The Effect of an Alkaloid-Based Diet on Metabolic Rate in the Poison Frog Species Ranitomeya variabilis

The sequestration of alkaloids, a class of toxic heterocyclic molecules, serves as an effective anti-predatory mechanism that contributes to the fitness of several frogs in the family Dendrobatidae. While the benefits of alkaloids as a means of chemical defense are well-studied, the effects of alkaloid sequestration on metabolic rate are poorly understood. This study investigates how alkaloid sequestration affects metabolic rate in Ranitomeya variabilis, a poison frog species native to the Amazon basin. I hypothesize that individuals of R. variabilis that consume alkaloids would have an increased metabolic rate in comparison to those fed alkaloidfree prey. In a controlled laboratory setting, I divided twenty-four captive-bred individuals of R. variabilis into a control group (n = 12) and an alkaloid group (n = 12). After determining a baseline metabolic rate for each group, I began feeding the alkaloid group fruit flies coated in 1% decahydroquinoline (DHQ), an alkaloid commonly sequestered by R. variabilis, and continued feeding the control group fruit flies coated in Repashy Calcium Plus over a period of four months. Each month, metabolic rate was determined using a respirometer. For these trials, I maintained consistent temperature, humidity, and fasting period durations. Statistical analyses indicated weak evidence of the effect of treatment group on O2 consumption, but a trend of increased metabolic rate over time in the alkaloid group may indicate a metabolic cost to processing the molecules. A loss of insect biodiversity in the Amazon basin because of climate change may require R. variabilis and other dendrobatids to use the energy typically reserved for alkaloid sequestration to practice vigilance and utilize other anti-predator defenses as their sources of chemical defense are threatened

Directly American [Library Research Essay]

Research essay written by University of Scranton undergraduate student Myira Vilchis Bruno, describing the research process for her WRTG 107 paper, titled 'Directly American.' Myira was selected by a panel of faculty and staff as the winner of the University's 2025 Bonnie W. Oldham Library Research Prize, in the Undergraduate Foundational category

Library Research Prize, 2025

Photograph from the 2025 Bonnie W. Oldham Library Research Prize Ceremony and Reception held in the Heritage Room of the University of Scranton's Weinberg Memorial Library on May 16, 2025. George Aulisio, Dean of the Library, is with award recipients Kiera Mooney and Jessica Tsu

Library Research Prize, 2025

Photograph from the 2025 Bonnie W. Oldham Library Research Prize Ceremony and Reception held in the Heritage Room of the University of Scranton's Weinberg Memorial Library on May 16, 2025. George Aulisio, Dean of the Library, is giving award to recipient Myira Vilchis Bruno. Donna Witek, Information Literacy Coordinator, is in the background

Laryngospasm Treatment Options in the Pediatric Population: A Case Report

The administration of anesthesia in the pediatric population is a specialized skill that requires keen observation and clinical expertise. During the induction, maintenance, and emergence phase of general anesthesia, the pediatric population is highly vulnerable to laryngospasm. Due to the fatal complications of a sustained laryngospasm, the anesthesia provider must be cognizant of the early signs and first-line treatments (Birlie et al., 2020). The case report explores a pediatric patient who had a bilateral tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy (T&A) and experienced a sustained laryngospasm. Due to the hemodynamic instability during laryngospasm, the treatment options for the pediatric patient changed from the traditional first-line administration of succinylcholine 1 mg/kg intravenously with atropine 0.02 mg/kg to propofol 0.8-1mg/kg intravenously. With current anesthesia literature and results of randomized control trials, the treatment and prevention of laryngospasms in the pediatric population have altered to propofol, rocuronium, and lidocaine 2%. The case report explores the change from the traditional first-line medication of succinylcholine to the current algorithm for treatment of a laryngospasm in the pediatric population

Using Social Norms Marketing to Reduce Mental Health Stigma and Increase Positive Attitudes Toward Self-Disclosure

Previous research suggests that the perception of mental illness as rare is associated with increased mental health stigma. Many people living with mental illness (PLWMI) avoid discussing their mental health struggles out of fear of facing stigma, preventing them from experiencing the psychological, social, and tangible benefits of self-disclosure. The present pilot and main studies examined the use of social norms marketing to reduce mental health stigma (MHS) and increase positive attitudes towards self-disclosure. Participants were informed that either 22% or 70% of adults experience mental health struggles. After reading a vignette describing an individual self-disclosing their mental illness, participants completed measures of MHS and self-disclosure attitudes. While the manipulation impacted perceived prevalence of mental illness, it failed to influence mental health stigma or self-disclosure attitudes. However, three interesting patterns emerged. First, before reading the manipulation statement, participants generally perceived mental illness to be common. Second, participants in both conditions scored relatively low on measures of stigma and indicated attitudes towards disclosure that ranged from neutral to positive. Third, participants with personal exposure to or formal knowledge of mental illness held different perceptions of mental health, stigma, and self-disclosure than participants without such exposure or knowledge. Participants with personal exposure perceived mental illness as more prevalent than those without it. Participants with formal knowledge gave higher prevalence estimates, endorsed less taboo, and perceived more public stigma than participants without such knowledge. Overall, these findings may indicate changing societal perceptions of mental illness and self-disclosure. Further research is needed to examine whether these results reflect a growing acceptance of PLWMI or social desirability bias

To The Boy Who Sought Freedom: The Philosophy of Freedom & Social Contract Theory in Attack on Titan

This honors thesis started from a year-and-a-half-long research about the connections between philosophy and anime, with a focus on the anime Shingeki no Kyojin, or translated as Attack on Titan. My project was born from an honors tutorial with my faculty mentor, Dr. Duane Armitage, where we discussed various philosophical concepts depicted in the anime - such as, the cycle of war, freedom, social contract theory, and moral and ethical responsibility. In the end, I decided to explore two philosophical ideas - freedom and social contract theory - and analyze how the anime interprets various Western philosophers' ideas - Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, Kant, Hegel, and Nietzsche - pertaining to those ideas. Thus, the anime is not just a simple tale about humanity's survival, but a philosophical narrative drawing on Western thinkers to understand human nature, its desire for freedom, and the success of freedom within a social contract. Finally, I will be addressing my research questions: Is freedom possible without infringing on others' freedom, or does freedom inherently require sacrifice - are we free, or are we bound to the idea of freedom? Can true freedom be achieved within a social contract, or must it always be at the expense of struggle and sacrifice? The first chapter of my thesis will review the anime Shingeki No Kyojin or Attack on Titan. I will include a summary covering all four seasons of the anime because the context is necessary for readers to follow the connections I will make. The second chapter of my thesis will answer the question of freedom. I will begin with a general definition of freedom and contrast that with how Attack on Titan defines freedom. Then, I will identify three symbols representing freedom in the anime and show how three Western philosophers' thoughts are symbolized in terms of those. By doing so, I will show how the anime interprets these philosophers' thoughts to answer the question about freedom. Chapter three will focus on explaining social contract theory. This chapter will have the same ingredients as chapter two, as I will define social contract theory and then what the anime suggests about the idea of social contract theory. Then, I will highlight the symbols of social contract theory in the anime and then show where three Western philosophical ideas are presented through those symbols and find one of the social contract theory symbols in the anime. The point will be to show how the anime engages with the ideas of these philosophers to respond to the question of social contract theory. The fourth chapter will revisit and answer my research questions in the context of Attack on Titan: First, is freedom possible without infringing on others' freedom, or does freedom inherently demand sacrifice - are we truly free or merely bound to the idea of freedom? Second, can true freedom ever be achieved within a social contract, or must it always come at the cost of struggle and sacrifice? Overall, my project aims to showcase that Attack on Titan is not merely entertainment but a profound philosophical story that forces the audience to grapple with the nature of freedom and the "double-sword" - necessity versus danger - of social contracts