Digital Commons Network^™

Feasting Or Fasting: The Influence Of Feeding Regime On Physiological Performance., Kailee Greenough

Research & Creative Achievement Day

Prior studies have shown that the environment can significantly influence the development of physiological and physical traits of life. Specifically, we investigated how the developmental condition of feeding regime influences the physiological performance of boas (Boa constrictor imperator). This study was part of a long-term study of different feeding regimes (feasting=weekly, fasting=1/5weeks). Prior studies in our lab have uncovered morphological differences in growth. These studies demonstrated that snakes fed frequently became more muscular and massive whereas snakes fed infrequently were more refined and less muscular despite being fed the same relative amount of prey. Our study added to …

Investigation Of Mitogenic Activity Of Baculovirus Fibroblast Growth Factors, Ellyssa Wager, Kassandra Hernandez, Justin Johnson

Research & Creative Achievement Day

New Title: Establishing Optimal Seeding Density and Ideal Starvation Conditions of Sf9 and NIH/3T3 Cell Lines

Fibroblast Growth Factors (FGFs) are a family of structurally related polypeptide cytokines. 22 FGF genes (FGF1-14, FGF16-23) are found in the human genome. FGFs have various known intracrine, paracrine, and endocrine functions and are essential for the development and wound repair in organisms through these mechanisms. The role of FGFs in viruses has become an area of piqued interest in the field of pathology as several virus families have genomes that encode one or more growth factor homologues. It has been suggested that a …

Carbon Cornhole, Justin O. Dailey, Blake M. Endle, Joshua J. Lebrun, Bailey J. Banaszynski, Josiah M. Gleisner

Research & Creative Achievement Day

The purpose of this design project is to create a durable lightweight yard game for players of all skill levels. Carbon Cornhole is a composite improvement on the already popular yard game, cornhole, with a new twist. The final product is based on valued feedback from customers. The board is manufactured of carbon fiber/epoxy sandwich panels with a closed cell foam core. The composite design provides a lightweight product. The panels are specifically manufactured to retain their mechanical properties when exposed to outdoor elements such as water and UV radiation. The addition of inlayed LED lights and two new "skill …

A Closer Look At The Death Penalty In The United States, Anna L. Cardell

Research & Creative Achievement Day

The death penalty has always been a source of contention towards most people in the United States – some agree with it, some do not. No matter one's opinion on whether it should be allowed, this poster presentation will give an in-depth analysis and present various visualizations of information regarding the convicted felons that have been sentenced to capital punishment in the United States from 1976-2016. Variables such as gender, age, and race will be explored to create some insight on some of the most infamous killers in United States history. Though looking at the demographics of these individuals and …

Morphological Identification Of Parasites Found In Ducks (Family Anatidae) Along The Mississippi River: A Parasitology Class Project, Taya K. Endreson, Madeline E. Volhard, Visara S. Sok, Amanda A. Amofa, Emma C. Fortsch, Delaney L. Reider

Research & Creative Achievement Day

Ducks (Anatidae) can be found across much of the United States and are hosts to a variety of parasites such as nematodes, trematodes or cestodes. This study focused on identifying the species of the parasites found within ducks based on their morphological features. The morphological structures consisted of body shape, internal organs, mouthparts, and length. The ducks used in this study were legally harvested and donated by hunters from areas across the Mississippi River in Buffalo County and Trempealeau County Wisconsin. A total of 108 ducks have been analyzed for parasites. It is important to identify the types of parasites …

Validation Of Computational Methods For The Tautomerism Of Thiourea Dioxide, Mckenna Lund

Research & Creative Achievement Day

In solution, thiourea dioxide exists in an equilibrium between its dioxide and sulfinic acid forms. This tautomeric relationship, as they all are, is substantially influenced by the solvent's polarity and hydrogen bonding capabilities. More well-known systems, e.g., acetylacetone, have been extensively studied in this regard, while thiourea dioxide's equilibrium has not. We have initiated a hybrid computational-spectroscopic investigation of this system utilizing low-cost Hartree-Fock methods with the 3–21G, 3–21+G, 3–21G*, 3–21+G*, MINI, MIDI, SBKJC and HW basis sets. Beyond gas phase calculations, both tautomeric forms were modeled using the C-PCM implicit solvent model for water and toluene. Obtained modeling results …

Flexural Creep Comparison To Tts Creep For Pp And Pp-Gf30, Max R. Kauphusman, Regan G. Harvey

Research & Creative Achievement Day

Creep testing is one of the most expensive datasets to acquire in both cost ($10k+) and time (2+ months). Dynamic Mechanical Analysis offers a unique opportunity to characterize creep properties of polymers using a technique called Time Temperature Super Positioning (TTSP) in a relatively short period of time. TTSP works by holding either frequency or loading constant at set temperatures for a constant period of time. WLF equations are then used to combine multiple curves from different temperatures into a master curve that can be used to extrapolate out creep performance at designated reference temperatures and save a considerable amount …

Vfgf Protein Purification, Expression, And Proliferation Assay, Justin Johnson, Kassandra Hernandez, Ellyssa Wager

Research & Creative Achievement Day

Fibroblast growth factors (FGF's) are signaling molecules (cytokines) secreted from specific cells known as fibroblasts. They are essential for embryonic development, function postnatally in response to injury, in regulation of electrical excitability of cells, and as hormones that have a role in regulating metabolism. Viral Fibroblast Growth factors Ac6 and Cf6 have been encoded into E. coli plasmids which produce high concentrations of our target vFGFs which are then purified for testing. The vFGFs were expressed with maltose binding protein (MBP) tagged on the N-termini. MBP is used as a pseudo-chaperone with a hydrophobic cleft that can refold the protein …

Comparison Of Colorimetric Assays To Use For The Investigation Of The Mitogenic Activity Of Vfgf In Cell Cultures, Kassandra Hernandez, Ellyssa N. Wager, Justin Johnson

Research & Creative Achievement Day

Fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) are part of a large family of polypeptide growth factors that play a large role in the development and regulation of organisms using intracrine, paracrine, and endocrine cell signaling mechanisms. FGFs are known to be found in both vertebrate and invertebrate organisms. Most recently they have also been identified in viruses, such as baculoviruses. A sequence analysis of the baculovirus genomes has found that they encode for a viral fibroblast growth factor homolog (vfgf) early on in their stage of infection (Katsuma et al. 2006). Although there have been studies from other labs that …

Changes In Depression, Stress, And Anxiety For Student Athletes: Using Guided Imagery, Synetha K. Sultze-Lor

Research & Creative Achievement Day

Introduction: Mental health concerns among college students are increasing in severity. Researchers have shown that elite level athletes may be at a higher risk for suicide, with possible risks including injury, pressure, and substance abuse. Due to the high-stress levels of student athletes, this study was created to explore whether guided imagery (GI) can help student athletes reduce symptoms of stress, depression, and anxiety.GI has been shown to decrease depression and anxiety among a variety of populations, but less work has explored the role that GI has in student athletes. Therefore, it was hypothesized that GI will reduce stress, and …

Improvement Of Native Perennial Forage Plants For Sustainability Of Mediterranean Farming Systems, F. Lelièvre, Florence Volaire

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The amount of water available to agriculture in the Mediterranean is declining because of increasing population pressure and greater incidence of drought. Therefore, the efficiency of the use of water for agricultural production must be maximized and, in this context, perennial forage species have a number of advantages in comparison to the predominantly-used annuals. They can utilize water throughout the whole year besides being able to halt rangeland degradation, restore soil fertility and enhance forage production, thereby contributing to greater sustainability of rain-fed agricultural systems in the southern European Union and North Africa. Despite these advantages, the small size of …

The Potential For Summer-Dormant Perennial Grasses In Mediterranean And Semi-Arid Pastures, F. Lelièvre, Florence Volaire, P. Chapon, M. Norton

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

In rain-fed Mediterranean and semi-arid areas, herbage production of perennial grasses depends on their ability to grow efficiently during the rainy seasons and to persist over the dry summer. A key survival strategy in these harsh conditions is summer dormancy (Volaire, 2002). Within the species Dactylis glomerata L., two cultivars (cvs.), contrasting in this trait, were compared in order to analyse their suitability in terms of yield and survival in these environments.

Analysis Of Efficiency Of Dark Photon Decay To Lepton Jets, Sree Atyam '24, Malcolm Wilson-Ahlstrom '24

IMSAloquium Student Investigation Showcase

Dark photons are useful indicators to explain important phenomena beyond the Standard Model of particle physics, namely in the context of many experiments: dark matter. Dark photons can interact with Standard Model particles through a process called kinetic mixing, which allows them to decay into Standard Model leptons, from which lepton jets are produced. The area of interest in these jets comes in the form of analysis of the varying-flavor pairs in the jets. If the given pair in a lepton jet has two particles of different flavor, this observation can offer evidence for possible connections to show relative probabilities …

Digital Commons And Pathways To Publication, Raven Mckelvin '24

IMSAloquium Student Investigation Showcase

In this internship, student Raven McKelvin has been working on Identifying and Strengthening Existing Support for Students on a Research-to-Publication Pathway through portfolio building, workshops, and presentations. While also working with Jean Bigger on advancing information about DigitalCommons.

Information Scoping Skills And The Research Output Of Academic Librarians In Universities In South-South Geopolitical Zone Of Nigeria, Godson Ehimiyein Ilevbare Phd, Uduak Ubong Enang Phd, Mercy Etukudo Ukpanah Phd

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

This study investigated the relationship between information scoping skills and the research output of academic librarians in universities in South-South Geopolitical Zone of Nigeria with corresponding specific objective, research question, and research hypothesis. To effectively drive the study two theories were adopted. The theory of social cultural learning for the independent variable (information scoping skill), and the theory of self-efficacy for the dependent variable (research output of academic librarians). More so, conceptual review of literature on information scoping skills and research out were carried, and specific empirical review of literature with extrinsic similarity and dissimilarity to the study was also …

Breaking A Bad Stigma: Breaking Bad And The Need For Dynamic Fatherhood Roles To Overrule Historical Stereotypes, Ella Bellflower

Line by Line: A Journal of Beginning Student Writing

Editor's note: This paper is the recipient of the Best-Researched Argument award.

The overarching theme of my English 114 course focused on the depiction of family in popular culture. Thus, the final research project required me to research some aspect of family in American or popular culture, which led to my decision to analyze the 2008 television series Breaking Bad. My initial research question sought to answer how fatherhood was depicted in the show. However, I was unable to find much research on the show in general, leading me to choose a more physical and psychological route. I came …

Maimonides And Julian: A Guide To Love, Alexandra Amrhein

Line by Line: A Journal of Beginning Student Writing

For this project, the goal was to write an explanatory analysis of Maimonides’ Guide of the Perplexed, reconstructing his case on divine revelation and intellectual perception. We were asked to then compare Maimonides’ themes to those represented in Julian of Norwich’s Revelations of Divine Love. I began by closely rereading the assigned section of the Guide’s introductory chapter and taking some notes on the main ideas Maimonides presents. Afterwards, I drafted the body of the essay, summarizing these themes and supporting the summary with specific textual evidence. I then reread Julian’s Revelations, brainstormed major similarities and differences between …

The Truth Untold: The Compromised Election Of 1876, Julie Pugh

Line by Line: A Journal of Beginning Student Writing

My writing process always begins with a slow start. The first steps of this historiography were spread over a long period of time, with a majority of the essay being written within a couple of weeks. I begin by choosing a topic for my paper which I selected from a list of options collected during the preliminary research period. Once I decided on the Election of 1876 and the Compromise of 1877, I drafted a topic proposal and a list of sixteen potential research sources from online databases and the library. From the potential sources, I narrowed my research to …

Another Brick In The Wall: A Historiography Of Black Education In The Reconstruction Era, Jane Carney

Line by Line: A Journal of Beginning Student Writing

This project involved several intermediate assignments, including a topic proposal and annotated bibliography. I also submitted a draft to my professor for review and attended a peer review session in class.

School Is Now In Session: African American Education During Reconstruction, Kathryn C. Finfrock

Line by Line: A Journal of Beginning Student Writing

Editor's note: This article is the recipient of the issue's award for Excellence in Historiography.

I began writing my ASI 120 historiography paper by selecting the topic of African American education during Reconstruction. I spent several weeks researching how the historiography of African American education during Reconstruction has changed over time and creating an annotated bibliography of my nine sources. While creating my annotated bibliography, I grouped my nine sources into three interpretive categories based on how each author choose to interpret the history of African American education during Reconstruction. Finally, I used my annotated bibliography to create my historiography …

Reconstruction Out West: The State Of Postwar Texas, Kevin O'Connell

Line by Line: A Journal of Beginning Student Writing

Editor's note: This paper is the recipient of the Barbara Farrelly Award for Best Writing of the Issue.

I studied Eric Foner's historiography: A Short History of Reconstruction:1863-1877. I then used my knowledge on the era to focus on the role of politics during Reconstruction in the state of Texas. I gathered sources from Roesch Library and JSTOR that covered many different aspects of Reconstruction Texas and used those sources to build a history of how historians' perspectives on the topic have changed over the last century.

The Onus Of Absolution: Real Presence, Modern Absence, And How It All Connects To Luther, Ava G. Merriman

Line by Line: A Journal of Beginning Student Writing

I began this project by pulling quotes and phrases from my sources (Robert Orsi's History and Presence and Martin Luther's The Freedom of a Christian). After creating summaries of the main points of both works, I started writing my essay. I submitted my rough draft to my professor and then had a conference with her later that same week. After the conference, I made some revisions in accordance with my professor's comments and submitted my final draft.

Future Directions In The Molecular Breeding Of Forage And Turf, G. C. Spangenberg, J. W. Forster, D. Edwards, U. John, A. Mouradov, M. Emmerling, J. Batley, S. Felitti, N. O. I. Cogan, K. F. Smith, M. P. Dobrowolski

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Key points

1. Molecular breeding of forage and turf plants and their endosymbionts has entered the post-genomic era with a large amount of structural genomics information and genomic resources available for key forage and turf species and relevant model systems.
2. A primary future challenge is the conversion of this information into useful functional knowledge for the development of molecular breeding technologies and products that address a range of high impact outcome scenarios in forage and turf.
3. High-throughput approaches for spatial and temporal analysis, from genome to phenome, and the respective data integration in a systems biology context will be critical for …

Crown Rust Resistance In Transgenic Italian Ryegrass (L. Multiflorum) Expressing A Rice Chitinase Gene And Crosses With Cytoplasmic Male Sterile Hybrid Ryegrass, W. Takahashi, M. Fujimori, Y. Miura, T. Komatsu, S. Sugita, A. Arakawa, Y. Nishizawa, H. Sato, Y. Mano, T. Hibi, T. Takamizo

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) is one of the most important forage grasses in the temperate region. In ryegrasses, crown rust (Puccinia coronata) is the most serious foliar fungal disease and brings about a reduction of herbage yield and loss of palatability to grass-eating domestic animals. In this study, we tried to increase tolerance to the pathogen by introducing a rice chitinase gene using particle bombardment.

Genetic And Molecular Characterization Of Temperate And Tropical Forage Maize Inbred Lines, B. Alarcón-Zúñiga, E. Valadez-Moctezuma, T. Cervantes-Martinez, T. Cervantes-Santana, M. Mendoza‐Rodriguez

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Livestock feeding in the Central highland of Mexico is based on harvest, grazing and annual forage conservation, with forage maize being the most important silage crop (Alarcón, 1995). Even though forage maize is extensively bred in Europe, USA and Asia since the 1900’s, this started in Mexico only in the 1960’s, and little is known about genetic diversity in both agronomic and nutritive value traits. Our breeding program goals are to analyze combining ability of biomass and quality predictors and to study the genetic relationship of inbred lines between lowland tropical and temperate races from Mesa Central, by genetic and …

The Use Of Molecular Markers In Genetic Variability Analysis Of A Collection Of Dactylis Glomerata L., R. Costa, G. Pereira, C. Vicente, M. M. Tavares De Sousa

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Dactylis glomerata L. is one of the three most used perennial grasses in Europe (jointly with Lolium perenne and Festuca arundinacea). The main qualities of Dactylis glomerata are high productivity in pure cultures, high level of proteins and tolerance to drought, cold and shade (Mousset & Chosson, 1986). In the last ten years, techniques that allow direct discrimination at the DNA level have encouraged the study of the genetic variability within cultivated populations as well as identification of the diversity available in germplasm banks. DNA polymorphisms have been shown to be efficient in the identification of genetic variability in …

Molecular Characterization And Tissue Culture Regeneration Ability Of The Usa Arachis Pintoi (Krap. And Greg.) Germplasm Collection, M. A. Carvalho, K. H. Quesenberry, M. Gallo-Meagher

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Arachis pintoi Krap. and Greg. is a herbaceous, perennial legume, exclusively native to Brazil. It is considered a multiple use legume, being grown for forage; ground cover in fruits orchards, forest, and low tillage systems; erosion control; and ornamental purposes. Although several cultivars have been released in different countries, little is known about the genetic diversity of the germplasm stored in world genebanks. Our objective was to characterize and evaluate the genetic diversity of the germplasm of 35 accessions of Arachis pintoi at molecular level using RAPD markers. Concurrently, two tissue culture protocols were evaluated for their organogenesis ability. Further, …

Contributors

Legacy

No abstract provided.

Ideology And Intervention: The Case Of Afghanistan’S Opium Economy From The Cold War To The War On Terror, Gabriella Salemi

Legacy

No abstract provided.

Teddy And Fighting Bob: Progressive Presidential Candidates Of The Early Twentieth Century United States, Juniper Oxford

Legacy

No abstract provided.