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2. Jacob Andrews
Major: Physics
Graduation: Spring 2025
Mentor: Dr. Jane Nachtman (Physics and Astronomy)

DUNE, Deep Learning for Neutrino Physics

The Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE) seeks to understand neutrino oscillations by constructing neutrino detectors at Fermilab in Chicago and at SURC in Leads, South Dakota to observe how neutrinos change flavor during their flight. I develop deep learning algorithms to reconstruct the interactions we observe in the detector so that we can get the neutrino count at each detector and observe how the neutrinos changed across their flight.

 

4. Emily Arndt
Majors: History, English and Creative Writing
Graduation: Spring 2024
Mentor: Dr. Sarah Bond (History)

“There Ain’t No Shame in Looking for a Better World”: The Evolution of Cultural Influence Behind the Folklore of Robin Hood

The legend of Robin Hood is a beloved and well-known household story in our current society. Many kids grow up with the story of the outlaw who evaded evil princes, rescued fair maidens, and gave all he stole to the poor. But how did that story come to fruition? Where did that story come from? This thesis paper sets out to examine why the legend of Robin Hood become such a common story in both English and American society, dating back to the early Middle Ages all the way into the present.  This thesis also intends to shed some light on how this story has shifted over time, depending on the cultural values and societal needs of its consumers. To prove the story’s evolution over time, specific attention will be drawn to three examples of Robin Hood as an ever-changing cultural medium: the 1475 medieval manuscript "Robyn Hod and the Shryff off Notyngham", Howard Pyle’s 1885 novel "Robin Hood and His Merry Men", and Disney’s 1973 film "Robin Hood". To conclude, this study will further analyze how the outlaw character trope found its roots in the American mind and the influences this story has had in modern American media.

 

6. Roxanna Barbulescu
Major: History and Health and Human Physiology
Graduation: Spring 2023
Mentors: Drs. Elizabeth Heineman and Alyssa Park (History)

"Nobody is Nostalgic for Stalinism, but..." Post-Communist Nostalgia in the Memory of Romanian Immigrants in Iowa

This project explores the memory of the late Romanian communist period (1965-1989) of four Romanian American immigrants living in the Iowa City and Cedar Rapids, Iowa area. Based on four qualitative oral history interviews done during the late summer and fall of 2022 this project found that the phenomenon known as post-communist nostalgia exists in Romanian immigrants to Iowa when their memories are examined. However, as the title suggests, this does not necessarily mean a nostalgia for the communist system itself. Rather, the nostalgia is more for the perceived stability that the communist system had and the long past years of childhood. Through this research and analysis this study seeks to add to the existing conversation that exists around post-communist nostalgia in Romania that has been extensively studied since 1989.

 

8. Leighton Barnes
Majors: Chemistry, History
Graduation: Spring 2024
Mentors: Drs. Elizabeth Yale and Alyssa Park History (History)

Hysterical Women: The Fight for an Expanded British Franchise at the Turn of the 20th Century

This project argues that social and medical claims of female hysteria, specifically in the United Kingdom at the turn of the 20th century, worked as a way of confining women to the domestic sphere. To explore the social implications of feminine hysteria in this region between the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the medical legitimacy of these claims is analyzed through looking at the texts of various surgeon generals, placing them in conjunction with the rapidly changing world. This world, wrought with previously suppressed groups looking for an expanded franchise, was filled with suppressors who worked toward maintaining established social norms. The group analyzed in this project, women, were most prominently suppressed through the negative rhetorical use of medical terms such as female hysteria in pursuit of maintaining the status quo of the early 1800s. This umbrella term was historically used to describe any and all afflictions of women but morphed into ammunition for medical professionals and the general public alike to contain unruly women. This project contextualizes women’s health issues encapsulated by this umbrella term (hysteria) and others with the prevailing thoughts on women’s suffrage of the time to argue the above claim.

 

10. Nicole Boodhoo
Major: Biomedical Sciences
Graduation: Spring 2024
Mentor: Dr. Gordon F. Buchanan Buchanan (Neurology)

Mortality following induced seizures in amygdala kindled mice: investigation of the corticosterone stress pathway 

Epilepsy affects 65 million people worldwide. One-third of these patients will not achieve seizure control with medication putting them at high risk of sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP). Previously, our lab found that the serotonin (5-HT) 2C receptor agonist, MK-212 increased seizure-associated mortality. We found that this also happened in 5HT2C knockout mice, suggesting an off-target effect of MK-212. Since MK-212 increases corticosterone, the major stress hormone in rodents, and stress is a risk factor for seizures, we aimed to examine a role for the corticosterone pathway in SUDEP pathophysiology. We hypothesize that increased seizure-induced death with MK-212 is due to increased levels of corticosterone, leading to increased seizure severity, and that blocking corticosterone receptors prevents MK-212-induced death. We found ~80% mortality rate in animals that were injected with corticosterone antagonist (100 mg/kg) and MK-212 (30 mg/kg), and this did not support our hypothesis. Next, we wanted to see if we could recapitulate mortality findings from prior experiments of MK-212 (30 mg/kg) with corticosterone (10 mg/kg) and MK-212 (10 mg/kg). We will complete experiments with corticosterone antagonist at a lower dose (70 mg/kg), as this was shown to be more optimal, with MK-212 (30 mg/kg) to analyze mortality.

 

12. Tom Bruner
Majors: Physics, Philosophy
Graduation: Spring 2023
Mentors: Drs. Jane Nachtman and Yasar Onel (Physics)

Quality Control and Assembly Automation for Upgrades to the CMS Outer Tracker

At the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory I worked on automation processes and quality control procedures for the assembly of sensor modules going into the upgrade of the CMS Outer Tracker at the Large Hadron Collider at CERN.

 

14. Nina Carnevale
Major: Biomedical Sciences
Graduation: Spring 2024
Mentor: Dr. Rebecca Dodd (Internal Medicine)

Inhibition of the pentose phosphate pathway in malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNSTs)

Malignant Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumors (MPNSTs) are an aggressive sarcoma arising from the Schwann cells of peripheral nerves. MPNSTs constitute for 5-10% of soft tissue sarcomas and are aggressive and highly resistant to chemoradiation treatment. We are currently exploring the therapeutic targeting of critical metabolic pathways in MPNSTs. Importantly, we have recently discovered a critical role for the Pentose Phosphate Pathway (PPP) in the growth and maintenance of these tumors. The PPP is an important signaling pathway involved in production of cellular anti-oxidants. Our preliminary data shows that blocking the PPP with a pharmacological inhibitor can slow growth of MPNST cells in vitro. Similarly, genetic deletion of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD), the rate-limiting and first enzyme of the PPP, also slows cell growth in vitro. However, the necessity of the PPP has not been tested in MPNSTs using in vivo models. This project uses established mouse models to define the role of the PPP in MPNST growth using an inducible knockdown of G6PD. We hypothesize that disruption of the PPP in vivo will slow tumor growth and induce apoptotic death. To test this hypothesis, we engineered a doxycycline-regulated inducible shRNA system to target G6PD activity in MPNST cells. These cells will be implanted into immune-competent mice, and tumor growth will be measured in control vs. G6PD-knockout tumors.

 

16. Gloria Chang
Major: Psychology
Graduation: Spring 2023

Social and Structural Correlates of Instrumental and Emotional Support Following a Natural Disaster

This project was interested in post-disaster outcomes, specifically social support and mental health symptoms, and how those change and evolve post-disaster. Furthermore, the relationship between racial and ethnic disparities/socioeconomic status and the initial support people received was studied. This study went on to investigate how those effects may subsequently lead to different kinds of starting points of emotional support, instrumental support, and depression. And how that then changes people’s trajectories of all three of those variables.

Data was used from a large randomized control trial with about 1400 survivors of the 2017 hurricane outbreak that happened across a variety of different locations. The data consisted of survey questions across four waves of data collection, baseline being when someone started the study, usually within a couple months of the hurricane, then 3 months, 6 months, and then 12 months post-baseline. Systemic racism appears to result in a cascade of negative consequences There were racial ethnic differences in income, and income was related to number of days without shelter. Both of these variables have significant impacts on where people start out in turns of support they have and depression symptoms they experience.

 

18. Allison Clark
Major: History
Graduation: Spring 2023
Mentor: Dr. Stephen Warren (History)

Commodifying the Spirit Lake Massacre: Abbie Gardner Sharp and Her Role in the Settler-Centric Memory of the Event

This thesis examines how Abbie Gardner Sharp (1843-1921), a survivor of the 1857 Spirit Lake Massacre in Iowa, fundamentally shaped the narrative of a tragic event in the history of Indigenous-settler relations to highlight the victimhood of white settlers. By analyzing ways the Wahpekute Dakota were victims themselves of dispossession and violence at the hands of the white ruling class, it becomes clear that the massacre occurred following years of buildup. Yet this long history was relatively unknown because Sharp successfully harnessed her victimhood, presented the Indigenous community as villains, and contributed to a distinctly settler-centric memory of the Spirit Lake Massacre. As part of her post-captivity activities, Sharp published her narrative, earned revenue to support herself and her family, gained local, statewide, and national influence, and sustained the memory of the event. This presents a complicated situation, in that, while undeniably a victim, Sharp profited off rhetoric that furthered the villainization of Indigenous people. To accomplish this exploration, the thesis considers Sharp’s own narrative, newspapers spanning from the time of the event to present day, Annual Reports of the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, Dakota prisoner of war letters, and various local publications concerning Sharp and the massacre.

 

20. Aditya Desai
Majors: Physics, Economics
Graduation: Spring 2024
Mentor: Dr. Thomas Folland (Physics and Astronomy)

Characterizing the Optical Properties of Materials for Infrared Nanophotonics

Infrared light can be used to detect chemical compounds, observe the temperature of objects, and even engage in free-space optical communication. A key part of realizing technologies using infrared light is developing accurate models for the optical properties of the materials used. To do so, we can use Fourier-Transform Infrared (FTIR) Spectroscopy, where we quantify the light which is reflected and transmitted at different wavelengths. The measurements of reflectance can yield a variety of information about the optical properties of various materials, such as the concentration of additional impurities within the material and their crystal vibrations. These excitations can be used to excite surface light waves known as surface polaritons, which can pave the way toward designing new sensor technologies. For a variety of conventional materials, these properties have been identified; however, many new and exotic materials, various optical properties remain unknown and must be characterized. To characterize the optical properties of unknown materials, it is necessary to compare experimental data to data projected by a computer model based on various parameters, such as the thickness of the material, angle of incidence of the light, polarization of the light, and inherent properties of the material. By varying the parameters until the computer model’s projection closely matches the experimental data, it is possible to identify what the inherent properties of the material are. In my project I created a fitting algorithm within the model which adjusted the parameters within the model representing the inherent properties of the material until the projection most accurately matched the experimental data, and from that was able to characterize the inherent properties of the material. I validated the process by checking it with conventional materials such as sapphire (Al₂O₃) and silicon, before applying it to modified materials such as doped silicon carbide (SiC-4H) to identify and characterize its unknown properties. Overall, these results can be applied in future research to characterize more difficult and complex materials, such as low symmetry crystals, which are of interest to developing future technologies.

 

22. William Dong
Major: Biomedical Engineering
Graduation: Spring 2024
Mentor: Dr. Kanchna Ramchandran (Internal Medicine)

Heating and artifact testing of a nitinol breast biopsy clip in a high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) environment.

This project tests Ultracor Twirl, a nitinol breast biopsy clip, for safety and imaging quality in a 7 Tesla magnetic resonance (MR) environment at the Magnetic Resonance Research Facility (MRRF) at the University of Iowa. Safety testing is relevant in allowing patients with this specific clip to be scanned in 7 Tesla MR scanners for research purposes. The heating test evaluates the temperature safety by measuring the temperature change of the clip induced by radiofrequency coils relative to its surrounding environment. The artifact test evaluates the image quality of the biopsy clip in the MR environment by generating sets of images and determining the extent of artifacts (misrepresentation of the imaged object) since metallic clips can cause signal loss. The safety tests all indicate that the clip is safe in a 7 Tesla MR environment. The artifact test results are currently being analyzed.

 

24. Aidan Drozdick
Major: Microbiology
Graduation: Spring 2023
Mentor: Dr. Wendy Maury (Microbiology and Immunology)

Investigation of the Impact of Tim Ubiquitination Site Deletions on Ebolavirus Infection

Members of the TIM family of proteins are important regulators of the human immune system and have been documented to play a key role in mediating adherence and internalization of a number of different enveloped viruses, such as Ebola virus, Dengue virus and West Nile Virus. One recent study found that ubiquitination of specific amino acids in the cytoplasmic tail of TIM-1 enables/enhances Dengue virus uptake into human cells. Published findings from the Maury lab are potentially in conflict with this finding. We have shown that the presence of TIM-1’s cytoplasmic tail is not required for Ebola virus adherence and entry into cells. One possible scenario is that the TIM-1 cytoplasmic is not required for enveloped virus binding and internalization, but when the cytoplasmic tail is present on the protein ubiquitination of these amino acids is required.  To investigate this hypothesis, we will generate mutations at those sites in the TIM-1 cytoplasmic tail and evaluate if the mutant TIM-1 proteins impact: 1) virus adherence to cells, 2) virus internalization and 3) virus infection of the cells. This research does not correlate directly to any community but will illuminate aspects of virus-cell interactions that could be possible future targets for antiviral drugs.

 

26. Carter Dwyer
Major: Microbiology
Graduation: Spring 2023
Mentor: Dr.  Mary Wilson (Microbiology and Immunology)

Investigating Viability Assays to Monitor Microbicidal Activity Against Leishmania

Leishmania spp. are obligate intracellular protozoa which cause leishmaniasis, a neglected tropical disease endemic in many lower income countries. Major forms of the disease include cutaneous and visceral leishmaniasis which is fatal. The treatment methods for leishmaniasis are wholly inadequate. With one billion people living in endemic areas, the need for adequate treatment is paramount. With this research, comes the challenge of accurately estimating how much Leishmania is present after drug treatment. The hemocytometer is the current gold standard in Leishmania quantification. While widely accepted, this method is time consuming and prone to human error. We must optimize the quantification of Leishmania to effectively screen drugs for microbicidal activity. In this research, we investigated two different quantification methods. One utilizes the Countess II, an automatic cell counter while using a hemocytometer as a gold standard. The other uses a cell permeable dye called calcein-AM that measures esterase activity, a process which occurs only in living cells. These methods were then used to calculate the IC50s of two common antileishmanial drugs, miltefosine and amphotericin B, against both Leishmania infantum and Leishmania braziliensis. With these studies, we can show whether these quantification methods can be applied to broader Leishmania research.

 

28. Myles Evangelista
Major: Biomedical Engineering
Graduation: Spring 2023
Mentors: Drs. Kristan Worthington (Biomedical Engineering) and Christopher Sales (Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences)

Sprayable biopolymer improves surgical handling of corneal endothelial cell grafts

The best-in-class treatment for dysfunctional corneal endothelial cells (CECs) is a 5-to-10-micron-thick allograft with inconvenient shape memory that allows it to scroll. To prevent scrolling and improve procedure outcomes, we developed a rapidly, easily applied biodegradable coating using spray deposition and photopolymerization. We found that coating thickness is controllable with spray time and curing time is dependent on wavelength and intensity. Furthermore, we measured the impact of wavelength on CEC viability and determined that UV exposure causes extensive CEC death; visible light does not. Eventually, our technology will increase global availability of this sight-saving surgery by simplifying the procedure.

 

30. Jordan Ewald
Major: Biomedical Engineering
Graduation: Fall 2022
Mentor: Dr. Melissa Fath (Radiation Oncology)

Novel Lead (203Pb/212Pb) Theranostic Pair Targeting CXCR4 in Small Cell Lung Cancers

Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is a neuroendocrine carcinoma with a low five-year survival rate that highly expresses CXCR4. The precision targeting of CXCR4 with Peptide Receptor Radionuclide Therapy potentially allows for enhanced detection and treatment of SCLC through 203Pb/212Pb radionuclides for imaging and alpha-emitting therapy.

The use of a CXCR4 targeting peptide with 203Pb (diagnostic) in a xenograft model of SCLC will determine personalized dosimetry; combination of this same peptide with 212Pb (therapeutic) can then successfully treat CXCR4 positive SCLC.

SPECT-CT imaging with 203Pb-Pentixather and subsequent biodistribution were performed using murine models bearing human

SCLC xenografts. Dose escalation of the 212Pb-Pentixather radiopeptide was conducted to assess the therapeutic efficacy.

Dosimetry performed with 203Pb-Pentixather detected all xenografts and measured to have absorbed doses that correlated with increasing CXCR4 expression in these SCLC cell lines. Following 203Pb imaging, a biodistribution study of the drug  demonstrated the highest uptake in liver and kidneys with minimal retention in the bone marrow. The therapeutic dose was studied and showed a significant increase in survival, a delay in tumor growth, and minimal hematological toxicity compared to the untreated group.

These findings indicate that the theranostic pair of 212Pb/203Pb bound to CXCR4 targeting agent is a compelling in vivo anti-cancer agent and diagnostic tool.

 

32. Hanlong Fan
Major: Psychology
Graduation: Spring 2023
Mentor: Dr. Leyre Castro (Psychology)

Complex Rule Learning in Pigeons and People

Regularities in everyday life allow both humans and non-humans to generate rules and provide structure to their environment. We recently taught pigeons a complex rule where the response to one feature depended on the other accompanying feature appearing with it, so no single feature could predict the correct response (e.g., AB->1 /BC->2 /CD->1/AD->2). Mastering the task could be done by learning the rule, but also by associating the features with one another, and their combination with the response. Our results showed none of the pigeons had inferred the rule; their responses were formed from feature associative learning. Now, we wanted to see how humans perform on this same task, with the same stimuli and no verbal instructions. We expected people to infer the complex rule, but only one third of them did. Another third defaulted to an associative learning strategy, and the rest responded randomly. Although learning complex rules is clearly within the human capacity, the lack of verbal instruction probably led some participants to use a more basic, pigeon-like strategy. It could be that associative mechanisms are the default strategy for all organisms and that further processing is required for rule-based strategies.

 

34. Olivia Fortman
Major: Microbiology
Graduation: Spring 2024
Mentor: Dr. Richard Roller (Microbiology and immunology)

Significance of UL51 protein-dynactin interaction

Herpesviruses infect almost all humans and cause diseases that range from mild to lethal severity. Virus disease depends on the function of viral proteins that hijack basic cellular functions. One of these hijacked functions is microtubule motor transport. The human herpes viruses share a set of conserved virus genes including one that encodes a membrane protein called UL51. Herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) UL51 and related proteins in other human herpesviruses bind to the p150glued subunit of dynactin, a 23 subunit protein complex, that is a cofactor for the microtubule motor cytoplasmic dynein within the host cell. Amino acid residues 90-125 of HSV-1 UL51 are necessary and sufficient for this interaction. We hypothesize that the UL51 protein-dynactin interaction is important for viral growth or spread within the host cells. We will mutate specific amino acids in the dynactin interaction sequence of UL51 in the context of an expression plasmid and test for interaction between the mutant UL51 and dynactin. Mutations that disrupt the interaction with dynactin will be introduced into the virus genome and we will then test the effect on viral growth and spread within host cells.

 

36. Grace Foster
Major: Human Physiology
Graduation: Spring 2023
Mentor: Dr. Gary Pierce (Health and Human Physiology)

Association of resting central pulse-wave analysis hemodynamic parameters with the blood pressure response to exercise

An exaggerated exercise blood pressure (EEBP) is associated with poor cardiovascular outcomes. Pulse-wave analysis (PWA) non-invasively derives central BP waveform hemodynamic parameters that may provide physiological insight into EEBP beyond standard brachial BP measurement. However, whether selected central PWA hemodynamics are associated with BP responses to exercise is unknown, which was the aim of the present study.

Participants (n=175, mean age=63±6.24, 61% women) were retrospectively analyzed in healthy adults in whom PWA and maximal exercise testing with maximal oxygen uptake (V02max) was performed. PWA hemodynamics were derived from carotid BP waveforms acquired via applanation tonometry and aortic stiffness was measured via carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (CFPWV). The brachial BP response to exercise was determined during the maximal exercise stress test conducted using a ramp protocol on a stationary bicycle. An EEBP response was defined as SBP ≥210 mmHg in men and ≥190 mmHg in women. A true maximal test was defined as a rating of perceived exertion (RPE) of ≥16 and respiratory exchange ratio (RER) ≥1.0.

Resting systolic BP exhibited the strongest association with peak exercise systolic BP. Aortic stiffness and key PWA parameters measured at rest were not associated with an individual’s BP response to maximal exercise.

 

38. Nathan Freesmeier
Major: Biology
Graduation: Spring 2024
Mentor: Dr. Christopher Stipp (Biology)

Targeting cell adhesion to overcome drug resistant melanoma

Melanoma is the deadliest form of skin cancer, with an estimated 90,000 new cases of invasive disease and 10,000 deaths per year. In ~40% of melanoma cases, the cancer initiating event is a mutation in the BRAF gene, which encodes a protein that promotes cell proliferation. These BRAF-mutant melanomas typically respond to orally administered BRAF inhibitors that block the activity of mutant BRAF. Unfortunately, melanoma cells often develop resistance to such BRAF-targeted therapies and regain the ability to proliferate. There are multiple pathways by which drug resistant melanomas can emerge, and some of these pathways may involve increased adhesion of melanoma cells to the extracellular matrix on which the cells are growing. Other pathways to resistance can involve additional mutations in the BRAF gene that block the binding of BRAF inhibitors. We hypothesized that drug resistant melanoma cells that rely on cell adhesion would be selectively sensitive to inhibitors of focal adhesion kinase (FAK), which can promote cell proliferation when it is activated downstream of cell adhesion. Surprisingly, we found that both classes of drug-resistant melanoma cells responded to FAK inhibitors, suggesting that targeting cell adhesion in melanoma may be more broadly applicable than anticipated.

 

40. Maunika Gandhamaneni
Major: Chemical Engineering
Graduation: Spring 2023
Mentor: Dr. Daniel Weeks (Biochemistry and Molecular Biology)

Features of Proteins That Allow Them to Form Nucleolar Compartments.

The nucleolus is an organelle which is responsible for ribosome biogenesis. Hundreds of proteins are involved in the process of ribosome biogenesis, and many of the proteins are concentrated by phase separation in the nucleolus. The nucleolus has three distinct compartments thought to be formed through phase separation, each with a specific role in ribosome biogenesis. The compartments include the fibrillar center (FC), dense fibrillar component (DFC), and the granular component (GC) which are responsible for rRNA synthesis, rRNA modification, and ribosome assembly respectively. We want to understand why proteins phase separate into certain compartments over another. To learn more about this phenomenon, we tested two hypotheses regarding nucleolar protein compartmentalization using Xenopus laevis oocytes. The first is that intrinsically disordered domains found in nucleolar proteins are sufficient to direct nucleolar domain compartmentalization. The second is that for some proteins, compartmentalization depends upon stable binding to multi-protein nucleolar complexes.

 

42. Brandon Gerhardt
Major: Public Health
Graduation: Fall 2022
Mentor: Dr. Hari Sharma (Health Managment and Policy)

Profit Status and Quality Assurance Assessment Fees in Iowa Nursing Facilities

Quality Assurance Assessment Fees (QAAF) are a way for nursing facilities in Iowa to receive additional funding. Facilities receive a fixed amount of money for every Medicaid patient they have, and pay back a fixed fee for every non-Medicare patient. A majority of facilities end up with excess received payments. A majority of this funding must be spent on enriching nursing facility workers. Most often, this takes the form of wage increases. If a facility does not receive more than they pay, then they are exempt from the investment requirements. We used descriptive analysis and multiple linear regressions to assess whether profit status is associated with the amount of QAAF fees invested on workers. There was no significant difference in the receipt of excess payments  by profit status. Controlling for facility size, year, exemption status, CCRC status, adjusted nurse hours per resident per day, overall facility rating, and if the facility was fined, we found that nonprofit facilities invested more in their workers than for-profit facilities.

 

44. Nicole Gilbert
Majors: History, Psychology
Graduation: May 2023
Mentor: Drs. Alyssa Park and Tyler Priest (History)

Fame and Femininity: First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy’s Public Diplomacy during the Cold War

This thesis explores First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy and her impact on public and cultural diplomacy from 1961-1963 during the Cold War.  It illuminates her role in politics, departing from previous scholarship which has focused primarily on her role as mother, wife, fashion icon, and hostess of elaborate state dinners. The paper shows Jacqueline Kennedy’s significance in the sphere of foreign diplomacy has been largely neglected by scholars who prefer to box her in as an admirable hostess and nothing more. Kennedy was, in fact, an effective diplomat for the Kennedy administration by charming Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev and uplifting important alliances with nations like France. Using memoirs, government and personal documents, newspapers, etc., the paper examines her use of cultural diplomacy, soft power, and fashion diplomacy to advance U.S. foreign policy during the Cold War. American foreign policy during the Kennedy administration centered on containment to prevent the spread of communism. The U.S. also wanted to advocate for American democracy in recently decolonized nations. Jacqueline Kennedy was an unexpected, but effective diplomat in a period where soft power was needed to contest the Soviet Union's goal to spread communism. By promoting cultural exchange and subtly promoting American ideological values, the first lady garnered foreign public support and admiration for the U.S. in a critical period.

48. Allison Groux
Major: Health and Human Physiology
Graduation: Fall 2022
Mentor: Dr. Terry Wahls (Internal Medicine, Epidemiology)

Motor Assessment Procedures in the Efficacy of Diet on Quality of Life in Multiple Sclerosis Study

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a progressive neuroinflammatory and neurodegenerative disease with an idiopathic etiology believed to have resulted from the complex interactions between genetic, infection, dietary, and other unknown environmental exposures. MS commonly manifests in the forms of pain, fatigue, mood changes, cognitive decline, and vision complications. The clinical study, Efficacy of Diet on Quality of Life in Multiple Sclerosis (EDQ: MS) IRB 202104639, has a primary focus on critically evaluating the effectiveness of incorporating dietary guidance into the treatment plans of those with relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) with the intention of improving long-term quality of life. There is also a secondary objective to measure the long-term effects on motor function, low-contrast vision sensitivity, fatigue, mood, and disease activity assessed by brain imaging.

The improvement of function and reducing the disability burden among MS patients is urgently needed, and dietary interventions are a promising non-pharmacologic option to maintain health and function among MS patients. In the EDQ: MS study, motor function tests are administered and analyzed at month zero, three, and twenty-four. Participant ability to perform these tasks and the quality in which they are completed correlate to the disease’s impact on personal lifestyle such as the capability of retaining work and living independently.

50. Bryan Guevara
Major: Biology
Graduation: Spring 2023
Mentor: Dr. Maurine Neiman (Biology)

Assessing the Effects of Plastics on Sperm Morphology

In humans, male fertility has been on the decline in recent decades. Correspondingly, plastic production and usage has been on the incline as plastics continue to serve as a cheap alternative for mass-producing goods. Plastics are made with plasticizers that contain endocrine-disrupting chemical additives. Many of the goods and services that are involved in our literal ingestion are wrapped, transported, or contained in plastic in some shape or form. These plastics contain chemicals with the potential to disrupt our hormones and are used every day, typically with no concern for human long-term health. Using the New Zealand mud snail, Potamopyrgus antipodarum, as a model of ecotoxicology based on previous works, I am working to assess the effects of plastic on sperm morphology as a proxy to humans. The plastic containers the snails will be housed in will be treated to similar conditions that a standard water bottle would go through after having left the factory in which it was made. So the question remains, is this cheap commodity that has improved our lives so much damaging our reproductive and potentially overall health beneath the surface?

 

52. Mary Haag
Majors: Astronomy, Physics
Graduation: Spring 2025
Mentors: Drs. Jane Nachtman and Yasar Onel (Physic and Astronomy)

Cooling System for CMS Barrel Timing Layer Upgrade

The University of Iowa CMS group is working on the Barrel Timing Layer cooling system in preparation for the LHC Run 4 at CMS. A prototype CO2 cooling system was developed by Iowa engineers and tested at Fermilab.  Simulation studies using the FLUENT software were performed to understand the observed behavior, but limited by input parameter models.  The fluid properties were studied to improve the input models for the temperature dependence of the CO2 viscosity using existing literature.  The results of these studies and future prospects will be discussed.

 

54. Audrey Hake
Major: Microbiology
Graduation: Spring 2025
Mentor: Dr. Liliana Radoschevich (Microbiology and Immunology)

Generating a △lmo2839 Mutant in Listeria monocytogenes Using the pMAD and pHoss Plasmids for Allelic Exchange​

Listeria Monocytogenes is an opportunistic, gram-positive protein found on everyday surfaces and is commonly transmitted through contaminated food, causing an illness known as Listeriosis. Listeriosis is rare, but primarily affect immunocompromised individuals, pregnant women, infants, and the elderly. In the lab, we are examining Listeria protein lmo2839 and its overall effect on the virulence of L. monocytogenese. To do this, we have been working towards generating a lmo2839 knock-out mutant using various methods with two different plasmids; pMAD and pHoss. Following the creation of the mutant, we plan to study the virulence of the mutant compared to a wild type strain of L. monocytogenes by infecting eukaryotic cells in a lab environment.​

56. Izabella Halinowski
Major: Biochemistry
Graduation: Spring 2024
Mentor: Dr. Pamela Geyer (Biochemistry & Molecular Biology)

Investigating the role of Checkpoint kinase 2 in gamete quality control

The germline is central to species propagation. Gamete development is under strict regulation to ensure production of high-quality oocytes and sperm, and healthy offspring. To understand processes involved in quality control, we study the Drosophila ovary, a well development model of germline stem cells (GSCs) and oocyte development. Our previous studies showed that GSC maintenance requires nuclear lamina proteins, as mutations in genes encoding emerin and BAF cause GSC death. Loss of GSCs in these mutants results from non-canonical activation of Checkpoint Kinase 2 (Chk2), a kinase in the DNA damage response. We are interested in understanding more about the role of Chk2 in GSC survival. To this end, we are developing reagents to follow activated Chk2. Activation of Chk2 involves phosphorylation of two threonine residues in an activation loop of the kinase domain. We have developed antibodies against a di-phosphorylated activation loop peptide and are testing the ability of these antibodies to recognize phosphorylated Chk2. Once antibodies are validated, these antibodies will be used to advance our understanding of pathways leading to Chk2 activation and mechanisms of oocyte quality control

 

58. Daniel Hettrick
Majors: History, Anthropology
Graduation: Fall 2022
Mentors: Drs. Alyssa Park and Stephen Warren (History)

Forced Acculturation and Resistance in Post-Purchase Alaska

My thesis examines how the Tlingit people of Southeast Alaska resisted forced acculturation through the banning of the Potlatch and the Tlingit language by the American Presbyterian mission led by Reverend Sheldon Jackson from 1870 to 1917. Prior to the purchase of Alaska from Russia by the United States in 1866, the Russian state attempted to convert many of the Tlingit to Russian Orthodoxy. Russia’s policy failed to yield many converts due to a series of historical conflicts between the two peoples. The purchase of Alaska led the Presbyterian and Orthodox Churches into a competition over the religious preferences of the Tlingit. The project shows that the Tlingit largely adopted Orthodoxy in 1886 as the Russian Orthodox Church, without the presence of the Russian State, was willing to accommodate Tlingit cultural beliefs so long as they did not contradict Christian doctrine. Using correspondences, journals, local and national newspaper articles, primary monographs, and other primary sources, this project shows that most Tlingit willingly and enthusiastically adopted Russian Orthodoxy as a form of resistance against Presbyterian acculturation.

60. Talia Hill
Majors: Geoscience, History
Graduation: Spring 2023
Mentor: Dr. Ashley Howard (History)

A Regional History of Alabama's Black Belt

This thesis examines African Americans in Alabama’s Black Belt—the majority constituent in the region—and their centrality in Republican and Communist Party voter campaigns. The Black Belt, originally named for the geological conditions of the soil, was home to a large slave population from the eighteenth century.  As African Americans became the largest settled community across the belt’s counties, they were seen as useful constituents, first for Alabama politicians in the early twentieth century and, second, for the Communist Party of New York in the 1930s.  Both hoped to mobilize the African American vote to bolster support for their own parties. Through analyzing letters from Joseph C. Manning in the earth twentieth century, it is shown that the Republican Party wished to mobilize the African American vote to win seats in government. Two decades later, The Southern Worker newspaper publications follow the rise of communism in the Black Belt and demonstrate how outside forces wanted to utilize the area to spread communism. These instances reflect a growing trend over time for the disregard of appreciating the individuals in the Black Belt as independently conscious of politics. This thesis shows that African Americans would work within these parties to advocate for their needs, but this advocacy by African Americans is often overlooked when understanding a regional history of the area.

 

62. Ashley Hoffa
Major: Speech and Hearing Sciences
Graduation: Spring 2025
Mentor: Dr. Eun Kyung Jeon (Communication Sciences and Disorders)

Adult Eustachian Tube Dysfunction: A case study

Have you ever experienced discomfort in your ears when flying? This discomfort gets worse and may stay for days when the eustachian tube (ET) does not work appropriately. The ET is a narrow tube that links the middle ear to the nasopharynx, allowing pressure to be relieved and fluid to be cleared from the middle ear cavity. Eustachian tube dysfunction (ETD) is very common in children. Research shows that about 40% of children develop at least transient ETD, and the maturation of the ET facilitates appropriate functioning. About 1% of adults with ETD continue to have difficulty relieving pressure and fluid, resulting in mild to severe hearing loss. Unfortunately, due to a lack of awareness in mainstream medicine, the pains and hearing loss of the adults with ETD are overlooked. One of the authors has ETD suffering from adolescence to adulthood. The purpose of this study was two-fold: one to review current diagnosis and treatment of ETD, and another to present a case study of adult ETD reviewing for progression of symptoms and treatments since adolescence. Most of all, we hope this study will bring awareness to improve healthcare and quality of life for the adult ETD population.

64. Payton Jaeger
Major: Multidisciplinary Sciences
Graduation: Fall 2023
Mentor: Dr. Queena Lin (Iowa Neurobank Core)

Convergency of Spatial Gene Expression between ADHD and Parkinson's Disease

I am going to test to see if there is correlation between Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Lewy Body dementia, and Parkinson's Disease through genetic densities and similar gene expressional patterns. This means that I must have many adequate samples of cases of dementia and ADHD which will be evaluated using MERSCOPE technology, along with needing an in-depth knowledge on all the presented diseases. I will use specific brain regions that are known to be implicated in all these diseases and are available at the Iowa Neurobank Core for running this experiment. Additionally, this experiment will expand upon the neurotransmitter deficits experienced by Lewy Body Dementia, Parkinson's, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

 

66. Liv Jewell; Bree Rubel

Majors: Gender, Women’s, and Sexuality Studies; Gender, Women’s, and Sexuality Studies
Graduation: Winter 2023; Spring 2024
Mentor: Dr. Teresa Mangum (Obermann Center for Advanced Studies)

TBD

 

68. Joseph Kesteloot
Major: Microbiology
Graduation: Spring 2023
Mentors: Drs. Lilliana Radoshevich and Aaron Gillman (Microbiology and Immunology) 

Using Allelic Exchange to Generate a Nutrient Acquisition Deficient Mutant (lmo2839) in Listeria Monocytogenes

Listeria monocytogenes is a Gram positive, food-borne, pathogen that primarily affects immunocompromised individuals, leading to meningitis in elderly patients and fetal infection or loss in pregnant mothers. Although relatively rare, listeriosis causes about 1600 cases per year in the United States and the mortality rate is 20-30%. Listeria monocytogenes crosses the intestinal barrier and spreads to the liver and spleen where it replicates intracellularly in immune cells and hepatocytes. Host cells target intracellular pathogens using a catabolic pathway called xenophagy, which entraps invading bacteria in a double-membraned vesicle which delivers the bacteria to the lysosome. Bacteria and the associated host membranes are targeted for xenophagy by the ubiquitin-proteosome system. Here we mapped ubiquitin-sites following infection with Listeria monocytogenes in the liver of infected mice and identified a bacterial lipoprotein as a target of ubiquitin. Interestingly, the lipoprotein is part of a putative operon with two ABC transporter proteins. Several genome-wide studies determined that the lipoprotein is upregulated following growth in human and mouse blood. This work centers on creating a gene deletion of the lipoprotein using allelic exchange and the plasmid pHoss1 to test whether it contributes to virulence in epithelial cells, macrophages and murine models of infection.

 

70. Karah Kluck
Major: Speech and Hearing Sciences
Graduation: Fall 2022
Mentor: Dr. Stewart McCauley (Communication Sciences and Disorders)

Experience-based Chunking Shapes Real-time Reading Abilit

Whether and to what extent individual differences in reading ability are shaped by experience as opposed to domain-general mechanisms, such as working memory, remains an object of intense debate. Here, we present a three-experiment study contrasting the role played by experience-based unit formation (i.e., “chunking”) with that of working memory ability in supporting complex sentence processing in reading. In Experiment 1, we show that subjects are able to generalize implicit knowledge of consonant clusters from the ambient text environment (e.g., x p l) to a recall task involving strings of 9 consonants (e.g., n r c x p l n t h). In Experiment 2, we show that the same applies to strings of digits (e.g., 8 1 9 1 0 2 9 6 0), with better recall for digit substrings that occur more frequently in text. Finally, we show in Experiment 3 that chunk sensitivity (as reflected by recall advantage for higher-frequency substrings vs. randomly ordered sequences in Experiments 1 and 2) predicts reading times for embedded relative clauses. These results run counter to a working memory account of individual differences in reading ability, supporting instead the notion of overall reading experience as a primary factor in shaping outcomes.

 

72. Ben Koester
Majors: Finance, Economics
Graduation: Fall 2022
Mentor: Dr. John Lewis Jr. (Finance)

Why Individual Investors Do Not Use Robo-Advisors

This study investigates consumer opinions on automated financial advising programs, or "robo-advisors". The study utilized a questionnaire to determine why investors do or do not use robo-advisors. We then ask for additional information to find the motivation for people to select robo-advisors. We conducted the study on Reddit.com, an online discussion site which has a population of knowledgeable and active investors. Our research found that the use of robo-advisors is low due to many investors not knowing they exist. Those that do use robo-advisors select them for the convenience or had no other choice. Another finding of our research is that investors who are satisfied with their use of robo-advisors have access to a number of features available from traditional human advisors.

 

74. Emmeline Kraus
Majors: Environmental Science, Geography
Graduation: Spring 2023
Mentor: Drs. Matthew Dannenberg and Susan Meerdink (Geographical and Sustainabiilty Sciences)

Seasonal effects of the fungal pathogen Tubakia iowensis (bur oak blight) on the photosynthetic capacity of infected Quercus macrocarpa (bur oak)

Bur oak blight, a late-season leaf disease of Quercus macrocarpa (bur oak), has increased in prevalence in Iowa, Minnesota, and Nebraska since the 1990s. The disease, caused by the fungus Tubakia iowensis, causes vein necrosis and leaf death in afflicted trees. To prevent further spread of bur oak blight and protect native bur oak populations, more research is needed on the progression of the disease, its seasonal physiological effects, and its detection and management. To understand how blight progression influences bur oak photosynthetic capacity, we measured changes in the maximum rate of carboxylation (Vcmax) and the maximum rate of electron transport (Jmax) of 20 mature bur oak trees experiencing Tubakia infections of varying severity for 10 weeks (June 1 - August 5, 2022). We assessed the physiological effects of blight using mixed-effects models. Future research is needed to: 1) determine the relevance of the length of time a tree has been infected on the physiological impact of blight, 2) assess the feasibility of early detection of infection (which normally does not manifest visually until mid-to-late July), and 3) understand the influence of management of the disease’s effects on plant physiology.

 

76. Connor Linzer
Major: Human Physiology
Graduation: Spring 2024
Mentor: Drs. Jared McLendon and Ryan Boudreau (Internal Medicine) (Internal Medicine)

Sorbs2 regulates smooth muscle phenotype plasticity

Cardiovascular disease continues to be a leading cause of death within the US, and treatments are often ineffective. Previously, we identified that Sorbs2 is expressed in coronary vascular smooth muscle cells and may contribute to cardiovascular disease. Sorbs2 is a cytoskeletal adapter protein, however the role of Sorbs2 in vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) has not been characterized. We hypothesize that Sorbs2 integrates in focal adhesion networks to regulate VSMC mechanotransduction and direct contraction, proliferation, and migration phenotypes. Immunofluorescence experiments show that Sorbs2 is localized along actin fibers, at lamellipodia, and appears to congregate at cell:matrix junctions. We mechanically stretched cells and showed that Sorbs2 RNA and protein expression decreased. Our molecular cloning techniques have identified six uncharacterized Sorbs2 transcript isoforms in VSMC. Overexpression of Sorbs2 isoforms in VSMC cultures reveal distinct proteins via western blot that are differentially located based on immunofluorescence staining. We also assayed PDGF stimulated proliferation in VSMC cultures after knockout of Sorbs2, and proliferation increased. Our results suggest that VSMC Sorbs2 expression is regulated by mechanical stretch, integrates with actin and adhesion networks, and contributes to smooth muscle cell plasticity. Future work will explore the functions of Sorbs2 isoforms in the progression of vascular disease.

 

78. Kobie Long
Majors: Environmental Science
Graduation: Spring 2024
Mentor: Dr. Benjamin Swanson (Earth and Environmental Sciences)

Identifying Areas of Groundwater-Surface Water Exchange along Camp Cardinal Creek at Ashton Prairie Living Laboratory

Groundwater-Surface water interactions are an important component of aquatic ecosystems. Groundwater provides temperature refugia and nutrients to stream systems.

I aimed to locate areas where groundwater is entering Camp Cardinal Creek in order to inform future aquatic habitat and groundwater studies, including ongoing, repeated aquatic macroinvertebrate surveys. I measured water temperatures every 3-5m with a digital thermometer set approximately 2 cm above the streambed.  The thermometer was attached to a GPS survey rod, and the GPS was used to locate each measurement point along a longitudinal profile of the stream channel. The macroinvertebrate surveys were conducted twice at six different sites, along 50m stream reaches for 1 hour. The temperature survey identified three reaches of the stream that are strongly influenced by incoming groundwater, and initial macroinvertebrate sampling indicate these areas also harbor macroinvertebrates which are indicative of relatively good water quality.  

Future work will compare water quality sampling results to an IBI index which will be calculated using the macroinvertebrates survey data. Additionally, work in the future will include identifying groundwater input locations and volumes with more detailed analysis.

 

80. Madalyn Lovejoy
Majors: Psychology, Gender, Women's, and Sexuality Studies
Graduation: Spring 2024
Mentor: Dr. Teresa Treat (Psychological and Brain Sciences)

Rape-Supportive and Sociosexual Attitudes among Heterosexual, Bisexual, Asexual and Gay College Men

Sexual assault is a serious issue on college campuses, and individuals who identify as a gender or sexual minority experience significantly higher rates of sexual violence compared to heterosexuals.  Theoretical models of sexual assault implicate two attitudinal variables in the perpetration of sexual assault:  endorsement of rape-supportive attitudes (RSA) and sociosexuality (a preference for casual or impersonal sex).  Most existing literature has focused on heteronormative views of RSA, in which men are perpetrators and women are victims.  Further, most empirical research has studied primarily heterosexuals’ sexual attitudes.  The current study characterized sexual attitudes in a large sample of college men (n = 1315, aged 18-24) as a function of sexual orientation (asexual, bisexual, gay, heterosexual).  Results for RSA showed that asexual men endorsed more RSA than heterosexual men, who endorsed more RSA than bisexual and gay men.  Results for sociosexuality showed that gay and bisexual men endorsed more sociosexual attitudes than heterosexual men.  Ultimately, improving our knowledge of college men’s sexual attitudes as a function of sexual orientation may better position us to educate sexually diverse students about sexual violence on college campuses.

 

82. Hailey McCoy-Munger 
Major: Biomedical Engineering
Graduation: Spring 2024
Mentor: Dr. Lori Wallrath (Biochemistry and Molecular Biology)

Identification of potential treatments for the vision disease Retinitis Pigmentosa

Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is an inherited human vision disease that causes progressive retinal degeneration due to photoreceptor cell death, which can ultimately lead to blindness. Mutations in the gene SNRNP200 cause RP. The SNRNP200 gene encodes a core pre-mRNA splicing factor. Non-genetic factors contribute to disease progression, including oxidative stress and inflammation that have been observed in humans with RP. Therefore, antioxidants and anti-inflammatory agents are potential treatments. Utilizing the model organism Drosophila melanogaster—the fruit fly—depletion of fly Snrnp200 caused cell death in the developing eye and a “rough eye” phenotype in adults. The rough eye provides an easy visual phenotype to screen for drugs that correct the eye defects. As such, we have treated fruit flies depleted for Snrnp200 with N-acetylcysteine (NAC), a powerful antioxidant, and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), a compound that is used as an alternative treatment for inflammation. We observed a dose-dependent correction of the rough eye phenotype with NAC and DMSO. Consistent with this observation, there was reduced cell death in the developing eye. Thus, our studies support antioxidants and anti-inflammatory drugs as potential treatments for SNRNP200-assocaited RP.

84. Bob Pentuic
Major: Environmental Policy
Graduation: Spring 2023
Mentor: Dr. Ben Swanson (Earth and Environmental Sciences)

Camp Cardinal Creek Creek Water Quality

For the past 6 months I have been collecting water quality data at Camp Cardinal Creek in Coralville. The university plans to use the area around this creek as a “living laboratory,” and the data I’ve gathered will be referenced by future students learning to do similar research.

On top of this, I have found that the creek is extremely healthy in terms of water quality. I have tested for ammonia, alkalinity, nitrates, phosphates, chloride, iron, temperature, conductivity, dissolved oxygen, pH, and turbidity

 

86. Ana Sofia Peraza Muñuzuri
Major: Biomedical Engineering
Graduation: Spring 2023
Mentors: Drs. Joel Geerling and Silvia Gasparini (Neuroscience)

Nucleus of the solitary tract: molecular ontology and efferent projections

The nucleus of the solitary tract (NTS) is a sensory nucleus located in the dorsomedial medulla. The NTS is a major integrative center for autonomic functions and visceral sensations such as digestion, breathing, appetite, taste, blood pressure, and heart rate regulation. Although the NTS is crucial in sustaining everyday autonomic functions, we lack a comprehensive understanding of its neuronal populations and their efferent projections. Here we provide a set of molecular markers which distinguish NTS neurons and map the efferent projections of several NTS neuronal subpopulations.

 

88. Melissa Peters; Emerson Peters
Majors: Physics, Mathematics; Physics
Graduation: Spring 2023; Spring 2025
Mentor: Dr. David Miles (Physics and Astronomy)

Balloons Learning the Accuracy of Magnetic Field Models (BLAMM)

Earth’s magnetic field is essential for human science and activities. Magnetic field models, like the Chaos-7 model, provide field values for each location around the Earth. Model values are used to calibrate scientific sensors and monitor their interactions with Earth’s magnetic field. Flights and experiments reference model values to properly shield their instruments from magnetic interactions with Earth. These model values allow for calibration of compasses, GPS, and consumer navigational systems. However, magnetic field models have their downfalls: ground stations and space satellites measure field values and, by interpolating these data points, estimate the field values at each location in between measurements. There are no direct measurements between these areas, and models do not consider local disturbances and anomalies. How accurate are magnetic field models at altitudes where there are no direct measurements? Balloons Learning the Accuracy of Magnetic-field Models (BLAMM) aims to verify estimated values of magnetic field models. BLAMM’s goal is to take direct measurements at up to 30 km in altitude to explore if the interpolated values between space and ground are accurate. BLAMM’s discoveries will act as a step towards validating model estimates, even with just a single data point from neither ground nor space.

 

90. Ashley Rhodes
Major: Biomedical Engineering
Graduation: May 2024
Mentors: Emily Witt (Radiation Oncology) and Dr. James Byrne (Radiation Oncology, Biomedical Engineering)

A novel, non-invasive drug delivery device to target bladder cancer

Bladder cancer is one of the most common types of cancer in the US with nearly 80,000 individuals in the US diagnosed annually. The majority of these cases are caught in the early stages where the cancer is contained in the epithelial lining of the bladder. To treat this non-muscle invasive cancer, tumors are removed from the bladder and then the patient undergoes subsequent bladder therapy with immunotherapy or chemotherapy instilled in the bladder. Then UIHC pioneered a unique combination of gemcitabine and docetaxel for treatment of bladder cancer. These drugs are delivered into the bladder at specific time intervals by a trained urologist, and the patient is required to sit in outpatient care for up to 6 hours while the procedure is performed. There currently exists bladder drug delivery devices that aim to reduce the outpatient clinic time, including the TAR-200 (Johnson & Johnson). However, this device still requires delivery and removal by a trained urologist. To overcome these challenges, we have created an intravesical delivery system for docetaxel that can be administered by a Foley catheter and does not require removal. The device is composed of biocompatible, pH sensitive polymers that can be urinated out once the drug has been absorbed by the lining of the bladder. This model allows complete control over shape and drug delivery. The device also has the potential to be used for the treatment of UTIs and other bladder diseases.

92. Katie Rosol
Major: Psychology
Graduation: Spring 2023
Mentor: Dr. Rachel McLaren (Communication Studies)

Discussing Disappointments between Parents and Child Relationships

This project investigates dyadic interaction patterns in parent-adolescent conversations about disappointing events, using confirmation theory and hope theory. The data has already been collected by Professor McLaren and consists of 10-minute video recordings of 94 parent-adolescent dyads discussing a recent disappointment that occurred in their life. Currently, the video recordings are being coded (and will continue to be this summer).  The interaction behaviors that are being coded are information giving, information seeking, behavioral coaching by parents, confrontation, contrition, avoidance/withdraw, confirmation, warmth, and involvement.  Specifically, we will be using confirmation theory and hope theory to understand how interaction behaviors help adolescents to feel better and more understood after a conversation with their parent about a disappointing event. We are currently doing work about

 

94. Karsyn Rush
Major: Speech and Hearing Sciences
Graduation: Spring 2023
Mentor: Dr. Inyong Choi (Communication Sciences and Disorders)

Neurofeedback Training

Understanding speech in noise is essential for communications in everyday real world settings. However, persistent variability in speech-in-noise perception exists even in young listeners with normal hearing thresholds. Yet, no therapeutic method has been established for normal-hearing listeners who struggle with speech-in-noise understanding. Conventional hearing remediations through amplification do not always improve speech-in-noise ability. Instead, perceptual training is one of the very few options currently available for such speech-in-noise problems in normal-hearing listeners, although a dearth of information exists regarding its efficacy and mediating biological mechanisms. This project aims to validate the feasibility of a novel auditory training protocol to improve speech-in-noise performance in normal-hearing listeners and investigate what biological changes such a training protocol induces.

 

96. Yasmina Sahir
Majors: Criminology, Law, and Justice, Social Justice
Graduation: Spring 2023
Mentor: Dr. Yasmine Ramadan (Arab Studies, French and Italian)

Middle Eastern, North African, and Arab Representation at University of Iowa

At University of Iowa, Middle Eastern, North African, and Arab students, their languages, cultures, religions, and vast diversity remain underrecognized and misunderstood. This research aims to provide a local campus context to the United States through examining 1) negative sociopolitical outlook on the MENA region and it's peoples, 2) the political rhetoric on Islam as well as the conflation of Arab and Muslim, and 3) how MENA-Americans can be better served on campus and in the larger community.

 

98. Noah Sinclair
Major: Biomedical Engineering
Graduation: Spring 2023
Mentor: Dr. Edward Sander (Biomedical Engineering)

Fibroblast to Myofibroblast Conversion in Adipocyte Conditioned Medium

The conversion of fibroblasts to myofibroblasts is an important process in wound healing. However, overactive myofibroblasts are associated with excessive scarring and tissue fibrosis. Adipose tissues have been identified as active players in the wound healing process. To better understand how adipocyte stem cells, preadipocytes, and adipocytes might be used therapeutically to reduce scarring, and we have been exploring how conditioned medium from these cell types influences fibroblast conversion. To facilitate this investigation, we have developed a quantitative fluorometric assay that measures the amount of the cytoskeletal protein alpha smooth muscle actin (α-SMA ), which is upregulated in myofibroblasts. Using this assay, we have determined that adipocyte conditioned medium contains a molecule(s) in the 30-100 kDa range that is not TGF-β1. Additional studies to identify the molecule responsible for this process are ongoing.

100. Faith Skinner; Ciara Gallen
Majors: Geoscience; Ethics and Public Policy, Geoscience
Graduation: Spring 2024; Spring 2024
Mentor: Dr. Ben Swanson (Earth and Environmental Sciences)

Stage and Discharge Data Analysis for Camp-Cardinal Creek at Ashton Prairie Living Laboratory

The Ashton Prairie Living Laboratory (APLL) provides extensive teaching, learning, and research opportunities in a wide variety of fields. One major concentration is monitoring stream flow and channel changes as the prairie develops. As part of this effort, I monitored stream flow over the summer of 2022. To measure and compare stage and discharge data within the stream, I installed upstream and downstream gauge stations equipped with pressure transducers to measure continuous depths and I conducted standard flow velocity measurements at the sites following largescale rain events. These data were compared to produce a stage-discharge curve. The sites were then compared to each other to estimate groundwater contributions along the reach. These data will benefit future projects attempting to quantify hydrologic changes, such as run-off and groundwater adjustments, timing of storm runoff peaks, and other associated shifts that occur as the ground cover and roots expand at APLL in the next few years.

102. Alexander Slack
Major: Chemistry
Graduation: Fall 2022 
Mentor: Dr. Xueshu Li
Non-Target Analysis of PCB Metabolites in Serum of Mice Exposed to PCBs Via the Diet During Gestation and Lactation

Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) are environmental contaminants associated with adverse human health effects, including cancer and neurotoxicity. In living organisms, such as mice, PCBs are metabolized by cytochrome P450 enzymes to hydroxylated metabolites. These metabolites are further metabolized to sulfates and glucuronides by hepatic sulfatases and glucuronidases. We hypothesize that different PCB levels may affect the PCB metabolism in mice exposed to an environmental PCB mixture during gestation and lactation. To test our hypothesis, we used the Fox River Mixture (FRM), a PCB mixture that mimics the PCB profile in fish from the Fox River. We exposed 8-week-old female mice to peanut butter only (control group, N=4) or peanut butter with PCBs (0.1 (N=6), 1 (N=7), or 6 (N=8) mg/kg body weight) for two weeks. Mice were mated and exposed further to the FRM throughout gestation and lactation. Animals were euthanized on postnatal day 28, and serum was collected. Serum aliquots were extracted with the QuEChERS method. The sample extracts were analyzed on a UHPLC-Orbitrap-MS system. Preliminary analysis identified several PCB metabolites, including OH-PCBs, PCB sulfates, OH-PCB sulfates, and MeO-PCB sulfates, in the serum samples.

104. Matthew Speranza
Major: Biomedical Engineering
Graduation: Spring 2024
Mentor: Dr. Michael Schnieders (Biomedical Engineering)

pH-Based Replica Exchange for Amino Acid Model Bias Parameterization

The replica exchange algorithm is an enhanced sampling algorithm for molecular dynamics simulations. The protocal calls for periodic exchange of parallel simulations dependant on the Metropolis Criterion. This specific implementation takes place within a contant pH molecular dynamics (CpHMD) run using the AMOEBA polarizable force field. The enhanced sampling allows simulations to have a greater statistical significance when compared to normal CpHMD runs. This allows for faster optimization of the a bias parameter that needs tuning.

 

106. Jenna Springer
Major: Psychology, Health Promotion
Graduation: Fall 2022
Mentor: Dr. Michelle Voss (Psychological and Brain Sciences)

Physical activity matters: Investigating the relationship between white matter hyperintensities, vascular health, and executive function

With the growing aging population in the United States, the mitigation of normal age-related cognitive decline in older adults is essential to prevent burden on caretakers and our health care infrastructure. Executive function (EF), comprised of sub-processes like working memory, inhibition, switching, and attention (e.g., multitasking), shows decline early in aging and is crucial for maintaining independence. White matter hyperintensities (WMHs) are age-related structural changes seen in older adults and are associated with decrements in EF. Their exact cause is unknown but is presumed to be of vascular origin. Physical activity (PA) is a behavior known to be effective in slowing cognitive decline by improving cardiovascular health. Studies exploring the relationship between WMHs and PA trend towards a negative association but have been mixed.    

This study aimed to further inform the relationship between PA and WMHs by using accelerometer data, which may be better representative of normal weekly PA patterns compared to self-report measures in previous studies. Preliminary data results demonstrate a negative correlation between accelerometer-measured PA and WMHs and between WMHs and EF performance. To our knowledge, this is the first study to investigate the relationship between PA, WMHs, and EF using accelerometer data and an extensive EF measure.

 

108. Yabsira Tekle
Major: Human Health and Physiology
Graduation: 2023
Mentor: Dr. James Davis (Pediatric-Infectious Diseases)

Using the Zebrafish Model to Investigate the Role of Cryptococcal PLB1 in Infection and Dissemination across the Blood Brain Barrier

Cryptococcus neoformans is a fungal pathogen that is commonly found in the environment. This fungus is known to cause Meningitis in human beings. Infection begins when an individual inhales its spores, which first settle in the lungs then later disseminates to the brain through the blood. In the brain the yeast is crosses the blood brain barrier and begin to grow exponentially. The zebrafish is an efficient model used to study cryptococcal pathogenesis for various reasons. Zebrafish make it easier to visually track infection trends and process of dissemination through microscopy since they have transparent bodies during their early stages of development.

Previous studies have suggested that the deletion of Plb1 may play a role in preventing escape of the fungus from phagocytes. Although some of the effects of deleting the PLB1 gene is known, the process how this happens is not well understood. The purpose of this study is to understand the role of cryptococcal PLB1 infection and dissemination by creating a plb1mutant and studying the infection and spread of the fungus to the brain.

 

110. Sanmati Thangavel; Cally Tucker
Majors: Human Physiology; Biochemistry
Graduation: Spring 2024; Spring 2024
Mentors: Drs. Marcelo Correia and Renata Alambert (Internal Medicine)

ER-stress inhibition protects C57 mice from high fat diet-induced weight gain

Dynamin-related protein-1 (DRP1) mediates mitochondrial fission in diverse tissues, including skeletal muscle. Previously we have investigated the metabolic effects of a skeletal muscle-specific knockout of (DRP1 KO) in C57 mice. DRP1 KO mice are resistant to weight gain induced by a high-fat diet related to a reduction in adipose tissue. They are more tolerant to glucose challenges associated with lower insulin levels. Gene expression of ATF-4, a transcription factor associated with endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress activation was elevated in DRP KO mice. Furthermore, DRP1 KO mice have increased gene expression and plasma levels of GDF15 and FGF21, which we hypothesized was downstream from an increase in ER stress. To test this hypothesis, we chronically treated wildtype and DRP1 KO mice with tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA), a bile acid shown to alleviate ER stress. As opposed to the anticipated results, TUDCA did not rescue the weight phenotype in DRP1 KO mice and substantially protected wild-type mice from weight gain and glucose intolerance associated with a high-fat diet for 12 weeks. We now hypothesize that ER stress might have a bidirectional effect on weight and glucose homeostasis. It is possible that different pathways of the ER stress response might have distinct impacts on adiposity regulation.

 

112. Jacob Venenga
Major: Human Physiology
Graduation: Spring 2024
Mentor: Dr. Nathaniel Jenkins (Health and Human Physiology)

Acute, Dose-Dependent Supplementation of AmaTea MAX Improves Psychomotor and Motor Speed: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Crossover Trial

INTRODUCTION: AmaTea MAX is a dietary supplement consisting of caffeine and polyphenol antioxidants and has been marketed as a nootropic, or cognitive enhancing supplement. HYPOTHESIS: We hypothesized that AmaTea MAX would improve cognitive performance in a dose-dependent manner compared to placebo. METHODS: 26 healthy young adults (8M, 16F, age = 28 ± 7y) completed three experimental visits and consumed either PLA, AMA600, or AMA1200 in randomized order (0mg, 150mg, and 300mg of caffeine, respectively). Following 60-minutes of quiet rest, participants completed neurocognitive testing (CNS Vital Signs). Independent, one-way repeated measures ANOVAs examined the differences between conditions. Tukey’s post-hoc comparisons were used when applicable. RESULTS: Psychomotor (p = 0.004) and motor speed (p = 0.007) were greater following ingestion of AMA600 than PLA, but not AMA1200 and PLA (p = 0.087). Cognitive flexibility (p = 0.053) and executive function (p = 0.053) tended to increase following consumption of AMA600. DISCUSSIONS: AMA600 consistently demonstrated increased psychomotor and motor speed when compared to AMA1200 and PLA. These results potentially support an optimal supplementation dosage for psychomotor and motor speed; however, more studies are needed to examine the effect of dose-dependent supplementation of AmaTea MAX on cognitive performance.

 

114. Zach Vig; Mehdi Assem; Rebekah Brown; Kevin Hall
Majors: Geoscience, Physics; Physics, Mathematics; Physics; Physics
Graduation: Spring 2023; Spring 2023; Spring 2024; Spring 2026 (Grad);
Mentor: Dr. David Miles (Physics and Astronomy)

Detecting Iowa's CO2 in the Stratosphere using the High Altitude Near Infrared Spectroscopy Experiment (HA-NICSE)

Atmospheric CO2 concentration measurements are crucial in determining the effects and processes behind climate change. Although many surface-level CO2 studies have been performed, there is a distinct absence of vertically profiled CO2 data. By measuring the CO2 concentration using Near Infrared Spectroscopy on Iowa State University's High Altitude Balloon Experiments in Technology (HABET) aircraft, we plan to characterize Iowa's atmospheric boundary layer, provide evidence of locally sourced CO2 in the stratosphere and detect small-scale discrepancies in global CO2 concentration models. Our instrument includes the use of a K30 FR CO2 sensor in conjunction with Dynaflo 2000 series pumps to provide a calibrated, high resolution vertical profile of CO2 concentration above Iowa. The experiment will be flown to 30km mainly above Iowa's farmland alongside two other scientific instruments from the University of Iowa. Once our data is collected, we plan to compare our measurements to theoretically derived and experimentally measured values to put Iowa's unique atmospheric environment into a global context.

 

116. Amelia Watson
Major: Psychology, Criminology, Law, and Justice
Graduation: Fall 2023
Mentor: Lilly Bendel-Stenzel and Dr. Danming An (Psychological and Brain Sciences)

Measuring discrete and global indicators of shyness: A coding system creation

Shyness is a commonly studied temperament dimension in young children. Research suggests that shyness may encompass various forms that differ in how (mal)adaptive they are. To study that heterogeneity, we observed 200 preschoolers in the “Performance Task”, a paradigm typically used to elicit a shy response: Children were asked to sing or dance in front of an audience (a familiar adult and an unknown adult). Our behavioral coding system, adapted from past work (Colonnesi et al., 2014; 2017), targets a rich variety of subtle behaviors and emotions: facial expressions, head/gaze aversion, tension, and limb movements. We also measure the intensity of behavioral and affective displays of shyness to allow for robust and sensitive final constructs. Once the coding is completed, we will be able to determine whether we can distinguish certain patterns of shyness that are differentially associated with multiple other measures we have for these children (e.g., fear, anxiety, social withdrawal, exuberance, internalizing problems). Although most typically developing young children display some degree of shyness in unfamiliar or stressful situations, excessive shyness may indicate a risk for future anxiety disorders. Understanding the heterogeneity of shyness responses is important in that it can inform parenting prevention and intervention programs.

 

118. Elizabeth Wetzel
Major: Human Physiology, Pre-Medicine
Graduation: Spring 2024
Mentor: Dr. Anna Stanhewicz (Health and Human Physiology)

E-cigarette flavoring does not differentially reduce microvascular endothelial function in healthy young adults

Purpose: Young men and women who use e-cigarettes have attenuated endothelial function assessed in the conduit (brachial artery) vasculature. Preclinical studies suggest that the flavoring added to e-cigarette liquid may differentially attenuate endothelial function. However, these results are equivocal. The aim of this study was to examine differences between e-cigarette flavoring on microvascular endothelial dysfunction in healthy young chronic (users ≥6 months) e-cigarette users (EC) compared to age-matched control participants who had never used e-cigarettes (HC). Methods: Using the cutaneous circulation as a model, we examined the effects of the 2 most common flavor additives (menthol n=2, fruit/candy n=5; combo n=3) used by our participants.11 EC (21 ± 2yrs) and 20 HC (21 ± 2yrs) underwent a standard local heating protocol (42°C; 0.1°C·s-1). One microdialysis fiber was placed in the ventral forearm for the local delivery of pharmacological agents. Lactated Ringer’s was perfused at baseline and during local heating. After full expression of the local heating response, 15mM NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME; NO synthase-inhibition) was perfused. Red cell flux was measured continuously by laser-Doppler flowmetry, and cutaneous vascular conductance (CVC=flux/MAP) was standardized to maximum (%CVCmax; 28mM SNP + 43°C). Results: Compared to HC, EC had attenuated endothelial- (p=0.007) and NO- (p=0.018) dependent dilation. However, there were no differences between flav

 

120. Micah Williams
Major: Psychology
Graduation: Spring 2024
Mentor: Dr. Isaac Petersen (Psychological and Brain Sciences)

Child Externalizing Problems Predicting Later Depressive Symptoms: Comparing Multiple Stressors as Mediators

The present study examined multiple types of stress as potential mediators of the association between child externalizing behaviors and parent depressive symptoms. Stressors examined included negative, problematic perceptions surrounding parenting (parenting-related distress), the degree of normative, everyday experiences of parenting difficulties (parenting daily hassles), and more general life events stress. We hypothesized parenting-related distress to explain the most variance given that it reflects the perceived difficulty of the parent–child relationship. The sample included 126 children ages 3–7 years, parents, and secondary caregivers (daycare providers, teachers, relatives) from a longitudinal study. After analysis through structural equation modeling, parenting-related distress was established as a possible mediator in the association between children’s externalizing behaviors and later parent depressive symptoms. This study compared multiple stressors and supports that parenting-related distress robustly predicts later parent depression. Results suggest the importance of targeting parenting-related distress, more so than daily parenting hassles or general life events, to prevent future depression in response to children’s externalizing behavior. The present study demonstrates the value of examining multiple types of stressors simultaneously to elucidate mechanistic linkages between child and parent psychopathology.

 

122. Meghana Yellepeddi
Major: Ethics and Public Policy, Interdepartmental Studies
Graduation: Spring 2023
Mentor: Dr. Whitney Zahnd (Health Management and Policy)

Cervical Cancer Screening Utilization in Rural FQHCs Across Clinic Characteristics

Rural Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) play a key role in addressing cervical cancer screening inequities, but its unknown what factors contribute to better utilization of services. Using 2019 Uniform Data System  data on FQHC grantees, the average percentage of up-to-date cervical cancer screenings were compared based on clinic quality metrics, Electronic Health Records (EHR) characteristics, and region. On average, 47.9% of grantee patients were up-to-date on cervical cancer screening. For patient-centered medical homes (PCMHs) grantees, 49.5% were up to date compared to 43.3% that were not. For grantees with health information technology designation (HIT), 48.9% were up-to-date compared to 46.4% that were not. Clinics with a quality badge designation had higher average rates of cancer screening than clinics with no designation. Among clinics with quality badge designation, gold had the highest average up to date (62.7%). In general, those FQHC grantees whose EHRs could communicate with other clinics/hospitals and with patients via patient portals or secure messaging had higher average screening rates than those that did not. Regionally, FQHCs in the Northeast had the highest average (55.4%) followed by Midwest (48.1%), South (46.8%), and West (46.2%). Future research should explore what other characteristics impact screening to inform interventions. 

124. James McMillan
Majors: Public Health, Ethics and Public Policy 
Graduation: Fall 2022
Mentor: Stephanie DiPietro (Sociology and Criminology)

Impact of Violence over the Life Course

I am using grounded theory qualitative coding to examine case study interviews conducted by Dr. DiPierto in Bosnia. These interviews are examining what impact experiencing violence has on behavior in the life course of individuals who lived through the Bosnian civil war/genocide in the 1990s. And within the coding process, my goal is to find common threads and themes that help explain and illustrate behavioral trends. That in turn helps us have a better understanding of how a person reacts and what options they have whether they are perceived or not to these very intense situations like what happened with the genocide in Bosnia in the 1990s. And the very real impacts can even be seen now over 25 years later.

 

126. Pedro Marra
Major: Biomedical Sciences
Graduation: Spring 2023
Mentor: Dr. Gen Shinozaki (Psychiatry)

Metformin use history and genome-wide DNA methylation profile: potential molecular mechanism for aging and longevity

Background: Metformin, a commonly prescribed anti-diabetic medication, has repeatedly been shown to hinder aging in pre-clinical models and to be associated with lower mortality for humans. It is, however, not well understood how metformin can potentially prolong lifespan from a biological standpoint. We hypothesized that metformin’s potential mechanism of action for longevity is through its epigenetic modifications.

Methods: To test our hypothesis, we conducted a post-hoc analysis of available genome-wide DNA methylation (DNAm) data obtained from whole blood collected from inpatients with and without a history of metformin use. We assessed the methylation profile of 171 patients (first run) and only among 63 diabetic patients (second run) and compared the DNAm rates between metformin users and nonusers.

Results: Enrichment analysis from the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genome (KEGG) showed pathways relevant to metformin’s mechanism of action, such as longevity, AMPK, and inflammatory pathways. We also identified several pathways related to delirium whose risk factor is aging. Moreover, top hits from the Gene Ontology (GO) included HIF-1α pathways. However, no individual CpG site showed genome-wide statistical significance (p<5E-08).

Conclusion: This study may elucidate metformin’s potential role in longevity through epigenetic modifications and other possible mechanisms of action.