UAFS 2018 Student Research Symposium

11th Annual

Student Research

SYMPOSIUM April 13, 2018

Student Research Symposium

Greetings!

The University of Arkansas - Fort Smith proudly welcomes you to the 11th 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

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Student Research Symposium

Acknowledgements Linda Maness Duplication Jessica Martin Editor/Production Coordinator - Marketing & Communications John Post Director of Public Information Laura Wattles Creative Director - Marketing & Communications Jo Donna Collins and the A/V group 2018 Student Research Symposium Committee Paula Abbott Heath Cady Sara Davis Casey Harmon Brandon Hutchison Kevin Jones Julie Martin Joe Peng Noel Sagullo

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Student Research Symposium

Schedule/Table of Contents Room 1 – Presentations in Biology – Health Science 120 2:00

The Effects of Saline, Acidic, and Basic Conditions on the tardigrade Hypsibius dujarini..................................12

2:30

Adverse Childhood Experiences and the Epigenetic Alteration of the NR3C1 Gene Linked to Major Depressive Disorder..................................................................................................................................12

3:00

Exploring Antimicrobial Peptides and Their Possible Role in Future Cancer Treatment.......................................13

3:30

Asthma and the Coordinated Innate and Adaptive Immune Response................................................................13

Room 2 – Presentations in Legal Studies – Health Science 121 2:00

“King Like Status” What Democracy?.................................................................................................................16

2:30

Blurred Visions; Blurred Lines.............................................................................................................................16

3:00

How to Get Away with Murder: Self Defense and Mental Health..........................................................................17

3:30

Equal, Right?......................................................................................................................................................17

Room 3 – Presentations in Legal Studies – Library 122 2:00

Select Fire Rights................................................................................................................................................20

2:30

Who’s the Boss Now? Arkansas’s Sovereign Immunity Clause and Families in Need of Services.........................20

3:00

The Exclusion of Immigrant Children from the Protection of the Constitution.....................................................21

3:30

The First Amendment: From Uncle Sam to Russia, with Love..............................................................................21

Room 4 – Presentations in Computer/Information Science – Library 203 2:00

Applying Algorithms of the Brain to Artificial Neural Networks...........................................................................24

2:30

UAFS Inbox Manager - A Natural Language Text Categorization Tool for Email...................................................24

3:00

Analyzing the Sentiment of Social Networking Data............................................................................................25

3:30

Improving the Performance of Genetic Algorithms..............................................................................................25

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Student Research Symposium Room 5 – Presentations in Computer/Information Science, Computer Graphic Technology, and Engineering – Library 206 2:00

Distributed Ledger Technology - Applications of Blockchains.............................................................................28

2:30

Design of Off-Road Trailer..................................................................................................................................29

3:00

Let Me Take a Selfie: Culture Shock of Female Roles in Filming..........................................................................29

3:30

Large Mars Rover - Helios ..................................................................................................................................30

Room 6 – Presentations in Education – Library 209 2:00

The Impact of Relationship Building and Support Systems on Transfer Students with Special Needs................32

2:30

Interests and Goals: The Aid to Transition from Extrinsic to Intrinsic Motivation for Learning............................32

3:00

Teacher’s Guide to Working with Students Affected by Parental Incarceration....................................................33

3:30

Video Games and Board Games Used as Enrichment in the Classroom..............................................................33

Room 7 – Presentations in Art and Spanish Culture – Health Science 124 2:00

Wifredo Lam and Identity: The Cuban Painter who Revived the Afro-Cuban Spirit..............................................36

2:30

Renée Stout and the Power of African Minkisi Containers...................................................................................36

3:00

Expressions of Identity........................................................................................................................................37

3:30

Mexican Machismo: Power, Pride, and Prejudice.................................................................................................37

Room 8 – Presentations in Literature and Rhetoric – Health Science 222 2:00

Harry Potter and the Hidden Christian Narrative.................................................................................................40

2:30

Seeing with Colorblind Eyes: Grey’s Anatomy Through the Lens of Race Theory..................................................40

3:00

Pardon Me, Mr. Disney, But I Am Just Not That Enchanted..................................................................................41

3:30

The Male Gaze in For Whom the Bell Tolls...........................................................................................................41

Room 9 – Presentations in Literature and Rhetoric – Health Science 223

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2:00

Experience Atlanta: A Black Class, a Black Gender, a Black Race......................................................................44

2:30

Submission Inside the Victorian Country House in Daphne du Maurier’s Rebecca..............................................44

3:00

The New Woman in Literature..............................................................................................................................45

3:30

The Progressive but Exclusive Intersectional Feminism of Winifred Holtby: The Missing Thread of Race Representation...........................................................................................................................45

Student Research Symposium Room 10 – Presentations in Literature and Rhetoric – Health Science 227 2:00

Alisoun, Griselda, and Geoffrey: Feminists When Feminism Wasn’t Cool............................................................48

2:30

The Underdog: Robin Hood in Children’s Literature.............................................................................................48

3:00

Three’s a Crowd: Love and Marriage in The Franklin’s Tale..................................................................................49

3:30

Mind the Gap: Why Universities Should Take a Closer Look into Gap Year Programs...........................................49

Room 11 – Presentations in Media Communication – Health Science 318 2:00

She Looked Like a Nurse: A Visual Analysis of the Iconic “Kissing Sailor” Photo.................................................52

2:30

The Colors of Andy Warhol’s Creativity................................................................................................................52

3:00

A Visual Analysis of the Parlor Scene in Psycho (Hitchcock, 1960).....................................................................53

3:30

Life is Hard, and Also Really Strange: The Surreal Feel of Donald Glover’s Atlanta (2016 - )..............................53

Room 12 – Presentations in History and Animation Technology – Health Science 321 2:00

Whistling Dixie: The History of De Facto Segregation in Fort Smith High Schools................................................56

2:30

The Use of the Confederate Battle Flag in the State of Arkansas........................................................................56

3:00

Lights, Camera, Action ... ..................................................................................................................................57

3:30

3D Printing in Plastic Surgery.............................................................................................................................57

Room 13 – Presentations in Workforce Leadership – Health Science 325 2:00

Improving Communication in a Manufacturing Team: A Work-Based Project......................................................60

2:30

The Zombie Problem: Who Else Has Solved This?................................................................................................61

3:00

Surviving the Zombie Apocalypse: A Systematic Approach ................................................................................62

Room 14 – Presentations in Business and Economics – Health Science 326 2:00

The Effects of Technology on Employment in the U.S..........................................................................................64

2:30

The Production of Automobiles in the U.S. by Foreign Companies and Their Impact on the Economy..................64

3:00

The Impact of Technology on Manufacturing ......................................................................................................65

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Student Research Symposium Poster Presentations - Boreham Library 129 - 2-4 p.m.

Table 1 – Electrical Engineering Technology: Introduction to Energy Autonomy and the Versatility of Photovoltaics: A DIY Mobile Solar Generator Project......68 Table 2 – Electrical Engineering Technology: Large Scary Dangerous.......................................................................................................................................69 Table 3 – Electrical Engineering Technology: Implementing Proprietary Radio Frequency Identification in the Pet Market Sector............................................70 Table 4 – Computer Graphic Technology: Bridging the Gap: Making the Sciences Visual...................................................................................................71 Table 5 – Computer Graphic Technology: The Standard and Unconventional Representations in 3D Media........................................................................71 Table 6 – Computer Graphic Technology: Music Videos: A Bridge Between Video Artistry and Music Marketing.................................................................72 Table 7 – Computer Graphic Technology: Everything May Not Be as it Seems: Motion Graphics and Effects......................................................................72 Table 8 – Computer Graphic Technology: 3D Printed Materials Under Pressure..................................................................................................................73 Table 9 – Computer Graphic Technology: How CGI Can Help to Promote Body Positivity.....................................................................................................73 Table 10 – Computer Graphic Technology: Paging Dr. VR......................................................................................................................................................74 Table 11 – Computer Graphic Technology: Should Films Bring Actors Back from the Dead with CGI?...................................................................................74

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Student Research Symposium Table 12 – Computer Graphic Technology: 3D Design: To Infinity and Beyond.......................................................................................................................75 Table 13 – Computer Graphic Technology: The Roar Ring.....................................................................................................................................................75 Table 14 – Computer Graphic Technology: Our Figments......................................................................................................................................................76 Table 15 – Computer Graphic Technology: Electrical Discharge Machining and Bearing Failure..........................................................................................76 Table 16 – Computer Graphic Technology: 3D Printed “Red Death” Model Project from the Game “Destiny”........................................................................77 Table 17 – Computer Graphic Technology: Customized Jeep Wrangler Roll Bar (Lighting)....................................................................................................77 Table 18 – Computer Graphic Technology: Sustainable Living in the Event of a Zombie Apocalypse....................................................................................78 Table 19 – Computer Graphic Technology: The Bead Keeper.................................................................................................................................................78 Table 20 – Computer Graphic Technology: Keeping Percents Up...........................................................................................................................................79 Table 21 – Computer Graphic Technology: Rapid Prototyping: Developing Concepts for Unexplored Fields...........................................................................79 Table 22 – Biology: LAAOs, NGFs, and CRiSPs: Three Under-Studied Snake Venom Protein Families.................................................80

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Student Research Symposium Table 23 – Biology: Isolation of Mycobacterial Bacteriophages from Local Environmental Samples..................................................80 Table 24 – Biology: Human Lymphoma T-Cells Treated with Retinoids..............................................................................................81 Table 25 – Biology: Testing the Prospect of Essential Oils as a Homeopathic Alternative to Antibiotics............................................82 Table 26 – Biology: Mapping Neurodegenerative Diseases................................................................................................................83 Table 27 – Biology: Plant Tissue Culture for Vegetable Oil Production...............................................................................................84 Table 28 – Biology: Data Collection of Biofilms in Integrated Agricultural Systems...........................................................................85 Table 29 – Biology: Effect of Fish-Based Nutrient Effluent Water on Plant Growth............................................................................86 Table 30 – Biology: Differing Soil Erosion Rates and Microbiota in Closed Integrated Systems.........................................................87 Table 31 – Biology: Investigating the Effects of Nutrients on Fish Growth.........................................................................................88 Table 32 – Biology: Toxicity Levels and Fitness of Integrated Fish.....................................................................................................89 Table 33 – Ecology: Monitoring Water Temperatures in Massard Creek with Digital Loggers.............................................................90

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Student Research Symposium Table 34 – Ecology: Using Diatoms in Pond Sediment to Infer Environmental Changes in the Massard Creek Watershed.................90 Table 35 – Geology: Bedrock Geology Along Massard Creek................................................................................................................91 Table 36 – Chemistry: Use of FTIR and Principle Component Analysis for Characterization of Over-the-Counter Medication and Food Supplements Excipients......................................................................................................................................91 Table 37 – Chemistry: Determination of Caffeine Content and Estimated Daily Intake of Beverages Consumption of College Students.............................................................................................................................................92 Table 38 – Chemistry: Purity Analysis and Antioxidant Capacity of Selected Natural and Essential Oils by FTIR, UV-Visible Spectroscopy, and Multivaria..............................................................................................................................92 Table 39 – Music: An Inside Look into Sea Songs by Ralph Vaughan Williams................................................................................93 Table 40 – Dentistry: The Impact of the Opioid Epidemic on Dentistry.................................................................................................94 Table 41 – Dentistry: Microperforations in Orthodontic Treatment........................................................................................................95 Table 42 – Dentistry: The Effects of Cannabis on the Oral Cavity.........................................................................................................96 Table 43 – Imaging Sciences: Abdominal Pregnancy: A Case Study...................................................................................................................97

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Student Research Symposium Table 44 – Imaging Sciences: Arachnoid Cyst in a Neonatal Spine: A Case Study.............................................................................................98 Table 45 – Imaging Sciences: Carotid Body Tumor: A Case Study......................................................................................................................99 Table 46 – Psychology: Family Functioning and Deployment.................................................................................................................100

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Room 1

Presentations in Biology Health Science 120 2:00 Joseph Dunlap 2:30 Ingrid Rivas 3:00 Alexandra Cruz 3:30 Jessica Wilson

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Student Research Symposium The Effects of Saline, Acidic, and Basic Conditions on the tardigrade Hypsibius dujardini Presented by Joseph Dunlap

Tardigrades are among the most resilient organisms on Earth, resulting in them being found in a wide array of aquatic and terrestrial habitats. Through the process of cryptobiosis, tardigrades are able to endure such harsh conditions as extreme temperature, pressure, lack of oxygen, and even cosmic gamma radiation. I tested the freshwater genus Hypsibius’s tolerance to salinity, acidity, and basicity. The specimens were exposed to the treatments for twenty-four hours and then observed for survivability. The tardigrades did not respond as expected to salinity and acidity treatments. A few tuns were formed at 2.5 percent salinity and no tuns formed in any of the acidity treatments; no specimen survived outside of undergoing cryptobiosis. Response to basicity was the opposite: specimens survived at all levels of basicity and survivability actually increased at a pH of 8. Further research needs to be conducted to explain this pattern and if tardigrades’ resilience to harsh environments varies among species, especially between those in aquatic and terrestrial habitats. A better understanding of cryptobiosis could be significant to exobiology and medical science.

Joseph Dunlap is a biology major from Fort Smith. He plans to attend graduate school soon after graduation and pursue a career in science education.

Adverse Childhood Experiences and the Epigenetic Alteration of the NR3C1 Gene Linked to Major Depressive Disorder Presented by Ingrid Rivas

Adverse childhood experiences (ACE) such as physical, emotional, and sexual abuse, have been strongly associated with an increased risk for developing mental disorders throughout the lifespan: specifically, major depressive disorder (MDD). MDD is characterized by feelings of worthlessness, a loss of interest in daily activities, insomnia or hypersomnia, thoughts of suicide, changes in weight, and fatigue. In the United States, an estimated 16.2 million adults were diagnosed with at least one episode of major depression in 2016. Worldwide that number is estimated to be around 350 million.

In this discussion we focus on the implications of adverse childhood experiences and their association with developing MDD later in life due to epigenetic alterations of the epigenome. Epigenetic alterations affect gene expression without changing the DNA template. Using a classic rat study conducted by Weaver et al. (2004), we will discuss how maternal care influences the hypothalamic pituitary axis (HPA), a brain region activated in response to stressful stimuli, and how HPA dysregulation is thought to reflect ACE, leading to epigenetic modification of the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) which is encoded by the NR3C1 gene.

Ingrid Rivas is a senior biology major with a minor in psychology who is graduating in May 2018. She was born in El Salvador and has lived in Arkansas since the age of 6. Ingrid’s academic interests include biology, psychology, and business. She is involved in the Native American Student Organization and PRIDE at UAFS. Her passion for mental health inspired her to pursue the presented biopsychology research.

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Student Research Symposium Exploring Antimicrobial Peptides and Their Possible Role in Future Cancer Treatment Presented by Alexandra Cruz

Cancer is an umbrella term used to describe a large group of maladies that are characterized by cellular growth that goes unchecked and interferes with organismal processes necessary for survival. The vast diversity in the causes, mechanisms of proliferation, and environmental influences render current treatments ineffective. In addition to the lack of positive response, the damage caused to patients by traditional treatments, such as chemotherapy and radiation, make finding new treatment techniques a priority. This project discusses ongoing clinical research that focuses on antimicrobial peptides as possible agents of cancer treatment. These molecules are an important part of the innate immune system in mammals against pathogens but seem to be involved in additional processes such as inflammatory disorders and tumor control. Antimicrobial peptides seem to possess the ability to create a toxic environment for tumor cells. We will discuss the characteristics that allow antimicrobial peptides to negatively impact proliferating cancer cells without affecting healthy cells as well as the mechanisms by which these molecules carry out such functions. We will also delve into the clinical trials that have found some success and the implications of the presented results.

Alexandra was born in Mexico and immigrated to the United States when she was 10 years old. She graduated from Northside High School and is currently a biology major graduating in May. Her future plans include continuing her education and working in the medical field.

Asthma and the Coordinated Innate and Adaptive Immune Response Presented by Jessica Wilson

Over 300 million people in the world are affected by asthma. Not only does this chronic disease lower the quality of life of those affected, but it also results in approximately 250,000 deaths each year. It has become increasingly understood that asthma is not a single disease with a single set of symptoms; it is a heterogeneous disease resulting from varying endotypes, each with its own molecular pathway. New methods utilizing targeted biological agents for the elimination of specific cell populations in mouse models have contributed to recent accumulation of knowledge of these previously ambiguous, multi-pathway processes.

This review looks at the coordinated interactions between innate and adaptive immune responses during antigen presentation, specifically the roles of various subsets of dendritic cells and their initiation of adaptive immune response. Implications for personalized asthma therapy are proposed.

Jessica Wilson is a biochemistry major from Fort Smith. Before attending UAFS she attended Northside High School in Fort Smith.

She plans to begin graduate school for chemistry or biochemistry in fall 2019.

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Room 2

Presentations in Legal Studies Health Science 121 2:00 Cheyanne Mann 2:30 David Basta 3:00 Hali Newman 3:30 Hannah Stevens

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Student Research Symposium “King Like Status” What Democracy?

Presented by Cheyanne Mann

The United States of America is founded on the ability to question, and potentially sue, the sovereign. Balanced with that principle is the concept of sovereign immunity. Sovereign immunity is defined as a judicial doctrine that prevents the government from being sued without its consent. University of Arkansas v. Andrews is a case that broadly applies sovereign immunity, and potentially upsets this delicate balance. As a result of Andrews, the people of Arkansas cannot sue the state for violations of the Minimum Wage Act, and may not have a redress for grievances in post-conviction cases, suits against stated owned hospitals, suits filed against DHS, etc.

One immediate result is an unconstitutional lack of access to the Courts. Further, and far reaching results might also include allowing the government to overpower the people and take away their rights. According to this case, there is no longer law and order to follow, but rather a dictator: the government.

Cheyanne Mann is a freshman at UAFS, having graduated from Springdale (Ark.) High School in 2017. She is in Delta Gamma sorority and the National Society of Leadership and Success and will be a Cub Camp counselor in the fall semester of 2018.

Blurred Visions; Blurred Lines Presented by David Basta

Alcohol consumption, even to the point of intoxication, is to some extent both legal and socially acceptable. However, intoxication as an affirmative defense in criminal law is considered an “illogical defense,” due to the voluntary nature of the intoxication. Such a result is illogical and prejudicial to the administration of justice. Given certain criteria, a defense of voluntary intoxication could be warranted. Most specifically, when allegations of sexual misconduct occur, the mens rea and specific intent of the parties may be affected by the voluntary intoxication. A review of the elements of the specific crimes, the required intent, and the application of voluntary intoxication means it is time to revisit the use of this affirmative defense.

David Basta is a highly trained and skilled student and an advocate for the law. He enjoys programming, cooking with his mother, legal studies, and long walks through the many dense forest areas of the great state of Arkansas. He has been the main leader of many programs including National Honors Society, Upward Bound, his WATC classes, and both the Legal Club and Science Club.

He aspires to be the best lawyer in this part of the South or a surgeon in Arkansas. He is a junior and a WATC student from Hackett, Ark., home of the fighting Hornets.

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Student Research Symposium How to Get Away With Murder: Self Defense and Mental Health Presented by Hali Newman

Recently a case has stirred up conflict throughout social media and the community. The case involves a girl named Cyntoia Brown who was charged as an adult at the age of 16 for the murder of Johnny Allen. This has caught much attention from several celebrities, such as Kim Kardashian, because of Cyntoia’s past history of sexual abuse from a male named Cut Throat. This research will contain Cyntoia’s case, however, I’ll also discuss whether or not a child under the legal age of an adult should be tried as an adult for murder. We will also include the two major factors that played a part in this eye-catching case, such as, selfdefense and fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD). I will also discuss how FASD affect one’s overall thinking and decision making and how Cyntoia Brown’s actions were clearly in self-defense.

Hali Newman is pursuing a career as a lawyer. Her favorite food is noodles, which she eats every day. She is currently unemployed and looking for a job.

Equal, Right?

Presented by Hannah Stevens In a society where gender equality is highly stressed, the Arkansas legislature, as a matter of public policy, still keeps antiquated ideas of gender disparity as part of the state code. Arkansas Code Annotated § 9-11-102 is primarily about the age requirements for minors to enter into a marital relationship in the state of Arkansas. However, this statute treats men and women differently solely based on their gender, and it violates Equal Protection. Why has the Arkansas legislature upheld a law that is so unconstitutional on its face? This paper will explore the ramifications of this statute, including its effect on same-gender marriage, young couples, and will also expound on Equal Protection.

Hannah Lael Stevens is a 17-year-old junior in high school. She has been home educated her entire academic career. She deeply enjoys legal studies and hopes to pursue a career in law.

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Room 3

Presentations in Legal Studies Library 122 2:00 Adyn Rink 2:30 Tiffany Tucker 3:00 Lisset Ramirez Perez 3:30 Jeff Holman

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Student Research Symposium Select Fire Rights Presented by Adyn Rink

The Second Amendment to the United States Constitution is an unalienable right that should very rarely be tread upon. That belief is based upon the concept of the private individual or militia for protection of themselves, the ones they care about, and their livelihood from a hypothetically tyrannical government. To quote the Second Amendment directly, “A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.”

It is abundantly clear that our founding fathers intended to prevent the government of the United States from becoming abusive of its power. The main point of my research, as per the Second Amendment’s militial clause: the right of the individual and militia to military-style select fire firearms should not be infringed as a matter of law.

Adyn Rink is a 17-year-old 11th grade student attending the Future School of Fort Smith and is taking the legal studies course through WATC under the supervision of his grandfather, Dr. D. Chris Rink. He enjoys assisting customers at his local grocery store and keeping up with politics. He is a staunch proponent of the Constitution of the United States, especially pertaining to the First and Second Amendments.

Who’s the Boss Now? Arkansas’s Sovereign Immunity Clause and Families in Need of Services Presented by Tiffany Tucker

Throughout the history of Arkansas, the court system has been given the opportunity to tackle the task of what the language of the sovereign immunity clause, Article 5 § 20, of the Arkansas Constitution means. Recently the Supreme Court of Arkansas ruled in Board of Trustees v. Andrews that the legislative branch of the government cannot, through a statute or an act, waive sovereign immunity for the State or its many agencies. Through this far reaching ruling, the judicial branch may no longer be able to waive sovereign immunity for the Arkansas Department of Human Services (ADHS) in regards to Families in Need of Services (FINS) cases.

With the court system having exclusive jurisdiction over FINS cases, there will be no avenue for families of FINS cases to enforce the statutory guarantees of services to be provided by ADHS if the courts can no longer waive the State’s sovereign immunity.

Tiffany Tucker is enrolled in the legal studies program of UAFS. She graduated from UAFS in 2014 and holds a bachelor’s degree in instrumental music education. Her goal in graduating from the legal studies program is to become a family law paralegal. She hopes to use her experience as a teacher and a trained paralegal to assist lawyers in ensuring families have the representation they need to succeed.

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Student Research Symposium The Exclusion of Immigrant Children from the Protection of the Constitution Presented by Lisset Ramirez Perez

Since the beginning of time countries have been divided by borders and walls built by men to insure protection and safety. Although these borders were created to be crossed only by those authorized, many have made it through regardless of not having this authorization. In the United States of America, we call these people illegal immigrants. These immigrants have put themselves in this position bringing along their children with little or no understanding of their actions. Their children were raised and have lived in the United States illegally for centuries. That was until the work authorization program Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), created by President Obama, was enforced. Under the current administration of President Trump, this program was ended with the purpose of congress coming up with a legislative fix. The recipients of this program are as young as 16 years old and have known only this country as their home. Since DACA recipients are under the jurisdiction of the State, they should be protected by the equal protection clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. Since they qualify as a “person”, they are not accountable for their disabling status, and there is not sufficient rational basis for denying these benefits.

Lisset Ramirez Perez is a 2014 Northside High School graduate and current UAFS student pursuing a legal studies major. In the future she hopes to attend law school and become an immigration lawyer to help minorities in her community.

The First Amendment: From Uncle Sam to Russia, with Love Presented by Jeff Holman

The 2016 Presidential election was one of the most contentious political events recent in American history. With the revelation that a Russian organization engaged in operations to interfere with the 2016 presidential election and political processes through the use of social media platforms such as YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, in order to sow discord in the American political system, we are left to ponder the ramifications of these actions in the context of the environment in which they occurred.

The shining star of democracy in the world today is the First Amendment of the United States Constitution, therefore, whenever possible, the idea of freedom of expression and free speech must be extended at every opportunity to all citizens and governments of the world. This should include commentary related to our domestic political discourse. The United States, in order to best respond to the Russian interference by use of social media in the 2016 election, should be to afford this Russian organization First Amendment protections.

Jeff Holman is in the legal studies program working toward an Associate of Applied Science degree with a legal studies major at UAFS. He is the son of a U.S. Air Force veteran and has had the opportunity to live in many parts of the world. He is married and has three children ages 15, 10, and 2. He is also a member of the National Society of Leadership and Success, Sigma Alpha Pi.

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Room 4

Presentations in Computer/Information Science Library 203 2:00 Andrew Carlson 2:30 Cesar Cuevas 3:00 Zachary Upchurch 3:30 William Vearrier

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Student Research Symposium Applying Algorithms of the Brain to Artificial Neural Networks Presented by Andrew Carlson

Deep learning has been largely responsible for the recent AI boom. Deep learning revolutionized medicine, social media, business, and it is bringing us closer to self-driving cars every day. However, backpropagation, the standard learning algorithm for Artificial Neural Networks(ANNs), is not new. Because backpropagation is very computationally expensive and requires a lot of labeled training data, it has only recently become popular for some tasks thanks to advancements in hardware and readily available data from internet users. For many applications, collecting and labelling data is prohibitively difficult and expensive, so this presentation will explore a learning algorithm that is both computationally cheaper and can learn from substantially less labeled data, Spike Timing Dependent Plasticity (STDP). STDP is modeled off of how biological neurons in the brain learn. In simplified STDP, each neuron represents a feature and tries to increase the connections to other neurons that predict that feature. Because it is based around predicting itself, STDP can extract interesting and useful features from unlabeled data. Therefore, despite the wide success backpropagation has shown, STDP cannot be overlooked as an interesting alternative and area for future research.

Andrew Carlson is a student in the Computer and Information Sciences Department pursuing a degree in information technology and minors in chemistry and math. He plans to graduate in May 2019 and pursue graduate school. His academic interests are artificial intelligence and machine learning.

UAFS Inbox Manager - A Natural Language Text Categorization Tool for Email Presented by Cesar Cuevas

As the number of news articles, emails, web pages, social media posts and other text-oriented documents continue to grow, tools which facilitate automatic text categorization have grown in prominence largely due to the increased need for greater organization of this newly generated content. Spam detection, email sorting, sentiment analysis, and online shopping represent a few successful applications of text categorization. As machine learning algorithms learn how to classify to which category a document belongs, the assignment of one or more categories can become automated. This research presents the system named UAFS Inbox Manager, a tool developed for automatically organizing email inboxes by applying natural language processing and machine learning models for automatically categorizing messages.

Cesar Cuevas is a student in the Computer and Information Sciences Department. His academic interests are data analytics, machine learning, natural language processing, and big data. He is also an active member of the Computer and Information Sciences Natural Language Processing research group.

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Student Research Symposium Analyzing the Sentiment of Social Networking Data Presented by Zachary Upchurch

With the rise of social media where everyone can share opinions, the ability to harness this information and provide something usable with the data is a challenging problem. One method largely motivated by extensive academic research to facilitate the utilization of information produced by social media is to perform sentiment analysis, the process of determining the sentiment from a candidate set of emotional states. By using sentiment analysis, a business can use social media data to ascertain opinions derived from various sources of natural language data on a large scale to assist in defining how a marketing strategy is working or if it should be changed. The goal of the work presented here is to propose a machine learning model for analyzing the sentiment of natural language data.

Zachary L. Upchurch is a senior in the Computer and Information Sciences Department. He has been on the UAFS programming team since 2014, placing third in a regional programming competition hosted by the ACM. His academic interests are algorithm design, machine learning, and natural language processing. He serves as an active member of the Computer and Information Sciences Natural Language Processing research group.

Improving the Performance of Genetic Algorithms Presented by William Vearrier

In recent years Artificial Intelligence, AI, has held the focal point of much speculation, from warnings of our inevitable end to making young people fear for their jobs. But it is not all doom and gloom. With tools like IBM’s Watson, researchers are able to create amazing utilities to aid with medical diagnoses and even create new recipes. Most of the talk about AI has been around concepts like machine learning, deep learning, and natural language processing. One type of AI that has not received much recognition is a group known as genetic algorithms. Genetic algorithms pull from the ideas found in biology, such as mutation and crossover, to try and find optimized solutions to problems. Due to the randomness involved with this approach, it can take time to reach a desirable solution, if one is reached at all. In this study, different methodologies will be compared to try and improve the performance of genetic algorithms.

William Vearrier is a graduating senior pursuing a Bachelor of Science in information technology. His academic interests include data analytics, data storage, and machine learning. After graduation he will partake in the Walmart Summer Intern program. He intends to pursue a post-graduate degree and continue his education.

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Room 5

Presentations in Computer/Information Science, Computer Graphic Technology, and Engineering Library 206

2:00 Group Presentation: Kevin Torkelson,

Brandon Smith, Brianne Gregory 2:30 Kyle Rosetti 3:00 Gabriel Priddy 3:30 Brandon Dyer

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Student Research Symposium Distributed Ledger Technology - Applications of Blockchains Presented by Kevin Torkelson, Brandon Smith, and Brianne Gregory

Distributed ledger technology has become a major interest in information technology, with many diverse use-cases being proposed.

The researchers have considered the use of distributed ledgers in supply chain use-cases, concentrating on how such use would scale in a live scenario. Specifically, how would a plurality of blockchain implementations actually function, in order to provide the benefits possible in the use of distributed ledger technology? This includes the perspective of the developer of a blockchain. A large retailer might implement such a system, and other retailers might join in the implementation, or they may desire a different solution. If many retailers designed blockchains, transportation companies (for instance) may not want to join many blockchains, instead designing solutions of their own, cataloging data of use specifically to their industry.

The researchers developed a simple blockchain implementation modelled on a supply chain scenario to test these questions. We used the hyperledger fabric platform on which to build the model, which included RFID technology to track an agricultural product from entering the processing plant through shelving at retail. Also simulated is the monitoring of temperature from boxing at processing through unpacking at retail.

Kevin Torkelson is a student in the Computer and Information Sciences Department pursuing a degree in information technology.

He is also serving as student president of the National Society of Leadership and Success at UAFS for the 2017-2018 term and has recently completed the IBM “Masters of the Mainframe” competition (2107). He has 20 years experience in the accounting field, 15 years experience in quality assurance, and has been actively involved in IT since the 1970s. His experiences also include the automation of the accounting of three small businesses, and he has been designing and hosting websites for business clients since 2007.

Brandon Smith is a student in the Computer and Information Sciences Department pursuing a degree in information technology.

Brianne Gregory is a student in the Computer and Information Sciences Department pursuing a degree in information technology.

She has previously completed a degree in mathematics.

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Student Research Symposium Design of Off-Road Trailer Presented by Kyle Rosetti

Overlanding is an activity enjoyed by many today. It involves an individual or group of individuals going out into the backcountry equipped with camping gear and a vehicle of some sorts. This hobby’s primary purpose is to simply enjoy the journey and explore areas alien to most. One of the overlander’s most important tool is an off-road trailer. Some carry whatever they can on their bikes or whatever fits in their vehicle. Going in style involves an off-road trailer.

Off-road trailers are a unique way to haul gear. They have many uses, even being able to carry a rooftop tent or become sleeping quarters with more protection from the environment. Most people understand how a typical trailer looks and works, but to some it comes as a surprise when they see one. My project will feature my personal design and show how one is built to withstand the elements.

Kyle Rossetti is a 22-year-old sophomore at UAFS. He will be completing his AAS in computer graphic technology – mechanical in spring 2018. Kyle graduated from Southside High School in 2014. During his last two years of high school, he attended the WATC program where he studied automotive technology. After graduating from high school, he majored in mechanical engineering at UAFS for two years, but later decided his interest was in CAD. He is the son of Dawn Rossetti and has been a resident of Fort Smith for most of his life. Kyle has recently obtained an internship at ABB (formerly Baldor) for design drafting. His hobbies include camping, hunting, fishing, and working on cars.

Let Me Take a Selfie: Culture Shock of Female Roles in Filming Presented by Gabriel Priddy

On average, empirical evidence has shown that women have far less screen time than men. This androcentric notion is deeply rooted in the ideologies of the United States film industry, which could be viewed as distinctive amongst filming industries across the globe for its attempts to be the ethnocentric standard. With this in mind, studies have shown that women across the globe are more severely scrutinized than women in the US, especially when interacting with any form of cinematography. In extreme cases, women across the planet can be incarcerated, beaten, or even killed for being on a film site with the intent of directing or acting.

This presentation identifies the key problems in which women face internationally when either producing or interacting with a film.

It allows the viewer to globalize their view of the film industry and aid in the use of cultural relativism.

Gabriel Priddy is a sophomore enrolled in the computer graphic technology program. After she obtains her Associate of Applied Science, she will pursue a Bachelor of Science in animation technology. Originally a native to the Oklahoma area, she moved to Arkansas prior to entering college. Her hobbies include creating art through digital and traditional methods, writing, and reading.

She is a member of the Honors International Studies program.

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Student Research Symposium Large Mars Rover - Helios Presented by Brandon Dyer

A Large Mars Rover (LMR) named Helios has been designed and constructed at the University of Arkansas – Fort Smith. This work has been completed as a result of NASA funding through an Arkansas Space Grant Consortium grant. The Helios will be capable of carrying one astronaut up to 25 miles at 10 miles per hour. Helios uses a “rocker-bogie” suspension system, rarely seen outside of Mars Rovers, to provide stability and allow climbing over difficult obstacles. Helios uses six in-wheel motors powered by a 48-volt, 40Ah LI battery for power. The driving controls resemble what is seen on a zero-turning lawn mower. The zero-turning lever action will make it easier for astronauts to control and maneuver the rover. The current phase of this project is focused on implementing a Controller Area Network (CAN) on Helios; the CAN will allow the six motor drives to communicate with each other, providing better rover performance when traversing difficult terrain. This presentation will provide the most up-to-date details on the rover testing.

Brandon Dyer’s plans include designing hardware and embedded systems for the power industry after graduation. He also plans to complete his master’s degree within the next five years.

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Presentations in Education Library 209 2:00 Madison Klomfas 2:30 Ana Cruz 3:00 Nichole Dapson 3:30 Racheal Simpson

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Student Research Symposium The Impact of Relationship Building and Support System on Transfer Students with Special Needs Presented by Madison Klomfas

A student who transfers to a new school in the middle of an academic year faces a multitude of challenges. Transfer students with special needs face even more obstacles relevant to meeting students, learning schedules, and navigating the hallways, but they also experience difficulty adjusting socially and emotionally to a new learning environment. This research will provide insights into ways a teacher can assist in facilitating a smooth transition for students with special needs who transfer during the middle of the academic year. The strategies discussed will focus on relationship building with the parents, teacher, student, and his or her peers and end with types of support teams and systems a teacher can provide for the student in an inclusion classroom. The correlation between relationship building and support systems is strong and will contribute to the successful adjustment to a new school that a student with exceptionalities needs. This research has the potential to impact the future of transfer students within many school districts.

Madison Klomfas is a junior elementary education (K-6) major at the UAFS. Her inspiration for this research began when she started her observations in a local school district and realized that she has a passion for teaching struggling students. As a future educator, she has many goals, including earning a Master of Science in educational leadership and later pursuing a doctorate. As for now she wants to graduate and begin her teaching career.

Interests and Goals: The Aid to Transition from Extrinsic to Intrinsic Motivation for Learning Presented by Ana Cruz

The purpose of this paper is to propose a research method that examines the effects of two strategies teachers can use in their classrooms to assist students in the transition from extrinsic to intrinsic (self-initiated) motivation for learning. The two strategies include interests and mastery goals. Students are flooded with reward-focused systems throughout their entire lower-level education.

They become accustomed to performing a task and receiving something in return, which hinders their intrinsic desire to learn. This study presents strategies that are feasible for teachers to implement and are likely to be beneficial for students who lack intrinsic motivation to learn. The research is based on the observations of a second-grade classroom student, and the data was collected through classroom observations and questionnaires. Data consists of anecdotal records and answers to the questionnaires that were analyzed by motivation types. The limitations of this study were inadequate amount of time to conduct research and observing only one student. Results indicated that the proposed strategies did aid in the transition of motivation types, and future research could focus on more students, allow more time, and implement different strategies.

Ana Cruz is a first-semester senior in the School of Education and will be graduating in December 2018. She grew up in Van Buren, Ark., and hopes to one day teach in that district. During her free time, she coaches an all-girls soccer team and spends time with her family.

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Student Research Symposium Teacher’s Guide to Working with Students Affected by Parental Incarceration Presented by Nichole Dapson

In the United States, it is estimated that one out of every 14 children has a parent who is currently or has previously served time in the prison system, according to a study done by the research firm Child Trends. Their research showed that roughly 7 percent of children in the United States, approximately 5 million children, have a parent who has been incarcerated. Parental incarceration is a growing issue in the United States, one with consequences American educators are likely to face. While there have been numerous studies done on the consequences and effects of parental incarceration on children and young adults, little scholarship is readily available for teachers on how to best help and work with students affected by this in the classroom, especially teachers of junior high and high school students. I will build a guide for classroom teachers focusing on how to best work in the classroom with students affected by parental incarceration. A guide such as this will be a useful tool for teachers in meeting the needs of these specific students. This guide will focus on three major areas: pedagogy, support for the student, and methods of communication with support for the student’s caregiver.

Nichole Dapson is a 2014 graduate of Alma (Ark.) High School. She is currently pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in English education and is a member of the UAFS Honors International Studies Program and Kappa Delta Pi.

Video Games and Board Games Used as Enrichment in the Classroom Presented by Racheal Simpson

The purpose of this study is to see the impact of implementing video and board games into history classroom and curriculum.

Previous research over the educational games has focused on their use as supplemental tools in the classroom utilizing anecdotal evidence, whereas this study employs quantitative data to understand the use of games in educational contexts. Moreover, prior research has also mainly focused on the use of video games in the classroom, while this study focused on board games, specifically a game titled “Freedom: The Underground Railroad.” This study examined four aspects of student learning: 1. an engagement with the material; 2. empathy with source material; 3. teamwork and collaboration; and 4. retention of content. The presentation will conclude by describing the results and a discussion on how best to integrate games into the history classroom.

Racheal Simpson is a senior at UAFS and lives in Van Buren, Ark. She is earning her Bachelor of Science in history with social studies teacher licensure 7-12 and has been in the Honors International Studies Program as of 2014. Through the education program, Racheal has worked with students in the Alma, Fort Smith, and Van Buren school districts and is eager to begin working with students as a lifetime career. Student engagement with the content is her goal, with technology playing a key role in that. Aiding students in becoming ideal citizens, working to help all students understand the material, and educating students on our history have pushed Racheal into becoming a teacher.

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Presentations in Art and Spanish Culture Health Science 124 2:00 Megan Willis 2:30 Camryn Perry 3:00 Jessica Medeiros 3:30 Mariana Ramirez Luna

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Student Research Symposium Wifredo Lam and Identity: The Cuban Painter who Revived the Afro-Cuban Spirit Presented by Megan Willis

The focus of this paper is about how Wifredo Lam’s (1902-1982) style of painting was influenced by his Afro-Cuban heritage. The aim of this paper is to show how Wifredo Lam began to play with and depict this cultural identity, especially after his encounter with Picasso’s Cubism and mixing it with Surrealism.

Wifredo Lam showed the beauty of his African heritage by taking inspiration from African sculptures, which were introduced to him by Pablo Picasso during Lam’s time in France. By focusing on three of Lam’s works; Self Portrait III (1938), Mother and Child (1939), and The Jungle (1943), Lam’s Afro-Cuban heritage can be seen – either by the usage of African mask-like forms or through religious symbolism. Wifredo Lam had said he wanted to become a Trojan Horse that would spew forth alarming dreamlike figures into his unsuspecting audience. Lam wanted to bridge the gap between European and Afro-Cuban art by creating surprising figures that showcased the lore and beauty of his home.

Megan Willis is working towards her Bachelor of Arts degree in studio art with a minor in art history and plans to graduate in May 2019. She loves learning about the history of different art works and enjoys working in different mediums such as printmaking, painting, and drawing with charcoal. Throughout her time as a student, Megan has obtained an appreciation of the arts and discovered the joy of sharing information about different artists’ works and history with her friends.

Renée Stout and the Power of African Minkisi Containers Presented by Camryn Perry

This paper discusses how the African American contemporary artist Renée Stout responds to traditional African artistic idioms in her artwork by frequently utilizing elements from the culture of the Kongo peoples, especially in regards to the minkisi containers, or power figures. This paper argues that, by harnessing the belief systems of African peoples and allowing her work to be heavily informed by narratives pertaining to these power figures, Stout’s work is meant to encourage empowerment, examination, and healing of the self. In addition, this paper discusses in-depth how her works of art entitled Fetish #2, Master of the Universe, and Erzulie Dreams demonstrate her response and reaction to these artistic idioms, especially regarding her identity as an African American. Finally, this paper discusses how Stout explores the concept of power figures in her work in the form of self-portraiture, furthering her goal of healing and self-empowerment through her artwork.

Camryn Perry is a student at UAFS where she is working towards attaining her Bachelor of Arts degree in studio art with a minor in mathematics. Currently a senior in the program, she intends on graduating in the spring and subsequently continuing her art education in the field of animation. Camryn has been writing and researching for both historical and art historical topics for most of her school career, and in 2013 she participated in National History Day, presenting her research in Washington, D.C. This will be her second time presenting her art historical research in the UAFS Student Research Symposium. Presently Camryn can often be found working on her capstone project in the independent study room in Windgate Art and Design.

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Student Research Symposium Expressions of Identity Presented by Jessica Medeiros

Maurice Denis’ painting Self-portrait (1919) encapsulates the very essence of the artist’s identity by incorporating visual dynamics between his spiritual strength and theoretical self. During a recent study abroad class I was able to visit the Maurice Denis Museum located in Saint-Germain-en-Laye and experience his work first hand. This essay will begin by analyzing Maurice Denis’ Self-portrait from 1919 through the content, context, and technique that he applied in his painting. His devout faith will be discussed in relationship to imagery he placed within his portrait. Denis’ background as a theoretician and philosopher will be examined in comparison to his painting technique and how it relates to his identity. Two works of art, one by Paul Gauguin titled Self-portrait with Hat and Manao Tupapau (1893-1894) and the other by Denis himself, Le Sacré-Coeur (1916), will be considered in comparison to Denis’ pictorial representation of himself. In addition, I will explore the possibility of an “homage” to Cezanne incorporated into this portrait—something that has not been previously investigated.

From an extremely young age, Maurice Denis knew that he wanted to pursue the arts, as a representation of his theoretical writings, spirituality, and as a mode to recover the fading faith in France. His Self-portrait (1919) captures his identity through the use of symbolic representation of his faith and his theories concerning application of color and composition. It is near impossible to separate Denis as a philosopher and a devoted person of faith. His portrait captures his essence as both.

Jessica Medeiros is a senior studio art major and an art history minor. Currently she works at the Underground Ink Letterpress and Book Arts Studio as an assistant to Associate Professor Katie Harper. Early in her education, she fell in love with printmaking and has furthered her interests by attending workshops and doing independent research. She is a non-traditional student, married with a son. Her passion for the arts, along with support from her family and professors, has allowed her to pursue a career in this field.

After graduation she plans on continuing her education by attending graduate school to obtain her Master of Fine Arts. She truly believes that expression through any medium is an extremely significant way to enhance our lives.

Mexican Machismo: Power, Pride, and Prejudice Presented by Mariana Ramirez Luna

Machismo is one of the most conspicuous components of Mexican culture and society; references to it can be found in music, film, literature, and in everyday life in general. Despite its mundane appearance, it is a complex phenomenon that cannot easily be explained or understood. The adjective “macho” itself has multiple connotations that conjure up images of bravery, strength, and determination; at the same time, it can signify opposing notions such as narrow-mindedness, conceit, and bigotry against women. This paper analyzes the different conceptions about machismo, its origin and evolution, and the impact it has had on society. Although the discussion is centered on common topics associated with machismo, such as discrimination and women victimization, the emphasis is on less evident aspects such as female complicity and self-destructive behavior.

Mariana Ramírez Luna was born in Mexico and moved to Fort Smith in 2009 before becoming a U.S. citizen in 2017. She is a senior pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Spanish with minors in teaching English as a second language and psychology. She is a Spanish tutor at the Academic Success Center at UAFS. She is graduating in May and is looking forward to attending graduate school in the fall.

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Presentations in Literature and Rhetoric Health Science 222 2:00 Nikolle Dixon 2:30 Emilie Cartmill 3:00 Golden Mulkey 3:30 Hunter Schmuck

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Student Research Symposium Harry Potter and the Hidden Christian Narrative Presented by Nikolle Dixon

The Harry Potter series is an important piece of literature as it has so many different hidden meanings, and depending on the reader, some of those meanings stay hidden. Each novel in the series contains its own plot, all of which work well with the underlying narrative of the series, which has a complex connection to the story of Jesus Christ. In a society where religion is such a prominent subject in debates, adding the complex issue of symbolism in a series as influential to society as Harry Potter can complicate those ongoing debates. A survey completed in support of this paper shows that most people who do not know the background for the book series, believe that there is no connection between the novels and Christianity. Although the Harry Potter series gained notoriety in the Christian fan base because the story is full of witchcraft and wizardry, there were concerns from some readers that the books were anti-Christian. However, this presentation will demonstrate the numerous parallels between Harry Potter and Jesus Christ, complicating and enriching an understanding of Harry Potter’s importance and relevance for Christian readers.

Nikolle Dixon was raised in McCurtain, Okla. After graduating from Southside High School, she began attending UAFS where she received her A.A. degree in general studies in spring 2016. She graduated in December 2017 with her English B.A. with a minor in creative writing. Nikolle is currently the fiction/non-fiction genre editor and the Facebook coordinator for UAFS’Applause.

She enjoys writing poetry and fiction, a passion that has led to publication in recent years, as well as spending time with her family and her teacup chihuahua, Menina. In March 2018 she represented not only UAFS but the Choctaw Nation at the annual Sigma Tau Delta Convention in Ohio, where she spoke about her life as a Native American woman. In the future she hopes to publish novels as well as advocate against sexual assault, both of which she hopes will inspire and create change.

Seeing with Colorblind Eyes: Grey’s Anatomy Through the Lens of Race Theory Presented by Emilie Cartmill

While typically a show will gain notoriety through lack of racial and ethnic diversity, Grey’s Anatomy is achieving this success through a focus on racial equality. Shonda Rhimes, the show’s producer, uses colorblind casting to create a show that carries no bias towards any one race, ethnicity, or creed. Although casting for the show is colorblind, the show itself illustrates that the society we live in is still deeply impacted by race and its intersections with gender and class.

Emilie Cartmill graduated from Council Grove (Kan.) High School in 2014. She moved to Fort Smith to be with her now husband, Dustin Payne. Together they have a 9-month-old daughter, Ellie. Emilie is pursuing a degree in English education.

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Student Research Symposium Pardon Me, Mr. Disney, But I Am Just Not That Enchanted Presented by Golden Mulkey

In our heart of hearts, we would all like to believe the iconic Disney quote that “beauty is found within,” from the animated film Beauty and the Beast. Yet an argument could be made that the same company that once empowered us all with that iconic quote also speaks volumes about outward beauty, as they deliver tale after tale portraying a happy ending that hinges upon a beautiful female lead.

Doris Bazzini argues mainstream media has adopted the idea that “beauty is good” and “ugly is bad” and questions whether Disney mirrors societal beauty standards. Disney films continually contrast the ugly physical traits in their feminine villains with the flawless appearance of their feminine heroes. A perfect example of this can be found in any adaptation of Disney’s Cinderella, where the stepsisters are purposefully drawn ugly in some way, despite their beauty portrayed in the original Grimm’s tale.

Through various adaptations of Cinderella, I explore Disney’s obsession with feminine beauty, how it equates to a happy ending, and whether it reflects a societal trend regarding feminine beauty in relation to happiness.

Before the dawn of the internet, before the advent of the cell phone, before televisions transitioned from a box to a flat screen, Golden Mulkey was introduced to the world on a cold day in November. Eighteen short years later, just as the internet began to take its first steps, she, too, ventured away from home to chase adventures, follow dreams, and find her own path. Her first adventure lasted 20 years. It brought her a career, a marriage, and a perfect baby boy who continues to amaze her each and every day. But the winds changed, her dreams transformed, and eventually, she knew it was time for a new adventure. Today she’s following those dreams at UAFS, forging a new path in the world of education and proving, if only to herself, sometimes change is the greatest adventure of all.

The Male Gaze in For Whom the Bell Tolls Presented by Hunter Schmuck

Ernest Hemingway paints a heroic picture of a band of fighters during the Spanish Civil War in his classic novel For Whom the Bell Tolls. The allure of leadership, stoicism, and romanticism draws people to leading man Robert Jordan, as though they can be him while they read. Every character uses the male gaze to some degree to analyze or scrutinize the others in the text. My research is meant to uncover the male gaze within this novel, and how all of the characters are affected by or participate in the overall masculine complex throughout the course of the story (even the female characters Pilar and Maria).

Hunter Schmuck is a senior English major with a minor in creative writing. Her favorite literature genres are science fiction, fantasy, and poetry. Her biggest inspiration in her creative work is Sylvia Plath. After graduation she plans to pursue an MFA in creative writing.

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Presentations in Literature and Rhetoric Health Science 223 2:00 Johnny Resendiz 2:30 Mason Patterson 3:00 Kimberly Cloud 3:30 Markie Dean

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Student Research Symposium Experience Atlanta: A Black Class, a Black Gender, a Black Race Presented by Johnny Resendiz

Atlanta, an FX television series, fills a hole that is been lacking in televised programming: a black voice. It uses the titular city as a backdrop for characters to express their black identity and to counter general stereotypes about them. Unlike prestige suburban dramas like Breaking Bad and Stranger Things, or the dramatic tones of Empire and The Fall, Atlanta is a short, surreal, comedydrama that is not afraid of going ultra-meta. This paper analyzes and reveals how the characters of Atlanta expose issues of class, gender, and race to reveal the realities of the black experience. Judith Butler’s idea of “representational politics” will be explored and applied to the race issues brought up in the show. Other theorists are used in helping deconstruct categories of black identity and the danger of having a single, overarching idea of black culture in today’s diverse and complex society.

Johnny Resendiz was raised in Fort Smith. He is an English major with a rhetoric and writing minor. He has been part of a number of organizations on campus. He plans to attend graduate school to study cultural studies with an emphasis on gender/sexuality and race studies. His career goals include research, teaching, and academic administration. In his free time, he enjoys playing pool, working out, and competing in online card games.

Submission Inside the Victorian Country House in Daphne du Maurier’s Rebecca Presented by Mason Patterson

British country homes are considered the hubs of family activity, but they lack the safe haven qualities usually attributed to modern day homes. Daphne du Maurier’s novel Rebecca exemplifies how the house is not a place of freedom for the new Mrs. de Winter. Manderley is the accumulation of the societal and marital expectations which force women into submitting to the maintenance of the house and the standards set by previous marriages.

A Victorian country house is a generational home for the family. The house is passed down from father to son for hundreds of years.

In so doing, the house has also been home to the wives of the various masters of the house. The different wives all leave a part of themselves in the house, setting a precedent for the wife who will eventually take her place. In the novel the second Mrs. de Winter is unable to escape or erase the many fingerprints Rebecca leaves behind because they have been ingrained into Manderley itself.

Indeed, the second Mrs. de Winter has no education regarding how a country house is to be run or how to meet the expectations placed upon her. She is lost in a world confined by tradition.

Mason Patterson is a sophomore at the UAFS. She is majoring in English and minoring in creative writing. After earning her undergraduate degree, Mason plans to go to graduate school to study feminist studies and British literature.

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Student Research Symposium The New Woman in Literature Presented by Kimberly Cloud

The New Woman figure was identified in 1893 by The Woman’s Herald; however, the figure had been present in literature long before it had a title. The majority of Western society viewed the figure negatively, which also spread across the Western canon of literature. H. Rider Haggard and Leo Tolstoy both created characters with elements of the figure prior to the 1890s. Haggard’s portrayals in She (1886), and Tolstoy’s representations in Anna Karenina (1877) showcase the hopeful demise of the New Woman figure in society. Even though the characters are being written in different cultures, one English and the other Russian, social views of women defying gender roles are a common theme in late nineteenth century male-authored European literature. Haggard’s Ayesha is a cruel disciplinarian, while Ustane is a strong-willed woman who defies Ayesha for love. Tolstoy’s Anna is a woman who knows what she desires, even though it goes against her cultural norms. All three women are representations of the future New Woman identity, though they are not presented favorably. Through their female characters, Haggard and Tolstoy explore male anxieties about the independent woman, suggesting that the empowered female figure, while currently present, will not last.

Kimberly Cloud is an English major with a minor in rhetoric. She was home-schooled all her life, with college being her first experience in an academic setting. She is also a mother of two. Her decision to be an English major came from her love of reading and writing. Writing has always been a passion of hers, as well as the love to research topics she finds fascinating. Eventually her main goal is to be an editor for a fiction publishing company, along with the hope of publishing a fiction novel of her own at some point in the future.

The Progressive but Exclusive Intersectional Feminism of Winifred Holtby: The Missing Thread of Race Representation Presented by Markie Dean

Winifred Holtby’s novel South Riding is enriched with reflections from her Yorkshire upbringing as a farmer’s daughter with familiarity of local government by way of her mother’s alderwoman position. Holtby, a mover and shaker of progressivism and feminism, infuses her grassroots politics into main character and headmistress, Sarah Burton. South Riding can be used as an autobiographical tool to unravel Holtby’s own feminist doctrine. Holtby uses a wide array of female roles within her novel to create dichotomies that highlight the disparities of goals between upper-class women and working class and poor women in first-wave feminism. For Holtby, class exclusivity has no place in the cause of feminism, just as privilege has no place in education for Sarah Burton. However, her attempt at a kind of intersectional feminism is disturbingly consistent with the glaring lack of racial diversity found in similar Yorkshire landscape novels. This paper will consider how Holtby uses her own personal experiences to craft the eclectic Sarah Burton and how she forwards a progressive, complex feminist vision in South Riding in terms of class and disability, while also critiquing how her brand of intersectional feminism regretfully misses the mark in regards to race representation.

Markie Dean is a non-traditional student in her Junior year at UAFS. She is majoring in English with a teacher licensure for 7th12th grade and is a member of Sigma Tau Delta. She will graduate in May of 2019 and plans to transition into the teaching field at the high school level.

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Presentations in Literature and Rhetoric Health Science 227 2:00 Lynnette Thrower 2:30 Amy Hill 3:00 Jade Novak 3:30 Whitney Fantinel

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Student Research Symposium Alisoun, Griselda, and Geoffrey: Feminists When Feminism Wasn’t Cool Presented by Lynette Thrower

This paper posits that Geoffrey Chaucer vicariously asserts his support of medieval women’s empowerment and patriarchalindependence via Alisoun, the Wife of Bath, whose anti-religious oratory and liberal views on marriage are brazenly antithetical to the prescribed roles of medieval women; and Griselda, who presents a more subtle, albeit effective, strategy for empowerment via acts of virtue and submission. Establishing these two characters, however, as medieval feminists, and thereby Chaucer as a profeminist, poses a unique challenge as the construct of feminism wasn’t presented until four centuries after The Canterbury Tales in Mary Wollstonecraft’s seminal feminist work A Vindication of the Rights of Woman.

While Alisoun’s ideas and methods of empowerment have been considered compatible with popular notions of feminist activism, an examination of fundamental feminist conventions reveals that a critical component, egalitarianism, is absent from her model.

Griselda’s brand of feminism, while far more congruent with the tenets of feminism to elevate both genders, has been criticized as the embodiment of feminized ideals of Christian thought due to her virtuous lifestyle and particularly the saintly perseverance she displays in the midst of much calamity and abuse at the hands of her husband.

Lynette Thrower is an English with teacher licensure major, rhetoric and writing minor, poet, and transplant from Chicago. She plans to teach secondary English after graduation.

The Underdog: Robin Hood in Children’s Literature Presented by Amy Hill

In the earliest records from the 12th century, Robin Hood was first described as a brutal criminal. With time the shape of the legend would change to reflect English social structure. The hero came to be told in two separate roles: the gentleman of strong empathy and the philanthropic outlaw. These stayed in contention through the 19th century. There is substantial textual support for both versions, so how did the outlaw come to be remembered and the gentleman forgotten? This paper explores how the social structure of 19th century England may have contributed. Through the Industrial Age, Robin Hood abandoned his ties to the gentry and became a symbol for reform and justice. Robin Hood archetypes show up throughout current literature, from young adult fictions like The Hunger Games and Green Arrow to the Disney film Robin Hood.

Amy Hill was born and raised in eastern Oklahoma. In a family of four brothers and two sisters, she found her niche as the artistic child. Amy graduated from Wister (Okla.) High School in 2018 and was accepted into the Honors International Studies Program at UAFS. At UAFS she discovered a love for nonfiction and poetry. She now intends to pursue a Ph.D. in English, after which she will work as an editor in a publication house and later teach at the university level.

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Student Research Symposium Three’s a Crowd: Love and Marriage in The Franklin’s Tale Presented by Jade Novak

Many critics hold G.L. Kittredge and his idea of the marriage argument of The Canterbury Tales in very high regard. Critics argue that the debate of marriage begins with the Wife of Bath, who is then answered by the Clerk, the Merchant, and finally the Franklin. The Franklin’s Tale is believed to show Chaucer’s true views on love and marriage, and also believed to be the solution to the debate. There are others, though, who argue against The Franklin’s Tale portraying Chaucer’s true beliefs. They believe that The Franklin’s Tale is Chaucer’s way of rejecting ideas of courtly love in a society that seeks to keep women “in their place” by not allowing them to act upon their human desires. This paper will attempt to further analyze the relationship between Arveragus and Dorigen in order to better understand Chaucer’s views on the roles and relationships between men and women.

Jade Novak is a general studies major with a focus in English at UAFS. She is an aspiring world literature teacher and is currently pursuing her alternative teaching certification through an accredited Texas institution while also completing her final semester at UAFS. Following graduation this coming May, she will pursue a Master of Education degree in curriculum and instruction.

Mind the Gap: Why Universities Should Take a Closer Look into Gap Year Programs Presented by Whitney Fantinel

The decision to take a gap year proceeding high school graduation has become increasingly popular. Contrary to popular belief, taking full advantage of a gap year can prove to be beneficial for both students and universities alike. Colleges such as Princeton and the University of North Carolina have taken advantage of this growing phenomena by providing their own scholarships and fellowships to freshmen that have chosen to take a gap year. With elite universities encouraging students to take part in such programs, there is a newfound sense of justification and self-exploration throughout the process. Allowing students to inquire into their skills and talents while also making the college look favorable is a step up for both parties. Creating such programs at UAFS would provide more opportunity for students to explore why they are attending college, more confidently choose a major track, as well increasing the retention rate at the university and overall shaping more determined, successful college students.

This presentation explores the benefits of a gap year from a personal perspective as well as proposes a program that UAFS could implement to encourage this important phenomena.

Whitney Fantinel is a currently a freshman at UAFS. Born and raised in Springdale, Ark., she is a 2016 graduate of Springdale High School. She took a gap year after graduation, working full time and volunteering with a non-profit in Fayetteville, Ark. After completing the surgical technology program, she intends to move back to Northwest Arkansas and work at the children’s hospital in Springdale. She finds herself happiest when helping others.

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Presentations in Media Communication Health Science 318 2:00 Bayleigh Warren 2:30 Thalita Da Silva 3:00 Zachary Denne 3:30 Autumn Robbins

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Student Research Symposium She Looked Like a Nurse: A Visual Analysis of the Iconic “Kissing Sailor” Photo Presented by Bayleigh Warren

It was Tuesday, August 14, 1945 –a day that would go down in history. “V-J Day in Times Square” has become an iconic photograph, which holds a different meaning to a different individual upon first glance. The LIFE magazine photographer, Alfred Eisenstaedt, seems to have a clear light onto his audience. The audience is one that is in celebration of the ending of the war, one that enjoys observing a historical moment, and one that entertains romantic notions. The photographer seems to have captured the happiness of Americans on the day of Japan’s surrender with the image that beams with patriotism. This presentation is in the form of visual analysis focusing on the photographic principles as well as social conventions shown in the iconic “V-J Day in Times Square” or “Kissing Sailor” photo. The primary goal of the presentation is to explore how the audience came to interpret and love this timeless photo, the historical significance it holds in American culture, and the ambiguous qualities the photo evokes for diverse audiences.

Bayleigh Warren is a 23-year-old junior from Claremore, Okla., majoring in media communication with a minor in biology at UAFS. With these two combined areas of study, she is interested in medical and agricultural research and how it can be more accessible to the public to widen everyday knowledge and business potentials in the agriculture industry. The agriculture research is of particular interest to her because she was raised in the industry by owning a ranch and running a cow-calf operation. In her spare time she competes in rodeos and rodeo queen pageants and enjoys spending time with her family and friends.

The Colors of Andy Warhol’s Creativity Presented by Thalita Da Silva

Visual communication is found in every shape and form in our daily lives. Various societies utilize visual communication in the arts, entertainment, advertising, and even socio-cultural movements. In many cases, visuals can communicate the message more effectively than words. An iconic visual artist Andy Warhol produced works that exemplify the idea that visuals can be simple, yet make bold statements that may lead to an entirely new movement – the Pop Art phenomenon. This presentation is based on an in-depth analysis of the peculiar techniques that Warhol used in his works. I primarily examine the use of Warhol’s unique style in the painting Grevy’s Zebra from the Endangered Species portfolio of 1983. The collection brings the theme that centers on Warhol’s concern about the various near-extinct animals around the world. Warhol draws on social, ecological issues to enlighten his audiences, thereby demonstrating the activist aspect of himself. Warhol’s distinct visual style, which developed in part from his complex and eccentric life, has been a continuous influence on the arts movement, shaping trends and other artists’ approaches.

Thalita Da Silva was born and raised in Brasilia, Brazil. She first moved to the United States when she was 18 years old to participate in a foreign exchange program at Southside High School in Fort Smith. She found myself surrounded by a different and entirely new world. After graduating high school her parents granted her with a chance to stay and pursue a college degree. She started her educational path by receiving an associate degree from Carl Albert State College. That was not enough, as she wanted to expand her academic life. She decided to seek a degree from UAFS, where she is currently finishing her senior year, graduating in May 2018 with a bachelor’s degree in media communication and a minor in social work. Her preferred area in communication is the study of different cultures.

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Student Research Symposium A Visual Analysis of the Parlor Scene in Psycho (Hitchcock, 1960) Presented by Zachary Denne

The film medium allows for creators to visually play with the expectations of the audience unlike any other medium. The suspense and horror film genres thrive off of playing with what the audience is allowed to see, hear, and sometimes understand, and then pulling the rug out from under their feet to create terrifying results. Alfred Hitchcock arguably stands alone as the prime example of a master of the suspense film genre. This presentation aims to take the famous parlor scene from Alfred Hitchcock’s classic film Psycho (1960) in an effort to deconstruct the scene’s use of visual elements. Drawing from visual communication theories, film genre analyses, and interviews with the director himself, this visual analysis will focus on the scene’s use of lighting, framing, décor, space, and black and white photography. Through this presentation I intend to offer a greater understanding of the film as a visual medium that communicates meaning and emotions to its audiences in its unique way.

Zachary Denne is 24, the oldest of three children to my family in Oklahoma. He is a senior at UAFS graduating in December with a degree in media communication. He enjoys video and sound editing and studying movies. While film is his passion, he also has muses in the ever changing and growing world of new media. He hopes to utilize his studies of new media and communications to enhance his understanding of the film medium, to entertain others, and to work with production companies and crews in the future.

Life is Hard, and Also Really Strange: The Surreal Feel of Donald Glover’s Atlanta (2016 - ) Presented by Autumn Robbins

Debuted in 2016 on FX, the TV series Atlanta is the biggest undertaking yet for its creator, star, and writer Donald Glover. Glover has been heralded for his genius as an actor and a Grammy winning musical artist, and he was allowed almost complete freedom during the creation of the show. With this creative freedom, Glover’s Atlanta presents a cast of Atlanta residents living out real world situations from the creator’s unique perspective while portraying a fantastically fresh and jarringly different experience. The series has many themes, but the surreal and absurd qualities of life are highlighted throughout. This presentation analyzes the visual and stylistic components of one particular image taken from the show. During the presentation, I will explore the following research questions: What can the image tell us about the show? How does Glover attempt to establish a connection with his audience? And how does Atlanta make a pronounced shift away from traditional television composition?

Autumn Robbins was born in Colorado and raised in the great state of Alaska until the age of 17. She is a transplant to Arkansas, where she graduated high school in 2011. After traveling for two years, she now resides in Fort Smith, where she attends UAFS. She will graduate this May with a Bachelor of Arts in media communication and a minor in Spanish. Autumn is an avid reader and in her spare time she loves to hike, cook, and lounge with her cat. After graduation she plans to seek employment in media marketing and travel to Mexico to pursue her dream of becoming fluent in Spanish.

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Room 12

Presentations in History and Animation Technology Health Science 321 2:00 Vincent Scott 2:30 Christopher Welch 3:00 Jacob Casher 3:30 Charles DeLozier

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Student Research Symposium Whistling Dixie: The History of De Facto Segregation in Fort Smith High Schools Presented by Vincent Scott

The integration of the public high in schools Fort Smith, Ark., is one of the best-kept secrets in civil rights history. Although the struggle for integration in Fort Smith was quiet, it was by no means without incident. This historic journey began with the Supreme Court order to integrate in 1954 and unofficially ended when the first two black students attended Southside High School in 1974.

Unlike the highly publicized desegregation battles fought in other Arkansas cities, desegregation in Fort Smith was managed by an oligarchy of bureaucrats who manipulated school zones and new school construction to maintain de facto segregation for twenty years. During this time an epic legal battle was fought between the NAACP and the Special School District of Fort Smith that culminated in the United States Supreme Court, signaling the beginning of the end for Jim Crow in Arkansas’ second largest city.

Vince Scott is a 47-year-old non-traditional college student. In 2012, after serving as a community and church volunteer for several years, he decided to pursue a college degree. After working with youth in the northwest corner of Fort Smith for more than four years, Vince developed a passion for the diversity within the community. He saw a glaring need for revitalization which inspired him to seek out ways to help. That same year the IRS granted 501(c)(3) nonprofit status to his company THEWORD Inc., which was created to help develop life skills and strategies that would empower young people in underserved communities. In order to maximize the potential impact for good, Vince sought a degree in the humanities because of its broad scope and flexible application. His research focuses on the institutional history of Fort Smith with an emphasis on African American history and civil rights.

The Use of the Confederate Battle Flag in the State of Arkansas Presented by Christopher Welch

In the past few years, the nation has questioned the meaning of the Confederate battle flag and what it symbolizes. This has affected the state of Arkansas and the city of Fort Smith. How a piece of fabric came to symbolize two completely opposite views, is the question? In this presentation we will look at how the battle flag entered Arkansas and how it has played a role in the state’s history for the past 156 years. During the Civil War, Confederate troops all across the South used battle flags to make them identifiable on the battle field. After the war all articles of the former rebellion were contraband. It was not until after the Reconstruction Period and the removal of federal troops from Arkansas that families and organized groups started building memorials to fallen Confederate soldiers. But during the age of the civil rights movement, the battle flag left its place as a homage to those fallen soldiers and entered the political movement against integrating the South. But in the 2010s, the battle flag was called out for what a new generation has viewed it as something that should not be popularized or honored.

Christopher Welch graduated with honors from Fort Smith Northside High School in 2014. He is a senior in the UAFS School of Education and will graduate with a Bachelor of Science in May 2018. He is part of Alpha Lambda Delta and Kappa Delta Pi. He is a member of the Sigma Nu Fraternity where he has served as the recorder. His plans after graduating are to join the Fort Smith Police Department in fall 2018 with the hopes of one day becoming a school resource officer. In March 2018 he married Caitlyn Spencer, alumna of UAFS, who currently teaches preschool at Woods Elementary School in Fort Smith. Christopher is currently doing his internship at Fort Smith Southside High School where he teaches U.S. History to 11th and 12th graders.

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Student Research Symposium Lights, Camera, Action...

Presented by Jacob Casher

To tell stories through the view of a camera lens is never an easy process. When most people pick up a camera they simply pick it up, point it, and then capture the image. For someone like me, it is more than just taking a picture or filming an event. It is about capturing the true emotion within the moment. When you look back on a photo or video that was taken, you will feel the emotion and remember the moment like it was yesterday. That is my goal as a future producer. I want my audience to feel the emotion, dedication, hard work, and vision that I have when I am filming and brainstorming ideas.

I will be presenting a video showcasing my time here at the university and talk about the milestones I have made here. The opportunities I have had through the university have helped shape my career path, and I am so happy to be able to share this with my peers. Hard work and dedication will always pay off, and that is what I will show in this video.

Jacob Casher is a 21-year-old senior from Roland, Okla., where he also attended high school. While in high school he was involved with the golf team, Technology Student Association, National Honor Society, and Honor Club. Entering college he was awarded the Chancellor’s Leadership Scholarship, which is given to those who excel in their capabilities to lead. His major is animation technology, and after graduation he will attend graduate school where he plans to increase his skills in the art of film making and receive his master’s in fine arts. While in college he has been able to increase his skills in the technological world and has done a great job of executing the tasks given to him. Jacob is a firm believer that one should never just dream of a successful life but live it every day ... and that’s exactly what he is doing.

3D Printing in Plastic Surgery Presented by Cody DeLozier

There are many injuries every year that cause the victim to lose skin in various places of their body. Plastic surgery is a very expensive procedure to fix facial scarring and damage. 3D printing of body parts such as ears and noses can help victims live a more normal life after their trauma. This presentation will focus on and evaluate the cost of different types of plastic surgery compared to the cost and viability for methods of 3D printing of skin. 3D printing could pave the way to a more affordable and easier to obtain solution for scarring.

Cody DeLozier is a senior animation technology major at UAFS. He went to high school in Green Forest, Ark.,where he grew up and lived for the first 18 years of his life. In school he competed in football, soccer, and shooting sports, competed in FFA judging competitions, and was also involved in student council. In his years at UAFS, he has been a counselor and chair for Cub Camp and has represented the college of CAST in the Student Government Association for five semesters. He hopes to pursue a career in drafting after graduation in May of 2018.

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Room 13

Presentations in Workforce Leadership Health Science 325 2:00 Deanna Thompson 2:30 Group Presentation: DaWaina Nolan,

Jordanna Shotzman 3:00 Group Presentation: Ingrid Rivas, Asher Parvu

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Student Research Symposium Improving Communication in a Manufacturing Team: A Work-Based Project Presented by Deanna Thompson

At Trane Customs, a local manufacturing company, 50 percent of rework has a root cause of miscommunication. As my capstone project for the Workforce Leadership Associate degree, I am completing a work-based project to improve communication between shifts and within the team.

Currently team leaders are not using the Monitoring Daily Improvement (MDI) board. The MDI board is difficult to use and the resulting data is not retained. I propose to replace the MDI board with “Pulse” boards. These boards will allow team leaders to collect the data needed for our 9-step problem solving process.

The project is best described as follows: What: increase communication within the team and between shifts.

When: the boards will be used daily.

Where: a board will be posted in every assembly zone.

Why: increase communication and collect data.

How: track safety, quality, inventory, delivery, productivity, and data tracking.

The project is underway, and I will be able to share how well the new process works and how our team leaders have reacted to its implementation.

Deanna Thompson will graduate in May with an associate degree in workforce leadership. She is employed by Trane Customs as a team leader and lives in Fort Smith with her husband and two children.

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Student Research Symposium The Zombie Problem: Who Else Has Solved This?

Presented by DaWaina Nolan and Jordanna Shotzman

How can we survive the Zombie Apocalypse on campus at UAFS? As part of WFL 2852 Problem Solving and Decision Making, our group was asked to use problem-solving tools to answer the question, “How would you survive a zombie apocalypse?” The frame for the project was: We would be rescued in two weeks; we had electricity and running water; we needed to find food and shelter; then after the two weeks, we make our way out to the campus green for extraction by helicopter to a safe zone.

We used five different tools for this project with the focus on the method “Who else has solved this problem?” We were able to find that people had designed survival sheets and created specific tools to fight zombies. We learned what others had done in previous run-ins with zombies in both fiction and in survivalist information. We even learned how to make zombies useful for extraction day. After creating a plan to get food, find shelter, and make use of the zombies, we are confident that we would survive a zombie apocalypse on the UAFS campus.

DaWaina Nolan is a 2006 graduate of Roland (Okla.) High School and graduated in 2017 from UAFS with an Associate of General Studies, Certificate of Proficiency in workforce leadership, and is one class away from receiving her Technical Certificate in workforce leadership in May 2018. DaWaina has a very active home life. She is a wife and a mother to two children, an 8-year-old girl and a 7-year-old boy. She is also Life Kids Leader for the 3- and 4-year-old class at The BOD church in Roland. DaWaina has been both an employee of UAFS and Barnes & Noble College for the past 12 years. She has been the textbook manager for the UAFS Lions Bookstore for the last seven years.

Jordanna Shotzman is an organizational leadership major. She also works in the UAFS Records Office as an assistant registrar. Before working in Records, she worked in the UAFS bookstore for seven years. When she came back to school in 2014, her goal was to pursue a degree that would help her in her job and allow her to further her career. She has earned a Certificate of Proficiency in workforce leadership. She will finish her associate degree in workforce leadership in December 2018 and hopes to complete a Bachelor of Science in organizational leadership after that. Jordanna and her husband of 11 years live in Fort Smith with their daughter.

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Student Research Symposium Surviving the Zombie Apocalypse: A Systematic Approach Presented by Ingrid Rivas and Asher Parvu

Problem solving skills are essential in all institutions, ranging from businesses, schools, to personal productivity. Our leadership team was given a scenario where we had to survive a zombie apocalypse for two weeks, and come up with survival tactics utilizing problem solving skills that were presented in lecture and are often used in industrial and business settings. A unique point of view is given in this presentation because two students have science backgrounds. Their systematic approach is used to tackle the zombie apocalypse in a series of steps: disposal, neutralization, protection plan, extraction route to university campus green, and sufficient supply of food and water for two weeks. The success of the project was based on the completion of the requirements and the incorporation of leadership strategies that proved vital for survival.

Ingrid Rivas is a senior biology major with a minor in psychology who is graduating in May 2018. She was born in El Salvador and has lived in Arkansas since the age of 6. Ingrid’s academic interests are boundless; she is interested in biology, psychology, and business. She is involved in the Native American Student Organization and PRIDE at UAFS. Asher Parvu is from Fort Smith, Ark., and is currently a biology major with minors in chemistry and philosophy. He plans on attending medical or graduate school after graduation.

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Student Research Symposium

Room 14

Presentations in Business and Economics Health Science 326

2:00 Group Presentation: Trevor England,

Matthew Robbins, Camila Castillo 2:30 Group Presentation: Lauren Smith,

Mathew Smith, James Brown 3:00 Group Presentation: Patrick Brazell, Hieu Bui,

Randall Johnson, Diana Lopez

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Student Research Symposium The Effects of Technology on Employment in the U.S. Presented by Trevor England, Matthew Robbins, and Camila Castillo

The digital revolution is changing our lives and futures. The improved prospects of a better life due to technological advances are accompanied by worries and anxiety about the future state of employment opportunities. In our presentation we discuss the impact of technology on employment opportunities in the agriculture, manufacturing, and services sectors of the U.S. economy.

Trevor England is a senior marketing major from Muldrow, Okla.

Matthew Robbins is a junior finance major from Greenwood, Ark. Camila Castillo is an international exchange student from the University of Santiago de Chile studying business administration.

The Production of Automobiles in the U.S. by Foreign Companies and Their Impact on the Economy Presented by Lauren Smith, Matthew Smith, and James Brown

This research considers the production of automobiles in the U.S. by foreign companies and their impact on the economy. By comparing financial statements of foreign automobile manufacturers to those of U.S. based companies, we find that foreign owned car manufacturers continue to increase production in the U.S. in order to satisfy their customers’ needs and decrease cost by avoiding overseas shipping. This has caused other implications in the U.S. when dealing with taxes and competing with U.S. based companies. We believe there is value in understanding how manufacturers make decisions. Further, we believe that an understanding of where U.S. dollars are going will help inform consumers on the products they are purchasing.

Lauren Smith graduated from Van Buren (Ark.) High School and is seeking a degree in accounting from UAFS. Matthew Smith graduated from Van Buren (Ark.) High School in 2015 and is seeking a degree in business administration at UAFS. James Brown served seven years in the U.S. Army and is attending UAFS in pursuit of a finance degree.

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Student Research Symposium The Impact of Technology on Manufacturing Presented by Patrick Brazell, Hieu Bui, Randall Johnson, and Diana Lopez

The increased adoption of robotics is changing our perception of future employment. This research will compare and contrast the implications, risks, advantages, and disadvantages associated with automation in manufacturing.

Patrick Brazell is a senior business administration major and would someday like to open his own business.

Hieu Bui is a senior international business major originally from Vietnam.

Randall Johnson is a senior marketing major.

Diana Lopez is a senior international business major.

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Poster Presentations Boreham Library Room 129

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Student Research Symposium Introduction to Energy Autonomy and the Versatility of Photovoltaics: A DIY Mobile Solar Generator Project Presented by Justin Moore, William Rupp, Zachery Teague, John Fleming, Zachary Jones, and John Jones Table 1

In today’s current sociopolitical arena, we see a gradual, yet valid, social push for sustainable energy. The unpredictable encroachment of climate change or rare, but devastating, risks of solar weather are an inevitable threat to fragile power grids across the globe. Disasters aside, power can go out for days at a time without warning. Whether we live in rural or urban areas, life does not halt for this inconvenience, and life can also be at risk when access to electricity is vital to medical equipment. An emergency power supply, that only requires the sun to rise, can be an invaluable tool for whatever the situation may be. Our project proposes that, for under $250, anyone can be prepared for the worst with their own mobile Solar Generator. Other commercially available generators can cost thousands by comparison. With a general knowledge of basic electrical principles and easy assembly instructions, everyone can help reduce their own carbon footprint, all while being prepared for an unexpected power outage. Our team members, by profession, are dedicated to the advancement of green technology and eager to demonstrate that everyone is capable of implementing its use and realizing its value in society, regardless of vocation.

As a full-time non-traditional student pursuing a Bachelor of Science in electrical engineering technology, Justin Moore has a passion for learning and sharing the benefits of electronics and green technology. With a current school load of 21 hours, he stays busy in all facets of life. He grew up in Alma, Ark., where he graduated high school in 2001. He received an AAS in electronics technology from UAFS in May of 2017. His 6-year-old daughter is the sole reason for bettering himself and hopefully the world she will inherit. Though not all-inclusive, his interests consist of writing, astronomy, circuit design, and innovation concepts. With a hectic schedule, he works part time for flexibility in scholastic endeavors. Ideally, he would like to remain a permanent student, as his academic experience has been one of the great joys of his life.

William Rupp is a controls engineer at Omega Controls in Van Buren, Ark., and is currently working on his bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering technology, which he plans to receive this May. He went to high school in Mountainburg, Ark., and currently lives in Barling, Ark. Zachery Teague graduated from Alma (Ark.) High School in 2014 and received an associate degree in electronics technology in 2016. He is set to graduate in May with a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering technology and has been working at the ArcBest help desk for two and a half years.

John Fleming is an electrical process controls engineer who began his career in 2015. His areas of experience include industrial maintenance, automation controls, continuous improvement, and robotic operations. In May of 2018 he will receive his Bachelor of Science in electrical engineering technology from UAFS. While working to achieve this degree, he was able to earn an associate of electronics technology along with a certification in robotics and industrial maintenance. He is part of major undertaking of implementing automated guided vehicles at Rheem Manufacturing in Fort Smith. John will continue his training this year with the Salvagnini Group, who designs, builds, and sells flexible systems and machines for processing sheet metal, punching machines, panel benders, press-brakes, fiber laser cutting machines, FMS lines, automatic store-towers, and software. John resides in Fort Smith with his wife and two children.

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Student Research Symposium Zachary Jones is an electronics engineering technology major from Bonanza, Ark. He graduated from Union Christian Academy in 2011 and is currently an electronics technician for Rheem Manufacturing Company in Fort Smith. He has spent three years working as an electrical contractor with A & L Electrical Company where he learned most of his skills. Before his college career and before getting into the electrical field, he was heavily active with the Boy Scouts of America. Through the program he received his Eagle Scout and became an assistant scoutmaster with Troop 19 where I currently holds the same position. He looks forward to learning more about the world of electronics and seeing what gates electronics can open for future society John Jones is a meat cutter at Marvin’s Food Stores in Poteau, Okla. He received an associate degree from Carl Albert State College and is currently working on a Bachelor of Applied Science at UAFS with expected graduation in May of this year. He attended high school in Heavener, Okla., graduating in 2009. He currently lives in Monroe, Okla.

Large Scary Dangerous

Presented by Anthony Reynolds and Zach Hyatt Table 2 This Program is geared toward fun. We made this choice based game using python. This game has over 2000 lines of code for different end results. This game is a chance based game that allows players to make decisions that have the chance to hurt them or help them. You have three main routes the player can choose. One you have a flashlight, two you have a gun, and three you have both.

Each choice you make affects values like your health, ammo, and battery counts. All of these are key to making it through the boss battle to the ending of the game. This game also has comedic value that make the play through more enjoyable. Also things in this program are not as they seem, so don’t be fooled as it may make your odds of winning greater or smaller.

Anthony Reynolds is 20 years old and works at Lowes in the lawn and garden department. He enjoy kayaking, staying in shape, playing video games, and anything to do with electronics. In his spare time he also likes to do woodworking and build furniture.

Zach Hyatt is 20 years old and has lots of hobbies that include fishing, kayaking, hiking, and woodworking. He works at The Home Depot in the lumber department.

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Student Research Symposium Implementing Proprietary Radio Frequency Identification in the Pet Market Sector Presented by Rhett Kelley and Emmanuel Quarshie Table 3

Radio Frequency Identification has been around for over 70 years and in the beginning it was only used by the military to track planes. Today, industries and retailers are currently utilizing this technology to perform logistical operations. An RFID tag can provide how much an item costs, date of expiration, born on dates, and any other information one stores in the memory of the microchip. Unlike a barcode, RFID tags don’t need to be oriented in a certain way to scan. RFID readers and tags are steadily decreasing in price of production and many markets are starting to take advantage of this by implementing their own RFID systems. We have designed an RFID based electronic mechanism that recognizes an individual RFID tag worn by a pet and upon recognition the mechanism opens the pet’s bowl allowing the pet sole access to its food and water. To keep costs down we will utilize a battery free RFID tag that a pet wears and program the data that is stored on the microchip in the tag. The purpose of the project is to provide a baby proof pet bowl and to prevent other animals from eating the tagged pet’s food.

Rhett Kelley is pursuing a second bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering in technology, having previously completed a degree in biology from the University of Arkansas, Little Rock. He wants to pursue working with robotic or biomedical equipment in the future. Some of his previous work experiences include working in a pharmacy for 10 years, teaching high school chemistry and biomedical science, and owning his own woodworking business. He has been married for 11 years, and is the proud parent of three boys. Most of his activities include coaching their basketball and soccer teams. For fun he likes to work in his garden, fish, hunt, play golf, and tinker with electronics.

Emmanuel Quarshie was born in the West African county of Ghana. He came to the United States when he was 27 and has previously worked for Simmons Food, Schneider Trucking, Twin Rivers, the City of Fort Smith, and the Air National Guard. He is currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering technology and expects to graduate in 2020. Emmanuel wants to focus on wireless technology after completing his degree. He joined the military at the age 38, which inspired him more to pursue this educational path.

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Student Research Symposium Bridging the Gap: Making the Sciences Visual Presented by Matthew Evans Table 4

Human beings are an inherently visual. On average, we can grasp and understand new ideas and concepts with more clarity when accompanied with visual references. Combining science with 3D and 2D visuals will allow more difficult concepts to be more clearly communicated to a wider audience.

This presentation will cover relevant issues such as the environmental effects of hydraulic fracturing or ‘fracking’, visuals can assist in explaining and understanding the effects that these methods of oil and gas extraction have on the environment for better or for worse.

Born in Nashville, Tenn., Matthew Evans moved to Van Buren, Ark., at a young age. He found a passion for computers at an early age and has been fascinated with computer technology and graphics ever since. Following that passion through high school, he was a member of EAST Lab, where he started on the path that has led him here. After graduating from Van Buren High School in 2014, Matthew enrolled at UAFS and majored in animation technology. His goal is to follow his passion and make it his career.

The Standard and Unconventional Representations in 3D Media Presented by Olivia Shelton Table 5

Character and model designs in the 3D Media field are the most prominent forms of visual representation in the media field. These types of representations have a large effect on those who see them. Especially, in video games and animations. With video games we have Model designs of all shape and sizes, from human to inhuman and with animations we have films from the likes of Disney and even Pixar. This presentation covers representation in both video games with their models and in animations with the character designs.

Olivia Shelton graduated in 2012 from Lavaca (Ark.) High school. She will graduate in 2018 with a bachelor’s degree in animation technology and hopes to one day create an animation or video game of her own.

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Student Research Symposium Music Videos: A Bridge Between Video Artistry and Music Marketing Presented by Hilda Flores Soto Table 6

An analysis in music video production as a marketing tool while maintaining artistic influence and creating short films. It will include the origins of music videos and successive popularity in mainstream media through video-streaming sites. It will also focus on the importance of music videos as marketing for the artist considering song performance charts, video-streaming sites views, social media presence, and overall artist promotion through internet-based platforms. It will study music videos as media that produces visually captivating videos including different techniques and elements such as experimental and abstract film, video art, animation and live action as well as narrative filmmaking.

In addition, it will show how the video platform acts to create visual context and imagery for lyrics and meaning behind a song such as social observation, metaphorical ideas, or life experiences. It will include examples of various music videos that interpret and showcase the intertwined relationship of the music video as a piece of visual art and a business component.

Hilda Flores Soto is a senior pursuing a bachelor’s degree in animation technology with a minor in studio art after completing an associate degree in computer graphic technology in spring 2016. Planning to graduate in May 2018, she hopes to one day be able to work in film or music video production.

Everything May Not Be as it Seems: Motion Graphics and Effects Presented by Levi Young Table 7

We live in a world that cares more about first impressions than it does about actual quality. As special effects and graphics continue to improve, things start to get indistinct in our everyday lives, at least to what our eyes see on their own. I will show you what daily special effects and motion graphics your brain constantly sees without you noticing anything is wrong.

This presentation shows video footage side by side of a scene without effects added to it and with effects added to it. The general idea is to show how marketing and advertisement groups are using visual tricks to make pleasing effects for your brain to sway you in the direction of their product, tv show, etc. The presentation also shows some everyday life applications that happen right in front of you that you may never notice.

Levi Young is a senior in the animation technology program. He grew up in the small town of Charleston, Ark., about 30 miles east of Fort Smith. Levi has always had a passion for anything related to the production of graphics, animations, or movies.

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Student Research Symposium 3D Printed Materials Under Pressure Presented by Zane Harrison Table 8

The digital age is here and is advancing faster than we can comprehend. Schools are currently in the process of converting everything to digital work. 3D printing will play a huge role in how students are educated, giving them a chance to see how things work and then make things themselves. It will be important in the future for the next generations to have an understanding of basic physics concepts such as force and tension.

This project will test the strength of PLA (Polylactic Acid) and ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene) on two separate Mangonel catapults. Each of the catapults will be printed in parts and assembled. There will be a table mounting system so that they will be locked in place. The testing process will display how well the catapults perform when launching a marble and will show if both materials can withstand the same stresses. After testing is complete, the differences in each catapult will be discussed and ultimately the best one will be chosen based on results such as how many rotations the catapult can withstand, how far the projectile goes, and the final cost of the material.

Zane Harrison is a sophomore animation technology major. He has always loved computers and what they can do, and when he was offered a part in the UAFS Western Arkansas Technical Center, he gladly jumped aboard. Taking the classes in CGT, he graduated from college a week before he graduated high school in 2016. He is planning on graduating with his first bachelor’s degree in May 2018 and after that perusing a second bachelor.

How CGI Can Help to Promote Body Positivity Presented by Cheyenne Wilson Table 9

Many mediums that use CGI portray characters with idealized body types and simulate unrealistic physics. As a result, these people often feel as though their body is inadequate or develop unrealistic physical expectations. CGI can, however, be used to promote realistic body types that reflect a much more accurate representation of the target audience. Characters with realistic bodies and physics could appear in animated movies, TV shows, and games, which could help revise the standard of beauty in the real world. Realistic body types for CGI animated characters will also help to make these characters more relatable, thus, promoting self-confidence for people of all shapes and sizes and aid in the movement toward body positivity.

This presentation shows research conducted on how CGI characters’ body types affect an audience’s expectations for physical attributes.

I will be looking at statistics, as well as case studies to determine the effect on the population. First-hand interviews will also be conducted. I will also be looking at what the entertainment industry has been doing to create more realistic body expectations via CGI. Cheyenne Wilson is a senior majoring in animation technology and has already obtained an associate degree in digital design and a Certificate of Proficiency in computer graphic technology - mechanical. Originally from Alma, Ark., she is expected to graduate in May of 2018. During her time at UAFS, she has been involved with the National Society of Leadership and Success. She is currently seeking an internship or entry-level position in animation, digital design, or mechanical/architectural drafting.

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Student Research Symposium Paging Dr. VR

Presented by Emilee Hatwig Table 10 A summary of lessons learned through design theory model conceptualization, including object modeling for the environment, buildings and organics as well as materials, lighting, camera positions, and integrating the system into a VR environment.

Featured will be how to integrate objects, materials, and lights into a game engine in order to create the VR environment, as well as how to operate the game engine itself. Research will be focused on the uses of virtual reality outside of purely entertainment purposes, such as for use in healthcare and rehabilitation and the overall medical wellbeing of a person, both physically and cognitively, as well as the technical restrictions or monetary limitations of the equipment necessary.

Emilee Hatwig graduated from Alma (Ark.) High School in 2015 and joined UAFS with the Honors International Studies Program shortly after. She is currently a junior pursuing an associate degree in computer graphic technology – digital design and a Bachelor of Science and Technology in animation technology. She has a passion for storytelling through both animation and film making. She has an interest in artificial intelligence, virtual reality, and the impact both will make when used in society.

Should Films Bring Actors Back from the Dead with CGI? Presented by Austin Lloyd Table 11

The entertainment industry is always innovating and advancing in order to discover new ways to entertain and enthrall audiences and consumers. Recently there has been a developing controversy over the use of Computer Generated Imagery (CGI) to insert deceased actors into film. The technology to recreate scenes with deceased actors is just starting to be a realistic option for many film studios. High profile franchises such as Star Wars and The Hunger Games recently used deceased actor’s images and audio to continue storylines of specific characters which sparked a conversation over this issue and the future implications of CGI. One of the major discussion points is the morality of the use of deceased actors in films. Do actors or their families have the rights to the characters and their depictions? Some famous actors such as Robin Williams before he passed away, have made requests that their likenesses not be used for a certain period of time or that the rights to their depictions would be given to their estate. My research will explore the specific CGI technology used to create this effects and the morality of this developing technology and how it relates to the future of the entertainment industry.

Austin Lloyd is a senior animation technology major who is originally from Houston. He has been involved in many organizations during his time on campus including the Student Government Association, Greek Life, and UAFS Housing. He has enjoyed his opportunities in the animation program and the ability to use his creative thinking and problem solving on assignments. He has recently accepted an internship at Southwest Airlines for the summer of 2018. He plans on graduating in December 2018 with his Bachelor of Science in animation technology.

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Student Research Symposium 3D Design: To Infinity and Beyond Presented by Janell Braswell Table 12

The process of 3D modeling is essentially creating a realistic representation of an object. When the general populace thinks of anything to do with 3D design, their mind automatically goes to movies or video games. But in reality, 3D modeling and animation has applications completely across the board. 3D printing can be found in such practical vocations as advertisement, training simulations, or creating 3D models of a person’s heart based off of their actual CT scans. This research will cover the span of 3D design’s specific applications.

Janell Braswell is a senior in the BSAT animation technology program. Brought up in Hillsboro/Portland, Ore., Janell’s initial push was to get into art and animation. Her fascination of animation began with the original hand-drawn Disney films. Having gone through and overcome many obstacles in her life, Janell is now following her dreams. With the relentless encouragement of her peers, she is furthering her animation career.

The Roar Ring

Presented by Jeremy Mouton Table 13 This project was inspired by UAFS students looking for a stylish class ring. The students inspired a search to recreate the logo into a vibrant and regal emblem that would accurately symbolize the UAFS experience. This project uses Solidworks software to design the unique UAFS class ring. The 3D model is then converted and printed on the 3d printer.

Jeremy Mouton is a student in the computer graphic technology - mechanical program. He enrolled in UAFS in the fall of 2014 and is scheduled to graduate in May 2018.

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Student Research Symposium Our Figments

Presented by Kasey Green Table 14 “Our Figments” project is the creation of a video game that is centered on mental and physical health. Human beings can have battles with depression, anxiety, and physical ailments. In other cases, more serious things like personality disorders or chronic illnesses can attack the human body and mind. “Our Figments” will explore the ways the human mind works in a fictional way rather than scientific. It will feature a main character and his companion. They will travel to other people’s minds to aid them in their suffering. The enemies in the game are personified versions of mental illnesses, physical ailments, or fears. The story line involves the battle of the minds. Phase one of the project is to create the finalized looks of the protagonist and his companion, as well as one or two of the enemies that can be encounter.

Kasey Green is a sophomore at UAFS. She graduated high school in Greenwood, Ark. Because of her interest in the video game industry, she decided to participate in the WATC classes for general computer graphics technology. Taking the two years of classes helped her expand her knowledge of computer animation programs. From her two years in the WATC program, Kasey figured out exactly what she wanted to do as a career. She hopes that her knowledge will take her to a job pertaining to character development/design in the entertainment industry.

Electrical Discharge Machining and Bearing Failure Presented by Samuel DeLaet Table 15

Motor bearing life has historically been from six to ten years with sinusoidal 60 Hz power to the motor.

However, with modern adjustable speed drives (ASDs), some users are seeing bearing damage in as little as one week. The damage is caused by electric currents flowing through the bearings from shaft to motor frame. This electric potential is associated with the use of solid-state switches, called transistors, which turn on and off thousands of times per second to control the voltage applied to the motor windings. These new switching devices, turning on and off very fast with extremely short rise and fall times of the applied voltages, have dramatically increased stress on the motor windings and on the bearings. This damage is not limited only to AC motors, but also can stress DC motors, when driven by ASDs. Bearing damage caused by electric currents flowing through them is called electrical discharge machining (EDM) or Fluting. My project will show how to adjust the motors to avoid failure.

Sam DeLaet is an Alma, Ark., native residing in Fort Smith. He is a husband and father. After starting college in the computer graphic technology - mechanical program in 2015, Sam learned enough about the design software to start applying for jobs at Baldor, where he has been working for the past eight years. After three interviews for design jobs, Sam acquired an internship on the Fort Smith motor design team. He stayed in this intern position until a full-time position came open on the Ozark/Columbus design team. For two years now Sam has been working full time in design engineering for Baldor/ABB and loves his job. Sam will be graduating in the spring of 2018 with an associate degree in computer graphic technology - mechanical.

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Student Research Symposium 3D Printed “Red Death” Model Project from the Game “Destiny” Presented by Mitchell McIntosh Table 16

The game “Destiny” is classified as a first-person shooter with some light RPG and MMO elements. RPG stands for role playing game and MMO stands for massive multiplayer online. This project will create a replica of an exotic pulse rifle named “Red Death”.

Exotics are special guns in the game that have special attributes. The “Red Death” is one of eight exotic pulse rifles found in the game. This project will involve designing the rifle in 3ds Max software and then make the replica using the 3d printer.

Mitchell McIntosh is a sophomore seeking a computer graphic technology degree with a concentration in digital design. He will graduate in the spring of 2018. From a young age, Mitchell loved to build and make things. This sparked his interest in making 3D models and bringing his creations to life using a 3D printer.

Customized Jeep Wrangler Roll Bar (Lighting) Presented by Logan Neel Table 17

As a Jeep Wrangler owner, many wonder… how do I see inside my car at night with such lack of lighting? How could the stock plastic speaker enclosure be improved in order to see efficiently within the cabin of my vehicle?

The Jeep Wrangler stock roll bar assembly comes with a single lighting compartment with two 3157 bulbs that produce 402 lumens each. My project is to create custom inlays within the existing plastic panels to produce a higher yield of lumens. The research involves comparing the voltage/wattage of power consumed from the two different bulb settings, as well as comparing the rated life between both the incandescent and led bulbs. This will allow the owner to efficiently save money and not have to replace the bulbs of the interior lighting as much. I will be providing information such as the difference of lumens between the stock bulbs versus the new led paneling. The project will be designed in 3D using Solidworks software.

Logan Neel is a UAFS student seeking an associate degree in computer graphic technology - mechanical. He is a native of Fort Smith and upon graduation hopes to seek employment in a field of design for making custom metal objects for cars or other vehicles. His plans include obtaining a bachelor’s degree before going to work in the design field.

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Student Research Symposium Sustainable Living in the Event of a Zombie Apocalypse Presented by Danielle Ainsburg Table 18

My initial idea comes from a lot of hours spent watching the TV show “The Walking Dead” among other zombie related shows. I’ve spent a lot time contemplating the problems that zombies run into and how the problems could be solved. My project will integrate what I’ve learned while at UAFS in the CGT program with my movie watching experiences.

My project is to design a sustainable community living area that includes houses, main community buildings, gates, gardens, farm areas, electricity areas that use solar panels, a potable water system for drinking and crops, and areas for the freedom feel vs feeling trapped. Using Revit software, I will design a giant luxurious community where zombies can feel free to live – in real life or in animated movie life.

Danielle Ainsburg, a 35-year-old Navy veteran majoring in computer graphic technology - architecture, was born and raised in western Massachusetts. She attended a vocational high school and graduated with a diploma in electrical technology. Before pursuing her current degree, she struggled to find a career that answered her passion for life. After moving to the Fort Smith area, she enrolled at UAFS in the computer graphic technology program where she will earn her associate degree at the end of this semester.

The Bead Keeper

Presented by Constance Helton Table 19 As a small business owner, I make and sell elastic beaded bracelets. This design project involves a solution to one of the problems with creating the bracelets. Sorting out all the different beads and keeping them sorted in the required order creates a time and cost management issue. With four kids and a house to run, I don’t always have a lot of time to do things in one sitting. My solution: The Bead Keeper. The design has compartments measured out to make one bracelet per slot. The lid keeps them from spilling until I’m ready to make the bracelet. I can sort and keep safe multiple sets of beads for bracelets at once. This is also helpful when I have someone else bead them after I sort them. With the creation of the Bead Keeper, work can successfully be done in stages as needed.

Constance Helton is a 33-year-old sophomore from Charleston, Ark. She is a wife and mother of four children who take up her time when she is not focused on class work. She is working toward an Associate of Applied Science in computer graphic technology mechanical. While working in a box factory, Constance discovered she was good with computer programs. She has maintained a 3.84 GPA and will be graduating this spring. She is hoping to be a CADD drafter for a sheet metal/box factory or work in the 3D prosthetics field

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Student Research Symposium Keeping Percents Up Presented by Rufino Lira-Martinez Table 20

A majority of the U.S. population now have smart phones. Keeping them charged is sometimes a challenge. Cables get torn up or the phone is not properly connected to the cable. My project is to design a wireless charger for the smart phone. My design will involve a new shape with easy docking applications. The design will be completed with 3D software. The charger will then be printed on a 3D printer.

Rufino Lira-Martinez is a 2014 graduate of Van Buren (Ark.) High School. Shortly after starting college at UAFS, Rufino joined the military. He completed basic training for the U.S. Marine Corps in San Diego, Calif. In the fall of 2015, he returned to school to continue his education with a focus in computer graphic technology - architectural.

Rapid Prototyping: Developing Concepts for Unexplored Fields Presented by David McKay and Wesley Johnson Table 21

This project involves the use of 3D printing and 3D software as a means of rapid prototyping as a means of visualizing and stress testing products for various industries. The goal of this project is to show the ability to rapidly prototype concepts utilizing fusion 360 and 3D printing. By utilizing Fusion 360’s virtual stress tests and simulations within 3D space prior to 3D printing, the ability for finalizing build concepts will become faster. The potential of rapid prototyping would help many industries including medical, construction, and rescue operations in creating even more effective and specialized equipment.

David McKay graduated from Alma (Ark.) High School in 2014, has an associate’ degree in digital design, and is currently working towards his bachelor’s degree in animation technology. Outside of school he is an Eagle Scout and vice president of the Student Animators organization at UAFS. He is a creative individual with a passion for mechanical and industrial design. He draws inspiration from the development of technology and seeks to push the boundaries of how we interact and utilize it.

While being a native of Fort Smith, Wesley Johnson is an Eagle Scout, an avid 3D designer, and a senior animation technology student at tUAFS. His focus has been on the film industry but at the same time work on his own film has provided new ideas for many different industries, most specifically medical technology and technical simulations.

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Student Research Symposium LAAOs, NGFs, and CRiSPs: Three Under-Studied Snake Venom Protein Families Presented by Phuc Phan Table 22

Although snake venoms have fascinated people for thousands of years, many families of venoms are little-known. This may be due to the inherent difficulties studying front-fanged snakes, or that the Colubridae, the non-front-fanged snakes, are understudied. This project is aimed to investigate their characteristics and applications. These toxins show remarkable abilities in snake venoms, during and after envenomation. Some demonstrate the ability to synergize with other toxins like Nerve Growth factors (NGFs) to amplify their effects. Others like L-Amino Acid Oxidases (LAAOs) show incredible cytotoxicity by inhibiting various ion channels using Cysteine-Rich Secretory Proteins (CRiSPs). These proteins also have other fascinating properties like inducing apoptosis, suppressing tumors, inhibiting bacterial growth, and upregulation of other toxins. We hereby present what is known about these three minor toxin families: LAAOs, NGFs and CRiSPs. The Colubridae form the majority of modern snakes, and these organisms and their toxins have ironically been overlooked. Through this review, we hope to ignite interests from the scientific community to investigate the Colubridae family and their venoms further.

Phuc (Peter) Phan was born in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. He has been in the United States for four years and is a junior seeking a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry at UAFS with a minor in psychology. He is interested in neurotoxic proteins as well as other fascinating toxins from the animal kingdom and their potential applications. He plans to attend graduate school after graduation and pursue a graduate degree in biochemistry or neurology.

Isolation of Mycobacterial Bacteriophages from Local Environmental Samples Presented by Khoa Bui Table 23

Increasing antibiotic resistant bacteria is one of the largest concerns in healthcare. Novel alternative antibiotic treatments that could rival antibiotics’ effectiveness while preventing further emergence of superbugs are of urgent need to be discovered. Among the most promising ideas is phage (bacterial virus) therapy. As part of the contribution to the phage hunting effort, this research initially hypothesized that if mycobacteriophages could be isolated from the environment, then an alternative therapy for diseases like tuberculosis could be developed. For this project, Mycobacterium smegmatis was used as a safe substitute to develop different phage isolation techniques. A spread plate technique was performed to assay for desired phages. Briefly, M. smegmatis was transferred to fresh agar plates and smeared evenly using a sterile cotton swab. Sewage filtrates were then added in aliquots of four and six drops to their respective plates and spread to cover the entire surface. Since M. smegmatis exhibits slow growth, similar procedures were also applied on E.coli cultures for comparative study. So far, current results have shown no formation of plaques from sewage samples, which is the richest source of phages. Soil and mud samples are also being screened for the presence of phages.

Khoa Bui is an international student from Vietnam. He has been working in the Student Activities Office for two years as a student assistant and is President of the Alpha Epsilon Delta pre-health honors society. He won the Chemistry Horizon Award in 2015, his freshman year, for excellence in academic pursuits. Upon graduation he is leaning toward applying for graduate school.

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Student Research Symposium Human Lymphoma T-Cells Treated with Retinoids Presented by Brenda Rosales, Natalie Nguyen, and Chris Mizell Table 24

Retinoids, natural and synthetic derivatives of vitamin A, have been used to treat cutaneous T cell lymphoma (CTCL) for over three decades. Unfortunately, the full clinical potential of retinoids is unrealized due to common adverse side effects associated with use.

Multiple human T-lymphoma cell lines were cultured with retinoids at various times and concentrations. Cell growth and viability was assessed with a Trypan blue exclusion assay to determine which treatment conditions maximized the desired outcomes of suppressed growth and cellular death. As the natural role of retinoids in immunity is to target immune cells to the gut by inducing the expression of the integrin β receptor, the relative expression of this marker was analyzed to determine if its expression correlated with cell death.

This approach will optimize conditions to produce desired clinical endpoints and refine retinoid regiments to curtail the unwanted side effects that have limited retinoid use. Future studies will determine if retinoid-induced 7 expression is associated with apoptotic death. This work could provide insight into the potential mechanism of retinoids which are a proven beneficial therapy of CTCL. Brenda Rosales is a junior at UAFS majoring in biochemistry with a minor in applied statistics. Attending Medical Applications of Science for Health (MASH), a high school program aimed at exploring various careers in the health field, left such a lasting impact that she chose to enter the College of STEM. Three years later she is now collaborating with Dr. Lance Bridges, chair of biochemistry at the Arkansas College of Osteopathic Medicine, researching human lymphoma T-cells. Brenda aspires to continue working in the lab as a graduate student after completing her undergraduate degree. When Brenda is not fulfilling one of her roles in campus organizations, she is leading a children’s religious education class.

Natalie Nguyen is a junior at UAFS majoring in biochemistry with minors in psychology and applied statistics. She graduated from Northside High school in 2015. For four years she was in Upward Bound, a program to prepare high school students for college entrance, which helped her achieve higher educational purposes. She is currently in a biomedical research class which has given her the opportunity to work with Dr. Lance Bridges on his research on vitamin A derivatives on lymphoma. This research will provide the groundwork for future projects.

Chris Mizell is a 32-year-old non-traditional junior at UAFS. Before college he graduated from Northside High School, then join the Army National Guard for six years. He decided to come back to college and get his degree in 2017. He is majoring in biology with hopes of going to graduate school or even medical school. He is doing undergraduate research so he can determine what is the right path for him.

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Student Research Symposium Testing the Prospect of Essential Oils as a Homeopathic Alternative to Antibiotics Presented by Jamie Fletcher and Vi Le Table 25

With certain treatments, like penicillin, becoming less effective due to an increase in antibiotic resistance, alternative methods of treatment need to be tested. For our research project, essential oils were tested on different strains of gram positive rods/cocci and gram-negative rod-shaped bacteria to measure their growth inhibition. Previous research has shown that adding cinnamon to apple juice as an example will decrease the growth of Escherichia coli. We hypothesized that if a variety of essential oils are screened for activity against fourteen different bacteria, some essential oils will inhibit the growth of the bacteria because of their antibacterial properties. Cultured bacteria were exposed to six different essential oils and the inhibition zone was measured.

Gram negative rods were more prone to inhibition by the essential oils than gram positive cocci/rods. This was not expected as it contradicts the general behaviors of gram negative rods being more resistant to antibiotics than gram-positive positive bacteria due to gram negative rods having an outer membrane, LPS core, and their ability to mutate and acquire genetic material. These findings suggest that further research on the effectiveness of essential oils as antibiotics is worth pursuing, and may contribute to the development of new alternative treatments.

Jamie Fletcher is a junior, and this is her first semester of undergraduate research. She is an active member of the chemistry club and wants to apply for medical school upon completion of her bachelor’s degree.

Vi Le is a junior and a member of the chemistry club. This is her first time doing undergraduate research. She plans to apply to medical school or graduate school upon completion of her bachelor’s degree.

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Student Research Symposium Mapping Neurodegenerative Diseases

Presented by Debbie Robertson, Mark Spradlin, and Priscilla Devora Table 26 Huntington’s, Parkinson’s, and Alzheimer’s are all neurodegenerative diseases associated with improper functioning of NMDA receptors.NMDA receptors are essential neurotransmitter receptors found in many species, including mammals and Drosophila melanogaster (fruit flies), and function in memory and learning formation. The NMDA receptor is known to be regulated via tyrosine phosphorylation. Ptpmeg, a protein tyrosine phosphatase, is highly expressed in the central nervous system of Drosophila where it is responsible for the proper formation and maintenance of axonal projections in the mushroom body, the center for olfactory learning and memory. Ptpmeg has two vertebrate homologs, PTPN3 and PTPN4, that are known to be expressed in the nervous system of mammals. Data suggests that Ptpmeg binds and dephosphorylates the dNR1 subunit of the NMDA receptor in Drosophila brains. This study will test the hypothesis that Ptpmeg reduces dNR1 phosphorylation in Drosophila neurons, resulting in apoptosis (cell death).This hypothesis will be tested by analyzing the effect of mutant compared to wild type Ptpmeg on phosphorylation levels of dNR1 in Drosophila. Characterization of Ptpmeg:dNR1 interactions will likely aid in the understanding of the role this interaction plays in development of neurodegenerative diseases.

Debbie Robertson is a sophomore at UAFS working to earn her biochemistry degree in order to attend medical school in the future.

She holds office in Skills USA and has won gold in medical quiz bowl two years running along with silver in medical terminology.

She also is an active member in the Biology and Chemistry clubs. Debbie has gained a keen interest in biomedical research and has furthered her interest by working with prestige researchers at the new ARCOM university in Fort Smith.

Mark Spradlin was born and raised in Fort Smith. He is currently a junior biology student at UAFS conducting biomedical research in hopes of contributing to his future in medicine and diseases. This research could help to influence the scientific community and have a direct link to better understanding degenerative diseases. He is also very interesting and well adjusted in many biology clubs throughout the university.

Priscilla Devora is a fifth-year student at UAFS. She graduated cum honore in May 2017 with a Bachelor of Science in chemistry and will graduate this May with a Bachelor of Science in biology. This project is a continuation of the research she conducted in the spring of 2017.

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Student Research Symposium Plant Tissue Culture for Vegetable Oil Production Presented by Jeff Ritter, Qasim Mian, Alberto Soto, Laci Metheny, and Allyssia Efurd Table 27

Biodiesel is a type of biofuel made from plants that can be used in a diesel engine. On average biodiesel has the same energy content as regular diesel and produces less emissions, making it a preferred substitute to diesel and other fossil fuels. Currently, biodiesel production requires vast amounts of farmland to produce the vegetable oil needed for this process. Which can be detrimental to native ecosystems. A potential way to solve vegetable oil production issues is to culture the cells responsible that produce in a bioreactor, reducing the need for dedicated farmland.

In this experiment, portions of canola plant leaves are excised and grown on a media containing select nutrients, vitamins, and hormones encouraging cell division and growth. Through hormonal manipulation the cells of the plant can be re-differentiated into parenchyma tissue. Parenchyma tissue is composed of the cells used to produce vegetable oils in canola. The tissue will be transferred to various fluid environments to determine the conditions needed for mass production of parenchymal tissue in a bioreactor. If it is as cost effective to grow canola in a bioreactor over farmland cultivation, then this could be a viable option for the mass production of biofuels.

Jeff Ritter moved from Fort Smith to Greenwood, Ark., and studies biochemistry at UAFS. He works in the grants office for the university, working on several research projects. He is passionate about tissue culture and plans to pursue a graduate degree as a tissue engineer.

Qasim Mian is a second-generation American. His parents came from Pakistan to secure a better future for him and his siblings.

Qasim feels very grateful to his parents for that decision. He is very devoted to the sciences and has been blessed to be able to fill this love at UAFS. Qasim is a future doctor who plans to be one of the best physicians this world has ever seen. Along the lines of medicine, he is fascinated by stem cell technology and research. Qasim is so excited to get to work on amazing research projects at this university, like the Biofuels Canola Project, which deals with plant stem cells. By choosing UAFS he feels he is closer to his dreams because he has been blessed with the best professors and mentors ever.

Alberto Soto is a biology student from the small town of Van Buren, Ark., seeking an opportunity to do something greater than himself. He aspires to go to medical school and become a surgeon. Only time will tell if he can accomplish his goals.

Laci Metheny is a 32-year-old student who feels she has persevered in her journey as a scientist, which began in 2005. She is living proof that anyone can come back to school in order to follow their dreams, no matter the age or the struggle. Laci views science as a beautiful field because it is about being innovative while applying skills learned. Her dream is to be published in a scientific journal and to be well-respected within the scientific community.

Allyssia Efurd is currently working towards a math degree, and her ultimate goal is to become a teacher.

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Student Research Symposium Data Collection of Biofilms in Integrated Agricultural System Presented by Megan Bottoms, Courtne Climer, Michael Edgar, and Markus Althoff Table 28

Biofilms are slimy layers of bacteria that cover surfaces. These bacteria can become problematic in an integrated agricultural system. It is important to test for biofilms to know what microorganisms are in the closed agricultural system. By carrying out biofilm collection and data analysis of the system, the natural flora of such can be determined. Conversely, once a natural equilibrium has been established, unwanted bacteria that negatively affect the system can was noted and observed. Data collection was gathered from three closed integrated systems that involved plants, freshwater, and Oreochromis niloticus, focusing on the data collection and analysis of biofilms in each water system.

Megan Bottoms is a graduating senior with a major in biochemistry and a minor in history. She is from a background of workingclass individuals and is a first-generation college student. Megan grew up on a farm in Havana, Ark., where her family owned pullet units and various farm animals. This changed when she came to be of school age because her parents divorced. Because of this she did not have a steady home until she was 12 years old. This coincided with the death of her father. Megan’s mother has been disabled since the 2005. Given her background Megan feels that she has had a lot of life experience that has shaped her and made her who she is today.

Courtne Climer is from Greenwood, Ark. She graduated from Greenwood High School in 2014 and began attending UAFS in the fall of 2014. Courtne is a biology major wishing to pursue a doctorate degree in physical therapy. The health science field interests her mostly because of the many applications in life that can be learned from it.

Michael Edgar was born in Fort Smith and raised around the same area, whether in Van Bure, Ark., or Muldrow, Okla. He graduated from Muldrow High School in 2016. Michael plans to graduate UAFS in 2016 with a degree in biology. After college he plans to attend graduate school. Michael is still trying to decide what his future holds for a career.

Markus Althoff graduated from County Line (Ark.) High School and now studies biology at UAFS. He plans to graduate by 2019 with a bachelor’s in biology.

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Student Research Symposium Effect of Fish-Based Nutrient Effluent Water on Plant Growth Presented by Sara Wilkinson, Aaron Centeno, John McCawley, and Samantha Pham Table 29

Sustainability has always been a predominant concern within the agricultural community, especially when efficiency can be maintained at the lowest possible cost to both consumers and producers. The value of this research stems directly from potentially lowering the costs of agricultural production by testing an alternative way of fertilizing crops. If this system comes to fruition, traditional ground soils can be reused without the need for more expensive soilless systems since most of the native nutrient charge should come from the fish based nutrient effluent water. The primary process that we are testing is a two stage system: the first stage being the tank with fish and the second stage being tank with bacteria to break down ammonia into nitrate. The purpose of our research is to devise and monitor a system that can possibly utilize the waste products of fish (ammonia) and exploit the waste for fertilizing the crops. Hypothetically, if the fish can produce enough ammonia to keep the plants efficiently fertilized, then the group with pure ammonia treatment should grow and thrive as well as the plant group treated by traditionally used fertilizer proving that it could be used as an alternative to traditional fertilization methods.

Sara Wilkinson grew up in Fayetteville, Ark.. She is a sophomore at UAFS majoring in biology. Sara loves studying all the different healthier alternatives to the foods we eat and the damage we do to the environment. She is very excited for the outcome of this project.

Aaron Centeno grew up around greenhouses with his family’s business. He has always been interested in agriculture and horticulture. His family never got into any kind of horticulture research, and that is something that he would love to change. He would like to possibly add a research branch otothe family business.

John McCawley graduated from Muldrow (Okla.) High School and worked for many years with sheet metal and HVAC, handling everything from AutoCAD to installation. He later decided to go back to college and be a high school science teacher. It has been a bumpy road, but he believes he is getting there.

Samantha Pham graduated with honors and a weighted GPA of 4.182 from Northside High School in Fort Smith. She is currently working on her bachelor’s degree in chemistry at UAFS and has a strong interest in pursuing graduate school to do further research on bio-plastics and sustainable materials. She also has a strong interest for sustainable research and the conservation of resources.

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Student Research Symposium Differing Soil Erosion Rates and Microbiota in Closed Integrated Systems Presented by Tai Sanchez, Taha Yasin, Aaron Tomlin, and Katelynn Bagwell Table 30

World population levels are expected to reach nine billion by the year 2020, and as the growth of human population growth continues to exponentially outpace its capability to feed itself, we must research new and innovative means of food production. Lack of food security has increasingly become a topic of concern for many countries where arable land is in short supply, and given the projected population growth rates, it is only a matter of time before food shortages become a global epidemic. Through the development and use of aquaculture, areas of the world which were once only considered marginal for use in food production could be made to be more productive, alleviating some of the increasing pressures already placed on our diminishing farmlands.

The purpose of this study is to gather data and examine the micro constituents of soil in order to identify the optimum levels for use in a closed integrated system.

The use of a greenhouse enclosed integrated system permitted research to concentrate on specific beneficial and harmful micro constituents of soil while minimalizing external variables not typically associated with agriculture.

Tai Sanchez was born and raised in California until he was 11. His mother lived in Oklahoma and his father lived in Hawaii while he stayed in California with his grandmother. He spent most of his school breaks visiting his mother and father. He moved to Oklahoma and Arkansas during junior high and high school. Tai attended Carl Albert State College for information technology.

During this time he became interested in bioinformatics, which led him to switch his major to biology for a better foundation.

Cooking was his passion growing up. Alton Brown’s Good Eats cooking show incorporated the cooking processes and chemical reactions behind each meal. His longterm goal is to earn a Ph.D. in microbiology or marine biology and use his extra income to fund his own restaurant.

Taha Yasin is 23 years old and was born in Damascus, Syria. He is recently married and is nearing completion of his degree in Bbology. He plans to use this knowledge gained to not only grow plants more efficiently, but to share his knowledge, let it sprout, and grow where it’s needed.

Aaron Tomlin spent his childhood in Muldrow, Okla., and remained in the local area until joining the U.S. Army in 1992. Upon retiring after serving over 20 years in military, he returned to his home town and decided to further his education by pursuing a degree in biology at UAFS. He is currently a junior, and upon completion of his degree he expects to continue working toward a master’s degree at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville. He has four children with his wife Kathy and plans to remain in the local area upon completion of his education goals.

Katelynn Bagwell is a 22-year-old biology major with a love of horticulture and research.

87

Student Research Symposium Investigating the Effect of Nutrients on Fish Growth Presented by Kenneth Williams, Anna Heppner, Abbigail Davis, and Loren Lale Table 31

Fish health and size are key elements to maximizing output for integrated plant and fish systems. This study investigates how different treatments of nutrient loading will impact the size and health of Ictalurus punctatus (channel catfish). Tanks containing soil and Phaseolus vulgaris will be filtering the fish effluent water. One plant treatment system will receive only effluent water from the fish while another will receive fish effluent water and synthetic fertilizer. Water from the plant systems will be cycled back into the fish confinement component. Our priority and main focus is to randomly select 10 fish from each treatment daily and collect standard growth data, such as length, girth and weight. Upon completion of the data collection period, 10 fish will be randomly selected and euthanized using nitric oxide (IACUC approval pending). The brain, heart, and viscera will be removed, observed, and measured to determine effects of treatments on tissue. Test includes two systems, each with four plant confinement tanks (PC), one fish confinement (FC), and one filtration tank (F). Water will cycle through the FC and F components. Effects of PC effluent on fish will be determined. One treatment will include synthetic nutrients while another will not.

Ken Williams received a Bachelor of Science in chemistry summa cum laude with honors along with the Outstanding Student Commitment for Community Service & Civic Engagement Award from Oklahoma City University in May 2017. He founded the Repurposing Club at OCU, which started a recycling program for on-campus housing. Ken also founded and is the current copresident of the Green Team at UAFS. Before beginning high school, Ken, a second-generation Eagle Scout, bicycled across the United States with his father. Williams is fluent in Japanese and is a left-handed pitcher on the Lions baseball team.

Anna Heppner grew up in Fayetteville, Ark., and graduated salutatorian from Elkins (Ark.) High School. he started attending UAFS in the fall of 2014 on a full Chancellor’s Scholarship. She is pursuing a degree in biology and hopes to obtain her master’s in nutrition/dietetics. Outside of school she is heavily involved in church by leading worship and bible studies. She loves singing, anything fitness related, and spending time with family and friends. Her main goal in life is to glorify Christ in everything she does and to point others to Him. Abby Davis is a sophomore biology major at UAFS with aspirations of being an anesthesiologist. She is proud to have been a part of the 2016-2017 UAFS cheer team that ended up winning the NCA Collegiate National Championship last April in Daytona Beach, Fla. Her time on campus has been amazing, and to get the opportunity to further her learning through the sustainable agriculture research class has been an incredible experience already.

Loren Lale is a biology student at UAFS. She works at Labahn Veterinary Hospital in Fort Smith, and after graduating she hopes to attend veterinary school.

88

Student Research Symposium Toxicity Levels and Fitness of Integrated Fish

Presented by Sage Mackin, Miriam Claveria, Tayler Markham, and Pierce Evans Table 32 Small farmers make up a significant portion of the U.S. food production. This project seeks to create a food production system that reuses energy, water, and nutrient budgets by integrating terrestrial grown plants with fish production. Three treatments will be used during this study. Treatment one will include plants in soil irrigated with nutrient effluent from a fish confinement. Treatment two will also use fish effluent to irrigate plants in soil, however, 50% of the nutrient budget will come from synthetic fertilizer.

Effluent from the two plant confinements will be collected and returned to their corresponding fish confinement. Treatment three will include plants in soil irrigated with municipal water with 100% of the nutrient budget sourced from synthetic fertilizer. Fitness of the fish will be directly related to their environment and the chemicals inputted. By comparing the meat-to-bone ratio of fish from treatments one and two, we can determine the growth efficiency of the integrated system. A comparison of toxicity by visual inspection of various fish tissues will also be determined. This will allow us to determine potential thresholds for fish toxicity in an integrated system and the impact of the plant confinement on the fish.

Sage Mackin is a biology major trying to determine her career path. She is interested in research and applied sciences to make agriculture as efficient as it can be. Efficiency and environmental conservation are the most important aspects of science in her view. age is currently working at her parents’ skating rink in Van Buren, Ark.. This has allowed her to be able to handle public encounters despite her early troubles dealing with public settings. Sage has always been drawn to science and writing and now hopes to find a niche in the workplace she can fill.

Miriam Claveria is a sophomore biology student. She is considering a career in either sustainable agriculture research or microbiology. Miriam has always been drawn to scientific research and its potential to help nearly every aspect of society in one way or another.

Tayler Markham is a sophomore at UAFS. She is working toward earning her degree in biology and plans on attending graduate school after graduation. Tayler is from Van Buren, Ark., where she grew up loving the outdoors and eating lots of Girl Scout cookies. She works at USA Truck as a dedicated weekend dispatcher and has gained lots of experience in multitasking, communication, and teamwork.

Pierce Evans is from Greenwood, Ark., where he attended Greenwood High School and graduated in 2015. He enjoys playing disc golf, basketball, fishing, and basically any outdoor activity imaginable. Pierce learned at an early age that he had a love for math and science. He hopes to apply what he has learned and become a dentist.

89

Student Research Symposium Monitoring Water Temperatures in Massard Creek with Digital Loggers Presented by Josie Nunez Table 33

South Fort Smith was once part of Massard Prairie, a vast tallgrass ecosystem that has largely been lost to development. Now only about 2% of the 10,000-acre prairie remain and can be found at Ben Geren Park and the Fort Smith Regional Airport. Jay Randolph, horticulturist and Certified Golf Course Superintendent at Ben Geren Golf Course, is leading an effort to restore several acres of tallgrass vegetation using seeds harvested from a few remnant patches of native prairie. UAFS geoscience and biology faculty and students are partnering with Randolph to monitor the environmental impact from the restoration on the Massard Creek watershed.

Recognizing that temperature is a crucial component of water quality, digital temperature loggers will be deployed at several sites along Massard Creek. The digital loggers will be programmed to record water temperature once every 30 minutes. Once a week, the stored temperature data will be transferred onto an app on a cellular device and relayed to a desktop computer at UA Fort Smith.

The nearly continuous record of water temperature changes will be used along with other data to test the hypothesis that tallgrass restoration is beneficial to water quality in Massard Creek watershed.

Josie Nunez is a Fort Smith native and is currently a junior biology major at UAFS.

Using Diatoms in Pond Sediment to Infer Environmental Changes in the Massard Creed Watershed Presented by Ruth Victoriano Table 34

Back in 1819, Fort Smith had about 10,000 acres of Massard Prairie, a vast tallgrass ecosystem with many native plants. Now Massard Prairie is the site of the Fort Smith Regional Airport and Ben Geren Park. In 2016, an effort to restore several acres of tallgrass plants by using seeds from a few remaining pieces of native prairie was started by Jay Randolph, a horticulturist and Certified Golf Course Superintendent at Ben Geren Park. UAFS geoscience and biology faculty and students are partnering with Randolph to monitor the environmental impact of tallgrass plant restoration on the Massard Creek watershed. To assess environmental change through time, a sediment core will be collected from a local pond and sliced into 1 cm sections. The diatom assemblage of each section will be analyzed to evaluate environmental conditions and water quality before the restoration. Diatoms are unicellular groups of microalgae and are common phytoplankton that form colonies of different shapes. The modern diatom assemblage will be determined by analyzing algal scum collected from the surface of rocks submerged in the pond. This data will provide a baseline for pre-restoration environmental conditions that can be compared to post-restoration conditions.

Ruth Victoriano has lived in Fort Smithall her life. She graduated from Southside High School in 2015 and is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in biology and then a M.D. or D.O. Her career goal is to become a family physician with a background in herbal medicine.

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Student Research Symposium Bedrock Geology Along Massard Creek Presented by Pedro Gutierrez Table 35

Massard Prairie was once a vast tallgrass ecosystem that covered 10,000 acres in south Fort Smith. Less than 100 highly fragmented acres remain and those are at risk due to development. Jay Randolph, a horticulturist and Certified Golf Course Superintendent at Ben Geren Golf Course, is leading an effort to restore and reconstruct biological diversity with an emphasis on tallgrass vegetation. The restoration will include procuring high quality native seed from the remaining prairie remnants and using them to reestablish native vegetation on several acres in Ben Geren Park. UAFS geoscience and biology faculty and students are partnering with Randolph to monitor the environmental impact of the restoration on the Massard Creek watershed. Detailed knowledge of the bedrock geology is prerequisite to understanding the hydrology of the restoration site. Consequently, the bedrock geology will be mapped on a large-scale topographic map created for this project. Most of the area is covered with thin soils, but erosion has exposed the Pennsylvanian (323 – 299 m.y.) McAlester Formation in the bed of Massard Creek and its tributaries.

Mapping will be facilitated with a Brunton compass, a handheld GPS, and software to produce a presentation-quality geologic map.

Pedro Gutierrez is a senior at UAFS working toward a bachelor’s degree in geoscience. He serves as the vice president of the Geology Club and attends geological conferences such as American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG), Geological Society of America (GSA), and Fort Smith Geological Society (FSGS). His recent research activity includes analysis of heavy metals in Wells Lake sediment using Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (FAAS). He received the 2017 Outstanding Geoscience Research award from UAFS.

Use of FTIR and Principle Component Analysis for Characterization of Over-the-Counter Medication and Food Supplements Excipients Presented by Siera Henderson Table 36

Excipients (binders, coating, colors, flavors, lubricant, sweeteners and vehicles, preservatives) are routinely used to promote the stability, solubility, absorption, and shell-life span of prescription drugs, over-the-counter (OTC) medications, and food supplements in pharmaceutical industries. Sucrose, lactose, gelatins, and cellulose are the most widely used excipients in OTC medications and food supplements. The finger-print signature of excipients can be used to evaluate the authenticity of OTC medications and food supplements, to differentiate authentic from counterfeited drugs and to distinguish drugs or food supplement from different manufacturing industries. This study employed Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) to characterize and to evaluate differences and/or similarity in excipient of a diverse OTC medications (analgesic, antihistamine, and cold/cough) and various food supplements. The name brand of the OTC medications were also tested along with the “generic” or “store” brands. Most excipients showed a characteristic carbohydrate broad hydroxyl FITR absorption around 3400 cm-1. The FTIR spectra of the excipients were further subjected to a principal component analysis (PCA) for pattern recognition of OTC medications and food supplements. The result of FTIR measurement and PCA of OTC and food supplement excipients will be presented.

Siera Henderson is a non-traditional freshman chemistry student. Her long-term goal is to use her chemistry background and research experience for the development of analytical protocols for chemical analysis of molecules of environmental, pharmaceutical, food, and biomedical interest. She is also interested in conducting research on cancer, childhood illnesses, and health disparity, and ultimately wishes to conduct research for Saint Jude Children’s Hospital in the future.

91

Student Research Symposium Determination of Caffeine Content and Estimated Daily Intake of Beverages Consumption of College Students Presented by John Nguyen Table 37

Several studies have shown a considerable increase in childhood obesity in United States due in part to an excessive intake of soda, lack of physical exercise, poor diet, the consumption of excessive carbohydrate-based diets, and the intake of soda. Among other health issues, childhood obesity is known to results in reduced life span, Type II diabetes mellitus diseases and a host of other health-related concerns. The intake of caffeine from beverages (i.e., soda, coffee, energy drinks, and sport nutrition drinks) has also increased among college students in recent years. Excessive intake of caffeine and abuse of powdered caffeine has become a societal problem, particularly among adolescents and school age students with serious negative health implications. The overarching goal of this study is to determine the concentration of caffeine in beverage using UV-visible spectroscopy. The study also aims to evaluate self-reported daily intake of water, soda, coffee, energy drinks, and caffeine intake patterns in college students using a survey. The result of our caffeine analysis and estimate daily intake of water, beverages and caffeine will be used to create an awareness of the health implication of excessive intake of soda and caffeine among college students to prevent public health safety.

John Nguyen is a sophomore biochemistry major at UAFS. His ultimate goal is to become a medical doctor.

Purity Analysis and Antioxidant Capacity of Selected Natural and Essential Oils by FTIR, UV-Visible Spectroscopy, and Multivaria Presented by Shayla Smithson Table 38

Global increase in demand of natural oil (NOs) and essential oils (EOs) has resulted in unprecedented cases of adulteration of oils with cheap and artificial oils with severe economic implications for a food and cosmetic industry and health implications to the customers and public safety. The goal of this study is to develop a rapid, low cost analytical protocol for purity analysis of NOs (peanut, sunflower, avocado, grape seed, almond, olive) and EOs (frankincense, spearmint, fennel, cinnamon bark, cedarwood, pine, thyme, and others). A combined use of a Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and multivariate partial-least-square (PLS-1) regression was used for analysis of various adulterated oils. The FTIR of the adulterated oil samples were measured and subjected to a partial-least-square (PLS-1) regression analysis. The developed PLS-1 regression accurately predicted the compositions of the adulterated oil samples. The antioxidant capability of oils to potentially reduce free radicals, which are often involved in several degenerative diseases, such as aging, stroke, diabetes, and cancers was further determined by DPPH (2, 2-Di(4-tert-octylphenyl)-1picrylhydrazyl) free radical scavenging assay and UV-visible spectroscopy. The simplicity and the high accuracy of this protocol are appealing, with real-world applications in quality control of oils in foods, cosmetics, and agrochemical industry.

Shayla Smithson graduated from Lavaca (Ark.) High School where she played basketball and softball. She won a state championship in cheerleading during her senior year. She is currently a biology major and is conducting research with Dr. Sayo Fakayode. Her overarching goal is to pursue a career in the medical field. Shayla has a heart for people who don’t have access to top-notch medical care when they need it.

92

Student Research Symposium An Inside Look into Sea Songs by Ralph Vaughan Williams Presented by Christopher Jones Table 39

Ralph Vaughan Williams was one of the most notable and well-respected English composers of the late 19th and 20th century.

Vaughan Williams composed many different types of musical compositions, each evoking a variety of sounds and moods, which can be traced back to his travels during his time in the British Royal Army. Sea Songs, part of one of Vaughan Williams’s larger works English Folk Song Suite for wind band, is one of the best examples of the use of contrasting moods and melodies. This presentation will delve into the origin of the different English folk songs used in the composition and how the melodies call out to the passion of the high seas.

Christopher Jones is a senior candidate in the Bachelor of Music Education, instrumental music program at UAFS. He is currently an intern for the Greenwood (Ark.) Public Schools band program, assisting in instruction of band classes ranging from 6th to 12th grade. Christopher is a trombonist and teaches trombone and low brass as an adjunct private lesson teacher. An avid musician and lover of music, he has been a member of the university symphonic band, chorale, jazz band, and Jazz Catz, the university’s vocal jazz group. Christopher is also a member of the Honors International Studies program at UAFS.

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Student Research Symposium The Impact of the Opioid Epidemic on Dentistry Presented by Kayla Horn, Haley Nelson, Susan Whiteneck, and Andrea Wilson Table 40

The opioid epidemic has been declared a national emergency in the United States. The growing number of individuals addicted to opioids has skyrocketed in the last decade with deaths attributed to overdose rising significantly. Opioid drugs are substances that contain opium compounds and are often used to ease pain. Although they are beneficial, they are also highly addictive and are often over-used and over-prescribed. There are illegal opioid drugs such as heroin, as well as several legal forms of opioid drugs including oxycodone, hydrocodone, morphine, and codeine. Due to the addictive components of opioids, patients develop drug-seeking behaviors with no prior history of risk taking tendencies or illicit drug use. While the greatest awareness for opioid abuse targets the medical field, dentists may still prescribe opioids for invasive dental procedures and dental pain. Educating both medical and dental practitioners to identify and treat those struggling with opioid addiction by utilizing alternative pain management techniques, has been shown to be an effective way to reduce addiction. The purpose of this presentation is to explore the opioid epidemic in the dental community and bring awareness of ways to reduce the problem of abuse.

Kayla Horn graduated from Waldron (Ark.) High School in 2014 and enrolled at UAFS to pursue a bachelor’s degree in dental hygiene. She is currently a senior in the dental hygiene program and will graduate in May. She has been involved in the National Society of Leadership and Success and has been a resident assistant at Sebastian Commons on the UAFS campus. Kayla has participated in community service that has provided opportunities to positively impact the lives of others through preventive oral health education. She plans to go into private practice in the Fort Smith area after graduation.

Haley Nelson graduated from Southside High School in 2014 and enrolled at UAFS to pursue a bachelor’s degree in dental hygiene.

She is currently a senior and will graduate from the dental hygiene program in May. Haley has participated in numerous community outreach programs and plans to continue to make a difference in the community after graduation and go into private practice in the Fort Smith area.

Susan Whiteneck is a resident of Fort Smith. She is a Navy veteran and mother of an active pre-school daughter. Susan is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in dental hygiene at UAFS. She is the Student American Dental Hygienists’ Association president and the representative for the College of Health Sciences in the Student Government Association. Susan has served on committees including Program Planning and Parking Appeals for the university, as well as the Trails and Greenways Committee for the City of Fort Smith. Through participation in visiting area schools to promote oral health education and the After School Smilz Program, Susan found a passion for helping at-risk children from area communities. She hopes to augment her clinical and leadership skills to pursue future community projects in connection with UAFS and the Arkansas State Dental Hygienists’ Association. She plans to go into private practice in the Fort Smith area after graduation.

Andrea Wilson graduated from Elkins (Ark.) High School in 2014 and enrolled at UAFS to pursue a bachelor’s degree in dental hygiene. She is a senior in the dental hygiene program and will graduate in May. Andrea always enjoyed visiting the dentist as a child and knew at an early age she wanted to pursue a career as a dental hygienist. She is excited to be a part of a profession that is so rewarding and allows her to build relationships with her patients to help them feel confident with their smile. She plans to return to Northwest Arkansas to practice in the clinical setting.

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Student Research Symposium Microperforations in Orthodontic Treatment

Presented by Jacqueline Cervantes, Faith Daniels, and Guadalupe Hernandez Table 41 Negative effects of prolonged treatment is a main concern for patients considering orthodontic interventions to correct malocclusion.

The time commitment for treatment completion, discomfort associated with tooth movement, risk of decay, and discomfort on the oral tissues may cause patients to refrain from having treatment to correct malocclusion. This presentation assesses microosteoperforation using the alveocentesis procedure as an alternative to conventional tooth movement through orthodontics. This technique accelerates movement of teeth during treatment and reduces overall negative effects utilizing the orthodontic device known as PROPEL to perform the alveocentesis procedure. The procedure creates microperforations in the bone resulting in acceleration of tooth movement by initiating the inflammatory process through osteoclastic activity. This presentation focuses on the technique utilized as well as the advantages and disadvantages of the procedure.

Jaqueline Cervantes is from Fort Smith. She graduated from Northside High School and enrolled at UAFS to pursue a bachelor’s degree in dental hygiene. She is currently a senior in the dental hygiene program and will graduate in May. Jaqueline knows she has gained knowledge throughout her four years of college that will allow her to serve those in the community that need oral healthcare. She is bilingual and has been able to provide dental care to many patients that might otherwise not get the care they need due to language barriers. She plans to go into private practice in the Fort Smith area after graduation.

Faith Daniels resides in Webbers Falls, Okla., with her husband and their 2-year-old daughter. She attended UAFS to pursue a bachelor’s degree in dental hygiene. Faith is currently a senior in the dental hygiene program and will graduate in May. She is an active member of Keefeton Trinity Baptist Church where she and her husband are the youth coordinators. She has been on mission trips to England and Asia to provide global outreach of Christianity to communities in need. Faith enjoys playing piano, drums, and guitar, as well as outdoor activities with her family. She plans to go into private practice in Oklahoma after graduation.

Guadalupe Hernandez is from Fort Smith. She graduated from Northside High School in 2014 and began attending UAFS to pursue a bachelor’s degree in dental hygiene. Guadalupe is currently a senior in the dental hygiene program and will graduate in May. She participated in the first After School Smilz program at UAFS, providing free dental treatment for area children who lack access to care. This experience helped her realize how many Hispanic children lack dental care due to financial and language barriers.

From personal experience she knows how difficult it is for Hispanic parents to communicate with healthcare providers and plans to combine her professional skills with her bilingual ability to make a difference in her community. She plans to go into private practice in Arkansas after graduation.

95

Student Research Symposium The Effects of Cannabis on the Oral Cavity

Presented by Keely Harper, Kaylee Hunter, Hannah Rippy, and Courtney Word Table 42 The consumption of cannabis products has been increasing steadily over the last few years. While still considered the most widely used illegal drug for recreational purposes, recent legalization for medicinal purposes increases the likelihood that dental hygienists will routinely treat patients that use cannabis. The increased use of this drug can be associated with medical cannabis legalization and those searching for the associated natural euphoric effects recreationally. Despite the reasoning of those using cannabis, consumers are generally unaware of the negative side-effects associated with long-term use. Evidence-based research has shown that the use of cannabis can increase the individual’s risk of periodontal disease, oral candidiasis, and precancerous lesions within the oral cavity. The purpose of this presentation is to evaluate cannabis, its relationship to dental disease, negative effects on the oral cavity, and consumer awareness of these effects.

Keely Harper graduated with honors from Lavaca (Ark.) High School in 2014. She enrolled at UAFS in the fall of 2014 to pursue a bachelor’s degree in dental hygiene. Keely is currently a senior in the dental hygiene program and will graduate in May. She will use her education and career to provide community service and promote awareness for improved oral health. She plans to practice in the state of Arkansas and continue to give back to her community through volunteer work.

Kaylee Hunter graduated from Pocola (Okla.) High School in 2014. She enrolled at UAFS to pursue a bachelor’s degree in dental hygiene. Kaylee is currently a senior in the dental hygiene program and will graduate in May. Kaylee has been active in community service while in the program, providing preventive services to children and adults in the After School Smilz clinics as well as at the Community Dental Clinic. She plans to go into private practice after graduation.

Hannah Rippy is from Eufaula, Okla. She will graduate from UAFS in May 2018 with a Bachelor of Science in dental hygiene.

Hannah will use her career and education to make a difference in the oral health of the community. Her college experience has provided a solid education while allowing her to build relationships that will be beneficial as she pursues her career. She plans to go into private practice in either Oklahoma or Arkansas.

Courtney Word resides in Wister, Okla., with her husband Jack and their three children, Case, Chloe, and Claridy. Her family has been instrumental in her educational accomplishments. Courtney graduated from Leflore (Okla.) High School and then attended Carl Albert State College, earning an associate degree in allied health in 2013. To further her education, she enrolled at UAFS to pursue a bachelor’s degree in dental hygiene. She will graduate with a Bachelor of Science in dental hygiene in May. Prior to acceptance into the dental hygiene program, Courtney worked as a dental assistant. The completion of her degree in dental hygiene combined with her dental assisting experience will allow her to educate and promote awareness of good oral health. Courtney loves spending time with her family, being outdoors, and brightening smiles. She plans to work in private practice in Oklahoma.

96

Student Research Symposium Abdominal Pregnancy: A Case Study

Presented by Sara Byford, Timmery Nichols, and Summer Phelps Table 43 An ectopic pregnancy is an abnormal condition where a fertilized egg is implanted anywhere other than in the uterine cavity.

Abdominal pregnancy is a variation of an ectopic fetal placement. This rare occurrence involves the fertilized egg implanting within the peritoneal space, instead of the intrauterine cavity. This condition only accounts for 1-4% of all ectopic pregnancies, and it can be fatal for both the mother and fetus. A 33-year-old Hispanic female patient with a known positive beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (B-hCG) level presented to the emergency department with extreme abdominal pain, hypotension, vaginal spotting, and painful bowel movements. Transabdominal ultrasound did not render diagnostic quality images; therefore, a transvaginal sonogram was obtained to best image the fetus. Following the transvaginal imaging, it was determined that this 14-week fetus was located in the abdominal cavity posterior to the uterus. This patient was stabilized and transferred to a larger, more specialized hospital for evaluation and continued care. The focus of this case study is to describe the sonographic criteria that determines a transabdominal ectopic pregnancy versus a normal intrauterine pregnancy and inform the public of this rare but serious condition.

Sara Byford is a 2014 honor graduate of Waldron (Ark.) High School. She completed her Associate of Applied Science in radiography in July of 2017. While in the radiography program, Sara was a member of Lambda Nu Honor Society, which has a minimum 3.0 program GPA requirement. She is currently continuing her education by pursuing a bachelor’s degree in diagnostic medical sonography at UAFS and will graduate in May of 2019. Sara enjoys spending time with her friends and family, traveling, and attending Razorback games.

Timmery Nichols is a 2014 graduate from Acorn, Ark. She completed the UAFS radiography program in July 2017 and is currently working as a registered radiographer at Johnson Regional Medical Center in Clarksville, Ark. Timmery is now in her second semester of the diagnostic medical sonography program at UAFS. She enjoys spending time with her husband, friends, and cats.

Summer Phelps graduated from UAFS in July of 2017 with an Associate of Applied Science in radiography. She is currently a junior in the sonography program with plans to graduate in May of 2019 with a Bachelor of Science in diagnostic medical sonography.

After she graduates she plans to continue her education by obtaining a master’s degree in healthcare administration.

97

Student Research Symposium Arachnoid Cyst in a Neonatal Spine: A Case Study Presented by Josh Guizar, McKenna Root, and Rachel Wingfield Table 44

Arachnoid cysts are fluid filled sacs that are found on the arachnoid membrane that covers the brain and spinal cord. The term arachnoid refers to a protective membrane that surrounds the brain and spinal cord, with a cyst being described as a collection of fluid within a cavity or sac. The spinal cord is lined with meningeal layers known as: the dura mater, pia mater, and arachnoid mater. These layers are composed of connective tissues and line the cranium, extending to the most inferior portion of the vertebral canal to enclose the central nervous system. Cerebrospinal fluid provides cushioning and transports nutrients to the brain and spinal cord. An arachnoid cyst occurs when there is an excess of this cerebrospinal fluid. It builds up and forms a fluid filled sac between the arachnoid membrane and the brain or spinal cord. This case study describes the sonographic characteristics of a spinal arachnoid cyst on a fifteen-hour neonate. The newborn presented with an abnormal sacral dimple. Upon further examination, a neonatal spine ultrasound was ordered. After the ultrasound was performed, the results confirmed the presence of an arachnoid cyst, slightly inferior to the tip of the conus medullaris.

Josh Guizar was born on May 6, 1984, in sunny Long Beach, Calif. He is the son of Joe and Susanna Guizar and is a graduate of Missouri State University, currently enrolled at UAFS in the Bachelor of Imaging Sciences - Sonography program. He has three loving children and now resides in scenic Bella Vista, Ark..

McKenna Jenae Root graduated from Waldron (Ark.) High School in 2013. After high school she applied for the Associate of Applied Science and graduated with a radiography degree in 2017. She is currently in the Bachelor of Imaging Sciences – Diagnostic Medical Sonography program with the intent to graduate in May 2019. McKenna is currently working for Mercy Urgent Care in Fort Smith as a radiologic technologist. After graduation she is undecided about what career path to choose. The possibility of traveling is what she has always thought she would do, but a job locally would be a great start.

Rachel Wingfield graduated from Southside High School in 2013, and she continued her education by graduating from UAFS in 2017 with her associate degree in radiography. She currently works as a CT technologist at Sparks Hospital while working toward her diagnostic medical sonography degree with plans to graduate in May of 2019. In her free time, Rachel enjoys spending time with friends and family, barrel racing, and watching baseball.

98

Student Research Symposium Carotid Body Tumor: A Case Study

Presented by Cara Cagle, Casey Newman, and Kali Patterson Table 45 Carotid body tumors (CBTs), the most common type of paragangliomas, are only found in 1 of every 100,000 individuals. They are characterized by slow growing, palpable masses of the neck. While most of these tumors are benign, there is no absolute way to determine whether a carotid body tumor is a malignant or benign cancer. The use of diagnostic sonography has allowed the development of further research pertaining to education on these types of masses. Sonography helps determine relationship to vessels, volume, possible bleeding or other complications, and ultrasound also allows for a more detailed look at these cases. In this case study, the differences between types of CBTs, associated treatments, how prognosis differs between age groups and possible metastatic processes will be explored. Additionally, several case studies were analyzed to compare and contrast the findings in conjunction with CBTs from various aspects.

Cara Cagle graduated from Huntsville (Ark.) High School in 2014. She is currently a junior in the Diagnostic Medical Sonography program and will graduate in May of 2019 with a bachelor’s degree. She enjoys reading, traveling, and spending time with her pets.

Casey Newman is a 25 year old and from Lavaca, Ark. She graduated from UAFS in May 2017 with an Associate of Applied Science in radiography and received ARRT certification in July 2017. She is currently a student in the Diagnostic Medical Sonography program at UAFS and is employed by Mercy Clinic Urgent Care, working in radiology and phlebotomy.

Kali Patterson graduated from Greenwood (Ark.) High School in 2012. After high school she pursued an Associate of Applied Science in radiography at UAFS, graduating in May of 2017. She works part time as a radiologic technologist and lab tech at Mercy Urgent Care and is currently enrolled as a student in the Diagnostic Medical Sonography program at UAFS, planning to graduate in May 2019. After graduation Kali would love to find a job in an OB/GYN department, but is keeping her options open to possibly other aspects of ultrasound.

99

Student Research Symposium Family Functioning and Deployment Presented by Tanis Fox and Holly Jones Table 46

Many military families are presented with specific stressors that accompany the deployment of a loved one. Deployment is the movement of troops to a specific area for military action. Deployment can negatively affect the mental health of the deployed soldier’s spouse and children. This study was conducted to examine the relationship between prolonged deployment of one member of a couple and family behaviors and dysfunctions. This study is based on the relationship maintenance, boundary renegotiation, social media, and perspectives of military families during the deployment period of their loved one. It was predicted that deployment would be associated with decreased quality of family functioning, raised stress levels, and an increase in negative children’s behavior. A preliminary set of eight sample interviews indicated no significant correlation between stress during deployment and the number of children, their age, their behavior, or school performance. While deployment does seem to have a potential impact on the family unit, the small preliminary sample shows no significant correlation between deployment and family functioning, family stress levels, or the behavior of the deployed spouse’s children.

Tanis Fox is a UAFS senior majoring in psychology and minoring in criminal justice. After graduating in May 2018, she plans on attending John Brown University and pursuing her dreams of becoming a counselor in the mental health field and public schools.

Holly Jones is a UAFS senior majoring in psychology and minoring in biology. After graduating in May 2018, she plans to complete the pre-matriculation courses required for medical school in hopes of pursuing a career in family medicine. While at UAFS Holly has served as a member of the National Society of Leadership and Success, Psychology Club, and Biology Club.

100

Student Research Symposium

Student Index Aaron Centeno.................................86

Chris Mizell.....................................81

Aaron Tomlin...................................87

Christopher Welch...........................56

Abbigail Davis.................................88

Constance Helton............................78

Adyn Rink........................................20

Courtne Climer................................85

Alberto Soto.....................................84

Courtney Word.................................96

Alexandra Cruz................................13

Danielle Ainsburg............................78

Allyssia Efurd..................................84

David Basta....................................16

Amy Hill...........................................48

David McKay...................................79

Ana Cruz.........................................32

DaWaina Nolan................................61

Andrea Wilson.................................94

Deanna Thompson..........................60

Andrew Carlson...............................24

Debbie Robertson............................83

Anna Heppner.................................88

Diana Lopez....................................65

Anthony Reynolds............................69

Emilee Hatwig.................................74

Asher Parvu.....................................62

Emilie Cartmill................................40

Austin Lloyd....................................74

Emmanuel Quarshie........................70

Autumn Robbins.............................53

Faith Daniels...................................95

Bayleigh Warren..............................52

Gabriel Priddy.................................29

Brandon Smith................................28

Golden Mulkey.................................41

Brandon Dyer..................................30

Guadalupe Hernandez.....................95

Brenda Rosales...............................81

Haley Nelson...................................94

Brianne Gregory..............................28

Hali Newman...................................17

Camila Castillo...............................64

Hannah Stevens..............................17

Camryn Perry...................................36

Hannah Rippy.................................96

Cara Cagle......................................99

Hieu Bui..........................................65

Casey Newman................................99

Hilda Flores Soto.............................72

Cesar Cuevas..................................24

Holly Jones....................................100

Charles DeLozier.............................57

Hunter Schmuck..............................41

Cheyanne Mann..............................16

Ingrid Rivas..............................12, 62

Cheyenne Wilson.............................73

Jacob Casher...................................57

101

Student Research Symposium

Student Index Jacqueline Cervantes......................95

Kimberly Cloud................................45

Jade Novak......................................49

Kyle Rosetti.....................................29

James Brown...................................64

Laci Metheny...................................84

Jamie Fletcher.................................82

Lauren Smith..................................64

Janell Braswell................................75

Levi Young.......................................72

Jeff Holman.....................................21

Lisset Ramirez Perez.......................21

Jeff Ritter........................................84

Logan Neel......................................77

Jeremy Mouton................................75

Loren Lale.......................................88

Jessica Medeiros.............................13

Lynette Thrower...............................48

Jessica Wilson.................................37

Madison Klomfas............................32

John Fleming...................................68

Mariana Ramirez Luna....................37

John Jones.......................................68

Mark Spradlin.................................83

John McCawley................................86

Markie Dean....................................45

John Nguyen....................................92

Markus Althoff................................85

Johnny Resendiz..............................44

Mason Patterson.............................44

Jordanna Shotzman.........................61

Matthew Smith................................64

Joseph Dunlap.................................12

Matthew Robbins............................64

Josh Guizar......................................98

Matthew Evans...............................71

Josie Nunez.....................................90

McKenna Root.................................98

Justin Moore....................................68

Megan Willis...................................36

Kali Patterson.................................99

Megan Bottoms...............................85

Kasey Green....................................76

Michael Edgar.................................85

Katelynn Bagwell............................87

Miriam Claveria..............................89

Kayla Horn.......................................94

Mitchell McIntosh............................77

Kaylee Hunter..................................96

Natalie Nguyen................................81

Keely Harper....................................96

Nichole Dapson ..............................33

Kenneth Williams............................88

Nikolle Dixon...................................40

Kevin Torkelson...............................28

Olivia Shelton..................................71

Khoa Bui.........................................80

Patrick Brazell.................................65

102

Student Research Symposium

Student Index Pedro Gutierrez................................91

Taha Yasin......................................87

Phuc Phan.......................................80

Tai Sanchez.....................................87

Pierce Evans...................................89

Tanis Fox.......................................100

Priscilla Devora...............................83

Tayler Markham...............................89

Qasim Mian.....................................84

Thalita Da Silval.............................52

Racheal Simpson............................33

Tiffany Tucker..................................20

Rachel Wingfield.............................98

Timmery Nichols..............................97

Randall Johnson..............................65

Trevor England................................64

Rhett Kelley.....................................70

Vi Le................................................82

Rufino Lira-Martinez.......................79

Vincent Scott...................................56

Ruth Victoriano...............................90

Wesley Johnson................................79

Sage Mackin...................................89

Whitney Fantinel.............................49

Samantha Pham.............................86

William Vearrier...............................25

Samuel DeLaet................................76

William Rupp..................................68

Sara Wilkinson................................86

Zachary Denne................................53

Sara Byford.....................................97

Zachary Hyatt..................................69

Shayla Smithson.............................92

Zachary Jones.................................68

Siera Henderson..............................91

Zachary Upchurch...........................25

Summer Phelps...............................97

Zachery Teague...............................68

Susan Whiteneck.............................94

Zane Harrison.................................73

103

Brandon Hutchison at 788-7414 symposium@uafs.edu