All Abstracts

It is known that plants have antibiotic resistance genes, which suggests that plants are exposed to antibiotics. Various microorganisms are found in soil including among those closely associated with plant roots. However, their ability to produce antibiotics has not been examined. We analyzed plant ...

Significantly high racial disparities in preterm birth rates exist between White and Black women, even when accounting for socioeconomic status and known risk factors. One potential explanation is epigenetics. Differentially methylated genes in Black women who had given birth prematurely have been i...

Reconiliation is an integral element in social relationships.  The purpose of this naturalistic observational study was to determine whether green monkeys (Chlorocebus sabaeus) engae in reconciliatory behavior. Focal data were collected on a group of free-ranging green monkeys in the Barbados W...

Graph theory is the study of connections. There are many applications of graph theory to other fields. In this project, we analyze different properties of graphs that imply the existence of certain sets of cycles in graphs. In particular, we investigate the pairs of subgraphs we must forbid to imply...

Pharmaceutical testing on epigenetic effects of drugs is very limited. The use of vertebrates as preclinical research models is constrained by their long mating and generational times, leading to very low numbers of progeny to test and assess. In contrast, invertebrates such as insects are ethically...

Kryptopterus vitreolus, known as the glass catfish, is a small species of Asian glass catfish found in a series of coastal river basins of peninsular Thailand. The glass catfish is known as an electroreceptive fish, but is not known to be electrogenic. Bioelectrogenesis means the purposeful generati...

According to UNESCO, in the United States, about 29% percent of adults are reading at a basic or below basic level (UNESCO, 2010). Many adults who struggle with reading are parents. Research shows that parents contribute to the literacy success of children. The purpose of this research was to invest...

Spectroscopy uses the interaction between light and matter to create spectra that are used to determine the structure and behavior of atoms and molecules. The transition from traditional one-dimensional to two- and three-dimensional spectroscopy can give more information about the molecules or sampl...

The Southeast Regional Clinicians Network administered by the National Center for Primary Care at Morehouse School of Medicine (MSM) is a practice-based research network that consists of federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) and state primary care associations (PCAs) in eight southeastern state...

Ash trees around the world have a significant role in our lives from medicine to religious purposes. Recently, ash trees have been in decline in the U.S. due to the Emerald Ash Borers (EAB) which are small beetles that were first detected in North America in 2002. The rapid decline of ash trees can ...

Dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE) is classified as a persistent organic pollutant that is a breakdown product of DDT. DDE is a highly fat-soluble compound that accumulates in the fatty tissues of insects, wildlife, and humans, particularly in adipose and brain tissues. In previous studies the g...

There is much misunderstanding about the evolutionary narrative of Amoebozoa. The phylogeny of amoeba has been understudied due to their complex life cycle.  Amoebozoa often switch from an active stage of amoeba in the trophozoite form to an inactive cyst stage. The amoeba examined in this stud...

Both male and female red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum, have a high mating rate. Male beetles demonstrate clear pre-copulatory mate choice. Males prefer mature females over callow females, virgin females over previously mated females, and younger females over older females. We hypothesize that m...

This study explores the cultural expectations in China and how they affect college students. There is a strong culture of academic achievement in China, and Chinese students outperform much of the rest of the world on standardized exams. However, this high level of achievement comes at a price. Chin...

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a group of blood disorders which affect over 100,000 people in the United States. A common complication of SCD is the blockage and subsequent damage to vascular endothelial tissue, leading to vaso-occlusive crises. These symptoms are accompanied by chronic pain, inflamma...

The mission of Spelman College's sustainability initiative "is to extend our reach and engage the Spelman community in authentic conversations that will increase awareness, knowledge, and action on campus.” With this in mind, a team of senior environmental science and studies majors proposed a con...

Spectroscopy is the use of electromagnetic radiation to analyze the composition and behavior of matter (e.g., atoms and molecules). Recently developed three dimensional spectroscopy techniques yield spectra with higher resolution and less congestion than in 2D spectroscopy. This project focuses on t...

Primate immunodeficiency viruses have similar physical, morphological, and biochemical characteristics but differ in their behavior. Many African primates have coevolved with these virus, allowing for disease-free productive infection. Molecular variations may explain these variations in outcomes. T...

This study will focus on students’ ability to retain academic information in unconventional learning environments. The participants in this study are students (ages 6-18) enrolled in a mentoring program. The researcher will teach Spanish vocabulary and grammar to the participants in this non-conve...

Urbanization is an increase in the number of people that live in relatively small areas and can cause drastic changes in land use. For example, more cement and concrete may be used to accommodate the growing population of people moving to a city. This research analyzes how urbanization affects bird ...

Phenology is the study of seasonal natural phenomena. Leaf-out is the specific time a tree’s leaves bud. Shifts in climate change can impact leaf-out timing and other ecological aspects. Instability within the ecosystem can cause issues for other organisms. It is believed that climate change can d...

Cochliopodium species are difficult to identify based on morphological characters due to cryptic diversity. Recent molecular analyses (DNA sequence data) of barcoding markers such as COI have begun to reveal the true diversity of this genus. We present morphological (light microscope) and molecular ...

Performing well academically often opens the door to opportunity. Academic achievement can lead to acceptance into organizations, post-graduate study, and even positions of leadership. The pressure to achieve academically can sometimes be interpreted as requiring near-perfect performance. Therefore ...

Racially and economically identical families tend to migrate to specific locations by choice (Dill 2016). However, questions remain about differences in the standard of living between cities within similar financial brackets but different racial demographics. This project examines how the demographi...

There are several creeks and natural waterbodies in the Atlanta area that many people in the Atlanta University Center are unaware of. These waterbodies include but are not limited to Proctor Creek and Peachtree Creek. However, due to pollution, the water at many of the sites does not meet the quali...

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the extent to which employment discrimination against transgender women in traditional workplaces results in a significant number of transgender women turning to sex work as a form of survival. Transgender unemployment is three times the national average, ...

Coherent Multidimensional Spectroscopy is a technique that can be used to gain structural and behavioral information about gases and molecules. In contrast to the limitations presented in One-Dimensional Spectroscopy such as spectral congestion, this technique produces rotationally and vibrationally...

Exposure to daily stressors has been shown to increase as individuals age. This study examines religious coping as a potential moderator of the relation between age and stress. Data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health were used to address this question. Between 1994 an...

The emergence of new leaves on woody plants marks the onset of the growing season and affects a host of ecosystem functions. Phenology is the study of natural annual phenomena, including the timing of leaf-out. Leaf-out is defined as the moment when the full shape of the leaf is visible on trees. Th...

Candida auris is an emerging pathogen that exhibits a reduced susceptibility to antifungal agents and demonstrates a potential to cause a wide spectrum of human mycotic infections. C. auris genotypes vary based on geography and cluster into four clades. Given the genetic diversity among the clades, ...