies’ preferences are shaped by these associations. The significance of this research extends beyond basic insect learning, as it could inform broader understandings of neural circuits involved in memory and learning, offering potential applications in studying memory disorders and olfactory processing in higher organisms. Initial data suggests that flies show a clear preference for the CS+ odor-following training on the associated odor. Future trials will expand on these results, seeking to confirm the reliability and robustness of the odor-reward associations. Furthermore, these future trials will define the upper limits of memory retention with extended periods of time post-training/pre-testing. The expected outcomes will contribute valuable insights into how sensory and reward systems interact in the brain, with applications that reach beyond the Drosophila model.
Hometown: Jefferson City, MO
Major: Mathematics and Statistics
Faculty Mentor: Aaron Reed
Mentor's Department: Division of Biological and Biomedical Systems
Habitat relationship between Sigmodon hispidus and Microtus ochrogaster
The purpose of this study is to observe if a newly migrated species, the cotton rat (Sigmodon hispidus) competes with a species native to Kansas, the prairie vole (Microtus ochrogaster). Spatially-explicit capture-recapture analysis was used to determine if the two species segregate habitat. Data was collected on a plot of 2 hectares for a period of 40 years. It was collected by recording the frequency of tagged mammals across 100 traps set up evenly through the plot. Program R was used to create population density maps of the months when there were significant populations of the mammals of interest (Sigmodon hispidus and Microtus ochrogaster). The maps show areas of greater and lesser mammal density through a difference of colors.
The results suggest that the populations of the cotton rat and prairie vole fluctuate throughout the year. The populations generally occupy the same areas even as the population numbers fluctuate. The change in population density over time implies that these mammals gravitate towards areas with abundant food and resources, and it suggests that the species may compete with each other for resources in the areas they occupy.
This data could be further used in a larger investigation to observe trends of the relationship between other small mammals in the habitat and temporal changes to the habitat itself. Using weather trends and this spatially explicit data, we can observe migration patterns by season and implications of the transfer of diseases the mammals may carry.
Hometown: Wentzville, MO
Major: Biomedical Engineering
Faculty Mentor: Stefan Lohfeld
Mentor's Department: Oral and Craniofacial Sciences
The Effect of Alginate Beads on the Flow of PLA Microspheres During 3D-Printing
Each year, around 2.2 million bone graft procedures are performed. This procedure leaves the patient open to risks of infection and rejection. In an attempt to lower these risks, researchers are looking into methods to regenerate bone tissue. Scaffolds, small porous structures created through extrusion-based 3D printing of microspheres, are utilized to stimulate bone growth. Scaffolds contain growth factors and other hormones that encourage tissue growth. Polylactic acid (PLA) microspheres are commonly used to produce the scaffolds. The printing of hard microspheres suffers from extrusion printing pressure fluctuations that require continuous adjustment throughout the process. The aim of the project was to establish whether using a combination of hard and soft microspheres helps to decrease the extrusion pressure as well as allow it to be more consistent.
PLA microspheres, mixed with alginate beads in a 1:1 ratio and a 3% carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) solution, created the paste used for 3D printing of experimental scaffolds. Scaffolds 3D printed from PLA microspheres alone mixed with CMC served as a control. The addition of alginate microspheres mixed into the PLA microsphere paste allowed for a significant decrease in the extrusion pressure to 0.2-0.3 bar and created consistency. The control samples starting pressure was set to 0.8 bar and adapted up to 2.0 bar during the printing process. This study proved that using a combination of PLA and alginate microspheres leads to an easier material flow during the 3D printing process, utilizing less and more consistent pressure.
Hometown: Rocky Mount, MO
Major: Biology
Faculty Mentor: Stephane Dissel
Mentor's Department: Division of Biological and Biomedical Systems
Appetitive Olfactory Short-Term Memory Detection Utilizing Y-Maze Paradigm in Drosophila melanogaster
This project aims to investigate the mechanisms of associative learning in Drosophila melanogaster using a Y-maze appetitive olfactory conditioning paradigm, focusing on how flies form associations between specific odors (octanol/OCT, and methylcyclohexanol/MCH) and a sucrose reward. The study will build on established research that highlights the role of specific stimuli in associative learning, specifically olfactory conditioning in flies. The research question explores whether Drosophila can reliably form associations between odors and rewards and whether this varies with different odors. By using OCT and MCH as test odors, we will assess how flies’ preferences are shaped by these associations. The significance of this research extends beyond basic insect learning, as it could inform broader understandings of neural circuits involved in memory and learning, offering potential applications in studying memory disorders and olfactory processing in higher organisms. Initial data suggests that flies show a clear preference for the CS+ odor-following training on the associated odor. Future trials will expand on these results, seeking to confirm the reliability and robustness of the odor-reward associations. Furthermore, these future trials will define the upper limits of memory retention with extended periods of time post-training/pre-testing. The expected outcomes will contribute valuable insights into how sensory and reward systems interact in the brain, with applications that reach beyond the Drosophila model.
Hometown: Columbia, MO
Major: Psychology
Faculty Mentor: Westley Youngren
Mentor's Department: Psychology and Counseling
Insomnia & Nightmares; Effects on Suicide
Previous research has separately shown that insomnia and trauma-related nightmares are related to suicide. However, the literature currently disagrees as to which is the true predictor of suicide, with some researchers suggesting that symptoms of insomnia explain the portion of the variance in nightmares. Thus, we sought to further explore this relationship by examining the effects of nightmares and insomnia on suicide in a model that accounted for each variables unique influence. Methods: N = 117 participants completed questionnaires including self-reported insomnia total scores (measured via the Insomnia Symptom Index), frequency of trauma-related nightmares occurring monthly (measured via the Trauma-Related Nightmare Survey), and cognitions-related suicide (measured via the Brief Suicide Cognition Scale). A multiple linear regression was used to examine the effects of nightmares and insomnia on suicide while controlling for each variable's unique influence. Results: The regression analyses indicated that the overall model was significant (t = 7.61, p < 0.001). Within this model, we found that frequently experiencing trauma-related nightmares significantly predicted suicide cognitions (β=5.17, p < .05), as did insomnia symptoms (β=0.64, p < .001). Conclusion: Increases in suicide cognitions were predicted by both trauma-related nightmares and insomnia (while controlling for each variable’s unique influence). These results lend evidence to the idea that both nightmares and insomnia independently impact suicide and that nightmares are not just an effect of insomnia. This is clinically relevant as it suggests two unique variables (insomnia & suicide) that could be targeted with interventions, with the overall goal of reducing the risk of suicide.
Hometown: Wadsworth, Illinois
Major: Economics
Faculty Mentor: Zhongjin Li
Mentor's Department: Economics
Monetary Sovereignty during the Debt Crisis: The Latin American Lost Decade
During and after the COVID-19 pandemic, the level of debt incurred by governments around the world began to dramatically increase. This was exacerbated by US interest rate increases and has led to many poorer countries becoming increasingly financially vulnerable. These high amounts of debt have led many economists to question what may happen when the countries’ governments default, and how it will affect their future development. However, there have been many periods in the past in which developing countries have defaulted on their debt. One of these periods was in the early 1980s, in which many countries in Latin America underwent a debt crisis that stalled their development, causing a “lost decade”. My poster discusses how the Latin American debt crisis led to a loss of what is known as monetary sovereignty for the indebted countries, which is the ability for a government to implement its desired macroeconomic policy, and how monetary sovereignty can still be applied today to think about the consequences of a current debt crisis. I do this by analyzing the 1980s debt crisis and the lost decade that followed it in Latin America through historical data and scholarship from the period. Through this analysis, I conclude that to not harm the development of heavily indebted nations, their governments should be allowed to change the terms under which they repay debt, or simply have unpayable debt canceled so that they can have control over their futures.
Hometown: Salvador, Bahia, Brazil
Major: Biology
Faculty Mentor: Erin Bumann
Mentor's Department: Oral and Craniofacial Sciences
New Evidence Towards Development of Non-Surgical Intervention for Birth Defects of the Face and Head
Congenital anomalies, such as birth defects of the face and head, are the leading cause of infant death and pediatric hospitalization. Over 500 infants are born with birth defects of the face and head in Missouri every year, annually costing Missouri over $40 million for surgical correction. Greater understanding of the biological factors impacting face and head development will help researchers develop new, non-surgical therapies for patients, therefore decreasing the cost to Missouri to fund these invasive surgeries. Mutations in one such factor, Wnt family member 5A (WNT5A), results in Robinow Syndrome that is characterized by multiple birth defects of the face and head. Our objective was to determine the effect of a single supplemental treatment of WNT5A on facial bone development during bone mineralization.
Developing quail were injected with a single dose of extra WNT5A (eWNT5A) during early facial bone mineralization. Once their facial bones had mostly mineralized, their skulls were collected, scanned, and reconstructed into a three-dimensional rendering. Fourteen landmarks were placed on relevant anatomical features to quantify facial measurements. Unpaired, two tailed t-tests were performed to evaluate significance (p<0.05).
The treated quail had a significant shortening in their midface and premaxillary length, and demonstrated mild frontal bossing and an abbreviated, rounded premaxilla.
The facial differences noted in eWNT5A-treated developing quail resembled facial differences of patients with Robinow Syndrome. Further research on the role of WNT5A could provide information to develop non-surgical therapies for patients with Robinow Syndrome and other birth defects of the face and head.
