Each year, BVU students present their research and other academic works at Scholars Day. Here are just a few of the remarkable and innovative examples of our students' work.

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Orthopedic Screening and Dynamic Warm Up

by Samantha Narveson
This program involved a comprehensive review of the effects of movement control/ muscle re-education on injury rates. Read more...

Active Return to Play with the Implementation of Yoga

by Stephanie Swanson
With a finite amount of focus it goes without saying that certain physical attributes that make an athlete an athlete may fall to the evil of deconditioning as attention is misguided to only one concern. One primary goal of the whole body rehabilitation process is to include all aspects of athletic conditioning in the process of rehabilitation. Read more...

Ankle Stability and Injury Prevention Program

by Erin Williams
The purpose of this project was to develop a plan, based on current evidence, which would categorize athletes with a history of ankle injuries and develop a tiered plan to manage the needs of each level independently. Read more...

A Time of Decisions: Roosevelt, Truman, and unconditional surrender

by Michael Bahr
In this project, the “life” of the policy of unconditional surrender is examined from its development, implementation by Roosevelt and Truman, to its implications. Read more...

Capital Punishment from a Global Perspective: Justice or Human Rights Violation?

by Austin Baker
This poster examines the death penalty from a global perspective, focusing on how capital punishment is viewed by different nations. Comparisons will be drawn between retentionist and abolitionist countries in an effort to examine the ways that capital punishment can be viewed differently. Read more...

The Effects of Death Penalty on the Family of the Accused

by Andrew Barksdale
Often overlooked is the fact that the family of the inmate on death row will also be losing a loved one just as the victim’s family lost a loved one. The goal of this project is to show how the death penalty affects the families of the accused. Read more...

Long Distance vs. Proximal Romantic Relationships: Predicting Commitment, Investments, and Bias

by Arielle Butler
The present study examined cognitive biases in long distance (LDR) and proximal (PR) romantic relationships; specifically, we investigated whether couple members are biased to believe their relationship type is “better.” Read more...

Good Monkey See, Good Monkey Do: The power of modeling and reinforcement in children

by Kelsey Crowder and Jerica Wild
Bandura et al.’s (1961) classic Bobo Doll experiment established children model aggression. The present study investigated if children are just as likely to model altruism. Read more...

Perspective Taking with Gay Men and Lesbians: A look at clinicians’ and college students’ ability

by Renee Fagen
Research suggests that the homosexual community has specialized counseling needs, and that resources may not be in place to adequately help (Cochran et al., 2003). The current study looked at clinicians’ and students’ ability to take the perspective of homosexuals. Read more...

Ma le cose sono sempre così complicate in Italia? Solving Inefficiency Italian Style

by Ronald Forsell
I feel that my research will show that the political uncertainty and ideological inconsistency in the Italian Parliament are the leading factors in how and why the Italian bureaucracy is so inefficient. Read more...

Stress and from Physical Conflicts based on Sex, Masculinity, and Color Perception

by Melissa Huntley
Research suggests differences in reactions of men and women under stress (Holt-Lunstad, Clayton, & Uchino, 2001), and it is important to identify if these reactions follow similar patterns when faced with physical altercations. Participants engaged in a fighting simulation with trained opponents (in the style of a martial arts tournament, wearing protective gear). Read more...

Children and the Power of Optimism

by Alyssa Kluver
The purpose of this study was to determine if priming a child to think optimistically about tomorrow will decrease the child’s score on depression and anxiety. Read more...

Attraction Preferences: The Roles of Waist-to-Hip and Waist-to-Shoulders Ratios and the Effects of Priming Gender

by Ian LaForge
To further examine the influence of gender role salience and sexual orientation in determining what one finds physically attractive, a new device was developed that allows participants to directly manipulate the shape of a digital figure to indicate what body shape they found most attractive. Read more...

Iowa Sex Offenders: Risk, Treatment, & Recidivism

by Aaron Lockwood and Lukas Probasko
Although there are sex offenders who pose a legitimate threat to society, the vast majority of the sex offender population is low-risk and goes through extensive treatment. The purpose of this presentation is to detail the recent changes in Iowa law as it relates to sex offenders and to also provide a comprehensive look at the treatment process each offender is required to go through in order to comply with the terms of their probation or parole. Read more...

Multitasking: The Consequences of Divided Attention

by Kelsey Myers
The presented research investigates task performances while being distracted. Participants viewed an educational video and were tested to determine how much information was retained. Read more...

Death, Extraversion, Commitment, and Sex: A Study on Terror Management

by Jalaal Madyun
The study examines the relationship between individuals with different levels of extraversion, the desire for commitment to a romantic partner, and the desire to engage in risky sexual behaviors when mortality is salient. Read more...

The Meuse Argonne Offensive

by Tyler McDanel
This paper details the American Expeditionary Force (AEF) in the Meuse-Argonne Offensive during World War I. The Meuse-Argonne was the first major mass offensive in US history and certainly proved to the world that the new and upcoming world power, the United States, had what it took to play in the majors. Read more...

Capital Expenditures: Financial Burden to the American Taxpayer

by Anthony Moya
This project is a detailed examination of the costs of the death penalty, a comparison of the costs of incarceration versus execution, and a look at some of the recent academic research on the costs of capital punishment. Read more...

Risky Pleasure: Sexual Risk-Taking Behaviors in Men and Expectancy Theory

by Desmond Owusu
We investigated the motives behind sexual risk-taking behaviors in men. Using expectancy theory (Vroom, 1964), it was predicted that if men view an opportunity for sexual engagement that appears to be attractive and feasible, they will be motivated to act, regardless of potential sexual risk(s). Read more...

Blind Justice? An Examination of the Role of Race in Capital Punishment

by Breanna Platt
This project is an examination of racial discrimination in the application of the death penalty in the United States. Read more...

Sisters of Death: The State-Sanctioned Murder of Women on Death Row

by Johannah Short
This project is an examination of women in the criminal justice system, with special consideration given to the death penalty and the prosecution of capital cases. Read more...

Joy in Liberation?: The Creation of Displaced Person Camps in Europe Post-World War II

by Brittney Switzer and Tatiane Ribeiro
Under the Allies, displaced person camps were created within the confines of the former concentration camps. These survivors got married, had children, set up councils and synagogues. They had to attempt to create a new life in spite of their trauma. Read more...

Evolving Standards of Decency? An Historical Look at the Methods of Execution Used in the United States

by Melissa Sykes
The goal of this project is to provide a detailed look at the methods of execution in our society, with a specific focus on the issues surrounding lethal injection. Special attention is given to the concept of “evolving standards of decency”, which is used to determine if a particular execution method is a violation of contemporary moral standards and, therefore, considered “cruel and unusual” punishment. Read more...

Gender Differences, Self-Esteem, and High School Sexual Activity

by Jerica Wild, Kelsey Crowder, Ian LaForge and Sarah Maslonka
The purpose of this research was to investigate participants’ past and present sexual activities and how these behaviors affect current self-esteem and social desirability in college. Read more...

Juvenile Detention Centers (Iowa)

by Tashia Young
The purpose of this project is to illustrate one type of community corrections option utilized in the State of Iowa, the juvenile detention center (JDC). Currently, a total of eleven JDCs are located throughout the eight judicial districts. Although each facility operates under a different philosophy, most wish to provide public safety, stabilize behavior, and provide a safe and secure environment. Read more...

Petrobras: An Emerging Brazilian Oil Giant

by Megan Bosacker and Brianne Sweeden
As the 5th most admired oil company in the world and the largest in Brazil, Petrobras has been a huge contribution to Brazil’s rapid economic growth. This analysis will cover the macroeconomic and political environment in Brazil; an analysis of the firm’s products and services; the business strategies, corporate culture and governance; and financial and stock performance. Read more...

Managing Diversity: Challenges and Opportunities

by Mark Blum and Joshua Laffen
This research project will explore current trends and challenges associated with a more diverse work force. We also will identify Human Resource management practices and procedures which may yield a more efficient and effective workforce in the future. Read more...

Ford Shows Resilience under Pressure

by Christopher Green, Daniel Morgan, and Bikash Pandey
This research focuses on a complete business analysis for Ford Motor Company, the only U.S. automobile manufacturer to refuse the government bail-out money. Read more...

Financial Decisions: Buying or Renting

by Ben Hansen
This presentation discussed things for College Graduates to consider should consider on whether to buy or rent housing. Read more...

Bernie Madoff & Ponzi Schemes

by Ben Hansen and Dan Mikels
Bernie Madoff… crook, thief, genius…a couple of terms that come to mind when many accountants hear this man’s name, but most people have no idea who this man is. This presentation discussed Bernie and his unethical practices. Read more...

Is the Current Economic Downturn the only Reason for Dell’s Trouble?

by Adrienne Haynes, Ofelia Valdez, and Matthew Korinek
We will study the financial statements of Dell in past three years (2007-2009) to show if the financial difficulties the company experienced are closely related to the general macro-economy-related conditions or more firm-specific reasons. Read more...

The SEC's Failure Related to Bernie Madoff

by Molly Kruse, Samantha Lewis, and Brett Malone
Bernard L. Madoff Investment Securities, LLC, was investigated by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission eight times, and yet it failed to detect the massive fraud within the company. Does the SEC play on effective role in protecting investors and creditors from financial fraud by companies? Read more...

The Responsibility of the Accounting Profession in the Bernie Madoff Ponzi Scheme

by Molly Kruse, Samantha Lewis, and Brett Malone
The Ponzi Scheme conducted by Bernie Madoff defrauded thousands of investors of at least $18 billion. Where were the accountants and auditors during the 20 year period that Madoff was conducting this fraud? Read more...

Nokia, More Than Just Connecting People

by Bikash Pandey and Anadin Tokmic
This research has a thorough business analysis for Nokia, a European mobile devices and communications equipment maker. Three areas are examined to explain why Nokia can be a dominant global player. Read more...

Click or Class

by Brandon Pottebaum and Tanner Russ
This project will review traditional types of training and development in business and how E-training is becoming integrated into the workplace. Read more...

Generational Challenges in Today’s Workforce

by Kyle Rasmussen, Danielle Goetzinger, and Elissa Ripperger
Our research project focuses on generational divides and how those trends challenge Human Resource policies and procedures. Read more...

The Art of Playing Classical Saxophone

by Michael Brock
My presentation will be focused on probably the most underappreciated classical instrument in music: the saxophone. Read more...

Social Ideologies: A Case Study of The Beautiful and the Beastly Messages Sent to our Children

by Heidi Cejka
This research identifies and examines our perceived meaning of The Beauty and the Beast and the potentially negative effects the story can have on a child’s interpretation of societal expectations. Read more...

Destined For Their Future?: An Analysis of the Role of Modeling as it Relates to the Conceptions of Marriage

by Katelyn Croker
This study will examine the role of modeling in the context of marriage and how it affects childrens’ future relationships and conceptions of marriage. Read more...

Panic: Using Communication Theory to Explain International Travel Anxiety

by Emily Einck
By conducting research and applying the following communication theories: Berger’s Uncertainty Reduction Theory, Gudykunst’s Anxiety/Uncertainty Management Theory, and Burgoon’s Expectancy Violations Theory, this study will attempt to explain the influence of uncertainty as it relates to international travel Read more...

Tweet, Digg, and Flickr Your Way to Social and Commercial Success

by Carly Evans, Ravi Kumar, Cody Fitzpatrick, and Lena Yoo
Success through social media marketing is all about networking on a digital platform that can attract and connect your current and potential customers. With little or no financial investment, social media is breaking the barriers of traditional advertising and it is important to experience the benefits. Read more...

The Absent Native: Native Americans in Advertising

by Chris Jones
This research explores ideas of colonial idealism manifested in part through images of Native Americans in advertising. The research includes analyzing several ads dating from the 1950’s and exploring what they mean today, and what their effects have been. Read more...

Influences of Past Comedians and Current Events on Modern Sketch Comedy

by Noel Hoffman
As well as being extremely entertaining, sketch comedy today is largely influenced by the comedians of the past, yet driven by the events of today's society. My presentation will display research done this semester in conjunction with knowledge gained last semester in the Comedy Studies Program in Chicago at The Second City comedy improv theater. Read more...

Ghosts of Girlfriends Past: A Microanalysis of Conflict

by Kelsie Jo Knudson
This paper analyzes conflict management in the movie Ghosts of Girlfriends Past using a coding scheme called Control Coding. Read more...

Slumdog Millionaire—the Sick Side of Mumbai

by Ravi Kumar
Slumdog Millionaire is a sensational, unsettling movie directed by Danny Boyle that shows how some Indians live an impoverished life and are tangentially connected to the prodigals of the city, the city which strives for financial perfection. Alice Miles of Times Online, London termed this movie as “poverty porn”. I consider the movie as a reflection of Mumbai’s reality. Read more...

True Connections?: The effects of social networking communication on relational development of friendships during adolescence

by Caryline Lowe
This research will examine the effects of social networking on the relational development of friendships during adolescence by using three communication theories. Read more...

Play: Man in the Mirror

by Cameron Matters
On June 24, 2009 Coach Ed Thomas was shot and killed in Aplington-Parkersburg’s makeshift weight room.However, his legacy and life lessons lived on within each individual in the community because he had such an impact on everyone’s life. This play is in memory of him. Read more...

Who am I: Using Communication Theory to Understand the Disclosure of One’s Sexual Identity

by Whitney Novotny
Understanding the reasons why people choose not to disclose their sexuality is a growing interest in our world today. This study will examine the disclosure of one’s sexual identity from the perceptions of the person disclosing as well as the perceptions from those disclosed to. Read more...

Play: The Big Question

by Kimberly Perez
The Big Question was inspired by the desire to show a small part of my Latino culture to the audience and help them realize there are many characteristics that are similar between Latinos and many other families’. Read more...

Fireproof: Using Communication Theory to Examine Marital Satisfaction within the First Five Years of Marriage

by Karla Swenson
Integrating the following communication theories: Baxter & Montgomery’s Relational Dialectics Theory, Thibaut and Kelly’s Social Exchange Theory, and Mead’s Symbolic Interactionism Theory, this study will examine the contributing factors to marital satisfaction. Read more...

Robert Arneson, a Study of an Artist

by Kristen Tripp
In the 1960’s, when ceramics was considered a craft rather than fine art, Robert Arneson became a leader in the California funk art movement and helped ceramics push into the fine arts world. Rebellion, humor, and autobiographical references were constant subjects for Arneson as he was influenced by rising artists such as ceramist Peter Voulkos. Read more...

Nerdy in the USA, Then and Now

by Remesha Whittington and Griselda Martinez
In the novel The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, the character Oscar is seemingly nothing but a nerd. In this presentation, we will elaborate on what it meant to be nerdy in Oscar Wao’s day, and what it means to be nerdy now. Read more...

Jazz Improvisation & Its Importance in Our Music Education Programs

by Alison Buechler
In doing research for my research paper for Music History, I’ve become more and more interested in the techniques and sequential teaching of jazz. In this presentation I will be mainly focusing on techniques in which students can develop and the importance of music educators being knowledgeable about this information. Read more...

Wild Geese Families: Theoretical Considerations of Relational Maintenance of Families in Distance

by Lena Yoo
“Wild Goose father” is a newly coined term in Korea, indicating a father who is left alone after sending his children abroad for early education with their mother who can provide nurture and care. This study will research the families living in distance due to different locations of work or education. Read more...

Rivalry, Jealousy, & Aggressive Messages: An Examination of Negative Discourse in Emerging-adult Sibling Relationships

by Tyonia Zimmerman
The focus of this research will examine the relationship among siblings emerging into adulthood, specifically those between the ages of 18 and 24. Read more...

Does One Size Fit All?: Downsizing Organizations

by Courtney Manny and Ofelia Valdez
This project focuses on exploring the trends of downsizing and why organizations have chosen to engage in such conduct. Read more...

Social Acceptance: One Day You're In, the Next You're Out

by Trudi Francis
What factors associated with disability increase the likelihood of social exclusion? What strategies hold the most promise for educators to reduce the risk of exclusion? Read more...

Gene Insertion in Caenorhabditis elegans to Compare Methods of Genome Transformation

by Elizabeth Ahrendsen
The purpose of our research is to rescue the knockout gene unc-119 in the C.elegans gamete using an Aerosol Beam Injector, microparticle bombardment, and a Particle Infusion Gun (PIG). Read more...

The Turtle Dove: A New Composition

by Nicholas Andersen
This presentation will describe the new composition and outline the research completed before starting the work. My composition is actually an arrangement of a traditional English folk melody The Turtle Dove as research by British composer Ralph Vaughn Williams. Read more...

An Economical Analysis of Ankle Sprains in BVU Athletics: A New Approach to Determine Intervention Effectiveness

by Megan Anderson
The purpose of the study is to present a new approval to measuring the effectiveness of ankle treatments for the Buena Vista University Athletic Training Department. Read more...

Hezbollah: Freedom Fighters or Terrorist?

by Andrew Barksdale
This project will provide an historical account of how the group formed and developed, as well as illustrate their ideological belief system and detail several examples of the group’s activities through the years. Read more...

How “Long” is Long-term Care: A Regression Analysis Model Predicting the Length of Stay for Residents at a Long-Term Care Facility

by Mercedes Barlow
I will be developing an ordinary least squares regression analysis model to predict the length of stay in a residential, long-term care facility. Read more...

Third Sector Organizations in Developing Regions

by Kelsey Baye
In view of the many desirable consequences of third sector organizations, why in developing regions do they struggle for survival? What challenges do third sector organizations face in developing regions of the world? Read more...

South Korea: The Birth of a Tiger

by Kelsey Baye
After the Korean War, North Korea was considered to be the most resource rich and more likely to succeed between the two. It, of course, did not meet the expectations placed on it. What caused the South Korean economy to flourish as its neighbor floundered? Read more...

Does Work Make Employees Fat?

by Brianna Butcher and Jadi Odle
Our research focused on the driving forces that are currently contributing to weight challenges created within today’s organizations. Read more...

Generation of Transgenic Caenorhabditis Elegans by Multiple Transformation Methods

by Shane Clune, Arinda Abbuhl, and Elizabeth Ahrendsen
The purpose of our research project is to effectively transform the nematode C. elegans via three different transformation techniques: Aerosol Beam Injection, microparticle bombardment, and a Particle Infusion Gun (PIG). Read more...

Implementing Controller Support in NcSoft’s Aion

by Michael Coats
The purpose of this research project was to implement controller support for a game that inherently does not have any support for a controller. The controller chosen was a Microsoft Xbox 360 controller. Read more...

Improving Mathematics Achievement...Difficult but Possible

by Crystal Davis
This project looked into the research that has been done in an attempt to raise test scores and improve the abilities of learners. Read more...

The Remote Exploration of Badger Burrows

by Brittany Denker
We tried to develop a vehicle that would be able to enter burrows while recording information. Our first effort was a remotely controlled 1/24 scale replica of an M1A2 Abrams Tank. Read more...

Examining the Biological Antioxidant Benefits of Proline in Yeast

by Michael Dirkx, Rachael Reicks, and Michael Keane
We have shown incubation of yeast cells in the presence of a high concentration of proline has been shown to increase the ability of yeast cells to survive exposure to reactive species. Read more...

Indonesia’s Growth: 1967-1981

by Dustin Dobbels
I propose that positive macroeconomic policies (such as free trade policies, a united and focused population, and an investment in human capital), the abundance of land and natural resources, and rising oil prices helped drive Indonesian growth despite shortcomings dealing with corruption, weak legal and banking systems, and too much government presence. Read more...

Immigration and Bilingual Education

by Emily Einck, Elizabeth Elgin, Yuta Kotake, Ayumi Matsuo, Tiffany Promes, Lauren Roberts
This study focused on perceptions on immigration and bilingual education. Read more...

Orson Welles, Laurie Anderson and Julie Taymor: Breaking the Rules

by Vanessa Ellsbury, Darren Johnson, and Alexis McCoy
This presentation will focus on three famous theatrical directors who experimented with non-realistic approaches to directing and broke new ground for theatrical production. Read more...

Typeface Design: The Ins and Outs of Creating a Typeface

by Adam Feller
My poster will feature the original typeface which I have been preparing all semester. I will explain the process I went through to develop my typeface and the specific elements that I applied to it from what I learned in my research. Read more...

Antibiotic Synergism and Antagonism by Skin Bacterium Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus simulans, and Citrobacter freundii

by Austin Ferguson, Tanner Urich, and Jacklyn Johnson
We are studying the effects of different antibiotics on the viability of the naturally occurring skin bacterium Staphylococcus epidermidis and Staphylococcus simulans. Read more...

Communication Between Grandparents and Grandchildren in Geographically Separated Relationships: A Case Study

by Caitlin Frister
This case study will examine the communication between grandparents and grandchildren in one family by focusing on 1) channel choice/use and 2) how distance influences their communication and consequently, their relationship. Read more...

Color Perception in Drosophila Melanogaster

by Serena Geisinger, Carl Krambeck, Allison Peyton, and Molly Urness
Drosophila melanogaster’s ability to perceive and differentiate color has been studied. The flies were introduced into a maze that branched into red, blue, green, and yellow colored arms. Read more...

Silver: A Fundamental Perspective

by Christopher Green
This research focuses on an economic analysis of the Silver market, a commodity that has seen more than a 100% rise in its price since the summer of 2010. Read more...

Art as a Medium: When Words Are Not Enough

by Nicole Haberl
I led a weekly group using consumer directed art to provide opportunities for creative self-expression and individual choice. I practiced the social work skills of engagement, assessment, intervention, and evaluation both with individuals and with the group as a whole. Read more...

On Campus vs. Off Campus Living: Grades and Class Participation

by Jahde Hammer
The purpose of this project is to figure out if students are able to live off campus, with a less strict policy, and still perform well in the classroom. Read more...

Evidence Based Medicine in Athletic Training: Using Patient-Based Self- Reported Measures in Long-Term Rehabilitation

by Heather Hansman
Incorporating patient-based self-reported measures into long-term rehabilitation protocols will allow the athletic training clinicians to account for the patient’s insights and will uncover valuable information on their life beyond the athletic training room. Integrating evidence based medicine into the athletic training arena will reveal helpful information about patients’ functional limitations, ability to perform activities of daily living, and environmental and societal limitations. Read more...

Mt. Crescent – Effectiveness of Service and Likelihood of Opportunities

by Erik Hartman
Survey research was undertaken using a questionnaire structured to gather data examining participants’ general opinions about the ski area, its services and facilities and their awareness of Mt. Crescent. Read more...

Examining the Putative Antioxidant Properties of Linoleic and Linolenic Fatty Acids in Living Cells

by Grant Herrington
This study is being undertaken to investigate the potential role of linoleic and linolenic fatty acids in influencing the ability of yeast cells to survive in conditions of oxidative stress such as paraquat and hydrogen peroxide exposure. Read more...

King’s Pointe: Meeting the Expectations?

by Kyle Hibbing
This research project analyses the success (or failure) of King’s Pointe with respect to profitability, self-sustainability, and whether certain selling points are living up to the expectations set forth by individual supporters. Read more...

Auditing in the IFRS Era

by Laura Hilby and Kacie Woodley
How will the practice of financial statement auditing be affected with the convergence of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles to International Financial Reporting Standards? Read more...

Final Four or Sweet Sixteen? Predicting a Team’s Success

by Laura Hilby
The overall goal of this project is to determine the most important statistical variables of a team advancing to the Final Four or Sweet Sixteen, and to observe if these variables differ between my two conclusions. Read more...

The Chase From Love: Redefining Commitment in the 21st Century

by Elizabeth Hilliard
This study uses Sternberg’s Triangular Theory of Love, Thibaut and Kelley’s Social Exchange Theory, and Baxter and Montgomery’s Relational Dialectics Theory, along with additional research, to define what commitment truly is to the relationships of the 21st century. Read more...

Rebels with a Cause: The Bad Boys of Comedy

by Noel Hoffman
My presentation will display the lives, careers, and occasional downfalls of a select group of American comedians throughout history whose groundbreaking, taboo, and often offensive comedic styles made major contributions to the progression of modern comedy. Read more...

The Evolution of Bacteria Repeatedly Exposed to Ultraviolet Radiation

by Brennan Holm, Tyler Lefeber, and Alex Davis
We then quantitatively analyzed the UV sensitivity differences between bacteria that had survived 6 rounds of irradiation and control bacteria that had not been irradiated with any UV light. The goal was to see if the mutated bacteria adapted and became resistant genetically to UV light. Read more...

Making Reading Work: Strategies for Students with Learning Disabilities

by Angela Holstedt
This study incorporates the findings of the Marzano Meta-Analysis with those of the National Institute for Literacy to provide multiple strategies for teachers who aim to make reading a more meaningful experience for all involved. These strategies cover a combination of ways to teach words and concepts. It is focused around the idea that a growing vocabulary allows for greater comprehension, which leads to more reading experiences, and more reading experiences lead to growth in vocabulary. Read more...

The Moral Center of Ed Parker’s American Kenpo

by Melissa Huntley
One of the largest ideological differences between the martial arts of eastern Asia and the United States is the religious focus that comes from being rooted in the Shaolin monasteries. Read more...

Branding: Conception to Product

by Krista Kent
Graphic design is an important step between the customer and the allure of the product. Read more...

Community-Based Learning vs. Service Learning: Do Titles Really Matter?

by Dustin Killpack
Examining the implication of the word “service” and the importance of a more community–centered focus can help scholars define service learning more clearly or start the shift toward community–based learning instead. Read more...

Community-Service Assessment 2010

by Dustin Killpack
A community-service assessment is a broad look across non-profit agencies, service programs, and community members to learn more about the current state of the organization, programs, and partnerships. Read more...

Adoption Equality: Homosexual Discrimination in the Adoption Process

by Zach King, Miranda Klingenberg, Jocelyn Garcia, and Nathan Clark
We are researching into the idea that gay couples are being discriminated against when entering into the adoption process. Read more...

Shining a Light on the Expression of Heterologous Proteins in Hybrid Phalaenopsis and Petunia hybrida

by Jessi Knutson
We have been working with tissue culture and establishing the appropriate cell lines for Petunia hybida and a hybrid of two species of Phalaenopsis from Madagascar. These transgenic plants are predicted to fluoresce when bombarded with ultraviolet light and provide information about gene expression. Read more...

Cauchy & Two-Dimensional Mean Value Theorems

by Molly Kruse
We will look specifically at Cauchy’s contributions to the mean value theorem of differential calculus, and the mathematicians work in this area that preceded him. Read more...

Moon & Crime Relationship Using an Econometric Model

by Molly Kruse
This econometric model will test whether a full moon has a statistical relationship with violent crimes. Read more...

Building and Programming a Beowulf Computer

by Travis Kuster
In order to demonstrate the power of a parallel architecture, an n-body simulation written for the cluster is run in serial and parallel form. Read more...

Justifying Terrorism: Agnew’s General Strain Theory and the Earth Liberation Front

by Griselda J. Martinez
Using Agnew’s General Strain Theory, this project attempts to explain the mindset and actions of ELF members. Read more...

Metabolism and Cancer: Let’s Not ROS to Judgment

by Nicholas Maxwell and Kylie Woodley
We are using the Baker’s Yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae to study directly the effects of reactive oxygen species (ROS) on nuclear DNA. Read more...

Potential Effects of Phosphate Levels on Odonata Diversity in a NW Iowa Wetland Located in the Raccoon River Watershed

by Elizabeth McIntyre
This spatial study investigated fall, 2010 phosphorus concentration levels and the potential effects on Odonata diversity of Blackhawk Lake Wetland, Iowa as well as two sites on the Raccoon River located equal distance above and below the wetland. Read more...

Child Hunger in School Systems

by Paige Miller, Michelle Sahlieh, and Ashley Corbett
By partnering up with the local BVU Breakfast Buddies organization, we are working to establish a program that goes beyond breakfast for students in public schools. Read more...

Aum Shinrikyo: Revealing the Undertakings of an International Cult That Had a Recipe for Armageddon

by Marcia Mondie
This project provides an in-depth analysis of the cult’s structural belief system and its impact on society, as well as applying a theoretical framework to explain the group’s extremist/terrorist behavior. Read more...

Motivation for Teaching and Perceived Character Traits Across Classes

by Sam Moser
This study was conducted to uncover possible differences in teacher motivation and perceived character traits in each class of education majors and minors at Buena Vista University. Read more...

Effects of Isolated Long-Term Static Stretching on Strength

by Samantha Narveson and Jessica Kelly
The ability to increase muscle strength by adding a non-taxing element, such as static stretching, could potentially be ideal for post-operative athletes. Read more...

Cross Platform Mobile Development

by Alain Ndayishimiye
As more mobile devices (e.g., phones and tablets) enter the marketplace, the problem of device fragmentation becomes a greater challenge to mobile developers. Read more...

Do Auditors Bear Some Responsibility for the Financial Crash of 2008?

by Miguel Negrete, Daniel Morgan, and Michael Elming
This project involves an in-depth look into the accounting and auditing problems that may have contributed to the financial crisis of 2008. Read more...

Volksfront: A Brief History of Bigotry and Violence

by Shane Nellis
Using Merton’s Strain Theory, this project explains what motivates individuals to join this bigoted organization and carry out violence (primarily against homosexuals and minorities). Read more...

Does Self Esteem Effect Infidelity?

by Keifer Nevius
he hypothesis is that individuals who are either high or low in self-esteem will be more likely to say that they would commit acts of infidelity. Read more...

Can Curcumin Cure Cancer? Should Worms Drink Red Wine? Should Worms Eat Pacific Yew? Investigations on the Impact on Lifespan in Caenorhabditis Elegans

by Emily Nielsen, Sarah Larson, Tyler Harm, Miguel Munoz-Gomez, and Brooke Wehle
Our research examines the changes in lifespan of adult worms exhibiting cancer-like phenotypes in response to varying concentrations of curcumin, resveratrol, and paclitaxel (Taxol). Curcumin is a polyphenol isolated from the spice turmeric and has been examined for its effects on human cancer cells. Read more...

Stress, Alcohol, and Drugs: Effects on the Longevity of Caenorhabditis Elegans

by Emily Nielsen and Sarah Larson
Our research has examined the changes in lifespan of adult and dauer worms due to various compounds either inducing or alleviating oxidative stress. Read more...

When All Else Fails, Turn To Violence: The Black Panther Party and Conflict Theory

by Joshua Noble
This presentation ties the Black Panther Party to the Conflict theory of crime through Austin Turk’s theory of Norm resistance. Read more...

Perceptions of Bilingual Education: Does it Help or Hinder?

by Katie Noll
During the fall semester of 2009, I conducted a survey in regards to parental perceptions of bilingual education and presented the collection of data to my Second Language Acquisition class. I have reopened the project, in hopes of retrieving the opinions of a greater variety of families, to include those of different cultures, ethnicities, language backgrounds, and educational backgrounds. Read more...

T. Rowe Price: Invest with Confidence

by Bikash Pandey, Brianne Sweeden, and Megan Lytle
As the 2010 recipient of the Lipper Fund’s “Best Overall Large Company” award, T. Rowe Price has proven its ability to remain profitable after times of economic distress. After the global financial crisis beginning from 2008, many financial institutions around the world found themselves in financial troubles. This research uses a variety of factors to examine how T. Rowe Price handles this difficult time period. Read more...

Toyota Motor Corporation, An Interactive Study

by Remy Nshuti, Christopher Green and Stephane Karege
This research focuses on a complete business analysis for Toyota Corporation. Read more...

Majors: Who Changes More Often?

by Bikash Pandey
This research focuses on an analysis of group of people that are more likely to change majors in college. Read more...

India: Slum Dog to Millionaire

by Bikash Pandey
This paper is an introduction to economic growth of India. Read more...

The Effects of Bisphenol-A on Vitellogenin Levels in Pimephales promelas

by Cassandra Pauley
Results indicate increasing concentrations of Vtg production in response to increasing levels of BPA exposures. Read more...

The Mean Value Theorem for Functions on the Complex Plane

by Vincent Peichel
In this project, we explore the Mean Value Theorem and Rolle’s Theorem as they apply to the complex plane. Read more...

Is Attendance at Twins’ Games on Target?

by Vincent Peichel
This project examines a number of variables that may help explain what brings Twin’s fans to a game. Read more...

Going Beyond the Scope of Modern Medicine

by Kimberly Perez
As a J. Leslie Rollins Fellow, I went to Guatemala as a medical missionary volunteer to study non-traditional medical practices for the purpose of learning if these practices could deliver successful results. I will explain how I attempted to look at the medical practices through the eyes of a Guatemalan and in the process discovered the hardships and difficulties many Guatemalans in the region of Chimaltenango face. Read more...

Purification of GOT from Pig Heart and Pig Liver

by Joe Petersen
The goal of this project is to achieve 80-100 fold purification of the GOT enzyme with a greater than 5% yield. Read more...

Is the Glass Ceiling Really Cracking?

by Bee Phommasene and Nina Bounyavouth
This research project was designed to explore the following research questions: 1) Is there evidence that the glass ceiling really exists? 2) What are the driving forces influencing career aspirations of women? and 3) What is the future impact on Human Resource Management policies and practices? Is the Glass Ceiling really cracking? Read more...

Prairie in a Petri Dish

by Delia Moran Portillo and Alex Paine
Our research group has attempted to introduce tissue from various prairie plants into culture. Read more...

The Relationship Between the Risk of Alcohol Abuse and Anaerobic Power

by Erica Post
The results agree with a number of previous studies that concluded anaerobic performance is not affected by alcohol consumption. Read more...

Threshold of Gamma-Hydroxybutyric Acid

by Luke Probasco
Over J-Term I worked at the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) in Ankeny, Iowa. During this time I worked on replicating a study and adding another evaluation method to determine the proper threshold for GHB levels in the human body. Read more...

Intercultural Programs at BVU: Restructuring for Greater Unity

by Luis Ramirez
This study will examine the merits of the current Intercultural Programs at Buena Vista University and provide possible recommendations for enhancing the quality of services and ongoing multicultural opportunities in an effort to unify the campus community. Read more...

Comparing the Relative Effectiveness of Herbal Medicine and Antibiotics In Controlling Growth Of Bacillus cereus and Escherichia coli.

by Nathan Reddick, Brittney Donn, and Andrew Ohlrich
The concept of herbal medicine is huge topic in today’s society. Does the evidence support the hype? A series of different types of herbs were collected and analyzed for anti-microbial properties. Read more...

Increasing Physical Fitness Opportunities for BVU Students

by Melody Reding
The purpose of this study was to look at physical fitness programs institutions in the IIAC conference that are offered for their students. Read more...

Image is Everything: Expanding Brand Awareness

by Kelsey Reitmeier and Kacie Woodley
Through countless hours of cold calling, surveying, and research, the class and I were able to determine who Merrill really is and where Merrill needed to go. Read more...

Shining a Light on Gene Expression

by Amanda Roder, Jessi Knutson, and Alli Kirchgatter
The purpose of our research is to study gene expression in plants, utilizing fluorescence as a reporter gene system. Read more...

Digital Democracy: Developing and Managing Brand YOU

by Rebecca Roth, Chris Jones, Mikel Daves, and Katelyn Knobbe
Our research illuminates the importance of personal branding and how to use social media to attain personal and professional goals as well as how to utilize a variety of multimedia tools to present brand YOU in a dynamic and meaningful way. Read more...

Effects of Deportation on Mexican Families

by Bailey Schafbuch, Kylie Swanson, Austin Mogg, Tyler Mcdanel, and Darren Johnson
The format of this project is a multimedia journalistic story based on interviews and research acquired from local families in Storm Lake, teachers at the local high school, the INS, immigration/deportation journals, and the Storm Lake Police Department. Read more...

Effects of Deportation on Mexican Families

by Bailey Schafbuch, Kylie Swanson, Austin Mogg, Tyler Mcdanel, and Darren Johnson
The format of this project is a multimedia journalistic story based on interviews and research acquired from local families in Storm Lake, teachers at the local high school, the INS, immigration/deportation journals, and the Storm Lake Police Department. Read more...

An Attempt to Prevent Tooth Decay: Neutralizing the Acid Produced by Bacteria in the Mouth

by Mysty Shaver
My preliminary research has revealed that the presence of a buffer yields less acidic environments and the higher the concentration of that buffer, the more neutral the pH. Read more...

Multi-Page Design

by Euvonne Sheridan
My research focused on gaining a better understanding of working with large bodies of text, folded designs, and creating consistency throughout my work. Read more...

Lying and Leaking; Detecting Deceit via Nonverbal Communication

by Christine Slayton
This research will take a close look at relational deception by examining the strategy, costs and benefits, and nonverbal communication of the process. Read more...

Fight or Flight: Relational Distancing as a Dynamic in Interpersonal and Romantic Relationships.

by Benjamin Stone
Through research and evaluation, I will analyze relational distancing and its effects on interpersonal and romantic relationships. Read more...

Influencing Factors for Athletic Training Students

by Jema Swanson
This study is to determine if athletic training students’ perception of their approved clinical instructor (ACI) or clinical instructor (CI) influences their decision on entering the athletic training profession. Read more...

October in Philadelphia? New York? Oakland? Boston?

by Brianne Sweeden
So what factors determine who wins this postseason competition between the best teams in the American and National Leagues? Factors tested for significance include offensive, defensive, strategic, and performance variables. Read more...

Uncovering My Lai: Determining Innocence and Guilt

by Brittney Switzer
On March 16 of 1968 a unit of the United States Army, known Charlie Company of 1st Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment, 23rd Infantry Division, entered the hamlet of My Lai in South Vietnam. During their short time in the hamlet, anywhere between 107 and 500 Vietnamese civilians were massacred. Read more...

From Wilting Flower to Revolutionary: A “Vendetta” Against Feminine Expression

by Savannah Thompson
The graphic novel and subsequent film entitled V for Vendetta have been heralded as powerful commentaries on political power and totalitarian government. In my paper, “From Wilting Flower to Revolutionary: A Vendetta Against Feminine Expression,” I argue that these pieces of popular culture also speak volumes about gender and its interchangeability. Read more...

The Role of Glutathione peroxidase and Catalase in Mediating the AntioxidantProperties of Proline in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

by Grant Turner and Cameron Matters
It has been hypothesized that high levels of the amino acid proline helps protect cells from ROS. Using baker’s yeast as a model research organism we are exposing cells to high levels of proline and monitoring its affect on the activity of GPx and catalase enzymes in cell-free extracts isolated from those cells. Read more...

The Impact of First Language Use in English Language Learner Classrooms

by Christina Walker
Throughout the course of my practicum experience, I worked with two different kindergarten reading groups in a new, culturally diverse, medium-sized elementary school in the Midwest. I hypothesized the non-English proficient (NEP) group would accelerate more quickly than the limited English proficient (LEP) group in second language development due to their confidence, enthusiasm and willingness to communicate in their first language, Spanish. Read more...

Temperature Sampling in Burrows of the North American Badger, Taxidea taxus

by Andrew Walsh
During three months in autumn, 2010, we sampled the burrow temperatures in three south-facing burrows and compared them with ambient temperatures found near burrow entrances. We used HOBO H8 Pro Series Data Loggers to log the temperatures and placed these devices inside the burrow by using a remote control vehicle (1/24 M1a2 Abrams Tank, VS Tanks). Read more...

To My Dear Friend: Gender and Sexism in 19th Century Autograph Albums

by Jessica Watkins
Last fall for my English Senior Seminar I explored autograph albums in the mid-to-late 19th century in the United States to see how the albums reinforced gender roles. For this I used an original autograph album from within my family, as well as several outside resources on autograph albums to support my claims. Read more...

Yearling Bull Prices in Small-town Rural Iowa

by Chase Weaver
Breed, Birth Weight, Weaning Weight, Average Daily Gain, and the Sire of the calf are key factors Weaver Ranches in Moville, Iowa use to determine the value of the cattle they sell. Using these factors, I will make a decision as to which factors best explain the price of yearling bulls in 2010. Read more...

Why are Punitive Punishments Preferred? Examining the Public’s Perception of Community Corrections

by Tashia Wheeler
The purpose of this study was to examine whether or not the public’s perceptions of punitive punishments align with the current imprisonment binge occurring in the United States. In order to examine this data were collected through focus groups conducted in both Muscatine and Storm Lake, Iowa. Read more...

Residence Life Policies and Living On-Campus, Time for a Change?

by Sierra Williams
The primary aspect looked at is if the current residence life policies would affect a student’s decision to live off-campus if given the choice and furthermore which policies would affect a student’s decision the most. Read more...

Activity Schedules: Promoting Independence for Students with Disabilities

by Andrea Wilson
This poster presentation outlines the use of activity schedules for individuals with special needs, provides guidelines for their development, and explores the implications for future benefits for both educators and consumers. Read more...

The Honeymoon is Over: Maintaining a Strong Marriage After the First-Year

by Teresa Wirtjers
Marital satisfaction is typically high in newlywed couples but studies have shown that as the relationship progresses, marital satisfaction tends to decline (Lavner & Bradbury, 2010; Halford, Lizzio, Wilson, Occhipinti, 2007). The purpose of this study is to determine how newlywed couples can maintain marital quality and satisfaction after the first-year of marriage. Read more...

Child Hunger in School Systems

by Paige Miller, Michelle Sahlieh, and Ashley Corbett
By partnering up with the local BVU Breakfast Buddies organization, we are working to establish a program that goes beyond breakfast for students in public schools. Read more...

Tales from the Dark Side: An Analysis of Jealousy in Intimate Relationships

by Samantha Turnquist
In intimate dating relationships, suspicions may occur. Scholarship surrounding the “dark side of communication” helps us explore deception in relational development. Read more...

Implementation of Newly Revised Concussion Management Protocol Illustrated by Three Case Studies

by Danielle Hemingson and Samantha Narveson
The Buena Vista University Athletic Training Department has invested in a program that measures both physical and cognitive homeostatic changes as protocol for the management of concussive injuries. This procedure is comprehensive and forthright, and in many cases allows an athlete a return to play option with greater confidence from the medical staff for their safety. Read more...

The Real Child Left Behind

by Kelsi Bustad
My project focuses on ways that teachers can help students use the internet better, such as by encouraging their students to do “web quests:” for example, a Social Studies lesson plan over Jamestown and the settlers might have gifted students design their own virtual Jamestown. With webcams, students can also talk to other gifted students in distant countries to exchange ideas and information. Read more...

International Students’ Perceptions on the English Language Learning and Teaching

by Yurika Akase
The survey asked questions about perceptions of language acquisition by international students, who study a variety of subjects in the US using English as a second language. Survey questions were drawn from the book How Languages are Learned by Lightbown and Spada. The survey, which used open-ended and Likert-scale questions, was conducted in the spring 2009 for the TESL270 course (Second Language Acquisition). Read more...

It takes a village: Developing Friendships with Children who have Autism

by Trudi Francis
Although no one knows exactly how many children are affected by autism, its numbers are increasing. One common characteristic found for this exceptionality is difficulty with socialization. The lack of social skills has a direct impact on social acceptance and limits the ability of those with this disorder to develop and maintain friendships. Children affected by autism have difficulty comprehending social rules and being in large crowds. People affected also have a tendency to ask a lot of questions, which to some could be an annoyance, but in all truth that is the exact opposite of what autistic children want. Read more...

Gene Insertion in Caenorhabditis elegans via Novel DNA Insertion Technique

by Alex M. Abel
The purpose of our research is to insert various genes that could possibly be utilized as a selectable marker in C.elegans using an Aerosol Beam Injector. Read more...

Generation of Transgenic Caenorhabditis elegans by Aerosol Beam Injection

by Elizabeth Ahrendsen, Shane Clune, Alyssa J. Hudnall, and Alex M. Abel
To test the effectiveness of Aerosol Beam Injection in nematodes, we attempted to resinsert a gene into a knockout strain of C. elegans called unc-119. The unc-119 gene affects a collagen protein of C. elegans, causing the mutant nematodes to move in an uncoordinated manner and prevents their larvae from entering into a suspended animation state known as dauer. Read more...

Sex Allocation in Corvus brachyrhynchos

by Loren Baldus
The cooperatively breeding population of American Crows (Corvus brachyrhynchos) in Storm Lake was studied to determine whether the near-fledging sex ratio was biased. Read more...

Using GIS to Show Soil Erosion and Benefits of Cover Crops

by Ashley Donkersloot
My research, which was conducted under the direction of the National Laboratory for Agriculture and the Environment, involved creating a database of cover crop species that have been used within the state of Iowa since 1990, in which areas of the state they have been used, and where their implementation has been successful. Read more...

Antibiotic synergism and antagonism by the skin bacterium Staphylococcus epidermidis and Staphylococcus simulans

by Austin Ferguson and Tanner Urich
Bacterial resistance to antibiotics is a growing medical concern. We are studying the effects of different antibiotics on the viability of the naturally occurring skin bacterium Staphylococcus epidermidis and Staphylococcus simulans. Read more...

Lexigram Training Flashcard Extension

by Thomas Fitzgerald
Buena Vista University has been working in accord with the Great Ape Trust in Des Moines on a pictographic keyboard that allows humans and bonobos to communicate. As a way to teach the humans the lexigrams, the pictures on the keyboard, I worked to develop a Java based flash card panel that would fit into the keyboard trainer. Read more...

Detection of Thin Films on Solid Surfaces Using a Contact Angle Goniometer

by Keith Foreman
This project presents the successful construction and implementation of a relatively simple and cost effective device, a contact angle goniometer. A goniometer is used to acquire the angle of contact of water droplets (.2 μL) on a solid surface, from which the presence of thin films can be inferred. Read more...

Roadside Survey of Wildlife Activity

by Nicole Fusco
Roadside ditches are a significant habitat for many organisms in Iowa. From September, 2008 until December, 2009 data was recorded on a (50 mile) portion of US Highway 3 and County Road C49 in Humboldt, Pocahontas, and Buena Vista counties with respect to sightings of pheasants, badger diggings and any DOR (dead on road) organisms. Read more...

Programming a Storybook for Bonobo Learning and Research

by Ellen Hartstack and Alex Pelelo
The Great Ape Trust is a scientific research facility in Des Moines, Iowa, dedicated to the study of the great apes. In order to further their learning, we have constructed a program that uses lexigrams in a storybook. Read more...

Gene Insertion in Caenorhabditis elegans via Novel DNA Insertion Technique

by Alyssa J. Hudnall
Previous methods used to insert genetic information into the genome of the nematode, Caenorhabditis elegans, have experienced numerous complications. The purpose of our research is to insert various genes that could possibly be utilized as a selectable marker in C.elegans using an Aerosol Beam Injector. Read more...

Snail and algal bioaccumulation of triclosan in Outlet Creek, Iowa

by Purushottam Lamichhane
Triclosan 5-chloro-2-(2,4-dichlorophenoxy)phenol is an important bactericide used in various products such as shampoo, soap, deodorants, toothpaste, footwear, and plastics. This study investigated algal and snail bioaccumulation levels of triclosan at the outfall of the Storm Lake Wastewater Treatment Plant, Outlet Creek, Iowa by collecting, caging, and analyzing representative samples using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method. Read more...

Game Map Construction with Hammer World Editor and Google SketchUp 7

by Allison Janssen
The goal of this project was to combine digital artifacts generated from two different programs to create an interactive 3-D game map for use with Valve Corporation's Left 4 Dead 2. Read more...

gE: We bring Herpes Virus infections to life

by Jennifer Flint and Benjamin Lancaster
We are interested in determining host cell proteins that are used by Herpes viruses during the course of a neuronal infection. Read more...

Chromosome fragility at tRNA genes in Baker’s Yeast

by John Mann
Chromosome breakage is associated with many types of cancer. Previous research by BVU students has identified tRNA genes as preferential sites of chromosome breakage in yeast. We are interested in uncovering experimental conditions that alter chromosome breakage rates in general as well as specifically at tRNA genes. Read more...

Optimizing Culture Conditions for the Generation of Human Regulatory Dendritic Cells

by Megan Kruckenberg* (BVU), Sabrina Scroggins B.S. and Annette Schlueter MD PhD. (Graduate Program in Immunology & Department of Pathology, University of Iowa)
Mouse models have been created to look at the possibility of culturing regulatory dendritic cells (DCreg) from the recipient that could be injected after transplantation to regulate T cell activity. Our work aims to develop a technique for creating DCreg for human use. Read more...

Shining a Light on the Expression of Heterologous Proteins in Orchids and Arabidopsis thaliana

by Melissa Martin, Dana Lembke, Jessica Knutson and Amanda Roder
The purpose of our research is to study gene expression in plants, utilizing bioluminescence as a reporter gene system. Our research has been focused on developing a gene construct that combines the plant promoter with a gene that codes for a fluorescent protein. The second step, which we focused on this semester, involves tissue culture and establishing the appropriate cell lines. Read more...

Metabolism and Cancer: Lets Not ROS to Judgment

by Nick Maxwell and Kylie Woodley
Scientists have speculated that Reactive oxygen species (ROS) created during normal metabolism in the mitochondria might be linked to cancer. We are using the Baker’s Yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae to study directly the effects of reactive oxygen species (ROS) on nuclear DNA. Read more...

Wake: A Location and Time-Aware Content Suggestion System

by Joshua McAllister
In this research, we have created a location-aware content suggestion system known as ‘Wake. ‘Wake provides students with course-relevant articles, documents, web sites, etc. using the students’ course registration data. Read more...

Buzzes and Berries: Impact on Lifespan in Caenorhabditis elegans

by Emily Nielsen, Sarah Larson, and Justin Bandy
Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) has served as a model organism for the study of development, aging, and various other biological processes for the past thirty years. Our research examines the change in lifespan and fecundity of a normal adult worm in its response to varying concentrations of ethanol, proline, Vitamin E, and acai berry extract. Read more...

The Antimicrobial Properties of Vitamin C

by Desmond Owusu
Vitamin C is commonly viewed by many people as an effective self-medication used for colds and infections. In this study we propose to determine if Vitamin C is capable of killing bacteria. Read more...

Purification of GOT from Pig Heart and Pig Liver

by Joe Petersen
Glutamate-Oxaloacetate Transaminase (GOT) is an enzyme that catalyzes the reversible transfer of an amino group from aspartate to alpha-ketoglutarate to produce oxaloacetate and glutamate. In my experiment I have been be testing the specific activity of GOT using activity assays. Read more...

Are Fruit Flies Colorblind?

by Allison Peyton and Carl Krambeck
Drosophila melanogaster’s ability to perceive and differentiate color was studied. The flies were introduced into a maze with the color choices of red, blue, green, and yellow. Read more...

Cloacal Bacterial Identification of Nestling American Crows (Corvus brachyrhynchos) and its Relation to Public Health

by Brandyn Rathman
Bacterial identification of nestling American crows (Corvus brachyrhynchos) was conducted in populations located in Storm Lake, Iowa and nearby areas. Samples were collected using a cloacal swab from nestlings. Read more...

Analysis of Blood Parasites in the American Crow

by Nathan Reddick
American Crows (Corvus brachyrhyncos) are habitat generalists that live in close association with humans. We examined the blood of nestling American Crows to determine A: the types of blood parasites in these birds and B: whether there were differences in the prevalence of parasites between suburban and rural habitats. Read more...

Uncovering the Antioxidant Properties of Proline in Yeast

by Michael Dirkx and Rachael Reicks
We have been using baker’s yeast to uncover the mechanisms for the anti-oxidant properties of proline. Read more...

Examining the Putative Antioxidant Properties of Proline in Saccharomyces cerevisae

by Cali Reiling
There are many diseases associated with cellular damage caused by reactive oxygen species (ROS). High levels of the amino acid proline have been shown to protect cells from the damaging effects of ROS, but it is not known how proline exerts these anti-oxidant effects. I have been examining the role that proline might play in the regulation of these enzymes. Read more...

An Attempt to Prevent Tooth Decay: Neutralizing the acid produced by bacteria in the mouth

by Mysty Shaver
The degradation of the calcium phosphate enamel of teeth is caused by an acidic environment. I am attempting to neutralize the acidic conditions created as a result of this process by using common biological buffers, such as potassium phosphate and tris. Read more...

Experiential Learning and Volunteer Wetland Assessment Protocol Development

by Sydney Snyder
This study used a volunteer wetland assessment protocol that was developed by Dr. Melinda Coogan for use by organizations like IOWATER and Raccoon River Watershed Association (RRWA) while also incorporating Experiential Learning with local high school students in Buena Vista County. The high school students devoted two weeks during the summer to collecting data at two sample sites (Sturchler’s Pond Fringe Wetland and Peterson’s Marsh). Read more...

The role of glutathione peroxidase in mediating the antioxidant properties of proline in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

by Grant Turner
It has been hypothesized that high levels of the amino acid proline helps protect cells from ROS. Using baker’s yeast as a model research organism we are exposing cells to high levels of proline and monitoring its effect on the activity of GPx in cell-free extracts isolated from those cells. Read more...

Triclosan Concentrations and Antibiotic Sensitivity at Wastewater Treatment Plant Outfalls in Outlet Creek, Iowa

by Rhonda Wemark
Triclosan is a down-the-drain chemical found in many household products ranging from hand soaps to toothpaste. This research investigated triclosan concentrations on 10/12/2009 at the Outlet Creek, IA outfalls of Storm Lake, IA Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) facility and Tyson Foods, Inc. Read more...

Impulsivity: The Unrecognized Aspect of Attention Deficit Disorder

by Elizabeth Elgin
There are many things teachers can do to help students with impulsivity in the classroom. Teachers can organize the learning space so that students are pointed in the direction that they need to focus. Limiting decorations helps those with impulsivity focus their attention. With the curriculum, teachers can highlight the main points for students so they don’t get caught up or overly focused on details. Limiting the print on each page so tasks appear more manageable is also beneficial. Read more...

Leukocyte Production in Correlation to Bacterial Load in Corvus Brachyrhyncos

by Korey Wiemold
Blood samples were collected and analyzed from the brachial artery of 59 Corvus Brachyrhyncos nestlings in Buena Vista County, Iowa. They were microscopically analyzed to accurately obtain an estimate of the number of leukocytes present in each specimen compared to the number of erythrocytes. Read more...

The N-Body Problem

by Brandon Warburton
The problem of solving for the motion of two bodies under mutual gravitation can be solved in closed form. However, this is not the case when three or more bodies are considered. The goal of this project is to evaluate three numerical methods that are used to solve the equations of motion for a simple N-body system (in this case, a special 3 body problem). Read more...

Making Life Inclusion a Reality: Utilizing Integrated Work Systems to Improve Social Skills, Independence, and Self Image in Individuals with Cognitive Disabilities

by Stephanie Kitchen
One of the primary goals of education is to facilitate life inclusion of all students. One of the most promising practices today utilizes an integrated work system. This system provides visual cuing of algorithmic behavior to assist individuals in “knowing what to do” facilitating the three key areas needed for successful independence in varied environments. Read more...

Relationship of Stress and Performance in Junior varsity Basketball Players

by Liz Auffert
Research was performed to determine the relationship of stress and performance. The target group used was the Buena Vista Junior Varsity basketball team. Read more...

Strengthening of the Scapula Stabilizing Musculature for Female Softball Players

by Liz Auffert
Research was performed to determine the best method to strengthen the musculature acting on the scapula for throwing athletes. The target group was Buena Vista Softball players. Read more...

Active-at-Practice Program as a Method to Combat Detraining

by Jocelyn Kock
The Active-at-Practice program was designed with the intention of minimizing deficiencies in the body due to detraining. A primary goal of this research was to assess the Active-at-Practice program and its ability to reduce the negative effects of detraining through adaptations in frequency, duration and intensity of exercise. Read more...

Collegiate Post Pitching Program

by Samantha Narveson
This program developed and discussed here is a post pitching routine which takes an active nature in addressing this concern. It is designed to attend to the causes of fatigue by taking a minimal approach to pitching related exercises and activities, for a shortened duration of time. Read more...

Higher Education Tax Incentives

by Brett Malone and Daniel Mikels
In this project, we will detail several of the current educational tax provisions, thereby demonstrating the complexity and inefficiency of the system. Furthermore, we will analyze several proposed changes, considering issues such as access to higher education, simplification, and compliance with requirements. Read more...

The Communication Between Father-Daughter After Losing a Mother: A Case Study

by Jennifer Kunz
Using theory to help illuminate the role of communication in this case study, Von Bertalanffy’s Systems Theory and Bowman’s Attachment Theory will explore how the loss created interdependence and emotional bonding between the father-daughter subsystem, while Altman and Taylor’s Social Penetration Theory will look at how ongoing disclosure and reciprocity have continued to enhance this father-daughter relationship. Read more...

Environmentally Relevant Atrazine Concentrations in Western Iowa and Potential HepG2 Cell Cycle Effects

by Robin Jackson
My study was two-fold: to investigate methods of HepG2 cell culturing at Buena Vista University, and to determine environmentally-relevant concentrations of atrazine found within specific NW regions of Iowa. Read more...

Art as a Medium: When Words Are Not Enough

by Nicole Haberl
I led a weekly group using consumer directed art to provide opportunities for creative self-expression and individual choice. I practiced the social work skills of engagement, assessment, intervention, and evaluation both with individuals and with the group as a whole. Read more...