View All Currently Funded Student Research Projects (total=258)

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1. Residential and commercial scale adsorption air conditioner designed to use waste heat from solar thermal or cogenerated heat and power systems
Student	Major	Faculty Advisor	College	Department	Award Date
Andrew Windham	Industrial Technology	Brian Raichle	Fine and Applied Arts	Technology	May 16, 2008
Project Description: Air conditioning is a key factor in the price of electricity. Peak summer time air conditioning loads force utility companies to beef up power distribution capabilities, and in turn, costs are translated to the customer. Using heat as apposed to electricity to drive air conditioning would allow utilities to lower their rates, and thus, technologies such as adsorption chillers must be evaluated. This project seeks to construct a novel adsorption chiller which is specifically designed for use in residential and small commercial buildings. There is currently a distinct void in such technologies but demand may be plentiful. The items requested will be used to construct a prototype chiller that will be used to test the efficiency under varying conditions of driving temperature, surface area for heat transfer, fluid flow rates, and pressure variance. The information gained may aid in the utilization of adsorption chillers as air conditioning technologies.

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2. Floristic education in North Carolina 1930-2007: where do we go from here?
Student	Major	Faculty Advisor	College	Department	Award Date
Chad Mitchell	Biology	Murrell Zack	Arts and Sciences	Biology	May 01, 2008
Project Description: Starting as an independent study with Dr. Murrell titled: "Bioinformatics Floristics", I compiled a database of all floristic studies done by honors, masters, and doctorate students in the UNC system. We saw a trend of decline which corresponds with those observed by Prather et al.(2004). In his paper and its corresponding commentary the importance of continued floristic research and education in these methods are emphasized. Our data shows a strong declining trend in floristic research since its original inception into common practice. From this research, I am making a poster to present at the Annual Association of Southeastern Biologists meeting held in Spartanburg, South Carolina April 16th ? 19th. A few of us, including my Faculty and Graduate student research advisor, Zack Murrell and Michael Denslow will also be attending the meeting. Michael will be presenting his research - a similar but further encompassing project for the entire United States of which my data is a subset. To attend I must register to be a member as register for the meeting itself. The pre-registration is a discounted fee, due before March 15th. I included one-quarter portion of the hotel room which are reserved and the major events taking place, but no other activities were included in the budget. Link to presentation titles and dates: http://www.asb.appstate.edu/documents/ ASB_2008_Attendee_Information_Forms.pdf

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3. Influence of trichomes on the spectral characteristics of leaves on the purple velvet plant (Gynura aurantiaca) in the visible and near-IR wavelengths
Student	Major	Faculty Advisor	College	Department	Award Date
David DeViney	Biology	Howie Neufeld	Arts and Sciences	Biology	May 01, 2008
Project Description: Trichomes can reflect and scatter light, and reduce the amount of radiation absorbed by a leaf. Lower absorptances can allow a leaf to maintain a lower leaf temperature, and to better avoid photoinhibition. Trichomes can also reduce transpirational water loss by their ability to increase the thickness of the boundary layer. Most studies of the spectral qualities of trichomes have focused on plants with silver to white trichomes, which do effectively reduce leaf radiation loads. We studied the purple velvetleaf plant (Gynura aurantiaca), which has deeply purple trichomes, and asked the question, do these purple trichomes function similarly to silver/white trichomes? We addressed this problem by comparing spectral curves obtained with a spectroradiometer on intact leaves, and on leaves where we shaved off the trichomes. Contrary to our expectations, trichome removal increased leaf reflectance and transmittance in the visible and nearâ??IR wavelengths, resulting in decreased absorptance. This suggests that the pigmented trichomes in this species do not function to reduce light stress, but more likely contribute to high water use efficiency by increasing boundary layer resistances and lowering water loss from the leaf or function as a deterent to insect herbivores. Further research is needed to fully understand the ecological significance of these cloroed trichomes.

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4. Characterization of Genetic Variation and Reproduction within Populations of Spiraea virginiana (Rosaceae)
Student	Major	Faculty Advisor	College	Department	Award Date
Sarah Pate	Biology	Zack Murrell	Arts and Sciences	Biology	May 01, 2008
Project Description: Spiraea virginiana is a perennial riparian shrub confined to secondary and tertiary streams in the Ohio, Tennessee, and Cumberland drainages and has been listed as Threatened by the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) since 1990. At last count, as few as 21 communities may exist, so tools for management are critically important. While sexual reproduction has not been observed in the wild, when populations from different locales were placed together in a common garden at Virginia Highlands Community College (VHCC), plants produced seed. Reproduction in wild populations depends on scouring by floodwaters transporting broken rhizomes downstream. Even though the plant is restricted to riverine systems, gene flow across drainages may be possible in several areas, such as the Northern Peaks area of northeast North Carolina, Lookout Mountain near Chattanooga, TN, and the Cumberland-Tennessee divide in Tennessee. My hypothesis is that S. virginiana is self-incompatible and largely clonal within locales. I propose to test this with two methods. First, I will screen 10 individuals of Spiraea virginiana and two individuals from related species, S. corymbosa and S. tomentosa, for two low copy genes. These low copy genes (waxy and leafy) have been implicated as possible high-variation genes that could elucidate intraspecific variation. Both waxy and leafy genes need four to five clones per individual to ensure that there are only one or two copies per genome. I will analyze multiple clones from 3-5 individuals. If these show no variation, I will sequence from a single clone for the remaining individuals. Twelve individuals will be amplified and cloned using the waxy gene. Four of these will be sequenced from five clones each and the remainder will be sequenced from one clone, resulting in twenty-eight total sequenced (one direction only). Those twelve individuals will also be amplified and cloned using the leafy gene, with the same methods. Analysis using parsimony methods will then be used to provide preliminary data to elucidate genetic structure. The results from this proposed analysis can be used to determine the most effective means to conduct a full analysis of variation within this imperiled species. The second approach will begin in May 2008 in three New River populations of S. virginiana and the specimens within the common garden at Virginia Highlands Community College (VHCC). Ten specimens within the VHCC population will receive five treatments: A) a bagged inflorescence: B) a hand-selfed treatment; C) cross-pollinated by another plant in the population; D) cross-pollinated by a plant in a different population; and E) open pollinated control. After seed set (if fertilization is successful), I will collect the seeds and place them in cold stratification (2°C for three months). Cold-stratified seeds will then be germinated uncovered at the Appalachian State University Greenhouse in Boone, NC. Successful reproduction will be recorded and statistically analyzed. Funding from the Office of Student Research would be very valuable in providing reimbursement for travel expenses between these sites and the Appalachian State campus. Because the plants at VHCC have been recruited from many drainage basins and several genotypes are present, conducting the study there may prove more rewarding. By creating a greater understanding of this imperiled species, we may be able to manage it more effectively and thus ensure its continued presence in the Appalachians.

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5. Effectiveness of the Western North Carolina Folic Acid Campaign in Watauga County
Student	Major	Faculty Advisor	College	Department	Award Date
Sara Kim	Family and Consumer Science	Lisa McAnulty	Fine and Applied Arts	Family and Consumer Science	May 01, 2008
Project Description: Folate is a crucial vitamin necessary in the process of cell division, and a deficiency of this nutrient has been implicated in the etiology of a number of diseases including heart disease, colon cancer, and pre-eclampsia. Additionally, low dietary intake of this nutrient prior to and during pregnancy has been associated with increased risk for neural tube defects (NTDs). North Carolina has been identified as having one of the highest incidence rates of NTDs in the U.S. Furthermore, NTDs were three times more common in the western part of the state than in the rest of the world. NTD is a condition that manifests itself during fetal development and results in either anencephaly or spina bifida. It has been estimated that approximately 50-70% of NTDs can be prevented by adequate folate intake. While many sources of folate are available in the diet, most women of child-bearing age do not consume the recommended amount of 400 mcg/day. Results from a recent study reported the average daily intake of dietary folate among 14-19 y.o. females was 123 mcg. Because intakes routinely fall below recommended levels, it is recommended that women take a daily supplement containing 400 mcg folic acid (folic acid is the synthetic form of folate found in fortified foods and supplements that is actually better absorbed by the body). The Western NC Folic Acid Campaign educates women of childbearing age on the importance of folic acid to decrease the incidence of NTDs. Efforts of the campaign have been successful in lowering the incidence rates of NTDs (decreased 75% between 1995 and 2002), but there is lack of information regarding the effectiveness of the program. Specifically, it is not known if increased intakes of dietary folate and/or folic acid supplements are occurring as a direct result of the education. Female subjects were recruited for the present study and were randomized into either the Folate (F) or control (C) group. Three-day diet records were collected at baseline and six weeks post intervention for assessment of dietary folate/folic acid intake. Additionally, anthropometric measurements (height, weight, and waist circumference) were taken at these two time points. Both groups underwent a pre-test, post-test for determination of knowledge of folic acid. Between the pre- and post-test, the F group received education regarding the importance of folic acid in the prevention of NTDs based on materials developed by the Western North Carolina Folic Acid Campaign. Results of this study greatly contribute to the existing body of knowledge concerning this campaign by providing actual evidence with respect to ability of the education to effect positive change in existing dietary folate intake/supplemental use of folic acid during child-bearing years.

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6. Genes Underlying Female Mating Behavior in Drosophila Melanogaster vestigial mutants
Student	Major	Faculty Advisor	College	Department	Award Date
Bonnie McMillion	Biology	Michael Windelspecht	Arts and Sciences	Biology	May 01, 2008
Project Description: Previous work in our laboratory has focused on Drosophila melanogaster with the vestigial-winged mutation (vg). Males with this mutation show altered courtship behavior; they cannot produce a normal courtship song, which is made with the wings, because of the nature of their mutation and they approach females from a different angle than wild type flies. Females from vg laboratory stocks choose vg males to mate with 50% of the time, but their preference for vg males can be artificially selected to create true-breeding lines of flies in which vg females always mate with vg males over wt males, thus female choice has a genetic basis. The purpose of my experiment is to search for molecular markers that segregate with female behavior (choosing wt males or choosing vg males). To search for these markers, I have chosen 5 candidate genes on which I will perform an AFLP analysis (amplified fragment length polymorphism).

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7. Algae propagation in a photobioreactor: Working toward a cleaner, renewable fuel
Student	Major	Faculty Advisor	College	Department	Award Date
Brian Witmer	Appropriate Technology	Jeremy Ferrell	Fine and Applied Arts	Technology	May 01, 2008
Project Description: Algae has garnered much attention recently as a renewable biofuel feedstock, with uses ranging from biobutanol and biogasoline, to methane and biodiesel. Estimates of the potential output range from 5,000 to 20,000 or more gallons(UNH, 2004) of oil per acre. Other benefits of algae fuel include the ability to produce it on land unsuitable for farmland, and decreased tailpipe emissions. Algae is usually produced in closed systems known as photobioreactors, or in outdoor open ponds or raceways. With more research in production methods algae could become a major player in the worldwide push to find a renewable replacement to petroleum. At Appalachian State small-scale, algae research has been conducted in both the Biology and Appropriate Technology departments. I'm looking to work with the current effort to expand the body of knowledge. Up to this point, the algae research has been conducted in aquariums and bottles. For algae to be a viable fuel stock it must be grown on a larger scale. The funds from this grant will be applied toward building a small-scale photobioreactor to research algal growth in a larger system. The photobioreactor will be a closed, circulating system incorporating a transparent tubing material and CO2 injection, and will be housed in the Biology greenhouse. A low-impact diaphragm pump will be used to circulate the algae between the light and dark cycles. I will work with other members of the Biology and Appropriate Technology departments to grow, monitor, and test algae produced in the photobioreactor. This will yield valuable data on algae production methods, and will be another facet of the excellent biofuels research project currently in place at Appalchian State.

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8. Needs Assessment for a Post-Abortion Group Therapy Program on ASU's Campus
Student	Major	Faculty Advisor	College	Department	Award Date
Julia Fondren	Psychology	Joshua Broman-Fulks	Arts and Sciences	Psychology	May 01, 2008
Project Description: This research was completed through the Public Service Research Program and designed in collaboration with Boone Hope Pregnancy Resource Center. It plans to address the possible need for a free group therapy program dealing with post-abortion issues and run through the campus counseling center. This question will be explored through an online questionnaire ASU students will complete.

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9. Isolation of Meis Regulatory Elements
Student	Major	Faculty Advisor	College	Department	Award Date
Caroline Cochrane	Biology	Ted Zerucha	Arts and Sciences	Biology	May 01, 2008
Project Description: Our project is designed as a study of how a specific family of genes, the Meis family, is regulated during embryonic development, using zebrafish as our model. The function of the Meis genes is largely conserved across all organisms, so the research conducted on zebrafish embryos can be applied to other organisms including humans. The Meis genes are active in specific cells and tissues at specific times during embryonic development and are considered to be important factors in the proper development of the organism. Defects in these genes can cause defects in birth and have also been connected with the disease leukemia. Since most genes are not active all the time in every cell, something must be present that regulates in which part of the body and at what time the gene is turned on. The regulatory elements controlling Meis gene expression have not been researched, however, so it is not known exactly how Meis expression is directed. My project involves isolating and studying the pieces of DNA, the regulatory elements, which control the expression of the Meis genes. Our lab has identified four putative regulatory elements associated with the Meis2 gene. It is likely that each of these elements serves a specific purpose and directs the expression of the gene to a different area of the body. My project is focused on isolating and studying one of these elements (named m2de3, for Meis2 downstream element 3). I will isolate m2de3 using polymerase chain reaction (pcr) and will then examine its ability to direct gene expression in developing zebrafish embryos consistent with endogenous Meis2 expression. The information gained from this study could be used to learn more about the effects of mutations in the gene sequences and the detrimental effects they cause. This could be used to an advantage in the medical field for the prevention of the diseases related to the Meis genes.

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10. The Expression Pattern of a Meis 2 linked gene in Zebrafish Embryos
Student	Major	Faculty Advisor	College	Department	Award Date
Brantley Graham	Biology	Ted Zerucha	Arts and Sciences	Biology	May 01, 2008
Project Description: The Meis2 gene is a member of the homeobox gene family that play important roles in the embryonic development of all multicellular animals. We have identified a new gene adjacent to Meis2 which we have named Meis2 linked gene 1 (M2lg1). Nothing is known of this gene and to begin to study it, I plan to determine its expression pattern in zebrafish embryos. The expression data will represent the first step in helping to identify its function. After we have expression data, I plan to inactivate the gene using a technique called a morpholino knock down to gain further insights into its function. I have already preserved zebrafish embryos from four to twenty four hours post fertilization using paraformaldehyde and methanol and if funded will use the money I am requesting to help defray the costs of synthesizing the probe that will be used to examine the expression of m2lg1 in the already prepared zebrafish embryos.

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11. A Healthy Start: The Relationship between Controlling Maternal Feeding Practices and Child Health Status among Siblings
Student	Major	Faculty Advisor	College	Department	Award Date
Emily Steinbaugh	Psychology	Amy Galloway	Arts and Sciences	Psychology	May 01, 2008
Project Description: Previous research suggests that parents tend to control their children?s feeding practices differently if their children are different in areas such as weight, pickiness, and temperament. Further, research indicates that controlling feeding practices are related to a child?s diet and weight status later in life. This study was conducted to investigate whether mothers control their children?s feeding practices differently in relation to children?s health status. It is unknown whether early health problems are related to differential parental controlling feeding practices. We collected data from mothers of two children to determine whether mothers restrict, pressure, monitor, and/or feel more responsibility toward their child?s eating behavior as the child?s health problems increase. Seventy-seven primarily non-Hispanic Caucasian families with 2 biological children between 6 and 12 years old were recruited for this study. Mothers were given the Child Feeding Questionnaire and the Early Health Questionnaire. One-tailed Pearson correlations and t-tests were used to examine the relationships between the presence of prior health conditions among children and maternal controlling feeding practices. Results showed that there was no correlation between child health status and maternal pressure, monitoring, or responsibility. A negative correlation was found between health problems and maternal restriction. A negative correlation was found between the difference of overall early health problems among siblings and the differences of maternal responsibility. These results suggest that mothers restrict food less when their children have more health problems and control their children more equally when there are greater health disparities between them.

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12. Thou Shall Not Work: Religious Accommodation and Labor Resistance in Colonial Sonora
Student	Major	Faculty Advisor	College	Department	Award Date
Alexander Wisnoski	History	Rene Horst	Arts and Sciences	History	May 01, 2008
Project Description: I have already written an essay entitled "Thou Shall Not Work: Religious Accommodation and Labor Resistance in Colonial Sonora" which I presented at the Southeastern Conference on Latin American Studies in Tampa, FL. In this paper I argue that what the Jesuits perceived as laziness on the part of the Indians was, in fact, a tactful resistance. However, the limited sources I had to work with leaves my argument open for criticism. Thus, I hope to analyze the numerous other Jesuit letters and journals housed in Mexico City's Archivo General de la Nacíon to strengthen the depth of my primary sources, which will hopefully contribute more evidence to my initial analysis.

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13. Chemical Monitoring of the Pigeon River Above and Below Paper Mill Effluent in Western North Carolina.
Student	Major	Faculty Advisor	College	Department	Award Date
Stephanie Hughes	Chemistry	Carol Babyak	Arts and Sciences	Chemistry	May 01, 2008
Project Description: The many advances of industry and technology have revolutionized the way products are manufactured, drastically benefited communities economically and raised the standard of living. However, despite the advantage of the advances in industry and technology there has forever been a mindset of maximize production and minimize the cost. As economically beneficial as this ideal has been it has also led to the severe and in some cases irreversible damage and degradation of the environment. Opened in 1908, the Canton Paper Mill or Blue Ridge Paper Products (formally Champion Paper International) has been the source of much controversy in the town of Canton, North Carolina and surrounding areas of Haywood County as well as many towns in Tennessee located downstream of the Pigeon River.3 Since its opening the effluent from the paper mill has been discharged into the Pigeon River leading to its severely polluted condition. Historically, the Pigeon has been noted for its brown color and odor resembling rotten eggs, which is the result of toxic effluent continuously flowing through the river. Rafters along the Pigeon River report skin rashes and eye irritation after being exposed to the waters.2 Until a few weeks ago, there was a fishing ban on the Pigeon River a result of the high levels of toxins found in the fish that could potentially be harmful to humans.1 Various native species of animals are no longer present along the river because harmful chemicals that have been dumped into the river. Although Blue Ride Paper Products has reduced the contamination of its effluent concerns still exist regarding the contamination in the water and sediment along the river. The purpose of this research is to assess and monitor the chemical composition above and below the paper mill effluent in Canton, North Carolina. The parameters listed below will be monitored on a monthly basis using standard methods. 1.Parameters: pH, dissolved oxygen (DO), temperature. Method:Portable Field Meter. 2. Parameter:Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD). Method:5-day Incubation. Reference:Method 5210 Ba 3. Parameter: dissolved chlorine. Method:Iodometric titration. Reference:Method 4500-C1 Ba 4. Parameter:chloride. Method:Ion Chromatography. 5. Parameter: Heavy Metals. Method:ICP-OES (Inductively Coupled Plasma-Optical Emission Spectroscopy).Reference:Method 6010 Cb. 6.Parameter: 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin. Method: Solid phase extraction (SPE)GC/MS. Reference:Methods 2525 Ab and 8280 Bb. a. "Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater" b. EPA publication SW-846, "Test Methods for Evaluating Solid Waste, Physical/Chemical Methods". It is likely that some of the parameters in Table 1 (heavy metals and dioxin) may be found in sediment samples. Therefore, sediment samples will also be collected from above and below the paper mill. Metals will be extracted using EPA Method 3050 (acid digestion) and chlorinated organics will be extracted using EPA Method 3545A (accelerated solvent extraction). Conclusions based upon this research can make a difference in the manner of operation of the paper mill. If further evidence of a significant problem regarding the Pigeon River is found, steps can be taken to prevent further contamination and degradation of the river. References: 1. http://www.citizen-times.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=200880301075;Citizen- Times.com, Morrison, Clarke, accessed March, 2008. 2. Hygon, Ryan, personal communication, February 2008. 3. http://www.charlotte.com/204/story/553320.html, Charlotte.com The Charlotte Observer, The Associated Press, accessed March, 2008.

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14. Closing the Carbon Loop: Sustainable Algaculture
Student	Major	Faculty Advisor	College	Department	Award Date
Crystal Simmons	Appropriate Technology	Jeremy Ferrell	Fine and Applied Arts	Technology	May 01, 2008
Project Description: I am working on this project with a grad student. The goal of the project is to research the feasibility of growing micro algae with high oil content for making biodiesel, a cleaner burning, renewable, and biodegradable vehicle fuel. The system design will have sustainable features to minimize fossil fuel use and net CO2 output to the atmosphere, something not done today as start-up companies continue to conduct algae research using coal flue gas to feed the algae CO2. This research for me is part of my semester project for my Biofuels class.

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15. A phylogeography of Sibbaldiopsis tridentata
Student	Major	Faculty Advisor	College	Department	Award Date
Gerald Bresowar	Biology	Gary Walker	Arts and Sciences	Biology	May 01, 2008
Project Description: This thesis will determine the levels of genetic variation within and among populations of the plant species Sibbaldiopsis tridentata (Rosaceae) found inhabiting the high-elevation grassy balds and rock outcrops of the Appalachian Mountains. Populations will be sampled from the grassy balds of North Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia, as well as from rock-outcrop populations ranging from Tennessee to Maine. Two genes will be sequenced and intra-populational variation will be assessed. These genetic data will be coupled with the geographic data in order to provide a model of historical movement of populations of this species. This thesis will determine whether populations of S. tridentata display patterns indicative of the post-glaciation range withdraw and subsequently, the population refugia hypothesis. Questions of inter-populational gene flow and recent colonization of habitats will be addressed. My hypotheses are: H0: All populations are genetically homogenous with no difference in variation between outcrop/bald habitat populations, or between regionally distinct populations. H1: There are differing levels of variation between populations from balds and from outcrops. H2: There are differing levels of variation throughout the range both within and among bald and outcrop populations. Determination of the varying levels of genetic depth among populations of this species will allow us to identify probable interglacial refugia. These populations represent the greatest regional gene pools. From the phylogeographic analysis of this species we can begin to propose how other rare and endemic northern species populations are patterned. A phylogeographic model for S. tridentata thus has implications for other plant species found in similar habitats, and subsequently implications for the management of the most genetically-diverse populations.

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16. Maternal Reports of Early Child Feeding Practices in Siblings
Student	Major	Faculty Advisor	College	Department	Award Date
Danae Olson	Family and Consumer Science	Lisa McAnulty	Fine and Applied Arts	Family and Consumer Science	May 01, 2008
Project Description: Abstract: The prevalence of obesity and disordered eating is increasing. Examining parental feeding practices of pressure and restriction may result in a better understanding of interventions for obesity and disordered eating. Breastfeeding may allow infants to regulate energy intake and limit parental control in feeding. The purpose of this study was to examine relationships among duration of breastfeeding, maternal perceptions of feeding on demand, and early child feeding practices. Specifically, sibling differences and similarities between these three variables were investigated. Participants included 77 families, and data were collected from mothers and two siblings between the ages of six and twelve years of age. Mothers completed questionnaires about early feeding with each sibling including: breastfeeding duration, introduction of solid foods, and whether the child or the mother determined feeding schedules with the child in the first year of life. Data analyses included the use of parametric statistics to analyze differences in both duration of breastfeeding and introduction of solid foods between older and younger siblings. Pearson Product correlations were used to determine the relationship between breastfeeding duration with feeding on demand. It was hypothesized that the duration in the number of months breastfed would be positively correlated with feeding the child on demand. Results indicate that younger siblings breastfed for a significantly longer number of months compared to the older siblings (t = -2.07, p < 0.04). No significant differences between siblings were observed with respect to introduction of solid foods. The duration of the number of months breastfed was not positively correlated with feeding the child on demand. The finding of sibling differences in the duration of breastfeeding demonstrates that children in the same family can have unique experiences with regard to early feeding. Future research is needed to understand whether theses differences are influential in the development of eating behavior.

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17. Effects of Resveratrol and Catechins with Exhaustive Exercise on Oxidative Stress and Inflammatory Markers
Student	Major	Faculty Advisor	College	Department	Award Date
Lindsey Schreiber	Exercise Science	Steven McAnulty	Arts and Sciences	Health, Leisure and Exercise Science	May 01, 2008
Project Description: The effects of the polyphenolic compounds resveratrol and catechins were examined on oxidative stress and inflammatory markers during strenuous exercise. Fourteen endurance athletes were randomly assigned into three treatment groups to receive either placebo, resveratrol, or catechin, supplements. Subjects were tested once each week in a double blind crossover design over three consecutive weeks. Testing included intense treadmill running for one hour.Blood samples were taken at baseline, pre-exercise, immediately post-exercise, and one hour - post exercise. Samples were analyzed for F2-isoprostanes, ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP), C-reactive protein (CRP), cytokine IL-8, protein carbonyls, HO-1, and total nitrite. Prelimionary data lends support that resveratrol may be a potentially effective counter measure to exercise induced oxidative stress and inflammation.

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18. Fighting Domestic Violence in Watauga County
Student	Major	Faculty Advisor	College	Department	Award Date
Alaina Borget	Sociology	Jammie Price	Arts and Sciences	Sociology and Social Work	Apr 01, 2008
Project Description: The purpose of this project is to create a link between the citizens of our community and local domestic violence services that are already established. We will be gathering information and statistics which will be formatted onto a flyer. Along with this information, the logos and contact information of several local organizations concerning domestic violence which appear. These flyers will be distributed in and around Watauga County's restaurants, bars, grocery stores, etc.

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19. The Transcription of Ethiopian Political Interviews for Research Purposes
Student	Major	Faculty Advisor	College	Department	Award Date
Patrick Lineberry	Political Science	E. Ike Udogu	Arts and Sciences	Political Science/Criminal Justice	Apr 01, 2008
Project Description: Recently I interviewed eighteen Ethiopians about various political issues and opinions. To complete my research project, "Ethiopia and the Horn of Africa: A case study of its role in the Somalia conflict," in a timely manner the transcription of these interviews is necessary. There is approximately fifteen hours of IRB-approved interview material that will be professionally transcribed for the purpose of adding needed weight and insight into such a complex topic as Ethiopian politics.

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20. Impact of sustainability reports on US and European Consumers.
Student	Major	Faculty Advisor	College	Department	Award Date
David Gora	Accounting	Joseph Cazier	Business	Computer Information Systems	Apr 01, 2008
Project Description: Our plan is to research the impact of sustainability reports on US and European consumers. A sustainability report is a report a company files, voluntarily, with their annual report that shows what a company is doing for environmental and social issues and is an accountants measure of a companies social responsibility. Included in the report would be a companies accounting of their impact on the environment, levels of pollution, donations to charitable causes, efforts for diversity, etc. These reports have been gaining in popularity in Europe and are now spreading to the US. We want to measure the impact that these types of reports have in terms of consumer response to these socially responsible statements in terms of its impact on consumers willingness to do business with companies and the prices they are willing to pay for products of these companies. In order to do this, we plan to collect data in both the US and Spain, a representative European country dealing with these issues as it integrates its economy into the modern world. We will first begin collecting data here, and plan to travel to Spain this summer to collect data. We plan to submit this research for publication in a peer reviewed journal.

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21. Cross-Cultural Preschool Feeding Practices: A Comparative Study Between the United Kingdom and the United States
Student	Major	Faculty Advisor	College	Department	Award Date
Lucinda Payne	Psychology	Amy Galloway	Arts and Sciences	Psychology	Apr 01, 2008
Project Description: As rates of childhood obesity continue to rise worldwide, it is necessary to understand why children in some societies are more overweight than children in other societies. This study aims to better understand why children in the United States have higher rates of childhood obesity (25%) than children in the United Kingdom (18%, Janssen et al., 2005). Mothers are important to the study of child feeding because mothers make most of the feeding choices for their children (Birch, 1998). Recent research indicates that mothers may be unable or unwilling to classify their children as overweight (Keller et al., 2006). Increased maternal concern for child weight has been correlated with child total fat mass (Spruijt-Metz et al., 2002) and decreased maternal perception of girls? intellectual and physical aptitudes (Davison & Birch, 2001). This research suggests a bidirectional relationship between mothers and children regarding concern for child weight, perception of child weight, and actual body weight of both mothers and children (Birch & Fisher, 2000; Faith et al., 2004). The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between maternal concern for and perception of child weight and maternal and child weight status in the United States in order to replicate earlier work conducted by Lucinda Payne in the United Kingdom during the Fall 2007. To date, there has been no cross-cultural research examining this concern or perception in mothers of preschoolers. Our subjects will be preschool children living in the United States between the ages of 4 and 6 years old and their mothers. All children in the desired age range are invited to participate regardless of gender, ethnicity, or religion and will be selected based on their enrolment in the target preschool programs. Mothers will be asked to complete a questionnaire designed to assess their feeding beliefs, practices, and concern for and perception of child weight. The questionnaire was developed using components from several published and validated surveys (Child Feeding Questionnaire, Birch et al., 2001; the Comprehensive Feeding Practices Questionnaire, Musher-Eizenman & Holub, 2007; the Eating Disorders Inventory, Garner, Olmstead, & Polivy, 1983; the Musher-Eizenman Figure Rating Scale for Children and Adults, Musher-Eizenman et al., 2003; and the US Household Food Security Survey, USDA, 2002). Child height and weight will be collected following the protocol developed by the World Health Organization (2007) using the portable stadiometer purchased with this grant. Because fewer children in the UK are overweight, we expect that British mothers will provide more accurate reports of child weight when compared to American mothers. This research is likely to have applied benefits in that we expect this cross-cultural comparison will help to elucidate some of the important differences between these two countries, suggesting new ways to help US families reduce their rates of childhood obesity.

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22. Chicken Litter-Induced Endocrine Disruption and Trace Metal Toxicity in Wilkes County, North Carolina Headwater Streams
Student	Major	Faculty Advisor	College	Department	Award Date
Jessica Pack	Biology	Shea Tuberty	Arts and Sciences	Biology	Apr 01, 2008
Project Description: Confined animal feeding operations (CAFO?s) are potentially having a huge impact on our local community as well as a growing number of communities nation wide due to the growth in chicken demands. Wilkes County (the study site) is in the top 20th in the country for chicken production. Over 91.7 million broiler chickens were produced in 2006, with an estimated 350,000 tons of chicken litter produced annually. Chicken litter is spread onto fields as a source of cheap fertilizer. The problem with spreading the litter is that metals and estrogens are introduced into the environment. Metals are fed to the chickens as an anti-coccidial treatment and growth supplement. Estrogens are released naturally from female chickens. Although significant nutrient effluence from chicken litter has been shown in past research, the biological impacts of metals and natural estrogens present in chicken litter have not been extensively researched in surface waters. Recent research has found that Poultry Litter-Associated Contaminants (PLACs) include not only nutrients but also metal feed additives such as copper, zinc, and arsenic (1) and natural hormones (e.g. 17?-estradiol) that are present at levels toxic to aquatic organisms (2). My proposed research involves collecting timely baseline biological measurements from streams sites that do not have a long history of chicken litter amendment and comparing them with similar stream sites within the heart of the nearby agricultural region. I hope to evaluate the long-term impacts of current poultry waste disposal management on local surface water quality using assessment of biomarkers of metal and estrogen exposure in local fish populations. I hypothesize that chicken manure estrogens will feminize male fish populations (induction of vitellogenesis = major yolk proteins) in streams receiving effluents from chicken litter amended fields and that trace metals from chicken manure bioaccumulate in fish populations in streams receiving effluents from chicken litter amended fields. Also, I hypothesize that fish exposed to high levels of metals will exhibit biomarkers of exposure (metallothionein) and oxidative stress (S-transferase and superoxide dismutase). I will be working directly with the Wilkes County Soil and Water Conservation District. I will collect soil from riparian areas near pastures receiving litter amendments, stream sediment, and stream water samples (during low flow and following rainfall events) from ten sites in the Bugaboo Creek watershed in central Wilkes County. Metals will be determined by inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES), following microwave assisted digestion using EPA standard protocol 3051. Water sampling for estrogens will be conducted using passive collection devices (Polar Organic Chemical Integrative Sampler) (POCIS). From this, a time weighted average of estrogen concentrations may be determined for a stram. Fish samples (northern hogsuckers and smallmouth bass) will be collected by backpack electroshockers and samples of gill, liver, kidney, and muscle will be prepared for ICP-OES analysis by acid digestion. Body burdens of metals known to exist in chicken litter will be quantified (e.g. zinc, arsenic, copper, manganese, iron) and compared to results of biomarker induction. To determine the physiological effects of metals and estrogen levels on the fish, I will collect serum samples from each of the fish by cardiac puncture followed by centrifugation. The serum will be used to determine the presence of vitellogenin, the yolk protein precursor, in males and metallothionein in both sexes by protein separation by electrophoresis followed by Western blot (3). Vitellogenin will be quantified by enzyme immunoassay following the protocol of Specker and Anderson (1994) using a universal monoclonal antibody for this protein (Kyle Selcer, Duquesne Univ.). I will also remove gonads, section them and observe them for presence of intersex, stage of testis maturity, gonad development and sexual differentiation. Determinations of the adverse impacts of litter effluents on fish will serve as a proxy for aquatic ecosystem health and demonstrate the environmental impact of current litter management strategies. In addition, data from my study would be important in the future development and/or management plans for chicken litter application in our area and other southeastern areas. Works Cited (1) Jackson, B.P., Bertsch, P.M., Cabrera, M. L., Camberato, J. J., Seaman, J. C. and Wood, C. W. (2003) Trace element speciation in poultry litter. Journal of Environmental Quality 32:535-540. (2) Yonkos, L., Fisher, D. and Van Veld, P. (2006) Endocrine disruption in fish and frogs field collected from poultry litter-influenced watersheds. Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, Montreal, Canada, SETAC North America 27th Annual Meeting Abstract Book, SETAC Press, Pensacola, pp. 196-197. (3) Towbin, H., T. Staehelin, and J. Gordon. (1979) Electrophoretic transfer of proteins from polyacrylamide gels to nitrocellulose sheets: Procedure and some applications. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA 76:4350-4354.

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23. A comparison of anemometers and techniques for measuring atmosphere stability in the assessment of a site for wind power.
Student	Major	Faculty Advisor	College	Department	Award Date
William Beuttell	Physics	Ryan Emanuel	Arts and Sciences	Geology	Apr 01, 2008
Project Description: The atmospheric boundary layer is heterogeneous with respect to temporal and spatial variables, including pressure, temperature, and turbulence. The importance of this heterogeneity maybe second only to topography when locating sites for potential wind power generation particularly in mountainous terrain. Research grade instruments are capable of collecting these measurements. However, the use of these instruments is hindered by the financial cost and the difficulty of transportation between sites. Our goal is to develop a portable, low-cost system capable of characterizing the heterogeneity of the atmospheric boundary layer, particularly as it pertains to assessing sites for producing wind power. The apparatus will accomplish this goal by measuring wind speed, direction, and temperature at multiple heights. Traditional (cup and propeller) measurements at a single height do not allow characterization of atmospheric stability, which is necessary for understanding the variability of wind speed with height. Measurements at multiple heights allow calculations of stability and vertical wind speed gradients. These quantities are important for determining the optimal height as well as the best location for installing wind turbines. The apparatus will consist of two cup anemometers with wind vanes and temperature sensors (Ultimeter 100, Peet Bros. Company Inc., St. Cloud, FL) installed at two heights (5m and 10m) on a guyed, metal pole that can be disassembled. Data from the apparatus will be logged using an existing data logger. We will compare measurements from our apparatus to measurements from a research grade triaxial sonic anemometer installed over near-mature Fraser fir trees on a farm in Mitchell County, NC. Specifically, atmospheric stability and vertical wind speed gradients will be calculated using measurements from the low-cost apparatus and from the research grade sonic anemometer. Results from our experiment during the spring of 2008 will be compared using statistical tests to determine the relative accuracy of the low-cost system. We expect the low-cost system to provide a reasonable alternative for quantifying atmospheric stability and vertical wind gradients. This stands to be an improvement over other techniques that rely on a single anemometer to assess sites for wind power generation, but without the expense of research grade instruments.

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24. Small Scale Recirculation Aquaculture Systems for Southern Appalachia
Student	Major	Faculty Advisor	College	Department	Award Date
John Rinehart	Appropriate Technology	John Martin	Fine and Applied Arts	Technology	Apr 01, 2008
Project Description: Introduction Aquaculture, the growing of fish, is an important part of sustainable agriculture. Fish can provide an important, low cost, low input source of protein, fertilizer and a significant source of income to farmers. Fish can either be grown in ponds in the open, or in closed systems called Recirculation Aquaculture Systems (RAS). Ponds are traditionally lower in cost to set up but have the drawbacks of limited choice in species that can be produced (Tilapia, one of the most common species in aquaculture require a year round 60 degree water temperature) and an extremely high demand for water (as much as 100 gallons per pound of fish). RAS systems are often higher in cost but use less water and are capable of producing year round in a green house setting. Statement of Problem Traditionally in Southern Appalachia aquaculture?s application has been limited due to several factors including lack of market, global competition, high start up costs and, increasingly, high water demand. With the growth of local farmers markets and an increased awareness of ?food miles? the first two of these barriers are increasingly being lowered. Research Objectives My research project aims to help in the lowering of the third and fourth of these barriers. This projects hopes to develop out of locally available materials a low cost alternative to ?mini-fish farms? that costs less than 50% of the lowest cost model currently available ($1,700) without requiring excessive labor and to test its effectiveness by raising several species in it. After completing this system (mid-April) I will test the growth rates of various fish species (Tilapia, Carp, Catfish) in the designed system over the summer and compare to published growth rates of commercially available systems. Using this data along with data on the amount of labor put into the system I will then be able to compare the cost effectiveness of a self-manufactured system to the commercially available one. Additionally I will keep track of the amount of waste created by the system and determine its value as a fertilizer by analyzing its nitrogen content. Long Term Research Benefits In the long term this system will be used by the Sustainable Water and Wastewater Technology course (TEC-5606) as well as being used by the ASU Biodiesel project for algae growth. ? Resource List o This project will be conducted in conjunction with Brian Witmer, a graduate student in the Technology Department as well as an undergraduate student. o This project is part of the Sustainable Water and Wastewater Technology course (TEC-5606) o Southern Regional Aquaculture Center o Dr. Jack Martin, Technology Dept. o North Carolina State University Aquaculture Extension o The Energy Xchange Aquaponics Project o Small Scale Aquaculture (Paperback)by Steven D. Van Gorder o Aquatic Eco Systems Supply www.aquaticeco.com o Aquacave Supply www.aquacave.com ? Funding Sources o Office Of Student Research o Student Funds o Donations

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25. Perceived definition of Breakfast by college students and the relationship of their breakfast habits with BMI.
Student	Major	Faculty Advisor	College	Department	Award Date
Kati Morrison	Family and Consumer Science	Mary Dean Coleman-Kelly	Arts and Sciences	Family and Consumer Science	Apr 01, 2008
Project Description: We will recruit students from four sections of the foods and nutrition introductory course, one section of the psychology introductory course, one section of the community nutrition course, and one section of the introductory course in family and child development. Students will be asked to record their food intake for 3-days and fill out a brief questionnaire that targets their demographic information, breakfast habits, and sleep habits. Students participating in the foods and nutrition course and community nutrition course currently have an in-class assignment that requires they fill out their intake for 3-days. Students in these classes will be asked for permission (via the informed consent form) to use their recorded food intake for this project. If they agree to let us use their information, they will be asked to fill out the breakfast questionnaire. Because they have already completed a major part of this research project, they will not be compensated for their time. Students participating in the psychology and family and child development course will be given instructions for filling out a 3-day food record, give a copy of the template, and asked to fill it out and return it to their class by a given date. When the researchers pick up the 3-day food records, they will briefly review their records to clarify any missed information and provide the students with the breakfast questionnaire. Students in these classes will be given extra credit and their names will be put in a drawing to win $50. Ten students will be eligible to win $50 if they complete all parts of the study. Students in these classes will be given the option to have their dietary analysis with general recommendations sent to them. Kati Morrison, a graduate student in Foods and Nutrition will do the analysis and send the information to those students who wish to receive it.

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26. Bacterial community structure analysis through FISH in a high altitude wetland in response to increased Fe and Mn
Student	Major	Faculty Advisor	College	Department	Award Date
Kristin Walls	Biology	Ece Karatan	Arts and Sciences	Biology	Apr 01, 2008
Project Description: Wetlands play a vital role in the ecosystems of the western Appalachian Mountains. In addition to providing a habitat for flora, fauna, and microorganisms, they act as buffer zones between urbanized areas and natural settings, often filtering out harmful pollutants, controlling surface runoff allowing for penetration of water into soil, and keeping groundwater aquifers supplied with a steady flow of water. Increased anthropogenic activity in the form of road building, coal mining, and urban development has placed stress on these wetland ecosystems, threatening their health. My study focuses on one such high altitude wetland, shown previously to be disturbed due to iron (Fe) and manganese (Mn) seeps located upstream. These seeps are the result of development in the local area several years prior. A previous study has shown that these seeps raise the metal concentration of the water several fold and are linked to a decrease in the diversity of macroinvertebrates. Our preliminary studies have identified masses of thick orange biofilm on the submerged rocks, thin oily sheens on the surface of water and sediment that fragment upon touch, and thick wooly flocs of brownish orange growth, all indicative of Leptothrix bacteria growth. Leptothrix is a gram negative rod bacterium, capable of oxidizing Fe and Mn and is often found at the soil-water interface in wetlands. None of these characteristics are present at reference sites upstream of the Fe and Mn seeps. Our hypothesis is that the increased levels of Fe and Mn are causing a shift in the dominant microorganisms within the community, leading to an influx of Leptothrix bacteria growth. I plan on using a combination of cultivation and molecular protocols established in our lab to ask if the increase in Fe and Mn levels is causing shift in the dominant bacteria to Leptothrix. This work will be part of a larger study looking at the overall microbial diversity of the wetland. I will sample a broad range of rocks submerged in the stream, as well as sediment and any floc growth both at the site of the seeps and at upstream reference sites and attempt to cultivate any microorganisms present. I will use Fluorescent In Situ Hybridization (FISH) to determine if Leptothrix bacteria is present. These results will assist in providing baseline data describing seasonal and spatial fluctuations in wetland microbial diversity that could then be used to develop a microbial bioindicator of wetland health.

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27. Extraction and Analysis of Apistan in Honey using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry
Student	Major	Faculty Advisor	College	Department	Award Date
Zachary Horton	Chemistry	Carol Babyak	Arts and Sciences	Chemistry	Apr 01, 2008
Project Description: The research that I am proposing to do is very important to the apiculture industry, especially with the use of pesticides. In apiculture the varrora mite is a pest that lives on honey bees and is spread from one to the other. The varrora mite devastates bee populations that don?t have a pesticide called apistan. Apistan is a pesticide designed to kill the varrora mite and help control this pest. It is applied to a cardboard strip and placed inside the middle comb in each of the beehives. As the bees rub against the strip the apistan it coats the bee and as that bee goes around the population of other bees and rubs against the other one the apistan is transferred to the other bees thus helping them ward off varrora mites. This pesticide may or may not be found in the honey or the bees wax. We need to see if apistan gets into the bee?s honey and bees wax and in what concentrations this pesticide is found in the honey and bees wax. I am going to develop a method to attempt to extract apistan from the honey and bees wax. I am going to try to extract apistan using methylene chloride and acetonitrile and by the process of gas chromatography and mass spectromety. Initially I will optimize on the GC-MS method insuring no money is wasted on chemicals that are used in a less correct way to give me the best possible extractions.

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28. Effects of Aerobic Exercise on Affect in Anxiety Sensitive Individuals
Student	Major	Faculty Advisor	College	Department	Award Date
Anna Price	Exercise Science	Josh Broman-Fulks	Arts and Sciences	Psychology	Feb 26, 2008
Project Description: Anxiety sensitivity, or the fear of anxiety-related sensations, has been shown to play a role in the development and maintenance of panic disorder and other anxiety disorders. Recent research has suggested that repeatedly exposing anxiety sensitivity associated with physical exercise are accompanied by concomitant changes in mood and affect. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of repeated exposure to exercise-induced feared sensations among anxiety sensitive individuals on positive and negative affect. The results suggest the repeated exposure to feared psychological sensations, in the context of aerobic exercise, can not only reduce anxiety sensitivity among individuals with high anxiety sensitivity, but can also increase their desire to engage in arousal-inducing activites. Additional research will be required to determine whether longer participation in an aerobic exercise program (i.e., more than 2 weeks) will confer additional benefits, and to what degree these effects endure.

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29. Nutritional comparison of locally grown versus commercially shipped tomatoes
Student	Major	Faculty Advisor	College	Department	Award Date
Kasmira Adkins	Biology	Nicole Bennett	Arts and Sciences	Chemistry	Feb 26, 2008
Project Description: In collaboration with Blue Ridge Women in Agriculture, a support organization for farmers in the Appalachian Mountains of North Carolina, a nutritional analysis comparing several species of locally grown tomatoes from farms in or near Boone, North Carolina with produce purchased from local grocery stores will be performed. Assays of commercial and local produce were extracted and analyzed using gas chromatography, focusing on flavonoids, carotenoids, and Vitamin C. All of which, naturally occur in tomatoes and are important in nutrition. Growing methods, post-harvest handling, and dates of harvest will be gathered and compared to address other possible sources of variability. Five species of tomatoes will be analyzed including tomatoes grown organically and conventionally. Results of this data will provide local farmers with a basis for comparison with distant commercial growers. This data may be used by BRWA to gain more support for local farmers in local restaurants and the university food services if nutritional values are equal or better than those shipped. Having equal nutritional values places local produce in a higher position of preference because expenses from shipping long distances will not have to be considered. If data shows that nutritional values of local farm produce are less than commercial produce, recommendations will be made on how to increase those values. Few nutritional comparisons of local versus shipped tomatoes has been performed using gas chromatography, therefore, this research may be beneficial in modifying the past methods of extraction and analysis.

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30. Snow-related Flood Hydroclimatology of the Southern Appalachian Mountains of North Carolina and Tennessee
Student	Major	Faculty Advisor	College	Department	Award Date
Justin Arnold	Biology	L. Baker Perry	Arts and Sciences	Geography and Planning	Feb 26, 2008
Project Description: During the winter season snowfall may persist on the ground forming a snowpack that stores water within a watershed. New snowfall may continually contribute to the depth and water content of the snowpack. Physical processes, such as diurnal melt-freeze cycles, causing snowpack metamorphosis, continually modify snowpack evolution. Significant snow water equivalents (SWE) may accrue within a snowpack and may be released gradually by slow melting process or very rapidly in the presence of warm temperatures and/or liquid precipitation. In the Southern Appalachian Mountains of North Carolina and Tennessee rain events occurring in areas with significant snowpacks presents an enhanced risk of flooding due to the rapid release of stored snowpack water in addition to immediate rainfall. A January 8, 1998 rainfall caused the rapid melting of an extremely deep snowpack that was only persistent at high elevations on Roan Mountain. The input of snow melt-water in addition to rainfall caused enhanced streamflow and flooding, resulting in 7 deaths in Carter County, TN. The lack of published material regarding the topic of snow-related flooding in the Southern Appalachian Mountains of NC and TN poses a question of its significance within the region. This study serves to provide analysis of historical hydrological and meteorological data to assess the potential role of snow in past flooding events and establish the context of snow-related flooding with the hydrologic regimes of select Southern Appalachian watersheds. The spatial extent of meteorological data is sparse within this region, with a great under-representation of the highest elevations where the deepest snowpacks are likely to form and persist to enhance streamflow and flooding during rain events. Thus, there is a need to spatially distribute data to areas where no historical data is available. This necessitates the observation of current snowpacks to aid in the formation of models to spatially interpolate meteorological data within GIS environments. As development rapidly increases social and economic investment within this region, snow hydroclimatology becomes a topic very important to planning and forecasting for the serious natural hazard of snow-related flooding.

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31. Predictors of Implicit Associations
Student	Major	Faculty Advisor	College	Department	Award Date
Caroline Oxford	Psychology	Courtney Rocheleau	Arts and Sciences	Psychology	Feb 26, 2008
Project Description: This study will examine religious orientation and personal need for structure as possible predictors of implicit attitudes toward heterosexual versus homosexual individuals. Religious orientation and personal need for structure will be assessed using self-report questionnaires, and implicit associations will be measured using the Implicit Association Test (IAT). The IAT is an online program that measures, in this case, participants' reaction times when categorizing words and images associated with gay or straight and words that have a positive or negative valence. (For example, if a participant more quickly associates ?gay? with ?bad? and ?straight? with ?good,? they are said to have an implicit preference for heterosexuals.)

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32. "Scholars, Skeptics and Saints: The Evolution of Mormon History, 1945-2000." Master's Thesis in History.
Student	Major	Faculty Advisor	College	Department	Award Date
Peter Kalajian	History	James Goff	Arts and Sciences	History	Feb 26, 2008
Project Description: My research, as it is fairly specific and requires in-depth examination of primary sources, must be conducted where those sources are available to scholars, namely western states like Utah, Idaho and Missouri. This particular trip will focus on the LDS and BYU archives housed in Salt Lake City and Provo, Utah, respectively. My thesis will document twentieth century (primary focus)developments in Mormon historiography, as well as the conflicts and disagreements among Mormon and non-Mormon historical writers and the LDS General Authorities. The overarching purpose of this research stems from my personal fascination with the topic, but also will illuminate an often invoked but rarely examined aspect of the LDS historical canon.I will include in my study interview with current and former employees of Brigham Young University, Church leaders, and students of Mormon history. To my knowledge, no comprehensive studies of this particular subject matter have yet been undertaken, and and this lack of professional investigation stands as a considerable hole in the existing scholarship. In terms of relevance, the subject holds a great deal of interest, for historians and non-historians alike, especially considering the presidential candidacy of Mitt Romney and the ongoing national debate about the role of religion in government. The LDS Church's resistance to scholarly history, written from more than one religious perspective, has always been a sensitive subject in Church and historical circles, and as a result is of significant current interest.

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33. Substituted Hexaphenylbenzenes via a Diels-Alder Route
Student	Major	Faculty Advisor	College	Department	Award Date
Kristyn Jackson	Chemistry	Michael Ramey	Arts and Sciences	Chemistry	Feb 26, 2008
Project Description: The purpose of the research will be to synthesize substituted hexaphenylbenzenes via a Diels Alder cycloaddition reaction between different tolane and tetraphenylcyclopentadienone molecules. The substituted hexaphenylbenzenes are multifunctional compounds with many possible applications. One such application is the use of substituted hexaphenylbenzenes as proton exchange membranes (PEMs) in fuels cells. Current PEMs have operating temperature limitations. Fuel cell technology investigations are presently pursuing the synthesis of materials that avoid the limitations of the current membranes. Substituted hexphenylbenzenes are potential candidates for such a PEM material. Many aspects of the Diels Alder synthesis of substituted hexaphenylbenzenes will be examined in research. The product?s properties associated with the respective substituent will be examined and characterized to determine the functionality of the product. The optimum reaction conditions will also be determined to yield the most efficient and cost effective synthesis. This work will complement existing research at ASU that is approaching the synthesis of these materials via a different route. Funding awarded will be devoted to purchasing the chemicals and materials needed to successfully endeavor this project.

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34. Group Music Therapy to Increase Social and Coping Skills in Elementary Students with Behavior and Emotional Disorders.
Student	Major	Faculty Advisor	College	Department	Award Date
Marie-Louise Gainsford	Music Therapy	Cathy McKinney	School of Music	Music	Feb 26, 2008
Project Description: The project is to research the effects on social and coping skills in elementary students with behavior and emotional disorders. The group meets for thirty minutes twice a week. Interventions will include active music making, song discussion, and song writing.

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35. Anaerobic Digestion of Biodiesel Waste Products
Student	Major	Faculty Advisor	College	Department	Award Date
Matthew Fedorko	Appropriate Technology	Jeff Ramsdell	Arts and Sciences	Technology	Feb 26, 2008
Project Description: This project will attempt to examine whether biodiesel waste products -- glycerine and waste wash water, in this case -- are suitable candidates for input into anaerobic digesters. The funds provided by this grant will be used to build three small anaerobic digesters and gas storage units. Tests will be carried out to qualify the composition of all influents, effluents, and gas production to determine the value of all three for other uses, including fertilizers and process energy. This research is being conducted in partnership with an undergraduate as part of his class project.

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36. Fuel Efficiency and Emissions of Gasoline vs. Ethanol in Two Stroke Moped Engines for Urban Transportation
Student	Major	Faculty Advisor	College	Department	Award Date
Patrick Heavner	Community and Regional Planning	John Martin	Fine and Applied Arts	Technology	Feb 26, 2008
Project Description: The purpose of this project is to test the feasibility of ethanol in two stroke moped engines used for urban transportation. Because of an increase in traffic congestion, carbon emissions, and rising fuel cost, the research gained from this project is ideal for urban communities who are looking for ideas and solutions in sustainable urban transportation. Mopeds can be one solution to these problems in urban transportation. Because of their compact size, they will help reduce traffic congestion in urban areas. They can also alleviate parking problems because of their ability to be stored in bike racks, which are far less expensive than parking spaces. As a result of mopeds being able to keep up with the flow of traffic in town, they are safer than bicycles which are often passed by drivers without any regard for safety. Mopeds are also useful to those who are not physically able to ride bicycles. Emissions from mopeds are minimal and their fuel economy is excellent. Two stroke engines, which are commonly used on chain saws and mopeds, have a tendency to emit more pollutants compared to other gas powered engines. The advantage of using a two stroke engine compared to a four stroke engine or other gas powered motors is its simple design, cheapness, and ability to be easily repaired. Using a mixture of ethanol and biodiesel has been proven to work in two stroke engines. I plan to compare gasoline to ethanol in this moped kit to see which one performs better in fuel economy, power, and emissions. I have several resources in the Appropriate Technology lab to help me with the testing. To test fuel economy, I will map out a route of several miles to see which fuel gets me the furthest on the least amount. I can then compare the price of the two fuels and factor that into the mileage. I will need to buy a bicycle odometer/speedometer in order to set my rout and test the mileage. To test the power of the engine I will set a route on a steep incline and compare my speed at given points along the hill. In order to test my emissions, I will us a carbon monoxide meter which will be hooked to the exhaust system and tested at idol for a given amount of time. It is highly recommended that these kits be attached on beach cruiser bikes because of their solid frame build and single speed peddle break system. I plan to buy one with an aluminum frame, which will give me the best results in fuel economy because of its light weight. I have experience with these moped kits, having put one together before. I plan to start this project as soon as I get funding and have the testing complete by the end of this semester. It will take me two weeks to get the parts, one day to build the moped, one week to break in the engine, and another two to three weeks for testing. I will also allow for another week or so for reflection, write up and preparation for presenting at research day. I can easily complete the project in less then two months My goal for this project is to further my knowledge on alternative transportation and hopefully share my experience with others who are trying to use their personal vehicles less. In my opinion, this moped kit is the perfect solution for people who are looking for a cheap, quick, and easy way to get around town without a car and without having to rely on pubic transportation. I will be buying a 50cc two stroke moped engine kit which is legal to drive in NC without insurance or a license. Also, the legal speed of the moped cannot exceed 25mph on state maintained roads. I hope to share my experience with the Boone Bicycle Initiative and possibly get them started in an ethanol powered feet of mopeds. As gasoline becomes more expensive day by day, I predict bicycles and mopeds to be used more in urban settings. With this project I am preparing for the future when cars go out of style in urban transportation. I feel something has to be done sooner then later to avoid an almost inevitable energy crisis. Ethanol powered mopeds, with your help, can assist in avoiding this crises and make the transportation of Boone, and other urban areas a sustainable reality.

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37. Group Music Therapy with Preschool Students
Student	Major	Faculty Advisor	College	Department	Award Date
Kathryn Yeager	Music Therapy	Cathy McKinney	School of Music	Music	Feb 26, 2008
Project Description: This presentation will describe group music therapy to address pre-academic and social goals with preschool children at risk for school failure. The group met twice a week and was comprised of six 4-year olds identified by their teacher as at risk and one client who has cerebral palsy. Interventions with this group included active music making, movement to music, and group singing. The poster will also discuss strategies for including a child with cerebral palsy into a group of with children with typical motor skills.

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38. Bottle Sampling for Shrews and Other Small Mammals Focusing on Morphological Characteristics Useful in Identification
Student	Major	Faculty Advisor	College	Department	Award Date
Drew Scott	Biology	Wayne Van Devender	Arts and Sciences	Biology	Feb 26, 2008
Project Description: Shrews (Order Soricomorpha) and other small mammals such as Rodents often become trapped inside glass bottles that have been discarded along roadsides and in other woodland areas. They go into the bottles seeking water (from collected rain) or food (from already trapped organisms) and often can not get back out. They then drown or die from starvation and lack of water, and their bodies decompose leaving only their skeletons. By surveying these discarded bottles, the skeletons of these unfortunate animals can be recovered. In this way, bottle sampling can provide lots of valuable data on the distributions and habitats of these organisms, as well as morphological data. My project will consist of surveying discarded bottles for mammal remains in a transect from the Boone area eastward to Stokes County, North Carolina. This transect lies within the range of seven different species of shrew and six species of rodents. From the remains I collect I will be able to determine where a particular species is most common in this area. I will also be able to formulate concrete identification data from the skeletons in order to create a detailed identification key to shrews of the southeastern US. This key will include information on the lower jaws of shrews which seems to be lacking in the popular literature. The data I collect will be used along with data from the ASU mammal collection to formulate my results. The results of this project will be compared with that from a similar project ranging from the Boone area towards Charlotte, North Carolina. This project will also be in collaboration with the Highlands Biological Station in Highlands, North Carolina. I also plan to present my project at the Student Research Day Celebration.

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39. The Fates in Figurative Sculpture A senior BFA Exhibition installation incorporating concepts of mythology and philosophy into figurative sculptures
Student	Major	Faculty Advisor	College	Department	Award Date
Erin Souther	Art	Lynn Duryea	Fine and Applied Arts	Art	Jan 22, 2008
Project Description: CONCEPT My interest in the role of fate in our lives began in the emotional aftermath of the Virginia Tech tragedy. I started to question my beliefs of human fate; those questions led to the discovery of different beliefs regarding fate in religious myth and philosophy. The idea of fate is common knowledge. Such plaintive questions as ?Why me,? ?Why of all people,? ?Why now,? can be addressed by fate and fatalism. Fatalism, simply put, is the idea that what will happen, or has happened, in some sense had to happen. I find that it is human nature to personify what we don?t understand. Greek mythology personifies the concepts of war, love and fate in representational images of man. In Greek mythology, the Fates symbolize the idea of spinning, measuring, and cutting a thread whose length corresponds to a mortal?s lifespan. Thus they embody the idea of the ?other hands? that decide human fate. Making a series of sculptures will allow me to continue investigating my own beliefs. Through my research, I will introduce the concepts of ?other hands? and fate into my figurative sculpture. My goal is to contrast the realm of the world we believe we control to a world that unknown to us, where ?hands? seem to reach out and make our daily choices for us. I want to provide viewers with narratives that lead them to questioning their own beliefs. EXHIBITION INSTALLATION The body of work will consist of four narrative figurative sculptures, coil constructed from a low fire, white earthenware sculpture clay body. Steel will be used as armatures for the figures, which will range from one to two feet in height. Mixed media will be included in selected figures such as thread and scissors to represent the ideas of a ?thread of life.? The thread will be clear as a metaphor for fate. · The first figure will be a women sitting and suggesting the motion of spinning her thread of life. · The second sculpture will represent Virginia Tech by having thirty-two small-scaled chairs sitting empty, while a chair off to the side will have a figure representing the shooter. He will signify the battle between what we choose for ourselves and what fated for us. · The idea of a couple fated to meet is shown by sculpting a small crowd of approximately seven people including the couple, to signify that fated couples are led to each one another through others such as friends, family etc. Therefore the couple will not be standing together, but apart and their thread will not connect directly, but weaves from each person in the crowd ending with one end of the thread at the male and female. · The final sculpture will be a wall piece of three pairs of hands. This wall piece shows fate literally as an idea of ?other hands? and more importantly the three fates showing the idea of spinning, measuring or cutting. The sculptures will be installed in the Catherine Smith Gallery in April 2008 as my BFA Senior Exhibition required for graduation. They will be displayed on large pedestals within the gallery except for the hands that will be installed on the wall. Since there are four pieces they will be installed as a square or crossroad. The hands will be set across the figure spinning her thread, while the other sculptures will make up the other sides of the square which suggest being between hands of fate and their own.

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40. BFA Exhibition in the Preservation of Memories
Student	Major	Faculty Advisor	College	Department	Award Date
Pamela Raimo	Art	Lynn Duryea	Fine and Applied Arts	Art	Jan 22, 2008
Project Description: The basis of my BFA Exhibition stems from the lose of my grandfather, with whom I was very close and who had been the one to initially encouraged me to pursue a career in art. I?m a very family oriented person and keeping the moments I share with the people I love with me is important to me. Since I?m a visually adept person, I tend to collect objects that for me have come to represent important people and events that have happened within my life such as a petrified clam shell I found on my last summer vacation with my grandfather before he passed away in 2005. Therefore my BFA Exhibition will concentrate on the preservation of memories through various objects that I have collected at important times in my life along with the more traditional photographs and words associated with specific memories for me. These objects, totaling in 22 which will represent the age at which I will graduate, will be placed within boxes complete with lids set within ceramic faces. The 22 faces, which will be a copy of my own, will represent different members of my family while the boxes will symbolize the treasure chest I use to keep my objects safe. The ceramic faces will be individually set within a wooden frame with plaster and mounted on the wall like a family portrait. Each face will also have photographic decals applied to their surfaces while words will be inscribed along the frame. I plan to arrange each face according to specific relationships between different members of my family the faces will represent. The installation will start with my grandparents and their relationship to each other mounted on the wall, followed by my parents and their relationship to one another. The next faces will be those of my parents, sister and me with our relationship as a family. Following will be my parents with their relationships with their siblings along with me and my sister and our relationship as siblings. My grandfather and I will follow with our relationship to each other while a single face that will represent myself and the person my family with the memories I have of them has helped to become will be placed last in the composition.

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41. A Phylogeography of Sibbaldiopsis tridentata
Student	Major	Faculty Advisor	College	Department	Award Date
Gerald Bresowar	Biology	Gary Walker	Arts and Sciences	Biology	Jan 22, 2008
Project Description: This thesis will determine the levels of genetic variation within and among populations of the plant species Sibbaldiopsis tridentata (Rosaceae) found inhabiting the high-elevation grassy balds and rock outcrops of the Appalachian Mountains. Populations will be sampled from the grassy balds of North Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia, as well as from rock-outcrop populations ranging from Tennessee to New Hampshire. The chloroplast intergenic spacer region rpl-trnL32F will be sequenced and intra-populational variation will be assessed. This genetic data will be coupled with the geographic data in order to provide a model of historical movement of populations of this species. I expect to determine whether populations of S. tridentata display patterns indicative of the post-glaciation range withdraw and subsequently, the population refugia hypothesis. Questions of inter-populational gene flow and recent colonization of habitats will be addressed. My hypotheses are: H0: All populations are genetically homogenous with no difference in variation between outcrop/bald habitat populations, or between regionally distinct populations. H1: There are differing levels of variation between populations from balds and from outcrops. H2: There are differing levels of variation throughout the range both within and among bald and outcrop populations. Determination of the varying levels of genetic depth among populations of this species will allow us to identify probable interglacial refugia. These populations represent the greatest regional gene pools. From the phylogeographic analysis of this species we can begin to propose how other rare and endemic northern species populations are patterned. A phylogeographic model for S. tridentata thus has implications for other plant species found in similar habitats, and subsequently implications for the management of the most genetically-diverse populations.

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42. The Omni-Toum
Student	Major	Faculty Advisor	College	Department	Award Date
Henry Finch	English	Lynn Doyle	Arts and Sciences	English	Jan 08, 2008
Project Description: FACULTY SUPPORT LETTER FROM: Lynn Doyle, Department of English (Arts and Sciences) I am writing in support of funding Henry Finch?s research project. He began it as an offshoot of one of the assignments in last fall?s advanced poetry class. As a poet, I am interested in his project because it explores and perhaps exhausts the possibilities of the pantoum form and because he is producing a poem that is visual, not readable, a poem that loses language. The visual aspect of the poem harkens back to Dada and the Futurists. But I also see it as begin in sync with ?new media? poetry, digital poetry that is highly experimental?something algorithmic, sometimes multimedia and often visual. But computer poetry is about the only medium Henry hasn?t tried to examine with his ?omni-toum? form. Last May Henry realized that his omni-toum might be able to be understood mathematically, and he met with a graduating math major who encouraged him. Since then he has recruited a faculty advisor in the Math Department. He has also recruited faculty advisors in Art and Music (Even though he?s a professional pianist and composer, he still felt he needed the guidance of a music professor). All of these professors are encouraged and delighted and willing to help him translate his poem into paintings, mathematical structures, and musical score. Gary Nemcosky, from the Art Department, wrote me a letter praising the project and said he would like to see Henry present his project to the upper level painters at some point. He even has a professor of Creative Writing at the Massachusetts College of Art and Design who is not only wanting to help him with the project, but also wanting him to attend graduate school there as a result of the project. Henry is one the most gifted, talented, and intellectually curious students I have ever met. He?s truly finding the universe in the university. He?s great at making connections not just with people, but also between disciplines and within disciplines.

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43. Hospital Security
Student	Major	Faculty Advisor	College	Department	Award Date
Daniel Foulk	Computer Information Systems	Dawn Medlin	Business	Computer Information Systems	Dec 19, 2007
Project Description: Testing the Network Security of hospitals by taking surveys

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44. Nutrient Intakes of Prepared Meals from Food Assistance Programs in Watauga and Wilkes COunty
Student	Major	Faculty Advisor	College	Department	Award Date
Kayce Boggs	Family and Consumer Science	Sarah Jordan	Fine and Applied Arts	Family and Consumer Science	Dec 19, 2007
Project Description: Graduate Research Project in Foods and Nutrition: Hypothesis- Individuals receiving one prepared meal per day from food assistance programs will not meet 1/3 of the Recommended Dietary Allowance of protein, carbohydrates, vitamins A, C, E, B6, zinc, calcium, iron, magnesium, and folate. I have measured one prepared meal from three different food assistance programs for five different weeks and analyzed the nutritional content using computer software. I obtained the sex and age of the meal recipients. I will compare the nutritional content of prepared meals between food assistance programs and between the prepared meals over the five weeks using student t-test. By conducting this assessment, information regarding nutrient value of foods being consumed by people of low socioeconomic status will be used to prioritize needs at local food assistance programs.

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45. Project Title Lenoir: Former Furniture Capitol of the South An installation project that serves as a reflection on the community and the furniture industry through the eyes of former furniture workers.
Student	Major	Faculty Advisor	College	Department	Award Date
Jennifer Livingston	Art	Lynn Duryea	Fine and Applied Arts	Art	Dec 19, 2007
Project Description: Concept Growing up in Lenoir, NC, I watched my hometown slowly dry up as factory after factory closed and thousands of furniture workers lost their jobs. To address this issue, I recently conducted an interview with my uncle who worked in the furniture industry in Lenoir for almost twenty years. After the interview, I realized that I want to give the working class citizens of Lenoir a chance to tell their stories. Aside from talking with these individuals, the most immediate and captivating way to go about presenting their stories is to record their dialogue with video. By conducting interviews with individuals who once were part of a thriving industry and community and displaying this footage publicly, it is my hope that others will gain a better understanding of how the community has changed since the factories have closed. Installation To present the collective narrative of former furniture workers in Lenoir, I plan to create an artistic installation that will consist of three main components: video projection, furniture and décor, and artificial fog. The video projection will display the footage of the interviews, the furniture arrangements will provide an environment into which the interviewees will be projected, and the fog (as dispensed from a fog machine) will serve as a means to physically connect the video projection and the furniture arrangements. I plan to create three different set-ups of projection, video, and fog in the installation space. I plan to interview 20 ? 25 individuals who have worked in the furniture industry in Lenoir, NC and record the interviews using digital video. Each interview will be conducted in the home of the participant. During the interview, I will ask each participant a series of questions relating to their experiences working in the furniture industry and how they feel that both their lives and the community have changed after the factories have closed. After the interviews, I will review and edit the footage. I plan to produce three videos. Each individual video will last approximately ten minutes; all three videos combined should last about half an hour. The furniture and other décor that I collect for my three arrangements will be determined by the furniture and décor in the homes of each participant. The furniture I select will be similar to the furniture in the participant?s home and will be set up in the same arrangement that it exists in the participant?s home. The fog will serve as way to physically place the projections of the interviewees into the furniture arrangements. The video projection and the fog will be directed at the arrangement of furniture so that the projection of the participant appears to be three-dimensional and physically existing within the furniture arrangement. This installation will take place in Lenoir in April 2008 as part of my senior exhibition required for graduation.

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46. GABA receptors in the inferior colliculus of Seizure-Prone Rats
Student	Major	Faculty Advisor	College	Department	Award Date
Margaret Adams	Psychology	Mark Adams	Arts and Sciences	Psychology	Dec 19, 2007
Project Description: Epilepsy is a neurological disorder characterized by a combination of over-excitation and under-inhibition in brain tissue, resulting in seizure behavior. To investigate the neuroanatomical and behavioral effects of seizure activity, our lab utilizes an audiogenic seizure (AGS) rat model which allows us to manipulate the number and severity of the seizure. AGS model uses specific sound events to make the rats susceptible to seizures. These sound induced seizures are propagated from auditory sensory neurons to a region of the brain known as the inferior colliculus (IC), were many auditory pathways converge. From the IC, the seizure can be propagated to other regions of the brain resulting in generalized seizure activity. The dorsal nucleus of the lateral lemniscus (DNLL) has been implicated as the extrinsic source for the inhibitory neurotransmitters gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) for the IC and may function in attenuation of seizure activity. The GABA-A receptor is composed for 5 transmembrane subunits, with the alpha-1 subunit being the ubiquitous across the GABA-A receptor in the auditory midbrain. Variation in the number of GABA-A receptors in the IC could also lead to attenuation or propagation of seizure activity. Previous research from our lab has indicated specific schedules of seizure activity are associated with variation in the number neurons expressing the inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA in the DNLL, suggesting reflexive plasticity in this structure as a result of seizure sound events. In order to further investigate the variation of GABA systems seizure prone animals, we would like to examine the GABA-A receptor distribution in the IC. Tissue samples will be taken from AGS model seizure prone rats, with age matched controls available. After slicing the neuronal tissue samples, indirect immunohistochemistry techniques will be used to detect the alpha-1 subunit of the GABA-A receptor in the tissue. In indirect immunohistochemistry, the tissue is first incubated with a primary antibody specific for the protein of interest, alpha-1 (Millipore). Then a secondary antibody is introduced to the tissue and binds to the primary antibody. An enzyme attached to the secondary antibody undergoes a colorimetric change to stain the tissue at the sites where the antibody is bound to glycine. To locate the cellular expression of the alpha-1 subunit as indicated by immunostaining, the tissue slices will be examined using a light microscope and Pixelink camera, and the cells stained for the GABA-A receptor subunit in the tissue region of the IC will be counted. By quantifying GABA-A receptors in the IC, we hope to add to the understanding of the role of this important inhibitory system in seizure behavior.

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47. Creative Connections: Using Expressive Arts Therapy to Help Children Suffering from RAD (Reactive Attachment Disorder) by Encouraging Connection, Empowerment, Empathy and Self-Worth.
Student	Major	Faculty Advisor	College	Department	Award Date
Ellen Robertson	Human Development and Psychological Counseling	Sally Atkins	Arts and Sciences	Human Development and Psychological Counseling	Dec 04, 2007
Project Description: The goal of my presentation is to increase awareness about Reaction Attachment Disorder and offer creative interventions. I will first explain some of the possible reasons children develop RAD and identify symptoms associated with this disorder. The focus of this poster will concentrate on ways to empower children with RAD and help them to move forward in the healing process. I will identify some of the prominent symptoms and offer creative interventions using a variety of modalities. These will include the use of art, music, movement, play and ritual. A compilation of group activities will be displayed detailing creative interventions. In addition, there will be handouts that outline my poster and offer resources for further exploration. I will engage in discussion with people interested in my topic. Also, I will share my experience implementing my compilation of creative group activities at my internship.

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48. Effect of Stress on Oil Production in Algae
Student	Major	Faculty Advisor	College	Department	Award Date
Matthew Sanderson	Biology	Mark Venable	Arts and Sciences	Biology	Nov 28, 2007
Project Description: The development of biodiesel will be a vital step toward shifting the world's energy use to a renewable source. The discovery of cheap and efficient m