Biology
Research
Green, Meg; Sperry, Michael; Elias, Ashley Environmental Effects on Gene Expression in Golden Shiners
To explore the effects of the environment on physiology, gene expression was measured across fish reared in different conditions and across tissues within those fish. Golden shiners (Notemigonus crysoleucas) were grown in either their natal pond water or water from a different pond. Two growth-related genes (growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor) were chosen and tested for variation in expression levels in three tissues (brain, gut, and liver) based on differences in experimental environment factors.
Ashley Elias
aelias1@missouriwestern.edu
Biology
Summary of an internship or practicum experience.
Quick, Carson Rehabilitation Centers and the Misunderstandings Behind Them
Going over the importances that rehab centers give to injured or sick animals and giving them a better chance at life. Also, some of the personal experiences I had during this internship over the past summer.
Cary Chevalier
cquick3@missouriwestern.edu
Biology
Summary of an internship or practicum experience.
Coon, Alika; Jameson, Connor Coral Reef Habitat Restoration
Coral reefs are among the most biodiverse ecosystems on Earth, yet they are rapidly declining due to climate change, pollution, disease, and invasive species. This internship focused on hands-on coral reef restoration and conservation in Roatán, Honduras, through direct participation in fish identification, invasive species management, coral nursery maintenance, and coral out-planting. Activities included identifying several native reef fish, monitoring and removing invasive lion fish, cleaning and maintaining coral nurseries contain Staghorn and Elkhorn corals, and transplanting healthy coral fragments onto damaged reed structures using epoxy. Coral fragments were monitored for disease, predation, and competition to improve survival and growth. These efforts contributed to increased coral cover, improved reef structure, and great ecosystem stability. Through this experience, practical scuba and reef conservation skills were developed, along with a deeper understanding of coral ecology and the challenges facing tropical reef ecosystems. This works highlights the importance of active restoration and community-based conservation in protecting coral reefs and supporting the marine biodiversity and human economies that depend on them.
Cary Chevalier
cjameson4@missouriwestern.edu
Biology
Literature review
Jameson, Connor; Stoskopf, Katie; Peaslee Mammal Biodiversity of Missouri Prairies
Missouri’s tall-grass prairies were once a dominant ecosystem, covering 33% of the state, but today less than 0.5% remains. This huge habitat loss has placed significant pressure on prairie-dependent mammal species. In this study we tried to capture/observe mammals in two locations of the campus prairie. Trapping efforts captured 16 individuals representing three small mammal species (Hispid Cotton Rat, Deer Mouse, and Prairie Vole). Additionally, field observations recored of Eastern Cottontails and a Raccoon. Many factors, including habitat fragmentation, invasive species, agricultural land use, and woody encroachment, continue to negatively affect MO prairies. These factors reduce mammals diversity by reducing available space, limiting movement, and lowering genetic diversity. Conservation efforts in MO, include prairie protection, restoration, prescribed fire, managed grazing, and invasive species removal, are essential for painting prairie mammals and the urgent need for long-term conservation of MO’s remaining prairie ecosystems.
Cary Chevalier
cjameson4@missouriwestern.edu
Biology
Literature review
Peaslee, Camrin; Stoskopf, Katie Natural History of Flying Squirrels
Flying squirrels are important components of forest ecosystems, recognized for their nocturnal behavior and unique gliding adaptations. This poster summarizes the biology of Northern, Southern, and Humboldt’s flying squirrels, including their habitat use, diet, and ecological roles. These species rely on mature forests, where they disperse mycorrhizal fungi and contribute to nutrient cycling. Key adaptations such as the patagium, enhanced night vision, and lightweight skeletons support efficient aerial movement. Fieldwork at MDC resulted in no detections, likely due to low visibility and low local abundance. Major conservation concerns include habitat fragmentation, loss of old-growth forests, and climate-driven changes in forest structure. Overall, the poster highlights the ecological significance of flying squirrels and the need for habitat protection.
Cary Chevalier
cpeaslee@missouriwestern.edu
Biology
Summary of an internship or practicum experience.
Benjamin, Bathke Habitat Technician Internship
This presentation is showing my internship with the South Dakota Game Fish and Parks, doing habitat work and exploring other departments of this organization. This internship showed me how habitat biologists do their jobs and what is required from them to complete the goal of maintaining or improving game production areas/habitats within the state, and preserving them for the next generation.
Cary Chevalier
bbathke@missouriwestern.edu
Biology
Summary of an internship or practicum experience.
Spradley, Amber Review of a Resource Science Aide for MDC
I was titled as a Resource Science Aide and worked for a Patch Burn Graze Crew out of Warsaw, Mo for MDC. We identified plants and caught bees.
Cary Chevalier
aspradley@missouriwestern.edu
Biology
Research
Shaffer, Tadyn; Spradley, Amber; Hollingsworth Mammal Survey of John Rushin Prairie
Preformed a mark recapture survey on the prairie along with a trail cam survey.
Cary Chevalier
tshaffer3@missouriwestern.edu
Biology
Summary of an internship or practicum experience.
Ireland, Cheyenne Gaining experience during a job/ Internship with RAM through MDC
My internship with RAM at MDC gave me irreplaceable experience monitoring stream health and electrofishing
Cary Chevalier
cireland2@missouriwestern.edu
Psychology
Research
Fitzpatrick, Ella; Lavery, Madison; Massey, Hannah; Stagner, Kylie; Woodson, Malaisha Writing for Wellness: Stress Relief Through Journaling Among College Students
This study compared the effect of journaling on the topic of stressful life factors versus gratitude journaling on college students’ positive and negative affect. Using a pre- and post-test Positive And Negative Affect Scale (PANAS), we found that when college students journaled for seven minutes about what they were grateful for, they had lower negative affect afterwards. When students journaled about stressful events, there was no impact on positive or negative affect. This study suggests that even short amounts of gratitude journaling can have short-term positive effects on mood.
Christine Ziemer
cziemer@missouriwestern.edu
Biology, Chemistry
Research
Keithley, Daya; Ramey, Joey; King, Teri; Svojanovsky, Stan; Barta, Csengele Harnessing remote sensing and machine learning for urban pond water quality and pond ecosystem health assessment.
Urban ponds are critical for maintaining biodiversity, regulating water quality and providing ecological, aesthetic and recreational benefits. Nevertheless, these ecosystems face increasing challenges from urbanization, pollution, and climate variability.
This long-term study aims to develop a one-of-a-kind approach leveraging in-situ measurements, remote sensing and machine learning to assess water quality and ecosystem health in the nine ponds on the Missouri Western State University (MWSU) campus.
Csengele Barta
cbarta1@missouriwestern.edu
Biology
Research
Bien, Cooper; Quick, Carson; Bracken Implementation of Trail Cameras to Fur Bearer Surveys
Fur Bearer surveys often use fine dirt and a scent tab to record fur bearer tracks, providing data on wildlife trends and population status to guide management. Our research evaluated the effectiveness of implementing trail cameras in fur bearer surveys conducted by the Missouri Department of Conservation.
Dr. C. D. Chevalier
mbracken@missouriwestern.edu
Biology
Literature review
Livers, Anna; Kolb, Blayke; Sharp Bears vs Urbanization
A poster reviewing the effects that urbanization has on black bears in the Midwestern United States.
Dr. Cary Chevalier
alivers@missouriwestern.edu
Biology
Summary of an internship or practicum experience.
Chambers, Braxton Naturalist Internship with Smithville Lake Nature Center
Throughout May 2025 to August 2025, Smithville Lake presented the opportunity for me to work as a naturalist at their new nature center. During this internship, I gained various insights in the world of conservation education through experiences such as speaker presentations, invasive species control, and interactive workshops.
Dr. Cary Chevalier
bchambers4@missouriwestern.edu
Biology
Literature review
Hansen, Jacob; Ireland, Cheyenne; Arnold Delayed Implantation in Eutherians and Metatherians
This poster aims to explain what delayed implantation in mammals is by showing how it evolved between two mammalian subclasses the Metatherians and the Eutherians. The poster will also provide some similarities and differences of delayed implantation between the two subclasses.
Dr. Cary Chevalier
jhansen8@missouriwestern.edu
Biology
Literature review
Spradlin, Kyla; Cartwright, Jackson; Schneeflock Human and Bobcat Interactions (Literature Review)
This literature review will broadly cover the interactions between humans and bobcats concerning factors such as disease, behavior, movement, population data, and more.
Dr. Cary D. Chevalier
kspradlin@missouriwestern.edu
Biology
Literature review
Keithley, Daya; Turner, Falcon; Wilhelmsen, Shelton Ecological Significance of Missouri Burrowing Mammals
This presentation will be about Missouri native burrowing mammals, and the ecological significance of them. This will include soil health and structure, biodiversity and habitat, ecosystem maintenance, and the roles burrowing mammals play as predators and prey. Mammals included range from big to small, and each have their own unique roles in ecosystem health and development.
Dr. Chevalier
doldham1@missouriwestern.edu
Biology
Summary of an internship or practicum experience.
Keithley, Daya Smithvillle Lake Naturalist Internship
This is a summary of my summer naturalist internship at Smithville Lake. Speaking about the different responsibilities, and key moments during the internship. A few of these responsibilities being; hosting YMCA/Summer School field trips at the lake, presenting programs at libraries/schools, participating in invasive species control, and taking care of a nature center and the critters that live in it.
Dr. Chevalier
doldham1@missouriwestern.edu
Nursing
Literature review
Eiman, Lauren; Hackler, Mary; O’Rear, Michaela; Granero Boj, Cristina; Jenkins, Elizabeth Therapeutic Approaches to Managing Depression in Oncology Patients
The purpose of this project is to investigate effective treatments for managing depression in oncology patients, as well as the subsequent and appropriate nursing interventions. We achieved this using the PICOT question: In oncology patients, how does the implementation of mindfulness and meaning-centered therapy, as compared to usual care, affect patient depression rates?
Dr. Elissa Zorn
mhackler1@missouriwestern.edu
Communications
Research
Lashbrook, Patty Framing the Gospel: Paul’s Persuasive Appeals in Light of Rhetorical Situation Theory
The purpose of this study was to explore how the apostle Paul used rhetoric differently depending on the situation. I analyzed four of the letters written by Paul to churches in Galatia, Ephesus, Philippi, and Colosse. I found that specific words were used consistently, but the phrasing of their use and the emphasis of his communication varied slightly between these audiences.
Dr. James Carviou
plashbrook@missouriwestern.edu
Biology
Literature review
Rich, Memphis The evolutionary adaptation of anxiety in humans
For my literature review I wanted to uncover the biological reasonings for why humans experience mental disorders such as anxiety. I wanted to know why our natural evolution has allowed us to fathom such a an abstract concept of fearing what might happen in the future. I was able to find some research articles over said topic with interesting concepts around human evolution. Some of these articles reviewed why we evolved to have the mental capacity to experience anxiety, while other articles covered how our evolution can affect our modern day lives. Both articles introduced fascinating ideas that I believe people might find interesting.
Dr. Jedlicka
mrich2@missouriwestern.edu
Biology
Research
Sedlacek, Evan What the research shows on cover crops and yield.
Cover crops are grown to improve soil quality, rather than for harvest. These benefits include reduced soil erosion, increased soil health, and decreased weed density. This project evaluates the effect of cover crops on maize and soybean yield in the Midwest. Factors such as location, soil quality, cover crop type, and field management were examined between two research studies. Overall, cover crops produce long-term benefits to the field yield and biomass, but many factors regulate the results in crop production.
Dr. Jedlicka
esedlacek@missouriwestern.edu
Biology
Literature review
Boone, LeAnna Mechanisms of Antibiotic Resistance in Humans
This presentation is over the mechanisms of antibiotic resistance in humans and also discusses the rise of antibiotic resistance as it poses a critical global threat. Bacteria use various different ways to resist treatment, a few of these being horizontal gene transfer for mobile resistance genes, target alteration, and efflux pumps. Understanding antibiotic resistance and how bacteria resist antibiotics is necessary to help lower annual death rates and to stop overusing or misusing antibiotics.
Dr. Jedlicka
lboone2@missouriwestern.edu
Biology
Literature review
Rich, Memphis The Evolutionary Adaptation for Anxiety in Humans
I have always wanted to know why humans experience anxiety. Why do we get anxious when thinking about a hard test or a simple doctor’s appointment? In this presentation I will be revising two research articles that explain the concept of anxiety. These articles explain why we experience anxiety, as well as why humans evolved such a unique adaptation. But most of all I will be reviewing how anxiety plays a role in the modern day lives of humans.
Dr. Julie Jedlicka
mrich2@missouriwestern.edu
Communications
Research
Laur, Mary; Brewer, James; armstrong, Ja’Marea Usability Testing of Video Instructions of How to Make a Paper Snowflake
This project is a test of the usability of an instructional video of how to make paper snowflakes. Our team’s definition of usability is how simple and effective a product is to use when trying to complete a task with little to no issues. Usability can be evaluated through both quantitative and qualitative measurements. The quantitative data for this project is the amount time it takes to make a paper snowflake as well as how many times the participants have to pause the video. As for our qualitative data, this will be collected through the think-aloud protocol and a follow-up interview.
Dr. Kaye Adkins
mlaur@missouriwestern.edu
Communications
Research
Maddison, McMillan; Peters, Quinn; McQuiston, Makayla Evaluating the Usability of EpiPen Instructions
This project is a test of the usability of EpiPen instructions. Usability is defined as the effectiveness, efficiency, and satisfaction with which users can correctly follow the instructions to administer an epinephrine auto-injector. Usability can be evaluated through both quantitative and qualitative measures. Quantitative data collected includes task completion time and error rates when participants follow the instructions. Qualitative data is collected through the think-aloud protocol and a follow-up interview, which provide insight into participants’ understanding, challenges, and perceptions while using the instructions. This research aims to identify potential improvements in instructional design to ensure safe and effective use of EpiPens.
Dr. Kaye Adkins
mmcmillan1@missouriwestern.edu
Communications
Research
Schneider, Jayden; Humes, Davyn; Holmes, Alyssa Usability Testing of Origami Heart Instructions
This project is a test of the usability of instructions for making an origami heart. Usability is how easily and effectively one can accomplish a task. This can be evaluated through quantitative and qualitative measures. Quantitative data collected includes how long it takes participants to finish and the number of mistakes they make. Qualitative data is collected through the think-aloud protocol and a follow-up interview.
Dr. Kaye Adkins
jschneider23@missouriwestern.edu
Communications
Research
Burkert, William; Dugger, Elizabeth; Myers, Easton Usability Testing of Lego City Car Set
This project is a test of the usability of Lego City Car set. Usability is how well instructions can be successfully followed to complete the specified goal. It also tests efficiency and satisfaction in its context of use, and can be evaluated through quantitative and qualitative measures. Quantitative data collected includes time taken, pieces misplaced, and number of times they had to backtrack. Qualitative data is collected through the think-aloud protocol and a follow-up interview.
Dr. Kaye Adkins
edugger1@missouriwestern.edu
Communications
Research
Wilmes, Josie; Gross, Jacob; Pritchard, Vito; Davyn, Humes Usability of Handwashing Instructions
This project is a test of the usability of hand washing instructions. Usability refers to the ease with which people can use a tool or system to achieve their goals effectively and efficiently; and can be evaluated through quantitative and qualitative measures. Quantitative data collected includes the time it takes them to complete the instructions. Qualitative data is collected through the think-aloud protocol and a follow-up interview.
Dr. Kaye Adkins
jwilmes5@missouriwestern.edu
Communications
Research
Walker, Mallory; Schroeder, Isabel; Ackerman-Axume, James Usability of Origami Fortune-Teller
This project is a test of the usability of origami fortune-telling instructions. We have provided clear and concise visualizations. Usability is the extent to which specified users can use a product to achieve specified goals with effectiveness, efficiency, and satisfaction in a specified context of use, and can be evaluated through quantitative and qualitative measures. Quantitative data includes tracking the number of times the participant needed to restart and the time it took them to complete the task. Qualitative data is collected through the think-aloud protocol and a follow-up interview.
Dr. Kaye Adkins
mwalker24@missouriwestern.edu
Communications
Research
Newman, Leo; anetekhai, abakhaye; Jones, Charles Evaluating Usability of Drawing Instructions
This project is a test of the usability of Wiki-How instructions for how to draw a dog, and will be evaluated through quantitative and qualitative measures. Quantitative data collected includes: Test time, accuracy, and number of corrections. Qualitative data is collected through the think-aloud protocol and follow-up interview to record participants’ opinions on the instructions.
Dr. Kaye Adkins
lnewman2@missouriwestern.edu
Biology
Research
Valentine, Grace; Chin, Bawi; Grove EFFECTS OF HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP IN THE DIET ON SUSCEPTIBILITY TO EXPERIMENTAL COLITIS IN MICE
his investigation examined the effect of dietary High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS) consumption on susceptibility to, and the early recovery from, acute intestinal inflammation in a chemically-induced colitis model. We hypothesized that HFCS would significantly increase the severity of colitis induced by Dextran Sodium Sulfate (DSS). Our experimental design utilized a limited cohort of five C57/Bl/6J mice distributed into two groups of DSS, HFCS and a DSS and water group. Mice in the HFCS groups consumed a mixed solution in their drinking water and concurrently with the administration of 3.0% DSS in the drinking water, which induced acute colitis. Disease severity was monitored daily using the Disease Activity Index (DAI), a composite score tracking body weight loss, stool consistency, and fecal occult blood. The DSS + HFCS group exhibited a rapid and severe clinical course, necessitating the termination of DSS/HFCS treatment earlier than planned—due to escalating signs of disease, thus initiating an accelerated recovery phase across all affected mice. This severe acute presentation strongly suggests that dietary HFCS significantly enhances the inflammatory response and accelerates the onset of pathology in DSS-induced colitis. Tissues were subsequently collected for histology and fecal DNA analysis to provide deeper mechanistic insight into the observed enhanced damage and early recovery kinetics.
Dr. Kristen Walton
gvalentine@missouriwestern.edu
Communications
Literature review
Sample, Charlie The Use of AI with College Students
The use of Artificial Intelligence, or AI, has become more and more advanced with each passing year. People have learned to use its power to benefit themselves in all kinds of ways. It is like searching for a solution on the internet, but even more than that now. This particular tool or weapon has also been in play with college students. In this paper, I dove deeper into all kinds of studies where college students use AI, and found some pretty interesting information. The methods of these case studies all vary based on the goal they were trying to secure. There were many goals that even I had not thought about so I found it very informative and helpful for if I were to try the experiment myself. Most of the studies’ general goal was to see how students use AI and whether or not it is good or bad by gathering data from college students. When trying to do my research, I came across a big roadblock. I had stated in my IRB that getting the interviews would be a challenge since not many people would be willing to admit their usage of AI. I made sure to make it known that all answers were going to be anonymous, but that did not seem to matter as most said it would be too uncomfortable. That is why I turned to other case studies that professionals have done to find the results of many experiments.
Dr. Luling
csample@missouriwestern.edu
Communications
Literature review
Sohal, Gurtej Factors Affecting Task-based Performance
This review explores how collaboration in groups affects task-based performance. An extensive review was conducted on multiple case-studies on both group and individual work. We discuss multiple concepts in this study:
The concept of collective strength
How individual work affects course work
Task Complexity
Upon exploring these and many other concepts, we can determine the impact group work and individual work has upon completing a task. Along with the review is a methodology of what to expect in a study comparing group work and individual work on task-based performance.
Dr. Luling
gsohal@missouriwestern.edu
Communications
Research
Lashbrook, Patty Mapping Identity: A Quantitative Analysis of Social Identity Markers in Four Pauline Epistles
The apostle Paul is one of the most significant writers of the New Testament, having written or influenced the writer of each of the 21 epistles (or letters) canonized in the Christian Bible. This project employs both hermeneutics and exegesis to evaluate the use of rhetoric in four of his letters: Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, and Colossians. Hermeneutics is the study and methodology of interpreting texts, especially scripture, by considering the full historical, literary, and cultural contexts in which they originally appeared. This works in conjunction with exegesis which analyzes a specific passage to determine its original meaning. That is the goal of this project, to interpret these scriptures as they interact with each other and the whole of the Bible and analyze them in their original language to determine the meaning assigned by the original writer. I use a spreadsheet with a coding scheme to identify each word’s purpose and track each appeal as it pertains to the four dimensions of social identity: belongingness, rituals and practices, ethical behaviors, and societal roles. These are compared between audiences to conclude that, while Paul’s overall message did not change, his use of these appeals and their connection to the audience’s social identity varied depending on who he was addressing in that letter.
Dr. Luling Huang
plashbrook@missouriwestern.edu
Communications
Research
Callen, Laci Online Community Sentiment: Comparing Emotional Expression Across Fandom Vs. Non-fandom Spaces
This study examines whether participation in online fandom communities is more emotionally positive or negative compared to non-fandom communities. The independent variable is the type of online space, and the dependent variable is the level of emotionally positive or negative participation observed. To answer this research question, 200 public posts from the platform X (formerly Twitter) were manually gathered and analyzed using sentiment analysis. Half of these posts came from a non-fandom space using a search with a singular topic word. This topic word was “weather.” Similarly, the other half came from a fandom space using another singular topic word that relates to a specific fandom community. This topic word was “Marvel.” Then, they were categorized into a positive, negative, or neutral group to further analyze the overall emotional stances of each community. When completed, the study found that there was a higher percentage of positive emotional expression in the sample of fandom posts compared to the non-fandom sample posts. Through this, rather than trying to solve an issue, the research aims to contribute to general scientific knowledge regarding this unique subject.
Dr. Luling Huang
lcallen@missouriwestern.edu
Criminal Justice and Legal Studies
Literature review
Mace, Allaina The Insanity Defense
The insanity defense has a long history starting back to Hammurabi’s Code. There have been many changes to the insanity defense, primarily the tests used to decide who is criminally insane (NCR, NGRI) or not. The biggest controversy regarding the insanity defense came from the attempted assassination of Ronald Reagan (Hans, 1986). While the public may have misconceptions of the insanity defense, the insanity defense has ethical implications that cause it to still be needed.
Dr. Monty Smith
amace3@missouriwestern.edu
Nursing
Literature review
Gibson, Ashley; Myers, Madison; Foreman, Corinne; Williams, Delainie CAUTIs In Pediatric Patients
This presentation aims to inform listeners about catheter associated urinary tract
infections in the pediatric population. We have reviewed data and studies and compiled the
information into this presentation. The goal is that listeners feel more educated on catheter care bundles and how it impacts healthcare and patient outcomes/experiences.
Dr. Stephanie Stewart
agibson12@missouriwestern.edu
Nursing
Literature review
Sanders, Kate; Dryer, Faith; Alfrey, Calli; Phillips, Reagan Hospital Sleep Disturbances and Interventions
In hospital patients how does implementation of sleep promotion practices compared to standard care routines that disturb nightime rest affect sleep quality/quanitity? This research review aims to look at what those hospital sleep disturbances are and what interventions are proven to be effective and safe at increasing oppertunity for and quality of rest. The interventions of study are implementation of sleep promotion vitals that decrease nightime interuptions and sleep aid such as ear plugs and eye masks. These hope to combat both the direct interuptions studied and the enviromental factors impairing rest.
Dr. Stephanie Stewart
ksanders19@missouriwestern.edu
Health Professions – Health, Sport, and Exercise Science
Research
Holsted, Averi Examining Athletic Burnout Through the Lens of Athletic Identity and Perceptions of Life Transitions
College athlete mental health has been increasingly spotlighted in recent years, with burnout emerging as a major concern (Gould & Whitley, 2009). While research has focused on burnout causes and prevention, there is limited research exploring how athletic identity and perceptions of life transitions out of sport contribute to burnout. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine how athletic identity and perceptions of life transitions influence athlete burnout. In-season college athletes were assessed using an original survey, the Life Transitions for College Athletes Survey (LTCAS), the Athletic Identity Measurement Scale, and the Athlete Burnout Questionnaire. Separate independent t-tests showed that athletes with greater life transition stress and were higher on burnout dimensions of greater reduced sense of accomplishment and sport devaluation. There was also partial support that athletes with lower life transition preparedness would have higher burnout, in that there was a trend for athletes with lower life transition preparedness to be higher on their reduced sense of accomplishment. Results suggest that college athletes with greater stress about transitioning out of sport will have greater burnout.
Dr. William Russell
aholsted1@missouriwestern.edu
Nursing
Literature review
Sigars, Evan; Johnson, Natalee; Harmon Importance of Preventing Pressure Injuries
The importance of preventing injuries reduces the length of hospital stays, decreases amount of money spent, and reduces overall pain.
Elissa Zorn
esigars@missouriwestern.edu
Nursing
Literature review
Graf, Olivia; Biddix, Emerson; Bradley, Anointed; Hurtado, Lindsey; Triplet, Savannah Kangaroo Care in Premature Infants
Nursing
Literature Review
Hurtado, Lindsey; Biddix, Emerson; Graf, Olivia; Chikunya, Anointed; Triplet, Savannah; Bradley, Lauren
Kangaroo Care in Premature Infants
Abstract
As we advance in medical practice, sometimes the strongest forms of care come straight from the human touch itself. In this presentation, we will delve further into whether skin-to-skin care, compared to traditional incubation care, improves growth and development outcomes in NICU neonates and whether this approach is worth advancing into a clinical setting. Kangaroo care in premature infants has been shown to improve their stability in vital signs, strengthen the bond between mother and baby, increase breastfeeding rates, and enhance their growth and development. While all these things benefit the child, they also benefit the hospital, as they can help save money by using fewer resources, materials, and decreasing the number of hospital stays for premature infants.
Elissa Zorn and Stephanie Stewart
ebiddix@missouriwestern.edu
Elissa Zorn
ograf@missouriwestern.edu
Nursing
Literature review
Parsons, Teresa; Smith, Abby; Hulett, Meghan; Noel, Lily; Green, Hannah Red Dye and Behavioral Issues: What’s the Connection?
Time to say goodbye to those skittles, doritos, and snack cakes. Is there a connection between red dye and behavioral issues in children diagnosed with ADHD? We were able to find that eliminating red dye/artificial dyes from a child’s diet who is experiencing ADHD symptoms can reduce those symptoms. Not only will it lessen their hyperactivity symptoms, but it may also improve focus and support better self-regulation.
Elissa Zorn
tparsons5@missouriwestern.edu
Nursing
Literature review
Chance, Geneva; Throckmorton, Tamra; yepez, Beverly; Vang, Ariel; Paxton, Javen MST vs ECT Treatment in Depression Levels
Depression is a relevant mental health condition in the United States, with around 15 million
Americans affected. This literature review explores the PICOT question: In clients with
depression, how does MST therapy compare to ECT therapy in terms of affecting depression
levels? This research holds promise for further extending research on MST, as evidence
supports similar outcomes to ECT with reduced side effects, such as cognitive dissonance.
Elissa Zorn
avang1@missouriwestern.edu
Nursing
Literature review
Sigars, Evan; Johnson, Natalee; Harmon Importance of Preventing Pressure Injuries
Pressure injuries remain a major challenge across healthcare settings, contributing to significant patient harm, increased infection risk, prolonged hospitalizations, and substantial financial burden. These injuries— caused by unrelieved pressure, shear, or friction—progress through defined stages that reflect increasing tissue damage, from non-blanchable erythema to full-thickness destruction involving muscle and bone. Evidence suggests that specialized support surfaces, such as alternating pressure mattresses,
paired with consistent risk assessment tools like the Braden Scale, are effective in reducing injury rates and long-term costs. Strengthening prevention through improved education, early identification, and targeted interventions is essential to improve patient outcomes, reduce financial strain on healthcare institutions, and support nursing well-being.
Elissa Zorn
esigars@missouriwestern.edu
Engineering Technology
Research
Catron, Zachary; Holtz, Maureen; Kraft, Goksu Effects of a Passive Neck Exoskeleton on NASA TLX, Perceived Fatigue, and Neck Pain During Milling and Lathe Operations
Neck strain is common in machine shops where milling and lathe work often require prolonged forward head postures. This within-subject study tested whether a passive neck exoskeleton reduces symptom buildup during simulated machining. Twelve adults completed two sessions, one with and one without a SpineBand passive neck exoskeleton. Each session included 15 minutes of lathe work and 15 minutes of milling. Outcomes were fatigue on the Borg CR-10 scale, neck pain on a 0–100 visual analogue scale, and workload on the NASA Task Load Index. Fatigue increased less with the device than without it, mean change 1.17 ± 1.50 vs 2.33 ± 2.18, p = 0.011. Neck pain showed a smaller increase with the device, 5.42 ± 8.81 vs 13.42 ± 20.17, p = 0.057. NASA TLX subscales including mental, physical, temporal, performance, effort, and frustration did not differ between conditions. A passive neck exoskeleton reduced post-task fatigue and may limit pain increases during machining while leaving overall perceived workload unchanged.
Goksu Avdan
zcatron@missouriwestern.edu
Engineering Technology
Summary of an internship or practicum experience.
Richardson, Haydn AOKI DM45/47 Units: Design and Validation of a Foldable Access Ladder for Operator Access
The AOKI DM45/47 project focused on improving rider safety by developing a foldable step ladder for accessing the riding seats on Digger Derrick units. The goals were to create a lightweight but robust ladder, simplify manufacturing with a bolt on design, and reduce installation time during production. Working as a team, we evaluated durability and structural strength through SolidWorks finite element analysis and refined the geometry, including a curved structural profile, to meet Altec’s internal quality and safety expectations. The final design supports loads up to 500 pounds under expected service conditions and features easy bolt on installation, a fold up and pin in place mechanism, and integrated protection elements such as a cab guard. An additional objective was to keep riding seat related components in front of the operator to support peripheral vision and situational awareness, and the ladder layout helped achieve this intent. Overall, the project addresses immediate customer safety needs while providing a repeatable platform for future product variants.
Goksu Avdan
hrichardson4@missouriwestern.edu
Engineering Technology
Summary of an internship or practicum experience.
Christensen, Kyndal Implementing the 5 S’s into Einsteins Bro Bagels
This project focuses on implementing the 5S methodology—Sort, Set in Order, Shine, Standardize, and Sustain—within the operations of Einstein Bros. Bagels. With a small team of four employees and a fast-paced morning workflow, the restaurant faced issues such as cluttered workstations, inconsistent organization, and avoidable delays during high-volume periods. By applying the 5S framework, we worked together to reorganize storage areas, streamline product preparation zones, and create simple visual labels using materials we already had available. Because the entire team collaborated in the planning and setup process, the improvements were completed at no cost to the store. Early results show clearer work areas, faster access to tools and ingredients, and a more consistent cleaning routine. While the implementation is still new, these changes have already supported smoother daily tasks and created a more organized environment that will continue to be refined as the team gains experience with the system.
JinWen Zhu
kchristensen2@missouriwestern.edu
Biology
Research
Musser, Hannah Darwin’s Finches Beak Variation
Darwin’s finches on the Galapagos Island. Different finches had different
variations of their beaks, which led to different things that they ate. This had a
huge impact on natural selection. This also lead to adaptive radiation and also led
Darwin to the conclusion of a single ancestral finch diversified into multiple
species.
Julie Jedlicka
hmusser1@missouriwestern.edu
Communications
Research
Healy, Ava; Petro, Keegan; Hux, Josh; Kelly, Latisha Usability Test of the Betty Crocker Brownie Mix Instructions
This project evaluates and tests the usability of the Betty Crocker Brownie Mix instructions. Usability is how effectively participants are able to follow instructions from the set of guidelines, and can be evaluated through quantitative and qualitative measures. The quantitative data includes how much time the user takes to prepare the brownie batter with no critical technique errors, and the qualitative data is collected through the think-aloud protocol and a follow-up interview to evaluate challenges, thoughts, and user experience.
Kaye Adkins
ahealy@missouriwestern.edu
Communications
Research
Swallow, Sarah How In-Season vs. Off-Season Affects Stress and Mood Levels Among College Athletes
This study explores how stress and mood levels differ for college athletes during their in-season compared to their off-season. The goal is to understand how the demands of competition, training, and academic balance influence athletes’ emotional well-being throughout the school year. Previous research has shown inconsistent results; some studies find that athletes are more stressed in-season due to performance pressure, while others suggest the off-season can bring its own challenges like loss of structure and identity. Using a survey design, this study will track college athletes from multiple sports using self-report surveys, including the Profile of Mood States (POMS) and the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS). Around 30 responses will provide additional insight into personal experiences. This midway report outlines the expanded literature review, refined methodology, and progress so far, including Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval. Data collection has begun and data will be analyzed in a week or so. The next steps involve collecting surveys and beginning early data analysis.
Luling
sswallow@missouriwestern.edu
Communications
Research
Abdullah, Damir Cyberbullying
Cyberbullying has become a major concern for college students who regularly use digital communication platforms. Unlike traditional bullying, cyberbullying occurs in online spaces, allowing perpetrators to target victims continuously and often anonymously. This study examines the relationship between cyberbullying and the psychological well-being and social behavior of college students aged 18–25. Using a quantitative survey approach, the research tests the hypothesis that students who experience cyberbullying will report higher levels of anxiety, depression, and social withdrawal compared to those who do not. The findings aim to contribute to a broader understanding of how cyberbullying influences emotional health and academic engagement, providing insights for effective prevention and intervention strategies on college campuses.
Luling
dabdullah@missouriwestern.edu
Communications
Research
Frakes, Montana Does Homeschooling vs. Public Schooling Affect a Child’s Communication Skills?
This study compares how homeschooling and public schooling influence children’s communication skills. Eight parents were interviewed. Results show that communication depends more on curriculum quality, the learning environment, and adult involvement than on the schooling type itself.
Luling Huang
mfrakes1@missouriwestern.edu
Communications
Literature review
Hamilton, Andruw How can one determine if a source is credible?
News plays an important role in the daily life of a person as it can affect them in many ways. But today, news can tell fake stories as these types of stories can make an audience lose trust in the source. But these types of stories can ruin a person or an organization’s reputation with bias or false information. It also does not help that AI is rapidly growing in popularity and it can display fake content as the pictures and stories can seem like they are real but in reality they are fake. In this paper, the reader will find methods on how to know whether or not the source is reliable or not and know if the content is AI generated. This report will highlight some of the mistakes in articles and to help those who can be gullible to reading inaccurate information and believe everything.
Luling Huang
ahamilton10@missouriwestern.edu
Communications
Literature review
Andreas, Jessica Increasing College Student Voter Turnout: A Content Analysis Approach
College students in the United States have historically voted at lower rates than older age groups, yet they are the future of our country. In the span of one presidential election, they will go from relying on their parents, to being in the workforce, purchasing housing and insurance, paying income taxes, and starting a family. All of these things will be affected by the elections that occur while they are in school. I wanted to explore the reasons that college students choose not to participate in elections and find out the best ways to encourage future participation. I sought to answer the question: How can we increase college student voter turnout? Since we are not in a presidential election cycle, I decided to limit my research to literature review to find out what barriers lead college students to opt out of political engagement and what we could do to improve participation. I conducted a content analysis of publicly available media, including de-identified datasets to understand what influences college voter turnout and to identify practical, scalable interventions.
Luling Huang
jandreas@missouriwestern.edu
Communications
Research
Graham, Lia How Digital Communication Affects Face-to-Face Interaction
My research aims to understand whether frequent use of digital platforms such as texting, social media, and video has any kind of alteration on interpersonal communication patterns, emotional engagement, and social cohesion. I also looked into different research that integrates current research from communication, psychology, and media studies to show both positive and negative impacts of digital communication on everyday relationships.
Luling Huang
lgraham6@missouriwestern.edu
Communications
Summary of an internship or practicum experience.
Huang, Luling; Carviou, James Photography Showcase by Students from Digital Photography and Griffon Media
Students from JOU 104 Digital Photography and JOU 311 Griffon Media showcase the best of their photography work. In Digital Photography, students learn how to use mirrorless or DSLR cameras to tell a visual story and express themselves. In Griffon Media, journalism students document various key moments on campus or around St. Joseph.
Luling Huang and James Carviou
lhuang@missouriwestern.edu
Chemistry
Research
Ducey, Adam Platinum Triapine Complexes: Manipulating Coordination Chemistry to Target Cancer Dependence on Iron
Triapine is promising anti-cancer therapy alternative due to its iron coordination abilities, however it has shown to possess less desirable traits such as low solubility and oral bioavailability. Synthesis of Pt (II) NEtTriapine and completion of a full structural characterization and lipophilicity measurements of the synthesized complex. With these structural characterizations complete, it will establish a reliable set of information for Platinum NEtTriapine that can be used for further experiments. Performing cell viability studies of Pt (II) Triapine and Pt (II) NEtTriapine complexes against cancer and non-cancer human cell lines (Jurkat, A549, MRC-5) will provide an understanding of the molecule’s function and effectiveness against cancer and non- cancer cells. Studying Fe transmetalation of the Pt (II) triapine complexes by UV-Vis spectroscopy and Electrospray Ionization mass spectrometry will provide an understanding of each molecule and how
they interact with Fe and function as chelators. This work expresses a successful characterization of Platinum NEtTrpaipine complex’s using NMR, FT-IR, Electrospray
Mass Spectrometry, elemental analysis, UV- Vis, and single-crystal x-ray diffraction. A
foundation for cell viability studies against human lymphoma, lung carcinoma, and non- cancerous lung cells by experimental dose response cell viability studies using IC50 and synergism calculations, and transmetalation studies offering insight into the interactions of platinum triapine complexes with Iron(II) using UV-Vis.
Shauna Hiley
aducey1@missouriwestern.edu
Nursing
Literature review
Thomas, Sara; Gay, Hayley; Whipple Maintaining weight loss using weight loss injections vs lifestyle modifications
Obesity is a growing issue and threat to health, being a cause of secondary comorbidities such as diabetes, hypertension, and sleep apnea. Though there has been some research concerning weight loss medications, lifestyle modifications, and maintaining weight loss, there has not been many longitudinal studies to determine if weight is kept off and how. This literature review determined GLP-1 injections like semaglutide were helpful in initial weight loss, but lifestyle modifications were most helpful in maintaining weight loss.
Stephanie Stewart
sthomas34@missouriwestern.edu
Nursing
Research
Reagan, Rebecca; Clark, Reygan; Cridlebaugh Reducing Pain in Pediatric Oncology Patients
The purpose of this presentation is to conduct pharmacological versus non-pharmacological agents to reduce the amount of pain in pediatric oncology patients going through various procedures. Some non-pharmacological interventions included distraction, playing with various toys, or even hypnosis. Reducing pain in all patients, especially children is an important goal for all health care professionals and we should always be researching new ways to help our patients through harmful procedures!
Stephanie Stewart
rreagan1@missouriwestern.edu
Psychology
Research
Garaway, Ava; George, Lauren; O’Brien, Kylan; Terrell, Erica Contributions to College Leadership Formation
While in college, students have opportunities to participate in clubs, organizations and activities, and gain valuable leadership experience. Some students take advantage of these opportunities while others do not. Literature on leadership development suggests academic motivation, self-efficacy, parenting behaviors, and previous participation in organizations may contribute to leadership in college. The current research explored whether these variables distinguished college leaders from non-leaders. Our data analysis will compare college leaders to non-leaders (n = 70+) on the variables of interest using ANOVAs.
Teddi Deka
deka@missouriwestern.edu