Cybersecurity is one of the fastest-growing areas of study within the social sciences, as the internet is becoming an increasingly important piece of the international security system. Russia, along with the cybercriminal gangs that operate there, is one of the key global actors in cyberspace - making it crucial to research in order to better understand the global security landscape. My research centers on the governance structures that have emerged within cybercriminal organizations due to the anarchic, ungoverned nature of the internet. I am seeking to understand what structural factors prevent members of cybercriminal organizations from defecting, whether that be joining another organization or going to law enforcement. Traditional criminal organizations can rely on the threat of violence to prevent this type of defection, but due to their geographically dispersed nature and the anonymity the internet affords their members, cybercriminal organizations often have no way to credibly threaten violence. To understand defection and cybercrime organizations, I analyze the history of traditional criminal norms and traditions in Russia’s vorovskoi mir (thieves’ world) along with in-depth textual analysis of a trove of over 60,000 leaked internal chats from a prolific Russian ransomware gang with the use of natural language processing (NLP). I expect that my findings will show that cybercriminal gangs, without the threat of violence available to them, are forced to resort to positive incentives encouraging members to remain loyal. However, when these incentives fail, I expect to find that defections have very little impact on the overall functioning of the organizations. My research is aimed at contributing to a better understanding of the cybercriminal actors at large in our world today, and provides insightful observations about cybercriminal organizations that not only contribute to theoretical discussions but also have real-world policy implications.

The Pacific Northwest (PNW) saw an unprecedented heatwave between June 25 to July 3 of 2021, with temperatures reaching up to 15℃ above the climatological mean. Previous research has examined the impact of this event on plants in Western Washington and Oregon through observational studies, and has focused on the economic implications for poor crop turnout. We used remote sensing data to take a top-down approach and examined how all plants throughout the PNW fared during and after this historical heatwave. Solar induced fluorescence (SIF) and Near-Infrared Reflectance of vegetation (NIRv) are two remotely sensed products that have been used to estimate plant health and gross primary productivity (GPP). SIF is more closely connected to plant processes like photosynthesis but has a short record (2018-2021) compared to VIIRS NIRv (2012-2021). We compared the responses of SIF to NIRv and found that both vegetation indices increased in trees and woody savannas, but decreased in grasslands and crops. However, SIF showed more intense and geographically larger increases in areas covered by trees. We then compared these vegetation indices to in-situ flux tower measurements of carbon fluxes, which did not always agree with SIF during the heatwave in woody areas. This study shows how remote sensing can further our understanding of how extreme events impact plant health, which is increasingly important as heatwaves become more intense and frequent in the future.

Cancer is characterized by uncontrolled cell proliferation, and its potential to affect almost anyone as they age poses a significant threat. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are lipid-bilayer membrane-enclosed structures that cancer cells produce and use for intercellular communication. EVs are typically loaded with a variety of proteins, nucleic acids, and other cargo that can be delivered to recipient cells. Tumor-derived EVs aid in the progression of various cancers by enhancing malignant cell survival, proliferation, and invasion. Working with our graduate mentor, we conducted an 866 chemical screen and found kinase inhibitors that altered EV production by cancer cells via luminescence assay. From the hits, we chose to study kinases from the JNK and p38 MAPK pathways, which both promote cancer progression. Reactive oxygen species (ROS), which damage cells through oxidative stress, can activate both of these pathways. Based on this, we proposed the question: what role do ROS play in EV biogenesis and cancer development in living organisms? To answer this question, our research utilizes Drosophila melanogaster, an ideal in vivo model due to its vast genetic toolbox and brief generation times. We used Drosophila with the Ras^V12, scrib^-/- tumor model to study EV biogenesis, and crossed them with flies that have knocked down homologs of JNK and p38 MAPK. We then selected specific progenies and dissected the imaginal discs and placed them in media to allow for EV biogenesis, and quantification was done by live imaging EV production from tumor discs, fluorescence assays, and qPCR. Our preliminary results show that imaginal discs from Ras^V12, scrib^-/- flies produce a large amount of EVs. We anticipate that in organisms, both JNK and p38 MAPK knockdowns will lead to a decrease in EV production. Future work could be done to implement our findings in humans to potentially develop novel cancer therapeutics.

Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) is a hybrid regime, with common law legal systems inherited from its time as a British colony and simultaneously under the direct rule of the communist People's Republic of China (PRC). The HKSAR has a high level of autonomy from the PRC, enjoying many personal freedoms unknown to the rest of China: universal suffrage, the right to privacy, and an open internet. These values are encoded in its mini-constitution called the Basic Law which is modeled on the parliamentarian democracies of the Commonwealth nations. Since the United Kingdom handed over Hong Kong to the PRC in 1997, there has been a steady erosion of this autonomy and individual rights. These restrictions such as those on universal suffrage in selecting legislators and the Chief Executive implemented via PRC fiat culminated in the passing of a highly unpopular National Security Law (NSL) in 2020. The NSL criminalizes broad definitions of threats to national security, including supporting successionist movements whether “by force or threat of force” leading to the targeting of pro-democracy groups by the police. This research seeks to reveal the extent of the HKSAR government’s censorship of the internet and digital surveillance of its citizens since the passing of the NSL. By analyzing legal documents, news articles, cybersecurity reports, and academic sources this research has uncovered the legal and technical mechanisms that the HKSAR government has been utilizing to enforce the NSL. The report’s findings indicate that amendments to the data privacy ordinance, crowd-funding regulations, blocking of websites by internet providers, coercing of social media companies, and implementation of novel surveillance technologies have greatly reduced internet freedoms. These developments present a dilemma to the paradoxical socio-political structure of the city whose foundations are rooted in liberal legal traditions but face increasing interference in its governance by the PRC.

The purpose of this study is to understand recent developments regarding curriculum standards for teaching Indigenous histories and contemporary matters, specifically within Michigan’s K-12 Public Schools(MPS). This presentation draws from interviews with a range of stakeholders, including: current and former students and educators within MPS; politicians and government officials involved in relevant legislation; university professors concentrating their work in Native Studies at universities in Michigan; and representatives of Tribal Nations located in Michigan. This project also integrates relational discussions with Washington-based educators involved in the teaching and implementation of Washington’s Since Time Immemorial (STI) Curriculum. This presentation will share research analyses of relevant pieces of legislation and academic sources pertaining to Indigenous-centered curriculum. The objective of this research is to inform a written piece addressing current efforts to expand education on Indigenous histories and contemporary matters in MPS including efforts made in the past, actions currently in progress, suggested plans for the future, and what Michigan may learn from Washington’s efforts to fully implement STI through examining shortcomings in the implementation of STI curriculum and how these failures may serve to inform Michigan’s protocol for introducing revised standards. Given that one of the major proposals to the expansion of Indigenous-related curriculum involves teaching Indian Boarding School histories, the long-term implications of this research contribute to ensuring youth are educated about the devastating consequences of residential schools, which in turn aims to assure similar policies are not introduced in the future. Discussion of these findings will emphasize institutions which allow(ed) destructive policies like that of boarding schools to be implemented, reframing the common narrative perpetuated in schooling systems that such policies are the result of a few “bad actors.” This research is interested in exploring how curricula contribute to the latter perspective, and whether newly implemented standards effectively convey the former viewpoint.

My research is an analysis of the pervasive issue of gender-based violence faced by women in India. Despite the presence of constitutional safeguards, the entrenched patriachal norms, and the prevalent misogyny in Indian society continue to deny women the healthy and peaceful lives they rightfully deserve. By analyzing pre-existing data along with data collected from interviews conducted with women between the ages of 35-45 from village Gumtala in Punjab, I have conducted a study to examine the relationship between postponed age of marriage and gender-based violence. It's through the lens of these women, I argue that decades of suppression in the name of culture have normalized violence against them. I conducted this study with careful consideration, ensuring that the questions posed in the semi-structured interviews were sensitive to the unique backgrounds and experiences of the women involved. Through the method of convenience sampling and qualitative analysis of interview data, I identified patterns of gender based violence and socio-economic factors. The results of my study suggest that early marriage not only increases women's vulnerability but also fosters economic dependence and social isolation of young brides that fuels the act of dowry practices causing marital abuse.These findings are not only essential in creating awareness regarding the vulnerable state of these women but also help me pose possible policy interventions by the Governmnet of India. My research has allowed me to argue how raising the legal marriage age for women to 25 mitigates gender-based violence, allowing women more time to pursue education and build financial independence before marriage. This study is an ode to all the women who are denied a voice.

Ferrate is an effective technology for water treatment applications because of its capabilities as an oxidant, coagulant, and disinfectant. Furthermore, ferrate is an environmentally benign chemical derived from a ubiquitous mineral on the Earth’s surface. However, ferrate rapid reduction to ferric species reduces its oxidation capacity. Ferrate-coated sand has been proposed as a better deployable method for ferrate in water treatment applications. Sand has a high composition (>80%) of silica (SiO₂) which has been demonstrated to stabilize ferrate reactivity and increase its oxidation capacity. A previous study on the treatment of phenol, a common surface water contaminant, showed that ferrate-coated sand was better at degrading phenol than ferrate only (in the absence of sand). However, the study was conducted in pure water matrices. Here, we are evaluating the oxidation of phenol by ferrate-coated sand in the presence of effluent organic matter and trace metals (i.e. copper). Organic matter is ubiquitous in the environment and can impact contaminant remediation efficiency. Studies have detected trace metals in surface waters which can pose environmental and health risks. Through batch tests, we observed that effluent organic matter hinders the stability of the ferrate-coated media and reduces its oxidation capacity. The results of this study will provide information about the ferrate-coated sand reactivity and capacity for the treatment of complex water matrices.

Using data from the United States Sentencing Commission (2014-2022), this study analyzes the impact of a defendant's gender in the sentencing of federal homicide cases. Previous research shows that female defendants experience leniency in criminal sentencing compared to male counterparts. However, studies also suggest harsher punishments are given to female defendants when the crime is violent. This may be influenced by the social construct of gender, where traits including aggression and violence are perceived to be inherently male, and male violence is often expected and excused. Focusing exclusively on federal homicide cases from fiscal years 2014-2022 (N = 3017), I ran linear regression analyses controlling for legal and extralegal factors to analyze the effect of gender on sentence length. I hypothesize that in the case of federal homicide, male defendants will receive shorter sentences compared to female counterparts. This study focuses how gender influences sentencing outcomes in federal courts. It is crucial to understand how gender influences judicial sentencing in order to promote a just legal system.

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common neurodegenerative disease, with over 6 million Americans suffering from the illness and prevalence increasing each year. My work was conducted as part of an NIH-funded multi-institutional network called TREAT-AD (TaRget Enablement to Accelerate Therapy Development for AD) that aims to find potential therapies for AD. The bioinformatics core of this network identified genetic targets of interest using RNA-sequencing and proteomic analysis of post-mortem tissue from participants with AD. We hypothesized that manipulating expression of these target genes in a relevant human model would influence levels of AD-related biomarkers. To manipulate genetic expression efficiently, I used shRNA technology in human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC) derived neurons. I then analyzed these hiPSC-derived neurons for AD-relevant readouts, such as soluble amyloid beta secretion and intracellular phosphorylation of Tau protein, relevant to the two main neuropathological hallmarks of AD. I ran quantitative polymerase chain reactions (qPCR) to measure neuronal expression levels of each gene target, and compared amyloid beta and phosphorylated tau outputs to control samples using MSD ELISA assays. I found four gene targets that have substantial neuronal expression and found that each affected AD-related output levels when gene expression was knocked down with shRNA. My findings provide direct molecular genetic evidence that links these genes to AD pathways, suggesting that these genes could serve as promising targets for therapeutic development.

6PPD-quinone (6PPDQ), a transformation product of an anti-oxidant used in tire manufacturing, was recently identified as the causal agent of acute mortality in coho salmon. Abrasion on tires by road surfaces create tire wear particles (TWPs). Both TWPs and the accumulation of waste tires pose risks of leaching 6PPDQ into stormwater runoff. Crumb rubbers, which are manufactured to reduce landfill tire waste and applied in turf infills, may also leach 6PPDQ. My research aims to determine the conditions at which crumb rubber can be pyrolyzed to prevent 6PPDQ leaching from tire recycling options. If pyrolysis successfully removes 6PPDQ from crumb rubber, then the resulting material can be applied as an absorbent tire char to remove contaminants from water. Waste tire crumb rubber samples were pyrolyzed in a tube furnace under nitrogen flow for 90 minutes at a range of different temperatures. Methanol-based solvent extraction was used to extract the remaining 6PPDQ from the pyrolyzed samples and diluted until suitable for liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) analysis. It is observed that as the pyrolysis temperature increases, the mass of 6PPDQ leached from pyrolyzed crumb rubber decreases. The results of this study allow us to understand the limitations of pyrolyzing tire rubber to develop activated carbon. To further investigate the feasibility of waste tire activated carbon, a chemical activation step will be added in pyrolysis to better replicate the creation of activated carbon.

This poster describes a qualitative study highlighting the intersection of ethnic identity and Christian faith in shaping South Asian college students’ perceptions of LGBTQ+ individuals. Current sociopolitical climates toward LGBTQ+ individuals in South Asian countries tend to be hostile, and even South Asian communities within the United States can reflect similar beliefs. Zaidi (2014) found that shame in the South Asian community was in conflict with a desire to express one’s queer identity among South Asian youths (Zaidi, 2014). Moreover, environmental factors such as the religious setting might contribute to varying perspectives regarding LGBTQ+ individuals; in the current study, we highlight faith-based higher education institutions (i.e., Christian university) as an institution that can shape views regarding LBTBQ+ folks and their experiences. We conducted 6 semi-structured interviews with South Asian college students enrolled in a Christian university located in the Pacific Northwest region of the U.S. Our three-member research team transcribed the interviews, coded the transcriptions, and placed the codes in themes according to Braun and Clarke’s (2006) guidelines for Thematic Analysis. The four themes that we identified include support for LGBTQ+ people on campus, Christian messaging around LGBTQ+ identity, South Asian communities, and participant’s own attitudes. These major themes also included subthemes, some of which are campus advocacy and protests influenced participant’s beliefs, feelings of an internal struggle, attitudes of South Asian communities, and individual affirming attitudes. Broadly, we found that the participants viewed their own South Asian communities as generally silent or passive in LGBTQ+ dialogues, and that their Christian campus promoted both helpful and unhelpful conversations about the topic. We will present some implications for practice in higher education around fostering an inclusive space for LGTBQ+ individuals, especially as they pertain to intentional integration of culture-specific (e.g., South Asian) and religious (e.g., Christian) perspectives.

Recent findings suggest that decreased chromatin acetylation leads to neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer's Disease (AD). Histone acetylation alters chromatin structure which regulates gene expression. One of the key proteins involved in this genetic modification is KAT5 (TIP60) acetylase. The Young Lab recently demonstrated that increased chromatin acetylation leads to the expression of genes involved in cognition and neuronal maturation. KAT5 is known to interact with the intracellular region of the Amyloid Precursor Protein (APP), which is a main player in the development of Alzheimer’s Disease (AD). In wild-type cells, the KAT5 protein is believed to be released from the membrane and translocated to the nucleus where it leads to increased chromatin acetylation and gene expression. Recent hypothesis suggest that an amyloidogenic cleavage of APP, either due to mutations or in AD conditions, prevents KAT5 nuclear translocation. To address this question, we will perform the following three experiments using human brain tissue and human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived neurons (hiPSC-Ns): 1. Immunohistochemistry for KAT5 on control and AD brains to see if we can detect a reduction in nuclear KAT5 localization in AD. 2. Immunocytochemistry on hiPSC-derived neurons harboring a familial AD (fAD) mutation in APP (Swedish mutation-K670N/M671L) as well as in neurons derived from cells that are deficient in APP (APP KO). 3. RNA-sequencing to determine differential gene expression between cells with fAD mutations and those that are deficient in APP, with a focus on genes regulated by KAT5. We expect to see aberrant KAT5 localization and gene expression in cells and tissues with AD and fAD mutations. Since treatments targeting the deposition of beta-amyloid led to many unsuccessful medical trials, we anticipate this study will demonstrate the importance of the absence of KAT5 signaling during early development of AD and devise new strategies for treatments.

Human-induced pluripotent stem cells can be differentiated into many neuronal cell types, including astrocytes. Astrocytes are a critical brain cell, generally called glia, that interact and communicate with neurons. Their dysfunction is apparent in Alzheimer’s disease (AD), but how these processes contribute to AD development is not well understood. I created and refined an astrocyte differentiation protocol from hiPSCs to understand astrocyte dysfunction in AD. The induction protocol starts at neural progenitor cells (NPCs) already differentiated from hiPSCs. I used astrocyte-specific cell surface markers, CD44 and CD184 to purify astrocyte progenitors from this population, and then matured the cells by culturing them for 28 more days in Astrocyte-specific media. To analyze the purity of the astrocyte cultures and success of the induction, I firstly ran a glutamate uptake assay via a colorimetric glutamate assay kit. Secondly, via RT-qPCR I tested for an upregulation of astrocyte genes GFAP, ALDH1L1, P1TX1, EEAT1 as cells differentiated from NPCs to mature astrocytes. At the same time I tested if there is downregulation of NPC genes Nestin, Sox2, and Pax6. I stained for astrocyte markers such as GLAST, S100b, and GFAP via immunocytochemistry (ICC) to confirm the expression of astrocyte relevant proteins. Following the validation of the astrocyte differentiation protocol, I tested activation of the astrocytes using conditioned media from familial AD (FAD) neuronal cultures, differentiated from hiPSCs that have the FAD Swedish mutation, and represent AD-mimicking conditions. Next, I tested astrocyte activation in comparison to 2 groups: a negative control with regular media treatment, and a positive control with a known inflammatory cytokine such as IL-1β or LPS. Activation of astrocytes were analyzed via a cytokine ELISA kit and through ICC. This project helps elucidate in what ways astrocytes interact with disease progression of FAD, and how their activity is differentially triggered in FAD.