Celebration of Learning 2018: Poster session II
GÄVLE ROOM, THE GERBER CENTER
3:30-4:45 p.m.
Aaron Jones, Dr. Scott Gehler
Project advisor: Dr. Scott Gehler, biology
The Flavonoids Acacetin and Pinostrobin Inhibit Cell Migration and Adhesion in MDA-MB-231 Breast Epithelial Cells
Poster #1
Cancer cell metastasis, the process by which cancer cells migrate and form new tumors elsewhere in the body, accounts for approximately 90% of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Consequently, finding new ways to hinder cancer cell metastasis is crucial for the effective treatment of late-stage cancer patients. For the last 30 years, the majority of anticancer drugs have originated in some form from natural compounds. These compounds continue to be the main source of disease treatment. Naturally occurring flavonoids have been found to have anticancer effects on various cancer cell lines. However, the effects of flavonoids have not been extensively studied on breast cancer cells. In this project, we tested the effects of acacetin and pinostrobin on MDA-MB-231 invasive breast cancer cells. Using scratch and transwell assays, both acacetin and pinostrobin inhibit MDA-MB-231 cell migration in a dose-dependent manner. However, neither of the drugs had any effect on cell proliferation when tested over a wide range of drug concentrations. In addition, both acacetin and pinostrobin produced approximately a 58% and 40% inhibition of cell adhesion, respectively. Interestingly, while both acacetin and pinostrobin inhibited cell adhesion, there was no measurable difference in focal adhesion formation, compared to the control, when treated with various concentrations of either acacetin or pinostrobin. These results suggest that both acacetin and pinostrobin mediate their effects on motility by preventing breast epithelial cell adhesion. However, additional studies are necessary to better understand how acacetin and pinostrobin alter cell adhesion dynamics to influence MDA-MB-231 cell migration.
Katie Laschanzky
Project advisor: Dr. Dara Wegman-Geedey, biology
Contact Lens Contamination and Associated Health-Related Beliefs and Behaviors: Preliminary Results
Poster #2
Many contact lens users never encounter symptoms that require medical intervention; however, improper contact lens care can lead to severe health implications. Eye infections, bacterial conjunctivitis, microbial keratitis, or even blindness are just a few potential, but severe, outcomes of inadequate lens care. Common members of the human microbiome, such as E. coli and Staphylococcus species, can be used as indicator organisms to determine relative levels of lens care. By assessing the presence (or absence) of these microbes on a donated soft contact lens and comparing that to survey responses from the same participant, we can address two questions in this study: How does the Augustana College community compare to larger cohorts from previous studies in regard to the level of these microbes on contact lenses?; and Are there relationships among the presence/absence of these indicator organisms on contact lenses and self-reported common hygiene behaviors, basic scientific literacy, and an individual’s perceived locus of control? This poster presents our preliminary data from microbiological screening of used contact lenses and a paired survey of health behaviors and beliefs related to contact lens care. The survey portion determined the participants’ level of compliance to recommended contact lens care procedures, as well as their basic scientific literacy and perceived locus of control. In previous studies on other health behaviors, the level of a person’s scientific literacy was found to play a role in the ability to make educated decisions about one’s behaviors when given the relevant information needed to make a decision. A person’s perceived locus of control about life events (internal vs. external) has also been correlated to one’s tendency to comply with recommended health behaviors in past studies. This study is the first time these measures have been evaluated for contact lens care behaviors.
Lawrence Catalan, Fan Xiao, Dr. James F. Griffith
Project advisor: Dr. James F. Griffith, medicine (The Chinese University of Hong Kong)
Reporting of Osteoporotic Vertebral Fractures Opportunistically Detected Using Thoraco-abdominal CT
Poster #3
The vertebral fracture is the most prevalent and is usually the first osteoporotic fracture to occur. It provides indisputable evidence as to the presence of osteoporosis and, as such, should be routinely reported. This study investigated the reporting of vertebral fractures (detected on sagittal spinal reconstructions) during thoraco-abdominal computed tomography (CT) examinations in the Prince of Wales Hospital, Hong Kong.
Sarah E. Foreman
Project advisor: Dr. Jonathan Foreman, College of Veterinary Medicine (University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign)
30-Day Oral Acetaminophen Tolerance in Adult Horses
Poster #4
There are no controlled studies of acetaminophen toxicity in horses. The objective was to test the hypotheses that oral acetaminophen administered at a dosage 25% higher than that sometimes used in horses would result in measurable hepatic toxicity as seen in humans and other species. Six healthy adult horses were administered 25 mk/kg acetaminophen powder in corn syrup twice daily for 30 days. Three other horses served as negative controls receiving only corn syrup. Jugular venous blood samples were obtained on days 7 and 1 before treatment; on treatment days 1, 2, 5, 8, 12, 15, 19, 22, 26 and 30; and on days 3 and 7 after treatment ceased. Samples were analyzed the same day for complete blood counts and plasma biochemistry concentrations including hepatic and renal indices. Repeated measures analysis of variance and post hoc Tukey’s test were used to identify differences between treatment groups at a significance level of P0.05, and all measured values were within the normal range for this laboratory. It was concluded that acetaminophen at this oral dosage was not toxic in any measurable manner to the six horses receiving the drug in this way. It is postulated that the use of twice-daily 20 mg/kg orally should be safe for periods less than 30 days in healthy horses.
Erin Ansusinha, Melette DeVore, Dr. Daniel Corts
Project advisor: Dr. Daniel Corts, psychology
How Auditory and Visual Working Memory Tasks Affect Misophonic Response Levels
Poster #5
Misophonia is characterized by an extreme aversion towards auditory triggers, such as chewing, tapping and other repetitive sounds, making ignoring or directing attention away from the sounds nearly impossible. It is not classified as a psychological disorder, but it is associated with significant, reflexive emotional disturbances. Studies have shown that the anterior insular cortex (AIC), an area involved in detecting irregularities or errors, functions differently in people with misophonia, which translates to difficulty in controlling emotional reactions. The present study examines how misophonic reactions might interact with cognition with particular attention to how cognitive demands may exacerbate the emotional response. I hypothesized that during auditory working memory tasks, the emotional response to trigger sounds would be more intense than during visual versions of the same tasks; further, this relationship would be positively correlated with self-reported misophonia symptoms. It is also possible that auditory working memory performance would decline in the presence of misophonic triggers. Participants completed visual and auditory n-back working memory tasks in a computer lab. Halfway through each task, a confederate at an adjacent station began eliciting a trigger sound and emotional, misophonic reactions were measured through skin conductance (SC). Participants then completed the Misophonia Questionnaire. One-way repeated measures ANCOVA with MQ as the covariate indicated a significant interaction in predicting SC response during the visual task (F=4.239, p=.017), but not during the auditory. This did not support the hypothesis, but is an interesting finding that could be examined further, if replicated, in future research. No significant correlations between task accuracy and SCR values over time or MQ score were found.
Melissa Drab
Project advisors: Dr. Troy Larson, biology; Dr. Eric Stewart, religion
Exploring Oral Health Education in Children in the Quad Cities
Poster #6
Through my experiences with patients and dentists, I have learned that prevention and dental education are just as, if not more, important than the restorative procedures done in the office every day. One prominent, preventable disease is tooth decay. Even though this disease is preventable, studies show that tooth decay is the most common chronic childhood disease. There are many factors that contribute to this statistic, for example lack of resources or knowledge, or even cultural differences. My research question is: how does the level of oral health knowledge of children 6-8 years old in my community (the Quad Cities) compare to the standard determined by dental professions? I hypothesize that I will find a lack of dental knowledge in children in the Quad-City area according to the standards. In order to investigate this question, I first met with pediatric dentists in the Quad Cities. I talked with these dentists about what they see in their practices regarding disease and hygiene habits. I also learned what professionals see as the base knowledge that patients should have regarding their health and hygiene. I used this information to create a survey, which I administered to students in elementary school classrooms with the intention of clarifying what they actually know about maintaining oral health. I will compare the information I get in these surveys to what I learn from the dentists and my own research about what children should ideally be aware of at their age.
Vanessa Beck
Project advisor: Dr. Marsha Smith, sociology and anthropology
Factors of Student Success
Poster #7
The purpose of my study is to understand student success in college. I focused a large amount of my research around extracurricular activities out of the classroom, which include clubs, sports, faculty interaction, employment, and time spent on preparation for classes. In order to understand student success, I sent out a survey to 200 students enrolled at Augustana to evaluate their responses to see what they spent their time doing. I paid close attention to the number of hours students spend on various activities each day. The results allowed me to understand student habits, and how their involvement in extracurriculars, homework and social environments impacted grade-point averages (GPA).
Allison Brinker
Project advisor: Dr. Danielle Beliveau-Derion, education
Readers Theater as a Tool for Fluency Development
Poster #8
This project details work with a small group of first- and second-grade students over the course of a 10-week period using readers theater to develop their fluency.
Peyton Achs
Project advisor: Dr. Danielle Beliveau-Derion, education
First-Grade Literacy Study on Monitoring and Self-Correcting
Poster #9
Through Augustana’s partnership with Longfellow, I had the opportunity to obtain a reading endorsement. As part of this process I worked with a group of first-graders and helped develop their skills in monitoring and self-correcting as they read a text.
Anna Dispensa
Project advisor: Dr. Danielle Beliveau-Derion, education
2nd-Grade Reading Research on Close Reading
Poster #10
Through Augustana College’s partnership with Longfellow Elementary School, I had the opportunity to engage in research regarding remedial reading strategies with second-grade students. I investigated the effectiveness of close reading in the elementary school classroom. From my research, it was evident that close reading boosted comprehension as well as minimized the amount of visual errors that students made.
Madeline Kohlbeck
Project advisor: Dr. Danielle Beliveau-Derion, education
Reading Clinic at Longfellow Elementary School
Poster #11
During winter term I spent about eight weeks as a research assistant to Danielle Beliveau-Derion. During this time we researched the benefits of having a reading clinic for the struggling readers at the elementary school, as well as the undergraduate students that would run the clinic. This poster will present the positives and negatives of the time I spent at Longfellow Elementary School. It will also present student gains, as well as personal gains made during the experience.
Shelby Grandt
Project advisor: Dr. Danielle Beliveau-Derion, education
The Benefits of a Reading Clinic
Poster #12
For 10 weeks, research was conducted over the benefits of a reading clinic for elementary students and teacher candidates. The research and findings presented are specific to one first-grader who is still learning to speak English and came to the clinic knowing how to read a limited number of words. Various literacy strategies were implemented and tested to determine their effectiveness, and conclusions were drawn based upon student and teacher candidate growth.
Autumn Erichsen, Meg Klocke, Jenna Noesen, Jenna Dolan, Amanda Ray, Amanda Tannhauser
Project advisors: Dr. Randy Hengst and Dr. Mike Egan, education
The Number Sense Project
Poster #13
Our goal with the Number Sense Project is to help young students establish fundamental numeracy skills. We meet with kindergarten students several times a week and engage them in various activities designed to enhance their conceptual understanding of number. These activities include the use of a combination of traditional materials (i.e., traceables, counters and other physical manipulatives) and iPad apps. The apps have been inspired by our work with the students and have been designed to meet the needs of specific kindergarteners. We have found that the apps, used in addition to traditional materials, increase levels of engagement, as well as in many cases, lead students to make important discoveries regarding number. This project enables teacher candidates to apply their knowledge from the elementary math methods course, as well as collaborate with the kindergarten teachers to design and implement individualized instruction that helps students achieve their learning goals related to oral/rote counting, counting objects, identifying and writing numerals, subitizing, and adding/subtracting (composing/decomposing).
Kia Lechleitner, Phoebe Strell, Madelin LoCicero, DaeNia La Rode, Carla Bennett, Dr. Rupa Gordon
Project advisor: Dr. Rupa Gordon, psychology
Physiological Synchrony in Personal and Impersonal Conversations
Poster #14
Previous research has shown that individuals are capable of synchronizing their heart rate, skin conductance and body temperature during conversations. For example, therapists and their clients displayed physiological synchrony when discussing emotional personal situations (Marci et al., 2007). However, the effect of personal content on physiological synchrony has yet to be observed outside of therapy context. While some studies have shown that people with established rapport often have greater synchrony (McIntosh, 2006), others have indicated that some friends may be overconfident in their communication methods (Savitsky et al., 2011), leading to decreased synchrony. We hypothesized an increase in physiological synchrony when dyads, composed of either more or less familiar partners, discussed personal topics in comparison to impersonal topics. Participants brought a partner to the study and the dyad was randomly assigned to converse for 10 minutes about either impersonal or personal questions while audio, video, skin conductance and heart rate were recorded. Most participants were highly familiar with their partners; therefore, we were unable to test our hypothesis regarding familiarity affecting synchrony of the dyads. Although we did not find a difference in physiological synchrony based on the personal or impersonal nature of the conversations, our results for synchrony between dyads was similar to the mean reported in previous research. This indicates that synchrony occurred between the dyads regardless of the personal content of the conversation.
Tyler Kellett
Project advisor: Stephanie Fuhr, biology
Effect Sizes in Task-Based Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Poster #15
Task-based functional magnetic resonance imaging (t-fMRI) techniques have changed the way scientists probe the neurological mechanisms underlying behavior. However, there are many problems surrounding t-fMRI. Especially underpowered studies leading to misleading effect sizes. This study is using a recent large data collection study, the Human Connectome Project, to investigate effect sizes in specific regions of the brain involving working memory. Previous studies have come up with relatively small effect sizes due to small sample sizes and large regions of interest (ROI). This study is concentrated on using more precise ROI, called “parcels,” to find larger effect sizes.
Livy Zienty, Dr. Jamie Nordling
Project advisor: Dr. Jamie Nordling, psychology
Fathers Are Helping, Mothers Are Hovering: Differential Effects of Helicopter Parenting in College First-Year Students
Poster #16
Self-Determination Theory (SDT; Deci & Ryan, 1991) states that humans have three critical needs – autonomy, competence, and relatedness – that are necessary for optimal development. The current study posits that helicopter parenting (i.e., excessive parental involvement and attention) may interfere with the development of these needs; previous research has found links among helicopter parenting, greater mental health symptomatology, and decreased autonomy (Schiffrin et al., 2014). The current study focused on first-year college students who were experiencing significant changes in social and academic domains. It was hypothesized that first-year students with helicopter parents would be more likely to experience negative outcomes (i.e., greater depression, panic, social anxiety, sexual and substance risk taking, peer insecurity, and less social and academic competence). First-year students completed online questionnaires to assess the negative outcomes described above. Higher scores in mothers’ helicopter parenting were associated with greater depression and social anxiety. Higher scores in fathers’ helicopter parenting were associated with greater social competence and peer security and less depression. The pattern of results suggests that mothers’ helicopter parenting was associated with negative outcomes, whereas fathers’ helicopter parenting was associated with positive outcomes. Previous research has generally found that helicopter parenting is problematic for development; our research found that mothers’ and fathers’ parenting may be viewed differently. Mothers may have been perceived as being intrusive, whereas fathers may have been seen as protective. Future research should examine the different perceptions of mothers’ and fathers’ helicopter parenting and examine why these different perceptions exist.
Kayli Ahuja, Melissa Hagerty, Jenny Townsend
Project advisor: Dr. Austin Williamson, psychology
Social Support, Depression, and Life Stress: A Meta-Analytic Path Analysis
Poster #17
Previous research has shown a negative correlation between perceived support and depression. Findings regarding the association between received support and depression have been mixed. Some studies have observed negative correlations between received support and depression. Others have found no correlation or even a positive correlation between received support and depression. This study used meta-analysis to explore the difference between perceived support and received support with regard to their correlation with depression. Results showed that perceived support was negatively correlated with depression. However, received support was not significantly associated with depression. In order to understand the difference between these two correlations, we investigated life stress as a potential confounding variable. Given that previous research has demonstrated a strong positive correlation between stress and depression, the fact that stress may have a different impact on received versus perceived support could explain why those two constructs show different relationships with depression. Path analysis of the meta-analytically derived correlations showed that the correlation between received support and depression was stronger and statistically significant when controlling for life stress. The correlation between perceived support and depression was weaker after controlling for life stress. Perceived support is more strongly related to depression than received support, but part of this difference can be explained by the different effects of stress on these two forms of support.
Matthew Koch
Project advisor: Dr. Lena Hann, public health
Spatial Epidemiology of Summer Trauma in Scott County, IA: Use of GIS to Identify Trauma Incidence in Urban and Rural Areas
Poster #18
Traumatic injury is a blanket term referring to acute physical injuries that pose an immediate threat to life and limb, requiring urgent medical care. Unintentional injuries are the fifth-leading cause of death, and fatal injuries cost the American economy over $84 billion annually in lost work and medical costs. Scott County, Iowa, is a unique environment for trauma research because it is served by a single trauma center and features within its 458 square miles distinct urban and rural populations. Patient data from the trauma registry, including age, race, and mechanism of injury (MOI) was combined with the corresponding spatial data from the Scott Emergency Communications Center (SECC) to build an integrated spatial dataset. The spatial data was then visualized using geographic information systems (GIS) software to create a heat map of trauma incidence. This heat map and corresponding dataset were used to identify extreme outlying areas of trauma incidence and determine which mechanisms of injury were most prevalent in Scott County. This research project enabled stakeholders to assess the impact of trauma on the Scott County community, identify environmental factors contributing to trauma incidence, and position resources appropriately to respond to traumatic injuries. Furthermore, this project demonstrated the efficacy of GIS to accurately assess, map and analyze complex healthcare and public health issues.
Jacquelyn Grygiel
Project advisor: Dr. Lena Hann, public health
Take Note: Distributing Informational Materials Regarding Childhood Lead Poisoning in Low-Income Elementary Schools
Poster #19
Lead poisoning is a serious illness, especially in younger children. Adolescents with high levels of lead in their bodies can suffer from learning disabilities, brain damage, and even kidney failure. However, these symptoms are difficult to identify and only a blood lead-level test can confirm lead poisoning. Unfortunately, high blood lead levels are most prevalent among lower income families who are often unable to afford such tests. The Scott County Health Department, in partnership with the Upper Mississippi Center, has developed the Live Lead Free Program in order to raise awareness concerning childhood lead poisoning and educate individuals within the Davenport Community School District on helpful prevention techniques. Together the organizations identified and targeted students in Title I schools, which are elementary schools that have large amounts of students coming from low-income families, as a potential at-risk population who could benefit from outreach. The Theory of Reasoned Action was applied to create and disseminate informational materials to families of children in Title I schools in order to increase awareness of lead poisoning prevalence along with the availability and importance of blood lead-level testing. Along with educational materials handed out through schools, a guide for the Upper Mississippi Center documenting the steps needed to ensure proper distribution of these educational materials was also created to provide assistance as a reference for future works with the Davenport Community School District’s Title I schools. There was a need for the Scott County Health Department and the Upper Mississippi Center to build strong relationships between themselves, community liaisons, and school administrators; by doing so, they gained support in their efforts towards getting at-risk children tested for lead poisoning. The resulting increase in awareness of childhood lead poisoning in areas where the illness is most common is crucial for the overall health of children in this community.
Hannah Kiel
Project advisor: Dr. Lena Hann, public health
Pumping Up Breastfeeding: A Toolkit for Black WIC Mothers
Poster #20
Breastfeeding rates have been increasing since the 1970s, but the rates for black mothers in the United States are still significantly below the average. Because breastfeeding is one of the best preventative health measures for mother and child, it is important for as many people to breastfeed as possible. Using the Social Cognitive theory of behavior, a careful analysis of breastfeeding studies was conducted to determine the best interventions and resources for successful breastfeeding. Based on this research, the resources were compiled and posted to an easy-to-access online toolkit, which can be accessed through a search engine or through a URL. The Rock Island County Health Department and Moline WIC office will use this toolkit to enable black WIC mothers to breastfeed.
Rebecca Nyarko
Project advisor: Dr. Lena Hann, public health
Let’s Take a Trip: Exposing Female Refugee Teens to Career Paths Through Field Trips
Poster #21
It is estimated that 1 in every 230 persons in the world is a child or adolescent who has been forced to flee from home, and World Relief Moline assists in helping refugees. It is known that refugee migrants are at a disadvantage to thrive due to constraints by the geographic economic bound-ness of their social network and limited opportunities. According to research, refugee migrants receive little academic attention, which clarifies the importance of building opportunities for refugee teens to further their education through career-based field trips. Field-based learning exposes students to real world settings. This is an effective approach for young female refugee teens to build and establish relationships with people within the community. Progress was made towards this project through literature review and paired with the Social Network Theory to develop workshops for female refugee teens. The project will result in creating an interactive workshop, which will be an addition to the Global Leaders Program, which aims to help female refugee teens to become leaders and mentors. The workshops will be used to facilitate learning through field trips, which will impact female refugee teens. The project aims to improve literacy, language and leadership skills; to expose female refugee teens to different career paths, and to increase self-confidence to become better leaders and mentors.
Summer Lawrence
Project advisor: Dr. Lena Hann, public health
Twitter Use in Nonprofit Public Health Agencies: A Best Practices Strategy Report
Poster #22
Social media is a relatively new, low-cost tool nonprofit organizations can use to mobilize volunteers, ask for donations, advertise events, and communicate with stakeholders and interested parties. Among the Quad Cities Open Network (QCON), a collaborative of 42 human service agencies in the Quad-Cities area, only 16 member organizations have a Twitter account. Overall Twitter usage, however, is on the rise, which demonstrates a need for nonprofit organizations to learn to use this platform. Through content analysis of QCON members’ Twitter accounts (n=16), current Twitter use was assessed. Tweets by QCON members with Twitter accounts were collected for six months (July 2017-January 2018) and were categorized by subject matter (e.g., general program information, promotion of an event, etc.) to give quantitative data on how Twitter was being used by these agencies. Findings were compiled and used to create a Best Practices Strategy Report. This report, which was influenced by the Social Network Theory, evaluated QCON members’ current Twitter use and provided best practices to promote effective Twitter use among nonprofit public health organizations in the Quad Cities. Since many nonprofit public health agencies, like those in the QCON, do not have staff dedicated to managing their social media presences, effective use—high return per time invested—will be key. QCON member organizations will have access to the Best Practices Strategy Report, which should help guide their Twitter use and improve their interactions with their intended populations.
Kalyn Engel
Project advisor: Dr. Lena Hann, public health
The Blood Trend: The Awareness and Understanding of Blood Donations with the American Red Cross
Poster #23
Through the sociodemographics around the area, we tend to focus more on the high school populations that help the community’s efforts in saving lives. As far as the supply and the demand goes for blood donations, the Baby Boomers are at risk for new donors. My work through the Red Cross has helped me find ways to raise awareness and increase the blood donations through the help of blood drives. They have helped me manage and inform myself on how a blood drive should be run through observations and volunteer work at several blood drives. My work has helped me create and coordinate my own blood drive through Augustana’s campus. I got to learn how to put on a functioning and successful blood drive that I brought to Augustana’s community. The blood drive helped out many people in the community, where our goal for next time is to make some changes to increase the blood units. The blood drives impact many people in the area who are in need of blood and blood transfusions. It is important that after the Red Cross received the urgent blood shortage alert, it means that many people who needed blood could not get the blood that they deserved. The shortage means that physicians can pick and choose what blood goes to what people, and that could make or break families’ lives.
Nicole Montgomery
Project advisor: Dr. Lena Hann, public health,
The Path of Stroke Care: Nurse Education Materials For UnityPoint Health Trinity Medical Center
Poster #24
Stroke is the fifth leading cause of death in the United States. Every year, about 795,000 people in the United States have a stroke. National best practice measures regarding stroke care are promoted through the quality and education department at UnityPoint Health Trinity Medical Center. Trinity’s nurses are encouraged to update their skills at the annual Spring Fling informational fair. Through working with the quality and education department, informational materials regarding the care path of a stroke patient were created and delivered in order to educate nurses about these national best practice measures. This project utilized interpersonal communication models to increase knowledge of multi-departmental roles in the care of a stroke patient, as well as daily care best practices. Nurse education materials, including a professional poster, were created to highlight the importance of assuring a competent public and personal health care workforce. Through Spring Fling, nurses were exposed to information in a comfortable environment where they are challenged to continue their education. In this way, these nurse education materials promoted best practices and facilitated education across departments to assure better quality stroke care through creating a more competent workforce.
Valeria Melo
Project advisor: Dr. Lena Hann, public health
Helping Teal Warriors Thrive: An Ovarian Cancer Survival Toolkit
Poster #25
As the health care system continues to increase in complexity, ovarian cancer (OC) patients are facing increased challenges when it comes to navigating the health care system and receiving care that treats the whole person. There is a need for public health resources, such as survivorship toolkits, that educate women diagnosed with OC about the disease and connect them to resources that aid in addressing the cohort of social, psychological, spiritual and physical challenges that come with an OC diagnosis. An OC survivorship toolkit for the NormaLeah Ovarian Cancer Initiative in Rock Island, Ill., was developed using document review methodology. Both authoritative documents (e.g., review articles, research papers, surveys, documented support services, pre-existing OC survivorship toolkits) and personal communication documents (e.g., survivor testimonies and feedback) were collected and synthesized into a portable toolkit. The transactional model of stress and coping was used to understand the needs of ovarian cancer patients and to guide the content development of the toolkit. The toolkit was designed to increase knowledge on the disease and disease management, enable coping efforts, and connect women to available resources. Distribution of the toolkit to women in the Quad Cities and the surrounding area will educate, inform and empower OC patients to undertake positive sick-role health behaviors that will lead to the best possible health outcomes.
Emma Larson
Project advisor: Dr. Lena Hann, public health
Recovery as a Journey, not a Destination: Providing Those Who Suffer from Mental Health with Holistic and Multifaceted Recovery Options
Poster #26
Mental health in the United States affects 1 in 5 people every year. It is a serious public health problem because it interferes or limits life activities substantially. Not only does mental ill health decrease quality of life for those suffering from it, it also creates barriers to healthy lifestyles and increases risk of addiction to drugs and alcohol. Battling mental illness from multiple different aspects allows individuals to reach full recovery faster. Through observation of client problems and daily stressors at Transitions Mental Health Services in Rock Island, a lack of knowledge about resources, options and educational tools was identified. By using the transactional model of stress and coping, harm, stress, trauma and other barriers that occur when battling mental health problems were identified in the population. This deliverable project created a holistic health approach to recovery. By providing an educational tool kit of recovery, the results culminated with the re-establishment of emotional well-being and healthy behaviors, and increased the functional status of each client at Transitions. Using theory-based intervention plans along with well-researched information regarding recovery plans, this information will be used by people suffering from mental ill health in order to maintain the highest level of functioning in their everyday lives. This educational tool kit is also formatted specifically to be updated as new research emerges on the topic of holistic approaches to recovery.
Corey l. Lepoudre
Project advisor: Dr. Lena Hann, public health
Combatting the Opioid Crisis on College Campuses: A Harm Reduction Approach
Poster #27
College-aged people are at a high risk of opioid misuse due to several risks, including: an increased opioid misuse in people between the ages of 18-25, those who experience daily elevated stress, and those who live in metropolitan areas or in the Midwest region of the United States. Due to these risks, a harm reduction initiative geared toward college populations is beneficial to prevent a further increase in opioid misuse and overdose. A harm reduction approach was used to develop an educational toolkit for Quad City Harm Reduction to conduct a one-hour workshop for college faculty and students. Harm reduction aims to reduce harmful consequences associated with opioid misuse, provide an alternative to abstinence, provide a safe environment for those who have opioid use disorders, and provide easier access to services. A workshop, using a PowerPoint presentation, was piloted to assess the toolkit. The toolkit was then updated based on participant feedback. The toolkit was developed to better inform individuals about how opioids work, their risk of opioid use disorders, what an opioid overdose looks like and how to save someone from an overdose, and equipped them with naloxone to save someone who has overdosed. This toolkit will be a useful tool for Quad City Harm Reduction when presenting to college communities.
Charlotte Engle
Project advisor: Dr. Lena Hann, public health
Navigating Medicaid and Managed Care Organizations of Iowa
Poster #28
Policies regarding Medicaid and managed care organizations (MCOs) have been changing rapidly with the current political climate. Because of these frequent changes being made into policies, a lack of knowledge regarding benefits of MCOs and Medicaid is prevalent among the clients of the Integrated Health Home (IHH) program of Family Resources, Inc. in Davenport, Iowa. An Iowa Managed Health Insurance (IMHI) resource guide was developed using the health literate care model to introduce and explain the benefits of the MCOs and Medicaid plans to the families of the individuals enrolled in the IHH program, and give clients the resources necessary to access the programs that they are eligible for. The goal of the IMHI resource guide is to empower clients with the knowledge regarding their health insurance plans, so that they can take agency in their health and get involved in the programs that fit their needs best. To obtain the information for the IMHI resource guide, general research about the health insurance plans and the programs they provide was completed. To format the IMHI resource guide, research regarding health literacy and health toolkits was completed. IMHI resource guides are to be distributed to clients through health promotion packets in the mail and emails. They will be used as a way for IHH employees to provide their clients with resources that will inform them about their specific health insurance plans and lead them to services covered by their health insurance plans that are specific to their needs.
Emily Haygood
Project advisor: Dr. Lena Hann, public health
A Big Issue at Hand: An Educational Tool on Hand Hygiene for New Hires
Poster #29
Hand hygiene is the single most important intervention to decrease the likelihood of cross infections in health care facilities. It is estimated that hand hygiene compliance is currently less than 50% among health care workers. This project utilized the theory of planned behavior to create an educational tool for hand hygiene. Health care workers at UnityPoint Health–Trinity Hospitals in the Quad Cities were observed through an app called Iscrub. While completing rounds, health care workers were observed to see if they used an alcohol-based hand rub or washed their hands with soap and water when entering or leaving a patient’s room, which was then documented through the app. From the observations made, it was clear that interventions were necessary to improve the compliance of hand hygiene among the health care facilities. Alongside other efforts being made, education was one of the best tools to utilize for change. In efforts to educate health care workers, a PowerPoint was created to present at each new hire orientation. By creating this visual, it can inform all new hires of proper protocol for hand hygiene in the workplace.
Jenna Lawrence
Project advisor: Dr. Lena Hann, public health
How Redesigning YMCA Tours Can Increase Membership and Lead to a Healthier Community
Poster #30
According to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, 36.5% of American adults and 17% of American children are obese. Because of this, health interventions that prevent and reduce health behaviors related to obesity should be created and analyzed. The YMCA provides a space for community members to improve their overall health through facility access, fitness classes, personal training, and knowledgeable staff members. As an effort to add a health intervention that prevents and reduces health behaviors related to obesity, a YMCA Tour Card and a Wellness-Based Tour were developed using the Stages of Change Health Behavior Theory. The Tour Card asked community members who potentially join the YMCA to provide basic personal information, what YMCA activities they were interested in, and why they were looking to join the YMCA. Based on this information, a Wellness-Based Tour structure was refined so that YMCA staff members gave these potential members a tour of the facility based on what individuals filled out on their tour cards. The YMCA Tour Card and Wellness-Based Tour was created and given to the Scott County YMCA locations in Davenport, Iowa, and the surrounding areas for the use of YMCA Membership Services Representative staff. In the future, YMCAs should use the Tour Card and the Wellness-Based Tour to provided community members an opportunity to see how the YMCA can benefit their personal health goals and eliminate their personal health risks, such as obesity.
Kevin Claus
Project advisor: Dr. Lena Hann, public health
Routine Cleaning in Homes with Lead to Reduce Childhood Lead Exposure in Scott County, Iowa
Poster #31
Constant exposure to lead poses a major threat to children’s health. Children who are constantly exposed to lead could experience cognitive impairment and neurobehavioral damage with blood-lead levels as low as 5 mg/dl. As of today, lead-based paint is the most common source of lead exposure for children. Routine cleaning of areas within and around the home can be an effective way to reduce a child’s exposure to lead. A thorough literature review revealed cleaning methods aimed at reducing childhood lead exposure involve the routine cleaning of windows, floors, upholstery, kitchen and bathrooms. Application of the Health Belief Model assisted in the creation of a cleaning guide intended to help parents reduce their child’s exposure to lead. Instructions on the guide are described at an elementary reading level to reduce perceived barriers and increase self-efficacy. This cleaning guide was created for parents who have a child that is poisoned with lead or have a child who is at risk for developing lead poisoning. Using the guide to perform routine, consistent cleaning of areas within and around the home will result most significantly in reduction of lead exposure. By incorporating an effective cleaning procedure into their weekly routine, parents can reduce their child’s exposure to lead. This guide will be used by the Scott County Health Department to provide parents with the steps needed to reduce their child’s exposure to lead.
Sara Hovren
Project advisor: Dr. Lena Hann, public health
Leading Through Church Outreach: A Toolkit Empowering Communities Affected by Childhood Lead Poisoning
Poster #32
Although lead paint has been banned since 1977, many homes still have existing lead paint that can flake off and create an ingestible toxic dust. In 2016, there were 175 outstanding cases of children under the age of 6 with harmful levels of lead in their blood in Scott County, Iowa. The Health Department addresses cases of childhood lead poisoning by locating the source of lead and giving nutrition education and medical resources to the affected families. A thorough literature review yielded best practices for targeting organizations that could help address lead poisoning. Churches and faith organizations were identified as locations that could reach at-risk populations. A GIS risk model was used to identify neighborhoods in Scott County that could potentially have high risks of lead exposure. Churches were then located in the higher-risk areas and a discussion with a local faith leader demonstrated the need for comprehensive outreach strategies and materials. The Health Belief Model guided the development of a toolkit that aimed to address this specific population’s needs. The toolkit aims to spread awareness among congregants of childhood lead poisoning in Scott County, and to educate members on effective household hygiene to reduce their risk of lead exposure, and proper nutrition for lowering blood lead levels. This toolkit will be used by the health department to not only educate congregational members, but also for other organizations wanting to educate their members on childhood lead poisoning.
Maricarmen De La Rosa
Project advisor: Dr. Lena Hann, public health
It’s On Us: A Formal Proposal for the Creation and Implementation of a Student-Led Victim Advocacy Group at Augustana College
Poster #33
Sexual assault on college campuses is regarded as a public health issue affecting many students. College campuses across the nation are implementing new sexual assault prevention strategies. While there are different strategies to combat sexual assault, one strategy that shows promise is student-led victim advocacy groups. Victim advocates can provide various forms of support for sexual assault victims. Students also feel more comfortable speaking with a victim advocate. Using a community-based participatory research approach, a formal proposal was created for administrators at Augustana College, to allow a student victim advocacy group on campus. Upon approval of the proposal, certified student victim advocates will be able to provide their services to the Augustana College community.
Nicholas D. Phalen
Project advisor: Dr. Lena Hann, public health
Homeruns for Health: An Intervention Using Sports to Increase Physical Activity in Kids Attending an After-School Program
Poster #34
This health behavior intervention targets the physical activity of kids (ages 6-14) at the Boys and Girls Club of the Mississippi Valley in Moline, Illinois. This intervention was developed with the application of the Social Cognitive Theory (SCT) during a 10-week long internship at the Boys and Girls Club of the Mississippi Valley’s (BGCMV) facility. A trend of lengthy “screen time” and a lack of emphasis on the importance of physical activity were both noticed during said internship. To address these observations, help was sought out from varsity athletic programs at Augustana College, a private institution in the area. The goal of this intervention is to have the club members be active for at least one hour a month with the help of Augustana College varsity athlete volunteers. Each month, a different team will volunteer to teach the kids about its respective sport and the benefits of staying physically active, and play the sport with the kids. This intervention will also instill positive lifestyle habits in the club members by educating them on the importance of being physically active, teaching them the rules of sports to pique their interest, and allowing them to participate to get the experience and feel for the sport. It is important to expose the kids to healthy habits so that they can start to build these habits during their adolescence and carry them on into adulthood.
Jared Haeme, Kyle McCaw, Tan Nguyen, Tyler May
Project advisor: Dr. Forrest Stonedahl, mathematics and computer science
Project Whirligig: Modeling the Swarming Behavior of Whirligig Beetles
Poster #35
This project involved the automatic identification and extraction of whirligig beetle locations from video frames using a variety of computer vision and machine learning methods, and tracking the beetle locations over time. Preliminary work was also done on agent-based computer simulation that aims to replicate the beetles’ swarming motions.
Blake Erquiaga
Project advisor: Dr. Forrest Stonedahl, mathematics, computer science
A Swashbuckling Adventure in Game Development
Poster #36
On my own time, I created a computer game that I call “BootyHunter: A Swashbuckling Adventure.” The game is a top-down arcade shooter that features waves consisting of four types of regular enemies and 11 different bosses. I strove to fill the game with unique and deep features—the map is randomly generated each time the game is played, the player’s ship handles differently depending on the direction the wind is coming from, the player’s health is reflected in the color of the ocean, and much more. This was my first time ever making a video game, and it took me roughly eight months to complete. All of the source files are on my GitHub profile at github.com/cbcerquiaga/BootyHunter, where you can also see the contributions of some of the people who helped me. The game is hosted online at bootyhuntergame.com.