This event includes __________ presentations, __________Lamar University students, and _____ faculty mentors; All representing ____ academic departments. All abstract were reviewed and selected by the
Office of Undergraduate Research Advisory Committee
All accepted abstracts are published and listed alphabetically by the primary author’s last name
THIRD ANNUAL
UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH
EXPO 2016
UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH
ADVISORY COMMITTEE
DR. KUMER P. DAS DIRECTOR DR. KENDRICK AUNG College of Engineering DR. CRISTIAN BAHRIM College of Arts and Sciences DR. MATTHEW P. HOCH College of Arts and Sciences DR. PETER KELLEHER Research and Sponsored Programs DR. PEGGY DOERSCHUK College of Arts and Sciences DR. WEIHANG ZHU College of Engineering DR. TIMOTHY MELINE College of Fine Arts and Communication DR. JIMMY MOSS College of Business DR. MARY KELLEY-SCHEER College of Arts and Sciences DR. DOROTHY SISK College of Education Mr. JUAN ZABALA University Advancement DR. T.J. GEIGER College of Arts and Sciences
CONTACT US: CHEMISTRY, ROOM 115A P: 409-880-8430 E: ahenry11@lamar.edu
Jim Jordan, Chair and Professor in the Department of Earth and Space
Sciences, is a native of Beaumont and a graduate of Lamar University
with a BS in geology. After receiving a PhD in geology from Rice
University in 1975, he accepted an appointment as an Associate
Scientist at Max Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics in Heidelberg
where he spent over 6 years conducting research on lunar samples and
meteorites to characterize the early solar system.
Since returning to Lamar University in 1982, he began working with
colleagues at Johnson Space Center. His research has included the
formation of the solar system, laboratory and instrument development
for space flight, and the determination of solar wind gases in the lunar soil. The latter resulted in the discovery
of an approach to mapping the moon for the rare isotope of helium, helium-3, that has been suggested as a
potential fusion fuel for the future. Jordan was project director of the Neutral Mass Spectrometer experiment on the Wake Shield Satellite flown on Shuttle missions STS-69 and STS-80 in 1995 and 1996, respectively.
Jordan is a member of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), and a member of the
AIAA Technical Subcommittee on Space Colonization. He serves on the Space Resources Round Table, and is
an associate of Orbital Technologies Corporation in Madison, Wisconsin. Jordan is a recipient of the American
Society of Engineering Education Summer Faculty Fellowship and a National Research Council Associateship,
both for work at Johnson Space Center. Jordan has served on the Lamar University Research Council, Faculty Senate, and the University Patent Committee.
Since becoming chair of Earth and Space Sciences in 2003, Jordan introduced space science courses to the
curriculum, the current name of the department, and a minor program in space science. Jordan’s work with
undergraduate students on research projects include design and construction of experiments for weightless
flight on the NASA reduced gravity aircraft resulting in 14 experiments flown on 40 flights, operation of lasers,
mass spectrometry, lunar and meteorite data analysis, including measurements on selected meteorites and
Apollo-returned soil samples
UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH EXPO
10:00 AM – 10:50 AM REGISTRATION
11:00 AM – 11:20 AM WELCOME DR. KUMER P. DAS DIRECTOR OR UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH, LAMAR UNIVERSITY
DR. JAMES MARQUART PROVOST and VPAA, LAMAR UNIVERSITY
11:20 AM - 11:25 AM INTRODUCTION OF KEYNOTE SPEAKER
11:25 AM - 12:00 PM KEYNOTE SPEAKER DR. JIM JORDAN PROFESSOR AND CHAIR DEPARTMENT OF EARTH and SPACE SCIENCES 12:00 PM - 12:25 PM LUNCH
12:30 PM - 1:30 PM POSTER EXPOSITION SETZER STUDENT CENTER, BALLROOM
1:35 PM - 3:25 PM ORAL PRESENTATIONS
4:00 PM - 4:30 PM AWARD CEREMONY & CLOSING REMARKS
All events, unless otherwise specified, will be held in the ballroom
Wednesday, APRIL 20, 2016 | SETZER STUDENT CENTER, BALLROOM
Work in Progress: Increasing Fuel Consumption Efficiency in Aircrafts Using an Innovative Active Flow Carlos Caballero, Mentor: Dr. Cristian Bahrim Mechanical Engineering/Physics Presentation will begin at 1:35 PM
Designing a New Processing System: Case study for a Local Company Khalid Almutwa, Huy Luong, and Scorpio Collins | Mentor: Dr. Bern Eren Tokgoz Industrial Engineering Presentation will begin at 1:50 PM
Cooper Coated Stainless Steel as Antimicrobial Agent in Preventing Bacterial Growth
Romel Cardenas | Mentor: Dr. Shayam Shukla Chemical Engineering Presentation will begin at 2:05 PM
Picking the Pretty One: A Qualitative Study of Doll Selection Among Girls Age 4 to 10 Savannah Anderson-Bledsoe | Mentor: Dr. Donna Sheperis Psychology Presentation will begin at 1:35 PM
Startle Response on Extrinsic Laryngeal Muscle Activity Stephanie Bermudez, Mentor: Dr. Edythe Kirk Psychology/Speech and Hearing Sciences Presentation will begin at 1:50 PM
Assessing the Potential Function of the Gastrointestinal Microbiome of Mugil Cephalis by a Metagneomic Modeling Approach Datron Brown | Mentor: Dr. Matthew Hoch Biology Presentation will begin at 2:05 PM
China, Hollywood, and Films: A Look at Postmodernism, Post-Marxism, and Beyond Seth Barrett | Mentor: Dr. O’Brien Stanley History and Communication Presentation will begin at 1:35 PM
CHAIR: _________________________________ SSC ROOM 206 1:35 PM – 2:20 PM
SESSION 1B
SESSION 1C
SESSION 1A
Women in the Renaissance Judith Nelams, Mentor: Dr. Mary Scheer History Presentation will begin at 1:50 PM
Deaf and Hard of Hearing Students’ Social Problem Elizabeth Oltaunbosun | Mentor: Dr. Lee Chong American Sign Language and Deaf Education Presentation will begin at 2:05 PM
Flow Rate Measurements in Corrugated Steel Pipes Anthony Dundee | Mentor: Dr. Qin Qian Civil Engineering Presentation will begin at 2:30 PM
The Development of A cost-effective electrically conductive concrete for Highway Infrastructure Applications and the effects of Concrete Sealants on the Transmission of an Electrical Signal Kyle Edwards, Mentor: Dr. Nicholas Brake Civil Engineering Presentation will begin at 2:45 PM
Clear Blue: The Portable Device with Alumina Technology for the Filtration of Metals and Bacteria in Drinking Water Manisha Patel | Mentor: Dr. Evan Wujcik Chemical Engineering Presentation will begin at 3:00 PM
Graph Theory and Procedural Content Generation in Video Games Jonathan Hodges | Mentor: Dr. Jennifer Daniel Mathematics & Computer Sciences Presentation will begin at 2:30 PM Get Out of My Seat! –Probability Problems While Entering a Theater Emily McMillon | Mentor: Dr. Robert Vallin Mathematics Presentation will begin at 2:45 PM
Enumerating kth Roots in the Symmetric Inverse Moniod and the Symmetric Group Christopher York, Mentor: Dr. Valentin Andreev Mathematics Presentation will begin at 3:00 PM
CHAIR: ______________________________ SSC BALLROOM 2:30 PM – 3:15 PM
SEESSION 2A
SESSION 2B
Why Going Green Concept is Important at the Elementary Level? Lyndsey Dumesnil, Mentor: Dr. Mamta Singh Teacher Education Presentation will begin at 2:30 PM
Assistive Technology & Pre-Service Teachers Shelby Garbee, Mentor: Dr. Mamta Singh Teacher Education Presentation will begin at 2:45 PM
3D Vector Model Teaching Apparatus Natalie Hudson | Mentor: Mr. Robert O’Connor & Dr. Freddie Titus Mathematics Presentation will begin at 3:00 P.M.
The Role and Significance of Filamentous Proteophosphoglycan in L. amazonensis
Omar Gonzales | Mentor: Dr. Ashwini Kucknoor Biology Presentation will begin at 3:25 PM
Parasite assemblages in five species of fish from Village Creek, Southeast Texas, U.S.A.
Michael Shepherd, Yasmin Hamdan & Autumn Hardin | Mentor Dr. H.R. Yoder Biology Presentation will begin at 3:40 PM
Impact of the length and angles of suction pipes on the performance of a Centrifugal Pump Trent Shoefstall | Mentor: Dr. Li Mechanical Engineering Presentation will begin at 3:25 PM
Resonant charge transfer in ion-surface interactions Jamie Stafford | Mentor: Dr. Bogdana Bahrim Physics & Chemistry Presentation will begin at 3:40 PM
CHAIR SSC ROOM 214 2:30 PM – 3:15 PM
SESSION 2C
SESSION 3A
SESSION 3B
A Meta-Analysis of EROI Methodology to Produce More Equitable Results Jason Miller | Mentor: Dr. Jennifer Daniel Mathematics & Computer Sciences Presentation will begin at 3:25 PM
Creative Thinking: Divergent Thought in Criminals and Correctional Officers Whitney Murdock | Mentor: Dr. Jennifer Daniel Mathematics and Computer Sciences Presentation will begin at 3:40 PM
CHAIR: ________________ SSC ROOM 214 3:25 PM – 3:55 PM
SESSION 3C
Poster No.
1 Chromatography-Mass Spectrometric Analysis of Phthalates in Food Packaging and Children’s Toys
Omar Aguilar, Mentor: Dr. Andrew Gomes Civil Engineering
2 From Corn to Classroom-Representing Advanced Concepts Though 3D Printed Models Timothy Gonzalez, Mentor: Dr. Stefan Andrei Co-Author: Greg Year Computer Sciences
3 Phonological cross-linguistic effects in bilingual Spanish-English speaking children in early childhood
Christina Guerra, Mentor: Dr. Monica Harn Speech & Hearing Sciences
4 Children’s Perception of a Violent World Sheri Gunby, Mentor: Dr. Giner Gummelt Social Work
5 Stabilization of Expansive Clays and Silts using Bio-Enzymes Kyle Kibodeaux, Mentor: Dr. Mien Jao Co-Authors: Harold Crochet, Joshua Farrow, Remington Whitt, Brandon Belaire
6 Work in Progress: Programming is a Snap!: Increasing knowledge and Interest in Computing
Hannah Leleux, Mentor: Dr. Peggy Doerschuk Co Authors: Timothy Gonzales, Timothy Holcombe, Colin Smith, Alexander Strong, Diego Fernandez, Greg Yera Computer Sciences
7 Work in Progress: Machine Learning in Robotics Timothy Gonzales | Mentor: Dr. Peggy Doerschuk
Co-Authors: Timothy Holcombe, Greg Yera, Hannah Leleux, Logan Smith, Alexander Strong, Colin Smith Computer Sciences
8 Membrane Elasticity Response to Substrate Stiffness in Cancer Cells Nicolas Nikoloutsos & Merideth Chilton, Mentor: Dr. IanLian Electrical Engineering/Physics
9 Analysis of the Chemical Composition of Medicines through Spectral Analysis John Pickren, Mentor: Dr. Cristian Bahrim Electrical Engineering/Physics
10 Voice Analysis of Asymptomatic High-risk Voice Users Julia Richardson, Mentor: Dr. Nandhajumar Radhakrishnan Communication Disorders 11 Light and dark preferences and temperature dependence of righting time
in the brittlestar Rebekah Roden, Mentor: Dr. Ana Christensen Biology
POSTER DIRECTORY SSC BALLROOM 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM
12 Sustainability Plan for Lamar University Justin Vasek, Mentor: Dr. Mien Jao Co-Authors: Molly Duge, Anthony Dundee, Jessica Sezikeye, LaDonna Waters 13 Optimal Proportioning, Tempering and Testing of Adobe Brick, Compressed Stabilize
Earthen Block, And Rammed Earth for Low-Cost, Sustainable Construction: A Literature Review
LaDonna Waters, Mentor: Dr. Mein Jao Civil Engineering
14 The Development and Analysis of Accessible and Appropriate Adult Aural Rehabilitation Intervention Materials
Kristi Barnes, Mentor: Dr. Ashley Dockens Speech-Language Pathology 15 Work in Progress: Reinforcement Learning in Robotics Timothy Holcombe, Mentor: Dr. Peggy Doerschuk Computer Sciences 16 Work In Progress: Improving the Performance of the Radial Basis Function Network Alexander Strong & Timothy Holcombe | Mentor: Dr. Peggy Doerschuk Computer Sciences
17 A Integrative Review of Pyrexia: The Pathophysiologic Process and Treatment Bette Paredez, Mentor: Dr. Gina Hale Nursing
18 Samurai in a Galaxy Far, Far Away Rachel Simmons, Mentor: Dr. Yasuko Sato History
19 A Survey and Analysis of Audiological Opinion on Geriatric Audiological and Remediation Habits
Kaitlin Taylor, Mentor: Dr. Ashley Dockens Speech and Hearing Science
20 Glue Based Thermoelectric Devices Jiaxuan Xu, Vijay Krishna Bangi, Dixit Patel, Yash Sheth, Mentor: Dr. Ramesh Guduru Mechanical Engineering
21 The Forgotten Child: A Study of Lapedo Child through New neandertal DNA Studies Reagan Block, Mentor: Carolyn Clanahan History & Anthropology 21 Magnetohydrodynamics and the fast Multipole Method Ailes Catedral, Mentor: Dr. Keith Brauss Chemical Engineering 22 “HydroPal”-A Nanotechnology Enabled Water Treatment Design Progga Chirontoni, Manisha Patel, Mentor: Dr. Evan Wujcik Chemical Engineering
23 Antibacterial Properties of Common Household Spices Jeremy Fam, Eric Yeager, Baolong Nguyen, Mentor: Ashwini Kucknoor Biochemistry
25 Wind-Waves Affect Benthic-Planktonic Microbial Community Interaction in Sabine Lake Estuary
Jordan Goldstein, Chelsea McDonald, Kelli Creel, David Bassa, Eurico D’sa Mentor: Matthew Hoch
26 Surface Proteins of Leishmania Parasites Emmy Hammonds, Mentor: Dr. Ashwini Kucknoor Biology & Political Sciences
27 Does A History of Late Speech Sounds Development Affect Children’s Emotional Well-Being?
Brooke Herrin, Ashlain McGriff, Mentor: Timothy Meline Speech and Hearing Sciences
28 Characterization of Rhomboid Proteins in Leishmania Amazonensis Courtney Jackson, Mentor: Dr. Ashwini Kucknoor Biology 29 The Importance of Attending a Portfolio Review Marisol Lua-Figueroa, Mentor: Dr. Sherry Saunders BFA in Graphic Design 30 SAE Mini Baja Design Challenge Thomas Michel, Mentor: Dr. Kendrick Aung Mechanical Engineering
31 The Impact of Networking and Critique on Design Quality Gwendolyn Mumford, Mentor: Dr. Sherry Saunders-Freyemuth Graphic Design 32 The Value of a Portfolio Review Amanda Prince, Mentor: Dr. Sherry Saunders-Freyemuth Graphic Design
32 Diatom sesescence rather that turbulence results in a priming effect of terrigenous dissolved organic matter mineralization in a shallow, well-mixed estuary
Maci Reeves, Hostin May, Jessica Crow, Jonathan Rubio, Eurico D’sa Mentor: Dr. Matthew Hoch
33 Hypnotized by Lies: Analysis of the Media’s Influence of World-Renowned American Cults
Ashley Thibodeaux, Mentor: Dr. Sara Hillin English
34 A Mechanical Compressed Earth Block Press John Johnson, Steven McMullan, Dylan Dunn, Benjamin Rushing, Mentor: Dr. Jenny Zhou Mechanical Engineering
Chromatography-Mass Spectrometric Analysis of Phthalates in Food Packaging and Children’s Toys
Omar Aguilar | Mentor: Dr. Andrew Gomes
We come in contact with phthalates every day without realizing it. These chemicals are found almost in every plastic material, such as packing materials and children toys. These plasticizers may enter the human body via ingestion, inhalation, and dermal absorption. They can have negative effects that disrupt our endocrine system from functioning properly, create deformities in young children, and also damage central nervous systems. In this study, we analyzed some household and children items for selected phthalate content using Liquid Chromatography/Mass Spectroscopy instrument. Calibration curves were prepared from phthalate standards that were used to quantify the amount of phthalates present in the samples of food packaging and children toys. Samples from the target materials were prepared using established methods of EPA, Agilent, or from the peer-reviewed literature. Their phthalate content were measured using 6460C QQQ LC/MS instrument. We took common-sense preventive steps to minimize the phthalate contamination from background or blank systems. The outcome from these analyses may help decide for the government whether there is any need to make the phthalate rules stricter. This will also aware the general community, and make them more conscious and selective to use in-house or imported phthalate containing materials and food wrapped by them.
Designing a New Processing System: Case study for a Local Company Khalid Almutwa, Huy Luong, Scorpio Collins | Mentor: Dr. Berna Eren Tokgoz
The objective of this project is to create a new layout, suggest additional and upgrade automated equipment with a cost-benefit analysis, and implement safety regulations for a local boudin factory name Boutte's Boudin located in Lumberton, TX. For this purpose, a layout and flowchart for the old location have been created. Time studies for the process as a whole as well as individual sub processes have been conducted. Processes have been analyzed for safety hazards. The cost benefit analysis has been started for the new machinery. The processes have been simulated by using ARENA. Lean Six Sigma methodology have be used to develop the new processes. Since safety standards are crucial for the company, these standards have been developed with help of 5S tool of Lean Manufacturing along with OSHA and USDA/FDA safety regulations. 5S tool with the combination of a Bottleneck Analysis and DMAIC will help improve the layout and workflow of the factory. Simulation with ARENA will provide performance measures which will be used to analyze return on investment to assist in creating a cost benefit analysis for the machinery. It is believed that the workflow of the factory will be enhanced and made a new layout to complement the workflow with the implementation of tools, methodology, and software. Addressing and monitoring safety regulations will make sure Boutte's Boudin will stay in good standings with OSHA and USDA/FDA agencies. Conducting a cost-benefit analysis will help Boutte's Boudin make informed-decisions about its high-cost upfront investment in machinery.
Picking the Pretty One: A Qualitative Study of Doll Selection among Girls Age 4 to 10 Savannah Anderson-Bledsoe | Mentor: Dr. Donna Sheperis
Children learn gender and social role types through a variety of influences including caregivers, media, and peers. Toy selection, particularly the choices of dolls by young girls, is also largely influenced by the child’s concept of beauty (Perez, 2012). Do they choose what looks most like them or what looks most like what they think is pretty? Are these the same or different concepts? Understanding the influences on preschool age girls is critical to educators working with this population. This research focused on the foundations of a qualitative study that looked into the following questions: What factors influence doll choice in girl’s age 4 to 10? If girls have access to a broad range of doll choices, will they tend to prefer a doll more similar to their ethnic or racial backgrounds or will they tend to choose the doll that represents a white, European racial background. This qualitative content analysis study derived data from interviews with 26 girl’s age 4 to 10 in southeast Texas. The interviews were transcribed and analyzed for themes in order to determine how girls make choices about doll selection based on beauty. It was proven true that young girls who have access to dolls that display a diverse range of skin colors, hair types, and facial features of various racial backgrounds are less likely to choose a doll that represents a racially popular (i.e. socially acceptable) choice. The results of this study will impact social change by providing guidance to educators and caregivers who help shape the lives of female preschoolers.
Abstracts All abstracts are listed alphabetically by last name of student/primary author
Development and Analysis of Accessible and Appropriate Adult Aural Rehabilitation Intervention
Kristi Barnes | Mentor: Dr. Ashley Dockens
The United States is moving toward more accessible and affordable healthcare. However for hearing healthcare, low percentages of the 48 million hearing impaired are receiving treatment. The current model of hearing healthcare is not meeting the needs of this great majority. While online information makes health materials more readily available, these materials are inaccessible for many as the literacy levels needed to understand this information exceed recommended levels for the average American. The proposed research will assist in determining the most appropriate topics for an online aural rehabilitation program, create materials for this program, and assess its accessibility and effectiveness. Audiologist and patients will be surveyed and consulted concerning the preferred and ideal content for educational aural rehabilitation therapy and the development of said content. Using the information gathered, materials will be created for an online aural rehabilitation program. These materials will then by analyzed for readability and modified to accommodate accessibility needs. By creating accessible and appropriate materials for enlightening individuals with hearing loss on remediation/rehabilitation practices, a website could be developed that reached not only a local population, but also the state, national, and global community.
China, Hollywood, and Films: A Look at Postmodernism, Post-Marxism, and Beyond Seth Barrett | Mentor: Dr. O’Brien Stanley
After years of American films dominating the World Box Office, Hollywood’s view on how well a film does is shifting from an American-centric view to a global view particularly on how well films have done in China. This paper looks at this changing view of importance and how films, and by happenstance culture, are changing by looking at the situation through Post-Modernist, Post-Marxist, and new ideas. Hollywood’s insatiable appetite is causing films to be less about art and more about capitalism or hyper-commercialism, asking the question why are some films favored over others, and what kind of impact does this have on us? With Hollywood having a huge impact on our culture and others due to its long reach, trying to see how different theories on pop culture and culture theory have to say on the topic is fairly important. This paper is meant to kick off a discussion about how our theories on culture and those who shape it actually coincide in real life. The data for this paper were drawn from modern day films within the past 30 to 40 years, box office numbers from the U.S. and the world, and the relationship of Hollywood with China. From this data and discussion, hopefully a new or modified theory on pop culture can help discuss our current culture situation.
Extrinsic Laryngeal Muscle Activity and Heart Rate on Startle Response Stephanie Bermudez | Mentor: Edythe Kirk
In the current study I examined the effect of expected and unexpected film stimuli on the startle response. The startle response is a reaction to an intense stimulus, such as a sudden movement or a loud noise that exhibit activation of the sympathetic nervous system (Kumari, Kaviani, Raven, Grey, & Checkley, 2001). Several types of stimuli could elicit the startle response: pictures, noises, music, or films. The response could evoke a variety of physiological reflexes that include increased heart rate or neck jerking. By measuring the startle response through extrinsic laryngeal muscle activity and heart rate, I examined the difference between expected and unexpected fearful film stimuli on the emotional defense system. Using film clips to elicit a fearful emotional response, physiological measurements of electromyography (EMG) and heart rate (HR) were obtained. In order to regulate the audiovisual stimuli, the auditory stimulus was regulated with a peak of each film at 85 decibels to properly elicit the startle response. Preliminary findings show that changes in HR and EMG variability appear to be occurring in conjunction to the peak of each film excluding the control. Hypercontraction of the extrinsic laryngeal muscles in response to stress, anxiety, or an inhibited emotional expression like one would experience during a fearful film could ultimately contribute to a spectrum of stress-related voice disorders.
The Forgotten Child: A Study of Lapedo Child through New Neandertal DNA Studies R. Miles Block | Mentor: Carolyn Clanahan
This paper will discuss the controversy over the Lapedo Child’s ancestry. The Lapedo Child was excavated in Lapedo Valley, Portugal in 1998. Due to some of its anatomical features, paleontologists and archaeologists have debated if this modern human child was ancestry to Neanderthals or not. The nonbelieving scientists whom argue that Lapedo Child does not contain any Neanderthal DNA suggest that Modern humans and Neanderthals would have had to begin interbreeding long before 40-65,000 years ago (which was originally assumed to be the date of human/Neanderthal interbreeding). Today, new Neanderthal DNA results are being uncovered all the time. These
new results suggest that anatomically modern humans and Neanderthals started to interbreed a little over 100,000 years ago. With all this new DNA research, nonbelieving scholars are beginning to run out of arguments against the Lapedo Child not being a hybrid. After all these new DNA discoveries, why is the Lapedo Child being ignored and forgotten? This paper will analyze the new Neanderthal DNA articles and the scholarly articles over the Lapedo Child’s excavation. Lapedo Child is proof of Neanderthal and modern human interbreeding; the fossil also shows how long Neanderthals and modern humans have associated with each other.
Assessing the Potential Function of the Gastrointestinal Microbiome of Mugil cephalus by a Metagneomic Modeling Approach
Datron Brown | Mentor: Dr. Matthew Hoch
Gastrointestinal microbiota (GIM) of fish influences intestinal immune response to pathogens and provides probiotics beneficial to efficient use of food. Mugil cephalus (striped mullet), a common forage fish of global distribution, has become an important aquaculture species around the world. In a prior study of GIM phylogenetic diversity of five populations of juvenile M. cephalus from the Northern Gulf of Mexico, the inter-population variation in GIMs was greater than the intra-population variation. Neither plankton microbiome composition nor environments parameters explain the large variability in GIMs, which raises the question whether the potential genetic functions of gut communities are similar. To address this question the metagenomes (all genes from all microbes) of each fish population GIM were modeled based on the 16SrDNA-based taxonomic composition of the GIMs using PICRUSt software. PICRUSt then estimates the relative abundance of KEGG pathways for metabolic and other cellular functions present in the microbiome based on the metagenome prediction. Similarity among KEGG pathway composition will be presented.
Work in Progress: Increasing Fuel Consumption Efficiency in Aircrafts Using an Innovative Active Flow Control System
Carlos Caballero | Mentor: Dr. Cristian Bahrim
Increasing the efficiency of an aircraft, in particular in fuel consumption, is a topic of continue interest in the aerospace industry. Air drag reduction could be achieved using modified surfaces in particular for aircraft’s wings through an active flow control (AFC) system consisting of a network of sensors and actuators. This research aims to improve the energy consumption efficiency in aircrafts. For this purpose, we used an in-house setup involving a range of hard to soft surface materials which have been modified in order to simulate the effects of an AFC system on aircraft’s wings. A MARK-10 series M3-5 force meter was used to measure the load experienced by the sample surfaces when exposed to separate air flows aimed at different angles toward the surface. The material samples we have used include hardboard, cardboards, titanium, aluminum and carbon fiber.
Copper coated stainless steel as an antimicrobial agent in preventing bacterial growth Romel Cardenas | Mentor: Dr. Shyam Shukla
Copper is known for its antimicrobial property but its practical application in day to day life is limited due to its high cost. However, stainless steel is widely used material but it lacks any type of antimicrobial property. The present study focuses on coating of Copper in stainless steel and to evaluate its bactericidal property with that of Stainless steel and pure copper. Two bacterial species Escherichia coli and Staphylococus epidermidis were investigated in this study. Both stainless steel and Coated plates were cleaned with ethanol and then autoclaved. Bacterial cultures of both strains (500u1) were incubated on the coated plates for 24 hours. The antibacterial property was tested by counting the viable bacteria remaining on the plate by standard plate count essay. Results suggests that coated stainless steel show same effect like that of pure copper metal, and thus can be used as doorknobs, bed rails and other places which are common fomite surfaces for the bacterial contamination in hospitals as well as schools. Taken together, this study supports the concept of coating stainless plates with copper as a cost-effective measure especially in under-developed countries to prevent hospital-borne infections spread by fomites.
Magnetohydrodynamics and the Fast Multipole Method Ailes Catedral | Mentor: Keith Brauss
The Fast Multipole Method (FMM) has been considered one of the top ten most important methods of the 20th and 21st century. Of interest is the method’s application toward state-of-the-art integral and differential equation solvers on high performance computers. In particular, we are interested to incorporate the FMM into a parallel finite element
solver for the 3-dimensional magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) equations. Magnetohydrodynamics is the study of electrically conducting fluids in the presence of electromagnetic fields. MHD phenomena occur in liquid metal flows during aluminum casting, Czochralski crystal growth of silicon for electronics, and fusion reactors such as ITER. In the velocity-current formulation of the MHD equations, the magnetic field is calculated using the Biot-Savart Integral. To speed up this component of the solver from (2) to (log), we plan to implement the Fast Multipole Method. We review the (log) method on a two-dimensional example problem.
"HydroPal"- A Nanotechnology Enabled Water Treatment Design Progga Chirontoni and Manisha Patel | Mentor: Evan Wujcik
Clean drinking water is not accessible to about 1 billion people around the world. Although water makes up about 71% of the Earth’s surface, the majority of this water is salt water or contaminated water- with several species of bacteria, pesticides, and metals found in it. There lacks a device that is portable and affordable to all, and gives access to clean water at any time anywhere. HydroPal is an affordable and easy-to-carry backpack, with a solar panel on the outside and a built in multiphase water filter that can filter water from any freshwater source, whether a stream, lake, river, or the tap. The device's three-stage filter includes an ion exchange resin to remove heavy metals such as lead, copper, cadmium, an activated carbon filter that removes chlorine, pesticides, and organic solvents, and a nano-silver membrane on both the inlet and exit of the filter, that traps any pathogens going into the backpack. The front of the backpack would have a small tilted solar panel that would take in the heat from the sun and utilize it to kill any excess bacteria, and the end of the backpack would be a pipe through which the clean water would flow in for anyone to have for safe drinking. Nanoscience and nanotechnology has become a popular area for research in recent years that has contributed in improving the world. In our design, the technology lies with the use of silver ions to kill pathogens in the water supply. By introducing nanotechnology in the design of HydroPal, we are proposing an innovative solution to make clean water accessible around the world.
Why Going Green Concept is Important at the Elementary Level? Lyndsey Dumesnil | Mentor: Dr. Mamta Singh
A web chart was be created and the students were be asked what they know about recycling. The students were be able to make informed choices concerning reusing and recycling materials such as paper, aluminum, glass, cans, and plastic. The lesson was designed for 5th grade students. Discovery learning approach was be used. Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS): §112.16. Science (b) Knowledge and skills (B) make informed choices in the conservation, disposal, and recycling of materials. Materials used were: Tin Can Robot, Creation Station, Three R’s Web Chart, Three R’s Anchor Chart, Three R’s Activity Sort, Sticky notes (3 for each student), “I Understand!” Poster, Article on biodegradable golf tees: http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20090702/columnist/907021058, Recycling Word Search, Common Art materials, Go Green Brainstorm Sheet, Notebook paper, Pencil, Closure PowerPoint. Results: the students gained knowledge about the three Rs: Reducing, Reusing, and Recycling. They also learned why recycling is important, and how to reuse common items to make something new.
Flow Rate Measurements in Corrugated Steel Pipes Anthony Dundee | Mentor: Dr. Qin Qian
To save manpower, Ultrasonic Doppler sensor technology has been developed and widely used for water velocity measurements in the field. The Mace Meter is a Submerged Ultrasonic Doppler sensor that detects particles flowing inside pipelines and measures the velocity of the water inside the pipe. The device generally assumes the pipe is a smooth circular pipe, however corrugated steel pipes which is an inexpensive pipe and is most commonly used in agriculture. The corrugation changes the velocity profile within the pipe, in which the velocity reading from the sensor has about 20% error. Such error caused billing conflicts between water suppliers and customers from both public and private sectors. There is an urgent need to illustrate the relationship between the Mace Meter’s reading’s and the actual flow rate in the pipe. The objective of this study is to determine the coefficient needed to correct the flow reading from the Mace Meter by comparing theoretical flow rates solved from the energy equation with the reading utilizing a physical model. The model is set up with inflow controlled by a sluice gate, passing through four chambers with two combinations of pipe sizes (24”-30”-24”and 36”-30”-24”) and the water finally discharges through a weir into a canal. The Mace Meter is mounted in each pipe and the measurements from the meter were observed in each pipe for five flow rates between 0.6 cfs to 8.5 cfs. Water elevations upstream and downstream of each chamber are measured along with the water height over a V-notch weir. 18 out of 30 tests have been completed. The ongoing activity is to complete the experiments and analyze the data for determining the relationship between the meter reading and the theoretical flow rate.
The Effects of Cost-Efficient Conductive Metal Powders on the Transmission of an Electrical Signal Through Concrete for Highway Infrastructure Applications
Kyle Edwards | Mentor: Dr. Nicholas Brake
The objective of this study was to determine a low-cost and suitable metallic powder to construct a cost-effective conductive concrete for use in large scale infrastructural applications. Cylindrical specimens with various metal powders in varied concentrations were cast and their conductivity, capacitance, and inductivity were measured after 7 days and 28 days of concrete curing. These tests were also performed at different time intervals. Preliminary tests show that iron and magnetite powders at 10% and 20% replacement respectively provided the most desirable conductive properties. Additionally, the conductivity declined as the testing time increased and the moisture content decreased. From the outcomes of these small-scaled tests, large-scale testing will be conducted to verify the reliability of the preliminary results on a larger scale. The large-scale testing will allow for the testing of factors such as cracking and loading on the decay of the signal. It will also allow for the use of carbon fibers which could not be incorporated into the small-scaled tests since the carbon fibers were too large to fit into the test cylinder. Concrete sealers will also be used to control the moisture content of the concrete, thereby providing a more stable and reliable signal transmission through the concrete. The results of the large-scale tests will be used to assess the suitability of the material for potential applications in the transportation sector.
Antibacterial properties of common household spices Jeremy Fam, Eric Yeager, Baolong Nguyen | Mentor: Dr. Ashwini Kucknoor
Multi-drug resistant bacterial species are a major problem in the modern society. As the well-known antibiotics are no longer effective, it is important to explore new sources of anti-bacterial compounds. Some of everyday spices have antimicrobial properties that may act as natural remedies for treating sickness and killing bacteria. In this study, we have used disc diffusion assays and contact-dependent killing assays to test the effects of clove, black pepper, cumin, and turmeric oil against various bacteria such as Escherichia coli, Enterobacter aerogenes, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Streptococcus pyogenes and drug resistant Staphylococci. Acetone was used as an organic solvent in order to ensure maximum extraction of the active ingredient within the spices, with the exception of turmeric oil. Results with the most clarity regarding antimicrobial effect were determined using optical density of each bacterial culture containing varied spice concentrations. Furthermore, plate counts for each of the treatment were done in order to improve accuracy of data. Although there were varied levels of antimicrobial activity depending on the spice used, most of the spices tested exhibited strong antimicrobial effects on the test bacterial cultures. Moreover, some of the spices had anti-bacterial effect on the drug-resistant staphylococci as well. Further details on the concentrations of the active ingredients present in these spice-formulations have to be elucidated.
Assistive Technology & Pre-Service Teachers Shelby Garbee | Mentor: Dr. Mamta Singh
Students with various disabilities sometimes need extra support, one of the supports available to the student is Assistive Technology (AT). Review of the literature suggests that many in-service teachers feel as though they should have received a more formal training with AT during their pre-service years. The purpose of this study is to assess the awareness of AT among pre-service teachers. The study will attempt to answer two research questions: 1. What do LU pre-service teachers think about AT? 2. Are LU pre-service teachers prepared to use it in their classroom? This study will use the AT survey instrument developed by Alsalem (2010). The study will be administered to pre-service teachers enrolled in the Teacher Education Department at Lamar University. Expected results of this study include finding that as it was suggested in the literature review; many pre-service teachers have little to no knowledge at AT.
Wind-Waves Affect Benthic-Planktonic Microbial Community Interaction in Sabine Lake Estuary
Jordan Goldstein, Chelsea McDonald, Kelli Creel David Bassa, Eurico D’sa | Mentor: Dr. Matthew Hoch
Sabine Lake is unique among other estuaries of the Texas coast, and has been minimally studied. It serves as an essential industrial and recreational resource for the community of Southeast Texas. In this research project, we sought to ascertain the benthic microbial composition of Sabine Lake, as well as assess the factors that affect phytoplankton content. Photosynthetic microorganisms that provide essential organic carbon to the ecosystem exist as free-floating phytoplankton and bottom-dwelling microphytobenthos. We hypothesized that wind wave turbulence resuspends the benthic microorganisms and nutrients into overlying waters which changes the composition of planktonic communities in the estuary. To test the effects of wind waves on benthic-planktonic microbial community
interactions and nutrient exchanges in Sabine Lake, sediment cores and water were collected during calm and windy conditions. A photometer was used to measure light levels at various depths. Temperature, salinity, turbidity, and chlorophyll were also measured using an YSI6000 water quality sonde. Metagenomic DNA was extracted from plankton and surface sediments (0-2 mm), and the 16SrRNA genes V4 region was sequenced. Wave parameters and depth profiles of temperature, salinity and turbidity all supported that the windier sampling dates had great turbulent mixing of the water column and sediment resuspension. Analysis of algal sequences (Cyanobacteria and eukaryotic algal chloroplasts) revealed diatoms to be dominate in the microphytobenthos layer, while Synechococcus spp. was most abundant in the plankton. Similar diatoms were found in both planktonic and benthic layers, and further analysis should reveal if they are plankton or benthic taxa
The Role and Significance of Filamentous Proteophosphoglycan in L. Amazonensis Omar Gonzalez | Mentor: Dr. Ashwini Kucknoor
Mucocutaneous leishmaniasis is an infectious, debilitating disease that causes ulcers in both the skin and mucus layers and can lead to severe disfigurement of the mouth and nose. Leishmania’s success as an infective disease can be partly attributed to PPGs. Secreted PPGs are species and stage specific, and their significance in mucocutaneous forms of Leishmania have not been analyzed. This study will examine the pattern of gene expression of fPPG in L. amazonensis, a species that cause mucocutaneous forms of the disease and compare the data to that of other species. Leishmania parasites were grown axenically to obtain the sand-fly stage promastigotes. These promastigotes were then infected using U937 human macrophage cell lines to obtain the amastigote form of the parasites. RNA was isolated from both the stages to compare the gene expression of PPG genes using RT-PCR and qPCR. In addition, surface proteins were isolated from these two stages and separated using 2D gel electrophoresis to detect the presence of PPGs.
From Corn To Classroom – Representing Advanced Concepts Though 3D Printed Models
Timothy Gonzales, Greg Yera | Mentor: Dr. Stefan Andrei
The 3D printing technology, also known as additive manufacturing, is used for creating three-dimensional objects from a digital STL (Standard Tesselation Language) file. A 3D printer is a type of industrial robot. With support from Provost Doblin and the Dean of College of Arts and Sciences, the Department of Computer Science acquired a MakerBot Desktop 3D Printer which uses Poly-Lactic Acid (PLA) material to be extruded into layers. PLA is an environmental-friendly corn plastic. Successive layers of PLA material are laid down under computer control. Among existing graphics software, we decided to use Blender software because it is open source and provides excellent modeling capabilities. However, with the rise in interest from faculty we have begun to look at the benefits that other software could provide. K3Dsurf, Adobe Maya, and 123D are some of the frontrunners, all providing useful features. The purpose of these models is to provide computer science instructors with tangible teaching aids. Many concepts in computer science are quite abstract and difficult to illustrate using typical methods. Using the 3D printer however, abstract ideas can be printed to become real-world objects. So far, we designed various 3D models for teaching classes such Bioinformatics, Computer Graphics, Game Development, Foundations of Computer Science, Discrete Structures and more. We have produced working models of finite automata machine as well as an aid for learning bucket sort. In the future, we plan to develop more visual aids and also to begin to print 3D representations of mathematical functions as well as software development aids.
Work in Progress: Machine Learning in Robotics Timothy Holcombe, Greg Yera, Tim Gonzales, Hannah Leleux, Logan Smith, Alexander Strong, Colin Smith
Mentor: Dr. Peggy Doerschuk
This work investigates the combination of reinforcement learning and radial basis function neural network (RBFNN) learning to improve the performance of a robot’s task execution. Due to the benefits of a controlled environment and controlled variables, the robot has been ported to a simulator called VREP. In the current phase the robot is learning to follow a wall. This machine learning technique uses episodic learning, which only processes the learning algorithms once the state has changed. The state is evaluated using ultrasonic sensors, positioned on the front, left and right sides of the robot. These sensors detect the distance from a solid object, the wall, and the sensor itself. The robot evaluates the distances returned from all sensors and calculates its orientation and distance from the wall combining them into a state. It processes this state through the machine learning algorithms to decide its next action. The robot and its controller have been implemented and tested. The reinforcement learning processes have been implemented and are currently being tested. This project was funded in part by ExxonMobil and the National Science Foundation. A longer version of this abstract was published at an international conference on Information Technology Education [| Work In
Progress: Machine Learning in Robotics | SIGITE'15, September 30 - October 3, 2015, Chicago, IL, USA | ACM 978-1- 4503-3835-6/15/09]
Phonological cross-linguistic effects in bilingual Spanish-English speaking children in early childhood development
Christina Guerra | Mentor: Dr. Monica Harn
Paradis (2001) explained the Interactional Dual System Model of Language, which expresses how bilingual children can have two separate phonological systems that influence each other. Fabiano and Goldstein (2005) examined frequency and types of phonological cross-linguistic effects with bilingual Spanish-English speaking children to provide evidence regarding this theory. This study provides further evidence by replicating and extending Fabiano and Goldstein (2005) with bilingual Spanish-English speaking children approximately 2, 3, and 4 years old. These children all had typical developing language as evaluated on the Preschool Language Scale, Fourth Spanish Edition. Speech production samples in Spanish and English were collected from each child during single word tasks and play activities. Each sample was transcribed to see sound deletions that were produced in each language. Results provided supporting evidence in the Interactional Dual System Model. This is because the cross- linguistic effects were low and each of the two phonological systems are separate
Children’s Perception of a Violent World Sheri Gundy | Mentor: Dr. Ginger Gummelt
Research indicates that nearly 60% of American children have been exposed to violence within the past year. The safety and structure of society is therefore contingent upon removing the plight of a violent life that appears inevitable for a lot of these children. Prior research has paid close attention to the anguish of the victim and the prospect of treatment for the offenders, yet focused very little on children’s reported experience. In order for professionals to effectively intervene and help children cope with violence, it is critical to gain an understanding of children’s lived experiences with violence. Using data collected through the Region V “Do the Write Thing” Challenge, this study used 649 essays written by middle school students to examine how children perceive violence within their lives. Descriptive statistics marked notable issues that children deemed as a gateway to violence such as bullying. Qualitative data was then coded, scored and divided into categories based on individual forms of violence as well as causes and solutions. Preliminary results indicate that most children concentrate on their emotional and psychological trauma rather than the physical pain associated with violence. Themes emerged within the qualitative analysis and include obscured definitions of violence, violence as a universal experience, and complex emotions related to violence. Results verified that the majority of the children that participated have been a witness more so than a perpetrator or victim and that bullying was the number one form of violence based on their recognition.
Surface Proteins of Leishmania Parasites Emmy Hammonds | Mentor: Dr. Ashwini Kucknoor
Leishmaniasis is a deadly and disfiguring disease caused by the protozoan parasite, Leishmania. The goal is to identify the surface proteins of both the amastigote and promastigote life cycle stages of Leishmania, which are hypothesized to help the parasite invade its host. In order to do this, Leishmania amazonensis will be grown using Schneider’s insect medium. A SulfoLink Immobilization Kit and Coupling Resin will be used to separate the surface proteins. They will then be subjected to two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, then sent to UTMB service facility for analysis using MALDI-TOF. We will then be able to gain information on the different surface proteins present on Leishmania. This information may be valuable in creating a vaccination against the disease.
Does a History of Late Speech Sound Development Affect Children’s Emotional Well-Being?
Brooke Herrin, Ashlain McGriff | Mentor: Dr. Timothy Meline
Children with noticeable differences which happen as a result of speech problems are often teased or ridiculed by their peers. With a course of speech therapy, the speech problems typically fade by the time the children reach third or fourth grades. Our purpose was to discover if children with past speech problems are emotionally impacted in the years after their speech problems are resolved. To find answers, we conducted personal interviews with several children as well as written surveys with their parents. Both child interviews and parental surveys included comparable content to insure that we could make valid comparisons. We expected to discover how children’s feelings and their parents’ perceptions relate. Are child feelings and parental perceptions as they relate to speech problems
congruent or divergent? Based on anecdotal evidence and the pertinent literature, we hypothesized that child feelings and parental perceptions would diverge in some important ways. Our findings are expected to shed light on this important question. If children express negative emotions as a result of past speech problems, this outcome might suggest a need for emotional support from significant others and possibly professional counseling.
Graph Theory and Procedural Content Generation in Video Games Jonathan Hodges | Mentor: Jennifer Daniel
Procedural Content Generation (PCG) is a form of content generation used in video games in which certain aspects, such as the environments and world, are generated as the player explores them without any extra input from the developers. However, to the best of our knowledge, PCG lacks a proper “checking tool” other than the predefined heuristics implemented when first programming the game. This may lead to drastic changes, such as going from a tundra to a rain forest, in a way which breaks immersion. In Graph Theory, we take a set of vertices, V, and the set of corresponding edges between those vertices, E, to make a graph. We believe that graph theory can be used as a “checking tool” for transitioning from one state to another within a video game. Our goal is to create a more realistic experience when transitioning from one state to another when PCG is utilized in a video game.
Work In Progress: Reinforcement Learning in Robotics Timothy Holcombe | Mentor: Dr. Peggy Doerschuk
This work compares two different types of reinforcement learning used to enable a simulated robot to perform its task. One type that is known as continuous learning is where the table is updated after every action. The other type updates the rewards at the end of a sequence of actions, which is called an episode. While the table is still being filled it is called explorative and once all actions have been tried it crosses into the exploitative phase. Once in the exploitative phase the robot can assess the table to use the best action for the state it finds itself in. The objective of this research is to compare the performance of continuous reinforcement learning and episodic reinforcement learning to see which is more accurate and efficient. This is a work in progress. At the time of this writing the learning agent has been designed and implemented. Integration of the code with the robot simulation and the controller is near completion. Testing, analysis and comparison of results will follow. Partial support for this work was provided by Lamar University’s ASCENT program. The Lamar University STAIRSTEP team of undergraduates designed and implemented the robot simulation and controller.
3D Vector Model Teaching Apparatus Natalie Hudson | Mentors: Mr. Robert O’Connor and Dr. Freddie Titus
Many students struggle to visualize the geometric properties of 3D vectors. To this point, these concepts have been taught by drawing a 2D representation on a whiteboard or paper to represent a 3D concept. Sometimes professors will use online 3D modeling software. This does give a better picture, but is still a 2D representation of a 3D concept. For many students, this representation is confusing and does not help them visualize these concepts. For this project, I have created a prototype of a physical model using 3D printing that can be used to teach the geometric properties of 3D vectors and vector operations. I administered a pre-assessment to students in a Calculus 2 class that was taught using traditional methods in Fall 2015. I have used this model in a Linear Algebra class and a Calculus 2 class this semester. I gave the same assessment to the Calculus 2 class that was taught using the model this semester. I will discuss my process of creating the model and present my preliminary findings from the assessments.
Characterization of Rhomboid Proteins in Leishmania amazonensis Courtney Jackson | Mentor: Dr. Ashwini Kucknoor
Leishmania amazonensis is a parasitic protozoan responsible for several variants of leishmaniasis, affecting approximately 2 million people worldwide. To better understand the process of pathenogenesis in humans caused by Leishmania, we studied the localization and function of rhomboid proteins in the parasite. Rhomboid proteins are found in a diverse range of biological organisms, and the biochemical framework of such proteins are conserved from organism to organism, yet the functions and behaviors of these structures are dependent on the species in which they are found. The hypothesis for this research project is that the Rhomboid protein is an active gene in the Leishmania parasite and is expressed on the surface of the parasite, enabling it to modify host proteins during infection of the host cells, particularly when amastigotes are taking up residence in the phagolysosomes. The transformation of promastigotes in sand fly to the amastigote forms within the human host is the key for the establishment of infection
in humans. This transformation event is poorly studied, and is the key for any type of preventive/therapeutic targets to be identified. We hypothesize that the intramembrane rhomboid proteins will play a major role in this amastigote transformation.
A Mechanical Compressed Earth Block Press John Johnson, Steven McMullan, Dylan Dunn, Benjamin Rushing | Mentor: Dr. Jenny Zhou
One of the many challenges facing the world today is that of providing housing and commercial space for a rapidly expanding population. The ability to produce construction material locally and economically will facilitate this need. Our group will research and develop a mechanical press that will consolidate loose, local soil into a durable multi- purpose building block, known as “compressed earth block” (CEB). Our team will determine the necessary system parameters to create such a block, then design and assemble a new mechanism satisfying these parameters. Optimally, this press will be more productive, and easier than existing manual presses. Such goals require research into appropriate linkage synthesis and material selection in order to gain maximum mechanical advantage, and avoid unnecessary friction losses. These blocks must satisfy existing ASTM building code requirements. Such a mechanism will be required to withstand large forces (up to 1500 lbf), and so will require finite element analysis (FEA) in order to select a design that is safe and reliable. Block stress tests and FEA results will be presented along with a description of the design process and a demonstration of the block press in action.
Stabilization of Expansive Clays and Silts using Bio-Enzymes Kyle Kibodeaux, Harold Crochet, Joshua Farrow, Reminton Whitt, Brandon Belaire,
Mentor: Dr. Mien Jao
Expansive clays have undesirable engineering materials properties with relationship to moisture. Low shear strength of clays with increased moisture and the increased shrink/swell factor with expansive clays, causes problems with engineering pavements, ground supported floor slabs and footings. Normal engineering practice is to remove and replace the expansive and silty soils with structural fill or stabilize the soils with flyash, lime or a combination of the two. These stabilization materials create a chemical reaction with the soils to trap moisture and continue to provide moisture control within the constructed cross section. The cost associated with these methods has increased with time due to availability of materials and location of project sites. Also Class C flyash, outside of being an expensive alternative, has become an environmental issue with the type of production process to produce the raw material. The objective of this study is to show the effects of expansive soils and silts stabilized with bio-enzymes to produce a comparable construction material when stabilized with lime or flyash. Laboratory and field testing of dredge spoils and subgrade of commercial bio-enzyme mixed with expansive clays and silt was conducted showing the effects of plasticity index, bearing ratio, moisture density relationship and unconfined compressive strength. Laboratory testing indicated the stress strain relationship from unconfined compressive strength testing for the remolded samples showed an increase of only 2% for the bio-enzyme sample at 7-day strength from the baseline remolded non- treated dredge spoil sample. When the bio-enzyme concentration was doubled the unconfined compressive strength results increased 32% from the baseline testing. Atterberg limits comparison of the baseline and enzyme product showed no change at either concentration, along with no change in the moisture/density relationship. The project used a laydown yard expansion with a local construction company, Mason Construction, to prepare six test grids. The test grids consisted of natural subgrade and then subgrade stabilized with lime, bio-enzyme, concentrated bio-enzyme, bio-enzyme with fiber mesh and bio-enzyme with recycled concrete. Field testing indicated an increase in the CBR value from 2 to 4 when comparing natural subgrade with bio-enzyme. Pictures documenting the visual effect of the stabilization indicated surface cracking in the grids consisting of natural subgrade and bio- enzyme stabilization. After a heavy rain event the surface cracking was removed indicating shrink/swell reduction was not eliminated when using bio-enzyme stabilization. The laboratory and field testing results indicate an increase in the shear strength and bearing ratio when stabilizing with bio-enzymes, but further research and testing will need to be conducted to monitor and reduce the shrink/swell potential in expansive clays.
Work in Progress: Programming is a Snap!: Increasing knowledge and Interest in Computing
Hannah Leleux, Timothy Gonzales, Timothy Holcombe, Colin Smith, Alexander Strong, Diego Fernandez, Greg Year Mentor: Dr. Peggy Doerschuk
This project investigates whether high school students’ interest and knowledge in computing can be increased by engaging them in an hour-long hands-on game programming lab that is led by undergraduates. The undergraduates create the instructional materials, conduct the hands-on activity and participate in evaluating the effectiveness of the
approach. Instructional materials include a partial game that students complete, a set of slides that explain concepts, and instruments that measure students’ interest and knowledge in programming before and after the activity. As of this writing, all materials have been created and tested. They will be used and evaluated in a series of on-campus visits by high schools planned for this academic year. This project was funded in part by ExxonMobil and the National Science Foundation.
The Importance of Attending a Portfolio Review Marisol Lua-Figueroa | Mentor: Dr. Sherry Saunders-Freyermuth
After attending the AIGA National Design Conference in New Orleans in October 2015, I have learned about the importance of presenting my graphic design work in a professional manner. I took part of a portfolio review, an important creative activity that allowed me to present my work to professional designers. In order to have a unified portfolio, I developed a personal branding that was showcased as a theme throughout my portfolio. I then presented my work as a printed portfolio and received very important feedback. As a result of this creative activity, I have since developed a better understanding of the significance of presenting my work in a professional manner and receiving feedback from such. This research expo presentation will emphasize the process of preparing for the portfolio review plus go over the lessons I learned from the review process. Additionally, I will share other insightful knowledge received from attending other important conference events.
Get Out of My Seat! – Probability Problems While Entering a Theater Emily McMillon | Mentor: Dr. Robert Vallin
We present the following problem, taken from a talk by James Tanton: “One hundred people line up to take their seats in a 100-seat theater, but the first person has lost his ticket and chooses a seat randomly. Each person, thereafter, either sits in her correct assigned seat, or, if occupied, sits in an unoccupied seat at random. What is the probability that the 100th person sits in her correct seat?” We will solve this scenario and will then move on to a series of variations on the problem.
SAE Mini Baja Design Challenge Thomas Michel | Mentor: Dr. Kendrick Aung
Capstone projects in engineering are meant to be the culmination of a student’s academic career that evaluate students for the knowledge and skills that a successful graduate and future engineer should possess. One of such capstone projects in the Mechanical Engineering Department includes the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) Mini Baja Design Challenge. The goal of this project is for a team of students to design, build, test, and compete with a mini dune buggy of their own creation and invention. The kart will be taken to competition where it will be tested in several static and dynamic events that include cost, design merit, maneuverability, traction, and a four hour endurance race to name a few. Students are tasked with the design of every aspect of the vehicle except the engine which is provided. Some of the design methods used include finite-element analysis, linkage analysis, and dynamic system analysis. Once the various systems are designed, the vehicle must be built using a combination of parts that were designed by the team or assembled with currently existing parts. The finished product must adhere to a strict set of rules set by the governing organization of the competition and meet the individual goals of the team. The ideal behind the project is to give engineering students a real-life scenario where they will be tasked with developing solutions to real situations while considering cost, time constraints, and manufacturability all while striving for innovation and competitiveness.
A Meta-Analysis of EROI Methodology to Produce More Equitable Results Jason Miller | Mentor: Dr. Jennifer Daniel
Energy Return On Investment (EROI) is a measure of the efficiency of an energy source. EROI is modeled by a ratio of usable acquired energy divided by the energy expended to obtain it. While this appears straightforward, the literature is still divided on which levels of the supply chain should be included and what energy should be regarded as usable. These differing approaches have produced EROI values that vary wildly. For example, the EROI of nuclear power is found to be anywhere from 1:1 to 90:1, depending on the paper in question. The lack of a standard methodology for EROI calculation will continue to place findings at odds. I approached this research by first performing a meta-analysis of the EROI literature to analyze their methodology. My intent is to critique methodology by highlighting common strengths and weaknesses. In addition, I am in the process of collecting investment data so that I can form a model of
EROI that relies on finance under the assumption that the relevant levels of the supply chain and the usable energy are both accounted for by the market. EROI can be a very helpful tool for policymakers, investors, and others to judge the efficacy of various energy sources and energy production methods. The intent of this research is to critique and put forth suggestions in order for EROI calculations to become.
The Impact of Networking and Critique on Design Quality Gwendolyn Mumford | Mentor: Dr. Sherry Saunders-Freyermuth
While it could be said of any profession that networking and critique play a vitally important role for growth of the individual, as a design student I find these particularly impactful. Graphic design has been a growing industry over the past several decades, but the design community in Southeast Texas is still relatively small and it can therefore be difficult to find mentors or inspiration. To remedy this problem I travelled with my professor and several peers to the AIGA National Design Conference in New Orleans, Louisiana in October of last year. The benefits from my attendance are still felt today. AIGA, a professional association for design, is internationally known for its contributions to the design world. While they offer many benefits to student members, the decreased conference price is one of the most advantageous as it allows students to listen to world-class speakers and to network with design heroes. As a student member I was able to participate in the conference’s portfolio review. During this review I made connections with designers from IBM in Austin and was consequently considered for their internship application process. The most beneficial feedback I received, however, came from Kenneth Carbone and Michael Beirut, two of the most successful designers in the US. Since this conference I feel my quality of work has exponentially increased and I have been inspired to reach out to better the design community in Southeast Texas.
Creative Thinking: Divergent Thought in Criminals and Correctional Officers Whitney Murdock | Mentor: Dr. Judith Mann
The role of divergent thought and its effect on the discord between convicted offenders and correctional officers was explored in the current study. Forty-three inmates and forty-two correctional officers from the Jefferson County Department of Corrections were administered an alternate uses assessment to determine their flexibility of creative thinking. Participants were presented with words depicting well-known, common objects, and were then asked to write down as many uses for the objects as possible. The components of originality, fluency, and elaboration of responses between groups were analyzed using independent samples t-tests. Inmates were found to be significantly more original and unique in their responses than officers, but elaboration of responses between the groups did not differ. Inmates’ fluency scores were also higher than officers’ scores, but the difference was not significant. Limitations for this research in creative thinking styles between inmates and correctional officers, and possibilities for future research including police officers are discussed.
Women in the Renaissance Judith Nelams | Mentor: Dr. Mary Kelley-Scheer
This study examines Renaissance society, dealing specifically with gender relations and women’s roles at the time. Dealing with the dramatic resurgence of knowledge in the Renaissance, it is necessary to examine women’s social or economic condition, education, and power. The majority of women were subjected to men and did not experience a Renaissance of their own, but elite women in Spain and Italy were regarded in their own right. At this time in Spain and Italy, the elite at court, under the rule of Charles V of Spain, directed a Neo-Platonist religious reformation on the elite. Women played an instrumental role in this reformation as they acted as advisors and confidants to men. This shows that women experienced freedom through religion, were educated at court, and were, at times, venerated by the men around them. Although women did not experience a Renaissance of their own, many elite women, working with me, were given a voice in Spain and Italy as they played an instrumental role in the creation of a Neo-Platonist reformation group within their class.
Membrane Elasticity Response to Substrate Stiffness in Cancers Cells Nicolas Nikoloutsos, Merideth Chilton | Mentor: Ian Lian
It has been well established that distinctive tumor types have varying metastatic and colonizing behaviors. We hypothesize that cancer cells originating from different tissues may exhibit such disparate phenotypes due to their responses to the physical microenvironment. In order to investigate the effect of substrate stiffness on multiple cancer cell types, the gene expressions of metastatic biomarkers were surveyed with qPCR and the forces from extracted membrane tethers were quantified using atomic force microscopy (AFM). Based on the results obtained from these
cancer cell lines, a generally positive correlation of membrane tether forces and substrate stiffness was observed, with different values for different cell types. This finding may provide a mechanistic explanation for the distinctions in adaptive and metastatic properties of various cancer cell lines.
Deaf and Hard of Hearing students' social interaction and friendships Elizabeth Olatunbosun | Mentor: Dr. ChongMin Lee
Many deaf and hard of hearing students in the mainstream schools encounter difficulties in interacting with their hearing peers because many hearing students and teachers do not know American Sign Language. Deaf students don't feel comfortable communicating with hearing peers who don't sign or do not understand deaf culture. As a result, many deaf students are isolated because the vast majority of hearing students and teachers in the mainstream schools lack the understanding of deafness. However, it is important social interaction and friendships for most students because it influences self-esteem, formation of identity, and academic achievement. This study is to find out how deaf and hard of hearing students participate fully in social activities. The purpose of this study is to explore Deaf and hard of hearing students' social interactions in the mainstream schools and what can be done to resolve those problems. I will interview ten deaf and hard of hearing students to find out how they were able to interact with their hearing friends and also find out how they were able to develop friendship with them. The questions will include their background information, quality of social interaction with hearing peers, and percentage of sign language or ASL used between them and hearing peers/teachers. The interview will be videoed, and it will take about 30 minutes. After data analysis, I will share the results of my study with my classmates.
A Integrative Review of Pyrexia: The Pathophysiologic Process and Treatment Bette Paredez | Mentor: Dr. Gina Hale
The body’s temperature (BT) set point is controlled by the hypothalamus and mediated by indirect interactions between cytokines (chemical messengers) and the hypothalamus. There are three categories of increases in BT: hyperthermia, pyrexia, and hyperpyrexia. Hyperthermia is an environmentally induced increase in BT independent of the hypothalamic set-point. Pyrexia, an evolutionary adaption to fight infection, is a cytokine-mediated rise in core BT stimulated by either endogenous or exogenous pyrogens. Endogenous origins include tissue damage, while exogenous causes are typically related to an infectious organism. Hyperpyrexia occurs when the hypothalamic set-point exceeds normal febrile regulation and may be related to pharmacologic interventions, radiation, or brain injury (Bernheim, Block, & Atkins, 1979). Normal temperature values, 98.2 (± 0.7)°F, may vary due to non-pathological factors on a day to day basis. However, reference ranges for diagnosing temperature as febrile are either not specified or incongruent in the literature (Biddle, 2006). While the literature is specific about treating pyrexia in cases such as neurologic injury and critically ill patients, it is ambiguous about others, such as with infectious fevers. Treatment for increases in BT differ based upon the underlying causative agent and options range from supportive therapy to strict control of BT via clinical intervention (Biddle, 2006). Although the literature clearly differentiates between the three categories of increases in BT healthcare workers may not understand the differences. It is vital for clinicians to have a comprehensive understanding of pyrexia because, as a common clinical finding, medical interventions may be warranted.
Clear Blue: the Portable Device with Alumina Technology for the Filtration of Metals and Bacteria in Drinking Water
Manisha Patel | Mentor: Dr. Evan Wujcik
As stated by the World Health Organization, arsenic and fluoride are two of the most common and dangerous metals found in drinking water worldwide. The issue arises frequently in developing countries where water is available but is not in drinkable condition. This project has developed a device, Clear Blue, that can not only filter out the two toxic metals and various types of bacteria, but is also portable and light weight- allowing it to be utilized anytime, anywhere filtered water is needed immediately. Clear Blue consists of a small sized filter that utilizes activated alumina technology and a bio-sand filter to kill and trap all arsenic and fluoride metals, bacteria, and dirt. The exterior part of the filter was designed via OnShape software and was produced completely by a 3D printer, utilizing biocompatible and durable PVP plastic as the material. The interior, the actual filter itself, was constructed in two sections in series. One section consisting of activated alumina- in which the water would absorb all arsenic and fluoride metals. The second section is the bio-sand filter, which consists of finite sand and gravel that can trap 95% of all commonly found bacteria and dirt. Through field testing, we will be able to confirm the success of this filter in purifying contaminated water into safe drinkable water.
Analysis of the Chemical Composition of Medicines through Spectral Analysis John Pickren | Mentor: Dr. Christian Bahrim
We have established that we are identifying the composition of several over-the-counter medicines, and the impurities that they may have. To accomplish this, we review the emission spectra of medicines exposed to flames using an Ocean Optics RedTide USB650 spectrometer with an optical resolution of 0.6 nm and a GLX Xplorer handheld data processing device. We compare the acquired spectra with known data including optical transitions, transition probabilities, and Grotrian diagrams that can be found in databases such as NIST. In order to identify impurities, we can observe and analyze weak emission lines. For certain groups of medicines, such as allergy medication and calcium supplements, we have found stronger emission lines of sodium and potassium than of calcium. We aim to classify these different medicines into similar groups to find which medicines have similar compositions, and determine similar functions between them. The results acquired from this process are comparable to composition results taken from chemical analyses. By studying this method of flame spectroscopy, we can increase the scale of the experiment to create applications to refinery flare towers. Recent results have found that using a telescope as a light capture device is a valid method to observe these flare towers.
The Value of a Portfolio Review Amanda Prince | Mentor: Dr. Sherry Saunders-Freyermuth
After attending the AIGA National Conference in New Orleans in October 2015, I have learned about the importance of presenting my graphic design work in a professional manner. I participated in the portfolio review that allowed for professional designers to review the work of emerging student designers, which is an extremely valuable creative activity. I first had to develop a personal branding for both my resume and graphic design portfolio, as well as a way to consistently present the content that makes up the portfolio. As a result of this creative activity, I have since developed what I feel is a better way to present my graphic design work. This research expo poster will focus on the process of preparing for the portfolio review and the lessons learned after going through the review process.
Diatom senescence rather than turbulence results in a priming effect of terrigenous dissolved Organic matter mineralization in a shallow, well-mixed estuary
Maci Reeves, Hostin May, Jessica Crow, Jonathan Rubio, Eurico D’ Sa | Mentor: Dr. Matthew Hoch
Large amounts of terrestrial dissolved organic carbon (t-DOC) are discharged by rivers into coastal environments, yet only trace amounts appear in oceans. The disappearance of t-DOC from rivers to sea remains a mystery. Wind wave resuspension of microphytobenthos in shallow estuaries could cause a “priming effect”, which is when released labile DOC and nutrients stimulate microbial decomposition of refractory t-DOC. To test this hypothesis, sediment cores incubated under calm and turbulent conditions were analyzed for changes in nutrients, DOC concentration and composition, and microbiomes of the plankton and surface sediment. Surface sediment microbiomes in the turbulent treatment remained similar to the initial conditions, whereas the calm treatment diverged substantially. Plankton microbiomes for both treatments diverged from initial conditions, and the most noteworthy change was the loss of abundant diatoms and growth of Rhodobacterales. Not expected was the lack of differences between treatments for nutrients and DOC concentration, which decreased and increased, respectively. Spectrofluorometric analysis of DOC composition revealed dramatic loss of terrestrial fulvic and humic acids and increase in protein-like component. Although turbulence did not have a different effect on DOC than in calm conditions, the diatom senescence in both treatments was coincident with increased protein-like compounds, which appears to have driven a priming effect for tDOC decomposition. In conclusion, turbulence appears to maintain the microphytobenthos microbiome of surface sediments, but may not cause a priming effect for t-DOC loss in shallow estuaries.
Voice Analysis of Asymptomatic High-risk Voice Users Julia Richardson | Mentor: Nandhakumar Radhakrishnan
Voice problems or disorders are noticed by the speaker and/or the listener as difficulty in voicing or hoarseness. The prognosis in treating voice disorders depends on early identification and intervention. However, many patients see their physicians late because their voice problem does not get detected early. It is common for patients to be asymptomatic during the early stages. This poster intends to show the significance of early identification. Asymptomatic subjects underwent voice assessment and the data was compared to norms.
Light and dark preferences and temperature dependence of righting Time in the brittlestar Ophiactis simplex
Rebekah Roden, Jordan Price | Mentor: Dr. Ana Christensen
Ophiactis simplex is a small brittlestar that has the ability to reproduce via fission, a process in which the animal pulls itself into two and each half then regenerates missing parts. Two sets of experiments were performed to see how size and regeneration state affected their response to temperature and color choice. In the first set of experiments, brittle- stars were inverted and timed to return to normal position as a measure of stress. They were tested at 22°C (control) and 29°C (high). In the second set of experiments, brittlestars were placed in the middle of a dish that was half black and half white to determine which side they preferred. No difference was seen in average righting times of whole and regenerating stars at 22°C, regardless of size. Half-stars righted faster than whole and regenerating animals. At 29°C, it took the brittle-stars significantly longer to right themselves (p=0.01), demonstrating the adverse effect of higher temperatures. There was also increased variability in the data collected at 29° C. All brittlestars at the control temperature righted themselves, but six stars at the higher temperature did not. In the light/dark experiments, regenerating and whole stars moved towards the dark side irrespective of initial orientation, a normal response as dark is interpreted as cover. However, recently split brittlestars with regenerating arms less than 3mm tended to move in the direction the short arms faced, regardless of color. This response may be due to faulty information coming from recently regenerated photoreceptors.
Parasite assemblages in five species of fish from Village Creek, Southeast Texas, U.S.A Michael Shepherd, Yasmin Hamdan, Autumn Hardin | Mentor: H. R. Yoder
A total of 30 fish representing three species from the family Centrarchidae (Lepomis macrochirus, L. megalotis, and L. auritis) and two species from the family Cyprinidae (Pimephales vigilax, and Cyprinella venusta) were collected from a single location on Village Creek in Hardin County, Texas on three sampling dates (September, 8 2015, February, 9 2016, and March 3, 2016). Host were transported to the laboratory, necropsied, and examined for endoparasites and ectoparasites. Twenty-five fish (83%) were infected with one or more parasite. A total of 421 parasite individuals were found representing 4 phyla. These included Arthropoda (Copepoda), Platyhelminthes (Cestoidea, Trematoda, and Monogenea), Nematoda, and Mollusca (glochidia larvae). At the time of this abstract, the project is ongoing. Additional fish are being examined and parasites are being identified to species or lowest taxonomic unit.
Impact of the length and angles of suction pipes on the performance of a Centrifugal Pump
Trent Shoefstall, Kevin Gould | Mentor: Dr. XianchangLi
The object of this research is to examine the impact of varying lengths and angles of suction pipes on the hydraulic performance of a centrifugal pump. The mechanism of such effects will be explored by using an impeller with defined performance characteristics and tested to ensure a base model to document performance expectations. Multiple suction pipes with varying surface friction have been designed in five configurations and are in the fabrication process. Tests will be conducted with different suction pipes to examine the impact on the performance of a 1 X 6 Durco Mark III Group 1 pump. The focus will be on the length and angle of the suction pipes. As the piping configurations are changed, it is expected that the pump will cavitate and diminish the hydraulic performance of the pump. While the closed loop system is in operation in various configurations and operating conditions we will collect data on flow rate, pressure head, net positive suction head, discharge temperature, pump rotation speed, vibrations, cavitations, and motor power draw. A guideline will be developed to give the performance of a pump when the designed condition of the suction pipe cannot be met due to inadequate space or process restriction. The guideline shall help design modification by shortening the piping, selecting alternate piping materials, or changing the angle of flow into the inlet of impeller to accommodate for these construction limitations while still meeting the desired performance conditions.
Samurai in a Galaxy Far, Far Away Rachel Simmons | Mentor: Dr. Yasuko Sato
George Lucas’ Star Wars films were heavily influenced by Japanese Samurai traditions and the samurai films by Akira Kurosawa. Chambara is the term given to sword fighting films. Its origin is Japanese but many other cultures have begun to create movies with this style of fighting. Many of Kurosawa’s films and Lucas’ Star Wars films are considered chambara. Several of the characters are representative of Japanese samurai culture. Some characters just have names influenced while some are based on actual characters in samurai films. Yoda and the two droids are somewhat based
on characters in two of Kurosawa’s movies. The helmets of Darth Vader and the Stormtroopers are based on samurai armor. Many of the Sith that have turned dark wear clothing that is black and resembles that of the ninja. The code of honor that the Jedi follow has many parallels to the Bushido code the samurai followed. The philosophical and almost religious mentality of the Jedi is similar to Zen Buddhism. Lightsaber duels are based on a type of fighting used for sport by the samurai called Kendo. The weapons of a Jedi and samurai are treasured possessions, symbolizing that one has earned their place and are true warriors. The shape of both of the weapons is similar and neither is meant to stab. They are meant to slice down opponents. Lucas was intrigued by samurai films and the culture behind them. This is what led to the creation of the Star Wars universe.
Resonant charge transfer in ion-surface interactions Jamie Stafford | Mentor: Dr. Bogdana Bahrim
This study investigates the resonant charge transfer processes during H- ion collisions with Cu surfaces. The Cu(100) and Cu(111) surfaces are particularly interesting because they show complex band structures with energy gaps. The presence of energy gaps is expected to strongly influence the ion-surface charge transfer and, consequently, any experimental results based on electron capture or loss processes, such as ion fractions.
Work In Progress: Improving the Performance of the Radial Basis Function Network Alexander Stong & Timothy Gonzales | Mentor: Dr. Peggy Doersch
The current project builds on previous works to determine whether accuracy can be maintained or improved in large dimensional classification problems when using a Radial Basis Function Network. The purpose of this research is to investigate the effect of modifying the neuron placement algorithm, particularly how the algorithm selects the initial neuron(s). This modification will change the algorithm from randomly placing one neuron in the sample space to placing an initial set of neurons at pre-computed locations. These locations will be calculated via clustering after the data is normalized to determine which nodes will provide a good initial coverage. In addition, this initial set will be adjusted according to the dimensionality of the data set. In order to directly address the “curse of dimensionality” problem, the initial set will increase in size as the dimensionality increases. Since each node affects all succeeding