Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Understanding Student Gpa, Justin Rodrigues, Malcolm Recinos, Carla Torres

Undergraduate Research Conference

As a student of Stephen F. Austin State University have you ever wondered about the efficacy of you weekly habits as it relates towards your cumulative college GPA? Have you ever been curious of students with a higher GPA (grade point average) spent their free time than those with a lower GPAs? We decided to test various weekly habits of the everyday college student to discover if their actions are in fact a determinant of college GPA.

Apartment Rental Prices In Dallas, Mandi Lovett

Undergraduate Research Conference

There are many questions in a graduating students mind such as “Will I get that job?” and “Where will I live?” We wanted to predict apartment rental prices in Dallas to give students an idea of what their living expenses could be. We found that an apartment's distance from downtown Dallas and if the apartment has a pool are two factors that decrease the apartment's overall rental price.

Enantioselective Biotransformation Of Prochiral Ketone Via Daucus Carota, Ryan Smith, Charlie Knox, Elizabeth Davis

Undergraduate Research Conference

Biotransformations of prochiral ketones can be performed using plant cells. The benefits of using plant cells include low cost, environmentally sound procedures compared to conventional chemical processes, and the stereospecific nature of the reaction.1,2 Benzofuran-2-yl methyl ketone was reduced to (- )-benzofuran-2-yl-ethanol after incubation with carrots in water. The reaction was enantioselective in that it produced the S-isomer as indicated by optical activity. Currently, attempts to isolate the carrot enzyme and antimicrobial studies of the (-)-benzofuran-2-yl-ethanol product are underway.

Geographic Information Systems And Cloud Computing, James Hearn

Undergraduate Research Conference

No abstract provided.

A Multiplicative "Conic", Tiffany Lundy

Undergraduate Research Conference

Early in their mathematical career, students learn about how ellipses and hyperbolas are formed, their properties, and their applications. In particular, an ellipse is the set of all points in the plane whose combined distance from two fixed locations (foci) is constant. A hyperbola is formed in much the same way, except instead of combining (adding) the distance from the foci, the difference is used. This research begins by examining a new locus of points. The locus of points if formed by taking all points whose distance from two fixed locations when multiplied in constant. The difference discernible types of …

Research In The Teaching Laboratory: Improving The Synthesis Of Lidocaine, Chris Taliaferro

Undergraduate Research Conference

The multi-step synthesis of Lidocaine is traditionally a low-yielding reaction mainly due to its second step, formation of a-chloro-2,6-dimethylacetanilide. Students often question the use of an acid (acetic acid) as the solvent for the reaction of a base (2,6-dimethylaniline, 1) with the acyl chloride (a-chloroacetyl chloride, 2), (Reaction Scheme) but they follow the procedure as directed.

Students, if treated as scientists in training, should be able to form a hypothesis before an experiment, design experiments to test the given hypothesis, and evaluate the results. A typical laboratory class was assigned to synthesize a-chloro-2,6-dimethylacetanilide using …

Solids Of Revolution Formed By Rotating Functions, Cory Robinson, Blake Moyer

Undergraduate Research Conference

During Calculus students learn how to find the volume of regions formed by rotating a function about a vertical or horizontal line. This technique is useful in finding the volume of regular/symmetric three dimensional regions, but fails for regions which do not possess these qualities. This project is a generalization of this idea in order to find the volume of a solid generated by revolving one function about another. This should lead to being able to find or approximate the volume of regions which are not symmetric/regular.

Petrology Of Proterozoic To Tertiary Rocks In The Southern Burro Mountains, Nm: Insights Into Mazatzal To Basin And Range Magmatism And Tectonics, Theda Strickler

Undergraduate Research Conference

Analysis of thin sections from the Wind Mountain quadrangle, Burro Mountains, NM, near the Tyrone copper mine, reveals a complex geologic history. Rock samples collected in the study area were cut using a rock saw and thin sections were prepared and analyzed to determine mineral content and fabric patterns. The oldest rocks in the study area are strongly metamorphosed and locally mylonitized Proterozoic quartzofeldspathic gneisses and amphibolites of Mazatzal affinity. Mineralogical indications of shearing correlate with shear zones observed during field mapping in the area. Another set of samples are of younger Proterozoic granites and metagranites that intruded the country …

Texas Black Bears, Alexandria Bryant

Undergraduate Research Conference

One way to promote conservation efforts in an area is to bring awareness of the connections our society has with the animal that is under threat. Black Bears were once abundant throughout Texas, but through hunting and habitat loss, the bears had been eliminated from Texas by the 1950s. The placing of the Louisiana subspecies as threatened under The Federal Endangered Species Act in 1922 allowed populations to recover in Louisiana, and there have been several sightings in East Texas since. The face of Texas has been forever altered byt the presence of black bears. From the forests of East …

Spectroscopic (Ir, Nmr, Uv-Vis), Theoretical Study And Optical Properties Of 9,10-Dihydrobenzo(A)Pyrene-7(8h)-One And 7, 8, 9, 10-Tetrahydrobenzo(A)Pyrene, Mireya Martinez

Undergraduate Research Conference

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are organic molecules found in the environment. The PAHs are formed from incomplete combustion, are found in diesel exhaust particles, grilled foods, gas burners, emission from wood, and cigarette smoke. These compounds are known to be carcinogenic and mutagenic1,2. Spectroscopic studies were performed on two PAHs, 9,10- dihydrobenzo(a) pyrene-7(8H)-one and 7,8,9,10- tetrahydrobenzo(a)pyrene, which helped to characterize them. Also, a theoretical infrared study was done on 9,10-H2BaP, a scaling factor was found for a simulated infrared spectrum.

Examining The Student Investment Roundtable's Funds, David Hernandez, Uriel Luna

Undergraduate Research Conference

To what extent are the factors of the Fama-French-Factor Asset Pricing Model related to rates of returns of the Stephen F. Austin State University Student Investment Roundtable Fund?

The Fama-French Model is believed to be a major improvement over the ever-popular Capital Asset Pricing Model, CAPM. The Capital Asset Pricing Model uses a single factor beta to compare the excess returns of a portfolio with the excess returns of the market as a whole, but is said to oversimplify the complex market. On the other hand, the Fama-French Model three-factor adds additional factors to the original CAPM equation. The Fama-French …

Axiomatic Foundations Of Mathematics, Ryan Melton

Undergraduate Research Conference

No abstract provided.

Multiple Regression Analysis: Sfa Professors' Salaries, Latonya Edmeade

Undergraduate Research Conference

There is always a certain curiosity and controversy surrounding professor’s salaries and whether they are overpaid or not paid enough. We have decided to try and untangle this wonder by creating a regression model in which the average person could easily understand while solving this lingering question. It is the average student’s opinion that professors make way too much compared to their daily tasks.

On the other hand, many professors are always complaining that they are not paid enough with their advanced degree and work load, not to mention the option always hovers over their head of pursuing a different …

Default Rate On Auto Loans, Jessica Jones

Undergraduate Research Conference

In completing this model, we want to view a portfolio of loans at a bank and be able to predict the default rate on an auto loan. We also want to be able to look at an individual loan and predict the default probability taking into consideration interest rate, term, number of days late, times late, original loan amount, collateral value, LTV and credit score. The data will assist in forecasting default rates in future years and in projecting income and loss for a bank. We predict at the end of the model, credit score will be the main indicator …

War By Government: Which Systems Are Most Likely To Engage In Conflict?, Courtney Lemon

Undergraduate Research Conference

No abstract provided.

Landscape Ecology On College Campuses To Promote Environmental Sustainability, Erin Stempinski

Undergraduate Research Conference

No abstract provided.

Spectroscopic Studies Of Fluoranthene And 3-Nitrofluoranthene, Matthew Parks

Undergraduate Research Conference

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are known byproducts of anthropogenic sources including incomplete combustion of fossil fuels. They are known to be teratogenic, mutagenic and carcinogenic. This study investigated the spectral properties of fluoranthene and 3- nitrofluoranthene using NMR, UV-Vis and infrared techniques. The acquisition of spectral data provides a means to identify these compounds in mixtures and can be used which to develop model formulae for quantitation. A 2-D NMR method (HMQC ) was used for assigning 13C peaks. The infrared spectrum for 3-nitrofluoranthene showed characteristic strong absorption peaks at 1323 and 1516 cm-1 assigned to symmetric/asymmetric nitro stretches, respectively. …

Stereospecific Enzyme Isolation From Carrots, Jacqueline Greer, Eileen Rigsby

Undergraduate Research Conference

No abstract provided.

Solids Of Revolution About The Line Y=Mx, Harvey Marquis Iii

Undergraduate Research Conference

No abstract provided.

Biodiesel: Tomorrow's Fuel, Today's Solution, Roberto J. Molina, Racheal A. Persuad

Undergraduate Research Conference

Study of physical and chemical properties of biodiesel fuels derived from poultry and plant fats.

Going Green Makes Cents!, Anthony Caldwell, Logan Fountain, Tiffany Snider

Undergraduate Research Conference

No abstract provided.

The Road To Leed Certification: Human Sciences South, Claire Collins, Kim Stockley, Whitney Kirkland

Undergraduate Research Conference

Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for Existing Buildings a set number of voluntary standards. LEED EB focuses on the performance of a building rather than it’s design.

The Green Business Revolution, Jacob Martin, Penny Mcclendon, Brian Watson, Jimanna Watson

Undergraduate Research Conference

No abstract provided.

Communication Across Random Landings, Kerron Joseph, Jay Walbran

Undergraduate Research Conference

The idea to do this project began with a simple question: Suppose that people carrying communication radios parachute out of a plane, if each device has a certain range, what is the probability that once everyone lands they will be able to communicate. To study this problem I assumed that the spot where each individual lands is normally distributed.

We discuss the different ways the communication radios can work. In particular we examine the situation where all the radios have to be within a certain radius r to operate correctly and the situation where the radios work on a relay …