Life Sciences Commons^™

The Methods Used For Eradication Of Polio Versus The Defense Efforts That Are Being Conducted For Global Defense Against Ebola, Kalyn Johnson

Undergraduate Research Conference

Poliovirus eradication has been a long-lasting and difficult process that has become a global issue. The World Health Organization and the European Union have been trying to end the terrible reign of this abhorrent disease since the 1980s and are continually fighting the virus today. Poliomyelitis is an Old World disease, much like smallpox. It has been easily, through a twenty year process, eradicable through mass vaccination and circle vaccination.

However, as poliovirus is coming to the end of its reign, a more recent danger lurks nearby. Ebola virus is considered a non-traditional disease in that it requires more developed …

Health Of Value Menu: Cost Versus Benefits Analysis, Lucas Sartain

Undergraduate Research Conference

Consumption of fast food is rapidly increasing on both a domestic and global scale. Fast food has become increasingly popular not only for its quick service, but also for the economic savings it provides. One arguable factor however, rests with the health concerns that accompany this category of food. Important preliminary measures include clearly defining what is classified as fast food, what is considered to be unhealthy, and what determines healthiness. The most frequently ordered items at most fast food restaurants are located on the dollar menu. Through various research, it will be determined whether the dollar menu is less …

Removable Discontinuity: Crispr, Gene Drives, And Bioethics, Emily Dunnahoe

Undergraduate Research Conference

This paper questions whether bioethical scrutiny has been devoted to the ethical dilemmas that have arisen with advancements of CRISPR-Cas 9 gene editing techniques, particularly its use in conjunction with gene drive applications. Therefore, the trend of genetic research using both gene drives and CRISPR-Cas 9 systems must be established, while also simultaneously observing the trend of bioethical scholarly works. The tabulation of all articles from 2012 to 2015 from selected genetic journals yielded a significant increase in articles relating to CRISPR, while no articles were found in their selected bioethical counterparts for the same period. Similarly, no significant CRISPR/gene …

The Relationship Between Pain Sensitivity And Eye Tracking, Michaella Petrosky, Luis E. Aguerrevere

Undergraduate Research Conference

The purpose of the study was to determine if laboratory-induced pain has possible effects on attention as captured by eye tracking technology.

Building Height Using The Uas Dji Phantom 3 And Drone2map Software, Chandler Fong, Kai Busch-Peterson

Undergraduate Research Conference

At Stephen F. Austin State University, the Arthur Temple College of Forestry and Agriculture has invested in the most current drone technology in order to keep up with the new trends in Geographic Information System (GIS). Students and faculty can fly the drone and get up to date images of the area. When it comes to analyzing data and creating maps, all measurements must be extremely accurate in order for the map to be reliable. With this in mind, the objective of this project is to determine if the height measurements from DJI Phantom 3 drone are as accurate as …

Using Freshwater Mussels As An Indicator For River Water Quality, Joseph Gerland, Will Titone, Ariana Clark, Brad Michael

Undergraduate Research Conference

Using the freshwater mussel to monitor water quality is a practical and advantageous way to use nature’s indicator species. River water quality is an important measurement that is constantly monitored for many purposes. The sampling involved with monitoring can be very costly and time-consuming. Using mussels as indicator species could save money and time. So, this project has been dedicated to exploring the applications and reality of using freshwater mussels to monitor river quality.

Antimicrobial Properties Of S-Benzofuran-2-Yl Ethanol Produced By Biotransformation, Nick Cheatwood, Ann Davis, Elizabeth Schabeck, Kelsi Hooker, Michele Harris

Undergraduate Research Conference

All living organisms contain enzymes to carry out biological reactions, which produce substances with a specific three dimensional shape. Enantiomers are two molecules that are mirror images of each other just as hands are mirror images of each other. It is well known in the pharmaceutical world that one of the enantiomers (one of the mirrorimage molecules) has a positive biological effect while the other can be harmful or have no effect. Currently, any potential pharmaceutical that could exist as enantiomers must have each enantiomer tested for biological activity prior to FDA approval. In our laboratory, we have focused on …

Influence Of Chinese Tallow Infestation On Winter Bird Community Along Lanana Creek Basin, Kelli Bashaw, Christopher E. Comer

Undergraduate Research Conference

Exotic invasive plant species are among the greatest threats to biodiversity and persistence of rare wildlife species in the United States. These plants compete with native plants, causing extinctions or severe reductions in native populations. They may also affect wildlife through loss of preferred food items or changes in vegetation structure. Chinese tallow tree (Triadeca sebifera) is one of the most important and widespread exotic plants in the Southeast. Although impacts of Chinese tallow on vegetation communities are well studied, impacts on native wildlife are less well understood. This study explored the interaction between native wildlife and Chinese tallow infestation …

The Addition Of Arachidin 1 Or Arachidin 3 To Human Rotavirus-Infected Cells Inhibits Viral Replication And Alters The Apoptotic Cell Death Pathway, Macie N. Mattila, Caleb M. Witcher, Rebekah Napier-Jameson, Hannah N. Lockwood, Josephine Taylor, Beatrice A. Clack, Judith M. Ball, Fabricio Medina Bolivar, Rebecca D. Parr

Undergraduate Research Conference

Rotavirus (RV) infections are a leading cause of severe gastroenteritis in infants and children under the age of five. There are two vaccines available in the United States and one in India that can be administered early in childhood, however they only protect against specific strains1. From our previous work, both arachidin-1 (A1) and arachidin-3 (A3) from peanut (Arachis hypogaea) hairy root cultures significantly inhibit simian RV replication2,3,4. The purpose of this study was to determine if a human intestinal cell line, HT29.f8, infected with a human RV, Wa, was affected by A1 and A3. Cell viability assays were utilized …

The Bees Of A.L. Mangham Jr. Regional Airport, Nacogdoches, Texas, Ryan J. Pingedot, Daniel J. Bennett

Undergraduate Research Conference

The United States is home to about 4,000 species of native bees, and many are critically important due to the pollination services they provide (Buchman & Nabhan 1996). Most of these are inconspicuous, solitary bees that nest in the ground. In recent years, a number of bee species have been shown to be in decline (Burkle 2013). Due to these declines, it is important to study and provide habitat for local bee populations.

As a result of periodic mowing, the surroundings of the A.L. Mangham Jr. Regional Airport in Nacogdoches County, Texas provide a grassy, prairie-like habitat that results in …