Digital Commons Network^™

Annotation Of Three Actinobacteriophages: Tuktuk, Shamu, And Megatron06, Lauren Fisk, Kylie Foss, Khloe Hester, Yuki Kobayashi, Madelin Kvatek, Elsie Larson, Joshua Lewis, Madilyn Manary, Laura Nelsen, Thomas Ostrem, Cayli Penner, Sydney Rehmke, Taylor Rentschler, Adriana Sandbulte, Dane Shoenborn, Jonas Tiensvold, Shayler Van Gelder, Kallie Van Kley, Megan Vangarven, Brianna Winford, Byron Noordewier, Sara S. Tolsma

Celebration of Research

We annotated three newly discovered bacteriophages. TukTuk and Shamu were isolated on the host Microbacterium folorium and Megatron06 on Mycobacterium smegmatis. Based on based on gene-content similarity (GCS) of 35% or higher to sequenced bacteriophages present in the Actinobacteriophage database, phagesDB, TukTuk was assigned to cluster EB, Shamu to cluster EA, and Megatron06 to Cluster H1. Here we report a summary of our annotation findings along with one in-depth analysis of an aspect of our annotation for each phage.

Metabolic Characterization Of Porcine Hepatocytes, Sophie Swart, Ainslie Robinson, Daiki Jonouchi, Marcus Blankespoor, Kip Cullinan, Zachary Varpness, Ryan Schulze

Celebration of Research

No abstract provided.

How Culture And Language Impact The Way We View Healthcare, Linsy Gonzalez

Celebration of Research

The United States is a growing multilingual and multicultural country. Although beautiful, it does present challenges in different areas of life particularly in the healthcare system as there are differences in language and/or cultural beliefs and practices. This leads to asking how cultural differences can impact how we think of healthcare. To challenge and understand this question more, a qualitative study was conducted based on interviews from two different healthcare facilities located in the same town of Sioux Center, Iowa—Promise Community Health Center (PCHC) and Sioux Center Health (SCH)—with interpreters, patients, and providers to understand the role each person has …

H(Hydrogen)-Alpha Spectral Imaging Of Z>5 Quasars, Pratik Paudel, Mari Hirota, Hyunsung Jun

Celebration of Research

We aim to measure the H-alpha line excess over the photometric continuum for distant quasi-stellar radio objects, or quasars. Supermassive black holes grow in mass through accretion of stars or gas nearby, often outshining the total stellar light of the galaxies they reside in, for quasars. On the other hand, the structure of these active galactic nuclei are hard to resolve, where we often rely on the relationship in between different light emission regions to better understand the geometry and emission mechanisms. In this work, we measure the H-alpha luminosity of 44 quasars at z>5 (light coming from less …

A Shift Towards Informed Decision Making: Hormonal Contraception Versus Natural Cycle Tracking, Lauren Jurrens, Sydnee Isom, Deann Jelsma

Celebration of Research

Females participating in the wide array of birth control options are continuing to expand. With that, more females are expressing concerns about potential adverse drug reactions and side effects of hormonal birth control. While general side effects do occur, the risks for venous thromboembolism (VTE) vary depending on the hormone taken, and cancer risks are minimal to even nonexistent.^3,4,7,15 Yet, many females are turning to natural cycle tracking to avoid synthetic hormones, common side effects, and potential poor health outcomes. Both options can provide comparable efficacy when used appropriately. Therefore, providers must be knowledgeable in all contraception options to …

Muscle Activation Frequency Relationship With Cost Of Transport At Increasing Walking Speed Reveals Interplay Of Both Active And Passive Dynamics, Grace Van Namen

Celebration of Research

The purpose of this study was to examine the correlation between metabolic cost and muscle activity, with a focus on frequency of EMG signals during walking at different speeds. The findings will be valuable in rehabilitating individuals who suffer from gait-related disorders. Nine participants were recruited. In the first session of data collection, each participant performed a ten-meter walk test determining their average walking speed. Using these average walking speeds, six more speeds were subsequently established during the second session. In the second session, subjects walked for four minutes at each of the six speeds while EMG data was collected …

The Impact Of Blood Flow Restriction On Heart Rate And Muscle Activation, Janaya Battles, Rajat Singh, Daniel Swier

Celebration of Research

Blood Flow Restriction (BFR) is a rehabilitation technique used in physical therapy to improve muscle growth in patients. The technique involves using blood cuffs on the limbs to occlude blood flow within the muscles, thus limiting the buildup of muscle growth inhibitors. The current literature provides information regarding these aspects but is limited in providing information regarding the impact of BFR on neural muscular coordination. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine how various pressure levels of the BFR cuffs can impact the muscle activation of the restrained muscles and heart rate. Our results have shown that a …

Pediatric Perceived Pain In Emergency Department Settings, Emma Jenness, Ana Dekruyter, Jackson Henry, Emily Miller

Celebration of Research

A literature review between September 2023-November 2023 examined the numerous nonpharmacological interventions employed in the Emergency Department setting to reduce perceived pain in the pediatric population during painful procedures. This review explored

current research for decreasing perceived pain for children using nonpharmacologic methods and to suggest evidence-based practices that meet the needs of the patient. We suggest several nonpharmacologic interventions that assist in decreasing pain during painful procedures in the Emergency Department setting for the pediatric population.

Jewish Liturgics In Christian Worship: A History Of Jewish Festal Liturgics And A Proposed Recession Of The Christian Liturgical Year Into The Larger Judeo-Christian Calendar, Josiah Troutner

Celebration of Research

Though a Judaic religion, Christianity quickly abandoned many of the ceremonial, festal, and liturgical practices of its parent religion. In this paper I argue this to be primarily due to an Augustinian reading of Torah in the Pauline epistles in which it is seen as a tyrannical force that can be distinguished into moral, ceremonial, and judicial components, only the moral of which must still be observed by Christians. In this paper, I will discuss the historical, cultural, and religious background of several Jewish holidays in advocation of their theological value for the larger Judeo-Christian community. I will also seek …

The Gut Microbiome In Chronic Diseases, Emily Mcdonald, Katlyn Bombei, Madelyn Weber

Celebration of Research

Cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease, diabetes, and various mental health conditions have been shown to be associated with gut microbiota alterations that may contribute to the development and pathogenesis of those diseases. Cardiovascular disease, inflammatory bowel disease and diabetes have been associated with a lack of butyrate- producing bacteria which are responsible for lowering blood pressure, limiting atherosclerosis, abdominal pain, and lowering insulin resistance. Medications for individuals with schizophrenia may decrease bacteria with anti-inflammatory properties. Potential research avenues may be directed at investigating the di@erences between gut microbiomes between men and women to cultivate unique and targeted treatment and prevention …

Deaths Of Despair In Rural Populations, Tirzah Wittenberg, Dr. Pam Hulstein

Celebration of Research

A literature review was conducted between August 2023-November 2023 to explore deaths of despair in rural and urban populations. The ten articles reviewed center around revealing the prevalence of substance abuse and suicide within different population densities. The purpose of examining this research is to create a foundation of understanding that can then be utilized when making changes on the micro and macro levels in access to health care resources. In this literature review, the prevalence of deaths of despair in rural populations is revealed, along with suggestions for future health care resource investments.

Tranexamic Acid, Jett Skrien, Evan Lins, Kaleb Myhrwold

Celebration of Research

TXA administration has shown promising results in reducing blood loss resulting in a potentially life-saving measure. Early TXA administration has been shown to be most effective when administered within 3 hours of the incident. After the 3-hour window has passed, its effectiveness is negligible. At this point in time, no single superior means of administration or dosage has been agreed upon. Based on the evidence presented, TXA has a notable safety profile and has been proven to be a low-cost and effective way to reduce detrimental blood loss in trauma and surgical settings.

The Adverse Health Outcomes Of Benzene In Skincare Products, Maddie Olson, Allie Walter

Celebration of Research

Benzene is a known carcinogen commonly used in daily skin care products that could have negative physiological effects on the body.

The risks associated with the use of benzene-containing products have been researched, however, current evidence has not fully differentiated whether the potential negative effects of benzene outweigh the protection that benzene products provide against the development of skin cancer.

Energy Drink Consumption In Adolescence Linked To Long Term Health Effects, Grace Eiden, Jenna Borchers, Jill Van Otterloo

Celebration of Research

Caffeine is a substance that is frequently ingested by individuals for a multitude of reasons, most often an energy boost. Recently, caffeine consumption has become popular among the adolescent population. We reviewed 15+ recent studies explaining the adverse effects of caffeine consumption among adolescents such as cognitive function, mental illness, and obesity. Numerous correlations were found including lower scores in several cognitive functions such as vocabulary comprehension, cognitive flexibility, and processing speeds, mental illnesses such as stress, anxiety, and depression, and the immense sugar-content in these beverages being linked to childhood obesity. It is important that healthcare professionals are aware …

Mousing Around With Bacteriophages: ​Using Antibodies Raised In Balb/C Mice To Analyze Phages​, Grace Anderson, Jewel Bergstrom, Samuel Brandt, Maria Garcia, Sadie Gilmeister, Aimee Hulstein, Erika Mckenney, Tyler Nhan, Cayli Penner, Taylor M. Rentschler, Jessica Slight, Anneka Sterk, Jacie Vanderwaal, Elliana Zerr, Sara S. Tolsma

Celebration of Research

Bacteriophages are viruses that infect bacteria and can be used in phage therapy to combat bacterial infections resistant to traditional antibiotics. One current limitation of phage therapy is the lack of understanding about phage genetics and biochemistry. We can learn more about bacteriophages by identifying patterns in their protein structure. In our experiments, we immunized BALB/c mice using whole phage or ~71>kDa proteins extracted from Sbash and Island3. We tail-bled the mice to collect antibodies raised against these phages, then used ELISA assays to detect anti-phage protein antibodies in mouse serum. We are using our antibodies and Western blot …

Perceived Severity Of Trauma: The Impact Of Gender And Exposure, Macy Hajek

Celebration of Research

The purpose of this study was to examine factors that may influence the perceived severity of traumatic events. Perceived severity scores were examined in a 2x2 factorial ANOVA with the factors of gender and trauma exposure. A qualitative measurement of the most feared trauma was also investigated. Participants were a convenience sample of 98 Northwestern College Students ranging from ages 17 to 22. Perceived severity scores and the most feared trauma were obtained using an adapted version of the Trauma History Questionnaire. A Trauma History Screener was used to divide participants into trauma exposure groups. It was hypothesized that females …

Interventions To Reduce Risk Of Perineal Tearing, Bailey Varpness, Kylie Lyman, Sandra Muyskens

Celebration of Research

Perineal tearing is one of the most common injuries that can be sustained during vaginal delivery, it can be physically and mentally debilitating for the mother to endure. Preventing this injury can lead to an easier healing process for the mother, allowing her to have a more impactful postpartum journey. There is debate as to whether warm compresses, perineal massage, and alternative birthing positions decrease the incidence of perineal tearing. This review of literature focuses on how these interventions work and if they are effective at decreasing the risk for perineal tearing during vaginal delivery.

Does Testing Help Learning? Mindset And Testing’S Impact On Memory And Accuracy Of Judgments, Jessica Nibbelink, Anneka Sterk, David Grandel

Celebration of Research

To conduct a replication of a previous experiment (Kornell & Son, 2009) to measure the accuracy and judgement of learning between two ways of studying and if receiving feedback after testing altered their learning. Participants were tasked with learning 4 lists of Indonesian words, half of the participants learned by re-exposure to the words while the other half learned by test-taking. The test-taking group was further divided into feedback or no-feedback conditions. Contrary to the previous study we found that testing did not impact memory. However, self-testing did make learners more accurate in their judgments of what they knew. Students …

The Bear Surgical Technique: A Modern Approach To Acl Repair, Christopher Canu, Jay Determan, Aaron Bosch

Celebration of Research

The Bridge-Enhanced ACL Repair (BEAR) surgical technique is a procedure still in its infancy with many unknowns regarding its effectiveness and clinical outcomes. Research has shown this surgical technique is not only capable of completely healing a mid-substance ACL tear but has been shown to have improved clinical and patient-reported outcomes when compared to traditional ACL reconstruction techniques. The purpose of this article is to review the current status of the literature and clinical implications of the BEAR technique as it compares to traditional ACL reconstruction techniques.

Discovering Gene Functions In Mycobacteriophage Sbash Using A Genetic Screen, Erin Brouwer, Daiki Jonouchi, Byron Noordewier, Sara S. Tolsma

Celebration of Research

Sbash is a temperate bacteriophage, which was isolated on the host, Mycobacterium smegmatis mc2 155 from soil collected in South Africa. It is classified as cluster I and sub-cluster I2. Its genome consists of 55,832 base pairs and 89 protein-coding genes of which only 25 genes were assigned a function by bioinformatic analysis. We are using a genetic screen to uncover the functions of phage genes for which function is unknown. To begin to uncover the functions of the protein products of the genes in Sbash’s genome, we cloned each gene into the pExTra plasmid and assayed each phage gene …

Exploring The Dilemma Of Innocent Defendants In The Plea Bargaining System, Taylor Van Ostrand, Dr. Jay Medenwaldt

Celebration of Research

This study investigates the challenges faced by innocent defendants in the plea bargaining system. The dilemma arises from the choice between a risky trial and an immediate conviction for a reduced charge. The research, conducted with fifty-six undergraduate students, the rationality of innocent defendants, the influence of jail threats, socioeconomic status, and gender differences. Using hypothetical scenarios, participants review documents related to a fictitious charge, and ANOVA as well as chi-square statistical analyses are employed to assess the impact of various factors on plea decisions. Surprisingly, the presence of jail time did not significantly influence the likelihood of innocent defendants …

Bedside Shift Report, Megan Kellen, Aleksa Vande Hoef, Emma Dunsbergen, Nadalie Johnson

Celebration of Research

A literature review was conducted between August 2023-November 2023 to investigate bedside shift report and its effects on nursing communication, patient safety, and patient satisfaction. Ten articles focusing on the benefits and barriers to performing nurse-to-nurse handoff reports at the bedside were analyzed. Recommendations are made based on the best practices of bedside shift report on medical-surgical units.

So That The Church May Be Built Up: An Analysis Of 1 Corinthians 12:4-11, Alissa Hugen

Celebration of Research

In 1 Corinthians 12:4-11, Paul lists several spiritual gifts observed in the Corinthian church. In this section and its literary contexts, Paul utilizes an ABA’ form to emphasize to the Corinthians the proper use of the spoken gifts, which are wisdom, knowledge, prophecy, speaking in tongues, and interpretation of tongues as listed here. This project dives in depth into the ABA’ form present in chapters 12-14, as well as the cultural context of the Corinthian church at the time Paul wrote his letter. An understanding of the Corinthian culture as seen here can be used to instruct the modern church …

Examining The Effectiveness Of Subjective Perception Of Collegiate Athletes, Jakob Francksen-Small, Rajat Singh

Celebration of Research

The purpose of this study was to examine how accurately collegiate athletes can perceive their level of hydration via urine color compared to the actual specific gravity of the urine. The findings will be valuable in determining if visual perception is an accurate enough method for athletes to track their hydration. Thirty-five Northwestern College wrestlers were recruited. Each wrestler was instructed to collect a sample of their urine in a paper cup. Then, they compared their urine sample to a chart, provided by the Iowa High School Athletic Association. They assigned their sample a rating, ranging from 1-8. These ratings …

Melatonin As Treatment And Prophylaxis For Alzheimer's Disease, Avery Macintosh, Kayla Larsen, Andrea Crew

Celebration of Research

Alzheimer’s is a very prevalent disease that has no true dependable and effective treatment. Through research and trials melatonin has been seen as a potential therapeutic option for both structural and behavioral changes in Alzheimer’s. Studies have shown low levels of natural melatonin in CSF are a strong indicator of Alzheimer's Disease. This suggests melatonin could be used as a prophylactic measure as well as a treatment for slowing the disease’s neuropathological changes. Results showed that melatonin improves circadian rhythm and sleep quality leading to more effective glymphatic clearing of free radicals, improving cognition, and decreasing behavioral disturbances.

A New Horizon On Knee Osteoarthritis: A Review Of Alternative Treatment Modalities, Rob Norton, Carlos Serafin-Martinez

Celebration of Research

Purpose: The purpose of this review is to determine the effectiveness and utility of alternative knee osteoarthritis treatments in order to assess their clinical applications compared to traditional NSAID and corticosteroid injection therapy. Methods: We analyzed 23 randomized control trials, systematic reviews, and meta analyses to compare the effectiveness of hyaluronic acid (HA), plasma rich protein (PRP) injections, and mesenchymal stem (MSC) cell injections. The individuals used in this study were over 18 years old, had moderate to severe knee osteoarthritis, and had failed at least 1 form of conservative treatment. Quantitative (imaging studies and ROM testing) and qualitative results …

Semaglutide Vs Bariatric Surgery Usage In Individuals Who Are Obese, Megan Carley, Quincey Bauman, Sandra Muyskens

Celebration of Research

Obesity is a complex health disease with rising prevalence. Comorbid conditions occur as a result of obesity that may be detrimental to an individual’s health. While theoretically preventable, it is a difficult condition to manage due to a wide range of causative factors and comorbidities. There are many options to help with weight loss, but two of the most effective treatments are semaglutide medication and bariatric surgery. A literature review was conducted to compare the risks and benefits of each method and identify the more beneficial intervention for weight loss in individuals with obesity. Each method is efficient for a …

Inventory For Baker-Cederberg/Rochester General Hospital, Rochester General Hospital

Finding Aids

Inventory for Baker-Cederberg/Rochester General Hospital archival record groups. There are 31 record groups listed.

Why Must We Teach Vocabulary?, Askah Morara

Andrews University Teaching and Learning Conference

No abstract provided.

Writing In Early Child Development, Sofia Brenes Canales

Andrews University Teaching and Learning Conference

No abstract provided.