Welcome
Thank you for joining us to celebrate a special milestone for Create@State! This year marks 15 years of honoring student research and creative achievement through our campus-wide symposium. Every day, students and faculty across the university engage in groundbreaking work—in labs, in the field, in studios, auditoriums, and classrooms. Since 2011, Create@State has been the stage where these incredible efforts are brought to light, giving us the opportunity to connect, collaborate, and support one another.
I’m thrilled to be back with you at Create@State today. With over 170 poster presentations, a bustling showcase full of energy, and plenty of snacks to keep us going, it’s shaping up to be an inspiring event!
I also invite you to join us tomorrow, April 25th, for the Celebration of Research and Creativity. We’ll come together to announce this year’s award recipients—but more importantly, to celebrate another incredible year of innovation, discovery, and creative exploration.
Dr. Kari Harris Director, Office of Student Research
and Scholarship
Research and Technology Transfer Arkansas State University
Thank you to our esteemed advisory council members for helping to coordinate
2024-25 Student Research Advisory Council
Shea Harris, Arkansas Biosciences Institute
Argelia Lorence, Beck College of Sciences and Mathematics
Jessica Curtis, College of Education and Behavioral Science
Jonathan Stubblefield, College of Engineering and Computer Science
Tim Crist, College of Liberal Arts and Communication
Scott Bruce, College of Nursing and Health Professions
Carmen Williams, Honors College
Madelyn Carson, Honors College
Kelli Listenbee, Office of Assessment Services
Hilary Schloemer, Neil Griffin College of Business
Shaquita Renelique, University College
From Research and Technology Transfer:
Kari Harris, Director, Office of Student Research and Scholarship
Tabatha Simpson-Farrow, Coordinator of Competitive Scholarships and Fellowships
Luna Acosta, Director of Technology Transfer and Director, Catalyst Innovation Center
Molly Alexander-Steele, Executive Director for Research Development
Greg Umhoefer, Proposal Development Coordinator
Jamaica Walker, Research Compliance Coordinator
Reng Student Union
1) 1909 Suite
2) Alumni Lounge 3) Auditorium 4) Centennial Hall
5) Spring River Room
6) Cache River Room
7) Diamond Lounge
8) Green Room
9) Vaughn Student Lounge 10) Mockingbird Room 11) St. Francis River Room 12) Pine Tree Room 13) Multicultural Center 14) White River Room 15) Black River Room
Arkansas River Room
April 24, 2025
Reng
Student Union • Third Floor
– Registration & Badge Pick-up –
9 a.m. - 10 a.m. • Alumni Lounge
– Poster Presentations –
10 a.m. - 12 p.m. • Centennial Hall
– Networking Luncheon –
12 p.m. - 1 p.m. • Diamond Lounge
– Creative Showcase & Business Pitch Competition –1 p.m. - 3 p.m. • Auditorium
Musical Performances
Art and Creativity Booths
Business Pitch Competition
April 25, 2025
– Awards Celebration –Woodard McAlister Family Club • Centennial Bank Stadium
Trolley transportation is available from the Reng Student Union near the flagpoles starting at 12:45 p.m.
Showcase Presenters
A-State Trumpet Ensemble
Presenters: Carlos Mejia-Marquez, Audrey Alpha, Zane Kenzik, Cameron Monroe, Zachary Woodward, Sarah Hanks, Allison Patsey, Timothy Miles
Category: Creative Work
Title: Suite for Six Trumpets
Faculty Mentor: Nairam Simoes
Business Pitch Battle Participants
Mayida Khan Oishi
Raife Burrow
Paige Fithen
Jeremiah “JC” Cabuyaban
Daniela Flores Ortiz
Faculty Mentor: Hilary Schloemer
Cademon Larmoyeux
Co-Presenters: Eugene Ford, Delvin Dupre
Category: Creative Work
Brandon McFadd
Emily Anguiano
Brooke Ray
Title: Nugatory: A Time Loop with Mystery and AI
Faculty Mentor: Sidharth Chandran
Ethan Cain
Co-Presenters: Krish Sharma, Martin Martinez, Luke Shafer
Category: Creative Work
Title: Autonomous Vehicle Competition
Faculty Mentor: Shivan Haran
Gabrielle Taunton
Category: Creative Work
Title: Electrophonic Flute
Faculty Mentor: Joshua Vangilder
Sierra Miller
Category: Creative Work
Title: Princeton the Anxious Pig Goes to School
Faculty Mentor: Stephanie Gotay
Abdel-Karim, Salma #80
Co-Presenters: Gaurav Gajurel
Poster Presentations
Category: Basic or Experimental Research
Title: Anti-Inflammatory Activity Of An Isoflavone-Rich
Extract From Pigeon Pea Hairy Root Cultures In RAW 264.7 Macrophages
Faculty Mentor: Fabricio Medina-Bolivar
Abdel-Karim, Salma #81
Co-Presenters: Therese Catanach
Category: Basic or Experimental Research
Title: Comparative Evolution Of Mitochondrial Genomes In Closely Related Species Of Lice From The Degeeriella-Complex
Faculty Mentor: Andrew Sweet
Aden, Ahmed #104
Co-Presenters: Tapiwa Gwatura, Tommy Scott
Category: Decline to participate in judging
Title: Education On The CRNA Profession With An Emphasis On Diversity
Faculty Mentor: Virginia Baltz
Ahmed, Ifaz #161
Co-Presenters: Mayowa Babajide
Category: Quality Assessment or Quality Improvement
Title: Evaluating Current Approaches To Addressing The Lack Of Skilled Equipment Technicians In The Semiconductor Industry
Faculty Mentor: Alexandr Sokolov
Akter Swarna, Farjana #115
Category: Observational, Descriptive, or Cross-Sectional Research
Title: Measuring Firm-Level Climate Change Risk And Impact On Financial Decisions: A Copula-Based Analysis
Faculty Mentor: Nanying Lin
Ategwa, Brian #143
Category: Observational, Descriptive, or Cross-Sectional Research
Title: Adaptive Therapy
Faculty Mentor: Jody Nutt
Bach, Jordan #173
Category: Quality Assessment or Quality Improvement
Title: TSS, Nitrogen, And Phosphorus In The North Fork Of The White River From 2021-2024
Faculty Mentor: Jennifer Bouldin
Bailey, Austin #69
Category: Basic or Experimental Research
Title: Assessing Black-Spot Disease In Benthic Stream Fishes Over 50 Years In North-East Arkansas
Faculty Mentor: Brook Fluker
Bamunusingha Arachchilage, Mahesh Sanjeewa Kumara #93
Co-Presenters: Kipa Tamrakar, Zach Rikard, Winston Miller
Category: Basic or Experimental Research
Title: Interaction Between Fusarium Virguliforme And Bradyrhizobium Japonicum: Insights From In Vitro Antagonist Testing
Faculty Mentor: Asela Wijeratne
Barker, Trenton #1
Category: Basic or Experimental Research
Title: Assessing Runoff Water Quality In Conventional And Conservation Systems At The Judd Hill Foundation Research Farm
Faculty Mentor: Tina Gray Teague
Basel, Sagun #32
Category: Basic or Experimental Research
Title: Predictive Analysis Of Crash Severity And Modeling Of 85th Percentile Speed Using Artificial Neural Network
Faculty Mentor: Zahid hossain
Bass, Brianna #50
Category: Basic or Experimental Research
Title: Dysphonia In Band Directors
Faculty Mentor: Shanon Brantley
Bautista, Mauricio #26
Poster Presentations
Co-Presenters: Jesus Cortes, Christian Lopez
Category: Basic or Experimental Research
Title: Twice The Chute, Twice The Precision: Dual Deployment In Rocketry”
Faculty Mentor: Robert Fleming
Brown, Jeffery #141
Co-Presenters: Zachary Hobbs, Gus Hinson
Category: Observational, Descriptive, or Cross-Sectional Research
Title: Evaluating And Enhancing Identification And Treatment Of Carbon Dioxide Emboli In Anesthesia Providers During Laparoscopic Procedures
Faculty Mentor: Virginia Baltz
Budhathoki, Shailesh #64
Co-Presenters: Subrata Roy
Category: Basic or Experimental Research
Title: Thiazole Compounds, A Potent Candidate To Address MRSA Infection And Antimicrobial Resistance
Faculty Mentor: Mohammad Alam
Byrd, Sydney #120
Co-Presenters: Taliah Ellison
Category: Observational, Descriptive, or Cross-Sectional Research
Title: Clothespin Vocabulary
Faculty Mentor: Ryan Kelly
Campbell, Aspen #147
Co-Presenters: Skylar Campbell, Meredith Kennon, Madison Rogo
Category: Observational, Descriptive, or Cross-Sectional Research
Title: Exploring The Effects Of Children Who Have Parents Engaged In Substance Abuse
Faculty Mentor: Christine Wright
Casey, Eli #27
Category: Basic or Experimental Research
Title: Evaluation Of Ni-Cr Interatomic Potentials For Molecular Dynamics Simulations Of Ni-Rich Nixcr Alloys
Faculty Mentor: Robert Fleming
Clayton, Makala #121
Co-Presenters: Malea Lack, Avery Cook
Category: Observational, Descriptive, or Cross-Sectional Research
Title: Teaching Sequence Of Events Through A Narrative Story
Faculty Mentor: Ryan Kelly
Covington, Karson #10
Category: Basic or Experimental Research
Title: Comparing Impact Of Rice And Soybean Crop Rotations On Nutrient And Sediment Loads In Runoff From Agricultural Fields In Northeast Arkansas.
Faculty Mentor: Tina Teague
Crafton, Sable #48
Co-Presenters: Isabella Davis
Category: Basic or Experimental Research
Title: Differences In Turtle Cell Morphology
Faculty Mentor: Lori Neuman-Lee
Craig, Ashlyn #122
Co-Presenters: Rachel Ivy
Category: Observational, Descriptive, or Cross-Sectional Research
Title: Teaching Prewriting Strategies Through Collaborative Learning
Faculty Mentor: Ryan Kelly
Cummings, Isaiah #139
Category: Observational, Descriptive, or Cross-Sectional Research
Title: Interrater Reliability Of The CKCUEST In Collegiate Rugby Players Pre- And Post-Fatigue
Faculty Mentor: Brendon Aitken
Dacus, Laura #62
Co-Presenters: Micah Lancaster, Camryn Essary
Category: Basic or Experimental Research
Title: Effect Of Hippotherapy On Bradykinesia In Parkinsons
Faculty Mentor: Rachel Wilkins
Dadon, Saikot #99
Category: Creative Work
Title: Angular Scanning Method For Efficient Maximum Power Point Tracking
Faculty Mentor: Mahmudul Hasan
Daly, Alexa #7
Category: Basic or Experimental Research
Title: Comparing Artificial Insemination Conception Rates To Determine Fertility Differences Of Maternal And Terminal
Angus Sires In A Commercial Beef Cow Herd
Faculty Mentor: Jerica Rich
Das, Arpan #33
Category: Basic or Experimental Research
Title: Effectiveness Of Bio-Based Binder- State Of Practice And Laboratory Assessment
Faculty Mentor: Zahid Hossain
Davidson, Milan #123
Co-Presenters: Susie Johnson
Category: Observational, Descriptive, or Cross-Sectional Research
Title: Story Grammar Yammer
Faculty Mentor: Ryan Kelly
Davis, Isabella #86
Co-Presenters: Jennifer Terry
Category: Basic or Experimental Research
Title: Assessing Innate Immune Function In Three Species Of Arkansas Turtles
Faculty Mentor: Lorin Neuman-Lee
Davis, Elizabeth #172
Co-Presenters: Raveena Ratnayak
Category: Quality Assessment or Quality Improvement
Title: Early Diagnosis Of Parkinson’s Disease Through Moca Visuospatial Assessments
Faculty Mentor: Sudeepa Bhattycharyya
Deviney, Lily #124
Co-Presenters: Willow Carter
Category: Observational, Descriptive, or Cross-Sectional Research
Title: Sentence-Picture Match: Using Sentence Strips With Corresponding Picture Cards To Imporve Comprehension Skills
Faculty Mentor: Ryan Kelly
Dodd, Lynnley #144
Category: Observational, Descriptive, or Cross-Sectional Research
Title: Fdg-Pet Scan: Fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission
Tomography Uses In Diagnosing Cancerous Areas
Faculty Mentor: Jody Nutt
Doyle, Jessica #145
Category: Observational, Descriptive, or Cross-Sectional Research
Title: Stereotactic Radiosurgery For The Treatment Of Epilepsy
Faculty Mentor: Jody Nutt
Eaton, Anna #23
Category: Basic or Experimental Research
Title: Comparison Of Lower Limb Anthropometry, Body Composition, And Vertical Jump In Collegiate Female Athletes
Faculty Mentor: Veronika Scudamore
Flores, Daniela #96
Category: Basic or Experimental Research
Title: Production Of GPI-Anchored Nerve Growth Factor In Tobacco Plants And BY-2 Cells
Faculty Mentor: Jianfeng Xu
FNU, SachleenSingh #103
Category: Creative Work
Title: Adversarial Autoencoder Networks For Effective Batch Effect Removal For Gene Expression Studies
Faculty Mentor: Asela Wijeratne
Ford, Troy #52
Category: Basic or Experimental Research
Title: Exploring The Functional Cranial Anatomy Of Palaeognathous Birds Via Micro-CT Visualizations
Faculty Mentor: Todd Green
Francis, Savannah #125
Co-Presenters: Sadie Pool
Category: Observational, Descriptive, or Cross-Sectional Research
Title: Teaching Advanced Vocabulary Through Engaging Instruction
Faculty Mentor: Ryan Kelly
Free, Avery #53
Category: Basic or Experimental Research
Title: Fertility Preservation For Women Undergoing Radiation Therapy
Faculty Mentor: Jody Nutt
Gajurel, Gaurav #82
Category: Basic or Experimental Research
Title: A Transcriptomics And Proteomics Approach To Elucidate The Anti-Inflammatory Mechanisms Of PhenolicRich Extracts From Elicited Hairy Root Cultures Of Peanut And Pigeon Pea
Faculty Mentor: Fabricio Medina-Bolivar
Garcia, Jeremy #76
Co-Presenters: Adem Behi
Category: Basic or Experimental Research
Title: Short Range Interactions Between The Taud Protein And Taurine, A Case Study
Faculty Mentor: Hideya Koizumi
GarciaValdez, Anahi #92
Category: Basic or Experimental Research
Title: Prevalence And Species Identity Of A Nematode Parasites
From Grouse And Ptarmigan In Alaska
Faculty Mentor: Andrew Sweet
Gavinolla, Sowmya #13
Poster Presentations Continued
Category: Basic or Experimental Research
Title: Navigating Ethics In AI, Truth-Telling, And Workplace
Dilemmas: A Study Of Moral Judgments And DecisionMaking
Faculty Mentor: H.Steve Leslie
Gilbert, Oscar #112
Category: Observational, Descriptive, or Cross-Sectional Research
Title: Investigating Liquidity In High-Net-Worth Households
Faculty Mentor: Matthew Hill
Goforth, Autumn #130
Category: Observational, Descriptive, or Cross-Sectional Research
Title: Impact Of Innovative STEM And Multimedia Enrichment Programs On Attitudes Towards The Fields
Faculty Mentor: Karen L. Yanowitz
Goforth, Abigail #134
Category: Observational, Descriptive, or Cross-Sectional Research
Title: Public Attitudes Towards Sex Offenders
Faculty Mentor: Stacy Dewald
Gonzalez, Pauline #113
Category: Observational, Descriptive, or Cross-Sectional Research
Title: The Evolution Of Household Liquidity Over The Period From 1992 To 2022
Faculty Mentor: Matthew Hill
Goodwin, Gabriel #47
Category: Basic or Experimental Research
Title: Diabetes Education In Non-Diabetic Individuals
Exposed To Diabetic Management
Faculty Mentor: Kacie Altom
Gramling, Rebekah #8
Co-Presenters: Kennon Harrington
Category: Basic or Experimental Research
Title: Characteristics Of Parasitic Egg Infections Among The Astate Sheep And Goats: An Udder Problem Among Small Ruminants
Faculty Mentor: Jerica Rich
Grimmett, Caden #136
Category: Observational, Descriptive, or Cross-Sectional Research
Title: Walking In Fear: Rethinking Pedestrian Infrastructure In Jonesboro, Arkansas
Faculty Mentor: Leslie Reed
Guilliams, Ivy #156
Category: Quality Assessment or Quality Improvement
Title: Financial Illiteracy In Low Socioeconomic Areas Of The United States
Faculty Mentor: Philip Tew
Guo, Xiaoyi #44
Category: Basic or Experimental Research
Title: Intercultural Education For Preschool Children In China: Parental Needs, Strategies, Challenges, And The Potential Of Educational Media Products
Faculty Mentor: Lily Zeng
Haire, Kailani #117
Co-Presenters: Miles Richard
Category: Observational, Descriptive, or Cross-Sectional Research
Title: The Covid-19 Recession And Arkansas’ Labor Market
Faculty Mentor: Huiqiang Wang
Hallman, Kyla #54
Category: Basic or Experimental Research
Title: Cervical Cancer And Its Effects On Fertility
Faculty Mentor: Jody Nutt
Harrington, Kennon #9
Co-Presenters: Rebekah Gramling
Category: Basic or Experimental Research
Title: Comparative Efficacy Evaluation Of Allopathic And Homeopathic Anthelmintics On Parasite Load Among Small Ruminants
Faculty Mentor: Jerica Rich
Hasegawa, Runa #79
Category: Basic or Experimental Research
Title: Leveraging Computer Data Science And Biology For Genotype-Environment Association In Wild Sugarcane
Faculty Mentor: Santosh Magar
Heard, Rachel #148
Co-Presenters: Casey McNair, Logan Gilbertson, Kathryn Jones, Luke Allen
Category: Observational, Descriptive, or Cross-Sectional Research
Title: Occupational Therapy’s Role In Community Reintegration Within The Prison System: A Scoping Review
Faculty Mentor: Christine Wright
Hembrey, Elizabeth #149
Co-Presenters: Hannah Crowl, Nicole Roper, Brianna Jernigan
Category: Observational, Descriptive, or Cross-Sectional Research
Title: A Scoping Review Of Occupational Therapy’s Role In The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
Faculty Mentor: Christine Wright
Henry, Odette #102
Category: Creative Work
Title: Mind The Gap
Faculty Mentor: Lilli Fears
Henry, Odette #135
Category: Observational, Descriptive, or Cross-Sectional Research
Title: Beyond Words: Content Analysis Of Media Framing Of Gaza
Faculty Mentor: Lillie Fears
Hewitt, Megan #55
Category: Basic or Experimental Research
Title: The Use Of LDR In Neurodegenerative Diseases
Faculty Mentor: Jody Nutt
Hinojosa, Jennifer #11
Category: Basic or Experimental Research
Title: Cotton Response To Tillage Systems And Irrigation— Interactions With Seeding Rate And Soil Textural Zones
Faculty Mentor: Tina G. Teague
Hirata, Marin #66
Category: Basic or Experimental Research
Title: Building A Toolbox For Assessing Plastic Degradation By Waxworm Saliva And Salivary Enzymes Expressed In A Bacterial System
Faculty Mentor: Maureen Dolan
Holloway, Zackery #4
Category: Basic or Experimental Research
Title: The Economic Efficiency Of Cover Crops And No-Till Practices
Faculty Mentor: GwanSeon Kim
Hooks, Kolton #164
Co-Presenters: Nathan Kerley, Rachel Hermes
Category: Quality Assessment or Quality Improvement
Title: Effecto Of Non-Opioid Analgesic Education On Anesthesia Practice
Faculty Mentor: Virginia Baltz
Islam, MdTorikul #159
Category: Quality Assessment or Quality Improvement
Title: Performance Of Waste Automobile Tires In Asphalt Concrete Pavements
Faculty Mentor: Zahid Hossain
Jackson, Riley #157
Category: Quality Assessment or Quality Improvement
Title: Comprehensive Jump Training Program For Minimizing ACL Injuries In Volleyball Players
Faculty Mentor: Brian Church
Jayaraman, Jayakarthika #154
Co-Presenters: Jennifer Otto
Category: Observational, Descriptive, or Cross-Sectional Research
Title: Clinical Clonal Hematopoiesis At The Crossroads Of Cardiovascular Disorders And Cancer
Faculty Mentor: Viswanathan Rajagopalan
Jeevan, Mishka #67
Category: Basic or Experimental Research
Title: Assessing The Impact Of Waxworm Larval Diet On Successful Plastic Biodegradation.
Faculty Mentor: Maureen Dolan
Jeon, Seungho #110
Category: Observational, Descriptive, or Cross-Sectional Research
Title: Fairness In Faith-Based Finance: Detecting Bias In AIDriven Recommendations
Faculty Mentor: Hrishikesh Desai
Jordan, Benjamin #166
Co-Presenters: Courtney Gregory, Eric Rusaidy
Category: Quality Assessment or Quality Improvement
Title: The Effects Of Evidenced-Based Education On The Perception Of DNP Anesthesia Students Regarding Neurocognitive Stimulant Use
Faculty Mentor: Todd Hammon
Joshi, Bishnu Prasad #77
Co-Presenters: Alexander Flores, Tatyana Herrien, Merone Kebede, Ali Abdel-Karim, Ravi Chaudhary, Reinier Gesto
Borroto, Suxing Liu, Mariano Alvarez
Category: Basic or Experimental Research
Title: Computational Biology And High-Throughput Phenotyping To Accelerate The Development Of Drought Tolerant Rice
Faculty Mentor: Argelia Lorence
Jung, Yeojin #133
Co-Presenters: Namkyeong Kim
Poster Presentations Continued
Category: Observational, Descriptive, or Cross-Sectional Research
Title: Using Machine Learning To Predict Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Phenotypes
Faculty Mentor: Donghoon Kim
Kajol, Md Tanvir Hasan #174
Category: Quality Assessment or Quality Improvement
Title: Surface Water Quality For A Proposed Two-Stage Ditch Program, Upper Cache River Watershed, Arkansas
Faculty Mentor: Jennifer Bouldin
Kamburugala Kankanamalage, Sachini L. #94
Category: Basic or Experimental Research
Title: Using Protoplasts To Understand Soybean Immunity Against Soil Borne Pathogens
Faculty Mentor: Asela Wijeratne
Karim, Saydul #83
Category: Basic or Experimental Research
Title: Establishment And Elicitation Of Specialized Metabolites In Hairy Root Cultures Of Soybean (Glycine Max)
Faculty Mentor: Fabricio Medina-Bolivar
Karmoker, Jarna #98
Co-Presenters: Matthew Goodwin
Category: Basic or Experimental Research
Title: Investigating CAP1 (Cyclase-Associated Protein 1) Functions In Schwann Cells And Their Regulation By Cyclic AMP
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Guolei Zhou
Kasinger, Dani #142
Category: Observational, Descriptive, or Cross-Sectional Research
Title: Monoclonal Antibody Therapy Interference In PreTransplant And Pre-Transfusion Testing: Mechanisms, Mitigation Strategies, And Effects On Patient Care
Faculty Mentor: Audrey Folsom
Kasireddy, Sravya #16
Category: Basic or Experimental Research
Title: Personal Finance Risk Assessment
Faculty Mentor: Farhad Moeeni
Kerley, Madyson #46
Category: Basic or Experimental Research
Title: The Knowledge And Perceptions Of Noise-Induced Hearing Loss Among Young And Future Farmers
Faculty Mentor: Christina Akbari-Davis
Khadka, Bimal #74
Co-Presenters: Kambree Jackson, Cesar VargasPe
Category: Basic or Experimental Research
Title: Ultraviolet Absorption Studies Of Fe In A LIBS Plasma With A Tunable Picosecond Laser
Faculty Mentor: Jeffrey Johnson
Khadka, Bimal #75
Category: Basic or Experimental Research
Title: Measurement Of Iron And Cadmium Absorption In The LIBS Plasma By Resolving Narrow Absorption Spectral Linewidth Using Fabry-Perot Interferometer
Faculty Mentor: Jeffrey Johnson
Kimmer, Hannah #6
Category: Basic or Experimental Research
Title: Quantifying Disaster: Evaluating The Economic Consequences Of An Earthquake On Agriculture In The New Madrid Seismic Zone For Craighead County
Faculty Mentor: Jacob Manlove
Lama, Nikita #17
Category: Basic or Experimental Research
Title: “Investigating The Effectiveness Of Various Learning Methods Through Measuring Physiological Responses”
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Farhad Moeeni Moeeni
Lopez Villegas, Dante Didier #114
Category: Observational, Descriptive, or Cross-Sectional Research
Title: The Incorporation And Use Of AI In The Business School Curriculum
Faculty Mentor: H. Steve Leslie
Lowery, James #21
Category: Basic or Experimental Research
Title: Showup Fitness Program: How Fitness Impacts Overall Life
Faculty Mentor: Lance Bryant
Mallick, Orchi #34
Category: Basic or Experimental Research
Title: Comparative Analysis Of Rice Husk Ash, Reclaimed Fly Ash, And Hydrated Lime For Enhancing Subgrade Soil Performance.
Faculty Mentor: Zahid Hossain
Mamta, Fnu #2
Category: Basic or Experimental Research
Title: Evaluation Of Soil Enzymatic Activities Influenced By Cover Crops
Faculty Mentor: Steven Green
Mamta, Fnu #3
Category: Basic or Experimental Research
Title: Transgenic Lettuce For Oral Insulin: A Potential Diabetes Breakthrough
Faculty Mentor: Jianfeng Xu
Maringa, Kudzaiishe #5
Category: Basic or Experimental Research
Title: Economic Analysis Of Local Farmers Markets: The Case Of Judd Hill Farmers Market In Jonesboro, Arkansas
Faculty Mentor: GwanSeon Kim
Marquez Cerna, Diego Alejandro #155
Category: Observational, Descriptive, or Cross-Sectional Research
Title: Harnessing Tobacco Plants As A Cost-Effective Platform For Carbonic Anhydrase Production
Faculty Mentor: Jianfeng Xu
Mason, Phylecia #150
Co-Presenters: Chelsea Tate
Category: Observational, Descriptive, or Cross-Sectional Research
Title: Occupational Therapy And Executive Dysfunction As Related To Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder In The Young Adult Population
Faculty Mentor: Christine Wright
Mathes, Zoe #41
Category: Basic or Experimental Research
Title: Skims Visual Case Study On Male Gaze
Faculty Mentor: Myleea Hill
Mccain, Ezekiel #73
Category: Basic or Experimental Research
Title: Revolutionizing Diabetes Management: A Cost-Effective And Eco-Friendly Glucose Sensor Powered By Corn-Derived Enzymes
Faculty Mentor: Anahita Izadyaar
Mclain, Ashlyn #61
Co-Presenters: Tristen Harrison, Jenna Berry, Chelsey
Gibson
Category: Basic or Experimental Research
Title: Stress And Resilience In A-State College Of Nursing And Health Professions Students
Faculty Mentor: Amy Shollenbarger
McLaughlin, Hannah #100
Co-Presenters: Ethan Perkins, Connor Lowery, Mohammad Raja
Category: Creative Work
Title: Student Steel Bridge Competition
Faculty Mentor: Jason Stewart
McNamee, Noah #137
Category: Observational, Descriptive, or Cross-Sectional Research
Title: Safeguarding Students: Improving Campus Security Approaches On The A-State Campus
Faculty Mentor: Leslie Reed
Meskimen, Catie #170
Co-Presenters: Helen Hong, Bianca Castillo
Category: Quality Assessment or Quality Improvement
Title: Evidence-Based Education On The Benefits Of HighFidelity Simulation
Faculty Mentor: Cassandra Massey
Mfon, Emman #119
Category: Observational, Descriptive, or Cross-Sectional Research
Title: Understanding The Challenges Faced By Male International Soccer Players At Arkansas State University. Faculty Mentor: Lance Bryant
Mondragon, Malena #109
Category: Observational, Descriptive, or Cross-Sectional Research
Title: Assessing Water Quality And Greenhouse Gas Emissions
In On-Farm Storage Reservoirs
Faculty Mentor: Tina Teague
Moore, Michael #37
Co-Presenters: Brooks Hoffman
Poster Presentations Continued
Category: Basic or Experimental Research
Title: Field Service Quoting Process Improvement Using DMAIC
Faculty Mentor: Alexandr Sokolov
Moore, Michael #42
Co-Presenters: Jose Albarran
Category: Basic or Experimental Research
Title: Integrating Key Performance Indicators To Track
Production Development Of Manufacturing Line
Faculty Mentor: Alexandr Sokolov
Moore, Wade #171
Co-Presenters: Caleb Bradfield, Julianna Felter
Category: Quality Assessment or Quality Improvement
Title: How Informed Consent Education Can Impact
Practicing Crnas
Faculty Mentor: Cassandra Massey
Moore, Michael #43
Co-Presenters: Elaine Paprotny
Category: Basic or Experimental Research
Title: Requirements Engineering Analysis In Satellite Spacecraft Design
Faculty Mentor: Alexandr Sokolov
Morris, Kolton #35
Category: Basic or Experimental Research
Title: Using Commercial Waste As A Rejuvenator
Faculty Mentor: Zahid Hossain
Morris, Kelsey #65
Category: Basic or Experimental Research
Title: Veterinary Implications Of Forelimb Vasculature In A Savannah Monitor (Varanus Exanthematicus)
Faculty Mentor: Jason Bourke
Murray, Austin #20
Category: Basic or Experimental Research
Title: Drivers Of Poverty And Welfare Beliefs And Effectiveness Of Experimental Learning Models
Faculty Mentor: Philip Tew
Naylor, Thomas #70
Co-Presenters: Austin Bailey
Category: Basic or Experimental Research
Title: Evaluating Historical And Contemporary Rates Of Black-Spot Disease In Fishes In An Arkansas Stream
Faculty Mentor: Brook Fluker
Nichols, Victoria #176
Category: Quality Assessment or Quality Improvement
Title: Elliptic Curves: The Key To Quantum-Secure Encryption
Faculty Mentor: William Paulsen
Oaks, Brooke #40
Category: Basic or Experimental Research
Title: Sexual Assault Victims’ Perception Of Justice
Faculty Mentor: Stacy Dewald
Okwiri, Brian #71
Category: Basic or Experimental Research
Title: Using Nuclear Genomic Data To Resolve Taxonomic Uncertainties: A Case Study Of The Least Darter, Etheostoma Microperca.
Faculty Mentor: Brook Fluker
Palumbo, Melissa A. #108
Category: Observational, Descriptive, or Cross-Sectional Research
Title: Irrigation Management Practices To Improve Water Conservation In Arkansas Rice: Sustainability Metrics Using The Fieldprint Calculator
Faculty Mentor: Michele L. Reba
Patrick, Emma #146
Category: Observational, Descriptive, or Cross-Sectional Research
Title: The Benefits Of Proton Therapy Over Photon Therapy In Pediatric Treatment Case Studies
Faculty Mentor: Jody Nutt
Payyavula, Shivani #15
Category: Basic or Experimental Research
Title: Creating Secure Passwords By Applying Password
Strategies
Faculty Mentor: Jim McGInnis
Peacock, Keelyn #49
Category: Basic or Experimental Research
Title: The Prevalence Of Dysphonia: Comparison Of Indoor And Outdoor Athletic Coaches
Faculty Mentor: Shanon Brantlet
Peretti, Alyssa #106
Co-Presenters: Christian Halvorsen
Category: Decline to participate in judging
Title: Physical Therapy Treatment For Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome
Faculty Mentor: Jim Farris
Phillips, Erica #56
Category: Basic or Experimental Research
Title: Radiation Therapy For Arthritis
Faculty Mentor: Jody Nutt
Phillips, Lauren #126
Co-Presenters: Faith Parks
Category: Observational, Descriptive, or Cross-Sectional Research
Title: Reading Comprehension Through A Game Of Jenga
Faculty Mentor: Ryan Kelly
Pickett, Kyla #127
Co-Presenters: Jana Jones
Category: Observational, Descriptive, or Cross-Sectional Research
Title: Teaching Contractions With Contraction Bingo
Faculty Mentor: Ryan Kelly
Pirani, Cara #91
Co-Presenters: Graysen Jones
Category: Basic or Experimental Research
Title: Identifying Genetic Mutations In Streptococcus Mutans
Required For Biofilm Formation And Tooth Attachment
Faculty Mentor: Robert Shields
Pitts, Chris #163
Category: Quality Assessment or Quality Improvement
Title: The Gene–Environment Nexus: Integrative Models For Explaining Criminal Variance
Faculty Mentor: Veena Kulkarni
Pokhrel, Prakriti #18
Co-Presenters: Meenaz Bhimani, Harish Chinthoj
Category: Basic or Experimental Research
Title: Evaluating Stress Responses In Textual Vs. Visual Learning: Insights From Galvanic Skin Response
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Farhad Moeeni Moeeni
Polsgrove, Lynley #131
Category: Observational, Descriptive, or Cross-Sectional Research
Title: How Gender Impacts The Perception Of High-School Dress Codes
Faculty Mentor: Karen Yanowitz
Powell, Macey #87
Co-Presenters: Natalie Haydt
Category: Basic or Experimental Research
Title: Comparing Leucocytes Between Captive And Wild Caught Nerodia Rhombifer
Faculty Mentor: Lorin Neuman-Lee
Pye, Julia #72
Co-Presenters: Taylor Fiedor, Maria Bollinger
Category: Basic or Experimental Research
Title: The Spatial Ecology Of Coccidia In Arkansas Freshwater Snails
Faculty Mentor: Kyle Gustafson
Rahman, Md Motinur #31
Co-Presenters: Md Mahmudul Hasan, Saikot Hossain Dadon
Category: Basic or Experimental Research
Title: Enhancing Voltage And Frequency Stability In Microgrids With Reinforcement Learning
Faculty Mentor: Md Mahmudul Hasan
Rahnuma, Kainat #38
Category: Basic or Experimental Research
Title: Direct-Solar-Energy-Powered Hydrothermal Treatment To Promote Biomethane Production From Anaerobic Digestion Of Grain Processing Waste
Faculty Mentor: Chiqian Zhang
Rathbun, Kalie #165
Co-Presenters: Adrianne Fejes, Chelsea Botley
Category: Quality Assessment or Quality Improvement
Title: Improving Awareness Of Endotracheal Tube Cuff
Pressure Monitoring Among Anesthesia Providers
Faculty Mentor: Virginia Baltz
Rathod, MedhaviRajpalsingh #14
Poster Presentations Continued
Category: Basic or Experimental Research
Title: Impact Of Coronavirus On Non-Profit Service Organizations
Faculty Mentor: Steve Leslie
Raut, Saroj #160
Category: Quality Assessment or Quality Improvement
Title: Predicting Pollution: Ensemble-Based PM₂.₅ Forecasting For Smarter Environmental Planning
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Niamat Hossain
Reyes, Jasmin #84
Co-Presenters: Amit Kumar Shrivastava, Amit Raj Shama
Category: Basic or Experimental Research
Title: Elicitation Of Prenylated Stilbenes In Hairy Root Cultures Of Peanut
Faculty Mentor: Fabricio Medina-Bolivar
Ridwan, Asib #28
Category: Basic or Experimental Research
Title: Development Of An Instrumented Conveyor Test Bed To Investigate The Power Consumption In Belted Conveyor Systems
Faculty Mentor: Robert Fleming
Riggs, Megan #128
Co-Presenters: Olivia Moore
Category: Observational, Descriptive, or Cross-Sectional Research
Title: Investigate, Retell, Explore: Comprehension Quest
Faculty Mentor: Ryan Kelly
Rikard, Zach #95
Co-Presenters: Kipa Tamrakar, Mahesh Bamunusingha, Winston Miller
Category: Basic or Experimental Research
Title: Using Native Soil Bacteria To Protect Soybean Plants From Pathogens
Faculty Mentor: Asela Wijeratne
Romero, Susan #57
Category: Basic or Experimental Research
Title: Carbon Ion Radiation Therapy
Faculty Mentor: Jody Nutt
Ross, Grace #151
Category: Observational, Descriptive, or Cross-Sectional Research
Title: Occupational Therapy’s Role In Substance Use Disorder Recovery
Faculty Mentor: Christine Wright
Sadravi, Shekoofeh #97
Co-Presenters: Paula PerezSanchezc
Category: Basic or Experimental Research
Title: Establishing Elite Tobacco BY-2 Cell Lines For HighYield Recombinant Protein Production Through 2A Peptide Mediated Co-Expression With A Reporter Protein
Faculty Mentor: JIANFENG XU
Sanders, Zoey #132
Category: Observational, Descriptive, or Cross-Sectional Research
Title: Inspiring Young Minds Through Tinkerfaire Sci-Fest
Faculty Mentor: Karen Yanowitz
Scott, Kiefer #29
Category: Basic or Experimental Research
Title: Computational Modeling Of Dislocation Dynamics In Core-Shell Nanostructures
Faculty Mentor: Robert Fleming
Sellers, Allison #168
Co-Presenters: Candace Hulett
Category: Quality Assessment or Quality Improvement
Title: Increasing Awareness Of The Importance Of Temperature Monitoring In The Prevention Of Hypothermia
Faculty Mentor: Lisa Lucas
Shepherd, Sarah #63
Co-Presenters: Ashlan Bobo, Lexie Sides, Alexis Mandry
Category: Basic or Experimental Research
Title: Effects Of Hippotherapy In A Child With Mucolipidosis IV
Faculty Mentor: Rachel Wilkins
Shields, Emma #58
Category: Basic or Experimental Research
Title: Molecular Jackhammers
Faculty Mentor: Jody Nutt
Shobowale, Karimot #153
Category: Observational, Descriptive, or Cross-Sectional Research
Title: Sedimentation In The Eleven Point River Arkansas, Impact On Nutrient Concentration.
Faculty Mentor: Jennifer Bouldin
Shrivastava, Amit Kumar #85
Category: Basic or Experimental Research
Title: Elicitation Of Specialized Metabolites In Hairy Root Cultures Of Angelica Gigas
Faculty Mentor: Fabricio Medina-Bolivar
Singh, Siddhart #111
Category: Basic or Experimental Research
Title: Nitrogen Credit From Peanut Residue In Peanut-CottonCotton Crop Rotation In North-East Arkansas
Faculty Mentor: Steven Green
Sloan, Olivia #90
Co-Presenters: Sankalpa Chakraborty, Gourav Chakraborty, Skylar Orr
Category: Basic or Experimental Research
Title: Novel RNA Mechanisms Of Aging Hypothyroid Heart
Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction
Faculty Mentor: Viswanathan Rajagopalan
Sloas, Zoe #152
Co-Presenters: Peyton Summers, Brittany Kunkel, Montanna Tapper
Category: Observational, Descriptive, or Cross-Sectional Research
Title: A Scoping Review Of Current Occupational Therapy Interventions For Individuals In Palliative Care
Faculty Mentor: Christine Wright
Smelser, Ashley #51
Category: Basic or Experimental Research
Title: Could Someone Really “Break” Your Heart?
Faculty Mentor: jessica cooper
Smith, Lane #107
Category: Observational, Descriptive, or Cross-Sectional Research
Title: Analyzing The Impacts Of Total Expenses, Weather, And Other Crops Upon Acres Harvested Of Major East Arkansas Crops
Faculty Mentor: GwanSeon KIm
Smith, Aniya #138
Category: Observational, Descriptive, or Cross-Sectional Research
Title: Smaller Is Better: Applying Research To Improve Student Learning
Faculty Mentor: Leslie Reed
Speer, Ella #118
Category: Observational, Descriptive, or Cross-Sectional Research
Title: Student Perspectives On The Selection And Suitability Of Emotional Support Animal Species
Faculty Mentor: Lauren Belt
Steele, Collin #59
Category: Basic or Experimental Research
Title: How Genetics Play A Role In The Response To Radiation Therapy
Faculty Mentor: Jody Nutt
Strong, Jaiden #30
Category: Basic or Experimental Research
Title: Computational Modeling And Optimization Of Alinn/ Algan Quantum Wells
Faculty Mentor: Robert (Drew) Fleming
Sulatskova, Daria #68
Category: Basic or Experimental Research
Title: Comparison Of Low-Density Polyethylene Plastic Types On Plastic-Eating Waxworms Health And Behavior
Faculty Mentor: Maureen Dolan
Suleymanov, Yaqub #158
Category: Quality Assessment or Quality Improvement
Title: Spatial Dependency-Preserving Convnets For Physical System Data: A Case Study On Regional Wind Power Ramp Prediction
Faculty Mentor: Mahmudul Hasan
Sweeney, Morgan #39
Category: Basic or Experimental Research
Title: Arkansas, 1918: The Influenza Pandemic, World War I, And Camp Pike
Faculty Mentor: Lucy Barnhouse
Taylor, Destiny #88
Poster Presentations
Category: Basic or Experimental Research
Title: Comparing Baseline And 30-Minute Corticosterone
Levels In Between Two Common Water-Snake Species In Arkansas
Faculty Mentor: Lorin Neuman-Lee
Teel, Caroline #24
Category: Basic or Experimental Research
Title: Adolescent Vitamin D Insufficiency: A Review
Faculty Mentor: Eric Scudamore
Terrell, Maycie #140
Co-Presenters: Christina Akbari-Davis
Category: Observational, Descriptive, or Cross-Sectional Research
Title: Communication Disorders Graduate Student Perspective Of Voice
Faculty Mentor: Christina Akbari
Thompson, Anna #25
Category: Basic or Experimental Research
Title: Examining The Effects Of Fidget Toys On Reading Comprehension
Faculty Mentor: Karen Yanowitz
Tucker, Camryn #129
Co-Presenters: Sophia Rogers
Category: Observational, Descriptive, or Cross-Sectional Research
Title: Read-Write-Pair-Share Method
Faculty Mentor: Ryan Kelly
Upadhyay, Riza #12
Category: Basic or Experimental Research
Title: Helping Students Succeed- Raising Awareness Of University Provided Software Tools
Faculty Mentor: Farhad Moeeni
Velagapudi, Akshita #116
Co-Presenters: Aarav Adhikari, Brian Kileo
Category: Observational, Descriptive, or Cross-Sectional Research
Title: Data-Driven Insights Into Remote Proctoring
Faculty Mentor: Farhad Moeeni
Vestal, Justin #89
Category: Basic or Experimental Research
Title: Managed Aquifer Recharge Using An Infiltration Gallery System In The Cache River Critical Groundwater Area
Faculty Mentor: John Nowlin
Viator, Derik #105
Co-Presenters: Dylan Hutto, Kyle Wilson
Category: Decline to participate in judging
Title: Evidenced-Based Education To Anesthesia Providers On The Use Of Pregabalin For Anxiety In The Preoperative Area
Faculty Mentor: Virginia Baltz
Watkins, Sophie #45
Co-Presenters: Christina Akbari-Davis
Category: Basic or Experimental Research
Title: The Impact Of Bilingual Home Literacy Practices On The Emergent Literacy Skills Of Hispanic Youth
Faculty Mentor: Christina Akbari-Davis
Wertenberger, Benjamin #36
Category: Basic or Experimental Research
Title: Applications Of Graph Algorithms
Faculty Mentor: Jake Qualls
Wheeler, Helena #175
Category: Quality Assessment or Quality Improvement
Title: Aquatic Macroinvertebrate Diversity And Water Quality
As Indicators Of Wetland Health In Natural And Constructed Wetlands Of Northeast Arkansas
Faculty Mentor: Jennifer Bouldin
Widmer, Nicholas #101
Co-Presenters: Brian Williams, Cymber Arnold, Luke Keen, Logan Catton, Kyle Greene
Category: Creative Work
Title: Sustainable Solutions
Faculty Mentor: Jason Stewart
Widmer, Nicholas #162
Co-Presenters: Brian Williams, Cymber Arnold, Luke Keen, Logan Catton, Kyle Greene
Category: Quality Assessment or Quality Improvement
Title: Concrete Canoe
Faculty Mentor: Jason Stewart
Wilson, Rachael #78
Co-Presenters: Alexander Flores, Reinier Gesto-Borroto, Category: Basic or Experimental Research
Title: Characterization Of Arabidopsis Lines Over-Expressing Enzymes In The Myo-Inositol Pathway To Ascorbate Using Phenomic Approaches
Faculty Mentor: Argelia Lorence
Windes, Savannah #167
Co-Presenters: Nicole Foree
Category: Quality Assessment or Quality Improvement
Title: Improving Healthcare Provider Knowledge, Confidence, And Adherence To Difficult Airway Management Through Evidence-Based Education On The Vortex Approach
Faculty Mentor: Todd Hammon
York, Sadie #60
Category: Basic or Experimental Research
Title: Cold Cap Therapy For Chemotherapy-Induced Alopecia Faculty Mentor: Jodi Nutt
1.
Poster Session Abstracts
Assessing Runoff Water Quality In Conventional And Conservation Systems At The Judd Hill Foundation Research Farm
Trenton Barker
Faculty Mentor: Tina Gray Teague
Agricultural operations in the Mississippi River Basin now include more than half of all US farmland, with nearly 30% being classified as industrial. The industrialization and extensiveness of farming in the Mississippi River Basin is a major influence on the water quality downstream, and understanding how agricultural runoff differs among production systems is critical to mitigating water quality degradation. However, the ability to adopt pollutant reduction practices while maintaining high productivity and profitability remains uncertain to farmers/producers. Therefore, this cotton field study assesses tillage and irrigation effects on runoff water quality, yield, and economic returns to producers. This experiment was designed as a 2x2 factorial comparing irrigation (furrow irrigated and rainfed), and tillage (conventional and conservation) systems. The treatments were arranged in a randomized complete block with three replications. Preliminary results suggest that conservation rainfed plots produced less runoff overall and aided in reducing sediment runoff. The results presented in this presentation will include the runoff water quality and yield assessments, and a budget evaluation.
2. Evaluation Of Soil Enzymatic Activities Influenced By Cover Crops
Fnu Mamta
Faculty Mentor: Steven Green
Soil enzymatic activities are critical indicators of soil health and the nutrient cycling. This study evaluates the activity of the soil enzyme ß-Glucosidase influenced by different cover crop species and planting timing in a silt loam soil. ß-Glucosidase acts in the last phase of the carbon cycle by the cellulose degradation process, as it hydrolyzes the cellobiose. This reaction produces glucose as the final product, an important C energy source for the growth and activitiy of microorganisms. Cover crops influence ß-glucosidase activity by increasing
microbial biomass and organic matter input, which can enhance enzymatic activity and overall soil health. Soil samples were collected in the spring of 2024 from treatments with 10 different cover crop species and four different planting dates. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of cover crop species and cover crop planting timing on soil enzymatic activity. The findings from this research are expected to be valuable insights into the role of cover crop species in promoting sustainable soil management and improving ecosystem functions as well as providing farmers with cover crop planting windows that maximize soil enzyme activity and ultimately soil health.
3. Transgenic Lettuce For Oral Insulin: A Potential Diabetes Breakthrough
Fnu Mamta
Faculty Mentor: Jianfeng Xu
For millions of people with diabetes, daily insulin injections are a necessary but inconvenient part of life. This study explores a promising alternative: genetically modified lettuce (Lactuca sativa) engineered to produces strategically designed insulin biomolecules. Specifically, a gene encoding proinsulin fused with a SP30 glycomodule and a C-terminal glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) anchor is designed and stably expressed in lettuce. This approach has the potential to enable oral insulin delivery instead of injections. To develop transgenic lettuce, seedlings were germinated and genetically transformed using an Agrobacterium-mediated method. After 12 weeks, callus formation was observed, followed by shoot emergence four weeks later. PCR analysis confirmed the successful integration of the insulin gene into the plant genome, indicating that the lettuce could potentially produce insulin. Future studies will focus on verifying insulin production, testing its absorption and effectiveness in diabetic models, and optimizing growing conditions to enhance yield. This research highlights the potential of using edible plants as cost-effective bioreactors to produce life-saving oral medications. If further studies confirm its effectiveness, insulinproducing lettuce could revolutionize diabetes treatment by making it more affordable, accessible, and patient-friendly.
4. The Economic Efficiency Of Cover Crops And No-Till Practices
Zackery Holloway
Faculty Mentor: GwanSeon Kim
During the period of economic hardship, row crop producers in Eastern Arkansas seek ways to reduce costs and increase net revenue. One practice is increasingly considered to enhance financial stability to row crop producers by adopting cover crops and no-till practices. These practices are documented to lower input costs such as fertilizer, chemical, and irrigation while increasing revenue through improved soil health. The main objective of this study is to evaluate the economic feasibility of cover crop and no-till practices and assess their financial impacts. Cost and revenue data were collected from a farmer in Greene County, Arkansas, who has utilized cover crops and no-till practices for the past decade. The main methodology used in this study is to construct an enterprise budget to compare the net revenue of cover crops and no-till practices to that of conventional practices. Additionally, we employed a partial budget analysis to determine if the additional revenue benefits covered the additional costs by implementing cover crops and no-till practices. The main contribution of this study is to provide a visual representation of the financial impact of cover crops and no-till practices and insights to producers seeking management practices that promote long-term financial stability.
5. Economic Analysis Of Local Farmers Markets: The Case Of Judd Hill Farmers Market In Jonesboro, Arkansas
Kudzaiishe Maringa
Faculty Mentor: GwanSeon Kim
Farmers markets play a crucial role in strengthening local economies, fostering community connections, and improving food systems by linking producers directly with consumers. This research presents an economic analysis of the Judd Hill Farmers Market in Jonesboro, AR, which has been affiliated with Arkansas State University since its establishment in 2006. Despite the recognized benefits of farmers markets, there is limited information about their economic impact, consumer behavior, and sustainability. This study aims to fill these gaps by examining the economic value of the Judd Hill Farmers Market, the factors influencing consumer behavior, and the longterm sustainability of the market. Primary data was collected through an in-person survey conducted between May 2024 and September 2024. A total of 200 new and recurring customers (approximately 40% response rate) participated, providing demographic information, consumer preference/perception, and habitual formation related to the products currently available and those planned for sale at the farmers’ market. The
respondents ranged in age between 19 and 76. Our findings will provide valuable insights into the market’s economic impact and sustainability, benefiting market organizers, policymakers, and local entrepreneurs. Also, we are looking at ways the Judd Hill Farmers Market can continue to contribute to economic sustainability.
6. Quantifying Disaster: Evaluating The Economic Consequences Of An Earthquake On Agriculture In The New Madrid Seismic Zone For Craighead County
Hannah Kimmer
Faculty Mentor: Jacob Manlove
The New Madrid Seismic Zone poses a significant threat to the agricultural sector in Craighead County, Arkansas, where farming is a cornerstone of the local economy. A major seismic event could disrupt supply chains, damage critical infrastructure, and result in severe financial losses for producers and agribusinesses. This study assesses these economic consequences using the IMPLAN economic modeling system, which quantifies direct, indirect, and induced effects of an earthquake on the agricultural sector. Findings indicate that a severe seismic event could lead to over $228 million in total economic output losses, with significant impacts on employment, farm income, and regional supply chains. The study underscores the vulnerability of agriculture in seismically active regions and highlights the necessity for proactive disaster preparedness, infrastructure investment, and policy interventions. These findings contribute to a broader understanding of natural disaster risks in agriculture and provide actionable strategies for strengthening economic resilience in Craighead County and similar high-risk areas.
7. Comparing Artificial Insemination Conception Rates To Determine Fertility Differences Of Maternal And Terminal Angus Sires In A Commercial Beef Cow Herd
Alexa Daly
Faculty Mentor: Jerica Rich
The objective of this study was to compare terminal versus maternal (TvM) sire fertility of angus bulls. Both fall (n=34) and spring (n=24) cow herds at the A-State Agricultural Research and Teaching Center were enrolled in the study. Cows were synchronized and evenly, but randomly artificially inseminated (AI) to one of four different sires (two terminal and two maternal). Pregnancy was determined by transrectal ultrasonography 30-40d after AI to determine AI conception rates. Data was analyzed using the GENMOD procedure of SAS with significance declared at P≤0.05. The fixed effect included TvM with the covariate of days postpartum. There was no difference (P>0.70; 22.4±7.4 vs. 36.2±7.4%) in expression
Poster Session Abstracts
of estrus, as determined by Estrotect patch score at time of AI, between cows assigned to a TvM sire. There was no difference in AI conception rates between TvM sires (P> 0.45; 17.2±11.1 vs. 27.6±8.3%). Also, there was no difference in breeding season pregnancy rates (P>0.38; 34±7.2 vs. 50±7.2%) when comparing TvM AI sire exposure. Lastly, there was no effect for TvM for calf sire (P>0.08; 35±10.9 vs 65±20.4%). In conclusion, there were no differences in fertility between TvM sires.
8. Characteristics Of Parasitic Egg Infections Among The Astate Sheep And
Goats: An Udder Problem Among Small Ruminants
Rebekah Gramling and Kennon Harrington Faculty Mentor: Jerica Rich
Parasitic infection among small ruminants negatively impact animal health. Parasites in the family Trichostrongylidae[including the Barber’s pole worm (Haemoncus contortus), Brown Stomach worm (Ostertagis ostertagi), and Bankrupt worm (Trichostringylus colubriformis); referred to collectively as strongylids] are especially infectious. Individual treatment based on a fecal parasitic egg per gram (EPG) threshold is recommended. Threshold EPG ranges that warrant treatment are reported from 1000 EPG to 2000 EPG. The objective of this study was to compare parasite egg type (strongylid and coccidia) and load between ewes and does at the Agricultural Research and Teaching Center (ATRC). Fecal samples were collected from ewes (n=21) and does (n=13) at the time of parturition. Fecal samples were analyzed using the McMaster slide method to determine strongylid EPG, coccidia EPG, and total EPD (strongylid EPG+coccidia EPG). Descriptive statistics for parasite parameters are reported as mean(range) for ewes and does, respectively. Total EPG values were 1698(550-7800) and 2912(750-7150). Strongylid EPG values were 1350(500-3450) and 2092(400-4250). Coccidia EPG values were 348(0-1350) and 819(0-2900). In conclusion, among the ATRC small ruminant females, strongylid eggs were more abundant in fecal suspensions compared to coccidia and the ATRC does had greater total EPG values compared to the ATRC ewes.
9. Comparative Efficacy Evaluation Of Allopathic And Homeopathic Anthelmintics On Parasite Load Among Small Ruminants
Kennon Harrington and Rebekah Gramling Faculty Mentor: Jerica Rich
Parasitic infection and resistance to traditional anthelmintics in small ruminant production systems increases the rate of herd morbidity, mortality, and contributes to productivity loss. This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of allopathic
and homeopathic anthelmintics on parasite load at the Agricultural Research and Teaching Center (ATRC). Ewes (n=49), does (n=15), and rams (n=2) were enrolled in the study based on aneggs per gram of feces infection threshold (EPG, threshold≥1000) determined at parturition or the start of the lambing season (d1). Infected animals were evenly assigned into either allopathic (n=15) or homeopathic (n=15) treatment groups. Allopathic treatment was given as a one-time oral drench (0.3ml/lb) and homeopathic (1tbsp for goats/2tbsp sheep) given as an oral suspension drench 2x/d for the first three daysand 2x/d weekly until week 4. Follow-up EPG was conducted on d3 (for homeopathic) and 1x/w until week 4. FECRT (larger number=less eggs) were calculated to determine efficacy of treatment. Average FECRT for d1 compared to week 1 was -57.71% and 4.05% for homeopathic and allopathic, respectively. In conclusion, this is an ongoing study, therefore, data is still being collected, however, at present, homeopathictreated animals experienced an increase in parasitic eggs from d1 to week 1.
10. Comparing Impact Of Rice And Soybean Crop Rotations On Nutrient And Sediment Loads In Runoff From Agricultural Fields In Northeast Arkansas. Karson Covington Faculty Mentor: Tina Teague
Gulf of Mexico Hypoxia is driven by excess nutrients in runoff water from agricultural fields which is transported by the Mississippi River. In response to persistent hypoxic conditions, the Mississippi River Basin Healthy Watersheds Initiative was begun in 2009 by USDA-NRCS to assist farmers in 12 states in implementing voluntary conservation programs toimprove water quality of the Mississippi River and its watersheds. Longterm studies with row crop producers in Northeast Arkansas were initiated in 2012 to monitor the effectiveness of those conservation efforts. Edge-of-field water collection equipment was installed on cotton, rice, and soybean farm fields located in the Cache River, Little River Ditches, and Lower St. Francis Watersheds. At each site, water discharge was continuously monitored throughout the year to estimate daily and seasonal mass-loads of nutrients (orthophosphate, total phosphate, nitrate, nitrite, and total nitrogen) and sediments associated with different production and irrigation management systems.
Edge-of-field monitoring activities of rice and soybean crop systems in the Cache River Watershed (2017-2023) and Lower St. Francis Watershed (2022-2023) were compared to note differences or similarities between the two crops. Overall, nutrient loss was greater from rice compared to soybean, and sediment loss did not differ between the two systems.
11. Cotton Response To Tillage Systems And Irrigation— Interactions With Seeding Rate And Soil Textural Zones
Jennifer Hinojosa
Faculty
Mentor: Tina G. Teague
A long-term field study to compare cotton production in conventional and conservation tillage systems was continued in 2024 in Mississippi County, AR. The multifactor experiment included furrow irrigated or rainfed production with a conservation (6th year of no-till with a cereal rye winter cover crop) or a conventional (re-bedded each spring, no cover crop) lo-till system. Additionally, three seeding rates of 1.5, 3, and 4.5 seeds per ft of row (20,634, 41,267, and 61,901 seeds per acre) were tested to assess plant population density effects. The study site for the 2*2*3 factorial experiment was a commercial field with heterogenous soils; therefore, stratified sampling was used to evaluate treatment effects in two soil textural zones classified as coarse or loamy sand based on soil ECa measurements. Previous research at this field site has examined these factors independently, but their combined effects have not been evaluated. Extensive in-season plant and soil monitoring was conducted to evaluate treatment responses. Adequate precipitation during the experiment resulted in irrigation not improving crop performance. Seeding rate and soil texture impacted final plant structure and fruit retention, significantly affecting lint yield. Lower yields were associated with the conservation tillage system and coarse sand soil textural zone; however, there were significant interactions. The treatment combination resulting in the highest net returns was rainfed cotton in the loamy sand soil textural zone grown in the conventional lo-till system with a seeding rate of 3 seeds per ft of row (41,267 seeds per acre). Plants in the coarse sand soil textural zone, which was ca. 1/2 of the production field, were lower yielding, and the highest net returns from this zone were associated with the lowest seeding rate. These findings suggest opportunities for producers to adopt site-specific management seeding rates to reduce input costs in spatially variable fields.
12. Helping Students Succeed- Raising Awareness Of University Provided Software Tools
Riza Upadhyay
Faculty Mentor: Farhad Moeeni
Arkansas State University provides digital resources to students to help them succeed. There are various software including two major software tools, Canvas and Microsoft 365 that Arkansas State University provides to students for free access. However, despite the benefits, there are gaps between what university provides and the engagement and application of the tools by students. To understand the extent of students’ familiarity and
utilization of the tools in their courses, this exploratory study applies survey tools to investigates the gaps in utilizing the two previously mentioned software tools.
We expect the study to answer two questions: the level of students’ awareness and the sufficiency of their knowledge to use them. The result can assist decision-makers in formulating policies to reduce or eliminate gaps in order to enhance the effectiveness of these software tools in supporting student success.
13. Navigating Ethics In AI, Truth-Telling, And Workplace Dilemmas: A Study Of Moral Judgments And DecisionMaking
Sowmya Gavinolla
Faculty Mentor: H.Steve Leslie
This study explores ethical perceptions and decision-making through three critical questions: the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in academic settings, the principle of truth-telling, and responses to ethical dilemmas in workplace scenarios. The analysis uncovers varied perspectives, reflecting the complexity of ethical judgments. Many participants viewed using AI tools like ChatGPT for academic tasks as potentially unethical, while a significant portion supported truth-telling as an essential moral standard. When presented with a workplace ethical dilemma involving an ethically questionable employer offering a high-paying position, most respondents adopted a pragmatic approach by accepting the job while discreetly continuing their search for better opportunities. Correlation analysis highlights a moderate relationship between truth-telling beliefs and workplace decisions, while ties to AI ethics remain weaker. These findings underscore how individual values, practical considerations, and situational factors influence ethical choices, providing insight into the nuanced interplay of morality and pragmatism in decision-making.
14. Impact Of Coronavirus On Non-Profit Service Organizations
MedhaviRajpalsingh Rathod
Faculty Mentor: Steve Leslie
This study examines how volunteering with non-profit organizations has changed before, during, and after the COVID-19 pandemic. It explores how factors such as gender, employment status, and feelings of safety have influenced volunteerism. The results highlight differences between men and women, and how having a job can either facilitate or hinder volunteering. While many individuals agree that non-profits play a vital role in helping communities, not everyone actively
Poster Session Abstracts
participates in volunteering. Additionally, some respondents feel that the pandemic hasn’t significantly changed their volunteering habits. These findings can offer valuable insights for non-profits seeking to engage more people in the future.
15. Creating Secure Passwords By Applying Password Strategies
Shivani Payyavula
Faculty Mentor: Jim McGInnis
This study aims to provide various insights to protect passwords by leveraging the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) password policy guidelines and how these insights are useful for IAM. To what extent are these protocols implemented in IT (Information Technology) security, and how perfectly impactful to IAM are they? Protecting passwords helps to secure the data/information in various streams like banking applications, authentication in mobiles, internet services, Windows login, etc. This will help to avoid unauthorized users accessing the system. The research findings will help to offer specific strategies to create passwords that are complicated and easy to memorize. As a result, an individual or organization can use these strategies for passwords to avoid cyberattacks.
16. Personal Finance Risk Assessment
Sravya Kasireddy
Faculty Mentor: Farhad Moeeni
Risk tolerance is a critical factor in financial planning, often assessed using traditional methods like risk tolerance questionnaires. However, recent studies suggest that physiological and emotional responses, measured through biosensors and iMotions software, may offer deeper insight into an individual’s risk tolerance. This exploratory study aims to discover the potential association between physiological responses, such as facial expression and skin conductivity, and an individual’s risk tolerance, as assessed by conventional questionnaires.
By collecting both quantitative data from risk tolerance surveys and qualitative data from physiological sensors during simulated investment scenarios, this research seeks to explore how emotional and physiological responses correlate with decisionmaking under risk. The findings may provide more accurate and personalized assessments of risk tolerance, enhancing investment strategies and financial advising.
17. “Investigating The Effectiveness Of Various Learning Methods Through Measuring Physiological Responses”
Nikita
Lama
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Farhad Moeeni Moeeni
This study explores the impact of text-based and visually enriched learning by analyzing physiological engagement through biosensors. The sample will be selected randomly from Neil Griffin College of Business, Arkansas State University. Participants will be randomly assigned into two groups: one group will study with a text-based document, and the other with a video on the history and origin of coffee. After that, participants will take a quiz. The test scores and biometric data will be analyzed to determine the relationship between physiological responses and learning effectiveness. Eye-tracking sensors will measure fixation points and gaze duration. Galvanic skin response (GSR) will assess stress and arousal levels. Finally, facial expression analysis will evaluate emotional engagement. These findings will help improve learning systems by making lessons more personalized and engaging.
18. Evaluating Stress Responses In Textual Vs. Visual Learning: Insights From Galvanic Skin Response
Prakriti Pokhrel, Meenaz Bhimani, Harish Chinthoj Faculty Mentor: Dr. Farhad Moeeni Moeeni
This study evaluates the stress responses associated with textual and visual learning methods using Galvanic Skin Response (GSR). While previous research suggests that visual learning enhances comprehension, its effect on student stress has not been fully explored. In this study, Group 1 will engage with dense, text-heavy content, while Group 2 will learn through visual materials such as images and/or videos. GSR sensors will monitor physiological stress responses during the sessions. By comparing GSR data between the two groups, the study aims to determine whether textual or visual learning methods induce higher stress levels. The findings will provide insights into how different instructional approaches influence student stress, helping to develop teaching strategies that reduce stress and create a more effective learning environment.
19. Investigating The Methodology And Challenges Of Forensic Accounting In The Technological Era
Lindsey Storey
Faculty Mentor: John Robertson
My accounting data analytics project in the forensic accounting setting analyzes the effectiveness of generative pretrained transformer platforms at performing forensic accounting methodologies and analyzing the results. Generative pretrained transformer platforms (GPTs) are AI-powered systems that process and generate human-like text based upon prompts and input that leverage large-scale machine learning models to understand context, generate responses, and assist in various tasks. These models were selected due to their ability to process data quickly and evolve with user input.
The initial results suggest that these generative models can
perform basic methodologies, specifically those based in numerical and structured results but struggle with more advanced concepts. The findings indicate a strong potential for AI usage in the forensic accounting field in the future. I believe that the project has the potential to shed light on the burgeoning field of AI forensic accounting technologies. The results would help software developers and data scientists identify areas in need of optimization and growth in existing platforms and future platforms to suit the needs of forensic accountants. I also think the study could impact the perspective of professionals in the field on AI usage within the workplace as the potential improvements to efficiency rise with technological advancements.
20. Drivers Of Poverty And Welfare Beliefs And Effectiveness Of Experimental Learning Models
Austin Murray Faculty Mentor: Philip
Tew
This thesis investigates the impact of an experimental learning model on individuals’ beliefs about poverty, welfare systems, and empathy, using a dual survey design before and after participation in a rendition of the Missouri Community Action Network’s Community Action Poverty Simulation (CAPS). The research aims to explore how various behavioral drivers influence perspectives on poverty and welfare, the potential for empathy development through simulation, and whether such models can shift individuals’ views on government intervention policies. In a series of role-playing exercises, participants experience the economic and social hardships of impoverished families, navigating complex decisions within a simulated community. The study examines whether these experiences, coupled with an understanding of underlying psychological and behavioral biases, lead to measurable changes in participants’ empathy levels and policy preferences. A particular focus is placed on how factors such as political orientation and religiosity affect participants’ adaptability to new perspectives and their success in the simulation. The findings contribute to the broader discussion on behavioral economics, empathy development, and the influence of experiential learning on policy perceptions.
21. Showup Fitness Program: How Fitness Impacts Overall Life
James Lowery
Faculty Mentor: Lance Bryant
My presentation will consists of a poster board with questionnaires results.
I am a part of a fitness group and we support each other while we are on our fitness journeys. We all have one coach who
pushes us to “Show Up” and be better in every aspect of our lives every single day. It’s not just about they physical aspect and going to the gym, everyone wants to support one another to succeed.
Therefore, I will ask peers from my fitness group how their lives have changed physically, mentally, and emotionally since joining the program.
I will pose three questions.
1. Since joining ShowUp Fitness, How has your mental health improved? (Scale 1-5)
2. Do you like the bodily progress you’re seeing since training with the program? (Yes or No)
3. How much has your emotional state improved since starting your fitness journey (Scale 1-5)
Scale 1-5
1 = None
2 = A little bit
3 = Fair
4 = Improved
5 = Excellent
22. Effects Of Pedal Resistance On Different Wingate Anaerobic Test Measures
Balqees Mraiyan, Caroline Teel
Faculty Mentor: Gregory Cantrell
In competitive sports being able to produce a higher level of anaerobic power than your opponent is a critical for success. One way to assess anaerobic power metrics is the Wingate Anaerobic Test (WAT), which is a 30-second high-intensity, allout sprint on a cycle. Over the years, other intensities have been suggested as being potentially superior to traditional protocol, but little is known on how changing the resistance will affect the results. PURPOSE: This study compared WAT metrics while pedaling against three different intensities. METHODS: Five recreationally-active individuals were recruited for the study, which consisted of three experimental visits. Following a fiveminute warmup, participants performed four 30-second sprints against either a low (5.0% of body weight (BW)), traditional (7.5%BW), or high (8.7%BW) resistance. Peak power (PP), mean power (MP), rate of fatigue (RF), total work (TW), heart rate (HR), and blood lactate (BLa-) were assessed following each sprint. RESULTS PP, MP, RF, TW, HR, and BLa- were significantly different between sprints (p<0.05) but not between loads (p>0.05). CONCLUSION All WAT metrics differed over the course of a test session; however, due to the small sample size the influence resistance has on WAT metrics remains unknown; the study is ongoing.
Poster Session Abstracts
23. Comparison Of Lower Limb Anthropometry, Body Composition, And Vertical Jump In Collegiate Female Athletes
Anna Eaton
Faculty Mentor: Veronika Scudamore
High school multisport athletes transitioning to collegiate sports may need to adjust training to optimize single-sport performance. Sports like volleyball, basketball, soccer, cheer, and dance require powerful movements from the lower body. This study will explore the relationship between lower limb anthropometry, body composition, and vertical jump performance in collegiate female athletes. Female participants aged 18-28 will be recruited from Arkansas State University volleyball, basketball, soccer, cheer, and dance teams. Participants must be active team members without recent musculoskeletal injuries or medical conditions. The singular testing session will consist of: (1) height, weight, and a body composition assessment using the InBody 270, a multi-frequency bioimpedance analyzer, (2) anthropometric measurements of femoral length, tibial length, midthigh circumference, and calf circumference, and (3) vertical jump testing using the Quattro Jump force plate. The study will provide insight into sport-specific characteristics, allowing for nuanced training program development and enhanced female athletic performance. Data collection is currently ongoing. It is hypothesized that tibial and femoral lengths will be higher among basketball and volleyball athletes. Sports requiring more vertical jumping– like volleyball, basketball, and cheer– are hypothesized to output higher lower limb power than sports with less vertical components, like soccer and dance.
24. Adolescent Vitamin D Insufficiency: A Review
Caroline Teel
Faculty Mentor: Eric Scudamore
Adolescent vitamin D insufficiency has become a significant public health concern due to its negative impact on physical and mental well-being. During adolescence, the skeletal system requires large amounts of vitamin D for proper development and calcium absorption. A deficiency can result in osteomalacia, rickets, and increased fracture risk. Vitamin D deficiency also heightens the risk of metabolic diseases, such as obesity, and autoimmune disorders, including infections. Recent research links low vitamin D levels to mental health issues like depression, anxiety, and cognitive dysfunction, which can affect academic performance and overall quality of life. Adolescents at highest risk for vitamin D deficiency include those with limited sun exposure, darker skin, or inadequate dietary intake. These vulnerabilities have led to an increase in vitamin D deficiency and a need for public health interventions to encourage
adequate dietary intake and supplementation alongside safe ultraviolet exposure. Treating deficiency is crucial for healthy physical and mental development. Prevention strategies should be implemented to avoid long-term complications. Although increased sun exposure is the most natural way to treat vitamin D deficiency, it is often not feasible due to modern lifestyles. In such cases, supplementation is an effective alternative when administered in accordance with health guidelines.
25. Examining The Effects Of Fidget Toys On Reading Comprehension
Anna Thompson
Faculty Mentor: Karen Yanowitz
Fidget toys have been created for individuals to manipulate and are marketed as devices that help calm anxiety and increase focus. There is a significant lack of research on other forms of fidget toys. An understudied topic within the effects of fidgets, is reading comprehension. This important life skill is commonly used every day. Fidget toys have started to rise in popularity and become accessible to people of all ages, so it is becoming increasingly important to investigate the effects that these toys could have on reading comprehension. With this rise in popularity of the fidget comes the need to research the effects these toys have. Are they simply toys, or can they really be used as a tool? The goal of this project is to explore the differences of how two fidget toys – the fidget spinner and squishy cube – affect reading comprehension in elementary age students. No significant difference was found in scores as a function of condition, although students felt the devices helped them.
26. Twice The Chute, Twice The Precision: Dual Deployment In Rocketry”
Mauricio Bautista, Jesus Cortes, Christian Lopez
Faculty Mentor: Robert Fleming
This project is focused on creating a dual deployment rocket that utilizes a flight computer to control all of its systems. The flight computer will record critical flight data, including acceleration and altitude, enabling detailed post-flight analysis to determine the rocket’s apogee. This system will incorporate two parachutes to ensure a controlled descent, reducing the landing distance from the launch site.
The rocket will be powered by a J-class motor, which is one of the higher thrust commercial motors. Utilizing this motor will also allow the team to qualify for a Level 2 (L2) certification from the National Association of Rocketry (NAR).
Graphs and tables will be generated from these flights. In addition, each of them will be recorded for further visual analysis and demostration. By integrating data collection and a reliable recovery system,
this project will help us better understand high-power rocketry while preparing for more complex launches in the future. With this experience, we plan to then progress to an L3 rocket that could be used for senior design during our senior year.
27. Evaluation Of Ni-Cr Interatomic Potentials For Molecular Dynamics Simulations Of Ni-Rich Nixcr Alloys
Eli Casey
Faculty
Mentor: Robert Fleming
Molecular dynamic simulations are a widely-used computational method for simulating the behavior of materials at the atomistic or molecular scale. Since these simulations replicate material properties at the nanoscale, they can provide valuable information about material characteristics and behavior in environments that would be difficult to replicate with experiments. The accuracy of molecular dynamics simulations depends on the quality of the semi-empirical interatomic potentials used to describe the potential energy functions of the atoms in a simulation. In this study, 4 different Ni-Cr interatomic potentials are evaluated to assess the suitability for modeling NixCr alloys: the Angularly-Dependent Potential (ADP), the Modified Embedded Atom Method (MEAM), an alloy formulation of the Embedded Atom Method (EAM. alloy), and Finnis-Sinclair parametrization of EAM (EAM.fs). For each potential, the elastic modulus of face-centered cubic (FCC) Ni and body-centered cubic (BCC) Cr were calculated from a tension test simulations, and then comparted to accepted experminental values. The results of this study enables future simulations of NixCr alloys, especially Ni-rich formulations that are of interest for high-temperature applications.
28. Development Of An Instrumented Conveyor Test Bed To Investigate The Power Consumption In Belted Conveyor Systems
Asib Ridwan
Faculty Mentor: Robert Fleming
Conveyor systems are widely used in industrial applications for material handling, but their high energy consumption remains a significant challenge. One of the key factors influencing power consumption in these systems is the frictional resistance between the belt and slider pan. In this study, the operational characteristics of a prototype conveyor system has been investigated as a function of drive speed and applied load. The study has employed fast Fourier transform (FFT) and power spectral density (PSD) analyses to assess frequency-domain characteristics of power consumption and identify energy loss patterns associated with frictional resistance. Additionally, phase shift analysis was used to evaluate the timing relationships
between force fluctuations and system response. The drive force exerted by the motor is acquired using a load cell, DAQ system, and LabVIEW, with Python-based signal processing techniques applied for spectral analysis. Based on the preliminary measurements using mild steel slider pans, this test conveyor system can be utilized with alternative slider pans (i,e; powdercoated, galvanized & low-friction coated) to contribute to the development of more sustainable and cost-effective material handling solutions by improving conveyor design for industrial applications.
29. Computational Modeling Of Dislocation Dynamics In Core-Shell Nanostructures
Kiefer Scott
Faculty Mentor: Robert Fleming
Core-Shell Nanostructures (CSNs) are known to exhibit unusual plastic deformation behavior, which can be potentially explained by dislocation dynamics within the core material. In this study, computational modeling of dislocation dynamics in CSNs is used to better understand plastic deformation in crystalline materials on a nanoscale level. Dislocation activities within CSNs during compressive loading are characterized using the Dislocation Extraction Algorithm (DXA), combined with statistical and visual analysis. For CSNs composed of face-centered cubic (FCC) Au cores with a-Si shells, dislocation activities are investigated as a function of core size and temperature, with a goal of determining conditions for achieving higher dislocation recovery. By studying the effects of the dislocation recovery in CSNs, mechanical behavior of materials can be predicted and effectively optimized to practical applications.
30. Computational Modeling And Optimization Of Alinn/ Algan Quantum Wells
Jaiden Strong
Faculty Mentor: Robert (Drew) Fleming
Current deep-space communication systems face limitations in data transmission rates and resilience to extreme space environments. A proposed solution, the vertical-cavity surfaceemitting laser (VCSEL), utilizes III-nitride semiconductor quantum wells (QWs) to potentially increase transmission rates by an order of magnitude compared to existing technologies. Binary and ternary alloys of AlN, GaN, and InN have been identified as suitable materials for VCSEL construction due to their tunable optoelectronic properties. In this study, the photon emission energy and transition probability characteristics of AlInN/AlGaN QW structures have been investigated as a function of QW thickness, well alloy composition, and barrier alloy composition using specialized
Poster Session Abstracts
semiconductor modeling software. As a result, QW structures with emission wavelengths less than 300 nm (corresponding to emission energies of 4.132 eV) have been identified with emission probabilities in excess of 60%. These results of these simulations will potentially guide the fabrication of a functional VCSEL prototype.
31. Enhancing Voltage And Frequency Stability In Microgrids With Reinforcement Learning
Md Motinur Rahman, Md Mahmudul Hasan, Saikot Hossain Dadon
Faculty Mentor: Md Mahmudul Hasan
Microgrids come with high penetration of renewable energy like solar become obvious to meet sustainable development goals. However, renewable energy has no rotational inertia like the conventional power grid, which shows resilience against voltage and frequency change to maintain grid stability. To establish a microgrid as an independent and reliable power system, virtual inertia must be mounted. In this paper, a reinforcement learning-based droop-virtual inertia is incorporated into the microgrid system based on a vehicle-to-grid (V2G) control approach. The voltage magnitude and frequency at the point of common coupling constitute the microgrid states. The Q-learning algorithm is employed to enhance activities according to the status of the microgrid system. To validate the algorithm in one case at fixed 1 kW/m2 solar irradiation, a load of 180 kW and 40 KVAR was added for 1.5 s. In another, solar irradiation varies for 3-5 seconds at the power generation end. In both cases, upon activation of the devised control mechanism, the output voltage and current are effectively regulated around their reference values. The suggested microgrid architecture and its associated control mechanisms have been rigorously tested in OPAL-RT to confirm their efficacy, and the real-time simulation outcomes suggest several possible applications in the advancement of the smart grid.
32. Predictive Analysis Of Crash Severity And Modeling Of 85th Percentile Speed Using Artificial Neural Network
Sagun Basel
Faculty Mentor: Zahid hossain
Crash severity is a significant aspect of transport safety as its contributing factors assist engineers and designers in designing safer road infrastructure and implementing efficient safety measures. The focus of this project is to predict crash severity, analysis of crash parameters and modeling of the 85th percentile speed selected rural roads (i.e., Interstate-555, East Johnson Avenue Highway, and Red Wolf Blvd) in Arkansas, using Artificial Neural Network (ANN) models. MATLAB® was used to predict the 85th Speed and compare it with the actual 85th speed collected from field instrumentation. Besides the speed
data, weather (e.g., rainfall), road geometry, light conditions, and traffic volume were used as input in training the ANN model. In addition, the project employs the Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA) USLIMITS2 software for calculating the uniform and data-based speed limits, enhancing the integration of engineering standards with advanced modeling techniques. Results indicate a strong correlation between higher speed and severity of crashes, which establishes the need for predictive tools to enhance traffic safety policy. The findings of this research will assist in creating safer rural roads and contribute to making policy decisions.
33. Effectiveness Of Bio-Based Binder- State Of Practice And Laboratory Assessment
Arpan Das
Faculty Mentor: Zahid Hossain
Bio-based binders represent a fundamental aspect for rejuvenating aged asphalt because they act to enhance the performance quality of recycled materials such as Reclaim Asphalt Pavement (RAP), which contains a significant amount of asphalt binder. The research investigates the state-of-practice of the usage of rejuvenators and evaluates the performance of three bio-based rejuvenators, namely, waste cooking oil, engine bottom oil, and a Evoflex™ at various dosage levels when mixed with an asphalt binder containing 30% RAP binder. The research focuses on bio-rejuvenators’ structure-property relationships through an assessment of their performance characteristics at micro and macro levels. The research findings will highlight that bio-rejuvenators character to get back aged binder structure of molecules while shrinking asphaltene nanoaggregates and enhancing asphalt rheology. Research data suggest that the bio-based binder is a sustainable solution through its utilization as a rejuvenator that promotes structural integrity and improved durability of asphalt pavements with high recycled materials.
34.
Comparative Analysis Of Rice Husk Ash, Reclaimed Fly Ash, And Hydrated Lime For Enhancing Subgrade Soil Performance.
Orchi Mallick
Faculty Mentor: Zahid Hossain
The structural integrity and longevity of pavement are heavily dependent on the properties of the underlying subgrade soil, where inadequate soil conditions can lead to premature failures. This study investigates the improvement of engineering properties in problematic subgrade soils through soil stabilization using various additives. Specifically, it evaluates the effectiveness of Rice Husk Ash (RHA), Reclaimed Fly Ash (RFA), and Hydrated Lime (HL) in controlling swell behavior and enhancing the California Bearing Ratio (CBR)
of AR-1 and AR-2 soils. Laboratory evaluations including the Atterberg limits, Modified proctor, California Bearing Ratio (CBR), free swell, were conducted on untreated and treated AR-1 and AR-2 soils using varying dosages of RHA (3%, 6%, 9% by weight), HL (1%, 3%, 5% by weight), and RFA (4%, 6%, 8% by weight) as well as combinations of 1% HL + RHA. The results show that all three stabilizers significantly reduce swell and improve CBR values, with lime shows the most consistent performance across both soil types. For AR-1 soil, the combination of 1% HL + 4% RHA proved most effective in reducing swell percentage and achieving the highest CBR values. For AR-2 soil, 5% HL was identified as the optimal dosage, significantly improving CBR and reducing swell significantly. These findings highlight the importance of optimizing stabilizer selection based on soil type, offering valuable insights for sustainable and cost-effective soil stabilization in engineering applications.
35. Using Commercial Waste As A Rejuvenator
Kolton Morris
Faculty Mentor: Zahid Hossain
There is an increasing demand for the use of Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement (RAP) in asphalt pavements as it is a sustainable and economically friendly method of asphalt production. However, to be successful in the usage of RAP, a rejuvenator is needed to mitigate cracking. Therefore, this study is intended to develop more environmentally friendly binders that are derived from commercial waste oils as a substitute for petroleum-based binders. Moreover, large quantities of waste engine oils and vegetable oils are disposed of everyday. The improper disposal of these oils is harmful to the environment; therefore, recycling these commercial waste oils to produce asphalt with high RAP content is a viable option. In this study, two rejuvenating agents, namely Waste Engine Oil (WEO) and Waste Brown Grease (WBG), with dosages of 4%, 8% and 12%, are being investigated in the laboratory. The consistency and flow properties, temperature sensitivity, and cracking resistance of WEO- and WBG-modified bitumen are being investigated. Preliminary findings suggest that these commercial wastes are expected to act as viable rejuvenators for asphalt with high RAP.
36. Applications Of Graph Algorithms
Benjamin
Wertenberger
Faculty Mentor: Jake Qualls
In mathematics and computer science there exists an optimization problem known as the Traveling Salesman Problem (TSP). This problem states that given a list of cities and the pairwise distance between these cities, find the optimal path that visits each city once and only once such that you end the tour in the city you started. The goal of this research is to
develop an algorithm that closely approximates the optimal tour in polynomial-time. This algorithm is then compared to similar heuristics and brute-force approaches to evaluate how close it comes to the optimal solution and how quickly it achieves this result. Identifying a heuristic that quickly approximates a solution or finds a path closer to optimal can have significant real-world impact, particularly in shipping, scheduling, and manufacturing. Additionally, if a polynomial-time algorithm can be developed to solve TSP, it would be a key step in resolving the P vs. NP debate within the field of theoretical computer science.
37. Field Service Quoting Process Improvement Using DMAIC
Michael Moore, Brooks Hoffman
Faculty Mentor: Alexandr Sokolov
It is widely understood that inaccurate quotes can lead to many issues within a project. The more accurate a quote, the higher the chance for project success in terms of financials. If a service does not have an accurate quoting process, it is difficult to track the success or failures of that service. Currently field service quoting is based off a standard price per day and is multiplied by the length of the trip. This does not consider where the engineer is traveling and what the cost of living in that certain area may be. This can lead to issues within the project as it relates to overall project margin, determining project success, as well as management being surprised by the cost of the expenses. The cost of room and board, food, and transportation varies greatly across the United States as well as the world, and these costs can greatly affect the margin of the project and need to be accurately estimated before a trip. A more accurate field service quote allows for more consistent margins on field service trips, an area now where margins can vary significantly. A more consistent margin allows for better profit planning and a better understanding of project success or failure. By applying lean six sigma and the DMAIC process, the quoting process has become more accurate when compared with actual costs.
38. Direct-Solar-Energy-Powered Hydrothermal Treatment To Promote Biomethane Production From Anaerobic Digestion Of Grain Processing Waste
Kainat Rahnuma
Faculty Mentor: Chiqian Zhang
Global waste generation is now more than ever and needs immediate action to make for controlling and minimizing it. Anaerobic digestion (AD) plays a crucial role in minimizing waste while generating sustainable energy. However, AD can be slow since breaking down complex organic matter takes time. Hydrothermal treatment (HT) can speed up this process and improve biomethane production. In this study, hydrothermally
Poster Session Abstracts
treated soybean, rice bran, and rice produced more biogas than untreated materials, with methane making up 60% and CO2 40% of the output. While HT improves biogas yield, it requires a lot of heat and energy, making it expensive and less sustainable. To overcome this challenge, this study explores the use of direct solar energy as an alternative heat source for HT. By using solar power, we can reduce reliance on conventional energy, making the process more cost-effective and environmentally friendly. This research highlights how combining HT with AD can significantly improve waste-toenergy conversion rapidly. By optimizing these processes, we can increase biogas production, reduce energy costs, and promote a more sustainable approach to organic waste management.
39. Arkansas, 1918: The Influenza Pandemic, World War I, And Camp Pike
Morgan Sweeney
Faculty Mentor: Lucy Barnhouse
My poster presentation will be based around my honors thesis, currently titled “Arkansas, 1918: The Influenza Pandemic, World War I, and Camp Pike.” My work is primarily going to be centered around the 1918 influenza pandemic (usually referred to as the Spanish flu), and will examine how it affected life in Arkansas. More specifically, I want to examine how the spread of the virus was connected with military mobilization in the waning months of World War I, and also examine disparities in access to healthcare on a racial basis. Camp Pike, mentioned in the title, is today’s Camp Joseph T. Robinson, just north of Little Rock. In 1918, it was a U.S. Army camp that suffered one of the most severe outbreaks of influenza in the country, and it was also a camp that housed both black and white soldiers. I aim to examine the camp in particular detail, while also giving attention to other major cities in Arkansas when possible.
40. Sexual Assault Victims’ Perception Of Justice
Brooke Oaks
Faculty Mentor: Stacy Dewald
Justice is often perceived differently by the individual based on their life experiences. Because justice is based on perception, opinions vary from person to person. This study aims to explore sexual assault victims’ perspectives on how they perceive justice. We are gathering our data through podcasts where victims talk about their assault and how they perceive justice. With the rising popularity of podcasts as a medium for personal storytelling and discourse, this research study will evaluate various episodes that feature victims discussing their experiences and views on justice. With sexual assault being considered one of the most heinous crimes, it is important to understand how victims recognize justice to better serve their needs.
41. Skims Visual Case Study On Male Gaze
Zoe Mathes
Faculty Mentor: Myleea Hill
My poster is a visual case study on the brand Skims focusing on the “male gaze.” I highlight statistics on misogyny and then leverage the brand Skims to highlight how they combat these stereotypes and misjustices. The first portion of my research is on the brand Skims itself and how it rejects the “male gaze.” The second portion of my research is showing what visual communication principles Skims uses to appeal to the “female gaze.” I use concepts of gender studies and highlight diversity and inclusion within my poster. The overlining message, “Do you see me?” questions the audience whether they view women as objects or human beings. The use of a muted and limited color scheme aligns with Skims overall brand.
42. Integrating Key Performance Indicators To Track Production Development Of Manufacturing Line
Michael
Faculty
Moore and Jose Albarran
Mentor:
Alexandr Sokolov
The actual lean concepts that many companies use to pursue business goals are based on key performance indicators coming directly from the manufacturing floor. These KPI’s such as availability, efficiency, productivity, throughput, capacities, and changeover are essential to determine the performance of support and fundamental areas. Moreover, engineering management techniques should be applied to educate people in order to focus their work on those KPI’s. That will definitively ensure driving positive results to meet company goals. Once people are engaged in specifics steps between the process and the results, it is better to understand how to deal with bottlenecks affecting those indicators. The research intends to provide detailed data about how KPIs to increase after the integration at the manufacturing line and results for product development as people support the process. This increase in performance will have a direct impact on business, even more, will give visibility of any area that needs improvement to continuously operate as scheduled. To review all these metrics, implementing visual dashboards and daily production meetings are highly recommended due to the flexibility for all areas to be aware of production performance to reach a sustainable and lean manufacturing process. Following the action plan scheduled with the support of engineering management skills, the manufacturing floor will be able to take advantage of key performance indicator goals to drive positive results.
43. Requirements Engineering Analysis In Satellite Spacecraft Design
Michael Moore and Elaine Paprotny
Faculty Mentor: Alexandr Sokolov
Requirements engineering is the basis of all requirement analysis, documentation, validation and requirement management. This is the first main phase of spacecraft systems engineering, assuming the customer needs and desires have been delivered prior to starting. All requirements are collected from the customer, divided out the subdivision they apply to, and flown down to all the sub-sections. This paper will review the requirements analysis phase of space satellite system designing as well as provide an understanding of the steps to create the final requirements.
44. Intercultural Education For Preschool Children In China: Parental Needs, Strategies, Challenges, And The Potential Of Educational Media Products
Xiaoyi Guo
Faculty Mentor: Lily Zeng
Children are the future of the world. Almost all countries have laws for compulsory education, at least at the elementary level. In addition to a nine-year compulsory education system in grades 1-9, China has been promoting the universalization of early childhood education through public kindergartens. Serving children of ages 3-6, kindergartens face increasing challenges in meeting the expectations of parents who value international education while adhering to stricter government regulations at different levels. This study examines the needs and challenges faced by parents of preschool-age children in the context of evolving government regulations, and the strategies that parents utilize to fulfill these needs. Through in-depth interviews with families in public kindergartens, this study identified key parental priorities for intercultural education, including preparation for English proficiency exams, languages as a communication tool, fostering global opportunities, and enhancing cultural awareness. Parents employ a wide range of strategies to meet these needs, such as online media products, offline tutoring, hybrid learning approaches, and short-term immersion programs. Despite these efforts, parents still face challenges such as policy restrictions, unequal access to resources, limitations of media products, over-reliance on electronic devices, and insufficient personalized learning tools. The findings highlight the importance of balancing the promotion of traditional culture with the growing demand for intercultural education. If policies fail to address this balance, there is a critical need to enhance the quality and accessibility of media resources to better support parents and educators in this endeavor.
45. The Impact Of Bilingual Home Literacy Practices On The Emergent Literacy Skills Of Hispanic Youth
Sophie Watkins
Faculty Mentor: Christina Akbari-Davis
The development of emergent literacy skills is crucial for the academic success of Hispanic youth, particularly those growing up in bilingual environments. Home literacy environments (HLEs) play a significant role in fostering foundational literacy skills, including phonemic awareness, alphabet knowledge, decoding, word recognition, reading fluency, and reading comprehension. This study examines the impact of bilingual home literacy practices on emergent literacy skills among Spanish-English bilingual children. Utilizing a nonexperimental design, the study will assess 20 kindergarten to third-grade children enrolled in an after-school program at El Centro Hispano in Jonesboro, Arkansas. Data will be collected through a parent home literacy environment questionnaire, the Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills (DIBELS), and the Spanish Reading Inventory - Second Edition. The study will employ statistical analyses to explore correlations between HLE variables and literacy outcomes. Findings will contribute to a deeper understanding of effective bilingual home literacy practices, with implications for parents, educators, and policymakers seeking to enhance early literacy development in Hispanic children. By identifying key literacy-supportive behaviors in bilingual homes, this research aims to inform strategies that promote stronger literacy foundations, ultimately improving long-term educational outcomes for Hispanic youth in Arkansas.
46. The Knowledge And Perceptions Of Noise-Induced Hearing Loss Among Young And Future Farmers
Madyson Kerley
Faculty Mentor: Christina Akbari-Davis
Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) is a significant occupational hazard, particularly in the agricultural industry, where young and future farmers are increasingly exposed to high noise levels. Continuous exposure to noise above 85 dB, common in farming activities such as operating machinery and handling livestock, can lead to permanent hearing damage. Despite the risks, limited research exists on the awareness and preventive measures among young farmers. This study investigates the perceptions and knowledge of NIHL among high school and college students involved in agriculture in northeast Arkansas and southern Missouri. A pre-and post-test survey, based on a modified version of the Beliefs About Hearing Protection and Hearing Loss (BAHPHL) questionnaire, will assess students’ understanding of noise exposure and hearing conservation before and after an educational intervention. The study will show students’ previous knowledge and opinions before
Poster Session Abstracts
and after the educational presentation, highlighting changes in awareness and attitudes toward NIHL. By addressing the knowledge gap, this research seeks to enhance hearing conservation strategies and promote long-term auditory health among future farmers, ultimately reducing the prevalence of occupational hearing loss in agricultural settings.
47. Diabetes Education In Non-Diabetic Individuals Exposed To Diabetic Management
Gabriel Goodwin
Faculty Mentor: Kacie Altom
I will be presenting my senior Honor’s thesis titled “Diabetes Education in Non-Diabetic Individuals Exposed to Diabetic Management”. Rates of type 2 diabetes mellitus are much higher in the southern United States than in other regions of the U.S. However, there is a gap in literature in diabetes education in non-diabetic individuals. Education in non-diabetic individuals is important for decreasing diabetes rates because proper education can decrease risk factors of developing type 2 diabetes. The goal of this research is to determine if exposure to diabetes management affects one’s knowledge of diabetes and diabetes management. The thesis uses a survey format that is distributed at Arkansas State University and it taken by individuals older than 18 years old and who are not healthcare professionals or are in training to become a healthcare professional. The survey utilizes the Revised Brief Diabetes Knowledge Test (DKT2) by Fitzgerald et al from the University of Michigan (Fitzgerald et al, 2016).
48. Differences In Turtle Cell Morphology
Sable Crafton and Isabella Davis
Faculty Mentor: Lori Neuman-Lee
New aspects of reptilian immunology are still being discovered, and researchers are constantly learning more about leukocytes, or white blood cells. Currently, not enough information about reptilian leukocytes has been gathered, which restricts our ability to identify cells, growth patterns, and abnormalities. Additionally, we know little about variation in leukocyte morphology among different species. To help address this gap in knowledge, we analyzed the blood smears from two turtle species found in Arkansas: red-eared slider turtles (Trachemys scripta elegans) and mud turtles (Kinosternon subrubrum hippocrepis). Using slides fixed with methanol and stained using Wright-Giemsa stain, we took images using light microscopy at 1000X magnification, with oil immersion, and analyzed leukocytes using ImageJ. For each leukocyte (heterophil, lymphocyte, eosinophil, and monocyte), we took the following measurements: the area of the nucleus, area of the entire cell, and the shortest distance across the cell. We have detected differences in cell morphology among the unique
cell types and between the two species. A better description of cell morphology in these reptiles will help researchers determine whether the species is healthy. Given the precarious conservation status for many reptiles, minimally invasive metrics, such as blood smears, can be a valuable monitoring tool.
49. The Prevalence Of Dysphonia: Comparison Of Indoor And Outdoor Athletic Coaches
Keelyn Peacock
Faculty Mentor: Shanon Brantlet
Dysphonia, a voice disorder characterized by abnormal vocal quality, is a prevalent concern among athletic coaches due to high vocal demands. This study examines the prevalence of dysphonia among indoor and outdoor athletic coaches by comparing vocal parameters using the Voice Handicap Index (VHI), Consensus Auditory-Perceptual Evaluation of Voice (CAPE-V), PRAAT acoustic analysis, and statistical evaluation through SPSS. A cohort of indoor and outdoor coaches will be assessed to determine the impact of environmental factors, vocal load, and occupational strain on voice quality. VHI provided subjective self-assessments of voice-related difficulties, while CAPE-V allowed perceptual evaluation by trained raters. PRAAT software facilitated objective acoustic measurements, including pitch, jitter, shimmer, and harmonic-to-noise ratio. SPSS was utilized for data analysis, identifying significant differences between the two groups. Preliminary findings suggest a higher prevalence of dysphonia among indoor coaches, potentially due to acoustic conditions and prolonged voice use. This study underscores the need for vocal health awareness and preventive strategies tailored to athletic coaches’ specific work environments.
50. Dysphonia In Band Directors
Brianna Bass
Faculty Mentor: Shanon Brantley
The intense vocal demands that high school marching band directors face during rehearsals and performances alongside the physical aspects of teaching wind instruments could lead to a voice disorder, specifically dysphonia. Research supports the idea that teachers and musicians experience dysphonia, however specific studies on marching band directors are lacking. Contributing risk factors include poor acoustic environments in the classroom and outdoor rehearsal and performance further amplify their vocal load. Fifty band directors from a southern U.S. state will be recruited through convenience sampling, using emails obtained from professional networks and high school websites. Participants must be between 22 and 65 years old and actively involved in a full-time marching band. Exclusionary criteria include anyone who has received
treatment for voice disorders during the marching season (MayNovember) or who works part-time. Participants will fill out the voice handicap index and a demographic survey through Qualtrics, an electronic survey platform. The data will then be entered into SPSS run a t-test to compare gender and one-way ANOVAs for broader comparisons correlating dysphonia and vocal habits.
51. Could Someone Really “Break” Your Heart?
Ashley Smelser
Faculty Mentor: Jessica Cooper
Could someone really “break” your heart? Research shows that Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy presents as left ventricular ballooned appearance. This clinical syndrome is referred to as “Broken Heart Syndrome” because it is brought on after intense emotion or physical stress happens to the patient. As a Cardiovascular Interventional student working in the Cath lab, we do not see many of this diagnosis. However, this particular syndrome presents like acute coronary syndrome, which is a treatment that is performed in the Cath lab with fluoroscopy. While the death rate for a broken heart is extremely low compared to the other severe cardiac related diagnosis, it is extremely intriguing to learn why it could ever be possible to break your heart. Throughout this research study it has a concentration on how and if your heart could really be broken. This topic was chosen to be presented at Create-At-Astate because the human heart is such a powerful and interesting muscle. This particular syndrome has been referenced before in tv shows and movies, but this researched study is to find out what the actual disease or diagnosis a patient could receive.
52. Exploring The Functional Cranial Anatomy Of Palaeognathous Birds Via Micro-CT Visualizations
Troy Ford
Faculty Mentor: Todd Green
Birds are anatomically unique in that they contain abundant cranial pneumatization. These air-filled spaces are particularly pronounced in avian taxa with cranial ornaments. For example, the surface of the skull in modern cassowaries is dorsally expanded and sheathed in a thin layer of keratin. The function of this structure, known as a casque, is unknown; however, it is suggested to participate in vocal resonation. If this biological role is plausible, we hypothesize a patency between the nasal sinuses and internal casque space. No detailed anatomical studies have tested this proposed functional hypothesis. Here, we use micro-CT imaging to reconstruct internal cranial anatomy in an ontogenetic series of southern cassowaries. We also compared nasal sinus morphology to closely related palaeognathous birds: emu, greater rhea, and North Island brown kiwi. The resulting models show no patency between
the nasal sinuses and internal casque space, suggesting there is no anatomical means for the casque role as a resonator. Instead, the nasal sinus morphology is similar to other palaeognaths in our study. Because cassowary casques do not appear to enhance vocal resonation, future studies can focus on other potential biological roles of the casque in cassowaries and ornaments of other birds.
53. Fertility Preservation For Women Undergoing Radiation Therapy
Avery Free Faculty Mentor: Jody Nutt
Fertility preservation has become a substantial consideration for women undergoing radiation therapy treatments, specifically for women who are diagnosed with cancers that involve radiation treatments to their pelvic and abdominal regions. Radiation therapy is the use of high-energy radiation to kill cancer cells by damaging their genetic material and to prevent the tumors from growing or spreading. The use of radiation can compromise fertility for women by damaging the ovaries, tissues, and eggs and causing hormonal imbalances. Before starting treatment, a woman needs to become an advocate for her future by reviewing fertility preservation options and curating a team that dedicates themselves to preserving her fertility. The use of cryopreservation, ovarian transportation, fertility-sparing, hormonal treatments, and exploration of other options such as adoption, egg donors, and surrogates are a few ways women can explore their fertility preservation options. With the usage of literature reviews and case studies of published studies, this research project will explore these fertility options and how the cost, insurance, and mental/physical health of a woman play crucial roles in the preservation journey as well as the future of fertility preservation options.
54. Cervical Cancer And Its Effects On Fertility
Kyla Hallman
Faculty Mentor: Jody Nutt
Cervical cancer presents significant health risks for women, profoundly affecting fertility and reproductive choices. This study explores its impact on fertility and examines modern fertility-preserving treatments. While cervical cancer can hinder natural conception, advancements in reproductive medicine provide hope. Fertility-sparing procedures such as cold knife conization (CKC), loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP), and radical trachelectomy offer potential solutions, though their success rates and associated risks vary. This research evaluates the reproductive, obstetric, and oncological outcomes of these treatments, weighing the delicate balance between fertility preservation and cancer management. Statistical data from sources like the American Cancer
Poster Session Abstracts
Society (ACS) provide insights into diagnosis rates, patient demographics, and treatment efficacy. Additionally, the effects of radiation therapy on fertility are analyzed. While continuous research expands reproductive options for cervical cancer patients, concerns such as cancer recurrence and treatmentrelated complications remain. This study aims to offer a comprehensive overview of fertility-preserving strategies, fostering informed discussions on balancing cancer treatment and reproductive health.
55. The Use Of LDR In Neurodegenerative Diseases
Megan Hewitt
Faculty Mentor: Jody Nutt
THE USE OF LDR IN NEURODEGENERATIVE DISEASES
Around 50 million people across the globe have a form of dementia, with nearly 10 million new cases each year. People living with this disease have limited options for relief. Many approaches have been taken to alleviate symptoms, and radiation therapy has shown to be a promising advancement. Radiation therapy is traditionally used to treat cancer with high dosages, however, the use of low dose rate radiation therapy has shown to be beneficial in caring for those with neurodegenerative diseases. This literature review evaluates studies that have been performed with different fractionation schemes in order to test this theory and determine the most effective treatment plan. Using cognitive function tests and scans 6 and 12 months post-treatment, they found improvement in their quality of life with a treatment of around 300 cGy total due to a reduction in extracellular and intracellular deposits within the brain. While further research is needed, current advancements in LDRT have shown to be a favorable treatment for improved standard of living.
56. Radiation Therapy For Arthritis
Erica Phillips
Faculty Mentor: Jody Nutt
For this research project, a literature review was conducted to evaluate radiation therapy for arthritis and the longterm improvement of mobility compared to other forms of arthritis treatment. Joint pain, swelling, and stiffness are the main indications of a chronic condition known as arthritis. Traditional treatment methods for arthritis include over-thecounter pain relievers, heat and cold therapy, gentle exercise, joint immobilization with splints or braces, massage, weight management, assistive devices like canes, corticosteroid injections into affected joints, physical therapy, or even surgery. Radiation therapy could benefit those who would like a different approach before deciding to receive corticosteroid
injections into affected joints, physical therapy, or even surgery. Areas in the body that can be treated with radiation therapy include the ankles, knees, hips, shoulders, wrists, and hands. Radiation therapy treatments are fast, generally, you receive three treatments per week for three weeks. Radiation therapy treatments are easy, this is a non-invasive treatment. Radiation therapy treatments are safe, there are many safety principles in place including ALARA (as low as reasonably achievable). Published studies show reduced joint pain, reduced swelling, and reduced stiffness giving patients moderate to long-term improvement of mobility after radiation therapy treatment.
57. Carbon Ion Radiation Therapy
Susan Romero Faculty Mentor: Jody Nutt
Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States and is expected to become the top cause by 2030 due to the aging population. Carbon Ion Radiation Therapy (CIRT) represents a major advancement in treating cancers resistant to conventional radiation therapy. This literature review will examine CIRT’s development, mechanisms, clinical applications, and comparisons to proton and photon therapies. CIRT causes significant DNA damage that overwhelms cellular repair, allowing lower radiation doses and fewer sessions while sparing healthy tissue. Particle accelerator research in the 1930s led to the first operating CIRT facility in Japan in 1994. Today, 15 centers operate in Asia and Europe, with more under construction. Although CIRT research began in the United States, the country does not currently have a facility due to high costs. Interest in constructing a CIRT facility is just beginning in the United States. Clinical trials highlighted here demonstrate CIRT’s effectiveness in treating central nervous system cancers, lung cancers, gastrointestinal cancers, sarcomas, and more with improved local control and survival rates. While promising, further research is needed to optimize treatment protocols and to increase accessibility. CIRT holds significant potential to improve patient outcomes, especially for those concerning radioresistant tumors.
58. Molecular Jackhammers
Emma Shields
Faculty Mentor: Jody Nutt
Molecular Jackhammers is a new treatment technique used to kill cancer cells. They work by attaching to cancer cells, mechanically vibrating the cells, and, with the use of infrared light, killing the cancer cells by necrosis. The research done has found a new way to use plasmons mechanically to benefit healthcare. Texas A&M University, Rice University, and the University of Texas-MD Anderson Cancer Center started the research over molecular jackhammers. They tested molecular
jackhammers on mice with melanoma, on vitro human melanoma cells, and other various vitro cancer types. Molecular jackhammers were 99% efficient in killing cancer cells in vitro and 50% of mice that were treated in study became cancer free. Molecular jackhammers are able to treat 4 inches deep into the skin. MJHs treat cancer cells inside bones and organs without damaging the surrounding tissue. The likelihood of the cancer cells developing a resistance to the molecular mechanical forces is extremely low. Molecular Jackhammers are in the research stage and are not being used clinically on humans yet. Molecular Jackhammers are a safe; low cost way to kill cancer cells. Molecular Jackhammers are paving the way to a new way to treat cancer by mechanical means.
59. How Genetics Play A Role In The Response To Radiation Therapy
Collin Steele
Faculty Mentor: Jody Nutt
Radiation therapy is an important treatment for cancer, but people react to it in different ways because of their genes. This research project, which is a literature review of articles from the Frontiers in Oncology, looks at how a person’s genes affect how their body responds to radiation therapy and why this is important for personalized cancer treatments. This project reviews research on how changes in certain genes and certain cancers can make someone more sensitive or resistant to radiation. It also discusses how other factors, like changes in DNA and the tumor environment, can influence how radiation works. This project explains through case studies that if someone has problems with certain genes, like BRCA, their body may not repair itself as well after radiation, making them more sensitive. New tools, like the Genomic Adjusted Radiation Dose (GARD), help doctors adjust the radiation dose based on a person’s genes to make treatment more effective. This project shows that understanding a person’s genetics can help doctors make cancer treatments safer and more effective, leading to better results for each patient.
60. Cold Cap Therapy For Chemotherapy-Induced Alopecia
Sadie York
Faculty Mentor: Jodi Nutt
Chemotherapy uses strong drugs to kill cancer cells rapidly within the body. These drugs also attack healthy cells, like hair follicles, which leads to hair loss. Cold Cap therapy uses a cooling device placed on the patient’s head during treatment that stays at a temperature 32 degrees below Fahrenheit. The cold restricts blood flow to the hair follicles, reducing the amount of chemotherapy drugs that get into the follicles, making them less susceptible to damage. The most common cold caps are DigniCap and Penguin. The devices can be
attached to a computer that maintains the temperature of the cap or have ice packs that must be switched out periodically to keep them frozen. This literature review aims to discuss the positive results of cold cap therapy. There are also challenges with the cap: insurance does not cover the cost, some patients experience side effects, and the cap must be worn for an extended period. As research on this continues, it is hoped that the cold cap can become more accessible and affordable, offering relief from the emotional strain of hair loss for cancer patients.
61. Stress And Resilience In A-State College Of Nursing And Health Professions Students
Ashlyn Mclain, Tristen Harrison, Jenna Berry, Chelsey Gibson Faculty Mentor: Amy Shollenbarger
Purpose: The purpose of this project was to investigate stress and resilience in College of Nursing and Health Professions (CNHP) undergraduate and graduate students at Arkansas State University.
Method: Participants included 276 students – 196 undergraduates and 80 graduate students across 8 programs in the College of Nursing and Health Professions. After IRB approval, primary investigators in a senior-level Research in Communication Disorders class visited various classes in CNHP, briefly explained the study, and passed out a packet with a consent form, the Perceived Stress Scale-10 (PSS10), and the Brief Resilience Scale (BRS). Participants signed the consent form, filled out the scales, and returned the documents to the primary investigators.
Results: Comparison of PSS10 scores between UG (M=2.35, SD=.34 and G students (M=2.27, SD=.27) were not significant (t(275)=1.72, p=.087). Comparison of BRS scores between UG (M=3.28, SD=.69) and G students (M=3.66, SD=.71) were significant (t(275)=-4.1, p=<.001).
Male students (n=41) showed significantly greater resilience when compared to female students (n=236; t(275)=3.25, p<.001); however they were similar in levels of stress (t(275)=1.29, p=.09)
Conclusion: UG and G students showed similar levels of stress. Graduate students and male students showed significantly higher levels of resilience compared to UG students and female students.
62. Effect Of Hippotherapy On Bradykinesia In Parkinsons
Laura Dacus, Micah Lancaster, Camryn Essary Faculty Mentor: Rachel Wilkins
The purpose of this case study is to identify the effects of Hippotherapy on Bradykinesia in a patient with Parkinson’s
Poster Session Abstracts
Disease. Hippotherapy is a researched based therapy involving equine movement to improve physical, occupational and speech skills. The assessments used to test bradykinesia was a Finger Tapping Test to assess quick finger movement. The patient was seen for four weeks with a 30-minute hippotherapy session each week. During this session, the patient underwent strength conditioning, balance and coordination activities, and quick hand and arm movements while on horseback. Although the patient did maintain function in other areas of assessment, the patient’s bradykinesia did not improve over the four treatment sessions. It is believed that if the span of treatment time were longer than four weeks the patient would have improved. Variables outside of the studies control led to a four-week trial. The main goal was to prevent progression of bradykinesia symptoms, this goal was met when comparing pre and post outcome measurements.
63. Effects Of Hippotherapy In A Child With Mucolipidosis IV
Sarah Shepherd, Ashlan Bobo, Lexie Sides, Alexis Mandry
Faculty Mentor: Rachel Wilkins
This study evaluated the effects of hippotherapy on a pediatric patient with Mucolipidosis IV, a rare genetic disorder characterized by intellectual disability, impaired coordination of motor and cognitive activities, reduced muscle tone, corneal clouding, and progressive retinal degeneration. Hippotherapy, derived from the Greek word hippos (horse), is a therapeutic intervention that uses the rhythmic, multidimensional movement of horses to achieve specific physical therapy goals, distinguishing it from traditional horseback riding. The subject’s baseline function was assessed using the Gross Motor Function Measure-88 (GMFM-88) and the Peabody Developmental Motor Scales-2 (PMDS-2). The intervention consisted of seven 30-minute therapy sessions targeting posture, core strength, visual tracking, dynamic reaching, and dynamic balance reactions while on horseback, conducted in a covered barn. Post-intervention assessments revealed a one percent overall improvement in functional outcomes, highlighting the potential benefits of this treatment approach. Future research should explore the effects of increased treatment duration and frequency to better understand the therapeutic potential of hippotherapy for individuals with Mucolipidosis IV.
64. Thiazole Compounds, A Potent Candidate To Address MRSA Infection
And Antimicrobial Resistance
Shailesh Budhathoki, Subrata Roy
Faculty Mentor: Mohammad Alam
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) bacteria, particularly methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), represents a critical global health threat, responsible for thousands of
infections and deaths annually. To address this issue, we synthesized a library of thiazole derivatives and evaluated their potential as novel antibacterial agents against antibioticresistant bacterial strains. The antibacterial activities of these compounds were assessed in vitro through minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) assays, biofilm inhibition tests, and evaluation of anti-persister effects. Additionally, lead compounds were screened for bactericidal activity and resistance against drug-resistant strains. The In vivo efficacy and toxicity were examined using Caenorhabditis elegans and mouse models.
Our results revealed that several thiazole derivatives exhibited potent antibacterial activity against drug-resistant grampositive bacteria, with MIC values as low as 1 µg/mL. The lead compound demonstrated significant biofilm inhibition and was able to disrupt pre-formed biofilms. Furthermore, the lead compound exhibited strong bactericidal effects against persister cells of S. aureus, surpassing the efficacy of conventional antibiotics. Also, lead compound exhibited low toxicity and successfully rescued C. elegans and mouse model from MRSA infection.
These findings highlight the promising therapeutic potential of thiazole derivatives as effective agents against antibiotic-resistant infections. The lead compound demonstrate strong bactericidal activity, antibiofilm, and anti-persister effects, positioning thiazole derivatives as promising candidates for combating MRSA and other resistant gram-positive bacterial infections.
65. Veterinary Implications Of Forelimb Vasculature In A Savannah Monitor (Varanus Exanthematicus)
Kelsey Morris
Faculty Mentor: Jason Bourke
Monitor lizards are popular exotic pets. It is important for veterinarians to have access to accurate anatomical data to effectively treat ailments in these lizards, but limited studies of monitor lizards have made this challenging. We used the Avizo program to visualize the vascular system in the forelimbs of a Savannah monitor and compared its vasculature to more common (humans, dogs) and more closely related (geckos and birds) animals. We hypothesized that the arterial tree would be conserved due to their common ancestry. We observed common vascular patterns between the monitor and other animals, highlighting their shared evolutionary development. Our results support a conserved developmental pathway for the major vessels in monitor lizards. However, smaller vascular branches did show relevant pathway differences (e.g., the interosseous artery) that were only found in other lizards. Based on our results, we suggest that veterinarians can rely on better studied mammals as a general guide when targeting major arteries
for injection, ligation or cannulation, but they must turn towards data from other lizard species when targeting smaller arteries and should incorporate ultrasound and fluoroscopy to determine individual vessel placement. Our results help lay the foundation for better treatments of captive monitor lizards.
66. Building A Toolbox For Assessing Plastic Degradation By Waxworm Saliva And Salivary Enzymes Expressed In A Bacterial System
Marin Hirata
Faculty
Mentor: Maureen Dolan
Galleria mellonella larvae (waxworm) has shown significant potential in plastic degradation, capable of breaking down plastic waste faster than conventional methods. While earlier studies attributed this process to microbial organisms in waxworm gut, recent findings revealed the role of salivary enzymes in waxworm larvae ability to degrade low-density polyethylene (LDPE). Specifically, two salivary enzymes from waxworm, Demetra and Cibeles, form a heterocomplex of 3:3 trimer and are thought to be responsible for LDPE oxidation in the biodegradation process. The Waxworm Project Team investigates the effects of different diet treatments on the expression of waxworm salivary enzymes. To test the impact of different diets on plastic degradation, three tools were developed that includes: 1.) standardized saliva extraction procedure, 2.) microplate assay for normalizing salivary protein amounts, and 3.) expression and purification strategy for two of the leading waxworm salivary enzymes using an E.coli host system. Western immunoblotting results confirmed the presence of the 81kDa proteins, indicating the successful expression of these two enzymes. Ongoing efforts, in collaboration with our Engineering team, are aimed at comparing the surface changes to LDPE when exposed to extracted waxworm saliva versus bioengineered enzymes, and exploring the two lead enzymes association and functional activity as a heterocomplex.
67. Assessing The Impact Of Waxworm Larval Diet On Successful Plastic Biodegradation.
Mishka Jeevan
Faculty Mentor: Maureen Dolan
Plastics are cost effective, versatile and have a wide range of applications, causing a worldwide explosion in plastic consumption, associated with a 230-fold increase in production over the last 70 years. This surge has raised concerns regarding increased greenhouse gas emissions and environmental pollution from improper disposal. Due to plastic’s durability and resistance to degradation alternative solutions are needed to mitigate its environmental impact. A promising solution to this crisis involves the natural ability of Galleria mellonella larvae (waxworm). These natural pests of beehives can
chemically convert low-density polyethylene (LDPE) into ethylene glycol. Research suggests both salivary enzymes and gut microbiome contribute to this biodegradation process. To better understand the molecular mechanism of this phenomenon, waxworms were subjected to different natural and processed diets to systematically categorise the effect of salivary enzymes on their ability to biodegrade plastic. Natural beeswax diets (broods and virgin wax) have different nutritional values compared to processed beeswax which affects the success rate of plastic breakdown. Key analytical metrics, including waxworm mass, diet consumption and plastic ingestion, were evaluated. The findings from this preliminary study will help determine the impact of diet on waxworm salivary protein profiles in providing insights into optimizing biological plastic degradation.
68. Comparison Of Low-Density Polyethylene Plastic Types On Plastic-Eating Waxworms Health And Behavior
Daria Sulatskova Faculty Mentor: Maureen Dolan
The increasing accumulation of plastic waste is a significant concern. Plastic materials do not decompose naturally and therefore pollutes the environment. To solve this problem recent studies have shown a waxworm larvae (Galleria mellonella) can biodegrade certain types of plastic. Our research team is interested in studying the effect of waxworm diet on their health, behavior, and ability to biodegrade plastic. In this study two groups of larvae (50-60 mg), individually housed were fed a processed beeswax diet for 7 days. Waxworms were then transferred to dishes containing either Ziplocbag (mixed LDPE, +/- 0.33g) or pure LDPE (+/- 0.33g) for additional 5 days. To compare the impact of these two plastics on waxworm larvae health and behavior, larval mass, diet and plastic consumption and developmental progression were recorded and will be presented. In addition, larvae were slow frozen for future RNA extraction from salivary glands to analyze key gene expression related to plastic degradation. This research aims to identify health or behavior changes in waxworms based on plastic type and generate samples for future gene expression analysis in contributing to a deeper understanding of the molecular mechanisms this organism uses to biodegrade plastic.
69. Assessing Black-Spot Disease In Benthic Stream Fishes Over 50 Years In North-East Arkansas
Austin Bailey
Faculty Mentor: Brook Fluker
Freshwater fishes often exhibit black-spot disease, caused by the encystment of trematodes which burrow into the fish’s body. The fish’s immune response forms melanin deposits to infection sites resulting in distinctive black spots on the body. Little is
Poster Session Abstracts
understood of the prevalence and consequences of black-spot disease on stream fishes. This study focused on evaluating the prevalence of this disease and its relationship to body condition for two benthic fishes, Rainbow darters (Etheostoma caeruleum) and Stonerollers (Campostoma spp.) over a 50year period in Myatt creek, a tributary of the Spring river in Arkansas. Historical specimens of both species from the 1970s were obtained from the Arkansas State University Museum of Zoology, while contemporary specimens were sampled from the wild in 2024. Specimens were measured for standard length (SL), weighed, and analyzed for black-spots relative to body condition. Preliminary results from the historical samples suggests infection rate differs between the species, with both species showing different relationships of infection rate and body condition. Contemporary samples will be analyzed and compared to the 1970s collections. This comparison will provide a better understanding of black-spot disease for stream fishes, as well as a unique look at potential differences in blackspot infections over time.
70. Evaluating Historical And Contemporary Rates Of Black-Spot Disease In Fishes In An Arkansas Stream
Thomas Naylor and Austin Bailey Faculty Mentor: Brook Fluker
Black-spot disease is often observed in freshwater fishes and is the result of trematode larvae that encyst themselves into the skin and fins of host fishes. Little is known about the impact of these trematodes on small stream fishes, but the fish serves as an intermediate host in the trematode life cycle. The immune response from the host fish is to deposit melanin around the trematode, causing a black spot to appear resulting in the name black-spot disease. This project focuses on understanding aspects of black-spot infection for three mid-water dwelling fishes in a northeast Arkansas stream: Northern Studfish (Fundulus catenatus), Ozark Minnow (Miniellus nubilus), and Bleeding Shiner (Luxilus Zonatus) over a 50-year period. Specimens of these species collected in 1975 were obtained from the Arkansas State University Museum of Zoology (ASUMZ) and modern samples were collected from the same stream sites in May 2024. Specimens were weighed, measured for standard length, and quantified for black spots to compare the relationship between body condition and prevalence of black spots among species and between time periods. Our results will provide baseline information on black-spot disease for these three species and will provide a unique opportunity to test for differences or similarities in infection rate over a 50-year period.
71. Using Nuclear Genomic Data To Resolve Taxonomic
Uncertainties: A Case Study Of The Least Darter, Etheostoma Microperca.
Brian Okwiri
Faculty Mentor: Brook Fluker
Taxonomy of the Least Darter, Etheostoma microperca, remains unresolved. This is despite previous studies, both morphological and genetic, suggesting that this species may represent a species complex containing undescribed biodiversity. We used RAD (Restriction-site Associated DNA) to genotype individuals representing the populations across species range and used the data to construct a phylogeny and assess the genetic composition of the species. Our results confirmed that E. microperca is a species complex consisting five distinct lineages. The population genomics of the 5 clades was also explored and found to differ according to their range. We conclude that nuclear genomic data is more robust and can be used to resolve taxonomic uncertainties from morphological data and single locus DNA data. We also recommend the description and elevation of the 5 clades recovered in this study within the E. microperca species complex. Finally, we suggest revising the conservation classification, specifically the risk assessment, of the individual clades.
72. The Spatial Ecology Of Coccidia In Arkansas Freshwater Snails
Julia Pye, Taylor Fiedor and Maria Bollinger
Faculty Mentor: Kyle Gustafson
Coccidia are parasites that can infect and cause significant disease in nearly all vertebrate and invertebrate animals. For example, coccidiosis commonly leads to death of poultry and causes substantial economic losses to agricultural businesses, including in Arkansas. Snails are important intermediate hosts affecting the distributions of parasites important to wildlife, domestic animals, and humans. Research in the Ozark and Ouachita Mountains in Arkansas evaluated the intensity and prevalence of coccidia in several species of snails. Out of the snails surveyed, Physa (i.e., bladder snails) and Planorbella (i.e., ramshorn snails) were the only species to have coccidia infections. My proposed research is to conduct the first broadscale study of Pfeifferinella coccidia in Physa and Planorbella snails to note the prevalence and intensity of coccidia. My project will conduct the first statewide systematic survey of coccidia in Arkansas, focusing on hosts known to serve as hosts. From this study, we will be able to understand how coccidia infection prevalence varies across spatial scales
and among aquatic habitats. This research is a critical first step for finding coccidia to use in experiments to test the effects of coccidia infections on snail health and population dynamics.
73. Revolutionizing Diabetes Management: A Cost-Effective And Eco-Friendly Glucose Sensor Powered By CornDerived Enzymes
Ezekiel Mccain
Faculty Mentor: Anahita Izadyaar
Diabetes, a prevalent and chronic condition, demands innovative solutions for effective management. we introduce a novel, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly glucose sensor utilizing corn-derived enzymes. Designed to provide accurate and convenient glucose monitoring across a wide concentration range, the sensor addresses the critical need for effective diabetes management by enabling early intervention and better glycemic control.
Elevated blood glucose levels associated with diabetes pose severe risks to vital organs and systems, underscoring the importance of consistent monitoring, healthy lifestyle choices, and medication adherence. Despite the availability of various glucose sensors, barriers such as cost, accessibility, and user comfort persist, limiting widespread adoption.
This sensor empowers individuals with diabetes to make informed decisions by providing real-time blood sugar insights, paving the way for improved health outcomes. Comprehensive preclinical evaluations ensure that this innovative sensor meets the highest standards of performance and reliability, offering a transformative solution to combat the growing diabetes epidemic.
74. Ultraviolet Absorption Studies Of Fe In A LIBS Plasma
With A Tunable Picosecond Laser
Bimal Khadka, Kambree Jackson, Cesar VargasPe
Faculty Mentor: Jeffrey Johnson
To study the LIBS plasma as a function of time after the ablating pulse we synchronized two lasers with an adjustable delay between the ablation and absorption pulses. The absorption measurements were made with a Fabry Perot interferometer developed in-house with an adjustable gap to optimize the resolution. The absorption lines that we studied were in the ultraviolet. To create the tunable light needed for the absorption measurements we produced tunable visible light in an optical parametric oscillator followed by amplification and second harmonic generation for ultraviolet light at the desired wavelengths. The 1064 nm laser was used to ablate the Fe
sample to create the LIBS plasma. The absorption spectral line in ultraviolet was passed through the LIBS plasma to study the Fe absorption. The LIBS measurements were done in a chamber with a noble gas at a reduced pressure to narrow the absorption linewidth of the expanding plasma.
75. Measurement Of Iron And Cadmium Absorption In The LIBS Plasma By Resolving Narrow Absorption Spectral Linewidth Using Fabry-Perot Interferometer
Bimal Khadka
Faculty Mentor: Jeffrey Johnson
Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) is used to identify the sample’s elemental composition. Each element has a unique emission/absorption spectral line that gives it’s identity. Our team has measured the absorption of the Iron and Cadmium in the LIBS plasma plume at 228.724 nm and 228.802 nm respectively using absorption spectroscopy. The absorption spectral lines were in the order of picometer. The CCD would not read the spectral lines that narrow which required a powerful technique to resolve the narrow spectral line. The fabry-perot spectroscopy was designed to resolve the spectral absorption line for Iron and Cadmium. The resolving power was in the order of the picometer which was needed for our measurement. The spectroscopy design was followed by the two fabry-perot plates highly reflective on one side and partially reflective on the other side. The two highly reflective surfaces were facing each other allowing light to pass through the other partially reflective surfaces. The laser bounced back and forth through the highly reflective surface creating a path difference that caused the interference pattern to form. This experimental design created a high finesse interference pattern which helped in distinguishing the narrow linewidth of the absorption spectral line.
76. Short Range Interactions Between The Taud Protein And Taurine, A Case Study
Jeremy Garcia, Adem Behi
Faculty Mentor: Hideya Koizumi
Taurine is an essential sulfur-containing amino acid derivative involved in important biological processes, including brain function, eye health, and neurotransmission. One key protein that interacts with taurine is TauD, an enzyme found in Escherichia coli. TauD catalyzes the conversion of taurine into sulfite and aminoacetaldehyde using iron and alphaketoglutarate as cofactors. Understanding how TauD binds to taurine and interacts with other molecules provides insights into its function and potential applications in medicine and biotechnology. In this study, we used computational
Poster Session Abstracts
simulations to explore how taurine binds to the iron-free form of TauD. Our results highlight key interactions that contribute to the stability of the binding process, such as electrostatic attractions between taurine and the enzyme’s active site. The new knowledge we are gaining about TauD will have possible applications into bioremediation and antibiotic development.
77. Computational Biology And High-Throughput Phenotyping To Accelerate The Development Of Drought Tolerant Rice
Bishnu Prasad Joshi, Alexander Flores, Tatyana Herrien, Merone Kebede, Ali Abdel-Karim, Ravi Chaudhary, Reinier Gesto Borroto, Suxing Liu, Mariano Alvarez Faculty Mentor: Argelia Lorence
Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is an important crop for human nutrition. Rice consumption is increasing globally, and sustainable rice production is a concern, because this crop requires massive amounts of water to grow. Arkansas is the main producer of rice in the US and approximately half of its groundwater is used for rice irrigation. The overall goal of our study is to identify rice varieties with higher yield potential under water limitation conditions. We are achieving this goal by combing computational biology and high-throughput plant phenotyping approaches. Using machine learning-based genomeenvironment association analysis of >1,400 rice landraces, we identified 40 rice accessions as potential leads for drought tolerance. We are studying those leads via two phenomics platforms. First, we analyzed the phenotype of the seeds of those 40 rice accessions grown under well-watered conditions using a LemnaTec Scanalyzer HTS system. Next, a Raspberry Pi-powered phenotyping system was set up in the greenhouse of the Arkansas Biosciences Institute at A-State. The system was validated after acquiring RGB images of rice var. Kitaake, growing under normal and water limitation conditions, and analyzing the images using the SMART algorithms. Our next steps will include phenotyping plants of the 40 rice accessions growing under normal and water limitation conditions, and validating the leads using gene-editing approaches.
78. Characterization Of Arabidopsis Lines Over-Expressing Enzymes In The Myo-Inositol Pathway To Ascorbate Using Phenomic Approaches
Rachael Wilson, Alexander Flores, Reinier Gesto-Borroto Faculty Mentor: Argelia Lorence
Vitamin C (aka ascorbic acid, ascorbate), widely recognized for its role in enhancing the human immune system and the prevention of scurvy, is a powerful antioxidant that in plants is crucial for stress tolerance, growth, and development. Abiotic stressors including drought can be combatted by ascorbate functions in increasing photosynthetic efficiency, scavenging
excess reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulated during stress, and serving as a cofactor for the synthesis of phytohormones involved with stress response. While humans exclusively obtain vitamin C via consumption of fruits and vegetables, plants are equipped with a metabolic network for ascorbate production that includes four pathways. One of these, the myo-inositol (MI) pathway was discovered by Dr. Lorence and her collaborators. There are four enzymes that participate in the production of ascorbate using myo-inositol as a precursor: myo-inositol oxygenase (MIOX), D-glucuronic acid reductase (GlcUR), gulonolactonase (GNL), and L-gulono-1,4 lactone oxidase (GulLO, formerly GLOase). The Lorence Laboratory has generated Arabidopsis plants over-expressing each of these enzymes. This study is the first side by side comparison of these over-expressers grown in a fully controlled environment with 85% soil saturation (peak performance saturation for Arabidopsis) and 50% soil saturation to induce mild drought conditions. We will present results on the detailed phenotypic characterization of the MIOX, GlcUR, GNL, and GulLO Arabidopsis lines via high throughput phenotyping approaches, in combination with in planta ascorbate content, photosynthetic efficiency measurements, and seed yield analysis. Our results indicate that over-expressers of enzymes in the MI pathway exhibit resilience to mild drought conditions compared to wild-type controls. This analysis will inform crosses we plan to develop to examine the effect of gene stacking in providing improved abiotic stress tolerance and seed yield in crops in the face of water scarcity.
79. Leveraging Computer Data Science And Biology For Genotype-Environment Association In
Wild Sugarcane
Runa Hasegawa
Faculty Mentor: Santosh Magar
The intersection of data science and biological research enables novel insights into genotype-environment associations, advancing our understanding of climate-driven genomic adaptation. This study integrates computational data science with ecological genomics to assess the impact of climatic variables on the genomic architecture of sugarcane (Saccharum spontaneum and S. officinarum types) using R programming. Whole-genome resequencing data from 17 Floridian individuals were obtained from “The Marsico Lab” for downstream statistical analysis.
Utilizing R-based statistical methods, 19 bioclimatic variables were extracted from occurrence records, and collinearity was assessed using Variance Inflation Factor (VIF) to select four uncorrelated climatic predictors (bio5, bio9, bio12, and bio14). Redundancy Analysis (RDA), a multivariate ordination technique, was applied to identify genotype-environment associations, revealing that bio5 (Maximum Temperature of
Warmest Month) and bio12 (Annual Precipitation) significantly influenced genetic variation. The RDA plots demonstrate distinct clustering between S. spontaneum and S. officinarum, suggesting adaptive differentiation driven by climate.
This study underscores the power of R programming in integrating high-dimensional genomic and environmental datasets, bridging computational data science with evolutionary biology. Our findings contribute to predictive modeling for climate adaptation and inform conservation strategies for wild sugarcane under future climate scenarios.
80. Anti-Inflammatory Activity Of An Isoflavone-Rich Extract From Pigeon Pea Hairy Root Cultures In RAW 264.7 Macrophages
Salma Abdel-Karim, Gaurav Gajurel Faculty Mentor: Fabricio Medina-Bolivar
Inflammation is the biological defensive response to injury or infection, but research shows that chronic inflammation is linked to diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and diabetes. Although several anti-inflammatory drugs exist, many can have serious side effects, making it imperative to explore alternative therapy options such as the use of bioactive isoflavones in pigeon pea. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antiinflammatory activity of an isoflavone-rich extract from pigeon pea hairy root cultures. The cytotoxicity of this extract to RAW 264.7 macrophages was initially tested to establish a non-toxic dose. Subsequently, lipopolysaccharide-stimulated macrophages were exposed to the isoflavone-rich extract at nontoxic concentrations of 5 µg/mL and 10 µg/mL. The amount of nitrite in each sample was then quantified to evaluate the antiinflammatory activity of the extract. The results showed that the isoflavone-rich extract displayed significant anti-inflammatory activity at both 5 µg/mL and 10 µg/mL. Further research will involve comparing the anti-inflammatory activity of the isoflavone-rich extract to equimolar concentrations of individual isoflavones and examining the changes in gene expression in this inflammation pathway. This study underscores the need for continuing research into pigeon pea isoflavones and isoflavonerich extracts as potential anti-inflammatory supplements.
81. Comparative Evolution Of Mitochondrial Genomes In Closely Related Species Of Lice From The DegeeriellaComplex
Salma
Abdel-Karim, Therese Catanach Faculty Mentor: Andrew Sweet
Mitochondrial genomes (mitogenomes) are essential for eukaryotic cell function and thus are typically highly similar across many eukaryotic groups. For example, most animals contain a single, circular mitochondrial chromosome about 16,000 base pairs long with 37 genes in a similar order.
However, some parasitic lice contain highly variable fragmented mitogenomes with many different gene arrangements, yet how rapidly this variation evolves is unknown. To understand the rate of mitogenome evolution, we compared the mitogenomes of over 60 closely related species of lice primarily found on birds of prey (e.g., hawks). We assembled the mitogenomes from genomic sequence data using bioinformatics tools and annotated them to compare gene orders. Although we expected gene orders to be similar among these lice, our results showed a wide variation in gene order. Further analysis suggested the rate of gene rearrangements is not strongly correlated with the evolutionary history of the lice and that the structure of lice mitogenomes evolves at a much faster rate than previously thought. Our results further highlight that lice are a genetic anomaly among most animals, and future work is warranted to better understand the causes and consequences of the extreme variation in the mitogenomes of these insects.
82. A Transcriptomics And Proteomics Approach To Elucidate The Anti-Inflammatory Mechanisms Of Phenolic-Rich Extracts From Elicited Hairy Root Cultures Of Peanut And Pigeon Pea
Gaurav Gajurel
Faculty Mentor: Fabricio Medina-Bolivar
A transcriptomics and proteomics approach to elucidate the anti-inflammatory mechanisms of phenolic-rich extracts from elicited hairy root cultures of peanut and pigeon pea. Inflammation is an essential immune response, but when it becomes dysregulated, it can contribute to chronic diseases such as arthritis, cancer, and cardiovascular disorders. Plant polyphenols, like stilbenes and isoflavonoids, have demonstrated anti-inflammatory properties. This study investigates phenolicrich extracts from elicited hairy root cultures of peanut and pigeon pea. Stilbene-rich extract (SRE) and isoflavone-rich extract (IRE) were obtained by co-treating the hairy roots with elicitors such as methyl jasmonate, methyl-β-cyclodextrin, hydrogen peroxide, and magnesium chloride. The extracts, both individually and combined (SRE+IRE), were tested on lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages. Transcriptomic and proteomic analyses were conducted to uncover their molecular anti-inflammatory mechanisms. The results showed that SRE, IRE, and particularly their combination, significantly reduced inflammation markers like nitric oxide and interleukin-6. Gene expression analysis revealed the downregulation of major inflammatory pathways such as MAPK, RAP1, and JAK-STAT. Proteomic analysis further confirmed the suppression of inflammation-associated proteins. These findings suggest that phenolic-rich extracts from elicited hairy root cultures could act as natural anti-inflammatory agents with potential application as nutraceuticals. Funded by INBRE (P20GM103429 and R24GM137786).
Poster Session Abstracts
83. Establishment And Elicitation Of Specialized Metabolites In Hairy Root Cultures Of Soybean (Glycine Max)
Saydul Karim
Faculty Mentor: Fabricio Medina-Bolivar
Soybean, a legume crop, is well known not only for its oil and protein content, but also for the diverse array of specialized metabolites it produces. Among these, isoflavonoids stand out because of their structural diversity and bioactive properties, which have potential applications in human health. However, the production of these compounds from soybean field cultivation has various limitations like seasonal variation and low yield. To overcome these limitations, this research aimed to establish soybean hairy root cultures as a bioproduction platform for isoflavones. To this end, Agrobacterium rhizogenesmediated hairy root induction was carried out from different explants. Among them, cotyledons showed the highest root induction after 15-25 days of inoculation with A. rhizogenes. To induce isoflavone production, the hairy root cultures were treated for 192 h with a combined elicitor mixture, including methyl jasmonate, methyl-β-cyclodextrin, hydrogen peroxide, and magnesium chloride. The isoflavones genistein and daidzein were identified in extracts from the elicited culture medium using HPLC. Ongoing studies are focused on identifying the additional induced metabolites. This study emphasizes the potential of soybean hairy root cultures as a sustainable and ecofriendly platform for isoflavonoid production.
84. Elicitation Of Prenylated Stilbenes In Hairy Root Cultures Of Peanut
Jasmin Reyes, Amit Kumar Shrivastava, Amit Raj Shama Faculty Mentor: Fabricio Medina-Bolivar
Prenylated stilbenes, such as arachidin-1 and arachidin-3, are valuable compounds produced in peanut upon fungal infection. Interestingly, these compounds are of significant interest due to their health-beneficial properties, including anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. The focus of this study is to develop a sustainable bioproduction system for arachidin-1 and arachidin-3 using hairy root cultures of peanut. Initially, the cultures were elicited with methyl jasmonate, cyclodextrin, hydrogen peroxide, and magnesium chloride, and aliquots of the culture medium were collected between 48 and 192 hours and analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography. Notably, as elicitation progressed, the culture color transitioned from light yellow to dark yellow, indicating an increase in compound accumulation in the medium. In the elicited groups, the average concentrations of arachidin-1 increased from 61.96 mg/L at 48 hours to 309.25 mg/L at 192 hours. Similarly, arachidin-3 concentrations rose from 23.01 mg/L at 48 hours to 121.52 mg/L at 192 hours. Building on these findings, ongoing
studies aim to further enhance prenylated stilbene production by co-treating the cultures with the elicitors and the metabolic precursor phenylalanine. This study provides deeper insight into combining precursor supplementation and elicitation strategies to maximize the yield of bioactive stilbenes in peanut hairy root cultures.
85. Elicitation Of Specialized Metabolites In Hairy Root Cultures Of Angelica Gigas
Amit Kumar Shrivastava Faculty Mentor:
Fabricio Medina-Bolivar
Angelica gigas (Korean angelica) is a medicinal plant known for its bioactive coumarins, which include anti-inflammatory, anticancer, and neuroprotective characteristics. Hairy root cultures provide a reliable technique for augmenting metabolite production via elicitor-induced stress. To this end, hairy roots of A. gigas were established via Agrobacterium rhizogenesmediated transformation and various culture media and elicitors were tested to optimize root growth and metabolite production. Culture media (MSMN, MS, and B5) were tested with and without naphthalene acetic acid (NAA). After 16 days of culture, B5 and MSMN media devoid of NAA exhibited optimal root growth, while NAA facilitated callus formation and suppressed root development. To induce metabolic production, 50-day-old cultures were co-treated with the elicitors methyl jasmonate, cyclodextrin, hydrogen peroxide, and magnesium chloride. HPLC analysis of the culture medium after 192 hours of elicitation indicated the presence of several metabolites, including the bioactive coumarin decursinol angelate. These compounds were not present under non-elicited conditions. The findings underscore the value of A. gigas hairy root cultures for producing known and novel bioactive compounds with applications in human health.
86. Assessing Innate Immune Function In Three Species Of Arkansas Turtles
Isabella Davis, Jennifer Terry
Faculty Mentor: Lorin Neuman-Lee
The reptilian immune system is poorly understood and few studies have made intraspecies comparisons. To address this gap, innate immune function across four conspecific freshwater turtle species was evaluated. Red-eared sliders (Trachemys scripta elegans), Mississippi Mud Turtles (Kinosternon subruburm hippocrepis), and Eastern Mud Turtle (Sternotherus odoratus), are found throughout the southeastern United States and represent different ecological niches and life histories. In spring 2024, male and female aquatic turtles were caught using hoop nets and blood samples were taken to assess immune characteristics. Microbial killing assays were conducted using multiple blood serum treatments (fresh serum vs. frozen) as
well as three microbes that activate specific immunological responses: gram positive (Staphylococcus aureus), gram negative (Escherichia coli) and a fungal (Candida albicans). By using this suite of microbial assays differences in immune prioritization can be observed across species and between sexes. Conducting intraspecies comparisons in immune function can provide valuable insight into the underlying patterns of physiological variability within wild organisms.
87. Comparing Leucocytes Between Captive And Wild Caught Nerodia Rhombifer
Macey Powell, Natalie Haydt
Faculty Mentor: Lorin Neuman-Lee
Reptiles emphasize innate immune responses, making them valuable models for studying innate immunity. Despite their potential for immune research, little research has examined immune function in reptiles, making it necessary to find suitable study models. Watersnakes (Nerodia rhombifer) are an ideal candidate model species for immune research due to their natural abundance and large body sizes. The resulting large blood volume enables accurate identification and quantification of leukocyte populations using flow cytometry, a first step in establishing a model organism. In addition to establishing leukocyte populations in wild watersnakes, it is critical to demonstrate how captivity may influence leukocyte populations. To assess immune function in captive watersnakes, we performed flow cytometry on blood samples from wildcaught and captive Nerodia rhombifer in Northeast Arkansas and compared leukocyte population sizes. Using flow cytometry, we quantified and compared lymphocytes, heterophils, and azurophils. Comparing leukocytes between captive and noncaptive watersnakes can shed light on whether captivity induces a chronic stress response that affects immune function. This research will help researchers understand the impact of captivity on immune function in captive Nerodia rhombifer while also establishing a baseline model for reptilian immunity that can be used for comparative studies across species.
88. Comparing Baseline And 30-Minute Corticosterone Levels In Between Two Common Water-Snake Species In Arkansas
Destiny Taylor
Faculty Mentor: Lorin Neuman-Lee
Corticosterone is an energy mobilizing hormone associated with ecological stressors such as food deprivation or predation, though it is also shown to be an important mediator for immune function and reproductive success. Although its impact has been well studied in mammals and birds, it is heavily understudied in reptiles. Snakes in particular provide a novel method of studying corticosterone responses due to
their ectothermy and low-metabolic needs. Furthermore, corticosterone levels in snakes are known to vary by species, sex, ecotype and more, further providing more opportunities for research. My study seeks to examine corticosterone in two common species of water-snakes native to Arkansas, the diamondback water-snake (Nerodia rombifer) and the plainbellied water-snake (Nerodia erythrogaster). Blood samples that were taken at both immediate capture and 30 minutes after capture and were examined for corticosterone concentration using enzyme linked immunosorbent (ELISA) methodology. The study aims to evaluate the hypothesis that corticosterone levels will significantly increase for both species in the same manner after 30 minutes of capture. This research will help to understand if there are difference responses to stress of capture between species.
89. Managed Aquifer Recharge Using An Infiltration Gallery System In The Cache River Critical Groundwater Area
Justin Vestal
Faculty Mentor: John Nowlin
The Mississippi Alluvial Plain (MAP) is a major agricultural region in the production of water-intensive crops such as corn, soybeans, cotton, and rice. Substantial demand for irrigation water has caused significant declines in the Mississippi River Valley Alluvial Aquifer (MRVAA) which led to the designation of the Cache River Critical Groundwater Area (CRCGA). A natural confining layer limits recharge in the CRCGA which has compounded into a cone of depression. These conditions allowed for the construction of an infiltration gallery (IG) system, a form of managed aquifer recharge. An IG is a subterranean trench with a porous fill that is excavated to the top of the aquifer to facilitate the infiltration of surface water into the water table. A water distribution system pumps water from a farm-scale reservoir into the IG from November – April when agricultural production does not require its use. Water quantity and quality are analyzed from the reservoir, through the IG, and into the aquifer. Three full injection periods have occurred, beginning in 2021 but injection volumes have not corresponded to significant improvement in the groundwater level in the study area. Water quality has been maintained throughout the life of the project.
90. Novel RNA Mechanisms Of Aging Hypothyroid Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction
Olivia Sloan, Sankalpa Chakraborty, Gourav Chakraborty, Skylar Orr
Faculty Mentor: Viswanathan Rajagopalan
Heart Failure with preserved Ejection Fraction (HFpEF) is a widely prevalent and highly lethal geriatric disorder with complex comorbidities including hypothyroidism. Long
noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs; ncRNAs>200 nucleotides) are key regulators contributing to the majority of the functional transcriptome. However, the role of lncRNAs in aging thyroid hormone (TH) dysfunction in HFpEF is unclear. Employing wild-type control, lean-ZSF1 control, and obese-ZSF1 rat HFpEF model at 5-month (mo; n=66; early), 13-mo (n=27; moderate) and 20-mo (n=15; severe) age groups, we performed cardiac ultrasound, morphometrics, hormonal assays, microarray, real-time-qPCR, inflammation array and in-vitro siRNA knockdown, and analyzed using ANOVA and t-tests. We had shown that obese-HFpEF rats were significantly hypothyroid and hypertrophic (normalized heart weights and suggestive histology) compared to age-matched controls (p<0.05). Among numerous differentially regulated lncRNAs (p<0.05; FDR<0.05), several of which have human orthologs, three unique lncRNAs were significantly upregulated in qPCR only in older age HFpEF hearts (p<0.05). Knockdown of these key lncRNAs in rat cardiac cells significantly (p<0.05) improved cell survival following Angiotensin-II-induced or Lipopolysaccharide-induced stress (with or without TH). Sik1 and Anxa13 mRNA expression and cardiac and serum inflammatory cytokine profiles were significantly altered in HFpEF (p<0.05). Our findings provide novel diagnostic and therapeutic potential for life-threatening HFpEF.
91. Identifying Genetic Mutations In Streptococcus Mutans Required For Biofilm Formation And Tooth Attachment
Cara Pirani and Graysen Jones
Faculty Mentor: Robert Shields
Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans) is a pathogen commonly found in the human oral cavity that plays a central role in the development of dental caries, or tooth decay. This pathogen thrives on the sugars consumed in the diet, contributing to the breakdown of tooth enamel, especially in the presence of poor oral hygiene. S. mutans produce a glycosyltransferase enzyme that converts sucrose into the polysaccharide glucan. Glucan allows the pathogen to attach to the enamel of the tooth and begin metabolizing the sugar on the teeth, resulting in lactic acid. The acid trapped under the biofilm layer lowers the pH of the tooth, ultimately demineralizing the enamel and decaying the tooth. Previous research within the Shields lab isolated ninety samples that were determined to have a mutation contributing to decreased biofilm formation. Fifteen of these samples were randomly genome sequenced to determine that several different genomic loci were essential for biofilm production. With the intent to further the research done by our colleagues, our project is aimed at determining which of the samples known to be biofilm defective have intact gtfBC (glucosyltransferase (GTF) binding complex) genes, which are critical for S. mutans biofilm formation. We are accomplishing this through DNA extraction followed by genomic analysis
through PCR and gel electrophoresis. Once the biofilmdefective mutants with gtfBC bands are isolated, we intend to use genome sequencing to identify which genetic insertions across these mutants are required for S. mutans to attach to the tooth surface. This research retards caries formation and will greatly improve oral health for all people.
92. Prevalence And Species Identity Of A Nematode Parasites From Grouse And Ptarmigan In Alaska
Anahi GarciaValdez Faculty Mentor:
Andrew Sweet
Grouse and Ptarmigan (Aves: Galliformes: Tetraonini) are birds that can carry different nematode parasites found in their tissue. One such parasite is Splendid filaria pectoralis. These parasitic worms can infect the birds’ muscles, brain, heart, eyes, and GI tract. The nematode has been known from birds in southern latitudes for many decades, but infected birds have recently been discovered in more northern latitudes near the Arctic Circle. The focus of this project is to test for the presence of S. pectoralis in different species of birds from Alaska, including Ruffed Grouse, Sharp-Tailed Grouse, Willow Ptarmigan, White-tailed Ptarmigan, and Spruce Grouse. The two primary questions are 1) What is the species identity of this nematode? and 2) How prevalent is the nematode in birds in different regions of Alaska? We extracted DNA from individual birds using tissues from birds harvested by hunters throughout Alaska. We tested for the presence of S. pectoralis using PCR with unique primers and 2% agarose gels. Based on these results, we calculated prevalence for different regions of Alaska. We also obtained DNA sequence data from a few samples of the adult nematode. Based on genetic data, we found evidence that S. pectoralis from Alaskan grouse and ptarmigan are a unique lineage compared to previous sequences from birds outside Alaska. We also found high variation in the prevalence of S. pectoralis across Alaska, including relatively high prevalence in more northern regions. These results suggest the nematode continues to increase in more northern climates, perhaps related to climate change.
93.
Interaction
Between Fusarium Virguliforme And Bradyrhizobium Japonicum: Insights From In Vitro
Antagonist Testing
Mahesh Sanjeewa Kumara Bamunusingha Arachchilage, Kipa Tamrakar, Zach Rikard, Winston Miller
Faculty Mentor: Asela Wijeratne
Soybeans are a major cash crop, contributing over $40 billion (about 0.7% of GDP) to the U.S. economy. Soil microorganisms play a key role in influencing soybean yield and quality. In particular, beneficial interactions with nitrogenfixing bacteria such as Bradyrhizobium provide about 50% of
the nitrogen needed for soybean growth. However, pathogenic microorganisms such as Fusarium virguliforme, the causal agent of sudden death syndrome (SDS), pose a significant threat to soybean production leading to considerable yield loss. However, our early study showed that reduction of the Bradyrhizobium abundance upon infection with F. virguliforme in soybean rhizosphere soil (soil near vicinity of roots) potentially impairing nitrogen nutrition and increasing susceptibility to diseases. To evaluate the interaction between F. virguliforme and B. japonicum, an in vitro antagonist assay was performed using five B. japonicum strains in a dual-culture system. Radial growth of F. virguliforme was measured in four directions and compared between dual-culture and control plates. After one week of co-culture, no statistically significant difference in radial growth was observed (N=3; t-test; p > 0.05), indicating no direct antagonistic effect between F. virguliforme and B. japonicum in vitro. Further studies will examine these interactions in planta and soil.
94. Using Protoplasts To Understand Soybean Immunity Against Soil Borne Pathogens
Sachini L. Kamburugala Kankanamalage Faculty Mentor: Asela Wijeratne
Soybean (Glycine max) is a major U.S. crop, generating over $40 billion annually, yet soil-borne pathogens cause yield losses exceeding 10 million tons. Current management strategies have limited success, making it crucial to understand the molecular mechanisms of immune response during pathogen attack. While gene-editing tools like CRISPR/Cas9 can help study gene function in soybean immunity, progress is slow due to transformation challenges. Therefore, we aim to develop a cell wall-free protoplast culture system for rapid functional gene validation during soybean immunity.
To assess the feasibility of using protoplast systems for genome editing validation, we designed a CRISPR/Cas9 construct targeting two immune response genes identified in our previous studies and this construct was transfected into soybean protoplasts isolated from 10-day-old seedlings. After a 48-hour incubation, we extracted DNA, amplified the target regions, and sequenced the amplicons using Nanopore long-read technology. Initial results indicate that this system is a viable platform for studying immune response gene function. Moving forward, we will enhance this by triggering immune responses with bacterial-expressed effector genes to investigate gene function. These advancements will help establish protoplasts as a powerful tool for rapid functional validation of immune response genes in soybean, enabling more efficient crop protection strategies.
95. Using Native Soil Bacteria To Protect Soybean Plants From Pathogens
Zach Rikard, Kipa Tamrakar, Mahesh Bamunusingha,
Winston Miller
Faculty Mentor: Asela Wijeratne
Fusarium virguliforme causes Sudden Death Syndrome and poses a significant threat to soybean yield and quality, costing U.S. farmers billions of dollars. Management strategies rely on fungicides and tolerant cultivars. Beneficial microbes are increasingly recognized for their potential to enhance plant xdisease tolerance. A previous study found that certain soils can suppress SDS, likely due to microbiota. Preliminary data indicates that SDS-tolerant cultivars inhibit pathogen growth by recruiting bacteria in the family Bacillaceae, but the exact identities of species (or combinations thereof) suppressing SDS remains unclear. This study aims to culture soil bacteria, identify them using next generation sequencing, and assess their ability to suppress F. virguliforme. Soybean cultivars were grown in soil samples collected from Arkansas State University and Iowa State University agricultural fields. The rhizospheres were extracted at two timepoints. Serially diluted rhizosphere soil samples were used to culture bacteria, which were identified using marker gene sequencing. We identified 21 species from 47 bacterial isolates we sequenced. We will then use antagonistic testing in vitro and in vivo to determine its effectiveness against the pathogen. Our findings could greatly impact industrial agriculture, reducing the need for harsh fungicides, leading to higher yield, better quality soybean crops.
96. Production Of GPI-Anchored Nerve Growth Factor In Tobacco Plants And BY-2 Cells
Daniela Flores
Faculty Mentor: Jianfeng Xu
Nerve Growth Factor (NGF) is a neurotrophin essential for neuronal growth, survival, and function. It plays a critical role in synaptic plasticity, nerve regeneration, immune responses, and other physiological processes. NGF exerts its effects through the TrkA receptor, promoting neuronal survival, while its interaction with the p75 receptor can trigger apoptosis, contributing to neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s in the absence of TrkA expression. Therapeutic applications of NGF have been explored in treating cutaneous and corneal injuries, leading to clinical trials investigating its broader potential. This study aims to develop a plant-based production platform for the cost-effective synthesis of recombinant NGF. To enhance its production and therapeutic properties, NGF is engineered with a C-terminal SP30 glycosylation module and a glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) anchor. The hydroxyprolineO-glycosylated SP30 module improves the solubility of the fused growth factor, while the lipid-based GPI anchor facilitates intracellular trafficking, glycosylation, and membrane
attachment. These modifications are expected to enhance NGF’s stability, neuronal targeting, and neuroprotective effects, making it a more effective treatment for neurodegenerative diseases. To achieve this, gene constructs encoding NGF-SP30GPI and NGF control are generated in plant expression vector pGFPPlus through In Fusion cloning. Agrobacterium-mediated transformation, including both transient and stable expression, is performed in tobacco plants and BY-2 cells. Protein expression is confirmed via Western blot analysis, followed by purification and bioactivity testing in neuronal cells. This research provides a scalable plant-based platform for producing a modified NGF with enhanced stability and efficacy, offering a promising strategy for neurodegenerative disease therapy.
97. Establishing Elite Tobacco BY-2 Cell Lines For HighYield Recombinant Protein Production Through 2A Peptide Mediated Co-Expression With A Reporter Protein
Shekoofeh Sadravi and Paula Perez Sanchez Faculty Mentor: JIANFENG XU
Tobacco BY-2 cells offer a cost-efficient system for recombinant protein production but suffer from genetic instability, leading to inconsistent protein yields. To stabilize expression, researchers link the target protein gene to a fluorescent reporter protein gene on the same T-DNA, ensuring co-expression in cells. This allows real-time tracking of protein levels via fluorescence during subculturing. However, our investigations revealed a key limitation: when the target protein (e.g., EPO) and the reporter protein (e.g., GFP) are expressed from separate transcriptional units on the same T-DNA, their expression levels often lack correlation or may even exhibit an inverse relationship. This inconsistency undermines the reliability of using the reporter protein as a proxy for target protein expression. To overcome this limitation, we developed a single-gene cassette strategy, wherein the target protein and reporter protein are co-expressed under the control of a single promoter and linked by a 2A selfcleaving peptide. The 2A peptide facilitates ribosome skipping during translation, enabling the production of two distinct proteins from a single mRNA transcript. The strategy yielded a strong and consistent correlation between the expression levels of the two proteins, providing a reliable and efficient method for screening and maintaining high-expression cell lines over the long-term.
98. Investigating CAP1 (Cyclase-Associated Protein 1) Functions In Schwann Cells And Their Regulation By Cyclic AMP
Jarna Karmoker and Matthew Goodwin Faculty Mentor: Dr. Guolei Zhou
The peripheral nervous system relays signals between the central nervous system and rest of the body, and peripheral
nerve injuries (PNIs) and neuropathies can cause permanent neurological deficits. Schwann cells (SCs) are myelinforming cells essential for neuron function and PNI repair. CAP1 (Cyclase-Associated Protein 1) regulates the actin cytoskeleton, cell adhesion, migration, and proliferation. Moreover, we previously discovered that cAMP induces CAP1 dephosphorylation to control the downstream cell functions. While cAMP is crucial for SC function and myelination in the PNS, underlying mechanisms remain largely unknown. Mechanistic insights into CAP1 functions in SCs and especially their regulation by cAMP may open up avenues for novel therapeutic strategies. We silenced CAP1 in SCs through RNA interference, and detected remarkable alterations in the activities of Rap1 and ERK (External signal - Regulated Kinase), key regulators of cell adhesion and proliferation, as well as that in cofilin. Thus, CAP1 also fulfills fundamental functions in SCs that are critically important for the role of SC in neurons. Furthermore, activated cAMP signaling also induced CAP1 dephosphorylation in SCs. Importantly, it also stimulated Rap1 and ERK. Thus, our findings support that CAP1 mediates upstream cAMP signals to control important functions for SCs and PNI repair.
99. Angular Scanning Method For Efficient Maximum Power Point Tracking
Saikot Dadon
Faculty Mentor: Mahmudul Hasan
Solar energy is a promising alternative to fossil fuels, offering a renewable and environmentally friendly power source. However, its efficiency in energy conversion remains a critical challenge. Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) technologies are crucial in optimizing solar panels’ power output by dynamically adjusting voltage and impedance to match varying environmental conditions. Traditional MPPT algorithms, such as Perturb and Observe (P&O) and Incremental Conductance (INC), have limitations in handling fluctuating irradiance and temperature conditions and high costs. This paper proposes a novel Angular Scanning Method (ASM) that eliminates the need for external voltage, current, or conductance measurements, simplifying MPPT implementation while maintaining high efficiency. The ASM algorithm leverages mathematical analysis of the I-V curve to identify the Maximum Power Point (MPP) with minimal computational resources. Simulation results in MATLAB/Simulink demonstrate that ASM achieves an efficiency of up to 99.99% in ideal conditions and at least 99.5% under variable irradiance. Compared to conventional MPPT techniques, ASM provides a costeffective and computationally efficient solution for solar energy systems. Future research will focus on implementing ASM in a physical MPPT controller to validate its performance in real world applications.
100. Student Steel Bridge Competition
Hannah McLaughlin, Ethan Perkins, Connor Lowery, Mohammad Raja Faculty
Mentor: Jason Stewart
The AISC/ASCE Student Steel Bridge Competition challenges teams to design and construct a steel bridge capable of supporting a 2,500-pound vertical load while adhering to strict constraints on dimensions, connections, and construction procedures. Our team tackled this challenge by modeling multiple bridge designs in RAM Elements, evaluating each based-on deflection, sway, construction time, weight, and overall constructability. Through repetitive analysis and optimization, we selected the most effective design to balance structural efficiency and assembly feasibility. The final design minimizes deflection and sway while maintaining a lightweight, easily constructed structure. Factors of safety were incorporated throughout the design process to enhance reliability and increase the chances of success during fabrication. Extensive testing and refinement ensured the bridge met all competition requirements while optimizing performance. This project not only tested our engineering and problem-solving skills but also reinforced practical applications of structural analysis and design principles, preparing us for real-world engineering challenges.
101. Sustainable Solutions
Nicholas Widmer, Brian Williams, Cymber Arnold, Luke Keen, Logan Catton, Kyle Greene Faculty Mentor: Jason Stewart
The Arkansas State University project team has developed a site plan for the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Sustainable Solutions Competition. This project aims to convert a five-story office building into a vibrant mixed-use residential complex, integrating sustainable design principles and advanced engineering solutions. The design prioritizes energy efficiency, stormwater management, and the use of sustainable materials by incorporating recycled and locally sourced materials to reduce environmental impact. The plan follows zoning regulations, building codes, and safety standards to ensure long-term sustainability and compliance, based on Jonesboro City Codes. By balancing economic viability, environmental responsibility, and community engagement, the site plan sets a model for future urban redevelopment projects that prioritize sustainability and affordability.
This development will have a positive impact on various aspects of the community, including economic growth, social wellbeing, environmental sustainability, and urban reconstruction. It will boost the local economy, increase property values, and promote sustainability. The project includes calculations of the effects of sustainability features on the environment,
construction details such as earthwork, and an estimated cost. Additionally, a 3D visualization of the site plan, created with SketchUp, showcases the final design. This project represents an investment in a functional, environmentally responsible, and cost-efficient future.
102. Mind The Gap
Odette Henry Faculty Mentor: Lilli Fears
The dynamic range of artificial intelligence (AI) is stimulating much excitement for its human-machine applications. This study examines the role of AI messages in political persuasion. AI campaign videos, images, and audio recordings use persuasion strategies to sway voters. A selection of 2024 campaign artifacts from the US Presidential race have been analyzed according to Aristotelian rhetorical strategies – ethos, pathos, and logos. Aristotle declared that they play a key role in political persuasion and can be manipulated. The findings support his position and indicate that most 2024 AI campaign messages are partisan, manipulative, and contrived. AI campaign messages integrate rhetorical strategies that generate affective messages. Results show AI messages use celebrity credibility and high emotional appeals to persuade and likely divide voters. Theoretical and practical implications also are discussed.
103. Adversarial Autoencoder Networks For Effective Batch Effect Removal For Gene Expression Studies
SachleenSingh FNU
Faculty Mentor: Asela Wijeratne
RNA-seq has revolutionized gene expression analysis, becoming more affordable and accessible. This has generated numerous datasets for biological systems across various conditions, creating valuable resources for studying cellular responses and mechanisms.
However, when RNA-seq experiments are conducted in separate batches, systematic technical variations—known as batch effects—can obscure true biological signals. While current correction methods exist, they often compromise biological variation or require detailed metadata. We developed an adversarial autoencoder that removes these batch effects while preserving essential biological information.
Unlike previously published adversarial deconfounding autoencoders (AD-AE), which address tissue-specific gene expression, our method targets batch correction to improve cross-experimental comparisons.
Applying our model to six independent soybean (Glycine max)
Poster Session Abstracts
RNA-seq studies (n=186), the model improved the consistency of gene expression data across studies, clustering similar samples together more effectively (silhouette score: 0.58 compared to 0.17 in raw data), confirming successful batch effect removal.
We will further refine our model by using simulated data and compare it with existing tools.
This is the first application of adversarial autoencoders for batch effect removal in soybean RNA-seq, enabling more accurate cross-study analyses and deeper insights into gene regulation.
104. Education On The CRNA Profession With An Emphasis On Diversity
Ahmed
Aden, Tapiwa Gwatura, Tommy Scott
Faculty Mentor: Virginia Baltz
Undergraduate nursing students often have limited knowledge about the Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) roles, which may limit their interest in this field. Key challenges include limited professional exposure and insufficient understanding of the educational and clinical pathways required to become a CRNA. This educational project aimed to bridge these gaps by providing targeted information to enhance knowledge, particularly among students from diverse and underrepresented backgrounds. According to the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (AANA, 2024), only 12% of the 61,000 practicing CRNAs represent diverse backgrounds, with just 3% identifying as African American. A quantitative approach was used to assess improvements in students’ knowledge of the CRNA profession through a singlegroup pre survey-post survey design. Data was collected from 22 participants using Google Forms, analyzed with Excel and STATA software, and examined using variance and unpaired t-tests at a 95% confidence interval and 5% significance level. The findings suggested that the educational intervention raised awareness of the CRNA profession. Nonetheless, no statistically significant difference was found for perceived barriers to diversity. Possible explanations include the small sample size and considerable variability in responses. The project emphasizes the need for additional educational interventions and support to raise awareness of the CRNA profession. Targeted educational intervention can effectively promote knowledge and interest, resulting in a more inclusive future workforce in nurse anesthesia.
105. Evidenced-Based Education To Anesthesia Providers On The Use Of Pregabalin For Anxiety In The Preoperative Area
Derik Viator, Dylan Hutto, Kyle Wilson Faculty Mentor: Virginia Baltz
Education was provided to anesthesia providers on pregabalin for anxiety in the preoperative setting. The use of benzodiazepines to treat anxiety preoperatively is common in clinical practice. Benzodiazepine use leads to multiple adverse outcomes, including postoperative delirium. Pregabalin is shown to effectively treat preoperative anxiety while also decreasing the incidence of postoperative delirium, especially in vulnerable populations. An educational curriculum to educate anesthesia providers on the use of pregabalin as an alternative for treating anxiety in the preoperative setting was developed. This included only licensed anesthesia providers and excluded all non-licensed anesthesia providers. Education took place at two hospitals in central Arkansas and one hospital in Northeast Arkansas. Pre-post tests were administered to measure the effectiveness of the education. The statistical instruments used to analyze the data collected from the pre and post-test were paired sample t-test and confidence interval testing. Pre-test averages were 67% and yielded a 95% confidence interval between 61%-73%. The post-test average increased to 92% with a 95% confidence interval of 89%-95%. The t-test gave a p-value of 0.00000000689 showing to educators that the null hypothesis was rejected and education was successful.
106. Physical Therapy Treatment For Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome
Alyssa Peretti, Christian Halvorsen Faculty Mentor: Jim Farris
Background: Medial tibial stress syndrome (MTSS), or shin splints, is a common overuse injury among athletes, military personnel, and active individuals. Despite various treatment options, optimal interventions remain unclear. This narrative review synthesizes evidence on physical therapy treatments for MTSS, including strengthening, biomechanical modifications, manual therapies, and preventive strategies.
Methods: A PubMed search (2008–2025) using terms (“Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome” OR “Shin Splints”) AND (“Physical Therapy” OR “Treatment” OR “Protocol”) yielded 126 studies, with 24 meeting inclusion criteria. Eligible studies included RCTs, systematic reviews, cohort studies, and clinical trials examining MTSS risk, treatment, and management. Interventions assessed included rest, activity modification, biomechanical corrections, strengthening, pain management, manual and regenerative therapies, compression, and return-tosport protocols. Outcomes measured included pain reduction, functional improvement, recovery time, and return-to-activity rates.
Results: Gait retraining with biofeedback reduces MTSS incidence in high-risk populations (75% risk reduction). Foot orthoses and shock-absorbing insoles decrease pain by 40-60%.
Extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) provides 30-50% pain relief and accelerates return to sport in chronic cases. Strengthening the gastrocnemius, soleus, tibialis posterior, and hip abductors improves biomechanical stability, reducing tibial loading and knee valgus. Manual therapies, such as instrumentassisted soft tissue mobilization (IASTM) and cupping, alongside regenerative therapies like prolotherapy, provide significant pain relief and functional gains. Prolotherapy reduces pain by 60% in chronic cases. Compression therapy and lowerleg bracing aid recovery, while structured training progression, footwear modifications, and gait retraining help prevent MTSS.
Conclusion: A multimodal approach combining gait retraining, orthoses, strengthening, and regenerative therapies is most effective for MTSS rehabilitation. ESWT and prolotherapy benefit chronic cases, while compression therapy and graded running improve load tolerance. Addressing biomechanical deficits, particularly hip abductor weakness, is key to preventing recurrence. Future research should refine standardized protocols and individualized rehabilitation strategies.
107. Analizing The Impacts Of Total Expenses, Weather, And Other Crops Upon Acres Harvested Of Major East Arkansas Crops
Lane Smith
Faculty Mentor: GwanSeon KIm
Farmers face many controlled or uncontrolled factors that directly influence crop production each year. These factors include, but are not limited to, input costs for planting, weather conditions during planting and the growing season, and different crop rotation from the previous year. The main objective of this research is to analyze how much each of these factors affects the harvested acres in East Arkansas from 1997 to 2022. Data for the harvested acres for each crop and total expenses were obtained from USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS). PRISM Climate Data was used for the weather data, including the average precipitation and temperature. By focusing on 26 consecutive counties in Arkansas’s delta region, regression analysis shows that a one dollar increase in total expenditure results in a 0.15 acres increase for soybean and a 0.30 acres increase for corn. In addition, one inch of rainfall significantly reduces rice acreage by 45,708 acres, on average, in these counties. The main contribution of this research is to provide a clear understanding of how much crop production and harvested acreage are affected by various factors, helping and preparing farmers to make better decisions for future planning.
108. Irrigation Management Practices To Improve Water Conservation In Arkansas Rice: Sustainability Metrics
Using The Fieldprint Calculator
Melissa A. Palumbo Faculty Mentor: Michele L. Reba
The Field-to-Market Fieldprint Calculator is a software tool designed to estimate relative sustainability of agricultural practices. This observational research compared three different irrigation management systems for rice production in Arkansas: furrow irrigation, multiple inlet rice irrigation (MIRI), and a recirculating tailwater system installed in a furrowed field. Considering management and site conditions, the Fieldprint Calculator was used to compare sustainability metrics to standards at various spatial scales in a spidergraph report.
Eight separate metrics were analyzed to produce the reports including greenhouse gas emissions, water quality and quantity, land and energy use, soil carbon and conservation, and biodiversity. Results showed no significant change in yield between the different irrigation methods. A notable reduction in greenhouse gas emissions was observed in furrow-irrigated systems, which utilized an irrigation conservation strategy that aerated the fields between irrigation events. In contrast, fields managed under the continuously flooded MIRI system reported higher emissions.
These findings suggest that strategic irrigation management practices may serve as an effective approach for mitigating greenhouse gas emissions in rice production while both maintaining crop yields and reducing irrigation water use. All three fields produced sustainability reports which fell well within the benchmarks set both at the national and state levels. (200 words)
109. Assessing Water Quality And Greenhouse Gas Emissions In On-Farm Storage Reservoirs
Malena Mondragon Faculty Mentor: Tina Teague
On-farm storage reservoirs play a crucial role in sustainable agriculture by capturing and storing water during the rainy season for efficient crop irrigation. This study focuses on on-farm reservoirs in the Cache and Grand Prairie regions of Arkansas, where efficient management of surface water is important due to diminishing groundwater resources. The research assesses greenhouse gas (-GHG) emissions—including methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), and carbon dioxide (CO2)—and evaluates water quality—including nitrogen, phosphorus, and soluble reactive phosphorus—to inform sustainable management strategies.
Thirty reservoirs, equally distributed between the Cache and Grand Prairie regions, were monitored throughout 2024. The GHG emissions were measured every three weeks, while water
Poster Session Abstracts
quality samples are collected every six weeks starting in June. This coordinated sampling approach provides a comprehensive assessment of both emissions and water quality changes. These findings will be stratified by reservoir characteristics including size, age, and levee protection offering insights into reservoir functionality, the transformation of potential contaminants, and management practices that reduce environmental impacts.
110. Fairness In Faith-Based Finance: Detecting Bias In AIDriven Recommendations
Seungho Jeon
Faculty Mentor: Hrishikesh Desai
Artificial Intelligence (AI) has become a transformative force across various industries such as publishing, healthcare, higher education, and finance, enabling advancements in automation, decision-making, and predictive analysis. However, these systems are not immune to inherited biases embedded in their training data and algorithms, which can lead to systematic inequities. Such biases become even more significant when applied to culturally sensitive fields like Islamic Finance, where compliance with religious principles creates unique challenges in implementing AI applications. For instance, representation bias arises when training datasets predominantly feature conventional financial practices, resulting in AI models misrepresenting or neglecting religious-compliant options. This negatively impacts the quality of AI recommendations and raises ethical concerns about inclusivity.
To address these challenges, this research examines the potential biases present in AI Large Language Models (LLMs), such as Chat GPT, by assigning them personalities based on real-world demographic and sociographic attributes to identify potential data and algorithmic biases. Drawing on the maqasid al-Shariah framework which emphasizes fairness, transparency, and harm avoidance (Ahmed, 2024), the research seeks to identify discrepancies in how AI models address financial advising scenarios in culturally nuanced contexts using a survey-based method. These outputs will then be compared with human responses to detect bias.
The findings aim to highlight existing bias in AI LLMs and in the future contribute to developing mitigation tactics. This work contributes to advancing the development of equitable and inclusive AI systems tailored for culturally specific domains, particularly in financial advising.
111. Nitrogen Credit From Peanut Residue In PeanutCotton-Cotton Crop Rotation In North-East Arkansas
Siddhart Singh
Faculty
Mentor: Steven Green
The sustainable management of nitrogen (N) within agricultural systems is important for optimizing crop yields, minimizing
environmental impacts (like smoke), and reducing dependency on synthetic fertilizers. Crop residues, particularly from legumes such as Arachis hypogaea (Peanuts), represent a significant source of organic N that subsequent crops can utilize. Understanding how these residues decompose and release N over time, particularly within specific crop rotations and soil types, is crucial for informed agricultural management practices.
112. Investigating Liquidity In High-Net-Worth Households
Oscar Gilbert
Faculty Mentor: Matthew Hill
Household liquidity has seen a great deal of study due to its relationship with consumer spending. In times of financial stress liquid assets provide a buffer for households to maintain their spending levels in the face of diminished income or an unexpected expenditure. Research on household liquidity has often focused on low-income households as they tend to have the most difficulty in acquiring and maintaining sufficient amounts of liquid assets. However, high-income households currently account for a much larger chunk of overall consumer spending and there is a sizeable contingent of households for whom spending is influenced by liquidity constraints despite holding sizeable amounts of illiquid assets. In this research I will investigate the factors that influence liquidity in highnet-worth households using historical data from the Federal Reserve’s Survey of Consumer Finances. I will also highlight the differences in patterns of liquidity between low-net-worth and high-net-worth households as well as consider the effects of demographic factors on liquidity within this group. Through this I aim to provide insights into the relationship between liquidity and spending among high-net-worth households and better understand the factors that determine the amount of liquid assets that they choose to hold.
113. The Evolution Of Household Liquidity Over The Period From 1992 To 2022
Pauline Gonzalez
Faculty Mentor: Matthew Hill
Financial stability and economic resilience are highly influenced by household liquidity, defined here as cash held in transaction and savings accounts. The current study aims to explore changes in household liquidity over the period from 1992 to 2022. The main objective is to better understand how significant events–such as technological advancements and global crises–have shaped households’ liquidity in the face of economic disruptions. Moreover, identifying patterns, influencing variables, and potential implications is critical to comprehend the impact on financial well-being and economic security. Therefore, we will review existing literature and use data from the Survey of Consumer Finance (SCF) to create a medianbased trend analysis for measures of liquidity.
114. The Incorporation And Use Of AI In The Business School Curriculum
Dante Didier Lopez Villegas
Faculty Mentor: H. Steve Leslie
Artificial intelligence has had a critical impact on enterprises by providing tools that change business operations, and, as a result, business education institutions are starting to incorporate AI into their curricula. The current literature review explores the impact of artificial intelligence in the business world and business schools to understand the existing state of AI in business schools. The research found that professors integrate AI tools into courses through lectures, case studies, and real-life simulations about AI and business concepts. Thus, students gain knowledge and enhance their technical and managerial skills, including critical thinking and decision-making. Students also know AI will benefit their future careers and increase employment opportunities. Furthermore, faculty must know how to use AI effectively, provide challenging tasks, and prioritize academic integrity. Finally, through curricula that integrate AI, students will be able to acquire the experience necessary to use AI, be competitive, and become ethical business leaders.
115. Measuring Firm-Level Climate Change Risk And Impact On Financial Decisions: A Copula-Based Analysis
Farjana Akter Swarna Faculty
Mentor: Nanying
Lin
This study proposes a novel measure of climate risk at the individual equity level. The prior literature has focused on measuring climate risks using methodologies such as textual analysis or estimating sensitivities. However, our measure proxies for the impact of climate changes on asset prices with a focus on tail events. We hypothesize that only extreme climate change can affect equity prices. In order to capture this effect, we rely on a method of the Gaussian Copula function, estimating a joint probability of a disaster of the firm and national temperature that happens simultaneously. Using collected data from 1984 and 2021 on climate change, we further empirically investigate the impact of equity-level climate risk on corporate decision-making and asset prices. Analyzing data from 1984 to 2021, we find that climate risk is negatively skewed across firms, indicating that extreme climate events disproportionately impact certain businesses. Industry-level variations reveal that trade and financial sectors face the highest climate risk, while manufacturing and transportation experience relatively lower exposure. Additionally, aggregate climate risk has risen significantly between 1984 and 2021. Finally, our empirical findings suggest that firm-level climate risk plays a crucial role in shaping corporate financial decisions. These
insights provide valuable implications for risk management, investment strategies, and policy interventions in the face of escalating climate challenges.
116. Data-Driven Insights Into Remote Proctoring
Akshita
Velagapudi, Aarav Adhikari, Brian Kileo
Faculty Mentor: Farhad Moeeni
This study investigates the effectiveness of Respondus LockDown Browser with Webcam in maintaining academic integrity in online assessments. Specifically, it explores the impact of the priority scores generated by Respondus, an AIdriven monitoring system on student performance outcomes. Respondus is expected to prevent cheating by restricting computer functions and recording test sessions, while its AI analyzes behaviors like suspicious movements and background distractions to flag potential violations. By examining the correlation between these priority scores and assessment results, this research aims to assess the effectiveness of automated proctoring in online learning environments, considering both its strengths and potential biases.
117. The Covid-19 Recession And Arkansas’ Labor Market
Kailani Haire, Miles Richard
Faculty Mentor: Huiqiang Wang
This study aims to explore impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on labor market in Arkansas. The pandemic has caused one of the worst global economic recessions since the WWII. Economic recoveries did occur shortly after lock downs were lifted. However, the economic impacts of this pandemic lasted a lot longer than we expected. For example, the pandemic seriously disrupted Arkansas’ labor market. More than temporary job loss and labor reduction, the pandemic also shocked the labor market with some long-term changes. In this study, we will examine the trend of unemployment rates in Arkansas compared with the national level before and after the pandemic in the US. For a case study, we are going to look at the changes of unemployment in Garland County, which hosts the famous Hot Springs National Park. Garland was one of those counties got hit worst at the early stage of the pandemic. Using the county as an example, the discussions will improve our understanding to the actual impacts of the recession and economic recovery afterward to local job market.
118. Student Perspectives On The Selection And Suitability Of Emotional Support Animal Species
Ella Speer
Faculty Mentor: Lauren Belt
Emotional support animals (ESA) are classified as any species of animal that provides cognitive benefits for individuals with
Poster Session Abstracts
mental health impairments (Ferrell, Crowley 2021, p. 561). ESAs differ from service and therapy animals because there are no restrictions regarding the specie selection (Ferrell, Crowley 2021, p. 561). Relaxed regulations on the specie of emotional support animals allow individuals the opportunity to choose any animal based on their perceived benefits (Pettable Staff, Fleming 2024). Laws protecting ESAs in housing have been erected that benefit university dorm residents. However, student perceptions of emotional support animal choice may limit students’ opportunity to experience all the benefits that ESAs have to offer. (Murnan 2018, p. 74).
This study will examine college students’ perceptions of different emotional support animal species and their impact on emotional well-being. The study will explore how various animals affect students with emotional impairments and how these effects translate to a dormitory setting. Additionally, the study will seek to understand students’ attitudes toward different ESA species, including their willingness to own, accept, or financially support their presence on campus. The study will analyze 300 Arkansas State University students’ response to 10 Likert scales and 6 demographics.
119. Understanding The Challenges Faced By Male International Soccer Players At Arkansas State University.
Emman Mfon
Faculty Mentor: Lance Bryant
This study investigates the difficulties encountered by male international soccer players at Arkansas State University, focusing on their academic, cultural, and social experiences. Through a survey of players from diverse countries, including Congo, Nigeria, Sudan, Uganda, and Zimbabwe, I identified significant difficulties such as balancing academic workloads with soccer commitments, overcoming cultural and language barriers, and coping with homesickness. The sufficiency of academic support services and mental health resources has been questioned, even though some athletes reported excellent contact with coaches and good support from teammates. The results highlight the necessity of focused initiatives to improve academic support, improve cultural integration, and expand mental health support for international student-athletes. By tackling these issues, Arkansas State University can establish a more welcoming and encouraging environment for its male international soccer players’ success on and off the field while also better supporting their overall growth and well-being. This study adds to the more extensive discussion about helping collegiate sports programs accommodate athletes from other countries.
120. Clothespin Vocabulary
Sydney Byrd and Taliah Ellison
Faculty Mentor: Ryan Kelly
This poster presentation incorporates a hands-on activity over the vocabulary concept, synonyms, and antonyms. The objective is for the student to be able to identify a group of vocabulary words, generate synonyms for each word, and give an exact definition of each word’s meaning. During the lesson, the students will have an unknown vocabulary word pinned on their back, and they will have to guess their word using clues from their partner, such as synonyms, antonyms, and a short definition of their word. Ideally, learners will be able to identify each vocabulary word, be able to generate a synonym and antonym with ease, and internalize a short definition of each vocabulary word. Ultimately, this student-led lesson will allow learners to engage in a kinesthetic activity featuring vocabulary and deepen their knowledge of synonyms and antonyms.
121. Teaching Sequence Of Events Through A Narrative Story
Makala Clayton, Malea Lack, Avery Cook
Faculty Mentor: Ryan Kelly
This poster presentation will demonstrate the skill of writing by using sequence of events. Students will be able to write a short and coherent narrative including sequence of events relating to their own personal experiences. Within the short narrative, students will be able to further demonstrate the skill of using precise language and giving relevant details. During the lesson, students will work on a sequence of events using a guided worksheet with keywords such as first, next, then, and last to demonstrate their understanding of details and time correlations. After completion of the lesson students will have the necessary knowledge and skills to complete a coherent sequence of events demonstrated through a short narrative. Ultimately, this lesson can help teachers and students understand that writing is a knowledge constructing process by building their knowledge of short narratives,f along with practicing connecting sequence of events.
122. Teaching Prewriting Strategies Through Collaborative Learning
Ashlyn Craig and Rachel Ivy
Faculty Mentor: Ryan Kelly
This poster presentation features a pre-writing strategy intended to help students examine opinions. The purpose of this lesson is to introduce students to opinion writing and the strategies needed, such as using logical reasoning and supporting details. Students will complete the lesson by creating a list of possible topics to write an opinion essay and use prewriting strategies
to draft opinions. During the lesson, students will analyze different techniques of prewriting with small groups and then work independently to complete the opinion pre-writing handout. This lesson will hopefully yield students with the ability to analyze facts and opinions and implement them into a prewriting strategy to create an opinion abstract. This lesson can be beneficial for students, allowing them to use critical thinking skills to form their own opinions based on logical reasoning. This lesson can be beneficial for teachers when analyzing material and aid students when using critical thinking skills and logical reasoning to form opinions.
123. Story Grammar Yammer
Milan Davidson and Susie Johnson
Faculty Mentor: Ryan Kelly
This poster presentation shows how story grammar can be an excellent vessel for comprehension instruction. In this lesson derived from the Florida Center for Reading Research (FCRR) students will identify narrative text structure (i.e. characters, setting, problems, events, solutions) as they grow in their understanding of narrative text structure. To open the lesson, students will be provided a text and a graphic organizer. Students will follow along as the teacher reads the text aloud. A class-wide discussion will follow, providing students the opportunity to expand their understanding with peers. Students will then complete the printed graphic organizer. After evaluation students should achieve 80% accuracy in identifying narrative text structure elements. Ideally students will build a foundation to practice comprehension strategies in a selffulfilling manner. This also provides the teacher with the chance to reflect on student progress as the class advances through the anchor text. Ultimately, this lesson helps teachers gauge student comprehension of narrative text structure and provides students with confidence in their ability to understand and work with content area materials.
124. Sentence-Picture Match: Using Sentence Strips With
Corresponding
Picture Cards To Imporve Comprehension Skills
Lily Deviney and Willow Carter
Faculty Mentor: Ryan Kelly
Can a picture truly tell a thousand words? Students will be able to identify key parts of a text-based on illustrations seen in pictures. The activity includes matching pictures to a sentence strip based on the actions seen/read using background knowledge and reading comprehension skills. Students first demonstrate sentence-to-picture matches as a class using background knowledge and reading comprehension taught beforehand. During the activity, students produce their matches in pairs with the pictures and sentence cards that
are supplied. This scholarly poster will inform the audience of how students learn to use comprehension skills and apply them. This lesson will hopefully result in students being able to comprehend sentences and match them with the correct images using background knowledge and inferencing. In conclusion, this lesson can provide teachers with the understanding of a foundation of student comprehension for future learning and critical thinking.
125. Teaching Advanced Vocabulary Through Engaging Instruction
Savannah Francis and Sadie Pool
Faculty Mentor: Ryan Kelly
This poster presentation describes introducing students to advanced vocabulary through the process of reading Chrysanthemum and then following with a fill in the blank activity to identify the meanings of these words in a new context. The teacher will choose four Tier 2 words to explicitly teach from the text where students will learn the definitions and different contexts of the words. After instruction, students will practice using these words in a sentence. The results of this lesson will hopefully produce context awareness with vocabulary words, as well as the ability to identify words to complete sentences. Ultimately, this lesson will help students to identify more advanced vocabulary, while at the same time help teachers instruct new vocabulary in a way that is engaging for students. This lesson aims to introduce more advanced vocabulary to students while also inspiring teachers to instruct in an engaging way.
126. Reading Comprehension Through A Game Of Jenga
Lauren Phillips and Faith Parks
Faculty Mentor: Ryan Kelly
The purpose of this poster is for students to comprehend a text after reading and to display that comprehension through a game of reading comprehension Jenga and will be assessed informally through an exit ticket. Students will determine the main ideas and supporting details of information after reading a text. Students will play a game of reading comprehension Jenga, where they will answer a question about the text after each pull of a block. Students will be informally assessed during the game and more formally through an exit ticket at the end of class. Ideally, students will be able to display accuracy of comprehension by at least 80% during the game and exit ticket. Ultimately this lesson is valuable to students and teachers alike because it builds upon the students reading comprehension skills through multiple avenues. It allows teachers to experiment with the use of a game in the classroom and broadens the scope of teaching through creativity and fun in the classroom.
Poster Session Abstracts
127.
Kyla
Teaching Contractions With Contraction Bingo
Pickett and Jana Jones
Faculty
Mentor:
Ryan Kelly
The purpose of this lesson is to introduce students to identifying contraction words by matching the meaning with bingo cards. Students will also take turns collecting the top card and reading the words out loud. During the lesson, students will be using bingo cards with different contractions, word counters, and word cards; they will use these contractions to complete the game. Once the lesson is completed, students will know how to identify these different contractions. The results of this lesson will hopefully help students have a good understanding of what contractions are and how they are used. In conclusion, this lesson can be very effective for enhancing and helping with word knowledge. This poster presentation describes student growth of knowledge of contraction words. Teachers will provide the information and allow the students to play contraction bingo for understanding. Teachers will also observe students after the game and make sure they are understanding contractions fully.
128. Investigate, Retell, Explore: Comprehension Quest
Megan Riggs and Olivia Moore
Faculty Mentor: Ryan Kelly
This poster presentation introduces students to discussions that exchange multiple viewpoints and ideas. This comprehension lesson allows students to discuss, listen, and question the story told in the comprehension process. During the lesson, students use prompt cards to help guide discussion, questioning, and analyzing. After completing the activity, students are assessed through a summarizing worksheet. After a discussion with peers, students will then pair up and use a retell story ring as an assessment. This includes questions that help retell the story through its elements. This lesson causes students to grow comprehension through different learning processes. Altogether, this lesson helps students more effectively grow comprehension; through this lesson, teachers improve student/teacher relationships and engagement and enhance student/teacher relationships and engagement.
129. Read-Write-Pair-Share Method
Camryn Tucker and Sophia Rogers Faculty Mentor: Ryan Kelly
Students learn more from group work and collaboration. You may ask, why and how does this fit into an elementary classroom? This information is so important to understand because the methods we teach either make or break out students’ understanding and using this method will increase comprehension. Students will be able to demonstrate reading
comprehension of texts by speaking and writing which is shared through collaborative conversation. Through the ReadWrite-Pair-Share method students will be assessed on their comprehension skills, peer collaboration and their writing skills. The teacher will engage students in this reading, while providing accommodations seamlessly for gifted and English language learners. The results of this lesson will end in student comprehension and ability to write about their understanding and answer questions about the reading, all while supporting student collaboration and the morale of the class. This is of value to students and teachers as it allows students to collaborate with their peers to gain knowledge and understanding of their reading. With this, teachers serve many students at once and allow the students to support their others, which commonly helps students when peers can explain things in terms they understand.
130. Impact Of Innovative STEM And Multimedia Enrichment Programs On Attitudes Towards The Fields
Autumn Goforth
Faculty Mentor: Karen L. Yanowitz
This research explores the impact of BRIDGE (Building Realworld Innovation and Development through Guidance and Education)- an innovative new STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) and multimedia program- on student attitudes towards the fields. The program allowed a group of 30 8th grade students to participate in hands-on STEM and multimedia courses on a college campus once a week.
This study utilizes a mixed-method approach consisting of quantitative and qualitative surveys to explore parent-perceived shifts in student attitude towards STEM/Multimedia after participation in the BRIDGE program.
Parent surveys were collected after the first semester of participation- out of 14 parent surveys, response data showed the following: When asked “My child enjoyed the experience of attending class at AState” on a Likert scale of 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree) the mean response rate was a 4.57. Additionally, when parents were asked whether they would recommend the program to other parents, the mean response was 4.71. One sample T-Tests showed significantly higher values than the neutral midpoint of the scale, p <.001.
Overall, data revealed a significantly positive attitude towards the program from parents, indicating a strong impact from the BRIDGE program and implying that innovative enrichment programs would be recommended by parents as a constructive experience for students within the education system.
131. How Gender Impacts The Perception Of High-School Dress Codes
Lynley Polsgrove
Faculty Mentor: Karen Yanowitz
This research study looked at gender differences in reaction to high school dress codes. It examined whether the gender of students played any role in how participants interpreted the policies, violations, and experiences with their dress codes in high school. Participants from the Introduction to Psychology course at Arkansas State University took a survey over the items of clothing on their dress code, dress code violations, the gender most impacted by the dress code, and personal impact/feelings towards dress codes. Additionally, participants completed the Ambient Sexism Inventory to examine levels of benevolent and hostile sexism as well as see if there was any connection between the gender of participants and sexism levels (Fiske & Glick, 1996). Finally, participants completed the Illinois Rape Myth Scale to measure the extent to which participants agreed with rape myths (Fitzgerald, Lonsway, & Payne, 1999). Results revealed a notable relationship between gender and perceptions of high school dress codes, as well as an overall sense that participants felt young women were more negatively impacted by dress codes in high school.
132. Inspiring Young Minds Through Tinkerfaire Sci-Fest
Zoey Sanders
Mentor: Karen Yanowitz
Introduction
TinkerFaire Sci-Fest was an event held at Arkansas State University in the fall of 2024. This was a science festival targeted toward teaching and educating through activities that introduce others to the world of science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and art. A science festival is an event that showcases and celebrates different categories of science and creation through activities that are targeted towards the general public.
Methods
As attendees were leaving the festival, they were stopped and asked to fill out a survey. In exchange for filling out the survey, they were allowed to pick from different items off of a prize table. Three different surveys were given to attendees depending on their age. Surveys contained questions about their feelings towards the event. A one sample T-test was used for overall evaluation of TinkerFaire-SciFest.
Results
Results will discuss the demographics of TinkerFaire SciFest, along with presenting the data collected of visitors’ reactions to their experience. This data will include quantitative
measurements of adults and children. More specifically, this data will measure whether adults enjoy science more after attending the festival. Children will be measured on their enjoyment and education from the event.
133. Using Machine Learning To Predict Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Phenotypes
Yeojin Jung and Namkyeong Kim
Faculty Mentor: Donghoon Kim
AMR (Antimicrobial resistance) is a major global public health threat, contributing to more hospital-acquired infections, disease severity, and higher mortality. The misuse and overuse of antibiotics have accelerated the rise of resistant pathogens, making accurate AMR phenotype prediction vital for effective treatment. Machine learning offers a powerful solution by analyzing large datasets to identify resistance patterns and improve decision-making.
This study investigates how dataset variations impact experimental outcomes and explores data augmentation to enhance predictive performance. K-mer frequency and feature importance algorithms extract key features, while over-sampling methods like SMOTE (Synthetic Minority Over-sampling Technique) address data limitations. A CNN (Convolutional Neural Network) model is designed with parameter optimization to enhance accuracy and generalizability. The results show that (1) redesigned dataset composition and selecting fewer datasets produce comparable results to previous studies, (2) synthetic data generated by SMOTE enhances performance, mitigating data limitations, and (3) CNN models benefit from larger datasets, improving predictive accuracy. Additionally, data visualization enables effective comparison. This study emphasizes the significance of dataset composition and augmentation in AMR prediction. By utilizing advanced machine learning techniques, this research advances AMR forecasting and treatment planning, ultimately improving public health outcomes.
134. Public Attitudes Towards Sex Offenders
Abigail Goforth
Faculty Mentor: Stacy Dewald
The public generally supports increased sex offender legislation and punitive policies that can play a major role in policies. Despite growing research in this area, there remains a need for a national study of public opinion. The purpose of this study is to explore the public’s perceptions and attitudes toward sex offenders, their treatment, and opinions regarding sex offender notification laws and residence restrictions. We administered a survey using MTurk to examine factors that
Poster Session Abstracts
influence one’s views including whether the respondent was a victim of sexual abuse and whether they personally know a convicted sex offender. While sex offenders may be generally considered the worst kind of offender, factors like these still have great influence in our perceptions. We saw the need to do a national study including a survey because any perception on crime has an influence on policies. It is important to maintain current research to reevaluate those policies to determine its effectiveness.
135. Beyond Words: Content Analysis Of Media Framing Of Gaza
Odette Henry
Faculty Mentor: Lillie Fears
This analysis seeks to advance a thorough understanding of how news media shape public perceptions of the Gaza conflict and the biases of framings on the larger conversation about IsraeliPalestinian peace. On October 7th, 2023, Hamas launched a surprised military attack on the state of Israel. As the world reflects on 17 months of death, destruction, and despair, I will explore the different frames local and international media outlets use to help people make sense of the war. Analysis will explore war frames from the perspectives of terrorism, security, and historical contexts to narratives about humanitarian crisis. In the context of war coverage, emotional impact, selective framing, iconic images, and ethical considerations are some essential elements of visual communication. World War II and the Vietnam War are two of the earliest conflicts in which visual communication played a pivotal role in shaping the views of the general public Fahmy et al, (2014). The four-year American Civil War also relied on photojournalism to help fuel abolitionists’ cries. Today, photos and videos possess the power to take viewers beyond words and into the human feelings, experiences, and harsh realities of war.
136. Walking In Fear: Rethinking Pedestrian Infrastructure In
Jonesboro, Arkansas
Caden Grimmett
Faculty Mentor: Leslie Reed
The city of Jonesboro has a pedestrian safety issue. The problem does not lie in the lack of funding but rather in the lack of thoroughness in recent research before implementation. For instance, despite the city’s efforts, some attempts in making particular road crossings safer have been met with disregard by motorists in addition to some designs not working as intended. Improving this issue is pivotal because without it, the confidence concerning personal safety of pedestrians is damaged, which can lead people to fear walking in Jonesboro. This hesitation can have a negative effect on public health as well as quality of life, leading to an overall drop in public
morale and economic development for the citizens of Jonesboro. The City of Jonesboro needs to take initiative in creating a truly safe pedestrian environment for all of its citizens and visitors because the walkability of the city is necessary for everyone’s general wellbeing. My poster will focus on how this critical issue can be better addressed by the city in order to provide solutions that benefit everyone. Jonesboro is a city that deserves to thrive, and these efforts will greatly aid in this endeavor.
137. Safeguarding Students: Improving Campus Security Approaches On The A-State Campus
Noah McNamee
Faculty Mentor: Leslie Reed
The ever-present risk of violent crimes committed on college campuses around the country continues to pose a significant risk to student safety. One often overlooked issue in crime prevention is the ease of access by people not associated with the university. In most instances on campus, there is usually only one point of security, such as a card reader that places no limits on access after the point of entry. This creates an opportunity for unlawful behavior in a campus that strives for student safety. Other parts of campus are vulnerable as well. For instance, A-State enacted lockdown protocol due to an unstable individual driving a truck onto the Student Union lawn with the capability of harming the university community. To decrease the likelihood of a similar situation repeating itself, the campus of Arkansas State University should consider investing more resources to ensure the safety of the university. My poster will present approaches that A-State should consider in order to provide the utmost security while still maintaining convenient access for students, creating an ideal university setting.
138. Smaller Is Better: Applying Research To Improve Student Learning
Aniya Smith
Faculty Mentor: Leslie Reed
Student-teacher ratio is an important factor in the instructional quality in any classroom setting. Individual attention, effectively taught curriculum, and a balance of student interaction both with each other and the educator is important to ensure students master the material in a meaningful way. Because of this, many years of research have been conducted in order to learn about the benefits of smaller class sizes and why policymakers should reconsider the current approach in addressing class size. Students in larger class sizes are known to be more disruptive and experience a lack of individual attention. While larger class sizes do have some benefits, such as the increased likelihood of students’ exposure to diverse thinking and different cognitive engaging activities, these goals can be researched in smaller classes with thoughtful approaches.
My poster demonstrates how public schools in Arkansas could improve the quality of learning for all students by more effectively applying the current research to school policy. By placing more importance on class size, the students of Arkansas would benefit from the improved quality of learning and academic growth.
139. Interrater Reliability Of The CKCUEST In Collegiate Rugby Players Pre- And Post-Fatigue
Isaiah Cummings
Faculty Mentor: Brendon Aitken
This study examines interrater reliability in both quantitative and qualitative scoring of the Closed Kinetic Chain Upper Extremity Stability Test (CKCUEST) before and after a fatiguing workout in the same day. This test utilized a push-up position and has the subject touch a hand to the contralateral line as many times as possible in 15 seconds for 2 attempts preand post- fatigue. Given the high prevalence of shoulder injuries in rugby, collegiate rugby players were selected to assess shoulder stability. The CKCUEST was conducted pre- and post-fatigue, with multiple raters evaluating performance with quantitative and qualitative scoring to determine consistency in overall scoring. Results will contribute to understanding the reliability of CKCUEST as an assessment tool for shoulder stability and fatigue-induced performance changes. Findings may inform injury prevention strategies and rehabilitation protocols for athletes in contact sports. Our study falls under Observational, Descriptive, or Cross-Sectional Research because we are assessing interrater reliability of the CKCUEST in collegiate rugby players without manipulating variables. We look to present a poster presentation with the data found.
140. Communication Disorders Graduate Student Perspective Of Voice
Maycie Terrell
Faculty Mentor: Christina Akbari
This study examines the impact of SPEAK OUT!® training on the perceptual ratings of voice and speech by communication disorders (CD) graduate students. Specifically, it compares the ratings of those trained in SPEAK OUT!® with those who have not, focusing on speech and voice quality in individuals with Parkinson’s disease. A total of 360 graduate students from accredited U.S. institutions, both affiliated and unaffiliated with the Parkinson Voice Project, will be recruited via email. Faculty members teaching voice or motor speech disorders courses will distribute the survey link to their students. Participants will complete a Qualtrics survey, where they will listen to five voice samples from individuals undergoing SPEAK OUT!® therapy. Using a 5-point rating scale, they will assess voice characteristics (overall severity, strain, roughness, breathiness,
and loudness) and speech characteristics (intelligibility, prosody, and resonance). The survey will also collect demographic and experience information. Data analysis will be conducted using independent t-tests in SPSS to compare perceptual ratings between trained and untrained groups. Findings from this study will provide insight into the influence of SPEAK OUT!® training on the perceptual evaluation skills of CD graduate students. The results may have implications for clinical training and educational curricula, contributing to improved assessment accuracy for individuals with Parkinson’s disease.
141. Evaluating And Enhancing Identification And Treatment Of Carbon Dioxide Emboli In Anesthesia Providers During Laparoscopic Procedures
Jeffery Brown, Zachary Hobbs, Gus Hinson Faculty Mentor:
Virginia Baltz
This Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project delves into the effectiveness of educational intervention on the confidence of anesthesia providers’ ability to diagnose and treat carbon dioxide emboli (CO2). The primary investigators believe increased confidence among providers will increase their ability to care for CO2 emboli and improve patient outcomes. This project utilizes a quantitative approach involving investigation to explore the hypothesis that educational intervention on CO2 emboli to anesthesia providers will improve provider confidence and the ability to manage a rare but potentially life-threatening instance of CO2 emboli. Using pre- and post-educational tests for the providers serves the project’s aim to measure confidence and preparedness before and after an educational in-service. Data collection was conducted through voluntary participation, with the reliability of results ensured by focusing on concise and objective-driven data collection methods. Participants have no identifying information, and each test was marked to compare before and after answers among each participant. Statistical analysis was completed using comparative averages and t-test to compare results. Ultimately, the project thoroughly investigates the ability of an educational in-service utilizing evidence-based education on CO2 emboli and was shown to enhance both confidence and knowledge in participants.
142. Monoclonal Antibody Therapy Interference In PreTransplant And Pre-Transfusion Testing: Mechanisms, Mitigation Strategies, And Effects On Patient Care
Dani Kasinger
Faculty Mentor: Audrey Folsom
Monoclonal antibody immunotherapies, which utilize laboratory-produced molecules to target specific cell markers or proteins, are increasingly used in the treatment of hematological malignancies. However, these therapies are causing increased discrepancies in pre-transplant crossmatches and blood
transfusion compatibility testing, leading to delays in patient care. Daratumumab, an immunotherapy that targets the cell marker CD38 on tumor cells in multiple myeloma, has been shown to bind to CD38 on erythrocytes, resulting in panagglutination in pre-transplant crossmatches. Another emerging therapy, currently known as Hu5F9-G4, exhibits a similar mechanism of action to daratumumab. Hu5F9-G4 targets the cell marker CD47 on tumor cells, which is also present on erythrocytes, resulting in pan agglutination in pretransfusion antibody screens. This review aims to highlight the root cause of monoclonal antibody-based discrepancies in immunohematology, explore corrective measures for daratumumab and Hu5F9-G4, and emphasize the critical need for updated protocols and improved communication to ensure accurate results and safe patient care.
143. Adaptive Therapy
Brian Ategwa
Faculty Mentor: Jody Nutt
Conventional CT based imaging has aided in the daily set up and image verification used in Radiation therapy treatment for cancer patients. The importance of reproducibility of patient position has pushed for improvements in the technology used. Variations in daily patient position affects the effectiveness of the treatments hence need for precise image data. Adaptive radiotherapy, which involves adjusting radiation treatment plans based on changes in the patient’s anatomy or tumor response during therapy, is one such technology that is seeking to solve and improve the variations in daily treatments. Through literature review, the benefits, limitations and practical applications of Adaptive radiotherapy are evaluated. MRI guided offers superior contrast resolution compared to CT scans, especially for soft tissue differentiation (e.g., brain, prostate, liver). Numerous studies have shown the increased benefits of Adaptive radiotherapy. In essence, Adaptive radiotherapy has revolutionized cancer treatment by reducing side effects, personalizing treatment plans, increasing treatment options and precision, enhanced treatment delivery, ultimately leading to better outcomes for patients.
144. Fdg-Pet Scan: Fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission
Tomography Uses In Diagnosing Cancerous Areas
Lynnley Dodd Faculty Mentor: Jody Nutt
Fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography (FDG-PET) observes cell metabolic rates, and is being utilized as a standard for diagnosing cancerous areas in the body. The purpose of this project is to conduct a comparative analysis of the benefits of FDG-PET.
This study is focused on evaluating the effectiveness of FDGPET scans in diagnosing cancerous areas. Comparative analysis of these scans’ accuracy to CT and MRI scans. The use in FDGPET scans is also used in the treatment of cancer.
Using recent literature and clinical studies, an analysis of data on FDG-PET’s diagnostic accuracy and applications will be conducted. The literature review will compare studies of CTs and MRIs and their accuracy in comparison to a FDG-PET scan.
FDG-PET scans show a high sensitivity in the detection of highly metabolic cells, however false negatives may occur. Hybrid blends of PET/CT and PET/MRI scanning can utilize the function of both scans for diagnoses.
FDG-PET scans is a highly sensitive scan that can be used as a way to identify, diagnose, and monitor cancer. As advancements in this FGD-PET scans continues, the technology has the ability to contribute to the early diagnoses of metastatic disease, therapeutic potential, and improvement of diagnostic studies.
145. Stereotactic Radiosurgery For The Treatment Of Epilepsy
Jessica Doyle Faculty Mentor: Jody Nutt
Epilepsy is the fourth most common neurological disorder, affecting 50 million people worldwide and 3 million in the U.S. Treatment includes medications, surgery and brain stimulation. 30-40% of cases are drug-resistant. Invasive neurosurgery risks includes infection, neurological and cognitive deficits, brain tissue damage, hydrocephalus, stroke, bleeding, and mood changes. Radiosurgery is a noninvasive option with minimal side effects.
This literature review evaluates the use of Stereotactive Radiosurgery (SR) for the curative treatment of drug-resistant epilepsy compared to invasive neurosurgery.
The literature investigates pre-surgery requirements, measures and compares short-term and long-term side effects, and seizure remission. Neurosurgery provides faster seizure relief but requires extensive pre-surgical exams delaying treatment. SR has some limitations to the target area within the brain. Neurosurgeons recommend conformal SR with multiple isodose centers to optimize dose distribution protecting the brainstem and optic nerve with a 50% isodose volume to balance anticonvulsant effects and radiation toxicity. Outcomes were directly related to a threshold dose of 20Gy.
Overall studies show that SR has a delay in seizure remission. However, long term, SR and neurosurgery have similar seizure
relief making patient preference the deciding factor. Some may prefer noninvasive SR, and others may be discouraged by the anticonvulsant delay.
146. The Benefits Of Proton Therapy Over Photon Therapy In Pediatric Treatment Case Studies
Emma Patrick
Faculty Mentor: Jody Nutt
This research project aims to show the benefits of proton therapy over photon therapy for pediatric treatment. Proton therapy is external radiation treatment that uses protons instead of photons for multiple different benefits. The purpose of using proton therapy over photon therapy is to spare tissues and organs surrounding the tumor that do not need to be radiated. Using protons can help prevent short term side effects, and in pediatrics can reduce the chance of experiencing long term side effects from radiation. Protons contain properties that make them heavier than photons, causing them to have a Bragg peak and no exit dose. This is what prevents other tissues and organs from receiving radiation. This literature review will evaluate studies that have compared the side effect results of a select amount of case studies treated with proton therapy vs photon therapy. There have been multiple case studies performed that have shown an improvement of radiation side effects over photon side effects. These studies include treatment for medulloblastoma, craniopharyngioma, and CSI treatments. Proton therapy is an up and growing advancement in external radiation therapy. Proton therapy has evolved and continues to become more common in today’s time.
147. Exploring The Effects Of Children Who Have Parents Engaged In Substance Abuse
Aspen Campbell, Skylar Campbell, Meredith Kennon, Madison Rogo
Faculty Mentor: Christine Wright
Background
Children who have parents engaged in substance abuse experience uncontrollable effects that lead to child maltreatment. The purpose of the research study was to identify the effects on children who have parents that engage in substance abuse.
Methods
The authors completed a scoping review to determine the effects on children’s ability to participate in meaningful occupations (e.g., rest and sleep, social participation, play, and education) when parents abuse substances. The PRISMA-ScR guidelines were utilized to ensure a rigorous scoping review.
Results
The research identified internal and external behavioral and social
deficits of children who have parents engaged in substance abuse. Children who live with parents actively using substances often show signs of conduct disorders, sleep problems, compulsions, anxiety, and hyperactivity. In occupational therapy such results are termed occupational deprivation.
Conclusion
By determining the effects that lead to occupational deprivation of children that live with parents who abuse substances, future research and interventions can target these effects in order to reduce long-term impact. Occupational therapists are equipped in addressing the internal and external behaviors that children with substance abusive parents exhibit by understanding how occupations, context, performance patterns, and client factors enhance occupational engagement and well-being.
148. Occupational Therapy’s Role In Community Reintegration Within The Prison System: A Scoping Review
Rachel Heard, Casey McNair, Logan Gilbertson, Kathryn Jones, Luke Allen
Faculty Mentor: Christine Wright
Background: Recidivism is a common occurrence within the criminal justice system, with 62% of prisoners being rearrested within 3 years. One solution to address the growing rates is community reintegration programs. Different professionals run prison-based community reintegration programs that focus on a variety of goals. So, what would an Occupational Therapy focused prison-based community reintegration program address?
Objectives: This scoping review examined occupational therapy’s role within prison-based community reintegration programs.
Method: The scoping review followed PRISMA-ScR guidelines through MEDLINE and CINAHL Ultimate searches. The full articles were reviewed and deemed eligible based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Results: The researchers included 7 of the 107 articles generated through the databases. Based on the articles deemed relevant, the common themes that occupational therapy can address within the prison systems include occupational deprivation, mental and behavioral health, and stigma and self-image.
Conclusion: The themes presented increased the understanding of occupational therapy’s role in community reintegration within the prison system. Occupational therapy benefits community reintegration programs by implementing innovative, effective, and sustainable interventions.
Poster Session Abstracts
149. A Scoping Review Of Occupational Therapy’s Role In The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
Elizabeth Hembrey, Hannah Crowl, Nicole Roper, Brianna Jernigan
Faculty Mentor: Christine Wright
The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) is a specialized field of practice within the occupational therapy profession. Occupational therapy (OT) is a discipline that observes and treats people of all ages in a holistic manner. The purpose of the scoping review was to identify occupational therapy’s role and scope in the NICU. A systematic review was conducted following PRISMA guidelines. Searches were conducted using the databases of ProQuest, PubMed, CINAHL, and the American Journal of Occupational Therapy (AJOT). Main themes analyzed based on the research included parent/caregiver participation, sensory interventions, and early intervention services. Further research is still necessary to gain knowledge of parent perspectives on the NICU stay, effects of caregiver involvement on therapy outcomes, and an increased focus on OT’s role in family-centered care in the NICU. OT is crucial in enhancing the care of neonates to provide caregiver participation, sensory interventions, and early intervention services improving overall participation, occupational performance, and health and wellness.
150. Occupational Therapy And Executive Dysfunction As Related To Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder In The Young Adult Population
Phylecia Mason and Chelsea Tate
Faculty Mentor: Christine Wright
Background: The purpose of this research study was to examine the repercussions of executive functioning deficits secondary to ADHD in young adults and understand the complex interaction between executive dysfunction and occupational engagement.
Method: A PRISMA search was conducted across the databases of PubMed, ProQuest, and EBSCOhost resulting in 9 final articles. These articles focused specifically on the relationship between executive functioning deficits and occupational engagement in young adults with ADHD.
Results : The scoping review found significant disparities between adults with ADHD and those with other psychiatric disorders in academic performance, employment status, and daily functioning. Individuals with ADHD exhibited higher unemployment rates and difficulties managing daily tasks. These findings highlight the need for occupational therapy interventions targeting executive dysfunction.
Conclusion: The findings highlight the significant impact
of executive functioning deficits on daily life, academic performance, and employment. Future research should focus on individualized therapy approaches, technological solutions, and the influence of contextual factors on occupational engagement.
151. Occupational Therapy’s Role In Substance Use Disorder Recovery
Grace Ross
Faculty Mentor: Christine Wright
Background: Only six percent of the 46.3 million Americans with a substance abuse disorder receive treatment (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2015). Without treatment, occupational categories such as work, leisure, social interaction, safety awareness, and financial management are deprived (Mayo Clinic, 2022). Occupational therapy is an emerging practice in treating substance abusers. The research study’s purpose was to identify areas where occupational therapists could serve those struggling with substance abuse.
Method: The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) framework was used to ensure a foundation of structured guidelines led the study. A literature search of four databases revealed 103 potential records. Of the 103, two articles met the inclusion criteria and were used in the scoping review.
Results: The following themes were found to be occupational therapy’s primary roles in treating those with substance use disorders: occupational participation promoters and environmental support enhancers.
Conclusion: Findings suggested that occupational therapists may enhance the health and well-being of substance abusers through occupational interventions that promote positive occupational engagement. Continued research is needed to build a stronger evidence-based repertoire that demonstrates occupational therapy as a necessary discipline to assist those dealing with substance use disorders.
152. A Scoping Review Of Current Occupational Therapy Interventions For Individuals In Palliative Care
Zoe Sloas, Peyton Summers, Brittany Kunkel, Montanna Tapper
Faculty Mentor: Christine Wright
Background: Individuals receiving palliative care are impacted by the life-altering state of their disease or illness. Palliative care is an area of practice in which occupational therapists work with clients to increase participation and independence with daily occupations. The scoping review aims to identify evidence-based occupational therapy (OT) interventions that may be used with clients in palliative care.
Method: Four databases were searched with inclusion criteria consisting of peer-reviewed, existing literature published between 2000 and 2024. Search terms in each database entered were “[occupational therapy intervention] AND [palliative care].” The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and MetaAnalysis (PRISMA-ScR) framework was utilized to guide data extraction and analysis.
Results: Of the 600 articles found initially, six were reviewed and discussed in the scoping review. Three themes were identified: (1) common forms of OT intervention in palliative care, (2) social participation, and (3) maintaining occupations.
Conclusion: The scoping review identified promoting social participation and maintaining meaningful occupations to be current OT interventions for individuals in palliative care. Further research is warranted to determine current OT interventions for more diverse diagnoses to effectively treat the entire palliative care population.
153. Sedimentation In The Eleven Point River Arkansas, Impact On Nutrient Concentration.
Karimot Shobowale
Faculty Mentor: Jennifer Bouldin
Nutrient remains a major pollutant from agricultural and urban land use which are major contributors to water quality degradation. A 3-year water monitoring exercise carried out on the Eleven Point River AR, which has been listed for turbidity impairment focused on evaluating factors contributing to nutrient pollution within the watershed. To this end, we evaluated the role of total suspended solids (TSS) as a possible driver of trends in the total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP) measured within the watershed. Results from the models exploring the relationship showed that TSS slightly increased TN (0.108%, p-value = 0.0143) with a 31.2 % variation in winter compared to fall season. On the other hand, TSS increased TP (1% p-value < 0.001) however significant reductions were observed in other seasons (winter= 38.2%, spring = 43.1%, summer 48.7%) compared to fall. It can be deduced that TSS impacts TN and TP at different rates, yet it is important to note that run-off impacts on these substances cannot be ruled out. This calls for proactive management to reduce soil erosion and by extension nutrient runoff to protect the Eleven Point River from the impact of nutrient pollution.
154. Clinical Clonal Hematopoiesis At The Crossroads Of Cardiovascular Disorders And Cancer
Jayakarthika Jayaraman and Jennifer Otto Faculty Mentor: Viswanathan Rajagopalan
Hematopoiesis generates new blood cells to replace aged and
damaged cells. Clonal hematopoiesis (CH) occurs when a blood stem cell acquires a mutation often associated with hematological malignancies, leading to a dominant population of mutated blood cells. When the variant allele frequency exceeds 2% without overt hematological abnormalities, it is termed CH of indeterminate potential (CHIP). Epidemiological data suggests that mutations in DNMT3A, TET2, JAK2, ASXL1, TP53, SF3B1, and SRSF2 are more common in cancer and cardiovascular diseases (CVD). CH can increase with aging (>10% of the 70-and-older age group), malignancies, chronic inflammation, and anticancer drug exposure, with a CHIP prevalence of 14%-65% among solid tumors. SF3B1, SRSF2, and ASXL1 mutations are more common in males and DNMT3A in females. CHIP mutations can worsen disease progression, interacting with proto-oncogenes like FLT3. STRING analysis suggests that proteins encoded by recurrent CHIP-related genes participate in interconnected pathways/ networks. CH patients carry an 8.6-fold increased risk of anticancer doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity. In lymphoma patients, TET2-CH was associated with anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity with an odds ratio of 5.15. CHIP was highly prevalent and associated with heart failure risk and mortality after hematopoietic cell transplantation. These highlight CHIP’s crucial role at the intersection of CVD and cancer.
155. Harnessing Tobacco Plants As A Cost-Effective Platform For Carbonic Anhydrase Production
Diego Alejandro Marquez Cerna
Faculty Mentor: Jianfeng Xu
Carbonic anhydrases (CAs, EC 4.2.1.1) are metalloenzymes that catalyze the reversible hydration of carbon dioxide, playing a crucial role in carbon capture and sequestration. However, their high production costs present a significant barrier to large-scale industrial applications. Reducing these costs can be achieved either by lowering production expenses or by developing more stable enzymes that require less frequent replacement during prolonged use. In this context, thermostable CAs offer a promising solution. This project aims to develop a plantbased platform for cost-effective production of functional CAs with enhanced stability and solubility. Tobacco (Nicotiana benthamiana), a high-biomass plant with efficient genetic transformation capabilities, was selected as a potential biofactory for CA production. Specifically, SazCA, an α-CA from the thermophilic bacterium Sulfurihydrogenibium azorense, was expressed in tobacco. It is the most catalytically active and fastest carbonic anhydrase reported to date. To enhance its solubility, stability, and accumulation levels in planta, SazCA was engineered as a fusion protein with an SP30 glycosylation module and a C-terminal glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) anchor. Transient expression in N. benthamiana successfully demonstrated the expression of both SazCA and the modified
Poster Session Abstracts
SazCA-SP30-GPI variant. Ongoing efforts focus on establishing stable transgenic tobacco lines for large-scale enzyme production. This work highlights the potential of tobacco plants as biofactories for industrially relevant enzymes, paving the way for scalable, cost-effective solutions in CO₂ sequestration.
156. Financial Illiteracy In Low Socioeconomic Areas Of The United States
Ivy Guilliams
Faculty Mentor: Philip Tew
This paper examines the increasing number of children and students in the United States who face challenges with financial illiteracy, highlighting its direct correlation with low socioeconomic areas. Research reveals that financial illiteracy is influenced by various factors, including but not limited to socioeconomic status, family upbringing, and school funding. Our study not only exposes the clear disparities between education gaps and poverty but also the persistent cycle of neglect in educating children on financial matters.
157. Comprehensive Jump Training Program For Minimizing ACL Injuries In Volleyball Players
Riley Jackson
Faculty Mentor: Brian Church
One of the most common knee injuries in sports today are anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries. Females are more susceptible to ACL injuries partially due to the different jump landing biomechanics. Females tend to land with an inward movement of the knee, and less overall knee bend when landing. The purpose of this research is to investigate methods of jump landing in female volleyball players that will improve landing biomechanics. The methods of improving biomechanics of landing a jump include augmented feedback training, external focus of attention training, and randomized practice. In augmented feedback training athletes are provided additional information about the jump rather than what they naturally perceive. In external focus of attention training, athletes are instructed to focus on the outcome of movement rather than the movement itself resulting in better cushioning. Lastly, randomized drills will allow athletes to perform in a gamelike environment. In this technique, athletes are instructed to perform different game-like movements while also trying to focus on landing properly. These techniques can be used by coaches and athletes to improve jump landing biomechanics with the goal of reducing ACL injuries in female volleyball players.
158. Spatial Dependency-Preserving Convnets For Physical System Data: A Case Study On Regional Wind Power
Ramp Prediction
Yaqub Suleymanov
In an effort to prevent climate change and make clean energy accessible to all, the global community is shifting away from electricity generation from fossil fuels and toward renewable energy sources. However, the electricity generated from renewable sources is stochastic in nature, exhibiting significant intermittency and variabilities, necessitating a smart power management system from the point of generation all the way through to the point of consumption. To make the power grid smarter, in this research, with the help of deep learning integration, we modeled and analyzed a convolutional neural network (ConvNets)-based forecasting method for regional renewable energy (wind power) ramp. Wind generation is highly intermittent with enumerable ramp events, making power management challenging. A smart forecasting method can improve system management and security to address this issue. However, spatial dynamics hinder the accurate forecasting of physical system data. To account for these spatial dynamics of physical systems, herein, we create a unique model for ramp forecasting in wind generation using ConvNets. First, we suggest a dependency and multi-resolution image processing technique that may enhance the geographical dependency of physical system data to circumvent the current constraints on the use of deep learning in this field. Because this multi-resolution enhancement maintains the high spatial dependency along spatial data, the kernel of ConvNets becomes very effective during feature extraction, and translationally variantcharacteristic has lifted. As a result of these two enhancements, the ConvNets may now utilize data from the physical system, allowing for more accurate forecasting compared to the state-of-the-art benchmark approaches.
159. Performance Of Waste Automobile Tires In Asphalt Concrete Pavements
MdTorikul Islam
Faculty Mentor: Zahid Hossain
Over the years, researchers have explored ways to enhance asphalt quality by incorporating various polymers. Recently, crumb rubber from waste automobile tires has been used to improve asphalt binder performance. While some studies show promising results, widespread adoption faces challenges due to issues with the larger particle size and substitution levels. This study investigates the potential of utilizing Micronized Rubber Powder (MRP) with particle size less than 75 µm as an alternative to polymers in asphalt. A virgin Performance Grade (PG) 64-22 binder was modified with 5%, 10%, and 15% MRP, and the physicochemical and rheological properties were compared with that of unmodified and a styrene-butadiene-styrene (SBS) modified PG 70-22 binder. Various rheological and chemical analyses such as FTIR (Fourier Infrared Transformation) and
Faculty Mentor: Mahmudul Hasan
NMR (Nuclear Magnetic Resonance were conducted. The results showed that MRP significantly increased viscosity, with 15% exceeding the Superpave limits. The MRP-modified binders demonstrated higher rutting resistance, creep recovery, and hightemperature performance than unmodified and SBS-modified. In addition, low-temperature stiffness was lower, which indicated a reduced cracking potential. Chemical tests revealed distinct compounds in MRP- and SBS-modified binders. In conclusion, The MRP can be utilized as a sustainable alternative to SBS, and a 10% MRP dosage was identified as the optimal level for asphalt mixes and field applications.
160. Predicting Pollution: Ensemble-Based PM₂.₅ Forecasting For Smarter Environmental Planning
Saroj Raut
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Niamat Hossain
Particulate Matter 2.5 (PM2.5) is a tiny air pollutant with a diameter less than 2.5 µg that can be inhaled into the lungs and bloodstream, potentially damaging the respiratory system. Rise in PM2.5 concentration in Eugene, Oregon is closely related to wildfires, wood burning, and emissions from factories and vehicles. Therefore, accurately forecasting PM2.5 concentration is crucial for public health and pollution management. To achieve this, we employed time series forecasting models such as SARIMA, FB Prophet, and LSTM on the monthly PM2.5 data from January 2012 to October 2024 obtained from the air quality monitoring station at Highway 99 in Eugene, OR. To further enhance their performance, we applied the ensemble model which merges the individual models’ forecasts and combines their strengths to form a robust model. The performance evaluation using MAPE, MAE, RMSE, and r showed that the ensemble model outperformed the individual models with MAPE (19.92), MAE (1.34 µg /m³), RMSE (1.85 µg /m³), and r-value (0.86). The ensemble model is employed to forecast the future monthly mean PM2.5 concentration from November 2024 to October 2026. Accurate PM2.5 predictions can assist in public health warnings, urban planning, along with enabling cost-effective pollution control strategies.
161. Evaluating Current Approaches To Addressing The Lack Of Skilled Equipment Technicians In The Semiconductor Industry
Ifaz Ahmed and Mayowa Babajide Faculty Mentor: Alexandr Sokolov
Amidst the expansion of new semiconductor fabrication plants (fabs) across the United States, coupled with the substantial financial investments amounting to hundreds of billions of dollars in their construction, a pressing concern emerges — the pronounced shortage of tech talent creates a palpable unease, casting a shadow over the industry’s ambitious expansion.
The semiconductor industry is widely acknowledged to face a shortage of skilled technical talents, a concern extensively explored in both academic and industrial realms. While much attention has been directed toward engineers, scientists, and researchers responsible for the cutting-edge design and development of computer chips, this paper shifts its focus to equipment technicians. The goal of this study is to identify the approaches to address the lack of skilled equipment technicians. This study utilized data envelopment analysis (DEA) to evaluate the efficiency of the approaches based on cost, time, complexity, and effectiveness variables and provide the ranking of the approaches based on the efficiency score. In addition, this study incorporates the K-mean clustering technique to divide the approaches into various clusters based on similar characteristics. These approaches will provide information to industrial managers about the efficiency and characteristic similarity of these approaches for making efficient decisions.
162. Concrete Canoe
Nicholas Widmer, Brian Williams, Cymber Arnold, Luke Keen, Logan Catton, Kyle Greene Faculty Mentor: Jason Stewart
The Arkansas State University project team has developed a concrete canoe for the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Concrete Canoe competition. The project emphasizes selecting sustainable materials, optimizing race performance, enhancing aesthetics, and a balance between strength and lightweight design.
The project began with a structured management plan to guide task execution. The team then focused on researching lightweight, sustainable aggregates to create an optimal concrete mix while adhering to the competition’s requirements. Next, a structural analysis was conducted, and the mix design was tested according to American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) standards to ensure it met the necessary structural durability. The canoe must withstand punching shear forces from team members, support up to four paddlers during competition races, and prevent water intrusion. The construction approach incorporated a reusable canoe mold, reinforcement layer, marine expanding foam for flotation, and allowed sufficient time for curing, sanding, and decorating. Additionally, the project included a cost breakdown, outlining expenses for concrete materials, equipment, fabrication, and research.
163. The Gene–Environment Nexus: Integrative Models For Explaining Criminal Variance
Chris Pitts
Faculty Mentor: Veena Kulkarni
Poster Session Abstracts
This study examines criminal behavior through an integrated framework that merges traditional criminological models with modern biosocial insights. Social Learning, Strain, Low SelfControl, and Rational Choice theories were chosen for their focus on environmental determinants, acceptance within the discipline, and inability to explain behavioral variance. The study conducts an extensive metanalysis incorporating advanced neuroscientific and genetic data. Recent fMRI imaging provides insights into executive brain functions that impact decisionmaking and emotional responses. The discovery of genetic markers such as the MAOA “warrior” gene low-activity MAOA variants which reduces neurotransmitter breakdown resulting in impaired decision-making, impulse control, and increased aggression.
The technique of theory knitting is used systematically synthesizes empirical evidence from related studies, bridging gaps in research and expanding the explanatory capabilities of traditional models through the inclusion of biosocial empirical data. This framework illustrates the interconnected nature of neural, genetic, and environmental factors, providing more comprehensive explanations for the motivation of criminal behavior. It also clarifies how biological determinants and genetic predispositions influence decision-making, impulse control, and behavioral outcomes which are critical to understanding criminal behavior. The findings have implications for policy development by offering data driven crime prevention, rehabilitation strategies, and bringing criminology in-line with modern biological data.
164. Effecto Of Non-Opioid Analgesic Education On Anesthesia Practice
Kolton Hooks, Nathan Kerley, Rachel Hermes
Faculty Mentor: Virginia Baltz
Pain management is an important role that anesthesia providers uphold during the perioperative period. The acute postoperative period is particularly important because this is when patients tend to experience the most significant amount of pain. Choosing the correct medication to control a patient’s pain is crucial. While many providers utilize opioids to manage postoperative pain, non-opioids are becoming more common. However, it can be difficult to know which one to use. This Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project investigated how educating anesthesia providers about the benefits of using non-opioid analgesics to treat postoperative pain affects their practice. Education was based on evidence-based research gathered through a literature review and compiling all the data to be presented. Prior to the education, anesthesia providers were given a pre-survey to determine how frequently they use opioid and non-opioid analgesics when addressing postoperative pain. After implementing education, providers were given a post-test to assess their future intended use of the same medications. It
was anticipated that anesthesia providers would be more likely to use non-opioid analgesics after implementing evidence-based education.
165. Improving Awareness Of Endotracheal Tube Cuff Pressure Monitoring Among Anesthesia Providers
Kalie Rathbun, Adrianne Fejes, Chelsea Botley
Faculty
Mentor:
Virginia Baltz
Assessment and management of endotracheal tube cuff (ETT) pressure is an essential daily practice of Certified Registered Nurse Anesthesiologists (CRNAs). Common standard practices among CRNAs are subjective measurement methods, which include pilot balloon palpation, minimal occlusive volume, leak test, and a set volume, which are less accurate than objective measurement methods such as with a manometer device. Recent literature supports the use of a manometer device for improving standard practice. The purpose of this doctoral project is to educate anesthesia providers regarding the optimal management of ETT cuff pressures in surgical patients receiving general anesthesia for quality improvement of standards of clinical practice. This quality improvement project investigated whether an educational initiative regarding manometer use improved anesthesia providers’ knowledge and awareness of cuff monitoring techniques and complications from improper ETT cuff inflation. Using manometers to measure ETT cuff pressures is a viable, cost-effective, straightforward way to reduce postoperative airway complications. By presenting current evidence, the project team hoped to promote the adoption of the evidence-based technique of manometer use into standard practice among CRNAs. The project resulted in 35 anesthesia providers participating from three clinical sites across Arkansas. IBM statistics resulted in a paired sample T-Test (Table 1) to determine the effectiveness of the educational intervention. Statistical analysis concluded that after education was presented, anesthesia providers’ awareness increased and education was effective.
166. The Effects Of Evidenced-Based Education On The Perception Of DNP Anesthesia Students Regarding Neurocognitive Stimulant Use
Benjamin Jordan, Courtney Gregory, Eric Rusaidy
Faculty Mentor: Todd Hammon
Neurocognitive stimulant (NCS) use among graduate students has become increasingly prevalent in recent years. Despite efforts to regulate these Schedule-II substances, there has been in a surge in use among graduate students in the United States. This quantitative cross-sectional project incorporated an educational PowerPoint presentation, and a pre-test and post-test. The purpose of this Doctorate of Nursing Practice (DNP) project was to determine the prevalence of NCS use in DNP Nurse
Anesthesia students, discover the effects of an evidenced-based educational intervention, and assess how the intervention affected the overall perception of NCS use amongst DNP Nurse Anesthesia students. A total of 59 Nurse Anesthesia students enrolled at a university in the Mississippi River Delta voluntarily participated. The project findings revealed that 42% (n=25) of the participants had taken NCS. The prevailing reason for NCS use was “to improve concentration” at 28.8% (n=17). Cronbach’s alpha, Shapiro-Wilk and Wilcoxon Signed Rank tests were used for data analysis. This project can be viewed as a pilot project for future researchers. Enhancing attention to an underrepresented topic in literature could potentially alter the conceptualization surrounding the use of NCS in DNP Nurse Anesthesia students.
167. Improving Healthcare Provider Knowledge, Confidence, And Adherence To Difficult Airway Management Through Evidence-Based Education On The Vortex Approach
Savannah Windes, Nicole Foree Faculty Mentor: Todd Hammon
Maintaining oxygenation is arguably the most vital task performed by Anesthesia providers, considering the loss of an airway in an unconscious patient can deteriorate to a “cannot intubate, cannot oxygenate” (CICO) situation that significantly increases the probability of patient morbidity and mortality. Difficult airway management requires a rapid team approach to avoid patient harm, often challenging secondary to cognitive overload and environmental stressors. The Vortex approach has emerged as a valuable strategy for addressing the challenges associated with difficult airway management. This education quality improvement project focuses on difficult or failed airway management and its correlation to increased patient morbidity and mortality and outlines the evidenced-based research surrounding the incidence of failed management of difficult airways and CICO situations to highlight the ongoing occurrence within the field of Anesthesia despite advances in airway technology. This project provides the Vortex Approach as an alternative resource in addressing the complexities of airway management in diverse clinical settings for Anesthesia providers to improve clinician responses and decrease cognitive load while “in the moment” of a deteriorating airway and subsequent CICO situations.
168. Increasing Awareness Of The Importance Of Temperature Monitoring In The Prevention Of Hypothermia
Allison
Sellers and Candace Hulett
Faculty
Mentor: Lisa Lucas
One of the crucial responsibilities of a Certified Registered Nurse
Anesthetist (CRNA) and a Student Certified Registered Nurse
Anesthetist (SRNA) is monitoring a patient’s temperature while undergoing surgery and preventing hypothermia. Operating room staff must effectively manage a patient’s temperature to avoid hypothermia, as this affects patients’ outcomes. The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project provides evidence of the importance of perioperative hypothermia, how to prevent it, and education on the risk of adverse events. The project focuses on educating the operating room staff on temperature management, including operating room nurses, nurse anesthetists, surgeons, and anesthesiologists. Evidence-based research aims to increase awareness of the risks associated with hypothermia, the importance of continuous temperature monitoring of the surgical patient, and its influence on patient outcomes. The research was presented with a poster board presentation to provide education that can be sustainable and measured by preand post-tests on the knowledge of hypothermia and temperature management. The data collection is from voluntary participants within the two groups: the operating room and PACU. The group’s results underwent comparison tests with statistical and power analysis. The results aim to increase the importance of awareness of hypothermia and decrease the harmful effects by increasing staff knowledge.
169. Evidence-Based Education On The Benefits Of HighFidelity Simulation
Helen Hong, Catie Meskimen, Bianca Castillo Faculty Mentor: Cassandra Massey
High-fidelity simulation utilizes realistic mannequins to replicate human anatomy and physiology, enabling the simulation of authentic patient-clinician scenarios. Previous research has demonstrated the efficacy of simulation for enhancing participants’ critical thinking, self-perception, and situational awareness, as well as increased student engagement and interaction. There are barriers to HFS implementation, with the most significant being financial. This project sought to provide the nursing and allied health program administrators and faculty of a university in northern Arkansas with evidence-based education on the advantages and disadvantages, including the financial implications, of HFS. The project aimed to increase participants’ understanding of the benefits of HFS and increase their willingness to consider the feasibility of an on-campus HFS lab. A single-group pretest-posttest design was used to evaluate project outcomes, with the project’s methods consisting of a presurvey, a PowerPoint presentation, distribution of a cost-benefit analysis handout, and a post-survey. Six participants completed the pre- and post-surveys. Data collected from the surveys was analyzed using basic descriptive statistics, paired t-tests, and the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Results of the data analysis indicated no statistically significant difference in pre- and post-survey scores. These results emphasize the need for further investigation regarding the use of HFS at the university.
Poster Session Abstracts
170. Evidence-Based Education On The Benefits Of HighFidelity Simulation
Catie Meskimen, Helen Hong, Bianca Castillo
Faculty Mentor: Cassandra Massey
High-fidelity simulation (HFS) is an advanced technology that utilizes realistic mannequins to replicate human anatomy and physiology, enabling the simulation of authentic patient-clinician scenarios. Previous research has demonstrated the efficacy of simulation as a beneficial tool for enhancing participants’ critical thinking abilities, self-perception, and situational awareness. Other benefits found in the literature include increased student engagement and interaction. However, there are barriers to HFS implementation, with one of the most significant drawbacks being the cost of acquiring and maintaining equipment. The objective of this doctoral project was to provide the nursing and allied health program administrators and faculty of a university in northern Arkansas with evidence-based education on the advantages and disadvantages, including the financial implications, of HFS. The project aimed to increase participants’ understanding of the evidence-based benefits of HFS and increase their willingness to consider the financial feasibility of an on-campus HFS lab. A single-group pretest-posttest design was used to evaluate project outcomes, with the project’s methods consisting of a pre-survey, an evidence-based PowerPoint presentation, distribution of a cost-benefit analysis handout, and a post-survey. Six participants completed the pre- and postsurveys. Data collected from the surveys was analyzed using basic descriptive statistics, paired t-tests, and the Wilcoxon signedrank test. Results of the data analysis indicated no statistically significant difference in pre- and post-survey scores. These results emphasize the need for further investigation regarding the use of HFS at the university. Additionally, greater participation is necessary to provide insight into the viability of an on-campus HFS lab.
171. How Informed Consent Education Can Impact
Practicing Crnas
Wade Moore, Caleb Bradfield, Julianna Felter Faculty Mentor: Cassandra Massey
Anesthesia-informed consent is an integral component of patient care used to establish clear communication between the anesthesia provider and the patient about the procedure’s risks, benefits, and other aspects of anesthesia requiring clarification. This project aims to evaluate the impact of evidence-based education on anesthesia providers’ understanding and implementation of legal requirements for informed consent. It is conducted at three Arkansas hospitals located West of the Mississippi Delta, and involves pre- and post-education assessments through online and written surveys to anonymously gather quantitative data. This DNP project addresses whether evidence-based education influences anesthesia providers’
practices regarding the preoperative consent process. The educational intervention includes a focused PowerPoint presentation and poster, which describes the nuances and legal implications of the informed consent process. The subject population includes anesthesia providers from three hospitals in the described location. Data collection includes online and paper formats for broader accessibility and a larger sample size. Over two weeks, the project progresses through pre and post-survey phases to maximize participation. Bias is minimized by avoiding leading questions and maintaining a concise survey. Clear objectives and unbiased data collection methods ensure project validity and reliability. Data analysis involves categorizing quantitative responses and conducting statistical analyses to reveal provider trends and relationships about their understanding of the informed consent process. The project aims to pinpoint knowledge gaps in the informed consent process and evaluate the effectiveness of educational interventions addressing these gaps. Ultimately, the project seeks to improve anesthesia providers’ understanding and application of a thorough informed consent process, positively impacting their daily practices.
172. Early Diagnosis Of Parkinson’s Disease Through Moca Visuospatial Assessments
Elizabeth Davis and Raveena Ratnayak Faculty Mentor: Sudeepa Bhattycharyya
Parkinson’s Disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by motor impairments and cognitive decline, including visuospatial dysfunction. Early detection is critical for improving patient outcomes, yet current diagnostic tools remain limited in sensitivity. The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) is widely used to assess cognitive deficits in PD, including visuospatial abilities. In this project we examined visuospatial differences between healthy controls (HC) and PD patients to enhance early diagnostic accuracy.
A total of 42 participants (12 HC, 30 PD) completed MoCA visuospatial tasks, including the Clock Drawing Test and cube copying. All clock drawings were rescored with various tests. Rescoring revealed emerging PD-specific errors, such as reduced clock diameter (HC: 2.94 ± 0.78 cm, PD: 2.52 ± 0.58 cm; p = 0.068) and increased cube retracing (HC: 30%, PD: 68%; p = 0.064). Conversely, common errors like off-center positioning and missing clock-hand arrows did not differentiate groups. The Davis Test showed a significant distinction between HC and PD scores (p = 0.023), while Babin’s Test did not (p = 0.060).
Ongoing blinded validation with >200 patients aims to confirm these findings. Our results suggest that specific visuospatial markers could improve the early detection of PD, providing an addition to diagnostic strategies.
173. TSS, Nitrogen, And Phosphorus In The North Fork Of The White River From 2021-2024
Jordan Bach
Faculty
Mentor:
Jennifer Bouldin
Over the three years that this EPA project has been active, water quality factors including TSS, turbidity, pH, conductivity, DO, temperature, and nutrient data have been collected 52 times per year with the goal of weekly collections. Phosphorus levels have been a primary concern as spikes in phosphorus have been shown to encourage the growth of toxic cyanobacteria that threaten human, livestock, and ecosystem health. Total phosphorus averaged across six monitoring sites from November 2021 to October 2024 ranged from 0.199 to 0.549 mg/L which is significantly higher than the general upper limit of 0.1 mg/L recommended by the Lehigh University Environmental Initiative. TSS averages across the six sites ranged from 6.28 to 13.24 mg/L which is well below the 20 mg/L limit for a clear stream. Nitrogen averages ranged from 0.352 to 0.702 mg/L across the six sites, which is well below the 1.0 mg/L EPA proposed limit for nitrogen. These findings reinforce the importance of continual monitoring to ensure that high nutrient levels do not lead to toxic blooms and eutrophication.
174. Surface Water Quality For A Proposed Two-Stage Ditch Program, Upper Cache River Watershed, Arkansas
Md Tanvir Hasan Kajol
Faculty Mentor: Jennifer Bouldin
Agricultural runoff degrades water quality and causes eutrophication in the Gulf of Mexico, with the Upper Cache River Watershed (UCRW) in Arkansas being a significant contributor. The Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality has identified streams in the UCRW as nutrient runoff sources. Two-stage ditches (SDs) are being constructed in channelized agricultural streams to mitigate this issue and improve water quality. SDs are a promising floodplain restoration technique to retain contaminants and enhance water quality in UCRW. The Nature Conservancy is monitoring three SDs before, during, and after construction to evaluate their effectiveness. Previously monitored sub-watersheds, East Slough and Big Ditch Creek, had total nitrogen, total phosphorus, and turbidity levels exceeding state standards, highlighting the need for mitigation efforts. The UCRW has significant water quality issues. To address these issues, SD systems are being installed. Here, we discuss the construction process of SD systems and preconstruction water quality data, aiming to improve the UCRW’s water quality. The construction process includes site selection, planning, permitting, excavation, vegetation establishment, and monitoring. By following this process, SD systems could effectively mitigate nutrient runoff and enhance water quality in the UCRW.
175. Aquatic Macroinvertebrate Diversity And Water Quality As Indicators Of Wetland Health In Natural And Constructed Wetlands Of Northeast Arkansas
Helena Wheeler Faculty Mentor: Jennifer
Bouldin
The Mississippi River Basin (MRB) has experienced drastic loss of natural wetlands due to modern agricultural practices and floodplain engineering, compromising the lands’ ability to cycle and detoxify pollutants. To address this issue the Federal government incentivized landowners to convert portions of their property to wetland systems through the Wetland Reserve Easement-Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (WRE-ACEP) leading to the reclamation of 11,736 km2 of wetland habitat. While the program has been implemented for decades, little research has compared the functional similarity of WRE-ACEP sites to natural wetlands. Aquatic macroinvertebrates are diverse organisms with well-known levels of environmental tolerance. Exposure to different abiotic factors drives a shift in macroinvertebrate communities. Analyzing these community dynamics is valuable in determining wetland health. Macroinvertebrate diversity and water chemistry data were analyzed from natural and constructed wetlands within the MRB to determine the effectiveness of constructed WRE-ACEP wetlands. Water samples were collected quarterly for a year, from February 2024 to November 2024. Macroinvertebrate communities were sampled semi-annually from March 2024 to August of 2024. Preliminary water quality analysis shows similar dissolved oxygen, conductivity, turbidity and total suspended solid levels between natural wetlands and WRE-ACEP sites, supporting functional similarity between natural and restored WRE-ACEP wetlands.
176. Elliptic Curves: The Key To Quantum-Secure Encryption
Victoria Nichols
Faculty Mentor: William Paulsen
Digital security—everything from online banking to government communications—is under threat by the impending advancement of quantum computers. Quantum computers would be able to implement Shor’s Algorithm, which defeats RSA, the current most commonly used encryption method. In this project, we turn to elliptic curves to find encryption schemes that do not rely on the trapdoor functions that Shor’s Algorithm solves: the discrete logarithm problem and large number prime factorization. Since elliptic curves form abelian groups, we can implement them in different trapdoor functions to create a Diffie-Hellman key exchange protocol that does not depend on the algorithms that are threatened by quantum computers and Shor’s. A particular scheme, CSIDH, rises as a prominent candidate for quantum-secure encryption.
Showcase of Creativity Abstracts
Nugatory:
A Time Loop with Mystery and AI
Cademon Larmoyeux, Eugene Ford, Delvin Dupre
Faculty Mentor: Sidharth Chandran
Nugatory is an original sci-fi murder mystery video game created in Unreal Engine 5. Set in an isolated research facility on a distant planet, the game follows Bill, a security officer caught in an endless time loop. Retaining memory across each reset, the player must gather evidence, navigate suspicion, and identify an alien imposter hiding among the crew. With a dynamic dialogue system and branching outcomes, Nugatory challenges players to think critically, adapt to changing social dynamics, and solve a deadly mystery. Featuring interactive storytelling, detective mechanics, and multiple endings, this creative work blends game design, narrative writing, and immersive atmosphere into a compelling digital experience.
Across each loop, the player can uncover new clues and observations to store in a databank and create a compelling case. The story explores themes of identity, paranoia, and control, blending the interactive storytelling with a custom-made and suspenseful atmosphere. Each part of the experience was made by hand, from the environment to the characters to the story.
Princeton the Anxious Pig Goes to School
Sierra Miller
Faculty Mentor: Stephanie Gotay
As a writer and advocate for children’s mental health, I created a children’s book, Princeton the Anxious Pig Goes to School, to provide young readers with a compassionate and accessible way to understand anxiety. Inspired by my own experiences and my studies in psychology, I wanted to craft a story that reassures children that their feelings are valid, normal, and manageable.
Princeton’s journey mirrors the challenge many children face when stepping into new and unfamiliar situations. Through simple yet effective coping strategies, such as deep breathing, I aim to empower children with the tools they need to navigate their emotions. My hope is that this book not only helps children recognize and express their feelings but also fosters open conversations between children, parents, teachers, and caregivers.
Mental health should be a topic of comfort rather than fear, and Princeton the Anxious Pig Goes to School is my way of helping break the stigma around childhood anxiety. I believe that by telling stories that resonate with young minds, we can create a more supportive and understanding world—one where no child feels alone in their struggles.
Electrophonic Flute
Gabrielle Taunton
Faculty Mentor: Joshua Vangilder
Through computers, cellphones, video game consoles, and the like, a cornerstone of entertainment in contemporary times relies on technology. The same holds true for the progression of how instruments are utilized to create music, the electric guitar being one such example, as well as digital pianos, synthesizers, and the like. By utilizing the principles behind circuitry and the electronics that allow those instruments to thrive, one can then create a wholly different instrument, in this case being a electronic flute that creates sound based off of a LDR (light dependent resistor) inserted within the flute. By covering or uncovering the holes of the flute, the LDR, will then have its resistance raised or lowered through photoconductivity. This varying resistance then gets transmitted back to the astable
multivibrator it is connected to, that then resounds sound through a speaker attached to the circuit; The amount of noise that comes out varies based on how many of the holes on the flute are covered. Through this, one can then use this newfound flute to create music based on this idea, showcasing the versatility of electronic based instruments.
Suite for Six Trumpets
Carlos Mejia-Marquez, Audrey Alpha, Zachary Woodard, Sarah Hanks, Allison Patsey, Timothy Miles
Faculty Mentor: Nairam Simoes
The annual ITG Conference features the world’s greatest trumpet and brass artists and is indeed THE trumpet event of the year. They have been held at major universities throughout the world. Sessions are devoted to numerous topics including jazz, symphony orchestra, solo recital, chamber music, pedagogy, history, repertoire, performance practices, acoustics, equipment modifications, physiology, psychology, premieres of new works, and all aspects of the trumpet. The Festival of Trumpets Concert features more than 100 professional trumpeters. The annual ITG Conference also offers a significant opportunity to visit with manufacturers, publishers, and dealers who display instruments, mouthpieces, mutes, accessories, sheet music, books, recordings, and other trumpet related products.
A-State students were selected and invited to perform in the “Trumpet Prelude” event. This is a wonderful opportunity for students to perform on an international stage for an audience of their peers and musical heroes, while also helping diversify the music performed at ITG by performing a piece composed by a member of a marginalized community.
Autonomous Vehicle Competition
Ethan Cain, Krish Sharma, Martin Martinez, Luke Shafer, Faculty Mentor: Shivan Haran
The objective of the ASGC Autonomous Vehicle Competition is to design, program, and construct an autonomous vehicle to navigate a 60 ft x 40 ft course, within an 80 ft x 100 ft area with six obstacles varying in size, shape, and color. The vehicle has three attempts to complete the course, with obstacles shifting up to 15 ft between heats. The work being presented will be an autonomous vehicle that fits within a 2 ft x 2 ft x 2 ft cube and utilizes a track drivetrain like a tank. It is designed to automatically navigate the obstacles of the competition and navigate manually with a wireless controller input. This robot is built from scratch, with many frame and drivetrain components designed and fabricated at Arkansas State University using university-provided software and 3D printers. The presentation could include a demonstration showing how it moves with a controller or how it autonomously avoids obstacles.
This project also explored dust protection, a major challenge in space exploration. Dust accumulation can cause electrical disconnections and mechanical failures. A four-wheel-drive vehicle, with fewer bearings, is more vulnerable to failure from dust. In contrast, a tracked drivetrain improves redundancy and reduces failure risk.
2025 Create@State Sponsors
Neil Griffin College of Business Awards Celebration Sponsor
Phi Kappa Phi
InfoReady
Emily Devereux
A-State Research and Development Institute
Deans of Academic Colleges who contribute annually to support Create@State Student Awards