UARK (University of Arkansas )
Not a member yet
19829 research outputs found
Sort by
Gene Mutation and Chemotherapy Response in Azoxymethane Induced Colorectal Tumors
Get PDFColorectal cancer research is a field of increasing importance as disease prevalence continues to increase over time. In looking at the origin of the disease, a driver gene known as p53 is of particular interest for its role in the stimulation of the mutated Wnt pathway. Developing as a missense-type mutation, this gene that ordinarily functions as a tumor suppressor is investigated as a gene of interest for tumor development. In this study, a mouse model was used to examine the development of colorectal cancer with a total of n=34 samples, including n=9 tumors and n=25 colons. The concentration of the expressed p53 gene was investigated for its relationship to mouse tissue types and its response to the chemotherapies 5-fluorouracil, cisplatin, and saline. In order to investigate these relationships, an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was performed on mouse colon and tumor tissue and measured for absorbance. An ANOVA and t-test evaluation for statistical significance showed no significance in mouse tissue type between tumors and colons in the expression of p53. The ANOVA performed for the tumor samples, however, found a statistically significant difference between chemotherapy treatment types and the expression of p53 in the tissue. In comparison the control group of saline chemotherapy, cisplatin was revealed to show the highest amount of p53 expression in the tumor tissue. These relationships should be further investigated in the future with larger treatment groups and similar laboratory conditions. Other potential driver genes can also be investigated for their connection to colorectal cancer development
Poultry Litter Blending as a Means for Managing Nutrient Content and Variation
No full textPoultry litter varies widely in nutrient content. Statistical analysis of litter sample data was conducted: i) to determine how nutrient concentration mean and variance obtained from replicate nutrient sampling from fifteen different litter sources translates to mean and variance in nutrient content of ten litter blends each from two, four or six randomly selected sources; and ii) to assess how the average and variance of replicate sample mean and variance of nutrient content across the fifteen litter sources compare to their counterpart of ten 2-way, ten 4-way and ten 6-way litter blends. Should i) the average of nutrient content across blended litters not differ from the average of the initial sources, and ii) the variation in nutrient content across blended litters decline in comparison to variation in nutrient content observed across the initial sources, then blending of litters would add value to litter to enhance the likelihood of transporting litter further form their source. Insights on how many initial sources of litter to use in blends to minimize nutrient content variation could also be observed. To that end, fifteen different 5-gallon buckets of poultry litter were collected from UA farms growing broiler chicken and breeder hens. Several 10-oz subsamples from the initial poultry litter sources were blended from randomly chosen two-way, four-way or six-way mixtures to create 120-oz mixtures. Those mixtures were exposed to the same length of mixing time in a cement mixer to assess whether blending from two, four, or six sources would impact deviations from expected average and variance of nutrient content calculated from the parent sources. Each of the fifteen poultry sources were sampled four times each to arrive at mean/variance estimates of the parent sources. Each of the ten randomly chosen combinations of two-way, four-way, six-way mixtures were also sampled three times each to arrive at mean/variance estimates of the mixtures. Results suggested that mixing significantly reduced nutrient concentration variance across the three sets of mixtures while leaving mean nutrient concentrations unaltered. Examining the range of mean nutrients across mixtures in comparison to the range in mean nutrient concentration of the initial sources suggested that minimum range in mean nutrient concentration is achievable when randomly sourcing from four to six sources pending nutrient targeted. This supports the potential practice of litter blending. Prediction of range of within mixture standard deviation of nutrient concentrations lead to less statistically significant findings as the range of standard deviation within mixtures changed very little as a result of blending. Considering small sample sizes and a three-minute mixing interval in a cement mixer, further experimentation may need to be conducted to better understand blending effects of poultry litters and how results might translate to larger batches of poultry litter mixtures
The Augmentation of a Solar Panel Lab for the Chemical Engineering Curriculum to Introduce Sustainability Principles
Get PDFPhotovoltaic solar cells are utilized in solar panels to convert sunlight into usable electricity. Since the energy derived from solar panels produces far less greenhouse gas than typical fuels such as coal and natural gas do, it is considered a clean source of energy and is vital to sustainability efforts. Sustainability is often defined by three pillars: environmental, social, and economical. Solar energy incorporates each of these pillars into its process, allowing it to be an effective tool to teach sustainability to students. A previously written lab that employs solar panels focused on the efficiency of converting light into electricity. However, the original lab instructions were unclear, leading to difficulties in reproducibility and inconsistent results among students. To address this issue, a proposal was made to revise the lab in order to enhance its clarity and repeatability. Participation in the lab as it was written allowed for necessary updates to the instructions to become apparent, allowing for the procedure to be revised in a way to increase student understanding. The proposal also determined the need to more explicitly incorporate the economic pillar of sustainability into the lab. Through research, three methods were found to introduce the economic pillar of sustainability and expand upon the environmental branch that was already included. These methods were to determine the greenhouse gas emissions of the lab solar panel, determine the overall efficiency of energy utilization, and to calculate the payback period of a residential solar panel in the state. The incorporation of these approaches and the updates to the procedure allow students to perform the lab in a way that produces consistent results and teaches them the principles of sustainability
Agent-Based Modeling for Faulty System Analysis
Get PDFNumerous approaches exist for computational modeling of complex, dynamic systems. One particular option is the use of agent-based modeling, which simulates the behavior of numerous autonomous agents interacting with each other and with the system at large. Current agent-based modeling research has largely focused on studying the system level behavior of a model, as this is generally the main concern for any real world application. However, the characteristics and behaviors of agents deserves consideration as well. The issue with this area of interest lies in the fact that the agent data cannot be as quickly obtained and analyzed as system level data. In order to develop this idea, this paper focuses on utilizing system level data to determine the state of agents in a model. Specifically, it will consider systems where faults have occurred and find the point(s) of failure. A Python model will be developed and study for this purpose, focusing particularly on an electrical network. From this research, it is found that agent- based models can be effective for identifying faults and their source in a system. These models are limited by a lack of learning on the part of agents and could be improved through the implementation of reinforcement learning algorithms
Barriers and Supports for Latinx Students Pursuing Higher Education
Get PDFLatinx students make up a growing portion of the student body in Northwest Arkansas, yet they continue to face unique barriers in their pursuit of higher education. This study explored senior Latinx students’ perceptions of barriers and supports they encounter as they begin the college enrollment and admissions process. This research takes place at Valley High School, a majority-Latinx public school in Northwest Arkansas. My intention was to better understand how financial concerns, access to college knowledge, staff support, and school-based resources shape their school experiences, future aspirations, and decision to pursue college after high school. A quantitative approach was used, including a 135 question survey taken by 95 Latinx seniors, 71% completion rate, and contextual interviews with two teachers and one school counselor. I completed a comprehensive review of previous research done on examining barriers and supports for Latinx students across several different regions. Drawing from existing research, I formulated my questions to evaluate potential barriers and supports students in the Northwest Arkansas region may experience. After reviewing the data, the following four core themes emerged: financial concerns, limited knowledge about the college process, access to school-based resources, and teacher and counselor support. An online survey platform Qualtrics was used to collect data for this study and generate charts using statistical analysis. Results showed that Latinx students often feel uncertain about how to pay for college, lack step-by-step guidance, and experience limited access to individualized support for their needs as first-generation Americans and first-generation college students. At the same time, many students identified support from teachers and counselors, family encouragement, and access to plenty of school-based resources. This study offers insight for educators, counselors, and school leaders seeking to better serve first-generation and low-income Latinx students. Recommendations include initiating peer mentorship programs within the school and community, expanding family outreach and involvement, training school staff to support the unique needs of Latinx students, diversifying leadership, and offering more individualized pathways for college planning
The Impact of Tariffs on America: A Comprehensive Analysis
No full textThis research clarifies the complex issues and strategies surrounding tariffs, highlighting their significant impact on American businesses and manufacturing. It evaluates both the advantages and disadvantages for corporations and business owners, providing insights that can guide strategic decisions. By examining historical outcomes of tariffs and analyzing their contemporary uses, this research aims to offer a clearer understanding of the role of tariffs in today\u27s economic environment. Economists\u27 projections concerning potential economic effects on consumers and business owners are analyzed, offering the public an informed perspective on these impacts. It also discusses the extent to which tariffs influence economic decisions and explores alternative policy options. Expert analyses and authoritative data from economic agencies are used to support the findings presented. Additionally, the research investigates how economic policies, particularly the implementation of high tariffs, create ripple effects that influence local businesses, large corporations, and consumers. Charts and graphs supplement the data, enhancing the clarity and comprehensiveness of these projections
At The Table Together: Exploring Child Perception of Lunch Buddy Mentoring
Get PDFResearch suggests school-based mentoring is a promising strategy for helping children who experience school bullying and peer victimization. Lunch Buddy Mentoring (LBM) is a school-based mentoring program that places mentors in the lunchroom and has them sit with the mentee and peers at the lunch table. Research shows that LBM is positively perceived by both parents and teachers, but there is little research on the perceptions of LBM held by children at the lunch table. Negative perceptions of LBM by children who sit with the mentor could reduce its success by further isolating or victimizing children it aims to support and by raising concerns about LBM in the eyes of teachers and parents. This study assessed children’s perceptions of LBM via individual interviews conducted with 16 elementary-aged students, four who were mentees and twelve who were nearby lunch mates. Children were interviewed in the fall semester and again in the spring semester, and a total of 26 interviews were conducted. All interviews were transcribed and coded, and thematic analysis of these qualitative data interviews revealed four key themes: a) Positive Social Dynamic, including enjoyment and an improved lunchtime atmosphere, b) Communication and Interactions, with a focus on the integration of playful activities, c) Social Connection and Relationships, focusing on feelings of relatability and support, and d) Mentor Viewed Positively. These themes indicate a positive perception of LBM from the perspective of children seated at the lunch table
Promoting Safe Firearm Storage Through Media-Based Interventions
Get PDFGiven the ongoing phenomenon of unintentional pediatric firearm deaths, this project seeks to examine how the mainstream media reports on these events and how media frames could be altered to better promote public health prevention efforts
Evaluation of Fecal Egg Counts (FEC) as a Viable Means to Estimate Ascaridia galli, Heterakis gallinarum and Capillaria obsignata Burdens in Laying Hens
Get PDFThe control of gastrointestinal helminths, specifically Ascaridia galli, Heterakis gallinarum, and Capillaria obsignata, is a critical component of poultry health management, particularly in free-range and organic farming systems. Methods of estimating parasite burdens, such as post-mortem examinations, are not feasible for large-scale commercial operations due to their invasiveness and time requirements. This study aimed to evaluate the use of fecal egg counts (FEC) as a non-invasive and efficient method for estimating the worm burdens of these parasites in laying hens. A flock of 12 brown egg laying, spent, hens were individually penned on concrete. Fecal samples (both cecal and intestinal) were collected for a total of 6 days (0-5), mean FEC ranged from 0 - 61.5 for Ascaridia galli, 0.16 - 98.8 for Heterakis gallinarum and 0 - 3.6 for Capillaria obsignata . Worm burdens for each species were quantified post-mortem ranging from 0 - 1 for Ascaridia galli, 0 – 28 for Heterakis gallinarum, and 2 – 25 in Capillaria obsignata to assess the accuracy of FEC as a predictive tool. Statistical analysis, including Pearson’s correlation coefficients (r-values) and P-values, revealed weak positive relationships between mean FEC and female worm burdens for H. gallinarum (r = 0.16306, p = 0.6126) and C. obsignata (r = 0.14505, p = 0.6529), with no statistical significance for any of the three target species. Even after applying geometric means to adjust for outliers, correlations remained weak and insignificant. These results suggest that while FEC shows some potential as an indicator of parasite burden, its accuracy is limited. Further research is needed to assess additional factors that may influence egg shedding patterns and find improved diagnostic techniques to enhance animal welfare and farm sustainability in the poultry industry
Organizational Care: The Formation and Reproduction of Social Support Structures in Nonprofit Organizations
Get PDFThrough past literature it has been established that nonprofit employees are prone to experience increased levels of stress and burnout due to the emotionally taxing nature of their jobs. Social support is a communicative transaction between individuals that has been proven to mitigate the negative impacts that both stress and burnout can cause employees to face. Previous studies on social support have focused on healthcare workers and nonprofit volunteers, while this study aims to understand the specific social support structures that are prominent within nonprofit organizations to provide support for employees. This study utilizes structuration theory to explore the structures that nonprofit organizations have created and maintained to provide support for employees. Along with, identifying how nonprofit employees (re)produce support structures through their own actions. 25 semi-structured interviews were conducted with nonprofit employees throughout the research process. The findings from these interviews revealed that nonprofit organizations have developed many social support structures that are valuable to nonprofit employees and similarly employees have (re)produced these structures as well. The primary social support structures found in this research can be categorized by mental health and physical wellness, flexible work arrangements, recognition for good work, and safe spaces (to be heard and seen)