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:
[email protected]
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