Fall 2022 Poster Session

Bennett Fate – Environmental Science (AGLS), Biology (AGLS)

Investigating the Effects of Varying Biochars on Seedling Root Rot in Soybean Plants Innoculated with Pythium sylvaticum

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Project Advisor(s): Leonor Leandro | Advisor(s): Richard Williams, Lauren Ramos

Abstract: Pathogenic fungi and fungal-like organisms can greatly damage soybean yields leading to economic and social consequences. One possible solution is the use of biochar in mitigating the effects of these pathogenic organisms. An important genus of waterborne pathogens to soybeans is Pythium, which causes root rot in young seedlings. We hypothesized that if we vary the types of biochar added to soil infested with Pythium sylvaticum, the soybean plants will have varying degrees of root rot depending on the presence and source of the biochar. Our secondary hypothesis was that the biochar with higher volumetric water content will have more severe root rot. We tested four different biochars from different sources. Each biochar was added to pasteurized soil infested with P. sylvaticum and soybean plants were grown, in cups, in these amended soils. Approximately 3 weeks after emergence, the seedlings were removed, roots washed, and we recorded % root rot, root dry weight, shoot dry weight, and soil pH. After obtaining the data, it was analyzed for significant relationships between the type of biochar, soil moisture and seedling root rot. This research offers a potential alternative to fungicide to enhance agricultural productivity.

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Karly Jans – Biology (AGLS), Animal Ecology

Investigating Job Satisfaction in Iowa Veterinary Clinics

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Project Advisor(s): Michael Rentz | Advisor(s): Sarah Wehner, Amanda Chung

Abstract: A veterinary medicine career has many stressors, including low wages, long hours, client complaints, management responsibilities, euthanasia procedures, educational debt, and poor work-life balance. With these stressors, veterinary professionals are at high risk for burnout, compassion fatigue, depression, and suicidal ideations. Our aim with this study was to investigate the prevalence of these conditions within Iowa veterinary clinics. We sent a survey to over 400 clinics to collect information using three widely used, standardized survey tools: the ProQOL 5, PHQ-9, and SBQ-R. We also included questions about demographics, job-related factors, and job satisfaction. We received and analyzed a total of 94 responses. We found no support to indicate different levels of burnout, compassion satisfaction, or secondary traumatic stress between veterinarians and support staff, but support staff was found to have increased levels of depression and suicidal ideations compared to veterinarians. Based on this data, we believe that both veterinarians and support staff have elevated levels of burnout, depression, and suicidal ideations, but support staff suffers from higher levels. Despite this, Iowa veterinary professionals remain compassionate about their work and desire to stay in the veterinary medicine field.

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Emma Kelley – Animal Science

Examining the Impact of Heat Stress on the Diaphragm

Poster not available online

Project Advisor(s): Joshua Selsby | Advisor(s): Jill Paxton

Abstract: Heat stress (HS) occurs when external environmental conditions prevent the dissipation of metabolic heat. In pigs, the diaphragm is a unique skeletal muscle because, contrary to other skeletal muscles, during HS contraction frequency increases dramatically; however, the impact of HS on working muscle is unknown. We hypothesized that degradation of autophagosomes would increase, and markers of protein synthesis would decrease in heat-stressed diaphragms, and further hypothesized that these outcomes would be more exaggerated in gilts than barrows. To accomplish this, crossbred barrows and gilts were kept in thermoneutral (TN; 20.8 ± 1.6 ºC; n=6/sex) or HS (39.4 ± 0.6 ºC; n=6/sex) conditions for 7 d, and diaphragms were collected. Respiratory rate was increased with HS (44 bpm vs 112 bpm; p<0.0001). We discovered relative protein abundance of mTOR tended to decrease with HS (0.38-fold; p=0.079); however, phosphorylated (p-)mTOR was similar between groups. Downstream targets of mTOR; p70S6K, p-p70S6K, 4EBP, and p-4EBP, were also similar between groups. Markers of autophagosome degradation, LC3-I decreased 0.73-fold (p=0.0004), and LC3-II and p62 were similar between groups. These data suggest HS increased degradation of autophagosomes but did not alter protein synthesis, which is counter to observations in limb muscle during HS. Authors: Emma Kelley, Tori Rudolph, Melissa Roths, Alyssa Freestone, Lance Baumgard, Joshua Selsby.

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Brier Klossing – Biology (AGLS), Animal Ecology

Analyzing the Coyote-Fox-Domestic Cat Relationship

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Project Advisor(s): Mike Rentz | Advisor(s): Alison Esser, Jennifer Schieltz

Abstract: Previous studies have established that the relationship between coyotes and red foxes tends to be negative, correlating to a decrease in red fox populations. The interaction between red foxes and domestic cats has also been studied, demonstrating in their coexistence, cats shift their diets to not overlap with red foxes. I wanted to investigate how coyotes (Canis latrans) may impact the activity/temporal patterns of red foxes (Vulpes vulpes), gray foxes (Urocyon cinereoargenteus), and domestic cats (Felis catus). I studied this using the 2019 and 2020 data sets from Snapshot USA, a nationwide project with over one hundred different sites collecting trail camera data through September and October. To analyze the data, I used the R statistical program with the packages ‘tidyverse’, ‘lubridate’, ‘lutz’, ‘overlap’, and ‘activity’ to create graphs of the activity patterns for each species in the presence or absence of coyotes. Domestic cats, red foxes, and gray foxes were more likely to be seen at deployments without coyotes than with. Of the three species, red fox activity is the most affected by coyote presence. Gray fox and domestic cats shift their activity patterns less than expected in the presence or absence of coyotes.

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Rebecca Lynn – Forestry, Animal Ecology

Wildlife Report on Restored Riparian Buffer in the Bear Creek Watershed

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Project Advisor(s): Richard Shultz | Advisor(s): Richard Schultz, Amanda Chung

Abstract: During the 1990s a riparian area of the Bear Creek Watershed near Roland, Iowa was restored. Since the restoration project, little research has been conducted to examine the benefits that the project had on wildlife. This study analyzed the current bird, aquatic insect, and mammal species that have returned to the restored section of Bear Creek. The aim of this study was to determine the abundance of species using the riparian area and not the population numbers of each species. The location where Bear Creek joins the Skunk River was used as the control in this experiment. The control has historically been under native vegetation and has not been farmed. The data gathered from this study reflects the habitat quality of Bear Creek and the riparian area surrounding the creek.

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Alex McDougall – Agricultural & Life Sciences Education

Lesson Materials for Inclusivity in Career and Technical Education Classrooms

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Project Advisor(s): Jon Davis | Advisor(s): Nathan Dobbels

Abstract: In the 2019-2020 school year, 14% of all public-school students, ages 3-21, received special education services under the Individuals with Disabilities Act (National Center for Education Statistics, 2021). Many student teachers report that they were not adequately prepared, and over 90% of early career teachers claim that they were not prepared to teach students with disabilities (Ramage, Roberts, and Stair, 2021). Career and technical education includes secondary education courses that prepare individuals for employment while contributing to their academic knowledge, problem-solving skills, work attitudes, and general employability (Iowa Department of Education). In this project, lesson materials have been created that agriculture educators can use to make their classrooms more inclusive toward students with learning and intellectual disabilities. Learning disabilities are the most prevalent type of disability identified, with 33% of students receiving services in the 2019-20 school year classified as having a learning disability (National Center for Education Statistics, 2021). These lesson materials incorporate strategies for teaching students with learning and intellectual disabilities. These materials include lesson plans, PowerPoints, worksheets, quizzes, step-by-step instructions, and activities. 5 lessons have been created for soil science, plant science, food science, woodworking, and greenhouse, as these courses are often less inclusive.

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Diana Mulder – Microbiology, International Agriculture

Verification of a qPCR Assay for Detection of Phialophora gregata in Varied Soybean Tissues and Brown Stem Rot Suspect Samples

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Project Advisor(s): Leonor Leandro | Advisor(s): Nancy Boury, Ebby Luvaga

Abstract: Phialophora gregata is the causal agent of the disease Brown Stem Rot of soybean. As a common pathogen found in fields across Iowa, Iowa State University's Extension & Outreach services, like the Plant & Insect Diagnostic Clinic (PIDC), must have effective methods of detecting and diagnosing the disease so proper management practices can be implemented. P. gregata grows slowly in culture and is difficult to isolate from infected tissues with media, which creates a need for a rapid yet accurate detection method. An article published by Malvick et al. 2007 titled "Detection and Quantification of Phialophora gregata in Soybean and Soil Samples with a Quantitative, Real-Time PCR Assay" presents a promising detection strategy that uses quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) to detect and quantify P. gregata within a plant sample. This article is the first qPCR assay for P. gregata ever published, which demands the need to evaluate the materials and methods used in the assay to verify the procedure. We tested the reproducibility of Malvick et al. 2007's detection method to examine its effectiveness as a diagnostic tool by determining whether it could detect the pathogen at various concentrations within soybean plants of varying conditions.

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Elizabeth Parra – Animal Science

Measuring the Presence of Neutralizing Antibodies to Determine the Efficacy of a PRRSV Subunit Vaccine

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Project Advisor(s): David Verhoeven | Advisor(s): Elizabeth Bobeck

Abstract: Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus (PRRSV) continues to be the most economically significant disease to affect the U.S. swine industry. Persistent infections and highly pathogenic strains could kill up to 90% of an infected population, depleting producers’ profit margins. With successful vaccination—there would be a significant impact on production rates and swine quality of life. In previous experimentation with a new implantable subunit vaccine, baculovirus-expressed PRRSV structural proteins were tested. Specifically, PRRSV glycoproteins (gp) 2, 3, and 4 were made and placed within the implant. Swine were then challenged with PPRSV three weeks later. This resulted in a reduction of lung lesions observed post-challenge. However, the core of protection is unknown. To test the serology of vaccinated swine for reactive antibodies, gp2-4 would need to be expressed outside of insect cells. This is to avoid false reactivity to insect proteins rather than the gps, since the immunogens injected into swine contained the same glycoproteins mixed with insect proteins. The expression of each gp through a T7 promoter plasmid system in baby hamster kidney cells expressing the T7 polymerase was utilized. The expression of gp3 was confirmed, and then employed in an ELISA assay to titer the vaccinated swine sera.

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Gail Miele – Biology (AGLS)

The Hardest Part of Training a Service Dog: Training the Public

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Project Advisor(s): Cheryl Morris | Advisor(s): Sarah Wehner

Abstract: As a person with invisible disabilities, I found this project an important way to spread awareness and education about how to interact (or rather not interact) with service animals in public. For my project, I had the incredible experience of being part of the Ace Project run by Dr. Cheryl Morris. The Ace Project is an independent study focused around learning to train dogs in several situations from service dogs to rescues with behavioral issues. I have had the unique opportunity to run the Instagram and TikTok for the Ace Project, and give the public education around training, and give insight into the amazing animals, instructor, and trainers in the program. I have also created a guide with the most common questions service animals are asked and answer guides for both handlers and the curious public.

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Olivia Saul – Animal Science

Prevalence of Keel Bone Fractures in Laying Hens Housed in Cage Free Systems

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Project Advisor(s): Suzanne Millman, Anna Johnson | Advisor(s): Jennifer Bundy

Abstract: Hen keel bone fractures are a serious welfare concern, due to their high prevalence in some cage-free systems. When hens have a keel bone fracture, they show indications of pain, eat and drink less, are lighter in weight, and have reduced egg production efficiency and quality. There have been few research studies exploring the prevalence of keel bone fractures specifically in U.S. commercial systems. In this case study, keel bone data was collected from 3 different U.S. cage free systems (terrace, fienhage, and single-tier). One hundred hens, 50+ weeks of age, were randomly selected from each farm. A trained evaluator assessed each hen using the Welfare QualityTM tool, with modifications to provide further detail of keel damage. In these flocks, the most common keel abnormalities were keel deviations (median= 79), whereas prevalence of fractures (median= 34) was lower than reported in some studies. Additional flocks will be enrolled to explore impacts of potential risk factors, such as housing system, genetic strain and rearing environment.

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Kristin Van Buren – Animal Science

Factsheets On Pitbulls and Expectations When Adopting from an Animal Shelter

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Project Advisor(s): Cheryl Morris | Advisor(s): Christen Burgett

Abstract: Over the past few decades, Pitbulls have been known to be the "most aggressive" dog breed to people and other dogs. However, people base this knowledge on gossip rather than facts and studies. Pitbulls make up most of the types of dogs that live in shelters, so understanding how people can break the stigma around them is crucial. The objective of this project was to create two factsheets about Pitbulls and adoption from an animal shelter to publish on the future Iowa State Companion Animal website. The audience for these factsheets is students, families, and anyone else exploring Pitbulls and adopting a new dog from an animal shelter. The goal of this project was to provide the audience with facts when it comes to Pitbulls and to break the stigma against them. Also, to provide individuals/families with a guide on expectations when adopting from an animal shelter. The two factsheets were divided into sections with the most important information based on the topic. Visuals were also included to draw the audience's attention to the factsheets. Upon completing the factsheets, they were emailed to Dr. Cheryl Morris to publish on the future Iowa State Companion Animal website.

Sarah Hannon – Finance

LGBTQ+ Discrimination in the Adoption and Foster Care Systems

Poster not available online

Project Advisor(s): Kelly Winfrey | Advisor(s): Kelly Pistilli

Abstract: Bias and lack of legal protections for LGBTQ+ individuals going through the adoption and foster care process can create space for discrimination and unnecessary difficulties for these individuals throughout the process. Bias, whether knowingly or unknowingly, may be present throughout the stages of the adoption or foster care process through social workers and other professionals that make important decisions about who is or is not fit to become an adoptive parent or a foster parent. Increasing training for social workers about the LGBTQ+ population, increasing representation of LGBTQ+ individuals, and protective laws for the LGBTQ+ community when going through the process of adoption or foster care could decrease bias and issues LGBTQ+ individuals face. This research is important because it synthesizes research about the different ways bias can affect LGBTQ+ individuals as well as offer a possible route to decreasing this bias. This research was completed by synthesizing research that has already been published on this topic. I will present on the way bias is experienced by LGBTQ+ individuals and strategies to decrease this bias in the adoption and foster care process.

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Sydney Pantini – Marketing, Management

Perceptions of Warmth and Credibility of Virtual Assistants

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Project Advisor(s): Raju Sekar | Advisor(s): Kelly Pistilli, Kelly Pistilli

Abstract: The use of artificial intelligence (AI) is increasing in everyday life. One of the most accessible examples of AI use in an average person's daily routine is virtual assistants (VAs). The most common examples of VAs include Amazon's Alexa and Apple's Siri. Virtual assistants are fundamentally different from humans when they provide answers to questions. VAs also come embedded with both a female and male voice, and the types of information that VAs provide answers to can be factual or opinion. The goal of this research is to see if these variables are different between VAs and humans. However, there are two dimensions that we focused on to measure users' perceptions, warmth, and competence. These two variables were tested for Alexa and human voices. Through a survey, we researched the relationship between human and VA voices with warmth and competence.

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Rachel Shoemaker – Supply Chain Management

Aviation Industry Trends and COVID-19

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Project Advisor(s): Amber Bellville | Advisor(s): Kelly Pistilli

Abstract: The pandemic was impactful to many industries. The aviation industry was especially impacted by COVID-19. The industry faced many challenges which required changes to regular business functions. Many operations required restructuring to accommodate the regulations related to the virus. Airlines, airports, employees, passengers, and relative supply chains were all impacted by the shift within the industry. Looking ahead, aviation markets anticipate strong recovery from lows experienced in the pandemic. The industry, for the most part, has returned to pre-pandemic operations and functionality. This project outlines varying factors of the industry and how each was impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The project also provides insight on market recovery. Finally, the project shares information about the anticipated future state for the industry.

Jonathan Kaye – Architecture Professional Degree, Environmental Studies

Durational Portraiture

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Project Advisor(s): Mikesch Muecke | Advisor(s): Kimberly Zarecor, Jeremy Miller

Abstract: Iowa State’s campus is an assemblage of public spaces linked through sidewalks, quads, and building interiors. This connectivity mixes people of varying authority while introducing them to distinctive learning and working typologies embraced by other disciplines. Interaction with different built environments reveal the values and identity of their collegiate occupants. When assessing these environments’ functional performance, resources are often focused on delivering quantitative metrics, but qualitative details about the users and use of occupied spaces form an integral companion dataset. Through a combination of technicality and trained artistic sensibility, this type of analysis reveals unseen details and advocates underrepresented perspectives. By analyzing the implementation of materiality, space, and form in the College of Design, this project interrogates the building’s individual character. Its monumentality defies intimacy, transforming the measurement of experiential duration into an evaluation of dichotomized effects: building and human scale, form and utilization, neutral and chromatic, day and night. Capturing these results with fidelity required drawing with space as the primary media. Through an iterative series of films, videography tools were employed to convey the human experience of spatial habitation. The final series of frames replicate the feeling of dimensional motion through space, together producing a portrait of duration.

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Jack Strait – Architecture Professional Degree

Abstraction and Interactivity: An Exercise in Design Representation

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Project Advisor(s): Andrew Gleeson | Advisor(s): Kimberly Zarecor, Jeremy Miller

Abstract: This project seeks to explore the possibilities and limitations of creating a video game entirely on Microsoft PowerPoint and Photoshop. The creation titled ROCHE LIMIT: The Death of CMK is a short, surrealist experience featuring well over a thousand animated and hyperlinked slides strung together over the course of eight months. The game’s plotline is the following: Entirely by accident, you help a man evade a mysterious danger inside his home. You enter the building, and upon discovering the same strange horrors, find that there is no one to aid you in your escape. In addition to this central playable deliverable, the project involved the curation and assembly of a soundtrack posted online a week prior to ROCHE LIMIT’s release. It collages a wide variety of open-source audio clips in order to create an unusual ambience specific to the game alone. The final facet of ROCHE LIMIT involved various promotional methods including but not limited to, a physical game case, a local launch event, launch event posters, and a novel “found object” advertising method deployed across the ISU campus.

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Emily Thornton – Architecture Professional Degree

Campus' Lighting Influence on Safety: Perceptions and Reality (TBD)

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Project Advisor(s): Ben Shirtcliff | Advisor(s): Shelby Doyle, Jeremy Miller

Abstract: Are our students safe on campus? Which time of day is safest to walk on campus? Should students schedule their classes around daylight hours? Over the last few years Iowa State University's Facility Planning and Management's team has transitioned many of their street light bulbs from florescent to LED. I wanted to ensure that this step was enough to guarantee the safety of students crossing campus at night. This study aimed to understand if campus lighting was effectively lighting the common paths taken by students, and if lack of lighting caused criminal activity to gravitate towards certain areas. By comparing the existing lighting infrastructure provided by ISU FPM's team and the most recent five years of offenses provided by ISU's Police Department it can be determined that the presence of light does not drastically effect the location of committed offenses. In a similar study by the US Department of Justice, it was also determined that street lights did not deter crime. The limitations of this study related to crime are reliant on streetlights. To elevate this study, lighting models at ground level could be used. Window or door trim lights could be pursued. There are many other lighting options to be studied in regards to public safety and crime deterrence.

Nathan Butler – Mechanical Engineering

Systems Engineering Toolbox Development within Context of Lunar Robot

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Project Advisor(s): Jim Heise | Advisor(s): Alyssa Stafne

Abstract: The field of systems engineering covers a vast array of disciplines, resulting in a heightened need for effective tools to assist with organization and communication of various project aspects. Many such tools exist, but variations in equipment requirements across users makes it difficult for one software to incorporate every need at a low cost. This issue is especially pertinent to student organizations like the Cardinal Space Mining Club, where limited budgets and specialized equipment requirements reduce access to advanced systems engineering software tools. It was therefore necessary to develop an inexpensive systems engineering toolbox capable of meeting the needs of this student organization, and by extension other groups requiring similar technology. Beginning in the summer and then working in parallel with the club's fall design season, a Microsoft-based toolbox was developed to support activities such as requirements decomposition, interface management, risk assessment, trade-off studies, and more. Real-time feedback was provided from club users, and the toolbox was subsequently refined as necessary. By the end of the fall semester, the kit had been used to design a prototype lunar mining robot with assembly and testing planned for the spring where continued toolbox development will occur. This tool has been designed such that it can be generalized to meet the basic requirements of most systems engineering projects, with included flexibility for multiple levels of customization according to implementation needs.

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Andrew Deick – Software Engineering

Evoking Stress Reactivity in Virtual Reality: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

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Project Advisor(s): Stephen Gilbert | Advisor(s): Kate Jurgenson

Abstract: Background: Virtual reality (VR) research probes stress environments that are infeasible to create in the real world. However, because research simulations are applied to narrow populations, it remains unclear if VR simulations can stimulate a broadly applicable stress-response. This systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted on studies using VR stress tasks and biomarkers. Methods: Included papers (N = 52) measured cortisol, heart rate (HR), galvanic skin response (GSR), systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA), parasympathetic activity (RMSSD), sympathovagal balance (LF/HF), and/or salivary alpha-amylase (sAA). Effect sizes (ES) and confidence intervals (CI) were calculated based on standardized mean change of baseline-to-peak biomarker levels. Results: From baseline-to-peak (ES, CI), analyses showed a statistically significant change in cortisol (0.56, 0.28-0.83), HR (0.68, 0.53-0.82), GSR (0.59, 0.36-0.82), SBP (.55, 0.19-0.90), DBP (.64, 0.23-1.05), RSA (-0.59, -0.88 to -0.30), and sAA (0.27, 0.092-0.45). There was no effect for RMSSD and LF/HF. Conclusion: VR stress tasks elicited a varied magnitude of physiological stress reactivity. VR may be an effective tool in stress research.

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Adam Eichhorn – Materials Engineering

The Effects of pH and Surfactant on the Stability of BaTiO3 Nanoinks

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Project Advisor(s): Shan Jiang | Advisor(s): Andrea Klocke

Abstract: 3D printing custom devices onboard the international space station allows astronauts to create solutions to simple needs faster than NASA can send devices from Earth. To print devices with circuits, a specialized printing method in microgravity requires the usage of capacitive nano inks. Barium titanate nano inks, capped with hydroxyethyl cellulose, function well as printable capacitive inks. However, the stability of this barium titanate ink is currently inconsistent, making it useless for application after a long storage and launch cycle. Multiple samples of barium titanate nano ink are being synthesized to optimize the stability of this ink across a testing regime of pH levels and surfactant types. Stability is being measured using aging, UV-vis spectroscopy, and a rheometer.

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Ashlyn Haack – Mechanical Engineering

The Soundtrack of The Fashion Show

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Project Advisor(s): Christopher Hopkins | Advisor(s): John Wagner

Abstract: The Fashion Show at Iowa State is the largest student run fashion show in the nation, yet the music used in the show is not always created by students. This project is one song that could be used in The Fashion Show 2023. The piece is about 30 minutes long, created in Pro Tools to present a few themes that have been chosen by the directors for the show as a whole. The song has percussive lines, base lines, and melody lines that change throughout the piece to increase and decrease the intensity of the song in waves to keep the audience engaged in both the music and the show. Fashion shows and music have always gone hand in hand, and there are many reasons for that relationship which have been researched and described in a written report.

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Shawn Husgen – Chemical Engineering

Reducing the Size of Polyanhydride Nanoparticles for Sustained Release Kinetics

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Project Advisor(s): Surya Mallapragada | Advisor(s): Matthew Brown

Abstract: Polyanhydride nanoparticles are biodegradable carriers ranging in size from 10-1000nm which can be used for drug delivery. These nanoparticles are well suited for pancreatic cancer (PC) drug delivery as they protect the drug from degradation, improve biodistribution, and accumulate at the tumor via leaky vasculature surrounding it. An ideal therapeutic nanoparticle delivers drug at a controlled release rate. Polyanhydride nanoparticles degrade via surface erosion at a constant, near zero-order release rate. Our lab encapsulated the drug niclosamide in nanoparticles containing 1,6-bis(carboxy phenoxy hexane) (CPH) and sebacic acid (SA) by flash nanoprecipitation approximately 300 nm in diameter. The enhanced permeation and retention effect in cancer cells allows particles 10-100nm in size to accumulate in the tumor. To produce smaller nanoparticles, the antisolvent, solvent, and polymer physical conditions were varied. The resulting impact on NP size and quality was determined using scanning electron microscopy. Quality issues were identified as agglomeration, non-discrete nanoparticle formation, large particle size, and crystallized non-encapsulated niclosamide. Dilute polymer concentration in 1:1 dichloromethane to ethyl acetate solvent precipitated into chilled pentane produced the smallest, quality-passing nanoparticles. These nanoparticles were found to have sustained release kinetics over time at the cost of lower encapsulation efficiency of the drug.

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Mira Johnson – Civil Engineering

Stretchable Capacitive Strain Sensors for Civil Engineering Applications

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Project Advisor(s): Simon Laflamme, Han Liu | Advisor(s): Brandi Moormann

Abstract: Evaluation of large-scale structures is difficult due to their large sizes, complex geometries, and lack of economic and scalable sensing techniques. A potential solution to this challenge is the deployment of a sensor network. The project mentors previously proposed a soft elastomeric capacitor (SEC) capable of transducing strain into a measurable change in capacitance. This research builds on previous discoveries and investigates an SEC arranged flexible sensor network for strain mapping and body motion sensing capabilities. To accomplish that, a two-stage experimental test was designed and performed. The sensor network was first deployed on a flexible rubber sheet where known strains were applied at different locations for strain mapping and technology validation. Next, the sensor network was built as a wearable belt for human motion sensing. The results presented here confirm that the proposed SEC sensor network is capable of two-dimensional strain mapping and can infer the amount and type of body motion. The data obtained in this research serves as a prototype for future sensor development and is significant for modifying SEC as a wearable sensor system, with anticipation for applications such as activity and gesture recognition in personal protective equipment.

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Andrew Larkin – Biological Systems Engineering

Wall-E Trash Towers: An Exploration of Modern Day Waste Production

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Project Advisor(s): Adina Howe | Advisor(s): Lindsay Frueh

Abstract: The movie WALL-E is different from nearly every other Pixar movie ever released. Instead of showing a bright and fun world, it instead opens on a skyline filled with spires of trash. The first few minutes are dedicated to nothing but showing how Earth has become uninhabitable due to the unregulated production of waste. This raises the question, was this movie’s message merely a hypothetical? A good way to compare this movie to our reality is to look at the formation of the trash towers and see how long it would take to create the garbage needed to fill one of these towers. By looking at the modern-day trash production rates and finding the height of one of the towers, we are able to see how long it would take to create the material to build one. I am also looking at how the size of the towers in the movie compares to skyscrapers in real life so that we can get a more grounded sense of what the trash towers would look like in real life. When we do this, we can get a better idea if WALL-E depicts a realistic look of our future.

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Gayle Yii – Industrial Engineering

The Evaluation of Singapore’s Water Resources and their Future Sustainability

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Project Advisor(s): Kyung (Jo) Min | Advisor(s): Devna Popejoy-Sheriff

Abstract: Singapore is considered one of the most water-stressed countries in the world due to the shortage of land area where rainfall can be kept and stored for usage. One of the main challenges the Singapore government has to deal with is how to provide clean water to its population, which currently stands at a substantial 6 million, and consumes about 1.36 billion liters of water per day. This project investigates the feasibility of Singapore's plan to obtain clean water from its different water sources. To strive for total self-sufficiency in the near future, Singapore has been heavily focused on securing clean water from local water catchments (stormwater runoff and reservoirs), desalination, and recycled water (also known as NEWater). Causal loop diagrams were created to visualize how different variables in the system were related, while stock and flow diagrams helped to carry out future water sustainability projections in Singapore. This data will help Singapore's future as it will give us a rough estimate of whether the city-state will be capable of becoming a self-reliant country concerning water supply. Surveys were also conducted to better understand citizens' perspectives toward various water sources and the government's efforts.

Brooklyn Bakke – Kinesiology & Health

Taking Action Against Diabetes in American Indians: A Systematic Review

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Project Advisor(s): Rudy Valentine | Advisor(s): Janessa Boley

Abstract: Type two diabetes is an epidemic among American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/AN). AI/AN have a higher diabetes prevalence rate than every other race/ethnicity in the United States. As of 2018, AI/AN over 18 years old are diagnosed with diabetes at a rate 2.9 times higher than non-Hispanic whites. Recognizing the disproportionate diabetes occurrence among AI/AN, the purpose of this project was to find studies that included diabetes interventions that helped AI/AN prevent diabetes or treat it. A review of 18 studies involving AI/AN and diabetes or its modifiable risk factors was conducted. It was found that a diet, exercise, counseling, online courses, and education can improve glucose regulation in this population. Weight loss was specifically found as a modifiable risk factor in preventing and treating type two diabetes. Online education that incorporates cultural components that emphasize community, environment, spiritual, emotional, and physical wellbeing may be an effective strategy at decreasing the prevalence of diabetes in AI/AN in the future. Finding an intervention strategy that is both easily accessible and enjoyable will be paramount in decreasing the prevalence of diabetes in AI/AN in the coming years.

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Katelyn Langel – Kinesiology & Health

Impacts of SWITCH programming on Social and Emotional Learning in Schools

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Project Advisor(s): Greg Welk | Advisor(s): Heather Robinson

Abstract: A key public health priority is to promote healthy habits in youth so that they can live healthier lives as adults. The SWITCH (School Wellness Integration Targeting Child Health) initiative is an evidence-based training program that helps schools create healthier environments for youth. Through this program, school leaders in elementary and middle schools work to create healthier environments and to help students adopt healthier lives. Teachers are encouraged to use SWITCH resources and lesson plans to target crucial health issues. In a recent iteration of SWITCH (2021-2022), high priority was placed on enhancing Social and Emotional Learning (SEL). The purpose of this project is to evaluate the SWITCH programming resources focused on promoting SEL in youth. Data were obtained from three self-report checkpoint surveys completed by school staff participating in SWITCH. Students in the schools completed a pre- and post-survey that captured key indicators of SEL. The impact of the programming was evaluated by comparing outcomes in schools that fully implemented the SEL programming compared to those that did not. Results revealed significant school differences in Social Skills based on the degree of implementation. The results support the potential utility of supporting SEL outcomes through SWITCH.

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Priscilla Lee – Kinesiology & Health

Working Memory Difference Between Monolingual and Bilingual Learners

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Project Advisor(s): Ji-Young Choi | Advisor(s): Heather Robinson

Abstract: Many studies have been conducted on observing the differences between developmental differences between monolingual and bilingual learners. These researches dove into specific criteria's that could be numerically measured, such as executive functioning tasks, working memory, and even behavioral differences. The results in many of these studies conclude that bilingual learners in many instances have a more developed working memory due to their stronger language processing skill (Brojde, et al., 2012). With the overarching theme that bilinguals are shown to have a more developed working memory, this research observes more of the early developmental differences that can occur. More specifically, we observed short-term working memory in 13 children, ages 36 to 48 months, by using the digit-spanning assessment, created by cognitive scientist Ebbinghaus. We expected to observe significant differences in the ability of the two groups to retain the sequence of digits due to their predisposed environment. The predisposed environment we took into consideration is their language exposure, where bilingual learners, compared to their monolingual peers, had to retain more information and be able to swiftly switch between languages in order to communicate effectively with different people they interact in a daily basis. The results did show that bilingual learners could recollect a higher digit sequence compared to the monolingual participants, however, the difference was not significant. This result could be due to the small amounts of participants that the study was conducted with, therefore, a bigger number of participants with a relatively even number of bilingual and monolingual subjects could result in more defined results in future studies.

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Erin Lowe – Elementary Education

Supporting K-3 Students Who Struggle in Mathematics

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Project Advisor(s): Mollie Appelgate | Advisor(s): Alicia Edwards

Abstract: My project focused on math education with the end goal of creating a mathematics clinic for struggling K-3 math students. To begin the project, we reviewed prior research on struggling students, number sense, and base-ten understanding. Then, we conducted qualitative case studies by assessing and implementing various strategies and activities with current K-3 struggling students. This was done to determine the best practices for assessing struggling students, developing number sense and base-ten understanding, and the most effective activities and games for these students. The math clinic for struggling K-3 mathematics students will open and be a class for preservice teachers to learn about and work with struggling mathematics students in the Spring semester of 2023. The clinic will emphasize using students’ experiences within the researched practices.

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Alex Mohr – Kinesiology & Health

The Pressure of Returning Athletes to Play Post-Injury

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Project Advisor(s): Kira Werstein | Advisor(s): Janessa Boley

Abstract: When physical therapist have a patient who is an athlete, they often get this added pressure put on to them to rush the athlete's treatment. This pressure comes from coaches, parents, teammates, and even the athlete themselves because they are wanting to get back to their sport as quickly as possible. Research has found that rushing an athlete's rehabilitation treatment only puts them at a higher risk of re-injury. There is no universal "Return to Play" protocol. It varies based on the athlete and their specific injury. However, there are three major steps that physical therapists can follow to help them navigate through the pressure. First step is to evaluate the health status of the athlete. The second step is to evaluate their participation risk which is dependent on the type of sport they are in. Lastly, the third step is decision modification and looks at the length of season. The take away from the model is the physiological state of the athlete is important but the mental preparedness of them is equally important. It is a helpful guide but does not give a PT step-by-step instructions on how to overcome the pressure. There is room for improvement to help physical therapist in these situations. Ethics based training and a shared environment for PTs to share their experiences are two ways that can improve how they handle these situations.

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Jennessa Sharratt – Dietetics (H Sci)

The Use of Technology to Deliver Virtual Grocery Store Tours

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Project Advisor(s): James Hollis | Advisor(s): Wendy White

Abstract: Grocery store tours are potentially a useful approach to improving food choices, but may be limited by access. Virtual grocery stores tours (VGST) may offer an alternative approach. Several methods could be used to provide a VGST and differences between these methods on the user experience need to be elucidated. The purpose of this study was to determine participant experiences in a VGST provided using different mediums. In this study, a VGST was created by using the Unity Game Engine. An avatar provided nutrition education throughout the virtual grocery store (e.g., produce, dairy, meat, grains). Thirteen individuals experienced this VGST using immersive virtual reality (IVR), a PC monitor or a tablet. Participants completed a baseline questionnaire, and a wristband to measure heart rate, skin conductance and skin temperature was attached to their wrist. After collecting baseline physiological measurements, the participant viewed a VGST that lasted approximately 15 minutes. Then, they completed a questionnaire about their feelings of presence (in a supermarket), nausea, enjoyment of the VGST and the likelihood they would recommend the VGST to a friend. Responses were captured on a 7-point scale. Preliminary data analysis indicate that participants experienced a greater sense of presence in the IVR condition (IVR = 5.8, PC = 2.6, tablet = 2.6; p<0.05). In the IVR session participants experienced greater feelings of nausea (IVR = 1.7, PC = 0.4, tablet = 0.4; p<0.05). Users enjoyed the IVR medium more than the tablet medium (IVR = 5.3, PC = 4.6, tablet = 4.1; p<0.05). There was no differences in the participants willingness to recommend the VGST to a friend (IVR = 6.4, PC = 7, tablet = 5.5; p>0.05). Future analysis will examine the physiological differences during each treatment. The effect of different electronic mediums on the ability to learn and retain nutrition information requires investigation.

Kaitlyn Bennett – Chemistry

Elemental Analysis in Testing Adulteration

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Project Advisor(s): Sarah Cady | Advisor(s): Benjamin Noack

Abstract: Food adulteration is the practice of adding less expensive food products or additives to regionally unique foods that fetch higher prices in the consumer market, such as honey. Sugar adulterants are often added to honey to create a cheaper and larger amount of product that can be sold at the regular price. Current ways of testing for adulteration, including Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, can be expensive in instrumentation, training, operation, and maintenance. Combustion Elemental Analysis looks at the percent composition of carbon, nitrogen, hydrogen and sulfur and could be a less expensive alternative to current methods of adulteration determination. Using pure honey samples and common sugar adulterants, the viability of combustion EA was tested in determining adulteration. Further study could be useful in determine how useful and in what way this technique could be for testing adulteration.

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Leah Christopherson – World Languages & Cultures, World Languages & Cultures

Culturally Sustaining World Language Education

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Project Advisor(s): Sumeyra Gulmezoglu | Advisor(s): Patrick Johnson, Kathy Christensen

Abstract: Culturally sustaining pedagogy is proven to improve academic success, students’ relationship with their racial-ethnic identity, and promoting equity in schools. This study evaluated the cultural sustainability of the French curriculum at Ames High School. By conducting a literature review on culturally sustaining pedagogy, this study found that four questions formulate essential criteria in determining if an activity is culturally sustaining. These questions include 1) Are students’ different learning styles and interests accommodated in the activities? OR Does this activity help students examine the strengths and significance of their culture, family or community? 2) Is this activity related to students’ lives outside the classroom? OR Does this activity involve students in a real-world endeavor? 3) Does this activity promote and enhance students’ thinking dispositions and ability to critique dominant power structures? 4) Does this activity help teachers know and better understand their students, students’ families, and students’ communities? Data was collected on the percentage of activities that met the criteria of culturally sustaining pedagogy. Overall, there is much room for improvement, especially in lower proficiency levels (French 1 or French 2) compared to higher proficiency levels (French 3 or French 4) that are open to challenging discussions.

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Kara Dieke – Economics (LAS), Political Science

How a Student’s Ideal College Experience Influences Where They Live

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Project Advisor(s): Elizabeth Hoffman | Advisor(s): Darin Wohlgemuth, Jason Chrystal

Abstract: A student survey was created to understand how students decide where to live during college. Interviews with ISU Department of Housing administrators were also conducted to understand how administrators adapt to changes in student demographics and desires. From these interviews, I found that administrators have a good understanding of student decision-making with regard to housing. Perceptions of monetary cost were overestimated in their effect on years spent on campus, but every other factor was well assessed. Students are more motivated by their desired college experience, which varies by grade classification, major, and initial satisfaction with on-campus housing. As students progress in their college education, they desire more diverse experiences. Engineering students live on campus longer than business students due to different valuations of convenience and the full college experience. The more positive a student’s initial on-campus experience, the more likely they will return to on-campus housing. This research will help provide the Department of Residence with potential groups to target when they are concerned about re-contracting and ideas to improve overall student satisfaction with on-campus housing.

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Anna Garbe – Biology (LAS)

Effect of Dopamine, Levodopa and Serotonin treatments on the proliferation and neurogenesis of adult hippocampal progenitor cells within a microfluidic device

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Project Advisor(s): Don Sakaguchi | Advisor(s): Em Kapler

Abstract: Neurotransmitters provide an important role in chemical communication between differentiated neurons and target cells and potentially contribute to neurogenesis. The neurotransmitter dopamine (DA) and its precursor levodopa (L-DOPA) are prevalent throughout the brain and can modulate synaptic plasticity. Additionally, serotonin (5-HT) is involved in hippocampal neurotransmission. In this study, we evaluated how DA, L-DOPA, and 5-HT treatments affect the proliferation and neurogenesis of multipotent adult rat hippocampal progenitor cell (AHPC) neurospheres. We developed a microfluidic chip composed of two chambers separated by intentionally misaligned micropillars that mimic the blood-brain barrier. The chip design allows the diffusion of neurotransmitters from the source chamber to the adjacent chamber containing neurospheres. Cell viability, proliferation, and neuronal differentiation were evaluated on the AHPC neurospheres after exposure to DA, L-DOPA, or 5-HT. Following immunocytochemistry, fluorescent images were captured and analyzed to determine the immunoreactive cell percentage. After DA, L-DOPA, and 5-HT treatments, no negative effects on viability were noted. AHPCs showed a statistically significant increase in proliferation and neuronal differentiation following DA treatment compared to L-DOPA treatment. 5-HT treatment also showed a statistically significant increase in neurogenesis at higher concentrations. These results begin to provide insight into the role of neurotransmitters in regulating AHPC neurogenesis.

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Benjamin Gillette – Biology (LAS)

Off-target Effects of Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) Therapeutics

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Project Advisor(s): Ravindra Singh | Advisor(s): Lauren Ramos

Abstract: Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is an autosomal recessive disorder caused by a mutation in or deletion of the Survival Motor Neuron 1 (SMN1) gene that produces SMN, a multifunctional protein. The near identical copy of SMN1, SMN2, produces a truncated SMN due to skipping of exon 7 during pre-mRNA splicing. The low levels of full-length SMN generated from SMN2 is insufficient for the body’s needs. Since most SMA patients carry the SMN2 gene, modulation of SMN2 exon 7 splicing constitutes an excellent therapy for the disease. Two small compounds, risdiplam and branaplam, promote SMN2 exon 7 inclusion. Importantly, they achieve body-wide distribution and can cross blood-brain barrier promoting SMN2 exon 7 inclusion in motor neurons, the primary “targets” of SMA. However, it has been shown that these drugs also produce off-target effects that could be potentially harmful to SMA patients. The full scope and degree of these off-target effects remain unknown, so we aimed to identify them. Results of RNA-Seq revealed multiple splicing errors caused by low and high doses of risdiplam or branaplam. To understand the mechanistic aspect of these splicing errors, we generated minigenes containing the affected exons. These minigenes were transfected into HeLa cells which were then treated with risdiplam and branaplam. Cells were collected 24 hours post-transfection followed by analysis of splicing. Our results reveal multiple mechanisms of splicing errors caused by risdiplam and branaplam.

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Emily Gress – Biology (LAS)

The Effects of Biological Sex on Heat Stress-Mediated Alterations in Protein Synthesis

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Project Advisor(s): Joshua Selsby | Advisor(s): Em Kapler

Abstract: Climbing global temperatures pose a significant threat to human and animal health. Heat stress (HS) causes multi-systemic effects including changes to skeletal muscle. Previous findings suggest decreased protein synthesis in skeletal muscle following 12-hours of HS; however, how biological sex impacts this is unknown. We hypothesized that pigs subjected to HS would have decreased protein synthesis compared to thermoneutral (TN) pigs and gilts would be more affected than barrows. To test this hypothesis, pigs were exposed to one of three treatments: TN (20.8oC n=8/sex), 1-day HS (39.4oC n=8/sex), or 7-day HS (39.4oC n=8/sex). Following the experimental period, the red portion of the semitendinosus was collected. Total mTOR was similar between groups but phosphorylated (p)-mTOR was decreased at 7 d compared to 1 d HS (p=0.031). 4EBP1, a downstream target of mTOR, was increased 9% with HS (p=0.02) and p-4EBP1 was decreased 27% following HS (p=0.003). p70s6k and p-p70s6k, also downstream of mTOR, were similar between groups. Additionally, ribosomal capacity was decreased as an effect of HS (p=0.038). These data indicate that HS decreased protein synthesis and suggest a more profound effect following 7 d of HS compared to 1 d of HS and a greater effect in gilts than barrows.

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Franchesca Johnson – Public Relations

Crafting Your Personal Brand

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Project Advisor(s): Erin Wilgenbusch | Advisor(s): Tyler Schoh

Abstract: Personal branding is a relatively new concept that has many benefits, such as having a clear vision of yourself, shaping how others see you, standing out from others, and staying consistent with who your are as a person. My honors project is a step by step guide to creating and utilizing your personal brand. This guide provides an overview of what personal branding is, how it can help you, and various examples of personal brand statements.

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Jackson Komp – Biochemistry, Biophysics, & Molecular Biology (LAS)

Aging and cardiac function of Drosophila melanogaster moderated by microRNA

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Project Advisor(s): Elizabeth McNeill | Advisor(s): Reuben Peters, Alissa Whitmore

Abstract: A recently discovered class of molecules called microRNAs are naturally produced by cells and play an important role in the regulation of gene expression. Early research into microRNAs has revealed the mechanisms by which microRNAs carry out their regulatory role and has connected microRNA dysregulation to numerous human diseases. Despite increased awareness of their existence and a better understanding of the broad mechanisms by which they act, the unique roles of many of the thousands of known microRNAs have yet to be explored. Importantly, individual microRNAs and their unique functions can be conserved, even amongst distantly related organisms. Here, I investigate one microRNA in fruit flies, characterize the effects it has on aging and heart function, and explore its connection to a well-conserved microRNA present in human cells. Lifespan analysis demonstrates that flies with inhibited microRNA function live longer, and analysis of heart function reveals that microRNA inhibition mitigates an age-related increase in cardiac arrhythmia. Furthermore, computational analysis uncovers a substantial overlap between the genes regulated by the fly microRNA and its human equivalent. These results pave the way to a better understanding of how microRNAs affect the aging process and may inform future therapeutics to address heart disease.

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Kyra Oberbroeckling – Biology (LAS), Environmental Science (LAS)

Impacts of Nitrogen Fertilizer on Nitrogen Oxide Gas Emissions from Agricultural Soil

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Project Advisor(s): Steven Hall | Advisor(s): Em Kapler, Richard Williams

Abstract: Nitrogen oxide gases (NOx) include nitric oxide (NO) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2), which react with volatile organic compounds (VOMs) to form ozone in the lower atmosphere, harming human health and agricultural crop yields. The primary source of NOx emissions has previously been thought to be fossil fuel combustion. Soil microbes can also produce nitric oxide (NO), but the importance of soil NOx emissions remains poorly understood. We hypothesized that agricultural soils fertilized with nitrogen (N) are an important NOx source and that NOx emissions increase with N fertilizer rate. We measured NO, NO2, and CO2 emissions from soil using dynamic steady-state chambers in a field experiment with three N fertilizer rates and two contrasting soil types commonly found in Iowa agricultural fields. Supporting our hypothesis, emissions of NOx were found, with NO being the significant contributor, and increased with N fertilizer rate (R2 = 0.42, P = 0.004); however, emissions did not differ between soil types. Almost all significant NOx emissions occurred within two weeks after fertilization. These results lay the foundation for a greater collaborative effort that will allow for the creation of models projecting the effects of these NOx emission rates.

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Natalia Rios Martinez – Political Science, Public Relations

Rural Legal Deserts in the US

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Project Advisor(s): David Petersen | Advisor(s): Jason Chrystal, Tyler Schoh

Abstract: Lack of access to legal services in impoverished and underrepresented communities can reinforce systematic inequalities in the criminal justice system. Current literature does not provide empirical data that measures the lack of legal representation (e.g., legal deserts) in rural communities. Using data from the US Census Bureau’s County Business Patterns for 2019, we create an index of legal deserts for n=3,108 counties in the conterminous United States. Legal deserts are those with law office employment per 1,000 people being below 1.5 standard deviations; while legal oases are 1.5 deviations above the mean. We disaggregate legal deserts by rural-urban continuum codes to highlight differences between metro and non-metro counties. Using extant secondary data from ACS Census, we describe legal deserts and oases using demographic, economic, and social indicators. These results will help inform policies to address legal deserts in rural communities. In addition, our paper contributes to the literature by providing an empirical definition of legal deserts.

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Jennifer Seth – Environmental Science (LAS), Meteorology

11-Year Study of Land Use Impact on Drainage Volume in Central Iowa

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Project Advisor(s): Matthew Helmers | Advisor(s): Richard Williams, David Flory

Abstract: People have converted over 99% of Iowa’s original land cover of wetlands and tallgrass prairie to subsurface tile-drained annual cropland. This massive land use change has increased flood and drought severity. Restoring living plant cover duration past the crop growing season has the potential to increase the water stored in plants and the soil, thereby mitigating vulnerability to flooding and improving crop resiliency to drought. My study sought to understand how drainage volume is impacted by cropping system (treatment). I quantified the annual drainage volume on a plant cover duration range from fully perennial to fully annual plant communities from 2010-2020 in Central Iowa. I found significant differences in drainage between treatments, with corn and soybean systems exhibiting higher drainage than the cover crop or prairie treatments. Drainage generally declined over time, but the severity of decline was also dependent on treatment. Most notably, unfertilized prairie shifted from one of the lowest drainage volumes to one of the highest. I hypothesize that plant community and soil structure establishment likely explain observed differences in drainage. I wrote the methodology and results of this project into a manuscript for publication in the journal Agriculture, Ecosystems, and Environment.

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Jamie Smith – Communication Studies, World Languages & Cultures

A Mixed-Methods Approach to Documenting Product- and Process-focused Advice in Writing Center Sessions

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Project Advisor(s): Evgeny Chukharev-Hudilainen, Emily Dux Speltz | Advisor(s): Patrick Johnson, Alissa Whitmore

Abstract: At university writing centers, it is a common practice for writing consultants to summarize each session in session notes. In previous work, researchers developed a novel framework for identifying product- and process-focused writing feedback provided to students at a writing center by analyzing session notes (DeKruif & Smith, 2022). However, in previous work, it was unclear how accurately session notes reflected the full content—and, therefore, the full range of feedback types—of a session. The purpose of the current project is to investigate the extent to which the feedback documented in session notes accurately reflects the feedback that is provided in the sessions. For the present study, 10 sessions at Iowa State University’s Writing and Media Center (WMC) were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using the feedback framework. The framework was then applied to the session notes for these sessions to allow comparisons between the types of feedback documented in the session notes and those identified in session transcriptions. Information retrieval metrics of precision and recall were used to analyze comparisons. Results revealed that the novel session note framework is an accurate and reliable method for identifying process- and product-focused feedback provided in writing center sessions.