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Honors Research Day [Program] April 26, 2025, University Of Northern Iowa

Honors Research Day Programs

No abstract provided.

Everything But Wrestling: How Women Wrestlers Perform Dominance, Lauren Gherman

Anthropology Honors Papers

Women’s wrestling continues to grow at the high school level, with more young girls joining the sport each year. Yet, as more women join wrestling, a heavily masculine sport, questions about gender preintimation on women’s teams arise. This study asks three questions about the role of gender on women’s teams: 1) Does an individual’s gender identity, in a heavily gendered sport like wrestling, factor into the development of team culture? 2) What, if any, forms of gendered socialization emerge as women enter wrestling? 3) In what way are women socialized because of their gender? Data was gathered via interviews, in …

Expression, Characterization, And Comparative Analysis Of Bacillus Bacteriophage Endolysins, Stephen D. Zdgiebloski

Research and Creativity Symposium

Bacteriophages present a promising alternative for combating antibiotic-resistant bacteria without disrupting the normal microbiome or harming human cells. The antibacterial properties of lytic bacteriophages are largely attributed to endolysins, enzymes active in the lytic cycle. Endolysins recognize bacterial cell walls and cleave the peptidoglycan matrix, leading to cell wall disruption. Their specificity and effectiveness against bacterial hosts are determined by two functional domains, including the cell wall binding domain. Our research focuses on characterizing Bacillus phage endolysins. We analyzed the protein sequences of endolysins from six Bacillus phages isolated at the University of Mary Washington. Although these phages were isolated …

Improvement Of Cellular Mechanisms Via Protein Hydrolysate Supplementation, Brandon Wrage, Brittany Patterson, Angel Varela-Rohena, Salewa Akande

Cell Culture Engineering XIX

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Understanding Transcriptional Variance In Cho Cells: A Quantitative Meta-Analysis, Markus Riedl, Nicolas Marx, Nicole Borth

Cell Culture Engineering XIX

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Metabolic Analysis Of Newly Established Chinese Hamster-Derived Cell Lines, Chl-Yn And Cho-Mk, Takeshi Omasa, Puriwat Sukwattananipaat, Sayaka Nagae, Noriko Yamano-Adachi

Cell Culture Engineering XIX

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Establishment Of Novel Cho-Mk Cells And Optimal Culture Strategy For Enhancement Of Therapeutic Protein Production, Erike Sukowati, Junshin Iwabuchi, Ryotaro Fujimoto, Takayuki Horiuchi, Michi Kubota

Cell Culture Engineering XIX

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Simpl-Gs And Simpl-Dhfr: Advancing Cell Line Development Via Synthetic Selection Markers For Next-Generation Biopharmaceutical Production, Gyun Min Lee, Chansik Yoon, Eun-Ji Lee, Yujin Kim, Siyun Joung, Dongil Kim, Heungchae Jung, Yeon-Gu Kim

Cell Culture Engineering XIX

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High-Throughput Screening For High Performance Cell Culture Media Development, Shan Gao, Matthew Tenorio, Chandana Sharma, David T. Ho, Omid Taghavian, Yosuke Kurokawa, Xiaofei Wang, Hamid Soleymani

Cell Culture Engineering XIX

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Accelerated Intracellular Antibody Transport By Sar1a Overexpression Toward Developing High-Producing Cho Cell Lines, Yu Tsunoda, Noriko Yamano-Adachi, Takeshi Omasa

Cell Culture Engineering XIX

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Technical Development Of The Ambrâ® 250 Mini Bioreactor To Optimise Performance For Late-Stage Process Development, Francesco Mancuso, Ellen Lam, Shaker Sabah, Gregory Casee, Kerbrat Maina, Andrew Tait, Barney Zoro

Cell Culture Engineering XIX

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Epigenomics: A Key Player In The Omics Revolution Driving Digital Twins And In-Silico Bioprocess Optimization, Karlheinz Landauer, Daniel Luescher, Maxwell Pryce, Asier Galarza

Cell Culture Engineering XIX

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“Organized Stress” For Robust Scale-Up Of Intensified Process With Non-Perfusion Seed Bioreactor, Bassem Yahia, Antoine Piednoir, Thomas Dahomais

Cell Culture Engineering XIX

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Next-Gen "Super" Cho Host Development: Metabolically Engineered Host With Cysteine/Tyrosine Prototrophy And Negligible Bcaa Metabolic Byproduct Formation, Laura Greenfield, Mariah Brantley, Laura Waller, Bhanu Chandra Mulukutla

Cell Culture Engineering XIX

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Development Of An Apoptosis-Resistant Cho Cell Line For Biopharmaceutical Production, Camila Orellana, Javier Bravo, Claudia Altamirano, Mauro Torres, Alan Dickson

Cell Culture Engineering XIX

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Modulation And Control Of Antibody Glycosylation: An Experimental And Computational Study, Susan Sharfstein, Ranya Pranomphon, Sofia Gialamoidou, Montarop Yamabhai, Ioscani Jiménez Del Val

Cell Culture Engineering XIX

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Overcoming Oxidative Cellular Senescence In High-Density Cell Bioreactor For Viral Vaccine Production Improving The Productivity, Hsian-Yu Wang, Yu-Jing Zeng

Cell Culture Engineering XIX

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An Exploration Of Behavioral Sex Differences Due To A Parkinsonian Gene, Pdr-1, In C. Elegans., Adriana Mulet Miranda, Mary B. Kroetz, Paul J. Kiser

Undergraduate Theses

Parkinson’s disease is a debilitating neurodegenerative disease of the central nervous system classified by the loss of dopaminergic neurons. Males and females exhibit different symptoms however, the cause remains unknown. Through the use of a model organism, C. elegans, we will investigate an ortholog of a Parkinsonian gene, pdr-1, to explore whether or not there are statistical differences between the hermaphrodites and males through known behavioral assays such as Swimming Induced Paralysis and Basal Slowing Rate. In order to compare gender differences, we successfully conducted CRISPR, where we inserted the him-8 mutation, resulting in an increased population …

Glacier Runoff Impacts The Stoichiometry Of Riverine Nutrient Export From Coastal Alaskan Catchments, Jason Fellman, Eran Hood, Lee Ann Munk, Jordan Jenckes, Emily J. Whitney, Eric S. Klein

Faculty, Staff, and Students

Understanding the impacts of glacier change on riverine ecosystems is limited by a lack of multi-year studies in glacierized mountain catchments quantifying the magnitude and stoichiometry of riverine biogeochemical yields. Here we evaluate riverine concentration-discharge relationships using the power function between daily runoff and element yields and stoichiometry across 10 catchments of varying glacial coverage within two climatically distinct regions in the Gulf of Alaska. Our multi-year study showed that biogeochemical stoichiometry and concentration-discharge relationships for dissolved carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus varied significantly with catchment glacier coverage across both regions. This stoichiometric variability could drive regional differences in proglacial riverine …

Parental Deprivation: The Impact Of Parental Leave Policy On Infant Attachment, Development, And Posterity, Grace E. Snyder

Senior Honors Theses

This literature review evaluates the lack of paid parental leave policy in the United States through the lens of attachment theory. While attachment theory has been extensively studied in the fields of Psychology and Social Work, a lack of research has been conducted to connect this theory to parental leave policy. The literature review examines parental leave policy and attachment theory along with how these topics connect. Social work is a profession that values the importance of human relationships and social justice, so understanding this relationship is important in forming the disciplinary knowledge upon which evidence-based advocacy is built.

Beyond Survival: Anthropocentrism And Environmental Justice In Daniel Defoe’S Robinson Crusoe, Malak N/A Alghufaili Dr., Mada Alghufaili Dr.

Journal of Arabic Sciences and Humanities

This study analyzes Robinson Crusoe (1719) through an ecocritical lens, focusing on its depiction of Crusoe’s anthropocentric mindset that thrives due to his disregard for environmental justice. Drawing on Lawrence Buell’s “environmental imagination” and John Locke’s theory of property, the study examines how Crusoe’s survival tactics exploit the environment, prioritizing his own needs while neglecting the ecological principles of environmental sustainability and biodiversity. By reinterpreting the novel in light of these contemporary ecological principles, this study offers a fresh perspective on Crusoe’s actions, encouraging readers to critically reassess the long-term consequences of his behavior on the natural world. It also …

Mundane, Ordinary And Eerie Undertones, Yixuan Xia

Theses

When people encounter fear and uncertainty, their mental and physical reactions can vary. Drawing from my personal experience and the ‘Uncanny Valley’ theory [2], I explore various materials and juxtapose ordinary elements with unsettling imagery. In this project, I focus on donuts, transforming them by adding surreal details to imbue them with eerie undertones. For example, in one of my works, a delicious-looking donut appears perfectly normal at first glance. When viewers have a close look at the donut, its surface is crawling with worms, creating an unsettling contrast between the familiar and the disturbing. By altering these familiar items, …

Renewed Archaeological Research In Singida Region, Central Tanzania, Makarius Itambu, Eslem Ben Arous, Ricardo Fernandes, Marina Gallinaro, Jana Ilgner, Mary Lucas, Patrick Roberts, Erin Scott, Axel Steinhof, Robert Patalano

Biological and Biomedical Sciences Department Faculty Journal Articles

Archaeological research in central Tanzania, chiefly in the Singida Region, has only been sporadically conducted, with the focus of such investigations being mostly on rock art and Later Stone Age (LSA) material. Here, we report preliminary results from renewed research expeditions conducted in the Singida Region. In 2021 and 2022, we located 31 archaeological sites in Ikungi District, excavated an open-air site (Nkungi) and a rock shelter (Itramuka), and uncovered well-stratified cultural sequences containing lithics, ceramics, and metallurgical remains, as well as human remains and animal bones. The recent archaeological discoveries in the region revealed a rich and composite archaeological …

Building A Pre-Surgical Multiparametric-Mri-Based Morphologic, Qualitative, Semiquantitative, First And High-Order Radiomic Predictive Treatment Response Model For Undifferentiated Pleomorphic Sarcoma To Replace Recist, Raul F Valenzuela, Elvis Duran-Sierra, Mathew Antony, Behrang Amini, Sam Lo, Keila E Torres, Robert S Benjamin, Jingfei Ma, Ken-Pin Hwang, R Jason Stafford, Dejka Araujo, Andrew J Bishop, Ravin Ratan, Wei-Lien Wang, Jossue Espinoza, Pia V Valenzuela, Chengyue Wu, John E Madewell, William A Murphy, Colleen M Costelloe

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma (UPS) is the largest subgroup of soft-tissue sarcomas. It demonstrates post-therapeutic hemosiderin deposition, granulation tissue formation, fibrosis, and calcification. Our research aims to establish the multiparametric MRI (mp-MRI) value for predicting UPS treatment response.

Methods: An IRB-approved retrospective study included 33 extremity UPS patients with pre-operative mp-MRI, including diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI), contrast-enhanced susceptibility-weighted imaging (CE-SWI), and perfusion-weighted imaging with dynamic contrast-enhancement (PWI/DCE), and surgical resection between February 2021 and May 2023. Lesions were visually classified on CE-SWI into one of 6 morphology patterns. On PWI/DCE, lesions were classified into one of 6 patterns, and time-intensity curves …

Autoradai: A Versatile Artificial Intelligence Framework Validated For Detecting Extracapsular Extension In Prostate Cancer, Pegah Khosravi, Shady Saikali, Abolfazl Alipour, Saber Mohammadi, Maxwell Boger, Dalanda M. Diallo, Christopher J. Smith, Marcio C. Moschovas, Iman Hajirasouliha, Andrew J. Hung, Srirama S. Venkataraman, Vipul Patel

Publications and Research

Preoperative identification of extracapsular extension (ECE) in prostate cancer (PCa) is crucial for effective treatment planning, as ECE presence significantly increases the risk of positive surgical margins and early biochemical recurrence following radical prostatectomy. AutoRadAI, an innovative artificial intelligence (AI) framework, was developed to address this clinical challenge while demonstrating broader potential for diverse medical imaging applications. The framework integrates T2-weighted MRI data with histopathology annotations, leveraging a dual convolutional neural network (multi-CNN) architecture. AutoRadAI comprises two key components: ProSliceFinder, which isolates prostate-relevant MRI slices, and ExCapNet, which evaluates ECE likelihood at the patient level. The system was trained and …

Social Media Usage And Peer Pressure As Predictors Of Substance Abuse Among In-School Adolescents In Kwara State, Nigeria, Mariam Bukola Alwajud-Adewusi, Olayemi Zainab Oduola, Bolanle Ifabiyi

Jurnal Kajian Bimbingan dan Konseling

Substance abuse among youngsters in Nigeria is worrisome. Its consequences include acute, chronic diseases as well as social and psychological ailments. Immediate intervention is essentially paramount to prevent the future of the younger generation. Thus, this study investigated social media usage and peer pressure as predictors of substance abuse among in-school adolescents in Kwara state, Nigeria. The study was a survey research. The population of this study comprised all in-school adolescents in Secondary Schools in Kwara State which estimated at 247,845. The sample size of 403 participated in the study. An instrument entitled “Social Media Usage, Peer Pressure and Substance …

Metabolic And Microbial Crossroads: Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter-2 Inhibitors And Urinary Tract Infections In (Asian) Diabetes Care, Rob E. Carpenter

Human Resource Development Faculty Publications and Presentations

The global rise of type 2 diabetes, particularly in Asian populations, has led to widespread adoption of sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors for glycemic control. While effective, these agents elevate the risk of urinary tract infections (UTIs) by inducing glycosuria, which creates a nutrient-rich environment that favors uropathogen growth. Asian individuals may be disproportionately vulnerable to SGLT2 inhibitor–associated UTIs due to a confluence of factors, including lower body mass index, increased visceral adiposity, congenital urinary tract anomalies, and genetic polymorphisms that impair uroepithelial integrity and immunity. This review integrates emerging evidence on the molecular, anatomical, and immunometabolic mechanisms that underlie infection …

The Impact Of Epac2-Associated Junction Plakoglobin On Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection, Chaitra A Takle, Eun-Jin Choi, Eun Seok Choi, Devang Deepak, Kashish Khatkar, Jong Min Choi, Ke Zhang, Sung Yun Jung, Tian Wang, Wenzhe Wu, Xiaoyong Bao

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a leading cause of lower respiratory tract infections in infants, young children, and immunocompromised individuals. Currently, FDA-approved monoclonal antibody therapies are limited to infants and young children with severe RSV disease. As a result, there is an urgent need for comprehensive studies of RSV pathogenesis to support the development of new therapeutic strategies. Exchange proteins directly activated by cAMP (EPAC) have recently emerged as key regulators in various viral infections. Our previous work identified EPAC isoform 2 (EPAC2) as a critical factor in RSV replication and host innate immune responses. However, …

Metabolic Diversity Of A Widely Distributed Tropical Freshwater Crab Is Not Underpinned By Genetic Differences, Lucy Turner, Christopher Thorpe, Michael Collins, Smrithy Raj, Tripti Shukla, John Spicer, Mairi Knight, Dheeraj Sharma, Krushnamegh Kunte

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

AimThe aim of this study was to understand the interplay between local and regional factors as drivers of population physiological diversity in a tropical freshwater crab species.LocationWestern Ghats, south-west India.TaxonBarytelphusa cunicularis, Brachyura, Crustacea.MethodsWe applied an integrative approach combining population genetics and whole animal physiology, using the tropical freshwater crab Barytelphusa cunicularis as our model species. We tested for effects of population location (e.g., latitude, altitude), season (as a proxy for rainfall and water temperature) and/or warming on indices of whole animal respiratory physiology (metabolic rate, MO2) and hypoxic performance (Pcrit, i.e., the PO2 at which routine MO2 can no longer …

The Decadal Effects Of Wildfire On Macroinvertebrate Communities In Southwest Montana, Mason J. Wiggins

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

In the western United States, wildfires are increasing in frequency, intensity, and size due to climate change and historical land management practices. These environmental events have reshaped forested landscapes, affecting stream ecosystems and riparian zones. High-intensity wildfires can increase sediment and nutrient loading, reduce riparian canopy cover, and alter in-stream habitat, leading to changes in macroinvertebrate community composition. While the immediate (1-10 years) wildfire effects on macroinvertebrates are fairly well documented, decadal (10+ years) responses remain understudied. This research gap limits our understanding of post-fire trajectory and stream ecosystem resilience. To address this knowledge gap, we can identify how wildfires …