bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Towards an analytical description of propane-air premixed combustion in gaseous and gaseous-dusty industrial applications
Authors: Kodakoglu Furkan , Akkerman V'yacheslav 
Published: May 2022

Emerging usage of propane as an alternative fuel for transportation, cooking, heating and manufacturing, will unavoidably lead to accidental leakage and accumulation of propane occurring in industries dealing with flammable gases and explosive dust. An example is the coalmining industry, which historically has one of the highest fatality and injury rates among the employees. For this reason, here we extend a recent theory of a coalmine fire scenario, accounting for wall obstacles and switching from methane to propane. The new formulation combines the theories of self-accelerating expanding flames, of finger flames and of ultrafast flame acceleration in obstructed conduits. Specifically, the mining configuration is imitated by two-dimensional and cylindrical passages of high aspect ratios, with comb-shaped arrays of obstacles attached to the walls. The passages have one extreme open such that a flame is ignited at a closed end and propagates to an exit. The key stages of the flame evolution such as the velocity of the flame front and the run-up distance are scrutinized for a variety of the flame and mining parameters. Starting with gaseous propane-air flames, the analysis is subsequently extended to gaseous-dusty ones. Specifically, the coal dust (combustible, i.e. facilitating the fire), inert dust (such as sand, moderating the process), and their combinations are considered, with the impact of the size and concentration of the dust particles quantified. Overall, the influence of obstacles on the fire scenario is substantial, with a stronger effect observed in the cylindrical geometry as compared to the two-dimensional passages.
NEUROPROTECTIVE EFFECTS OF CREATINE TREATMENT ON THE DIFFERENTIATION OF E14 RAT CORTISOL STEM CELLS AND EXPRESSION OF GABA-ERGIC NEURONS
Authors: Anthony Bruce , CASINGAL NICHOLAS 
Published: May 2022

Along with the promotion of muscle growth and recovery, it has been observed that the supplement, Creatine, also contains neuroprotective properties that aid in the developmental process of neuronal cells by increasing developmental competency in early differentiation. In clinical research, addiction treatments are beginning to introduce dietary supplements such as Creatine for patients in early recovery to improve recovery abstinence. Research has shown that supplemental Creatine induces higher cerebral phosphocreatine levels which could help with improved neuron connectivity. In order to examine the neuroprotective effects of Creatine, E14 rat cortical stem cells were differentiated and treated with different dosages of alcohol and creatine. Alcohol was used as a negative control in order to compare the differentiation and expression of GABAergic neurons associated with alcohol exposure and neuronal protection from Creative. We anticipate that Creatine acts as a neuroprotective agent in GABAergic neurons treated with alcohol.
Lyme disease and tick (Acari: Ixodidae) monitoring in Upshur County, WV
Authors: Benchoff Mason N , Samargo Lukas Z , Sal Melanie S , Bjorgo-Thorne Kim 
Published: May 2022

Lyme disease is one of the most widespread vector-borne diseases in the Northern Hemisphere. In North America, it is mainly caused by the spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi. The main known transmission vector for B. burgdorferi is Ixodes scapularis, commonly referred to as the black legged tick. Through conducting this experiment, the presence and viability of Borrelia burgdorferi found within Ixodes scapularis and the prevalence of tick species found within West Virginia were examined. We collected different species of ticks via drag method in various locations throughout Upshur County,West Virginia. These ticks were identified, had their DNA extracted and amplified via PCR, and were run through gel electrophoresis to detect presence of B. burgdorferi. Results showed that around 5% of ticks collected contained the bacterium B. burgdorferi and a handful of other ticks showed non-specific bands of unknown extraneous DNA. Future studies include looking into a new, invasive tick recently introduced to the area and its capability to carry B. burgdorferi, as well as acquiring Rickettsia DNA and using a positive control containing it, to examine if the unidentified region makers found in the gels coincide with that particular bacterium
Why zombies crave brains: an exploration of two hypotheses.
Authors: Popovich Greg Edward 
Published: May 2022

In recent years, the allure of zombie culture has found its way into innovative teaching of biology and medical courses. In the current example, zombies are used to facilitate understanding of applied nutritional biochemistry. Specifically, two competing hypotheses are explored to evaluate which poses the most plausible explanation as to why zombies purportedly crave human brains: 1) as a source of omega 3 fatty acids versus 2) as a source of endogenous opiates (endorphins). The common drive for ingesting either compound stems from the assumption (as put forth in pop culture) that zombies are sentient and can feel themselves decompose, which is painful. Omega-3 fatty acids further rely on the following established premises: 1) the brain, by dry weight, is 60% lipid, most of which is essential fatty acids (EFAs); 2) the brain’s EFA content is mostly omega-3s, but is somewhat dependent on diet; 3) omega-3s exert anti-inflammatory and anti-nociceptive effects. The hypothesis that exogenous endorphins impart analgesia centers on their known binding to opiate receptors in the brain, assuming they can be absorbed at a sufficient dose to impart an effect. Evaluation of the potential effectiveness included quantitative and qualitative comparisons of digestion and absorption as well as effective dose. Although these two tentative explanations are not mutually exclusive, EFA consumption would be more likely to alleviate pain in the reanimated. This is primarily due to the likely destruction of endorphins by the gastrointestinal tract given that they are polypeptidal hormones and would be rendered ineffective for analgesia.
The effect of vaping on the development and craniofacial morphology of Xenopus laevis embryos.
Authors: Cutlip Camden 
Published: May 2022

Vaping is a type of nicotine usage in which an artificial cigarette is used as the delivery system. Originally marketed as the healthier alternative to smoking cigarettes, vaping has led to an increase in the amount of pulmonary issues by users. Our objective for this research was to test whether the consumption of nicotine and flavor additives through vaping is as harmful to developing embryos as that obtained through smoking traditional cigarettes. For this research, we exposed developing Xenopus laevis embryos to nicotine from vaping solution with 3 differing propylene glycol: vegetable glycerin ratios (30:70, 50:50, 70:30) as well as smoke from a well-known cigarette brand, all of which contain 12 mg of nicotine. We exposed the embryos to the same amount of nicotine and byproducts that would be consumed by the average pregnant American woman who either vapes or smokes traditional cigarettes. Embryos were exposed from Stage 10 (yolk plug) to Stage 43 (freeswimming tadpole with most yolk consumed). Tadpoles were sacrificed and mounted, and Image J was used to determine if there were any differences in craniofacial morphology between treatments. Preliminary results are encouraging and indicate possible developmental effects of different VG: PG ratios. This research was funded by a NASA Space Grant awarded to Camden Cutlip.
The antimicrobial activity of Serena repens (Saw Palmetto) extract against Burkholderia cepacia.
Authors: Nepali Umesh , Horzempa Dr.Joseph 
Published: May 2022

UMESH NEPALI & JOSEPH HORZEMPA, Department of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, West Liberty University, West Liberty, WV, 26074.The antimicrobial activity of Serena repens (Saw Palmetto) extract against Burkholderia cepacia. Burkholderia cepacia is a gram-negative bacterium and opportunistic human pathogen that most often causes pneumonia in individuals with weak immunity or underlying lung diseases such as Cystic Fibrosis. B cepacia is naturally drug resistant to numerous antibiotics. Therefore, to potentially identify novel antibiotics that inhibit the growth of B. cepacia, we previously screened a library of nearly 4000 extracts of plants, marine life, and fungi from the National Center for Natural Products Research. From this screen, Serena repens (Saw Palmetto) extract significantly inhibited the growth of B. cepacia. The purpose of this work is to validate the antimicrobial activity exhibited by Saw Palmetto extract, and to isolate and identify the compound(s) responsible for this activity. Both disk diffusion and time-to-kill assays will be used to test the antibiotic properties of Saw Palmetto extract. I have conducted pilot studies to optimize experimental conditions that will be used in these assays. Further, we will extract organic compounds from different parts of the Saw Palmetto plant. These extracts will be lyophilized, reconstituted, and then utilized in the bioassays to test antibiotic activity. Subsequently, extracts with activity will be separated by chromatography. To identify the active compounds, pure molecules showing antibiotic activity will be subjected to NMR and Mass Spectrometry. (Supported by NIH Grant P20GM103434 to the West Virginia IDeA Network for Biomedical Research Excellence)
Susceptibility of Neisseria gonorrhoeae to Resazomycins in Varying Oxygen Concentrations
Authors: Cunningham Kailee , Rice Justin , Schmitt Deanna M 
Published: May 2022

Antibiotic resistance is a growing issue globally as many pathogenic bacterial species are becoming less susceptible to common antibiotic treatments. Antibiotic resistant pathogens are the cause of 23,000 deaths in the United States each year and increasing health care costs. It is imperative that new antibiotics be developed to combat this public health crisis. We recentlyidentified a novel family of resazurin-based compounds, resazomycins, to have antimicrobial activity in vitro against Neisseria gonorrhoeae, a human pathogen. Resazomycins are capable of killing N. gonorrhoeae in broth culture as well as within human endometrial cells, HEC-1-B. However, when different resazomycins were tested in a mouse model of gonorrhea, none of the compounds were able to completely clear the infection. The difference between in vitro and invivo antibacterial efficacy may be due to differences in oxygen concentration. Atmospheric oxygen levels are typically around 20% while the oxygen concentration of most mammalian tissues is around 3-5%. We hypothesize that the decreased oxygen concentration in vivo may affect the antimicrobial activity of resazomycins. To test this hypothesis, the susceptibility of different clinical isolates of N. gonorrhoeae to resazurin was measured under atmospheric (20%)and physiologic (2-3%) oxygen conditions. To date, certain strains of N. gonorrhoeae showed more growth following exposure to resazomycins under physiologic oxygen than atmospheric oxygen. This suggests N. gonorrhoeae is more resistant to resazomycins under low oxygen conditions. Further experimentation is needed to determine why certain N. gonorrhoeae strainsare showing less susceptibility to resazomycins under physiologic oxygen conditions.
Conservation Assessment of Cambarus dubius in Pennsylvania with Distribution Notes on Lacunicambarus thomai.
Authors: Allison Jr. Patrick F. , Lieb David A. , Loughman Zachary J. , Racine Holly L. 
Published: May 2022

Burrowing crayfishes are poorly understood animals that face conservation and management issues due to a lack of distribution and ecological data. Within Pennsylvania, the burrowing crayfish Cambarus dubius has a limited distribution and its conservation status within the state is unranked. An assessment was conducted in southwestern Pennsylvania to assess the conservation status of C. dubius throughout its historic range. GIS-landscape data was used to analyze potential predictors of presence/absence. Six historic sites and 790 new sites were sampled for the presence of C. dubius. Of the 796 sites sampled, C. dubius was collected from 61 sites. Active crayfish burrows were present at 137 additional sites; these are predicted to be those of C. dubius due to the structure of the burrows. Additional biological and ecological data on C. dubius are also provided. The global model produced from logistic regression analysis was unable to predict variables of presence/absence; suggestions for additional variables to better predict presence/absence of C. dubius are provided. Collections also yielded populations of Lacunicambarus thomai within the range of C. dubius and are the easternmost within Pennsylvania.
Isothermal measurements of a Langmuir monolayer of a non-polar fluorocarbon chain molecule
Authors: Li Mengyang , Sheetz Nicholas , Smith Clayton 
Published: May 2022

Traditionally Langmuir monolayers and lipids bilayers (including cell membranes) on water interfaces are made of amphiphilic molecules with both polar hydrophilic and non-polar hydrophobic parts. It has been discovered that non-polar fluorocarbon chain molecules without the polar hydrophilic part, F(CF2)20F, can also form Langmuir monolayers on water. Here we report the surface pressure vs. area isotherm measurements of a F(CF2)20F film on water, which show the film’s maximum compression modulus (greatest resistance to lateral compression) at about 30 Å2/molecule, independent of the compression speed, like the Langmuir monolayers of long chain saturated fatty acids do. The cross-section area of the fluorocarbon chain is 28.1 Å2 in 3-D crystalline F(CF2)20F. Our measurements confirm the formation of a Langmuir monolayer by F(CF2)20F, a non-polar fluorocarbon chain molecule. We observed a general trend that greater the lateral compression speed, lower the maximum compression modulus, lower the resistance to lateral compression. Nicholas Sheetz and Clayton Smith are grateful to financial support from the National Science Foundation through the SOARS Research Fellowship at Shepherd University.
Determining if Household Powders can Aid in Forensic Fingerprint Analysis
Authors: Way Megan , Henson Kristy 
Published: May 2022

MEGAN WAY, Dept of Natural Science, Forensic Science Program, Fairmont State University, Fairmont, WV, 26554, and KRISTY HENSON, Dept of Natural Science, Forensic Science Program, Fairmont State University, Fairmont, WV 26554. Determining if Household Powders can Aid in Forensic Fingerprint Analysis.This research work serves the purpose to test whether household powders like cornstarch, baking soda and cocoa powder work in lifting latent fingerprints. This would be helpful if for any reason normal fingerprint powder is not able to be used. While doing the research project the powders used were Sirchie black, white and pink fingerprint powders, cornstarch, baking soda and cocoa powder. The surfaces used were plates, aluminum cans and laminate. A male and female touched each surface and for the first part the prints were dusted immediately. After that, the surfaces were touched again, but this time the prints sat for one hour and lifted after that. Each print was lifted using SIRCH-LIFT tabs. The top film of the tape was not placed back on because it left bubbles in the print, therefore distorting the print. The results showed a lot with each powder. The black powder worked like it was supposed to. The white and pink powders did have some issues with clumping and not sticking to the print. The baking soda did not work at all for any surfaces. The cornstarch and cocoa powder went back and forth between working for each gender and surface. So, these results showed that some household powders would be helpful in the field if regular powders are not accessible.
The Recreation of Irish Peat Bog Environments to Recreate Biological Mummification
Authors: Bush Jordyn Elaine , Henson Kristy 
Published: May 2022

JORDYN BUSH, Department of Natural Science, Forensic Science Department, Fairmont State University, Fairmont, West Virginia, 26554, and KRISTY HENSON, Department of Natural Science, Forensic Science Department, Fairmont State University, Fairmont, West Virginia, 26554.The Recreation of Irish Peat Bog Environments to Recreate Biological Mummification. Bog people were individuals subjected to human sacrifice starting around 8,000 BCE. After death these individuals were placed into bogs around northern Europe and remained there until the 17th - 19th centuries when the bogs were being destroyed for farmland. The bog people were naturally mummified by the peat bog environment dumbfounding scholars of that time. The objective of this study was to create a peat bog environment and recreate biological mummification. Three large fish tanks were placed in a refrigerator that maintained the bog temperature of -4° C. One tank was filled with dechlorinated water to serve as the control. Two tanks were used to recreate the bog environment. The bog tanks were filled with dechlorinated water, peat moss, sphagnum moss, decomposing leaves, algae, and Alphaproteobacteria. Hairless, fetal kittens were placed into each tank and monitored weekly. The control specimen became bloated and several layers of tissue dissolved. The specimens in the bog environments show noticeable skin shrinkage and darkening consistent with mummification. This research was made possible by NASA West Virginia Space Grant Consortium, Training Grant #NNX15AI01H.
Propagation of Nonequidiffusive Premixed Flames in Channels with Open Ends
Authors: Abidakun Olatunde 
Published: May 2022

Combustion in micro-channels has numerous fundamental and practical applications, with oscillations and acceleration representing the two distinct modes of premixed flame propagation in “fully-open” channels (both ends of the channel are open). The type of propagation encountered is determined by such factors as the internal condition of the channel, the width of the channel, the thermal expansion ratio, the thermal-to-mass diffusivity ratio (defined as the Lewis number, Le), and their interplays. We have therefore investigated the impact of these factors, especially, the role of the Lewis number and its coupling to other parameters, on the dynamics and morphology of premixed flames in fully-open channels. We have computationally solved the set of reacting flow equations, including the balance of mass, momentum, energy and species, with fully-compressible fluid dynamics and Arrhenius chemical kinetics. Specifically, the Lewis numbers in the range are considered. Other factors varied in the parametric study include the thermal expansion ratio ; the channel half-width , scaled by the flame thickness , in the range ; the blockage ratio , as well as the spacing between the neighboring obstacles scaled by such that are considered. It is shown that the Lewis number provides both quantitative and qualitative effects on the flame dynamics. In some cases of the channels filled with obstacles, the flames show an oscillatory propagation about a steady value, while in other cases, sudden transition to acceleration after an initial period of oscillations is seen. Without obstacles ( ), the flames are only found to exhibit oscillatory motion through the channel. All flame propagation parameters, such as the oscillation frequency, amplitude, and the time of initial propagation before transition to acceleration occurs, are found to be affected by Lewis number and other factors.
Efficacy of a combined lecture/laboratory model for student performance and engagement in introductory chemistry courses.
Authors: Brothers Scott , Reilly Lisa 
Published: May 2022

In this study, student success metrics using a combined lecture/laboratory “atoms-first” approach will be compared to traditional teaching models in which lecture and laboratory are separate courses with separate meeting times. This model was piloted earlier with the introductory course CHEM 108, Forensic Chemistry, which demonstrated increased student engagement due to daily rather than weekly laboratory activities. A curricular change was implemented in the CHEM 101 course, General Chemistry I, in the Fall of 2016. This model included new experimental and computational modules incorporated around the course material each week in addition to changing to an “atoms-first,” structural model rather than a “stoichiometry-first” mathematical model over the first few chapters of the course. Hands-on molecular modeling assignments have been included along with the curricular changes, which have allowed students to better visualize atomic and molecular structure. Evidence for the efficacy of these newly-developed assignments is shown in the results of exams primarily covering topics of structure and bonding, which are used as a tool of quantitative assessment between traditional lecture and combined lecture/laboratory models. In the traditional lecture model, the average exam score for this learning outcome was 65.8% (N = 45), whereas for the combined lecture/laboratory model, the average exam score is 71.2% (N = 64). Additional student learning outcomes results for both General Chemistry and Forensic Chemistry will be discussed, and changes in performance and engagement will be outlined.
The Impact of Two-Minute Training Sessions on Confidence level for Providing Compression-Only Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation
Authors: Faykus Teresa , Curry Taylor , Raines Austin 
Published: May 2022

Teresa Faykus, Faculty Advisor, Nursing, West Liberty University; Taylor Curry, Nursing Student and Austin Raines, Nursing Student, West Liberty University, West Liberty, WV.The Impact of Two-Minute Training Sessions on Confidence Level For Providing Compression- Only Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Studies have shown that bystander compression-only resuscitation for adult, out-of-hospital cardiac arrest victims improve overall survival rates. Unfortunately, 70% of Americans do not know how to administer resuscitation attempts or are afraid of hurting the victim. Therefore, only 27-41% of sudden cardiac arrest victims receive immediate resuscitation attempts. The research question is: Can simplified performance steps, simplified training, and elimination of mouth-to-mouth contact help bystanders feel more confident in taking the appropriate actions for saving a life? Objectives include training college students, staff, and faculty in chest-compression only resuscitation for an adult sudden cardiac arrest victim; measuring self-reported confidence levels before and after the training by using a Likert scale, and gathering self-reported confidence level factors. Nursing students included staff, faculty, and students to randomly participate. Data was gathered, a two-minute training and a return demonstration was completed, and post confidence levels were recorded. Of the total 134 participants, 85% reported a positive change in confidence levels. Of those, 55% had positive differences in their confidence of 2, 3, or 4 levels. When dissecting the confidence factors, three of the six options stood out as being the most chosen: “I feel that I may hurt someone if I don’t do it correctly”, “I don’t know the steps of CPR”, and “I’m afraid that I would get in trouble or get sued”. By understanding how confident the public is in initiating CPR and what influences these confidence levels, training can be better guided.