Instars: A Journal of Undergraduate Research (Texas Digital Library - TDL E-Journals)
Not a member yet
220 research outputs found
Sort by
Impact of Field of Study on Forensic Knowledge
No full textAbstract: Forensic science is a much-needed field to society, as forensic science provides the foundation for investigations from the crime scene to the laboratory. Often, forensic science is not widely taught to the students of America, leading to misunderstandings that are conveyed from fictional television. This study was conducted to attempt to see if the field of study of college students and college graduates affects their forensic knowledge. In this study, forensic knowledge will be defined as how many questions over general forensic science knowledge can be answered correctly. These findings can be applicable in the sense that they can be used to understand to what degree a person’s major impacts how much they are aware of the investigative processes and analysis of crime scenes and evidence. To answer this question, a survey was conducted, consisting of two preliminary questions, and ten knowledge-based questions. After all the responses were recorded, the results were analyzed and compared to find that although a student’s field of study may have some degree of impact on their forensic knowledge, it may not be the only variable that should be relied upon
Determining Which Household Chemical is Most Effective in Decomposing Raw Chicken Thighs Over a Two Week Period
No full textIn crime scenes, humans will often choose chemicals to try and accelerate the process of decomposition. With this question posed, the purpose of this experiment is to determine which household chemicals are most effective in decomposing raw chicken thighs. In considering which chemicals to choose, three criteria were established. First, a wide range of acids and bases were selected to reflect the spectrum of the pH scale. Second, the chemicals must be easy to access or purchase without raising suspicion. Lastly, the household chemicals must be inexpensive to obtain. For the acids tested, 3% hydrogen peroxide, 5% vinegar, and Lysol toilet bowl cleaner were chosen. To test the basic efficacy, Clorox bleach, Drano, and dairy lime were selected. A single piece of raw, boneless chicken thigh was placed in a glass jar and then covered with the individual chemical. The duration of the entire experiment was fourteen days. To measure the changes in both the solution and chicken, pH paper was used to assess the chemical changes. Additionally, the physical changes of the meat were examined for decomposition. Data was collected on day one, seven and fourteen. The information collected was the pH levels of the meat and solution, odor, buoyancy, and consistency of the muscle fibers. After fourteen days, this data was analyzed to determine what was most effective. On the fourteenth day, it was concluded that the most effective household chemical was Lysol toilet bowl cleaner. This highly acidic solution lowered the pH of the meat the most, significantly degraded the consistency of the muscle fibers, and concealed the odor of decomposition the best
Degradation of the Soles of Shoes, and the Differentiable Prints That They Leave Over Time
No full textFootwear impression evidence plays a significant role in criminal investigations and forensics. In almost all instances of crimes, the perpetrator is wearing footwear, and in many of these cases, trace impressions are left in the ground. The shoe prints left behind can either be in printing mediums such as dirt, or flat prints made up of blood or dust. These shoe prints can be photographed or cast and used as class evidence. Damage to the bottom of the shoe, the outsole, can lead to more individualized shoe prints. These damages occur at different rates depending on the physicality of the conditions that the outsoles are subject to. High intensity use of the shoes can lead to quicker individualized damages that can be observed and documented as evidence against the perpetrator. This paper describes the experiment used to measure the damages that occur to the outsole over time, and what activities will lead to higher rates of outsole individualization. This experiment used one pair of shoes specifically for walking only, and another used for rougher activities. The shoe prints made by these shoes were compared to see how the activities affected the outsole over a period of four weeks. The shoe designated for running degraded at a quicker rate and therefore left a more individualized print behind
Golden Pothos Epipremnum aureum (Alismatales: Araceae) Root Growth in College Station Tap Water Versus Purified Water
No full textPlant owners living in the Bryan/College Station area have observed a lack of growth and wilting of their potted plants after being watered with College Station water. Contaminants in College Station tap water, such as trihalomethanes (TTHMs) and Haloacetic acids, may influence plant growth. Two six-inch-long pieces of Epipremnum aureum (Alismatales: Araceae) golden pothos were cut from a mother plant to be used in the experiment, where the root growth was measured over 22 days with one cutting in purified water and one in tap water. An unpaired t-test determined an insignificant p-value (p=0.8807). These results indicate that root growth in store-bought water and sink water was not statistically significant, demonstrating to plant owners in the College Station area that watering their plants with tap water does not have a statistical effect on their growth.
Key words: Golden pothos, sodium, root growt
Evaluating Turtle Ant (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) Survey Techniques in Northeast Trinidad
No full textMethods of specimen collection can vary in effectiveness not only across taxa but geographic distribution. For the novel turtle ant genus Cephalotes (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) their attraction to urine and arboreal habitat makes collection methods unique to this genus. Turtle ants have a widespread Neotropical distribution and are present in numerous environments. While most studies have been conducted in Brazilian savannah, this study aims to test these methods in the coastal rainforest of northeast Trinidad. With urine as the primary bait source, arboreal pitfall traps were placed, and bait sprayed at the base of trees. Four species were collected with few individuals from each using both methods. Potentially due to differences in canopy height and nutritional preference, these collection methods proved ineffective in this environment
Prevention and Deterrence of Solenopsis invicta in Household Environments
No full textRed imported fire ants (Solenopsis invicta) are an invasive species in the U.S. that have spread and infested millions of acres of land in the southeastern states. If disturbed they will readily sting humans and animals, leading to a range of systematic reactions and in some cases anaphylactic shock. However, red imported fire ants do serve as a natural biological control to arthropod vectors of diseases. This article documents the effect of three deterrents and their ability to prevent the infestation of homes with red imported fire ants, while at the same time keep them alive to continue to serve as a natural biological threat. Each test had an initial total of twenty ants and the deterrents used were Raid, lemongrass essential oil, and peppermint essential oil. All three deterrents worked effectively in preventing the opportunity for infestation with Raid being the most effective, allowing only two ants to cross. Lemongrass essential oil was the least effective, allowing twelve ants to cross. However, Raid was also the most effective in killing the ants with all twenty being killed in comparison to lemongrass essential oil which only killed twelve ants. With this invasive species continually expanding, lemongrass essential oil would be the best deterrent to use, without killing the ants. 
Eyewitness Testimony at the Hullabaloo Dorm
No full textThis paper will be about the vandalism at the hullabaloo dorms that occurred on what was the night of Friday the 17th to the early morning of Saturday the 18th. Everyone that lives at the Hullabaloo dorms was sent a message on the morning of Saturday the 18th about a lot of vandalism that had occurred either the night before or that day. People were in rage to find out that if no one came forward they would all be splitting the price of what it cost to repair everything. They all had a lot to say about it and I figured I would try and get to the bottom of it in hopes of also not having to pay for an incident that I did not cause. 
Effectiveness of Homemade Fly Traps vs. Commercial Fly Traps
No full textThere are many different traps that have been used to trap insects such as flies and can aide in providing evidence such as time of death of a decedent or narrow down a geographic region. This makes flies very important in the forensic science world. The use of different flytraps is also beneficial to the public when it comes to knowing which ones to use. Musca domestica (Linnaeus) (Diptera: Muscidae) is an extremely common species of fly and there are various types of fly traps available. In this study, the researchers tested the effectiveness of homemade fly traps versus commercial fly traps and found that commercial fly traps were more effective based on the results
Evaluating the Reproductive Rate of Aphys gossypii (Glover) (Hemiptera:Aphididae) on a Cucurbit Squash (Cucurbita spp.)
No full textAphys gossypii, commonly known as the melon aphid, is a widespread hemipteran pest of many important agricultural crops. It can be found distributed throughout the world and can cause significant economic damages for farmers and growers. There is a lack of information in the scientific literature about the actual rate of reproduction for these aphids, information which could be very valuable in protecting against losses caused by them. In this experiment, a colony of A. gossypii was monitored for a week in order to establish a baseline population growth rate in a controlled setting. The results showed that the aphids increased along a logarithmic function rather than the predicted exponential one. Overall, the experiment demonstrated that the most population growth occurred in the early days of the monitoring period.
Keywords: Aphys gossypii, melon, cotton, reproductive rate, aphid, cucurbi
Observations of the Effects that Essential Oils Have on Repelling Cockroaches (Periplaneta americana)
No full textIn July 2007, the effects of essential oils were tested as repellents against cockroaches in Thailand. This experimental study tested the effects of several different essential oils on three different species of cockroaches. In the current study, only one of the species from the experiment completed in Thailand was used as well as a different set of essential oils. By observing the effects of different essential oils on one species of cockroaches (Periplaneta americana) we are able to conduct a more controlled experiment and gain more insight into the effects of the varying essential oils on a specific species of cockroaches.
Keywords: repellent, essential oils, Periplaneta americana, cockroache