Program for the Fall 2021 Multidisciplinary Research Day
DEPARTMENT OF BIOLOGY
Empirical Projects
Pearl, Maddie and Rowland, Katelynn . PANDA BEAR BEWARE .
The giant panda, commonly referred to as the panda
bear, is one of many animals that have suffered at
the hands of human kind. Giant pandas have been
classified as vulnerable, meaning they’re one step
away from being endangered. They used to live in the
lowlands of mountain ranges in Central China, but
were forced out by farming and deforestation. They
now live up in the mountains, where their diet
consists mainly of bamboo and leaves. On the bright
side, these panda bears were once classified as
endangered, but thanks to efforts made by
conservationists they are on the rise and have been
classified as vulnerable. This is just the tip of
the iceberg though, because a lot more effort will
need to be put in for these animals to survive and
thrive in the future. Faculty Sponsor: DR. TILO ROY troy1@missouriwestern.edu
Blanton, Gaige. THE MANAGEMENT TECHNIQUES OF THE MISSOURI DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION ON INVASIVE SERICEA LESPEDEZA.
A review of the management techniques used by the
\r\nMissouri Department of Conservation to control
the \r\ninvasive plant species, Sericea lespedeza.
This will \r\nfeature first hand experience of this
process via my \r\nSummer internship with the
department. Faculty Sponsor: DR. C.D. CHEVALIER gblanton@missouriwestern.edu
Burriss, Julianna, Ziebarth, Bowyn, Kammerer, Kyle . INVESTIGATION OF THE INFLUENCE OF CURVED DNA ON E. COLI PROMOTERS.
Curved DNA results from a sequence-dependent alteration of the trajectory of the double helical axis. Blocks of four to six adenine (A) or thymine (T) bases individually cause small curvature angles that add up to large overall curvature when they occur at periodicities near the helical repeat of DNA (10 or 11 bases). Curved DNA has been shown to play several roles in nature, including the initiation of DNA replication, the positioning of eukaryotic nucleosomes, and attachment of the nuclear matrix to chromosome domains. Based on preliminary reports in the literature, we sought to clarify the role of DNA curvature in the initiation of transcription in bacteria. We cloned three curved DNA promoters in E. coli in a plasmid that includes a RFP reporter gene. We investigated the promoters in silico with computer modeling of the DNA seqeunces, in vitro with gel electrophoresis measurements of the curved DNA, in vivo with fluorometry measurements of RFP expression driven by the cloned promoters. Faculty Sponsor: TODD ECKDAHL jburriss@missouriwestern.edu
Byron, Gheiza and Pirkel, Rebecca. SAVE THE BLACK RHINOS.
The black rhinoceros also known as the hook-lipped
rhinoceros is a species of rhinoceros native to
southern Africa. The rhinoceros is a critical
species in maintaining the African ecosystems they
inhabit. Recently the black rhinoceros has been
faced with both natural and man-made threats. They
have been faced with poachers killing them for their
horns as well as habitat loss. As of now they are
listed as a critically endangered species. Although
their future may seem grim there have been many
conservation practices put in place, and their
population is slowly recovering. Faculty Sponsor: DR. TILO ROY troy1@missouriwestern.edu
Cook, Tyson and Madison, Hailey. SEA TURTLES AND THEIR CONSERVATION.
Every year, an estimated 8 million tons of trash and
debris are flooded into our oceans. This waste is
extremely detrimental to native ecosystems. Sea
turtles are air breathing reptiles that have lived
in our oceans for 100 million years; however,
oceanic pollution has forced 6 of the remaining 7
species into the threat of extinction. Current
conservation efforts are focused on removing excess
waste and debris from our ocean systems and
providing undisturbed spaces for sea turtles to lay
and hatch their eggs. Faculty Sponsor: DR. TILO ROY troy1@missouriwestern.edu
Hendrickson, Zach & Bicklein, Walter. SALT CREEK TIGER BEETLE.
The salt creek tiger beetle, scientific name
Cicindela nevadica lincolniana, has been listed as
one of the rarest insects in the world, with only an
estimated four hundred individuals remaining. The
beetle is only found in the saline wetlands of
Lancaster and Saunder counties in Nebraska. The
habitat of this beetle has decreased greatly from
1,070,080 acres to only 2,400 acres today; they are
now only found in one lake and it’s tributary salt
marshes. The main reason for this loss in habitat
and decrease in population has been the
straightening of streams, the construction of dams
and other reservoirs, and the draining or filling of
the salt marshes for farmland. Efforts to preserve
the species include the monitoring and preservation
of the remaining salt marshes and captive breeding
and release programs in an attempt to increase
population size and introduce new populations to
different areas. Faculty Sponsor: DR. TILO ROY troy1@missouriwestern.edu
Kaderly, Brooke Hart, Jessica Poku, Caleb. EFFECTS OF PREBIOTICS ON THE SUSCEPTIBILITY TO DEXTRAN SODIUM SULFATE-INDUCED COLITIS IN MICE.
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) involves chronic
inflammation of the intestine. The causes of IBD
are not well understood but may include abnormal
interactions between the normal gut microbiota and
the host’s intestinal epithelial cells and immune
cells. Prebiotics refer to dietary components that
nourish the normal microbiome of the gut. Dextran
Sodium Sulfate (DSS) is a chemical that induces
colitis, or inflammation of the intestines, in
mice. In this experiment we aimed to test whether
fructooligosaccharides, a type of soluble fiber
with prebiotic properties, altered susceptibility
to colitis in the DSS colitis model. These effects
were assessed using analysis of colonic mRNA
expression by RT-PCR, analysis of specific
probiotic bacterial groups by quantitative PCR, as
well as histological analysis of colon from each
group. Ongoing studies will determine whether
fructooligosaccharide treatment altered the
severity of DSS-induced colitis in mice.
Faculty Sponsor: WALTON, KRISTEN bkaderly@missouriwestern.edu
(Kyser, Kate) (Larison, Teri) (Thompson, Katie). FREQUENCY AND DISTRIBUTION OF CUTEREBRA IN PEROMYSCUS POPULATIONS ON MWSU’S CAMPUS.
Botflies (Cuterebra sp.) are a common mammalian
parasite species. In this study, we used data
collected from two trapline field trips performed by
the BIO 418 Mammalogy class. The students removed
botflies from the Peromyscus they trapped. These
botflies were then collected and stored in ethyl
alcohol. We used this data to examine both the
frequency of infection in the Peromyscus population
as well as the distribution of the infection.
Faculty Sponsor: DR. CARY CHEVALIER kkyser@missouriwestern.edu
Larkin, Konner. LAND USE AND LAND COVER FOR CAMPUS PONDS.
Our poster is over the geospatial data for campus
ponds. This research is part of the Pond
Biodiversity Project and is helping set baseline
geographic data. Our research has involved
conducting land use and land cover surveys, pond
core samples and methodology, and creating a story
map. This data will allow us to compare other
variables within the Pond Biodiversity Project and
inform people about the history and research of the
campus ponds. Faculty Sponsor: DR. DRAKE klarkin@missouriwestern.edu
Lewis, Jacob. Roy, Tilottama. Grantham, Michael.. SARS COV2 DELTA VARIANT EVOLUTION IN MIDWESTERN UNITED STATES.
Whole genome sequences of SARS CoV-2 Delta Variant
can be utilized to see how the virus is evolving as
it spreads across the planet. GISAID is a publicly
accessible website which compiles these sequences
and allows customizable searches into the details of
each collected sample. The states in the United
States that border Missouri, along with Missouri,
were selected for sampling. These sequences, around
30,000 bases long, were run through MrBayes, which
is a software program that helps build trees that
show evolutionary relationships using the sequences.
The sequences were also put into population genetic
analysis software to illustrate what evolutionary
processes are occurring. Faculty Sponsor: TILOTTAMA ROY jlewis33@missouriwestern.edu
Miles, Megan. THE EFFECTS OF FRUCTOOLIGOSACCHARIDES ON INTESTINAL EPITHELIAL CELLS.
Fructooligosaccharides (FOS) are soluble fiber
molecules that are classified as prebiotics and
promote the growth of beneficial bacteria in the
digestive tract. The direct effects of FOS on
intestinal epithelial cells are not well
characterized. CMT-93 cells (mouse intestinal
epithelial cells) were exposed to FOS to assess
whether FOS induced inflammation, including
expression of the COX-2 enzyme or activation of the
NFkB signaling pathway. Experimental analysis,
including qPCR and immunofluorescence microscopy,
did not indicate pro-inflammatory responses in
intestinal epithelial cells exposed to FOS. Faculty Sponsor: DR. KRISTEN WALTON mmorris14@missouriwestern.edu
(Poush, Jessica) (Zahnd, Alyka) (Tinoco, Lauren) (Menne, Colleen). JOHN RUSHIN TEACHING AND RESEARCH PRAIRIE: FIRST-YEAR VEGETATION SUCCESS SURVEY.
Missouri Western State University, in
\r\ncollaboration with the Missouri Department of
\r\nConservation and private land
conservationists, \r\nhas become one of the
championing institutions of \r\non-site prairie
restoration. In 2018, 26 acres of \r\nland was
dedicated for prairie conservation to one \r\nthe
Department of Biology’s retired faculty
\r\nmembers, Dr. John Rushin. As part of a long-
term \r\necological and eco-physiological study
framework, \r\nfocused on a first-year survey of
the emerging \r\nprairie vegetation after the
initial seeding in \r\nthe beginning of 2020, and
the relationship \r\nbetween emerging native
species and invasive \r\nspecies. Based on our
initial survey, we found \r\nthat in its first
year after seeding, only a \r\nproportion of the
seeded prairie vegetation \r\nemerged
successfully, while invasives and noxious
\r\nweeds were still prominent. Further prairie
\r\nmanagement and successful competition between
\r\nprairie species and invasives are expected to
\r\nalter species composition in the following
years, \r\npotentially shifting towards a higher
success of \r\nnative prairie species. The planned
differential \r\nmanagement practices, starting in
2022, are \r\nexpected to reveal best-fit
management practices \r\nto ensure native success
and conservation. Faculty Sponsor: CSENGELE BARTA azahnd1@missouriwestern.edu
Punzo Callie, Voyt Alana. AILURUS FULGENS: RED PANDAS RISK EXTINCTION.
Ailurus fulgens, more commonly known as the red
panda, is on the International Union for
Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List as an
endangered species. This species is found in the
forests and shrublands of the Eastern Himalayas of
China, Nepal, and Bhutan and the population trend is
currently decreasing. Our research consists of the
taxonomy, ecological significance, factors
contributing to endangerment, and conservation
efforts of A. fulgens. Faculty Sponsor: DR. TILO ROY troy1@missouriwestern.edu
Over the summer, I helped the Missouri Department of
\r\n\\r\\nConservation with a ten year study into
\r\ndetermining \\r\\ndissolved oxygen levels in
Missouri \r\nheadwater \\r\\nstreams and how they
changed over the \r\nsummer. \\r\\nDissolved oxygen
is one of the most \r\nimportant \\r\\nfactors in
stream health, and \r\nheadwater streams can
\\r\\naffect the health of \r\nbigger streams by the
runoff it \\r\\nproduces. The \r\nstudy involved
collecting physical \\r\\nand chemical \r\ndata from
these streams from sunrise \\r\\nuntil noon.
\r\nThe department hopes to use this data \\r\\nto
create \r\na model of estimated dissolved oxygen
\\r\\nlevels \r\nthat could help in better managing
headwater \r\n\\r\\nstreams. Faculty Sponsor: CARY CHEVALIER arademann@missouriwestern.edu
Root, Connor; Par, Ester. DELVING FURTHER INTO THE EVOLUTIONARY RELATIONSHIPS WITHIN THE "ROSINWEED" PLANTS.
The “Rosinweeds” (genus Silphium) are a part of
the sunflower family Asteraceae,
native to temperate
North America. There are multiple species located
in the Midwestern United States.
Some species within this group, belonging to the
sunflower family Asteraceae, have been highly
researched as a potential source of biofuel.
Moreover, several Silphium species are native to
Missouri, making them
important for local ecosystems. Our study aim
s to provide more information on the evolutionary
diversification timings of the Silphium genus. Our
current study has used DNA sequences from the
chloroplast DNA of the rbcL and MatK
regions. We used the bioinformatics programs MrBayes
on XSEDE, BioEdit, and Figtree for the analysis of
our data. Faculty Sponsor: DR. ROY croot4@missouriwestern.edu
Summers, Hannah and Linscott, Matt. GALAPAGOS SEA LIONS .
Galapagos sea lions, or scientifically,
zalophus wollebaeki, are an endangered species. They
are a part of the family Otariidae, or “eared
seals,” characterized by their four limbs and short
fur. They are found on the Galapagos Islands and on
Isla de la Plata. They are categorized as
“endangered” on the IUCN red list, and the current
population status is decreasing. This is due to
effects such as disease, bycatch, trash-related
injuries, and climate change. Currently, there are
many animal care centers dedicated to helping
injured or sick Galapagos sea lions, as well as
groups committed to reducing harmful interactions
with other species as well as minimizing oceanic
waste. Faculty Sponsor: DR. TILO ROY troy1@missouriwestern.edu
Internship/Practicum Experience
Fleckal, Erica. INTERNSHIP WITH PHEASANTS FOREVER.
I am presenting a poster regarding my internship
with Pheasants Forever that was completed during the
Summer and Fall of 2021. Faculty Sponsor: DR. CARY CHEVALIER efleckal1@missouriwestern.edu
Larkin, Konner. FRANCIS MARION AND SUMTER NATIONAL FORESTS: FUELS MONITORING WITH TERRESTRIAL LIDAR.
This poster presents information regarding
terrestrial LiDAR fuels monitoring at the Francis
Marion and Sumter National Forest in South Carolina.
This research was part of an 11 week internship
through the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and the
Directorate Fellowship Program. This was an
interagency project and the data collected will be
used to create models and expand fuels monitoring
research. For this project we used terrestrial LiDAR
and fuels transects to collect various forest
metrics, fuels metrics, and habitat metrics. This
research will help land managers create burn plans
and be more knowledgeable about the habitat and
location they manage. As this project grows it can
be expanded to new locations and comparisons between
sites can be conducted. This interagency terrestrial
LiDAR project has updated old ways of fuels
transects while providing valuable metrics for
future research into natural resource management. Faculty Sponsor: DR. DRAKE klarkin@missouriwestern.edu
Privett, Rose. OUTDOOR EDUCATION INTERNSHIP.
This poster is about my summer internship at Kemper Outdoor
Education Center through Jackson County Parks and Recreation and
what I did while there. Faculty Sponsor: DR. CARY CHEVALIER rprivett@missouriwestern.edu
Over the summer, I helped the Missouri Department of
Conservation with a ten year study into determining
dissolved oxygen levels in Missouri headwater
streams and how they changed over the summer.
Dissolved oxygen is one of the most important
factors in stream health, and headwater streams can
affect the health of bigger streams by the runoff it
produces. The study involved collecting physical
and chemical data from these streams from sunrise
until noon. The department hopes to use this data
to create a model of estimated dissolved oxygen
levels that could help in better managing headwater
streams. Faculty Sponsor: CARY CHEVALIER arademann@missouriwestern.edu
Literature Reviews
Murphy, Thomas; Nichols, Jatyron; Allen, Nicholas. CONSERVATION BIOLOGY/ ECOLOGY OF THE PLATYPUS.
Throughout this project, we reviewed various sources
on conservation efforts and ecological impacts upon
Platypus populations. The platypus is a unique
species within the class Mammalia. It is one of a
select few oviparous mammals. Being the last living
species within its order, Australian conservation
efforts are growing to ensure the stability of the
species. Faculty Sponsor: DR. CARY CHEVALIER nallen6@missouriwestern.edu
(Ballard, Dakota) (Sedlock, Stephanie) (Simon, Ciara). EVOLUTION OF MOOSE.
This poster details the evolution of Moose (Alces
alces) from their earliest ancestors to modern day.
This poster also details & can help lead to moose
conservation efforts. Faculty Sponsor: DR. C. D. CHEVALIER dballard1@missouriwestern.edu
Barriga, Jacobo; Richardson, Kyle; . FLORIDA MANATEE: CONSERVATION EFFORTS AND THE THREATS THEY FACE.
We reviewed articles pertaining to the threats
Florida manatees face and the conservation efforts
in place to help protect them. The major threats are
watercraft collisions and natural causes which can
be related to human intervention. In order to
prevent the damages done by human intervention,
manatees have been placed under protection by many
conservation efforts. Faculty Sponsor: DR. C.D. CHEVALIER jbarriga@missouriwestern.edu
Bennie Ethan, Gibler Noah, Garza Marissa. AMERICAN BEARS DEN SITE SELECTION .
Our team compared den site selection factors between
the American Black bear, Grizzly bears and Polar
bears in both males and females in order to
determine what are the ideal conditions for den site
selection and what are the required factors for
bears to choose a den site in both urban and "wild"
settings. We used data collected from 10 peer
reviewed sources in order to narrow down what is the
preferred den site selection for these three species
of bears. Faculty Sponsor: DR. CARY CHEVALIER ebennie@missouriwestern.edu
A literature review of the effects and transmission
of Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease, primarily in
Midwestern white-tailed deer. Faculty Sponsor: CARY C. bthee@missouriwestern.edu
Gruetze, Marissa Fleckal,Erica Nissen, Kylee Schaberg, Kelsi. COMPARING SKULL MORPHOLOGY OF HERBIVORES, OMNIVORES, AND CARNIVORES.
For this project, we compared skull
morphology of animals with different
dietary habits. To do this we looked at
primary literature from journals to
compare and contrast the dentary structure
and musculature connectivity. Faculty Sponsor: DR. CARY CHEVALIER mgruetze@missouriwestern.edu
Gunn, Emily; Pavini, Amadeu; Reeder, Chenoah. CONSERVATION EFFORTS FOR RIVER OTTERS (LONTRA CANADENSIS).
During the early 1930s, the American river otter was
on the brink of extinction. Thankfully, due to
conservation efforts their population numbers are
increasing. The purpose of this literature review is
to discuss the various conservation efforts made to
bring their population numbers up. Faculty Sponsor: CHEVALIER egunn@missouriwestern.edu
Mott Rachel, Houge Paige, Vogt Samuel. : KEYSTONE SPECIES IN YELLOWSTONE.
We researched the grey wolves as a keystone species in Yellowstone National Park. Grey wolves, , were eliminated in Yellowstone National Park in the 1920's due to predator removal programs. In the 1990's grey wolves which are a keystone species were reintroduced to Yellowstone National Park. The wolves impact as a keystone species within the Park can be observed and studied. Faculty Sponsor: DR. CHEVALIER rmott2@missouriwestern.edu
(Redman, Ceirra) (Stafford, Katy) (Zahnd, Alyka). THE HABITAT AND CONSERVATION CONCERNS OF THE NORTH AMERICAN BADGER (TAXIDEA TAXUS).
Habitat loss is threatening many species around the
world. One species that could become threatened is
the North American Badger (Taxidea Taxus). Its
habitat is primarily tallgrass prairies, which has
declined drastically over time due to cultivation,
development, and climate change. The North American
Badger is a solitary carnivore that preys on mostly
small mammals. It is a predator that serves many
important roles in its niche. Decreasing populations
of the North American Badger can lead to less
genetic diversity and increased risks of disease. Faculty Sponsor: DR. CARY D. CHEVALIER credman@missouriwestern.edu kstafford2@missouriwestern.edu azahnd1@missouriwestern.edu
Tremain, Christian and Larkin, Konner. CONSERVATION EFFORTS OF SNOW LEOPARDS.
Snow leopards are an endangered species known
worldwide for their ability to elude the prying eyes
of the public for years. Increases in aggression
towards these animals have risen due to their
predatory nature and the locals aren’t too happy.
With a clock ticking down on possible extinction, we
take a look at how the conservation efforts for
Panthera uncia have increased over the years from
likely and unlikely sources Faculty Sponsor: DR. CHEVALIER ctremain@missouriwestern.edu
VanGeison Caylee, Colner, Jordon. GEOGRAPHICAL RANGE OF VULPES VULPES DUE TO URBANIZATION.
This poster demonstrates the geographical range of
the Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes) due to urbanization.
Factors discussed include: Disease, resource
selection, predator-prey relations, and
communication; all being factors in the geographical
range. Faculty Sponsor: DR. CARY CHEVALIER cvangeison@missouriwestern.edu
We looked into the conservation efforts, Puma
concolor. What we hope to achieve with our project is
to show the people reasons for why they are important
to our environment and how these efforts will aid
this beautiful species of Apex predators. Faculty Sponsor: DR. CARY CHEVALIER jvanvickle2@missouriwestern.edu
Wilson, Teagan, Moore, Mia, Parker, Roland. THE EFFECTS OF URBANIZATION ON BLACK BEAR (URSUS AMERICANUS) POPULATION.
Black Bears (Ursus americanus) are being
reintroduced into North American
States; this review wanted to understand the
progress of these reintroductions. We reviewed
current literature concerning human-bear conflict,
management, and overall affects urbanization
contributed toward population trends. Faculty Sponsor: CARY CHEVALIER, PH.D
DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY
Empirical Projects
Carter, David. DETERMINATION OF CALCIUM UPTAKE BY RADISH PLANTS USING XRF AND STANDARD ADDITION .
This study determined if tap water sources would
affect the calcium intake into the leaves of radish
plants. Calcium was chosen due to the prevalence of
“hard” tap water in our region. Handheld X-Ray
Fluorescence [XRF] was used with two-point standard
addition calibration to determine calcium in leaf
ash solutions. The leaves were dry-ashed and
dissolved in dilute nitric acid. Three radish
samples were grown. The control received only
distilled water, while the other two received tap
water from sources at MWSU and a home in St. Joseph. Faculty Sponsor: SHAUNA HILEY dcarter11@missouriwestern.edu, hiley@missouriwestern.edu
Cutler, Raevan. DETERMINATION OF CALCIUM IN GRAPE LEAVES BY X-RAY FLUORESCENCE AND STANDARD ADDITION.
Calcium levels in two species of grape leaves from a
local vineyard were determined using X-ray
fluorescence spectrometry [XRF]. The intent of this
experiment was to create an experiment for CHE 326
Instrumental Analysis that involved reinforcement of
content including XRF, natural product sampling
methods, and standard addition calibration methods.
Based on results from this summer 2021 project, dry-
ashing of the grape leaves, dissolution into dilute
nitric acid, and a two-flask based standard addition
were the methods chosen for implementation. This new
experiment will be used in the Spring 2022 semester
in CHE 326. Faculty Sponsor: DR. SHAUNA HILEY msparkman@missouriwestern.edu, hiley@missouriwestern.edu
Maxey, Nelson; Randelman, Josiah; Law, Tyler. DEVELOPMENT OF THE FOURIER GRID HAMILTONIAN METHOD ON DIATOMIC AND TRIATOMIC SYSTEMS.
The Fourier Grid Hamiltonian (FGH) method enables
the solution of the Schrödinger Equation on an
equally spaced set of grid points. This poster
describes the implementation of the FGH method in
Python for solving the Vibrational Schrödinger
Equation (VSE). The FGH method for solving the VSE
for diatomic molecules and nonlinear triatomic
molecules. Analytic model functions for the
potential energy are also implemented. Construction
of the Hamiltonian matrix may be performed on a
single core, or in parallel in a multicore
environment. To represent the vibrational
coordinates, a Cartesian coordinate system or an
arbitrary user-defined coordinate system may be
used.
Faculty Sponsor: DR. JEFF WOODFORD nmaxey@missouriwestern.edu
Pearl, Maddie. MARIE CURIE PIONEER SCIENTIST.
Marie Curie was born in Poland in 1867 and
eventually gained citizenship in France through
marriage. She was a chemist and physicist who is
famous for her work in developing the theory of
radioactivity, a term of which she coined the name.
She was the first woman to win a Nobel Prize, which
she shared with her husband, making them the first
married couple to win a Nobel Prize. Curie was quite
the pioneer in the scientific world, because she’s
also the only woman to win the Nobel Prize twice,
and the only person to win the Nobel Prize in two
different scientific fields. Marie Curie paved the
way for many women in the scientific field, and will
always be remembered for her brilliant mind and
attributes. Faculty Sponsor: DR. JONATHAN RHOAD mpearl2@missouriwestern.edu
Stapf, Jude. COFFEE GROUNDS AS A WASTEWATER REMEDIATION STRATEGY.
The application of coffee grounds to reduce divalent
metal ion concentrations in a model wastewater
stream is described. This experiment is part of a
chemical instrumentation course with a thematic
focus on applications and analysis of natural
products. A variety of factors impacting the
concentration of a remediated waste water sample
including pH, mass of coffee grounds, identity of
the divalent metal ion, and exposure are examined.
In this work, wastewater remediation is conducted
using a flow through packed coffee ground bed.
Analysis of copper, zinc, iron, and lead is
conducted using atomic absorption spectroscopy. Faculty Sponsor: MIKE DUCEY jstapf@missouriwestern.edu
Literature Reviews
Bicklein, Walter. DEONELLA SAKAIENSIS: THE BACTERIA THAT COULD CHANGE THE WORLD.
The bacteria Ideonella sakaiensis has the ability to
release a unique enzyme known as PET hydrolase
(PETase) and utilizing the plastic as its sole
source of both carbon and energy. It was discovered
in a plastic bottle recycling facility in Sakai,
Japan in 2016. After its discovery it was also
discovered that 75% of the degraded PET produced by
Ideonella sakaiensis can then be mineralized by
other microorganisms such as yeast. Research has
continued for this bacteria, and may one day be used
to greatly reduce the effect that plastics have on
the environment, and even be able to prevent them
from ever reaching the sea. Faculty Sponsor: DR. JONATHAN RHOAD wbicklein@missouriwestern.edu
DEPARTMENT OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE/LEGAL STUDIES/SOCIAL WORK
Empirical Projects
Barbera, Ana. ROADBLOCKS TO SUCCESFUL REINTEGRATION FOR SEXUAL OFFENDERS.
Sexual offenders present unique problems during the
reintegration process from prison to the community.
In the US, there exists both legal and social
limiters to community acceptance, employment or
housing for these individuals. Roadblocks to these
key need areas can impact the risk of recidivism for
these offenders. This study examined the literature,
and laws, as well as shadowed practitioners to
determine barriers and current solutions to these
dilemmas, in the St. Joseph community.
Faculty Sponsor: GREG LINDSTEAD abarbera@missouriwestern.edu
Literature Reviews
Albertos, Nuria. MENTAL HEALTH IN CORRECTIONS AND CHALLENGES TO THE INCARCERATED WOMEN..
This study examined mental health issues of
incarcerated population. Although males remain the
predominant gender in prison, research is building
on mental health issues for incarcerated females.
Primarily this review of the literature looked at
gender responsive treatment for mental disorders,
such as: Trauma, Depression, Substance Abuse and
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), in order to
assist incarcerated women recover. Faculty Sponsor: GREG LINDSTEADT nalbertosmoreno@missouriwestern.edu
Meehan, Kylee. EFFECTS OF PTSD IN INCARCERATED WOMEN.
This study examined mental health issues in
incarcerated men and women. Based on the literature,
we found that there are unique differences in
women’s needs in comparison to men. Primarily this
study found no significant difference in Post-
Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) diagnoses between
men and women. However, the causes of the PTSD
varied significantly between men and women. Future
studies should focus on finding treatments meeting
the specific needs of incarcerated women. Faculty Sponsor: G. LINDSTEADT kmeehan@missouriwestern.edu
DEPARTMENT OF ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY
Empirical Projects
Deepe, Tyler. CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT.
I work for Capital performance Management which is
the construction management company for Mosaic life
Care here in St. Joseph. During my experience with
this internship, I have worked on and managed many
different construction projects from the brand-new
ICU in the hospital to the ongoing Cancer Center
Addition. I have been able to experience and
accomplish many tasks not on the job site but also
the office work that goes into all the different
construction projects going on around the hospital
both big and small projects. Faculty Sponsor: JINWEN ZHU tdeepe@missouriwestern.edu
Wilson,Chris. MALKA LLC INTERNSHIP.
This semester for my internship I worked for Malka
\r\nLLC, a small construction company, where I was
on \r\nsite breaking ground for a new grocery
store. As an \r\nintern I was responsible for
operating skid loaders \r\nas well as being a basic
laborer. I also attended \r\nclasses to help me
better understand the job at \r\nhand. In classes I
expanded my knowledge on heavy \r\nmachinery and
how to maintain and work on them. The \r\nproject
is still ongoing as of now, and I will \r\ncontinue
to work for Malka after graduation. Faculty Sponsor: JINWEN ZHU cwilson38@missouriwestern.edu
Internship/Practicum Experience
Lundy, Ross. REARDON MACHINE INTERNSHIP.
During my internship at Reardon Machine, I was able
to learn about, and perform many different types of
machining operations on a wide variety of materials.
I programmed, set up, and ran many different CNC
lathes and mills in order to complete the required
jobs for local and major companies around the world. Faculty Sponsor: DR. JINWIN ZHU jlundy2@missouriwestern.edu
Empirical Projects
Funchess, Kelden. WATER LEVEL INDICATOR.
This device should be able to measure the level of
water in a cup. Using LEDs of different colors to
indicate the level. Using as the measurement is a
few sensing wires to act as a ruler for the LEDs.
However, if the water gets too full then a buzzer
will trigger to warn everyone that the water is
overfilling. Faculty Sponsor: JINWEN ZHU kfunchess@missouriwestern.edu
DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY PHILOSOPHY AND GEOGRAPHY
Empirical Projects
Williams, Austin. GEOSPATIAL MAPPING OF THE OPIOID CRISIS.
Saint Joseph is currently battling a major opioid crisis. My project this summer was to gather information and data to battle this crisis, as well as using geospatial analysis to create a visual representation of these findings. Faculty Sponsor: DR. DRAKE, DR. SANSONE awilliams81@missouriwestern.edu
The purpose of this study was to design an
educational program to reduce the number
of unplanned cesarean sections. Cesarean sections
can have a detrimental impact on the
health and well-being of mothers and their infants.
A literature review was conducted to discover
interventions that had previously been implemented
to reduce this phenomenon. Common
themes found throughout the literature review
included prenatal educational classes, exercise
and guided meditation throughout pregnancy, and the
inclusion of a doula as a support person.
These elements were instrumental in developing the
program discussed in this paper. Faculty Sponsor: MACKENZIE EVANS srouth1@missouriwestern.edu
Jaycee Higdon, Alyssa Lowrance, Kaylee Banks, Avery Clemmensen, Cristina Helmick, and Maddi Pedersen. IN STEMI PATIENTS, HOW DOES MANDATORY STAFFING RATIOS AFFECT LENGTH OF STAY?.
The goal of this study is to determine if staffing ratios affect the discharge timeline on patients with an inpatient STEMI procedure. Little research has been done to see how nursing staff ratios affect discharge dates on patients. This quality improvement project will go in depth using research analysis on how patients are directly affected by variable nurse to patient ratios. Evidence-based articles were used to evaluate the effect of staffing ratios on discharge of patients who have had a STEMI procedure. The outcome from this study is that hospitals nationwide should implement mandatory nursing staff ratios for the benefit of the patients safety and satisfactory care. Faculty Sponsor: ALLISON ANDERSON jhigdon1@missouriwestern.edu
Lewis, Jake. THE EFFECTIVENESS OF PARAMEDIC POSITION INTERVENTION ON THROUGHPUT PROCESS IN EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT.
The purpose of this project was to examine the
effectiveness of paramedic position intervention on
throughput process in Emergency Department (ED).
This was a quasi-experimental research design. Total
number of patients was 6017, including 4143 patients
in the control group and 1874 patients in the
intervention group. The Paramedic Position
Intervention was effective on Throughput Process in
Emergency Department in this study. It decreased the
time for patients from ED door to visit doctors and
to exit. It also decreased the patients who left ED
without being seen by doctors. This intervention
could be used to improve quality of service. Faculty Sponsor: PI-MING YEH pyeh@missouriwestern.edu
Literature Reviews
Etherton, Kaylie Rae; Campbell, Faith Mackenzie; Cook, Kierston Ruby; Jackson, Nicole Ellen; Kubart, Grace Ann; Par, LiLi; Ray, Kelsey Ann. THE DEVELOPMENT OF GUIDELINES FOR INDUCTION OF LABOR TO MAXIMIZE SAFETY FOR THE MOTHER AND THE BABY.
The purpose of this study was to establish
guidelines for a medical necessary induction of
labor to maximize safety for both the mother and the
baby. The search key words were 1. Induced labor, 2.
Unplanned Cesarean Section, 3. Emergency Surgery, 4.
Critical Care, 5. Spontaneous Labor, 6. Laboring
mothers, 7. Oxytocin, 8. Pitocin, 9. Labor induced
methods, 10. Placenta, 11. Induced adverse effects,
12. Uterine Inertia, and 13. Birth timing. Search
Engines and Websites were included 1. Google
scholar, 2. CDC, 3. Ebsco host, 4. WHO, 5. CINAHL,
6. AJN, and 7. Medline. Faculty Sponsor: PI-MING YEH pyeh@missouriwestern.edu
Findley, Kassidy Deanne;Cartwright, Stephen Andrew (Steve);Grabianski Vidal, Daniela Constantina; Herrera, Cindy Marie; Lefler, Mallory Jean; Shue, Gehrig Lawrence; Vey, Lance David Karter. TRANSCUTANEOUS ELECTRICAL NERVE STIMULATION (TENS) PAIN RELIEF IN POST-OPERATIVE PATIENTS.
The purpose of this study was to develop a proposal
by systematic literature review to find out the
effectiveness of Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve
Stimulation (TENS) as a non-opioid analgesic
intervention to relieve post-operative pain in
patients. The search key words were 1. TENS unit in
post-op pain, 2. Effectiveness of TENS for pain
relief, 3. Current practice for post-op pain relief,
4. TENS postoperative pain decrease, 5. What effect
does TENS have on postoperative pain, 6. Electrical
nerve stimulation and postoperative pain, 7. How
TENS can reduce opioid requirements for
postoperative pain, 8. TENS and pain relief.
EBSCOhost was used. Faculty Sponsor: PI-MING YEH pyeh@missouriwestern.edu
Holifield, Hunter; Jackson, Garrett; Lewis, Hailie; Quimby, Kaitland; Subingsubing, Grethelle; Voltmer, Lani; White, Abygale . IMPLEMENTATION OF MEWS IN EARLY DETECTION OF SEPSIS.
Sepsis is a life threatening condition that
contributes to millions of avoidable deaths in the
United States each year. While there have been many
preventable deaths caused by sepsis, there is not a
universal guideline or screening on how to detect
sepsis in patients. Detecting sepsis early can
greatly improve a patient’s likelihood for survival.
The implementation of the Modified Early Warning
Screening (MEWS) can help reduce these sepsis
related deaths by early identification of sepsis
symptoms. By alerting caregivers at the first sign
of subtle deterioration with the use of MEWS, the
devastating consequences of sepsis have been
reduced.
Faculty Sponsor: ALLISON ANDERSON kquimby@missouriwestern.edu
Loveless, London Elizabeth; Curnutt, Kylea Alexis; Hiatt, Gretchen Leigh; McCay, Tiffani Jada Belle; Prothero, McKauley Bree; Ray, Alicia Nicole; Bryant, Grace; Miranda Gusman. THE EFFECTS OF EARLY AMBULATION IN THE ADULT POPULATION ON DISCHARGE TIME.
The purpose of this study was to develop a proposal
by systematic literature review to understand the
effects of early ambulation in adults on discharge
time. The search key words were 1. Early ambulation
in adults in relation to length of stay, 2. Early
walking and discharge time, 3. Early ambulation and
how discharge times are affected, 4. Adults
increased mobility and length of stay, 5. Older
people’s early walking and release from hospital, 6.
Adults early mobilization and discharge, 7. Early
ambulation for adults after surgery, 8. Ambulation
and decreased length of stay in older adults.
EBSCOhost was used. Faculty Sponsor: PI-MING YEH pyeh@missouriwestern.edu
Tibbetts, Sophia Marie; Akins, Hunter W; Butcher, Samantha Harley (Sam); Hummer, Emily Louise; Lombardino, Caleb Joseph; Marsh, Kaitlyn Mae; Martin, Alyssa Ann. COMPARISONS OF RISK FOR COMPLICATIONS BETWEEN PREGNANT WOMEN WITH COVID-19 AND WITHOUT COVID-19.
The purpose of this study was to develop a proposal
by systematic literature review to educate the
population of fertile or pregnant women regarding
the COVID vaccine. They will know the risks versus
benefits of the vaccine during pregnancy and prior.
This will help them make the best judgement for
themselves and the health of their unborn baby. The
search key words were 1. the impact of pregnancy on
adverse outcomes of COVID-19, 2. the neonatal
morbidity index and severe perinatal morbidity and
mortality index in babies whose mom did and did not
have COVID-19. EBSCOhost was used literature review. Faculty Sponsor: PI-MING YEH pyeh@missouriwestern.edu
DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHOLOGY
Empirical Projects
Gillen, Megan; Jessica, Hendrix; Parsons, Jared; Pohl, Jake; Pritchett, Josie; Tauchen, Ali . RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN MINDFULNESS, RUMINATION, AND SOCIAL ANXIETY.
We surveyed students on measures of mindfulness,
rumination, and social anxiety. Our hypotheses,
based on previous literature, were that mindfulness
would be negatively associated with rumination;
rumination would be positively associated with
social anxiety; and mindfulness would be negatively
associated with social anxiety. Our sample included
71 Missouri Western students. This presentation
will provide a brief literature review, descriptive
statistics, and the results of a multiple regression
analysis. Faculty Sponsor: KAYLA WATERS jpohl@missouriwestern.edu
Anderson, Michaela; Anderson, Simone; Allen, Maslyn; Gunasekera, Sanjay; Klaassen, Jordan; Miller, Kenzie. INTROSPECTION AND SOCIAL MEDIA .
Research was conducted on daily usage of social media and its relation to self-esteem in individuals. The individuals that participated in our online survey study were 250 Missouri Western State University students, ages 18+ years old. Participants were asked demographic questions, questions related to social media usage, and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale questions to find if a relationship between social media usage and self-esteem exists. We anticipate higher levels of social media usage to result in lower self-esteem scores. Data collection and analysis is still ongoing. Findings will be presented at MRD. Faculty Sponsor: DR. NUCHELLE CHANCE nchance@missouriwestern.edu
Cornett, Brooklyn, Corpus, Andrea, GrandPre, Rebecca, Mackall, Tatiyanna, Smith, Callie, Vance, Kenya . TIME, CHANGE, AND THE SELF.
Individuals rated past, current and future selves on
self esteem, procrastination, and personality. We
examined the results through the self-enhancement
theory and end-of-history illusion to investigate
which perspective prevails when recalling the past
and estimating the future. The end-of-history
illusion states that people report significant
change from their past self to present self, but no
change in their future self. In contrast, the self-
enhancement theory states that people predict
gradual improvement throughout their entire
lifespan. Pilot data suggests the self-enhancement
theory is supported on self-esteem and
procrastination, while the end of history illusion
was supported on the personality scale.
Faculty Sponsor: TEDDI DEKA deka@missouriwestern.edu