Poster 1

Do Dispensary Advertisers Accurately Describe Cannabis Scents?

Authors: Eva Bassallo, Justin Hemenway, Connor Rarick, Jayna Schmohl, Ellie Walter-Goodspeed

Faculty Advisor: Dr. Thomas Byrne

We are investigating the accuracy of cannabis scent descriptions provided by dispensaries. The study will determine if human participants can match commercial cannabis samples to their factory descriptions. This is important due to the significant economic impact and growth potential of the cannabis industry in the United States. Human subjects, recruited from MCLA college students, faculty, and staff, are partaking in this experiment involving both burnt and un-burnt cannabis samples. Through double-blind procedures, participants match descriptions to samples and rank their confidence levels. Participants have the opportunity to win gift cards, while societal benefits include increased awareness of cannabis advertising accuracy. Overall, this research contributes to understanding the reliability of cannabis scent descriptions in the market.

Poster 2

What's That Smell? Olfactory Discrimination in Rats

Author: Ellie Walter-Goodspeed

Faculty Advisor: Dr. Thomas Byrne

Our experimental question is whether rats can smell the difference between C.Indica and C.Sativa strains of Cannabis. Building upon previous research in which rats were clicker trained to dig up tea balls filled with different odorants, we are employing procedures similar to those used in drug discrimination (DD) assays. Such experiments are used to investigate the subjective effects of drugs in either human or non- human subjects. In the case of nonhumans, such as rats, associative learning and discrimination training are used to provide objective information about the subjective effects of drugs. In the current study similar procedures may essentially allow rats to answer the question, What do you smell? Pilot data show some evidence that rats may be able to differentiate between C.Indica and C.Sativa by smell, and early data from a more comprehensive investigation show that rats' performance differs from what would be expected by chance alone.

Poster 3

Mark and Recapture of Plethodon Cinereus (Eastern Red-backed Salamanders)

Author: Veronica Nault

Faculty Advisor: Dr. Jonathan Clinger

Plethodon cinereus (Eastern Red-backed Salamanders) is an amphibian native to Eastern North America. P. cinereus is an indicator of ecosystem health in Northeastern forests, due to its extreme abundance. In the MCLA forest, we have arrayed cover boards to study the population of P. cinereus long-term and understand the effects of climate change on its population health. We are using mark and recapture to accurately estimate the population. In the MCLA forest, we have two transects, North and South, with 50 cover boards each, arrayed in a grid pattern. In 2023 we captured 213 salamanders at the North Transect and estimated a population of 401 individuals using the Schnabel method. At the South transect, we have captured 56 salamanders, and need another season of mark and recapture for an accurate population estimate. These population estimates will help us going forward to keep track of changes in P. cinereus abundance in the MCLA forest.

Poster 4

Freshmen College Adjustment

Authors: Abby Farnum, Hannah Santos

Faculty Advisor: Dr. Sharon Claffey

Our research aims to understand the relationship between student living status and acclimation to college in the first year. Living status is differentiated by resident or commuter and is further divided by distance from previous home or duration of commute respectively. Our sample will include first-year MCLA students. Prior research suggests that students who are members of marginalized communities tend to have a more difficult time acclimating to college-life, but there is limited research on residential status alone. We will be utilizing survey research via SurveyMonkey, using a modified version of the Student Adjustment to College Questionnaire (SACQ). We hypothesize that commuter students will have a lower score on the SACQ meaning that they have a harder time adjusting to college.

Poster 5

Ketamine Induced Condition-Place Preference

Author: Ryan Taylor

Name of Faculty: Dr. Thomas Byrne

Ketamine is a dissociative drug with well-established anesthetic and analgesic properties in vertebrates. Recently, there has been increased interest in ketamine’s potential as a pharmacotherapy for treatment-resistant depression, and there has also been a rise in its recreational use. Ketamine’s effects have not been thoroughly evaluated in invertebrates, and there have been no prior investigations of its behavioral effects in planarians. Planaria are aquatic flatworms that have been used for biomedical and neuropharmacological research for years. They have remarkable regenerative properties and relatively complex neuronal motor and receptor systems. We are extending previous research by evaluating the behavioral effects of ketamine in planaria. Our initial efforts involve testing various concentrations of the drug to establish dose-response curves of its effects on negative phototaxis. With these data, we hope to identify behaviorally active doses in order to test whether ketamine can induce condition-place preference (CPP) in planaria using standard Pavlovian methodology. CPP will be calculated by directly comparing preferences for light vs. dark environments before and after these environments are paired with ketamine.

Poster 6

MCLA Civil Rights Travel Course (Group 1 )

Authors: Jenna Bateman, Eva Bassallo, Cristhian Cabrera, Kaiya Cocliff, Mahoganye Davis, Mae Hall

Faculty Advisor: Dr. Ely Janis

This poster session will examine our Spring Semester 2024 Civil Rights Travel course and focus on our visit to Atlanta and Albany, Georgia and Montgomery and Selma, Alabama. We will highlight the history of the Civil Rights movement as well as wisdom and advice we will gain from the Civil Rights veterans and activists on the legacy of the movement and the push for racial equality in the United States. We will also use this poster session to reflect on our own personal experiences and what this trip means to us personally and how it has deepened and changed the way we think about our role in continuing the struggle through our future efforts and deeds.

Poster 7

Exploring the World of Physics at the APS April Meeting

Authors: Sam Broderick, Tea Caravello, Treyana Holiday

Faculty Advisor: Dr. Emily Maher

This abstract summarizes the key points from our recent participation at the American Physical Society (APS) conference, held in Sacramento in April. We attended this conference to gain insights into subfields of physics not represented in our home department, explore networking opportunities with physics students and professional physicists, and learn about graduate school and career opportunities in physics. The conference focused on Quark to the Cosmos, with notable speakers addressing the Scientific Impact of Major Facilities and Physics and Multi-Messenger Astronomy. We will discuss the key takeaways from the conference and how these impact our educational experience.

Poster 8

Designing and Prototyping a Space-Based Star Shade: An Interdisciplinary Exploration

Author: Tea Caravello

Faculty Advisor: Dr. Kebra Ward

In response to a NASA challenge targeting undergraduate physics and astrophysics programs, this interdisciplinary research project explores the development of a space-based StarShade for ground-based telescopes. Our approach centered on innovative design strategies to enhance functionality and efficiency. We redesigned the inner frame, reducing hinge points to minimize errors and better align with dimensional requirements. Additionally, we undertook the creation of a scale model starshade from scratch, employing newly acquired skills in 3D modeling and printing. Through collaborative efforts and independent research, we navigated the complexities of CAD drawing, structural analysis, and scale model creation, achieving a comprehensive understanding of mission requirements. This project not only facilitated practical insights into real-world challenges but also demonstrated the potential of interdisciplinary collaboration in advancing space exploration and scientific inquiry.

Poster 9

Students' Comfortability of Personal Beliefs

Author: Lori Lester

Faculty Advisor: Dr. Samantha Pettey

The purpose of this study is to figure out if MCLA students feel comfortable expressing views, especially those that are political in nature, on campus. Ben Shapiro wrote a book titled "Brainwashed: How Universities Indoctrinate America's Youth" going into detail about how many students in universities tend to find themselves shifting to left leaning viewpoints once they get into college. Similarly, many scholars find people who graduate from college are more likely to vote for Democrats. How does one’s education experience impact political party identification? To answer my research question, I will conduct a survey of MCLA students and analyze student demographics, ideology, and comfort expressing political views. I expect to find students who identify as liberal or Democrats are more comfortable expressing political views in class and with peers.

Poster 10

Timeout from Positive Reinforcement: A Review of its Origins, Application and Ethical Concerns

Author: Melanie Heath

Faculty Advisor: Dr. Thomas Byrne

Time-out from positive reinforcement, better known as timeout, is a widely recognized behavior management technique that started in the laboratory and has expanded into clinical and educational settings. Timeout refers to an arrangement where the occurrence of a response is followed by a period where reinforcers are unavailable. This is accomplished by implementing an interval of planned extinction or by relocating the learner into the timeout area. Research suggests that implementing time-out procedures is effective when there is a clear difference between a rich time-in environment and a relatively impoverished time-out environment. Timeout is effective when it is in short durations (i.e., 2 min), and the target behavior has a positive reinforcement function. Time-out, by definition, is a punishment procedure, and non-aversive procedures should be considered before implementation.

Poster 11

The Benefits of Study Abroad

Author: Fallon Maloney

Faculty Advisor: Dr. Graziana D’Elia-Brillante

On the Amalfi coast in the southern part of Italy rests the city of Salerno, where I studied last Fall. I was able to experience this hidden gem with a unique view and grow an appreciation for its enriched culture and history. Before arriving, I did not know much Italian but I wanted to push myself out of my comfort zone. My host family welcomed me into their home and their culture. I made friends from around the world, and together we explored everything that this charming city of Salerno had to offer. The teachers at the university truly cared about my academic progression. Leaving behind the warmth and love of Salerno placed into perspective the vastness of untapped knowledge I could gather within the world. Not only that but the invaluable ways of communicating with those around me, with the immersion of learning a language through the people who put it into practice daily. I could not have experienced the feeling of complete independence if it weren't for this academic adventure. I would like to pass along any helpful information to other students on campus who are looking for a special and cross-cultural learning experience.

Poster 12

Procreation Beliefs Among College Students

Authors: Mark Hayden and Maxwell Zimmer

Faculty Advisor: Dr. Sharon Claffey

The purpose of this study is to determine if there is a relationship between concerns relating to the current environmental decline and fears regarding the future political trajectory of the U.S with an individual's attitudes towards having children. Both variables are expected to have a negative effect on an individual's attitudes towards having children, however it is unclear if one has a stronger effect than the other. These factors will be assessed in a college age population, as that generation is approaching the age where it is appropriate to start considering what they want their future to look like and if having kids fits into that vision. The results of this study could provide some insight into why the average age of having a child is increasing globally and indicate what the college age generation is the most concerned about in regard to the future.

Poster 13

Thermodynamic Parameters of Association of Several Metallocenyl Beta-lactams

Author: Mahad Ali

Faculty Advisor: Dr. Yavuz Ceylan

Antibiotics are vital medications that help humans fight off bacterial infection. Bacteria have developed resistance to antibiotics. One class of antibiotics, beta-lactams work by binding to Penicillin Binding Proteins (PBPs), which play a role in the synthesis of the bacterial cell wall. By debilitating PBPs, beta-lactams can stop cell wall production, and which will lead to cell death. Bacteria have developed resistance to the mechanism of action of beta-lactams, and a novel change in beta-lactams is required to overcome resistance. Previous research has shown that metal conjugates of a beta-lactam, cephalosporin, increased inhibition of PBPs. In this study, we employed computational methods to determine the thermodynamic parameters of the first step in the mechanism of action of several beta-lactam metal conjugates. We found that the carbapenem metal conjugate required the lowest amount of energy to achieve a transition state and would be a good candidate for future testing.

Poster 14

Surveying Wildlife Diversity in Monroe, MA

Authors: William Flynn, Isabella Pio, Jeremy Stewart

Faculty Advisor: Dr. Daniel Shustack

Wildlife diversity is important for maintaining the health of our ecosystems, with an abundance of different species being indicative of habitat health. The purpose of this project is to survey variation in wildlife in different habitats of Monroe, MA. As part of our project, we are reporting mammal detections to Mass Mammals, an organization based out of Amherst College dedicated to observing population density and distribution of mammals across the state. Data was collected using motion-activated trail cameras over the last two years. The trail cameras detected a range of species including foxes, raccoons, deer, and porcupines, as well as many others. Our ongoing analysis will be used to describe the distribution of these species across habitats.

Poster 15

Women of Color: Belonging and Engagement at MCLA

Authors: Taylor Hope, Sajaira Hudson, Janeilah Vazquez

Faculty Advisor: Dr. Ruby Vega

This study explores the potential for programs offered by the Women of Color Initiative (WOCI) to support the educational and professional advancement of women of color at MCLA and help foster a sense of belonging on campus. Despite trends showing increased female enrollment in higher education, underrepresentation of women of color persists, particularly at predominantly white institutions. Drawing on research highlighting the benefits of mentorship, particularly for African American students, WOCI programing aims to improve senses of belonging amongst women of color through facilitating group activities and fostering community. Further, the program seeks to mitigate feelings of exclusion and enhance retention, performance, and success for women of color. Survey data gathered from women of color attending MCLA are analyzed to examine the potential relationship between student participation in the program and their experiences of emotional and professional assistance and sense of belonging.

Poster 16

Political Awareness, Academic Freedom, and Media Consumption: An Analysis of College Students

Authors: Taylor Hope

Faculty Advisor: Dr. Samantha Pettey

This study examines how personal identities race, gender, and party affiliation affect students' perceptions of politicians, focusing on age estimation and leadership ability based solely on appearance. Understanding these biases is essential for uncovering disparities in political evaluation and discerning the influence of media consumption on these assessments. Drawing upon the theory of adultification, which highlights biases in racial perception, this research extends this framework to politics, exploring how personal identities shape evaluations of politicians. Through a survey of MCLA students, images of four Members of Congress was presented without disclosure of their identities, prompting participants to provide age estimates and rate their leadership abilities. We expect to uncover biases in students' assessments of politicians based on factors such as race, gender, and party affiliation. This research enhances our understanding of how personal identities shape perceptions of politicians, highlighting biases in political evaluations and the role of media consumption therein.

Poster 17

MCLA Civil Rights Travel Course (Group 2)

Authors: Sydalee Rinker, Sajaira Hudson, Tia Kareh, Andrew Mayberry, Timia Mcclinton, Jheneay Watkins

Faculty Advisor: Dr. Ely Janis

This poster session will examine our Spring Semester 2024 Civil Rights Travel course and focus on our visit to Birmingham, Alabama, Jackson, Mississippi, and Memphis, Tennessee. We will highlight the history of the Civil Rights movement as well as wisdom and advice we will gain from the Civil Rights veterans and activists on the legacy of the movement and the push for racial equality in the United States. We will also use this poster session to reflect on our own personal experiences and what this trip means to us personally and how it has deepened and changed the way we think about our role in continuing the struggle through our future efforts and deeds.

Poster 18

Tetrahymena Phagocytosis

Authors: Rachel Houghtaling, Logan Keyes, Katherine Tomasetti

Faculty Advisor: Dr. Ann Billetz

Tetrahymena are unicellular eukaryotes that rely on phagocytosis to take in food particles. These organisms can be easily looked at under a microscope and ingest India ink which allows researchers to view their phagocytic activity. Phagocytosis is an important process to understand and study due to its role in ingestion of food particles, destruction of pathogens/foreign particles, and destruction of dead/damaged cells. The effects of nicotine, calcium and epinephrine on the rate of phagocytosis was investigated. Results indicate that increasing calcium up to 0.05 M increases the rate of phagocytosis, whereas nicotine and epinephrine had no effect.

Poster 19

Canine Cortisol Levels

Authors: Rachel Houghtaling, Michelle Williams

Faculty Advisor: Dr. Jonathan Clinger

The purpose of this research is to develop a better understanding of cortisol levels in the canine species, and to determine if there is a difference in cortisol levels based on the sample collection site. Cortisol is the primary stress hormone; released into the bloodstream by the adrenal glands during times of stress. In this experiment, cortisol levels for 30 canines of different breeds, ages, and sex, will be tested by both a saliva swab and blood from the cephalic vein. Sample collections will occur at the canine owners house or similar low stress environment, minimizing stress to each participant. In humans, salivary cortisol is directly proportional to serum unbound cortisol, but few comparative analyses have been done for canines. Thus, this research will examine if this relationship also occurs within canines, and if so, provide evidence for using this non-invasive collection procedure in future assessments of canine adrenocortical function.

Poster 20

Berkshire County Food System

Author: Emily Overstreet

Faculty Advisor: Dr. Anne Goodwin

Due to factors such as poverty, county demographics, transportation, and access, food insecurity can be observed in about 12% of the Berkshires population. In light of this much work needs to be done in hopes of not only identifying roadblocks but also creating action plans that will better the food security within our county. By focusing on work such asset mapping, creating potential classroom food literacy projects, data collection surveys and extensive background research my project serves as informative deliverables for organizations within our community.

Poster 21

Characterizing the Feather-Degrading Microbial Community on Dark-Eyed Juncos

Author: Lena DuPont

Faculty Advisors: Dr. Daniel Shustack, Dr. George Hamaoui

The proposed study focuses on characterizing the feather degrading microbial community found on the feathers of dark-eyes juncos (Junco hyemalis), a species of songbird found year-round in Western Massachusetts. Previous studies have characterized the feather-degrading microbes using culture-based methods or molecular methods with limited scope and resolution. In this study, we will use next-generation DNA sequencing technology to characterize the active, feather-degrading microbial communities isolated from juncos by first inoculating feather enrichment cultures with junco feather microbial communities. This study will also pair microbial community descriptions with feather degradation rate data collected. This study will shed light on microbial feather degradation, which may contribute to overall bird fitness and well-being.

Poster 22

Food Access Amongst Berkshire County Immigrant Populations

Author: Meaghan Tully

Faculty Advisor: Dr. Anne Goodwin

Immigrant populations in America are especially vulnerable to food insecurity, which can negatively impact health and well-being. With this in mind, I researched the current food access landscape for immigrant communities in the Berkshires and constructed recommendations that could potentially be implemented to improve food access and security for Berkshire-based immigrants and families. I spoke to several Berkshire-based food access organizations about the current food-security efforts and conducted extensive background research on the topic. Through my research I discovered that the influx of immigrant families and individuals in the county is fostering collaborations to meet the basic needs of this population. New state-level programs such as SNAP allow undocumented individuals to receive EBT benefits. Such initiatives highlight the ongoing efforts to ensure food-access for immigrant communities across the state. Given the changing immigration landscape it is vital that county-wide, collaborative efforts to address food insecurity continue.

Poster 23

Community Nutrition: North Adams Mobile Food Bank

Author: Irving Mogene

Faculty Advisor: Dr. Anne Goodwin

Berkshire County currently has many residents who are food insecure. To help address the need for produce, Western MA Mobile Food Bank distributes produce and other foods for free. They have a distribution event every 2 weeks on a Friday in North Adams where the food bank volunteers give out food to Western MA residents. To support these efforts, I have been participating in the distribution events and analyzing the Mobile Food Bank data to document trends in food distribution over time. My hope is this data could help solve issues regarding food insecurity in Berkshire County. Hopefully, this data could show the volunteers at the North Adams Mobile Food Bank different ways to distribute food or find different ways to solve the problem of food insecurity in Berkshire County.

Poster 24

Exploring the Efficacy of the Alpha2 Antagonists, Yohimbine and Tolazoline, on Planarians Affected by Xylazine

Authors: Alec Cabrera-Palencia, Mark Hayden, Maia Rice

Faculty Advisor: Dr. Thomas Byrne

Xylazine is a tranquilizer commonly used in veterinary medicine, and it has recently garnered attention for its recreational use, where it is often combined with opiates. Unfortunately, when an overdose of this drug combination occurs, naloxone only mitigates the opiate effects by blocking opioid receptors, leaving the xylazine overdose unaddressed due to its action on Alpha 2 receptors. Yohimbine and tolazoline are alpha 2 antagonists utilized in veterinary settings to counteract the effects of xylazine. In our study, we are using planarians (flatworms) to assess the potential for alpha 2 antagonists to reverse the behavioral effects of xylazine. To do so, we are testing a variety of administration methods and drug-order procedures. We have chosen to use planarians because they contain the simplest equivalent to our neural network, and they are suspectable to the behavioral effects of drugs that are psychoactive in humans.

Poster 25

Migration Ecology of the Northern Saw-Whet Owl

Author: Paul Seaman

Name of Faculty: Dr. Daniel Shustack

The Northern Saw-Whet Owl (Aeogilus acadicus) is a small species of migratory owl native to the Northern United States. Its exact seasonal migration movements are still little known. 40 VHF (Very High Frequency) Nanotags manufactured by Lotek were deployed on live Saw-Whet Owls during banding operations at Hopkins Memorial Forest in Williamstown, Massachusetts in the months of March, April, October, and November of 2023 as part of a long-running population monitoring project. These tags rely on many automated radiotelemetry receiving stations as part of the Motus Network, a collaborative migration monitoring effort that includes researchers across the world. Real-time location data is collected for any tagged animal detected within range of the receiving station. The data collected by these 40 deployed tags demonstrates that that most Saw-Whet Owls migrate in both the Spring and Fall seasons, though a small percentage will spend the wintertime in their breeding locations without migrating.

Poster 26

Mental Health In The Technology Industry Over Time

Author: Aris Yu

Faculty Advisor: Dr. Elizabeth Hartung

Mental health issues have historically been linked to social stigma. Especially in America, many insurance companies offer poor mental health coverage, and protections for those who choose to seek accommodations for mental disorders are minimal. These issues are particularly pronounced in the technology industry, owing in large part to its rapid expansion in recent years leaving all but the most ambitious behind. One organization investigating these issues is the non-profit Open Sourcing Mental Health, which has been conducting annual surveys of tech workers since 2014 to assess the situation as it evolves. In this report, I will perform a data analysis on OSMH data from the years 2014-2019 to investigate how various issues of mental health in technology have evolved over time.

Poster 27

Sex Determination of Dark-Eyed Junco Songbirds using Polymerase Chain Reaction Methods

Authors: Olivia Leasure

Faculty Advisor: Dr. George Hamaoui

This proposed study focuses on using blood samples to determine the sex of dark-eyed juncos (Junco hyemalis), a songbird found year-round in Western Massachusetts. Determining sexes of dark-eyed juncos in the field can be difficult due to the subtle morphological differences in the male and female juncos. In this study, we will use polymerase chain reaction methods to determine the sex of the juncos. For this study, we will be using molecular primers targeting intron regions of the CHD1 gene found on both the Z and W sex chromosomes of birds. To determine if a junco is either male or female, we will visualize the PCR products using agarose gel electrophoresis. Then we will compare molecular sexing data to morphological measurements to determine if any easily measurable physical characteristics can help determine the sex of juncos. This study's results may aid in sexing captured juncos.

Poster 28

Anarchism and World War I

Author: Andie Schafer

Faculty Advisor: Dr. Mariah Hepworth

This research project examines the responses of American Anarchist groups to World War I, drawing from primary sources such as pamphlets, letters, and articles written by prominent leftist activists, as well as secondary sources from historians. It argues that activists within radical spaces exhibited diverse reactions to the war, ranging from outright opposition to more nuanced takes and even reluctant support. While some Anarchists vehemently opposed the war, viewing it as an extension of capitalist militarism and imperialist expansion and organizing protests, others balanced anti-war sentiments with a faith that American involvement would further liberation for all peoples. By analyzing these diverse responses, this research project seeks to illustrate how the various responses to World War I affected the Anarchist movement, as well as shedding light on how marginalized political groups navigated turbulent historical periods. By understanding and analyzing these responses, this project contributes to broader discussions on dissent, activism, and the impact that World War I had on civil liberties.