Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Carbonate Microfacies Of The Middle To Upper Pennsylvanian Cache Creek Group At Meadow Lake, British Columbia, Canada, Brennen Leidy

Undergraduate Research Conference

No abstract provided.

Determination Of The Cation Exchange Capacity In Smectite Clays, Allison Swaim

Undergraduate Research Conference

No abstract provided.

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 …

Computer Modelling Of The Interaction Between Cerme-8 J Domain And Cehsp70-1, Grace Thornhill, Cole Easley

Undergraduate Research Conference

Abstract: Rme-81 is a J domain-containing plasma membrane protein that is required for endocytosis in various cells2. The J domain is a characteristic structural motif found mainly in heat shock protein 40 (Hsp40 or DnaJ) and other proteins such as Rme-83. 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 chaperone4. The 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, we hypothesize …

Beer We Go! A Study Of Carbonated And Nitrogenated Beers, Sadie Atkins, Holly S. Gibson

Undergraduate Research Conference

A flavorful crisp beer is a popular, worldwide beverage. Beer can be either carbonated or nitrogenated, each giving a different sensory outcome. Carbonated beer, such as Budweiser, has a crispy and light texture, whereas nitrogenated beer, such as Guinness, has a creamy, smooth mouthfeel. A comparison study of these two different beer types was done using a Packaged Beverage Analyzer (PBA). The PBA is used to analyze the density, CO CO2, O 2, N 2, and alcohol content of various beverages, such as beer, sparkling water, and soda. The parameters assigned to the carbonated beer were container type and temperature …

Detection Of Carbamazepine, Diclofenac, And Ketoprofen Via A Spe-Hplc-Pda Method In A Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plant In East Texas, Usa, Gary Lopez, Anthony Broom

Undergraduate Research Conference

Pharmaceutical compounds are introduced into the environment and may pose adverse environmental and human health effects. The sources of pharmaceuticals include sewage, animal waste, and/or improper disposal from homes and hospitals. In this study, the spectroscopic, and chromatographic properties of carbamazepine (CBZ), diclofenac (DF), and ketoprofen (KT) were analyzed by using UV-Vis, fluorescence and HPLC. Via UV-VIS spectroscopy, CBZ, DF, and KT exhibited absorption peaks at 285 nm, 284 nm and 255.6 nm, respectively. The determined fluorescence quantum yield (Ff) for CBZ, DF, and KT were Ff = 0.226, 0.287, and 0.327, respectively. Retention times was observed at 3.84 (CBZ), …

Effectiveness Of Sansevieria Plants To Purify The Vocs In Air Caused By The Use Of Febreeze And Diffuser Contaminants, Garrett Hacker, Quinn Whidden, Alayna Wagner, Zach Palmer, Brystal Beyer

Undergraduate Research Conference

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are a danger to every household that has access to chemical products such as air fresheners or select cleaning products. VOCs are dangerous when people are around high concentrations for any extended period. This experiment was conducted to examine the ability of sansevieria plants to filter VOCs added from normal household products. The plants used in this experiment were propagated into smaller pieces in order to fit into capsules. To begin testing, the contaminants were added to the capsules and the VOC levels were measured overtime with the Ion Science Tiger sensor. The basic trend of …

Functional Fluorescent Silver Nanoclusters On Single Stranded Dna Scaffolds, Ravyn Solis, Angel Torres, Brock Gascon

Undergraduate Research Conference

The aim of the present study is to determine the effectiveness of silver nanocluster (Ag NC) against biofilm of Bacillus Thuringiensis ( and Pseudomonas Aeruginosa ( A 60 base long DNA aptamer specific for BT tied to the 5 end of a 16 base cytosine rich DNA oligonucleotide is chosen as the template for growing the Ag NC Two DNA aptamers specific for PA and part of their sequences were chosen as templates for growing the Ag NC Circular dichroism ( studies determined the presence of secondary structures In addition, UV/Vis absorption and fluorescence spectroscopic studies confirmed the formation of …

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 …

Machine Learning In Support Of Student Success, Rachel Rucker

Undergraduate Research Conference

Our goal is to predict whether a student will finish the semester on academic probation by mid-term using university data.

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.

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 …

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 …

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.

Forgotten Stories Of The New London School Tragedy, Clayton Jones

Undergraduate Research Conference

No abstract provided.

Biotransformation Of Hbe And Other Benzofuran Derivatives, Hannah Trauger

Undergraduate Research Conference

No abstract provided.

Study Of Potential Drug For Alzheimer’S Disease: Small Organic Molecules, 1,5-Dhn And Tmpyp Inhibit Amyloid-Β Peptide Aggregation And Quench Hydroxyl Radicals, Matthew Murphy

Undergraduate Research Conference

Alzheimer disease (AD) is recognized as the six leading cause of the death in the United States. As of now, there is no cure for this fatal disease. The current treatment methods can only temporarily slow the worsening of symptoms. Research data suggested that an excess generation of hydroxyl radical in the brain causing the aggregation of Amyloid-β (Aβ) peptide which is considered to be responsible for Alzheimer's disease. Thus, there is a pressing need to find a suitable drug which can quench hydroxyl radicals effectively and stop or slow down the formation of aggregation of Aβ peptide. The primary …

Comparison Of Methods For Measuring Cation Exchange Capacity In Clays, Sarah Glaesemann

Undergraduate Research Conference

No abstract provided.

Do Tropical Storms Have An Effect On Water Quality In Nacogdoches?, Emmie Schubert, Breanna Duran, Jaqui Murguia, Amy Rambo, Paige Graham

Undergraduate Research Conference

The purpose of this research was to determine the effects tropical storms had on the water quality of water in Nacogdoches. This research investigated if rainwater distributed during the storms affected the levels of pH, nitrate, nitrite, phosphorous, alkalinity, turbidity, and total dissolved solids (TDS). Sampling was conducted on three water bodies before and after the storms. Measurements were taken with LaMotte kit to measure alkalinity, turbidity tube to measure turbidity, Colorimeter to test the nutrient levels, and Multi-Parameter Tester to measure TDS and pH. The results showed that Laura had a greater impact than Beta. Tropical storms are unforeseeable, …

A Novel Molecular And Cellular Study On Curcumin, Khang Nguyen

Undergraduate Research Conference

Since the discovery of G-quartet (G4)by M. Gellertin 1962, much attention has been given on G4and C4(also called i-motif) as important drug design targets for the treatment of various human disorders. G4 forming sequences are prevalent in human genome, which includes many important regions of the eukaryotic genome, such as telomere ends, regulatory regions of many oncogenes c-kit, proto-oncogene c-myc, Kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog (KRas). Curcumin(diferuloylmethane), an antiinflammatory and antioxidant compound, is found in the rhizomes of the plant Curcuma longa. The phytopolyphenolic chemical curcumin has been in the prominence due to its diverse pharmacological activities. Here, we …

Geochemical Analyses Of Base Metals In Sediments And Stream Water Black Cypress Bayou, Marion County, Texas, Melanie L. Ertons

Undergraduate Research Conference

Black Cypress Bayou is a primary tributary of Caddo Lake watershed in eastern Texas. The watershed is underlain by Eocene-aged strata from the Wilcox and Claiborne groups, which represent transgressive/regressive shoreline fluctuations that deposited interbedded friable sandstones and mudstones. The Wilcox Group is of special interest because it contains lignite coal, which has a direct link to heavy metals in sediment and natural waters. Caddo Lake has been listed on the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality 303(d) list for impairment due to mercury in edible tissue since 1995 and Black Cypress Bayou has been listed for impaired waters due to …

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?

Using Macroinvertebrates To Test The Water Quality Of Lake Nacogdoches, Emily Ivester, Hollyn Grizzaffi, Nicklaus Langlois, Augusto Conde De Frankenberg

Undergraduate Research Conference

The target of this assessment was to conduct a water quality test on Lake Nacogdoches in Nacogdoches TX. Lake Nacogdoches is operated by the city of Nacogdoches for municipal water supply and recreation. One of the tests that we ran to determine water quality was a macroinvertebrates test. To do this, we kicked up substrate to expose the organisms burrowed deep in the soil and caught them in a d-frame kick net. We then used our macroinvertebrate key to identify the organism and find the level of biodiversity in the lake. This test is essential because biodiversity affects climate stability, …

Determination Differences Between Men And Women In Mathematics, Lacy Cook

Undergraduate Research Conference

We analyzed data collected from 35 Tyler Junior College Students collected over three testing sessions. Students were asked to take a five-question math test. The test included four questions from the American High School Math Examination, where the problems are designed to be solvable for students without any upper level (calculus) mathematics background as well as one randomly generated question. Students were asked to take as much time as they needed, but no longer than one hour to complete the test. We used the amount of time spent on the test to measure the students' level of determination. The goal …

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 …

Data Parsing For Optimized Molecular Geometry Calculations, Luke Rens

Undergraduate Research Conference

The purpose of this project is to optimize and streamline to process of using ADF and ReaxFF. There is no efficient way to effectively add constraints to a compound and run it through ADF, take the ADF output and create a file that can be run through Reaxff, then take that Reaxff output and come to conclusions on it. To streamline this process, scripts were developed using Python to parse information out of data generated by ADF.

Surfaces Of Revolution In Virtual Reality, Joshua Harris

Undergraduate Research Conference

Why is this project needed?

❑ Surfaces of Revolution is many student’s first experience with three dimensional mathematical objects.

❑ The calculations required are not the inhibitor of the student’s understanding.

❑ Visualization of these solids along with the appropriate set up are the greatest hindrance to a deep under-standing of surfaces of revolution.

❑ Other tools that create computer generated visualizations of surfaces and curves in space render them as two-dimensional projections of a three dimensional object.

❑ Other tools typically do not have the capabilities of guided instruction, exploration of concepts on carefully chosen examples, and the ability …

Mathematics Of The Significant Tornado Parameter, Aaron Baker

Undergraduate Research Conference

The idea of this project came from my curiosity of weather and especially how severe storms are predicted. There are many parameters used to predict severe weather that use mathematical formulas. After sorting through the parameters, the STP was the one selected due to its use of other parameters for prediction of tornadoes, as well as concepts used in Single and Multi-Variable Calculus, such as areas between curves and vector magnitude and direction, and learning how to use new graphs than what is normally used.

Heated Cell To Study Sarin Surrogates Using Laser Absorption Spectroscopy In The 3.39 Μm Infrared Region, Kaleb Fields, Connor O’Leary

Undergraduate Research Conference

No abstract provided.

Structural And Compositional Investigation Of Pottery Samples From Guatemala, Pressley S. Nicholson

Undergraduate Research Conference

Purpose of investigation: The composition and characteristics of Mayan pottery samples from Guatemala was investigated.