Digital Commons Network^™

Nesting Success Of American Robins (Turdus Migratorius) In Suburban Areas Of The Arkansas River Valley, Brandon Maiersperger

ATU Scholars Symposium

The American Robin (Turdus migratorius) is an abundant North American songbird species that thrives in suburban areas. Estimates of robin nesting success in suburban areas range from 31% to 90%. Robin nest site selection and success have not received much attention in the past few decades. Most passerines have a balanced sex ratio at fledging, but little is known about the fledgling sex ratio of robins. We located 44 robin nests in six public parks around Russellville, AR and on the Arkansas Tech University campus. Nest success was low; 27% (12/44) of nests fledged at least one young. Robins nested …

The Ecological Meaning Of The Presence Of God In Elizabeth Ann Seton’S Reflections And Translations Based On Elizabeth Bayley Seton: Collected Writings Volumes 3a & 3b, Sung-Hae Kim S.C.

Vincentian Studies

In her third interpretation of Elizabeth Seton’s spirituality within the framework of ecological theology, Sun Hae Kim examines volumes 3a and 3b of Elizabeth’s writings. These volumes cover Elizabeth’s entire life. The presence of God was “the mystery that not only sustained her throughout her life but also united her vision of the entire universe of natural creation and humanity into one.” Kim also puts Elizabeth’s views of creation, humanity, suffering, and death within the context of three ecological theologians: Hildegard of Bingen, Sallie McFague, and Elizabeth A. Johnson. According to Elizabeth, God’s presence “consecrates every part of the universe”; …

Acoustic Sampling Of Arkansas Bat Species Richness Across Different Seasons And Habitats, Lark E. Sybrant

ATU Scholars Symposium

Arkansas is home to sixteen bat species belonging to the Vespertilionidae and Molossidae families. Bats are keystone species and provide numerous ecosystem services that also benefit people. This study explores factors that impact species richness between the spring and fall seasons in a wooded rural site (Washburn Park) and an urban field site (Arkansas Tech University campus), Russellville, AR. The non-invasive Echo Meter Touch 2 Pro, from Wildlife Acoustics, was used to record calls and identify bat species from these locations. Nearly 1,050 calls were recorded from 11 different species across the spring and fall between both sites. Results showed …

Co-Flowering Community Effects On The Relative Contribution Of Pollen Quantity And Quality Limitation To The Reproductive Success Of Four Clarkia Species, Emma Moore

Appalachian Student Research Forum

More than 60% of plant populations experience low pollen availability which limits seed production (pollen limitation). Pollen limitation occurs due to low quantity or quality of pollen delivered to stigmas. Despite its ubiquity in nature, to date we still have limited understanding of the drivers of pollen limitation in plant communities. Plants typically occur in diverse communities where pollinator sharing is common and can influence quality and quantity aspects of pollen limitation. Co-flowering species can attract larger numbers of pollinators or they can compete for pollinators affecting pollen loads on stigmas. Pollinator competition may also lead to higher rates of …

White Blood Cell Make Up In Kellback Snake Offspring Of Varying Maternal Size, Angelica Mccoy

Symposium of Student Scholars

The immune system is composed of various organs, systems, and other components with one of the most important being white blood cells. White blood cells are commonly separated into two scientific varieties, granulocytes and agranulocytes, which can be differentiated by the presence or absence of granules in the cytoplasm once stained on a slide. There are three granulocytes and two agranulocytes, each with a distinct function and shape. The ratio of these may impact the effectiveness of this portion of the immune system, and multiple factors could play a role in this ratio, an example being the size of an …

Investigating The Severity And Rate Of Occurrence Of Motorcycle Crashes Across Different Land Uses In Georgia, Robert Edwards

Symposium of Student Scholars

In 2020, motorcycle crashes reached their highest number of fatalities nationally since 1975, when 5,579 motorcyclists were killed. Georgia, in recent years, has seen an increase in the number of fatal multi-vehicle crashes involving motorcycles. This would be indicative of the general trend and nothing more if the number of motorcycle crashes reported outside of urban populations did not increase—despite lockdown measures—by 1.7% in 2020. In this investigation, employing a thorough examination of the Georgia Department of Transportation’s Crash Data (GDOT) compiled from the last ten years and the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) compiled from the last five years, …

Development Of A Fish Robot Equipped With Novel 3d-Printed Soft Bending Actuators, Steven Steele, Jorge Diaz Rodriguez, Sharun Sripathy, Turaj Ashuri, Saleh Gharaie, Yusun Chang, Amir Ali Amiri Moghadam

Symposium of Student Scholars

This paper reports on design and fabrication of a novel soft fish robot. Application of soft actuators for the fish tail will generates continuum bending motion which resembles the natural motion of the fish. However, most soft actuator mechanisms are complex and have low efficiency. Thus, to address this issue we have developed a 3D printed soft bending actuator which can be actuated with an electromotor. The basic design idea of the soft bending actuator is explained, and iteration of the design showed to create the desired motion for the soft tail. The soft actuator has been successfully integrated with …

Utilization Of Beta-Agonists On The Effects Of Marbling / Fat Deposition In Beef Cattle, Rafael Andrade, Sara Erby, Blaine Holzman

ATU Scholars Symposium

In the beef industry, producers have tried to find ways to optimize production and performance for the benefit of their beef cattle operations. To do that, if they wished to, they would use modernizing technologies that are available today. With these modern technologies, such as Beta – androgenic agonists, producers have been able to utilize these to see the positive effects of marbling and fat deposition. They act to enhance lean muscle gain, increase growth rate in the animals, and increase feed efficiency without having to use extra inputs, needed supplements, or compensation for gain. By using these technologies, they …

Alleviating Environmental Stresses In Native Arkansas Plants By Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Inoculation, Rebecca C. Morse

ATU Scholars Symposium

The rapid human-driven changes in the environment during the Anthropocene have placed extreme stress on many native plants and animals. Beneficial interactions with microorganisms may be crucial for ameliorating these stressors and facilitating the ecosystem services host organisms provide. The role of an important mutualistic association with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in the competitive ability and successful adaptation of Arkansas native species by enhancing nutrient uptake has not been previously considered. Analysis of field root and soil samples from the native species in their native range as well as a controlled greenhouse experiment will be conducted to determine the level …

Avian Influenza In The United States And It's Ramifications On Our Market In The Poultry Industry, Alaini C. Carrington, Jada Trotter, Savannah Sanders

ATU Scholars Symposium

While researching Avian Influenza (AI) in the United States, we have found that it has significantly impacted 47 states. Four main AI types have an impact on poultry farms. Avian Influenza can be reduced by taking preventative methods such as biosecurity and culling birds to have a healthy flock on the farm. Since 2022 egg-laying hens have been affected by the Avian Influenza Virus, causing egg inventories to become lower. Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) has affected farmers tremendously; because of this, farmers must worry about their families' source of income, their workers and the workers' families' source of income, …

Spatial Assessment Of Aquatic Macroinvertebrate Communities In Tributaries Of Lake Dardanelle, Brendon K. Mitchell

ATU Scholars Symposium

Aquatic macroinvertebrates are key bioindicators of water/habitat quality and can be used to catch changes in the health of the aquatic systems that they live within. They can also be used to determine a fish community as many fish species require macroinvertebrates as a key part of their diet. These macroinvertebrate communities can change significantly due to varying land-use practices on surrounding riparian area. This is especially in places like Arkansas with lots of agriculture and an increasing population. We assessed 6 tributaries of Lake Dardanelle (Bakers Creek, Shoal Creek, Spadra Creek, Middle Fork Illinois Bayou, Hurricane Creek, and Mill …

The Effects Of Artificial Insemination On Beef Cattle In The United States, Allee R. Sweeten, Abigail Shelnut, Madison Dickey

ATU Scholars Symposium

Artificial insemination (AI) is a reproductive procedure widely used in cattle industries and other livestock to increase pregnancy rates. Breeders must wait until the animals are in the estrus part of their estrous cycle to AI. Estrus synchronization is utilized to manipulate the estrous cycle to go into estrus or standing heat. AI is conducted by loading a semen straw into an inseminating gun, inserting the gun into the vagina of the heifer, and making sure it gets past the cervix by palpating with the other hand. Once past the cervix, the semen can be distributed in the heifer. AI …

Benefits Of Growth Hormone Implants In Beef Cattle, Brody Jones, Jaxsen Franco, Riley Knight

ATU Scholars Symposium

Using growth hormone implants in beef cattle producers could combat the decreasing market supply that is currently being experienced in the United States (US). Growth hormone implants increases individual cattle weight by 15 to 20 percent, produces the same amount of product using fewer head of cattle. This study provides an insight into the benefit of using growth hormone implants in the production of beef cattle. The paper takes a look at the rising costs of input prices, cattle market supply in the US, and the effects these implants had on beef cattle of varying species and environments. Most of …

Environmental And Agricultural Effects On Waterfowl Population In Arkansas, Caleb Sipes, Ellison Stephens, Marissa Young

ATU Scholars Symposium

This paper discusses some of the positive and negative effects of environmental and agricultural influences on the waterfowl population in the state of Arkansas. Waterfowl hunting has been a prominent source of revenue to the state of Arkansas for many decades. Waterfowl hunting will continue to be prominent in this state in future as long as Arkansans maintain and preserve the natural resources here as well as use our own to further progress the waterfowl industry in Arkansas. Through aerial surveying, requiring hunters to purchase licenses and stamps to legally hunt waterfowl, and conservation efforts from the Arkansas Game and …

Medicinal Use Of Cannabis In Canines, Claire Manns, Hannah Horst, Tailor Kimbriel

ATU Scholars Symposium

Medicinal cannabis continues to gain popularity for treating a variety of health issues for both humans and animals. This paper examines this growing trend and looks closer at the benefits canine cannabis offers in veterinary care. Cannabis carries a negative connotation due to legal and safety concerns. However, research has shown medicinal cannabis offers multiple benefits, such as chronic pain relief, epilepsy management, and anti-inflammatory properties. Despite the increased availability of cannabis products for dogs, community and veterinary education remain stagnant. Surveys were created to gain both veterinary and community opinions on the use of cannabis for canine health. The …

The Demographic Shift Of Males And Females In Veterinary Medicine, Dalton Tatum, Eddy Patterson, Mia C. Ratliff

ATU Scholars Symposium

The workforce in veterinary medicine saw a gender shift from a male dominated field towards women in the present day. This research aimed to determine why this shift occurred through demographic analysis and surveys to different job types in this career path. By using this data, the group determined that one of the biggest impacts of the shift is due to the very component that makes veterinary medicine such a tough field, and it is located at the graduate school entry level . The competitiveness level is intertwined through all of the data and leads to the conclusion that females …

2023 Program, Kate Votaw

Undergraduate Research Symposium

University of Missouri-St. Louis Undergraduate Research Symposium Program 2023

Comparison Of Redfin Darter (Etheostoma Whipplei) Diets From Two Spatially Distinct Streams In The Arkansas River Valley, Ben S. Johnson, Ethan H. Dodson

ATU Scholars Symposium

SPATIOTEMPORAL COMPARISON OF REDFIN DARTER (ETHEOSTOMA WHIPPLEI) DIETS FROM TWO SPATIALLY-DISTINCT STREAMS IN THE ARKANSAS RIVER VALLEY.

Ben S. Johnson1^*, Ethan H. Dodson1,2, and Kyler B. Hecke1, 1Arkansas Tech University, Department of Biological Sciences, Russellville, AR [email protected], 2Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, 213 AR-89, Mayflower, AR

Diet-data collection is increasingly difficult for darters, as most methods require the dissection of each specimen and the removal of the digestive tract, which is fatal. As a result, the diets of many darter species have been relatively understudied. The Redfin Darter (Etheostoma whipplei) is one species where …

Getting Started With Inquiry-Based Teaching And Learning, Raelynn M. Hall, Avery Farmer, Madison Howerton

ATU Scholars Symposium

Inquiry-based instruction refers to different ways we study the natural world, practice to ask and try to answer a scientific question, and propose explanations based on the evidence derived from conducting experiments. For this study, we engaged in developing science process skills by actively conducting research using Drosophila, the fruit fly as a model organism for studying the phenomenon that animals have traits inherited from parents. The phenomenon is a performance expectation in the Next Generation Science Standards (3-LS3-1). We observed the phenomenon, developed hypotheses, conducted experiments, collected data, analyzed and communicated our findings through discussions and presentations. We developed …

Investigating Differences In Iga Antibody Response Against Aspergillus Fumigatus In Wild Type And Tlr7 Protein Deficient Mice, Courtney Folk

Student Academic Conference

Aspergillus fumigatus is a commonly inhaled, respiratory fungal pathogen and an allergen found in flooded indoor environments, household dust, soil, and plant matter. While a competent immune system effectively clears the inhaled fungus, this same fungus poses a significant threat to weakened immune systems due to its potential to invade the lungs, bloodstream and brain tissue. The mouse genome is 99% similar to the human genome and can serve effectively model the effects of inhaled A. fumigatus (Guénet, 2005). Antibodies play a crucial role in neutralizing pathogens and in mediating an allergic response. In this study, we will investigate the …

Effect Of The Golden Liquid From Honeybees And Refined Granulated Sugar On The Blood Glucose And Serum Iron Levels Of Albino Rats., Onyeka Ekwebene, Benjamin U. Ononye, C T. Udeagulu, C E. Akunne, K C. Onyewuchi, K C. Mbelede, C A. Chidi, F C. Akubukor, K P. Okafor, I Offorbuike, S E. Ayaegbunam, I E. Obiefule

Appalachian Student Research Forum

Honey is a naturally sweet substance produced by honeybees from water, pollen, and nectar. Due to its unique nutritional and therapeutic benefits, which are ascribed to the interaction of the various chemical groups it contains, natural honey is one of the most popular consumed products. Modern-day individuals consume a lot of refined granulated sugar, either directly through foods or indirectly from other sources. The consumption of large amounts of refined granulated sugar alters hematological and physiological changes in the body. According to several scientific studies, honey can be a healthier alternative to refined granulated sugar because it does not threaten …

The Effect Of Cannabidiol (Cbd) On Behavioral And Neuroinflammatory Consequences Of Comorbid Aud And Ptsd In A Rat Model, Bailey Mcguffin, Britta Schwartz, Liza Wills, Justin Gass

Appalachian Student Research Forum

Alcohol use disorder (AUD) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are debilitating conditions that often co-occur, with an estimated 41-79% comorbidity rate. A major concern with the co-occurrence of these disorders is the tendency for one to exacerbate the other. Specifically, symptoms related to PTSD are a significant risk factor for the development of AUD, and alcohol abuse worsens PTSD symptoms. This cycle, along with a lack of effective pharmacological treatment options, leads to significant behavioral and physiological deficits. Additionally, remission for comorbid AUD and PTSD is much more difficult to attain due to exacerbated symptomology and a lack of FDA-approved …

Developing Understanding Of Science Process Skills Through Research And Practices, Faith Ebling, Savannah Cessna, Adria Lindemann, Noelia Lopez, Charleen Sawin, Kyndal Smith

ATU Scholars Symposium

The research examines out first-hand experience of conducting experiments in science and conceptualizing the experimental design process for teaching science concepts in elementary grades. We used Drosophila, the fruit fly as a model organism for studying the phenomenon that animals have traits inherited from parents. The phenomenon is a performance expectation in the Next Generation Science Standards (3-LS3-1). We observed the phenomenon, developed hypothesis, conducted experiments , collected data, analyzed and communicated our findings through discussions and presentations. We utilized our knowledge acquired from the process in developing lesson plans for teaching in elementary grades. In this presentation we will …

Professional Public Relations Portfolio, Laura Boehringer

Honors Capstone Projects and Theses

No abstract provided.

The Neurobiology Of Addiction: The Role Of Dopamine, Cameron Sydney Crews

Honors Capstone Projects and Theses

No abstract provided.

Will Power Africa Final Project Report, Kira Lowell, Joshua Geer, Cooper Adams, Luke Willborn

Engineering Senior Design Reports

This report outlines the final design for the Will Power Africa 2022-2023 senior design team and how testing proved that the design meets each determined project requirement and constraint. The Will Power Africa team was tasked with designing a reliable and durable off-grid energy generation source to power an electric fence to deter elephants and provide charging capabilities for portable devices intended to be implemented in Tsholotsho, Zimbabwe near Hwange National Park and along the routes of elephant herds. This design would allow the community to grow food protected from elephant raiding and increase general connectivity with easier access to …

Matrix Gla Protein – A New Marker For Colorectal Cancer Detection? A Systematic Review, Mirela-Georgiana Perné, Lorena Ciumărnean, Olga-Hilda Orășan, Vasile Negrean, Teodora-Gabriela Alexescu, Mircea Vasile Milaciu, Ioana Roșca, Răzvan Dan Togănel, Gabriel Emil Petre, Lucia Procopcoiuc, Cristina Drugan, Alexandra Crăciun

Journal of Mind and Medical Sciences

Background. Colorectal cancer is a real public health issue, with high morbidity and severe impact on quality of life. Although mortality from this type of cancer is decreasing due to modern diagnostic and treatment methods, the understanding of its genetic and molecular mechanisms is important to develop a broader range of diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. Genetic therapy is an important strategy in cancer treatment, and the matrix Gla protein (MGP) gene expression has been described in numerous studies as increased in tumour pathology. In this article, we have summarized the currently available evidence on the connection between MGP and colorectal …

How Covid-19 Has Affected The Hand Hygiene Habits Of Healthcare Majors And Non-Healthcare Majors, Anna Kate Mcdaniel

Merge

The research hypothesis states there is a statistically significant difference in how Covid-19 affected the hand hygiene habits of healthcare majors and non-healthcare majors. The research study utilized survey which students completed at the cafeteria of a small liberal arts college in the southeastern United States. The population assessed were students who entered the cafeteria while the survey was being administered and agreed to complete the survey. The results of the survey determined there is no statistically significant difference in how Covid-19 affected the hand hygiene habits of healthcare majors and non-healthcare majors. An important implication for the healthcare majors …

The Indiana Statesman, April 25, 2023, Indiana State University

Student Newspaper

Last student concert of the year: Concert dedicated to late director; Hunter Biden vs. Marjorie Greene; Students awarded with Hines Memorial medal

Development Of Detection And Tracking Systems For Autonomous Vehicles Using Machine Learning, Tyler Ward

Morehead State Theses and Dissertations

A thesis presented to the faculty of the Elmer R. Smith College of Business and Technology at Morehead State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science by Tyler Ward April 25, 2023.