Interdisciplinary

Dysfunction of insulin producing pancreatic beta cells – The Central Problem in Diabetes

This lab and experience over the past school year has involved two separate components. The first component was in a wet lab doing actual work. The work I was doing was genotyping different mice and their offspring to test for genetic mutations. This was done through a tail snip being taken from the mice and digested to release the DNA. The DNA is then placed in a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to replicate the DNA strand. The results of this PCR were then ran through a Gel electrophoresis system in order to measure the base pair lengths of genes being investigated. This in person lab research coincides with the auxiliary research I was doing. I was told to investigate how Beta cells measure the glucose level of blood and release the correct corresponding amount of insulin. This knowledge can then be used to see if certain genetic mutations in different mice result in differing insulin production or even a stop of insulin production.

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Developing a Liquid Biopsy Diagnostic Technique for Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

umanyx

Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma (HNSCC) is the sixth most common cancer in the United States and has one of the highest recurrence rates. The cancer is frequently caught late, especially in recurring cases, as most diagnostic techniques are highly invasive. Research was conducted to develop a liquid biopsy technique which would use circulating tumor (ct)DNA, also known as cell-free DNA, to track cancer markers in the blood. This technique could be used as both a prognostic and diagnostic technique for patients with HNSCC or those who have a chance of recurrence. We have had success using cell-free DNA extraction procedures to separate the ctDNA from patient blood samples. Now we are looking towards developing a diagnostic technique using this data. This technique would be incredibly useful for monitoring HNSCC patients’ responses to treatment because it would be fast and non-invasive. Particularly, the research is currently focused on HPV positive patients because the HPV ctNDA marker can be easily identified in patient blood. The liquid biopsy technique could also be extended and used for the detection of other types of cancers. This could significantly improve cancer diagnosis times and would help provide frequent and non-invasive tracking of the responses of cancer patients to treatments.

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Compiling a Terrestrial Food Web for the U-M Biological Station

lynnaeg

Large scale ecological network data that includes multiple interaction types has frequently been called for in community ecology texts since the mid 1900s. However, a strong database with interaction data between different categories of organisms is still missing. Constructing a database of this type benefits many aspects of study such as ascertaining the overall health of an ecosystem or the relationship between species, including by understanding the ecological network structure. To construct such a database, we first used student projects to assemble a list of species present at the BioStation. Then, we used online resources of observations, taxonomic records, and academic papers to record all possible species interactions. Each source has different taxonomic specialties. Using these methods, we created a database that includes carnivory, herbivory, pollination, seed dispersal, and parasitism interactions between species from diverse taxonomic groups, including insects, birds, mammals, plants, and reptiles. From these, we assembled a comprehensive multiplex ecological network and created networks of different levels of resolution. Then, we identified gaps in taxonomic resolution and species interaction data available on the species at the BioStation. More research will have to be conducted, e.g., to identify predators of pollinators or record species-specific pollination links. Our database will be available to the public, meaning it can be used for education in classrooms and environmental conservation efforts, as well as available to researchers broadly.

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Simulating the Effect of Interspecific Competition in Invaded UMBS Pollination Network

jkel

While the effects of pollinator visit quality and quantity on the success of alien plant invasion have begun to be well characterized (Valdovinos et al. 2016, 2018, 2020), the effects of interspecific competition within the plant community are mostly unknown. Classical models have shown that greater intraspecific competition within a population relative to interspecific competition between two plant species ensures species coexistence. In nature, invasive plant species are quick to crowd out other plants’ access to resources like sunlight and water, causing population declines and collapse. However, invasive success is also mediated by their ability to attract and reward successful pollinators, compared to native plants. This experiment aims to investigate the effect of this interspecific competition on the plant-pollinator interactions of the community. We simulate the introduction of 10 alien plant species to an empirical pollination network using Valdovinos’ 2018 model, varying for the aliens’ interspecific competition coefficient, expected number of seed per pollination event, and ability of plants to effectively produce and attach pollen. We focus on characterizing how interspecific competition leads to variability in plant abundance and persistence. We identify the driving factors of successful plant invasions.

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Mind-Body Therapies for COVID Related Stress

zqayyum

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a global mental health crisis. Studies in the US in December 2020 revealed that more than 42% of adults reported symptoms of anxiety and depression compared to 11% the year prior1. Long-term effects of the pandemic’s physical and emotional stressors are unknown. Our study is a randomized control trial that examines the efficacy of remotely-administered mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) in improving mood symptoms and resilience among communities of color most impacted by COVID. Our study population includes Michigan residents who self-report pandemic-related stress and anxiety and live in zip codes with high rates of COVID infection and a significant non-White population.

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Song of America: The Spiritual on the Concert Stage

jekey

As stated by W.E.B. Du Bois, the African American spiritual is one of the most significant and impactful genres of American music. Spirituals originated among enslaved African Americans and were influenced by both African and European traditions, including Protestantism, African music, the ring shout, and the camp meeting. Although spirituals were traditionally sung in daily life and religious gatherings, the spiritual transformed after the Civil War as musicians began arranging spirituals in classical styles for performances by professional musicians. My research focuses on the evolution of “Wade in the Water,” an important spiritual from the Antebellum period and one of the most performed concert spirituals in the modern era. Throughout its transformation into a concert spiritual, many aspects of “Wade in the Water,” including melodic and harmonic elements, accompaniment, singing style, and performance practices, were adapted into classical music styles. In this study, library sources, scores, performances, recordings, and lectures were analyzed to determine influences behind stylistic changes in “Wade in the Water” and how the concert spiritual impacted perceptions of African Americans. Through my analysis, I concluded that “Wade in the Water” experienced several important alterations at the dawn of the twentieth century, as spirituals were arranged for trained vocalists. This paper will contribute to research on the musical influences of concert spiritual, an important topic in studying the development of American music.

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The Endurance of Hard Times

adhason

Some of the most recognizable American music was written by a man named Stephen Foster. Though the world of popular music has changed and developed dramatically since the mid-19th century, Foster’s music lingers on in our collective memory as “folk music.” How could a 19th century man’s music retain such emotional power in current times? Research was done to understand why Foster’s music has survived into the 21st century, with articles and books on music, philosophy, and psychology used to explore why and how music makes humans feel the way we do. These parameters were used to analyze Stephen Foster’s parlour music, especially songs containing elements that might trigger sad or melancholic emotions. Many of his parlour songs were found to have lyrics that were sad and reminiscent of the past, though the songs that were analyzed (contradictorily) were in a major key. The combination of these factors give his music a sense of nostalgia. This nostalgia feeds into why people still listen to and cherish Foster’s music. It also must be noted that Stephen Foster’s music is a product of his own experiences, but the lyrics allow listeners to interpret the song to fit their own experiences. All of these attributes are why Stephen Foster’s music remains powerful in the 21st century.

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COVID-19 hidden stories of mental health

joolie

The upsurge of the COVID-19 global pandemic has brought forth many studies concerning how marginalized communities have been disproportionately affected by the virus: partly due to discriminatory practices embedded within the United States healthcare system, increased proportions of those working essential jobs, and increased probabilities of suffering from preexisting conditions, among other factors. However, there is very little qualitative research regarding the first-hand experiences of these individuals, particularly those within the Hispanic community, nor is there research accessible to Spanish-speaking individuals. Thus, our study entitled “COVID-19 Hidden Stories” searches to collect and empower the experiences of Hispanic individuals who have been affected by the pandemic through virtual interviews in a way that has not yet been amplified by the media or made accessible for the community’s use. Utilizing a trauma-informed journalistic approach, interviews were conducted through phone calls with Hispanic individuals who had contracted COVID-19 within West Michigan, South East Michigan, and Chicago, Illinois communities. The interviews were transcribed and compiled into an audio podcast format, all in Spanish, with English subtitles including necessary context and analysis for individual accounts. Ultimately, analysis of the interviews indicated that difficulties in obtaining access to testing and care, financial burdens, and mistrust of the healthcare system in general were the primary obstacles faced by the Hispanic community during their battles with COVID-19. As a result of these obstacles, our interviewees demonstrated several accounts of mental distress, allowing us to focus on the ways their mental health has been impacted by the pandemic. Ultimately, this journalistic research aims to create solidarity during a time of isolation and highlight noteworthy changes in mental health as experienced by the Hispanic community. The research also highlights the intersectionality that exists between modern-day immigration policies and discriminatory health-care practices against Hispanic persons.

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