2026 Research Poster Competition

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  Rekindling Hearth: An Investigation and Discussion of the Traditional and Evolving Roles of Hearth in Architecture

  Ruth Prenzler

  This research explores the evolving role of the hearth in domestic architecture, examining its historical significance and its continuing symbolic, spatial, and architectural relevance. Once essential for heat, cooking, and social gathering, the hearth has gradually shifted from a functional necessity to a largely symbolic and nostalgic artifact as a result of technological advancements and changing domestic lifestyles. Despite this functional decline, the hearth persists as a powerful cultural and architectural element, deeply embedded in collective memory and the perception of home. This study reexamines the hearth’s spatial, social, and functional roles through a combined methodology of literature review, theoretical inquiry, and visual diagramming. Scholarship addressing thermal environments, interior furnishings, nostalgia, and domestic rituals reveals long-standing concern over the loss of a central domestic anchor amid rapid modernization. To ground these discussions architecturally, six architectural case studies spanning pre-modern, modern, and contemporary periods are analyzed to identify patterns, shifts, and continuities in hearth placement, use, and meaning. Through detailed diagrams, the paper offers a visual and theoretical framework to understand hearth as both a cultural artifact and architectural feature, encouraging readers to question the role of comfort, memory, and centeredness in modern homes. The findings suggest that while the hearth’s original utilitarian functions have largely been replaced, its role as a locus of comfort, memory, and centeredness within the home remains intact. Rather than advocating for a literal return to open-fire heating, this research positions the hearth as a conceptual and spatial device capable of fostering well-being, community, and emotional grounding. Ultimately, this research advocates for a renewed understanding of the hearth in contemporary domestic architecture, encouraging architects to reclaim its latent social and cultural potential as housing continues to evolve.

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  Responses to Influencer’s Vlog on Instagram: Nicotine Pouches and Oral Health

  Amrusha Ranjith

  Despite claims by ZYN, the leading nicotine pouch brand, that it does not partner with social media influencers, influencers with large followings continue to post content depicting nicotine pouch use. Prior research suggests oral lesions are among the most commonly reported adverse events associated with nicotine pouch use; however, public discussions of these outcomes on social media remain understudied. This study examined public discourse surrounding nicotine pouch use and oral health in response to an Instagram post by a popular influencer. Methods: We collected 1,668 publicly available comments from an Instagram post by Emma Chamberlain (@emmachamberlain) using a social media application programming interface. An iterative coding process was used to develop a codebook. Two trained coders independently annotated all comments for relevance, mention of ZYN, relatedness, oral health, advice, and sentiment (positive, negative, neutral). Interrater reliability was high across codes (κ = .86–1.00). Chi-square analyses examined associations among coded variables. Results: Of all comments, 34.5% (n = 650) were relevant to nicotine use or oral health. Among relevant comments, 28.5% explicitly mentioned ZYN. Most relevant comments discussed oral health (75.1%), and 38.9% described how the influencer’s experience was relatable to the commenter’s own nicotine use or oral health concerns. Additionally, 41.2% of relevant comments provided advice, ranging from oral hygiene recommendations (e.g., brushing, flossing, water flossers) to suggestions to discontinue nicotine pouch use. Mentioning ZYN was significantly associated with expressing relatedness (p < .001), discussing oral health (p < .001), and offering advice (p < .001). Among ZYN-related comments, sentiment was predominantly neutral (68.6%), with fewer positive (18.4%) and negative (13.0%) sentiments.Conclusions: Social media platforms serve as spaces where users exchange experiential knowledge about nicotine pouch use and potential oral health consequences. These findings are particularly relevant as ZYN has submitted an application for designation as a modified risk tobacco product. Regulatory review should consider user-reported oral health concerns, including lesions that may contribute to periodontal disease and potentially elevate cancer risk. Influencer content may shape public understanding of nicotine products and provides a valuable opportunity for surveillance of emerging health perceptions and outcomes.

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  The Log Cabin | Public Perception and Mediated Reality (1840 – 1980)

  Aspen Regan

  This capstone examines the evolution of the log cabin from 1840 to 1980. At its core, the project questions the legacy of the log cabin from its origins as simply being a traditional dwelling typology to its establishment as a cultural icon or rather, an enduring vessel foundational to the American Dream and ideals of self-reliance, freedom, and individualism deep within the heart of American culture. Various case studies, traditional literature review, and archival analysis was required to complete and produce a comprehensive study of the log cabin and its history in this context, culminating into three distinct chapters. Chapter One situates the log cabin historically and architecturally, defining the popular frontier dwelling as being a single-pen horizontal log constructed cabin. It then explores the cabin’s emergence as a cultural image through political propaganda, focusing on the 1840 presidential election, Abraham Lincoln’s log cabin birthplace, and the lasting “humble beginnings” narrative. Chapter Two features a case study of Lincoln Logs, a toy introduced in 1916, to analyze how log cabin imagery was used to shape American childhood. By studying advertisements from 1922 to 1935, this chapter reveals how a log cabin toy reinforced traditional gender roles, national values, and historical narratives—embedding these ideologies within American youth through play. Chapter Three examines how literature and television sustained and exaggerated the log cabin myth, using Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Little House series as a central case study. Focusing on Wilder’s early novels and their television adaptation, the chapter considers how the log cabin was not only portrayed with emotional and symbolic weight but also exported internationally, most notably to post World War II Japan, as a representation of American democracy and history. In conclusion, each chapter works to prove that, yes, the log cabin, through various medias, has established itself and fundamental American myths in the nostalgic folder of the American brain.

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  Methanogens on Asteroids?

  Isabella Reimer

  Methanogens on Asteroids? Introduction: It is conceivable that if methanogens, microorganisms in the domain Archaea, exist on Mars, they were seeded there from a piece of Earth that was ejected by a meteor impact sometime in the past, or that material from Mars seeded our home planet by the same mechanism. The hypothesis of panspermia, the idea that life could be transported from one planet to another through space, was first developed by Arrhenius in 1908 (1). Since then, the idea of lithopanspermia, the transfer of organisms in rocks such as meteors and asteroids, has become amenable to testing. Previous research in our lab has demonstrated that certain methanogens can obtain all of their nutrient requirements, other than molecular hydrogen (their energy source), carbon dioxide (their carbon source), and water, from Mars soil simulants and clays identified on Mars, such as JSC Mars-1, montmorillonite, kaolinite, illite, and others (e.g. 2). In the research reported here, certain methanogens were shown to grow on asteroid simulants. Methods: The methanogens tested were Methanothermobacter wolfeii, Methanosarcina barkeri and Methanobacterium formicicum. Following two weeks of growth, cells from each culture were centrifuged and washed with sterile buffer three times to remove residual nutrients from the growth media. Cell pellets were suspended in sterile buffer, then added to anaerobic tubes containing sterile asteroid simulants (0.5g per tube) purchased from Space Resource Technologies. Sterile buffer was added to each tube to reach a final volume of 5 mL. Each tube was pressurized with 2 atm of molecular hydrogen, followed by incubation at each organism’s growth temperature. Methane production, commonly used to measure methanogen growth, was measured by gas chromatography of headspace samples at regular time intervals. Results and Discussion: In two sets of experiments, all three of the methanogens tested showed measurable methane on the two asteroid simulants following incubation. In one set of experiments, cells growing on the asteroid simulants were transferred to fresh sterile tubes containing the same simulants plus buffer. This was done to dilute out any possible residual nutrients carried over from the starting media. So far, all of the methanogens produced methane on one or both asteroid simulants following this second transfer. If these organisms can be transported from Mars to Earth or Earth to Mars on asteroids, this would be extremely relevant to planetary protection. References: (1) Arrhenius, S. (1908) Worlds in the Making: The Evolution of the Universe. New York, Harper and Row. (2) Kral, T.A. et al. (2004) Origins of Life and Evolution of the Biosphere 34: 615-626.

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  Bridging the Gap in Dentistry: Harnessing Behavioral Health to Improve Oral Health Outcomes for Autistic Youth

  Serenity Richardson

  Background: Autistic children have unique dental healthcare needs. Oral complications stemming from poor tongue and motor coordination, high sensitivity to toothpaste and flossing, and sensory reactions to fluoride, amalgam, and other dental products are common. Autistic youth are also prone to dental-related emotional (e.g., dental fear and anxiety) and behavioral (e.g., noncompliance, disruptive behavior, avoidance) symptoms. There is also a substantial gap in pediatric and autism-focused training for dental providers, and caregivers report significant challenges in finding dental practitioners who treat autistic children. Taken together, autistic youth and their families face barriers to accessing timely, equitable oral healthcare. Unfortunately, delayed oral healthcare may increase the likelihood of distressing and invasive dental procedures for autistic children. Child behavioral symptoms combined with limited pediatric training among providers may result in a pattern of negative dental interactions, which impacts child and family engagement in oral healthcare more broadly. Objectives: This project will utilize extant literature to conceptualize child, family, and provider factors implicated in oral healthcare disparities among autistic youth and their families. We will present a novel intervention project funded by the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research/National Institutes of Health, which aims to enhance dental providers' non-invasive behavioral strategies by teaching positive skills that target child compliance and comfort during visits. Methods: A systematic review of peer-reviewed research was conducted to conceptualize factors implicated in the oral healthcare experiences of autistic children. In response to the gap in training for dental providers, a team of psychologists and dental providers collaborated to developDental-Child Interaction Training (DCIT), a research-informed training program drawing on principles from Parent-Child Interaction Therapy. Dental providers (N = 10) in a southern state participated in a pilot training focused on child behavioral health principles. Workshop outcome measures included skills assessments, provider satisfaction with the training, qualitative feedback, and the Usage Rating Profile-Intervention. Results: Findings from the literature review underscored a complex interaction of child, family, and provider factors implicated in oral health care treatment disparities among autistic youth. The findings also supported the utility of behavioral interventions among general pediatric healthcare providers and the extension of applied trainings to dental practitioners. Initial results from the DCIT training workshop reflected improvements in skills knowledge and utilization among participating dental providers from the pre-training (M =62) to post-training (M = 88) knowledge assessment. Providers also reported high rates of satisfaction with the training. Conclusions: There is a critical need for specialized training among dental providers to address the unique needs of autistic children. The pilot DCIT workshop demonstrated that a one-day training can improve provider skills. Results also showed acceptability and feasibility among providers, suggesting that wider implementation could enhance the quality of dental care for autistic youth. In the coming years, DCIT will be expanding trainings to reduce oral health disparities and improve dental experiences for youth and families. Future efforts will adapt DCIT to specifically address dental provider skills in working with autistic youth to reduce distress, increase comfort, and promote long-term positive dental practices.

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  Building Mental Health Literacy: The Impact of Youth Mental Health First Aid on Emerging Youth Professionals

  Burgin Rome

  Nearly half of individuals in the United States will experience a mental health disorder during their lifetime, with many symptoms first emerging in childhood or adolescence. Adolescence is a critical developmental period characterized by emotional, social, and psychological changes that increase vulnerability to mental health challenges. Although public awareness of mental health has grown, stigma and societal taboos continue to limit open dialogue and delay intervention. As a result, many young people experience a significant gap between the onset of symptoms and receipt of professional support, which can worsen mental health concerns and contribute to long-term consequences that persist into adulthood.Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) is an evidence-based training program designed to address this gap by equipping individuals with the skills to recognize, understand, and respond to signs of mental health challenges in youth. The program empowers community members to act as early responders, promoting timely support and connection to appropriate professional resources.This study examines the impact of YMHFA training on undergraduate students preparing for youth-centered careers. Rome and Moxley will deliver the YMHFA course to approximately 30 undergraduate students at the University of Arkansas. The course includes two hours of self-paced online coursework and five hours of instructor-led training focused on recognizing warning signs of mental health challenges, responding to crisis and non-crisis situations, and applying a structured action plan to support the youth. Participants must complete standardized pre- and post-training assessments developed by the National Council for Mental Wellbeing to measure changes in knowledge, attitudes, and confidence related to supporting youth mental health. Rome plans to analyze the data using frequencies and paired t-tests to evaluate changes following the training. The anticipated results are that YMHFA training enhances undergraduate students’ confidence and preparedness to recognize and respond to mental health challenges in youth. Participants are expected to demonstrate improved readiness to initiate supportive conversations, apply intervention strategies such as the ALGEE action plan, and determine appropriate next steps for referral. These findings are predictive of YMHFA effectively equipping future youth-serving professionals with foundational mental health skills, supporting earlier intervention and improved outcomes for the young people they will serve.

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  The Physiological and Psychological Effects of Social Media Addiction: A Mixed Methods Study

  Ella Roper

  Social media is a worldwide phenomenon that has taken the world by storm; individuals, multimillion dollar companies, hospitals and universities alike are all similar in that there is a good chance they have a social media presence. Needless to say, there are many benefits of social media including connection and networking, however there are also consequences. My study focuses on one of the consequences, social media addiction, in hopes of enlightening individuals to the risks of social media and hopefully inspiring systematic change to make the future of social media a little less risky. I am using a scale from a previous study done at a different university to identify individuals suffering from social media addiction. For physiological effects, effects on the body, I monitored cortisol, a stress hormone, level changes, sleep quality, and heart rate. For the psychological effects, I looked at mood before and after social media use using a positive and negative affect scale. I used these statistics to look at the health of social media addicted individuals. I also conducted an optional interview with participants to get a deeper understanding of their relationship with social media and their ideas about it. I hope this mix of quantitative and qualitative looking at both physical and psychological effects will lead to more research into the topic as I feel it is very important to the future, especially to those growing up in a world filled with social media.

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  On the Untherapeutic Nature of Philosophy

  Zack Roy

  This project is an inquiry into the nature of philosophy and the relation it bears to the person who philosophizes. I will argue that philosophy is an inquiry into truth. But the sorts of truths on the table for philosophical inquiry do not necessarily comport with our desires and values. This project will explore them, dividing them into truths about the human condition and truths about external reality. We will see that the various philosophical questions posed with respect to these two domains allow for answers whose acceptance could have radical, upsetting, and perhaps ultimately harmful consequences. Friedrich Nietzsche raised similar concerns, and we will consider them along with his closely related claims that humans require fictions (untruth) in order to live. We will use this discussion to consider whether philosophical inquiry itself may be potentially harmful. I will argue that implicit in much philosophical theorizing (and explicit in the case of philosophers like Sami Pihlström, whom we shall consider) is that harmful truths are “off the table.” Or, if they are not off the table, they are at least “last resorts,” as in the case of pessimistic views such as those of David Benatar and Arthur Schopenhauer. My defense of such theses is intended not so much to convince the reader that they are true, but rather to encourage the recognition that disturbing positions on reality and the human condition are genuinely possible options. I will conclude by explaining what I take to follow from the preceding discussions: that philosophy can be unsettling, risky, and, above all, untherapeutic. One who wishes to philosophize would do well to ask themself what they intend to gain out of such an inquiry, and should further wonder whether they have any reason to expect to be better off by conducting it. If we can accept that philosophical truths need not conform to our desires and values, then we may pursue them without obscuring pretensions; attention will thus be drawn to Nietzsche’s frequent metaphorical comparison of philosophy to “wandering through the mountains.”

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  From Chaos to Clockwork: Investigating the Role of Circadian Genes in Metabolic Development of 2nd and 3rd Instar Drosophila Larvae

  Elliott Ruegsegger

  Connecting deficits in circadian rhythm machinery to the severity of other health conditions is a common task that chronobiology, the study of physiological rhythms, undertakes. Disruptions to circadian rhythms and sleep are linked to increased risk of developing multiple different diseases, including Alzheimer’s Disease and obesity. Circadian rhythms are expressed at the molecular level through rhythmic variations in the concentration of specific proteins. While the central clock genes that produce these proteins, such as period and timeless, are evolutionarily conserved across the animal kingdom, not much is known about the consequences of disruptions in circadian rhythm machinery during early development, notably when feeding patterns come under circadian control. Our previous findings indicate that Drosophila sleep and feeding rhythms come under circadian control at the early 3rd instar (L3) larval stage. However, it is not known whether larval metabolism comes under circadian control at a similar developmental time. Therefore, we examined whether various metabolite levels vary in early 3rd instar larval bodies at various circadian time points using colorimetric analyses, fatty acid methyl ester synthesis, and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Here, we present our triglyceride, glucose, glycogen, trehalose and cholesterol colorimetric measures and fatty acid, phospholipid, and cholesterol profiles of both wildtype and molecular clock mutant L3 larvae. While there were no differences measured in glucose, glycogen, and trehalose, we did observe a diurnal difference in triglyceride concentrations in wildtype L3 and a blunting of this rhythm in clock mutants. Our preliminary results suggest that the central circadian clock may begin to regulate Drosophila metabolism at the early L3 stage. Our findings improve our understanding of developmental metabolism and begin to elucidate the connections between the brain and the body’s metabolism.

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  Analysis of Loss of Engine Power Events in General Aviation

  Saloni Satappagol

  Among different parts of aviation, general aviation (GA) stands out as one of its largest and most vital sectors. GA is defined as any civil aviation activity excluding scheduled commercial flights and military operations. While loss of engine power is a serious subset of general aviation accidents, accounting for more than 200 fatal accidents per year, several gaps remain in our current understanding of these accidents. While current literature includes older studies from 2000-2014, new data from the past decade have not been analyzed for trends yet. With this significant gap of more than a decade in understanding, it is challenging to highlight how trends have evolved over time, and thus necessitates studying the overall improvement or lack thereof from the past decade. Additionally, many studies fail to distinguish between different types of loss-of-engine-power events (partial vs. total vs. fuel-related vs. mechanical), nor do they analyze GA accidents based on factors such as phase of flight, aircraft type, engine type, pilot experience, or geographic and environmental conditions. This makes it harder to discern which factors are most likely to lead to loss of engine power events, and which factors are least likely to recover. This study executes a quantitative and retrospective analysis of accident data obtained from the National Transportation Safety Board’s (NTSB) Aviation Accident Database & Synopses (AVALL) system. The AVALL database provides detailed information about each accident recorded, including accident narratives, probable causes, and coded categorical variables. Preliminary findings include graphs that have been produced to demonstrate that loss of engine power constitutes a substantial proportion of total GA accident events. Additional graphs highlighting the most frequent causes and the top aircraft makes and models associated with these events further suggest non-uniform risk distributions, motivating deeper analysis of future phases of the study. Long-term, this work is intended to serve as a foundation for experimental research. The results of this quantitative analysis will be used to design future simulation-based experiments in our research laboratory, which houses a flight simulator. The findings may inform training practices, maintenance oversight, and policy interventions designed to reduce the risk of such events and improve survivability when they do occur.

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  Caregiver Satisfaction of Parent-Child Interaction Therapy with Autistic Youth: A Mixed-Methods Study of Coaching vs. Non-Coaching Approaches

  Madeleine Schlegel and Chelsea Kendrick

  Though few family-based interventions exist to address disruptive behaviors with Autistic youth, one such treatment, Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT), has a growing body of evidence to suggest that it can be used with Autistic families to promote positive caregiver-child interactions and reduce child aggression or defiance (Scudder et al., in press). However, to date, a standardized protocol to use with Autistic youth (PCIT-Autism) has not been outlined or tested to ensure that the needs of Autistic youth and families are adequately met. Based on feedback from an Autism Community Advisory Board, where Autistic community members and their families communicated their wants for a family-focused psychological intervention (Quetsch et al., under review), PCIT-Autism (Shah et al., in prep) is an 8-week intervention that combines (1) once weekly 90-minute in-person parent-only group sessions to build parenting skills with (2) once weekly 30-minute telehealth, live coaching sessions for extra support and guidance. This present mixed-methods study aimed to assess whether a less intensive version of the intervention that omits the coaching component yields higher caregiver satisfaction compared to the more intensive, coaching-inclusive model. Caregivers of Autistic youth were randomly assigned to a coaching group (n = 9) or to a non-coaching group (n = 8). English-speaking caregivers with Autistic children between ages 2.5-10 years of age were eligible to participate in the study. Caregivers who identified as Autistic themselves (ncoach = 1, nno-coach = 2) and caregivers of minimally speaking children (ncoach = 6, nno-coach = 4) were included in the study. After participating in the 8-week PCIT-Autism protocol, all caregivers completed a Group Satisfaction Survey, which consisted of 14 quantitative items in which caregivers were asked to rate the degree to which they agreed with each statement (e.g., I feel that my needs as a caregiver of an Autistic child were adequately addressed in the parent skills group) on a 5-point scale (1 = Strongly Disagree to 5 = Strongly Agree). Caregivers were also asked to provide feedback on 7 qualitative items (e.g., Please describe your overall experience participating in the parenting skills group in a few short sentences), which allowed caregivers to share specific thoughts and experiences regarding the group. Mixed-methods analyses (i.e., independent samples t-test, thematic analysis) were used to examine perspectives of caregivers who (1) received coaching or (2) did not receive coaching. Results indicated no significant quantitative difference in caregiver satisfaction between the PCIT-Autism with coaching group (M = 61.00, SD = 7.35) and the PCIT-Autism without coaching group (M = 62.00, SD = 10.23), t(14) = -.255, p = .826. However, qualitative feedback suggests that caregivers perceive distinct benefits of caregiver coaching. The current study will discuss outcomes and themes from this pilot trial, how caregiver feedback can inform adaptations to improve engagement and feasibility of PCIT-Autism, and next steps in clinical trials.

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  Effect of organic vs inorganic zinc sources in beef cattle diets during gestation on calf immune function and colostrum quality

  Naija Sharpley

  The objective of this study is to determine the effect of zinc supplementation in cattle feed on beef cattle during gestation and the influences of the trace mineral zinc on colostrum and calf immunocompetence measuring immunoglobulin concentrations and body weight. Cow-calf systems rely on the effectiveness and consistency of their nutritional intake. Beef cattle are fed forages and grain alongside specific minerals and supplements to meet nutritional requirements. The effectiveness of these trace minerals added to the diet helps to ensure that the animal gets the most out of its feed and the producer gets the most out of the animal. Factors being analyzed are inorganic and organic zinc concentrations, colostrum quality, and calf body weight. The experiment is quantitative and will utilize randomized experimentation and sampling. Pregnant cows (n=83) will be allotted to 4 groups based on, sire of heifer calf, cow age, and cow BW taken at weaning. Assigned groups received one of two treatments: 1) Treatment A will be a grain supplement with inorganic Zn (Diet B138) to meet current NASEM requirements, 2) Treatment B will be a grain supplement containing an additional 369 mg/d of Zn as Zn amino acid complex (Zinpro Availa Zn) (Diet B139). Groups 1 and 4 receive Treatment A. Groups 2 and 3 receive Treatment B. Supplement fed at a rate of 3lb a head per day on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays of each week. Blood samples were collected from dams at days 56 and 84 of experiment, from calves’ blood is collected at 48 hours after birth. Blood collected from dams via jugular venipuncture using tiger-striped tubes, and serum is frozen, and blood collected from calves via jugular venipuncture using tiger-striped and purple topped tubes. After calving, and after calf has nursed, cows move to chute for colostrum collection. Colostrum is then tested using ELISE IgG and IgA assay kits for immunoglobin concentrations. Red top tubes were spun down for serum extractions and used for IgA and IgG analysis using ELISA kit. All treatment cows will have dystocia scores (difficulty of labor) , calf vigor scores, and calf birth weights recorded, along with any morbidity or treatment incidents during the gestational or lactational periods. Results are not available at present. Through previous research, it is predicted that organic supplementation on gestational cows will affect their post-natal calves, potentially increasing immunoglobulin concentration in calf blood and in cows’ colostrum.

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  Functional Characterization of the Reniform Nematode Effector Protein Rr6640 in Soybean Parasitism

  Noah Solomon

  Reniform nematode (Rotylenchulus reniformis, RN) is a major plant-pest affecting key crops in Arkansas such as cotton and soybean, causing economic losses exceeding $757 million in the U.S. over the past decade. While some genetic resistance exists in cotton, soybean remains highly susceptible, exacerbating RN populations in crop rotations. To address this gap, this research investigates the mechanisms of nematode infection focusing on effectors, the specialized proteins secreted by the parasite to manipulate host cell biology and suppress plant immunity. This study characterizes Rr6640, a putative effector gene identified as an ortholog to a virulence factor in the Beet Cyst Nematode (Heterodera schachtii). Given the similar sedentary feeding strategies of cyst and reniform nematodes, we hypothesize that Rr6640 plays a conserved, critical role in successful parasitism. To test this hypothesis, the current work employed a multi-step molecular cloning and functional validation process. First, the Rr6640 gene was isolated and cloned into the pBIN::GFP overexpression vector. This construct was transformed into Agrobacterium strains to facilitate two parallel experiments. We are currently utilizing Agrobacterium rhizogenes K599 to generate transgenic soybean hairy roots, to assess if the gene enhances nematode infection rates. Additionally, we are conducting Agrobacterium tumefaciens GV2260-mediated transient assays in Nicotiana benthamiana to determine if Rr6640 can suppress programmed cell death, which will indicate if the gene has a role in suppressing plant immune responses. Preliminary results confirm the successful isolation, cloning, and bacterial transformation of the Rr6640 gene, validated through gel electrophoresis and Sanger sequencing. Current work is focused on confirming stable protein expression in plant tissues. By elucidating the function of Rr6640, this research contributes to a deeper understanding of nematode-plant interactions and identifies potential genetic targets for engineering resistant soybean crops, ultimately reducing nematode-related crop losses in Arkansas.

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  Duties to yourself

  Julian Sommers

  I will be writing a thesis paper with the guidance of Dr. Purdy so I can graduate from the honors program with a bachelor's within philosophy. This paper is still very much in the planning stages, but we have a rough idea of what it will look like. The broad topic is moral duties one could have to themselves and potentially how that relates to duties you might have to others as well. We are interested in this project because I believe our common idea of morality excludes the self from being regarded as a person. I believe morality focuses too much on how we should treat other people and not enough on how we should treat ourselves. This was the broad topic at the very start. There have been discussions all around this trying to polish what we would actually write about. My issue with what I said previously are the normative claims it makes. Saying this is how people “ought” to live presupposes that they want to live a good life or what I as well as many others regard as a good life. From this my stepfather suggested to write on a moral theory being brought up from the base that all humans want to preserve their lives. This comes from the fact that humans want to preserve their life, which seems to be a fact (at least for the very large majority) coming straight from our nature. From this we could start to derive a moral theory from the presupposition that you want to preserve your life. For example, I could say it is immoral for you to overindulge in junk food, not getting an adequate amount of physical activity to best promote your own physical health, and overindulging in activities that “rot” your brain/not promoting your mental health. All of these things would have to be fleshed out in much more detail. Taking it back to the start this could relate to duties you have to other people because if you fail these duties to yourself, it could lead to you potentially mistreating or not being in good enough shape to help when needed. My favorite example of this is if you see a drowning baby and you are the only one around for miles. The baby is in a position that any average conditioned person would be able to retrieve the baby, but since you failed your duty to maintain your own physical health you cannot save the baby. There are some counter examples and questions about this that I cannot get into right now. The money provided would be very beneficial to me because I struggle to pay for college, but specifically for the research I have needed to buy a lot of books outside of my classes to be able to compile relevant information to use in the paper. The books are not cheap, and any money would be greatly appreciated.

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  Monitoring Streambank Morphology Using iPhone LiDAR Technology

  Lily C. Stitt

  Monitoring stream morphology is crucial for maintaining the health and safety of fluvial environments, particularly as these naturally dynamic systems are shifted out of equilibrium due to climate and land-use change. Quantifying these changes in stream geometry is useful for infrastructure design, water quality assessment, water resource management, and stream restoration, among other applications. Traditional stream surveying methods contain limitations that inhibit affordable and accessible stream surveying needed for evaluating fluvial systems with high accuracy and large data samples. In recent years, several advancements have been made in the use of Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) technology as an alternative method for stream surveying, increasing the efficiency and accuracy of monitoring these systems. However, the accessibility of these methods is hindered by their high cost and the requirement of highly trained users. This study investigated the use of the Apple iPhone’s LiDAR scanning technology as an affordable and accessible alternative method for stream surveying. The objectives of this study were to develop a workflow for data collection with the iPhone LiDAR scanner and to assess the accuracy of the developed method. The iPhone LiDAR method was evaluated at three locations in and near Fayetteville, Arkansas, where accelerated erosion was observed. To increase the accuracy of the iPhone LiDAR scanning technology, additional hardware and software were applied in the data collection and processing workflows. The repeatability of the iPhone LiDAR method was evaluated by comparing multiple scans at the same location, and results suggest that iPhone LiDAR combined with additional software was successful.

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  Soil Moisture Regime Effects on Near-surface Soil Chemical Properties in Alfisols under Native Tallgrass Prairie in Arkansas

  Sydney Talley

  Tallgrass prairie ecosystems provide many crucial ecosystem services, including nutrient cycling and storage, organism habitat, and soil and water conservation. However, tallgrass prairies are considered endangered ecosystems, particularly in the Ozark Highlands and Grand Prairie regions of Arkansas, where less than 0.05% of the state's original prairie land area remains. Understanding soil nutrient supplies over time in native tallgrass prairie ecosystems is critical for quantifying the success of restoration and rehabilitation activities. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of soil moisture regime (SMR) (i.e., aquic and udic), region (i.e., Ozark Highlands and Grand Prairie), and their interaction on the change in soil nutrient contents (i.e., P, K, Ca, Mg, S, Na, Fe, Mn, Zn, and Cu) in the top 10 cm over 15 years (i.e., 2001/2002 to 2016/2017). Soil samples were collected from the top 10 cm of the soil across 10 sites in both 2001/2002 and 2016/2017. Soil nutrient content changes over time were quantified. Averaged across SMR, extractable soil Fe content increased over time in both regions. Averaged across region, both soil extractable P and Na contents were impacted by SMR, where soil P content increased in both SMRs over time, while soil Na content did not change over time in the aquic, but decreased over time in the udic SMR. Soil Mn content increased over time across all region-SMR combinations, except for the Ozark-udic combination, which did not change over time. Soil Cu content decreased in all region-SMR combinations, except for the Ozarks-aquic combination, which did not change over time. The results of this study demonstrate the value of direct measurements over time for accurate assessment of temporal changes in soil nutrient contents. This study can be used to gauge success and set expectations of the potential effects of physiographic region and soil moisture regime on restoration efforts in native tallgrass prairies in the mid-Southern United States.

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  Monitoring Eye Movements to Assess the impact of Sensory Feedback on Cognitive Workload During Myoelectric Prosthetic Hand Use

  Naomi Tchoungang, Hailey Dirrigl, and Justin Asbee

  Modern prosthetic hands allow users to grasp and manipulate objects, but many users must constantly watch the device to complete even simple tasks. This heavy reliance on vision increases cognitive effort, slows movement, and makes prosthetic use feel less natural. An important question in prosthetics research is whether providing sensory feedback (enabling users to feel what the prosthetic hand is doing) can reduce this cognitive load and improve performance. In this study, sensory feedback refers to a system that provides clear tactile cues to the user upon contact between the prosthetic hand and an object, helping replace information normally felt through the natural hand. This study examines how sensory feedback influences cognitive workload during everyday hand use by analyzing eye movement behavior. Eye movements provide an objective and intuitive way to measure how much visual attention a person requires while completing a task. When tasks become easier and more intuitive, individuals tend to spend less time visually monitoring the hand and are able to visually explore other areas of the task space more efficiently. Methods:Participants complete standardized hand-function assessments, including the Southampton Hand Assessment Procedure (SHAP) and the Activities of Myoelectric Upper Limb Assessment (AMULA). These tasks are designed to reflect common daily activities such as grasping, lifting, positioning, and manipulating objects of varying sizes and shapes. Tasks are performed under three conditions: using the intact (non-amputated) hand, using a myoelectric prosthetic hand without sensory feedback, and using the same prosthetic hand with sensory feedback. Eye-tracking data are collected using Tobii Glasses 3 and analyzed in Tobii Pro Lab, where areas of interest, including the task objects and the hand, are defined to quantify visual attention patterns such as gaze duration, gaze shifts, and eye–hand coordination. Data are processed to remove recording artifacts and are visualized using plots and visual maps of gaze behavior to enable direct comparison across conditions. Results:It is expected that the presence of sensory feedback will reduce reliance on visual monitoring. This reduction is anticipated to appear as shorter and fewer visual fixations, faster coordination between visual attention and hand movement, and more efficient overall eye movement patterns. Performance with sensory feedback is expected to more closely resemble behavior observed when participants use their intact hand. The results of this research may help guide the design of future prosthetic devices by demonstrating how sensory feedback can reduce cognitive workload and improve functional usability. Ultimately, this work aims to support the development of prosthetic hands that are easier to learn, more intuitive to use, and better suited for everyday life.

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  Examining Institutional and Personal Barriers to Women's Participation in the U.S. Foreign Service

  Isabella Thompson

  Gender equality and equal representation for women have become heavily debated topics in the global community over the last few decades. Some countries have constitutional policies in place that promote gender equality, while others have extreme gaps between the rights of men and women. One area commonly used to assess how far a country has progressed toward gender equality is women’s representation in government and politics. A growing body of scholarly research in International Relations and Foreign Policy Analysis examines the representation of women in foreign policy and diplomacy. Descriptive statistics show wide gaps between countries in women’s representation in government posts related to foreign affairs. In Scandinavian countries such as Sweden and Norway, women make up approximately 50% of ambassadors. Compared to these countries, the United States of America lags behind - women only make up about 34% of the ambassadors. The United States has had over 4,600 ambassadors since the State Department started sending diplomats abroad in 1893. Of these 4,600 representatives of the United States, only 9% of them have been women. This under-representation of women goes directly against the United States Foreign Service Act of 1980, which claims that the foreign service needs to be “truly representative of the American people throughout all levels.” At the same time, women constitute the majority in such fields as political science and international relations, which often lead to a career in foreign service. It is puzzling, therefore, why women continue to be underrepresented in foreign service posts. If women are the majority in the education systems that lead to a career in foreign service and there are no blatant policy barriers to women participating in the foreign service, then why are they not participating? In my research, I combine methods in policy analysis and political psychology to analyze the institutional and personal barriers obstructing women from participating in the foreign service. I have collected data from literature reviews, foreign policy analyses, and an original survey to support my four propositions: women feel as though they will experience sexism in the foreign service, women feel as though the foreign service does not promote work-life balance, women do not feel as though there are role models within the foreign service, and women do not feel as though they would be supported in the foreign service. My goal with this research is to have a better understanding of why there are gender disparities in the United States Foreign Service and what other countries are doing to combat this.

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  Cardiovascular Monitoring for Maternal Health Using Wearable Devices

  Daniela Alejandra Vasquez

  Cardiovascular disease represents the leading cause of pregnancy-related mortality in the United States, accounting for over 30% of maternal deaths, with preeclampsia and hypertensive disorders contributing significantly to this burden. In Arkansas, maternal mortality rates reach 41.9 deaths per 100,000 live births. Current prenatal care relies on intermittent office-based blood pressure measurements conducted during 12-14 clinical visits, may not capture critical cardiovascular changes in a timely manner. Preeclampsia is characterized by new-onset hypertension after 20 weeks of gestation, affects 3-7% of pregnancies, and requires early detection to enable timely intervention. The limited accessibility of ambulatory blood pressure monitoring in rural settings, combined with barriers to frequent in-person postpartum follow-up, creates critical gaps in cardiovascular conditions that contribute to preventable maternal morbidity and mortality.Research Objective: This project aims to develop an algorithm that uses photoplethysmography (PPG) sensors embedded in smartwatches to provide continuous heart rate monitoring for pregnant individuals. The primary objective is to create an accessible, user-friendly cardiovascular monitoring system capable of detecting physiological patterns that may indicate the development of hypertensive disorders or cardiovascular complications during pregnancy and the postpartum period. This work represents the initial development phase, focusing on establishing core functionality for PPG data acquisition and real-time heart rate visualization through integration with wearable consumer technology.Methods: The application is being developed to integrate PPG sensor data from Samsung Galaxy smartwatches using the Samsung Health SDK and Wear OS platform APIs. Initial development efforts focus on establishing reliable data acquisition protocols. The system architecture is being designed to support the future implementation of machine learning algorithms. The current development phase focuses on creating an intuitive user interface that displays real-time heart rate data, provides basic trend visualization, and supports data logging. Expected Outcomes: This preliminary development work is expected to yield a functional prototype application capable of acquiring and displaying continuous heart rate data from Samsung smartwatch PPG sensors. Successful completion of this initial phase will demonstrate the technical feasibility of integrating consumer wearable technology for maternal cardiovascular monitoring and establish the foundation for future enhancement with predictive analytics capabilities. The prototype is anticipated to provide proof-of-concept for continuous monitoring that extends beyond traditional office-based assessment intervals. Future development iterations will incorporate gestational-age-specific reference algorithms and alert systems for values exceeding personalized thresholds, with the ultimate goal of enabling early detection of cardiovascular complications and facilitating timely clinical intervention. Implications: This project addresses critical gaps in maternal cardiovascular surveillance by developing an accessible monitoring solution that leverages existing consumer wearable technology. Successful development of this application has the potential to reduce barriers to continuous physiological monitoring, particularly for pregnant individuals in rural communities where frequent clinical visits present significant logistical challenges.

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  Understanding the Reemergence of Right-Wing Extremism in Germany

  John Wardlaw

  My thesis examines the growing popularity of the Alternative für Deutschland (AfD), Germany’s leading radical-right-positioned party, in the context of broader ideological shifts in post-war Europe. The AfD’s rise reflects a shift from the cosmopolitan ideals that dominated the mid- to late-twentieth-century Europe toward a resurgence in national populism, reminiscent of the late-nineteenth-century political currents that shaped pre-war Europe. To analyze this phenomenon, I turn to Dr. Girija Mookerjee’s four-principle problems framework: the problem of national unity, the extent of popular participation, state participation in a global setting, and the socioeconomic problems found alongside industrialization. While Dr. Mookerjee’s work was conducted in the mid-twentieth century, his principal framework remains relevant today. With this framework in mind, Germany’s rightward political shift may be best understood as the culmination of external pressures, such as post-war supranational institutions, compounded with an internal philosophical inquiry over what it means to be German. Additionally, I argue that the AfD exploits the nuanced relationship between German identity and international relations through deliberate rhetoric and actions to polarize voters and undermine the democratic idealism of Germany’s Basic Law (Grundgesetz). My interest in the Alternative für Deutschland rests on the exponential growth it has experienced both in popularity and influence in the last election cycle, represented by the seats it has won in provincial parliamentary elections. As national populism takes root in the Eastern German states (former DDR-states), further radicalization in both economic theory and Euroscepticism is liable to sweep through the country. If this rightward shift is left without remedy, the threat of adverse German isolationism, including but not limited to the departure from the European Union (EU), becomes further salient.

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  Analysis of the pervasiveness of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and their relationship with the incidence of neurological health disorders

  Emma Waters

  Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a contaminant of emerging concern due to their chemical structure that afford a plethora of issues with regards to degradation on environmental and metabolic fronts. PFAS are amphiphilic and contain a carbon-fluorine bond, which complicates their movement through the environment and ensures their longevity in biological systems. Their persistence in biological systems has led them to be marked as “forever chemicals” and have emphasized them as a priority area for research in recent years. Current work on PFAS relationships to human health have pointed to some causes for concern. Much of the research on PFAS and human health does not focus on neurological health. With animal studies, primarily mice models, establishing relationships between PFAS and nervous system effects, more work is needed to understand potential exposure pathways for mitigation. Therefore, the goal of this research is to complete an exploratory analysis of the relationship between PFAS compounds in drinking water and the incidence of neurological health disorders that are listed as a cause of death for populations in the United States. Data on PFAS compounds was collected from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and compared with county-level health outcomes for two states in the U.S. using ArcGIS and R. The outcomes of this research have the potential to provide justification for future studies aimed at evaluating environmentally-based PFAS exposures and human health.

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  Applied Textile Innovation in Sustainable Design: Evaluating Soy-Based Materials and Embroidery Techniques for Circular Apparel Applications

  Jasmine Williams

  Applied Textile Innovation in Sustainable Design:Evaluating Soy-Based Materials and Embroidery Techniques for Circular Apparel Applications AbstractThe global apparel industry is recognized as one of the most environmentally intensive manufacturing sectors, driven by high resource consumption, chemically intensive processing, and linear production systems that generate significant textile waste. In response to these challenges, sustainable fashion research increasingly emphasizes the exploration of bio-based materials and circular design strategies that reduce environmental impact while maintaining functional and aesthetic value. This applied design research project investigates the potential of soy-based textiles combined with embroidery and applique techniques as sustainable strategies for circular apparel applications.Grounded in sustainability and circular fashion scholarship, the project draws on historical and contemporary precedents that highlight the use of plant-derived fibers and craft-based techniques as durable and functional components of textile production. Soy-based textiles, derived from agricultural byproducts of soybean processing, present an opportunity to support waste reduction and renewable material systems while remaining adaptable to experimental apparel design. This study specifically examines how soy-based materials perform in surface design and construction when paired with traditional textile techniques such as resist dyeing and embroidery.The project was conducted as a hands-on experimental design process resulting in a panelized vest prototype. All soy-based materials—including soy leather, soy silk, soy wax, and soy milk—were provided by the United Soybean Board. The garment was intentionally designed using modular panels to align with circular design principles, allowing components to be disassembled, repaired, or repurposed into alternative products. Surface design experimentation involved wax resist techniques, bleaching, and repeated applications of soy milk and organic pigments to evaluate pigment adhesion, material flexibility, and visual depth. Hand embroidery using walking and cross-stitch techniques was applied to reinforce stress-prone areas while introducing plant-inspired motifs that emphasized visible craftsmanship. Final construction incorporated limited machine stitching to balance handcraft with scalability considerations.Results from the design process indicate that soy-based materials are well suited to experimental apparel applications. Soy milk treatments functioned effectively as both a mordant and softening agent, improving pigment adherence while maintaining flexibility. Repeated pigment applications enhanced visual richness, though minor reductions in uniformity highlighted tradeoffs between consistency and aesthetic complexity. Embroidery significantly reinforced areas of mechanical stress, supporting research that positions surface reinforcement as a strategy for extending garment lifespan. Panelized construction proved effective in supporting modularity and circularity without compromising material integrity.This project demonstrates that combining bio-derived soy-based materials with embroidery and applique techniques can enhance both durability and aesthetic engagement within circular apparel design. By framing surface design as a functional sustainability strategy rather than a purely decorative element, the study contributes to applied textile research and sustainable design pedagogy. While limited in scale, the findings suggest opportunities for further research through wear testing, lifecycle assessment, and comparative analysis across additional bio-based fibers to evaluate long-term performance and scalability.

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  Investigating Pituitary Specific Transcription Factor-1 (pit-1) in Neuronal Development in the Sea Anemone Cnidarian Nematostella vectensis

  Emily Ye

  In bilaterians — animals with bilateral symmetry, like vertebrates and insects — the pituitary specific transcription factor-1 (pit-1) is essential for regulating growth hormone and prolactin expression in the pituitary gland. However, in non-bilaterians, the ancestral function of pit-1 remains unknown. Cnidarians, such as the sea anemone Nematostella vectensis, form a sister group to bilaterians and lack a pituitary gland, making them a powerful model for investigating the early evolutionary role of conserved developmental genes, like pit-1.Using CRISPR-mediated gene editing, pit-1 knockout mutants — anemones without the pit-1 gene — were generated, and their transcriptomic, cellular, and behavioral phenotypes were compared to their wild-type siblings. RNA sequencing revealed significantly downregulated expression of a failed axon connection gene in pit-1 mutants (FAXC), a gene associated with misguided neuron axon connections in bilaterians. These findings were further supported with transgenic fluorescent reporter protein staining, showing fewer pit-1-positive cells in the oral region and misoriented neuronal processes along the body column in knockout animals. The neural defects, consequently, were accompanied by behavioral costs, such that pit-1 mutants exhibited delayed responses during brine shrimp feeding assays and slower cessation of peristaltic movements (i.e. digestive movements) compared to wild-type controls. Together, the results suggest that pit-1 contributes to nervous system formation and neural connectivity in cnidarians. Overall, these findings indicate the possibility that the pit-1 gene may have played an important role in neural development prior to the divergence of Bilateria and Cnidaria. Whether FAXC is a direct downstream target of pit-1 remains a question for future investigation.