Faculty and Student Research Poster Session and Research Fair

Permalink for this community. Use this when sharing or citing this source:https://hdl.handle.net/11310/275

Browse

Now showing 1 - 20 of 33

Additive Manufacturing of 316L Steel: Investigation of Thermal Stability and Crystalline Properties
(2022-03-03) Bognich, Gabrielle; McGaugh, Jay; Aria, Saman; Jackson, Matt; Jones, Steve; Howell, Nathan; Bhattacharia, Sanjoy
Additive Manufacturing (AM) technology is a growing industry in the world of engineering. Similar to 3D printing, AM technology allows designers to create metal parts without the limitation of geometric restrictions of traditional methods, like machining. AM can be applied in industries such as biomedical and aerospace. The AM research conducted at West Texas A&M University (WTAMU) uses laser technology for powder-bed infusion (PBLF) using an SLM 125 to print 316L stainless steel parts. Although AM offers a wide variety of application, AM technology cannot produce consistent parts due to unknown factors that create defects in the part and impact the resultant material properties. In this study, a thermal analysis was conducted on printed 316 L Stainless Steel samples using a Differential Scanning Calorimeter (DSC) and Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA) to record phase change, melting points, other transitions like oxidation and decomposition and mass loss/gain. Thermal analysis demonstrated a comparative thermal stability of the printed steel. Additionally, the samples were analyzed with an X-Ray Powder Diffraction (XRD) machine for crystallinity of printed steel and a baseline elemental analysis. Results of the XRD analysis indicate the printed material is not entirely crystalline in structure and further analysis is needed to develop a standard XRD profile for AM 316L Stainless Steel. The findings of this study indicate the PBLF process changes the thermal properties of power material and the need for future studies to understand the impacts of material properties.
Applying New Frameworks to Vocal Fatigue
(2022-03-03) Collom, Zeth Everick
Occupational voice users are particularly susceptible to voice problems and voice disorders associated with vocal hyperfunction. Vocal fatigue can be particularly troublesome to teachers and performers as an independent symptom or an element of more significant voice disorder. Vocal fatigue lacks a specific, empirical definition although numerous attempts have been made. One approach attempts to define vocal fatigue as a physiological consequence. Exercise principles and related topics have been applied to define vocal fatigue. In addition, numerous studies have been conducted to identify specific laryngeal function measures that correlate with reports of vocal fatigue with mixed results. Other reports have implied that vocal fatigue is primarily a patient-reported phenomenon, relying heavily on self-report and perception of various degrees and elements. Recently, Hunter and several experts collaborated to develop new descriptions of relevant terms and concepts pertaining to vocal fatigue. Based upon literature review, expert opinion, and linguistic modeling, terms were proposed and defined. In this new description of vocal fatigue, a clinical framework consisting of "vocal demand", "vocal demand response", "vocal effort", and "vocal fatigue" emerged. As vocal fatigue remains prevalent in multiple cases of voice disorders in several populations, this new description and framework can be applied to clinical cases to better assess and treat patients in clinical practice. This presentation discusses past definitions of vocal fatigue, introduces Hunter et al.'s (2020) new definitions and framework pertaining to vocal fatigue, and applies these concepts to two case studies from clinical voice practice at the WT Speech and Hearing Clinic.
Barriers to Rural Reproductive Health Clinic Utilization & Effective Interventions Used
(2022-03-03) Franklin, Felina
Background Community health clinics have surfaced to provide primary care to low-income individuals, but they are currently hurting due to overwhelmingly high no-show rates (Population Reference Bureau, 2016). The rural reproductive clinic in this study, serves a similar population as community health clinics and has found no shows and missed appointments to be significant in the clinic efficiency reports. Patients most likely to miss appointments at community health clinics were found to be younger, African American/Black patients, and lower income (Boshers, 2018; Miller et al., 2015). Interventions are defined as ways the clinic attempted to assist patients to keep appointments including reminder calls, transportation vouchers, etc. (Molfenter, 2013; Ullah et al., 2018). Studies indicate that implementing a program that provides transportation, increasing exposure of social services provided by the clinic, educating patients on the importance of preventative health care decreased barriers to care leading to missed appointments (Boshers, 2018). The purpose of this study was to identify the barriers to patients attending appointments at a rural reproductive clinic and report the most effective interventions used to address those barriers. Methods The data was originally collected for clinic efficiency compliance measures. Agency staffs collected data via phone survey including demographics, reason for missed appointment, distance from clinic, and whether the patient rescheduled the appointment during the call. Calls were made to 611 patients that missed at least one scheduled appointment by not informing clinic staff or called a "no-show". Two-hundred twenty-three (36%) patients were reached by phone. Interventions offered to patients at the time of the call to address the barrier reported included taxi vouchers, childcare and wage subsidies, gas cards, phone call and text/email reminders, and education/clarification on the importance of keeping the appointment or answering questions about offered services or cost. Results Patients most likely to miss appointments were younger (25 and under), Hispanic, female and of lower economic status. The biggest barrier to gathering data was the 61% of unreachable patients due to wrong phone number, no answer, disconnected phone number, etc. The most common reasons for missing an appointment were the patient forgot or unexpected work/school, family illness, transportation, childcare issues, or questions/concerns about the appointment. The most effective intervention used by the clinic was the follow up calls to those who missed an appointment. Almost half (46%) of the calls made to patients resulted in a rescheduled appointment at the time of the call followed by more than half (57%) of patients that were provided education. Conclusions Further investigation is needed to examine how to reach the 61% of patients that were unreachable at the time of this study. There should be comparison studies of other rural reproductive health clinics studied.
C.S. Lewis and Gender Expressions on How Women and Man of Faith Communicate in the work of Mere Christianity
(2022-03-03) Albarran, Paola
C.S. Lewis is best known as a Christian apologist, novelist, and poet whose most notable works in the field of theology includes themes about fiction and non-fiction Christian apologetics. Based on the groundwork of scholarship on C.S. Lewis life and writings, he demonstrated that his work is theologically rich and seems to have been informed by original insight into communication theories, including gender communication. One of his most notorious books of non-fiction Christian apologetics is Mere Christianity. In Mere Christianity, C.S. Lewis, looked at human life from his own philosophy of life based on the Christian Theology. By addressing the positive influence that C.S, Lewis may have on theology and communication, this research presents a comprehensive narrative analysis of the surprising elements of gender communication in Lewis' book Mere Christianity from his response to women's subordination to the challenges that Christian marriages face. The aim of this research is to analyze C.S Lewis' unique techniques of expression to reveal an intent focus on fostering gender discourses with the purpose of understanding how women and man of faith communicate in the work of Mere Christianity.
Escape the Typical Classroom Humdrum: An Innovative Approach to APRN Education
(2022-03-03) Phillips, Angela; Neely, Shaina; smoot, Teresa
Escape rooms originally developed for entertainment have been modified and used as a didactic tool in teaching and learning (Taraldsen, Haara, Lysne, Jensen, & Jenssen, 2020). Game-based learning offers opportunities related to active learning, creativity, problem solving and social interaction and is well suited for use within nursing education (Taraldsen et al., 2020). Learner centered design theory moves beyond didactic instruction and illustrates alternate modalities of scholarship (Soloway, Guzdian, & Hay, 1994). Escape room scenarios allow graduate nursing students to participate in active learning and creative thinking to transfer the use of acquired knowledge in the clinical setting. In the fall semester of 2021, the Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) program faculty began the use of escape rooms as an activity during class time. Due to the hybrid format delivery of the FNP program, class time is utilized for accelerated learning experiences. Active learning was evaluated through student surveys. One hundred percent of students achieved a moderate to great gain in knowledge within both types of escape room activities. All FNP students believed educational objectives were met. The goal of this poster is to increase awareness of escape room use within graduate nursing education and to report data collected during use in fall, 2021.
Evaluation of Rapid Wort Color Method for Dark Malts, Temperature and pH
(2022-03-03) Flynn, Nick; Nguimatsa, Arthur
The rapid wort color method is an American Society of Brewing Chemists (ASBC) method used to evaluate the color contribution of malts to beer color measured as the Standard Reference Method (SRM). SRM is important to brewers as it helps them predict the relative color of beer that they manufacture and evaluate how close the final product color is to the style of beer being produced. This method involves the heating of a solution of malt and deionized water followed by filtration and analysis of the resulting solution using a spectrophotometer. This study evaluated the effect of water pH and initial water temperature on color extraction in malts using this method. Use of an inclusion method based on the Hot Steep Sensory method is also evaluated. Results and recommendations for method modification will be presented.
Evolution of Fermi Surface Properties of the Topological Crystalline Insulators SnxPb1-xTe/Se With Sn Doping
(2022-03-03) Miertschin, Duncan; Nguyen, Thinh (John); Shrestha, Keshav
This work presents the Fermi surface studies of the topological crystalline insulators, SnxPb1-xTe/Se with Sn doping using torque magnetometry. The torque signal measured at higher magnetic fields up to 35 T show clear de Haas-van Alphen (dHvA) oscillations. The dHvA oscillations are well-defined and consists of three major frequencies (19 T, 51 T, and 225 T) for the x = 0.35 Se sample, one major frequency (53 T) in the x = 0.4 Te sample, and one major frequency (240 T) for the x = 0.2 Te sample. To better understand the Fermi surface properties, we rotated the samples with respect to the applied field direction and measured dHvA oscillations at different tilt angles. We will present analyses of temperature dependent dHvA data using the Lifshitz-Kosevich (LK) formula and Berry phase calculations.
Find, Pin, Discuss: Incorporating Pinterest to Foster Community and Collaboration in Online Advertising Classes
(2022-03-03) Huntington, Heidi E.
Visual bookmarking app Pinterest, known for its aspirational and consumptive qualities of user's "pinning" work, has recently made concerted forays into the online advertising and marketing space. At the same time, its visual and collaborative qualities offer unique potential for application in pedagogy. This paper describes a pedagogical assessment study examining a Pinterest-based discussion board series. Results suggest Pinterest enhances students' sense of learning through contributing to enjoyment, sense of community, and perceived collaborative learning. These results support the utility of Pinterest-oriented discussions to foster collaboration and learning in online digital advertising and media courses. Suggestions for implementation and modification to in-person learning are offered.
For the Player or the Team? Exploring Media Framing of High-Profile NBA Players' Injury Decisions
(2022-03-03) Osei-Hwere, Enyonam; Osei-Hwere, Patrick
The study explores journalistic coverage of potential season-ending and actual season-ending injuries of high-profile NBA players including Kevin Durant, Lebron James and Klay Thompson. This study assesses how media coverage of high profile athletes injuries influence sports culture and health by examining the nature and implications of media messages about high profile sports injuries and comebacks.
Integrated Science Teaching in Atmospheric Ice Nucleation Research
(2022-03-03) Hiranuma, Naruki; Wilbourn, Elise K.; Williams, Holly; Alrimaly, Sarah; Hurst, Jacob; McGovern, Gregory P.; Anderson, Todd A.
To integrate research and education in atmospheric ice nucleation, which is an important phenomenon potentially influencing global climate change, we developed a lab experiment-based module and problems. Our primary goal was to promote meaningful laboratory exercises to enhance the competence of students in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) by applying an appropriate methodology to laboratory ice nucleation measurements. To achieve our goal, we tested our modules with >15 STEM interns in 2017-2021 and trained them on how to experimentally simulate atmospheric ice nucleation and cloud droplet freezing. For practical training, we used a simple freezing assay device called the West Texas Cryogenic Refrigerator Applied to Freezing Test (WT-CRAFT) system. We provided hands-on lessons with students to let them calibrate WT-CRAFT with deionized ultrapure water and apply analytical techniques to understand the physicochemical properties of bulk water and droplet freezing. All procedures to implement our modules were typewritten during this process, and shareable read-ahead exploration materials were developed and compiled as a curricular product. We also examined potential artifacts in water freezing. As for the data analysis, students learned how to analyze droplet freezing spectra as a function of temperature, screen/interpret the data, perform uncertainty analyses, and estimate ice nucleation efficiency using some computer programs. Overall, we comprehensively achieved our goal by training students to 1) improve their problem-solving skills by combining information, 2) apply numerical approximations to exact mathematical solutions, and 3) disseminate data and results with variability and uncertainty. Our modules can be applied at any primary undergraduate (or any larger) institutes to advance a college curriculum in environmental science.
Investigation of Fermi Surface Properties of Type-II Dirac Semimetal NiTe2 Using High Field Torque Magnetometry
(2022-03-03) Nguyen, Thinh (John); Miertschin, Duncan; Shrestha, Keshav
Topological phases of materials have attracted enormous attention recently due to their potential applications in quantum computing and fast electronic devices. In this project, we have studied NiTe2, which is one of the topological compounds, using torque magnetometry. The torque signal measured under an applied field of 35 T shows clear de Haas-van Alphen (dHvA) oscillations. The oscillations are well-defined and consist of two major frequencies at F1 = 100 T and F2 = 400 T. Both frequencies vary as the angle between the sample surface and the magnetic field increase. Additionally, the amplitude of the oscillations decreases at higher temperatures. The Berry phase calculations and analyses of temperature-dependent dHvA data using the Lifshitz-Kosevich theory will also be presented.
Literatures of the Panama Canal: The Archival Beginnings of a Book
(2022-03-03) Reynolds, Andrew
Literatures of the Panama Canal questions the transnational role of literature in our understanding of the history and events that transformed social relations between Central and South America and the U.S. The construction of the Panama Canal, completed in 1914, was an experiment in U.S. economic supremacy, engineering might, and imperial expansion. The fact that France begun work on the canal in the 1880â€™s, and the U.S. subsequently finished the canal, shifted global authority from Europe to the U.S. In order for the canal to be completed, the U.S. had to create the nation of Panama and exert domineering political and economic force on Colombia as well as the new Panamanian nation. The 1903 Hay-Bunau Varilla treaty gave the U.S. rights to control and defend canal territory, effectively creating a Central American U.S. colony. Since the turn of the 20th century, Latin American and U.S. literature has represented the Panama Canal and its complex historical, political, and social dynamics. This project sets out to explore the tensions of canal literature in a comparative study of both American and Latin American writers alike. This project will bring together authors like Nicaraguan RubÃ©n DarÃo, Chilean Pablo Neruda and Panamanian JoaquÃn BeleÃ±o and American writers Eric Walrond and Louise Bogan, among others.
The Lived Experience of New Graduate Nurses Successfully Completing NCLEX-RN
(2022-03-03) Loftin, Collette; Devkota, Shravan; Jeffreys, Holly
Abstract Background and objective: The NCLEX pass rate is considered the primary indicator of program quality. Much literature exists regarding pre-graduation efforts aimed at aiding students to prepare for the NCLEX-RN exam, while there is little available on post-graduation efforts. This project was conducted to identify the post-graduation experiences of successful NCLEX-RN test takers as they prepared to complete the exam. Methods: This was a qualitative descriptive study utilizing a phenomenological framework to determine the lived experience of new graduates preparing to complete the NCLEX-RN exam. Results: Four main themes were identified as relevant to post graduation experiences including: (a) Finding Motivation, (b) Study Tactics, (c) Taking a Break, and (d) The Testing Experience. Additionally, few of the participants took it for granted that they were going to pass the exam, they reported wishing they had spent more time preparing, and with regard to studying, several described wishing they had started earlier. Conclusions: It will be beneficial for faculty to discuss potential strategies for success to utilize after graduation, including expectations of testing day, setting a realistic timetable to test, overcoming lack of motivation to preparation for the exam, and careful scheduling of coaching and study sessions.
Mama Drama: A Textual Analysis of Single Mothers as Female Protagonists in Dramedies
(2022-03-03) Brooks, Mary Liz; Garcia, Nancy
Representations of women in media is rife in academic literature ranging from how women are portrayed in sports (i.e., Bowes & Kitching, 2018) as criminals (i.e., Coleman, 2016) and as scientists (i.e.,Chimba & Kitzinger) among other studies that place their emphasis on how women are featured in mostly male-dominated fields. Yet, regarding entertainment media and how women are represented as part of any given storyline in the role of female protagonist is lacking in the academic research literature. A quick Google search of the phrase "female protagonists in media" generates list upon list of the top female characters from decades worth of television shows and movies. Some lists are based on scientific evidence, while other lists are based on anecdotal evidence. Through a textual analysis, this study aims to examine two popular television shows, Gilmore Girls and Jane The Virgin, that prominently feature at least one central female character that is portrayed as the protagonist. Additionally, because some television shows are often considered "edutainment" this study aims to understand how popular dramedies teach viewers about motherhood, culture, female relationships, sex, socioeconomic status, and religion which all intertwine to form the female protagonist role. Both television series feature storylines about how two central female characters are navigating life as a single mother. Both shows tackle issues related to work, friendships, dating/sex, and mother-daughter relationships, among other relatable topics. Two obvious differences between the shows relate to culture and class. Whereas the primary female protagonist in Gilmore Girls is white and has access to great financial resources, Jane The Virgin's primary female protagonist is Latina and from a lower socioeconomic status. Gilmore Girls aired 154 episodes over seven seasons from 2000-2007 and returned nine years later in 2016 for a four episode update on the lives of the characters. Jane The Virgin aired 100 episodes over five seasons from 2014-2019. Both shows were part of The CW network (although Gilmore Girls began on The WB). Previous research has been conducted concerning both shows. For example, Petersen (2018) interviewed more than 25 fans of Gilmore Girls to understand how their lives and the show intertwine to form new perceptions of relationships and life changes. Estlick (2021) examined Gilmore Girls from a feminist approach to uncover the manifestation of intersectionality. Regarding research about Jane The Virgin, Rose (2019) argues that the show was "heavily influenced" (p. 1096) by 19th century novels in that "both genres share similar style elements, such as melodrama, but more importantly, they both educate women who were previously ignored or undervalued during their respective eras" (p. 1097). Using framing theory to explore how the primary female protagonists are portrayed in these two dramedies, the following research questions are posed: RQ1: What frames emerge in the overall representation of female protagonists in dramedies? RQ2: What similarities and differences are apparent in the representation of female protagonists in dramedies related to mother/daughter relationships, female friendships, sex, religion, socioeconomic status, and culture?
Material Characterization of Cotton Gin Waste Biochar for Use in Panhandle Soils
(2022-03-03) Howell, Nathan; Bhattacharia, Sanjoy; Bednarz, Craig; Aria, Saman; Garcia, Omar
Cotton gin waste (CGW) is a large quantity byproduct from cotton fiber and cotton seed oil production in the Texas Panhandle (700 lbmass/bale, 1.7 million tonnes/year of CGW) and many large cotton growing regions globally. As there is little economic value for CGW, it is can be churned into soils to increase organic carbon, composted, fed as a low nutrition supplement for animals, burned or gasified for energy/heat, or simply landfilled as a waste. In general, most â€œbeneficialâ€ uses are more properly described a more elaborate form of disposal. We sought to examine CGW for biochar production (CGW-BC) on a small scale with an eventual application for soil amendment. As a soil amendment, many plant-based biochars have the potential advantage of acting as slow release fertilizers, aiding soil health, increasing soil water holding capacity (WHC), increasing long-term soil organic matter, and sequestering carbon which would other be mineralized to CO2 in a short timeframe. Biochar is highly variable in its production yield and quality according to production and post-production decisions. Using previous experience with cotton seed waste biochar, we determined to produce sixteen (16) CGW-BC variants according to the two temperatures (450Â°C, 600Â°C), four pyrolysis times (10, 20, 40, 60 min), and two types of post-treatment (crush-sieve with mild acid wash, crush-sieve with DI wash only, 2 x 4 x 2 = 16). We made all CGW-BC in small batches of approximately 15 g dry initial dry mass which results in nominal final mass of 5 g dry mass biochar. We then examined these biochar variants using the material characterization techniques that will have import for CGW-BC use in soilâ€”XRD, SEM-EDS, TGA and surface characterization by a Micromeritics 3Flex physisorption analyzer. The use of XRD reveals the amorphous nature of biochar, and the SEM-EDS reveals surface morphology and the predominant presence of carbon (>75%) and TGA data demonstrates the thermal stability of biochar. The use of the 3Flex allows us to use multiple adsorptive gases. We used CO2 at a range of low relative pressure (P/Po = 0.00-0.30) and cold temperature (T = 0Â°C) to determine total and pore-size dependent surface area (m2/g biochar) and volumes (cm3/g biochar) in biochar at the micropore scale of 3.30-7.70 Ã…. We also used water vapor isotherms (adsorption-desorption) to examine the potential for attraction and retention of water when CGW-BC is deployed in soil environments. The results of this work are on-going. The current range of total micropore surface areas found are on the order of 200-400 m2/g, a relatively high surface area considering the modest amount of energy and materially used to create the biochar. On-going work will suggest the general performance of biochar when added to soils and will provide more optimal conditions for producing biochar according to that which has the lowest bulk density, greater surface area, increased microporosity, or enhanced mineral/nutrient solid phase concentrations. This early work in CGW-BC material characterization will provide promising candidates for inclusion in soil+biochar mix and incubation experiments in root and non-root systems.
On Dynamic Adjustment and Comparative Statics Via the Implicit Function Theorem
(2022-03-03) Barthel, Anne; Hoffmann, Eric
The implicit function theorem (IFT) offers a way of deriving a correspondence between the parameter space and the Nash equilibria of a game. However, which equilibrium will actually emerge after a parameter change involves a dynamic adjustment process, which may significantly differ from IFT predictions. Utilizing the notion of local uniform contraction mappings, we show that IFT predictions are consistent with economic behavior at locally contraction stable equilibria, which is both a necessary and sufficient condition in games of strategic complements. When best response functions are monotone, we can address the convergence of play under more general adaptive dynamics.
Operation First Five (OF5): Potter County Parent Survey
(2022-03-03) Coneway, Betty; Fredman, Traci
"This conference presentation will highlight how community partners from Operation First Five (OF5) coalition, a nonprofit organization focusing on the needs of young children, have come together to identify strategies to help infants, toddlers, and preschoolers develop the foundational skills that will help them be successful when they enter school. The OF5 organization is a diverse grassroots group of individuals and organizations with similar interests in early childhood initiatives that have united to support parents of young children by connecting them to services and/or resources that may help young children in our community have a more successful start in life. The mission of this community-wide organization is to help children succeed through a comprehensive and collaborative early childhood system that supports families and unites like-minded service providers (Zero to Five website, 2021). The coalition partners have a common vision that all children in the area grow up healthy, experience nurturing relationships, live and grow in stimulating early learning environments, and enter school ready to succeed (OF5- Amarillo Facebook page, 2021). In this presentation, the presenters will share their research study that is currently collecting survey data from the local area regarding parents' general knowledge of child development and parenting perspectives related to raising young children ages birth to 5 years old. Data collected will be used to determine a baseline of parents' knowledge before wide-spread intervention initiatives are implemented throughout the targeted community. These interventions will include research-based strategies for helping parents understand the vital role they play in their child's development from birth to age five. Although many unique strategies are planned, a prominent intervention component will focus on "The Basics", a community-wide effort to raise awareness of five basic parenting or caregiver principles (the basics.org, 2021). These principles help parents and other caregivers support young children's social, emotional, and cognitive development (the basics.org, 2021). A key objective of this conference presentation will be to share with the audience more about The Basic principles which include: 1) Maximize love, manage stress, 2) Count, group, and compare, 3) Talk, sing, and point, 4) Explore through movement and play, and 5) Read and discuss stories. This presentation will spark participant discussion surrounding the importance of developing parents' and child caregivers' understanding of ways they can easily help develop the foundational skills that children need before entering school. Through discussions with the researchers, participants will increase their own knowledge and gain insight into how intentional early childhood interventions may be an answer to the common question of "Is my child ready to be successful when they start school"?
PM 2.5 and Increased Aeroallergen: Use of Nanotechnology and AFL-Mask to Combat COVID-19
(2022-03-03) Ghosh, Nabarun; Howard, Aubrey; De Leon, Lyanna; Nguyen, Marytrinh
We have used domesticated canines like dogs as the animal model to study the efficiency of the AFL Mini Sanifier IIÂ®. The objective of our study was to determine if the pollen concentration in the air has any relationship with the incidence of inhalant allergies in dogs. Dogs suffer from the same type of inhalant allergies as people such as pollen, mold, and other allergens. The data on dogs admitted to an animal hospital in Amarillo for allergy treatment were collected and compared to the aeroallergen indices of respective years. We analyzed the data to determine if there is any correlation between the increase of aeroallergen concentration and patients receiving treatment at the animal hospital. We also analyzed the effect of the AFL Mini Sanifier IIÂ® on aeroallergen in the indoor air of the clinic by setting slides with double sticky tapes and observing with a BX-40 Olympus microscope with a digital camera. Analyzed data indicate that there exists a significant correlation between the aeroallergen indices with the incidence of allergy in dogs.
Pounding the Pavement: A Media Sales Experiential Learning Project
(2022-03-03) Brooks, Mary Liz; Garcia, Nancy
The sales industry in the United States is an economic powerhouse and is often where recent college graduates obtain their first real-world jobs. However, there is a need to understand students' perceptions and knowledge of sales and their experience selling advertising space. This study applied experiential learning theory to a mass media sales course in spring 2021. The purpose was to explore barriers, successes, and helpful sales tools that students could incorporate should they obtain a career in advertising sales. Results indicate students' openness to joining the sales industry upon college graduation and an overall positive perception of a sales career.
Preparation of Bio-based Resins from Soybean oil and Orange Peel
(2022-03-03) Gresham, Taylor; Spidel, Tavia; Shrestha, Maha L.
The main objective of the research is to replace petroleum-based raw materials with agricultural, bio-based materials for preparation of epoxy cast resins. Epoxy cast resins are polymers containing epoxy or oxirane group that are generally prepared by reacting petroleum-based raw materials with toxic chemicals such as isocyanate. Utilization of alternate resources; i.e., bio-based, agricultural products significantly alleviates health, safety and environmental hazards. Hence, we utilized plant based starting material obtained from soybean oil and orange peel in presence of a Lewis acidic catalyst, tris(pentaflorophenyl)borane or BCF for preparation of epoxy cast resins. Study of various thermal and mechanical properties of the bio-based epoxy cast resins prepared in our lab showed promising results. Major application of these epoxy cast resins includes coatings, adhesives, electrical insulation, 3 D printing, wind turbines, automobile parts, etc.

Browse

Browsing Faculty and Student Research Poster Session and Research Fair by Subject "2022 Faculty Research Poster Session and Research Fair"