Curtis VanderSchaaf

Rates of return from forest plantation investments depend not only on survival and growth rates, but also costs and revenues associated with various practices. Beyond that, tax related issues are another important consideration that are often not addressed, or directly addressed at least, in forest financial assessments. Many financial assessments can be defined as “before-tax.” Forest landowners within Louisiana have the potential to reduce reforestation cost burdens through the Federal reforestation tax deduction and amortization provisions, plus by planting fewer seedlings per acre in a more rectangular fashion.  Due to poor stumpage prices, particularly pulpwood, plus increasing reforestation costs largely due to inflation and increases in fuel costs, for many landowners returns on investment will be marginal without some type of assistance.

The impacts of this income tax reduction opportunity on unthinned loblolly pine financial returns were examined for three planting densities (454, 519, and 605 seedlings per acre) for a site index 65 feet site (base age 25). A final harvest clearcut was conducted at age 26.  For Federal tax purposes, a landowner classified as an Investor within the 22% Federal income tax bracket was assumed. 

Julia Jones

Coastal land loss is a critical issue facing Louisiana, with large-scale restoration efforts currently being undertaken to save these valuable habitats.  Importantly, such restoration efforts also provide an opportunity to optimize carbon sequestration capacity as ecosystem restoration projects are implemented in degraded areas.  Among the many types of habitats included in Louisiana’s coastal restoration efforts are bottomland hardwood forests, which are recognized as important carbon sinks. However, little research has been undertaken to assess the potential role of understory vegetation, such as Sabal minor, in augmenting carbon sequestration processes.  A preliminary field investigation confirmed that although the carbon stock in Sabal minor understory is a minor fraction compared to woody vegetation in a Louisiana bottomland forest, it nonetheless contributed significantly to the overall bottomland forest aboveground carbon pool. Further research is currently underway in the Jean Lafitte National Park Barataria Preserve to investigate whether S. minor, a species that exhibits both extensive ground coverage in these habitats and high photosynthetic efficiency, could enhance soil carbon sequestration processes. This study will provide insights as to whether integration of Sabal minor into bottomland hardwood restoration projects could be used to enhance the soil carbon sequestration capacity of these efforts. 

August Gallo, Radhey Srivastava, Dakota Bernard, Kade Coussan

The C–C bond formation remains a cornerstone of organic synthesis. In recent years, interest has been developed in C-C bond forming reactions with abundantly available alcohols as the substrates. The goal of this research is to begin a new drive in developing a one-pot, tandem or alone DODH/C-C coupling. There are several examples of useful C-C bond-forming reactions of olefins such as polymerizations, hydroformylations, cycloadditions and metathesis. The present study investigates the microwave assisted pincer type ligated dioxo-Mo catalyzed C-C coupling of benzylic alcohol and its derivatives. Microwave-assisted organic synthesis (MAOS) exploits dielectric volumetric heating as an alternative heat source, which results in faster and more selective reactions due to the uniform heat distribution. This effect of super heating is based on temperature increase by dielectric heating, which occurs through two means: dipolar polarization and ionic conduction. Several benzylic alcohol derivatives have been studied and we will present our findings on the coupling reaction. Successful couplings have resulted in product yields ranging from 25-80+%  by GC analysis. 

Jean Fotie, Lara G. Boudreaux, Alexis R. Young, Caitlyn M. Matherne

Pt, Pd, and Co nanoparticles dispersed and stabilized in porous spherosilicates, namely Pt@MTES, Pd@MTES, and Co@MTES, respectively, are explored as potential catalysts for the reductive functionalization of CO2. These silicate materials were characterized using various techniques. FTIR was employed to examine the core polyhedral silsesquioxane, while the distribution of metal nanoparticles within the matrix was analyzed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) for each catalyst. The morphology of their surfaces was investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) was used not only to determine the metal content but also to gain insights into the chemical state of the nanoparticles within the organically modified silicate material.   Subsequently, these materials were used as potential catalysts for the reductive functionalization of CO2, employing amines as reactive substrates.

Sabina Dahal

Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer worldwide, accounting for approximately 10% of all cancer cases and is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. This disease is poorly chemo-sensitive toward the existing medical treatments so new and more effective therapeutic agents are urgently needed and intensely sought. We have recently developed pyrazole and pyrazolone based small molecule anticancer agents via Pd-catalyzed cross coupling reactions. Cross-coupling reactions have played a critical role enabling the rapid expansion of structure–activity relationships (SAR) during the drug discovery phase to identify a potent candidate and facilitate subsequent drug development processes. Despite these attractive synthetic properties, continuous development of these coupling reactions has been the focus of ongoing efforts to improve the selectivity, efficiency, and sustainability. Our focus has been on synthesizing diverse molecular hybrids of pyrazolones via Pd-catalyzed C-C (Suzuki) and C-N (Buchwald-Hartwig) cross-coupling reactions. The Pd-cross-coupling of halo-aryl pyrazolones with various nucleophiles (organometallic nucleophiles for Suzuki coupling and primary or secondary amines for Buchwald-Hartwig coupling) creates the new C-C and C-N bond formations. Details of the optimized reaction conditions, purification, characterization and antiproliferative activity of the synthesized molecular hybrids will be presented.

William Parkinson, Joshua Davies

A Concerted Metalation-Deprotonation (CMD) reaction between an organic molecule and a transition metal complex occurs in a single-step.  A proton is transferred to a ligand of the complex, simultaneous to the formation of an organometalic bond.  This is a mechanism similar to that first proposed in 1955 by Winstein and Traylor to explain acetolyis of organomercury molecules, which has since been employed to model a variety of CMD processes involving many high-valent, late transition metal complexes and ligands other than acyl groups.  In this application, Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations determine ground state optimized reactant geometries, which are used with a stationary point located for the transition state to calculate the free energy of activation (DG¹) of a CMD reaction.   A vibrational spectrum of the transition state is used to identify the optimized saddle point as the proper mode to describe proton transfer from the substrate to the metal complex.  Activation energies for a variety of aromatic and non-aromatic organic substrates are investigated for properties including:  1.)  regiochemical effects that occur when changing the site of organometalic bond formation2.) regiochemical effects that occur when changing the ligand being protonated, and 3.) catalytic effects when changing the transition metal of the complex.  

Senora Howard, Thomas Sommerfeld

If the bond distance of the diatomic molecule LiF is changed, both its electron binding energy (EBE) and the character of the orbital occupied by the excess electron change dramatically. At infinite separation, the EBE is equal to the electron affinity of the fluorine atom of 3.4 eV. As the distance is reduced, the EBE decreases, and at the equilibrium geometry (1.56 Å) it shows values of about 0.5 eV. At even smaller distances, the EBE decreases further and vanishes at a distance of about 1 Å. The trends in the EBE are reflected in an evolution of the excess electron orbital from valance to non-valance bound and from localized on the fluorine atom to delocalized off the lithium atom. These changes in EBE and binding motif were studied using the coupled-cluster methods (EA and IP variants of EOM-CCSD) and the associated natural orbitals. 

Jean Fotie, Khaitlynn Johnson, Jordan E. Wroblewski, Caitlyn M. Matherne

Oximes are nitrogen-containing molecules well-known to be widely distributed across various species in all realms of life and have also been suggested to play key roles in growth regulation, plant defense, pollinator attraction, and plant communication with the surrounding environment. Furthermore, these hydroxy-imine derivatives are well-known for their antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anticancer activities. This study explores the preparation of oximes through a straightforward, catalyst-free condensation reaction as a green and sustainable approach. In the process, the contribution of steric and electronic effects on the reaction was explored. 

Prem Chanda, Sophie Lee, Alexis Square, Kristina Badeaux

Various reaction conditions such as temperature, solvent, nature of amine, and sterics of boron reagents play an important role in controlling the stereoselectivity of boron-mediated aldol reactions of phenylacetates. The systematic study of the effect of size of a boron reagent on diastereoselectivity has demonstrated that sterically less hindered, 9-Borabicyclo[3.3.1]nonyl trifluoromethanesulfonate (9-BBNOTf) provided the best syn-selectivity and yields. Herein, we will discuss the detailed study on the reagent-controlled syn-selective aldol reactions of methyl arylacetates. 

Carson Plaisance, Jacob Mcguire, Imran Emon, Vidura Thalangamaarachchige

Demulsifiers play a vital role in many different industries, such as: Petroleum refineries, Lubricant manufacturing, sludge oil treatment, etc. These industries are faced with the challenge of choosing an effective demulsifier that best demulsifies their emulsion while still being cost effective. Ionic liquids solve this problem while also having other unique properties such as thermal stability, non-flammability, and recyclability. During our study, novel ionic liquids were synthesized to utilize as emulsifiers or demulsifiers. Each synthesized ionic liquid was tested in a ten-milliliter water in oil (W/O) emulsion created using a homogenizer and an emulsifier. Each ionic liquid tested was monitored over twenty-four hours at the different concentrations of 500ppm, 1000ppm, and 5000ppm. These concentrations were achieved by diluting the ionic liquids with a half methanol and half acetone solution. In this study, the effectiveness of ionic liquids demulsification properties in the W/O emulsion were tested and how the steric hindrance of the ionic liquids affects the demulsification was investigated. 

Prem Chanda, Philip Riche, William Yang

1,2,3-triazole analogs of aldols, which are synthesized from p-bromophenylacetates, show higher enzyme inhibition activity and selectivity than the corresponding compounds synthesized from unsubstituted phenylacetates. Furthermore, 1,2,3-triazoles derived from syn-aldols were reported as more potent inhibitors of the aromatase enzyme complex (CYP 450 19A1) than 1,2,3-triazoles obtained from anti-aldols. However, enantiomerically pure derivatives of these inhibitors have never been prepared and tested. Triazoles derived from enantiomerically pure syn-aldols could be more potent than triazoles derived from racemic syn-aldols. The asymmetric synthesis of such aldol precursors of 1,2,3-triazole derivatives is the key step reaction to achieve this goal. Therefore, we will discuss reaction optimization and the scope of enantioselective syn-aldol reactions of arylacetates towards the asymmetric synthesis of syn-methyl 3-hydroxy-2,3-diarylpropanoates in this presentation.

Thomas Junk, Samantha Ponzo, Alanna Turner, Hassan Glover, Frank Fronczek

Nitrogen-containing organotellurium heterocycles are of considerable interest due to their pronounced tendency to self-assemble to supramolecular frameworks. This behavior, which has been documented for select benzo[1,3]tellurazoles and benzotelluradiazoles, may be more widespread. However, the synthesis of Te, N-containing heterocycles is not trivial and requires strategies that are very different from those employed for their sulfur and selenium congeners. 

We have developed several novel methods that facilitate access to such compounds. These include intramolecular addition reactions to alkene and alkyne moieties, nucleophilic acyl substitutions, radical imine and formamidine cyclizations and the reductive cyclization of urea derivatives. Examples, mechanisms and synthetic outcomes for each of these cyclization methods will be discussed.

Nicholas Veuleman

E-liquids are found in electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS). There are two types of nicotine that can be found in E-liquids; freebase nicotine or nicotine salts. There is currently no regulatory body responsible for overseeing the testing protocols for commercial e-liquids. As a result, many e-liquid manufacturing facilities have little to no oversight when formulating their e-liquids.

This research deals with the GC-MS quantification of freebase nicotine found in consumer e-liquids via a suitable internal standard. In this project, the internal standard was used to build a calibration curve on Excel. Thirteen e-liquids were prepared in triplicate and then each of those samples were in turn tested in triplicate. The results were plugged into Excel and response factors calculated to determine suitable working range of the concentrations. Lastly, the integration values were plugged into the calibration curve in order to extrapolate the actual nicotine concentration. The results were compared to the advertised nicotine concentrations of the e-liquids tested.

Samuel Breaux

This project is aimed at enhancing user immersion in virtual reality (VR) environments through the replication and modification of LucidVR haptic gloves. The goal is to utilize servo motors to provide force feedback, improving the sense of touch in VR applications.  The design of LucidVR's prototype 4 gloves was replicated while making adjustments to enhance modularity and reduce the overall workload for replication. The modified design employs different materials for increased flexibility and comfort, and made changes to the hardware layout to make it easier to wire and test. The research done in this project is aimed at finding ways to improve or implement the design for both VR and general use purposes. 

Jaired Foster, Kydale Redmond

In the era of digital connectivity, social media platforms have emerged as dynamic channels for individuals to express their opinions, emotions, and sentiments on a myriad of topics. This research delves into the realm of social media sentiment analysis, employing advanced natural language processing techniques to decipher the nuanced and often complex emotions embedded in user-generated content. In this current age of social media, there are many sentiments, speculations, and inquiries about public viewer consumption. The goal of this research was to strive to educate the public on societal topics that may or may not be beneficial or credible. We hope to provide insight into the viewer's knowledge and reaction to specific environmental posts. This research is also aimed at conducting a system analysis of social media to comprehensively understand the intricate workings of these platforms. Through meticulous examination of user behavior, content dissemination patterns, and platform algorithms. This analysis seeks to unveil the underlying dynamics shaping online interactions. By scrutinizing the interplay between users, content, and platform policies, insights can be gained into the propagation of misinformation, formation of echo chambers, and polarization within online communities. Additionally, such analysis aims to evaluate the impact of social media on individual well-being, mental health, and societal cohesion. Ultimately, this research endeavors to inform the developmen

Nya Johnsoy, Bharat Rawal

AI and Machine Learning are partners within the world of quantum computing and the evolution of life like functionality respective to the translation of computational recognition and adaptation. AI aims for machines that think like us. Machine learning, being an extensive tool of AI, lets machines learn from data through improvement of analyzation in data. This duo alone revolutionizes the industries; healthcare’s AI diagnoses, finance’s machine learning powered predictions. However, precaution if vital in its development. Biases in data can lead to biased AI, highlighting the need for responsible developmental accuracy. As both computational extensions mature, understanding them becomes crucial. 

Gabrielle Johnson, Lynette Jackson, Phyllis Okwan

This project studies the influence of TikTok on the societal and governmental views of the Gen Z population. TikTok is an app that consists of short videos that can be anywhere from 10 seconds to 3 minutes. The videos can range from cute dance videos, tutorials, and comedy, to politics, TikTok can be used to research topics and review things. This research examines the platform’s role in shaping perspectives, creating discourse, and viewing a shift in how the younger generation comprehends and interacts with the rest of the world. The research examined how TikTok influences the Gen Z generation with their view on politics and society, for example, a Gen Z can be in one country and can see another person on TikTok live in another country. Gen Z can also use TikTok as their version of the news to keep up with social trends such as petitions, protests, boycotting as they do currently, and also what’s going on in other countries outside of their own if they have any social issues or unrest. A poll was conducted on the extent TikTok can influence views on societal and government issues. The results indicated that TikTok helped influence Gen Z on societal and governmental issues.

Aaron Levy, Lynette Jackson, Phyllis Okwan

The goal of this research was to improve the values assigned to vertices on a grid. The current cell-to-point algorithm is appropriate for all vertices that are not hanging nodes. Tree-based AMR is a grid that can be refined where greater precision is required and coarsened where it is not. This allows computer resources to be used efficiently by increasing resolution in areas of interest and coarsening resolution in areas of less interest. Extra vertices exist on the edges or faces of the coarser resolution, where the high resolution is adjacent to the low resolution. These colinear or coplanar vertices, belonging to the higher-resolution cells, are called hanging nodes. Scalar values on the grid that are cell-centered must be interpolated onto the grid vertices for isocontour algorithms. Current cell-to-point algorithms in visualization software do not account properly for these hanging nodes. We first calculated node values using the ParaView which is a visualization software that allows one to visualize and analyze large data on a supercomputer. ParaView’s cell-to-point calculator was used and the output was saved on a grid. We then post-process that grid to identify and alter hanging nodes' scalar values. Finally, we load the “fixed” grid in ParaView, calculate a contour, and qualitatively evaluate the results. We have resolved the hanging node problem in two dimensions. 

Steele Russell, III

In this project, a model of Southeastern Louisiana University’s Computer Science Building was created along with a feature which allows you to build it incrementally using an in-game currency. The platform this project was built on is Roblox and the Scripting Language it was written in is Lua. It was developed as part of a project for the course Survey of Programming Languages (CMPS 401). This project allows for virtual visits to the Computer Science Facilities.

These visits are a fun way to become more familiar with the Computer Science and Technology Building without having to travel there, it is believed this has potential to be used as a recruitment tool. The Roblox platform was chosen due to its ease of access, as it is compatible with many types of devices. Roblox has been used by many students entering college, so they are likely already acquainted with it.

Pratikshya Timalsina

Diabetes is a metabolic disorder where the body's blood sugar level increases due to inability to use insulin effectively. One of the serious complications caused by diabetes is Diabetic Retinopathy (DR) which causes damage to the blood vessels of the retina. Awareness and early diagnosis of diabetic retinopathy is crucial to prevent blindness. Advancements in the field of deep learning and its emerging use in the medical diagnosis field offers promising potential for automated Diabetic Retinopathy diagnosis and severity assessment through image analysis. In this research, we study different deep learning techniques that can be employed for analyzing the retinal images and assess the severity of diabetic retinopathy. This research aims to develop a reliable deep learning model to accurately diagnose DR and identify different stages of diabetic retinopathy improving early intervention. 

LaShai Adams

Often times, people confuse artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) simply because they are interchangeable, but they most certainly have their differences. AI is simply put a broad field , in which it refers to the use of technologies to build machines and computers that have the unique ability to mimic cognitive functions that can be associated with human intelligence, such as being able to see, understand and respond to written or spoken language, make recommendations and analyze data. People speak of AI as a system within itself, as it is a set of technologies that are implemented within the system to enable it to reason, learn, and act to solve a problem. In turn, ML is a subset of artificial intelligence that automatically enables a system or machine to learn and improve from experience. Instead of having explicit programming, ML uses algorithms to analyze large amounts of data, learn from the insights, then finally make informed decisions. ML algorithms also helps to improve performance over time as they are trained or exposed to more data. ML models are said to be the output, or what the program learns from running a simple algorithm. In sense, the more data that is used, the better the machine model will become. ML and AI are similar as AI is the broader concept of using a system or machine to reason, act, sense or adapt like a human while ML is the application of AI that allows a machine to extract knowledge from data and learn from it autonomously. 

Sari Linton

The rise in cyberattacks has highlighted the vulnerabilities of relying solely on passwords. MFA verification codes, which demand an additional layer of authentication beyond something the user knows, considerably strengthen email security. This approach reduces the risk of unauthorized entry, providing an essential safeguard against account compromise. In the case of compromised email, receiving encrypted email from Microsoft outlook provides no layers of protection since the code to unlock said encrypted email will be sent to a compromised inbox. Current protections require either MFA or some other multi-step verification method that leaves the onus on the email owner to set up beforehand. The framework proposed by this work eliminates this requirement. Instead, a global redirect is proposed that recognizes encrypted emails and can be implemented on the side of the email service. Before an encrypted email can be accessed, a prompt for a passcode different from the user account password is requested. This serves as a secure access method and adds a simple additional layer of security for a particular type of email communication. While the proposed solution is weaker than MFA, it is a valid and simple method to thwart access to encrypted emails in a compromised inbox. 

Waneene Dorsey, Ari'elle Holston, Favour Aina, Sherlyne Toussaint, Daniel Akinkoye, Derrick Kee

Clinical studies have demonstrated that inflammation causes resistance to chemotherapy in cancer patients. This presents a significant challenge for medical doctors in developing effective treatment plans. About 40% of human malignancies, including breast, colon, and small lung tumors, contain inflammatory response proteins.  It is well documented that when inflammatory gene proteins are activated in the body, they form an inflammatory microenvironment in which cancer cells frequently use their signaling mechanisms to escape death from chemotherapeutic treatments. In many instances, cancer cells and tumors thrive and begin to migrate to other parts of the body, demonstrating metastasis.  Previous studies from our laboratory demonstrated that exposure to pentachlorophenol (PCP), a potent and persistent environmental wood preservative, is genotoxic and causes the upregulation of GADD153- (growth arrest and DNA damage) and p53 (tumor suppressor) genes in human liver carcinoma HepG2 cells.  In the present study, we exposed TIB73 mouse liver cells to various concentrations of PCP, to induce inflammatory gene proteins.  Upon 24-hour exposure, the phos-NF-kβ cytokine, a master regulator of pro-inflammatory cytokines, induced the activation of IL-1β, phos-ATF-2, phos-p38, and TNF-α was observed in 4 μg PCP/mL, and 8 μg PCP/mL. It is well documented that pro-inflammatory cytokines accompany the entire phase of cancer development and drug resistance. Data from our study suggest that PC 

Caleb Boudreaux, Alec Plaisance, Raj Boopathy

In our previous study, four multi-drug resistant bacteria were isolated from overtop sediment that was brought in through storm surge caused by Hurricane Ida in 2021. The bacteria isolated were from sludge samples in the small community of Larose, LA, relatively close in proximity to the Gulf of Mexico. The purpose of this study was to measure the degree at which two of the bacterial isolates, Bacillus cereus and Bordetella avium are resistant to the antibiotic, Trimethoprim. These two isolates showed resistance to Trimethoprim with sulfonamide antibiotic-resistance genes (ARG's), sul1 and sul2 respectively. In this study, these two isolates were grown in the presence of various concentrations of Trimethoprim ranging from 0 to 250 mg/L to observe the maximum tolerance level of these isolates for Trimethoprim. The results showed that the two isolates had the ability to grow up to 250 mg/L of Trimethoprim. In a different experiment, bacterial isolates were grown with Trimethoprim as the sole carbon and nitrogen using a basic mineral salt medium. The results from this study indicated the bacterial isolates can tolerate Trimethoprim, but do not have the ability to degrade it. 

Elizabeth Granier, Giovanna McClenachan, Jonathan Willis

Louisiana’s barrier islands are ephemeral landforms generated by the Mississippi River’s deltaic cycle. These barrier islands are currently experiencing a high rate of erosion due to both chronic wave energy exposure and high energy tropical storms. Despite their transient nature, Louisiana has undertaken numerous projects to restore these habitats because of their valuable role in storm energy reduction, as well as their provision of crucial stopover habitat for migratory birds. An important component of barrier island restoration is successful vegetation establishment, and the protocols for effective, initial plantings are largely well developed. However, plant community successional dynamics in restored barrier islands are, in comparison, poorly understood. This study provides preliminary findings from a large-scale data mining project that employs ordination techniques to investigate plant community composition patterns using the Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority’s long-term barrier island monitoring data set. The Timbalier Island Dune and Marsh Restoration project (TE-40) data set was investigated using NMDS techniques, and significant changes in species composition over time were detected. In particular, cover of the common dune grass, Panicum amarum, exhibited a negative correlation with time, suggesting a reduction in dune habitat extent. Further analysis is underway to assess successional patterns across Louisiana’s barrier islands. 

Ivy Hebert

The removal of xenobiotic compounds in the environment, such as phenol, is important in limiting potential exposure. The purpose of this study was to measure the ability of a bacterial consortium to degrade phenol. The consortium was obtained from a sediment that polluted the yards of residential properties in southeastern Louisiana after Hurricane Ida in August 2021. Phenol was detected in the sediment in concentration range of 800-2,100 mg/kg of sediment with an average of 1,200 mg/kg. A bacterial consortium was developed using basic mineral salt medium with 1,000 mg/L phenol as the sole carbon source. The consortium’s ability to degrade phenol was tested in triplicates with abiotic control and using phenol as the sole carbon source. Phenol degradation was monitored using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The consortium was able to grow on and degrade phenol. The individual members of this consortium were identified as Escherichia coli and Ochrobactrum anthropi. Pure culture bacteria were tested for their phenol degrading potential. Future study includes the identification of the metabolites using LC/MS and construct phenol degradation pathway. 

Edmund Merem, Yaw Twumasi, Yemi Babalola, Siddig Fageir, Emmanuel Nwagboso, Joan Wesley, Gloria Hirse, sampson Emeakpor, Jude Offiah, Duro Olagbegi

Undoubtedly, South Africa is endowed with natural resources. But as the ecology shows, contrary to the perception as regional economic power, the challenges of water stress are real. Seeing that water insecurity is not peculiar to South Africa alone. The situation is compounded by the location in a semiarid place prone to irregular rainfalls below global average levels. Between 1992-2015 when South Africa experienced the threat of limited access to safe drinking water. The fluctuations of ground water aquifers and the reliance on  transfers to meet daily needs from neighboring countries affirm hydrological vulnerability. Thus, in water stressed South Africa, incessant demands from agriculture, mining, and new settlements are common. For that, the gravity of shortfalls in supply increases the exposure of communities.  This could deteriorate, should pressures from changing climate persist amidst projected drops   in water basins. Despite, all this, little work exists on South Africa’s water issues. While this paper will fill that void, emphasis is on the issues, trends, impacts, production, factors, and efforts to boost access. Using mix-scale methods of GIS and descriptive statistics, the results show changes in usage, and dispersion of various hydrological indicators. With all these attributed to socio-economic and physical factors, the paper offered solutions from education, design of innovative water infrastructure, to monitoring, reuse, and national water info tools. 

Taylor Talbert, Caroline Hennigan, Gabrielle Barnes, Liane Pham

Microplastic pollution is commonly observed in water systems across the world. Southwest Louisiana is home to many industrial processing plants that specialize in producing polymers used for plastic production. The locations of these industrial plants are adjacent to aquatic systems of Southwest Louisiana. This study's objective was to determine if there is a correlation between industrial locations and quantity of microplastic pollution in nearby aquatic sites. Six water samples were collected along the Calcasieu River watershed. Three samples were collected upstream and three downstream of industrial sites near Lake Charles, Louisiana. This poster describes the microplastic pollution observed at each site over one collection period. 

Lillian Theriot, Jonathan Willis

Sabal minor (Dwarf Palmetto), is a native species prevalent in bottomland hardwood swamps in Louisiana where it often forms an almost monospecific understory. Sabal minor is recognized as being valuable for fauna support and is currently being investigated for its role in augmenting carbon sequestration in these habitats. Despite its obvious importance as a component of bottomland hardwood forests, little research has been performed to characterize optimal growing conditions for these species. To address this data gap, a mesocosm study has been initiated at the Nicholls State University Farm facility to determine the effects of water table depth and light availability on Sabal minor seedling growth. Initial results suggest that S. minor seedlings experiencing full sun conditions had significantly lower leaf number and cumulative leaf length compared to 80% light transmission after one month, whereas water depth treatment and the interaction of light level with water depth had no discernible effect. Importantly, this apparent diminishment of leaf number and length under full sun conditions compared to 80% light transmission may simply represent short-term plastic responses to light availability and saturation rather than a reduction in long-term, integrated growth response. Data collection and analyses are ongoing over the growing season and will provide key insights into conditions in which Sabal minor seedlings can be anticipated to establish and thrive. 

Erik Roy, Kinsey Vidrine, William Dees

The Louisiana Academy of Sciences (LAS) holds annual meetings each year to observe investigations conducted by Louisiana scientists and student researchers.  Since 2011, the Louisiana Scientist: Bulletin of the Louisiana Academy of Sciences provides a record of these investigations presented from 2007 until now at each annual meeting.  In observance of the Centennial Decade of the Academy, we organized data on research presented from 2007 to 2023 to determine trends in presentations over the 17 year period.  Scientists and students from Louisiana universities and research organizations as well as from other states and other countries have participated in LAS for nearly a century.  From 2007 to 2023, research faculty and students from most state universities in Louisiana have contributed to the Academy’s annual meetings.  We reviewed presentations from each of the 17 sections of the LAS discipline-specific divisions.  The number of presentations varied in most LAS sections.  Since its inception in 2019, the number of presentations in the Cyber Security and Information Assurance Section has increased by 50% from six in 2019 to nine in 2023.  Whereas, since 2007, there has been a decline in the number of presentations in the Chemistry and Microbiology Sections.  Since 2021, no research has been presented in the Earth Science Section.  The decline in research presentations may be attributed to the COVID pandemic. 

Christof Stumpf, Cheryl Bardales

The Oak Leaf, LSUA's Journal of Undergraduate Teaching and Research, is a multi-disciplinary publication for exceptional undergraduate research, book and historical reviews, and theoretical articles. This open-access, peer-reviewed journal celebrates the achievements of undergraduate students and welcomes submissions from the wider academic community. The objectives of The Oak Leaf are to showcase the research of undergraduate students, provide a forum for the scientific community to express and exchange diverse ideas from various fields, recognize outstanding students, familiarize students with the publishing process, encourage faculty-student collaboration, and offer undergraduate researchers in all disciplines the opportunity to communicate their experiences and results to worldwide audiences, the final crucial step in the research process. In the humanities, faculty are encouraged to consider A-grade course assignments for publication in The Oak Leaf if they demonstrate exemplary writing, clear arguments, third-person perspective, grammatical accuracy, and thorough documentation. In the sciences, research projects that feature a testable hypothesis, reproducibility, proper use of statistical methods, novel discoveries, and are of a caliber suitable for a scientific conference are welcome. Students can connect with us and submit their work at http://www.lsua.edu/the-oak-leaf. 

Kinsey Vidrine, Erik Roy, William Dees

The Louisiana Academy of Sciences (LAS) holds annual meetings each year to observe investigations conducted by Louisiana scientists and student researchers. Since 2011, the Louisiana Scientist: Bulletin of the Lousisana Academy of Sciences provides a record of these investigations presented at each annual meeting. One of the first publications of the Louisiana Scientist contained abstracts from 2007 LAS annual meeting (Louisiana Scientist Vol. 1A, No. 3). In observance of the Centennial Decade of the Academy, we reviewed participation and research presented from the six LAS discipline-specific divisions from 2007 to 2023 to determine trends in presentations over the 16-year period. From 2007 to 2023, research and other information were presented via poster format (52%) or oral presentation (48%). Since 2007, the number of presentations in the Division of Science Education has decreased by 87% from 15 in 2007 to 2 in 2023. In 2023, there was an increase in the number of presentations in the Biological Sciences Division indicative of a return to in-person engagement similar to pre-COVID pandemic numbers. 

Haeyeon Yang, Uchechukwu Alih, Ke-Sean Peter, Jovana Latinovic, Stecy Chirinda, Nonso Duaka, Oluwafayemidara Sowemimo

Dynamic light scattering (DLS) technique has been widely used to analyze micrometer to nanometer size particles that are suspended in liquids. Nanoparticles of various chemical compositions have been found in wide range of applications including those in bio-medical applications. It is important to characterize nanoparticles in colloidal suspension such as in biological applications of nanoparticle in human body. Compared to other techniques such as transmission electron microscopy (TEM), DLS method has advantages of ease of use and cost effective. We have examined various nanoparticles using DLS technique, including commercially available nanoparticles of titanium and copper as well as high energy ball milled SmCo5 nanoparticle. In this presentation, the discrepancies between nominal size and the DLS measured size as well as zeta potential of nanoparticles will be discussed. 

Mohamed Zeidan, Jace Angelette, Dylan Di Costantino, Jacob Rosales

The proposed research project aims to research using potential Supplementary Cementitious Material (SCM) to improve concrete sustainability. The main goal is to investigate an SCM to reduce the carbon footprint of concrete. When dealing in the production of concrete especially cement which is the key binding agent in concrete it brings a big toll on the environment. Cement production is responsible for generating large quantities of CO2 to convert limestone into clinker which is used to procure cement. Thus, the authors believe that reducing the amount of cement used in typical concrete mixes can significantly reduce the carbon footprint of concrete. Pumice is a naturally occurring material created when super-heated and pressurized rock rapidly ejected from volcanoes. This research is focusing on partially replacing Portland cement in concrete mixes by volcanic pumice powder ash (VPPA) to enhance concrete sustainability. Several concrete mixes incorporating different doses and types of available VPPA will be designed and tested.  Three basic tests will be used to assess the performance of the mixes. These tests include evaluating workability using slump tests, compressive strength evaluation at different ages and the concrete surface resistivity (SR) as an indicator of permeability. The results of these tests will be analyzed to evaluate VPPA as a possible greener alternative SCM. 

Eric Booth, Conor McGibboney

View factor calculation, via Monte Carlo techniques, is vital to understanding radiative energy transfer in aerospace vehicles. Obtaining good quality results requires simultaneous generation of all view factors in a geometry. This demands high geometric accuracy, fast execution speed, and evenly-populated view factors. The choice of algorithms for ray construction directly affects the computational expense and statistical evenness of the associated Monte Carlo runs. Population-based remeshing and perturbation strategies effectively prevent missed intersections without overly-large speed penalties. Probabilistic machine-learning techniques create small but significant performance improvements when adequately constrained; valid-point-pair selection and physical-view-factor-population-guidance examples are given. Finally, three different geometry-based optimization techniques—transmission, reflection, and orthogonal triples—are compared in terms how they influence the physical validity and speed of point pairs generated by the code. 

Haeyeon Yang, Ke-Sean Peter, Yalearie Wildy, Jovana Latinovic, Stecy Chirinda, Uchechukwu Alih, Oluwafayemidara Sowemimo, Mosopefoluwa John

X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) has been used to characterize the crystalline quality of laser melted powders that are mixed with nanoparticles (NPs). Continuous wave (CW) laser was used to melt micrometer sized SmCo5 powders mixed with various NPs including titanium and copper NPs. During the laser melting, NPs of high melting point keep the solid phase while the lower melting point powder elements, such as SmCo5 becomes liquid. During this laser melting period, the materials system can be viewed as a liquid with NPs suspended or nanoliquid. XRD provides a valuable insight on the laser melting process as it measures the crystalline quality of these laser melts including on how NPs improve crystallinity. In this presentation, the effects of NPs on the crystalline quality of laser melted powders mixed with various nanoparticles including titanium and copper. Also discussed will be the effects of high energy ball milling on the laser melted SmCo5 powders as the milling increases the fraction of NPs in the powder without NPs added to them. 

Haeyeon Yang, Ke-Sean Peter, Jovana Latinovic, Stecy Chirinda, Uchechukwu Alih, Oluwafayemidara Sowemimo, Mosopefoluwa John

The hardness of laser melted powders has been measured. Continuous wave (CW) laser was used to melt micrometer sized SmCo5 powders with nanoparticles (NPs). The fraction of NPs in the powder is increased either by high energy ball milling of the powders or simply add NPs to it. During the laser melting, NPs of high melting point such as titanium NPs would be in the solid phase while the lower melting point powder elements such as, SmCo5 powder become liquid. This effectively creates nanoliquids during the short period of laser melting process. Hardness of these laser melts provides us the insight on the quality of laser melts including the effects of nanoparticles on the laser melting process. A micro hardness tester was used to measure the hardness of laser melted powders mixed with nanoparticles. In this presentation, the hardness of laser melt with various NPs including titanium and copper will be compared. Also discussed will be the hardness of high energy ball milled SmCo5 powders with no nanoparticles added. 

Ayodeji Olanite

Technology has turned things around in the microelectronics world and Integrated Circuit (IC) has been the driving force behind all these innovations. A lot of improvements have been made since the inception of the IC with the goal of improving performance of an IC. However, as the number of transistors on a chip increase with the goal of improving performance, it comes with a major drawback of more power dissipation. To address these challenges, this study investigates the energy efficiencies between two different types of adiabatic logic families, implemented with Metal-Oxide- Semiconductor Field-Effect Transistor (MOSFET) and Fin Field Effect Transistor (FinFET) 32 nm technology node. LTSPICE (SPICE based analog electronic circuit simulator computer software) is used as the simulation tool to evaluate the power dissipation between both the Energy Charge Recovery Logic (ECRL) and the Positive Feedback Adiabatic Logic (PFAL). The results obtained revealed clearly that the Energy Charge Recovery Logic (ECRL) Inverter and NAND gates dissipate more power than the PFAL Inverter and NAND gate using MOSFET transistor. On the other hand, the power dissipated for the ECRL NOR gate is less than the PFAL NOR gate. Furthermore, the experimental results demonstrate that for all gates configurations (Inverter, NOR and NAND), ECRL dissipate less power than the PFAL using the FinFET transistor 

Dalby Augustine, Christopher Struchtemeyer

Since the late nineteenth century, the field of microbiology has relied extensively on the study of pure cultures to better understand microbial ecosystems.  However, microscopic studies and the molecular techniques have revealed that microbiologists are only able to cultivate approximately 1 out of every 100 microorganisms in a laboratory setting.  One factor which limits cultivation efforts is that microbes often rely on one another in order to fulfill their nutritional requirements.   Over the past 50 years, there has been a shift from pure culture to mixed culture studies in order to better understand microbial ecosystems.  In this study, a swab sample was collected from a residential shower and plated on nutrient agar.  A lawn of orange growth was obtained after incubation.  It was initially assumed that the lawn consisted of a single orange bacterium.  However, repeated subculturing revealed that a mixture of four microbes was present.  This mixed culture consisted of an orange colony, a yellow colony, a white colony, and a white colony with a pink center.  The orange colony could not be grown in pure culture.  However, growth was observed in cocultures with the white colony or in mixed cultures with all four microbes from the consortium.  Pigment production was also reduced in cocultures with the white colony relative to mixed cultures that contained all four of the consortium microbes. 

Shila Kandel, Karan Chandra Thota, Niya Lewis, Bryan T. Rogers, Jean Christopher Chamcheau, Raphyel Rosby, Ekhtear Hossain

One of the world’s pressing issues is infectious diseases brought on by the increasing number of multi-drug resistant bacteria that have emerged as a result of repeated and inappropriate use of antibiotics. The diversity of plants and plant chemistry form a rich potential source of novel antibacterial medicines that will be necessary to treat these infections. This study aimed to determine the nature of anti-microbial activity found in leaf extracts. Crude extracts of the Lorapetalum Chinense leaf were subjected to over twenty phytochemical analyses. Qualitative tests indicated the presence of common phytocompounds, including carbohydrates, reducing sugars, glycosides, proteins, amino acids, flavonoids, phenols, tannins, and others. The size of inhibition zones in disc diffusion assays was used to evaluate the ability of the extract to control Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial strains. Zones of inhibition caused by plant extract (62.5 μg/disc to 500 μg/disc) indicated that Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterobacter aerogenes, and Escherichia coli were sensitive to the L. Chinense extract. While this study supports the hypothesis that L. Chinense will be an important source of anti-microbial agents, further studies are needed to identify and isolate the active phytoconstituents so they can be screened individually and subjected to in vivo efficacy testing and toxicological studies. 

Kaile Kukaua, Alexander Darbonne, Dalby Augustine, Christopher Struchtemeyer

Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) are distinct from other types of Staphylococcus due to their resistance to beta lactam antibiotics.  MRSA was recently described as “one of the most successful modern pathogens.”  It achieved this designation since it is able to thrive as a commensal and be transmitted in both healthcare and community settings.  MRSA causes a variety of issues in humans including bacteremia, endocarditis, skin/soft tissue infections, and bone/joint infections.  To date, a variety of selective chromogenic media have been developed to allow for the detection of MRSA in healthcare and community settings.  In this study, swab samples were collected from several locations within a residential bathroom and a college athletic facility and plated onto CHROMagar MRSA in order to test for the presence of MRSA.  A total of 20 mauve colonies (presumptive MRSA colonies) from these plates were isolated/purified on nutrient agar and used to perform Gram stains, catalase tests, mannitol salts agar tests, and Kirby Bauer assays.  The results of this work indicated that all 20 of the presumptive MRSA colonies exhibited characteristics that were inconsistent with what was expected for traditional MRSA strains (some were Gram negative, none of the isolates were capable of mannitol fermentation on mannitol salts agar, and all were sensitive to penicillin during Kirby Bauer assays). 

Mathew Massey

Cationic antimicrobial peptides (CAMPs) are found in all kingdoms of life and play roles in immune defense, predation, and competition. They are considered promising antibiotics and represent important solutions to the emerging crisis of antibiotic resistance. Colistin belongs to a group of CAMPs known as polymyxin, one of the active ingredients of a commonly used antibiotic ointment known as Neosporin. Colistin is one of the most effective last resort antibiotics against many Gram-negative bacterial infections. However, some Gram-negative bacterial species belonging to the genus Burkholderia are extremely resistant to colistin. Previously, we have reported that the presence of the physiological amount of an alkalinizing household product, sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) in the growth media drastically reduced the extreme colistin resistance of B. thailandensis. However, the molecular mechanism of how exactly bicarbonate display this synergistic effect with colistin is unclear. We propose that maintaining cytoplasmic pH homeostasis by bacterial cells is required for extreme colistin resistance. Sodium bicarbonate could disrupt this homeostasis and reduce colistin resistance. How does disruption in cytoplasmic pH homeostasis reduce colistin resistance remains to be investigated. Whether bicarbonate also reduces resistance to other commonly used antibiotics in B. thailandensis has not been determined yet. Our study will give us some answers to these critical questions. 

Ross Nakada, Prakash Meppaloor Gopalakrishnan Nair

Antibacterial drug resistance and the formation of bacterial biofilms pose significant challenges to global health by compromising the efficacy of antibiotics against common infections. The field of nanotechnology has witnessed rapid advancements in the development of nano delivery systems, employing nanomaterials as carriers for therapeutic agents. Various synthesis methods, including chemical, physical, and biological approaches, can be explored for the development of nano-sized drug delivery systems. Notably, biological methods, distinguished for their reduced use of harmful chemicals and minimal toxic by-products, are preferred in nanomaterial synthesis. Plant-based methods emerge as eco-friendly, and cost-effective approaches for synthesizing metal nanoparticles due to the abundant availability of plant materials. Plant metabolites, being non-toxic, facilitate the reduction of metal ions to metallic nanoparticles and are conducive to surface functionalization due to their small size and stability. This study underscores the plant-mediated biosynthesis of gold nanoparticles using Catharanthus roseus plant extracts, followed by their functionalization with the antibiotic Ciprofloxacin. The antimicrobial and antibiofilm activities of these biogenic gold nanoparticles, either alone or functionalized with Ciprofloxacin, were evaluated against Acinetobacter baumannii. 

Kwabena Darko Addy, Haley Barnett, Heath Barnett, Hailey Davis

Hydrogels, characterized by their high water content and biocompatibility, represent a promising avenue for drug delivery due to their capacity to encapsulate and release therapeutic agents with precision. This study addresses the limitations of conventional drug delivery methods, which often suffer from issues such as poor drug stability, inadequate control over release kinetics, and low bioavailability. The objectives of this study encompassed the development of a predictive modelling system for hydrogel microparticle mass transport properties and the validation of the modelling system using PEG-based hybrid hydrogels and a machine learning approach. The goal is to develop this modeling system which will enable us to accurately describe the loading efficiency and diffusion rates of hydrogel-based drug delivery systems by inputting basic, known material properties. Herein, we report the impact of different compounds, particularly PEGDMA (MW: 1K) and PEGDMA (MW: 2OK), on hydrogel swelling behavior and predictive modeling outcomes. The model predicted a baseline swelling ratio of approximately 24.92% , with individual compound effects influencing deviations from this baseline. While a positive correlation was observed in the scatter plot comparing predicted and actual swelling ratios, indicating a decent level of accuracy, areas for potential model refinement were identified based on a mean absolute error (MAE) of 5.52. 

Tobechukwu Aghadinuno, Joy T. Folahan, Ekhtear Hossain, Tobechukwu M. Aghadinuno, Francis-Afred Attah, Olufunke E. Olorundare, Jean C. Chamcheu

Keratinocyte carcinoma (KC) and Melanoma (MSC) are prevalent and aggressive skin cancers in the US. Treatment regimens often cause adverse effects/relapse, resulting in low patient compliance. Current study explores Garcinia Kola seeds-derived Kolaviron, with known antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antidiabetic properties. Powdered Garcinia Kola nuts was defatted with petroleum ether, followed by methanol extraction yielding Kolaviron which was further fractionated to F3. The anticancer effects of F3 on MSC and KC cell lines was assessed by MTT, clonogenic and western blot assays, and the most susceptible cancer lines were further investigated for the involvement of autophagy. F3 significantly decreased cell proliferation and viability. The IC50 values were significantly higher in Normal keratinocytes compared to cancer cell lines. Furthermore, colony formation capacity was severely decreased in treated cells compared to control. The observed decrease was > 90% in F3-treated cells. Western blot analysis showed cell cycle arrest at the G1 phase, evident by depletion of cyclin D1, E2, CDK 4 and 2. Moreover, analysis of autophagy markers revealed conversion of LC3B-I to LC3B-II, p62 degradation and induction of Atg-5. These findings indicate that F3 possesses potent anticancer activity associated with the induction of autophagy. This suggests the potential for further exploration and development as a promising agent for the management and control of both MSC and KC. 

Anthony Agu, Atchimnaidu Siriki, Siva Murru, Ali Gholamian Moghaddam

Colorectal cancer (CRC), which comprises colon and/or rectum cancer, represents a significant health problem as the world’s third most diagnosed and second most fatal cancer. Due to its high incidence and mortality rate worldwide, the global burden of CRC is expected to increase by 60% with more than 2.2 million new cases and 1.1 million deaths by 2030. Even though the treatment outcomes for people with early-onset CRC have been improving, there is no effective treatment for advanced CRC patients and the overall five-year survival rate is only 12%. Most colorectal cancer drugs are kinase inhibitors, but they often face resistance, leading to reduced effectiveness and relapses. Hence, there is a pressing demand for the development of novel anticancer medications with curative potential, heightened selectivity, and lower toxicity.

Consequently, we have synthesized and examined novel pyrazole-based combretastatin derivatives as potential antiproliferative agents against colorectal cancer cell lines. In addition, we have tested these compounds against non-cancerous cell lines (CCD-18Co) to identify the most potent and selective compounds and studied their ability to induce apoptosis and inhibit colony formation and migration of CRC cancer cells. Moreover, our recent kinase profiling study confirms that the most potent analog doesn’t inhibit any cancer-related kinases. We are currently testing our most potent compounds for their microtubule polymerization inhibition activity.

Victoria DeBarbieris, Hydee Holsapple, Justin Anderson

The bacterium Microbacterium foliorum serves as one of the hosts we use to isolate and characterize bacteriophages. These phages, for short, are viruses that infect a specific host, replicate, and then release new progeny by bursting the host cell. Our interest is in identifying genes that contribute to the production of new progeny and the control of the burst. Toward that end, we have isolated eleven phages from multiple locations in southeast Louisiana. We characterized their genomes using randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) PCR to assess relatedness based on shared banding patterns. Two phages were nearly identical and likely represent isolation of the same phage by benchmates. The remaining phages exhibit distinct banding patterns and are likely novel. We are currently determining growth characteristics for these phages, and plan to sequence all their genomes using Nanopore technology. Ultimately, we aim to identify phage genes that are associated with growth characteristics in the host bacteria. 

Layla Johnson, Rini Pauly, F. Alex Feltus, Emily Casanova

Background: Homo sapiens and Neanderthals underwent hybridization during the Middle/Upper Paleolithic age, culminating in retention of small amounts of Neanderthal-derived DNA in the modern human genome. Methods: In the current study, we address the roles Neanderthal  SNP may be playing in autism susceptibility using data from the SPARK, GTEx, and 1000 Genomes databases by comparing SNP enrichment across probands and ethnically-matched controls, studying Gene Ontology enrichment patterns across SNPs, and identifying clinical features linked with specific Neanderthal-derived SNPs. Results: We have discovered that a subset of rare variants is significantly enriched in white non-Hispanic, white Hispanic, and black non-Hispanic autistic probands compared to ethnically-matched controls (BH adj. p ≤ 4.672 x 10-5). Across all three groups, host genes, within which these rare SNPs fall, are enriched for processes relating to cell adhesion, cell projection, and the cytoskeleton (FDR adj. p ≤ 0.0272). In addition, 5 SNPs falling within 4 genes are significantly enriched in black non-Hispanics, while 18 SNPs are enriched in white, non-Hispanics. Each of these SNPs is a quantitative trait locus (QTL) expressed in brain. In addition, some of these SNPs are enriched in specific autism subsets. Conclusion: Together, these results strongly suggest Neanderthal-derived DNA is playing a significant role in autism susceptibility across major populations in the United States. 

Niya Lewis, Brianna Travis, Bryan T. Rogers, Raphyel Rosby, Ekhtear Hossain

Angiogenesis, the production of new blood vessels from existing vasculature, plays an essential role in various physiological and pathological conditions, including embryonic development, wound healing, and the progression of diseases such as cancer and cardiovascular disorders. Our preliminary study indicated that Loropetalum chinense leaf extract contains various bioactive compounds, including flavonoids, phenols, tannins, and others that could prevent angiogenesis. In this study, we evaluated the angio-suppressive effect of the leaf extract derived from L. chinense on the developing chick embryo using chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) assay. Morphological distortion of blood vasculature and vessel diameter was observed and quantified using the “Digital Surf Mountains” software. Based on comparisons of vessel density, branching patterns, and overall morphology in the developing vasculature between L. chinense leaf extract-treated embryos and untreated controls, we found sufficient evidence to support the anti-angiogenic effects of L. chinense leaf extract. This finding holds promise for developing novel therapeutic interventions targeting angiogenesis-related disorders. Our experimental CAM model provides valuable information for the initial screening of anti-angiogenic effects of the leaf extract derived from L. chinense, and it is essential to validate these findings in more complex models and humans. 

Landon Ossman

Today, approximately two-thirds of the United States population is obese or overweight. Obesity is intricately linked to a myriad of diseases, including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, metabolic syndrome, and respiratory disorders. The multifaceted impact of obesity on health underscores the need for comprehensive strategies to address and mitigate its associated comorbidities. Sugar is one of many established contributors to the progression of adipogenesis; therefore, we aim to find relative data on sugar concentration and subsequent effects on gene regulation and expression throughout adipogenesis in human adipose derived stem/stromal cells. With each treatment we will assess changes in self-renewal and adipogenesis by monitoring the expression of ki-67, pparγ, glut5, adipoq, notch1, and notch3 in both self-renewing cells and those undergoing adipogenic differentiation. With this work we aim to contribute to our understanding of the molecular mechanisms that sugar and sugar substitutes utilize to initiate and enhance adipogenesis in hASCs. 

Penny Shockett, Leandrew Pate III, Madeline Pye, Christopher Beachy, Pradip Panta

Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) are composed of extracellular DNA decorated with antimicrobial granule proteins. Neutrophils extrude NETs upon triggering by microbes through membrane associated pattern recognition receptors. Much is known about mammalian NETs, their roles in trapping and killing microbes, and their exacerbation of inflammatory disease. While signaling pathways and proteins in neutrophils involved in NET formation have been identified, further work is required to understand properties of microbes such as surface structures and secreted factors that stimulate NETs. Additionally, while NETs are conserved across species, they have not been described in salamanders. Our studies are currently perfecting detection of NETs stimulated in mouse neutrophils, triggering their formation with strains of bacteria differing in surface structures, and adapting induction and detection methods to look for NETs (and microbes that trigger them) in salamanders. Given that species of reptiles and amphibians are threatened by environmental pathogens, and NETs are an important protective defense against such, understanding whether these organisms make NETs and how NET production can be activated by pathogens is of interest. 

Luc Allain, James Cho

This research is based on extraction and purification of certain useful hydrophilic proteins/polypeptides in American cockroach because insects can be one of the excellent peptide or protein-based biomaterials for biomedical applications. In this research, we are planning to successfully synthesize a biohydrogel by a green chemical method with aqueous American cockroach (Periplaneta americana) extract solution.  Hydrophilic biological molecules (such as hydrophilic proteins and polypeptides) acted as building blocks for hydrogel formation with metal cations such as metal ions such as Ag+ ions.

Christopher Anderson, Patrick Moyer

Atomic force microscopy (AFM) is a method of measuring features on a nanometer scale. Commercially available AFM's can start at tens of thousands of dollars, which can be a restrictive price. In this presentation, we will discuss our design and construction of, what appears to be, the first fully functional 3D printed AFM.  The control system, National Instruments FPGA hardware coded with the LabView virtual instrument, will also be discussed.  Our AFM provides AFM functionality at a fraction of the cost, while retaining a similar resolution to commercial ones. And unlike other AFM's, ours can be inexpensively and quickly re-designed to meet a specific purpose. 

Alexis Breaux, Casandra Saxon, Gerard Blanchard

We intend to perform an experiment to measure the variation in solar spectral irradiance across the solar disk (limb darkening) during the April 8, 2024 solar eclipse using a balloon-borne dual spectrometer payload.  In this poster, we present the results of ground-based testing of the instrument during the October 14 partial solar eclipse.  The ground-based experiment validated the performance of the instrument but did indicate a need for changes to the operational software.  We were able to recover sufficient data to validate our novel data analysis method.  Our results show that, as expected, the solar spectral irradiance from the outer 50% of the solar disk is significantly lower than that from the inner 50% of the solar disk.  The inner and outer spectra are compared to 5810 K and 5610 K blackbody spectra, respectively.  The spectra also show the effects of atmospheric absorption and scattering, thereby demonstrating the need for a balloon-borne experiment during the April 8 eclipse. 

Casandra Saxon

This experiment investigates two types of electromagnetic propulsion systems: The Ring Launcher and the Railgun. The Ring Launcher uses an alternating current in a coil to induce an opposing electromagnetic field in a ring, which propells the ring upward. The Railgun uses a direct current in two parallel conductors to accelerate a cylinder projectile along a linear track. The paper compares the two techniques by measuring the forces or accelerations in the Ring Launcher and the Railgun. In each experiment, the distance and time are measured, relating the forces, accelerations, and the energy to the height or length the ring or cylinder reaches. The paper also discusses the theoretical and mathematical foundations of the two systems, based on previous works by Schneider and Ertel, Olczyk, and Dr. Norwood’s PHYS 301 lecture course. The paper aims to demonstrate the principles and applications of electromagnetic propulsions in comparsion. In conclusion the Ring Launcher had a much more propelling force due to the Railgun not having enough direct current to cause projectile motion as hypothesized. 

Christian Langlois, John Doucet

Speculation about the possibility of life beyond Earth dates back to antiquity.  Only in the 21st century have scientists applied sufficiently advanced chemical and spectral technology to identify with atomic certainty extraterrestrial molecules of biological significance.  Signatures of amino acids, ribose and other sugars, glycolaldehyde, ammoniated salts, dimethylsulfoxide, phosphine, various nucleobases, aliphatic molecules, and even peptides, have recently been identified from meteorites, comets, and planetary atmospheres.  Amid accelerating discovery, including anticipation of laboratory identification of molecules captured in situ from the Bennu meteor in 2023, curation of molecular information becomes paramount for both current understanding and improving (and assuring) technology and search missions.  Toward that end, we have conducted a survey of recently discovered astrobiochemicals and curated information on molecular type, biological significance, discovery locus, discovery technology, space mission, and peer-reviewed reporting.  Our work anticipates international collection of such information in a field we hereby name “cosmomics.”

Catherine Coldiron, Evan Zucker

Stimulants, such Ritalin or Adderall, are often prescribed to be used on a regimented schedule to control the symptoms of ADHD, e.g., distractibility and hyperactivity. However, there are many negative side effects that might hinder the taking the medication as prescribed. The purpose of this study is to investigate how the negative effects of ADHD medications might be related to adherence and to determine if there are correlations between personality factors and successful adherence. Thirty undergraduate students prescribed ADHD medication will complete online questionnaires about experienced side effects of ADHD medication and adherence to prescribed regimen [Medication Adherence Report Scale (MARS)], as well as completing a personality assessment (Mini-IPIP for the Big Five Personality Traits). Correlations between the number and severity of side effects and personality traits will be determined (Pearson Correlation Coefficient). It is hypothesized that more negative side effects will be associated negatively with adherence. It is also expected that high levels of conscientiousness and agreeableness will correlate positively with adherence, and that high levels of neuroticism will correlate negatively with adherence. 

Zora-Reign Craft, Evan Zucker

Among traditional college-aged women, 10–20% suffer from eating disorders, as do 4–10% of college-aged men (National Eating Disorder Association). Stress has been identified as a correlate, if not a cause, of the development of disordered eating and more serious eating disorders, such as bulimia and anorexia nervosa. In this study, academic stress and attitudes about eating will be investigated in college-aged women and men. Approximately 100 participants will be recruited and administered two online questionnaires. After providing informed consent, participants will complete a brief demographic questionnaire, then the Perception of Academic Stress (PAS) scale and the Disordered Eating Attitudes Scale (DEAS). Participants will be subdivided into two groups based on the number of credit hours in which they are enrolled in the current semester, with the two groups being (a) 15 or fewer credit hours, as 15 hours is the typical academic load, and (b) more than 15 hours.  It is hypothesized that those taking more than 15 hours will report greater academic stress than those taking 15 hours or less. Further, those reporting higher PAS scores will have higher scores on the DEAS, indicative of a positive correlation between academic stress and disordered attitudes towards food and eating. If these hypotheses are supported, the results could help college-based counseling centers develop effective interventions for both academic stress and the development of eating disorders. 

Mia Melo, Evan Zucker

The primary aim of this investigation is to assess patient stress between private practice and hospital environments. The comparison of stressful experiences across diverse healthcare settings is needed for cultivating a patient-centric healthcare system, optimizing efficiency, and ensuring provision of equitable healthcare. Data for this study will be obtained via online surveys, with questions from the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) and the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS); wording of the HCAHPS items will be adapted to be applicable to those receiving health care in private practices. These surveys will be administered to individuals who have received health care from professionals in private practice and professionals who are hospital based. The data obtained will be compared using independent groups t-tests to assess differences in stress levels and overall patient experiences. The central hypothesis posits that the patient experience in a private practice setting will be evaluated as less stressful compared to a hospital setting. The insights garnered from this research can potentially be applied to improve the quality of care, elevate patient satisfaction, and generate procedures that could reduce the stresses associated with health care, thereby contributing to overall enhanced health outcomes. 

Anna Upman, Que Nguyen, Kelly McEvoy, Abigail Miserendino, Jolie Matherne, Alexis Baptiste, Madison Trippi, Kate Yurgil

Studies have shown that experiencing stressful or traumatic events may foster pro-social behaviors like altruism. However, it is unclear whether all trauma survivors exhibit this tendency, or if altruistic behavior is more common in those who undergo positive transformational change, termed posttraumatic growth (PTG). Identifying neuropsychological markers of PTG is critical in the development of an integrative model of stress and resilience, yet research in this area is extremely limited. This study uses electroencephalography (EEG) to examine associations between PTG and neural correlates of emotional processing and altruistic behavior. Thirty-two adults aged 18-25 completed self-report questionnaires regarding demographic, personality, and trauma exposure factors, as well as a computerized face processing task in which participants distinguished emotional faces from neutral faces while their brain activity was recorded. With data analysis underway, we hypothesize that individuals with higher PTG scores will show larger event-related potentials (ERPs) to emotional vs. neutral faces and greater self-reported altruism compared to those with lower PTG scores. Additionally, ERP amplitude to emotional faces may mediate the relationship between PTG and altruism. If supported, these findings may contribute to our growing understanding of resilience and growth following trauma. 

Christopher Acker

Wasps (Order: Hymenoptera) have a notorious reputation for unpleasant interactions with humans. Wasps have adapted quite well to urban environments and often build their nests in places that put them in direct (and often unpleasant for both species) competition for space with humans. Wasps are pollinators and many species prey on arthropods and other small invertebrates to feed their young. Since wasps tend to put a lot of effort and resources into rearing their progeny, they can often be especially territorial according to some research. It has been claimed that fake wasp nests, made from newspapers and attached to preferred nesting sites, will deter wasps from making new nests at those sites and therefore reducing direct competition with other wasps. Our study set forth to test this hypothesis. By giving eight wasps, in this case vespid wasps (those that build paper nests, Family Vespidae), in three trials a choice between their own nests and the nest of another conspecific, they would be deterred from the competitor's nest more often than average. Our results from our experiments suggest that vespid wasps tend to show preference for the first nest they find; however, if they do find their own nests, they will spend more time on their own than the conspecific’s. 

Christiana Aseyomi, Harry Meyer

Tardigrades (water bears) are ecdysozoan animals found in moss and lichen, known for their ability to survive in the tun state in extreme environments. Calohypsibius is a genus with three species. Our goal is to determine the species of a Calohypsibius found in moss in Oregon, USA. The Oregon species most closely resembles Cal. ornatus, a species first described from Germany in 1900, and widely reported since then in reported in Asia, New Zealand, and North and South America, which has eight rows of spines. Its pattern of dorsal tubercles is consistent with Cal. ornatus. Our hypothesis is that the Oregon species is Cal. ornatus. Only 18s DNA data are available for Calohypsibius, and DNA is therefore unfortunately not useful for our purpose. One prominent feature in Cal. ornatus is rows of long dorsal and lateral spines. Using phase contrast microscopy we counted the lateral and dorsal spines in the eight rows. The number of dorsal spines varied within and among rows. The original and few subsequent published descriptions and images of Cal. ornatus vary considerably in spine numbers; none are fully consistent with Oregon values. We conclude that Oregon Calohypsibius is probably not Cal. ornatus sensu stricto, but without better molecular and morphometric data we cannot be certain. 

Travis Bayer, María Camila Calderón-Capote, James Lee, Margaret Crofoot, Dina Dechmann, Teague O'Mara

Accelerometry-derived energy estimates based on dynamic body acceleration have been shown to represent quality measures of energy expenditure in birds and some terrestrial mammal species. However, the complex kinematics of bat flight may make these proxies for energy expenditure less accurate than in other taxa. For example, to increase travel speed, animals can increase the frequency that their limbs cycle or exert more force. Bats will instead often alter the kinematics of the flight such as the angle at which the wings are positioned during wingbeats to modulate their flight speed. This leaves uncertainty about the accuracy of acceleration-based estimates of energy expenditure. To validate relationships of energy expenditure and accelerometer-based movement in bats, we deployed both heart rate loggers along with GPS and triaxial accelerometers on individual greater spear-nosed bats. We used heart rate estimates of energy expenditure to develop relationships between dynamic body acceleration metrics and estimated energy expenditure. These relationships are then used to show movement-based energy landscapes – or the distribution of energy expenditure over space and time. Calibrated energy landscape perspectives allow the exploration of how and why individual bats make movement decisions, as well as more accurate estimates of the costs of their high-energy lifestyles. 

Andi Cantu, Hope Norris, William Dees

Native plants of Louisiana with mosquitocidal or mosquito-repellent properties (e.g., essential oils and phytochemical compounds) are reviewed.  Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta), American Beautyberry (Callicarpa americana), Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa), Whiteleaf Mountain Mint (Pycnanthemum albescens), and Sage (Salvia azurea) were found to contain compounds affecting mosquitoes.  Callicarpa americana contains the phytochemical, callicarpenal, that both deters and kills mosquitoes.  Fragrant plants, such as sage and mint, contain essential oils with mosquito-repelling properties that overwhelm olfactory nerve signals and hinder the ability of mosquitoes to track human scents. Pollinator-friendly plants (e.g., R. hirta and M. fistulosa) are noted to deter mosquitoes, highlighting the versatility of their role in both integrated pest management strategies and local pollination. We present information on the aforementioned plants as well as other native species affecting mosquitoes.  Understanding the intricate relationships between these native plants and mosquitoes opens avenues for sustainable and environmentally friendly mosquito control measures. This research contributes valuable insights into harnessing the natural properties of Louisiana’s indigenous flora for mosquito management, emphasizing the potential for eco-friendly alternatives to conventional insecticides. 

O'Neal Edward

Presence of coarse woody debris and mast trees was compared between active Eastern woodrat nest sites and random points in a bottomland hardwood forest in Central Louisiana.  Camera and live trapping were used to determine whether woodrat nests were active.  Habitat data was collected at 33 active nest sites and an equal number of random points.  Coarse woody debris was defined as logs at least 30 cm in diameter and 25 cm in length. There was no evidence to indicate that woodrat nest sites were more likely to have a hard mast-producing tree withing 10 m than were random points.  However, woodrat nests were significantly more likely to be associated with coarse woody debris than were random points.  These results support the important role that coarse woody debris plays in habitat selection by small mammals. 

Gretchen Hilt, Christopher Beachy, Dr. Kyle Piller

Developing non-invasive approaches is of great value to detect and monitor fragile populations of great conservation concern. Environmental DNA (eDNA) is becoming increasingly popular to study rare, threatened, and endangered species across many aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. eDNA approaches are particularly attractive for species living in habitats that are difficult to access or sample. The Georgia Blind Cave Salamander, Eurycea wallacei, inhabits groundwater environments that are often inaccessible due to the need for cave-diving experience or simply the physical inability to access due to geological barriers. Modeling population trends of such elusive species may be substantially more attainable with an eDNA analytical approach. Here I propose a field survey to detect the presence and better elucidate the geographic distribution of E. wallacei using an eDNA approach in highly sensitive, understudied cave systems. Confirmation of E. wallacei presence will be quantified by amplifying a small region of the mitochondrial cytochrome b locus using a species-specific primer-probe assay. Determining detection thresholds of Eurycea wallacei eDNA will further enhance a safe, cost-effective, and efficient detection assay. Minimal disturbance is key in monitoring and protecting the species, which is feasible with a non-invasive analysis such as eDNA. 

Kailee Johnston, Kathy Jackson, Harry Meyer, Emma Perry

The tardigrade genus Ramazzottius is historically poorly described and lacks genetic information for accurate and reliable species identification. Recently, gaps in the knowledge of this genus have been filled in with updated descriptions, taxonomy, and DNA sequences of species from Asia, Africa, South America, and Europe. Ramazzotius in North America, however, has not been well studied or documented; historically most specimens were identified as Ram. oberhaeuseri (Doyère, 1840) or Ram. baumanni Ramazzotti, 1962. Specimens collected from Florida (sample AG), New Jersey (AE), Montana (AD), and Alaska (AF) were identified as Ramazzottius. Light microscope examination suggested AGs were most similar to Ram. baumanni, due to pigment pattern and strong reticulation, but the original description describes a much larger platelet size, and the genetic sequencing suggests they are a new species. Genetic analysis of samples AE and AF suggests they are the same species; they do not match any sequences in GenBank. AD was genetically and morphologically identified as Ram. rupeus Biserov 1999, which does not have an ITS-2 sequence in GenBank. In summary, this study documents the presence of Ram. rupeus in Montana, adding new morphometric data (its ITS-2 sequence will be added to GenBank), and identifies two new North American species for description. It also suggests that records of Ram. oberhaeueri and Ram. baumanni in North America are suspect and need confirmation. 

Kailee Johnston, Kathy Jackson, Harry Meyer, Emma Perry

Tardigrades are microscopic animals that are renowned for their durability in extreme environments and their ability to survive for long periods of time without water. Milnesium lagniappe is a recently described species from Lake Charles, Louisiana with a known distribution of Louisiana, Florida, and Newfoundland. The cuticular structure of species within the Milnesium genus has recently been a point of taxonomic interest. Cuticle structure and genetic information are the two most important pieces of information in taxonomy. Recent SEM images add new detail to the description of the cuticular structure of the pseudoplates including the presence of muscle insertion points reaching to the surface of the pseudoplate. SEM imaging of the buccal lamellae reveals 6 lamellae rather than 4. Additionally, recent genetic sequencing provides more insight into intraspecific and interspecific variations. This new information warrants and update to the description of Milnesium lagniappe. 

This presentation has been withdrawn.

Aryan Kumar, Christopher Beachy

An important factor that can influence an amphibian’s life cycle expression is diet. The Western Tiger Salamander (Ambystoma mavortium) is abundant carnivorous vertebrate in North Dakota; indeed, it may be the most abundant vertebrate in the state. However, the diet of this salamander has not been described. The objective of our survey is to test the hypothesis that variation in life cycle affects what prey are eaten. We performed gut content analyses of samples of salamanders that were collected from locations in northcentral North Dakota from 2008-2013. We divided our sample into eight different groups: sexually mature metamorphosed females, sexually mature larval females (i.e., paedomorphic females), immature metamorphosed females, immature larval females, mature metamorphosed males, mature larval males (i.e., paedomorphic males), immature metamorphosed males, and immature larval males. We measured length (in mm snout-vent) and dissected stomachs from all individuals. Gut contents were removed, stored in ethanol, and later keyed to family level. We found that sexes did not differ in their prey eaten, however, life stage (i.e., larval or metamorphosed) did affects the types and diversity of prey eaten. 

Harry Meyer, Kathy Jackson, Laurel Gaebel

Tardigrades (water bears) are minute arthropod relatives found in mosses, lichens, and soil. Their adaptation to small size means that there are relatively few useful reliable morphological/morphometric characters available for species delineation. With the advent of molecular techniques, what was deemed to be a single species, with cosmopolitan or continental distribution, has often turned out to be a complex of related taxa.  Guidettion prorsirostre, a putatively cosmopolitan species originally described from Sweden in 1928, was reported from Yellowstone National Park in 1987. Specimens collected from this area in 2021 were subjected to morphometric, using phase contrast microscopy, and molecular analysis. The ITS2 distance between YNP animals and Gui. prorsirostre sensu stricto is 0.246, establishing that they are different species. YNP Guidettion have a significantly deeper insertion point of the stylet supports than Gui. prorsirostre and Gui. vexatum, the only one of the other four recognized Guidettion species with which it could be confused. We conclude that Yellowstone animals represent an undescribed species, and that all records of Gui. prorsirostre in the Americas need confirmation. 

Prince Addo Anim, Atchimnaidu Siriki, Siva Murru

Lung cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death worldwide, particularly non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) which accounts for 85 – 90% of all lung cancers with survival rate less than 15% among both men and women. Due to the poor prognosis of traditional first-line chemotherapy regimens (e.g. platinum-based regimens such as pemetrexed plus cisplatin) coupled with late diagnosis of NSCLC, the median survival outcome among lung cancer patients is relatively low necessitating the synthesis of new drug regimens.

We have recently reported pyrazole based anticancer agents for NSCLC. Based on the initial anticancer activity data, we have recently designed and synthesized a new library of pyrazole derivatives via SNAr and intramolecular C-H bond formation reactions. To ascertain the potency and selectivity of our compound library of synthesized pyrazolones, we conducted MTT assays for anti-proliferative activity against A549 cells and for cytotoxicity against non-cancerous HLF cell lines. To test the effect of our potent compound on cancer cells migration and colony formation, we have performed scratch/wound healing and colony formation assays. As part of our mechanistic studies, we are investigating the effect of our drug on autophagy/apoptosis. Moreover, RNA sequencing analysis of drug treated and non-treated A549 and HLF cell lines provided some useful data on differential gene expression and cancer related pathways that are affected by drug treatment.