This study will explore the gender performances of and violation responses to characters portrayed in Orange is the New Black (OITNB). This study will use a feminist theoretical framework to examine this data. Additionally, this study will engage in qualitative coding and content analysis of media representations in OITNB, and compare these representations to empirical reports of violation responses.
Competitive forensics (speech and debate) has been widely established as a pivotal co-curricular activity for skill development in public speaking, communication, and argumentation. Forensics has touched and changed countless lives, being a conduit for competitors to give themselves a voice, foster lifelong relationships, and even discover a career path in communication education, eventually becoming mentors and guides for the next generation of communicators. In this autoethnography, I write my way through my experiences as an undergraduate collegiate forensic competitor pursuing a career in forensic education. My accounts will provide valuable, detailed insight into how I have navigated my first encounters with the success, challenges, joys, fears, and insecurities that accompany the journey of a future educator. My hope is that future generations of forensic educators will be able to use this document as an artifact to chart pedagogical journeys of their own.
A clear understanding of the distinction between correlation and causation is a central element of both general scientific literacy (Anelli, 2011) and psychological science literacy (APA, 2013; McGovern et al., 1991). For many topics of interest in the social sciences, however, consistent recognition and application of the distinction between correlation and causation is not easy (Bleske-Rechek et al., 2015). In fact, scientists themselves appear to struggle. Past research suggests that in various disciplines, over 50% of research articles contain causal claims about the variables under investigation despite involving a research design that does not allow for causal inferences (Bleske-Rechek et al., 2018; Ray et al., 2011; Robinson et al., 2007). In the current project, Hannah, Ally, and Emma are working with me to investigate the frequency with which recent published research articles in three different disciplines– psychology, education, and sociology – contain unwarranted causal claims.
Cut From the Same Cloth: A Commentary on Hmong American Identity Through the Vision of Art is a part of my senior BFA exhibition in spring 2026 and will be displayed alongside my work in the Foster Art Gallery. My thesis discusses my identity as a Hmong American who struggled to fit in at school, having to deal with shame and embarrassment, and how it affects me today. Two bodies of work are included in this thesis, and each one will discuss various elements of design, reflections about the creative process, and what this project has taught me as both an artist and a person. The addition of Hmong story cloth’s history and origin provides context for the work that is being shown. It works as an introduction to the craft of Hmong Paj Ntaub (translates to “flower cloth”) and the cultural significance of the craft itself.
This research investigates whether the transfer of ownership for renewable energy assets leads to improved operating efficiency. The study merges 19 years of EIA ownership records with high-resolution ERA5 meteorological reanalysis. Using a suite of modern staggered Difference-in-Differences (DiD) models, the authors examine the transition of assets from initial builders—often private equity firms primarily focused on capitalizing on federal tax credits—to specialized producers seeking to optimize long-term generation. By controlling for precise local weather conditions, the research isolates the impact of management changes on plant utilization. Preliminary findings suggest that ownership transfers result in statistically significant and persistent gains in operating efficiency. These results highlight how secondary markets facilitate the reallocation of assets to operators with superior technical expertise, effectively increasing renewable energy output and lowering the social cost per delivered MWh without requiring additional capacity.
Communities surrounding Lake Michigan suffer from poor air quality due to the proximity to major emissions from the Milwaukee-Chicago-Gary urban corridor and unique meteorological effect of trapping those pollutants in thermal inversions over Lake Michigan. Ozone, a key component of photochemical smog, is produced when urban emissions remain in stagnant air in sunlit conditions and shoreline communities in Eastern Wisconsin are in non-attainment of federal ozone standards. The WiscoDISCO-22 field campaign was conducted in Chiwaukee Prairie, WI in Kenosha County, where a regulatory monitor is located. This site often sees the highest ozone concentrations in Wisconsin. This field campaign studied the lower atmosphere by using Unmanned Aerial Systems to measure ozone, temperature, humidity and pressure. The UAS flight logs can also be used to derive winds from UAS platforms. The study incorporated flying two UAS: one overland and one overwater, to investigate the vertical profile of pollutants and vertical mixing of air parcels at this location. Analysis of these vertical profiles will be presented.
Proteins are a primary target for developing drug therapies to address certain diseases. Understanding the link between ligand characteristics, such as molecular hardness, and binding affinity could provide a more effective way to design drugs for use in treating disease. Thus, this study involved the subset of diverse proteins (Acetylcholinesterase, AmpC Beta-Lactamase, Cytochrome P450 3A4, Glucocorticoid Receptor, HIV Reverse Transcriptase, and Serine/Threonine Kinase 1) from the Database of Useful Decoys: Enhanced (DUD-E), with a focus on ligand binding sites. The active sites of these proteins were examined with computational docking of using over 50 molecules per target. Separately, ground-state electronic structure calculations were also carried out to determine the molecular hardness of each ligand. By integrating these results, we aim to develop a quantitative scale of active site hardness that enhances the predictability of ligand-binding affinity.
Fraction knowledge is essential for success in STEM. Fractions are usually introduced around third grade, but recent work shows that first graders have some informal fraction knowledge (Viegut et al., 2023). Little is known about where this early fraction knowledge comes from. As a starting point, we are investigating textbooks. Our primary goal is to discover how often and in which contexts fraction-related information is included in three popular first- and second-grade math textbooks. We are coding each page for type of fraction information: explicit (e.g., fraction words or symbols), implicit (e.g., quarters in money), possible (e.g., doubling in an addition context), or none. Preliminary analyses of the table of contents showed substantial variability across textbooks, with some first grade books explicitly mentioning equal sharing and others not including this even in second grade. Our coding so far has identified almost 500 pages with possible fraction information. Understanding how fraction-related activities are – or could be – integrated into early curricula can inform instructional recommendations to better prepare young learners with foundational fraction skills.
The Eau Claire Volcanic Complex (ECVC) is located within the Marshfield Terrane of the Penokean Orogen. Although it represents a key component of the regional tectonic model, the ECVC remains poorly understood due to limited outcrop exposure due to Paleozoic sediments and glacial till. It has traditionally been interpreted as ~1.8-billion-year-old Penokean arc-related magmatic complex and has played an important role in defining the tectonic evolution of the Marshfield Terrane. This study integrates U–Pb zircon geochronology, whole-rock major and trace element geochemistry, petrography, and field-based mapping to refine the tectonic interpretation of the ECVC. U–Pb zircon ages from intrusions and associated supracrustal rocks yield crystallization ages of ~2.5 billion years old, indicating that portions of the ECVC previously mapped as Paleoproterozoic are instead Archean in age. Whole-rock geochemical signatures and petrographic observations support interpretation of these units as components of an Archean greenstone belt. These findings suggest a more complex magmatic and tectonic history for the Marshfield Terrane than previously recognized.
In this research, five students and I are investigating college students' recalled experiences of intellectual engagement during high school, and their own and others’ attitudes toward intellectualism during high school. In the context of intellectual engagement, we aim to fill in some of the gaps in the published literature about Advanced Placement, such as the rate at which students who take AP courses go on to take the AP Exams, and their reasonings for or against doing so. We will be investigating links among students' (1) high school likes and dislikes (e.g., intellectual boredom vs intellectual challenge); (2) experiences with advanced coursework (e.g., Advanced Placement); (3) recollections of their own and other students’ and teachers’ attitudes toward students with varying characteristics (smart, studious, athletic, attractive, popular); and (4) attitudes toward intellectualism and beliefs about the effects of grouping students by ability vs. age during high school.
The purpose of my proposed departmental honors project is to examine player interactions in the reality TV show Survivor through the lens of IR theory, in order to better understand both IR theory on a micro-scale, as well as to better understand player interaction in the game Survivor.Matthew intends to do a theory-testing paper that examines how IR realism, liberalism, and constructivism are present in the reality TV show Survivor. Matthew will use the skills he learned in IR theory to conduct a content analysis of Survivor.
In the Constitution, only the legislative branch is granted any sort of legal immunity; yet in 2024 it was the presidency that received a sweeping immunity from prosecution from the Supreme Court. Is presidential immunity supported by constitutional law, or was the Court’s decision a legal travesty? I answer this question through an extensive study of pamphlets and letters from prominent figures of the Founding era. I supplement these sources with secondary writings from contemporary scholars of constitutional law. Finally, I track the growth of the idea of presidential immunity from Jefferson’s attempt to avoid subpoena, to Lincoln’s suspension of habeas corpus, to the 1973 OLC memo which gave presidents reprieve from Justice Department prosecution, and ending with the broad presidential immunity granted by the Supreme Court in Trump v. U.S. (2024). I find the Founders gave members of Congress clear immunity from arrest due to their adherence to British common law, yet presidential immunity was not explicitly included due to the Founders ignoring the common law concept of “the king can do no wrong.”
The glutathione (GSH) pathway is an antioxidant pathway found in humans and zebrafish. This GSH pathway plays a critical role in detoxifying cells from substances such as methylmercury (MeHg), which is a prevalent environmental contaminant in the Great Lakes region. Genetic variations in certain GSH genes have been reported to affect methylmercury detoxification efficiency in adult tissue; however, less is known about these environment-gene interactions during embryonic development. To investigate this context, we are creating knockout zebrafish lines with loss-of-function mutations in the GSH pathway genes gclm and gstp2. Mutations were created by microinjection of CRISPR reagents into 1-cell zebrafish embryos. Offspring of mature zebrafish identified with potential mutation were genotyped to characterize the DNA sequence at the CRISPR target area using PCR + restriction enzyme digestion with gel electrophoresis. The purpose of this project is to confirm loss-of-function mutations and generate homozygous mutant zebrafish lines to study how these genes influence developmental toxicity of contaminants during development.
Protein kinases are essential regulators of cellular signaling pathways and are major therapeutic targets due to their central roles in cell growth, survival, angiogenesis, and stress response. They are high-priority drug targets in oncology, inflammatory conditions, and other diseases driven by dysregulated kinase signaling. These enzymes share a common adenosine triphosphate-binding pocket but differ in surrounding motifs. Thus, the challenge in designing selective inhibitors of these enzymes lies in the identification of key residues both in the pocket that binds adenosine triphosphate and its surroundings. One way to study the active site is to probe its interactions with known ligand molecules and rationalize the binding using the molecular hardness of the ligands. Thus, the present study has examined five clinically relevant kinases: cyclin dependent kinase 2, epidermal growth factor receptor kinase, mitogen-activated protein kinase 14, Src kinase, and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2. The study utilized an informatics database to analyze over 50 ligands per enzyme, calculating molecular hardness and predicting binding affinities. The relationships between the molecular hardness and binding affinities were studied in detail. Together, these results highlight the interplay of hardness in ligand–kinase interactions and provide insight that may aid rational design of selective kinase inhibitors for immense therapeutic potential.
Aedes aegypti is a significant arbovirus vector responsible for transmitting diseases such as dengue, Zika, and yellow fever, which collectively cause millions of symptomatic cases globally each year. Consequently, extensive research has been conducted to understand the basic biology of these vectors and inform public health initiatives worldwide. The sensory behaviors which allow adult mosquitoes to forage and locate hosts have been thoroughly investigated, while less is known about chemosensory behaviors of the larvae. We conducted behavioral assays using custom-built arenas and an array of high-resolution cameras to evaluate the response of Aedes aegypti larvae exposed to chemosensory gradients. By analyzing poses using deep learning models that allow for precise tracking of individual anatomical features, we confirmed positive chemotaxis in response to food. This platform is now being used to explore larval functional anatomy, specifically those associated with chemosensation and olfaction, and their impact on larva behavior and foraging ability.
This study investigates the emergence of American users on RedNote (also known as Xiaohongshu), examining how this shift fosters intercultural communication between American and Chinese netizens. Through an interdisciplinary approach and qualitative analysis of posts and bilingual discussions under the TikTok Refugee, this research explores themes of cultural exchange, language adaptation, and the risks of digital miscommunication. Findings will provide insights into the evolving dynamics of global social media interaction and its implications for intercultural education and communication.
This study used a mixed-methods approach to explore the pre-departure perceptions of Chinese undergraduate students from Suzhou University of Technology (SZUT) preparing to study at the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire (UWEC) through the CHEPD 1+2+1 program. Findings reveal a student cohort marked by optimistic ambition alongside practical anxieties. While students are motivated by the promise of a Western education that fosters critical thinking and practical skills, and they look forward to personal growth and cultural immersion, their enthusiasm is tempered by concerns about language barriers, social integration, and personal safety. Notably, there is a striking contrast between their academic confidence—supported by technological tools—and their socio-emotional apprehensions about adapting to a new cultural environment.
Biomolecular condensates (BMCs) are naturally occurring membraneless organelles formed through liquid–liquid phase separation (LLPS). They play essential roles in cellular processes such as signal transduction, gene expression, and stress response. Although LLPS involving intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) and intrinsically disordered protein regions (IDPRs) is well documented, far less is known about LLPS in folded globular proteins. Recent studies indicate that folded globular proteins can also form crowder induced condensates; however, the factors that drive LLPS in these systems remain poorly understood. Moreover, the impact of LLPS on protein function is also understudied.We are examining how variables such as protein concentration, molecular crowding, pH, temperature, and ionic strength influence LLPS induced BMC formation. In addition, we are investigating how LLPS affects enzyme activity. Our study uses modular globular proteins, such as bovine serum albumin and Escherichia coli prolyl tRNA synthetase, alongside synthetic polymers like polyethylene glycols of varying sizes. To probe the mechanistic details of LLPS, we employ a suite of complementary techniques including fluorescence spectroscopy, confocal imaging, light scattering measurements, and enzymatic kinetic assays.
In both past and present, stalking laws often include a ‘reasonable fear’ component, which considers whether a ‘reasonable person’ would be fearful in response to a given behavior, to label the behavior as stalking. The nature of fear is highly subjective, and what one person is afraid of may not invoke fear in another. The purpose of this study was to evaluate differences between men and women’s fear regarding unwanted contact and pursuit behaviors (i.e., stalking behaviors) and how men’s and women’s level of fear may differ depending on the sex of the perpetrator and the relationship they have to the perpetrator. Using a 2 (participant sex: male/female) x 2 (perpetrator sex: male/female) x 2 (perpetrator relationship: stranger/classmate), I asked college students to review 18 unique stalking-like behavioral situations and rate to what extent they would be fearful for their safety in each situation. Participants also rated the extent to which each situation warranted calling the authorities if a same-sex friend was the victim. Results indicated that there were sex differences in the reporting of the extent to which participants would feel fearful for their safety. Female participants were more fearful than male participants across the various stalking behaviors and participants rated their fear for their safety as greater in scenarios depicting a male perpetrator. There was no difference in fear ratings between the classmate and stranger conditions. Sex differences in the fear invoked by stalking may lead to some underestimating the true consequences of stalking victimization, and therefore more awareness of these consequences needs to be brought to both potential victims and perpetrators of stalking.
White dwarfs are the end states of stars with masses less than about six times the mass of the sun. They are exotic objects with masses comparable to that of the sun packed into a volume about as small as the earth's. Their very structure requires quantum mechanics to explain, and they host important events like novae and type Ia supernovae, which are responsible for the creation of about half of the iron in the universe. To study the evolution and structure of white dwarfs, astrophysicists use computational models. Creating these models, however, can require evolving a stellar model through all the phases of stellar evolution, which is both time consuming and unpredictable. A researcher would like to simply specify the mass and composition structure of a model and start from there. In this project, we develop several tools and datasets to streamline creating models of white dwarf stars for use in the popular MESA stellar evolution code. These tools have already been used by our research groups and collaborators.
Physics & Astronomy, University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire
Dr. Bill Wolf is an associate professor of physics and astronomy at UWEC. He conducts research in computational stellar astrophysics with a team of undergraduate students and also serves as the director of the L.E. Phillips Planetarium.
This project examines sociolinguistic variation in the endangered Judeo-Spanish (Ladino) community of Istanbul, focusing on intergenerational change and language contact. The study outlines key phonological, morphosyntactic, and lexical features of Judeo-Spanish and analyzes linguistic data from three generations of speakers. Supported by an SREU UW–Eau Claire research grant, the project focuses on two variables: the devoicing of /z/ and adjective placement within the noun phrase. The dataset consists of publicly available recorded interviews with members of the Istanbul Judeo-Spanish community, including speakers involved in language revitalization initiatives. Using qualitative and quasi-quantitative methods, the analysis examines how generation, bilingualism, and speaker sex are associated with patterns of variation in Judeo-Spanish. The study also explores bidirectional cross-linguistic influence, considering the effects of Turkish on Judeo-Spanish as well as possible influence from Judeo-Spanish on Turkish. By situating these patterns within a long-term contact setting, the project contributes to broader discussions of the dynamics between minoritized and majority languages.
Schistosomiasis is a neglected tropical disease caused by Schistosoma blood flukes. Intestinal schistosomiasis is primarily due to Schistosoma mansoni, transmitted by Biomphalaria snails. In mammalian hosts, paired adult parasites reside in the mesenteric vasculature; females lay eggs that traverse the intestinal wall to be excreted by the host, but many become trapped in tissues, especially the liver, eliciting immunopathology. S. mansoni is the major laboratory model, and liver-derived eggs are typically used to maintain life cycles and study miracidia behaviors such as photosensation and chemosensation. However, eggs from liver and intestine differ morphometrically, transcriptomically, and antigenically, which may affect experimental outcomes. To test whether these differences endure after hatching to miracidia, the first larval stage, we compared miracidia hatched from mouse liver- versus intestine-derived eggs, sequencing their transcriptomes and quantifying behaviors using high-resolution tracking. Miracidia transcriptomes were distinguishable by egg source, though only a small subset of genes was differentially expressed. In contrast, basic behavior differed markedly. These distinct behavioral programs highlight egg source as a critical variable in experimental design and interpretation.
Required math courses are taken by many college students in their first semester, yet little is understood about how math motivation changes during this time. Guided by Situated Expectancy-Value Theory (Eccles and Wigfield, 2020), we conducted a longitudinal study examining changes in 53 students’ math task value, math self-efficacy, and math anxiety across fall semester. We compared motivational trajectories across two math courses: one for mostly STEM majors with relatively higher placement test scores and one for mostly humanities majors. We also conducted classroom observations and interviews with four participating instructors. Analysis of student survey data is ongoing. Preliminary findings from observations showed instructors in the course for humanities majors more often made direct efforts to improve student enjoyment (situational interest). Instructor interviews, coded reliably (κ = 0.83), revealed similar practices across both courses, such as emphasizing growth mindset, high standards, and encouraging students to use campus and class resources. By understanding how math motivation shifts during the transition to college, we can inform future efforts to foster student resilience and reduce barriers to learning.
The goal of many vaccines is to eventually eradicate a disease by getting enough individuals vaccinated to create herd immunity. For example, in 1980, the World Health Organization (WHO) deemed smallpox eradicated globally. This almost became true for measles in the early 2000, but due to increased rates of vaccine hesitancy, infection rates are on the rise. This research will determine the infection rates of measles before the creation of the measles vaccine, after the public release of the measles vaccine, and after the 2020 COVID pandemic, where cases of vaccine hesitancy started to rise. Measles infection rates will also be compared between different demographics. Based on the results, I will discuss why individuals choose not to get vaccinated and what the rise in vaccine hesitancy will mean for cases of other diseases like polio.
Due to its unique layered architecture, the superconducting material REBCO (rare-earth barium copper oxide) supports high magnetic fields exceeding 20T and thus clean energy processes such as fusion. The layer deposition process, however, introduces widespread variation in both structure and properties leading to an inconsistent product and reduced performance. It was previously determined that secondary particles decrease the hardness of the REBCO superconducting layer and thus the likelihood of brittle failure when wound into a coil, yet their distribution including shape, area, and cluster behavior, varies by up to 80%. Furthermore, in spools produced to the same specifications by the same manufacturer, mechanisms pinning vortices in the superconducting state differ. The university of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory associated with Florida State University provided the necessary instrumentation including electron imaging, nano-hardness, and angular dependence in high magnetic fields to produce this comprehensive understanding of how processing conditions inform REBCO´s structure and properties. This research helps to benefit manufacturers in homogenizing their product and advance high-magnetic-field physics and clean energy production.
In mid-2024, two local hospitals in the Hospital Sisters Health System (HSHS) and nineteen Prevea urgent care clinics suddenly closed, leaving people in both suburban and rural areas without adequate access to healthcare. Our study seeks to examine how health equity suffers when people lose access to treatment for emergencies and chronic conditions. Our study offers critical insight given that Wisconsin is one of only ten states in the nation (and the only state in the Midwest) that has opted against Medicaid expansion, a decision that has critically damaged access to essential treatment and care. We interviewed local community leaders of health-related organizations, healthcare providers, and public health officials about healthcare equity in the Eau Claire Metropolitan Area (ECMA), which includes both Eau Claire and Chippewa counties. By gathering their perspectives, our interviews illustrate how vulnerable populations have been impacted by the HSHS/Prevea closures and our state’s refusal to expand Medicaid. We will conclude by discussing these leaders’ recommendations for improving health equity to better serve marginalized Wisconsinites in this precarious moment for healthcare access.
Surgical simulators allow surgeons to practice techniques to develop their skills. 3D printed trainers allow surgeons to practice without the need for cadavers and allow various anatomical variations including features that are unique to a specific patient. Once these designs are refined a comparison can be made between medical residents that have training including these devices compared to those that do not.
Undergraduate researchers at UW-Eau Claire, in collaboration with the Mayo Clinic Health System, developed a biocompatible foam for use in tumor ablation procedures and characterized its properties to improve patient outcomes. Tumor ablation is a minimally invasive cancer treatment in which a narrow probe is inserted directly into a tumor to apply intense thermal energy that induces tissue necrosis. However, this technique often results in unintended damage to surrounding healthy tissue and post-operative complications for patients. Therefore, the development of an insulative and stable foam presents a viable improvement to current tumor ablation procedures. Characterization of both the biocompatible materials and the resulting foam is essential for quantifying the foam’s physical properties and evaluating its effectiveness. Stability testing, pendant drop tensiometry, rheology, and thermal testing utilizing tissue mimics were implemented to assess these properties. Additionally, experiments involving the freeze-drying of the foam are being conducted and present a possible strategy to improve shelf-life and clinical applicability. Ongoing development and testing of this biocompatible foam aim to improve the outcomes of tumor ablation procedures.
Our laboratory developed an animal model of hunger where male rats were trained to discriminate between 22-hours and 2-hours food deprivation in a two lever, operant choice task. Our present study assesses the female and male rats’ ability to acquire the same discrimination. Female and male rats learned to discriminate between the two conditions. We then tested the effects of food consumption and the antidepressant, duloxetine (an antidepressant in humans that increases serotonin and norepinephrine function) in this paradigm. Pre-session food intake reduced “hunger” in 91% of females and 82% of males. At least one duloxetine dose (1-32 mg/kg) administered 20 minutes before the test session reduced “hunger” stimuli in 50% of females and 57% of males. Larger duloxetine doses were needed to reduce lever pressing in females. Duloxetine reduced one hour, post-test session food intake in all rats. In sum, both female and male rats learned the task. Food consumption and duloxetine appear to produce similar, but not identical, decreases on the effects of 22-hours food deprivation in female and male rats.
Researchers studying sugar addiction gave rats chronic, intermittent sucrose access (10-25% sucrose solutions for 12 hours). Increased endorphin and dopamine levels were observed and naloxone (Narcan) administration induced opioid withdrawal signs. We trained male rats to discriminate between injections the opioid antagonist naltrexone and saline. We found sucrose consumption an hour before the training session (and 11 hours after) produced long-term changes in opioid function. Sucrose’s effects on endorphins lasted about 2 weeks. In this study, we assessed potential sex differences (trained the discrimination in female and male rats) and are interested in determining which opioid receptor type(s) are influenced by chronic, intermittent sucrose administration. We also changed the procedure. Rats received all sucrose post-session. We found fewer rats learned the discrimination indicating pre-session sucrose is important. Females and males acquired the discrimination similarly. Smaller naltrexone doses induced effects in females. Although access to chronic, intermittent sucrose solutions produces long-lasting changes in opioid function, the timing of sucrose access is important in training a naltrexone-saline discrimination in this paradigm.
During the 20th century, an abuse of bodily autonomy and public health took place on the island of Puerto Rico: the forced and coerced sterilization of thousands of Puerto Rican women and girls. The fact and intentional planning of this atrocity has been frequently overlooked or denied by the governments of the United States and Puerto Rico, as well as by the hospitals and organizations complicit in these events. However, historical sources and statistics clearly depict what happened, and the testimonies of the victims of sterilization express the truth of these events. Understanding how these practices were able to occur, the rhetoric and beliefs behind sterilization, and the political situation that informed what happened can help prevent atrocities like these from happening in the future.
A co-op pirate adventure game! Battle through obstacles while working together to manage your resources. Can you keep the ship afloat? Or will you and your crew forever be a forgotten tale? The game is designed for 4 players and playtime is 30-45 minutes.
This paper examines how transmasculine individuals who experience pregnancy navigate feminist and medical spaces, which are shaped by gender essentialism and the assumption that a normal body is a cisgender body (cisnormativity). Drawing on feminist theory, trans medical history, archival silences, and contemporary memoirs, the project argues that transmasculine pregnancy is situated between feminism and medical neglect, exposing unresolved tensions within social and institutional reproductive work. While feminist and reproductive rights movements have historically challenged patriarchal control over women’s bodies, some so-called feminists relied on biological definitions of womanhood that render transmasculine experiences as invisible or threatening. Through an analysis of U.S. trans medical experiences from the turn of the twenty-first century, along with accounts of transmasculine pregnancy within the twenty-first century, this paper demonstrates how medical gatekeeping, feminized reproductive healthcare spaces, and gender-critical feminist discourse collectively reproduce the same forms of bodily regulation they may resist or embrace. This paper argues that expanding feminist frameworks to include transmasculine reproductive experiences strengthens reproductive justice by confronting cisnormative logic in feminism and medical systems.
The foundation of Cray Research Incorporated (CRI) in 1972 brought about the era of high-performance computing, popularly known as supercomputing. CRI was highly reliant on women’s labor in both its factory in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin and its software programming department at Mendota, Minnesota. CRI’s utilization of women workers raises two questions: why did leadership at Cray Research feminize certain aspects of supercomputing production and not others? How did the feminization of certain aspects impact the workplace and corporate culture? Using oral history interviews of former Chippewa Falls CRI employees, archived internal company documents, patents granted to CRI, and CRI documents published for general consumption, Dylan will argue that while women were valued employees at CRI, which offered career advancement to a few women, CRI still replicated existing gendered power dynamics in industrial and technical manufacturing.
Adenosine A2A receptor (A2AR) antagonists are known to increase hippocampal neurogenesis and goal-directed reward-seeking behaviors. However, the connection between neurogenesis and goal-directed behaviors remained unknown. To study the possible causal relationship, first, we sought to examine whether the A2AR antagonist, istradefylline, which is also recently approved for treating Parkinson’s disease. First, 20 mice were divided into two groups. The first group (10 mice) was injected intraperitoneally (i.p.) daily with istradefylline at 5 mg/kg per day, an hour before behavioral testing. The second group (10 mice) was administered the vehicle. To train the mice toward goal- directed behavior, we used a random ratio (RR) training schedule using a 20% sucrose solution. To evaluate goal-directed or habitual reward-seeking behaviors, we examined nosepoke-based reward-seeking on valued (V) and devalued (DV) conditioning in an extinction test (no reward delivery upon nosepoking) after the training was completed. Goal-directed mice showed a sensitivity to outcome devaluation (stop nosepoking on DV condition). Also, we performed the open field test (OFT) to measure locomotor activity and a Y-maze test to test cognitive function. Our results showed that istradefylline-treated mice exhibited increasing trends of goal-directed behaviors and locomotor activities. Future experiments with additional mice will reveal the role of potentiating goal-directed behaviors and possible correlation with neurogenesis.
Widespread human impacts – from climate change to unprecedented rates of human visits to once relatively untouched wilderness areas – contribute to rapidly changing selective pressures on wildlife. Long-term studies on marked individuals can offer insights into population and community dynamics over time. The current research aims to reveal the demographic and behavioral patterns of California ground squirrels (Otospermophilus beecheyi) before and after a boom year of California voles (Microtus californicus). As part of a long-term field study in California, we have live-trapped, marked, and observed individual ground squirrels since 2013. In Summer 2024, we documented the emergence of widespread hunting and consumption of voles by ground squirrels in our two study populations. Here we document the subsequent crash in squirrel abundance and surge in predator sightings in Summer 2025. We report on these demographic, behavioral, and physiological consequences of the vole boom year using an integrated approach. Our findings offer insights into how periods of prosperity (e.g., boom years) and catastrophic turnover events (e.g., demographic crashes) shape wildlife populations that generate ripple effects within ecological communities.
Residents on the shoreline of Lake Michigan in southwest Wisconsin are subject to air quality issues from high ozone concentrations near ground level. A large multi-agency, multi-university field campaign was conducted in 2023 called AGES+ which investigated air quality over multiple metropolitan areas across the US. At Chiwaukee Prairie, in Kenosha County WI, an enhanced monitoring ground station was set up with ozone LIDAR, overland unmanned aerial systems (UAS), overwater UAS, and sondes, located next to a regulatory monitor. The UWEC team flew overwater UAS from August 2-11, 2023 and data was collected for ozone concentrations, temperature, wind speed, and wind direction. Measurements were conducted using a DJI M300, with two IMETs and POM sensors attached, with flights occurring over Lake Michigan near the Chiwaukee Prairie area. Results were then correlated with the Wisconsin DNR’s ground station in Chiwaukee Prairie and the overland UAS flown by University of Alabama Huntsville. This analysis will present evaluations of similarities and differences in the structure of the lower atmosphere including the ozone abundances with respect to overwater and overland flights.
Background: Human Mesenchymal Stromal Cells (hMSCs) are multi-potent cells that have are known to secrete therapeutic factors that can provide trophic support, immunomodulation, and vascular repair. However, like most cell therapies, using whole hMSCs comes with risks, such immune rejection and tumor formation. We wanted to address this challenge and find a way to improve hMSC therapies to make them safer and more effective. The therapeutic secreted products of hMSCs can be packaged into tiny particles called extracellular vesicles (EVs). We investigated the method of isolating EVs from hMSCs after transfecting them with mRNA, encoding for an anti-inflammatory compound called interleukin 10 (IL-10). Our goals were to determine if mRNA can be used for transient production of IL-10 by hMSCs, and to assess the IL-10 levels expressed freely and the amount being packaged into EVs from the genetically modified cells.
Hypothesis: We hypothesized that hMSCs transfected with IL-10 mRNA will produce more IL-10 free floating in the media and contained within the EVs than the GFP transfected cells.
Methods: To test this, hMSCs were cultured to 80-90% confluency and transfected with IL-10 mRNA (IL10-MSCs) or GFP mRNA (GFP-MSCs) using Lipofectamine for four hours. Cells were then incubated in complete media for one day, followed by serum-free conditioned media for two days. The conditioned media was collected and EVs were isolated using size exclusion chromatography. Nanoparticle tracking analysis was used to confirm successful EV isolation and the amount of IL-10 in whole media or EVs was quantified using ELISA.
Results: Our results confirmed we successfully isolated EVs from conditioned media with ~65% of EVs being in the exosome size range (50nm-150nm) and ~33% in the microvesicle range (100nm-1000nm). The average concentration of EVs was 5.8 x 109 particles/mL. We also demonstrated that IL-10 over secreting hMSCs produced significantly more IL-10 than GFP controls in whole media and showed a trend in increased levels in EVs. IL-10 was detected freely in whole media and in EVs; however, the majority was being secreted freely into the media.
Conclusion: In conclusion, we demonstrated that hMSCs can be transfected with IL-10 mRNA and produce IL-10 freely and also package it into EVs at greater amounts than the control. Future studies can focus on improving the loading efficiency of IL-10 into EVs, through more genetic modifications. The currently mRNA technology tested here is effect for enhancing hMSC cell therapies, with great potential to also be used for cell-free therapy that is safer, more targeted, and potentially more effective for treating many diseases and injuries.
Deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the subthalamic nucleus (STN) and globus pallidus internus (GPi) is an established neuromodulation intervention for the treatment of Parkinson’s Disease (PD). Although highly successful, DBS of these nuclei can produce side effects due to their involvement as part of the complex hyperdirect pathway. The primary motor cortex (M1) projects to the STN and plays a role in PD. Improving characterization of M1 projections through the hyperdirect pathway could present potential new targets for improved selectivity and symptom relief in DBS for PD. In this study, we injected red fluorescent retrobeads into the STN of a healthy rat to retrogradely label its afferent projections. Tissue was sliced in 40 um sections, processed, and analyzed using an immunohistochemistry approach with DAPI staining, imaged at 20x magnification and quantified via fluorescent density. Retrobeads were found in a total of nineteen brain structures. The structures which appeared most often containing retrobeads across all twenty-four images were the ventral posteromedial thalamic nucleus (VPM), ventral posterolateral thalamic nucleus (VPL), zona incerta-ventral (ZIV), subthalamic nucleus (STN), internal capsule (IC), reticular nucleus of the thalamus (Rt), and the primary somatosensory cortex (S1). All other structures containing retrobeads had very limited fluorescence intensity. Contrary to expectations, no retrobead labeling was found in the M1. Additionally, the internal capsule showed the highest retrobead signals, suggesting a critical role in this pathway. The structure with the lowest retrobead signal was the basal nucleus of Meynert. While limited by the sample size, these preliminary findings support the complexity of the hyperdirect pathway and the important role of the internal capsule in the basal ganglia and hyperdirect pathway. Above all, these results highlight the potential of retrobead-based circuit mapping to re ne understanding of the STN’s afferents, ultimately improve DBS targeting strategies for PD.
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic autoimmune disease that affects millions each year. It causes the body to mistakenly attack its own immune system, causing brain inflammation. One of the ways it does this is through a process called demyelination, which destroys the protective coverings of nerves called myelin sheaths. It is known that inflammation is what triggers demyelination, which is contributing to the progression of MS. Current therapies focus on targeting the inflammatory stage of the disease, but therapies targeting progressive phase of MS are not available. A previous study done in my lab, found that during demyelination, there is an increase of Interferon Stimulated Gene 15 (ISG15) expression in cortical neurons in mice demyelinating models and is elevated in postmortem tissue from the cortex of MS patients suggesting that ISG15 expression, might be a shared stress response in neurons following primary oligodendrocyte loss and inflammatory demyelination. ISG15 is known to be a key contributor to the immune system and is primarily known for its role in modulating immune cells. However, its role in demyelination and neurodegenerative disorders is still unknown. However, we hypothesize that by ablating ISG15 in all cells, as well as specifically in neurons, this will lead to a preservation of NeuN+ cells in the cortex during cuprizone induced demyelination. To test this hypothesis, two groups (A and B) were selected, each with two genotypes of mice in each group: a control, and experimental. In group A, the control group was the B6 wildtype (WT) mice with ISG15 expression in all cell types. The experimental group had the ISG15 conventional knockout (KO) mice group, that did not have ISG15 expression in any of the cell types. In group B, the regular littermate control mice group was Syn Cre-, with ISG15 expression in all cell types. The experimental mice group was the ISG15 conditional knockout (cKO; Syn Cre+ ISG15 fl/fl) group, having ISG15 present in all cell types except neurons; allowing to study its role only in neurons. Experimental design started with inducing demyelination in these mice through a cuprizone diet, starting at 6 weeks old. For the WT and KO mice, at 3, 6 and 12 weeks after starting the cuprizone diet. For the Syn Cre+ and Syn Cre- mice, they were only perfused and collected at 6 weeks after starting the cuprizone diet. Brain slices were stained with a NeuN antibody and counterstained with DAPI. Using the confocal microscope, the stained slices were imaged, and they were quantified for NeuN+ cells in the cortex using stereological sampling parameters. At 12 weeks on a cuprizone diet, preliminary results showed neuron density was preserved in the ISG15 knockout genotype compared to the wildtype control in demyelinating mouse models. In conclusion, our preliminary finding was that ISG15 deficiency protects neurons during demyelination.
Something’s in the Bunker is a co-op survival horror maze where you and your team need to explore an underground research facility to find research, and then escape without dying to the monster. The game is designed for 3-5 players and lasts around 45 minutes to an hour.
Background & Objectives: Spinal cord injury (SCI) abruptly alters the protease microenvironment, including elevations in thrombin capable of activating Protease Activated Receptor 1 (PAR1). PAR1 activation in astrocytes promotes pro-inflammatory and neurotoxic responses that hinder neural repair. Previous studies using PAR1 knockout mice demonstrated that knockout of the PAR1 gene reduces reactive astrogliosis and inflammation while preserving neurons and axonal integrity (Radulovic et al., 2016; Kim et al., 2021). Building on these findings, we employed a thoracic compression SCI model (T8–T9) in adult female C57BL6J mice to test whether pharmacological PAR1 antagonism could similarly sway astrocytes toward pro-repair states and thereby remodel the injury microenvironment.
Methods: The PAR1 antagonist (SCH79797) was delivered following thoracic compression (T8-T9) SCI in adult female C57BL6J mice. Immunophenotyping was completed to quantify astrocyte markers, including GFAP in addition to pro-repair markers (EMP1, S100A10) and a pro-inflammatory marker (C3D).
Results: PAR1 antagonism was associated with a downregulation of astrocytic pro-inflammatory signatures and concomitant upregulation of pro-repair markers.
Conclusion & Implications: Our findings suggest that PAR1 antagonism may promote astrocyte compartment skewing from inflammatory states toward a pro-repair phenotype, which could in turn facilitate neural regeneration. Integrating interventions targeting PAR1 with precise cell-phenotype mapping could unlock new therapeutic pathways to reprogram glial behavior and optimize CNS regeneration after injury.
Acetyl-CoA is a central metabolite crucial for energy production, neuroprotection, and the activity of the citric acid cycle to support oxidative phosphorylation in brain cells. Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder that affects more than 7 million Americans characterized by metabolic dysfunction, synaptic degeneration, and alterations in mitochondrial function in early-stage disease mechanisms. One prominent characteristic of the disease is a reduction in glucose uptake, resulting in a diminished level of acetyl-CoA. Along with decreased acetyl-CoA levels, AD also presents reduced histone acetylation, one of the main downstream targets of acetyl-CoA, subsequently resulting in a downregulation of gene transcription. Previous studies demonstrated that mild inhibition of mitochondrial complex I (mtCI) with tricyclic pyrone compound CP2 induces the adaptive stress response, activating multiple neuroprotective mechanisms in brain cells, including increased glucose uptake and utilization. C273 is a small molecule with similar dynamics to that of CP2. It binds to the same site of mtCI as CP2 with differing efficacy and concentration. Optimized for clinical applications, C273 shows greater promise as an alternative therapeutic approach to treating AD. The aim of this project is to assess whether the inhibition of mtCI with C273 affect to the abundance of acetyl-CoA and improves transcription of genes involved in cognition. Neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells that express mutant human APP protein (APPswe) and control cells were treated with C273 (50 nM or 500 nM) and CP2 (2.5 μM) for 24 hours. Mass spectrometry was used to measure the acetyl-coA level. The change in acetyl-CoA–sensitive targets (H3K27 acetylation and total histone H3) were analyzed by Western blot. At 24 hours of treatment with C273 or CP2, acetyl-coA levels increased significantly in both control and APPswe cells. Confirmation of acetyl-CoA level changes by assessing downstream effects on H3K27 acetylation. Importantly, C273 induced a similar percentage increase acetyl-coA as CP2, but at a 50-fold-lower concentration. These findings suggest that C273-dependent activation of multiple mechanisms essential for improved energy homeostasis in APPswe cells results in an increase of whole cell acetyl-CoA levels enhanced gene expression associated with cognition via histone acetylation. These preliminary results will be validated in future studies.
How do we use music to tell common stories? Through the work of composers such as Benjamin Britten, Ulysses Kay, Althea TalbotHoward, and Valerie Coleman, this research project explores female archetypes, both mythological and historical, in instrumental workfor oboe and English horn. This project will culminate in a lecture-performance recital, entitled “Women Crying: Symbols of Womanhoodin Instrumental Works for Oboe and English Horn.” It works to synthesize studies in both Music and Communication.
