Fro
m the influence of a common virus on Alzheimer's Disease to the role of magnetic fields in star formation – 2025 graduates from across the College of Science and Health published original thesis research that reflects DePaul's commitment to innovation, intellectual leadership, and a drive to serve the greater good.Jim Camilleri, an M.S. graduate in biological sciences, conducted work on the connection between the Herpes simplex virus and Alzheimer's Disease, the most common neurodegenerative disorder worldwide. Herpes simplex virus type 1, known as HSV-1, has previously been found in the brains of Alzheimer's patients. Camilleri's work explores the relationship between the virus and a gene that codes for apolipoprotein-E, a compound that controls cholesterol in the brain. The object was to determine if a specific version of the gene known as APOE-E4, a recognized hereditary risk factor for the disease, could facilitate virus entry into cells.
Rather than incorporating and attaching virus particles, the research revealed that immunologic activity in APOE cells increased upon exposure to the virus, suggesting the immune response itself could elevate Alzheimer's risk through chronic inflammation - a hallmark symptom of the disease. The findings could help shed further light on the condition's complex etiology.
Psychological science M.S. recipient Jackelyn Castaneda looked at the role of shared culture in intimate relationships, specifically how couples create and share 'mini-cultures' that affect relationship satisfaction. Mini-cultures are small cultural groups that develop within larger societies, organizations, or between individuals. They are comprised of key elements of culture - including language, rituals, norms/values, and artifacts. In a relationship, this could entail everything from habits of speech to shared items that are meaningful to both partners.
Castaneda recruited 154 undergraduate partners in long-term intimate relationships to evaluate how mini-cultures impact relational satisfaction. Participants completed three separate questionnaires intended to measure shared culture, positive affect, and relationship satisfaction. The results indicate that higher shared culture has a positive correlation with relationship satisfaction, suggesting that mini-cultures, a previously under-researched concept, could have a key role in improving relational connectedness.
Physics M.S. recipient Marina Beltran focused her research skyward – directly to a star-forming region of the galaxy known as NGC 7129 FIRS2, in the constellation of Cepheus. Beltran's goal was to understand how magnetic fields influence the development of stars. This can be measured through the Zeeman effect, or the splitting of atomic energy levels in the presence of a magnetic field. Water masers, composed of water molecules that emit electromagnetic radiation at specific frequencies, are an early indication of star formation and an optimal way to measure the Zeeman effect.
Beltran identified two maser spots and measured them using the Very Large Array, a special radio telescope in New Mexico capable of detecting water maser frequencies. The analysis showed strong magnetic energy density in the masers, indicating that magnetic fields have a large effect on outflows in the star-forming region. While similar studies have been conducted before, Beltran's is unique because of the complex velocity profiles of the masers selected, demonstrating that reliable magnetic measurements can still be obtained and enhance knowledge of how stars are formed.
You can read the above studies in full and view the entire list of 2025 College of Science and Health theses and dissertations on DePaul's institutional repository online.