Several locally collected specimens of crayfish (Orconectes rusticus) were subjected to burial in clay (Edgar Minerals kaolinite) that had been wetted with tap water, pond water or seawater (salinity = 35ppt), with and without bacteria present for a period of two weeks or one week in order to study the preservational differences in marine and freshwater environments. Observation at the macroscopic scale indicated freshwater specimens were significantly more decayed than salt water specimens, and they were most well preserved when bacteria were present in the salty water. In order to study the taphonomy of these specimens in greater detail, claws and portions of the carapace were examined at the microscopic scale using scanning electron microscopy. Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy was also used to identify the elemental composition of the specimens. Closer examination of the specimens revealed significant preservational differences between the proxy environments. The current working hypothesis to explain greater decay of freshwater specimens is that the salts and bacteria in seawater work to alter the pH and Eh of the water, improving preservation.

Gypsy moth caterpillars (Lymantria dispar dispar) produce high concentrations of lysophosphatidylcholine, a lipoprotein necessary to neutralize toxic oak tree (Quercus spp.) tannins commonly found in their diet, hereby aiding their growth and survival on a common host. Nutrient ratios (protein to carbohydrates) of the caterpillar diet may affect lipoprotein composition in the hemolymph. In this study, we reared caterpillars on diets of varying nutrient ratios as well as varying concentrations of tannic acid. We hypothesized that diets containing higher protein: carbohydrate ratios would allow the caterpillars to produce higher concentrations of lipoproteins, such as lysophosphatidylcholine. Hemolymph was extracted from caterpillars, and thin layer chromatography followed by phosphate analysis were utilized to determine lipoprotein presence and abundance. This study provides insights on toxin neutralization of a generalist herbivore pest and offers possible new mechanisms for forest pest management strategies.

I am currently doing an independent study on the Ronald McDonald House of Cleveland. The Ronald McDonald House offers families and patients a place to call home at little or no cost while they are receiving treatment at a hospital. They also provide home-cooked meals, fully furnished rooms, play rooms and many activities for the families. A lot of families may not know about staying at the Ronald McDonald House, or even how to contribute to helping. One easy way to raise money for the Ronald McDonald house is by collecting pop tabs. Throughout the semester I have educated people about the house and the different ways that people can help donate every day. The Ronald McDonald House Charities means a lot to me because while my brother was receiving treatment at the Cleveland Clinic, the Ronald McDonald house was a place I could call home.

Coloration in a biological organism supports mating, survival, identification, and other evolutionary processes. This coloration may be due to pigmentation produced by an organism or by play of color through structuring. This is significant because organisms use play of color to produce coloration that pigmentation alone is not capable of expressing. I explored the microstructure of the tail feather in peacocks using scanning electron microscopy to determine whether feather structure relates to the colors observed by the human eye. I hypothesize that microscopic structures of the feathers contribute to the overall color variation observed in peacock tail feathers.

A significant body of water in the state of Ohio is the Ohio River. This flooding of the Ohio River is on a scale set to be roughly every 100 years and in that case, we are due for one in 2037. We should look to the past for historical cues on what to do to prevent drastic flooding like the flood of 1937. There should be a focus to the damage that could occur and limit this by harvesting hydroelectric energy. We can also work on lock control to make sure the excess water does not rip them out. These flood waters will be up to 20% more than the flood of 1937 and could bring upwards of 20" of flooding to cities like Louisville. I believe, by teaching the public and student body of Kent State through my poster presentation, we can mitigate and create a solution to the problem before it occurs.

The experiment compared the effectiveness of killing Escherichia coli of the name brand household cleaner Lysol to generic cleaners. Each E.coli culture was allowed to incubate in the cleaning solution and then washed to remove the chemicals from the bacteria. A live and dead stain was applied and the sample was viewed under the confocal microscope. The results of the Lysol and the generic cleaners were very similar. A difference was that Lysol had a slightly higher percentage of death. These results show that Lysol is slightly more potent in killing E.coli. Both can be used as effective household cleaners, but Lysol was slightly more potent in killing E.Coli in this experiment.

Lactation consultants (LCs) are trained to teach others about breastfeeding and to aid mothers in feeding their infants. The recognize problems, counsel patients and apply principles of physiology related to lactation. This project focuses on who they are, how they are educated and the kinds of challenges they face with this type of work.

Big data refers to a collection of data sets so large and complex that it becomes difficult to process with traditional data processing applications or methods, nor can it be managed as a single instance. Big data analytics, of course, is the process of examining these large and varied sets of information to deliver a more coherent understanding of this data, by uncovering unseen correlations, patterns, or trends. Typically, a large-scale data analysis operation, the analysis at hand is performed by a "supercomputer" or several high-performance computers (HPCs) that are linked together to pool computing resources. This schema is considered a "cluster" with each individual computer being a "node" work in parallel to solve problems, or in this instance, analyze big data.

The topic of this paper addresses the planning and construction of a small-scale supercomputer (smaller than a breadbox) to perform analysis on data sets pertaining to employable skills for students entering the technology job field.

With the addition of the new Science and Nursing Building constructed in 2015 came the phenomenal new classrooms and new lab spaces. Among these labs is the Hoover Foundation Mud Room, a lab space where aspiring and experienced geologists alike have the opportunity to cut and polish rock specimens, prepare fossils, and utilize some of the finest resolution microscopes. This lab has been irreplaceable in creating and preparing new lab specimens for study. During any given semester, two to four undergraduate students work part time in the lab to gain hands-on geologic lab experience. For the Spring 2018 semester, geology majors Sara Hoffman, Shane Husk, Hannah Moauro, and Jenna Shinsky have been employed under Dr. Schweitzer's supervision to extract Clypeaster, a fossil sea urchin, from sediment with microjack tools; creating microscopic thin sections of several different rock specimens, and preparing dozens of polished rock specimens for study. Skills learned in the Mud Room will prepare students for graduate school or the work force.

Although Triclosan may be a discontinued ingredient in hand soap today, it is still effective at killing bacteria. Two different hand soaps were tested to determine whether Triclosan as an ingredient in the soap contributed to the success of killing bacteria found on the hand. The two soaps tested were Mrs. Meyer's liquid hand soap which was Triclosan-free and Dawn dish detergent containing Triclosan as an active ingredient. After the bacteria had been cultured for 18 hours on an agar plate, the bacteria colonies of each soap were counted before being examined under the fluorescent microscope. Triclosan proved to be more effective at killing bacteria found on the hands.