Instars: A Journal of Undergraduate Research (Texas Digital Library - TDL E-Journals)
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Metabolization of Different Sugars by Yeast(Saccharomycetales: Saccharomycetaceae)(1865 Luis Pasteur) using Fermentation and Cellular Respiration
No full textEnergy generation within plants is performed mainly by cellular respiration and fermentation. While cellular respiration is more efficient due to its electron transport chain use, its dependence on oxygen limits the environmental conditions this system can withstand. Conversely, fermentation can be utilized without oxygen, making it almost universally available within plants. Saccharomyces cerevisiae (1865 Luis Pasteur) can be tested within various environmental conditions, making it a good test subject within environmental conditions. S. cerevisiae was tested inside two environments, one that allowed the electron transport chain to be used and one inhibiting it, forcing the yeast to use fermentation. This tested the effectiveness of fermentation and cellular respiration and visualized how vast the differences between the efficiency of the processes were. Three different sugars were also tested, and it was found that the most effective energy generation occurred with glucose during cellular respiration
Evaluating General Public Knowledge of Ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) and Tick-Borne Diseases
No full textAbstract: Tick-borne disease is an ever-present and ever-growing threat in the United States, with Lyme disease being the most commonly diagnosed vector borne disease in the country overall. Despite this threat, recent studies have reported broad knowledge deficits in regard to tick-borne disease prevention methods even in endemic areas and with high-risk groups including those regularly working outdoors in highly tick populated areas. This study aimed to assess the level of knowledge of the general public in terms of basic tick biology, tick-borne disease, and tick bite prevention methods through the use of an anonymous, internet-based survey spread through social media as well distributed at a local high school. The results of this survey showed broad gaps in knowledge of the surveyed population in each of the three aforementioned areas, possibly signaling the need for disease-prevention based public outreach and informational campaigns in order to better protect against tick-borne disease
Analysis of Sex-Based Dietary Preferences of Acheta domesticus (L.) (Orthoptera: Gryllidae)
No full textAcheta domesticus (L.) (Orthoptera: Gryllidae) is a species of cricket commonly used as a feeder insect. In addition, it has potential to be a valuable food source for humans, as it provides excellent nutritional value. In order to rear these insects properly, it is crucial to provide the best nutrition possible to ensure maximum nutritional value and to achieve a high developmental rate. Past research existed on the dietary preferences of crickets, however, there was a lack of research concerning A. domesticus. In this experiment, ratios of carbohydrates: protein were compared to determine if there was a significant difference between the dietary preferences of male and female A. domesticus. This was accomplished by giving protein powder and saltines to produce ratios of 5:1, 5.5:1, 6:1, and 6.5:1 of carbohydrates:protein to male and female crickets separated by sex. However, there was not a significant difference between male and female dietary preferences (F = 0.358, p = 0.558)
Observations of Sugar Preferences between Solenopsis invicta, Camponotus consobrinus, and Nylanderia fulva
No full textSolenopsis invicta, Camponotus consobrinus, and Nylanderia fulva are three ant species under the family Formicidae in the order Hymenoptera. Ants are known for their strong evolutionary success, for which carbohydrates take a big role in. For this reason, ants can be a big household pest; claiming sources of food where they can find it. Specimens were collected around the Texas A&M campus, kept alive and housed in an ant farm and their preferences in different sugar types were recorded. Results showed that Camponotus consobrinus preferred cane sugar, Nylanderia fulva preferred all three sugars almost equally, and Solenopsis invicta preferred brown sugar. Ants’ sugar preferences differed among different species; one of the species appeared to like all types of sugar presented to them. Our study provides further analysis of ants’ attraction to divergent sugar varieties based on their species.
Keywords: Sugar preference, Solenopsis invicta, Nylanderia fulva, Camponotus consobrinus
The Effects of Concealment Methods on the Visibility of Accidental Marks on Shoe Soles
No full textForensic Science is a continuously expanding field that incorporates the analysis of a multitude of variables in shoeprint and impression analysis. Footwear evidence is currently considered in crime scene investigations conducted by forensic experts. The research explores the differences in impressions and shoeprints with additional material added to the sole of shoe and whether the addition of these materials will have an effect on characteristic points on the sole of a shoe. In the experiment, three groups of results involving the effects of the addition of a plastic bag, an elastic shoe cover comprised of nylon, and duct tape are considered. The impressions and footprints were documented in photographic results that is compared to a control group of the research without any added materials. The data was analyzed through the observation of changes in the visibility in ten minutiae points of characteristics chosen before the beginning of the research. The results show that a nylon shoe cover has the smallest number of visible minutiae that correlates to being the technique of concealment of shoe impressions and prints that produces the most observable change in their visibility
The Use of Bloodmeal as A Substitute for Fresh Blood in Forensically Important Fly Research
No full textAbstract: In the field of forensic entomology, it is incredibly important to be researching the impact that different environmental and bodily factors have on forensically important flies and their growth, development, and colonization of decaying remains. The evidence that these insects provide could be the difference between someone walking free and remaining in prison for the rest of their lives, so it is imperative that the science behind time of colonization calculations is up-to-date and accurate. Blood is often needed in research relating to forensically important flies, but it is often inconvenient and difficult to obtain, especially for researchers with few resources, such as undergraduate students. Blood meal, a form of dried blood, could be a breakthrough in overcoming these challenges, as it is a lot easier to obtain and store. If properly rehydrated, it could be used as an attractant for adults, a food source for larvae, and chemical additives could be put in it to study the effects of different chemicals on the attraction or growth rate of forensically important flies without having to worry about obtaining and using fresh blood.
Keywords: Blood, blood meal, flies, forensic, larva
Attraction of Solenopsis invicta (Buren) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) to Linoleic Acid in Oil
No full textRed imported Fire Ants (Solenopsis invicta) are well known pests that can lead to ecological destruction. An important industry regarding Red Imported Fire Ants (RIFA) is how to get rid of them—this includes baits. For RIFA ant baits it is important that fire ants need to have maximum attractivity to them, so the poison can eradicate the fire ant problem. Previous research has been conducted to see what is attractive to S. invicta and it appears that certain fatty acids are attractive to them. This study aims to examine different levels of attraction of S. invicta to a variety of oils with different fatty acid levels. It was expected that oils with higher levels of linoleic acid would be the most attractive to RIFA, as that seems to be one of the more nutritional oils for them. What was observed was that there was a higher attraction to macadamia nut oil, but only with a 90% confidence interval from the least attractive oil—pistachio nut oil. What may have happened in this experiment is that there was a higher attraction rate of oils with more intense aromas instead of attraction to the fatty acids themselves
Ethnic Variations in Fingerprint Patterns: A Texas A&M University Student Analysis
No full textThis study discusses the distribution of fingerprint patterns (loops, whorls, and arches) among four different ethnic groups: Hispanic, Black, Asian, and White, in a survey of 190 students at Texas A&M. 190 students were fingerprinted; the fingerprints were then analyzed for their fingerprint pattern and recorded. The data obtained from the percentage occurrence of fingerprint subtypes shows marked differences in the prevalence of patterns among the populations. Loops were found to be the predominant pattern in all groups; however, the frequency was different. Whites show the highest frequency of loops, 69.92%, while Asians have the least at 49.41%, indicating marked intergroup differences. While loops were less frequent in Asians, whorls were the most frequent compared to other ethnicities at 38.71%, and the least frequency is found among Whites at 23.82% (Chart 1). Arches have the greatest variability of frequency, being most evident in the Black population and least common in Whites. The subtype analysis showed that radial loops and plain whorls were highly frequent in all groups while the tented arch and accidental whorl were rare. These findings indicate that there is ethnic variability in dermatoglyphic traits, which may be genetically and evolutionarily influenced. However, more research should be conducted with a larger pool of participants to have a better, more accurate understanding of ethnicities in relation to fingerprint patterns
The Attraction of Drosophila melanogaster to Wine, Vinegar, and Soda
No full textAbstract: Drosophila melanogaster is a species of fly in the order Diptera and the family Drosophilidae. It is also known as the fruit fly and it is primarily attracted to fermenting fruit. It is a common pest that many people and places have to deal with. If one were to create a trap to reduce the amount of D. melanogaster in an area that was infested, it would be important to know what would work best as bait. This experiment tested and compared the ability of three different substances to attract D. melanogaster. The three substances were red wine, vinegar, and soda. The traps were made from plastic water bottles. The experiment was conducted in a wooded backyard where the traps were placed and stayed there over the course of two days. Results showed that red wine attracted the most D. melanogaster by far. Vinegar came in at second, and the soda proved to be least effective. All three of the traps also caught organisms that were not originally intended to be caught. Red wine was concluded to be the best substance out of the three to use in a homemade fly trap
Redtail Flesh Fly, Sarcophaga haemorrhoidalis (Fallen 1817), Maggot Contamination of Commercially Prepared Fried Chicken
No full textSubsequent to a case of live flesh fly larvae (family Sarcophagidae) being found in commercially prepared fried chicken from a fast-food establishment, an experiment was conducted to determine the source of the contamination. In this experiment, first-instar larvae of the red-tailed flesh fly, Sarcophaga haemorrhoidalis (Fallen 1817) were transferred to fried chicken immediately after cooking and at ten-minute intervals over a one-hour interval, at which times temperature of the chicken was also determined. Results demonstrated that flesh fly larvae were unable to survive in fried chicken at its initial temperature of 88℃ at the time of sale and also after 10- and 20-minutes when mean temperatures decreased to 47.2 and 41.7℃, respectively. Mean temperatures of the chicken dropped to 33.7℃ during the 20- to 30-minute intervals post purchase and continued decreasing to 27.1℃ at the end of one the 50 minutes and to 26.5 at the end of one hour, during which times larva were able to survive and develop. It was concluded therefore that contamination could not occur within the commercial establishment, assuming the chicken was either sold immediately after cooking or that it was held under a heat lamp at an appropriate temperature after preparation and therefore must have resulted after its sale