Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Scholars Day Program Of Events 2021, Carl Goodson Honors Program

Scholars Day

This is the program of events for the 2021 Scholars Day Conference, where undergraduates across disciplines present their scholarly and creative works.

Women In Stem, Dyandra M. Johnson

Arkansas Women in STEM Conference

My poster is about the life of Katherine Johnson, its a summary of her achievements, educational background, and her family life. The purpose of my poster is to provide information about this amazing woman that was apart of STEM. I've found that she had accomplished a lot through using Mathematics, and how she contributed so much to NASA.

Making Inexpensive Drugs For The Treatment Of Human African Trypanosomiasis, Lou V A M. Gore Ms

Arkansas Women in STEM Conference

Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) affect the world’s poorest population; mainly in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. According to the WHO, more than one billion people are affected by NTDs. The connection between these areas is the lack of proper sanitation, and the persistence of the diseases, trap the affected countries in the poverty and disease cycle.

African sleeping sickness, a prevalent NTD, is a parasitic infection caused by two parasites from the Trypanosoma brucei species and is transmitted by the tsetse fly or congenitally. The disease is manifested by fever, severe headaches, irritability, extreme fatigue, swollen lymph nodes, and aching …

Carrier-Free Chemo-Ptt/Pdt Ionic Nanomaterials For Combination Cancer Therapy, Samantha Macchi

Arkansas Women in STEM Conference

Herein, we describe a carrier-free combination nanodrug for treatment of cancer. In this work, we combined a photothermal compound and a chemotherapeutic drug using ionic liquid chemistry. We utilized a facile, one-step metathesis approach to replace the counter cation of a near infra-red (NIR) dye (photothermal agent) with a chemotherapeutic cation to synthesize an ionic material-based combination cancer therapy drug to deliver multiple mechanisms simultaneously. The nanodrugs were developed by using a reprecipitation method. The detailed photophysical properties of this new combination therapy molecule was investigated in ethanol solution as well as in nanoparticles forms in aqueous media. The singlet …

Developing A New Water-Soluble Porphyrin As A Potential Photodynamic Cancer Therapy Agent, Catherine Shirley

Scholars Day Conference

Photodynamic cancer therapy (PDT) is a type of treatment involving the use of light in conjunction with a photosensitive agent- a chemical or series of chemicals designed for activation when exposed to light. This research project investigated the synthesis and identification of the novel photosensitive agent, H2TPP-Pro-OH. To create the water-soluble porphyrin, (S)-(+)-prolinol was reacted with the tetra-carboxyl porphyrin, H2TPPC, to form the final H2TPP-Pro-OH product. This compound was then purified using syringe filtration and column chromatography, and subsequently characterized using infrared (IR), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and Ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) spectroscopies, as well as High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). Finally, …

The Photodynamic Therapy Potential Of A Novel Water Soluble Gallium Porphyrin, Tiffany Koba, Cammie York

Scholars Day Conference

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has potential use in the treatment of cancer and other health disorders. PDT utilizes light and a photosensitive agent that once activated by light generates singlet oxygen that affects surrounding cells. Metalloporphyrins have been shown to accumulate in tumors as the result of preferential binding to low-density lipoproteins. Additionally, gallium(III) porphyrins have been shown to be effective potential photosensitizers for PDT. The goal of this research was to synthesize and characterize the novel photosensitive agent, GaTPP-DIPA, as a PDT agent. The GaTPP-DIPA was purified using column chromatography and characterized using IR, UV-Vis, and NMR spectroscopies, purity was …

Investigating The Presence Of Bpa In Infant Oral Hygiene Products Using Fluorescence Spectroscopy, Kaleigh Casada, Sara Hubbard

Scholars Day Conference

Bisphenol-A (BPA) is a chemical found in hard plastics. BPA is an endocrine disruptor as it binds to estrogen receptors. This is linked to negative health effects such as cardiovascular disease and developmental issues. Infants and young children are more at risk of these effects because their endocrine systems are not fully developed. For this project, toothbrushes were investigated to determine if they contained BPA. BPA is a fluorescent compound with an excitation wavelength of 278 nm and an emission wavelength of 304 nm, so an FS-5 spectrofluorometer from Edinburgh Instruments was used to determine the presence of BPA in …

A Paradox Solved (Or 3), Lee Grisham

Scholars Day Conference

I gained an interest in paradoxes when I was introduced to the Grandfather paradox as a child, and began studying time travel, along with all the effects and thought experiments it could lead to. This, in turn, led to my researching many more paradoxes and having something to do in my free time that didn’t require anything outside my own thoughts. Several paradoxes I found stumped me then, and still do to this day. However, there are some that I have recently begun to feel like I am understanding much more clearly. One day this past semester, I was thinking …

Analyzing Flash X-Ray Machine Diagnostics, Sebastian Bustillo, Asaph Camillo, Jake Morris

Scholars Day Conference

The Cygnus Dual Beam Radiographic Facility consists of two flash x-ray machines, Cygnus 1 and 2. The seamless performance of these machines is critical to the maintenance of the United States stockpile of nuclear weapons. Since these SubCritical experiments cost about $104 million when something malfunctions millions of dollars are lost. As a result, it is imperative to assess the performance of the machine from diagnostics collected by the different sensors. Its performance is measured by the level of radiation dose a shot obtains. Utilizing exploratory data analysis, interesting trends were found and a 74.1% level of correctness was achieved …

Effects Of Friction On Bpa Leaching In Infant Toothbrushes, Jordan R. Gills, Sara Hubbard

Scholars Day Conference

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a compound that mimics estrogen. This allows BPA to bind to estrogen receptors in the body in place of estrogen. This mistaken binding results in BPA acting as an agonist and antagonist for certain mechanisms in the body. This can result in early development, reproductive issues, and cancer. This project focused on the effects of brushing on the level of BPA by adding friction and movement to the toothbrush while it was soaking in the solution. The solution was used to draw the BPA out of the toothbrushes into the solution to make the levels testable …

Developing A New Water-Soluble Porphyrin As A Potential Photodynamic Cancer Therapy Agent, Catherine Shirley

Honors Theses

Photodynamic cancer therapy (PDT) is a type of treatment involving the use of light in conjunction with a photosensitive agent- a chemical or series of chemicals designed for activation when exposed to light. This research project investigated the synthesis and identification of the novel photosensitive agent, H2TPP-Pro-OH. To create the water-soluble porphyrin, (S)-(+)-prolinol was reacted with the tetra-carboxyl porphyrin, H2TPPC, to form the final H2TPP-Pro-OH product. This compound was then purified using syringe filtration and column chromatography, and subsequently characterized using infrared (IR), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and Ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) spectroscopies, as well as High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). Finally, …

Preparation And Cytotoxicity Of Novel Carbon Nano-Onion Materials, Cammie York

Honors Theses

The applications of carbon nanomaterials (CNM), including graphene and its derivatives such as carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in nanomedicine is well established. These nanomaterials have been widely used as theranostic delivery systems with the potential to deliver bioactive agents and simultaneously detect selectively diseased tissues. A rather underexplored CNM for biomedical imaging and theranostics delivery are carbon nano-onions (CNOs). CNOs are carbon-based nanomaterials that can potentially be used in cancer therapy when they are functionalized. Recent studies on cellular fate of different CNMs, including CNOs, have demonstrated that the surface composition is critical for the in vivo application of these CNM. …

Meta-Analysis As A Tool For Increasing Students' Scientific Thinking, Jennifer Fayard

Books and Monographs

Many professors are familiar with students who come into their first statistics course with a pronounced lack of interest (Rajecki, Appleby, Williams, Johnson, & Jeschke, 2005), or even an intense fear of math. Often, when statistics is paired with a research course, the context of using math to answer a question about human behavior helps them understand what those numbers mean, and if we are lucky, their fear turns to interest or even excitement. But is the reverse true--can understanding statistics help students understand how science works and how to do better research? Incorporating a meta-analysis unit in introductory statistics …

A Geological History Of Clark County, Arkansas, Joe Jeffers

Articles

The geological history of Clark County is described ranging from 500 million years ago to the present. One-third of present-day Clark County is in the Ouachita Mountains, two-thirds is in the Coastal Plain. The formation of the Ouachita Mountains is described, as is the cretaceous formations that led to biological fossils. Historic mining of minerals is also discussed. For the more technically inclined, a detailed description of the geological formations of the county is included near the end.

Determining The Presence Of Bpa In Vaping Mouthpieces, Jessica Cook-Snelgrove

Honors Theses

As more and more teenagers and young adults begin to vape, whether it be to quit smoking or to look cool, there is a potential for them to be exposed to bisphenol-A (BPA) through the plastic mouthpieces on the vapes. BPA is a molecule that is added in many plastics to make the plastic harder (Houlihan, Lunder, & Jacob, 2008). Unfortunately, BPA is structurally similar to estrogen as can be seen in Figure 1. The closeness of the structures can cause issues in humans such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and reproductive problems (Houlihan, Lunder, & Jacob, 2008). In recent years, …

Shape Memory Alloy Applications, Dillon Wester

Honors Theses

Shape memory alloys (SMAs) are unique mixtures of metals that have qualities unlike any other substance. Most notably is their ability to "remember" a shape and revert back to that shape with the application of heat. One such alloy is the Ni-Ti alloy, Nitinol. SMAs also have many other favorable characteristics such as superelasticity, biocompatibility and much more. Superelasticity is the ability to bend under stress and then return to its original shape with the removal of the stressor. Biocompatibility means that the SMAs are not toxic to living organisms, whether they are only used periodically or left in permanently. …

Killing Breast Cancer One Porphyrin At A Time, Taylor C. Lymburner

Honors Theses

New treatments for cancer are continuously being developed and improved. One such treatment is Photodynamic Therapy, more commonly referred to as PDT. PDT is quickly becoming more popular due to its relative lack of side effects that are present in other treatments. In PDT, light-sensitive agents are required and are activated by light in the targeted cells. There are many types of PDT agents but the one focused on in this research is a four-pyrrole ring structure known as a porphyrin. The combination of H2 TPPC with 3- amino-oxetane-3-yl-methanol created the final product ofH2TPP-Oxo-MeOH. Once the porphyrin was formed, it …

Passive Solar Tracking Using Shape Memory Alloys, Keeley G. Johnson

Honors Theses

The world's energy demands are growing daily in conjunction with the global population and urbanization. In the modern era, the main source of energy has come from nonrenewable fossil fuels. While this source is one of the cheapest forms of energy, it is also one of the worst for the environment and will only last until the earth runs out of these fossil fuels. Solar energy, on the other hand, is both much better for the environment and an inexhaustible resource. The primary issue that arises with the accessibility of solar energy is that it is much more expensive per …

Computer Science In The Elementary Classroom: The Basics, Mary Grace Belle Hill

Honors Theses

Computer Science is often ranked with Nuclear Physics or Biochemical Engineering; people understand it is an academic discipline, but have no desire to study or learn anything about it. With the introduction of Arkansas Computer Science Standards in the elementary classroom, many teachers wonder how to satisfy these and to do so without full knowledge of computer science and alongside all the other demands they must meet in the classroom. This paper covers my interest in computer science and why it is needed in elementary schools, specifically in Arkansas. It also incorporates the standards, including a chart of all the …

Determination Of Bisphenol A (Bpa) In Infant Oral Hygiene Devices Using Fluorescence Spectrophotometry, Kaitlyn Thomason

Honors Theses

Bisphenol A (BPA) is an organic, solid substance that is structurally similar to estradiol, a naturally-occurring form of the female sex hormone estrogen. Since the 1957 discovery that BPA can function as an effective hardener, BPA-based plastics have been used to make a variety of consumer goods, such as water bottles, baby bottles, DVDs, eyeglass lenses, and medical devices, while BPA-based epoxy resins have been used to coat the insides of various food and drink containers, to line the insides of water pipes, and to create the thermal ink found on paper sales receipts. In recent years, however, numerous studies …

Determination Of Bpa In Infant Oral Hygiene Products Using Fluorescence Spectrophotometry, Mallory K. Mayfield

Honors Theses

Bisphenol A (BPA) is commonly used to make plastics, and it is also used to make epoxy resin linings for metal food containers. People are exposed to this chemical daily through bottles, metal food containers, and other plastic products. BPA exposure has been linked to negative effects on the body including cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and reproductive problems. Special caution should be taken for children because their systems are not fully developed, and they are often more susceptible to the negative effects. BPA can bind to estrogen receptors and activate them. It has this ability because of structural similarities to estradiol. …

Treating Breast Cancer With Light: The Creation Of Two Photodynamic Therapy Agents, Victoria Lackey

Honors Theses

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a treatment for a wide display of diseases, including cancer, that has become gradually widespread. The procedure requires the usage of photosynthesizing agents, which are activated in the presence of light. One quite successful photodynamic therapy agent is an aromatic structure made up of four pyrrole rings called a porphyrin. This research focused on producing the water-soluble porphyrins, H2TPP-3-PEG-OH and H2TPP-PiperMe-OH, through the attachment of the starting porphyrin, H2TPPC, with 3-polyethyleneglycol and 3-piperidinemethanol, respectively. The novel, water-soluble agent was purified and characterized by infrared spectroscopy (IR), nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR), and UV-vis spectroscopy. Purity was …

Scholars Day Program Of Events 2018, Carl Goodson Honors Program

Scholars Day

No abstract provided.

Project Emerald: Designing A Language To Be Fun, Addison Bostian

Scholars Day

For a computer language to be fun, it needs to be flexible, powerful, and easy to use. Emerald is a compromise between all of these features.

Project Emerald: Designing A Language To Be Fun, Addison Bostian

Honors Theses

I designed the language described here to be, first and foremost, fun. I wanted it to be a programmer's go-to language, the language that you pick up for personal projects or utilities. I felt the way to make this happen was to make it fun to write in. In order to accomplish this, the language derives from several existing languages, taking what I believed were the best parts of each of them. Combining principles from multiple languages sounds like a good idea, I quickly ran into problems that would make developing a compiler extremely difficult, if not impossible. Because of …

Assessing Specificity Of Indazole Derivatives As Inhibitors To Cyp2e1, Hannah Hart

Honors Theses

Metabolism of drugs in the human body can yield both desirable and undesirable results. Some of these side-effects are due to drug-drug interactions, drug-diet interactions, or lack of drug specificity. The enzymes that drugs attack are structurally selective and complex; therefore, many drugs are very general in structure and could possibly react with a variety of enzymes. Indazole has been used as a backbone for several drugs as it has the general structure that may react with most P450s. To determine a derivative, or a group of derivatives, of indazole that may be reactive only with cytochrome P450 2El (CYP2El), …

Scholars Day Program Of Events 2017, Carl Goodson Honors Program

Scholars Day

No abstract provided.

Methods Of Stacking Atomically Thin Materials Without High Temperature Heating, Hamilton Johnson, Hugh O.H. Churchill

Physics Class Publications

We present three methods which were attempted for fabricating stacks of atomically thin materials without heating to the high temperatures required by previous techniques. The first two methods were deemed unsuitable for various reasons, but the third was used to create a stack of hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) encapsulated molybdenum (MoS2). The method was thus shown to work, but the relative quality of its result has not yet been determined.

Devotion And Suffering In The Life Of Johannes Kepler, Anthony Jenkins Jr.

Mathematics Class Publications

Various heroes of Christianity have been celebrated by Protestants for centuries. From followers to devout disciples, Christians have recognized certain individuals as being role models. These people have stood as leaders of the faith and spanned from tax collectors, to fishermen, and even to government authorities. Often overlooked, though, were those who made advancements in the sciences, philosophy, mathematics, and other scholarly fields. In certain professions and studies, Protestants were persecuted and forced to deny their beliefs. Some chose to make what they believed as the center of their motivation which would lead to even greater achievements. Of those people, …

Elliptic Curve Cryptography And Quantum Computing, Emily Alderson

Honors Theses

In the year 2007, a slightly nerdy girl fell in love with all things math. Even though she only was exposed to a small part of the immense field of mathematics, she knew that math would always have a place in her heart. Ten years later, that passion for math is still burning inside. She never thought she would be interested in anything other than strictly mathematics. However, she discovered a love for computer science her sophomore year of college. Now, she is graduating college with a double major in both mathematics and computer science.

This nerdy girl is me. …