Life Sciences Commons^™

Utilization Of The Hunt Trap Method To Investigate A Small Mammal Community In An Upland Pine Stand, Leo Montano

Undergraduate Research Conference

Small mammals are strong and informative biological indicators of forest ecosystems. Populations are responsible for shaping successional patterns through their diets, behaviors, and contributions to other ecological communities.

Knowledge of community metrics within southern yellow pine forests under varying production and disturbance regimes can be valuable in understanding pine production impacts on biodiversity.

The objective of this study was to investigate species richness, time to detection, and activity patterns of the small mammal community in an upland pine stand utilizing the Hunt Trap Method.

Pet Diet Changes While Taking An Animal Nutrition Course, Joanna Ramirez

Undergraduate Research Conference

This study investigates the impact of an animal nutrition course on pet owners during the Fall of 2023. The primary objective is to determine how a pet owner's perception of their pet's diet changes and to identify any corresponding alterations made to the pet's diet before and while taking an animal nutrition course. Two surveys were conducted to collect responses: the pre-survey received 18 responses from animal nutrition students regarding their pets' diets before taking the course, and the post-survey received 18 responses from animal nutrition students regarding any changes in their pets' diets while taking the course.

Diet Considerations To Promote Bone Health, Prevent Chronic Disease, And Optimize Healing After Orthopedic Surgery, Amanda Albright

Undergraduate Research Conference

No abstract provided.

How Registered Dietitians Can Prevent Foodborne Illness In Long Term Care Facilities, Amanda Albright

Undergraduate Research Conference

The role of a Registered Dietitian (RD) in long-term care facilities (LTCF) is to maintain the nutritional status of their patients by building appropriate diets, advocating for the patient with their doctors, ensuring proper caloric intake, and providing patient education on the relationship between a healthy diet and a healthy lifestyle (2022, RD Nutrition Consultants, LLC). Before a RD is able to help ensure proper nutrition for the patient they must the make sure the meal was safely prepared as well as obtained and will not cause any unintentional harm to the patient by causing a foodborne illness. Countless hours …

Air Pollutants Around An Animal Feed Processing Facility In Nacogdoches, Tx: A Study On Their Effect On Local Outdoor Air Quality, Reyna Burns, Remigio Casanova, Cari Mitchell, Caroline Moore, Kaylee Zirlott

Undergraduate Research Conference

In this exploratory study, different odorous compounds were measured near TFP Nutrition to better understand the impact of odor on local outdoor air quality. TFP Nutrition produces pet feed, livestock feed, and agricultural fertilizer for local brand Lone Star Feeds. It is known in the Nacogdoches area for producing powerful odors near its facilities. It is in the downtown area of the city and in proximity to an elementary school, recreational softball fields, and residential homes. Odors can be connected to the presence of air pollutants. This study on air quality was performed to quantify this data on odors for …

Baking Without Gluten: Maximizing Nutrition Without Compromising Appeal, Callie Dunkerson

Undergraduate Research Conference

The purpose of the current study was to determine the appropriate adjustments needed to transform an ordinary muffin recipe into gluten-free (GF) muffins made with flaxseed meal (FM). Two batches of muffins were made, but all-purpose flour was replaced with FM, rice flour (RF), and xanthan gum in the experimental recipe. Participants conducted a sensory evaluation on both muffins. The GF muffin tasted similar to the control (C) but did not align with the C texture. This study illustrates the impact of GF flour components on baked goods and evidences the ability to create healthful and delicious alternatives for individuals …

Coexistence Of Three Stream Dwelling Cyprinid: The Blacktail (Cyprinella Venusta), Blackspot (Notropis Atrocaudalis) And Sabine (N. Sabinae), In Urban Streams In East Texas, Eli Torrez

Undergraduate Research Conference

We examined the population structure of three sympatric shiners Blacktail shiner Cyprinella venusta Blackspot shiner Notropis atrocaudalis and Sabine shiner N sabinae in the La Nana Banita stream complex system in east Texas during three seasons of 2022 and three habitat types ( riffles, and runs) Overall, the three species occurred together in similar habitats during the spring season when habitats were connected Despite the severe 2022 summer fall drought, populations of Blacktail Shiner dominated in the stream habitats However, Sabine shiner, which showed affinity for riffles, declined in occurrence in summer and fall, when riffles were absent due to …

Urbanization Increases Isolation Of A Threatened Fish Species In East Texas Streams: A 20-Year Perspective, Zachary Hutchens

Undergraduate Research Conference

We conducted monthly surveys of fish and in-stream habitat conditions from August 2020 to August 2021 in reaches along Banita Creek and La Nana Creek to investigate ecology and population status of the Sabine shiner (Notropis sabinae) within these streams. On average, Banita Creek had shallow water with low flow, more diverse instream habitats, and lower values of salinity, conductivity, and turbidity compared La Nana Creek. The movements of Sabine shiners were tracked monthly using Visual Implant Elastomer tags. Over a year-long survey, we collected 267 Sabine shiners from Banita Creek and 10 individuals from La Nana Creek. Out of …

Aquatic Macroinvertebrates As Sentinels Of Changes In Local Stream Conditions In East Texas, Courtney Plummer, Erin Shepta

Undergraduate Research Conference

Study objective: To use aquatic macroinvertebrates to assess the habitat quality and biological conditions of a stream, La Nana Creek, impacted by different land use.

Modelling, Cloning, And Expression Of The J Domain Of C. Elegans Rme-8 Protein, Madison Thornhill, My Tran, Bingbing Xiao

Undergraduate Research Conference

Rme-8 is a J domain containing plasma membrane protein that is required for endocytosis in various cells The J domain is a characteristic structural motif found mainly in heat shock protein 40 (Hsp 40 or DnaJ) and other proteins such as Rme-8 Within the J domain is a tripeptide, the HPD motif, that is required by the J domain protein to interact with and stimulate the ATPase activity of Hsp70 a major cellular chaperone Rme-8 protein in C elegans CeRme-8 has not been identified with a particular Hsp70 partner CeHsp70 1 is the only cytosolic Hsp70 in C elegans therefore, …

Quantification Of Kaempferol Conjugates In Watercress Juice And Methanol Extract: A Study Using Hplc And Protein Binding, Laken Simington

Undergraduate Research Conference

Flavonoids are a large group of biologically active polyphenolic compounds found in plants, that have gained importance in recent years due to their potential medicinal and therapeutic properties of high potency and low systemic toxicity. Kaempferol (3,4′,5,7- tetrahydroxyflavone) is a polyphenol antioxidant dietary flavonoid found in a variety of fruits and leafy vegetables, specifically vegetables of the Brassica family, which includes our subject vegetable, watercress (WC) which is usually grown in marshy lands. Kaempferol (KMP) has been depicted to have revolutionary attribute in overall human health ranging from anti-cancerous to anti-inflammatory properties. Here we show a novel approach for quantifying …

El Salvador's Food Clock, Zarea Collins

Undergraduate Research Conference

The initial concept stemmed from an honors project collaboration. The project was a research paper on the evolution of El Salvador’s food culture. Topics discussed were El Salvador's food culture, focusing on the history, staple foods, food medicine, dietetics, and how the country has been impacted by the expansion of globalization. Additionally, the relationship between medical conditions and how dietitians respond to them are further explored. Globalization has negatively impacted El Salvador's health status, dietary practices, and ingrained poor habits that will be carried on for generations.

Organic Chemistry Through Dance, Holly Gibson

Undergraduate Research Conference

This research project explores representing organic chemistry mechanisms using dance. Dancers represent molecules, electrons, and atoms in demonstrating the movement of electrons and bonds created and broken by the movement. It was concluded that some organic mechanisms and ideas can be easily transferred to a dance concept, while others take more time and exploration. Additionally, dancers representing the atoms and electrons were able to have a better grasp of what was occurring, regardless of chemical education background. This leads to the conclusion of a new way to implement kinesthetic learning into the chemistry classroom. The purpose of the videos are …

Bomb Calorimetry: A New Method Of Cec Determination, Trace Washburn

Undergraduate Research Conference

A new method of determining the cation exchange capacity (CEC) of clay minerals was examined. This method involved exchanging the smectite clay with organic cations and using bomb calorimetry to measure the energy of combustion of the material. Because the clay is noncombustible, the energy is completely dependent on the amount of organic present, which is dependent on the CEC of the clay. Two organic cations, tetrapentylammonium and octadecyltrimethylammonium , with similar size but much different shape were used. For clays with lower CECs, using the more symmetric ion yielded better accuracy (4.24%), while for clays with higher CEC, using …

Adaptive Coping For Covid-Related Stress, Sandra Maloy

Undergraduate Research Conference

The restrictions placed on society by the COVID- 19 pandemic for the purpose of limiting spread of the disease appear to have produced a different set of potential chronic health issues. Through lockdown and social distancing measures the general public lost access to key elements of daily life. The literature and qualitative interview data primarily support a negative association between participation in spiritual and physical activity and COVID-19 related stress. These findings are not surprising based on previous research investigating coping and other chronic stressors.

A Comparative Assessment Of Soil Characteristics Between Forests And Urban Lawns, Remigio Casanova, Stephanie Huerta, Lukia Kalugin, Garrison Layne, Valerie Pacheco

Undergraduate Research Conference

Objectives

• Examine the differences in soil characteristics between a recreational lawn and a forest

• Make comparisons between a forest and lawn sampling area from a visual standpoint to observe a difference in what vegetation the soil supports.

• Collect data through on on-site and in in-laboratory methods.

• Interpret the results by examining the collected data and looking for patterns.

Raison D'Etre, Kenzi Payne

Undergraduate Research Conference

No abstract provided.

Impact Of Covid-19 On Course Presentation & The Efficacy, Madison Gartman

Undergraduate Research Conference

With the appearance of COVID-19 in March of 2020, classes on the campus of Stephen F. Austin State University’s (SFASU) were forced to move online out of concern for the health and safety of the faculty and students. Due to this fact, the modality of many courses was forced to change. With the change of modality, some students and faculty- who had limited experience with online classes- were forced to conquer the entirety of their course load and instruction online. However, with this abrupt change arose some creative teaching techniques that aided students’ remote academic success for the remainder of …

Evaluating The Effectiveness Of The Building Excellence Conference, Jordan Stanford

Undergraduate Research Conference

No abstract provided.

Expression And Purification Of Hpep Inhibitor Peptide, Olivia Plaza

Undergraduate Research Conference

The enzyme human prolyl peptidase, or hPEP, has been linked to many processes within the brain, including breaking down neural peptides. A bovine milk protein, a-s1-casein (see above), has been found to inhibit hPEP in colon cancer cells. A 68 amino acid long section (bolded) of a-s1- casein containing the inhibitor region was cloned. The casein fragment expression was optimized for expression of the peptide. The purpose for optimizing expression is to have much of it on hand to utilize in further studies on its inhibitory properties on hPEP. By using this fragment of casein, one can study the structure …

Pine Habitat Characteristics Associated With Variation In Chuck-Will’S-Widow Communities, Hannah E. Beckett

Undergraduate Research Conference

This study explores the potential impact of variation in forest habitats and management on Chuck-will’s-widow density.

A Case Study Comparison Of Two Carbon Plated Running Shoes On Running Economy And Running Mechanics, Caleb Garcia

Undergraduate Research Conference

The advent of the carbon carbon-plated running shoe, in support of the first, historic sub 2-hour marathon, has resulted in an arms race across various running shoe companies in hopes of providing a similar competitive advantage to their athletes and customers. Research has shown these new new shoe technologies can significantly improve running economy. However, of the limited research, most is focused on just one brand and model of carbo carbon-plated shoe. If athletes are to compete on a level playing field, further investigation is needed to determine that these new shoe technologies confer a similar competitive advantage across multiple …

Biotransformation Of Hbe And Other Benzofuran Derivatives, Hannah Trauger

Undergraduate Research Conference

No abstract provided.

Microplastics: Nacogdoches County’S Hidden Threat, Jordan Stanford, Sydney Matlock, Courtney Sims, Samantha Montes

Undergraduate Research Conference

Microplastics and their threat to marine environments are well known, but studies in freshwater environments are few and far between. Microplastics can be created by the breaking down of plastics or in the process of making plastics. They affect biological lifeforms in a multitude of ways, water temperature, permeability of the sediment. Pollution in Texas waterways have motivated groups like the Environmental Protection Agency, Trash Free Texas, and Environment Texas to get involved. The objectives of this study are two analyze Bonita and La Nana Bayou for microplastic presence and to educate and create awareness for Nacogdoches County on microplastics. …

Does Installation Method Affect Snake Entanglement In Erosion Control Blankets?, Nicholas C. Schiwitz, Kasey L. Jobe, Krista J. Ward

Undergraduate Research Conference

Erosion control blankets (ECBs) are installed at construction sites to mitigate against soil loss and promote plant growth. Wildlife, particularly snakes, are prone to becoming entangled in ECBs that contain fixed‐intersection, small‐diameter polypropylene mesh with multiple layers (Ebert et al. 2019 Wildl. Soc. Bull.; Fig. 1).

The majority of ECBs on the Texas Department of Transportation’s Approved Product List contain fixed-intersection mesh, which pose a risk to snakes.

Snake entanglements often occur at the edge of an ECB where the snake often passes between the multiple mesh layers (Ebert et al. 2019 Wildl. Soc. Bull.)

Burying the edge of an …

A Comparison Of High-Intensity Interval Running And Tabata On Post-Exercise Metabolism: A Pilot Analysis, Lauren Pate

Undergraduate Research Conference

Introduction

• It is well established that energy expenditure following exercise (EPOC) remains elevated above resting values for a period of time (3).

• The magnitude and duration of this elevation may be primarily dependent on exercise intensity, with exercise duration and expenditure having a smaller influence (3, 6).

• Short durations (≤ 30 minutes) of high-intensity interval exercise (HIIE) is becoming a popular alternative for individuals who have limited time to exercise (5).

• When compared to rest, short-duration HIIE has been reported to elicit similar elevations in EPOC when compared to longer bouts of moderate-intensity continuous exercise (MICE) …

On The Diversity Of Erosion Control Products: Implications For Snake Entanglement, Kasey L. Jobe, Nicholas C. Schiwitz, Krista Ward

Undergraduate Research Conference

After a road construction project, Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) mandates that erosion control products (ECPs) are installed to prevent soil loss and promote plant growth. However, their presence on the landscape pose negative consequences to wildlife via entanglement.

TxDOT provides an Approved Products List (APL) of ECPs meeting soil erosion prevention and plant growth standards. In Texas, multiple types of ECPs are produced with a range of materials and attributes to decrease the erosion potential on multiple soil types and slopes. Certain attributes are more likely to lead to snake entanglement (Ebert et al. 2019 Wildl. Soc. Bull.; Fig. …

Mediterranean House Geckos Exploit Novel Resources In A Recipient Lizard Assemblage, John M. Arnett, Connor S. Adams, Carmen G. Montana

Undergraduate Research Conference

A species’ ecological niche represents the environmental conditions needed for an individual to replace itself and is comprised of multiple resource axes (Pianka 2000 Evol. Ecol.).

One mechanism of establishment of non-native species is via exploitation of novel resources in recipient ecosystems through their unique functional traits (Schalk et al. 2018 Biol. Invas.).

Mediterranean House Geckos (Hemidactylus turcicus) are an exotic species introduced in urban areas across Texas, yet little is known about their resource use relative to native lizards.

We hypothesized that H. turcicus would exhibit low overlap in resource use in their habitat, dietary, and isotopic niches compared …

The Transesterification Of Hickory Nuts Into Biodiesel Fuel, Hannah Trauger, Madilynn Dewell, Jahida A. Mendoza

Undergraduate Research Conference

• Biodiesel fuels can be produced from a fat and an alcohol via transesterification

• Hickory nuts have a high fat content (~60 % by weight)

• Can nuts from shagbark hickory (Carya ovata) be used to produce a biodiesel fuel using existing acidcatalyzed transesterification methods?

Longitudinal Study Of Lanana Creek, Bayler Barnes, Jackson T. Ortiz, Trace Washburn

Undergraduate Research Conference

A longitudinal study was done to collect data on the various conditions of LananaCreek in Nacogdoches, Texas over a seven week span from September 14 to November 2, 2018. The part of the creek studies is a 3.5 mile stretch from East Austin Street to Hoya Soccer Complex, mostly located on the campus of Stephen F. Austin State University. There were 6 different testing sites selected along this expanse. Collection of samples was performed by the General Chemistry I Honors class as part of the laboratory experience. Once collected, the samples were transported back to the lab for testing. The …