Poster presentations, session II

Biology

"The Genetic Regulation Of Strand Exchange in DNA  Repair by Homologous Recombination"
Presented by Selgelia Okine
Project advisors: Francesca Cole,  Melissa Frasca, Lakshmi Paniker

Meiosis is a specialized cell division process that generates haploid gametes from diploid cells. Errors in meiosis contribute to chromosomal abnormalities, leading to birth defects, infertility, and pregnancy loss. DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) initiate homologous recombination, a process essential for accurate chromosome segregation. A subset of repair events is designated as crossovers, which physically link homologous chromosomes. RNF212 and HEI10, two E3 ligases, play opposing roles in crossover designation: RNF212 stabilizes recombination intermediates via SUMOylation, while HEI10 promotes their resolution through ubiquitylation.

To investigate their roles in crossover formation, we characterized replication protein A (RPA) dynamics in spermatocytes from Rnf212 and Hei10 single mutants, as well as Rnf212 Hei10 double mutants. Testes from wildtype and mutant B6xDBA mice were dissected, and spermatocyte spreads were stained with antibodies against SYCP3 (chromosome axis) and RPA (recombination intermediates). Imaging and quantification of RPA foci revealed a significant reduction in Rnf212 mutants, consistent with unchecked HEI10-mediated degradation of recombination intermediates. Interestingly, Hei10 mutants displayed more RPA foci than Rnf212 mutants but fewer than wildtype, suggesting an additional role for HEI10 beyond its known function. Notably, the Rnf212 Hei10 double mutant exhibited partially restored RPA foci counts, indicating that HEI10 influences alternative recombination pathways.

These findings support a model in which HEI10 and RNF212 cooperate to regulate crossover-specific intermediates. The unexpected role of HEI10 in alternative repair pathways provides new insights into the mechanisms governing meiotic recombination and genome stability.

Business

"Enhancing Sustainability in SMEs: Innovation, SDGs, and an Action Plan for the Quad Cities"
Presented by Bao Tin Dang
Project advisor: Dr. David Thornblad

SMEs form a significant portion of businesses worldwide. For instance, data from OECD (2002) economies indicate that SMEs account for approximately 96% to 99% of all enterprises. Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) play a vital role in economic growth, contributing to employment and innovation. However, the number of small businesses committed to sustainability is not significant due to financial, operational, and knowledge-based challenges. Unsustainable practices have been in place for decades: unrestrained inequality (economic inequality, social inequality, and environmental inequality), human activity-induced environmental degradation, and population growth (Steffen et al., 2015; Perdan, 2011). Like large corporations, SMEs are affected by and contribute to persistent sustainability issues like resource constraint, supply chain inefficiencies, and regulatory pressures (Del Brio and Junquera, 2003; Beske, 2012; Amin and Zhang, 2014; Alzaman, 2014). This paper argues that despite financial and operational barriers, SMEs can adopt sustainability through practical, low-cost strategies tailored to their unique constraints. Given financial constraints, most SMEs cannot afford dedicated ESG professionals, making it essential to adopt sustainability strategies that require minimal investment and expertise. This paper clarifies key sustainability concepts, including the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), examines the constraints SMEs face today, and proposes a practical action plan tailored to SMEs in the Quad Cities, Illinois and Iowa, to help them implement sustainable practices from day one.

Communication Sciences and Disorders

"A clinical study of neuromodulation and sound therapy for tinnitus"
Presented by Abigail Jones
Project advisor: Dr. Ann Perreau

Tinnitus management is gaining attention by the public because effective treatments for tinnitus have emerged in recent years. For example, the Lenire bimodal neuromodulation device from Neuromod delivers sound stimulation through wireless headphones and electrical stimulation to the surface of the tongue to reduce the effects of bothersome tinnitus. The device activates both auditory and somatosensory pathways and has shown significant improvements in reducing tinnitus severity in adult patients. Lenire is relatively new to audiologists in the US, and most research on Lenire is based on clinical trials that demonstrate its efficacy in adult research participants. To investigate the clinical effectiveness of these tinnitus treatments, we compared Lenire to sound therapy using a clinical population of 24 adults with tinnitus. We also provided individual counseling using Tinnitus Activities Treatment (TAT) to all 24 patients. TAT offers counseling and strategies for the four areas impacted by tinnitus: thoughts and emotions, concentration, sleep, and hearing and communication. TAT also uses a collaborative approach to set patient-specific goals for therapy and incorporates picture-based counseling in the management of tinnitus.

Economics

"Cancellation of USAID in Nepal"
Presented by Arnav Shrestha
Project advisor: Dr. Chris Marme

For my research project I would like to examine the effects of the cancellation of the USAID to Nepal. Specifically following the money sent through USAID and looking at what projects in Nepal have been most affected by this decision. Namingly there are four projects that are said to be hit most and they are USAID Health Direct Financing Project, USAID Agricultural Direct Financing Project, USAID Education Direct Financing Project, and USAID Inclusive Policy Direct Financing Project. Alongside these projects over 300 NGOs, 20 INGOs, consultancies, and nonprofits have also been affected that were receiving direct funding from this agency.

Essentially the primary objective of this project is to track where and in which regions the impact has been most prominent.. Additionally an analysis of if these millions of dollars are being utilized properly and examining challenges that come with it while comparing to the 3E model discussed in class. Also this project will aim to have a focus on the long term concerns and implications of this decision, especially concerning Nepal’s health sector. 

"Exploring Population Shifts in Sub-Saharan Africa"
Presented by Miles Rubio
Project advisor: Dr. Chris Marme

Analyzing the economic, social, war and other factors of 1900s USA that influenced population and birth rates. I will be comparing and contrasting these with similar factors in sub-saharan africa, most notably sudan and south sudan. I will be analyzing to see if the same predictors can be used to measure and predict their population and birth rates in their following conflicts in the 2000s

"Gender Wage Gaps in Brazil"
Presented by Billy G. Hayes
Project advisor: Dr. Chris Marme

In ECON 404, I did a project on wage gaps between the minority groups of black women and their counterparts in white people in America. How they are treated differently and how much there is a difference in pay throughout decades in America. I turn to look more into gender wages gaps in Brazil, to see the difference between men and women and how they are treated in the workforce. 

"Impact of Agriculture and Urbanization on Brazil's Economy"
Presented by Erik Bergren
Project advisor: Dr. Chris Marme

As the world's leading producer of coffee beans for well over 150 years, coffee is an incredibly important drink in Brazil.  Over the past half century, however, Brazil has managed to diversify its industrial sector beyond coffee dependence. This senior inquiry investigates how Brazil developed from a primarily agrarian economy into an industrious one. 

Education

"The Effects of Reading Interventions Implemented During an After-School Program for Elementary Students with Reading Difficulties"
Presented by Dr. Michelle Hinzman-Ferris, Kayla Ohm, Emma Berg, Mary King, Ellen Kleindl, Abbey Peters, Sarah Stevanovic

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of reading interventions in phonics provided during an after-school program on the reading achievement of elementary students with reading difficulties in grades two and three. Participating students (n = 16 students) received 10 weeks of small group reading instruction from Augustana College students majoring in elementary education. The reading instruction occurred 30 minutes each session, 2 days a week for 20 sessions total. During each intervention session, students were introduced to a new phonics concept or sound. As part of this instruction, students were taught how to blend the phonics sound into words, taught the articulatory gesture for the sound, taught how to form letters in writing associated with the sound, and taught to read words and a passage containing the sound. Pre-test and post-test reading data was collected for each student to determine the effectiveness of the phonics instruction. 

Geography, Geology and Environmental Studies

"An Examination of Hazard Mitigation and Preparedness in Small Towns in Response to the Shift in Tornado Alley"
Presented by Anna Fletcher
Project advisor: Dr. Christopher Strunk

Tornado activity in the United States is shifting to the east, impacting previously less-affected regions to increased risks. This study examines how small towns, particularly Washington, Illinois, are responding to the changes through hazard mitigation and preparedness. Washington, hit by an EF-4 tornado on November 17, 2013, serves as a case study to assess the role of tornado risk literacy, social capital, and community engagement in disaster resilience. The research uses a mixed-method approach, including an analysis of local mitigation plans, and an interview with a key Washington city official. Findings reveal that while Washington has improved preparedness since the tornado in 2013, challenges remain, especially in integrating social capital into formal mitigation strategies and ensuring community participation in planning. The study highlights disparities in federal disaster aid allocation, showing the need for revised policies that include regional differences in population and infrastructure. Tornado literacy among residents contributed to a low fatality rate during the 2013 event, displaying the importance of public education initiatives. The research provides insights into the unique vulnerability of small towns and offers recommendations for enhancing resilience as tornado risks continue to increase. 

"Analysis of the Perceptions of Walkability in Tinley Park, Illinois"
Presented by Alyssa Magsombol
Project advisor: Dr. Christopher Strunk

Urban sprawl in U.S. suburbs often leads to disconnected communities due to the spatial separation of land uses, making vehicular travel the primary mode of transportation. This study examines walkability in Tinley Park, Illinois, a suburban area where high-traffic corridors create barriers to pedestrian movement. Through direct observations and surveys, key challenges such as inadequate pedestrian infrastructure and safety concerns were identified. Based on these findings, recommendations focus on enhancing walkability through improved crosswalks, traffic calming measures, and mixed-use development strategies to promote pedestrian-friendly environments.

"Philippine Volcanic Hazards: A Modified Approach of the VPI30 Calculation Using GIS Extraction Tools and Sentinel-2 Imagery Data"
Presented by Eulle Stann Casaquite
Project advisor: Danikko Rivera

The Volcano Population Index at 30 kilometers (VPI30) is a key metric used in the National Volcano Threat Assessment (NVTA) to estimate the population at risk within a 30-kilometer radius of an active volcano. This metric is especially important to the Philippines which is home to more than 300 volcanoes, 24 of which are active. To support research and development on the mitigation of volcanic-related disasters, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) uses a modified version of the VPI30 to fit the Philippines setting. The current Philippine VPI30 methodology assumes uniform distribution across barangay (village) boundaries. This study aims to improve the existing methods through the use of high-resolution Sentinel-2 satellite imagery and geospatial analysis techniques. This is investigated to enhance understanding of the population distribution which is especially important in rural areas where households are generally observed to be clustered. Using land classification models, the built-area pixels within village boundaries intersecting the 30-kilometer buffer zone are identified. These built-area pixels will be proxies for human settlement and population. The ratio of built-area pixels inside the buffer zone to the total built-area pixels for each village is then calculated, the result is multiplied by the village population to get a more refined estimate of population distribution. Using this modified VPI30 methodology, a representative village yielded at least a 70% decrease in calculated exposed population. While the method marks an improvement in identifying exposed populations, it has some limitations. The reliance on broad land classifications, such as "built areas," can impact precision, particularly in distinguishing between resident

"Estimating Created Wetland Soil Organic Matter Using UAS Hyperspectral Imagery"
Presented by Ian Empen
Project advisors: Nayma Nur, Charles Bachmann

Created wetlands are crucial in offsetting the loss of natural wetlands, which provide important habitat and ecosystem services to support biodiversity and overall health. However, characterizing created wetland sites to evaluate their effectiveness in fulfilling this role can be time, capital, and labor-intensive. Remote sensing offers a promising solution to this challenge. Specifically, hyperspectral imagery has the potential to effectively characterize soil in created wetlands to inform management decisions and knowledge of ecosystem processes because of the inclusion of hundreds of bands in the visible and near infra-red (VNIR) as well as shortwave infrared (SWIR), providing a rich dataset for analysis. Soil organic matter is one variable used to assess the composition of wetlands and the processes occurring. Our team utilized hyperspectral imagery acquired from a drone at a created wetland site near Rochester, NY. From this imagery, vegetation indices and band reflectance along with ground-truth bulk density and soil moisture were put into a predictive model to estimate the soil organic matter at each location that was sampled. Initial results are promising that the model can broadly estimate soil organic matter in created wetlands to help understand and monitor ecosystem processes based on soil characterization. Further refinement of the model parameters along with the inclusion of more vegetation indices and soil characteristics such as carbon and nitrogen should improve the model’s ability to estimate soil organic matter in created wetlands.

"Benthic Habitat Mapping of Bonaire, Caribbean Netherlands Antilles: Application of Image Classification in ArcGIS to Remotely Sensed Underwater Orthomosaics"
Presented by Briana Reagan
Project advisors: Dr. Jenny Arkle, Dr. Mike Wolf

The island of Bonaire, Caribbean Netherlands, is home to some of the world’s most diverse coral reefs, which provide critical habitat and ecosystem services. Due to the threat of large-scale coral bleaching events, changing climate, and anthropogenic activity, action is needed.  However, there is currently a lack of foundational mapping of the coastal benthic habitats and species that comprise Bonaire’s coral reefs. This study focuses on developing benthic habitat maps of multiple reef locations, which primarily contain hard corals, sponges, and sand. Orthomosaics were produced in Pix4D Mapper from field surveys collected by our underwater drone (a QYSEA FIFISH V6 EXPERT) over a single field season. Different image classification techniques in ArcGIS Pro were tested to find the most accurate identification and continuous delineation of the benthic features. Supervised image classification failed to produce accurate feature geometries for both the object-based and pixel-based classification methods. These methods did not produce accurate maps, due to (1) the complex (amorphous) structure of the reef, (2) the spectral inconsistency among the same features, and (3) the similarity of spectra between different features. Through many different trials, it was found that unsupervised image classification produced the best results, yet further manual identification was needed to create the most accurate maps. The new benthic habitat maps presented here contribute to the understanding of current coral reef dynamics and species populations. Moreover, time-integrated maps (through repeat surveys) can be used for monitoring and to identify areas of focus for conservation and management strategies to help reduce the impact of increasing pressures on Bonaire’s coral reefs.

"GIS-Based Flood Simulation for Quantifying Terrestrial Runoff and Sedimentation on Coral Reefs. Bonaire, Caribbean Netherlands Antilles"
Presented by Sophie Arceneaux
Project advisors: Dr. Jenny Arkle, Dr. Mike Wolf

Sedimentation on coral reefs from the adjacent coast decreases a reef’s resilience to fight against disease, further increasing the reef’s susceptibility to disease. The island of Bonaire has recently seen an increase in reef diseases, such as Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease (SCTLD), resulting in an overall decline in reef health and its diverse assemblage of corals. We investigated terrestrial runoff on Bonaire to determine the spatial distribution, accumulation, and flow rate of water into the coastal marine area. The Flood Simulator in ArcGIS Pro V3.3 was used to model water flow in a specified scene based on the terrain area, hillslope, infiltration, and the rainfall intensity and duration. Remotely sensed land cover data (2-meter spatial resolution) were incorporated into the model to account for infiltration rates, where each category was assigned specific values based on the permeability and porosity of the land cover. Natural runoff from rainfall was simulated based on 30 years of climate records to approximate the mean rainfall rates in the wet season and infrequent but large-magnitude storm events within a 24-hour period. The modeled flow velocity and discharge were mapped and then related to the sediment particle size that could be transported. Flood simulations were focused on coastal areas adjacent to three dive sites that were identified with varying concern for SCTLD, including Oil Slick Leap (SCTLD sighted), Calabas Reef (SCTLD rapidly spreading), and Invisibles (SCTLD sighted). Oil Slick Leap had the most natural terrestrial runoff and sediment input onto the reefs. In contrast, Calabas Reef and Invisibles had little direct runoff and sediment input, which are likely related to the differences in land cover, human use, and geological factors.

"Comparative Analysis on Soil Radon Exhalation Rates and Weather Parameters in the Illinois/Iowa Quad Cities Region"
Presented by Zoe Heiar
Project advisor: Dr. Michael Wolf

Radon (222Rn), a naturally occurring radioactive gas in the 238U decay chain, is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States. The Quad Cities are designated by the EPA as a high-risk area for radon exposure due to its geological and soil conditions. The radon found in homes originates primarily from the exhalation of soil gas into the surface gas layer. Measurement of soil radon exhalation may provide key insights into the contributing factors to the variation of radon levels in residences. In this study, radon exhalation measurements were collected using two sizes of overturned plastic bins on yard soil. Each bin contained two RadonEye and one EcoQube detectors, to measure radon exhalation over the course of two months. To further corroborate the two types of detectors, an Airthings CorentiumPro detector was employed in one of the residences and one of the bins for varying durations of time. These results were then compared to weather factors of air temperature, precipitation, humidity, and air pressure. The results demonstrate cyclical radon exhalation values, ranging from 0.2 to 78.5 pCi/l. A consideration of the large variation in the radon values may be related to the exhalation occurring according to a mechanism of thermal diffusion due to the weather factors of temperature and humidity. Analysis of soil exhalation rates may provide key insights into the movement of radon into residences. The results from this soil study add to the growing body of radon basement data collected in the region by Augustana’s Radon Survey of the Quad Cities, create a more comprehensive understanding of residential radon measurements, and may help to further inform Quad Cities residents of potential radon exposure risk. 

"Constraining the Timing of Deformation of the Southern Basin and Ranch, Trinidad Using Zircon and Apatite (U-Th)/He Thermochronology"
Presented by James Vercoe
Project advisor: Dr. Jenny Arkle

The Southern Basin and Southern Range of the Caribbean island of Trinidad are comprised of folded post-middle Miocene sedimentary strata. This basin and the low elevation (~300m) mountains are located 20-30 km south of the modern Caribbean-South American plate boundary. The strike-slip Central Range Fault accommodates most of the total relative modern plate motion, yet it is unclear how much and where plate strain has been partitioned in southern Trinidad in the geologic past. To investigate the exhumation history of this region, apatite and zircon (U-Th)/He (AHe and ZHe, respectively) thermochronology were utilized. Three sandstone bedrock samples from the Southern Range yield very young (Quaternary) mean AHe aliquot ages. Notably, these AHe ages are younger than the depositional age of the parent rock, the Moruga Formation (early Pliocene), indicating that the apatite has been reset to temperatures of at least 60°-90° C. Nine sandstone well-cutting samples from the Southern Basin yield single grain ZHe ages that range from early Miocene to Proterozoic and single grain AHe ages of middle Pliocene to late Cretaceous. These Southern Basin samples were collected from two formations: the Lower Cruse with a depositional age of late Miocene, and the Herrera with a depositional age of middle Miocene. While none of the Southern Basin ZHe ages were reset to temperatures of 180° C, the AHe ages from the Southern Basin show signs of partial resetting. Southern Basin ZHe and AHe data suggest units were buried to maximum depths of ~3-5 km. The Southern Range AHe data suggests that the sediments at the surface in the early Pliocene were syndepositionally buried to a maximum depth of ~3 km and subsequently exhumed starting in the Pleistocene.

"Potential Impact to Molluscan Communities of Florida's Wakulla Springs due to Heavy Metal Pollution from Coins"
Presented by Audrey Zettler
Project advisors: Dr. Michal Kowalewski, Roger Portell, Dr. Kristopher Kusnerik, and Dr. Kelsey Arkle

The Wakulla Springs headspring provides base flow to the Wakulla River in northern Florida and has been used as a wishing well since the 1850s. Thus, thousands of coins lie at the bottom of the headspring. These coins, mostly pennies, contain copper and zinc, which may pose contamination risks to freshwater ecosystems. Mollusks are vulnerable to heavy metal bioaccumulation, which potentially contributes to the decline in diversity observed by comparing live, dead, and fossil assemblages in the spring and river. 

To assess heavy metal toxicity, the potential amount of copper lost from pennies was tested by quantifying mass lost while underwater. Hundreds of pennies were collected as bycatch from the bottom of the headspring during sampling by SCUBA. Coins were cleaned using sonication and 473 ml of vinegar. Mint dates and weights were recorded. Initial weights, as reported by the U.S. Treasury, were compared to post-cleaning weights. Penny dates were identifiable for 617 coins ranging from the 1920s to 2000s. 584 pennies were copper-based pre-1982, and 33 were zinc-based post-1982. During those decades, more than 50 cumulative grams of Cu or Zn were lost, representing 0.2743 grams lost per average coin, posing a potential contamination risk. 

Zinc-based pennies minted starting in 1982 appeared more susceptible to corrosion than older copper-based coins. A significant decline in pennies was observed starting in the 1980s that could reflect increased post-1982 corrosion, fewer pennies being tossed in, or both. Overall, substantial amounts of copper and zinc from pennies may be entering this aquatic ecosystem in the Wakulla River. We hypothesize that declines in mollusk communities may be due to point-source heavy metal pollution by seemingly harmless human activities.

"Methods for Underwater Field Surveys (ROV) & Photogrammetry for Mapping Coastal Marine Environments: A Case Study in Bonaire, Caribbean Netherlands Antilles"
Presented by Alicia Felker
Project advisors: Dr. Jenny Arkle, Dr. Mike Wolf

We evaluated the use of an underwater remotely operated vehicle (ROV) for mapping shallow coastal marine environments of the reef systems surrounding the island of Bonaire, Caribbean, Netherlands Antilles. The objectives were to test various underwater field survey strategies, and to evaluate different equipment and equipment configurations, to find the most effective and efficient mapping methods from shore to water deeper than ~90 feet.  Field survey transects were started from established boat mooring sites, and the boat provided a platform for the remote pilot in command, controller, and ROV connection line operator. A team of snorkelers was distributed on the surface to monitor the ROV connection line and for communication for ROV guidance in location. The ROV and GoPro Black Hero 5 video data collected in the field were processed in Pix4D software through a frame-by-frame extraction of videogrammetry to photogrammetry and were then stitched together to create high-resolution orthophoto mosaic maps. This study includes evaluating the methods of data collection, refining data capturing, and processing to create the highest resolution orthophoto mosaic maps of the reefs of Bonaire. The data will be shared with Bonaire's marine authority, STINAPA. Capturing the reefs through video and photogrammetry will act as a base for collecting underwater data for the fringing reefs of Bonaire.

"Earthquake Relocation in Southeastern New Mexico to Better Understand Induced Seismicity"
Presented by Niah Tyler
Project advisors: Mairi Litherland, Amy Record

Between June 28th to June 30th of 2020, a swarm of 603 earthquakes occurred in southeastern New Mexico within the Permian Basin. Seismometers in the area were able to record basic seismic information and standard location quality, but these locations needed to be clearer to understand subsurface faults and possible paths of fluid injection. To obtain more precise locations of this swarm, we used GrowClust, a relative relocation algorithm that relocates earthquake hypocenters based on the double-difference technique and waveform cross-correlation. GrowClust produced relocation data in the form of coordinates that we translated into maps in order to see the progression of the swarm in time and space. We successfully relocated 380 seismic events, which when mapped shows cleaner, linear features indicating possible subsurface faults which have not been previously mapped. This study therefore enables us to piece together a more complete understanding of local subsurface faults which may be influenced by nearby oil and wastewater injection operations within the Permian Basin. Future research could focus on similar reprocessing of events recorded in New Mexico’s earthquake catalog, implementing the GrowClust relocation technique in other areas.

Physics and Engineering

"Optimizing the PlanktoScope for North American Studies of Harmful Algal Blooms"
Presented by Kazi Uzayr Razin
Project advisor: Dr. Jackie Opfer

Harmful algal blooms (HABs) are a growing environmental concern threatening water quality and aquatic ecosystems. This project aimed to replicate and optimize the PlanktoScope, a low-cost, open-source imaging instrument for quantitative enumeration and identification of harmful algae, specifically targeting the common cyanobacterium Microcystis aeruginosa. Traditional microscopy techniques for studying Microcystis HABs are limited by logistical challenges and require extensive technical training. The PlanktoScope addresses these challenges by capturing algal images of field samples which can be uploaded and identified using the open-source EcoTaxa software. Although the PlanktoScope was designed to be easily fabricated by potential users with minimal design experience, PlanktoScopes were not fully accessible for North American researchers due to a reliance on custom mechanical parts primarily sourced from Europe and a lack of a Bill of Materials (BOM) tailored to the U.S. market. A new BOM with locally available parts was developed, and mechanical components were redesigned to use off-the-shelf stepper motors. The new BOM was shared with PlanktoScope users and a new PlanktoScope was fabricated using these modifications, offering a more practical and scalable tool for North American HAB research.

Psychology and Neuroscience

"Temperament, Storybook Modality, and Word Learning: A Tale Not Yet Told"
Presented by Iratze Aceves, Rachel Jocson, Courtney Thames
Project advisor: Dr. Megan Lorenz

Language development, a critical component of early childhood, develops rapidly in the first three years of life. Previous research has shown that children can develop language through various modalities, including through physical books, e-books, and video (Dore et al., 2018; Senechal, 1997; Strouse et al., 2020).  Additionally, temperament, a cumulative measure of effortful control, surgency, and negative affect (Rothbart, 2007), is also thought to influence language development. Specifically, effortful control, the ability to inhibit behaviors, and surgency, a willingness to engage in activities, positively correlate with vocabulary size. Negative affect, however, a propensity to experience negative emotions, negatively correlates with vocabulary (Kucker et al., 2021). Though temperament and modality are both related to children’s word learning, no research to date has explored if temperament and modality interact to influence word learning. To answer this question, 30-36-month-old children and their parents are introduced to a story called Penny’s Birthday Party, where they are exposed to four novel word-referent pairs. Participants are randomly assigned to a physical book, e-book, or video condition. Learning is defined as the proportion of correctly identified objects during the referent-selection task. Then, to assess temperament, researchers utilize a thin-slice coding approach (Kucker et al., 2024). Researchers view and code each temperament dimension from two time points from the session. Data analysis includes bivariate correlations exploring the relationship between each temperamental domain and word learning, separated by modality. This project should help us better understand how temperament and modality work together to influence word learning. 

"Investigating the Impact of Visual and Auditory Stimuli on Linguistic Processing of Emotional Phrases in Bilingual Augustana Students"
Presented by Edgar Ortiz-Flores, Anna Sanjose, Rime Tlih
Project advisor: Dr. Shara Stough

This study investigates whether a person’s native language (L1) elicits more automatic emotional responses compared to their second language (L2). Given that language influences both cognition and emotion, people who speak multiple languages often experience increased cognitive demands when processing information in their non-native language. Prior research suggests that automaticity in language use can affect reaction times and emotional perception, as demonstrated by cognitive interference effects like the Stroop Effect. We hypothesize that emotional responses in L2 will be weaker and less automatic than those in L1 due to the additional cognitive processing required.

To test this hypothesis, participants will complete an online survey in which they rate their emotional reactions to 15 emotionally charged phrases (categorized as endearments, reprimands, or insults) across different conditions. Phrases will be presented in auditory and visual formats in both L1 and L2 to assess the impact of language modality and fluency on emotional processing. The results of this study may provide insights into the interaction between bilingualism, cognitive processing, and emotional perception, contributing to a deeper understanding of how language influences emotional experience.

"La Jaula de Oro: Prometeo en América"
Presented by Iratze Aceves
Project advisor: Dr. Daniel Corts

Jang et al. (2011) have demonstrated that religious Latino communities have demonstrated that mental health stigma persists within these communities as they are more reluctant to seek psychiatric care. Research has revealed that religious-based interventions increase help-seeking attitudes among Latinos (Gearing et al., 2024; Moreno & Cardemil). This study aims to investigate the role of Theater-Based Interventions (TBI) by adapting a shortened framework of Bryan Doerries’ Theater of War Production. Bryan Doerries’ mission is to help communities and individuals heal from trauma and loss by utilizing Greek tragedies for modern audiences. TBI is used to explore power dynamics, consciousness, and behavior as defined by Jeffers (2012). Therefore, if theater-based interventions are integrated within Catholic-Latino communities, then mental health stigma will be reduced. To that end, Prometheus Bound was adapted into a retelling of “la jaula de oro.” La Jaula de Oro: Prometeo en América portrays the current political climate and the traumatic lived experiences of undocumented Catholic-Latino immigrants in the United States. The Mental Health-Seeking Attitudes Scale (Hammer, 2018) was translated into Spanish to measure changes in attitude after participants were exposed to the adapted tragedy. The TBI was received positively, and community members also expressed interest in acting in a future production.

"Understanding Conversational Synchrony Through Different EEG Frequencies"
Presented by Alia Barcus
Project advisor: Dr. Rupa Gordon

The neural activity of communication partners tends to synchronize, which can enhance social connection and comprehension (Kuhlen et al., 2012). EEG records neural activity at different frequencies, and many of these frequencies are associated with distinct brain functions. However, these distinctions become blurred during periods of complex cognition, like producing or comprehending speech. Previous research has found EEG synchrony in conversation across multiple frequencies (e.g., gamma 60-30Hz, beta 30-12Hz, alpha 12-8Hz, and theta 8-4Hz), but it’s unclear as to what cognitive processes are represented by synchrony of these frequencies (Perez et. al., 2017). High frequencies, like gamma, have been found to best describe contextual differences in speech such as the consonants used in a story (Nita et al., 2023). Whereas lower frequencies, like theta, are less dependent on content and more so represent the general act of comprehending auditory information (Albouy et al., 2017). In the current study, speakers were video recorded as they retold two short stories in their own words while EEG was recorded. Listeners heard either audio or video recordings of the speakers retelling the two stories while their EEG was recorded. Synchrony between speaker and listener was analyzed by correlating gamma and theta frequencies using Spearman correlations. Speakers and listeners telling and hearing the same story should exhibit high gamma but low theta correlation due to the shared content, however, when correlating listener EEG data with the speaker telling a different story, there will be low gamma and low theta correlation due to the lack of shared content. The results of these correlations can be used to produce more precise and informative analysis of conversational EEG.

"ManyNumbers: Augustana College's Contribution to Global Research on Early Numeracy"
Presented by Mia Okasha, Blessing Gbaraba, Sierra Jelinek
Project advisor: Dr. Megan Lorenz

At a young age, children can discriminate different amounts of things from each other even nonverbally, revealing early number understanding. One important developmental task is to learn how to label quantities and that numbers actually have a meaning to them. An open question is if the developmental changes in number understanding are consistent globally. To address this question, Augustana is participating in the ManyNumbers project, an international multi-site project with ~145 sites, contributing 24 participants between 2.5 and 5 years of age. Children at each location will complete the same four tasks in the same order. The first task is Give-N, where children are presented with 20 identical colored ducks and a plate, and are prompted to put different numbers of ducks on the plate. The second is Highest Count, when children will be prompted to count as high as they can. The third task is a Dot Comparison task, where children will be asked to select from two pictures which one has more dots (without counting). The final task is a Visual Memory task, where children will see pictures corresponding to common words in early vocabulary and after a delay are prompted to point to the images they just saw from a scene that also includes distractor items. Data collection will start this spring and conclude by December 2026, at which point the ManyNumbers team will analyze how differences in location and demographic background influence the development of numeracy skills. Because early numeracy lays the foundation for later academic skills, this project will help shed light on the best ways to support early number understanding for children all over the world. 

"Impact of Isolation Manipulation and Enriched Environment on Distress Vocalizations, Activity,  and Cognitive Bias in the Chick Anxiety-Depression Model"
Presented by Anna Killilea
Project advisor: Dr. Shara Stough

The chick anxiety-depression model, induced by isolation stress in this highly social species, was developed to investigate the relationship between comorbid anxiety and depression. During prolonged isolation, chicks first demonstrate a high rate of distress vocalizations or reaffiliation peeps, and the vocalization rate gradually decays to a sustained low rate, thought to represent a state of despair. We previously replicated this model and furthermore extended the model to investigate activity levels and vocalizations as operational definitions of anxiety and depression phases in chicks, with both behaviors representing attempts to reaffiliate. Results indicated that isolation evoked identical patterns in chick activity level and distress vocalizations across phases. To further validate isolation’s effect on anxiety and depression in our model, we manipulated the level of prolonged isolation experienced by the chicks by including a mirror control condition. Prior studies demonstrated that chicks treat a moving mirror image of themselves as another chick, and as a result, they experience less separation stress. Adding a mirror manipulation in our study resulted in reduced levels of activity and vocalizations during the anxiety phase of isolation, but no significant difference existed between isolation conditions in the depression phase. Chicks reared in an enriched environment showed decreased activity levels only in the early anxiety phase of isolation. Lastly, we observed the impact of isolation stress on negative cognitive bias, and found no differences among isolation groups. Establishing similarities in the anxiety-depression model between chicks and humans helps to further investigate links between early stressful life experiences and neurocognitive development.