Science and Engineering Senior Showcase
Each year, students in the Saint Louis University School of Science and Engineering participate in research and design capstone experiences. At the Senior Showcase, students present posters based on this experience.
Industry partners, faculty, staff, alumni, families, peers and the entire community are welcome to attend and check out the great work of our students.
2024 Student Projects
ASCI-4350 Project
Lucas Batson, Noah Hanson, Josh Idzikowski, Benjamin Niederer, Sebastian Valenzuela
The purpose of this research study is to shed light on the operations and accident history of small and large airports in respect and comparison to each other. This will help to acquire a better understanding of what factors lead to aircraft accidents and how they can be better prevented.
Exhibit #26
ATC Suicide Rates
Abdullah Alasmri, Mohammed Alfawaz, Tyler DeBettignies, Darren Mushkin, Hudson Pettit, Minsu Song
Mental health is a crisis today, and the aviation industry has no shortage. Air traffic controllers are vital to the successful operation of every flight every single day. Finding ways to support air traffic controllers in their extremely stressful job needs to happen, and one of the first steps is determining some of the factors. Our group wants to study and identify possible casualties of stress and mental health crises for air traffic controllers, and how to prevent them.
Exhibit #25
Pilot Fatigue
Grace Appelbaum, Matthew Liguori, Mallory Machala, Hafsa Mou and Rebecca Treis
This study aims to identify the cognitive and psychomotor impairments that pilots can experience due to sleep deprivation and how those impairments can impact decision-making abilities in stressful environments such as those encountered in emergencies. Our study aims to show the effects of sleep deprivation on pilots and how it affects them in stressful situations on the flight deck. That encompasses multiple avenues of situations, such as effective teamwork, correctly going through the entire checklist, split decision-making, and so on. The ability to perform these tasks perfectly is complex, and adding fatigue to this equation opens pilots up to making errors. In a high-consequence environment, errors such as not following the checklist could have devastating consequences..
Exhibit #24
Effect of Flight Management Systems on Pilot Performance
Arianna Brown, Troy Ettenson, Michael Jonell, Kevin Rhee, Alexander Speer
This study aims to introduce flight management systems and how these systems affect pilot performance relating to response time, workload distribution, and situational awareness within critical phases of flight and the impacts it has on aircraft safety.
Exhibit #23
Analyzing the Evolution of Flight Crew-ATC Communication: Lessons from Preceding Aviation
Accidents and Implications for Training and Protocol Enhancement
Savannah Baker, Jack Liu, Nolan Mank, Ricardo Romero, Tinghao Zhang
Looking to the twenty years preceding Avianca Flight 52, what aviation accidents existed in that time frame that regarded miscommunications between flight crews and air traffic controllers? How did those incidents influence the protocol and training procedures within this accident, and what factors were not accounted for? How did those failures influence communication between flight crews and ATC for the next ten years?
Exhibit #22
Airline Organizational Culture and Its Correlation to Aviation Accidents
Mary Cortesi, Yichen Liu, Woo Cheon Park, Ellie Volansky, Bojian Yu
Our research will focus on investigating the relationship between airline organizational culture and aviation accidents between 2010 and 2024, in order to understand how basic beliefs, practices, and values within aviation organizations affect safe operations. We will study specific aspects of organizational culture, such as leadership style and communication practices and the connection between them and the frequency and severity of aviation accidents. And we will report what we can be learned from accidents caused by distrust or power imbalance among crew members in the past? How do these events affect changes in aviation policies, procedures, and training? So as to reduce the possibility of future accidents.
Exhibit #21
Influence of Organizational Culture on Aircraft Safety
Addison Brazile, Nicholas Carey, Mike Morell, Jongchan Park, Will Weaver
Aviation safety has been an integral part of the industry for as long as it has existed. However, it has been a reactive type of safety, instead of a proactive type. We wanted to look into what exactly causes that in different companies and organizations. Specifically with Boeing, ValuJet, Southwest, and other aviation corporates, we hope to find interesting information when we look into these. Potentially shedding some light on what exactly is going on behind the scenes in these operations.
Exhibit #20
How the FMC, ADS-B, and ACARS is Affecting Safety and Efficiency of Air Transport
Operations
Sebastian Conklin, Jonathan Faust, Jack Haduch, Ryan Sherman, Edwin Wangui
A meta data analysis of how modern cockpit technologies such as Flight Management Computers(FMC), Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast(ADS-B), and Aircraft Communications Addressing and Reporting System(ACARS) affect safety and efficiency of the modern commercial aviation system. How these technologies foster improved communication between pilots and dispatchers, facilitating safer and more efficient flight operations by enabling real-time data exchange, automating routine tasks, and providing critical flight information, which collectively contribute to the optimization of airline operations.
Exhibit #19
Chuck's Chompers
Atticus Edge, Ben Haukap, Alfonso Morales, Maksim Juric, Gavin Ryan, Shayne Murphy, Michael Davies, Shiyan Nejat
Your print failed, and once again all of the filament you purchased has gone to waste. What should you do? Typically, many individual users of 3D printers are forced to buy more filament or send their failed prints off to larger recycling companies, as traditional desk size recycling systems range from $6,000 - $18,000.
Chuck’s Chompers decided that we wanted to find a way to design an affordable recycling system to safely recycle used filament and failed prints. Hence, the goal of our project (R3fil) is to design an automated machine that will perform grinding, heating, extrusion, and automatic spooling to recycle 3D filament while also being small enough to be used in an individual setting.
Exhibit #7
Energy STL
Kevin Noonan
The assessment of energy efficiency and availability in the city of Saint Louis and the metro area. We will be using exergy as our key analytical tool. Using exergy analysis provides a unique perspective by evaluating the quantity and also the quality of energy.
Exhibit #12
LegUp
Armando Alvarado, Katrina Esswein, Regan Ford, Rob Guetterman, Jake Little, Sophie Maloney, Logan Radick
LegUp aims to be an assistive device for individuals with a temporary foot or ankle injury. Current market options are typically uncomfortable and inconvenient and make the recovery process difficult. Our project is a hands-free device that is supportive and stable for a range of users and will allow them to walk with a more usual motion.
Exhibit #13
Natural Language Control for a Robotic Arm
Lucy Billadeau, Pascal Sikorski, Kaleb Yu
In this project, we introduce an approach for controlling robotic arms through natural spoken language. Unlike traditional methods that rely on a predefined set of explicit commands, our system is designed to interpret the user's intent. By leveraging Large Language Models, the system is able to process human speech and draw upon the appropriate robot action. This advances verbal control of the robotic arm such that it will be able to execute tasks with precision and flexibility given complex verbal instructions.
Exhibit #27
Project MAAV-eRIC: Maneuverable Autonomous Aerial Vehicle enabling Research in Intelligent
Controls
Connor Fadden, Joshua Nguyen, Jacob Stukas, Xavier Torres Arpi
Our mission is to design, build, and flight test a single engine, twin tail, radio controlled, test bed capable of acrobatic maneuvers for control system research purposes. MAAV-eRIC is a senior design team at Saint Louis University that is currently developing an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) as a future testbed platform for the AirCRAFT Lab under the supervision of Dr. Srikanth Gururajan. Dr. Gururajan and the AirCRAFT desire a maneuverable aircraft that can be used to study control algorithms and the dynamics of an aircraft performing a variety of maneuvers. The aircraft will be a twin-tailed single turbine powered platform with a multitude of data collection equipment. The customer calls for reliable aircraft meant to be repetitively flight tested and gather as much data as possible. Once built MAAV-eRIC will be used for years into the future to facilitate research and learning in the Saint Louis University School of Science and Engineering AirCRAFT Lab.
Exhibit #8
Project RADARS (Rocket Altitude Determination and Response System)
Colin Cummins, Tim Drake, Matthew Muetzel, Mary Otten
Every year, collegiate rocketry propulsion teams participate in nationwide competitions, such as, the Spaceport America Cup and NASA Student Launch. These competitions have various altitude requirements that the student-designed and built rockets must reach, in order to qualify. Teams will often use solid rocket motors for these competitions, which are not controllable once launched. However, this is where issues may arise, due to the various motor and atmospheric differences between initial testing and the competition launch. Project RADARS, Rocket Altitude Determination and Response System, aims to resolve this problem by integrating a dynamic altitude control system onboard the rocket. The system is a minor air braking mechanism that will autonomously extend or pull back flaps, either increasing or decreasing the drag and thus controlling the altitude.
Exhibit #6
RAPTOR
Lesly Aguilar, Sarah Brzezinski, Michael Dompke, Justin Ndacaisaba, Will Ryan, Andrew Stack
RAPTOR, developed by MechFly, is a cutting-edge project aimed at excelling in the ASME IAM3D Unmanned Aerial Racing Cargo Vehicle (U.A.R.C.V.) competition. This competition challenges university students to harness additive manufacturing and iterative design techniques to craft an unmanned aerial racing vehicle capable of efficiently handling cargo. The mission? Pick up and deliver payloads in a thrilling racing environment. With up to five drones racing simultaneously, RAPTOR aims to showcase agility, speed, and precision as it navigates the course, demonstrating its capability to swiftly pick up, travel with, and drop off multiple payloads from designated areas. Through meticulous design processes and detailed documentation, MechFly endeavors to stand out in both performance and innovation in this exhilarating competition.
Exhibit #5
RAPTOR
Carlos Torelli, Jerome Quebbeman, Michael Maxwell, Hogan Jones, Pablo Izquierdo
The RAPTOR mission aims to rapidly deploy a 12U CubeSat from an F-15E aircraft with less than 24 hours' notice, addressing gaps in space-based PNT, communications, and ISR systems. This initiative enhances space-based services for special operations, increasing military agility and effectiveness. The mission involves receiving a request, constructing and attaching the payload to RAPTOR, deploying it from the F-15E at 40,000 feet, and executing an organized payload deployment and potential recovery.
Exhibit #4
Self-Launch Sailplane Utilizing Electric Driven Propulsion
Spencer Cochran, Sophia Collins, Amanda Kohne, Isabel Korzilius, and Camilyn Newbanks
Sailplanes, also known as gliders, are aircraft with no propulsion system. This project utilizes a self-launching propulsion system which are often powered by small jets, pistons, rotary or electric engines. The project requirements for an electric powered self-launching aircraft are broken into the subcategories of performance, design, manufacturing, and operation. The requirements for this design were selected from the 2023-2024 AIAA Electric Training Sailplane RFP, but not all requirements from the RFP will be applied. The design of this electric sailplane will be made up of two phases. The first phase includes the design and computations for a full-scale theoretical model. The theoretical model, with its 20 meter wingspan, will utilize computer modeling and ANSYS Fluent simulations to verify the aircraft’s performance. The second phase consists of the design, construction and flight of a test flight model. This flight model will be constructed as a scaled version, 4 meter wingspan, of the theoretical model to test the model’s configuration with a retractable propulsion system.
Exhibit #10
Team Oliver Design Build Fly
Luke Giunta, Antonio Hamilton, James Kramer, Peter Trainor
The mission of Team Oliver is to design, build, and fly a compact aircraft that is fully compliant with all AIAA requirements set out in the 2024 AIAA Design Build Fly competition. The aircraft shall be designed utilizing the optimized scoring equation variables from Missions 2 and 3 and configured to be repurposed for the three outlined urban missions. The team goal is to complete a moderate risk development effort, submit a design report, and fly the completed aircraft at the April 2024 DBF competition in Wichita, KS.
Team Oliver has completed 2 of their 3 planned plane models and successfully flew their first plane, without crashing, on December 9th, 2023. They are in the process of building their next version which has a predicted dry weight reduction of 30%, enabling an increase in payload by 2458.47 grams and a more longitudinally and laterally stable aircraft that its previous iteration.
Exhibit #9
The Belly: Long Range Cargo Aircraft
Cordan Hampton, Robert Immekus, Tavin Matiszik Endrit Mehmetaj
The Belly is a conceptual design for a modern cargo aircraft to be used by the United States Air Force. The project was presented to the team with the goal of creating a long range aircraft capable taking off and landing on short runways. The aircraft is designed to be flown autonomously and carry a payload of a single standardized 463L pallet.
Exhibit #11
DextraGrip
Grace Almgren, Abby Kieffer, Ryan Mueller, Angie Romanelli
Our project is a rehabilitation tool to assist patients suffering from brain or stroke-related paralysis via hemiparesis. The device aims to provide functionality via an external mobilization of the hand through an EMG-motorized orthosis system that allows for dual mode for opening and closing of the hand. Additionally, there is an integrated sensory feedback system that allows the user to modulate the amount of pressure applied when attempting to perform certain functions, such as picking up a soda can.
Exhibit #67
Fluidix - Lymphedema Treatment Device
Julia Brockhouse, Ether Dharmesh, Ryan Hilty, Jessica Robinson, Saloni Shringarpure
Each year, 1 in 1000 Americans suffer from lymphedema, a build-up of lymph fluid in the fatty tissues under the skin causing swelling and discomfort. Lymphedema pump devices have been proven to reduce swelling through at-home usage, but they do not match the superior effectiveness of lymphatic massages delivered by physical therapists. Such suboptimal efficiency extends the time patients spend in each pump treatment session, and this inactivity worsens lymphedema. Here, we have developed a pneumatic pump device to push fluid back into lymphatic vessels through sequential pumping from foot to groin, with segmented bladders that inflate from the back to the front of the leg to emulate a physical therapy massage. Pressure sensors embedded in the sleeve of the device allow precise measurement of the applied pressure and adjustment of the degree of inflation. This design is simultaneously adjustable and effective, allowing for patient-directed treatment without compromise of quality.
Exhibit #71
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MIHeight
Abigail Bremseth, Amanda Deja, Joshua Nuka, Raina Panicker
MIHealth revolutionizes self-awareness and healthcare through innovative reflection. MIHealth is a smart mirror that can determine a user's height, weight, and temperature. It utilizes sensors all around the mirror's frame to accurately determine the user's data and display the results on a LCD screen hidden behind the frame.
Exhibit #74
MindTrack - Cognitive Change App
Lexxy Ahn, Ben Schneider, Ben Sloan
At MindTrack, we are on a mission to empower individuals through proactive testing for early detection of cognitive decline and to provide peace of mind to the aging and their loved ones. Our app provides interactive screening exercises, personalized content, and intuitive incident tracking to offer a holistic approach to cognitive health. We believe in prolonging quality of life through evidence-based progress tracking that enhances cognitive resilience. Join us in redefining cognitive care—because a sharp mind is a lifetime asset.
Exhibit #69
Optimization of Electrospraying for the Creation of Large Diameter Microsphere for
Vessel Occlusion
Rose Viguerie
This project aims to optimize the creation of PEG microspheres via electrospraying for use in several applications, one being vessel occlusion at the site where they are injected. The primary variable tested, the needle gauge, will be varied to obtain microspheres in a range of 100μm to 500μm while having a coefficient of variance lower than 20% (ideally around 10%). If time permits, further variable analysis will be performed (such as considering varying the voltage between the needle tip and the oil bath). After the microspheres’ physical parameters have been tweaked to fit the requirements, injection testing will be performed. The microspheres must be able to be injected via an insulin needle without aggregation occurring (this would interfere with the process of injection). The data gathered in this experiment will serve as a guideline for further electrospraying research by providing expected values for diameter.
Exhibit #66
Piezoelectric Hydrogels
James Baker
Biocompatible piezoelectric materials are a growing area of interest for biomedical engineering researchers for their potential rehabilitative and regenerative properties for electrically excitable cells. By further developing these materials, it may be possible to use them to better address issues such as volumetric muscle loss and nerve damage. For researchers to produce these piezoelectric devices, they must be able to robustly validate these materials as reliable forms of treatment. To accomplish this, researchers need systems that can measure the electrical properties of materials created in the laboratory before moving to clinical settings. Researchers often run into the problem that systems used for detecting
small currents produced by these materials are too expensive or too big for practical use. This project demonstrates the successful synthesis of Poly(vinylidene fluoride)-poly(ethylene glycol) hydrogels and proposes a low cost, portable design for a device to measure electric currents produced by piezoelectric hydrogels.
Exhibit #65
Robotic Prosthetic Hand
Talon Krieger, John Melulis, Gerard Peña, Natalie Phelps, Katie Woehlert
The Robotic Prosthetic Hand project features the design and manufacturing of a myoelectric hand prosthetic focused on closely mimickin
g the form and functionality of lost upper extremity limbs for transradial amputations. The prosthetic features a full hand, which attaches to the amputee's prosthetic socket, with independently actuated fingers. Finger actuation includes an electromyogram (EMG) sensor on the residuum limb that measures muscular activity to use as an input to trigger the intended physical responses of the prosthetic hand through embedded microprocessors and servo motors.
Exhibit #70
Shear Wave Tensiometer for Achilles Load Measurement in Animal Models
Patrick Hinkle
Shear wave tensiometry is a recently developed technique to directly measure in-vivo muscle-tendon loading in humans noninvasively by tracking the velocity of propagating
shear wave vibrations within a tendon to evaluate muscle-tendon loading. Though a proven technique in quantifying muscle-tendon loading in humans, shear wave tensiometry has not been scaled for use in animal models. A rodent animal model is an ideal platform for developing a shear wave tensiometer, but there are many challenges due to the size constraints of a rodent Achilles tendon. By mounting sensors to measurement probes in a free-floating support structure above the animal, the size constraints can be mitigated. The successful development of the device will allow future studies on changes in in vivo muscle function due to injury and potential treatment protocols for these injuries.
Exhibit #75
SmartCane Technology
Robert Bucks, Megan Chermack, Owen Miller, Jonel Olar, Cati Welby
Smart Cane aims to satisfy our goals of increasing both safety and independence for the large percentage of the population that rely on the use of canes for walking assistance. With this device, injuries can be prevented, and help will be alerted in the event of a fall. Our design utilizes Inertial Measurement Units (IMUs), which have the ability to track velocities and accelerations using the combination of a built-in accelerometer and gyroscope on a three-axis coordinate system. The IMU works hand-in-hand with a SMS radio to allow for SMS text messages to be sent from the cane directly to any cellular phone. With the combination of an IMU and SMS radio, the cane is capable of accurately sensing when a fall occurs and sending an immediate text message to a pre-selected emergency contact.
Exhibit #72
SmartWeight System
Dimitri Loli, Caroline Murphy, Almar Myrtaj, Sam Silva
Geriatric patients can face generalized weakness and muscle wasting. In order to combat these conditions, we developed an exercise prescription measuring device to help older adults. It can measure patient repetitions, average speed of motion, and workout time for a simple sit-to-stand variation of the well-known squat exercise. These data points are transferred to an Android application from our sensor over Bluetooth. From there, workout information can be sent to a database for physician or care practitioner use.
Exhibit #73
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ROB Project
Robert McManus, Brandon Terselic, Noah Whetstone
Our project's purpose is to inspire the next generation of engineers. We wish to plant a seed of curiosity and excitement in the minds of high school students touring SLU through the engineering and design of ROB. ROB is a mobile robot which gives a tour of Saint Louis University's engineering building, McDonnel Douglas Hall.
Exhibit #68
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WaveBags
Michael McCormick, David Ruetten, Rebekah Weimholt
Our senior design project focuses on innovating the classic game of cornhole by incorporating an electronic scoring system through RFID (Radio-Frequency Identification) technology. This project aims to improve the gaming experience by eliminating manual scoring, giving players a seamless and automated scoring process. The cornhole boards are equipped with several antennas that read chips that are embedded in each of the cornhole bags. As the cornhole bag is thrown onto the boards, the RFID technology will be received and will accurately record the score following the throw of the final black cornhole bag. This system will not only add a technological edge to the traditional game of cornhole, but also will introduce a more efficient and engaging way to play the popular recreational game.
Exhibit #76
β-mannosylation by hydrogen-bond-mediated aglycone delivery
Cece Fitz
Stereocontrolling the glycosylation reactions is a constant quest in the field of glycosciences, and often proves to be quite cumbersome. The hydrogen-bond-mediated aglycone delivery (HAD) method provides control of the stereoselectivity in the glycosylation of a variety of sugar substrates, allowing for the formation of difficult 1,2-cis glycosides. The HAD method relies on the formation of an intermolecular hydrogen bond between the nitrogen atom on the protecting group of the glycosyl donor with the hydroxyl group of the glycosyl acceptor. This interaction allows for a subsequent syn-attack by the approaching nucleophile, allowing to achieve a powerful stereocontrolling mode for the glycosidic bond formation. Reported herein is the synthesis of a novel mannosyl donor capable of HAD and its applications in glycosylation.
Exhibit #46
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Brimstone Life
Robert Mendoza
This project presents different internal standards in deuterated sulfuric acid as a solvent for reactions using NMR as a quantitative tool. Strong acids such as concentrated sulfuric acid is known as dehydrating agent, a strong oxidizing agent, and can destruct complex molecules. This project investigates the stability, reactivity, and solubility of internal standards in a sulfuric acid solvent system.
Exhibit #39
Characterization of Photoreactive Dibenzothiophene Sulfoximine Derivatives
Nicolas Keller
The Bolm-McCulla reaction describes a photolysis of dibenzothiophene sulfoximine which yields two reactive intermediates via S–N and S–O bond cleavage. Photocleavage of DBT sulfoximines releases a nitrene product followed by atomic oxygen [O(3P)] upon irradiation with UV-A light. Studies of O(3P) in solution have been hindered by the high energy photons needed to generate this intermediate from known methods. Additionally, previous work by the McCulla group has demonstrated that the rate of reactive atomic oxygen release may be altered by the electronic effects of substituent groups placed on DBTO. A water-soluble molecule 4,6-diacetoxymethyl DBT sulfoximine has been synthesized which may produce O(3P) and nitrene upon photolysis. Further investigation of this process can contribute to building a framework for the development of additional chromophores capable of releasing two distinct reactive intermediates in a specified order.
Exhibit #40
Chemical Synthesis Of 3-Fucosyllactose, An Iimportant Human Milk Oligosaccharide
Joey Wise
Human milk oligosaccharides (HMO) are very important and the third most abundant constituent of human milk component after lactose and lipids. They are a structurally and biologically diverse class of glycans. Developing new methods for the chemical synthesis of HMO has been an active area of research. One way of synthesizing glycans in general and HMO in particular is application of thioglycoside building blocks. Many thioglycosides are known, and among these S-benzoxazolyl (SBox) found some application to the synthesis of various glycans. As a part of our ongoing efforts toward the development of novel methods for glycosylation and glycan synthesis, presented herein is our discovery that SBox donors are excellent substrates for the synthesis of HMO. That is because the SBox glycosides can be activated over other thioglycosides with excellent yield and stereoselectivity. The initial studies dedicated to the synthesis of simple glycosidic linkages and investigation of the reaction mechanism have now been extended to the streamlined synthesis of 3-fucosyllactose, a common HMO trisaccharide found in human milk.
Exhibit #41
Cooperatively-Catalyzed Koenigs-Knorr Glycosylation for Complex Glycan Synthesis
Chau Ta
Reported herein is an expansion of a recent development in glycoscience, namely the formation of glycosidic linkages under cooperatively catalyzed Koenigs-Knorr reaction conditions, to glycan synthesis. Previously, cooperatively-catalyzed Koenigs-Knorr glycosylations was a multi-step procedure that relied on the formation of a glycosyl halide intermediate with interim drying and evaporation. The optimized glycosylation can now be achieved in a single step in the presence of molecular iodine, silver sulfate, and triflic acid. This methodology has been applied to the synthesis of a novel, complex trisaccharide in a 1 + 1 + 1 fashion. Our synthetic approach comprised alternating deprotection and glycosylation steps.
Exhibit #42
Determining Bond Dissociation Enthalpies of Sulfoxides: What computational method
best predicts experimental values?
Sydney Lahm
Computational analysis was conducted to determine the bond dissociation enthalpies (BDE) of S=O bonds in eight molecules, which were subsequently compared to their experimentally derived BDEs. Computational BDE calculations were conducted utilizing various combinations of density functional theory (DFT) and basis sets. Specifically, DFT methods including M06-2X, mPW1LYP, ωB97X-D3, PBE0, and B3P86 were paired with basis sets def2-TZVP/J, def2-TZVP, aug-cc-pV(T+d)Z, 6-311++G(2df,2p), and def2-QZVP. The comparison between computational and experimental BDEs was evaluated through graphical representation, yielding slope and coefficient of determination (R2) metrics. Among the methods tested, mPW1LYP/aug-cc-pV(T+d)Z, PBE0/def2-TZVP, and B3P86/aug-cc-pV(T+d)Z performed best in terms of assessed metrics. Additionally, comparative analyses were expanded to include complete basis sets methods (CBS-QB3 and CBS-4m), which, exhibited comparatively lower accuracy in predicting experimentally calculated S=O BDEs compared to the combination methods.
Exhibit #43
Experimental Determination of Thermodynamic Parameters for Pseudouridine-Guanine Pairs
in Duplexed RNA: Terminal Mismatches, Tandem Pairs, and Bulge Loops
Sebastian J Arteaga, Julia W Stone, Brent M Znosko
Pseudouridine (Ψ), an isomer of uridine where the nucleobase is attached to the C1 of the ribose sugar via C5 rather than the standard N1, results in an additional hydrogen bond donor which can increase the stability of RNA. Ψ has been found to affect tRNA, rRNA, and snRNA function. This project aims to investigate the thermodynamic parameters of G-Ψ pairs in various secondary structures to allow the incorporation of Ψ in secondary structure prediction algorithms. Data from optical melting experiments of selected oligonucleotides were analyzed to determine average ΔH˚ , ΔS˚ , ΔG˚ 37, and Tm for each and compared these to their canonical counterpart. As expected, the addition of Ψ has been found to be stabilizing to a degree proportional to the number of Ψ in each sequence. These thermodynamic parameters can be used to predict likely secondary structure of RNAs containing Ψ improving RNA technology design ability.
Exhibit #44
Exploration of GPR183 Antagonist Derivatives for the Treatment of Neuropathic Pain
Olivia Farris, Elise Stuertz, Ivy Yang
Neuropathic pain presents multiple unique challenges for clinical treatment. Current treatment guidelines include prescription of tramadol, tapentadol, and other low-dose opioids. The efficacy of opioids for neuropathic pain has been called into question, along with obvious concerns regarding addiction and over-prescription. Alternatives to opioid-based treatments include neuromodulation, treatment with tricyclic antidepressants, and serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake receptors (SNRIs). While these treatments show some clinical efficacy, the lack of knowledge of their mechanisms of action has slowed the development of potentially more efficacious treatments. Thus, elucidation of the pathways involved in neuropathic pain is essential for research into the next generation of neuropathic pain treatment. Transcriptomic screening revealed that upregulation of GPR183 is pronociceptive. Oxysterol, 7α,25-dihydroxycholesterol, an endogenous GPR183 ligand, produces such upregulation upon binding. A previously discovered inhibitor for GPR183 has been shown to reverse critical constriction injury (CCI)- induced neuropathic pain in mice. Taking advantage of the structure-activity relationship revealed by this research, selected cinnamic compounds are now being explored as part of GPR183 inhibitor derivatives that seek to produce increased bioavailability.
Exhibit #38
Exploring reverse migration in 2D and 3D environments using subcellular optogenetics
Aditya Chandu, Ajith Karunarathne, Waruna Thotamune
Cell migration is essential to the dynamic processes throughout the body such as wound healing and embryonic development. Fluid viscosity, concentration gradients, flow rate, and the presence of other cells or compounds are external factors that alongside internal factors like expression of adhesion molecules, intracellular pathways, and membrane tension, affect the cellular movement. Current literature has established that GPCRs play a unique role in cellular migration. Using typically adhered cells seeded on glass-bottomed dishes, iso-dense layers of Ficoll400 to mimic the body’s 3D environment, and GPCRs coupled to light-sensitive GPCR agonists our aim is to unveil the cellular mechanisms behind reverse migration: migration away from stimuli. Advanced microscopic techniques, receptor or agonist photoactivation using confined light, and optogenetic techniques pave our way to exploring and comparing reverse migration to more conventional behavior. A deeper grasp of chemical-based reverse migration is crucial for better understanding important pathophysiological conditions, such as tumor metastasis and blood-brain barrier permeability.
Exhibit #45
Identification and Characterization of RNA Dinucleotide Bulge Sequence Families
Esha Dani
The secondary structure of RNA, which forms from intramolecular base pairing, consists of structural motifs such as bulges, hairpin loops, internal loops, etc. RNA bulges occur when one or more extra nucleotides are found on one strand of a double helical region. Dinucleotide bulges are prevalent secondary structure motifs and serve important roles in biological processes. The RNA Characterization of Secondary Structure Motifs (CoSSMos) database was used to identify dinucleotide bulges in previously solved 3D structures. Python scripts and Dissecting the Spatial Structure of RNA (DSSR) were used to annotate and compare these dinucleotide bulges. Dinucleotide bulge sequence families, different dinucleotide sequences that adopt similar 3D structures, and their structural features are reported here. These families and features can be used to improve the prediction of RNA 3D structure.
Exhibit #37
Identification and characterization of single nucleotide bulge loops in RNA
Dr. Jie Hou, Annie Jung, Dr. Brent Znosko
Despite the presence of methods that accurately determine RNA structures, they demand significant time, financial resources, and effort, rendering them inefficient for promptly solving RNA sequences. An approach to address this issue involves the utilization of computer programming to predict RNA structures from their primary sequences. Correlations found between the primary and tertiary structures of previously solved sequences would be used to predict structures of unsolved RNA sequences. When identifying these patterns, particular emphasis is placed on the tertiary structures of secondary structural motifs. Among these motifs, the investigation of structural patterns specific to single nucleotide bulge loops has received relatively less attention. Single nucleotide bulges obtained from the RNA Characterization of Secondary Structure Motifs (CoSSMos) website were clustered and characterized using Root-Mean-Square Deviation (RMSD) and Dissecting Spatial Structure of RNA (DSSR), respectively. This resulted in the characterization of 18 clusters of single nucleotide bulges with unique traits.
Exhibit #36
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Isolation of DNA Aptamers That Bind Agarose Gel
Emily Falk
This study employs SELEX to isolate DNA aptamers with a high affinity for agarose. Agarose's gel-forming ability makes it valuable for drug delivery and molecular immobilization, yet its utilization without chemical modifications remains a challenge. A randomized single-stranded DNA pool is introduced to agarose gel plugs under varied binding conditions. Unbound oligonucleotides are washed away, followed by recovery, then PCR amplification of the binding sequences. The resulting aptamers demonstrate enhanced binding activity, and the isolated aptamers are reintroduced into the agarose gel plugs. Each round of SELEX enriches the pool of aptamers for those with a higher affinity for agarose. Once the desired binding activity is achieved, the aptamer pools will be further characterized to understand their specificity, affinity, and potential applications. Agarose-binding aptamers promise diverse applications in biotechnology and medicine specifically in the delivery and release of therapeutic biomolecules.
Exhibit #35
Lead (II) carbonate-alginate nanocomposite materials as contrast agents for fine vascular
MicroCT imaging
Kyan Ho
My research focuses on the synthesis of an improved nanoparticle-containing composite gel for imaging the fine vasculature of biological systems using X-ray techniques. The composite is composed of nanoparticles containing a lead carbonate phase (LNPs) distributed in an alginate hydrogel to produce a nanocomposite that gels after perfusion into the fine vasculature. LNPs are produced by an arrested precipitation process with capping provided by tetraethylene glycol, which controls nanocrystal growth and confers water dispersibility to the system. The LNPs have controllable X-ray contrast by variation of their concentration within the composite structure. Preliminary data and testing using X-ray and micro-CT imaging demonstrates that the LNPs have excellent X-ray contrast comparable to or greater than that of bone. The characteristics of the developed nanocomposite gel were shown to be improved over that of commercially available Microfil and a previously reported barium sulfate nanocomposite with a similar structure.
Exhibit #34
Manual and automated chemical synthesis of protected gentiobiose.
Kevin burke
All glycans, both natural and synthetic, are connected via O-glycosidic linkages,
but
synthesizing these linkages by chemical methods remains challenging. Many methods
for
chemical glycosylation have been introduced, but the complexity of the glycosylation
reaction
demands further improvement (1). Reported herein is the synthesis of differently protected
disaccharides. The conventional manual synthesis was then converted to the fully automated
synthetic platform that is being developed in our laboratory. The automated approach
helps to eliminate errors and improve reproducibility. Upon proper optimization of
the reaction conditions, we achieved fully automated synthesis and purification of
the target compounds
Exhibit #33
Phenothiazine Synthesis Through Electrochemical and Photochemical Decarboxylative
Radical Coupling Reaction Development
Travis LaPonsie
Phenothiazine-based compounds are of interest in medicinal chemistry as both antifungals and for treating mental disorders. However, in some instances generating the phenothiazine core has proven difficult, with current synthetic pathways proving unreliable or not reproducible. Developing new and efficient reactions for phenothiazine generation could allow for synthesis of a wider variety of phenothiazine cores. The goals of this research project are to expand upon the traditional reaction schemes aimed at generating phenothiazines with the addition of either electrochemistry or photochemistry. This work explores routes to C-N bond formation to form phenothiazines via two methods. One direction involves the use of electrochemistry to assist catalyst turnover in poor-yielding Buchwald couplings. The other is the use of photochemistry and copper catalysis to induce decarboxylative C-N bond formation, a route that has not been explored in phenothiazine synthesis to date.
Exhibit #32
Reactive Metal Nanoparticles for H2 Gas Generation and Solid-state Propellants
Steven Buckner, Paul Jelliss, Elisabeth Johnston, Mohammad Kader, Calvin Nyapete, Gowtham Reddy, Maxwell Gao
Production of high energy density materials is an important research area with applications in many areas such as energy storage and delivery, chemical processing, and propellants. Reactive metal nanoparticles (RMNPs) are particularly useful as high energy density systems but reactivity challenges arise due to their inherent instability. We present two methods for the stabilization of RMNPs for specific applications in hydrogen production and in solid-state propellants. RMNPs were successfully passivated within the pores of metal organic frameworks (MOFs) and by capping with polyethylene. We hereby present results for RMNPs@MOF composites as hydrogen generators and polyethylene-capped RMNPs (PEN particles) as a rocket propellant material.
Exhibit #31
Structure activity relationships of core replacements in a phosphodiesterase inhibitor
for the treatment of cryptosporidiosis
Caroline Christ
Cryptosporidiosis is a diarrheal disease caused by the parasites C. parvum and C. hominis which can be life-threatening for children and immunocompromised patients. The only currently approved treatment for cryptosporidiosis, nitazoxanide, is only moderately effective in children and not effective in patients with immunodeficiencies. This study explores the role of core structure in the potency of a series of phosphodiesterase inhibitors in the Cryptosporidium parasites. By changing the heterocyclic core structure of the lead compound (“core-hopping”), the structure activity relationship can be determined and used to optimize the structure of the potential drug molecule. Inhibition of the Cryptosporidium parasites by the synthesized analogs indicates that the pyrazole core structure in lead compound SLU-2815 may not be essential for activity and could be equally or more efficacious with an alternate core.
Exhibit #30
Synthesis and SAR Studies of the 3-position of SLU-10482 for the Identification of
Novel Anti-Cryptosporidium Drug Analogues
Caitlin Hamill
Cryptosporidiosis is a leading waterborne infection caused by the Cryptosporidium parasite that causes diarrhea, dehydration, and malnutrition. In severe cases, the parasitic infection can result in death, most notably in young children and immunocompromised patients. Nitazoxanide is the only FDA-approved treatment, but is only modestly effective, suggesting a critical need for a new anti-Cryptosporidium drug that effectively treats all patient populations. Previous work identified triazolopyridazine MMV665917 as an analogue, which has an EC50 of 2.1 µM. This finding led to the synthesis of SLU-10482, an analogue with an improved EC50 of 0.070 µM. The current work seeks to replace the 3-trifluoromethyl group on SLU-10482 and develop structure-activity relationships (SAR) in that position. Twenty-six novel analogues were synthesized and evaluated for potency against Cryptosporidiosis, with the most potent replacement to date being the propylene SLU-11358 analogue (EC50 = 0.56 µM).
Exhibit #29
Synthesis of a Novel Macromolecular Drug Delivery System Based on Cyclic Galactose
Alexei Demchenko, Daniel Hoard, Anastasiia Vinogradskaia
Recent studies have shown that cyclodextrins (CD), cyclic oligosaccharides composed of linked glucose units, exhibit anti-inflammatory activity. CD possesses a hydrophobic inner cavity capable of encapsulating cancer drugs, while their hydrophilic surface increases the drug’s solubility. However, while CDs show an increase in stability, solubility, and reduced toxicity, they still have limited therapeutic effects and can cause complications. The current goal in drug delivery system development is to efficiently deliver drugs to their target binding sites, protecting them from degradation and digestion, enhancing pharmacokinetics, and enabling the crossing of biological membranes without disruption. In this study, we present a new approach for the synthesis of cyclogalactin, a cyclic carbohydrate structure containing galactose units that shows promise for pharmaceutical applications. It possesses a similar structure to CD, but its hydrophobic site significantly extends. Currently, attempts to synthesize cyclogalactin have been unsuccessful. Reported herein is our attempt to create a 6-membered galactose.
Exhibit #18
Synthesis of Novel Efflux Pump Inhibitors in the Multidrug Resistant Acinetobacter baumannii
Makaila Leask
Acinetobacter baumannii is a multidrug resistant bacterium that is largely associated with hospital-acquired infections. Multidrug efflux pumps, belonging to the Resistance-Nodulation-Division (RND) superfamily, are the major mechanisms that contribute to antibiotic resistance in bacteria. The RND pumps AdeABC and AdeIJK are the efflux pumps of interest that are responsible for the drug resistance in A. baumannii. The development of efflux pump inhibitors for A. baumannii will allow for the potentiation of antibiotics. In this research, analogs of 4,6-diaminoquoniline and benzamidines had inhibitory activity against A. baumannii efflux pumps. The best analogs had target specificity, inhibited AdeIJK efflux, and potentiated antibiotics erythromycin and novobiocin.
Exhibit #17
Gateway South Community Center
Jake Cullotta, Mikayla Elkins, Brooke Kenworthy, Steven Lum, Olivia Sotelo
H3 Engineering is developing the Gateway South Community Center, a steel structure designed to serve as a vibrant hub for physical fitness, community engagement, economic growth, and collaborative endeavors. Situated with convenient access to I-44 and the waterfront, the center offers a view of the Gateway Arch. By integrating a full-service gym, versatile retail spaces, and communal workspaces, Gateway South aims to be the neighborhood's centerpiece, providing diverse opportunities for residents to thrive and connect. The project reflects a deep understanding of community needs, offering not just a gym but a multifaceted space that promotes holistic well-being. The center features state-of-the-art facilities for cardio, strength training, yoga, group fitness classes, rock climbing, and indoor pickleball. Additionally, it provides flexible community workspaces that encourage collaboration, innovation, and creativity, catering to intellectual and professional growth.
Exhibit #14
Gateway South Manufacturing Training Facility
Carly Sear, Nick Tomecek, Mariandrea Miranda, Owen Uyemura
Saint Louis Building Company is designing a Manufacturing Training Facility in the Gateway South Development, south of the Arch. One purpose of the Gateway South Development is to attract construction and manufacturing companies. The purpose of the manufacturing training facility is to train future employees of these companies.
The Manufacturing Training Center is 30,000 sqft. building designed with the goal to reach a Gold LEED rating. With over 20,000 sqft. of training space, 5,000 sqft. of office and classroom space, there is plenty of room to accommodate the needs of the companies moving to the Gateway South Development.
Saint Louis Building Company is providing a comprehensive design of all aspects of the site including: the structural design of the training facility, civil site design for the approximately 3.5 acre site, a LEED analysis to ensure that a Gold LEED rating is achieved, and more.
Exhibit #3
I-64 S Spring Pedestrian & Bicycle Bridge
Laura Gray, Maddy Kieffer, Jack Tapy, Morgan Voissem
Gravity Solutions presents a solution to bridge the gap between midtown St. Louis attractions. The "I-64 S Spring Pedestrian & Bicycle Bridge" will serve as a connection between two expanding social centers—the City Foundry STL and the Armory STL—as well as the Saint Louis University community. While these attractions are less than 200 feet apart, they are divided by the dual-level Interstate Highway I-64, thus making access between the two difficult and inconvenient. This project seeks to implement a pedestrian and bicycle crossing that will pass between the upper and lower levels of I-64 with accessible landings by the City Foundry STL and Armory STL to promote multimodal accessibility to both features.
Exhibit #2
Agrarium
Ryan Lamping, Grace Lin, Ana Belen Ortiz (Madrid Campus)
Agrarium is a start-up multi-vendor digital marketplace for the purchase and sale of premium agricultural products, focused primarily in Ecuador. Our aim is to convert an already existing, complex and offline process into one that is simple, reliable and online. The goal for Agrarium is to create a fluid and fair market for agricultural products, elevate supplier and customer satisfaction, establishing a more authentic, fair, and dependable marketplace. We also aim to advocate for fair trade by eliminating intermediaries with unfair pricing, promoting transparency and ensuring higher-quality agricultural products. Through a transparent marketplace, we aspire to create a system that allows farmers to receive the true value of their products, and thus, promoting the production of higher-quality agriculture products as well. When farmers are supported, the entire food supply chain benefits.
Bubble Scan
Ahmet Ali Yildiz, Nischita Nannapaneni, Myles Correa
Cheminstry department at SLU uses paper scantron (fill in the bubble) sheets for exams. To grade the exams, they physically take the papers to one of the two machines on campus capable of processing this data. This process is time consuming and a bit risky - the machines are getting old and might break. In general, they like useing paper based fill in the bubble exams, but are interested in digitizing the grading process through software that presents them with detailed results, similar to the results they get from the physical scantron machines. The specific sheets used by the chemistry department are Scantron form number 95945. While not hugely expesive, not having to order such sheets is a cost saving. Most importantly, this software would replace the technology that's becoming obsolete and simplify the grading process.
Exhibit #48
Database of Arithmetical Dynamical Systems
Andrew Jelliss, Evan Richmond, Louis Rowles
The Database of Arithmetical Dynamical Systems is a research tool for a subset of mathematics that is implicated in almost every major scientific field. This project provides an easy to use interface for accessing a database of precomputed values for each dynamical system entry that would otherwise take significant time to compute. The interface allows users to employ several filters to begin exploring results and making connections between systems much faster than common mathematical software typically allows.
Exhibit #64
DroneWorld
Kaleb Yu, Hebron Bekele, Simon Rostkowski
DroneWorld is a platform for simulated UAV testing. The application allows users to input specific requirements, such as environment conditions, sUAS capabilities (sensors, hardware), and more test properties.It generates a realistic 3D simulation environment using digital shadow models and runs the user's sUAS application within it. DroneWorld monitors and collects data to check if safety properties are violated. DroneWorld analyzes the simulation results and generates test reports. DroneWorld lets you thoroughly test drone applications in highly realistic simulated settings before actual flights. This helps enhance safety and reliability. By automating testing in simulations based on specific requirements, the application enables drone developers to work more efficiently, iterate quickly, and create strong systems for challenging missions.
Exhibit #28
ESP - Electronic Structure Parser
Medhani Kalal, Hayden Karl
ESP is an open-source quantum chemistry software package that can simulate molecular properties using quantum mechanical calculations. It is a web application that allows users to select their desired text file containing information regarding quantum chemistry software data. Then select the required fields from a multi-select dropdown that is provided on UI. After conversion, the user can download the file in .docx format, which contains the desired output. By using the ESP, researchers can easily share data with collaborators who use different quantum chemistry software.
Exhibit #49
Gallery of Glosses
Kameron Bustos, Bradley Leesman, Tu Tran
The Gallery of Glosses is an open-access digital platform devoted to revealing the richness of the medieval era through a meticulous study and interpretation of glosses from 12th-century manuscripts. Our mission is to bridge the gap between past and present, connecting today's scholars, students, and enthusiasts with the scholars of the medieval era whose voices have been 'lost to the margins for centuries'.We provide an immersive experience that allows students to engage directly with historical texts, fostering the development of translation and transcription skills, and offer educators a wealth of source material for their courses.
Exhibit #50
Gas Station Management System
Mohamed Azizi, Mehdi Housni (Madrid Campus)
An all in one tool to facilitate the operations of gas station management with comprehensive features to track, upload earnings and expenses, handle human resources and supervise multiple locations.
Exhibit #51
Homeless Shelter Volunteer Scheduling Application
Chloe Biddle, Ngoc Yen Nhi Tran, Akhil Vemulapally
This website connects with the GetHelp platform, which provides a centralized website to view shelters availability and information efficiently. Currently, there is not a good volunteering system in place, so we are working to enable shelters and their volunteers with an easier volunteer scheduling platform. This will give real time information for each shelter using GetHelp on how many other volunteers are scheduled at specific times. The volunteers will also be able to login to the website and view their current and past shifts, as well as sign up for new ones and cancel ones they have already scheduled. We developed the website using React, and we are utilizing the GetHelp API to connect with nearby shelters.
Exhibit #63
MeltShiny
Zohaib Ahmed, Massimo Evelti, Ethan Gray
MeltShiny is a software application that automates the analysis and visualization of DNA melting curves for researchers in chemistry, biology, and genetics. It is built on tools like MeltWin and MeltR, resulting an intuitive graphical user interface with robust data processing capabilities powered by R. MeltShiny removes the need for manual curve fitting with just a few clicks, researchers can upload their DNA melting data and automatically generate graphs and tables. Key benefits include automated outlier removal, compatibility with modern operating systems, and accessibility for non-programmers. By streamlining tedious tasks like handling file formats and filtering data, MeltShiny allows researchers to focus their time on scientific analysis and interpretation. Its simple yet powerful interface makes complex computational analysis of DNA thermodynamics accessible to scientists with varied technical skill levels.
Exhibit #52
Mouser
Ryan Carmody, Andrew Obermiller, Stanley Yang
Working with Dr. Karoly Toth of the Saint Louis University Medical Research Department to develop an easy to use and efficient software to track hamster weights during research trials. The program itself is a recreation of Dr. Toth's original program written in 1997 using the language Basic. Our aim is to retain the functionality of the original program while using the current technological advancements and incorporating new features impossible at the time of its creation. The program works to limit researchers from touching input devices while handling Hamsters in the trial to prevent cross contamination.
Exhibit #53
Pi4Micronaut
Alex Delgado, Joe Folen, Adrian Swindle, John Yanev
Pi4Micronaut is an innovative Java library crafted for developers who aim to build Internet of Things (IoT) applications leveraging the Raspberry Pi platform. This software is designed to run directly on the Raspberry Pi, providing an interface between the high-level Micronaut framework and the low-level hardware control provided by Pi4J. It serves as a vital tool for Java developers who wish to create sophisticated IoT solutions that interact with various sensors and electronic components. By abstracting the complexity of hardware interactions, Pi4Micronaut allows developers to focus on crafting business logic and features, making it easier to bring IoT applications from concept to deployment rapidly.
Exhibit #54
Rerum Geolocator & Navplace Viewer
Emily Henken, Kyla McMakin, Tony Obradovic
The application enables users to enhance discovery and access to digital resources through geographic visualization and annotation. Users can bring in their own resources and generate Geolocating Web Annotations for them. These structured annotations contain geographic coordinates and other spatial/temporal metadata using the Web Annotation data model. This enables accurate placement of the resources onto a web map. The application also supports adding a navPlace property to IIIF Defined Types. The International Image Interoperability Framework (IIIF) provides a standard way of describing and delivering digital resources. The IIIF Defined Types with the navPlace property can be imported into the RERUM platform, this provides a map-based visualization that enables exploring, discovering and connecting resources through their geographic metadata. The Navplace Viewer allows new insights and connections by leveraging the spatial relationships between resources.
Exhibit #61
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Seeing Is Believing
Anna Kidwell, Miles Monday, Owen Thomasson
Seeing Is Believing is a web-based educational learning tool that facilitates teacher and student dialog to reinforce proper pronunciation when learning a secondary language. Students can observe their improvement through a compilation of spectrograms that compare their pronunciations with native and non-native speakers' pronunciations. Teachers are able to assign words for students to practice. Once students submit their work, teachers are able to grade student submissions and give feedback.
Exhibit #56
SoundTrack for Spotify
Claudio Catalano Leiva, Francisco Vanrell, Jaira Vazquez Sanchez (Madrid Campus)
SoundTrack for Spotify is a mobile application designed to enhance the daily journaling experience for users on all platforms. The main objective of SoundTrack for Spotify is to provide users with a journaling tool and to enhance their Spotify listening experience through a set of user account information and musical recommendations based on the user’s mood and musical preferences. SoundTrack for Spotify allows users to write daily journal entries including a Spotify song and their daily mood, as well as information about their daily activities. Through these entries, users will be able to look back on previous experiences, analyze their mood patterns, and discover new music based on their taste profile and moods.
Exhibit #57
SpeechTranscription
Colin Bush, Travis Herrick, Jack Pifer
We are working on a speech pathology transcription application. Our software transcribes a patient and instructors dialogue to text. Our software contains features that can detect different grammatical and other speech issues with the patients speech. This serves to save the instructor a lot of time and energy as they no longer have to manually transcribe the patients dialogue.
Exhibit #58
TechProp.ai
Joe Farah, Samia Mahdaoui (Madrid Campus)
TechProp.ai envisions the development of an innovative digital tool in the form of a website. The primary purpose of this tool is to leverage the precision and speed of AI (Artificial Intelligence) algorithms to conduct comprehensive analyses of the ever-evolving real estate market. The main objective of the Real Estate Market Analysis Tool is to provide real estate professionals, investors, and brokers with a powerful resource that automates the analysis of real estate market data. This website can also be used by regular people who want to check a price estimation for properties they desire to put on the market.
Exhibit #59
TPEN Services
Bhanu Prasad Kandula, Leandru Martin, Sandeep Kumar Sutharapu
TPEN 3.0 is revolutionizing scholarly transcription with a user-friendly platform designed for scholars studying medieval and classical texts. Our upgraded platform features a powerful self-contained API, facilitating seamless user group management, project configuration, and transcription annotation creation. Authenticated users can leverage this API to process HTTP requests, with data stored in MongoDB documents in a cloud collection and public data repository. The system also supports the creation of compliant Web Annotations and IIIF documents, housed in the RERUM public data repository. Open web endpoints enable users to access standardize
d project versions, transcription layers, and annotations in JSON format. With a focus on accessibility and reliability, TPEN 3.0 empowers scholars globally by simplifying the transcription process and enhancing collaboration without requiring technical expertise.
Exhibit #60
Where's Religion (Desktop)
Josh Hogan, Izak Robles, Stuart Ray
Where’s Religion? is an open-source mobile and desktop web application developed by humanities faculty and IT professionals at Saint Louis University that supports in-person research, remote data entry, media sharing, and mapping. To do this, the mobile app enables users to collect fieldnotes, image, video, and audio files – all of which are geotagged and timestamped. The desktop companion website/app provides a more feature-rich format to refine fieldnotes, edit media, make new entries, or, for certain user profiles, review or grade other users’ entries. When published, entries are automatically curated online within an interactive public map that has search and filter functions for enhanced usability. Where’s Religion? is conceptualized and designed for students, researchers, and public users to document and share their encounters with “religion” in everyday life – all with the intended purpose of democratizing data collection and visualizing religious and cultural diversity at scale.
Exhibit #62
Where's Religion (Mobile)
Tom Irvine, Andrew Chen, Sophia Bahru, Yash Kamal Bhatia
Where's Religion Mobile aims to consolidate the tools of a cultural anthropologist into your phone and allow people to post and share about their encounters and experiences in a streamlined and easy to use environment.
Exhibit #47
Probabilistic Problem: Incorporating Feedback from Emergency Managers to Improve Probabilistic
Forecast Messaging
Jack Rotter
Probabilistic forecasting is the future of forecasting from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA’s) National Weather Service (NWS). Rather than providing a deterministic forecast to emergency managers and local decision makers, probabilistic forecasts use basic statistics to lay out a variety of possible scenarios. In addition to providing multiple scenarios, there is also more room for error in emergency managers’ interpretation of these forecasts. Working with NWS Fort Worth forecaster, Madi Gordon, the interpretation of graphical probabilistic forecasts by emergency managers was studied and best practices were developed for the NWS Fort Worth office. After establishing best practices at the local level, further research is being conducted at the national level with the intent of gaining further understanding of any biases emergency managers have across the United States. This, in turn, will lead to guidelines to improve graphical probabilistic forecast messaging across all NWS forecast offices.
Exhibit #16
Using Supervised Machine Learning and HYSPLIT Backwards Trajectories to Predict Airborne
VOC Concentrations
Victor Geiser
It is known that Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) in the atmosphere have harmful and adverse effects on human health. Recent literature suggests some VOCs may also have an effect on global radiative forcing, despite making up a very small fraction of the total atmospheric composition. Due to this, making accurate predictions of these concentrations within the context of the dynamic atmosphere is both a challenging yet imperative problem. While the fields of atmospheric chemistry and meteorology are often addressed in adjacent but related contexts, this study looks to examine the importance of meteorological variables on the concentrations of these VOCs at parts per trillion level precision, based on fully open-source meteorological data alone. Through this study it was found that although considering meteorology data alone is not enough to predict these concentrations, meteorological variables such as potential temperature, solar radiation, and mixing depth appear to have elevated importance across a standard array of meteorological variables. Moreover, this study proves that additional considerations are necessary to address the differences in data types of whole air sampling data and meteorology data when incorporated into machine learning workflows. The results of this study show that it is possible to predict airborne VOC concentrations using meteorological variables, but the accuracy of these results is currently limited by discrepancies between the spatial resolution of meteorology data and the discrete nature of whole air samples. However, given that these structural challenges exist, applying modern techniques in imbalanced regression may help address these challenges.
Exhibit #1
Preparation of High Quality Few Layer Graphene Coated Metal Alloys for Medical Applications
Abigail Roe, Zijun Wang
Graphene, a single or few layer carbon film, has been shown to have antimicrobacterial and antibacterial properties, with excellent thermal and electrical conductivity that allows for the material to be used in medical devices and implants. Here we explore direct growth of high-quality, few layered graphene on metal alloy substrates using chemical vapor deposition (CVD) and characterize its structural integrity. CVD is a scalable and controlled method of synthesis, often used in industry for large scale applications. By using CVD synthesis on FDA approved metal alloys, we can study the morphology and structural characteristics of graphene samples to investigate the most optimal growth conditions for high quality graphene with strong adhesion to its host substrate. We also discuss the design and construction of an additional smaller scale CVD system which will be dedicated predominately to high quality carbon materials growth, such as graphene and carbon nanotubes, for medically relevant applications.
Exhibit #15