Digital Commons @ the Georgia Academy of Science
Not a member yet
1290 research outputs found
Sort by
TERRESTRIAL ISOPOD SPECIES DISTRIBUTION AROUND YOUNG HARRIS COLLEGE, GA
No full textTerrestrial isopods are overall highly understudied, especially the native species of southern Appalachian. Local species distribution and local disturbance can have drastic effects on the local biodiversity and harm native species that are particularly susceptible to change. In this experiment, local terrestrial isopod species distribution was examined surrounding Young Harris, GA. Logistic regression was used to examine whether native/non-native status was predictable by whether a specimen was found in disturbed or natural areas. The results were statistically significant (p \u3c 0.05) supporting the idea that native species prefer undisturbed areas. The other part of the study observed variance in identifying features of Ligidium elrodii. These features are the antennae segment numbers and the male reproductive appendage. These features were examined and compared to the overall length of the specimen to determine if the variance was related to size as opposed to suggesting another species being present. Our results indicate that human activity has altered native isopod distribution, and that some morphological features are not diagnostic species identifiers
ANALYTICAL DISCUSSION ON THE POTENCY OF WATER DESALINATED VIA TEMPERATURE SWING SOLVENT EXTRACTION
No full textIn a time when the effects of climate change and industrial waste are creating more water stressed areas around the globe, it is crucial to make the best of available water resources in an effective and sustainable manner. Temperature swing solvent extraction is a desalination technique that has shown increasing promise in the past decades, more recently in its effectiveness toward hypersaline brines. The technique employs amine solvents that have characteristic solubility properties which are inversely proportional to temperature. At lower temperatures, a larger amount of water is attracted to the solvent leaving a concentrated raffinate. The amine-water layer, separated from the raffinate, undergoes temperature swing to higher temperatures, and the pure water is extracted from the amine according to the decreased water solubility. In this study, seven different solvents, consisting of secondary and tertiary amines, were chosen to compare the method’s effectiveness for each type of amine, on the calculation basis of volume, mass, and mole ratios between the solvent and water. 1M and 4M salinity was employed to cover the range of relevant hypersaline levels. Yielded product water and its corresponding amine solvent were analyzed to ensure their safety for human consumption as defined by the Environmental Protection Agency, focusing on the efficiency of each extraction. Residual salt content was analyzed using a conductivity meter, and the residual amine content was analyzed using a TOC/TN analyzer. The extracted product water then undergoes a post-treatment (dead-end reverse osmosis) to evaluate the removal efficiency trace amine. Realized trends from gathered data show triethylamine as the solvent that produces the cleanest water strictly after the extraction technique, regardless of calculation basis or salinity. The trends within the TOC/TN analysis were consistent with those from the literature regarding solubility levels amongst the amines used, given differences in their molecular structure
SYNTHESIS OF METALLO-MESO-TETRAPHENYLPORPHYRIN DERIVATIVE USING ZINC (II) METAL
No full textThe study of metalloporphyrins has revealed enhanced reduction capabilities in porphyrins metallated with late first row transition metals, which in turn promises great potential as catalysts for different reduction reactions. These reactions include carbon dioxide reduction, oxygen reduction reactions, and hydrogen evolution reactions. Tetraphenylporphyrin was used in this experiment to determine if it could be metallated with zinc acetate and form metallo-meso-tetraphenylporphyrin. The procedure was changed over the course of multiple trials to result in the highest yield and ensure all of the porphyrin and zinc acetate were reacting. The resulting compound was analyzed using UV-Vis Spectroscopy, IR Spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis. Preliminary data leads to the conclusion that the porphyrin was successfully synthesized. This presentation will highlight the experimental methodology as well as the characterization and confirmation techniques used
QUALITATIVE DETECTION OF ILLICIT DRUG USE IN HAIR SAMPLES VIA GC/MS ANALYSIS**
No full textFor decades literature has shown that hair analysis is one of the most common methods to test for substance abuse, one which allows for drugs to be detected after significant periods of time. An experimental method for qualitative analysis of drugs in hair samples was developed and validated. Hair samples were decontaminated with dichloromethane and cut into small pieces before extraction with methanol. After heating, the extracts were divided into two parts; both were evaporated to dryness. One half of the extract was derivatized using N-Methyl-bis-trifluoroacetamide (MBTFA) for analysis of amphetamines, and the other half was derivatized using N-methyl-N-t-butyldimethylsilyl trifluoroacetamide (MTBSTFA) for analysis of other illicit drugs. Deuterated methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA-d5), deuterated oxazepam (oxazepam- d5), and deuterated phencylidine (PCP-d5) were used as the internal standards. Standard solutions were prepared by mixing all three internal standards yielding a final concentration of 25µg/mL in methanol for each drug. The samples were analyzed using electron-impact gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) for analysis of commonly abused drugs. The experimental design of this research project and preliminary results will be presented
SYNTHESIS OF MESALAMINE AND CURCUMIN CAPPED SILVER NANOPARTICLES FOR THE TREATMENT OF IRRITABLE BOWEL DISEASE (IBD)**
No full textSilver nanoparticles are innovative materials which have found uses in the field of antiseptics and drug delivery systems as of late. The term IBD (Inflammatory Bowel Disease) is used to describe the series of chronic illnesses that are characterized by inflammation of the intestinal track lining. The two main diseases are Ulcerative Colitis (UC) and Crohns\u27 disease (CD). One (UC) affects mainly the entirety of the colon while the other (CD) affects the entirety of the digestive system (from mouth to anus). To aid in the remission of an inflamed bowel, 5-ASAs (Mesalamine, balzalaside etc.) and curcumin are beneficial, alongside corticosteroids (prednisone) and biologics (Adalimumab and Infliximab). 5-ASAs (Mesalamine) are used to halt and avert flare-ups within the digestive tract while steroids and natural supplements such as curcumin, assist in the management of inflammatory and oxidative conditions. An effective synthesis of silver nanoparticles involves the use of silver nitrate, a capping agent (such as mercaptosuccinic acid) and a strong reducer (such as sodium borohydride). The two experiments were conducted while studying pH changes at each step. Then, UV-Vis was applied to verify the appearance of the nanoparticles. Signals around the 350-400 nm area confirmed the presence of silver nanoparticles in the two experiments. This work explores conditions that are used to synthesize these nanoparticles, that could be beneficial someday, in the delivery of therapeutic agents straight to intestinal lesions in the colon or digestive track
SYNTHESIS OF A COLORIMETRIC SILICA SOL-GEL SENSOR FOR THE DETECTION OF METHAMPHETAMINE**
No full textA silica sol–gel colorimetric sensor was successfully developed for the detection of methamphetamine. Simon’s reagents were entrapped within the polymeric network of the silica sol–gel matrix. The sol–gel colorimetric sensor was synthesized to demonstrate the qualitative analysis of methamphetamine with digital image colorimetry using a Red-Green-Blue (RGB) basic color program. The interaction of the colorimetric Simon’s reagents, the functionality of the reagents, and the structural integrity of the doped silica sol-gel were examined using thermogravimetric analysis, RGB color program, and UV-Vis spectroscopy. These results demonstrate that the sol–gel matrix has the potential to be used as a colorimetric sensor for methamphetamine detection. The experimental methodology and preliminary results of the study will be presented
APPLICATION OF A DIATOMIC MOLECULE MODEL POTENTIAL TO HOMO- AND HETERODIATOMIC MOLECULES
No full textWe apply a one-dimensional classical model of a diatomic molecule with modifications to H2, HF, LiF, N2, and CO. We obtain the unknown parameters of this model by digitizing the plots of potential from published theoretical electron correlation calculations due to Piris. We then apply the method of successive approximations to the model potential in order to obtain the wavenumber for each molecule. The wavenumber depends on a parameter which in turn depends on the initial conditions. The value of this parameter for each individual molecule gives zero percent error for the corresponding molecule\u27s wavenumber but an average is used in the final calculation of all molecules\u27 wavenumbers. The resulting wavenumbers are all within seven precent of the experimental values
GENDER GAP IN SOCIAL WELFARE POLICY ATTITUDES**
No full textGender differences in public opinion and policy attitudes have been a hallmark of American politics for many years. Gender differences are evident in how women and men respond to contemporary issues. For example, women are more likely than men to support gun control measures, access to abortion, and increased spending on social welfare programs. Women are less likely than men to support the death penalty, the use of military force to settle international disputes, and stricter immigration policies. Furthermore, gender patterns in public opinion extend to several other public policy issues under the umbrella of social welfare. Political science studies show that women are more likely to identify as Democrats than men and are more likely to express opinions that are consistent with Democrats\u27 policy positions. However, there are more important differences between women based on race, ethnicity, and other demographic factors. Why are there systematic gender differences in attitudes to public policy issues? What are the factors driving these differences? What role do other factors, such as partisanship and racial and ethnic identity, play? This study explores the dynamics of these gender differences and how they shape American politics. This study sheds light on what gendered patterns of public opinion look like in the United States, what the underlying factors drive these patterns, and how gender interacts with other identities to influence political attitudes. To examine how partisanship and other identities influence gender disparities in social welfare policy attitudes, this study analyzes data from the 2021 General Social Survey
EVENTS OF THE EARLY QUANTUM PERIOD, HISTORICAL RECORD VS. TEXTBOOK PORTRAYAL
No full textWith respect to the early quantum period, there is often a discrepancy between how events are portrayed in textbooks and how they unfolded historically. In this talk the typical textbook presentation of Planck’s application of quanta to explain blackbody radiation; Bohr’s derivation of his hydrogen atom model; and Einstein’s application of quanta to explain the photo-electric effect, will be contrasted with the historical record, as found in original publications, and expounded upon by science historians. Three relevant questions to be considered are (1) Did Planck formulate his model in response to the failure of the Rayleigh-Jeans model, and how was energy quanta employed? (2) What role did the Bohr hypothesis and Balmer formula play in the formulation of Bohr’s hydrogen atom model? (3) Did Einstein discover light quanta in the process of explaining the photoelectric effect, and if so, how was Planck’s theory employed? Reasons for the “cleaned up” revisions of these events as presented in textbooks, and how students might benefit from a historically correct record will also be considered
THE PRECONTACT UTILIZATION OF A DEPRESSIONAL WETLAND AT THE GRESSTON SPRING SITE (9DG152) IN DODGE COUNTY, GEORGIA **
No full textThe natural formation processes of depressional wetlands and the resultant resources they provided along the South Atlantic slope were important to a variety of flora and fauna during the Pleistocene and Holocene epochs. The utilization of these areas by precontact indigenous populations has provided important data for archaeological interpretations of site formation processes and settlement patterns seen predominately during the Paleoindian and Archaic periods. Prominent archaeological research conducted within the Savannah River Site (SRS) in South Carolina looks at indigenous utilization of depressional wetlands and Carolina bays, however, minimal research on this subject has been pursued in Georgia. This project investigates a multi-component precontact site with an associated depressional wetland in Dodge County, Georgia. Through the implementation of the research methodologies conducted in the South Carolina archaeological projects, the main premise of this research was to determine how and when precontact indigenous peoples used depressional wetlands in the Georgia Coastal Plain