Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Elemental Contamination Of An Ancient Copper Mine In Killarney, Ireland, Courtney Chouinard

Celebration of Learning

Ross Island Copper Mine, located in Killarney National Park, Killarney, Ireland, is known for archeological artifacts of copper from the Bronze Age. Copper production surged in the late 1700s and into the mid-1800s. The mine included both open pits (e.g. Blue Hole) and underground excavations (e.g. Western Mine). Copper veins were found in the Mississippian-aged limestone bedrock along with chalcopyrite and tennantite ore. In 1912, tourism had become the main source of income in the area, and the mines and the land surrounding them were remediated and became a part of the national park. Mine shafts were filled in, waste …

Nutrient Variations Of Six Surface Water Bodies In Mchenry County, Il, Jacob Piske

Celebration of Learning

This research analyzes water quality from several ponds in McHenry County, Illinois, with a goal of developing a understanding of pollution sources and temporal variations in concentrations of nitrate, potassium, phosphorus, chlorine, and sodium. Over the past 25 years, the population of McHenry County has grown rapidly, with residential developments expanding into former farmlands. Yet, the county remains heavily agricultural, with roughly 60% of the surface area used for agricultural purposes. Concentrations of NO3-, P+, K+, Cl-, and Na+ were analyzed from six sites: two in subdivisions, two in farmland, and two near major highways. Data were collected once a …

Understanding Feathered Dinosaurs, Michael D. Sprague

The Research and Scholarship Symposium (2013-2019)

Young-earth creationists hold to separate creations of birds and land animals due to a literal interpretation of Genesis 1:20-25, which describes their creations on different days. As such, they oppose the conventional model of theropod-to-bird evolution. For many years, there were few Mesozoic birds known, namely Hesperornis and Icthyornis. Specimens such as Archaeopteryx, found in 1861, seemed to strengthen the argument for the proposed transition. However, even after John Ostrom reinvigorated the idea of dinosaur-to-bird evolution in 1960 with the discovery of Deinonychus, evidence of this transition was still sparse. In the 1990’s, exquisitely-preserved dinosaur fossils began to pour out …

Petrographic Analysis Of The Oriskany Sandstone (Lower Devonian) From The Ellisburg Storage Pool, Potter County, Northcentral Pennsylvania, Emily R. Jackson

The Research and Scholarship Symposium (2013-2019)

Three Lower Devonian Oriskany Sandstone cores, EW-216 (core 1), EW-415 (core 2), and EW-706 (core 3), were obtained from Dominion Transmission’s Ellisburg Storage Pool, located in Potter County, northcentral PA. The goal of the project was to create a petrographic analysis and description of the cores, with special attention given to any deformational features associated with stress/strain indicators. Extended Range Helium Porosimeter measurements, XRD analysis, and thin section production were completed by Calgary Rock and Materials. The cores were then analyzed using a petrographic microscope; a complete description from the analysis was written for each core. Photographs were taken of …

A Correlation And Stratigraphy Of Detailed Measured Core Sections Of The Waynesville And Liberty Formations (Katian; Richmondian) - Transecting Warren, Clinton, And Fayette Counties Of Ohio, Mark P. Guilliams

The Research and Scholarship Symposium (2013-2019)

The stratigraphy of the Cincinnatian is difficult to understand and interpret which has resulted in various models for deposition ranging from a layer cake model with continuous beds to completely discontinuous beds. The interest of this study is the Liberty and Waynesville Formations (previously part of the Bull Fork Formation); these are Late Ordovician (Katian; Richmondian) units of predominantly limestone and shale. This project assesses the continuity of fine scale beds within these formations across a small area (approx. the size of Ohio’s Clinton County) by correlating measured sections from drill cores. The project involved the study of five rock …

A Description Of A New Allosaurus (Dinosauria: Theropoda) Skull With Comparison To Additional Specimens, Michael D. Sprague

The Research and Scholarship Symposium (2013-2019)

Allosaurus was a genus of large theropod dinosaur from the Late Jurassic Period (Kimmeridgian to early Tithonian). The history of the taxonomic classification of Allosaurus species is muddled at best, and the number of recognized species varies significantly between researchers. Most Allosaurs from the Morrison Formation are typically lumped into a single species, Allosaurus fragilis. Given the amount of variation seen in Allosaurs through the Morrison, the genus may more diverse than generally recognized. A nearly complete Allosaurus skull (CM 279) located in the Creation Museum in Petersberg, KY is described, with comparison of its skull morphology to two other …

Genuine Or Reproduction: A Comparision Of 3d Imaging Techniques, Erica A. Loughner, Jordan C. Oldham

The Research and Scholarship Symposium (2013-2019)

Advancements in technology associated with 3D imaging for both print and digital applications are transforming many aspects of geology. Museums, researchers, and educators are now using 3D models to depict and reproduce fossils, minerals, and crystals for study, thereby reducing the risk of damage to valuable original specimens. This project examined which of the two processes available to Cedarville University geology program produces the best quality digital image and, subsequently, the best 3D printed object of a macroscopic-sized specimen. The first method utilizes the camera on a smartphone to take overlapping photos of the entire specimen (fossil or mineral) – …

The Relationship Between Static Water Levels, Bedrock Topography, And Glacial Drift Thickness For The Cedarville, Greene County, Ohio Area, Joel G. Twinem

The Research and Scholarship Symposium (2013-2019)

Cedarville, Ohio, is an area covered in glacial deposits from the Pleistocene age. During this time, the Silurian dolomitic bedrock was exposed and worn down. Glacial till composed of sand and gravel was deposited atop the dolomite in wake of the glaciers retreat. The combination of vuggy bedrock and permeability of the overlying sediments cause the area to be very conducive to aquifer storage and movement. This study attempts to determine the relationship between bedrock topography, till thickness, and static water level, as well as the implications for future drilling. 26 static water levels were measured in the field using …

Characterization Of Massive Vs. Laminated Texture Of The Coconino Sandstone (Permian), Arizona From The Study Of Thin Sections, Sarah C. Rouse

The Research and Scholarship Symposium (2013-2019)

This project seeks to contribute to the work of Dr. John Whitmore and Sarah Maithel on the Coconino Sandstone (Permian) of Arizona. More than one hundred thin sections are available for study from this sandstone. Each thin section was examined both macroscopically and microscopically to determine if the sample is "laminated" or "massive." The purpose of this project is to define what "laminae" are and then develop reliable quantitative criteria that can differentiate between the laminated and massive samples. These criteria might then be applied to distinguish patterns that occur across the deposit, which in turn may provide insight into …

Understanding Feathered Dinosaurs, Michael D. Sprague

The Research and Scholarship Symposium (2013-2019)

Young-earth creationists hold to separate creations of birds and land animals due to a literal interpretation of Genesis 1:20-25, which describes their creations on different days. As such, they oppose the conventional model of theropod-to-bird evolution. For many years, there were few Mesozoic birds known, namely Hesperornis and Icthyornis. Specimens such as Archaeopteryx, found in 1861, seemed to strengthen the argument for the proposed transition. However, even after John Ostrom reinvigorated the idea of dinosaur-to-bird evolution in 1960 with the discovery of Deinonychus, evidence of this transition was still sparse. In the 1990’s, exquisitely-preserved dinosaur fossils began …

Sedimentary Pyrite Morphology As An Environmental Indicator And Effects On Oxidation Rates: Northern Awash Valley, Ethiopia, Saira Hamid, David Davis, Daniel Deocampo Ph.D, Christopher Campisano, Andy Cohen

Georgia State Undergraduate Research Conference

No abstract provided.

Stable Isotope Chemistry In Titan Haze Aerosol, Allison Wold, Thomas Gautier, Jennifer Stern, Joshua Sebree, Melissa Trainer

Research in the Capitol

Titan, a moon of Saturn, has a thick atmosphere made up of nitrogen and a few percent methane, with a surface pressure of 1.5x that of Earth. Titan’s atmosphere is believed to be that similar to that of early Earth before the rise of O2. One significant source of information on the history and evolution of the atmosphere is the measurement of stable isotopes of elements in the molecules of major gases such as nitrogen, methane, and higher order hydrocarbons. The fractionation associated with the formation of Titan aerosol analogs are explored in the laboratory as a function of environmental …

Kentucky Alfalfa Awards History, Kentucky Alfalfa And Stored Forages Conference

Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference

The Kentucky Alfalfa Awards Program was initiated in 2000 at the 20th Anniversary of the Kentucky Alfalfa Conference. The Awards Program is funded annually from revenues generated each year for the Silent Auction during the Annual Conference.

Photo Highlights Of The 36th Kentucky Alfalfa And Stored Forages Conference, Kentucky Alfalfa And Stored Forages Conference

Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference

No abstract provided.

Alfalfa Conference Speakers From The Beginning, Kentucky Alfalfa And Stored Forages Conference

Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference

No abstract provided.

Save The Date! [Announcement], S. Ray Smith, Krista Lea

Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference

This is an announcement of upcoming events.

Selecting Summer Annual Varieties Using Yield And Digestibility, Christopher D. Teutsch

Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference

Although cool-season grasses can provide ample and high quality forage for grazing livestock in the spring and fall, forage growth during the summer months is often restricted by high temperatures (Figure 1). In contrast warm-season annual grasses are most productive during the summer months and do not reach peak growth until temperatures approach 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Summer annual grasses such as forage sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench), sudangrass (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench), sorghum-sudangrass hybrids, and pearl millet (Pennisetum americanum (L.) Leeke) can provide high quality summer grazing for ruminant livestock in many regions of the United States.

The Economics Of Hay Quality, Madeline L. Dant, Kenneth H. Burdine, Brandon Sears

Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference

Hay quality is often discussed when one considers the viability of cash hay operations. A great deal is known about how production impacts quality and how quality impacts animal performance. This knowledge certainly has economic implications, but the economics of hay quality has primarily been evaluated from the animal performance perspective. Analyzing the economics of hay quality from the cash hay producer’s prospective becomes more difficult due to data limitations.

There are approximately 2.5 million acres of hay produced in Kentucky annually. The vast majority of this hay is grass type hay that is produced and fed on beef cattle …

What Is New In Seed Coatings, Bill Talley

Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference

Seed Coatings started many centuries ago when the Chinese wrapped their rice seed in a mud ball when planting their rice fields. The ball would keep the seed from floating to the top when they flooded their fields. Seed treatment of Alfalfa first began with preinoculation of the seed to make it more convenient to plant. The farmer did not have to go through the process of inoculating the seed himself, and this was a great improvement at the time. In 1975 Ramsey Seed in California acquired technology from a New Zealand company to begin coating seed with a buildup …

Western Hay Production Vs. Eastern Hay Production, Tom Keene

Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference

Early in the history of mankind, man was nomadic and moved from location to location in order to gather and find sustenance for themselves as well as their livestock. At some point in time, man decided that rather than keep moving, they would establish a community in one location, usually near running water (or fresh water of some kind), and would begin to sustain themselves with production agricultural practices.

Planting and harvesting soon took the place of packing up and moving every time the current resources had been depleted. Each year a new crop would be planted; livestock also became …

Why Is Intake Reduced When Cattle Are Fed Tall Fescue?, James L. Klotz

Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference

A major problem for the cattle producer that utilizes tall fescue forage is the unrealized or reduced gains in body weight in growing animals. This result has been reproduced across numerous studies evaluating cattle performance on tall fescue (Hoveland et al., 1983; Boling, 1985; Schmidt et al., 1986; Goetsch et al., 1987). Cattle have gained from 30 to 100% less consuming toxic endophyte-infected tall fescue compared to consumption of an endophyte-free tall fescue (Paterson et al., 1995). This effect of reduced gain is a consequence of a fungal endophyte present within the grass that produces toxins called ergot alkaloids. Fungal …

Understanding And Improving Fermentation In Alfalfa And Grass Baleage, Dennis Hancock

Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference

The ancient Egyptian and Carthaginians are believed to be the first conserve forage by ensiling it in the absence of oxygen. Though the technique has been refined in the 3500 years since, the basic fermentation process has not changed. Populations of naturally-occurring bacteria on the plant surface can consume some of the readily available carbohydrates and produce organic acids. These organic acids lower the pH of the forage material and prevent fungal deterioration of the product. Fermentation has been used for millennia as a natural method for preserving food. Similar bacterial fermentation occurs when one makes yogurt, sour cream, or …

Hay Making Weather In Kentucky: How To Get Good Information, Matthew Dixon, Tom Priddy

Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference

The UK Agricultural Weather Center, housed within the Department of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering, was developed in 1978. As part of the Cooperative Extension Service, the goal of the Ag Weather Center is to minimize weather and climate related surprise for Kentucky residents and their agricultural needs, ultimately for profitable and sustainable production. In doing so, numerous tools and models have been developed throughout the years to further help farmers and producers in management and production related decisions.

Foreword Of Kentucky Alfalfa And Stored Forages Conference [2017], S. Ray Smith, Krista Lea

Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference

This is the front matter of the proceedings.

Sand Trends And Habitat Degradation, Jerrod Parker, Drew Costenbader, Yong Cao, John Epifanio

Kankakee River Watershed Conference

Scholarship domains: Discovery, Teaching and Learning

Author keywords: Sand Movement, Fish Diversity, Kankakee River, Sportfish, Side-scan sonar

Moderator Biographies, Heart Of America Grazing Conference

Kentucky Grazing Conference

No abstract provided.

Grazing Panel, Jeff Beasley, Trevor Toland, Ted Krauskopf

Kentucky Grazing Conference

No abstract provided.

Cover Crops/Annuals And Grazing, Roger Staff

Kentucky Grazing Conference

The use of annual forages (cover crops), both summer and winter, have been utilized for several years. When cover crops first were used to extend the grazing season, it began with one to three species in a mixture. That was before the soil health benefits were being observed and discussed as they are now. There have been a wide variety of planting methods used: airplanes, helicopters, conventional and No-till drills. Some seeding methods is simply broadcast on the soils surface and lightly tilled in or just rained in depending upon the weather. Then we discovered the herbicides and amounts used …

Mitigating The Challenges Of Grazing Lush, Spring Forages, W. Travis Meteer

Kentucky Grazing Conference

During the winter season most cattle are supplemented with dry forages, grains, and co-products. This ration is balanced and delivered to cattle. Then spring comes along and cattle are put out to grass. While green grass solves a lot of problems associated with winter feeding (manure, pen maintenance, calf health, and labor demands), it can pose nutritional challenges. Lush, spring forage has three major challenges when it comes to meeting cattle nutrition requirements.

Seedhead Suppression In Tall Fescue With Chaparral Herbicide, E. S. Flynn, P. B. Burch

Kentucky Grazing Conference

Tall Fescue (Lolium arundinaceum (Schreb.)) is cool-season perennial grass found in pastures throughout the Eastern US, most commonly in the transition zone. It’s tolerance to extreme temperatures, drought, poor soil fertility, heavy grazing, and pests have made it a reliable forage base for livestock pastures. Released in 1943, ‘KY-31’ tall fescue was quickly adopted by cattle producers and now inhabits an estimated 40 million acres in the US.

Soon after its adoption, cattle producers began to notice a reduction in animal performance and signs that animals were heat stressed following tall fescue consumption. These symptoms were an indication of an …