Muskingum University students present research

NEW CONCORD, OHIO – Muskingum University Science Division students presented their research and internship findings at the university’s annual Fall Research and Internship Forum, held Oct. 28 on the campus in New Concord, Ohio.
The following students made presentations:
Tanner Barnes, a junior computer science major from Lawrence, PA, presented “Development of a cavern formation simulator in the Python programming language.”
This research centered on the creation of cavern simulator using the known equations for modeling the dissolution of limestone-based rock, in order to allow geologists to better understand how caves form by speeding up the change from a hairline fracture to a full-size cave.
Seth Barrett, a junior chemistry major from Vincent, Ohio, presented “The making of and electroforming copper metal onto ceramic ovenware.”
To test ovenware coatings and colors, clay body and glaze formulas were developed and molds were designed to create multiple forms for the ovenware.
Mary K. Richardson, a sophomore biology major from Marion, Ohio, presented “Utrophin and beyond,” with Assistant Professor of Biology Amy Santas.
This project utilized the reference software Endnote to extract pertinent information from scientific articles efficiently.
John C. Bourne, a sophomore biology major from Orrville, Ohio; Rachel E. Hentz, a sophomore environmental science major from Reynoldsburg, Ohio; and Douglas R. McClain, a junior biology major from New Philadelphia, Ohio, presented “Reproductive success of grassland birds on a reclaimed surface mine in southeastern Ohio.”
This study centered on the effects of microhabitat on the reproductive success of grassland birds, as well as the biodiversity of bird species.
Kelley Crater, a junior biology major from Butler, PA, presented “The Wilds summer internship.”
This internship involved assisting with veterinary procedures; monitoring anesthesia, running blood work, administering vaccinations, preparing medicine and collecting samples among various animal species.
Erin Lycans, a junior biology major from St. Paris, Ohio, presented “Audubon Nature Institute’s Center for Research of Endangered Species (ACRES): Animal department intern.”
The ACRES facility houses scientists whose research programs include studies in reproductive physiology, endocrinology, genetics, embryo transfer and the expansion of a “frozen zoo” to ensure the future of endangered species through the banking of genetic materials.
Ben Skelley, a junior conservation science major from Canton, Ohio, presented “White-tailed deer (Odocoileus Virginianus) population size estimation at different habitats at The Wilds.”
In this research, White-tailed deer population size estimation and habitat selection were studied in two different seasons at The Wilds.
Kristen Fuller, a senior biology major from Beavercreek, Ohio, presented “S. pastorianus Old Yellow Enzyme (OYE) site W116 mutagenesis and subsequent protein expression.”
This study considered the ability to produce pure enantiomers in industries such as pharmaceuticals, when pure substances are often necessary for proper chemical function.
Richard Blackmore, an Earth science major from Atherton, CA, presented “Sabercat Creek interpretive trail plan.”
The long-term project consisted of turning a 14.02 acre area of undeveloped land into an historic park.
Jessica Lade, a senior conservation science major from Cincinnati, Ohio, presented “Vegetation analysis of the impacts of wildlife grazing on pastures at The Wilds.”
To provide a greater understanding of grazing impacts, plots were established in four of the five pastures and the data was analyzed after collection.
Amy Miller, a senior mathematics major from Salesville, Ohio, presented “Memory identification in bipartite Pauli channels.”
The classical communication capacities of quantum Pauli channels with memory are known to exhibit a transition effect, and this study revisited this phenomenon from the standpoint of the functionally analogous task of channel memory identification.
Erik Nesbit, a senior biology major from Lorain, presented “Summer internship 2009: Physical therapy observation.”
This internship was an observation of physical therapy as a crucial component in today’s health care world as an effective technique to help patients progressively recover to normal physical functions.
Jenna Parrish, a junior neuroscience and psychology major from New Concord, Ohio and five collaborators presented, “Cognitive processing differences between cocaine exposed and control adolescents.”
This study investigated the effects of prenatal cocaine exposure on preliminary cognitive processing during an executive functioning task.
Andrea Richard, a junior mathematics major from Zanesville, Ohio, presented “Stellar surface imaging of LO Pegasi Via light-curve inversion.” LO Pegasi, or star HIP 106231, was observed for the purpose of mapping its starspots.
Joseph Castle, a sophomore chemistry major from Springfield, Ohio, presented “Development of peptide capture elements against the cognitive protein S6K1,” with Dr. Wanda J. Lyon.
Detection of cognitive-related proteins could prove vital in detection of memory formation and enhancement of short and long term memory.
Traci Watts, a sophomore biology major from Zanesville, Ohio, presented “An ethogram of D-holes (cuon alpinus) in large enclosures at The Wilds.”
The D-hole is a rare, social dog native to southern Asia that has been studied very little and not much is known about this species social behavior.
This study has looked into the behavior of two D-holes being housed at The Wilds in Cumberland, Ohio.
Melissa Mull, a senior chemistry major from Clinton, Ohio, presented “Temperature dependence of the diffusion coefficients of M(bpy)x in Nafion.”