Digital Commons Network^™

Modeling For Creep-Fatigue-Induced Damage Of Advanced High-Temperature Nuclear Reactor Steels, Julian Emmanuel Tse Lop Kun

Liberty University Research Week

This study focuses on developing and applying the creep-fatigue Internal State Variable (ISV) constitutive theory for the advanced high-temperature nuclear reactor steels (e.g., 316H stainless steel) to better understand how these materials deform and fracture at high temperatures under cyclic loading condition. In particular, we consider the damage evolution in these steels when some low-cycle loading is applied with finite holding periods. As such, this problem is highly history dependent, which requires tracking the evolution of some relevant microstructural rearrangements and its related properties during these complicated boundary conditions. In this study, we apply a continuum scale ISV plasticity-damage constitutive …

The Perceptions And Experiences Of Divine Grace And Gratitude To God Among Christian And Non-Christian Populations: A Consensual Qualitative Research-Modified Approach, Miriam Bowser

Liberty University Research Week

Grace and gratitude to God have recently emerged as prevalent topics within positive psychology for their benefits such as mental, physical, and relational well-being. However, the relationship between these two concepts has been neglected in empirical research. The current study aims to address this gap in the literature and investigate how Christian and non-Christian lay populations perceive divine grace and gratitude to God. This study attempts to address an additional gap in the literature by comparing both Christian and non-Christian perceptions of grace and gratitude to God, since most current research is heavily limited to Christian populations. Modified consensual qualitative …

Leveraging Cultural Sensitivity To Increase Opioid Reversal Agent Distribution, Andrea Mackenzie

Liberty University Research Week

Opioid overdose death (OOD) rates in the US have increased exponentially in the last ten years and 68% between 2018 and 2020 alone. Now the leading cause of unnatural death in the United States and Virginia, opioids claimed 2,233 of the 2,622 Virginia 2021 overdose deaths. In 2023, Virginia Governor Youngkin executed a comprehensive OOD crisis response (EO-26) that aligns with the Commonwealth’s Right Help, Right Now behavioral health transformation initiative. Virginia Department of Health (VDH) Overdose Incident Management Team (IMT) strategized dispensing the opioid reversal agent (ORA) Naloxone to high-risk populations where it can reverse the effects of opioid …

Demographic Trends Of Annual Dental Visits By Adults (Ages 18+) In Virginia, 2020, Rachel Hanzes

Liberty University Research Week

Introduction/Background: Access to oral healthcare is impacted by determinants such as socioeconomic status, race, and geographic conditions. Disparities in oral healthcare and equity affect the oral health and overall wellbeing of disadvantaged groups. Investigating oral health disparities involves analyzing resource allocation, service utilization, professional interactions, and financial burdens, forming interconnected domains for thorough examination. This study aims to determine the demographic trends of annual dental visits by adults (ages 18+) in Virginia during the 2020 calendar year. Methods: A secondary analysis was performed using data from the National Oral Health Surveillance System (NOHSS) adult indicators survey. After manually screening for …

Chromebook Charging: Motivation Through Personification, Emma Helmuth

ATU Scholars Symposium

This research study was conducted to provide a solution to students arriving at first-period classes with uncharged Chromebooks. The research questions ask if personification will motivate students to charge their Chromebooks before arriving at their first-period class. Prior literature shows that students are more likely to accomplish goals when they are motivated, both intrinsically and extrinsically. Hence, this study focuses on personification to motivate students. Students’ Chromebooks will be personified to be “pets”, through animal stickers and name badge stickers. The end goal is to see an increase in student preparedness by coming to class with charged Chromebooks. For this …

Optimizing Campus Chat-Bot Experience Using Puaa: Integrating Large Language Model (Llm) Into University Ai Assistants, Sijan Panday, Zurab Sabakhtarishvili, Clayton Jensen

ATU Scholars Symposium

The advent of large language models (LLMs) such as Chat-GPT and Bard marks a significant milestone in knowledge acquisition, offering a streamlined alternative to the traditionally labor-intensive process of navigating through multiple checkpoints on the web. This emerging trend in LLMs renders the prevalent rule-based chatbots, commonly utilized by universities, increasingly outdated and subpar. This research project proposes integrating LLM technology into university websites, specifically targeting the needs of students seeking information about their institutions by introducing PUAA (Personal University AI Assistant). Our approach involves using the Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) framework, leveraging the capabilities of the LlamaIndex in conjunction with …

Thrombus In Transit With Diagnosis And Treatment Guided By Bedside Ultrasound — A Case Report, John Mowery, Taylor Russell, Adam Sigal, Courtney Cassella

Tower Health Research Day

No abstract provided.

Environmental Health Impacts Of Small-Scale Gold Mining In East Indonesia: Mercury Pollution And Nature Conservation, Tri Edhi Budhi Soesilo, Nada Ismita Hawa, Nuraeni Nuraeni

Journal of Sustainable Mining

The expansion of small-scale gold mining impacts environmental health and socioeconomic. Research in Bombana District, one of the gold mining centers in eastern Indonesia, was conducted to explore perceptions of the impact of small-scale gold mining on human health and attitudes towards environmental conservation activities related to small-scale gold mining activities. This research uses a quantitative approach with univariate tests to identify respondent characteristics, bivariate tests (Chi-square) to test relationships and frequency differences, and multivariate analysis (regression) to test the direction and magnitude of the relationship. The perception of the impact of small-scale gold mining on human health was not …

Custodial Step-Grandparenting: An Autoethnography Proposal, Rachel Williams-Smith

Campus Research Month

This proposal presentation for a planned autoethnographic study will explore the unique dynamics of a personal experience in step-custodial grandparenting and other dynamics more commonly reported in the literature. In developing the study, four approaches will be used:

• Systematic introspection and emotional recall
• A review of journal entries, photographs, and videos
• Interviews with associates and friends
• Participation in interviewer interviews

2024 Urs Abstract Booklet, Undergraduate Research Center, Minnesota State University, Mankato

Undergraduate Research Symposium

Complete Schedule of Events for the 26th Annual Undergraduate Research Symposium at Minnesota State University, Mankato.

Developing An Enzymatic Assay For Wine Analysis, Taylor M. Pagel

Research & Creative Achievement Day

During malolactic fermentation (MLF), malic acid is fermented into lactic acid by the bacteria Oenococcus oeni. During this process, malic acid is then converted into lactic acid, converting sour flavors in the wine to buttery. Here we present an enzymatic method to determine the malate/lactate ratio of wines during MLF. Fresh juice samples had detectable amounts of malate, while wine samples had mixed results, as expected. MLF was initiated in a freshly fermented pre-MLF sample of St. Pepin wine and a decreasing trend of malate over time was detected, as predicted. This was compared to increasing levels of lactate in …

Techniques To Detect Fake Profiles On Social Media Using The New Age Algorithms – A Survey, A K M Rubaiyat Reza Habib, Edidiong Elijah Akpan

ATU Scholars Symposium

This research explores the growing issue of fake accounts in Online Social Networks [OSNs]. While platforms like Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook foster connections, their lax authentication measures have attracted many scammers and cybercriminals. Fake profiles conduct malicious activities, such as phishing, spreading misinformation, and inciting social discord. The consequences range from cyberbullying to deceptive commercial practices. Detecting fake profiles manually is often challenging and causes considerable stress and trust issues for the users. Typically, a social media user scrutinizes various elements like the profile picture, bio, and shared posts to identify fake profiles. These evaluations sometimes lead users to conclude …

Spoton, Corey A. Naegle, Caleb Mcclure, Chase M. Tallon, Holden J. O'Neal

ATU Scholars Symposium

SpotOn is a project developed to solve problems with owners losing their pets. The project is in short a solar-powered dog harness with GPS capability with its own application for mobile devices.

Carbon Sequestration And Its Role In Mitigating Climate Change, Mallory Woodward

ATU Scholars Symposium

Carbon sequestration is when carbon dioxide is stored in ecosystems like grasslands forests, soils and oceans. Wetlands are one of the many important ecosystems that sequester carbon and act as a carbon sink. The U.S. Energy Information Administration estimates that in 2019 33,621.5 million metric tons of carbon were released into the atmosphere globally, due to human emissions. Anthropogenic carbon emissions have rapidly increased over the past 150 years. Since 1982, The global rate of warming is more than three times as fast, currently rising 0.36 degrees Fahrenheit each decade, and the rate will continue to increase. How do wetlands …

Characterization Of Bacteria And Fungi In Hotel Bathroom Products, Madie Clarke, Regan L. Feit, Rebecca A. Nachreiner

Research & Creative Achievement Day

Refilling hotel products and storing open products in bathrooms are excellent conditions for bacterial growth. Bacteria accumulate in frequently touched surfaces and thrive in warm, moist, nutrient-rich environments. Bathrooms are also the perfect breeding ground for microbes to flourish. Not all bacteria are bad for our health, but it would be beneficial to know what microorganisms can be found in cosmetic or cream products that are used on a daily basis. This is especially important when bacteria or fungi are known pathogens. This study evaluated and classified bacteria and fungi in shampoos and body lotions using Trypticase Soy Agar (TSA) …

Moral Responsibility Gaps For Medical Ai: An Analysis Of Physicians' Perspectives, Jared Nathaniel Smith

Midwest Ethics Symposium

No abstract provided.

Digital Mental Health Outreach Program For Older Adults Gavin, Vincent D. Pham, Gavin E. Jacob, Paige Piazza

Research & Creative Achievement Day

Within this literature review, the effectiveness of digital mental health outreach programs for older adults will be examined. With the aging global population continuing to grow larger each year, mental health concerns among older adults have gained more attention than ever. To address these concerns, digital mental health outreach programs have been put in place with the goal of providing older adults with a real person they can regularly talk to and receive advice or recommendations from. This review uses existing research along with tangible real-world experiences to determine the impact these services have on the older adults who utilize …

Ai Responsibility Gap: Not New, Inevitable, Unproblematic, Huzeyfe Demirtas

Midwest Ethics Symposium

No abstract provided.

Detection Of Lyme's Disease Caused By Borrelia Burgdorferi In Ixodes Scapularis Using A Pcr Multiplex And Real-Time Pcr, Emily T. Dittman, Bethany G. Basile

Research & Creative Achievement Day

Ixodes scapularis (deer ticks) are a vector for the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi that is known to cause Lyme's Disease in animals and humans (Homo sapiens). In the past few years, there has been an increase in the prevalence of Lyme's Disease cases throughout the midwestern United States indicating that many ticks have been infected with B. burgdorferi. Using I. scapularis DNA samples collected from white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) in the spring of 2006 from Buffalo County, WI and Winona County, MN, both traditional and real-time PCR methods were used to test for the presence of the B. burgdorferi organism in …

Students' Thoughts On Use Of Political Violence And Other Forms Of Unconventional Political Participation, Joshua L. Hansen

Research & Creative Achievement Day

This research project is about Winona State student's thoughts on different forms of unconventional political participation such as riots and political movements where violence is used as a tool. Research was conducted through Qualtrics in a collaboration with peers in the same course. This survey was given to Winona state students and asked their thoughts on movements that have turned towards unconventional political participation methods. This project was done as a part of the Political Science and Public Administration program.

Microbiological Study Of Used Cosmetic Products, Macy S. Priest, Rachel L. Przybilla

Research & Creative Achievement Day

The bacterial and fungal load in commercial creams and cosmetic products -was examined. This research aimed to identify pathogenic microbes, their toxin production, and their potential impact on product integrity. Our tests showed bacterial growth in the beauty products Cetaphil Facial Cleanser, CereVe moisturizing lotion, and Maybelline facial powder. Several microbes were characterized: a gram-positive bacteria identified as Bacillus cereus as well as an unknown gram-negative bacteria. In addition, the fungus Fusarium was observed. These microbes might be commonly observed in beauty products, but theoretically many different species of bacteria could grow in this type of environment.

Morphology Of Trematodes In Gadwall Ducks (Mareca Strepera) Found In The Mississippi Valley: Parasitology Class Project, Annika N. Lensch, Ethan B. Gjervik, Mckenna A. Baker, Elizabeth K. Haumont, Mivang Xiong

Research & Creative Achievement Day

Gadwall ducks (Mareca strepera) are commonly found in lakes, ponds, and marshes west of the Mississippi River in summer months. A Gadwall duck is considered a dabbler duck which feeds on aquatic plants floating on the water's surface occasionally feeding on insects, crustaceans (crayfish, crabs), and small fish. Trematodes are a commonly found parasite in the gastrointestinal tract of many species of ducks. The ducks used in this study were legally collected and donated by hunters from Buffalo City, Wisconsin along the Mississippi River. This study will focus on identifying trematodes found within Gadwall ducks such as Echinostoma, Zygocotyle, and …

Ergo Carbon Workspace, Ethan C. Atkinson, Joshua N. Hanner, Rachel A. Henderson, Anders Nielsen, Mohamed A. Salat

Research & Creative Achievement Day

The goal of the Ergo Carbon Workspace is to create a monitor stand that is both lightweight and easily transportable, catering to the needs of modern workspaces. Constructed from carbon fiber, epoxy resin, and a honeycomb core, this design emphasizes portability without sacrificing durability. Incorporating aerospace-grade honeycomb core as well as braided carbon fiber epoxy struts bolsters structural integrity while maintaining a lightweight part. The Ergo Carbon Workspace design facilitates effortless assembly and disassembly, simplifying transportation and packaging. Through the utilization of composite materials, the stand achieves an optimal balance of strength and portability. Ergo Carbon Workspace will also incorporate …

María Grever: Influence Through Mexican Folk And Classical Romantic Techniques And Ideals In ‘A Una Ola.’, Alexandria C. Ellis

ATU Scholars Symposium

In the last 25 years, there has been a resurgence in Latin American ethnomusicology. This means that, while interest continues to grow, there are several gaps, especially when it comes to the contributions of women. Interestingly, some of these gaps surround the popular Mexican composer María Grever. This includes the lack of information on the variety of sources she gathered inspiration from for composition. Through analyzing Grever's compositional style, especially in the bolero ‘A Una Ola,’or ‘To a Wave,’ I will examine the relationship that Grever employs between the classical Romantic approach and Latin American techniques, especially Mexican folk. While …

Enhancing Disease Detection In South Asian Freshwater Fish Aquaculture Through Convolutional Neural Networks, Hayin Tamut, Musfikur Rahaman, Dr. Robin Ghosh

ATU Scholars Symposium

Aquaculture expansion necessitates innovative disease detection methods for sustainable production. This study investigates the efficacy of Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) in classifying diseases affecting South Asian freshwater fish species. The dataset comprises 1747 images representing 7 class, healthy specimens and various diseases: bacterial, fungal, parasitic, and viral. The CNN architecture includes convolutional layers for feature extraction, max-pooling layers for down sampling, dense layers for classification, and dropout layers for regularization. Training employs categorical cross-entropy loss and the Adam optimizer over 30 epochs, monitoring both training and validation performance. Results indicate promising accuracy levels, with the model achieving 92.14% and test …

Analysis Of Protein Content In Commercial Protein Powders, Allison Dunham

Research & Creative Achievement Day

This study aimed to experimentally determine the protein content present in various commercial protein powders. The protein that is consumed from these dietary supplements can be used to aid in the structure and function of the human body. This experimental determination of protein content present in protein powders was accomplished through the creation of both a Bradford Faculty Mentor: standard and a BCA standard. These standards were compared against the protein powder solutions created using both a Bradford and BCA assay. The actual protein content present in the protein powders of interest was then analyzed using a standard curve created …

Late 3d Transition Metal Complexes Of Bis(Diphenylphosphino)Methane Dichalcogenide Ligands, Connor J. Lehner

Research & Creative Achievement Day

Complexes of bis(diphenylphosphino)methane dichalcogenides (dppmE2, E = O, S, Se) have been prepared for Co(II), Ni(II) and Cu(II) by combination with respective nitrate salts. These ligands are relatively unexplored for 1st row transition metals – with no existing reports of metal complexes for dppmSe2. All obtained complexes were paramagnetic precluding characterization by NMR spectroscopy. An array of methods have been employed to ascertain the structural and electronic forms of all obtained complexes as both tetrahedral and octahedral geometries, corresponding to systems with two or three ligands, respectively, are plausible. Additionally, Co(II) complexes, as d7 systems, could be found in either …

Enhancing R2l Intrusion Detection Using Decision Trees, Stephen Sommer

Research & Creative Achievement Day

In the age of advancing technology, artificial intelligence, and big data, Remote to Local (R2L) attacks are increasingly threatening cloud computing environments, heightening concerns about security and privacy. Intrusion detection systems (IDS) using Artificial Intelligence play a role in safeguarding data integrity within databases by swiftly identifying and isolating suspicious records. Furthermore, machine learning techniques enhance the effectiveness of these IDS by continuously adapting to new attack patterns and improving accuracy. This research investigates the use of Decision Tree, a Machine Learning Algorithm for enhancing Remote to Local (R2L) intrusion detection capabilities, utilizing the KDD Cup 1999 dataset and the …

Genetic Association In Entylia Carinata Using Random Forest Classification, Caden J. Harper

Research & Creative Achievement Day

The goal of this research was to identify locations in the genome of the Entylia carinata, known as the treehopper, that are associated with anomalous behavior exhibited by the species. Treehoppers are phytophagous insects and are shown to feed, reproduce, and rear their young on specific aster species. Observation has shown that the insects will disregard potential mates in close proximity in favor of those that originate from the same plant species as themselves. This behavior suggests genetic separation in the species based on plant nativity and warrants genetic analysis. Machine learning offers an effective genetic association technique due to …

Stride Warrior Lite: An Ultra-Lightweight Mobility Device With Storage Options, A Padded Seat, And Handles That Adjust To The Custom Comfort And Needs For People With Mobility Concerns, Mitchel Bergmann, Cole D. Groven, Kyungbin Min, Sidney M. Paulson, Keaton J. Reutzel

Research & Creative Achievement Day

The Stride Warrior Lite is a walker that takes into account the needs of people with limited mobility. Few carbon fiber walkers and mobility devices exist in the market today; those that are on the market tend to be extremely more expensive than traditional aluminum alternatives. This product aims to serve as a carbon fiber walker that can be manufactured more economically than competitors, while still weighing less than 10 pounds. The majority of the design is manufactured from carbon fiber/epoxy filament-wound tubes, with 3D-printed connectors and steel pins. While the product also includes a cane holder, storage box, and …