Bioethics and Abortion

Elective abortion is unethical because it violates the major principles of medical ethics and is incompatible with Christian values. Underpinning the study of bioethics are four primary, philosophical principles: justice, autonomy, beneficence, and non-maleficence. Further inserting a faith-based component into bioethics, namely the doctrine of The Sanctity of Life, provides a moral basis for the observance of the other four principles. This fifth principle, which is analogous to a moral compass, is often neglected in the discussion of abortion. From this doctrine, we derive our belief that human life is sacred, and therefore, should be protected. Included in human life are zygotes, embryos, and fetuses, and their lives depend on sound, logical reasoning. To protect them, this paper makes five claims about abortion, each based on a principle of bioethics: Claim 1: Abortion violates the individual rights of the fetus. Hence, it is a moral injustice. Claim 2: Autonomy is a duty that abortion neglects. Hence, it is immoral. Claim 3: Elective abortion violates the principle of beneficence because it is intrinsically evil. Claim 4: Physicians should avoid elective abortion because it harms the fetus. Claim 5: Elective abortion is incompatible with The Sanctity of Life principle

The Development of a New Water-Soluble Zinc Porphyrin, ZnTPP-2MP, as a Photodynamic Therapy Agent

Photodynamic therapy is a new technique used in cancer treatment involving the use of a photosensitizer and light exposure to kill malignant cells. This research tested the use of ZnTPP-2MP as a photosensitizer using white light as a source of possible treatment of the A549 cancer cell line, with preliminary testing on MYC-22 and other G-quadruplex DNA samples. ZnTPP-2MP was synthesized by the reaction of the porphyrin, ZnTPPC, with 2-amino-2-methyl-1-propanol. Following synthesis, the new porphyrin was purified by column chromatography using Sephadex LH-20 and G-50. To confirm the identity and structure of the product, ZnTPP-2MP was analyzed through nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), infrared (IR), ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) and fluorescence spectroscopies. Purity of the final compound was determined using HPLC. A reactive oxygen species (ROS) assay was performed using the novel porphyrin, as well as an MTT assay for cell viability

Mathematics Speaker

Crystal Bostian was a speaker for the Mathematics presentations of the 2025 Arkansas Women in STEM conference

Screenagers: Screen Time and Mental Health in College Students

This thesis and research project explore the relationship between screen time and mental distress among college students. With the rapid evolution of technology, personal devices have become deeply integrated into the daily routines of college-age students. While these tools offer educational and social benefits, excessive use, especially on social media platforms, has been associated with adverse psychological outcomes in past literature. This study investigates the extent to which screen time and social media use correlate with symptoms of mental distress, including depression, anxiety, and stress. Participants were recruited from two southern universities and provided self-reported screen time data, including both general device use and time explicitly spent on social media. Data were averaged over a one-week period to reflect typical usage patterns. To assess psychological well-being, participants completed the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS), a validated instrument for measuring mental distress. Specifically, the questionnaire examined levels of depression, anxiety, and stress. In addition, participants responded to the Social Media Disorder Scale (SMD) for evaluation of behaviors associated with social media addiction. Findings revealed a positive correlation between increased screen time and elevated levels of mental distress. Notably, higher social media addiction levels were associated with more severe depression, anxiety, and stress scores. These results suggest that screen time, particularly when concerning social media, may contribute to mental health challenges among college students. Given the growing dependence on digital platforms, these results emphasize the need for awareness, education, and practical guidelines surrounding responsible technology use. Promoting digital well-being and encouraging mindful screen habits could help combat the psychological risks associated with excessive screen time. As screen use is likely to continue increasing, this study provides a foundation for future research and campus-based mental health initiatives to foster healthier digital behaviors among students

From Concept to Tabletop: Designing and Developing an Interactive Board Game Experience

What comes to mind when you hear the words \u27board game\u27? Do you think about sitting around the kitchen table with a group of friends or family with red Solo cups full of Dr. Pepper playing The Game of Life while laughing? Do you think of Catan resource cards flying across the room in every direction while your younger brother yells about how dumb the game is because he just lost due to his sister targeting him? Almost everyone, if not everyone, has had some type of experience playing board games with a group people, whether that be with their family or their group of friends. Board games have been a way to bring people together, or tear apart for a few minutes, for generations upon generations to pass the time. But not only can they be fun things that have absolutely no meaning behind them like Pie Face, but they can also teach us things and help educate us on various subjects. People almost never think about the educational ones because most people flee from the word educational, but there are so many types of educational board games. There are English board games, economic games, history games, but what about mathematical board games? Well, after some research, I could not find any mathematical board game that was more than simple operations of math. So to solve the issue at hand, I decided to create my own mathematical board game