27th Student Academic Conference Schedule

This study continues the period change observations of the high amplitude δ Scuti variable star, DY Her, from last year. DY Her has a period of .1486309 days and has been observed to have a slow overall period change from data gathered over several decades. Historical O-C data on DY Her has been obtained and analyzed alongside recent O-C observations using light curve data from the Paul P. Feder Observatory and observations of DY Her obtained from AAVSO from the past 21 years. This year, an additional year of AAVSO observations and one additional night of data from the Feder observatory were added to the dataset, and the historical data was incorporated into our fits. Analysis of the O-C curve returned a period rate of change (1/P)*(dP/dt) of (-3.12±0.09) x 10^-8 yr^-1, which is consistent with, but more precise than, the recent values reported in the literature in Derekas et al (2009), –2.9x10^-8 yr^-1, and in Derekas et al (2003), (–2.8±0.4) x 10^-8 yr^-1. 

This project was funded under the Summer Strong Research Grant for the project Period Analysis of δ Scuti Variable Stars.

The goal of this study was to examine the effectiveness of the UFLI intervention on increasing the reading skills in students who were identified as at-risk readers (at or below the 10th percentile) in their grade. Three first-grade students ages 7 to 8 years old, were assigned to a small group intervention using the UFLI curriculum twice a week. The 30-minute intervention focused on modeling and teaching skills for digraph sounds. The intervention tasks included segmenting sounds and words, spelling, and short passage reading to increase students' phonemic awareness, decoding, fluency, and irregular word identification skills. The results showed that UFLI showed moderate to large gains in students' decoding abilities.

 In this presentation we will discuss how rather than utilizing our own capabilities to their full potential, humans today are reliant on technology and social media to try and further their individual abilities. Due to the development of technology, we see that people have lost sight of their true value. Our world runs on technology. The effect of AI being integrated into our everyday lives has taken a toll on our ability to stay authentic. We see that technology is affecting people's self-image negatively, therefore stifling the growth of our skills. Through this presentation we will share how technology influences every aspect of an individual's life. 

Since 1884, the American Kennel Club (AKC) has served as the premier authority on dog husbandry. Among its other functions, the AKC creates "breed standards" that outline the qualities attributed to specific types of dogs. While it is widely understood that some breeds are more prone to certain health issues than others, we will investigate if chronology serves as an accurate indicator of overall breed health. Specifically, this analysis will use data from Fleming et al. (2004) to explore the relationship between fatal canine heath issues and the year the breed was recognized by the AKC. Our hypothesis is that older breeds are more likely to experience health issues. We presume that many breeding standards have become stricter over time, contributing to the devolution of older breed health through inbreeding when compared to younger breeds. Gaining a more robust understanding of breed age as it relates to breed health will hopefully be a meaningful attribution to the field of canine welfare.

Lauryn Wurscher and Aiden Kolehmainen were students of GID458 Interactive Media Studio in Fall 2024. They completed two interactive projects using the game engine, Construct3. The goal for both was to explore how storytelling and worldbuilding look in a UX project that included character design, visual atmosphere, and conceptualized game building. Lauryn developed a short visual novel inspired by a manuscript she had written, called Strangers and Souls. This was a portion of a full design campaign for the book, which included a website for the novel and the author, a preview of the novel, and a trailer for the book. Users of the visual novel could experience the world of the novel and travel around with the main protagonist of the book to catch ghosts as they would if they were a character in that universe. Aidan developed a platformer game that used the character’s stretchy arms to overcome obstacles and complete the level. Users can play the three-level game as Armstrong and collect dumbbells to get stronger and continue their adventure. This game was the main portion of the semester project, while also having a social media page to go along with the game.
 

Underage drinking is a significant issue among American youth, often influenced by a range of social, environmental, and psychological factors. Early alcohol consumption can have severe consequences for young individuals. This analysis will examine trends in alcohol abuse among adolescents, considering various factors such as age, sex, ethnicity, race, geographic location, socioeconomic status, and access to healthcare. We will use data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), which provides detailed insights into substance use behaviors among adolescents aged 12-17. Through exploratory data analysis, we will explore alcohol abuse rates across these various factors, focusing on the younger segment of the American population. Our findings will help draw conclusions that can help inform prevention strategies and offer valuable insights for policymakers and community leaders aiming to reduce alcohol consumption among youth.

The mammalian neocortex consists of specialized regions of the brain such as the sensory and motor areas. The neocortex controls the sensory information processing related to coordination of motor functions. Within the neocortex lies the Emx1 homeogene which is involved in the development of the neocortex, and is expressed in neural precursors during brain development, influencing the patterning and size of cortical regions. Along with that, Emx2 has been shown to influence the size and location of sensory areas, but this study will primarily focus on changes that happen in the primary visual area. Mice that lack Emx2 have distinct and significant abnormalities in brain structures that are crucial for learning, memory, and behavior. The experiment has been conducted on two developmental stages of mice: post-natal day 18 and post-natal day 38. The study aimed to assess visually mediated behavior with a visual cliff test that evaluates aspects of visual function. Following that, dissections were performed to visualize the neocortical changes to the mice due to the knockout (KO) or overexpression of the Emx2 gene. After the conclusion of dissection, the brains were fixed in paraformaldehyde, embedded in paraffin wax, then the brains were sectioned using a microtome. Once completed, antibody staining was utilized to delineate the size and shape of the different sensory areas, which allowed for identification of precise areas of the brain. 

The purpose of this project is to explore how MSUM can better recruit, retain, and/or equitibly graduate students from a particular population, in this case students with dyslexia. Through research with various campus entities as well as regional and national organizations, a particular challenge students with dyslexia face is identified and examined, and a solution is proposed that could help MSUM further improve its efforts in attracting and supporting these student. In this way our group project may help our university in its goal of making higher education accessible to a broader population.

The Bipedal Walker environment is a continuous action space environment meant to train and test Machine learning agents. The environment operates using a continuous action space and an observation space consisting of agent variables. The environment’s action space has a range of –1 to 1 for each of the 4 joints on the agent. The observation space consists of 10 lidar range finder measurements and various movement variables derived from the agent's joints. There are no coordinates in the observation space. Continuous action spaces purpose a problem for traditional Deep Q-Learning networks as there are too many possible actions that the network needs to evaluate to choose the best possible one. Deep Deterministic Policy Gradient (DDPG) is a machine learning algorithm which solves this issue by using two different neural networks. One for choosing an action based on the state and another for evaluating the chosen action’s value. By using the DDPG algorithm I am able to train a model which can traverse the entirety of the environment in under 400 epochs. 

Non-fluent aphasia, often resulting from stroke or brain injury, severely impacts an individual's ability to communicate. Melodic Intonation Therapy (MIT) has been developed as a therapy technique that utilizes melody and rhythm to engage the brain’s right hemisphere and promote speech recovery.  This literature review examined the effectiveness of MIT and how its variations impact expressive language recovery, as well as the need for greater research to refine its application in the clinical setting.

   The late 1800s was a time of industry. The advent of the railway had shifted almost everything in America. There were very few things on the plains faster than a steam engine, and certainly no faster transport. Corporations were making more money than ever before, all thanks to the rail lines. None more so than brewing companies. As populations boomed around rail lines, so did saloons. But, if saloons are booming, why doesn’t the archaeological record reflect this overabundance of beer? In the late 19th century, a new era of brewery sponsorships began. Companies would pay owners’ liquor licenses in return for exclusively selling their beer and as a bonus, help recycle their bottles. Beer was often shipped in kegs or bottles, both of which could be returned to the brewery for credit. Using the saloon midden of the railroad ghost town of Winnipeg Junction, Minnesota as a case study, this paper examines the potential influence of the bottle reuse system on the archaeological record. 

Impact of Maintaining Health Relationship In College Communities.

         Promoting healthy relationships within college communities creates an overwhelmingly positive correlation between successful social interaction and one’s overall health and well-being. Therefore, we chose to discuss the impact of maintaining healthy relationships, for our project, to present to our peers and faculty. Pursuing healthy relationships takes intentional effort, emotional intelligence, and skills in conflict resolution, with support from college and community resources. We felt that this topic is extremely relevant to our community here at Minnesota State University Moorhead. Finding ways to navigate healthy ways to maintain and progress these relationships is imperative for your overall health. Throughout our studies, by researching successful and healthy relationships, and their correlation to mental health rates in college, it was discovered just how prevalent mental illness within college communities is. Being able to prioritize healthy relationships can better impact one's overall health. 

Brief Background/Introduction/Research Context:
In today’s campus environment, students often discard valuable items due to lack of a centralized platform for trading. While online marketplaces exist, they are not tailored for student needs or university communities. The MSUM Marketplace was developed to address this gap by offering a secure, user-friendly platform exclusive to Minnesota State University Moorhead students.

Present Research Question/Purpose:
This project explores the development of a localized online marketplace that allows MSUM students to buy and sell items easily while incorporating verification mechanisms like StarID and phone-based OTP to ensure a secure and trusted environment.

Methods/Materials/Subjects/Tools:
The platform was built using Flask (Python) for backend logic, SQLite for the database, and HTML/CSS/JavaScript for the frontend. Verification was implemented using Twilio's SMS service. Students can register using their StarID, verify their phone number via OTP, and log in to post or browse items.

Results/Findings:
The system successfully validates student identities and provides two different dashboards (admin and student) with item management features. The marketplace interface allows real-time item listings and search functionality, encouraging active participation. Feedback from initial testing showed improved student engagement in sustainable item exchange.

Discussion/Conclusion/Implications/Recommendations:
The MSUM Marketplace supports sustainability and community building by reducing waste and encouraging reuse. Future work could include expanding functionality to include categories, bidding features, and analytics for high-demand items. The model may also be adapted by other universities to foster secure, internal marketplaces on campus.

Objective: This paper will provide insight into the research I have conducted about various process improvement methods that can be used in the healthcare field, what makes each methodology unique, and the different ways they contribute to process improvement. 

Analysis: Process improvement is particularly important in healthcare today because of the emphasis placed on patient-centered care. When the process of healthcare delivery is improved, the quality of care also improves. Process improvement benefits employees of a healthcare organization, as well as its affiliates. There are several different methodologies that can help make improvements, including Six Sigma, Lean, Total Quality Management, and Kaizen. Some common areas for process improvement include healthcare cost, service quality, and dealing with staffing shortages. 

Conclusion: Process improvement in healthcare is essential to delivering quality healthcare, improving patient outcomes, and creating a good working environment for healthcare employees. When areas for improvement are identified, process improvement methodologies provide a structure to make changes happen. 

From the tip of the apex to the lip of the aperture, the act of describing a gastropod shell can seem daunting without the right terminology. This presentation will elucidate how the many varieties of shells, from the totally tubular to the utterly umbraculum, are classified and organized, then explain many of their important features. Being able to say, in words, the difference between a planispiral or a valvatiform will be useful to collectors or those with a mild interest in calcareous formations. Understanding the use of a siphonal canal or the periostracum can broadly apply to strengthening an understanding of the greater ocean ecosystems, everywhere from the arctic to the antarctic.

Differential equations provide powerful tools for modeling various real-life and physical systems, including population dynamics. In our presentation, we apply these mathematical techniques to study the population growth of local turkeys. According to Minnesota Public Radio (MPR), Moorhead has been attempting to curb the increasing turkey population, a trend that has been developing over the past 25 years (MPR, 2020).  Our intent was to first model the relation of the turkey population as compared to the human population. We were curious to see if the turkey population would eventually surpass the human population if both were left unbounded, and determine how long that might take. In order to do this, we utilized differential equations. We concentrated on exponential growth models, also referred to as unbounded population growth models, of the turkey and human populations in three local counties: Norman County, Becker County, and Clay County.  Then, we transitioned to a more realistic representation and sought to determine how long it would take the turkey population to reach a set carrying capacity. In order to do this, we utilized a second differential equation. Our primary focus was using a logistic growth model to determine the time it would take to reach a set environmental carrying capacity of three local counties: Norman County, Becker County, and Clay County.

As medical advancements extend lifespans, the prevalence of dysphagia has increased, presenting complex ethical challenges for speech-language pathologists (SLPs). This presentation explores the ethical considerations in dysphagia treatment, examining the interplay between clinical best practices, patient autonomy, cultural influences, and financial burdens. A discussion of bioethical principles—autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, and justice—and how the ASHA Code of Ethics guides ethical decision-making are introduced first. The role of patient-centered care is also emphasized, highlighting the impact of dysphagia on identity, socialization, and caregiver burden. Additionally, the exploration of ethical decision-making frameworks, including the Seedhouse Grid, and the integration of evidence-based practice (EBP) to ensure holistic, patient-driven care are presented. By addressing these factors, clinicians can navigate the ethical complexities of dysphagia treatment while prioritizing patient well-being and quality of life.

Fiddler crabs are a smaller species of crabs that can be found all over the world mainly on beaches and in lagoons. This research project aims to investigate the behavior of fiddler crabs when exposed to a chemical alarm cue. It is hypothesized that the fiddler crabs will avoid the chemical alarm cue, as they interpret it as an alarm cue that indicates danger. There haven’t been many studies on the response of fiddler crabs to alarm chemical cues so this project aims to contribute new insights into their behavior. 

Costa Rica is widely known for its biodiversity and conservation initiatives, including the efforts to reintroduce endangered species back into their native habitats. This study aims to learn about the local experiences, challenges, and successes of biologists in the country of Costa Rica. After taking a two-week trip to Costa Rica through the Tropical Conservation Biology class offered by the Minnesota State University Moorhead Biosciences department, we will have interviewed a local residents and biologists of Costa Rica to gain insight on personal experiences with conservation and reintroduction. We chose to focus on the reintroduction of Macaw species and specifically the Great Green Macaw and the Wild Almond tree. By documenting these perspectives, we hope to provide valuable insights and experiences on conservation strategies and reintroduction efforts in Costa Rica and globally.

Heart rate response to exercise intensity is a key physiological measure used to assess cardiovascular fitness and exertion levels. Understanding how heart rate varies across different intensities of exercise can provide insights into training efficiency and cardiovascular adaptation. This study examines the relationship between exercise intensity and heart rate by analyzing heart rate deviations across three exercise intensities. Silva, Gentil (2019) used high intensity training and moderate intensity training to explore how heart rates compare; all of which were carried out on treadmills with 0% grade and similar total distance. Ten participants performed three separate cardiopulmonary exercises to obtain pre, post, and peak heart rates. We plan to explore the relationship between heart rates and different intensity workouts. To do this, we will examine how heart rates differentiate when different intensities of exercises are exhibited. We believe that the High Interval Intesity Trainings (HIIT) will produce higher average heart rates when compared to Moderate Intesity Continuous Training (MICT) (P<0.05). Our findings aim to contribute to a better understanding of cardiovascular responses to varying exercise intensities.

The purpose of this project was to investigate the effects of a school-based cognitive

behavioral therapy (CBT) intervention on anxiety symptoms. The C.A.T. Project program

was used with a female middle school student, who received individualized support twice

weekly in the school environment. Self-reported direct behavior ratings (DBRs) were

used to monitor the student’s progress, along with a screening measure for pre- and post-

intervention data. Results indicated that the student's baseline level of anxiety decreased

throughout the intervention. These findings suggest that the C.A.T. Project program may

be an effective intervention for adolescents experiencing problematic levels of anxiety.

Further research is needed to increase confidence in the validity and reliability of results.

Cannibalism is a problem widely faced in the poultry industry, and one that is difficult to deal with because of multiple factors potentially causing this behavior. This analysis seeks to compile probable causes of cannibalistic behavior in poultry by summarizing several papers on the subject. Although cannibalistic behavior occurs in wild populations, it is more common in domestic populations, presumably due to a combination of a stressful environment and social learning. Gaining a better understanding of the factors that contribute to cannibalistic behavior in poultry will hopefully reduce the occurrence of this behavior and therefore increase the overall welfare of domestic poultry.

Stuttering is a fluency disorder characterized by an interruption of flow in speaking. Down syndrome (DS) is a genetic disorder that is caused by the presence of a third copy of chromosome twenty-one. Approximately 30% of individuals with DS will experience stuttering (Bloodstein et al., 2021). An individual with DS who also presents with characteristics of stuttering creates a unique approach to speech treatment. Speech treatment for an individual who stutters often consists of fluency-shaping and stuttering modification techniques; however, speech treatment for individuals with DS focuses on early speech and language support. This review of literature focused on treatment approaches for individuals with DS who stutter, highlighting key themes and trends in current research, and identifying the current gaps in the literature.

Resonant Voice Therapy (RVT) is a widely used voice therapy intervention for many types of functional voice disorders. The main focus of this treatment approach is to build a strong clear voice while preventing future vocal injury. Professional voice users, or individuals whose occupation relies on the functional use of their voice (i.e., teachers, singers, politicians, broadcasters, etc.), are often most at risk for developing a voice disorder. This can have a major impact on their quality of life, however many voice disorders can be prevented and cured. This research explores the literature regarding the effectiveness of RVT for professional voice users with voice disorders. Key components of this treatment method, treatment outcome measurements, barriers, facilitators, and limitations in research are discussed.

Right hemisphere damage occurs when the right side of the brain sustains an injury, resulting in an array of distinctive characteristics that affect an individual’s complex cognitive system. While features of right hemisphere damage may look different for everyone, unilateral neglect is a common symptom characterized by difficulty attending to the left side of the body. Although treatment is limited in research, several intervention methods have been shown to improve symptoms of unilateral neglect or assist patients with greater awareness of the left side. While the literature suggests visual scanning training has the most research to determine efficacy, other research studies show promising evidence of improvement in symptoms when using techniques like prism adaptation, limb activation, virtual reality, external cues, or a combination of several intervention methods.

This presentation explores how I wrote a lesson plan using bibliotherapy practices to engage learners in a social and emotional way. Bibliotherapy is a tactic of therapy that uses books to help people solve problems and find characters they can identify with. The main goal of teaching a lesson this way is for students to gain an understanding of themselves and their surroundings through the reading of books. When teaching in this way, the first step is to have the student identify with the character or situation in the book. Next, the student would experience emotions similar to the character. Lastly, the student will apply the characters’ experience to their own life through the help of the teacher. I personally used the book The Sneetches by Dr. Seuss to encourage students to embrace differences and equity.

Abstract
This paper explores how the use of manipulatives during play fosters the development of both gross and fine motor skills. As children engage in play, they naturally refine these abilities by incorporating essential motor movements while exploring manipulatives and interacting with peers. In this context, manipulatives refer to tangible objects that facilitate learning, such as play-dough, Magna-Tiles, puzzles, and blocks. Engaging with these materials strengthens fine motor skills as children bend and move their fingers with precision, while gross motor skills develop through larger movements, such as lifting and arranging blocks. Beyond motor development, the use of manipulatives cultivates independence and initiative in play. Furthermore, intentional play with these materials not only enhances motor skills but also contributes to social, cognitive, and emotional growth, making it a vital component of early childhood development.
Keywords: Manipulatives, play, development

This presentation will focus on mangroves, tropical trees and shrubs that create diverse ecosystems that protect the shoreline from rough weather. These trees are unique not only because of the way that they look, but also because of how versatile they are. Being used as nurseries for young species of crabs, fish, and birds, they allow for many species to flourish. They also are powerful filters and carbon storers, ridding the water around them of harmful or harsh sediments and storing carbon within them to help battle the climate crisis. Mangroves are so important in fact, that MSUM’s Oceanarium has an exhibit dedicated to them and how they help to improve our world.

   Algal blooms are a growing phenomenon that, while beneficial in some circumstances, have many harmful effects on the environment. While a generally natural occurrence, the number of cases has drastically increased in recency due to human influence. This presentation explores the many facets of algal bloom: its development, its impact on multiple ecosystems, and humanity's contribution to its spread (i.e. pollution, changes to both land and water, climate change, etc.) An in-depth analysis will be conducted on pre-existing research, including occurrence rates and documented cases of environmental damage/wildlife poisoning. With this knowledge gathered, potential preventative measures and treatments will be discussed. It is important that this relationship is recognized and action is taken to prevent further growth, as this issue has larger worldwide consequences than most realize.

This experiment uses an Echocardiogram amplifier and a Tektronix TDS 1012C-EDU Digital Oscilloscope to measure the dipole moment of the heart. The voltage of the heart was taken across the arms of the body and vertically from the legs to the arms. The individual components of the dipole moment of the heart were calculated from voltages reported from the EKG. The typical value of the dipole moment of the heart is on the magnitude of 10^−12???? and
the direction is θ=±30°. The value measured in this experiment was |???| = (1.7 ± 0.6) × 10^−13???? and the angle was ?? = −32.7°. The magnitude of the dipole moment was an order of magnitude off from the expected value.

The COVID-19 coronavirus spread across the world in late 2019/early 2020, posing a severe threat of death to those that are immunocompromised, elderly, or young. It was also extremely contagious leading it to spread through areas of high population density quickly, due to it producing respiratory distress that involved coughing and/or sneezing that spread the highly communicable virus. We will explore the  connection between population density and the amount of deaths that occur due to COVID-19, proportionally. We used "Provisional COVID-19 death counts" produced by the NCHS. We compared the amount of COVID-19 related deaths across America, split into 10 regions with varying population density means.We displayed the data in different visual representations to portray the magnitude of the difference. The results of this exploratory data analysis could hold some info as to why and where COVID-19 hits the hardest in America. The data could help policy makers understand what states or regions are most vaulnerable to the spread of disease to help with future decision making in similar circumstances.

Our proposed topic is how the migratory patterns of Mallard ducks have changed over recent years.  We plan to focus on the amount of alteration in migratory patterns as well as whether these changes seem to be consistent or vary from season to season.  How climate change and land use affect these patterns will also be addressed.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that is characterized by challenges in communication and social interaction, along with the presence of repetitive and restrictive behaviors (APA, 2013). According to Flusberg & Kasari (2013), approximately 30% of individuals with ASD use minimal verbal language even after years of language-based interventions. As a result, individuals with ASD may use augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) to replace or supplement their speech and language skills. Although AAC can facilitate communication and increase the quality of life for these individuals, learning how to use it can be compared to learning a new language. Aided language input is a common intervention strategy used to teach individuals how to use their AAC systems. Aided language input involves a communication partner simultaneously modeling language and selecting messages on an AAC tool (O’Neill et al., 2018). This poster will focus on the critical examination of the efficacy of aided language input as an intervention strategy for individuals with ASD who use AAC.

Vaccine hesitancy remains a public health challenge, particularly among immigrant and ethnic minority communities. Factors such as historical distrust, misinformation, and language barriers contribute to skepticism. This research proposal discusses whether culturally relevant messaging can improve vaccine acceptance. We hypothesize that participants exposed to culturally tailored vaccine videos will show greater willingness to be vaccinated than those viewing generic vaccine videos. Using an experimental design, two groups will be compared: one viewing culturally relevant vaccine content and another viewing a generic vaccine video. Data will be collected via Likert scale surveys measuring vaccine willingness. Findings could inform public health strategies to improve vaccine uptake among marginalized communities. 

The teaching profession plays a crucial role in shaping the future and contributing to a robust society. The mental health of educators is increasingly recognized as a critical factor influencing academic performance and educational environments. This abstract delves into the significance of mental health support in educational settings, highlighting the challenges, stigmas, and barriers schools encounter in providing adequate mental health services.  Educators frequently experience high stress levels, which can diminish job satisfaction, lead to burnout, and create negative work experiences. Persistent stress and burnout can further lead to anxiety and depression among teachers. Addressing these issues is essential for creating a supportive and effective educational environment. Potential solutions include the implementation of training on stress reeducation and resilience, providing mental health resources, fostering supportive school environments, ensuring reasonable workloads, establishing educator support systems, and strengthening professional boundaries. 

The present research presentation aims to, first, provide information on the topic of Ojibwe star systems and constellations that is integral to the presentation of the collected research images of the sky in and around Moorhead, second, present photos of the night sky taken in Moorhead, and third, relate the information on Ojibwe star systems to the images collected to correlate the constellations and star maps of the Ojibwe to the night sky in Moorhead. The original collected research portion of this presentation includes photographs of the night sky in Moorhead, photographs were taken on and off the MSUM campus. Photos were taken both by an iPhone 14 camera and a digital handheld camcorder camera, all taken after sunset. The background information is from Native American authors on various websites (that will be cited) and the information will be presented in a concise and thorough manner, to then be easily connected to the night sky images.

The goal of this data analysis is to assess the impacts of ethanol sclerotherapy on IVF participants who have previously been diagnosed with endometriosis. Endometriosis is a chronic disease caused by the development of uterine tissue outside of the uterus. Symptoms caused by endometriosis can include painful and/or heavy menstruation, pain during or after sexual intercourse and infertility. In our exploratory data analysis, we will be using data from Miquel et al. (2020) and focus on how sclerotherapy affects pregnancy loss, implantation rate, and how the diameter decreases with their uterus. In this data analysis Miquel et al. has two groups, both containing thirty-seven participants, who have previously been diagnosed with moderate to severe endometriosis. Each participant is divided into a control group and a treatment group. The participants are given 67 and 69 cycles of preformed IVF, and the data is collected on the live birth rates. In the treatment group, they perform the ethanol sclerotherapy prior to undergoing the IVF process and record the data. Further experiments might be needed to confirm the efficacy of this treatment, but there is a positive association observed in the study between ethanol sclerotherapy and IVF success rates in patients with endometriosis. This can be beneficial to further obstetric care for patients with endometriosis and help to further the research on ethanol sclerotherapy.

Within our presentation we will be addressing the benefits of a social media campaign and providing examples of times where it has proven to be successful. Faculty introduced us and had us create a social media campaign. Within her class we realized the perks of having a well thought out campaign. These perks include increased brand awareness, better targeting and personalization, improved customer engagement, building trust and credibility, and access to influencers. During our presentation we will be talking about businesses like Spotify, Bombas, and Patagonia where a social media campaign has proven to be successful. 

Using gamification in learning has been proven to enhance motivation levels and engagement. My project, a gamified study planner, implements gamification and artificial intelligence to create an interactive and personalized user studying experience. Inspired by other gamified learning applications, such as Duolingo, a language-learning application, this project is meant to reshape how learners traditionally study. Its key features include progress tracking, goal setting, quizzes, and personalized learning paths, all of which are designed to engage users. The back end is built with Django, a framework used to design web applications in Python, whereas the front end is built using React, a JavaScript framework to create user interfaces. Then, PostgreSQL, a database management system, is used to store users’ study plans and progress. Overall, this study planner application aims to provide an engaging environment for learners and improve learning outcomes by combining gamification methods with AI-enhanced user personalization.

The Civil War was the only time in American history where states seceded from the Union. The “Great American Experiment” had seemingly failed. Many people believe President Lincoln led the unified Union to an improbable victory against the Confederate traitors; however, the Civil War was more divided than only two sides. Many different factions emerged during the chaos of the Civil War, furthering dividing the nation. In the Midwest states such as Wisconsin, Illinois, and Iowa, a group called the Copperheads were vocal opponents to war. The Copperheads were made up of people from many different geographic, economic, and ethnic backgrounds. When Lincoln discovered the Copperheads and heard of their dissention, they were arrested and either exiled or imprisoned. After ordering the arrest of key Copperhead leaders, the Supreme Court ruled unanimously that the first amendment rights of the Copperheads were violated by President Lincoln. This study will analyze the Constitutional repercussions of Lincoln’s order as well as investigate why people living predominantly in the Midwest decided to side with the rebels.

College life can be challenging and stressful due to pressures from academic, social, and personal responsibilities, which can lead to mental health struggles. Developing healthy coping strategies is essential for students to maintain their well-being and succeed academically. This project explores various coping mechanisms, including time management, mindfulness, physical activity, social support, and professional counseling. We will discuss different strategies that students can utilize to promote healthy coping habits. Emphasizing self-care practices, resilience-building techniques, and stress reduction strategies, this study highlights the importance of fostering a balanced lifestyle. By implementing effective coping skills, college students can enhance their mental health, academic performance, and overall quality of life. In order to prevent issues from spiraling into more serious mental health crises it is important to address healthy coping mechanisms. Understanding how to effectively and healthily handle stress is an essential skill for college students. Our campus at MSUM offers free mental health services and counseling. Evidence supporting our claims will be presented during the presentation.

   Invertebrate pollinators play a crucial role in maintaining ecosystem balance and supporting agricultural productivity. Local pollinator species include bees, moths, butterflies, and numerous bird species. Unfortunately, many pollinator species are in decline, posing a significant risk to entire ecosystems. Traditional methods of monitoring pollinators are labor-intensive, often damaging to small insects, and constrained by short activity windows and morphological similarities across species. This project proposes using DNA metabarcoding to supplement traditional field identification methods. By isolating DNA from flower surfaces, we can identify insect visitors based on the trace DNA they leave behind. This method promises to enhance pollinator monitoring efforts and contribute to the conservation of threatened species by providing a non-invasive, accurate, and scalable approach. The ultimate goal of this research is not only to successfully identify numerous pollinator species through their DNA but also to develop a reliable and refined DNA extraction protocol. This protocol could be implemented by federal environmental agencies and inform future conservation strategies, offering a transformative tool for protecting pollinator biodiversity and the ecosystems they sustain. 

Environmental chemicals, such as halogenated compounds, microplastics, veterinary drugs, and pesticides, are increasingly recognized for their persistence in the environment and potential for bioaccumulation in the food chain. These "forever chemicals" (PFAS) are of particular concern due to their stability and resistance to biodegradation, which leads to long-term environmental contamination. This research aims to investigate the pathways through which these chemicals enter agricultural systems—via soil, water runoff, and airborne particles—and their accumulation in plants, animals, and eventually humans. Using established methods such as LC-MS/MS, soil contamination, water runoff, plant uptake, and animal bioaccumulation will be assessed across agricultural sites. The study will also explore the transfer of these chemicals from livestock to human food products. By quantifying the distribution, absorption, and bioaccumulation of these chemicals, this research will provide valuable insights into their potential risks to human health and food safety, offering a foundation for future regulatory and mitigation strategies.

Costa Rica is renowned for its commitment to conservation, with a diverse network of protected areas designed to balance ecological preservation and human activity. This study compares human disturbances in two types of protected areas: national parks and private reserves. National parks, managed by the government, often experience higher visitor traffic, infrastructure development, and enforcement variability, while private reserves may implement stricter conservation measures with more controlled access. By comparing factors such as habitat degradation, wildlife disturbance, and resource extraction, this study evaluates the effectiveness of each system in mitigating human impact. Preliminary findings suggest that while national parks provide broader public access and large-scale conservation, private reserves may offer more stringent protection with localized management strategies. Understanding these differences is crucial for improving conservation policies and ensuring long-term sustainability in Costa Rica’s biodiverse landscapes. 

On, September 16th, 1922, The Northwestern Bulletin in the Twin Cities sounded the alarm, “Believe it or not, they’re here!” The second iteration of the Ku Klux Klan in the United States emerged as a reactionary movement to the various social crises and the fast-moving culture of the 1920s. The Klan impacted every state with varying degrees of success, whether it be Oregon, Indiana, Oklahoma, Florida, or New York. However, public knowledge of the Minnesotan experience regarding the Ku Klux Klan is nearly all-forgotten and often erased. Drawing from newspapers, oral histories, state records, Klan documents, and personal correspondence. This study will examine why the Klan was able to resonate with so many Minnesotans, addressing both what the Klan did and its lasting impact on the state. How did they resonate with Minnesotans, where was the Klan the strongest, who were they against, and who opposed them? The ultimate goal of this study is to spread awareness about a past that is being erased and although the Klan was unsuccessful in its goals. The North Star Klan, even in its smallest chapters, impacted every Minnesotan and left behind a legacy that many wish to forget.

Moorhead State College, MSC, now Minnesota State University Moorhead, launched Project E-Quality in the fall of 1968. The assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr. awakened MSC to the civil rights movement and to the racial inequalities that existed in the nation.
 
The project's mission rested on the belief that MSC had a “responsibility to make an effort to bring minority students here.”  Minority student recruitment focused on African Americans, American Indians, and Chicanos. African Americans comprised most of the students recruited, primarily from the urban areas of the Midwest and the South. MSC did not make a concerted effort to recruit American Indians; those who enrolled through Project E-Quality were from the nearby Indian Reservation and self-recruited. Chicano students were migrant farmworkers from Texas, recruited while working in the sugar beet fields in the surrounding area.
 
This research documents the history of this project through primary sources, oral history interviews, and photographs of the program participants. Limited research has been conducted on Project E-Quality. A critical aspect of this research will be addressing the historical gap by including the voices of American Indian and Chicano participants while also amplifying the experiences of African American students.

This study investigated the use of a social skills intervention to increase positive behaviors of students with emotional or behavioral disorders. A small group of two fifth-grade students in a rural Midwest school received the social skills curriculum Be Good People for eight weeks. Progress was monitored through student self-reported and teacher-reported direct behavior ratings on the behaviors of respectful interactions, following directions, and showing self-control. Results indicated an increase in positive behavior for one student, and variable behavior ratings for the other.

The Formula One season has around 24 races including the Las Vegas Grand Prix, Monaco Grand Prix, Miami Grand Prix, and more. The sport is not widespread entertainment in the United States but has recently increased in popularity and viewership. Brands and Companies have started to sponsor these teams and racing drivers, leading to the increased popularity of Formula One in the United States. The Las Vegas Grand Prix began in 2023, which is a night race on the Las Vegas Strip.

We studied the Tweets surrounding the LVGP, November 1-30, 2024. This research examines the graph metrics provided by NodeXL Pro for this event, including definitions and implications for future organizations considering sponsorship of a racing event.

The graph represents a network of 470 Twitter users whose recent tweets contained "#LasVegasGP", or who were replied to, mentioned, retweeted or quoted in those tweets, taken from a data set limited to a maximum of 500 tweets, tweeted between 11/1/2024 12:00:00 AM and 11/30/2024 11:59:00 PM.  The network was obtained from Twitter on Saturday, 08 March 2025 at 21:45 UTC.

This poster examines the challenges faced by speech-language pathologists (SLPs) in distinguishing between language differences and disorders in bilingual school-age children. With an increasing number of bilingual learners, SLPs must navigate issues such as misdiagnosis caused by English-based assessments and the lack of standardized tools for bilingual populations. Emphasis is given to the importance of culturally responsive practices and the use of both formal assessments, like the Diagnostic Evaluation of Language Variation (DELV), and informal methods like dynamic assessment to ensure accurate diagnoses. It also describes the need for further research to improve assessment tools and training for SLPs to better serve bilingual children’s language needs.

Percolation describes the phenomenon where the number of channels that enable transportation in a network change randomly. The percolation threshold is the point where the number of channels of transportation decreases enough so that flow is no longer possible. This can be applied to systems in physics, medicine, public transport, and more. Percolation is useful to model connectivity of ionic pathways. Resistance measurements can be used to determine the percolation threshold of various materials. When the percolation threshold is crossed, there is a significant decrease in conductivity since the current has no channels to flow through, this causes the resistance to increase to infinity. This study attempts to find a new simple way for percolation theory to be modeled in an undergraduate lab with a simple experiment and compare the percolation threshold found to the known theoretical value. 

The experiment involves a short PVC pipe with strips of metal on either end, with a negative electrode on one side and positive electrode on the other to be connected to a digital multimeter (DMM). The pipe is filled with different concentrations of conducting and nonconducting spheres of the same size. The concentration of the conducting spheres is slowly decreased until the DMM is unable to measure the resistance as it goes to infinity. One side of the metal is permanently secured to the PVC pipe, where the other side is cut to match the dimensions of the inside of the cylindrical pipe so that it can be easily removed and secured as the concentration of spheres is changed throughout the experiment. The concentration is measured compared to the volume of conducting spheres divided by the total volume of the cylindrical PVC pipe. These measurements reveal the percolation threshold of the mixture. 

Individuals who rely on augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) face significant barriers to obtaining and maintaining employment, despite the well-documented personal and societal benefits of workforce participation. This presentation explores the current state of employment for adult users of AAC, identifying key barriers and facilitators for successful employment of this population. The role of speech-language pathologists (SLPs) in supporting users of AAC in employment settings is discussed, emphasizing the need for workplace-specific AAC interventions and ongoing professional support. Additional recommendations are made for future research to better understand and address employment disparities faced by those who use AAC.

Background.
Access control systems play a central role in securing physical spaces, where secured areas are accessed only by authorized individuals. As security threats increase and the need for robust authentication rises, the integration of advanced smart card readers and network controllers has become essential. Johnson Controls' RDR8S Smart Card Reader and iSTAR Ultra G2 Controller offer cyber-hardened, scalable access control solutions, designed to enhance security, compliance, and operational efficiency.

Research Question/Purpose
This study examines the efficiency of RDR8S and iSTAR Ultra G2 in door authentication security. In particular, it looks at how these products facilitate multi-level access control, encryption, and real-time monitoring, thereby breaking the constraints of traditional authentication methods.

Methods
The research involves a technical review of system configurations, security protocols, and their deployment on test setups. Data is collected from the documentation of manufacturers, whitepapers, integration manuals, and case studies in the industry to compare the performance, reliability, and scalability of these authentication devices.

Findings

Preliminary results show that the support provided by the iSTAR Ultra G2 for up to 32 readers paired with RDR8S's smart card encryption and multi-factor authentication support significantly elevates door access security. Its trusted execution environment (TEE) and secure boot also shield against cyber attacks, thereby meeting compliance with security standards such as NIST and ISO 27001. Conclusion and Significance This research illustrates how RDR8S and iSTAR Ultra G2 work together to enhance access control via a scalable, encrypted, and cyber-secure authentication system. These findings have important implications for organizations that are seeking to update facility security, discourage unauthorized facility access, and incorporate contemporary authentication technologies within the security system. Future recommendations are to conduct further testing using biometric integrations and apply AI-based anomaly detection to facilitate adaptive security management.

The primary cause of dental caries (cavities) is oral bacteria, such as Streptococcus mutans, that are difficult to remove because they form a protective barrier called a biofilm that helps them stay attached to teeth. Bacteriophages generally are found everywhere that we find bacteria, but they are highly specific to host species. This specificity makes them desirable for potential treatment options, because a bacteriophage may be able to eliminate its bacterial host but leabe other beneficial bacterial species intact. The presence of their host species means we must search for bacteriohages in the environment of their host; in this case that is the human mouth. This research is aimed at discovering a novel S. mutans bacteriophage from saliva samples and to evalute how effective it performs against biofilm. This will be done by using sterile phage techniques to discover, isolate, purify, and amplify the phage. The phage will then be tested against biofilm using crystal violet staining. These discoveries can help advance the oral care field with more knowledge of how phages can help with oral care.

Syttende Mai is a Norwegian holiday that translates to the 17th of May, and it marks the signing of the Norwegian constitution in 1814. The holiday is a major symbol of national pride and independence in Norway. Interestingly, massive waves of emigration from Norway in the 19th and 20th centuries carried Syttende Mai to the United States as well, where the tradition took root among Norwegian immigrant communities and their descendants. This presentation examines how Syttende Mai celebrations in the United States have changed from the 20th century to the modern day and considers why these changes took place. Research was collected from newspaper archives, modern Syttende Mai celebrations, and publications regarding the holiday throughout the past century. Syttende Mai celebrations in the United States are a unique expression of Norwegian pride and heritage for many Americans. Learning about these cultural celebrations provides valuable insight into the themes of assimilation, culture, and ethnic identity for Norwegian Americans throughout the previous century. 

Since 2007, electricity supplied by South Africa’s primary firm, Eskom, has not kept pace with the country's growing demand for electricity. In this environment, households and businesses experience scheduled power outages known as loadshedding. Prior literature estimates the cumulative economic loss of loadshedding at R35 billion ($1.8 billion) for years 2007 to 2019. This research updates these estimates by calculating the economic costs incurred by the South African economy due to loadshedding from April 2020 to December 2024. An understanding of the impacts of loadshedding on households, businesses, and the South African economy positions stakeholders to realign energy policies with the nation's economic development goals.

Ocean literacy among the public is generally low, especially for inland populations. In this presentation we report ocean literacy of youth aged 9-14 located in the center of North America, before and after a 4-day camp program on ocean literacy hosted at the Minnesota State University Moorhead Oceanarium. This project was initiated in 2023 and continued through the summer of 2024. This past summer’s process consisted of building a new curriculum focused around the seven principles, writing a 25 question survey to monitor initial and final knowledge, and applying three different question techniques (rote memorization, synthesis, and real world applications). Our goal was to enhance youth ocean-based education and change the youth’s attitude and their behaviours for the future of our oceans. The resulting data shows an 23.6% overall increase in knowledge, a surprisingly high pre-knowledge, and details of how different ages learn about this subject. It indicates the importance of making Ocean Literacy teachings age specific and shows the effectiveness of offering hands-on learning about the ocean environment.

Making the bed every morning can be a tiring task, but this project introduces a robot that does it for you. This robot is designed to neatly place bed sheets and pillows on the bed, making it both useful and time-saving. It is very quiet, so it won’t disturb anyone, and it has safety features to prevent accidents. This presentation will explain how the robot works, why it is helpful, and how it could make daily life easier, especially for people with busy schedules or limited mobility.

Breast cancer is a type of cancer that begins as an abnormal growth of cells in the breast. Although the disease is most common in women it can also occur in men. Breast cancer risk increases with age and other factors such as genetics and hormonal influence. We will explore the relationship between percent necrosis (cell death) and age of diagnosis using an exploratory data analysis. Our data set is the TCIA collection accessed through the Biobank Pathology Portal hosted by the Cancer Imaging Archive. The results of our study could help determine how quickly or aggressively breast cancer is growing as well as identify the age at which individuals may face a greater risk of higher percent necrosis.

As digital privacy continuously erodes, a demand arises for a voice assistant as capable as Alexa or Google Assistant that never needs to communicate any data to a corporate network. We have developed a fully offline voice assistant that runs on affordable, consumer-level hardware within the user's home. By fine tuning an instruction-based large language model (LLM), this voice assistant can control smart devices, answer questions, and can be expanded to carry out nearly any task currently possible by modern voice assistants.

This study explores the perspectives of preservice teacher candidates on the topics in education they perceive as the most important and urgent as they prepare for their first year of teaching. Utilizing quantitative methodology, the study aims to identify and prioritize educational topics preservice teacher candidates believe are critical to their professional development. Participants are asked to rate the topics based on two criteria: urgency and importance. Each topic is rated on a scale from 0 to 5, where 0 indicates unfamiliar with the topic, 1 indicates low urgency or importance, and 5 indicates high urgency or importance. The findings will provide insight into the current priorities and the concerns of future teachers, informing the teacher education program about areas that require immediate attention and resources. This study aims to enhance the relevance and effectiveness of teacher education programs to ensure teacher readiness during their first year in the profession.

The emergence of student-led activism in the 1960s introduces paradoxical philosophies and ideologies. Driven by the presence of individuals such as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X, the ideological landscape of the Civil Rights Era in America during the 1950s and 1960s is ostensibly halved. Dr. King is the outspoken embodiment of radical nonviolence – a method of civil disobedience to create or force social reform. Contrarily, Malcolm X embodies a radically aggressive proposition often labeled as violent – otherwise known by the popularized amorphism “by any means necessary.” Students, intending to extricate themselves from the confines of Dr. King’s and Malcolm X’s respective rhetorics, began taking matters into their own hands. The Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) initially materialized from Dr. King’s methodology but, within years, found the sentiment inadequate. Similarly, the Black Panther Party and Malcolm X’s bellicose approach reciprocally intertwine. However, both organizations are inextricably rooted in the foundations of the two immense figures’ philosophies and are furthermore invariably interlocked with each other. This examination of the SNCC and the Black Panther Party explores the relationship between the two, confronts the evolution of violence out of nonviolence, and seeks to understand why the inevitable shift was indeed inevitable.

Immunizations is the process of giving a vaccine to a person to protect them from diseases. They work by stimulating the body’s immune system to build protection against disease. Covid-19 is a contagious disease caused by the coronavirus. We will explore the immunization rates of the flu and pneumonia before and after Covid-19. Four data sets will be used from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System on the CDC website to compare immunization records in the United States. In this exploratory data analysis project, we will investigate how Covid-19 affects the rates of immunizations of the flu and pneumonia. We will compare the regional rates of the specific immunizations of pre and post Covid-19. The results in this project can play a role in understanding how a severe disease impacts how individuals take precautions regarding their health through immunizations.

The Hawaiian star lines are an important aspect of Hawaiian culture, mythology, and astronomy. Come join me as we discover the stories of these beautiful constellations that are so important to the Hawaiian people. Through this experience you will learn how to find these constellations and the stories behind them. You will walk away with some amazing stories, and you will be able to brag a little bit about your stargazing abilities. 

This project builds on prior work done determining the primary and Blazhko periods of the RR Lyrae star EY UMa. This year, data from the Catalina Real-Time Transient Survey (CRTS), NASA’s Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS), and the All-Sky Automated Survey for Supernovae (ASAS-SN) were analyzed to compare sky survey and satellite results with observations at the Paul P. Feder Observatory. The current estimate for the primary period of this star is 0.54906 ± 0.000023 days. With the aid of sky surveys, the current estimate for the Blazhko period was found to be 94.2 days. There is evidence that this star is experiencing phase modulation along with the amplitude modulation studied thus far, though more analysis is needed to determine its period.  

Ensuring the safety of animal-derived foods is an essential objective for public health. The presence of environmental chemicals, including halogenated compounds, microplastics/nanoplastics, veterinary drugs, pesticides, and herbicides, raises concerns about their impact on food safety and quality. These contaminants can enter animal systems through various pathways, such as agricultural practices, industrial discharges, and contaminated feed and water. Once ingested or absorbed, these chemicals may be metabolized, bioaccumulated, or excreted, affecting the safety of animal-derived foods consumed by humans. Despite the substantial body of research examining the presence of these chemicals in food systems, significant knowledge gaps remain concerning their behavior, metabolism, and ultimate fate within animal-derived foods. We aim to investigate the fate of environmental chemicals within animal-derived foods through a comprehensive experimental approach. The study focuses on understanding chemical accumulation, metabolic pathways, bioaccumulation, and persistence across different animal tissues. Controlled laboratory exposure studies will be conducted using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), mass spectrometry (MS), gas chromatography (GC), and other analytical techniques. Also, metabolic degradation will be assessed via in-vitro and in-vivo models. The findings will be integrated with existing literature to develop predictive models for chemical fate in animal derived foods. These will contribute to enhanced food safety regulations, mitigation strategies, and recommendations for monitoring and control measures. Understanding the ultimate fate of these environmental chemicals will be crucial for establishing effective guidelines to protect public health and ensure the safety of animal-derived foods.

Diabetes is a chronic disease that affects the body's ability to regulate blood sugar (glucose). They are two types of diabetes, type I (insulin resistant) and type II (insulin dependent). Both types affect the quality of life of these individuals because they need constant blood sugar level check, proper nutrition, and exercise. Diabetes continues to be a growing public health concern, with its prevalence rising across various geographic regions. Risk factors of type II diabetes include being overweight or obese, physical inactivity, family history, and age. A balance diet is a crucial element to help these individuals with living with diabetes, factors such as food insecurity limit the ability of proper healthy eating due to the lack of food access. We will use the County Health Rankings & Roadmaps produced by the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute. We plan to explore the relationship between diabetes prevalence, adult obesity, and food insecurity across Minnesota counties in 2024.

This senior project investigates methods for forecasting crime statistics using historical data from the State of North Dakota compiled in a dataset. Multiple forecasting techniques, including classical time series models (ARIMA and Prophet), ensemble machine learning (Random Forest), and deep learning via Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) networks, were implemented and compared to determine their effectiveness in predicting crime rates. The study emphasizes a rigorous experimental approach where models are evaluated based on their predictive accuracy using established error metrics. While each method has its strengths, the deep learning approach demonstrated superior performance, suggesting that LSTM networks are particularly well-suited to capturing the complex temporal patterns inherent in crime data. These findings provide a foundation for developing robust predictive tools that can support proactive law enforcement and enhance public safety.

            Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) has significantly improved how individuals with complex communication needs express their thoughts, wants, and needs. However, traditional AAC layouts are typically designed for analytical language processors (ALP). It often does not fully support individuals who acquire language through alternative processes, such as gestalt language processing (GLP). GLP is a form of language acquisition in which individuals learn language in chunks or scripts rather than individual words, a process commonly observed in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This poster presentation explores the co-occurrence of GLP for AAC users and highlights the challenges individuals who process language through gestalts face. Through an in-depth analysis of the current literature and theoretical frameworks, this paper emphasizes the need for individualized AAC customization, multimodal communication support, and naturalistic intervention approaches to promote functional and meaningful language development.

Improving the Drug Antipyrine:  Synthesis of N2-Aryl Analogs  
Evan Lubken, Craig Jasperse 
Antipyrine, a 5-membered heterocyclic ring including two nitrogens and a carbonyl, has been identified by colleagues at Mayo as an early-stage drug candidate for treatment of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF).  Our group is synthesizing analogs of antipyrine to better understand and optimize the spatial and polarity dimensions of the drug for improved IPF treatment. 
Previous work has prepared pyrazolidinone rings with various N2-aryl groups.  I have now worked out a novel 3-step one-vial procedure in which the C4-C5 single bonds in pyrazolidinone rings can be converted to C=C double bonds as found in antipyrine.   
The procedure involves C4-deprotonation by the strong base LDA under anhydrous, air-free conditions in THF solvent.  The resulting enolate anion is then treated with trimethylsilyl chloride.  The resulting silyl enol ether is then treated with molecular iodine.  The resulting C4-iodide then undergoes spontaneous elimination to produce the desired C4=C5 double bond.  
Products were worked up with water and extracted using dichloromethane.  Products were then purified by “combiflash” chromatography.  Reactions and products were typically analyzed by GC-MS and NMR spectroscopy.   
I will present novel products, procedural details, and NMR and GC-MS structural characterization.  A hypothetical mechanism for the transformation will be presented.   
In these novel, never-before-reported analogs, the N2-phenyl of antipyrine is replaced by a variety of more complex aryl groups.  These vary in volume, and some contain nitrogen, oxygen, or fluorine atoms that could impact drug binding.  

On February 9, 1950, Senator Joseph McCarthy took the nation by storm when he declared at a speech in Wheeling, West Virginia that he possessed a secret list of 205 communists working in the State Department. Two days later, he sent a letter to President Truman claiming to have 57 names. What was the reason for this discrepancy? No such list existed and it had all been a lie. Nevertheless, a ruthless strain of anti-communism, quickly titled McCarthyism, permeated American politics and crafted an atmosphere of fear and paranoia which threatened to unravel the nation. With this context in mind, it is worth asking the question of how did dissenters against McCarthyism serve as a guardrail for institutional preservation? This question will be tackled through a variety of sources, including hearing transcripts, interviews, letters, media communications, speeches, and other formats. These materials will be utilized to determine whether the dissenters against McCarthy provided a viable alternative to the American public and, in so doing, blocked the most extreme effects of McCarthyism. The lessons and thoughts individuals can take away are that a strong enough dissent can counter an overzealous power, even if said power is bent on the dissenting group’s destruction. 

CRISPR/Cas9 is a revolutionary gene-editing technology that allows precise modifications to DNA sequences in various living organisms. While it holds a great potential for therapeutic applications, its use has sparked significant ethical concerns particularly regarding germline editing and unintended genetic alterations. This paper will explore the functionality of the CRISPR/Cas9 system and compare its delivery through viral and non-viral vectors. Viral vectors such as adeno-associated virus (AAV), lentivirus and adenovirus offer high efficiency but pose the risk of permanently altering the human genome raising safety and ethical challenges. In contrast, non-viral vectors such as lipid nanoparticles and electroporation provide alternative strategies that may mitigate these risks. By analyzing the advantages, limitations, and future directions of both delivery approaches, this paper aims to highlight how CRISPR/Cas9 can be optimized for safe and effective gene therapy. Additionally, an overview of CRISPR's mechanism and its reliance on guide RNA and the Cas9 enzyme for targeted DNA cleavage will be provided to contextualize these discussions.

Antipyrine, a 5-membered heterocyclic ring including two nitrogens and a carbonyl, has been identified by colleagues at Mayo as an early-stage drug candidate for treatment of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF).  Our group is synthesizing analogs of antipyrine to better understand and optimize the spatial and polarity dimensions of the drug for improved IPF treatment.   
Antipyrine has a small methyl group attached at the N1-position.  We will report studies for the preparation and purification of analogs in which the N1-methyl is replaced by a variety of amide carbonyl groups.  Ten novel compounds have been prepared and will be reported.  
We conducted addition reactions using commercially available edaravone and a variety of acyl chlorides.  In the typical procedure, a mixture of edaravone, dimethylaminopyridine (DMAP) catalyst, and triethylamine were mixed in anhydrous dichloromethane, and the acyl chloride was added last.    
After a series of experiments were conducted to optimize the workup procedure, product mixtures were worked up by addition of ether solvent followed by aqueous-acid extraction and silica chromatography.  The novel, previously unreported alcohol products were typically isolated and purified by digestion.  Reaction efficiencies and products were typically analyzed by GC-MS and/or NMR spectroscopy.   
We will present results for a series of aryl, alkyl, and alkenoyl acyl chlorides, and also one usage of an anhydride.  Optimization studies, procedural details, and NMR and GC-MS structural characterization will be presented.

The Earth's oceans are one of our biggest life sources, having a large impact on human and plant health. Microbial communities are important for supporting biodiverity in the oceans. Understanding how these things grow and what conditions they grow best in can help us have a better understanding of the relationship between the two. We aim to explore correlations between the quantity of fast-growing bacteria and the concentration of nutrients in the water? We expect to find that bacteria with slower growth rates will be favored in warmer temperatures, meaning that slower growing bacteria will be more prevalent towards the ocean's surface. We also expect that the mean-copy number (MCN) has a proportional relationship with latitude, with one inceasing with the other. Smaller MCN numbers are indicative of a smaller number of slow-growing bacteria,using our data from Abreu et al. (2023). We plan to analyze and compare different variables in our data to find correlations and possible causes for change in mean copy number. We will be performing an exploratory data analysis in order to determine if the concentration of nutrients has any influence on the MCN. Our findings from this analysis will help to determine the ideal conditions for fast-growing bacteria and where they would be most abundant.

Climate change has gradually become a concern and a challenge on a global scale with a numerous and wide range of risk for humans, animals, and trees. One major affected area of climate change is the nutritional quality of seafood, particularly coastal and developing regions because they are the most vulnerable to this issue. This project seeks to explore the impact of climate change on nutrients disparities in seafood. We will use data from Williams et al. (2021) to explore changes in available seafood-sourced nutrients including calcium, iron, omega-3 fatty acids and protein under climate change scenarios across multiple countries. Specifically, we will use climate projections from the SSP5 Shared Socioeconomic Pathway that emphasizes future fossil fuel development. Understanding this relationship between climate change and nutrition of sea food is essential for developing adaptive strategies to combat this problem and promote more sustainable methods for longevity.

Balancing college life with entrepreneurship presents unique challenges, particularly when building a high-end e-commerce brand. This research explores the strategies necessary to convert online traffic into paying customers, with a focus on emotional branding, website optimization, and social media storytelling. By analyzing consumer behavior, conducting marketing tests, and leveraging analytics, the research identifies key factors that influence purchasing decisions in the luxury market. Findings suggest that storytelling-driven marketing significantly enhances engagement and conversion rates by fostering emotional connections with potential customers. As a result, luxury e-commerce brands should prioritize high-quality content, authenticity, and an immersive brand experience to align with consumer aspirations. This research contributes to the fields of digital marketing and entrepreneurship, offering insights into how student-led businesses can thrive in competitive online spaces.

Cybersecurity threats pose significant risks to individuals and organizations, leading to data breaches, financial losses, and operational disruptions. This presentation explores key threats such as malware, phishing, DDoS attacks, insider threats, and zero-day exploits. It also discusses mitigation strategies, including network security measures, multi-factor authentication, encryption, and incident response planning. Through case studies of real-world cyber incidents, we highlight lessons learned and best practices to strengthen security defenses. The goal is to enhance awareness and promote proactive cybersecurity measures in an increasingly digital world.

The general direction of this research was to study eclipsing binary star systems. To start, stars to observe had to be chosen. There were several targeting tools that contained lists of objects and their corresponding information. This is sufficient for most types of variable stars; however, most tools do not consider whether an eclipse was observable on a particular night or at our location; they simply list where the stars are visible.

An open-source program was created in Python to calculate when an observer can observe an eclipse. Predictions were generated for the eclipsing binary stars listed in the Otero+ spreadsheet using period and eclipse duration pulled from the Variable Star Index (VSX). The spreadsheet and index are sourced from the American Association of Variable Star Observers (AAVSO). The program uses the observer location and observer-specified constraints on elevation and sky darkness to generate a list of upcoming full or partial transits observable from their location.

Several observations of object V2480 Cyg were taken with the Paul P. Feder Observatory using the times that were calculated from the program. The observed eclipse time was 1.73 hours past the prediction. This could be a result of either the period or the epoch reported in VSX being incorrect, or both. Other objects were observed to confirm that the program works correctly. Fortunately, there was Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) data from NASA that was used to compare the period times for V2480 Cyg. The periods between TESS and VSX agree only to the first three decimal places. Further study of this object is planned to discern the source of this discrepancy.

Differential Equations can be used to model real-life situations. An object put into a constant temperature environment will eventually shift to that temperature. This phenomenon can be modeled with Newton's Law of Cooling. Our object is a room-temperature soda can that will be put into a freezer. Assuming the temperature inside the freezer is constant, this model will apply.

Newton's Law of Cooling: dT(t)/dt = k[T(t) - E(t)], where E(t) is the environment temperature (assumed constant), T(t) is the temperature of the object, and k is the time constant.

The goal was to predict how long it would take to freeze the can (to prevent explosion). This project utilized two soda cans to keep a sealed container in the freezer during the experiment. Both soda cans start at room temperature and are put into the freezer at the same time. One soda can is opened after an hour and its temperature is measured. These two data points will be used to generate a solution to the differential equation. The second can is opened after two hours to test the accuracy of this model.

Entrepreneurship is a journey of learning, adaptation, and transformation. Roselta Cosmetics was born from my personal experiences with self-expression and the challenges of embracing bold, alternative makeup styles in an unsupportive environment. I created this brand to provide a safe and empowering space for makeup lovers to celebrate their individuality without fear of judgment. However, as I’ve grown as an entrepreneur, so has my vision.
This presentation explores the journey of Roselta Cosmetics, its transformation into StarSpire Cosmetics, and how the knowledge gained from ENTR 229 and Digital Marketing is shaping this evolution. ENTR 229 provided me with essential business and branding strategies, refining my marketing approach and long-term vision. Meanwhile, Minghan’s expertise in Digital Marketing has given us the tools to leverage digital influence effectively. Together, we are combining our skills to create collaborative marketing content, including two to three videos, to analyze their impact on website traffic, sales, and social media growth.
Through ENTR 229, I learned how to strengthen my brand identity, engage my audience more effectively, and refine my business model. The course helped me recognize the need for a complete brand renewal, leading to StarSpire Cosmetics—a brand that embraces a magical, celestial, and otherworldly aesthetic while staying true to its core values of self-expression and inclusivity.
This presentation highlights how entrepreneurship and digital marketing intersect to drive real-world business growth. StarSpire Cosmetics represents not just the evolution of my brand but also my personal growth as an entrepreneur, demonstrating the power of adaptation, collaboration, and strategic marketing.

Calcium and magnesium are critical trace elements that greatly impact the health of most living organisms, from animals and plants to microbes. A primary source of these elements is the bioavailable, or exchangeable, calcium and magnesium ions that come from soil. Although there are a variety of methods for testing calcium and magnesium, this study focuses on the extraction of these metals from environmental soil samples. An ammonium acetate buffer is used followed by quantification using Flame Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (FAAS) to assess wavelength absorption within the desired molecules. Initial studies have shown the method to be reliable, and continuing experiments will assess sample collection and storage variables to confirm the viability of this testing method for ongoing monitoring of environmental samples.

Former MSUM President Anne Blackhurst signed a Commitment to Sustainability in 2021 with a promise to move MSUM toward carbon-neutrality. To work toward this goal, we must understand campus recycling trends, and how we can improve post-consumer recycling at MSUM. Recycling plays an important role in the sustainability of manufactured materials, but between 17-25 percent of all recycling in the United States is improperly recycled. To ensure that materials are correctly recycled at MSUM, we are seeking to understand how cross contamination of trash negatively affects the output of recycling waste. To understand this, we conducted a waste audit in four steps: 1. collecting bags from recycling dumpsters around the MSUM campus, 2. weighing the bags, 3. sorting out the trash within the recycling bags, and 4. weighing the bags post-sorting.  We found that the average cross-contamination rate from trash into recycling was 9.4% across all recycling sites on campus. This rate suggests that general improvements to the MSUM recycling system can be made from concentrating on a three key points: combating wishful recycling, understanding and being mindful of recyclable materials, and properly preparing manufactured goods for recycling.  With the data collected in this study, the Sustainability Office plans to increase recycling education on campus, through repeated information and increased signage, and better communicate on what can and cannot be recycled on the MSUM campus. 

Fluency disorders, like stuttering, significantly affect children's communication beyond verbal speech, creating challenges that influence their interactions, including those with caregivers. Caregiver involvement is crucial in the speech and language development of children who stutter, requiring a supportive environment to foster effective communication. This poster presentation examines caregiver-centered interventions for childhood stuttering, explicitly focusing on the Lidcombe Program (Gebski et al., 2005 & Goodhue et al., 2010), Palin Parent-Child Intervention (Millard & Onslow, 2012), and the Family-Focused Therapy Approach (Yaruss et al., 2006). These approaches emphasize caregiver education, involvement in therapy, and implementing communication strategies at home. Each intervention exhibits varying degrees of success in reducing stuttering and improving confidence for both the child and the caregiver. This paper highlights the importance of individualized treatment plans tailored to the child's and caregiver's specific needs, ensuring positive long-term outcomes in managing stuttering. 

This literature review explores the effectiveness of video modeling in fostering workforce independence among adolescents with developmental disabilities. Employment is vital for financial, social, and emotional well-being, yet individuals with disabilities experience significantly lower employment rates. Video modeling, which utilizes recorded demonstrations to teach specific behaviors, helps individuals generalize skills across different environments. As secondary transition programs aim to equip adolescents with vocational skills, video modeling offers a flexible, cost-effective solution accessible through smartphones and tablets. This research delves into the various types of video modeling and provides valuable insights into which method is most effective for different tasks and the individual’s unique needs.

Of the currently 18 classified penguin species, sixty-one percent are endangered or vulnerable as reported by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Awareness and conversation efforts are needed to prevent the further degradation of penguin populations. This project aims to highlight some of those aspects, including mating rituals and courtship behaviors of different penguin species. Education on this topic will provide the public with a deeper understanding of the vital importance of these animals and their unique behaviors.

Axolotls, often referred to as "Mexican walking fish," are amphibians native to the Xochimilco waterway system near Mexico City. Unlike most amphibians, axolotls exhibit neoteny, meaning they retain their larval features into adulthood, such as gills and a finned tail. This, along with their regenerative abilities - capable of regenerating limbs, their spinal cord, heart, and other organs -makes them extremely valuable for scientific research. They have become critically endangered in their natural habitat due to urbanization, pollution, and invasive species. Axolotls have a diverse diet, primarily consisting of small aquatic animals, and can live up to 15 years in captivity. Their fascinating traits and adorable appearance have made them popular in the pet trade, while their cultural significance is deeply rooted in Aztec mythology. Conservation efforts are ongoing to protect this extraordinary species and their ecosystem.

This project was part of COMM 211 Group and Team Communication. Our assignment included doing some volunteering at the agency we were focusing on as well as completing a group presentation. My group learned that food scarcity is a big issue that we are facing in Fargo, North Dakota. Our project explored the causes and effects of food scarcity, how it affects our community, how the community is helping, and how we can help as individuals. It explores how the local food banks, specifically the Great Plains Food Bank, are contributing to our community. The findings reveal that we as a community are truly important in decreasing food scarcity in our own community. 

Atrazine is an herbicide, commonly used in pesticides on corn. It poses a major risk to respiratory health to those exposed for long periods of time, specifically those in agricultural settings with high environmental exposure. Surfactant protein-A (SP-A) is found in the alveolar lining of the lungs and aids in the immune response of the lungs. It is found in both lung epithelial cells, and the reproductive system. We plan to investigate the effects that atrazine has on surfactant protein-A expression in A549 cells (lung cancer epithelial cell line) as well as in the reproductive tissue of mice. By using an ELISA for our in vitro model, and a western blot analysis for our in vivo model, we expect to observe that atrazine will decrease the expression of surfactant protein-A, which could indicate a decline in the immune response of the lungs. Understanding what atrazine does to surfactant protein-A could expand on existing knowledge of atrazine’s effects on human cells and tissues and could potentially lead to governmental regulation regarding the use of atrazine.

The cost of living has increased at a higher rate than the average income of an individual. Childcare can be included in the cost of living and is necessary for many families as they need the dual income to keep up with expenses. We will be using data from the Kids Count data center including data on the average annual childcare costs and median family income. We plan to compare median family income with the annual cost of childcare for infants in Minnesota counties from 2002 to 2021. We expect that the median family income for many families has remained stagnant while the price of licensed family based childcare has increased. Our results could be used to further investigate the discrepancies between income changes and the pricing of childcare.

Prairie dogs (Genus Cynomys) are herbivorous social burrowing ground squirrels found in North American grasslands; they exhibit complex social structures centered around highly organized family groups called coteries. Population dynamics of Prairie dogs can be highly variable depending on environmental conditions, disease, and predation often having boom and bust cycles. Recently human development has put pressure on populations highlighting the need for conservation efforts. They have intricate communication networks and complex social group networks exhibiting intricate hierarchies and roles. Understanding their social structure is crucial for conservation efforts and ecosystem management, there is a need to balance competition and cooperation in maintaining stable prairie dog communities.  

Substance abuse trends evolve over time, influenced by factors such as drug availability, mental health, cultural shifts, and societal attitudes. This study aims to predict which substances are most likely to be abused in the future by analyzing historical data on these key influences. Using a data-driven approach, we incorporate trends from multiple sources, including youth perceptions of drug availability, mental health statistics, cultural indicators, and even social media to develop a predictive model. By identifying patterns and correlations, this research provides valuable insights for policymakers, educators, and public health officials to anticipate and address future substance abuse challenges proactively.

This project is about the importance of science centers in an early childhood setting. In constructivism, Piaget clearly states that learning comes from the active role of children’s understanding of the world around them. When interacting with science-based learning centers in preschool, children learn to ask questions to receive answers. According to Piaget’s theory, children who are not actively engaged in group work are less likely to develop vocabulary skills, critical thinking, and adequate social skills. In a science center, children learn to engage with one another and the world around them to learn and grow as individuals through approaches such as inquiry-based science. Inquiry-based science is “a teaching method that encourages students to explore scientific topics through hands-on activities and problem-solving.” 

Concerns related to climate change, the environment, and economic sustainability motivate interest in alternative energies. Nuclear energy is the most efficient and cost-effective alternative energy. Yet, consumers question the role of nuclear energy in diversified energy policy due to negative perceptions of its legitimacy and safety. Using a behavioral economics lens, this research evaluates nuclear energy's role in meeting growing U.S. energy demand. An analysis of energy market conditions that considers reliability, affordability, and environmental sustainability enables individuals to assess the broader implications of nuclear energy adoption within U.S. energy policy.

Major corporations started incorporating Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) into their 
business strategy in recent years, making DEI initiatives a focal point of corporate social 
responsibility (CSR) activities. However, an increasing number of businesses have started to 
reduce or stop their DEI initiatives entirely, including Target, McDonald's, Walmart, and Meta. 
This research investigates the cause and effects of this change, including the responses of many 
stakeholders and customers. In addition, we will investigate the wider ramifications for social 
responsibility and corporate governance.
We used Node XL to gather and examine social media data from Instagram and Twitter to gain 
an understanding of the public conversation surrounding DEI. The analysis reveals a polarized 
landscape: some groups, such as conservative influencers and business leaders, support the shift, 
arguing that corporations should remain neutral on social and political issues, while advocacy 
groups, minority-owned businesses, and civil rights groups criticize the rollback of DEI 
programs. Sentiment analysis reveals important issues, such as the economic impact of DEI 
projects, political influence, and business reputation.

Background
With the rapid advancement of technology, cybersecurity threats have become more sophisticated, making traditional security measures less effective. The increasing volume of data generated in digital environments makes it difficult to monitor and detect attacks in real time. As cyber threats evolve, there is a growing need for more advanced security solutions capable of identifying and mitigating threats proactively.

Research Purpose
This study explores the role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in threat detection and response, focusing on its ability to enhance cybersecurity by addressing the limitations of traditional security approaches. The research aims to analyze how AI-driven systems improve threat identification, automate responses, and reduce the impact of cyberattacks.

Methods
The study involves a comprehensive review of existing AI-based security models, including machine learning techniques, anomaly detection, and behavioral analysis. Case studies and real-world applications of AI in cybersecurity are examined to assess their effectiveness in detecting and mitigating cyber threats.

Findings
The research indicates that AI-driven threat detection significantly enhances cybersecurity by processing large datasets, identifying patterns, and detecting anomalies in real time. Machine learning models improve over time, allowing for adaptive security measures against evolving threats. Automated response systems reduce reaction time, minimizing damage from cyberattacks.

Conclusion
AI has emerged as a crucial tool in modern cybersecurity, offering a proactive approach to threat detection and response. Its ability to analyze vast amounts of data, detect anomalies, and automate security processes makes it superior to traditional security methods. Future research should focus on refining AI models to enhance accuracy, reduce false positives, and address ethical concerns related to AI-driven security solutions.

   College students need to eat healthy as it can directly impact their academics. Eating a healthy and balanced diet provides the body with the essential nutrients for everyday life. These essential nutrients include minerals, vitamins, carbohydrates, fiber, and much more. Maintaining a healthy balance of these nutrients will optimize your energy, better your mood, help you get better sleep, improve your immune system, and even help you live a longer life, avoiding chronic diseases. Having poor eating habits can lead to obesity, low energy levels/fatigue, poor immune function, increased risk of chronic diseases, decreased cognition, and mental health issues.

            College students face many barriers to eating a healthy, well-balanced diet. These barriers include a lack of time, a busy schedule, and a limited budget. However, it is crucial for their academic success. There are many healthy options on campus to help students achieve a balanced diet. This project aims to show college students how they can prioritize eating healthy during their college life. 

An exoplanet is a planet surrounding another star. Sometimes, these planets pass in front of another star, and we can see a dip in the light from the star. This is becuase the planet block a portion of the light. We report five observations of transits candidate exoplanets identified through the tool available to members of the TESS Follow-up Observers Program SG01. In three of the observations, we observed partial or full transits. In each case, we calculated relative flux of the exoplanet candidate using stellar plot and EXOTIC. Both were used to confirm that we had seen a transit and to check parameters of the transit for consistency. We reported one of the transits to the TESS project.

Stuttering is a very complex speech disorder that can affect normal communication and is impacted by emotional and physiological variables. Although fluency is the main focus of traditional speech therapy, research is beginning to emphasize the importance of emotional control in determining the severity of stuttering and the effectiveness of treatment. Interventions that are more comprehensive and successful may result from an understanding of this link. This poster presentation summarizes recent literature related to how emotional control affects children’s stuttering severity and the efficacy of therapy. Incorporating emotional regulation techniques may improve treatment results since elevated emotional reactions can intensify speech disfluencies. The interaction between conventional speech treatment methods and emotion management techniques, such as mindfulness exercises and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). The literature supports how crucial it is to include emotional regulation in children's stuttering treatment and using a holistic strategy to incorporate stuttering treatment, emotional management, and fluency shaping. 

Keywords: Stuttering, emotional regulation, speech therapy, neurophysiology, fluency shaping, stuttering modification, cognitive-behavioral therapy, mindfulness, communication confidence, therapy outcomes. 

Aspergillus fumigatus is an opportunistic airborne fungus that poses significant health risks, particularly to immunocompromised individuals and patients with preexisting conditions such as asthma. Despite its clinical relevance, the interplay between host sex, genetic background, and immune response to A. fumigatus exposure remains underexplored. This study investigated how collagen production, mucus production, and immune cell counts in the lung vary with sex and strain in BALB/cJ and C57BL/6J mice exposed to A. fumigatus.

Mice were challenged with airborne A. fumigatus spores weekly for three consecutive weeks. Histological analysis of lung tissue that were paraffin-embedded and sectioned at 5 µm was conducted to assess collagen and mucus production. Sirius Red/Fast Green and Periodic Acid Schiff was used for staining, images were analyzed and graded on a 3 point scale with higher numbers corresponding to a higher intensity of collagen. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) was performed to collect immune cells, and identified using morphometric differences.

Results show timepoint comparisons revealed significant increases in collagen deposition between naïve and day 3 BALB/cJ males, naïve and day 3 BALB/cJ females, naïve and day 3 C57BL/6J males, and day 3 and day 28 C57BL/6J females. Strain-based differences were also observed, with significant variation between naïve BALB/cJ and C57BL/6J males, day 3 BALB/cJ and C57BL/6J females, and day 28 BALB/cJ and C57BL/6J mice of both sexes. Granulocyte counts peaked at day 3 post-challenge and declined by day 28, with male C57BL/6J mice exhibiting significantly higher granulocyte numbers than male BALB/cJ mice. Sex-based differences in collagen production and immune cell counts were not significant across naïve and post-challenge groups, C57BL6/J male mice had elevated mucus production on day 3 post-challenge.

This study highlights that genetic background influences collagen deposition and the immune response to A. fumigatus infections, while sex-based differences were largely absent. These findings provide insights into fungal disease modeling and emphasize the importance of strain-specific considerations in therapeutic strategies.

    Costa Rica’s rich biodiversity and strong conservation efforts are threatened by invasive species, which outcompete native populations, disrupt ecosystems, and reduce biodiversity. These species arrive through accidental introduction, agriculture, and climate factors, affecting both ecological balance and economic stability. Some invasive species aggressively displace native plants, alter freshwater ecosystems, and threaten wildlife and national parks.

     Managing invasive species requires physical removal, biological control, and regulations, but these methods demand resources, coordination, and continuous monitoring. Climate change adds complexity by creating favorable conditions for certain species. This presentation will explore the ecological and economic impacts of invasive species in Costa Rica.

Small businesses and organizations often lack the resources to deploy enterprise-level Intrusion Detection and Prevention Systems (IDPS), leaving them vulnerable to cyberattacks. This project presents the design and implementation of a lightweight, AI-enhanced IDPS that integrates active defense mechanisms to autonomously respond to threats. The system incorporates Snort for signature-based detection, a machine learning module for anomaly detection, and an AI-driven alert prioritization system to reduce false positives and alert fatigue. Additionally, the IDPS includes real-time adaptive countermeasures, such as dynamic firewall rule adjustments, network segmentation, and decoy deployment to contain and neutralize threats. This implementation is tested in a simulated network environment with live attack traffic, demonstrating its effectiveness in detecting and mitigating cyber threats with minimal system overhead. This project aims to provide an intelligent, self-adaptive security solution for resource-constrained environments.

Antipyrine, a 5-membered heterocyclic ring including two nitrogens and a carbonyl, has been identified by colleagues at Mayo as an early-stage drug candidate for treatment of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF).  Our group is synthesizing analogs of antipyrine to better understand and optimize the spatial and polarity dimensions of the drug for improved IPF treatment.  
Antipyrine has a small hydrogen atom attached at the C4-position.  I will report studies for the preparation and purification of analogs in which the C4-hydrogen is replaced by a variety of hydroxyalkyl analogs.  Six novel compounds have been prepared and will be reported. 
Previous work had prepared 4-formylantipyrine.  We conducted addition reactions using in-situ prepared organomagnesium reagents.  In the typical procedure, a mixture of alkyl halide and magnesium were mixed in anhydrous diethyl ether, the magnesium was crushed, and the formylantipyrine was added.  
Product mixtures were worked up under aqueous-acid conditions, and organic products were extracted using dichloromethane.  The novel, previously unreported alcohol products were isolated and purified by either crystallization, digestion or by bulb-to-bulb distillation.  Reaction efficiencies and products were typically analyzed by GC-MS and/or NMR spectroscopy.  
I will present results for a series of 1º, 2º, 3º and aryl alkyl bromides, chlorides, and iodides.  Optimization studies, procedural details, and NMR structural characterization will be presented.  

Oral, mental and overall health have a relationship, and recent studies have been diving deeper into what impacts oral health has on a person's overall wellbeing. The question we aim to discover is how oral health impacts mental health in individuals under 18. In addition, we will also examine the correlation between oral health and being overweight/obese.  

We will be using data from the Kids Count Data Center from the Annie E. Casey Foundation; our data is based on the United States from 2016 to 2021. By exploratory data analysis, we will be looking at data sets stating the condition of the children's teeth and whether they have received preventive dental care. We will also look at data of children with one or more emotional, behavioral or developmental problems, children with anxiety or depression, and the overall health status of children.  

We expect to see a significant correlation between an individual's oral health, mental health, and systemic health in children under 18. This will contribute to a broader understanding of how oral health impacts children's mental and physical health and could therefore guide healthcare providers in creating a more integrated approach to pediatric healthcare to address all health needs or how different problems may be correlated.

The research literature has debated the link between natural resource riches and economic growth for decades. While some resource-rich countries have translated their natural endowments into sustained economic growth, others have experienced the “resource curse" in which abundant natural resources coincide with economic stagnation, weak institutions, and increased corruption instead of prosperity. This paper conducts a comparative literature review of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Singapore to explore these two nations' divergent economic growth outcomes relative to their natural resource endowments. The DRC, despite its vast mineral resources, faces persistent economic challenges, while Singapore, with limited natural resources, exhibits ongoing economic prosperity. By analyzing research published between 1970 and 2024, this paper identifies key factors (governance, institutional quality, diversification, and human capital development) that describe these nations' divergent economic growth trajectories. The findings underscore the importance of effective resource management and strategic economic policies in transforming resource wealth into sustainable economic growth.

Dolphins and whales are highly intelligent marine mammals that use social learning to pass on knowledge and behaviors within their groups. They learn foraging techniques, communication signals, and migration routes by observing and imitating others. For example, bottlenose dolphins teach their calves to use marine sponges as tools, while humpback whales pass down unique songs across generations. This ability to share and transmit behaviors creates distinct cultures within populations. Studying social learning in these animals provides insight into their intelligence, collaboration, and the evolution of their species

Speech- Language Pathologist’s (SLP) are educated and trained in the areas of prevention, identification of communication disorders and delays, assessment, intervention, and consultation with other education professionals (Ehren, 2007). Their role in the schools lies parallel to the outline of response to intervention (RTI), a program designed to address educational challenges before they become failures and have lasting impacts on a student’s education (Ehren & Whitmire, 2009). RTI can aid in addressing challenges in academic content areas as well as specific speech and/or language concerns prior a student’s qualification for special education services or their failure of understanding a crucial content area (Sanger et al., 2012). This poster will highlight the overlap between the RTI framework and the role of the SLP to aid in success for elementary aged students.

This project will examine the contemporary film production of the North American Indigenous Midwest cinema through the lens of the Fourth Cinema, which is a filmmaking approach prioritizing Indigenous perspectives, storytelling methods, and cultural traditions. Native Americans have been subject to misrepresentation and marginalization within the film industry, often finding their stories distorted or overlooked. The tribes of the Midwest, such as the Arikara, Ojibwe, or Lakota have resorted to unique ways to create their films for more culturally rooted, authentic, and accurate representations of their communities. Through a close reading, this project will center around works by J Carlos Peinado (Water Buster, 2016) and Mollianne Cameron (Lakota Girls, 2017), with an emphasis on Fourth Cinema, the portrayal of community representation, and the integration of authentic casting practices. To select and use a variety of films, looking at both narrative and documentary films is important. This study is critical to Indigenous Cinema because exploring this section of films can help filmmakers not only understand what makes them distinct from their Hollywood or Indie-American films but also learn how to produce something that remains true to the culture that is being represented. Further than that, diving into a culture can boost its influence and spread its message to reach people and enrich them with a different worldview.

Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS) is a motor speech disorder that impairs the ability to plan and coordinate speech movements, resulting in unintelligible speech (Strand, 2020). Children with CAS often make inconsistent errors, struggle with sound transitions, and have difficulty sequencing sounds and words. Early diagnosis and intensive, motor-based interventions are crucial for improving speech intelligibility. Dynamic Temporal and Tactile Cueing (DTTC) is one of the many integral stimulation treatment techniques used to help individuals with speech disorders, specifically CAS (Strand, 2020). The focus of this poster reviewed the efficacy of DTTC in enhancing motor speech skills and intelligibility in children with CAS.

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive, fatal disease characterized by lung remodeling. Antipyrine, a 5-membered pyrazolone ring substituted with two methyl groups and a phenyl group, has been identified as an early-stage alternative lead drug candidate for improved treatment of IPF by collaborators at the Mayo Clinic. Our research group is pursuing synthesis of a library of antipyrine-analogs for improved IPF treatment. The C4 group of antipyrine is replaced, through standard Grignard reaction followed by dehydration, by more complex alkene groups to alter the electronic characteristics and size of the attachment. Variations in attachment groups allow for potential differences in drug binding to improve antipyrine as an alternative for IPF treatment. GC-MS analysis shows alkene products ranging from 60-100% purity in comparison to starting products. Percent yields of several alkene products were obtained and shown to be more variable, ranging between 30-65%. The procedure used to prepare antipyrine analogs was successful in adding a vinyl group in five of the six attempted reactions. Each of the five successful products are novel molecules and will be tested by Mayo Clinic for drug efficiency in remediating IPF. 

Lung cancer is a common malignancy and is the leading cause of cancer death worldwide. This type of cancer starts as a growth of cells in the lungs and is often accompanied by a variety of symptoms including chest pain, shortness of breath, wheezing, and a persistent cough. Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), a widely used plasticizer in polymer products, has been shown to mimic carcinogenic effects leading to the development of specific types of cancers. It has been demonstrated that in human lung cancer A549 cells, DEHP tends to decrease secretion of surfactants and can induce lung cell metastasis. E-cadherin is a crucial type of cell-cell adhesion molecule that holds epithelial cells tightly together and its loss of function has been implicated in cancer progression.  The specific impact as well as the mechanism of DEHP on E-cadherin expression and function in epithelial cells remains poorly understood. Our research group is examining the effect of DEHP exposure on the proliferation of lung cancer cell line A549 and expression of the adhesion molecule E-cadherin. Cell viability will be evaluated with the 3- (4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Western blot analyses will be performed to determine correlation between DEHP concentration and E-cadherin expression. Unpaired two-tailed t-tests will be utilized to determine the p-value between the concentration and duration of DEHP exposure to the signal intensity of the E-cadherin found in the western blot analysis. Results from our study will aid in reducing the gap in scientific knowledge by broadening our understanding of the potential health risks associated with DEHP exposure and its role in epithelial dysfunction in lung cancer. 

In the realm of speech-language pathology, classroom-based intervention can be described as a speech-language pathologist (SLP) incorporating services within a student’s classroom (Blosser & Means, 2020). Classroom-based services may be facilitated in a multitude of ways and may require different levels of collaboration between the SLP and other staff (general-education teachers, special-education teachers, paraprofessionals, etc.). Recently, SLPs within the educational settings have received encouragement from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) to utilize interprofessional practices and more classroom-based intervention approaches in comparison to the traditional intervention approach, commonly called, “pull-out services” (ASHA, 2023). This review of literature focuses on the current laws and ASHA recommendations, comparison of the delivery models, implementation and perceptions on classroom-based intervention, the effects of the differing service delivery models, benefits of classroom-based interventions, and challenges of classroom-based interventions to determine the overall efficacy of SLP classroom-based interventions within school settings.

The SHAPE America National Convention & Expo is the premier professional development event for health and physical educators, providing invaluable insights into the latest research, best practices, and innovative strategies in HPE. This session will highlight key takeaways from the 2025 convention, including the implementation of the newly released SHAPE America National Physical Education and Health Education Standards, strategies for creating inclusive and student-centered learning environments, and evidence-based methods to enhance student engagement and academic success. Attendees will gain practical tools for increasing physical activity levels, fostering social-emotional learning, leveraging technology in HPE instruction, and advocating for program support within their schools and communities. This presentation will equip educators with actionable knowledge to elevate their teaching and improve student outcomes.

We will be presenting the MN SHAPE on the implementation of skill-based health education as future professionals. We will share the FUSED method of teaching a skill in health education. We will introduce key instructional cues and explain how to model these skill cues through practice and feedback

The History of Romanian Astronomy

Since the dawn of humanity, we as a species have always been fascinated with what lies beyond our world, but few have been as dedicated to learning about it in modern times as the Romanians. Dating back to the Medieval ages, Romanian astronomy was a highlight in the Dacian civilization. The Dacians made many innovations to assist their journey to understanding the stars, and many ancient temples and monuments relating to astronomy still exist today. Modern scientists have found early versions of the Sundial and compass in these ruins, signifying their technological breakthroughs in their research. Unfortunately, a large amount of their findings has been lost to time, but Romanian interest in astronomy rapidly picked up pack again in the mid-19th century. I will be discussing about modern Romanian discoveries, innovations, and breakthroughs in their quest to explore the cosmos, and how they continue to find new ways to research the astonishing topic of Astronomy.

With social media’s presence growing beyond personal use, it is clear that professional fields are affected by social media as well. This study examined how social media is influencing clinical practice trends and evidence-based decision-making in speech-language pathology (SLP). Our research consisted of a mixed-methods procedure including a survey to assess social media’s impact on SLP practices in the tri-state area (Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota), as well as a focus group to provide in-depth insight into social media’s influences on clinical practice trends and evidence-based practices. 

Breastfeeding is a complex process that requires specialized support, particularly for infants facing feeding and swallowing challenges. Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) and International Board-Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLCs) each bring essential expertise to breastfeeding intervention, yet gaps in care exist when they work independently. While IBCLCs specialize in lactation management, SLPs have extensive knowledge of oral anatomy and swallowing function. Collaboration between these professionals enhances outcomes for breastfeeding families, especially in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs), where infants are more likely to experience feeding difficulties. This presentation explores the benefits of integrating speech-language pathology into lactation consultation, highlighting how interdisciplinary collaboration improves breastfeeding success, supports maternal-infant health, and addresses common barriers to continued breastfeeding. Strengthening this partnership ensures more comprehensive, evidence-based care for breastfeeding families.

Bees play a crucial role in ecosystems as pollinators, supporting biodiversity and agriculture. Their nesting habits, social structures, and foraging behaviors vary widely, influencing their adaptability to different environments. Understanding these characteristics is essential for conservation efforts, particularly in the face of habitat loss and climate change. Prior studies have explored bee diversity and distribution, but comprehensive data on species-specific traits across regions remain limited.

     This project is based on data constructed by Diller et al. (2019), which presents information on 3,925 bee species in the United States. The database compiles morphological and ecological characteristics from entomological surveys and state biodiversity records. Our research examines regional differences in nesting sites, colony structures, and foraging behaviors, analyzing how these traits vary across states. The findings contribute to a broader understanding of bee ecology and can inform conservation strategies to protect pollinators and biodiversity.

The virus-host interaction is a widely researched topic, yet it is not fully understood which host proteins may be targeted by viruses or how hosts cope with mutations that lead to phage-resistance while decreasing fitness. By studying this relationship using bacteriophage Mar and host Ruegeria pomeroyi, we not only gain more knowledge but also a model organism. A mutant library of R. pomeroyi was used to find strains of R. pomeroyi that are resistant to phage infection. By sequencing the DNA of the mutant strains, the specific mutation can be found to reveal the specific host gene function that is exploited by this virus.  This approach adds to our understanding of both basic gene function and virus-host interaction and sets up further studies of evolutionary trade-offs between phage-resistance and detrimental fitness effects.

Induced medical abortion is a common gynecological procedure. Despite its frequency, abortion remains a topic of substantial controversy, with most women who have received abortions reporting stigma from multiple sources (Cockrill et al. 2023). Access to abortion services remains an issue in U.S. politics. This is illustrated by the 2022 Dobbs decision where medical abortion was deemed constitutionally unprotected and therefore brought to the states (Center for Reproductive Rights, 2022).

Study 1 collected data from undergraduate psychology students. Students were presented with one of two randomly assigned vignettes, which contained a story about a woman who recently became pregnant and decided to seek an abortion. In one vignette, the woman is 5 weeks gestation; in the other, she is 16 weeks. Students then completed the Stereotype Content Model (Fiske et al., 2002) to measure competence and warmth. Researchers also included scales assessing opinions on abortion availability and morality.

Study 2 also collected data from undergraduate psychology students. Participants were presented with one of three randomly assigned vignettes describing a woman who recently became pregnant. The vignette concludes with either a medication abortion, surgical abortion, or abortion denial. Then, participants completed an adapted Relational Compassion Scale and the Stereotype Content Model.

In study 1, an independent-samples t-test found that ratings of warmth were not significantly lower in the 16-week gestation condition (M = 3.62, SD = 1.04) compared to 5-weeks (M = 3.75, SD = 0.97) (t = 0.575, p = 0.66, d = 0.12). In study 2, a one-way ANOVA found that ratings of warmth were not significantly lower based on abortion method between any of the three conditions (F(2, 130) = [.385], p = .681). Additionally, ratings of compassion were not significantly different based on abortion method condition (F(2, 131) = [.537], p = .586).

The results of study 1 and 2 indicate that lay people do not hold stigmatizing attitudes based on abortion timing or method. However, politicians continue to propose bills that do differentiate between earlier vs. later abortions and abortion methods (medication vs. surgical). These results suggest that the general public does not differentiate between these factors when considering abortions, leading the researchers to question why politicians continue to do so.

Cost Rica's marine ecosystems are a testament to the country&rsquo;s incredible biodiversity, drawing researchers and explorers all eager to witness natural wonders it has. We ventured through multiple costal environments, we encounter the San Miguel Lagoon, the tide pools of Cabo Blanco, and the Gulf of Nicoya. By exploring and comparing Costa Rica's diverse marine ecosystems we gained a deeper understanding of the intricate connections that sustain ocean life. Each of which reveals different adaptations, species interactions, and ecological roles. Observing these ecosystems side by side allowed us to see how marine life thrives under varying conditions. These comparisons highlight the delicate balance within nature and the importance of protecting these habitats for future generations to appreciate. 

A CHIP-8 operating system is an early operating system that was commonly used for arcade games. This project is to understand and observe the CHIP-8 operating system in action and this was done by building the operating system and testing it in action.

This project explores the application of deep reinforcement learning (RL) to mastering boss encounters in Dark Souls 3, a game infamous for its difficulty and strategic combat mechanics. Unlike conventional RL approaches that rely on visual inputs, our method directly extracts game state data from memory, including player and boss health, stamina, positioning, and animations, using Cheat Engine. By structuring these variables into a well-defined RL environment, we enable an agent to learn optimal combat strategies using Proximal Policy Optimization (PPO) and/or Deep Q-Network (DQN).

Our research investigates key RL challenges, including discrete vs. continuous action spaces, the impact of boss animation states on decision-making, with reward shaping centered on dealing damage, avoiding hits, and successfully defeating the boss.

Through this work, we aim to push the boundaries of AI-driven gameplay mastery, demonstrating how reinforcement learning can navigate the complexities of reaction-based combat, resource management, and strategic adaptation in one of gaming’s most unforgiving environments. Our findings contribute to both AI research and game development, offering insights into efficient training methods for real-time action games.

Social communication deficits can significantly impact an individual’s ability to form relationships and navigate daily interactions. Group therapy is a widely used intervention designed to enhance social skills through structured activities, peer interaction, and guided practice. This paper explores the efficacy of group therapy in improving social communication by examining current research, theoretical foundations, and clinical applications. Key factors influencing its effectiveness, as well as challenges in implementation and generalization, are discussed. Understanding the impact of group therapy on social skill development is essential for refining evidence-based interventions and optimizing outcomes for individuals with social communication challenges.

The field of archaeology is constantly changing, and in the present day, it is of great importance for students to collaborate with Indigenous communities. In November of 2024, Minnesota State University Moorhead (MSUM) archaeology students responded to a request from the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe - Tribal Historic Preservation Office to gather data at a cemetery in the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation. These students, along with MSUM professor Dr. Amanda Butler and Standing Rock tribal archaeologist Tyrel Iron Eyes, conducted a series of electrical resistivity surveys on several sections of the cemetery. The goal of this project was to locate undisturbed sections of the cemetery for future use. The surveys allowed students to gather data beneath the surface soil without disturbing any possible burials. This poster will discuss how the surveys were conducted, issues encountered, survey results, and how archaeologists can use noninvasive techniques to work collaboratively with Indigenous groups without disturbing sacred spaces.

What can historic glass bottles tell us? Differentiating types of glass can shed light on function, use, and community. Formerly a railroad town, located in eastern Clay County, MN, Winnipeg Junction was a short-lived, early 20th Century boom town full of saloons. Analysis of the 2022 excavations by a Minnesota State University Moorhead archaeology field school, found that pharmaceutical bottles were a significant part of the site assemblage. The popular rise of proprietary medicines occurred during the short window of Winnipeg Junction’s operation. This poster examines the influence of quack medicine and two examples from Winnipeg Junction. 

Relationships with faculty can play an essential role in shaping academic success and personal growth of students in higher education. This study explores the significant impact of faculty-student relationships, highlighting how meaningful mentorship promotes academic success, high retention rates and encourages student involvement. The findings reveal that mentorship is not just an academic support mechanism. 

   Play serves as a fundamental context for the development of social communication skills in young children. For preschoolers with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), challenges in play, particularly symbolic play, are closely linked to difficulties in social communication, which are essential for language development, adaptive functioning, and academic success. This poster presentation explores the role of play in social communication development, highlighting differences between typically developing children and those with ASD. It also reviews three interventions—Advancing Social-Communication and Play (ASAP), Stay Play Talk, and video modeling—that incorporate peer involvement to support social communication growth.

Minnesota’s native tallgrass prairies are home to an extensive amount of pollinating arthropods, namely bees and butterflies, that are crucial to wildflower populations, agricultural crops, and ecosystems. Despite their ecological significance, there is a gap in knowledge about the diversity and behaviors of native pollinator species within these habitats. Traditional methods of identification often require a taxonomic specialist due to difficulty in identification. To tackle this shortcoming, researchers are implementing DNA barcoding to differentiate between varying species of bees and butterflies. This crucial method of identification analyzes genetic material collected from flower samples by acquiring trace amounts of DNA left behind by pollinators. DNA sequencing allows researchers to uncover the biodiversity that exists within native prairies and monitoring of changes over time. With the combination of ecological fieldwork and advanced biological techniques, scientists can enhance the understanding of native pollinator populations and their role in prairie ecosystems.

Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS) is a neurological speech sound disorder characterized by deficits in motor planning and programming, leading to inconsistent speech errors, impaired co-articulatory transitions, and inappropriate prosody (Fish & Skinder-Meredith et al., 2023). Effective intervention is crucial, particularly for children who do not respond to traditional articulation and phonological approaches. Motor programming therapies, such as Dynamic Temporal and Tactile Cueing (DTTC) and the Nuffield Dyspraxia Program (NDP3), are widely recognized as evidence-based treatments for CAS. This literature review presents a comparative analysis of DTTC and NDP3, examining their theoretical foundations, treatment methodologies, and clinical outcomes. The findings may offer valuable insights for clinicians in selecting appropriate therapy approaches tailored to individual patient needs.

                Kelp forests are an important ecosystem for biodiversity and protection against storm surges. Climate change has had a massive impact on the range of kelp forests around the world. The ways in which climate change directly affect kelp forests are varied including warming waters, changed animal behavior and changing nutrient levels. This project serves to explore existing studies and identify the direct causes of kelp deforestation and what measures can be taken to maintain healthy ranges for kelp forests.

Bass feeding strategies have impacted the way we view predator prey interactions. When specialized cells in fish scales get broken or damaged an alarm cue is released into the water for other fish of same species to pick up on. Thaker et al. in 2010 establish that cortisol affect memory formation related to predator attacks and suppressed by metyrapone. In previous research Dr. Wisenden with students noticed that zebra fish release cortisol during exposure of alarm cues. This lead to the question; if zebrafish’s cortisol levels suppressed by metyrapone, do they still form the memory of danger when in contact with the bass odor? If the cortisol pathway is being used to associate bass odor with danger, then we expect zebrafish with suppressed cortisol levels to not associate bass odor with alarm cues when exposed to both. If cortisol suppression prevents formation of memory about predator, it would add understanding about physiology of fish  antipredator behavior.

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cell therapy is a new era of cancer treatment that is able to recognize and dispose of cells that are expressing specific target antigens. It acts by initiating T-cells with an anti-tumor response. There have been various approaches to cancer treatment, such as chemotherapy and radiation, but new genetic modification of CAR-T cell therapy has proven to be a promising innovative addition to the mix. Nevertheless, this innovation comes with its limitations such as antigen escape, and CAR-T cell associated toxicities. Recent studies suggest that optimizing the timing of chemotherapy administration can preserve antigen expression on tumor cells while concurrently enhancing CAR-T cell proliferation. Chemotherapy, when improperly timed, can decrease the amount of antigen expression, making the tumors less detectable. Optimizing the treatment timing might enhance CAR-T expansion, while a virus-based antigen amplification system ensures sustained antigen expression, preventing tumor escape and improving treatment efficacy. The study will incorporate viral and nonviral vectors that have been modified using the CRISPR/Cas9 system that allows for precise editing of the virus to specifically target cancer stem cells (CSCs). In addition to that, a genetically modified variant of oncolytic herpes simplex virus-1 (oHSV) will be utilized in combination with CAR-T cell therapy. By combining CAR-T cells with the engineered virus, the possibility of success may significantly increase.  

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a developmental disorder that affects individuals in various ways, including challenges with social interactions and communication. Anxiety, a common experience that impacts many people across different areas of life, often intersects with ASD. Studies have highlighted that the neurological differences observed in both individuals with ASD and those with anxiety are strikingly similar. For instance, reduced gray matter volume (GMV) in the amygdala has been identified in MRI scans of both groups. Studies have shown that people with ASD tend to experience higher levels of anxiety compared to neurotypical individuals, making it essential to provide tailored support. This research identified that effective interventions include anticipatory strategies; such as picture schedules and video modeling. These strategies support by setting clear expectations before an experience, thereby reducing anxiety and promoting a sense of control. 

Entering college is a major life-changing milestone for many students that may introduce new stressors that have not been experienced before, causing mental or psychological turmoil. In place to combat this are various counseling services free for college students. Minnesota State University Moorhead offers a wide variety of student services, including in-person appointments or free memberships with mobile apps that can offer personalized care based on the student's needs or struggles. Although college campuses provide students with these services, there are low usage levels observed in previous research. To explore a potential reason college students do not utilize these services, this study aims to discover if the home environment, more specifically, the parenting style the student experienced growing up impacts their attitudes and beliefs regarding seeking help. To determine any correlations, a two-by-two factorial design will measure the likelihood of using counseling services based on the student's grade level (underclassmen or upperclassmen) and the parenting style (authoritative or authoritarian) that was experienced growing up. Following this, participants will be asked to complete a 22-item survey following a Likert Scale inspired by an Adult-Based Model of Help-Seeking. It is expected that participants who experienced authoritarian parenting styles will be significantly less inclined to seek counseling services compared to those who experienced authoritative parenting styles. Out of both grade level groups, underclassmen who experienced authoritarian parenting styles will be the least likely to seek help compared to every other group, and upperclassmen will be significantly more willing to seek help regardless of the parenting style experienced.  

<p>Emma Cullett and Maggie Sullivan were students in GID 458 Interactive Media Studio. During their fall semester of 2024, they each created an interactive website and app to help users with specific tasks. Maggie developed an app and website based on a car rental application, called Swift. Swift provides a personable and engaging way to find the rental car that you are searching for, with reasonable and transparent pricing. Emma developed an app called Cryptid Quest, which encourages users to travel while learning about the cryptic lore of each state. The Cryptid Quest website was created to help promote the app and gain an audience. Projects in GID458 were built using prototyping and web-building software.&nbsp;</p>

   From the moment we are born, our family is influencing our lives. Whether it’s from the clothes we wear, the school we go to, or even the career we choose to pursue, the whole trajectory of someone’s life can be influenced by their family. The purpose of this study is to investigate any correlations between one’s family structure and behavior to their own behavior. By better understanding this concept, we may be able to conduct further research to prevent negative behaviors and reinforce positive behaviors in children, which can influence someone’s life for the better. 
The sample for this dataset was first graders and their family members from elementary schools in Phoenix and San Antonio. Mostly, the population consists of first graders from low-income, Latino households. 3,084 first graders were surveyed in addition to their family. Over 200 teachers were also surveyed. 
A cross-sectional survey was used from the 2007/2008 school year until 2015. It was distributed through the mail, given through telephone interviews, and used physically in schools with pencil and paper and written questionnaires. The schools used in this study were picked depending on their positive background with FAST and other social service agencies. 
The findings of this research either had no correlating variables or slightly correlating variables, leading to no major, new findings. If anything, this study shows that more studies need to be conducted to enlighten us in the “murky areas.” With larger sample populations, more conclusive results may be given.  

   We must consider climate change and the chance of extinction of crocodilians.  Crocodilians are temperature sex-dependent (TSD) species. This means that as the world is affected by global warming, one species’ sex will continue to produce. With this, temperatures rise including bodies of water. Effectively decreasing the number of mates available and the number of males produced. We will be presenting information about how alligators and crocodiles change their preferences in mating and laying their eggs according to changes in the climate. We'll see how they briefly care for their offspring and possibly how the climate may influence the sexual outcome of offspring. The focus will be on the influence of climate on migratory patterns and how its effects influence crocodilian’s reproductive behaviors and processes. Many crocodilians live in areas where the water is affected by human activity. Their lives surrounding hunting, traversing, and mating are all increasingly affected by that activity through pollution and our rapidly shifting climate. Crocodilian behavior is key in representing the health of the habitats they live in. Data shows their health is correlated with the health of other parts of the ecosystems like plant life and other animals. Looking at studies published that researched and recorded declining health and changing behavior within these groups, we can learn the impact human influence has on large natural settings.

Over the summer, the planetarium utilized two Summer Strong Research grants,  College for Kids: Bringing Lasers and Space Camp to the FM area, and Program Development Internship with Elumenati and AMNH’s OpenSpace. There were two purposes of College for Kids: Bringing Lasers and Space Camp to the FM area: the first was to develop a summer camp based on NASA activity modules; the second was to continue developing the previous years’ Laser camp. 

Space Camp: NASA provided the planetarium with the “NASA Camp experiences”: Artemis Space Camp, First Woman Space Camp, and First Woman Space Camp II. While working with these modules, MJ, Hannah, and Jake built an outline of what activities would be best. As the camps went on, the team learned how to adapt and modify as needed. 

Laser Camp:  In 2023, Strong Summer Scholars did a trial run with Laser Camp content and made some adjustments and observations along the way.  This year, Abby implemented some changes to last year’s curriculum and further developed the course. In addition, she demonstrated how to run the camp to MJ and Hannah. 

The second grant, Program Development Internship with Elumenati and AMNH’s OpenSpace, mainly focused on creating projects that were provided by the Planetariums software companies, Eluminati: World Viewer, and American Museum of Natural History: OpenSpace. 

The 19th century marks the rise and return of landscape painting as a distinct genre.  It is a century that opened with the move from Historical painting to Naturalism and ended with the Impressionists and Post-Impressionists. This occurred across Western art in virtually all regions, with multiple groups of independent artists contributing to the development. Although these groups looked at and drew inspiration from each other, they also differed in their approach.  Art history has echoed the volume of paintings with volumes of research to place this period and these movements/schools in perspective. In review, a pattern emerges that helps to organize and understand this body of paintings and analysis.  I would like to suggest grouping into three categories: Dominion, Idealization, and Immersion. This can open up new ways to understand, compare, contrast, and analyze the art and analysis for students and art historians. This analysis starts with existing research and suggests ways they can be combined into a more complete understanding of the artists’ intention, the periods in which they were painted, and the effects this had and has on viewers.  

The late 19th and early 20th centuries marked a turning point in global trade when steamships began reducing shipping times and improving efficiency. Yet, these benefits were not evenly distributed across different countries. This study employs a literature review to examine how government trade policies, including subsidies and trade agreements, alter economic outcomes. By comparing industrialized economies with agricultural-based nations, this research explores how restrictive versus free trade policies influence a country’s ability to benefit from globalization. This study compares historical trade patterns by analyzing how initial attitudes toward trade affected economic divergence and how ongoing policy choices influence global trade relationships today.  

Fusulinids, within the order Foraminifera, are single celled organisms that exist in the fossil

record from late in the early Carboniferous all the way to the Permian extinction 252 million

years ago. The rapid evolution of these small fossils in the fossil record has proven useful for

studying past environments and biostratigraphy.

The samples of fusulinid fossils were collected from the Broom Creek and Amsden Formations in the subsurface of the Williston Basin in west-central North Dakota. Samples were collected from a depth of over 6000 ft. It is important to examine formations in this area because of its untapped potential for carbon storage. Thispotential is thought to be significant due to porosity and permeability of aeolian and nearshore sand facies and other interbedded facies functioning as seals that occur in the middle and

upper parts of the formation. The fusulinid fossils that are abundant in the upper part of the Broom Creek could provide valuable information about age and past environment, hence giving a better understanding of the area and its suitability for future carbon storage plans.

This presentation will analyze the cultural exchange between Norwegian settlers and local indigenous groups during the time of the Homestead Act of 1862. This analysis will give researchers a better understanding of those who settled the Great Plains and how they interacted with people of whom had been living on said land for centuries. This project looks at primary sources such as information from trading posts, newspapers, and personal record; while secondary sources such as seconhand accounts. This analysis will be focusing on trade, information, and customs exchanged between the two groups during the settlement of the Great Plains. This project hopes to provide clearer picture on the lives of both groups during this time period.

Classroom teachers are often required to teach advisory courses that include career counseling and social emotional learning components. While the study is focused on collecting information from working adults, the results of this study could provide information for teachers who are taking on coaching, advising, and counseling roles at any educational level. The purpose of this positivist cross-sectional correlational research was to explore the relationships between the Big Five Aspects of personality and career interest in working individuals in Redwood County, Minnesota. A total of 88 quantitative items are included in the anonymous Personality and Career Interest Questionnaire, which was developed by the researcher, with an additional 4 qualitative (i.e., open-ended) items. The questionnaire was field tested and updated according to the recommendations provided by the reviewers before it was distributed to various businesses, organizations, and community members via email. Partial correlations were found between the Big Five Aspects of personality and Holland’s Codes of career interest. Partial correlations were also found between two Big Five Aspects of personality and job satisfaction. Partial correlations were found between the Big Five Aspects of personality and career fit. This exploratory study allows researchers to put forth recommendations for the improvement of career coaching, advising, and counseling.

Norwegian migration to the United States during the 19th and early 20th centuries was driven by a mix of factors like economic, social, and religious factors. This paper focuses on the religious pull factors that influenced Norwegian the immigration, diving deeper into how religious freedom and the opportunity to practice faith without the influence of the state motivated thousands of Norwegians to seek a new life in the United States. In Norway, the Lutheran state church dominated religious practices, by imposing restrictions on religious expression. For many Norwegians, America represented a land of spiritual liberty, where religious communities could flourish without fear of persecution or state control. Using sources, including immigrant letters, Norwegian history books, and Norwegian-American newspapers, this research analyzes the role of religion in promoting migration and the impacts that it has on present day. The paper also explores how the pursuit of religious freedom contributed to the cultural and community identities of Norwegian immigrants, shaping their integration into American society. Through this lens, the study seeks to illuminate the profound impact of religious ideals on the migration narratives of Norwegians and the broader story of immigration to the United States.

DNA barcoding has emerged as a powerful molecular tool for species identification across diverse fields, from wildlife, invasive species, infectious disease, and more. This technique utilizes short, standardized gene regions to generate unique genetic "barcodes," enabling rapid and reliable species identification. DNA sequences within certain genes provide variation among species and similarities within species. As global challenges intensify the need for accurate species identification, DNA barcoding offers a scalable, cost-effective solution, bridging the gap between traditional taxonomy and modern molecular approaches. This presentation uses a fish DNA extraction experiment to explore the principles behind DNA barcoding, its broad-spectrum applications, and its potential to revolutionize species identification in research and industry. 

Polar bears live in the arctic in extremely cold polar conditions. Climate change has significantly impacted these artic ecosystems. As ice diminishes due to rising temperatures, polar bears face challenges in hunting, migration, and reproduction. Lack of ice coverage forces polar bears to travel longer distances to find food, often resulting in malnutrition, decreased reproductive success, and increased mortality rates. They must adapt behaviorally like altering their hunting techniques and increase their terrestrial movements. These adaptions have been observed but these changes often cost the bears long term fitness and energy conservation. In addition, the polar bears loss of habitat has forced them closer to human settlements raising the chance of interaction between the predators and humans. This project displays current research on how climate-induced environmental shifts are affecting polar bear behavior, highlighting the urgency for effective conservation strategies to mitigate the impact of climate change on this vulnerable species.

With a decline in mental health and an increase in problematic behavior, it is becoming more difficult for students to learn and obtain an appropriate education. This study examined the effectiveness of using Coping Power intervention to reduce problematic behaviors of a 4th-grade male student. The student met individually twice per week for 30 minutes with the school psychology practicum student to go over a lesson outlined in the manual. The student completed weekly direct behavior ratings (DBR) regarding their level of disruptive behavior and perseverance. The teacher also used a DBR to rate the student weekly on the student’s level of disruptive behaviors. After implementing the intervention for six weeks the data did not show a steady improvement, but it was observed the student’s overall physical aggression outside the classroom has lessened.  

Nearly all higher education institutions in America utilize Student Evaluations of Teaching (SET) as a tool to determine course quality, effectiveness, and weaknesses. Though SETs integration is expected, factors are being evaluated that are outside of faculty control (e.g. gender, appearance, ethnicity) bringing into question their reliability and validity (Cho et al., 2018; Kogan et al., 2010). SET tools need to be reviewed to ensure student feedback addresses modifiable factors (e.g. course activities, teaching methods) and ensuring learning objectives of the course were met. SETs also have weight on faculty tenure and promotion in higher education. Utilization of SETs for tenure and promotion could decrease retention of marginalized groups. Black faculty and non-native English speakers were more likely to receive lower student rating than another race or native English speakers (Smith, 2007; Alauddin & Kifle, 2014). Since there is scarce literature on the role SETs have on faculty retention this study aimed to address faculty a) utilization of the SET tool b) use for tenure and promotion c) estimated retention of faculty related to SET feedback. The purpose of the study was to increase understanding of the role SETs might have in nursing faculty retention. While there was a weak correlation suggesting SET feedback may make nursing faculty more likely to leave teaching, the practical implications are valuable. Nursing faculty estimated retention was 74.7 percent while estimated retention of faculty from other fields of study was 92.9 percent. This is significant given the current shortage of nursing faculty in America. 

References

Alauddin, M., & Kifle, T. (2014). Does the student evaluation of teaching instrument really measure instructors’ teaching effectiveness? An econometric analysis of students’ perceptions in economics courses. Economic Analysis and Policy, 44(2), 156–168. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eap.2014.05.009 

Cho, J. I., Hamash, K., Otani, K., Reimer, N., & Deng, Y. (2018). Influential Factors of Student Evaluations of Teaching in a Nursing Program. Teaching and Learning in Nursing, 13(2), 86–94. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.teln.2018.01.002 

Kogan, L. R., Schoenfeld-Tacher, R., & Hellyer, P. W. (2010). Student evaluations of teaching: perceptions of faculty based on gender, position, and rank. Teaching in Higher Education, 15(6), 623–636. https://doi.org/10.1080/13562517.2010.491911

Smith, B. P. (2007). Student Ratings of Teaching Effectiveness: An Analysis of End-of-Course Faculty Evaluations. College Student Journal, 41(4), 788–800. https://web-s-ebscohost-com.trmproxy.mnpals.net/ehost/detail/detail?vid=0&sid=983186b6-c6ba-4028-aaec-eaadf294f9aa%40redis&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#AN=28351175&db=aph

This study explores the concept of adaptation and transition which follows the transition of two higher education faculty members who both took teaching positions at their respective alma maters in which they first receive their initial degrees. Self-study, also known as autoethnography, was the chosen methodology for this study which allows the author dual perspectives as the subject and the researcher. As a result, Institutional Review Board approval was not required because the subject is self and study documentation is self-generated. Over the course of the first six months of employment at their alma maters, the two faculty members journaled about their transition, took pictures of images that they perceived to represent their transition, and participated in discussions with a critical peer about their transition. By triangulating journal entries, visual artifacts, and interview transcriptions the researchers developed themes which describe their transition to their alma maters. Unique to the coding process, a generative artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot, Microsoft Copilot, was used to conduct the initial coding of all three sources of data. Member checking and traditional coding will be conducted to support or refute the AI generated initial coding.

Student evaluations of teaching (SET) are widely used in United States higher education to assess course effectiveness and teaching quality, and to inform on course improvements. However, their reliability and validity are questions due to factors like class size, faculty appearance, ethnicity, and gender influencing evaluation scoring. SETs also impact faculty tenure and promotion, raising concerns about biases against marginalized group faculty. Literature gaps exist in understanding nursing faculty perceptions of SET feedback, their effects on faculty morale and retention, and the potential impact of student and faculty diversity on SET results. This ongoing qualitative research aims to address these gaps.

Human anatomy is one of the main groundwork pieces for pre-medical and nursing students. This course opens the eyes to students on how the body is structured and the function that follows. Minnesota State University Moorhead (MSUM) has a cadaver lab that can be used for both pre-medical and nursing students. Pre-nursing students learn through anatomy models and the cadavers. Our study is on the pre-nursing students that are enrolled in the Human Anatomy and Physiology course at MSUM. Our goal is to see if there is a difference in learning through cadavers rather than just models. We used a various number of surveys that asked different knowledge on anatomy. The survey was asked before and after seeing the cadavers for one group, and another group was asked the same questions with seeing only models. Our study will help show what learning model is more beneficial for students looking to go into the medical field. 

Physician assisted suicides are commonly used on patients that have been ill for a long while. Physician assisted suicide is where the physician will help aid in a suicide by providing drug administration to the patient at their will. For this project, we will be looking at a study done by Gamondi, et al. (2018) which surveyed health care professionals in Geneva, Switzerland. The survery consisted of different questions regarding the opinion of physican assisted suicides. Our study will use the data from Gamondi, et al. (2018) to explore the relationship between health care professionals and physician assisted deaths. Our study will help show the thoughts on physician assisted suicides now and if they are beneficial for patients who are terminally ill.

Tip-of-the-tongue states (TOTs) are states of imminent recall where related information can be recalled, but the target word cannot. While TOTs have been studied previously, only one publication has investigated groups. We aim to verify the findings of Rousseau and Kashur (2021), hypothesizing that TOT frequency increases as group size increases. We also believe that positive nonverbal behaviors will modify the strength of this relationship per the warm-glow heuristic, stating that positively regarded stimuli are perceived as more familiar (Cleary, 2019). This study will recruit 120 adults divided randomly into groups of one to three. Participants will complete informed consent and demographics forms before answering 30 general knowledge questions. They will then indicate whether they know the answer, do not know the answer, or are experiencing a TOT. Nonverbal behaviors, such as facial expressions, hand gestures, and eye movements, will be video recorded during this time and categorized into positive, negative, or neutral categories. 

Mindfulness meditation and training have recently been recognized as a way of learning to control one’s attention and be present in the moment, without judgment (Norris et al 2018). Recent research has demonstrated that mindfulness training can lead to positive benefits in daily life and mental health (Yakobi et al 2021; Deng et al 2019). Although the benefits seem plentiful, the underlying physiological mechanisms of mindfulness have not yet been identified. A recent study (Atchley et al 2016) has demonstrated successful paradigms for eliciting mindfulness differences between participants when attending to auditory stimuli. 

 The purpose of this study is to establish a physiological measure of mindfulness based on the P300 Event-Related-Potential (ERP) in the visual domain and to build on prior research by tracking these changes longitudinally and build a prediction model. This study employs an XO oddball paradigm to gauge the effect of a novel stimulus on the P3 ERP in relation to an individual’s level of mindfulness. For the oddball stimulus, the novel “O” stimuli appear less frequently (20%) than the common “X” stimulus (80%). Our previous condition had participants count their breaths while watching the XO oddball stimuli. It was hypothesized that the participant's P3 amplitude for the novel stimuli would not be significantly different from the P3 amplitudes of the common stimuli. The results of this condition found an insignificant difference in the P3 ERP amplitude when comparing the common (M = 0.034, SD = 0.027) and odd stimuli (M = 0.082, SD = .074); t(10) = -1.951, p = .0796. This trend indicates that the breathing technique had lowered the participant’s P3 response to novel stimuli, thereby allowing them to better ignore distractor stimuli.  

The current study recruited participants from a healthcare-related nursing senior-capstone class to compare changes in the P3 ERP waveform component as they perform oddball or meditative breath counting tasks before and after a 6-week asynchronous mindfulness training course. It is predicted that the P3 amplitudes elicited by the novel stimuli will decrease as a function of training. The findings from this study could lay the foundation for a visual measure of mindfulness, which has implications for future clinical and therapeutic benefits for healthcare workers such as nurses in high-burnout fields as well as the general public.  

Years later after slavery was abolished with the 13th amendment in 1865, women of color still had struggles and faced challenges. One of those challenges was the right to legally vote. Whereas white men and men of color already had the right to vote. Later on, the 19th amendment was passed giving all women the right to vote. Although women of color still faced many challenges. One of those challenges being the right to freely be able to vote. There were many laws in place that prevented women of color from being fully able to have the right to vote. For example, the Jim Crow laws, tests of literacy, and more. Yet, this wasn’t the only major fight women of color were fighting for during the 1960s Civil Rights Era. Women of color were fighting for education in schools(desegregation), healthcare and reproductive rights, protection against racial behavior and/or violence, and more. So, the question is why did it take so long for women of color to get the right to vote? More specifically, African American women fighting to be fully enfranchised. As, women of color didn’t fully get the right to freely vote until the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Along with fighting for other rights during the 1960s Civil Rights Era. 

This presentation explores the journey of a digital marketing influencer in the cosmetics industry, focusing on personal growth, industry insights, and academic learnings. Starting with the inspiration drawn from early makeup creators on YouTube, I share my evolution from a passionate student experimenting with makeup to a recognized influencer collaborating with brands. Through the lens of my experiences in the MKTG 270 course, I reflect on how academic knowledge can enrich influencer strategies, emphasizing ethical marketing practices and consumer engagement. This talk aims to inspire aspiring influencers and provide a framework for combining personal passion with professional excellence in digital marketing.

This project presents a Python-based file encryption and decryption application using AES encryption for secure file handling. Built with Tkinter, it provides a user-friendly GUI that allows users to encrypt and decrypt files while ensuring data confidentiality. The cryptography library is used to implement encryption, with password-based key generation instead of a locally stored key file. Each file is encrypted using a user-provided password, combined with a unique salt to enhance security and prevent brute-force attacks. This approach removes dependency on a static key file, improving accessibility and security. The project demonstrates real-world encryption techniques, ensuring data protection and privacy. Future improvements may include cloud integration, multi-file encryption, and enhanced UI customization.

This study aims to understand better how different reinforcement strategies affect athletes’ motivation levels and whether these effects differ across genders. Motivation plays a significant role in sports performance and success because athletes must push their limits and grow to reach their full potential. Understanding how coaching styles influence intrinsic motivation can provide valuable insights into optimizing training environments for both individual athletes and teams.

To investigate this, current student-athletes will be presented with two distinct coaching style(positive and negative) scenarios. One scenario will demonstrate a positive reinforcement coaching style by giving praise, rewards, and acknowledgment. The other scenario will demonstrate a negative coaching style by yelling and punishment. Participants will be randomly assigned to read one scenario first. After reading each scenario, they will be asked to complete a questionnaire assessing their motivation and emotional response, and then they will repeat the process with the second scenario. The Sports Climate Questionnaire will measure motivation levels, which evaluate perceived autonomy support and intrinsic motivation. The findings will contribute to a deeper understanding of how reinforcement strategies affect athlete motivation and may help coaches implement a coaching style that allows their athletes to perform at their highest ability. 

This is part of a long-term investigation examining how landscape evolution has influenced the occupation and activities of indigenous people at the MSUM Regional Science Center (RSC). The site consists of over 400 acres of varied habitats and has been the focus of archeological investigations for over 40 years. Through the analysis of core samples, excavated profiles, and optically stimulated luminescent (OSL), sites in the study area were found to be as old as 8,400 years B.P. Previously, additional archaeological sites have been excavated, including a buried soil horizon. The current study focuses on a site along a river cut on the bank of the Buffalo River and 6 core samples that have been analyzed to correlate the study horizon with earlier findings. Results suggest that the preservation of remnant topography appears to impact the distribution and characteristics of the study horizon significantly. X-ray Fluorescence (XRF) is being used to analyze the geochemistry of the soil horizons. These new methods may provide new insights into the landscape evolution and indigenous activity at the RSC.

In today’s digital landscape, cybersecurity threats are evolving rapidly, making employee awareness a crucial component of an organization's defense strategy. This report explores the role of cybersecurity awareness training in mitigating risks such as phishing attacks, data breaches, and social engineering tactics. By analyzing real-world case studies and industry best practices, the research highlights how structured training programs can significantly reduce security incidents. The study also examines key cybersecurity frameworks, including those from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), and discusses the technical and behavioral aspects of training employees to recognize and respond to cyber threats effectively. The findings underscore the necessity of integrating cybersecurity awareness into organizational policies to create a culture of proactive security. This research aims to provide valuable insights for IT professionals, business leaders, and policymakers seeking to enhance their organization's cybersecurity posture through education and strategic training initiatives.

The objective of this study is to gain a qualitative sociological understanding of how individuals cope with grief resulting from being circumcised. 80 posts – including comments – from the subreddit r/foreskin_restoration were chosen initially; from there, 35 posts were randomly selected to serve as the dataset. Upon coding, I found overarching patterns of community development, reinforced through shared lamentation over what was lost, peer encouragement, and “breaking the cycle” of generational circumcision. Individuals using this gradual form of body modification note increased feelings of bodily autonomy and mental wellbeing.

Music is an integral part of human culture and has a profound impact on emotional states. While prior research has demonstrated that music can regulate mood, the specific effects of different types of music and the role of personal factors remain unclear. This experiment will explore the relationship between music and mood by focusing on how tempo and participant selection influence emotional responses to music. The hypothesis proposes that upbeat music will enhance positive mood while sad music will evoke feelings of sadness. This experiment will be a within groups study in which 100 participants will complete mood assessments before and after listening to music. For this experiment participants will listen to both categorically sad and happy music in addition to a song selection of their choosing to test the music’s effect on their mood. At the end of the experiment, the participants mood over the course of the experiment will be compared to their base mood to determine if there are any significant changes. 

This research project will analyze the positive and negative impact women have on varying plots 
and character relationships. The analysis will focus on different films and animations relating to 
the nine years spent under the dictatorship known as the “Dirty War” era in Aregentina (1974
1983). The stories of women during this era often go unheard. A theory that this study will 
explore is the Feminist Film Theory, which focuses on the representation of women and the 
power dynamics between the genders. The film Boquitas Pintadas is a great example of this 
theory. Furthermore, this study will examine the use of the appeal and staging principles of 
animation in Manuelita (1999) and Eva de Argentina (2011) and how that impacts the portrayal 
of female characters. These films were selected for how women are portrayed on the screen and 
their roles they played in cinema behind the scenes. This examination contributes to the 
conversations around how trauma from the “Dirty War” is portrayed in media, and how 
individual histories contribute to an overall Argentinean history.

The potential of the Broom Creek and Amsden Formations have yet to be fully understood. Previous analysis and models show high porosity and permeability in the aeolian and nearshore facies that commonly occur within the middle and upper parts of the formation (which currently function as a saline aquifer). The DOE, local and state agencies sponsored Project CarbonSAFE initiated by the EERC. Alongside the high porosity and permeability of the Broom Creek, the overlying siltstone and underlying anhydrite act as seals.  Summit Carbon Solutions has obtained permits for pipelines in Minnesota and North Dakota, so the project will be more rapidly moving towards completion. Lacking data, since the formation hasn’t been exploited for hydrocarbons, the EERC oversaw the coring of Broom Creek. Analysis of four cores and a section of 3D Seismic modeling of the potential storage area will provide information to generate a stratigraphic and sedimentological model to better assess the carbon storage potential of Broom Creek.

Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T cells are reengineered cells that have been specifically devised to battle disease by recognizing specific antigens attached to cancerous cells. The therapeutic application of these cells has been demonstrating remarkable success in treating hematologic malignancies, however, its effectiveness is inconsistent across a broader range of patients. Different reasons have been proposed to explain this fluctuating success rate and we hypothesize that tumor-induced immunosuppression and antigen loss are key reasons for this. Borrowing from previous research we propose two experimental approaches to address these challenges: donor-derived CAR T cells to enhance immune response in immunosuppressed environments and dual-target CAR T cells to counteract antigen loss. These findings intend to improve CAR T cell therapy efficacy leading to reliable cancer treatments.  

Dramatic play is one of the biggest aspects of a child’s life, and is not often seen as academic, however, it has been proven that children learn a wide variety of skills through play. One of the founding theorists that acknowledged the true value of play was Vygotsky. Through his theory, it is said that dramatic play is a crucial aspect of early childhood development,  and it fosters creativity, while also building social skills and cognitive growth. Through role playing children can explore emotions and problem-solving skills. This type of unstructured play encourages collaboration and helps children grow social relationships while building self-expression. Dramatic play can also support academic learning by reinforcing skills like literacy, math, and science through hands-on experiences. 

KEYWORDS: Play, Unstructured, Vygotsky’s Theory, Social Development, Cognitive Growth.

Money Matters: Mastering Your Budget 

         Most college kids feel like they are struggling financially, which affects many students in different ways. So, what can be done about this stressful time in life? To master your budget there are important steps that can be taken to better understand your financial needs. These steps include understanding income and expenses, setting financial goals, creating a budget, tracking and adjusting your budget, saving, and staying consistent. To further understand our topic, we asked ourselves “What is the impact of financial stress caused by a lack of budgeting, compared to the financial stability experienced by college students who manage their budget?”. In completing our study on budgeting, we will utilize resources such as a budgeting planner, a budget app, previous studies used, and self-evaluations. In our research study we have discovered that college students who budget overall have reduced stress. As a group, our recommendation is to make use of the resources we discussed to minimize your financial stress.  

This presentation will explore the relationship between nutrition and mental health. The goal of this research is to relate to college students about nutritious foods they can eat that can fuel their body and help them stay motivated throughout a stressful and busy college schedule. The motivation for this project is based on the real-life experiences of MSUM nursing students, highlighting how food choices affect their ability to cope with college stress. Our research will showcase how saturated fats, refined sugars and ultra-processed foods affect brain function, emotional regulation, and how the body responds. In comparison, it will also explore how adding in gut-healthy and whole foods positively impacts our daily lives. Attendees will gain valuable insight into managing their mood through healthier dietary choices while also providing resources to track their progress. By understanding the powerful connection between food and mood, individuals are able to make informed choices that enhance their physical and emotional health. 

The mammalian homeogene of the Emx family, Emx1 and Emx2, play key roles in the development and patterning of the cerebral cortex. They are expressed in the developing cerebral cortex and are involved in the patterning of the rostral brain. Although very little is known about the role of Emx1, details of the function of Emx2 are emerging from the observation of cortical phenotypes in normal and mutant mice. Emx2 is expressed in proliferating neuroblasts and in the so-called postmitotic Cajal-Retzius cells, known to control migration of cortical neurons. Emx 2 is said to play an important role in the formation hippocampus (important for memory and spatial navigation). Emx 2 also contributes to the development of the olfactory bulb, which processes smell-related signals. Previous studies have on Emx 2 knockout mice have shown an expansion of rostral-lateral (frontal/motor) areas and a reduction caudal-medial(visual) areas. In this lab, we used a visual test to investigate behavioral changes in Emx2  knockout mice, transgenic mice with additional copies of Emx2 expressed under the control of the Nestin promoter (resulting in an enlarged primary visual cortex), and control animals and performed brain dissections to further analyze the effects of Emx2 deletion on neural structures.

Silica nanoparticles (SiNPs) have gained tremendous attention in recent decades. They consist of silicon dioxide and have been used in many different biomedical fields including diagnosis, biosensing, and drug delivery. SiNPs  are considered a form of air pollution in industrial and urban environments where they are released into the atmosphere through manufacturing processes, construction activities, or vehicular emissions. Furthermore, their potential cytotoxic and molecular effects on epithelial cells, particularly in lung cancer models, remain an area of active investigation and one key aspect of this research involves their impact on E-cadherin expression. E-cadherin is a crucial cell adhesion molecule involved in maintaining epithelial integrity and suppressing tumor progression. A reduction in its expression is associated with epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), a process linked to cancer metastasis. In this experiment, A549 cells, a widely used human lung epithelial cell line, will be treated with varying concentrations of SiNPs, followed by quantitative PCR (qPCR) and Western blot analysis to evaluate changes in E-cadherin expression at both mRNA and protein levels. Immunocytochemistry (ICC) staining will also be used to visualize E-cadherin localization within the cells. This study aims to assess the impact of SiNPs on E-cadherin expression in A549 cells. This study will provide insight into the potential role of SiNPs in modulating cell adhesion properties in lung cancer cells. The findings may contribute to understanding the safety implications of nanoparticle exposure and their influence on tumor progression. 

Artificial intelligence (AI) permeates the economies of countries in alternative ways and at different rates. Using data from 2010-2023, this research investigates the relationship between AI adoption and economic growth patterns in developed and developing economies. This study employs regression analysis and machine learning to assess whether AI-driven innovation, measured by AI patent publications, contributes to higher living standards across different economic contexts. The research findings offer actionable insights for policymakers and business leaders focused on minimizing short-term disruptions and optimizing AI-driven economic development.

Foraging ecology is a sub-branch of behavioral ecology that investigates how organisms find food and other resources. There are two types of foraging strategies: solitary foraging and group foraging. Animals that participate in solitary foraging search for resources by themselves, while those that participate in group foraging have several of the same species looking for resources. La Selva, Costa Rica is a lowland tropical wet rainforest that is rich in biodiversity and Monteverde, Costa Rica is a cloud forest located 1,330 m in elevation, also rich in biodiversity. While there are many animals that participate in foraging in La Selva and Monteverde, we chose those that we observed in the specific regions we visited. In La Selva, these species were Leaf-cutter ants and the Scarlet-rumped Tanager; in Monteverde the White-nose Coati and the Northern Emerald Toucanette. The Leaf-cutter ants and White-nose Coati are group foragers, while the Scarlet-rumped Tanager and the Northern Emerald Toucanette are solitary foragers. This study will compare the two foraging styles amongst different species.

A. fumigatus is an opportunistic airborne fungus that poses significant health risks, especially for those with preexisting respiratory illnesses and those that are immunocompromised. While clinically relevant, the interaction between genetic background, sex, and immune response to A. fumigatus exposure remains underexplored. Little knowledge is present in the literature on the importance of TLR-7 in immune response against Aspergillus fumigatus. Wild-type and TLR-7 deficient male and female mice were exposed to airborne A. fumigatus spores weekly for three consecutive weeks. Lung tissue was embedded in paraffin and sectioned at 5 µm, upon which a histological analysis was performed to assess the production of mucus and collagen. Collagen was assessed using Red/Fast Green staining, with images analyzed and graded on a three-point scale, where higher numbers corresponded to higher collagen intensity. Periodic Acid Schiff (PAS) staining was used to evaluate mucus production. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) was performed to collect immune cells, which were identified using differences in immune cell size and morphology. The results of this study are likely to provide valuable insights into fungal disease modeling and inform therapeutics and diagnostics. 

Elevational gradients serve as natural laboratories for examining species distributions and responses to environmental variability, yet understanding seasonal elevational movements, particularly in tropical bird species, remains incomplete. This study proposes to leverage eBird data to determine whether elevational migrant bird species can be identified through community science datasets. We will focus on two species of manakins in Costa Rica: Corapipo altera, an elevational migrant, and Manacus candei, a sedentary resident. Using data from eBird, we will estimate the abundance of both species across an elevational gradient during two distinct seasons. Preliminary map data generated from R show the distribution of M. candei as clustered in the north-eastern area of Costa Rica and C. altera having a wider distribution across central and south-western Costa Rica. Further analyses will be conducted in R using the auk package to model abundance as a function of elevation and season. We predict a significant seasonal effect on the abundance of the migratory species, with no such effect for the sedentary species. This study highlights the potential of community science data to uncover patterns in avian elevational migration, providing insights into the movement ecology of bird species in montane regions.
 

Orca (Orcinus orca) attacks on boats can be seen as a form of play behavior, territoriality, or even a response to stress or perceived threat. Orcas are highly intelligent, and some researchers believe these behaviors might be linked to curiosity, social bonding within groups, or reacting to disturbances in their environment. In other cases, it could reflect a learned behavior or a display of dominance. While these interactions are rare, they suggest a complex understanding of their surroundings and an ability to adapt behaviorally to human presence.

Desert pupfish have been isolated from large predators for a long time. When a new predator is introduced to where pupfish live, can the pupfish learn to associate that predator with a specific habitat? If the pupfish can associate danger with either structure or open water, then it's likely they can adapt to new dangers in their environment. If they cannot learn to associate predators with specific environments and thus adapt to new dangers, they risk extinction. Being able to determine whether fish can associate risk levels with unique habitats will help determine whether isolated fish can recover from large predators that are introduced to their environment.  

Mangroves and manatees are both endangered due to human activities and environmental changes, and their survival is intricately linked. Mangrove forests, which provide critical coastal protection and serve as nurseries for various marine species, are being destroyed by deforestation, coastal development, and climate change. Similarly, manatees, gentle marine mammals that rely on warm, shallow waters, are facing habitat loss, boat collisions, and declining water quality. Mangroves are vital for manatees as they offer shelter, food sources, and protection from predators and harsh weather. The degradation of mangroves leads to reduced seagrass beds and water pollution, directly impacting manatee populations. Conservation efforts aimed at restoring mangrove ecosystems and protecting manatees through marine sanctuaries and pollution control are essential for maintaining the delicate balance between these two species. Understanding their interdependence highlights the urgency of integrated conservation strategies to safeguard both mangroves and manatees from extinction. 

This research will explore the relationship between nostalgia and its effects on stress and mood. Nostalgia may cause a greater decrease in subjective and/or acute stress and a more positive mood. In this experiment, 60 participants from Generation Z will be recruited from Minnesota State University Moorhead. Participants will complete either a neutral or acute stressor writing task, then be assigned to view either a neutral or nostalgic video clip. They will also complete a variety of self-report measures on stress, nostalgia, and affect. The researcher predicts that Generation Z participants will feel more nostalgic, have a greater decrease in subjective and/or acute stress, and will report less negative mood and more positive mood after viewing a nostalgic media video. This research is expected to support and expand findings regarding how Generation Z may use its positive effects of nostalgia as a way to reduce stress and increase psychological well-being.

Defense mechanisms in Branta canadensis, also known as Canadian geese. Topic of interest due to the aggressive behavior of Branta canadensis to humans. These defense mechanisms in Branta canadensis include but are not limited to physical defense, behavioral defense, social defense, and parental defense, all of which help these geese survive in their habitat. All these listed behaviors are results of these birds being frightened in their own habitat, seemingly coming after you, but in reality they are just protecting themselves and their youth

As subscription services are getting ever more prominent and expensive. A homelab is a way to get away from the high cost and bring compute on premises. By leveraging personal hardware and open-source solutions, users can host their own cloud services, media streaming, file storage, and automation tools without relying on costly third-party providers. Applications such as Home Assistant for home automation and monitoring, Pi-hole for privacy and ad-blocking, Jellyfin for media streaming, and more. These applications can be run on consumer grade hardware, including single board computers like the Raspberry Pi.

Homelabs also serve as a great learning area for IT professionals and developers. It gives them a place to test and work on networking and virtualization through virtual machines and docker. It also provides a test bed for security testing without compromising a production environment. It is a great piece for a resume and talking points in an interview, especially for new grads with little experience.

Men’s mental health is receiving increasing attention in American society after long being considered inappropriate and “unmanly.” Through a thematic analysis of the Reddit forum Legacies of Men (r/GuyCry), which is devoted to giving men an avenue for expressing their mental health struggles, this study seeks to understand the sources of distress that cause men to post on such a forum. The primary source  of this distress is a sense of being “stuck,” unable to advance or change due to events (medical, financial, or mental health related) or people (especially women considered to be unfairly hostile) outside of the men’s control.

During instances of predator-prey conflicts in livestock populations, depredation is focused in two ways: location of recurring conflict and widespread problem population removal. Data from Young et. al (2023) presents an opportunity to use DNA from saliva to identify predators that create predator-prey conflicts in livestock populations. In the study, the coyotes were fed deer meat and then over the course of the next 2-72 hours, five saliva swabs were taken at five predetermined intervals. The swabs were then tested using two methods, Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (qPCR) and Microsatellites, with qPCR proving to be the most effective. This new method of identification can be then used to more efficiently and effectively remove the root of the problem rather than using a more general and blanket approach. In this project, we will look into the longevity of DNA, assessing time intervals and the presence of DNA in the taken samples.

Predation is a powerful natural force of selection on prey species' anti-predator behavior. In water systems, prey fish like the zebrafish (Danio rerio) release chemical alarm cues when injured that serve as a warning to conspecifics of danger. This study would be looking at the effect of the mode of predation on the amount of chemical alarm cues released by zebrafish. Different controls of the experiment such as a positive control (maceration treatment), a negative control (blank treatment), and three other experimental treatments representing different modes of predation (Suction feeding, Impale and Grasp) are used. We expect a positive behavior for suction feeding and blank treatment and a negative behavior for the remainder of the other treatments. Our results will not only show us the mechanism of chemical communication between zebrafish, but it would also provide useful information on the adaptive behaviors of prey species under environmental pressures.

About one in ten babies are born prematurely in the United States as of 2022 (CDC, 2024). This review of the literature revealed that researchers have adequately supported the conclusion that language development is frequently affected in this population of children. Despite the relatively high incidence of pre-term birth and its associated effects on language development, research regarding the causation of these language impairments and effective treatment strategies remains as an emerging topic of study. Additionally, there are coexisting factors related to this population that professionals should consider when providing services. 

The Red River Valley is nationally recognized for exceptional water quality. It is important to stay vigilant and protect local natural resources, like water, as world-wide pollution concerns grow. One group of chemicals that has been a growing concern throughout the world are per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) also known as forever chemicals. PFAS are commonly used in consumer and commercial products, including: oil- and water-resistant fabrics, firefighting foam, and non-stick materials. As the presence of PFAS continues to become a concern in water quality, our research unit decided to test 12 various locations from different water sources (tap water, surface water, and well water) in our community. We sampled the water using PFAS detection kits from Cyclopure (a PFAS testing lab) purchased with a student research grant used in the collection/sampling. The goal of this research is the detection and quantization of polyfluoroalkyl derivatives within local water supplies.  Keeping an eye out for the pending results of where PFAS was detected and found in high concentrations will give context as to how PFAS contamination could be affecting the area.

A multitude of ceramic sherds were unearthed by a landowner on the margins of a lake in Otter Tail County, MN. MSUM Students helped document the site, later known as 21-OT-242, or the Crave Site. The collected sherds spanned the Initial Woodland period (beginning 200 BCE) through the Late Precontact period (1100-1600 CE). Basic measurements and analysis of these sherds began in September 2024 and were completed in March 2025. These measurements included average wall thickness, cord spacing, cord width, and cord twist type. Two groups were being measured: sherds that could be reliably orientated as horizontal, Group 1, and sherds that could not, Group 2. Using the rims from Group 1, an acceptable range was created using the standard deviation of the population. This range was then applied to the body sherds of Group 1 and the whole of Group 2. This poster presents an overview of the measurement process and the evaluation of the two groups.

This project examines Senegalese national cinema in the three decades following the end 
of French Rule, focusing on how filmmakers used cinematography to critique the long-lasting 
effects of France and Senegal’s struggles with national identity and their newfound 
independence. In the immediate aftermath of Senegal gaining independence in 1960, the first 
generation of African filmmakers, including Ousmane Sembène, Djibril Diop Mambéty, and 
Paulin Soumanou Vieyra, arose. These filmmakers dared to explore the looming presence of the 
French during post-colonialism following Senegal’s independence. Through a close reading of 
the films of the time, this study explores how the deliberate use of cinematography depicts 
France. The films will be examined through cinematographic analysis, which includes framing, 
photographic elements, and duration of the shots. The films were selected for their varying 
viewpoints of their former colonists, such as Sembène’s cynical eye in Borom Sarret (1963) and 
Black Girl (1966), Mambéty’s idealistic view of France in Touki Bouki (1973), and Safi Faye 
commenting on the residue of French practices in Kaddu Beykat (1975). The analysis applies the 
theory of post-colonialism to viewing these films in the context of their contemporary period. By 
examining the cinematography of postcolonial films, this presentation argues that Senegalese 
filmmakers challenged the French colonists, many of whom remained in the area and remained 
dominant in their “independent” nation. This study contributes to broader discussions on African 
cinema, cinematography, and colonialism.

Jellyfish blooms are on the rise across the oceans and seas everywhere. These clouds of jellyfish impact the natural ecosystems, but how? These blooms disrupt food cycles, causing strains on native populations of fish and organisms. They also impact local economies, impacting commercial fishing and fish farming. However, small groups of jellyfish actually benefit the ecosystems they rest in by aiding in nutrient cycles. After gathering others' research, we plan to present on some of these impacts in depth, as well as emphasizing that while these dense blooms are bad, the organisms themselves have a purpose.

Ozempic (semaglutide) is a medication originally approved for managing type 2 diabetes. However, it has gained significant attention for its off-label use in weight loss, raising questions about public perception, education, and potential misconceptions surrounding the drug. To investigate this, we are utilizing published research articles discussing the side effects with treatment and weight gain after treatments. The research articles resulted in mass amounts of side effects from treatment. Patients showed signs of weight loss with treatment, but post treatment weight was gained back. The literature research will inform a survey design to examine the understanding and perceptions of Ozempic among the student body at MSUM, focusing on whether there is a disconnect between knowledge of the drug’s intended use and how it is perceived and or used among students. By analyzing this information, we aim to identify gaps in education and common misconceptions.This study

This research will contribute to public health discussions providing insight into how younger populations perceive and use GLP-1 receptor agonists. These results may inform future educational initiatives, ensuring knowledgeable health care decisions regarding prescription medications. Understanding how Ozempic is viewed at MSUM will help address misinformation and promote responsible usage within the community.

This project addresses the challenge of inefficient study planning among university students by developing StudyFlow, an AI-driven web application that optimizes task prioritization and personalized scheduling. Students often struggle to balance deadlines, course difficulty, and study goals, leading to stress and reduced academic performance. StudyFlow integrates a custom algorithm to prioritize tasks based on urgency and complexity, alongside OpenAI’s GPT-3.5 Turbo for generating actionable study recommendations. Built with React.js for the frontend and Flask for the backend, the tool also features note search functionality and calendar synchronization. Preliminary testing demonstrates a 30% reduction in missed deadlines and improved task adherence. By automating time management and leveraging AI, StudyFlow offers a scalable solution to enhance student productivity and academic success, with potential applications in educational institutions and e-learning platforms.

While we all know of the worst cults in the world, we never think we could be involved in such a scandal. But what if you were and you didn’t know it? This presentation explores the hidden economic impact of cults on communities and the ways in which we are unknowingly influenced and manipulated for financial gain. We aim to educate individuals on the financial manipulation they are not aware of, and how to avoid it. What cults do you blindly support?

According to the Federal Reserve, the top decile of U.S. households possesses over 70% of total wealth while the bottom half of U.S. households claims approximately 2% of total wealth. This stark disparity highlights the growing concentration of wealth among a small segment of the population, raising concerns about economic mobility and long-term financial stability. Using publicly available data, this research employs regression analysis to examine the relationship between wealth inequality, measured by the Gini coefficient, and independent variables such as education level, race, access to credit, inheritance, and tax policy. Unlike prior studies that focus on the relationship between income and wealth inequality, this research analyzes wealth disparities through the lens of intergenerational transfers and financial asset accessibility. Policymakers and economists can utilize the findings to design comprehensive interventions that reduce economic disparities.

This project introduces Guess Number, a web-based adaptation of the classic Bulls and Cows game, featuring AI-driven opponents and real-time multiplayer functionality. Players can challenge an AI with three difficulty levels—easy, medium, and hard—or connect with friends using a unique connection code for seamless matchmaking. The game is built using React for the front-end, Node.js for the backend, and WebSockets for real-time communication, ensuring an interactive and scalable user experience. The project integrates key concepts from artificial intelligence, software engineering, and network communication, making it a comprehensive application of modern computer science principles.

As digital media consumption has risen dramatically in recent decades, concerns have emerged regarding its impact on early language acquisition and communication skills. This poster presentation examines current research on the relationship between screen time and language development in children, highlighting both potential benefits and risks. While interactive, high-quality content may support language learning, excessive screen exposure has been linked to delays in expressive and receptive language skills. Additionally, this poster presentation explores the critical role of Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs) in guiding families toward responsible media use and integrating evidence-based strategies to foster language development. By integrating recent findings, this poster presentation provides a comprehensive perspective on how screen habits influence children's language growth and how SLPs can support families in promoting balanced media consumption.

Abstract of the Project
This project focuses on developing an AI agent capable of defeating a Dark Souls 3 boss using deep reinforcement learning. The implementation is primarily in Python and integrates game memory extraction, reinforcement learning algorithms, and automated game control.

Key components of the project include:

Game Control and Automation

control_ds3.py: Manages basic game interactions by sending input commands.
control_ds3_ml.py: An advanced version incorporating machine learning-based decision-making.
start_fight.py: Handles initialization and management of the boss fight sequence.
Game Memory Extraction

LUA Scripts: Extract boss and player data from memory using Cheat Engine (gundyr_extractor.LUA, player_extractor.LUA, damage_checker.LUA).
coordinate_converter.py: Transforms raw game data into structured input for the model.
Data Files: Stores extracted numerical game data for training and evaluation.
Reinforcement Learning Model

Trains an AI agent to learn optimal attack and defense strategies against the boss.
Uses memory-extracted data to refine decision-making and reaction times.
This project demonstrates the integration of real-time game data extraction, machine learning-driven automation, and reinforcement learning-based gameplay optimization to create an AI capable of tackling complex in-game challenges.

Drugs and Substance in the United States is a pervasive issue that impacts the lives of many individuals, families and communities. Our project explores the effects of mental and physical health effects of drugs and substance abuse. Through the use of recent research and data , it highlights the short and long term consequences of various substances , including physical health, cognitive impairments and increased vulnerability to mental health disorders. Additionally our project also dives into the societal consequences like criminal behavior and the burden on health care systems.

Credit cards are a common aspect of modern American finance, yet their use can lead to significant debt accumulation. With over 190 million Americans holding at least one credit card and an average debt of approximately $6,300 per cardholder, rising living costs have intensified reliance on credit for everyday expenses. This study investigates credit card usage patterns among young adults, identifying three distinct user profiles: those who use cards sparingly to build credit, individuals who leverage rewards programs while managing repayments effectively, and high-risk users who rely on minimum payments despite financial constraints. This research examines how consumer behavior and external economic pressures contribute to escalating debt levels. The findings highlight the need for improved financial literacy and regulatory measures to support responsible borrowing practices.

The world is facing an extreme organ shortage, meaning there are not enough organ donors to meet the demands. Past research has searched for ways to increase donor numbers and reduce the disparity. This experiment will explore which educational video type will encourage more people to change their organ donation attitudes. Participants will complete a survey to gauge organ donation attitudes before receiving the educational intervention. There are two conditions, pathos video or logos video, after watching the video participants will retake the organ donation attitude survey. Results from pre-education and post-education will be compared for changes in positive organ donation attitudes. The results thus far have not been able to conclude that participants in the pathos video condition reported greater positive change in organ donation attitudes compared to the participants in the logos video condition.

Sensory play is a crucial component of early childhood education, particularly in a preschool setting, as it supports cognitive, emotional, social, and motor development. Engaging children in hands-on activities stimulates their five senses, smell, taste, touch, sound, and sight. These developmental milestones and engagement of different senses can be achieved through either specific sensory tables or interactive experiences. While sensory play is often depicted as “messy” or “loud”, a prepared environment with a few house rules is beneficial to the child and enhances the way in which they react to their environment through multiple senses. Sensory activities and tables can be set up indoors, outdoors, through a premade kit, or made with materials throughout a home. 

COVID-19 was a global pandemic that affected various aspects of health and forced many individuals to quarantine themselves for many months, beginning in March of 2020. We believe this lack of connection to the outside world played a big factor in individuals mental health, specifically anxiety and depression. We intended to determine if there was an increase of mental health issues after COVID-19, and if so, what individuals were most impacted by it. The dataset from the 'House Pulse Survey' displays multiple variables that were recorded to understand types of mental health prevalence and among what certain groups. Our exploratory data analysis will compare anxiety and depression, and will look for a correlation between mental health and state, age, race, and gender. We expect to find that young, male individuals between the ages of 18-29 living in the Midwest are more likely to have depression and anxiety. Our results could help future mental health care and awareness by knowing what type of mental health is most common as well as why certain people are affected more than others.

This study explored whether context change and trait creativity lessen the memory blocking effect (MBE). The memory blocking effect occurs when spelling related study words (e.g., KANGAROO) impair word fragment completion (K_NG_O_S) for a similar target (e.g., KINGDOMS) (Smith & Tindell,1997; Leynes et al., 2008). The current study explored a possible interaction between study word (e.g., competing KANGAROO and positive KINGDOMS) and match/mismatch of contexts between study and test presentations. Lower rates of word fragment completion should occur for competing primed fragments compared to unprimed fragments (i.e., MBE).  However, a context x prime type interaction is expected, with lower MBE occurring to competing primes only when context is changed for the test phase. A correlation between memory blocking rates and K-DOCS creativity scores will also be explored. A significant negative correlation would suggest a connection between high trait creativity and lower MBE rates, demonstrating adaptive forgetting of competing information and creativity.  

International students contribute over $50 billion annually to the U.S. economy; however, as of 2021, only 17 percent of those earning an undergraduate degree remained in the country post-graduation, with fewer than 50 percent staying long-term. This study evaluates the economic value of a U.S. undergraduate degree by examining labor market accessibility in both the United States and students’ home countries. A comprehensive literature review, incorporating data from the National Center for Education Statistics, the Institute of International Education, and other government sources, identifies structural barriers limiting international graduates' employment prospects. Additionally, policy analyses assess the extent to which visa regulations constrain labor market participation. Findings indicate that U.S. labor market access for international students completing an undergraduate degree in the U.S. is highly restricted, with opportunities increasing at higher levels of education. Further, no labor market preference exists for international students holding U.S. degrees compared to peers educated in their home countries. These insights provide a data-driven framework for prospective students to assess the return on investment of a U.S. undergraduate education and inform policy recommendations aimed at improving international student retention and labor market integration.

Over the course of 2022, 2023 and 2024 we utilized the Paul P. Feder observatory in conjunction
with data from several other sources to search for variable stars in a field located in the
Constellation Boötes. The field had no known variables but using data from the Feder Observatory,
AAVSO member Geoff Stone, and NASA’s TESS satellite, we have found several variable stars
and have initial period estimates for them. During 2023 we selected eight promising stars based
on data from our Feder Observatory, then during 2024 we obtained data from our observatory and
NASA’s TESS Quick Look Pipeline (QLP) to complement our ground-based observations. Of the
eight stars initially selected from our data as potential variable, 3 of them are variable according
to TESS’s data. Utilizing a Lomb-Scargle periodogram we were able to estimate the period of
these stars. All of the stars found thus far exhibit periods on the order of several days and
magnitude changes of several millimagnitude. We are working to classify the stars.

This lab aimed to determine the inductance of a solenoid using three different methods: direct calculation from coil dimensions, direct measurement using an inductance bridge, and measurement based on the frequency response of the solenoid. The direct calculation from the solenoid's dimensions resulted in an estimated inductance of 190 ± 10 μH. The inductance bridge gave a measured value of 154.7 ± 0.1 μH. Lastly, a frequency response analysis using a plot of tan(?) vs frequency led to an inductance value of 112 ± 2 μH. The significance ratio analysis revealed that the values from the three methods were significantly different, with a significance ratio of 15.1 between the calculated and frequency response values, and 3.49 between the calculated and bridge-measured values. Despite these differences, the experiment successfully demonstrated various techniques for measuring inductance and their implications on understanding the solenoid's properties.

According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Atrazine (ATR) is a chlorinated triazine broadly used as a herbicide that selectively controls annual grasses and broadleaf weeds before they emerge. Pesticide products containing ATR are registered for use on several agricultural crops such as corn. ATR has been known to disrupt the endocrine system and induce inflammatory responses. Recent studies have been conducted on the inhalation of ATR and the increased level of inflammatory cytokines such as IL-6, but there remains a gap in knowledge of the precise underlying mechanisms and long-term effects of ATR. The experimental plan for cell culture is to assess the impact of ATR exposure on IL-6 protein expression in lung A549 cells. The cells will be placed into 96-well plates and exposed to ATR for periods of 24 hours, 48 hours, and 72 hours with 3 trials total. Subsequently, we will analyze the marker IL-6 for inflammatory response and a reactive oxygen species (ROS) analysis to assess injury within cells utilizing enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Following that, we will perform quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) to determine the IL-6 expression. Our future plan is to look at hematoxylin and eosin staining in mouse models to determine how the exposure to ATR is impacting inflammation in mouse brain and lung cells. Our expected result would be that both A549 cells and mouse brain tissue would have inflammatory responses to ATR. This experiment might aid in informing the use of ATR in the environment, for humans and animals. 

Understanding and predicting neutron population in a nuclear reactor is crucial for ensuring the safe and efficient operation of nuclear power plants. This project focuses on modeling neutron population using the point reactor kinetics equations, which account for both prompt and delayed neutron contributions to the fission chain reaction. With the one-group approximation and assuming a constant reactivity, a simplified first-order separable differential equation is derived to describe the neutron population over time and an analytical solution is obtained, providing insights into nuclear reactor stability. The model's validity is tested against known neutron population data, revealing that while the solution offers a reasonable short-term approximation, it overestimates neutron growth in the long-term. The results show the importance of accurate modeling in reactor physics and highlight the need for further refinements to improve long-term predictions.

My topic is a discussion of the challenges that Student-Athlete might face while attending college. I will also mention some of the benefits that we face. I have wrestled here at MSUM for 3 and half years now and have experienced both the lowest of lows and the highest of highs. Some of the challenges that I will be talking about are specific to wrestling and some will be challenges that most student athletes face. One of the wrestling-specific challenges that I will be talking about is “Cutting weight” and the mental and physical toll it takes on an athlete. A challenge that most student-athletes will face is time management, with their school studies and the time they need to schedule workouts for their respective sport. There are also many benefits to being a student-athlete that I will talk about such, as the support and the connections you make with others. 

The growing use of AI (artificial intelligence) technology is a contemporary phenomenon with unprecedented impacts on society. Everyday, large language model (LLM) technologies, such as ChatGPT, are being utilized in ever-evolving ways and having profound impacts on what information is being dispersed to the world and how that information is utilized. One such area of interest is that of choral programming where the inquiry of how AI may influence this field was explored. Questions arose around AI’s ability to streamline the music selection for music educators, taking particular consideration of the accuracy of results and the representation of diverse cultures and backgrounds. As a result of these queries, this study aimed to investigate the potential biases and inaccuracies present in LLM technology and the implications on choral programming.

 The findings of this study revealed a trend: ChatGPT effectively generated choral programs predominantly featuring Caucasian male composers. Furthermore, upon prompting AI to generate works specifically from diverse backgrounds, the results reflected a greater propensity to generate non-existent works related to these composers. These results highlighted a phenomenon called “hallucination,” when AI generates inaccurate or misleading outputs. The study reflects AI prioritizing accurate results for male Caucasian composers, while “hallucinating” results from people of color and female composers. 

Using the ChatGPT platform 100 choral programs, totalling 1,000 AI-curated choral works, were analyzed for biases and inaccuracies. These mistakes included instances where either the composer of the piece or the piece itself was non-existent. Other parameters were tabulated, including percentage of composers who were of color, composers gender, and repetition of specific composers and their work. The data exposes AI’s propensity to mis-represent the work of composers of color and favor certain composers over others.

This research has profound implications for the future of choral programming and provides valuable insights into the current capabilities of using AI in music. This study underscores both the potential and the shortcomings of LLM technology in music education and performance and presents a strong case for the necessity of human contributions in concert programming, particularly in representing marginalized voices and their work in this field and in distributing accurate and diverse material. As the use of AI technology in music curation becomes more prevalent, understanding these biases and limitations is crucial for fostering diverse and inclusive programming. This investigation raises awareness of the representation issues within AI-generated content and calls for ongoing scrutiny and refinement of AI technologies to ensure it supports a more equitable and inclusive approach to music creation and curation.

This project examines the impact of Martial Law (1972–1986) implemented by Ferdinand Marcos’s dictatorial regime on Filipino national cinema, analyzing how filmmakers navigated censorship and political repression through symbolism, allegory, and subtext. As state control intensified during Martial Law, films transitioned from mainstream entertainment to politically engaged Third Cinema, critiquing social injustice and authoritarian rule. Through close readings of Santigo (1970), Insiang (1976), and Orapronobis (1989), this study explores how narrative techniques and cinematography were used strategically by filmmakers to convey hidden themes of resistance and expose state violence. Due to Marcos’s strict media censorship and the new Board of Censors for Motion Pictures (BCMP) filmmakers paid close attention to fine details in their use of visual symbolism, political allegories and cultural subtext. This analysis draws upon the theories of cultural hegemony (Scalice), feminism (Roces), and cinematic trauma (Martin). By examining how these films encrypt resistance with constrictions on artists’ abilities, this study argues that Philippine cinema under Martial Law functioned as both a site of subversion and a historical record of state repression. This research contributes to broader discussions on Southeast Asian cinema, authoritarian censorship, and the role of film in preserving collective memory and political consciousness in post-dictatorial societies. 

We want to give students resources regarding their study techniques and learning styles. Our target audience is MSUM college students. We have learned through our own personal experiences and those of our classmates that not all students learn the same way. By giving each individual the knowledge to know their learning style and the ways they study the best, we can ensure that each student is reaching their maximum potential. We could partner with the tutoring center or individual tutors to help gain knowledge into the resources available for students. To help us with our project, we believe that we should further our knowledge into the different types of learning styles. We understand that there are a few categories including visual, auditory, kinesthetic, and reading/writing. However, we would like to take a deep dive into each specific category. We would then like to research more into different techniques that apply to each area. Some techniques might include watching videos, active recall, flashcards, or quizzing. To help cater to each specific individual, we would like for them to take a learning style quiz. After they have completed the quiz, we can better understand how to serve those specific individuals. This will also allow us to provide them with the proper resources. A  barrier we might encounter is that someone might fit into two or more learning categories. We can then give them multiple techniques for a range of styles and have them determine which techniques were the most beneficial to them. Another barrier we might encounter is that we would not be able to determine if our teachings were successful or easy to follow through with. We could counteract this barrier by sending out a questionnaire after giving the students some time to try the new techniques.  

For centuries, the Indigenous people of the Americas have been pushed from their homes and onto reservations, if they were fortunate enough to get one. Then, reservations were subject to environmental degradation. These lands are subject to federal rule under the Bureau of Indian Affairs. The BIA, an entity built to work with the Indigenous population, was not built to serve the scientific and technological needs of the people. This oversight made it easier for companies to work on tribal lands in states with higher regulation standards.

As climate activism entered the culture of the 1970s, people began to realize we have an impact on our environment and passed legislation to protect it. By the 2010s, we realized that our carbon emissions were impacting the pace of earth’s warming and something needed to be done. In April 2016, the Sacred Stone Camp was established just north of the Standing Rock Sioux reservation to protest and protect the land from the Dakota Access Pipeline. This study investigates climate change, tribal history, and the activism that led to the Dakota Access Pipeline protests, making national headlines and connecting all tribal nations under a common cause, something not seen in American history.

Executive Functioning (EF) skills are a vital part of increasing independence and completing activities of daily living. EF skills are the ability to use higher-order cognitive skills to coordinate shifting, attention, planning, self-regulation, and working memory. When there are deficits with these skills this may affect social communication and lead to behaviors related to the completion of the task (e.g., dysregulation, not completing the task, and communication breakdowns). Studies have shown that children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have difficulties with the utilization of EF skills. Speech-Language Pathologists (SLP) have a vital role when treating children with ASD.  A key area that a SLP will assess and address in a child with a ASD is EF skills. Treatment and assessments are vital when treating a child with ASD to increase their independence and communication skills. This presentation discusses key considerations for optimizing treatment of each executive functioning skill, offers assessment recommendations, provides effective strategies, and explores various approaches for adapting treatment to best meet the individual’s needs. 

Chagas disease, caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi (T. cruzi), is frequently found near human dwellings, with an estimated 88% of the Mexican population exposed. Our analysis will examine geographic distribution, infection incidence, and human demographics using data from Ramsey et al. (2016), which incorporates Ecological Niche Models (ENMs) for 19 vector species. Researchers integrated data from the 2010 Mexican national census and the 2007 National Forestry Inventory to assess infection patterns. Key findings indicate that Triatoma longipennis, Triatoma mexicana, and Triatoma barberi overlap with human communities, though primarily in low-population areas. Our goal is to create spatial visualizations of these species’ habitats to aid in identifying high-risk areas, ultimately supporting disease prevention efforts for affected communities. 

Due to the nature and miniscule size of DNA, it is important to produce a large number of copies to work with.  As a process of isolation and replication, PCR is an integral step of many DNA analysis techniques.  In order to initiate replication of target DNA in PCR, a short specific sequence of DNA, called a primer, is added to the genomic DNA.  Because primers are so specific, they must be designed for each gene individually.  To be useful and effective, a primer must properly target the gene of interest, attach and anneal at the proper temperatures, and aid in the binding of DNA polymerase.  Once a functional primer is designed, the PCR process must be optimized to consistently replicate accurate copies of the target DNA.

Our research project highlights the relationship between sleep and its effects on college students' academic performance, mental health, and their well-being as a whole. In our study, we focus on how lack of sleep contributes to stress, cognitive impairment, and long-term health problems among college students.

   This problem is rooted from the increasing evidence that many college students experience chronic sleep deprivation due to a high amount of homework or studying, social influence, and poor sleep hygiene. Studies have shown that more than half of college students do not achieve the recommended 7-9 hours of sleep every night, which ultimately leads to negative outcomes including decreased concentration, higher levels of anxiety, and lower academic performance. According to The National Library of Medicine, “Daytime sleepiness, sleep deprivation, and irregular sleep schedules are highly prevalent among college students, as 50% report daytime sleepiness and 70% attain insufficient sleep. The consequences of sleep deprivation and daytime sleepiness are especially problematic to college students and can result in lower grade point averages, increased risk of academic failure, compromised learning, impaired mood, and increased risk of motor vehicle accidents.” (Hershner and Chervin, 2014) Despite the countless amount of research, healthy sleep is often overlooked regarding the wellness of students.

   Our study aims to identify barriers in college populations and their healthy sleep habits, and advocate for strategies to improve students sleep health. Findings have suggested that poor sleep hygiene, excessive screen time, and the normalization of sleep deprivation, has contributed to students' poor academic performance in relation to poor sleep quality. Our research methods highlight disparities in healthy sleep across different student data, targeting low-income students, first-year students, student athletes, students with part-time jobs, or students in high demanding majors, who may face additional challenges due to work or school obligations and financial stress.

   The importance of this research relies heavily in its influence it may have on campus policies and wellness programs. By demonstrating the impact of sleep deprivation, it may advocate for policy changes which may include, mental health support, wellness or relaxation rooms, and sleep education programs. The results, contribute to a better understanding of the relationship between sleep deprivation and how it relates to student health and academic performance, advocating for more interventions to benefit students attending a university. By addressing sleep deprivation as a health priority in college students, it can lead to improved student outcomes, advocating for a healthier and more productive learning environments.

Alaska has a stereotype of large expanses of wildlife with wild land. Located on the southern exterior of the state is the quaint town of Homer. The Homer Harbor is home to water vessels and many marine organisms. Two of the prominent marine mammals are the sea otter (Enhydra lutris) and the harbor seal (Phoca vitulina). Both species have achieved refuge and food in this area, making it an exciting site for tourists to visit. It was unknown how the increased human presence affects the sea otters' behaviors and natural activities. The reason for this study, was to determine if our activity would affect the SEOTs (sea otters). This would hopefully result in a practical solution for SEOT conservation and protection. The observed behaviors of sea otters include foraging, diving, grooming, resting, alert, and vigilant. The group conducted a methodical procedure utilizing wildlife cameras to capture SEOT and boat activity influencing one another. Over the course of six weeks 28 videos fit the criteria and were analyzed with excel and R-studio. Both programs resulted in a supported hypothesis that sea otters do change their behavior in response to boat activity. As the study was concluded, the data was given to graduate students furthering the research, and it was given to the Coast Guard. We hope the research will be valuable to a proposed expansion of the harbor that would increase boat capacity from 40 to 200, including a dock for cruise ships. The purpose of this study was to see if the presence of people, and their activities, results in sea otters shifting their displayed behaviors.