Digital Commons Network^™

The Effects Of Roundup® On Progression Of Parkinson's Disease Symptoms In A Mouse Model, Cora Knueven, Jenna Kidwell, Kaitlyn Carver, Sabrina Wilson, Trevor Walker, Ty Namik, David Tomlinson, Sydney Boutros

2025 Undergraduate Research Showcase

Glyphosate-Based Herbicides (GBH) are the most widely used herbicides worldwide. Concerns about the effects of GBH on human health have grown, specifically pointing towards a connection between chronic exposure and neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson’s disease (PD). PD is characterized by the accumulation of phosphorylated alpha synuclein (aSyn). Previous rodent experiments have shown that introduction of aSyn pre-formed fibrils (PFFs) can induce progressive accumulation of PD-like pathology. We explored the effects of chronic, low-dose GBH exposure in a mouse model of PD. We induced PD-like pathology in male and female wildtype mice by injecting PFFs into the striatum. A control group …

Barriers To Care Within The Nampa Population, Jenni Matthews, Sydney Nickel

2025 Undergraduate Research Showcase

Social determinants of health (SDOH) play a critical role in shaping healthcare utilization and overall well-being within communities. This study examines trends and patterns in SDOH within the Nampa community to identify social variables affecting the utilization of health services and determine the services needed to best serve the population. Data were collected through surveys distributed by St. Luke’s Hospital, including both clinic-based and community-wide surveys. Using Excel for data cleaning and RStudio for statistical analysis, we evaluated SDOH trends across multiple data sources and assessed differences in their ability to capture key indicators, such as housing instability.

Preliminary analysis …

Can I Trust You To Be A Friend? Investigating The Role Of Women's Friendship Preferences In Friendship-Making Decisions, Annie Boyle, Jessica D. Ayers

2025 Undergraduate Research Showcase

Although research has documented the importance of friends, little research has explored the impact of women’s preferences on whether people want to be their friends. This study builds off Bradshaw (2021) to investigate how women’s friendship preferences influence the likelihood of her pursuing potential friends. We hypothesized that 1) women who prefer to have male friends (guys’ girls) would have higher sociosexual orientation (SOI) scores compared to women who prefer to have female friends (girls’ girls) and 2) participants who viewed a profile of a guys’ girl would rate her as having lower SOI attitudes than participants who viewed a …

Neurodevelopmental Comorbidities In Early-Onset 5q-Sma Treated With Disease-Modifying Therapies: A Scoping Review, Carson Konop

2025 Undergraduate Research Showcase

Recent studies have reported possible neurodevelopmental comorbidities in some early onset 5q-spinal muscular atrophy (5q-SMA) patients treated with disease-modifying therapies (DMT). This scoping review aims to determine the current state of the published and grey literature on neurodevelopmental comorbidities in early onset 5q-SMA patients treated with nusinersen, risdiplam, or onasemnogene abeparvovec. Eligible records included primary literature (journal papers excluding review articles), and conference proceedings (abstracts or posters) published in 2016 or later. A total of 6,310 database and grey literature records were screened, of which five primary literature and six conference proceedings were included. Ten records used quantitative approaches (the …

Indigenous Led Ecological Restoration Project, Sarah Pearce, Jayden Rehwalt, Melanie Figueroa Zavala, Annabel Christiansen

2025 Undergraduate Research Showcase

Our project explores Indigenous-led ecological restoration through the case of the Blackfoot Nation’s buffalo restoration efforts. We examine how this work reflects broader themes of social geography, cultural revitalization, biodiversity conservation, and theoretical approaches parallel to or stemming from Indigenous research. The ILER project is designed to support Blackfoot-led buffalo restoration by answering core questions using qualitative and geospatial data, led by team of environmental social scientists at Boise State University in partnership with Blackfeet Community College and guided by an advisory board of Blackfoot Elders. Each group member brings a unique lens, ranging from research reciprocity and ethical collaboration …

Comparative Analysis Of Carbohydrate Active Enzymes Of Fungal Genomes Across Taxonomic Orders, Megan Stovall, Adedotun Arogundade, Leonora Bittleston

2025 Undergraduate Research Showcase

Carbohydrate active enzymes, or CAZymes, are enzymes that are important for the breakdown of carbohydrates. Fungi produce many of these enzymes as they cycle essential nutrients. For this study, we compared the abundance of CAZymes families among fungal genomes from the taxonomic orders Capnodiales, Dothideales, Eurotiales, Filobasidiales, Pleosporales, Tremellales, and Ustilaginales that were isolated from different sources including plant, soil, and food, among others. Our objective was to address the following questions: 1) How does the alpha diversity or number of CAZymes differ between the fungal orders? 2) Are closely-related fungi more likely to have similar CAZyme profiles as compared …

Syntax And Sentience: The Linguistics Of Machine Intelligence, Brooke Evans

2025 Undergraduate Research Showcase

This ethnographic capstone project explores the linguistic nuances of intelligence in human-machine discourse within an interdisciplinary classroom setting. With artificial intelligence becoming ubiquitous in our daily lives, this research seeks to uncover how individuals refer to and conceptualize machine intelligence. Conducted through participant observation in a Special Topics course titled Human and Machine Intelligence, this study examines the terminology and conceptual framings in regards to non-human intelligence. Common terminology used by computer science and philosophy students includes "artificial intelligence," "emergent intelligence," and "machine intelligence". Initial findings indicate a divergence in how students conceptualize key terms, with emerging patterns in …

Understanding Risk Factors For Food Insecurity Across Idaho, Eddika Hernandez, Gina Pannell

2025 Undergraduate Research Showcase

Individuals who experience food insecurity do not have the resources to access adequate food and can experience negative health consequences. Nationally, studies have shown relationships between different demographics and food insecure households. Our study examined food insecurity across Idaho and specifically across all seven public health districts. Data was from the 2023 Idaho's Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) - a national health-related telephone survey. The prevalence data was provided by the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare and we utilized Excel to run exploratory analysis to assess what risk factors were associated with food insecurity. Our analysis found the …

How Does Coach Created Motivational Climate Influence Athlete Passion And Burnout?, Paige Mccrindle, Eric M. Martin

2025 Undergraduate Research Showcase

This study investigated the influence of coach-created motivational climate on passion and burnout in adolescent athletes. Drawing on Achievement Goal Theory, it examined how task-oriented and ego-oriented coaching environments influenced the two types of passion (i.e., harmonious and obsessive) and three aspects of burnout (i.e., physical and emotional exhaustion, reduced sense of accomplishment, and sport devaluation). Therefore, the research project had three primary research questions: 1) How do adolescent athletes perceive their coach-created motivational climate, and own levels of passion and burnout? 2) How does a coach-created environment influence athlete levels of passion and burnout? and 3) Do athlete’s perceptions …

Targeted Communication For Climate Denial: Ideologically Framed Survey Messaging, Allie Hampton, Jacob Meyer, Sean Walther, William Farkas

2025 Undergraduate Research Showcase

Climate change denial prevents meaningful environmental action. Current approaches, like overwhelming deniers with lists of facts and polarizing language, exclude individuals who might otherwise engage in discussion about climate issues. With an understanding of the barriers to entry of climate communication, local demographics, and successful communication strategy, we addressed the primary research question: what is the relationship between climate change messaging and respondents’ opinions on environmental issues? We collected survey data of 108 people on Boise State’s campus using two distinct flyer designs: one explicitly referencing “climate change” and another emphasizing “Idaho’s outdoors.” We found that individuals who engaged with …

Self And Peer Assessments Of Teamwork: Exploring Evaluation Sources, Domains, And Timing, Charlie Burton, Drevin Hall, Karis Price, Laura Baxter, Nick Page, Jessica Tisch, Cynthia G. Campbell

2025 Undergraduate Research Showcase

Our study examines the relationship between these evaluation methods using a large sample of undergraduate students working in small, cross-disciplinary teams to better understand how teammates rate themselves and each other. Students completed self- and peer evaluations of their teamwork behaviors at three different intervals during the semester while working on an assigned team project. To assess their own and their teammates’ behaviors, students completed an online survey including items representing five teamwork domains: 1) contribution to the team, 2) interaction with teammates, 3) monitoring progress/keeping the team on track, 4) expecting and addressing issues of quality work, and 5) …

Regional Convergence In The United States: A State-Level Analysis, Michael Moore

2025 Undergraduate Research Showcase

This paper examines regional economic convergence across the United States from 2005 to 2019 using a panel dataset. Drawing on state-level capital stock and gross investment estimates from Garofalo and Yamarik (2002), as well as data from the American Community Survey, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Federal Reserve Economic Data, and the Fraser Institute's Economic Freedom Index, this study explores β-convergence across states and regions. The analysis employs an augmented Solow growth model incorporating human capital and uses dummy variables to account for regional differences. The findings indicate evidence of β-convergence consistent with previous literature, suggesting that states with lower initial …

Increasing Public Transportation Skills For Young Adults With Intellectual And Developmental Disabilities, Skylar Rudorf, Naya Liberty, Caitlin Woltman, Erin Pooley, Monique Pinczynski, Jeremy Ford, Kathy De Leon, Julia Gorman

2025 Undergraduate Research Showcase

People with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) often experience difficulties accessing transportation, which can limit their independence and participation in the community. In this study, undergraduate peer interventionists used Google Maps, constant time delay, and total task chaining to teach young adults with IDD to navigate public transportation. Young adults with IDD were enrolled in an inclusive post-secondary education program and undergraduate students served as peer interventionists. An experimental, single-case multiple probe across participants design (Horner & Baer, 1978) was used to evaluate the effects of total task chaining with constant time delay on the number of independent steps completed. …

Cell Surface Modification With Lipophilic Linkers, Noor Hassun, Aviana Smith, Addison Hobson, Michael Muench, Aaron Stone, Daniel Fologea

2025 Undergraduate Research Showcase

Cell surface modification with bioactive groups is useful for adjusting their interactions and responses to chemical and physical stimuli. One method of surface modification is overexpression of membrane receptors, but this is time-consuming and restricted to membrane proteins. When non-protein molecules are needed for functionalization, chemical addition of bioactive groups may affect cell viability due to the use of harsh chemicals. To mitigate these shortcomings, we investigated the modification of cell surfaces by employing lipid-like linkers, which not only act quickly but also minimize the use of harsh chemicals. These lipid-like linkers carry a bioactive molecule at one end, while …

Markerless Motion Capture Overestimates Knee Flexion During Walk And Run Tasks, Aidan M. Thayer, Mikala A. Hicks, Tyler N. Brown

2025 Undergraduate Research Showcase

Low-cost markerless motion capture systems, such as OpenCap, have shown recent promise for accurate kinematic analysis of human motion during several activities, including walking, squatting, and drop landing. Although this technology has shown promise within a controlled laboratory space, its ability to accurately quantify kinematics in less controlled environments, like a recreational run, is unknown. The focus of this study was to determine if markerless motion capture, OpenCap, could accurately quantify knee kinematics during both a walk and run trial with body-borne load and over an uneven surface. Thus, 18 participants had their knee kinematics quantified during a walk (1.5 …

Lyme Disease In The Pacific Northwest, Katie Allen

2025 Undergraduate Research Showcase

Transmitted by ticks, Lyme disease is a zoonotic infectious disease that can cause debilitating long-term illness throughout the whole body that may affect many communities. This disease is caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi, carried by a biological vector known as the Ixodes tick. In the United States, Lyme disease has been primarily found in the Northeast via the Ixodes scapularis, commonly known as the “deer tick.” Along the West Coast of the United States, many people are unaware they and their pets are consistently exposed to this disease in their environment. The Ixodes pacificus has been found …

Parental Perceptions Of Risk In The Digital Environment, Hollie Abele, John Ziker, Jerry Alan Fails, Kendall House, Jessi Boyer, Michael Wendell, Kayla Ramirez, Letizia Maukar, Bhargavi Rao Bondada

2025 Undergraduate Research Showcase

The Digital Ecology of Fear project investigates how parents have adapted to the rapidly changing digital environment. This research focuses on parents of children in middle childhood (ages 6-12) and among other methods, utilized two surveys (n = 199) in order to study this. Specifically, I looked into a question on the survey that asked about the risks that parents believed to pose the most of a threat to their children and in which platforms these were most prevalent. I constructed a two-mode network to analyze the relationship between the total number of risks nominated within each platform to …

Data Driven Solutions: Understanding Turnover Trends And Tenure Among Oit Student Employees, Cayenne Denny

2025 Undergraduate Research Showcase

Student employees in the Office of Information Technology (OIT) gain a lot of experience and are proven valuable to the division, but are not transitioned into long-term, full-time positions after graduation. Many leave their roles prior to graduation, and this study sought to explore why student employees leave their jobs with OIT and how this information may be used to reduce student turnover rates. Student employment data from 9 departments with employee departure dates between 2021-2024 was analyzed using R Studio, pivot tables, and graphs. Among the student employees who left OIT voluntarily, nearly half (33 students) left in May, …

Quantification Of Ethyl-Cellulose Coated Vitamin C Using Near Infrared Spectroscopy, Logan Moynagh, Mia Toronto, Owen Mcdougal

2025 Undergraduate Research Showcase

Fourier Transform Near-Infrared Spectroscopy was used to compare six different concentrations of vitamin c mixed with ethyl cellulose. This was done by measuring the absorbance of a solid sample. In the spectra it was observed that there were three distinct peaks for different functional groups and overtones including oxygen-hydrogen stretch, carbon-hydrogen stretch, and oxygen-hydrogen bend. At these peaks, the spectra were ordered nicely from lowest to highest vitamin c concentration and lowest to highest absorbance. This is very promising as the current method for quantifying vitamin c in ethyl cellulose involves boiling the solution, which denatures the vitamin c, potentially …

Gains From Trade And Proportional Output Effects On Total Factor Productivity Growth In Wto Member Nations, David Barbour

2025 Undergraduate Research Showcase

Global trade has grown enormously over the decades with world exports nearing 26 trillion USD and there are now 166 member nations of the World Trade Organization (WTO), the world’s largest trade organization. While not without any costs, the broad uncontroversial consensus seems to be that trade has benefited the world and has done so by raising the wealth of all nations involved. The proposed mechanism of this action is in specialization and efficiency gains, measured in this paper as Total Factor Productivity (TFP). The WTO acts to lower trade barriers and encourage broad trade, but most countries go even …

Investigating The Potential Role Of Beneficial Bacteria In Big Sagebrush Restoration, Abbagayle S. Hannebaum, Elle Horwath, Leonora Bittleston

2025 Undergraduate Research Showcase

Microbes play an essential role in plant ecology, supporting growth, pathogen protection, and drought tolerance. Big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata), a foundational plant species, hosts a diverse microbial community, but the benefits of its leaf microbiome remain unclear. We conducted an experiment to determine if the bacterial species, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, may promote sagebrush growth and survival in a restoration setting. Seeds from Hillside to Hollow (HH) and Polecat Gulch (PC) were grown in a greenhouse, and once leaves emerged, the seedlings were randomly assigned to receive an inoculum containing B. amyloliquefaciens or a sterile water control. Before outplanting, …

Zooarchaeology Of The Western Snake River Basin: Late Archaic Hunter-Gatherer Diets, Jazzy Day

2025 Undergraduate Research Showcase

For my zooarchaeology research project, I analyzed the faunal remains from the Medbury site, a late Archaic site located near Hammett, Idaho. From the 6,722 faunal remains collected at this site, I gathered information regarding taxonomy and bone modifications in order to compare the dietary implications of this assemblage to other sites along the Western Snake River. The high level of fragmentation among the bones made it difficult to produce specific identifications, although deer, rabbit, salmon, and rodents made up the majority of the remains; fish were the most common fauna identified at the Medbury site, followed by rabbit then …

Microbial Battles: Exploring Inhibitory Interactions Among Sagebrush Bacteria And Fungi, Dani Babcock, Elle Horwath, Leonora Bittleston

2025 Undergraduate Research Showcase

Leaves can harbor diverse communities of endophytic (internal) and epiphytic (external) microbes. Some of these leaf microbes can mediate community interactions by inhibiting the growth of neighboring microbes via antimicrobial compounds. This study investigated the interactions and inhibitory potential of fungal and bacterial isolates derived from sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata) leaves when grown together in co-cultures. Microbes were isolated from the surface and internal sagebrush leaf tissue samples and cultured on nutrient-rich media that supports the growth of a wide variety of bacteria and fungi. Inhibition assays were conducted using co-culture techniques, measuring zones of inhibition to quantify antimicrobial …

Ground Coverage Of Sagebrush Steppe Effect On Piute Ground Squirrel (Urocitellus Mollis) Emergence, Mackenzie Hutchinson, Ava Straub, Daniella Dawson, Julian Lancaster, August Bingham, Juliana Myhre, Zach Bradley, Peyton Jungert, Zoe Bonerbo, Jen Cruz

2025 Undergraduate Research Showcase

Fine-scale environmental features display variation between close proximity habitats. These differences can impact the behavior of species in these environments. One local example is the Piute Ground Squirrel (Urocitellus mollis). They live in sagebrush steppe environments that vary in amount of ground cover. The ground squirrel population has endured a steady decline in recent years and, to understand why they may not be recovering from this decline, we evaluated ground squirrel phenology in open and closed habitats by observing ground squirrel activity. We aim to determine if habitat type impacts emergence date and specifically, if open habitats will …

The Syringa Project, Madison Miller, Eryn Pierce

2025 Undergraduate Research Showcase

The Syringa Project addresses critical healthcare access gaps in Idaho following a 22% reduction in OBGYN providers since 2022. This research explores how technology-enabled community support can mitigate barriers to reproductive healthcare in politically complex environments.

Through surveys of Idaho residents, I identified key challenges: 74% of respondents report scheduling difficulties, 68% face insurance coverage issues, and 42% postpone care due to previous negative experiences. Based on these findings, I developed personas representing diverse healthcare needs and designed interventions using trauma-informed principles.

The project delivers solutions through multiple channels: a mobile application with a healthcare resource chatbot, guided meditation tools …

From Lasers To Ignition: How Indirect-Drive Makes Fusion Possible, Alex Anta, Caleb Shepherd, Christopher Turmes, Hope Cuthbertson, Kane Gates, Joshua Eixenberger, Lindsey Wiggins

2025 Undergraduate Research Showcase

The indirect-drive laser fusion serves as a vital method for developing clean, sustainable energy. The laser beams direct their energy at the internal surface of the small metal cylinder known as a hohlraum. The hohlraum converts laser light into X-rays that produce symmetrical compression of the tiny fuel capsule for fusion ignition. The system requires absolute symmetry for operation because fuel compression irregularities decrease energy output and prevent ignition from happening. The method requires exact laser timing together with high-density carbon capsules and carefully designed energy pulses. Scientists use this advanced fusion technique to study practical fusion power generation in …

Organic Waste To Energy: Diverting Campus Waste For Sustainable Energy Production, Luke Theisen

2025 Undergraduate Research Showcase

Boise State University produces organic waste in the form of food scraps. This is the inevitable result of hosting thousands of people on campus every day, as well as owning many residential halls, multiple buffet style kitchens, and allowing the operations of small food outlets. Additionally, Boise State often supports large sporting events, concerts, lecture opportunities, and more.

The purpose of this research project is to perform an approximate measurement of the organic waste, so that it can be redirected from the landfill and potentially generate energy here on campus. Then, further action and /or an appropriate solution can be …

The Illusion Of Sustainable Development: An Analysis Of Economic Impact And Social Consequences Of The Mayan Train In Yucatán, Melanie Figueroa Zavala

2025 Undergraduate Research Showcase

As nations pursue economic growth, sustainable development has been positioned as a means to balance economic expansion with environmental consciousness and social equity. However, the reality of such initiatives reveals a troubling contradiction. While sustainable development projects such as ecotourism, clean energy, and infrastructure are presented as mechanisms for economic and environmental improvement, they frequently exacerbate socio-economic disparities and displace vulnerable communities. This study looks at sustainable development projects in Mexico, utilizing the Tren Maya or Mayan Train as a key case study that showcases the political, social, and economic nuances of sustainable development.

Rather than fostering local empowerment, most …

Plasma Proteomic Biomarkers Of Physical Frailty In Heart Failure: A Propensity Score Matched Discovery-Based Pilot Study, Quin Denfeld, Noelle Pavlovic, Christopher Lee, Jon Jacobs, Mary Roberts Davis, Samantha Powell, Marina Gritsenko, Susan Joseph, Beth Habecker

Division of Cardiology Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Physical frailty is highly prevalent in heart failure (HF), but we lack an understanding of the underlying pathophysiology. Proteomic evaluation of plasma samples may elucidate potential mechanisms and biomarkers of physical frailty in HF.

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to identify plasma proteomic biomarkers that are differentially expressed between physically frail and non-physically frail adults with HF.

METHODS: This was a secondary analysis of a subset of data and plasma samples from a study of frailty among patients with New York Heart Association (NYHA) Functional Classification I-IV HF. Physical frailty was measured using the Frailty Phenotype Criteria. Propensity score matching was …

Leveraging Benford’S Law And Machine Learning For Financial Fraud Detection, Benjamin R. Fu

Cybersecurity Undergraduate Research Showcase

Financial fraud, particularly credit card fraud, continues to pose substantial challenges to financial institutions due to its increasing frequency and impact on consumer trust. While traditional rule-based methods have provided foundational defenses, their limitations in scalability and adaptability have accelerated the adoption of machine learning (ML) techniques. Concurrently, Benford’s Law—a statistical principle often used in forensic accounting—has demonstrated efficacy in detecting anomalies within naturally occurring numerical datasets. This study explores a hybrid fraud detection approach that integrates Benford’s Law with supervised machine learning algorithms, including Logistic Regression, Random Forest, and k-Nearest Neighbors. Using the publicly available European credit card fraud …