Presenter:             Harry Allen, Sophomore, Biological Sciences (First Year)

 Mentor:                 Dr. Charles Collins, Psychology, College of Medicine

Understanding Sleep Abnormalities in Children

Dr. Charles Collins, at the University of Cincinnati, works in a local mental health clinic and many of the children he see between the ages of 3 to 12 are brouhgt in for an assessement of behavior and emotional problems that have associate with sleep disorders. Children presenting for mental health services often have short cycles and wake early. As a result, a cascade of issues arises with a child up unsupervised early hours of the morning. The child is a risk for accidental in jury. Many parents have to get up to care for them. Often parents are exhausted and unable to function the next day at work. The child become dysfunctional in school secondarily to being tired and irritable further exacerbating the behavior problem. It is a negative and detrimental cycle that has to be addressed.

In efforts to understand the links between the two, it is important to understand the neuroscience of normal sleep of children. One involves understanding all of the neurological/anatomical structures associated with sleep and how they interact. Of course, it assumes a mastery of knowledge about common brain functions. The second is to elucidate the neuroendocrine pathways and hormones necessary for sleep. Understanding the above is necessary to be of assistance in determining if and what medications or other interventions that could be used to treatment the sleep disorder.

Presenter:       Nicolette Barbour, Junior, Biological Sciences (Second Year)

Mentor:           Dr. Theresa Powell, Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Cincinnati 

A Mouse Model of Maternal Obesity and Its Effect on Nutrient Transport Systems in the Placenta

With growing incidence of overweight and obese women in America, more and more women are approaching pregnancy already at risk for complications. Today more than 50% of all pregnant women in the US are overweight or obese, representing one of the most challenging health problems in obstetrics. The babies of these obese women are often large at birth (LGA), which is associated with traumatic birth injuries and adulthood. The placenta is essential to the delivery of nutrients during pregnancy. Thus, the placenta has become the center of research on fetal growth and development.  An adequate representative animal model has yet to be developed to study this problem. This mouse model will provide key insights in fetal growth and possibly lead to new clinical solutions for pregnancy complications due to fetal overgrowth.

Presenter:      NerferIfe Bell, Sophomore, Marketing (First Year)

Mentor:         Ruth Edwards, JD, Business and Commerce, College of Applied Sciences

The need for regulation of interest rates and fees for check cashing and payday loan businesses. Are check cashing and payday loan companies engaging in predatory business practices with unfair interest rates, fees? Is there a need for stricter regulations on check cashing and payday loan companies with regard to their interest rates and fees? There is a need for further investigation into this topic to determine if more regulation is needed to limit the amount of interest and/or fees that check cashing businesses or payday loan companies can charge, particularly in the state of Ohio.

Presenter:     Reginald Bolding Jr.  Junior, Criminal Justice (Second Year)

Mentor:         Dr. Sandra Browning, Criminal Justice

                     College of Education, Criminal Justice and Human Services

The Color of Justice: An analysis of sentencing disparities, media coverage, and prosecutorial discretion in homicide cases in a Southwestern Ohio County.

In 2005, there were 104 deaths ruled homicide in Hamilton County. This study will examine racial sentencing disparities in these cases, between Caucasians and African Americans in the Criminal Justice System. Media coverage from these cases will be analyzed and compared across races, however investigating rather the Medias outside influence have effects in the courtroom. Prosecutorial Discretion will be examined by focusing on the differential homicide charges given to separate offenders. (i.e. aggravated murder, murder, voluntary manslaughter, etc.)

Presenter:     Yossief Haileab, Sophomore, Pre-Pharmacy (First Year)

Mentor:         Dr. Bryan Mackenzie, Molecular and Cell Physiology, College of Medicine

 Effects of Mutations in DMT1

Many people suffer from iron deficiency and approximately 10% of women have iron deficiency problems. The transport protein DMT1 plays a vital role in the transport of iron in the intestines. DMT1 is a protein produced by cells in order to bind iron on the exterior of enterocyte cells and transport the iron into the cell. The proton electrochemical gradient provides the force necessary to drive iron inside the cell. Without functional DMT1 on the cell membrane to transport iron into the body cannot bind iron which leads to anemic symptoms. Worldwide, scientists have identified three patients with mutation in DMT1 that lead to severe anemia. The molecular impact of these mutations is unknown.

We plan to test the effects of these mutations by performing site-directed mutagenesis of the DMT1 gene. After mutating the gene, we transcribe it into RNA and inject it into Xenopus laevis frog oocytes. We will measure the transport activity of these oocytes radiotracer uptake and electrophysiology experiments. This work will allow us to explain the patients using phenotypes, as well as contribute to our understanding of the molecular mechanisms of DMT1. Knowledge in these areas will lead to greater understanding of anemia and iron deficiency.

Presenter:     Keshia Jones, Sophomore, Sociology (Second Year)

Mentor:         Dr. JoAnn Rogers, Sociology, McMicken Arts & Sciences

A LOOK INTO WOMEN & ADDICTION

How Addiction effects, crime rates, and changes family dynamics

The purpose of this study will be to find a correlation between chemical addiction in women and the increased prison rate. The study will examine how chemical dependency affects the increase in crimes committed by women and how the dynamics of the family is changed. Within this research we will also seek to find out why women pursue rehabilitation and what the main determing factor is for sobriety.

The preliminary analysis show an increase from the 80's until now, in violent crimes committed by women due to drug addiction, namely narcotic addiction. The data also displays an increase in the number of children directly affected by the addiction of their mothers.

Analyses show an increase in grandparent-parenting and an increase in the number of children in the foster care system. Multiple methods of research will be used to determine what makes women seek rehabilitation. The main source of information will come from direct interviews of women who are or have sought various means of rehabilitation from chemical dependency. However, for the initial phases of this research statistical and historical information will come directly from literary analysis.