15th Annual Research Symposium Book of Abstracts- April 2020

SPRING INTO RESEARCH!

15th Annual Research Symposium Book of Abstracts

April 2020

Table of Contents 2

 Message from Dr. Gibson

3

Message from Dr. Rajan

4 Student Abstracts 129 Students & Mentors 138 Symposium Committee 139 Thanks & Acknowledgements

Dear Students, Congratulations on your achievements in research.

Studies reflecting various rigorous designs remain crucial to the advancement of civilizations and the very preservation of human life. Today more than ever, the importance of being capable consumers of research is a matter of life and death that is playing out before us in the decisions of policy-makers.

Beyond consuming empirical knowledge, you, by your experiences here, are well positioned to be persons who add to the body of knowledge that informs inventions and best practices.

I trust that you will remain curious, pondering those critical and even less urgent questions, considering those alternative explanations and data examination approaches. Then, make it a point to continue to communicate your research results effectively. Lead with your research. Research has its subjectivities, so the diversity of perspective that you bring to our body of knowledge matters. Through research, you can leave a mark on lives and the world. You are definitely on your way! Well done!

Sincerely,

Camille Gibson Camille Gibson, Ph.D., C.R.C. Executive Director, Texas Juvenile Crime Prevention Center Interim Dean, College of Juvenile Justice & Psychology

Dear Colleagues and Friends, Research is fundamentally a pursuit into the unknown, intending to understand all that surrounds us. Passion, hard work, and persistence are required to accomplish this. However, the truly extraordinary thing about scientific research is that anyone who has these qualities can aid progress in pushing the boundaries of the collective knowledge of humanity.

At Prairie View A&M University, with the support of President Ruth Simmons, the Division of Research & Innovation is committed to fostering a community to help emerging undergraduate and graduate researchers flourish early in their academic career. This initiative provides professional mentorship and multiple research opportunities. I am delighted to share a few words about the student researchers and their research work featured in this booklet. These undergraduate and graduate students exemplify all that Prairie View A&M University has stood for over the past 140 years. Many students have demonstrated significant resilience to engage in research activities even during times of disruptions and uncertainties, including the social unrest caused by the death of PVAMU alumni Sandra Bland in 2015, the historic flooding caused by Hurricane Harvey in 2017, and the global health crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

The continued growth of student researchers at PVAMU humbles and motivates us. This year we are pleased to announce that over 187 students submitted their abstracts for the Annual Student Research Week Symposium.

Students worked closely with their faculty mentors to experience the research abstract peer-review process by dedicated staff/faculty-led committee. These student researchers persisted, and that is what we Panthers do!

Magesh T. Rajan Magesh T. Rajan, Ph.D., P.E., M.B.A. Vice President for Research & Innovation

Dear Student Researchers and Mentors/Advisors, As we all know, the Covid-19 brought so many challenges that affected every aspect of our educational systems worldwide, including Prairie View A&M University (PVAMU). Despite the uncertainties that loomed around, our undergraduates, graduates, and mentors/advisors still expressed the interest, excitement, dedication, and commitment to participate and present their research outcomes in the 15th Annual Research Symposium. During the heart of the pandemic, the Office of Undergraduate Research (OUR) and the Texas Juvenile Crime Prevention Center organized a virtual mini-symposium. Some of the graduating seniors confidently and brilliantly participated in the symposium.

This year we are pleased to announce that over 187 students submitted abstracts for the Annual Student Research Week Symposium. And the undergraduate research assistants, supported and managed by the Research and Innovation (R&I) and the Office of Undergraduate Research (OUR), worked closely with their faculty mentors to experience the rigorous Research and dissemination process. A booklet representing the researchers’ research outcomes of our undergraduate researchers was produced and can be viewed or downloaded from https://www.pvamu.edu/research/omc/. The abstract book is a dedication to your passion, hard work, and time spent with your mentors to submit the abstracts.

The OUR, under the leadership of the Vice President of R&I, will continue to promote PVAMU campus-wide faculty/staff/advisor-mentored student research programs. We are committed to providing internal and external research and funding opportunities, host various events to recruit and engage students in faculty-mentored research and globally expose PVAMU student researchers and their work.

Sincerely,

Grace T. Abolaji, Ph.D. Manager, Undergraduate Research Wilhelmina Delco Building, Room 133 P.O. Box 519, MS #2800, Prairie View, TX 77446 T (936 261-1565, F (936) 261-3529, F (936) 261-1707 gtabolaji@pvamu.edu https://www.pvamu.edu/research/our/

Dear Students and Faculty Mentors, This year, 2020, brought with it so many challenges that turned our world as we know it upside down. We had big plans for the 2020 Annual Research Symposium in celebrating its 15th year! We wanted this year’s symposium to be celebratory and replete with all of the trappings of festivity.

We wanted to celebrate 15 years of organizing this campuswide event with a bang. More importantly, we wanted to recognize the hard work and talent that the students demonstrated all year working closely with our faculty.

Unfortunately, the celebration did not occur due to the current COVID-19 pandemic which literally shut the university down.

Nonetheless, I am pleased that more and more undergraduate students are becoming involved in research with their faculty. As a high-impact undergraduate activity, we believe that this experience can open the world of possibilities for students in terms of their academic and future careers once they graduate. The undergraduate research experience can be rewarding for both the student and faculty. Students can further develop their critical observation and thinking skills – both skills in demand in the ever-changing workforce. And faculty benefit from advancing their research agenda and productivity which is a boon for their academic careers at PVAMU. This book of abstracts is a tribute to the hard work, time, and talent that students and faculty mentors invested to successfully submit to the 15th Annual Research Symposium.

Sincere Regards,

Susan Frazier-Kouassi, PhD Director, Texas Juvenile Crime Prevention Center

Student Abstracts

Prairie View A&M University 15th Annual Research Symposium Effect of Selected Organic Pesticides on Some Quality Characteristics of Strawberries Grown in Southwest Texas Oluwaseun Abisuwa Peter Ampim, Ph.D., Eric Obeng, Ph.D., Selamawit Woldesenbet, Ph.D., Adela Mora-Gutierrez, Ph.D., Yoonsung Jung, Ph.D., Maryuri Nuñez de González, Ph.D. & Rahmat Attaie Ph.D. (Faculty Advisors) Cooperative Agricultural Research Center, College of Agriculture and Human Sciences Prairie View A&M University Background: Producing organic strawberries in Texas is becoming more popular due to consumers’ preference for locally grown berries and their willingness to pay premium prices.

However, with the high potential for fungal diseases and insect problems due to local climatic conditions, it is necessary to develop effective pest and disease management strategies. Aim: The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of selected commercially available biocontrol and organic products on some quality characteristics of Camino Real strawberries grown in Southwest Texas. Materials and Methods: The strawberries were grown under plastic mulch covered beds supplied with drip irrigation using bare roots at the Prairie View A&M University Research farm.

Two separate experiments were conducted: one comprising soil-applied products and the other foliar-applied products. Treatments for the soil application study included a control (SAC), Abound FL + Ridomil Gold (SAT1) as a positive control, and Regalia (SAT2). On the other hand, the foliar application study involved a control (FAC), Double Nickel LC alternated with Cueva (FAT1), Cueva (FAT2), and Milstop alternated with Botrystop (FAT3). Harvested strawberries were subjected to physicochemical analyses. The treatments were arranged in a completely randomized design. Results: The data were analyzed using the PROC Mixed model of the SAS and the differences between treatments were estimated by the least-square means P 0.05. The SAT1 and SAT2 slightly increased the titratable acidity in the strawberries compared to the control. The external and internal color parameters were slightly higher in the SAT2 samples in comparison to the control. For foliar treatments, the fruit length was slightly reduced in the FAT3 samples and some internal color parameters (a*, b*, and C) were slightly lower in the FAT1 samples compared to the control. Conclusions: These results showed that the quality characteristics of strawberries were not negatively affected by the applications of organic pesticides.

Keywords: Strawberry, Organic Pesticides, Quality, Physicochemical Characteristics

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Prairie View A&M University 15th Annual Research Symposium The Effect of Cupping Therapy Related to Chronic Pain Sheryl Abraham, Sue Pandey, Nicole Nguyen, Erwin Gonzalez Jr., & Sajil Abraham Vanessa Monroe, Ph.D., RN, CNS (Faculty Mentor) College of Nursing Prairie View A&M University Background: There are several physical and psychological effects that occur to the body as a result of chronic pain, which is described as pain that last for six or more months. The effects of this chronic pain include tense muscles, lack of energy, depression, anger, anxiety, and fear of reinjury. An alternative procedure known as cupping therapy has been introduced as a possible treatment for chronic pain. Objective: The purpose of this research is to explore the benefits of cupping therapy as it relates to chronic pain management. Materials and Methods: A randomized control trial comprised of 40 participants that were randomly divided into two groups. The first group received cupping therapy for 2 days a week for a total of 3 weeks and the second group received no intervention. The outcome assesses pain using the numerical pain rating scale (NPRS) from 1-10 and the number of pain episodes per week. Results: Before cupping therapy, the experimental group reported pain scores from 8-10 with the number of pain episodes being 12 or higher per week. After six sessions of cupping therapy, participants reported decreased pain scores from 3-4 and the number of pain episodes decreased ranging from 5-7 per week. The control group reported pain scores of 8-9 and the number of weekly pain episodes of 12 or higher, before and after the 3 weeks. Conclusions: As a result of these findings, cupping therapy is effective in reducing chronic pain in adults after six sessions. Future research should include a larger sample size and a longer duration of therapy.

Keywords: Cupping therapy, psychological effects, physical effects, chronic pain, pain management

Effects of Nitrogen Rate on the Growth of Red Beauty and Red Leaf Vegetable Amaranth Varieties in Southeast Texas Kolade Adelaja Peter A.Y. Ampim Ph.D. (Faculty Advisor), Eric Obeng, Ph.D., Aruna Weerasooriya, Ph.D., & Godson Osuji, Ph.D. College of Agriculture and Human Sciences Prairie View A&M University Background: Vegetable amaranth (Amaranthus spp.) has a growing niche market in the U.S. As such, it is necessary to develop production strategies for small-scale farmers to adopt to grow it successfully to meet the demand. This study investigated nutrient requirements for vegetable amaranth since this information is largely unavailable for this crop in Texas. Aim: Determine the optimum nitrogen rate for vegetable amaranth production in southeast Texas. Materials and Methods: The study was designed as a randomized complete block with three replications per treatment involving two vegetable amaranth varieties, Red beauty and Red leaf, and four nitrogen (N) rates (0, 20, 40, and 60 kg N ha-1). The amaranth was broadcast seeded at 1g per 1m2 in Spring 2019 on raised bed covered with plastic mulch, and lined with drip tape. Each nitrogen rate was 9

Prairie View A&M University 15th Annual Research Symposium delivered using urea fertilizer (46-0-0) which was broadcast applied over two split applications at 4-week intervals. Data collected include plant height, SPAD reading, damage score, leaf area index, stand count, and leaf weight per plant. Mean separation was done by ANOVA using SAS 9.3 and conclusion drawn at P<0.05. Results: Damage score, SPAD reading, and leaf area index were not affected by variety or nitrogen rate (P >0.05). However, amaranth variety had an effect on plant height (P <0.0001), stand count (P = 0.0003), and leaf weight per plant (P = 0.0022). Plant height, stand count, and leaf weight per plant for Red leaf was greater than the Red beauty variety.

Leaf weight per plant ranged from 1491 to 1996 g. Conclusions: Red leaf amaranth provided higher yields. Inherent soil nitrogen or a lower than expected nitrogen requirement by these vegetable amaranth varieties may have accounted for the lack of N response. Further studies will be conducted to evaluate this observation.

Keywords: Vegetable amaranth, nitrogen rate, split application, small-scale farmers, southeast Texas

Aircraft Location Prediction using Deep Learning Damilola Adesina, Olutobi Adagunodo, & Xishuang Dong Lijun Qian, Ph.D. (Faculty Mentor) Center of Excellence in Research and Education for Big Military Data Intelligence (CREDIT Center) Prairie View A&M University Background: Localization of aircraft is critical in controlling air traffic safely and effectively.

Although the Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) has many advantages, the transfer of control over the reported location to the aircraft brings several safety and security issues.

In order to mitigate these issues and determine the locations of the aircraft, which do not have position reporting capabilities or may report wrong locations, complementary or redundant localization methods that are independent of the aircraft are needed. Aim: The goal of this research is to study the feasibility of localizing aircraft (estimate the longitude, latitude, and altitude of an aircraft) based on crowdsourced air traffic control communication data, specifically, the time of arrival and signal strength measurements reported by multiple distinct sensors. Materials and Methods: We design and test a deep neural network model for aircraft location prediction using real-world data from OpenSky Network, a crowd-sourced receiver network that obtains volumes of air traffic data from thousands of sensors. Results: It is demonstrated that the proposed deep neural network outperforms the time difference of arrival (TDOA) using both Chanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s algorithm and Taylor Series iteration as well as Support Vector Regressor (SVR) and other machine learning methods in terms of the mean absolute percentage error (MAPE). Conclusions: The proposed deep learning-based method using crowdsourced air traffic control communication data is an effective solution for accurate aircraft location prediction that is independent of the aircraft. In the future, we plan to continue to refine the model and extend the scope of work to objects in space.

Keywords: Aircraft Localization, Aircraft Trajectory Prediction, ADS-B, Deep Neural Network, Deep Learning

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Prairie View A&M University 15th Annual Research Symposium Insta-Impuslive: The Dark Triad of Personality, Social Media Use, and Transgressive Behavior Jeselle Tanairi Aguilar, Maria Guadalupe Martinez Valdez, Marshall Walther, Mario Eduardo Ramirez & Zachary Arrington Katherine Wickes, Ph.D. (Faculty Advisor) Blinn College Background: Prior research on the Dark Triad of Personality identified the personality characteristics of narcissism (self-focus), Machiavellianism (impulsivity), and psychopathy (lack of empathy) as relevant factors in predicting behavior in a variety of settings (Jones & Paulhus, 2014). Research on social media posting and personality types found that individuals who score higher with a narcissistic personality tend to post more “selfies” as well as be more involved with “likes” and comments on pictures (Lee & Sung, 2016). Aim: The current study examines the relationship between college students’ social media posts, personality characteristics of the Dark Triad, and transgressive behavior, like cheating. We predict that those who score higher on the narcissistic scale will post written posts just as often as “selfies.” We also believe that scores on the Dark Triad of Personality will relate to greater social media use, more transgressive behaviors, and more selfie behavior. Materials and Methods: Participants were 223 students from a community college. Participants completed a 75-question survey that measured their levels of narcissism, Machiavellianism, psychopathy, media use, transgressive behaviors, and demographic characteristics. Results: Younger participants reported a greater use of social media apps (r(223)=.27, p<.01). Additionally, as predicted, frequent users of social media, such as Snapchat, also reported more transgressive behaviors (r(223)=.25, p<.05). There was a substantial relationship between overall media use and frequency of posting selfies (r(223)=.59, p<.01). Machiavellianism and psychopathy, but not narcissism, were related to greater transgressive behaviors (r(223)=.36, p<.05; r(223)=.29, p<.05 ). Conclusions: Social media use was more consistently linked to transgressive behaviors, such as cheating, and both may share an element of impulsiveness in common. This may also be true for the relationship between Machiavellian behaviors and transgressions. Future studies may focus on the impulsive elements of media use, such as “like” or “follow” behaviors, as a way to target aspects of social media that may appeal to both the narcissistic and Machiavellian components of the Dark Triad.

Keywords: Dark Triad, Social Media, Transgressive Behaviors, Narcissism, Machiavellianism, Psychopathy

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Prairie View A&M University 15th Annual Research Symposium Development of Realistic Datasets for Network Intrusion Detection using Machine Learning Gbenga S. Agunsoye Shumon Alam, Ph.D. (Research Advisor) SECURE Cybersecurity Center of Excellence Prairie View A&M University.

Background: Various network intrusion detection (NID) techniques are available to detect cyber attacks. This includes signature and anomaly-based intrusion detection techniques. While the signature-based system is easy to implement but has its own limitation in terms of known signature, the anomaly-based system requires a good dataset for the detection of anomaly traffic.

Machine Learning (ML), a subset of Artificial Intelligence (AI), a predictive analysis method can be used to distinguish between benign and abnormal traffic. Models based on ML can be trained to identify features of abnormal-traffic-behavior and can be used to predict the classification of network traffic. With higher accuracy of the learning, various network attacks, such as Heartbleed, DoS Hulk, DoS GoldenEye, Bot, PortScan, and Web-Attack, can be detected. However, the quality of learning depends on the quality of the dataset used for training. Currently, for anomaly detection, there are various datasets available. Their qualities are in question. Most datasets are produced using simulation methods that do not reflect realistic attack scenarios and not developed via complete protocol stacks. Aim: To overcome the limitations of existing datasets, we propose a new dataset, which will be generated by emulation, using Spirent Cyberflood CF20. Materials and Methods: We will evaluate the performance of this dataset using the machine learning algorithms, including KNN, RandomForest, Iterative Dichotomiser 3 (ID3), Adaboost, Multilayer perceptron (MLP), NaĂŻve-Bayes (NB), Quadratic Discriminant Analysis (QDA). We expect to have a better dataset with increased performance in terms of Precision, Recall, and F1-score.

Keywords: IDS, Attack, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning

Implementing Machine Learning (ML) in Sensor-based Systems Sheikh Tareq Ahmed Ahmed Ahmed, Ph.D. (Faculty Mentor) Department of Computer Science, College of Engineering Prairie View A&M University Background: Adding ML to the sensing process of smart sensor-based systems provides the opportunity to significantly increase the ratio of relevant information content to raw sensor data.

Aim: The goal of this project is to develop a prototype implementation for a sensor-based system, leveraging embedded ML capabilities to better collect, transfer, aggregate, and analyze the tremendous amount of sensor data being generated every day. Material and Methods: We have used the developed system to build intelligent applications in different domains such as transportation, health, cybersecurity, etc. Imagine a smart application for object detection that can be used for robotic navigation in dynamic environments. Results: This application can avoid various obstacles and guide a robot in an unknown environment. One big challenge is to overcome the shortcomings of the processing capabilities in sensing devices. Therefore, we will transfer the 12

Prairie View A&M University 15th Annual Research Symposium immense amount of sensor data produced from the sensing devices to centralized servers on the cloud. We used the following technologies in the development phase: Raspberry PI 3, YOLO3 ML Model, Ubuntu 16.04, Opencv, and C#.

Keywords: ML, Raspberry PI 3, YOLO3 ML Model, Ubuntu 16.04, Opencv, C#

The Impact of Mentoring in Eradicating Impostor Phenomenon among Black Male Doctoral Students in HBCUs Stephen O. Aisabokhae Fred A. Bonner II, Ed.D. (Faculty Mentor) Department of Educational Leadership Prairie View A&M University Background: Clance & Imes (1978) describe â&#x20AC;&#x153;impostor phenomenonâ&#x20AC;? to be characterized by intense feelings of intellectual and professional phoniness in high-achieving individuals. These individuals entertain thoughts and feelings of achievement fraudulence despite evidence that suggests both outstanding academic and professional accomplishments. According to racial identity literature, people with self-actualized ethnic identities have lower self-esteem. They are more prone to feelings of insecurity, anxiety, hostility (Parham & Helms, 1985), Self-handicapping (Jones & Berglas, 1978), Private Regard (Sellers et al., 1997), all of which are the expressions of impostor phenomenon. Peteet et al. (2015) state that identifying as a racial minority may serve as a reinforcement to feelings of intellectual incompetence. Hence, the unique stressors associated with identifying as an ethnic or racial minority may increase the risk of impostor phenomenon.

Aim: This study investigates the impact of mentoring in eradicating impostor phenomenon among black male doctoral students in HBCUs using the cultural framework of Critical Race Theory. The total sample population will be no less than ten black male postgraduate students. Materials and Methods: The research will use phenomenological research methodology to compare the narrative of mentored Black male doctoral students and non-mentored black male doctoral students concerning the impostor feeling within the HBCU context. The study is expected to add to the body of knowledge for educational leaders in higher education as well as community leaders in building strong human capacity among black men.

Keywords: mentoring, Impostor Phenomenon, community development, Black male, HBCU

Renewable Energy Technologies Evaluation Adekunle Ajike Osborne-Lee Irvin, Ph.D. (Faculty Advisor) Department of Chemical Engineering Prairie View A&M University Background: Africa is experiencing exponential and sustained growth. By 2050, at least 2 billion people, double the current figure will live on the continent, with 40% living in rural zones. In 2010, there were some 590 million Africans, which is about 57% of the world population without clean and safe cooking facilities. Some parts of sub-Saharan Africa are yet to have 100% access to 13

Prairie View A&M University 15th Annual Research Symposium electricity. According to International Energy Agency (IEA) in 2018, about 600 million people still lack access to electricity. This accounts for the two-third of the global population. Aim: This study addresses the issue relating to the inadequate accessibility of the rural areas in West African countries to energy (mostly electricity), which are largely derived from fossil fuels. Given the high impact disadvantages of fossil fuels, this study aims to determine the most suitable renewable energy technology options that will prove effective in providing a daily long-term sustainable solution to energy accessibility for energy poor regions. Materials and Methods: As part of this feasibility study, available renewable energy technologies found in literature will be screened and the most suitable technology determined based on social, environmental, and economic factors of each technology. The renewable energy technologies found will be ranked from the most suitable to the least suitable technology for this region. The studies will identify the highest ranked renewable technology based on the above factors as the most feasible solution in addressing the problems faced by the rural areas in West Africa. Future work will entail design of an application of the technology with a detailed focus on performance, cost, and environmental risk and safety factors, amongst other analyses.

Keywords: renewable energy, West Africa, rural areas, fossil fuels, environment risk

Annotation of the OVCA2 Gene: An Ovarian Cancer Suppressor Gene?

Diana Varela Ajche Gloria C. Regisford, Ph.D. (Faculty Mentor) Department of Biology Prairie View A&M University Background: Bioinformatics is strongly influencing the advancement of medicine by integrating genetics, genomics and health problems with computer science and mathematics. A need currently exists for cataloging rapidly accumulating genomic data that includes a plethora of novel genes.

While ovarian cancer is the fifth leading cause of cancer-related deaths among women, it is the deadliest gynecological cancer in the United States. Objective: Hence, the objective of this project was to characterize a newly sequenced gene, Ovarian Cancer-Associated 2 (OVCA2), in-silico, using a set of bioinformatics tools and databases. We hypothesized that this novel gene, OVCA2, is a protein coding gene that plays an important role as an ovarian tumor suppressor candidate.

Materials and Methods: To test this hypothesis, the bioinformatics tool, Basic Local Alignment Search Tool (BLAST), and the bioinformatic databases, Ensembl, NCBI, UCSC Genome Browser, GeneCards, STRING and UniProt were used to explore and determine the cytogenetic location, number of variants, expression pattern and probable function(s) of gene OVCA2. Results: Databases within NCBI, indicated that the OVCA2 gene is located on chromosome 17p13.3, has 2 exons, and over 63 variants. Further exploration on GeneCards database showed that OVCA2 is subcellularly located within the nucleus and mitochondrion. Findings on Ensembl indicated that OVCA2 gene is ubiquitously expressed in several normal human tissues, including ovaries, adrenal glands, kidneys, brain and heart. Gene ontology (GO) annotation within the UniProt database, reported that hydrolase activity is one of OVCA2â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s molecular functions. In addition, mutations of the OVCA2 gene may be associated with the progression of pathological processes such as cancer and inflammation. Gene OVCA2 has three different orthologs in Humans, Western 14

Prairie View A&M University 15th Annual Research Symposium lowland Gorilla and Pygmy Chimpanzee, all with 96% homology. Conclusions: In summary, gene OVCA2 is a functional gene that is conserved across primate species and mutations of this gene may promote ovarian tumorigenesis.

Keywords: bioinformatics, OVCA2 gene, ovarian cancer, Annotation

Numerical Study of Liquid Decane Droplet Evaporation Rate Amna Ansari, Olivia Murphy& Faravi Ahmed Ziaul Huque, Ph.D. & Yuhao Xu, Ph.D. Center for High Pressure Combustion in Microgravity Department of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering Prairie View A&M University Background: Research shows that understanding the physics of combustion allows you to isolate the parameters necessary for optimizing combustion processes, combustion chamber design, engine efficiency, and, more importantly, reducing pollution. Furthermore, this optimization allows for a dramatic reduction of costs associated with burning fuel, irrespective of the application. Aim: For this study, droplet evaporation of a 3.68 mm diameter, spherical droplet of Decane under normal to high-pressure conditions were studied and simulated using ANSYS software. Materials and Methods: To develop this simulation, the thermophysical properties of Decane were gathered and tested. Additionally, ANSYS was used to develop numerical simulations to capture the liquid-gas interface and allow for time-dependent two-phase multidimensional flows. This data was used to develop the simulation process this research utilized to track the changes associated with the liquid-gas interface, and the evaporation speed of the Decane droplet. Results: Results from this simulation show the effect of temperatures and pressures on the droplet evaporation rate. Conclusions: This study will extend to the design of a dilute spray combustion simulation, wherein multiple spherical droplets will be analyzed.

Keywords: Fuel, Combustion, Droplet Evaporation, Phase Interface, Numerical Simulation

Thermodynamics and the Origin of Life Ozoemena Anyaegbu Irvin Osborne-Lee, Ph.D. (Faculty Advisor) Department of Chemical Engineering Prairie View A&M University Background: The question of how life began is as elusive as it is interesting. It is clear that planet Earth is a living thing, being a habitat for a complex ecosystem with many and diverse constituents [Kleidon (2010)]. Much work has been done considering the chemical components necessary for life to begin and where those components originated [Ehrenfreund (2002)] as well as the conditions needed for an origin of life event to occur. Yet an application of the 1st and 2nd Laws of Thermodynamics cannot account for the occurrence of life and, in fact, would seem to argue against it. Aim: This study explores the most recently emerged principles of thermodynamics, such as the Maximum Entropy Production Principle [Lineweaver (2014)] and Thermodynamic 15

Prairie View A&M University 15th Annual Research Symposium Inversion [Kompanichenko (2017)] and applies these in a more simpler and understandable form to explain and describe the sequence of events of the origin of life on this planet. The ultimate goal of this work is to develop a narrative with accompanying illustrative support materials for effective instruction of the life processes, including emergence as well as its evolutionary trajectory.

Keywords: thermodynamics, Maximum Entropy Production Principle, Thermodynamic Inversion, origin of life, evolution, Earth

Development and Biological Evaluation of Novel dipeptidyl peptidase-4 Inhibitors and Peroxisome Proliferator-activated Receptors (PPARα/γ/δ) Agonists as Anti-diabetic Agents Alyssa Arceneaux, BS Sameh Abdelwahed, Ph.D. (Faculty Mentor) & Grace Abolaji, Ph.D. (Research Mentor) Department of Chemistry and Office of Undergraduate Research Prairie View A&M University Background: Diabetes is a group of metabolic disease, they are classified into three classes, but almost 90% of all cases of diabetes are type two class. Diabetes is a disease that occurs when your blood glucose is too high. Blood glucose is the main source of energy and it comes from the food.

Insulin is a hormone made by the pancreas. It helps glucose from food get into the cells to be used for energy. Prior research has shown that new classes of quinazoline and quinoxaline of expected anti-diabetic activities act as peroxisomes proliferator-activated receptors (PPAR’s) agonist and dipeptidyl peptidase-4 enzyme inhibitors using molecular stimulating studies. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) are nuclear ligand-activated transcription factors. There are three subtypes, namely PPARα, PPARγ, and PPARδ. Aim: The objective of this study is to develop an anti-diabetic drug that can target a specific enzyme, region on the amino acid chain.

Our approach to enhancing the specificity of anti-diabetic drugs may be used to produce a drug that will effectively target diabetes without the harmful side effects such as heart failure, edema, and weight gain. Materials and Methods: Molecular modeling simulation studies will be used to design new compounds to act as PPARs agonists and others as DPP-4 inhibitors; for example thiazolidine 2-4 dione derivatives. The development of this anti-diabetic drug can be potentially be used for diabetes without the harsh side effects. The use of an anti-diabetic drug without harsh symptoms/ side effects can change the diabetic way of life.

Keywords: Diabetes, peroxisomes proliferator-activated receptors, enzymes, amino acid chain, anti-diabetic drug

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Prairie View A&M University 15th Annual Research Symposium Decreased Access to Health Care in Rural Texas Calvin Artis, Jr. Nathan K. Mitchell, Ph.D. (Faculty Advisor) Division of Social Work, Behavioral and Political Sciences Brailsford College of Arts and Sciences Background: Recent studies have suggested that access to healthcare in rural areas has decreased by 60 percent in most areas, making the likelihood for rural residents to address their health concerns little to none. With hospital closures, decreasing numbers of primary care physicians, and a shortage of nurses, communities are struggling to keep up with needs. Objectives: The purpose of this study is to investigate the question of why rural areas have limited healthcare access, address the concerns of those who live in these areas, and find solutions to the issue.

Methods: Interviews of politicians, city council members, and a collection of data from the 2020 “Panther Poll” survey given to respondents in Waller County, Texas during the month of March insert year. Secondary data/information from the county’s official page will be used to help create analysis of the rural communities. We expect between 300-500 respondents to fill out the survey.

Results and Conclusions: We expect that Waller County will have unmet needs with regard to healthcare across all variables.

Keywords: Affordability, state and local politics, healthcare programs, population, race, ethnicity

Studying Serinol Functionalized Fullerenes as Pre-treatment for Cancer Chemotherapy Abidemi Awojuyigbe1 Merlyn Pulikkathara, Ph.D. (Faculty Advisor)2 & Yuri Mackeyev, Ph.D.3 1

2

Department of Chemical Engineering, Prairie View A&M University Department of Physics, Faculty of Physics, Prairie View A&M University 3 Radiation Oncology Department, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL

Background: Nanomaterials, due to its small size, large available surface area, and ability to modify material properties at the greater scale have been utilized in nanomedicine for drug delivery. Current chemotherapy treatment of cancer cells is killing healthy cells in the same order it destroys malignant ones. To overcome this problem researchers are trying to use nanoparticles to target cancer cells directly for a more effective treatment and reduced toxicity. Aim: This study would examine if a pretreatment of nanoparticles can help protect healthy cells during chemotherapy. This study aims to characterize chemical composition via FTIR (Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy), size by DLS (Dynamic Light Scattering) and surface charge by Zeta Potential. Current data from this part of the study will be shown.

Keywords: nanomaterials, chemotherapy, cancer, nanomedicine, FTIR

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Prairie View A&M University 15th Annual Research Symposium Impact of Frequent Floods and Droughts on Groundwater Storage in Texas Opeyemi Ayanbanjo1, 2, Rajendra Sishodia1, Eric Risch, Ph.D,1, Tolulope Olutimehin1, Wesley Okafor2 & Tamia Hull-Littlejohn1 Ram Ray, Ph.D.1 (Faculty Advisor) 1

Department of Computer Information System 2 Cooperative Agricultural Research Center Prairie View A&M University

Background: Groundwater is one of the Earth’s largest water resources for municipal, agricultural and industrial use. A greater portion of groundwater resource is used for irrigation in agriculture.

The impact of land-use change, which alters the permeability of the soil particularly in semi-arid and drought-prone areas, has a major impact on groundwater recharge. There are nine major aquifers and ten climate zones in Texas. Factors, like rainfall, evapotranspiration, land-use, groundwater pumping rate for irrigation and municipal use, determines the rate of groundwater recharge and potential withdrawal for each climatic zone and aquifers. Aim: The main goal of this research was to study the impact of land-use and climate changes on groundwater storage at selected major aquifers in Texas. Materials and Methods: The national landcover dataset was used to identify a change in imperviousness between 2006 and 2016 in Texas. The analysis was based on the relative water level changes in selected wells before and after 2011 (a severe drought year). Groundwater storage distribution in the past decade was evaluated using groundwater level measurements from major wells and precipitation measurements at different climate zones.

Results: The results showed a consistent depletion of groundwater until 2015 because of the impact of increased imperviousness of the soil and lower rainfall, but this relationship was not linear. On the other hand, the results also showed a consistent recharge to groundwater after 2015 because of higher rainfall and longer period of frequent flooding. Conclusions: However, the impact of drought and flood on groundwater depletion and recharge, respectively, was inconsistent since, in some of the ten climate zones, groundwater table levels continued to increase for some and decrease for others. The inconsistent results indicate that some climate zones have excessive groundwater withdrawal than the corresponding recharge rate compared to other climate zones.

Keywords: groundwater, flood, drought, water resources, evapotranspiration rainfall

Exploring Community Development in Waller County, Texas Tiara Bailey Nathan Mitchell, Ph.D. (Faculty Advisor) Division of Social Work, Behavioral Political Science Prairie View A&M University Background: In 2018, the Wharton Business School at the University of Pennsylvania released a study that highlighted the issue of “rural flight”. Young people are “fleeing” rural communities in record numbers due to a lack of amenities and resources. Aim: This study will address whether or not the potential for “rural flight” exists in Waller County, Texas by examining attitudes towards existing services and amenities and proposals for additional attractions, such as movie theaters, 18

Prairie View A&M University 15th Annual Research Symposium gyms, grocery stores, and malls. Materials & Methods: Using mixed methods of survey research, interviewing local leaders, and secondary data analysis; we will explore the strengths and weaknesses of the community. A survey of Waller County, Texas residents and PVAMU students will be conducted in March. We expect to have between 300 and 500 respondents. Data will be analyzed using descriptive frequencies and difference of means (t-test) to determine if young people have different perspectives on the strengths and weaknesses of the county services and amenities. Open-ended survey responses and interviews will be coded and a sentiment analysis will be conducted of the qualitative data. Conclusions: We expect that the students of PVAMU will see a need for the development of more services, amenities, and cultural activities, the “tax paying” residents of the county will be more interested in preserving the rural culture and lifestyle of the county. Recently, the Future of Rural Texas Poll indicated that most older residents reported a high quality of life and did not want to change it. We do not expect Waller County to differ greatly than the findings from the rest of the state.

Keywords: Waller County, Rural flight, Amenities, County services, Perspectives

The Relationship between Socioeconomic Adversity, Academic Success, and Self-Efficacy: A Study of African American College Students Neacara Imani-Anne Barnett Peter Metofe, Ph.D. & Larry Hill, Ph.D. (Faculty Advisors) College of Criminal Justice and Psychology Prairie View A&M University Background: The level of self-efficacy is argued to have a significant influence on academic success on college scholars, according to researchers. However, studies do not indicate a targeting factor of socioeconomic adversity, which may hinder the prevalence of college students to postsecondary education. Socioeconomic adversity concerning financial disadvantages affects black students that matriculate into post-secondary school. Some studies suggest the level of selfefficacy plays a role in student’s academic success in a diverse population. However, it is barely addressed how a black college student that experiences the neglect of having resources for nutritious foods, stable income, and parental support, maintain levels of self-efficacy to fulfill academic success. Aim: This current study examines ways black college students develop levels of self-efficacy while facing socioeconomic stress.

Keywords: self-efficacy, academic success, African American college students, socioeconomic stress, parental support

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Prairie View A&M University 15th Annual Research Symposium Money Moves 101: Financial Management Problems Training for Prairie View A&M University Undergraduate Students Nia Bass & Micala Clay Andrea McDonald Ph.D. (Faculty Advisor) Department of Health and Kinesiology Prairie View A&M University Background: Manage your finances in life is highly important, yet hard to control, especially in college. According to the annual national survey of first-year college students, more than 251,232 students are selecting colleges for financial reasons. However, due to the stress, peer-pressure, meeting financial obligation and balancing life issues with schoolwork, students tend to have bad credits after graduation. Aim: The purpose of this study is to gain an understanding of college studentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s financial problems while attending college. Materials and Methods: This will be a quantitative study design. We recruit about 30 students on the PVAMU campus to participate in this project. Each participant will be asked to complete the 11-question survey. The survey will contain questions socio-demographics information, spending habits, and perception of money management. The questionnaire will be administered through an online portal. Results: Once the survey is completed, we will analyze the results for factors that affected financial management.

Conclusions: From that data, we will also develop and implement a training seminar for students on campus.

Keywords: first-year college student, financial, money, management, credit

Analyzing the GAD2 Gene Using Bioinformatics Samuella Abasienem Bassey Gloria C. Regisford, Ph.D. (Faculty Advisor) Department of Biology Prairie View A&M University Background: The science of analyzing genomic research and applying computational methods to evaluate genetic sequences in modern biology and medicine would not have been possible, without the help of Bioinformatics. There is still a high demand for the use of Bioinformatics to investigate a multitude of novel coding genes. Aim: The purpose of this project was to characterize Glutamate Decarboxylase 2 (GAD2). We hypothesized that mutations of the protein-coding GAD2 gene could lead to disease. Materials and Methods: To substantiate the hypothesis, we utilized an assembly of bioinformatics databases, such as NCBI, OMIM, PubMed, Ensembl, and GeneCards, to seek and establish the orthologs, cytogenetic locations, main function(s), gene trees, variants, and expression patterns of the GAD2 gene. Results: The Ensembl database indicated that the GAD2 gene is found on Chromosome 10p12.1 and is a positive forward strand, which has an exon count of 17 and about 7 variants. Information salvaged from the GeneCards database, revealed that GAD2 orthologs are found in a slew of organisms such as mice, chicken, lizards and zebrafish.

The GAD2 gene contains 5 transcript variants, 188 orthologs, 7 paralogues and is associated with 8 phenotypes. The NCBI database documented the pathogenic phenotype associated with mutations of gene GAD2, human beings, as insulin-dependent diabetes. Mutations of this gene are 20

Prairie View A&M University 15th Annual Research Symposium also implicated in a disease known as â&#x20AC;&#x153;Stiff-man syndromeâ&#x20AC;? (SMS), a rare neurologic disorder with an unclear cause, characterized by progressive rigidity and stiffness of the muscles.

Conclusions: In summary, GAD2 is a protein coding gene that plays a crucial role in both the endocrine, digestive and nervous systems.

Keywords: GAD2 gene, Bioinformatics, Analysis, Endocrine

An Egg Quality Assessment of Eggs Laid in Different Places in Two Types of Cage-free Housing Praise Benson Kailynn Vandewater & Darrin Karcher, Ph.D.2 (Faculty Mentors) 1

1,2

Department of Animal Sciences Purdue University

Background: Egg quality is a very important factor when it comes to egg production. Knowing what type of system and the best practices to obtain and maintain good egg quality will be more cost and time efficient. Factors including hen age, diet, and housing can influence egg quality. The shift to cage-free egg production requires a better understanding of how egg quality may be impacted. Aim: The objective of this experiment was to evaluate egg quality between two different cage-free systems when eggs are laid in the system compared to floor (mislaid) eggs. A total of 620 eggs were evaluated over a 3-week period from two different housing systems (Big Dutchman and Vencomatic) at a commercial farm. Materials and Methods: A total of 240 eggs were collected from the belt or floor weekly. The Lohmann Brown hens were 69 weeks (Big Dutchman) and 70 weeks (Vencomatic) of age. Assessments including egg quality, egg components, egg solids and hard cooked yolk slicing were conducted on individual eggs weekly. The volume of the shell, weight, density, egg length, egg width, egg length at maximum width, and percent egg length at maximum was determined with a Volscan Profiler and corresponding software model. Albumen height was determined with a tripod micrometer. Egg and yolk weight using a scale. Shell and vitelline membrane force was measured with a texture analyzer. : Results: The results indicated that egg solids were not affected by system or location at which the eggs were laid (avg = 22.7% solids). However, there was an overall trend that egg solids increased overtime regardless of the system or location (P = 0.14). Egg weight varied by system and location, with heavier eggs laid in the system (P < 0.01) and from the Big Dutchman system (P < 0.01). The shell weight from both systems and locations did not change. In addition, the yolk was heavier in Big Dutchman eggs compared to Vencomatic eggs (P < 0.01). Conclusions: Haugh units, a measure of albumen quality, differed by system and location with system laid eggs and eggs laid in the Vencomatic system had the greatest quality.

Keywords: Big Dutchman, Vencomatic, Cage -free, Egg-Quality and Lohmann Brown

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Prairie View A&M University 15th Annual Research Symposium Internet of Things (IoT): Smart Parking as a Service (SPaaS) Marvin Berrios Cajetan M. Akujuobi, Ph.D., P.E. (Faculty Mentor) Center of Excellence for Communication Systems Technology Research (CECSTR) Prairie View A&M University Background: In an era where time can easily translate to money, exploring innovative technologies that can save time in finding available parking lots without wasting much time is needed. Smart parking can solve this problem. Internet of Things (IoT): Smart Parking as a Service (SPaaS) project will use IoT sensors and Amazon Web Services (AWS) to make parking management efficient. Aim: The goal is to design an innovative smart parking technology using ultrasonic sensors and AWS technology to make parking easier and to provide information on parking availability. The amount of money spent on gasoline and the amount of time searching for available parking slots will decrease. Materials and Methods: This project proposed to use IoT devices, AWS cloud services, and other necessary applications. The project aims to use IoT devices; AWS cloud services, and other necessary applications [R1]. The hardware will include an Arduino Mega 2560 Board with HS 2604 Ultrasonic sensors. In terms of software, the Arduino Board will be programmed through the Arduino Integrated Development (IDE) with C++. The user and administrator web applications will be developed using Microsoft Visual Studio. The programming languages used are C#, ASP.NET, JavaScript, and CSS. The data will be transmitted and collected through the AWS cloud server and from this parking space availability and other parking related information will be provided. Conclusions: The concept behind Smart Parking as a Service project is implemented using the Internet of Things (IoT). The IoT concept enables the sending, receiving and communicating of information between the sensors and the cloud-based AWS services. SPaaS will assist the user look for available space and make essential reservations for their vehicles during busy hours.

Keywords: Parking management, Internet of Things (IoT), cloud-based

Anisotropic Electronic States in the Fractional Quantum Hall Regime Isaac Berry Orion Ciftja, Ph.D. (Faculty Advisor) Department of Physics Prairie View A&M University Background: Recent experiments raise many fundamental questions regarding the inner nature of various anisotropic electronic states observed in the fractional quantum Hall regime. Interplay between effective electron mass anisotropy and electron-electron correlation effects in a magnetic field can create a rich variety of possibilities. In particular, the electron mass anisotropy for a twodimensional electron gas effectively leads to an anisotropic Coulomb interaction potential between electrons that may strongly influence the stability of various quantum phases, which are very close in energy. Since the overall stability of the electronic system is very sensitive to local order it is possible that several anisotropic electronic phases may emerge even in the lowest Landau level in regimes where one would not expect them. Aim: In this work, we study the lowest Landau level 22

Prairie View A&M University 15th Annual Research Symposium state with filling factor 1/6, a state that is very close to the critical filling factor where a liquid to Wigner solid transition takes place. We investigate the possibility that an anisotropic Coulomb interaction potential leads to stabilization of a liquid crystalline state of electrons with broken rotational symmetry. Materials and Methods: We described such an anisotropic state by means of liquid crystalline wave function, which can be adiabatically connected to the actual wave functions for the isotropic fractional quantum Hall effect states. We performed quantum Monte Carlo simulations in standard disk geometry to gain a better understanding of the properties of this state. Results: The findings indicate the stability of liquid crystalline order and are consistent with the existence of an anisotropic electronic state in the fractional quantum Hall regime.

Keywords: anisotropic electronic states, fractional quantum Hall regime, liquid crystalline wave function, Monte Carlo simulations, electron mass anisotropy

Application of COMET-Farm to Estimate Change in On-farm Carbon and Greenhouse Gas Emissions for Different Tillage Systems and Crops at Prairie View, Texas Mikayla Moraye Berry Ripendra Awal, Ph.D. & Ali Fares, Ph.D. (Faculty Advisors) College of Agriculture and Human Sciences Prairie View A&M University Background: Best management practices have shown to help farmers and ranchers enhance their business net return, sequester carbon in the soil, and protect the environment. The U.S. Department of Agriculture developed a tool, COMET-Farm, which evaluates the impact of different farm and ranch management options on carbon sequestration and greenhouse gas emission. Aim: The main objective of this study is to evaluate how different conservation practices and crop types affect greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and sequester carbon compared to a historical mono-crop management practice during a baseline period (2000-2019) from the selected farm of 36 acres at Prairie View, Texas. Materials and Methods: The main three soil types of the farm are Sandy clay loam (52.8%), Loam (46.8%), and Fine sandy loam (0.4%). During the baseline, the farm was cultivated as mono-crop grain corn. Corn was intensively tilled with 160 lbs. per acre of nitrogen from anhydrous ammonia at the time of planting during the 1st week of April. No manure or compost was applied; there was no irrigation, liming, or burning. Results; We analyzed four future scenarios (2020 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 2029): first two scenarios are related to conversion from conventional tillage to (i) no-tillage, and (ii) reduced tillage with everything else stayed the same, and other two scenarios are related to changing corn to soybean with no-tillage, and (iv) reduced tillage without fertilizer, irrigation, organic matter/compost, liming, or burning. The results show a reduction in GHG emissions and sequester carbon by 23.2 and 9.4 (CO2 equivalent/year) in scenarios (i) and (ii), respectively. The decrease in GHG emissions and sequester carbon for the scenario changing corn to soybean are 47.1 and 34.4 (CO2 equivalent/year) in no-tillage and reduce tillage scenarios, respectively. The estimated amounts for scenarios (i) to (iv) are equivalent to GHG emissions from 4.9, 2.0, 10.0, and 7.3 passenger vehicles driven for one year, respectively.

Keywords: Commet-Farm, corn, greenhouse gas emission, soyabean, tillage

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Prairie View A&M University 15th Annual Research Symposium Monitoring DNA Interactions with Small Ring Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons Aijalon Shantavia Bettis Harshica Fernando, Ph.D. (Faculty Advisor) Background: Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are environmental pollutants and occur naturally, in food, water and air. They are commonly found in coal, gasoline, and crude oil. When oil, gas, wood, and various other items are burned, PAHs can be produced and become airborne, attaching to air particles. In addition, PAHs can be found in cigarette smoke and even form when cooking meat at high temperatures. Individuals are normally exposed to these environmental pollutants by inhaling cigarette smoke, burning wood, inhaling fumes or food. The PAHs are a class of organic compounds composed of only carbon and hydrogen atoms and consists of multiple aromatic rings. The smallest PAH is naphthalene, which has two rings followed by three ring PAHs phenanthrene and anthracene. Aim: In the past, studies have focused on higher ring PAH’s (5-6) as they were found to be carcinogenic. Recently more attention is focused on small ring PAH’s as they are found to be toxic and present in large amounts and monitoring interactions of the small ring PAHs with DNA is important. The human health effects from exposure to lower ring PAHs are also not clearly defined. Materials and Methods: In this work, we used calf thymus DNA as a model DNA to monitor the interactions with anthracene using ultraviolent/visible (UV/VIS) and fluorescence techniques. In the UV/VIS method, spectral shifts were monitored at 260 and 280 nm’s while in the fluorescence technique excitation and emission wavelengths were set to 350 and 425 nm. Results: Preliminary data shows shifts in the UV/VIS spectrum and changes in the intensity, while in the fluorescence method we observe changes in the fluorescence intensity.

Conclusions: The observed changes show there exist some interaction of anthracene with DNA, and future studies will lead to an understanding of the binding mechanism of DNA with the lower ring PAH anthracene.

Keywords: Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, environmental pollutants, carcinogenic, health, calf thymus DNA

Investigating the Annotation of the MCPH1 Gene through Bioinformatics Aijalon Shantavia Bettis1 Gloria Regisford, Ph.D.2 (Research Mentor) 1

Department of Chemistry, 2Department of Biology, Prairie View A&M University

Background: Bioinformatics is an interdisciplinary science that applies computational methods to analyze genome sequence data, and, further, to characterize newly discovered genes. Aim: The objective of this project was to annotate the novel MCPH1 gene. It is hypothesized that the MCPH1 gene is expressed in cells as a functional protein that is conserved across species and thus plays an important role in eukaryotes. Materials and Methods: In order to test our hypothesis, bioinformatics databases, NCBI and GeneCardsTM were used to investigate and gather important information about gene MCPH1. Results: Our research findings indicated that the MCPH1 gene, formally known as Microcephalin 1, may play a role in neurogenesis and regulation of the size of the cerebral cortex, according to GeneCards. Gene MCPH1 is located on chromosome 8p23.1 24

Prairie View A&M University 15th Annual Research Symposium (8p23.1), has 194 variants and is 241,917 base pairs in size. The MCPH1 gene is highly conserved, with orthologs in many organisms, including mice, chicken, lizards, and even zebrafish. Mutations of the MCPH1gene are associated with a total of 29 disorders, including, microcephaly and primary autosomal recessive microcephaly. Conclusions: In summary, in-silico studies suggest that MCPH1 is a protein-coding gene that plays a significant role in DNA preservation in humans and many other eukaryotic species.

Keywords: MCPH1 Gene, Bioinformatics, Protein-coding, Conservation

Food Desert: Curse or Choice?

Sydni Birch & Shalala Stallworth Nathan Mitchell, Ph.D. (Faculty Advisor) Division of Social Work, Behavioral, and Political Sciences Brailsford College of Arts and Sciences Prairie View A&M University Background: Waller County only has seven large grocery stores available within its 518 sq. miles for over 51,000 residents to buy food. This means that the majority of the population lives more than half a mile away from a grocery store, making most of Waller County a food desert. Aim: The purpose of this study is to understand why Waller County has such scarce healthy food resources and to gauge the interest of residents on potential solutions. Materials and Methods: A survey of Waller County, Texas will be conducted between March 1 and March 31, 2020. A webbased survey on Qualtrics will be distributed by the county judge to residents during this time. To augment sample size and to reach respondents without quality access to the internet, we will set up tables at specific locations throughout the county. We expect to get about 300-500 respondents.

Results and Conclusions: We expect to gain a better understanding as to why there is a lack of healthy food resources in the area. We anticipate most residents will attest this to economic disparities due to the countyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s size, population, and lack of tourist attractions.

Keywords: Waller County, food desert, scarce resources, economic disparity, lack of tourist attractions

Annotation of Gene ATP2C1 Using Bioinformatics Woyengitokoni Boleigha Gloria C. Regisford, Ph.D. (Faculty Advisor) Department of Biology Prairie View A&M University Background: Bioinformatics has become increasingly useful in decoding genomes. Analyzing and interpreting the data produced provides information that makes it easier for individuals in the health profession to understand the structure and function(s) of genes. Aim: The objective of this project was to characterize a newly sequenced gene, ATPase Secretory Pathway Ca2+ Transporting 1 (ATP2C1), in-silico, using a set of bioinformatics tools and databases. We hypothesized that this novel gene, ATP2C1, is a functional gene that plays an important role in the 25

Prairie View A&M University 15th Annual Research Symposium cell. Methodology: To test this hypothesis, we used the bioinformatics tool BLAST and bioinformatics databases such as Ensembl, NCBL, UCSC Genome Browser and Gene Cards to explore and determine the cytogenetic location, number of variants, expression pattern, probable function(s), localization, orthologs and disorders associated with gene ATP2C1. Results: The NCBI database annotation established that ATP2C1 gene produces the Plasma Membrane ATPase Related 1 (PMR1) protein, which is important for cellular detoxification and Ca2+, Mn2+ homeostasis. Gene ATP2C1 participates in several biochemical pathways, including the CERB pathway, ion channel transport, cardiac conduction, transport of glucose, bile salts, metal ions and amine compounds. Gene Cards indicated that gene ATP2C1 is located on chromosome 3q22.1, with a size of 166,230 bases and a plus strand orientation. The ATP2C1 gene functions in catalyzing the hydrolysis of ATP coupled with the transport of the calcium. The ATP2C1 gene is located in the Golgi membrane, plasma membrane, nucleus, cytosol, extracellular, cytoskeleton, mitochondrion, endoplasmic reticulum, lysosome and endosome. Orthologs of this gene are present in the mouse, chicken, lizard, African clawed frog and zebrafish. Some of the disorders associated with mutations of gene ATP2C1 include benign chronic pemphigus, darer-white disease, and bulbous skin disease. Conclusions: Our research findings suggest that ATP2C1 is indeed a functional gene that plays an important role in the cell.

Keywords: ATP2C1 gene, Annotation, Bioinformatics

Parental Attitude Influence on Delinquency Praveenrao Bolli Abdullah Cihan, Ph.D. (Faculty Advisor) Department of Justice Studies Prairie View A&M University Background: In the last three decades, public policies encouraged child wellbeing through parental involvement in school and child activities to reduce delinquency. Studies that examined the relationship between parental status and delinquency report that unmarried parents tend to show less concern for their children compared to children raised by parents who were married.

Methods: A longitudinal secondary dataset titled “Cambridge Study in Delinquency Development,” obtained from ICPSR. The data is collected by conducting a longitudinal survey of crime and delinquency among 411 males born in the year 1953. The current study examines the impact of parental income, marital status, and parental attitudes on delinquency. For the obtained secondary dataset, logistic regression was conducted. Results: The results show that family income, marital status (unmarried), and maternal attitude are the strongest predictors of delinquency. The study suggests that the mother’s positive attitude is critical in preventing children’s delinquency than marital status, ethnicity, or income. Theoretical and practical implications of findings regarding parental status and delinquency were discussed.

Keywords: marital status, parental involvement, maternal attitude, ethnicity, delinquency

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Prairie View A&M University 15th Annual Research Symposium How Parenting Style Shapes Moral Agency in Children Bridgett R. Boxley Logan A. Yelderman, Ph.D. (Faculty Mentor) Prairie View A&M University Background According to multiple critical pieces on early social interaction (Kohlberg, 1958; Bowlby, 1976; Bandura, 1973), anti-social cognitions and behaviors can be linked to behaviors learned as early as infancy. Aim: This study seeks to advance the understanding of how early social interactions with cold, authoritarian parents can shape the manifestation of moral disengagement tendencies in adolescence using a sample of N =1,116 adjudicated adolescents aged 14-17 (mean 16.55) year old female and males participating in the longitudinal Pathway to Desistance Study. Materials and Methods: To assess the desired variable changes over a 72month study period, the six time points were analyzed using first, conditional latent variable growth model followed by parallel latent variable growth model analyses.

Keywords: moral disengagement, moral agency, parental warmth, impulsivity, callousness

Annotation of the LITAF Gene Reveals Association with Extramammary Pagetâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Disease Areon Bradford1 Gloria Regisford, Ph.D2 (Faculty Mentor) 1

Department of Psychology, 2Department of Biology Prairie View A&M University

Background: Every living organism consists of various genes and while many have been classified and studied, there are still so many that have yet to be characterized or even discovered.

Through the use of bioinformatics, which involves biology, computer science and mathematics, many advancements have been made in gene characterization. Aim: The overall objective of this project was to explore and conduct research on a newly sequenced gene, Lipopolysaccharide Induced TNF factor (LITAF), using bioinformatics tools and databases. The hypothesis was that the LITAF gene is a protein-coding gene with important functions in the cell. Methodology: To support this hypothesis bioinformatic databases such as NCBI, GeneCards, and Ensembl were used to analyze the location, structure and function of LITAF, as well as mutations, if any, that could cause diseases. Results: When using GeneCards, the data collected determined that gene LITAF coded for a DNA binding protein that promoted TNF alpha expression by binding to the transcription region of the TNF alpha gene. The NCBI database showed that the LITAF gene is a potent stimulator which aids in the secretion of the tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) protein and other various inflammatory mediators. This specific gene also is highly expressed in the appendix, thyroid, and urinary bladder and is located on chromosome 16p13.13 as indicated by the Ensembl database. Diverse disorders linked to the LITAF gene include Charcot-MarieTooth disease and extramammary Pagetâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s disease.

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Prairie View A&M University 15th Annual Research Symposium Human Behaviors of African American Males Incarcerated over Police Brutality Travon Brown Donna Laws, Ed.D. (Faculty Advisor) Prairie View A&M University Background: There have been a racial and systematic motive related to the high percentage of African males in the U.S. who have been incarcerated, due to police brutality. Nearly one in three (32%) African males in the age group 20-29 is under some form of criminal justice supervision on any given day -- either in prison or jail, or on probation or parole. Mass incarceration is damaging to individuals in several ways (physically, mentally, spiritually, and psychologically). An African American male incarcerated will experience five long-term effects that can highly impact and/or destroy their future: 1) racial bias and disparities, 2) collateral damage and scarring effects, 3) psyche of the formerly incarcerated, 4) empathetic inurement, and 5) injuring humanity. They experience difficulty in maintaining amicable relationships with their wives, are excluded from housing and no education assistance programs. When incarcerated mass numbers of AfricanAmerican males have temporarily or permanently lost the right to vote, to travel freely without harassment from governmental officials, to obtain a quality public education, to obtain meaningful employment, and often punished more severely than whites who commit the same crimes. African American males make up nearly 40% of the incarcerated population and are incarcerated in state prisons at a rate that is 5.1 times the imprisonment of whites. In five states (Iowa, Minnesota, New Jersey, Vermont, and Wisconsin), the disparity is more than 10 to 1. Racism continues to have an impact on the mental health of African Americans while they are in prison. Focusing on how prison systems are set up for African American males will be a way to see how they behave in prison walls along with addressing the issues of police brutality which is leaving a significant impact in the community for the worst. Aim: Finding solutions depends on research on the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994, how inmates coincide with another and what the agenda is.

Keywords: Prisons, mass incarceration, police brutality, racial, African American males

Drugs Don’t Seek, They Make You Weak Eurie Bryant & Dyashia Bunn Angela Branch-Vital, Ph.D. (Faculty Advisor) Prairie View A&M University Background: In 2019, more than two million Americans will suffer from addiction to prescription or illicit opioids. It is shown that opioids killed more people last year that either car accidents or gun violence. The slogan drugs don’t seek they make you weak focuses on the who, what, why and how college students have access to these drugs as well as knowing the detriments they put on their bodies if they continue to use prescribed drugs for extracurricular activities. Aim: We will focus on college students because this is the Timeframe where young adults are trying to figure out who they are, trying to adjust to the new life without their family and mainly influences on campus. With a plethora of emotions that these individuals go through, they are bound to try drugs 28

Prairie View A&M University 15th Annual Research Symposium to cope. The main drugs that are going to be focused on in this study are Morphine, Norco, Codeine, Fentanyl, OxyContin and Theban. Materials and Methods: For this study we will focus on college students ranging from freshmen to seniors; approximately 15 to 20 students in total.

Students will be given a survey asking ten questions about their previous or current drug use. Based on those answers we will learn the what and why they are using drugs, also the questions that will be answered it will allow us to provide the proper education to college students. Results: For the core focus to help students we will provide focus groups to show students the outcomes addiction will have on their body and how it can aďŹ&#x20AC;ect them in the future and well as providing information of consequences on campus if they get caught.

Keywords: Opioids, college students, survey questionnaire, Prairie View A&M University

Credibility Issues in the Use of Social Media for Disaster Management Jada Burks, Fanesse Muyah, & Mia Whitaker Louis Ngamassi, Ph.D. (Faculty Advisor) Background: Disaster management is how we manage economic or environmental impacts of disasters such as floods, hurricanes, landslides, fires, bombings, etc. (Gupta, 2020). Aim: The purpose of this study is to provide beneficial ways of using social media during a disaster. Social media is an important platform that defines how we communicate with each other daily. It can be defined as an intersection where information with the intention to persuade, inform or entertain is exchanged (Hopkins, 2017). Emergency management officials are aware of social media trends and are adapting this new communications outlet to reach a large audience (FEMA, 2018).

However, misinformation and rumors that are transmitted on social media, before, during and after disasters interfere with the effectiveness of this medium. Therefore, countering false information will improve emergency preparedness, response, and recovery (Homeland Security, 2018).Materials and Methods: Using a qualitative research approach, this paper seeks two objectives. First, the paper will analyze research conducted on the current barriers that interfere with social media being utilized as a form of disaster management such as source credibility and information credibility. The second objective of the paper is to examine how emergency responses could be reframed as a socially distributed information system that allows users to share and reshape crisis information. With this study, we will be able to add to the body of knowledge in ways to help develop strategies to improve the use of social media for disaster management.

Keywords: crisis information, social media, disaster management, information credibility

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Prairie View A&M University 15th Annual Research Symposium The Impact of the Immune System on the Pathophysiological Effects of FluidStructure Interaction of Species Transported and Transformed in Human Systems Diamy B. Camara Kazeem Olanrewaju, Ph.D. (Faculty Advisor) Department of Chemical Engineering Prairie View A&M University Background: The human system consist of several biological units that are carefully organized to engage in a physicochemical interaction with complex fluids responsible for the conveyance of different nutrients and gaseous species (oxygen) needed for proper functioning of the human system. Majority of the pathophysiological conditions in human body are due to the influx of molecular species in diet deficient of vitamins and nutrients our body need for survival and pathogens consider foreign to our physiological make-up. Moreover, since the human organism is meticulously designed and connected to interact systematically with the complex fluid serving as means of transport for species; hence any distortion in these mechanisms can lead to pathophysiological condition. The distortion can be the consequence of an invasion of foreign species (pathogen and antigen) altering the physiological mechanism or improper interaction within the body system. A specialized group of organs called the immune system has been designed to address these physiological abnormalities. Aim: Thus, the research is aimed at quantifying the pathophysiological impact of foreign species in human systems and the remediating role played by the immune system through detail analysis of the flow process of the species and its interaction within the body systems. Methods: A modelling platform will be adopted to systematically study the mechanism of transportation and transformation of species as they interact with various organs and systems in the body. The goal of this work is to utilize the modelling platform to successfully quantify, analyze and predict the pathophysiological effects of pathogen on human systems while evaluating the therapeutic impact of the immune system designed to alleviate these physiological abnormalities.

Using Photovoice to Identify Campus Safety Alicia Carter Andrea McDonald, Ph.D. (Faculty Advisor) Health and Kinesiology Department Prairie View A&M University Background: Safety is the action of being protected from harm or danger. Safety is very important to citizens in America. There is a lack of safety pertaining to college students who are living on college campuses. According to the College Safety Guide, there were more than 30,000 on-campus crimes throughout the United States. Aim: This project will aim to analyze how college students identify safety on campus. Materials and Methods: We will recruit eight college students who reside on campus to take pictures of what they perceived to be a safe space on campus. The participants could be can male or female. After we received the pictures, we will conduct interviews with the participants. Demographics data will be collected from all participants; these include gender, major, and classifications. We will analyze the data for belief, and feeling about 30

Prairie View A&M University 15th Annual Research Symposium safety on campus. The results will be reported at the annual research week at Prairie View A&M University.

Keywords: Photo-voice, college students, campus safety, college campus, on-campus crime

The Responses of Susceptible and Resistant Amaranthus palmeri (Palmer Amaranth) to Acetic Acid as an Organic Herbicide Treatment Ineceia I. Carter & Ayanna D. Montegut Yolander Youngblood, Ph.D. (Faculty Mentor) Department of Biology Prairie View A&M University Background: Traditional herbicides are glyphosate-based. Overuse of these herbicides has led to glyphosate resistance in some plants. Amaranthus palmeri is one of them. Aim: This study is ongoing whereby we investigate the responses of the Glyphosate Susceptible and the GlyphosateResistant forms of Amaranthus palmeri to organic acetic acid herbicides. Materials and Methods: First, we hypothesized that although they respond differently to glyphosate-based herbicides, they will both respond the same to organic-based herbicides. When both are treated in a greenhouse with an organic 10% acetic acid solution and are under 8cm in height, they both die. This low 10% acetic acid solution was used versus the standard 20% acetic acid solution because previous studies suggest that at a very young age, the 10% solution is strong enough to control the growth. Using less solution is less costly to the farmers' pocket and to the environment. Death did occur with both plant forms. However, there is a slight difference in the death rate. With the Glyphosate Susceptible plants, 85% died within 24 hours, while with the Glyphosate-Resistant plants 100% died within 24 hours. Because of this slight difference, we are now investigating genomic data. There may be changes in the genomic response between the Glyphosate-Resistant forms of Amaranthus palmeri versus Glyphosate Susceptible forms of Amaranthus palmeri to an organic herbicide solution that contains 10% acetic acid. We wish to see if these two plants will have the same genomic response to this treatment or if the response will be different. We are collecting samples of Glyphosate Susceptible and Glyphosate-Resistant Amaranthus palmeri in their early stages of growth that have been treated with 10% acetic acid. We are looking at changes that may occur immediately, within 4 hours, within 8 hours and/or within 24 hours of treatment. Most herbicide damage to cells will occur within 24 hours.

Keywords: Amaranthus palmeri, organic acetic acid herbicides, acetic acid, Glyphosate Susceptible, Glyphosate-Resistant

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Prairie View A&M University 15th Annual Research Symposium Benefits of Being Physically Active Lashrae Charleston & Savannah Lewis Andrea McDonald, Ph.D. (Faculty Mentor) Department of Health and Kinesiology Prairie View A&M University Background: In the United States obesity and lack of physical activity is a major problem. Most people lose interest in working out and do not keep maintenance on their overall health after high school or their first year of college. Literature shows that most Americans have high blood pressure, diabetes, and poor muscle and bone strength because of not being physically active. For some college students, it may be hard to stay motivated to go to the gym due to course demand.

Aim: This project will aim to educate college students on the benefits of staying physically active.

Materials and Methods: This study will be an observational design. For three days, we will visit the recreational center on the Prairie View A&M campus to observe the type of physical activities students and recreational equipment used the most. Both males and Females will be observed. We will randomly ask the participants what keeps them motivated to exercise.

Keywords: Student success, Self-confidence, Academic enhancement, Self-awareness, physical activity

Role of Topology Optimization in Enhancing Structural Efficiency of Fixture Adaptor for Drilling Top Drive Test Stand Achille Louodom Chedjou Jaejong Park, Ph.D. (Faculty Advisor) Background: A top drive is an essential apparatus in oil field drilling since it provides the torque necessary for the drilling operations. The API (American Petroleum Institute) (8c) defines the classification of top drives based on their torque capacity. Top drive manufacturers should conduct in-house testing to make sure the product meets the technical requirements per the FAT (Factory Acceptance Test), as well as in conformity with API specs. A testing area is equipped with a hydraulic motor with a dynamometer to apply and measure the necessary torque during testing, which stays around 30,000 ft-lb, and a top drive which weighs 25,000 lb. is mounted on a test stand. Depending on the manufacturer, there exists a design discrepancy in the mounting mechanism; the manufacturer will thus have to build a big test stand for each type of configuration, which may pose space issues. In the case of Canrig Drilling technology Ltd, who recently got the acquisition of Tesco Drilling, it was imperative to find a way to test top drives from Tesco for better utilization of limited space. Objective: The objective of this study is to design an Adapter Fixture to accommodate Tesco's top drives onto the Canrig Test stand, and to use the topology optimization technique to optimize the design of the fixture. Materials and Methods: The first design of the adaptor fixture was obtained from experience, intuition, and literature review. Using Solidworks-Simulation, a static study (finite elements analysis) was done to simulate the effect of the maximum torque 30,000 ft-Ib, with a safety factor of 2, on the fixture. This simulation helped to revise the initial design and address the weak areas. A topology optimization code was written using in Matlab, to optimize the design of the side plates. Then using Ansys, topology optimization techniques were used to optimize the resulting design. Results: During the optimization in Ansys, 32

Prairie View A&M University 15th Annual Research Symposium three cases of boundaries conditions were defined, based on different scenarios: Top Drive in the vertical position and testing running, Top Drive in vertical and no test running, Top drive on the test stand, in horizontal in the staging area. The topology optimization technique was very beneficial, and allowed us to have optimal designs in each scenario with a considerable reduction of material, weight decreased, making the fixture easy to handle therefore making the test preparation safer. Conclusions: We concluded that, so far, topology optimization showed better utilization of materials compared to the initial design. Depending on the performance gain over the initial design and manufacturability, topology optimized fixture adaptor will be prototypes for subsequent experimental testing.

Keywords: Drilling top drive, Fixture Adaptor, Topology Optimization, Structural Efficiency, Finite Element Analysis

A Natural and Viable Alternative to Antibiotic-based Anticoccidials for the Control of Coccidiosis in Broilers Kira Christian & Alex Robinson Milton Daley, Ph.D. (Faculty Advisor) Prairie View A&M University Background: Coccidiosis is an intestinal disease that is commonly found amongst chickens, but can also be deadly. This disease is caused by a parasitic organism that attaches itself to the intestinal lining of the chicken. The parasite invades and damages the intestinal tract of the chicken.

This prevents the chicken from being able to absorb the nutrients that are essential to its survival.

Aim: Considering consumer concerns for a drug-free product, a trial was conducted to evaluate the effects of Natustat®, an antibiotic-free feed additive, on the performance of broiler chicks challenged with a cocktail mixture of three species of Eimeria (E. tenella, E. maxima, and E. acervulina). Materials and Methods: Day-old broiler chicks were separated into three treatment groups; Group 1: control (unchallenged and untreated), Group 2: challenged and untreated, and Group 3: challenged and treated with Natustat®. Except for the control, the chicks were challenged by oral gavage with sporulated oocysts (150,000 oocysts/milliliter/bird) of the mixture 14 d post hatch. Response variables were bi-weekly body weight, feed utilization, and mortality. Results: At Week 3 post-challenge, chicks were sacrificed to evaluate relative spleen and bursa weights, and for intestinal oocyst isolation. Chicks on the Natustat®-treated feed and challenged with coccidiosis weighed 1416g at 3 wk. post-challenge, compared to 1293g for Group 2 chicks. Feed utilization for Group 3 was comparable to Group 1, the control, but better than the challenged and untreated chicks (1.86). Despite being challenged, chicks in Group 3 had mortality of 3.06% compared to 5.6% for Group 2, and 2.7% for Group 1, the control. The decreased relative weight of the bursa and the increased relative weight of the spleen from the challenged and untreated chicks were restored to the level of control with the dietary inclusion of Natustat®. Although higher than the control, fewer numbers of oocysts were isolated from the fecal materials of the chicks in Group 3 despite the coccidial challenge. The litter moisture content from Group 3 was significantly lower than the litter moisture in Group 2. In conclusion, the addition of Natustat® in broiler chick’s diet from Day 0 appeared to be a viable alternative to in-feed antibiotic-based drugs for protection against E. tenella, E. maxima, and E. acervulina.

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Prairie View A&M University 15th Annual Research Symposium Keywords: Eimeria, Natu-Stat, Broilers, Coccidiosis, parasite

Exploring the SH3 and PX Domains 2B Gene Ellanique MonĂŠt Collins Gloria C. Regisford, Ph.D. (Faculty Advisor) Department of Biology Prairie View A&M University Background: Bioinformatics is widely used to analyze whole-genome sequencing data, gene expression and regulation through computer science and mathematics. Aim: In this project, the objective is to identify the SH3 and PX Domains 2B (SH3PXD2B) gene by using databases and resources through bioinformatics. The hypothesis for this project is that SH3PXD2B is a proteincoding gene that has an important function in the cell. Materials and Methods: To test this hypothesis, bioinformatics databases such as NCBI, BLAST, and GeneCards were explored to determine the function, location, expression pattern and number of variants of the gene. Results: As GeneCards reports, the novel gene SH3PXD2B is located on chromosome 5q35.1, is 129,526 bases long, and has a negative orientation. Its subcellular location is mainly in the cytoskeleton.

The encoded protein is required for podosome formation, which is found outside the plasma membrane of eukaryotic cells. Orthologs of SH3PXD2B are chimpanzee, dog, cow, rat, and mouse. Findings indicate that gene SH3PXD2B encodes an adapter protein that is characterized by a PX domain and four Src homology 3 domains. Paralogs of this gene include NCF1 and NOXO1. Gene SH3PXD2B codes for the SH3PXD2B protein that consists of 911 amino acids.

Mutations of the SH3PXD2B may play a role within the human tissues that result in expressions to be altered. The Frank-ter Haar syndrome (FTHS) and Borrone Dermato-Cardio Skeletal (BDCS) syndrome are direct genetic disorders due to mutation of the SH3PXD2B gene. Conclusions: In summary, data indicates that gene SH3PXD2B is functional and it is conserved across many species. It also shows that mutations of the gene frequently associated with skin homoeostasis.

Keywords: SH3PXD2B gene, Bioinformatics, GeneCards, Skin Homoeostasis

Exploring the Effects of Social Support on Post-Partum Depression in Teenage African American Mothers Cayla Contravis, Jackie Cordova, Anne Desir, Tameka James, Valentina Ojeah, Bianka Olivo & Paula Morrisette Mona Hassan, Ph.D. (Faculty Mentor) College of Nursing Prairie View A&M University Background: Researchers have demonstrated that social support such as, emotional, informational, tangible and problematic support are associated with the development of postpartum depression (PPD). Postpartum depression is a form of depression that occurs after childbirth. It can affect African American teenage mothers in various physiological and psychological ways, being why it is essential to recognize support systems. Aim: The purpose of this study is to explore the associations between social support and the development postpartum 34

Prairie View A&M University 15th Annual Research Symposium depression. Materials and Methods: This phenomenological study included mother-child and family trios (N=268) recruited from community obstetric clinics, childbirth classes, newspaper advertisements, and other peripartum research projects. Inclusion criteria were aged 18 or older, within 8 weeks postpartum, no past or recent (<3 months) history of psychosis or substance abuse, delivered child without significant developmental delay or medical illness and not premature (>34 weeks’ gestation). A correlation matrix, a regression model, and hierarchical linear regression (HLR) was used. A thematic analysis will be used to analyze data.

Keywords: Postpartum, Postpartum Depression (PPD), African Americans, Teenage Mothers, Nursing, Social support

Seeds of Hope: American Dreamers and Changing Immigration Policies Ana Coronado Larry Hill, Ph.D., M.S.W. (Faculty Advisor) Background: Over 44.7 million people (2018) are making significant contributions to society, yet still question their place within the United States because of the aggressive changes in immigration policies. The Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration is an increasing group of over 450 presidents and chancellors. The purpose of this alliance is to educate the public on how current immigration policies affect their students and families. Today, over 120,000 Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients, who are enrolled in universities, seek permanent residency--with U.S. citizenship as the best-case scenario. Aim: This policy analysis will evaluate the impact of the 5-4 Supreme Court “Public Charge” ruling of its potential impact on DACA recipients and the universities they attend.

Keywords: American Dreamers, immigration, Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration, students, DACA, Supreme Court

ImageJ Assessment of Pneumococcal Capsular Damage in a New Zealand Rabbit Keratitis Mode Camyrn Davis1 Quincy C Moore, Ph.D.2 (Faculty Advisor) 1

Department of Agriculture, Nutrition and Human Ecology, College of Agriculture and Human Sciences 2 Department of Biology, Marvin D. and June Samuel Brailsford College of Arts and Sciences Prairie View A&M University

Background: Keratitis is inflammation of the cornea and is most commonly caused by Pneumococcus and when left untreated, keratitis can lead to blindness. Aim: The current study analyzes Streptococcus pneumoniae (Pneumococcus) associated ocular damage and the use of ImageJ as a tool to access damage caused by the bacteria. S. pneumoniae is a gram-positive bacterium with over ninety different capsular serotypes and is responsible for varying pneumococcal diseases such as keratitis. Materials and Methods: This study used ImageJ to access the percent impact of infection based on capsule type in New Zealand rabbit corneal images after 24 and 48 hours post infection. ImageJ is a computer software program that has the ability to 35

Prairie View A&M University 15th Annual Research Symposium measure any image through the use of different tools within the program. The analysis tool was used to measure the area of the entire eye and the area of the infection for each type. Results: The preliminary ImageJ data reflected ocular damage assessed at 24 hours and 48 hours post infection, which illustrated an increase in percent impact/damage of Type 3 and Mock capsular types. No change was noted in Type 19 capsule type. Further analysis with ImageJ can provide a more detailed evaluation of the ocular damage and render an alternative tool for assessing the ocular damage. Conclusions: The overall goal of the study seeks to provide a full evaluation of the capabilities of ImageJ and demonstrate how this software can offer alternatives for animal research and provide detailed libraries that can construct ocular damage scenarios.

Keywords: Keratitis, Pneumococcus, blindness, Streptococcus pneumonia, ImageJ

Self-Concept and Psychosocial Identity of First Year Predominately Underrepresented Students in a Predominately Eurocentric Institution Roberto de Freitas, M.A. Ronald Briggs, Ph.D. (Faculty Mentor) Department of Agriculture, Nutrition and Human Ecology Background: Self-concept, self-esteem, and psychosocial identity are dynamics that psychologist finds useful in understanding a person’s development and behavior within their existing environment (Lewin, 1936). Black self-concept within the system of Racism White Fear (RWF), a system that is expressed as a domestic and global control system and dynamic, network, and culture, sustained by those identifying as “White,” whether consciously or subconsciously resolved (Welsing, 1991). RWF defaults distorted images that Blacks must uninstall from their brain circuitry (Welsing, 1991). Liberating the Black mind will require vision, critical analysis, strategizing, and execution to return Black self-concept and Black Identity to its harmonious position in the world order. Self-concept, psychosocial identity is critical to sound psychological development. Materials and Methods: This mixed methods study examines the self-esteem measures, self-appraisal development in self-concept, and psychosocial identity development, retrospectively, of First Year Undergraduates (FYU), predominantly underrepresented multicultural students (PURMS), at an Urban Midwest University campus. After their first semester of association with Multicultural student centers (MCC), participants surveyed.

Additionally, the PURMS, self-appraisal narrative of their experiences with the MCC is evaluated for relationships to the Universities’ learning and development outcomes, involvement, and identity theory. The 70 participants’ self- esteem were measured using the Rosenberg Self-Esteem scale (RSE) (Rosenberg, 1965). Three open-ended questions were embedded in the survey to understand how participants adjusted psychologically relative to the university's academic and developmental competence, their process of establishing identity, and interpersonal relationships.

Results: The greater findings highlighted the value of MCC to their identity development and selfconcept. The difference in self-esteem between students in the various MCC also was explored.

Keywords: Self-concept, psychosocial identity, Black self-concept, Racism White Fear, selfesteem

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Prairie View A&M University 15th Annual Research Symposium Zirconium Catalyzed Conversion of Veratraldehyde to 1-(Dimethylamino) methyl-3,4-dimethoxybenzene Sara Delfan Ananda Amarasekara, Ph.D. (Faculty Mentor) Department of Chemistry Prairie View A&M University Background: Amines have been broadly applied in the pharmaceutical and fine chemical industries, which cause intense research for developing efficient methods to produce primary, secondary and tertiary amines in organic synthesis. We developed in the presence of heterogeneous zirconium-based catalyst in which N,N-dimethylformamide is used as the solvent, low-molecularweight amine source and reductant. In particular, N,N-dimethyl tertiary amines are employed as catalysts, buffers on the analysis of peptides and proteins. Aromatic tertiary amines have been produced from lignin-derived aromatic aldehydes via the Leuckart reaction using ZrO2 as catalyst.

Veratraldehyde was converted to tertiary amine 1-(Dimethylamino) methyl-3,4dimethoxybenzene in DMF at 180 using this zirconium catalyst. Materials and Methods: The catalyst was prepared by zirconyl (IV) chloride octahydrate of ZrOCl2.8H2O. Then ZrO2 was obtained at 600â&#x201E;&#x192;, 86.34% yield. Results: Furthermore, we have investigated the effects of reusing catalyst, Aldrich grade, during the reaction. We have shown catalyst can be reused for six times without a significant lost in the activity 94, 94.70% at the same six temperature and condition of reactions. FTIR spectra of freshly prepared zirconium dioxide use zirconium dioxide and Aldrich chemical company product are shown below.

Keywords: Amines, zirconium-based catalyst, pharmaceutical industry, chemical industry, organic synthesis

The Pathophysiological Effects of Fluid-Structure Interaction of Species Transported and Transformed in Human Urinary System Aminata Diagne Kazeem Olanrewaju, Ph.D. (Faculty Advisor) Department of Chemical Engineering Prairie View A&M University Background: The human body is a complex network of interrelated systems and units that operate to maintain homeostatic equilibrium and physiological orderliness. These phenomena are realizable if the different physiological components such as cells, tissues and organs relate properly to make feasible the delivery of nutrients (molecular species) to appropriate site and the disposal of waste from the site. The preceding mechanism is possible due to the physicochemical interactions of the complex fluid (medium of species transport) with the organs of the body. The distortion in the mechanism of transport and interaction is leading precursor to the pathological conditions. Aim: This study intends to investigate the pathophysiological effect of fluid-structure interaction in human urinary system. Materials and Methods: A detail qualitative study will be conducted to gather data on the various parameters responsible for the physiological functionality of the urinary system. The data will subsequently will be coupled into a modelling platform that 37

Prairie View A&M University 15th Annual Research Symposium will help in quantifying and systematically study the mechanism of species transport and physicochemical interaction of these species as they are deliver and dispose from site of interest within the system under investigation. The anticipated goal of this work is to use the modelling platform as a tool to better under the pathophysiological behavior of the system and help enhances the conventional diagnostic and therapeutic measures currently in place to address range of pathophysiological effects connected to the urinary system.

Keywords: human urinary system, fluid-structure interaction, pathophysiological effects, homeostasis, physiochemical interaction

An Introduction to the PRTG Gene and its Affiliation with ADHD Mary Dillingham1 Gloria C. Regisford, Ph.D.2 (Faculty Advisor) 1

Department of Juvenile Justice and Psychology 2 Department of Biology Prairie View A&M University

Background: The growth of the field of bioinformatics demonstrates significant progress for science and medicine. Bioinformatics aids in the characterization and analysis of newly discovered genes. Aim: The objective of this study was to analyze the novel gene, Protogenin (PRTG) using bioinformatics tools and databases. Previous studies have suggested a link between PRTG and the hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Therefore, we hypothesized that the PRTG gene is a highly conserved functional gene, mutations of which could lead to ADHD. Materials and Methods: To test this hypothesis we collected information from bioinformatics databases such as UCSC Genome browser, GeneCards, NCBI, and Ensembl. Results: We found that this gene is located in the chromosome 15, and it codes for the PRTG protein, which potentially plays a role in cell migration and axon growth. Mutations of gene PRTG are associated with neurological diseases, for instance, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, ADHD. The PRTG gene has 6 transcripts (splice variants), 325 orthologs, 36 parologs and is a member of 1 protein family. Gene PRTG is highly conserved across species such as chimpanzees, Rhesus monkey, dog, cow, mouse, rat, chicken, zebrafish, and frog. Conclusions: In summary, in silicostudies indicate that mutations of the conserved protein-coding PRTG gene is closely associated with ADHD. Further studies of the PRTG could lead to novel therapeutic strategies for ADHD. Keywords: PRTG Gene, Bioinformatics, Characterization, ADHD, Ensembl, Orthologs, Parologs, Silicostudies)

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Prairie View A&M University 15th Annual Research Symposium Structural Optimization in Prosthesis Design Yannick Djomatchoual Jaejong Park, Ph.D. (Faculty Mentor) Department of Mechanical Engineering Prairie View A& University Background: Topology optimization is a mathematical method that optimizes the use of material within a given design space for a given set of loads, boundary conditions, and constraints with the goal of maximizing the performance of the system. It has provided radically new design solutions to many engineering problems. One such example is in the design of Airbus A380; topology optimized wing box rib allowed over 500 kg weight reduction per wing. Likewise, topology optimization can also be applied in many other multidiscipline problems such as biomedical prosthesis design. A foot provides support to humans while standing or moving around. This requires the foot should be able to provide a stable platform against different kinds of loading conditions. Likewise, foot prosthesis should restore the functions of the foot in case of foot amputation. Aim: The purpose of this study is to use topology optimization to come up with a prosthesis design that would sustain the daily loads while minimizing the use of material. Methods: Our research involves analyzing the structural behavior of a foot using a finite element method with loadings from typical day-to-day usage. The same multi-loading conditions were applied in in-house 2D and 3D topology optimization codes to determine the better design for a prosthetic foot. The structural response of the prostheses is then compared to that of a real foot and a nonoptimized prosthesis through simulation and structural analysis.

Keywords: topology optimization, prosthesis, biomedical, human foot, multi-loading

From The Drinking Gourd to #BlackTwitter: Social Communication for Social Change TerĂŠsa Dowell-Vest, M.F.A. Fred Bonner, Ed.D. (Faculty Advisor) Whitlowe R. Green College of Education Prairie View A&M Universityâ&#x20AC;¨ Background: Fredrick Douglass was a Blogger! We did not invent Social Communication. We inherited Social Communication. Aim: In this study, I explore the origins, dynamics, and consequences of social media involvement/inclusion in social and civil rights movements from Antebellum America into the new millennium. This research will help educators better understand how trending tools of communications can promote innovative pedagogical methods. Materials and Methods: This presentation covers the Walter Fisher Narrative Paradigm as the theoretical framework for social communication for social change. This theory will illustrate how we use stories to forge communities and create change in society. The presentation also introduces my conceptual framework: Progressive Social Syntax. Progressive Social Syntax looks at the order in which we use media and our respective network of supporters to create the change we wish to see in the world. Participants will learn how to use these concepts in the classroom and relationships with students and the campus community.

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Prairie View A&M University 15th Annual Research Symposium Keywords: blogger, social communication, social media, Walter Fisher Narrative, Progressive Social Syntax

Nutrient Dynamics in Root Zone of Collard Greens Produced in Different Organic Amendments and Rates Omega Dryer2 & Melissa Gray1 Ali Fares, Ph.D.1, Ripenda Awal, Ph.D.1, Almoutaz Elhassan, Ph.D.1 & Hamideh Habib, Ph.D.1 1

Cooperative Agricultural Research Center, College of Agriculture and Human Sciences 2 Department of Health and Kinesiology Prairie View A&M University

Background: Understanding nutrient dynamics in soil is crucial for sustainable agriculture. Aim: A study was conducted at Prairie View A&M University Research Farm to investigate the effect of organic amendment types (chicken manure, dairy manure, and Milorganite) and application rates (0, 168, 336, 672 kg total N ha-1) on nutrient dynamics within and below the root zone of collard greens. Materials and Methods: Suction cups were used to collect soil water samples from 15 and 45 cm depths. Soil water samples were collected six times during 2018-2019 growing season at each plot and were analyzed for different macro and micronutrients (e.g., TN, P, K, Ca, Mg, B, Na, Fe, Mn, Zn, and Cu). Results: There were significant and highly significant effects of amendment types and application rates on the dynamics of the studied nutrients. The dynamics of nutrients were also affected by rain and supplemental irrigation. In general, chicken manure released more TN, P, K, Na, Ca, Mg, B, Cu, and Fe than the other two amendments (dairy manure and Milorganite). However, dairy manure treatments released the lowest concentrations of TN, Ca, and Mg; whereas, Milorganite had the lowest presence of P, K, Na, B, and Cu in their below the rootzone leachates. Patterns of nutrient dynamics varied with events of rain and irrigation under the effects of amount of soil water and time laps of amendment applications.

Keywords: nutrient dynamics, collard greens, organic amendment, dairy manure treatment,

Milorganite Development and Study of Thiamin and Thiamin Analogues Effect on Bacterial Growth Julian DuBois, BS Sameh Abdelwahed, Ph.D. (Faculty Mentor) Department of Chemistry Prairie View A&M University Background: Thiamine, also known as vitamin B1, is essential in maintaining many key cellular functions throughout the body. Once activated, Thiamine can function as a coenzyme for reactions.

Coenzymes, while they are not catalyzing reactions themselves, they are responsible for helping the enzymes catalyze the reactions often functioning as activators of enzymes. Like all other vitamins, it cannot be synthesized by the human body so it must be obtained through the diet or taken as a dietary supplement. Since Humans are incapable of producing Thiamin, there is much focus in the study of its synthesis in bacteria. Bacteria use the thiamin to carry out cellular 40

Prairie View A&M University 15th Annual Research Symposium metabolism and interruption of this synthesis could be detrimental to the bacterial cell as a whole.

Aim: The objective of this study is to develop and test several thiamin derivatives effects on the growth of bacterial cells after manipulation of the standard structure of the vitamin in its natural state. We aim to figure out what altered forms of this vitamin can thrive in synthesis of bacterial cell reproduction. Materials and Methods: Through a series of multistep reactions, we will convert thiamin in its natural state to several different analogues containing different key small molecules.

Keywords: Bacteria, Drug Delivery, Thiamin, Target, Enzymes

The Pathophysiological Effects of Fluid-Structure Interaction of Species Transported and Transformed from Ambience to Human Respiratory System Unyime M. Effiong Kazeem Olanrewaju, Ph.D. (Faculty Mentor) Department of Chemical Engineering Prairie View A&M University Background: The physiological system in humans consists of several organs that are structured to relate chemically and physically with complex fluids, which aid to carry different nutrients and gaseous species (oxygen) necessary for the proper functioning of the human system. However, the quality of the ambient atmosphere and its physiological end effect plays a tremendous role in determining homeostasis (stability) of the human body systems. For instance, anthropological alteration of the quality of air such as incomplete combustion of hydrocarbons can lead to the release of injurious gases such as carbon monoxide, which if inhaled by humans can distort the composition of blood leading to the formation of carboxyhemoglobin. This physiological distortion is fatal in its consequence. Furthermore, with the increased interest in correlating ambient fluid quality with human pathophysiological conditions, it has become immensely significant to understand the mechanism of species transport and transformation in the respiratory tract, the major gateway to human complex systems. Aim: Thus, the research is aimed at studying the pathophysiological impact of ambient species on the human physiological system through detailed analysis of the flow process of species and its mechanism of interaction as they are transported from the bulk ambient fluid to the respiratory organs. Materials and Methods: A detailed qualitative study will be conducted to gather data on the composition of the ambient atmospheric fluids at different geographical locations and the data will be coupled into a modeling platform designed to study the mechanism of transportation and transformation of species as they interact with the organs of the respiratory system. The goal of this work is to develop a prognosticative and diagnostic modeling platform that can successfully analyze and predict the pathophysiological effects of ambient fluid on human systems while offering suggestions on a range of preventive and therapeutic measures to correct these physiological anomalies.

Keywords: Fluid-Structure Interaction, Ambient Species, Modeling, Respiratory System

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Prairie View A&M University 15th Annual Research Symposium Border Politics Cassandra Erbynn Nathan Mitchell, Ph.D. (Faculty Advisor) Division of Social Work, Behavioral and Political Sciences Prairie View A&M University Background: Immigration policy is both a national security issue, a reflection of the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s values, and divisive. The United Statesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; immigration policy has far-reaching effects across the nation and globe. Objective: This paper will examine the border policies of the previous two presidential administrations and the current administration at the time of this writing, Donald J. Trump. Methods: The historical/comparative method will be used to study immigration under various presidential administrations. Secondary data analysis, polls, archival research using government documents and legislative histories, and event history analysis will be used to tell a more complete story of immigration in the United States. The purpose of this paper is to determine whether or to what extent there are differences in the policy priorities of presidential administrations and the reactions to such policies. This will be determined by critically examining the policies themselves and the public opinion surrounding them. Results and Conclusions: We expect that there will not be much difference between presidential administrations. Preliminary results indicate that due to the over-reliance of executive action in immigration policy, presidents reiterate and borrow the policies of past administrations and implement minor variances to suit the current political climate and appease public opinion. Furthermore, Congress has not taken any definitive action to shape immigration policy, leaving much immigration policy to the discretion of sitting presidents.

Keywords: Immigration policy, presidential politics, deportation, border security, the 2016 election, the 2020 election.

The Impact of Nitrogen Fertilization on the Growth and Yield of Green Malabar Spinach (Basella alba L.) in Southeast Texas Earlena Evans Peter A.Y. Ampim Ph.D. (Faculty Advisor), Eric Obeng, Ph.D., Aruna Weerasooriya, Ph.D., & Godson Osuji, Ph.D. College of Agriculture and Human Sciences Prairie View A&M University Background: Green Malabar spinach (Basella alba L.) is a nutritious leafy vegetable, which is popular in the diets of Asians and Africans. It has tremendous potential as an alternative crop for small-scale producers in Texas, but research is needed to determine best management practices for its cultivation. Aim: Evaluate the effect of nitrogen rate on the growth and yield of green Malabar spinach under Southeast Texas climatic conditions. Materials and Methods: The green Malabar spinach was planted on raised beds covered with plastic mulch, and lined with drip tape in July 2019. Each plot comprised three plants spaced 1 m apart. Nitrogen (N) was supplied to the Malabar spinach using urea fertilizer (46-0-0) at 0, 30, and 60 kg N/ha. Each rate was split applied as sidedress four weeks apart to deliver the target N rates. Fertilization was done is a completely 42

Prairie View A&M University 15th Annual Research Symposium randomized design with three replications per treatment. Data were collected on plant height, SPAD reading, damage score, leaf area index, and leaf weight per plant. The data were subjected to ANOVA using version 9.3 of the SAS software, and conclusions were drawn at the 5% significance level. Results: These results indicate that the N application did not affect plant height, damage score, leaf area index, and total leaf weight per plant (P>0.05). SPAD reading increased linearly with increasing N application (P=0.04). Total leaf weight per plant ranged from 448 to 476 g. Conclusion: The lack of nitrogen rate effect on green Malabar spinach growth parameters and yield may be due to inherent nitrogen in the soil or a low nitrogen requirement by Malabar spinach or both. Future studies will be conducted to further investigate these observations.

Keywords: Malabar spinach, nitrogen application, nitrogen rate, small-scale farmers, Southeast Texas

Tissue Engineering Scaffolds for Organ Regeneration Adaeze Eze & Dennis Daniels, Ph.D. Nanzin Sultana, Ph.D. (Faculty Advisor) Undergraduate Medical Academy Prairie View A&M University Background: Regenerative medicine plays a major role in restoring and repairing damaged or diseased tissue. Tissue engineering (TE) is a form of regenerative medicine. TE scaffold, a component of TE, is the idea of using biomaterials that are degradable, to aid in restoring, repairing, and treating damaged tissue. The aim of the tissue engineering scaffold technique is to insert a non-toxic component into the body that the cells can attach, migrate, differentiate, and proliferate through. Objective: The objective of this project was to fabricate and investigate the properties of the combined component of a natural, biodegradable and biocompatible polymer, chitosan, and a natural product, pectin, for TE scaffolds application. Materials and Methods: Here we investigated the building properties of these substitutes by using a fabrication technique called freeze-drying and thermal-induced phase separation to create 3D scaffolds. Different characterization techniques such as Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Energy-Dispersive X-Ray (EDX) were used to measure the properties of the 3D scaffolds for the potential application in TE. Results: The 3D scaffolds were successfully produced using the freeze-drying technique.

The scaffolds had good handling properties and porosity. The SEM proved the porous structure and EDX showed the presence of carbon and oxygen in the material confirming the elemental composition. Conclusion: The results of this research indicated that chitosan and pectin have the potential to be used as scaffolds for tissue engineering applications. Further studies on cell culture is needed to confirm the cytotoxicity of the materials.

Keywords: Regenerative medicine, Tissue Engineering, Scaffold

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Prairie View A&M University 15th Annual Research Symposium Modelling and Performance Evaluation in the Internet of Things using Statistical Tools and Programming Kelechi G. Eze Cajetan M. Akujuobi, Ph.D. (Faculty Advisor) The Center of Excellence for Communication Systems Technology Research (CECSTR) The SECURE Cybersecurity Center of Excellence Prairie View A&M University Background: Internet of Things (IoT) is the enabling of things (i.e., non-traditional computing devices) for communication via the Internet network. IoT has gained a widespread application across industries such as manufacturing and healthcare. Issues facing the IoT and similar technologies (Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS) and Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT)) are security and efficiency. Existing solutions are not efficient because they suffer from a single point failure and performance inefficiencies (such as scalability, latency, and power demand). Objective: The primary objectives of this research are to develop models and evaluation tools to access the performance efficiency of the models that support the IoT technology. Materials and Methods: In this research, we are working towards solving the issue of security and performance in IoT by developing models for threat, computation and security using mathematical abstractions in physical processes (differential equations, stochastic processes, etc.), computer science algorithms and toolkits to improve performance and reduce risks. Also, based on the models and prototypes developed, performance evaluation tools are developed using programming for performance analysis of our solution. Results: The results are threat models for various scenarios of vulnerability and comparative analysis of two computational models for IoT, Actor Model and Blockchain based on efficiency and security. Conclusion: The result shows a direct relationship between vulnerability, risk and failure in IoT and their remediations. The result also gives an insight into the computational overhead posed by blockchain model on IoT hosts and how the Actor Model solves most of these issues.

Keywords: Security, IoT, CPS, Modeling, Blockchain, Actor Model

5G Waveform & Multiple Access Technique â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Simulation and Analysis Nwokoma Faith Cajetan Akujuobi, Ph.D. (Faculty Mentor) Electrical and Computer Department, Secure Research Center Prairie View A&M University Background: Coded Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (COFDM) is one of the most used techniques presently in wireless communication. Its advantage is that OFDM makes the receiver highly robust against Multipath fading environments. With the orthogonal properties of the sub-carriers used, OFDM also accounts for efficient utilization of the spectrum by using single frequency networks (SFNs) and simple equalizers. OFDM has become the standard for physical layer implementation of various digital audio and video wireless communications such as DAB/DVB, access networks (WLANs) and wireless metropolitan area networks (WMANs). 5G however, adopted various access techniques, waveforms and many variants of OFDM suitable for 44

Prairie View A&M University 15th Annual Research Symposium different application requirements. Aim: In this paper, we present an analysis of the performances of various waveforms adopted in 5G (especially COFDM variants) using convolutional coding, interleaving with different digital modulation techniques in different transmission channels.

Materials and Methods: The research was performed in Simulink/Matlab by synthesizing and simulating different waveforms adopted in 5G via multiple conditions and keeping in check the basic requirements of these media and devices like power and bandwidth requirements. Results: The analyzed waveforms are SC-QAM, SC-FDMA/SC-FDE, Zero-tail SC-FDM, CP-OFDM with WOLA, UFMC, FBMC, and GFDM. The result showed that eMBB is good for SC-FDM/SCFDMA, CP-OFDM with WOLA for upload due to devices with limited power while the download is suited for CP-OFDM with WOLA/OFDMA. Wide area IoT upload is recommended for SCFDE/RSMA and downloads with CP-OFDM with WOLA/OFDMA and the same for high reliability services that require lower latency and lower packet loss rate, upload is suited with SCFDM/SC-FDMA. The Download is suited with CP-OFDM with WOLA/OFDMA. Conclusion: This simulation and analysis show that 5G has many techniques and what should be adopted should be specific to requirements.

Keywords: 5G Waveform, Coded Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (COFDM), wireless communication, single frequency networks, convolutional coding

Synthesis and Characterization of Transition Metal Complexes of N2O2 tetra dentate ligands Resembling Biological Catalysts Sahar B. Fattani Gina Chiarella, Ph.D. (Faculty Mentor) Department of Biology, College of Art and Sciences Prairie View A&M University Background and Aim: The purpose of this research is to prepare transition metal complexes that, structurally, resemble the active centers of enzymes, study their chemical and structural properties and test their activity as a potential ecological catalyst for industrial, pharmaceutical and medicinal uses. We have synthesized Schiff bases ligands by reacting salicylaldehyde with ophenylenediamine and acetylacetone with m-phenylenediamine, the formed ligands were isolated and characterized. Those ligands were made to react with of zinc, nickel (II) and copper (II) acetates in solution to create the transition metal complexes. We have prepared and characterized the Schiff bases N, N-bis(salicylaldehyde)-o-Phenylendiimine (A) and N, N-bis(acetylacetone)m-phenylendiimine (B). The preparation procedure differed according to the nature of the ligand.

The synthesis of complexes using the ligand A took place in ethanol solution at room temperature.

The preparations using ligand B were also done using ethanol and refluxing until completion. All compounds were characterized by infrared and UV-visible spectroscopy; 1H-NMR additionally characterized the ligands and the zinc complexes; structures were determined by x-ray singlecrystal diffraction. Computation studies were also performed in one group of these compounds to support the spectrometric analysis. The electrochemical studies have been performed on the metal complexes by using cyclic voltammetry techniques to pre-evaluate the catalytic redox behavior of these compounds. In conclusion, from the experimental results, we can state that we succeeded in preparing ligands A and B and their transition metal complexes of copper (II), nickel (II) and zinc.

The instrumental analysis underlines the physical and chemical differences between ligands and 45

Prairie View A&M University 15th Annual Research Symposium metal complexes and among the metal complexes of the same ligand; electrochemical measurements indicate the possible catalytic potential of some of these metal compounds.

Keywords: N2O2, Tetra Dentate, catalyst, ligands, cyclic voltammetry

Mothers Who Kill: Examining Maternal Filicide Anna Fondren Robin Jackson, Ph.D. (Faculty Mentor) College of Juvenile Justice and Psychology Prairie View A&M University Background: Women who kill their children seems unfathomable. However, high profile cases such as Susan Smith and Andrea Yates show that maternal filicide, defined as the death of a child perpetrated by the mother (Friedman, 2007) does happen and it happens more often than people think. Aim: This research will examine the cases of mothers who killed their children. This research hones in on the commonness of mental illness, modus operandi, motivation and punishment received regarding maternal filicide. Materials and Methods: The current research utilized content analysis to examine 125 cases of maternal filicide that occurred between January 1, 1998 and December 31, 2018. Multiple variables were examined such as demographics of mother and victim, motivation for maternal filicide, history of diagnosed mental illness and family history of mental illness. Additional variables examined in the study include a history of alcohol and/or substance abuse, history of domestic violence (either perpetrated by the mother or someone in the household) as well as other risk factors for maternal filicide (economic marginalization, age of mother, marital status). The specifics of the crime, such as the modus operandi, and the punishment (incarceration, mental institution, probation, etc.) the mother received for the filicide were coded and documented on an electronic spreadsheet, and descriptive statistics were conducted. Results: Analysis of descriptive statistics indicate that 42% of mothers suffered from some type of mental illness whether it is postpartum related or prior mental illness. Suffocation (17%) was the most common modus operandi. Accidental killing (24%) was the most common motivation; finally, prison (60%) was the most common punishment. Conclusions: Based on the prevalence and severity of maternal filicide, changes in policies are recommended for the mother to receive the proper help. Further research related to the topic of maternal filicide is recommended.

Keywords: maternal filicide, mental illness, modus operandi, abuse, Safe Haven

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Prairie View A&M University 15th Annual Research Symposium Exploring the Association between Personal Growth Initiative and Posttraumatic Reactions among African American College Students after Stressful/Challenging Events Kayla Ford Yuki Shigemoto, Ph.D. (Faculty Mentor) Background: After traumatic events, people are able to recognize growth, which is called posttraumatic growth (PTG; Tedeschi & Calhoun, 1996). The personal growth initiative (PGI; Robitschek et al., 2012) is a global inclination to intentionally improve oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s self across life domains, and PGI have been found to enhance PTG (Shigemoto, Ashton, & Robitschek, 2012).

However, there are mixed findings between PGI and PTSD symptoms. There is also a lack of African American participation in research examining the effect of PGI. Aim: The aim of this study is to examine the relationship between PGI and posttraumatic reactions (i.e., PTG and posttraumatic stress) among African American college students. Materials and Methods: In this quantitative study, 49 college students who experienced a traumatic event within the past year completed an online survey. These students completed the following scales: Personal Growth Initiative Scale - II (Robitschek et al., 2012), Posttraumatic Growth Inventory (Tedeschi et al., 2017), and The PTSD checklist for DSM-5 (Weathers et al., 2013). Results: PGI was significantly related to PTG (= .39, t(46) = 2.84, p= .007, R2= .15). However, PGI was not significantly related to PTSD symptoms (= .11, t(47) = 0.78, p= .439, R2= .01). Conclusion: These results indicate that for African American college students with higher levels of PGI reported higher PTG. However, no association was present between PGI and PTSD symptoms.

Keywords: trauma, personal growth initiative, posttraumatic stress, African Americans, college students

Exploring and Building Relationships with Youth in Waller County Tramoni Garrett, Janise Boose & Rachel Bennett Nathan Mitchell, Ph.D. (Faculty Advisor) Division of Social Work, Behavioral and Political Science Prairie View A&M University Background: In a rural area such as Waller County, young people do not have a lot of activities to participate in. In 2018, the Social Science Research Council released a report that found that young people in rural areas have the highest level of disconnection out of any other group. Young children, teens, and young adults lack access to jobs, recreational activities, and leadership opportunities to connect them to their communities. Aim: This study will underline the disconnect between the youth and the generation of older people when it comes to the activities and resources readily available to them. We will address how programs and activities affect a childâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s quality of education and future goals by interviewing staff in the Waller County school district and conducting surveys. We will also analyze the socio-economic status of the families in the district and compare the difference between having available resources or programs to them being unavailable. Materials and Methods: Interviews with Waller County officials who advocate for youth programs and compare the data collected in a March 2020 survey of Waller County residents. Results and Conclusions: We expect that the unavailability of youth programs correlate 47

Prairie View A&M University 15th Annual Research Symposium with not having an adequate amount of money in the Waller County school district budget to provide the students with the resources they need, as well as the lack of administration for these resources.

Keywords: Youth, Outreach, Afterschool, Educational Programs, Local politics

Cyclic Voltammetry Studies of Silver-Milk Complexes Isha Gautam & Brianna Williams Harshica Fernando, Ph.D. (Faculty Advisor) Background: The reactivity of metal complexes can be monitored using electron transfer processes. Cyclic Voltammetry (CV) is a method used to study the reaction mechanism where electron transfer is involved. In the recent years, silver nitrate has received great interest in the preparation of silver nanoparticles because silver exhibits so many different properties. Purpose: Most of the work has focused on the preparation of nanoparticles, while not much attention has been given to electron transfer process associated in these silver complexes formed. Of the silver complexes formed, green synthesis methods have gained considerable attention, as it is low cost, reliable and eco-friendly nature. Aim: In this study, we used silver nitrate and two naturally occurring sources (Cow and Goat milk) to prepare silver precipitates and measured the redox parameters using CV. The preparations were made at different temperatures (25°C and 37°C), and the particle sizes measured using dynamic light scattering. The CV measurements were made at room temperature of the silver precipitates prepared at two different temperatures and the effect of different buffers (phosphate buffer and Tris- HCl buffer of pH = 7.4) were also compared. Results: The CV data show that the electrode potential of the goat milk precipitates does not show a significant variation with the choice of buffer and the temperature at which the preparation is made while the cow milk preparation showed a significant change in the selection of buffer at one temperature while the other preparation had a less effect on the choice of buffer. Conclusion: The dynamic light scattering measurements indicated that all precipitates formed are in the nanometer range and agree with the observed CV results.

Keywords: cyclic voltammetry, silver complexes, green synthesis, buffer, nanoparticles, light scattering

Mental Health of Students of Prairie View A&M University and Discrepancies in the Lack of Awareness and Access to Care Sydney L. Gore, B.S. Quincy C. Moore, Ph.D. (Faculty Advisor) Department of Biology Prairie View A&M University Background: Mental illness is a rapidly increasing issue among young adults pursuing higher education. For those attending college at Prairie View A&M University, receiving mental health care is particularly difficult. Materials and Methods: The current study consists of 80, 18-23year-old, undergraduate students and examine their self- reported various mental health states and how it can directly relate to a lack of access to care, lack of awareness of mental health topics, or 48

Prairie View A&M University 15th Annual Research Symposium a result of the two . The study, conducted via a quantitative approach, used survey questionnaires via Qualtrics. Results: Sixty-seven percent are female, 30% are male, and 1% are other. Results indicate high rates of mental illness, including depression and anxiety like symptoms, among our sample population. While only 10% have been clinically diagnosed with mental illnesses, 40% of the sample population self-identified as having one or more mental health problems; these include but are not limited to depression, anxiety, eating disorders and other body disorders, etc. Out of the 40% of the sample population that self-reported having varying forms of emotional detriment, 30% reported it as a direct result of attending college, while 77% generally believe college has negatively impacted them emotionally. Fifty-three percent have developed adverse behaviors from these negative emotions including but not limited to excessive crying, anxiety attacks, excessive sleeping, not sleeping, not eating, overeating, etc. Of those affected approximately, 10% go to the counseling center regularly on campus. Approximately 20% of participants have sought off campus resources, while 15% express the desire to seek on-campus health help. Seventy-six percent of participants selected that they would like to see more inclusivity, awareness, and mental health treatment options available on the campus with 72% directly answering that they themselves would use them if they existed. Conclusion: In conclusion, the undergraduates have expressed that they do not receive adequate care regarding their mental health issues provided by the institution.

Keywords: mental health, mental illness, college, students, lack of care, awareness

Coalition or Social Reconnection: Evaluating Why Experiencing Discrimination Affects Attitudes toward other Minority Groups Brianna Grays Corey Columb, Ph.D. (Faculty Advisor) Background: Minority groups categorized into race, sexuality, ethnicity and socioeconomic Background have repeatedly faced discrimination throughout the centuries. Aim: In this research, we compared two possible explanations for attitude change toward stigmatized groups after facing discrimination â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the Social Connection Hypothesis and the Common Identity Theory. Social Reconnection hypothesis argues that discrimination or exclusion motivates groups to create new social bonds to restore the feeling of belonging. The person will begin to look for connections with others that they believe will accept them and are easily accessible. Common Identity Theory.

Common Identity Theory states that discrimination towards oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s in-group will lead to positive minority-minority relations. Individuals begin to arrange themselves with an outgroup by finding the discrimination as a common ground and binding together. Materials and Methods: Participants from Prairie View A&M campus were used to complete this experiment. An important focal point for future research is to apply these findings to evaluate the possibility that a person may be able to identify with multiple stigmatized groups, increasing the likelihood for coalition over derogation.

Keywords: minority group, discrimination, Social Connection Hypothesis, Common Identity Theory, stigma

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Prairie View A&M University 15th Annual Research Symposium Determination of Inoculum Activity and Biomethane Potential of Cellulose Morgan Green1 & Harjinder Kaur, Ph.D. Raghava R. Kommalapati, Ph.D.2, 3 (Faculty Advisor) 1 2

Center for Energy & Environmental Sustainability Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering 3 College of Agriculture and Human Sciences Prairie View A&M University

Background: Inoculum activity in a BMP assay is an important factor determining the biogas yield from substrates. Agro wastes are high in cellulose and the bio-methane yield from cellulosic wastes depends upon the cellulose activity of the inoculum. Aim: In this study, we determined the inoculum activity of a mesophilic digester using cellulose as a model substrate. Materials and Methods: Cellulose was characterized for total solids (TS), volatile solids (VS), chemical oxygen demand (COD), elements (N, C, H and S). Bio-methane potential assays were carried out until the bio-methane from three consecutive days was less than the 1% of the total accumulated gas. This study will provide important preliminary information to design the BMP assays involving agro wastes.

Keywords: biogas, agro wastes, bio-methane, inoculum activity, cellulose

Synthesis and Characterization of Histidine â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Transition Metal Complexes Cayla Guillory1& Cody Cash2 Gina Chiarella Ph.D. (Faculty Advisor) 1

Department of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering 2 Department of Chemistry, College of Art and Sciences Prairie View A&M University

Background: Due to the presence of three nitrogen and one oxygen donor atoms in its structure, L-histidine forms a very stable complex with those metal-ions. The nature of the interaction of Lhistidine â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Metal is still inconclusive and most of the analytical data and properties of these complexes are incomplete in the scientific literature. Aim: The objective of this research project is to synthesize, isolate, purify and characterize transition metal complexes of L-histidine with Nickle (II), Cobalt (II), Chromium (II), Copper (II), Iron (II), and Manganese (II) cations.

Materials and Methods: The main purpose of our research group is to prepare compounds with structure and properties analogous to biological catalysts, known mostly as enzymes, and Histidine is an amino acid very frequently present in those biochemical compounds. An important goal in this research is to determine the molecular structure of and the redox activity of the metal derivatives of this amino acid. Results: In this project it has been achieved the synthesized of the transition metal complexes with histidine in two different solvents, water, and methanol; the UVvisible and infrared spectroscopic studies have been obtained, the proton and carbon NMR spectra was recorded when it was possible to do, all these results have been contrasted with the data previously obtained from the pure L-histidine. Electrochemical studies have been also collected and computational calculations have been performed.

50

Prairie View A&M University 15th Annual Research Symposium Keywords: L- Histidine, biological catalysts, amino acid, electrochemical

Alienation of an Ethnic Minority Student at a Historically Black College and University Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Ruchika Gupta Fred Bonner, Ed.D. (Faculty Mentor) Background: This qualitative-autoethnographic study explores my experiences as an Indian student, pursuing a Ph.D. in a Historically Black College and University (HBCU). Aim: This selfreflective study will explore the impact on academic achievement, the role of leadership in cultural responsiveness, teachers' role in accommodating and motivating an international student, role of the peer group, biases and barriers faced by the student, diversity at black university, readiness of accepting new culture at African American university, cultural similarities and dissimilarities and evaluate HBCU's efforts towards catering the needs of international students. This scholarly investigation will provide insight into whether the institution has/has not yet fully considered multicultural issues regarding individuals from non-Black perspectives. Research Question: Are Blacks creating the same feeling for the student, who is from different culture, what they might have faced in Predominantly White Institutions? Narrative: I felt â&#x20AC;&#x153;otheredâ&#x20AC;? in this American classroom. My struggle is different from other international students, as I do not just have to face the academic and socio-cultural differences. In addition, I have to deal with issues related to Whites vs. Blacks within the US classroom, which was impossible to presume before my arrival at the school. Implications: This study will make educators aware of the importance of culturally responsive leadership and cultural diversity in any educational setting, developing a curriculum for the "citizens of this world" irrespective of their caste, creed, and race, taking the cultural knowledge as the window to students' level of understanding. The implication of this study can expand the HBCU's horizon in creating an accepting environment for international students. This study will help inform the student affairs professionals, scholar-practitioners, international student services office, and researchers in their work with this growing and sophisticated constituency.

Keywords: Diversity, ethnic minority, International students, autoethnography, cultural responsiveness.

The History of the Influence of Milk on Public Health and How Effective Milk is on Improving Bone Health Aaron Halsey Kathleen Straker, M. Ed. (Faculty Mentor) College of Arts and Sciences Prairie View A&M University Background: Since we were all very young, we have been taught that milk is an excellent source of calcium for healthy bone development. Research has been conducted on this subject before, though this research has shifted as diet have come in and out of popularity within society. Also, the rise in popularity of dairy milk alternatives has called into question the need for milk in the diet at all. Aim: This research will focus on analyzing how dairy milk rose to prominence throughout human history, especially focusing on the United States. We will also be focusing on 51

Prairie View A&M University 15th Annual Research Symposium dairy milk’s effectiveness comparable to other foods, also taking into consideration all foods availability to the public and other miscellaneous factors. Materials: Polls will be taken from students at Prairie View A&M University. Research and historical articles will be analyzed and used to draw conclusions. Also, milk will be used in an experiment to determine what proteins are specific to milk. Results: Poll results should show that milk is the prevalent choice of calcium among people. I hypothesize that the historical analysis will show that dairy milk grew to prominence in the 20th century due to the efforts of adjacent companies that benefited directly for the growth of milk. I believe that milk will not be the food with the most abundant amount of calcium. My initial guess would be a fruit like bananas. Finally, I believe that the primary abundant protein to be found in milk will be casein. Conclusion: These results will shed light on the complex series of events that take place that make everyday constants in our life mainstays in society.

Whether milk is the best source of calcium or not its effect on society cannot be underestimated.

Keywords: dairy milk, bone development, Calcium, protein, dairy milk alternatives

Evaluating College Student’s Sexual Awareness Hope Hardmann & Cali Philips Andrea McDonald, Ph.D. (Faculty Mentor) Department of Health and Kinesiology Prairie View A&M University Background: Sexual awareness is an important topic to discuss in colleges. According to the literature, college students are at high risk for Sexual Transmitted Diseases (STDs). Some of these include herpes, HIV, chlamydia, and gonorrhea. Educating students at universities and educational institutions about the prevention of unprotected sex, unwanted pregnancies, rapes, sexual assault, and sexually transmitted diseases are very essential. Aim: The aim of this project is to assess college students’ sexual awareness. Materials and Methods: We will recruit female and male students at Prairie View A&M University between the ages of eighteen to twenty-five. The students will be asked to complete a questionnaire with ten questions. Sample questions are “What do you know about STD? or “Do you ever use condoms during sexual intercourse?” The data will be analyzed and reported in tables, figures and graphs. Results: The results will be determined after data collection. It is extremely important to have sexually aware students in colleges and universities in order to sexually educated adults in society.

Keywords: Sexual Transmitted Diseases (STDs), college students, sexual awareness

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Prairie View A&M University 15th Annual Research Symposium Comparison Study of Structural Health Monitoring of Wind Blade Using Numerical Simulation between ElastoDyn and BeamDyn Pranay Krishna Katari Haribabu Ziaul Huque, Ph.D. (Faculty Mentor) Department of Mechanical Engineering Prairie view A&M University Background: Despite various advantages of the floating offshore wind turbine (FOWT), it is still challenging for it to be commercialized. Currently, the FOWTs installed in the real field were very few, and most of them were just for the test. One of the disadvantages of FOWTs is uncertainty related to operation and maintenance costs (OPEX). One way to decrease the uncertainty and reduce OPEX is structural health monitoring (SHM). However, good real measurement data for FOWT health monitoring is rarely available for academia. Thus, vibrational-based health monitoring using numerical simulation can be a good alternative. For this, the implementation of dynamics caused by the elasticity of blade and tower is necessary for the simulation. In this research, two FEM methods, modal based method and exact beam theory-based method, for the dynamics of tower and blade elasticity are introduced, and the advantage and disadvantages of each method are discussed based on the comparison of the health monitoring results. Aim: This research is to provide the efficient vibration-based health monitoring method of the FOWT wind blade and inspect feasibility of it through time domain simulation. Materials and Methods: In order to solve a wind turbine on a single floating platform, aerodynamic analysis tool, AeroDyn, was coupled with hydrodynamic and mooring analysis tool, OrcaFlex, so that it can calculate the full coupled dynamics among wind turbine, floating platform, and mooring lines. In ElastoDyn, the modal based dynamic formulations are used for employing the blade and tower elasticity, and the nonlinear equations of motions are derived and implemented by using Kaneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s dynamics. In BeamDyn, the solver is based upon the geometrically exact beam theory instead of a modal representation of the blades and integrated temporally with a generalized-Îą scheme. The validation is performed by comparing the modal properties obtained in the simulation to those obtained in the FEM modal analysis.

Keywords: Health monitoring, Numerical simulation, FOWT, FEM Analysis

An Investigation of African American Women Mortality Rate in Texas Dajahnique Hayes Andrea McDonald, Ph.D. (Faculty Advisor) Department of Health and Kinesiology Prairie View A&M University Background: Minority women (African American) are more prone to death during childbirth than any other race. In Study conducted by Chichakli .et al it showed that black and nonwhite women have almost 3 times the risk of death from hemorrhage than white women (Chichakli, Atrash, Mackay, Musani, & Berg, 1999). Due to 50% these pregnancies being unplanned they are associated with increased mortality for the mother and infant. Aim: The purpose of this research is to evaluate the American Medical Associate on maternal death among minority women. This is 53

Prairie View A&M University 15th Annual Research Symposium specifically focusing on the state of Texas. Texas still has one of the most concerning maternal mortality rates in the U.S., particularly among black mothers (Johansen, Green, & Feliciano, 2019). Methodology: Study research in regards to minority women death during childbirth. The term â&#x20AC;&#x153;minorityâ&#x20AC;? in this research is addressing African American women. Educating minority women on how to stay in tune with their bodies throughout the pregnancy is the goal. Also, educating that being with a healthcare provider that is sensitive to the needs of the mother is important. Minority women feel that their concerns go unnoticed. Results: Research shows that the numbers turned out to be inflated, but Texas still has one of the most concerning maternal mortality rates in the U.S., particularly among black mothers (Johansen, Green, & Feliciano, 2019). Conclusions: Studies show that a lot of these deaths are caused to lack of confidence in their health provider. Research shows that the numbers turned out to be inflated, but Texas still has one of the most concerning maternal mortality rates in the U.S., particularly among black mothers (Johansen, Green, & Feliciano, 2019).

Keywords: Minority Women, Mortality, Healthcare Providers

Understanding Factors that Decrease in Physical Activity among Pregnant Women Ayanna Hill Andrea McDonald, Ph.D. (Faculty Advisor) Department of Health and Kinesiology Prairie View A&M University Background: Physical activity decreases among pregnant women over the months. Women who did not achieve the minimum physical activity recommendation during pregnancy varies between 64.5% and 91.5%. Factors associated with a higher risk for inactivity or decreased in physical activity during pregnancy varied across the globe, including older-age, low income, low level of education, poor health status, fear of miscarriage, inadequate knowledge, lack of supportive environment, physical change, and increased parity (Hailemariam, 2020). Physical activity is good for most pregnant women, so they can improve their posture and decrease common discomforts such as backaches and fatigue. Aim: The purpose of this study is to understand the factors that decrease physical activity among pregnant women. Materials and Methods: The researcher will randomly select 150 mothers, between the ages of 18-25 yrs., from University of Houston.

Participants will complete a survey describing their self-efficacy levels during pregnancy and an open-ended question asking what factors they believed were associated with a decrease in physical activity during their pregnancy. Qualitative and thematic analysis of the survey data will be used to identify key themes. Results: The qualitative data revealed seven themes relating to the factors that decrease physical activity in pregnancy. These included low self-efficacy levels, work-related, school-related, lack of knowledge of recommendations, tiredness, pregnancy-related symptoms, and being active but not meeting their goals. Conclusions: Considering all these barriers, key factors are suggested for preventing and decreasing physical activity guidelines during pregnancy.

Workplace and school interventions, aimed at providing the time and care along with supporting physical activity programs for pregnant women in the workforce and in school should be considered. These interventions should also incorporate the knowledge, education components, and providing the best advice for undertaking physical activity during pregnancy.

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Prairie View A&M University 15th Annual Research Symposium Keywords: pregnant women, physical activity, mothers, self-efficacy, workplace

The Prevalence of Privately Owned Vehicle Accidents in the United States Army Chris Hobbs Andrea McDonald, Ph.D. (Faculty Advisor) Department of Health and Kinesiology Prairie View A&M University Background: According to the US Army Combat Readiness Center, privately owned vehicle (POV) accidents made up more than half of the Army’s accident-related fatalities per year between the fiscal year 2015 and 2019. There are concerns that combat veterans are more likely to get into POV accidents than non-combat veterans are. Aim: This study examined different types of military accident-related fatalities. Materials and Methods: This project utilized secondary dataset to conduct this study. Data were collected from two databases containing Army accident-related fatalities between 2015 and 2017. Eligible criteria include accidents that occur within the USA among males and females between the age of 18 and 36 years old. Data obtained were analyzed for accident-related fatality cases such as flight, POV, and weapons. Results: A total of one hundred and twenty-one (N=121) accident-related fatality cases occurred in 2017, 109 cases in 2016 and 110 cases in 2015. Seventy-seven (n=77) of those 121 cases were related to POV accident fatalities, ten (n=10) were flight and seven (n=7) were weapons and explosives. Conclusions: In conclusion, POV accident fatalities occurred the most with 63% in 2017. More research is needed to understand some of the causes for privately owned vehicle accidents; educational sessions may be needed to address the high rates.

Keywords: Accident-related fatalities, combat veterans, military, non-combat veterans, off-duty, on-duty, POV

The Plight of the Ethiopian Jews: An Exploration of their Social, Economic, and Political Well-being in the Jewish Homeland Kalyse Houston Marco Robinson, Ph.D. (Faculty Advisor) Background: The plight and story of the Ethiopian Jews, for the most part, has escaped major coverage by global news outlets and has received minimum analysis from scholars. Their migration from Ethiopia to Israel during the late 1900s initiated the first stages of their being assimilated into mainstream “white” Jewish society. This process, thirty years in the making, has in many ways stratified “Black Jews” to the lower rung of Jewish society, limited their political participation, and relegated them to few opportunities for economic advancement. Aim: This research project explores and analyzes newspapers, research centers, and government reports to ascertain the well-being of this marginalized group. Further, this project explores different Israeli governmental policies, which have been implemented that have had a profound impact on the Black Jews.

Keywords: Ethiopian Jews, migration, Israel, Black Jews, governmental policies 55

Prairie View A&M University 15th Annual Research Symposium Evaluating the Effects of Rainfall and Temperatures on Root Zone Soil Moisture and Evapotranspiration Tamia Hull-Littlejohn & Rajendra Sishodia Ram Ray, Ph.D. & Eric Risch, Ph.D. (Faculty Advisors) Cooperative Agricultural Research Center College of Agriculture and Human Sciences Prairie View A&M University Background: Soil moisture is a crucial variable that determines the occurrence and duration of vegetation water stress during the growth period. Soil moisture and evapotranspiration (ET) play a critical role in estimating irrigation water requirements due to its interaction with air and soil temperatures. Soil moisture also controls the exchange of water and heat energy between the land surface and atmosphere through soil evaporation and plant transpiration. Aim: The main objective of this study was to understand soil moisture dynamics and to investigate the relationship(s) among rainfall, ET, surface soil moisture, root-zone soil moisture, and air and soil temperatures at the field scale. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted on the university research farm where a Soil Climate Analysis Network station and an Eddy Covariance Flux Tower were installed in October 1994 and April 2016, respectively. This study used rainfall, ET, air and soil temperatures, and soil moisture data from those two sites to understand soil moisture dynamics at a field scale. Soil temperature and moisture data were available at seven different depths (from 10 cm to 120 cm). Such information provides valuable insights about the effect of rainfall and air/soil temperatures on the distribution of soil moisture along the root zone. Results: Surface soil moisture at shallow depths (≤ 15 cm) showed a quick response to rain and temperature as it became wet and dry quickly, whereas, for root-zone (> 15 cm ≤ 60 cm) and deeper, the layer’s soil moisture showed a slow response to rain and temperature. The rate of change in soil moisture during the drying and wetting cycles was low at medium to deeper root-zone depths compared to the surface.

Keywords: soil moisture, vegetation water stress, evapotranspiration, irrigation, Soil Climate Analysis Network station, Eddy Covariance Flux Tower

The Problem with Cybersecurity in Internet of Things Shemar Hunter Cajetan M. Akujuobi, M.B.A., Ph.D., P.E. (Faculty Advisor) Center of Excellence for Communication Systems Technology Research (CECSTR) Prairie View A&M University Background: IoT (Internet of Things) is growing at a very fast rate and being used in many everyday activities. However, these IoT devices are faced with many cybersecurity related issues.

The IoT has multiple layers, the perception layer, network layer, the data-link layer, and the application layer; these layers are vulnerable to a Sybil attack, denial of service, malicious code injection, sleep deprivation and man-in-the-middle. To defend against these attacks one must consider privacy, security and trust. We want them to be secure. Therefore, finding different ways in which we can secure IoT devices is of necessity in this 21st century applications and implementations. Aim: The objective of this report is to compile information on IoT, botnets, 56

Prairie View A&M University 15th Annual Research Symposium cybersecurity issues in IoT, and solutions to some of these issues. This would include IoT structure and methods to attack and methods to defend. Materials and Methods: Source of information will include literature review from 2018 – 2020 from IEEE conferences and journal papers. An experiment on hacking an IoT will also be discussed. Results: It is anticipated that by this research, we should be able to find the relevant cybersecurity techniques that can be implemented to secure different Iots implemented in different applications. Conclusions: With all of the information compiled here, one may find the solution to one of the unsolved problem or seek to work on a solution. After these measures are taken into consideration and applied, IoT will be prepared for the future.

Keywords—IoT, cybersecurity, trust, botnet, attack

Climate Change Adaptations for Stormwater Management Uchenna S. Igwe Emmanuel U. Nzewi, Ph.D. (Faculty Advisor) Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering Prairie View A & M University Background: This paper examines appropriate practices for managing pavement runoff under climate variability. Under climate variability, assumptions that are made in the design of stormwater management systems based on historical rainfall records must be adjusted when modeling the climate-related outcomes. As is said, “past is not prologue.” Aim: This study examines practices for the sustainable development of stormwater management infrastructure under these cions. The roadway transportation network is critically important in any thriving society and impacts the quality of life immensely. The proper design and implementation of roadway drainage programs will determine the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of such systems.

The expected increase in hydrologic and environmental stresses due to climate variation is a strong motivation for this study and justifies its importance. In the past decade, experiences from several hurricanes and other extreme rainfall events are reminders of accentuating stresses in water management. In the study, the role of permeable pavement applications, runoff reduction methods, infiltration systems, detention systems, pollution mitigation systems and combinations thereof, will be presented.

Keywords: Stormwater management, climate variation, permeable pavement, pollution mitigation

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Prairie View A&M University 15th Annual Research Symposium Security in Internet of Things (IOT) Devices Iyanuoluwa Imoru Lin Li, Ph.D. (Faculty Advisor) Background: The Internet of things (IOT) is a system of interrelated computing devices, mechanical and digital machines that are provided with unique identifiers (UIDs) and the ability to transfer data over a network without requiring human-to-human or human-to-computer interaction. The Internet of things has a lot of advantages such as helping to save more money by reducing manual task and time, automating daily life tasks and increasing efficiency and timesaving. The Internet of things is affecting our lives daily as it can be found for example in different homes, office and hospitals. The issue of security and privacy is a huge concern as the various devices such as smart homes, smart speakers, smart city technologies, smart refrigerators, smart watches, smart fire alarm, smart door lock, smart bicycle, medical sensors, fitness trackers, smart security system etc., may get affected by privacy and security breach as this devices are connected to the internet and possesses strong monitoring features. Identification, authentication and device diversity are the real security and protection concern in IoT, there is a lack of transparency in how user data is being shared among third party entities. Aim: This paper discusses critical issues related to safety and privacy of IoT. Keywords: Internet of things (IOT), identifiers, security, privacy, transparency

Response of Egyptian Spinach Varieties to Nitrogen Fertilization Faith Isabelle Peter A.Y. Ampim, Ph.D. (Faculty Advisor), Eric Obeng, Ph.D., Aruna Weerasooriya, Ph.D., & Godson Osuji, Ph.D. College of Agriculture and Human Sciences Prairie View A&M University Background: Identifying adapted varieties of Egyptian spinach (Corchorus olitorius L.) and the optimum fertilization rates are essential for sustainable Egyptian spinach production in Texas.

Since this information is lacking for Texas, there is a need for research to help small-scale farmers in their operations. Aim: Determine the optimum nitrogen rate for Egyptian spinach production in southeast Texas. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted using two Egyptian Spinach varieties (African and Asian) in spring 2019. The varieties were planted at 1g per 1m2 on a raised bed covered with plastic mulch and lined with drip tape. Four nitrogen rates (0, 20, 40, and 60 kg N ha-1) were broadcast applied using urea fertilizer (46-0-0) in a Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications. The urea fertilizer was split applied four weeks apart to deliver the target nitrogen rates. Data was collected on damage score, plant height, leaf area index, SPAD reading, stand count, and leaf weight per plant. Results: The data collected were analyzed using ANOVA with version 9.3 of the SAS software, and conclusions were made at the 5% significance level. There was no interaction between variety and nitrogen rate (P>0.05). Similarly, Egyptian spinach variety did not affect damage score, leaf area index, stand count, and SPAD reading.

However, plant height (P = 0.004) and leaf weight per plant (P <0.0001) were higher for the Asian variety compared to the African variety. Leaf weight per plant ranged from 114 g (African variety) to 121 g (Asian variety). Nitrogen fertilization did not affect all the parameters measured (P >0.05).

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Prairie View A&M University 15th Annual Research Symposium The Asian Egyptian spinach is better yielding. The lack of nitrogen response observed could be due to inherent soil nitrogen or a low nitrogen requirement by Egyptian spinach. Further investigation of the observations is recommended.

Keywords: Egyptian spinach, nitrogen rate, nitrogen application, small-scale farmers, Southeast Texas

Self-Energized Fluid Lift-Pump using Solar Thermal Energy Yusuf Isa-Yusuf & John Attia Shuza Binzaid, Ph.D. (Faculty Advisor) Roy G. Perry College of Engineering Prairie View A & M University Background: In creating any controlled closed-loop system, it is imperative to design an efficient mechanism to recycle (re-circulate) the fluid contained in the system without losing any amount.

Efficiency and safety become of the utmost importance and must be contained properly if it poses any environmental concern. Aim: This research is focused on the design and implementation of a novel technique to recycle a phase-changing fluid in the closed-loop system for vaporized-liquidpowered turbine. Materials and Methods: The prototype utilizes pressure from vapor in a blackbody solar vaporizer. Applied fluid in the vaporizer has sub-zero temperature of boiling point. The outlet of the turbine, after delivering energy from the vaporized fluid is then fed to the condenser where gas is liquefied again. Condensed from vapor, this low temperature fluid is then pumped to the black-body vaporizer by the lift pump. Heated fluid changes phase to very high-pressure vapor again up to 400psi to activate the turbine continuously. An Arduino microcontroller is programmed to actuate four solenoid valves to maintain operational timing functions smartly. Results and Conclusions: A number of sensors are attached to the microcontroller in the system to control the safe operation. This operation creates an innovative mechanism of pumping effect by using a piston-like diaphragm to provide four (4) times the amount of vapor pressure. Thus, it easily overcomes the inherent black-body vaporizer pressure and pump to lift condensed fluid back into the vaporizer for continuing the closed-loop process. The installed program of the microcontroller ensures that this closed loop system is maintained properly, providing adequate power to the turbine. This mechanism ensures a continuous supply of fluid to the vaporizer while ensuring power efficiency and adequate control and environmental safety.

Keywords: Closed-loop system, Diaphragm, Microcontroller, Turbine, Vaporizer, Liquid phase, Lift pump

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Prairie View A&M University 15th Annual Research Symposium Synthesis of Novel Liquid Crystalline Elastomers and their Mechanical Properties Chidumga Izuzu, MS Yunxiang Gao, Ph.D. (Faculty Advisor) Department of Computer Science and Department of Chemistry Prairie View A&M University Background: Liquid-Crystalline Elastomers (LCE) are a class of soft materials that show anisotropic mechanical properties due to their monodomain crystalline structures. Because of this, LCEs can undergo shape changes upon heating, which can find novel applications in artificial muscles and soft robotics. We also believe that their soft nature, as well as their anisotropic mechanical strength, may guide automatic cell alignment in tissue engineering. Aim: We plan to prepare monodomain liquid crystalline elastomers (LCE) thin films with anisotropic mechanical strength in different directions to guide muscle cells forming automatic alignment during cell culture. Materials and Methods: Monodomain LCEs were synthesized using the traditional or modified two-stage thiol-acrylate reaction methods, which will provide Dr. Gaoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lab high-quality material for LCE-based studies and applications. We have also synthesized LCEs with embedded 1D nanostructures or molecular structures. Systematic mechanical properties of these different LCE thin films are analyzed via a tensile tester to elucidate the structure-mechanical property relationships. Expected results: We expect that myoblast cells that form muscle fibers will grow and proliferate in the direction with less cell-surface frictions. The maximum cell alignments might be observed on thin LCE thin films with optimized thickness. Impact: If successful, we will be able to produce smart tissue engineering materials dictating anisotropic cell growth and tissue regeneration. Moreover, it may boost future computational mechanobiology research by providing an ideal experimental model.

Keywords: Anisotropic Tissue Engineering, Liquid Crystalline Elastomer, Polymer Thin Films, Cell-Scaffold Interaction, Mechanobiology

A Potential Solution to PVAMUâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Food Insecurity Problem Centell Jackson, Andre Johnson, Tony Green, Jayla LaDay, Wesley Okafor, Lataisha Jeffery, Lenaye Palmer, Earlena Evans, Faith Isabelle, Marissa Gray, Nolan Boyd, Cliff Collins, Dora Marin-Gonzales, Debra Braford, Rafash Brew, Aruna Weersooriya, Godson Osuji, Peter Ampim, Eric Obeng, Noel Estwick, & Subhani Bandar Laura Carson, Ph.D. (Faculty Advisor) Cooperative Agricultural Research Center, College of Agriculture and Human Sciences, Prairie View A&M University Background: Food security is the state of having reliable access to sufficient, affordable and nutritious food. Access to nutritious food has been a problem within the state of Texas. Waller County experiences food insecurity despite being one of the smallest counties in terms of area.

Residents in underserved communities who do not have access to transportation may walk in excess of ten miles to acquire food. A case study in the County conducted using Arc GIS 10.5 to analyze census tract-level data from the U.S. 2010 Census at the one-mile, two and a half, and five 60

Prairie View A&M University 15th Annual Research Symposium miles walking distance from healthy food locations outlined an in-depth appreciation for issues surrounding access to nutritious food. While access to healthy and nutritious food had been investigated, our research group was involved in developing an avenue for combating inaccessibility for our PVAMU student population. Aim: The objective was to develop a sustainable year-round system so that nutritious foods can be made available to our student population at an affordable cost. Materials and Methods: During the first year of the study, we embarked upon developing Âź-acre plots for growing fruits and vegetables as well as planter boxes at the Bill and Vera Daniel Farm Greenhouse complex, respectively. To date, these community garden areas have grown over 600 kg of fresh fruits and vegetables. Cantaloupe has been the most productive fruit grown while cucumber and okra are among the top grown vegetables. Most recently, an IRB approved survey geared towards capturing our PVAMU student opinion indicated that over 95% of the student surveyed are interested in a Farmersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Market that provides our students with fresh nutritious foods. Results: The results also indicated that our students favored the availability of strawberries and watermelons, while, broccoli, carrots, and lettuce were among the studentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; favorite vegetables.

Keywords: Food security, insecurity, inaccessibility, Arc GIS 10.5, under-served communities

Assessing Stress Management among College Students Jennifer Jackson, Lerah Lockett, & Laurie Nowlin Andrea McDonald, Ph.D. (Faculty Advisor) Department of Health and Kinesiology Prairie View A&M University Background: According to Affordable Colleges, approximately 80% of college students experience daily stress. Stress is something that is an issue on college campuses due to personal, finances, emotional, academic and mental needs or inconvenience. Effective tools to combat stress are far and few between and stress management on campuses is either nonexistent or is unhealthy.

Aim: The purpose of our study will be to analyze what are the major influences of stress among college students on the campus, and evaluate how students manage stress. Materials and Methods: This project will be a mixed-method study. We will recruit students who attend Prairie View A&M University who live both on or off-campus. The participants will be between the ages of 17-23 years old. Some questions that will be asked include: Do students know what stress is, if students feel that they are under stress check which is the main contributing factor, how do students manage stress, do students know what stress is, etc. The findings will be used to create pamphlets and brochures for health seminars on campus.

Keywords: college students, daily stress, on campus, mixed-method, health seminars

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Prairie View A&M University 15th Annual Research Symposium Twelve-Hour Shift Work and Patient Safety for the Hospital Staff Nurse SadĂŠ James, Emmy Nguyen, Kalandria Washington, Kiara Sims, & Kennedy Williams Vanessa Monroe, Ph.D. (Faculty Mentor) College of Nursing Prairie View University Background: Hospital staff nurses work prolongs shifts that extend beyond the capacity of normal work hours which has surpassed the hospitals ability to deal with the lack of registered nurses employed in their facility. Nurses working twelve or more hours per day can have a significant impact on patient related nursing errors. The long hours can also affect the physical and psychological health of nurses. Aim: The aim of this study is to correlate the health risks to nurses and patients that are associated with 12-hour shift work. Results: A predictive correlational design was used in order to examine the relationship between patient related errors, physical and psychosocial health risk and 12-hour shift work. Both patient related nursing errors along with nursesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; physical and psychological health have a predictive relationship with their 12- hour shifts.

According to the Login documents of various hospitals, many registered nurses normally work longer hours than scheduled and about 40 percent of many numbers of work shifts surpass the twelve-hour shifts. Conclusions: Making an error when work shifts are passed twelve hours shows significant risks of patient safety being increased. When registered nurses work overtime, or well over forty hours a week, the patients safety becomes a great concern.

Keywords: Staff nurse, nursing error, health risk, 12-hour shift, patient safety

Evaluating College Students Sexual Awareness on Campus Destiny Jefferson, Nadia Harris, & Kenedi Hines Andrea McDonald, Ph.D. (Faculty Advisor) Department of Health and Kinesiology Prairie View A&M University Background: College students today do not get the proper training and/or education regarding sexual awareness. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it is estimated that 20 million new sexually transmitted disease (STD) infections occur each year, with almost half infecting young people. In 2015, the number of new cases for gonorrhea, chlamydia, and syphilis in individuals between the age of 15 and twenty-four exceeded expectations. Some reasons for the increase are the lack of education and training, multiple sex partners, engaging in unprotected intercourse, and selecting partners who are at higher risk. Being unaware of sexual awareness also may lead to violent behavior involving rape or nonconsensual sexual behavior which may put college students in great risk of danger. Aim: The purpose of this project will be to identify any gaps in college student sexual behavior and knowledge, then develop a seminar that will promote awareness. Materials and Methods: This study will assess African American college students ages 18 to 23 years of age (freshman, sophomore, junior, and seniors) on how knowledgeable they are regarding different topics primarily focused on sexual awareness. Students will be recruited on campus and a structural very will be administered. The survey will contain questions such as how often do you visit the local clinic for sexual preventative measures, and do you choose to use 62

Prairie View A&M University 15th Annual Research Symposium protection during intercourse? The results obtained from the survey will be used to guide the implementation of the sexual awareness seminar.

Keywords: Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Awareness, College Students, Health,

Interactions of Shrimp Extracts with Silver LaTaisha Jeffery, Brianna Williams, & Isa Gautham Harshica Fernando, Ph.D. (Faculty Advisor) Background: Silver is a metal that has received a lot of attention in the past decade due to its application in making silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). AgNPs have been utilized in applications in cancer diagnosis, as well as therapy and in drug delivery. There are different preparation methods reported for the synthesis of AgNPs, such as biological, artificial, chemical reduction, photochemical, and electron irradiation. Of these methods, green synthesis methods, have received considerable attention due to their environmentally friendly nature. However, ionic silver is considered very toxic for aquatic systems, and there is a concern of the effects of silver- based nanomaterials on the aquatic ecosystem as they are very sensitive to the pollutants. The most popular seafood in America is shrimp. The Gulf of Mexico fishery produces and supplies most of the domestic shrimp in the United States. The presence of oil rigs in the Gulf waters has increased over the years, leading to the contamination of seafood via seeping and oil spills, causing human health concerns. Materials and Methods: In this work, we prepared silver precipitates using shrimp extracts obtained from the edible meat of shrimp and silver nitrate and characterized the precipitates using visible and ultraviolet spectroscopy as well as Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic methods. Further, the size and the shape of the precipitates were examined using scanning electron microscopy and dynamic light scattering measurements; the electron transfer properties were observed using cyclic voltammetry. Results: Our results indicate that shrimpsilver precipitates have formed and are of nanomaterial size and give a new green synthesis method of preparing AgNPs which can be utilized in many different applications.

Keywords: silver nanoparticles, green synthesis methods, aquatic ecosystem, shrimp extracts

Speed Bump for Renewable Energy Andre Johnson, Micheal Daley, Savannah Sargent & Trang Nguyen Shuza Binzaid, Ph.D. (Faculty Advisor) Roy G Perry College of Engineering Prairie View A&M University Background: Technology development is crucially needed to improve and reduce the cost of powering traffic control systems today. Underground power distribution lines are costly to set up and may be priced up to $1.5 million per mile whereas overhead lines cost at least $285,000.

Proximity of the power generation point to the traffic control location is necessary for reducing the cost of the set up. Aim: This project aims to create a speedbump that will produce adequate energy when vehicles move over it. Materials and Methods: This project designed a novel concept of a speedbump filled with fluid that captures both the potential and kinetic energy from a vehicle moving over it. For this system, carefully chosen (schedule 40-60) PVC pipes were used 63

Prairie View A&M University 15th Annual Research Symposium to create a loop for the fluid flow. A DC voltage power generator was incorporated in the loop to harness the flow of the fluid and create energy efficiently. The system has a microcontroller-based hardware/software solution. The program contains codes to estimate energy collection and provide information about system operations. Also, this program includes collecting information about traffic density and temperature gradient of the road. A small vehicle weighing 2000lbs can generate 4915 Watts/axle, equivalent to 2.7 Watt/ hour of electric power produced by the car. Successful implementation of this innovative design will enable traffic control systems in remote locations to be independent from the power supply grid.

Keywords: Speedbump, renewable energy, cost reduction, power transfer, power supply grid

The SCNN1D Gene, an In Silico Expedition Caleb Johnson Gloria C. Regisford, Ph. D. (Faculty Advisor) Department of Biology Prairie View A&M University Background: Bioinformatics is the science of collecting and analyzing complex biological data.

Analyzing and characterizing genes provides a better understanding of genetically based diseases that in turn could provide early diagnosis and better methodologies for treatment of the disease.

Aim: The objective of this project was to analyze and characterize the Sodium Channel Epithelial 1 Delta Subunit, or (SCNN1D). Our hypothesis was that SCNNID must be a protein-coding gene that promotes homeostasis of epithelial cells. Materials and Methods: Several bioinformatics databases, including NCBI, OMIM, GeneCards, STRING, Genetics Home Reference and BLAST were employed to test the hypothesis. Results: In silico exploration indicated that SCNN1D is a protein coding gene that is associated with three other subunits, (SCNN1A, SC1NNB, SC1NNG), that facilitate Na+ permeability in epithelial sodium channels. This gene is localized mainly in the plasma membrane and cytoskeleton but can be found in the extra cellular fluid and the endoplasmic reticulum. It is located on the p arm of Chromosome 1, has 11,615 bases and an orientation of a plus strand. Among its related pathways are ion channel transport and transport of glucose and other sugars, bile salts and organic acids, metal ions and amine compounds. Gene Ontology (GO) annotations related to this gene include sodium channel activity and ligand-gated sodium channel activity. There are two important phenotypes associated with SCNN1D, systemic lupus erythematous, an autoimmune multi organ disease and eczema, a skin condition. There are 114 interacting proteins but the five main ones are COMMD1, ABHD16A, AMIGO1, Angel1, and CFAP74. Conclusions: In summary, SCNN1D is a functional gene and mutation of this gene to lead debilitating diseases.

Keywords: SCNN1D Gene; Annotations, Bioinformatics, genetically based diseases

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Prairie View A&M University 15th Annual Research Symposium Use of Bioinformatics to Explore the ADGRB1 Gene Joshua T. Johnson Gloria C. Regisford, Ph.D. (Faculty Advisor) Department of Biology Prairie View A&M University Background: To advance the field of medicine, scientists can currently use bioinformatics, which is the collection, storage and analysis of genetic information using computer technology.

Bioinformatics could promote the understanding of gene structure and function, which then allows scientists to develop in vitro and in vivo techniques to further study these genes. Aim: The objective of this project was to identify the features of a novel gene, Adhesion G Protein-Coupled Receptor B1 (ADGRB1),in-silico, using an array of bioinformatics tools and databases. We hypothesized that this gene, ADGRB1, is a protein-coding functional gene that is highly conserved. Materials and Methods: To test this hypothesis, we used databases such as GeneCards, MalaCards, NCBI and Ensembl to further investigate and discover the cytogenetic location, number of variants, expression pattern, and possible function(s) of gene ADGRB1.

Results: Our research on GeneCards showed that orthologs of the ADGRB1 gene are present in other species besides humans, including mice, chicken, lizards, and zebrafish. There were also 44 found paralogs associated with the gene, an important one being the ADGRB3 gene which encodes a brain-specific angiogenesis inhibitor. The NCBI database determined that the gene is located on chromosome 8q24.3, has 33 exons, and 45 variants. According to the Ensembl database, ADGRB1 is highly expressed in the brain, specifically in the cortex, cerebellum, and the pituitary gland. The ADGRB1 gene functions as a potent inhibitor of angiogenesis in the brain and may play a significant role as a mediator of the p53/TP53 signal in the suppression of glioblastoma. Disorders associated with this gene include the Carey-Fineman-Ziter Syndrome (CFZS), and Glioma Susceptibility 1, as reported in the MalaCards database. Conclusions: In conclusion, gene ADGRB1 is a functional protein-coding gene that is highly conserved in a number of species.

Keywords: Bioinformatics, Functional Gene, Angiogenesis Inhibition, Fetal Development, Brain Tumors

Comparison of Side Effect Rates of Dry Mouth and Swallowing Dysfunction in Head and Neck Cancer (HNC) Patients Pre, During, and Post-treatment Eva Jones & Kennedy Steele Lisanne Van Dijk, MD (Faculty Advisor)1 1

Department of Radiation Oncology MD Anderson Cancer Center

Background: Dry mouth and swallowing dysfunction are common side effects of Head and Neck Cancer patients. Clinical factors such as tumor stage, age, and physiciansâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; judgement are considered to determine what's best for the patient to reduce or limit the experience of such symptoms. Treatments such as induction chemotherapy and concurrent chemoradiation are coupled with primary radiation to reduce tumors. Aim: The aim of this study was to compare the side effect rates of dry mouth and swallowing before, during, and after treatment between HNC 65

Prairie View A&M University 15th Annual Research Symposium patients treated with Radiotherapy alone (RT), concurrent chemoradiation (CHRT) and induction plus CHRT (ICHRT). Materials and Methods: A total of 604 HNC patients with patient-rated dry mouth and swallowing scores were obtained (MDASI) at baseline, end of radiotherapy, 6 months and 12 months post treatment were examined. We perform our analysis by performing a Mann Whitney U test which determines if there are any significant differences between treatments.

Results: Significant differences occurred between the treatments when evaluating dry mouth scores. They were significantly lower in patients at the end of treatment who were treated with RT compared to CHRT (p=0.005). Swallowing complications were significantly lower in patients treated with CHRT compared to ICHRT (p=0.042). However, patients treated with RT showed the most significant lower scores of dry mouth in comparison to CHRT and ICHRT at the end of treatment and 6 months post treatment(p=0.001,p=0.012). There was no significant difference found in dry mouth scores for RT patients after end of treatment. In conclusion, patients treated with RT had lower swallowing scores and only at the end of treatment for RT patients for dry mouth scores. CHRT showed some significant difference in comparison to ICHRT for patients at the end of treatment for swallowing dysfunction. Our results show that ICHRT did not have any significant difference in comparison to RT and CHRT. Keywords: dry mouth, swallowing dysfunction, Head and Neck Cancer, induction chemotherapy, radiotherapy, concurrent chemoradiation

Drugs and Alcohol Abuse on College Campuses Kennedy Jones & Kristiaan Plummer Andrea McDonald, Ph.D. (Faculty Mentor) Department of Health and Kinesiology Prairie View A&M University Background: Partying, drinking, and using drugs are common experiences on college campuses across the United States. The present literature is showing that college students have greater access to drugs today than in the past. The effect of alcohol and drugs on college students is substantially higher than any other group. Some impact of excessive alcohol consumption include anxiety, depression, coping difficulty and impulsivity. Aim: The purpose of this study is to explore college student perceptions of alcohol and drug abuse on college campuses. Materials and Methods: In this study, a qualitative instrument will be used to survey students between the age of 17 and 25.

The questionnaire will ask different questions regarding drugs and alcohol. We will collect sociodemographic information such as age, gender, and classification and major. Sample questions include â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Why do college students consume drugs? OR what are some programs you would like to see on campus that address drugs use?â&#x20AC;? The data collected will be analyzed by using a qualitative approach. Results: Results obtained from this study will be used to create educational materials to inform students on the awareness of drug and alcohol abuse. Conclusions: After data analysis, we will determine what programs should be implemented around campus and how to keep our students safer when it comes to drug and alcohol use.

Keywords: college campuses, college students, drug abuse, alcohol abuse

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Prairie View A&M University 15th Annual Research Symposium The Experiences of Pregnant Women Using Alcohol Kai Jones, Tiana Maloney, Kelsey Stafford, TonAsia Taylor, Kamesha Williams & Chanel Williams Mona Hassan, Ph.D., RN (Faculty Mentor) College of Nursing Prairie View A&M University Background: The use of drugs and alcohol during pregnancy is associated with adverse effects on the fetus, such as fetal alcohol syndrome, premature birth, and heart defects. Aim: The purpose of this study is to explore the pregnant women experience on alcohol abuse. Materials & Methods: This is a qualitative phenomenological study in which in-depth interviews will conducted with 40 recently pregnant women who have abused substances during their pregnancy. Interviews will be analyzed to determine the results in relation to the lack of screening and the use of these substances.

Results and Conclusions: We expect to find the adverse effects that drugs and alcohol have on a fetus. With this information, it will be useful to aid in health promotion to other women who have become pregnant while using drugs and alcohol.

Keywords: Pregnancy, Substance, Alcohol, Abuse, Maternal

Elucidating Mechanisms of Cancer Cell Growth and Invasion using 2D and 3D Cell Culture Models Aubrianna Jordan Victoria Mgbemena, Ph.D. (Faculty Advisor) Department of Biology, Brailsford College of Arts and Sciences Prairie View A&M University Background: The partner and localizer of BRCA2 (PALB2) encode for a protein that may function as a tumor suppressor. It binds to BRCA2 and DNA repair protein Rad 51 homolog 1 (Rad51) at nuclear damage foci and is assumed to facilitate their accumulation during homologous recombination repair of DNA breaks. As such, mutations in PALB2 have also been tied to breast, ovarian, and pancreatic cancers. While other investigators have reported an increased risk of developing cervical cancer for women with a familial history of BRCA1/2-related disease(s) or other high risk factors, the role of reoccurring germline mutations PALB2 in cervical cancer and others remain unknown. A need exists to understand the contribution of genetics to cervical cancer onset and development. As most cancers are epithelial in origin and can invade other tissues, we seek to investigate 1) the factors that may mediate intercellular communications along with 2) how cancer cells respond to current therapies. Many in vitro studies employ 2D culture methods for examining complex intercellular interactions. Recently, there has been a move to develop 3D and 4D culture systems to investigate mechanisms mitigating cancer development and invasion in multifaceted and organized culture systems. Aim: Our lab will study transcriptomic and proteomic expression profiles in both 2D and 3D culture systems of cervical cancer cells expressing a variant of unknown pathogenic significance. Materials and Methods: The laboratory will use cervical cell lines along with 2D and 3D culture methods, and molecular biology assays. to curate a profile for cervical cancer cell lines growth and invasion in different environmental conditions. Results 67

Prairie View A&M University 15th Annual Research Symposium and Conclusions: We hypothesize that we will observe different expression changes with cells grown in 2D culture versus 3D culture systems.

Keywords: cervical cancer cell lines, PALB2, 2D and 3D culture methods, invasion

The Relationship between Parental Involvement and Mental Health among African American Male Adolescents Coonima Kennedy, Tajaun Burton & Zaire Hickman Roslyn M. Caldwell-Gunes, Ph.D. (Faculty Mentor) College of Juvenile Justice and Psychology Prairie View A&M University Background: Research has shown the relationship between parental involvement and mental health in African American adolescents. Higher parental involvement equals better mental health.

Lower parental involvement in adolescents is correlated with substance use, delinquency, unsafe sex and low school engagement (Voisin, Harty, Kim, Elsaesser, & Takahashi, 2017). Parental involvement predicted adolescent academic success and mental health both directly and indirectly through behavioral and emotional engagement (Wang & Sheikh, 2014). Prevalence and incidence show that specifically adolescents are significantly more likely to be affected by low or high rates of parental involvement. Adolescents who reported higher rates of family stress were significantly more likely to report mental health problems, delinquent behaviors, juvenile justice involvement, drug use, risky sex, and lower school engagement factors (Voisin, Elsaesser, Kim, Patel, & Cantara, 2016). Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s also shown, African Americans have less parental involvement due to socioeconomic status and parents having to work more. Aim: The purpose of this study is to examine if the relationship between parental involvement, monitoring and socioeconomic status have a mediated relationship to mental health and wellbeing among African American male adolescents. If socioeconomic status affects the ability for parental involvement, then it will affect the ability to intervene with mental health in African American male adolescents. Participants: African American adolescent youth. Sampled from a mentoring program in Southern California.

Materials and Methods: A dataset that is comprised of African American adolescent youth will be utilized. The youth are involved in a mentoring program in southern California. For the purposed analysis, Pearson Product moment correlations and ANOVAs will be utilized.

Conclusions: Implications are future research, treatment and prevention strategies will be discussed.

Keywords: African American, Socioeconomic, Parental Involvement, Mental Health, Adolescents

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Prairie View A&M University 15th Annual Research Symposium Vaccination Hesitancy Prevention Program for Parents Fatima Khan, Ramsha Nadeem, Xuan Nguyen, Hieu Tran & Yvette Vo Mona Hassan, Ph.D., RN (Faculty Mentor) College of Nursing Prairie View A&M University Background: Vaccines are one of the most powerful measures used to protect us from infectious diseases today. However, there has been an increase in the number of parents opting out of vaccinating their children attributing to a recent resurgence in mortality for vaccine preventable diseases. Vaccine hesitancy as defined by the World Health Organization is a delay in acceptance or refusal of vaccines despite availability of vaccination services. The proliferation of misinformation about vaccines inducing vaccine hesitancy in parents poses severe health concerns about the safety of unvaccinated children. Aim: The purpose of this research study is to examine the association of health beliefs and parental vaccine hesitancy among a multiethnic sample of parents of children aged of 6-12 years old. Materials and Methods: This quasi-experimental study includes vaccine hesitant parents of children aged 6-12 years old recruited from urban pediatric clinics in Houston, Texas. The researchers will determine findings by handing out a Parental Attitudes about Childhood Vaccines (PACV) pretest survey to evaluate their beliefs of vaccines causing autism, adverse effects, death, and that they are futile in preventing previously eradicated diseases. Then the researchers will follow with an educational program. Lastly, the PACV posttest survey will be used to evaluate the study’s results using a descriptive statistical analysis.

Results: We anticipate that the rate of vaccine hesitancy within the study population will decline.

According to our research, we also might expect to find a correlation between vaccine hesitancy and race. Conclusions: Open dialogue coupled with educational handouts can be effective in reducing the level of hesitancy.

Keywords: vaccine hesitancy, health beliefs, childhood vaccine, health prevention, vaccination.

Legal and Policy Authority of State Courts for the Provision of Services for Limited-English Proficient Users Kruthi Jagadish Kumar Myrna Cintron, Ph.D., (Faculty Advisor) Justice Studies Department, College of Juvenile Justice & Psychology Prairie View A&M University Background: The U.S. Constitution does not expressly guarantee the right that court services and proceedings be provided in the native languages of defendants, litigants, victims, and witnesses.

However, implied under the equal justice under the law provisions is the guarantee that every defendant, litigant, victim, and witness must comprehend what is happening in the courtroom. As a result, courts have found that interpreters are necessary to guarantee the rights afforded by the Fifth, Sixth, and Fourteenth Amendments’ right to a fair trial, the right to be present at trial, the right to confront witnesses, the right to receive effective assistance of counsel, and the right to due process. The U.S. Census Bureau, Limited English Proficiency (LEP) classification refers to anyone above the age of 5 who reports speaking English less than “very well.” The U.S. Census 69

Prairie View A&M University 15th Annual Research Symposium Bureau (2017) estimates the foreign-born population size to be over 43 million. According to Zong & Batalova (2015) in 2013, approximately 61.6 million individuals, foreign and U.S. born spoke a language other than English at home and about 41 % (25.1 million) were considered LEP. Overall, the LEP population represented 8% of the total U.S. population ages five and older. Aim: This paper will review the historical development of the legal and policy authority for the provision of court services for Limited English Proficient (LEP) users (defendants, litigants, victims, and witnesses). By researching the laws and policies within their historical and current contexts, the authors will contextualize the development of the provision of services for Limited English Proficient (LEP) users (defendants, litigants, victims, and witnesses) in U.S. courts.

Keywords: court services, Limited English Proficient, interpreters, foreign-born population, policy

When Help Is Too Far Away: Mental Health in Rural, Texas Roderick Lacy Nathan Mitchell, Ph.D. (Advisor) Division of Social Work, Behavioral and Political Sciences Brailsford College of Arts and Sciences Prairie View A&M University Background: Suicide and other mental health disorders are on the rise in rural areas of Texas. At the same time, clinics and access to licensed clinics is also lacking. Aim: This study will catalog and evaluate the number of mental health facilities / professionals in rural communities in Texas to determine what type of access is available. In addition to examining the types of access, we wish to explore the attitudes related to mental health care access in the rural areas of the state. Materials and Methods: This study will use mixed methods of secondary data analysis and archival research to determine the types of mental health facilities that are available in rural areas like Waller County, Texas, who has access, and how far they have to drive to gain access. A key variable of interest is distance to provider. Results and Conclusions: We expect to find that access to health care is a problem in Waller County, Texas and that it is a major priority for voters and political officials. Distance to provider is a major issue.

Keywords: mental health, rural Texas, access to clinics, archival research, Waller County â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Texas

The Antimicrobial Effects of Chitosan and Zinc Derivatives Jayla LaDay, Debra Bradford, & Subhani Bandara, Ph.D. Laura Carson, Ph.D. (Faculty Mentor) Cooperative Agricultural Research Center Prairie View A&M University.

Abstract: Chitosan (CS) is a biodegradable polymer which has been successfully utilized for the formulation of polymer-based nanoparticles. Compared to the other polymers used in the synthesis of nanoparticles, chitosan has gained considerable attention due to its favorable properties such as biocompatibility, non-toxicity, and the availability of functional groups for modifications and 70

Prairie View A&M University 15th Annual Research Symposium reactions. Zinc is an antimicrobial agent that is known to be effective against various bacterial and fungus strains. Aim: Hence, it was hypothesized that chitosan and zinc can be used to chemically synthesize nanoparticles with potential antimicrobial activity against common food-borne pathogens. Materials and Methods: The synthesis of the nanoparticles was carried out under a nitrogen atmosphere at 60oC. The compound was purified by dialysis and characterized using UVvisible spectroscopy (UV-Vis), Malvern Zetasizer Nanoseries, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS). Currently, the size of the synthesized particles is larger than expected and need to carry to optimization of the synthesis protocol to address this issue. Then, CS-Zn compound before and after purification was used to test the antimicrobial effect against the food-borne pathogens, Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Staphylococcus aureus. During the testing agar well-diffusion method was utilized to measure the zone of inhibition as an indication for antimicrobial effect using trypticase-soy agar plates.

Results: The results indicated that the CS-Zn compound before purification via dialysis elicited a higher antimicrobial effect against the tested foodborne pathogens, compared to the compound after the dialysis. Conclusions: It was concluded that zinc was lost during the dialysis process and the synthesis and purification protocols will be optimized in future studies to obtain nano-size CSZn with high potency against food-borne pathogens.

Keywords: Chitosan, Zinc Derivatives, polymer-based nanoparticles, foodborne pathogens, dialysis

Studies on Interactions of Carbohydrates with Coxylic Acids Yen V. Maroney Lawrence Ananda Amarasekara, Ph.D. (Faculty Mentor) Department of Chemistry Prairie View A&M University Background: As natural resources are depleted, the push to explore sustainable alternatives to ease the demand for said resources has come to the forefront. One primary focus is the development of “platform chemicals,” which offer sustainability and versatility. The most desirable trait of these chemicals is that they can be harvested from natural polymers such as cellulose. This is the planet’s most abundant polymer; it exists as the primary structure in plants and algae. Aim: The key to preparing this versatile polymer for use is depolymerization into glucose. There are many methods for this process, which include a variety of acids. The group of acids used in this study are carboxylic acids. In an initial study, “Hydrolysis and interactions of Dcellobiose with polycarboxylic acids” [1], interactions between the disaccharide cellobiose and carboxylic acids were examined using Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy. This information then gave the ability to gauge the efficiency of breaking glycosidic bonds linking the two glucose molecules. Materials and Methods: Polycarboxylic acids, carbohydrates (cellulose, glucose), FTIR, TGA. 1:1 mmol mixture of carbohydrate and polycarboxylic acid with no catalyst. Results: FT-IR analysis focuses on shifts in the carbonyl (C=O) range (1500-1750 cm-1). The focus for further analysis is based on mixtures having a Δν 15cm-1 -50 cm-1. TGA data focuses on the appearance of a third peak in from 360°C-550°C. Conclusions: This study is further investigating the bond properties and reaction behaviors of carbohydrates and carboxylic acids through Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA) and FT-IR. TGA is used to measure the degradation trends, 71

Prairie View A&M University 15th Annual Research Symposium while FT-IR gives information on the changes in functional groups of the various carbohydrates and carboxylic acids without forming a catalyzed reaction.

Keywords: Carbohydrates, cellulose, carboxylic acids, platform chemical, FT-IR

Accuracy of Diagnosis of Breast Cancer with Machine Learning Classifiers Kendall Lemons Indika Wickramasinghe, Ph.D. (Faculty Mentor) Department of Mathematics Prairie View A&M University Background: Accurate diagnosis of breast cancer is very beneficial as breast cancer is the secondleading cause of cancer death in women after lung cancer in the US. Aim: This study compares several machine learning approaches to diagnose breast cancer using a publicly available dataset, which is comprised of features computed from digitized images of a fine needle aspirate (FNA).

Materials and Methods: We employ three different machine learning techniques, namely Naïve Bayes, k-nearest neighbor’s algorithm (k-NN), and Random Forest to measure the accuracy of the diagnosis. Using 569 patient’s information and 31 features, the above three machine learning classifiers are implemented. After measuring the diagnosing accuracy of breast cancer, an attempt is given to identify the best parameters that optimize the models. Results: According to the experimental outcomes, Random Forest classifier outperforms its counterparts by showing a significant higher accuracy of diagnosing breast cancer.

Keywords: Breast cancer, Random Forest, k-nearest neighbors algorithm, Machine learning, Classifier

What the Dentate Gyrus Teaches Us about the Hippocampus Joshua Lewis Arie Kaffman Ph.D.1 (Faculty Mentor) 1

Department of Psychiatry Yale University, New Haven, CT` Background: The hippocampus plays an important role in converting short-term memories into long-term memories, regulating anxiety, and programming stress reactivity. The dentate gyrus (DG) is a region within the hippocampus that is unique in that it develops postnatally and continues to generate neurogenesis throughout adulthood. These features make the DG particularly vulnerable to stress early in life. Early life stress (ELS) increases the risk for multiple psychiatric conditions such as anxiety, depression, PTSD, and substance abuse. One of the most robust findings associated with ELS is reduced hippocampus volume. Exposure to ELS causes similar behavioral changes in mice including abnormal hippocampus development suggesting that animal models can help clarify the molecular mechanism by which ELS impairs hippocampus development. Aim: To test this issue we compared the effects of two forms of early-life stress: limited bedding (LB) and unpredictable postnatal stress (UPS) on DG development. Materials and Methods: Pups exposed to LB are raised with little bedding and no nesting. These 72

Prairie View A&M University 15th Annual Research Symposium impoverished conditions disrupt normal maternal care and retards growth of the pups. Pups raised under UPS conditions are exposed to LB conditions but are also removed from the nest and separated from the dam for 1hr using unpredictable schedule starting on postnatal day 14. In addition, while the dam and the pups are away from the cage, the nest is disrupted in the UPS condition. We predicted that the added stress associated with UPS will lead to more pronounced abnormalities in DG development. Results: Indeed, we found that LB caused a small reduction in DG size that was further augmented in UPS mice. Using RNA-seq we identified several transcription factors such as sox2, sox9, and sox21 that are preferentially down regulated in UPS compared to LB or CTL mice. Conclusions: These results provide new insights into how complex unpredictable stress early in life impairs DG development.

Keywords: hippocampus, dentate gyrus, neurogenesis, early-life stress, postnatal stress

Synthesizing of Vitamin Derivatives to Test it as a PET Imaging Agent Mitchell Lewis, BS Sameh Abdelwahed, Ph.D. (Faculty Mentor) Department of Chemistry and Office of Undergraduate Research Prairie View A&M University Background: Pet-Ct is Positron emission Tomography which is teamed up with computed tomography. Positron is a nuclear medicine functional imaging technique that is used to observe metabolic processes in the body as an aid to the diagnosis of disease. Which is combined with an X-ray computed tomography scanner to capture the combined image of both devices making a superposed image. PET depicts metabolic or biochemical activity in the body. Riboflavin, vitamin B2 and Thiamine is a B1 vitamin found in food (cereals, whole grains, meat, nuts, beans, and peas) and used as a dietary supplement. Vitamin is important in the breakdown of carbohydrates from foods into products needed by the body. Thiamine is required by the body for cellular respiration.

Thiamine act as a coenzyme when helping cells making them catalysis the reactions in the cell.

Aim: The project is to make a more efficient marker for PET-CT with connecting a vitamin to Fluorine giving a more specific PET imaging agent. We will be synthesizing Fluorine combined to a vitamin to test it as a Pet imaging agent. The product should act as a marker because of Florine, but it should be more specific because cancer cells have more vitamin receptors. Materials and Methods: My starting material is 4-Methyl-5-thiazoleetahnol. Through a series of synthesize reactions, for example, 4-toluenesulfonyl chloride in triethyl amine following by SN2 reaction using potassium fluoride to give the fluoro-corresponding compound that will be coupled with the pyrimidine moiety to afford the 5-(2-fluoroethyl)-4-methylthiazole.

Keywords: Cancer, PET-CT, Drug delivery, Vitamin conjugates, Thiamin carrier. Fluorination, Positron Emission Tomography, Radiolabeling

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Prairie View A&M University 15th Annual Research Symposium Exploring Physical Changes in Women at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUS): Women’s Health Vanecia Lewis & Abiodun Alonge Andrea McDonald, Ph.D. (Faculty Mentor) Background: Most women fail to realize that their health is important. Infertility affects at least 12% of all women up to the age of 44. Only about 8% of Black women between the ages of 25 and 44 seek medical health. In today’s society, it is extremely common for women’s health to be off-balance in college due to various reasons. With this project, we hope to expand knowledge and more resources to Black women not only attending HBCU’S but also all over. Aim: The purpose of this entire study is to understand why women’s physical health is important, especially women attending historically Black universities. Materials and Methods: For our project, we will conduct an interview/poll based on age. Using the data collected, we will analyze how African American female students attending college deal with their health. We will recruit African American female students between the ages of 18-25 years old at Prairie View A&M University, and ask these questions.

Keywords: women’s health college students, historically Black universities, infertility

Using Bioinformatics to Unravel the Mystery of the Novel NFATC2 Gene Kristina Littlejohn Gloria C. Regisford, Ph. D. (Faculty Mentor) Department of Biology Prairie View A&M University Background: With the onset of the genomic era and the identification of novel genes, there is a critical need to annotate and characterize these genes to foster the advancement of medicine. The emerging field of bioinformatics allows the in-silico study of genes, which could then set the stage for future laboratory research and applications to medicine. Aim: The purpose of this study is to use bioinformatics to annotate the Nuclear Factor of Activated T-Cells 2 (NFATC2) gene. It is hypothesized that NFATC2 is a functional gene that may be associated with cancer when mutated.

Materials and Methods: To test this hypothesis, bioinformatics databases, GeneCards, Ensembl and NCBI were used to unravel the mystery of gene NFATC2. Results: In-silico studies revealed that gene NFATC2 plays a role in the inducible expression of cytokine genes in T-cells, especially in the induction of the IL-2, IL-3, IL-4, TNF-alpha and GM-CSF. Gene NFATC2 can be found mainly in the nucleus and cytosol of the cell and is highly expressed in the gallbladder and lymph nodes. Its cytogenetic band is 20q13.2 and it has 175,902 bases. The most closely related ortholog is in the mouse, with 87% similarity. Paralogs of the NFATC2 gene include NFATC1, NFATC3, NFATC4, and NFAT5. These genes form the NFAT family. NFATC2 participates in 53 pathways and exists in 10 variant forms. There are seven disorders associated with mutations of this gene: T-Cell leukemia, ewing sarcoma, chondrosarcoma, leukostasis, oral hairy leukoplakia, aplastic anemia, and crouzon syndrome with acanthosis nigricans. Even though 30 phenotypes are linked to NFATC2, acute myeloid leukemia presented the highest linkage with a score of 23.8.

Conclusions: In summary, the information gleaned from this in-silico study has established that there may be a correlation between NFATC2 gene mutations and cancer.

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Prairie View A&M University 15th Annual Research Symposium Keywords: NFATC2 Gene, Annotation, Mutations, Cancer

The Effect of Oral Contraceptive Use on Childbearing Women Cierra Lockhart, Louis Brady, Eboni Russell, Brandi Houston, Ki'Ana Harris & Zahria Richardson-Battle Mona Hassan, Ph.D., RN (Faculty Mentor) College of Nursing Prairie View A&M University Background: Little is known about whether contemporary hormonal contraception is associated with an increased risk of cancer. Important questions remain regarding the long-term cancer risks that are associated with oral contraception. The use of oral contraceptives in childbearing women can either increase or decrease the risk of the development of cancer. Aim: The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of oral contraceptive use in childbearing women and the development of cancer. Materials and Methods: This retrospective correlational design included childbearing women aged 13 to 35 years recruited from surrounding hospitals in the Houston, TX area. The descriptive analysis will be used to analyze the results.

Keywords: Oral contraceptives, Cancer, childrearing women

New Vision: How Consumer Behavior Has Changed By 2020 Taylor Longshaw Kishwar Joonas, Ph.D. (Faculty Advisor) Background: Consumer behavior is defined as “the study of consumers’ actions during searching for, purchasing, using, evaluating, and disposing of products and services that they expect will satisfy their needs” (Schiffman and Wisenblit 2019). Aim: With the completion of this research, we analyze how consumer behavior has evolved along with the advancements of technology.

Results: In particular, we present the influence of social media (Schweidel 2019), the decline of traditional retail shopping (Im 2019), the importance of product transparency to modern-day consumers (Coulter-Parker 2019), the effects and influence of online word-of-mouth (Schweidel 2019), price consciousness along with time-saving in online purchases (Nickalls 2019a), the increasing demand for other’s opinions of particular products (Nickalls 2019b), and how to understand consumer’s wants in today’s society (Shah 2019). As the topic of consumer behavior is diverse, so are the significant points. They range from social media and online retail stores (Nickalls 2019b, Schweidel 2019) to the actual, physical marketplace (Coulter-Parker 2019).

Conclusions: We feature highlights of recently published application-oriented articles and provide some research limitations. Finally, we present our research in light of student and institutional objectives.

Keywords: Consumer Behavior, Social Networks, Adopter Categories, Word-of-Mouth, personal communications, Positioning, Comparative Advertising, Brand Loyalty

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Prairie View A&M University 15th Annual Research Symposium Exploring Raspberry Pi: Interfacing to the Real World with Embedded Linux Devron Malveaux Yonghui Wang, Ph.D. (Faculty Advisor) Department of Computer Science Prairie View A&M University Background: The Raspberry Pi is a series of small computers that was developed in order to teach students the fundamental principles in computer science. The Raspberry Pi is a small and portable device that allows innovative students to create projects at a low price. Also, it can be used for multiple electronic applications such as a television or computer because it is an adaptable product.

Aim: The objective of this research was to explore the benefits of the hardware and software of the Raspberry Pi. Through gaining knowledge, this book directly gives students the skills needed in order to design and build their own projects. Materials and Methods: Exploring Raspberry Pi is separated into three main parts. First, the book teaches basic programming skills and the set-up of Linux. Then, it teaches about interfacing, controlling, and communication. Finally, it concludes with teaching about advanced interfacing and interaction. The book gives information about topics like Raspberry Pi GPIO, buses, and UART devices through videos, pictures, and examples.

Information was received by creating PowerPoint presentations and thoroughly reading and analyzing the book. Results: This research showed that the Raspberry Pi connect to the outside world. It allows people to explore programming languages, browse the internet, create different software projects, and many more. Overall, students were able to develop their skills and understand Raspberry Pi in order to use it in their everyday life. Conclusions: Exploring Raspberry Pi is an important book that innovative engineering students should read in order to expand their engineering skills. This research gave a better understanding of Raspberry Pi. Now students can use the knowledge given in order to build large-scale software applications.

Keywords: Raspberry Pi, Linux, Interfacing, UART, Software applications

Male Student Nurse Training within a Female Dominated Healthcare Profession Eliza Mardon, Brittany Barlow, Alex Browne, Stephanie Ekezie & Larissa Martinez Vanessa Monroe, Ph.D. (Faculty Mentor) Department of Nursing College of Nursing Prairie View A&M University Background: Male nursing students experience gender-specific problems and biases that may lead to their school attrition. Aim: The purpose of this research is to explore gender-specific problems and biases of male nursing students that may lead to their school attrition. Materials and Methods: The research study is a quantitative study. Questionnaires were sent to Prairie View A&Mâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s College of nursing and hospitals in the medical center for collection of data. The questionnaire displayed questions that would be answered on a scale of 1 to 5 (1 being strongly disagree and 5 being highly agree and 1 being highly disagree) as well as short answer questions asking to discuss personal characteristics (age, race, etc.) and personal experiences of bias in nursing school and the 76

Prairie View A&M University 15th Annual Research Symposium work place. Upon completion of questionnaires, data was analyzed using SPSS Statistical analysis to find relationships between the variable in the study. Results: There is a positive relationship between bias in the workplaces/school setting and male nurses and nursing students. Conclusions: Male nurses will share their experience of gender-specific problems that have affected their attrition.

Keywords: Males, nursing bias, attrition, workplace, school attrition

Effects on Different Channels Bit Error Rate (BER) Performance on a WiMAX Communication System using MATLAB/SIMULINK Qamiyon Marshall Cajetan Akujuobi, Ph.D. (Faculty Advisor) Center of Excellence for Communication Systems Technology Research (CECSTR) Department of Electrical Engineering Prairie View A&M University Background: Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WIMAX) has become a standardized communication system, and just like any other communication system, it has noise problems through the different communication channels. Aim: The aim of my research was to analyze different communication channels in a WiMAX system. Then determine which communication channel produces the least amount of noise. Materials and Methods: We started the process by generating the transmission side of the WiMAX system. The first step was to create a random data stream and make it our input binary data. Second step was to encode the data by preforming Cyclic Redundancy Check (CRC). This was followed by modulating the encoded data through QAM, 16-QAM and 64-QAM modulator. Then the modulated data was converted from the frequency domain to the time domain by using IFFT. We added cyclic prefix to the time domain data to reduce inter-symbol interference. Then the parallel to serial converting begins and it was transferred through the different communication channels. Then we used MATLAB tool to generate the different channels. After that, we generated the receiving side, which would be the reverse process of the transmission side. Results: The results showed the (BER) for each of the communication channels and was able to show which communication channel would produce the least amount of noise. Conclusions: After the simulation was completed, it showed the best channel.

Keywords: WiMAX, BER, MATLAB, SIMULINK, QAM

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Prairie View A&M University 15th Annual Research Symposium In Silico Exploration of the XIST Gene Araceli Estrada Martinez1 Gloria C. Regisford, Ph.D2 (Faculty Mentor) 1

Department of Psychology & 2Department of Biology Prairie View A&M University

Background: The advancement of bioinformatics tools and databases has helped us understand the sequenced human genome and other genomes. The large volume of genomic data is comprised of a surplus of newly discovered genes that needs to be characterized. Aim: The purpose of this project was to explore the functions of one of these newly discovered genes, X Inactive Specific Transcript (XIST). It is hypothesized that XIST is a functional protein coding gene that is conserved across many species and thus plays an important role in vertebrate physiology.

Materials and Methods: Bioinformatic databases, such as National Center for Biotechnology Information, University of California Santa Cruz Genome Browser, Ensembl and Gene Cards; and the bioinformatics tool BLAST were used to test the aforementioned hypothesis. Results: The XIST gene is located on chromosome Xq13.2, within the X inactivation center (XIC). Gene XIST has 6 exons and is 34,980 bases long. The XIST gene is highly expressed in the ovary and endometrium, and its subcellular location is primarily in the nucleus. Gene XIST interacts with transcription factors, BARD1, BRCA1, CHD4, H3C14, MAGOH, and NXF1. However, there are no orthologs or paralogs that have been identified. Mutations of the XIST gene is affiliated with spontaneous abortion, abnormal delivery, and abnormality of prenatal development or birth.

Conclusions: This data indicates that although XIST is a non-coding gene, it is a functional gene and mutations of such gene could lead to several phenotypic diseases associated with female reproduction.

Keywords: XIST Gene, Bioinformatics, X-Chromosome, Genome Browser, Ensembl

Minorities Reluctance to Seek Healthcare Mylinda Mason Vanessa Monroe, Ph.D. (Faculty Mentor) Background: Uninsured minorities are reluctant to seek subsidized or free healthcare services because of perceived bias among healthcare providers. This reluctance to seek healthcare services can lead to exacerbation of a previously manageable healthcare issue, increased economic and social cost, or possibly to the death of the minority patient. Aim: The purpose of this research study is to explore if minority reluctance to seek subsidized or free healthcare services lead to exacerbation of a previously manageable healthcare issue, increased economic and social cost, or possibly to the death of the minority healthcare patient. Materials and Methods: Qualitative (Ethnographic) in healthcare clinics that offer subsidized or free healthcare services.

Keywords: uninsured minorities, uninsured or free healthcare, perceived bias, ethnographic research

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Prairie View A&M University 15th Annual Research Symposium Geometric Stiffness Control Techniques for Metal-based Implants Prevailer Mba Jaejong Park, Ph. D. (Faculty Mentor) Department of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering Prairie View A&M University Background: Bone defects can develop from various situations such as trauma, infections, tumor, surgery, etc. In some cases where the defect is large, making bone not being able to regenerate itself, the defect site needs to be replaced for functional requirements and aesthetic reasons. Bone grafting is one of such methods available for such purposes. This method includes repurposing another bone in the body (or using a substitute) by modifying it to fit into the affected area. Metalbased bone implants are another option. Titanium and its alloys are widely used in reconstruction surgeries. Since the design and fabrication are done using virtually Ex vivo, metal-based bone implants have geometric freedom compared to bone grafts. However, one of the main shortcomings of metal-based bone implants is their inherent strong mechanical properties. A substantial mismatch in mechanical properties between the metal implant and the bone may lead to a failure in the long run. Property gap between the metal implant and neighboring bone needs to be closed to avoid stress shielding. Aim: This study aims to focus on various techniques for stiffness control by changing the geometry of the overall structure confined in a design domain.

We are studying how to make the structures ‘porous’ to control the stiffness of the structures.

While making structures porous intuitively reduce the stiffness of the structure, the study pursues explicitly algorithms where the stiffness can be systematically controlled. Various internal structuring techniques, such as lattice structures with different geometric configurations, architectural materials, and auxetics, are being investigated. Methods, Results, and Conclusions: This work is intended to be a review of stiffness control. Therefore, we will be considering published manuscripts from trusted websites such as Google Scholar, using Keywords such as tunable stiffness, stress shielding, etc. Successful methods that align with our goal of systematically controlling the stiffness will be reviewed carefully. Inferences and results obtained by the authors of these published papers will inform our expected results.

Keywords: Synthetic Implants, Stiffness, Bone grafting

The Effects of Age, Gender, Grade, School Environment, and School Safety on Bullying Victimization on School Grounds Shantol McIntosh Abdullah Cihan, Ph.D. (Faculty Mentor) Justice Studies Department, College of Juvenile Justice & Psychology Prairie View A&M University Background: The concern about youth bullying behavior has grown dramatically in recent years.

School bullying adversely affects wellbeing, academic ability, and the social life of students.

Specifically, the school climate theory dictates that students’ academic performance, teaching and learning experiences, safety, misconduct/rules, and healthy relationships are all characteristics of a positive school climate, which is required to promote students’ academic and social development in school. The school climate theory proposed that violence in schools is related to issues such as 79

Prairie View A&M University 15th Annual Research Symposium class size- student /teacher ratio (high student to teacher ratios) as well as the quality of planning and action concerning disciplinary problems in the school. Some other indicators or effects of the theory are fairness and clarity of rules, delinquent association, studentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; influence, and individual student characteristics such as age, sex, and social bonding/attachment. The theory offers significant potential to improve both the awareness of school violence and its prevention. Aim: Using the 2011 School Crime Supplement (SCS) data, the present study examines the effects of studentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; age, gender, grade, school environment, and school safety on bullying victimization in secondary schools, using a sample of youth aged 12-18 years in the United States. Materials and Methods: The study employed a multiple regression analysis to explain the correlates of bullying victimization. Results: The results show that age, gender, grade, and school environment influence bullying victimization. Conclusions: The findings informing practitioners and policymakers in developing and implementing policies, programs, and interventions to reduce bullying victimization on school grounds will be discussed.

Keywords: School climate, Age, Gender, Grade, School Environment, Bully victimization

Observing Variable Effects of Microbial Treatments in Different Cervical Cancer Cells Jocelyn Mejia, Aubrianna Jordan, Abraham Parada-Medina & Larecia Thomas Victoria Mgbemena, Ph.D. (Faculty Advisor) Department of Biology, Brailsford College of Arts and Sciences Prairie View A&M University Background: The American Type Culture Collection (ATCC) is a repository for different cell lines that are derived from primary tumors or metastatic sites. Each cell line is catalogued based on individual cell line characteristics, culture methods, and specifications. A comprehensive report detailing how each of the existing cervical cancer cell lines respond to the cervical commensal microbe, Lactobacillus Acidophilus (BSL1) has yet to be compiled. Lactobacillus Acidophilus is one of the more populous bacteria species found in the vaginal tract, comprising about 90% of vaginal microbiome. This bacteria is important for maintaining the vaginal pH in an acidic range, thereby limiting the growth of other strains of bacteria. The cell lines C33-A, SiHa, DoTc2-4510 and Ca-Ski will be profiled in the presence and the absence of Lactobacillus. Our laboratory aims to study the growth requirements for each of the cell lines and assess the impact on gene expression. Aim: Our research will study the transcriptomic profiles of treated cervical cells.

Environmental conditions such as media composition and temperature will be modified to assess the impact on gene expression. Materials and Methods: The laboratory will use cervical cell lines along with 2D culture methods, molecular biology assays, etc. to curate a profile for cervical cancer cell lines. Results and Conclusions: We hypothesize that we will observe expression changes in cells treated with Lactobacillus Acidophilus.

Keywords: cervical cancer cell lines, Lactobacillus Acidophilus, 2D culture methods, microbiome

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Prairie View A&M University 15th Annual Research Symposium Annotation of the TLE4 Geneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Role in Tumor Suppression through the Use of Bioinformatics Olivia Meka Gloria C. Regisford, Ph.D. (Faculty Advisor) Department of Biology Prairie View A&M University Background: The Transducin-like Enhancer (TLE) gene family is a group of conserved transcriptional corepressors. One member of this family, TLE4, has just been discovered. Because transcription is a very important process in the cell, it is critical to analyze this gene. Aim: The objective of this project is to analyze the Transducin -like Enhancer of Split 4 (TLE4) gene, and study the effects of its presence, and absence in the genome. We hypothesized that the TLE4 gene is a functional gene that, like the other genes in the family, may play an important role in transcription. Materials and Methods: In silico methods were employed to test out the hypothesis through the use of several bioinformatics databases, which include NCBI, GeneCards, RGD, and OMIM. Results: Through the gene mapping use of radiation hybrid analysis, the TLE4 transcriptional corepressor gene was mapped to chromosome 9. By genomic sequence analysis, it was determined that it contains 20 exons. Furthermore, preliminary results of the genomic sequence analysis showed that the presence of TLE4 has a critical role in bone development and in maintaining hematopoietic stem cell function. In one study, TLE4 knockout mice exhibited leukocytopenia, B cell lymphopenia, and significant reductions in hematopoietic stem cells and progenitor cells, due to the absence of TLE4. Additionally, TLE4 deficient mice exhibited a marked leukopenia that is primarily due to decreased B lymphocytes, with no effect on myeloid or T cell populations. Conclusions: In summary, TLE4 plays an important role in tumor suppression and normal bone and blood development, and its effects warrant further exploration for future studies.

Keywords: TLE4, Transcription, Leukemia, Annotation, Leukemogenesis

Assessing the Substance Use and Influence of Peer among School-going American Youths Tinu Neha Miriyam Sesha Kethineni Ph.D. (Faculty Advisor) Department of Justice Studies Prairie View A & M University Background: Substance use among youth remains a major problem in the United States.

According to the 2018 national report on drug usage, about 34 percent of school-going youths (8th, 10th, and 12th graders) have used illegal drugs at some point of their lives. Another finding by Monitoring the Future, 2019 (MTF) on substance use and attitudes, shows the pattern of substance use, especially marijuana and other illicit drugs among 8th, 10th, and 12th graders in hundreds of schools across the country. However, the current trend shows a decline since mid-2000, the marijuana and other illicit drug use is comparatively higher (35.7%) among 12th graders. Several studies have even shown the harmful effects of drugs on youthâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s physical and mental development, 81

Prairie View A&M University 15th Annual Research Symposium which influences their future opportunities. Aim: Hence, the primary purpose of this study is to understand the nature and extent of substance use patterns among the school-going American youth. Materials and Methods: The dataset for this study belongs to “Outcome Evaluation of the Teens, Crime, and the Community/ Community Works 9TCC/CW) Training Program in Nine Cities across the Four States 2004 – 2005.” The target population is school-going youths of four different states (Arizona, Massachusetts, New Mexico, and South Carolina) in the United States.

In addition, the study looks into the association of variables like age, gender, and race and the influence of peer on the substance-using pattern among these school-going youths. Furthermore, it is an attempt to provide an insight into the severity of substance usage among adolescents then, and how it is still an issue of concern in the United States.

Keywords: Substance use, School-going youths, peer influence, Monitoring the Future

Quest for Wakanda: A Discursive Analysis of the Internal Factors and the External Variables that Impact the Historically Black College and University Journey toward the Establishment of International Satellite/ Branch Campuses Velicia Moore-Toliver Fred A. Bonner, Ed.D. (Faculty Mentor) College of Education Prairie View A&M University Background: In 2003, the African Union designated the African Diaspora (including HBCUs) as the sixth region of Africa. That same year Texas A&M established an International Branch Campus in Qatar, helping it to be the second Middle Eastern nation in the top five hosts of International Branch Campuses (IBCs). Since then, no Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) have made a significant effort to establish a satellite/branch campus in West/Sub-Saharan Africa or the Middle East. Aim: The study will explore: (1) the internal policy/procedural obstacles hindering HBCUs from establishing satellite campuses in Africa/The Middle East; (2) the external factors shaping the journey toward the development of HBCU IBCs; and (3) the potential long-term benefits for HBCUs establishing satellite campuses in West/SubSaharan Africa/the Middle East. Materials and Methods: This study consists of analyzed archival data and interpretive research methods. Conclusions: As many HBCUs are vying to remain economically sustainable, academically viable and socio-politically relevant, international expansion can serve as a means for accomplishing these goals. Several HBCUs engage in study abroad programs, research collaborations, university partnerships, student/faculty exchange programs and some even offer joint degree initiatives. Implications: However, HBCUs are not reaping the long-term benefits of having a satellite/ brick and mortar educational campus or research facility abroad. As HBCUs move further away from a “deficit” mindset/model, as they embrace globalization as a means of sustainability and as they seek to raise their university profiles on an international level, they must establish a physical presence/space throughout Africa and the Middle East.

Keywords: Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU), satellite/branch campus, International Branch Campuses, globalization, Africa/Middle East 82

Prairie View A&M University 15th Annual Research Symposium Epistemic Injustice within Healthcare: Minoritized Persons Scenic Mosley Mark Tschaepe Ph.D., (Faculty Advisor) Department of Political Science Prairie View A&M University Background: My initial findings in the Spring of 2019 portrayed the need for more adequate resources to assist patients with linguistic or educational barriers in understanding their diagnosis and/or physical examinations. The epistemic insufficiencies raised as related to law and healthcare are directly connected to the continued research necessary to configure sufficient solutions.

Approximately 58 percent of Waller County residents belong to a racial minoritized group. Aim: This research argues that the two types of epistemic injustice accounted by Miranda Fricker, hermeneutical and testimonial, adversely affect Waller Countyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s minoritized persons in healthcare institutions. Epistemic entitlement prevails within these institutions due to sophisticated preparation and comprehension of matters concerning health required by physicians, but not the average minoritized person. Such entitlement and asymmetric attainment of knowledge arguably leads to presumptive attribution of minoritized persons and their experience, which is largely in part responsible for discernable resource disparities. Materials and Methods: I describe the two types of injustice, hermeneutical and testimonial, and then explain the origins and factors causing their emergence such as distinctions between race, culture, and ethnicity. I assert that these conflicting origins and factors between a patient and healthcare professional abduct marginalized persons of their ability to properly advocate for themselves as patients, especially when afflicted by an illness. I subsequently suggest that remedies for deconstructing such epistemic injustices include a phenomenological approach that focuses specifically on the large range of factors affecting minoritized persons perspectives and lived experiences as a whole, rather than in objectified parts.

Keywords: minoritzed persons, hermeneutical justice, testimonial justice, epistemic insufficiencies, Waller County

Comparative Study of Floating Vertical Axis Wind Turbine and Floating Horizontal Axis Turbine Designs for Deep Water Applications Olivia Murphy Ziaul Huque, Ph.D. & Raghava Kommalapati, Ph.D. (Faculty Advisors) Center for Energy and Environmental Sustainability (CEES) College of Engineering Prairie View A&M University Background: Horizontal Axis Wind Turbines (HAWTs) have been extensively studied and are currently the popular commercial option as it relates to offshore wind turbine design. At the burgeoning of wind turbine design in the 1970â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, VAWTs were of peak interest. At that time, VAWTs proved to have lower efficiency and experience more fatigue in their bearings and blades in comparison to HAWTs, hence the HAWTs commercialization. However, modern day commercial ventures are pushing for deep water, sustainable floating offshore wind turbine 83

Prairie View A&M University 15th Annual Research Symposium designs. Aim: The goal of this research is to assess the viability of floating Vertical Axis Wind Turbines (VAWTs) for deep-water wind energy generation. Materials and Methods: This push, combined with the exponential advancement of the tools and methodologies used to design and analyze offshore wind turbines has led to the resurgence of interest in floating VAWT development. VAWTs are independent of wind direction, possess lower centers of gravity, can be designed with less machine complexity, and more importantly, may be able to achieve up to 20% cost of energy reductions in comparison to HAWTs. For this study, aero-hydro-servo-elastic analysis was conducted to determine and compare the dynamic responses of floating VAWTs and HAWTs. This analysis was also used to conduct a damage risk assessment of both designs.

Results: Results of this study show that while VAWTs have higher energy production potential than HAWTs, they experience greater fatigue and bending moments above rated wind speeds.

Conclusions: The severity of the fatigue and bending moments is largely dependent on the floating turbine support structure.

Keywords: Vertical Axis Wind Turbines (VAWTs), Floating Horizontal Axis Turbine designs, deep water application, offshore wind turbine design, energy production

Renewable Carbon-based poly(levulinic acid -erythritol) Ahbab Murtoza Ananda S. Amarasekara, Ph.D. (Faculty Advisor) Department of Chemistry, College of Arts & Sciences Prairie View A&M University Background: The current interest in the use of renewable resources based monomers and feedstocks for the preparation of polymeric materials is due to depleting fossil resources as well as climate change concerns. There are two basic approaches in this area; the first is the development of synthetic methods for the preparation of current monomers from renewable carbon and the second is the synthesis of new generation polymers based on renewable monomers. The bifunctional 4-ketopentanoic acid also known as levulinic acid (LA) is a potential feedstock for the preparation of renewable generation polymeric materials. This unique C-5 keto-acid is particularly attractive since it can be relatively easily produced from the most abundant biopolymer cellulose via a series of acid catalyzed transformations. Since 1990s, erythritol (ER) has been produced in an industrial scale and added to beverages and foods to give sweetness, as a flavor enhancer, humectants, formulation support/stabilizer, sequestrant, thickener as well as a texture enhancer. Aim: In continuation of our efforts, we have studied the condensation between biomass based levulinic acid and erythritol in an attempt to prepare all renewable carbon based poly(levulinic acid - erythritol).The bifunctional levulinic acid can react with erythritol in two different reaction modes, where the keto and -CO2H groups can undergo ketalization and esterifications. Materials and Methods: We have used the LA: ER 4: 3 stoichiometric ratio in these experiments as this ratio can theoretically give complete reactions of all hydroxyl, keto and carboxylic functional groups. The polymerizations were studied by heating with three different catalysts: tin (II) ethyl hexanoate, antimony oxide and zinc(II)acetate. The products were characterized by Infrared (IR) absorption spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). In addition, solubility testing were carried out to see the stability of the solids as well. Results: The experiment using Zn(II) acetate as the catalyst produced a hard dark brown polymer where as the 84

Prairie View A&M University 15th Annual Research Symposium products from Sb2O3, and tin (II) ethyl hexanoate catalyzed reactions were viscous liquids. This is probably due to the formation of a higher molecular weight polymer in the Zn(II) acetate catalyzed reaction. The FT-IR spectra of the polymer samples prepared using three different catalysts showed similar IR spectra, suggesting similar functional groups. In conclusion, we have shown that Zn(II) acetate catalyzed condensations of levulinic acid and erythritol gives all renewable carbon based polymer - poly(levulinic acid - erythritol).

Keywords: renewable resources, polymeric materials, fossil resources, climate change, erythritol

Delivery of Bioactive Molecule into Live Cells using Thiamin Chelsea Narcisse, BS Sameh Abdelwahed, Ph.D. & Grace Abolaji, Ph.D. (Research Mentors) Department of Chemistry and Office of Undergraduate Research Prairie View A&M University Background: Thiamine vitamin B1, is an essential cofactor for all organisms. Humans primarily acquire thiamine through their diet. Thiamin/thiamin pyrophosphate has a specific ABC-type transporter that can transport it through the cell membrane. However, various antimicrobial agents do not have the capability of crossing the cell membrane. Aim: The purpose of this project is to utilize thiamin as a carrier for drug delivery of bioactive molecules into live cells. Research has shown that Alanine-Phosphonate is an inhibitor for alanine racemase and can operate as an antibiotic; however, Phosphonate cannot be transported immediately into the bacterial cell and needs a vehicle for delivery. Therefore, thiamin will be used. Materials and Methods: We propose to synthesize the thiamin conjugates of alanine phosphonate to enhance the bacterial uptake of conjugate and enhance the antibacterial action. This conjugate would be synthesized The synthesized conjugate will then be combined to the pyrimidine part creating the thiamin succinimide that would be introduced to the Alanine phosphonate (Ala-P) molecule under wet conditions to yield thiamin-AlaP conjugate. Results: The resolution in this part will lead us to conjugate other molecules to thiamin and examine the activity of the antimicrobial agent corresponding to different bacterial strains, first starting with 4-methyl-5-thiazoleethanol introduced to DSC to create a thiazole succinimide.

Keywords: Thiamine, Alanine-Phosphonate, carrier, drug, antibiotic

Exploring the Effects of GATA2 Gene and its Connection throughout the Human Body Chelsea Narcisse Gloria C. Regisford, Ph.D. (Faculty Advisor) Department of Biology Prairie View A&M University Background: Bioinformatics is the science of collecting and analyzing complex biological data generated by completed genome sequences. In addition, bioinformatics could contribute to early detection and treatment of diseases. Aim: The purpose of this project was to annotate the GATA 85

Prairie View A&M University 15th Annual Research Symposium Binding Protein 2 (GATA2) gene and determine its role in the cell. We hypothesized that this gene is a functional gene that is conserved across species and hence has a very important function.

Materials and Methods: Bioinformatic databases such as Gene Cards and NCBI were utilized to test our hypothesis. Results: The cytogenetic location is 3q21.3, and is 128,479,422 to 128,493,201 base pairs in length. Different names for this gene are DCML, IMD21, MONOMAC, NFE1B. Research has shown that GATA2 deficiency is caused by a diversity of mutations in the GATA2 gene, leading to myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), intense or interminable leukemias, lymphedema, and pneumonic alveolar proteinosis. BLAST results indicated that orthologs for the GATA2 gene include chicken, lizard african clawed frog, zebra fish. Paralogs of this gene include GATA3, GATA1, GATA6, GATA4, GATA5, TRPS1 and ZGLP1 Conclusions: This data indicates that gene GATA2 is a functional gene that plays significant roles in the formation of hematopoietic stem and the progenitor cells.

Keywords: GATA2, hematopoietic, zinc finger, phenotype, protein-DNA Would You Live Here? Exploring the Lack of Amenities in Waller County Anthony Nelson, Teren Livas & Danisha Malcolm Nathan Mitchell, Ph.D. (Faculty Advisor) Division of Social Work, Behavioral, and Political Sciences Brailsford College of Arts and Sciences Prairie View A&M University Background: Waller County is a rural area, consisting of an estimated 51,307 residents (U.S. Census Bureau 2017). Though the population has increased since the 2010 Census, the county continues to lack basic amenities that residents may need or want. The 2018 Future of Rural Texas Poll examined the attitudes of Texas residents relating to a variety of issues and found that health care, job opportunities, and education were chief concerns. This study was groundbreaking, but under sampled areas with a high number of minoritized communities. Aim: The purpose of this study is to examine the attitudes and service priorities of the residents of Waller County, Texas using a survey conducted during the month of March. Methods: A survey of residents of Waller County, Texas will be conducted between March 1 and March 31, 2020. A web-based survey on Qualtrics will be distributed by the county judge to residents during this time. To augment sample size and to reach respondents without quality access to the internet, we will set up tables at specific locations throughout the county. We expect to get about 300-500 respondents. Results and Conclusions: We expect to find what essential amenities residents want in their county community and use that data to recommend certain amenities to the County.

Keywords: recreational activities, social programs, transportation, healthcare, education

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Prairie View A&M University 15th Annual Research Symposium Student Maker Concept Project Uchenna Nwanyanwu Yonghui Wang, Ph.D. (Faculty Mentor) Department of Computer Science, College of Engineering Prairie View A&M University Background: College students attend classes to learn course materials with the aim of practicing what they have learnt after graduation. This often leads to getting a job or creating jobs as entrepreneurs. However, the reality is that most students especially in practical fields like computer science attend classes without practical understanding of how real life problems are solved with computer science. Though the class covers the curriculum but there still exist a gap between what is learned in the class and real life application. More so, some students find it difficult getting through software development job interviews especially when faced with solving real life problems. Aim: The objective of this study is to create a project-based maker concept that will help bridge the gap between classroom studies and real life problem solving techniques/skills. This will help us understand the effectiveness of this method in helping students understand how algorithms and data structures are used to solve real life problems. Materials and Methods: A list of projects with real life application were created based on the topics that have been taught in the class. Different solutions with different algorithmic complexities for each project were carefully created. The projects were shared with the students for development and solution to the projects were committed on github and the link was also shared with the students. The students were asked to work on the projects and compare their solutions with the provided solutions. The different solutions to each problem was provided in order to help students understand how different algorithms solve the same problem with different runtimes. Results: The results revealed that using a project-based approach to learn computer science is very effective. For the first time, most students loved the challenge and took their time to trace program execution and understand how the problems were solved step by step. Some came around and asked for assistance and directions, which helped them understand how problems can be solved algorithmically. Conclusions: In conclusion, using a project-based approach provides a challenging platform for students to improve their computing skills and helps in collaboration and knowledge sharing.

Keywords: collaboration; make concept; project-based approach; GitHub; software development

What are the Emotional Experiences and Mental Status of Adolescents who use Social Media?

Chinwendu Obiagwu, Chukwuemeka Onyekwere, Asher Kurian, Marion Nanyongo & Rufus Agbonyi Vanessa Monroe, Ph.D. (Faculty Advisor) Department of Nursing Prairie View A&M University Background: Barry et al. (2017) reported that at least 24% of adolescents were constantly online through various social media platforms. While some of these platforms have positive benefits, it is suspected that the time spent on the vast numbers of these social media platforms can have a 87

Prairie View A&M University 15th Annual Research Symposium negative impact on the emotional and sociological development of adolescents. The purpose of this research study is to correlate the amount of time spent on social media platforms with the emotional and sociological development of adolescents. Aim: What is the effect that social media has on adolescents in terms of their emotional and mental status? Hypothesis: Adolescents who are on social media constantly and those who have more than one active social media will have a worse mental and emotional state. Research Design: Longitudinal-Prospective Non-Experimental Design. Population/Sample: Purposive sampling will be used to obtain an estimated sample size of 50 adolescents and their legal guardians. Setting: School Clinic. Data collection/instrument: Questionnaire will be handed out with 10 questions and answers will be analyzed. Data Analysis: A thematic analysis will be used to analyze the similar themes/emotions noted. Nursing Implication: Adolescents today use social media at a higher rate than any other age group. This age group is susceptible to emotional change and abuse. Researchers want to understand the experience social media has on their mental status to help prevent serious and possible fatal consequences from emotional change.

Keywords: Adolescents, mental status, emotional experience, social media platforms, sociological development

Study the Effects of Cover Cropping on Soil CO2 Emissions: An Experimental Approach Wesley Okafor, Tolulope Olutimehin, & Rajendra Sishodia Ram Ray, Ph.D., Laura Carson, Ph.D., Ripendra Awal, Ph.D., Almoutaz Elhassan, Ph.D. & Ali Fares, Ph.D. (Faculty Advisors) Background: Soil acts as a source and sink for greenhouse gases, and helps in soil carbon sequestration. Agricultural management practices such as cover cropping influences soil water dynamics as well as carbon cycling by changing soil CO2emission rate. Aim: The rate of change of soil CO2 emission can be different for the different cover cropping and management practices.

Materials and Methods: Twenty-seven plots planted with four cover crops stand alone and in combinations was used to evaluate the effects of cover cropping on soil CO2 emission before and after rain under dry and wet soil conditions, respectively, on the Prairie View A&M University research farm. Results: The results showed higher CO2 emissions under wet than dry soil conditions. There were no significant differences in soil CO2emissions under dry soil conditions.

However, under wet soil conditions, winter wheat and crimson clover cover crops showed lower soil CO2emissions whereas winter rye and hairy vetch showed higher soil CO2 emissions.

Conclusions: These results can help explain the temporal and spatial variation of soil CO2emissions during the growing season of various cover crops grown in the southern USA. Keywords: soil carbon sequestration, soil CO2 emissions, cover cropping, greenhouse gases, agriculture

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Prairie View A&M University 15th Annual Research Symposium Long Term Effects of Child Sexual Abuse on Males Cassey Okoro, Rosemary Joiner, Melanie Jackson, Ashley Gonzales, Olukemi Oba & Kendra Milton Mona Hassan, Ph.D. (Faculty Mentor) Background: Childhood sexual abuse is known to have serious and extensive consequences. It is generally understood in the literature that child sexual abuse (CSA) encompasses any type of sexual activity with a minor by a person in a position of control. Aim: The purpose of this study is to explore the effects of CSA in males after disclosure; thereby allowing the researchers to differentiate or display a resemblance of various sexual experiences amongst males. Materials and Methods: A phenomenological approach is used to focus on how trauma events are personally experienced by men. The study included adult men. Semi Constructed interviews from 45 to 90 minutes in length and will be conducted with participants over the telephone and were digitally recorded. The aim of this study is to illustrate the immense need to give a voice to men who have been victims of CSA because most literature focuses on female survivors.

Keywords: children, sexual abuse, males, survivors, trauma

An Ethnographic Study of the Commodification and Exploitation of Black Internet Content and Product Chiamaka Okoye Christopher Medina M.S (Faculty Mentor) Department of Language and Communications Prairie View A&M University Background: The profitability of minority culture refers to the practice of the majority exploiting minoritiesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; cultural contributions such as those to fashion, music, hair, beauty, inventions, etc. to produce earnings without crediting or providing originators with a share of profit. This practice is rampant and places minority entrepreneurs at a disadvantage. In their 2019 report the Congressional Black Caucus foundation found that black 28.4% of black businesses are negatively impacted by access to capital, a rate nearly 3 times higher than their white counterparts (Howard, 2019). The combined effects of exploitation and systemic barriers to business make this issue even more damaging to victims: while on one hand their ideas do not receive investment on the other hand others exploit and profit from their ideas. Aim: The goal of this research is to create an ethnographic study about the cultural misappropriation and subsequent commodification of minority culture. Material and Methods: The ethnographic study will consist of the interviewing of black internet content creators or product developers, who have had their products or ideas commodified or exploited. The study will use content analysis method to analyze social media hashtags, or viral content, to determine general attitudes or beliefs about the commodification and exploitation of black products and ideas. This project will utilize Hegelian dialectic to explore general attitudes regarding commodification and exploitation of black products and ideas. By using Hegelian dialectic as a lens through which to analyze the of black content and products being commodified and exploited and the publicâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s opinion the mechanism through which this phenomenon occurs can be identified.

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Prairie View A&M University 15th Annual Research Symposium Keywords: minority, culture, exploitation, systemic barriers, misappropriation

Produced Water Filtration with Flat-Sheet Ultrafiltration Membrane Akolade Okunola1 Hongbo Du, Ph.D1 & Raghava R. Kommalapati, Ph.D.1, 2 (Faculty Advisors) 1 2

Center for Energy and Environmental Sustainability Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering Prairie View A&M University

Background: Oil and natural gas extraction generate high volumes of wastewater from well fracturing and drilling. The wastewater known as produced water (PW) contains both organic and inorganic contaminants. Due to strict environmental regulations, it is important to treat PW before discharge to the environment or reuse. Aim: The goal of this current research is to improve the treatment process for PW using ultrafiltration, which is a reliable process with high oil and suspended solids removal rate. Materials and Methods: Suspended particles and residual oil present in PW are removed with caustic soda softening, CO2 neutralization, and microfiltration.

Then, PW is filtered using a flat-sheet ultrafiltration membrane with a variable frequency drive for flow control. The membrane has a molecular weight cutoff of 1000 Da. The ultrafiltration system includes a CF042 test cell, a stainless steel conical feed tank, a feed flow pump, a cell platform containing system controls, tubing, a chiller, a digital balance, and a computer to record data.

Results: PW before and after ultrafiltration is characterized by measuring pH, chemical oxygen demand (COD), and total dissolved solids (TDS). The water flux is reduced to about 80% after running 300 min ultrafiltration. COD and TDS in PW are reduced by 10-15%. Conclusions: Our experiment results demonstrate that ultrafiltration is a good option to partially remove salt and oil residue from PW. More work is ongoing.

Keywords: produced water, ultrafiltration, chemical oxygen demand, total dissolved solids

Your Health Is Important: Type 1 Diabetes in Black College Students Celine Okwusogu & Cyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Mone Thompson Andrea McDonald Ph.D. (Faculty Advisor) Department of Health and Kinesiology Prairie View A&M University Background: Diabetes is a disease that affects people, mentally, physically, and socially. It is at an increasing/alarming rate in the United States, cases have risen to an estimated 34.2 million. In 2018, about 1.5 million new cases of diabetes were diagnosed among U.S. adults 18 years or older.

This includes approximately 210,000 children and adolescents younger than 20. Diabetes can affect many parts of the body associated with serious complications, such as heart disease, stroke, blindness, kidney failure, and lower-limb amputation, among several other conditions. Aim: To report the prevalence and incidence of type 1 diabetes among African American youth and to describe quality of life, clinical, and behavioral characteristics. Materials and Methods: This study will be a cross - sectional design. For our project, we plan to conduct a survey to obtain knowledge about diabetes in college students. We will round up African American students 90

Prairie View A&M University 15th Annual Research Symposium between the ages 18 through 25. The survey will contain studentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s classification, sociodemographics information and questions that are associated with the participants' knowledge, awareness, and upbringing information of what they know regarding type 1 diabetes. The information that we collect from the survey will be analyzed showing students classifications, students checking their sugar as often as recommended, giving insulin as often as recommended, students counting carbohydrates as often as recommended, lastly students that corrected out of range blood sugar levels as soon as they were aware of them. In addition, the results will be used to develop educational seminars on diabetes.

Keywords: Type I Diabetes, quality of life, African Americans, college students, education

The Relationship of Social Media and Life Satisfaction Tolulope Olutimehin Megan Collins, Ph.D. (Faculty Mentor) Division of Social Work, Behavioral & Political Sciences Prairie View A&M University Background: Social media usage is prevalent in both personal and professional lives. Articles and news stories have commented on the addictive and distractive nature of social media. Previous actual research has established the adverse effects of distractions on primary tasks. Social network sites (SNS) benefit users when they are used to making meaningful social connections and harm users through hazards such as isolation and social comparison when they are not. Social media sites, especially social networking sites (SNS) are popular among college-aged people (Marett, McNab, & Harris, 2011): 93% of young adults (18â&#x20AC;&#x201C;29) are online, and 73% of those use social network sites (Lenhart, Purcell, Smith, & Zickuhr, 2010). Aim: This research explores the relationship between social media and life satisfaction, more specifically, the effects of loneliness and self-obsession in relation to social media use. Materials and Methods: A review of previous research on social networking effects through an extensive search on electronic databases (ResearchGate, ScienceDirect, PubMed, NIH, and Proquest). Terminologies related to online social networking were combined with self-obsession and loneliness terms. After identifying relevant papers, the connection between social media networking, loneliness, self-obsession, as well as the limitations of each study and a proposal for future research are presented. Results: All of the papers included are cross-sectional and dependent upon self-report appraisals. There are a few papers distributed on the connection between social media, self-obsession, and loneliness; however, more research should be done to explain the influence of one variable over the other.

This proposal suggests directions for a future study on social media and life satisfaction.

Conclusions: Meticulous experimental studies need to be conducted with different time-point assessments. Important mediators and moderators have to be considered to explain the relationship between social media networking and loneliness.

Keywords: social media, self-obsession, loneliness, online social networking

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Prairie View A&M University 15th Annual Research Symposium A Steganography Implementation Busayo Oluwakuse Cajetan Akujuobi, Ph.D. (Faculty Mentor) Center of Excellence for Communication Systems Technology Research (CECSTER) Prairie View A&M University Background: Steganography is from the Greek word “steganos” meaning covered writing.

Steganography is there for the act of hiding information in a file or image known as cover file or image. In steganography, many techniques are used to hide data in various formats but the most widely used mechanism is the use of Least Significant Bit (LSB) due to its simplicity. Aim: This paper discussed the art and science of steganography in general and proposed a novel technique to hide data in a colorful image using least significant bit. Materials and Methods: Three basic techniques used for steganography discussed in the paper are Injection, Substitution and Generation. It was reviewed that technology is mostly applied to Digital Images involving the use of bits that are 0’s and 1’s. The digital images that were selected were 24-bit depth color images using the RGB (red, green and blue) color model. The idea was to hide text in image with the conditions that the quality and size of the image were retained. Results: The resulting image after hiding data in Graphic Interchange Format and after hiding data in Portable Network Graphic were shown without noticeable distortions. Since digital images are represented in bits and so is the text, the importance of being careful when distorting the 0’s and 1’s so as to avoid distorting the image completely was reviewed. LSB was the recommended bit to use. Conclusions: The proposed technique chops the data in 8 bits and used LSB to hide data. The importance of steganography was said to not have been realized to the stage where it is preferred over its close rival “Encryption”.

Keywords: Steganography, PNG, LSB, Encryption, Graphic Interchange Format

Batch Anaerobic Digestion and Biochemical Methane Potential Analysis of Goat Manure and Food Waste Ayobami Orangun1 Harjinder Kaur, Ph.D.1, Hongbo Du, Ph.D.1 & Raghava R. Kommalapati, Ph.D.1, 2 (Faculty Mentors) 1

Center for Energy and Environmental and Sustainabilityy 2 Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering Prairie View A&M University

Background: Goat manure management in the United States (US) poses an environmental concern due to the heavy concentration of goats in the eastern part of the US. Big farms that breed goats in concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) can generate a large amount of manure waste than other population of some US cities produce yearly. The mismanagement of both food waste (FW) and goat manure (GM) could become a source of air pollution via the emissions of methane and ammonia, further contributing to greenhouse gasses (GHG) and water pollution by nutrient leaching and pathogen contamination of water bodies. Aim: This study investigates the biochemical methane potential (BMP) of GM and FW in a batch reactor using different mixing 92

Prairie View A&M University 15th Annual Research Symposium ratios (0:100, 10:90, 30:70, 40:60, 50:50, 60:40, 70:30, 90:10 and 100:00, on dry weight basis).

Material and Methods: The BMP test was conducted under mesophilic temperature at 36±1 oC with an inoculum to feed ratio (X⁄X) of 0.2. Results: The result showed that the co-digestion of GM with FW improved biomethane production at all the mixing ratios except for GM/FW 40:60.

The co-digestion of GM/FW 60:40 yielded the highest biomethane (341.48 mL/g-VS). After 50 days of anaerobic digestion the treatments of GM/FW 10:90, 30:70, 50:50, 60:40,70:30 and 90:10 yielded (181.97, 168.07, 183.77, 341.48, 306.29, and 168.51 mL/g-VS respectively). The biomethane yield increased by 10.61%, 2.16%, 11.71%, 107.57%, 86.18%, and 2.43% compared to mono-digestion of FW, and an increase of 54% and 72.55% from co-digestion treatments of GM/FW 70:30 and 60:40 compared to GM only. However, the biomethane from GM/FW 90:10 was slightly lower than the mono-digestion of GM, due to inhibition in the biodegradation.

Conclusions: The present findings show the suitability of GM and FW as a potential substrate for anaerobic digestion.

Keywords: goat, manure, biomethane, anaerobic digestion, greenhouse gases

Conversion Processes of Carbon Dioxide into Useful Chemicals Elizabeth Osadare, Shanelle Bryant, & Ariel Taylor Emmanuel Dada, Ph.D. (Faculty Advisor) Department of Chemical Engineering Prairie View A & M University Background: Carbon dioxide (CO2) is the largest contributor to greenhouse effect and one of the leading detrimental gaseous compounds our planet faces. Carbon dioxide has also been considered as the main cause of global warming constituting approximately 55% of the world total emissions (Dermirbas, 2005). Aim: This paper focuses mainly on the economically and industrially viable conversion processes of carbon dioxide into useful chemicals, such as urea, ethanol and electro fuels. An insight into the post–combustion carbon capture technologies that are used in coal fired power plants and how the captured carbon dioxide is converted into various useful chemicals are examined. The main technologies adopted in pre-combustion, post-combustion and how the captured carbon dioxide serves as feedstock for making useful chemicals are discussed in terms of performance, effectiveness, sustainability and compatibility to current technological trends. A cost effective and efficient industrially viable carbon dioxide conversion processes might be the route to the substantial utilization of carbon dioxide and drastically reducing the negative environmental impact of carbon dioxide. Other less economically viable developments in the carbon capture and conversion systems, primarily still in the laboratory scale are discussed. The knowledge gap in these areas centers on the operational costs of carbon dioxide conversion balanced with the reaction catalyst needed to attain high carbon dioxide conversion rate. An extensive research on the conversion processes particularly in the pilot scale area is recommended.

Keywords: conversion, economically, useful chemicals, carbon dioxide, technologies

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Prairie View A&M University 15th Annual Research Symposium Thermo-physical Properties of n-butane and n-decane for Droplet Evaporation Asmaou S. Ouedraogo & Haivany M. Youmou Ziaul Huque, Ph.D. (Faculty Mentor) Department of Mechanical Engineering Prairie View A&M University Background: The combustion of liquid fuels is very important for applications such as internal combustion (IC) engines and gas turbines. During combustion, the droplets evaporate and burn in the surroundings at pressure and temperature higher than the critical state which is 60 atm. Fuels in combustion like biofuels are not standard fuels therefore they do not have thermo-physical properties available in the open literature. Thermophysical properties are determined to decide the performance parameter, for instance, heat transfer coefficient (HTC), pressure drop, and energy efficiency of a thermal system. Among the thermophysical properties, thermal conductivity is considered as the most significant property of any liquid for heat transfer applications. Viscosity is a significant parameter for all heat transfer applications identified with liquids. Viscosity turns into a significant vehicle wonder for the plan of chemical reactions. Density is expected to ascertain the necessary weight and space (volume) required for a system to work with nano-liquids. Specific heat capacity is important to dissect vitality and exergy execution of a system. Surface tension is identified with boiling heat transfer, oil recuperation, and numerous different applications. The spray produces droplets that evaporate and then burn. Aim: The final objective of this work is to model spray combustion. In order to do that the first model is that for the droplet evaporation. The droplet evaporation model is then used to model the spray combustion. In order to model those droplets and figure out how they evaporate and at what rate, we need to know the thermo-physical properties of the materials.

Keywords: n-butane, n-decane, droplet evaporation, thermophysical, biofuels, spray combustion

Companion Planting of Cabbage and Cauliflower with Onion and Mint Leaves Lenaye Palmer, Tony Green, Debra Braford, Rafash Brew, Aruna Weersooriya, Godon Osuji, Selamawit Woldesenbet, & Subhani Bandara Laura Carson, Ph.D. (Faculty Mentor) Cooperative Agricultural Research Center, College of Agriculture and Human Sciences Prairie View A&M University Background: Agriculture is the sustainability of life. It serves as the source of income for farmers in many countries, and it will continue to serve as the breastplate for providing food to both human and animal populations. Biological control of the pest population is essential in producing healthy plants, especially consumable plants. Often, producers rely heavily on the use of herbicides and pesticides to reduce unwanted pests in their plant production areas. The use of these allows their byproducts to enter into agricultural areas that can broadly impact our drinking water and access to healthy produce and cause health issues to many communities. Farmers and laborers who work in these fields can develop neurological, cardiac, and other physical disorders. Aim(s): Thus, we 94

Prairie View A&M University 15th Annual Research Symposium studied the growth of cabbage with mint and cabbage with onion in separate plots as well as cauliflower with mint and cauliflower with onion in different plots to determine the best intercropping system for cabbage and cauliflower without using harsh chemicals to control pests.

Methods and Measures: In four 6X6 boxes, mint clippings or onion seedlings were planted 6 inches from both cabbage and cauliflower seedlings. The attack of insects on plant leaves was counted in five - 1ftx1ft squares and the average number of bites/square was recorded. In the case of cauliflower, five cauliflower heads were measured, and an average head size/box was calculated.

Results: Visual observation showed that cauliflower grew larger when planted with onion; however, with mint, it grew in terms of population. Cabbage grew more in terms of population and size with mint leaves, while with onion; it grew more in terms of size. Gas Conclusions: Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry data seems to indicate that the presence of onion or mint did not change the components present in each plant.

Keywords: companion planting, cabbage, cauliflower, mint, pesticides

Exploring the Impact of a Census Undercount in Waller, County, Texas Samuel Parada Nathan Mitchell, Ph.D. (Faculty Advisor) Division of Social Work, Behavioral and Political Sciences Prairie View A&M University Background: Research conducted by the Urban Institute in 2019 documented potentially catastrophic impacts of a Census undercount of black and brown voters due to potential changes in the US Census. Particularly the Census Citizenship Question that was struck down by the United States Supreme Court in the case Department of Commerce et al v. New York et al. Aim: This study will address whether or not an undercount is likely in Waller County, Texas, using mixed methods of secondary data analysis, document review, and interviews by individuals with specialized knowledge. Methods: Interviews of politicians, interest group members, and city officials will be conducted to determine the impact of low participation in the Census during the month of March. Secondary data analysis of Pew Hispanic Center will be done to examine factors that contribute to the likelihood to participate in the Census. Results and Conclusions: We expect the intent to participate will be heavily correlated to race and ethnicity and that local governments will work hard to combat miseducation by educating residents about participating.

Keywords: Census undercount, Latinx politics, state and local politics, mixed methodology

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Prairie View A&M University 15th Annual Research Symposium The Role of Germline Mutations in DNA Repair Genes during Cancer Stem Cell Development and Renewal: Tissue Specificity in Hypoxic Conditions Abraham Parada-Medina Victoria Mgbemena, Ph.D. (Faculty Advisor) Department of Biology, Brailsford College of Arts and Sciences Prairie View A&M University Background: Several known cancers are caused by mutations or changes in normal functioning genes that are integral for maintaining homeostasis. BRCA1/2 and PALB2 and CHEK2 genes are tumor suppressors, known for their role in breast, ovarian, prostate, and pancreatic cancers. PALB2 is the partner and localizer of BRCA2, and is responsible for its recruitment to DNA damage loci.

CHEK2 is an important cell-cycle checkpoint regulator, stabilizes the tumor suppressor p53 and modifies BRCA1 so that it can complete DNA repair. Currently, it is unclear if identified, variants of unknown significance predispose patients to diseases like cervical cancer. Further, it is not known whether there are mechanisms connected to germline mutations that may contribute to an increased chance of developing cervical cancer. Our group aims to study the potential impact of these â&#x20AC;&#x153;unknownâ&#x20AC;? variants in an in vitro model. Aim: The research will endeavor to use recombinant DNA to make mutated cervical cancer cells and cervical cancer cervicospheres to investigate the effects of the resultant variants in DNA repair, cellular communication, renewal and differentiation. Materials and Methods: The laboratory will use HeLa cells, cervical cell lines, 2D and 3D cell culture methods, biology assays, etc. to determine whether mutating the PALB2 and CHEK2 genes results in differential effects under different environmental (hypoxia) and chemical conditions. Results and Conclusions: We hypothesize that we will observe aberrant cervical cell growth and development under specific environmental and chemical conditions in the presence of germline mutations.

Keywords: PALB2, BRCA 1/2, Cancer, Recombinant DNA, Cervical cancer cells, cervicospheres

Using Educational Technology to Reduce Stereotype Threat of African American Females in the Classroom Bequita Pegram Fred A. Bonner II, Ed.D. (Faculty Mentor) Department of Educational Leadership and Counseling, College of Education Prairie View A&M University Background: The research of the impact of Stereotyping Threats on the academic achievement of minority students can be traced back for a few decades (Gorlick, A., & Gorlick, A. 2009; Hines Shelvin, K., Rivadeneyra, R. & Zimmerman, C. 2014; Wright-Adams, V. 2014) . Research has exposed the negative effects of Stereotyping Threats and has provided educators across many content areas with valuable solutions. Aim: The purpose of this case study research is to explore ways educational technology can reduce the negative impact or perceptions of Stereotype Threats on African American Females in higher education classrooms. Findings: A review of the literature indicates that Educational Technology can address the need for positive role models for African 96

Prairie View A&M University 15th Annual Research Symposium American females (If You 2018), the need for increased rigor in lesson design (Padmore 2009), access to tech to develop 21st century skills (Peoples 2011), student choice and enhanced individualized learning (How Teachers n.d.). Conclusions: Improvement in these areas within the classroom can give African American females the confidence they need to break the barriers that Stereotyping Threats attach to their lives. Implications: This study will help make educators aware of strategies they can use to incorporate intentional Educational Technology to help close the academic achievement gap for African American females.

Keywords: educational technology, stereotype threat, African American females, lesson design, individualized learning

Post-Disbudding Behavior in Goat Kids Alyssa Perry Alphina Ho Watson, Ph.D. & Dr. Scott (Faculty Mentors) Cooperative Agricultural Research, College of Agriculture and Human Sciences Prairie View A&M University Background: Disbudding is the act of removing unwanted horns on an animal. It is essential in animal husbandry systems because it reduces injuries between animals, and their handlers and minimizes the danger of animals getting their horns caught. The most common disbudding method is using hot iron cautery, which is painful, as the technique involves destroying the tissue where the horn develops by burning. It is essential to discover methods that decrease the pain the animal encounters post-disbudding. The literature shows that cortisol levels increase in kids that do not receive anesthesia or analgesia compared to the ones who do. Behavior such as headshaking, headscratching, and feeding have been shown to correspond with rising cortisol levels, therefore, observing behavior post disbudding when using pain relief can be used to gauge the level of pain experienced. Aim: The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of anesthesia and analgesia on goat kid behavior post-disbudding. Methods and Measures: The observations will take place weekly between January and May 2020 to conclude if anesthesia and analgesia reduce their painful experience. The groups of goat kids are administered 4% isoflurane in oxygen through a mask (anesthesia) and given flunixin meglumine (a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory analgesic) intravenously. The frequency of headshaking (12), isolation/stillness (1), restlessness (0), feeding (3), playing (7), snuggling/cuddling (2), sleeping (0), vocalizing (8), teeth grinding (1), headscratching (3), body shaking (4), and head-butting (1), were observed. Results: The preliminary data corresponds with the literature by showing that pain behaviors decrease with the use of general anesthesia and analgesia.

Keywords: Goat kids, disbudding, behavior, anesthesia, analgesia

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Prairie View A&M University 15th Annual Research Symposium Stakeholders’ Impacts on Advocacy Planning for 1890 Land-grant Universities to Serve as Economic Engines for the Communities they Serve Natriez Peterson Fred A. Bonner II, Ed.D. (Faculty Mentor) Department of Educational Leadership and Counseling, College of Education Prairie View A&M University Background: Institutions designated as public land grant historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs), due to the passing of the Morrill Act of 1890, created prominent African American scientists, educators, and innovators as well as, advanced society, and communities, through their mission of teaching, research, and service. Aim: This study examines stakeholders’ impacts on advocacy planning for 1890 land-grant universities and how those institutions contribute to the welfare, status, maintenance, and growth of the community. Structural-Functional Theory (Murdock & Parsons, 1951) and Advocacy Planning Theory (Davidoff, 1965) serves as the theoretical framework guiding the study. Structural-Functional Theory embodies that collaborations between HBCUs and the community should have profound effects on community relations (Davis & Gallo 2008). Advocacy Planning Theory solidifies that all stakeholders, especially HBCU faculty, staff, and administrators, must positively create avenues to address community needs and challenges that limit communities’ economic development. Methods and Measures: Conducting a quantitative study provides a generalized framework for creating dialogue and discussion among university leaders and stakeholders. Conclusions: The expected outcomes and findings will test the null hypotheses to examine if there were statistically significant differences in the perceptions of stakeholders’ impacts on the welfare, status, maintenance, and growth of the community. Implications: Ultimately, this quantitative study seeks to add to the body of knowledge on university and community relationships.

Keywords: Morrill Act of 1890, land-grant universities, economic engines, historically black colleges and universities,

Characterization of the Gene DDX17 Tsunami Pinkney & Shekenia Green Gloria C. Regisford, Ph.D. (Faculty Advisor) Department of Biology Prairie View A&M University Background: The advancement of science and medicine are guided primarily by novel studies in genetics, genomics, bioinformatics, and biomedical engineering. Bioinformatics combines biology, computer, and mathematic skills to analyze novel genes. Aim: The objective of this project was to analyze a novel gene Deadbox Helicase 17 (DDX17) and determine its role in cellular function. We hypothesized that DDX17 is a functional coding gene that is conserved across species. Materials and Methods: In order to test our hypothesis, we used a combination of bioinformatic tools, which include GeneCards, NCBI, ENSEMBL and BLAST. Results: The NCBI database indicated that gene DDX17 is highly expressed in the spleen and endometrial tissues. According to the GeneCards database, the DDX17 gene is found chromosome 22q13.1 98

Prairie View A&M University 15th Annual Research Symposium and has 13 exons. Orthologs of this gene include mouse, chicken, lizard, and zebrafish. As per ENSEMBL, notable paralogs of these genes are DDX5, DDX46, DDX42, DDX43, and DDX3X. Disorders associated with the DDX17 gene include a deficiency or a loss-of-function that will affect neurogenesis of an organism, thus leading to multiple neurological defects. Additionally, this gene interacts with the gene DDX5 and together play a crucial role in cellular metabolic activities. These two members of the DEAD box RNA helicase family are known to have both proliferative and non-proliferative roles in cancer cell formation and growth. Conclusions: In summary, gene DDX is a protein-coding gene that is highly conserved and may play an important in cell metabolism.

Keywords: Bioinformatics, Gene DDX17, cancer, Annotation, cellular function

Photothermal Therapy and Cytotoxicity Testing: An Approach to Breast Cancer Therapy Portrait Plair1 Aderemi Oki, Ph.D. & Gloria C. Regisford, Ph.D.2 (Faculty Advisors) 1

1

Department of Chemistry and Physics 2 Department of Biology Prairie View A&M University

Background: Breast cancer is the most common gynecological cancer in the United States, and it is the deadliest cancer that affects women, globally. Photothermal Therapy (PTT) using gold nanoparticles has been reported to effectively treat metastatic cancer, but gold nanoparticles could be toxic to healthy cells. Although PTT is minimally invasive and highly specific, the use of nanoparticles that are essential to the body in minute amounts, such as copper sulfide (CuS), must be fully developed. Additionally, folic acid (FA) receptors exist on cancer cell membranes; thus, FA nanoparticles can be used as carriers of CuS nanoparticles into the cell. However, large quantities of these nanoparticles could be toxic, therefore, it is essential to determine the optimal concentrations of these nanoparticles for PTT. Aim: The objective of this project was to determine the optimal concentration of CuS and FA nanoparticles that should be used in PTT of breast cancer cells. We hypothesized 250ng/mL of the CuS and FA nanoparticles would be the least toxic and most effective dose used in PTT of the breast cancer cell line, MCF7. Materials and Methods: To test this hypothesis, MCF7 cells were treated for 48 hours with (1) 0ng/mL; (2) 50ng/mL; (3) 100ng/mL; (4) 150ng/mL; (5) 200ng/mL; (6) 250ng/mL; (7) 300ng/mL and (8) 400ng/mL nanoparticles in duplicate, each with and without PTT IR [800 nm wavelength for 5 minutes (2 times)]. Cells were then subjected to an MTT assay to determine cell viability. Results: Preliminary results indicate that cells treated with 250ng/mL of each nanoparticle had the least toxic effect, compared to higher concentrations. Lower concentration promoted cell proliferation.

In summary, CuS and FA nanoparticles at a non-toxic level may prove effective for PTT of breast cancer.

Keywords: Photothermal Therapy, Nanoparticles, Cytotoxicity, Breast Cancer

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Prairie View A&M University 15th Annual Research Symposium Talking it up! Student Perceptions of Interpersonal Communication Skills and Workplace Self-efficacy Mario Eduardo Ramirez, Marshall Walther, Jeselle Tanairi Aguilar, Zachary Arrington, & Maria Guadalupe Martinez Valdez Katherine Wickes, Ph.D. (Faculty Advisor) Blinn College Background: Prior research on communication and workplace skills has found that individuals who exhibit a greater proficiency in interpersonal communication tend to be more accomplished and successful in their respective career fields. Both college students and graduates, however, have difficulty recognizing their own workplace skills (Ciarocco et al., 2017). Developing a better understanding of how students self-identify their communication skills early in their college career is particularly important as it can help develop better tools to promote these skills. Community college students offer an ideal population as most are early in their academic or professional careers. Aim: The current study examines the relationship between college students and their confidence in aspects pertaining to interpersonal communication. We predict that students who score higher on empathy within discourse will have a higher overall score on interpersonal communication and a greater self-confidence in their job skills. Materials and Methods: Participants were 943 community college students who completed a 107-question survey that measured their levels of confidence in engaging in face-to-face conversations and empathetic discourse. Participants were also measured in their self-confidence in four job skill areas: communication, collaboration, analytic inquiry, and self-management. Results: As predicted, participants who reported better communication skills also reported both a greater professional self-efficacy for communication skills (r(941)=.51, p<.05) and collaboration skills ( r(941)=.57, p<.01). Participants who reported better skills at disclosure and empathy in communication also reported higher self-efficacy for workplace skills, in general (r(941)=.39, p<.05). Conclusions: Taken together, these findings indicate that students who readily self-identify successful communication skills, particularly skills of disclosure and the ability to initiate communication, will show higher self-efficacy for the workplace skills most related to successful communication and collaboration with others. Future research on how to best implement communication skills early in a college career may boost the number of students self-reporting higher self-efficacy in these domains.

Keywords: communication skills, workplace skills, self-efficacy, skillful psychology student, community college

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Prairie View A&M University 15th Annual Research Symposium Gene SOBP and Intellectual Disabilities Deisy Ramos Gloria C. Regisford, Ph.D. (Faculty Mentor) Department of Biology Prairie View A&M University Background: In this era of genomics, bioinformatics tools and databases are used to analyze and assemble data in an accessible way. The development of these tools and databases has led to better understanding of the sequenced human genome Aim: The objective of this project was to annotate and characterize a novel gene, named Sine Oculis Binding Protein Homolog (SOBP) to understand its structure and function in humans. It is hypothesized that characterization of SOBP will indicate that this gene is functional and plays an important role in cell regulation and metabolism.

Materials and Methods: To test the hypothesis, bioinformatics databases, such as NCBI, UCSC Genome Browser, Ensembl and GeneCards; and the bioinformatics tool, BLAST were used to characterize the SOBP gene. Results: Findings indicated that gene SOBP is located on chromosome 6q21, is 171,212 bases long, and has plus strand orientations. The gene is highly expressed in the cerebellum, brain, thyroid and ovaries. Its subcellular location is primarily in the nucleus. Orthologs of the SOBP gene are found in chimpanzee, dog, cow, platypus, rat, mouse, chicken, and opossum. In addition, the SOBP gene is a paralog of the Retinoic Acid Induced 2 (RAI2) gene, which is known to play a role in development and cellular growth. Gene SOBP codes for the SOBP protein that consists of 873 amino acids. Moreover, gene SOBP may play a role in the development of nervous and cardiac tissues. Mutations of the SOBP gene are associated with a series of nervous system disorders such as mental retardation, Alzheimerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s disease, delayed speech and language, and global development delay. In summary, this data indicates that the novel SOBP gene is a functional gene, which is conserved across many species.

Keywords: SOBP gene, Bioinformatics, intellectual disabilities, human genome

Assessing the Adequacy of Mental Health Services in Jamaica from a Juvenile Justice Perspective Regan Reid Camille Gibson, Ph.D. (Faculty Mentor) Department of Justice Studies Prairie View A&M University Background: There is a dubious image of mental health services in Jamaica. As the nation progresses in its pursuit of a more accessible, effective, and equitable health care system, it remains to be seen how (or if) provisional services are considered adequate. At the outset, difficulties with capital funding and cutbacks have both become significant determinants of adequacy in the health sector. Accordingly, population needs have fast outpaced the provision of mental health care. This reality ultimately signals the need to understand the relationship among (deficient) mental health services, poor mental health, and delinquent behavior. Aim: This study examines the adequacy of mental health services for children and adolescents in Jamaica. It asks about the nature of these services and their sufficiency given treatment needs. There is also a focus on services for youth in 101

Prairie View A&M University 15th Annual Research Symposium the justice system. Thus, the research is guided by three questions: (1) What mental health treatment needs are among children and adolescents in Jamaica? (2) To what extent do existing mental health services support the treatment needs of children and adolescents in Jamaica? (3) To what extent do mental health services impact children and adolescents involved with the justice system in Jamaica? Materials and Methods: This study utilizes a qualitative descriptive research design that includes document review, focus groups, and in-depth interviews with persons in Jamaica with knowledge of mental health needs and available services and their use. Finally, the study discusses the implications for juvenile justice policy. Expected Results: The analysis will show a strong correlation among mental health services, poor mental health, and delinquent behavior. It will also include identifying a benchmark for where Jamaica is currently in terms of mental health service delivery and a methodology for other small island developing states looking to improve how mental health services are delivered. Conclusions: The requirement for sound policy response and effective mental health services warrants further investigation into the mental health system, in terms of its adequacy given treatment needs. The results will be used to create a roadmap for developing and improving country-specific solutions that can be adapted and applied elsewhere.

Keywords: Jamaica, mental health, adequacy, juvenile justice, public policy

Analysis of Crop Damage Cost Caused by Weather/Climate Disasters in Texas Blessed Reine Ripendra Awal, Ph.D., Ali Fares, Ph.D., & Hamideh Habibi, Ph.D. (Faculty Mentors) College of Agriculture and Human Sciences Prairie View A&M University Background: Different weather/climate disasters may damage crops. The temporal and spatial analysis of historical crop damage provides insights for a future mitigation plan. Aim: The main goal of this study was to analyze crop damage caused by different weather/climate events in Texas.

Methods and Measures: In this study, we analyzed twenty years Storm Events Database (1998â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 2017) collected from the National Climatic Data Center, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The database consists of loss from numerous weather and climate disasters including Drought, Flash Flood, Flood, Hail, Hurricane/ Typhoon, Thunderstorm Wind, Wildfire, etc. Results: The average annual cost of crop damage in Texas was about $540 million during 1998-2017. More than 83% of crop damage cost was associated with drought. Other eight significant weather/climate disasters were hail, flash flood, flood, wildfire, thunderstorm wind, tornado, hurricane/typhoon, and frost/freeze. Spatial distribution of crop damage showed more damage in climatic regions: High Plains, Northern part of Low Rolling Plains, Northern counties of North Central region, and Lower Valley. Conclusions: The study results highlights the pressing need of drought mitigation plan and improved use of climate/weather information and forecasts, need of early warning systems, and appropriate methods of crop management to mitigate the impact of weather/climate disasters on crops.

Keywords: Crop damage, weather disaster, storm data, drought, early warning systems

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Prairie View A&M University 15th Annual Research Symposium The Pathophysiological Effects of Fluid -Structure Interaction of Species Transported and Transformed in Human Digestive System Indira Ribeiro Kazeem Olanrewaju, Ph.D. (Faculty Advisor) Department of Chemical Engineering Prairie View A&M University Background: The human physiological system comprises of numerous biological units that are meticulously design to bio-physicochemically interact with the complex fluid which serve to convey the different nutrients necessary for proper functioning of the human systems.

Dysfunctionalities in these mechanisms of interaction are the leading causes of an array of pathological conditions, which can be fatal and paralytic in their end effects on the affected individual. The nutrients transported are product of enzymatic and mechanical monomerization of life-supporting macromolecular compound such as polysaccharides, protein and lipid into simple molecules such as glucose, amino acids, and fatty acids. These mechanisms are made possible by a group of specialized organs grouped under the digestive system. These specialized organs is responsible for the diminution of nutritious macromolecular compound into various forms that can be transported and absorbed into various cells of the body. Alteration in the digestive processes, which include motility, secretion, digestion and absorption of nutritional species, can lead to an array of pathophysiological conditions. Aim: Thus, this study intends to investigate the pathophysiological effect of fluid-structure interaction in human digestive system. Methods and Measures: A detail qualitative study will be conducted to gather data on the various parameters responsible for the physiological functionality of the digestive system. The data will be subsequently coupled into a modelling platform that will help in quantifying and systematically study the mechanism of species transport and physicochemical interaction of species as they relate to the digestive system. The goal of this work is to use the modelling platform as a tool to better understand the pathophysiological behavior of the system and help enhances the conventional diagnostic and therapeutic measures currently in place to address range of pathophysiological effects connected to the digestive system.

Keywords: fluid-structure interaction, digestive system, pathophysiology, nutrients, physicochemicalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

Benzoin Condensation of Furfuraldehyde using Thiamine (Vitamin B1) Xavier Robertson & Yen Maroney Lawrence Ananda Amarasekara, Ph.D. & Bernard Wiredu, Ph.D. (Faculty Mentors) Department of Chemistry Prairie View A&M University Background: This research is part of a broader approach in developing methodologies and catalyst systems to convert biomass materials to third-generation biofuels, jet fuels and platform chemicals that can serve as useful monomers in the construction and synthesis of polymeric biomaterials.

Hydrocarbons, which are a primary finite resource, impact our everyday lives in such a way that a complete switch to an alternative source seems an idea too impossible. Aim: To study the use of 103

Prairie View A&M University 15th Annual Research Symposium Vitamin B₁ which exists in the form of thiamine hydrochloride will enable a less toxic efficient method in the conversion of furoins. Thiamine is stable in acidic conditions, but it absorbs water quickly. It is also a temperature-sensitive reagent. Temperature and pH are a significant factor in conversion as the thiazole ring is broken easily in basic solution. Materials and Methods: We will have Thiamine hydrochloride (1.20g), Vitamin B₁, is dissolved in 4.0 mL of water in a 125mL flask. Once dissolved, add 12.0mL of 95% ethanol. Cool the solution in an ice bath. Then slowly add 4.0mL of cold 2.5M sodium hydroxide to the flask, ensuring the pH of the solution is 10 – 11.

Rapidly add 6.24g benzaldehyde to the reaction. Allow it to stand at room temperature for 24 hours. Results: A GC-MS method was successfully created to identify the furoins formed in this experiment. An analysis is still being executed to identify compounds formed. Conclusions: Vitamin B₁ is a coenzyme that may replace the extremely toxic substance potassium cyanide as the catalyst. Throughout a repetition of experiments done throughout various ways, results (do you mean products were formed) were produced via a cold reaction versus room temperature and heat.

Keywords: Furoin, Furfuraldehyde, Benzoin, Vitamin B₁, thiamine hydrochloride

Exploring How Race is Really Related to Gun Violence Domonique Roy Nathan Mitchell, Ph.D. (Faculty Advisor) Division of Social Work, Behavioral and Political Sciences Prairie View A&M University Background: The media often results to “black on black crime” as a way to explain gun violence in urban areas, but this conceptual frame is reductionist, factually incorrect, and biased. Race is related to gun violence, but not in the ways usually reported by the media. Many mass shootings have been acted on by white men. Many of these incidents are viewed in a different light than how “Black on Black” crime is. It is viewed in a sympathetic attitude. Aim: This study explored the relationship between race and gun violence using qualitative research through the issues of white nationalism, police shootings, and mass shootings. Domestic terrorism is often looked past and are not the center of conversations. Materials and Methods: This study utilized the historical/comparative method to compare four acts of violence involving guns to determine how race impacted the outcome. We used Mills Method of Agreement to evaluate four very different episodes of gun violence. Results and Conclusions: We found that race is a common factor of many types of gun violence, but it is white men that are often the aggressor, contrary to the media’s narrative.

Keywords: Domestic Terrorism, White Nationalism, Gun Violence, Race, and Ethnicity

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Prairie View A&M University 15th Annual Research Symposium Attitudes on Police Community Relations in Waller County, Texas Calvin Rucker Nathan Mitchell, Ph.D. (Faculty Advisor) Background: Across the county, communities struggle with rising tensions between police departments and the communities they serve. Mistrust and fear on both sides has lead police shootings, overreach, and other issues. Waller County, Texas has also experienced such issues as evident by the death of Sandra Bland after being detained and placed into jail. Uncertainty over facts of her case lead to heightened levels of mistrust in the African American and student communities. Objective: The objective of this project is to examine the impact of issues like Sandra Blandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s death on the communityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s perception of police community relations and the quality of policing. Methods: Throughout the month of March, we will conduct a survey of the residents of Waller County to determine their attitudes towards the police, crime and safety and then disaggregate the attitudes based on race/ethnicity, status as a student, and by age. In addition to survey research, interviews of policy makers will be conducted to learn more about the issues that police in the region face. We expect 300-500 respondents to fill out the survey. Results and Conclusions: We expect to find that young minorities in the community feel that they are more targeted by police than other groups and to rate the quality of the police as lower.

Keywords: Law enforcement, police community relations, rural politics, university police departments

Annotation of Gene DCX Denotes Links with Neurological Disorders Daniela Ruiz Gloria C. Regisford, Ph.D. (Faculty Mentor) Department of Biology, Prairie View A&M University Background: Undertaking bioinformatics research can allow for inquiries and new findings of many different genes and their cellular function. The development of the nervous system is a complex process that requires the interplay of numerous genes. Previous findings have indicated that the Doublecortin (DCX) gene is a novel gene that is associated with the nervous system. Aim: Therefore, the objective of this project was to focus on the annotation and characterization of the DCX gene, using various bioinformatics databases and tools. We hypothesized that DCX is a functional gene that, if mutated, would lead to neurological diseases. Materials and Methods: In order to test this hypothesis, we used the following bioinformatics databases; GeneCards, NCBI and the BLAST tool, to investigate the location, structure, and function of DCX. Results: According to GeneCards, the DCX gene is highly expressed in the fetal brain and in other nervous tissue. The chromosomal location of this gene is Xq23. Our NCBI database findings showed that DCX plays a role in the development of the cortex. More specifically, gene DCX codes for a microtubule associated protein that controls the movement of neurons, aiding in the development of the brain. Mutations of the DCX gene cause lissencephaly x-linked 1, subcortical band heterotopia, epilepsy, and fucosidosis, all of which are associated with abnormal cerebral cortex function. Orthologs of this gene are present in mouse, chicken, and lizards. A few paralogs of gene DCX are MKNK2 and MKNK1, genes that play important roles in gene transcription and

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Prairie View A&M University 15th Annual Research Symposium translation. Conclusions: Therefore, gene DCX is a functional protein-coding gene that plays an integral role in brain development.

Keywords: DCX Gene, Bioinformatics, Annotation, Neurological Diseases

Viscoelastic Properties of Goat CVF Chloe Sanders Nabila Shamim, Ph.D. (Faculty Mentor) Department of Chemical Engineering Prairie View A&M University Background: Studies have been conducted on how viscoelastic properties of cervical-vaginal fluids (CVF) in human females vary during the ovulation cycle and how they correlate to their fertility. Generally, a woman will have less viscous CVF during her ovulation cycle. If a woman has more viscous CVF during her cycle, this can correlate to the use of contraceptives or underlying reproductive issues. A certain study was done to observe the viscoelastic properties of CVF in women using a die swell apparatus. This allowed for a close-up view of the fluids and their viscoelastic properties to be observed. Aim: The purpose of our research is to understand the viscoelastic properties of CVF in goats. Methods and Measures: We hope to utilize a similar technique in order to observe CVF samples of goats. Once samples have been observed, we would be able to use the data obtained to determine if any goats are experiencing reproductive issues.

Prairie View A&M University has a goat research center specializing in in vitro-fertilization (IVF) of different goat species. Our goal is to observe viscoelastic properties of goatsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; CVF during their ovulation cycles and correlate the data to the presence, if any, of underlying reproductive issues.

Keywords: viscoelastic properties, cervical-vaginal fluids, reproductive issues, goats, ovulation

Annotation of the GSDME Gene: Hearing Loss Associations?

Dalijah Saterfield Gloria C. Regisford, Ph.D. (Faculty Advisor) Department of Biology Prairie View A&M University Background: There is a dire need to annotate novel genes in the genomic database as this endeavor could lead to the discovery of disease-associated genes and subsequently earlier diagnosis and better treatment of such diseases. Aim: In this project, we aimed to annotate the gasdermin E, (GSDME) gene and hypothesized that this gene is a protein coding gene, which is associated with certain diseases when mutated. Materials and Methods: Bioinformatic databases, such as GeneCards, Ensemble and NCBI were used to test our hypothesis, by examining the location, structure and function of GSDME. Results: Upon performing research of the bioinformatics databases, we discovered that the GSDME gene is located at chromosome 7p15.3 and is highly expressed in the normal human placenta tissues. The gene GSDME is 59,666 bases long and has a total count of 13 exons. Correspondingly, within the cell, the GSDME gene is mainly localized

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Prairie View A&M University 15th Annual Research Symposium the plasma membrane and the cytosol. Conclusions: In summary, GSDME is a functional gene conserved across different species, that when mutated leads to hearing loss.

Keywords: gasdemerin E gene, bioinformatics, GeneCards, chromosome 7p15.3, hearing loss

Minoritized Communities in Rural Texas: Spanish Speaking Residents of Waller County, Texas Maydrian Strozier-Lowe, Blake Reddix, Ocie Miles & Alejandro Ntutumu Abeme Nathan Mitchell, Ph.D. (Faculty Advisor) Division of Social Work, Behavioral and Political Sciences Prairie View A&M University Background: Around 30 percent of the residents of Waller County, Texas are Spanish speaking or use Spanish as a first language. Rural communities in Texas often struggle to provide goods and services to meet the needs of these residents. Aim: This study will examine the attitudes and service priorities of the residents of Waller County, Texas using a survey conducted during the month of March using a survey translated into Spanish. Materials and Methods: A survey of all residents of Waller County, Texas over the age of 18 will be distributed by County Judge and other relevant policy makers. Residents will be given an amenities / needs and were asked to rank the top three. This information was disaggregated by race, age, and length of time lived in the county and compared to the group where English is the first language. Results and Conclusions: We expect to find that Spanish language respondents to be worried about unemployment, economic development, and educational issues.

Keywords: Latinx populations, economic development, mixed methods, rural politics

Cyberbullying among School Students in the United States: Using National Crime Victimization Survey Dayanand Sundaravadivelu Sesha Kethineni, Ph.D. (Faculty Advisor) Department of Justice Studies College of Juvenile Justice and Psychology Prairie View A&M University Background: This study focuses on the nature and extent of youthsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; cyberbullying victimization and its impact on boys and girls in the United States. Cyberbullying includes harassment using electronic devices such as cell phones, computers, and other electronic devices. Cyberbullying often involves uploading or sharing derogatory, damaging, and misleading information about the victims. Prior studies on sexual differences in cyberbullying in the US and other countries showed that adolescent girls are more prone to cyberbully than boys are. Aim: The research investigates (i) various types of cyberbullying victimization in schools, and (ii) gender differences in victimization. Materials and Methods: This study utilized national survey data from the 2011 National Crime Victimization Survey School Crime Supplement. Results: The results showed that

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Prairie View A&M University 15th Annual Research Symposium there is a strong relationship between gender and the cyberbullying victimization experience. Girls tend to face not only more victimization but also different types of victimization.

Keywords: cyberbullying, school, victimization, gender, National Crime Victimization Survey

Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) Neural Network Applications for the Improvement of Weather Prediction Models Aimed for Floating Offshore Wind Turbines (FOWT) Potential Power Prediction Gary Thomas Talor Doeun Choe, Ph.D. (Faculty Advisor) Department of Civil Engineering, College of Engineering Prairie View A&M University Background: Floating offshore wind turbines (FOWT) hold great potential for future solutions to the ever growing demand for renewable energy production; now while this market is growing more rapidly in European countries, within in the United States, research and testing of FOWT has been starting to gain momentum and shows great promise for large profits in the future. Aim: The purpose of this research paper is to identify how large of a weather data set (i.e. Wind Speed, Wave Height, etc.) is needed for highly accurate prediction models for a defined meteorological future.

The right balance of size of information and for how long to predict this information is needed to be found to produce the lowest error percentage, or RSME. Once an accurate prediction model is established, this information can also predict the potential power production for wind turbines with high confidence. Materials and Methods: To perform the research, we will analyze weather data.

The collection of up to 10 years of weather data was gathered under the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and winds speeds are only used for this research. Utilizing Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) models, under MATLAB Machine Learning, can determine how many years of weather information can yield however long accurate weather predictions with RSME values. Results: A trend was found that when the data size of three months stays the same, the RSME prediction error grows as the amount of time trying to be predicted increases. This trend is slight but noticeable and is seen through other data sizes and ranges with some exceptions.

Conclusions: For future improvements of this model, LSTM applications to determine ideal data sets, would highlight optimized locations for this fast growing renewable energy production and set an example to how much data should be needed to provide accurate results.

Keywords: floating offshore wind turbines, renewable energy, weather data, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, MATLAB

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Prairie View A&M University 15th Annual Research Symposium Design and Testing of Ultra-low Power Active Sensor for Radiation Detection Adeyemi Taylor Shuza Binzaid, Ph.D. (Faculty Advisor) Department of Electrical Engineering, College of Engineering Prairie View A&M University Background: Serious health situations can be caused by diseases like cancer. Causes of cancer in the body, that have been identified, include various electromagnetic emissions and ionizing radiation. Ionizing radiation can weaken the functions of the human organs. It is important to protect humans from harmful electromagnetic and particle radiation environments that include solar flare, corona discharge, high voltage power line, and cosmic particle radiation effects. Thus, it is a dire need for designing a sensor that can be used to monitor both earth and space radiation environments. Aim: To design a sensor that can be used to monitor both earth and space radiation environments. Materials and Methods: To achieve this objective, a novel sensor was designed and tested at the Prairie View A&M University (PVAMU) Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) department by using a metal (Al) doped type of polymer material. The sensor was tested very successfully under X-ray at ECE departmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Microelectronic Test lab at PVAMU. For data collection and visualization in real-time processing of signals from the sensor when under the influence of radiation, a special electronic circuit was designed and programmed. In addition, simulations of the behavior of the sensor under the influence of radiation were performed by developing an equivalent circuit after carrying out both open-circuit resistance and short-circuit current tests. Results: So far, results obtained have shown that it is possible to have a sensor that can detect harmful ionizing radiation. It is envisaged that the product of this research work will be the development of compact sensors that will alert users of hazardous environments caused by ionizing radiation. Conclusions: The sensor being developed may be used for space technology, satellites, medical, handheld mobile, and IoT devices.

Keywords: non-transmitted disease, electromagnetic emission, ionizing radiation, multifunctional sensor, sensor polymer, sensitivity

Race in Sports: The Perception of the Black NFL Fan Larryisa Thomas Marco Robinson, Ph.D. (Faculty Mentor) Division of Social Work, Behavioral and Political Sciences Prairie View A&M University Background: In 2019, the National Football League (NFL) embarked on its historic anniversary by celebrating 100 years of milestones and accomplishments. African Americans have contributed immensely to the enormous popularity of the NFLâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s multibillion-dollar business. Yet, several racial disparities exist within the organization. The NFL did not have a head Black coach until the 1990s and the majority of team owners are white men. Despite such glaring disparities, African American players and fans remain loyal to the National Football League and its teams. Aim: The goal of this research is to examine the attitudes and perceptions of African American NFL fans.

Two broad questions guide this research: 1) how have the recent racial controversies affected the 109

Prairie View A&M University 15th Annual Research Symposium habits, practices and beliefs of African American NFL fans? 2) How do African American NFL fans interpret the organizationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s response to social justice issues? Materials and Methods: Specifically, I use in depth interviews with 10 self-identified football fans to address my research questions. Findings from this exploratory research are likely to contribute to the scholarly literature on race and sport.

Keywords: Black fans, NFL, social injustices, racism, football

The Impact of the Shelby v. Holder Ruling on Political Parties Amorae Times Michael J. Nojeim, Ph.D. (Faculty Mentor) Division of Social Work, Behavioral and Political Sciences Introduction: The Voting Rights Act (VRA) of 1965 was a piece of landmark legislation that significantly altered the electoral landscape in the United States. The 2013 Supreme Court ruling in Shelby v. Holder declared a key provision of the VRA unconstitutional. Hypothesis: the Shelby ruling enabled states to pass legislation that has the effect of suppressing voter turnout. This study will analyze the impact of the Shelby ruling, and its effect on voter legislation and voter turnout on a partisan level. Materials and Methods: used will use a mixed method approach that examines historical documents related to the Voting Rights Act of 1965, contemporary commentary surrounding the Shelby V. Holder Case, and quantitative data from various state election offices, including voter turnout figures by racial/ ethnic demographic. The research approach is designed to first, analyze in the impact the ruling had on state legislation, then look at if the state legislation had an impact on voter turnout by demographic. The independent variable in this project is the Shelby v. Holder Supreme Court case and the dependent variables are any changes in legislation regarding voting laws and voter turnout by political party following the Shelby ruling. Anticipated Results: It is anticipated that political parties will pass voter legislation that will impact voter turnout for specific demographics, and depending on partisan control the impact will vary.

Importance: The research is significant because it can unveil post-Shelby voter suppression tactics to skew elections towards one party using voter suppression and dilution tactics.

Keywords: Shelby v. Holder, Voting Rights, Voter Turnout, Political Parties, Voter Legislation

TiSpatial Variability of Soil pH Values in an Organic Amendment Experiment on Prairie View A&M University Farm, SE Texas (Phase 2) Edward K. Timms Richard W. Griffin, Ph.D. PG (Faculty Advisor) Cooperative Agricultural Research Center; Agriculture, Nutrition, and Human Ecology Department; College of Agriculture and Human Sciences Background: Soil pH was measured in order to assess the acidity and alkalinity conditions within and between the soil organic amendment experimental treatments. The soil was collected from three locations within each of the treatment areas and mixed to obtain a composite sample. Aim: 110

Prairie View A&M University 15th Annual Research Symposium The objectives of this research project were to: (1) measure the soil chemical characteristic, pH and (2) determine the spatial variability of the recorded values within and between treatment plots by comparative analyses. The null hypothesis was that each of the four treatment areas that included the control would have the same pH values based on their occurrence on the same soil type. The soils were expected to have similar pH conditions with a range of variability occurring between the topsoil and the subsoil characteristics due to hydrologic conditions at lower elevations.

Results: Preliminary results indicated that the mean pH values ranged from 5.24 (Milorganite, Level 3) to 7.21 (Dairy Cow Manure, Level 3). Spatial variability data indicated that the pH values from the surface (0-15 cm) and the subsurface (16-30 cm) ranged from strongly acid to neutral during the monitoring period. Conclusions: The Phase 2 data will be compared to the Phase 1 (Preliminary Data) to provide an expanded view of the spatial and temporal variability of the experimental data set. Statistical analyses will be used to infer whether decomposition of selected organic amendments has either been beneficial or detrimental to the soil pH conditions within the experimental plots with corresponding effects on the leafy green, vegetable plants being examined in this research project.

Keywords: pH, Spatial Variability, Organic Amendments

Sleep Disorders in Higher Education: A Program to Inform College Students Brenda Trejo & Kamry C. White Andrea McDonald, Ph.D. (Faculty Advisor) Department of Health and Kinesiology Prairie View A&M University Background: Many students who pursue higher education are not aware of the health risks associated with studying. These include stress, depression, anxiety, and lack of sleep. According to research, approximately one-quarter of the population between 18 and 44 years old do not get enough sleep. Limited hours of sleep is linked to poor academic performances and risk behaviors such as drinking and smoking. Aim: The focus of this paper is to analyze the effects of different sleep disorders in students in higher education and to develop a program that will raise awareness about the different types of sleep disorders in students. Materials and Methods: We will first develop a survey to identify sleep patterns in college students. The survey will have 10 items that contain socio-demographic information, major, and sleeping questions. We will recruit both male and female students on campus to participate in our project. Once the students complete the survey, the data will be analyzed to gain students' perspectives about sleeping in college. Based on the findings a program will be created to educate students on the benefits of sleeping.

Keywords: higher education, sleep disorders, survey, health risks, college students

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Prairie View A&M University 15th Annual Research Symposium TERT: The â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Fountain of Youthâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Gene?

Alexis Vanzandt Gloria C. Regisford, Ph.D. (Faculty Mentor) Department of Biology Prairie View A&M University Background: Many people are concerned about senescence and aging, and many genes seem to be involved in this process. Numerous genes have been described as playing a vital role in aging, however, one of these novel genes, Telomerase Reverse Transcriptase (TERT), has not been well characterized. Objective: Therefore, the objective of this project was to analyze the structure and function of TERT, in silico, using a set of bioinformatics tools and databases. We hypothesized that this novel gene, TERT, is a functional protein coding gene that may promote early senescence and aging when mutated. Materials and Methods: In order to test this hypothesis, bioinformatics databases, such as NCBI, Ensembl, GeneCards, and UCSC Genome Browser were used to determine the structure and function(s) of the TERT gene. Results: Results from in silico research indicated that the TERT gene is located on chromosome 5p15.33, containing 15-16 exons, and 51 variants. According to NCBI, TERT mRNA is overly expressed in bone marrow, colon, lymph nodes, endometrium, and testis. The TERT gene is localized in the mitochondrion, nucleus, and the cytosol within the cell. Orthologs of TERT are present in a variety of species, such as the chimpanzee, cow, dog, and mouse. The specific function of the TERT gene is to code for a component of the enzyme, telomerase. During DNA replication, telomerase maintains telomere ends by adding the telomere repeat, TTAGGG, thus preventing chromosomal shortening.

Mutations of TERT could lead to diseases of old age, such as Dyskeratosis Congenita, Pulmonary Fibrosis and/or Bone Marrow Failure. Conclusions: In summary, the TERT gene is a functional protein coding gene that participates in the function of chromosomal lengthening and is conserved in many mammalian species. This gene may play an important role in delaying or preventing early senescence and aging.

Keywords: TERT Gene, senescence, aging, annotation, mutation

The Relationship between Alcohol Use and Self Esteem among Domestic Violence Offenders Rodnetria Wade, Jannet Berganza, & Anterris Turner & Jaile Burkhalter Roslyn Caldwell, Ph.D. (Faculty Advisor) Background: Alcohol use has been a risk factor studied among male domestic violence offenders for a period of time. According to Easton, Swan, & Sinha (2000), substance use on its own already increases the rates of violence. Hirshcel & Hutchison (2011) found that reports of intimate partner violence incidents vary, but generally, if the male abuser had consumed alcohol, the possibilities of the police being called were higher with 41% of incidents involving alcohol use. Other studies found that the way the offender perceives himself is associated with increased chances of violence and alcohol use (Shelton & Liljequist, 2002). A self-inflated sense of self is a factor that abusers have to maintain control over their victim (Racovec-Felser, 2014). These correlations were found among domestic violence offenders, so the correlation might differ in the general population. It is important to note that self-esteem has many dimensions, including social acceptance, physical 112

Prairie View A&M University 15th Annual Research Symposium appearance, self-confidence, and competence (Ostrowsky, 2010). Aim: The purpose of this study is to examine the correlation between alcohol use and self-esteem amongst domestic violence offenders. Materials and Methods: This study will utilize data collected on adult male domestic violence offenders. Proposed Analysis: The proposed data analysis will be correlational analysis using Pearson r Correlation. Expected Conclusions: Adult male domestic violence offenders with a low self-esteem are more likely to consume alcohol than adult male domestic violence offenders with a high self-esteem.

Keywords: alcohol use, self-esteem, male domestic violence offenders, risk factor, violence

A Systematic Literature Review on Nutrition and Mental Health in Adolescence Asia Walker Andrea McDonald, Ph.D., & Angela Branch-Vital, Ph.D. (Faculty Advisors) Department of Health and Kinesiology Prairie View A&M University Background: Good nutrition is important to the brain throughout life, including cognition and intellectual development. Studies have shown that poor consumption of certain nutrients can affect the bodyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ability to perform mentally and physically. Annually, 14% of the United States children are diagnosed with mental health illnesses. However, understanding some of the determinants and risk factors are still not clear. Aim: The purpose of this systematic literature review is to assess the current literature for research conducted on mental health and nutrition in adolescence. Materials and Methods: A comprehensive literature search was done through EBSCO, ProQuest, and Jastor databases. Search terms include â&#x20AC;&#x153;nutrition, diet, and mental healthâ&#x20AC;?. Inclusion criteria were articles published in English between 2014 - 2019, studies conducted in the United States and include adolescence 13-18 years old. Results: 116 articles were identified. Only three were used after the removal of duplicates and exclusion criteria. The articles were published in three separate journals during 2018 (n=2) and 2014 (n=1). All peer-review journals were quantitative studies and used a cross-sectional design with survey. Common findings across the three studies are (1) nutrition knowledge and frequent family meals are positively associated with the individual social and emotional wellbeing and (2) poor levels of nutrition can increase bullying among adolescents.

Conclusions: The findings from this study suggest that nutrition and mental health in adolescents is not well research. Future research studies are needed to in mental health and nutrition among adolescents.

Keywords: systematic literature review, nutrition, mental health, adolescence, family meals

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Prairie View A&M University 15th Annual Research Symposium Student or Professor? The relationship between the Dark Triad of Personality, Rapport, and Academic Self-Entitlement Marshall Walther, Jeselle Tanairi Aguilar, Mario Eduardo Ramirez, Zachary Arrington, Maria Guadalupe & Martinez Valdez Katherine Wickes, Ph.D. (Faculty Advisor) Blinn College Background: Prior research on the Dark Triad of Personality found that narcissism, Machiavellianism, and psychopathy â&#x20AC;&#x153;all share a common callousness that encourages interpersonal manipulationâ&#x20AC;? in a wide variety of settings (Jones and Paulus, 2015). In an academic setting, Greenberger et al. (2007) studied the relationship between certain aspects of academic entitlement of college students and the contribution of personality, parenting, and motivational factors. While the study examined a wider range of personality traits than the Dark Triad, narcissism was found to overlap with academic self-entitlement to a certain degree (Greenberger et al., 2007). Negative student behaviors, such as academic self-entitlement, are thought to contribute to lower levels of student success (Greenberger et al., 2007) and may inhibit the formation of positive relationships in the classroom. Aim: The current study examines the relationship between aspects of the Dark Triad of Personality (narcissism, Machiavellianism, and psychopathy) and success in college, such as academic self-entitlement, instructor rapport, and transgressive behavior. We predict that students who score high on narcissism will be more susceptible to transgressive behavior. Additionally, students who endorse narcissistic or Machiavellian beliefs will score higher on measures of academic self-entitlement. Materials and Methods: Participants were 223 community college students. Participants completed a survey measuring the Dark Triad of Personality, academic self-entitlement, instructor rapport, transgressive behavior, and demographics. Results: Academic self-entitlement, but not rapport, was related to all aspects of the Dark Triad; narcissism (r(223)=.27, p<.05), Machiavellianism (r(223)=.47, p<.01), and psychopathy (r(30)=.46, p<.01). Machiavellianism was positively related to reported transgressive behaviors, such as cheating (r(223)=.38, p<.05). Conclusions: As predicted, the Dark Triad was also related to academic self-entitlement, indicating that some of detrimental classroom beliefs may represent extensions of the personalities of the students.

Counter to expectations, participants who were more Machiavellian endorsed more transgressive behaviors, which could indicate that impulsivity may be key in classroom transgressive behaviors.

Keywords: Dark Triad, Academic Self-Entitlement, Instructor Rapport, Student Success, Transgressive Behaviors

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Prairie View A&M University 15th Annual Research Symposium Rayleigh and Rician Multipath Channel QAM Modulation using MATLAB with Simulink Joel Wandji Cajetan M. Akujuobi, Ph.D. (Faculty Mentor) Center of Excellence for Communication Systems Technology Research (CECSTR) Department of Electrical Engineering Prairie View A&M University Background: Digital communication is one of the widely used methods in the communication field. Digital communication is used in underwater acoustic communication and cellular communication. A digital communication system has three important parts: the transmitter, the channel and the receiver. A problematic aspect of a digital communication system is the fading Channel due to noise. A fading channel has two classes, such as a large-scale fading and a smallscale fading. A large scale fading is caused by an effect of an impulse signal traveling on broad surface contours such as hills, forests, buildings whereas small scale fading is triggered by relative motion between the objects surrounding the signal. Objective: The objective of this project is to model Rayleigh and Rician fading channels and to perform evaluations based on QAM modulation. Materials and Methods: Matlab and Simulink tool is used to simulate the large and small-scale fading using the Rayleigh and Rician channel models. Results: The result shows the measurement and comparative analysis of the impulse response, frequency response on a Rician fading channel and Rayleigh channel with QAM modulation. Conclusions: The result of the fading channel models could be used to improve efficiency in many application scenarios such as understanding the effect of electromagnetic transmission of a signal (information) on the air in cellular networks and communication. Similarly, the result could be applied to underwater acoustic communication and cellular to reshape the interference or distortion caused by the sea wave.

Keywords: Digital communication, QAM, fading channel, impulse signal, Matlab, Simulink, Rayleigh and Rician multipath channel

Tell, Show, and Sell: Current Trends in Integrated Marketing Communications Tamara Waobikeze, Skyler McCray Davis, Treylon Oliver & Sonnie Williams Kishwar Joonas, Ph.D. (Faculty Advisor) Background: We study recent trends in integrated marketing communications, which is defined as â&#x20AC;&#x153;the coordination and integration of all marketing communication tools, avenues, and sources within a company into a seamless program, which maximizes the impact on consumers and other end users at a minimal cost. This integration affects all of a firmâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s business-to-business, marketing channel, customer-focused, and internally directed communications.â&#x20AC;? (Clow and Baack 2010).

Aim: We present a mini literature review of current practitioner-oriented articles in trade journals from the ABI Inform Trade and Industry database. Materials and Methods: We focus on some topics of interest are brand repositioning (Iliff 2019), online advertising (Kleckler 2019, McGee 2020, Tornoe 2019, Williams 2019), creating a social media strategy (McGee 2020, Williams 2019), vehicle graphics (Sridhare 2019), public service advertising (McGowan 2019), adaption and inclusivity (McDonald 2019), and outsourcing (Livingston 2019, Williams 2019). Results: Research indicates that customers are reached through outdoor advertising (Sridhare 2019), e115

Prairie View A&M University 15th Annual Research Symposium active marketing (Kleckler 2019, Livingston 2019, McGee 2020, Tornoe 2019, Williams 2019), sponsorship and event marketing (McDonald 2019), and public relations (McDonald 2019, McGowan 2019). On the other hand, business-to-business promotion comprises improved atmospherics and customer experience (e.g., Iliff 2019). A wide range of industries is covered, including road transportation (Iliff 2019, McGowan 2019), firearms (McGee 2020), footwear (McDonald 2019), food and groceries (Kleckler 2019), and legal consultancy (Livingston 2019).

Conclusions: We highlight significant findings in current literature, and discuss research limitations. Finally, we present outcomes of our research, such as achievement of personal, course, college and university goals.

Keywords: marketing, consumer behavior, integrated marketing, social networks, automation

Yolo Object Detection: Face Recognition and its Societal Benefits Elijah Waters Yonghui Wang, Ph.D. (Faculty Advisor) Prairie View A&M University Background: For about 95% of the time, facial expressions tend to dictate the following actions of an individual no matter what Background they come from. Prior research has found that a face expression is directly linked to the psychology of the individual. This knowledge led to the idea that face recognizing technology can become a great benefit for security, advancement in positive customer service, and plenty aspects of life. Aim: This research was aimed towards discovering the importance of face recognition and implementing it in a way that benefits society, day-to-day people, and businesses. Materials and Methods: The materials used for this module consists of a computer with Ubuntu (an open source software operating system that runs from the desktop, to the cloud, to all your internet connected things.), and datasets (in this case, pictures) of various facial expressions. Once that was downloaded, a series of code was implemented to gather the rest of the needed files. After that, there was the training that was needed so that the computer could recognize the face and interpret it. Results: Once all of the details of the training portion was completed, the computer easily recognized all different types of facial expressions and was able to state whether the action prior to the facial expression was positive or negative. Conclusions: This research suggests that it is a great benefit for face recognition to be used in all sorts of fashions. It will be great for customer service improvement, home security or business security, and plenty more.

Keywords: face recognition, psychology, customer service, home security, business security, Ubuntu, datasets, societal benefits

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Prairie View A&M University 15th Annual Research Symposium Rural Food Deserts: The Case of Waller County, Texas Kaela Watson, Kholbie Thornton & Kyianna Sykes Nathan Mitchell, Ph.D. (Faculty Advisor) Division of Social Work, Behavioral and Political Sciences Prairie View A&M University Background: The US Department of Agriculture defines a food desert as living more than half a mile to fresh food. The Food Access Research Atlas places most of the county in a food desert. At present, there are only four major supermarkets in the county. Aim: This study will examine the attitudes, values and priorities of the residents of Waller County related to food, food services, and other amenities. Materials and Methods: A survey of all residents of Waller County, Texas over the age of 18 will be distributed by County Judge and other relevant policy makers during the month of March. Residents will be asked questions about the need for supermarkets, fresh food farmerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s markets, or other resources. This information will be disaggregated by race, age, and length of time lived in the county. We expect between 300-500 participants. In addition to survey data, we will use the Food Access Research Atlas to show the magnitude of the food insecurity problem. Results and Conclusions: We expect to find that younger people will demand fresher and healthier food services than other groups.

Keywords: Food insecurity, rural communities, food deserts, food access

Analysis of Pneumococcal Keratitis Using ImageJ Halima White Quincy C. Moore, Ph.D. (Faculty Advisor) Department of Biology and The Honors Program Prairie View A&M University Background: This study examines bacterial keratitis, specifically related to the bacterial strain Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus), in the model organism, the New Zealand white rabbit. Keratitis is often associated with poor care of contact lenses and has infectious ramifications such as corneal ulcers, corneal erosion, and in extreme cases - blindness. Objective: Our research aimed to examine the full range of capabilities that the scientific analysis system Image J could contribute in studying this ocular condition; determining this softwareâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ability to contribute to alternative methods of assessing corneal injury caused by the stromal infiltration of pneumococcus, and measure other objective quantitative measures. Materials and Methods: Methods include the use of Color Threshold, Interactive 3D Surface Plot, and Plot Profile to analyze bacterial adhesion sites and the percent impact of the infection on the rabbit eyes. Ocular images of rabbits were gathered at 24 hours and 48 hours post-infection. Results: Initial data from ImageJ showcases an increase in percent impact from 24 to 48 hours, demonstrating further corneal deterioration as the infection progresses. Conclusions: In conclusion, Image J was able to analyze the development of the condition in a 48-hour period and the rate of corneal erosion with quantitative data.

Keywords: Keratitis, ImageJ, Ocular, New Zealand White Rabbit, Pneumococcus

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Prairie View A&M University 15th Annual Research Symposium Metabolomics of Animal and Plant-Based Milks Brianna Williams Harshica Fernando, Ph.D. (Faculty Advisor) Department of Chemistry Prairie View A&M University Background: Key foundations for precision medicine is tailoring to the individual utilizing the impacts of his/her biochemical capacities and are influenced by metabolites. The human metabolome, genome, microbiome, diet, and way of life are instances of these biochemical capacities which give pathways to customization or potentially individualization of medications.

Lipidomics investigates the cellular pathways of lipids in biological systems and practiced through the basis of analytical chemistry principles such as NMR, GC-MS and/or LC-MS. Milk and milk products are essential to the human diet in nearly everyone ranging from infants to adults.

Therefore, identifying the lipids in milk is imperative. The lipid fraction of milk is composed of a complex matrix and varies depending on the type of milk. Lipids in milk consist of sterols, triglycerides, free/esterified fatty acids, and phospholipids (PLs) which are essential for the maintenance of cellular membranes along with other biological roles. Hence, accurate quantification of lipids and comparison of them are crucial. Aim: The objectives of this project are the qualitative identification of lipid metabolites in animal and plant-based milks (cow, goat, coconut, and soy) using NMR spectroscopy. Materials and Methods: A modified Folch method was used in the extraction process, and the organic extracts dried to a constant weight. Results: The data of dry lipid weights show a significant difference among the milk varieties. NMR analysis of lipids shows identifiable peak patterns with different integration values suggesting the presence of various amounts of lipid species. Among the animal milk types, the data indicates triglycerides to be higher in cow and total cholesterol higher in goat. In the plant varieties, the data indicates cholesterol to be higher in coconut and triglyceride higher in soy. Conclusions: The presence of these lipids with different fatty acyl chains has a significant effect on human health and plays a vital role in the self-absorption process.

Keywords: metabolites, lipidomics, animal milks, plant-based milks, triglycerides, cholesterol

Understanding the Effects of Drugs Used to Enhance Studying in College Students Gary-Austin Williams & Joshua Benson Andrea McDonald, Ph.D. (Faculty Mentor) Department of Health and Kinesiology Prairie View A&M University Introduction: Study drugs are prescription stimulants that are misused by students to help them focus or stay awake. These study drugs have various side effects, which include increased blood pressure, irregular heartbeats, restlessness, anxiety, headaches etc. A survey by the Partnership for a Drug-Free Kids in 2014 reported that 20% of college students reported abusing prescription stimulants. The most popular drug in this survey was Adderall, used by 60% of those taking stimulants, followed by Ritalin and Vyvanse used to improve academic or work performance. The 118

Prairie View A&M University 15th Annual Research Symposium most commonly abused drugs for this purpose are those used for ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder) and ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder). Purpose: The aim of this project is to identify the drugs used to enhance studying in college and assess its effect on the human body.

Materials and Methods: This study will use a purposeful sampling approach to identify studying enhancement drugs. We will recruit college students both males and females, from all majors between the ages of 17 to 25. We will create a survey with questions associated with the drugs used. The survey will be sent out via Group Me which is a popular app used by college students.

The data obtained will be analyzed for frequencies. The results will be presented in a graph and table. In addition, we will use the data to design a program for our program planning health seminar.

Keywords: study drugs, college students, misuse of drugs, ADD, ADHD

Fabrication Structure and Morphology of Electrospun Polystyrene Nanofibers Veronica Williams Nabila Shamim, Ph.D. (Faculty Advisor) College of Engineering Prairie View A&M University Background: Electrospinning is a simple and highly versatile method to produce one-dimensional polymeric, inorganic, and hybrid nanomaterials with controllable diameters, morphologies, and compositions. The polymer nanofibers has wide range of applications in the field of membrane filtration, sensors and tissue engineering. Objective: In this project, polystyrene nanofibers are fabricated by varying the polymer concentration from 9 to 15 wt%. The morphology of the polystyrene nanofibers is observed using SEM. The structure and thermal properties of the PS nanofibers are analyzed using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Materials and Methods: Polystyrene (average M.W. 260,000) acquired from Acros Organics are dissolved in dimethylformamide (DMF) and sonicated for two hours until homogeneous solution was acquired. About 3 ml of this homogeneous solution is used for the electrospinning technique by applying a high voltage of 10 KV. Results: The SEM results showcase an observation and significance of the morphology and structural characteristics. The SEM image shows that the higher the concentration in polystyrene, makes more uniform and longer nanofibers. The FTIR result confirms there are no presence for DMF, and the fibers are completely made of PS. The thermal properties of the PS nanofibers analyzed by using DSC as a function of cooling rate shows the glass transition temperature decreases as a function of cooling rate.

Keywords: Electospinning, Electrospun nanofibers, Differential Scanning Calorimetry, Scanning Electron Microscope, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy

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Prairie View A&M University 15th Annual Research Symposium Your Mind Matters: Mental Health within Black College Students Kiera Williamson, Kieara Floyd, Cameron North & Tanara Reagor Andrea McDonald, Ph.D. (Faculty Advisor) Department of Health and Kinesiology Prairie View A&M University Background: Mental health is an illness that can interfere with psychological, emotional, and social well-being. In 2018, about 19% of adults experienced mental illness and about 5% of adults experienced severe mental illness. Recently, a study showed that approximately 75% of people who suffer from mental illnesses are in their mid-20s. Some of the frequent types include anxiety disorders, psychotic disorders, eating disorders, post-traumatic stress disorders, and personality disorders. Aim: The purpose of this study will be to assess student understanding and awareness of mental health. Materials and Methods: This study will be a cross-sectional design. We plan to conduct a survey to obtain knowledge of mental health. We will recruit African American students between the ages of 18 and 28. The survey will contain students' classification, socio-demographic information and questions that are associated with the participantâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s knowledge, awareness, childhood experiences. The information obtained will be analyzed and results will be used to develop educational sessions on mental health.

Keywords: mental health, African American, college students, understanding of mental health

The Effects of Mass Incarceration on the Health Status of African Americans Jenae Young, Michelle Olufemi, Ana Santana, David Ikemba, Hung Phan & Taylor Allen Mona Hassan Ph.D., RN (Faculty Mentor) College of Nursing Prairie View A&M University Background: Mass incarceration in America has seen a sudden upsurge in the past decade and has begun to create more problems than the system is trying to fix. Incarceration not only affects the prisoners of the system but also impairs and cripples the mental and physical health status of the surrounding communities. This trend is very prevalent especially in the African American community. Aim: The purpose of this study is to examine mass incarceration and the associated impact it has on the general health and well-being in African Americans between the ages of 1840 by using thematic analysis. Materials and Methods: This ex-post facto study includes a sample of African Americans who have been incarcerated and integrated back into society. Data collection consists of questionnaires asking how incarceration affected their health such as obesity, chronic health conditions, or cancer. The researchers will utilize descriptive analysis to detect the patterns that mass incarceration has on the aforementioned health conditions of the participants of the experiment.

Keywords: mass incarceration, African Americans, general health, well-being, community

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Prairie View A&M University 15th Annual Research Symposium Coding Units Depths Prediction in High Efficiency Video Coding using Convolutional Neural Networks Vahid Zarghami Yonghui Wang, Ph.D. (Faculty Mentor) Department of Computer Sciences Prairie View A&M University Background: High Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC), is a video compression standard, designed as a successor to the widely used Advanced Video Coding (AVC) or Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG-4). In comparison to AVC, HEVC offers from 25% to 50% better data compression at the same level of video quality, or substantially improved video quality at the same bit rate.

Unlike the primarily 8-bit AVC, HEVC's higher fidelity Main10 profile has been incorporated into nearly all supporting hardware. Aim: In this research, we would present a coding unit (CU) depthdecision algorithm using convolutional neural network (CNN) to predict coding unit tree (CTU) partition to reduce the computational overhead of HEVC. Coding unit tree is the basic processing unit of the HEVC video standard and conceptually corresponds in structure to macroblock units that were used in several previous video standards. In HEVC intra-prediction mode, it takes the HEVC encoder a lot of time to decide the best depth for CTUs. Materials and Methods: CNNs are simply neural networks that use convolution in place of general matrix multiplication in at least one of their layers, most commonly applied to analyzing visual imagery. They have applications in image and video recognition, recommender systems, image classification, medical image analysis, natural language processing and financial time series, in this research datasets are generated from a color encoding system (YUV). The YUV model defines a color space in terms of one luminance component (Y) and two chrominance components, called U (blue projection) and V (red projection) respectively. Results: CNN is used to predict the CTU depth decision and it helps to reduce the time and increase the bitrate in HEVC encoding process. Conclusions: A neural-network architecture is designed for increasing the coding speed for HEVC. The architecture consists of the convolution and pooling layers for analyzing the image property of the CU. Keywords: High Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC), Complexity Reduction, Convolutional Neural Network (CNN), Coding Unit (CU), Depth Prediction

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Student Participants & Faculty Mentor(s)

Prairie View A&M University 15th Annual Research Symposium College of Agriculture & Human Sciences Melissa Gray Agricultural & Human Sciences Almoutaz Elhassan, Ph.D. Alyssa Perry Agricultural & Human Sciences Alphina Ho Watson, Ph.D. & Dr. Scott Mikayla Moraye Berry Agricultural & Human Sciences Ripendra Awal, Ph.D. & Ali Fares, Ph.D. Praise Benson Agricultural & Human Sciences Kailynn Vandewater & Darrin Karcher, Ph.D. Camryn Davis Agricultural & Human Sciences Quincy C. Moore, Ph.D. Tamia Hull-Littlejohn Agricultural & Human Sciences Eric Risch, Ph.D. Earlena Evans Agricultural & Human Sciences Peter Ampim, Ph.D. Faith Isabelle Agricultural & Human Sciences Peter Ampim, Ph.D. Morgan Green Agricultural & Human Sciences Raghava R. Kommalapati, Ph.D. Edward Timms Agricultural & Human Sciences Richard Griffin, Ph.D. Jayla LaDay Agricultural & Human Sciences Laura Carson, Ph.D. Deborah Bradford Agricultural & Human Sciences Laura Carson, Ph.D. Lenaye Palmer Agricultural & Human Sciences Laura Carson, Ph.D. Tony Green Agricultural & Human Sciences Laura Carson, Ph.D. Kira Christian Agricultural & Human Sciences Milton Daley, Ph.D. Alexander Robinson Agricultural & Human Sciences Milton Daley, Ph.D. Wesley Okafor Agricultural & Human Sciences Ram Ray, Ph.D. Blessed Reine Agricultural & Human Sciences Ripendra Awal, Ph.D., Ali Fares, Ph.D. & Hamideh Habibi, Ph.D. Oluwaseun Abisuwa Human Nutrition and Dietetics Maryuri Nunez de Gonzalez, Ph.D. & Rahmat Attaie, Ph.D. Roberto de Freitas Marriage & Family Studies Ronald Briggs, Ph.D. Marvin D. and June Samuel Brailsford College of Arts & Sciences Jennifer Jackson Biology Andrea McDonald, Ph.D. Joshua Lewis Biology Arie Kaffman, Ph. D. Chiamaka Okoye Biology Christopher Medina, Ph.D. Sahar Fattani Biology Gina Chiarella, Ph.D. Caleb Johnson Biology Gloria C Regisford, Ph.D. Daniela Ruiz Biology Gloria C Regisford, Ph.D. Ellanique MonĂŠt Collins Biology Gloria C. Regisford Ph.D. Dalijah Saterfield Biology Gloria C. Regisford, Ph.D. Samuella Bassey Biology Gloria C. Regisford, Ph.D. Joshua Johnson Biology Gloria C. Regisford, Ph.D. Olivia Meka Biology Gloria C. Regisford, Ph.D. Chelsea Narcisse Biology Gloria C. Regisford, Ph.D. Tsunami Pinkney Biology Gloria C. Regisford, Ph.D. Shekenia Green Biology Gloria C. Regisford, Ph.D. Deisy Ramos Biology Gloria C. Regisford, Ph.D. Alexis VanZandt Biology Gloria C. Regisford, Ph.D. Diana Varela-Ajche Biology Gloria C. Regisford, Ph.D. 123

Prairie View A&M University 15th Annual Research Symposium Woyengitokoni Boleigha Kristina Littlejohn LaTaisha Jeffery Isa Gautham Aaron Halsey Adaeze Eze Halima White Sydney Gore Wesley Okafor

Biology Biology Biology Biology Biology Biology Biology Biology Biology

Tolulope Olutimehin

Biology

Rajendra Sishodia

Biology

Chelsea Narcisse

Biology

Aubrianna Jordan Jocelyn Mejia Abraham Parada-Medina Larecia Thomas Ineceia I. Carter Ayanna D. Montegut Eva Jones Kennedy Steele Alyssa Arceneaux

Biology Biology Biology Biology Biology Biology Biology & Chemistry Biology & Chemistry Biology/Pre-Med

Portrait Plair

Chemistry

Yen Maroney Lawrence

Chemistry

Aijalon Shantavia Bettis Isha Gautam Brianna Williams Aijalon Shantavia Bettis Julian DuBois Xavier Robertson

Chemistry Chemistry Chemistry Chemistry Chemistry Chemistry, Biomedical

Mitchell Lewis Sara Delfan Faith Nwokoma Tamara Waobikeze

Chemistry, Forensic Chemistry, Organic Communications Communications 124

Gloria C. Regisford, Ph.D. Gloria C. Regisford, Ph.D. Harshica Fernando, Ph.D. Harshica Fernando, Ph.D. Kathleen Straker, M.Ed. Nanzin Sultana, Ph.D. Quincy C. Moore, Ph.D. Quincy Moore, Ph.D. Ram Ray, Ph.D., Laura Carson, Ph.D., Ripendra Awal, Ph.D., Almoutaz Elhassan, Ph.D. & Ali Fares, Ph.D. Ram Ray, Ph.D., Laura Carson, Ph.D., Ripendra Awal, Ph.D., Almoutaz Elhassan, Ph.D. & Ali Fares, Ph.D. Ram Ray, Ph.D., Laura Carson, Ph.D., Ripendra Awal, Ph.D., Almoutaz Elhassan, Ph.D. & Ali Fares, Ph.D. Sameh Abdelwahed, Ph.D. & Grace Abolaji, Ph.D. Victoria Mgbemena, Ph.D. Victoria Mgbemena, Ph.D. Victoria Mgbemena, Ph.D. Victoria Mgbemena, Ph.D. Yolander Youngblood, Ph.D. Yolander Youngblood, Ph.D. Lisanne Van Dijk, MD Lisanne Van Dijk, MD Sameh Abdelwahed, Ph.D. & Grace Abolaji, Ph.D. Aderemi Oki, Ph.D. & Gloria C. Regisford, Ph.D. Ananda Amarasekara, Ph.D. & Bernard Wiredu, Ph.D. Gloria C. Regisford, Ph.D. Harshica Fernando, Ph.D. Harshica Fernando, Ph.D. Harshica Fernando, Ph.D. Sameh Abdelwahed, Ph.D. Ananda Amarasekara, Ph.D. & Bernard Wiredu, Ph.D. Sameh Abdelwahed, Ph.D. Ananda Amarasekara, Ph.D. Cajetan M. Akujuobi, Ph.D. Kishwar Joonas, Ph.D.

Prairie View A&M University 15th Annual Research Symposium Skyler McCray Davis Treylon Oliver Sonnie William Centell Jackson Kalyse Houston Kendall Lemons Abidemi Awojuyigbe

Communications Communications Communications English History Mathematics Physics

Isaac Berry Scenic Mosley Amorae Times Samuel Parada Domonique Roy Anthony Nelson Teren Livas Danisha Malcolm Calvin Rucker Tiara Bailey Tramoni Garrett Janise Boose Rachel Bennett Syndi Birch Shalala Stallworth Maydrian Strozier-Lowe Blake Reddix Ocie Miles Alejandro Ntutumu Abeme Cassandra Erbynn Calvin Artis, Jr. Roderick Lacy Kaela Watson Kholbie Thornton Kyianna Sykes Ana Coronado Larryisa Thomas Tolulope Olutimehin

Physics Political Science Political Science Political Science Political Science Political Science Political Science Political Science Political Science Political Science Political Science Political Science Political Science Political Science Political Science Political Science Political Science Political Science Political Science Political Science Political Science Political Science Political Science Political Science Political Science Social Work Sociology Sociology College of Business Finance Kishwar Joonas, Ph.D. Management Information Louis Ngamassi, Ph.D. Systems Management Information Louis Ngamassi, Ph.D. Systems

Taylor Longshaw Jada Burks Fanesse Muyah

Kishwar Joonas, Ph.D. Kishwar Joonas, Ph.D. Kishwar Joonas, Ph.D. Laura Carson, Ph.D. Marco Robinson, Ph.D. Indika Rathnathungalage, Ph.D. Merlyn Pulikkathara, Ph.D. & Yuri Mackeyev, Ph.D Orion Ciftja, Ph.D Mark Tschaepe, Ph.D. Michael J. Nojeim, Ph.D. Nathan K. Mitchell, Ph.D. Nathan Mitchell, Ph.D. Nathan Mitchell, Ph.D. Nathan Mitchell, Ph.D. Nathan Mitchell, Ph.D. Nathan Mitchell, Ph.D. Nathan Mitchell, Ph.D. Nathan Mitchell, Ph.D. Nathan Mitchell, Ph.D. Nathan Mitchell, Ph.D. Nathan Mitchell, Ph.D. Nathan Mitchell, Ph.D. Nathan Mitchell, Ph.D. Nathan Mitchell, Ph.D. Nathan Mitchell, Ph.D. Nathan Mitchell, Ph.D. Nathan Mitchell, Ph.D. Nathan Mitchell, Ph.D. Nathan Mitchell, Ph.D. Nathan Mitchell, Ph.D. Nathan Mitchell, Ph.D. Nathan Mitchell, Ph.D. Larry Hill, Ph.; D. Marco Robinson, Ph.D. Megan Collins, Ph.D.

125

Prairie View A&M University 15th Annual Research Symposium Mia Whitaker

Ruchika Gupta Terésa Dowell-Vest, M.F.A. Stephen Aisabokhae Velicia Moore-Toliver Bequita Pegram Natriez Peterson Omega Dryer Kennedy Jones Kristiaan Plummer Brenda Trejo Kamry C. White Jennifer Jackson Lerah Lockett Laurie Nowlin Nadia Harris Kenedi Hines Ayanna Hill Gary-Austin Williams Joshua Benson Lashrae Charleston Dajahnique Hayes Savannah Lewis Asia Walker Alicia Carter Micala Clay Nia Bass Hope Hardmann Cali Phillips Destiny Jefferson Celine Okwusogu Cy’Mone Thompson Kiera Williamson Kieara Floyd Cameron North Tanara Reagor Dyashia Bunn Eurie Bryant Travon Brown

Management Information Louis Ngamassi, Ph.D. Systems Whitlowe R. Green College of Education Educational leadership Fred Bonner II, Ed.D. Educational Leadership Fred Bonner II, Ed.D. Educational Leadership Educational Leadership Educational Leadership Educational Leadership Health & Kinesiology Health & Kinesiology Health & Kinesiology Health & Kinesiology Health & Kinesiology Health & Kinesiology Health & Kinesiology Health & Kinesiology Health & Kinesiology Health & Kinesiology Health & Kinesiology Health & Kinesiology Health & Kinesiology Health & Kinesiology Health & Kinesiology Health & Kinesiology Health & Kinesiology Health & Kinesiology Health & Kinesiology Health & Kinesiology Health & Kinesiology Health & Kinesiology Health & Kinesiology Health & Kinesiology Health & Kinesiology Health & Kinesiology Health & Kinesiology Health & Kinesiology Health & Kinesiology Health & Kinesiology Health & Kinesiology Health & Kinesiology 126

Fred Bonner II, Ed.D. Fred Bonner II, Ed.D. Fred Bonner II, Ed.D. Fred Bonner II, Ed.D. Almoutaz Elhassan, Ph.D. Andrea McDonald, Ph.D. Andrea McDonald, Ph.D. Andrea McDonald, Ph.D. Andrea McDonald, Ph.D. Andrea McDonald, Ph.D. Andrea McDonald, Ph.D. Andrea McDonald, Ph.D. Andrea McDonald, Ph.D. Andrea McDonald, Ph.D. Andrea McDonald, Ph.D. Andrea McDonald, Ph.D. Andrea McDonald, Ph.D. Andrea McDonald, Ph.D. Andrea McDonald, Ph.D. Andrea McDonald, Ph.D. Andrea McDonald, Ph.D. & Angela Branch-Vital, Ph.D. Andrea McDonald, PhD Andrea McDonald, PhD Andrea McDonald, PhD Andrea McDonald, PhD Andrea McDonald, PhD Andrea McDonald, PhD Andrea McDonald, PhD Andrea McDonald, PhD Andrea McDonald, PhD Andrea McDonald, PhD Andrea McDonald, PhD Andrea McDonald, PhD Angela Branch-Vital, Ph.D. Angela Branch-Vital, Ph.D. Donna Laws, Ed.D.

Prairie View A&M University 15th Annual Research Symposium Vanecia Lewis Abiodun Alonge Christopher Hobbs Ahbab Murtoza Ariel Taylor Elizabeth Osadare Shanelle Bryant Cayla Guillory Cody Cash Ayobami Orangun

Akolade Okunola Ozoemena Anyaegbu Aminata Diagne Diamy B. Camara Indira Ribeiro Unyime M. Effiong Abidemi Awojuyigbe Chloe Sanders Veronica Williams Ahbab Murtoza Uchenna S. Igwe Marvin Berrios Damilola Adesina Olutobi Adagunodo Xishuang Dong Busayo Oluwakuse Iyanuoluwa Imoru Kolade Adelaja Opeyemi Ayanbanjo Tolulope Olutimehin Rajendra Sishodia Tamia Hull-Littlejohn Chidumga Izuzu Busayo Oluwakuse Sheikh Tareq Ahmed ChShemar Hunter Gbenga Agunsoye

Health & Kinesiology Lana Williams Health & Kinesiology Lana Williams Physical Education Andrea McDonald, Ph.D. Roy G. Perry College of Engineering Chemical Engineering Ananda S. Amarasekara, Ph.D. Chemical Engineering Emmanuel Dada, Ph.D. Chemical Engineering Emmanuel Dada, Ph.D. Chemical Engineering Emmanuel Dada, Ph.D. Chemical Engineering Gina Chiarella, Ph.D. Chemical Engineering Gina Chiarella, Ph.D. Chemical Engineering Harjinder Kaur, Ph.D., Hongbo Du, Ph.D. & Raghava R. Kommalapati, Ph.D. Chemical Engineering Hongbo Du, Ph.D. & Raghava R. Kommalapati, Ph.D. Chemical Engineering Irvin Osborne-Lee, Ph.D. Chemical Engineering Kazeem Olanrewaju, Ph.D. Chemical Engineering Kazeem Olanrewaju, Ph.D. Chemical Engineering Kazeem Olanrewaju, Ph.D. Chemical Engineering Kazeem Olanrewaju, Ph.D. Chemical Engineering Merlyn Pulikkathara, Ph.D. & Yuri Mackeyev, Ph.D Chemical Engineering Nabila Shamim, Ph.D. Chemical engineering Nabila Shamim, Ph.D. Chemical Engineering Ananda S. Amarasekara, Ph.D. Civil & Environmental Emmanuel U. Nzewi, Ph.D. Engineering Computer Engineering Cajetan M. Akujuobi, Ph.D. Computer Engineering Lijun Qian, Ph.D Computer Engineering Lijun Qian, Ph.D Computer Engineering Lijun Qian, Ph.D Computer Information Systems Cajetan M. Akujuobi, Ph.D. Computer Information Systems Lin Li, Ph.D. Computer Information Systems Peter Ampim, Ph.D. Computer Information Systems Ram Ray, Ph.D. Computer Information Systems Ram Ray, Ph.D. Computer Information Systems Ram Ray, Ph.D. & Eric Risch, Ph.D. Computer Information Systems Ram Ray, Ph.D. & Eric Risch, Ph.D. Computer Information Systems Yunxiang Gao, Ph.D. Computer Information Systems Cajetan M. Akujuobi, Ph.D. Computer Science Ahmed Abdelmoamen Ahmed, Ph.D. Computer Science Cajetan M. Akujuobi, Ph.D. Computer Science Shumon Alam, Ph.D. 127

Prairie View A&M University 15th Annual Research Symposium Devron Malveaux Elijah Waters Uchenna Nwanyanwu Vahid Zarghami Sheikh Tareq Ahmed John Attia Yusuf Isa-Yusuf Joel Wandji Kelechi Eze Qamiyon Marshall Adeyemi Deyemi Taylor Andre Johnson Micheal Daley Savannah Sargent Trang Nguyen Joel Wandji Gary Thomas Talor Achille Louodom Prevailer Mba Yannick Djomatchoua Asmaou Ouedraogo Haivany Youmou Pranay Krishna Katari Haribabu Amna Ansari Faravi Ahmed Olivia Murphy

Computer Science Computer Science Computer Science Computer Science Computer Science Electrical & Computer Engineering Electrical & Computer Engineering Electrical Engineering Electrical Engineering Electrical Engineering Electrical Engineering Electrical Engineering Electrical Engineering Electrical Engineering Electrical Engineering Electrical Engineering Mechanical Engineering Mechanical Engineering Mechanical Engineering Mechanical Engineering Mechanical Engineering Mechanical Engineering Mechanical Engineering

Yonghui Wang, Ph.D. Yonghui Wang, Ph.D. Yonghui Wang, Ph.D. Yonghui Wang, Ph.D. Ahmed Abdelmoamen Ahmed, Ph.D. Shuza Binzaid, Ph.D. Shuza Binzaid, Ph.D. Cajetan M. Akujuobi, Ph.D. Cajetan M. Akujuobi, Ph.D. Cajetan M. Akujuobi, Ph.D. Shuza Binzaid, Ph.D. Shuza Binzaid, Ph.D. Shuza Binzaid, Ph.D. Shuza Binzaid, Ph.D. Shuza Binzaid, Ph.D. Cajetan M. Akujuobi, Ph.D. Doeun Choe Ph.D. Jaejong Park, Ph.D. Jaejong Park, Ph.D. Jaejong Park, Ph.D. Ziaul Huque, Ph.D. Ziaul Huque, Ph.D. Ziaul Huque, Ph.D.

Mechanical Engineering Ziaul Huque, Ph.D. & Yuhao Xu, Ph.D. Mechanical Engineering Ziaul Huque, Ph.D. & Yuhao Xu, Ph.D. Mechanical Engineering Ziaul Huque, Ph.D. & Yuhao Xu, Ph.D. College of Juvenile Justice & Psychology Praveenrao Bolli Justice Studies Abdullah Cihan, Ph.D. Shantol McIntosh Justice Studies Abdullah Cihan, Ph.D. Regan Reid Justice Studies Camille Gibson, Ph.D. Kruthi Jagadish Kumar Justice Studies Myrna Cintron, Ph.D Anna Fondren Justice Studies Robin Jackson, Ph.D. Dayanand Sundaravadivelu Justice Studies Sesha Kethineni, Ph.D. Tinu Neha Miriyam Justice Studies Sesha Kethineni, Ph.D. Brianna Grays Psychology Corey Columb, Ph.D. Araceli Estrada Martinez Psychology Gloria C. Regisford, Ph.D. Areon Bradford Psychology Gloria C. Regisford, Ph.D. Mary Dillingham Psychology Gloria C. Regisford, Ph.D. Bridgett Boxley Psychology Logan Yelderman, Ph.D.

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Prairie View A&M University 15th Annual Research Symposium Neacara Imani-Anne Barnett Anterris Turner Coonima Kennedy Jaile Burkhalter Jannet Berganza Rodnetria Wade Tajaun Burton Zaire Hickman Kayla Ford

Psychology

Peter Metofe, Ph.D. & Larry Hill, Ph.D.

Psychology Psychology Psychology Psychology Psychology Psychology Psychology Psychology

Roslyn M. Caldwell-Gunes, Ph.D. Roslyn M. Caldwell-Gunes, Ph.D. Roslyn M. Caldwell-Gunes, Ph.D. Roslyn M. Caldwell-Gunes, Ph.D. Roslyn M. Caldwell-Gunes, Ph.D. Roslyn M. Caldwell-Gunes, Ph.D. Roslyn M. Caldwell-Gunes, Ph.D. Yuki Shigemoto, Ph.D. College of Nursing

Ana Santana Anne Desir Ashley Gonzales Bianka Olivo Brandi Houston Cassey Okoro Cayla Contravis Chanel Williams Cierra Lockhart Darvany Williams David Ikemba Eboni Russell Fatima Khan Hieu Tran Hung Phan Jackie Cordova Jenae Young Kai Jones Kamesha Williams Kelsey Stafford Kendra Milton Ki'Ana Harris Louis Brady Melanie Jackson Michelle Olufemi Olukemi Oba Paula Morrisette Ramsha Nadeem Rosemary Joiner Tameka James Taylor Allen Tiana Maloney

Nursing Nursing Nursing Nursing Nursing Nursing Nursing Nursing Nursing Nursing Nursing Nursing Nursing Nursing Nursing Nursing Nursing Nursing Nursing Nursing Nursing Nursing Nursing Nursing Nursing Nursing Nursing Nursing Nursing Nursing Nursing Nursing

Mona Hassan, Ph.D. Mona Hassan, Ph.D. Mona Hassan, Ph.D. Mona Hassan, Ph.D. Mona Hassan, Ph.D. Mona Hassan, Ph.D. Mona Hassan, Ph.D. Mona Hassan, Ph.D. Mona Hassan, Ph.D. Mona Hassan, Ph.D. Mona Hassan, Ph.D. Mona Hassan, Ph.D. Mona Hassan, Ph.D. Mona Hassan, Ph.D. Mona Hassan, Ph.D. Mona Hassan, Ph.D. Mona Hassan, Ph.D. Mona Hassan, Ph.D. Mona Hassan, Ph.D. Mona Hassan, Ph.D. Mona Hassan, Ph.D. Mona Hassan, Ph.D. Mona Hassan, Ph.D. Mona Hassan, Ph.D. Mona Hassan, Ph.D. Mona Hassan, Ph.D. Mona Hassan, Ph.D. Mona Hassan, Ph.D. Mona Hassan, Ph.D. Mona Hassan, Ph.D. Mona Hassan, Ph.D. Mona Hassan, Ph.D. 129

Prairie View A&M University 15th Annual Research Symposium TonAsia Taylor Valentina Ojeah Xuan Nguyen Yvette Vo Zahria Richardson-Battle Ana Santana Anne Desir Ashley Gonzales Bianka Olivo Brandi Houston Cassey Okoro Alex Browne Asher Kurian Asher Kurian Brittany Barlow Chinwendu Obiagwu Chukwuemeka Onyekwere Eliza Mardon Emmy Nguyen, Erwin Gonzalez Jr. Kalandria Washington Kennedy Williams Kiara Sims Larissa Martinez Marion Nanyongo Nicole Nguyen Rufus Agbonyi SadĂŠ James Sajil Abraham Sheryl Abraham Stephanie Ekezie Sue Pandey Myeisha McCalister Mylinda Mason

Nursing Nursing Nursing Nursing Nursing Nursing Nursing Nursing Nursing Nursing Nursing Nursing Nursing Nursing Nursing Nursing Nursing Nursing Nursing Nursing Nursing Nursing Nursing Nursing Nursing Nursing Nursing Nursing Nursing Nursing Nursing Nursing Nursing Nursing

Mona Hassan, Ph.D. Mona Hassan, Ph.D. Mona Hassan, Ph.D. Mona Hassan, Ph.D. Mona Hassan, Ph.D. Mona Hassan, Ph.D. Mona Hassan, Ph.D. Mona Hassan, Ph.D. Mona Hassan, Ph.D. Mona Hassan, Ph.D. Mona Hassan, Ph.D. Vanessa Monroe, Ph.D. Vanessa Monroe, Ph.D. Vanessa Monroe, Ph.D. Vanessa Monroe, Ph.D. Vanessa Monroe, Ph.D. Vanessa Monroe, Ph.D. Vanessa Monroe, Ph.D. Vanessa Monroe, Ph.D. Vanessa Monroe, Ph.D. Vanessa Monroe, Ph.D. Vanessa Monroe, Ph.D. Vanessa Monroe, Ph.D. Vanessa Monroe, Ph.D. Vanessa Monroe, Ph.D. Vanessa Monroe, Ph.D. Vanessa Monroe, Ph.D. Vanessa Monroe, Ph.D. Vanessa Monroe, Ph.D. Vanessa Monroe, Ph.D. Vanessa Monroe, Ph.D. Vanessa Monroe, Ph.D. Vanessa Monroe, Ph.D. Vanessa Monroe, Ph.D.

Jeselle Aguilar Maria Guadalupe Martinez Valdez Mario Eduardo Ramirez Marshall Walther Zachary Arrington

Psychology Psychology

Katherine Wickes Katherine Wickes

Psychology Psychology Psychology

Katherine Wickes Katherine Wickes Katherine Wickes

Blinn College

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Prairie View A&M University 15th Annual Research Symposium

Andre Johnson Cliff Collins Nolan Boyd Tony Green Dora Marin-Gonzales Debra Braford Rafash Brew Aruna Weersooriya

Department not provided Laura Carson, Ph.D. Laura Carson, Ph.D. Laura Carson, Ph.D. Laura Carson, Ph.D. Laura Carson, Ph.D. Laura Carson, Ph.D. Laura Carson, Ph.D. Laura Carson, Ph.D.

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2020 Research Symposium Planning Committee

Prairie View A&M University 15th Annual Research Symposium 15th Annual Research Symposium Planning Committee & Reviewers  Dr. Grace Abolaji** Manager for Undergraduate Research, Research & Innovation  Mr. Stephen Aisabokhae, doctoral student, College of Education  Dr. Peter Ampim** Research Scientist, Cooperative Agricultural Research Center, College of Agriculture & Human Sciences  Dr. Janet Antwi* Assistant Professor, College of Agriculture & Human Sciences  Dr. Tamika Baldwin-Clark* Department of Social Work, College of Arts & Sciences  Dr. Karl Baughman* Department of Social Work, College of Arts & Sciences  Dr. Ruby Benjamin-Garner* Adjunct Assistant Professor, College of Nursing  Dr. Angela Branch-Vital* Department Head, Health and Kinesiology, College of Education  Dr. Angela Broadus** Training Specialist, Texas Juvenile Crime Prevention Center  Dr. Laura Carson**CAHS Director, Research Compliance & Undergraduate Research, College of Agriculture and Human Sciences  Dr. Corey Columb* Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, College of Juvenile Justice & Psychology  Ms. Karen B. Cotton, Communications Manager, Research & Innovation  Ms. Raquel Donahue, John B. Coleman Library  Dr. Susan Frazier-Kouassi** Director, Texas Juvenile Crime Prevention Center  Dr. Andrea McDonald** Assistant Professor of Health, Department of Health and Kinesiology, College of Education  Dr. Wynetta McMullin, Coordinator RN-BSN Program, College of Nursing RELLIS Campus  Dr. Sarhan Musa* Professor of Electrical Engineering, College of Engineering  Dr. Nathan Mitchell** Associate Professor of Political Science, College of Arts & Sciences  Dr. Vanessa D. Monroe, Clinical Assistant Professor, College of Nursing  Dr. Irvin Osborne-Lee* Professor of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering  Dr. Jaejong Park* Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering  Dr. Ram Ray** Research Scientist, College of Agriculture & Human Sciences  Dr. Eric Risch** Research Scientist, Cooperative Agricultural Research Center, College of Agriculture & Human Sciences  Dr. Marco Robinson, Assistant Professor of History, College of Arts & Sciences  Dr. Safwat Shakir *Senior Research Scientist, College of Engineering  Ms. Marchita Shilo, Communications Manager, Marketing and Communication  Ms. Erinette Watson, Administrative Associate, Texas Juvenile Crime Prevention Center * Served as a reviewer ** Served as both reviewer and committee member

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Acknowledgments and Thanks

Prairie View A&M University 15th Annual Research Symposium The planning of the 15th Annual Research Symposium involved the time and effort of many individuals. We deeply appreciate the contributions that individual faculty mentors, departments, colleges, deans, and administrators made to shape the symposium into a reality this year.

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, our best laid plans could not be realized and we were forced to cancel the symposium in real time. Nonetheless, we appreciate all of the hard work and effort that students devoted to submit an abstract. We especially are indebted to all of the faculty and staff who gave generously of their time and talents in mentoring the students.

For this year’s symposium, we had support and/or representation from the following units:          

College of Agriculture & Human Sciences College of Arts & Sciences College of Education College of Juvenile Justice & Psychology College of Nursing John B. Coleman Library Office of Graduate Studies Office of Marketing and Communication Office of the Vice President for Research & Innovation Texas Juvenile Crime Prevention Center

A special thanks to President Ruth Simmons for continuing to nurture a research-rich environment where our undergraduate students can grow and flourish.

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Texas Juvenile Crime Prevention Center College of Juvenile Justice & Psychology P.O. Box 519; Mail Stop 2600 Prairie View, Texas 77446 https://www.pvamu.edu/cojjp/texas-juvenile-crime-prevention-center/