Animal-assisted therapy (AAT) is considered to be a subset of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) because it affects the way a patient experiences symptoms. It is a health intervention that aids in improving physical, social, and emotional functioning with animals as a therapeutic use of treatment. Our group conducted a literature search from current peer-reviewed articles to explore the question: In pediatric cancer patients, what is the effect of animal-assisted therapy compared with standard care on quality of outcomes during their treatment? The evidence provided in the literature supports animal-assisted therapy interventions with pediatric cancer children’s wellbeing, pain reduction, stress reduction and sleep quality were shown to improve after animal-assisted therapy. Implementing animal-assisted therapy programs into hospitals and clinical settings can help reduce the pain and increase the well-being of pediatric oncology patients. Bringing therapy dogs onto the oncology floors will also help patients take their minds off the pain. As a result, the benefits of animal-assisted therapy should be looked at in practice to improve the well-being of patients.

keywords:  Animal-Assisted Therapy

More than one-third of counties in the United States are considered to be maternity deserts: areas with limited or no access to obstetric care. Some of these barriers include access to clinics, access to hospitals for delivery, and access to prenatal and postnatal care. These can lead to various birth outcomes, including infant and or maternal mortality. Based on this information, our group conducted a literature review to identify if these limitations are linked to where the mother lives, whether in the rural or urban U.S.. We used current, peer-reviewed journal articles to investigate the question: in pregnant women living in the United States, how does living in rural areas compared to urban areas affect pregnancy outcomes? The literature review’s findings illustrated an association between increased access to clinics, hospitals, obstetric care, and healthy birth outcomes. Additionally, Urban areas, along with rural areas, faced socioeconomic barriers such as approval from insurance for prenatal care, finding access to an affordable doctor, hiding a pregnancy from family, or avoiding care because of addiction. As a result, these findings can be used to encourage local hospitals and clinics to expand themselves into areas where maternity care deserts exist. Additionally, encouraging hospitals, healthcare workers, and community workers to advocate for more government support for obstetric care.

keywords:  Public Health, Nursing, Maternal-Fetal Health

Dementia is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that results in cognitive decline and functional deterioration. Hypertension, also known as high blood pressure, is a comorbidity among many other diseases as it causes damage to the blood vessels. Hypertension is thought to be linked to dementia as it has been found that the majority of people with dementia are over 75 years old and have a high prevalence of cardiovascular comorbidities. Based on this information, some researchers have hypothesized that the prevalence of dementia could be decreased if dementia is linked causally to hypertension. Our group conducted a literature search for current high-quality peer-reviewed articles to explore the question: Are adults over 65 who have hypertension compared to those without hypertension at higher risk for dementia over their lifetime? The study findings demonstrated the relationship between hypertension and cognitive decline. Hypertension affects vascular health and this connection has brought to light how blood pressure impacts brain function and health over time. The studies highlight the importance of assessing dementia risk in hypertensive patients, and emphasize the need for early intervention and comprehensive management strategies to address both hypertension and cognitive health. These findings can be used in clinical practice to help educate patients on the long-term effects of untreated hypertension and the importance of either lifestyle changes or medications to improve their hypertension.

keywords:  Hypertension, dementia, older adults (older adults or elderly or seniors or geriatrics)

Rationale: There is relatively little previous research done regarding occupational therapy addressing sleep hygiene of college students. Due to a lack of literature on this subject, it was necessary to fill this gap to determine the effectiveness of occupational therapy impact on occupational performance of college students. This was done with educational modules designed by occupational therapy students containing evidence based techniques, adaptations, and tips to improve sleep in various ways. Following analysis, researchers obtained data on the effectiveness of occupational therapy in college students' sleep hygiene, effectiveness of educational modules, and identified what modules were most effective through qualitative participant responses.

Objective: Our study aims to show that following a 6-week sleep education self-management module, college students will improve overall sleep health within their higher educational environment and demonstrate an improved occupational balance. Methods: The study involved voluntary response sampling in a one group pre/post test. Researchers contacted university deans/chairs of education and nursing departments, and explained the aim of the study and provided a flyer. This flyer was shared with students in their department and contained a QR code that, when scanned, directed them to the Pre-Sleep Education Survey which started with the demographic information. Completion of the Pre-Sleep Education Survey indicates that participants met all inclusion criteria and gave consent to participate in the study. Participants then received an email with the sleep modules once a week for 6 weeks. After the final email was sent, the Post-Sleep Education Survey was sent out to the group. Responses from the Pre and Post -Sleep Education Surveys were compared.

Results: Two participants fully completed the pre-and post-sleep surveys, which were analyzed. Participants reported they “very frequently” engaged with the weekly resources that were provided within each module. The results from the post-sleep survey indicate that both participants noticed improvement with their ability to maintain enthusiasm to get things done; participants’ sleep quality remained the same compared to the pre-sleep survey, but that both participants increased the approximate hours of sleep they received each night. “Environmental Modifications” and “Yoga and Exercise for Sleep and Rest” were the two most helpful modules recorded in the post-sleep survey. Comparing results from the pre-sleep survey and the post-sleep survey, both participants experienced improvements with their sleep quality, overall enthusiasm, and education regarding sleep interventions. Implications: Further researchers and occupational therapy practitioners gained a better understanding of sleep factors for those in college and high stress environments. Sleep patterns and sleep hygiene may change from week to week due to academic obligations, changing stress levels and sleep quality. Sleep quality can be examined in other environments such as hospitals or skilled nursing facilities (SNF) and other populations such as new parents or parents of children with intellectual developmental disabilities (IDD). Having an improved understanding of sleep hygiene and sleep quality can support occupational performance and their influence in occupational balance.

keywords:  Occupational therapy, sleep, health

Historically, Nazareth University’s Master's in Social Work Program (MSW), started 60 credit students in the fall semester of the academic year. Recently, they began an initiative to allow students to start their studies in January. The purpose of this project is to provide more in-depth information to prospective and/or incoming MSW Students looking to start their studies in January. The aim was to provide information that enriches the students’ understanding of the Naz MSW program and student experience. We gathered information from students and faculty via surveys and interviews to address the initial needs of incoming students, as well as prepare them. The findings will be used to create an orientation module that addresses gaps in knowledge for incoming January-start students. Such gaps may include key topics such as academic services, campus support, and expectations in social work specific settings such as student internships. Our module will provide information on how students will be placed for internships, options for program specializations, and general guidance for prospective students from current faculty and MSW students.

keywords:  Social Work Macro Project

The University of Rochester’s University Counseling Center (UCC) provides psychological services to undergraduate and graduate students to support their mental health and emotional well-being. Interns play a crucial role in delivering these services, yet feedback from first-year social work and psychology interns have highlighted insufficient training on conducting initial assessments (IAs). Given the significance of IAs in establishing therapeutic rapport, gathering client history, and developing treatment plans, addressing this gap is essential.

This proposal seeks to enhance the IA training process by developing a comprehensive guide and structured in-person training led by senior staff members. The guide will outline key assessment questions, documentation procedures, and effective strategies for conducting IAs, ensuring all interns, regardless of their discipline or prior experience, receive equitable training. Research underscores the importance of well-executed IAs, as they influence treatment outcomes and the client-clinician relationships (Pashak & Heron, 2022; Iwakabe, Edlin, & Thoma, 2021). By implementing a structured IA training approach, this proposal aims to improve intern preparedness and client care, and also create a sustainable resource that can benefit future training cohorts at UCC.

keywords:  initial assessment (IA), college student, college counseling, onboarding training, orientation

This project aimed to enhance the donation/distribution system at Mary’s Place Refugee Outreach to better meet the needs of our clients. By leveraging intern and volunteer support, we monitored free community resources such as facebook groups and apps in order to expand the range of products we offer our clients. Our focus centered around working on strengthening the internal controls of inventory tracking through various ways, one being utilizing an app to track the products we have available. We chose this project in part due to the seasonal fluctuations in donations from partner organizations during the winter season. The shortage of necessary items, such as hygiene products, during this time has made it more difficult for Mary’s Place to meet community needs. A recent large theft of donations also prompted the need for improved tracking of donations and policies regarding distributions. Improving the efficiency of the donation/distribution system will improve the lives of refugees in the greater Rochester area during their difficult transition to life in the U.S and help to lessen health disparities faced by this population.

keywords:  Refugee Outreach, Macro Social Work

The poster project I am showcasing is my thesis exploring communication access for people with aphasia in a variety of businesses across Rochester, New York. My research aimed to investigate the types of support in place for individuals with aphasia to facilitate effective communication in public places. A second aim was to explore the attitudes of employees toward providing accessible services. I will be showcasing the data collection and analysis process, as well as the preliminary results and implications of my research. This was a mixed-methods study that included surveys and interviews. The survey was used to determine existing resources the businesses have in place to communicate effectively with people with aphasia. Individuals with aphasia provided input on the development of the survey, ensuring that the survey included topics that they deem important for communication access. Follow-up interviews were conducted with a subset of the respondents to explore their attitudes about access and accommodations. Interviews were transcribed and open coding is being used to analyze the data for emerging concepts. By researching the current accessibility and the attitudes of workers, we can better understand the needs of businesses in supporting people with aphasia and can create a more inclusive environment.

keywords:  Accessibility, Communication, Speech-language pathology

My project will be about how Sicilians view immigrants from different countries as per our class topic. I plan on presenting this information through a poster board. I chose Sicily specifically as it is my main area of focus as someone whose family came from Sicily about a century ago. Specifically, I plan on looking at how Sicilians view immigrants from different nations and how these immigrants adapt to life in Sicily, and what troubles they face in doing so. As for what sort of performance or what methodology, I'm unsure as to how to answer these questions.

keywords:  Language, Immigration, Culture, Discrimination, Adaptation

French cuisine has long been shaped by cultural exchanges, and migration continues to redefine its flavors and traditions. We will explore how North African migration (specifically from Algeria, Morocco, and Tunisia) has influenced contemporary French pastry! By examining the use of specific ingredients such as orange blossom water, almonds, dates, and semolina, as well as techniques adapted from Maghrebi desserts like makroud and gazelle horns, our studies will take a deep dive into analyzing how these ingredients and other elements have been integrated into French pastry traditions. We plan to take a balanced approach to this subject, acknowledging both the beauty of cultural culinary exchanges and the less often discussed harsher realities of assimilation.

keywords:  Food, Migration, French and North African Culture

The Fayum region in Northern Egypt is known for its rich fossil vertebrate fauna from the Eocene and Oligocene epochs. Multiple mammal groups are known from this site including early primates, carnivores, and whales, as well as non-mammalian vertebrates like fish, birds, and other reptiles. Among the reptiles are a number of snakes including a putative dwarf boa (Tropidophiidae). Modern dwarf boas are known from Central and South America, and the Caribbean; they have also been reported from the Oligocene of Europe. Here we describe a new partially articulated skeleton of a dwarf boa from the Eocene (~34 Ma) of the Fayum Depression, and compare the isolated parts of the skull and vertebrae to other tropidophiid species. The specimen was CT scanned at Duke University, allowing easy accessibility to analyze and isolate 3D models of the skull and vertebral remains. Snake specimens that contain a skull are rare, due to the fragility of the individual bones, making this an important specimen. Isolating, comparing, and describing parts of the skull and vertebrae will further our understanding of the morphology of Tropidophiidae, and contribute to our understanding of the evolutionary history and ecological roles of dwarf boas outside of their modern range in the Americas.

keywords:  Eocene, Morphology, Vertebrates

The late Oligocene Nsungwe Formation of the Rukwa Rift Basin in southwestern Tanzania has produced diverse vertebrate and invertebrate fossils. Among the fossils recovered from this region is a pair of pathologically fused trunk vertebrae of a colubriform snake. The internal anatomy of the specimen was examined via CT imaging visualized using the program 3D Slicer. The specimen presents with abnormal bone growth on the ventral aspect of the centrum surrounding the condyle and cotyle, leaving the zygosphene, zygapophyses, and costal joints unaffected. Fusion of vertebral bodies in snakes can be indicative of a variety of conditions; the most likely possibilities for this specimen include arthritis and trauma (including fracture). Arthritis is associated with joint inflammation resulting in eroded joint surfaces which can be seen on the cotyle of the pathological specimen. A healed fracture would result in the formation of a bony callus which is indicated by incomplete or disordered mineralized bone formation. This is the earliest known pathology in a colubriform as well as the oldest crown snake in this geographical locality reported with this type of pathology. Based on this examination, the most probable explanations for fusion at this time are fracture, arthritis, or a combination of both.

keywords:  Snakes, paleontology, vertebrae, fusion

Nazareth University utilizes the changemaker framework to foster holistic education experiences. The goal of this education model is to create inspired, community-engaged leaders. Alternative Breaks is one program that utilizes and supports this framework outside of the classroom. Alternative Breaks are short-term experiences that focus on social justice and equitable community engagement. This project aims to evaluate the impact of Alternative Break experiences on Nazareth students’ education and holistic college experiences. The methodology included reviewing recent annual reports and the final reflections of the 2025 Alternative Break teams. The mission of the Alternative Breaks program is to create immersive service and educational experiences that help students deepen their awareness of social justice, reciprocity, and self-reflection. The changemaker framework is an integral part of the program and Alternative Break experiences can support the development of a changemaker identity in students. These Alternative Break experiences provide an opportunity to engage in learning outside of the classroom and are an opportunity for students to fulfill their Experiential Learning requirement. The value of these programs goes beyond college credit, and the best way to gain insight into their value and effect is through the testimonies of the students who participate in them.

keywords:  Changemaker Framework, Alternative Breaks, Experiential Learning, Social Justice

In this poster Alaina Sprole, Keith Davenport, and Ethan Louisos will discuss their intensive global virtual team project on AR Books. This company provides interactive innovation to improve the learning process, by providing students and teachers with groundbreaking technology and interactive materials. By conducting a team report with other students worldwide we were tasked with creating a report to help AR Books develop into a new market. The poster will provide a brief overview of the teaming process through the X-Culture experience and the company selected, identify disciplinary connections to the School of Business and Leadership curriculum, demonstrate the use of trade and scholarly data in the decision making and recommendations, and offer a logical argument for the varying recommendations for the company.

keywords:  AR Books, X-Culture, Multinational

In this poster the team of Christian Cupani and Ellie Sapienza will discuss their intensive global virtual team project on Universidad EAFIT’S Technology Department. Universidad EAFIT is a leading institution in Columbia that focuses on innovation and technology development. The poster will provide a brief overview of the teaming process through the X-Culture experience and the company selected, identify disciplinary connections to the School of Business and Leadership curriculum, demonstrate to use of trade and scholarly data in the decision making and recommendations, and offer a logical argument for the varying recommendations for the company. Additionally, the poster will represent logical recommendations to increase visibility, foster collaboration and enhance engagement through digital marketing, international partnerships and events.

keywords:  EAFIT, Technology Department

In this poster the team of 4 students will discuss their intensive global virtual team project on Pacoa Eco. Pacoa Eco is the Brazilian footwear brand that positively impacts the fashion value chain by developing innovative fabrics from banana fiber. The company requested that the report identify new markets for them to expand into. This required analyzing and selecting new potential markets and their competition, organizing a marketing plan, and creating a mode of entry into the new markets. The poster will provide a brief overview of the teaming process through the X-Culture experience and the company selected, identify disciplinary connections to the School of Business and Leadership curriculum, demonstrate to use of trade and scholarly data in the decision making and recommendations, and offer a logical argument for the varying recommendations for the company.

keywords:  Sustainability, International Business, Pacoa Eco, Brazil

In this poster I will discuss my intensive global virtual team project on VivaVoce. Vivavoce is a leading center of excellence in stuttering rehabilitation. I worked with a international team to identify potential new markets to enter. The poster will provide a brief overview of the teaming process through the X-Culture experience and the company selected, identify disciplinary connections to the School of Business and Leadership curriculum, demonstrate to use of trade and scholarly data in the decision making and recommendations, and offer a logical argument for the varying recommendations for the company.

keywords:  Business, Intenational Business, Marketing, Health

In this poster, the team of three students will discuss their intensive global virtual team project on Pacoa Eco. Pacoa Eco is a purpose-driven Brazilian footwear brand founded on the principles of innovation, sustainability, and social responsibility. As the only Brazilian footwear company that develops its own raw materials, Pacoa Eco maintains full control over its production chain, from extracting banana fiber to spinning, weaving, and crafting artisanal footwear. The company is already known in its region and is ready to scale up and expand to new locations around the world. The poster will provide a brief overview of the teaming process through the X-Culture experience and the company selected, identify disciplinary connections to the School of Business and Leadership curriculum, demonstrate the use of trade and scholarly data in the decision making and recommendations, and offer a logical argument for the varying recommendations for the company. We chose to do this project because we feel that it can be the most effective way to show our research to people. Having the poster board will allow us to keep the viewer engaged while we present, and keep ourselves organized and on the right track.

keywords:  Environmental Sustainability, International Business, Marketing, Expansion

This poster showcases the X-Culture challenge on AR Books, an innovative educational app created by FlexReality. Originally developed in Ukraine, AR Books uses augmented reality to make learning more interactive and engaging for both teachers and students. With over 60,000 users in just two years, the app has already made a significant impact in the ed-tech space, especially in Ukraine during the difficult times of the war. Now, our goal is to explore how AR Books can expand into the United States and eventually other global markets.

The poster will walk through our team’s experience in the X-Culture project, as we worked together to create a strategy for expanding AR Book’s reach. We’ll look at a SWOT analysis, competitive positioning, marketing strategies, and pricing models to identify the best ways for AR Books to grow in new markets.

Through research and collaboration, our team will also propose how AR Books can overcome challenges like market visibility, curriculum adaptation, and language barriers, while tapping into exciting new opportunities in the U.S. and beyond. We hope to show how AR Books can become a game-changer in global education.

keywords:  Education, Augmented Reality, Global Markets, Competitive Positioning, Marketing Strategies, Pricing Models

The purpose of this study was to determine if there is a relationship of time spent in positional devices with the movement and posture of infants ages 3-4 months old, as measured by the Test of Infant Motor Performance (TIMP). Healthy infants (n=16, 3-4 months of age) participated in this study along with their caregivers. Time spent in positional devices was reported by caregivers over 3 consecutive days, from morning wake to evening bedtime via electronic survey. Following survey collection, an assessment of the infant's movement and posture, as measured by the Test of Infant Motor Performance (TIMP), was conducted by a licensed occupational therapist. The relationship between time in positional devices and infant movement and posture was expressed as Pearson correlation coefficient. Results were analyzed and conclusions and implications are discussed.

keywords:  Infant motor performance, positioning devices

Trypanosoma brucei is a eukaryotic parasite that has a nearly 100% mortality rate with no vaccine or effective cure. Ravaging humans and farm animals, the parasite also leads to severe economic devastation. The first step to finding a cure for this parasite is targeting its essential life functions. In all other eukaryotes, nuclear import is vital to the survival of the organism. Despite its prominence and high mortality rates in Sub-Saharan Africa, little is known about the mechanisms of nuclear import and gene expression in T. brucei. T. brucei is eukaryotic, however since the species is so early diverging, it is very different from typical eukaryotes observed today. Therefore, we must examine the basic mechanisms of the parasite to understand what makes it so deadly. In eukaryotic organisms today, gene expression is a highly regulated process, specifically nuclear import. The nuclear import mechanism for T. brucei has not been previously investigated. This research studies the interactions between importin alpha and importin beta, regarding their importance for nuclear import and ultimately the parasite’s survival.

keywords:  Biochemistry, parasites, research

Background: As of May 2023, there were over 300 post secondary education (PSE) programs for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD; PACER Center, 2024). While many of these programs are based around vocation and skills needed to thrive in the vocational setting, skills for daily living are also needed to increase independence. A thorough literature review revealed that there is limited research surrounding both the education of skills such as laundry and cooking in these programs and the carryover of these tasks into the home environment. Purpose: to explore how the skills being taught to individuals with IDD in one PSE program transfer to the home setting and to explore if use of a home responsibilities log would influence engagement of individuals in daily living tasks. Methods: Both students and parents were surveyed regarding student engagement and participation with laundry and cooking tasks at the start and end of the study. Students were given 10 paper responsibility logs on which to document their participation in laundry and cooking tasks during the course of the study . Reminders to complete and submit the logs were sent to students and parents each week via email. Results: As a group, the students participated in laundry and cooking tasks about half the time at the beginning and at the of the study. Although students varied in their completion rates of the responsibility logs, their participation in elements of laundry and cooking tasks as reported on the logs remained consistent over time. Both students and parents reported inconsistent independence with laundry and cooking tasks over time. Recommendations for Future Studies: Research into strategies to increase communication between PSE programs and parents/guardians may suggest solutions for improved parent engagement and student motivation for carryover of skills taught in the program into the home setting. Ultimately this could lead to a higher level of independence and engagement in home tasks for students in PSE programs.

keywords:  Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, Post-secondary Education, Home tasks

This project will be exploring the rising incidence of resistance to carbapenem antibiotics which are often used as a last line of defense against bacterial infections. This will be accomplished by presenting a case study that explored data from four community hospitals, where researchers evaluated the risk factors associated with patients acquiring carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE). In this study, two case groups were observed, one made up of patients with CRE, and one made up of patients with carbapenem-susceptible Enterobacteriaceae (CSE). This study dives into the importance of heavy consideration of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae risk on patients required to stay in the ICU, especially in those who have taken multiple antibiotics. This is a major problem because as bacterial resistance to antibiotics increases, the options we have for treatment for infection decreases. This project was selected because antibiotic resistance is an issue of paramount importance and increasing education about this is essential in creating a population that is capable of advocating for themselves and their own health.

keywords:  Antibiotic resistance, Microbiology, Patient Education

This project is a clinical case study analysis examining the diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes of a pregnant patient with high-risk acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). The analysis focuses on the unique challenges of treating APL during pregnancy while balancing maternal and fetal health. The findings will be presented through visual case timelines, laboratory findings, and treatment comparisons to illustrate the progression and management of the disease across two pregnancies. Diagnostic findings, including genetic testing, hematologic markers, and treatment responses, were examined to understand the effectiveness and safety of APL treatment in pregnancy. The analysis highlights key clinical decisions and outcomes through assessing the reported data. APL is rare in pregnancy, and treatment decisions are complicated due to potential fetal risks and maternal health considerations. Studying this case provides valuable insights into the clinical decision-making process, the outcomes in high-risk scenarios, and the role of the clinical laboratory scientist. Presenting this case study contributes to clinical laboratory science education by offering a deeper understanding of how prompt intervention and post-treatment follow-up impact remission rates in rare leukemia cases.

keywords:  Leukemia, Hematology, Pregnancy

Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) has been recognized as a major cause of healthcare-associated (HAI) diarrhea and pseudomembranous colitis, particularly in patients under prolonged antibiotics treatment. This poster presentation will incorporate results from a clinical trial comparing treatment options for CDI and a 2019 fatality case report. In the clinical trial, fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) will be discussed to illustrate how donor fecal infusion led to promising therapeutic outcomes in recurrent CDI patients. Additionally, the mechanism of microbiome restoration and its potential in reducing recurrence rates will also be talked about. This led to the discussion of safety concerns regarding screening protocols and patient risk factors, particularly in light of a fatality linked to FMT. The presentation will conclude with an analysis of the FDA’s evolving stance on microbiota-based treatments after the approval of live biotherapeutic products as standardized alternatives to FMT. CDI remains a global health challenge due to its high recurrence rates and increasing antibiotic resistance. While FMT has emerged as a promising therapy for restoring gut microbiome balance, concerns about its safety, regulatory challenges and standardization have sparked debate. Given the recent FDA policies and the approval of LBPs, it is crucial to explore the evolving treatment landscape.

keywords:  Clostridioides difficile, Fecal transplantation, Biotherapeutics, FDA regulation

My research was about Hip, Pelvis, and Femur Fractures among Older Adult Population Presenting to US Emergency Departments, 2021-2023 the authors that worked on it we're Amena Wazir, Faculty Mentor: Courtney Marie Cora Jones, PhD MPH,Co-Investigators: Shivram Kumar, MBBS, MPH and Kimberly Kaukeinen. The geriatric population is growing at an increasing rate in the US which increases the risk of hip, pelvis and femur fractures. Some risk factors are osteoporosis, female gender, falls, these lead to poor quality of life and decreased mobility there needs to be more research done on prevention and understanding the circumstances that surround the fall. My purpose is to describe the epidemiology of these fractures and characterize the causes /circumstances of these injuries. I used the publicly available data set NEISS in which I Reviewed each case narrative to identify mechanisms of injury and consumer products involved.I looked at a total of 3,429 cases,This resulted in a national estimate of 156,716 injuries.common causes of injury were flooring,beds,stairs and bathroom fixtures. Lastly hip and pelvic fractures are common in older adults in most cases they involve assistive devices. These findings can be used to help fill in the gap in other’s literature by guiding fall prevention programs.

keywords:  Geriatric Fractures, Hip Fractures, Pelvic Fractures, Femur Fractures, Older Adults, Epidemiology, Falls, Osteoporosis, Assistive Devices, NEISS (National Electronic Injury Surveillance System), Injury Mechanisms, Consumer Products, Flooring Injuries, Fall Prevention, Mobility Impairment, Quality of Life, Risk Factors, Public Health Research, Injury Surveillance, Public Health Interventions, Health Disparities, Aging Population, Emergency Department Visits, Fracture Epidemiology, Rehabilitation.

My internship is with the New York State Senate, working under Senator Jeremy Cooney, where I actively contribute to serving the Rochester community. I assist political officials by handling constituent cases, preparing press materials, analyzing legislation, and even developing my own political initiatives for the senator.

I primarily work at the senator’s downtown Rochester office, where my responsibilities include attending in-person meetings, conducting Zoom and phone calls, and participating in legislative sessions. A significant part of my role involves monitoring local developments to keep the senator informed and helping to resolve constituent concerns.

I chose this internship because I am deeply passionate about community well-being and recognize the profound impact that politics and policy have on public health. I am particularly interested in how legislation shapes population health outcomes, and I believe that by contributing to policymaking and implementation, I can help create a healthier and safer Rochester. This opportunity allows me to apply my knowledge of public health and psychology while gaining hands-on experience in government and policy, reinforcing my commitment to advocacy and public service.

keywords:  New York State Senate, Internship, Policy, Public Health

Food insecurity is a significant public health issue in Rochester and beyond. Through internships at Foodlink and St. Mark’s and St. John’s Episcopal Church, I contributed to initiatives aimed at improving food access and promoting health equity. At Foodlink, responsibilities included assisting with the Curbside Market, helping customers purchase fresh produce, collecting and analyzing transaction data, and supporting Community Health Educators during nutrition workshops.

At St. Mark’s and St. John’s, I coordinated the EDEN Wellness Clinic, connected community members with healthcare resources, managed food distribution through the church’s weekly Food Shelf, and developed educational materials on nutrition, civic engagement, and access to health services.

These internships provided valuable hands-on experience in community engagement, program evaluation, and public health outreach at various organizational levels. This presentation will highlight key insights from my work, emphasizing data-driven approaches, collaborative partnerships, and community-based strategies to improve food security and healthcare access for underserved populations.

keywords:  Public Health, Internship, Food Insecurity

Over the summer of 2024, I completed an eight-week internship at Foodlink, a local nonprofit public health organization dedicated to building healthier communities by addressing the root causes of food insecurity. This was my second internship with Foodlink, as I had previously participated in a SPARK internship there during the previous summer. During this most recent internship, I contributed to planning, implementing, and evaluating activities across three programs: the Summer Meals Program, the Curbside Market, and the Kitchen Department. For the Summer Meals Program, I developed activities for children to engage in after receiving their lunches from Foodlink’s kitchen staff and conducted individual site evaluations. Additionally, I carried out a self-directed evaluation of the Curbside Market program, analyzing site performance, cost-effectiveness, and overall revenue. Within the Kitchen Department, I optimized their data storage system, streamlining food delivery logistics for all of Foodlink’s delivery locations across Rochester. I chose to return to Foodlink because of the respect I gained for its mission during my SPARK internship. Food insecurity is a critical public health issue, especially in the Rochester area, and Foodlink’s holistic approach—addressing this issue at its root causes—has provided me with invaluable insight into public health. This experience reinforced my appreciation for the powerful impact that organizations like Foodlink can have on their communities.

keywords:  Public health, food insecurity, community engagement, program evaluation

This project will examine birth weight per county across New York using data from the New York Statewide Planning and Research Cooperative System in 2022. Looking at this data will help identify what areas of New York are experiencing high numbers of low birth weight to inform public health interventions. This project will be done using IBS SPSS statistics to calculate metrics such as average weight. Additionally, I will compare birth rates for both cesarean section deliveries as well as vaginal deliveries to see the differences in weight for each delivery. Low birth weight is defined at any weight lower than 2500 grams (5.5 pounds). There are many causes to low birth weight including preterm birth, alcohol and drug use, smoking, and age being less than 17 years or more than 35 years. Low birth weight is an important public health issue as many of these babies could develop chronic health conditions that are potentially avoidable. By identifying counties that have high levels of low birth weight, we can identify what counties are in need of more intervention and to determine the cause of low birth weights.

keywords:  Birthweight, New York

The predominant way that food crops are produced in the USA is through monocropping, i.e. by planting extensive fields of the same crop in the same area. Monocropping has drastic negative effects on the environment but it is preferred by commercial farmers because it has a positive cost:benefit and efficiency of yield. Intercropping has been shown to be the more sustainable practice but provides less yield for each crop per unit area. In this research, I assessed the effects of monocropping versus intercropping on soil nutrients to assess how crops should be grown in a Nazareth University student farm. I planted rosemary, bush bean, and broccoli plants in a randomized block design into monocropped and intercropped planter boxes. I later took soil samples throughout the growing season to compare how monocropping versus intercropping caused changes in the pH, phosphorus (P), potassium (K), and nitrogen (N) content of the soil. This research will be crucial in helping us develop a sustainable way of growing food here on campus as we establish a student farm. Seeking ways to preserve and restore the environment while producing crops that everyone relies on will be vitally important as we develop sustainable farming practices on campus.

keywords:  Agriculture, Soil Nutrients, Intercropping, Monocropping, Farming

The use of fertilizer is ubiquitous in urban landscapes and the effects of excess fertilizer use can negatively impact biological communities. One major impact is eutrophication, the excessive enrichment of water with nutrients. This accelerates plant growth and depletes oxygen levels, in turn negatively impacting aquatic ecosystems. This project aims to mitigate eutrophication in a local wetland community by identifying the factors contributing to algal blooms, primarily caused by nonpoint source runoff from an adjacent golf course. There are two objectives for completing this research. First, water samples will be analyzed for excess nutrients and the effects on the aquatic environment. Second, an action plan will be developed that outlines potential mitigation strategies to be used by the Sisters of St. Joseph. Additionally, this research will serve as an educational tool to raise awareness about local water pollution and promote sustainable practices. Given that water quality issues are often overlooked in suburban areas like Rochester, this project seeks to highlight the environmental impact of golf course operations on nearby aquatic systems. By addressing these often-invisible pollutants before they cause significant ecological harm, we aim to support the long-term health of local water bodies.

keywords:  Eutrophication, Nutrient pollution, Algal blooms, Environmental Education, Water quality

Metal halide perovskites, such as cesium lead halide perovskites (CsPbX3, X = Cl, Br, I, or mixed halides), are promising materials for optoelectronics and photovoltaics due to their exceptional power conversion efficiencies in solar cells and high photoluminescent quantum yields in perovskite light-emitting diodes (PeLEDs). Their tunable bandgaps and broad color emission make them attractive alternatives to traditional materials. We synthesized monodisperse nanocrystals of cesium lead halide perovskites, achieving emission across the visible range (410–700 nm) through controlled modifications to established procedures. Despite concerns about lead toxicity, these nanocrystals offer simple, cost-effective synthesis, enhanced stability, and superior performance compared to conventional metal chalcogenide-based quantum dots. Spectroscopic analysis and ultraviolet imaging confirm their potential for advancing optoelectronic applications. The tunability and structural stability of these perovskites position them as transformative materials for PeLEDs and solar cell quantum dots.

keywords:  Chemistry, Spectroscopy, Renewable Energy

Traditional silicon solar cells are efficient and stable but rigid and costly, with an upper efficiency limit of ~33%. Emerging alternatives like perovskite solar cells offer high efficiency but lack stability. Quantum dot (QD) solar cells are a promising candidate due to their tunable bandgaps and enhanced spectrum utilization; however, they face challenges in power conversion, stability, and scalability.

In this work, we focused on the preparation and characterization of cadmium selenide (CdSe) quantum dots for solar cell fabrication. CdSe QDs were synthesized at 225°C using a modified technique, with size controlled through reaction time and quenched in ice. Optical response was analyzed via UV-Vis spectroscopy, confirming that QD size directly correlates with absorption peaks, consistent with previous studies. This study highlights the potential of QDs for improving photovoltaic efficiency while addressing stability and scalability limitations.

keywords:  Quantum Dots, Solar Cells, UV-Vis, Photovoltaic

The clean energy crisis is one of the most prominent issues attempting to be resolved in science today. We have been using non-renewable sources of energy such as coal and natural gas, however, these energy sources are quickly becoming more difficult to obtain because we are running out of available supply. Renewable energy has taken a prominent role in research sciences because we need a better way to access and use energy sources that will no longer harm our environment and will be more readily available than their non-renewable counterparts. One of the new sources of energy that has shown the ability to be of wide use is that of solar energy. We have found that we can use solar cells to convert solar energy into electrical energy that can be used to power houses, cars, and much more. Solar cells work by using a material, usually silicon-based, that absorbs the light from the sun; the electrons in the solar cell material become excited from the sunlight, which can then be converted into electrical current. Simple solar cells can be synthesized by making perovskites, which are crystalline structures with a repeating unit cell structure. Perovskites act as solar cells by acting as the light-absorbing layer in the solar cells. The sunlight excites the electrons in the perovskite structure which can be converted into electrical current as stated in the previous paragraph. This ability to act as a solar cell is highly advantageous because perovskites are relatively easy and inexpensive to produce while having the ability to efficiently function as a solar cell. There are different types of perovskites as you can use numerous combinations of elements to synthesize them, and there are unique unit cell structures that can form. The general formula of a perovskite is ABX3 where A and B are metal atoms and X is a halide. The unit cell structure of the perovskite will usually be either cubic or hexagonal. The cubic unit cells will usually be body-centered cubic or face-centered cubic, while the hexagonal unit cells will usually be hexagonal close-packed. The perovskite synthesized in this experiment, Manganese doped Cesium Lead Chloride (Mn: CsPbCl3). The manganese ion will replace one of the lead ions in the unit cell structure, which is body-centered cubic. The unit structure of this perovskite is pictured below (Figure 1). This project focuses on the structural and spectral differences between cesium lead chloride perovskites and manganese-doped cesium lead chloride perovskites. The manganese will take one of the spaces in the unit cell for the perovskite structure which theoretically leads to changes in color, absorbance, fluorescence, and emission observed.

keywords:  clean/renewable energy, solar energy, perovskites

This paper analyzes pressure politics and its impacts on agricultural coalitions in the context of the European Union (EU). It considers their ability to advocate for changes in the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) or the EU’s agricultural policies. The coalitions have paved the way for farmers to shape the policy of the EU. It is more pressing than ever to discuss the effectiveness of agricultural sector coalitions given the impending food scarcity that European farmers are facing. The paper first explores the history of these coalitions in different contexts (i.e. “Mad Cow disease”). Then, it investigates whether there is a continuity or rupture in the mobilization dynamics of the agricultural coalitions. This way, we gain a good understanding of how they were able to enact changes in the past when they had to deal with various crises as well as offer insights into how they may deal with the current food scarcity.

keywords:  European Union, Coalitions, Agriculture, Activism, Food Scarcity