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Brain VR
No full textSenior Honors Thesis, Department of Computer Sciences, University of Wisconsin-MadisonFor my Senior Thesis, I developed a VR model of the human brain in Unity, enabling users to explore brain anatomy in an immersive, interactive lab setting. The model features 141 interactive components, allowing users to view the structural hierarchy, understand each part’s functions, and see how components interconnect. An “exploded view” mode lets users examine the brain’s intricate anatomy in greater detail. The model was tested on the Meta Quest 3.
Traditional educational tools—like textbooks, 2D illustrations, and static models—have long been used to study the brain’s architecture. However, these methods often fall short in conveying the brain’s true spatial relationships, dynamic interconnections, and functional complexity. Growing up in a family of doctors, I was fascinated by the brain and wanted to understand its workings in a more tangible way. My curiosity inspired me to create this VR brain model, aiming to make learning about the brain more accessible and engaging.
Leveraging VR technology, educators and students can now transcend the limitations of traditional methods, unlocking new opportunities for experiential and interdisciplinary learning. Teaching brain anatomy through VR represents a significant step forward—a more advanced, effective, and engaging approach to understanding our most vital organ. My thesis examines the development and educational potential of this VR-based brain model, highlighting its advantages and transformative impact on how we learn about the brain
Sahara's Ancient Network of Drainages and Streams (SANDS) : The Libyan Testimony
No full textColor poster with text, maps, and diagrams.Libya lacks a permanent natural body of water, causing it to rely on fossil water from underground aquifers that originate more than tens of thousands of years ago. The ancient aquifers are a relic from a time when the Sahara was green and home to rivers and lakes. Since this water is not naturally replenished, there is an increasing need to explore more sources of fossil water under the Sahara's sands. Remote sensing data from the Phased Array L-band Synthetic Aperture Radar (PALSAR) sensor, onboard the Advanced Land Observing Satellite (ALOS), has been shown to penetrate and reveal subsurface features up to several meters deep. This is especially useful in regions such as Libya, where dry, shallow sand cover allows effective PALSAR’s L-Band Penetration. PALSAR, along with optical remote sensing and topographic data within the Google Earth Engine platform, provides new capabilities to conduct multi-level spatial analysis. Preliminary results reveal a previously unidentified and/ under-appreciated network of ancient drainages, streams, and small-scale deltas or alluvial fans, many of which are connected to previously identified megalakes. These findings will provide valuable insight into the region's ancient hydrological system and its potential for future water resources.National Science Foundation Grant No. NSF 20-516; University of Wisconsin--Eau Claire Office of Research and Sponsored Program
A Review of E-Textiles in Learning Environments
No full textColor poster with text, images, and photographs.The field of electronic textiles (e-textiles) combines digital technology with textile objects, and has applications in fields such as wearable computing, theatrical design, and medicine. Prior work has examined deploying this technology in educational settings, to teach such skills as circuit design, computer programming, and iterative design. However, e-textile-based learning materials are still not commonly used, and more validated examples of such interventions would be valuable. The aim of this project is to investigate the state of the art in e-textile technology, especially in educational contexts, and to develop and evaluate an e-textiles intervention which could be deployed in a classroom or extra-curricular setting to teach introductory programming skills. So far, we have conducted a literature review examining applications of e-textiles in learning environments. For example, in one study [Seo et al. 2017], the researchers provided a safe environment for children with ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) to create their own sensory haptic toy. We found that many of the studies targeted middle and high school age children as a way to gauge and increase their knowledge of electricity and sewing techniques, but not many examined undergraduates. Therefore, in future work, we plan to conduct an experiment investigating the effectiveness of e-textiles in undergraduate learning.University of Wisconsin--Eau Claire Office of Research and Sponsored Program
Expression, Purification, and Expression of Ring-Cleaving Dioxygenases for Synthesis and Bioremediation
No full textColor poster with text, images, charts, photographs, and graphs.The development of sustainable routes to organic building blocks is a critical endeavor for reducing the environmental impact of traditional organic chemical synthesis. Biocatalysts offer an alternative method to facilitate sustainable synthesis, as they perform highly selective reactions at an increased rate. Ring-cleaving dioxygenases (RCDs) are a class of enzymes responsible for selectively breaking open the ring of benzene derivatives to provide a carbon source for microorganisms in bioremediation. To access the biocatalysts, many microbiology methods were utilized. The E. coli cells were transformed to contain the desired gene, the cells were then grown until there optical density was at the ideal value for cell viability (0.6-0.8) and induced with IPTG to facilitate protein expression. After heterologous expression, the enzyme was purified to homogeneity by immobilized metal affinity chromatography. We continue to analyze RCD types (type I, II, and III) through endpoint screening and product isolation using various substituted catechols. We envision that this approach to muconic acid synthesis will contribute to ongoing efforts to streamline synthesis of these important organic building blocks and reduce the usage of fossil fuels for organic synthesis.University of Wisconsin--Eau Claire Office of Research and Sponsored Program
Oral History Interview, Lauris Wagner (2512)
No full textDuring UW–Madison’s Grandparents University, 11-year-old Renewable Energy Studies major Cooper Butteris interviewed his grandmother Lauris Wagner, a Wisconsin resident, about environmental issues. To learn more about this oral history, download & review the index first (or transcript if available). It will help determine which audio file(s) to download & listen to.During UW–Madison’s Grandparents University, 11-year-old Renewable Energy Studies major Cooper Butteris interviewed his grandmother Lauris Wagner, a Wisconsin resident. Lauris discussed how her energy use has changed from her childhood reliance on wood stoves and limited electricity. She observed significant increases in energy consumption due to increased car and device usage and a growing population. Wagner noted the beginnings of the shift to renewable energy in the 1970s and 1980s, including her family's installation of solar collectors and purchase of a fuel-efficient car. She expressed regret over the decline in solar programs and emphasized the need for renewable energy investment. Wagner also urged future generations to conserve energy and pursue scientific careers to address environmental issues. This interview was collected in collaboration with the Wisconsin Energy Institute (WEI) and is housed within the UW-Madison Archives Oral History Program as part of the WEI Grandparents University Oral History Project
Characterization of a Fermentation-Deficient Yeast Mutant
No full textKluyveromyces lactis is a species of yeast isolated from dairy processes
that is capable of both fermentation and respiration. The behavior of K. lactis
during both respiration and fermentation is not well understood and requires
further experimentation. This behavior indicates that K. lactis has the ability to
determine its mode of energy production whether through respiration,
fermentation, or a combination of both. K. lactis contains a single gene encoding
for pyruvate decarboxylase, and a strain lacking this gene cannot perform
ethanol fermentation. This strain can only respire, however despite being unable
to ferment the mutant strain initially grows like the wild-type strain when it is in
fermentative conditions and not like the wild-type strain growing in respiratory
conditions. This causes an unusual metabolic phenomenon resulting in the
export of pyruvate. The main objectives were characterizing metabolism by
determining why it excretes the critical central metabolite pyruvate, and whether
there are ways to 'fix' its metabolism to help it grow better or more like the wild
type. By measuring growth curves of wild-type and mutant strains of K. lactis in
various conditions, including a new pH indicator medium and varying 96-well
plate volumes, we can better understand each strain’s metabolism. Interestingly,
under fermentative conditions, the mutant initially mimics wild-type growth before
entering a prolonged second growth phase, approximately 10 hours after the
initial growth, accompanied by extracellular pyruvate accumulation and a drop in
medium pH from neutral 7 to an acidic 4. Using growth assays and a pH indicator
medium in varying oxygenation levels, we characterized the unique double phase
growth of the mutant and the corresponding acidification of its environment.
Additionally, through the growth assays, we characterized the efficiency of
growth within both strains by calculations of their final optical densities at the
varying oxygenation levels. Although pyruvate secretion was initially
hypothesized to be the cause of acidification, data suggest alternative
mechanisms such as proton export via PMA1, a protein that pumps protons out
of the cell, causes the acidification. This work deepens our understanding of K.
lactis metabolism and lays the groundwork for future genetic and biochemical
strategies to restore balanced growth in pdc1Δ strains by investigating the JEN1
gene. Further testing on genetic mutations highlighting JEN1, a known
pyruvate/lactate transporter, for their potential ability to improve the growth
phenotype of the pdc1Δ strai
Navigating change: Exploring the professional quality of life of Title IX administrators amid federal policy and regulation shifts.
No full textThis study explored the lived experiences of Title IX administrators navigating shifts in
federal policy and regulation, using a phenomenological approach to understand the
impact on their professional quality of life (Stamm, 2009, 2010). Seven participants,
selected from public institutions within a Midwestern statewide higher education system,
shared their insights through demographic questionnaires and two semi-structured
interviews. Data was analyzed using the hermeneutic circle (Peoples, 2021), revealing
three key themes: (a) the nature of Title IX work, (b) the impacts of the work, and (c)
external and internal influences.
Findings indicate that Title IX administrators find deep fulfillment in supporting campus
communities but also face significant challenges, including increased workloads,
evolving compliance requirements, and symptoms of burnout. Compassion fatigue was
prevalent due to inadequate staffing and the relentless pace of policy changes. Despite
these difficulties, participants expressed resilience and commitment to their roles,
underscoring the need for intentional resource allocation and supportive supervision.
Institutions can enhance Title IX administrators’ well-being by investing in appropriate
staffing structures, fostering collaborative partnerships, and cultivating empathetic
leadership. These measures are essential for sustaining Title IX administrators and
ensuring they can effectively uphold compliance while combating gender-based
discrimination
“I wasn’t trained for this!”: Exploring the lived experiences of academic advisors and secondary traumatic stress
No full textAcademic advisors may serve as first responders when students disclose trauma, yet little
is known about how these emotionally intense encounters impact advisors themselves.
This qualitative study used hermeneutic phenomenology to explore the lived experiences
of seven academic advisors at four-year public institutions in the Midwest who support or
have supported students in distress. Through two in-depth interviews and utilizing Lynch
and Glass’s (2018) Secondary Trauma in Student Affairs Professionals (STSAP) scale,
the study examined how such advising experiences can contribute to advisor feelings of
secondary traumatic stress.
Five key themes emerged: (a) gaps in preparation, (b) necessity of support, (c)
impact on well-being, (d) coping strategies, and the (e) challenge of balancing personal
and professional identities. Participants reported inadequate training, limited institutional
support, and emotional exhaustion tied to the hidden emotional labor of holistic advising.
Gendered and racialized expectations further shaped their experiences.
Findings highlight a need for trauma-informed training, stronger institutional
support structures, and a cultural shift in higher education to recognize and resource the
emotional dimensions of advising work
Variation of fungal resistance in Populus Hybrids : With Both Small and Large Scale Drivers of Presence
No full textColor poster with text, maps, charts, and photographs.Poplar trees (Populus) provide vital ecosystem services for humans and are a critical species within their wide range of habitats. Our research goal was to investigate whether hybridization between Populus trichocharpa (Black Cottonwood) and P. balsamifera (Balsam Poplar) alters their resistance to a fungal pathogen Melampsora, or rust. Rust is a potential threat to proper development in many poplar species. Our garden is within a multi-institution poplar research project, consisting of 19 common gardens across North America with clones of 47 poplar genotypes. All genotypes exhibit a hybrid class, or percentage of DNA from the two focal species. Each garden collected general presence or absence of rust data. At our garden we conducted a detailed assessment of the proportion of leaves exhibiting rust damage. For our garden and across the larger project we used ANOVAs, linear models, and correlation tests to determine if there was a relationship between the presence of rust disease and genetic background. For both data sets, no significant relationships were found between rust presence and hybrid class. However, in the larger set, there was a significant relationship between rust and transect, or original location. Also, in our smaller set, rust was positively correlated with leaf area.NSF PGR-1856450; University of Wisconsin--Eau Claire Office of Research and Sponsored Program
Utility-Scale Solar in the Chicago Metropolitan Area: A Site Suitability Analysis
No full textA Senior Honors Thesis Submitted to the Department of Geography, University of
Wisconsin–Madison, in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for Honors in the MajorIn recent years, renewable energy has expanded in the United States of America (Fernández 2024). Renewable energy has been further incentivized by acts like the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, which provides tax credits for clean energy projects
(Yarmuth 2022). The IRA provides up to an extra 10% tax credit to Energy Communities, census tracts and metropolitan statistical areas designated as being particularly important locations for renewable energy development (Interagency Working Group on Coal & Power Plant Communities & Economic Revitalization, n.d.; U.S. Department of Energy 2024). The Chicago metropolitan area is an Energy Community due to above average unemployment rates and reliance on fossil fuel economies through employment or tax revenues (Interagency Working Group on Coal & Power Plant Communities & Economic Revitalization, n.d.). The bonus tax credit can make siting a solar project in the Chicago Energy Community economically attractive.
A geographic information systems multi-criteria decision analysis was conducted in ESRI ArcGIS Pro software to identify the most suitable locations within the Chicago metropolitan area for a new, utility-scale, ground-mounted solar farm with a capacity of at least 5 MW. Potential locations for development were identified based on slope, zoning and land use, distance to substation, and parcel size. Regions where development cannot occur due to physical characteristics, land use, or electrical infrastructure availability were removed from the area of study. A suitability score on a scale of 0 to 1,000, with higher values corresponding to higher site suitability, was calculated for each potential location using a weighted raster sum with four factors: solar radiation, slope, distance to substation, and parcel size. Site suitability factors were determined based on their ability
to impact electricity generation and cost. Geospatial data for the analysis were collected in vector and raster formats from free, open sources, mostly federal, state, and county governments.
Results show 1,721 available land areas with potential for solar energy development. The parcels’ suitability scores range from 608 to 844, with higher values corresponding to more suitable areas. This information can be valuable to utility-scale solar project developers looking to site new solar energy systems