Digital Commons Network^™

Grand Valley Magazine, Vol. 25, No. 1, Fall 2025, Grand Valley State University

Grand Valley Magazine

Grand Valley Magazine is a quarterly publication about Grand Valley State University produced by University Communications since 2001.

Level Up: How Video Games Can Be Beneficial And Spark Creative Imagination In Players, Makendra M. Phipps

Honors Theses

Since the 2010’s, a technological trend has been flourishing: the development and enhancement of video games across different platforms. The early 1970s began the evolution of video game systems, from Atari and Magnavox Odyssey (1972) to Game Boy (1989) to Nintendo Switch 2 (2025) today. Video games themselves have also evolved, from the first basic computer games of the 1950s (such as OXO and Tennis for Two), to the introduction of arcade games in the 1970s (Pong, Space Invaders, PAC-Man), to the popular video games of today (Grand Theft Auto, Minecraft, Fortnite, R.E.P.O., to name …

From Chaos To Calm: How Ferappease Shapes Calf Behavior And Eases Weaning Woes, Rinna Tarter

Honors Theses

Weaning is widely recognized as one of the most stressful practices within the beef industry, as calves are separated from their dams and must manage changes in environment, social structure, and nutrition. This process provides indicators of stress, including increased vocalizations, reduced feed intake, pacing, and a stop in weight gain. Traditional management strategies include fenceline separation, nose flaps, and abrupt separation. Some research has begun to investigate approaches that target the biological mechanisms underlying the physiological stress response. One approach involves the use of a maternal bovine appeasing substance (mBAS), a synthetic analog of pheromones produced naturally by lactating …

Double Lenses: Understanding Adhd–Autism Comorbidity Across Gender And Pathways To Intervention, Grace A. Peak

Honors Theses

Each year, the number of people diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) rises. This rising number is due to the abundance of research done on each disorder. Because of this increase in information, many adults and children are getting a comorbid diagnosis, meaning that they are being diagnosed with both disorders at the same time. There is one catch, however; research has shown that ADHD and ASD are spectrums, meaning that they have symptoms that can range in frequency and severity while also affecting each person differently. A large portion of the research conducted …

Maternal Nutritional Status And Immune Regulation In Early Offspring Development, Caroline C. Pagan

Honors Theses

Maternal nutrition, immune function, and microbiome health work together to shape fetal development in ways that influence health across the lifespan and even into future generations. This paper synthesizes evidence from molecular biology, nutrition science, immunology, and public health to show that essential nutrients-such as omega-3 fatty acids, folate, iron, zinc, and vitamin D-directly affect fetal immune programming, neurodevelopment, placental function, and metabolic regulation. Research on the maternal microbiome further demonstrates that microbial diversity and metabolite production modify nutrient absorption, inflammatory balance, and fetal gene expression, underscoring the microbiome’s role as both a mediator and amplifier of nutritional effects. At …

Social Drivers Of Health: Shifting The Focus Of Health Indicators From The Biological Code To The Zip Code, Jenna M. Barlage

Honors Theses

This study explored how healthcare facilities in Kentucky and Ohio are adapting to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) 2024 mandate requiring the collection and reporting of Social Drivers of Health (SDOH) data. Through literature review and interviews with healthcare administrators responsible for SDOH screening, documentation, and reporting, the research evaluated the central hypothesis: while the mandate has expanded the amount of available SDOH data, healthcare organizations continue to face substantial financial, technological, and organizational barriers in addressing identified patient needs. Findings indicated that many facilities have broadened and standardized their screening practices, leading to clearer early trends …

The Leap Through Reality: The Connections Between Quantum Leap’S Tropes Within Natural Science, Annamarie G. Seamans

Honors Theses

Quantum Leap aired in 1989 and became known for the show's combination of science fiction tropes. The combination of switching consciousness and time travel was an uncommon method for storytelling and stood out among the many science fiction shows released in the 1980s. Time travel has been a storytelling tool for centuries and many scientists have developed theories that allow time travel to be possible in the natural world. Many of the theories developed become improbable due to causality. However, if causality is no longer maintained there are models of time travel that become more likely. Similarly, the science behind …

The Impact Of Environmental Factors On Blood Detection: Effects Of Uv And Temperature On Blood Samples, Delaney Mccarthy

Honors Theses

Biological evidence, such as blood, is one of the most important types of forensic evidence collected from crime scenes. Blood can provide valuable information that can help identify victims, perpetrators, and give insight into what transpired. However, outdoor environments leave biological samples exposed to changing and often harsh weather conditions that can compromise the evidence’s integrity. Ultraviolet (UV) light and variable temperatures are two major factors that can degrade both the physical and chemical properties of blood. This study aimed to determine the effects of UV exposure on the detection and analysis of human blood using presumptive and confirmatory serological …

Volumetric Differences Of Thalamic Nuclei Are Associated With Posttrauma Psychopathology, Jacklynn M. Fitzgerald

Psychology Faculty Research and Publications

Background

Previous investigations of whole thalamus and thalamic nuclei volumes in posttrauma psychopathology have been sparse and limited in scope and have yielded inconsistent results. To address this, volumetric estimates of whole thalamus and thalamic nuclei were obtained from structural brain magnetic resonance imaging scans from 2058 participants across 20 worldwide sites in the ENIGMA (Enhancing Neuro Imaging Genetics through Meta Analysis) Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) working group.

Methods

Thalamic volumes were compared in trauma-exposed participants with PTSD (n = 238), major depressive disorder (MDD) (n = 184), and comorbid PTSD+MDD (n = 618) and in trauma-exposed …

Do Honey Phytochemicals Modulate Forager Aggression And The Gut Microbiome In The Honey Bee (Apis Mellifera L.)?, Wade A. Pike, Jaesylin Stephens, Mariah Donohue, Katsuri Rajandran, Erin D. Tranore, Abdallah Sher, Emily Croteau, Clare C. Rittschof

Biology Faculty Publications

Plant phytochemicals found in nectar impact bee learning and memory and plant pollination success. Especially for generalist pollinators, dietary changes that alter phytochemical consumption could be common sources of behavioral variation. For honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) foragers, a major potential change in phytochemical consumption occurs when individuals switch from collecting nectar from flowers to collecting honey from neighboring colonies, a phenomenon known as honey robbing. In this study we investigated whether phytochemicals dominant in honey compared to nectar act as a short-term trigger of robbing behaviors in honey bee, which include increased aggression. We fed forager honey bees sucrose …

Estimating (Non)Linear Selection On Reaction Norms, Jordan S. Martin, Yimen G. Araya-Ajoy, Niels J. Dingemanse, Alastair J. Wilson, David F. Westneat

Biology Faculty Publications

Individual reaction norms describe how labile phenotypes vary as a function of organisms' expected trait values (intercepts) and plasticity across environments (slopes), as well as their degree of stochastic phenotypic variability or predictability (residuals). These reaction norms can be estimated empirically using multilevel, mixed-effects models and play a key role in ecological research on a variety of behavioral, physiological, and morphological traits. Many evolutionary models have also emphasized the importance of understanding reaction norms as a target of selection in heterogeneous and dynamic environments. However, it remains difficult to empirically estimate nonlinear selection on reaction norms, inhibiting robust tests of …

Estrogen Signaling Is Necessary For The Sex Difference In Simulated Jet Lag In Mice, Maria A. Venegas, Nicholas Westray, Samuel Nwadialo, Yuriko Katsumata, Julie S. Pendergast

Biology Faculty Publications

The circadian system coordinates 24-h cycles of internal biological processes with the environmental light-dark cycle. Abrupt shifts in the timing of the light-dark cycle misalign internal circadian clocks with the environment and cause jet lag until resynchronization occurs. The objective of this study was to investigate the sex difference in simulated jet lag in mice. Female mice resynchronized faster than male mice to 6-h advances of the light-dark cycle that mimicked eastward travel. Circulating estradiol was necessary and sufficient for rapid resynchronization in female mice since ovariectomized females resynchronized slower than mice treated with estradiol. Disabling estrogen receptor a (ERa), …

Mechanical Distention Of Organotypic Hippocampal Slice Culture Membranes For High-Throughput In Vitro Modeling Of Traumatic Brain Injury, Julia Jagielo-Miller, Caleb Bailey, Samir Patel, Paresh Prajapati, Cassidy Leibold, Patrick Sullivan, Mark Prendergast

Biology Faculty Publications

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) results from impact to the head that induces both primary and secondary injuries. Secondary injuries are characterized by downstream inflammation, metabolic dysfunction, and cell death manifest from the inflicting primary injury to the head. Secondary injury offers a window for therapeutic interventions, but the multifaceted nature of secondary injury is complicated, necessitating mechanistic tools to screen the efficacy of such interventions. As such, utilizing animal models to define the features of secondary injury mechanisms is critical for medications development. Various animal TBI models employ specialized equipment to recapitulate both primary and secondary injury aspects of human …

Swosu Fact Book Fall 2025, Joel Harrel Kendall, Diane Fitzsimmons, Kelsi Burghardt

Fact Books

The 34th annual Southwestern Oklahoma State University Fall Fact Book provides a ready source of information to answer frequently asked questions about the University and its operations. The Fall Fact Book is compiled annually by the Office of Institutional Research to assist the university with strategic planning, academic program reviews, grant writing, accreditation, and institutional information to help guide decision-making. The report uses data collected from 2016 to 2025 and is designed to help faculty, staff, administrators, and external stakeholders better understand the student body and university trends.

Understanding Career Advancement Challenges Of Mid-Level African American Leaders: A Phenomenological Case Study, Adrienne N. Long

PhD in Organizational Leadership

As workplace demographics become increasingly more diverse globally, the curation of organizational inclusion is becoming more dire (Shore et al., 2018). One workforce dynamic, however, has fundamentally remained unchanged: the underrepresentation of African Americans in executive or senior leadership roles (Beckwith et al., 2016). Despite tremendous legislative progress in gender and racial equality, a pervasive gap persists in organizational cultures that fail to intentionally and consistently provide equitable career advancement opportunities for African Americans to attain senior leadership roles. This study employed a phenomenological qualitative research methodology to examine the career advancement challenges faced by mid-level African American leaders and …

Modeling Effective Shade For Oregon Streams Using Satellite Derived Vegetation Structure Metrics, Ella Wagner

Environmental Science and Management Professional Master's Project Reports

In the Pacific Northwest, rising stream temperatures threaten the survival of cold-water species, such as salmonids. The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) regulates stream temperature statewide through Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs). To do this, the DEQ uses stream shade as a surrogate measurement for heat, as stream shade and stream temperature have a well-known strong relationship. This project focused on developing effective shade modeling and monitoring methods that increase the pace and scale of temperature TMDL implementation and tracking in Oregon. Stream shade can be measured in the field and modeled with computer models such as HeatSource, which …

Native Plants And Water Quality At Coastal Carolina University, Sarah M. Limmer

Honors Theses

Native riparian vegetation is an extremely important part of the natural world as its adaptation to  the local environment and climate offers an increased array of ecosystem services, including soil  stabilization and water filtration. Therefore, while not the only element, native plants are a key  regulator of water quality. This study used quantitative and qualitative analysis methods to  determine how the presence or lack thereof of native vegetation affects water quality in both  landscaped ponds and natural wetlands on Coastal Carolina University’s campus. It was concluded  that there is a slight correlation between the two variables, mainly being in that …

Targeting Ribosome Biogenesis In Cic-Dux4 Sarcoma Treatment By Using Rna Polymerase 1 Inhibitors, Hema Sri Kambala

Theses

CIC-DUX4 sarcoma (CDS) is a rare, aggressive round-cell tumor that primarily affects children and young adults and is associated with poor clinical outcomes. Current treatments borrow from Ewing sarcoma regimens but offer limited benefit, underscoring the need for targeted therapeutic strategies. Transcriptomic analysis of CDS cell lines revealed a striking overrepresentation of ribosome biogenesis genes, indicating that CDS relies heavily on hyperactive RNA Polymerase I (Pol I)–driven rRNA synthesis. To evaluate this vulnerability, the Pol I inhibitors CX-5461 and BMH-21 were tested across multiple functional assays, including rRNA transcription, proliferation, migration, and 3-dimensional spheroid growth. Both inhibitors reduced rRNA synthesis …

甲骨文“本”字試解, Qingyu Du

嶺南學報 Lingnan Journal of Chinese Studies

甲骨文的“本”字，目前學界有釋“垂”、釋“叕”、釋“瓜”等觀點，這些觀點在字形、辭例釋讀方面都存在一些缺陷。本文從“本”的字形特徵入手進行分析，認爲該字應當是“本”之初文，在相關祭祀卜辭中應理解爲人牲的軀榦或下部，或與商代的肢解或腰斬之刑有關。

At present, there are various viewpoints about the “本” character Oracle Bone Inscription, such as the interpretation of “chui 垂”, “zhui 叕”, and “gua 瓜”, these viewpoints have some shortcomings in terms of form and example interpretation. This paper analyzes the form characteristics of “本” and believes that this character should be the initial form of “ben 本”. In related oracle inscriptions, it should be understood as the torso or lower part of a human sacrifice, it may be related to the dismemberment or beheading punishment in the Shang Dynasty.

Functional Analysis Of R144 In The Flavin Oxidation Mechanism Of A Flavin-Dependent N-Monooxygenase, Reeder Robinson, Korliss Britt, Pablo Sobrado

Chemistry Faculty Research & Creative Works

Flavin-dependent N-monooxygenases (NMOs) are key enzymes in the biosynthesis of hydroxamate-containing siderophores, which are critical virulence factors in pathogenic microorganisms. SidA, an NMO from Aspergillus fumigatus, catalyzes the NADPH- and O2-dependent hydroxylation of L-ornithine (Orn) via a stable C4a-hydroperoxyflavin (FADOOH) intermediate. This study investigates the role of Arg144 in the catalytic cycle of SidA. Site-directed mutagenesis of Arg144 to alanine (R144A) significantly impaired both oxygen consumption and Orn hydroxylation, resulting in an approximately 60-fold reduction in kcat and a ~300-fold decrease in kcat/KM. The pH dependence, solvent kinetic isotope effects, and rapid-reaction kinetics reveal that R144 influences protonation events crucial …

Modeling The Effects Of Temperature And Resource Quality On The Outcome Of Competition Between Aedes Aegypti And Aedes Albopictus And The Resulting Risk Of Vector-Borne Disease, Emma Beck, Lauren Beuerle, Patt Martin, Regan Stambaugh, Rebeca De Jesús Crespo, Michael A. Robert, Suzanne L. Robertson

Faculty Publications

The community composition of vectors and hosts plays a critical role in determining risk of vector-borne disease transmission. Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus, two mosquito species that both transmit the viruses that cause dengue, chikungunya, and Zika, share habitat requirements and compete for resources at the larval stage. Ae. albopictus is generally considered a better competitor under many conditions, while Ae. aegypti is able to tolerate higher temperatures and is generally a more competent vector for many pathogens. We develop a stage-structured ordinary differential equation model that incorporates competition between the juvenile stages of two mosquito populations. We incorporate experimental …

Comparison Of Combined Pulsed Dye Laser And Intralesional Triamcinolone Versus Intralesional Triamcinolone Alone In Treatment Of Keloid, Marwa Ali, Husam Salman, Ghassan Abdulqahar

Iraqi Postgraduate Medical Journal

ackgroundKeloids are benign dermal fibroproliferative growths causing cosmetic disfigurement and physical disability. Various treatments exist, but no gold standard has been established.ObjectivesTo compare the effectiveness of pulsed dye laser combined with intralesional triamcinolone versus Intralesional triamcinolone alone in keloid treatment.Patients and MethodThis interventional, prospective study was conducted at Dermatology and Venereology center, Medical City Hospital, Baghdad, Iraq, from August 2021 to September 2022. Twenty-five patients participated. Ten patients had two keloid scars: one received pulsed dye laser with intralesional triamcinolone (Group A) and the other received only intralesional triamcinolone (Group B). The remaining fifteen patients had a single lesion divided …

2025 Fall Nutshell, Morehead State University. Institutional Research & Analysis.

Office of Institutional Research & Analysis Publication Archive

Fall 2025 issue of the Nutshell.

Ecology Of Eupatorium Altissimum Galls: Extrapolating Timing Of Oviposition Using Plant Growth Curves, Tomofumi Inoue, Dana Dudle, James Benedix

Annual Student Research Poster Session

This study aims to investigate the timing of oviposition by the gall fly Neolassioptera perfoliata on tall boneset (Eupatorium altissimum) populations throughout the DePauw University Nature Park. I initially measured the heights of 176 plants total in 5 different locations, out of which I randomly selected 12-17 plants per location to measure height on a weekly basis. When galls were spotted, their heights were recorded so that they could be compared to the plant heights to produce an estimate for when the egg was laid by the gall fly. I also collected galls from plants that were excluded in the …

K847a Mutation And Anionic Lipid-Presence Modify Opa1 Enzyme Kinetics And Function, J. Rafael Tolentino, Kate Walsh, Andrew D. Kehr

Annual Student Research Poster Session

Opa1 is a dynamin superfamily protein that is responsible for the fusion of the mitochondrial membrane. However, nobody knows the specific chemical mechanisms of how it interacts with lipids. Our research focuses on investigating how Opa1 interacts with lipids. In other words, we want to figure out which amino acids are crucial for Opa1's ability to bind with lipids. In hopes of understanding how Opa1 mutations affect neurodegenerative diseases, such as dominant optic atrophy.

Getting To The Root Of The Problem: A Comparison Of Rhizome Extracts For The Control Of Cogongrass (Imperata Cylindrica), Mia Martin-Fuller, Elizabeth Esser, Ashley Schulz

Annual Student Research Poster Session

Cogongrass is a perennial grass that was introduced to the southeastern United States in 1912 and has since spread aggressively throughout the region. It is very resilient to disturbances as it can propagate through seed and rhizome, which makes it extremely difficult to control. Most efforts to control cogongrass populations have used synthetic herbicides, though burning and tilling have also been explored. A new method applies autotoxic leachates produced by the target plant to the plant for control. Although this method of control has been demonstrated in giant salvinia (Salvinia molesta), researchers have not yet identified the methods to control …

Impact Of Ionizable Lipid Variation On The Immunogenicity Of Lipid Nanoparticles, Chloe M. Krueger, Abbey L. Stokes, Shilpi Agrawl, Christopher E. Nelson

Annual Student Research Poster Session

Lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) are a leading nonviral delivery system for nucleic acid therapeutics due to their scalability and efficiency. However, certain formulations may trigger undesired immune responses. This study aimed to assess the inflammatory potential of LNPs formulated with different ionizable lipids using a murine macrophage reporter cell line (RAW-IRCs). RAW-IRCs express GFP upon successful mRNA delivery and mRFP1 upon activation of inflammatory pathways. A library of LNPs was synthesized via vortex mixing and characterized for hydrodynamic diameter, polydispersity index, and encapsulation efficiency. Treated RAW-IRCs were analyzed by flow cytometry to evaluate GFP and mRFP1 expression. Our results highlight seven …

Birth Outcomes In The Hispanic Population In The United States: Trends, Variation, And Determinants (2011–2021), Yanchao Yang, Thinh Nguyen, Sota Fuji

Annual Student Research Poster Session

Infants born to mothers who self-identify as Hispanic account for a substantial and growing share of births in the United States, yet limited research has examined disparities in birth outcomes across Hispanic origin subgroups. This study aims to document trends and identify important factors associated with Cesarean section (C-section), low birthweight, and prematurity within the Hispanic population. We use data from the National Vital Statistics System (2011–2021), covering nearly all U.S. births. We compare outcomes across Hispanic, non-Hispanic White, and non-Hispanic Black mothers and further disaggregate by Hispanic origin (Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, Central/South American, and Other/Unknown). We use logistic …

Low Vitamin D Diet Effects On Rna Expression In Kidney And Mammary Tissue Of Mus Musculus (Mice), Ibilola Fasogbon, Graham Read, Adriana Duraki, Larisa Nonn

Annual Student Research Poster Session

Vitamin D is a steroid hormone whose active form binds to Vitamin D Receptors (VDR), triggering cancer-associated pathways involved in inducing apoptosis, inhibiting inflammation, improving immunity, and regulating cell proliferation. Ongoing studies have shown a significant correlation between Vitamin D deficiency and the development of aggressive prostate cancer. African American men are more likely to experience vitamin D deficiency, develop prostate cancer at a high rate, and have a higher mortality rate than their non-Hispanic white counterparts. African American women are also disproportionately burdened with aggressive breast cancer and have higher rates of vitamin D deficiency. Understanding how a low …

Preliminary Microbial Community Analysis Of Non-Native And Native Plants In The Depauw Nature Park Quarry Bottom, Madeleine Cruz, Dana Dudle

Annual Student Research Poster Session

The DePauw Nature Park Quarry Bottom is a former limestone quarry that was mined for decades and then lay dormant. Through the years, it has developed from being uninhabited to being populated by a diversity of organisms at every scale of life. All organisms in the Quarry Bottom must withstand the changing conditions of the quarry, including the proliferation of invasive plants that are well-adapted to stress. In particular, two invasive wetland grasses, Phragmites and Typha have observed competitive interactions, increased spatial distributions, and possible influence on native species. We have studied these species at our scale of life, but …