Digital Commons Network^™

Comparing Dissection Vs Literature Data Of Cestodes In Ducks, Sophia B. Cross

Research & Creative Achievement Day

Cestodes are a class of parasites that are often found in vertebrate animals, specifically ducks. Research conducted by Winona State University students showed that cestodes were the most prevalent type of parasites found within ducks. However, outside research provides controversy as to whether this is actually true. Ducks were dissected by Winona State students over the past seven years, and their internal organs were carefully inspected under a light microscope. Ducks were donated by hunters, mostly harvested along the Mississippi River, from Buffalo City, WI to Winona, MN. Parasites were obtained, stored, and labelled from each duck. A dichotomous key …

Impact Of News Sentiment Analysis On The Performance Of Stock Trading Models, Nindl

Research & Creative Achievement Day

This study investigated how news sentiment analysis improves stock price prediction accuracy. Two Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) neural networks were created using PyTorch, a baseline model without sentiment analysis trained using 22 technical features, and another model with sentiment analysis scores from Alpha Vantage’s sentiment analysis API. The historical data gathered spans from 2018-2025 and it covers a total of seven securities at 20-minute intervals. There are three volatile stocks (Tesla, NVIDIA, AMC), three stable stocks (Johnson & Johnson, Coca-Cola, Procter & Gamble), and a single S&P 500 index (SPY). The models were run in the same testing environment that …

Exploring Boolean Dependency Mapping For Rust Crates Aimed At Embedded Systems, Hamilton A. Ferris

Research & Creative Achievement Day

Rust Crates are concise, safe ways to abstract compilation units in the Rust programming language. Each crate can be compiled individually, or some may depend on others (i.e. function `bar` may depend on crate `foo`). However, there is no standard way to compile Rust crates in a `no_std` configuration, which targets the compilation at embedded systems. Existing research into this topic mostly focuses on developer opinion. Sharma et al. (2025) discovered that only 68% of developers thought that Rust crate support was sufficient. In addition, 92% of developers surveyed also used C for embedded systems, and 64% of them claimed …

Progress Towards The Synthesis Of Trans-4-Bromo-2-Heptene, Ava L. Dillon

Research & Creative Achievement Day

trans-4-Bromo-2-heptene (1) is a simple compound that, despite two reports to the contrary, has never been synthesized in pure form. Nevertheless, it could be a useful starting material for organic synthesis. The compound presents a significant synthetic challenge due to a propensity to undergo allylic rearrangement to form a mixture of allylic bromides. Therefore, the goal of this research was to synthesize 1 with a multistep synthesis. Step 1 was to produce hept-2-yn-4-ol (2) via a Grignard synthesis by combining butanal and propynyl magnesium bromide with the triple bond acting as a masking group for the alkene. The alcohol was …

Hybrid Rans-Les Modeling Of Airflow In A Bronchial Flow Simulation Of A Human Lung, Sunday Joseph

Liberty University Research Week

No abstract provided.

The Relation Of Museum Visitors' Idea Framing Approaches And Engineering Engagement During A Community Design Puppet-Making Activity​, Adeline Sauer

Undergraduate Research and Engagement Symposium

Engaging in early informal learning opportunities for children provides a unique setting for fostering their engineering learning. Specifically, collaboration (e.g., sharing ideas and helping one another) can support children's learning during tinkering activities. We explore how 39 4- to 10-year-old children (Mean age = 6.63; 19 girls) and their caregivers define and engage in the engineering design process (EDP) during a hands-on puppet making activity at a children’s museum. It is hypothesized that children and caregivers who frame, or communicate, their ideas as group-centered will have the highest engagement in the EDP process over framing ideas as individual-centered and other-centered.

Area Approximation Of Jordan Curves Via The Isoperimetric Inequality And Cauchy-Crofton Formula, Nikita Veselkin, Rashad Kaiyal

Mathematics Colloquium Series

We combine the Isoperimetric Inequality (Dido's Problem) and the Cauchy-Crofton formula to approximate the area enclosed by Jordan curves in the 2D plane. The Cauchy-Crofton formula provides a consistent estimate of a curve's length, which the Isoperimetric Inequality then uses to approximate the enclosed area. We additionally present software that automates the Cauchy-Crofton length computation, making the method practical for real-world use. Empirical testing validates the accuracy of this combined approach, with potential applications in tumor segmentation from MRI scans.

Leveraging Agentic And Generative Ai For Intelligent Global Market Analysis, Anichur Rahman, Airin Afroj Aishi, Md Shohel Rana

GS4 Student Scholars Symposium

Global financial markets produce enormous amounts of structured and unstructured data on a per-second basis. The data is comprised of economic data, news feeds, social media data, and geopolitical data. Traditional approaches to financial market analysis have difficulties integrating these data sources and adapting to the changing global environment. This project aims to create a novel framework for autonomous financial market intelligence using Agentic AI and Generative AI technologies. Agentic AI is an emerging technology that allows for the creation of autonomous decision-making agents. The agents can be programmed to continuously monitor and analyze data sources, detect emerging trends, and …

How Is The Use Of Ai Impacting Nursing Students Education?, Lorna H. Strain

GS4 Student Scholars Symposium

The use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in education is rapidly increasing and reshaping how nursing students learn and engage with content. This thesis proposal takes a look at the impact of AI on the education of nursing students and explores students' perceptions of its use in their learning and education. As AI becomes more prevalent, many students are using it for study aids and content personalization, while schools are using it in simulations and textbook platforms. Many recognize its benefits, such as enhanced critical thinking, improved accessibility of materials, and more immersive learning. Concerns persist around ethical use, academic integrity, …

Alkaloid Profiling Of Narcissus Poeticus L. Bulbs And Their Inhibitory Activity Of Cholinesterases, Maël Gainche, Isabelle Ripoche, Elodie Jagu

Oxford ICSB

The Amaryllidaceae family is well known for its rich diversity of alkaloids, including lycorine- and galantamine-type structures with potent cholinesterase inhibitory properties. In this study, we investigated the phytochemical composition and cholinesterase inhibitory activity of alkaloids isolated from Narcissus poeticus L., a species native to the botanically rich Auvergne region of France. Phytochemical analysis and bioguided fractionation of bulb extracts led to the identification of three known alkaloids, pseudolycorine, norgalantamine, and 2-O-(3’-hydroxybutanoyl)-lycorine, as well as a newly characterized tetrahydroquinoline derivative, poeticine A. The inhibitory activities of these compounds against acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) were assessed using both a standard …

The Soldier’S Stigmata, Part Ii: Figura, The Four Senses Of Interpretation, And Other Matters In Lois Mcmaster Bujold’S “The Borders Of Infinity”, Andrew Hallam

Mythlore: A Journal of J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Charles Williams, and Mythopoeic Literature

THIS IS A TWO-PART ARTICLE. IN ORDER TO READ OR DOWNLOAD THE OTHER PART, FOLLOW THE LINK AT THE END OF THIS ABSTRACT.

This article will explore the connection between Lois McMaster Bujold’s novella “The Borders of Infinity,” the Aristotelian theory of habitus as developed further in the letters of the Apostle Paul and by the sociologist Pierre Bourdieu, and the four senses of interpretation of scripture first conceived in antiquity and later refined by medieval philosophers. Habitus as a durable disposition, state, or condition (Aristotle) is a structured and structuring social practice or set of social practices (Bourdieu) that …

Evaluation Of Fasted And Fed Gastrointestinal Transformation Of Withania Somnifera Plant Extracts And Bioactive Compounds Via Uplc-Ms/Ms And Untargeted Metabolomics, Sarah Barr, Wendy Strangman, R. Thomas Williamson, Amala Soumyanath, Melissa Bollen

Oxford ICSB

Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) is a widely consumed botanical supplement recognized for its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-aging properties. Despite its extensive use, limited information exists on how its complex chemical composition changes during gastrointestinal digestion. An untargeted UPLC-MS/MS-based metabolomics approach enables analysis of discrete changes in complex mixtures. Previous in vitro studies of W. somnifera relied on simulated gastric and intestinal models composed primarily of buffers and digestive enzymes. This study advances those methods by incorporating bile salts and phospholipids under fasted and fed conditions to better simulate physiological digestion of aqueous and ethanolic extracts of W. somnifera root and leaf. …

Co2 Washout Performance Of Single-Prong And Dual-Prong High-Velocity Therapy, Robert Kacinski

Liberty University Research Week

Computational models were used to investigate the flow in the upper airway during high-velocity therapy delivered via a single-prong or a dual-prong cannula geometry. A temporally varying boundary condition was used to apply a realistic breathing cycle to the base of the trachea. The patient mouth was “closed” to specific percentages by modifying the cross sectional area of a plane in the patient mouth. The total amount of CO2 inhaled, which should be minimized, was collected as a measure of therapy effectiveness. The mass CO2 inhaled was calculated by subtracting the mass of CO2 present in the airway at the …

Environmental Limitations Of A Low-Cost, Cots Lora Meshcore Node Network, Robert Thompson, Alexander Weir, David Zelinsky, Hannah Murai, Judah Sotomayor

Liberty University Research Week

During catastrophic emergencies, when the existing cellular infrastructure is rendered unusable, reliable off-grid communication equipment can save lives. This study aims to investigate the effectiveness of low-cost consumer radio hardware utilizing LoRa wireless technology in an emergency communications scenario. During catastrophic emergencies, when the existing cellular infrastructure is rendered unusable, reliable off-grid communication equipment can save lives. LoRa is a wireless communication technology that can be easily deployed with low-cost radio hardware. Due to its low power consumption, flexible deployment, and wide range, LoRa modules are well-suited for setting up a network in an emergency response scenario when traditional communication …

Machine-Learning Based Airbrakes Control For Rocket Apogee Targeting, Sara Schweitzer, Christopher Brown, Daniel Isenhour

Liberty University Research Week

In rocketry, small variations in weather and launch conditions can cause large differences in the highest altitude (“apogee”) a rocket can reach during flight, which makes targeting a precise altitude difficult. Airbrakes—small and deployable surfaces that increase drag—can actively adjust a rocket’s climb to achieve the intended apogee. Our goal is to develop an airbrake deployment approach that can translate to real rocket applications for teams lacking resources such as high-fidelity computational fluid dynamics, wind tunnel testing, or multiple test launches. Therefore, rather than using a control method that continuously adjusts the amount the airbrakes are deployed into the airstream, …

Establishing Local Protocols For Monoclonal Antibodies Production Using Hybridomas, Kingsley Ampong

Liberty University Research Week

Monoclonal antibodies are currently one of the most effective tools in biomedical research, diagnostics and therapeutic development. Hybridoma technique, which involves the fusion of immortal myeloma cells with stimulated B cells to produce an infinite supply of monoclonal antibodies. A stock of antibodies produced from offspring of a single hybridoma cells is the best way of producing monoclonal antibodies. These hybridoma cultures produce antibodies that are specific to a single target, or antigen. The targets for these monoclonal antibodies are almost limitless and can include enzymes, hormones, internal structures on bacteria, viruses and other eukaryotic cells as well as receptors. …

Detection Of 17Α Ethynylestradiol And 17Β Estradiol In Wastewater, Kezia J. Lemke

Research & Creative Achievement Day

Environmental estrogens act as endocrine disrupting chemicals, thereby affecting the metabolism, synthesis, and receptors of hormones. For this reason, estrogens can have serious health consequences for aquatic wildlife by negatively affecting their reproductive abilities. Synthetic estrogens, such as 17α ethynylestradiol, the synthetic analog of 17β estradiol, are particularly potent, and are shown to have more harmful effects at lower concentrations. This illustrates the importance of developing sensitive and efficient methods for 17α ethynylestradiol and 17β estradiol detection, so that areas of high concentration can be recognized and methods to decrease the estrogen concentrations can be put in place. To this …

Computational Investigation Of Ruthenium Complex Interactions With Dna For Anticancer Applications, Mikayla A. Ertz

Research & Creative Achievement Day

Ruthenium complexes are being studied as potential alternatives to platinum-based cancer drugs because they are often less toxic and more selective for cancer cells. This project uses computational modeling to investigate how a ruthenium complex interacts with DNA, which is an important target for anticancer activity. All simulations were performed using the MSI Agate supercomputing system through Termius. The complex was first tested in the major groove of DNA with and without a leaving group, followed by the same set of simulations in the minor groove. Binding energies were analyzed to compare interaction strength and determine how groove position and …

Growing Large Single And Multi-Crystals From Alum Powder, Owen Paulson, Mayra G. Aguilar, Owen T. Maloney, Kole C. Koehler

Research & Creative Achievement Day

Crystal growth science is used to replicate the growth of crystals that form in nature. Channels of hot fluid with concentrations of minerals created the crystals found as gemstones. At low concentrations, no crystal grows. At high concentrations, a multitude of crystals grow. At the ideal concentration, a single, clear crystal grows. Four solution concentrations were used to create seed crystals. Those Alum seed crystals were attached to a string and suspended in various concentrations of Alum solution to find concentrations that create no crystal, a single crystal, and a multi-crystal.

Characterization Of Bacteria In Cattle Specimens, Jacob D. Hanson, Josie M. Tieskoetter

Research & Creative Achievement Day

Cattle nasal cavities provide a favorable environment for microbial colonization and can habit a wide population of bacteria, including opportunistic and pathogenic species. The objective of this research was to isolate, characterize, and identify bacteria present is nasal swap specimen collected from multiple calves. Samples were cultured and analyzed using selective and differential media, Gram staining, spore staining, and a range of biochemical assays. Several bacterial species were identified including the genus Corynebacterium and Streptococcus while some isolates could not be identified using classical biochemical methods alone. These results demonstrate that calf nasal specimens commonly contain diverse bacterial populations, some …

Analysis Of Ovarian Structure And Cell Health In Drosophila Melanogaster After Toxic Metal Treatment, Brooke E. Helling

Research & Creative Achievement Day

This project examines how the application of multiple histological and fluorescent stains can be used to visualize the structure of fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster) ovaries, including how toxic metal exposure may affect ovarian tissue. Ovaries were dissected from adult female flies, and some flies were first treated with toxic metals to observe possible changes in cell structure. The samples were stained with DAPI to label nuclei, antibody stains to detect specific proteins within the ovary, and apoptosis stains to identify cells undergoing programmed cell death. After staining, the ovaries were imaged using a fluorescence microscope to compare how healthy and …

Photocatalysis Of Methyl Red Using Iron Oxide Nanoparticles, Mikayla A. Ertz, Bonnie Ni, Conner J. Lehner, Henry S. Gramann

Research & Creative Achievement Day

This study investigated the photodegradation of methyl red, an azo dye commonly used as a pH indicator and a known environmental pollutant, using synthesized Fe3O4 nanoparticles. Methyl red is resistant to degradation from simple environmental conditions such as heat and light. The goal of this project was to determine whether Fe3O4 nanoparticles could act as an effective catalyst for dye degradation under UV light and to analyze the reaction kinetics using UV-Vis spectroscopy. The Fe3O4 nanoparticles were synthesized, then confirmed to be magnetic and further characterized using IR spectroscopy. Photodegradation experiments were conducted by exposing 50 ppm methyl red solutions, …

Co-Precipitation Synthesis Of Magnetic Nanoparticles (Mnps) Fe3o4 And Their Photocatalytic Performance, Leo Doan, Natalie R. Chouinard, Kahun N. Vue

Research & Creative Achievement Day

Iron oxide nanoparticles (NPs) were prepared and evaluated for their photocatalytic activity in degrading methylene blue (MB). MB is widely used in different industries and is difficult to remove from waste due to the benzene groups, so the removal of MB becomes an emergency problem. Magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs), Fe3O4, were successfully synthesized using a co-precipitation method between FeCl3.6H2O and FeCl2.4H2O. The point of zero charge (PZC) was determined to be approximately at pH 6.37. The NPs were examined under UV light irradiation, and their catalytic activity was monitored using UV-Vis spectroscopy. The λmax of MB was determined to be approximately …

Growing Alum Crystals, Todd Carroll, Daniela Gutierrez Rubio, Kevin Dang, Samuel J. Whempner

Research & Creative Achievement Day

One of the easiest crystal growth experiments uses Alum powder to dissolve in water. The dissolved material slowly forms with seed crystals to create larger crystals. As the dissolved material is depleted, more is added to continue the crystal growth. Four different concentrations were used for seed crystal growth. Those crystals were attached to a string and hung in a bath of Alum solution. Different strategies were used to grow crystals and in some cases dissolve crystals.

Weatherwise Bench, Ella R. Carr, Beckett Malaise, Dominic Perez, Matt Wooden

Research & Creative Achievement Day

Current outdoor seating concepts seem to be either heavy and bulky yet durable or light and easy to move, but lacking durability. How about combining the best of both worlds to create a seat that is light and easy to move, but also durable. WeatherWise is a sleek, carbon fiber bench that incorporates a honeycomb core to ensure a lightweight product that is also durable. The carbon fiber provides a sleek look and added strength. The design allows the bench to be outdoors in all types of weather from hot, sunny summer days to cold, snowy winter nights. The design …

Identifying Spatial Inhomogeneity In An Industrial-Scale Autoclave Polymer Reactor Using Computational Fluid Dynamics, Elijah Yoder

Liberty University Research Week

Because of the exothermic nature of polyethylene polymerization, process improvements must be performed carefully. Reactor failure can occur due to thermal runaway in which the added heat increases the reaction rates, increasing the temperature further, and so on. This is dangerous, because the pressure increases along with temperature, and it can explode if it exceeds the design conditions of the reactor. This makes experimental work obviously dangerous, so researchers often prefer simulations. Although, a common assumption is that the reaction mixture is perfectly homogeneous, lessening its applicability. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) makes no such assumptions and can resolve internal temperature …

Aerodynamic Performance Analysis Of High-Powered Rocket Airbrakes, Simon Babcock, Samuel Worthington, Sophia Batchelor

Liberty University Research Week

This research investigates the use of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to derive a coefficient-of-drag (Cd) profile for a high-powered rocket with an active airbrake control system to drive precise apogee control and trajectory prediction. High-fidelity CFD simulations are used to produce a reliable drag-coefficient function across relevant Mach numbers with airbrakes retracted and extended into the relative airstream, enabling more accurate trajectory modeling and control strategies for rockets employing aerodynamic drag modulation. This accurate drag characterization is critical as small deviations in the rocket’s Cd can significantly alter the predicted launch behavior and stability during high-powered flight. Prior work in …

Exploring The K-12 Educational Experiences Of First-Generation Hispanic Undergraduate Students, Stephanie Hernandez-Lopez

Liberty University Research Week

Research Question: This qualitative study examines how first-generation Hispanic undergraduate students perceive their K-12 educational experiences and how these shaped their transition into higher education. Method: Through semi-structured interviews with four participants, the research identifies recurring themes, including parental involvement, language barriers, access to resources, motivation, and preparedness for college. These insights contribute to understanding systemic factors behind the achievement gap and inform strategies for more equitable educational support. Conclusion: Overall, the findings show that first-generation Hispanic students’ college readiness is shaped by the combined effects of limited early academic rigor, inconsistent school–family communication, and assumptions about home academic support. …

Quantitative Stewardship Of The Great Commission: A Linear Programming Approach To Missionary Allocation In India, Isaiah Mellace

Liberty University Research Week

This project investigates how linear programming can be used as a decision-support tool to inform missionary allocation across unreached people groups in India. The central thesis is that quantitative optimization methods can help identify regions of greatest unmet need and minimize the number of resources required to complete the Great Commission. Prior work in operations research has demonstrated the effectiveness of linear programming for resource allocation problems in logistics, healthcare, and humanitarian aid; however, such methods have rarely been applied to missiological contexts. Using figures from Joshua Project’s South Asia data, a mixed-integer linear programming model was constructed with assumptions …

Machine Learning-Based Defect Identification Using Resonant Ultrasonic Spectroscopy, Abigail Richard

GS4 Student Scholars Symposium

Resonant ultrasonic spectroscopy (RUS) is a common non-destructive testing (NDT) technique that is used for quality assessment of the parts and components in various applications. RUS is performed by exciting samples by an external load and capturing its vibrational frequencies to be analyzed and find irregularities to classify parts. RUS has been investigated to test additively manufactured Inconel 718 samples for the feasibility of accurate quality assessment. Frequency and amplitude data was collected, transformed using z-score normalization and then analyzed using different classification algorithms. Machine learning algorithms has been deployed for defect classification of good and bad samples. These findings …