Come to URCAD on Wednesday, April 25 where Psychology major Steven will present his research “Impact of Pornography and Gay Dating Apps on the Mental Health of Men Who Have Sex With Men (MSM)” in the UC Ballroom at 10 a.m.

Online pornography and dating apps are used for a variety of reasons, ranging from online sexual exploration, connecting with other potential sexual partners, and engaging in both online and offline sexual activity. Recent research has suggested that prolonged use (over five hours a week) of use of online pornography can lead to increased rates of psychopathology, especially depression and low self-esteem. 

Come to URCAD on Wednesday, April 25, Howard will present his research "Comparing The Re-Differentation Of Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cell Lines Grown On Various Substrates".

The retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) of the eye acts as a protective barrier and transports nutrients to the retina. RPE cells can be grown in culture but they do not perfectly maintain in vivo properties. The aim of this study was to compare marker expression for RPE cells grown on plastic and transwell substrates. In order to test this, three different cell lines (RPEJ, ARPE19, and D407) were plated and grown over the course of multiple weeks to determine which surface is best for differentiation. 

Come to URCAD on Wednesday, April 25, Lillie Cimmerer, Dominick Kroupa, Michael Daugherty, Andrew Ecker and Yu Fu will present their senior computer engineering group capstone project "Freight Shipment Monitoring Device (FSMD)". 

Upon the receipt of sensitive equipment, a significant amount of equipment failure has been noticed. One possible cause of these failures may be destructive or damaging handling during the shipment process. To determine if this was the cause of the damages, the Freight Shipment Monitoring Device (FSMD) was designed for NovaTech, a process solutions company that creates their own hardware and software. NovaTech has been experiencing issues with receiving malfunctioning hardware.

Come to URCAD on Wednesday, April 25, Madison will present her performance "Standing On Two Feet" in the Dance Cube at 10:20am.

“Standing On Two Feet,” the product of my research, premiered in UMBC’s First Works concert Fall of 2017. While there are many purposes to create a dance spectacle for an audience, what I find most interesting is when dance portrays an idea that would otherwise be an uncomfortable subject for everyday conversation. By utilizing human movement and body language, we can create a wider range of expression. 

It has recently been shown that crosstalk exists between the circadian clock and innate immunity in the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana. To further characterize this crosstalk, my project examined the effect elicitors, pathogen-derived compounds that induce plant defense responses, have on the circadian clock in terms of period, phase, and amplitude. 

Come to URCAD on Wednesday, April 25, Courtney will screen her animation "Color of Me".

Color of Me is an abstract animated short, representing how I felt about my cultural identity as a child and how I embraced it as I grew up. In the story, a young girl notices the color of people around her and her lack thereof, so she embarks on a mission to obtain a color for herself. Only after several failed attempts does she realize that there are many people like her without color and is happy to belong.

Come to URCAD on Wednesday, April 25. Kelly will present her research on "Baltimore’s Chinatown: Preserving Memory and a Conflicted Community".

Most of Baltimore’s histories revolve around African American and Caucasian neighborhoods, but an obscure part of the city near the intersection of Park Avenue and Mulberry Street has forced us to look into a lesser known demographic and its narrative. Baltimore’s Chinatown presents a unique case study examining the transformation of a site of segregation and isolation to a center of celebration and connection for the greater Asian American community.

Come to URCAD on Wednesday, April 25 when Michael will present his research on “Non-Breeding Season Habitat Usage of the Critically Endangered Bahama Oriole” in the UC Ballroom. 

The Bahama Oriole (Icterus northropi) is a critically endangered songbird endemic to Andros, The Bahamas. An accurate understanding of the Bahama Oriole’s habitat use is essential to implement effective conservation strategies. 

Museum exhibits provide an opportunity for people to engage with educational content in a way that is fun and accessible. This study explored whether visual, interactive, and participatory exhibit design techniques would result in greater visitor engagement within the AOK Library Rotunda, which is often used for small exhibitions. 

Come to URCAD on Wednesday, April 25. Jolee will present her creative research on “Summer Shakespearean Study” at the Dance Cube (located in the PAHB).

This project involves the honing of a theatrical craft via new materials, techniques, teachers, and environments. I spent a month in London, UK, at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, studying in their Shakespeare Short Course. There, I was introduced to classical acting and research techniques for working with and performing Shakespeare.