Digital Commons Network^™

Synthesis And Biological Activity Of Gold(Iii) Complexes With Proline And Fluorinated Proline Ligands, Parker J. Lynch

Student Scholar Showcase

Synthesis and Biological Activity of Gold(III) Complexes with Proline and Fluorinated Proline Ligands

Gold(III) amino acid complexes are an important area of research because metal complexes can provide chemical and biological activity that typical carbon-based drugs cannot. These complexes can form structures that interact with different parts of the cell, such as DNA or proteins, allowing them to disrupt harmful cells. Modifying the ligands in these complexes can improve stability and influence how the metal interacts with biological systems. With growing interest in metal-based anticancer agents, further understanding of gold(III) complexes containing proline-derived ligands is needed. The goal of this …

Assessing The Aesthetic Responsiveness Among Patients In A Free Clinic Setting, Jack E. Pitts

Student Scholar Showcase

Art therapy has increasingly been recognized as a complementary intervention in healthcare settings, with demonstrated benefits for stress reduction and overall biopsychosocial well-being. However, limited research has explored aesthetic engagement within medically underserved and economically disadvantaged populations. This study examines aesthetic responsiveness among patients receiving care at the Free Clinic of Central Virginia using a standardized Aesthetic Responsiveness Assessment. The assessment consists of 14 Likert-scale questions assessing individuals’ cumulative aptitude across three domains: aesthetic appreciation, intense aesthetic experience, and creative behavior. Responses and data were collected voluntarily and anonymously, and they were analyzed to better understand how patients in an …

Respiratory Distress In An Adolescent, Competitive Alpine Skier, Reagan C. Moore

Student Scholar Showcase

A 17-year-old female, elite alpine skier and varsity soccer player presented with shortness of breath (SOB), described as "suffocating," and audible laryngeal stridor often occurring at heart rates exceeding 180 beats per minute (bpm). Based on clinical presentation and the exclusion of allergies and asthma, she was diagnosed with Exercise-Induced Laryngeal Obstruction (EILO). Interventions focused on conservative management, including breathing techniques for vocal cord dysfunction, and the supplemental use of an Albuterol inhaler for symptomatic relief during high-intensity exertion. Unlike other typical exercise-induced dyspnea conditions, this patient's symptoms responded better to a behavioral approach. This included relaxing the larynx; hence …

The Impact Of Customized Alarm Sounds On Reducing Alarm Fatigue In Icu Nurses, Abigail L. Kendrick, Elizabeth G. Dunkum, Carly F. Harris

Student Scholar Showcase

Within hospital care, particularly in intensive care units, alarm fatigue poses a major threat to patient safety. As a result of the constant sound of alarms, nurses become desensitized and overstimulated in the health care setting. Patient safety is threatened by an increased risk of errors in care, which may lead to complications and poor health outcomes. By systematically reviewing various research studies within the time span of 2020-2025 regarding interventions to decrease the relevance of alarm fatigue, research suggests that there are methods that can be applied via numerous approaches. By customizing alarm sounds by severity, it is believed …

Developing A Staff-Led Vertical Flow Model Policy In A Rural Emergency Department, Grace Frankland, Jennifer Rogers Dr.

Steeplechase: An ORCA Student Journal

Clinical Problem

Problem: Emergency department (ED) overcrowding

• ED visits have increased by 47.3% in the last 20

years, while the number of EDs/available beds has

remained relatively unchanged

• Contributing to…

• longer wait times & length of stay (LOS)

• higher rate of patients leaving without being

seen (LWBS) & door-to-provider (DTP) times

• increased mortality

• decreased patient satisfaction

• staff burnout

• preventable errors & decline in quality of

care.

Solution: Vertical Flow Model (VFM)

• An adaptable strategy to address ED

overcrowding by improving patient flow without

increasing physical space/bed capacity.

• Shown to reduce …

Adverse Childhood Experiences And Behavioral Problems Among Hispanic Adolescents, Emily Bennett, Hugo Garcia Arreguin, Aubrey Britten, Pietra Ferreira, Seowon Song

Celebration of Research

Introduction: A growing body of research has documented the impact of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) on adolescent behavioral problems (Hunt et al., 2017; Larn et al., 2024). Children who experience greater numbers of ACEs are more likely to develop a range of behavioral problems, including aggression, anxiety, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Despite the well-established association between ACEs and later behavioral problems, less is known about the mediating role of internalizing behaviors in the link between ACEs and externalizing problems among Hispanic adolescents. Guided by Life course perspective, highlighting a developmental approach for understanding heterogeneity in individuals’ experiences and outcomes in …

Late-Season Forb Availability And Bumble Bee Foraging Patterns In Iowa’S Restored Prairies And Suburban Gardens, Isaac De Young, Ellary Carson, Mya Cole, Tucker Draayer, Sharon Huffman, Naomi Johnson, Jasmine Lux, Genesis Maldonado, Caitlin Olson, Maelee Rodenburg, Jordan Shull, Travis Sweeney, Arianna Van Donkelaar, Laurie Furlong, Todd Tracy

Celebration of Research

Pollinators are essential to terrestrial ecosystems, and bumble bees are among the most effective pollinators in the United States (Hatfield et al., 2012). They pollinate forbs (non-grass herbaceous flowering plants), including crops, garden plants, and native prairie species (Dumroese et al., 2016). Their ability to travel long distances, forage in cool temperatures, and buzz-pollinate makes them critical to both wild and agricultural productivity (Mola & Williams et al., 2019). Research shows that bumble bee populations have declined in recent decades due to habitat loss, reduced floral resources, pesticide exposure, and climate change (IPBES, 2016).

Northwest Iowa is dominated by agriculture, …

Bio-Inspired Materials And Metamaterials For Tunable Biomimetic Properties In Diverse Engineering Applications, Sandeep Suresh Babu

Thesis/ Dissertation Defenses

Nature has always played the role of a design cue for several targeted engineering applications, with designers attempting to mimic the characteristics of natural organisms to have significant advantages in the engineering performance cycle. This dissertation explores the relationship between bioinspired design parameters and material compositions in diverse engineering applications, ranging from mechanical energy absorption to tissue engineering applications. A two-fold objective was followed in the study, where the initial focus was based on the structural design of metamaterial lattices based on geometrical cues observed in the horn structure of bighorn sheep and cuttlebone microstructure of cuttlefish. The advances made …

Eagleeye Is Landing: Discovery Of Cytotoxic And Defense Genes In A Cluster A16 Mycobacteriophage, Clara Bader, Kylie Foss, Mallory Gramstad, Korver Hupke, Jenna Kluxdal, Elsie Larson, Ayda Maassen, Adriana Sandbulte, Dane Schoenborn, Emma Steinhardt, Alexa Trover, Sara S. Tolsma

Celebration of Research

EagleEye is a temperate bacteriophage, which was isolated on the host, Mycobacterium smegmatis mc2 155 from soil collected in Houston, TX. It is classified as cluster A16. We are using a systematic genetic screen to uncover functions of phage genes for which the function is unknown. We cloned each gene into the pExTra plasmid and assayed phage gene individually for two phenotypes: cytotoxicity, the ability to interfere with host cell growth, and defense, the ability to protect the host cell from infection by other phages. We have cloned all but 15 of EagleEye’s 95 protein-coding genes. Thus far, we have …

Tactical Seagulls: A Multimedia Children's Story, Clara Showalter

Celebration of Research

This story is true. Well, sort of...

Tactical Seagulls is an in-process children's book that imaginatively and humorously (and yes, a tad chaotically) retells a true story about seagulls trying to steal food from beachgoers. But it's more than just a quirky story. Tactical Seagulls began its life as a means to help teach new vocabulary to children in a non-obvious and enjoyable way. Throughout the process, the vision for this book expanded into something more: it is intended to help revive the practice of the family read-aloud through the intentional incorporation of distinct character voices and personalities, expressive illustrations, …

Health And Motivation, Lydia E. Erickson, Dr. Jay Medenwaldt

Celebration of Research

Mental and physical health are two fundamental components in a person's life that directly affect well-being. Across continents, cultures, and all human backgrounds, mind and body are something every individual has in common. The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between mental and physical activity when accounting for motivation.

Understanding this relationship is critical for developing more effective health interventions and motivational strategies, especially among adolescent and young adult populations. The researchers hypothesized that intrinsic motivation and physical activity would positively predict well-being.

Participants in this study were students attending Northwestern College. Participants included both male and …

Belonging, Motivation, And Academic Achievement, Rubin Charles

Celebration of Research

This study examined whether motivation correlates with academic success and whether students’ sense of belonging mediates this relationship. A sample of undergraduate students completed self-report measures assessing academic motivation, belonging, and grade point average (GPA). A mediation analysis using PROCESS Model 4 (Hayes, 2022) and a series of multiple regressions revealed that motivation was not significantly related to belonging, and neither motivation nor belonging significantly correlates with GPA. Correlation analyses similarly showed no significant linear associations among the three variables. These findings suggest that motivation and belonging may not directly influence academic performance within a high-achieving sample and highlight the …

Nitrous Oxide Use In Labor, Aimee Aberson, Janae Cam, Rylie Franken, Rachel Henriksen, Ben Robinson, Pam Hulstein

Celebration of Research

Effective pain management during labor is a critical part of maternal care. It influences the mother’s physical and emotional experiences of childbirth. Epidural anesthesia and intravenous opioids are commonly used as analgesia in laboring mothers, but nitrous oxide (N₂O) has proven to be a safe, noninvasive alternative. It allows mothers to maintain mobility and consciousness while still reducing some pain perception. The purpose of this evidence-based practice project is to evaluate the effectiveness, safety, and satisfaction associated with N₂O use during active maternal labor. It reviews current literature on N₂O use during labor, focusing on maternal and neonatal safety, effectiveness …

Political Orientation As A Predictor For Collegiate Anger And Narcissism, Tyson D. Braunschweig, Jay Medenwaldt

Celebration of Research

Recent research suggests a potential association between anger and narcissism among politically right-leaning individuals (Hart & Stekler, 2022; Maglić et al., 2024). It also indicates a potential relationship between political extremism and anger (Marinthe et al., 2025; Dono et al., 2024). To test these hypotheses, 100 Midwest college students were surveyed and answered questions regarding their political orientation, level of narcissism, and level of anger. A multiple regression was performed, seeking to predict political orientation scores from anger and narcissism scores. We found anger and narcissism to not be significant predictors of political orientation, both together and separately. Anger and …

If You Give A Mouse A Phage, Peyton Abraham, Princess Bola-Lawal, Amelia Brown, Anne Eveland, Jenna Kluxdal, Elsie Larson, Gabrielle O'Bannon, Leonardo Romo, Sara S. Tolsma

Celebration of Research

Island3 (Cluster I1) and Sbash (Cluster I2) are Mycobacteriophages that have a high degree of genetic similarity—especially in the region of their genomes that include genes for structural proteins. Because their structural proteins appear so similar, we hypothesized that antibodies raised against Island3 would cross-react with Sbash and vice versa. To test our hypothesis, we immunized female BALB/c mice with phage high titer lysates or filtered M. smegmatis (control), collected serum, and used the antibodies in ELISA and Western Blot assays. We observed less cross-reactivity than we expected.

Are Certain Mobile Phones Overpriced?, Camron Pickard, Jennifer Schon

Celebration of Research

In this project, I investigated the possibility of projecting phone prices based on people’s opinions of their performance. I predicted that the more expensive phones would have higher rating predictions but have lower predicted prices.

Annotation Of Bacteriophages Redraider89, Superherocarly, Cherrycola, And Kouch, Brianne Brandt, Mya Cole, Matthew Dawkins, Julia De Vos, Isaac De Young, Hannah Gordon, Landon Greve, Brody Hoverstein, Mia Kellenberger, Genesis Maldonado, Charlotte Pritchard, Noah Robinson, Leonardo Romo, Mackenzie Schram, Grace Timm, Arianna Van Donkelaar, Kamea Van Kalsbeek, Byron Noordewier, Sara S. Tolsma

Celebration of Research

Phages are important research tools and can be used as an alternative to antibiotics. They are abundant and diverse. Genome annotation is used to better understand phage diversity as well as individual phages for use in the lab and clinic. We annotated the genomes of four novel phages: RedRaider89, SuperHeroCarly, Kouch, and CherryCola. All four phages were discovered by Northwestern College students. CherryCola is a Cluster DC1 phage that infects Gordonia terrae. It has 92 predicted protein-coding genes. RedRaider89 (Cluster B1) and SuperHeroCarly (Cluster D1) infect Mycobacterium smegmatis mc²155. RedRaider89 has 99 predicted protein-coding genes and SuperHeroCarly has 87 …

Role Of Dental Screening In Preventing Hip Prosthetic Joint Infections, Aidan Anderson, Cailee Dix, Emma Franken, Erin Keizer, Zavyr Metzger, Tyra Snyder, Pam Hulstein

Celebration of Research

Hip arthroplasty is a common procedure, but Periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) remains a serious postoperative complication associated with increased hospital stays, readmissions, and costs. Evidence suggests that poor oral health may contribute to PJIs through the spread of bacteria from the mouth to the surgical site. This project examined the relationship between preoperative dental health and postoperative outcomes in adults aged 50–90 undergoing hip replacement. A literature review using the Johns Hopkins Research Evidence Appraisal Tool evaluated 19 studies from databases such as PubMed and ScienceDirect. While no clear association was found between specific dental risk factors and PJIs, untreated …

Understanding The Role Of Lipid Metabolism On Pancreatic Cancer Metastasis, Luke Fischer, Kylie Foss, Jacob Lewis, Joshua Lewis, Emma Steinhardt, Megan Vangarven, Cody Rozeveld

Celebration of Research

Pancreatic cancer is one of the deadliest types of cancer due to late-stage detection and early metastasis. Other than smoking, one of the few known risk factors for pancreatic cancer is obesity (1). On the cellular level, excess fat can promote cell migration and invasion (2). However, the exact fat utilization pathway remains unknown. We propose that lysosomes may be exploited in pancreatic cancer to break down fat and provide energy for metastasis and invasion.

Perfectionism And Excellencism: A Study On Parental Impact, Devon Miller, Megan Heitritter, Jennifer S. Feenstra Ph.D.

Celebration of Research

This study examined how parenting behaviors and neuroticism relate to perfectionism and excellencism—two distinct achievement orientations. Seventy-five undergraduates completed measures of parental warmth, control, contingency of worth, neuroticism, and achievement tendencies. Results showed that parental contingency of worth was positively associated with perfectionism but not excellencism. Parenting warmth and control were largely unrelated, except for a negative relationship between paternal control and excellencism. Neuroticism and contingency of worth explained a small portion of variance in perfectionism. Overall, findings suggest that parental expectations may contribute to perfectionism, while excellencism is influenced by other factors.

Does Reappraisal Of Test Anxiety Improve Performance?, Lydia Baker, Jay Medenwaldt

Celebration of Research

Test anxiety, anxious thoughts and worries surrounding testing, is a relevant issue for around 20-30% of students today. Different methods have been researched to treat test anxiety, including emotion regulation strategies, one of which is cognitive reappraisal. Personality traits such as neuroticism may make it hard for a person to emotionally regulate, which is why cognitive reappraisal is helpful. A Qualtrics survey was distributed that placed people into 3 experimental groups: positive reappraisal, negative reappraisal, and a control group, and participants were asked to complete a memory test after reappraisal. A One-way ANOVA revealed no significant effect of reappraisal on …

The Effect Of Sports On Personality: An Examination Of Athletes Vs. Non-Athletes, Noah C. Parmelee, Dr. Jay Medenwaldt

Celebration of Research

This study aims to further investigate these relationships by comparing personality traits between athletes and non-athletes, as well as differences between participants in team and individual sports. It is hypothesized that athletes will score higher in conscientiousness, extraversion, and emotional stability, while showing no significant differences in agreeableness or openness. Additionally, individuals in individual sports are expected to exhibit higher levels of neuroticism than those in team sports. By clarifying how sports participation relates to personality development, this research contributes to a better understanding of how athletic experiences shape psychological outcomes and can inform coaching, education, and athlete support strategies.

Quantifying And Validating The Decrease Of Ciliogenesis Genes In Mouse Models With Pcd, Mia X. Kellenberger, Casey Mckenzie, Lance Lee

Celebration of Research

Primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) is a rare genetic disease affecting one in 16,000 children and results from structural or functional defects of motile cilia1. Lack of functioning cilia may result in reduced respiratory function, subfertility or infertility, and hydrocephalus due to a reduced ability to clear fluids and particles. A cilium consists of nine microtubules centered around a central pair complex1. Mutations in genes Spef2 (bgh), Cfap221 (nm1054), or Cfap54(Cfap54gt/gt), which encode proteins located in the central pair complex, result in PCD2,3,4. We previously utilized single-cell RNA sequencing to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in early and late deuterosomal cells, …

Inpatient Treatment Compared To Outpatient Treatment For Borderline Personality Disorder, Paige Auch, Jaylin Gaston, Jori Harskamp, Ella Peterson, Kenzie Vonrentzell, Pam Hulstein

Celebration of Research

Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a complex mental illness characterized by emotional instability, impulsivity, and unstable relationships. Individuals with BPD often require frequent hospitalizations and experience significant functional impairment. With increasing BPD admissions, Spencer Hospital seeks evidence-based strategies to improve patient outcomes and reduce readmissions. A literature review of ten studies (2016-2025) was conducted using PubMed, CINAHL, and Science Direct, appraised with the Johns Hopkins Nursing Evidence-Based Practice Model to compare inpatient and outpatient treatments for adults with BPD, focusing on symptom manage and quality of life. Findings indicate inpatient care with specific programs such as dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), …

The Intentional Soundtrack: Using Specific Music To Proactively Manage The Elementary Classroom, Meredith Sundberg, Angela Carlson, Carrie Thonstad

Celebration of Research

This research investigates how educators can intentionally use specific musical genres and tempos as reliable environmental cues to enhance student attention, engagement, and classroom management. While the general benefits of music in education are well-documented, this study seeks to identify which genres are most effective for specific instructional outcomes. While conducting a four-week comparative study across four second-grade classrooms, I evaluated the impact of upbeat and slow music during transitions, classical and pop music during independent spelling work, and classical, pop, and curriculum related music math brain breaks. Data was collected through observational rubrics, student surveys, and academic test scores. …

Ritual, Economy, And Social-Relational Impacts In The Church, Alexia M. Hanson, Dr. Jeremy Williams

Celebration of Research

Using ritual theory, understanding of economics in the Bible, and social-relational frameworks, this research explores the connections between ritual and economy in the Church. We ask: how does economy affect ritual and how does ritual affect economy? Biblical exegesis and an original survey are incorporated to get a real-world, practical sense of the impact of these questions, and their answers, have for the Church as a whole. The ritual focus of the research is on the practices of baptism and communion in the Church today. The social and relational aspects of these practices are also explored. How does the method, …

Water Feature Design For An Enemy Of The People, Rae Outland

Celebration of Research

The hot springs in the show An Enemy of the People is a crucial piece that is the main focus of the issue for the duration of the show. As the hot springs are never actually seen in the play, it was brought up in a design meeting that a water feature of sorts be made to show what the springs would look like, incorporate the audience, and invite them into the space we are creating.

This project took my blood, sweat, and tears--- all literally speaking. I had the privilege of unexpectedly getting to design in my freshmen year, …

Bacterial 2-Hybrid Assay: Interactions Of Phage Island3'S Gene 36 And Mycobacterium Smegmatis Gene Products, Elsie L. Larson, Sara Tolsma

Celebration of Research

Island3 is a Cluster I1 bacteriophage that infects Mycobacterium smegmatis. Northwestern College students are performing systematic genetic screens to identify Island3 genes that are cytotoxic or protect host cells from infection by other phages (defense). We identified Island3’s gp36 as a cytotoxic gene. Now we are using a bacterial two-hybrid assay to identify a host protein(s) interaction partner. We hypothesize that host proteins that bind gp36 will reveal the mechanism by which gp36 confers cytotoxicity.

Hockey Top Hand Trainer Effectiveness, Alice A. Boggs, Brooke Bartscher, Jay Medenwaldt

Celebration of Research

This study tested whether a top hand trainer improves hockey stickhandling performance. Twenty-eight college students were randomly assigned to train with or without the device by stickhandling in a figure-8 pattern. Participants were tested before and after training by timing how long it took them to complete five figure-8s. Results showed no significant differences between groups for trainer use or handedness. However, a small effect was observed, suggesting that the top hand trainer may be effective with long-term use. Future research should use longer training sessions and a larger sample size to better understand the effect of using a top …

Gut Health Interventions On Major Depressive Disorder, Hannah Beckloff, Ellie Erickson, Olga Furmanova, Hailey Van Dyken, Ashtyn Wobig

Celebration of Research

This evidence-based project aims to evaluate the potential benefits of probiotics, stress management, and a healthy diet for adults diagnosed with major depressive disorder at Promise Community Health Center. Through a comprehensive review of the literature, the project examines how interventions related to gut health can help alleviate depressive symptoms and implements the necessary tools to support this population at Promise. Our research findings suggest that combining probiotics, stress relief, and diet changes, along with adjunctive treatment for major depressive disorder, may reduce depressive symptoms and encourage a more holistic lifestyle for these individuals.