Assessing the Fate of Antibiotic Resistance Genes in Wastewater Treatment Processes

The increasing need for clean water has paved the way for the creation of systems for reusing water, such as wastewater treatment plants (“WWTPs”), to provide potable water. But in recent years, such systems have raised concerns about the distribution of antibiotic resistance genes (“ARGs”). Bacteria are adapting to antibiotics by the evolution of resistance mechanisms, such as high mutation rates and horizontal transfer. The presence of ARGs, particularly tetracycline ( tetA ) resistance genes, in wastewater effluents is of concern, as they can survive treatment, spread to bodies of water, and pose a threat to human health. In this study, the impact of treatment processes on the fate of tetA in WWTPs has been analyzed. Five stages were sampled, including grit removal, activated sludge, clarification, granular filtration, and UV treatment. They were then quantified for tetA gene copies by qPCR. The results indicated that clarification had a significant reduction in tetA gene copies, while granular filtration had no reduction. Interestingly, UV exposure increased the number of tetA gene copies, potentially resulting from mutations in DNA or DNA extraction issues. These findings reveal that the current WWTP processes used cannot effectively remove ARGs, suggesting that improvements in treatment processes are necessary. Although wastewater reuse is promising, the presence of ARGs in treated wastewater represents a public health threat as well as a global threat to antibiotic resistance. The treatment strategies should be optimized and targeted to mitigate ARGs to guarantee that the reuse of water does not contribute to the spread of resistant bacteria

Insert Creation to Mimic Blood Vessels in Gel Phantoms

Gel phantoms are commonly used in research settings due to their ability to mimic soft tissue. Creating these phantoms usually involves 3D printing an insert, embedding it in gel, and then washing the insert out. Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) is typically used as the insert material, but it often swells and deforms the gel during the washout process. Aquapour, a water-soluble material, was investigated as a potential replacement for PVA. Unlike PVA, Aquapour comes in a powdered form that can be mixed with water to create a castable slurry. To create molds to cast Aquapour, SolidWorks was used to design two models. The insert geometry that was desired was transected into two different models and 3D printed using PLA. Two different types of silicone molds were created, one with 10A shore hardness and another with 30A shore hardness. The softer silicone mold ended up not working as expected, so the harder silicone mold was used primarily. Trials were set up with low and high water factors, as well as low and high drying temperatures. From these trials, it was concluded that using a lower water factor and drying it at a lower heat worked the best for the Aquapour inserts. The main problem that had to be addressed was cracking during the drying process. To minimize the risk of cracking, air drying before oven drying was proven to be helpful. Allowing the insert to cool in the oven also prevented the risk of thermal shock. Overall, Aquapour has the potential to be a suitable replacement for PVA, but it may be suited to less complex geometries that have a lower risk of cracking

How Novice Arkansas Teacher Corps Teachers in the Arkansas Delta Stabilize in their Profession: A Dissertation

Foundational research exists on the teacher life cycle, novice teacher struggles, and the role of burnout on public sector employees, including teachers (Huberman, 1989; Veenman, 1984; Maslach & Jackson, 1981). However, less research explores teachers\u27 perceptions about what allows them to move through the profession’s life cycle and past initial struggles and avoid burnout. There is a significant gap in the literature about why some teachers persist while others leave the profession at alarming rates (U.S. Department of Education, 2007; Alliance for Excellent Education, 2005). Seven phases exist in a teacher’s life cycle: survival/discovery, stabilization, experimentation/activism, reassessment/self-doubts, serenity, conservatism, and disengagement (Huberman, 1989). This qualitative case study explores what teachers feel contributes to their professional stability and burnout in the Arkansas Delta as they attempt to move from the survival/discovery phase to the stabilization phase in a teacher’s life cycle. The Arkansas Delta comprises ten million acres of land in Eastern Arkansas and is one of the six natural subregions of Arkansas (Gatewood, 1993). The Arkansas Delta is rural and poor, and “virtually all statistical indices relating to education have persistently pointed to the Delta’s educational deficiencies” (Gatewood, 1993, p. 13). I hope a better understanding of how novice teachers achieve stabilization while working in challenging environments can inform the teacher education process, allow more teachers to remain in the profession, and improve K-12 student achievement scores

Small Business Development in the Tourism Industry in Dangriga, Belize

The thesis, Small Business Development in the Tourism Industry in Dangriga, Belize, examines efforts to bolster economic opportunities and entrepreneurial resilience in a culturally rich but economically underserved town. The project focused on addressing the underperformance of Dangriga’s tourism sector relative to other Belizean destinations, despite its potential. By engaging directly with local entrepreneurs and organizations, the initiative aimed to improve marketing practices, digital presence, and long-term business viability through practical interventions. Major accomplishments included the development of a reservation-capable website for the Bonefish Hotel, social media and marketing consultations for various small businesses, and advisory work for the Dangriga Town Council’s beautification and tourism efforts. Challenges included resistance from certain business owners and a lack of institutional support from national tourism agencies. Nonetheless, the project highlighted the transformative potential of grassroots entrepreneurship, youth engagement, and strategic marketing in driving inclusive growth and community development in Dangriga

Shortage to Surge - Studying the Post-COVID-19 Guitar Retail Market

The COVID-19 pandemic was one of the most catalyzing events of the 21st century, leading to supply chain disruptions, lifestyle changes, and a massive shift towards digital technologies. During the COVID-19 lockdown, many people had more time, and over 16 million people learned guitar in the first 2 years of the pandemic. According to a study by Fender, 62% of these new guitar learners cited the pandemic as their primary reason for learning the instrument. However, pandemic policies and supply chain disruptions meant that many guitar retailers were unable to satisfy demand, and backorders began to accumulate. Since both guitars and clothing in the past have been retail items that consumers preferred to buy in person rather than online, this student-led research project seeks to compare the guitar and clothing retail markets before and after the COVID-19 pandemic (2019-2023) to discover guitar market category trends and predict future market growth to better inform manufacturers, retailers, and consumers. The study will include a literature review, hypothesis testing, a preliminary study of the datasets through summary statistics and basic visualizations (using Tableau, Python, and R), and several iterations of predictive models (regression, clustering, neural networks, etc.). The clothing retail data will be procured from the Information Systems Department in the Walton College of Business, and the guitar retail data will be procured from 2 anonymous US music retailers. After conducting interviews with industry experts at the NAMM (National Association of Music Merchants) show in California, the modeling results will be compared with the interviews, and an appropriate final model will be selected to predict the guitar retail market’s growth in the next five years.https://scholarworks.uark.edu/hnrcsturpc25/1026/thumbnail.jp

Corporate Partnerships: The Heartbeat of an Organization

A deep-dive into the world of Corporate Partnerships for large sporting events. This thesis includes day-to-day responsibilities and takeaways from a ten-week internship with the 2024 Men\u27s Basketball Final Four event

The Role of Mental and Physical Health on Fear of Crime

Fear of crime is a significant social issue that affects quality of life, often leading to behavioral changes and increased anxiety. While prior research has explored the link between fear of crime and health, notable gaps remain – particularly regarding how distinct dimensions of health influence fear of crime. This study addresses these gaps by examining the effects of perceived health and depressive symptoms on fear of crime. Data were drawn from the Arkansas Crime, Public Safety, and Health Survey (ACPSHS), an online, opt-in survey of approximately 2,300 non- institutionalized adults in Arkansas. Ordinary least squares regression models were used to assess the direct effects of self-reported health and depressive symptoms on fear of crime, controlling for key sociodemographic variables. Results show that poorer perceived health and higher levels of depressive symptoms are both significantly associated with greater fear of crime. Racial disparities were also evident, with Black Arkansans reporting significantly higher fear levels than White respondents. Gender and age differences emerged as well: women expressed greater fear than men, and fear of crime declined with age. Notably, educational attainment had no statistically significant effect, while individuals with a history of arrest were less likely to report fear. These findings contribute to a more nuanced understanding of the complex relationship between health and perceptions of public safety and carry important implications for both public health strategies and crime prevention policies

Prevalence of Cytauxzoon felis in ticks from South-central Kansas and Northwest Arkansas

Cytauxzoon felis is a protozoan that causes an often-fatal illness in felines known as cytauxzoonosis, or bobcat fever. Ticks are vectors of this pathogen, with Amblyomma americanum being the most common vector. Previous studies have noted a correlation between peak tick season and peak cytauxzoonosis diagnosis. For cytauxzoonosis, minimal treatments exist, and scientists have not found a cure, which is why focus needs to be on preventing disease. Knowledge on the prevalence of C. felis in different tick species helps veterinarians and pet owners be aware of the potential for their cat developing cytauxzoonosis if one or more ticks are found feeding on the animal. To assess the prevalence of C. felis in vectors, we collected ticks from cats and the environment in the South-central Kansas area in 2023 and Northwest Arkansas area in 2024. All ticks were collected through dragging or directly from animals. We used a qPCR assay targeting the cox3 mitochondrial gene to detect the presence of C. felis DNA in the ticks. In total, 658 ticks were tested. 20/351 ticks collected from cats tested positive for C. felis, and 2/307 ticks collected from the environment also tested positive. Of the 22 positives, 21 ticks were Amblyomma americanum and one was Dermacentor variabilis. The prevalence of C. felis in A. americium suggests that this is the most common vector in both states. For environmental collections, differences between states were significant (P\u3c 0.001). For clinic collections, there were no significant differences in the mean number of A. americanum collected between the number of ticks collected per state except when comparing May and July (P=0.0333). Cat owners should consider tick preventives at least during peak vector activity season