1. Noah Andrys
Major: Interdepartmental Studies (Health Sciences)
Graduation: Spring 2023
Mentor: Dr. John Wemmie (Psychiatry) 

Investigating the Effects of Acid-Sensing Ion Channels after Opioid Withdrawal

My research has been focused on the quantification of structural changes in the brain that follow opioid exposure and withdrawal. It has been shown that dendritic spines (contact points for neuronal communication) decrease in density after exposure to and withdrawal from drugs of abuse. A well-studied region for this is the nucleus accumbens.

Previous studies in our lab have shown that the presence of acid-sensing ion channels (a neurotransmitter that shuttles protons) help mitigate structural changes following cocaine withdrawal in a brain region associated with addiction, the nucleus accumbens core. I hypothesize that ASICs will also help mitigate these structural changes.

In my study, prepared mouse brain tissues are analyzed under a confocal microscope at 100X, dendrites of interest are isolate, imaged and analyzed to calculate their total dendritic spine density. It is my goal to have a publishable dataset to contribute to my lab's mission of investigating the underlying causes of addiction.

3. Nafisa Kamal Ayntee
Major: Global Health Studies
Graduation: Spring 2023
Mentor: Dr. Waltraud Maierhofer (Global Health Studies) 

Reproductive Health of Rohingya Refugee Women in Bangladesh before and after COVID-19 Pandemic

The research is a meta-analysis of previous research journals, organization and media articles on reproductive health of Rohingya refugee women in Bangladesh. I took a closer look at what factors affects the reproductive health of this specific population and how the reproductive health was maintained before and after the COVID-19 pandemic.

5. Hannah Back
Major: Data Science
Graduation: Spring 2024
Mentor: Dr. Susan Meerdink (Geographical and Sustainability Sciences) 

Remote Detection of Harmful Algal Blooms

Harmful algal blooms (HABs) pose a hazard to human and animal health, cause economic damage, and negatively impact the ecosystem. Currently, Iowa Department of Natural Resources take water samples weekly and only at state-owned beaches. Because HABs can arise suddenly, people can be exposed unknowingly before the next sample has been processed. There is a clear need to develop cost-effective early detection methods. We are exploring methods for remote detection of HABs using trail cameras and other remote sensing approaches at our test site, Big Spirit Lake. Our data comes from conventional digital camera imagery taken five times daily. Each image is processed by first finding a region of interest (ROI) for a given lake. To find the “greenness” of the region, we calculate the relative intensity of green to the other color channels. We then produce a time-series to see how the greenness of the water changes during the year. We also use water quality and weather data to refine our understanding of how HABs arise and spread. Our next steps include processing satellite imagery and refining our trail camera processing methodology based on information found in these datasets.

7. Delaney Behning; Yunseo Ki; Reese Bobitt; Patrick Johnson
Majors: Political Science, Ethics and Public Policy; Political Science, Ethics and Public Policy; Political Science; Political Science, Economics
Graduation: Fall 2024; Spring 2024; Spring 2023; Spring 2023
Mentor: Dr. Nicholas Martini (Political Science)

Addressing the Issues of PFAS in Iowa's Waterways

The contamination of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in water has become an increasingly prevalent problem in water throughout the country, including Iowa. Exposure to PFAS through water contributes to public health, agricultural, and economic issues, which pose major threats to Iowa. Our research looks into policy alternatives that would aim to address PFAS in Iowa water. The three we focused on were continuation of Iowa's current actions, increasing funding to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources and Iowa State Hygienics Lab, and bolstering the Grants to Counties Program. Iowa currently lacks proper testing for PFAS and has an outdated action plan. In our findings, our conclusion is that Iowa should combine our alternatives of funding to IDNR and ISHL as well as provide testing and individual treatment of PFAS in private wells through Grants to Counties. This would provide a wide-reaching approach to address PFAS contamination in public and private waterways. A discussion of mitigation following improved testing in Iowa will be necessary.

9. Rey Bernhard
Major: Neuroscience
Graduation: Spring 2025
Mentors: Drs. Leyre Castro Ruiz and Ed Wasserman (Psychological and Brain Sciences) 

Task-Switching: The role of associative interference in pigeons

Human higher-order cognition allows for a continuous increase in worldly knowledge and understanding. Yet these powers come with costs. Interference from higher-level control processes make humans slower and less accurate when task-switching abilities are tested. In a task-switching paradigm, Castro and Wasserman (2016) found high accuracy and no switch costs in pigeons—an animal that learns through associative mechanisms. To examine the disparity between humans and pigeons, we first explored the associative mechanism through a simple task-switching experiment. There were two different tasks in which the pigeons must assign a specific response to stimuli. One task required the pigeons to discriminate between “light” and “dark” values of grey; the other task required them to discriminate between magnitudes, “few” or “many” circles in a display. This design allowed us to examine the effects of repetition and alternation of task, stimulus, and response. We found that task repetition per se did not have an effect on pigeon performance, but stimulus and response repetition did. Thus, we did not find interference because of higher-order ability to conceptualize the task—as is the case in humans—but we did find associative interference from previously presented stimuli and responses. Future research will allow for a deeper understanding of the task-switching advantages provided by associative learning and help fuel further human productivity and efficiency.

11. Faith Bibeau
Major: Biology
Graduation: Spring 2025
Mentor: Dr. Maurine Neiman (Biology ) 

The influence of phosphorus availability on growth in conspecifics that vary in nuclear genome DNA content

Why genome size and structure vary so widely is a major unanswered question. One possible driver of genome evolution is nutrient availability: Organisms with relatively high nuclear genome DNA content are expected to require more nutrients. Phosphorus (P) is ubiquitous in nature and a key component of nucleic acids (e.g. DNA & RNA). Accordingly, organisms with relatively high nuclear genome DNA content should be more negatively affected by low P. We test this hypothesis in Potamopyrgus antipodarum, a New Zealand freshwater snail that is characterized by wide variation in ploidy level and genome size. In one experiment we evaluate whether P limitation differentially affects individual growth rate across diploid, triploid, and tetraploid P. antipodarum lineages. We predict that sensitivity to P limitation will increase with ploidy, manifesting as increased relative reduction in growth rate under low P. We are also assessing growth rate in high vs. low P treatments across triploid lineages with relatively high vs. low nuclear genome content. We predict that lineages with high nuclear DNA content will be relatively severely affected by P limitation. Regardless of specific outcomes, these experiments will help illuminate how nutrient availability might influence the evolution of genome size variation.

13. Brianna Blaine
Major: Human Physiology
Graduation: May 2025
Mentors: Drs. Serena Banu Gumusoglu and Mark Santillan (Obstetrics and Gynecology) 

Sex-Specific Behavioral Abnormalities in the RGS2 Knockout Model of Psycho-Obstetric Risk

Gestational hypertensive disorders such as preeclampsia share high rates of comorbidity with mood disorders and anxiety, which in-turn appear to increase risk up to 3-fold for preeclampsia. This bi-directional risk suggests shared mechanisms, which may reveal insights into potential treatment targets for these often-dangerous disorders. Prior work by our group revealed that loss of RGS2, a risk gene for preeclampsia and psychiatric disorders including anxiety, depression, and suicide, results in preeclampsia-like obstetric phenotypes such as gestational hypertension and placental dysfunction in a murine model. RGS2 is also associated with abnormal serotoninergic tone and reduced SSRI efficacy. Here we examine whether RGS2-mediated mechanisms might disrupt brain function to increase risk for psychiatric disease in a female-specific manner.

15. Josie Bliss
Major: Biology
Graduation: Summer 2023 

Effects of Water Conditions on Oyster Settlement and Growth 

Analysis of salinity, temperature, chlorophyll, and dissolved oxygen in relation to number and size of juvenile oysters.

17. Solange Bolger
Major: Psychology
Graduation: Spring 2023
Mentor: Dr. Teresa Treat (Psychological and Brain Sciences) 

College Men's Sexual Consent Beliefs: Links to Sexual Aggression

Male-initiated sexual aggression towards female acquaintances is a widespread phenomenon on college campuses. This study investigated college men’s sexual-consent beliefs and the accuracy of their perceptions of their peers’ consent-related beliefs (CRB).  We also examined the association between CRB and various risk factors for sexual aggression (i.e., a self-reported history of aggressive behavior or endorsement of rape-supportive attitudes). A large sample of college men at three universities (n=1281) reported their level of agreement with three CRB about the importance of sexual consent (e.g., “I believe that sexual consent is important”).  They then indicated how they thought the “typical college male” would respond to the three questions.  Finally, they completed measures of rape-supportive attitudes and past sexual aggression. On average, college men endorsed highly favorable beliefs about the importance of sexual consent, and they moderately underestimated their male peers' endorsement of CRB. Men at greater risk of sexual aggression showed less favorable endorsement of CRB and greater under-perception of peers’ CRB. The current findings are broadly consistent with existing literature. Future research should examine the effectiveness of providing corrective feedback to college men on their peers’ consent-related beliefs, given the importance of perceived peer attitudes and behavior to college men’s sexual behavior.

19. Kathryn Cochrane
Major: Biology
Graduation: Spring 2024
Mentor: Dr. Stephanie Gantz (Molecular Physiology and Biophysics) 

Exploration of impact delta-1 glutamate receptors have on social interaction in mice 

Delta-1 glutamate receptors (GluD1) are crucial functioning ion channels, yet little is known about their regulation, mechanism, and behavioral effects. To explore the influence GluD1 has on social interactions, we are testing how the loss of the ion channel’s function gives rise to different social behaviors. A behavioral assay has been designed for male and female wild type and GluD1 knock out mice. The behavioral assay consists of test mice interacting with a novel mouse and novel object, yet kept physically separate, to complete the first trial. A second trial allows the test mice to then encounter a second novel mouse that has replaced the novel object. In the first trial, we are examining the social choice that the test mice make between interacting with the novel mouse versus the object. In the second trial, we are examining the social choice that the test mice make between interacting with the now familiar novel mouse versus the unfamiliar social mouse. By bettering our understanding of how the loss of the GluD1 channels changes social interactions, we will be closer to finding ways to target this channel with medications to treat various neurological disorders.

21. Melissa Cronnolly
Major: Speech and Hearing Science
Graduation: Spring 2023
Mentor: Drs. Si On Yoon and Stewart McCauley (Communication Sciences and Disorders) 

Conversation Study

Memory is essential to having a successful conversation with a partner. Previous studies have shown mixed findings about which partners remember more of what they contribute to an interaction or what their partner contributes. The goal of the current study is to investigate the social effects on conversational memory by comparing memory for conversation between pairs of friends and pairs of strangers in person. In the current research, participants had a 15-minutes conversation discussing the memories and experiences relating to 8 Iowa-related images and then underwent a series of cognitive measures. A free-recall memory task was also completed to examine the participant’s memory of the conversation. Each conversation and recalled memory was transcribed and will be analyzed across many different aspects including the number of turn-takings between partners, expression length, and emotional valence (e.g., positive/negative).  We plan to expand this work to the healthy older population and examine the effect across the lifespan. This finding gives insight into the underlying mechanisms of memory for conversation in healthy younger and older adults.

23. Megan Dao
Major: Biomedical Engineering
Graduation: Spring 2023
Mentor: Dr. Ruth Chimenti (Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science) 

Validation of Weight-Bearing Computed Tomography for the Assessment of Achilles Tendon Pathology

Achilles tendinopathy (AT) is a prevalent condition among the active, working-age population. Typically, ultrasound imaging (US) is utilized to clinically assess and grade AT pathology, however, it may be prone to operator variability. Thus, weight-bearing computed tomography (WBCT) may serve as a novel imaging technique which can evaluate the tendon while the patient is standing. The objectives of this study were to 1) compare the Achilles tendon between US and WBCT imaging and 2) to compare WBCT Achilles tendon tissue changes between AT patients and controls. 10 participants with AT, 10 matched controls, and 4 younger controls were recruited. WBCT and US scans were collected for all participants in a neutral standing position with feet flat on the ground. There was excellent correlation between WBCT and US imaging when evaluating tendon thickness. Furthermore, among participants with AT, there was a higher radiodensity in the tendon when compared to healthy participants. These findings are likely explained by chondroid metaplasia of the Achilles that occurs with pathology. Further validation of WBCT is needed with a larger and more diverse sample size as well as with magnetic resonance imaging which is the gold standard for 3D soft tissue imaging.

25. Victoria Deters
Major: Biomedical Sciences
Graduation: Spring 2024
Mentor: Dr. Kristine Munoz (Spanish and Portuguese) 

"Put it in Layman's Terms": How Health Narratives can Heal Communication Between Breast Cancer Patients and Physicians 

Narrative Medicine is a diagnostic and comprehensive approach to health care that utilizes providers’ and patients' personal stories in clinical practice, research, and education to promote healing. By addressing the relational and psychological dimensions of physical illness, it contributes to accurate diagnoses and reduces burnout (Charon). This field focuses on the importance of sharing stories and experiences in medicine, and the role that stories play in healing and learning. One field of medicine where stories could be used to build better relationships is breast cancer treatment. Health narratives can heal the disconnect between breast cancer patients and physicians by helping to open the pathway of communication. For this project, I collected four stories from breast cancer patients and healthcare providers to show that stories provide an enriched form of conversation, in which each side is able to listen and understand more fully the perspective of the other.

27. Samantha Eberly
Major: Geoscience
Graduation: Fall 2023
Mentor: Dr. Shamar Chin (Earth and Environmental Science)

Separation Techniques for Calcareous Nannofossils from Goban Spur: Western Rift Margin of Ireland 

During the middle Maastrichtian, the global climate experienced a burst of warming in an overall cooling trend that spanned from the Late Campanian through the entirety of the Maastrichtian. This short period of warming, the mid-Maastrichtian Event (MME), caused an increase in the abundance and size of numerous calcareous nannoplankton taxa. This is because calcareous nannoplankton are photosynthetic surface dwellers and record ocean surface conditions. As a result, they are useful proxies for deriving paleo-surface water conditions such a paleo-nutrient regime paleo-sea surface temperature (SSTs). However, given that there are micron-sized microfossils (~4-12 µm), it is difficult to isolate them from the bulk sediments.
Isolation techniques have been developed but they have rarely been applied to the Cretaceous (<66.5 Ma) sediments due to the high taxa diversity and the high variability in their morphologies. We have developed our own isolation method, centrifuging and settling, using Cretaceous chalk samples from the Deep-Sea Drilling Project Leg 80, Site 548 (Goban Spur, west of Ireland.), which is a rift margin formed during the opening of the Atlantic Ocean. Chalks are primarily comprised of calcareous nannofossils and foraminifera, the latter being zooplankton. Our method has been shown to be effective in separating the nannofossil-enriched fraction and we achieved this by frequently adjusting the rotations per minute (RPM) and time constraints, depending on the grainsize. The centrifuging process is time-consuming, but when adding other isolation techniques (wet sieving and the addition of Alconox), this process shortened.
The results indicate that it is possible to isolate the nannofossil-fraction from Cretaceous sediments using our separation techniques. After successfully applying this method to the remainder of the Goban Spur samples, we have preliminary geochemical data that show an increase in temperature which proves our hypothesis that the idea that calcareous nannofossils are a proxy for temperature. In the future, we can apply these methods to other sediments to prepare them for geochemical analysis.

29. Sadie Eggmann
Major: Neuroscience
Graduation: Spring 2023
Mentors: Dr. Li-Chun (Queena) Lin (Iowa Neuroscience Institute)

Sex Differences of APOE in the prefrontal cortex of patients with Major Depressive Disorder

Apolipoprotein E gene (APOE) is a gene that has 3 alleles, including APOE ε4 as a risk of major depressive disorder (MDD). The prefrontal cortex plays a major role in MDD. CpG islands are regions where DNA methylations regulate gene expression. CpG islands of APOE in the prefrontal cortex are associated with age-related changes in DNA expression MDD associated genes. It is unclear if there is a sex dimorphism of APOE ε4 methylation and genotyping in patients with MDD. We hypothesize that these sex differences are present in the expression of APOE ε4 in cases of MDD. Specifically, we expect to see less CpG islands, and therefore more APOE ε4 prevalence, in females with MDD compared to males with MDD and controls. We will quantify CpG islands in the human postmortem prefrontal cortex tissue from 6 MDD cases (3 male and 3 female) using the Pyromark Q48 Autoprep and compare them to aged-matched neurotypical controls. This will generate a CpG analysis report which will be used to further analyze the data. The data will reflect the methylation status for APOE in the prefrontal cortex. This information will contribute to recognition of APOE ε4 as a strong genetic marker for MDD which can allow for prevention or early intervention.

31. Rhett Ellerbroek
Major: Biochemistry
Graduation: Spring 2026
Mentor: Dr. Hanna Stevens (Psychiatry) 

Junctional Zone Shrinkage from Stress in Male Placentas

Prenatal stress is linked to neurodevelopmental disorders, possibly due to changes in placental morphology. Our lab's previous study discovered prenatal restraint stress leads to smaller placental layers in male embryos only. We seek to compare different stress models' effects on placenta to see if this effect is consistent for four stress groups: naive, restraint, foot shock, and chronic unpredictable.

We found males have a thicker junctional zone than females in the naive group (p=0.0499). When all stress groups were averaged, there was a decrease in the average junctional zone thickness for males only (p=0.0319). This was different only in the chronic unpredictable stress group (p=0.065). However, the junctional zone area and central thickness remained unchanged based on sex or stress model.

We did find males had a thicker side junctional zone thickness than females (SZJT, p=0.046). There was a stress by sex interaction in the chronic unpredictable stress group (p=0.0398), with female mice displaying a marginally thickened SZJT (p=0.062).

Differences in junctional morphology could lead to differences in hormone production in the placenta. This could impact fetal development, resulting in an increase in neurodevelopmental disorders in males. 

33. Maddie Fitzgerald
Major: Public Health
Graduation: Spring 2025
Mentors: Dr. Allison Momany and Maria Thurow (Pediatrics) 

Recruitment Demographics and Research Task Completion

A pilot study was conducted to examine the interaction between genetic and environmental risks in young children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. A newly developed smartphone app, BabySteps, was used to collect the necessary survey data and videos. The goal of the app is to reduce participant burden for parents in an effort to (1) increase study enrollment, retention, and completion of all study measures, (2) enable individuals living in rural or distant communities to participate, and (3) allow for collection of ecologically valid data. Since the completion of the pilot study, the BabySteps app has been developed further, adding incentives for task completion and addressing barriers to access. The project would investigates how the app contributes to the fulfillment of the Autism, Genetics, & Epigenetics Study (AGES) demographic goals. We will also be looking into how the addition of in-app incentives increases completion of study tasks, and how this change may differ between parents of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and parents of typically developing children. In sum, this project will assess the effectiveness of the newly developed BabySteps app and explore how we can increase study participation and enrollment for all populations using technology.

35. Anissa Forero
Major: Genetics and Biotechnology and Spanish
Graduation: Spring 2023
Mentor: Dr. Kristine Muñoz (Spanish and Portuguese) 

How Can the Implementation of Health Narratives Redefine Addiction and its Treatment? 

Prior to the 1930s, addiction was commonly viewed as a moral failing. Since then, the predominant view supported by empirical evidence is that addiction is a medical disorder, beyond the reach of individuals’ “self-control”. The vulnerability, and therefore trust, between patient and provider can mean both short-term and long-term benefit and control of said disease (Matano and Wanat). However, there is still widespread stigma attached to addiction. In order for those who need help, it becomes important to see those with substance abuse problems through a person-first and not problem-first lens. Previous research shows that health narratives have a capacity to improve preconceived beliefs held about those struggling with addiction (Heley et al). This is where health narratives and storytelling may play a vital role in the treatment of substance-use addiction. The scope of this project will be to discuss six narratives and how each contributes to the destigmatization of addiction and treatment. Additionally, it will show how health narratives can fit into individual and group therapy treatments styles to benefit both the person struggling with addiction and their relationships.

37. Hope Fury
Major: Biomedical Sciences
Graduation: Spring 2023
Mentor: Dr. Nedim Ince (Internal Medicine) 

Modulating Donor T Cell Graft-Versus-Host and Graft-Versus-Tumor Reactivity by STAT6

Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) occurs after bone marrow transplant (BMT) when donor immune cells attack recipient tissue, leading to inflammation, and in some cases, death. 61% of bone marrow transplant patients develop some form of GVHD, and common treatments, such as steroids, are only completely effective in 25-40% of cases. For these reasons, we are exploring preventative treatments, taking advantage of the T helper-2 (Th2) immunological pathway, which we and others have proven to reduce the incidence of GVHD due to its immunosuppressive properties. Currently, we use a genetic model of T cell overproduction of STAT6, a Th2 transcription factor, termed STAT6VT. These transgenic T cells display a phenotype consistent with decreased GVHD, such as increased Th2 and immunoregulatory cytokine production, higher percentages of regulatory T cells, an increased CD4:CD8 T cell ratio, and a higher percentage of memory cell markers. When STAT6VT T cells are transferred in BMT, recipient mice have significantly less GVHD and improved survival compared to mice receiving wildtype T cells. Additionally, STAT6VT T cells show some evidence of graft-versus-tumor activity, with BMT recipient mice with leukemia having smaller tumors and fewer cancer cells than those with no treatment.

39. Katie Greiner
Major: Biology, Music
Graduation: Spring 2023
Mentor: Dr. Mary Teresi (Pediatrics)

Finding a New Treatment for Dravet Syndrome: Phase I/II Epilepsy Clinical Trials

Dravet Syndrome (DS) is a rare childhood epilepsy caused by a mutation in one copy of a person’s SNC1A gene leading to nonfunctional Nav1.1 protein, an important sodium channel for proper brain functioning. Those with DS suffer from prolonged and frequent seizures along with behavioral and developmental delays. Unfortunately, current therapies are typically unable to eliminate seizures completely. Since those with DS are at higher risk for sudden unexpected death due to epilepsy (SUDEP) and other serious health complications, it is imperative that research for better treatments continue. STK-001 is an investigational anti-epileptic medication created by Stoke Therapeutics to reduce seizure frequency in children with DS. Stoke researchers designed an antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) that binds to a patient’s productive SCN1A pre-mRNA to increase Nav1.1 protein production to near-normal levels. STK-001-DS-101, nicknamed MONARCH, is Stoke’s phase I/II clinical trial for intrathecal STK-001. The purpose of the MONARCH study is to assess the safety and tolerability of STK-001 in the study population, children ages 2-18 with a DS diagnosis. Preliminary results from the MONARCH study show that STK-001 has been well tolerated and treatment is associated with a reduction in seizure frequency.

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

Assessing the effects of plastic exposure on sperm morphology

In recent years, human male fertility has been on the decline, and humanity's increase in plastic usage since the mid-20th century may be responsible for it. It is believed that endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) leach from plastics over time and cause hormonal imbalances and effective reproductive capacity. Previous evidence implicates that phthalates (an EDC) may pose antiandrogenic effects—reduced testosterone levels and testosterone bioavailability. There also tends to be an inverse relationship between phthalate exposure and testosterone levels. Here, I aim to understand the effects that plastics pose on sperm morphology by inducing everyday stressors onto standard plastic #1 (polyethylene terephthalate) to observe potential morphological changes in sperm in the New Zealand mud snail. I am specifically looking for increased frequencies of sperm aggregations and deviations in sperm size. This mud snail is aquatic and sensitive to changes in water quality, allowing us to get a better grasp on one method in which we come into contact with CDCs and their potential health effects.

43. Kila Haney
Major: Speech and Hearing Science
Graduation: Spring 2023
Mentor: Dr. Jean Gordon (Communication Sciences and Disorders) 

Compensatory and Facilitative Gesture Use in People with Aphasia

Previous literature has disagreed on the definitions of facilitative and compensatory gestures and has not developed one concise and conventional methodology to represent how individuals with Broca’s and Wernicke’s aphasia are using iconic, metaphoric, deictic and emblem gestures across various discourse tasks. The focus of this project was to develop a clear, reliable protocol that measured the facilitative and compensatory use of gestures in people with aphasia (PwA). The timing of gestures relative to speech determined whether gestures could be represented as facilitative to verbal output. The existence of meaningful gestures in absence of speech determined the compensatory use of gestures. Ultimately, this new coding system builds upon previous research as well as incorporates new ideas to determine how those with Broca’s aphasia use gestures in comparison with those with Wernicke’s aphasia. These results support evidence to further use gestures as a strategic component of intervention for conversation partners to better understand the communication needs of PwA.

45. Eleanor Hildebrandt
Major: Journalism and Mass Communication, Global Health Studies
Graduation: Spring 2023
Mentor: Dr. Rachel Young (Journalism and Mass Communication)

Trauma informed storytelling: a need in modern day journalism education 

The art of storytelling requires open communication. To capture the entirety of an issue in the field of journalism, a reporter of any media needs to ensure the safety of their sources. If they cannot, the story will become more harmful to everyone involved in the process of creating and publishing the story, all the way to those who read it. Journalism students enrolled in high schools and universities across the country are not taught to protect themselves or their sources from harm when sharing the intimate details of traumatic stories. An analysis of trauma-informed journalism strategies from written sources and interviews will result in a 50-minute lecture for students at the University of Iowa interested in journalistic storytelling. The lecture will include assignments for students (i.e., readings and exit activities) and a slide deck with a script for presenters. The lecture will be provided to students in 2000-level journalism courses as an introduction into trauma-informed journalism.

47. Jessica Hoffeller
Major: Speech and Hearing Science
Graduation: Spring 2023
Mentor: Dr. Si On Yoon (Communication Sciences and Disorders) 

Partner-specific adaptation in disfluency processing in older adults

When a listener hears disfluency in a speaker’s speech, they tend to expect the speaker to reference an unfamiliar object. We examined if this expectation is adapted depending on how disfluency is used in the discourse. Using an eye tracking procedure, we presented the participant with recorded instructions directing them to look at a certain object on a computer screen. The object was either familiar or unfamiliar, and there were two conditions: predictive or non-predictive. The predictive condition contained fluent instructions corresponding to familiar objects and disfluent expressions corresponding to unfamiliar objects, while the non-predictive condition contained fluent and disfluent instructions corresponding to either familiar or unfamiliar objects. Our findings suggest that listeners flexibly adapt to local context.

49. Ryann Hubbart
Major: Economics, International Studies
Graduation: Spring 2023
Mentor: Dr. Ari Ariel (History) 

Title: Imagining Settler Colonial Decolonization in South Africa: Debates Between African Nationalism and Non-Racialism in the Movements Against Apartheid 1940-1980

Throughout the 20th century there was one primary thread of debate within and between the organizations in resistance to colonialism and apartheid in South Africa - that of "non-racialism" vs. "African nationalism." The debates between these two ideologies can be understood as considerations of the meaning of decolonization in the settler colonial context of South Africa and what a future, decolonized South Africa looks like.

51. Mushroor Kamal
Major: Biology
Graduation: Spring 2024
Mentor: Dr. Serena Gumusoglu (Obstetrics/Gynecology) 

Deficient Cerebral Angiogenesis in the RGS2 Knockout Mouse 

Gestational hypertensive disorders such as preeclampsia feature altered angiogenesis and deficient vascular function throughout the body. Whether these abnormalities extend to the brain has been the source of recent work by our group and other. Shared risk for neuropsychiatric disease and preeclampsia may further be explained by cerebrovascular mechanisms. Loss of RGS2 in a mouse model serves as a genetic cardiovascular disease model for preeclampsia. Here, we test whether this model also features sex-specific deficiencies in cerebrovasculature, which may serve to increase risk for psychiatric disease in a female-specific manner. 

53. Amiritha Kumar
Major: Medical Anthropology
Graduation: Spring 2025
Mentor: Drs. Allison Momany and Lane Strathearn (Pediatrics) 

Epigenetic Markers of Autism Using a Dimensional Approach

The extent to which epigenetic modifications increase risk for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) or exacerbate ASD symptoms is not well understood but is an area of ripe with potential important findings. As such, we plan to investigate the association between epigenetic markers (percent gene methylation) in neurodevelopmentally-related genes and scores on two measures used to assess ASD symptoms (Autism Symptom Rating Scale) and child development (Adaptive Behavior Assessment System, 3rd Edition) in children ages 2-3 years old who exhibit (1) typical development, (2) developmental delay, or  (3) ASD. We will use a dimensional approach, meaning the results will not be separated into children who are diagnosed with ASD and those who are not, but examined across the continuum of scores. Using this approach, our conclusions will be more representative of the whole spectrum of ASD symptoms and development. This research will have an impact on the neurodiverse community and their families. Analyzing the correlation between gene expression and the spectrum of behavioral differences in children will provide insight into how to best to support the neurodiverse community. Understanding the genetic markers for ASD may also lead to better informed decisions for intervention in the process of child development.

55. Dana Lapinski
Major: Neuroscience
Graduation: Spring 2023
Mentor: Dr. Gordon Buchanan (Neuroscience ) 

Effect of sleep state and time of day on postictal breathing in amygdala kindled serotonin neuron deficient mice

Sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP) is the leading cause of death in patients with refractory epilepsy. While the exact cause of SUDEP is unknown, abnormalities in breathing or heart rhythms may be involved. Most cases occur during sleep or at night. Serotonin (5-HT) modulates breathing and oscillates across sleep states and times of day, with levels highest in daytime and wakefulness and lowest at night and during sleep. Lmx1b conditional knockout (CKO) mice have 99% of their serotonin neurons genetically deleted. We hypothesized Lmx1b CKO mice would have lower postictal ventilation than wildtype mice and that breathing would not change with variations in time of day or sleep state. Wildtype mice would experience worsening of breathing based on time of day or sleep state. To examine the role of serotonin on postictal breathing across different sleep states and times of day, CKO and wildtype mice underwent amygdala-kindling and seizures were induced in either wake, NREM, and REM during the light phase or dark phase. We analyzed breathing data from these trials and looked at differences in the sleep state, the time of day, and genotype. Future studies will examine EKG data from these animals to look at heart parameters.

57. Morgan Leach
Major: Health Studies
Graduation: Spring 2023
Mentor: Dr. Erica Kaldenberg (Education) 

Review of Postsecondary Intervention for Young Adults with IDD

The positive impact of continuing education beyond high school is thoroughly noted within literature. As postsecondary opportunities for young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) expand, it is necessary to understand successful strategies to support continued academic achievement for this typically marginalized population. The University of Iowa REACH (Realizing Education and Career Hopes) Program has been a setting for a number of research studies that have described effective interventions and instructional approaches. This review of literature synthesizes the findings from 8 peer-reviewed articles from 2018-2020. Skills taught ranged from essay writing to using technology to navigate the community. Students with IDD benefited from direct explicit instruction emphasizing teacher modeling, scaffolded prompting, and independent practice.

59. Haley Lightfoot
Major: Chemistry
Graduation: Spring 2023
Mentor: Dr. Tori Forbes (Chemistry) 

Novel Green Solventless Synthesis of Uranium Metal Organic Frameworks via Temperature Dependent Flux Reactions

Uranium, a naturally occurring radioactive element, can form hybrid materials, such as MOFs, that are of interest due to their tailorable properties and range of applications. The uranyl cation (UO22+) is a linear triatomic cation formed when two oxygen atoms bond to a central uranium (VI) atom. Due to the terminal nature of the oxygen atoms in the cation, further coordination occurs to the uranium center as ligands bind in the equatorial plane forming one- and two-dimensional materials. Our project explores the optimization of a novel solventless synthesis by adjusting various synthetic parameters. This method looks at the use of uranyl nitrate hexahydrate as a flux solvent during a mild temperature flux reaction with an organic ligand. Solid yellow powders containing multiple phases were observed for each flux reaction. Product characterization was done via Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), powder and single crystal X-ray diffraction, and Raman and IR spectroscopy. Previous synthetic methods that produced these compounds utilized aqueous solvents whereas this reaction did not. This solventless synthetic method aids in green chemistry, reduces liquid waste, and may provide access to unusual structures.

61. Kobie Long
Major: 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 enters Camp Cardinal Creek in order to inform aquatic habitat and groundwater studies, including 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 in the summer identified two reaches of the stream that are strongly influenced by incoming groundwater, and macroinvertebrate sampling indicates these areas also harbor macroinvertebrates which are indicative of relatively good water quality. The survey in the winter identified only one site strongly influenced by groundwater. A simplified IBI index has been calculated using the macroinvertebrates survey data to indicate which stream sites harbor the highest diversity of aquatic organisms, as well as which sites harbor the most insects indicative of higher water quality. Current and future work includes identifying groundwater input locations and volumes with more detailed analysis using a thermal camera and other approaches.

63. Taylor Maas
Major: Political Science
Graduation: Spring 2024
Mentor: Dr. Brian Lai (Political Science)

Understanding Naval Deterrence: Effects of Multilateral Trade on Naval Power and Maritime Disputes 

This paper builds on existing research on maritime disputes by examining how multilateral trade networks influence the likelihood of conflict. The nature of maritime claims makes multilateral trade important for states involved in a maritime dispute. Because militarized conflict could disrupt shipping and commerce, states that are trade partners with both states involved in a maritime dispute are likely to try and prevent fighting. The greater the similarity in their trade network, the less likely a militarized conflict will occur in a maritime dispute. Using the ICOW and naval power datasets, I am able test my argument of how multilateral trade influences maritime disputes and naval deterrence.

65. Deeraj Manika
Major: Biomedical Sciences
Graduation: Spring 2024
Mentor: Dr. Jennifer Streeter (Internal Medicine) 

Inducible Deletion of OPA1 in the Heart Induces ER Stress that precedes Mitochondrial and Contractile Dysfunction

Heart failure is a life-threatening disease that affects 26 million worldwide. Studies have shown that altered mitochondrial dynamics could contribute to the pathogenesis of heart failure. Optic Atrophy 1 (OPA1) is an inner mitochondrial membrane fusion protein that plays a significant role in maintaining cristae morphology. Although OPA1 protein expression is reduced in both humans and rat models with heart failure, few studies have addressed the mechanisms by which altered OPA1 expression influences cardiac function. Our goal is to elucidate the mechanisms by which the loss of OPA1 may lead to heart failure. OPA1 floxed mice were crossed with mice carrying alpha-MHC MerCreMer transgene. The homozygous floxed offspring were injected with a 5mg/kg (females) or 10mg/kg (males) tamoxifen at 6 weeks to induce OPA1 knockdown in cardiomyocytes. OPA1 expression was significantly reduced by 12 weeks post tamoxifen in both males and females. At 14 weeks post tamoxifen, echocardiograms revealed severely decreased ejection fraction (EF), and increased end diastolic volume, end systolic volume, and left ventricular mass which indicated heart failure. In accordance with the knockdown and reduced EF, increased levels of fibrosis were present in the tissues of KO mice at 8 weeks post injection as seen with Masson’s trichrome straining. OPA1 deficiency in cardiomyocytes also decreased mitochondrial size and number of cristae as seen with electron microscopy (TEM). There was upregulation of the ER stress markers ERE1α, BIP, p-eif2α, eif2α, and PERK. These findings indicate the essential role of the OPA1 protein in maintaining normal mitochondrial morphology and cardiac function in this mouse model.

67. Shivani Manikandan
Major: Biochemistry
Graduation: Spring 2023
Mentor: Dr. Christopher Ahern (Molecular Physiology and Biophysics) 

An Investigation of the Metabotropic Glutamate Receptor 8 Binding Site

The metabotropic glutamate receptor 8 (mGlu8) is a G-protein coupled receptor that is activated by glutamate binding, and associated with the regulation of neural activity. mGlu8 is a target for medications intended to treat a variety of neurodegenerative and mental health conditions such as schizophrenia and depression. However, off-target binding from drugs lacking binding specificity cause a wide range of adverse effects. This project strives to understand the intermolecular forces involved in ligand binding. Specifically, this project tests for the presence of a cation-π interaction by altering the electrostatic forces of aromatic residues in the mGlu8 binding site. Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) microscopy will be performed to quantify the relative binding affinity of the receptor in the mutants (with altered electrostatic interactions) versus wild-type receptors. In the presence of a cation-π interaction, as fluorination of the aromatic residues increases, we would expect ligand binding to be increasingly disrupted, and the binding affinity of the receptor to glutamate to decrease. Our findings will provide insight into which intermolecular interactions are integral for ligand binding and can be leveraged to design future medications with greater specificity, helping reduce the risk of side effects.

69. Maryam Mohammed; Amisha Mohanty
Major: International Relations; Economics, International Relations
Graduation: Spring 2025
Mentor: Dr. Brian Lai (Political Science)

Characteristics of Negotiations During Civil Wars from 1980-2010

Our research team has been collecting data on characteristics of attempted peace negotiations during civil wars from 1980-2010. This encompasses but is not limited to the negotiation’s type, length, outcome, and connection to other attempts. This data will shed light on what factors influence the outcome of negotiation attempts and provide insight to the best way to structure diplomatic dialogue.

71. Jessica Monday; Araceli Hernandez
Major: Psychology; Psychology
Graduation: Spring 2024; Spring 2023
Mentor: Dr. Ebonee Johnson (Community and Behavioral Health) 

Self-Compassion in Iowa Educators and Clinical & Support Staff

Thirty-nine school personnel including school-based counselors, therapists, social workers, principals, teachers, and school district coordinators, participated in a pilot mental health awareness training program entitled Imagine Iowa: Building Partners in School Mental Health. Most participants identified as female, white, and had a master’s degree or higher. This is reflective of the demographics of educators in Iowa and nationwide. Participants represented 23 school districts across the state of Iowa.  As a pre-assessment, they completed the State Self-Compassion Scale (Neff et al., 2020) which assesses general attitudes toward oneself (e.g., “I am giving myself the caring...I need”).  On average, participants scored 20.23 (scores range from 6-30) with a standard deviation of 4.33.  These scores reflect that prior to receiving training that incorporates wellness/self-care/self-compassion, school personnel score lower than we would like and there is work to be done. This poster presentation will provide data on demographics, descriptive statistics, and item-level analysis.  Results from these pilot work highlight the importance of incorporating school personnel wellness interventions to minimize burnout. If school personnel cannot protect their mental and physical health, they are unlikely to have the energy to support students to the best of their abilities.

73. Leo Moore
Major: Business Analytics and Information Systems, Linguistics
Graduation: Spring 2023
Mentor: Dr. Elena Gavruseva (Linguistics) 

Conceptual Thinking Test: Investigating native-speaker and non-native speaker differences/similarities

Are learners of English as a second language able to attain native-like competence in their second/foreign language? Previous linguistic studies have shown that there is significant variability in second language learners across proficiency levels, with differences attributed to factors such as input (types of learning environment), age of onset (age at which learning a second language begins), and psychological factors (e.g. levels of motivation). Measures of second language proficiency typically include traditional grammar tests and vocabulary tests, with separate comprehension components targeting reading and listening skills. Our research investigates whether it is possible to accurately evaluate learners' proficiency level and, more broadly, to distinguish a non-native speaker of English from a native speaker by designing a test that targets an area of language with a significant culture-specific component. We present an example of such an area (pecuniary terms) and a language test that will be administered to native speakers and non-native speakers.

75. Ryleigh Mulcahey
Major: Chemistry, Environmental Science
Graduation: Spring 2023 

Seasonal Effects in Nutrient Loads of the Caloosahatchee Estuary

A nutrient monitoring project was done in the Summer of 2022. The goal was to investigate how nutrient trends in the estuary change with differences in precipitation and water flow. The water from the estuary was collected in a grid-like manner and taken to a lab for testing with a nutrient analyzer while other variables were tested on-site with a multiprobe system. There was found to be a consistent source of nitrogen species at the top of the estuary between the two testing periods. This was potentially due to the sewage system in use at the time. The phosphate levels across the estuary differed between significantly between the two periods. This change could not be accounted for with the variables measured at the time. The background variables like temperature and salinity remained relatively constant with any changes that can be explained through time of day change or usual seasonal changes.

77. Asel Nasr
Major: Global Health Studies (MPH U2G)
Graduation: Spring 2023
Mentor: Dr. Kara Whitaker (Health and Human Physiology) 

Postpartum body dissatisfaction: Exploring social media usage and impact on postpartum mental health in Iowa City, Iowa

For many new mothers, the postpartum period is a vulnerable time for experiencing body dissatisfaction. Currently, no research has been conducted to evaluate the association between body image dissatisfaction and social media usage during the postpartum period. This project aims to examine the impact of frequent social media usage on body dissatisfaction during the postpartum period. Specifically, this research will evaluate the importance of postpartum mental health in order to educate first time mothers on weight and body changes throughout pregnancy, as well as find ways to enhance their postpartum self-esteem. A cross sectional online survey will be dispersed to recruit 250 women ages 18-35 who are 0-12 months postpartum. The research methods include a socio demographic survey to assess age, marital status, educational level, household net income. As well as pregnancy- and postpartum-related information (weeks’ gestation at birth, mode of delivery (vaginal or cesarean section), breastfeeding status) and weight related information, including pre-pregnancy, total gestational weight gain, current weight status, and current body perception. A survey will also be used to measure the frequency of social media usage. This project will aid in understanding how social media use is associated with body dissatisfaction.

79. Miriam Ochs
Majors: History, Theater
Graduation: Spring 2023
Mentor: Dr. Elizabeth Yale (History) 

Wonderful Things of God:  17th century Scribal Culture and the Scientific Pursuit of the Philosopher’s Stone

My research examines an unknown scribe’s transcription of the 17th c. English alchemical text, Magnalia Dei. The original text is of unknown provenance and through paleography, my mentor and I have ruled out the authorship of contemporary and historically active English philosophers and alchemists. Over the course of the study, I transcribed 24 pages of manuscript, marginalia, and scribal commentary into an easily accessible typed format. The text is unique in its approach to explaining and exploring alchemy, not using the typical poetry, prose, or pseudonyms found in other documents of the period. The focus of the scribe’s study emphasizes the healing nature of the Philosopher’s stone and its singular ingredient, Argent vive (modern day Mercury). In our research, we explore the process this particular scribe uses to claim legitimacy in a field charged with the high stakes politics of economy, science, and health, as well as life and death. Magnalia Dei builds on a long history of English alchemical practice, and reflects a 17th century desire for improvement of the human condition. It reveals an early iteration of an emerging scientific method, pioneered by scribes who looked to a legendary alchemical past to inform a brighter future.

81. Alexis Olson
Major: Neuroscience
Graduation: Spring 2025
Mentors: Drs. Kamal Rahmouni and Paul Williams (Neuroscience and Pharmacology)

Anatomical Substrates for Melanocortin's Control of Autonomic Neurocircuitries Regulating Cardiovascular and Metabolic Function

The melanocortin system including the melanocortin-4 receptor (MC-4R) containing neurons in the central nervous system (CNS) autonomic network plays an important role in regulation of cardiovascular and metabolic functions. However, the anatomical substrates underlying cardiovascular and metabolic control by the MC-4R is unknown. Here, we used a retrograde pseudorabies virus encoding a green fluorescent protein (PRV-GFP) in mice expressing a red fluorescent (td-Tomato) in Melanocortin receptor (MC-4R) neurons to map the MC-4R neurons that project polysynaptically to the kidneys or interscapular brown adipose tissue (iBAT). About 10% of MC-4R neurons co-expressed PRV-GFP (after kidney or iBAT injection) in the periventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVN) and nTS. Interestingly, after injection into the kidneys, but not iBAT, PRV-GFP/MC-4R co-localization (5% to 10% of MC-4R neurons) was also detected in the agranular insular (AI) cortex and the amygdala (AMY). The PVN and nTS were common nuclei for both kidney and iBAT inoculation, but co-localization was seen in the AI and AMY only for kidney inoculation. Our results suggest that although MC-4R neurons are widely distributed throughout the brain, MC-4R neurons may regulate cardiovascular and metabolic functions through a small number of distinct nuclei in the CNS autonomic network.

83. Mackenzie Pattridge
Major: Public Health
Graduation: Spring 2023
Mentor: Dr. Hans-Joachim Lehmler (Occupational and Environmental Health) 

Establishment of pure primary rat astrocyte cultures to study the metabolism and toxicity of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)

PCBs are environmentally relevant developmental neurotoxicants that can be found in mouse and rat brains. Many xenobiotic metabolizing enzymes are expressed in the brain, including astrocytes. However, PCB metabolism and toxicity have not been investigated using pure astrocyte cultures. To test the hypothesis that astrocytes metabolize PCBs to create neurotoxic metabolites, a purified culture of primary astrocytes was developed and confirmed through flow cytometry. Primary glial cells were isolated separately from male and female postnatal day 2 rat pups to isolate developing astrocytes. The medium was changed every 3-4 days with incubation at room temperature for 10 min on a plate shaker before aspirating media to release microglia. When flasks reached confluency, cells were passaged. Once the cells reached passage 3, flow cytometry was performed utilizing Anti-Iba1 and GFAP primary antibodies. Flow cytometry was utilized to show that the described methods eliminated microglia from the primary cultures. By passage 3, the primary glial cultures became 100% astrocytes. The modified isolation protocol yielded highly pure primary astrocyte cultures from male and female rats. These cultures will be used in future studies to determine how and/or if astrocytes metabolize PCBs and contribute to the developmental neurotoxicity of PCBs in a sex-dependent manner. This work was funded by the Iowa Superfund Research Program (P42 ES013661).

85. Charissa Roe
Major: Political Science, International Relations, Religious Studies
Graduation: Spring 2023
Mentor: Dr. Nicholas Martini (Political Science) 

An International Exploration of Religiosity and Political Participation

Religiosity and political participation have a well-established relationship in America. However, other than a few case studies of singular countries, this relationship has not been explored thoroughly internationally. When it has been explored it has been case studies of singular countries. For this reason, I explore the question of to what extent country affects the relationship between religiosity and political participation. I use the World Values Survey to examine this relationship using a variety of scores for religiosity and political participation. Using various regressions of these scores, I show that not every country experiences a relationship between religiosity and political participation. My research suggests that the strength of the relationship that countries experience varies. Further research is required to determine the cause of this variation, but I explore a few possibilities.

87. Azzurra Sartini-Rideout
Major: Psychology, Criminology
Graduation: Spring 2024
Mentor: Dr. Grazyna Kochanska (Psychology and Brain Sciences) 

Correspondence Between Preschool Children’s Self-Reported Judgments in Hypothetical Moral Dilemmas and Objective Measures of Their Conscience

Human conscience has been a topic of reflection for millennia, but the study of conscience in young children is recent.  Once considered oblivious to moral rules and incapable of moral conduct, young children are now seen as possessing rich consciences that can be rigorously assessed. One important question, which mirrors key questions considered also in social and personality psychology, concerns correspondence between children’s moral judgment in hypothetical dilemmas and their objectively assessed consciences.  

We addressed this question in Family Study (N = 102 community mothers, fathers, and children, followed from infancy to adolescence), focusing on data obtained at age 52 months. Children were presented with hypothetical moral dilemmas that featured a protagonist facing a conflict between self-interest and helping or sharing resources with others. Asked to assume the protagonist’s role, the child indicated what he or she would do.  We also collected observed measures of children’s moral conduct (violating rules in games), moral emotion (discomfort after transgressions), moral self (interview), and parents’ reports of child general tendency to follow rules.

Children’s self-reported selfish and prosocial choices in hypothetical dilemmas related significantly and meaningfully to the observed and parent-reported measures of their conscience. We discuss implications of those findings for research on early morality.  

89. Emma Schopen
Major: Environmental Science
Graduation: Spring 2023
Mentors: Drs. Elizabeth Stone (Chemistry) and Heather Sander (Earth and Environmental Sciences)

The effects of urban and land use change on the local atmospheric  pollen concentration in Eastern Iowa during ragweed season

By understanding how different landscapes influence the pollen concentration in the atmosphere, we can make more accurate predictions about pollen exposures. In this study, we measured airborne pollen concentrations collected by passive samplers at 34 sites in Eastern Iowa in the late summer ragweed season: August 9 to 22 (Period 2) and August 22 to September 5   2021 (Period 3). Land use regression modeling was used to examine how concentrations varied with canopy cover, imperviousness, and previously farmed grasslands. Using GIS, the percentage of landscape variables present within 1 km of the sampler were calculated. Using the Kendall correlation test, previously farmed grassland had a correlation coefficient of 0.25 in Period 2 and a 0.34 in Period 3. Impervious surfaces had a correlation coefficient of -0.27 with Period 2. For canopy cover, no relationships were found. All correlations had a p-value less than 0.05. This indicates that disturbed areas, like previously farmed grasslands, may increase the atmospheric pollen concentration. Urban dense areas have lower pollen concentrations due to plants inability to grow on impervious surfaces. Application of this information can create better pollen exposure predictions because we understand how landcover variables may influence local pollen concentration. 

91. Bailey Schroeder
Major: Health Studies
Graduation: Spring 2025
Mentor: Dr. Kristin Marrs (Dance) 

Predictability of Injury Occurrence in Dancers by Fitness Assessment Analysis: An Ongoing Study

In this ongoing, University of Iowa IRB approved study, the purpose is to identify if there is an ability to predict injuries in dancers through the analysis of various fitness assessments. Dancers enrolled at the University of Iowa participated in a sequence of six fitness screenings; the y-balance test, single leg horizontal hop test, turnout measurement, heel raise, pelvic angle drop in fondu, and tuck jump tests. In conjunction with these screenings, dancers were able to choose to participate in the study by completing monthly injury surveys. The data that is being collected through these surveys include the month the injury was sustained, what region was affected, if it was sustained while dancing, how many days of dance classes were missed due, if medical attention was sought out, and if so by who. In the future of this ongoing study, statistical analysis will occur to determine if there is a relationship between fitness screening results and injury occurrence. With the future completion of this study, participants’ individual scores on all six fitness assessments will be compared with the self-reported injury data, with the hope to determine specific fitness screening tests that have the ability to predict injury occurrence in dancers.

93. Kareem Shoukih
Major: Biomedical Sciences
Graduation: Fall 2023
Mentor: Dr. Mahmoud Alaiwa (Internal Medicine93)

Understanding Mucociliary Transport Defects by Analyzing Ciliary Beat Pattern 

The airways, composed of dichotomously branching tubes lined with respiratory epithelium, have a simple role to conduct air for gas exchange.  Pathogens and particles inadvertently enter the lungs but are trapped by mucus that is expelled by the action of cilia in a process called mucociliary transport (MCT).  MCT is a key host defense mechanism that plays a role in several airway disease such as COPD, asthma, primary ciliary dyskinesia, and cystic fibrosis (CF).  Airway epithelial cilia beat continuously in a coordinated pattern to move mucus up the airways.  Patches of cilia beat in phase while adjacent patches slightly lag out of phase.  This asynchronous and sequential behavior of the cilia creates metachronal motion that has the appearance of a traveling wave.  To test the hypothesis that metachronal motion abnormalities contribute to MCT defects in CF, we need to develop ex vivo algorithms to analyze CBP. Here, we optimize imaging acquisition parameters and analysis algorithms to detect CBP. Using Differential Dynamic Microscopy (DDM) and Fast Fourier Transform, we can analyze microscope images to study ciliary function dynamics and beating directionality. This may improve our understanding of cilia dysfunction in respiratory diseases and aid in diagnosis development.

95. Nicole Stubbe
Major: Biomedical Engineering
Graduation: Spring 2023
Mentor: Dr. Samuel Stephens (Internal Medicine) 

The effect of human glucokinase mutations on insulin secretion in pancreatic beta cells

Pancreatic beta cells synthesize, store, and secrete insulin to respond to elevated glucose levels within the body. In Type 2 diabetes, the beta cells enter a state of dysfunction and no longer properly secrete insulin leading to hyperglycemia. Glucokinase is an enzyme found within the beta cell and acts as a glucose sensor within the cell, determining the threshold for insulin release. There is a known mutation within humans that causes glucokinase to always be activated. Based on this, we hypothesized that this mutation would cause increased insulin secretion at lower glucose levels. In these studies, we examined the effects of this mutation on insulin secretion using a recombinant adenovirus in both 832/3 cells and mouse islet cells. The mutation was confirmed using RT-PCR. A glucose stimulated insulin secretion assay was performed to measure differences between the control cells, wildtype cells, and mutant cells. In the 832/3 cells, the insulin secretion of the mutation was higher than the wildtype and control, while in the islet cells, the insulin secretion of the mutant was not any different than the wildtype.

97. Jennifer Suarez
Major: Chemistry
Graduation: Fall 2023
Mentor: Dr. Dave Martin (Chemistry  

Selective C-H functionalization of Adamantane derivatives via visible light photocatalyst

Adamantane derivatives are of interest due to their diverse applications in medicinal chemistry and nanotechnology. Increasingly higher order dimonoids harbor more unique hydrogen environments, making selective functionalization more difficult. Recently, it has been shown that adamantane derivatives can be selectively functionalized via Hydrogen atom extraction, initiated by an excited state photocatalyst. Here, we propose a selective functionalization of diamantane with Michael acceptors. 

99. Eric Thomas
Major: Environmental Science
Graduation: Spring 2024
Mentors: Drs. Benjamin Swanson and Kate Tierney (Earth and Environmental Sciences)

Monitoring and Comparison of Infiltration Rates at a Restored Prairie - Ashton Prairie Living Laboratory

An argument for restoring prairies is that they can reverse the trend of increased water runoff following storms in urban and agricultural systems. It is thought that prairies increase surface roughness, water use, and soil porosity,  and therefore keep water on the hillslopes. In order to test this hypothesis at Ashton Prairie, we are comparing infiltration rates in the prairie areas and the non-prairie areas using modified phillip-dunne infiltrometers. The infiltrometers simulate large rain events over various land cover types and measure the rate water seeps into the soil. These data can be monitored over time, as the prairie develops, and can also be used to compare infiltration rates before and after treatments (e.g., burning) or in different soils and hillslope positions at APLL.

101. Alyssa Thompson
Major: Speech and Hearing Science
Graduation: Spring 2023
Mentor: Dr. Si On Yoon (Communication Sciences and Disorder) 

 M&M: Modifiers and their Effect on Memory in Younger and Older Adults

Modification is required to differentiate potential referents in discourse context and enhances future memory for those referents. Not yet known is whether the type of modifier produced by younger and older adults differentially affects their object memory. We investigated the use of modifiers and whether it affects memory in younger and older adults. Further, it was examined whether the effects vary depending on the type of modifiers produced, namely color versus state. Participants were asked to describe an object that was accompanied by a same-category object of different color or different state, or an unrelated object. A follow-up memory task then assessed their recognition memory. Older adults overspecified more than younger adults. Although modifiers improved memory for both age groups, older adults showed better memory performance. The current finding suggests a link between language production and memory but we did not observe evidence that specific types of modifiers affected memory. 

103. Abigail Townsend
Major: Neuroscience
Graduation: Spring 2025
Mentor: Dr. Hildegard Janouschek (Psychiatry) 

ASIC1a deficiency leads to reduced parvalbumin reactivity in the basolateral amygdala of adult mice

Anxiety disorders are characterized by exaggerated anxiety and fear. Despite of their often-early age of manifestation and high levels of chronicity, their development remains poorly understood. However, a better understanding of this development may be critical for discovering better treatments and finding new preventative strategies. The acid sensing ion channel 1a (ASIC1a) has been associated with anxiety disorders and preliminary data in the ASIC1a mouse model showed age-specific alterations in fear-related behaviors. Cued fear memory was normal in infant (postnatal day 18) ASIC1a-deficient (ASIC1a-/-) mice, but impaired in adulthood. During this timeframe the fear circuit undergoes significant maturation. Also, parvalbumin positive (PV+) interneurons in the basolateral amygdala (BLA) and perineuronal nets undergo significant maturation during this timeframe. PV+ interneurons are important for fear learning and fear memory retrieval. They are surrounded by perineuronal nets, which have been associated with their function and maturation. Therefore, we hypothesize that the impaired cued fear memory seen in adult ASIC1a-/- mice is associated with reduced parvalbumin immunoreactivity, a marker PV+ interneuron maturation, and reduced WFA immunoreactivity, a marker for perineuronal nets. We will perform immunohistochemistry and stereology to determine parvalbumin reactivity in the BLA of ASIC1a-/- mice and Wildtype controls. The preliminary data has been supported.

105. Saloni Upadhyay
Major: Speech and Hearing Sciences
Graduation: May 2023
Mentor: Dr. Kristi Hendrickson (Communication Sciences and Disorders ) 

Spoken and Written Word Recognition in Spanish-English Bilingual Older Adults

Multiple similar words compete during word recognition (e.g., hearing or reading “cat” also activates “can”; McClelland & Elman, 1986). However, less is known about word recognition in aging bilingual populations.
We use eye-tracking (Cooper, 1974) to assess how older adult bilinguals recognize spoken and written words. Participants (N = 7, mean age = 70 years) heard or saw a word and selected the corresponding picture from a display of four – the target (e.g., cat), competitor (e.g., can), and two unrelated pictures (e.g., bell and bed). There were four study conditions: two within-language (English-English; Spanish-Spanish) and two cross-language (English-Spanish; Spanish-English).
For spoken words, both languages displayed within but not cross-language competition. For written words, Spanish exhibited early and robust competition within-language and late competition across languages, whereas English exhibited late and weak competition within-language and no cross-language competition.
For spoken words, the effect was similar across languages. For written words, within-language competition was larger in Spanish. The close letter-sound correspondence in Spanish may drive competition because letters and sounds signal similarity with the target. Cross-language competition was only apparent during Spanish written word recognition, likely due to language dominancy effects: first language (English) inhibition is difficult during second language (Spanish) processing.

107. Bhavya Vats
Major: Biomedical Engineering
Graduation: Spring 2023
Mentor: Dr. James Ankrum (Department of Biomedical Engineering) 

Assessing the changes in metabolism and cell proliferation of adipose-derived progenitor cells exposed to PCBs 

Gestational hypertensive disorders such as preeclampsia feature altered angiogenesis and deficient vascular function throughout the body. Whether these abnormalities extend to the brain has been the source of recent work by our group and other. Shared risk for neuropsychiatric disease and preeclampsia may further be explained by cerebrovascular mechanisms. Loss of RGS2 in a mouse model serves as a genetic cardiovascular disease model for preeclampsia. Here, we test whether this model also features sex-specific deficiencies in cerebrovasculature, which may serve to increase risk for psychiatric disease in a female-specific manner. 

109. Rachel Walenceus
Major: Geoscience
Graduation: Spring 2025
Mentors: Drs. Benjamin Swanson and Bradley Cramer (Earth and Environmental Science)

Soil Health Analysis at the Ashton Prairie Living Laboratory

Monitoring soil chemistry, including nutrients and trace elements, and thus, the health of the soil, is important for monitoring the effectiveness of prairie restoration.  I collected soil samples in the fall of 2022, which were analyzed for organic matter, phosphorus, nitrogen, pH, and metals by Midwest Laboratories (Omaha, NE).  Total soil health is represented by a “Haney Number” calculated using the factors that facilitate healthy plant respiration.  The results will be compared to results from a pre-restoration study conducted in 2020 (Lenss, undergraduate thesis, 2020), and will provide data for future reference.

111. Shannon Walsh
Major: International Studies
Graduation: Spring 2023
Mentor: Dr. Carly Nichols (Geographical and Sustainability Sciences) 

Investigating Internal Colonialism in Contemporary Mexican Development and implications for Indigenous Breastfeeding Practices

Mexico as a country has made steady and considerable progress in development over the last century and currently resides in the high category of the United Nations’ Human Development Index. Despite overall high averages across the three principal indicators of health, education, and economic well-being, drastic inequality exists between a rich, highly developed northern region of the country and stark poverty in the more indigenous populated southern states. The concept of internal colonialism, or the uneven levels of development that occur within a country by the exploitation of a culturally heterogenous metropole and rural region, was first applied to Mexico in the mid 20th century but continues to be evidenced by development indicators and policies throughout the last decades. Breastfeeding is both affected by and a factor of culture, health, and economic participation and can act as a strong barometer for the state of development. While low urban and non-indigenous breastfeeding rates seem to be on the rise in Mexico, indigenous populations have seen decrease and/or stagnation. Understanding how indigenous breastfeeding is affected by extractive development can inform current and future practices.

113. Katherine Westbrook
Major: Communication Sciences and Disorders
Graduation: Spring 2023
Mentor: Dr. Jean Gordon (Communication Sciences and Disorders) 

GRAMMAR IN INDIVIDUALS WITH AND WTHOUT APHASIA

We aim to identify a neurotypical baseline for grammatical productions in order to determine the contrasts in fluent, nonfluent, and neurotypical speech and allow insight into strategies people with aphasia utilize to overcome their specific language deficits. We examine the grammatical structures of 40 non-brain injured participants' narrative story re-telling in relation to 20 participants with Broca’s aphasia and 20 participants with Wernicke’s aphasia, investigating the syntactic complexity and sentence component frequency at a group and individual level.

115. Zoe Wynohrad
Major: Biology
Graduation: Spring 2024
Mentor: Dr. Toshihiro Kitamoto (Anesthesia)

A putative proline transporter expressed in the Malpighian tubules provides resistance to lithium toxicity in Drosophila

A simple alkali metal, lithium, is highly effective in treating mood disorders by mitigating depressive/manic episodes and reducing suicidal ideation. However, even at therapeutic doses, lithium can cause toxic effects, including gastrointestinal symptoms, tremors, coma, and death. The molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying lithium toxicity are complex and still elusive. To investigate these mechanisms, we used the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster and found that oral administration of lithium enhances the expression of CG15088. This gene encodes a putative proline transporter of the solute carrier 6 (SLC6) family. As CG15088 is the only SLC6 gene induced by lithium, we designated it as the Lithium-inducible SLC6 transporter, or List. Remarkably, reducing List function led to an increase in the susceptibility of adult flies to lithium's toxic effects. Other ions such as sodium, potassium, and chloride did not upregulate List or affect flies with suppressed List expression. Our findings suggest that lithium's biochemical or physical properties, rather than general osmotic responses, are responsible for the lithium-induced upregulation of List and the lithium-susceptible phenotype. List is expressed in glial cells and Malpighian tubules. Using the GAL4-UAS binary expression system with List RNA-interference, we found that Malpighian tubule-specific knockdown of List mimics the effects of the List null mutation, resulting in increased sensitivity to lithium.

5:00-6:00

 

2. TJ Ascherl
Major: Finance
Graduation: Spring 2023 

 

4. Danielle Baltimore
Major: Economics
Graduation: Spring 2023
Mentor: Dr. Hennadige Thenuwara (Economics) 

A Comparative Analysis of the Efficacy of the Safe Haven Law on Child Welfare in Iowa

In response to public concerns about infant abandonment and infanticide, all states introduced Safe Haven laws to reinforce infant safety. The laws vary by state, but all include a similar procedure: a parent may safely surrender their baby to an emergency provider and be protected from criminal liability. Due to Iowa passing its Newborn Safe Haven Act in 2002, a thorough investigation should be done to evaluate the effectiveness of the law on multiple dimensions and possibly offer solutions or alternatives. Specifically, this research will focus on the issue of infants going directly into the care of the state after relinquishment, which negatively impacts infant development.

6. Avery Bandstra
Major: Psychology
Graduation: Spring 2023
Mentor: Dr. Isaac Petersen (Psychological and Brain Sciences) 

The Association Between Parental Autonomy Support and Children's Attention: Investigating Negative Emotionality as a Moderator Within Differential Susceptibility Framework

The ability to sustain and focus attention is critical for academic performance. Therefore, it is important to understand the psychological and environmental factors that support focused attention in childhood. Meta-analytic research has found that autonomy support during infancy and toddlerhood predicts later sustained attention, and that negative emotionality moderates the association between parenting behaviors and child development. However, no studies have examined whether the association between parental autonomy support and child attention differs as a function of the child’s negative emotionality. The present study examined the association of parental autonomy support with child sustained and focused attention and whether child negative emotionality moderates the association. The study included children ages 3–7 years (M = 4.81, SD = 1.18) and their parents. Negative emotionality, sustained attention, and focused attention were assessed using observational, performance-based measures. Parents self-reported their parenting practices. Results showed no significant bivariate association of parental autonomy support with either sustained or focused attention of the child. However, a significant interaction indicated parental autonomy was associated with better focused attention, but only for children with low negative emotionality. Findings suggest the importance of parental autonomy supportiveness in the context of promoting greater attentional focus in children.

8. Miranda Becker
Major: Speech and Hearing Sciences
Graduation: Spring 2023
Mentor: Dr. Elizabeth Walker (Communication Sciences and Disorders) 

Deriving Word Meaning from Written Contexts with Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children

Many children who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing (DHH) are identified and receive early intervention during infancy. Despite this early intervention, these children remain at risk for delays in word learning. These delays negatively affect reading development because vocabulary is essential to successful reading decoding and comprehension. Past word learning research on children who are DHH focused on spoken word learning in early childhood rather than written word learning skills. Thus, there is a gap in our knowledge of how children who are DHH learn words via written text. This study addresses the following questions: 1) How do children who are DHH derive meaning from novel words presented in a written context, relative to their hearing peers? 2) Is there an association between language and cognitive skills and written word learning through context? Sixteen children with typical hearing and 16 children who were DHH completed this study. Participants’ ages ranged from 8 years, 0 months to 12 years, 11 months. The test battery consisted of a battery of cognitive, vocabulary, and reading measures. Data analysis is underway, and results will be available prior to the time of presentation. The long-term goal of this study is to expand our knowledge of how children who are DHH learn the meanings of new words.

10. Ardith Bhinu
Major: Biochemistry
Graduation: Spring 2025
Mentor: Dr. Colin Kenny (Surgery) 

Investigation of TFE3/MITF and its effect on A375 cell migration

Melanoma is a highly aggressive cancer with increasing global prominence. While treatment has improved significantly, the survival rates for metastatic melanoma continue to fall under 30%. One key factor involved in the metastasis of melanoma is the ability of melanocytic cells to switch between a growing, “proliferative” state and a metastatic, invasive, “mesenchymal-like” state. The relationship between the Melanocyte Inducing Transcription Factor (MITF) and its paralog, TFE3, is explored as preliminary studies indicate that TFE3 plays a role in metastasis in conditions of low MITF concentration. We hypothesize that the formation of TFE3 homodimers activates the switch of melanocytic cells from their proliferative state to an invasive state. To assess the relationship between TFE3 and invasiveness in low MITF conditions, CRISPR techniques were applied to knock out the TFE3 gene in A375 cells. Sanger sequencing  was used to verify the gene knockout. An invasion assay was performed to determine if the TFE3 knockout cells were less invasive than the wild-type cells. A correlation of decreased invasiveness in the TFE3 knockout cells would support our standing hypothesis. 

12. Nya Bottley; Jaron Jones
Majors: Public Health; Public Health
Graduations: Spring 2025; Spring 2023
Mentor: Dr. Ebonee Johnson (Community and Behavioral Health) 

Piloting a New Mental Health Awareness Training for K-12 Stakeholders: A Preliminary Mixed-Methods Analysis  

This research poster presentation focuses on educators and school personnel’s involvement in a pilot mental health awareness training entitled Imagine Iowa: Building Partners in School Mental Health.    Curriculum training components included:  mental health literacy, inclusive teaching, trauma-informed teaching, mental health-oriented teaching, classroom application of mental health-oriented teaching practices, and caring for one's personal mental health. Data was collected through a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods, starting with a pre-test survey in October 2022, followed by immediate post-test survey sent after training completion. Qualitative data collection focused on stakeholders’ rationale for participation in mental health awareness training to better understand intrinsic motivation.  Quantitative data collection included participants responding to a new instrument developed by Bardhoshi (2022) that measures participants’ conceptual understanding, usability/feasibility, and ability to use the mental health awareness training curriculum. On average, at pre-test, participants scored 54.61 (SD = 9.48), and at post-test participants scored 58.76 (SD = 8.54) showing a collective slight increase/change in knowledge, skills, and attitudes.  As there was a decrease in score for 9 participants, it skewed the post-test mean for the entire group. Findings from this pilot study reveal this training is useful, but more data is needed to determine overall effect.

16. Gloria Chang
Major: Psychology, Finance
Graduation: Spring 2023
Mentor: Dr. Isaac Petersen (Psychological and Brain Sciences) 

Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on children's inhibitory control: The role of sleep and negative emotionality

The ability to inhibit prepotent responses (i.e., inhibitory control) is crucial for development and learning. Therefore, it is essential to understand the mechanisms underlying inhibitory control, especially during early childhood when these processes may be most amenable to intervention. Research has shown that greater stress is associated with worse inhibitory control in children. However, little is understood about child-level processes that may mitigate the risk of inhibitory control problems in the face of significant stressors (e.g., the COVID-19 pandemic). This study examined whether children’s sleep problems and negative emotionality mediated the association between the COVID-19 pandemic and inhibitory control. Children ages 3–7 years (N = 147) completed a behavioral task assessing their inhibitory control. Caregivers completed questionnaires on their child’s sleep problems, negative emotionality, and inhibitory control. Contrary to hypotheses, the COVID-19 pandemic was not related to children’s inhibitory control. Results also showed that children assessed during the COVID-19 pandemic exhibited lower negative emotionality and more sleep problems than children assessed before the pandemic. However, children’s sleep problems and negative emotionality did not mediate the association between the COVID-19 pandemic and inhibitory control. Future research should examine the development of these characteristics over time to establish temporal precedence.

18. Jason Chen
Major: Biomedical Sciences
Graduation: Spring 2023
Mentor: Dr. Renata Alambert (Internal Medicine) 

Investigating the Role of Fibroblast Growth Factor 21 in Thermogenic Adipocytes for Adapative Thermogenesis

Fibroblast Growth Factor 21 (FGF21) is induced in brown adipose tissue (BAT) in response to thermogenic stimuli, but whether FGF21 expression specifically in thermogenic adipocytes (brown and beige) is required for adaptive thermogenesis had not been tested. Therefore, in the present study, to test the direct role of FGF21 expression for thermoregulation, mice with conditional deletion of the Fgf21 gene in thermogenic adipocytes (FGF21 BKO) and their wild-type (WT) littermate controls underwent two cold-exposure protocols that differed in the duration of exposure, as well as in whether or not mice had access to food. Brown and white adipose tissues were collected for analysis of mRNA expression and protein levels of thermogenic markers. FGF21 serum levels were measured by ELISA at the end of each set of experiments, and core body temperatures were recorded. We found that FGF21 expression in thermogenic adipocytes is dispensable for thermoregulation in mice cold-exposed (4o C) for 3 days under ad libitum fed conditions. However, FGF21 BKO mice had reduced core body temperature when cold-exposed for 4 hours under fasting conditions. Future studies will focus on dissecting the mechanisms by which FGF21 regulate core body temperature when food is absent.

20. Austin Cook
Major: Biomedical Engineering
Graduation: Spring 2024
Mentors: Drs. James Byrne and Emily Witt (Radiation Oncology, Biomedical Engineering) 

Gas-Entrapping Materials as a Method for Improved Diabetic Wound Healing

It has been estimated that over 37 million Americans suffer from diabetes mellitus, a chronic metabolic disease characterized by its systemic hyperglycemia. The hyperglycemic nature of this disease commonly hinders normal healing of wounds incurred by these patients, sometimes resulting in lower limb amputations. Impaired angiogenesis, barrier disruption, and subsequent polymicrobial infection  must be addressed simultaneously to effectively treat these increasingly prevalent wounds. Our work introduces the potential of foam Gas-Entrapping Materials (GeMs) loaded with high molecular weight hyaluronic acid and silver nanoparticles to improve wound healing and limit infections. Loaded with nitrogen gas or carbon monoxide, we show significant improvement in area reduction of wounds compared to control groups. Our work also presents a silicon wound dressing, coined RatPak, to contain the foam GeMs topically above the wounds without interfering in the daily activity of subject mice. This project lays the foundation for future work evaluating the potential for alternative treatments to treat clinically prevalent conditions in a less invasive mechanism, with the capability to improve standard-of-care to patients with minimal financial burden. Future work will include evaluating GeMs in a diabetic pressure ulcer model.

22. Lily Croke
Major: Speech and Hearing Sciences
Graduation: Spring 2023
Mentor: Dr. Inyong Choi (Communication Sciences and Disorders) 

Brain Training for Better Understanding of Speech in Noise

Comprehension of speech in noisy environments is often an overlooked struggle for those with hearing loss and even those without. For those with hearing loss, it can lead to social situation avoidance and frustration with social tasks. Even for those who have normal hearing, struggling to perceive target speech within a noisy environment can be a source of difficulty and can affect everyday functioning. Interventions in the form of hearing aids and cochlear implants don't always improve speech in noise perception, as those devices tend to work best in quiet environments.

In order to understand speech in noise, one's brain should be able to separate the desired signal (speech) from the distracting noise (other speech, movement, etc) using high-level information (distance, frequency, directionality, etc). Then, within the brain, the ability to selectively pay attention to intended speech and block out noise should occur. For those who struggle with this, brain training can be vital to improving this process, which can be done through neurofeedback training and auditory selection tasks.

24. Mia Dukle
Major: Biomedical Sciences, Bioinformatics
Graduation: Spring 2026
Mentor: Drs. Hanna Stevens and Sara Maurer (Psychiatry) 

Effects of Different Stress Models on Immune Gene Expression in the Mouse Placenta

The placenta is a temporary organ that serves as the sole connection between fetus and mother. Placental health is crucial for typical embryonic development. Previous studies have shown the importance of placental immune response and found that stress leads to more immune gene expression in male placentas. These studies and many others used to assess prenatal stress used different stress models, which may or may not be comparable to each other. Thus, we utilized three different stress models in comparison to a naïve group. I hypothesize many immune genes are expressed more during prenatal stress, particularly in male placentas compared to female ones. To test this, we administered different stress models to time-mated CD1 dams and collected placental tissues on embryonic day 14. Different immune genes such as CXCR7, S100B, CCL3, CXCL10, and CCL2 will be assessed in the placenta using standard qPCR methods. These stressors that dams experience can induce changes in immune gene expression starting in the placenta and then affecting the fetus which may increase the susceptibility of the fetus to neurodevelopmental disorders as gene expressions differ from homeostatic levels. We anticipate the data will show greater immune gene expression in male placentas after experiencing prenatal stress.

26. Harper Dunne
Majors: Spanish, Global Health Studies
Graduation: Fall 2024
Mentor: Dr. Laura Frey Law (Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation) 

We Looked at 6,795 Articles So You Didn’t Have To: A Scoping Review of Studies Investigating MSS (Multisensory Sensitivity) in Pain Populations

Chronic pain is a debilitating health problem that affects 20 million Americans each year and can result in devastating emotional and financial stress. Although the causes of chronic pain remain elusive, there is a recent interest in multisensory sensitivity (MSS) as an indirect marker of central nervous system sensitization. MSS is a trait in which a person experiences increased sensitivity to normally non-painful stimuli (e.g, sensitivity to bright lights or rough clothing textures). Understanding if MSS is a predictor of chronic pain would be a huge breakthrough in its treatment, but because there is a lack of a common vocabulary to describe MSS, it is difficult to find and summarize discoveries.  Our review contributes to a solution by comprehensively cataloguing all peer-reviewed studies to date in the field of MSS and pain. We also make a recommendation for a standardized vocabulary in this field to aid in the future sharing of knowledge. 

28. Jacob Fisher
Major: Human Physiology
Graduation: Spring 2024
Mentor: Dr. Mitchell Coleman (Radiation Oncology) 

Radiotherapy Causes Time-Dependent Oxidative Stress During Arthrofibrosis

Arthrofibrosis is a complication of radiotherapy near synovial joints. This causes immobility and decreases the quality of life for cancer survivors. Previous research from our group focused on arthrofibrosis in the different tissues of the knee after radiotherapy. However, the natural progression of arthrofibrosis over time after radiotherapy has not been described. This study was directly focused on assessing whether there was a relationship between redox dysfunction and debilitation after radiotherapy. Five fractions of 5 Gy were administered to the right stifle (knee) of C57B6J mice and changes in gait were captured with the CatWalk XT gait analysis system. Specimens were harvested at 8, 14, and 20 weeks after radiation and compared to untreated controls. Sagittal sections of formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded stifles were stained for glutathione- (GSH) and 3-nitrotyrosine-modified proteins (3NT) at each time point using immunofluorescent techniques. Quantitative analyses of the stifles using ImageJ showed a significant increase in anti-GSH staining, suggesting increased oxidation of GSH, coinciding with development of gait abnormalities, one-way ANOVA. We conclude that redox stress increases over time with radiotherapy at specific sites related to disease progression. This may suggest potential treatment opportunities for fibrosis at an intermediate stage of disease, after cancer therapy has ceased. 

30. Daniel Fu
Major: Biomedical Sciences
Graduation: Spring 2023
Mentor: Dr. Rory Fisher (Neuroscience and Pharmacology) 

My poster title is: RGS6 mediates exercise-induced rescue of impaired cognition and hippocampal neurogenesis in mice with Alzheimer's disease.

Hippocampal neuronal loss in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is responsible for cognitive dysfunction in AD patients. Adult hippocampal neurogenesis (AHN) is critical for hippocampal-dependent learning and memory and protects against cognitive loss in AD. AHN is stimulated by exercise and is reduced in humans with AD and Aβ mouse models of AD. Thus, there is a critical need to understand the AHN mechanisms that contribute to improved hippocampal function in AD. Here, we show that voluntary wheel running in AD mice completely restored their impairments in hippocampal learning and memory to that of control mice along with a robust increase in immature neurons in the hippocampus. This rescue of cognitive function in AD mice by running was abolished by RGS6 deletion in the hippocampus. Our findings identify RGS6 as a therapeutic target to combat hippocampal neuron loss and cognitive dysfunction in AD.

32. Marissa Good; Selveyah Gamblin
Majors: Sociology, Political Science, Ethics and Public Policy; Political Science
Graduations: Spring 2023; Spring 2023
Mentor: Dr. Louise Seamster (Sociology) 

Visualizing the Flint Water Crisis

The Flint Water Crisis began in 2014 and resulted in thousands of people drinking water filled with harmful lead, leading to disastrous health effects for the city residents. We are working with the Flint Email Lab to build an online archive that is designed to educate interested users on the events surrounding the Flint Water Crisis. This will include features such as highlighting key players and arranging complex documents and events in a way that is more accessible and easier to understand. In doing so, we are hoping to connect the environmental, health, and social impacts of Flint’s crisis. Our job is to untangle the webs of this complicated story and make it more digestible for everyday people while providing critical analysis. Our team was tasked with creating a timeline of events that connects the emails, documents, and key players in one cohesive storyline using visualization and imagery. In order to achieve this, we utilized research methods such as wireframes, qualitative coding, and in-depth reading on the crisis and its consequences. Throughout our time working on this project, we have also met with various experts, Flint residents, and other stakeholders to better understand how to integrate storytelling with complex systems and events.

34. Ryan Grandgenett
Major: Biomedical Science
Graduation: Spring 2023
Mentor: Dr. Yumi Imai (Internal medicine) 

Effects of Phosphorylation Resistant Perilipin 5 on Mouse Heart, Liver, and Pancreas

Perilipin 5 (PLIN5) is a lipid droplet protein that plays a key role in the regulation of lipid metabolism in highly oxidative tissues such as the heart and liver in humans and mice. PLIN5 is proposed to prevent lipolysis when energy is not needed and facilitate lipolysis when it is needed. Interestingly, PLIN5 expression is increased in the heart and liver of a mouse model of type 2 diabetes. This project aims to determine whether phosphorylation resistant PLIN5 accelerates development of diabetes in a mouse model in which Ser 155 is mutated to Ala to confer resistance to phosphorylation. The mice will be placed on Western diet to cause diabetes and changes in the lipid metabolism, gene expression, and functions of the heart, liver and pancreatic islets will be determined. This project will increase our understanding of the mechanisms by which PLIN5 phosphorylation prevents to lipid accumulation in patients with Type 2 Diabetes and protects the heart, liver, and islet cells under nutritional stress.

36. Jawad Haider
Major: Microbiology
Graduation: Spring 2025
Mentor: Dr. Mary Weber and Parker Smith (Microbiology) 

Identification of host pathways targeted by the Chlamydia trachomatis effector protein CT392 using a yeast suppressor screen

Chlamydia trachomatis (C. t.) is an obligate intracellular bacterial pathogen that is responsible for chlamydial infections. C.t. uses a type III secretion system to secrete effector proteins into the host cell. These effector proteins are suspected to function inside the host cell to promote host cell invasion, nutrient acquisition, or facilitate immune invasion by the bacterium. While some effector proteins have already been identified, little is known about the functions of these important proteins. One gene that has been found to encode an effector protein is CT392, which has been observed to produce a toxic effect when overexpressed in the model organism Saccharomyces cerevisiae. To determine the pathway targeted, a yeast suppressor screen for CT392 was performed. S. cerevisiae overexpressing CT392 were transformed with a yeast genomic library. Using this approach, we isolated 24 potential suppressors. After sequencing all 24 of these candidates, four were isolated that contained sequences for S. cerevisiae. There were 15 different genes found in these sequences that could encode for proteins that are involved in suppressing CT392 activity. Future experiments will be done to further understand the potential relationship between CT392 and these candidate suppressors. While the yeast suppressor screen identified putative pathways targeted it does not identify direct binding partners, thus affinity-purification mass spectrometry will be conducted.

40. Annabel Hendrickson; Pearl Tyler
Majors: Anthropology; Anthropology
Graduations: Spring 2024; Spring 2025
Mentor: Dr. John Doershuk (Office of the State Archaeologist) 

Analysis at the Abbie Gardner Sharp Cabin (Site 13DK9)

Our research is centered around the Abbie Gardner Sharp Cabin in northwest Iowa, which is most known for being the site of the Spirit Lake Massacre in 1857. The Massacre was the culmination of growing tensions between local indigenous people and settlers, resulting in the killings of several settler families and capture of 13-year-old Abbie Gardner. The goal of the excavation and subsequent artifact analysis is to learn about the events surrounding the conflict in 1857, as well as to study the periods of occupation on the land where the cabin was built by settlers. Having been such a widely known and sensationalized story in Iowa, we believe that it is important to discover as much information as possible about the narrative surrounding the events of 1857. In our analysis so far, we’ve looked at glass, ceramic, and metal artifacts, using both comparative and formulaic methods to determine production and usage dates of the objects. Our analysis has shown most objects to fall within the historical category, especially concentrated in the late 19th and early to mid-20th centuries.

42. Eleanor Hildebrandt
Majors: Journalism and Mass Communication, Global Health Studies
Graduation: Spring 2023
Mentor: Dr. Rachel Young (Journalism and Mass Communication) 

The effects of German media tone and language during the COVID-19 pandemic on audiences

Germany sits in the middle of the G7 countries when it comes to crude suicide rates, with 9,000 deaths by suicide registered in 2019 (Statistisches Bundesamt, 2021). During the COVID-19 pandemic, mental health became a more common and larger discussion worldwide both personally and publicly. Understanding how mental health is discussed in the media is critical to examining the sector of German health care from a societal lens. A documental analysis of the five largest German newspapers and their discussion of mental illness during the COVID-19 pandemic will examine how the conversation within the country has altered in recent history. Analysis will include published online news stories from January 2020, when the first case of COVID-19 was found in Bavaria, until November 2022, when numbers slowed (Bosen & Thurau, 2021). The articles examined will be regarding COVID-19 and mental health. The research findings will inform people on how mental health discussions within German media altered throughout the pandemic and what tone/language is commonplace when discussing the sector of health care in Germany.

44. Ben Hinz
Major: Biomedical Engineering
Graduation: Spring 2023
Mentor: Dr. Lori Wallrath (Biochemistry and Molecular Biology) 

Fruit flies on drugs: Screening to mitigate skeletal muscle disease

Mutations in the human gene LMNA cause a collection of diseases known as laminopathies, which includes rare muscular dystrophies, fat disorders, and early onset aging syndromes. The muscular dystrophies are characterized by muscle contractures, weakness, and muscle deterioration. The LMNA gene encodes the A-type lamins, lamin A and C, produced by alternative splicing. Lamins are filamentous proteins that form a meshwork inside the nuclear envelope. This meshwork provides a structural scaffold for the nuclear envelope and plays an important role in regulating gene expression. The goal of my project is to understand how single amino acid substitutions in lamins cause diverse disease phenotypes.
Prior work involved characterizing the LMNA amino acid substitution R249Q, which causes Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy. The equivalent amino acid substitution (R264Q) was modeled into the Drosophila orthologue Lamin C and used to generate transgenic flies. These flies displayed abnormal nuclear morphology in larval body-wall muscle and experienced complete lethality at the pupal stage.
This year, I have been conducting a comprehensive drug screen using the Prestwick Chemical Library in an attempt to rescue the pupal lethality displayed in R264Q flies. Pilot screens have resulted in the advancement of pupal development by the consumption of several compounds.

46. Paige Ho
Major: Marketing, Journalism and Mass Communication
Graduation: May 2023
Mentors: Drs. Bowen Ruan and Minjee Sun (Marketing) 

The Effect of Personalized Social Media Ads on Consumer Behavior

Research Question: How do personalized social media ads affect consumers' purchase intention and brand attitudes? 

48. Jane Holish; Payton Riley; Shivani Patel; Caleb Slater
Majors: Political Science, Social Justice, Writing; Ethics and Public Policy, Political Science; Policital Science, Philosophy; Political Science
Graduations: Spring 2023; Spring 2023; Spring 2025; Spring 2023
Mentor: Dr. Nicholas Martini (Political Science) 

Should Iowa Revisit its Policies Around the Use of Cannabis?

In the United States today, cannabis remains a federally illegal substance. Nevertheless, many state legislatures have either expanded their medical marijuana programs, decriminalized, or fully legalized marijuana for adult use. The current trends have put Iowa in a unique position as it is unequivocally falling behind neighboring states and the rest of the country. As the tides of public opinion turn, this paper aims to re-examine Iowa’s cannabis policies. We discuss how the status quo of Iowa’s policies regarding the use of cannabis is currently functioning and explore three potential paths forward for the Iowa Legislature in the realm of marijuana policy: 1) the expansion of medical use, 2) decriminalization, 3) the full legalization for adult use. Each policy is evaluated in three areas: political feasibility, economic impact, and public health and safety impact. Ultimately, each of the policy alternatives that we explored brought added benefits to Iowans when compared to the status quo. Despite potential hurdles that may exist for its implementation, we recommend the full legalization of recreational marijuana as it is the alternative with the greatest combined benefits and least potential drawbacks for Iowans.

50. Payton Jaeger
Major: Interdepartmental Sciences
Graduation: Fall 2023
Mentor: Dr. Li-Chun (Queena) Lin (Iowa Neuroscience Institute)

The Pathophysiology of Attention-deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Parkinson's Disease, & Lewy Body Dementia

Adult patients are often misdiagnosed with dementia and Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Patients with ADHD neurochemically present with dysregulated dopamine and norepinephrine function. Previous studies suggest a link between ADHD and the development of dementia including Alzhiemers Disease (AD) and Lewy Body Dementia (LBD). Few studies have focused on the pathophysiology of ADHD. It is unclear how similar the dopaminergic gene profile (DRD1, DRD2, DRD4, DBH, and TH) is presented in patients with ADHD and/or dementia. To provide a neuropathological insight into the risks of ADHD, RNA in the Substantia Nigra of three patients with ADHD, and three patients with LBD will be qualitatively and quantitatively analyzed for expressional change, localization, and neurodegeneration using MERSCOPE technologies. This project will investigate the possible dopaminergic pathway similarities between patients with ADHD and LBD in an effort to better understand the mechanism of action.

52. Maneesh John
Major: Computer Science and Engineering
Graduation: Spring 2023
Mentor: Dr. Mathews Jacob (Electrical and Computer Engineering) 

Monotone model-based deep learning using non-monotone operators

In recent years, unrolled deep learning methods that combine imaging physics with learned regularization priors have been shown to be very effective for undersampled MRI reconstruction. These algorithms typically alternate between a data consistency block and a denoising block, unrolling these blocks for a fixed number of iterations. More recently, monotone operator learning (MOL) was proposed as a memory-efficient alternative to unrolled methods, with additional guarantees of uniqueness, convergence, and robustness. In practice, this allows MOL to be applied to higher-dimensional problems that current unrolled algorithms cannot handle, such as 3D MRI reconstruction. To achieve these properties, MOL enforces a monotonicity constraint on its convolutional neural network (CNN) denoising block. However, this monotonicity constraint significantly restricts the denoising performance of the CNN. The focus of this project is to improve monotone operator learning by relaxing the monotonicity constraint. Instead of constraining the CNN, we propose to constrain the combination of the CNN and the gradient of the data consistency term. The resulting deep equilibrium formulation provides the memory efficiency and theoretical guarantees of monotone operator learning, while also offering performance competitive with unrolled methods.

54. Eleanor Johnson
Major: Biomedical Sciences
Graduation: Spring 2025
Mentor: Dr. Shujie Yang (Pathology) 

Predicting Endometrial Cancer Tumor Evasion Mechanisms by Identifying SETDB1 Methylated Genes

SET Domain Bifurcated Histone Lysine Methyltransferase 1 (SETDB1) is an H3K9 methyltransferase implicated in gene silencing that may contribute to tumor evasion. SETDB1 is overexpressed and characterized as an oncogene in many cancer types. SETDB1 has been shown to promote immune evasion and inhibit tumoricidal immune cell action. However, the exact mechanism of these actions remains unknown. In an effort to elucidate possible pathways, we have compiled a collection of genes regulated in correlation with low SETDB1 expression level and analyzed the function and expression level of the given genes. This bioinformatics analysis serves as a critical step in determining the mechanism underlying SETDB1-mediated immune evasion and working to identify existing drugs and possible immunotherapeutic options that can decrease SETDB1 action and improve cancer patient survival outcomes.

56. Emily Kalmanek
Major: Human Physiology
Graduation: Spring 2023
Mentor: Dr. Erin Talbert (Health and Human Physiology) 

Role of Obesity in Cancer Cachexia

Cancer cachexia is a multifactorial syndrome that involves unintentional weight loss due to the depletion of skeletal and adipose tissue mass. Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) patients are of particular interest due to their high incidence and severity of cachexia, which has been associated with poor outcomes. While obesity is known to be a contributing factor to the development of PDAC, little is known about the relationship between obesity and cachexia. Medical record data and CT scans were collected from 175 treatment-naïve PDAC patients. Body composition of PDAC patients was assessed on the diagnosis CT scan and total cross-sectional area of skeletal muscle, subcutaneous adipose tissue, and visceral adipose tissue were analyzed at the third lumbar vertebrae and normalized to height. Fifty-five percent (55%) of PDAC patients were considered obese prior to their illness (BMI &gt;30 kg/m2). The mean weight loss was higher in obese compared to non-obese patients. The frequency of cachexia defined as a 5% loss of pre-illness body weight at diagnosis was not significantly different between obese and non-obese patients. However, he frequency of severe cachexia (&gt;10% loss of pre-illness body weight) was significantly greater in obese individuals. Both obese males and females had greater skeletal muscle volumes (p&lt;0.001) than non-obese PDAC patients. In conclusion, our data suggest a discrepancy between weight loss and skeletal muscle mass in obese patients.

58. Scott Kerno
Major: Economics
Graduation: Spring 2023
Mentor: Dr. Sarah Frank (Economics) 

The Impact of Automation Technology on Trucking Labor

Self-driving trucks are being tested across he country and starting to hit the road. There are many concerns that this technology will replace drivers. This study will show that automation technology will not replace drivers, but work alongside them. Additionally, there is an aging trucking labor force and shortages. Automation can fill in the labor gaps and ease supply chain issues in a post-COVID-19 world. To conduct a data analysis, a similar industry that has already experienced automation was used to forecast the impact on trucking. Dock working has already experienced automation, and labor trends in that sector were used for the data analysis such as fluctuations in labor totals and hourly salaries.

60. Sarah King; Claire Graham
Major: Biomedical Sciences; Biomedical Engineering
Graduation: Spring 2024; Spring 2025
Mentor: Dr. Michelle Howard (Radiation Oncology) 

Investigating Cu-ATSM as a novel treatment for pediatric brain cancer

Diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) is the leading cause of pediatric brain tumor-related death, with most patients surviving less than one year after diagnosis. Currently, radiation therapy is the only standard of care for DIPG, as surgery is not considered a viable option and chemotherapeutic agents have not proven to be successful. Given such limited treatment options, innovative approaches that improve clinical outcomes are crucial. Copper (II)-diacetyl-bis(N4-methylthiosemicarbazone) (Cu-ATSM) is a radiotherapeutic agent known for its preferential uptake by hypoxic tumor cells. With a high membrane permeability and redox potential, this compound is a promising novel therapeutic agent for DIPG. In-vitro clonogenic dose-response experiments have shown that treatment with Cu-ATSM is significantly more toxic in DIPG cells than in normal human astrocyte (NHA) cell lines. In addition, the surviving fraction was lower in DIPG cells treated with Cu-ATSM before receiving RT compared to DIPG cells given RT alone, suggesting that Cu-ATSM can act as a radiosensitizing agent. It is theorized that this selective toxicity is due to the potentially hypoxic nature of DIPG tumor cells. Increased cellular uptake of Cu-ATSM by DIPG facilitates the generation of reactive oxygen species, leading to oxidative stress and ultimately, cell death. 

62. Raegan Krumboltz
Major: Health Promotion
Graduation: Spring 2024
Mentor: Dr. Kara Whitaker (Health and Human Physiology) 

Perceived Stress Across Pregnancy in Rural and Urban Populations 

Perceived stress throughout pregnancy has been linked to adverse health outcomes such as preterm birth, low birth weight, and postpartum depression. It is unclear which trimester of pregnancy has the highest reported levels of stress. Increased risk for poor health outcomes such as cardiovascular disease and obesity, as well as distance to providers may contribute to increased stress for rural residents. Pregnant persons in Iowa, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania were recruited at <13 weeks gestation for the Pregnancy 24/7 Cohort Study. Perceived stress was assessed at each trimester using the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS). Scores range from 0 to 40 with higher scores indicating higher levels of perceived stress. Paired t-tests assessed differences in PSS scores between the first and third, first and second, and second and third trimesters in the entire sample. This analysis was repeated after stratifying by rural and urban status. <0.05 defined statistical significance. Participants reported the highest levels of perceived stress during the first trimester. Rural participants reported higher levels of perceived stress in all trimesters, particularly in the second trimester. Further research should be done with a larger sample of rural participants to look at potential causes for higher levels of perceived stress.

66. Connor Linzer
Major: Human Physiology
Graduation: Spring 2024
Mentor: Dr. Ryan Boudreau (Internal Medicine) 

Role of Microproteins in Cancer Development

Cancer remains the second leading cause of death within the US despite extensive research. Many pathways influence tumor cell progression and chemoresistance, and the role of microproteins in the proliferation, invasiveness, and migration of cancer cells remains underexplored. We are investigating the role of two microproteins, Mitoregulin (Mtln) and NC672, in cancer cells. We previously found that Mtln alters cellular and mitochondrial oxidative status, we thus tested whether Mtln influences the effectiveness of BSO+Auranofin, a dual redox-enzyme-targeted cancer therapy, and found that Mtln knockdown induces therapeutic resistance in A549 lung cancer cells. Interestingly, Mtln knockdown also promoted G1 cell cycle phase arrest and attenuated A549 cell proliferation (i.e. tumor growth). We are working to explore the underlying mechanisms, focusing on the possibility that Mtln forms a homo-oligomeric complex and if complex formation is required for Mtln function. As for NC672, we hypothesize that NC672 influences integrin signaling, which is critical for cell migration/adhesion. In A549 cells, we found that NC672 overexpression causes increased migration and invasion (i.e. enhanced metastatic capacity).  Our work reveals new roles for Mtln and NC672 in cancer biology, and further research is needed to understand the molecular underpinnings, and expand the search for other cancer-related microproteins.  

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

Rape-Supportive Attitudes among Heterosexual and Sexual Minority College Students

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 and men. Theoretical models of sexual assault implicate the endorsement of rape-supportive attitudes (RSA) in the perpetration of sexual assault. 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’ RSA The current study characterized RSA in a large sample of college women and men (n = 3,989, aged 18-24) as a function of sexual orientation (asexual, bisexual, gay, heterosexual, lesbian, pansexual, queer). Results showed that asexual individuals endorsed more RSA than heterosexual individuals. Heterosexual women endorsed more RSA than bisexual, pansexual, and queer women, while heterosexual men endorsed more RSA than bisexual and gay men. In ongoing work, we are using a newly developed inclusive measure of RSA to examine endorsement of RSA as a function of sexual orientation.

70. Cara Lundy
Major: Interdepartmental Studies (Health Science Track), Communication Studies Minor
Graduation: Spring 2023
Mentors: Drs. Warren Darling (Health and Human Physiology) and Terry Wahls (Internal Medicine)

The Effect of Activity Level on Severity of Perceived Fatigue and Motor Function in People with Multiple Sclerosis (MS)

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a chronic neurodegenerative condition that causes the degradation of the myelin sheath of nerves within the Central Nervous System. This leads to inflammation as well as lesions and hinders the ability of the nervous system to transfer information throughout the body. An individual with MS may notice increased pain or paresthesia, increased fatigue, decreased motor function, mood changes, visual impairment, and cognitive decline, among other symptoms. The exact etiology of MS is unknown and there is no known cure. However, diet intervention, particularly an anti-inflammatory diet, has increasingly been used as a non-pharmacological treatment.

The WaVeS study measured a handful of  variables including the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS), the Modified Fatigue Impact Scale (MFIS), the Twenty-five Foot Walk Test (T25WT), the Six Minute Walk Test (6MWT), and the Nine Hole Peg Test (9HPT) for both the dominant and non-dominant hand.

This report utilizes the baseline measures of these variables in a cross sectional investigation to study the effects of activity level on motor function and severity of perceived fatigue. If an individual with M.S. engages in or exceeds the recommended level of physical activity per week, then it is expected that they will show improved motor function and less severity of perceived fatigue.

72. Wanzhi Lyu
Major: Psychology
Graduation: Spring 2023
Mentor: Dr. Eliot Hazeltine (Psychological and Brain Sciences) 

Sequential Analyses Reveal That Action Effects Affect Response Selection Processes

There are two competing theories of action control: the ideomotor approach and the stimulus-based approach. The ideomotor approach proposes that actions are selected by the desired goal, and the anticipation of action effects initiates related actions.  The stimulus-based proposes that actions are triggered by external stimuli. In this study, we investigated whether people will show less interference during response selection when the flanker and target stimulus indicate different responses with the same action effect than when the flanker and target indicate different responses with different action effects.  The results from the analysis considering only the current trial are generally consistent with the stimulus-based approach, but analyses taking the previous trial into account suggest that action effects do play a role in response selection.

74. Gillian Marbury
Majors: Ancient Civilization, Classical Languages
Graduation: Spring 2023
Mentors: Drs. Paul Dilley and Debra Trusty (Classics) 

"The Very Special Dead": Heroes and Saints as Intermediary Figures of Antiquity

The common trend in scholarship is to firmly differentiate between the ancient Greek hero cult and the cult of saints in late antiquity. This study examines previous scholarship regarding the relationship between heroes and saints to determine the validity of these claims, while establishing both as intermediary figures between the mortal and divine. Furthermore, the goal of this study is not to argue for the direct continuity of practices, but rather to point out overlooked similarities and argue for an underlying function common to both. The first chapter is devoted to the material culture of these cults: the location of their cult sites, pollution, and attitudes and practices regarding the relics of both heroes and saints. The second chapter examines a selection of the categories and functions of heroes and saints through literary culture. Finally, the conclusion explores the evidence in relation to the underlying function of both heroes and saints: as intermediary figures, they serve to bridge the gap between the mortal and divine, and in doing so their cult grants worshippers access to sacred space and time.

76. Karsten Martin
Major: Human Physiology
Graduation: Spring 2023
Mentor: Dr. Renee Cole (Chemistry) 

Analyzing the Impact of Instructional Setting on Student Discourse

There has been increased emphasis on research-based instructional practices in STEM fields, specifically in terms of student-centered active learning approaches. While research has shown the positive impact active learning environments on student outcomes, less research has been done on how to optimize these learning environments. The nature of the learning environment and the cognitive level of in-class tasks can affect different dimensions of student engagement such as the nature of social processing, how knowledge is used and elaborated upon by students during in-class tasks, and the amount of student participation in group activities. Our work seeks to characterize the essential features of effective task design and implementation that foster productive engagement of diverse students in discourse practices known to promote meaningful learning in different active learning environments. We are exploring the association between different dimensions of student engagement (social processing, knowledge dynamics, amount of participation) and the cognitive level of in-class tasks in both lecture and discussion settings. The findings from this research will provide insights into how to effectively create tasks and facilitate student learning in these classroom environments as well as highlighting the similarities and differences of how students interact during small group work in lecture and discussion.

78. Emma Menke
Major: Microbiology
Graduation: Fall 2023
Mentor: Dr. Noah Butler (Microbiology and Immunology) 

TNF Receptor Associated Factor 3 critically regulates CD8+ T cell development and function

Immunity to infection requires a coordinated response among white blood cells. During an immune response, pathogen-specific white blood cells must rapidly divide, accumulate in high numbers, and acquire programmed anti-microbial functions that afford protection to the host. One type of immune cell, the cytotoxic CD8+ T cell, is critically important for combating bacterial and virus infections. Thus, defining the mechanisms that regulate the function of CD8+ T cells remains an important area of research. Here we the role and function of TNF Receptor Associated Factor 3 (TRAF3) in regulating CD8+ T cell responses following virus infection. TRAF3 is an adapter protein that functions inside immune cells and help transmits signals from outside the cell to the nucleus to modulate gene expression. We hypothesized that TRAF3 was essential for the proliferation, accumulation, and the acquisition of anti-microbial functions of CD8+ T cells. To test this hypothesis, I performed studies comparing the phenotype and function of wild type and TRAF3-deficient CD8+ T cells. My data show that in the absence of TRAF3, CD8+ T cells rapidly acquire characteristics of memory immune cells that exhibit enhanced anti-microbial function. These data have implications for strategies designed to enhanced CD8+ T cell-dependent immunity to infection.

82. Klayre Michel
Major: Speech and Hearing Science
Graduation: Spring 2023
Mentor: Dr. Stewart McCauley (Communication Sciences and Disorders) 

Modeling the role of memory limitations in shaping young children's language abilities

Whether and to what extent domain-general mechanisms--such as working memory--shape individual differences in child language outcomes, independently of overall language experience, has long been a topic of debate in the language sciences. To investigate this question, we look to a popular psychometric task known as sentence repetition, which has been widely recognized in recent years as offering exceptional diagnostic value as a screening tool for developmental language disorder (DLD). Using an updated version of the CBL model of McCauley and Christiansen (Psychological Review, 2019) in concert with a large longitudinal dataset featuring both typically developing children and children who failed a DLD screening (cf. Tomblin and Nippold, 2016), we show that while memory limitations are indeed a significant factor in shaping children's performance on sentence repetition tasks, these limitations ultimately stem from the size and quality of the units learned from the input, as opposed to a more general "working memory" construct.

84. Rachel Moore
Major: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Graduation: Spring 2023
Mentor: Dr. Colin Kenny (Surgery) 

Investigating the relationship between TFE3 and invasive melanoma through drug resistance.

Melanoma is a highly aggressive and lethal form of skin cancer. Even more, patients with stage IV metastatic disease have 5-year free survival rates of only 20-30%. This shows the need to understand the mechanism of these cells becoming metastatic. One way is by looking at the transcription factors involved in phenotype-switching when cells go from proliferative to invasive. We believe this switch is from the relationship between MITF and TFE3 transcription factors. When TFE3 is high and MITF is low, the cells show an invasive, mesenchymal-like (EMT) phenotype. We hypothesize that treating A375 TFE3 knock-out (KO) cells with a drug that targets EMT will result in greater resistance when compared to A375 wild type (WT).
The WT and KO cells were subjected to gradual levels of a chosen drug and a cell proliferation assay (MTT). The results showed that the cell lines that had TFE3 KO had greater resistance to the drug, and were able to withstand higher concentrations compared to WT. Therefore, knocking out TFE3 in highly invasive melanoma cells will disrupt the EMT pathway, resulting in greater resistance to EMT targeting drugs. 

86. Lauren Philips
Majors: International Studies, French
Graduation: Spring 2023
Mentor: Dr. Ahmed Souaiaia (Religious Studies)

The Weaponization of Soft Power: Qatar’s Use of Aljazeera as a Public Diplomacy Platform in the Case of Yemen

Aljazeera has marketed itself as the only independent media outlet in the MENA region. With a self-reported audience of 300 million people globally, the presence of bias in Aljazeera’s coverage has the potential to influence the global perception of the region and the regional perception of internal conflicts. Aljazeera was funded with money from the Qatari government and has been criticized for its alignment with the Qatar’s foreign policy objectives. This research will analyze the impact of the 2017 Gulf Cooperation Council blockade on Aljazeera’s coverage of the conflict in Yemen through screenshots captured from the Aljazeera Arabic website from 2013–2021. These trends will illuminate the larger implications of potential limited neutrality of state-funded media outlets.

88. Ashley Rhodes
Major: Biomedical Engineering
Graduation: Spring 2024
Mentors: Drs. James Byrne and Emily Witt (Radiation Oncology, Biomedical Engineering) 

Novel Gas Entrapping Materials to Improve Treatment of Solid Tumors

Gas entrapping materials can have many far reaching and impactful applications. Gasses have been shown to have therapeutic properties, and the ability to deliver gas to a specific area within the body can be beneficial for wound healing, improving cancer treatments, and decreasing inflammation. Many current methods for gas entrapment and delivery are inefficient and difficult to administer. We have fabricated a solid, biodegradable implant that has the capability of high-volume gas release. The goal is to deliver a variety of gasses in vivo and be able to control their dissolution to optimize timing of gas delivery. We are working to evaluate the potential of different biomaterials that form amorphous crystalline arrangements and to alter the properties of the material to control the timing of its dissolution within the body. These innovative devices can be used to store drugs, oxygen, and any other desired material to be delivered to biological systems. One specifically beneficial application is penetrating the hypoxic microenvironment commonly found in tumors, which causes therapeutic resistance. Methods to improve tumor oxygenation have been shown to improve response to standard- of- care cancer treatments, such as radiation therapy, and these GEMs provide a controllable, novel solution to this issue.

88. Maclain Ridder
Major: Human Physiology
Graduation: Spring 2024
Mentor: Dr. Po Hien Ear (Surgery) 

Inhibition of serotonin biosynthesis in neuroendocrine neoplasm suppresses  tumor growth in vivo

Small bowel neuroendocrine tumors (SBNETs) originate from enterochromaffin cells in the intestine which synthesize and secrete serotonin.  SBNETs express high level of tryptophan hydroxylase 1 (TPH1), a key enzyme involved in serotonin production.  Patients with high serotonin levels may develop carcinoid syndrome, which can be treated with somatostatin analogues and the TPH1 inhibitor telotristat ethyl (TE) in severe cases. Although TE can efficiently reduce serotonin levels, its effect on tumor growth is unclear.  This study set out to determine the effect of serotonin inhibition on tumor growth in vitro and in vivo. 

90. Bhavana Sirimalle
Major: Microbiology
Graduation: Spring 2023
Mentor: Dr. Toshihiro Kitamoto (Anesthesia, Neuroscience and Pharmacology) 

Genetic basis for variations in susceptibility to lithium toxicity: A preliminary study with the Drosophila Genetic Reference Panel (DGRP)

Lithium is the preferred treatment for managing depressive or manic episodes in affective disorders and for reducing suicidal ideation. However, its narrow therapeutic range and potential toxicity are major concerns. Unfortunately, the mechanisms behind lithium toxicity are not fully understood. In our previous study using the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster, we discovered that CG15088, which encodes a putative proline transporter of solute carrier 6 (SLC6) family, is highly upregulated after oral administration of lithium. Interestingly, decreased CG15088 function (designated as Lithium-inducible SLC6 transporter or List) resulted in a significant increase in the susceptibility of adult flies to lithium's toxic effects. To uncover the mechanisms by which List regulates sensitivity to lithium toxicity, we aimed to perform a genome-wide association study (GWAS) using the Drosophila Genetic Reference Panel (GDRP). The DGRP is a collection of genetically diverse, inbred ~ 205 lines with a fully sequenced genome. In a proof of principal study, we discovered nine different DGRP lines exhibit diverse sensitivity to lithium toxicity. Our findings demonstrate that the DGRP is valuable for identifying candidate genes involved in lithium toxicity. This can provide a better understanding of the genetic basis of this phenotype and potentially guide future therapeutic interventions.

92. Zachary Springer
Major: Economics, Political Science
Graduation: Spring 2023
Mentor: Dr. Hennedige Thenuwara (Economics) 

Economic Risk Preferences and Recreational Choice

I've been studying the effect that our economic risk preferences have on the choices we make regarding traveling. I formulated a survey that I distributed with questions both to measure the risk averseness of individuals and then to garner information regarding individuals' travel preferences. I specifically looked at activity and political risk regarding traveling, and I conducted an analysis to see if the more risk averse an individual is, the less risky travel activities and destinations they prefer. I found this study to be useful for countries and cities trying to revitalize their tourism industry coming out of the pandemic because learning how to cater to differrent types of tourists is critical to enhancing the industry.

94. Clara Stuedemann
Major: Chemistry
Graduation: Spring 2023
Mentor: Dr. Leonard MacGillivray (Chemistry) 

Photostable Cocrystal Polymorph of Anticancer 5-Fluorouracil

Given the emergence of pharmaceutical cocrystals (Entresto® and SEGLENTIS®), researchers have focused great effort in predicting and modulating the behavior of molecules in the solid state. The continuous study of a previously reported cocrystal of 5-fluorouracil (5-fu) and trans-1,2-bis(2-pyridyl)ethylene (2,2’-bpe) has revealed a new polymorph (Form II). The original cocrystal structure, herein referred to as Form I,1 was the first example of an active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) to undergo a cross-photocycloaddition in the solid state. In contrast with what was observed in Form I, 5-fu acts as a hydrogen bond donor for 2,2’-bpe in Form II. The change in results in infinite chains of (5-fu)∙(2,2’-bpe) that do not react upon UV-light exposure.
Our work explores the influence of various solvent systems on the polymorph formation of the (5-fu)∙(2,2-bpe) cocrystal system using liquid assisted grinding (LAG). The resulting powders were analyzed with powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), and the patterns were compared to the elucidated crystal structures. The PXRD patterns confirmed the correlation between polymorph obtained with solvent used. This is the first example of a pharmaceutical cocrystal that exhibits both photostable and photoactive polymorphs.

96. Sanmati Thangavel; Joshua Peterson
Major: Human Physiology; Biology, Biochemistry
Graduation: Spring 2024; Spring 2023
Mentor: Dr. Marcelo Correia (Internal Medicine) 

Er-stress and Metabolism Regulation in Mice with Skeletal Muscle Knock Down of DRP1

Dynamin-related protein-1 (DRP1) mediates mitochondrial fission in diverse tissues, including skeletal muscle. Mitochondrial fission and fusion modulate cellular metabolic adaptations among other functions. Previously, we have investigated the metabolic effects of a skeletal muscle-specific knock down of DRP1 in C57 mice (DRP1 KO mice). DRP1 KO mice are resistant to weight gain induced by a high-fat diet related to a reduction in adipose tissue. These mice are also more tolerant to glucose challenges associated with lower fasting insulin levels. We then explored potential mechanisms for this phenotype using RNA sequencing. We found that gene expression of ATF-4, a transcription factor associated with endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress activation, was elevated in DRP KO mice. Furthermore, gene and protein expression of FGF21 and GDF15, which are downstream signals associated with activation of ER-stress, were also elevated. In conclusion, down regulation of DRP1 in skeletal muscle is associated with resistance high-fat diet induced diabetes and obesity, which seems to be mediated through activation of ER-stress response.

98. Wil Voelker
Major: Percussion Performance
Graduation: Spring 2023
Mentor: Dr. Dan Moore (Music) 

Analysis of Demographics and Representation in Percussion Composition at the University of Iowa

I am investigating the growth and representation of marginalized communities in the percussion music archive at the University of Iowa. The first step is creating the database by sorting through and cataloguing all of the percussion music in the studio, using identifiers like title, instrumentation, and composer. Research would then be conducted on each composer, compiling lists of composers from marginalized communities. The communities that would be impacted by this research would include- but not be limited to- women, POC, LGBTQ+, disabled, and other communities. As of 2022, the Percussive Arts Society Diversity Alliance has several lists of composers and artists in marginalized communities, however, their “Percussion Pieces by Black Composers” only has 148 entries, the “Percussion Ensemble Works by Women-Identifying Composers'' has 263 entries, and the only LGBTQ+ representation in any lists is non-specific to percussion or composition. Conducting this research would add to these lists and supply a database that provides more equal opportunity to composers from the previously mentioned communities.

100. Elizabeth Walker
Major: Biomedical Science, Neuroscience
Graduation: Spring 2024
Mentor: Dr. Terry Wahls (Department of Internal Medicine) 

Comparing the effects of the Wahls VS Swank Diets on Sleep Quality and Perceived Stress Levels in People with Relapsing Remitting Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a chronic neurodegenerative disease with an idiopathic etiology believed to have resulted from complex interaction between genetics and environmental exposures. MS commonly manifests in symptoms of pain, fatigue, mood changes, cognitive decline, and vision complications. The clinical trial, ‘Dietary Approaches to Treat Multiple Sclerosis-Related Fatigue’ (Clinical Trials Identifier: NCT02914964), had a primary aim of comparing the effect of the modified Paleolithic elimination (Wahls) and low-saturated fat (Swank) diets in relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS). In this trial data were collected on the participants stress levels using the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) and on their sleep habits using the Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) questionnaires. Both the PSS and PSQI were collected from participants at four time points throughout the trial including run-in, baseline, 12 weeks, and 24 weeks. This presentation will show comparisons within and between the dietary groups.

102. Matthew Wells
Major: Human Physiology
Graduation: Spring 2023
Mentor: Dr. Shujie Yang (Pathology) 

SETDB1 Promotes Tumor Growth Through Macrophage Suppression

(TBD, not final) Endometrial cancer (EC) is the most common gynecological cancer, with around 63,000 new cases and 12.940 deaths per year. Survival rates in individuals with EC have decreased from 87% in the 1970s, to 81% in recent times. SETDB1 has been identified as an oncogene in various cancer types, including EC. Utilizing female NSG immunocompromised mice, subcutaneously injected human ISH endometrial cancer cells knocked out for SETDB1 showed decreased tumor growth and weight relative to NT (wild type) control. Further, flow cytometry and IHC analysis on tumors using F4/80 and CD11b markers showed increased macrophage recruitment and infiltration at the tumor site in SETDB1 knockout tumors compared to control tumors.

104. Rachel White
Major: Speech and Hearing Sciences
Graduation: Spring 2024
Mentor: Dr. Shawn Goodman (Communication Sciences and Disorders) 

Middle Ear Muscle Reflex in Human Listeners

There is a muscle in the middle ear that contracts when exposed to moderately loud sounds. This is called the middle ear muscle reflex (MEMR). It causes sound to be reflected from the middle ear back into the ear canal. The presence and strength of the MEMR can be measured. The purpose of this study was to create a new method of measuring MEMR, which will also be compared to speech in noise results. The new test used a sweeping noise from low to high levels and back to low in the right ear. This is an ongoing process, and the data is being analyzed.

106. Sam Wilson Hoff
Major: 3D Design
Graduation: Spring 2024
Mentor: Dr. Vakhtangi Darjania (3D Design) 

108. Mizuki Wittmer
Major: Environmental Science, Spanish
Graduation: Spring 2023
Mentor: Dr. Heather Sander (Geographical and Sustainability Sciences) 

Relationships between small mammals and their predators across an urban landscape

With increasing urbanization, humans continue to alter landscapes and leave fewer “natural” sites for species to live. Given these rapid environmental changes, it is important to understand the dynamics between urban species, especially of small mammals, which play an important role in ecological systems. The goal of this study is to identify whether urban small mammals are distributed across the landscape in response to environmental variables, the presence of predators, or both.  I collected data on rodent and carnivore site occupancy from 45 sites across the urbanization gradient in the Iowa City Metropolitan area. I also collected geospatial data of environmental attributes (e.g., tree canopy cover) for each site. I modeled  relationships between environmental attributes, predator presence, and rodent abundance using hierarchical models to account for imperfect detection. Understanding how biological communities vary across urban landscapes will support the design and management of sustainable, wildlife-inclusive cities that maintain ecological functioning.

110. Yushan Yao
Major: Economics, Psychology
Graduation: Spring 2023
Mentor: Dr. Hennadige Thenuwara (Economics) 

Impact of Monetary Policy on Corn and Soybean Market

The Federal Reserve implements monetary policies that affect federal funds rates and influence investment and spending in the economy to maintain the stability and growth of the economy. Corn and soybean are crops widely grown, consumed, and exported by the United States. According to USDA, the total production of corn in the U.S. in 2022 will be 13.7 billion bushels and 4.28 billion bushels of soybean. The prices of agricultural products affect people's welfare. This paper used historical data from the National Agricultural Statistical Service (NASS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Federal Reserve Economic Data (FRED) to evaluate the effect of monetary policy on the prices of corn and soybean. I used an IV regression to analyze the changes between the prices of corn and soybean and related variables. The result shows a positive relationship between the lagged federal funds rate and the farm-received price of corn and soybean.