MORGAN STATE UNIVERSITY  

Washington, Baltimore, Hampton Roads Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (WBHR‐LSAMP) 

 

2017 ANNUAL SUMMER RESEARCH SYMPOSIUM  

JULY 27, 2017  

 

   

PROGRAM AND ABSTRACT BOOKLET 

1700 East Cold Spring Lane | Richard N Dixon Science Research Center | Suite 200 | Baltimore, Maryland 21251 Tel: 443-885-4515 | Fax: 443-885-8215 | http//www.morgan.edu/scmns

School of Computer, Mathematical and Natural Sciences Office of the Dean

Dean’s Message Welcome to Morgan State University! On behalf of Morgan State University’s School of Computer, Mathematical and Natural Sciences (SCMNS), I welcome all of you to the 2017 Washington Baltimore Hampton Roads – Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (WBHR-LSAMP) Summer Symposium, especially students and colleagues from Bowie State University, Hampton University, Howard University, Norfolk State University, The University of the District of Columbia, and Virginia State University. I hope that you will have a great day of presentations, networking, and listening to the keynote speakers. I am especially proud of the outstanding history of WBHR-LSAMP in preparing underrepresented minority students for careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). Programs like this one are keys to train a diversified workforce for the nation and to provide opportunities to some students who would otherwise not get it. To be able to communicate research findings effectively is a key to success for a STEM career. I hope that Morgan has provided the platform to allow each of the students a chance to present his or her findings to peers, scientists and general attendees, and engage in networking with other participants. I want to congratulate everyone for your achievements and wish you a fulfilling STEM career! Best Regards,

Hongtao Yu, PhD Dean and Professor School of Computer, Mathematical and natural Sciences Morgan State University

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2017 WBHR-LSAMP Annual Summer Research Morgan State University

University Student Center Ballroom July 27, 2017

Schedule of Activities

Yona N’Guerekata, Mistress of Ceremony 8:00-8:50 REGISTRATION & POSTER SET UP 8:50-9:00 WELCOME AND OPENING REMARKS

Dr. Victor McCrary, Vice President for Research & Economic Development Morgan State University

9:00-10:00 PLENARY Rickey Venters P.E.

Professional Engineer and STEM Motivator. Ricky Venters Enterprise, LLC

10:00-12:00 ORAL PRESENTATIONS AND JUDGING Conference Rooms 212A, 212B, and 316 11:00-12:30 POSTER PRESENTATIONS AND JUDGING Calvin and Tina Tyler Ballroom 12:45 GREETINGS:

Dr. Victor McCrary, Vice President for Research & Economic Development Morgan State University

INVOCATION: Khalil Makins-Dennis, NIGMS –RISE Scholar, Biology LUNCH

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1:45 INTRODUCTION OF KEYNOTE SPEAKER: Treshaun Sutton, NIGMS-RISE Program Scholar, Chemistry 1:45-2:15 KEYNOTE SPEAKER: Robert Louis Shepard, PhD

Principal at The Shepard Institute (TSI), LLC 2:20-3:00 PRESENTATION OF STUDENT AWARDS: Dr. Cleo Hughes-Darden,

Chair and Associate Professor, Department of Biology Morgan State University 3:00 REMARKS

Dr. Hongtao Yu Dean, School of Computer, Mathematics and Natural Sciences Morgan State University

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TABLE OF CONTENTS SCHEDULE OF ACTIVITIES ................................................................................... 1-2 KEYNOTE SPEAKER BIOGRAPHY ....................................................................... 4-5 PLENARY SPEAKER BIOGRAPHY ............................................................................6 POSTER PRESENTATION (ABSTRACTS) .......................................................... 7-20

COMPUTATIONAL SCIENCES ......................................................................... 7-9

LIFE SCIENCES ................................................................................................ 10-13

PHYSICAL SCIENCES .................................................................................... 14-17

SOCIAL SCIENCES .......................................................................................... 19-20 ROOM ASSIGNMENT FOR ORAL PRESENTATIONS ................................... 21-23

ENGINEERING ................................................................................................. 24-26

LIFE SCIENCES ................................................................................................ 27-28

SOCIAL SCIENCES .......................................................................................... 29-32 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ..................................................................................... 33-34

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KEYNOTE SPEAKER

Robert Louis Shepard, PhD Principal at The Shepard Institute (TSI), LLC

Robert Louis Shepard, PhD is a motivational writer and speaker who mentors people to help them identify their enthusiasm, then use their capabilities minus all potential limitations to add value to their personal lives, to the organizations they serve, and ultimately to the global community. He is described as a lightning rod of inspiration and a true pioneer based on how he forged new paths in his chosen profession and opened doors for others. His motto is, “It’s more productive to focus on your capabilities than on your limitations.”

In 2013 Dr. Shepard published his first book, his autobiography “Fulfilling My Destiny, Step By Step.” Breaking down barrier after barrier and stereotype after stereotype, Dr. Shepard has been referred to as a cultural icon that has lived a memorable life and now cheerfully relates his well-learned lessons and experiences in his book and through his speeches. He not only demonstrates an impressive industriousness and work ethic from an early age but also displays unyielding moral fiber, ensuring to the best of his ability that God and family guides his decision making process.

Some readers have commented that his book is a definite must-read for America’s children, for those caught in a web of absolute despair, and for individuals who seek to make a difference in their communities. Others agree that the book contains humor, sorrow, stress, and joy any reader will appreciate. Dr. Shepard believes every person dreaming of a productive life must learn that hard work, strong values, love of family and friends, and courage and faith in God are the ingredients for them achieving their dream. He holds firmly to the position that when all of these qualities are working together in a person's life, they are worth more than silver and fine gold. One reader wrote: "Dr. Shepard’s autobiography is a tool box from which all young people can

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draw, regardless of race or ethnicity. All readers will learn that with faith and belief in God there are no barriers that cannot be overcome."

Readers who enjoyed Dr. Robert Louis Shepard's autobiography now have a compelling resource to help them activate the lessons taught by the author, with the release of a companion workbook. The workbook titled "Fulfilling My Destiny, Step by Step: A Self-Help Guide" is a powerful tool written to encourage, empower, motivate and inspire users to discover their purpose and their passion. The author uses a discussion point format that delivers thought-provoking questions aimed at setting readers on a path to help them avoid one of life’s great tragedies – hopes and dreams left unfulfilled.

In 2016, his voice was added to the TED Talk global community of speakers who share "Ideas Worth Spreading."

Dr. Shepard earned degrees in chemistry starting with a B.S. degree from Saint Augustine’s College (now University) in 1969, and M.S. and Ph.D. degrees from Howard University in 1971 and 1973 respectively. His specialty at the graduate level was Physical Organic Chemistry with a focus on Mass Spectroscopy. In addition to within the U.S., he has traveled internationally to engage in research collaborations and present his research work in Scotland, England, France, Germany, Austria, Italy, China, and Africa. He serves on several advisory boards, a member of various societies and organizations, a past Sigma Xi Distinguished Lecturer and has received numerous awards and honors including the 21st Century Trailblazer Award from the City Council of Jackson Mississippi.

While heading the Science and Engineering Alliance, Inc. (known as SEA), his work to create access and open doors of opportunity for faculty and students at HBCUs led him to become a chief negotiator for inclusion of HBCUs in the federal government's multi-billion dollars-a-year research enterprise. After serving SEA for nearly a quarter of a century and the organizations exceeding its mission, he closed SEA in 2013 and formed The Shepard Institute (TSI), LLC that same year.

After a 47-year separation from his alto sax, in 2011 Dr. Shepard picked back up his sax and is having fun becoming reacquainted with how to make music. He is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity. A native of Garner, North Carolina, he now enjoys life moving between Maryland and North Carolina. He and his wife Alzonia are the proud parents of three adult children, Shawn, Robin, and Pamela, and three grandchildren, Ryan, Stefani, and Nina Grace.

 

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PLENARY SPEAKER

 

Rickey Venters P.E. Professional Engineer and STEM Motivator.

Ricky Venters Enterprise, LLC Ricky is recognized as an Engineer of Impact. Defying the odds, completed his Bachelor's and Master’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering and has achieved his Professional Engineering License. During his tenure in STEM related fields, Ricky recognized the increasing competitiveness in the industry and sought to become a source of inspiration and mentor to students and young professionals in STEM related fields. Ricky is recognized as a STEM specialista and helps students identify what success means to them and identify the paths they need to take in life either through college or trades to achieve their dreams. Ricky’s commitment to the community has lead him to develop a nonprofit organization, InVenters, Inc. a program structured to enhance character development and provide youth exposure to the STEM industry. As a speaker, educator, mentor and preacher, Ricky Venters captivates all listeners with his life’s story leaving them with hope, purpose, and strength. Some may laugh, some may cry, but all will all leave impacted.  

COMPUTATIONALSCIENCES

POSTERPRESENTATIONS

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COSC-01 COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF MALWARE DETECTION. Alex A. Cruz, Ronald Isaiah Eure, *Tabitha D. Garland, and Samantha P. Halam. Department of Computer Science, Norfolk State University, Norfolk VA 23504. With today's society being heavily dependent on technology, we are fighting more and more against network intrusions in order to protect our systems from malicious attacks. These attacks are affecting things such as, personal and corporate finances, blocking the usage of technology through the Denial of Service, or the compromising of classified and private information. Data mining is the process of extracting useful information from large data sets. In this research project, we used data mining techniques to make a comparative analysis of malware detection. Four popular algorithms were used to identify which one produced the best classification using the Kaggle Microsoft Malware Data Set for Training. The algorithms used were Decision Tree, Random Forest, Support Vector Machine, and NaiveBayes. The feature extraction applied to the .asm and .byte files were 4 byte n-gram and API calls. Using this specific technique, we found that the most efficient algorithm was the Random Forest. This algorithm produced an accuracy of 99.08 % using the feature extraction of the 4 n-gram. With this type of machine learning technique, data mining will be used to protect the computer networks against future malware attacks which use the kaggle-like features. (Supported by FA8750-15-2-0120) COSC-02 ANALYZING THE MOST EFFECTIVE PASSWORD CRACKING TECHNIQUES. *Brianna Besinaiz, *Tyaja Johnson and Jonathan Graham. Department of Computer Science, Norfolk State University, Norfolk VA 23504. In a society where access to sensitive digital information can make or break a person’s identity, retrieving such information has become a well sought out skill. This information is more than likely being protected by a password. Most users, typically older ones use passwords that are easier to remember which makes them more vulnerable to their passwords being cracked. The purpose of this research is to analyze the various password cracking techniques used in the digital forensics field and determine the most effective technique in each set of circumstances. The research conducted included setting up user accounts on Windows and Linux virtual machines. The accounts were equipped with varying levels of difficulty for the passwords. From there the password hashes were extracted, and further divided into smaller hash files based on the level of difficulty. Then attacks such as brute force, rainbow tables, and dictionary attacks were used to try cracking the hashes. Although experiments are still underway, so far dictionary attacks and rainbow tables have proven to produce the most results. Both methods have their pros and cons, however, if to choose between the two, dictionary attacks has been the most effective route based on the limited resources available. After thoroughly analyzing the best password cracking technique, the paper will further discuss possible future experiments which could include adding more dynamic components and other ways to password crack. (Supported by Federal Agency Department of Energy DE-NA0002686)

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COSC-03 AUTOMATED MELANOMA DETECTION AS EARLY SKIN CANCER SCREENING BASED ON CLASSIFICATION OF DERMOSCOPIC IMAGES USING PATTERN RECOGNITION AND MACHINE LEARNING TECHNIQUES *Ayat Kutbi, *Rukayat Ariori and Md Rahman. Computer Science Department, Morgan State University, Baltimore MD 21251. Malignant melanoma is deadliest form of skin cancer responsible for over 9,000 deaths each year. Although age-adjusted incidence rates for melanoma are lower in minority groups (Hispanics and Blacks) compared with white non-Hispanics, they tend to be diagnosed at much more advanced stages with a lower rate of survival. The early diagnosis through periodic screening with dermoscopic images is crucial to improve the survival rate and reduce the treatment cost. Computer Aided Diagnosis (CAD) of melanoma can be a very effective tool, particularly in the geographic areas that lack melanoma awareness. The objective of this research is to provide dermatologist with a screening tool that will be able to automatically detect whether an image is benign or melanoma. It focuses on various issues related to the development of such a tool by extracting color and texture-related image features and applying several classification techniques based on using Python with OpenCV. Experiments were performed on a database of 900 dermoscopic images from the ISIC data archive with an accuracy around 74%, which is considerably good when compared to the performance of visual examination with naked eye. We are currently focusing on the further performance improvement by applying deep learning techniques and adding a retrieval component to the system to enable visual inspection. Besides serving as a smart computer-aided decision support tool for clinical diagnosis, this research aims to mitigate the health disparity problem to some extent by increasing awareness about melanoma by presenting our system in the university and nearby communities. COSC-04 SEGMENTATION AND ANALYSIS OF HANDWRITTEN MEDIEVAL TEXT FOR AUTOMATIC INDEXING. *Nicole Schneider and Roger Eastman. Department of Computer Science, Loyola University Maryland, Baltimore MD 21210.

Scholars studying handwritten Medieval Manuscripts often work with transcriptions of the original documents, since the originals can be fragile and difficult to access. In order to verify the transcriptions they often refer back to images of the documents to evaluate the accuracy of the transcriptions. To expedite the process of cataloging, translating, and studying these images, they can undergo analysis and segmentation, resulting in the extraction of individual lines of text to assist the scholar in finding relevant regions of the image. To accomplish this we must correlate each line of transcribed text to its geometric position in the image. Rather than the current system which relies on human input for each image, I am testing various algorithms that allow the images to be processed automatically. I have employed image processing techniques like XY projection, Connected Component Analysis, and Variance Maximization to better align the image, separate the text from the background noise, and ultimately extract the individual lines of text. After initial testing on a number of images representative of the corpus of Latin texts dating from 1200- 1500 AD, I have found that these and other techniques can accurately identify the lines of text in each image. (This project is an ongoing collaboration in the digital humanities between the Philosophy and Computer Science departments at Loyola University Maryland.)

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COSC-05 DEFINING ITERATIVES SEQUENCES FOR N0. *Lila McCall and Nelson Petulante. Department of Mathematics, Bowie State University, Bowie MD 20715. Let f be a function whose value, for every nonnegative integer n, is a nonnegative integer f(n). Given an initial seed value n0, consider the sequence of numbers n0, f(n0), f(f(n0)), f(f(f(n0))) …. Question: does this sequence of numbers eventually repeat? Does it repeat for every initial value of n0? We will present several examples of this type of sequence, culminating in the most famous example of all, namely: Let 𝑓 be defined by

𝑓 𝑛 = 𝑛/2  𝑖𝑓  𝑛  𝑖𝑠  𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑛      3𝑛 + 1  𝑖𝑓  𝑛  𝑖𝑠  𝑜𝑑𝑑

It is a famous conjecture that this function produces an eventually repeating sequence of iterates for every initial value of n. But nobody knows how to prove it.

LIFESCIENCES

POSTERPRESENTATIONS

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LIFE SCI-01 EVALUATION OF TEMPERATURE AND MOISTURE EFFECTS ON CARBON CYCLING IN A COASTAL FRESHWATER FORESTED WETLAND NORTH CAROLINA. *Ariel M. Coleman, Stacy Nelson, Kevan Minick, and John King. Department of Agriculture, Virginia State University, Petersburg VA 23806; Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources, North Carolina State University, Raleigh NC 27695. Wetlands soils are typically saturated by water, reducing microbial breakdown of plant-derived C and leading to accumulation of atmospheric carbon in soils. Microbial extracellular enzyme activity is a surrogate for microbial activity and is a major driver of the breakdown of soil organic carbon. Future sea level rise may lead to greater extent or periods of soil saturation, altering these ecosystems ability to store C. This research measured the activity of three microbial extracellular enzymes (β-glucosidase (BG), xylosidase (XYL), and phenol oxidase (POX). We hypothesize that under saturated conditions enzyme activity will be altered due to changes in the activity of different soil microorganisms. Soil were sampled from the hummock, which is a raised mound supporting the majority of woody plant growth and is typically above the zone of saturation. Soils were incubated for 114 d in the laboratory under saturated (100 % water holding capacity) and unsaturated (65 % water holding capacity), with periodic measurements of CO2 release and enzyme activity. We found that under saturated conditions, there was no effect on POX activity while XYL and BG tended to be higher especially after 7 and 22 d of incubation, respectively. CO2 release from incubated soils was initially higher in unsaturated soils but were similar to that in saturated soil incubations after 22d. Our results suggest that saturated soils alter microbial enzyme activity likely due to a shift in microbial community structure and the type of C substrates microorganisms degrade. Future research should address the link between microbial activity and greenhouse gas production in the field. (Supported by National Science Foundation and Historically Black Colleges and Universities - Undergraduate Program) LIFE SCI-02 NANOCELLULOSE – SYNTHESIS, CHARACTERIZATION, AND BIOCOMPATIBILITY. *Nicole Nazario Bayón, Aida Prybylski and Govindarajan Ramesh. Center for Materials Research/ Center for Biotechnology and Biomedical Sciences, Norfolk State University, Norfolk VA 23504. Cellulose is a polymer that provides shape and maintains integrity of plant cells. It is comprised of several repeating units of glucose molecule connected by β-1,4 glycosidic linkage. It has exceptional properties such as low density, high strength and biodegradability. Since it is easily found in plants, it makes cellulose a cheap and renewable source for various applications. In present study, nanocellulose was synthesized from microcellulose using acid hydrolysis method. The synthesized nanocellulose was characterized using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Energy-Dispersive X-Ray (EDX) Spectroscopy, and Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) Spectroscopy. Biocompatibility studies were carried out using MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) and Live/Dead Cell Assay. The synthesized material was light weight and white powder. The preliminary characterization experiments show that, most of the microcellulose was converted to nanocellulose. The material synthesized was around 500 nm in size, and biocompatibility studies revealed the material is safe and nontoxic. This work is supported NSF-CREST and STARS grant.

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LIFE SCI-03 STRATEGY FOR ASSESSMENT OF A COMPOUND CONVERTED TO ESTRADIOL ONLY IN THE BRAIN. *Yona Nguerekata1, Kelley Murphy1, Mary Stokes Lange1, Istvan Merchenthaler2, and Gloria E. Hoffman1. 1Department of Biology, Morgan State University, Baltimore MD 21251; 2Department of Epidemiology & Public Health, School of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD 21201 Earlier studies demonstrate a decline in production of estrogen in females going through menopause. Decreased hormone levels caused by menopause its clinical effects motivated the desire for estradiol replacement treatment. Current methods of treatment deliver the hormone throughout the body, but this treatment can be detrimental in numerous ways. Organs like the breasts and uterus, can be affected by exposure to estrogen leading to cancer. Simultaneously, the brain is at greater risk for neurodegenerative diseases (e.g. multiple sclerosis, stroke, and Alzheimer’s disease) when estrogen levels decline. Scientists devised a compound, 10b,17b -dihydroxyestra-1,4-dien-3-one (DHED), that is converted to estradiol only in the brain. In earlier studies, 5 days of treatment led to effects on the brain reducing body temperature, reducing the volume of a stroke, and increasing mRNA for an enzyme that synthesizes acetylcholine. The treatment but did not increase uterine weight. By giving the compound to ovariectomized rats, if the compound acts to generate estrogen, additional transmitter changes should become apparent within 2 days. By comparing ovariectomized rats that received vehicle, estradiol, or the DHED, we will assess the efficacy of the compound. After 2 days of treatment, rats were anesthetized and euthanized. Their brains were fixed by cardiac perfusion and the tissue was cut and stained for two molecules whose expression is increased by estrogen (enkephalin and kisspeptin in the preoptic area), and one whose transmitter is down-regulated by estrogen (kisspeptin in the arcuate nucleus). Studies are underway to evaluate these changes. Supported by NIH Grants: MBRS RISE GM058904 and CPDR UO1 HD66435, and ASCEND UL1 GM118973. LIFE SCI-04 AN ANALYSIS OF FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO TOXICITY OF AMMONIUM NITRATE IN AQUATIC ORGANISMS. Phillicia A. Killebrew, Larry A. Mattix, Maureen Scott, and *Justin N. Toxey. Department of Biology, Norfolk State University, Norfolk VA 23504. Agricultural water pollution affects the vitality and diversity of aquatic environments and organisms. A major source of this pollution is ammonium nitrate, which enters our waterways via water runoff, groundwater contamination, and brush fires. This study evaluated the toxicity of ammonium nitrate and how it is affected by the physical parameters: pH, temperature, and bacteria, within aquatic environments. Lithobates catesbiana tadpoles were rinsed in sterile water and the mucus coats were swabbed to collect bacteria. The bacteria were cultured on nutrient agar plates and assessed to determine the natural flora of the tadpoles. The tadpoles, in Gosner stages 36-38, were placed into four tanks and ammonium nitrate was added, in concentrations of: 1.9mg/L, 10mg/L, and 17mg/L, with a fourth serving as a control. The tanks were examined and tested daily for ammonia concentrations, pH, temperature and observed for death. Increased pH, temperature and ammonia concentration compromised the bacterial flora of the tadpoles. Acute toxicity was observed after 21 days. Mortality rates of 62.5%, in concentrations, 17mg/L and 10mg/L. These factors acted independently and dependently. The pH decreased and the temperature increased these dependent variable affected the toxicity. Fluorescent spectroscopy demonstrated the ammonia concentrations increased consistently. The importance of this study demonstrated that environmental water pollution in our nation’s waterways affects the vitality and diversity of aquatic environments and organisms. (Supported by National Science Foundation: Graduation Academy F2040013)

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LIFE SCI-05 PHYTOCHEMICAL AND GENETIC ANALYSIS OF AMERICAN MAYAPPLE (PODOPHYLLUM PELTATUM). *Johann G. Umali and Samuel G. Obae. Department of Biological Sciences, Stevenson University, Owings Mills MD 21117. American mayapple is a perennial herb native to eastern North America and a member of the genus Podophyllum in the family Berberidaceae. The herb is used in traditional medicine to treat various ailments; however, little is known about its phytochemical profiles beyond its renowned podophyllotoxin, a bioactive constituent used in semi-synthesis of anti-cancer drugs such as Etoposide, Etopophos, and Teniposide. In this study, we conducted a qualitative screening of phytochemicals in root and shoot extracts using standard procedures and FTIR spectroscopy analysis, and assessed the genetic diversity of two wild populations in Maryland. The results showed variation of phytochemical profiles between root and shoot extracts. Out of the 10 phytochemicals we screened for (alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, resins, terpenoids, phenols, cardiac glycosides, volatile oils, saponins, and steroids), five were present in root extract compared to three in shoot extract. Interestingly, saponins and steroids were present in root but not in shoot extract. FTIR analysis showed different spectrum patterns between root and shoot material. Preliminary data on genetic analysis showed little variation among plant accessions within population compared to between populations. Quantification of podophyllotoxin in various accessions is ongoing and will be correlated to genotypic profiles to reveal any important information that could be used to guide breeding efforts and conservation management of this important medicinal plant. (Supported by Fine School of the Science Summer Science Scholars Research Program) LIFE SCI-06 TRANSCRIPTOME OF STREPTOCOCCUS PARAUBERIS IN VARYING HOST ENVORNMENTS. *Lauren Karr, *Ezekiel Wamble and Ashley Haines. Norfolk State University, Department of Biology, Norfolk, VA 23504.

Streptococcus parauberis is a gram positive, facultative anaerobe that occurs in pairs or chains of cocci. This bacterium is capable of adapting to life in homoeothermic and poikilothermic animal hosts, soil, water, and other environments. As such, it is known as an “environmental generalist.” S. parauberis is able to adapt due to mutations, acquisition of new genes, and regulation of gene expression. The purpose of this study is to understand the effects that temperature and host serum have on gene expression in S. parauberis. Using RNA seq data, we have analyzed gene expression by aligning reads to a reference genome. For each sample comparison, the range of differentially expressed genes is from 50 to 1000 genes. Once differentially expressed gene shave been identified, their functions are determined. This will improve our understanding of how Streptococcal bacteria adapt to different host environments. It will also build our knowledge base of basic cellular processes, and help identify new avenues for controlling microbial growth. Supported by Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) grant #325005 and National Science Foundation (NSF) grant #1505348.

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LIFE SCI-07 REGULATION OF HUMAN IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS-INDUCED CHRONIC INFLAMMATION AND IMMUNE ACTIVATION BY INTEGRASE INHIBITOR. *Rachel A. Bauer and Yun-Chi Chen. Department of Biology, Morgan State University, Baltimore MD 21251. At the conclusion of 2015, there were about 36.7 million people around the world who were living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and about a million people died annually from the infection worldwide in recent years. Currently, there are six classes of antiretroviral therapy (ART) for HIV that target different stages in the viral life cycle and these ARTs have extended the life expectancy of HIV-infected individuals. Despite the effectiveness of these ARTs in suppressing HIV, the infected individuals had higher levels of chronic inflammation and immune activation (CIIA) that are associated with increased risks for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and other non-AIDS-defined events, as compared to HIV-uninfected individuals. Recently there has been an increasing interest in developing Integrase strand transfer inhibitor (INSTIs) to treat HIV infection. Strikingly, recent studies have shown that, in addition to the potent antiretroviral activity, INSTIs appeared to have additional benefits in attenuating CIIA, an effect that could potentially reduce the CVD risks. As such, we study the effect of INSTIs in modulating the cytokines and monocyte/macrophage activation biomarkers in HIV-infected African American men and women. The 8-hour fasting blood samples from the INSTI-taking persons are collected at various time points in order to assess the time-dependent changes in HIV-induced CIIA by INSTI. The research results will help clarify whether INSTI medication could suppress HIV load as well as virally induced CIIA. (Supported by NIGMS-RISE Grant R25GM058904) LIFE SCI-08 BLOOD VESSEL REGENERATION IN SALAMANDERS. *Jasmin C. Bailey, Brooke Burns and Renee Dickie. Department of Biological Sciences, Towson University, Towson MD 21252. Blood vessels form a network of long, hollow tubes that run through the entire body, supplying tissues with oxygen and nutrients. In order to form these blood vessels, two processes can occur: vasculogenesis, where new blood vessels from mesoderm forms the endothelium, and angiogenesis, where new blood vessels form from pre-existing vessels. When a body part is injured or amputated, salamanders have the unique ability to regenerate rapidly and have a full recovery. The newly regenerated blood vessels are formed through angiogenesis. We hypothesized that disruption of angiogenesis will disrupt regeneration. To test this hypothesis, six larval, juvenile, and adult axolotl salamanders had their tails amputated, were allowed to regenerate for one week, and then were treated with either the antiangiogenic drug, vatalanib, or the control solvent, dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). Animals were measured and imaged weekly to monitor regenerative growth and the prevalence of blood vessels. Preliminary results suggest that larval and juvenile vatalanib-treated individuals had greater regenerative outgrowth than the DMSO control groups. While this is very different than the situation in mammalian wound healing, it is consistent with the hypothesis of other workers that regeneration is facilitated by a transient avascular phase. Future work with greater sample sizes will be needed to verify this result. Ultimately it is hoped that a better understanding of the role of the vasculature in regeneration will contribute to therapies for improved wound healing in humans. (Supported by NIH Bridges).

PHYSICALSCIENCES

POSTERPRESENTATIONS

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PHYS SCI-01 NOVEL SYNTHESIS OF TRIALKOXY BENZOYL ENAMINONES. *Taylor S. Hailstock, Breaun Meeks, Alan J. Anderson. Department of Natural Sciences, Bowie State University, Bowie MD 20715. Enaminones are vinylogous amides that have been found to function as both nucleophiles and electrophiles. Recent discoveries using alkoxy enaninomes show that they have the capacity to serve as potential anti-convulsants, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease treatments, and may serve as flexible electronics. The processes for mono-substituted and di-substituted synthesis of benzoyl enaminones up to this point however have been environmentally harmful, exhibits an extensive reaction time, and produces very low yield. In addition to developing a greener, more efficient system that produces a high yield, it is important to provide a method to avoid chlorination of the product. We will target the compounds 4-Ethoxy-3, 5-dimethoxy-N-(3-oxocyclohex-1-en-1-yl) benzamide and N-(5,5-dimethyl- 3-oxocyclohex-1-en-1-yl)-4-ethoxy-3,5-dimethoxybenzamide in attempt to successfully synthesize tri-substituted benzoyl enaminones. In order to achieve this, novel green organic synthetic methods are being employed. In order assure successfully synthesis of these enaminones, methods including thin layer chromatography, thermal induction, and acid additives will be used. The information gathered from this study may very well be groundbreaking, and will enhance the known mechanisms involved with benzoyl enaminones as well as for tri-substituted synthesis. PHYS SCI-02 MAGNETIC CHARACTERIZATION OF GRAPHENE/Fe/SiO2. *Moses A. Kayondo and Dereje Seifu. Department of Physics, Morgan State University, Baltimore MD 21251. Multi-layer thin films of Graphene/Fe/Si were synthesized using magnetron DC sputtering on Si (100) substrate which was kept at 100 °C during deposition of Fe. The multi-layered sample thus produced was studied using an in-house built magneto-optic Kerr effect (MOKE) instrument and torque magnetometer (TMM). This system, that is graphene/Fe on SiO/Si (100) substrate, is a precursor for building tunnel magnetoresistance (TMR) structure often used in magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) devices. TMR effect is a phenomenon by which MTJs are used in developing magneto-resistive random access memory (MRAM), magnetic sensors, and novel logic devices. The main purpose behind this research is to measure the surface and bulk magnetic symmetry of Graphene/Fe structure [1-2]. In this presentation, we will present results from MOKE and TMM study on Graphene/Fe/Si (100) synthesized at 100°C with the Fe layer being 50 nm thick. Reference: [1] Newman, A., Khatiwada, S., Neupane, S., & Seifu, D. (2015). Nanowires of Fe/multi-walled carbon nanotubes and nanometric thin films of Fe/MgO. Journal of Applied Physics, 117(14), 144302. [2] Aryee, D., & Seifu, D. (2017). Shape Anisotropy and Hybridization Enhanced Magnetization in Nanowires of Fe/MgO/Fe Encapsulated in Carbon Nanotubes. Journal of Magnetism and Magnetic Materials.

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PHYS SCI-03 PLASMA SYNTHESIS OF IRON-OXIDE NANOMATERIALS AND RELATED OPTICAL PROPERTIES. *Aysha Shamaki1, Anwar Alseadi1, Ahlam Alqarni1, Seham Alomary1, Sabin Pokharel1, Jiang Li2, Abdellah Lisfi1, and Yucheng Lan1. 1Department of Physics and Engineering Physics, Morgan State University, Baltimore MD 21251; 2Department of Civil Engineering, Morgan State University, Baltimore MD 21251. Iron oxide nanoparticles were synthesized by a plasma solution method from iron salts in aqueous solutions. The experimental conditions, pH values of solutions, voltage strengths, and synthesis temperatures etc, were systematically studied. The phase of the produced oxide powders was characterized by X-ray powder diffraction. The crystalline size of the powders was calculated from the measured X-ray diffraction patterns. The optical properties of the nanoparticles were measured by UV-vis spectroscopy. The band-gap of the synthesized nanoparticles was measured and explained. (Supported by DTRA HDTRA122221)  PHYS SCI-04  RHODAMINE-BASED FLUROESCENT AND COLORIMETRIC CHEMOSENSOR FOR Al3+ IN AQUEOUS MEDIA. *Treshaun Sutton and Fasil Abebe. Department of Chemistry, Morgan State University, Baltimore MD 21251.

Fluorescent chemosensors have become an important and widely used tool to detect metal ions in biological samples. Selection detection of these metals has potential applications in many fields including chemistry, biology, and the environment. Aluminum is important in its use in daily life such as being frequently utilized as pharmaceutical drugs in human and veterinary medicine. Excess of aluminum damages the kidney, central nervous system, and reduces the total bone. Rhodamine B derivatives have received a great deal of attention as chemosensors because of their useful properties such as high absorption coefficient, high fluorescent quantum yield for excitation, and emission wavelength within the visible region. These properties give rhodamine an excellent potential for the development of turn-on fluorescent sensors. The properties of a novel, rhodamine-based derivative, synthesized by reacting rhodamine hydrazide and 5-bromo-2-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzaldehyde in ethanol, were investigated in aqueous solution. The sensor displayed selectivity for Al3+, as evidenced by a color change, which was characterized using UV-vis and fluorescence spectroscopy. Based on the study, Al3+ has a high absorbance and fluorescence enhancement in the presence of a large excess of competing metal ions. It was found that Cr3+ and Cu2+ has a slight absorbance and fluorescence enhancement while the other metal ions had little to none. Upon adding Al3+, the spirolactam ring of the sensor was opened and a 1:1 metal-sensor complex was formed. These form excellent probes for azide ion (N3

-) which quenches the fluorescence of the metal-sensor complex by extracting the Al3+, confirming that the process is reversible. (Supported by NIGMS-RISE Grant R25GM058904.)

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PHYS SCI-05 SYNTHESIS OF A FULLERENE CONTAINING STYRENE COPOLYMER AS A GATEWAY TO INVESTIGATING ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES OF STYRENE COPOLYMERS. *Keith J. Johnson and Victor H. Vilchiz. Department of Chemistry, Virginia State University, Petersburg VA 23806.

In an effort to investigate the possible electronic properties of polymers we present the current results of the multistep synthesis of Poly[Styrene-co-vinylbenzylfulleride]. This synthesis consist of a three polymerization steps. The synthesis is monitored using a JEOL 400MHz NMR. The current study will be used as a twofold benchmark. Primarily, it will be used as a template in the synthesis of other styrene copolymers to be investigated for electrical properties. Additionally, as the NMR instrument being used has recently come online and this specific polymerization has been studied before it can be used to “break-in” the work out any issues inherent with a newly deployed NMR magnet-system. (Supported by NSF HRD 1036286) PHYS SCI-06 SEARCH FOR HEAVY RESONANCES DECAYING TO A PAIR OF HIGGS BOSONS IN THE FOUR B QUARK FINAL STATE IN PROTON-PROTON COLLISIONS AT SQRT(S) = 13 TEV. *Alice Cocoros and Petar Maksimovic. Department of Physics and Astronomy, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218. A search for heavy resonances decaying into pairs of standard model Higgs bosons is performed using data from proton-proton collisions at centre-of-mass energy of 13 TeV collected by the CMS experiment in 2016, and corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 35.9 fb-1. The final state consists of both Higgs bosons decaying to b quark-antiquark pairs. For resonance masses above 1 TeV the Higgs bosons are Lorentz-boosted and thus each H à bb can be reconstructed as one hadronic jet. The signal is characterized as a peak over the invariant mass spectrum of dijet events, which mostly consist of standard model multijet processes. The signal strength for different assumed resonance masses are estimated by a combined likelihood fit of the background and the signal shapes to the data. The results are consistent with the standard model expectations, and are interpreted as upper limits on the s-channel production cross sections of narrow bulk gravitons and scalar radions in warped extradimensional models. (Supported by NSF grant 1746891.)

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PHYS SCI-07 SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERIZATION OF POLY (3-HYDROXYBUTYRATE-CO-3-HYDROXYVALERATE) (PHBV) ENCAPSULATED BOVINE SERUM ALBUMIN (BSA) CONJUGATED SILVER CHLORIDE NANOPARTICLES. *Jaquesta Adams, Sade Atoyebi, Zhenhong Chen and Dharmaraj Raghavan. Department of Chemistry, Howard University, Washington, DC 20059. Bacterial infection of orthopedic devices has become a major concern for physicians and researchers alike. Traditional nondegradable polymeric implants can experience stress shielding and wear debris, potentially leading to surgical removal. Poly (3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) has been studied as an alternative to the aforementioned implants due to its biodegradability, nontoxicity, and piezoelectric nature—which promotes tissue growth. Despite these positive attributes, PHBV is prone to bacterial infection. Silver-based nanoparticles, within a certain concentration range, exhibit strong potency toward microorganisms and limited cytotoxicity toward osteoblast cells. With that in mind, our objective was to synthesize and characterize silver chloride bovine serum albumin (AgCl/BSA) nanoparticles and encapsulate them in PHBV so as to limit bacterial infection of PHBV film. The AgCl nanoparticles were synthesized by reacting silver nitrate (AgNO3) and sodium chloride (NaCl) in a BSA solution. The isolated nanoparticles were encapsulated in a PHBV matrix by a water-and-oil emulsion method using poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) as a surfactant. Using DLS, we found the hydrodynamic radius of the nanoparticles before and after encapsulation to be ~100nm and ~1,000nm, respectively. SEM results corroborate the DLS measurements and suggest the bare and encapsulated nanoparticles have spherical morphologies. Ongoing TEM, TGA, and XPS measurements are expected to shed light on the composition of the encapsulated nanoparticles. Now that we have successfully synthesized AgCl/BSA nanoparticles, future studies will evaluate the antimicrobial activity and cytotoxicity of encapsulated and bare nanoparticles. (Funded by the National Science Foundation and the WBHR-LSAMP Program (NSF HRD-1503192)) PHYS SCI-08 RHODAMINE-BASED FLUORESCENT AND COLORIMETRIC CHEMOSENSOR FOR METALS IN AQUEOUS MEDIA. *Khalil Makins-Dennis and Fasil Abebe. Department of Chemistry, Morgan State University, Baltimore MD 21251. Metals are inorganic elements that can cause significant health issues in excess. Metals run off into our water supplies through corrosion of pipes and industrial processes. Certain metals are essential to the body such as Cu2+, Zn2+, Fe3+, however in excess these metals can lead to liver and nerve damage. Fluorescent chemosensors have become an important and widely used tool to detect metal ions in biological samples. Selection, and detection of these metals have potential applications in many fields including chemistry, biology, and the environment. The goal of this experiment is to synthesize a fluorescent chemosensor that will detect metals in aqueous media using Rhodamine B. Rhodamine B is a dye known for its great spectroscopic properties such as high fluorescent quantum yield, long absorption, and emission wavelength and high stability to light. (Supported by NIGMS-RISE Grant R25GM058904)  

SOCIALSCIENCES

POSTERPRESENTATIONS

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SOC SCI-01 THE EFFECTS OF DENTAL AMALGAM FILLINGS ON COGNITIVE FUNCTIONING. *Lauren Valentine and Vernessa R. Clark. Department of Psychology, Virginia State University, Petersburg VA 23806. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of dental amalgam fillings on cognitive functioning in African American students. Dental amalgam fillings, also known as silver fillings, are an inexpensive procedure to fill cavities. Dental amalgam consists of liquid form of mercury mixed with silver, tin, and copper (U.S Department of Health and Human Services, 2015). Large amounts of mercury in a person’s body is known to cause dire health complications. Mercury vapor is released from dental amalgam fillings and then inhaled and absorbed by the lungs. Sjursen et al. (2011) found that health complaints decreased significantly after dental amalgam fillings were removed. In the present study, fifty-two African Americans college students between the ages of 18-30 were administered the Symbol Digits Modalities Test (SDMT). The SDMT was designed to test individuals with neurological impairments. The SDMT assesses: attention, visual scanning, and motor speed. The participants were grouped in three categories: those with dental amalgam fillings, those with white composite resin dental fillings and those without dental fillings. It was predicted that participants with dental amalgam fillings would have lower levels of cognition than participants without the dental amalgam fillings. A One Way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) revealed that dental amalgam fillings had a significant effect on cognitive functioning. Specifically, participants with no dental fillings had a greater cognitive functioning than those with white composite resin fillings than those with dental amalgam fillings. (Supported by HRD 1503192) SOC SCI-02 THE ABILITY OF SERUM GLUCOSE AND SERUM CHOLESTEROL TO PREDICT CARDIOVASCULAR REACTIVITY TO STRESS. *Katrina Jackson and Vernessa R. Clark. Department of Psychology, Virginia State University, Petersburg VA 23803. While African Americans die of heart disease at higher rates compared with Caucasians, they have been found to have lower triglyceride levels than Caucasians (Dagogo-Jack, Edeoga Ebenibo, & Chapp-Jumbo, 2013). Abnormal cholesterol and glucose levels are known to be risk factors of cardiovascular disease in Caucasians; however, the association of these variables with cardiovascular disease is not as clear for African Americans. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine the ability of serum glucose and serum cholesterol to predict heart rate and blood pressure responses to stress in African American college students. It was hypothesized that serum glucose and serum cholesterol would significantly predict cardiovascular reactivity to stress, specifically participants with high glucose and cholesterol levels would have greater cardiovascular activity. Sixty two African American college students, between the ages of 18 -30, participated in the study. A blood sample was taken from each participant after 12 hours of fasting. Total serum cholesterol, triglycerides, high density lipoproteins (HDL), low density lipoproteins (LDL) and serum glucose were assayed from the blood sample. A Multiple Regression Analysis revealed that total cholesterol, triglyceride, HDL, and LDL significantly predicted systolic blood pressure during the pre-stressor, stressor and recovery periods. In addition, these indices of cholesterol significantly predicted diastolic blood pressure during the pre-stressor period. Unexpectedly, triglyceride and LDL were negatively correlated with systolic and diastolic blood pressure. The negative association of cholesterol and blood pressure may be attributed to the age of the participants. Glucose did not significantly predict any cardiovascular measure. (Supported by HRD 1503192)

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SOC SCI-03 RIVERS THAT ONCE DIVIDED BECOME CONNECTIONS: COMPLETING COMMUNITY BASED PARTICIPATORY RESEARCH IN THE WAKE OF SOCIAL UNREST. *Demmetri Smith1, *Latia Jackson1, *Bethany Cutts2. 1Department of Agriculture, Virginia State University, Petersburg VA 23806, 2Department of Parks and Recreation, North Carolina State University, Raleigh NC 2769. Changing social conditions shifted the potential implications of the Milwaukee Urban Environmental Equity Research Project, in which a documentary focused on community perceptions of water and environmental sustainability. The objective of our summer research experience was to complete a fourth segment of the documentary that responded to these changes. The project filmed a roundtable discussion to identify key themes and directions toward racial justice being explored by environmental organizations. We used qualitative methods to analyze recorded audio and video and to construct a documentary to capture and communicate essential themes expressed by participants of a roundtable organized. As the roundtable participants discussed how to best explain to youth of color why “environment is not just a white people issue”, they revealed community resources for empowering youth of color and structural reasons that environmental organizations may sometimes use a definition of environment that inadvertently excludes people of color. By creating this fourth installment of the documentary, we highlight the work communities are doing to find solutions to long-standing environmental injustices. While the particular lessons benefit strides toward environmental justice in Milwaukee, the methods offer lessons to other communities where long legacies of racial segregation need to be acknowledged in the context of making progress toward sustainability goals. (Supported by NSF 1036286) SOC SCI-04 THE EFFECTS OF OBESITY AND COGNITIVE FUNCTIONING ON CARDIOVASCULAR ACTIVITY. *Tasharra Dozier and Vernessa R. Clark. Department of Psychology,Virginia State University, Petersburg VA 23806. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of obesity and cognitive functioning on cardiovascular activity. It was hypothesized that obese individuals would have greater cardiovascular reactivity to stress compared to normal weight and overweight participants. In addition, it was hypothesized that participants with low levels of cognitive functioning would have greater cardiovascular reactivity to stress than participants with high levels of cognitive functioning. Lastly, it was also hypothesized that obese individuals with low levels cognitive functioning would have the greatest cardiovascular reactivity compared to their counterparts. Ninety seven African American college students, between the ages of 18-27, participated in this study. BMI was calculated using height and weight. The Gibson Cognitive Skills Test was used to measure processing speed, working memory, and visual memory. A Cardiovascular Profiling Instrument was used to measure heart rate, systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure. Measurements were taken before a racist scene on video (pre-stressor period), during the video (stressor period), and after the video (recovery period). An Analysis of Variance revealed that visual memory had a significant effect on heart rate during all periods. Participants with high levels of visual memory had higher heart rates than those with low levels of visual memory. In addition, there was a significant interaction between BMI and processing speed on diastolic blood pressure. This finding showed that obese participants with high levels of processing speed had the highest blood pressures and overweight participants with high levels of processing speed had the lowest blood pressures. (Supported by HRD 1503192)

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SOC SCI-05 GIS FOR STUDY ON BIRD POPULATION DIVERSITY AND DENSITY IN THE VICINITY OF RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA. *Diamond Kemp and Shobha Sriharan. Department of Agriculture, Virginia State University, Petersburg VA 23806 Urbanization has become a noticeable conservation issue for the past several decades as it has contributed to the expansion of human civilization. Though the physical increase of the world’s population calls for a need to increase in development and supporting resources, it has caused a problem for our environment and other species of organisms that live within it. Birds are one of the many creatures who are affected by the impact of deforestation and construction for the betterment of the public. Inspired by the volunteer-based projects in Fresno (California), Tucson (Arizona), and Ottawa (Canada), this research was based on focusing on the population density and diversity of birds within Raleigh, North Carolina. This project will be used for volunteers and students in the fall of 2017 to record bird count observations, and periodically accumulating data on the species of birds around Raleigh. As a pilot project, 50 location points were randomly generated within the perimeter of the North Carolina State University area (excluding the campus football stadium and veterinary department). Each point was mapped using the ArcMap Geographic Information System and a recreational grade GPS unit. This research required that each location was accessible to the public so that volunteers can bird watch legally in the area. It is speculated that in areas of more urbanization, lower diversity and density of birds will be encountered. This work was supported in part by the National Science Foundation and Historically Black Colleges and Universities - Undergraduate Program) SOC SCI-06 COMMUNITY SURVEY FOR ASTHMA INHALER COMPLIANCE. * Osman Turay1, Markea Carter2, Deshawn Collington2, Oluwatobi Samagbeyi3, Kimberly Armstrong4, Jayfus Doswell,5, and Jocelyn Turner-Musa2. Department of Physical Education, Department of Psychology, Department of Biology Morgan State University, Abeona Group, Inc, and Juxtopia, LLC, Baltimore, MD 21251. Asthma is a common chronic pulmonary disease whose prevalence varies greatly with the sex and age of the patient. Among children suffering from Asthma in Baltimore’s inner-city, 12.7% of black children are known for suffering from asthma compared with 7.9 percent of whites. Moreover, black children are more likely to visit the emergency room and are more likely to die from Asthma related complications. The objective of this preliminary study is to gather data from a community sample to examine pediatric asthma medication compliance among low-income minority children in Baltimore City who use an inhaler. We hypothesize that the majority of participants are not knowledgeable about the proper use of asthma inhalers and have children who are more likely to visit emergency rooms for asthma related conditions. Community residents were approached at various Baltimore community events and asked to complete a brief Community Asthma Survey. The survey included demographic questions, asthma inhaler compliance, asthma control, and asthma symptomatology. Descriptive analyses were performed to assess the primary study objectives. Findings will be used to assess the needs and feasibility of developing a low-cost asthma monitoring system that can accurately track asthma dosage compliance. (Supported by NIGMS-BUILD Grant# TL4GM1189742)

ROOMASSIGNMENTS

ORALPRESENTATIONS

21

UNIVERSITY STUDENT CENTER, ROOM 212A 10:00 am EXPERIMENTAL KINEMATIC STUDY OF SLIDER CRANK MECHANISM. *Shuja Hassan, Joshua Crawford, Christopher Ward, and Nassar Ghariban. 10:20 am ROADWAY INVENTORY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM URBAN EXTENSION PROJECT. *Mariah Crowe and Ali Ansari. 10:40 am BUSINESS SUPPORT MANAGEMENT PROGRAM. *Louis Flowers and Ali Ansari. Department of Computer Engineering, Virginia State University, Petersburg, VA 23806. 11:00 am LIGHT WEIGHT PEM FUEL CELL FOR UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLE. *Dwayne Geter1, Anthony Porter2, Jorge Lopez3, Jinmyun Jo2, Ayodeji Demuren4, Xiaoyu Zhang4. 11:20 am ROBOTIC REVERSE ENGINEERING. *Bret Dereski, Kyle Pressler, *Naya Walker and Ali Ansari.

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UNIVERSITY STUDENT CENTER, ROOM 212B 10:00 am EVALUATION OF SELECTED BLUEBERRY VARIETIES FOR YIELD AND FRUIT SIZE IN SOUTHERN VIRGINIA. *Mitchell, McClintock, Reza Rafie, and Christopher Catanzaro. 10:20 am POPULATION GROWTH OF PHILODINA SP. (ROTIFERA) SUBJECTED TO THREE TEMPERATURE REGIMES. *Dwight Bland, Rondell Holden, James Sossou, Tamara Shoals, Demarcus Turner, and Joseph D’Silva. 10:40 am MECHANISMS THAT CONTROL INVASIVE GROWTH- ROLE OF DNA REPAIR PROTEINS. *Brianna Hayes, Asia Hart, Ioaka Whilby, Shaila Scott, Aylin Marz. 11:00 am FIRST REPORT OF STREPTOCOCCUS PARAUBERIS IN AQUACULTURE IN THE UNITED STATES. *Andree Dualan, Lauren Karr, Ezekiel Wamble, Elvira Besong and Ashley Haines.

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UNIVERSITY STUDENT CENTER, ROOM 316 10:00 am BALTIMORE CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS: WE GOT LEFT BEHIND BUT ARE WE MOVING FORWARD? *Sabrina Sampson and Angela Howell. 10:20 am THE REVOLUTIONARY ACT OF THE 1980S: BLACK GAY RESISTANCE IN THE AIDS EPIDEMIC, 1981-1996. *Rachel Nelson and Takkara Brunson. 10:40 am SOCIAL NETWORKING AMONG AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMEN IN HIGHER EDUCATION: A CASE STUDY OF MORGAN STATE UNIVERSITY. *Subhadra Paudel and Angela Howell. 11:00 am DEAD BLACK WORDS ON SUPERIOR WHITE PAGES: AN ANALYSIS OF NEWSPAPERS FURTHERING RACISM IN CONTEMPORARY AMERICA. *Kalada William-Jumbo and Angela Howell. 11:20 am YOUTH, CRIME, AND THE COMMUNITY: THE BLACK JUVENILE DELINQUENT EXPERIENCE IMPACTED BY SOCIETY. *Valecia D. E. Hanna and Angela Howell. 11:40 am THE POOR AND UNDESERVING: MOTHERHOOD, HEALTHCARE POLITICS, AND THE AMERICAN WELFARE STATE. *Joseanne Lopez, Angela Howell and Takkara Brunson. 12:00 pm MEDIATING INTERPERSONAL CONFLICT AMONGST AFRICAN AMERICANS. *Damian Gauthney and Antony Kinyua.

ENGINEERING

ORALPRESENTATIONS

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ORAL-01 EXPERIMENTAL KINEMATIC STUDY OF SLIDER CRANK MECHANISM. *Shuja Hassan, Joshua Crawford, Christopher Ward, and Nassar Ghariban. Department of Engineering and Computer Science. Virginia State University, Petersburg, VA 23803. Slider-crank is a four –bar mechanism that is designed to convert straight-line motion to rotary motion or rotary motion to straight-line motion. The mechanism has variety industrial application including internal combustions engines. This report presents the result of experimental study of the mechanism’s kinematics parameters in comparison to theoretical models. The report includes design and fabrication details of the experiment apparatus that includes a powered DC motor, slider and connecting rod, and linear displacement sensor. Lab view Software and National Instrument data acquisition board were used for controlling the rotary motion and recording the output signal of the sensor. Collected data was transferred to MATLAB to preform numerical analysis to find the velocity and acceleration of the slider as a function of time. The correlation between the experimental data and the theoretical models is explored and discussed in this paper. ORAL-02 ROADWAY INVENTORY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM URBAN EXTENSION PROJECT. *Mariah Crowe and Ali Ansari. Department of Computer Engineering, Virginia State University, Petersburg, VA 23806. The data in the Urban Maintenance Inventory System (UMIS) needs to be upgraded and migrated to the Roadway Inventory Management System (RIMS). This UMIS system is important because it is how VDOT determines the number of qualifying lane miles in each of the eighty-four localities to distribute payments. There are many problems with the UMIS system, for instance data has not been resynced since 2012, there were overlaps of qualifying lane miles and missing data in the system to track for administering payments, and a geo-reference system is needed. The objectives of this project is to recreate existing UMIS functionality in RIMS, sync the Roadway Network System data with the UMIS data, add additional fields required by the Local Assistance Division (LAD) such as bike lanes and rapid transit lanes, create the UMIS reports in RIMS, and then ultimately retire UMIS. The methods being used to accomplish these objectives are outsourcing to WorldView Solutions to recreate the UMIS functionality in RIMS and add additional fields required by LAD, use in-house resources such as centerline editing to add or correct data and create UMIS reports in RIMS, and possibly outsourcing to Timmons. So far, a gap analysis is being conducted between UMIS screens and the existing RIMS screens to identify changes/enhancements, the user stories of this project are being finalized, and legacy features and other issues in existing RIMS data are being addressed. This project is scheduled to be completed in March of 2018. (Supported by HRD 1036286)

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ORAL-03 BUSINESS SUPPORT MANAGEMENT PROGRAM. *Louis Flowers and Ali Ansari. Department of Computer Engineering, Virginia State University, Petersburg, VA 23806. The objective of this project was to create an organized Key Performance indicator (KPI) team-site where business support data and metrics are collected. This includes a mid-July review and feedback from the business support divisions, with formal induction and on-boarding of the new SharePoint collection site for the fiscal year of 2018 (FY18) by August 7th. The goal is to study business support performance and build skills learning about Microsoft Sharepoint to communicate and figure business issues. Sharepoint is a managing storage system that is very configurable. The goal was also to validate and transport business support performance indicators to a new frame in Sharepoint. Moreover, to build a comprehensive KPI data collection site and report for the Business Support Performance Management program; this must be completed by the estimated deadline (August 7th). The results of this project are still in progress for this is an on-going assignment. The conclusion also cannot be provided at this time for this is an on-going project. At the rate that I am going, the project should be finished by the deadline given. (Supported by HRD 1036286) ORAL-04 LIGHT WEIGHT PEM FUEL CELL FOR UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLE. *Dwayne Geter1, Anthony Porter2, Jorge Lopez3, Jinmyun Jo2, Ayodeji Demuren4, Xiaoyu Zhang4. 1Department of Technology, 2Department of Engineering and Computer Science, Virginia State University, Petersburg VA 23806; 3Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez Campus, Mayaguez PR 00681; 4Department of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering, Old Dominion University, Norfolk VA 23529. Fuel cell is an electrochemical device that converts fuel into electricity. Fuel cells can be used as sustainable energy systems for transportation, industrial applications, and back-up and off-grid power because they have advantages over fossil fuel or conventional batteries. The Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC) is attractive because of its high efficiency and zero emission. Previously, Old Dominion University undergraduate students attempted to use a regular "land-based" Horizon 100W PEMFC as a power source to extend the flight duration of UAVs. Success was hampered by the excessive weight of Horizon PEM 100W fuel cell. Our goal is to fabricate a light weight fuel cell stack to replace the Horizon fuel cell made of heavy components. We intend to replace the end plates and the bipolar plates of the fuel cell with 20% carbon fiber nylon and Garolite XX/Phenolic XX, respectively. The bipolar plate will be fabricated using a 3D printer and then plated in gold. The gold coating is used for current collection and as a corrosion inhibitor. The end plates will be machined to make gas flow channels. The final step will be to test Horizon’s and our fuel cells to obtain performance parameters and then to compare and analyze the measurements of the parameters. We will present the design and fabrication, performance characteristic, and weight reduction of the fuel cell as well as future work. (Supported by NSF-HBCU1,2 and NSF-REU program3)

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ORAL-05 ROBOTIC REVERSE ENGINEERING. *Bret Dereski, Kyle Pressler, *Naya Walker and Ali Ansari. Department of Engineering, Virginia State University, Petersburg, VA 23803 This project was supported by the Washington-Baltimore- Hampton Road Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation (WBHR-LSAMP) Program of the John Tyler Community College Students during their internship at Virginia State University in the summer of 2017. The purpose of this project was to reverse engineer a desktop robotic arm in such a way that performs pick and place functions, and possibly improve upon original design using techniques and software taught to us within the program. The process began with taking measurements of the robot and drafting each piece to be designed in NX software. The solid modeling was done in NX was split between two students, one creating parts from the base to the first link, and the other creating the rest of the parts. The parts were assembled to verify the geometry of the parts and simulated the functionality of the robot as well. After verification the final design, all parts were printed in U-Print 3-D printer. The printed parts were assembled and functionality of all the links and joints were manually tested. team figured out that the original design had servo motors operating the robotic arm with very specific pieces attached, therefore each attachment had to be redesigned. After required modification three new servo motors were put in place and wired to Arduino board. Program executed and functionality of the robot was successfully demonstrated. (Supported by NSF HRD 1503192.)

LIFESCIENCES

ORALPRESENTATIONS

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ORALS-06 EVALUATION OF SELECTED BLUEBERRY VARIETIES FOR YIELD AND FRUIT SIZE IN SOUTHERN VIRGINIA. *Mitchell, McClintock, Reza Rafie, and Christopher Catanzaro. College of Agriculture, Virginia State University, Petersburg VA 23806. Due to the health benefits of blueberry, consumer demand for blueberry has increased in recent years. Therefore, blueberry is considered a crop with considerable economic potential for small and large growers. Growers in Virginia are seeking to plant blueberry varieties with higher yield and larger fruit sizes. A study was conducted at Randolph Farm, Virginia State University to evaluate the yield and fruits sizes of selected varieties. Eight different blueberry varieties were selected for this study. All the selected varieties are considered early season producers. In this study the yield, fruit size, frequency of the harvest, and the starting and ending harvest dates were collected for each variety. Rebel, Farthing, and San Joaquin varieties produced higher yield, producing, 1948 grams, 1743 grams, and 1722 gram of fruits per plant respectively. Variety Suziblue produce the largest fruits, 26.4 grams per 10 fruits. Rebel and Suziblue varieties were the earliest producers, May 18. Results from this study will be shared with Virginia farmers to better evaluate how selected varieties may suit their needs. (Supported by HRD 1036286) ORALS-07 POPULATION GROWTH OF PHILODINA SP. (ROTIFERA) SUBJECTED TO THREE TEMPERATURE REGIMES. *Dwight Bland, Rondell Holden, James Sossou, Tamara Shoals, Demarcus Turner, and Joseph D’Silva. Department of Biology, Norfolk State University, Norfolk VA 23504 This study aims to investigate the population growth of a rotifer, Philodina sp. (Rotifera). A population of Philodina has been observed to initially grow and then plateau in a bird bath and flower pots in Suffolk, Virginia. Animal population growth follows this trend in general. We hypothesize that the population growth of these rotifers are dependent on the temperature of their environment. Does the Philodina population follow a similar growth pattern under experimental conditions? Initial results indicate that growth of the population is regulated by the temperature of their environment. A Philodina population was subjected to three temperatures: 5℃ , 22℃, and 30℃ and showed a trend of growth. Rotifers tested at 5℃ illustrated no population growth while subjects tested at 22℃ and 30℃ were observed as the optimum temperatures because of their steady growth rate. Further investigation is in progress incorporating environmental stressors such as freezing temperatures and sunlight exposure to determine population growth. Philodina exhibited expedited growth rates when exposed to sunlight recorded at 30℃. Rotifers are fed to fish larvae in aquaculture. Brachionus sp. (Rotifera) is one such rotifer to feed fish larvae. Philodina are the most common species of rotifers and can also be used for feeding. We will be conducting this investigation to further understand how they reproduce and can be beneficial for aquaculture. (Supported National Science Foundation: Graduation Academy F2040013)

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ORALS-08 MECHANISMS THAT CONTROL INVASIVE GROWTH- ROLE OF DNA REPAIR PROTEINS. *Brianna Hayes, Asia Hart, Ioaka Whilby, Shaila Scott, Aylin Marz. Department of Biology, Norfolk State University, Norfolk VA 23504. Breast cancer cells spread to surrounding tissues when the cells become invasive. Previous studies conducted by Dr.Marz and others show a connection between some DNA repair proteins and cell invasiveness in breast cancer cells. It was discovered that short-term down regulation of certain human DNA repair proteins MRE11, RAD50, and NBS1 increases a cells ability to become invasive. Knowledge of this has helped us design a project to examine the mechanisms that link DNA repair proteins, specifically the yeast homology of NBS1 called XRS2 and cell invasion. To determine this mechanism, we used Saccharomyces cerevisiae as our model. Saccharomyces cerevisiae, baker’s yeast, reproduces fast and can be genetically manipulated easily. More importantly, Saccharomyces cerevisiae is a eukaryotic diploid organism just like in human cells. It has two growth forms: yeast and filamentous. The yeast form occurs when the cells have the right amount of nutrients and are not stressed. The filamentous form occurs when the cells are stressed or deprived of nutrients. This causes the cells to form filaments and become invasive. The goal of my project is to determine if XRS2 is a positive or negative modulator for invasion in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. To answer this question we obtained yeast strains that contain a heterozygous deletion of XRS2. We test for invasive growth by plating biofilm spots of cells that invade into the agar and will not wash off after a vigorous rubbing off of cells from the surface. From these assays we are able to compare the XRS2 heterozygote to the positive control which is a wildtype strain of yeast shown to demonstrate invasive growth and the negative control strain that contains a heterozygous deletion of FLO8 that renders it non-invasive. Preliminary qualitative results show that the XRS2 delete strain behaves more like the invasive strain than the non-invasive control after some forms of nutrient limitation. Quantitative assays are in progress to determine if there is a difference in the level of invasiveness between the XRS2 delete and wildtype strains. (Supported by NSF-CREST HRD-0317722) ORALS-09 FIRST REPORT OF STREPTOCOCCUS PARAUBERIS IN AQUACULTURE IN THE UNITED STATES. *Andree Dualan, Lauren Karr, Ezekiel Wamble, Elvira Besong and Ashley Haines. Department of Biology, Norfolk State University, Norfolk VA. Streptococcus parauberis is known widely as the causative agent of mastitis in dairy cattle. It is also associated with streptococcosis in many species of fish. S. parauberis was reported in wild fish for the first time in the United States in 2013 in the Chesapeake Bay. Recently, aquacultured hybrid catfish in Alabama showed symptoms of streptococcosis and some died. Upon dissection, bloody ascites was found in the abdominal cavity. Cultures were made from various organs and the ascites fluid to identify any bacteria present. Three suspected species of bacteria were found and identified as a Shewanella species, an Aeromonas species, and Streptococcus parauberis. Nine samples of S. parauberis were sent to the Norfolk State University Biology Department for conclusive identification and characterization. Cultures were made in brain heart infusion (BHI) broth and grown at 28°C. Hemolysis, catalase and bile esculin testing was conducted. DNA extraction and 16S rRNA polymerase chain reaction(PCR) also was performed. This process will identify the bacteria based on the results of gene sequencing. Antimicrobial testing will be done in the future in order to recommend treatment.

SOCIALSCIENCES

ORALPRESENTATIONS

   

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ORAL-10 BALTIMORE CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS: WE GOT LEFT BEHIND BUT ARE WE MOVING FORWARD? *Sabrina Sampson and Angela Howell. Department of Sociology, Morgan State University, Baltimore MD 21251. This research paper examines the effects of the Common Core State Standards initiative on the achievement gap of black students. The attempts made by policy makers to address the achievement gap between white and black students in recent years have had opposite effects, exasperating racial disparities especially in low-income communities. Baltimore City Public School System was selected strategically for this study because it has a high-minority and majority low-income student population. Statistical data was retrieved from state databases and oral histories were collected from individuals that were or are still connected to the school district. Both sources were used to tell the story of the struggle for progress in a neglected city. The tremendous gaps of student success between BCPSS students and students from other Maryland public school systems, highlights the latent racism in policy making. This study is meant to bring justice to the students who were left behind in the education system because of circumstances that were out of their control. 0RAL-11 THE REVOLUTIONARY ACT OF THE 1980S: BLACK GAY RESISTANCE IN THE AIDS EPIDEMIC, 1981-1996. *Rachel Nelson and Takkara Brunson. Department of History and Geography, Morgan State University, Baltimore MD 21251. Although many Americans initially viewed AIDS as a “White gay disease”, they overlooked its impact on Black gay populations. Approximately half of all gay men with AIDS were Black although Blacks made up 12% of the population; the disproportionate rates occurred due to their lack of access of necessary resources and education. The racism and homophobia Black gay men faced resulted in the creation of their own community organizations and spaces to remain visible in the AIDS narrative. There is a multitude of scholarship on uncovering mainstream gay activism and the effects of AIDS on white gay communities, but little work has been done in comparison on marginalized groups within the overall gay community. This project used queer of color critique to analyze the various methods of activism and resistance Black gay men utilized in Baltimore and New York City during the AIDS epidemic. Interviews, films, published works, and personal correspondence were analyzed to effectively recover their experiences. Black gay men’s resistance led to increased visibility of Black gay culture as well as academic discourse on Black gay men’s experiences. This work engages Black and LGBTQ historiography and challenges scholars to analyze identity politics as well as how intersectional identities shape activism strategies. (Research supported by The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and Benjamin A. Quarles Humanities and Social Sciences Institute)

   

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ORAL-12 SOCIAL NETWORKING AMONG AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMEN IN HIGHER EDUCATION: A CASE STUDY OF MORGAN STATE UNIVERSITY. *Subhadra Paudel and Angela Howell. Department of Social Sciences, Morgan State University. Baltimore MD 21251. This study analyzes the impact of highly educated African American women on Baltimore by examining women’s involvement at Morgan State University (MSU). It seeks to answer the research question: how does higher education help to change the lives of African American women, as well as change the Black community? This question will be answered through the use of Social-Networking theory, which explains the communication between African American women within the field of education in Baltimore. Previous scholars have paid attention to the gender dynamics of higher education. However, this study focuses on Black women with college degrees and their direct and indirect influence on the Morgan and Baltimore communities. The qualitative research utilizes interviews and secondary data to analyze the higher education rate, educated African American women’s impact on the community, and the economic dynamics among African American women in Baltimore. The research shows that a college degree helps African American female graduates of Morgan State University to be economically independent, to be decision-makers, to be proud of their identity, to be involved in their communities and cultures, and to maintain a stable working environment. ORAL-13 DEAD BLACK WORDS ON SUPERIOR WHITE PAGES: AN ANALYSIS OF NEWSPAPERS FURTHERING RACISM IN CONTEMPORARY AMERICA. *Kalada William-Jumbo and Angela Howell. Department of Social Sciences, Morgan State University, Baltimore MD 21251. Newspaper coverage of Michael Brown’s death, at the hands of an European-American police officer, furthers the ideology of white supremacy by the usage of language. In the article an overwhelming amount of time was spent showing readers past flaws and wrongdoings Michael Brown committed to take the attention away from the fault of the primary offender in hopes to justify actions. Interviews and research conducted by the media were used to target Michael Brown’s past all the way to childhood noting how he was a troublemaker even as an infant. White supremacy is maintained, by newspapers, through continuous efforts to keep European-American’s image as one to be strived for in society. Scholars show that newspaper articles defame the character of African-American victims in their report of incidents. In the case of Brown's death press authors never identified race as a factor that led to his death. Instead, they questioned the character of the victim using racially coded language, or what Bonilla-Silva refers to as “covert racism”; Covert racism has roots in racial colorblindness theory—which many scholars advocate as a legitimate way to end racism. Application of questions created by Teun A. Van Dijk for analysis of literature with Eduardo Bonilla-Silva’s research, that deconstructs racial color blind framework, and Stuart Hall's notion on the part the media plays in society this paper seeks to analytically critiques newspaper articles on the death of Michael Brown while considering several scholars framework and ideology in the field of racism and the media.

   

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ORAL-14 YOUTH, CRIME, AND THE COMMUNITY: THE BLACK JUVENILE DELINQUENT EXPERIENCE IMPACTED BY SOCIETY. *Valecia D. E. Hanna and Angela Howell. Department of Social Sciences, Morgan State University, Baltimore MD 21251. This project examines the social ills that are present in minority communities, which shape the incarceration experience of black juvenile offenders. Scholars have argued that the increase in crime rates in high crime areas is significantly influenced by social factors, such as poverty, low economic status, poor education facilities, and racial discrimination. There is existing literature on the presence of these social factors, however, there is limited literature that identifies how these factors affect black juveniles. I have gathered analytical data from one subject who has worked as an educator in a minority community, and who worked with African American juvenile offenders. The analytical data focused on answering the question – How do social ills in minority communities shape the incarceration experience of black juvenile offenders? This research focuses on understanding: how to define juvenile delinquency, the impact incarceration has on juvenile offenders, and the identifiable social factors that impact their incarceration experience. It argues that the aforementioned factors lead to recidivism and juveniles’ negative perceptions of their future. ORAL-15 THE POOR AND UNDESERVING: MOTHERHOOD, HEALTHCARE POLITICS, AND THE AMERICAN WELFARE STATE. *Joseanne Lopez, Angela Howell and Takkara Brunson. Department of Social Sciences, Department of History and Geography. Morgan State University, Baltimore MD 21251. Literature on the American welfare system underlines either a critique on the enablement of federal government officials in their provision of welfare assistance, the morality of welfare mothers as a result of their economic hardships, or the federal policies affecting white women’s experiences. Yet, there is little scholarship that factors in geographic location to single Black mothers’ experiences of motherhood. This study attempts to fill that void by evaluating the impact of federal government policies on the plight of single Black mothers in Cherry Hill, Baltimore and their ability to parent their young children. The analysis examines questions such as ––What kinds of health and child care services do low-income Black single-mothers have access to? Are welfare benefits enough to maintain the cost of living for Black single-mothers’ after transitioning from welfare-to-work? A review of maternal health and infant mortality rates, income of Black single-mother households, and quality of childcare arrangements will demonstrate how the disparities among Black and White mothers are indicative of historical experiences of racial inequality and the federal policies that fail to protect single Black mothers. The utilization of quantitative data collection techniques drove much of the research analysis. The collected data indicates systemic racial inequities veiled beneath the policies promised to protect the overall concept of motherhood. It appears that these federal policies, i.e. the Welfare Reform Act of 1996 and the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010, do little to enhance the parental abilities of low-income single Black mothers.  

   

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ORAL-16 MEDIATING INTERPERSONAL CONFLICT AMONGST AFRICAN AMERICANS. *Damian Gauthney and Antony Kinyua. Department of Psychology, Morgan State University, Baltimore MD 21251.

It’s currently been proven in various cultures that a warmer climate subsequently leads to increases in both interpersonal (4%) and intergroup conflict (14%) per standard deviation (SD); at the current rate, the climate will become 4 SDs warmer by the year 2050. Additionally, people respond to conflict in a way that’s synonymous with their culture (whether they view themselves and individualist or collectivist) and their self-construal, whether they view themselves as independent or interdependent. When referencing African Americans, we are discussing a race who are not alway the most supportive of each other; statistically, black on black crime has increased 8% since 2014. Interpersonal conflict refers to conflict between groups in which the group members prevent each other from progressing, that’s very counter-productive in the overturning African American community that’s striving to be progressive (Academically, economically, socially, etc..). This is a multi-step proposition, step one is community based participatory research (CBPR): This will be a process in which scientist work in cooperation with community leaders in order to create programs purposed to creating understanding one another in the black community and mediating the currently unfathomable rates of crime in African American communities such as Baltimore by introducing the idea of “team familiarity”. Increasing team familiarity, which is just as it sounds, has been proven to have a positive influence on team performance. If the CBPR proves to provide little to no effect, future research is suggested that incorporates the NASA’s Giovanni database in order to observe possible crime/pollution correlations.

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

PLANNING COMMITTEE

Dr. Cleo Hughes-Darden, Chair and Associate Professor, Department of Biology, LSAMP Coordinator, Symposium Committee Chair

Grace Nyambura, LSAMP Data Analyst Mrs. Acquanette Pinchback, NIH/BUILD/ASCEND Program Coordinator

Ms. Antoinette Fliggins, Department of Biology Mr. Claton Lewis, Director, Pre-Professional & Transfer Program

KEYNOTE SPEAKER

Dr. Robert L. Shephard

Principal at The Shepherd Institute, (TSI), LLC

PLENARY SPEAKER

Mr. Ricky Venters, P.E. Professional Engineer and STEM Motivator

~ SPECIAL RECOGNITION AND APPRECIATION TO THE JUDGES FOR THEIR

PARTICIPATION~

Special Thanks

Dr. Lisa D. Brown, Associate Chair/Associate Professor, Department of Biology SCMNS for invaluable contributions in programmatic planning

Dr. Hongtao Yu, Dean School of Computer, Mathematical and Natural Sciences

1700 East Cold Spring Lane Richard N. Dixon Science Research Center Suite 200 Baltimore, MD 21251

Tel: 443.885.4515 Fax: 443.885.8215

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WBHR-LSAMP PARTNER INSTITUTIONS

Dr. Clarence M. Lee, Co-PI, WHBR-LSAMP; Dr. Williams Gordon, Alliance Advisor, Howard University

Dr. Hongtao Yu, Co-PI; Dr. Cleo Hughes-Darden, LSAMP Coordinator, Morgan State University Dr. Weldon Jackson, Co-PI; Dr. Uvetta Dozier, LSAMP Coordinator, Bowie State University

Dr. Stacey Franklin Jones, PI; Dr. Michael Keeve, LSAMP Coordinator, Norfolk State University Dr. JoAnn Haysbert, PI; Dr. Michelle Penn-Marshall, LSAMP Coordinator, Hampton University

Dr. Donald Palm, Co-PI; Dr. Ali Ansari, LSAMP Coordinator, Virginia State University Dr. Rachel Petty, PI; Dr. Briana Wellman, University of the District of Columbia

Mr. Jose Barata, LSAMP Coordinator, Anne Arundel Community College

Dr. Christine Barrow, LSAMP Coordinator, Prince George’s Community College Mr. Arturo Hernandez, LSAMP coordinator, El Camino Community College Ms. Jaclyn A. Madden, LSAMP Coordinator, Harford Community College

Ms. Patricia Turner, LSAMP Coordinator, Howard Community College Dr. Paula Inserra, LSAMP, John Tyler Community College