Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Treasurer:
University
Oral Presentations
2:00 pm
Title
Location
Reynolds 120
Reynolds 303
Reynolds 322
Reynolds 330
Reynolds 127
Garrison - Galloway
Garrison - Wilson
Page
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
Oral Presentations
8:30 am
Session
8
9
10
Title
Location
Reynolds 120
Reynolds 330
Reynolds 322
Page
14
15
16
Keynote Address
Introduction by Dr. Ingo Schranz, Associate Professor of Chemistry
"Why Research?"
"Research has been described as the scholarly pursuit of new
knowledge, discovery, or creative activity in an area with the goal
of advancing that area's frontiers or boundaries. The foremost
reason for conducting research can be as varied as the people
who are asked. However, there are several over-arching reasons
that lay the foundation of why we research. Among these are the
joy of direct experience, personal growth, search for beauty or
truth, and a commitment to reason in problem solving. To be
human is to pursue these ends and is the answer to the question
Why research.
Profile:
Dr. Williamson is an environmental geochemist with over 25 years of
experiencing in consulting, basic/applied research and educational settings.
Mark has worked extensively with the mining and associated industries and
has been involved in geochemical studies and site evaluations across the
United States as well as the Philippines, Peru, Australia, Indonesia,
Argentina, Canada and Magnolia. Dr. Williamson has substantial experience
with acid rock drainage (ARD), which began 25 years ago with his Ph.D.
graduate studies in the kinetics of pyrite oxidation and sulfur geochemistry.
His experience also includes characterization of mine material for potential
ARD formation using industry standard methods, prediction of water quality
from mine facilities, support for engineered construction design of mine
waste facilities, pit lake evaluations, and water treatment design support. In
addition to ARD, Mark has conducted studies involved with metals in aquatic
and terrestrial environments, geochemical engineering, and the fate and
transport of chemicals in the environment. He also has provided expert
witness forensic support in a number of matters.
Session 1 Biology
Reynolds 120
2:20
Mary K. Kilmer, Nicole Poe, Shelby Chappell, and Jennifer L. Bouldin, Ph.D.
Arkansas State University
2:40
Fruit Consumption Rates and Potential Seed Dispersal Species for the
American Persimmon
Jillian F. del Sol, Charli N. Davis, Natalie Skinner, Mimi Rebein, and Matthew D.
Moran, Ph.D.
Hendrix College
3:00
3:20
3:50
Break
Introduction of Florida Bass Alleles into Largemouth Bass Inhabiting
Northeast Arkansas Stream Systems
William J. Brockway and Ronald L. Johnson, Ph.D.
Arkansas State University
4:10
4:30
10
Session 2 Biology
Chairperson:
2:00
Reynolds 303
2:20
3:00
3:20
3:50
Break
Testicular Histology and Sperm Morphometrics of the Bird-voiced
Treefrog, Hyla avivoca (Anura: Hylidae), from Arkansas
Stan E. Trauth, Chris S. Thigpen, and Matt B. Connior
Arkansas State University
4:10
Tyler L. Childs, Sydney Grant, Tiffany Graves, Ethan Holicer, Seth McBroom,
Logan Thomas, Allen Leible, James Peck* and Brett Serviss, Ph.D.
Henderson State University
*University of Arkansas at Little Rock
11
12
2:00
Reynolds 322
2:20
2:40
3:00
3:20
3:50
Break
Bond Valence = Bond Length Relationships for Carbon-Carbon and
Carbon-Oxygen Bonds
Conner Harris and Franklin D. Hardcastle, Ph.D.
Arkansas Tech University
4:10
Michael Jason Newell, Joshua Vangilder, Maqsood Ali Mughal, Kayla Wood,
Shyam Thapa, and Robert Engelken, Ph.D.
Arkansas State University
4:30
13
Reynolds 330
2:20
2:40
3:00
Analysis of Two Base-Ring Ware II Juglets from the Late Bronze Age
for Opioid Derivatives via GC-MS
Jackson R. Petty and Dennis Province, Ph.D.
Harding University
3:20
3:50
Break
Development of Breath Analysis Methods
4:30
James Lowe, Dylan Campbell, David May, Allie Davis, Allison Surf, T. David
Bateman, Ph.D. and Renn Tumlison, Ph.D.
Henderson State University
2:00
Reynolds 127
Henderson State University
2:20
2:40
Calculus Pathologies
3:00
3:20
3:50
Break
Control and Power Factor Analysis of a Solid State DC Transformer
Hussain Sayed, Ahmed Zurfi, and Jing Zhang, Ph.D.
University of Arkansas at Little Rock
4:10
4:30
Session 6 Psychology
Chairperson:
2:00
Garrison: Gallloway
2:20
2:40
3:00
Rachel M. Rowland, J. Steve Oliver, Georgia W. Hodges, and Janet Lanza, Ph.D.
University of Georgia
3:20
3:50
Break
Causes and Consequences of Rivalry: How Do Rivals See Each Other?
Steven H. Jacobs and Travis Langley, Ph.D.
Henderson State University
16
Session 7 Psychology II
Chairperson:
2:00
Garrison: Wilson
2:20
2:40
3:00
3:20
3:50
Break
The Dark Knight Shines: Practical vs Positive Motives for Helping
Others Meet Their Potential
O'Dell R. Perry-Johnson and Travis Langley, Ph.D.
Henderson State University
4:10
17
Reynolds 120
Leah Efird, Itzela Cruz, Caitlyn Gosch, Taylor Lee, Charlotte Wetzlar, and
James Engman, Ph.D.
Henderson State University
8:50
9:30
9:50
10:10
R. Tumlison1, M.B. Connior2, H.W. Robison3, C.T. McAllister4, L.A. Durden5, D.B.
Sasse6, and D.A. Saugey7
1
Henderson State University, 2South Arkansas Community College, El Dorado,
AR 71730, 39717 Wild Mountain Drive, Sherwood, AR 7212, 4Eastern
Oklahoma State College, Idabel, OK 7474, 5Department of Biology, Georgia
Southern University, Statesboro, GA 30458, 6Arkansas Game and Fish
Commission, Mayflower, AR 72106, 7Nightwing Consulting, Jessieville, AR
71949
18
10:50
19
Session 9 Chemistry
Chairperson:
8:30
Reynolds 330
9:50
20
Session 10
Chairperson:
8:30
Reynolds 322
9:10
9:30
9:50
21
Friday, 5:00 PM
2.
A Study of the Relation Between the Spiral Arm Pitch Angle and the
Momentum Parameter of the Host Spiral Galaxies
Ismaeel A. Al-Baidhany, Wasmaa A. Jabbar, and Sami S. Chiad, Ph.D.
University of Arkansas at Little Rock
3.
4.
Jakyra Austin, Alice Cardona-Otero, Miguel Taylor, Marvin Fawley, and Karen
Fawley, Ph.D.
University of Arkansas-Monticello
5.
First-Generation
Matt D. Baldwin and Emilie Beltzer, Ph.D.
Henderson State University
6.
Evaluation of the Plastid Gene ccsA for Use in Delimiting Species of the
Alga, Nannochloropsis (Eustigmatophyceae)
Roberto Bernal, Frederica Davidson, Karen Fawley, and Marvin Fawley, Ph.D.
University of Arkansas-Monticello
22
7.
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C.T. McAllister1*, M.A. Barger2, T.J. Fayton3, M.B. Connior4, D.A. Neely5 and H.W.
Robison6
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Linna J. Perkins, Walker, A.H.1, Griffith, M. R.2 , Dobretsov, M.3, Chowdhury, P.4
University of Central Arkansas and University of Arkansas for Medical
Sciences
(1)Dept. of Physics and Astronomy, University of Central Arkansas, Conway
AR 72035
(2) Dept. of Radiation and Oncology, University of Arkansas for Medical
Sciences, Little Rock AR 72204
(3)Dept. of Anestheology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little
Rock AR 72205
(4)Dept. of Biophysics and Physiology, University of Arkansas for Medical
Sciences, Little Rock AR 72205
41.
42.
Grief in Gotham
Tiffany R. Pitcock and Travis Langley, Ph.D.
Henderson State University
43.
44.
45.
46.
47.
48.
49.
New Host and County Records of the Fish Leech Cystobranchus klemmi
(Hirudinida: Piscicolidae) in Arkansas
Christopher S. Thigpen, Lina I. Bagwell, John D. Konvalina, Samuel A. Schratz,
and Stanley E. Trauth, Ph.D.
Arkansas State University
50.
51.
52.
53.
54.
28
55.
56.
Ph.D.
University of Arkansas
57.
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30
the deviation shape changes from a straight line to single curvature then to double
curvature. For ratio (V/Vt) =1, the deviation shape is almost a straight line. For 2 (V/Vt)
<4, the deviation shape becomes a single curvature shape. When the ratio (V/Vt) 4, the
deviation shape changes to double curvature. Numerical results for (V/Vt) 4 is
comparable to wind tunnel data. Therefore the computer model is considered for further
investigation. The University of Arkansas (UA) computer model results for tornado path
deviation shape are comparable to both experimental and field data.
A Study of the Relation Between the Spiral Arm Pitch Angle and the
Momentum Parameter of the Host Spiral Galaxies
Ismaeel A. Al-Baidhany, Wasmaa A. Jabbar, and Sami S. Chiad, Ph.D.
University of Arkansas at Little Rock
In this work, we used a sample of 49 galaxies to show that there is a proportionality relation
between the spiral arm pitch angle (P) and the momentum parameter (Mbulge */c) of the
host spiral galaxies, where Mbulge is mass of the bulge and * is the stellar velocity
dispersion. We found the bulge mass using the virial relation Mbulge=K2re/G with the virial
coefficient K=5.0, while the stellar velocities dispersion were taken from the literature.
31
First-Generation
Matt D. Baldwin and Emilie Beltzer, Ph.D.
Henderson State University
Enrollment and retention of first-generation students at colleges and universities across the
United States pose unique challenges for those students, their professors, and the
institutions administration. First-generation students tend to be under-prepared
educationally and can experience difficulty adjusting to an academic lifestyle. For these
32
students, who characteristically possess strong work ethic, the frustrations accompanying
these initial setbacks can quickly escalate into diminished self-confidence and motivation to
succeed. Thereby prompting higher drop-out rates among these groups of students. To
expose this phenomena I plan on proving that traditional freshman students who are
undeclared majors are more susceptible to experiencing a diminished since of well-being
than compared to traditional freshman students who have a declared course of study. The
idea being that the lack of direction is the mitigating variable in poor student performance at
universities and technical colleges across the country. This proposed work applies
meaningfully to other non-traditional student populations (e.g. older individuals returning
to school, prior military service, etc.) as well as to other contexts in areas of industrialorganizational psychology in which success at the group/organizational level is dependent
on success at the individual/employee level.
Evaluation of the Plastid Gene ccsA for Use in Delimiting Species of the Alga,
Nannochloropsis (Eustigmatophyceae)
33
Roberto Bernal, Frederica Davidson, Karen Fawley, and Marvin Fawley, Ph.D.
University of Arkansas-Monticello
Nannochloropsis is a genus of algae comprised of very small (less than 5 m) unicells and is
known primarily from the marine environment. Nannochloropsis is a member of the class
Eustigmatophyceae, a group of yellow-green algae that is related to diatoms and brown
algae. Some strains of Nannochloropsis are important food organisms for aquaculture
because they reproduce very rapidly and possess fatty acids that are not found in other
types of phytoplankton. Species of marine Nannochloropsis are also under intense study as
candidates for biofuel production. The seven species that have been described from the
marine and freshwater systems cannot be discriminated by either light or electron
microscopy, and therefore the species have been delimited primarily by DNA sequence
analysis of the 18S ribosomal RNA gene (18S rDNA) and the plastid gene (rbcL) encoding a
subunit of the photosynthetic protein Rubisco. We previously described some new varieties
of the freshwater species N. limnetica from lakes in North Dakota and Minnesota, with
identification based on 18S rDNA and rbcL. Although these new varieties varied from N.
limnetica var. limnetica in rbcL sequences and (sometimes) morphology, we were unable to
name these varieties as distinct species without sequence data from additional loci.
Recently published chloroplast genome sequences from multiple species of Nannochloropsis
can be used to assess the diversity of individual genes and design PCR primers to amplify
highly variable regions. One plastid gene that is highly variable in Nannochloropsis is ccsA.
We designed PCR primers for this gene and show that DNA sequences of the ccsA locus are
approximately twice as variable as rbcL. Results of analysis of the ccsA sequences revealed
previously undetected diversity among freshwater N. limnetica strains and the marine
species, N. oceanica. Our study shows that the plastid gene ccsA can provide rapid
assessment of the diversity and identities of strains of Nannochloropsis. The ccsA locus
should be the gene of choice for future analyses of diversity and phylogeny of
Nannochloropsis.
34
Who is Harley Quinn? Whats really wrong with this fictional character? Is she an anti-hero, a
good girl who just fell in with the wrong crowd, a female version of the Joker, or just plain
crazy? Is she something else entirely? Using the American Psychiatric Associations
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual as a guide, this presentation will analyze different potential
diagnoses for Harley Quinn as depicted in comic books and other media. Potential diagnoses
include histrionic, dependent, and antisocial personality disorders as well as psychopathy
and obsessive compulsive disorder. Systematically eliminating unlikely diagnoses along the
way can identify a best-fitting diagnosis. Diagnosing fictional characters like Harley can help
students and professionals rehearse diagnostic procedures and better understand mental
illnesses.
35
Metarhizium strains. Students are currently developing protocols for performing plant
adhesion assays, and these methods will be presented, as well as plans for future research.
36
37
in streams and rivers. Although anthropogenic activities are thought to be the primary
source of excess
nutrients in waterbodies, natural sources of nutrients are also present in streams and rivers.
One
potential natural source is leaf litter associated with senescence (drought or seasonallyinduced). We
examined two species of leaves as potential sources for dissolved nutrients in receiving
waters. Hickory
(Carya sp.) and oak (Quercus sp.) leaves were collected at three times during the growing
season; presenescence,
mid-senescence and post-senescence, and placed in aerated water for two weeks. Water
samples were collected every other day and analyzed for levels of dissolved nutrients
(orthophosphate
(PO4-3), nitrate (NO3-), nitrite (NO2-)). Here we present the results from this study and offer
suggestions
for possible future experiments.
38
extracted with a series of solvents with varying polarity. These extracts are being evaluated
for interesting biological activity using a variety of assays, including brine shrimp bioassay,
microbial toxicity assay, TLC, HPLC and GS-MS analysis. Series of other tests such as FolinCiolteau antioxidant activity assay and hematoma tumor cytotoxicity test are employed to
broaden the array of assays and identify the fraction with highest beneficial activity. The
samples will be then isolated for detailed study in an attempt to purify the active compound.
Where possible, the structures of the molecules responsible for a new activity will be
identified by NMR. Investigating the phytochemistry of unexplored plants will allow us to
better understand the bioactivity of plants in the Arkansas flora and could potentially lead to
the discovery of new pharmaceuticals.
Fruit Consumption Rates and Potential Seed Dispersal Species for the
American Persimmon
Jillian F. del Sol, Charli N. Davis, Natalie Skinner, Mimi Rebein, and Matthew D.
Moran, Ph.D.
Hendrix College
In this study, we attempted to identify potential seed dispersers of the suspected
anachronistic fruit the American persimmon (Diospyros virginiana), a species that may have
39
lost its coevolved dispersers during the Pleistocene extinction event. We used wildlife
cameras in four locations to record animal visitations to persimmon trees. We recorded the
animal species visiting and the rate of fruit disappearance at each site. We found that 77%
of the persimmon fruits were consumed and that white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus)
were the most prevalent visitors to the sites, making up over 90% of the animals captured
by the cameras. Deer are ruminants and do not appear to be effective dispersers of largeseeded fruits such as persimmons. Proposed seed dispersers for persimmons such as the
coyote (Canis latrans) and the common raccoon (Procyon lotor) were infrequent visitors. Our
results indicate that potentially effective seed dispersers do not visit fruiting trees in large
numbers and it is unclear by what means the American persimmon is effectively dispersed
today.
40
41
(Chlorophyta) and the yellow-green algae (Xanthophyceae). Most of the known members of
the Eustigmatophyceae are small (< 10 micrometers), spherical or elliptical organisms with
very simple morphologies. Some of these algae have sculpted or ornamented cell walls, but
most are smooth-walled. We have isolated 3 strains of Eustigmatophyceae from plankton
samples from eutrophic Lake Chicot, Chicot County and 1 strain each from a shale seep in
Middle Fork Barrens Natural Area, Saline County, the shore of Lake Monticello, Drew County,
a small oligotrophic pond in Drew County, and a sphagnum pool in the Warren Prairie Natural
Area, Bradley County. Characterization of these strains using DNA sequence analysis and
light microscopy revealed that the strain from the Middle Fork Barrens is a member of the
common soil genus Eustigmatos. However, the other 6 strains are all likely to be new taxa.
44
Bond Valence = Bond Length Relationships for Carbon-Carbon and CarbonOxygen Bonds
Conner Harris and Franklin D. Hardcastle, Ph.D.
Arkansas Tech University
The empirical logarithmic dependence of bond order (s, or valence) on bond length (R) was
first
developed by Pauling (1947), = exp [ ] where Ro corresponds to a bond length of unit
valence and b represents a fitting parameter. Since then, experimental values for the b
parameter have been recorded anywhere within the range of 0.25 to 0.90. Many have
accepted a universal b value of 0.37 while allowing Ro to be the fitting parameter, however,
it has been found that this value yields unreliable valences for longer and shorter bonds.
Addressing this issue, a theoretical expression for the b parameter was proposed recently,
allowing its determination from the orbital exponents of the anion and cation participating in
the bond. In this study, working bond valence bond length relationships were determined
for C-C and C-O bonds through the use of the previously-mentioned b expression, orbital
45
exponent data from Clementi and Raimondi (1963), and a collection of X-ray diffraction data
from various studies. The resulting relationship are proposed to work for any bonding
environment.
46
of selectivity between the 2'- and 3'-OH groups in RNA for phosphite addition, resulting in a
reduction in efficiency of synthesis. Silyl protecting groups have been developed to improve
selectivity for the 2'-OH; however, in order to obtain the greatest utility, RNA monomer
synthesis still must be streamlined. To this end, we have developed a structural analog of
the 5'-OH dimethoxytrityl (DMT) protecting group, which while conjugated to an imidazole,
aims to improve selectivity for 3'-OH phosphitylation via neighboring group participation.
Synthetic procedures will be examined.
47
were better able to inhibit the growth of S. epidermis compared to these antibiotics. We
were very interested in Pseudomonas aeruginosa because of its ability to form biofilms
thereby making it more resistant to antimicrobial agents. P. aeruginosa was resistant to all
tested antibiotics with the exception of polymyxin B which developed a small zone of
inhibition on only some plates. Thymus vulgaris oil demonstrated more antimicrobial effects
towards P. aeruginosa than the tested antibiotics. These data allow us to conclude that the
natural alternatives used in this experiment worked as well as, or better than, the tested
conventional antibiotics.
48
analysis indicates that the Wastewater Reach stream health has remained relatively stable
between the years 2010 to 2014.
Calculus Pathologies
Shomari Hunter and Duane Jackson, Ph.D.
Henderson State University
Calculus is the mathematical study of change, focusing on rate of change and accumulation.
Calculus can be divided into two main parts: differential calculus and integral calculus.
Differential calculus revolves around the rate of change and the slopes of different curves.
Integral calculus mainly focuses on the gathering of different amounts of items and the
areas of curves. Differential and integral calculus intertwine as part of the fundamental
theorem of calculus. For the most part, calculus is straightforward when dealing with simple
examples, nevertheless, there can be some interference to deeper understanding of the
basic concepts of mathematical analysis. Pathologies are examples of problems that prove
the opposite of valid properties. Some examples of pathologies in calculus include a function
that is continuous everywhere, but not differentiable anywhere, a divergent alternating
series that goes to zero, and a function without a limit, but the limit exists along all the lines
49
51
What links programed cell death with multiple human diseases is its induction by reactive
oxygen species through oxidative stress signaling pathways. Interestingly, there is a strong
conservation of signaling pathways and the homology between genes in plants and animals
in relation to how their cells respond to oxidative stress. Because of this strong conservation,
a comparative genomics approach can be used in plants to dissect the complex signaling
mechanisms related to human disease. To elucidate oxidative stress signaling pathways,
tobacco plants constitutively (CAM 35s promoter) or induciblely (XVE-estradiol promoter)
expressing an insect glucose oxidase (GOX) genes were created. In the plant, GOX converts
cellular glucose into hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and Glucono delta-lactone. The hydrogen
peroxide is a super oxide molecule with the ability to cause oxidative stress. Leaf disc assays
were used to determine H2O2 production in leaves at different developmental stages.
Additionally, western blot analysis was done in tandem with the disc assay to determine the
expression pattern of common anti-oxidante defense proteins such as, Ascrobic Acid
Peroxidase (APX), Pathogenisis Protein 1 (PR1), and Glutathione Reductase (GR). Plants
expressing GOX show no visual phenotypes however, necrosis is seen by soaking leaves in a
20mM glucose solution; presumably by increasing GOX substrate levels. Results for the both
the inducible
(XVE:GOX) and the constitutive (35s:GOX) line will be presented.
52
similar pattern with an increase in height from April to June, followed by a drastic decrease in
height in July. September and October showed the lowest epithelial height. Evidenced by our
findings, Opheodrys aestivus exhibits pre-nuptial spermatogenesis. More studies of this
nature are needed to give us a clearer picture of spermatogenesis within the suborder
Serpentes.
54
passing oocysts of Eimeria ornata. This represents two new geographic distributional
records for E. ornata. Measurements of individual isolates of E. ornata as well as
morphological characteristics are provided with comparison to its original description and to
another Terrapene coccidian, Eimeria carri. In addition, we noted an adelid pseudoparasite
being passed by a single T. c. triunguis from Oklahoma that likely represents a parasite of
arthropods.
55
The Blackspotted Topminnow, Fundulus olivaceus (Storer) is a medium-sized fish that ranges
in the Mississippi River basin from eastern Tennessee, western Kentucky, southern Illinois,
and central Missouri south through eastern Oklahoma and Texas, Arkansas, Mississippi, and
Alabama to the Gulf of Mexico. In Arkansas, it is one of the most widespread and common
fishes, occurring in all river drainages with a statewide distribution. This fish avoids swift
current and is found primarily in quiet backwaters and pools where it often occurs along the
margins near emergent vegetation. This topminnow is a surface feeder on insects and small
crustaceans. Although information is available on the ecology of F. olivaceus, little is known
about its helminth parasites. As far as we can determine, only a single monogenean,
Gyrodactylus megacanthus Wellborn and Rogers from Alabama, Arkansas and Mississippi F.
olivaceus and an acanthocephalan, Neoechinorhychus cylindratus (Van Cleave) Van Cleave
have been reported from this topminnow. Here, we report four new host records as well as a
distributional record for parasites of F. olivaceus from the Interior Highlands of Arkansas.
56
Center for Life Sciences Education, The Ohio State University, 260 Jennings Hall,
1735 Neil Avenue, Columbus, OH 43210
2
Science and Mathematics Division, Eastern Oklahoma State College, Idabel, OK
74745
The documented hemipteran fauna of Arkansas has grown tremendously in the last 25+
years. Recent reports by Chordas and colleagues have documented new records for the
state and greatly extended our knowledge of this insect fauna. Although common and
widespread, the eastern boxelder bug, Boisea trivittata (Say, 1825) was not included in the
Arkansas hemipteran list. Surprisingly, our literature search did not contradict the notion of
the lack of a refereed published report for this species in the state. Here, we document B.
trivittata, with deposited voucher specimens, for Arkansas.
The Arkansas Endemic Flora and Fauna: An Update with Additional Species
H.W. Robison1, and C.T. McAllister2
1
Arkansas supports a diverse variety of endemic biota with most being found at sites in the
Interior Highlands (Ozarks and Ouachitas) of the state. Since 1988, several compilations
have progressively increased the number of endemics while some species have been found
elsewhere and/or have been removed from the state list. In the current report, we provide an
update to the list by adding 13 taxa, several of which are fish parasites, making a grand
total of 149 species.
57
Texas, Arkansas, and Louisiana suggests that its absence from Coastal Plain areas to the
north may be real. Therefore, given that no record of A. v. reducta has been reported
previously from the Mississippi Alluvial Plain, we herein report a newly discovered population
of this milliped from outside upland habitat in the Delta of far eastern Arkansas.
58
Goal 4, and is to crowdsource the discovery of new antibiotics in locally obtained soil
samples using undergraduate students. Undergraduate students in Henderson State
Universitys BIO3094 Introduction to Microbiology Classes (Summer 2014, Fall 2014, and
Spring 2015) have screened soil samples obtained from HSU and Arkadelphia for antibiotic
producing bacteria. Each group of students plated various soil samples, isolated selected
bacteria, and screened them for the ability to inhibit the growth of safe relatives of common
pathogenic bacteria. Several bacteria have been identified that produce possible antibiotics.
Students performed colony PCR (polymerase chain reaction) using DNA encoding 16s rRNA
as the template, and the products were sequenced. The bacteria were identified to the
genus level and represent a diverse spectrum of gram negative and gram positive bacteria.
Research is still in progress to identify additional antibiotic producers, as well as to begin
characterization of the inhibitory compounds.
61
neuropathy, while deep muscle pain or deep pressure hyperalgesia is common in humans
with neuropathy and muscle disease and very sensitive indicator of
prediabetic state (mild insulin resistance and/or insulinopenia) in rat models of diabetes and
muscle disuse. We present here the design or a novel device that will be used in
experiments to determine the loss of skin sensitivity to nociceptive heat. This design will
allow for scientists to more accurately determine the temperature sensitivity plantar surface
as compared to previous experiments.
The Dark Knight Shines: Practical vs Positive Motives for Helping Others
Meet Their Potential
O'Dell R. Perry-Johnson and Travis Langley, Ph.D.
Henderson State University
What kind of person would adopt a juvenile delinquent, offer a job to an ex-convict, mentor a
criminals child, or offer help to their own worst enemy? Are these simply practical/cynical
things to do in order to keep those people out of trouble or does this reflect optimism about
human potential? Batman offers a way for at risk teens and former delinquents a chance to
help others and be better citizens at the same time. He offers up his home and other
resources for them to help them join his war against crime. Is he simply turning them into
his own weapons or is he helping them become their own heroes? This presentation will
explore these questions through the lenses of humanistic psychology, existential
psychology, Gestalt psychology, and the more modern positive psychology.
62
Analysis of Two Base-Ring Ware II Juglets from the Late Bronze Age for
Opioid Derivatives via GC-MS
Jackson R. Petty and Dennis Province, Ph.D.
Harding University
It has been suggested that Base-ring juglets from the Late Bronze Era (circa 1650 BC) were
used to
transport opium. The debate between archaeologists stem from the appearance of these
characteristic
juglets coinciding with the emergence of the opium trade and the aesthetic properties of the
vessels
closely resembling an inverted opium pod in size, shape and detail. Specifically, two
separate BaseRing II juglets from the Late Bronze Age were analyzed to determine if the major
components of opium
latex (most likely from the Papaver Somniferum L. poppy) could be detected and quantified.
The
primary components of the latex (from the narcotic cultivar C048-6-14-64) are the alkaloids
morphine,
thebaine, and codeine. Gas Chromatography with a Quadrupole Mass Spectrometer detector
(GCMS)
was used to detect for these compounds by matching the mass spectrum of the components
found in the
juglet extraction to known standards of these alkaloids. In addition, Single Ion Monitoring
(SIM) was
implemented to analyze ions specific to the opiates of interest. The detection was further
validated by
matching the retention time of components to that of the eluted standards. Samples were
prepared for
GCMS analysis by extraction with a 5:1 mixture of chloroform and isopropanol, derivatized
with
bis(trimethylsilyl)acetemide, and then analyzed with a final solvent of dichloromethane.
Preliminary
tests suggest the presence of morphine in one of the two juglets with a retention time of
11.632 min. In
the same juglet there is a promising codeine SIM peak at 10.895 min. Further research will
focus on
concentrating samples for higher detection levels, establishing a Limit of Detection (LOD),
detecting
thebaine, and extracting ionic salts of opiates.
Grief in Gotham
Tiffany R. Pitcock and Travis Langley, Ph.D.
Henderson State University
How do people cope with repeated losses? For some people, tragic loss is rare, but there are
people who must face it many times. In Batman comics, the character Tim Drake loses his
mother, his father, his best friend, his girlfriend, his adoptive brother, his adoptive father,
and others. Psychiatrist Elizabeth Kubler-Ross has famously identified five stages of grief
that many, though not all, people follow when facing terminal illness or loss of loved ones:
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denial, bargaining, anger, depression, and acceptance. People facing repeated losses are
less likely to follow this pattern every time because death becomes too common in their
lives. This character is not prone to depression. He often dwells in denial, and after some of
these characters turn out not to be dead, he becomes more prone to persistent relentless
bargaining. Looking at a grieving character is a useful exercise when trying to relate to real
people who are grieving, including many who may be suffering survivor guilt or even PTSD.
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Human social development is most rapid during earliest stages in life, seen most
prominently in the speed at which a child is able to learn a first language. But what happens
if, during these immersive periods, a child is never, or rarely, exposed to fundamental
learning opportunities? Cassandra Cain, a reoccurring fictional comic book character from
the Batman series, is a prime example of the effects of delayed advancement, due to a
childhood submerged in martial arts training. Instead of learning language, she learns
combat. Why is it especially important to acquire a first language at such a young age?
Why is it so difficult to complete these steps later in life? How does this relate to learning a
second language? Is it possible that a lack of language may have positive effects on other
areas of the brain? By comparing Cassandra to both modern and classical examples of real
feral children, such as Genie Wiley and Victor of Aveyron, we can begin to understand her
motives and reactions as she interacts with an environment foreign to her personal
upbringing.
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questions: (1) did students improve as they gained experience in the module?; and (2) which
type of interactive materials (e.g., video clip, background reading, data-collection
simulation) led to the most improvement in the embedded assessments? We then used Preand Post-tests to compare the effectiveness of the diffusion module for students in basic vs.
advanced classrooms. Student responses to the embedded questions did not document any
growth, primarily because of a lack of student effort in answering the questions. This result
also meant that we could not determine which type of interactive material was most
beneficial. Preliminary analysis indicated that students in the basic classroom (compared to
students in the advanced classroom) improved more on only two of the six questions from
the Pre- to Post-test. In the future, students should receive incentives for effort on embedded
assessments. Furthermore, data from all classes involved should be analyzed, as should the
data from the osmosis and filtration modules.
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keep others from thinking for themselves and those who show authoritarian obedience,
preferring not to think for themselves. Is manipulativeness a substitute for real human
contact, a way to feel secure, a way to protect oneself, or a reward in other ways?
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communication schemes have been investigated in this study and the results of our work
will be reported.
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Numerous analytical models are presented in the literature and proposed as representing
different types of vortices. In the present work, commonly-used analytical tangential velocity
profiles are compared with measured tangential velocity profiles
from various experimental vortices as well as atmospheric vortices. Two analytical profiles
provide excellent representation of the measured tangential velocity profiles and shall be
used inCFD simulation to study structural loading by vortices.
Atypical Head Markings of the Ouachita Map Turtle in the Upper Ouachita
River of Arkansas
Allison Surf and Renn Tumlison, Ph.D.
Henderson State University
Turtles of a clade historically known as false map turtles (Graptemys pseudogeographica)
occur throughout the Mississippi River drainage, but variation throughout their range
precipitated taxonomic confusion since their original descriptions. Two forms occur in
Arkansas, presently designated Graptemys kohnii (Mississippi Map Turtle) and Graptemys
ouachitensis (Ouachita Map Turtle). These have been identified based on unique head
markings, but we discovered a population of G. ouachitensis with markings similar to those
of G. kohnii. Additional means of discrimination of these species in Arkansas are presented,
along with discussion of some juvenile characters that may disappear during ontogeny.
New Host and County Records of the Fish Leech Cystobranchus klemmi
(Hirudinida: Piscicolidae) in Arkansas
Christopher S. Thigpen, Lina I. Bagwell, John D. Konvalina, Samuel A. Schratz, and
Stanley E. Trauth, Ph.D.
Arkansas State University
Fish were collected on 4 April 2014 from Eassis Creek in Randolph County, 9 April 2014 from
McCoy Creek in Pope County, and 17 January 2015 from Janes Creek in Randolph County.
The fishes were fixed in 10% neutral buffered formalin and stored in 70% ethanol. Leeches
(Cystobranchus klemmi) were found on a bigeye shiner (Notropis boops) from Eassis Creek,
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and central stonerollers (Campostoma anomalum) from McCoy Creek and Janes Creek. The
finding from Eassis Creek constitutes a new hostand county record. The finding from McCoy
Creek constitutes a new county record.
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in the stomachs of frogs are rarely reported in the literature, but could represent possible
mechanisms for
seed dispersal in plants. It is unknown if frogs select to sometimes eat fruits or if fruits are a
bi-product of
animal prey capture or missed predation attempts. In any case, the goal of this report is to
raise awareness
of a poorly documented phenomenon in an effort to direct attention to this possible method
of seed
dispersal.
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Health for rabies testing, as well as records from field notes of chiropterologists. New to this
series, we also report records of parasites taken from mammals in Arkansas.
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Two studies are carried out to determine the physiological response to massage
therapy in the human body. The first study examines the effect of massage therapy
on the stress biomarker cortisol in college students. The physiological effect of a
ten-minute session of clothed Swedish massage therapy is measured using a
salivary cortisol enzyme assay. Massage therapy appears to significantly reduce the
cortisol levels of college students, with women experiencing more of a drop than
men. The second study seeks to determine the effect of hand massage on the mood
of elderly residents of a long-term care facility. Salivary oxytocin is measured via
enzyme assay to determine changes in mood. Hand massage does not appear to
significantly improve the mood of geriatric people.
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evenness returned to pre-disturbance levels within one week. Some meiofauna taxa
recolonize disturbed areas rapidly.
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employed, with the error represented as a random process. This statistical formalism yields
a likelihood function. A prior is imposed on the parameters to be inverted, also hyperpriors
are imposed on hyperparameters. Under this hierarchical Bayesian modeling, the full
posterior is approximated as a multi-dimensional Gaussian distribution. The mean of this
distribution may be used as a point estimate of the heterogeneity profile, with the
covariance matrix providing associated error bars (a measure of confidence in the
inversion). Finally simplifying the algorithm further through integrating out one
hyperparameter. Here the basic Bayesian inversion framework is presented, with example
results presented for subsurface-sensing problems.
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Laura Berryman, 66
Lauren Clai, 21, 50
Laurence M. Hardy, Ph.D., 7, 38
Leah Efird, 14, 34
Lillian T. Howerton, 19, 40
Lina I. Bagwell, 23, 61
Lindsey M. Waddell, Ph.D., 20, 43
Linna J. Perkins, 22, 53
Linna, J. Perkins, 45
Logan E. Elmore, 18, 35
Logan Elmore, 12, 34
Logan Thomas, 8, 32
M. Hemmati, 11, 40
M.A. Barger, 48
M.B. Connior, 47, 48, 64
M.V. Plummer, 20, 45
Maegen L. Sloan, 10, 59
Majdi A. Yousef, 68
Malissa M. Hoehn, 15, 39
Maqsood Ali Mughal, 9, 51
Maqsood Mughal, 23, 64
Margaret Tudor, Ph.D., 8, 31
Mark Barbee2, 14, 63
Martin J. Campbell, Ph.D., 17, 18, 26, 30, 32
Marvin Fawley, 17, 19, 22, 26, 28, 35, 54
Mary A. Andrews, 17, 26
Mary K. Kilmer, 7, 44
Mary Stewart, Ph.D., 23, 60
Matt D. Baldwin, 12, 17, 27, 28
Matthew D. Moran, Ph.D., 7, 33
Matthew N. Strasser, 23, 60
Megan Fuller, 9, 36
Melissa K. Welch, 66
Michael Jason Newell, 9, 51
Michael Newell, 23, 64
Michelle L. Coley, 18, 33
Miguel Taylor, 17, 26
Mimi Rebein, 7, 33
Misty Hill, 22, 54
Molly E. Kennon, 20, 43
Natalie Skinner, 7, 33
Nathan Reyna, Ph.D., 7, 44
Nawfal S. Ahmed, 11, 25
Nelsha Peterson, 22, 54
Nicole Nichiniello, 21, 51
Nicole Poe, 7, 44
O'Dell R. Perry, 13, 53
Oktawia Clem, 18, 32
Olivia Vogel, 23, 65
Osman A. Martinez, 16, 46
Panneer R. Selvam, Ph.D., 16, 68
Payten Frunzi, 21, 50
R. Horn, 11, 40
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Meeting Announcements
23nd Annual
Arkansas Undergraduate Research
Conference
T.B.D.
Henderson State University
Call for abstracts in Mid-October
Abstract Deadline Early March
For all information, to submit your abstract, and to
register,
www.hsu.edu/undergraduate-research
For information, contact Dr. David Bateman, batemat@hsu.edu