2021 Student Research Symposium Booklet

Student Research Symposium

Acknowledgements Jessica Martin Editor/Production Coordinator - Marketing & Communications Rachel Putman Associate Director for Strategic Communications UAFS Marketing & Communications Jo Donna Collins and the A/V group 2021 Student Research Symposium Committee Paula Abbott Heath Cady Carolyn Fillippelli Casey Harmon Brandon Hutchison Kevin Jones Julie Martin Noel Sagullo Sharon Wu

Greetings! The University of Arkansas - Fort Smith proudly welcomes you to the 14th Annual Student Research Symposium. Our faculty and staff are committed to fostering an environment that promotes not only learning but also enlightenment. As you will see in today’s presentations, our students have accepted the challenge, explored unique areas of research, and synthesized their results in the form of lectures, studio art, demonstrations, posters, and performances. These presentations represent the academic diversity of UAFS’s programs and the intellectual excellence of our students. On their behalf, thank you for your participation. I invite you to engage the presenters during the question-andanswer segments of their presentations. Your active involvement ensures that UAFS remains a dynamic learning community.

Dr. Georgia Hale Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs

Student Research Symposium

Table of Contents College of Applied Science and Technology

College of Business The Decline of Brick-and-Mortar Depository Institutions Oral Presentation in Finance by Kellie Garner

A Closer Look at Nostalgia Oral Presentation in Animation Technology by Matthew Blankenship

How Semi-Procedural Generation can Deepen Storytelling in Games Oral Presentation in Animation Technology by Mason DeWater A Look into the History of Animation Oral Presentation in Animation Technology by Hugh East

How Animators Artistically Interpret NASA’s Discoveries Oral Presentation in Animation/Animation Technology/Computer Graphics by Jomar-John Francisco

Digital Art as Environment Concepts Studio Art Presentation in Animation Technology by Chandler Hopson

How Virtual Reality Helps People Learn Oral Presentation in Animation Technology by Micayla Howe

Nothing is Real: VFX Creating a New Reality Oral Presentation in Animation Technology by Raymundo Lara Robot Automation Pandemic Integration Delivery System Oral Presentation in Electrical Engineering Technology by Forrest Lasiter, Haley Gilstrap, and Joshua Merritt Music and the Effect it has on Humans Oral Presentation in Animation Technology by Zachery Longnecker

Philosophy of “Tokyo Ghoul” and its Animation Oral Presentation in Animation Technology by Michael McKown

College of Communication, Languages, Arts and Social Sciences Gunfighters, Outlaws, Gangsters, U.S. Marshals, and G-Men Oral Presentation in History by Ethan Beckham The Adaptation and Creation of Genre in “The Last of the Mohicans” Oral Presentation in American Cultural and Literary Studies/Historical Fiction by Melanie Bradley

Genre Classifications of Shakespeare’s “First Folio” - Then and Now Oral Presentation in English Literature by Hannah Holstead Bilingualism and Speech Development: Facts and Misconceptions Oral Presentation in Applied Linguistics/Second Language Acquisition by Brenda Lewis

An Inside Look into Benedetto Marcello’s Cello Sonatas, Transcribed for Trombone and Piano Performing Arts Presentation in Musicology by Raul Ortiz Objectification and the Manic Pixie Dream Girl: Gender Roles in “Scott Pilgrim vs. the World” Oral Presentation in English by Eilene Pearson Best Way to a Man’s Heart: How Society Still Views Cooking as a Woman’s Job Oral Presentation in English by Baylee Wallace

We’re Living in a Digital World Oral Presentation in Animation Technology by Patrick Oetzel

Remote Controlled Antenna Oral Presentation in Electrical Engineering Technology by A Sayvongsa, Phillip Tran, and Garrett Phillips

The Effects of Video Games on Childhood Development Oral Presentation in Animation Technology by Alexander Woods

Student Research Symposium

Student Research Symposium College of Health Science Mitrofanoff Procedure: A Case Study Poster Presentation in Health Science by Tony Barnes and Mikaela Pschier

The Effects of Eating Disorders on the Oral Cavity Oral Presentation in Health Science by Morgan Bissel, Madison Gilmore, Megan Moudy, and Audrey Nordin Holoprosencephaly Poster Presentation in Health Science by Maddie Burgin and Alicia Redding

Diagnosing and Treatment Planning for Different Cultural and Socioeconomic Groups Oral Presentation in Health Science by Abigail Cole, Ryleigh Neal, Yuliana Stasiv, and Sarah Trotter

Pregnancy and the Effects of Periodontal Disease Oral Presentation in Health Science by Tera Elkins, Morgan Reynolds, Gen Torres, and Kelsey Webb Choroid Plexus Cysts

UAFS ParkBOT: An Autonomous Vehicle Identification Robot Oral Presentation in Computer Science by Adrian Cuevas and Kyle Kelly 2GZ8 Protease Targeted for Drug Repurposing Through E-pharmacophore, Molecular Docking, and ADMET Based Screening Oral Presentation in Medicinal Chemistry by Alexis Dear Metal Oxide Leaching from Glass Cullet Used for Shoreline Restoration Poster Presentation in Environmental Geochemistry by Kathryn Echevarria and Julia Mathews SMASHBOT - Automated Player Classificiation System Using Machine Learning in Games Oral Presentation in Computer Science by Fernando Estrada, Luke Hinton, and Elbi Perez Potent, Metabolically Stable and Less Toxic Microtubule Polymerization Inhibitors for Resistant Melanoma and Prostate Cancer Oral Presentation in Medicinal Chemistry by Bobbi Evans

Poster Presentation in Health Science by Kylie Howard and Madeline Bateman

NAE: The Neural Alert Engine to Automate the Identification of Unfamiliar Individuals Oral Presentation in Computer Science by Renae Fisher

The Effect of Chemotherapeutic Agents on the Treatment of Periodontal Disease Oral Presentation in Health Science by Nikole Plassmeyer, Jamie Richey, Hannah Westerberg, and Emily Wiles

IR Spectroscopy and Mass Spectrometry Investigations of Menthol: Acetic Acid Based Deep Eutectic Solvent Oral Presentation in Chemistry by Paul Gambill The Educational Component of Cultural Institutions Oral Presentation in Education by Holly Hodge The COVID Effect on Student Achievement as Part of the Teacher Apprenticeship Oral Presentation in Education by Leslie Holland and Candace Janders

College of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Development of a Standardized Methodology for the Collection and Quantification of Microplastics in Fort Smith Regional Waterway Poster Presentation in Geoscience/Chemistry by Emily Blitz, Andrew Edmonds, Matthew Neal, Jake Thompson, and Jonathan Turco Detection of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) in Drugs Using Screen Printed Electrodes Poster Presentation in Biomedical Sciences by Matt Boston Baseball Analysis Using the Markov Chain Model Oral Presentation in Mathematics by Lauren Chitty Development of ER-β Selective Agonists for the Treatment of Obesity and Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH) Oral Presentation in Medicinal Chemistry by Olivia Coulter

Hot Springs of Arkansas Poster Presentation in Geoscience by Cassaundra Huggins

Structure, Functions, and Physiological Significance of ACE2 Receptor and its Role in COVID-19 Infection Oral Presentation in Biology by Harrison Jenkins Hot Shot: A Deep Learning Image Classification System to Predict Outcomes in Sports Oral Presentation in Computer Science by An Le and Martin Tran Exploring Green Synthesis of Aldol Reactions Using Deep Eutectic Solvents Oral Presentation in Chemistry by Michael Lee Using High-Resolution Field Photogrammetry to Recreate 3D Renders of Mid-Silurian Reefs from Michigan’s Hiawatha National Forest Poster Presentation in Geoscience by Preston Liles

Student Research Symposium

Synthesis and Characterization of Lysine: Glycerol Based Natural Deep Eutectic Solvent Oral Presentation in Chemistry by Nicholas McKinney

Searching for Potential Small Molecule Inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 Main Protease Oral Presentation in Medicinal Chemistry by Joshua Thammathong

Preliminary Mapping of Joints in the Middle-Pennsylvanian McAlester Formation in the Vicinity of Fort Smith, Arkansas Poster Presentation in Geoscience by Jacob McLain

Solvent Effects on the Conformation of Antimicrobial Temporin L Peptide: Insights from Mass Spectrometry and IR Spectroscopy Oral Presentation in Biochemistry by Stephanie Tinsley

Synthesis and Characterization of Silver Nanoparticle-Antiviral Peptide Conjugate Oral Presentation in Chemistry by Cody Merrell and Khuong Ta

Synthesis, IR Spectroscopy, and Mass Spectrometry Studies of Ibuprofen-Menthol Based Therapeutic Deep Eutectic Solvent Oral Presentation in Chemistry by Mary-Kate Wewers

Astronaut Space Suit Design and Training Oral Presentation in Engineering by Anthony Ming Nature Inspired Materials for Biomedical Applications Poster Presentation in Biomedical Sciences by Paula Najera-Diaz and Kenia Mendez

Petrographic and Biostratigraphic Analysis of a McKay Bay Member Mid-Silurian Knoll Reef in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula Poster Presentation in Geoscience by Logan Pearson and Samantha Barnett Nanocluster Formation of the Water-Based Deep Eutectic Solvent and Its Impact on Protein Secondary Structure Oral Presentation in Biochemistry by Christine Pham Using X-ray Diffraction to Determine the Proportions and Compositions of Carbonate Minerals in Coralline Limestone Poster Presentation in Geoscience by Edward Ruark and Ian Hattabuagh

Utilizing Computer-aided Drug Design Software to Find Novel Potential Small Molecule Therapeutics Targeting Papain-like Protease Oral Presentation in Medicinal Chemistry by Ryan Whatcott Threonine-Glycerol Based Natural Deep Eutetic Solvents Oral Presentation in Chemistry by Cladie White A Multiphase Sequential Exploratory Mixed Methods Analysis of Parent Absenteeism During Parent-Teacher Conferencing Oral Presentation in Education by Candice Wibbing Electrochemical Biofilms for Drug Metabolite Synthesis Poster Presentation in Electrochemistry by Evan Wittig

Exploring the Conformation Dynamics of Epitope from Lymphocytic Choreomeningitis Virus by Mass Spectrometry and IR Spectroscopy Oral Presentation in Biochemistry by Austyn Russell Protein Analysis of SARS-CoV-2 3CL Protease to Identify Potential Small Molecule Therapeutics Oral Presentation in Medicinal Chemistry by Rabia Sajjad Probing the Interaction of Pesticides with Human Serum Albumin Using Molecular Docking and MD Simulation Oral Presentation in Computational Chemistry by Jesse R. Scott Novel Potential Small Molecule Therapeutics of SARS-CoV-2 Targeting Papain-like Protease Oral Presentation in Medicinal Chemistry by Katelyn Smith Wild Bee Hylaeus signatus Venom Peptide and its Analogues Against the Main Protease of SARS-CoV-2 Oral Presentation in Biochemistry by Raquel Spencer

Student Research Symposium

Student Research Symposium A Closer Look at Nostalgia Presented by Matthew Blankenship Faculty Sponsor: Cody Holt Field of Research: Animation Technology Presentation Type: Oral

College of Applied Science & Technology

Nostalgia: A sentimental longing or wistful affection for the past, typically for a period or place with happy personal associations. The Usage of the word “nostalgia” has increased nearly 3.75 times from the year 1950 to the year 2019. This word’s origins come from the Greek word “Nostos”, to return home, in combination with the word “algos” meaning “pain.” This is used to reference acute homesickness. I’m sure you’ve used this word before. You’re probably nostalgic for a song, a childhood home, the smell of your grandmas cooking, you name it. This feeling can be thought of as happy but it’s also very sad. Like a somewhat bitter aftertaste to a sweet memory. It’s a complex emotion no doubt, and in the fantastic year of 2020, it’s becoming an emotion that we have gotten to know all too well. We use it as an escape. Longing for when life was seemingly more easy going. I’m going to explore what nostalgia is doing to the mental health of the American people, how it can be used to fuel escapism and depression and how nostalgia is being marketed to the masses in an attempt to use your feelings for profit. Matthew Blankenship is an animation technology major from Greenwood, Arkansas. He has been attending UAFS since 2015 through the WATC program.

How Semi-Procedural Generation can Deepen Storytelling in Games Presented by Mason DeWater Faculty Sponsor: Cody Holt Field of Research: Animation Technology Presentation Type: Oral

Procedural generation is nothing new to the video game genre, developers having been using this to easily create huge worlds sometimes infinitely, but this is not often used to enhance story elements. However, this is not as often applied to games that have a set story or setting. Games can benefit greatly from seeing something new on another playthrough, small differences can be what sets up an atmosphere. This can create depth but also benefit the creative process for the developer. The goal of this presentation is to show how adding random generation can add depth to a game and make every time you play it a fresh experience without changing the entirety of the game, or sacrificing the story. This will be accomplished through implementation of procedural generation in a game with preset assets, changing certain things each time you play, but not a completely different world such as with a sandbox video game. Mason DeWater is 20 years old and lives in Mulberry, Arkansas. He graduated from Alma High School and is currently a senior at UAFS working toward a Bachelor of Science of animation technology. He has a passion for video game design and regularly works on his own game projects in his free time.

Student Research Symposium A Look into the History of Animation

Digital Art as Environment Concepts

Over the years, animation has become an integral part of the human experience. Through marketing, education and entertainment, most people experience some form of animation several times within a 24-hour period, and many of the fundamental techniques used to make those animations have been around since the early days of cinema. This paper will start off with a look into the early beginnings of 2D animation, and eventually end with the reader having a firm understanding of how those early animations evolved into the incredible Marvel/Pixar movies we all know today. After the first cartoons, the next great step in animation is with the creation of ILM and their work on Star Wars. Almost every 3D computer software used to create todays animations were developed by ILM and much of the paper will focus on how this was achieved, as well as the impact it has had on the entertainment industry. As stated, animation is used throughout many facets of daily life and I will be going over much of them, as well as what the future might hold for animation technology.

During my presentation I will be showcasing how studying my degree has influenced my life as a digital artist and has allowed me to better my dream of being an environmental artist. With the knowledge I have learned from 3D software and art classes I now have a better understanding of how objects interact in the world allowing me to create better ideas through my art. My presentation will consist of concepts I gave painted digitally, as well as 3D renders from softwares I have learned throughout my schooling. The goal behind presenting my work is for the audience to understand how important knowing how 3D models are created is to understanding how environments should work.

Presented by Hugh East Faculty Sponsor: Cody Holt Field of Research: Animation Technology Presentation Type: Oral

Hugh East was born in 1988 and has lived in Fort Smith for most of his life. He is an Air Force veteran and has worked many jobs, from warehouses to restaurants to oil rigs. He finally made the decision to return to school to earn a degree in something he really enjoys, that something being 3D art and animation. He is currently finishing his last semester to earn a bachelor’s degree and has no regrets.

How Animators Artistically Interpret NASA’s Discoveries Presented by Jomar-John Francisco Faculty Sponsor: Cody Holt Field of Research: Animation/Animation Technology/Computer Graphics Presentation Type: Oral

For this presentation I will explain how Animators creatively interpret NASA’s latest findings like planets from nearby solar systems, how planets in our solar system look on the surface, how storms on other worlds look, etc. To better understand how this is achieved I will go over the process of creating an animated short or still render. Using the animation pipeline process, I will show from different sources how animators created artistic interpretations of extraterrestrial science. To further explain this, I will take scientific descriptions of a nearby planet, then use the animation process to create my own rendered interpretation of the planet. Jomar-John Francisco, originally from Little Rock, Arkansas, completed his associate degree in computer graphic technology digital design at UAFS in 2019. He is currently in his last year of the animation technology bachelor’s program and expects to graduate in May 2021.

Student Research Symposium Presented by Chandler Hopson Faculty Sponsor: Cody Holt Field of Research: Animation Technology Presentation Type: Studio Art

Chandler Hopson holds an associate degree in computer graphic technologies and will graduate this semester with a bachelor’s in animation technology. Upon graduation his dream is to work for top video game companies to help create assets or environmental concepts for the games.

How Virtual Reality Helps People Learn Presented by Micayla Howe Faculty Sponsor: Cody Holt Field of Research: Animation Technology Presentation Type: Oral

Virtual Reality has been around since the 1950s and continues to advance throughout the years. This project presents how virtual reality has helped people learn throughout the world and how it has improved people’s lives. There are over 21 industries using virtual reality today. Virtual reality has saved so many lives and saves people millions of dollars. Virtual Reality now has the ability for people to try on clothes before you buy them, see places before you visit them, play video games and many more. The goal of this presentation is show how technological advancements and to show what virtual reality has done for us. Virtual reality takes you out of reality and makes you seem you are in another world. You can experience a world like you are in a video game or just somewhere completely different. It teaches us we can do so many things and more. Micayla Howe is a 22-year-old senior studying animation technology. She enjoys writing, reading, drawing, and painting. She has written two books, but has yet to publish them and is currently working on a third.

Student Research Symposium

Nothing is Real: VFX Creating a New Reality

Robot Automation Pandemic Integration Delivery System

Visual effects (VFX) have reached a point where they are no longer just meant for films and TV shows. The advancement in VFX has made the line between clearly computer generated imagery (CGI) and reality blurred. Anyone can become a master in VFX with a couple of YouTube videos and some compositing or 3D software. VFX can make anyone believe absolutely anything. These advancements in VFX have paved the way to many programs that have lead to great things, such as amazing imagery in films such as 2014’s Interstellar, and many negative things such as celebrity and world leader deepfakes. It has become impossible to determine whether what we see on TV, social media, or news is real or simply the final render of a visual effects artist. The best visual effects are the ones you can’t even tell are there.

In response to the pandemic situation, RAPIDS (Robot Automation Pandemic Integration Delivery System) was designed to automate processes within a factory limiting unnecessary employee contact and creating a safer work environment. RAPIDS is made up of three modular phases. The first phase focuses on receiving raw materials, sanitizing them using ultraviolet light, and transporting them to the next phase of production using an autonomous vehicle. The second phase utilizes automated methods to process the raw material into a product. The third and final phase sorts and prepares product orders for shipping by placing them into product bins based on customer order specifications. To finalize the order, another autonomous vehicle coordinates with the previous two phases of the operation to pack and ship the final product for delivery to our valued customers. Utilizing RAPIDS results in a safer work environment, increased job satisfaction, employment stability, improved production efficiency, and enhanced production capacity.

Presented by Raymundo Lara Faculty Sponsor: Cody Holt Field of Research: Animation Technology Presentation Type: Oral

Raymundo Lara is a senior in the UAFS Bachelor of Science in animation technology (BSAT) program with a focus in lighting and visual effects. Aside from 3D animation, he enjoys photography, videography, and PC building. One word he would use to describe himself is “devoted.” He will do everything he can to achieve what he strives for.

Presented by Forrest Lasiter, Haley Gilstrap, and Joshua Merritt Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Kiyun Han Field of Research: Electrical Engineering Technology Presentation Type: Oral

Forrest Lasiter is a 25-year-old senior in the electrical engineering technology program. Formerly an information technology specialist in the Army, he decided to major in electrical engineering technology because of his interest in electronics and working on them. Haley Gilstrap is a21-year-old senior studying electronics engineering technology at UAFS. She chose this field because she has always been interested in technology, and is curious about how and why things work. During the program she discovered a love for robotics technology and green energy and hopes to pursue a career involving these in the future. Joshua Merritt is 15 year old majoring in electrical engineering and technology. Although slightly younger than the usual EET, he is very diligent in his classes and looks for ways to help his peers. Though he really enjoys working with software and math, the ability to make, troubleshoot, and understand hardware has been really interesting.

Student Research Symposium

Music and the Effect it has on Humans

We’re Living in a Digital World

Its no question that music has had major influence in so many things throughout human history. Many say it causes intense emotion and overwhelming joy within them, influencing mood, actions, thoughts, and feelings. The creation of songs can be dated back over 35,000 years and songs still being played from 100 A.D. So why do humans connect with music so strongly? Well for one, when we listen to music our brains release dopamine (feel good chemical). What “music” is to us encompasses auditory, visual, spatiotemporal, tactile, and sensorimotor facilities of the brain, and gives rise to the impetus to move, feel emotion, communicate and share with others our experiences. It is also important to note that it has been shown that humans enjoy patterns, something that music contains a lot of. This explains some but there is so much more that is the role of music alongside human beings.

One of the most criticized tools used today in films is computer graphics. Across forums and social media, there’s always talk about the overabundance of CG and how it’s ruining films. What most don’t seem to realize is exactly how much CG has actually affected our filmmaking and how we don’t seem to notice alot of the computer graphics that are used in the media that we watch today. People, animals, buildings, and even entire cities and worlds have been created using digital graphics, and it’s all without us even realizing that it’s computer generated. This presentation, with footage included, will show those moments of “unseen CG” and examples of how it’s advanced as a tool and how it’s affectedfilmmaking over the years.

Presented by Zachery Longnecker Faculty Sponsor: Cody Holt Field of Research: Animation Technology Presentation Type: Oral

Presented by: Patrick Oetzel Faculty Sponsor: Cody Holt Field of Research: Animation Technology Presentation Type: Oral

Patrick Wesley Oetzel, a native of Fort Smith, is currentlt working toward a bachelor’s degree at UAFS. Zachery Longnecker is a senior completing his last semester in the UAFS animation program. In his free time, he has a passion for music, which is why he chose his research topic.

Remote Controlled Antenna Philosophy of “Tokyo Ghoul” and its Animation Presented by Michael McKown Faculty Sponsor: Cody Holt Field of Research: Animation Technology Presentation Type: Oral

The world of “Tokyo Ghoul” is harsh and many characters are forced to face a dark world that they are ill prepared for. In this world there are humans and ghouls, with each side fighting for survival against what they perceive as an enemy that will never understand them. This setting allows for many philosophical and moral questions to arise throughout the series as we follow Ken Kaneki who was once human but now finds himself in the middle of the ghoul world. Ken Kaneki is a character who views himself as a tragic hero and goes out of his way to actively pursue that role, undergoing several personality transformations and accepting his ghoul half, this is similar to Carl Jung’s philosophy of the shadow. This belief that he can only be a tragic hero and acceptance of his darker side shapes many of the events that occur throughout the show and how he changes in response. Everything that occurs throughout the show is shown through the lens of Kaneki, an artificial ghoul who seeks to bridge the worlds of ghouls and humans and allows for the formation of a personal understanding of the shifts in beliefs. Nihilism is a core belief that is held by many characters throughout the show and is an important element as the show is ultimately a tragedy. Michael McKown is a senior in the animation technology program and enjoys working on landscape scenes in 3DS Max.

Presented by: A Sayvongsa, Phillip Tran, and Garrett Phillips Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Kiyun Han Field of Research: Electrical Engineering Technology Presentation Type: Oral Our remote controlled antenna is designed to remove the need of physically moving from where you are at to adjust an antenna’s reception. At times during television programs, reception can become poor or experience interruptions due to unforeseen circumstances such as weather or perhaps a weaker signal. With our product, a user could use an infrared remote control to adjust the antenna from their current comfortable location thus removing the need to get up to readjust the antenna. An infrared remote control will be used to control the servo/dc motors that will adjust the antenna to its preferred location. Using motors, the remote control will activate the motors to make adjustments to the antenna’s position whether it raises/lowers and tilts the antenna to receive better reception. A Sayvongsa is a student in the bachelor’s program for electrical engineering technology at UAFS. He has had an interest in electronics since he was young when he would take apart old electronics with much curiosity to work on and try to fix them. He is currently a full-time student focusing on his degree. His main goal is to start a career after college to better provide for his family. Phillip Tran is a junior electrical engineering technology major at UAFS. His interest in electrical engineering echnology began when he joined the Navy and became a sonar technician, operating the AN/SQS-53C Sonar System aboard DDG 64, USS Carney. He is currently interning at Rheem Manufacturing in Fort Smith as a plant information technologist troubleshooting equipment within the factory and making sure the daily process runs efficiently without issue. He inspires to pursue a career as an electrical engineer for either Ratheon or Lockheed Martin. When he is not busy with school or work, he is usually out mountain biking throughout the Natural State. Garrett Phillips is a full-time senior at UAFS majoring in electrical engineering technology. His interest in the EET program was stimulated by his father, a project engineer/supervisor of electrical maintenance at Gerber in Fort Smith. In his free time, Garrett and his father rebuild and troubleshoot boat motors, boats, and electrical equipment. His other interests include hunting and fishing with friends and family as well as watching football.

Student Research Symposium

The Effects of Video Games on Childhood Development Presented by: Alexander Woods Faculty Sponsor: Cody Holt Field of Research: Psychology Presentation Type: Oral

The effects of video games on children’s psychosocial development have been heavily debated over the years. This has led to a divide in thought about what children learn from the games that they play, whether that be at the benefit or not for the child. This comes not only from a scientific standpoint but also as a public concern and has contributed to the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) rating system that is on most video games today and has also led to restrictions placed on video games that are deemed to be violent. When looking at the current research that has been done, there does appear to be a correlation between the types of games that children play and their effects on a child’s development, with there appearing to be both beneficial and detrimental effects on a child’s psychosocial development due to the types of games played. Alexander Woods is an animation student at UAFS. He also dabbles in other subjects that interest him such as anthropology and history, both of which he is minoring in. In his free time, he enjoys the company of his chocolate lab Rory. He also enjoys learning more about the world and the people in it, from cuisine to technology and everything in between.

College of Business

Student Research Symposium

The Decline of Brick-and-Mortar Depository Institutions Presented by: Kellie Garner Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Alejandro Pacheco Field of Research: Finance Presentation Type: Oral

We analyze depository institution branch closures over the last two decades in the U.S. and discuss the trends observed between the two major bank types: commercial banks and credit unions. Our data focuses on the years 2002-2020 where we observe over 43,000 new branch openings while branch closures surpass 51,000. This trend is not stable over time as we note a net increase in branches prior to the financial crisis of 2007-08 followed by a net decline afterwards for commercial banks. In stark contrast, credit unions are experiencing a net increase in total branches since 2014. To partially explain these trends, we construct a competition measure using the Herfindahl-Hirschman index and run an OLS regression with control variables for time, location, and local economic factors. Our discussion and analysis focus on these results and the implications for the future U.S. financial industry. Kellie Garner is a senior business administration major earning certificates of proficiency in economic analysis and corporate finance. She will graduate in December 2021 and in January 2022 will move to Omaha, Nebraska, to begin a Master of Science in economics graduate program. She plans to also one day earn a Ph.D. in finance. Kellie is the peer advisor for the UAFS College of Business, a mother, yoga teacher, small business owner, and musician. She enjoys hiking, backpacking, kayaking, swimming, reading, music, yoga, and meditation.

College of Communication, Languages, Arts & Social Sciences

Student Research Symposium

Gunfighters, Outlaws, Gangsters, U.S. Marshals, and G-Men

Genre Classifications of Shakespeare’s “First Folio” - Then and Now

Gunfighters, outlaws, and gangsters brought about the way the laws and lawmen changed and developed skills in order to be able to track criminals and arrest them. Judges and courts set precedents for punishment to fit the crimes. This paper argues how outlaws, gangsters, and law enforcement groups influenced each other, creating modern investigation procedures, and the justice system. Many towns across the West faced the rise of the unruly, often outnumbering good citizens. The Oklahoma Territory population was mostly some who found refuge from and outside of the law and the court system, at least until the establishment of the Western District U.S. Court in Fort Smith, Arkansas. Lawmen were needed to help guard against and control the outlaws and gangsters. The U.S. Marshals began with George Washington and the Texas Rangers were started in 1835. Throughout time, outlaws and the law have battled to stay one step ahead of the other. Wild West era criminals would have no chance of surviving against the lawmen today. The advancements made in criminology have given the law a much better advantage against their opponents.

Genre studies as a theoretical approach has been in a state of reevaluation based on everchanging cultural influences since the time of Aristotle. Thus, the history of genre studies stands to indicate that genre classifications should be consistently reassessed within the realms of the current cultural state of society. As the scope of this argument proves far too large for any one person to undertake, I will focus it within the genres of Shakespeare’s “First Folio” and illustrate how those genre classifications represent the social and cultural climate of the time, further justifying a reassessment based on the current social and cultural climate. This will begin with an overview of genre theory, followed by an outline of the primary genres that encompass Shakespeare’s work – tragedies, histories, and comedies – the qualifications of each, as well as the reasoning for the limit of genres in the “First Folio” which incorporates an overview of the romance genre within the Elizabethan period. Next, I will overview each genre in the current perspective. Using Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” and the theoretical perspectives presented, I will illustrate why it should not be considered a comedy, as assigned within Shakespeare’s First Folio, but rather a romance.

Ethan Beckham, a UAFS history major graduating in May 2021, plans to continue his education with a dual master’s in teaching and athletic training with a coaching endorsement. Ethan’s hobby is auto mechanics, and he plans to open his own auto custom and detail shop as well.

Hannah Holstead moved to Fort Smith in 2015. Having previously attended the University of Oklahoma, she enrolled as a transfer student at UAFS in the fall of 2019 as an English major with a minor in media communication, completing each semester with a 4.0. She will be graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in English in May 2021, after which she plans to attend graduate school. Her passions include reading and writing, which has led her to pursue the goal of becoming a book editor following the completion of her education. Her academic focus currently revolves around English literature and the research involving genre theory in relation to social and cultural influences, particularly Shakespeare’s literary works from the Elizabethan period.

Presented by: Ethan Beckham Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Kevin Jones Field of Research: History Presentation Type: Oral

The Adaptation and Creation of Genre in “The Last of the Mohicans”

Presented by: Hannah Holstead Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Kimberly Robinson Field of Research: English Literature Presentation Type: Oral

Presented by: Melanie Bradley Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Kevin Jones Field of Research: American Cultural and Literary Studies/Historical Fiction Presentation Type: Oral

Establishing what makes a Western is essential in tracing the genre’s origin. Certain character, narrative, and setting expectations must be met and it is only through fulfilling those expectations that a story can rightfully be called a Western. Most often dated as having begun in 1902 with Owen Wister’s The Virginian, the Western actually has its roots much earlier on, in 1826 with the publication of James Fenimoore Cooper’s The Last of the Mohicans. It is in this novel that, for the first time, the unique combination of character types, themes, and, vitally, setting are combined to create the first true Western. Cooper was able to do this by drawing on established tropes and tools from the well known Romance and Gothic genres and, by using the inspiration provided by the Native peoples and the wilderness of the frontier, Americanizing them to create a new and unique literary genre. Melanie Bradley grew up in Fallon, Nevada, and moved to Fort Smith in 2012. She enrolled as an English major at UAFS as a transfer sophomore in Fall 2019, completing her first semester with a 4.0. She was nominated for and accepted a position in the Myles Friedman Honors Program the following semester. She is working to publish her first manuscript and plans to attend graduate school. Melanie’s hobbies included watercolor painting, bookbinding, and collecting fountain pens. She is involved in a few small, cultivated community groups and participates yearly in National Novel Writing Month.

Student Research Symposium Bilingualism and Speech Development: Facts and Misconceptions Presented by: Brenda Lewis Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Ana M. Romo Blas Field of Research: Applied Linguistics/Second Language Acquisition Presentation Type: Oral

Dual language learners can be defined as those who have been introduced to two or more languages from birth. Even though the stages of development are typically the same for monolinguals and bilinguals alike, misconceptions about the process of speech development for dual language learners have often brought about a negative attitude towards second language acquisition. There are some who have claimed that bilingualism is a precursor to speech delay, but this is simply untrue. Any discrepancies regarding speech development for bilinguals can be explained when we examine dual language learning processes from the perspective of second language acquisition research and theories. Bilingualism does not lead to speech delay, but the lack of education on this subject creates a risk for bilinguals in the process of evaluation and treatment. It is crucial to advocate for the teaching and learning of a second language not only because of its many cognitive benefits, but also to improve services in education and speech pathology to meet the demands of this growing population. Brenda Lewis is a senior at UAFS majoring in Spanish with a minor in teaching English as a second language. She is a mother of three, and the birth of her first son, who has been diagnosed with a speech delay, motivated her to research this subject. Introducing her son to the Spanish language and culture from an early age has been important to her, not only because of the time that she has spent in her studies, but also because it is a part of his cultural identity. Upon graduating in May, she plans to go to graduate school and continue improving her Spanish skills with the goal of becoming a bilingual speech pathologist to better serve dual language learners.

Student Research Symposium An Inside Look into Benedetto Marcello’s Cello Sonatas, Transcribed for Trombone and Piano Presented by: Raul Ortiz Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Alexandra Zacharella Field of Research: Musicology Presentation Type: Performing Arts

Benedetto Marcello (1686-1739) was an Italian composer and writer. Marcello was mostly known for his setting of 50 psalms for voices and instruments by Giovanni Giustiniani and his satirical pamphlet Il teatro alla moda. Marcello did however; compose many works for solo instruments and instrumental ensembles, including six sonatas for cello and basso continuo. This lecture recital will discuss Marcello’s six sonatas, specifically Sonata No. 3 in A Minor, Op. 2, No. 3 in detail. The sonatas were originally composed for cello and basso continuo, but are frequently transcribed and performed on a wide variety of instruments including the tenor trombone. Marcello wrote his sonatas in the style of Sonata da chiesa’s or church sonatas, which were a popular instrumental composition in the Baroque Era. This lecture recital will also discuss how imagination, musical counterpoint and progressive features of the French Galant style, characterize the sonatas. The lecture recital will conclude with a performance of the Sonata No. 3 in A Minor, Op. 2, No. 3. for trombone and piano. Trombonist and Fort Smith native Raul Ortiz is currently an instrumental music major at UAFS. He is principal trombone in the UAFS Wind Ensemble, lead player in the UAFS Jazz Band, a member of the UAFS Lions Athletic Band, the UAFS Brass Ensemble, UAFS Low Brass Ensemble, a student-run quartet called 50/50 Ensemble, and performs with the community group Bordertown Bones. In high school he was a member of the ASBOA All State Wind Ensemble and All State Jazz Band as well part of several region bands, jazz bands, and orchestras. Raul has been a member of several ArkCBDNA intercollegiate bands and has performed with the Intercollegiate Honor Band at the Southwestern Division CBDNA Conference in Norman, Oklahoma. He is president of the Lambda Chapter of the band fraternity Kappa Kappa Psi at UAFS.

Student Research Symposium

Objectification and the Manic Pixie Dream Girl: Gender Roles in “Scott Pilgrim vs. the World” Presented by: Eilene Pearson Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Cammie Sublette Field of Research: English Presentation Type: Oral

The objectification of women in popular culture is not new in its existence. Since the dawn of film, theories such as “The Male Gaze” and “Woman as Other’”have been observed as seeing women as a separate entity or object, primarily for the use of men both visually and sexually. This paper investigates the use of such theories in film, focusing on Edgar Wright’s 2010 “Scott Pilgrim vs. the World.” Wright’s film revolves around the idea of the relationship of men in equal measures towards a so-called manic pixie dream girl and a fetishized representation of an innocent school girl, both of which are damaging to the stereotypes and individuality of women as film is often applied to real life post-consumption. Despite the negative portrayal of women in film, on some occasions women are portrayed with a measure of strength, as is the case in certain scenes of “Scott Pilgrim vs. the World.” The objective of this paper is to explore both the toxic portrayal and fetishization of female characters as well as the more positive innate strength exhibited in certain scenarios by the female lead. Further, the rejection of “toxic masculinity” within Edgar Wright’s film is explored. Eilene Pearson studies studio art and English at UAFS. She is interested in gender studies, and her artistic focus is collage and drawing. She graduated from the Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences, and the Arts, an advanced high school opportunity with dual enrollment credits through UAFS.

College of Health Science

Best Way to a Man’s Heart: How Society Still Views Cooking as a Woman’s Job Presented by: Baylee Wallace Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Cammie Sublette Field of Research: English Presentation Type: Oral

There are still people who believe women should be the caretakers who cook for the family while men sit and wait for their meals. Even films released in today’s world still show these expectations, such as Disney’s “Princess and the Frog” (2009). Some may argue that it is fine to portray a bit of gender role stereotyping since the film is set in a different time. Is it really fitting to tell little girls that the “best way to a man’s heart is through his stomach”? Unfortunately, when 21st century films — especially those made for children — stereotype gender roles and depict women’s primary value in domestic duties, they reinforce many of the messages of women’s subordination they may be seeking in other ways to resist. This is not anything new to the media; women tend to be portrayed as caretakers who cook because it is their natural-born calling. Why is this role only for women? Movies that portray a chef in a career field — an example could be Pixar’s “Ratatouille” (2007 — always depict that chef to be a man, while the women are typically alone in the kitchen, stuck cooking and caring for family and friends. Baylee Wallace is from Fort Gibson, Oklahoma, and is majoring in English with a teacher licensure. Her goal is to be an English teacher at a rural high school in Oklahoma. She enjoys reading, crocheting, and writing.

Student Research Symposium

Mitrofanoff Procedure: A Case Study

The Effects of Eating Disorders on the Oral Cavity

Mitrofanoff procedure, also known as appendicovesicostomy, is done for pediatric patients as a way to avoid catherization through the urethra. The procedure creates a small tunnel that joins the bladder to the outside of the body. A catheter is used to vacate the urine from the bladder through the tunnel, and a one-sided flap valve is used to support urine control. A Mitrofanoff procedure is created surgically using the appendix to create a narrow tunnel. If the appendix has been removed, the small bowel can be used. The tunnel is sewn into the skin and an opening is made in the belly button with the other end of the tunnel connected to the bladder. This case study presents a patient who was born with bladder on the outside of his body. Patient has a history of stage two chronic kidney disease (CKD), bladder stones, and kidney stones. He received a Mitrofanoff procedure at the age of 1 using his appendix for a catheterizable stoma. Patient is currently 19 and has to be seen regularly for recurring bladder stones.

This research presentation describes the relationship between eating disorders and the impact their symptoms have on the oral cavity. A review of the literature was conducted using current, peer-reviewed journals, to examine the topics of anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating. This presentation will include a discussion of each eating disorder and its impact on the oral cavity. Furthermore, the role of the dental hygienist and the responsibility for care of patients with an eating disorder will be discussed. The dental hygienist is one of the first members of the dental team to talk with and examine a patient and has a responsibility to detect the changes that an eating disorder can have on a patient’s oral condition. Therefore, it is important that the dental hygienist be alert to these changes and have the necessary skills of patient communication. It is also important that the dental hygienist have current information on referral sources as well.

Tony Barnes was raised and continues to live in Porum, Oklahoma. He is a licensed radiologic technologist and works at Choctaw Nation Health Services in Talihina, Oklahoma. He graduated from the radiologic technologist program at Indian Capital Technology Center in 2017 and has worked as a technologist for almost five years in computed tomography and X-ray with the Choctaw Nation at multiple sites within the organization. After four years he decided to go back to school and chose to apply to UAFS for the Bachelor of Science in diagnostic medical sonography program. He has been a worship leader at his church in Porum for three years. He was raised in church, and singing was one of his favorite things to do. In his spare time, he likes training and breaking out quarter horse colts at his family’s farm.

Morgan Bissell of Mena, Arkansas, is a senior in the dental hygiene program at UAFS. She is the proud owner of a local small business and is the vice-president of the Student American Dental Hygienists’ Association (SADHA) at UAFS. She is a member of Alpha Lambda Delta national honor society, the National Society of Leadership and Success, and was a member of the Student Government Association for a year. Morgan was awarded the Arkansas Academic Challenge Scholarship, Laurie Mason Scholarship, and Women’s Cross Country and Track and Field Scholarship and received the Outstanding Student of the Month Award while in the dental hygiene program. Upon graduation she plans to stay in Arkansas to practice dental hygiene in her hometown.

Presented by: Tony Barnes and Mikaela Pschier Faculty Sponsor: Brandy Weidman Field of Research: Health Science Presentation Type: Poster

Mikaela Pschier was born Dec. 26, 1997 in Fort Smith. She went to school in Muldrow, Oklahoma, until her junior year of high school when she moved to Greenwood, Arkansas, which is still her home. She was raised in a single parent home by her mother with the help of her grandparents. She is currently going to school for diagnostic medical sonography. She already has one degree for radiography and works part time at a Mercy convenient care clinic. Her plan after she graduates is to join the Air Force and do ultrasound and X-ray for the military. Another job choice for her is to become a traveling sonographer so she can experience new places. Some of her hobbies include traveling, spending time with friends and family, and trying new things.

Presented by: Morgan Bissel, Madison Gilmore, Megan Moudy, and Audrey Nordin Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Bonnie Branson Field of Research: Health Science Presentation Type: Oral

Madison Gilmore of Stigler, Oklahoma, is a senior dental hygiene student at UAFS and a proud member of the Cherokee Nation tribe. She is an active member of Alpha Lambda Delta national honor society and received the Bess and Hill Williams Endowed Scholarship in 2019-2020. She is an active member of her church and is involved in many charity events within her community. Upon graduation she plans to relocate and practice dental hygiene in Oklahoma. Megan Moudy of Lavaca, Arkansas, is a senior dental hygiene student at UAFS where she is the senior class historian for the Student Arkansas Dental Hygienists’ Association. She was awarded the University of Arkansas - Fort Smith Academic Excellence Scholarship, ArcBest Corporation Scholarship, Arkansas Academic Challenge Scholarship, and the Fort Smith Dental Association Scholarship. Upon graduation she plans to stay in Arkansas to practice dental hygiene in a private practice setting. Audrey Nordin of Rogers, Arkansas, is a senior dental hygiene student at UAFS. She is a member of Alpha Lambda Delta national honor society and was a member of Delta Gamma Fraternity from 2017 to 2019 serving as vice president of foundations. She also served as a Cub Camp counselor for the 2019 school year. She was awarded the Arkansas Academic Challenge Scholarship and the Academic Excellence Scholarship from UAFS. Upon graduation she plans to return to Northwest Arkansas to practice dental hygiene.

Student Research Symposium Holoprosencephaly

Presented by: Maddie Burgin and Alicia Redding Faculty Sponsor: Alisa Cole and Brandy Weidman Field of Research: Health Science Presentation Type: Poster Holoprosencephaly (HPE) is the most common malformation of the forebrain and mid-face that can occur in the human fetus. This abnormality occurs when the brain does not properly divide into the right and left hemispheres during early fetal development and usually occurs between 8-12 weeks gestational age. Most often caused by a neural tubal defect, this condition affects approximately one out of every 250 babies. While there is no known cause of HPE it can be detected through the use of prenatal ultrasound, MRI, or CT. There are four different types of HPE each determined by the severity of the specific case. Starting from least to most severe these types include middle interhemispheric variant, lobar, semi-lobar, and alobar. The severity of the case also determines the life expectancy of the baby. While some children are able to live with HPE, most cases are fatal to the fetus. This case study describes a transabdominal sonographic diagnosis of HPE found at 17 weeks, 1 day. Madeline Burgin of Fort Smith is a 21-year-old student in the diagnostic medical sonography program at UAFS. She graduated with an A.A.S. in radiography and works as a radiographer at Washington Regional Medical Center in Fayetteville, Arkansas. She is also a part of the Myles Freeman Honors Program at UAFS. When not at school or work, she enjoys reading, painting, and playing with her dog Louie. Alicia Redding lives with her husband and two rambunctious sons on a small farm of cattle and horses in Greenwood, Arkansas. She recently graduated with an A.A.S in radiography and works as a radiographer at an urgent care clinic. She is currently completing a diagnostic medical sonography degree to become a full-time sonographer. Once she gets experience, she would like to find a job at an OB/GYN clinic that focuses on women’s health. When not working or studying, she enjoys spending time with her family and taking care of their animals. Her hobbies include cooking, playing with her kids, exercising, and reading.

Student Research Symposium Diagnosing and Treatment Planning for Different Cultural and Socioeconomic Groups Presented by: Abigail Cole, Ryleigh Neal, Yuliana Stasiv, and Sarah Trotter Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Bonnie Branson Field of Research: Health Science Presentation Type: Oral

This research observes the four ethnic groups with the greatest population size in the United States: Caucasians, African Americans, Hispanics, and Asians. The purpose of this research is to reflect each populations’ overall oral health status to help the dental professional understand and treatment plan accordingly. The collected articles analyzed the diets, economic status, educational status, and access to care for each population. Poor diets, low socioeconomic status, lack of education, and lack of access to care have consistently shown a strong correlation to poor oral health. Regardless of ethnicity, if a population does not have the means to access dental care, they will struggle with oral healthcare. Statistics show that African Americans, Hispanics, and Asians are less likely to have access to dental care, lower socioeconomic status, lack of education, and poor diets compared to Caucasians. There is a greater dental need among individuals from African American, Asian, and Hispanic population and this correlates with the demographics mentioned previously. With these facts in mind, dental professionals will be able to treatment plan according to patient needs with regards to the demographic of the patient. Abigail Cole is a senior who will graduate from UAFS in May 2021 with a bachelor’s degree in dental hygiene. She currently acts as secretary of the UAFS Student American Dental Hygienists’ Association. Following graduation she plans to move to Texas to practice dental hygiene for a few years. She hopes to then move out of the country to provide care in the mission field. Abigail is passionate about those who have zero access to dental care and hopes to extend the hand of dental hygiene to untouched areas of the world. Ryleigh Neal will graduate in May 2021 from UAFS with a bachelor’s degree in dental hygiene and a minor in psychology. She currently serves as historian of the UAFS Student American Dental Hygienists’ Association. After graduation she plans to serve in the Northwest Arkansas community as an oral health care provider and further her education with a master’s degree program. Ryleigh is looking forward to building relationships with her patients and providing them with the customized oral care they each need. Yuliana Stasiv is a senior in the dental hygiene program at UAFS planning to graduate in May 2021. Following graduation,she hopes to work in Northwest Arkansas for a few years before moving to Colorado. Yuliana is passionate about meeting patients, providing good care, and teaching patients how to maintain their smiles. She looks forward to working in a private dental office shortly after graduation and providing optimal dental care. Sarah Trotter, a 22 year old from Sallisaw, Oklahoma, is currently a senior in the dental hygiene program at UAFS. She plans to practice in Oklahoma upon graduation in May 2021. Sarah is also president of the local chapter of the Student American Dental Hygienists’ Association and coordinates with other classmates and professors in establishing community projects that serve the Fort Smith area. Sarah is excited for her future career as a dental hygienist and is considering furthering her education to become a dentist. Regardless of her decision on dental school, she would still like to obtain her doctorate.

Student Research Symposium

Pregnancy and the Effects of Periodontal Disease

Choroid Plexus Cysts

Pregnancy has a critical impact on the hormone balance inside the body causing many changes that are not perceptible to the naked eye. The purpose of this research is to examine the oral and gingival changes during pregnancy and how these changes affect the developing health of the baby. The research includes a review of literature from respected, peer-reviewed journals to gather information on the effect of periodontal disease on the pregnant women and the unborn child. Women do not often consider the importance of oral conditions during pregnancy. Topics in this research examine how the bacteria which causes periodontal disease can have an adverse effect on the fetus. Such adverse conditions include preterm birth, low birth weight, and preeclampsia. Additionally, this research explores hormonal changes that occur during pregnancy and the impact of these hormones on gingivitis and periodontal disease. The literature notes that oral bacteria can translocate to the placenta from daily activities such as brushing and flossing. Therefore, it is important for pregnant women to maintain excellent oral hygiene. The presentation will conclude with recommendations for oral care that will combat the periodontal diseases before serious harm can come to the baby.

Choroid plexus cysts (CPCs) are known as minor fetal structural changes detected by sonography in the second trimester, which may form when neuroepithelial folds of the fetal brain fill with cerebrospinal fluid or other cellular debris. They appear as sonolucent, fluid-filled spaces located in the choroid plexus of the lateral ventricles, and measure about 2-3 mm in diameter. These may occur singularly, or in multiples which may be located bilaterally. CPC usually resolves by week 26-28 of gestation. Though choroid plexus cysts may be benign, when paired with other abnormalities, they may be associated with chromosomal abnormalities, such as Trisomy 18. When ultrasound studies indicate CPC along with other soft markers, more extensive DNA testing may be required to diagnose aneuploidy. Choroid plexus cysts are only found in 0.3-3.5% of the population, but it is observed in 30-50% of Trisomy 18 cases. This is a case representation of a singular choroid plexus cyst, persisting 12 days postpartum, as identified by ultrasound.

Presented by: Tera Elkins, Morgan Reynolds, Gen Torres, and Kelsey Webb Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Bonnie Branson Field of Research: Health Science Presentation Type: Oral

Tera Elkins is a senior in the dental hygiene program at UAFS. She currently resides in Van Buren, Arkansas, where she has lived most of her life. She will be graduating in May 2021 with a Bachelor of Science in dental hygiene. She has been a registered dental assistant in the state of Arkansas for the past five years. While attending UAFS she has received the Arkansas Challenge Lottery Non-Traditional Scholarship, Fred W. Smith Scholarship, and E.H. Patterson Scholarship. After graduation she plans to work in her home town at Van Buren Family Dentistry where she has been a valued employee for several years. Tera is passionate about serving her community by educating patients about maintaining oral health and hygiene. In her free time, she enjoys concerts, camping, and spending time with her family and friends.

Presented by: Kylie Howard and Madeline Bateman Faculty Sponsor: Jodi Callahan and Brandy Weidman Field of Research: Health Science Presentation Type: Poster

Kylie Howard is 22 years old and from Roland, Oklahoma. She is currently in the diagnostic medical sonography program and has an Associate of Applied Science in radiography. She is returning captain of the UAFS Pom Squad, having been on the team for four years. She is also a member and board member of the UAFS chapter of the National Society of Leadership and Success. In her free time, she enjoys gardening, spending time with her nieces, and playing with her dog Buster and cat Tigger. Madeline Bateman is a recent graduate of the UAFS radiography program and is currently pursuing a degree in diagnostic medical sonography. She married her husband Braden in October of 2020, and they currently reside in Northwest Arkansas with their kitten Schmidt. She works as a radiographer at Washington Regional Hospital and Northwest Health. Studying, working, and being a cat mom keep her busy, so she like to spend the little free time she has relaxing at home.

Morgan Reynolds is a senior in the dental hygiene program at UAFS. She plans to stay in Fort Smith to practice at a local dental office. She has been awarded the Hagan Scholarship, Arkansas Lottery Scholarship, ASDHA Dental Hygiene Scholarship, and Laurie Mason Scholarship as well as the Arkansas Pell Grant. She is passionate about advocating for patient health and bringing to light that hygienists are more than “teeth cleaners.” Life outside of the classroom involves hiking, traveling, and spending time with her family. Gen Torres is a senior in the dental hygiene program at UAFS. She was born in California but moved to Northwest Arkansas at a young age. She considers Arkansas her home forever, and after graduation she plans to stay in Northwest Arkansas to practice dental hygiene. She is passionate about educating her patients on their oral health and believes that creating a healthy oral environment leads to overall better health. Outside of the classroom, she enjoys shopping and spending time with her family. Kelsey Webb is a senior in the dental hygiene program at UAFS. She is a recipient of the Arkansas Lottery Scholarship, Arkansas Opportunity Grant, and ASDHA Dental Hygiene Scholarship. Kelsey will graduate in May 2021 and plans to work in Arkansas. She is passionate about helping her community and connecting with her patients. Outside of school Kelsey enjoys spending time with her husband Vincent and their 2-year-old daughter Riley.

Student Research Symposium

The Effect of Chemotherapeutic Agents on the Treatment of Periodontal Disease Presented by: Nikole Plassmeyer, Jamie Richey, Hannah Westerberg, and Emily Wiles Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Bonnie Branson Field of Research: Health Science Presentation Type: Oral

Chronic periodontitis is a widespread disease that is caused by bacteria in the oral cavity and results in the loss of the connective tissue and alveolar bone that support the dentition. SRP, or scaling and root planing, is the ideal method of nonsurgical therapy for patients with chronic periodontal disease in which both the crowns and root surfaces of the teeth are debrided from all plaque and calculus buildup. In patients with moderate to severe periodontitis, the addition of a chemotherapeutic agent to nonsurgical treatment may be considered. These agents can be over-the-counter products such as Listerine and dentifrices containing stannous fluoride or prescription treatments such as Peridex and Arestin. Chemotherapeutic agents include both systemically and locally delivered antibiotics or antimicrobials. The use of chemotherapeutic agents in addition to SRP is thought to improve clinical attachment loss more effectively than nonsurgical therapy alone. In this presentation, the effects of nonsurgical periodontal therapy with the addition of chemotherapeutic agents will be weighed against the effects of nonsurgical periodontal therapy alone. Though no treatment has been proven to be as beneficial as traditional SRP, chemotherapeutic agents offer an additional mode of therapy that could be of great benefit to select patients. Nikole Plassmeyer is a graduating senior in the dental hygiene program at UAFS. She was born in St. Louis and moved to Northwest Arkansas when she was 9 years old. This is where she’ll return to begin her hygiene career. Her goal is to empower patients through oral hygiene education and give them confidence in terms of a beautiful smile. When not studying hygiene, you can find Nikole painting, curled up with a book, or planning trips. Jamie Richey is a senior in the dental hygiene program at UAFS, planning to graduate in May 2021. She joined dental hygiene because she wants to be able to make a difference in people’s lives by improving both their health and their self-confidence. She is excited to soon begin her career as a registered dental hygienist and embark on the next chapter of her life. In her free time, Jamie enjoys hiking, kayaking, and spending time with her family and their dogs. Hannah Westerberg is a senior in the dental hygiene program at UAFS. She is a recipient of the Myles Friedman Honors Program Scholarship and plans to graduate in May 2021. Hannah was born in Connecticut but was raised in Arkansas for most of her life. She plans to relocate to Colorado to start her career after graduation. She loves to build lasting relationships with her patients and educate them to achieve their oral health goals. When not in school, Hannah enjoys outdoor activities, movies, crafts, and spending time with loved ones.

College of Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics

Emily Wiles is a senior in the dental hygiene program at UAFS. She grew up in Springdale, Arkansas, and currently resides in Fort Smith, Arkansas. Emily will graduate in May 2021 and plans to relocate to Dallas where she will begin her career. She is passionate about connecting with her patients and joining them on their journey toward a healthy smile they can be proud of. Outside of school Emily enjoys cooking, equestrianism, and spending time with her friends and family.

Student Research Symposium

Development of a Standardized Methodology for the Collection and Quanitification of Microplastics in Fort Smith Regional Waterway

Detection of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) in Drugs Using Screen Printed Electrodes

Microplastics are defined as either synthetic solid particles or polymers less than five millimeters (5 mm) in length. Typical microplastics come in the following categories: microbeads, microfibers, films, and fragments. These particles are insoluble in water, which allows them to accumulate in water sources. Their size allows them to be ingested by wildlife such as fish and other food sources that are later ingested by humans (bioaccumulation). Additionally, microplastics can act as a carrier for heavy metals, increasing the concentration of these toxins in river sediment. A standard operating procedure (SOP) for collecting and analyzing microplastics within water samples has not yet been devised to allow for adequate comparison of data across studies. This project is a preliminary investigation into creating a methodology to evaluate the identity and volume of microplastics. We are checking the reliability and accuracy of this methodology by sampling water in the Arkansas River and its tributaries local to Fort Smith, Arkansas, such as Springhill Park, Lock and Dam 13, Massard Creek. Analysis of microplastics will be done using density separation with ATR-IR to differentiate between specific microplastics within a sample.

Pharmaceuticals are subjected to a comprehensive quality assurance process before they disperse into the market. Various analytical chemistry techniques such as chromatography, spectroscopy, titrimetry, and electrochemistry have been used in quality assurance process to estimate the purity or the active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) in drugs. In this study, we are proposing a convenient, rapid, and cost-effective electroanalysis technique to detect oxidative pharmaceuticals as a single droplet on laboratory-made screen-printed-electrodes (SPEs). The SPEs will be fabricated by stencil-printing carbon paste onto wax-patterned sheets of chromatography paper and the sensing electrodes will be further modified with carbon nanotubes to improve the sensitivity. In this pilot study, we are planning to investigate a few over-the-counter medications like acetaminophen (an analgesics) and ibuprofen (a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug). We will optimize our electrochemical assay parameters and develop dose-response plots for those selected drugs. We will also investigate how chemical structure, molecular size, and polar/nonpolar features of the electrode surface contribute to the interaction of the analyte with the electrode surface to facilitate interfacial charge transport, and thus the oxidation current signals. We hope our findings will provide more insights on applicability of single drop electroanalysis as a cost-effective and instant analytical tool for the quality assurance of APIs.

Presented by: Emily Blitz, Andrew Edmonds, Matthew Neal, Jake Thompson, and Jonathan Turco Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Maurice Testa and Dr. Jordan Mader Field of Research: Geoscience/Chemistry Presentation Type: Poster

Emily Blitz is pursuing a degree in chemistry with a minor in geoscience. Her goals are to pursue a M.D. or Ph.D. program when she graduates from UAFS. She sees herself as the future queen of organic chemistry. Andrew Edmonds is pursuing a degree in geoscience. He has strong skill sets in engineering and problem solving. After graduating from UAFS, he plans to pursue his master’s in environmental engineering.

Presented by: Matt Boston Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Charuksha Walgama Field of Research: Biomedical Sciences Presentation Type: Poster

Matt Boston from Van Buren, Arkansas, is a freshman at UAFS. He enjoys studying chemistry and participating in research to develop chemical sensors for biomedical applications.

Matthew Neal is pursing a degree in geoscience from UAFS. Matthew is an amazing student who motivates his teammates and is not afraid to take on a challenging project. After UAFS he plans to pursue a master’s in environmental geology. Jak Thompson is pursing a degree in geoscience from UAFS. He has an excellent work ethic and is passionate about his research. After UAFS he will pursue a master’s degree in environmental geology. Jon Turco is pursing a degree in geoscience from UAFS. He is extremely passionate about everything that involves geoscience and research. He has an inquisitive mind and a relentless work ethic. After UAFS he plans to pursue his Ph.D. in geoscience.

Student Research Symposium Baseball Analysis Using the Markov Chain Model Presented by: Lauren Chitty Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Daiho Uhm Field of Research: Mathematics Presentation Type: Oral

Statistical analysis has been part of baseball ever since data started being recorded, but the importance and usefulness of baseball analytics was not realized until the beginning of the 21st century. Major League Baseball (MLB) teams today use analytics in numerous ways to prepare for games; they can use analytics to create optimal batting lineups and pitching rotations. The Markov chain model, a popular analysis model, can predict expected runs for games, analyze player performance, and predict expected game wins for a team. The purpose of my research was to use Markov chains to compare expected game wins for a team to their actual game wins in a season and to predict winning percentages of Major League Baseball teams in a baseball season using Bill James’ Pythagorean Winning Percentage formula. It was statistically proven through my research that the actual game wins from the 2019 MLB season and the expected game wins are the same for both the American and National leagues. Lauren Chitty is a senior at UAFS graduating in May 2021 with a Bachelor of Science in mathematics and minors in statistics and business administration. She was raised in Greenwood, Arkansas, and attended Greenwood Public Schools K-12. One of her interests is music. She has enjoyed playing the drums since first learning in middle school and continues to play at Rye Hill Baptist Church. Another of her interests is baseball, which her family introduced her to it at a young age. Since Lauren enjoys baseball and statistics, she joined these two topics together for her mathematics senior project analyzing the number of game wins for Major League Baseball teams using statistics. Connect with Lauren through her academic email, lchitt00@g.uafs.edu.

Student Research Symposium Development of ER-β Selective Agonists for the Treatment of Obesity and Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH) Presented by: Olivia Coulter Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Souvik Banerjee Field of Research: Medicinal Chemistry Presentation Type: Oral

Obesity is a serious health risk as it is directly associated with numerous co-morbidities and is correlated with an increased mortality rate. One of the serious co-morbidities that affects over 75-90% of the obese population is non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). There are only two FDA approved drugs despite the increasing demand for anti-obesity treatments. Current treatments are limited by modest efficacy and adverse events. All satiety-inducing therapeutic targets are localized in the central nervous system (CNS) with overlapping functions in the heart and attempts to alter their functions result in cardiovascular toxicity. The development of anti-obesity drugs utilizing appropriate alternate approaches is gaining importance. Our group have demonstrated that estrogen receptor β (ER-β)-selective agonists belonging to the isoquinolinone scaffold reduce body weight and fat mass and reverse NASH by non-CNS-dependent mechanism by converting white adipose tissue (WAT) to brown adipose tissue (BAT) and increasing energy expenditure. Currently, we are working on to optimize the lead ER-β agonist that will have the better efficacy and selectivity for ER-β over ER-β. Our Central hypothesis is that the optimized lead ER-β agonists will have drug-like properties with potential to reduce body weight, fat mass, and NASH by increasing energy expenditure. Olivia Coulter was born in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, and attended Sallisaw (Oklahoma) High School. She is currently pursuing a degree in biology with a concentration in biomedical professions. Her pursuits after earning her bachelor’s degree includes attending medical school and specializing in pediatric oncology. In her free time, she loves to be involved in her sorority Delta Gamma, watch movies, and listen to classic novels on Audible.

Student Research Symposium

UAFS ParkBOT: An Autonomous Vehicle Identification Robot

Metal Oxide Leaching from Glass Cullet Used for Shoreline Restoration

The fields of artificial intelligence and robotics have demonstrated an ability to reduce costs and increase productivity, efficiency, and effectiveness across a variety of different fields. Current research suggests that the utilization of artificial intelligence and machine learning continues to increase each year. Similar trends have also been observed in the utilization of robotics. In this presentation, we introduce the UAFS ParkBOT: an autonomous robotic system utilizing computer vision, graph algorithms, and deep learning that is capable of automating the identification of vehicles not in compliance with UAFS parking requirements. ParkBOT was developed within the UAFS Artificial Intelligence Research Lab in the department of Computer Science.

Glass cullet (recycled or broken glass) has been proposed to replace dredged sediment in beach and river recovery processes after severe weather events. However, dredging of the ocean floor to replace lost sediment on beaches has many impacts, such as disturbance of marine ecosystems and death of both animal and plant life near coastlines. This research project looks at the potential outcomes of using glass cullet as a replacement sediment supply and understanding long-term environmental impacts. The main concern with using glass cullet is the leaching of metal oxides that are used to color bottles. Common examples of these metals are iron, cadmium, and manganese within amber glass bottles or iron, chromium, and copper within green glass bottles. These metals can be toxic to human and marine life if leached out of the glass cullet. A protocol for mimicking coastal environment conditions was developed to understand the possible leaching effects from cullet. Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS) was used to determine the concentration of metals leached out of green and amber cullet over multiple time periods.

Presented by: Adrian Cuevas and Kyle Kelly Faculty Sponsor: Andrew Mackey and Israel Cuevas Field of Research: Computer Science Presentation Type: Oral

Adrian Cuevas is a computer science student at UAFS specializing in data science and artificial intelligence. He is pursuing a major in computer science and minor in mathematics. His academic areas of interest are in artificial intelligence, natural language processing, machine learning, and data science. He is currently an active member of the UAFS Artificial Intelligence Research Lab. Kyle Kelly is a computer science student at UAFS specializing in data science and artificial intelligence. He is pursuing a double major in computer science and mathematics. His academic areas of interest are in artificial intelligence, natural language processing, machine learning, and data science. He is currently an active member of the UAFS Artificial Intelligence Research Lab.

Presented by: Kathryn Echevarria and Julia Mathews Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Jordan Mader and Dr. Maurice Testa Field of Research: Environmental Geochemistry Presentation Type: Poster

Kathryn Echevarria is a geoscience major with aspirations of becoming an environmental geologist. She has extensive interest in applications of geoscience to environmental concerns, especially coastal restoration. Julia Mathews is a geoscience major with aspirations of becoming an oceanographer. She has extensive interests in applications of marine geology and the health of reef ecosystems.

2GZ8 Protease Targeted for Drug Repurposing Through E-pharmacophore, Molecular Docking, and ADMET Based Screening Presented by: Alexis Dear Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Souvik Banerjee Field of Research: Medicinal Chemistry Presentation Type: Oral

The global pandemic, COVID-19, has infected 65.8 million people globally and caused 1.5 million deaths since its first reported case in late 2019 in Wuhan of the Hubei province of China. Current research aims to achieve a vaccine and/or a treatment to prevent the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The purpose of these software’s is to use current knowledge of known drugs to effectively treat SARS-CoV-2 via drug repurposing. The main protease of SARS-CoV-2 is being tested as a potential target due to its role in viral multiplication inside the host. With the use of an E-pharmacophore, the crystal structure of the viral main protease (Mpro) with an E-166 backbone inhibitor was used to produce a hypothesis. Docked hits obtained from the pharmacophore software were further examined using molecular docking at different precisions to obtain the most promising binding affinities. From these software’s, the results yielded a less than favorable desire in respect to ligand interaction with the main protease binding affinity, drug score, and RMSD value meaning more research is needed to obtain a desirable outcome for a potential vaccine and/or drug. Alexis Dear was born in Fort Smith and attended high school at County Line in Branch, Arkansas. She is currently pursuing her bachelor’s in chemistry with a concentration in biochemistry. After college she plans to attend medical school and specialize as a pediatric oncologist. In her free time, she participates in slow pitch softball, basketball, and spending time outdoors.

Student Research Symposium

SMASHBOT - Automated Player Classification System Using Machine Learning in Games

Potent, Metabolically Stable and Less Toxic Microtubule Polymerization Inhibitors for Resistant Melanoma and Prostate Cancer

As a large number of individuals around the world have transitioned to a mostly online model for daily activities, the gaming community was compelled to do so as well. An individual who pursues online gaming is often allowed to utilize an account that can imitate another user deceptively. The purpose of this work is to present SMASHBOT: an automated player classification system that can identify a player by the inputs to the game using machine learning algorithms. The approach provides a methodology for player identification while also demonstrating a theoretic framework for utilizing machine learning in gaming to curtail account impersonation.

In cancer chemotherapy, an established strategy for treatment is the disruption of microtubule assembly by colchicine binding site inhibitors (CBSIs). However, treatment with CBIs can have significant issues such as multi-drug resistance and toxicity to otherwise healthy cells. As a result, highly potent CBSIs with higher therapeutic indexes are in high demand. Azixa was first introduced for the treatment of glioblastoma, however, it never made it to the market as a result of the cardiovascular toxicity of the compound. The Azixa family compounds come with extremely high potency which is associated with high toxicity which leads to a narrow therapeutic index. We have recently developed CBSIs belonging to the Azixa family which are capable of inhibiting tumor growth in A375 melanoma xenograft model. Additionally, these CBSIs significantly overcome multi-drug resistance in paclitaxelresistant prostate cancer xenograft model. Another reported class of compounds, ABI compounds, that showed relatively less efficacy, but their maximum tolerated dose (MTD) was higher. Therefore, we would like to take the crucial characteristics from both the Azixa family CBI and the ABI compounds and derive a new compound with both improved efficacy and reduced toxicity to achieve broader therapeutic indices.

Presented by: Fernando Estrada, Luke Hinton, and Eibi Perez Faculty Sponsor: Andrew Mackey and Israel Cuevas Field of Research: Computer Science Presentation Type: Oral

Fernando Estrada is a computer science student at UAFS specializing in data science and artificial intelligence. He is majoring in computer science with a minor in mathematics. His academic areas of interest are in artificial intelligence, natural language processing, machine learning, and data science. He is currently an active member of the UAFS Artificial Intelligence Research Lab.

Presented by: Bobbi Evans Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Souvik Banerjee Field of Research: Medicinal Chemistry Presentation Type: Oral

Luke Hinton is a scomputer science student at UAFS specializing in data science and artificial intelligence. He is majoring in computer science with a minor in mathematics. His academic areas of interest are in artificial intelligence, natural language processing, machine learning, and data science. He is currently an active member of the UAFS Artificial Intelligence Research Lab. Eibi Perez is a computer science student at UAFS specializing in data science and artificial intelligence. He is majoring in computer science and with a minor in mathematics. His academic areas of interest are in artificial intelligence and machine learning.

Bobbi Evans was born in Dallas. She fast tracked high school in Irving, Texas, and graduated on a three-year program. She joined the Army in 2011 and, after getting out decided to go back to school. She is currently pursuing a degree in chemistry with plans to continue her education in graduate school in Texas. She has an interest in medicinal chemistry and research which will guide her graduate studies. In her spare time she likes to research topics of her interest, play video games, and is affiliated with the National Society of Leadership and Success.

Student Research Symposium

NAE: The Neural Alert Engine to Automate the Identification of Unfamiliar Individuals

IR Spectroscopy and Mass Spectrometry Investigations of Menthol: Acetic Acid Based Deep Eutectic Solvent

In the past decade, computer vision systems have become considerably more sophisticated. The introduction of massive datasets, such as ImageNet, and advancements in machine learning research have facilitated the development of computer vision systems. In this presentation, we introduce NAE: a computer vision system that is automates the identification of familiar and unfamiliar individuals. While utilizing a combination of data sources, we demonstrate NAE’s efficacy and evaluate its performance against contemporary pre-trained models.

Deep eutectic solvents (DESs) are considered as one of the most versatile green solvent with various applications. DESs are cheaper to synthesize, generally nontoxic, highly pure, recyclable, biodegradable, and are suitable for the biological applications. In DES, two or more components are mixed at a certain ratio and form eutectic solvent through the depression of freezing point. In this study, we report the synthesis and characterization of menthol-acetic acid based deep eutectic solvents by infrared spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. IR spectrum of menthol shows a broad peak at around 3300 cm-1, which associates to its O-H stretching. Besides, the peaks at 2870-2940 cm-1 correspond to C-H stretching. In the acetic acid spectrum, a sharp peak is observed at 1700 cm-1 for the -C=O of its carboxylic group and a band for O-H stretch of the same group is found at 3060 cm-1. Spectrum of menthol-acetic acid shows that the peak at 3300 cm-1 from the menthol gets broadened due to the H-bond formation with the AA molecules. This spectrum also shows that carbonyl peak for the eutectic gets sharper and shifts to higher spectral region (~1710 cm-1) compared to the same peak of the pure acetic acid (~1700 cm-1). The higher percentage of peak shifting indicates AA as more contributing component to the formation of the classical hydrogen bonds. Beside FTIR studies, mass measurement of the freshly prepared Menthol: AA DES is performed without further dilution. The peak noticed at m/z 217.1667 can be assigned to menthol: AA at 1:1 molar ratio. Beside this peak, two intense peaks are detected at m/z 313.000 and m/z 468.3333 correspond to two and three menthol molecules. The other peaks are also noticed at m/z 139.0833 and m/z 174.1667 can be assigned to two acetic acid-water and menthol-H2O complexes. This study shows that hydrogen and non-bonding interactions are vital forces in forming menthol: acetic acid based deep eutectic solvent as evident from IR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry.

Presented by: Renae Fisher Faculty Sponsor: Andrew Mackey and Israel Cuevas Field of Research: Computer Science Presentation Type: Oral

Renae Fisher is a computer science student at UAFS specializing in data science and artificial intelligence with a minor in applied statistics. Her academic areas of interest are in artificial intelligence, natural language processing, machine learning, and data science. She is currently an active member of the UAFS Artificial Intelligence Research Lab.

Presented by: Paul Gambill Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Mohammad A. Halim Field of Research: Chemistry Presentation Type: Oral

Paul Gambill was born in Fayetteville, Arkansas, and has stayed in the area since. He graduated from Alma (Arkansas) High School in 2020 and continued his education at UAFS, pursuing a biology degree. Although a biology major, a good understanding of chemistry is essential to understanding the intricacies of life on a cellular scale. In Dr. Mohammad Halim’s lab, Paul is not only excited to gain knowledge that relates to classes he takes, but he also to gain valuable knowledge in the field of experimental chemistry. When not at school, he enjoys flying, spending time outdoors, and playing and listening to music. In Dr. Halim’s lab, he is doing research utilizing mass spectrometry and IR spectroscopy.

Student Research Symposium

The Educational Component of Cultural Institutions

Hot Springs of Arkansas

Literature shows that as cultural institutions fight to stay relevant in the changing landscape of the world, the educational component of these institutions is becoming increasingly important. The educational component is responsible for making the institution’s content accessible and easily digestible for the public. As accessibility has become more of a priority, more and more research is being conducted to determine the most effective strategies for sharing information. It is also being shown that pedagogical training and classroom experience generally hold more value than a degree in a specific field or subject relating to the institution. I used my research in Dr. Tardif’s Collaborative Capstone Class to advocate for and represent the educational component of a potential cultural institution. I did this by detailing an interactive field trip for a performing arts theater, as well as listing out potential programming with an emphasis on diversity and inclusion. Additionally, I outlined a toolkit to be used in a non-credit course about how to form a social enterprise. My final contribution to the educational component of this potential cultural institution was a full staffing list for the institution; this staffing list includes job descriptions and salaries.

The hot springs of Arkansas are geothermal springs located in central Arkansas, in the aptly named city of Hot Springs. The springs have become a tourist attraction and are the site of a turn-of-the-century health craze. The city is home to the famous Bathhouse Row, where one can bathe in the water from the hot springs safely. These waters are roughly 4,400 years old, have an average temperature of 143 degrees Fahrenheit, and contain many dissolved minerals. Geologic maps and cross-sections will be used to illustrate the subsurface plumbing system of the hot springs. Other questions to be explored are: Why are the hot springs there? What minerals are found in and around the waters? Are there any proven health benefits from exposure to the waters? What dangers do the hot springs pose? Is there an economical benefit stemming from the hot springs?

Presented by: Holly Hodge Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Shelli Henehan Field of Research: Education Presentation Type: Oral

Holly Hodge is from Farmington, Arkansas, and will graduate in May with a Bachelor of Science in elementary education. She is a member of FEAP, an ambassador for UAFS, and a member of the Myles Friedman Honors Program. She was a charter member in Dr. Kristin Rardif’s collaborative capstone class.

The COVID Effect on Student Achievement as Part of the Teacher Apprenticeship Presented by: Leslie Holland and Candace Janders Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Monica Riley Field of Research: Education Presentation Type: Oral

As two senior-level, pre-service teachers in the year- long teacher apprenticeship program through the University of Arkansas Fort Smith, we will be discussing the impact of a global pandemic on our third grade students and the observations that we have made in relation to their academic achievement. This research will highlight the social and emotional aspects observed amongst students that finished the previous school year virtually. We will also discuss the gaps that students have in their learning due to the pandemic. Finally, the unique challenges that we have experienced throughout the school year while encouraging proper social distancing techniques between students and maintaining an engaging and collaborative culture in the classroom will be discussed. Leslie Holland is a senior non-traditional student in the elementary education program participating in the teacher apprenticeship program. She will graduate in May. She is married with two children and hopes to become a teacher in the Fort Smith Public Schools.

Presented by: Cassaundra Huggins Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Dave Mayo Field of Research: Geoscience Presentation Type: Poster

Cassaundra Huggins is a 2006 graduate of Poteau (Oklahoma) High School. She is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in geocience and plans to attend graduate school specializing in space and planetary science. Her career goal is to work for NASA as a planetary geologist.

Structure, Functions, and Physiological Significance of ACE2 Receptor and its Role in COVID-19 Infection Presented by: Harrison Jenkins Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Sandhya N. Baviskar Field of Research: Biology Presentation Type: Oral

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic this year, researchers were quick to identify two key proteins responsible for the ability of COVID-19 to infect the human body: spike protein S1 located on SARS-CoV-2 (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2) and ACE2 (Angiotensin Converting Enzyme 2 receptor) attached to the cell membranes of various human cells. Both proteins have previously been implicated in other SARS-CoV viral infections. In these past eleven months, ACE2’s role in COVID-19 infection has led to a deluge of scientific papers on this subject. This has made it difficult for the scientific community to extract information and insights from this overwhelming amount of information. Thus, there is a need to bring these literature items together to create a clear and cohesive picture about the functions and physiological significance of this enzyme and its role in COVID-19 infection. In this oral presentation, the most current knowledge about ACE2’s functions and its role in SARS-CoV-2 infection would be presented. This presentation would enhance student and experienced researchers’ current knowledge on this topic and provide new insights that in turn can contribute in reshaping this active field of research. Harrison Jenkins was born to Jeff and Veronica Jenkins in Fort Smith and has lived there for all of his life. He is a senior at UAFS with a double major in biology and chemistry. After graduation he plans to attend medical school at the Arkansas College of Osteopathic Medicine. This is his second semester doing research with Dr. Sandhya Baviskar.

Candace Janders is a senior non-traditional student in the elementary education program and was selected to participate in the teacher apprenticeship program for the 2020-21 academic year. She will graduate in May. She is married with two children and hopes to become a classroom teacher in the Fort Smith Public Schools.

Student Research Symposium

Student Research Symposium Hot Shot: A Deep Learning Image Classification System to Predict Outcomes in Sports

Using High-Resolution Field Photogrammetry to Recreate 3D Renders of MidSilurian Reefs from Michigan’s Hiawatha National Forest

Advancements in deep learning have paved the way for the adoption of systems across a wide range of fields, including sports and other athletics programs. Latent patterns, or biomarkers, can be identified in players over time to improve the performance of an athlete or team. We present our system, Hot Shot, which utilizes deep learning techniques and neural networks to automate the prediction of outcomes utilizing image-based features.

The high-resolution panoramic images are useful to document geologic features at the macro and micro scales. This project focuses on the challenges of collecting high-resolution field data and analyzing the data with low-cost applications so the data can be further accurately analyzed in the lab or classroom. A Gigapan Epic Pro equipped with an affordable Canon 7T crop sensor DLSR and a Canon 50MM F1.4 lens was used to collect the high-resolution images of mid-Silurian aged Knoll reefs in the Hiawatha National Forest. The equipment was challenged with a variety of obstacles for its ability to capture high-detail microscale textural changes in the rock facies. In the lab, the data is tested on a macro-scale level testing the algorithms of multiple software programs to stitch the images accurately into high-resolution panoramas. Autodesk 3DS, a popular 3D animation software, was used to recreate artificial renders of the reefs in 3D. A Monoprice Maker Select Plus 3D printer was used to print the individual models. Artificial renders and 3D prints provide a new view to understanding our current and past environments while keeping the original rock samples preserved in situ.

Presented by: An Le and Martin Tran Faculty Sponsor: Andrew Mackey and Israel Cuevas Field of Research: Computer Science Presentation Type: Oral

An Le is a computer science student at UAFS specializing in data science and artificial intelligence. He is majoring in computer science with a minor in mathematics. His academic areas of interest are in artificial intelligence, natural language processing, machine learning, and data science. He is currently an active member of the UAFS Artificial Intelligence Research Lab. Martin Tran is a computer science student at UAFS specializing in data science. He is majoring in computer science with a minor in mathematics. His academic areas of interest are in artificial intelligence, natural language processing, machine learning, image processing, and neural networks. He is currently an active member of the UAFS Artificial Intelligence Research Lab.

Presented by: Preston Liles Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Maurice Testa Field of Research: Geoscience Presentation Type: Poster

Preston Liles is a geoscience major at UAFS. He is very dedicated and enjoys combining his passion for graphic art with science. Preston was on the team that helped discover a 400 million-year-old reef system in Michigan. After he graduates this summer, he plans to pursue a master’s degree and potentially a Ph.D in geoscience.

Exploring Green Synthesis of Aldol Reactions Using Deep Eutectic Solvents Presented by: Michael Lee Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Jordan Mader Field of Research: Chemistry Presentation Type: Oral

Deep eutectic solvents (DES) are known for their cheap cost, efficiency, and reusability without the loss of catalytic activity. Natural deep eutectic solvents (NADES) produced from α-glucose and racemic malic acid creates a reaction medium optimal for enantioselective L-proline catalyzed intermolecular aldol reaction. The use of NADES provides a volatile organic compound (VOC)-free experimental environment while providing a foundation for a bio-renewable alternative. The results are a high yield of anti-stereoselectivity and enantioselectivity while also providing a method to selectively create a C-C bond and a new stereocenter. Excess cyclohexanone was recovered and reused as a byproduct of the reaction media with DES. Microwave-assisted organic synthesis is utilized for its quick heating rates and overall optimal efficiency for the study. Comparisons of six various elements will be observed: room temperature reactions, heated reactions, water as a reference solvent, base-catalyzed solvents, and eutectic solvents (ES). Data will be gathered to determine the yields of each product, as well as analyzing each product through melting point, thin layer chromatography (TLC) and infrared (IR) spectroscopy. Michael Lee is a biology major at UAFS with a minor in business administration. He hopes to become a dentist after graduating.

Student Research Symposium

Student Research Symposium Synthesis and Characterization of Lysine: Glycerol Based Natural Deep Eutectic Solvent

Preliminary Mapping of Joints in the Middle-Pennsylvanian McAlester Formation in the Vicinity of Fort Smith, Arkansas

Natural deep eutectic solvents (NADES) offer more biodegradability and biocompatibility and are emerging as alternative solvents for various applications replacing organic solvents and ionic liquids. In this study, lysine: glycerol based NADES is synthesized and its non-covalent interactions are investigated using infrared spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. Synthesis of lysine: glycerol NADES was performed at 3:1 molar ratio. The mixture of lysine and glycerol was heated at 80°C on a hot plate, while stirring with a magnetic stir bar at 600 rpm for over 3 hours. The solution appeared to be an orange-brown viscous liquid. The IR spectrum of glycerol demonstrated a broad peak at 3300 cm-1, indicative of O-H stretching. Two peaks are found at 2880 cm-1 and 2900 cm-1 associated to the stretching of sp3 hybridized C-H bonds. The IR spectrum for lysine showed a weak peak at around 3500 cm-1 demonstrating the characteristic N-H amine bond, while a strong peak at 2400 cm-1 indicates O-H stretching in a carboxylic acid functional group. The IR peaks for lysine:glycerol NADES are very similar to glycerol due to its higher molar ratio. Additionally, mass spectrometry experiment was performed using Thermo LTQ mass spectrometer. Three peaks associated to lysine and elimination of OH and CH2O are detected at m/z 147.19, 130.19 and 100.08, respectively. There is no peak observed for single glycerol in the expected area of 92.09; however, glycerol dimer peak is noticed at m/z 184.25. Several peaks related to lysine dimer and neutral losses of H2O and CHO are appeared at m/z 275.33, 246.25 and 229.25 in which the highest normalized intensity (1.09 x 104) is observed for 246.25. Several lysine and glycerol clusters are detected at m/z 345.00, 389.00, 473.333 and 488.33. Most importantly, a weak peak is noticed at m/z 418.33 can be assigned to 3 glycerol: lysine. This study shows that besides homoclusters of lysine and glycerol, various hetero-clusters of lysine and glycerin are formed during the NADES formation.

Understanding joints and joint systems in shallow crustal rocks is an essential part of investigating subsurface reservoirs for meteoric and geothermal waters, exploring for oil and gas, and evaluating rock strength for geotechnical applications. Preliminary field work in sandstones of the Middle Pennsylvanian McAlester Formation in the vicinity of Fort Smith, Arkansas has revealed a widespread joint set that features a) abundant near-vertical systematic joints with tightly clustered azimuths averaging 164° ± 2° (circular variance = 0.037) and spacing from 0.25 to 1.5 m, and b) near-vertical cross-joints with more variable azimuths averaging 077° ± 18° (circular variance = 0.599). Our working hypothesis is that the systematic joints were formed approximately parallel to the maximum principal stress during NNW-directed compression of the Arkoma Basin associated with the Ouachita Orogeny that culminated during the early Permian around 275 million years ago.

Presented by: Nicholas McKinney Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Mohammad A. Halim Field of Research: Chemistry Presentation Type: Oral

Presented by: Jacob McLain Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Dave Mayo Field of Research: Geoscience Presentation Type: Poster

Jacob McLain is a geoscience major interested in attending graduate school and specializing in environmental geology.

Nicholas Mckinney is from the River Valley area of Arkansas, born in Fort Smith where he has spent most of his life. He graduated from Van Buren (Arkansas) High School in 2009. He married his high school girlfriend, Elizabeth, and they now have three children. Before returning to college to study chemistry — a field that has interested him since his childhood — he pursued a brief career in IT and programming. When not at school, he can usually be found at home taking care of his children or playing video games with his wife. Under the guidance of Dr. Mohammad Halim, he is doing research using modern analytical chemistry techniques including mass spectrometry and IR spectroscopy.

Student Research Symposium Synthesis and Characterization of Silver Nanoparticle-Antiviral Peptide Conjugate Presented by: Cody Merrell and Khuong Ta Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Mohammad A. Halim Field of Research: Chemistry Presentation Type: Oral

The corona virus began a worldwide pandemic in the beginning of 2020, infecting over 114 million and killing over 2 million people worldwide in the last 15 months. Antiviral peptides are potential broad-spectrum antiviral agents receives a great attention due to their potential application in drug design and development. Currently, various nanoparticles (NP) have been proposed for antimicrobial treatments, however, no studies are performed against SARS-CoV-2. NP can be used as drug delivery system for traditional antiviral peptides to increase their efficacy and reduce side-effects. The conjugation of peptides with nanoparticles helps increase the serum stability of peptides and provides significant benefits in terms of antiviral and antimicrobial activity, compared with free peptides. In this study, we have synthesized silver nanoparticle and conjugated them with antiviral peptides. Silver nanoparticle was prepared by sodium citrate reduction method. The UV-vis spectrum of silver nanoparticle exhibits absorption maximum at 425 nm. The nanoparticle-antiviral peptide conjugates were prepared by mixing 450 µL of 0.5 mM of peptide (dissolved in H2O) in with 50 µL of 50 µg/mL AgNP at 298K. ATR-FTIR analysis was performed by Shimadzu IRAffinity-1S spectrophotometer. For nanoparticle, the OH stretching peak was detected at 3400 cm-1, however, this peak was even broadened and shifted to the right for peptide-NP conjugates. The characteristic carbonyl (-C=O) stretching band (due to the citrate) was very weak for silver nanoparticle. However, such carbonyl group stretching band was enhanced in the peptide-NP conjugates. This band can also be assigned to the amide I generally observed for peptide and protein. To measure the size and shape of these peptideNP conjugates, transmission electron microscope (TEM) experiments will be performed and further their antiviral efficiency will be tested in SARS CoV-2–induced cytopathic effect (CPE) in Vero E6 cells.

Student Research Symposium Astronaut Space Suit Design and Training Presented by: Anthony Ming Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Kevin Lewelling Field of Research: Engineering Presentation Type: Oral

UAFS senior mechanical engineering student Anthony Ming is currently interning at Johnson Space Center (JSC) in Houston. Anthony’s first NASA internship during summer 2020/fall 2020 was remote and focused on space suit design. During this internship, he directly supported the development of the xEMU space suit which will be used on the Moon in 2024. Anthony is currently interning in-person at JSC mission control in the Extra Vehicle Activity (EVA) group, where he helps plan missions, train and fly astronauts. Anthony has been tasked with several projects during his time at JSC which include designing space suit testing equipment using a cyclic tube bending apparatus for the suits Liquid Cooling and Ventilation Garment (LCVG). He has supported the design of space suit boot heating systems; also, he has used Denavit Hartenburg methods of robotic manipulation in the software package Blender to calculate Center of Gravity (CG) for different suited crew positions. As a member of the EVA group, Anthony is learning how missions are planned, how astronauts are trained, and how missions are executed. Anthony will be certified to teach astronauts/others a class about fluid system function in space suit design by the end of this term. Anthony Ming is a senior mechanical engineering student at UAFS. He is currently interning at Johnson Space Center in Houston and plans to continue to work for NASA after graduation.

Cody Merrell was born in Fort Smith and currently lives in Van Buren, Arkansas. He is attending UAFS and majoring electrical engineering. When he is not studying for school, he works part time managing the Pizza Parlor on Rogers Avenue in Fort Smith. In Dr. Halim’s group,Cody is doing research on nano-synthesis and nanoparticle-peptide conjugation. Khuong (Peter) Ta was born in Cantho, Vietnam. After finishing his junior year at Ly Tu Trong High School, he moved to the United States as an exchange student. He is currently pursuing a degree in biochemistry at UAFS. He also works as a student worker in the College of Health Science. Peter is a member of the UAFS Japan Club and Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity. In his free time, he enjoys playing League of Legends, watching movies, studying history and political facts, listening to music, and hanging out with friends. In Dr. Halim’s lab, he is doing research on synthesizing and characterizing metal-based nanoparticles.

Student Research Symposium Nature Inspired Materials for Biomedical Applications Presented by: Paula Najera-Diaz and Kenia Mendez Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Charuksha Walgama Field of Research: Biomedical Sciences Presentation Type: Poster

Biomimicry is a growing field that involves finding sustainable solutions for various human issues by simply mimicking timetested architectures and strategies in nature. In this mini literature review, we have explored how nature inspired materials are utilized in biomedical applications such as tissue regeneration, implants, and support materials; drug delivery; and robotics. Nacre, or the inner shell layer of molluscs, has been a widely used mimic for biomedicine. Some porous scaffolds (for tissue repair), bone materials, artificial membranes and coatings of implants have been developed following the structural integrity and the design of nacre. The structures and functions of microorganisms such as bacteria and viruses have been successfully utilized in drug delivery strategies. Lipid and hydrogel nanoparticles have been effectively used as vehicles to deliver drugs to tumor cells. Recent studies show the development of origami robots, inspired by natural folding mechanisms seen in proteins and intestines which can be used in future medical devices. Even though material scientists are successful in developing novel biomimicry materials with advanced properties, the field still has many gaps in terms of fully understanding the nature. Therefore, systematic integration in materials chemistry, engineering, computer science and medicinal fields would be beneficial to develop more advanced nature-inspired materials and mechanisms to aid in biomedical applications in the future. Paula Najera-Diaz is freshman biology major at UAFS. She also enjoys creative outlets such as drawing and dancing. She hopes to combine both rational and creative thinking to solve today’s problems in local communities. She plans to apply to medical school in hopes of becoming a pediatrician to help younger children choose healthier options in everyday decisions. Kenia Mendez is a hard-working freshman student at UAFS. She lives in Fort Smith, where she graduated from Southside High School in 2020. Kenia’s favorite subjects are math and science. She also likes to volunteer and read during her free time. She is majoring in biochemistry and, after obtaining her degree, she plans on applying to medical school to help others live a healthier life.

Student Research Symposium Petrographic and Biostratigraphic Analysis of a McKay Bay Member MidSilurian Knoll Reef in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula Presented by: Logan Pearson and Samantha Barnett Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Maurice Testa Field of Research: Geoscience Presentation Type: Poster

This study will examine a mid-Silurian knoll reef in the Hiawatha National Forest in the eastern Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Knoll reefs are understood to be elongated mud-skeletal mounds ranging in size from a few square meters to hundreds of kilometers. Their vertical growth is often minimal due to the extremely shallow waters in which they form. The particular dolomitized reefs of this study are stratigraphically located in the McKay Bay Member in the Bush Bay Formation of the Engadine Group. Previous studies conducted approximately 60 years ago were intended to identify reef distributions throughout the Michigan Basin but the physical features remain only partially described based on hand sample analysis. This study will further investigate these knoll reefs, by conducting petrographic, biostratigraphic, and analysis by photogrammetric high-resolution analysis. The surveyed knoll reef mound measures in 24 meters by 35 meters and 5.5 meters in height. In order to thoroughly analyze the knoll reef, transverse samplings were completed every five meters. Much of the megafossils have been lost due to dolomitization, only moldic voids have been left behind. However, stromatolites and stromatoporoids were well preserved and in many other similar cases incorporate underlying marine organisms as substrates. Logan Pearson is a geoscience major at UAFS. He is an amazing paleontologist and was part of the team that helped discover 400 million-year-old reef systems in northern Michigan. After graduating from UAFS this summer, he plans to pursue his Ph.D. in geoscience. Samantha Barnett is a geoscience major at UAFS. She is a persistent and dedicated scientist and was part of the team that helped discover 400 million-year-old reef systems in northern Michigan. After graduating this summer, she has been offered a full scholarship for her master’s in geoscience starting this fall in Arizona.

Student Research Symposium

Nanocluster Formation of the Water-Based Deep Eutectic Solvent and Its Impact on Protein Secondary Structure

Using X-ray Diffraction to Determine the Proportions and Compositions of Carbonate Minerals in Coralline Limestone

Water based deep eutectic solvents (DES) have wide applications as common DESs are highly viscos which limits their applications. In water-based DES, water can act as a sole hydrogen bond donor. In this study, we report the nanostructure formation of the choline chloride (ChCl):H2O DES by mass spectrometry. In addition, how the water-based based DES impacts the protein structure and dynamics are also explored by IR spectroscopy. Freshly prepared ChCl:H2O DESs are directly infused to the electrospray ionization source with a flow rate of 5µL/min. All mass spectrometry experiments are performed by electrospray ionization (ESI) source coupled to Thermo LTQ mass spectrometer. In ESI-MS spectrum, the first cluster of ChCl:H2O DES is detected at m/z 242.33 Da which corresponds to [ChCl+Ch-2H+H]+. The normalized intensity of the peak is 1.1x102. The second cluster of ChCl:H2O DES is noticed at m/z 381.50 Da, however, the intensity of this cluster is lower compared to the first cluster. There are series of clusters observed from m/z 522.33 to 2894.75 Da. Among them, the most intense cluster is found at m/z 1080.75 Da related to [7ChCl+Ch-2H+H]+. In the largest cluster, eighteen choline chloride (ChCl) molecules are joined together with one choline (Ch) molecule. The impact of ChCl:H2O DES on the lysozyme protein is also investigated. In water solution, lysozyme showed two distinct peaks at 1645 and 1539 cm-1. The first peak is related to amide I and the second peak is associated to amide II, however, these peaks are not very strong. In addition, no peak associated to amide III is observed. When ChCl:H2O DES is added to lysozyme, we noticed several peaks. The first peak is seen at 1714 cm-1 for amide I which indicates that secondary structure of the protein is significantly changed due to DES addition. The amide II peak is also shifted to1473 cm-1 and similar trend is also observed for amide III. This study reports the first result of nanocluster formation in ChCl:H2O based DES as detected by mass spectrometry and the impact of DES on the protein secondary structure as evident from IR studies.

There is widespread interest in using the chemistry of coralline limestone as a proxy for marine paleoenvironmental conditions. First, we measured x-ray diffraction intensities of the d104 peaks of calcite and dolomite of known composition to create a calibration curve to determine the proportions of these minerals in natural samples. Next, we used broadening of the d104 peak to determine the amount of Mg+2 substituting for Ca+2 in calcite. We are applying these methods to investigate the paleoenvironment of a mid-Silurian reef in the upper peninsula of Michigan.

Presented by: Christine Pham Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Mohammad A. Halim Field of Research: Biochemistry Presentation Type: Oral

Presented by: Edward Ruark and Ian Hattabaugh Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Dave Mayo Field of Research: Geoscience Presentation Type: Poster

Eddie Ruark is a senior geoscience major with plans to attend graduate school to study paleontology. His career choice is to be a museum curator for natural sciences.

Christine Pham was born and raised in Fort Smith. She graduated from Southside High School in 2020 and is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in biology. During high school she was a part of the junior varsity and varsity soccer teams and also participated in many clubs including National Honor Society, Future Medical Professionals of America, Spanish National Honor Society, and Habitat for Humanity. Her hobbies include playing video games and watching YouTube videos. In Dr. Halim’s lab, Christine is doing research on the mass spectrometry and molecular modeling of a choline chloride-based deep eutectic solvent.

Student Research Symposium

Exploring the Conformation Dynamics of Epitope from Lymphocytic Choreomeningitis Virus by Mass Spectrometry and IR Spectroscopy

Protein Analysis of SARS-CoV-2 3CL Protease to Identify Potential Small Molecule Therapeutics

Epitope is an important part of antigen which is recognized by the immune system such as antibodies, B cells and T cells. The conformation of the epitope plays a pivotal role on the binding and interaction with antibody. In this study, mass spectrometry and IR spectroscopy are employed to explore the conformation of the epitope peptide derived from Lymphocytic Choreomeningitis Virus (LCMV). This epitope can act as antiviral therapeutics for the meningitis or encephalitis. When this epitope is prepared in aqueous solution, two peaks are found at m/z 1016.25 and 508.67 which correspond to 1+ and 2+ charges state, respectively which agreed with the theoretical m/z values. The normalized intensity of the 1+ charge state is 1.147 x 105. Several sodium adducts are also noticed with these charge states. Due to the sodium adduct, the distinctive strong IR bands associated to amide I and amide II are not found. When 1% acetic acid is added to the epitope peptide solution, the most intense peak is detected at m/z 1016.33 with a normalized intensity of 2.73 x 104. A very weak peak is appeared for 2+ charge state. In acidic acid solution, amide I band is found at 1710 cm-1 and two bands associated with amide III are noticed at 1384 and 1271 cm-1. No peaks related to amide II is observed in acetic acid solution. In basic solution, one strong peak is found at m/z 1038.33 for the 1+ charge state with a normalize intensity of 6.71 x102. However, no peak associated to 2+ charge state is found in the basic solution. In negative mode, only 1- charge state is observed at m/z 1014.25. In basic solution, the weak peaks for amide I and amide II are detected. When the epitope solution is prepared with 50% methanol solution, two intense peaks are noticed at m/z 1016.33 and 508.67 where 2+ charge state is appeared as the most intense. In the methanol solution, we noticed a band at 1404 cm-1 related to amide III. This study reveals that solvent condition has significant impact on the conformation of the epitope and thus may influence the binding and interaction with antigen.

The Current COVID-19 pandemic is caused by the zoonotic virus SARS-CoV-2, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. Coronaviruses are positive-sense, enveloped, and single stranded RNA viruses responsible for both the common cold and worldwide pandemics. At the time of writing, there have been over 114 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 and over 2 million deaths caused by the complications related to the virus. It has reached nearly every area of the world and spread far more efficiently than either MERS-CoV or SARS-CV, both corona viruses themselves responsible for other pandemics. The 3CL SARS-CoV-2 protease is a promising drug target because of its important role in virus replication process. In this analysis, the 3CLpro inhibitor baicalein in complex with the 3CLpro crystal structure is used to identify promising new drug candidates using pharmacophore features and molecular docking in target binding site. After ADMET screening the results show that two most promising drug candidates from this analysis for the inhibition of SARS-CoV-2 3CLpro are MolPort-028-856-177 and MolPort-028-855-414 due to their lack of carcinogenicity compared to other molecules, though both have drug likeness violations that must be addressed.

Presented by: Austyn Russell Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Mohammad A. Halim Field of Research: Biochemistry Presentation Type: Oral

Presented by: Rabia Sajjad Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Souvik Banerjee Field of Research: Medicincal Chemistry Presentation Type: Oral

Rabia Sajjad was born in Pakistan and came to the United States in 2011. She graduated from Southside High School in Fort Smith and is pursuing a degree in biology with a concentration in biomedical professionals at UAFS. Rabia is planning to go to medical school and be a family physician. She is excited to see what her future holds. She is involved in the NSLS and ALD at UAFS. She is passionate to volunteer and enjoys helping other people at whatever chance she gets. When she is not volunteering, she enjoys spending time with her loved ones and traveling the world.

Austyn Russell was born in Colorado but soon left to travel to Europe as a small child. She eventually ended up in Gravette, Arkansas, where she completed high school, graduating in the summer of 2020. She started at UAFS in the fall of 2020 with a major of biomedical sciences in hopes of becoming an optometrist later on. In high school she was very involved with athletics, playing both basketball and softball, and student government. She was also at student body president for her senior year. Outside of school she loves to be with her friends and being outside. In Dr. Halim’s group, Austyn is doing research on conformational dynamics of epitope peptide employing mass spectrometry and IR spectroscopy.

Student Research Symposium Probing the Interaction of Pesticides with Human Serum Albumin Using Molecular Docking and MD Simulation

Novel Potential Small Molecule Therapeutics of SARS-CoV-2 Targeting Papain-like Protease

Human Serum Albumin (HSA) is the most abundant blood protein, which acts as a carrier/reservoir for various endogenous biomolecules such as steroids, fatty acids, bilirubin, and vitamins. HSA can also readily bind to many drug molecules in circulating blood and thereby affect the pharmacokinetics of the drug. These endogenous and exogenous molecules mostly bind at the two most prominent ligand binding sites (Sudlow-I and Sudlow-II) in the HSA. The pesticides fenpropathrin and aldicarb sulfoxide fall under the extremely/highly hazardous category (LD50 < 50 mg/kg) on the WHO pesticide environmental pollutants. These pesticides are commonly used in the farming industry and therefore, pose a risk of chronic or acute exposure. Here, we study the binding of these two pesticides, fenpropathrin and aldicarb sulfoxide with the HSA. These pesticides were also chosen because of their differing molecular properties. Molecular docking was first performed to determine the pesticides affinity for the two ligand binding sites in the HSA. Further, molecular dynamics simulations (MD) of the HSA with and without pesticide in the binding pocket were performed using GROMACS with CHARMM force field. The results obtained from the docking and MD simulation study show the molecular and structural determinants of two differing pesticides that interact with the Sudlow-I and/or Sudlow-II binding site of the HSA.

The emergence of SARS CoV-2 in December of 2019 has led to devastating effects across the globe given the overall severity of the pathogen’s associated symptoms and the lack of definitive treatment for those symptoms. Current treatment methods employ the utilization of symptom management and supportive care though the focus lies on the search for adequate treatment options. The target of this study was to subject PLpro with the inhibitor 7JRN and native ligand TTT to CADD to explore novel potential small molecule therapeutics for COVID-19. Based upon the utilization of various computer programs, the total MolPort hits, found when filters were applied to the native ligand, from Pharmit were able to be reduced down to two top potential drug hits. The top two potential hits found through various screenings including that of rigid docking, flexible docking, SWISS-ADME, and Pre-ADMET are MolPort 046-099-656 and MolPort 004-661-970. Further research needs to be conducted to determine the true potential of these top two potential drug hits though initial results indicate a future for aiding in the fight against COVID-19.

Presented by: Jesse R. Scott Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Archana Mishra Field of Research: Computational Chemistry Presentation Type: Oral

Jesse Raymond Scott is a fourth-year student pursuing a Bachelor of Science in chemistry at UAFS. With interests in inorganic and physical chemistry, his research focuses on medicinal and computational chemistry that focuses protein-ligand interaction. His keen interest in protein-drug interactions and use of computational chemistry in this field have garnered him appreciation and support from his professors, advisors, and sponsors. Jesse is also a member of the National Society of Leadership and Success (NSLS) and has worked as a tutor of chemistry, mathematics, and biology during his sophomore and junior years through the UAFS Academic Success Center. He currently works full time as a tech consultant, and upon completion of his undergraduate studies, he intends to pursue graduate school to further his knowledge in the field of medicinal chemistry and progress toward a successful career in academia.

Student Research Symposium

Presented by: Katelyn Smith Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Souvik Banerjee Field of Research: Medicinal Chemistry Presentation Type: Oral

Katelyn Smith was born in Layton, Utah, and raised in Cabot, Arkansas. She was homeschooled until the fourth grade, at which point she was put into public school. She is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Science in biology with a concentration in biomedical professions at UAFS. After earning her bachelor’s degree, Katelyn has plans for medical school. She has a special interest in pediatrics. In her spare time, Katelyn has a passion for traveling to new places and experiencing new cultures, reading, cooking, volunteering, and spending time with her family and two cats.

Student Research Symposium

Wild Bee Hylaeus signatus Venom Peptide and its Analogues Against the Main Protease of SARS-CoV-2

Searching for Potential Small Molecule Inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2| Main Protease

SARS-CoV-2, a virus that causes Covid-19, has infected 100 million cases, and 2.16 million deaths worldwide. The virus is a positive-sense single-stranded RNA virus, which refers to the virus’s ability to act as messenger RNA and can translate 16 non-structural, 4 structural and 9 accessory proteins. This virus is ranked as deadly, due to the structure and nature of the virus. The virus is able to multiply up to high levels without any recognition from the immune system, this is why people can be asymptomatic or be infected yet show no symptoms for days and even weeks. The main protease of SARS-CoV-2 is an enzyme that breaks down proteins and assists the viral replication. That’s why the main protease of SARS-CoV-2 can also be targeted for therapeutic purposes. Protease inhibitors are used in antiviral medications because they block the progression and replication of the virus. Honeybee venom contains various antimicrobial peptides (AMPS), which can be used as therapeutics, and fight against various bacteria and viruses. The venom contains agents which can fight bacteria and virus faster, and not contain drug resistance, making it more beneficial. Bee venom contains anti-inflammatory properties, can elevate antibodies, and attach to antigens, which can help with viruses such as Covid-19. In this study, we have modelled 26 bee venom peptides using computational chemistry approach and assessed their binding affinity and interactions with the main protease of SARS-CoV-2. Our docking results showed that HYL-22 has the highest global binding energy of -55.99 kcal/mol compared to the native peptide HYL (-41.63 kcal/mol). In addition, two other analogues such as HYL-25 and HYL-19 showed relatively higher binding affinity. These analogues also strongly interacted with the catalytic amino acids including Cys145 and His41. 250 ns Molecular dynamics simulation also supported the docking results. In future, the best peptide candidates obtained from computational investigation will be tested by in-virtro screening against the SARS-CoV-2 infected Vero E6 Cells.

The focus of this study is the x-ray structure of SARS-CoV 2 main protease bound to inhibitor GRL-024-20 (PDB:6XR3). This process was first started by using an online program called “Pharmit’’ to develop a structure-based pharmacophore using four selected features to screen the MolPort database. This led to finding 1,454 potential hits. Further filtration by including Lipinski’s Rule of Five, RMSD, and exclusion features, filtered out the potential hits to 58 hits. These 58 potential hits were then subject to molecular docking screening via PyRx to rank the top five hits based on binding affinity. The original binding affinity of the native ligand was observed to be -8.6 kcal/mol. The binding affinities of docking hits ranged from -4.2 to -7.6 kcal/mol. The top five docking hits were further subjected to ADMET screening to find the best two hits. These were A) MolPort 046-912-659; and B) MolPort 047-339-204. These two hits were then subject to molecular dynamics using VMD and NAMD demonstrating that MolPort 046-912-659 as one of the potential therapeutics for SARS-CoV-2 treatments targeting main protease.

Presented by: Raquel Spencer Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Mohammad A. Halim Field of Research: Biochemistry Presentation Type: Oral

Presented by: Joshua Thammathong Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Souvik Banerjee Field of Research: Medicinal Chemistry Presentation Type: Oral

Joshua Thammathong was born and brought up in Fort Smith. He is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Science in chemistry with a focus in biochemistry in the Department of Physical Sciences at UAFS. He is highly interested in pharmaceutical research and aims to pursue a Pharm.D-Ph.D. dual degree in future. He is working as a student laboratory assistant in an AR INBRE-funded research project under the mentorship of Dr. Souvik Banerjee. His focus is to rationally design and synthesize chromenone based small molecules as potential tubulin polymerization inhibitors for the treatment of metastatic cancer. Joshua has been extensively trained in various aspects of computer-aided drug design, including pharmacophore development, molecular docking, ADMET screening, scaffold hopping, and molecular dynamics and simulations, to design novel bioactive molecules. He is an avid music lover and enjoys playing guitar at leisure time.

Raquel Spencer was born in Fort Smith and graduated from Southside High School in 2020. With her major of biochemistry at UAFS, she intends to graduate and pursue higher education in medical school. Joining the healthcare field is a special interest of hers, and she wishes to expand her knowledge on medicine and aid patients in need. Her future career choices are led by her passion for caring for others. In Dr. Halim’s group, Raquel is working on wild bee venom peptide therapeutics against SARS-CoV-2.

Student Research Symposium

Solvent Effects on the Conformation of Antimicrobial Temporin L Peptide: Insights from Mass Spectrometry and IR Spectrocopy

Synthesis, IR Spectroscopy, and Mass Spectrometry Studies of IbuprofinMenthol Based Therapeutic Deep Eutectic Solvent

Peptides form numerous transformable conformations in different environments. In this study, we investigate the effect of various solvents on the structure and dynamics of the hydrophobic antimicrobial peptide, Temporin L. Mass spectrometry and IR spectroscopy are used to disclose the conformation changes of the Temporin L. In aqueous solution, two charge states are noticed at m/z 1640.58 and 820.83. In this case, the 2+ charge state is more intense compared to the 1+. The normalized intensity of the 2+ charge state is 2.82 x 105. In 1% acetic acid solution, three charge states are detected where 2+ charge state shows the highest normalized intensity of 4.17 x 105. It is also evident from IR spectrum that acidic acid partially unfolds the Temporin L peptide and significant enhancement is noticed for distinctive amide bands. In acidic condition, amide I is observed at 1714 cm-1, whereas amide II and amide II bands are appeared at 1398cm-1 and 1274cm-1, respectively. However, when the peptide is prepared in 1% of ammonium hydroxide solution, only two charge states are noticed in which 1+ is the most intense with a normalized intensity of 1.03 x101. In basic solution, the ion current of 1+ and 2+ are significantly decreased. Similar feature is also observed when mass spectrum is acquired in the negative mode. In basic solution, only amide I and II bands are detected at 1649 cm-1 and 1556 cm-1. When the peptide is prepared in 50% methanol solution, three charge states are observed where 2+ is the most intense with a normalized intensity of 1.07 x 105. In methanol, IR spectrum reveals that amide I band is noticed at 1620 cm-1 and a very broad amide II band is observed at 1400-1550 cm-1. Two distinctive peaks are also spotted at 1107 and 1012 cm-1, may be due to the methanol-induced unfolded conformer of the peptide. Besides these peaks, a broad band is also found at 3200-3700 cm-1 which is corresponded to amide A related to N-H stretching vibration. This study discloses that mass spectrometry and IR spectroscopy can provide complementary information about the structure and dynamics of the peptide.

The therapeutic deep eutectic system (THDES) is a new class of deep eutectic solvent (DES) where one of its elements should be an active pharmaceutical ingredient (API). THDES can be formed at a particular molar composition and transformed into liquid at room temperature. THDES is widely used to improve the solubility, membrane transport and drug delivery and bioavailability. In this study, ibuprofen based THDES was prepared with menthol in a 1: 3 ratio by heating (at 60 °C) and starring (at 600 rpm) them for one hour at atmospheric pressure until a homogeneous liquid is observed. The IR spectrum of the menthol shows a broad peak at 3305 cm-1 due to OH stretching vibration. Such peak is absent in the ibuprofen, however, in the ibuprofen:menthol complex, the OH peak is shifted to 3344 cm-1 which may be due to the hydrogen bond formation in THDES. A distinctive peak associated to C=O group is found at 1705 cm-1 in ibuprofen and ibuprofen:menthol complex. In addition, very strong C-H stretching vibration is appeared around 2800-2950 cm-1 in menthol and ibuprofen: menthol complex. In ESI-MS spectrum, the most intense peak is detected at m/z 362.83 which corresponds to the complex of one ibuprofen and one menthol. Three intense peaks are appeared at m/z 312.75, 412.83 and 468.25 can be assigned for two menthols, two ibuprofens and three menthols molecules, respectively. A very weak peak is noticed at m/z 676.50 can be related to three menthols and one ibuprofen.

Presented by: Stephanie Tinsley Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Mohammad A. Halim Field of Research: Biochemistry Presentation Type: Oral

Presented by: Mary-Kate Wewers Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Mohammad A. Halim Field of Research: Chemistry Presentation Type: Oral

Mary-Kate Wewers was born and raised in Fort Smith and graduated from Northside High School in 2020. She is now a freshman at UAFS majoring in biology and planning to attend medical school to become a dermatologist. Mary-Kate stays involved in the community by volunteering at a local Boys and Girls Club. She has been a volunteer dance coach for five years now. In her free time, she enjoys reading and spending time with family. In Dr. Halim’s group, Mary-Kate is researching therapeutic deep eutectic solvents.

Stephanie Tinsley was born in Van Buren, Arkansas, and graduated from Van Buren High School in 2020. She is currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry at UAFS with the intention of furthering her degree to become a pediatric endocrinologist. She has a special interest in Type 1 diabetes and plans to use this in her future career. She has a passion for children and helping others. Her hobbies include traveling, fishing, shopping, and spending time at the lake. In Dr. Halim’s lab, Stephanie is doing research to understand the structure and dynamics of peptide and protein by mass spectrometry and IR spectroscopy.

Student Research Symposium Utilizing Computer-aided Drug Design Software to Find Novel Potential Small Molecule Therapeutics Targeting Papain-like Protease Presented by: Ryan Whatcott Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Souvik Banerjee Field of Research: Medicinal Chemistry Presentation Type: Oral

The emergence of SARS-CoV-2 in December of 2019 has led to devastating effects across the globe given the overall severity of the pathogen’s associated symptoms and the lack of definitive treatment for those symptoms. Current treatment methods employ the utilization of symptom management and supportive care, therefore focus lies on the search for adequate treatment options. There are two vaccines that were approved for emergency authorization by the FDA, but little is known yet about their long-term efficacy. The target of this present study is SARS-CoV-2 PLpro (pdb: 7JRN) to explore novel potential small molecule therapeutics for COVID-19 using structure-based pharmacophore and computer-aided drug design to screen chemicals from the MolPort database of over 7.6 million compounds. A structure-based pharmacophore was done utilizing Pharmit, a free web-based program, through selection of five important pharmacophore features, parameters satisfying Lipinski’s rule of five, a Pharmit rank score of -8.0 or higher, and max RMSD of 1.5 to filter down to the 36 best MolPort hits out of 1426 total hits. These were subjected to further screening from molecular docking through PyRX to determine the top five best hits based on their binding affinity scores and manual inspection. The top five hits were subjected to ADMET screenings through free online programs SwissADME and PreADMET to narrow down to two top hits, MolPort-046-099-656 and MolPort-004-661-970. Molecular dynamics were performed using softwares NAMD and VMD that confirmed MolPort-046-099-656 as a candidate to be a potential therapeutic treatment option for SARS-CoV-2 PLpro. Scaffold hopping was performed afterwards for the top two hits using the free online program, 1-Click Scaffold Hop. Five structurally similar compounds for each of the top two hits were noted. Ryan Whatcott was born in Carson City, MIichigan, and moved to Fort Smith when he was 5 years old. He graduated from Greenwood High School and volunteered two years in Fortaleza, Brazil, serving the community there as a missionary. He is married to Helene Ulriksen, who is from Porsgrunn, Norway. He is currently pursuing a degree in biology at UAFS with his next academic pursuit involving going to medical school. He has a special interest in physical management and rehabilitation and ophthalmology, as well as an interest in infectious diseases. In his spare time, Ryan likes to play disc golf, go fishing, and travel with his wife.

Student Research Symposium Threonine-Glycerol Based Natural Deep Eutetic Solvents Presented by: Cladie White Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Mohammad A. Halim Field of Research: Chemistry Presentation Type: Oral

Almost all-natural medicines have been reported to have poor bioavailability. Green technology has become a key subject in chemistry to discovering a solvent that would provide more bioavailability and be less toxic to the body. Green chemistry is not harmful to the environment and can reduce some negative effects on human health. A DES is composed of two or three components that can associate with one another and no purification is required. DES could be possible solution for more bioavailable replace currently used harsh organic solvents. The human body uses amino acids to make proteins to help the body grow, repair body tissue, and create neurotransmitters and amino acids can be used to prepare natural deep eutectic solvents. In this experiment, we synthesized 3:1 ratio of glycerol and threonine amino acids and characterized it by infrared spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. The spectrum of glycerol shows a broad peak at around 3287 cm-1, which assigns to an O-H stretching. The peaks in the range of 2800-2900 cm-1 correspond to C-H stretching. In the threonine spectrum, a broad peak is observed at 3313 cm-1 indicating O-H stretching. Stretching of C-H bonds are shown at 2876-2900 cm-1. The characteristic C=O stretching is indicated in the spectrum at 1639 cm-1. Spectrum of threonine:glycerol DES shows a peak at 3300 cm-1 for OH stretching which is shifted to the right compared to glycerol. This spectrum also shows the two peaks related to the C-H stretching. Formation of hydrogen bonds is confirmed by IR spectroscopy. Mass spectrometry analysis indicates a peak at m/z 393.166 can be assigned to three glycerol and one threonine. In addition, trimer of glycerol and an adduct with sodium are also detected at m/z 279.30 and 298.75, respectively. Besides these peaks, single glycerol and threonine are noticed at m/z 91.00 and 119.00, respectively. Cladie Belle White was born in Mountain Home, Arkansas, and was raised on a farm close to St. Joe, Arkansas. She graduated from Marshall High School in 2019 and is presently pursuing a biomedical degree at UAFS with hopes of completing her education at Cleveland University in Kansas City. Her goal is to become a doctor in the natural medicine field. She is interested in acupuncture, chiropractic care, and other natural medicine practices. Her hobbies are hiking, swimming, and fishing. In Dr. Halim’s lab, Cladie is working on natural deep eutectic solvents and antimicrobial peptides against SARS-CoV-2.

Student Research Symposium A Multiphase Sequential Exploratory Mixed Methods Analysis of Parent Absenteeism During Parent-Teacher Conferencing Presented by: Candice Wibbing Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Janine Chitty Field of Research: Education Presentation Type: Oral

This two phase research study explored the underlying factors that prevent parents in a rural mid-western school district from attending parent-teacher conferences and if virtual conferencing would impact attendance. The decline in attendance is an ongoing concern among teachers and administrators in the district. A survey was administered to elementary, middle, and high school level parents and teachers of the school district during face-to-face conferences and during virtual conferences due to Covid. During Phase I, data revealed that parents having other obligations ranked as the most prevalent factor contributing to absence from face-to-face parent-teacher conferences. Other factors that parents identified that make it unnecessary to attend the parentteacher conferences are that parents review the child’s report card when it is brought home, and parents receive a phone call from the teacher if the child is struggling in any class. This study is significant because teachers will learn what underlying factors cause parents to not attend face-to-face and virtual conferences and what we could possibly do to gain their presence. Will there be a phenomenon that no matter what method of communication used for parent-teacher conferences, that there will still be a number of absent parents at parent-teacher conferences? Candice Wibbing has been married for almost 20 years and has two children: Cadence, 14, and Cam, 11. She enjoys spending time with her family and watching her kids play in sporting events. She has been a teacher for 17 years, teaching first through third grades at County Line Elementary for the first nine years. She has been in her current teaching position as a fifth grade math teacher at Charleston Middle School for eight years. She will graduate from UAFS in December of this year with a master’s in curriculum and instruction.

Electrochemical Biofilms for Drug Metabolite Synthesis Presented by: Evan Wittig Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Charuksha Walgama Field of Research: Electrochemistry Presentation Type: Poster

The time to develop a pharmaceutical drug and bring it to the market takes on average 12.5 years and billions of dollars. Examining the metabolic fate of drugs inside the human body is an essential part of this drug development process. The phase - 1 metabolic reactions are mainly governed by membrane bound liver enzymes such as cytochrome P450s (CYPs) and cytochrome P450 reductases (CPRs). Presently, these in-vitro studies are conducted using hepatic (liver) or purified liver enzyme-based biological assays. Longer incubation times, lower yield of drug metabolites, use of expensive NADPH cofactor and purified enzymes, and tedious purification protocols are some practical issues integrated with these conventional biological assays. In this study we are proposing a simple liver tissue based electrochemical bioreactor technology to perform drug activity assays. In our pilot study we are planning to immobilize films of human liver microsomes onto screen printed electrodes and perform electrocatalysis using a model drug testosterone. The CYP-specific bioactivity of the liver tissue film on the electrode will be confirmed by monitoring the electrocatalytic conversion of testosterone to 6β- hydroxytestosterone and its inhibition by the CYP-specific ketoconazole inhibitor using HPLC analysis. We hope our findings will have successful implications in the design of a one-step, electrochemical bioelectrode to perform drug activity and inhibition assays in preclinical drug development process. Evan Wittig is a freshman at UAFS majoring in biology. He is a Fort Smith native and plans to continue to be in and serve the area within the field of biology. He aspires to attend UAMS or ARCOM in the hopes of serving Northwest Arkansas and the River Valley in the field of medicine. As a hobby he enjoys practicing and speaking several foreign languages including German, Norwegian, and Spanish.

Student Research Symposium

Student Index

Tony Barnes

Hannah Holstead

Eibi Perez

Jake Thompson

Samantha Barnett

Chandler Hopson

Christine Pham

Stephanie Tinsley

Madeline Bateman

Kylie Howard

Garrett Phillips

Gen Torres

Ethan Beckham

Micayla Howe

Nikole Plassmeyer

Phillip Tran

Morgan Bissel

Cassaundra Huggins

Mikaela Pschier

Martin Tran

Matthew Blankenship

Candace Janders

Alicia Redding

Sarah Trotter

Emily Blitz

Harrison Jenkins

Morgan Reynolds

Jonathan Turco

Matt Boston

Kyle Kelly

Jamie Richey

Baylee Wallace

Melanie Bradley

Raymundo Lara

Edward Ruark

Kelsey Webb

Maddie Burgin

Forrest Lasiter

Austyn Russell

Hannah Westerberg

Lauren Chitty

An Le

Rabia Sajjad

Mary-Kate Wewers

Abigail Cole

Michael Lee

A Sayvongsa

Ryan Whatcott

Olivia Coulter

Brenda Lewis

Jesse R. Scott

Cladie White

Adrian Cuevas

Preston Liles

Katelyn Smith

Candice Wibbing

Alexis Dear

Zachery Longnecker

Raquel Spencer

Emily Wiles

Mason DeWater

Julia Mathews

Yuliana Stasiv

Evan Wittig

Hugh East

Nicholas McKinney

Khuong Ta

Alexander Woods

Kathryn Echevarria

Michael McKown

Joshua Thammathong

Andrew Edmonds

Jacob McLain

Tera Elkins

Kenia Mendez

Fernando Estrada

Cody Merrell

Bobbi Evans

Joshua Merritt

Renae Fisher

Anthony Ming

Jomar-John Francisco

Megan Moudy

Paul Gambill

Paula Najera-Diaz

Kellie Garner

Ryleigh Neal

Madison Gilmore

Matthew Neal

Haley Gilstrap

Audrey Nordin

Ian Hattabaugh

Patrick Oetzel

Luke Hinton

Raul Ortiz

Holly Hodge

Eilene Pearson

Leslie Holland

Logan Pearson

Brandon Hutchison 479-788-7414 symposium@uafs.edu