Life Sciences Commons^™

Vitro Bacteriophage Treatment For A Staphylococcus Aureus And Pseudomonas Aeruginosa Co-Culture, Alexis Perry

Arkansas Women in STEM Conference

Recent studies show that up 27-36% of all infections are polymicrobial, involving more than one bacteria species. In all categories, polymicrobial infections are often more virulent and harmful to the patient. Since different types of bacteria can communicate with each other through quorum-sensing when in the presence of each other, they can display different genomic characteristics. Further research into polymicrobial infections needs to be done because these changing characteristics can prevent treatment from working, such as antibiotics or bacteriophage therapy. This experiment focused on the co-culture between the two bacteria, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus, which can be found co-existing …

Investigating Three Novel Porphyrins For The Possible Treatment For Lung Cancer Using Red And White Light, Emmy Hipps

Scholars Day Conference

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a treatment method for various illnesses including cancer that uses a special drug, called a photosensitizer (PS). When a patient is injected with a PS, over time the PS is absorbed by the cancerous tumor. Light is then applied to area for treatment. The light then causes the drug to be activated, and singlet oxygen is produced that kills the cells. The PS in partnership with light causes cancer cells to undergo apoptosis. This research focuses on testing three novel water-soluble porphyrins, ZnTPPEA, H2TPP – TRIS, and H2TPPADIPA, as potential photosensitizing agents. All three novel photosensitizing …

Assessing Patterns Of Habitat Use By Breeding Birds At Jack Mountain Wildlife Management Area, Caden Pulliam, Luke Jeffus

Scholars Day Conference

Birds in North America show declining numbers, even for the most common birds breeding at Jack Mountain Wildlife Management Area in south-central Arkansas. Previous studies have shown that forests with >60% pine cover and lower canopy density have greater bird diversity and abundance but that these habitats do not have higher numbers of insects. We sought to further examine this interesting pattern by determining each bird species’ life history characteristics (feeding guild, nest substrate, and nest height) in relation to most preferred habitat. One hundred random points within the Jack Mountain Wildlife Management Area were surveyed in June 2022 (Figure …

Core Activation Through The Measurement Of Traditional Vs. Non-Traditional Core Exercises, Erica Stilwell, Taylor Moran, Chris Couch

Scholars Day Conference

Athletic trainers at the collegiate level have a responsibility to their athletes to prepare them in core endurance and strength for their specific needs. The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of muscle fiber recruitment between traditional core exercises and non-traditional core exercises measured by an electromyography (EMG) machine in different vital core muscles. Twenty-four college students participated and were randomly sorted into two exercise groups, traditional or non-traditional. The traditional core exercise group performed ten bicycle crunches while the non-traditional core exercise group performed ten stability ball passes for each trial recorded. The participants wore four …

Nutrition Knowledge Of Young Adults: How Has K-12 Education Affected The Health Of Young Adults In 2023, Anna Polo

Scholars Day Conference

Background: Nutrition knowledge is very important in order to live a healthy lifestyle and to positively impact overall health. There is research studying the effects of nutrition education and that affects students involved in K-12 schooling, but there is a lack of research following those students beyond the classroom and to their young adult years.

Objective: The researcher’s goal was to better understand how much young adults know about basic nutrition from previous education, if different types of schooling (public, private, homeschool, etc.) taught nutrition related classes/lessons, and if different geographical regions provided nutrition education.

Design: the design was a …

University Students' Understanding Of The Endocannabinoid System And Its Relevance To Nutrition, Brittney Burford, Allyson Melton, Robbie Otero

Scholars Day Conference

The Endocannabinoid System (ECS) is a complex cell-signaling system that was identified in 1988, the ECS is the largest receptor system and regulator of homeostasis. Endogenous cannabinoids, or endocannabinoids, are naturally occurring, lipid-based neurotransmitters. Neurotransmitters are chemical messengers in the body that send signals between nerve cells. The ECS system regulates and controls many of our most critical bodily functions such as learning, memory, emotional processing, sleep, temperature control, inflammatory immune responses, and appetite. Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) are the most known phytocannabinoids. Phytocannabinoids are plant byproducts that closely mimic cannabinoids and have adverse effects on the body. Endogenous …

The Effects Of Eating Habits On The Mental Health Of College Students, Erica Gaddie, Keren Fernandez

Scholars Day Conference

Background: During the transition from late adolescence to young adulthood, the brain requires adequate nutrients to properly develop and prevent psychiatric disorders. However, as teens transition from high school to college, a pattern of high calorie and sugar intake, irregular meals, and lack of consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables becomes predominant. Since college students are at a greater risk of developing mental health disorders compared to other age groups, it is of interest to study the factors that affect this population's mental health.

Design: The design of the study was a survey administered in person. Data was collected over …

Sensory Evaluation Of Black Bean Brownies Prepared With Sugar Substitutes, Erica Gaddie

Scholars Day Conference

Introduction: Diseases such as heart disease, stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and diabetes mellitus are some of the leading causes of death in the world; however, these life-threatening diseases can be prevented with diet Since sugar has the potential to contribute to hyperglycemia, obesity, hypertension, and inflammation; alternatives were used to replace the potentially harmful granulated sugar. Black bean brownies are a way to reduce carbohydrate intake while an increase in protein, fiber, unsaturated fat, flavanols, and antioxidants is present

Objective: To produce a heart-healthy, nutrient dense brownie with a low glycemic index, while also providing other health benefits.

Methodology: …

Influence Of Temperature On Passage Rate In Sceloporus Consobrinus, With Comparison To Congeners, Allison Litmer

Arkansas Women in STEM Conference

Variation in energy acquisition, genetics, and environment determine life history traits among individuals, populations, and species. Therefore, influence of climate change may differ by population or even individual. Sceloporus lizards are used as model organisms for thermal biology, and climate modeling. However, it is often assumed that locally-measured thermal and bioenergetic responses apply among broadly similar species, and throughout intraspecific geographic range. The objective of this project was twofold: 1) to quantify the influence of temperature on passage rate in Sceloporus consobrinus from Arkansas, and 2) compare the influence of temperature on passage rate between S. consobrinus, and published …