The purpose of this project was to research, anticipate, and mitigate the future of the moose-wolf populations of Isle Royale National Park. Isle Royale is an archipelago in west central Lake Superior and is a combination of boreal and northern hardwood forest. The experiential work was sponsored by the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA), and I assisted in the survey of the moose population of Isle Royale by bushwhacking through the dense wilderness in search for moose carrion to analyze for one week over summer 2022. The review paper focused on the increased impact of anthropogenic climate change on the predator-prey interaction of the moose and wolves of Isle Royale. The gray wolf population is expected to face increasing threats of inbreeding depression, while the moose population will face exponential stressors due to the changes in the archipelago’s composition and productivity. Despite controversy, anthropogenic impacts are found to have a far greater impact on the moose population compared to their predator, the wolf population. The review highlights the necessity of frequently evaluating the entire ecosystem of Isle Royale to create accurate and effective management practices. The senior individualized project experience enlightened a future path towards a career as a wildlife biologist and reiterated the importance of environmental conservation and the interconnection of all abiotic and biotic factors.

Ubiquitylation is a post-translational modification that controls many highly regulated, biological processes that are vital to maintaining cell homeostasis (Duan & Pagano et al., 2021). Ubiquitylation is involved in protein degradation, altering kinase activity, and interfering with protein interactions and dysregulation of the ubiquitin system has been associated with the initiation and development of cancer (Mansour, 2018; Duan & Pagano et al., 2021). Depending on the target protein, ubiquitin may function as a tumor suppressor or tumor promoter by inhibiting or activating several different cascades (Hoeller & Dikic, 2009). In this review, we will focus on the role of ubiquitylation in the cell metabolism of cancer cells, how it induces cancer metastasis, and how it manipulates apoptosis to promote cancer pathogenesis. We will also briefly discuss strategies for cancer therapy intervention.

On August 4th, 1972, Asians in Uganda woke up to a nightmare: they had 90 days to leave the country, an order put in by Idi Amin, the President of Uganda. The expulsion left a large part of Uganda’s population under extreme duress. Uganda was their home and had been their home for multiple generations. All Ugandan Asians were forced to leave their homes, their livelihoods, but where would they go now that they had no home? If they were British citizens or British Protectorates, they became refugees but if they were Ugandan citizens, they became stateless. And regardless of their citizenship status before the expulsion, they lost their identity as Ugandans and were forced to obtain another in order to survive. As they dispersed to all parts of the globe such as England, Canada, and India, the communities, and identities they had built in Uganda would forever be changed.

Belonging to a community or to a nation are feelings that help create an identity, both as an individual and a community. But how can you form and maintain an identity if that belonging is forcefully taken away? This research, and its findings from the conducted interviews, in conjunction with current literature surrounding the expulsion and theories of belonging, individual and national identity, and community, answer this main question, showing how that even through losing their homes, Ugandan Asians were able to rebuild and maintain communities and reform their identities post expulsion.

Cardiovascular disease is responsible for the leading cause of death globally (Mc Namara et al., 2019). Cardiovascular disease encapsulates several conditions, which are all responsible for often unbearable symptoms and reactions experienced by cardiology patients. Although mortality and the morbidity rate of the disease are extremely high, recent studies show decline in mortality rates and stability in survival rates of patients with cardiovascular disease (Amini et al., 2021). Several effective treatments for conditions for atrial fibrillation have been made possible, through medicinal treatment plans that include anticoagulants and β-blockers (Nielsen et al., 2016; Kim et al., 2022). Additionally, innovative techniques, such as stem cell therapy have proven to be effective in managing coronary heart disease (Kastrup, 2010). This review will focus on the importance of cardiovascular disease management through a variety of medical treatments and strategies, as well as an assessment of the effectiveness and limitations of these treatments, finally, possible future directions or suggestions for limitations will be proposed throughout the review, towards the overall management of cardiovascular disease.

A Jazz and contemporary piano recital, focusing on contrasting themes developed over 8 years. The recital features a full sextet, as well as a plethora of solo piano compositions. The theme of the recital is “Harmony and Space,” focusing on varying bases of harmonic progression, and the space that allows for rhythm, pulse, and melody. The performance was held at the Recital Hall in Light Fine Arts on April 21, 2023.

Grassland, prairie, and savannah ecosystems have been destroyed and degraded across North America as a direct result of colonization and subsequent urbanization and agricultural expansion. Consequently, the wildlife that once inhabited these ecosystems commonly are now among the most threatened on the planet. Grasshopper sparrow, Dickcissel and Henslow’s sparrow are three species of sparrow that have undergone dramatic population decreases within the last century and are considered species of greatest conservation need in Michigan. There is disagreement among land managers as to the best management practice for these species across the remnant and restored grasslands of Michigan’s lower peninsula because management for each species respectively can be detrimental to the others. In this study I conducted bird point counts to gather data on where these three species were occurring across 13 potentially suitable grassland sites in southern Michigan. Data on several vegetation characteristics was also gathered at each point. I found that Grasshopper sparrows occur more frequently in areas with more open habitat characteristics in terms of vegetation height and volume. Dickcissels occurred in areas with comparatively high levels of bare ground. Results were inconclusive on associations between Henslow’s sparrow presence and vegetation characteristics. I propose mid-summer haying on a 1-3 year cycle, haying up to 80 acre parcels of the managed area at a time along with occasional burning as a sufficient management technique for maximizing the habitat for (and promoting the coexistence of) all three of these bird species.

Bumble bees are important native pollinators that help maintain healthy ecosystems. Bumble bee species are declining in vast geographical areas due to many factors, including reductions in suitable nest site locations and floral resources, as land uses shift toward urbanization and agricultural intensification. The potential for urban areas to support bumble bees is understudied. The purpose of this study was to see how environment type impacts bumble bee species richness, abundance, and diversity in both urban and rural environments. Data from private and public spaces was gathered through the usage of citizen science. Observations were solicited under a previously established iNaturalist citizen science project, Southwest Michigan Bee Watch, and past data from this project was analyzed alongside observations submitted in summer 2022. Alongside citizen science data, I documented bumble bee species abundance and richness at fifteen sites along an urban to rural gradient in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Sites were categorized as either urban or rural through percentage of green space within a 1km radius of the site, as well as site distance from the center of Kalamazoo. Bumble bee photos within the citizen science database were properly identified to species by me and other contributors to iNaturalist. A total of 1040 individual bumble bees were documented (563 in rural areas, 477 in urban areas). Overall abundance of bumble bees, including species of concern (Bombus auricomus) and declining species (B. vagans) were favored in rural environments compared to urban ones. However, Shannon Diversity Indices were similar for the two environments. More information concerning the preferred nesting and floral resources of declining species is needed to determine if suitable habitat is available or could be created within urban environments.

There are 600 neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) that are affecting about 50 million Americans each year. Glutamate excitotoxicity is a pathway that plays a role in neuronal death and degeneration across several neurodegenerative diseases. In the Williams lab, 5-HPEC has proven to have neuroprotective activity. Because 5-HPEC and 7-HPEC are a subclass of 2-(phenylethyl)chromone, this study examines if 7-Hydroxy-2-(2-phenylethyl)chromone (7-HPEC) will have the same properties and neuroprotective effects in C. elegans as their family compounds. Developed in the Driscoll lab, a glutamate excitotoxicity model of C. elegans was used to prove the effects of 7-HPEC. The results indicated that although 7-HPEC does not have a significant impact on neuroprotective effects in a C. elegans glutamate excitotoxicity model, there is a decrease due to its effects but is not comparable to its 5-HPEC. 7-HPEC had limited effects when quantifying the number of necrotic neurons.

For my experiential SIP, I reflected on my 100 hours of experience shadowing a dermatology surgeon, and then wrote a literature review on local anesthetics – a medical tool used daily at the clinic. In this presentation, I plan to focus on the shadowing experience due to its relevance to my path at and beyond Kalamazoo College. I reference journal notes which I took after and during my shifts at the clinic, and I elaborate on how those notes have impacted my career decisions, perspective on my time at K and more.

For my Senior Integrated Project (SIP), I worked as a conservation volunteer at American Conservation Experience (ACE). I chose to do my experience at ACE to gain some experience working in the field in a conservation setting. During my time at ACE, I completed trail maintenance across northern Arizona and gained a deeper respect and understanding for both conservation and the environment. Through this deeper understanding of the high desert, I was able to see the environmental impacts that humans have on the desert of the southwest, especially the impact on climate and native populations.

I shadowed two experienced beekeepers in person throughout the late summer to fall season. We attended multiple meetings at the local bee clubs and observed their educational presentations. I additionally worked in their apiaries and gathered extensive knowledge about general protocol, winter prep, and Integrated Pest Management (IPM) for honeybees. Most of this research was immersive and experiential and allowed me to get a close look into the beekeeping community to get an understanding of the issues they currently face. Another component of my research was reading and online research for the creation of my literature review derived from my experiences. Many of these sources were referred to me by my mentors. These sources allowed me to write my literature review on pest mitigation. The literature review is a deep dive into current pest management strategies developed against varroa mites, which are one of the most recent and damaging threats to honeybees. These mites not only deplete the bees of their fat reserves, but also weaken the immune system of the entire colony to other diseases. Though varroa mitigation is a developing field, there are many solutions and mitigation methods on the market that vary in effectiveness depending on the nature of each varroa case. For example, oxalic acid and amitraz are commonly used to kill varroa mites, but some studies have shown that varroa mites have grown resistant to amitraz, while oxalic acid can be harmful to the honeybees. These issues with current strategies have led to selective breeding, where beekeepers are purchasing certain strains of honeybees that exhibit enhanced grooming behaviors to help reduce varroa numbers. This research was an interesting addition to my experience because varroa management has become very much interwoven into the everyday practice of modern beekeeping.

Throughout this summer, I worked at The Montessori School as an assistant teacher for the summer program. During this time, I worked with students ages three to six. My role was to help the lead guide in my classroom by ensuring that students were behaving with grace and courtesy, following the ground rules, listening, following directions, and treating others with respect. Each day I was responsible for keeping the children safe, supervising their learning, and helping to create a peaceful, nurturing environment. I learned how Maria Montessori’s core principles are implemented in the classrooms, and I observed how beneficial this type of learning is for young children.

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are Neurodevelopmental disorders that have high comorbidity rates with other mental disorders, but especially with one another. ASD with ADHD symptoms has been reported to be significantly more prevalent than ADHD with ASD symptoms. The DSM-5 diagnostic symptoms for ASD are present in individuals with ADHD and individuals with ADHD perform equal to ASD individuals when testing for the ASD deficits described by the DSM-5. The phenomenon of social camouflaging entails an individual with ASD commonly masking their social deficits to ‘fit in’ with neurotypical individuals. This phenomenon further demonstrates the disparity of the prevalence rates between ADHD with ASD symptoms and ASD with ADHD symptoms. The discouragement of these disparities in prevalence is not meant to encourage formal diagnoses, as the healthcare system is widely inaccessible for individuals seeking ASD diagnoses and individuals who have ASD presentations or symptoms. Research and general knowledge surrounding ASD must be refocused onto the internal struggle of those with ASD and account for individuals who may camouflage their ASD symptoms.

My Senior Integrated Project (SIP) is based on the opportunity and experiences I received while working at Drake Dental in Kalamazoo. I was able to work chairside as a dental assistant for 100 hours and learn through many hands-on procedures. As a result of my internship, I became more comfortable and confident assisting in dental procedures and familiarized myself in dental anatomy and physiology. I then became interested in the connection between female sex hormones and oral health. For the second portion of my SIP, I reviewed papers connected to hormone changes, menopause, and oral health to further investigate this relationship. Through both my internship and paper, I gained insight into the world of dentistry and developed skills and knowledge relevant to my interest in pursuing a career in dentistry. 

abstract not available

White sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus), a species within one of the most globally threatened taxa, are highly susceptible to changes in their environments due to unique life history traits. Specifically, juvenile white sturgeon are impacted by altered watershed dynamics caused by water diversion structures such as dams, weirs, irrigation ditches, or levees. One location of great concern is the Sacramento-San Joaquin (S-SJ) watershed where decades of water diversion has brought on great changes to the temperature, flow, and management of the area. This study looks to primarily identify the impact of water temperature on the endurance swimming capacity of juvenile white sturgeon, at different water velocities. Juvenile white sturgeon were exposed to differing water temperatures and speeds, to identify a relationship to endurance swimming capacity. Juveniles swam for longer periods of time at warmer temperatures, as there was a statistically significant decrease in time to fatigue after 35 cm s-1 for fish reared at 18°C and 13°C and for fish at 23°C, a statistically significant decrease in time to fatigue after 42 cm s-1. These results indicate that in the wild, altered water temperatures may greatly impact swimming dynamics. However, regardless of temperature, water velocities greater than 49 cm s-1 are more likely to increase the risk of mortality of juvenile white sturgeon. Future research must work to design and modify these diversion structures in order to decrease juvenile mortality and conserve wild populations.

Health and housing are inextricably linked. People experiencing houselessness face complex barriers to health and healthcare in the United States. This review uses the term ‘houseless’ or ‘unhoused’ over ‘homeless’ to recognize that though someone might not have a traditional structural shelter in which they reside, they are not necessarily without a home; at the same time, someone who might have shelter does not necessarily have a home. This highlights the diversity of lived experiences. In this paper, existing literature regarding healthcare for the unhoused in the following areas is reviewed: information access and accessibility, transportation, stigma and sense of belonging, and trusting one’s healthcare providers. This is not a complete list of barriers nor are these barriers unique to people experiencing houselessness. Analyzing the creation and perpetuation of this barriers provides a steppingstone to understand how systematic failures of our healthcare system affect underserved communities. In the face of systemic cracks, free clinics have been operating within equity- based frameworks, serving as the safety-net of American healthcare. This paper call for a change in the for-profit healthcare model and specifically its interaction with people experiencing houselessness.

As a Kalamazoo native, I have seen that resources for education, the neighborhood, and the built environment have the potential to alter community aspirations and the social determinants of health. I have participated intensively in a robust community change initiative called Building Blocks of Kalamazoo. In this Senior Integrated Project, I draw upon my experiences as a summer intern with Building Blocks and combine them with a literature review from Kim Cummings, the founder of Building Blocks. I will explore how a neighborhood intervention organization, Building Blocks of Kalamazoo, may influence public and community health on a small scale (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2018). I use the Dahlgren- Whitehead model to explain how Building Blocks uses Asset Based Community Development approaches (Kretzmann & McKnight, 1993) to address modifiable social determinants of health. The promotion of the agency of community members to strengthen social networks and enhance built environments in the neighborhood street block level, therefore, improving the community of Kalamazoo.    

This summer I worked at Unadilla Community Farm in West Edmeston, NY. There I learned about how an organic vegetable farm works and various topics related to organic farming including food forests, permaculture, dynamic accumulators, and pest management with beneficial organisms. I also saw how the local community was involved with the farm. Additionally, I gained more insight into how biology is integrated into farming, as well as what kind of career I would like to pursue in the future. Through my experience at Unadilla, I decided to look at an aspect of pest management with beneficial organism (also known as biological control) for my literature review. I specifically focus on entomopathogenic nematodes and their benefits, disadvantages, how they compare to chemical insecticides, what progress has been made on their application and formulation, and the current and future directions of their study.

Kidney cancer presents in many different forms, some more aggressive than others. Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC), the most common form of kidney cancer, may undergo an epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) where cells become elongated and spindly and metastasize. There is evidence in other cancer types, that EMT may also lead to changes in immunogenicity of the tumor, including upregulation of immune checkpoint inhibitors such as PD-L1. When cells undergo EMT, various transcription factors are involved and are upregulated or downregulated by environmental conditions and cytokines. This study explores the effects of hypoxia, hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), interferon-γ (IFN-γ), and transforming growth factor-beta (TGFβ) on EMT and PD-L1 expression in 786-O and Caki-1 clear cell carcinoma cell lines. Protein level analysis was conducted using cell cultures and Western blotting techniques. Results indicated that the presence of cytokines and hypoxia, both individually and together, play important roles in the induction of EMT in ccRCC and in regulation of PD-L1. Understanding the genetic mechanisms of EMT and its effects on the immune microenvironment can aid in the development of promising cancer treatment and prevention methods for the future.

Pollinating insects are necessary factors to the survival of most flowering plants, forming symbiotic relationships wherein pollinators are rewarded with food while the plants use the pollinators to propagate. Pollinators are an important and often overlooked aspect of agriculture, particularly that of crops requiring biotic pollination. Global agriculture stands to lose billions of dollars with the decline of pollinators. A large contributor to these declines is from homogenization of large expanses of land for farming, creating hostile monocultures that cannot support pollinators and prevent their traversal. Thus, bolstering local wildflower populations is an excellent way to support local pollinators. A study by Russo et al. in 2020 showed that powerline Right-of-Ways (ROWs) are prime locations to enhance habitats for native pollinators with minimal work through common maintenance practices like weeding, selective herbicide application, and seeding native plants. This study was conducted to document the progress made by an enhancement project within the Lillian Anderson Arboretum (LAA), Kalamazoo, Michigan in 2019. Led by Amy Cazier, the study established a baseline list of wildflower species present along the powerline ROW, providing a standard with which to compare as the project progressed. It was found through weekly plant and pollinator surveys that the floral quality of the LAA Powerline trail is high, as calculated with a Floral Quality Index, and supports several highly conservative plant species. Number of floral visitors increased between survey years, indicating a more attractive habitat for pollinators, though insects of the order Hymenoptera constituted a smaller percentage than Cazier’s baseline. Improvement of the ROW is projected to continue with the removal of invasive species and repeated disturbance to limit aggressive homogenous plant growth.

Acute rejection is a significant risk factor for allograft loss in pediatric renal transplant recipients. Identifying and treating rejection prior to a clinical appearance by surveillance biopsy has been associated with improved allograft function and survival. There are no strong patient demographic patterns associated with increased risk of subclinical rejection. Appropriate surveillance biopsy time intervals have yet to be standardized to minimize risk and maximize clinical outcomes. We reviewed all renal allograft surveillance biopsies at six-, twelve-, and twenty-four-month intervals from February 2020 through August of 2022 at a tertiary care facility. Clinical history, relevant laboratory findings, immunosuppression and hypertension medications, and biopsy related complications were recorded. Subclinical rejection was identified in accordance with the Banff Diagnostic Categories of Renal Allograft Pathology. Descriptive statistical analysis was performed to identify clinical risk factors. Twenty-nine patients received a total of 47 surveillance biopsies. The mean age at date of transplant for the 29 subjects was 12.2 years (SD ± 5.0 years) and 18 (62%) were male. Subclinical inflammation or rejection was identified in 3 (13.6%) of 22 six-month surveillance biopsies, 7 (38.9%) of 18 twelve-month surveillance biopsies, and none of the twenty-four-month surveillance biopsies. We experienced six (12.8%) minor complications (significant hematoma n=2; gross hematuria n=4). Same day surveillance allowed for prompt immunosuppression changes in 14 subjects. An extended follow up period will be necessary to access the clinical outcome of these changes. No difference in traditional risk factors between patients with or without subclinical rejection was identified. Our rates of rejection suggest the consideration of adjusted biopsy intervals, but a larger sample size is needed to best inform this decision.

Last summer, I had the opportunity to participate in a community building internship with AACORN farm through the Center for Civic Engagement at Kalamazoo College. AACORN (Adult Agricultural Community Option for Residential Needs) is a non-profit day program in Galesburg, Michigan that was created for adults with mental and physical disabilities. The core values by which this organization runs its program are finding purpose, mutual respect, lifelong learning, perseverance, self-advocacy, positive relationships, community, service, environmentalism, and healthy living. In my role as vocational program intern, I was able to strengthen my skill set regarding patience and communication while reinforcing these core values among our participants. Throughout the summer, I integrated the teachings of my psychology courses within my lived experiences on the farm, particularly Health Psychology which explores how stress and the environment influence our health and wellbeing. This contributed significantly to the trust and lasting friendships I was able to establish with each of the participants and staff members. I will forever be indebted to AACORN and its attendees for the benevolence and knowledge they shared with me this summer, which inspired me to continue my pursuit of a career in the field of psychology.

During my time spent as an intern at DeLano Homestead and throughout the writing of this manuscript, my purpose was to obtain and understand how agricultural practices can be more sustainable and how we promote healthier ecosystems by altering our land use patterns. I desired to uncover practices that had been shrouded by Western consumerism behavior and extractive economies, such as learning about the meaning of reciprocity and the importance of ceasing degenerative behaviors. As a laborer on a regenerative farm, I carried out the principles of regenerative agriculture through our day-to-day tasks, such as the planting and solarization of cover crops and in fostering relationships and respect with all living beings. In developing these relationships, I came to understand the wealth that can be afforded to us in the form of sustainable and healthy food simply by promoting soil and ecological health. By fostering sustainable relationships with the ecosystems, regenerative agriculture seems like such an obvious solution to our current climate crisis, leaving me confused as to why these principles are not seen at a greater scale. My experience at DeLano prompted my research into the potential of regenerative agriculture to aid in mitigating global climate change due to its superb ability to sequester large amounts of atmospheric carbon into the soil. In my research I learned that the deep traditions of Indigenous knowledge systems are the foundation of the modern regenerative movement and are often overlooked in Western society. Incorporating evidence-based science with the deep understandings of ecosystems by Indigenous peoples within local regions may be pivotal in altering our land use practices. Through implementation of sustainable policy as well as a cultural shift to embody the health of the ecosystem we can learn how to farm with nature.

This summer, I had the privilege of shadowing four dentists over the course of three months at two dental offices. I spent a total of one hundred and six hours, on average five hours a day, three to four days a week. The most common procedures I witnessed at both offices were fillings, core and crown prep, root canals, bridge placements, impressions for dentures, wisdom teeth, Invisalign checkups, basic extractions, and normal examinations. In this report I will review the anatomy of the tooth as well as the names and functions of all. I will also describe the ways in which a root canal and a filling procedure can be performed. Future advances in technology and procedures for the profession will be discussed as well.