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First Class Mail
Dr. C. Steven Murphree
Department of Biology
Belmont University
1900 Belmont Boulevard
Nashville, Tennessee 37212-3758
124th Meeting
Tennessee
Academy of
Science
Program
November 21 , 2014
Walters State
Community College,
Morristown, Tennessee
Celebrating 102 Years
Tennessee Academy of Science
Institutional Sustaining Members
2014 TAS Executive Committee
Austin Peay State University
East Tennessee State University
Middle Tennessee State University
Motlow State Community College
Rhodes College
Tennessee Technological University
The University of Tennessee–Knoxville
The University of Tennessee–Martin
The University of the South
Volunteer State Community College
Walters State Community College
Dr. Kim Cleary Sadler, President
Middle Tennessee State University
Dr. Gilbert Pitts, President-Elect
Austin Peay State University
Ms. Mandy Carter-Lowe, Past President
Columbia State Community College
Ms. Teresa Fulcher, Secretary
Pellissippi State Community College
Dr. C. Steven Murphree, Treasurer
Belmont University
Dr. Rachel Rigsby, Managing Editor
Belmont University
Tennessee Academy of
Science Affiliated Societies
Dr. Abigail Goosie, Assistant Editor
Walters State Community College
National Association of Academies of Science
Barnard Astronomical Society
Tennessee Science Teachers Association
Tennessee Entomological Society
Tennessee Association of
Science Department Chairs
Tennessee Psychological Association
Tennessee Junior Science and
Humanities Symposium
Clarence T. Jones Memorial Observatory
American Association for the
Advancement of Science
Dr. Fred Matthews, Director -Collegiate Division
Austin Peay State University
www.tennacadofsci.org
Visit our home page for news
and information about
TAS Collegiate Divisions
TAS Junior Academy
Tennessee Visiting Scientist Program
Membership and Leadership
Journal of the Tennessee Academy of Science
TAS Future Annual Meeting Sites
2015—Middle Tennessee State Universtiy
Dr. Preston MacDougal, Director Junior Academy of Science
Middle Tennessee State University
Dr. Daniel Swartling
Director - Visiting Scientist Program
Tennessee Technological University
Dr. Linda Jordan, Department of Education Liaison
Science Consultant
Dr. Gilbert Pitts, Director of Electronic Communications
Austin Peay State University
Dr. Eugene de Silva, Annual Meeting Coordinator,
Walters State Community College
Dr. J. Brian Robertson, Member-at-Large, 2014 –
2016
Middle Tennessee State University
Dr. Chad Brooks, Member-at-Large, 2012 - 2014
Austin Peay State University
Dr. Tony Johnston, Member-at-Large, 2013—2015
Middle Tennessee State University
TAS Standing Committees 2014
Auditing and Financial Oversight Committee
Dr. Tommy Wooten, Chair, Belmont University
Dr. Steven Murphree, ex-officio advisor, Belmont University
Education Committee
Dr. Cindi Smith-Walters, Chair, Middle Tennessee State
University
Dr. Beth Shussler, University of Tennessee
Dr. Anna Hiatt, East Tennessee State University
Fellows Committee
Dr. Charles R. McGhee, Chair, Middle Tennessee State
University
Dr. Gladius Lewis, University of Memphis
Brother Kevin Ryan, Christian Brothers College
Long Range Strategic Planning Committee
William H. Andrews, Jr., Chair, Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Dr. Jeff Boles, Tennessee Technological University
Dr. Michael Gibson, University of Tennessee--Martin
Teresa Fulcher, Pellissippi State Community College
Karen Kendall-Fite, Columbia State Community College
Dr. Steven Murphree, Belmont University
Membership Committee
Karen Kendall-Fite, Chair, Columbia State Community College
Dr. Gary Hall, David Lipscomb University
Dr. Jeffrey Lebkeucher, Austin Peay State University
Necrology Committee
William H. Andrews, Jr., Chair, Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Dr. Andy Sliger - The University of Tennessee at Martin
Nominating Committee
Mandy Carter-Lowe, Chair, Columbia State Community College
William H. Andrews, Jr., Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Dr. Jeff Boles, Tennessee Technological University
Dr. Michael Gibson, University of Tennessee--Martin
Dr. Cindi Smith-Walters, Middle Tennessee State University
Dr. M. Gore Ervin, Middle Tennessee State University
Dr. George E. Webb, Tennessee Technological University
Publicity and Research Committee
Chair—Open
Dr. Jeff Boles, Tennessee Technological University
Dr. Patricia Hull, Tennessee State University
Dr. Lewis Myles, Tennessee State University
Mr. Roger D. Applegate, Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency
Resolutions Committee
Chair - Open
Ms. Betty Davis, East Tennessee State University
Dr. David Pitts, University of Tennessee--Martin
AAAS Representative
Dr. Preston MacDougal
Middle Tennessee State University
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Table of Contents
Tennessee Academy of Science
Institutional Sustaining Members
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Table of Contents
Welcome
Announcements
Meeting Schedule
Keynote Speaker Introduction
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Lists of Oral Presentations
Agriculture
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Botany
Cell and Molecular Biology
Chemistry
Engineering and Engineering
Technology
Geology and Geography
Health and Medical Science
History of Science
Mathematics and Computer Science
Microbiology
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Map and Directions
Physics and Astronomy
Science and Mathematics Teaching
Zoology
List of Poster Session Presentations
TAS Standing Committees
TAS Executive Committee Members
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inside
back
cover
Welcome . . .
. . . to the 2014 Annual Meeting of
the Tennessee Academy of Science. We hope you enjoy and
benefit from this opportunity to
present your research, to learn of
other research going on in Tennessee, to interact in a relaxed atmosphere with other science professionals and to participate in the
business of the Academy. Please
let our volunteers on the executive
board know if you have any needs
or questions and if the meeting in
any way does not meet (or if it exceeds!) your expectations. We
are always striving to improve!
Effect of previous experience and habituation on
the anti-predator response in Elimia snails. Brielle
Davis, and John H. Niedzwiecki, Belmont
University, Nashville, Tennessee.
Investigating chemical detection of fish predators in
heptagenid Mayflies. G. Nicole Knowles, and John
H. Niedzwiecki, Belmont University, Nashville,
Tennessee.
Use of nest boxes located at the edge as
compared to within a tree line on a farm in
northwest Tennessee. Gina L. Lowry* and H. Dawn
Wilkins, The University of Tennessee at Martin,
Martin, Tennessee.
Ecological service of cavity dwelling birds. Charles
C. Barnes*, Darrell D. Barnes, Mark L.
Montgomery, Maithri Adris*, James Sylvester,
Brent Lavers, Paul Grisham, Piyatilake Adris,
Ray Cox, Sarah Mattox, K.N.Thimmaiah, Padma
Thimmaiah, Kyle Ellis & Jeremy Isome,
Northwest Mississippi Community College-DeSoto
Center, Southaven, MS.
Olfactory stimulations in captive Neofelis nebulosa
at the Nashville Zoo at Grassmere, Tennessee.
Kristen Riggs*, Brian Miller, and Chris Meffley,
Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro,
Tennessee (KR, BM) and Miami University, Oxford,
Ohio (CM).
Changes in bat community composition during
seasonal fall migration in northwest Tennessee.
Gordon A. Counts* and Nancy Buschhaus, The
University of Tennessee at Martin, Martin,
Tennessee.
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Zoology Posters
Incidence and thermal biology of the invasive
Daphnia lumholtzi. Jeffrey White*, Melissa
Pompilius*, and Robert Fischer, Middle
Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro,
Tennessee.
Announcements
If not already a member, presenters
and attendees may register by mail
or at the Annual Meeting.
Investigation of algae-inhabiting Invertebrates as
indicators of water quality. Katelyn B. Keast* and
C. Steven Murphree, Belmont University,
Nashville, Tennessee.
Application forms will be available
on-site, and they are available for
download from the TAS web site.
A comparison of two pitfall trap designs to
determine arthropod abundance and diversity in a
deciduous old-growth forest in Davidson County,
Tennessee. Jackson R. Smith* and C. Steven
Murphree, Belmont University, Nashville,
Tennessee.
Dues are collected at time of
registration.
Preferred microhabitat conditions of Vaejovis
carolinianus in a middle Tennessee cedar glade.
Chelsea J. Lee*, C. Dillon Oman and C. Steven
Murphree, Belmont University, Nashville,
Tennessee.
Phenotypic variation, movement and abundance of
Vaejovis carolinianus in a middle Tennessee cedar
glade. C. Dillon Oman*, Chelsea J. Lee and C.
Steven Murphree, Belmont University,
Nashville, Tennessee.
The effect of FMRFamide on the contraction rates
of the antennal accessory pulsatile organs and the
dorsal vessel of Anopheles gambiae. Talitha H.
Jones*, C. Steven Murphree, and Julian F.
Hillyer, Vanderbilt University, Nashville,
Tennessee (TJ, JH), and Belmont University,
Nashville, Tennessee (TJ, SM).
State dependent anti-predator behavior in Elimia
snails. Raina Burley, and John H. Niedzwiecki,
Belmont University, Nashville, Tennessee.
www.tennacadofsci.org
Student
$10 annually
Emeritus
$10 annually
Member
$40 annually
Sustaining
$50 annually
Supporting
$100 annually
Life
$400 single payment
Journal subscription for libraries
please inquire with Treasurer
Registration and dues can be mailed
to the TAS Treasurer:
Dr. Steven Murphree,
Department of Biology, Belmont
University, 1900 Belmont Boulevard,
Nashville, TN 37212-3758
Predator-induced behavior in snails by native and a
novel crayfish. Sonia Kadakia, and John H.
Niedzwiecki, Belmont University, Nashville,
Tennessee.
Luncheon tickets will be available for
purchase at the registration desk.
32
5
Schedule of Events
Physics Posters
Thursday, November 20, 2014
5:3010:00pm
Executive Committee Meeting
and Dinner
Lyceum side-room
Friday, November 21, 2014
7:30 a.m. until
1:30 p.m.
Registration
Lyceum Lobby
7:30 a.m. until
8:30 a.m.
Poster Setup
Lyceum Lobby
(Poster board and easel provided—
look for the designated area to set up
your poster)
7:45 a.m. until
8:15
Meeting of Section Chairs
Lyceum side-room
8:30 a.m. until
9:45 a.m.
Poster Presentation and
Judging
Lyceum Lobby
9:45 a.m. until
10:30 a.m.
10:30a.m. until
11:30a.m.
11:30 am until
1:00 p.m.
1:00 p.m. until
finished
Welcome by Walters State
Community College
President Wade McCamey
Business Meeting
Lyceum Auditorium
Plenary Session –
Lyceum Auditorium
—Dr. Jim I. Mead —
Ice Age Colorado Plateau: Been
There Dung That
Luncheon
Library
Afternoon Technical Sessions/
Section Business Meetings
Lyceum Auditorium
NSCI: 103, 107, 112, 141, 205, 217,
220,
MBSS: 223, 225
6
The Principles of Conservation of Momentum as a
Means to Predict and Analyze the Uprising of
Terrorist/Radical Groups. Eugenie de Silva,
University of Leicester, Leicester, England.
A Curious Fragmentation of Briz-M Propellant Tank
in Orbit. Eugene De Silva, Sherita Moses * and
Arjun Tan, Virginia Research Institute, USA
(ED), Walters State Community College , TN (ED),
and Alabama A & M University , AL (SM, AT)
The Early Soviet Anti-Satellite Tests. Eugene De
Silva, Sherita Moses*, and Arjun Tan, Virginia
Research Institute, USA (ED), Walters State
Community College (ED), and Alabama A & M
University (SM, AT)
Science and Math Teaching Posters
Green Girls: Learning of science and civic
engagement. Caleb Hough*, Ashely Harvey, Judith
Iriarte-Gross, Angela Gilley, Samantha Brown,
Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro,
Tennessee (CH, AH, JIG) and TN-SCORE,
University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee
(AG, SB).
The A.R.T. of computed tomography, Janelle
Williams*, April Grippo*, Columbia State
Community College, Columbia, Tennessee.
Maple Database Development Project at Columbia
State, Ryan Moore*, Janelle Williams*, and Glenn
Hudson, Columbia State Community College,
Columbia, Tennessee.
Building international partnerships in Tennessee
and Chilean high schools through the NSF GK-12
program at Middle Tennessee State University.
Kim Sadler, Patrick Havlik*, Jacob Sanders*,
Andrew Trivette*, Paola Molina*, Anthony
Farone, Mary Farone, Middle Tennessee State
University, Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
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History of Science
No poster presentations
Meet our Keynote Speaker
10:30-11:30 Lyceum Auditorium
Jim I. Mead
Math and Computer Science
No poster presentations.
Microbiology Posters
PVL as an indicator of the prevalence of USA300
CA-MRSA on Belmont University's campus. Jordan
D. Helms* and Jennifer T. Thomas, Belmont
University, Nashville, Tennessee.
Bacterial fight club: do qseBC-pmrAB crossinteractions benefit bacterial fitness? Himesh B.
Zaver*,Kirsten R. Guckes, Jennifer T. Thomas,
and Maria Hadjifrangiskou, Belmont University,
Nashville, Tennessee (HZ, JT), and Vanderbilt
University School of Medicine, Nashville,
Tennessee, (KG, MH).
M.S. and Ph.D in Geosciences at the University of
Arizona, Tucson (1979, 1983). I was at the Department
of Geology and the Quaternary Sciences Program at
Northern Arizona University from 1985 to 2008. In 2008 I
was asked to pull together the new the Department of
Geosciences at ETSU, create a M.S. degree program,
root the unit in paleontology, and collaborate with and act
as a sister unit to the Gray Fossil Site, ETSU Museum of
Natural History. Currently I am completely revising the
undergraduate B.S. program.
My first river trip down the Colorado River in the Grand
Canyon in 1969 cinched paleontology to be my life. The
Grand Canyon has been an active part of my research
since 1974. I have a number of projects outside of the
Miocene-age Gray Fossil Site here at ETSU, including
the study of Neogene-Quaternary reptiles and
amphibians of Arizona, Sonora (Mexico), southern
China, Western Australia, and of course still within the
Grand Canyon. Most of my work now centers on the
skeletal morphology and evolution of snakes and lizards.
I have been chair for over 45 graduate student thesis
committees here at ETSU and previously at
NAU. Research has always been my passion so it has
allowed me to publish about 150 peer-review articles and
4 books.
Presentation Title
Ice Age Colorado Plateau: Been There Dung That
Abstract
The Colorado Plateau covers about 337,000 km2 of land
covering much of eastern Utah, western Colorado,
northeastern
Arizona,
and
northwestern
New
Mexico.
Elevations range from 360 m along the
Colorado River in the Grand Canyon to 3850 m at the top
of San Francisco Peak near Flagstaff, AZ. Paleozoic and
Mesozoic rocks dominate the bedrock. Limestone caves
are abundant within the Grand Canyon while sandstone
rock shelters are commonplace over the rest of the
Colorado Plateau. Because of the arid environment and
climate, dry-desiccation has permitted the preservation of
a unique sample of the floral and faunal biotic
communities that once occurred on the Colorado Plateau
over the past 100,000 years. Skeletal remains, tissue
samples, hide, hair, keratin horn sheaths, and copious
amounts of herbivore dung are so common in the caves
that to not find these fossil remains is unusual. In the
presentation we will visit remote caves in the Grand
Canyon inhabited by the extinct Harrington’s mountain
goat and a rock shelter in Utah that contains over 300 m 3
of mammoth dung.
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Oral Presentations
Agriculture
Chairs: Tony Johnston Ph.D.
Joey Mehlhorn Ph.D.
NSCI 141
1:00 p.m.– 3:20 p.m.
1:00—1:05 Business Meeting
1:05- 1:20 Grapes in Honduras—a research
update. Tony V. Johnston, Middle Tennessee
State University, Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
1:20– 1:35 Agriculture student perceptions: soft
skills versus technical knowledge. Jason Roberts,
Sandy Mehlhorn, Danny Walker, and Emalee
Buttrey, University of Tennessee at Martin, Martin,
Tennessee.
1:35– 1:50 Using policy to influence agriculture
production behavior: the case of U.S. cotton. Joey
Mehlhorn, Scott Parrott, Rachna Tewari, and
Kim Hall, University of Tennessee at Martin,
Martin, Tennessee.
1:50– 2:05 The effectiveness of alternative
management and marketing strategies on cattle
producer returns in Tennessee. Adam Hopkins,
Jason Roberts, Joey E. Mehlhorn, and Scott
Parrott, The University of Tennessee at Knoxville,
Knoxville, Tennessee (AH) and The University of
Tennessee at Martin, Martin Tennessee (JR, JM,
SP).
2:05– 2:20 Days on milk, dairy health and
productivity. Eryn V. Rodgers*, and Justin G.
Gardner, Middle Tennessee State University,
Murfreesboro Tennessee.
2:20– 2:35 Sustainable erosion control. Sandy
Mehlhorn and Eatedal Alqusireen, The University
of Tennessee at Martin, Martin, Tennessee.
2:35– 2:50 Impact of Cover Crop Management on
Water Dynamics in Soybean Production Systems.
Paula M Gale, B. Akridge and K. Ewer,
University of Tennessee at Martin, Martin,
Tennessee.
2:50– 3:05 Faculty led agricultural study abroad.
Tony V. Johnston. Middle Tennessee State
University, Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
* student author
# presenting author, if not first author
8
Health and Medical Science Posters
Arsenic trioxide (As2O3) and reduced glutathione
(GSH) act synergistically to augment inhibition of
thyroid peroxidase (TPO) activity in vitro. Emily
Ely* and Dominic Palazzolo, Lincoln Memorial
University-DeBusk College of Osteopathic
Medicine, Harrogate, Tennessee.
NC4 induces intrinsic apoptosis through
dephosphorylation of BAD and inhibits
proliferation of mammary carcinoma cells,
Kuntebommanahalli N. Thimmaiah*, James L.
Sylvester, T. Padma, Ashish Pagare, Mark
Montgomery, P. Adris, P. Grisham, Sarah
Mattox, Ray Cox, Darrell Barnes, Salundi
Basappa, and Kanchugarakoppal S. Rangappa,
Northwest Mississippi Community College,
DeSoto Center, Southaven, Mississippi (KNT,
JLS, TP, AP, MM, PA, PG, SM, RC, DB), and
Department of Chemistry, University of Mysore,
India (SB & KSR).
Assessment of parents educational needs and the
availability of resources for feeding children with
intellectual and developmental disabilities. Terra
L. Smith. Laurel A. Welborne*, James Meindl.
Lee Wallace, The University of Memphis.
Memphis, Tennessee.
Analysis of Interferon-alpha levels in cervical
cancer cell lines infected with microbes. Sarah C.
Bonaparte* and Jennifer T. Thomas. Belmont
University, Nashville, Tennessee.
Prevalence of PBP2a in community-associated
methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus
isolates on Belmont University’s campus.
Rebekah A. Shepherd* and Jennifer T.
Thomas, Belmont University, Nashville,
Tennessee.
Experimental trauma hemostatic agent ZnDeuteroporphyrin 2,4 bis glycol photodegrades to
generate carbon monoxide (CO). Zeenat
Shameem*, Fruzsina Johnson and Robert
Johnson. Lincoln Memorial University- DeBusk
College of Osteopathic Medicine, Harrogate,
Tennessee.
29
Geology and Geography Poster
Total Suspended Sediments and Turbidity Analysis
of Three sub-watersheds in the Caney Fork Basin,
Putnam & Dekalb counties in Upper Cumberland
Rim in northeast Middle Tennessee, Jeffrey A.
Engler* Tennessee Technological University,
Cookeville, Tennessee.
Survey of arsenic (As), selenium (Se) and mercury
(Hg) distribution in water, sediment and diatoms of
a stream flowing through a coal mining region of
Pike County, Kentucky, Dominic L. Palazzolo, Stan
C. Kunigelis, John E. Copeland and Kevin P.
Jansen, Lincoln Memorial University-DeBusk
College of Osteopathic Medicine, Harrogate,
Tennessee (DP, SK, JC), Drury University,
Springfield, Missouri (KJ).
3:05– 3:20 Nutrients, suspended sediment, and
hydrology interact to regulate dissolved oxygen in
agricultural lakes and streams. Justin N. Murdock, Martin A. Locke, Richard E. Lizotte, F.
Douglas Shields, and Kate A. Henderson*, Tennessee Tech University, Cookeville, Tennessee
(JNM, KAH), USDA National Sedimentation Laboratory, Oxford, Mississippi (MAL, REL), and Shields
Engineering, University Mississippi (FDS).
Botany
Chair: David Lincicome
Lyceum
1:00 p.m. – 4:35 p.m.
1:00 – 1:05 Business Meeting
1:05 – 1: 20 Preliminary vascular plant flora of the
Big Soddy Creek Gorge, Hamilton and Sequatchie
Counties, Tennessee. Zach Irick*, Joey Shaw, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, Chattanooga, Tennessee.
1:20 – 1:35 Flora and vegetation of riverscour
Communities of Tennessee's Caney Fork River.
Mason Brock* and Dwayne Estes, Austin Peay
State University, Clarksville, Tennessee (MB, DE),
and The Botanical Research Institute of Texas,
Fort Worth, Texas (MB, DE).
1:35 – 1:50 The vascular flora of the Lula Lake land
trust on Lookout Mountain in Walker County, Georgia. Austin Prater* and Joey Shaw, The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, Chattanooga,
Tennessee.
1:50 – 2:05 An historical account and update on
the forthcoming Guide to the Vascular Plants of
Tennessee. Edward W. Chester, Austin Peay
State University, Clarksville, Tennessee.
2:05-2:20 Status and distribution of Stellaria fontinalis in Tennessee, Todd Crabtree, Tennessee Natural Heritage Program, Nashville, Tennessee.
* student author
# presenting author, if not first author
28
9
2:20– 2:35 Bryophytes of the Rocky Fork Tract,
Unicoi and Greene Counties, Tennessee. Rebekah
J. Smucker and Foster Levy, Asheville, North
Carolina, and East Tennessee State University,
Johnson City, Tennessee.
2:35– 2:50 Surface-soil properties of alder balds
with respect to grassy and rhododendron balds on
Roan Mountain, North Carolina–Tennessee.
James T. Donaldson, Zachary C. Dinkins*,
Foster Levy, and Arpita Nandi, East Tennessee
State University, Johnson City, Tennessee.
2:50– 3:05 The sustainability of the harvest of
American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) in the
eastern US; is the species threatened by
exploitation? Andrea S. Bishop, Tennessee Natural
Heritage Program, Nashville, Tennessee.
3:05– 3:20 Digitization of Tennessee herbarium
collections. Joey Shaw*, Dwayne Estes, and
Ashley Morris, University of Tennessee at
Chattanooga, Chattanooga, Tennessee (JS),
Austin Peay State University, Clarksville,
Tennessee (DE), Middle Tennessee State
University, Murfreesboro, Tennessee (AM).
3:20– 3:35 A floristic inventory of the scour zones
of the Big South Fork River in Kentucky and
Tennessee. Chris Mausert-Mooney* and Dwayne
Estes. Austin Peay State University, Clarksville,
Tennessee (CM, DE), and Botanical Research
Institute of Texas, Fort Worth, Texas (CM, DE).
Efforts Toward Iterative Pd-Catalyzed BisAlkoxylation of Heteroaryl Halides. Evan J. Dover,*
Jessie D. Carrick, Tennessee Technological
University, Cookeville, Tennessee
The Design and Synthesis of Pyridinyl-1,2,4triazine Ligand Scaffolds Towards Chemoselective
Minor Actinide Extraction. Sydney V. Marchi, *
Serene Tai,* Jessie D. Carrick, Tennessee
Technological University, Cookeville, Tennessee
Tennessee
Intra-Molecular Catalysis: Chemical Models for
Serine Hydrolase. Cornelius Ndi*, Ismail O. Kady,
East Tennessee State University, Johnson City,
Tennessee
Engineering and Engineering
Technology Posters
Measurement and comparison of sound pressure
dB and dBA levels in non-ideal environment, Seth
Baird*, Na Zhu, et al. Austin Peay State
University, Clarksville, TN.
Predicting life cycle of longitudinal Pavement
Markings Using Stochastic Differential Equation,
Emmanuel Kidando*, Deo Chimba, Abram
Musinguzi* and Evarist Ruhazwe* Tennessee
State University, Nashville, TN.
Geo-spatial correlation between land use patterns
and pedestrian crash clusters on local roads,
Abram Musinguzi*, Deo Chimba, and Evarist
Ruhazwe*, Tennessee State University,
Nashville, TN.
3:35– 3:50 Vascular flora and vegetation of the
riverscour communities in Daddy’s Creek Gorge,
Cumberland County, Tennessee. Devin Rodgers*
and Dwayne Estes, Austin Peay State University,
Clarksville, Tennessee (DR, DE), and Botanical
Research Institute of Texas, Fort Worth, Texas
(DR, DE).
* student author
# presenting author, if not first author
10
27
Cell and Molecular Biology Posters
(cont).
Blocking of thermotaxis and chemotaxis in
Caenorhabditis elegans. Lauryn Bouldin* and
Robert Grammer, Belmont University, Nashville,
Tennessee.
Using missense mutants to test the ability of Hsp60
and Hsp70 chaperones to rescue misfolded
proteins. Mahsa Majedi*, Ashley Elliott Cole, and
Elliot Altman, Middle Tennessee State
University, Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
Proteo-Genomic Profiling of a Multi-Drug Resistant
Acinetobacter baumannii Clinical Isolate. Phillip
Martinez*, *Parris Powers*, Sammed
Mandape**, and Siddharth Pratap,** * Volunteer
State Community College, Tennessee and **
Meharry Medical College, Tennessee.
Carbohydrate Effect Survivability to
Staphylococcus aureus. Christopher Bowen and
Nick Ragsdale, Belmont University, Nashville,
Tennessee.
Role of HIF-1 in Caenorhabditis elegans Infected
with Salmonella enterica. Jacob Dahm and Nick
Ragsdale, Belmont University, Nashville,
Tennessee.
The Effect of SKN-1 on 6-OHDA Treated
Caenorhabditis elegans. Rezzan Hekmat and Nick
Ragsdale, Belmont University, Nashville,
Tennessee.
3:50– 4:05 A floristic ecological survey of seepage
fens in the Western Highland Rim of Tennessee.
Judy Redden* and Dwayne Estes, Austin Peay
State University, Clarksville, Tennessee (JR, DE) and
Botanical Research Institute of Texas, Fort Worth,
Texas (JR, DE).
4:05– 4:20 Floristics and biogeography of
riverscour communities on the Locust Fork of the
Black Warrior River, Blount County, Alabama. Kelly
Anderson* & Dwayne Estes, Austin Peay State
University, Clarksville, Tennessee (KA, DE) and
Botanical Research Institute of Texas, Fort Worth,
Texas (KA, DE).
4:20– 4:35 Plant conservation under the
Endangered Species Act: potential listing and critical
habitat designation for Platanthera integrilabia.
Geoff Call, US Fish and Wildlife Service,
Cookeville, Tennessee.
Cell and Molecular Biology
Chair: Kristin Rich
MBSS 223
1:00 p.m. – 1:20 p.m.
1:00 – 1:05 Business Meeting
1:05 – 1: 20 The effect of triclosan on GnRH
production in GT1-7 cells, Emily A. Towery*, Kelsey
C. Cleland*, Gilbert R. Pitts, Austin Peay State
University, Clarksville, Tennessee.
Adenosine Metabolite Production in Caenorhabditis
elegans Infected with Staphylococcus aureus
versus Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Stephanie Ray
and Nick Ragsdale, Belmont University,
Nashville, Tennessee.
Chemistry Posters
Progress towards the Convergent Asymmetric
Total Syntheses of Ieodomycins A and B.
Ai Lin Chin*, and Jesse D. Carrick, Tennessee
Technological University, Cookeville, Tennessee
26
* student author
# presenting author, if not first author
11
Chemistry
Chair: Daniel J. Swartling, Ph.D.
NSCI 112
1:00 p.m. – 2:20 p.m.
1:00– 1:05 Business Meeting
1:05– 1:20 Further Progression in the Development
of a Parabolic Solar Reflector for Use in Organic
Synthesis Reactions. Brian M. Agee*, Gene Mullins,
Joseph Biernacki, and Daniel J. Swartling,
Tennessee Technological University, Cookeville,
Tennessee.
1:20– 1:35 Progress towards the total
enantioselective syntheses of hamigeromycin b and
deoxyhamigeromycin b. Alexander H. Cleveland,*
Michael S. Probasco,* James A. Jordan,* John
W. Kirby,* Jessie D. Carrick, Tennessee
Technological University, Department of Chemistry,
Cookeville, Tennessee.
Cell and Molecular Biology Posters
MIX13: A NIST interlaboratory study on the present
state of DNA mixture interpretation. B. Morgan*
and M. Coble, Middle Tennessee State
University, Murfreesboro, Tennessee, and National
Institute
of
Standards
and
Technology,
Gaithersburg, Maryland.
Difference between Acinetobacter baumannii rates
of DNA uptake and secretion between wild-type
and transposon mutant strains. Justin R. Smith*,
Jennifer T. Thomas, Michael J. Noto, Eric P.
Skaar,
Belmont
University,
Nashville,
Tennessee (JS, JT), Vanderbilt University,
Nashville, Tennessee (MN, ES).
The evaluation of Interferon-beta levels in HPVpositive cervical cancer cell lines, Olivia M. Ford*
and Jennifer T. Thomas, Belmont University,
Nashville, Tennessee.
1:35 – 1:50 Synthesis of Novel Soft-N-Donor
Complexants for Chemoselective Minor Actinide
Extraction. Serene Tai,* Sydney V. Marchi,* and
Jessie D. Carrick, Tennessee Technological
University, Department of Chemistry, Cookeville,
Tennessee.
The effects of different dosages of -lipoic acid on
the chemotaxis of Caenorhabditis elegans at
various stages of adulthood. Alicia L. Hsu* and
Robert Grammer, Belmont University, Nashville,
Tennessee.
1:50 – 2:05 Green synthesis of gold nanoparticles
and SERS detection of emerging environmental
pollutants. Uttam Sharma Phuyal* and Andrew
Callender, Chemistry Department, Tennessee
Technological University, Cookeville, Tennessee.
Olfactory chemotaxis response and addiction in
Caenorhabditis elegans to an olfactory repellant
paired with nicotine. Amanda Bigness* and Robert
Grammer, Belmont University, Nashville,
Tennessee.
2:05 - 2:20 Cellulose-supported metal selective
ligand extraction materials. Haley M. Curtis*, Emily
E. Mott*, and Andrew F. Callender, Tennessee
Tech University, Tennessee.
Using missense mutants to determine amino acids
that are crucial to the correct folding of b–
galactosidase. Dianna J. Prince*, Ashley Elliott
Cole and Elliot Altman, Middle Tennessee State
University, Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
The Effect of Invasive Plant Species on Soil
Microbe-Microbivore Interactions. John Anthony
Holt Jr.*, Robert Grammer, Belmont University,
Nashville, Tennessee.
The effects of nicotine on Caenorhabditis elegans
chemotaxis to E. coli. Khang Tran*, Robert
Grammer, Belmont University, Nashville,
Tennessee.
* student author
# presenting author, if not first author
12
25
Botany Posters
Undergraduate research on rain garden’s effects
on water quality. Maytee Y. Lee* and Kim Atwood,
Cumberland University, Lebanon, Tennessee.
Tree diversity of Kilbride Nature Sanctuary, Rhea
County, Tennessee. Tylor Hall*, Maria Holder*,
Allen Moore, Tennessee Wesleyan College,
Athens, Tennessee.
Taxonomic revision of the Passiflora bilobata
species complex (subgenus Decaloba:
supersection Xerogona). Shawn Krosnick and
Justin Perdue*, Tennessee Tech University,
Cookeville, Tennessee.
Food quality of and preference for native and exotic
plant leaves by the terrestrial isopod, Armadilidium
vulgare. John Gossen*, A. Darlene Panvini and
John H. Niedzwiecki, Belmont University,
Nashville, Tennessee.
Influence of smoke water on germination of native
pine rockland grasses. Melanie A. Cooper* and
Lisa M. Krueger, University of Tennessee at
Martin, Martin, Tennessee.
.
Engineering and Engineering
Technology
Chair: Na Zhu
MBSS 225
1:00 p.m. - 4:20 p.m.
1:00-1:05 Business Meeting
1:05-1:20 Functional Degradation of Automatic
Transmission Internal Coupling Component Friction
Surfaces Due to Continuous Changes in Fluid Thermal Loading, John L. Byrd, Austin Peay State University, Clarksville, Tennessee.
1:20 -1:35 Quality Test Results of Biodiesel Produced in the BioPro 190 Processor, Lucinda K.
Fowinkle, Austin Peay State University, Clarksville, Tennessee
1:35- 1:50 A correlation study of Capstone, and project-based courses activities on STEM engineering
technology students’ enrollment, Ihab Habib, Austin Peay State University, Clarksville, Tennessee.
1:50- 2:05 Low frequency vibration sensor for Ballistocardiograph monitoring, Yating Hu, Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
2:05- 2:20 Hybrid Energy System (HES) Model Integrated with Unreliable Power Grid for Developing
Countries, Landon Onyebueke, Corey Zusin* and
Kehinde Oke*, Tennessee State University,
Nashville, TN.
2:20- 2:35 A Robotics Capstone Project - Quadcopter, Victor Omolo* and Chin-Zue Chen, Austin
Peay State University, Clarksville, Tennessee.
2:35-2:50 Crash prediction model of median related
crashes for Tennessee Highways at Cable barrier
locations, Evarist Ruhazwe*, Deo Chimba, Tennessee State University, Nashville, Tennessee.
2:50-3:05 Self-Contained, Portable RF Spectrum
Analyzer, Adel Salama, Matthew Anderson*, Matthew Farrell*, John Benne*, Matthew Loucks*,
and Seth Galassi*, Austin Peay State University,
Clarksville, Tennessee.
3:05-3:20 Aerial Camera Platform, Adel Salama, Andrew Scahill*, Levi Grayer*, Thomas Carder*,
Stanley Cook*, Joe Speta*, Austin Peay State
University, Clarksville, Tennessee.
* student author
# presenting author, if not first author
24
13
Engineering and Engineering
Technology
(continued)
3:20-3:35 Challenges of Photodefinable Glass
Technology in Micromechatronics, Khalid Hasan
Tantawi, William Gaillard, and John Williams,
Motlow State Community College, Smyrna,
Tennessee, and University of Alabama in
Huntsville, Huntsville, Alabama.
3:35- 3:50 Assess Security Risk of Google Glass,
Marc Primeau*, Jared Wagnac*, Sachin Shetty,
Tamara Rogers. Tennessee State University,
Nashville, Tennessee.
3:50- 4:05 Error analysis of blind source
localization with modified triangulation algorithm,
Na Zhu, Austin Peay State University,
Clarksville, Tennessee.
4:05– 4:20 Engineering Ethics - What is Ethical
About it? Joseph P. Carson, PE, Department of
Energy, Oak Ridge, Tennessee
Geology and Geography
Chair: Habte G. Churnet, Ph.D.
NSCI 220
1: 00 p.m. – 3:05p.m.
1: 00 – 1:05 Business Meeting
1:05 – 1:20 Ramp folds in the Valley and Ridge: an
example from the Wildwood exit of I-75 southbound
lane, Georgia. Habte G. Churnet, University of
Tennessee at Chattanooga, Chattanooga,
Tennessee.
1:20 – 1:35 GPS mapping and analysis of multiple
components of the Bahamian Field Station Trail of
San Salvador Island, Bahamas. Alyssa Fjeld,*
Alex Dennis*, Johnny Bailey*, and Dawn Ford,
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga,
Chattanooga, Tennessee.
1:35 – 1:50 Secondary sulfate minerals from acid
rock drainage at road cuts in Tennessee.
Michael Bradley, Tom Byl, and Scott Worland,
U. S. Geological Survey, Nashville, Tennessee.
Poster Presentations
Lyceum Lobby
Set Up: 7:30—8:30 (Poster board &
easel are provided; posters are
displayed by
technical section name)
Display: 8:30 – 9:45
Judging: 8:30 – 9:45
(Presenters should be near their
displays during the judging to answer
any questions.)
Agriculture Posters
Counting the cost: Farm equipment accidents on
public roads in Tennessee. Sandy Mehlhorn and
Joey E. Mehlhorn, The University of Tennessee
at Martin, Martin Tennessee.
Prevalence of Ancylostoma caninum (Hookworm),
Toxocara canis (Roundworm), and Trichuris vulpis
(Whipworm) in stray canines versus owner
released canines. Jamie Garrett*, Taylor Gaston*,
and Christina Galben, Austin Peay State
University, Clarksville, Tennessee.
The effects of applying diary manure or N fertilizer
on the nutritive value of three forage grass species,
Michelle Shelly*, Eric Limbird*, Warren
Anderson, Nathan C. Phillips, and Song Cui,
Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro,
Tennessee.
Response of Tomato Seedlings to Juglone Toxicity.
Warren Anderson, and Michelle Shelly*, School
of Agribusiness/Agriscience, Middle Tennessee
State University, Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
The association between water depth, algal
assemblages, and hypoxia in agricultural lakes.
Kate A. Henderson*, Justin N. Murdock, Martin
A. Locke, and Richard E. Lizotte Tennessee
Tech University, Cookeville, Tennessee (KAH,
JNM), USDA National Sedimentation Laboratory,
Oxford, Mississippi (MAL, REL)
* student author
# presenting author, if not first author
14
23
Zoology
Chair: Juliann Waits, Ph.D.
NSCI 103
1:00 p.m. – 2:20 p.m.
1:00 – 1:05 Business Meeting
1:05 – 1:20 Seasonal patterns of activity for the
eastern woodrat (Neotoma floridana). Jessica
Davin*, Lauren A. Madeira, and Michael L.
Kennedy, The University of Memphis, Memphis,
Tennessee.
1:20 – 1:35 Assessment of capture data for Virginia
opossums (Didelphis virginiana) and raccoons
(Procyon lotor) in western Tennessee. Rebecca
M. Bingham*, Lauren A. Madeira*, John R.
Hisey, Daniel M. Wolcott, Erica H. Vecchio, and
Michael L. Kennedy, The University of
Memphis, Memphis, Tennessee.
1:35 – 1:50 Freshwater Porifera (Spongillidae) of
eastern Tennessee. John E. Copeland, Jesse A.
Tussing, Tucker M. Jett, and Stan C. Kunigelis,
Lincoln Memorial University, Harrogate,
Tennessee.
1:50 – 2:05 Recovery monitoring of sea urchins on
San Salvador Island, Bahamas. Tyler C. Johns*,
Kalee Skipworth*, Dr. Dawn M. Ford, Dr. Ann
Holmes, Jonathan Brock*, University of
Tennessee at Chattanooga, Chattanooga,
Tennessee.
2:05 – 2:20 Ecological service of cavity dwelling
birds. Charles C. Barnes*, Darrell D. Barnes, Mark
L. Montgomery, Maithri Adris*, James
Sylvester, Brent Lavers, Paul Grisham,
Piyatilake Adris, Ray Cox, Sarah Mattox,
K.N.Thimmaiah, Padma Thimmaiah, Kyle Ellis &
Jeremy Isome, Northwest Mississippi
Community College-DeSoto Center, Southaven,
MS.
1: 50 - 2:05 Metabolic and growth response of cave
-stream bacteria to sublethal concentrations of
antibiotics, Mammoth Cave, Kentucky. Thomas D.
Byl, Petra K. Byl*, Shannon Trimboli, Bill
Sutton, Rickard Toomey, III. U.S. Geological
Survey, Nashville, Tennessee (TDB), University of
Chicago, Illinois (PKB), Mammoth Cave
International Center for Science and Learning,
Mammoth Cave National Park, Kentucky (ST, RT),
Tennessee State University, Nashville, Tennessee
(BS).
2:05 - 2:20 Quantitative tracer studies to
understand chemical transport at Mammoth Cave,
Kentucky. David Solomon*, Rickard Toomey, III,
Bobby Carson, JeTara Brown*, Roger Painter,
Lonnie Sharpe, and Thomas D. Byl, Tennessee
State University, Nashville, TN (DS, JTB, RP, LS,
TDB) Science & Resource Management, Mammoth
Cave National Park, Kentucky (RT, BC), U.S.
Geological Survey, Nashville, Tennessee (TDB).
2:50– 3:05 Connecting Manhead Cay Stratigraphy
to Existing San Salvador late Cenozoic
Stratigraphic Framework in The Bahamas. Tara
Denley*, Christopher Lewis*, Andrew Stevens*,
Chad Wood* and Ann Holmes, The University of
Tennessee at Chattanooga, Chattanooga,
Tennessee.
Health and Medical Sciences
Chair: Ashley D. Frazier, Ph.D.
No oral presentations. Check the list for poster
presentations.
* student author
# presenting author, if not first author
22
15
History of Science
Science and Math Teaching
Chair: Martin V. Stewart
NSCI 217
1:00 p.m. – 2:05 p.m.
1:00 – 1:05 Business Meeting
Chair: Michelle Rogers
NSCI 107
1:00 p.m. – 2:20 p.m.
1:00 – 1:05
Business Meeting
1:05—1:20 Buying and selling science: the
Nashville meeting of the AAAS, 1877. George E.
Webb, Tennessee Tech University, Cookeville,
Tennessee.
1:05 – 1:20
Encouraging early student
participation in the Tennessee Academy of
Science. Lawrence F. Kennard, Walters State
Community College, Morristown, Tennessee.
1:20 — 1:35 The atom and the AAAS. Reconciling
science and public opinion. Grace R. Claudy*,
Tennessee Technological University, Cookeville,
Tennessee.
1:20 – 1:35 Addressing the need for students to
think critically about science. Jeffery W. Bonner*
and Mary Ellen Lohr*, Middle Tennessee State
University, Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
1:35 - 1:50 Four prohibitions of the General
Congregation of Jesuits in 1651. John J.
Schommer, University of Tennessee at Martin,
Martin, Tennessee.
1:35 – 1:50 Making a difference using informal
science education in a rural setting. Stanton G.
Belford, Martin Methodist College, Pulaski,
Tennessee.
1:50– 2:05 History of buildings and laboratories for
chemistry at MTSU. Martin V. Stewart, Middle
Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro,
Tennessee.
1:50 – 2:05 Volunteer State Community College’s
partnership in a national initiative: Community
College Undergraduate Research Initiative
(CCURI) - year three. Parris Powers, Nancy Morris,
Maryam Flagg, Thomas Ekman, Douglas
Williams and Phillip Martinez*, Volunteer State
Community College, Gallatin, Tennessee.
2:05– 2:20 Cooking, gardening, and informational
texts – summary of a workshop for middle and high
school teachers to integrate science and English
language arts standards. Darlene Panvini, Lauren
Lunsford, Sally Arwood, Kate McGowan, Kim
Daus, Bonnie Smith-Whitehouse. Belmont
University, Nashville, Tennessee.
* student author
# presenting author, if not first author
16
* student author
# presenting author, if not first author
21
Physics and Astronomy
Chair: Eugene de Silva, Ph.D., FRSA
NSCI 205
1:00 p.m. – 1:20 p.m.
1:00 – 1:05 Business Meeting
1:05 – 1:20 Effect of Hydrogen on the Transport
Processes in FeCr-Based Alloys during High
Temperature Oxidation in high- and low-pO2.
Emmanuel Essuman and Eugene De Silva,
Walters State Community College, Morristown,
Tennessee (EE, EDS), Virginia Research Institute
(EE, EDS), and Institute of Physics, UK/USA
(EDS), Tazewell, Tennessee.
Math and Computer Science
Chair: Indranil Ghosh, Ph.D.
No oral presentations. Check the list for poster
presentations.
Microbiology
Chair: Roger Jackson, Ph.D.
No oral presentations. Check the list for poster
presentations.
* student author
# presenting author, if not first author
20
17
Directions
Morristown Campus
500 South Davy Crockett Parkway
Morristown, TN 37813-6899
423.585.2600
From Greeneville, Tri-Cities
From Knoxville









Head south on I-81
Take exit 12 for TN-160 toward Lowland/Morristown
Turn right onto TN-160 N
After 3.2 miles, merge right onto US-25E N/S Davy
Crockett Pkwy
Travel 1.6 miles. Campus on left.

Head east on I-40
Take exit 421 on the left to merge onto I-81 N toward Bristol
Take exit 8 for US-25E toward Morristown/White Pine
Turn right onto TN-113 N/TN-32 N/US-25E N/US-25-E
Scenic N/S Davy Crockett Pkwy. Continue to follow
TN-32 N/US-25E N/US-25E Scenic N/S Davy Crocket Pkwy
After 5.6 miles, Campus will be on the left.