The Open Poster Presentation sessions include poster presentations and displays of research, scholarly, and creative work across all disciplines, all UW-Eau Claire campuses, and CVTC.
This project seeks to develop a mechanically flexible cooling pad that can be used by medical providers to provide targeted pain or inflammation relief to injured or surgical areas. We are seeking to develop a device that is fully temperature controlled and can be used for long intervals of time up to several hours. We are currently pursuing two distinct cooling methods and engineering a complete system for both approaches. These systems are being designed to maximize cooling power and control while retaining geometric flexibility and user convenience. In this poster, we will compare the two systems, describe some of the key geometric and experimental variables under study, and highlight areas for further innovation.
Amorphous silicon and silicon oxides (SiOₓ, 0 ≤ x ≤ 1) are promising anode materials for lithium-ion batteries due to their high theoretical energy capacity. However, their practical implementation is hindered by substantial volume changes during cycling. A detailed atomic-level understanding is essential to improve their stability and performance. This project focuses on developing accurate and transferable machine learning force fields (MLFFs) for amorphous SiOₓ. Initial amorphous structures were generated using ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD) simulations with the Vienna Ab initio Simulation Package (VASP) via a melt-and-quench approach. Different quench rates were investigated to minimize training errors and improve MLFF reliability. The resulting MLFFs significantly reduce the computational cost compared to AIMD simulations, enabling simulations at larger length scales and longer timescales. This approach allows efficient investigation of structural evolution and lithiation mechanisms in Si-based anodes, supporting the design of more durable, high-capacity lithium-ion anode materials.
Vascular surgeons often use stent grafts to treat patients with peripheral vascular disease to restore adequate blood flow to affected regions of the body, preventing tissue death and loss of limb. Current stent grafts and deployment systems do not have a flexible enough design to meet needs for all patients, especially in the situation where there is a collateral blood vessel that must remain open. A deployment system is being developed using modified catheters to align and confirm position of the stent graft relative to a collateral vessel. The deployment system catheter comprises a central line for a guidewire, a 90-degree output channel for wire and radiopaque dye for flow verification, and a lumen for attachment of the stent graft. Prototypes were fabricated through resin casting and injection molding that can be attached to existing multilumen catheter tubing. This project will improve patient results by providing a cost effective, efficient, and safe way for vascular surgeons to position modified stent grafts in challenging anatomies in the peripheral vasculature.
Expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) grafts are commonly used in vascular bypass surgeries and peripheral arterial reconstructions to repair and reconstruct blood vessels. However, current ePTFE grafts often cause scar tissue formation due to their dense structure, contributing to compliance mismatch and limiting their long-term effectiveness and integration with the host. The goal of this research project was to utilize multiple characterization techniques to determine the melting point, crystallinity, and microstructure of raw PTFE resin, heat-treated resin, and extruded and expanded PTFE tubing. Characterization techniques included the determination of the melting point and crystallinity percentages using Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) and analysis of the surface morphology using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images. A PTFE pelletizer and extruder was designed to be compatible with a mechanical tensile tester and optimized to remove air and compress the resin and lubricant mixture to create PTFE extruded tubing . This will allow for student-led ePTFE production to reduce overall purchasing costs and increase tunability of tubing production factors to optimize tubing thickness, mechanical properties, and compliance. These techniques aim to guide the fabrication of ePTFE grafts created by student researchers to enhance biological integration with vasculature and long-term clinical performance.
Currently, no tailored surgical models exist for minimally invasive cardiac procedures leaving surgeons to learn primarily on patients. These procedures, such as catheter ablation and the WATCHMAN left atrial appendage closure, are performed by placing a catheter through the femoral vein to access the heart. To address this gap, we have developed an anatomically accurate and patient-specific training model. Using CT and MRI scans from the Mayo Clinic, we created a 3D-printed model with Materialise Mimics, Materialise 3-Matic, and SolidWorks software. The system includes a torso, leg, interchangeable hearts, and a femoral vein pathway. Cameras are in place to mimic the fluoroscopy that would be used in an actual procedure. A visual and audio feedback system identifies key ablation points in the heart. Together, these features allow for the creation of an educational model. Surgical outcomes utilizing the educational model will be compared with previous outcomes for surgeons of various education and experience levels. This project will reveal if customizable practice models are significantly beneficial to surgical practice by observing patient outcomes.
Understanding localized meteorology is integral to understanding tropospheric ozone behavior. This field campaign took place during 2023 AGES+, a nationwide atmospheric chemistry campaign to better understand air quality and patterns in major metropolitan regions. Our objective was to measure ozone, temperature, pressure, and winds in the lower atmosphere near Chiwaukee Prairie in southeastern Wisconsin. This analysis investigates the potential effect of overwater wind patterns, measured by UAS, on ozone levels measured by the Chiwaukee Prairie Department of Natural Resources ground station.
Atmospheric pollutants are a huge problem in today’s environment. Ozone is one of these pollutants. It is harmful to human health and is a main pollutant in photochemical smog. Counties near Lake Michigan in Eastern Wisconsin suffer from poor air quality due to high ozone events and are in nonattainment of federal ozone standards. This is due to lake breeze circulation patterns and trapping of ozone and its precursors over Lake Michigan. To collect data on air quality in this area we have recently purchased an Aurelia S6 drone as a measurement platform for ozone, temperature, humidity, pressure, and NO2. While some of these have been measured before via UAS, we have recently custom-built an NO2 instrument, so careful consideration needs to be done to mount and fly the instruments under safe conditions. Here, we describe the UAS capabilities, strategies for mounting instrumentation, and flight campaign protocols to comply with FAA regulations and gather data safely.
Grazing steers utilize their rumen microbiomes to convert plant-derived carbohydrates into meat. Considering the socioeconomic importance of the beef industry, it is critical to develop strategies that maintain quality while lessening negative environmental impacts. Diet supplementation and hormonal growth implants have been shown to variably impact methane emissions and animal performance. A previous study examines grazing steers across four treatment groups: diet supplemented, hormonal implanted, combined diet and implant, and no intervention. They found no significant impact on emissions and performance. However, the rumen microbiome response to these treatments remains relatively unknown. Here, we will analyze 16S and ITS rRNA gene amplicon sequencing from those steers. We found that all treatments led to an increase in 16S and ITS alpha diversity over time; however, only the 16S diet group displayed a significant increase. Neither the 16S nor the ITS rumen microbiome composition significantly differed across treatments; however, both were significantly different over time. Future analyses will look at individual microbial and fungal responses to diet, grazing time periods, and associations with methane and performance data. Ultimately, our results will provide insight into rumen microbiome dynamics during the life cycle of a grazing steer, further informing sustainable management strategies.
Cattle that eat the same feed and come from the same environment can emit methane (CH4), a potent greenhouse gas, at vastly different levels. An estimated 32% of anthropogenic CH4 can be traced to ‘enteric fermentation’ in livestock production. During enteric fermentation, specialized microorganisms will digest complex plant fiber to create compounds like acetate and hydrogen (H2). Some of these organisms, called methanogens, will consume and use these products to produce CH4. Emerging data suggests natural inter-animal variation in CH4 emissions could derive from host genetics or differences in rumen microbial digestion. Here, we analyze 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing from the rumen of twenty beef cattle of varying CH4 emission levels to look for differences in the structure and composition of their microbial communities. There was no significant difference in microbial community diversity by host CH4 emission level. Association tests at the genus and ASV levels revealed relationships between low residual CH4 emissions and the genera Megasphaera, Prevotellaceae, Ruminococcus, and Gastranaerophilales. Network analysis of the high and low CH4 communities revealed disrupted relationships between methanogens and other members of the community. The methanogens Methanobrevibacter and Candidatus Methanomethylophilus were significantly associated with Gastranaerophilales and Prevotellaceae, respectively in the low CH4 network. These interactions were absent in the high CH4 network. This suggests that the interactions of the low CH4-associated microbiome members and methanogens contributes to the reduced CH4 emissions. The findings of our work begin to explain why some cattle emit higher methane levels compared to others, and may aid in finding solutions to reduce methane emissions in cattle while keeping their feeding efficiency and meat production high.
G-protein coupled receptors (GPCR) are a diverse group of cell surface receptors that bind ligands, undergo a conformational change, and initiate an intracellular signaling cascade through binding to a G-protein. The receptor group binds to molecules of a vast chemical space and is known to have regulatory role in functions ranging from growth sensation to hormone responses. This research investigates the chemical environment and hardness of GPCR active sites through protein visualization, electronic structure calculations, and experimental docking analysis using molecules from chemical informatics database with known inhibitory potentials. Based on the hard-soft acid-base principle, it is hypothesized that the GPCR active site is predominately soft in nature due to its location within the cell membrane; however, several critical polar residues likely optimize ligand orientation. Characterization of this chemical environment will inform future drug design and research to optimize inhibition potential of GPCR receptors.
Schistosomiasis is a neglected tropical disease caused by parasitic flatworms of the genus Schistosoma, affecting over 250 million people worldwide each year. These parasites use freshwater snails, such as Biomphalaria glabrata, as intermediate hosts to complete their life cycle. There are potential gene candidates of interest that may play a role in the chemosensory attraction of the worms, allowing them to seek out the snail. Current methods for genome editing in B. glabrata are lacking. This research investigates the methodical development of an ex ovo culturing method for B. glabrata embryos and juveniles. Establishing this system is a key step toward future genome editing studies targeting candidate genes in the snail, enabling assessment of how disruption of these proteins may affect worm attraction. If transgenic snails with targeted gene knockdowns that prevent parasite-host recognition were introduced, a gene drive could spread these traits through wild populations, potentially reducing transmission and lowering the burden of schistosomiasis.
Schistosomiasis is a neglected tropical disease caused by three parasitic flatworm species, including Schistosoma mansoni, that require a freshwater snail intermediate host. Disrupting parasite host seeking behavior by miracidia, the first larval stage responsible for locating and infecting a snail host, could provide a novel disease control strategy. Praziquantel, the current treatment of choice, targets a transient receptor potential (TRP) channel, though its mechanism is not linked to sensory disruption. However, because TRP channels function broadly as metazoan sensory receptors, we hypothesized that modulating these channels could impair miracidia host seeking abilities. We developed a high throughput phenotypic screening platform using a custom acrylic 96-well screening arena and a high resolution, multicamera wide field imaging system to quantify miracidia behavior. In a primary screen of 128 TRP targeting compounds, 14 hits were identified based on altered motility or behavior. These hits were subsequently evaluated in dose response assays across multiple concentrations. Future studies will characterize the molecular mechanisms of active compounds and evaluate their effects on host seeking and infection. Targeting TRP mediated sensory behaviors may provide a novel strategy to disrupt the schistosome life cycle and reduce infection.
Schistosomiasis is a neglected tropical disease that affects over 250 million people worldwide and is caused by parasitic flatworms known as schistosomes. Miracidia, the first larval stage of schistosomes, infect snails as intermediate hosts, where they mature into a larval stage capable of infecting humans. Although it is not definitively known how miracidia locate snails, they have been shown to detect and interpret light to navigate their environment. The purpose of this study was to analyze the movement of Schistosoma mansoni miracidia in response to the presence of light and to different wavelengths of light. Miracidia were loaded onto rectangular arenas and exposed to light gradients, including white, red, blue, and/or green light. The miracidia were recorded for 1 hour and tracked using custom code. As expected, and consistent with previous work, miracidia are photoattracted. Notably, preliminary results indicate that they prefer blue over red light but have no apparent preference between blue and green light. Future experiments will explore the integration of their light and chemical perception. Understanding this sensory coordination could be key to developing new strategies to reduce schistosome populations and the spread of schistosomiasis.
Light is an important resource for plants, as it serves both as energy and as a signal for growth and development. For this reason, plants have evolved a complex system of signaling pathways to sense and react to light in many conditions. Red and far-red light are detected by photoreceptors called phytochromes. The phytochrome phyB has been the target of mutant studies by Gingerich lab. One of the phyB mutant lines isolated by the lab displays an increased response to both red light and blue light. In this line phyB is predicted to contain a change in a single amino acid as a result of a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the PHYB gene. To confirm that it is indeed the phyB mutation in this line that is causing the red and blue light phenotypes, we are implementing a CRISPR-Cas9-based gene editing system for Arabidopsis in the lab, with the purpose of recapitulating the PHYB SNP of the mutant line in plants that are otherwise wild-type. The specific system we are using is “prime-editing”. We will detail synthesis of the DNA constructs needed to implement the prime editing and our current efforts to transform plants and initiate the editing process.
Plants have evolved a sophisticated set of pathways to detect and respond to light, which allows them to adjust their development in response to changing conditions. Red and far-red wavelengths are detected by photoreceptors called phytochromes (phys), with phyB being the major phytochrome involved in red-light response in the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana. Phytochrome levels are regulated by an E3 ubiquitin-ligase complex that includes the target-adaptor Light-Response BTB1 or BTB2 (LRB1 or LRB2) proteins. The Gingerich lab studies lines of Arabidopsis that contain mutations in the LRB1, LRB2, and PHYB genes. Analysis of growth responses to light and other environmental or physiological factors that intersect with light response helps us better understand how the phytochrome pathway regulates development. Here, we present an analysis of germination responses to red and far-red light and seedling development responses to the hormone methyl jasmonate in our lines. Germination response to red and far-red light is well-studied, and recent analyses have suggested roles for phyB in modulating jasmonate responses; thus, studies of these responses in lines with alterations of the phytochrome pathway might be informative.
Unionidae, also known as freshwater mussels are a surprisingly charismatic species, every step of their life history is strange and intriguing. While odd, freshwater mussels are vital ecosystem engineers and play significant roles in nutrient cycling within their aquatic environments. Due to changing freshwater habitats they are considered to be the most endangered family of animals in North America. Unfortunately, humans have often overlooked them, either when walking through a stream or through gaps in research knowledge. In order to fill in a part of that hole, we conducted qualitative surveys in distinct streams throughout Chippewa county Wisconsin to determine the distribution and composition of the mussel population within the county.We found 17 total species of the 50 previously known species native to the area. These results are the first step towards a holistic picture of the current patterns of mussel distributions within the Chippewa River Watershed.
Understanding how closely related species respond to ecological variation and natural selection is central to predicting evolutionary change, especially under rapidly shifting environmental conditions. This study uses perennial sunflowers (genus Helianthus) in the Upper Midwest as a focal system for examining trait differentiation and selection dynamics across time and species. We established multi-year common gardens at two sites in Eau Claire, WI, to experimentally compare functional traits and fitness responses among three widespread Helianthus species: H. giganteus, H. grosseserratus, and H. maximiliani. These species co-occur across the region and often overlap in distribution, where trait divergence may mediate niche partitioning or reflect variation in selective pressures. Comparing selection patterns across species, sites, and years can help evaluate how evolutionary history, resource availability, and climate variation shape trait evolution in wild sunflower populations. This research contributes to broader ecological and evolutionary questions about phenotypic plasticity, adaptation, and species coexistence, providing a long-term dataset for understanding plant responses to a changing environment.
Fruit agriculture relies on insects to provide the regulating ecosystem service of pollination. For fruit to successfully set, a pollinator must contact the stigma to deposit pollen. Sweet cherry (Prunus avium) is a pollination-dependent fruit cultivated globally and is a growing industry in Australia. Despite this, little work has been done to understand its pollinators which include native bees, hoverflies, and the introduced western honey bee (Apis mellifera). By observing cherry flower pollinator visits, we can document the variety, duration, and frequency of on-flower behaviors, determine which taxa engage in stigmal contact, and investigate vulnerabilities of pollination service to loss of pollinator taxa. In this study, 68 video recordings (2,035 minutes of footage) of two sweet cherry cultivars (Lapins and Ron’s Seedling) in Bilpin and Young, New South Wales, Australia were annotated. Flower visitors were identified to the species level and included the orders Hymenoptera and Diptera. Results were analyzed to create taxon-specific foraging behavior radar charts, assess frequency of stigmal contact, and simulate extinctions. This work informs cherry cultivation and on-farm pollinator conservation.
Managed honeybees (Apis mellifera) are often employed by Wisconsin cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon) growers to improve crop yields, however honeybees are unable to perform buzz pollination. For cranberry pollen to be released, the anthers must be vibrated at a specific frequency. Bumble bees (Bombus spp.) can buzz pollinate and are more efficient pollinators of cranberry but are not as commonly utilized for commercial pollination. This study determined the frequency and duration of buzz pollination provided to cranberry flowers by visiting bumblebees in relation to the stigmal status of the cranberry flowers visited and the resource (pollen or nectar) being foraged for. Data was collected during the 2025 bloom period (June 11-July 10) using video and audio recordings to record the foraging behavior of flower visiting pollinators. The videos were then annotated to document flower age, pollinator identity, floral resource foraged for, and frequency and duration of buzz pollination. Bumblebee species B. bimaculatus and B.impatiens buzz pollinated more often than other species observed. Bumblebee species overall buzz pollinated roughly a third of a second longer when the stigma was exposed. By increasing our understanding of pollinator foraging behavior in cranberry, growers can make more informed decisions regarding pollinator management on their farms.
This research looks to investigate environmental and substituent effects on nitrogen-donor-SO3 complexes utilizing a combination of theory and experiment, including quantum chemistry calculations and low temperature matrix-isolation and spectroscopy. The first step is to explore various computational methods and basis sets to provide structural information that is compared to experimental data. For CH3CN-SO3, we have identified a few reliable theoretical methods through an extensive validation study based on predicting the experimental structure and vibrational frequencies of SO3 using a wide range of available computational methodologies. Using these, we have determined the eclipsed confirmation to have a larger binding energy, shorter N-S bond length, compared to the staggered confirmation, and it lacks imaginary frequencies. In addition to minimum-energy structures, we have also obtained information on vibrational frequencies, binding energy, and bond length in various dielectric media for CH3CN-SO3 and mapped potential curves along the N-S bond lengths. We will continue to collect information on binding energies across methods and basis sets to verify which perform the best to be used for future compounds such as ClCH3CN-SO3 and FCH3CN-SO3 and eventually compare our computations to experimental data from our laboratory.
Organic–inorganic composite films of close-packed, alkanethiol-capped gold nanoparticles and dithiol crosslinkers were assembled at the air–water interface in a Langmuir trough. Mechanical properties were evaluated using Langmuir compression isotherms, providing minimum collapse pressures and qualitative collapse behavior to compare film stability. The data indicate that increased crosslinker rigidity can enhance resistance to collapse relative to flexible linkers, supporting structure–property design criteria for durable nanoparticle films. These results motivate continued measurements to refine component-specific trends and guide the design of nanoarchitectures with targeted chemical, physical, and mechanical properties.
In today’s setting of biomolecular research, it is important that researchers have a large array of different tools at their disposal to further our understanding of the way in which biomolecules interact with each other. One tool that shows incredible promise in this aspect is Raman spectroscopy. What makes Raman spectroscopy special is its ability to provide detailed information at the molecular level of almost any form of sample, including aqueous(in water) samples, such as saliva, or other biological fluids; this is unlike other more widely used forms of atomic investigation such as infrared spectroscopy, which struggles with the interference of water in its signal. The work of this project is focused on investigating how Raman spectroscopy can be used to investigate biomolecules in aqueous and/or biological media, in our case for the detection of cancer biomarkers in saliva, as well as the effect of crowding on functional proteins. Based on the work already completed, the use of Raman spectroscopy seems promising, as it has provided clean spectra for both saliva samples for detection of cancer biomarkers, as well as for a number of amino acid and protein samples (proline, tryptophan, bovine serum albumin, and prolyl-tRNA synthetase) in the presence polyethylene glycol (PEG 8k) as a crowding agent. The preliminary results of our research will be presented.
Many enzymatic studies aimed at understanding the structure–function–dynamics relationship are conducted under dilute conditions. However, the intracellular environment is highly crowded with biomolecules of varying shapes, sizes, and chemical properties, which can impact a protein's structure and thereby its function. This discrepancy between scientific study and real-world data can lead to incomplete or misleading conclusions about enzyme behavior in vivo. In the proposed study, we investigate the effects of molecular crowding on Escherichia coli Prolyl-tRNA Synthetase (Ec ProRS), a multidomain enzyme responsible for catalyzing the ligation of proline to tRNAPro during protein biosynthesis. To observe cellular crowding, we employ Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), a high-resolution scanning probe technique capable of producing nanometer-scale topographic images. AFM enables both qualitative and quantitative analysis of protein samples. Qualitative insights, such as surface roughness and clustering, can reveal structural changes due to crowding, while quantitative measurements of height, area, and volume provide a deeper understanding of protein stability and conformational shifts because of crowding. In this study, we analyze the impact of various crowder molecules, including protein-based crowders (bovine serum albumin and lysozyme) and synthetic polymers, such as polyethylene glycol 20k, on the structure of Ec ProRS. In addition to observing protein crowding, we will present comparative results of AFM studies conducted in air versus in aqueous phase. This approach aims to bridge the gap between conventional dilute-condition studies and the complex, crowded environments in which enzymes naturally operate, offering a more physiologically relevant perspective on enzyme structure and function.
Consecutive and Parity-Consecutive Complete Lucas Sequences when the Period Equals the Modulus The Lucas sequence of the first kind (LSFK) is denoted (Un(p,q))n≥0, where Un is its nth term. The LSFK is defined recursively by Un = pUn−1−qUn−2 with initial terms U0 = 0 and U1 = 1, for integers p and q. The period length of (Un(p,q))n≥0 (mod m), denoted π(m), is the least positive integer r such that Un+r ≡ Un (mod m) for all n ≥ 0. Although the distribution of sequences has been studied, none have classified the conditions when each residue occurs exactly once. This motivates the following definitions. A sequence is complete when π(m) = m and the m repeating terms of (Un(p,q) (mod m))π(m)−1 n=0 are some permutation of the values 0,1,2,...,m − 1. Investigation of complete sequences reveals unique patterns. There exist complete consecutive sequences where Un ≡ n (mod m) for all 0 ≤ n ≤ m−1. Furthermore, parity-consecutive complete sequences exist, in which (Un(p,q))n≥0 (mod m) decomposes into the disjoint subsequences (U2n(p,q))n≥0 and (U2n+1(p,q))n≥0 modulo m containing all even and odd terms, respectively. Our research determines the values of p and q that yield the various forms of completeness under certain moduli m
Scheduling classes at the departmental level is a challenging and time-consuming task. The mathematical technique of linear programming has the potential to simplify this challenge by building a model of linear constraints to find the most optimal solution that satisfies all the constraints. In this project, we are implementing a linear programming model using the DOCplex library in Python. The objective function represents instructor satisfaction with different courses, and the constraints represent limitations, such as the fact that one instructor cannot teach two courses at the same time. We will present example schedules produced by using the ConflictRefiner function to relax low-priority constraints when it is impossible to satisfy all constraints simultaneously. We will also present a combination of constraints and preferences that improve the distribution of courses throughout the day.
The Communities in a network are detected by investigating the corresponding graph and finding dense clusters of vertices. The decoding algorithm SASH determines the initial codeword of communities that would most likely result in specific clusters. SASH checks various candidate codewords at clustering types until the codeword with the smallest discrepancy from the observed dataset is located. Using the dataset Zachary’s Karate Club, errors within the algorithm that lead to a significantly lowered accuracy from expectations will be highlighted, as well as potential ways that could amend the issues to optimize performance.
Homotopical combinatorics uses tools from combinatorics to explore and understand structures in equivariant homotopy theory. One object of study in this field is a G-transfer system. We will define transfer systems and present the differences between abelian and non-abelian transfer systems. We then explore structural characteristics of the lattice of transfer systems for some non-abelian groups, such as D₉ and F₅. For these groups, we classify the (co)saturation of the transfer systems. We also present a proof that width, the number of arrows needed to generate a complete transfer system, can be determined by the prime factorization of the order for a dihedral group.
Compared to urban areas, Type 2 diabetes has a higher prevalence and diabetes-related mortality rate in rural communities. Agentic Artificial Intelligence (AI) which refers to systems capable of autonomous reasoning, task planning, and adaptive behavior within a defined context can be a solution to this clinical issue. It utilizes a Large Language Model (LLM) that is created to understand human text and generate an understandable response. Using Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG), we can further enhance the capability of this framework by retrieving relevant data from a knowledge base to generate an understandable response. However, with current AI pipelines, it is challenging to evaluate every step that leads to an outcome. The objective of this project is to develop a preliminary agentic AI system that focuses on transparency when it comes to predictions, thereby increasing trust with the user and reducing knowledge-drift. In our research, we trained eight different models integrating machine learning (ML), SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) for feature attribution, LLM variants, and RAG pipeline under varying conditions. While ML is providing good accuracy, we are exploring rule-based methods to adapt to the dynamic nature of underlying documents, and varying treatment guidelines thereby responding to patient needs.
Large language models (LLMs) show promise in clinical decision support but are limited by hallucinations and explainability. This project investigates how different retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) architectures can improve the accuracy, transparency, and clinical reliability of diabetes-related responses, with the ultimate goal of developing a deployable clinical model for diabetic care. We implement and compare standard RAG and graph-based RAG systems that integrate the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care III (MIMIC-III) database with a locally hosted Ollama LLM. Retrieved clinical records and structured relationships are used to ground model outputs in real patient data. The system is evaluated using Phoenix Arize to trace retrieval pathways, visualize evidence chains, quantify hallucination rates, and monitor response accuracy. By grounding responses in verifiable clinical data and enabling transparent reasoning traces, this work contributes to the development of safer and more explainable artificial intelligence systems for healthcare applications. This project will lay the foundation of an agentic AI-based “Diabetes Coach,” a conversational system aimed at supporting adult patients (aged 18 and older) diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) agents are transforming healthcare by automating tasks and improving diagnostic precision. Our project focuses on developing an AI-based system specifically to detect extravascular extension of inferior vena cava (IVC) filter struts on CT scans. Although IVC filters are intended to be temporary, prolonged dwell time increases the likelihood of strut penetration beyond the IVC wall. Extravascular extension, defined as filter struts penetrating beyond the IVC wall into surrounding structures, increases the risk of organ injury, pain, bleeding, and complex retrieval. Interventional radiology (IR) practices often rely on manual tracking systems, which are insufficient when patients transfer care or are lost to follow-up. Many patients are unaware a filter remains in place, and new providers may not recognize associated complications. Building on prior research with Mayo Clinic Health System, we aim to enhance an existing deep learning framework to localize filter struts and quantitatively assess their extension relative to the IVC boundary. After segmentation of the IVC, our model will localize filter struts relative to the vessel wall to improve complication detection. The system will also incorporate large language models (LLMs) to process electronic health records (EHRs) and support automated follow-up flagging for safer long-term patient management.
Clinical imaging datasets for analysis of pancreatic cancer increasingly aggregate scans collected under heterogeneous workflows and annotation strategies. Deep learning models for medical image segmentation are typically evaluated using overlap metrics such as Dice scores, which assumes training data is drawn from heterogeneous distributions. While state-of-the-art segmentation frameworks such as nnU-Net achieve strong benchmark performance, little is known about how data provenance influences the anatomical representations learned by these models. Understanding these effects is critical for interpretability, robustness, and safe deployment in clinical settings. This project aims to investigate whether pancreas CT segmentation models trained on different data sources learn systematically different anatomical priors, even when standard accuracy metrics are similar. To evaluate these effects, we train multiple source-specific nnU-Net models on curated subsets of the PANORAMA pancreas dataset that reflect distinct data collection strategies. We will compare outputs via Dice scores and anatomical descriptors such as predicted volume, connected components, centroid location, spatial extent, and voxel-wise inter-model disagreement maps. Ongoing analysis aims to quantify these differences and demonstrate disagreement mapping as a computationally efficient proxy for anatomical uncertainty.
E-textiles are textiles that integrate various materials such as sensors and power sources directly into the fabrics to enable detection and transmission of data. In education, e-textiles can be used to teach students using hands-on demonstrations of concepts involving electronics and coding. This study was created to test the effectiveness of e-textile workshops when used to teach related skills in undergraduate age levels. During our study, we conducted an interactive workshop with 12 students designed to teach basic circuit design and sewing skills to undergraduate students and increase their interest in these topics. Our participants were led through an activity where they used conductive thread and mechanical components to modify a regular fabric glove into an e-textile. During our study, students reported being interested in e-textiles and received high scores on a circuit design and sewing knowledge quiz after the activity. We found a statistically significant increase in several measures, including participants’ self-reported knowledge and enjoyment of circuit design and enjoyment of sewing. Using the data collected from our study, we plan to design a teaching module that could be deployed and further evaluated in a classroom or extra-curricular setting to teach introductory electronics skills at an undergraduate level.
This research project investigates the learning competencies prioritized in Numbers and Operations courses designed for preservice elementary teachers across other midwestern universities. The use of learning competencies is to strengthen the preparation for elementary teachers and in this study, we examine how different universities view which pieces are more essential than others. We developed a Qualtrics-implemented questionnaire survey where participants are asked which topics are taught and within the topics, what competencies are prioritized. Our findings reveal that Operations (addition/subtraction, multiplication/division, operation) and Type of Number (decimals, fractions, whole numbers) were listed frequently and discussed further upon. Whereas, Number Theory topics and Proportional Reasoning were barely discussed within the survey. Recognizing these disparities and examining them further, provides an opportunity to narrow in on what competencies are more crucial than others in order to have the most effective preparation for preservice elementary teachers.
Some people call it a new “miracle drug.” Others are far more skeptical. However, one thing is certain: the surge in popularity of weight-loss drugs around the country is not going unnoticed. With obesity rates in the United States reaching over 40%, people are eager to find new ways to develop healthier lifestyles. Also known as Anti-Obesity Medications (AOMs), these drugs are still relatively new to the market and carry high, ongoing costs. Our research seeks to create an actuarial model to evaluate the financial impact of covering AOMs within employer-sponsored health plans. Current research on this subject is limited and studies that are available reflect conflicting results. We seek to create an accessible (Excel-based), functioning ROI model for AOM coverage that accounts for drug costs, expected utilization, weight-related risk reduction, and future medical cost offsets. We believe that the successful production of a dependable actuarial model could help employers make a more informed choice when it comes to the coverage of AOMs for their employees.
The utilization of analytics in women’s professional tennis, the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA), has occurred much more recently when compared to other professional sports. Despite unique difficulties in predicting match outcomes, there have been a spate of recent articles overviewing probabilistic and data-mining methods to do so. Our research work: (1) performed a literature review of data-mining methods for men’s professional tennis (ATP) and women’s professional tennis (WTA); (2) integrated knowledge about predictive statistics learned from prior years’ data-exploration; and (3) adds generalizations, efficiencies, documentation, and new features to functions used to summarize and organize data for predictive models.Data for player statistics and results of WTA tournaments was obtained from a GitHub repository under a Creative Commons license. We computed and analyzed a set of related summary statistics for use in comparison of data-mining methods. We discuss the data-analytic methods and compare predictive abilities. We edited original functions in R with the focus of wrangling the data across an appropriate time window, court surface, and player rank and of summarizing statistics for individual players and opponents. The process and final forms of the functions, along with the dissemination process via an R package, are described.
I have been teaching at UW - Eau Claire since 2006, covering courses in undergraduate statistics (introductory and upper-level) and Master’s-level data mining and programming. My research is in data-mining techniques, with a focus on penalized regression. My recent (last ~ 6 years... Read More →
Extradiol dehydrogenases are known to convert catechol into muconic semialdehydes. These muconic semialdehydes and their derivatives serve as precursors for the synthesis of nylon and other key building blocks. However, catechol derivatives are unstable, have limited commercial availability, and are challenging to synthesize due to the presence of titratable OH groups. Conversely, precursor salicylaldehydes are commercially available, simple to modify by cross-coupling reactions, and can be converted to catechols via the Dakin oxidation. Therefore, optimizing a reaction scheme utilizing salicylaldehydes to produce catechol in vitro can more effectively create valuable precursors. HAPMO (4-hydroxyacetophenone monooxygenase), was found to perform a non-native Dakin reaction on 4-fluorosalicylaldehyde to make 4-fluorocatechol. However, no other substrates have been tested in this reaction, and no downstream reactions have been demonstrated. We have found that, when used in an enzymatic cascade with BphC, an extradiol dehydrogenase, HAPMO can be used to create muconic semialdehydes. In this work, we are optimizing semialdehyde production, and screening different salicylaldehydes in the reaction, with a particular focus on preparative scale conditions. Preliminary results suggest that this can be reasonably achieved with wild type HAPMO. These findings will be leveraged to further explore the utility of these catalysts for building block synthesis.
In synthetic chemistry, the generation of reactive building block materials is critical to producing complex materials, like natural products and pharmaceuticals. To produce wide varieties of these building blocks, the starting materials must be reasonably amenable to divergent synthesis, wherein one compound can be converted to a diverse array of materials in few steps. One class of underexplored synthetic building blocks are catechols, which are key components of numerous valuable compounds. However, catechols remain a challenging starting material to access, as they are prone to oxidation, and difficult to modify due to the acidic 1,2-diol moiety. In contrast, salicylaldehydes can be diversified without protection procedures through cross-coupling reactions to generate a library of catechol precursors. We have identified an enzyme called HAPMO, which performs a Dakin oxidation to generate catechol from salicylaldehyde. HAPMO reactivity is underexplored and has only been shown for fluorinated derivatives. In this work, we synthesized a small library of potential salicylaldehyde substrates with unique substituents to probe the steric and electronic limitations of HAPMO. We have also begun testing substrates in reactions with purified HAPMO. The results of this study will inform future synthesis of salicylaldehyde substrates, and further studies on the native reactivity of HAPMO.
Viral RNA sensing by human RIG-I-like Receptors (RLRs) is a key innate immune function in all cells. Activation of the RLR MDA5 by viral double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) is coupled with ATP hydrolysis and leads to the expression of genes encoding Type I Interferons (IFNs). In response, viral genomes have evolved to encode proteins that inhibit or weaken the Type I IFN response pathway via inhibition of RLR function. Here we aim to identify whether Nodamura virus protein B2 (NoV-B2), a viral dsRNA-binding protein, inhibits MDA5 in vitro. Human MDA5 and NoV-B2 were expressed exogenously in E. coli and purified by affinity and ion exchange chromatography. The RNA-dependent ATPase activity of MDA5 was measured in vitro by the colorimetric Malachite Green Phosphate Assay using poly(I:C) as a mimic of viral dsRNA. We then assayed this activity with NoV-B2 present to measure inhibition in vitro. Future directions for this project include: (1) investigating the mechanism of inhibition using a mutant NoV-B2 that cannot bind dsRNA, and (2) testing other viral proteins that may inhibit MDA5. These experiments help elucidate one of the mechanisms of inhibition of an immune response during viral infection.
Comparing the biochemical activity of Methylobacterium extorquens AM1 grown in separate medias with La3+ and Ca2+ as cofactorsof methanol dehydrogenase (MDH). Recent studies have demonstrated that some enzymes in bacteria isolated from lanthanide-richareas use lanthanides as metal cofactors in place of more common metals like calcium and that these lanthanide-enzymes haveenhanced catalytic properties. The bioelectrocatalytic activity of MDH from M. extorquens grown in La3+ rich media is compared toMDH from M. extorquens grown in typical Ca2+ rich media. A coupled assay of phenazine methosulfate-dichlorophenolindophenol isperformed to determine the enzyme activity. Different redox polymer films have been tested to determine the optimal film toimmobilize the bacteria while still allowing bioelectrocatalysis to be performed. The bioelectrochemical activities from these bacteriahave not previously been compared. If La3+ grown M. extorquens has higher bioelectrochemical activity than Ca2+ grown M.extorquens, then improved biofuel cells and sensors can be created.
Urbanization can alter soil chemistry, potentially influencing floral nectar composition and pollinator foraging behavior. We examined how two micronutrients commonly associated with urban environments, sodium (Na⁺) and potassium (K⁺), affect pollinator foraging. We conducted 10-minute field observations of pollinator visitation to flowering plants in urban areas on flowers supplemented with nectar (sugar water (15%), with Na⁺ or with K⁺).Next, we performed laboratory foraging studies with butterflies (Vanessa cardui) and bumble bees (Bombus impatiens). Individuals were introduced to a foraging arena containing nectar sources with randomly assigned treatments (sugar water, with Na⁺, or with K⁺). The butterflies foraged from artificial flowers, and bumble bees from blue plastic chips each containing nectar, with treatment placement randomized each trial. Foraging activity was recorded using a video camera, and individuals were allowed to forage for 30 minutes. Afterward, recordings were annotated to quantify foraging activity.To date, we have conducted 15 field observations and 39 butterfly trials; the bumble bee trials are ongoing. We expect differences in visitation and nectar preference among treatments in both field and laboratory settings, including variation between butterflies and bumble bees. This work highlights both the ecological importance of nectar micronutrients and the importance of studying pollinator behavior.
Pollination is essential for farmers to produce high fruit yields in Wisconsin cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon) marshes, yet the foraging behavior of key pollinators such as bumblebees (Bombus spp.) and honeybees (Apis mellifera) remains poorly understood. While honeybees are commonly used as managed pollinators in cranberry marshes, limited research has compared their foraging behavior on cranberry flowers to native bumblebees. This study compares the foraging behavior of these two major pollinator groups to assess differences in behaviors like stigmal contact rates, visitation frequency, and changes in visit duration in response to temperature. Behavioral data was collected during the 2025 bloom period (June–July) using video recordings and human observations. Video cameras were set up throughout the marsh and footage was annotated to quantify stigmal contact and visit duration; temperature data was recorded when videos began and ended. Human observations of individual bees through the marsh were used to quantify the number of flowers visited per minute. The analysis showed that bumblebees contacted the stigma more often and had an increased visitation frequency compared to honeybees with temperature not having a significant effect between the species. Our findings inform pollinator management practices and enhance our understanding of species-specific contributions to cranberry pollination.
Azospirillum (AZO) and Gluconacetobacter (GLU) are two genera of naturally occurring bacteria that convert nitrogen, a vital plant nutrient, from its atmospheric form into a form usable by plants. AZO is associative and functions around the plant roots, whereas GLU is endophytic, working within the plant tissue. Nitrogen-fixing bacteria are gaining popularity in sustainable agriculture efforts as biofertilizers to provide an alternative to environmentally problematic synthetic fertilizers. Companies such as TerraMax Inc. are interested in finding the most effective bacteria for biofertilizers to optimize crop yield. This research compared the impact on corn growth and function of the more widely used AZO and the novel biofertilizer candidate GLU, both with varying application methods: soil drench, leaf coating, or a combination of those two. The results favor GLU over AZO for increasing nitrogen availability in corn and indicate the potential for GLU to improve yield through significantly increasing leaf net photosynthesis, chlorophyll content, and shoot biomass compared to the control when applied directly to the leaves. These results suggest Gluconacetobacter (GLU) as a promising bacterial candidate for companies like TerraMax Inc. seeking to improve biofertilizer performance, ultimately reducing the need for synthetic fertilizers and promoting environmental sustainability.
Vocal responses in animal behavior are important because they are essential for survival, reproduction, and complex social dynamics. We explored how behavioral responses in Gray Wolves (Canis lupus) vary based on members of the Canidae family and members of the wolf pack. We hypothesized that captive gray wolves would vocally respond when exposed to auditory stimuli of other animals within their phylogenetic tree. We predicted wolves would respond to recordings to signal wolf presence or to establish claims on territory. Our second hypothesis and prediction were that a dominant wolf would initiate a howl, where subordinate members would subsequently howl. We played three playback howls each from five species in the Canidae family. We expected a vocal response to auditory stimuli, as wolves in smaller enclosures were more likely to respond to playback howls. We expected the dominant pair to be leading these behaviors, which explains that alpha breeding pairs influence the behaviors of the pack. Our results showed that there was no statistical significance, as phylogenetic distance and social hierarchy did not influence the proportion of vigilance. This may explain that vocal response is shaped by other factors aside from phylogenetic or social rank.
Antibiotic shortages in tandem with the rise of antibiotic resistance pose significant global public health threats. These obstacles emphasize the importance for continued research and support in the search for novel antibiotic-producing bacteria that carry new lines of defense against human pathogens. Soil contains a biodiverse community of microbial species with an extensive range of antibiotic producing pathways. In nutrient-poor soils, competition amongst microbes is enhanced driving the evolution of unique antimicrobial compounds that may be used in the production of novel antibiotics. This study sought to isolate and characterize antibiotic-producing bacteria from nutrient-poor soils. Soil samples were extracted using a core from three sites. The samples were plated to observe microbial growth. Unique colonies varying in morphology, pigmentation, and size were identified and transferred to a separate plate. The unique colonies were tested for antimicrobial activity against four pathogens: Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, and Salmonella typhimurium. Colonies that inhibited the growth of the pathogenic strains were isolated and characterized using the Gram stain procedure. Across the three sites 23 isolates were obtained. The isolates showed resistance to E. coli, S. aureus, and B.subtilis. Further genetic testing will be needed to taxonomically identify novel antibiotic-producing bacteria.
Understanding the effects chemical exposure has on neurodevelopment is crucial for protecting human health and improving environmental policies and safety. Our research uses zebrafish to investigate how environmental and chemical exposures influence early development, as their embryos allow us to observe changes across multiple biological levels. Within our collaborative lab structure, research teams work together to examine how various factors affect development from genes to behavior. My role in the lab includes training in zebrafish-based experimental techniques and beginning to conduct literature analysis to identify candidate chemicals for future experiments.
Methylmercury is a common environmental contaminant in the Great Lakes region of the United States. The glutathione pathway (GSH) involves antioxidant signaling and is responsible for the efflux of toxins such as methylmercury from cells. The object of this study was to verify and characterize mutations in the GSH-associated gene gstp2 in zebrafish. We crossed prospective mutant zebrafish with wildtype zebrafish in an effort to create heterozygous and homozygous mutant zebrafish. To identify mutant zebrafish, we used PCR and restriction enzyme reagents that assess the gstp2 DNA sequence targeted by CRISPR-Cas9 reagents for mutation. Gel electrophoresis was used to visualize the results. This approach was able to identify the presence of mutated gstp2 DNA sequences at the target site. Creation of a homozygous mutant gstp2 zebrafish line will allow for experiments on the influence of gstp2 in embryonic development and developmental toxicity.
In epidemiological studies, prenatal cortisol exposure has been linked to increased autism spectrum disorder (ASD) prevalence. Cortisol is the primary hormone released in the body in response to stress and plays a key role in development. Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is the most common inherited form of intellectual disability, and 30–50% of children with FXS are also diagnosed with ASD. FXS is caused by loss of function mutations in the FMR1 gene on the X chromosome. Our objective was to investigate how embryonic cortisol exposure interacts with FMR1 loss by assessing transcriptome changes in cortisol-treated fmr1 knockout zebrafish embryos. Embryos from wild-type zebrafish and fmr1 knockout zebrafish were exposed to 5uM cortisol solution or vehicle solution at 6 hours post fertilization. Total RNA samples were isolated at 24-, 48-, 72-, and 120-hours post-fertilization (hpf). Sample quality was assessed by spectrophotometry, and RNA concentrations were determined by DNA-binding fluorescent dye methods. Samples will be submitted for RNA-seq analysis to test for genotype-dependent, treatment-dependent, and gene x treatment interactions in terms of neurodevelopmental gene expression across timepoints. These results will help characterize the interaction of embryonic cortisol exposure and FXS genotype in terms of gene expression regulation.
Problem: Heart failure (HF) is a growing public health concern in the U.S., with prevalence projected to rise by 46% by 2030, affecting nearly 20% of adults over 40. HF carries a 5-year mortality rate exceeding 55%, and annual healthcare costs are expected to surpass $50 billion. Purpose: To understand how the use of wearable devices in adults with HF influences sustained changes in outcomes by answering the following question: How does the use of wearable devices influence health outcomes in adults with heart failure? Methods: A systematic review was conducted using the PRISMA-ScR framework. Searches in PubMed and EBSCO yielded six peer-reviewed studies meeting inclusion criteria. Five reviewers independently assessed the studies. Results: Preliminary synthesis suggests that the utilization of wearables can positively influence health outcomes in adults with HF. Key outcomes of interest include quality of life (QOL), hospitalizations, and activity levels. Across studies, daily step counts increased and QOL improvements were statistically significant, while emergency department visits and hospitalizations remained unchanged. Additionally, a significant correlation was found between steps per day and symptom severity. Conclusion: The healthcare team should consider the integration of these devices into patient care plans to support self-efficacy in their heart failure management.
This project engaged two undergraduate nursing students and faculty in designing an escape room–based learning strategy to strengthen clinical judgment and critical thinking among nursing students. To inform development, the team conducted a critical analysis of the systematic review “Effectiveness of ‘Escape Room’ Educational Technology in Nursing Education: A Systematic Review,” examining the current evidence supporting the integration of escape rooms into clinical learning environments. Guided by this review, two escape room scenarios were created to address pediatric diabetic ketoacidosis and postpartum hemorrhage—conditions that are high acuity yet low frequency within specialty nursing settings. These scenarios were intentionally designed to allow students to practice essential skills, including patient assessment, prioritization, and evidence-based interventions, in a safe, immersive environment.Because escape rooms have not previously been incorporated into the nursing curriculum at the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire, this project represents an innovative approach to experiential learning. Implementation is planned within NRSG 447: Nursing Practicum—Nursing Care of Women, Infants, and Families, with the intent of enriching clinical hours while reducing on-site clinical time. Ultimately, the escape room strategy offers students a unique, engaging opportunity to apply nursing knowledge and enhance readiness for real-world clinical practice.
Gymnastics is a competitive sport requiring athletes to maintain rigorous training schedules. Athletes typically train and compete for one or more events. However, there is minimal research to determine the physiological and nutritional changes during a season. The purpose of the present investigation is to examine body composition, nutrition, and menstrual cycles during a competitive season. Division III gymnasts are completing dual x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) testing, measuring body composition, at the beginning and end of the season. Weekly nutrition logs are being collected during three months of the season, January, February and March, to determine macro and micronutrient intakes. Menstrual cycles are also being tracked during these months. If any injuries are obtained during the season, they are reported to the researchers. The data collected from this study can help determine physiological and nutritional demands for different events and athletes in gymnastics. This can help improve training practices for sport and strength and conditioning coaches.
Preseason testing for college athletes helps establish training plans and athlete profiles. Jump testing with force plates has become popular, but less is known about the relationship between force and power with body composition in basketball. PURPOSE: This study examined the relationship between body composition and jump performance of Division III men’s and women’s basketball players (MBP, WBP) during preseason. METHODS: 13 WBP and 11 MBP players completed two preseason testing sessions. During session one participants completed double and single leg jump testing on a force plate, which analyzed reactive strength index (RSI), peak power (PP), eccentric duration (ECCD), eccentric force (ECCF), and jump height. During session two, participants completed a dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scan that measured total/regional body fat percentage (BF), lean mass (LM), fat mass (FM). RESULTS: Results showed significant negative correlations (p
There is a lot of debate about what is the most effective notetaking method. The process of handwriting notes may enhance memory, because it forces the student to summarize information and triggers embodied cognition, the process of learning by using one's body (Mueller & Oppenheimer, 2014). However, other research shows that typed notes may be superior, because they allow students to take down more information (Flannigan & Titsworth, 2020). Past research has rarely investigated touchscreen devices like tablets, which may combine the benefits of handwriting and digital notes. To address this gap, we surveyed UWEC students across all disciplines to investigate how notetaking preferences relate to academic achievement. We expect to find that students using touchscreen devices will have the highest academic performance. Additionally, we expect that students who have a major that requires them to spend a lot of time on a computer will prefer taking notes on a laptop. However, we expect that students overall will prefer paper and pencil notetaking.
As the age of the world’s population continues to increase, it is important to investigate behaviors, such as alcohol consumption, that may negatively impact the health of the older population. In the present study, aged, young adult, and adolescent female and male C57BL/6J mice underwent a measure of acute alcohol withdrawal via a handling-induced convulsion study followed by a drinking in the dark procedure to measure alcohol self-administration. We report that aged animals enter acute alcohol withdrawal later than younger animals as measured by the later onset of handling-induced convulsions. The later onset is likely due to reduced alcohol metabolism. Furthermore, aged animals consumed significantly less alcohol in the drinking in the dark paradigm but had similar blood alcohol concentrations compared to younger animals. The current work demonstrates for the first time differential alcohol self-administration and acute alcohol withdrawal in aged animals compared to younger animals.
The literature on ibogaine’s effects continues to grow, including its impact on opiate withdrawal and craving, mood symptoms, and trauma-related responses. To fully inform clinicians of this rapidly evolving field, it is critical that they are aware of emerging dosing strategies and protocols and associated adverse effects. A search of PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, and PsycInfo was conducted for human studies on ibogaine, noribogaine, or 5-MeO-DMT. A prespecified strategy used controlled vocabulary and keyword search terms for substance-use, mood/anxiety, and trauma-related disorders. Randomized trials, microdosing, and sequential treatments were prioritized. Only three RCTs exist: a double-blind pilot in 20 adults with cocaine dependence; an ascending-dose trial in 36 healthy volunteers; and a crossover trial in 27 opioid-dependent patients. Microdosing has been associated with reductions in withdrawal and mood and anxiety benefits but remains anecdotal. Sequential protocols incorporating ibogaine with 5-MeO-DMT or magnesium produced profound reductions in post-traumatic stress, depression, anxiety, and insomnia; however, these derive from retrospective questionnaires or open-label trials. Initial evidence suggests that ibogaine may reduce withdrawal, craving, and psychiatric symptoms, while microdosing and sequential treatment appear promising. The evidence base thus far is limited and consists of small early-phase RCTs. Ibogaine’s cardiovascular toxicity and narrow therapeutic margin require caution.
Before the Affordable Care Act expansion in 2014, Medicaid program primarily covered pregnant women, low-income families with children, and elderly and disabled people with Supplemental Security Income (SSI). The expansion extended coverage to most of the adults up to 138% Federal Poverty Level (FPL), and it was adopted by 27 states in 2014 and by 2021, it increased to 39 states (including DC). Past literature provided evidence that this led to a significant increase in the total Medicaid coverage and consequently a decrease in the total number of the uninsured individuals in the expansion states. According to CDC, among chronic conditions, Diabetes is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in the US. Access to health care is most essential to stay healthy for a diabetic person. With high cost of supplies, medication, education, and medical care to manage diabetes, affordable and adequate health insurance is imperative. This paper examines the impact of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Medicaid Expansion on diabetes diagnoses, and its management to prevent health complications caused by diabetes. Employing a difference-in-differences framework, we exploit the variation in the eligibility caused by the ACA expansion to compare the changes in diabetes outcomes in the expansion states (treatment group) with the non-expansion states (control group).
In this paper, we study the role of peoples’ attitudes on their labor market behavior. Focusing within a household, we estimate how one’s labor market decisions are dependent on their partner’s labor market outcomes, and how these decisions are driven by their culture component. Historically, man has been associated as the primary earner in a family. We argue that culture might play a role in determining a person’s labor market outcomes as it induces an aversion to the situation of when the wife earns more than the husband. We find that husbands increase their participation as well as hours worked in the labor market if their wives earn more and this effect is even more prominent if they are from a country where people have the traditional view that man should be the primary breadwinner for the family. However, wives do not exhibit any such behavior. We argue that this irregularity is explained by the role that culture plays on forming labor market decisions.
The study focuses on the development and validation of a generative AI model to select attractions and construct structured travel itineraries. Using three-stage systematic framework, the model synthesizes information on user preferences, attraction characteristics, time-of-day considerations, and contextual factors to generate coherent daily travel plans. Multiple real-world destination cases were used to evaluate the consistency, personalization quality, and logical structure of the generated itineraries. Preliminary findings indicate that generative AI can integrate diverse qualitative inputs and produce customized, context-aware itineraries that go beyond rule-based recommendation tools. The results demonstrate the feasibility of using generative AI as a decision-support layer in tourism planning.
The project aims to measure student perceptions regarding the improvement in learning outcomes in the Lean Manufacturing Systems and Concepts course by introducing an innovative assignment. By implementing an A3 problem-solving assignment for daily habits and tasks, students bridge theoretical knowledge with practical applications. The study evaluates student perceptions of how this method affects learning outcomes through surveys. Additionally, it measures student perceptions on how this new assignment can help them identify issues in their daily habits and improve upon them.
Optimization algorithms like Gradient Descent serve as the engine for Machine Learning, iteratively adjusting model weights to minimize prediction error. While mathematical theory provides rigorous "upper bounds" on how quickly these algorithms should converge, implementation on real-world datasets often encounter numerical hurdles that theory ignores. We investigate this divergence by comparing the empirical performance of a Logistic Regression model trained using a Patient Survival dataset, against its formal mathematical proofs. We focus on “learning-rate” as the primary variable influencing stability and efficiency. Two distinct factors are monitored: convergence of the loss function, and geometric movement of weights through the search space. The overlaying of theoretical convergence curves onto the observed data can identify algorithmic behavior drift from predicted outcomes. Our empirical study results indicate that as the learning rate approaches a critical threshold, the model experiences oscillations that violate the smooth convergence guaranteed by most convex optimization proofs. We present a rigorous comparison of how mathematical ideals hold up under varying hyperparameters, offering a framework for selecting settings that balance computational efficiency with mathematical reliability – a critical factor in domains like healthcare, cybersecurity, and fraud detection. Future work will increase research depth by incorporating additional predictors (categorical and non-categorical) for training and assessing a high-dimensional model.
While AI technologies such as generative, predictive analytics, and automated communication systems are increasingly common, limited academic research has explored their use in customer facing, relationship driven sales roles. To address this gap, we are conducting semi-structured, in-depth practitioner interviews, seeking to better understand how sales professionals in the beverage industry integrate artificial intelligence (AI) into their daily work. We are almost finished interviewing 12-15 sales professionals in various roles including account managers, CEOs, sales directors, those in adjacent positions within the industry. Interviews explore how participants define AI, how they use it in practice, and the perceived impact on efficiency, decision-making, and performance. We also examine attitudes toward AI, including perceived benefits, challenges with integration, ethical concerns, and how sales professionals balance AI-generated insights with human intuition. Final results will contribute to research on current AI usage in sales and provide practical insights to help organizations integrate AI in ways that enhance human relational strengths in the sales process.
This study examines how momentary self-worth and gain vs. loss framing influence the amount of risk people take when making decisions for themselves. We ran a preliminary study, in which participants first recalled a memory that either boosts, lowers, or has a neutral effect on their sense of self-worth. Then, they chose between a riskless or risky option. This decision was presented in two versions that have equal expected outcomes across conditions, but where one version was framed in terms of gaining monetary value and the other was framed in terms of losing monetary value (Tversky &Kahneman, 1981). Across 372 participants, we found that people tended to chose the risky(riskless) option when the decision was presented as a potential loss(gain). We also found that lower momentary self-worth may lead to more cautious choices within loss framing. While this effect was not large, is provides early insight into how self-worth processes might shape risk sensitivity. We are currently running a new study, a more expanded version of what we have already distributed, that we hope shows similar and significant results.
Research on the relationship between dietary patterns and well-being has expanded rapidly in recent years. This study contributes to previous work by examining how diet relates to well-being among rural middle school students in North Carolina, with an average age of 12. Two indicators are used to measure youth well-being at an individual level: self-reported academic performance and perceived stress levels. Students’ diets are categorized as healthy, unhealthy, or neutral, and we construct a health index to capture differences across these dietary patterns.Our analysis draws on cross-sectional data from the Motivating Adolescents with Technology to Choose Health (MATCH) program, a school-based wellness initiative implemented during the 2022–2023 academic year in rural North Carolina. Using a mixed-effects model, we assess the association between diet and well-being in this rural adolescent population.Finally, we explore whether participation in MATCH moderates the effects of dietary patterns. Although findings suggest that school-based wellness programs may help buffer the negative influence of a poor diet, the moderating effect is not statistically significant, providing insights for policies that promote adolescent well-being and academic success.
Seasonality is a defining feature of many epidemiological time series, reflecting recurring patterns over time. Accurate characterization of these patterns is essential for influenza surveillance, forecasting, and public health planning.This study examines influenza incidence in Wisconsin using laboratory-confirmed weekly case data from 2021–2025 provided by the CDC. We compare four approaches for modeling seasonal time-series data: seasonal dummy variables, Fourier harmonic regression, Seasonal ARIMA models, and generalized additive models (GAMs) with spline-based smoothers. While recent studies have applied GAMs to assess meteorological effects, few have used this flexible approach to directly model the underlying seasonal structure of respiratory infection data.Results show that the spline-based GAM consistently outperforms alternative methods. It captures shifting peak timing, asymmetric seasonal curves, and multiple inflection points, the features that more rigid approaches cannot fully represent. No evidence of overfitting was observed. Findings also suggest increased variability in post-COVID influenza seasonality in Wisconsin, highlighting the need for adaptive, data-driven models.
This study aims to assess the effectiveness of virtually delivering Strategic Incremental Rehearsal (SIR), a drill-based math facts intervention. We investigate whether virtual SIR improves math fact fluency and accuracy, can be implemented effectively, and is acceptable to students and caregivers. Although developing adequate automaticity in math fact knowledge is fundamental, many students do not master math facts at desired rates or within a desired time frame (Nelson et al., 2022). SIR has shown effectiveness in previous research; however, few studies have explored its use in math interventions and through virtual methods. A multiple-baseline across skills single-case design (SCD) will be used to evaluate outcomes for three 4th – 5th-grade students. Proximal measures will include daily assessments of math fact fluency and accuracy. Surveys of participant and parent perceptions of the intervention will be completed at the intervention’s conclusion. Maintenance of math fact skills will also be evaluated 2 weeks after the intervention concludes. We expect improved accuracy and fluency in multiplication facts, strong clinician implementation, and positive social validity ratings. This research will enhance understanding of virtual SIR applications and contribute to the Human Development Center program.
Smartphones and social media are ubiquitous in the lives of college students, offering valuable opportunities for connection while also presenting potential challenges to their well-being. Because social media plays a central role in students' experiences, understanding its impact is essential for promoting healthier habits and supportive campus environments. In this study, we examine how college students' social media behaviors relate to several key aspects of well-being, including sleep quality, burnout, empathy, loneliness, perceived body-image pressures, anxiety, and depression. Using an online survey, we explore the associations between UWEC students' social media use and these indicators of well-being. We hypothesize that higher levels of social media use will be associated with greater anxiety, depression, burnout, loneliness, and perceived appearance-related pressures, along with lower empathy and decreased sleep quality. Ultimately, this study aims to deepen our understanding of the many factors shaping college students’ well-being in a digital era dominated by smartphones and social media.
Opioids have serious repercussions including overdose and death. Drugs that counteract the opioid overdose have become imperative. Naltrexone is an opioid antagonist that limits endorphin functions in the brain; its specific mechanism is unknown. Chronic, intermittent sucrose solution access increases endorphin function. Previously, our laboratory demonstrated male rats with chronic, intermittent sucrose learned to discriminate naltrexone (0.1 to 3.2 mg/kg) from saline. In this study, we sought to establish discrimination in female and male rats. Rats were trained to lever press in operant chambers. Rats then received 12-hour access to 25% sucrose solutions for two weeks. After which, discrimination training began. Rats were trained to discriminate between naltrexone (1.0 mg/kg) and saline. After naltrexone administration, left lever responses resulted in 45 mg sugar pellet delivery; right lever presses produced eight seconds of darkness. Contingencies were reversed following saline administration. After training, rats received sucrose for 12 hours. Training continued until > 80% condition-appropriate responses occurred for 8 of 10 sessions. During tests, responses toward either lever were reinforced. Naltrexone dose-effect curves (0.1-1 mg/kg) were created. Naltrexone was more potent in females than males. Knowledge about the naltrexone and its uses can be used to combat opioid use and dependency.
Carbon-plated (CP) shoes have become popular amongst runners with recreational and elite runners using them for training and competition. PURPOSE: The purpose of this investigation was to examine the effects of CP shoes on high-speed running performance in collegiate cross country (XC) runners. METHODS: Nine male varsity Division III XC runners (age: 19.1 ± 2.9 years, peak oxygen consumption (VO2): 65.4 ± 5.1 ml/kg/min) completed a VO2 peak test to determine their 70, 80 and 90% velocities of VO2 peak. The test was run in their traditional non-CP shoes (OWN). Participants then completed two experimental trials, in random order, consisting of running three minutes stages at 70% (14.1 ± 0.8 km/h), 80% (16.1 ± 1.0 km/h) and 90% (18.1 ± 1.1 km/h) velocities of VO2 peak in OWN and CP shoes. During each of the trials participants had blood lactate, ratings of perceived exertion, heart rate, respiratory exchange ratio, ventilation, respiratory rate, and VO2 measured. A two way (shoe x stage) repeated measures analysis of variance was used to analyze potential differences. RESULTS: There were no interaction (shoe x stage) effects for any variable (p > 0.05). No main effects were observed for shoe type for any variable (p > 0.05). Specifically, relative VO2 results remained unchanged across each trial (CP: 52.6 ± 5.1 ml/kg/min vs. OWN: 52.6 ± 6.4ml/kg/min, p = 0.991). However, there were significant main effects (p < 0.001) in each variable for stage, showing increases as physiological responses as exercise intensity increased. CONCLUSION: This study shows that while CP are popular amongst runners, there were no differences in high-speed running. Individuals should determine if the CP shoes benefit their individual running needs based on distances and goals.
Background/Purpose: Caffeine is one of the commonly used pre-exercise supplements, yet limited research has examined the optimal timing of ingestion prior to resistance training. The aim of this study is to investigate the optimal timing of ingesting caffeine with habitual consumers prior to engaging in resistance training. Methods: Nine university students participated in one repetition maximum (1RM) testing to calculate the resistance at 70% of 1RM during their leg and bench press sets post caffeine (4 mg/kg) or placebo (flour) trials. Participants underwent four randomized trials including caffeine-ingestion 30-minute prior to exercise (CAF-30), placebo 30-minute prior (CON-30), caffeine 60-minute prior (CAF-60), and placebo 60-minute prior (CON-60). Participants completed these trials documenting three sets per exercise trial until failure. Heart rate (HR) and relative perceived exertion (RPE) were also noted. Results: Outcome measures were averaged across the three sets for leg and bench press repetitions, RPE, and a percent drop in number of repetitions from initial and final sets. A two-way repeated measures analysis of variance revealed no statistically significant difference in these outcome measures across the four trials, p > .05. Conclusions: Caffeine consumption 30-60 minutes prior to resistance training had no impact on muscular endurance, RPE, or fatiguability.
Title: Successful Strategies to Improve COVID-19 Vaccination Uptake among Refugee Communities: A Scoping Review Aim: This scoping review explored successful strategies used in the USA to increase COVID 19 vaccine uptake and reduce vaccine hesitancy among refugee communities. Reflecting on lessons learned with the COVID 19 pandemic and understanding what policies and strategies increased vaccine acceptance, particularly among communities with high vaccine hesitancy, is essential to inform future public health responses. Methods: We used Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) scoping review research protocols, utilizing definite inclusion and exclusion criteria within a five-year publication window. Searches were conducted in PubMed, CINAHL, and the Web of Science. Of the 278 peer reviewed research articles, 74 articles were reviewed after deleting duplicates, and 68 met criteria for data extraction. Each article was screened by two researchers. Results: The main themes and strategies found successful in boosting vaccine acceptance among refugee communities in the USA include clear, concise communication, and framing vaccination as both individual protection and a community responsibility. Embracing the role of culture, religion, and language while correcting any misinformation around the vaccines was essential. Interventions emphasizing family dynamics, and the connection between individual and community further strengthened vaccine acceptance among the refugee community.
Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD) affect millions of people in the United States, and the number of individuals needing care continues to grow. Most of this care is provided at home by informal care partners, who may experience stress, isolation, and emotional strain as the disease progresses. These challenges are especially difficult for women, who make up about two-thirds of dementia caregivers. Those living in rural or culturally traditional communities where caregiving is viewed as a family responsibility and outside help may not be accepted often face additional challenges. Rural caregivers face several barriers including: a lack of available services, transportation issues, and limited social support, all of which may negatively affect their quality of life.The purpose of this project is to explore how care partners define and experience quality of life while caring for a loved one with ADRD, with a focus on those living in rural or under-resourced areas.This work is based on a literature review of peer-reviewed studies examining caregiver experiences and quality-of-life outcomes. This project reviews existing research on caregiver burden, gender and cultural expectations, and rural health disparities to better understand the factors that shape caregiver well-being. The project also explores evidence-based resources such as telehealth, caregiver education, and engagement of social support networks. Findings are expected to highlight the need for more accessible and culturally sensitive resources for care partners, especially for those in rural settings.Key themes include emotional stress, ambiguous loss, relationship dynamics, and limited community resources. By identifying gaps in support and understanding what caregivers need most, this project aims to contribute to improving the well-being of both caregivers and the individuals with ADRD whom they support.
Hand paralysis stemming from peripheral nerve injuries (PNI), stroke, or spinal cord injury severely limits independence and performance in activities of daily living. Although various assistive devices are available, many are condition-specific and lack the adaptability required for diverse patient populations.This project addresses these limitations through the development of a powered hand orthosis (PHO) designed for cross-population utility. The primary objective was to engineer mechanical finger linkages that enable multi-joint actuation while maintaining a small, non-obtrusive form factor.The design process involved multiple iterations to optimize the mechanical linkages for both functionality and user ergonomics. The resulting prototype was rigorously evaluated for range of motion (ROM) and wearer comfort. Preliminary testing indicates that the linkage system successfully achieves complex finger articulation without the bulk typically associated with powered exoskeletons. This work establishes a foundation for a versatile, low-profile PHO that can be adapted to various neuromuscular conditions, ultimately enhancing functional autonomy for individuals with hand impairment.
Aging is a universal process accompanied by significant musculoskeletal shifts, particularly spinal disc degeneration, which can severely compromise independent mobility. While spinal decline is a known hallmark of aging, the specific age-related threshold at which these structural changes manifest as substantive hindrances to gait remains a critical gap in biomechanical research.The primary aim of this project is to identify the age range at which disc degeneration impacts independent gait, with a specific focus on the hips, pelvis, and trunk. These segments form the functional link between the degenerating spine and the lower extremities. Using Statistical Parametric Mapping (SPM), this study evaluates continuous statistical differences in the angles, moments, and power of the hip, pelvis, and trunk between two cohorts: individuals below 65 years and those above 65 years.By analyzing the kinematic and kinetic data across the entire gait cycle, this research seeks to pinpoint precisely how and when spinal degeneration alters core stability and proximal joint function. The findings will provide essential data for developing targeted physical interventions aimed at preserving gait integrity and prolonging functional independence in the elderly.
The inverted pendulum is a classic engineering problem used to study inherently unstable systems, such as self-balancing robots. We previously developed a low-cost version that successfully balanced the pendulum upright, but it suffered from timing jitter caused by MicroPython programming and significant quantization noise that limited the control speed. This project improved the system to make the control faster and smoother. We eliminated the timing jitter by transitioning to a real-time C environment that runs faster and with consistent timing. To reduce quantization noise, we replaced a simple backward difference velocity estimate with an adaptive windowing method that dynamically adjusts how much data it uses based on how fast the system moves. Adaptive windowing effectively smoothed quantization noise without slowing the system’s reaction speed. We validated these upgrades using a custom program that automatically moves the system and logs real-time balancing data. These improvements increased the stable control frequency to 2 kHz and resulted in audibly smoother motor operation with reduced current spikes. The improved design is an open-source, affordable platform for teaching and research that enables further investigation in control system engineering and machine learning. We plan to share the design as an alternative to expensive commercial equipment.
Over the last two decades, Eau Claire, Wisconsin, has experienced significant urban expansion, characterized by increased residential, industrial, parking infrastructure, and a general rise in impervious surfaces. This transition from permeable natural landscape to engineered surfaces poses a direct threat to the region’s hydrologic balance by diminishing infiltration capacity. While previous land-use studies have relied on coarse resolution data (e.g., 15 - 30 m Landsat imagery) at the watershed scale, there is a critical need for localized, and high-resolution assessments of the land-cover change. This study utilizes the Google Earth Engine (GEE) platform and Environment for Visualizing Images (ENVI) software to analyze 2-meter resolution spatial National Agriculture Imagery Program (NAIP) data from 2008 and 2022. By performing a supervised classification of Land Use and Land Cover (LULC), we quantified the conversion of pervious landscapes to impervious cover. Our preliminary results indicate a measurable decline in potential infiltration areas, identifying specific “hazard zones” susceptible to increased surface runoff. These findings suggest a heightened risk for localized flooding and increased nutrient loading into local water bodies, which may exacerbate seasonal algal blooms. This research provides a vital, updated dataset for sustainable water management.
Once roughly five times the size of Lake Superior, Megalake Chad was a vast inland body of water that has drastically receded over the past 5,000 years. Building upon previous geomorphic mapping, this study aims to quantify the lake's paleo-hydrology to evaluate the environmental impacts of its rapid desiccation during the Holocene. Using Google Earth Engine (GEE) and ArcGIS, we analyzed a suite of remote sensing data, including the 30-meter Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) Digital Elevation Model (DEM), alongside PALSAR and RADARSAT sensors.To further characterize the ancient lake, we generated multiple topographic and slope swath profiles across north-to-south transects of the basin. These analyses are designed to constrain the shoreline and depth extent of the lake to facilitate future volumetric modeling. Because much of the northern basin lies beneath the Sahara Desert, radar sensors are being employed to reveal critical subsurface drainage systems overlooked by surface analyses alone. By integrating satellite topography and subsurface radar data, this research establishes a framework to reconstruct Megalake Chad's ancient capacity. Ultimately, quantifying this massive water loss will provide a deeper understanding of the region's paleoenvironmental shifts and the profound ecological consequences of a disappearing megalake.
Cold plunging has been gaining popularity recently due to its health benefits such as muscle recovery and mental focus. Cold plunging involves emerging the body in 50 deg F for up to 10 minutes in a tank that varies in volume (100 – 1,000 gallons). Despite its popularity, little is known about cold plunge water quality and treatment efficacy. In this study, water from three cold plunge sites in Minneapolis, MN was collected over a 6-month period in addition to one cold plunge tank in Eau Claire, WI. Cold plunge samples were analyzed for pathogens and indicator organisms, including Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, fecal coliforms, and heterotrophic bacteria. Samples were collected by City of Minneapolis environmental health staff and transferred on ice to the UWEC ENPH lab within 24 hours for analysis. Samples were processed using membrane filtration and plated on different media types including; Mannitol Salt Agar, Pseudomonas CN agar, mFC agar, and Tryptic Soy Agar. Samples were incubated at 35 deg C for 24 - 48 hours dependent on media type. Bacterial colonies were counted and recorded, including negative controls to check for contamination. This project helps understand bacterial levels in cold plunge tanks and could guide future recommendations for best management practices at cold plunge facilities.
Aquatic safety is a vital part of public health. There are many ways in which public swimming pools, hot tubs, and water parks impact the safety of those who use them. Aquatic safety is governed by the law, with each state having their own specific set of standards and rules. These laws should be based on the most up to date scientific knowledge and best practices, but it can be difficult for states to keep up with any changes that might appear in the understanding of aquatic safety. The Model Aquatic Health Code (MAHC) is the CDC's summary document of best practices for aquatic safety. This project is designed to create a better understanding of how states differ from the MAHC as well as from each other in terms of aquatic safety regulations, and help states determine how, if at all, they should update their legislation. Aquatic safety legislation was gathered from different states, and a comparison report was created for each state and the MAHC. Results show a mix of consistencies and differences between the MAHC and state pool codes selected for this study.
This project highlights two collaborative course design projects within the Physical Education Teacher Education (PETE) program. As part of a recent curriculum revision, faculty partnered with undergraduate students to co-create two new PETE courses, integrating student perspectives into content selection, learning activities, and assessment strategies. Throughout the process, the undergraduate students helping to create these courses learned about collaboration, gained insight into their professional beliefs about teaching and learning, and experienced the process of creating a new university course from the ground up. Attendees will learn about the collaborative process, practical benefits, and lessons learned while also gaining ideas for involving students as co-creators in teacher preparation programs. KINS 321: PE Curriculum Models & Teaching Styles prepares future physical educators to better understand the fundamentals of teaching styles and curriculum models while expanding their pedagogical knowledge. Students will engage in authentic learning experiences to apply their knowledge of teaching styles and curriculum models. KINS 322: Measurement & Assessment in PE highlights implementing assessments into the physical education classroom. With students being co-creators, they were able to reflect on their own personal experiences with assessment in previous courses, which helped to formulate different topics that would be discussed.
Little is known about how students in speech, language, and hearing sciences perceive the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in their lives as learners and future clinicians. This study aims to capture SLHS students' perspectives on the potential pros and cons of AI through the lens of self-determination theory (SDT). SDT holds that well-being depends on the satisfaction of three psychological needs: autonomy, competence, and relatedness (social connection). Using a qualitative focus group design, students will first be introduced to SDT and discuss factors and experiences in student life that affect their sense of competence, autonomy, and relatedness. Students will then engage in guided peer discussions focused specifically on the use of AI, how it may positively and negatively impact the three SDT dimensions now and in the future. Data collection is ongoing. We anticipate that findings will reveal nuanced perspectives that can inform pedagogical and curricular strategies to help our program leverage the potential benefits of AI for student well-being while mitigating risks.
Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) work to provide inclusive services to children with both disabilities and medical illnesses and SLPs services often include use of children’s books. Further, research indicates that representation within children's books can shape identity and feelings of belonging. The purpose of this project was to understand the current literature related to representation of illness and disability in children’s books. To achieve this goal, we located and reviewed published research articles on this topic. We analyzed how they defined illness and disability, the specific types that were included in their analyses, and how they completed the analyses. Findings revealed varied definitions of illness and disability situated within both the medical model and social model of disability and illness. Additional findings revealed a range of methods of studying representation, including descriptive categorization and in-depth qualitative analysis of representation. These findings will inform the next phase of our research, which will be designed to better understand how SLPs conceptualize illness and disability and how this influences their selection of children’s books for use in their practices.
Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) serve an increasingly diverse population, necessitating the need to understand the impact of microaggressions. Microaggressions are unintentional and often subtle acts of discrimination that can result from often unconscious beliefs. They can occur within everyday interactions. The purpose of this study was to better understand elementary school SLPs’ perceptions of the impact of microaggressions experienced by the students they serve within the school setting. Eight elementary school SLPs were interviewed to understand their perceptions. Their interviews were qualitatively analyzed to understand the types of microaggressions experienced within the school settings and the impact of those microaggressions. Findings revealed a variety of microaggressions experienced by both the children the SLPs served and the SLPs themselves. Additionally, SLPs perceived multiple impacts on students including effects on their self-perception, decreased self-efficacy, and reduced feelings of trust, safety, and belonging. SLPs also described impact on themselves including reduced self-efficacy within their role, misunderstandings of scope of practice, and feeling othered within the workplace. Findings will help current and future professionals understand the potential impacts of microaggressions, ultimately leading to higher quality care for children of all backgrounds.
Our research question is, “How does an individual’s access to transportation impact their ability to shape the policies in the community that they live in and the services they engage in?” Much research has been done concerning access to transportation as a social determinant of health; however, there is a gap in research addressing how access to transportation impacts an individual's ability to engage with and shape the policies that impact them. We conducted a literature review concerning transportation justice and spatial justice as one area of focus, and access to transportation as a social determinant of health as another area of focus. With this background information, we began conducting interviews with those who engage with the public transportation system in the area, including bus riders, bus drivers, advocates, service providers, and city officials. The purpose of these interviews was to integrate experiential local knowledge. The goal of the literature review and integration of experiential local knowledge is to develop tools that will be used to develop community surveys and focus groups that will then allow us to draw conclusions around the primary question.
Jean Jacques Rousseau’s theory of the general will, steeped in the idea of collective freedom as well as the submission of private interests for the well-being of the common good, does not bode well with the First Amendment’s protection of student speech. It showcases deep tensions as to how public schools operate under democratic authority. Because the general will centers on an aim toward utopian unity rarely found in reality, applying it to an educational setting often legitimizes authoritarian restrictions on student speech, especially when the administration claims to act in the welfare or order of the student body. Major Supreme Court precedents such as Tinker v. Des Moines, Bethel School District v. Fraser, and Morse v. Frederick illustrate just how easily institutional interests can be framed as serving the “common good,” and thus allowing schools to suppress dissenting or uncomfortable speech from their students. The resulting contrast between the idealized collective will brought by Rousseau, and the lived reality of students’ right to free speech is frequently negative in character. Exposing the slippery slope that can appear when appeals to democratic unity occur, through the suppression of minority voices, and exposing the inherent limits of democratic authority in environments that act as laboratories for democracy.
Often far removed from population centers, it is easy for rural communities to feel excluded from politics at times, with a lack of population density coupled with a paucity of resources creating difficulty in making their voices heard. Politicians who represent these areas appear to tailor their messages to these constituents—but concerns regarding representation still exist among rural voters—signaling a problem in the responsiveness of their elected representatives. Our project was aimed toward examining the “responsiveness” of elected representatives to the needs of rural constituencies. Utilizing a survey and focus groups for data collection, we hope to better illustrate this relationship and its implications for rural politics. We believe that a discrepancy exists between the needs and representation of rural constituencies, and this project will determine whether this is the case, and to what extent.
How do abusive supervisors affect their employee’s psychological safety? An employee’s relationship with their leader is one of the most consequential influences on an individual in the workplace. Having an abusive supervisor, characterized by their hostile verbal and nonverbal actions can have a detrimental effect on their employees, including the perceived level of psychological safety. Through a time-lagged survey-based methodology, we examine the relationship between abusive supervision and employee’s psychological safety, and the intervening role played by varying levels of social support. We hypothesize that employees who experience more abusive supervision will enact defensive actions to protect themselves and their resources, including social withdrawals and engaging in unhealthy competition with colleagues, diminishing levels of social support. Through this diminished social support, people feel less supported and safe speaking up and sharing their thoughts, ideas, and values in the workplace (i.e., less psychologically safe). Our results provide support for the negative abusive supervision – psychological safety relationship and the mediating role of social support. A discussion of the practical and theoretical implications, as well we recommendations for future research will be provided.
The impostor phenomenon (IP; Clance & Imes, 1978) is a common experience among individuals in the workplace, often occurring without their knowledge. IP describes how an individual can convince themselves they are a ‘fraud’ within the workplace, having ‘faked’ their way to success, in which they fear being exposed as an imposter. Individuals who experience IP often experience mental blocks that impact their competence, affecting their behaviors and performance in the workplace. This study was measured through a time-lagged survey that explores the relationship between IP and creativity within the workplace, using ego depletion as the mediator of that relationship. Results of the study support the hypothesis, showing that IP is positively related to ego depletion, and ego depletion is negatively related to creativity, which ego depletion mediates the relationship between IP and workplace creativity. These findings support the concept that IP can be a resource-draining experience, shown through ego depletion, and that IP is negatively related to workplace creativity. A discussion of these implications for theory and directions for future research will be provided.
The objective of this project is to help broaden the available repertoire for undergraduate basses, creating a ten-song anthology of artsongs from historically underrepresented composers in appropriate keys, which better suit the undergraduate bass voice’s tessitura andrange. In addition to the new key, biographical information about the composer and their compositional style for song will be included.For pieces in foreign languages, an English translation and transcription of the text in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) will beprovided.
This project examines potential administrative barriers to initial Nursing Home Administrator (NHA) licensure, with particular attention to the timeline required to obtain licensure after completing educational and experiential requirements. Over half of U.S. states recognize the National Association of Long Term Care Administrator Boards (NAB) Health Services Executive (HSE) Qualification as meeting eligibility standards for NHA licensure. To earn the HSE via the education pathway, applicants must graduate from a NAB HSE-accredited program, complete a 1,000-hour Administrator Residency (primarily in skilled nursing, with exposure to assisted living and home- and community-based services), and pass the NAB Core and three line-of-service examinations. However, in many states, applicants must first apply for initial licensure before receiving authorization to sit for these exams, potentially creating delays.Using a mixed-methods design, three trained data collectors in each of 51 U.S. jurisdictions evaluated timelines, communication processes, and barriers to licensure while posing as graduates of NAB HSE-accredited programs. Descriptive statistics and thematic qualitative analyses are underway. Preliminary findings suggest variability in exam authorization procedures, communication clarity, and overall processing timelines. Identifying administrative barriers may inform policy alignment and streamline licensure processes to support a competent leadership workforce amid growing long-term care demands.
Our goal is to assess the administrative burden undertaken by prospective long-term care administrators seeking licensure. With the growing need for long term care, and increasing need for healthcare leaders, studying possible deterrents to joining the industry can help make long-term care more accessible. To study the administrative burden taken on by prospective licensees, investigators developed a rubric with qualitative and quantitative questions relating to expected costs, online information, timelines, and other challenges for Licensed Nursing Home Administrator (LNHA) applicants. 35 student data collectors underwent training and were each assigned three U.S. states, following a simulated applicant journey with no knowledge about licensure requirements in each assigned state. Using the structured data collection rubric, they tracked time spent on each step while documenting websites visited and roadblocks encountered. After data analysis, several trends emerged, suggesting a significant portion of states appeared to have barriers to finding and understanding initial licensure requirements. Participant feedback such as including clear flowcharts, simplifying language, and improving website navigation are offered as suggestions for state licensing websites. Reducing administrative burden and increasing clarity about the licensure pathway can make jobs more accessible and ensure people motivated to join this profession feel supported.
While contemporary policing is widely characterized as operating within a community policing era, organizational expectations and workplace environments may shape officers’ attitudes toward community-oriented practices in different ways. Hence, this study explores how officers perceive their roles and police culture associated with community-oriented policing through qualitative interviews. A total of nine interview transcripts were systematically analyzed using thematic analysis. The findings revealed several key themes, including police culture and climate, conceptions of community roles, “pink” and “soft” policing, and the influence of institutional norms on everyday practice. These results suggest that participants often engaged in forms of policing that at times diverged from the core principles of community-oriented policing. These variations appear to be shaped by the combined influence of societal expectations and organizational pressures, underscoring the complex realities involved in translating community policing ideals into practice.
AbstractThis research investigates the circumstances under which revisionist states engage in geopolitical mythmaking to drive foreign policy. While traditional International Relations theories often prioritize material power, this project utilizes Constructivism and Political Psychology to argue that states like Turkey and Iran are driven by "Ontological Security"—the need to maintain a consistent national self-image. By analyzing how fears of "civilizational erasure" or "status humiliation" lead to the creation of national myths, this project contextualizes these behaviors within broader global trends of democratic backsliding and nationalist weaponization. I employ a qualitative comparative case study methodology, utilizing discourse analysis of primary rhetoric from President Erdoğan and Supreme Leader Khamenei alongside process tracing of specific policy outputs. Preliminary results indicate that doctrines like Turkey’s "Blue Homeland" and Iran’s "Axis of Resistance" function as psychological shields that prioritize "identity consistency" over economic or physical security. Ultimately, this research demonstrates that for revisionist states, "volatility" is a deliberate strategy used to reclaim perceived lost status and secure domestic legitimacy
Neurodiversity is defined as any deviation from typical brain functioning. Neurodivergence remains underdiagnosed and under researched among females due to societal expectations, pressures, and gendered stereotypes. Female-identifying neurodivergent college students report elevated anxiety, depression, and social isolation relative to neurotypical peers, yet their voices remain underrepresented in campus research. Masking behaviors including suppressing neurodivergent traits to fit societal norms, contribute to increased pressure, burnout, and concerns regarding students' overall well-being, mental health, and retention in higher education.This mixed-methods study examines how neurodivergence shapes well-being across academic, social, and health domains among female-identifying students at UW-Eau Claire (UWEC). Grounded in Ryff's positive psychology framework, this research emphasizes identifying strengths and flourishing rather than solely focusing on deficits. We will administer an anonymous survey collecting demographic information and the 42-item Ryff Psychological Well-Being Scale. The scale's six domains autonomy, environmental mastery, personal growth, positive relations with others, purpose in life, and self-acceptance will inform focus group interview questions designed to capture both challenges and strengths. Through thematic analysis of semi-structured focus group discussions, we will identify patterns related to psychological well-being. Findings will provide evidence-based, strengths-based recommendations to UWEC departments for improving campus culture, accessibility, and targeted interventions supporting the well-being and academic success of female-identifying neurodivergent students.
This qualitative study explores how community-level stigma affects transgender individuals, focusing on how stigma is experienced, maintained, and resisted within their communities. Guided by input from a community advisory board, researchers conducted interviews using a constructivist grounded theory approach with transgender participants to better understand these dynamics and support community resilience. Findings will inform future research and interventions aimed at reducing stigma and promoting equity.
In recent years, professors have increased their use of screencast resources, implementing a flipped classroom approach rather than a traditional learning style. This study aims to explore undergraduate students' perceptions and engagement with screencast lectures in one foundational course: SLHS 262 – Phonetics. Various studies have been conducted on the effectiveness of screencast material and the flipped classroom approach (e.g., Phillips & Wiesbauer, 2022). This study takes this idea one step further, exploring student perceptions of screencasts, student engagement with screencasts, the relationship between these variables, and how they relate to students’ expected final grade in the course. An online survey was sent to students enrolled in the Phonetics course near the end of the semester in three consecutive terms. The survey included questions about students’ engagement with screencasts and their feelings concerning the effectiveness of the screencast materials for that specific course. Data analysis is underway, but we hypothesize variable perceptions and engagement with screencasts; we further hypothesize that there is a relationship between students’ perceived importance of screencast material and the letter grade students expect to receive in the course.
The current study aims to examine the experiences and perspectives of Wisconsin residents with brain injury about medical, social, and case management services. About 20,000 people sustain brain injuries in Wisconsin per year (WI DHS, 2025). Nationwide, people with brain injuries report unmet needs, particularly in the chronic stages of recovery. Unmet needs typically include specialized services and referrals, mental health services, and ongoing cognitive-communication supports during chronic recovery. 180 individuals affected by brain injuries within the State of Wisconsin were recruited for this study. We distributed a survey via Qualtrics and paper copies. Questions related to demographics, brain injury history, use and adequacy of services, and perspectives on these services. All data has been collected, and analysis is ongoing. We predict respondents will report using a variety of medical, social, and case management services, but will also report a variety of unmet needs.
The demolition of Zorn Arena and adjacent buildings during the 2025 summer, combined with Canadian wildfire smoke, raised concerns over air quality on UW-Eau Claire’s campus. Demolition of older buildings releases hazardous materials such as asbestos, silica dust, and lead, posing serious respiratory and cardiovascular health risks when inhaled. Similarly, wildfire smoke contains fine particulate matter and irritants associated with exacerbated asthma, chest pain, and other concerns. As such, we must ensure campus facilities protect individuals from the detrimental effects of poor air quality. Hibbard Hall’s proximity to the demolition site and its over fifty-year-old infrastructure raised concerns over the effectiveness of its HVAC system in protecting staff, students, and faculty from increased air pollution. To assess indoor air quality, PM2.5 concentrations were measured over 58 days via AirAssure and EPA monitors – one located in Hibbard Hall and the other in Altoona as an outdoor reference. These data were compared alongside demolition activity and wildfire smoke levels. Results indicated that indoor PM2.5 concentrations remained consistently lower than outdoor levels, suggesting that Hibbard Hall’s HVAC system effectively mitigated particulate infiltration. Our findings demonstrate that UWEC’s older facilities continue to provide a safe indoor environment despite multiple air pollution sources.
The Sonnentag Center is an athletic complex that houses a wide range of individuals from the Eau Claire community. The hundreds of student, staff, public, and patient visitors each week means that the Sonnentag must ensure the maintenance of safe water, staying in compliance with WELL Safe Building Standards. The WELL certification sets the business standard for public health and safety and explains the range of acceptable levels for each of the variables being tested. Granting this certification to the Sonnentag Center ensures that the surrounding community has a heightened trust in public water sources. Contaminated water can cause a variety of health complications, including gastrointestinal issues and skin irritation. We are actively conducting measurements of the drinking fountains, concessions ice, whirlpool, and cold tank plunge bath by recording free and total chlorine levels, pH, turbidity, and Coliform bacteria presence. We are using the ColorQ, HANNA, and Colilert testing kits, respectively. Our initial data shows levels within WELL and EPA standards of all variables tested. We expect our data to continue to comply with WELL certification standards to ensure proper maintenance and safety measures are being implemented.
Eau Claire is one of the world's Lyme Disease capitals, and this issue is only getting worse. The incidence of Lyme disease has more than doubled over the past decade, with over 6,000 cases annually in recent years. Global warming continues to affect the world, and with it, us. Currently, the tick season continues to grow longer, leading to a greater number of cases of Lyme disease and other vector-borne diseases associated with ticks. It also leads to an increasing range of many different species of ticks that don’t traditionally live in Wisconsin, an example being the Lone Star Tick. As these ticks continue to move north to new habitats, they bring with them new diseases. In this research project, we will be creating tick drags and targeting different areas, both on and off campus to collect ticks in the area and identify species, sex, life stage, and whether or not they are carrying a disease. The results of this research will allow us to understand and recognize the speed at which this change is occurring, but also the trends amongst locations, species, sex, and number and rates of invasive species of ticks new to the area.
Climate change is impacting water resources globally. In the US Mountain West, warming is pushing watersheds beyond historical hydroclimate conditions and altering snowpack, groundwater recharge, and stream baseflow. This project investigates intermittent groundwater discharge, i.e., flow that pulses following snowmelt and ceases during late summer low-flow conditions. Here we address three research questions to better understand shifting ecohydrological baselines: (1) What groundwater flow path distributions support intermittent flow? (2) What is the chemical signature of intermittent groundwater discharge? And (3) How do groundwater age and flow duration relate to landscape geomorphological characteristics? The study will be conducted in the Sagehen Creek Basin, CA, a well-instrumented Sierra Nevada watershed with long-term climate, streamflow, and groundwater records. We will sample five intermittent groundwater sites for age-dating using CFCs and SF6, analyze major ion chemistry and field water quality parameters, deploy in-situ loggers to record flow persistence or absence, and compute high-resolution terrain metrics to evaluate landscape controls. Pending results and analysis will provide insight into how climate-driven changes in recharge and snowpack influence groundwater flow paths, water quality, and the resilience of mountain groundwater systems.
The Black Hills Tomahawk obsidian deposit remains enigmatic; two independent geochron studies reveal significant age differences: 55 Ma (Kirchner, Science 1977) vs 10 Ma (Redden et al., Science 1983); both are problematic for preserving unaltered glass. The deposit consists of a dense network of anastomosing perlitic veins (0.1-3mm) encapsulating regions of unaltered glass (10 µm) chemically homogenous border zone separating the unaltered glass from the hydrous veins. This behavior resembles chemical zoning preserved in high-temperature phenocrysts, with distinct core, mantle, and rim compositions. Major elements show opposite mobility when comparing the unaltered glass to the veins and border zone: the behavior of Al, Na, and K (+3/+1 cations) is inverse to Si, Ca, and Ba (+4/+2 cations) with a 1:1 anticorrelation. This behavior differs from multiple studies on cation diffusion in silicate melts and high temperature glasses, which document smooth concentration gradients. Our results suggest cations in glasses at temperatures below the glass transition temperature are frozen into fixed sites, and subsequent mobilization requires coupled multi-variate substitutions to accommodate size and charge constraints.
During the Neoarchean ~2.5 Ga, Earth underwent a notable transition in tectonic processes. The rocks studied in this research offer a highly uncommon view into the transition period of tectonics as the Earth shifted from higher-temperature, ductile conditions to the colder, more brittle processes we observe in the modern day. The project employs multiple geologic methods to enhance our understanding of geodynamic history and crustal architecture during the cratonic assembly of the Superior Province in the Neoarchean era. Research examines a series of coeval magmatic units within the Vermilion and Shebandowan greenstone belts, located in northeastern Minnesota and western Ontario. These magmatic suites were formed during transitional tectonic styles and may have inherited crust and mantle conditions during their formation. Geochemical differences between these magmatic systems are described by compiling new and historic data with qualitative mineral descriptions from thin sections and hand samples. Major and trace element abundances were determined through X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF). In addition to addressing tectonic reconstructions of Neoarchean Earth, the resulting data can constrain gold-forming magmatic-hydrothermal intrusive systems.
Komatiites are ultramafic magmas which only formed during the Archean because of hotter mantle conditions. Because they are an extinct form of magmatism, their volcanology and environmental interactions are poorly constrained. Komatiites of the 2.7 Ga Shebandowan greenstone belt, near Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada, are particularly well-exposed and provide a unique opportunity to describe komatiite-sediment interactions and the formation of peperites – a product of lava and unconsolidated, water-saturated sediment interactions. The contact between komatiites and argillites and brecciated textures were described in detail to compare with modern magma-sediment mingling products. In the contact zone between the komatiites and argillites, samples have an argillite matrix with angular shaped aphanitic komatiite pieces. When fractured, the komatiite would accommodate sediment, creating wispy flow like structures and globular pyrite. This creates a “mixed” look to the argillite with fractures cutting across its surface. Peperites give insight into how komatiites and other high-temperature lavas may interact with wet sedimentation during emplacement. Additionally, heated basin waters can produce hydrothermal activity and crustal assimilation within komatiites that may result in mobilization of metals and formation of sulfide mineral deposits.
The geomorphic history of coastal plains can be shown through their formation and unique subsurface layering, which can indicate natural disaster occurrences and lasting environmental impacts. Determined to connect ground penetrating radar (GPR) reflections throughout the Filipino Gamay coastal plain sequence, (GPR) data were collected using Sensors and Software pulseEKKO Pro® with 100 MHz antennae at two coastal sites. For data collection, the antennae separation was one meter, and the step size was a quarter meter. The project scope is limited to the second coastal site to reveal the scale of Gamay’s coastal events, with the second site situated a kilometer northeast of the first site. Four GPR profiles were collected along three transects perpendicular to the modern coastline and one transect parallel to the coastline, linking the other three transects. Low-frequency noise was removed from all profiles with the dewow process. Radar facies with similar electromagnetic characteristics were then identified and used for interpretation. Profiles at the second site correlated to the subsurface activity experienced at the first, effectively connecting GPR reflections throughout Gamay Bay. High-energy events observed at the first site were detected a kilometer away, indicating a continuation of each event along the shoreline.
Cycling has become a central focus of Germany’s climate strategy, yet perceptions of safety remain a barrier to broader adoption. In this study, we examine spatial and demographic patterns of cycling safety perceptions in Marburg, Germany, a compact university city characterized by steep topography and a historic center. We distributed an online survey in German and English that asked participants to identify unsafe locations and provide demographic information. With this data, we created an interactive heat map to visualize patterns and applied density-based spatial clustering to identify statistically meaningful concentrations of unsafe points. Perceived risks were most frequently concentrated in the city center and along high-traffic corridors. Gender differences in cycling confidence, the influence of safety on route choice, and trip frequency were not statistically significant, though distributions point to subtle variations in how risk is evaluated. These findings provide critical insight into local cycling conditions and establish a foundation for future research on cycling safety.
Geography & Anthropology, University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire
Matthew Haffner is an associate professor in the Department of Geography and Anthropology at the University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire. He is a computational urban geography and committed four season commuter cyclist.
Rural clinics are closing across the United States. Despite the increasing relevance of this issue, little is known about the patients’ perspectives. Prior studies on this topic have been inconclusive or have failed to uncover statistically significant results. This study has a focus on a small community in rural Wisconsin facing a recent clinic closure. A notable portion of residents in this community (around 30%) rely on federal assistance for healthcare through programs such as MedicAID and Medicare, and 23% of the study population are senior citizens. Further, 25% of patients are below the poverty line. These factors combined with the clinic closure potentially create additional stress to the healthcare system and patients alike. To assess the potential impacts, we constructed a survey to gather data on the patients’ perspectives on this clinic closure. We use descriptive statistics to summarize the responses, analyze the results, and provide a thorough discussion on the implications. Remarkably, the investigation we conducted finds that travel time plays a key role in the patient experience. This emphasizes the gravity geography has in the context of healthcare accessibility in underserved areas, and recognizing how distance and location shape patient perspectives and wellbeing.
Geography & Anthropology, University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire
Matthew Haffner is an associate professor in the Department of Geography and Anthropology at the University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire. He is a computational urban geography and committed four season commuter cyclist.
Parents of children with language disorders frequently face feelings of ambivalence when having to make decisions about their child’s care. Ambivalence can be characterized as conflicting feelings about decisions related to their child’s care and education. Our study examines how ambivalence manifests in conversations between a speech language pathologist (SLP) and a mother of a kindergartener currently receiving speech and language services. Counseling conversations, informed by motivational interviewing principles, between the SLP and mother were recorded and collected for more than a year. Transcriptions of these conversations were completed, and initial analysis is presented. The results of our study provide insight for SLPs collaborating with caregivers navigating ambivalence in clinical decisions.
Much research explores the representation of children with disabilities broadly in children’s picture book, including themes related to identity and agency as represented in everyday life of characters. Our study specifically explores how children who are stuttered are represented in children’s picture books. We ask the question, “How is the agency of characters who stutter represented in children’s picture books?” Initial data was collected from 20 children’s picture books. Qualitative research methods were employed to illuminate patterns of representation. Cyclical analysis of the data set, using a constant comparison approach and consensus building, provided for the creation of multiple categories and patterns of representation related to character agency. These patterns of representation have great significance, as children’s literature serves as a tool for promoting communication confidence and resilience. Understanding how agency is portrayed through characters who stutter can be important for a speech-language pathologist, as book selections and narratives promoting empowerment of agency can result in positive intervention outcomes.
When the United States joined World War I in 1917, the federal government extended the homefront Progressive effort to encourage middle-class behavior grounded in temperance, industriousness, and sexual morality to American troops overseas. Entertainment and recreational activities moderated by the Commission on Training Camp Activities (CTCA) and civilian organizations like the Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA), gave Progressives an outlet for their middle-class moral agenda. Despite Progressive women’s contribution to the 1917 war effort, historians continue to associate war with the male experience, often retelling women volunteers’ narratives through the lens of their male employers. Which raises the question: how did YMCA women volunteers entertaining troops overseas challenge preconceived expectations of middle-class female domesticity? By analyzing letters sent home from American women entertainers between 1918 and 1919, this project argues that women advanced the organization’s goal in instilling middle-class ideologies on soldier audiences. In the process, however, women proved their undeniable value to the “Progressive experiment,” and assumed an unprecedented level of agency in a male-dominated sphere—an outcome the YMCA did not anticipate. Centering women’s experiences and highlighting how they utilized a social sphere previously exclusive to men reveals a new, and largely unexplored, perspective, in which women not only aided the war effort with their service, but utilized the historical moment to further the goals of feminists on the homefront towards recognition and equality.
This project explores the integration of high-impact practices (HIPs) and community client-based learning through UWEC’s partnership with GEEKcon, a student-run event, as part of CJ 351: Strategic Event Planning, and CJ 184: Multimedia Communication. This is a Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning Scholarship of Teaching and Learning project collaboration with students working collaboratively across CJ 184: Multimedia Communication classes and CJ 351: Strategic Event Planning. Through this initiative, students engage in a curriculum that emphasizes “real-world” application, professional identity development, and reciprocal community engagement. The study assesses the effectiveness of this learning model, focusing on how it affects student learning outcomes, community partnerships, and student professional growth. Additionally, the project examines how these practices enhance student development in terms of leadership, communication, and critical thinking in client-based environments.
Experts have coined the term “digital self-harm” to represent the act of anonymously cyberbullying oneself. Given the results of a 2025 independent survey administered to 13-17 year-olds in America, we explore the motivation behind adolescent self-cyberbullying. We coded responses to open-ended questions asking youth why they had engaged in digital self-harm into different categories to track frequencies. It was found that self-hate and depression were the leading motivators behind digital self-harm. However, we also found that anonymity was presented as a significant factor in the participants' responses. Furthermore, many indicated they used digital self-harm as an outlet to express emotions that were difficult to portray otherwise.
Despite recent years showing a substantial rise in cyberbullying awareness, its causes have not been widely studied. In general, most cyberbullying research focuses on the impact the practice has on victims of online harassment. Although this is, of course, extremely important, it leaves a significant gap in our understanding of how and why cyberbullying begins in the first place. This research hopes to shed some light on how cyberbullying begins in order to gain a better understanding of how it can be prevented. Many existing papers and research articles investigating cyberbullying perpetration were carefully examined throughout the course of this project to summarize our existing knowledge of the topic. Several main themes on cyberbullying motivations were discovered during the investigation, including aggression, lack of empathy, lack of online monitoring, revenge, dark triad personality traits, and low self-esteem. Further research is required to fully understand how these causes relate to each other; however, the project has provided a strong start towards that goal so far.
This project, supported by a UWEC International Fellows Blugold Commitment Funding, examined long-term care (LTC) services in Spain to inform cross-national comparisons with the United States and contribute to a larger mixed-methods study on aging- and dementia-related attitudes among healthcare professionals. The team toured LTC facilities, met with administrators and staff, and conducted qualitative interviews of health care workers on their self perceptions of aging. Qualitative analysis (n=15) focused on how working with older adults and people living with dementia shapes professionals’ perceptions of aging. Findings showed that most respondents reported shifts in how they view older adults, particularly greater recognition of autonomy, cognitive abilities, and emotional capacity. Participants highlighted the influence of exposure through family, workplace experiences, and broader social norms. When asked about their own aging, responses varied: not all professionals described personal change, but many reflected on aging through the lens of locus of control-distinguishing between modifiable factors (e.g., physical health through diet and exercise) and less controllable social or environmental influences. These insights illustrate how professional contact with aging and dementia can reshape attitudes and may inform strategies to reduce stigma and support high-quality dementia care.
Parental justice-involvement, including parental incarceration and/or supervision on parole or probation, is often associated with lasting challenges for families. This project explores the experiences of adult children with parental justice-involvement. While existing research has focused primarily on the immediate effects of parental incarceration on minor children, fewer studies have explored these experiences with adult children. Additionally limited work has looked at justice-involvement more broadly as opposed to specific parental incarceration. This study seeks to address this gap by investigating the lived experiences of adult children with justice-involved parents using semi-structured interviews. The findings will contribute to academic discourse and inform policies and practices aimed at supporting individuals affected by parental justice-involvement.
This research investigates how multilingual identity influences communication tool preferences and personal self-efficacy in global virtual teams, examining the mediating role of conflicts. Drawing on Media Richness Theory, Social Identity Theory, and Conflict Management Theory, we hypothesized that (H1) individuals speaking more languages prefer richer communication tools (video calls) over leaner channels (email); (H2) richer tool preferences reduce both task and relationship conflict; (H3) task conflict is positively related to self-efficacy while relationship conflict is negatively related to self-efficacy; and (H4) tool selection and conflicts sequentially mediate individual outcomes.Analyzing data from 2,823 students across 629 teams in the 2022 Spring X-Culture project using SPSS PROCESS, we examined ten communication scenarios. Our findings challenge the hypothesized conflict-centered framework: the direct pathway (multilingual identity → tool preferences → self-efficacy) proved significantly stronger than the conflict-mediated pathway. In “introduction” and “member missing” scenarios, multilingual identity increased preference for high-richness tools, enhancing self-efficacy directly, with conflict playing minor mediating roles. The relationship between multilingual identity and tool preferences proved context-dependent: significant positive correlations in three scenarios, non-significant correlations in five routine scenarios, and slight negative correlations in two explanatory contexts. While information-rich tool preferences consistently correlated negatively with both conflict types (especially relationship conflict), these reductions played surprisingly modest mediating roles. Both conflict types negatively impacted self-efficacy (especially task conflict), contradicting H3. This reversal occurs because virtual environments lack the non-verbal cues that help teams navigate disagreements productively.The critical exception emerged when addressing the “member missing” question: language number significantly predicted tool preferences (β=0.0530, p
This study explores how the TikTok ban in 2025 triggers the migration of American users to RedNote (Xiaohongshu) and analyzes how this digital shift shapes cross-cultural communication and interaction between Chinese and American netizens. Based on existing research on social media and cross-cultural interaction, this paper regards platform migration as a new field for cultural contact and identity negotiation. The research sampled posts from 50 Chinese and American bloggers on RedNote to identify the main discussion topics, interaction patterns, and potential risks of misunderstanding. Also, it evaluated user retention and platform sustainability by combining platform traffic data and migration timelines. Findings show that RedNote functioned as a short-term bridge for intercultural exchange, with dominant topics including lifestyle sharing, language learning, and cultural comparison. However, while the platform stimulates curiosity, empathy and informal learning opportunities, political discourse, stereotypes and algorithmic differences also give rise to misunderstanding and tension. Overall, this migration is more driven by the political context and shows phased and temporary characteristics rather than stable resettlement. The research highlights both the opportunities and structural limits of cross-platform cultural exchange in a digital environment.
Will Hororoe, Haylee Schreiber, and Sarah Warren workeddirectly with Professor Jyl Kelley to design, layout, and install twomosaic panel designs inspired by themes related to trees fromthe Chippewa valley. Our proposal was a request for supplies andstudent wages needed to produce a stained-glass mosaic muralinstallation in the UWEC McIntyre Library.
Psychology 102, Foundations in the Discipline of Psychology, is an introductory course meant to introduce new majors to the field of psychology while also providing experiences that will help them determine their direction within it and becoming a successful college student. The course has been taught for a handful of years and received good feedback from students, but this feedback and their apparent engagement in the course declined in recent semesters, which resulted in the current project. We identified core problems with the course and worked to resolve them so that students’ expectations were better met through, e.g., hands-on experiences and more appropriate learning assessments. Ultimately, this course is meant to help students reflect on their goals and values and create a clear vision of their professional lives, and this course revision seems more supportive of those goals.
The Open Poster Presentation sessions include poster presentations and displays of research, scholarly, and creative work across all disciplines, all UW-Eau Claire campuses, and CVTC.
It has been argued that philosopher Alasdair MacIntyre’s concept of a practice offers a robust and valuable model for understanding how, when supported by institutions, rightly ordered work can not only produce goods effectively but also foster workers’ personal growth and flourishing. MacIntyre describes a practice as a coherent, socially cooperative human activity that aims at “internal goods” realized through the pursuit of standards of excellence specific to that kind of work. This project asks whether speech-language pathology (SLP) qualifies as a practice and, if so, what potential challenges arise in achieving its internal goods. Through a review of the literature, we examined current ethical frameworks, descriptions of practice within SLP, empirical research, and philosophical discussions through the lens of MacIntyre’s framework. Findings are presented that illustrate the ways in which the field of SLP aligns with MacIntyre’s definition of a practice, followed by theorizing about the field’s internal goods, standards of excellence, as well as the external and institutional pressures that could influence the pursuit of those goods.
Narrative language abilities are among the strongest predictors of academic achievement and social communication. Accordingly, speech-language pathologists routinely assess and treat narrative skills in ways considered best suited to help students navigate the demands of the school environment. While this approach is important and necessary, research from narrative psychology and philosophy suggests that narrative language (storytelling) serves broader purposes that extend beyond academic and social competence. The goal of this project is to gain a better understanding of school-based SLPs’ perspectives on these broader purposes, including self-authorship, meaning-making, narrative identity, moral imagination, and character development. We created a short educational video that introduces these broader purposes, along with a survey with Likert-scale questions for pre- and post-video self-reflection. SLPs were asked to evaluate their familiarity with and understanding of the expanded vision, and to offer their thoughts on whether they find this vision relevant and attainable in their work. Data collection is in progress. We expect the content to resonate positively with SLPs and their current practices, despite it being somewhat new for some. SLP input about feasibility and barriers to implementation will shape future efforts to support the broader purposes of narrative in their work.
From the beginning of the colonization of the United States, indigenous languages have been steadily going extinct. This has led younger generations to feel disconnected from who they are, leading them to have the highest dropout rates among all ethnic groups in the United States, (between 29% and 36% (Native Hope, 2024)) as well as leading them to be six times more likely to want to die by suicide (Flannery). In this report, I address the pitfalls and successes of immersion and K-12 schools in the United States and their effects on these students' sense of belonging in education. All in all, this is to answer the question: How does the education system and its attitude towards indigenous languages in the classroom impact the social identity of indigenous communities whose cultures are being erased? I examined undergraduate research journals and their sources along with educators' research on their roles in language revitalization. This poster presents recommendations to aid current immersion programs and K-12 schools as they combat language extinction and create better educational experiences for indigenous students.
The purpose of “Lebanese Folk Songs in the General Music Classroom” was to expand the library of folk songs that are used in the general music classroom setting to include a more diverse repertoire so that more students feel represented in curriculum. Many students go their whole academic careers without seeing their culture represented in what they are learning, and music is a natural vehicle to teach about other cultures. Currently, there are no resources available for US teachers to teach Arabic music; this project aims to rectify that. We interviewed culture bearers about songs they sang as children, and then we created sheet music, pronunciation guides, and activities for those songs. The final result is an in-progress website with these resources in one place for teachers to use.
This project investigates how geographic diversity moderates the relationship between cultural diversity and team mental models (TMMs). Guided by Harrison and Klein’s (2007) framework on diversity mechanisms, we conceptualize cultural diversity as an information-based resource that enhances collective understanding, while geographic dispersion may amplify information exchange demands. Using regression modeling, results show that high geographic diversity strengthens the positive association between cultural diversity and TMMs, whereas low geographic diversity weakens this effect. These findings align with information-elaboration theory and highlight that when teams span varied geographic contexts, cultural differences are more actively interpreted and integrated into shared mental structures.
This study explores whether trust and voice jointly moderate the influence of peer evaluation scores on task conflict and whether task conflict subsequently predicts team performance. Grounded in De Dreu & Weingart’s (2003) task conflict meta-analysis, we expected peer evaluation to shift conflict depending on interpersonal trust and voice climate. Using PROCESS Model 9 with 1,157 observations, peer evaluation showed no significant effect on conflict, and conflict did not predict performance. Small conditional effects appeared under high trust or high voice. These results suggest that peer evaluations may not trigger strong conflict dynamics in classroom-based teams due to lower stakes or socially desirable behaviors.
This study examines how academic pedigree diversity influences team conflict and performance through the mechanism of process conflict, drawing on Stahl et al.’s (2010) information/decision-making perspective. Using SPSS PROCESS Model 9 with data from global virtual teams, results show that academic pedigree diversity does not significantly increase process conflict, nor does conflict mediate performance. IQ and EQ did not meaningfully moderate these relationships. Findings suggest that academic pedigree diversity may not inherently generate harmful process frictions in student GVTs and may operate through alternative pathways beyond conflict mechanisms.
The electric utility industry is changing fast. Tax incentives, new regulations, and rising electricity demand from AI data centers are pushing leaders to rethink sustainability. This project examines how Midwestern electric utility executives respond and whether sustainability is driven by compliance, financial incentives, or long-term strategy. Electric utilities are interested in sustainable energy, but they are restrained by complicated regulatory and economic limitations. Focusing on leadership decisions, the study connects sustainability strategy to policy shifts and emerging energy demands. Structured interviews with senior utility leaders will be analyzed by theme to reveal how sustainability fits into the business plan. Currently in the literature review phase, the project expects to find that sustainability is seen as a smart business strategy rather than just a regulatory requirement, helping utilities manage long-term risks and plan for future growth.
This project examines how voluntary NAB Health Services Executive (HSE) accreditation strengthens long-term care (LTC) administration programs and prepares future administrators. Accreditation is recognized as a tool to enhance education quality, workforce readiness, and program visibility while aligning with employer expectations and standards. To prepare for accreditation, faculty conduct comprehensive curriculum mapping across all NAB domains, implement robust Assurance of Learning plans, and integrate high-impact, real-world learning experiences through professional partnerships. The program also gathers alumni feedback, evaluates advisory board representation, and reviews student recruitment and engagement strategies to inform continuous improvement. Over five accreditation cycles, these processes have led to substantial program enhancements, including a strengthened on-campus curriculum, redesigned administrative residencies, and a data-driven assessment system that promotes ongoing curricular refinement. Students benefit from enriched experiential learning opportunities, and the program gains internal visibility and assurance of alignment with contemporary standards. Voluntary NAB HSE accreditation thus enhances student preparedness, supports licensure mobility, and strengthens stakeholder confidence. Ultimately, the accreditation process fosters continuous quality improvement, positions programs as leaders in LTC administration education, and contributes to developing a competent, well-prepared long-term care leadership workforce.
This study investigates how perceptions of immigration relate to individual well-being, measured through self-reported happiness and life satisfaction. Using nationally representative data from the 2017–2021 World Values Survey (Wave 7), we employ probit regression models to examine how beliefs about immigration shape well-being outcomes. Specifically, we focus on whether respondents think immigration increases crime rates or contributes to higher unemployment among citizens in Brazil and the United States. By comparing these two distinct socio-political contexts, the study provides insight into whether and how attitudes toward immigration influence personal evaluations of life.Our preliminary results indicate that individual well-being is associated with a wide range of demographic and socioeconomic factors, including health conditions, education, gender, perceived social class, financial conditions, number of children, marital status, and sense of security. However, both the direction and magnitude of these effects vary between Brazil and the United States. Crucially, perceptions of immigration exhibit significant but divergent influences on well-being across the two countries. Respondents in the United States tend to evaluate immigration more negatively, and these negative perceptions correspond to stronger reductions in reported happiness and life satisfaction compared to respondents in Brazil.The significance of this project lies in its contribution to understanding the psychological and social implications of immigration discourse. As debates over immigration continue to shape political climates worldwide, identifying how such perceptions affect individual well-being offers valuable insight for policymakers and social researchers. By highlighting cross-national differences, this study underscores the importance of cultural, economic, and institutional contexts in shaping both immigration attitudes and their consequences for individual well-being.
This research investigates generalized pseudo-inverses in matrix algebras, focusing on how inverse conditions enable matrix decompositions. We study inner inverses, outer inverses, with reflexive inverses satisfying both, and relate these to von Neumann regular elements and regular matrices. Stronger notions such as unit regularity and strong regularity are analyzed via the existence of inverses involving units, commuting conditions, and idempotent “spectral” factors. We also examine Drazin inverses, and Moore-Penrose inverses in the natural *involution context. Our project highlights when these properties force structured decompositions of matrices into sums/products of units, idempotents, and nilpotents, supported by examples and counterexamples.
This project investigates patterns in the decimal expansions of fractions of the form 𝑛/(3^𝑥), with particular focus on n/81. The central research question asks: which digits fail to appear in these repeating decimal representations, and can their absence be predicted using modular arithmetic? While repeating decimals are a familiar concept, the structural constraints governing their digit composition are less commonly examined.To explore this question, I analyzed decimal expansions in base 10 through the lens of modular arithmetic, examining how powers of 3 interact with powers of 10. By studying residue classes and cyclic behavior, I identified patterns that restrict which digits can occur in specific expansions. Preliminary results show that the structure of the multiplicative group modulo 3^𝑥 imposes predictable limitations on digit appearance. These findings provide a systematic method for forecasting digit absence in fractions with denominator 3^x, revealing deeper connections between modular arithmetic and decimal representation.
Organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs) are efficient, tunable, small devices that are easy to produce andimplement. This makes them an increasingly essential part of our technological ecosystem.Understanding how they function and when they don’t is crucial for understanding new applications andtechnologies. For example, it has been shown that exposure to high energy electromagnetic radiation canchange their functionality In this research project, OLEDs were fabricated, exposed to radiation, andtheir responses were monitored. The change in material makeup of the devices was explored, as well asthe change in in their magnetoconductance, or their ability to move current in the presence of a magneticfield. This poster will discuss the intersection of these two measurements, the best ways to take them,and what we learned from our analysis. Results of the experiment will show the change in thecharacteristics of an OLED with increasing exposure to radiation
The interactions between proteins and lipid membranes are fundamental in biology. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are a class of small peptides that are an important part of the innate immune system and have become an area of interest for scientists with therapeutics and drug delivery. This study focuses on the AMP Maximin 3, which is derived from the skin secretions of Bombina maxima. Maximin 3 is a 27-amino acid cationic peptide that has strong activity against many bacterial and viral microbes. While prior biochemical studies on this peptide demonstrate its antimicrobial activity and selectivity, there is little data that visualizes these interactions at the single molecule level. To accomplish this, we employ Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), a powerful technique for studying the dynamics of single-molecule systems, including protein-lipid interactions in near-native conditions. Here, we acquired AFM images of Maximin 3 with supported DOPC bilayers, which exhibited membrane deformations such as pore formation. Force spectroscopy assays, such as lipid punch-through experiments, demonstrated a shift in mechanical properties of the membrane, such as the yield force. Complementing our AFM results we performed molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to visualize Maximin 3-DOPC interactions at the atomic scale and extract energetic information about the peptide’s binding. Taken together, these results provide a real-time, quantitative analysis of Maximin 3-induced defects in supported lipid bilayers, highlighting their membrane-permeabilizing ability.
Research Software Engineering (RSE) projects are increasingly used by nearly all disciplines to further scholarly work. Yet little is known, empirically speaking, about the quantity, quality, and scope, of these projects, nor how they change and mature over time. We present MARS, a software platform for Mapping and Analyzing Research Software, that serves as a discovery and inventory system for software projects at universities and research institutions across the United States. Creating this platform allows us to answer research questions like, "Just how many RSE projects are out there?", "What do they look like?", "How can we learn from these projects to accelerate new software projects in science?". This presentation demonstrates the current state of our in-progress development of the MARS platform.
This project examines how account-level features on X/Twitter impact the spread of climate misinformation during the 2024 U.S. election week. It analyzes if attributes like follower count, verification status, and engagement activity predict the diffusion of climate misinformation. We share the results of our investigation on how misinformation moved through the platform during a surge of activity from the political movement and to recommend improvements for the platform's governance and communication strategies.
Our project aims to computationally evaluate the long-term evolution of exoplanet orbits around massive stars. These stars have high surface temperatures and strong stellar winds. The mass lost through these winds will have important effects on the development of their exoplanets' orbits and environments. We have performed a series of model calculations for a range of hot star properties. Each star is then assumed to have an initial collection of model planets orbiting them at a range of orbital radii. For the detailed modelling of the effects of stellar evolution, we use the open-source computer program Modules for Experiments in Stellar Astrophysics (MESA). We then run our own code in Python to calculate the effects on model planet orbits. This project should help in the interpretation of observations of exoplanets orbiting hot stars at various evolutionary stages.
Aging is a universal process characterized by progressive musculoskeletal changes, notably spinal disc degeneration, which frequently compromises independent mobility. While the physiological decline of the spine is well-documented, the specific threshold at which these changes substantively hinder gait remains poorly defined.The primary objective of this study is to identify the age-related impact of disc degeneration on independent gait, specifically focusing on the biomechanics of the ankle and knee joints. To achieve this, the project utilizes Statistical Parametric Mapping (SPM) to evaluate continuous gait data across two distinct cohorts: individuals below 65 years and those above 65 years.The analysis assesses statistical differences in joint angles, moments, and power to pinpoint where mechanical inefficiencies emerge. By quantifying these kinetic and kinematic variances, this research aims to define the critical age range at which spinal degeneration necessitates rehabilitative intervention. These findings will contribute to more targeted clinical strategies for maintaining mobility and functional independence in the aging population.
Knowing what types of enzymes a molecule will interact with can aid drug development by minimizing side effects due to unwanted interactions. In this project, we built and interpreted models for classifying enzyme substrates, aiming to address an information gap in this understanding: the distinguishing properties of the substrates of each major enzyme class. We utilized the machine learning technique XGBoost in Python to build a predictive model for each enzyme class using molecular data as well as top linear combinations of the data obtained using Principal Components Analysis. We will discuss the algorithm we developed to automatically tune the parameters of XGBoost to optimize the model. We will also present examples of how to interpret these models using graphs to visualize the impact of variables in each model and identifying common factors in the top contributing variables of significant principal components to characterize each enzyme class. For example, we found that the probability of a molecule interacting with oxidoreductase enzymes is positively associated with the number of nonpolar regions. A particular descriptor is NumHeteroAtoms, the number of non-carbon atoms in the molecule, which was negatively associated with the probability of interacting with oxidoreductases.
Graph-based codes allow us to visualize error-correcting codes and construct systems of low-complexity decoding. However, certain roadblocks- called stopping sets- can prevent complete error correction. This raises a question: how can we design encoding strategies that avoid such roadblocks? We investigate a setting where we must look at partitions of variable nodes with the goal of avoiding stopping sets in at least one part. Specifically, we examine an example with six variable nodes in a Tanner graph and its corresponding 4X6 parity-check matrix. We present a proof for the partial error correction for two out of three parts in the partition. Looking forward, we aim to determine the probability of encountering stopping sets in a topological lifting of the graph.
The Precambrian bedrock of northern Wisconsin hosts the 1.8-1.9Ga billion-year-old Penokean Orogeny. The Penokean Orogeny involves the collision of volcanic arcs and smaller continental crustal blocks. These blocks are known as the Pembine-Wausau Terrane and the Marshfield Terrane. The Eau Pleine Shear Zone marks the boundary between these two terranes. Recent studies within the Marshfield Terrane indicate a more complex geological structure than previously understood, the highly variable ages in this area highlight the need to re-evaluate the significance of this structural boundary between the Pembine-Wausau and Marshfield terranes. Clusters of magmatic rocks found near the Eau Pleine Shear Zone could help determine the nature of this crustal boundary. Magmas that are generated before, during, or after the collision inherit the geochemical and isotopic characteristics of the crustal blocks they interact with. For this research project, samples were collected from both intrusive and volcanic rocks that are found on both sides of the Eau Pleine Shear Zone, these samples were then prepared for geochemical and petrographic analysis. The results of this work will allow us to evaluate historical tectonic models of the Lake Superior region and determine whether the Eau Pleine Shear Zone is indeed an appropriate terrane boundary.
The volcanic rocks of the Penokean orogen of northern Wisconsin are well known for hosting 1875 Ma Cu-Zn-Pb-Au-Ag volcanogenic massive sulfide (VMS) deposits that formed in deep marine extensional settings. New U/Pb ages obtained from VMS-hosting volcanic strata suggest the extensional tectonic setting was active at 1835 Ma when previous tectonic models state the Penokean Orogen is thought to have closed the ocean. These inconsistencies in dates of samples from the Penokean Orogen may suggest a different geologic timeline than previously recognized. However, younger tectonic or hydrothermal may have altered the zircon U/Pb systematics. This study compares U/Pb ages taken from zircon cores or rims to test if there is a difference in the data. If there is a correlation between core/rim analyses and ages, then it is possible that the 1835 Ma age is an artifact of tectonic or hydrothermal events and not related to timing of VMS mineralization. Preliminary core vs. rim comparisons indicates there is no distinct difference in the ages. This suggests that the younger submarine extensional VMS-forming environment existed and that the timing of major events in the Penokean orogen need to be revisited.
In global virtual teams, creative performance is influenced by both stable individual traits and dynamic moment-to-moment behaviors. Guided by Social Cognitive Theory and Conservation of Resources Theory, this study examines how proactive personality predicts stable engagement and creativity, and how within-person fluctuations in effort and creative idea quality influence one another across time. Utilizing a four-wave longitudinal design and RI – CLPM framework, we successfully distinguished stable between – person tendencies from momentary within-person changes. This analysis yielded a discernible reciprocal effort–creativity cycle: when individuals engaged more intensely than usual at time t, they produced higher-quality creative ideas at time t+1 (β = 0.180, p < .001). Conversely, periods of heightened creativity contributed to increased engagement in subsequent phases (β = 0.078, p < .001). Despite its bidirectional nature, the effect from effort to creativity was found to be notably stronger, suggesting that effort functions as a primary resource that initiates a Creative Resource Gain Spiral across time. At the between-person level, individuals with more stable proactive tendencies consistently exhibited higher levels of average engagement (β = 0.119, p < .001). The accumulation of engagement resources resulted in significant cross-level consequences, with stable effort exhibiting a string prediction of distal team creative performance (β = 0.816, p = .029). This underscores the role of enduring individual resource investment in shaping collective creative outcomes within global virtual teams. This study is among the first to use an RI-CLPM framework to demonstrate a bidirectional effort - creativity cycle within global virtual teams and provides new evidence for dynamic resource processes in distributed collaboration. At the team level, contextual characteristics such as average team age (β = 0.050, p
This study explores how the interaction between cultural distance, technological readiness, and reciprocal investment patterns influences bilateral Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) flows between the United States and its partner countries. To conduct this study, we utilize an extensive dataset of 83 countries compiled from various World Bank sources, Hofstede’s cultural indices, and other measures of technological readiness to create a bilateral investment framework to analyze both U.S. outbound and inbound foreign direct investment.We employ fixed effects regression analyses to evaluate the multidimensional impacts of culture, technology, and economic ties on investment behavior. The results show that technological readiness is strongly associated with higher levels of bilateral FDI flows.Additionally, the findings reveal an important moderating effect: cultural distance weakens the positive influence of technological readiness on FDI flows, indicating that cultural compatibility is essential for countries to fully leverage technological advantages in international investment.The results of this research indicate that countries wishing to invest more heavily in each other's markets do so by first establishing a strong technological base, then building strong cultural relationships.
This study investigates why language barriers impact communication quality differently across individuals in global virtual teams. While previous research has established that language barriers impair team communication, the individual-level mechanisms explaining this variability remain underexplored. We examined whether two motivational dispositions—Learning Goal Orientation (L-GO) and Performance Goal Orientation (P-GO)—moderate this relationship. We analyzed data from 1,520 students in 324 teams participating in an 8-week global business competition using a multilevel moderation model. Language barriers were distinguished as internal (self-perceived expressive difficulties) and external (team-level communication challenges). Results revealed a "tale of two motivations." L-GO did not significantly moderate the barrier-communication relationship, suggesting stable communication behavior regardless of contextual barriers. Conversely, P-GO demonstrated a "double-edged sword" effect: it amplified the negative impact of internal barriers, as high-P-GO individuals appeared susceptible to fear of appearing incompetent, causing communication quality to deteriorate sharply. However, P-GO positively moderated external barriers, with high-P-GO individuals framing team challenges as legitimate opportunities for improvement. These findings demonstrate that language barriers' impact depends on individuals' motivational frameworks, suggesting targeted interventions based on goal orientation profiles.
This study investigates the longitudinal associations between perceived language barriers and leadership-communication dynamics in global virtual teams. Despite extensive research on language barriers' detrimental effects, how individuals navigate these challenges over time and whether barriers might paradoxically motivate leadership emergence remains unclear. We analyzed multi-wave data from 1,520 students in 324 teams participating in an 8-week global business competition using a Random-Intercept Cross-Lagged Panel Model (RI-CLPM) to distinguish stable individual traits from dynamic weekly fluctuations. Results revealed distinct patterns at two levels. At the between-person level, internal language barriers (self-perceived expressive difficulties) negatively predicted stable leadership and communication traits. Conversely, external barriers (perceiving others' communication difficulties) positively predicted leadership traits, suggesting individuals "step up" to fill leadership vacuums created by team communication challenges. At the within-person level, an evolutionary pattern emerged: communication initially drove leadership emergence mid-project, with this influence sustained throughout. The reverse path—leadership predicting communication—was initially absent but emerged strongly in later stages, shifting the relationship from unidirectional to reciprocal. These findings reveal that while external barriers may motivate stable leadership emergence, active communication serves as the initial catalyst for leadership dynamics, later evolving into a mutually reinforcing cycle.
Investigating preservice teachers’ use of behavior-specific praise in a clinical setting The purpose of this study is to examine whether the use of a visual reminder influences the rate preservice teachers use Behavior Specific Praise (BSP) in a clinical setting. Effective classroom management strategies are essential in addressing students' behavior and managing teacher burn out. Although previous BSP research has shown an increase in desirable student behaviors, limited research has been done on the use of visual reminders to specifically encourage its use with preservice teachers in a clinical setting. Using a multiple-baseline design, researchers collected data on student clinicians' (n=26) use of BSP in an interprofessional assessment clinic with school-aged clients (n=10). Baseline and intervention-phase data was collected on student clinicians during a four-hour clinical testing session. Comparisons analyzing BSP rates for pre- and post-intervention are included. Based on previous research involving tactile reminders, it is expected that the visual prompts will show an increase in the rate of BSP among preservice teachers. The anticipatory findings will work to inform education programs in providing proactive support to improve classroom management skills.
Imposter Syndrome is a phenomenon that involves persistent feelings of self-doubt towards one’s abilities despite evidence of competence. Research on imposter syndrome within the field of speech-language pathology is scarce, indicating the presence of a research gap. Previous research within other fields indicates that imposter syndrome is prevalent in environments of high stress and achievement, making the student population particularly vulnerable to experiences of imposter syndrome. The aim of this study is to better understand the awareness of imposter syndrome (IS) among Speech, Language, and Hearing Science (SLHS) students and the ways it may manifest differently in SLHS undergraduate and graduate students. To address these aims, undergraduate and graduate SLHS students at the University of Wisconsin, Eau Claire were sent a Qualtrics survey containing various questions related to imposter syndrome. The anticipated outcome of this project is to understand whether UWEC SLHS undergraduate and graduate students report feeling IS and which characteristics of IS are frequently experienced in each student population. Ultimately, this could lead to strategies to support SLHS students in developing confidence so they can better support those they serve.
The purpose of this study is to better understand childcare teachers' beliefs about multilingual language development. Understanding these beliefs is essential, as inaccurate advice or inappropriate referrals may contribute to inequities in access to speech-language pathology services for multilingual children. Researchers have found that early childhood teachers often hold false beliefs about the impact of multilingualism on language development, including the belief that learning multiple languages hinders language development or confuses children as they develop their language systems. Undergraduate researchers contacted daycare program directors via email to explain the purpose of the study and how it would be conducted. For centers that agreed to participate, researchers delivered paper surveys for teachers to complete and collected them one week later. Data were analyzed to examine the accuracy of daycare teachers’ knowledge and how factors such as previous work with multilingual children, years of experience in daycare, and level of education related to knowledge accuracy. These findings could spur action and future research aimed at increasing daycare teacher knowledge. This could improve the accuracy of information shared with parents and the appropriateness of referrals to speech-language pathologists, enhancing care for multilingual children and their families.
All individuals have the inherent right to communicate (McLeod, 2018), and every person, regardless of age, deserves the opportunity to participate in their healthcare (Ward, 2015). However, children with complex communication needs (CCN) frequently encounter barriers to effective communication in healthcare settings. Interactions between children with CCN and nurses are often compromised, resulting in frustration for both parties (Fink et al., 2008; Shilling et al., 2012). These communication breakdowns can adversely affect care, delay recovery, and prolong hospital stays (Fink et al., 2008), while also requiring parents to assume the roles of advocates and protectors (Shilling et al., 2012). Furthermore, research indicates that both nurses and speech-language pathologists (SLPs) report low confidence in their ability to support the communication needs of children with CCN. The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of a pilot interprofessional training on the confidence levels of SLP and nursing students. Graduate SLP students provided instruction to nursing students on strategies for supporting hospitalized children with CCN. Subsequently, both groups participated in simulations in which they completed mock nursing tasks while facilitating communication with a “child” with CCN. Participants completed a retrospective pre-post rating scales assessing confidence in supporting children with CCN and engaging in interdisciplinary collaboration. Results indicated increased confidence among all students, with nursing students demonstrating greater gains than SLP students.
We have seen a noticeable lack of understanding amongst undergraduate SLHS students in upper-level courses when recalling information on how speech sounds are made by mouth. We developed a game to reinforce knowledge about the articulation of speech sounds necessary for graduate school and a career as a speech-language pathologist or audiologist. To play the game, the course professor will give each student a notecard and display a prompt. Each student will identify a word that fits based on syntactic constraints. Students will identify sounds and write down the place, voice, and manner of articulation for each sound in the word. When finished, students exchange their work with another and identify the phonetic symbols for all sounds described. This game was played often throughout the 2025 Spring and Fall semesters, and the data is analyzed in the following semester. From the data analyzed for spring of 2025, students made errors in phonetic transcriptions with orthography, place, voice, manner, and the number of phonemes in the word. Through anecdotal evidence, students improved speed and accuracy of their transcriptions over time. This data indicates that the game is effective for helping students engage with knowledge about place, voice, and manner.
How are breaks during educational times beneficial to all students? Additionally, how does Universal Design for Learning benefit students' learning? This goal is important because it allows teachers to further their knowledge on what types of teaching styles and break methods benefit their students the most, in terms of retention and processing information. My project investigates previously written research from both educational and scientific backgrounds to merge these ideas together. This allows for many perspectives to be covered, which will provide new knowledge on how cognitive functions and education directly affect each other. I used data from previous research related to the impact of UDL and how breaks impact learning and retention. My project is a literature review, so for this, I found credible sources that discussed UDL and then later how breaks impacted learning. This research is important because it will help educators have an outline on how they can structure their breaks so that they benefit their students. Since this is only a literary review, the hope is to work with schools and try different types of breaks for a variety of grades, to see the overall impact.
The objective of our research is to determine the efficacy, diversity, and factors that influence intent to stay in public child welfare, specifically applied to the graduates of the Title IV-E program at the University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire (UWEC). For decades, child welfare agencies have experienced near consistent turnover rates ranging from 20-40%. We hope to use the data gathered towards improving the program at UWEC by evaluating preparedness, diversity, and retention to decrease turnover rates and increase intent to stay. Participants will be UWEC Title IV-E graduates who have been employed in the child welfare workforce for at least six months. In the study, participants (n=50) will be asked to complete portions of the Comprehensive Organizational Health Assessment (COHA) and a semi-structured interview. Examples of sections in the COHA are as follows: Peer Support, Supervision, Job Satisfaction, Intent to Stay, and Self-Care. The interview will explore burnout, secondary trauma, and compassion fatigue. We expect results that show the Title IV-E program at UWEC has better prepared social work graduates to succeed in the child welfare field. We expect that job satisfaction and supervision/peer support are major influencers on intent to stay in child welfare.
Housing and homelessness constitutes a persistent public health concern, necessitating rigorous evaluation of intervention strategies. Home for Good (HFG), a non-profit organization based in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, implements a unique housing and peer mentorship model to address homelessness among families with young children. Using mixed-methods, we evaluated HFG’s approach through quantitative survey data and in-depth qualitative interviews with both mentors and clients engaged in the program. Surveys captured mentors’ experiences with program implementation, and interviews explored clients’ personal narratives and the perceived impact of HFG on their trajectories. Our analysis has identified key trends and has generated evidence-based recommendations for program development. In this presentation, we describe our methodology, share findings to date, and discuss implications for policy and future housing interventions.
Low fruit and vegetable (FV) intake increases chronic disease risk, especially for low-income Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) households facing cost and access barriers. Nutrition incentive programs aim to make FV more affordable for SNAP participants. This study examined eight years of data (2018–2025, N = 1,071) from a Wisconsin SNAP nutrition incentive program, using descriptive and regression analyses to evaluate shopper experiences. Most participants reported eating more FV (90%), trying new foods (63%), and saving on groceries (85%). Nearly all (93%) described the market as welcoming, but barriers included transportation (18%), weather (23%), and limited hours (13%). More incentive redemption was linked to higher visit frequency with each $10 increase in incentives redeemed associated with 17% more visits (β = 0.016, p < .001). More visits also increased the odds of returning the next season by 60% (OR = 1.60, p = .011). Findings suggest that incentives boost FV affordability, which encourages more frequent market visits, supporting greater engagement and FV access for low-income households. Results highlight both the program’s strengths and remaining barriers, providing guidance for more equitable, accessible nutrition incentive strategies.
Despite the central role of fruits and vegetables (FV) in a healthy diet, cost and access remain barriers for low-income households. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) addresses food insecurity on a broad scale; however, FV consumption remains low among SNAP participants, who are also less likely than higher-income shoppers to purchase from farmers' markets. The Eau Claire Downtown Farmers Market implements Market Match, a nutrition incentive program that allocates additional funds for FV purchases to SNAP households. Eight years of administrative data (2018–2025) from 2,457 unique households were analyzed to describe long-term participation patterns and economic contributions to the local food system. Descriptive statistics were used to examine annual participation, seasonal return patterns, and vendor-level SNAP redemption. More than one-third of households returned for multiple years, and over 100 participated for at least three seasons, demonstrating sustained engagement. In 2025, SNAP shoppers spent $29,082 at the market; using a conservative economic multiplier of 1.6, this spending likely generated more than $46,500 in local economic activity. Findings underscore the role of nutrition incentives in expanding farmers' market access for low-income shoppers, strengthening Wisconsin's local food economy, and providing evidence to inform a statewide nutrition incentive model.
Flushing of non-degrading waste can lead to costly blockages in wastewater treatment systems. This study investigated Eau Claire County residents’ perspectives on and habits of flushing non-degrading waste. To test our hypothesis that residents with on-site septic systems are more aware of proper flushing habits than residents whose sewage flows to the municipal wastewater treatment plant, we distributed 444 surveys in neighborhoods that were on the municipal system and others with an on-site septic system. We received 43 responses from septic and municipal residences, with response rates of 28% and 15%, respectively. Municipal residents were more likely to identify that non-flushable wipes and feminine hygiene products should not be flushed (by 19% and 9%, respectively) and they reported experiencing clogs at a significantly lower rate (-33%). We contacted three local septic service companies who all stated most septic system blockages are caused by non-woven wet wipes with some blockages caused by feminine hygiene products. These insights, combined with survey results, suggest that septic system residents are more invested in what gets flushed than municipal residents, but are less aware of proper flushing habits. This study will be used to develop an outreach program on the importance of proper flushing habits.
In geochronology, mineral separation is a critical prerequisite for obtaining datable samples like zircon. This study compares two distinct gravity separation methods, the Gemini Table and manual panning, to evaluate effectiveness in recovering dense mineral fractions. The Gemini Table utilizes a mechanical, tilted platform where water flows and induced shaking sort grains by density along grooves. In contrast, manual panning relies on the suspension of less dense materials in a shallow basin through hand-induced agitation until only the heavy minerals remain. Both methods were applied to a sandstone sample from the Freda Formation, a siliciclastic unit within the Midcontinent Rift. While the Gemini Table yielded a larger total volume of dense material, subsequent analysis revealed a lower concentration of zircon compared to manual panning. Higher panned recovery suggests that, despite its manual nature, panning may be more effective for mineral concentration. Beyond yield, the Gemini Table requires extensive cleaning of its complex surface to prevent cross-contamination, a time-intensive process. In contrast, manual panning was completed in half the time using only a basin and sink. These preliminary results suggest that for specific sandstone samples, manual panning provides a streamlined, time-efficient alternative for procuring high-quality zircon separates.
Per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a collection of widely used contaminants, and have been coined as “forever chemicals” due to their long-lasting nature in the environment. Impacts on human health are thought to be associated with the development of cancers, thyroid issues, and reproductive issues. In 2024, PFAS were detected in exceedance of regulatory recommendations in several private wells in rural southwest Eau Claire County, leading to county-wide systematic testing.Between July 2024 and April 2025, student researchers at UWEC sampled 141 private wells for PFAS. Samples were analyzed at the Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene. Samples collected by UWEC and the Eau Claire City-County Health Department detected PFAS in approximately 35% of the samples, with 19% exceeding the EPA limit of 4 ppt (parts per trillion) for PFOA. Visual inspection appears to show a correspondence between elevated PFOA and paper mill sludge spreading. There is not a clear indication of elevated PFAS corresponding with wastewater or septic land spreading. There is no clear relationship between elevated PFAS and exceedances in other water quality parameters, including nitrate.
A C-complex is a union of Seifert surfaces for the components of a link which intersect each other in clasps. The clasp number of a link is the minimal number of clasps amongst all C-complexes bounded. It gives a measure of complexity and can be used to provide bounds on other useful characteristics of a link. This paper provides a new lower bound for the number of clasps of all C-complexes bounded by a given 3-component link improving results of Amundsen-Anderson-D.-Guyer. Furthermore, we construct links that achieve these bounds. In order to do so, we express the triple linking numbers as the area bounded by three curves, called word curves, and then perform the geometry and discrete optimization needed to minimize the length of these curves.
This study aims to determine whether we can detect the presence of extrasolar planets by using a Meade LX200 12-inch telescope. Our observation technique is to observe subtle changes in star brightness as a planet passes in front of a star. We have carried out preliminary observations on a variable star and found that we can easily detect variations as small as 0.09 for a 13.81 magnitude star. To understand the sensitivity of our system, we have generated simulated data to predict detection thresholds as a function of stellar magnitude. We will use these predictions in selecting targets for future observations.
In this project a force balance that can be used to measure lift and drag forces on objects placed inside of a wind tunnel was designed and built. Data was collected using Vernier force sensors. The balance was designed using the CAD program Onshape. Parts for the force balance were 3D printed and added to elements constructed in a metal shop. Data from the force balance was collected by Logger Pro software and saved to a file for analysis. The force balance was tested using 3D printed airfoils, the results of which are presented here.
Understanding the aerodynamics of systems is crucial in the design of vehicles and structures. Wind tunnels provide a controlled environment to analyze airflow around models that help inform the design process. Large-scale wind tunnels are expensive, so we have built a smaller scale cost-effective one. We have made measurements to characterize the airflow in the test section where models to be tested will be placed. We have quantified the air speed, uniformity, and consistency of the airflow with two different fan systems. This information will be needed for using the wind tunnel in instructional laboratories or future research.
Being closed source and controlling over 90% of the world's search engine market, existing mainstream search engines such as Google, Bing, Yahoo have an overt influence on the way users interact with the open internet. Due to the size and complexity of the internet and its standards, it is difficult to build any sort of complete internet search engine. This project aims to fill that gap, making a complete, open source, and index-independent search engine for use with the modern web. Using Kubernetes, Postgresql, and custom Python code, high-performance web crawlers are deployed at scale across a fleet of 12 retired desktops repurposed to be servers and tokenized into a high-performance database which matches user queries to the closest matching site. Insights about the modern web, including the prevalence of AI-generated content and the distribution of languages are also measured using the data captured during this project.
Student Administrator at Blugold Center for High Performance Computing, University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire
Hello! I'm Silas. I enjoy breaking things, fixing the things, and then breaking more things in the process of fixing said things.
I'm currently employed part-time by the Blugold Center for High Performance Computing (https://hpc.uwec.edu) at UWEC as a Student Administrator. I help... Read More →
The emergence of generative artificial intelligence (AI) has facilitated the creation of targeted, mass-produced, and highly effective phishing messages with unprecedented ease. Unlike previous methods, attackers no longer face the dilemma of choosing between investing time in crafting personalized spear phishing messages or opting for less effective, but broadly distributed, general phishing campaigns. Despite continuous warnings from security researchers and academics spanning over a year, there remains a notable scarcity of AI-generated phishing messages available for comprehensive study and analysis. The establishment of a comprehensive corpus of AI-generated phishing messages would provide researchers with the data to devise effective strategies for detecting and thwarting these sophisticated techniques. To address this gap, we propose leveraging the computational capabilities of UWEC’s Blugold Center for High Performance Computing with local Large Language Models (LLMs) to generate a diverse and extensive collection ofmalicious phishing messages for analysis and new techniques to better detect AI generated phishing attacks.
Because smartphones have increasingly found their way into most aspects of modern life, there is much to consider when purchasing a smartphone. Among other things, operating system, performance, software, camera, and battery life are all important factors when choosing a smartphone. Despite the portability of smartphones and their effectiveness as table tennis paddles, there is a significant lack of literature on the topic of using smartphones as ping pong paddles. Through a cross-sectional experiment, the researchers tested several different smartphone brands and models in a controlled tournament-style environment. Smartphone models were traded among the researchers for each round of gameplay, allowing for an averaged score of the most effective smartphone brand and model. This study establishes the first empirical framework for evaluating smartphone models effectiveness as table tennis paddles, and demonstrates the vast difference in ping pong performance among leading smartphone brands.
Student Administrator at Blugold Center for High Performance Computing, University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire
Hello! I'm Silas. I enjoy breaking things, fixing the things, and then breaking more things in the process of fixing said things.
I'm currently employed part-time by the Blugold Center for High Performance Computing (https://hpc.uwec.edu) at UWEC as a Student Administrator. I help... Read More →
What is the relationship between privacy and tolerance? Privacy is more prevalent in the United States as a legal concept; however, it remains undefined and contentious. Tolerance is a standard of thought that many see as necessary to a cohesive, successful society – the intersection of both concepts is unclear and debated. To explore that territory, I explored existing literature on both the elusive right to privacy in the United States and the concept of toleration. Definitions of each concept had to be reached and then compared. Subsequently, I expanded findings and conclusions based on the perspective of other scholars. The stance reached is that privacy and tolerance cannot both be applied to the same situation. They may very well be on the same spectrum from secrecy to transparency, but the two ideals must be treated differently in the political sphere.
Monitoring changes in land use and land cover (LULC) is an important exercise that is effective in tracking the growth of urban landscape, modifications to small towns in rural areas, can be used as a corroborative evidence in measuring economic growth and socioecological change, and has been proven to be effective in gauging a host of other attributes that are connected to land. Small towns located relatively close to major cities or other key features in the United States have witnessed significant changes in spatial structure and form over the past few decades. Spring Hill, TN is one such example of tremendous growth; having witnessed a small population of 7,000 people in the early 2000’s skyrocket to close to 60,000 people in 2024. This phenomenal population change has affected the way in which the surrounding land is utilized, bringing with it environmental and socioeconomic impacts to the region. The main goal of this study is to measure the extent of change to LULC within and around Spring Hill, TN between 2000 and 2025 and try to understand the factors behind such changes. Specific objectives include (i) to gauge changes in LULC between 2000 and 2025 at three timesteps (2000-2010, 2010-2020, 2020-2025), and (ii) to understand the role of drivers responsible for LULC changes in the study area. Results of this study can provide invaluable information to urban and regional planners in the region.
Gamay Bay is located on the northeastern coast of Samar Island, which directly faces the Pacific Ocean and is regularly impacted by large storms and typhoons, leading to coastal erosion. Knowing more about the formation of Gamay Bay’s coastal plain can provide a better understanding of what factors were involved in the changing landscape as the bay was forming, and little ground penetrating radar (GPR) research has been done along Gamay Bay. To better understand the subsurface stratigraphy, GPR sends electromagnetic pulses into the near subsurface while a receiver measures the reflecting waves. Sensors and Software® pulseEKKO GPR System with 100 MHz antennae 1m apart was used with a 25cm step size along a 425m topographically corrected transect. Data was processed using EKKO Project software. Reflections are accurate to ~6.5m, show 5 erosional truncations with ~8o dip angles roughly 3m below the surface interpreted as large storm events, and subparallel complex sigmoid-oblique deposition patterns which are interpreted as beach progradation. The GPR data results will be used in future research to confirm sites of interest and numerically date the sands to construct a timeline of when the erosional events may have occurred.
The reconstruction a portion of the geomorphic past of Gamay Bay’s coastal plain in Northeast Samar, Philippines advances the understanding of past depositional and erosional events. Three separate sites in Gamay Bay were analyzed with ground penetrating radar (GPR). This study focalized on site two which displayed fluvial patterns. GPR reveals subsurface reflections interpreted as sediment layering. It sends electromagnetic (EM) radio wave pulses into the earth’s surface displaying subsurface images. GPR surveys were collected using a Sensors and Software® pulseEKKO GPR Pro with 100 MHz antennae. The transmitter and receiver antennae were placed 1m apart sending EM pulses at 0.25m intervals along a 400m transect. EM velocities calculated from GPR data ranged from 0.08-0.1m/ns which indicated moist sands. GPR data revealed a series of channel-like reflection patterns. Sediment cores reaching about 1m in depth were analyzed at areas noted from GPR data. Core analyses described subangular and well sorted sediments, a common indicator of a fluvial deposit. GPR and sediment core data in tandem provided support for the hypothesis that site two was a fluvial environment. The integration of GPR and sediment coring were successfully used in the identification of a buried fluvial channel system within Gamay Bay.
This study investigates the motivations, expectations, and self-assessed preparedness of Chinese undergraduate students preparing to study in the United States through the CHEPD 1+2+1 Dual Degree Program. It addresses a gap in the literature by focusing on pre-departure perspectives, which are often overlooked in research on international student adjustment. Using a mixed-methods approach, data were collected via surveys (N=36) and semi-structured interviews (N=19) with students at Suzhou University of Technology prior to their departure for the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. Findings reveal that students are motivated by academic and personal growth opportunities but experience significant anxiety regarding language barriers, social integration, and safety concerns—largely shaped by social media. The study recommends that pre-departure orientations expand beyond logistical information to include proactive socio-emotional support, realistic cultural previews, and peer-mentoring programs to bridge the gap between students’ academic confidence and their socio-cultural apprehensions.
Our research question is: Are student rental properties more likely to have environmental home health hazards than non-student rental properties in the city of Eau Claire? Our initial hypothesis was yes. An environmental home health hazard is defined as a chemical, physical, biological, or other condition within a residence that has the potential to impact the health of residents. Some examples include mold, pests, radon, carbon monoxide, and lead. The data that does exist are external housing evaluations done by the Health Department called the Residential Environmental Quality Assessment. REQA data is the most relevant and reliable data available in the context of our research question. Using online sources, we divided as many addresses as we could into four categories: non-rental, student rental, non-student rental, and uncertain. We will then use t-tests to analyze and compare the data from non-student rentals and student rentals to answer our research question quantitatively. This project has also produced a rental housing checklist for students considering off-campus housing as well as information on mold, radon, pests, lead, carbon monoxide and asbestos.
Improving indoor air quality has been proposed as a strategy to reduce respiratory illness transmission, particularly in settings with young children. This study evaluated whether portable air filtration was associated with changes in reported respiratory illness prevalence at the UWEC Children’s Nature Academy. HEPA air filters and a Corsi-Rosenthal box were installed in classrooms following ventilation assessment using CO2 monitoring. Filter efficacy was tested by measuring PM2.5 air concentration reduction. Anonymized illness reports from three academic years (2022–2025) were used to calculate monthly respiratory illness prevalence before and after filter installation in November 2023. Interrupted time series (ITS) regression and ANOVA were used to evaluate changes in illness trends. While filtration reduced PM2.5 concentration and ventilation levels were adequate, no significant reduction in reported respiratory illness prevalence was observed. Illness patterns closely followed seasonal community respiratory disease trends.
Air quality is vital to human and environmental health and is commonly assessed using the Air Quality Index (AQI), which reflects concentrations of air pollutants such as PM2.5, CO2, TVOC, CO, SO2, and O3. This study aimed to evaluate indoor and outdoor air quality on the UW-Eau Claire (UWEC) lower campus and compare findings to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines in order to ensure the efficacy of campus HVAC systems and the protection of student and faculty health. Using the Temtop and TSI AirAssure air quality monitoring devices calibrated with Wisconsin DNR data, pollutant levels were recorded at multiple high-traffic locations in almost every lower campus building. The devices were placed at breathing level and monitored air quality for ten minutes per site. Pollutant levels remained within recommended safety standards for the duration of the study, with some fluctuations due to weather, vehicle emissions, and construction activity. Overall, findings indicate that current campus air quality systems are effective in maintaining safe work and living conditions. Future research should expand air quality monitoring to upper campus residential and dining facilities and incorporate more advanced equipment for comprehensive pollutant analysis.
In modern industrial societies, the majority of both sexes enter the workforce; however, even in gender egalitarian societies, sex disparities remain in pay as well as in representation in various occupations and elite positions. One explanatory factor may be differences in what men and women value most in a job. However, one limitation of previous research is that, given the opportunity to rate multiple job attributes, people rate many of them as very important. Using samples of college students (N= 513), online survey workers (N= 492), and UWEC alumni (N= 1404), we addressed this issue of restricted range by giving participants a limited budget of 40 “importance points” to allocate among 10 desirable job characteristics. In the college student and alumni samples, three primary hypotheses were supported: Men allocated more importance points to having an above-average salary and opportunity for advancement than women did, and women allocated more importance points to being able to directly help others than men did. We found partial support for the hypothesis that women would allocate more importance points to having friendly coworkers than men would. We discuss the strengths and limitations of our samples and chosen method.
Using an evolutionary framework, we generated hypotheses about the content of men’s and women’s deceptions toward their same- and opposite-sex friends. In Study 1 (N=359), we asked men and women to tell us, via open-ended responses, what they deceived their male and female friends about. In Study 2, we compiled and expanded upon those responses and then asked two samples of young adults (N=389, N=303) to report how often they engaged in each type of deception towards their male and female friends. Analyses revealed consistent support for several hypotheses, including that young people would (1) deceive same-sex friends more often than opposite-sex friends about mating rivalry; (2) deceive opposite-sex friends more often than same-sex friends about romantic interest or disinterest; and (3) deceive female friends more often than male friends about their friends’ appearance. Analyses revealed partial support for the hypotheses that (1) men more often than women would deceive their opposite-sex friends about feelings of romantic interest; and (2) women more often than men would deceive opposite-sex friends about romantic disinterest. Future research could focus on investigating the motives (e.g., fear of rejection) and circumstances (e.g., relationship status) tied to various forms of deception.
Dating back to the 1960s, educational researchers have documented that students’ and teachers’ attitudes about students are more influenced by their characterization as athletic (versus not) than by their characterization as brilliant (versus not) or studious (versus not). In the current study, we build on past research by using continuous rating scales to investigate student attitudes toward student characteristics. We surveyed 468 college students about the extent to which they were athletic, smart, studious, physically attractive, and popular when they were in high school, and how much they and their peers wanted to be thought of as each of those characteristics. Students also rated how much their high school teachers favored and disfavored these characteristics. Preliminary analyses showed that students who reported liking intellectual engagement in high school also tended to want to be perceived as smart and studious. Further, students’ ratings of being popular, athletic, and physically attractive clustered together, as did their ratings of being smart and studious. They rated their own desire to be thought of as smart and studious as stronger than their peers’, and they rated their own desire to be thought of as popular, athletic, and physically attractive as weaker than their peers’.
Individuals with aphasia experience changes in communication that alter identity and life outlook. The poetry modality is less constrained by rules, expresses sense of self, improving self-expression, sharing things otherwise not shared, and processing trauma and getting it out. The indirect, metaphorical language of poetry improves self-expression, partly through externalizing and distancing oneself from their writing. It leads to an increased sense of agency, new identities, sense of belonging, purpose, and a renewed sense of self. Research aim: Understanding the benefits of poetry for individuals with aphasia and CCD. 90-minute weekly sessions were delivered on Zoom to individuals with aphasia and/or cognitive-communication disorders by two graduate speech-language pathology students and a poet. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 20 poets and analyzed through reflexive thematic analysis. Themes include poetry stigma, helping others (poems help others with aphasia, others can understand ones’ experience through poetry), helping self (processing trauma; expressing feelings is healing; accomplishment; growth; new identity; confidence), power of poetry modality (metaphors helps sharing, putting feelings into words, expressing the inexpressible), and power of group (belonging, group is relief, inspired by peer poets, feeling vulnerable). Poetry is a powerful modality for identity recovery when coupled with group interactions and project-based interventions
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) results from an external force, causing impairments to social communication between loved ones. Individuals with TBI experience word-finding, poor turn-taking, disinhibition, and repetitiveness. TBIconneCT is a 10-week manualized telerehabilitation program from Australia, shown to produce significant gains in social communication behaviors. Our first aim addressed whether the delivery of the North American version of TBIconneCT via Telehealth videoconferencing improves communication awareness and confidence in the large group context. Our second aim addressed whether the program reduces negative communication behaviors and increases collaborative communication features. Participants engaged in collaborative video review in large group, discussing reactions to pre-developed, contrasting examples of effective and ineffective conversations. Large-group portions of session videos were examined qualitatively through qualitative content analysis and reflexive thematic analysis. Qualitative content analyses identified value in sharing experiences with other individuals with TBI, recognition of communication breakdowns, metacognitive discussions of repairs and preempting breakdowns, the value of peer feedback, and partners identified the value of seeing other individuals with TBI to help put their partner’s behaviors into context. Reflexive analysis indicated that large group interactions created a sense of shared experience, better recognition of communication breakdowns, increased repairs and self-regulation, and the value of peer feedback.
Lopata, Donnelly, and Thomeer (2017) certified that 70% of autism diagnoses are comorbid with another disorder, with anxiety being the most common. This review of literature will begin with an exploration of previous research regarding the diagnosis of anxiety in children with autism and identify any differences in its presentation compared to children without autism. Previous research has found that anxiety symptoms can vary in children based on if they diagnostic criteria for autism (White et al, 2015), which was then used as reason to argue for the implementation of more autism-specific assessment tools (Houting et al, 2018). This review will then detail some limitations highlighted in past research regarding appropriate assessment tools to identify anxiety in non-verbal children with Autism. Lastly, our review will highlight what supports and potential barriers to support exist within homes and schools for these children. In examining previous conclusions and potential gaps found in current research, we hope to identify direction for future research on this topic.
Research suggests that when students in high school are asked what they like most about going to school, they mention many things – learning, extracurricular activities, nice teachers, sports – but they mention seeing friends and socializing far more often than anything else. When asked what they dislike, students again mention a variety of aspects, but uncaring or poor teachers top the list (Erickson & Lefstein, 1991). We wanted to investigate the extent to which students enjoy intellectual/academic opportunities in high school and factors related to more enjoyment of intellectual/academic opportunities. We asked college students to report what they liked and disliked most about high school as well as the class they liked and disliked most in high school. Students also rated how much they enjoyed intellectual engagement, social opportunities, and extracurricular activities during high school. We predict that students who nominate academic or intellectual challenge as their most liked aspect of high school (and the lack of academic or intellectual challenge as their most disliked aspect) will report more enjoyment of intellectual engagement during high school, be more likely to have taken advanced coursework during high school, and report more favorable attitudes toward grouping students by ability.
Research has shown that women engage in strategic manipulation of others’ reputations. For example, women are more likely to spread negative information about another woman’s sexual promiscuity when that woman is characterized as a potential mating rival than when she is not described as a potential mating rival. Here, we describe two experiments (N=837, N=1105) on reputation manipulation among men as well as among women. In the experiments, participants reported their likelihood of sharing reputation-enhancing and reputation-harming information about a same-sex newcomer. For half of participants, the same-sex newcomer was described as attractive and flirting with their romantic partner (i.e., a mating rival). In Experiment 1, women were more likely to share information designed to harm women’s reputation when the newcomer was described as a potential mating rival; however, men were more likely to share that information, too. In Experiment 2, women but not men were more likely to share information designed to harm women’s reputations when the newcomer was described as a mating rival. Both men and women were more likely to share information designed to harm men’s reputation when the newcomer was described as a mating rival. We discuss consistent and inconsistent findings between the two experiments.
The Advanced Placement (AP) program began in the 1950s as a means of providing college-level rigor to intellectually advanced individuals while they are still in high school. Since the 1980s, the program has massively expanded its reach, such that currently, over 80% of the nation’s public high school students attend a school that offers a variety of AP courses. We are interested in the rate at which students take AP courses and exams as well as gender differences in AP course participation and exam performance. As part of a broader study on experiences in high school, 468 college students reported on their experience, or lack thereof, with AP courses and AP exams in high school. They reported on whether they participated in the AP program, what AP courses and AP exams they took, their reasons for taking or not taking them, and their performance on AP exams. We have begun analyzing data relating to our predictions and research questions. Preliminary findings indicate that the top three reasons that participants reported for taking AP courses were that they wanted potential college credit, they were interested in the topic, and that AP looks good on college applications.
Blacklegged ticks (Ixodes scapularis) often called deer or bear ticks are the primary vector for the agent of Lyme disease, Borrelia burgdorferi. Eau Claire County has one of the highest prevalence rates in the country, with 188 cases in 2022. Performing tick drags and species identification in popular Eau Claire parks is crucial in furthering knowledge and understanding on what harm may be inflicted upon civilians. By gathering data, Eau Claireans can be informed about the possible cautions present at tested recreational parks. ENPH 110: Environmental Public Health First Year Experience course, students performed tick drags in surrounding Eau Claire area parks including Lowes Creek Park, Southwest Dog Park, Carson Park, and UWEC Lower Campus Circle. Tick drags were made of cotton fabric weighed down with 1 oz sinkers and researchers pulled their tick drags behind them in parks, removed attached ticks, identified species, placed into vials with 70% alcohol and delivered them to the Eau Claire Health Department. Selected ticks were then tested using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the Borrelia burgdorferi gene. Students then created informational guides for park visitors to understand the dangers of ticks and how to take proper prevention.
Water quality is prevalent in our everyday lives, but many of us have the privilege of not thinking about it very often. The quality of the water we consume can have major implications for our health. For example, overly elevated chlorine levels in water can cause respiratory issues as well as colorectal or bladder cancer while substandard levels can result in bacterial contamination. This demonstrates the importance of regular water quality testing, especially in a new recreational facility such as the Sonnentag Center. In the summer of 2025, we periodically measured turbidity, chlorine levels, pH, and coliform bacteria levels in the Sonnentag’s drinking fountains, whirlpool baths, and concessions ice. To obtain these measurements, we used pH strips, a pool chlorine testing kit, a HANNA turbidity meter, and a free/total chlorine meter. Since drinking water requires such a small chlorine content to be appropriately sanitized, many of our methods weren’t sensitive enough to measure this quantity consistently. This complication forced us to try several methods of recording chlorine content, and in the end we were able to conclude that the Sonnentag’s water quality did meet the standards of healthy drinking water per the guidelines provided by the WELL Certification framework.
Music festivals are a fun summer event, especially for college students. However, we don’t often consider their impact on surrounding homes through noise pollution. This is significant to health concerns because exposure to volumes of 85 dB can cause tinnitus or permanent hearing damage. Eau Claire City Councilman Aaron Brewster received complaints about noise levels from the Country Jam Music Festival, so we set out to investigate the validity of these claims on July 19, 2025. We measured noise levels during the final two performers of the night since we estimated they would draw the loudest crowds. Noise level readings were taken using the NIOSH SLM App on the eastern and southern borders of the grounds, near the neighboring homes, and readings within the grounds were taken using the Model 2800 Quest Technologies device. We found that noise levels met the conditions outlined in Country Jam’s conditional use permit, which say volume cannot exceed 85 dB for 30 minutes or longer. However, volume within the grounds did briefly reach upwards of 90 dB. Consequently, we advised that the festival offer complimentary earplugs and safety recommendations for attendees to protect their ears while having fun.
The purpose of this project was to update online learning materials for Japanese 101 to be in accordance with ADA standards as per the April 2024 Department of Justice ruling. Online learning materials are becoming increasingly prevalent, which can improve accessibility in some ways and hinder it in others. There are unique challenges faced with online language learning when it comes to accessibility, particularly with Japanese due to its three distinct writing systems. One particular alphabet, kanji, contains characters that have different readings dependent on context, which can pose an issue with screen-readers as they can misinterpret the correct reading. We updated all text to include the appropriate language tag, so that English and Japanese would each be read by the appropriate voice and have the desired reading. We then ensured that all images had descriptive alt text and created subtitles for all videos. After changes were made, we reviewed the materials against a checklist to ensure total compliance. We endeavored to make some materials, particularly the videos that accompany the Genki textbook, available for public use in any classroom. Because we focused primarily on Japanese 101 materials, the materials for future classes will also eventually need to be updated.
On June 24, 2024, following 17-20 cm of precipitation in the preceding three days, floodwaters avulsed around the western edge of the 114-year-old Rapidan Dam on the Blue Earth River. Upstream of the dam, on the interior side of a meander bend, the furious current of the river eroded away a mature floodplain forest, undergrowth, and an average of 5.5 meters of reservoir sediment. This freshly denuded area allowed for numerous plant species to recolonize this area once the flood waters receded.We conducted a “Bioblitz” using the iNaturalist platform, where a group of 9 observers went out and photographed as many plants as possible on an afternoon in August 2025 to study this new growth. Photographs included geotagged location and date/timestamps that iNaturalist uses to provide a suggested species that the user can confirm or provide an alternative suggestion. Crowdsourcing allows other platform users to confirm an interpretation. We assessed the change in plant coverage using PlanetScope satellite imagery (3-meter resolution), biomass using LiDAR and UAS structure-from-motion photogrammetry products, and the different species colonizing the area approximately 14 months after the event. We observed significant plant growth and an increase in coverage and biomass throughout the observation period.
On June 24, 2024, following three days (17-20 cm) of rain, floodwaters avulsed around the western edge of the 114-year-old Rapidan Dam on the Blue Earth River (BER). This event resulted in the river, which had been dammed since 1910, returning to a free-flowing state. To understand how the system has changed, we characterized river responses by comparing monthly satellite imagery with digitized banklines, a reconstructed surveyed surface from 1911 with digitized banklines, and one pre-failure elevation (April 05, 2024) and post-failure elevation (November 07, 2024) surface. Post-failure low-flow imagery showed the transition of the BER from a meandering, single-threaded channel to a braided stream, highlighting the high sediment load of freed reservoir material. Upstream of the dam, floodwaters and knickpoint migration had obliterated multiple vegetated islands. Hillslope failure, bank failure, and channel migration were prevalent throughout both the upstream and downstream reaches, as the system relaxed and adjusted towards its new baselevel. This change from a constrained to highly dynamic system helps illustrate the rapid nature of post-failure fluvial readjustment, a concern exacerbated by anthropogenic climate change-induced regional precipitation increases.
How close is a Presidential election? In most elections in the United States, we can judge closeness simply by looking at the number of votes that separate the candidates on the ballot. With the addition of the Electoral College, assessing closeness in US Presidential elections becomes far more complicated. Closeness is not simply determined by the popular vote, but also by the distribution of the Electoral College votes, and both of those measures are then viewed through partisan lenses by politicians, pundits, and the general public. While the public and the mass media have developed what could be generously described as ad hoc measurements, we will test they ways in which members of the public assesses the closeness of presidential elections using both surveys and panel studies.
My project is titled: "State Action or Private Opinion?: Exploring Protected Speech for Government Officials on Social Media." This project asks when a government official’s speech on social media is considered private expression and when it becomes state action subject to First Amendment limits. As public officials increasingly use platforms like Facebook and X to communicate with constituents, courts have struggled to apply traditional doctrines like state action and public forum analysis to digital spaces. Using close legal analysis of recent Supreme Court decisions, especially Lindke v. Freed and O’Connor-Ratcliff v. Garnier, along with lower court rulings and scholarly commentary, I examine how the Court defines “official capacity” and how that definition applies to real-world online behavior, such as deleting comments or blocking critics. I argue that although the Court attempted to create a clearer standard, the current framework remains difficult to apply consistently because officials often blend personal and governmental communication on the same accounts. I ultimately recommend clearer guidance for courts and lawmakers to better protect both government accountability and individual free speech rights in the digital age.
As the relationship between cyber warfare and geopoltics continue to grow more intertwined, there is a growing need to understand how not only state actors but also commercially driven ransomware gangs interact within the cyber realm. Much of Cyber Threat Intelligence (CTI) focuses on technical methods of analyzing cyberattacks and various cyber criminal gangs. However, this study uses interviews conducted with operators in cyber criminal gangs over the dark web (Tor network) to understand the effects of geopolitics on ransomware gangs' targeting choices. Drawing from interviews with multiple groups, this study explores how ransomware gangs define targets as off-limits, respond to geopolitical situations, and political motivations behind their actions.
KiwiBots are food delivery robots which traverse the campus of UW-Eau Claire. Each robot gives off a unique WiFi signal which can be detected by WiFi chips. A network of strategically placed, low-powered embedded computers (ESP32) capture the signals of KiwiBots within WiFi range and transmit the data to a central server for triangulation. Using average speed and overlapping detection ranges, this project aims to track the real time movements of the KiwiBots across the UW-Eau Claire campus. Potential applications of this type of system can be used to track the movement of Bluetooth or WiFi enabled devices used by passersby (Bluetooth headphones and smartphones, for instance) for malicious purposes. By creating a realistic system which can effectively track the real-time movements of personal devices, we aim to advocate for strong legal and technical countermeasures against systems of this kind.
Student Administrator at Blugold Center for High Performance Computing, University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire
Hello! I'm Silas. I enjoy breaking things, fixing the things, and then breaking more things in the process of fixing said things.
I'm currently employed part-time by the Blugold Center for High Performance Computing (https://hpc.uwec.edu) at UWEC as a Student Administrator. I help... Read More →
Fragile X Syndrome (FXS) is a genetic condition caused by mutations in the fragile X messenger ribonucleoprotein 1 gene (FMR1) on the X chromosome. FXS is the most common inherited form of intellectual disability causing symptoms such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Studies have suggested links between higher prenatal cortisol levels and increased frequency of ASD. The purpose of this study was to compare how embryonic cortisol exposure influences early development in wildtype zebrafish embryos and fmr1 knockout zebrafish embryos at 48 hours post fertilization and 72 hours post fertilization (hpf). Zebrafish embryos were collected and dispersed into petri dishes and treated at 6hpf with cortisol concentrations of 0uM, 10uM, 25uM, or 250uM. At 48 hpf and 72 hpf, embryos were dechorionated and imaged via brightfield microscopy to assess developmental phenotypes. Embryos were analyzed and scored for severity of phenotypes, including pericardial edema, spine curvature, eye size, yolk sac abnormalities, and body size. Survival and phenotype severity were then compared between the genotypes across 48 hpf and 72 hpf. This analysis defines morphological sensitivity to cortisol exposure at different developmental stages. Comparison of wildtype zebrafish embryos to fmr1 knockout zebrafish embryos also provides insight into FXS gene-environment interactions.
Methylmercury (MeHg) toxicity is a notable public health concern in the Great Lakes region. The glutathione pathway (GSH) involves antioxidant signaling and is responsible for the removal of toxins like MeHg from cells. There are many genes involved in the GSH pathway; one of these genes is gclm. Previous lab work has developed a mutant zebrafish line by creating a germline mutation using CRISPR-Cas9 reagents that contains a loss-of-function deletion in the gclm gene. The objective of this study was to create additional gclm mutant fish for investigating developmental MeHg toxicity. Zebrafish of different gclm genotypes were bred to produce heterozygous and homozygous mutant zebrafish. To identify mutant zebrafish, we used PCR and restriction enzyme reagents that target the DNA mutation site in the gclm gene. Results were visualized using gel electrophoresis. The creation of a mutant gclm zebrafish line will allow for future experiments on the influence of gclm in embryonic development and developmental toxicity.
Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is a genetic disorder caused by a mutation of the fragile X messenger ribonucleoprotein 1 (FMR1) gene on the X chromosome. FXS is one of the most common causes of inherited intellectual disability and has a high comorbidity with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Current research suggests that early embryonic cortisol exposure is associated with increased ASD prevalence, though the molecular mechanisms are still unknown. Our objective was to determine how embryonic cortisol exposure affects the physical development of zebrafish with and without the fmr1 gene. Wildtype zebrafish embryos and fmr1 knockout zebrafish embryos were treated at 6 hours post fertilization (hpf) with cortisol concentrations of 0 μM, 10 μM, 25 μM, or 250 μM. Images were taken and analyzed at 48 and 72 hpf via brightfield microscopy. Embryos were analyzed and separated into different categories based on the severity of morphological phenotypes, including body size, edema, eye size and spine curvature. Comparisons of phenotypes across cortisol concentrations were made within each genotype to assess dose-dependent responses. Morphological severity was then compared between wildtype zebrafish embryos and fmr1 knockout zebrafish embryos to assess genotype-specific differences.
Rare diseases affect 30 million Americans, many of whom remain undiagnosed due to limited functional characterization of DNA variants. Propionic acidemia is caused by variants in PCCA or PCCB that impair enzyme function, leading to severe metabolic dysfunction, often presenting in early infancy. While the Wisconsin newborn screening panel tests for this disorder, screening is neither 100% effective nor does it identify the cause of propionic acidemia in each patient. There are 979 reported DNA variants of uncertain significance or conflicting classification in PCCA and PCCB, meaning that it is unclear if these mutations cause the disease: thus, identification of one of these variants in a patient does not equal clear diagnosis. To address this gap, our lab uses a minigene system to examine whether variants have functional effects. Although we can effectively assess individual variants with this system, it is a relatively low-throughput method. We present our efforts at optimizing this system through improved sample processing, next-generation sequencing (NGS), and development of efficient R scripts. An improved pipeline should accelerate the resolution of variants of uncertain significance associated both with propionic acidemia and across rare genetic diseases.
RIG-I-like receptors (RLRs) are important cytosolic sensors that detect and respond to viral dsRNA during an infection. This family is characterized by the conserved RIG-I-like helicase domain that binds dsRNA and hydrolyzes ATP. Many viruses have evolved mechanisms to evade or suppress this mechanism, including the expression of Viral Suppressors of RNA Sensing (VSR) proteins. Although the role of RLR signaling is well-studied, specific VSR-RLR protein interactions are not fully characterized. In this project, we utilized the Yeast Two-Hybrid method to identify whether candidate VSRs interact with the RLRs RIG-I, MDA5, LGP2, and Dicer. Yeast are transformed with a pair of plasmids containing the split halves of the yeast GAL4 transcription factor. The activation domain (AD) is fused with one of the RLRs (‘bait’) while the DNA-binding domain (DNA-BD) is fused with a VSR (‘prey’). After co-transformation and culturing on selective media, yeast can only grow if the bait and prey interact. This method allows us to screen many VSR-RLR combinations to determine if VSRs are specific inhibitors of one RLR or general inhibitors of the family. Future work will determine if any detected interactions are dependent on the RIG-I-like helicase domain. Overall, this project provides insight into virus-host interactions during infection and the important of RLRs to innate immunity.
This scoping review maps over 40 years of peer-reviewed Omaha System literature to assess the breadth and evolution of evidence supporting its use in research and practice. The Omaha System is a standardized terminology describing client needs, interventions, and outcomes, applied across diverse clinical, community, and research settings in the U.S. and internationally. Prior reviews outlined three phases of publications through 2019, but their results were not aggregated or extended to recent work. Using Joanna Briggs Institute methods, five databases—MEDLINE, CINAHL Complete, Web of Science, APA PsycINFO, and Academic Search Ultimate—were searched for English-language articles from 1982–2025. Reference lists from the Omaha System website were also screened. After removing duplicates, 437 unique studies were reviewed through a two-phase Covidence screening, with data extraction by two independent reviewers. Preliminary findings include 149 studies from prior reviews, 146 newly identified pre-2020 studies, and 142 published between 2020–2025. This growing and diverse body of work will provide a comprehensive evidence map, reveal knowledge gaps, and guide future systematic reviews.
This pilot study aims to evaluate the accuracy of an artificial intelligence (AI) tool when extracting data for a scoping review. Use of AI tools to support literature reviews is expanding, with potential to accelerate complicated and labor-intensive processes while maintaining quality results. In an ongoing faculty-student scoping review with 437 articles, the research team piloted the Elicit AI tool on a subset of 50 studies. For each article, data was extracted manually by one human reviewer using a standardized template in Covidence and extracted in parallel by Elicit using aligned standard and custom fields. Two additional team members independently compared the human and AI extracted data, using a 0 to 3 rating scale reflecting absent, poor, acceptable, and optimal matches, consulting full texts as needed. 18 categories were evaluated. Disagreements will be resolved by consensus. Percent agreement between raters will be calculated, and mean ratings computed across categories. Using the final rating results, sums and means for human versus Elicit output will also be compared. Findings will indicate the suitability of Elicit for data extraction and identify which categories are usable or unsuitable. Results have the potential to inform review methodology and expedite timelines, particularly for large literature reviews.
This study examines Core Stabilizer Endurance Normative Biological Sex and Age Ranged Data with Correlation to Non- Specific Chronic Low Back Pain. Currently, average performance times of the McGill core stabilizer tests compare all ages with the appropriate biological sex. The primary purpose of this study is to create biological sex and age range normative tables for McGill core stabilizer endurance tests. The secondary purpose of our study is to compare normative values to the prevalence of non-specific chronic low back pain. Creating these tables is essential to educate adults on their results as higher endurance times have led to improved activity of daily living performance activity (Santos et al., 2019). Prior to testing, a brief health history questionnaire is completed to ensure eligibility and complete the secondary purpose. Testing will include a familiarization period followed by maximum effort testing of the four McGill core positions. After testing the participants receive their results compared to the current average times. This study aims to prove the importance of improving core stabilizer muscle endurance and the role active lifestyles play in a wide range of populations with different demographics. These demographics include sex, activity levels, and health status.
Metabolic dysfunction is associated with excess adipose tissue, and interventions that improve body composition may mitigate related health consequences. Acute nutritional and exercise strategies have the potential to shift metabolic processes toward those favoring fat oxidation. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of high-intensity resistance training (HIRT) and pre-exercise protein (PRO) ingestion on post-exercise respiratory exchange ratio (RER) in lean (LN) and overweight (OW) females. METHODS: Twenty recreationally active females (LN: n =10, body fat percentage: 22.6 ± 4.0; OW: n = 10, body fat percentage: 30.8 ± 3.2) completed two experimental sessions, consisting of HIRT and two acute nutritional interventions: PRO and placebo (PLA). RER was analyzed via indirect calorimetry (TrueOne 2400, Parvo Medics Inc., Sandy, UT) at the following timepoints: baseline (BASE), immediately-post (IP), 30-min (30), and 60-min (60) post-HIRT. A 2 x 2 x 4 mixed-factor, repeated measures analysis of variance was used to assess statistical significance on 5-minute averaged RER values. RESULTS: Data are presented as means ± SD. LN and OW females displayed significantly lower 30-RER (LN: 0.75 ± 0.04, OW: 0.74 ± 0.06) and 60-RER (LN: 0.76 ± 0.04, OW: 0.73 ± 0.06) post-HIRT when compared to BASE. PRO ingestion resulted in significantly lower RER values in OW females IP-HIRT (PRO: 0.74 ± 0.05, PLA: 0.78 ± 0.08; p = 0.02), and lower RER values in LN females at all timepoints post-HIRT (all p < 0.05), compared to PLA. CONCLUSION: These results show that HIRT effectively reduces RER in LN and OW females for 60 min post-exercise, and that the addition of PRO ingestion prior to HIRT provides a synergistic effect. However, the differential responses between LN and OW females highlight the need for further research to optimize protein dosing and explore the underlying hormonal and physiological mechanisms.
Smartphones are designed in large part to capture and maintain our attention. It is unclear which individual differences are most relevant to understanding variation in problematic smartphone use. To investigate this, I used backwards regression to identify key predictors, then used Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) to analyze how smartphone use relates to these predictors. This model was created using survey data from over 1,800 UWEC students over multiple years that included questions about amount of phone use, phone reliance (dependence), and nomophobia (fear of lacking functional phone access), as well as attention-related measures such as mindfulness (sensitive awareness of the present moment), impulsivity (urge to act without thinking ahead), and ADHD-related attention difficulties. Modeling efforts so far suggest that attention difficulties were the greatest predictor of problematic smartphone use, but also that mindfulness reduced that risk. Two possible interpretations for these results are that 1) having attentional difficulties predisposes one to problematic phone use, but less so in more mindful individuals, and 2) heavy/problematic phone use alters attentional traits, but higher mindfulness may mitigate that impact.
Electroencephalography (EEG) research is challenged by the prevalence of artifacts, i.e., non-brain contributions to the EEG signal. Brain electrical signals are incredibly small in comparison to electrical noise from movements, with eye blinks in particular 2-3 orders of magnitude larger than brain activity of interest. Approximately 10% of our current study's data is contaminated by artifacts. This data is taken from 2 procedures, one where the phone serves as a distractor while the participant completes a task, and another involving passive phone viewing with no task. One approach to reclamation of otherwise unusable data is a preprocessing technique called Independent Component Analysis (ICA). ICA allows for blind separation of signals into separate components, like separating a combined music track into individual tracks for each instrument. Using this, we are able to separate brain and artifact contributions and reconstitute a signal factoring out major noise components. So far I have used ICA for the passive viewing portion of our EEG data, increasing the percent usable data from 90% to 98%. Datasets from participants with less than 90% usable EEG data disproportionately benefited from ICA, as those had more data to reclaim.
The use of ketamine for the management of neuropsychiatric conditions outside traditional clinical settings has rapidly expanded. As a result, there is a critical need to understand diverse real-world patient experiences of ketamine use. We conducted a qualitative content analysis of posts from the r/TherapeuticKetamine subreddit. From 3,302 threads, the 500 highest-engagement threads were analyzed by independent coders across six domains: perceived positive effects, adverse effects, reasons for use, route of administration, polydrug use, and dose amounts. Mood-related concerns were the most reported reason for ketamine use (53%). Users frequently reported positive effects, most often improvements in emotional well-being (65%). Adverse effects were predominantly psychological or mood-related in nature (56%). Notably, 70% of reported doses exceeded 149 mg, suggesting a trend toward higher-dose use. Intravenous administration (40%) and sublingual troches (23%) were the most frequently reported routes. Concurrent use of prescribed psychotropics, cannabis, and psychedelics was also reported. This analysis identified substantial heterogeneity in patient-reported ketamine experiences. The frequent reporting of high-dose use, dose escalation, and polydrug exposure underscores the importance of proactive clinical monitoring and attention to potential drug–drug interactions. Findings should be interpreted with caution, as longitudinal follow-up and clinical verification are not possible through social media data; however, these data provide an unfiltered view of patient experiences that are critical for understanding real-world ketamine use.
This study examined whether sleep quality moderates attentional bias and aversion to self-harm in suicidal ideation and NSSI. Sleep problems are associated with increased suicidal ideation and NSSI, and several suicide theories highlight acquired capability (e.g., diminished fear and aversion to pain and death) as key factors increasing suicide risk alongside attentional biases to self-harm. Studies have not looked at how sleep may affect these cognitive factors. Participants included 132 college students with past-month NSSI and suicidal ideation (Mage =19.44; 69.7% Female; 87.9% White; 49.2% in counseling) who completed a 28-day, daily diary protocol. Participants responded to items assessing subjective sleep problems, aversion to self-harm, self-harm attentional bias, NSSI acts, and suicide intent each evening. Results suggest that sleep problems influence how attentional bias and self-harm aversion relate to suicide intent and NSSI. Integrating cognitive behavioral sleep-focused interventions with those addressing cognitive biases and processes could be important in reducing suicide risk and NSSI behaviors.
Over two million Americans watched each NASCAR race in 2025, yet this popular sport remains understudied in sociology. NASCAR’s fans are known for their enthusiasm and loyalty but are also stereotyped as uneducated, white, conservative Southerners. Such stereotypes and symbolic boundaries can produce feelings of belonging for those who conform and exclusion for those who don’t, with implications for social connections and fandom. What are the consequences of stereotypes on NASCAR fandom and belonging? To start to address this question, we created an online survey and distributed it to NASCAR fans on various social media platforms. In total, we collected 591 responses on their identities, attitudes, behaviors, and their sense of belonging with other NASCAR fans during the last two weeks of the 2025 NASCAR season. Our results indicate a connection between how much a person feels they belong with other NASCAR fans and fan intensity: fans who say they fit in with other fans are more likely to identify as die-hard fans. Based on our findings, we conclude that feelings of belonging and stereotypes exert influences on fans, thus making NASCAR fandom and belonging more challenging for people who do not fall within existing stereotypes or group boundaries.
As generative AI is becoming more integrated into our society, students are uneasy about the future, and professors have been at the forefront of making policy decisions about generative AI’s place in academics. The goal of this project is to explore student opinion about AI to ensure that students have a voice in policy discussions. Data are from the 2025 Eau Claire Longitudinal Student Survey, in which a random sample of 215 UWEC undergraduates were asked about generative AI, its place in academics, policies, social acceptance, and benefits. Results show that positive and negative views of AI are made up of clusters of interrelated beliefs, attitudes, and experiences with AI, including social acceptance and how useful and important they view it. Opinion appears to be shaped by major and political ideology, with liberals and arts and humanities majors on one end of the continuum and conservatives and business majors on the other, with moderates and other majors in the middle. We conclude that policies should differ between faculty to reflect the needs of students’ futures in their fields and that professors need to prioritize communication with students about student preferences and ethical AI use.
Previous research has largely focused on statistical associations between loop box spending and problem gambling scores, focusing primarily on youth groups who are actively engaging in gambling-like systems and how those systems affect their gambling behaviour while still in their youth. While these studies provide valuable quantitative evidence, there is less research exploring how individuals remember their early exposure to these systems and how their perceptions of these systems changed their perspective or behaviour in gambling. What we hope to achieve is more retrospective data showing how they interpret their gaming experiences after reaching adulthood, and how that may have shaped attitudes towards spending, gambling, and game design later in life. We also hope to provide a more ethical dimension of these mechanics, examine how players themselves interpret the fairness, transparency, and responsibility surrounding these systems.
This study contributes to existing research by examining how multiple personalit traits interact to influence motivation and procrastination aross a diverse poppulation, including both students and non-students. While previous research often focuses on single traits or populations this study aims to provide a more comprehensive understanding of how these factors work together to shape behavior.
We investigated whether the mere presence of one’s smartphone influences attention-related EEG (electroencephalographic) activity in undergraduates scoring above the median on at least 2 of 3 phone-related survey measures: Phone Time (hours per day), Phone Reliance (dependence on one’s phone), and Nomophobia (fear of lacking functional phone access). Participants first attended and responded to infrequent on-screen visual targets (“oddballs”) while ignoring frequent nontargets; we replicated the classic enlarging effect of oddballs on the P3, an attention-related EEG measure, but the mere presence of one’s nearby phone (vs. a control object) did not reduce the oddball P3. Next, participants focused visually on their phone versus a control object, with no other task. Phones decreased alpha activity (8-13 Hz; associated with relaxation and inward focus) over anterior and posterior electrode sites. Phones also increased beta activity (13-32 Hz; associated with external orientation and arousal/attention) over posterior electrode sites, an effect that correlated positively with participants’ Phone Time, Phone Reliance, and Nomophobia. While these findings do not demonstrate a negative impact of smartphone presence on the brain correlates of task-related attention, they do suggest one’s smartphone can draw attentional resources proportional to one’s phone use and related problems.
Burnout is one of the most frequently cited reasons teachers leave the profession, with early-career educators demonstrating heightened vulnerability. This study examined the prevalence and characteristics of burnout among physical education teachers within their first ten years of teaching in Wisconsin, with an emphasis on understanding why burnout emerges early in the profession. A quantitative, cross-sectional design was employed, and an online survey was distributed via Qualtrics. Burnout was measured using the Maslach Burnout Inventory-Educators Survey (MBI-ES), a validated instrument assessing three dimensions of burnout: Emotional Exhaustion, Depersonalization, and Personal Accomplishment. Participants also responded to open-ended questions to provide additional insight to their experiences. Findings revealed that Emotional Exhaustion was the most prominent dimension of burnout, with respondents reporting persistent fatigue and emotional strain throughout the school week. No significant elevations were observed in Depersonalization or reduced Personal Achievement. Qualitative responses identified workload, limited preparation time, scheduling demands, compensation concerns, and insufficient administrative support as primary contributors to burnout. Overall, results suggest that structural and organizational factors play a central role in the development of burnout among early-career physical education teachers.
This creative research project documents the design, implementation, and preliminary assessment of Emotion in Motion, a ten-week curriculum designed to implement physical activity that aligns with SHAPE national standards with core SEL principles using the Zones of Regulation Framework and Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL). This project was implemented at the Boys and Girls Club of the Chippewa Valley with youth aged 7-11 to explore how movement-based activity can foster emotional regulation in youth outside of a school setting.This project was created to bridge the gap in current research of SEL integration outside of schools as well as create a practical curriculum model that can be implemented anywhere that demonstrates alignment with SHAPE national standards focused on increasing emotional regulation skills in youth in a unique way.Implementation included backwards design, breaking down core CASEL components into bi-weekly units and daily SEL goals. Movement-based activities were then developed based on the SEL goal and designed to align with SHAPE standards. Pre- and post-emotional regulation and emotional lability were scored for participants using the Emotional Regulation Checklist (ERC).This project creates a replicable curriculum that is practical for youth-serving organizations looking to implement social and emotional skills into movement-based programming.
Interprofessional partnerships along with quality and safety are important essentials for nursing students to learn and practice. The focus of this research project is to enhance the knowledge and confidence of undergraduate nursing students when using medical packaging within a medical packaging kit. This is a vital and important skill for nurses going into the workforce. The medical packaging kit will include a variety of packaging types and supplementary materials. The emphasis of this presentation regards a literature search that is being conducted to inform the project to create supplementary materials for students enrolled in a junior level nursing course. The literature search will inform effective learning techniques in undergraduate nursing programs. The project as a whole is a collaborative partnership between members of the nursing program at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and members of the packaging program at the University of Wisconsin-Stout. The Framework for Action on Interprofessional Education and Collaborative Practice and the Essentials: Core Competencies for nursing education guided the project.
Enoate reductases are a promising class of biocatalysts which have been shown to reduce the carbon-carbon double bonds of cis,cis-muconic acid in vivo, generating adipic acid, an important precursor used in the synthesis of nylon-6,6. Bacillus coagulans (ERBC) is a well researched enoate reductase proven to work with several catechol ring cleavage products. Our research has shown that ERBC is capable of reducing carbon-carbon double bonds in a variety of molecules produced using the extradiol dioxygenase BphC. Since the native substrate of ERBC is unknown, studying its activity with a variety of similar substrates will be beneficial for evaluating the scope of its reactivity. Our research aims to catalogue viable substrates using UV-visible light spectroscopy and to characterize enzymatic products through high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis. Furthermore, optimizing these reaction conditions will permit high throughput product formation and isolation. Identifying substrates and subsequent enhancement of the catalytic activity of ERBC can enable the development of environmentally benign synthetic methods for the production of a variety of commodity chemicals. In the future, other enoate reductases will be studied to evaluate their potential as viable candidates for the adipic acid production pathway.
Our research is focused on the synthesis of a bridged biphenyl molecule with an amino donor, cyano acceptor, and tetraethylene glycol solubilizing groups (TEG). This three-state biphenyl molecule could find applications like nanoscale fluorescent sensors and molecular mechanical devices. Biphenyl molecules have known dihedral angles, leading to differing optical and conducting properties when manipulated. Utilizing a lactone-bridge, we can force the molecule into and out of planarity by changing pH: at low pH, the molecule takes a planar conformation (“ON”) due to the lactone bridge being intact, while at high pH it adopts a non-planar (“OFF”) geometry resulting from lactone cleavage. Planar biphenyl-containing systems often suffer from poor solubility and thus limited application. However, addition of TEG solubilizing groups will aid in their synthesis, study, and application due to enhanced solubility. Previous research in our group has shown analogous two-state biaryl lactone systems to readily switch conformations when exposed to different pH environments. This pH sensitivity will be even more precise with the addition of a third “OFF” state. At low pH, the amino donor group should become protonated, leading to the second “OFF” state and giving a narrow “ON” state. The “ON” state results in visible color and fluorescence differences from the “OFF” states of the molecule. We will be reporting on the synthetic progress of these molecules as well as evidence supporting their use as three-state molecular switches.
Over time, biodiversity can change and vary in many ways, for example, in response to urbanization, climate change and invasive species. Pollinators are important animals as they facilitate plant reproduction and maintain plant biodiversity. Our research compares historical data about plant-pollinator relationships in Putnam Park and how it compares to modern data we collected over the summer. We expected to see similar numbers of plant-pollinator relationships, but with some new additions and missing links. To test this hypothesis, we first collected data by observing and catching non-bee pollinators in Putnam Park. We compared the data we collected to the historical data obtained from years of 1882-1928, and this allowed us to see if there was a change in plant-pollinator interactions. We evaluated present and past plant-pollinator relationships by creating a plant-pollinator network to model the consistent and changing relationships. We collected 65 specimens throughout our 10 days of observation between June 1st and September 1st of 2025. We also observed 49 different flowering plant species. We found multiple plant-pollinator relationships that have disappeared, as well as new ones that have appeared, telling us that there are both new additions and missing links that contribute to the biodiversity of Putnam Park.
Bumble bees (Bombus spp.) are among the most important wild pollinators, contributing significantly to ecosystem health and stability. However, due to habitat loss, climate change, and the continuous increase of pesticide use, many species have experienced population declines. Eau Claire, WI, has been reported as home to 15 Bombus spp. including the endangered Rusty Patched Bumble bee (Bombus affinis), making it an important location for bumble bee conservation. This study aims to characterize foraging behavior and preferences of local Bombus species to improve our understanding of preferred food plants to support conservation. To do this, a 12-week field study monitored bumblebee abundance and available flowers at three locations around Eau Claire. By conducting timed field surveys at each location each week and noting flowers visited, we evaluated species presence and abundance and created a flower-Bombus interaction network. Over 177 surveys conducted, 13 different species of Bombus were observed. Each species of Bombus observed had unique peaks in abundance and responses to ambient temperature. 50 different species of flowers were visited by bumble bees over the surveying period (June-September), with the most visited species being Monarda fistulosa. Knowing the bumble bees diet preferences can inform pollinator planting practices in Western WI.
Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is the most common cause of inherited intellectual disability and the leading genetic cause of autism spectrum disorder. FXS is caused by loss-of-function mutations of the FMR1 gene; how FMR1 loss affects neurodevelopment is still being characterized. Our objective was to assess how the FXS genotype affects swimming behavior development in wildtype zebrafish vs fmr1 knockout zebrafish. Zebrafish larvae of wildtype and fmr1 knockout backgrounds were assessed at 5 days post fertilization for distance moved, time spent moving, and velocity over an alternating light-dark cycle using DanioVision hardware with EthoVision XT software (Noldus). RStudio was used for performing Kruskal-Wallis tests to test significant differences between means. Wildtype zebrafish and fmr1 knockout zebrafish had similar swimming patterns in response to alternating light-dark exposure. These results indicate that fmr1 does not regulate swimming behavior development in larval zebrafish.
Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is a genetic disorder caused by loss-of-function mutations of the FMR1 gene and is the most common genetic cause of autism spectrum disorder. Prenatal maternal stress, resulting in increased embryonic cortisol exposure, may also be related to the development of intellectual disability, however, the impact of cortisol on the neurodevelopment of individuals with FXS is not well characterized. To investigate the interaction of cortisol and FXS genotype, wildtype zebrafish embryos and FMR1 knockout zebrafish embryos were treated with cortisol concentrations of 5 µM, 0.5 µM, 0.05 µM, or a vehicle solution between 6 hours post-fertilization (hpf) and 5 days post-fertilization (dpf). At 5dpf, zebrafish were placed in a 96-well plate and evoked swimming velocities were captured across alternating light-dark cycles using a commercial motor tracking system. While zebrafish larvae showed significant difference in light vs dark swimming behaviors, there was no difference in velocity at any cortisol concentration for both AB and fmr1 strains. These results indicate cortisol exposure does not impact swimming behavior development in wildtype or FMR1 knockout zebrafish strains, suggesting no interaction of cortisol and FXS genotype for this phenotype.
A major question in biology involves our understanding of how social connections influence the spread of behavioral innovations in natural populations. In 2024, we documented one such behavioral innovation—the novel emergence of vole hunting in the California ground squirrel (Otospermophilus beecheyi). In the current study, we aimed to explain the mechanisms by which this behavior spread and to use DNA evidence to uncover whether members of our study population consumed other vertebrate prey during the study period. We isolated DNA from 100 fecal samples and used PCR to amplify a 12S local of the vertebrate mitochondrial genome while applying a blocker oligonucleotide to minimize the amplification of ground squirrel DNA. Our genetic data complemented our behavioral observations of vole consumption, and, surprisingly, also revealed the consumption of pocket gophers, salamanders, and three species of mice. Next, we will use network-based diffusion analyses (NBDA) to examine the extent to which the spread of vole consumption is explained by social interactions or shared space use among members of the California ground squirrel study population. Together, our study furthers our understanding of dietary flexibility and highlights the value of molecular tools to inform ecological field studies.
Given rapid urbanization across the globe, coping with humans is an important aspect of life for most animals. Although human presence is often accompanied by human associated predators such as dogs, the effects of humans and dogs on animal physiology are rarely considered together. Here, we leverage over 4,500 measures of fecal glucocorticoid metabolites (FGMs), a biomarker of physiological “stress”, collected from California ground squirrels (Otospermophilus beecheyi) from two sites differing in human activity. Drawing from twelve years of study, we explored the effects of dispersal status, human presence, and dog activity on FGMs in adults and juveniles. Between-site dispersal revealed site-level effects on stress physiology. Whereas FGMs increased after immigrants moved to the more disturbed site, those dispersing to the less disturbed site failed to subsequently reduce FGMs. Responses to human and dog activity were age- and mass- dependent. Whereas juvenile FGMs did not covary with dog activity, juveniles trapped in areas with high human activity had elevated FGMs. In contrast, dogs represented a major stressor for adult animals, but the effects were generally shielded by human presence. These findings uncover complex relationships among anthropogenic factors, stress physiology, and habitat selection in wild animals living in a human-influenced world.
In the context of human-induced rapid environmental change, long-term data on individually recognized social mammals have the potential to offer novel insights into the extent to which animals can cope with social and ecological stressors. Long-term studies are needed to investigate the impact of climate change on the fitness of beavers, and minimally invasive measures of stress physiology offer meaningful biomarkers of these effects in the lives of free-living mammals. Here we present preliminary results of a newly established collaboration with the Norwegian Beaver Project. Glucocorticoids (GC) are steroid hormones that reflect physiological stressors. Because we are extracting GC metabolites from hair samples rather than directly from blood, species-specific validation is required. Thus, we performed an analytical validation for Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assays (ELISAs) for (i) cortisol and (ii) corticosterone to identify the predominant hormones in our samples. Our analytical validation will inform our ability to make meaningful connections between hundreds of GC samples and individual-level life-history and habitat measures collected from approximately 25 beaver families since 1997 (i.e., 25 years). Going forward, uncovering the social, ecological, and anthropogenic factors linked to this important biomarker and its associated fitness consequences will advance conservation goals.
In the context of human-induced rapid environmental change, monitoring of wildlife at different sites can offer useful information about how local fauna are responding to human presence. Here we build upon a previous study on the behavioral ecology of North American beavers (Castor canadensis), a native ecosystem engineer, through monitoring using camera traps. We surveyed various public lands and identified several active family groups of beavers in West-Central Wisconsin. Our camera trap data also captured the behavior of other local fauna based on our video analysis. Using Passive Infrared (PIR) sensors, our trail cameras detect captured video footage across each 24-hour cycle including social behaviors of river otters and beavers as well as inquisitive bears and foraging behaviors by squirrels, deer, and native birds. We also detected flying squirrels gliding down from trees at night, and bobcats transversing local habitats. Future research will focus on the extent to which vertebrate assemblages vary across sites and with human activity. The plethora of wildlife we monitored on our camera traps illustrates how beavers play a key role in shaping diverse and healthy wetland ecosystems. Our work has important implications for the management of wetlands and conservation of beaver populations in the region.
Air pollution is a major national and global health concern that is responsible for more than 1 in 8 deaths globally and is the second leading risk factor for early death. A large portion of this pollution is from atmospheric smog whose main component is ground level ozone that is generated when other pollutants, often nitrogen oxides, are emitted into the air and undergo photochemical reactions. Ozone pollution is particularly dangerous because it is very stable, so it is often carried by the wind from urban areas to rural areas hundreds of miles away. Due to this severity, accurately and precisely quantifying ozone in the lower atmosphere is vital in making informed responses and policies. This is done by flying a Personal Ozone Monitor (POM) on an unmanned aerial vehicle to measure the nearby ozone concentrations (ppb). To ensure the readings are accurate and precise an automated calibration curve procedure was created to more easily compare the recorded measurements to predetermined and accurate measurements, POM batteries were tested for effective operational time, and temperature tests were conducted to verify calibration.
NO2 is emitted into the atmosphere as a byproduct of combustion from vehicles, power plants, and industrial processes. Once in the atmosphere, the photochemical reaction of NO2 and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) results in the formation of ozone within the atmosphere. Ground-level ozone is a dangerous respiratory irritant. Because NO2 is the direct emission that leads to the presence of ground-level ozone, it is pertinent to monitor the concentration of NO2 at low altitudes. To better understand the concentration of NO2 at different altitudes around the Lake Michigan waterfront, we are constructing a lightweight cavity enhanced spectrometer capable of measuring NO2 while flown on a drone. The light source is a blue LED emitting in the 300-550 nanometer wavelength range. The light is reflected between two mirrors with 99.998% reflectivity to achieve a sufficiently long path length for measurement. Absorption spectra are measured using an Ocean Optics SR6 spectrometer. Collected spectral data are converted into concentrations using a spectral fitting algorithm that incorporates known Rayleigh scattering values and literature cross sections for five main chemical species. This poster describes our instrument’s integral components, the initial construction of the optical cavity, and the development of a data analysis program in MATLAB.
Tumor ablation is an effective treatment for cancer removal, but current methods can be improved using biocompatible materials to minimize complications and post-operative pain. The procedure uses a needle-like probe to burn or freeze cancerous target tissue. An essential component to this procedure is separating healthy tissue from the target tissue to prevent damage. Current methods use saline or carbon dioxide, which cause complications within the body cavity due to gravity. The development of a biocompatible foam through partnership between UW- Eau Claire and Mayo Clinic Health System allows for thermal insulation and maintained contact with the target tissue. FDA approved biocompatible materials are used to create foam that is stable throughout the procedure. Current project goals include continuing characterization of foam properties through rheology, measuring surface tension through pendent drop tensiometry, and developing freeze drying and an automated procedural device for long-term storage and clinical adoption. Quantifying foam properties through these characterization techniques and data collection allows for clinical readiness. Refinement of the biocompatible foam aims to optimize the tumor ablation procedure, resulting in minimized complications and enhanced patient outcomes.
Growing awareness of hazardous chemicals in consumer textiles has intensified concerns regarding their effects on human health, environmental sustainability, and barriers to textile upcycling and recycling. These chemicals originate from manufacturing, finishing treatments, or plasticizers and adhesives used in graphics, where they can persist in fabrics and bioaccumulate over time. Recent conservation and risk assessments found that these contaminants pose a threat to human health and prevent large-scale textile reclamation. This research investigates supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2) as a sustainable, solvent-free method for removing hazardous chemicals from textiles. With high diffusivity and complete solvent recovery without generating liquid waste, scCO2 offers a promising alternative to conventional extraction techniques. This study focuses on removing three high-priority contaminants: formaldehyde, di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), and bisphenol A (BPA) from textiles. Removal efficiency was evaluated across varying concentrations, reaction times, and co-solvent conditions. Gravimetric analysis, ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy were used to assess mass loss, concentration changes, and chemical signatures in extract. Results show that scCO2 can significantly reduce formaldehyde levels without damaging fabric appearance or producing solvent waste. By identifying effective processing parameters and demonstrating environmental benefits, this research supports efforts to create methods for reclaiming contaminated textiles and more sustainable use.
Architectural coatings, defined as paints and surface finishes used primarily on buildings for protection and aesthetics, require uniform pigment dispersion to achieve proper opacity, durability, and application performance. Titanium dioxide (TiO2) is the primary white pigment used in these coatings due to its high refractive index, allowing it to efficiently scatter light. However, TiO2 particles frequently agglomerate in waterborne paint systems, reducing optical efficiency which increases the amount of pigment required. Because TiO2 is one of the most expensive components within paint formulation, improving its dispersion is both economically and environmentally significant. This research explores the use of stimuli-responsive block copolymers as the dispersing agents for TiO2. These polymers consist of chemically distinct segments that change their conformation in response to external stimuli, allowing them to improve pigment separation and interparticle stabilization. Dispersion quality is evaluated using Leneta charts to assess opacity and film uniformity, along with secondary tests including water droplet resistance. Rheological testing using the rheometer is also performed to generate demand curves, which describe how paint viscosity changes under applied shear and are helpful for predicting processability and behavior of paints. Successful implementation is expected to reduce TiO2 usage while maintaining performance and reducing the overall cost.
Specious psychological statements continue to be widely accepted despite refuting data, likely in part because they are commonly encountered, intuitively appealing, and often portrayed to be scientifically grounded. Common examples include misconceptions about memory accuracy, learning styles, and brain usage. Lilienfeld and colleagues (2010) compiled and presented “50 Great Myths of Popular Psychology,” providing a foundation for acknowledging the widespread endorsement of these myths. College students are a particularly important demographic to study, as misconceptions may interfere with learning and the accurate interpretation of scientific information. In this longitudinal study, over 1,000 undergraduate students enrolled in Introduction to Psychology courses at the University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire completed an anonymous survey assessing their levels of knowledge of and belief in specific psychological myths. Results provide insight into which myths persist most strongly across the years, highlighting areas where targeted educational intervention might be most useful to directly address students’ misconceptions of various psychological topics.
Understanding the development of adult behavior requires examining the complex interaction between biological predispositions and environmental influences. Although genetic traits such as impulsiveness or emotional reactivity may increase vulnerability to certain behavioral outcomes, these predispositions are not without environmental context. Family environment, socioeconomic status, and peer influence may either amplify or mitigate biological risk factors, yet the mechanisms through which these variables interact remain less understood. The problem addressed in this study is the lack of clarity regarding how environmental factors shape the genetic predispositions in adult behavioral outcomes.
For this research project the main objective was to better understand the divide between people by understanding the ‘why’ to how they perceive the world. Because we are in a situation where people consistently exaggerate differences, stereotype anyone who doesn’t agree with them and throws words around without fully understanding the meaning of. This research seeks to understand the underlying causes to how people understand language and ideas.
As artificial intelligence becomes increasingly integrated into professional and academic environments, questions about fairness, accountability, transparency, and regulation have become more urgent. While existing research explores AI literacy, trust, professional implementation, and theoretical ethical concerns, fewer studies directly examine how the general public evaluates specific ethical issues such as disclosure requirements, bias, data privacy, job security, productivity impacts, and responsibility for harm.
Impulsive choice, or the preference for smaller, immediate rewards over larger, delayed rewards, is a behavioral process implicated in addiction, obesity, and other adverse health outcomes. Prior research suggests that prolonged exposure to delayed consequences can reduce impulsive choice over time, though recent findings raise questions about the generality of these effects across sex and species. The present study replicates and extends delay-exposure research by examining long-term effects in both male and female Sprague Dawley rats. Rats are randomly assigned to delay-exposure training, immediacy-exposure training, or a no-training control condition. Impulsive choice is assessed longitudinally across a 12-15 month period to evaluate the durability of training effects. Findings from this study can help clarify how experience shapes self-control and decision-making and ideally will help inform the development of behavioral interventions that are durable and clinically relevant.
Rare-earth-based copper oxide (REBCO) is a superconducting material capable of carrying large amounts of electricity with no resistance, with applications in devices such as fusion reactors, particle accelerators, and other magnetic field applications. Our purpose in this study is to investigate the degradation of REBCO tape under cyclic loading conditions similar to those encountered in real-world magnetic applications. Fatigue measurements of REBCO tape have shown that the tape can withstand 10000 cycles with 580 Mpa for a specific manufacturer. To test these loading parameters, an Instron tensile tester was used, with copper pieces placed on the upper and lower jaws to sandwich the REBCO samples and reduce the localized axial load from the jaws. Ten thousand cycles per sample were performed on each REBCO sample with a specified maximum and minimum load; thereafter, the samples were etched and imaged with a scanning electron microscope to assess the integrity of the REBCO layers. These results will aid to identify potential fatigue-related failures of REBCO tape and validate their reliability in cyclic loading conditions.
Composite Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8-x (Bi-2212) wire has great potential as a material for high temperature superconducting magnets, due to its ability to conduct electricity without resistance. However, during heat treatment, individual Bi-2212 filaments may agglomerate or bridge, compromising wire performance. Traditional image analysis methods struggle to quantify this agglomeration because of the wide variability in filament bridging behavior—from light to fully conjoined. In this project, we apply and compare two semantic segmentation models, U-Net and SACNet, for their ability to segment and classify filaments in transverse cross-sectional images of Bi-2212 wires. Our preliminary results show that our overall pixel accuracy is about 95% while the individual filament accuracy is about 73%. The SACNet has also been adapted to operate on the UWEC BOSE supercomputing cluster, which allows higher throughput testing at a rate approximately 19 times faster than on a standard computer operating system. The process of training the model is simple and only requires editing hyperparameters within a text document. The hyperparameters are currently being assessed for their impact on the overall accuracy of the model. We hope to turn the Python-based code into a standalone software product that can be easily used by researchers without a coding background. This should allow the software to be used widely and further our understanding of the role of bridging in the performance of the wire.
Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8-x (Bi-2212) is a superconductor capable of producing large magnetic fields for advanced magnet systems. However, fluctuations in the size and shape of Bi-2212 filaments in a composite wire can affect processing capability. In this work, we compare the geometric filament uniformity of green-state densified composite Bi-2212/Ag wires to that of bronze route and powder-in-tube Nb3Sn wires in both the longitudinal and transverse orientations and explore the benefits and limitations of this technique. Filament size is the most important parameter to achieve overall uniform filaments, and transverse uniformity (which is much easier to measure) is an acceptable substitute for longitudinal uniformity in most situations. Finally, across a wide cross-section of Bi-2212 wires, the wire JE is shown to be only loosely correlated to the wire uniformity, as measured by the longitudinal coefficient of variation of the filament area. This points to the importance of powder quality and heat treatments as the primary drivers in Bi-2212 wire performance.
Linear alpha olefins (LAOs) are an important commodity used in high-performance plastics, motor oils, and synthetic lubricants. LAOs are short to long carbon chain molecules produced via selective polymerization of ethylene using transition metal catalysts. This project aims to develop a viable synthetic route to produce a ligand that can direct a metal complex to selectively catalyze the formation of LAOs. The ligand is referred to as the PCN-type ligand, which coordinates through phosphorus, carbon, and nitrogen to the metal. The PCN ligand features a benzimidazole central carbene with asymmetrical opposing pendant arms featuring an imine and phosphine. The pre-ligand has been verified through a multi-step synthesis process using air-sensitive techniques. Investigation into the isolation of metal complexes is underway. The synthetic steps to obtain the ligand precursor molecules have been described. The precursor molecule structures have been verified with 1H-NMR and FT-IR. Future work will validate the synthesis of the pre-ligand as well as new metal-coordinated ligand molecules.
Understanding the cow rumen microbiome is an ongoing project with significant implications for agriculture, as the health, weight, and methane emissions of the animal are tied to the microbiome. However, knowledge of rumen microbiomes is biased towards dairy cows and geographically influenced by European breeds. Therefore, to more comprehensively understand the contributions of the microbiome to sustainable animal agriculture, there is a need to study American and beef cattle rumen microbial communities. Using metagenomic techniques, we identified 1,329 microbial genomes from beef cattle rumen fluid. Using the Blugold HPC, we compared these genomes to a database of 12,906 microbial genomes compiled from different ruminants to determine which were newly-sampled. This identified 505 rumen microbial genomes that were uniquely-recovered in our American beef cattle metagenomes. We selected a genome classified as a Prevotella, a ubiquitous rumen genus, and characterized its phylogeny, revealing it likely represents a novel species. We will characterize its metabolic potential to understand the role of this genome in rumen microbiome carbon and nitrogen cycling. This work will lead to a more thorough understanding of the rumen microbiome, informing any efforts to improve animal health, reduce methane emissions, and otherwise improve farming practices.
The ongoing rise of antibiotic-resistant microbes is a major concern in the medical field. Many pathogenic bacteria that were once vulnerable to common antibiotics have developed resistance, posing significant challenges to medicine and public health. Infections caused by these resistant bacteria are both expensive and challenging to treat. To address this growing crisis, we aim to identify new antibiotic-producing microbes isolated from soil samples. Following the collection of the soil, testing was done to determine the presence of any substances produced that either inhibit or kill any of the tester strains used (Salmonella typhimurium, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Bacillus subtilis). We have identified eleven strains of microbes that show evidence of producing an antimicrobial substance. We are working to identify these strains and determine if the antimicrobial substance they are producing is novel.
Major food pulses can shift the diets of wildlife over short periods, but little is known about the downstream consequences of foraging decisions on parasite loads. In the current study, we capitalized on our observations of the novel emergence of widespread hunting and carnivory of California voles (Microtus californicus) by marked individual California ground squirrels (Otospermophilus beecheyi) in June and July of 2024. Rodents can be definitive hosts, harboring adult tapeworms in their gut if they ingest tapeworm eggs or intermediate hosts (i.e., infected insects harboring tapeworm eggs). We predicted that sudden dietary shift towards eating other mammals may influence the prevalence of tapeworms in ground squirrels. As part of long-term study on California ground squirrels in the San Fransico Bay Area, we conducted fecal floats to quantify the prevalence of tapeworms in two study populations of ground squirrels before (2023), during (2024), and after (2025) the vole hunting year. Whereas tapeworms were prevalent in squirrel fecal samples before and after the vole boom, tapeworms were rarely present in vole-year samples. Our data is consistent with the notion that dietary shifts can radically influence the prevalence of parasites suggesting that ecological shifts can influence the health of animals.
The North American gray wolf (Canis lupus) is a native keystone predator that contributes to healthy ecosystems across Wisconsin. Despite its broad historical range, anthropogenic development caused friction between pack territories and local farming operations, ultimately leading to the species’ extirpation from the state in the late 1950s. Over the past 25 years, wolf packs have recolonized Wisconsin forests from source populations in Minnesota, and local populations have now reached saturation in the greater Eau Claire region. Our team partnered with the Timber Wolf Information Network (TWIN), an organization established in 1989 to promote wolf awareness and conservation, to support efforts aimed at reducing human-wolf conflict. We monitored wolf activity by identifying tracks in snow and mud. Observations of raised-leg urination at scent posts provided insights into pack boundaries, breeding pair presence, and estrous cycles. Camera traps were deployed within established pack territories to quantify wolf presence and behavior, allowing us to characterize pack dynamics more accurately. These in-depth behavioral surveys will inform responses to population control and maintain beneficial populations of wolves in Wisconsin. More broadly, our project is raising public awareness about the historical impacts of wolves and the ecosystem benefits of their restored presence in Wisconsin forests.
Widespread human impacts – from climate change to unprecedented rates of human visits in 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). Our field study in California has live-trapped, marked, and released individual ground squirrels since 2013 at two study sites. We also directly observed behavioral interactions among squirrels, recorded predator sightings at landmarks, and conducted behavioral assays to assess fear responses to humans. In Summer 2024, we documented the emergence of widespread hunting and consumption of voles by ground squirrels in our two study populations. By Summer 2025, the ground squirrel population crashed, whereas predator numbers soared. We report on these patterns as well as increased fearfulness by squirrels and increased predator sightings, which exceeded numbers documented in previous years. 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.
Pollinators are crucial for plant reproduction and diversification. The plant genus Protea of the Cape Floristic Region of South Africa, a global biodiversity hotspot, is an example of how evolutionary radiations can potentially be driven by transitions among primary pollinators. The sprawling shrub Protea venusta has intermediate morphology and is listed as either mammal or bird pollinated, yet has no empirical documentation of pollination. Although it is difficult to document field observations of ground-dwelling mammal pollination, remote motion-activated camera analysis has enhanced our ability to capture 24-hours pollinator activity. This technology allows us to both decipher temporal activity patterns and identify novel pollinators. We deployed six camera traps in a population of Protea venusta at Swartberg Pass in the Western Cape to assess whether this species is predominantly bird pollinated, mammal pollinated, or whether it functions within a mixed pollination network. Preliminary evidence suggests that both birds (such as the Cape sugarbird, Promerops cafer) and rodents (such as the spectacled dormouse, Graphiurus ocularis) visit and likely pollinate this species. Understanding an individual species such as Protea venusta is crucial in providing insight into how unique plant-pollinator networks function, adapt, and persist in one of the world's most biodiverse hotspots.
In the summer of 2025, UW – Eau Claire sent four students to the Galápagos Islands to participate in research internships at the Charles Darwin Research Station. The Galápagos Islands are a highly significant archipelago in the Pacific, renowned for their incredible diversity of wildlife, as well as their contributions to Darwin’s theory of evolution. Presently a hub for scientific research and conservation, students were assigned to various projects at the station, where they worked directly with international scientists to aid in cutting-edge research projects mainly focused on habitat and wildlife conservation. Our poster will feature a discussion of what each of us worked on during our 3 months there, with additional information about how students can get involved.
Overuse of antibiotics in agriculture and healthcare settings results in increased microbial resistance to antibiotics. In order to maintain an advantage in treating disease caused by microorganisms, we must discover and develop new antibiotics and minimize misuse. This in turn creates difficulty in treating diseases that were previously treatable with antibiotics. In previous studies we surveyed 4 different farm soils and discovered many antibiotic-resistant bacteria. In this study we used the same soil samples to determine the incidence of antibiotic-secreting bacteria across WI and MN. We tested resistance to gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. We discovered 24 isolates that produced antimicrobial effects against Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). Out of the 8 isolated strains, we found 4 strains that inhibited both E. coli and S. aureus, 3 strains inhibited only S. aureus, and 1 isolate was only effective against E. coli. Preliminary characterization of the isolates indicates that we have 7 gram-positive rods and 1 gram-negative rod. We are in the process of further characterizing strains and identification of antimicrobial properties.
Oxidative stress is caused by an imbalance between antioxidants and reactive oxygen and nitrogen species. It can lead to DNA damage and plays a critical role in the development and progression of cancer. Because of this, oxidative stress serves as an important biomarker for cancer detection and prognosis. It is also implicated in a variety of other pathologies, including increased viral severity, such as that observed in COVID‑19 infections. In this study, we aim to detect and quantify oxidative stress in cancer patients by measuring 8‑oxo‑2′‑deoxyguanosine (8‑oxo‑dG), a key biomarker of oxidative DNA damage. We are developing a DNA‑aptamer–based, gold‑nanoparticle colorimetric assay to quantify 8‑oxo‑dG in saliva samples. The outcomes of this work will advance the assessment of oxidative stress levels and strengthen investigations into potential correlations between oxidative stress, cancer development, and patient prognosis.
Fluorinated drugs are pharmaceutical compounds that contain one or more fluorine atoms, which enhance their metabolic stability, bioavailability, and binding affinity to biological targets. Every year, more fluorinated pharmaceuticals are being approved for use by the FDA, with 52 approved from 2018-2022. These compounds span various therapeutic areas such as antidepressants, antibiotics, cholesterol-lowering agents, and corticosteroids. Emerging research suggests that fluorinated compounds may influence health outcomes or contribute to neurological concerns. The goal of this project is to investigate key physicochemical properties of fluorinated pharmaceuticals using computational methods and to evaluate whether these compounds could affect the human body, particularly the brain, in ways not originally intended. The computational chemistry platform WebMO, along with Q Chem and the ADMET AI program are being used to calculate parameters, such as chemical hardness, blood–brain barrier (BBB) penetration, intestinal absorption, and toxicity. Thus far, our results indicate that most fluorinated drugs have at least some probability of crossing the BBB, with predicted penetration ranging from 10% to 70%. Additionally, the majority of these molecules appear to be chemically soft, suggesting that if they cross the BBB, they may be more likely to interact with regions such as the prefrontal cortex, corpus callosum, and brainstem.
Previous work demonstrated the production of poly(caprolactone)-diacrylate (PCL-DA) films with unique shape memory properties using UV-curing with dichloromethane (DCM) solvent. However, in 2024 the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) passed new regulations on DCM usage leading to strict inhalation limitations (
Menstrual cups have gained popularity with several brands and technoeconomic analyses suggesting use for up to 10 years. However, there is a lack of long-term biostability data for menstrual cups in current literature. In this work, we subjected medical-grade and food-grade silicone samples to a 1 M hydrochloric (HCl) acidic solution to determine whether environmental pH influences degradation behavior. Our findings demonstrate that food grade silicone is more susceptible to hydrolytic degradation (8.94 ± 0.41% mass loss) than medical grade silicone (0.15 ± 0.20% mass loss). Medical grade silicone also showed some mass loss, albeit a very small amount (0.69 ± 0.07%), after ten months in a vaginal fluid simulant. In follow-up studies, food grade silicone was immersed in 1M HCl and 1 M sodium hydroxide (NaOH) for 28 days to compare degradation under chemically accelerated conditions. Gravimetric analysis revealed significantly greater mass loss under acidic conditions (maximum 8.06 ± 0.97%) compared to basic conditions (maximum 2.76 ± 0.20%). These results validate earlier accelerated degradation testing and indicate that silicone is more susceptible to acid-catalyzed hydrolysis. Future studies will expand this workflow to better emulate real world menstrual cup use by using commercially available devices.
Poly(caprolactone)-diacrylate (PCL-DA) has been used previously to prepare scaffolds for tissue engineering but is limited to bone tissue due to its relatively high modulus, owing to its semi-crystalline structure. A derivative of PCL, poly(4-methylcaprolactone) (P4MCL) has been used to prepare elastomeric materials that could potentially be used in a variety of soft tissue applications; however, its high production cost restricts widespread use. Herein, we prepared a 90:10 (by mol) copolymer of PCL and P4MCL by ring opening transesterification polymerization (ROTEP) targeting a number-average molar mass (Mn = 10 kg/mol), as confirmed by proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR) spectroscopy. The resultant copolymer was end functionalized to yield photocrosslinkable PCL90-co-P4MCL10-diacrylate (PCL90-co-P4MCL10-DA), and films were prepared by UV-curing with 2,2-dimethoxy-2-phenylacetophene (DMPA) as the photoinitiator. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) results show that this minimal incorporation of 10% by mol. P4MCL significantly reduces PCL semi-crystallinity, particularly in the UV-crosslinked films. Ongoing work will evaluate mechanical properties, hydrolytic degradation behavior, and cytocompatibility. This approach demonstrates a cost-effective copolymer design strategy to tune the thermal and mechanical properties of degradable polyester networks, potentially broadening the applicability of PCL-based scaffolds in tissue engineering.
Obesity is a prevalent condition that causes adverse health conditions and death, where medical and pharmaceutical treatments are options for patients. Sibutramine, a known obesity treatment, shares its pharmacological mechanism of action with duloxetine. Both are serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors. Duloxetine’s effects on hunger remain unclear. This study examines whether duloxetine reduces hunger in rats trained in an operant chamber to discriminate between 22-hour and 2-hour food deprivation. After 22-hour food deprivation, left-lever responses were reinforced with a 45mg sugar pellet. Right-lever responses produced eight seconds of darkness. Contingencies were reversed after 2-hour food deprivation. Male and female rats received duloxetine (1-32 mg/kg). Following injections, rats were tested for their perceived hunger (a decrease in left-lever responses). Post-test, one hour of food and water consumption was measured. In males, but not females,17.8 mg/kg reduced hunger. Duloxetine decreased food consumption and lever pressing rates in all doses compared to the 22-hour control condition in both males and females. In the future, this lab will study whether the reduction in hunger and food intake is due solely to serotonin or norepinephrine activation, or the combination of both. The results of this study may help obesity therapies in the future.
