28123 research outputs found
Sort by
Tech Development for Manipulation of Biological Material into Scaffolded Forms via Hacked Hardware
No full textTissue Engineering holds promise for both clinical and research applications, where there is significant interest in the creation of artificial scaffolding (e.g., hydrogels) for subsequent tissue growth: here a balance must be struck between the openness of the structures (to promote access to nutrients) versus the mechanical strength of the structures. We aim to explore different techniques for organizing biological materials, using repurposed (‘hacked’) hardware. Continuous or droplet-based deposition is possible either via robotic automation along the lines of 3D printing, or via photolithographic approaches that yield microfluidic “lab-on-a-chip” devices capable of droplet generation at much smaller scales than commercially available systems provide. We will also explore co-SWIFT, a technique developed by the Jennifer Lewis lab at Harvard, which controls the deposition of epithelial cells into structures appropriate to organ development, while also replicating the natural barrier surrounding human organs
Neural and Behavioral Changes in Repeated Series of Errors
No full textConsecutive failures in any task have been understudied in electrophysiology and neuroscience. Research identifies that single-errors tend to slow our response time to identify feedback and respond accordingly to ensure a correct response for the next task. Electroencephalography (EEG) studies have revealed two important components of neural activity that can assess this self-regulatory behavior with similar morphology and topography. The error positivity (Pe) is a slow positive wave that peaks due to the conscious recognition of an error and the P3b is a positive wave that peaks due to attentional resources focused on stimuli. In a computerized baseball pitching paradigm, this study compares the differences between collegiate baseball player’s and novice’s single-error and consecutive-error Pe and P3b amplitudes to each other. We have identified a significant decrease in P3b amplitude between consecutive-error and single-error in collegiate baseball players but not in novices, indicating collegiate baseball players had less focus on the next part of the task after multiple errors in a row rather than after a single-error. There was no significant interaction in Pe amplitude between consecutive-errors and single-errors in either collegiate baseball players nor novices. Consecutive errors were shown to reduce focus on the succeeding stimulus for collegiate baseball players, although this focus was not reflected on greater focus on the feedback of the prior error. These findings could suggest that in an area of expertise, consecutive errors may reduce focus on upcoming stimuli due to frustration or self-disappointment
Ames Library: Lasting Impressions of the College Experience – A Podcast
No full textIn collaboration with Illinois Wesleyan University’s Office of Communications, this project aims to curate a podcast that markets to potential students by diving into the diverse student experience. This project is poised to become a marketing tool for Illinois Wesleyan through a 12-episode series and a fully developed webpage the school can direct potential listeners to. This gives students from a wide range of backgrounds the space to share their stories and how Illinois Wesleyan has impacted them in its own way. Each podcast episode will pop isolating social bubbles, giving listeners a first-hand look at college dynamics, how students handle the pressures and struggles of college, and what about Illinois Wesleyan made it feel like home—ultimately aiming to answer the question: was attending Illinois Wesleyan worth it? For my presentation, I will briefly explain my work and what I have accomplished with the Office of Communications. I will then present the website I developed along with a sample of a successfully produced podcast episode
Painting My Truth: The Black Experience Unveiled
No full text“Painting My Truth: The Black Experience Unveiled” is a collection of poems centered mainly around my life and experiences of being a Black man in America. More importantly, it focuses on the lived experiences Black individuals go through on a daily basis: black love, violence, racism, heartbreak, and so much more. Through ekphrastic writing—writing that uses the visual arts as its subject matter and/or inspiration—I tell the story of these many lived experiences as a way to cultivate and acknowledge the beauty and cruelness of the Black experience. The Black Experience is an experience that deserves to be highlighted for not just its traumatic experiences, but for its historic runs of love, prosperity, and joy. However, the beauty of the Black experience is that one gets to portray it in their own unique way, allowing one to use their own experience to tell the story. In the end, I hope this project allows others to not only learn more about what comes with the Black experience, but my experience and how it made me who I am today
The Burning Weight of My Silence
No full textThe Burning Weight of My Silence is a deeply personal memoir that explores the impact of childhood trauma, loss, and the search for belonging. Through a blend of narrative and poetic reflection, this work delves into the complexities of growing up in an environment marked by instability, neglect, and unspoken pain. From the fractured relationship with my biological mother to the struggle of fitting into an adoptive family that often felt more like a battleground than a home, this memoir reveals the silent burdens carried by a child who longed for love but found herself lost in a cycle of abandonment, abuse, and betrayal. At its core, this is a story of survival: the desperate attempts to find safety, the moments of fleeting joy amidst the darkness, and the resilience it takes to keep moving forward when the past refuses to let go. Each chapter peels back the layers of silence that once protected me but ultimately imprisoned me, revealing the raw truths I spent years avoiding. Through fragmented memories and poignant reflections, I confront the ghosts of my past: the whispered insults, the bruises left unseen, and the aching loneliness that shaped my understanding of love and self-worth. But this memoir is not just about pain. It’s about reclaiming power from the shadows of trauma and rewriting the narrative that once defined me. It’s about finding beauty in resilience, strength in vulnerability, and peace in acceptance. As I untangle the knots of my past, I discover that healing is not a destination but a continuous journey, one that begins when we find the courage to speak the truths we were once too afraid to voice. The Burning Weight of My Silence is an intimate exploration of heartbreak and hope, reminding us that even the most shattered hearts can learn to beat again
The Genomic Analysis and Characterization of Novel Marine Bacteriophages
No full textBacteriophages are viruses that require compatible bacterial species for replication. While bacteriophage isolation from freshwater environments has been well-documented, relatively little is known about those that infect related marine bacteria. Researchers at Illinois Wesleyan University have amassed a collection of over 60 bacteriophages capable of infecting Rhodobacter capsulatus, a freshwater bacterium. Expanding this work to marine environments, samples collected from both the east and west coasts were analyzed, leading to the discovery of multiple novel marine bacteriophages. Bacteriophages capable of infecting Dinoroseobacter shibae, Phaeobacter inhibens, or Ruegeria pomeroyi were isolated and characterized through lysogeny and host range testing to assess their infectivity and host adaptation capabilities. Domestication methods and comprehensive genomic analyses using bioinformatic tools provided further insights into their genetic architecture and evolutionary trends. These discoveries expand Illinois Wesleyan University’s bacteriophage library while simultaneously contributing to a deeper understanding of bacteriophage-host interactions and genomic diversity in marine environments. By identifying patterns of host specificity and adaptability, this research provides valuable data to an understudied area of marine microbiology
Evidence for Supportive Interventions for Parents of Autistic Children
No full textAutism is a developmental disorder that impacts traits, such as communication and relationships. Parents are often the first to recognize autism in their children. Effective help is necessary for children with autism (CWA) to develop essential life skills. Lack of confidence and support systems, along with daily stress, anxiety, and depression, can lower parents\u27 abilities to care for their children effectively. Treatment for autism costs between $40-60,000 per year, per child. Health insurance typically covers the costs of diagnostic procedures and prescription medications, but not therapies. Parents\u27 time commitments caring for CWA can leave them less time to work, which compounds financial concerns. As CWA grow, their problems may become more profound. The population of persons with autism is at an increased risk for homelessness, and inadequate early interventions exacerbate this risk. When parents of CWA are not consistently supported, the financial costs to society will inevitably increase. This research aims to identify the influence of parent education and resources on supporting CWA. It will examine how increasing parents\u27 awareness of autism can improve the child’s emotional and developmental outcomes, and decrease financial costs, both short and long term. This research emphasizes the need for accessible resources and highlights the collaboration between nurses, educators, and families to create a supportive environment. We are conducting a literature review of interventions for parents of CWA to promote optimum development and produce better quality of life for the family, and save money. Using the PRISMA method allows us to report why this review was done, what we did, and what we found. Our review is currently in process
Cloud Benn
No full textCloud Benn is a Posse 5 Scholar who majored in English Literature and Secondary Education.
Cloud\u27s interview is available at https://digitalcommons.iwu.edu/oral_hist/199/https://digitalcommons.iwu.edu/oralhistory_gallery/1172/thumbnail.jp