Browse Exhibits (81 total)
Hunter Wallace, Luke Holliday, Chase Watkins, Nathaniel Barber | 24x7 System Monitoring
The 24x7 System Monitoring project revolves around the concept of monitoring API status calls and being able to alert a user via text/email if a certain conditional is triggered. This eliminates the responsibility of someone being up overnight to watch certain business processes happen and can instead just be alerted when an alert is received. The software is completely customizable and can accept any API call and be displayed in a simple and easy-to-read dashboard.
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Huseyin Ergin
Computer Science
Undergraduate
Ian Roesler | The Texas Chain Massacre, Cannibalism, and Hillbilly Horror
This is a presentation about the Texas Chain Saw Massacre.
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Emily Rutter
Department of English
Undergraduate
Isabelle Wright | Olfactory Recognition in Brain Glycogen Knockout Mice
Glucose stored in the brain as the branched polysaccharide glycogen has been reported to play a role in associative learning. The effect of brain glycogen levels on sensory learning in mus musculus is rarely studied and, as a model species for human studies, has implications for learning in people, especially those experiencing low glucose availability to the brain. Wild-type mice and mice without brain glycogen were allowed to investigate the scent of a fruit juice for 5 minutes after a habituation period. Twenty-four hours later, the mice were allowed to investigate the scent of the same juice or a novel juice. The amount of time the mouse spent “exploring” the scent was measured on both days, and the times were compared between genotypes with the hypothesis that wild type mice would spend less time than knockout mice on a familiar scent 24 hours later. However, analysis of this data shows similar results between the two genotypes, implying that brain glycogen may not have a significant impact on sensory learning. When compiled with other behavioral studies with brain glycogen variables, this study improves understanding of the importance of mammalian brain glycogen levels for behavioral learning.
Faculty Mentor: Bartholomew A. Pederson
Biology
Undergraduate
Honors College
Jacob Wade | Overcoming Synthetic Challenges with Single-Atom Linked Dithiolate Bridged [Fe-Fe]-hydrogenase Mimic Compounds
Due to their high catalytic turnover frequency, [Fe-Fe]-hydrogenase mimic compounds have been suggested as potential replacements for platinum in the catalytic reduction of water into hydrogen for fuel cells which has fueled significant research into these compounds. The natural enzyme is believed to be a three-atom azadithiolate (adt) linked complex. There is an abundance of literature for the two-atom or larger linked mimic compounds, however only a relatively small amount exists which covers the single-atom linked compounds. Through thorough study of the literature, we have been able to successfully synthesize two single atom linked compounds: methanedithiolate (mdt) diironhexacarbonyl and diphenylmethanedithiolate (dpmdt) diironhexacarbonyl, with hopes to apply these routes to synthesize novel compounds. Though we have successfully synthesized these compounds, we have had difficulty with purifying them, always obtaining impure material from the silica gel column. We have successfully replicated the synthesis of these compounds in adequate yields with multiple side-products but have received inconsistent results during purification. One major challenge with these compounds is that these compounds are extremely non-polar, quickly eluting with 100% pentane/hexanes. These compounds are highly soluble in these solvents which complicates attempts at recrystallization. The presentation herein highlights the challenges which we have faced, and the steps taken to successfully synthesize and purify these compounds and plans to apply the learned techniques to synthesizing novel compounds including: di-2-pyridylmethanedithiolate (dpymdt) diironhexacarbonyl and the nitrogen based aminodithiolate (ndt) diironhexacarbonyl.
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Jesse Tye
Chemistry
Graduate
Jaden Drury, Jacob Goelz, Samuel Guernsey, Hunter Line | Zooom Uploader, and Offline Video Editor
The goal of this project was to construct and design a cross-platform application to integrate with the existing https://zooomapp.com/ This new app would allow users to organize videos into comprehensive playlists with metadata and upload those playlists to the website. Additionally, the app would allow users to edit the video into smaller segments prior to uploading, avoiding lengthy upload times for unwanted content.
Faculty Mentor: Huseyin Ergin
Computer Science
Undergraduate
Jas Humble | The Expansion and Further Development of a New Episodic Memory Task
Traditional episodic memory tasks utilize static images of objects, scenes, or words that do not mimic real-world memory experiences (i.e., they lack context). The contextual piece of information that is most frequently overlooked in current episodic memory research is the significance of the memory itself (i.e., why) (Leal et al., 2019). A recent study by Leal and colleagues (2019) developed a modified mnemonic discrimination task (MDT) using a set of naturalistic stimuli that included video clips of everyday experiences (e.g., positive, negative, and neutral stimuli). The current study aims to expand the development of Leal and colleagues’ (2019) modified MDT to establish its future use in an event-related potential (ERP) framework. Thus, we will expand the current data set used in the modified MDT to verify whether the additional videos and photos can elicit similar patterns as what were established in the previous study (Leal et. al, 2019).
Faculty Mentors: Dr. Thomas Holtgraves & Dr. Stephanie Simon-Dack
Psychological Sciences
Graduate
Jaymi Godfrey | Removal of Microplastics from a Wastewater Treatment Plant System
“Microplastic” includes tiny plastic fragments that are either resulted from plastic degradation or were manufactured that way. Microplastic waste is an contaminant of emerging concern for river systems, which is among the main sources of human drinking water supply. Previous studies have focused on the prevalence of microplastics within fluvial systems, and how microplastics impact wildlife and human health, mitigation techniques, and the existence in wastewater treatment systems. However, rates and mechanisms of microplastic removal during the wastewater treatment system process are still unclear. The focus of this study will be determining how much microplastics are removed per each stage of the wastewater treatment process, and reveal the temporal variations of the abundance of microplastic entering the Muncie Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP). This study will collect biweekly grab samples with duplicates which will be filtered using an assembled stack of sieves with mesh sizes between 400 and 74 µm, as well as using wet peroxide oxidation and density separation techniques to isolate microplastics. This study will also use visual identification to categorize microplastics based on morphology. Findings from this research will help the WWTP evaluate future renovations related to the removal of microplastics as well as contribute to cutting-edge knowledge in the field.
Faculty Mentor: Bangshuai Han
Environment, Geology, and Natural Resources
Graduate
Jenna McKune | Elevated Plasma Creatinine Levels in Old Female Retinal Dystrophic Pigmented Royal College of Surgeon (RCS) Rats
The Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) pigmented rat is known as being an animal model for studying inherited retinal degeneration seen in humans, and kidney problems are seen with eye problems. There is no information on kidney function in this model, so the purpose of this study was to investigate whether there are also kidney problems in this model. A decrease in glomerular filtration rate (GFR) is seen when there is kidney dysfunction and is usually accompanied by an increase in the plasma creatinine concentration; there was a significant increase in the plasma creatinine concentration in the old female RCS rats compared to their control counterparts, indicating they have kidney issues in combination with their eyes.
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Marianna Zamlauski-Tucker
Department of Biology
Undergraduate
Jessica (Shelby) Harrison, Julie Steele, Andrea Mohler, Ben Jett, June Cooper | Designing and Publicizing The Digital Literature Review
Explaining the process of designing, formatting and publicising the academic journal, The Digital Literature Review. Also known as the DLR, we as a student run journal edited and produced the journal with the theme of “Food Matters in Literature and Culture”. Through a process of teamwork and dedication the journal was advertised to the public through Instagram and Twitter. However, we will be discussing the whys and whats of the choices we made while creating the online journal. While also discussing the real-world experience that an immersive learning course, such as this one can impact the future of the students. What experiences we developed and how we can bring them into our future careers and how other students can benefit in joining these immersive learning courses available through Ball State University.
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Emily Ruth Rutter
English Department
Undergraduate
Jessica Kiefor | Pandemics and Athletics: How COVID-19 Affected Sport Injury Rehabilitation
This study sought to better understand the lived experiences of NCAA collegiate athletes who suffered an injury during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study utilized a descriptive phenomenological approach with focus groups. Eleven student-athletes that fit the inclusion criteria were interviewed, and the transcriptions were analyzed for themes. Themes included: (1) emotional stress, (2) impact on interpersonal relationships, and (3) delay in recovery. Subthemes were also identified to further expand the concepts illustrated within the main themes. This research provided insight to the common reactions of a student-athlete post-injury, interpersonal impacts on a student-athlete from both their injury and COVID-19, rehabilitation changes due to COVID-19, and a perspective from injured student-athletes on the current availability and effectiveness of mental-health resources. This information is valuable for athletic trainers, sport psychologists, social workers, and other physical and behavioral health providers working to promote the rehabilitation and well-being of an injured athlete during COVID-19.
Faculty Mentor: Matt Moore, PhD, MSW
Psychological Science
Undergraduate
Honors College