Pages of A Wandering Mind 

This exhibit is an immersive installation exploring the process of self-discovery through wandering, uncertainty, and creative reflection. Inspired by a poem about embracing new perspectives, the work draws from my own college experiences and design journey, highlighting themes of imagination, memory, identity, and growth. Visitors navigate the space using a small “map” that guides them through interactive pathways, symbolizing the choices and shifts in perspective that shape a person’s life. Designed to resonate with students and individuals facing self-doubt or imposter syndrome, the installation offers a supportive and reflective environment that encourages viewers to recognize their progress, trust their journey, and view wandering not as being lost, but as an essential part of becoming who they are.

Presenter(s): Jaydrian S Bendewald

Department/Division/Area: Art

Faculty/Staff Advisor(s): Young Ae Kim

Poster Number: 200

The Invisible Thread: Visualizing Sustainability in Film Production 

The Invisible Thread: Visualizing Sustainability in Film Production is a visual communication campaign that examines the often-overlooked environmental impact of film and television production. Through a large-format infographic poster supported by augmented reality, the project translates research on carbon emissions, material waste, energy consumption, transportation, and digital streaming into accessible and visually compelling formats. The campaign maps each stage of production, from pre-production through distribution, using structured data visualizations and targeted case studies designed for filmmakers, investors, studios, and audiences. By breaking down complex sustainability data into digestible visual systems, the project demonstrates how individual decisions accumulate into significant ecological consequences. Rather than presenting sustainability as an abstract moral issue, The Invisible Thread reframes it as a design and systems challenge embedded within everyday production workflows. The AR posters function as both visual identity and conceptual entry point. Each poster centers the campaign’s slogan and incorporates distinct color palettes, motion, and visual cues drawn from specific stages of filmmaking. The intention is not to immediately instruct or persuade but to spark curiosity and invite closer examination. The augmented layer deepens viewer engagement by revealing additional content through interaction, reinforcing the idea that environmental impact is embedded within processes that are often unseen. Together, the physical and digital components position the campaign as an investigative and educational platform aimed at fostering greater awareness and accountability within the entertainment industry

Presenter(s): Yaslin Ruedas

Department/Division/Area: Art

Faculty/Staff Advisor(s): Young Ae Kim

Poster Number: 201

Motionary - A Global Education App For Students K-12 

Motionary is a global education application designed to support K–12 students by making learning more engaging, inclusive, and enjoyable. As educational gaps continue to affect students worldwide, there is a growing need for accessible and innovative learning tools. Motionary addresses this need by providing curriculum-aligned content across core subjects while integrating real-world connections into everyday learning. The app uses interactive lessons, multimedia resources, and collaborative tools to encourage active participation rather than passive learning. A key feature of Motionary is its use of fun, colorful characters and visually engaging materials that help simplify complex concepts and maintain student interest. Lessons include easy-to-understand questions supported by graphics and interactive elements, making content accessible to students with different learning styles and academic abilities. The platform also incorporates adaptive learning technology to personalize instruction based on individual progress, ensuring that students receive appropriate support and challenge. Teachers can access built-in assessment tools and progress tracking dashboards to monitor performance and adjust instruction as needed. Accessible across multiple devices, Motionary is suitable for both classroom and remote learning environments. Overall, the app promotes critical thinking, collaboration, and problem-solving skills while expanding educational access and preparing students from kindergarten through twelfth grade to succeed in an increasingly connected world. 

                            Presenter(s):  Gina Gras

Department/Division/Area: Art

Faculty/Staff Advisor(s): Young Ae Kim

Poster Number: 202

ILUS (Layers in Motion: Beneath the Skin) 

ILUS, meaning beautiful in Estonian, is a Data Visualization and Design research project that transforms dermatological science into an interactive, multisensory experience. The project investigates how cosmetic ingredients commonly found in everyday skincare products, such as parabens, phthalates, and PFAS, move beneath the skin and influence the human body. While this information typically resides within scientific journals and chemical databases, ILUS translates it into an accessible visual language that bridges science, design, and public awareness. At the heart of the project is the campaign, “Layers in Motion: Beneath Your Skin,” which transforms data into discovery through motion, color, and material. The installation comprises five panels that invite audiences to engage with scientific data through tactile exploration, revealing hidden information with 3D glasses, uncovering health statistics through scratch-oƯ surfaces, and utilizing sliding mechanisms to identify skin types and personal care needs. A rope-guided pathway visualizes the day and night rhythm of skincare absorption, while take-home cards oƯer participants personalized, data-informed insights that connect scientific findings to their daily routines. Expanding the project’s reach beyond the physical installation, ILUS includes a series of augmented reality (AR) Posters that activate through mobile devices. When scanned, these posters bring visual data and scientific imagery to life, allowing audiences to experience the flow of cosmetic ingredients beneath the skin through dynamic, motion-based visualizations. This digital layer extends the project’s interactive ethos into public and virtual spaces, reinforcing its core commitment to accessibility and engagement. Grounded in principles of human-centered and participatory design, ILUS redefines data visualization as an embodied, aesthetic, and educational act. By merging design, science, and technology, the project demonstrates how visual communication can make complex research tangible, cultivate curiosity, and empower individuals to make informed, conscious decisions about what they apply to their skin. 

                            Presenter(s): Izabelle B Neubaner

Department/Division/Area: Art

Faculty/Staff Advisor(s): Young Ae Kim

Poster Number: 203

Dial Tone: Trouble with the Connection...

My thesis show explores and critiques the impact of consumerism, technology, social media, and nostalgia of the 1980s and ’90s through an immersive, multi-room experience on our sense of identity and human connection. The use of humor helps to make these topics approachable. This installation is a culmination of my graduate school work, bringing together the themes, research, and media that have shaped my artistic practice. 

This work is about the growing disconnect in a society where digital interactions increasingly replace physical and emotional ones. The superficial connections fostered by our devices are contributing to a mental health crisis marked by isolation, aggression, and misinformation. Drawing on personal memory, cultural critique and research, the installation acts as a reflective space for the topics that are being brought to light. 

The installation will be constructed using five distinct rooms, each designed to evoke a particular aspect of the themes I explore. Nostalgia Identity, Evolution of Technology, Social Media and Perception, Branding and Consumer Culture, and Grief and Disconnection. 

Through a mix of media with painting, printmaking, sculpture, video, and installation the exhibit will create an emotional and psychological journey displayed using humor and familiar imagery. The construction will involve lumber, plywood, cloth, plastic, iron, aluminum, paper mâché and collected vintage devices, among other materials. There will be around 50 paintings, screen-printed wallpaper, sculptural objects, video/animation, photography, and interactive elements. 

                            Presenter(s): Andrew Hembd

Department/Division/Area: Art

Faculty/Staff Advisor(s): Amber Hansen

Poster Number: 204

OKO App and Web Design 

OKO is an app and website designed to deliver friendly, understandable weather updates and simple, actionable guides that make preparedness feel less overwhelming and more achievable. Instead of alarm, it focuses on clarity, and breaking down forecasts into what they actually mean for your day and your safety. Through small, timely reminders and thoughtful tips, OKO helps users build everyday resilience in manageable steps. It also creates space for connection, oƯering a supportive community where preparedness feels shared, empowering, and human. 

                            Presenter(s): Emily Kurtz

Department/Division/Area: Art

Faculty/Staff Advisor(s):  Young Ae Kim

Poster Number: 205

The Silhouette, A Photo-film project

My work explores psychological turmoil and its influence on how we experience the world, depicting how personal histories and intense human conditions reshape our perception of reality. Working across photography, printmaking, installation, and video-based art, I investigate hidden truths within subjective distortion, uncovering the obscurities of the human mind and emotion. Through this interdisciplinary approach, my work transforms inner psychological landscapes into shared visual experiences, inviting viewers to confront the complexities of perception and the fragile boundaries between inner and outer worlds. I want this work to resonate beyond personal experience and communicate a universal human experience through the language of photography and film. By addressing the emotional realities that many people experience, I like to build a sense of connection and empathy, towards our shared human experiences of pain, loss, and the ongoing search for identity. 

                            Presenter(s): Shirin Jafarizadeh

Department/Division/Area: Art

Faculty/Staff Advisor(s):   John Banasiak

Poster Number: 206

Veratridine inhibits the mTORC2 tumorigenic pathway, suppressing metastatic colorectal cancer 

Colorectal cancer (CRC) causes approximately 900,000 deaths annually worldwide. The survival rate for patients diagnosed with localized CRC is 90 percent; however, once the cancer metastasizes or spreads to other parts of the body, the five-year survival rate drops to a dismal 15%. There is a clear need for a new generation of targeted therapies that can safely and eƯiciently target the metastatic features of CRC cells. Our lab has shown that Veratridine (VTD), a lipid-soluble plant alkaloid, can enhance the expression of a ubiquitinlike protein called UBXN2A as a colon-specific tumor suppressor protein. UBXN2A binds and negatively regulates the Rictor protein, a key member of the mTORC2 signaling pathway. This results in suppression of mTORC2-AKT’s downstream signaling pathway in cancer cells. We hypothesize that the VTD-UBXN2A axis decreases migration in human CRC tumors. Human colon cancer cells and patient-derived xenograft cell lines in 2D and 3D spheroid forms were used to complete this project. Real-time cell migration and invasion analysis using xCELLigence technology and Cytation 1 cell imaging system revealed that the VTD-UBXN2A axis can suppress metastatic characteristics of CRC cells, including cell proliferation and migration. Small-molecule targeted compounds have been successfully developed in clinical medicine to prolong the survival time of patients with advanced tumors. This ongoing study will provide detailed insight into the therapeutic efficacy of a potential targeted therapy to safely and effectively target CRC cells while normal cells can remain intact. 

Presenter(s): Kate Schraufnagel

Department/Division/Area: Basic Biomedical Sciences

Faculty/Staff Advisor(s): Khosrow Rezvani

Poster Number: 100

Injury Alters Sensory, Motor, and Integrative Elements Underlying Operant Conditioning in the Medicinal Leech 

Pain is a complex experience that has both sensory and affective components. Many current pain assays focus on assessing the sensory component of pain and neglect the emotional component. We used leeches (Hirudo Verbana, N=8) to test self-motivated behaviors in relation to pain by using an assay that includes a two-choice arena consisting of one dark chamber and one illuminated chamber linked by a connecting section filled with gravel. Animals were placed in the illuminated chamber of the choice arena and given 180 seconds to cross into the dark chamber. Animals repeated the 180 second trial 5 times with a 5-minute intertrial rest. It was discovered that as animals completed repeated trials, escape latency decreased showing evidence of operant conditioning. Also, when retested 2 hours after the last training trial, the learned escape latency was still retained. In addition, animals (N=14) were injured with a t-pin in their posterior sucker and completed the training assay which included five, 180 second trials in the choice arena with 5 minutes of intertrial rest. Interestingly, escape latency decreased in all the trials of the injured animals, and there was no 2-hour retention showing that learning and memory are disrupted when animals are in an injured state. Finally, we placed injured and non-injured animals (N=8 for each group) in an all dark two chamber arena in which one chamber had a dark lid while the other chamber had a transparent lid. Animals were placed in the chamber with the transparent lid and escape latency to the completely dark chamber were measured. Injured animals had significantly faster escape latencies compared to non-injured counterparts, signaling that injury significantly increases negative phototaxis. Together, these findings begin to explain the complex set of behaviors that pain constitutes.

Presenter(s): Ella Dockendorf 

Department/Division/Area: Basic Biomedical Sciences

Faculty/Staff Advisor(s):  Brian Burrell 

Poster Number: 101

Comparing Student Performance and Perceived Learning Between In-Person and Online Sections of an Undergraduate Human Anatomy and Physiology Laboratory Course 

Online laboratory courses are increasingly common in undergraduate science education, but their effectiveness relative to in-person laboratories remains unclear. This study compared students’ academic performance and perceived learning outcomes between online and in-person anatomy and physiology laboratory sections at the University of South Dakota. Final course grade distribution between the two modalities across three semesters (n = 142 in-person and n = 284 online) were analyzed, and student perceptions of cognitive, affective, and psychomotor learning were assessed using the CAP Perceived Learning Scale instrument in post-course surveys (n = 81 in-person and n = 37 online). Grade distributions across instructors differed significantly between modalities, with online students attaining a higher median grade and a higher proportion of A letter grades. However, when analyses were restricted to sections taught by one instructor, grade differences between modalities were no longer statistically significant, which suggests that instructor variability may have contributed to the observed modality effects. No differences were observed in perceived learning outcome scores between modalities across domains, suggesting there was comparable perceived learning across modalities. 

Presenter(s): Madeline Knox

Department/Division/Area: Basic Biomedical Sciences

Faculty/Staff Advisor(s): Scott Druecker

Poster Number: 102

Drugging UBXN2A, a tumor suppressor protein in colorectal cancer: Selective suppression of mTORC2-AKT pathway in patient-derived xenograft cells 

Colorectal cancer (CRC) causes approximately 900,000 deaths annually worldwide. Despite considerable advances to improve CRC survival over the last decade, therapeutic challenges remain due to rapid metastatic dissemination of primary tumors as well as the inability to safely and effectively target these tumors. Therefore, understanding the mechanisms underlying the multistep metastatic programs activated in CRC tumors is critical for developing novel therapies to improve the management of this advanced disease. We have previously shown that veratridine (VTD), a lipid-soluble alkaloid extracted from Liliaceae plants, can transcriptionally increase UBXN2A, a potent tumor suppressor protein in CRC. UBXN2A induces 26S proteasomal degradation of the Rictor protein, a key member in the mTORC2 tumorigenic signaling pathway. Destabilization of Rictor protein by VTD decreases Akt phosphorylation at Ser473, which is responsible for metastatic signaling downstream of the mTORC2 pathway. We hypothesized that the VTD-UBXN2A axis inhibits the overactive Rictor-mTORC2 pathway in CRC, resulting in the suppression of mTORC2’s downstream pathways, including tumor cell migration and invasion. Using a set of patient-derived xenograft (PDX) cell lines from both early- and late-onset CRC, we determined VTD’s biological and therapeutic eƯects as these cells have the original genetic profile of the human tumors from which they were derived. Western Blot (WB), flowcytometry analysis (FACS), and confocal microscopy revealed that VTD can effectively target the mTORC2-Akt pathways in PDX cells in a UBXN2A-dependent manner. Completing this project will provide new insights into the functions of UBXN2A, a ubiquitinlike protein, in inhibiting tumor metastasis and support the notion that VTD is an attractive and promising treatment strategy for metastatic CRC. 

Presenter(s):  Morgan Montgomery

Department/Division/Area: Basic Biomedical Sciences

Faculty/Staff Advisor(s):  Khosrow Rezvani

Poster Number: 103

Evaluating Anesthesia-Induced Modulation of Sensitization and Locomotion in Hirudo verbana.

Anesthetic drugs are used to disrupt the communication networks in the nervous system. It is commonly used in medicine for various medical procedures and also in research. While the effects of many anesthetic agents are well understood in vertebrates, e.g., mammals and fish, much is unknown regarding anesthesia in invertebrates, especially in the phylum Annelida. To address the gap in knowledge of the effect of anesthesia on the medicinal leech, Hirudo verbana, we evaluated the efficacy of five bath-applied anesthetics, HiMg (high magnesium) saline, MS-222, prilocaine, lidocaine, and HiMg saline + EtOH (ethanol), to quantify their effects on the leech's motor activity and sensitization. Von Frey filaments were used as measurements for behavioral analysis in mechanosensory stimulation and Hargreaves tests were used to measure thermal response latency. Spontaneous locomotion was also observed to assess motor activity. We found that HiMg saline+ EtOH is the most effective anesthetic drug tested and can fully anesthetize a leech for a short duration of time to increase movement latency and decrease sensitization. Understanding the impact of anesthetic drugs on leeches can provide a basis for future studies in the investigation of the physiological effects of anesthesia on the nervous system, and comparing the effects in similar models that have stress or pain conditions 

Presenter(s): Doreen M Flannery

Department/Division/Area: Basic Biomedical Sciences

Faculty/Staff Advisor(s): Brian Burrell

Poster Number: 105

Predictive modeling of West Nile Virus in South Dakota Using public health and climate data (2002-2023) 

West Nile virus (WNV) remains a leading mosquito-borne disease in the United States, with South Dakota consistently experiencing among the highest incidence rates nationwide. This project develops an interpretable, county-level predictive modeling framework to assess spatial variation in human WNV risk across South Dakota by integrating public health surveillance, mosquito infection dynamics, and environmental drivers. Annual county-level human WNV case data from 2002–2023 were combined with mosquito infection percent growth, climate variables derived from PRISM precipitation and temperature datasets (including lagged effects), and terrain and soil indices. After removing highly correlated variables, five key environmental predictors were retained. A Gamma generalized linear model with a log link was trained using an 80/20 train–test split, with predictors standardized to enable effect interpretation. The model effectively captured spatial heterogeneity in WNV risk, with higher predicted risk concentrated in historically affected, warm, and wet counties. Early-season precipitation, warmer summer temperatures, and increased mosquito infection growth showed positive associations with human WNV cases, consistent with known WNV ecology. Counties with missing or uncertain predictions primarily reflected sparse or inconsistent surveillance data, highlighting priorities for improved monitoring. Model projections identified elevated June 2024 WNV risk in counties such as Hamlin, Codington, and Lincoln, while western and sparsely populated counties showed low predicted risk. This integrated modeling approach supports operational, county-level WNV risk mapping and provides a flexible framework that can be updated as new climate and mosquito surveillance data become available to inform targeted public health interventions. 

Presenter(s): : Leyli Mammedova

Department/Division/Area: Biomedical Engineering

Faculty/Staff Advisor(s): Ranjeet John

Poster Number: 106

Cochlear Implant Headgear

Contact sports participation presents a challenge for cochlear implant users due to the risk of device damage and injury. The aim of this senior design project is to focus on the initial stages of development for specialized wrestling headgear for those with cochlear implants. Our intention is to design and prototype a device that is engineered to protect the cochlear device while maintaining safety, comfort, and performance of the user. The design integrates targeted impact protection around the implant site, force distribution features, and adjustable components to ensure proper fit. Materials were selected to balance shock absorption, durability, and lightweight wearability without comprising regulatory wrestling standards. 

Through iterative prototyping, user-centered design principals, and mechanical testing, the headgear was refined to optimize both protection and functionality. Evaluation included impact mitigation analysis, fit testing, and user feedback to ensure real-world applicability. The resulting design demonstrates a practical solution that enhances accessibility in contact sports, which allows cochlear implant users to participate with greater confidence and reduced risk. This project highlights the role of inclusive engineering design in expanding opportunities for athletes with medical devices while opening the door for continued research into adaptable and accessible equipment.

Presenter(s): Grace D Goeden,Janae Hahn, Nicole Chikosi 

Department/Division/Area: Biomedical Engineering

Faculty/Staff Advisor(s): Lisa MacFadden

Poster Number: 107

Multiparametric Behavior Analysis of Autism Mouse Models Using Machine Learning and Depth-Based Tracking Systems

Understanding how genes, neural circuits, and experimental interventions shape behavior requires methods capable of capturing complex and naturalistic actions rather than relying on simple behavioral metrics. In this study, we integrated two depth-based behavioral analysis systems—Motion Sequencing (MoSeq) and the Live Mouse Tracker (LMT)—to perform continuous, multiparametric behavioral phenotyping in mice. These complementary platforms enable detailed characterization of behavior by breaking actions into discrete movement modules (“syllables”), analyzing their sequencing patterns, and tracking individuals over time within social environments. Animals were initially recorded in an open-field assay to evaluate locomotion, exploratory behavior, and center-avoidance patterns. They were then analyzed using LMT within a depth-imaging arena that allowed continuous tracking of individual animals and quantification of social interactions. In a separate cohort, mice were recorded in a confined arena and analyzed using MoSeq to identify behavioral syllables and transitions between them. Machine learning and networkbased analyses were then applied to integrate spatial, modular, and social behavioral features to classify mouse strains. The multiparametric approach substantially improved behavioral discrimination compared with traditional single-metric analyses. Spatial tracking revealed that one strain showed stronger center avoidance and greater variability in exploration patterns. MoSeq analysis identified a diverse repertoire of behavioral syllables, with clear genotype-dependent differences in their usage and transition structures. Network analysis of these transitions further enhanced strain classification. Meanwhile, LMT analysis revealed pronounced differences in social behaviors, with one strain demonstrating significantly higher rates of social approaches, direct contacts, and distinct patterns of physical interaction. Together, these converging behavioral measures produced robust separation between experimental groups. The findings demonstrate that combining depth-based tracking with unsupervised behavioral decomposition provides a more sensitive and comprehensive framework for detecting genotype-dependent behavioral differences.

Presenter(s): Suyash SR Thapaliya

Department/Division/Area: Biomedical Engineering

Faculty/Staff Advisor(s): Etienne Z. Gnimpieba

Poster Number: 108

Tremor Tracer 

Essential tremor and other tremor-related disorders affect the quality of life of more than 40 million Americans. Among these cases, a significant proportion are associated with Essential Tremor and Parkinson’s disease. Despite the prevalence of these conditions, clinicians currently lack standardized and objective tools to consistently measure and monitor tremor intensity and progression throughout diƯerent stages of treatment. This project introduces the Tremor Tracer, a unified diagnostic approach designed to improve the assessment and tracking of tremor severity over time. The system records tremor tracings in a standardized format and incorporates replicate examinations to ensure consistency and reliability of measurements. By collecting tremor data before, during, and after treatment, the Tremor Tracer provides clinicians with clearer and more structured information on how tremors change over time and respond to therapeutic interventions. The ability to visualize and analyze tremor patterns may reveal subtle changes that are difficult to detect through traditional clinical observation alone. Identifying these patterns could help clinicians make more informed decisions when evaluating treatment effectiveness and adjusting patient care strategies. Ultimately, the Tremor Tracer aims to provide clinicians with a more reliable tool for tracking tremor progression, improving treatment evaluation, and supporting more data-driven care for individuals experiencing tremor-related disorders. 

Presenter(s):  Sadikshya Ghimire, Deklen Fennell, Jennifer M. Leberknight 

Department/Division/Area: Biomedical Engineering

Faculty/Staff Advisor(s): Lisa Macfadden,Jennifer M. Leberknight 

Poster Number: 109

Endosymbiogenesis Is Marked by Functional and Selective Genome Reduction, Transfer, and Elimination 

Endosymbiosis is one of the most transformative events in evolution. This theory posits that free-living prokaryotes were integrated into eukaryotic hosts to form highly specialized organelles such as mitochondria. This project investigates how that transformation occurred by quantifying genome reduction during the evolution of mitochondria. We compared 850 protein-coding genes of Rickettsia prowazekii to the 37 genes retained in the mitochondrial genome of Homo sapiens, revealing an estimated 95–96% gene loss. Using NCBI BLASTp, bacterial proteins were classified as retained, transferred to the nucleus, or completely eliminated. Conserved Domain analysis via NCBI CD-Search provided functional annotations, and Reactome allowed us to identify which biological systems were preferentially preserved or discarded. Retained genes were strongly enriched in oxidative phosphorylation and electron transport chain pathways, indicating strong selective pressure to preserve core bioenergetic functions within the organelle. Transferred genes were associated with mitochondrial translation, DNA replication, and protein import, suggesting that essential maintenance functions were preserved but relocated. Eliminated genes were primarily involved in cell wall biosynthesis, environmental sensing, and independent metabolic pathways, reflecting the loss of bacterial autonomy within a host cell. Together, these findings show that mitochondrial genome reduction did not happen randomly, but followed clear functional patterns shaped by evolutionary pressure. Building on this validated framework, for future directions we propose extrapolating these principles in a machine learning context to predict genome reduction dynamics in other models of organellogenesis. Chloroplasts provide a parallel model for evaluation, while nitroplasts represent a nitrogen-fixing endosymbiont currently undergoing partial integration and provides an example of intermediate genome reduction. By connecting completed examples like mitochondria with intermediate systems this work proposes a broader model for understanding how genome reduction progresses during endosymbiosis and how evolutionary principles can guide synthetic organelle design. 

Presenter(s): Jasmine Shrestha

Department/Division/Area: Biomedical Engineering

Faculty/Staff Advisor(s): Randolph Faustino

Poster Number: 110

Digital Biomonitoring of Microbial Communities: a phenotype feature- driven AutoML Framework for bacteria classification

Accurate identification of microbial species is essential for monitoring dynamic biological systems and enabling timely industrial and clinical responses. However, existing microbiological and genomic approaches present a practical trade-off: traditional microscopy is often subjective and time-intensive, while high-precision genomic sequencing lacks the speed and cost efficiency needed for rapid, high-throughput screening. This challenge creates a “minimal data paradox,” where reliable species-level classification typically requires large datasets that may not be available in constrained laboratory environments. This study investigates whether modern deep learning models can maintain strong predictive performance under severe data limitations. We conducted a benchmark comparison of five state-of-the-art convolutional neural network (CNN) architectures for microbial species prediction using datasets with only 8 and 20 samples per class across 23 microbial species. To mitigate data scarcity, transfer learning and synthetic data augmentation techniques were applied during model training. Among the architectures evaluated, EfficientNetB0 consistently demonstrated the highest accuracy, stability, and resilience across both data-constrained scenarios. In the 20 samples-per-class condition, EfficientNetB0 achieved 91.30% classification accuracy with an Area Under the Curve (AUC) of 0.998. Even under the extreme constraint of only 8 samples per class, the model maintained a validation accuracy of 86.96%, outperforming other modern CNN architectures that showed greater performance degradation. These findings demonstrate that carefully optimized transfer learning combined with lightweight CNN architectures can enable robust microbial species classification even in minimal-data environments. The results establish EfficientNetB0 as a practical and computationally efficient model for future high-throughput laboratory validation and automated microbial monitoring systems. This research was supported by the TRIADS program, which provided funding and mentorship that enabled the development and evaluation of this project. 

Presenter(s): Rupesh K Yadav

Department/Division/Area: Biomedical Engineering

Faculty/Staff Advisor(s): Etienne Z. Gnimpieba

Poster Number: 111

Methodology of Comparing Motion Capture Systems in Baseball Pitching 

This project’s objective was to develop a methodology for evaluating the accuracy of the OpenCap motion capture system relative to Theia, a professional-grade markerless motion capture system, by synchronizing and comparing kinematics during baseball pitching. To accomplish this objective, a computational program was developed. Motion capture is an important technique for injury prevention and rehabilitation in baseball, especially for pitching. Theia and other traditional motion capture systems, marker-based and markerless, require extensive setup and expensive equipment. OpenCap is an openplatform markerless motion capture system that requires only two iPhones. This system has shown promise for lower-limb kinematic analysis, but it has yet to be proven effective for upper-extremity kinematics. To determine the accuracy of OpenCap for baseball pitching motion analysis, its kinematics must be compared to gold-standard kinematics provided by professional motion capture platforms like Theia. If OpenCap generates kinematics comparable to Theia, the OpenCap platform could be utilized in real-world applications for injury prevention and rehabilitation for baseball pitchers at all levels. Theia’s exported files do not support external analysis. To overcome this barrier, individual kinematic variables must be extracted from Theia files. After extracting kinematic data from Theia and OpenCap, a program synchronizes and compares the kinematics of these two systems using root mean square error (RMSE). Given motion capture data, this procedure and program can evaluate the effectiveness of OpenCap in comparison to Theia for upper-extremity kinematic analysis. 

Presenter(s): Dane Reeves

Department/Division/Area: Biomedical Engineering

Faculty/Staff Advisor(s): Lisa MacFadden

Poster Number: 112

Integrating Microbial Data and 3D Visualization to Develop a Digital Twin Framework for Studying Microbial Responses to Antimicrobial Agents 

Understanding how microbial systems respond to antimicrobial agents within complex environments remains a significant challenge because traditional analysis methods often lack real-time monitoring and spatial system context. This limitation makes it diƯicult to interpret microbial growth dynamics and evaluate how antimicrobial treatments influence microbial behavior over time. To address this challenge, this project develops a workflow for generating a digital twin framework by integrating microbial growth data with threedimensional visualization tools. Microbial cultures were exposed to antimicrobial agents, including penicillin-streptomycin and hydrogen peroxide, and growth dynamics were monitored using optical density (OD) measurements to quantify changes in microbial density over time. These measurements produced a temporal dataset describing microbial activity and responses to antimicrobial exposure throughout the experiment. The experimental system and associated microbial data were then incorporated into a threedimensional digital environment that reconstructs the experimental space and allows microbial growth data to be visualized within its spatial structure. This digital environment can be explored through a virtual reality (VR) interface, enabling researchers to interact with the system and observe microbial dynamics within a fully three-dimensional context. By integrating real-time microbial data with immersive visualization, this framework establishes a foundation for digital twin models capable of analyzing and predicting microbial responses to antimicrobial agents. This approach provides a new tool for studying microbial system dynamics and may support future applications in biomedical engineering, microbial ecology, and predictive modeling of microbial environments. Financial support provided by the Institutional Development Award (IDeA) from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences of the National Institutes of Health (P20GM103443).

Presenter(s): Graham A Hartman

Department/Division/Area: Biomedical Engineering

Faculty/Staff Advisor(s):  Etienne Z. Gnimpieba

Poster Number: 113

Robotic Cell Dropper for Automated High-Throughput Cell Mechanics 

Modern live-cell microscopy has significantly advanced our understanding of cellular dynamics, yet the delivery of biological samples to these systems remains a predominantly manual and inconsistent process. Manual deposition of single-cell droplets onto microscope slides introduces placement errors and potential contamination risks, which limit the reproducibility and scale of high-throughput imaging experiments. This project addresses these challenges through the development of a multidisciplinary robotic cell delivery system designed to automate sample aspiration and placement. 

The system features a dual-arm architecture: a horizontal transport mechanism for microtube handling and a vertical precision actuator for controlled liquid dispensing. Controlled via a Python-based interface, the robot is engineered to achieve a target placement accuracy of ±50 µm, significantly improving upon manual techniques. Preliminary verification and validation (V&V) testing of mechanical sub-components has confirmed the stability and precision of the robotic arms, with successful results in linear displacement accuracy and microtube clamping security. By providing a reliable, automated alternative to manual pipetting, this system enhances the efficiency of cell mechanics research and enables researchers to perform complex, high-volume experiments with greater precision and minimal human intervention. 

Presenter(s):  Manish Rayamajhi, Eric Johnson, Cadence Peterson, Khaymin Miller, 

Mackenzie Hins, Jasmine Shrestha, & Evan Beier 

Department/Division/Area: Biomedical Engineering

Faculty/Staff Advisor(s):  Lisa MacFadden, 

Poster Number: 114

Smart Room Status: A QR Code–Based System for Real-Time Clinical Workflow Optimization 

This project presents the design and implementation of a QR code-based room status system intended to improve communication, efficiency and visibility within shared workspaces. Traditional room status indicators, such as whiteboards or manual sign systems are often unreliable, inconsistently updated or inaccessible to remote users. To address these limitations, this system leverages QR codes as a simple and scalable interface for real-time room status updates. Upon scanning, users are directed to a web-based interface where they can indicate the specific room they are entering and the current status of the room ( e.g., available, patient waiting, patient seeing provider, needs cleaning, cleaning, maintenance, and out of service.) These updates are immediately reflected in a centralized backend system, where they are timestamped, validated, and logged. A desktop dashboard then dynamically displays these updates in real time, allowing providers to monitor clinic activity, and room utilization efficiently. The system also captures operational data by defining “visits” as the lifecycle of a room between availability states and grouping data into daily “shifts.” By analyzing time intervals between status changes, the dashboard generates actionable metrics that help identify in efficiencies in patient flow, and room usage. To ensure system performance, validation and verification testing were conducted, including trigger accuracy, response time, system consistency, and usability assessments. Performance requirements include ≥95% trigger accuracy, ≥98% display accuracy, and an average response time of ≤2 seconds. Overall, this project demonstrates a scalable, low-cost solution for improving clinical workflow transparency, and enabling data-driven decision making in healthcare environments. 

Presenter(s):   Alexa Wingnean, Landon Johnson, Nevan Cremascoli, Isabella Bricker 

Department/Division/Area: Biomedical Engineering

Faculty/Staff Advisor(s):  Lisa MacFadden

Poster Number: 115

The Influence of Bilingual Experience on Speech-in-Noise and Auditory Processing

Bilinguals often show greater variability in speech-in-noise performance compared to monolinguals, even when their hearing thresholds are normal. This difference may reflect variations in how linguistic and auditory cues are processed rather than differences in hearing sensitivity. However, most existing speech-in-noise norms are based on monolingual English speakers, which limits how accurately these tests capture bilingual listening abilities. Moreover, many studies classify participants simply by asking weather they speak more then one language, without considering important factors such as: age of acquisition, when English was first learned or use and how frequently each language is spoken. This project aims to address that gap by exploring how specific aspects of bilingual experience contribute to SiN outcomes and how non-speech auditory processing may explain additional variability. 

Presenter(s): Sakina Jaffer

Department/Division/Area: Communication Sciences & Disorders

Faculty/Staff Advisor(s): Coral Dirks

Poster Number: 116

Faculty Perspectives on Hearing Assistive Technology in Higher Education: A Thematic Analysis 

This qualitative study examined higher education faculty perspectives on emerging hearing assistive technologies, including over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids and consumer earbuds such as Apple AirPods used as assistive listening devices in classroom settings. Twelve faculty members from technical colleges, community colleges, and universities participated in virtual semi-structured interviews, and transcripts were analyzed using a thematic analysis approach. Faculty expressed strong willingness to support students with hearing loss, yet their decisions were shaped by beliefs about accommodation, limited knowledge of emerging devices, and uncertainty about how these technologies function in academic settings. Participants reported feeling more confident when the purpose of the device was clearly communicated, but noted that social perceptions and stigma may influence how device use is interpreted by instructors and peers. Concerns about potential misuse, particularly related to academic integrity during exams, emerged as a consistent barrier to acceptance. Faculty also highlighted insufficient institutional training and a lack of clear policies supporting accommodations for hard-of-hearing students, resulting in inconsistent practices across classrooms. Many emphasized the need for explicit university guidance and broader cultural competency around hearing accessibility. These findings illustrate gaps in awareness, policy clarity, and institutional support that shape faculty responses to rapidly evolving hearing technologies and underscore the importance of targeted training and evidence-based accessibility initiatives to create more inclusive higher education environments. 

Presenter(s): Olivia Taylor

Department/Division/Area: Communication Sciences & Disorders

Faculty/Staff Advisor(s): Michelle Novak

Poster Number: 207

Diagnosing Confident Failures in Large Language Models via Perturbation Sensitivity 

Large language models (LLMs) can produce incorrect answers with high confidence, creating “confident failures” that are diƯicult to detect using accuracy alone. This project builds an evaluation pipeline to measure how stable a model’s outputs and internal confidence signals are under meaning-preserving input perturbations. Using GSM8K-style math word problems as a testbed, we generate paired inputs (original and perturbed) and collect model outputs along with distribution-based metrics at the answer decision point, including entropy, top-token margin, and Jensen–Shannon divergence between next-token distributions. We additionally record whether the extracted final answers flip under perturbation and log failure modes when perturbations or answer extraction are not reliable. The resulting dataset enables targeted error analysis: identifying cases where the model appears confident but is brittle to small wording changes, versus cases that remain stable. This baseline is designed to support subsequent mechanistic tracing and model comparison, helping isolate patterns that correlate confidence with robustness and exposing where confidence signals fail as reliability indicators. 

Presenter(s): Shou-Tzu Han

Department/Division/Area: Computer Science

Faculty/Staff Advisor(s): Rodrigue Rizk

Poster Number: 117

Explainable Cervical Cell Analysis Using Multi-Class Segmentation and Morphological Feature Extraction. 

Automated analysis of Pap smear images has become an important research direction for improving cervical cancer screening. While many deep learning approaches focus on direct classification of cervical cells, they often lack interpretability and fail to explicitly analyze morphological characteristics that are routinely used by cytologists during diagnosis. In particular, the nucleus-to-cytoplasm (N/C) ratio and nuclear shape are key indicators for distinguishing normal from abnormal cervical cells. In this work, we propose an explainable framework for cervical cell analysis based on multi-class segmentation and morphological feature extraction. Using the publicly available SIPaKMeD dataset, which currently provides segmentation masks for whole cells only, we plan to manually annotate nucleus regions to generate additional ground-truth masks. These annotations will enable the development of a deep learning segmentation model that simultaneously segments three classes: nucleus, cytoplasm, and background. The segmentation results will then be used in a post-processing stage to compute clinically meaningful morphological features, including the nucleus-to-cytoplasm ratio and nuclear circularity. These features will provide interpretable evidence for assessing cervical cell health and supporting automated classification. The proposed approach aims to bridge the gap between deep learning–based image analysis and traditional cytopathological criteria by combining accurate segmentation with explainable morphological measurements. This work has the potential to contribute toward more transparent and clinically interpretable computer-aided diagnostic systems for cervical cancer screening. 

Presenter(s): Lloyd A Alemu

Department/Division/Area: Computer Science

Faculty/Staff Advisor(s): Lina Chato

Poster Number: 118

Bridging Symmetry and Robustness: On the Role of Equivariance in Enhancing Adversarial Robustness 

Adversarial examples reveal critical vulnerabilities in deep neural networks by exploiting their sensitivity to imperceptible input perturbations. While adversarial training remains the predominant defense strategy, it often incurs significant computational cost and may compromise clean-data accuracy. In this work, we investigate an architectural approach to adversarial robustness by embedding group-equivariant convolutions specifically, rotationand scale-equivariant layers into standard convolutional neural networks (CNNs). These layers encode symmetry priors that align model behavior with structured transformations in the input space, promoting smoother decision boundaries and greater resilience to adversarial attacks. We propose and evaluate two symmetry-aware architectures: a parallel design that processes standard and equivariant features independently before fusion, and a cascaded design that applies equivariant operations sequentially. Theoretically, we demonstrate that such models reduce hypothesis space complexity, regularize gradients, and yield tighter certified robustness bounds under the CLEVER (Cross Lipschitz Extreme Value for nEtwork Robustness) framework. Empirically, our models consistently improve adversarial robustness and generalization across CIFAR-10, CIFAR-100, and CIFAR-10C under both FGSM and PGD attacks, without requiring adversarial training. These findings underscore the potential of symmetry-enforcing architectures as efficient and principled alternatives to data augmentation-based defenses. 

Presenter(s): Ifrat Ikhtear Uddin

Department/Division/Area: Computer Science

Faculty/Staff Advisor(s): Longwei Wang, KC Santosh 

Poster Number: 119

Machine Learning for Hypertension Prediction in U.S. University Students: Insights from NIH All of Us Data 

Hypertension is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease, and early detection is essential for preventing long term complications. While most predictive studies focus on middle-aged and elderly populations, hypertension risk assessment in very young adults, such as college students, remains underexplored. In our work, we investigate AI-driven hypertension prediction using the National Institutes of Health (NIH) All of Us research dataset, with a specific focus on university-aged individuals in the United States. We develop a machine learning–based detection framework utilizing five feature categories: demographics, clinical laboratory tests, vital health measurements, family medical history, and lifestyle/behavioral factors. Multiple traditional supervised learning models are evaluated, including Decision Tree, K-Nearest Neighbors (KNN), Support Vector Machine (SVM), and Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost). Among the tested approaches, XGBoost achieved the best performance, obtaining an accuracy of 84.88% and sensitivity of 0.787, outperforming all baseline classifiers. The integration of heterogeneous feature groups further improved robustness against missing values and class imbalance, enabling reliable prediction in this challenging young-adult cohort. These results establish a strong baseline for hypertension risk modeling in university populations and motivate future extensions toward more advanced AI-based preventive screening and longitudinal health prediction tasks. 

Presenter(s): Deborah Asamoah

Department/Division/Area: Computer Science

Faculty/Staff Advisor(s): Lina Chato

Poster Number: 120

Empowering Collegiate Female Athletes Through a Brief Educational Intervention on the Female Athlete Triad 

The Female Athlete Triad, characterized by low energy availability, menstrual dysfunction, and impaired bone health, poses significant short- and long-term health risks for physically active females. Despite its prevalence, awareness and education surrounding the Triad remain limited among athletes. This project evaluated baseline knowledge and comfort discussing Female Athlete Triad–related topics among Division I female athletes and assessed the impact of a brief educational intervention. A 30-minute in-person educational session titled “Empowering Female Athletes: Education and Prevention of the Female Athlete Triad” was delivered to athletes from track and field, cross country, tennis, soccer, and basketball programs at the University of South Dakota. Participants completed anonymous electronic pre- and post-intervention surveys assessing prior education, knowledge of the Female Athlete Triad, understanding of nutrition and bone health, likelihood of seeking medical care for menstrual irregularities, and comfort discussing related health concerns. Seventy-nine athletes completed both surveys. Most participants reported prior education on nutrition (72/79), while fewer reported prior education on bone health (31/79) or menstrual health (37/79). Mean self-reported understanding improved significantly following the intervention for knowledge of the Female Athlete Triad (3.00 to 4.27), role of nutrition in athletic performance (3.95 to 4.35), and factors contributing to bone health (2.46 to 4.22) (all p < 0.001). Participants also reported a greater likelihood of seeking medical care for irregular menstrual periods (3.19 to 4.10, p < 0.001) and increased comfort discussing related concerns with coaches, trainers, or healthcare providers (p = 0.002). These findings suggest that brief, targeted educational sessions can significantly improve awareness and promote help-seeking behaviors related to the Female Athlete Triad among collegiate female athletes. 

Presenter(s): Carly Haring

Department/Division/Area: School of Medicine

Faculty/Staff Advisor(s): Jon Olson

Poster Number: 121

Sanford School of Medicine Medical Student Knowledge of Skin Cancer and Sun Health Strategies 

Background: Skin cancer, including melanoma and non-melanoma types, is the most common cancer in the United States [1]. It estimated that 20% of Americans will develop skin cancer in their lifetime [2]. Survival rates of non-melanoma skin cancers including basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma are high, if treated promptly and adequately [3]. Melanoma accounts for the majority of deaths associated with skin cancer [3]. Because of the high prevalence and treatability if caught early, recognition and diagnosis of skin cancer is important. The goal of this project was to determine Sanford School of Medicine medical students’ knowledge of skin and sun health strategies.

Methods: This was a USD IRB approved study with informed consent obtained. Data was collected using the Skin Cancer and Sun Knowledge Scale (SCSK). The SCSK was developed and tested by Day et. al. based on systematic review, existing scales, and best practices [5]. It is a 25-question inventory consisting of true or false and multiple-choice questions. SCSK assesses 5 categories of skin cancer knowledge including sun protection, tanning, risk factors, prevalence, and presentation [5].

Results: 50 SSOM medical students responded to the survey. The average score of participants was 82.72 percent correct, 95 CI [80.44, 85.00]. The average percent correct was highest among third-year medical students (89.71 %) and lowest among first-year medical students (79.20 %). SSOM students scored highest on questions related to skin cancer risk factors (98.00 %) and lowest on skin cancer prevalence (77.00 %). 

Conclusion: First-year medical students scoring the lowest on the SCSK was a hypothesized outcome, given they were the only cohort to have not undergone the skin block at the Sanford School of Medicine. We believe the third-year medical student cohort scoring the highest may be due to this class undergoing licensing examination during the data collection time frame. 

Presenter(s): Emily Eisenbraun, Madison Landon 

Department/Division/Area: School of Medicine

Faculty/Staff Advisor(s): Jennifer Hasvold

Poster Number: 122

BiteBright: Enhancing Health Awareness Through Interactive Digital Engagement†

BiteBright is a UX/UI Design research project exploring how Generation Z’s lifestyle choices impact health and whether interactive digital tools can promote better habits. With Gen Z more health-conscious than past generations, this study asks: What if making healthy choices felt like leveling up in a game? The study reviews scholarly literature to identify key influences on Gen Z’s behavior, focusing on individuals struggling with poor diets, financial mismanagement, and sedentary lifestyles. These insights inform the development of a prototype digital platform aimed at increasing health awareness and behavioral change. BiteBright is a real-time health metric tracking system designed for all engagement levels, from casual to committed users. It provides personalized support through simulation-based guidance, helping users make daily choices that contribute to long-term well-being. The platform has two key components: 1) An interactive website with a simulation tool that visualizes user choices using a life bar, virtual income, dietary decisions, and activity levels to illustrate long-term effects, and 2) A companion mobile app for real-time health tracking, offering personalized feedback and recommendations.

Preliminary findings suggest that gamification and interactive simulations improve health consciousness, leading to more sustainable lifestyle choices. The study calls for further refinement and research into personalized digital interventions for long-term health improvements. BiteBright bridges digital engagement and health awareness, offering Gen Z an innovative and immersive way to interact with their well-being.

Presenter(s): Izabelle B Neubaner

Department/Division/Area: Art

Faculty/Staff Advisor(s): Young Ae Kim

Poster Number: 201

Exploring Loss Using Eco-Friendly Printmaking Methods†

In a world of technological advancements, it is easy to lose touch with our natural surroundings and the impact we have on them. Printmaking is a type of art that uses a matrix to transfer an image onto another surface; typically paper. Within printmaking, there are different methods based on what the matrix is made of. For example, printmaking with a copperplate as the matrix would use the intaglio method, using limestone would use the lithographic method, and so on. Printmaking can contain toxic chemicals that can be harmful to the environment and the artists themselves and the process can call for an excessive amount of materials that go to waste. Statistics have shown that across different art mediums, printmakers have a higher death rate due to constant exposure to harmful chemicals, two examples being lithotine and ferric acid. Lithotine is a liquid chemical used to remove ink that can cause cancer and ferric acid is used to etch copperplates for intaglio that can cause skin irritation. Another way that printmaking is harmful to the environment is the process of trial and error using large amounts of paper to get the desired result. This excessive need brings to attention the amount of paper one wastes. Given this information, we as printmakers can explore alternate, eco-friendly methods that aren't as harmful to us or the environment such as revisiting traditional methods like mokuhanga and replacing the chemicals with non-toxic alternatives. Using what I learned, I created pieces that explore the theme of loss using eco-friendly methods such as paper-making, woodcuts, and collagraphy to name a few.

Presenter(s): Ayano Naoe

Department/Division/Area: Art

Faculty/Staff Advisor(s): Erin Wohletz

Poster Number: 202

Gaining Knowledge in a Community Based Setting†

In April of 2024, Goldie Haukaas and I, Madison Red Owl, attended a conference, known as CBA or Community Built Association in Providence, Rhode Island that was all about community building. We both wanted to attend this conference because we wanted to connect with other and gain knowledge on how to incorporate the community in our art projects. We also wanted to get more experience with working in community-based settings since we both have already done so in the past. While attending this conference, Goldie and I was also able to participate in a panel that was solely focused on the youth. We shared our thoughts on a broad range of questions about community-building and the youth. We learned a lot from being a part of this panel, especially fully understanding why it’s so important to get the youth involved in their respected communities. With our presentation, we would like to share the questions we were asked since the viewers at this panel were older and curious about our thoughts and opinions as youth. Overall, we gained a lot of knowledge from attending this conference and would like to share how important community-based building really is, especially for the youth.

Presenter(s): Madison L Red Owl, Goldie M Haukaas

Department/Division/Area: Art

Faculty/Staff Advisor(s): Amber Hansen, Cory Knedler

Poster Number: 203

Emotionally Motivated†

Finding passion alongside creating works of art is something that comes naturally and progressively with time. From that perspective I’ve found emotions is a complex set of ideas and feelings. Yet I find that my emotions and thoughts drive my work to be more personal and fundamentally more complex. From passion I find motivation to keep exploring complex emotions and strive to showcase throughout my works of art.

Presenter(s): Teryn Running Horse

Department/Division/Area: Art

Faculty/Staff Advisor(s): Erin Wohletz

Poster Number: 204

Analyzing Healthy Human Gait on Uneven Terrain through 3D Modeling‡

Prosthetics have enabled their users to navigate through daily activities relatively independently and safely. Nonetheless, a high rate of dissatisfaction prevails among individuals who rely on such devices, specifically lower limb prosthetics. A key issue stems from the little effort to contribute to the body of research on gait on uneven terrain, leading to prosthetics that are unprepared for adapting to rugged paths as they are incapable of recreating the biomechanics and kinematics of healthy human locomotion. The paucity of data on these movements has resulted in the widespread distribution of ill-equipped lower limb prosthetics that do not permit the user to traverse any surface that is not entirely flat. Additionally, the models used to analyze uneven gait are offered through Visual 3D, a paid software that accompanies most of the motion capture systems. The intent of this project was to provide ease of access to this information to the biomechanics community through model validation in OpenSim, an open-source, free software for musculoskeletal modeling.  Thus, this study focused on in-depth analysis of subjects walking across  even and uneven terrain in OpenSim. Following IRB approval and informed consent, the markers to analyze the volunteers’ steps were placed based on the Rizzoli foot model. The kinematic data produced centered on angles and moments related to the foot-ankle complex during the movement of ten participants. The models generated included graphs broken down by the principal foot segments to pinpoint the most relevant components throughout the walking process. These data will contribute to our comprehension of the biomechanics of lower limbs, leading us closer to emulating the comfort and flexibility of the healthy ankle-foot complex for amputees. Through comparison of data sets in Visual 3D and OpenSim, it was demonstrated that the graphs produced were similar, providing favorable evidence for the OpenSim model’s validity.

Presenter(s): Carla F Medina Canizares

Department/Division/Area: Biomedical Engineering

Faculty/Staff Advisor(s): Lisa MacFadden

Poster Number: 205

Leveraging AI/ML for Enhanced Quantitative Clinical Data Analysis in Sacral Neuromodulation Therapy

Sacral neuromodulation (SNM) is an FDA-approved therapy using a surgically implanted pulse generator and electrical leads to target sacral nerves, treating urinary urgency and bowel incontinence. Despite engineering advances, optimizing electrode placement and device programming remains challenging, often relying on trial-and-error. Clinical research suggests that neuromodulation data from patient history can improve therapy, but these data are often fragmented or missing in electronic medical records (EMRs).

In an AVERA Institutional Review Board–approved retrospective study (#IRB00010096), we deidentified and curated EMR clinical and surgical notes, motor and sensory thresholds, and programming data for patients undergoing SNM implantation. We used records from one year before and one year after the SNM implantation surgery. This approach aimed to preprocess and integrate disparate EMR data into a single, deidentified pilot dataset. Large language models and machine learning were employed to automate the extraction of clinically relevant details, using manual annotations as a reference to ensure high-fidelity data collection.

A preliminary evaluation of this pipeline was conducted using data from 10 patients who received SNM implantation between July 2021 - July 2022. These patients generated 91 total visits (18 surgeries, 73 non-surgical visits), with an average of 3.9 visits in the year prior to implantation and 4.2 visits afterward. 59% of the participants were first-time SNM recipients, while the other half were undergoing device replacement. Initial analysis of clinical and surgical notes revealed an average of 1,222 words per visit, with an average of 172 relevant words or values extracted / visit, forming a robust textual resource for advanced analytics. Future work will include extracting efficacy and device-related data and assessing accuracy.

AI-driven data extraction will facilitate the investigation of therapy outcomes, refine device programming, and guide the development of neuromodulation devices that are easier to implant, simpler to manage, and more effective for patients.

Presenter(s): Janae E Hahn

Department/Division/Area: Biomedical Engineering

Faculty/Staff Advisor(s): Etienne Gnimpieba

Poster Number: 206

Dynamic ACL Strain Estimation Model: Using Movement Analysis to Improve Learning and Prevention.‡

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries are a significant issue among young athletes, particularly in dynamic sports involving cutting, jumping, and landing. This project's main goal is to create a predictive model that can determine ACL stresses during various dynamic movements. Our goal is to improve clinical decision-making about injury prevention, return-to-sport protocols, and rehabilitation by increasing our understanding of the biomechanical factors impacting the risk of ACL injuries. Presently there are no tools readily available to estimate the strain on the ACL therefore we aim to achieve this by combining OpenCap and OpenSim, two open-source tools. OpenCap tracks movement patterns without the need for intrusive techniques by using markerless motion capture technology driven by artificial intelligence and OpenSim is a Musculoskeletal modeling software that simulates the mechanical behavior of joints, muscles, and ligaments during movement. Various modeling approaches were explored with the goal of developing computational models of the ACL. With the help of existing knee models that were created on OpenSim, we were able to better understand what influences the ACL and leads to it being strained. We explored research that showed how internal tibial torque significantly enhances ACL strain compared to external tibial torque and cadaveric specimen research to inform our process. The integration of these experimental observations and modeling techniques has enabled us to know more about what influences and leads ACL strain, giving valuable insight into injury mechanisms and opportunities for clinical intervention in prevention and rehabilitation of injury. This work has reinforced that it is possible to develop a model that predicts when ACL strained which should ultimately lead to better prediction of ACL strain injuries from motion capture.

Presenter(s): Malak Abdelaal

Department/Division/Area: Biomedical Engineering

Faculty/Staff Advisor(s): Lisa MacFadden

Poster Number: 207

Enhancing Orthopedic Implant Performance: Chitosan-Coated Titanium Screw for Biofilm Resistance and Mechanical Stability while promoting the osseointegration

Orthopedic implant-associated infections, primarily caused by biofilm-forming Staphylococcus aureus, pose significant clinical challenges. These infections often lead to implant failure, prolonged antibiotic treatments, and increased risk of revision surgeries, emphasizing the need for effective biofilm-resistant implant materials. Our study presents a dual-functional titanium screw grafted with chitosan to enhance biofilm resistance while promoting osseointegration and preserving biomechanical integrity. Chitosan, a biocompatible polymer with osteogenic and antimicrobial properties, was uniformly coated onto titanium screws via chemical immobilization. Biomechanical evaluations confirmed that chitosan modification did not compromise mechanical performance, as Cs-Ti-S exhibited a torsional yield strength of 1.70 ± 0.00 Nm compared to 1.76 ± 0.05 Nm for unmodified screws (Un-Ti-S), and an axial pullout force of 68.66 ± 14.36 N for Cs-Ti-S versus 70.33 ± 9.71 N for Un-Ti-S. Micro-scratch tests demonstrated comparable hardness (1.26 ± 0.03 GPa for Cs-Ti-S vs. 1.40 ± 0.07 GPa for Un-Ti-S) and scratch resistance, ensuring surface durability. Gene expression analysis showed upregulated β-1 integrin on Cs-Ti-S at 24 hours post-infection, indicating improved osteoblast adhesion. SEM-based biofilm assays revealed significantly reduced bacterial colonization on Cs-Ti-S, with PI treatment effectively preventing biofilm maturation over seven days. Notably, ultrasonication completely removed bacteria from Cs-Ti-S, whereas substantial adhesion persisted on Un-Ti-S. These findings highlight chitosan modification as a scalable strategy for mitigating infections while enhancing osseointegration. By integrating antimicrobial efficacy with mechanical stability, this approach offers a promising non-antibiotic solution to improve implant success, potentially reducing revision surgeries and antibiotic resistance risks. Further, in vivo studies are needed to validate its long-term clinical benefits.

Presenter(s): Manish Rayamajhi

Department/Division/Area: Biomedical Engineering

Faculty/Staff Advisor(s): Ying DengYuyu

Poster Number: 208

MLRehabTrack: A Smart Knee Brace for ACL Recovery and Rehabilitation‡

Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) injuries impact over 400,000 individuals annually in the U.S. and 2 million globally, posing significant challenges to effective rehabilitation and re-injury prevention. Current rehabilitation methods often lack real-time monitoring and personalized guidance, which are crucial for tailored recovery programs and consistent patient outcomes.

To address these challenges, we developed the MLRehabTrack, a knee brace prototype equipped with an Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) sensor and an Arduino platform, aimed at providing an affordable and personalized approach to ACL rehabilitation. MLRehabTrack leverages a machine learning model to deliver continuous, real-time monitoring of knee flexion and extension, offering valuable insights to both healthcare professionals and patients.

The device's random forest algorithm currently classifies individuals into healthy, ACL-recovered, or ACL-injured categories with an accuracy of 67.2%. This accuracy was evaluated using a dataset that included multiple trials conducted on myself, where I recorded the flexion and extension of my right knee while walking. Additionally, I incorporated publicly available IMU sensor datasets from prior research to validate my collected data and refine classification performance. This comparative approach ensured a more robust understanding of sensor readings and improved data reliability.

The device is intended for use in orthopedic clinics, hospitals, rehabilitation centers, and athletic training facilities, with an accessible price point. Initial testing has demonstrated MLRehabTrack’s capability to accurately capture movement data and provide actionable, real-time feedback. The newly developed system offers a data-driven, personalized rehabilitation approach, which not only enhances rehabilitation effectiveness but also addresses the critical need for affordable solutions in underserved communities.

Presenter(s): Nicole Chikosi

Department/Division/Area: Biomedical Engineering

Faculty/Staff Advisor(s): Lisa MacFadden

Poster Number: 209

The Effect of Adding Rebuttal to Claim, Evidence, and Reasoning to Enhance Students’ Ability to Engage in Scientific Arguments

Claim, Evidence, Reasoning, and Rebuttal (CERR) is a teaching strategy used to engage students in constructing and presenting a scientific argument to their peers. The purpose of this study was to measure and determine if building an argument was enhanced by students engaging in a scientific debate and defending an opinion. At the start of the unit, students were given a Likert Scale pre-survey to gauge their interest, confidence, and opinion of using argument in learning science material. An outline was used to pick a claim, record evidence, and provide reasoning in the construction of their arguments. Once students were ready to present to a group of their peers, they were evaluated through observation with the CERR Rubric. Immediately after presentations, volunteers were selected to conduct interviews reflecting on the project and the rebuttal portion in particular. The final instrument used was the Likert Scale post-survey to measure any change in student attitude from start to finish. Students showed positive trends towards argument being a helpful skills and attitude about science in general from start to finish. Having the opportunity to choose a topic, research and construct a strong argument, and engage in debate with peers created an environment that peaked students competitively, as well as prepared them for further scientific research in the future. CERR is a useful classroom tool that can increase student interest and apply to real science practice.

Presenter(s): Ryan Rozeboom

Department/Division/Area: Curriculum & Instruction

Faculty/Staff Advisor(s): John Williams

Poster Number: 109

Sybil Kein and the Preservation of Creole Culture Through Music†

Louisiana Creole scholar, Dr. Sybil Kein, has spent much of her life advocating for the preservation of her culture by educating others through the use of poetry, theater, and music. The purpose of this research is to provide a general context and effects of Creole culture through the different works of Sybil Kein. Creole culture is often overlooked and misunderstood, and Dr. Kein’s works support keeping Creole culture alive. Her unperformed musical “Didn’t He Ramble!” focuses on the life of Louis Armstrong prior to his departure from New Orleans (1901-1922). It acknowledges the diverse individuals that are needed for this production through the description of characters. A wide variety of individuals of Creole and Black descent are needed for this production, and my research has helped me to gain appropriate historical context regarding both cultures. Sybil Kein’s musical “Didn’t He Ramble!” provides a diverse perspective on the making of Louis Armstrong’s jazz career, and I have supplemented this work through the application of appropriate historical context on Creole culture. I have studied the historiography of Creole culture and its effects on the creation of music in New Orleans through other historians such as Dianne Guenin-Lelle and Henry A. Kmen. The marginalization of Creole culture has created an environment in which it is unrepresented and unappreciated. The research I have conducted helps to provide further insight to the significance of the effects of Creole culture.

Presenter(s): Isabella Purzol

Department/Division/Area: History

Faculty/Staff Advisor(s): Todd Cranson, David Burrow

Poster Number: 110

The Lived Experiences of Fathers With Transgender Children Under 18 in States Banning Gender-Affirming Healthcare*

Parents of transgender individuals can experience numerous stressors in accessing care and support for their child's health and well-being. In addition to these challenges, parents may also undergo significant personal growth and transformation. Unfortunately, much of the current literature focuses on mothers' experiences, leaving a gap in understanding fathers' perspectives. This study explored the lived experiences of six fathers of transgender children in three states that ban gender-affirming healthcare. Results highlight the challenges fathers face, their personal growth and change, and shifts in parenting roles due to having a transgender child and living in a state that bans gender-affirming healthcare. This study advances knowledge that can further support families navigating life with a transgender child, as research on the lived experiences of fathers is greatly lacking. Additionally, it underscores how political and environmental factors can impact parental stress and access to care.  It is crucial to understand more about how families, specifically fathers, experience these barriers and supports in states where care is banned.

Presenter(s): Ashley Perez

Department/Division/Area: Psychology

Faculty/Staff Advisor(s): Beth Boyd

Poster Number: 210

“Hug Survey” – Development of a Questionnaire to Assess the Relationship Between Physical Touch and Perceived Social Support.

Since the early 2000s, mental health issues and loneliness rates have increased among young adults, with the COVID-19 pandemic having especially contributed to a sense of isolation and loneliness (Twenge et al., 2019, as cited in Sliwa, 2019). From personal observation, our research team has noticed a significant decrease in physical closeness since the COVID-19 lockdown, which led us to question the relationship between physical touch and mental health. Our team noticed that college students are receiving less than their desired amount of physical touch, often reporting feeling “touch deprived.” Upon further investigation within a literary review, our team found limited research done to directly measure physical touch and social support. We chose to measure Perceived Social Support, an individual's reported level of feeling connected and supported by those close to them, since it is widely understood as a significant predictive factor in mental health (Acoba, 2024). We developed a “Hug Survey,” a questionnaire that will measure physical touch and its potential relationship with perceived social support and loneliness among college students. The questionnaire will measure the frequency of sexual and non-sexual physical touch college students are receiving. This survey will use the Revised UCLA (R-UCLA) Loneliness Scale and the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) to measure levels of loneliness and perceived social support in USD students. This study will be conducted through an online survey administered to USD college students. Three sections will be used to ask about demographics, frequency of non-sexual physical touch, and frequency of sexual physical touch. It is anticipated that this questionnaire will be administered as an anonymous online SONA survey to USD students in the next academic year.

Presenter(s): Ashlyn Reynolds, Sophie Wilson, Emma Rauch-Word

Department/Division/Area: Psychology

Faculty/Staff Advisor(s): Cynthia Struckman-Johnson

Poster Number: 211

Development of a Questionnaire Examining the Correlation Between Aggressive Sex and Dating Violence

Recent research on sexual choking (limiting air flow to increase sexual pleasure) among U.S. undergraduate and graduate students found that, among a sample of 4,989 students, 37.1% of undergraduates had choked a partner, while 42.1% had been choked. Among graduate students, these figures were 27.6% and 32.1%, respectively (Herbenick et al., 2022). While many current studies highlight the growing prevalence of choking during sexual activity, the broader phenomenon of aggressive sexual behaviors is also increasing in popularity. With this change in sexual behaviors, we are interested in understanding their potential correlations with dating violence. We are developing a survey to examine the relationship between aggressive sexual behaviors and dating violence. Specifically, we aim to explore whether individuals who frequently engage in aggressive sex have a higher prevalence of dating violence histories and whether the presence or absence of consent in such encounters correlates with dating violence perpetration. The findings of this study will contribute to a deeper understanding of potential warning signs of dating violence, providing insight that may help young individuals recognize and avoid harmful relationships. The survey will include questions regarding perceptions of aggressive sex as dangerous, personal experiences with specific aggressive sexual acts, consent dynamics, and experiences with nonsexual dating violence. By examining these factors, this study seeks to provide an explanation of the interplay between aggressive sexual practices and dating violence, an increasingly relevant issue among young populations. Upon approval from the South Dakota Institutional Review Board, it is anticipated that this survey will be given to University of South Dakota students through an online SONA survey.

Presenter(s): Sophie Wilson, Ashlyn Reynolds, Emma Rauch-Word, Ali Lawrensen

Department/Division/Area: Psychology

Faculty/Staff Advisor(s): Cindy Struckman-Johnson

Poster Number: 212

Investigating the Impact of Intermittent Multitasking on Working Memory.

Decline in working memory performance during multitasking is a consistent experimental finding relative to a working memory task alone. Working memory, which temporarily stores and processes information, plays a crucial role in cognitive tasks such as reading comprehension, problem-solving, and reasoning. Working memory is also important for information transfer to long-term memory for extended storage. Rather than performing multiple tasks simultaneously, the main theoretical perspectives present multitasking as a rapid shifting of attention between tasks. The current study explores the mechanisms within working memory that contribute to the decline in memory performance during multitasking. We contrast three theoretical models to identify which provides the best explanation of mechanisms contributing to decline in memory during dual-task performance. The time-Based Resource-Sharing model argues that memory performance is a function of the balance between memory maintenance and forgetting. Resource-Depletion Theory focuses on depletion and regeneration of a memory encoding resource. Memory Enrichment Theory focuses on the perceived difficulty of dual-tasking and its effect on memory consolidation. Participants are asked to remember visual memory items and complete parity judgement tasks throughout the memory presentation sequence. Task demands are manipulated to create low, medium, and high dual-tasking demand conditions as well as a single task condition.  Each theoretical perspective predicts a unique pattern of predicted results, allowing us to identify the likely causes of multitasking impairment to working memory.

Presenter(s): Megan M McCray, Christina R Fanciullo, Dillon A Quinones, Timothy J Ricker

Department/Division/Area: Psychology

Faculty/Staff Advisor(s): Timothy Ricker

Poster Number: 214

First Responders’ Self-Care Practices and the Impact on their Children’s Mental Health Outcomes

First responders are at a heightened risk for adverse mental health outcomes such as depression, anxiety, and PTSD (Bonumwezi et al., 2022). Secondary trauma is a phenomenon that occurs when the trauma of one individual can cause or increase trauma effects in another individual (Lombardo et al., 2008). An example of this could be when a parent’s PTSD symptoms influence their child’s mental health. However, there is a gap in the literature that explores how a first responder parent’s well-being might influence their children. Specifically, it is unknown if a first responder’s self-care practices might promote positive outcomes in their children. With this study, I aim to investigate how parental trauma-informed self-care practices correlate to the mental outcomes of their children. Trauma-informed self-care involves acknowledging the impact of traumatic events and aims to minimize the effect of trauma. We have started to recruit law enforcement officers, firefighters, paramedics, and emergency medicine technicians who also have a child under age 18. We aim to recruit 150 first responders. For this study, two measures will be utilized to assess 1) parent use of trauma-informed self-care and 2) child psychopathology. Correlation analyses will be run to assess if there is an association between parental use of trauma-informed self-care and their children’s psychopathology. It is hypothesized that higher parental use of trauma-informed self-care will be associated with lower child psychopathology.

Presenter(s): Paige Pollreisz

Department/Division/Area: Psychology

Faculty/Staff Advisor(s): BreAnne Danzi

Poster Number: 215

The Impact of Depression on Mother-Infant Synchrony‡

The mother and infant relationship is critical, not only for the infant’s well-being and development, but also for the mother’s psychological well-being. Specifically, the mother and infant relationship is integral for the development of the infant's social and emotional development and functioning later in life. Adverse implications for poor mother-infant relationships have been noted in current research. For example, maternal depressive symptoms are shown to negatively impact the mother-infant relationship. However, there is little research performed longitudinally that examines the relation of depression with interactional synchrony between mother-infant dyads. Interactional synchrony is an observable pattern of dyadic interaction that is mutually regulated, reciprocal, and harmonious. It can involve mirroring of emotion or behavior, mutual focus, and reciprocity between caregivers and their children. This project aims to evaluate the impact that maternal depression has on dyadic synchrony while adding onto prior research evaluating psychological problems that might interfere with mother-infant relations. Approximately 80 mother and infant dyads at three time points corresponding with the infants age (2-months, 4-months, and 6-months) through an online video conferencing platform. The mother’s depressive symptoms will be evaluated at time one, and interactional synchrony will be evaluated at time two and three. Additionally, mothers and infants will be observed during a 10-minute “free-play” behavioral observation which is used to assess interactional synchrony. The Taxonomy of Interactional Style (TIS) will be used to code synchrony through four areas; physical proximity, visual orientation, upper body orientation, and dyadic involvement. Maternal depressive symptoms will be evaluated via the Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scale (DASS). The current study will not only add to literature but aid mothers and their children in their dyadic relationship.

Presenter(s): Peter J A McSparron

Department/Division/Area: Psychology

Faculty/Staff Advisor(s): BreAnne Danzi

Poster Number: 216

Reducing Stigma towards Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD): A Parasocial Contact Approach‡

Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is characterized by loss of control over alcohol intake, compulsive alcohol use and a negative emotional state when not drinking, which can follow a chronic, relapsing course (Carvalho et al., 2019). AUD ranks among the most prevalent mental disorders globally. According to the 2022 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 28.8 million adults ages 18 and older (11.2% in this age group) had AUD in 2021 (NIH, 2024). My proposal seeks to create a novel approach to addressing stigma through creating the illusion of a relationship between a television viewer and a mediated on-screen persona. This process is called parasocial interaction (PSI; Horton, & Wohl, 1956). This sense of connection by the viewer towards the media performer can be quite strong, leading individuals to feel like they know these media personalities personally, even though there is no actual interaction. PSI research has become more formalized around the Parasocial Contact Hypothesis. This hypothesis states that under appropriate, mediated, conditions the illusion of interpersonal contact between a television viewer and a mediated out-group member is an effective way to reduce prejudice towards an outgroup. Individuals may develop a PSI with a mediated person who has AUD, and this interaction has the potential to reduce the stigma towards individuals with AUD. In this project, I will extend the previous research on the Parasocial Contact Hypothesis (Schiappa, Gregg, & Hewes, 2005) to incorporate relevant psychological findings from empathy literature (Karan, 2023). Individuals above the age of 18 will be recruited via email to fill out a survey questionnaire. The data will be examined using ANOVA to determine the impact of parasocial contact on stigma against AUD.

Presenter(s): Prah Haider

Department/Division/Area: Psychology

Faculty/Staff Advisor(s): Douglas Peterson

Poster Number: 217

Childhood Residential Treatment Centers Experiences Shaping Adult Perspectives on Mental Health*

Empirical research exploring treatment outcomes among children in residential treatment centers (RTCs) is rare. Consequentially, there is an increasing demand for more studies examining such outcomes, particularly as they pertain to an individual’s experience leaving an RTC. This transitional period is believed to be a salient component impacting mental health treatment outcomes. Yet, little is known about how this residential treatment component is experienced and whether it impacts individuals long-term. This narrative qualitative study aimed to understand the experience of young adults who transitioned out of an RTC as a child. Participants recounted their experiences before, during, and after this transition. Six participants who resided in an RTC as a child for at least six consecutive months recounted their life experiences, producing 26 hours of interview data. Data were transcribed, coded, and written in narrative and thematic form. Our analysis produced three themes: learned and used effective coping skills, developed

impactful relationships, and difficult adjustment post-discharge. This study produced several recommendations to improve treatment outcomes for youth, such as building positive relationships with staff members, monitoring readiness to transition from a residential level of care, and involving youth in treatment planning. Future research could further explore the strength of the therapeutic relationship related to discharge status and short and long-term treatment outcomes for youth.

Presenter(s): Ryan Vinzant

Department/Division/Area: Psychology

Faculty/Staff Advisor(s): Jean Caraway

Poster Number: 218

Altered default mode network connectivity in trauma-exposed individuals ​with hazardous alcohol use.

Addiction & Substance Use Disorder is a complex and potentially deadly disorder that plagues over 20% of Americans, especially those at a neurological disadvantage, like people with PTSD. Despite this high percent, the strength of the combination of addiction and mental health issues is often drastically understated. 

However, Looking at the neurological impact of addiction in the brain can give us a starting point to help treat addiction and combat the complications it can cause on other disorders. 

For that reason we looked at the brain function in those with PTSD and addiction to further understand how the brain's pathways and function is altered. Using rs-FMI we received scans that allow us to study the BOLD (Blood oxygen level dependent) activity in participant's Default Mode Network. Studying these scans allows us to pinpoint abnormal activity in exact brain pathways, like the Nucleus Accumbens and the VTA. We expect to see high levels of abnormal activity in those who have  addiction, and further abnormalities in those who have both* PTSD and addiction.  We expect these scans will allow for further understanding of addiction's physical impact on the brain, and lend new information to the study and treatment of addiction.

Presenter(s): Sophia M Culuris

Department/Division/Area: Psychology

Faculty/Staff Advisor(s): Taylor Bosch, Lisa McFadden

Poster Number: 219

The Effects of Medium Switching in Multitasking

The need to simultaneously manage multiple tasks is a part of daily life that requires frequent switching of attention between tasks (Jolicoeur, 1999; McCann & Johnston, 1992; Pashler, 1994). Multitasking often involves interacting with multiple data presentation mediums, such as writing notes while listening to a lecture or even switching screens on a computer.  While several theories explain why multitasking impairs memory performance (Barrouillet et al., 2004; Popov & Reder, 2020; Ricker & Vergauwe, 2022), research is needed to study how different mediums of data presentation influence the efficiency of multitasking performance.  To understand the effects of medium switching in multitasking, this study explores the predictions of three respected, but mutually exclusive, models of working memory.  Each model examines the interplay between dual-tasking and the presentation of information:  The Time-Based Resource-Sharing model (Barrouillet et al., 2004), Resource Depletion Theory (Popov & Reder, 2020), and Memory Enrichment Theory (Ricker & Vergauwe, 2022).  To mimic real-world scenarios of data presentation, participants must perform a computer-based memory task while at the same time engaging in a second task using a reference table that is either printed, on-screen, or accessed on-screen by clicking a button.  We expect the paper reference condition to show poorer recall compared to the on-screen conditions as interacting with the printed document requires one to switch their attention across mediums from a computer to a physical piece of paper.  These findings would indicate that interweaving screen-based and physical mediums of data presentation would decrease the speed and efficiency of day-to-day multitasking performance compared to a purely digital interface.

Presenter(s): Asia E Sletten

Department/Division/Area: Psychology

Faculty/Staff Advisor(s): Timothy Ricker

Poster Number: 220

Spatio-Temporal Patterns of Biomass, Canopy Cover, and Livestock Behavior in Semi-Arid Mongolian Grasslands*

Grassland resources are the most prevalent natural resources on the Mongolian Plateau and are fundamental for animal husbandry. Grasslands offer numerous ecological services, including the production of food for livestock which in turn supplies meat and milk for human use and the sequestration of atmospheric carbon, thereby reducing global warming. Monitoring biomass and canopy cover dynamics is essential for effective rangeland management to support sustainable grazing practices and ecosystem health. This study employs remote sensing techniques to map above-ground biomass (AGB) and canopy cover (CC) across Mongolia and analyze their relationship with sheep grazing behavior. Landsat imagery provides high-resolution, multi-temporal data for biomass and vegetation assessment. By integrating Landsat archive data, the study achieves improved accuracy in estimating biomass distribution and grazing patterns, addressing key gaps in existing research. Results reveal regional variations, with degradation trends in the western and southern regions and positive trends in the east. These spatial patterns align with previous studies, demonstrating the reliability of our models. The insights underscore the impacts of climate change and land use practices on grassland productivity and livestock health. Furthermore, they highlight the importance of understanding how variations in biomass and canopy cover influence sheep behavior and movement. The findings contribute to rangeland management by providing actionable data for livestock managers to optimize grazing practices. Additionally, this research offers valuable insights for maintaining the long-term health and resilience of Mongolian grasslands, ensuring sustainable livelihoods and ecosystem services amidst the growing challenges of climate change.

Presenter(s): Abhinav Chandel

Department/Division/Area: Sustainability

Faculty/Staff Advisor(s): Ranjeet John

Poster Number: 101

Human Contributions to Dust Emissions in Utah's Great Basin.

Anthropogenic activities play an important role in dust emission potential and understanding how these activities contribute to dust emissions will aid in predicting dust events and in choosing mitigation strategies while contributing to the global dust emission models. The Great Basin of Utah is a known source of dust production, but limited research exists on the impact of human influence contributing to the emission of dust in the region. This study investigates anthropogenic dust sources (disturbance of the soil due to vehicles, cattle trampling, agricultural practices, and other activities) over the past 2 decades (2004–2024) in the eastern Great Basin using Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) data, land cover data, and meteorological data. In the basin, spring months are notable for increased dust events, which correspond to higher winds. Analysis of land use reveals that over two decades, the area covered by water, primarily the Great Salt Lake, declined by 3.3% and barren land increased by 1.1%. The area of cropland decreased by 10.1%, shrub/scrub decreased by 0.4% and grassland increased by 14.0%. The changes were primarily driven by increases in water use and urban expansion, and multidecadal drought. Consequently, preliminary analysis of dust source mapping reveals that barren land produced most dust plumes. With 172 visible dust plumes, barren land is a primary source of dust in this region due to the lack of vegetative cover combined with human disturbance due to off-highway vehicles and military activities. Barren lands close to cultivated lands were likely disturbed or reactivated during farming. 102 plumes were observed on shrubs/scrubs, while crops had three plumes. This study will further elucidate human versus natural dust production within the Great Basin, where proper monitoring and sustainable management of land use practices in this region is needed.

Presenter(s): Beatrice O Ogbuagu

Department/Division/Area: Sustainability

Faculty/Staff Advisor(s): Mark Sweeney

Poster Number: 102

Harnessing Controlled Environment Agriculture to Secure Sustainability & Economic Growth

Food insecurity, harsh weather and economic instability disproportionately impact rural and tribal communities. Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) offers a promising solution by enabling climate-resilient food production through hydroponic systems that require fewer natural resources than traditional farming. This research explores the socioeconomic potential of CEA in resource-limited communities, particularly tribal nations, by examining its viability for economic growth, food sovereignty, and workforce development.

Using an interdisciplinary approach, we assess community perceptions, adoption barriers, and economic feasibility of CEA. Listening sessions and surveys with tribal stakeholders, including collaboration with Sicangu Co. on the Rosebud Reservation, provide insights into attitudes toward CEA, while system dynamics modeling evaluates its financial sustainability and scalability in different community settings. A life cycle assessment (LCA) further examines the environmental footprint of CEA compared to conventional agriculture. By integrating these factors, we develop policy recommendations and decision-support tools to guide implementation strategies tailored to tribal and rural economies.

Expected outcomes include increased food security, job creation, and the development of a skilled workforce through CEA training programs. By leveraging CEA’s potential, this research aims to empower communities with sustainable agricultural solutions that foster long-term economic resilience.

Presenter(s): Glen Marshall

Department/Division/Area: Sustainability

Faculty/Staff Advisor(s): Meghann Jarchow

Poster Number: 103

Going for gold: looking to improve USD's sustainability rating from the last STARS report.

The University of South Dakota Sustainability Department is currently in the process of completing its second Sustainability Tracking, Assessment, and Ratings System (STARS) report. This report will provide a designation reflecting how USD’s promotion of, and education in, sustainability compares to universities worldwide. The previous report, completed by a Sustainability Capstone class, rated USD ‘Bronze’ out of four possible ratings (Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum). Having surpassed the first recognition level, USD is now in the process of completing the report again, as the first report was submitted on an accelerated timeline and was not fully complete. The goal is to raise the university’s rating through a more complete view of USD. Additionally, each report is valid for three years after the submission date; as such, a secondary goal is to lay the groundwork for streamlining future reporting. These reports can offer prospective students in sustainability and related fields a window into USD’s sustainability programming and focus; the larger prospective student body would benefit from the reports social and economic aspects regarding equity and student success, as well as a view of the campus’ environmental impact. Such information could be helpful in swaying prospective students deciding where to apply and attend.

Presenter(s): Haley J Anciaux

Department/Division/Area: Sustainability

Faculty/Staff Advisor(s): Joe Kantenbacher

Poster Number: 104

Evaluating the large-scale impact of Agricultural practices and ecological variables on greenhouse gas emissions in eastern South Dakota*

Climate-smart agriculture has become essential in combating climate change, especially in response to higher temperatures caused by increased greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and a rise in extreme weather events. Agricultural practices affect the dynamics of soil nitrogen (N) and carbon (C), therefore influencing the emissions of N2O, CO2 and CH4. Practices such as adoption of no-tillage, reduction of fallow lands, and frequent crop rotation have been identified as effective management practices for sustainable production. This study fills in this gap by understanding the relationship between climatic and edaphic variables driving the adoption of conservation practices and GHG emissions at larger temporal and spatial scale. We evaluate the influence of climate change on greenhouse gasses within the context of conservation practices under future IPCC climate scenarios. The Bayesian generalized linear model revealed significant relationships between management practices and key environmental variables. Our analysis showed that areas with higher land surface temperature (LST), GDD, precipitation, and drought conditions were more likely to adopt conservation tillage. In contrast, cover crop adoption was positively correlated with higher LST, soil moisture, and precipitation but negatively associated with reduced drought severity, clay content, and GDD. Silt content had a negligible effect on both conservation tillage and cover crop adoption. Furthermore, we examined the impact of environmental and management factors on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Higher precipitation and cover crop adoption were correlated with increased GHG emissions, with additional positive but weaker correlations observed for LST and soil silt content. Conversely, soil moisture and PDSI were negatively associated with both CO₂ and CH4 emissions, drought severity may reduce emissions. Other variables, GDD, clay content, and tillage practices had minimal effects, did not significantly influence methane emissions.

The Bayesian mediation model revealed significant relationships between soil moisture (SM), GHG emissions, and environmental variables. In both the mediation models, soil moisture had a significant effect on conservation tillage and cover crop adoption, with conservation tillage negatively linked with SM (-0.44) and cover crops showing a positive relation with SM (0.20) This suggests that both cover crops and tillage altered the role of soil moisture in carbon fluxes. However, CO₂ emissions were significantly psotively impacted by both conservation tillage (0.43) and increase in cover cropping. Both models demonstrated consistent effects of precipitation and temperature on CO₂ emissions, with higher precipitation increasing emissions (0.40 and 0.43) and temperature reducing them (-0.22 and -0.25).

Presenter(s): Khushboo Jain

Department/Division/Area: Sustainability

Faculty/Staff Advisor(s): Meghann Jarchow, Ranjeet john

Poster Number: 105

Trash to Treasure: A Worm's Guide to Composting

This visual work presents an educational comic strip that is meant to engage and inform readers about the composting process and its benefits. Composting mitigates climate change and has several benefits for the individual and environment, such as improving soil health and reducing harmful emissions. Many people are not familiar with the worsening impact of food waste or may feel that the composting process is too complicated. Increased awareness and participation in composting will lead to reduced landfill pollution, less greenhouse gas emissions, and improved soil health. In general, people are more open to adopting sustainable habits when they are convenient and fit into their daily routines. Using the story of a worm coaching two people on how to transform their waste, this comic strip aims to present composting as a constructive, easy change that anybody can make using items from their own home. I aimed to correct some common misconceptions about composting, such as bad odor or insects, and provided ways for people to avoid these problems. I wanted to transform what may seem like a boring topic into something that feels exciting. Public education is an important part of creating widespread change. By continuing to combine art and sustainability, we can educate and inspire meaningful action on a larger scale.

Presenter(s): Margaret Kathol

Department/Division/Area: Sustainability

Faculty/Staff Advisor(s): Anna Moore

Poster Number: 106

Sustainable Yard Landscapes: Enhancing Urban Ecology Through assessment and Redesign.

In urban residential areas, the most prevalent thing is conventional grass-dominated lawns, but they provide minimal ecological benefits. Because of cities facing environmental challenges such as climate change, biodiversity scarcity, and water shortage, native landscaping comes forward as a sustainable alternative. Planting native plants can enhance biodiversity, improve water retention, and contribute to carbon sequestration. The aim of this presentation is to illustrate the advantages and disadvantages of native-designed landscaping compared to conventional lawns. This includes the necessity of rethinking urban yard landscapes and proposing a methodology for evaluating and improving them. Steps like assessing native landscaping and introducing a hypothetical design model to illustrate potential transformations of current yard conditions will help to identify sustainable alternatives. Some common concerns, such as maintenance challenges and public perception, will also be addressed. The proposed methodology will detail strategies for integrating sustainable landscaping elements such as native plants, rain gardens, and other eco-friendly designs. In conclusion, future research directions and practical steps for promoting native landscaping adoption in urban environments will be discussed in this idea. This work aims to provide insights for urban planners, architects, policymakers, and community stakeholders to foster ecologically functional and resilient urban landscapes.

Presenter(s): Sharad Chowdhury

Department/Division/Area: Sustainability

Faculty/Staff Advisor(s): Meghann Jarchow

Poster Number: 107

Building A Sustainable Future Through Harnessing AI For Climate Resilience.

In the wake of climate change, artificial intelligence (AI) holds the potential to be an effective tool that can address climate effects through monitoring, forecasting, and mitigation using datasets and technologies hence, ensuring a more sustainable and resilient future for our planet.

Presenter(s): Vivian Omondi

Department/Division/Area: Sustainability

Faculty/Staff Advisor(s): Joe Kantenbacher

Poster Number: 108

Exploring the Relationship between Sediment Size and Macroinvertebrate Individual Size Distribution in North American Freshwater Streams

Individual size distribution (ISD) is the scaling relationship between body mass and density of individuals within a community. Sediment can impact the physical environment where macroinvertebrates live and can carry potentially harmful chemicals and pollutants. Previous studies examine the relationship between the macroinvertebrate communities and chemical properties associated with sediment rather than the physical size of sediment in wadeable streams. This project aimed to explore the relationship between the sediment size of the substrate and the ISD of macroinvertebrates over 21 National Ecological Observation Network (NEON) wadeable streams across North America from Alaska to Puerto Rico. Using a multilevel gamma model, we estimated the particle size distribution of each pebble count survey from 2017 to 2021 and the corresponding ISD of macroinvertebrates. Preliminary results show a more positive relationship between the slopes of finer sediment sites than larger, more cobble sediment sites. Not only is this relationship understudied, but this study provides a potential pathway to using ISD to monitor streams as sediment changes after events of disturbance like flooding.

Presenter(s): Morgan Hrivnak

Department/Division/Area: Sustainability

Faculty/Staff Advisor(s): Jeff Wesner

Poster Number: 213

UMatter Campaign - Overcoming Imposter Syndrome

UMatter Campaign about Overcoming Imposter Syndrome is an interactive and educational visual project designed to raise awareness about imposter syndrome and provide strategies for overcoming it. This project consists of a large informational poster that outlines key aspects of imposter syndrome including its signs, symptoms, different types, treatment options, examples, and ways to find out how to help each person individually. This project also consists of five smaller posters, each featuring an Augmented Reality AR video to deepen engagement. These AR components offer an immersive experience, allowing viewers to interact with the posters and engage more with what they are trying to say, and really look into what the poster is talking about and the examples it provides.

By combining bold visuals, research-based information, and interactive technology, UMatter creates an accessible and impactful resource for individuals who struggle with self-doubt, question their own achievements, or compare themselves to others. The project also encourages viewers to recognize the signs of imposter syndrome in those around them, fostering a more supportive and understanding environment. Through this blend of information and digital interactivity, UMatter serves as a call to action reminding individuals that their accomplishments are valid, their voices matter, and they are not alone in their experiences.

Presenter(s): Jade S Bendewald

Department/Division/Area: Art

Faculty/Staff Advisor(s): Young Ae Kim

Poster Number: 201

Growth†

This piece is titled Growth and that is what it is about. This cast iron fish is placed into a fish tank that gets filled with a solution to make the cast iron rust under the paint. After each exhibition the fish is documented then cleaned and painted again. Although it looks similar and pretty each time, it will never be the same. This piece talks about going through tough things in life that break you down. You have to rebuild yourself and become presentable once again. But eventually everything will have rusted away and nothing will be left. And depending on the solution it is in more or less damage will be done at a time. But even though some iron is lost after each time, the idea of it and the spirit of it is growing.

Presenter(s): Keegan Reinier

Department/Division/Area: Art

Faculty/Staff Advisor(s): Chris Meyer

Poster Number: 202

Public Healthcare Access Alternative Break, Fort Worth TX

By leading my service trip with AWOL (Alternative Week of Learning), I had the opportunity to engage deeply with public healthcare access and the systems that prevent illness. Our work focused on key factors affecting community health, including food insecurity, child well-being in schools, and the therapeutic benefits of horses. By working with national organizations, we gained firsthand insight into the barriers that prevent individuals from accessing essential resources and services, beyond our local understanding. One of the most impactful aspects of this experience was the opportunity to interact directly with community members and see how structural inequalities influence health outcomes. From assisting with school programs that support child wellness to understanding how therapy animals contribute to mental and physical health, we explored innovative approaches to preventative care. What makes AWOL unique is its emphasis on education through service. Unlike traditional volunteer efforts, AWOL fosters personal connections and critical discussions, encouraging volunteers to reflect on the systemic issues that shape public health. This immersive approach provided a deeper awareness of the challenges faced by underserved populations and the importance of sustainable, community-driven solutions. My experience on this trip reinforced my commitment to healthcare advocacy and the need for a more holistic, preventative approach to well-being.

Presenter(s): River Heynen, Jacob Degroot

Department/Division/Area: AWOL (Alternative Way of Learning)

Faculty/Staff Advisor(s): April Lee

Poster Number: 107

Child Wellbeing Alternative Break - Dallas, Texas

From January 4th to January 9th, Hector Gallardo-Duarte and I led an AWOL Alternative Break trip to Dallas, Texas, with a focus on Child Wellbeing, but also helping other populations that coincide. Our objective was to provide volunteer support to nonprofit organizations in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, specifically the Spina Bifida Association of North Texas (SBANT), Easterseals North Texas and Little Lonestar Academy, the Tarrant Area Food Bank (TAFB), and Love Thy Neighbor (LTN). These organizations work to improve the lives of underserved populations, often with limited staff or volunteers. Our team reached out ahead of time to schedule specific volunteer tasks to ensure our efforts were impactful and met the immediate needs of these organizations. Over the course of our trip, we assisted with tasks such as sorting donations (food, clothing, medical supplies), cleaning rooms, and performing any other duties needed to ease the workload of the staff. Our goal was to make a meaningful contribution by completing tasks that would have otherwise taken the staff weeks to accomplish, in just a few hours. This hands-on experience highlights the importance of service and community engagement, especially in organizations facing resource limitations. Our efforts demonstrate how collective action, even in short periods, can significantly support nonprofit organizations. Each night, we would reflect on what we had done that day and how it impacted both the participants and the community. Although the trip was initially planned for a week, we returned early on January 9th due to unforeseen circumstances. This experience deepened our understanding of the importance of volunteering and helping those who are often unable to complete such work themselves, reinforcing our commitment to service and community outreach.

Presenter(s): Katherine Thompson, Hector Gallardo-Duarte

Department/Division/Area: AWOL (Alternative Way of Learning)

Faculty/Staff Advisor(s): April Lee

Poster Number: 108

Panda-monium in Conservation: The Umbrella Species Effect in Action

Once the most famous endangered species, the giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) is now only listed as vulnerable, with over 1,800 living in the wild. In China, they still receive high levels of protection and are the focus of intensive reintroduction efforts. Pandas are not just “cute” animals, they do play important roles in spreading the seeds of bamboo and other plants through their feces, which in turn controls runoff, reduces soil erosion, and maintains water quality in their mountain ecosystems. However, it is likely that their fame is just as important for habitat conservation as their ecological role. Globally, the giant panda is probably the best example of a “flagship” endangered species who, through the attention they receive, help raise public awareness and funds for conserving their native habitat. Such species, because of their protected status, may then create an “umbrella” effect, aiding other, less obvious species that share their habitat. The value of umbrella species as a conservation strategy extends beyond pandas and many other species, including those more familiar to Americans, play important ecological and non-ecological roles in maintaining biodiversity and ecosystem stability. For example, preserving the American bison was one of the key justifications for the establishment of Yellowstone National Park. Our study reviews the literature on giant pandas and other similar umbrella species in order to examine the important relationships between flagship endangered species and the neighboring species in their native habitats. We illustrate both the positives and the negatives of this sort of approach for broader ecosystem conservation efforts.

Presenter(s): Trent A Daley, Alison Nankivel, Maia Blonsky, Jacob Larsen, Isabelle Neville, Petra-Zlata Iva

Department/Division/Area: Biology

Faculty/Staff Advisor(s): Daniel Soluk

Poster Number: 110

Living Forests: Can Humans and Biodiversity Thrive Together in National Parks?

The Amazon Rainforest’s Intangible Zone in Ecuador is a region of profound mystery and biodiversity, home to almost countless species and people with rich indigenous traditions. Evidence of ancient earthworks and fertile terra preta soils suggests that large human populations once inhabited and actively shaped the landscape, enhancing soil fertility and fostering biodiversity. In collaboration with the Waorani people, who have lived in this forest for generations, scientists are uncovering the intricate ways in which humans and nature have historically coexisted. However, ongoing threats such as oil prospecting jeopardize this delicate balance. We review what is known about the potential for indigenous communities, including the Waorani, to thrive alongside intensive conservation efforts. Such an approach, challenges the traditional separation between conserving untouched nature and human resource exploitation. Although avoiding the use of natural resources is challenging, we can responsibly maximize their potential through careful strategies and innovative methods, as shown by the Waorani people. By reviewing both traditional ecological knowledge and contemporary scientific approaches, we seek to identify conservation strategies that protect both the rainforest and its people. Ultimately, our research aims to explore whether humans and nature can sustainably coexist within national parks, hoping to gain insights into approaches that could aid global forest conservation efforts.

Presenter(s): Deepa Rajbanshi, Paige Cmelik, Alexander McGhee, Santiaago Granados, John DePriest, Evan Seney

Department/Division/Area: Biology

Faculty/Staff Advisor(s): Daniel Soluk

Poster Number: 212

All Stressed Out: An Investigation on the Effects of Stressors on Corticosterone Levels in the Northern Leopard Frog (Rana pipiens)‡

Corticosterone (CORT) is the primary glucocorticoid in many vertebrates including mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians. When an organism is exposed to external or internal stressors, CORT levels often increase. An increase in CORT can cause adverse physiological effects such as slower growth, malformations in different parts of the body, and specific blood sugar diseases such as diabetes. CORT levels are indicators of survival, growth, and reproduction in larval amphibians. Many species, including our model organism, the Northern Leopard Frog (Rana pipiens), are often subjected to a wide variety of environmental stressors including environmental contaminants and disease-causing pathogens which can contribute to various physiological effects. Although there is some information regarding the effects of singular stressors on CORT in amphibians, there is a gap in the literature regarding the effects of multiple, combined stressors on CORT in amphibians.  It is important to investigate this topic to improve our understanding of how chemical stressors and disease influence the production of CORT and the subsequent consequences of these physiological changes. I hypothesized that an increase in number of environmental stressors and their severity would contribute to elevated levels of CORT. I also predicted that such increases would be associated with faster development.

Presenter(s): Ella Wittmuss

Department/Division/Area: Biology

Faculty/Staff Advisor(s): Jacob Kerby

Poster Number: 213

Elephants: Nature’s Engineers Shaping Ecosystems and enhancing Biodiversity

Ecosystem engineers are species that significantly modify, create, or maintain habitats, thereby influencing the structure and flow of energy within ecosystems. Elephants are prime examples of such engineers. Through their foraging activities, elephants alter landscapes by uprooting trees, stripping bark, and trampling vegetation, which in turn reshapes plant community dynamics and creates microhabitats that support numerous species. Their role in seed dispersal is particularly critical, as they facilitate the germination and distribution of many tree species, contributing to forest regeneration and ecological heterogeneity. Elephants also enhance nutrient cycling by dispersing organic matter through dung, enriching soil fertility, and providing essential resources for decomposers and primary producers. Many parts of Africa and tropical Asia have experienced a decline in biodiversity, with elephant populations diminishing in many areas where they were once abundant. This decline, compounded by human-elephant conflicts and widespread culling, has further strained ecosystems. We review the current state of knowledge on the management of Elephant populations in Africa and Asia especially focused on non-lethal management strategies.  Our research indicates the need to recognize elephants as integral components of ecosystems rather than merely a species to be managed. Conservation approaches that preserve the broader ecological services provided by elephants, and other ecosystem engineers are vital for maintaining the health and resilience of many ecosystems.

Presenter(s): Isaac M Kieti, Aaron J Eikanger, Ethan J Schroeder, Evan M Shirley, Kyron R Hutchinson

Department/Division/Area: Biology

Faculty/Staff Advisor(s): Daniel Soluk

Poster Number: 214

Monitoring the Qosh Tepa Canal Project: A geospatial timeline of Taliban water diversion

In response to the food, water, and economic crisis in Afghanistan, the Taliban is constructing the Qosh Tepa Canal (QTC), a 285 km canal designed to divert up to 60% of the Amu Darya River’s water. The Amu Darya is crucial to millions in Central Asia, with over 2.4 million people potentially facing climate displacement by 2050 (World Bank, 2021).

This study aims to visually analyze the construction of the QTC using satellite imagery. Key research questions include: (1) At what rate is the canal being built? (2) How is the canal being built? (3) How do the answers to these two first questions reflect on the impact that the canal will ultimately have on the Amu Darya?

Using satellite imagery, we track the canal’s progress and review literature on efficient canal construction. The Taliban’s initial completion estimate for 2028 now appears ahead of schedule, with roughly two-thirds of the canal completed since 2022. A breach in the canal’s walls caused what is now a spill spanning roughly six miles of desert, highlighting poor water management. Additionally, materials for the canal walls are sourced from sediment dug to make way for the canal, leading to walls that are poorly constructed and prone to erosion.

Our findings suggest that while the canal is progressing quickly, there is little effort to minimize ecological or water waste impacts. The rapid construction, coupled with the breach and poor canal design, demonstrates a lack of caution in managing such a powerful water source and ultimately reflects poorly on the implications for Central Asia’s largest river, the Amu Darya.

Presenter(s): Enerel L Crosslin

Department/Division/Area: Biology

Faculty/Staff Advisor(s): Ranjeet John

Poster Number: 215

The size distributions of reef fish in Xpu-Ha Bay as related to depth

Individual size distribution (ISD) is a way of studying the overall community structure of an ecosystem. The distribution of individuals by biomass can offer insight into community dynamics, and continued ISD research can demonstrate the effects of disturbances on those dynamics. Previous research into ISD in freshwater aquatic systems has found no significant impact of elevational gradients on size distributions in macroinvertebrate communities; this paper aims to explore whether the same holds true for ISD’s relationship to depth, in fish communities in Xpu-Ha Bay, a marine coral reef ecosystem. Through dividing fish into size classes based on estimated length and converting length to biomass, a mixed model was used to parse the effects of depth (divided into shallow [0-20 ft] and deep [30-50 ft] categories) on fish ISD. It was found that there was no significant effect on size distribution; however, the calculated distribution for both categories was significantly lower than the theoretical value. This suggests that there is a higher ratio of small organisms to large than would be expected in a typical ecosystem. Further research would be required to determine whether the lack of relationship of ISD to depth can be extrapolated out to a larger depth gradient, such as in areas with deeper reef ecosystems.

Presenter(s): Haley J Anciaux

Department/Division/Area: Biology

Faculty/Staff Advisor(s): Jeff Wesner

Poster Number: 216

Survey of Interior Least Tern abundance along 59-mile reach of the MNRR

The purpose of our project was to survey the abundance of the Interior Least Tern at on- and off-river sites along the Missouri National Recreational River. Previous research and this study’s observational data suggests that terns may use off-river sites for foraging purposes, but the importance of off-river foraging to tern energy budgets and nesting success remains unknown. Multiple sites were surveyed within 30km north of the river and the 59-mile MNNR in South Dakota. Observations include that terns were seen >10km away from the river, and a high abundance at off-river flooded areas were also observed during the June 2024 flood event. Least terns regularly use off-river locations for foraging purposes, and future research should focus on how off-river shallow water habitat used by terns may provide benefits to energy budgets.

Presenter(s): Hannah Slattery, Zoe Donelan

Department/Division/Area: Biology

Faculty/Staff Advisor(s): David Swanson

Poster Number: 217

Shell Shocked: The Impact of Environmental Change on Marine Bivalves

Habitat destruction is one of the most pressing issues confronting humanity today. With oceans covering over 70% of the planet’s surface, this ecosystem is experiencing tremendous amounts of overexploitation, pollution, and climate change due to human activity. Unfortunately, this environmental degradation extends to marine life, with more than 1,500 marine species threatened with extinction. Among them are marine bivalves, such as mussels, oysters, and clams, that act as ecosystem engineers producing valuable reef habitat for numerous marine species, such as fish, crabs, anemones, snails, and plants. Bivalves serve as vital indicators of ecosystem health, yet they are increasingly impacted by declining ocean conditions. We will review what is known about the main causes of marine bivalve habitat loss and possible solutions to help restore these important ecosystems. It is clear that reefs created by bivalves should be sustained to have functioning healthy marine ecosystems, and that this can be accomplished through multiple conservation avenues. For example, a top recommended conservation method for oysters is shell planting, and with mussels, some conservation tactics include marsh protection and enhancement. It is important to increase the benefits to people and the environment in bivalve restoration since there are limited resources invested. Successful reintroduction of marine bivalves into our oceans is possible and understanding how to do this is of critical importance for marine conservation, policymaking, and aquaculture efforts.

Presenter(s): Emily M Zavacki, Savannah Schultz, Alexa Sees, Jessica Matthew, Kaia Olson

Department/Division/Area: Biology

Faculty/Staff Advisor(s): Daniel Soluk

Poster Number: 218

Identifying physiological traits of resilience against thermal stress in a regionally threatened freshwater mussel, Lampsilis cardium

Rising water temperatures (Tw) due to climate change (~ 0.08°C per year)1 and changes in land-usage (e.g. alterations to river channels)2 and water usage (e.g. thermal effluent from power stations and wastewater treatment plants)2 are significant ecological challenges for freshwater ecosystems. Freshwater ectotherms follow the fundamental biogeographical principle of ‘adapt, move or die’ under thermal challenge.3 Freshwater mussels are particularly vulnerable to Tw due to (1) sedentary lifestyle and limited mobility, (2) complex life history with their larva dependent on thermal sensitivity of host fishes, and (3) long generation times.4-6 Studies suggest that freshwater mussels in North America are already living close to their upper thermal tolerances.7 However, the specific physiological traits that enable mussels to acclimate and/or adapt to thermal stress at an organismal level remain unknown. In this study, we investigated metabolic plasticity of Lampsilis cardium (Plain Pocketbook), a Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN) in South Dakota8, which is at risk of becoming extinct, extirpated, endangered, or threatened due to low or declining populations. Specifically, we hypothesized that Plain Pocketbook lack necessary physiological plasticity to withstand chronic thermal stress in watersheds. To address this, we quantified (1) Standard Metabolic Rate (SMR, an emergent organismal property that integrates the cost of living) and (2) activity of a key metabolic enzyme, the sodium-potassium ATPase (NKA) of Plain Pocketbook after six weeks of thermal challenge to 25 °C in laboratory. We predicted that chronic thermal challenge would result in a metabolic shut down reflected as low SMR and NKA activity, indicating limited plasticity to thermal stress. These mechanistic investigations are necessary not only to identify specific targets of natural selection in the face of thermal variation. Importantly, individual-level physiology, when combined with field studies and modeling efforts, is critical for conservation efforts aimed at mitigating climatic threats to freshwater mussels.

Presenter(s): Jessica Matthew, Alexis Fenhaus, Emily M Zavacki

Department/Division/Area: Biology

Faculty/Staff Advisor(s): Omera Matoo

Poster Number: 219

Comparing microclimates of different songbird nest types*

Since 1970, North America has lost 3.2 billion birds, and because of climate change, this number is increasing. Songbirds, which make up the majority of declining bird species, are adapted to temperatures and weather patterns which no longer prevail. This mismatch is particularly problematic for songbird reproduction. Eggs and nestling songbirds are unable to regulate their body temperature and therefore rely on the incubating parent and nest microclimate (internal nest temperature) for heat required to grow. Because of climate change, nest microclimates may become unsuitable for growing nestlings, making it harder for them to survive. However, different species of birds build different types of nests, and certain nest types may be better able to withstand the effects of altered ambient temperatures. My upcoming research will examine the differences in microclimate within cavity and open cup nests of songbirds breeding in Southeast South Dakota and Northwest Iowa. Cavity nests are built inside trees or nest boxes by species such as black-capped chickadees (Poecile atricapillus), northern house wrens (Troglodytes aedon), house sparrows (Passer domesticus), and eastern bluebirds (Sialis sialis). Cup nests are built on the branches of trees and bushes by species including American robins, (Turdus migratorius), northern cardinals (Cardinalis cardinalis), yellow warblers (Setophaga petechia), and gray catbirds (Dumetella carolinensis). Because cavity nests are more insulated and less ventilated than cup nests, I expect that they will have higher internal temperatures that are slower to change in response to fluctuations in ambient temperature. This is in contrast to cup nests, which I expect to have internal temperatures much closer to ambient temperature. Understanding how nest microclimates differ between nest types, as well as how they are affected by ambient temperatures, will help predict which songbirds are most vulnerable to climate change.

Presenter(s): Jillian Murphy

Department/Division/Area: Biology

Faculty/Staff Advisor(s): Andrea Liebl

Poster Number: 220

A Comparison of Natural and Synthesized Speech in a Case of Primary Progressive Apraxia of Speech

Primary Progressive Apraxia of Speech (PPAoS) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by deficits in motor planning abilities for speech. Individuals with PPAoS experience phonetic and prosodic differences in their speech, affecting intelligibility, naturalness, speaking rate, and fluency (Botha et al., 2018). When a person’s speech is disordered, communication breakdowns may occur. Some individuals with disordered speech choose to use a text-to-speech program that synthesizes speech to improve communication. The differences between natural speech and synthesized speech have seldom been studied in relation to PPAoS. This study focused on the differences in intelligibility, naturalness, and listener workload between natural and synthesized speech. To gather information about the three separate variables, participants were recruited from the student population on a university campus. Twenty-five students participated in a listening activity where they were randomly assigned to listen to recordings of either natural or synthesized speech. Participants transcribed the phrases in English as they heard the recordings. Participants also rated the naturalness of the speech. Finally, participants filled out a questionnaire to determine workload exerted for the task. Intelligibility scores were higher for the synthesized speech. Naturalness scores were not significantly different between the two groups. Listener workload scores were lower for participants who listened to synthesized speech. The findings demonstrated the usefulness of synthesized speech with a speech generating device as the increased intelligibility and decreased listener workload suggest it is more effective than disordered natural speech. Therefore, the results provided important information about improving communication by using a speech generating device in place of disordered speech.

Presenter(s): Kaitlyn S Tegethoff

Department/Division/Area: Communication Sciences & Disorders

Faculty/Staff Advisor(s): Elizabeth Hanson

Poster Number: 106

A Deep Learning Approach for Monkeypox and Other Skin Lesion Classification

Monkeypox is a viral disease, originates from animals and can spread to humans. It causes skin lesions that often resemble those seen in conditions like chickenpox and cowpox, making accurate and timely diagnosis challenging. Accurately identifying monkeypox is essential because its distinctive skin lesions often resemble those of other diseases, which can make diagnosis difficult and delay treatment. Often lack the precision

needed to tackle the specific challenges of diagnosing monkeypox and similar skin diseases, especially in resource-limited settings. This study introduces to develop and validate an optimized AI-driven framework for accurately classifying monkeypox and related skin lesions, addressing the limitations of existing diagnostic

systems by delivering high accuracy, scalability, and applicability in real-world healthcare settings, especially in resource constrained environments. Using Mpox Skin Lesion Dataset Version 2.0 enriched with extensive augmentation, and eight advanced deep learning models such as EfficientNetB5, ResNet50,

ResNet101, MobileNet, Xception, DenseNet121, NasNetMobile, and InceptionV3 were systematically evaluated through a rigorous 5-fold cross-validation, ensuring robust generalization. The novelty lies in integrating adaptive augmentation, optimized preprocessing, and lightweight architectures like EfficientNetB5

and MobileNet, designed for efficiency without compromising accuracy. Both models outperformed others, achieving over (±90%) accuracy and F1 scores, demonstrating exceptional efficiency

and robustness for practical use. This framework addresses key limitations in automated dermatological diagnostics by providing a scalable, precise, and resource-efficient solution, enabling healthcare professionals to improve workflows, make informed decisions, and enhance patient outcomes, especially in resource limited and high-demand environments.

Presenter(s): Jahirul Islam, Kazi S Sharif, Dill Mahzabina Tabila

Department/Division/Area: Computer Science

Faculty/Staff Advisor(s): Debash Jha

Poster Number: 101

Hybrid DL Classification Model based on Transformer and CNN to Classify Pap Smear Cell

Cervical cancer remains a leading cause of cancer-related deaths among women worldwide, with early detection through Pap smear screening significantly reducing mortality rates. However, traditional analysis of Pap smear samples is resource-intensive and heavily reliant on the expertise of cytologists, creating challenges in resource- limited settings. The Pap Smear Cell Classification Challenge (PS3C), part of the International Symposium on Biomedical Imaging (ISBI) 2025 Challenge Program, seeks to address this issue by encouraging the development of automated machine learning models for classifying cervical cell images from Pap smears into three categories: Healthy, Rubbish, and Unhealthy. In this paper, we propose a hybrid deep learning model that combines the strengths of Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) and Transformer architectures, leveraging CNN’s ability to capture robust local features and the Transformer’s capacity to model high-level global context. This integration enables the model to better handle the complexities in Pap smear data. We proposed two hybrid models: combining CNN with Vision Transformer (CNN- ViT) and combining CNN with Hierarchical Vision Transformer using Shifted Windows (CNN-Swin). CNN- Swin outperforms CNN-ViT, and achieves F1 scores of 0.83175. From confusion matrices, reveal that the Unhealthy class has a lower classification rate, likely due to its smaller size in terms of number samples, compared to the Healthy and Rubbish classes, which impacts overall performance. To address this class imbalance, we apply a weighted categorical focal loss, which enhances performance and provides better robustness. Additionally, we employ an ensemble technique using the top two hybrid models (CNN-Swin) to further boost classifier performance and improve resilience against overfitting and imbalanced classes. As a result, our model secured third place on the final unlabeled test dataset with an F1 score of 0.79446. To further enhance performance, we recommend collecting and labeling more samples for unhealthy class, or alternatively generative  dversarial networks (GANs) can be used to generate synthetic unhealthy data.

Presenter(s): Krishna Phanindra Marupaka

Department/Division/Area: Computer Science

Faculty/Staff Advisor(s): Lina Chato

Poster Number: 102

ResPyr-Net: A Hybrid Res-Net with Smooth Decoder for Multi-Scale Image Segmentation

Medical image segmentation remains a challenging task, particularly when it comes to identifying small, detailed structures within the human body, which can vary greatly across individuals. Existing models like U-Net, Res-Net, and their variants excel in local feature extraction but struggle to capture global context or multi-scale information effectively, leading to inaccurate results, especially on datasets with irregular or small shapes. Additionally, many of these variants depend heavily on pre-trained weights, limiting their adaptability across different medical imaging domains. To address these limitations, we introduce the Res-Net Smooth Pyramid network (ResPyr-Net), a novel architecture for image segmentation that focuses on fine-grained details with global context to produce more accurate and detailed results. It has a Res-Net-like encoder structure, Feature Pyramid Network (FPN), and smooth convolutional layers. This encoder extracts features while capturing multi-scale semantic information. FPN is integrated to capture more contextual information across different scales and aggregate features from multiple resolutions. Smooth convolutional layers refine these multi-scale features, improving the segmentation quality and preserving finer details. We assess ResPyr-Net using the Breast Ultrasound Images (BUSI) dataset, a benchmark tumor dataset in medical segmentation tasks. Our model aims to surpass U-Net by at least 5% in DICE score on this dataset and the other state-of-the-art models across key evaluation metrics, including accuracy, Dice coefficient, and Intersection over Union (IoU). This shows the robustness of ResPyr-Net and its potential as a strong model for medical segmentation tasks with broad transferability across diverse medical imaging domains.

Presenter(s): Sainath Vaddi, Sony Reddy Gurram

Department/Division/Area: Computer Science

Faculty/Staff Advisor(s): Rodrigue Rizk, Lina Chato

Poster Number: 103

Medical Image Synthesis for Improved Classification and Segmentation: A CycleGAN-based Approach

In this study, we propose two deep learning (DL) pipelines that utilize Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs), specifically the CycleGAN architecture, to generate synthetic medical images. These pipelines aim to address the challenges of data imbalance, limited availability of annotated data, and the time-consuming, expert-dependent labeling process in medical imaging. We apply our approach to two distinct medical domains: 2D pap smear classification for cervical cancer screening and 3D MRI brain tumor segmentation. Our framework includes preprocessing pipelines, synthetic data generation, and downstream classification/segmentation models. By exploring cross-modality data augmentation strategies, we aim to improve diagnostic accuracy and develop more robust artificial intelligence (AI) systems for clinical applications. Cervical cancer causes over 300,000 deaths annually, and early detection through screening is critical for reducing mortality. For cervical cancer screening, we focus on 2D image analysis, generating synthetic pap smear images to balance underrepresented classes, particularly the unhealthy class that has smaller size compared to other two classes (healthy and rubbish). This approach aims to enhance performance of automatic classification system based on Artificial intelligence (AI) in the ISBI 2025 Pap Smear Cell Classification Challenge. Our model achieves a Fréchet Inception Distance (FID) score of 45, and we are currently working on improving these results. AI brain tumor classification and segmentation are important to enhance the diagnosis and prognosis process. Availability of multimodal medical imaging with annotations it is very challenging. We use a 3D modified CycleGAN to generate synthetic multi-modal MRI scans (T1, T1Gd, T2, T2-FLAIR), while preserving clinically relevant tumor features; these generated images will be used in segmenting brain tumor using SwinUNETR, evaluated in the Multimodal Tumor Segmentation (BraTS) Challenge as part of MICCAI 2025. Finally, we are seeking to involve healthcare experts to evaluate the generated data, in addition to using image-based and AI-based evaluation measures.

Presenter(s): Timothy Sereda, Dan Hanson, Deborah Asamoah, Rebecca Bonah

Department/Division/Area: Computer Science

Faculty/Staff Advisor(s): Lina Chato

Poster Number: 104

Video Chat Interactions Can Increase Closeness Among Grandparents and Grandchildren

Two-thirds of grandparents reported that distance from their grandchildren has become an increasing barrier in forming connections, with 52% of grandparents reporting that they live more than 200 miles away from at least one grandchild. (David & Nelson-Kakulla, 2018). Strengthening the quality of these connections is vital, as feelings of closeness between grandparents and grandchildren are positively linked to the well-being of both parties (Arpino et al., 2021; Lussier et al., 2002; Duflos et al., 2022). This study aimed to explore how the closeness of a grandparent-grandchild relationship changes after they engage in a series of video chats. Triads (n=178) consisted of a parent, grandparent, and child (18 months to 6 years). The triads completed a pre-video chat survey rating closeness, intergenerational solidarity, and enjoyment of previous video chats (scale 0-100). Triads were then instructed to complete 11 video chats that were a minimum of 5 minutes long, aiming for 1-2 video chats per week. After completing the video chats, they completed the same survey items again. We plan to run separate ANCOVAs for grandparents and parents. For each ANCOVA, change in closeness will be the dependent variable, study conditions (control, reading, play) as a fixed factor, and pre-test ratings of closeness, intergenerational solidarity, and enjoyment along with child age are covariates. We anticipate increased closeness, particularly among grandparents who report lower initial closeness or higher levels of enjoyment. Stronger intergenerational relationships with one another may enhance closeness over time. Video chats may be especially beneficial for families who live geographically far from one another and can be a method to foster familial closeness and improve well-being.

Presenter(s): Bre Dunn, Shanae Bergt

Department/Division/Area: Counseling & Psychology in Education

Faculty/Staff Advisor(s): Gabrielle Strouse

Poster Number: 209

Understanding Undergraduate Aspirations for Law Enforcement Careers and Motivation in the Classroom†

This study investigates the factors shaping individuals’ interest in law enforcement careers among undergraduate students. Specifically, it examines how external influences, motivations for pursuing a public service career, and background characteristics shape career interest overall; how personal influences and these factors shape career interest within each gender; and how these same factors influence motivation to engage with specific law enforcement course topics. By surveying students from various Midwestern universities, this research aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the complex interplay between social influences, gender, and curricular exposure in shaping law enforcement career aspirations. Findings inform policy and curriculum design.

Presenter(s): Gabriella Burt

Department/Division/Area: Criminal Justice

Faculty/Staff Advisor(s): Thomas Mrozla, Julia Hellwege, Jenna Borseth

Poster Number: 207

Classroom Noise Cancellation

As a group we took on the challenge of minimizing distracting classroom noise. Through our research and interviews we have discovered that unnecessary classroom noise directly impacts the learning ability of students. Therefore, we sought to find a solution. We discovered that noise cancellation technology has already been developed on a small scale. Therefore, our goal is to upscale this technology for use in the classroom. Ultimately we will be creating a prototype that will record sound waves through a microphone then play the exact same pressure waves in reverse through a speaker.

Presenter(s): Devon B Forsberg, Bridget Farmer, Stori Miles, Caleb Schulte

Department/Division/Area: Entrepreneurship

Faculty/Staff Advisor(s): Gregory Bertsch

Poster Number: 105

Ultra Processed Food's Impact on Health and Agriculture†

This research poster analyzes the rise of ultra-processed foods within the US and how it has adversely affected our health and agriculture practices. This was done through literature reviews and aims to show possible shifts in practices to better the situation. We begin by exploring when and how processed foods became common and how they continued to become popular in our diets. The focus shifts to the trade-offs caused by our consumption of processed foods. The first adverse effect focused on is our worsening health due to overconsumption of processed foods leading to obesity and cardiovascular diseases. The second adverse effect of our consumption of processed foods is the shift in our agriculture towards monoculture of soybeans and corn to meet demand. This has caused many ecological disasters and has the potential to lead to famine caused by a lack of diversity of crops. Furthermore, the poster explores the potential of alternative agricultural and nutrition practices including opening community gardens and using various agricultural polyculture practices to meet demand while offering a variety in crop type. These practices in theory should benefit farmers, consumers, and the environment while reducing the need for processed foods. 

Presenter(s): Caleb Blair

Department/Division/Area: Honors

Faculty/Staff Advisor(s): Bob Welch

Poster Number: 210

The Dutch Famine of 1944-1945 and Fetal Development†

In late 1944, due to the disruption caused by the Second World War, a famine struck the Netherlands. This famine would last until the country’s liberation in May of 1945.  This catastrophe, despite its devastation, makes for an informative natural experiment on the impacts of starvation on fetal development. This project examines research done on survivors of the famine, as well as controlled studies on animal models. This research is important because understanding the impact of nutrition on pregnancy has implications for health. It is apparent that fetal development during this famine has long-lasting, and often detrimental, effects on the individuals, and that many of these effects are transmitted to their own children. Many health issues are common among individuals who had starved while in utero, such as diabetes, age-related cognitive decline, and schizophrenia.  Research done on the famine reveals that its developmental influences are dependent upon timing. For example, obesity is an issue common among those exposed prenatally to the famine, specifically among those exposed early in development. Many studies also suggest that some of the health impacts, such as obesity, can be passed down to the individuals’ children. Upon inspection of the physiological devastation left by famine, it becomes clear that some disasters have far-reaching consequences that can span many generations.

Presenter(s): Keileen Boom

Department/Division/Area: Honors College

Faculty/Staff Advisor(s): Bob Welch

Poster Number: 211

Less Gas, More Class: Revolutionizing U.S. Methane Policy

Methane is a highly potent greenhouse gas, with a global warming potential far exceeding carbon dioxide over shorter timescales. Despite its relatively brief atmospheric lifespan, methane significantly accelerates climate change by trapping heat and contributing to rising global temperatures. The largest agricultural source of methane is enteric fermentation in ruminant livestock, making it a key target for emission reduction. A promising solution is biological feed management using Asparagopsis taxiformis, a red seaweed that contains bioactive compounds inhibiting methanogenesis in the rumen. Research shows that supplementing cattle feed with just 0.2% Asparagopsis can reduce methane emissions by up to 98%, while also improving feed conversion efficiency by 10–15%. This approach offers a scalable, cost-effective alternative to infrastructure-intensive policies, integrating seamlessly into existing agricultural practices. Financial incentives, including carbon credits, further enhance its viability. While large-scale seaweed cultivation poses challenges, current production capacity is sufficient for U.S. implementation. Compared to other methane mitigation strategies, Asparagopsis taxiformis supplementation presents a highly effective and economically feasible solution, delivering substantial environmental benefits with minimal disruption to the livestock industry. As methane levels continue to rise, implementing such innovative, science-driven solutions is critical for achieving meaningful climate action.

Presenter(s): Samir Yusuf

Department/Division/Area: Political Science

Faculty/Staff Advisor(s): Rick Wang, Sarah Wittmuss

Poster Number: 208

Navigating Adversity: The Intersection of Parental Adverse Childhood Experiences and Perceived Life Threat in Influencing Child Mental Health Following A Natural Disaster*

Parental exposure to adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) is associated with negative outcomes for themselves and their children (Graft et al., 2023). Perceived life threat (PLT) is known to contribute to PTSD (Moss et al., 2019), yet little is known about whether a history of ACEs influences parental perceptions of threat and increases risk for parent and child psychopathology. This study investigated the influence of parental ACEs and PLT on parent and child mental health following a hurricane. Participants were 217 parents (78% female; 87% White, 7% Black, 6% Other, and 14% Hispanic) who lived in counties impacted by a Category 5 hurricane and reported on their child (44% female; M age = 8.94). Higher ACEs scores were linked with PLT in parents (p=.011). Parent ACEs moderated the relationship between parent PLT and parent anxiety symptoms (β=.13, 95% CI [0.05, 0.72], p =.024), but not for parent depressive or PTSD symptoms. Additionally, parent ACES moderated the relationship between parent PLT and child PTSD (β=.12, 95% CI [0.09, 0.31], p =.037), anxiety (β=.19, 95% CI [0.05, 0.31], p=.008), and depressive symptoms (β=.15, 95% CI [0.01, 0.22], p=.040). Findings indicate that parent ACES interacts with parent perceptions of life threat to influence child mental health outcomes, further highlighting the intergenerational impact of ACEs in the context of a natural disaster.

Presenter(s): Jessy L Thomas

Department/Division/Area: Psychology

Faculty/Staff Advisor(s): BreAnne Danzi

Poster Number: 109

Blasé Attitude and the Tragedy of Culture in the Age of Social Media†

The increasing prevalence of social media raises questions about its impact on emotional detachment (the blasé attitude), as individuals navigate constant exposure to digital stimuli. Moreover, the overwhelming proliferation of content, characteristic of social media (the tragedy of culture), may foster feelings of insignificance, alienation, and disconnection. This study aims to explore how social media affects users’ emotional responses, perceptions of cultural overload, and processes of self-definition. This study uses a qualitative methodology, specifically, we employ semi-structured interviews to gather in-depth participant insights. By integrating classical Simmelian theory with contemporary digital realities, we aim to advance our understanding of the interplay between technology, identity, and mental health.

Presenter(s): Brooke A Hanneman, Shelsy Santos Segovia, Guo Ming Nicholas Boon

Department/Division/Area: Sociology

Faculty/Staff Advisor(s): Isaiah Cohen

Poster Number: 203

Did I Homeschool Me? A Qualitative Exploration of Matriculated Homeschooled Student Experiences†

Homeschooling’s exponential growth pattern has continued over the last several decades, with its growth seeing its true beginnings during the evangelical exodus from the public schools to home education in the 1980s and 1990s. There has been much debate within society regarding the merits and pitfalls of homeschooling for children and whether engaging in home education is even a healthy decision for the families or students themselves. Relatively little work has been done to explore the individual student’s experiences with homeschooling once they’ve graduated from the system. Much of the existing research focuses on quantitative measures that explore homeschooler academic outcomes as compared with their peers. This project seeks to fill that void through a grounded theory exploration of open-ended survey questions examining formerly-homeschooled students’ assessments of their educational experience and likelihood to replicate it for their future children. By investigating their experiences, we are better able to understand the long and short-term impacts of home education and its positionality in the American education market.

Presenter(s): Moriah Scorzafava

Department/Division/Area: Sociology

Faculty/Staff Advisor(s): Isaiah Cohen

Poster Number: 204

Exploring the Impact of COVID-19 on Matriculation and Student Mental Health†

COVID-19 created many challenges for students who were in higher education at the height of the pandemic. Increasing and renewed prevalence of online education, along with forced social isolation, further shunted students who were still trying to find themselves into a fast, changing world. Existing literature has found that this state of active anomie led to a sense of social isolation and visible increase in reported mental health crises across the nation. These outcomes were further exacerbated for those who experienced personal and family financial hardships. Building on this research, the current study examined the impact of COVID-19 on student matriculation and mental health (broadly understood). Given that mental health is such a complex and multifaceted concept, the study utilizes a trinal approach to explore the divergent impacts of COVID-19 on student mental health—while controlling for sociodemographic factors such as political affiliation, gender, class, and race. Results indicate that COVID’s impact on mental health was not homogenous and appeared to vary by time and enrollment status at the height of the pandemic.

Presenter(s): Tarynn Ball

Department/Division/Area: Sociology

Faculty/Staff Advisor(s): Isaiah Cohen

Poster Number: 205

“Hands Off My School”: Exploring State Regulation of Homeschooling†

Homeschooling has grown exponentially over the last few decades. As a result, many states have been moving forward to enact regulations in response to this growth. The degree to which regulation of homeschooling varied across the states, however, was uncertain. This study employs Frattaroli and Vernick’s close reading method, finding not all states to be equally regulative. As a result, an examination for predictors for these regulation levels is also conducted. Using poisson regression modeling, data from the 50 states and District of Columbia are evaluated for state level indicators for increased regulation of homeschoolers. Results from these analyses indicate that increased presence of evangelical Christians, large urbanicity, and large numbers of children in the public schools are indicators for low regulation levels. In contrast, increased presence of blacks serves as a predictor of high regulation levels. The study concludes by signifying areas for further study.

Presenter(s): Zakary Cason

Department/Division/Area: Sociology

Faculty/Staff Advisor(s): Isaiah Cohen

Poster Number: 206

SERENOVA: App and Web Design

SERENOVA is a thoughtfully designed digital platform that connects users with serene spaces ideal for work, study, and relaxation. Existing studies highlight the impact of noise pollution on mental health and cognitive function, reinforcing the necessity for solutions that promote balance. In today’s fast-paced urban environments, finding quiet locations can be challenging, and SERENOVA aims to solve this by curating and recommending peaceful spaces. SERENOVA contributes to this discourse by offering a research-driven app that curates serene spaces through user-generated data, geolocation services, and sound analysis. The app allows users to explore locations, save favorites, and contribute new spots by uploading images, 20-second noise level videos, and detailed surveys that assess the ambiance. SERENOVA’s website introduces the core features of the app, catering to both everyday users and business partners looking to feature their venues. Businesses can enroll in pricing plans, complete a survey, and enhance visibility among mindfulness and wellness seekers. This project was created using an iterative design process that combined target audience research, visual design, and interactive prototyping. The design concept incorporates a calming green-blue gradient, geometric shapes, and dynamic solid and dashed lines to symbolize movement, discovery, and clarity. SERENOVA bridges the gap between urban noise and tranquility, offering a visually cohesive, intuitive, and research-driven experience. By fostering balance between productivity and peace, the platform empowers individuals and businesses to cultivate environments that support focus and well-being.

Presenter(s): Yaslin Ruedas, Ishika Hippola

Department/Division/Area: Art

Faculty/Staff Advisor(s): Young Ae Kim

Poster Number: 201

The Language of Non-Objective Abstraction*

My work is about movement, texture, and emotion. I use bold colors and organic shapes to create structured and spontaneous compositions. I build my surfaces with thick layers of paint, letting the texture become part of the experience. Each piece begins with an idea, but I allow the process to guide me, adjusting as I respond to the forms and colors as they develop. I want my work to feel alive, full of energy, depth, and contrast. The colors interact in a way that creates both tension and harmony, much like human emotions. Some areas feel chaotic, while others offer a sense of calm. This creates a sense of movement beyond the surface, making the work feel fluid and organic. My inspiration comes from the natural world, human experiences, and the way colors and textures communicate without words. I hope my work invites people to look closely, feel the energy, and find their connections to it. My goal is to create pieces that engage the senses, challenge perceptions, and evoke emotion in a way that is personal to each viewer.

Presenter(s): Mariom Manjury Nishe

Department/Division/Area: Art

Faculty/Staff Advisor(s): Amber Hansen

Poster Number: 202

Variation in metabolic rates, tissue masses, and mitochondrial function in response to fluctuating cold in House Sparrows

This research explores how small songbirds physiologically and metabolically respond to increasing winter temperature variability, a consequence of global climate change characterized by overall warming trends and more frequent extreme cold snaps. The study focuses on understanding the birds' capacity to adjust their basal and maximal cold-induced metabolic rates in response to rapid temperature fluctuations and investigates whether these adjustments can occur quickly enough to match environmental changes. By combining both natural field observations and controlled laboratory experiments, the project examines the physiological, tissue-level, cellular, and sub-cellular mechanisms underlying these metabolic adjustments. Additionally, the research seeks to identify potential energetic or physiological costs associated with these adaptations, which may impose limits on the birds' ability to cope with fluctuating temperatures. During my internship, I was actively involved in both field and laboratory components of the research. I assisted in capturing and handling birds, measuring metabolic rates using respirometry techniques, and analyzing physiological responses under varying temperature conditions. I also contributed to data collection, organization, and preliminary statistical analysis to identify trends in metabolic performance across different environmental scenarios. The findings aim to provide valuable insights into the resilience and vulnerability of small songbirds to ongoing and future climate change, contributing to broader ecological and conservation efforts.

Presenter(s): Leyli Mammedowa

Department/Division/Area: Biology

Faculty/Staff Advisor(s): David Swanson

Poster Number: 212

Conserving Biodiversity: Harnessing In-Field Genomics for Effective Survey and Management of Freshwater Mussel Biodiversity‡

Freshwater mussels play a critical role in aquatic ecosystems, including nutrient cycling and habitat availability but are among the most at-risk organisms in North America. Their populations face significant declines due to habitat loss, pollution, and climate change, with ∼72% of the nearly 300 species being of special concern, threatened, endangered or even extinct. Thermal pollution of watersheds, exacerbated by intensive agricultural land use, especially in the Great Plains states have further resulted in precipitous decline of native mussel populations. For example, only 12 (out of 30 historically known) and 13 (out of 36 historically known) mussel species have stable populations in Nebraska (NE) and South Dakota (SD) respectively. Captive propagation has been instrumental in the conservation of at-risk mussel species allowing for their augmentation, reintroduction, and introduction. Because the current distribution and status of freshwater mussels is poorly understood, it is difficult to identify potential source brood to maintain genetic diversity in the hatchery, locate waterways appropriate for reintroduction, or even assess the declines of historically common species. This study seeks to evaluate freshwater mussel biodiversity in Eastern South Dakota by employing an innovative combination of environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding and in-situ field genomics. eDNA metabarcoding offers a non-invasive approach to detecting mussel species by analyzing genetic material present in water samples, allowing for more comprehensive biodiversity assessments than time-consuming and inefficient tactile surveys.

We are leveraging advances in next-generation sequencing (NGS) and portable sequencing platforms, such as the Oxford MinION portable sequencing device, to develop a proof-of-concept study for real-time mussel species identification. The results from this study will inform the effectiveness of in-situ field genomics as a technique for assessing freshwater mussel populations, comparing results with historical records to track changes in species composition and distribution. By advancing DNA-based monitoring tools, this study aims to further supplement our limited understanding of freshwater mussels and continue the upward trajectory in the recovery of these imperiled species.

Presenter(s): Noah Guisinger

Department/Division/Area: Biology

Faculty/Staff Advisor(s): Omera Matoo

Poster Number: 213

Quantifying the Effects of Invasive Plants like Yellow Sweetclover on Native Plant Diversity in Relation to Non-Native Plant Composition and Environmental Drivers*

Invasive plant species pose a significant threat to the native biodiversity of the Northern Great Plains (NGP) in the context of ongoing climate change. Studies have shown the negative impacts of invasive plant species on native diversity at the local scale. However,

there is a significant knowledge gap of how these

impacts differ across heterogeneous landscapes and ecoregions on a broader scale. We used plot-level data from 4185 vegetation surveys spread across the NGP to quantify the effects of non-native plant cover on native plant composition. We will fi t mixed effects models to understand how native plant composition (richness, inverse Simpson diversity, and Smith Wilson evenness)varies with non-native cover(%). We aim to test how this relationship varies when non-native cover (%) interacts with non-native plant composition(richness and Smith Wilson evenness) and with environmental drivers (net primary productivity and global human modification index as human activity).We also want to introduce Yellow Sweetclover (Melilotus Officinalis; MEOF) as a model organism to examine whether a single invasive plant species can significantly affect the native plant community at the landscape level. Out of4185 vegetation surveys, we have 616 plots with MEOF as an invasive plant species. MEOF is an N-fixing invasive legume known to colonize and dominate vast areas provided suitable environmental conditions. MEOF has a competitive advantage in displacing native perennials due to their inherent traits, including rapid growth, efficient resource utilization, and adaptability to varying environmental conditions, resulting in biodiversity loss. We expect to see negative relationship between the non-native plant invasions and native plant communities and diversity, and their strength could be better explained by invasive plant composition as compared to environmental interaction at the landscape scale. The results from this study could provide us with a broader picture of trends in plant community composition at varying scales.

Presenter(s): Sakshi Saraf

Department/Division/Area: Biology

Faculty/Staff Advisor(s): Ranjeet John

Poster Number: 214

Navigating Stakeholder Interests and Sustainable Solutions for the Missouri River in an Era of Climate Change

In Introduction to River Studies (BIOL/ESCI 442/542) Fall 2024, students participated in a role-playing activity in which they explored stakeholder perspectives on river management, values, and adaptation strategies in the thick of climate change. The activity focused on the complexities of Missouri River management amid challenges such as climate change, conservation efforts, and economic activities. Stakeholders, including government agencies, local communities, and industries, each have unique interests and values that create their approach to river management. Through research and role-playing, students analyzed the potential conflicts between these interests, ultimately highlighting the importance of collaborative management. As group leaders in the role-playing exercise, we put forward that the future of river management must be grounded in cooperation, with stakeholders working together to create a framework that balances environmental, social, and economic considerations. Adaptive, flexible management strategies are essential to mitigating the impact of climate change on river systems. The role-playing activity emphasized the need for open dialogue among stakeholders and the development of solutions to be both sustainable and responsive to changing environmental conditions. Ultimately, we conclude that effective river management, on the Missouri River, requires ongoing collaboration to address the complex, interconnected challenges posed by climate change, conservation, and commerce.

Presenter(s): Sonja Braucht, Kimberly Magnuson, Annastasia Bair

Department/Division/Area: Biology

Faculty/Staff Advisor(s): Mark Dixon, Mark Sweeney

Poster Number: 215

The Dirty, Wet, and Wild Truth About Land Use, Carbon Sinks, and Global Peatlands.

Peatlands are terrestrial wetland ecosystems composed of partially decomposed plant material due to waterlogged conditions, allowing them to store vast amounts of carbon. Peatlands are often overlooked; however, they play a significant role in climate change because they are among Earth’s most significant carbon sinks. Unfortunately, the degradation and mining of peatlands for commercial and agricultural development releases substantial amounts of carbon into the atmosphere, accelerating climate change. Commercial operations such as palm oil plantations and other human activities have also led to peatland degradation and biodiversity loss. Global peatlands are located primarily in the northern hemisphere, although they can be found worldwide, with significant peatland ecosystems in many tropical areas. Regionally, Scotland and Canada are home to extensive peatland ecosystems that serve as critical habitats, aid in water retention, and serve as carbon reservoirs. Peatlands in Borneo and other Southeast Asian countries act as important biodiversity spots and help with flood prevention, despite being under significant threat from deforestation, fires, and industrial agriculture. Efforts to protect peatlands and prevent their destruction vary by region. We review peatland management in three different parts of the globe and evaluate how effective conservation strategies are for these ecosystems. By analyzing policies from different areas, we hope to identify policy and management approaches that can enhance peatland protection. Our analysis highlights the critical role of peatland conservation in the fight against climate change through carbon capture, preserving biodiversity, and promoting sustainable land use. We hope to increase awareness about the ways to strengthen conservation efforts in the U.S. and globally, to ensure peatland ecosystems can continue to provide essential environmental benefits.

Presenter(s): Sophie E H Wagemaker, Waverly Patterson, Erin Smith, Josiah Sholes, Saharra Chambers, Reese Young-Oestmann

Department/Division/Area: Biology

Faculty/Staff Advisor(s): Daniel Soluk

Poster Number: 216

Let it Flow: Sustainable Management of the Colorado River and the Potential for Increased Biodiversity

The Colorado River, a vital water source for seven U.S. states and Mexico, faces significant conservation challenges. There is a critical need to improve and protect the biodiversity of the river including threatened and endangered species such as the Colorado Pikeminnow, Razorback Sucker, and Southwestern Willow Flycatcher. Key threats to the river's sustainability include climate change, water scarcity, habitat degradation, invasive species, and water quality issues. We review the historical context, current state, and importance of the river for various stakeholders, including federal and state governments, Native American tribes, and the agricultural sector. Our research indicates that the over-allocation of water resources, rapid population growth, and large water diversion projects are critical factors driving degradation of ecosystems associated with the river. Conservation policies and management strategies, such as the Bureau of Reclamation's post-2026 guidelines, federal investments, and state and local initiatives, are examined for their effectiveness in addressing these challenges. Our research  aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the multifaceted issues affecting both humans and wildlife along the Colorado River and to examine the effectiveness of proposed solutions for its conservation.

Presenter(s): Zoe Donelan, Aislinn Bilgere, Jayden Clarin, Aleah Dokter, Kyle Jorgensen

Department/Division/Area: Biology

Faculty/Staff Advisor(s): Daniel Soluk

Poster Number: 217

Helper Number, Not DNA Methylation, Predicts Plasma Corticosterone Levels

Developmental environments have lifelong phenotypic consequences (e.g. how they respond to external stimuli). Such plasticity is of interest as it involves the interactions between the genome and the environment, both current and developmental. For example, environments such as parental care, food availability, and sociality lead to variations in stress responses and associated behaviors later in life, which can have lasting impacts on spatial and cognitive learning, as well as on an individual's sensitivity to glucocorticoids. While it is well-supported that environmental conditions can alter an individual's stress response, the mechanisms behind this response are less understood. Interestingly, epigenetics—specifically DNA methylation, a biochemical interaction between the environment and DNA—may drive variation in stress responses by altering the expression of glucocorticoid receptor and metabolic genes. In this study, chestnut-crowned babblers, a cooperatively breeding species that vary in the number of carers contributing to offspring care, were used to analyze how levels of DNA methylation influence corticosterone levels in fledglings. Corticosterone was extracted using ELISA from blood samples after a 30-minute stressor and a dexamethasone injection (to simulate negative feedback) and compared with DNA methylation determined using EM-seq from blood samples. We expect to find that methylation of the promoters of genes related to stress signaling and metabolism will predict corticosterone levels in this species, illustrating the impact of epigenetic signals and the environments that lead to them.

Presenter(s): Susan C Anderson

Department/Division/Area: Biology

Faculty/Staff Advisor(s): Andrea Liebl

Poster Number: 218

American Football Internal Helmet Padding Material and Design Testing†

Football helmets play a critical role in player safety, evolving significantly to address the risks of concussions and traumatic brain injuries. Early helmets provided only basic protection with leather shells, but advances in materials, design, and a better understanding of head impact kinematics have led to modern helmets with multi-layered systems designed to absorb and distribute energy. To contribute to the ongoing research in helmet safety, I have designed and 3D printed a custom head form modeled after my own head, which securely fits a WitMotion BWT901BLECL5.0 accelerometer. This head form will allow me to collect detailed impact data during controlled drop tests, simulating head impacts under consistent conditions. My project will compare the performance of internal padding materials such as spray foam, bubble wrap, Oobleck, 3D-printed filaments, and components modeled after modern helmet designs. Each material will be tested multiple times to ensure reliable data, and the instrumented head form will capture linear and rotational acceleration during impact. To analyze the data, I will use statistical methods including t-tests and ANOVAs to evaluate differences across test conditions. This structured approach will allow me to compare the performance of different padding materials against each other and modern helmet designs, ultimately providing new insights into how accessible materials and additive manufacturing techniques could contribute to future helmet innovation.

Presenter(s): Spencer Pigman

Department/Division/Area: Biology

Faculty/Staff Advisor(s): Lisa MacFadden

Poster Number: 220

Characterization of an Endocannabinoid Synthesizing Enzyme‡

According to the International Association for the Study of Pain, pain is defined as both an unpleasant sensory and emotional response to tissue damage, or potential damage (IASP). In the year 2016 alone, 20% of American adults reported having chronic pain (CDC). Therefore, there is  serious concern when it comes to the subject of pain in the United States, and, there is a very obvious need to study potential treatments for pain. Today, opioids and NADs are still the primary treatments used for both chronic and acute pain. However, these treatments are not reliable, and can often cause more harm than good. It has been shown that opioids are not reliable when it comes to managing pain beyond short-term use (i.e after a surgical procedure). Currently, there are alternatives to opioids and NADs, one of which is cannabis. However, there are legitimate questions about whether these therapies are effective. In the Burrell Lab, we are trying to analyze the basic biology of the endogenous cannabinoid system. We are using leeches as a model system because they are useful for studying neurobehavioral systems, and because they contain many of the same endocannabinoids as humans do. Specifically, we are focusing on characterizing the enzyme, DAG lipase, which is responsible for synthesizing the endocannabinoids, 2-AG from the protein DAG, in the leech nervous system. In order to do this we will be using three distinct methods. First, we will express the leech version of DAG lipase, to ensure that they synthesize 2-AG, while also conducting a bioinformatics analysis. Then, we want to determine whether drugs that block mammalian DAGL also block the leech version. Lastly, we will conduct mutagenesis to better analyze the functions of the enzyme, which could have implications for future work in creating treatments to regulate pain.

Presenter(s): Dori W Jal

Department/Division/Area: Basic Biomedical Sciences

Faculty/Staff Advisor(s): Brian Burrell, Emily Kabeiseman

Poster Number: 219

Synaptic Pruning and Cognitive Efficiency: Exploring the impact on Brain Functioning

Synaptic pruning is a neurodevelopmental process critical for optimizing brain function by refining neural circuits. This mechanism selectively removes weaker synaptic connections while strengthening essential pathways, enhancing neural communication. Predominantly occurring during early childhood and adolescence, synaptic pruning supports key cognitive functions such as learning, memory, and executive functioning. Microglial cells play a central role in pruning by identifying and eliminating unnecessary synapses, guided by genetic factors such as complement proteins and activity-dependent signals. Enriched environments during early development enhance the formation of synaptic connections, supporting cognitive development and minimizing excessive pruning. This principle also explains why learning multiple languages in childhood fosters greater proficiency than starting later in life. Disruptions in synaptic pruning can lead to cognitive deficits and neurological or psychiatric conditions. Over-pruning is linked to schizophrenia, where excessive synapse elimination impairs cognitive function, while insufficient pruning is associated with autism spectrum disorders, resulting in excessive connectivity and inefficiencies in information processing. A deeper understanding of synaptic pruning and its role in cognitive efficiency offers valuable insights into brain development and highlights the significance of early environmental enrichment.

Presenter(s): Haya N Al Shraideh

Department/Division/Area: Independent Literary Review

Faculty/Staff Advisor(s): Taylor Bosch

Poster Number: 108

Eye Eye Captain: Research into Acanthamoeba Keratitis Care and Testing

Acanthamoeba keratitis (AK) is a rare parasitic eye infection caused by protozoans of the Acanthamoeba genus. This infection affects approximately 2.9 million people annually, with improper contact lens usage being the primary contributing factor in developed countries (Azzopardi et al., 2023). AK often manifests as severe pain and, if left untreated, can lead to varying degrees of visual impairment, including blindness. Additionally, AK infections can be complicated by co-infections involving bacteria or fungi, making accurate differential diagnosis essential for effective treatment (Raghavan & Rammohan, 2024). Estimates suggest that 75% to 90% of patients with AK are initially misdiagnosed (Somani et al., 2023). While diagnostic testing for AK is extensive and includes various methods such as corneal biopsy, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), in vivo confocal microscopy, and tomography, current literature indicates a need for a deeper understanding of these diagnostic techniques to reduce the alarming misdiagnosis rates. For example, corneal scrapings have been considered the gold standard for diagnosing AK. However, emerging evidence indicates that Acanthamoeba can penetrate deeper into the stroma, making corneal scrapings more challenging to perform. The sensitivity of these scrapings varies widely, ranging from 33.3% to 66.7%, depending on the technique employed (Azzopardi et al., 2023). This literature review explores and examines additional diagnostic testing methods, such as PCR and photo-activated chromophore for keratitis-corneal cross-linking (PACK-CXL), which can reduce misdiagnosis and inaccurate results, ultimately ensuring proper care and effective treatment for those affected.

Presenter(s): Sadie Dillon, Addie Farrell, Paige Milstead

Department/Division/Area: Medical Laboratory Science

Faculty/Staff Advisor(s): Kari Potter

Poster Number: 204

Barbara Strozzi (1619-1677): The Empowered Virtuosa of Venice*

It is generally agreed upon that studying underrepresented women composers is vital to expanding the breadth of musical study prior to 1900. However, when teaching about lesser-known women musicians, it is often misconstrued that these women were simply "granted" a musical career by a man within their network. Because society would not allow them a chance otherwise, the woman had little to no say in what happened next. This presentation will show that Venetian composer and virtuosa Barbara Strozzi (1619-1677) exemplifies the woman musician who empowered herself by using societally acceptable means to further her musical career. While Strozzi was allowed certain privileges due to the circumstances of her upbringing, she used those privileges strategically despite the oppressive societal standards against women of seventeenth century Europe. She had personal agency in the flourishing of her career as a musician. This is supported by: 1) the painted portrait of Strozzi (Bernardo Strozzi, not closely related – c. 1640), likely commissioned to the advantage of her profession, displaying her as both an accomplished musician and a sexualized woman; 2) the progression of Strozzi’s written dedications prefacing her opuses over time, which give some insight into the development of her career; 3) Strozzi’s strategic treatment of text in the madrigals of Op. 1, which indicate her desire to be recognized as an esteemed composer; and 4) Strozzi’s publication of Op. 3, which clearly reflects the empowering feminist ideologies that surrounded her upbringing in the accademie.

Presenter(s): Abigail Rockhill-Beckler

Department/Division/Area: Music

Faculty/Staff Advisor(s): David Moskowitz

Poster Number: 203

"You Gonna Be Like Mama": A Case Study of Intergenerational Sex Trafficking‡

It has been established within the literature that child sex trafficking can be and is perpetuated by family members, though limited research exists that documents this type of sexual exploitation. This unspoken, yet distinct form of abuse against children is rarely reported, yet studies show in about 36% of human trafficking cases, those trafficked as children were intentionally sexually exploited by family members. Previous research has demonstrated that the commercial sexual exploitation of children (CSEC) can be passed through generations within a family, resulting in victims experiencing difficulties with self-regulation, substance addiction, socio-economic functioning, and psychiatric disorders. CSEC is defined as “a range of crimes and activities involving the sexual abuse or exploitation of a child for the financial benefit of any person, or in exchange for anything of value given or received by any person.” This paper strives to expand the limited literature base on the CSEC perpetuated by family members by examining the characteristics of a case of intergenerational sex trafficking and compare that case to the knowledge base about the prevalence, characteristics, and outcomes of familial sex trafficking. This case study emphasizes the ways in which sexual exploitation can pass through generations, focusing on the factors that lead to exploitation and leave children vulnerable. This paper also highlights the psychological impacts of childhood sex trafficking and familial involvement in trafficking.

Presenter(s): Lindsey M Grabowska

Department/Division/Area: Department of Public Health and Health Sciences

Faculty/Staff Advisor(s): Bridget Diamond-Welch

Poster Number: 206

Conceptual Framework for Utilizing Resources to Create a Solution for the Homeless Population

The data on the issue of homelessness is continuously changing as we can never exactly pinpoint the number of the homeless population at any given point. Over time there have been many ideas and voices that have proposed ideas on how to solve the growing issue in the United States. Although there have been many efforts to improve and correct this problem, there is never a strong solution. The purpose of this article is to take a deep dive into the research behind the homeless population and the solutions that have been proposed. After a thorough evaluation has been established, the purpose is to improve upon the already established ideas and create a cohesive plan that will benefit the good of the homeless people in the United States, including housing, mental health services, food, necessities, etc. Because each person’s situation is different, one must take apart the snapshot and look at the individual’s situation to assess what systematic barriers are in their way.

Presenter(s): Selma Almodovar

Department/Division/Area: Public Health

Faculty/Staff Advisor(s): Mike Allgrunn

Poster Number: 208

Subcellular Localization of ATG2 in WDR45 C52 C>T Mouse Brains

Beta-Propeller Protein-Associated Neurodegeneration (BPAN) is a rare and devastating progressive disease with a broad phenotypic display that causes neurological symptoms like tractable seizures, developmental delay, and motor and cognitive decline in adolescents. BPAN is inherited through variations of the WDR45 gene on the X chromosome. Currently, there is no cure for this disease, only symptomatic treatment. While the specific function of the WDR45 protein is unknown, we have determined that its top protein interactor is ATG2 through BioID experiments which agrees with previous literature. ATG2 is an autophagy-associated protein that facilitates lipid transfer between two lipid membranes. Recent publications showed that in HeLa and neuroblastoma cells, WDR45 loss of function leads to mislocalization of ATG2, causing lipid peroxidation and driving cell death via ferroptosis. As BPAN is a principally neurological disease, we wanted to determine the localization of ATG2 in both WT and WDR45 C52 C>T neuronal cultures, which mimics a patient mutation of WDR45. These cultures were used with immunofluorescent imaging to determine colocalization of mitochondrial protein with ATG2. We used subcellular fractionation of cortical tissue collected from WDR45 mutant mice that allowed us to isolate mitochondrial fractions from the tissues, then used western blotting to quantify the amount of ATG2 localizing to these fractions. From this, we did not observe altered ATG2 abundance in the mitochondrial fraction in the absence of WDR45. This finding provides further insight into the function of WDR45 and how it interacts within the scope of BPAN.

Presenter(s): Ariana C Edwards

Department/Division/Area: Sanford Biomedical Research (SPUR Program)

Faculty/Staff Advisor(s): Hannah Faiman

Poster Number: 205

Mechanism of Action of first-in-class Fully Human Anti-ThymoGlobulin experimental Drug (SAB-142) as a Treatment Option for Type 1 Diabetes

Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) is an autoimmune disease characterized by the destruction of insulin-producing pancreatic β cells. People with T1D have a life-long dependence on exogenous insulin. Anti-thymoglobulin (ATG) is an immunoglobulin fraction of serum from animals immunized with human thymocytes; it is composed of antibodies raised against various surface lymphocyte markers. The general mechanism of ATG action is immunosuppression by means of temporal lymphodepletion. As T1D is caused by hyperactivation of self-reactive T lymphocytes that kill β cells, it is logical to suggest that transient lymphodepletion by ATGs might be beneficial. According to Haller et al, (2019) a single administration of low-dose ATG to T1D patients partially preserved β cell function for up to 2 years. Animal ATGs, however, cannot be re-dosed without serious risk of anaphylaxis, which is caused by a severe allergic reaction following repeated administration of xenobiotic agents of animal origin (antibodies). Therefore, we hypothesized that an agent possessing beneficial effects of the current animal ATGs but lacking risk of xenobiotic responses would be significantly advantageous for prolonged β cell preservation in a T1D setting. The first-in-class fully human ATG drug, SAB-142, is produced in transchromosomal bovines with a human Ig locus inserted into their genome. Here, we will test SAB-142 using rabbit ATG (rATG, Thymoglobulin®) as an active comparator. My objective is to uncover the specific mechanism of action of SAB-142 compared to rATG. Specifically, we will expose peripheral blood mononuclear cells (WBC) from healthy volunteers and T1D patients to SAB-142 and rATG and perform single-cell RNA sequencing to identify drug-induced changes.

Presenter(s): Olivia V Allen

Department/Division/Area: Sanford Research/School of Medicine

Faculty/Staff Advisor(s): Alexei Savinov

Poster Number: 207

Challenges of a Nation: A Trip to Pine Ridge, SD

The Cultural Immersion course gives medical students at the USD Sanford School of Medicine the opportunity to gain valuable exposure to diverse cultures as part of their Pillar 2 medical curriculum. The course consists of several discussions with speakers from diverse backgrounds, a day at a Hutterite colony, and an experience at a culturally diverse site in South Dakota. The authors of this poster presentation had their experience take place on the Pine Ridge Reservation. The experience was based out of the Pine Ridge Reconciliation Center. The center operates homeless day and night shelters, youth programs, food and clothing distribution programs, and educational and career advancement for community members. Through their immersion program, the center aims to bring awareness to both the history of Lakota culture and people and the struggles they face on the reservation today. One major problem that faces the Pine Ridge Reservation is homelessness. Through discussions with local tribal members, elders, and the staff at the Reconciliation Center, the authors were able to discuss three major factors that act as driving forces for homelessness on the reservation. Those factors include land and housing availability, drug and alcohol use, and violent crime. Through the experience, the authors were then able to meet with the people and organizations that are working to combat those factors driving homelessness in the area to gain their insight on what can and needs to be done to make a change.

Presenter(s): Alexander Bergeson, Wesley Genant

Department/Division/Area: School of Medicine

Faculty/Staff Advisor(s): Jason Wickersham

Poster Number: 210

Maximizing Long-Term Care Resident Satisfaction Using the Kano Model

With the growing demand for long-term care facilities, understanding residents' values is critical to delivering high-quality care and enhancing their quality of life. This project aimed to identify the quality-of-life features most valued by residents to optimize resource allocation and maximize satisfaction. A survey assessing 11 quality-of-life features was conducted with residents at a South Dakota nursing home. Survey responses were analyzed using the Kano Model, which categorizes features as "must-be," "performance," "attractive," or "indifferent," reflecting their impact on satisfaction and prioritization. "Must-be" features represent expectations essential to satisfaction, while "performance" features influence satisfaction proportionally. "Attractive" features offer added value by improving satisfaction, without reducing it when absent. "Indifferent" features provide opportunities to reallocate resources toward higher-priority needs. Thirty-three residents participated in the survey, and analysis of their responses revealed distinct categorizations for the quality-of-life features. Features identified as "must-be" included permission to leave, autonomy in sleep schedules, help when needed, shared decision-making, and security of possessions. Features categorized as "performance" were organized activities, religious activities, and comfortable room temperature. "Attractive" features consisted of enjoying food and staff taking personal interest, while private phone calls were classified as "indifferent." To add prioritization within these categories, importance scores from the survey were incorporated. Based on these scores, the features were ranked in the following order to maximize satisfaction: help when needed, security of possessions, permission to leave, shared decision-making, autonomy in sleep schedules, room temperature, religious activities, organized activities, enjoying food, staff taking personal interest, and private phone calls. The findings highlight the importance residents assign to quality-of-life features and demonstrate which features residents value most. This allows administrators to make data-driven decisions to efficiently enhance resident satisfaction.

Presenter(s): Carly Haring

Department/Division/Area: School of Medicine

Faculty/Staff Advisor(s): Dan Rath

Poster Number: 211

The role of nutrition in exacerbating ADHD symptoms in Sioux Falls, SD.

My research question is: 'How do dietary factors, including sugar, processed foods, and artificial food dyes, contribute to the exacerbation of ADHD symptoms in children (aged 4-17) in Sioux Falls, SD?' Food additives, dyes, sugar, and processed foods are speculated to exacerbate ADHD symptoms in children with an existing diagnosis. This study aims to investigate the role of unhealthy dietary habits in increasing symptoms of hyperactivity, inattentiveness, and impulsivity among children aged 4-17 in Sioux Falls, SD. ADHD is one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders worldwide, affecting a significant number of children in U.S. classrooms. The research will include a comprehensive literature review on ADHD, nutrition, and environmental factors, along with a community assessment of Sioux Falls. The assessment will explore local barriers such as limited access to nutritious food, availability of mental health services, and medication costs to identify factors that may contribute to ADHD symptom exacerbation in the community. The findings of this study suggest that a limited access to nutritious food and unhealthy dietary habits may contribute to the severity of ADHD symptoms. This study will conclude with possible solutions for mitigating or preventing ADHD symptoms.

Presenter(s): Kelly J Young

Department/Division/Area: School of Health Sciences

Faculty/Staff Advisor(s): Minga Vargas

Poster Number: 209

Malta & Sicily FLP: Community on a Small Island

Malta is a country that is comprised of three islands in the Mediterranean Sea. The population of this country is a little over half a million, while the length of Malta is about 17 miles long. This means that people live in close proximity to each other. This photo essay reflects on how this close proximity leads to a tight-knit community. By going to Malta during the Malta and Sicily Faculty Led program, I was able to observe the community and how people interact with each other. This presentation shows the way the physical proximity and the Maltese culture interact, reflecting the idea of Malta having a close community culture. The photos in this presentation reflect Maltese culture, the physical landscape, and everyday life that contribute to the close-knit society of the Maltese Islands.

Presenter(s): Abreanna Pollman

Department/Division/Area: Sustainability

Faculty/Staff Advisor(s): Jennifer Fierro

Poster Number: 101

Malta & Sicily FLP: Life In A Water Stressed Nation

In the nation of Malta, a small group of islands in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, freshwater has historically been a highly valuable commodity.  With the nation’s location, freshwater sources are few and their size is very small, especially when compared to those found here in the US. The challenges that come with a general lack of water have historically been a problem, with people using it drinking and for farming, droughts of drinking water leading to problems that can even be felt today. Today, with Malta being a large tourist destination with over 3 million people visiting in 2024, water concerns are still a very big problem to consider.  With freshwater being historically in low supply, Malta has spent several centuries finding ways to collect and retain their water levels using building standards, higher efficiency farming, using techniques like reverse osmosis. With my recent trip to the islands, I had the opportunity to talk to and visit presentations by locals and experts in fields surrounding sustainability on the island. With visits to historic sites like several of the oldest cities and learned why they were made on the locations where they were built. By using a poster presentation, I hope to show ways that we could help to conserve water back here in the United States.

Presenter(s): Alexis Bullinger

Department/Division/Area: Sustainability

Faculty/Staff Advisor(s): Jennifer Fierro

Poster Number: 102

Urbanization In Malta- Balancing Growth and Sustainability

Malta, one of the most densely populated countries in Europe, faces unique challenges stemming from rapid urbanization, construction pressures, and limited land availability. As the island continues to develop, issues related to housing, green spaces, and sustainability have become increasingly urgent. The demand for residential and commercial properties has led to significant land-use changes, often at the expense of natural landscapes and green spaces. This presentation explores the complex relationship between urban expansion and environmental preservation in Malta. It examines how a rising population density influences housing affordability, infrastructure development, and the conservation of green areas. By analyzing current policies, development trends, and case studies, this poster will highlight both the challenges and opportunities facing Malta’s urban landscape. The presentation will also lightly cover potential solutions, including smart growth initiatives, improved public transportation, and sustainable building practices, all of which are crucial for maintaining the island’s livability.

Presenter(s): Cabbot M Johnson

Department/Division/Area: Sustainability

Faculty/Staff Advisor(s): Jennifer Fierro

Poster Number: 103

Malta & Sicily FLP: Modern Reflections on Malta’s Prehistoric and Historic Heritage

Malta’s prehistoric and historic past is defined by over 7,000 years of cultural occupations and migrations, which shaped its identity, environment, and traditions into today's modern Maltese heritage. Being positioned between Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East has made Malta a key player in serving as a crossroads for civilizations, influencing and being influenced by different regional powers and cultures. The first settlers arrived in Malta in 5000 BC and stayed until 2500 BC when they constructed monumental Neolithic temples built from limestone. Over the next two thousand years (800 BC- 1090 AD), Malta was successively occupied by five separate cultural groups: Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Romans, Byzantines, and Arabs, each leaving long-lasting imprints that shaped many aspects of the Maltese island, including architecture, language, and culture. During the Middle Ages(1090 AD- 1798 AD), Malta once again saw multiple different cultural groups occupy and rule the islands by the Normans, Sicilians, and the Knights of St. John, who fortified the islands and shifted the capital from Mdina to Valletta. Malta was also briefly occupied by the French and Napolean’s troops from 1798 AD to 1800 AD, who exiled the Knights before being taken over by British rule. The British stayed on the island until 1964 when Malta gained their independence. Each era contributed to Malta’s linguistic, architectural, and cultural landscape, with Arabic shaping the Maltese language and the British influence evident in modern customs and institutions. By examining the different eras of occupation, we gain insight and create connections in how Malta’s historical resilience, adaptability, and cultural synthesis continue to shape present populations and generations.

Presenter(s): Emma G Byrne

Department/Division/Area: Sustainability

Faculty/Staff Advisor(s): Jennifer Fierro

Poster Number: 104

Malta & Sicily FLP: The Fruits of Sicily

Malta & Sicily FLP: The Fruits of Sicily

During the studying abroad program, the group was able to take a break from the Maltese islands and take a two-hour ferry ride to its neighboring island, Sicily. Sicily is a small island territory off the coast of its mainland, Italy. It is home to an active volcano, Mount Etna, and has a Mediterranean climate due to its location in the center of the Mediterranean. These factors give the island its nutrient-rich soil and the perfect climate for Sicilian farmers to grow high-quality produce like grapes, olives, almonds, and lemons. While in Sicily, the group had the opportunity to visit Zisola Winery to speak to an expert about their approach to farming and the processes utilized while making their incredible wine and olive oil. On the group's tour of the winery, the group gained a large amount of knowledge on traditional farming practices that Zisola still incorporates to this day. The groups also learned about some of the effects that global climate change has had on farming in the Mediterranean and how they are adapting to these changes to continue competing in the market. This photo essay paints a picture of farming on the scenic island of Sicily. The images selected show the process of creating Zisola products, from the growing of the fruits to the aging and processes and the final products. Together, they create a timeline and a story from farm to table.

Presenter(s): Josie K Hamer

Department/Division/Area: Sustainability

Faculty/Staff Advisor(s): Jennifer Fierro

Poster Number: 105

Malta & Sicily FLP: Preserving Malta’s Natural Landscapes

Malta is a small island nation in the middle of the Mediterranean; it is a place of limited space, but lots of people. In the past, Malta has disregarded the conservation and preservation of its natural spaces, but in recent years, this has increased in importance due to awareness from the citizens and the intervention of conservation groups. It was explored during the Malta & Sicily Faculty-Led program, how Malta is working to reclaim and preserve its natural spaces, while remnants of the area’s history remain noticeable. This progress has positive sustainability impacts in all three pillars–environmental, social, and economic. The images highlight the current state of Malta’s nature parks and the environment’s importance in daily life for Maltese citizens as well as impacting tourism. The stunning natural landscapes bring so much draw for the island and now the preservation will allow people to admire these landscapes for years to come.

Presenter(s): Maggie Bruse

Department/Division/Area: Sustainability

Faculty/Staff Advisor(s): Jennifer Fierro

Poster Number: 106

Malta & Sicily FLP: History Meets Modernity in Malta

Malta, a small island country located in the Mediterranean Sea, between Sicily and Africa, is one of the oldest countries to have inhabitants. Human settlement dates back to around 5900 BC. As it has been continuously inhabited, there have been many different rulers in its past. Because of the different influences over the years, the culture in Malta has been altered over and over. The old Arab architecture from the Middle Ages is just one example of occupation influence. Modern architecture is few and far between on the islands, with most of the buildings being hundreds of years old. However, that does not mean it does not exist. Hotels are some of the most modern buildings in Malta, with the differences between historic buildings and hotels being quite stark. I will be presenting the juxtapositions between history and modernity in Malta.

Presenter(s): Rachel L Sadler

Department/Division/Area: Sustainability

Faculty/Staff Advisor(s): Jennifer Fierro

Poster Number: 107