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MODELING APOLLO ORBITS FROM FIRST PRINCIPLES **
No full textOnce the Apollo missions left their first two rockets stages and Earth atmosphere behind, their orbits were solely determined by the gravitational pulls of the Earth and Moon. This program will model the Apollo orbit using a fourth-order Runge-Kutte numerical recipe, including the movement of the Moon and Earth during the orbit. The positions of the spacecraft, Earth, and Moon will be graphed using Matlab on a second-by-second basis
DECOMPOSITION FOR ASSESSING SIMULTANEOUS USE OF PLANTS FOR PHYTOREMEDIATION AND CARBON SEQUESTRATION **
No full textCertain plant species can hyperaccumulate heavy metals and are used to remediate contaminated sites. This study compares the hyperaccumulation potential of five plant species in soils contaminated with lead and copper. In addition, the study evaluates the ability of these plants to sequester carbon, which can help mitigate climate change. Soil and plant samples were collected from the field as contaminated sites. Using X-Ray Fluorescence, heavy metal concentrations were measured in the samples. Decomposition rates of plant biomass were indirectly measured using in-situ CO2 chambers and directly in the lab using decomposition chambers and CO2 sensors. These rates were used to compare carbon sequestration potential of the plants. Preliminary results showed Tithonia rotundifolia to have the greatest rates of decomposition while Typha domingensis had the lowest rates both in the field and in the lab. Tithonia rotundifolia leaves were found to have the highest amount of lead and copper accumulation while Lantana camara was second. This research will provide insights into the potential use of these plants for both heavy metal remediation and carbon sequestration in contaminated soils. This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 2107177
EFFECTS OF RETRIEVAL PRACTICE ON COGNITIVE EFFORT AS MEASURED BY PUPILLOMETRY
No full textThe principle of desirable difficulties suggests that long-term learning is enhanced by engaging study strategies that require additional cognitive effort directed toward learning. We directly tested this hypothesis for one well-established strategy, retrieval practice, using pupil dilation as a measure of cognitive effort. While pupil size was measured by an eye-tracker, Middle Georgia State University student volunteers engaged in a standard retrieval practice paradigm intended to yield learning benefits on an immediate test. They initially studied a word list and then engaged in retrieval practice by attempting cued recall on 1/2 of the words out loud from memory. The other 1/2 of the words were restudied and read aloud as a control. Word lists and task orders were fully counterbalanced. Finally, participants took a free recall test on all words after a short delay. Consistent with our hypotheses, retrieval practice was significantly more effortful than restudying, as measured by changes in pupil size from baseline. However, participants did not benefit from retrieval practice on the free recall task, instead recalling more words from the restudy condition. Previous research suggests these patterns may change using a delayed final test, with the more effortful retrieval practice condition reducing forgetting rates over time. This study demonstrates that pupillometry can effectively measure cognitive effort in the context of study strategies like retrieval practice, which may help to differentiate theories regarding cognitive load, performance, and learning
FROM STONE BOWLS TO POTTERY VESSELS: EARLY WOODLAND LIFE AT THE CUMMINGS SITE IN NORTH GEORGIA**
No full textCummings (9BR710) is a multi-component site with occupations dating from the Late Archaic through the Middle Mississippian periods. It is located about three kilometers northwest of the Etowah Indian Mounds in Bartow County, Georgia. The site is situated about 500 meters from the Etowah River. Over the past five years archaeological investigations have focused on the Early Wilbanks Phase (AD 1250-1375) occupation and the site’s relationship to Etowah in the 13th century. Current research however has identified an Early Woodland component based on the recovery of significant quantities of Dunlap Fabric Impressed pottery. The presence of steatite fragments and Savannah River points may indicate a transitional Late Archaic-Early Woodland manifestation. The occurrence of Cartersville Series ceramic types, including Cartersville Check Stamped and Cartersville Simple Stamped (but no Cartersville Linear Check Stamped) suggests this occupation continued into the Middle Woodland period. Based on the ceramic and lithic artifacts and the presence of pit features, possibly associated with domestic habitation, Cummings likely represents a small settlement, perhaps representing a nuclear family or two, engaged in the harvesting, processing, and storage of forest resources. A comparison of results with other nearby sites and elsewhere in north Georgia will also be provided
USING ELECTRICAL RESISTIVITY TO MAP A SALTWATER INTRUSION AND INVESTIGATE THE RELATIONSHIP OF TREE MORTALITY IN SAPELO ISLAND **
No full textSaltwater intrusion has several drivers such as sea level rise, the frequency/duration of droughts, natural disasters, and anthropogenic influences, all of which are compounded by climate change. Seawater moving further inland due to these factors poses serious threats to freshwater environments. These impacts can include shifts in vegetation communities and tree mortality. Sudden loss of coastal vegetation can be a visible indicator of possible inland saltwater intrusion. One of the goals of this study is to investigate the possible cause of observed tree mortality on Sapelo Island and map the extent of saltwater intrusion on the island. The second goal is to identify whether climate change is responsible for the observed tree mortality. This study used the SYSCAL Junior resistivity equipment to map the subsurface distribution of electrical resistance using the Wenner-Schlumberger array configuration. Resistivity profiles were collected during both high and low tide events at two sites (inland and near the beach) to capture temporal and spatial changes in groundwater salinity. Results show that there are both temporal and spatial tide-induced changes in groundwater salinity with the potential of impacting the trees
THE COMPLEX INTERPLAY OF RELIGIOUS BELIEFS AND SCIETIFIC PERSPECTIVES WITH MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES WITHIN CONGREGATIONAL SETTINGS
No full textReligious leaders provide not only spiritual guidance but also serve as a source of emotional or mental health support to their congregations. Despite their lack of formal mental health training, these leaders are sought after for mental health support by their congregation members. This study explores the relationship between religious beliefs, scientific understandings, and the promotion of mental health services within congregational settings. The survey study was developed by Duke University for the National Study of Religious Leaders (NSRL). Through an online questionnaire, primary and secondary congregation leaders were surveyed between February 2019 and June 2020. This study compares self-rated conflicts between scientific findings and religious beliefs with whether leaders encouraged or would encourage people to seek mental health services. Data was analyzed through SPSS software using a correlation test to examine these associations. Results showed significant associations, indicating that congregation leaders who saw conflicts between scientific findings and their religious beliefs demonstrated less past referrals to mental health services (r =- 0.102, p = .000) and a lower likelihood of endorsing mental health services in the future (r = -0.108, p = .000). Those who do not perceive conflicts are more likely to encourage mental health support. These findings demonstrate the interplay between religious beliefs, scientific findings, and the promotion of mental health services within congregations. The results should encourage conversations between mental health advocates and religious leaders to destigmatize mental health services within congregations. A unified effort is needed to bridge the gap between traditional religious beliefs and modern mental health practices to create a more inclusive and supportive environment in a congregational setting
SEXUALLY VIOLENT PEERS STRENGTHEN THE LINK BETWEEN AGGRESSION-RELATED PERSONALITY TRAITS AND SEXUAL PERPETRATION
No full textSexual violence is endemic on U.S. college campuses. On average, one out of three college women reports experiencing sexual violence during their college years. It is vital to understand what factors increase the likelihood of sexual violence perpetration, so we have potential targets for prevention programs. Two studied risk factors are aggression-related personality traits (e.g., psychoticism) and having sexually violent peers. Despite these two findings being well-supported, the extent to which these two factors interact to predict sexual violence perpetration remains unclear, which was the goal of this study. We hypothesized that the link between personality traits and perpetration would be stronger in men with sexually violent peers. Participants (N=696) were a nationally representative sample of male 4-year college or university graduates who answered questions related to personality traits, their peers’ and their own sexual behavior in college. Results suggest that 12.4% of college men engage in behaviors while in college that meet legal definitions of sexual assault. Additionally, there was a significant interaction between personality traits and sexually violent peers F(3,693) = 95.22, p\u3c.0001, r2= .30. Specifically, aggression-related personality traits were a stronger predictor of sexual aggression among men with sexually violent peers (b=.34, p\u3c.0001) compared to men who did not have sexually violent peers (b=.11, p\u3c0001). These findings suggest that future research and prevention programs should consider how someone’s individual traits and peer norms interact to create an environment where sexual violence is normalized. Future studies should include prospective methods to assess how personality traits and peer attitudes and behaviors co-evolve across a lifetime and whether association with prosocial peers might reduce the link between aggression-related traits and sexual violence
DEPRESSION IN VETERINARY MEDICINE: PERSONALITY AND SDT NEED SATISFACTION**
No full textResearch has shown that veterinary medicine is one of the most at-risk professions for depression, suicide ideation, and death by suicide. Previous research has focused on external factors such as work overload, emotional exhaustion, and coping strategies. This study seeks to understand the specific influence of internal factors such as personality and need for satisfaction on depression in veterinarians. When it comes to personality, a high level of neuroticism is often correlated with anger, hostility and depression. Moreover, according to Self Determination Theory (SDT), well-being can be adversely affected if one\u27s basic need for competence is not fulfilled. Previous research has shown that veterinarians who are in their first five years of practicing medicine after graduation are the most vulnerable to depression and suicide, perhaps due to a lack of competence in their jobs. The current study surveys veterinarians and veterinary technicians in the state of Georgia through participation in an online survey which assesses their personality traits, basic need for satisfaction and level of depression. We predict we\u27ll find a positive correlation between the level of neuroticism and the level of depression, along with a negative correlation between the need for satisfaction, competence and the level of depression. In short, certain personality traits may correlate with an increased vulnerability to depression and suicide ideation. Training techniques can then be implemented in veterinary programs and continuing education units (CEI) to help prevent depression and suicides in this profession
EXPANDING THE AVIAN NATURAL HISTORY COLLECTION AT THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH GEORGIA
No full textNatural history collections are an integral part of teaching and research in many disciplines but are often underdeveloped or neglected due to a variety of reasons (e.g., funding, interest). Proper data collection, tagging, and maintenance of these collections as well as continued development by new specimen production are vital to keep these tools in usable condition. This work focuses on the expansion of the avian natural history collection at the University of North Georgia’s Dahlonega campus and our goal of growing this collection by creating new study skins and skeletal specimens. All specimens were collected and donated by Birds Georgia Project Safe Flight or university students passively (e.g., window or car collisions) and preserved through either freeze-drying of the whole, intact body or through processing the carcass through a live dermestid beetle colony. Freeze-drying of intact specimens is a three-step process consisting of taking morphological measurements, posing the specimen, and cycling the specimen through the dryer. Skeletal reclamation using dermestid beetles is a separate process in which the specimen is introduced to the colony where the beetles consume all soft tissue, remaining bones are then briefly soaked in dilute ammonia to remove residual soft tissue, and then allowed to dry before incorporation into the collection. The combination of these two methods allows for all donated birds, in any condition, to be incorporated into teaching and research collections and prove to be less challenging to learn and less labor-intensive than traditional methods of specimen production (i.e., study skin creation). Using these methods, we have developed a teaching and research collection of over 200 full-body study skins and skeletal specimens over four years on our campus, and the collection will continue to grow as new specimens are processed
DETERMINING THE PATHOGENICITY OF THE P393H VARIANT OF HUMAN SERPINA1 USING IN SILICO APPROACHES
No full textSERPINA1 codes for the serine protease inhibitor Alpha-1 Antitrypsin (AAT). AAT Deficiency (AATD) is a hereditary condition derived from pathogenic variants of SERPINA1. AATD typically manifest as diseases including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, emphysema, and chronic liver disease; these conditions present in response to insufficient regulation by AAT and ultimately the disruption of the homeostatic antiprotease-protease balance in the associated organs. Genetic testing has identified the new human variant P393H of SERPINA1 which is currently of uncertain clinical significance. P393H is a nonsynonymous, single-nucleotide variant (c.1175C\u3eA) within the reactive center loop (RCL) which coordinates specificity through the enzymatic cleavage between P1-P1’ residues of AAT. This variant is characterized by the substitution of histidine (basic; positive charge) in place of proline (non-polar) within the RCL which may impact pathogenicity secondary to the amino acid’s physio-chemical difference. To determine the likely clinical significance of the P393H variant we used computational protein modeling, molecular dynamics simulation (MDS), conservation analysis, in silico pathogenicity prediction tools, and phylogenetic modeling. Collectively, sequence alignment and phylogenetic analysis shows that P393 of AAT is completely conserved over a wide array of animal taxa. Additionally, multiple prediction tools whose metrics integrate functional information, structural data, physico-chemical similarity among amino acids, and conservation have confidently predicted this position to be intolerant to variation and pathogenic. MDS trajectories were analyzed using root-mean-square deviation (RMSD) and root-mean-square fluctuation (RMSF) data of wildtype and P393H AAT variants. Collectively P393H exhibited increased structural stability over the time course of the simulation, with a lower mean RMSD compared to wildtype (1.533 vs 1.653), but RMSF data identified widespread flexibility changes which could impact enzymatic function. Most critically, ΔRMSF revealed an increase in rigidity in the P1-P1’ residues (M382-S383) critical for protease-binding specificity. Our results suggest that in vivo experimentation, a logical next step, would demonstrate the inability of P393H to maintain protease-antiprotease homeostasis, thus supporting a finding indicative of pathogenicity