Life Sciences Commons^™

Seeps And Springs At A Platteville “Observatory” On The River Bluffs, Bj Bonin, Greg Brick, Julia R. Steenberg

Sinkhole Conference 2015

Residential building construction along the Mississippi River bluffs in the 1970s created a unique enclosed outcrop of the Late Ordovician Platteville Formation at Lilydale, Minnesota. This outcrop was examined in early 2013 after a newly-formed spring flooded an elevator shaft the previous year, drawing attention to the foundation conditions. The Lexington Riverside property is a six story condominium complex constructed within the top of the bluff. A two-level underground parking garage was built into the bluff. Bedrock was mechanically excavated to accommodate the construction of the building, creating an unweathered rock surface. The space between the structure and the excavated …

Thermodynamic Analysis Of Phenylpropanoid Pathway In Arabidopsis Thanliana, Patrick J. Ioerger, Rohit Jaini, John A. Morgan

The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Symposium

Biofuels represent a renewable alternative to traditional fossil fuels. As dependence on fossil fuels rise so does the importance of improving the production of alternative fuels. Lignin poses one obstacle in the development of such alternative fuels. Its presence strengthens cell walls and hinders degradation of polysaccharides into monosaccharides, increasing cost and time while decreasing efficiency of the process. Lignin is composed of three monolignols, each of which is produced through the Phenylpropanoid pathway; a series of chemical reactions. This work aims to determine which reactions in the pathway are least thermodynamically favorable and thus most limiting. From metabolic mapping …

Visualization And Analysis Of Sensory Data, Luke Neumann, Sung Yeon Choi, Brian Olsen, Sungahn Ko, David Ebert Dr.

The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Symposium

Recently, California has suffered a severe drought, making water a scarce resource to its population. Many viticulturists are based in this area who rely on heavy irrigation to produce a better grape and a better wine. Not just in California, but throughout the nation, irrigation must be applied intelligently for efficient use of water and funding. By taking measurements of physical characteristics of a vineyard over time, one may be able to visualize trends in the data which lend itself to describing preferred growing methods. Wireless sensors can be used to take measurements including moisture, temperature, sunlight, and more. Sensors …

Visualization Of The Growth And Production Of Grapes Through Analysis Of Sensory Data, Sung Yeon Choi, Luke Neumann, Brian Olsen, Sungahn Ko, David Ebert Ph.D

The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Symposium

Grapes used in the wine industry have been one of the highest value crops in the United States. However, with unpredictable weather changes and recent drought in the Western United States, vineyard owners and grape growers have faced difficulties on producing good quality grapes suited for wine making. Therefore, a technology that would keep record of environmental data and incorporate the data to support agricultural decisions will help the growers to produce quality grapes even in extreme conditions. As such, this research focuses on developing an interactive system that uses sensory data and visual analytics to facilitate vineyard management and …

Long-Term Tillage System Impacts On Soil Erodibility, Julianne R. Chechanover, Dennis C. Flanagan

The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Symposium

Conservation tillage practices, such as no-till agriculture, have the potential of reducing the erodibility of a soil compared to conventional agricultural practices. This research sought to determine whether long-term agricultural practices affect the baseline erodibility properties of a soil. Two soils from Throckmorton-Purdue Agricultural Center in Tippecanoe County, Indiana were used during this experiment. One soil was treated with a long-term conventional tillage (fall chisel, spring disk) system and the other soil was treated with a long-term no-till system. The soils’ interrill erodibility, and rill erodibility and critical hydraulic shear stress were measured under a rainfall simulator using soil boxes …

Optical Emission Spectroscopy Diagnostics Of Cold Plasmas For Food Sterilization, Abhijit Jassem, Michael Lauria, Russell Brayfield Ii, Kevin M. Keener, Allen L. Garner

The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Symposium

There is a growing need for economical, effective, and safe methods of sterilizing fresh produce. The most common method is a chlorine wash, which is expensive and may introduce carcinogens. High voltage cold atmospheric pressure plasmas are a promising solution that has demonstrated a germicidal effect; however, the responsible chemical mechanisms and reaction pathways are not fully understood. To elucidate this chemistry, we used optical emission spectroscopy to measure the species produced in the plasma generated by a 60 Hz pulsed dielectric barrier discharge in a plastic box containing various fill gases (He, N₂, CO₂, dry …

Development Of A Novel Enzymatic Pre-Treatment For Lignocellulosic Biomass, Melissa Robins, Jenna Rickus

The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Symposium

Biofuels, fuels derived directly from living matter, present a renewable and environmentally friendly alternative to petroleum based fuels. Bioethanol produced from low input energy crops or agricultural waste is a promising fuel source because it does not interfere with the human food supply chain and the ethanol produced can be blended with gasoline. These potential sources of bioethanol are not yet commercially viable due to a polymer called lignin present in the plant’s cell wall which impedes the conversion of cellulose to glucose and the eventual fermentation of glucose to ethanol. Developing new methods for the pretreatment of lignocellulosic biomass …

Processing Methods And Storage Conditions On Chocolate And Coffee Powder Flow Properties, Sunland L. Gong, Andrea Della Bella, Teresa M. Carvajal

The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Symposium

Powders are widely used in a countless number of industries, and are crucial to the quality control of products in areas such as pharmaceuticals and food. Particle physicochemical properties (morphology, solid state – crystalline, amorphous or both) are important factors for powder flow, which in turn can have significant impact on the stability, performance, and presentation of powders. Different processing methods as well as storage conditions such as relative humidity (RH) can drastically affect powder flow. Due to the widespread use of chocolate and coffee powder around the world, and their importance to the food industry, this work investigates two …

Viewing The Extracellular Matrix: An Imaging Method For Tissue Engineering, Michael Drakopoulos, Sarah Calve

The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Symposium

The field of regenerative medicine seeks to create replacement tissues and organs, both to repair deficiencies in biological function and to treat structural damage caused by injury. Scaffoldings mimicking extracellular matrix (ECM), the structure to which cells attach to form tissues, have been developed from synthetic polymers and also been prepared by decellularizing adult tissue. However, the structure of ECM undergoes significant remodeling during natural tissue repair, suggesting that ECM-replacement constructs that mirror developing tissues may promote better regeneration than those modeled on adult tissues. This work investigated the effectiveness of a method of viewing the extracellular matrix of developing …

A Novel Synthetic Yeast For Enzymatic Biodigester Pretreatment, Tianyu Tan, Mark S. Aronson, Arren Liu, Jill H. Osterhus, Melissa Robins, Suraj Mohan, Erich Leazer, Bowman Clark, Alexa Petrucciani, Katherine Lowery, James Welch, Casey Martin, Helena Lysandrou, Michael E. Scharf, Jenna Rickus

The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Symposium

Lignin, a complex organic polymer, is a major roadblock to the efficiency of biofuel conversion as it both physically blocks carbohydrate substrates and poisons biomass degrading enzymes, even if broken down to monomer units. A pretreatment process is often applied to separate the lignin from biomass prior to biofuel conversion. However, contemporary methods of pretreatment require large amounts of energy, which may be economically uncompelling or unfeasible. Taking inspiration from several genes that have been isolated from termites and fungi which translate to enzymes that degrade lignin, we want to establish a novel “enzymatic pretreatment” system where microbes secrete these …

14th Annual Undergraduate Student Symposium, Farquhar Honors College

Undergraduate Student Symposium

The Undergraduate Student Symposium, sponsored by the Farquhar College of Arts and Sciences, presents student projects through presentations, papers, and poster displays. The event serves as a “showcase” demonstrating the outstanding scholarship of undergraduate students at NSU. The symposium is open to undergraduate students from all disciplines. Projects cover areas of student scholarship ranging from the experimental and the applied to the computational, theoretical, artistic, and literary. They are taken from class assignments and independent projects. The projects do not have to be complete; presentations can represent any stage in the concept’s evolution, from proposal and literature review to fully …

2015 Symposium Overview, Cedarville University

The Research and Scholarship Symposium (2013-2019)

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Poster Session, Kentucky Water Resources Research Institute, University Of Kentucky

Kentucky Water Resources Annual Symposium

1. Quantification of Common Agricultural Herbicide Dispersal and Land Use in Selected Areas of the Kentucky River Watershed, Andrew Nagel and others, Northern Kentucky University, Highland Heights, KY
2. Exploring the Effects of Herbicides on Willow Seedlings, Sarah Stryffeler and others, Dept. of Biological Sciences, Northern Kentucky University, Highland Heights, KY
3. LiDAR Mapping Sinkholes in Cane Run Watershed, Fidele Tibouo and others, Dept. Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY
4. Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy to Study Photocatalytic Degradation of Organic Pollutants, Frankie Wallace and Matthew Nee, Dept. of Chemistry, Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green, KY
5. Test …

Session 2c, Kentucky Water Resources Research Institute, University Of Kentucky

Kentucky Water Resources Annual Symposium

• Investigating the Recent Invasion of Silver Carp (Hypopthalmicthys molitrix) into Kentucky Lake, Utilizing Diet and Long Term Data Analysis, Ben Tumolo and Michael B. Flinn, Hancock Biological Station, Murray State University, Murray, KY
• Assessment of Chytrid Fungus (Bactrachochytrium dendrobatidis) Occurrence and Prevalence in Plethodontid Salamanders Across a Forest Disturbance Gradient in Southeastern Kentucky, Sarah M. Hamilton and others, Forestry Department, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY
• Strain Diversity in the Fecal Indicator Escherichia coli: Implications for its Use as a Produce Pathogen Surrogate, Ethan Givan and others, USDA-ARS, Bowling Green, KY

Session 2b, Kentucky Water Resources Research Institute, University Of Kentucky

Kentucky Water Resources Annual Symposium

• The Kentucky Nutrient Watershed Model, Ben Albritton and others, Kentucky Water Resources Research Institute, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY
• Model Parameter Uncertainty Analysis for an Annual Field-Scale P Loss Model, Carl Bolster, Food Animal Environmental Systems Research Unit, USDA-ARS, Bowling Green, KY
• Flood Modeling Using a Virtual 3D Environment to Help Student Learning, C. V. Chandramouli and others, Mechanical Engineering Department, Purdue University Calumet, Hammond, IN
• Updating the Fresh-Saline Water Interface Map in Eastern Kentucky, Jerrad Grider and T. M. Parris, Kentucky Geological Survey, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY

Session 2a, Kentucky Water Resources Research Institute, University Of Kentucky

Kentucky Water Resources Annual Symposium

• Space-Time Behavior of Soil Water Status Measured Across Two Land Use Systems, Yang Yang and Ole Wendroth, Dept. of Plant and Soil Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY
• "Wetness" in Landsat Scenes versus "Wetness" on the Ground: Uses of the Tasselled Cap Transformation on Archival Imagery, Demetrio Zourarakis, Kentucky Division of Geographic Information, Frankfort, KY
• Dynamics of Soil Quality Indicators in Western Kentucky, Hannah Robbins and Iin Handayani, Hutson School of Agriculture, Murray State University, Murray, KY
• Sediment Organic Carbon Fate and Transport Mechanisms in a Fluvial Karst System in the Bluegrass Region, Admin Husic and …

Session 1c, Kentucky Water Resources Research Institute, University Of Kentucky

Kentucky Water Resources Annual Symposium

• Stakeholder Engagement as a Tool for Better Environmental Decisions, Anna Hoover and Lindell Ormsbee, College of Public Health and Kentucky Water Resources Research Institute, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY
• Diverse Participation in Watershed Planning and Governance: Building Social-Ecological Resilience in Kentucky Watersheds, Alexandra Chase and others, Center for Land Use and Environmental Responsibility, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY
• Lexington is Giving Back - Lexington's Stormwater Grant Program is Giving Money Back to Fee Payers for Stormwater Projects, Christopher Dent, Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government, Division of Water, Lexington, KY

Session 1b, Kentucky Water Resources Research Institute, University Of Kentucky

Kentucky Water Resources Annual Symposium

• Hatchery Creek Stream Restoration Project - A Unique Opportunity to Maximize Trout Habitat, Create Recreational Opportunities and Provide Mitigation Credits, Oakes Routt and others, Stantec Consulting Services Inc., Louisville, KY
• Hatchery Creek Stream Restoration Project - Construction of A Trout Stream in Kentucky, Eric Dawalt and others, Ridgewater, LLC, Lexington, KY
• Implementing Site-Specific Flow Competence Monitoring to Inform Stream Restoration Design, Kurt Cooper and Bob Hawley, Sustainable Streams, LLC, Louisville, KY
• Streambank Stability and Riparian Habitat Relationships and Mapping Tools in the Triplett Creek Watershed, Nicole Meade and Toney Phillips, Center for Environmental Education, Morehead State …

Session 1a, Kentucky Water Resources Research Institute, University Of Kentucky

Kentucky Water Resources Annual Symposium

• Water Quality Monitoring of McConnell Springs' Surface Waters, 2011 through 2014, David J. Price, Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government, Division of Water, Lexington, KY
• Initial Findings from the Karst Water Instrumentation System Station, Royal Spring Groundwater Basin, Kentucky Horse Park, James Currens and others, Kentucky Geological Survey, Univ. of Kentucky, Lexington, KY
• Calibration Method to Estimate Suspended-Sediment Concentration from Acoustic Backscatter in a Cross Section, Justin Boldt, USGS Kentucky Water Science Center, Louisville, KY
• Vapor Flux Sampling Techniques for Characterizing Vapor Intrusion, Evan Willett and others, Dept. of Civil Engineering, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY

Plenary Session, Kentucky Water Resources Research Institute, University Of Kentucky

Kentucky Water Resources Annual Symposium

• Nanocomposite Membranes for Water Purification, Sebastián Hernández and others, Dept. of Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY
• Nanofiltration Membranes for Water Reuse and Toxic Inorganics Removal from Coal-Fired Power Plant Water, Andrew Colburn and others, Dept. of Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY
• Thermal Analysis and Raman Studies of the Photocatalytic Degradation of Organic Pollutants, Matthew Nee and others, Dept. of Chemistry, Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green, KY

Proceedings Of 2015 Kentucky Water Resources Annual Symposium, Kentucky Water Resources Research Institute, University Of Kentucky

Kentucky Water Resources Annual Symposium

This symposium was planned and conducted as a part of the state water resources research institute annual program that is supported by Grant/Cooperative Agreement Number G11AP20081 from the United States Geological Survey. The contents of this proceedings document and the views and conclusions presented at the symposium are solely the responsibility of the individual authors and presenters and do not necessarily represent the official views of the USGS or of the symposium organizers and sponsors. This publication is produced with the understanding that the United States Government is authorized to reproduce and distribute reprints for government purposes.

2015 Oklahoma Research Day Full Program, Northeastern State University

Oklahoma Research Day Abstracts

This document contains all abstracts from the 2015 Oklahoma Research Day held at Northeastern State University.

07. Criminal Justice, Northeastern State University

Oklahoma Research Day Abstracts

No abstract provided.

04. Botany, Northeastern State University

Oklahoma Research Day Abstracts

No abstract provided.

06. Computer Science, Northeastern State University

Oklahoma Research Day Abstracts

No abstract provided.

03. Biology, Northeastern State University

Oklahoma Research Day Abstracts

No abstract provided.

08. Engineering, Northeastern State University

Oklahoma Research Day Abstracts

No abstract provided.

10. Forensic Science, Northeastern State University

Oklahoma Research Day Abstracts

No abstract provided.

11. Genetics, Northeastern State University

Oklahoma Research Day Abstracts

No abstract provided.

14. Optometry, Northeastern State University

Oklahoma Research Day Abstracts

No abstract provided.