2006 Undergraduate Research and Creative Achivements Forum (MU)
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Mizzou's annual Undergraduate Research and Creative Achievements Forum showcases student research and scholarly and creative achievements to the Mizzou community. Undergraduates from any major and all academic levels are eligible to present their work. Students presenting at the forum are eligible to compete for the Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Research and Creative Achievements.
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Item Optimization design for blast resistant walls [abstract](University of Missouri - Columbia Office of Undergraduate Research, 2006) Zans, Jennifer; University of Missouri-Columbia. Office of Undergraduate Research; Undergraduate Research and Creative Achievements Forum (2006 : University of Missouri--Columbia)Blast retrofits on the market today are either barriers that shield the blast effects, or wall retrofits that absorb the blast effects. Good engineering practice to better optimize these designs is to find the balance between each component as it affects the system. In this study, the focus will be on sheet steel for blast retrofits. Sheet steel is used on the interior side of an exterior wall to absorb the blast effects, debris and momentum of the wall, in order to protect the occupants. Many components make up this blast retrofit system. Each component of the system must be evaluated to achieve the desired failure mode. For example, the base plates must not be too stiff or the sheets will shear from them. Conversely, if the base plates are too weak, the sheets will pull out around their anchorage. Once again, a balance of the components must be determined to achieve the desired performance from the system. This work will find that balance and determine the limits of the application. The research result will allow design engineers to select the optimum combination of wall-to-concrete floor anchorage, wall parameters, and retrofit system parameters.Item The rectilinear representation of a year: 2006 [abstract](University of Missouri - Columbia Office of Undergraduate Research, 2006) Woodburn, John; University of Missouri-Columbia. Office of Undergraduate Research; Undergraduate Research and Creative Achievements Forum (2006 : University of Missouri--Columbia)This is a 2006 calender divided into four different parts that measure roughly 29" x 45". Each individual poster represnets a three month period or rough season. The days of the month are set up in a grid pattern of eight wide and each month is represented by a hue of color of that particular season. There are no days of the week present, only numbers with sundays in yellow. My goal was to take the functionality of a calendar and strip it down to it's basic parts while also showing the relationship of days to months in an aesthetically pleasing and modernized/minimilistic way.Item Overwintering ecology of the Black-and-White Warbler in a Puerto Rican dry forest [abstract](University of Missouri - Columbia Office of Undergraduate Research, 2006) Wiewel, Amber; University of Missouri-Columbia. Office of Undergraduate Research; Undergraduate Research and Creative Achievements Forum (2006 : University of Missouri--Columbia)I studied the wintering ecology of the Black-and-white Warbler (Mniotilta varia) in a dry forest of Puerto Rico. I analyzed mist netting data collected from 4 January-15 February during 1989-2006. These data will be examined to learn how Black-and-white Warblers select wintering habitat, how site faithful they are, and how habitat heterogeneity affects their choices in selecting or returning to wintering habitats each year. Capture/recapture rates will be examined using chi-square contingency table analyses. Questions to be addressed include: Is there evidence of habitat heterogeneity (i.e., are there habitat hotspots)? Do these areas have higher return rates than others? How much spatial consistency is there in recaptures? These questions will help determine how site faithful Black-and-white Warblers are, both on a local and regional scale. Vegetation data also well be examined to identify habitat attributes associated with high quality (i.e., high use) areas.Item Therapy of experimental allergic encephalomyelitis under circumstances relevant to human Multiple Sclerosis. Part III [abstract](University of Missouri - Columbia Office of Undergraduate Research, 2006) Wiehagen, Karla; University of Missouri-Columbia. Office of Undergraduate Research; Undergraduate Research and Creative Achievements Forum (2006 : University of Missouri--Columbia)Experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) is an inflammatory disease of the central nervous system (CNS) that resembles human multiple sclerosis (MS). EAE and MS develop when proteins of the myelin sheath that covers axons are released and encounter cells of the immune system such as T lymphocytes. Activation of these lymphocytes will trigger inflammation that destroys the myelin leading to clinical signs that manifest mostly in the form of motion impairment and muscle paralysis. Inactivation of myelin specific lymphocytes is currently viewed as a means to halt immune attack against the brain and reverse the course of disease. Previous research in our lab has shown that peptide delivery on immunoglobulin (Ig) is effective against EAE. This method of treatment, however, presents a clinical challenge for use in humans, because it involves intraperitoneal injection of the chimeric Ig (Ig-MOG). We have determined that the oral route, which is more practical, yields comparable results against the disease. This model is also useful for investigation of mechanisms of oral tolerance.Item The role of pregnancy intention and social support on pregnancy outcome factor [abstract](University of Missouri - Columbia Office of Undergraduate Research, 2006) Washington, Carmen; University of Missouri-Columbia. Office of Undergraduate Research; Undergraduate Research and Creative Achievements Forum (2006 : University of Missouri--Columbia)A previous study examined the relationship between pregnancy intention and social well-being among low-income pregnant women. Post-partum follow-up of the 72 initial participants was attempted by phone, through mass mailing, and through follow-up survey distribution at the WIC clinic. A 51 percent response rate was achieved. Respondents differed from non-respondents only by health insurance status. We examined the relationship between breastfeeding, smoking during pregnancy, smoking after pregnancy, and low birth weight by whether or not the pregnancy was intended. In addition, we examined the relationship between three measures of social well-being (social support, perceived loneliness, and family relationship problems) by breastfeeding status, smoking status during pregnancy, post-partum smoking status, and low birth weight status. We found no significant relationships among the study variables, which may be due to the small sample size. Further study is recommended to examine these relationships.