RCAC 2025 Posters

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Nucleoli undergo dynamic changes during febrile-like stress recovery

Giulia Martins Cavalcante, Brianna Vesey, Kaéla Harrigan, Kailey Leclerc, and Shania Polanco

Fever is a physiological response that is defined by an increase in the core body temperature above 38.8 °C, it plays a critical role in the immune response against infections and inflammations. Prolonged and uncontrolled fever can be detrimental to the body’s function and can be associated with cytokine storms in conditions such as sepsis and severe COVID-19, increasing the possibility of mortality and the development of cognitive impairments. Although the physiology of febrile conditions is well understood, the impact of the cellular nuclear structure, particularly centromere-nucleoli interactions, is still poorly understood. Centromeres are critical for chromosome segregation, and they associate with nucleoli during interphase of cell division.

In this study, we investigate the effects of heat stress, simulating febrile conditions (41°C for 2 hours), on the centromere-nucleoli association and their recovery dynamics in human retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells. Our initial observations suggest previously undocumented changes in nucleoli integrity during recovery from febrile-like conditions. The significant changes in nucleoli do not prevent cell proliferation suggesting that cell division proceeds without expected nucleoli/centromere positioning within nucleus.
Hormonal Birth Control Amongst Merrimack College Students

Rachel Mathes

This semester I have been working with Dr. Amy Shafrir in her research study on pelvic pain among college students at Merrimack College. Through helping with this study I have gained extensive information about pelvic pain and different effects it can have on the college student. For this presentation, I will investigate how the use of different types of birth control may cause differences between types of pelvic pain. This study was done through a survey that was available to female, at birth, undergraduate students at Merrimack College who have had moderate or severe pelvic pain in the past 6 months. Students completed a questionnaire including information about their demographics, specific pain, period regularity, and birth control use. We recruited participants through posting flyers around campus and by having our study listed on SONA . I will use the information from multiple questions for my presentation including but not limited to, type of birth control used, presence and level of pelvic pain, and age the participants first noticed pelvic pain. At this time, 55 participants have completed our study and we anticipate recruiting more participants before the conference. Over 70% of participants reported ever using birth control, with almost 35% reporting using more than one type of birth control in the past. The number of birth control types currently and previously used will be compared between participants with period pain and those with general pelvic pain.This study will show the correlation between types of birth control used and pelvic pain.
Dividing Attention: How Effectively Can We Multitask?

Lucy McAllister, Emma Carr, and Emily Federici
Effective Interventions for Adolescent Girls: Social Media and Body Image

Stephanie Messina

Social media use has been a common concern affecting many young adults. Body image concerns are a major issue among adolescent girls who are using social media, negatively impacting their mental health (Choukas-Bradley et al., 2022). Interventions are needed to help adolescent girls who are being affected by the negative effects social media produces on body-image (de Valle et al., 2021). Appearance comparisons is a common issue that adolescent girls face when being exposed to images of the “perfect body.” Finding treatments to assist this ongoing issue is crucial to help with the self-esteem and confidence of adolescent girls (Fardouly & Vartanian, 2016). This systematic literature review evaluates recent studies to determine what interventions can help best support adolescent girls struggling with their body image due to social media. Interventions that have been found effective when working with adolescents affected by this issue are: Group counseling programs in the community, group counseling programs in schools, digital detox, peer-led discussions, and social-emotional learning Results from this systematic literature review can be used to help policymakers and practitioners understand how these interventions can help best support adolescent girls struggling with their own body image.
Can You Really Multitask?

Gabrielle Miller, Emily Bourassa, and Brenna Lawlor

This study aims to further explore how multitasking affects performance on tasks involving attention and memory, while also examining how the brain prioritizes the ability to multitask. We hypothesized that our independent variables for each experiment would cause a statistically significant difference in the average reaction time.
Foundations For Business Success: A New Course Integrating Disciplines & Soft Skills

Megan Miller

In today’s rapidly evolving business landscape, higher education plays a vital role in preparing students for the workforce. Business education, the most popular undergraduate major in the U.S., with over 20% of students earning business degrees (Behara & Davis, 2015), is responsible for equipping students with both technical expertise and the soft skills necessary for success in diverse professional environments. However, many business programs continue to operate in highly siloed structures, resulting in fragmented interdisciplinary knowledge and insufficient development of essential soft skills. As the demands of the economy continue to evolve, business curricula must adapt to provide a more holistic, integrative learning experience to provide students within our institution the knowledge and development we advertise and promise. As explained in (Kleckner & Butz, 2001), initiatives to teach interpersonal skills should be a central goal across all educational institutions’ missions, spanning every academic discipline and knowledge area. To address this issue, my capstone project proposes a new course entitled “Foundations for Business Success”, designed to provide business students with a de-siloed, interdisciplinary learning experience that enhances business education and soft skills. The course will serve as a model for how business schools can effectively combine practical business training with essential professional skills, ensuring that graduates are not only knowledgeable in their fields but also equipped to thrive in dynamic and collaborative professional environments throughout the span of their lives after graduation. Ultimately, in my project I will enhance business education for first-year students through creating a required course that prepares students for interpersonal and professional success.
Reading Department of Public Works (DPW) Redesign

Olivia Montejunas, Alexander Cook, AJ Urbaniak, and Ava Minisolo

Senior Design project about the Town of Reading, MA DPW site
Hydration Assessment and Protocol: Emergency First Responders

Sena Morimoto

Emergency first responders around the world are called upon to act in a moment's notice. These community members are exposed to high levels of physical exertion in unknown environments and stress, while responsible for the safety of civilians. Due to this responsibility, these first responders must be physically able to perform the best they can. In the same manner as athlete hydration, being heavily researched and implemented, hydration assessments and protocols must be made and acted upon for this specific population. There are many ways to assess hydration, such as taking body weight measurements before and after an emergency event, urine osmolality and color, and blood variables. With more resources for our emergency first responders, they are able to perform their profession at the best of their ability.
Fatigue Management Using Catapult and More Budget Friendly and Practical Alternatives

Kendall Nemish

In the ever-growing world of technology, player-tracking devices, like catapult, are starting to become more prevalent in both professional and college athletics. It is the aim of my capstone is to educate how catapult technology is used, plus the metrics that can be observed to effectively track the workload of athletes during their practices and games, ensuring that they aren’t being over/under worked in preparation for their competitions.

In addition to this, I look to educate the more budget friendly and also reliable alternatives that can replicate the intricacies of catapult, which can also be implemented with a sports team or individual, to effectively track their workload and progress to make sure they are always performing at their full potential.
Succinate Dehydrogenase Impacts T Cell Inflammation by Regulating Mitochondrial Structure and Function

Michaella Niceforo and Lydia Gugliuzza

Aging promotes numerous intracellular changes in CD4 + T cells that impact their effector function. Our prior work showed that T cells from older(O) adults had higher expression and activity of mitochondrial complex II (Succinate dehydrogenase (SDH)). T cells from O adults also had altered mitochondrial dynamics with increased mitochondrial content, branching, and fission, reduced fusion, and dysregulation in TCA cycle metabolites compared to T cells from young(Y) adults. Aim: The objective of our study is to evaluate if pharmacological and genetic modulation of SDH would restore a “young” mitochondrial phenotype in T cells from O adults. Methods: CD4 + T cells were isolated from lean normoglycemic young (Y; avg: 31.81 yrs; BMI 22.20 kg/m 2 ) and older (O; avg: 68.11 yrs; BMI 23.46 kg/m 2 ) adults. Mitochondrial structure, dynamics, function, and TCA cycle metabolites were assessed after pharmacological activation (Diethyl Succinate) and inhibition (3-nitro propionic acid) and genetic inhibition (siRNA) of SDH in T cells from Y and O adults. Results: Our data shows that SDH activation is critical for the induction of age-related mitochondrial changes. Preventing hyper-activation of SDH restores cellular levels of TCA cycle metabolites and rejuvenates mitochondrial structure, function, and dynamics, thus recapitulating a young mitochondrial phenotype.
Student Motivation Questionnaire

Jacklyn Nieves

This qualitative study examines what ninth graders at an urban high school report as motivators to learn. 72 ninth grade students from a large, urban and predominantly Hispanic high school completed an open prompt response to the question “What motivates you to learn?”

Additionally, students were given the option to answer what hinders their motivation if they were unable to respond to the first prompt. The data was categorized based on themes that emerged. Findings helped explore what students who are struggling academically report as motivators and how educators may be able to incorporate this feedback into practice.
Pennichuck Brook SWMM Model

Benjamin Nourai

My project features a hydrologic model of the Pennichuck Brook using SWMM.
Reading Department of Public Works Redesign & Expansion

Benjamin Nourai, Veronica Boure, Marianna D'Amelio, Declan Dorgan, and Ryan Russo

Our project consists of a redesign & expansion of The Town of Reading Massachusetts Department of Public Works.
Brightview Senior Living Intergenerational Connections

Sarah Jane O'Connor, Brad Parad, Emma Kelly, Lindsay Kassatly, Megan Jacques, and Nicole Morel

We are working with Brightview Senior Living to create a connection between the Brightview Residents and the Merrimack College Students. To achieve this, we are implementing a weekly activity open to all students to attend that brings them closer with the senior population at Brightview.
Disciplinary Discrepancies: Exploring Experiences for 5th Graders on IEPs

Celine O'Dowd

This study examines the disciplinary experiences of 5th-grade students with Individualized Education Plans (IEPs), focusing on the differing impacts of general education versus special education teachers in an urban middle school. While the study is situated within a larger population of students in grades 5 through 8, the sample focuses on 194 5th-grade students from a predominantly Hispanic community. Using a quantitative research design, this study analyzes pre-existing student and disciplinary records to examine patterns in the distribution of merits and demerits (reminders) among students with IEPs compared to their non-IEP peers. The analysis also considers how the source of the disciplinary actions, general or special education teachers, may influence these patterns. The anticipated findings aim to offer insights into how disciplinary practices may disproportionately affect students with disabilities, ultimately informing strategies for establishing a more inclusive and supportive educational environment.
Understanding the Body Inside and Out: O'Neill Movement Analysis

John O'Neill

The O'Neill Movement Analysis is a comprehensive assessment of the athlete based off the findings of the joint-by-joint approach. The main goal of the OMA is to assess the stability and mobility of certain joints throughout the body starting from the ankles going up. This analysis will involve a scoring system for each joint/exercise and directives and training protocols for those who are at risk or do not pass the movement screening. The scoring system will allow me to determine which athletes pass the movement screening, those who do not pass but are not far off, and those who are at risk and have poor functionality. Once an athlete is assessed, program directives will be provided to guide your program to either improve in the weak areas or build upon their strengths. Creating an all-encompassing system that focuses on the anatomy and functionality of the athlete sets the benchmark for all athletes to stay healthy and be successful in their respective sport.
The Implementation of an Executive Functioning Curriculum in Middle School Students Diagnosed with ADHD

Mackenzie O'Neill

This quantitative study measures the effectiveness of the Homework, Organization, and Planning Skills (HOPS) curriculum. HOPS is an intervention that focuses on helping students with Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) improve their executive functioning skills. Ten students diagnosed with ADHD from a predominately white, suburban middle school participated. A pre/post survey was used to collect feedback on the effectiveness of the HOPS Curriculum from both students and teachers. Students participated in a sixteen-session focus on skills for homework recording, time management, assignment completion, and binder organization. After completion, both teachers and students completed the post-test survey. The results provide insights into the impact of the 16-week HOPS intervention.
Students Promoting Admissions Recruitment & Knowledge [SPARK]

Lauren Orser

Creating an Admission Ambassador Leadership Development program should build leadership traits as well as employable skills. Leadership Identity Development [LID] asserts that leadership happens through different "stages of transition, emerging and immersive leadership development, and tracks movement from awareness through integration of leadership identity." (Komives et al., 2005, p.95) In my project, I will support undergraduate admissions ambassadors in building leadership and employable skills within their positions for career success. By defining this position as a paraprofessional role, students will be able to build detailed employability skills to further their careers. Hernandez & Smith define paraprofessionals as students who have "extended professional training who is specifically selected, trained, and given ongoing supervision to perform some designated portion of the tasks usually performed by the professional [(Delworth et al., 1974, p.12) Hernandez & Smith, 2019, p. 76]. The goal of the Admission Ambassador leadership development program is to support students in building employable skills through welcoming new students to their campus.
BIPOC Connections with Sustainability/Agriculture

Joely Ortiz and Billy Hawkins

We will be interviewing BIPOC (Black/Indigenous People of Color) individuals and asking them about their early childhood, their introduction to sustainability and/or agriculture, their current commitments/jobs in these fields, and the impact they have made as of now in these fields. Our goal is to figure out what common threads these individuals have in their introduction and interest in sustainability/agriculture in hopes of figuring out what factors they were exposed to in their lives to make them interested in these topics. It is important for my group to find answers to this question because we are both BIPOC individuals who grew interested in sustainability/agriculture without having and prior education or introduction to the matters. We are also interested in spreading awareness of sustainability because it does affect BIPOC communities the most. It vital for us to know how the endangerment of our planet affects us directly so that we may be inclined to practice sustainability and partake in agricultural practices
Breaking Barriers: The Potential of Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in Veterans

Tyler Papciak

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) remains a substantial issue among Veterans. Many Veterans who receive conventional treatments for PTSD do not experience full recovery. An alternative treatment for PTSD is psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT), which involves the use of psychedelic drugs in a controlled, therapeutic setting to help treat mental health conditions. This systematic literature review assesses the efficacy of PAT for treating PTSD in the Veteran population. Using specific keywords in multiple databases, a literature search was conducted which identified 20 empirical studies meeting the inclusion criteria for review in this paper. This review highlights a portion of the most recent literature on this topic, focusing on the potential benefits, and potential risks of PAT. Emerging research is limited by legal and cultural barriers, however, initial findings reveal strong implications for the positive effects of PAT on symptoms of PTSD and psychological well-being as a whole.
Comparative Phenotyping of Tomato Seedling Root Architecture Under Nanoparticle Exposure Using WhinRHIZO & ImageJ

Parker Parker, Erin Lincoln, Sudesh Khatri, and Azam Noori

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are widely utilized in healthcare, food packaging, and agriculture, particularly in antimicrobial coatings and pesticides, due to their unique antibacterial and antifungal properties. However, their environmental impact, specifically on plant development, remains insufficiently explored. This study investigates the impact of silver nanoparticles on tomato seedlings by phenotyping root architecture and assessing morphological variations to quantify changes in growth and development. Two genotypes of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) seeds, wild type (WT) and mutant for plasma membrane transporter aquaporin (AQ) cultivated on ½ Murashige and Skoog (MS) media were exposed to 30 mg/L of AgNPs, silver nitrate (AgNO3), or water for 21 days. The germination rate was measured every two days over a 14-day period. The results indicated no significant differences (p>0.05) between WT & AQ seeds across treatments. WhinRIZO and ImageJ software were used to assess morphological parameters such as root length and thickness on day 21. The results revealed significant differences (p < 0.05) in the root lengths between the control and AgNPs, as well as AgNPs and AgNO3 groups. Exposure to AgNPs resulted in a significant reduction in the development of the radicle, while seeds exposed to AgNO3 germination rate and growth were similar to the control group. These findings indicate AgNPs influence on root development and germination. This study underscores the importance of phenotyping in assessing nanoparticle-induced physiological responses and provides insights into how nanomaterial exposure affects early root development, a critical factor in plant nutrient and water uptake.
Multitasking Effects on Attention

Taylor Pattison and Justin Charak
Is Multitasking Possible?

Hannah Perham, Ashley Pinard, and Carolina Santana

This study investigated the effects of multitasking on reaction time and task performance. 20 Undergraduate Merrimack students from Merrimack College participated, completing a Flanker Task with an added distractor. In Experiment 1, participants verbally indicated seeing a red dot while responding to stimuli by pressing keys. In Experiment 2, participants raised their right hand upon hearing a buzzer while completing the same task. Reaction times and responses were recorded using SuperLab with millisecond precision. The hypothesis was that multitasking between two tasks is ineffective, expecting performance to decline with added cognitive or physical demands. Results show increased reaction times and errors in the presence of distractors, supporting the hypothesis that the human brain struggles to effectively manage simultaneous tasks.
Consumer Behavior using iMotions

Steven Petrillo and Ian Montero

Our project is about consumer behavior. We will be using the technology from Imotions to analyze consumer behavior in commercial Ads.
The Impact of Endocrine Disruptors on Fertility and Reproductive Health

Hannah Phillips

Endocrine disruptors (EDs) are synthetic or naturally occurring chemicals that interfere with hormones, which are the key molecules of the endocrine system by mimicking or blocking their effects. These endocrine disruptors have been shown to pose significant health threats. One of the most concerning health consequences derived from ED exposure is its adverse effects on reproductive health and fertility in women. Reproductive organs of females are susceptible to fertility issues, hormone imbalance, menstrual cycle abnormalities, and other negative effects when exposed to endocrine disruptors. Worryingly, exposure to EDs greatly increased as the production and use of plastic and pesticides increased and they can be found in a large array of items of everyday use. These harmful chemicals are found in plastic tupperware and plastic wraps, foods with pesticides, cosmetic products, toys, carpets, flame retardants, and fatty meats. This issue is of great public health importance as it is estimated that around ten percent of women of childbearing age around the globe suffer from endometriosis, and infertility globally affects around eight to twelve percent of couples of reproductive age, with females leading in rates of infertility2,4. It is vital to understand the long-term effects of endocrine disruptors on fertility and overall reproductive health as exposure to ED continues to become engrained in everyday life. This project will focus on conceptual models that will highlight the process of ED exposure and how it affects reproductive health for different populations, along with contemplating what interventions might be impactful in different stages.