Digital Commons Network^™

Introduction To The Paper And Potter Wasps Of Eastern Kentucky, Dawn Barnett, Kyah Brinegar, Gracie Burdette, Sean O'Keefe

2025 Celebration of Student Scholarship - Poster Presentations

Wasps are a possible surrogate to measure biodiversity of an ecosystem because they can be extremely diverse, most requiring a very specific niche. Many factors such as surrounding vegetation, potential prey availability, and potential hosts impact presence and diversity of wasps; so, by observing different species in an environment biodiversity could be inferred. The Vespidae are Social Wasps and include six subfamilies. My research specifically covers two subfamilies: Paper Wasps (Polistinae), and Potter and Mason Wasps (Eumeninae). There are 25 genera with over 1000 species of paper wasps worldwide; 27 in North America, and 8 found in Kentucky. Potter wasps …

Introduction To The Social Wasps Of Eastern Kentucky: (Vespidae, Vespinae), Dawn Barnett, Kyah Brinegar, Gracie Burdette, Sean O'Keefe

2025 Celebration of Student Scholarship - Poster Presentations

The subfamily Vespinae of the Vespidae, encompasses true hornets and yellow jackets. They are distributed throughout the Holarctic and Oriental regions. The subfamily includes 80 species globally, comprising three genera, the True Hornets (Vespa), Aerial Yellowjackets (Dolichovespula), and the Ground Yellowjackets (Vespula). Two species of Vespula Hornets occur in the U.S., only one occurs in Kentucky; Six species of Aerial Yellowjackets (Dolichovespula) occur in the U.S., four of which are in Kentucky, and thirteen species of Ground Yellow Jackets (Vespula) occur in the U.S., eight are in Kentucky. Vespinae are eusocial, meaning they have well defined castes of queens, workers, …

Inventory Of Lichens At Carter Caves State Resort Park-Tygarts State Forest, Carter County, Kentucky, Aliya Frisby, Allen C. Risk

2025 Celebration of Student Scholarship - Poster Presentations

Lichen: a composite organism of fungi and algae/cyanobacteria Kentucky Total Lichen Specimens: 9,141 -All bordering states except for Indiana have >20,000 Their importance: Lichens can act as pioneer species, food sources in plant-scarce environments, agents of weathering, bioindicators of air pollution, and many species contain chemicals of medical interest (Rogers 2025).

A Catalog Of Diversity Of The Lichen Genus Cladonia Within Carter Caves State Resort Park, Carter County, Kentucky, Crecie Kelly, Allen C. Risk

2025 Celebration of Student Scholarship - Poster Presentations

Lichens are a symbiotic organism consisting of two components: a mycobiont (fungus) and a photobiont (algae and/or cyanobacteria). These organisms play a significant role within the environment such as food resources, in practical uses such as dyes or medicine, and as environmental indicators. Current understandings of the lichens in Kentucky remain broad and incomplete. The purpose of this study is to catalog the diversity of the lichen genus Cladonia within Carter Caves State Resort Park (CCSRP), a park known for its high biological diversity. Cladonia has the highest macrolichen species richness in Kentucky. This genus of fruticose lichens can grow …

The Undertreatment Of Pain In Women, Abigail R. Schultz

2025 Celebration of Student Scholarship - Poster Presentations

Pain is a prevalent reason for patients to seek medical care. Despite a high incidence of pain conditions, there is evidence suggesting that women, in particular, experience undertreatment of pain. The undertreatment of pain in women can contribute to long-term negative health effects and physical suffering. • The QSEN principles are the foundation to quality improvement research and implementation. Within this project, patient-centered care, safety, and evidence-based practice are incorporated to highlight the key focus of the need for women’s health advocacy and pain management

Detection Of Antimicrobial Resistance Genes In Bacteria Collected From The Triplett Creek Watershed, Heavenly Mays, Emily Morgan, Geoffrey W. Gearner

2025 Celebration of Student Scholarship - Poster Presentations

Ongoing research in the Triplett Creek Watershed (TCW) focuses on assessing water quality and monitoring bacterial contamination. The spring 2024 sampling efforts aimed to evaluate bacterial density and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) across multiple sites. To screen for AMR in bacteria, the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method was used. A total of 35 bacterial isolates were tested against multiple antibiotics. This revealed 26 isolates were resistant to Erythromycin, 32 isolates were resistant to Clindamycin, 2 isolates were resistant to Colistin, 7 isolates were resistant to Ampicillin, 4 isolates were resistant to Amoxicillin with Clavulanic acid, 2 isolates were resistant to tetracycline, 3 …

Comparative Analysis Of R-Cards And Idexx Quanti-Tray/2000 For The Detection And Enumeration Of Bacteria In Environmental Water Samples, Heavenly Mays, Emily Morgan, Geoffrey W. Gearner

2025 Celebration of Student Scholarship - Poster Presentations

The Kentucky Watershed Watch program, a non-profit that relies on the help of volunteers, trains Kentucky residents on proper analytical procedures needed to assess waterways near their homes. Volunteers can deliver samples to established labs for bacterial analysis or independently test sample sites’ pH, dissolved oxygen, conductivity, temperature, and Escherichia coli levels. One of the ways the Watershed Watch program analyzes water quality is by using R-Cards, sample cards that contain a chromogenic medium useful for detecting and enumerating E. coli. These cards cost $1 each and are quite simple to set up, whereby one mL of sample site water …

Expectation Vs Reality: Attempting To Circularize Ch. Iv In Yeast Resulted In A Ch. Iv-Ii Fusion, Dylan R. Carroll, Blake D. Hoover, Megan S. Shirley, Adelyn J. Weaver, Mark T. Wilson, Melissa A. Mefford

2025 Celebration of Student Scholarship - Poster Presentations

Chromosomes are structures that transmit genetic information from one cell to another during cell division • Eukaryotes, like humans, have linear chromosomes containing ends called telomeres that act as buffers to protect the genome • Loss of telomere sequences is associated with aging, and the activation of the enzyme telomerase is correlated with most cancers • Question: Why do eukaryotes have linear chromosomes?

Bryoflora Of Ed Mabry-Laurel Gorge Wildlife Management Area In Northeastern Kentucky, Teagan Pattinson, Allen C. Risk

2025 Celebration of Student Scholarship - Poster Presentations

Bryophytes include liverworts, hornworts, and mosses - Ecological importance: primary colonizers, retain moisture in the environment, cycle nutrients, and act as bioindicators (McKnight et al., 2013) - Bryophytes have a dominant gametophyte life cycle phase and lack complex vascular tissue - Incredibly adaptable to a wide array of environments and can grow on almost any surface - The objective of this project is to document the diversity of bryophyte species in the Ed Mabry-Laurel Gorge Wildlife Management Area (WMA) in Elliott County, KY - This WMA features narrow, deep sandstone gorges, creating a perfect environment for a diverse range of …

The Dawn Of A New Lappin: The Revision And Reorganization Of The Morehead State Archives, Ava Fluharty, June Lennex-Stone, Shelby Turner, Jennifer O'Keefe

2025 Celebration of Student Scholarship - Poster Presentations

The Geology Program has formal book, fossil, journal, map, mineral, and rock collections dating to the 1950’s. These specimens were donated by biological and physical sciences faculty prior to the 1960 hire of Dr. John Philley and greatly expanded upon by Drs. Philley, James Chaplin, Jules DuBar, and H.W. Straley III through the 1990’s. Prior to construction of the “C-wing” of Lappin Hall, the collections previously housed in laboratory classrooms in the path of the new corridor connecting the “B-wing” and “Cwing”, as well as those housed in the “A-wing” were boxed and stored in multiple temporary locations until new …

Evaluation Of Cutting Sizes And Sticking Cutting Times On Propagation Of Rosemary, Emma R. Miller, Emily B. Cobb, Alyssa F. Covell, Mary H. Jackson, Mollie K. Mayabb, Ace B. Shelby, Leo Shelby, Seaanna G. Skinner, Madeline Walsh, Ricky C. Young, Amy S. Collick, Alireza Rahemi

2025 Celebration of Student Scholarship - Poster Presentations

Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) is a well-known culinary and medicinal herb in the Lamiaceae family, which is native to the Mediterranean area. It is a source of antioxidants and has several benefits for the body's health, such as antiinflammatory, anti-fungal activity, anti-aging, and support of the digestive system. Rosemary has several habit types: trailing, creeping, and upright; its flowers can be blue, violet, pink, or white. It could be propagated by seeds or by vegetative methods. Seedlings can show a high level of genetic diversity; therefore, vegetative propagation is used to keep the mother traits of the cultivars. One of the …

Examining Multiple Layers Of Course Materials Cost: Experiences Of Private College Students, Virginia Clinton-Lisell, Lindsey Gwozdz

Education, Health & Behavior Studies Faculty Publications

Students in private, nonprofit (independent) higher education institutions, particularly those who are economically disadvantaged, often struggle with the costs of course materials like textbooks. However, much less is known about these students and how to assist them with these cost barriers compared to their peers at public institutions. It is also not well known how students perceive institutional course marking in which filters are available to identify courses based on the cost of their materials during registration. To address this lack of knowledge, students at four independent, private colleges (N = 316) were surveyed about their experiences with the cost …

Mapping Mosquito Habitats With Girl Scouts: A Citizen Science Approach Using The “Mosquito Mission: Scout & Report!” Worksheet, Claire A. Klein

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

Mosquitoes, though small, impact millions around the world by being significant vectors of diseases. The search for effective mosquito control efforts is ongoing, however, there is a gap in community involvement with a focus on recognizing and reducing potential breeding areas. Public engagement is a cornerstone of effective mosquito control. This honors thesis investigates the implementation of the Mosquito Mappers program with an original Girl Scout worksheet, “Mosquito Mission: Scout & Report!” This worksheet, which utilizes NASA’s GLOBE Observer Mosquito Habitat Mapper app, enables the Girl Scouts to contribute to real-time environmental monitoring. By guiding Girl Scouts through an inquiry-based …

2025 Soars Conference Program, Unf Office Of Undergraduate Research

Showcase of Osprey Advancements in Research and Scholarship (SOARS)

Program for the 2025 Showcase of Osprey Advancements in Research and Scholarship (SOARS)

Analysis Of Psychoactive Compounds In The Web-Building Behavior Of Mangora Maculata, Diane R. Castner

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Projects

The arachnid central nervous system (CNS) functions in an analogous way to the human CNS, despite spiders not having a central brain. Previous studies on spider behavior and web formation have investigated the impacts of stimulants, depressants, sedatives, and hallucinogens, but the impacts of serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), such as fluoxetine are unknown. This study examined the impacts of caffeine, nicotine, ethanol, and fluoxetine on the web building behavior of Mangora maculata. Webs were characterized by 9 metrics: web entirety, size of web, radial angles, cell length, number of large holes, frequency of forking of spiral threads, radial angle consistency, …

The Chanticleer, 2025-04-10, Coastal Carolina University

The Chanticleer Student Newspaper

The editorially independent student produced weekly newspaper of Coastal Carolina University.

The Current - Volume 35 Issue 12, Nova Southeastern University

Student Newspapers

No abstract provided.

April 2025 Graduate Council Minutes, University Of Nebraska At Kearney Graduate Council

Graduate Council Minutes

No abstract provided.

April 8, 2025 Ereporter, University Of Alabama At Birmingham

eReporter (campus newsletter)

No abstract provided.

Inspire Student Research & Engagement Conference [Program] April 7-8, 2025, University Of Northern Iowa

INSPIRE Student Research & Engagement Conference Programs

A program for the INSPIRE conference where undergraduate and graduate students present their research, internship, volunteer and study abroad experiences, club activities and creative performances.

Ai Beliefs And Practices In Community College Classrooms, Julie Eng, Heather Umphlett, Jocelyn Gilchrist, Alicia Howell, Mary Ann Howell, Wendy Miller-Edwards, Laurel Pope

Inquiry: The Journal of the Virginia Community Colleges

The country, the Commonwealth of Virginia, and Virginia Community College System initiatives all promote generative AI within education. It is a topic of great concern and interest for higher education instructors, yet at the same time many faculty members feel uncertain about effectively integrating it into class material. To further add pressure to the AI explosion, community colleges particularly face a responsibility to prepare their students for success in this new AI-focused environment. In this article, seven faculty members from Camp Community College discuss the implications of generative AI programs, including subscriptions and chatbots, within their particular courses and how …

Uncovering The Treasure Of Self-Directed Learning, W Alex Foxworthy, William "Bill" Mccarter

Inquiry: The Journal of the Virginia Community Colleges

Self-directed learning enables students to take charge of their educational journey by selecting their own paths, thereby fostering intrinsic motivation. Traditional educational models often rely on extrinsic motivators like grades and rewards, whereas self-directed approaches emphasize personal satisfaction and curiosity. Review of existing research highlights how extrinsic rewards can undermine intrinsic motivation, leading to decreased academic performance and well-being. Herein we also present practical examples from classroom settings, demonstrating how real-world applications and student-led investigations can enhance engagement and learning outcomes. Additionally, we address the role of digital platforms in facilitating self-directed learning while noting the challenges of information reliability. …

Exploring Credit Loss For Engineering Transfer Students, Amy J. Richardson, David B. Knight

Inquiry: The Journal of the Virginia Community Colleges

One of the issues at the heart of transfer is the mobility of credits across institutions—moving credits from one institution to another is a crucial process for the transfer pathway to be a viable option. Credit loss is a critical issue for transfer students enrolled in highly sequential degrees, such as engineering. A student could be set back a year or more if they miss one required prerequisite course at the time of transfer. Determining who experiences credit loss in engineering could help ease the transfer process, improve graduation rates, and broaden participation in engineering since the transfer pathway has …

Acompañamiento And Assessment: Examples Of Community Building Through Assignments In A First-Year Class, Shaianne Tran, Hector Amezola, Dalissa Rodriguez, Morgan Baird, Jennifer Fuentes Luna, Alejandra Vazquez, Fattemah Zia, David Peterson Del Mar

Amplify: A Journal of Writing-as-Activism

This collection of seven diverse assignments written by students from under-represented communities for a first-year inquiry class on immigration, migration, and belonging illustrates how instructors can facilitate a sense of belonging or acompañamiento through course assignments, assessment instruments. Each of the student authors provides a retrospective introduction on how their personal reflection, essay, or research project helped them to make personal connections within or outside of the class. The instructor provides a brief introduction to the concept of acompañamiento and why it is particularly important for New Majority college students.

April 2025 General Education Council Minutes, University Of Nebraska At Kearney General Education Council

General Education Council

No abstract provided.

The Effects Of Diluted Fungicide On Western Tiger Salamander (Ambystoma Mavortium) Health, Sage Veomett

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

The Western Tiger Salamander (Ambystoma mavortium) is a species of salamander that is native to Nebraska. The Western Tiger Salamander population has been in decline, specifically in Southeast Nebraska (Ferraro, 2016). The purpose of this study was to determine whether low levels of Azoxystrobin fungicide deposited in the soil are harmful to the Western Tiger Salamander. In this study, soil in tanks containing pairs of Western Tiger Salamanders was treated with levels of Azoxystrobin 0.5x under the recommended label amount for usage. Fifteen salamanders in total were used. Four tanks of salamander pairs were treated with the Azoxystrobin …

Illuminated Magazine - Spring 2025, School Of Graduate Studies, East Tennessee State University

Illuminated: Graduate Student Research Magazine

• 2: Editorial Staff
• 6: Betting on Appalachia: How Appalachian Identity Correlates to Gambling Disorder; Noah Anderson, Psychology, PhD
• 9: Where Are They Now? Featuring Maria Jose Araujo Dias
• 10: Inner Bonds: An Exploration of Emotions through Character Creation, Story, and Design; Cait Maltbie, Studio Art, MFA
• 13: Where Are They Now? Featuring Cynthia Milhorn
• 14: Characterizing the Polymicrobial Interactions of Alcaligenes faecalis; Aly Hargrave, Biology, MS
• 18: Grant Award Recipients
• 20: Discovering a Potentially Novel Bacteriocin from Klebsiella Bacteria; Jasmal Cruz Perez, Biology, MS
• 23: Where Are They Now? Featuring Julianne Hensley
• 24: Assessing How Different Training Programs Affect High-Intensity …

Columnas: The Honors Program Newsletter At Bentley University, Alyssa Galin, Hayden Jennato, Isabella Ramirez, Micaela Corzo, Tiara Morales, Christos Chatziioannou

Honors Program

ADAPTING AND EMBRACING COLLEGE LIFE AT BENTLEY:

Page 2: The Best of Both Worlds by Amanda '25

Page 3: How Bentley Has Changed My Life by Yun Song '25

Page4: From the Andes to Boston by Gabriel E. Mendoza Hancco '28

Page 5: Navigating Imposter Syndrome: A First-Generation Ethiopian Student's Journey

TECHNOLOGY AND ITS IMPACT

Page 6: The TikTok Ban by Khussam Mohamed '28

Page 7: My Haphazard (Yet Steadily Improving) Relationship with AI as a Lifelong Writer by Sahil Raut '27

REDEFINING HAPPINESS

Page 8: Hack Your Happiness by Sadie Fitzpatrick '28

Page 9: Don't Wait by Sinead Keyes …

Toward Ar Visualization Of The Fluid-Mosaic Model Of The Cell Membrane, Yoonwoo Lee, Allison Ost, Junghyuk Lee, Krisztina Z. Bencze

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

Background: During the first semester of biochemistry experience, students focus on learning the structure and function of biomolecules: carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids. Visualizing these structures and understanding interactions between molecules helps students better understand biological function. A variety 3D visualization tools are available, ex. PyMol, Chimera, Avogadro, Blender. Within the past decade, Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) applications gained more popularity. VR with its immersive visual experience is more sought-after, but the higher cost and the need for headset creates limitations in the classroom. AR visualizations are cheaper and more accessible, several publications report successful implementation …

Incrimination Of Carlton Lewis, Kaia L. Fox

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

On February 7, 1990, Cheryl Coleman was found dead in her apartment, sexually assaulted and beaten to death with a 2x4 piece of wood. Carlton Lewis became one the of few suspects in the case. Despite providing a statement that he was at his home at the time of the murder and the word of his wife, a suspect named William McKee was interviewed and said he saw Lewis go to a house on the corner of the street with Coleman. After McKee was interviewed, Lewis, who was illiterate at the time, was forced into a false confession by being …