Undergraduate Research
at
Austin Peay State University
Spring Semester 1998
List of Titles (Click on title to see full abstract.)
1. Size-Class Structure of Some Old-Growth Forests, Kentucky and Tennessee. Sandra J. Gonzalez, Department of Biology.
2. Preliminary Results of Amphibian Larval Development as Bio-Indicators of Water Quality in the Sulphur Fork Creek Watershed, Robertson County, Tennessee. Lillian F. Barber and Heidi J. Semrau, Department of Biology.
3. Levels of Fecal Indicator Bacteria Associated with the Sulphur Fork Creek Watershed, Robertson County, Tennessee. Lillian F. Barber and Heidi J. Semrau, Department of Biology.
4. Effects of Temperature and the Response of Crickets. Brian Harrell and Dennis Pertuis, Department of Biology.
5. The Effects of Sulfuric Acid Contamination on Sunflowers. Tony Gilmore and Janine Fowlds, Department of Biology.
6. Effects of Varying PH on the Growth and Vitality of Brassica Oleracea Var Capitata L. Shannon H. Adkins and Catherine D. Shevlin. Department of Biology.
7. An Aquatic Toxicity Assessment of Blue Spring: A Tributary of the Sulphur Fork Watershed. Aaron B. Sims, Jr., Department of Biology.
8. Cytokines: Clinical Usage. Valerie Sullivan, Department of Biology.
9. Analysis of Nutrient Recycling by Looking at Rates of Decomposition at Different Locations. Jeanne Beals and Philip Jones, Department of Biology.
10. The Effects of Unilateral versus Bilateral Carotid Body Denervation (CBD) on Respiration. Jeanne Beals, Paul Martino and Hubert Forster. Department of Biology.
11. Biological Indicators of Water Quality at Dunbar Cave State Natural Area, Clarksville, Tennessee. Frank Satterfield and Jennifer Knoch, Department of Biology.
12. Retention of Cupric (II) Sulfate in Freshwater Mussels. Jeanne Beals, Tim Byrd and Kristen Miller. Department of Chemistry.
13. Using Molecular Modeling to Determine Chemical Shifts in 1D and 2D NMR of Aspirin. Derek Bailey, Department of Chemistry.
14. The Hydrolysis of Phosphate Anti-Corrosives II. Commercial Products. Melissa Smith, Kenneth Robertson, Department of Chemistry.
15. Employment in Tennessee: A Student
=s Perspective on Where to Work and What Industries to Go Into in the State of Tennessee. Carlos M. Murgas, College of Business.16. Vision Systems. Timothy N. Henslee, Engineering Technology.
17. Jefferson and Madison: Two Views on a Republic. Katrina L. Bowers, Department of History.
18. Measuring Brightness Induction Effects Under Dynamic Conditions. Danielle Minniehan, Department of Psychology.
19. Psychometric Properties of the Eating Beliefs Questionnaire. Stacie L. Mukina, Candie Waterbury and Dannie Mezei. Department of Psychology.
20. Is Feminist Identity Development Related to Social Physique Anxiety? Craig W. Emerson, Darla J. Slicton, Shelby D. Fairbanks, Dannie S. Mezei and Ingrid Bethel-Constable, Department of Psychology.
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Abstracts
1. Size-Class Structure of Some Old-Growth Forests, Kentucky and Tennessee Sandra J. Gonzalez, Department of Biology and The Center for Field Biology
Published data from five reputedly old-growth forest stands on the Northwestern Highland Rim, Kentucky and Tennessee, were used to develop size-class profiles for each. Frequency of occurrence was plotted against size-classes to determine if the data matched the expected J-shaped curve characteristic of old-growth, all-aged stands. In addition, the size-class distribution of oaks was plotted separately to determine the status of this genus in the five oak-dominated forests. Stands examined were Greenwood Forest (Christian County, Kentucky), Cross Creeks Forest (Stewart County, Tennessee), St. Stevens Forest (Lyon County, Kentucky), Devil's Backbone Forest (Stewart County, Tennessee), and ten stands dominated by chestnut-oak and found in Lyon and Trigg counties, Kentucky, and Stewart County, Tennessee. In all cases, when size classes were plotted against frequency of occurrence, a J-shaped curve was obtained. However, oaks were inadequately represented in lower size-classes in Greenwood Forest and St. Stevens Forest, indicating that future forests on those sites may not be oak dominated. Faculty Advisor: Edward W. Chester
2. Preliminary Results of Amphibian Larval Development as Bio-Indicators of Water Quality in the Sulphur Fork Creek Watershed, Robertson Co., Tennessee. Lillian F. Barber and Heidi J. Semrau, Department of Biology.
The objective of this research was to develop a protocol for investigating further the correlation between amphibian population decline and environmental contamination. We used amphibian larvae (Gastrophryne carolinensis and Rana clamitans) as biological indicators of water quality at four sites (Blue and Wessington Spring and Upper and Lower Miller Creek), Sulphur Fork Creek Watershed, Robertson Co., Tennessee. Three enclosures, each containing 10 larval amphibians, were placed at each of the four sites. Larval development and survivorship, water temperature, and fecal bacteria were monitored. In the experiment with G. carolinensis, survivorship was lower at the spring sites than at the creek sites, although fecal bacteria levels were greater at the creek sites. In an ongoing study with R. clamitans, preliminary data suggest higher survivorship at the creek sites and at Wessington Spring than at Blue Spring, where animals are dying at rates comparable to that observed in the study with G. carolinensis. Faculty Advisors: Don C. Dailey, Mack T. Finley and Cindy L. Taylor
3. Levels of Fecal Indicator Bacteria Associated with the Sulphur Fork Creek Watershed, Robertson Co., Tennessee. Lillian F. Barber and Heidi J. Semrau, Department of Biology
An ongoing multifaceted study is being conducted on the water quality of 3 streams, 4 springs, and 3 wells in the Sulphur Fork Creek Watershed, Robertson Co., Tennessee. The densities of fecal coliform (FC) and fecal streptococcal (FS) bacteria were used to monitor the extent of fecal contamination in the watershed. Data indicate the well water samples harbored very little fecal bacteria (<1 cfu/100 ml) indicating the ground water is of good quality. The surface waters however routinely were found to contain significant levels of fecal bacteria. Significant levels of bacteria were defined to be those that exceeded EPA guidelines for recreational contact (greater than 126 FC/100 ml or greater than 33 FS/100 ml). Comparisons of the FC densities to the FS densities suggest the contamination is primarily of nonhuman origin. These data document the need for remediation planning to increase the quality of surface waters in this watershed. Faculty Advisors: Don C. Dailey, Mack T.Finley and Cindy L. Taylor
4. EFFECTS OF TEMPERATURE AND THE RESPONSE OF CRICKETS. Brian Harrell and Dennis Pertuis, Department of Biology.
Laboratory experiments show that temperature can play a role in cricket activity. The Gryllulus assimilis (field cricket) exhibited increase activity as the temperature increased. T-test calculations on the rate of activity were preformed to show an differences between extreme and moderate cold temperatures. The crickets were allowed to acclimated themselves to 10, 18, 25, and 32 degrees Celsius. The results of the t-tests calculations show that as temperature increases the rate of activity increases and as temperature decreases so does there activity. Faculty Advisor: Willodean Burton
5. The Effects of Sulfuric Acid Contamination on Sunflowers. Tony Gilmore and Janine Fowlds, Department of Biology.
Since 1963, precipitation in the northeastern United States has had an average annual pH of 4.05 to 4.3. Furthermore, sulfuric acid has contributed to 55 to 75% of this acidity. This acidity has affected the chemistry of the soil and surface waters, specifically, calcium, magnesium, and sodium ion concentrations. Consequently, calculations indicate the decrease in the forest biomass accumulation during this period. Laboratory experimentation was conducted using Sunflower, Helioanthus. Three groups of nine plants were planted in untreated top-soil. One group served as the control, receiving distilled water for the length of the experiment. Two group received sulfuric acid contaminated water, pH 4.1 to 4.5. One group received the contaminated water for twenty days then received distilled water for twenty days. The third group received the contaminated water for forty days. Stem lengths, and stem and root weights were recorded for each specimen in each group. Soil was analyzed to determine changes to calcium, magnesium, and aluminum ion concentrations which may have affected plant growth. The results indicate no significant differences to group mean measurements. Faculty Advisor: Willodean Burton
6. EFFECTS OF VARYING pH ON THE GROWTH AND VITALITY OF BRASSICA OLERACEA VAR CAPITATA L. Shannon H. Adkins and Catherine D. Shevlin, Department of Biology.
In the last thirty-five years, acid rain has become a major issue worldwide. Recently, it has become the topic of much debate among environmentalists and politicians alike. Acidic rain deposition affects every organism in its path, starting at the most important level, that of the producers. Acidic rain brings about changes int he pH, or the measure of hydrogen ion concentration in the soils and tissues of plants, thus adversely affecting the organisms ability to obtain nutrients necessary for its survival. With this definition of pH at hand, one would deduce that all ranges of pH, including the basic ranges, would have impacts on plant growth. This defines the scope of our study. By varying the pH levels of water that was added to Brassica oleracea var capitata L and making observations, we were able to visualize the affects of pH on the growth and vitality of these plants. Faculty Advisor: Willodean Burton.
7. An Aquatic Toxicity Assessment of Blue Spring: A Tributary of the Sulphur Fork Watershed. Aaron B. Sims, Jr. , Department of Biology.
One purpose of an aquatic toxicity test is to find and estimate the safe concentration of toxic effluents in receiving waters. The purpose of this test was to assess the water quality of the Blue Spring aquatic system located in the Sulphur Fork Water Shed. The data for survivorship showed that at 25 and 50% Blue Spring concentrations were significantly lower than the control, while survival at 100% concentration was significantly higher than the control. In a second test, survivorship for all treatment concentrations were significantly greater than the control. For the first aquatic toxicity test, there was no significant difference between the control and treatment groups= reproduction (ANOVA and t-test). In test 2, no analysis were done because the control reproduction was obviously less than treatment groups. From these tests we conclude that the Blue Spring water quality is as good as the reconstituted control water. Further testing should be done, but not before the control organisms have undergone reference toxicity tests as outlined in EPA protocol. Faculty Advisor: Willodean Burton
8. Cytokines: Clinical Usage. Valerie Sullivan, Department of Biology
Cytokines are small proteins that regulate the immune response. Cytokines signal the immune response system to combat diseases including AIDS, bacterial infections, cancer, influenza, arthritis, and strep. There are a total of nineteen interleukins. Cytokines regulate the intensity and duration of the immune response by stimulating or inhibiting the activation, proliferation, and/or differentiation of various cells and by regulating the secretion of antibodies or other cytokines. Cytokines generally function as messenger molecules that cause biological activities after binding to a receptor on a target cell. The two main producers of cytokines are TH cells and macrophage. The most common cytokines are the nineteen interleukins, and TNF alpha and beta. Faculty Advisor: R.H. McCoy
9. Analysis of Nutrient Recycling by Looking at Rates of Decomposition at Different Locations. Jeanne Beals and Philip Jones, Department of Biology.
Certain abiotic factors affect rates of decomposition by limiting or inhibiting growth of decomposers including soil pH, levels of moisture, and temperature. Three areas were studied: open pasture, area under foliage, and area near a water source. A mouse was weighed and buried at each location. Animals were allowed to decompose for 20 days. Mouse in the area of open pasture was not located. Soil samples were also taken from area directly surrounding the mouse and area two feet from the mouse. Mice were cleaned off, weighed and amount of lost weight was determined. Soil samples were run through chemical analysis determining pH, levels of Potassium, Phosphorus, and Nitrogen. Soil analysis data showed no significant difference. However, amount of weight lost from mouse near water source was significantly higher than mouse buried under foliage. It was postulated that an area near water source allows for an increased rate of decomposition. Faculty Advisor: Willodean Burton
10. The Effects of Unilateral versus Bilateral Carotid Body Denervation (CBD) on Respiration. Jeanne Beals, David O=Drobinak, Paul Martino, Hubert Forster, Department of Biology, Austin Peay State University and Department of Physiology, Medical College of Wisconsin.
Studies documenting effects of bilateral CBD on respiration have shown that after bilateral CBD, ventilation while breathing room air decreases, level of arterial CO2 increases, and CO2 sensitivity decreases. Very few studies have been done after unilateral CBD. I postulated that after unilateral CBD the functional carotid body compensates and rate of ventilation, level of arterial CO2, and CO2 sensitivity would be normal. Four goats were studied, one bilateral and three unilateral CBD. Bloods were drawn while breathing room air, during hypercapnia, and during hypoxia. Bloods were analyzed to determine partial pressure of arterial CO2 and O2 and the values compiled with data collected on ventilatory rates. Our data after bilateral CBD agreed with previous studies. However, our data were very variable among unilateral CBD goats showing decreased CO2 sensitivity in all, but two of three showed a slight increase in resting PaCO2. Additional studies are required. Faculty Advisor: David O=Drobinak
11. Biological Indicators of Water Quality at Dunbar Cave State Natural Area, Clarksville, Tennessee Frank Satterfield and Jennifer Koch, Department of Biology.
For many years, fecal coliform and fecal streptoccal densities have been used as indicators of water quality both on the state and federal level. Recently, many researchers in the United States have encouraged studies to investigate the relationship between poor water quality and amphibian decline. This study uses both bacteria and amphibians as biological indicators of water quality at Dunbar Cave State Natural Area (DCSNA) in Clarksville, Tennessee. For the amphibian portion of the study, experimental containers housing eggs of the Cope=s Gray Treefrog (Hyla chrysoscelis) were positioned at sites within DCSNA. Two sites common with the amphibian study and two additional sites within the cave were assessed for fecal coliform and fecal streptococci using a standard membrane filter technique. Our bacterial data show that three of the four sites exceeded EPA standards at least once during the study period. In addition, our amphibian data show a reduced survivorship (6.5%) for eggs incubated at DCSNA as compared to controls (43.5%). These data demonstrate the need for further monitoring of the water quality at DCSNA. Faculty Advisors: Don C. Dailey and Cindy L. Taylor
12. Retention of Cupric (II) Sulfate in Freshwater Mussels. Jeanne Beals, Tim Byrd, and Kristen Miller, Department of Chemistry.
Freshwater mussels, being bottom dwellers, are good indicators of pollution because of their ability to absorb metal compounds from the water. Many metal contaminates such as Nickel, Aluminum and Copper have been found in natural water sources. These metals in high concentration have been found to be toxic. Experimental mussels were exposed to varying concentrations of Cupric (II) sulfate (5 ppm and 10 ppm). After an 8 day exposure, mussels were extracted and digested using the Microwave Digestion Bomb. The resulting solution was analysized using Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy to determine Copper concentrations in the mussels. Results revealed that the exposed mussels did absorb Cupric (II) sulfate. However, they did not absorb amounts proportional to the amounts they were exposed to. This concludes that although freshwater mussels are good qualitative indicators as to whether a metal is present they are not good quantitative indicators as to the amount of toxin present. Faculty Advisor: Rudy Gostowski
13. Using Molecular Modeling to Determine Chemical Shifts in 1D and 2D NMR of Aspirin. Derek Bailey, Department of Chemistry.
To determine chemical shifts in the 1D and 2D NMR of Aspirin, molecular modeling experiments were used to identify the electron densities of each of the atoms under study. MOPAC approaches molecular modeling from a semi-empirical standpoint. Additionally, PCModel was used as the draw program for an initial structure matrix. Within MOPAC are several calculation options. The calculation options explored included AM1, PM3 and MNDO. AM1 calculations generated the lowest energy conformation and its electron densities were used for determining the chemical shifts of aspirin. The work allowed for peak identification in the 13C NMR spectrum for the carbons bonding to the two functional groups. The results revealed a lowered electron density at the C1 position, with a corresponding increase in electron density at the C3 position. This was found to be consistent with the director effects of the two functional groups during electrophillic substitution, but did not account for the downfield shifting of C3. Faculty Advisor: Harvey F. Blanck
14. The Hydrolysis of Phosphate Anti-Corrosives II. Commercial Products Melissa Smith, Kenneth Robertson and Ron Robertson, Department of Chemistry.
Ortho- and polyphosphates are used as anti-corrosive agents in municipal water supplies. The purpose of this research was to analyze the kinetics of the hydrolysis of polyphosphate to orthophosphate in selected commercial products. 1 ppm solutions of Aquadene, Calgon RS-2, Calciquest, AquaMag, and Calgon C-9 were tested for levels of ortho and polyphosphate using the molybdenum blue Hach test over a period of 42 days or longer. All were found to be ortho/poly blends. All hydrolyzed except Calgon C-9 with little difference in the fitting to 1st and 0th order reactions. All had 1st order rate constants in the range of 10-5/day, in agreement with literature values. NMR analysis gave three peaks which were identified as the ortho P as well as the middle and end P atoms of the polyphosphates. Faculty Advisor: Ron Robertson
15. Employment in Tennessee: A Student=s Perspective on Where to Work and What Industries to Go Into in the State of Tennessee. Carlos M. Murgas, College of Business.
Every college student must go through to two phases: (1) what should I major in?, and (2) where should I work?. This paper attempts to help college students answer this questions by looking at urban industry wages in the state of Tennessee. The first step in our research was to identify the top ten highest paying industries in the state of Tennessee, as well as the top ten lowest paying industries, in order to provide students with some ideas of what to major in college. The next question was whether there was a difference in wages among the top five cities in Tennessee (Chattanooga, Clarksville, Knoxville, Memphis, and Nashville). The study showed that, at a 90% confidence level, wages in Montgomery County are significantly lower than the industry urban average for the state of Tennessee. Faculty Advisor: Vicky Langston
16. Vision Systems. Timothy N. Henslee, Engineering Technology.
This project is to find a way to check a grommet for imperfections without the use of human intervention. An Allen-Bradley CVIM vision system was used for this project. The location of grommets were random while traveling under the vision system camera. Ten circular gages were used to check the surface of the grommet for any imperfections or edge that would cause the grommet to fail inspection. Once the grommet was under the camera, the camera would take a picture and compare it with the gages programmed in the system. If a edge was detected, the bad part bit in the CVIM processor would be set and the appropriate actions taken. Under normal operation, the success for detection rate varied from 59 to 70%. Faculty Advisor: Chin-Zue Chen
17. Jefferson and Madison: Two Views on a Republic. Katrina L. Bowers, Department of History.
This paper deals with the varying, yet similar, Republican ideologies of Thomas Jefferson and James Madison. Both men believed in a republic as the proper form of government, yet had different ideas of what a republic involved. These ideas shaped their political lives, their personal lives, and how both reacted to each other. My paper looks in-depth at their political thought, their personal lives in Virginia, their close relationship, and their lasting impressions on the American history. The conclusion drawn through this paper is that, both men helped create the republican framework of America. However, only Madison ever accepted the fact that the republican movement would require a continuing political party for its full development in a changing, pluralistic nation. Faculty Advisor: Richard Peter Gildrie
18. Measuring Brightness Induction Effects Under Dynamic Conditions. Danielle Minniehan, Department of Psychology.
Brightness coding by the visual system is affected by the brightness of nearby objects. These are known as brightness induction effects, and these usually result in brightness illusions. Two illusions were investigated in this study: the "traditional" simultaneous contrast illusion and "White's" illusion. This experiment focused on measuring the magnitude of brightness induction effects under static conditions, where the brightness of the stimuli did not change over time. Thirty undergraduate psychology students from Austin Peay State University served as participants. Each participant was presented with two stimuli and instructed to manipulate one stimulus in order to make a brightness match with a second stimulus. The results demonstrated that we could create visual stimuli that show either the "traditional" simultaneous contrast or "White's" illusion. These stimuli, now validated, will be used in a second experiment to investigate these effects under dynamic conditions. Faculty Advisors: Charles B. Woods and Garland Blair
19. Psychometric Properties of the Eating Beliefs Questionnaire. Stacie L. Mukina, Candie Waterbury and Dannie Mezei, Department of Psychology.
The Eating Beliefs Questionnaire (EBQ) was created to measure misconceptions held by individuals in our society. It was hypothesized that eating beliefs will fall into one of four factors: Science, Salves, Superstitions, and Stereotypes. Participants included 155 college students (37 males and 118 females), who completed a demographics questionnaire prior to the 70 item EBQ. Responses to the EBQ were evaluated by participants
= ratings according to a 5 point Likert scale. A factor analysis with varimax rotation was conducted on this data which resulted in the emergence of the four hypothesized factors. Factor 1 (18 items) was Stereotypes, Factor 2 (19 items) was Superstitions, Factor 3 (9 items) was Salves, and Factor 4 (8 items) was Science. Further analysis with Cronbach=s Coefficient Alpha displayed adequate to moderate internal consistency for each of the factors. Thus, the results support the EBQ as a reliable instrument that can evaluate eating beliefs. Faculty Advisors: Frederick G. Grieve, Maureen A. McCarthy and Charles B. Woods20. Is Feminist Identity Development Related to Social Physique Anxiety? Craig W. Emerson, Darla J. Slicton, Shelby D. Fairbanks, Dannie S. Mezei and Ingrid Bethel-Constable, Department of Psychology.
Social Physique Anxiety (SPA) occurs when an individual feels that others are evaluating their bodies in a negative manner (Hart, Leary, & Rejeski, 1989). It has been associated with eating disorders and other negative events (Johnson, Hiehl, Petrie, & Rogers, 1995). Feminist Identity Development (FID; Downing and Rousch, 1985) is a five stage process of development that women are believed to experience. The five stages are passive acceptance, revelation, embeddedness, synthesis, and active commitment. This study examines the relationship between SPA and FID. Eighty-seven women from a southern university completed the Social Physique Anxiety Scale (SPAS; Hart, Leary, Rejeski, 1989) and the Feminist Identity Development Scale (FIDS; Bargard and Hyde, 1991). Participants ranged in age from 18 to 55 years (M = 26.9, SD = 9.584). A multiple regression analysis showed that FID was negatively correlated to SPA (F(5,81) = 2.595, p = .031). The revelation stage ($ = .353, p = .011) and the commitment stage ($ = -.232, p = .099) contributed most to the equation. These results suggest that SPA is associated with FID. Faculty Advisors: Maureen A. McCarthy, Frederick G. Grieve and Charles B. Woods