Digital Commons Network^™

Retinal Vascular Dysfunction In The Mthfr(677c>T) Mouse Model Of Cerebrovascular Disease, Alaina M Reagan, Michael Maclean, Travis L Cossette, Gareth R Howell

Faculty Research 2025

INTRODUCTION: Investigations of retinal biomarkers for Alzheimer's disease (AD) and AD and related dementias (ADRD), has increased significantly. We examine retinal vascular health in a mouse containing the ADRD risk variant Mthfr

METHODS: Morphology and function of retinal vasculature and neurons were assessed using in vivo imaging, immunohistochemistry, and pattern electroretinography. RNAscope and proteomics were employed to determine Mthfr gene expression and differential protein expression in mice carrying Mthfr

RESULTS: Mice show age- and sex-dependent retinal vascular deficits, displaying similarities to previously published brain data. Mthfr is widely expressed and co-localizes with vascular cell markers. Proteomics identified common molecular signatures …

Mitochondrial Complex I Deficiency Induces Alzheimer's Disease-Like Signatures That Are Reversible By Targeted Therapy., Huanyao Gao, Kate Jensen, Jarred Nesbitt, Mark Ostroot, Gregory Cary, Jesse Wiley, Sergey Trushin, Jens O Watzlawik, Wolfdieter Springer, Alexander Galkin, Priyanka Baloni, Cory Funk, Eugenia Trushina

Faculty Research 2025

INTRODUCTION: Mitochondrial dysfunction is implicated in Alzheimer's disease (AD), but whether it drives AD-associated changes is unclear. We assessed transcriptomic alterations in the brains of Ndufs4

METHODS: Cortico-hippocampal tissue from Ndufs4

RESULTS: Knockout of Ndufs4-mediated mtCI deficiency disrupted mitochondrial homeostasis, energy metabolism, and synaptic gene expression, recapitulating transcriptomic signatures of AD. CP2 treatment partially reversed these changes, with female Ndufs4

DISCUSSION: Loss of mtCI activity alone is sufficient to induce AD-like molecular changes in the brain, independent of amyloid beta or phosphorylated tau. CP2-mediated rescue highlights the potential of targeting mitochondria as a therapeutic strategy for AD. Sex-specific responses suggest …

Sustained Lung Inflammation Post-Sars-Cov-2 Infection In Mice Is Associated With Increased Pulmonary T Cells., Sophie Y Guan, Patricia P Ogger, Ana Farias, Minerva Garcia Martín, Joy Nakawesi, Olivia Bedard, Candice N Baker, Nadia Rosenthal, Cecilia Johansson

Faculty Research 2025

Many SARS-CoV-2 patients experience chronic pulmonary symptoms and long-term inflammation despite viral clearance. While these clinical manifestations have been linked to the dysregulation of the adaptive immune response, the underlying immunopathology remains poorly understood due to a lack of suitable animal models. To investigate long-term pulmonary consequences of SARS-CoV-2 infection, we used a genetic cross of 129 mice and C57BL/6 (B6)-K18-hACE2 transgene mice, a model previously shown to survive infection. 129xB6-K18-hACE2 mice or littermate controls were infected with a low dose (5 × 10² PFU) of ancestral SARS-CoV-2. Complete viral clearance and full recovery from weight loss …

Alternating Hemiplegia Of Childhood Associated Mutations In Atp1a3 Reveal Diverse Neurological Alterations In Mice., Markus Terrey, Georgii Krivoshein, Scott I Adamson, Elena Arystarkhova, Laura C. Anderson, John Szwec, Shelby Mckee, Holly Jones, Sara Perkins, Vijay Selvam, Pierre-Alexandre Piec, Dweet Chhaya, Ari Dehn, Aamir Zuberi, Stephen A Murray, Natalia S Morsci, Kathleen J Sweadner, David A Knowles, Else A Tolner, Arn M J M Van Den Maagdenberg, Cathleen Lutz

Faculty Research 2025

Pathogenic variants in the neuronal Na⁺/K⁺ ATPase transmembrane ion transporter (ATP1A3) cause a spectrum of neurological disorders including alternating hemiplegia of childhood (AHC). The most common de novo pathogenic variants in AHC are p.D801N (∼40 % of patients) and p.E815K (∼25 % of patients), which lead to early mortality by spontaneous death in mice. Nevertheless, knowledge of the development of clinically relevant neurological phenotypes without the obstacle of premature death, is critical for the identification of pathophysiological mechanisms and ultimately, for the testing of therapeutic strategies in disease models. Here, we used hybrid vigor attempting …

Design, Modeling, Control, And Analysis Of A Modular Two-Wheeled Self-Balancing Robotic System, Mishek Jair Musa

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Two-wheeled self-balancing robots have garnered substantial attention within the realms of research and innovation in academia and industrial settings. In particular, advances in control algorithms, machine learning, reinforcement learning, and sensor technologies have played a pivotal role in their development. Although primarily recognized for their utility in personal transportation in the commercial sector, these robots possess potential applications across various domains, including search and rescue, healthcare, material handling, logistics, etc., due to their active stabilization and exceptional maneuvering capabilities. A particular area of interest lies in the creation of modular self-balancing robots designed for seamless reconfiguration and enhanced human interaction. …

Evaluating Quadrupedal Locomotion In Bats: A Geometric Morphometric Comparison Of Vertebral Adaptations Across Mammals, Jessica Upham

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Flight is the primary locomotion of bats, while quadrupedal locomotion is not often observed and is widely variable among bats. Frugivorous bats in Pteropodidae are more efficient climbers than frugivorous bats in Phyllostomidae and insectivorous bats in Vespertilionidae, while phyllostomids and vespertilionids are better at walking on horizontal surfaces. The aim of this study is to investigate whether bats with differing modes of nonflight locomotion also exhibit disparity in thoracolumbar vertebral morphology. Using geometric morphometrics, we compared the thoracolumbar vertebral shapes of these bat families with other terrestrial and arboreal mammals. The results revealed distinct vertebral shapes among bat families …

Farm Management Practice For The Prevention Of Soil Erosion In The Carnarvon Horticultural Area, Kehinde O. Erinle

Horticulture research reports

The Carnarvon horticultural area has suffered considerable erosion damage following flooding of the Gascoyne River.

The purpose of this report is to describe the factors that contribute to soil erosion in the Carnarvon horticultural area (Section 1), provide guidelines for good soil management (Sections 2) and provide floodway hazard classes and associated soil management recommendations (Section 3).

This report:

• Provides detailed information on soil management for intensive irrigated cropping.
• Details cropping alternatives to better manage the soil erosion risk.
• Identifies appropriate plants for soil stabilisation in a range of situations.
• Promotes the concept of property management plans.
• Takes account of …

Strength Beyond Cancer: An Occupational Therapy Guidebook For African American Breast Cancer Survivors, Taihia A. Wilson

Student Capstone Papers

This capstone project aims to explore the nuanced and often underrepresented experiences of African American women (AAW) who have survived breast cancer (BC), with a specific focus on the recovery phase. By examining the physical, cognitive, and psychosocial obstacles encountered during survivorship, the project seeks to highlight significant gaps in care and support. The primary goal of this project is to develop an accessible and culturally responsive guidebook that provides healthy strategies to enhance quality of life (QoL), promote occupational wellbeing, and empower AAW to manage their overall health beyond treatment. This paper will begin by presenting the background and …

Reimagining Learning Outdoors: How Active Outdoor Play-Based Learning (Aopl) Supports Student Growth And Academic Success - A Policy Brief For District Leaders And Educational Policymakers, Steph Dean

Publications

Active Outdoor Play-Based Learning (AOPL) is an evidence-based educational approach that integrates active play, outdoor environments, and academic goals. It supports not only curricular learning but also students’ physical, emotional, social, and cognitive development. This brief presents practical insights from a systematic review of 21 empirical studies (2008–2024) on AOPL implementation in formal school settings, offering guidance for systems-level investment and policy alignment.

AOPL is a pedagogical strategy that uses play and the outdoors as meaningful contexts for learning. When embedded into school culture, AOPL offers a scalable and cost-effective way to advance curricular goals while also supporting whole-child development. …

Sexual And Reproductive Health Is Inadequately Addressed In Climate Change Actions In Sub-Saharan Africa, Jacinter Amadi, George Odwe

Sexual and Reproductive Health, Rights, and Choices

No abstract provided.

Evaluation Of Real-World Evidence To Assess Health Outcomes Related To Deprescribing Medications In Older Adults, Kaleen N. Hayes, Joshua David Niznik, Danijela Gnjidic, Frank Moriarty, Nha Tran, Antoinette B. Coe, Andrew R. Zullo, Sirui Zhang, Matthew Alcusky, Dimitri Bennett, Sirpa Hartikainen, Marie Laure Laroche, Xiaojuan Li, Joshua K. Lin, Jennifer L. Lund, Maurizio Sessa, Shahar Shmuel, Caroline Sirois, Denis Talbot, Miia Tiihonen, Xuerong Wen, Mouna J. Sawan, Daniela C. Moga

Epidemiology and Environmental Health Faculty Publications

Observational studies using real-world data (RWD) can address gaps in knowledge on deprescribing medications but are subject to methodological issues. Limited data exist on the methods employed to use RWD to measure the effects of deprescribing. To describe methodological approaches used in observational studies of deprescribing medications in older adults, we conducted a systematic review in Medline for observational studies published in English (January 1, 2000, to September 14, 2023) that examined the health effects of medication deprescribing in older adults. We described study characteristics and methods, focusing on the operationalization of deprescribing as an exposure and potential time-related biases. …

Mindfulness As A Protective Factor In Women’S Sexual Health, Shana Byerley

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Many women who experience physical health complaints also report sexual dysfunction across a variety of domains including decreased arousal, desire and satisfaction. Although there are well-established connections between disease-specific populations and sexual dysfunction, less research has focused on women who experience somatic symptoms more broadly. Similarly, mindfulness as a treatment intervention has been applied across many facets of sexual functioning, but mindfulness as a trait characteristic has been less explored in its connections with generalized somatic complaints. Further, the within-domain interactions between facets of mindfulness and domains of sexual dysfunction have not been previously explored. Using data from an online …

Electrochemical And Electrocatalytic Properties Of Screen-Printable Carbon Inks Featuring Pyridinic Nitrogen-Containing Polymeric Binder, Albert Sam Junior

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Screen-printable conductive inks have been widely applied to prepare electrodes for electrochemical sensing. These inks generally consist of conductive metal or carbon particles, solvents, and polymeric binders. Low-cost, carbon-based, screen-printable conductive inks are especially popular. However, screen-printed carbon electrodes (SPCEs) must often be modified after they are printed to impart the necessary characteristics (e.g., sensitivity, selectivity, stability) for the desired application. For example, nitrogen-doping of SPCEs, especially in ways that introduce pyridinic or pyrrolic nitrogen species, can impart electrocatalytic properties towards reduction of O₂, H₂O₂, and CO₂. While our previous work done …

Raptors As Secondary Dispersers Of Mycorrhizal Fungal Spores, Joseph Anderson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Animals aid fungal dispersal by consuming fruiting bodies (e.g., truffles) and depositing spores elsewhere. Predators can act as secondary dispersers by preying on small mammals that eat truffles, although it is unclear how this dispersal may vary among species of raptors (hawks and owls) and fungal taxa. We experimentally fed four truffle taxa (with spores varying in size and wall thickness) to six raptor species (with differing gut morphology and acidity) to assess how spore viability and retention time may change between raptor casts and feces. Viability in smaller spores was more negatively affected by acidity compared to larger spores …

Hierarchy In Sensation: Exploring The 40 Hz Auditory Steady State Synchrony In The Primary Auditory And Prefrontal Association Cortices, Deepshila Gautam

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Auditory processing begins in the cochlea and ascends through brainstem relays to the cortex, where sound features with increasing complexity are encoded. The 40 Hz auditory steady-state response (ASSR) reflects induced gamma synchrony shaped by local cortical circuit dynamics. Disrupted 40 Hz ASSR is a consistent finding in schizophrenia, linked to N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) hypofunction in inhibitory interneurons, making it a promising translational biomarker. While multiple ASSR generators have been identified, it is not known if these are redundant or represent unique activity. This dissertation investigates regional differences in 40 Hz ASSR across two principal generators: the primary auditory cortex …

August 2025 Annual Report, Perlmutter Center For Legal Justice At Cardozo Law

Perlmutter Center Reports

The August 2025 Annual Report documents the Perlmutter Center for Legal Justice’s work at Cardozo Law during Spring and Summer 2025, highlighting major legal victories, partnerships, student clinical programs, policy advocacy, community outreach, and staff achievements. Prepared for The Laura and Isaac Perlmutter Foundation, it details the Center’s efforts to address wrongful convictions, challenge flawed forensic science, expand pro bono collaborations, and advance criminal justice reform, while also providing staff updates, financial information, and program impact summaries.

Uni Impact: Faculty/Staff Scholarly Publications And Featured Awards Newsletter, V3i2, 2024, Rod Library. Research & Sponsored Programs. Uni Foundation. University Of Northern Iowa.

UNI Impact: Faculty/Staff Scholarly Publications and Featured Awards Newsletter

Highlights the scholarship, research, and other scholarly work produced by University of Northern Iowa faculty, students, and staff.

This issue covers the period of July - December 2024.

Fouling Community Assessment On Anthropogenic Structures In Barnegat Bay, Nj: Who's Fouling With Our Lagoons?, Jesi Herterich

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

Biofouling communities consist of both mobile and non-mobile species which settle and attach themselves to both natural and artificial substrata. With increased construction of lagoon communities and marinas in Barnegat Bay, NJ utilizing PVC material, it allows space for invasive and generalist species to recruit. This study examines the impacts of man-made structures and abiotic factors on the distribution of recruiting fouling organisms in coastal lagoon communities in Barnegat Bay, NJ. Polyvinyl chloride settling plates were deployed in late May of 2024. Settling plates were retrieved and replaced at one month intervals to assess monthly settlement patterns, while a second …

The Effects Of Overexpressing K2p Channels In Various Tissues On Physiology And Behaviors, Alaina C. Taul, Elizabeth R. Elliott, Douglas A. Harrison, Robin L. Cooper

Biology Faculty Publications

Two-pore-domain K⁺ channels (K2p), known previously as leak channels, are responsible for maintaining the resting membrane potential of cells. Fifteen subtypes are known to exist in humans and eleven are known in Drosophila melanogaster, as well as six subfamilies; however, little is known about the expression of these subtypes in various animal tissues or the impact of altered expression on cellular physiology. The Drosophila melanogaster model allows for selective misexpression of certain neuron subsets, providing insight into individual cell types and the animal’s physiology more generally. Prior research on the overexpression of K2p channels and the resulting behavioral and …

From Diversity To Novelty: Unsupervised Learning For Novel Transposon Identification And Evolutionary Mapping For Large-Scale Genomic Datasets, Rabeya Nazara

All Theses

Transposons play a pivotal role in genome evolution and contribute to genome expansion, with novel transposon discovery offering valuable insights into genetic function and its implications for health and diseases. This study focused on identifying novel transposons within a large-scale genomic dataset using unsupervised machine learning approaches to uncover hidden patterns and detect elements that deviated from known transposon groups. To address the challenge of data scale and to deal with the computational complexity, two complementary approaches were adopted: first, analyzing the entire dataset to picture the broad spectrum of diversity; second, a strategic reduction and filtering method to produce …

Information Technology Services Fy2025 - Winona State University, Minnesota, Information Technology Services-Winona State University

Information Technology Services Annual Reports

Information Technology Services (ITS) provides the technology-based foundation to support and empower the Winona State University (WSU) community to meet and exceed their educational and business needs. This is the ITS report for the fiscal year 2025 (July 1, 2024-June 30, 2025).

Research On The Use And Effects Of Freezing In Controlling Clothes Moth Infestations In A Contemporary Art Collection, Sara Thornburg

Art Conservation Master's Projects

This study investigates the efficacy and implications of low-temperature pest eradication— specifically freezing—as a method for managing clothes moth infestations in museum collections, with a focus on contemporary and composite artworks. Prompted by the evolving needs of the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA), this research explores current best practices, material vulnerabilities, and institutional approaches to freezing treatments. A literature review was conducted alongside a global survey of 40 museum professionals to assess how freezing protocols are implemented, what materials are considered safe, and what challenges arise in real world applications. Results show that while freezing remains a widely …

Gender Identity Development In Social Virtual Reality: A Phenomenology, John Michael Sullivan Iii

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the ways in which trans and gender-diverse individuals engage with social virtual reality (VR), what kinds of experiences they have on social VR platforms, and how their experiences translate into gender identity exploration, expression, and development. Inquiry was driven by two primary research questions: (a) What are the experiences of trans and gender diverse individuals in social VR platforms and (b) How do trans and gender diverse individuals use social VR to develop and to express their gender identities? This study utilized a qualitative and phenomenological methodology that was guided by a …

Emerging Adulthood, Identity Conflict, And Self-Compassion’S Impact On Mental Health Interference Of Collegiate Student-Athletes, Courtney Amber Shields

Dissertations

Prior research identified a strong connection between experiences of being a collegiate student-athlete with mental health-related struggles; however, little research has been conducted into how the competing identities of student and athlete within a heavy identity developmental period (emerging adulthood) might be impacting mental-health interference. The purpose of this quantitative study was to understand how emerging adulthood, student identity, athletic identity, and the conflicting role of student-athlete identity had in mental health interference on training, competition, and willingness to see a sports psychologist within collegiate student-athletes as well as how self-compassion moderated these relationships. The following research questions guided this …

Supporting Cultural Capital In Undergraduate Biology: Instructor Roles And Practices, Lydia Nicole Mayo

Dissertations

Undergraduate biology students must navigate complex academic environments that require more than content mastery alone. Increasing evidence shows that students’ attitudes, beliefs, and values—such as motivation, confidence, and a sense of belonging—are critical to student engagement, persistence, and success, especially among first-generation college students and those from historically marginalized backgrounds. Therefore, the purpose of this dissertation is to use cultural capital theory to explore how instructor practices in college biology classrooms support these non-content resources, framed as three forms of cultural capital: aspirational, navigational, and emotional capital for college biology.

To investigate this phenomenon, the dissertation integrates three complementary studies. …

Breaking Ranks: Recognizing Hiring Bias Associated With Different Military Branches, La Kesha Redel Leonard

All Dissertations

This study aimed to address the gap in research on hiring biases against military veterans, with a focus on branch-specific discrimination. While prior research has examined general veteran employment challenges, no existing scholarly studies have explored how stereotypes tied to a veteran’s branch of service influence hiring outcomes. Current approaches, such as diversity and inclusion policies and skills translation programs, overlook subtle yet impactful branch-related implicit and explicit biases against candidates from different branches of the U.S military during the hiring process, leaving a critical gap in workforce reintegration strategies. The purpose of this study was aimed to examine how …

Advanced Interactions Of Directed Energy With Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells And Their Photochemical And Photothermal Responses, Jin B. Ha

Theses & Dissertations

Excess optical radiation can injure the retina through either rapid heat deposition (photothermal damage) or cumulative photo‑oxidative stress (photochemical damage), yet current laser‑safety limits treat these mechanisms as independent. To test that assumption, this dissertation integrated systematic wavelength, duration and temperature‑controlled laser exposures with live/dead fluorescence imaging in a melanin‑loaded hTERT‑RPE1 monolayer model. First, concurrent 447 nm (blue) and 2 µm (infra‑red) beams delivered for 200 s demonstrated a strong thermal–photochemical synergy: each beam alone was sub‑threshold (≤25 % lethality) but together produced 100 % RPE death without exceeding 50 °C, proving that modest heating markedly lowers the photon dose …

Novel Sequential Modeling Framework Improves Phytoplankton Biomass Predictions In Response To Multiple Environmental Stressors, Zhuyin Tong, Jiayu Guo, Yikai Liu, Lizhen Lin, Jixin Chen, Xin Liu, Bangqin Huang, Edward A. Laws, Wupeng Xiao

Faculty Publications

Understanding the impacts of multiple environmental stressors on phytoplankton biomass is crucial for predicting marine ecosystem responses under global climate change. This study employed a sequential modeling framework integrating principal component analysis, generalized additive models, and artificial neural networks to improve predictions of phytoplankton chlorophyll a concentrations in the Taiwan Strait. Analyzing a decadal dataset, we found that a 2°C rise in sea surface temperature and a 0.2 pH decline will each lead to an 11.3% reduction in chlorophyll a biomass, whereas nitrogen enrichment is expected to increase it by only 2.8%. The combined effects of these stressors will result …

Cell Death Helps To Stabilize Populations Of Prochlorococcus, P. Wang, E. A. Laws, C. Liang, X. Liu, J. Chen, Y. Zhong, C. Li, B. Huang

Faculty Publications

Prochlorococcus is one of the dominant phytoplankton species in tropical and subtropical pelagic marine ecosystems. To maintain its population equilibrium in oligotrophic waters, the dominant species Prochlorococcus requires high loss rates to offset its high abundance and growth rates. While theoretical frameworks recognize multiple loss processes for Prochlorococcus (viral lysis, environmental stress, programmed cell death), prevailing population studies attribute main mortality to grazing. This oversight stems from in situ data gaps of non-grazing mortality processes. In this study, we firstly formulated simple differential equations that took account of population losses due to both grazing and cell death. We then used …

Inhibitory Control In Asian Elephants, Gillian Schmitt

Theses and Dissertations

Inhibitory control is defined as the ability to suppress a prepotent motor response in favor of a more efficient or advantageous behavior, and is an important core executive function. Although elephants are known to behave flexibly and display other executive functions, there is currently little information available on if, and to what extent, they display inhibitory control. We tested 16 captive Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) (N = 8 males, 8 females) ranging in age from 4-years-old to 60-years-old at the National Elephant Institute in Thailand using a classic detour paradigm adapted to be more ecologically salient for them through the …