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  Exploring Performance Evaluations of Docker and LXC Container Technologies – Are They Good for Cloud Environments and IoT Devices?

  Mausam Parajuli and Syed Shah

  The internet has brought a significant change in the modern world in terms of advancement in technologies. We exchange data and applications with other systems on a regular basis via the internet. These all are connected to a network (internet), and we call it the Internet of Things (IoT). There are enormous applications running every second, and they can be built, deployed, and managed using containers. Using container virtualization has been very famous recently in cloud environments and IoT because they are lightweight and can be deployed in many Operating Systems where applications are platform independent. Some of the popular container technologies are Docker and LXC. Container-based virtualization improves performance and uses resources efficiently. This paper studies the use cases of container virtualization in Cloud environments and the Internet of Things, reviews other researchers’ work on container technologies and reports our findings in the context of containers for Cloud and IoT scenarios.

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  Genetic Analysis of Hereditary Gingival Fibromatosis Associated SOS-1 Missense Variant of Uncertain Significance in Caenorhabditis elegans

  Himani Patel

  Hereditary gingival fibromatosis (HGF) is a disorder that leads to fibrous gingival overgrowth in the mouth. Researchers have identified that genetic mutations in the SOS-1 gene can be responsible for HGF. The goal of this study is to examine the potential impact of an HGF associated SOS-1 missense variant of uncertain clinical significance (VUS). Studies in C. elegans have revealed the nematode ortholog sos-1 which allows comparative studies. We examined the evolutionary conservation of missense SOS-1 variants across human, C. elegans, and other species. A SOS-1 VUS was identified through ClinVar to be conserved across human, C. elegans, and other species. Multiple sequence alignments were carried out using Benchling. The conserved missense VUS occurs at SOS-1 c.3793T>G (p. Ser1265Ala). The VUS leads to an amino acid class change from polar serine to nonpolar alanine that might result in a change in the encoded protein’s structure. Current bioinformatic experiments underway include a gene mutational analysis, PolyPhen-2 analysis, and protein modeling to explore the potential pathogenicity of the VUS. If these findings support further investigation, we will examine the VUS in vivo through C. elegans. Future experimentation would include designing primers to amplify the VUS region in C. elegans sos-1 using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and a CRISPR RNA guide to target sos-1, microinjection of CRISPR-Cas9 reagents to generate the VUS-sos-1 C. elegans model, and screening and phenotyping of the identified VUS model. This study aims to provide an assessment of the HGF associated VUS shedding light on its clinical significance.

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  Cloud Computing and Its Role in Education During COVID-19 Pandemic

  Jhanvi Patel

  The COVID-19 pandemic, the sudden outbreak, had severely affected every area of life all over the world. The lockdown imposed to get control on the novel corona virus has interrupted the people’s routine and working life and were forced to work from home. Every field including medical, entertainment, companies, industries, education switched to the online medium for work. Cloud computing (CC) was one of the emerging technologies in the pandemic and is still evolving and this change of working style has led to the adaptation and increased use of CC technology at its best with a significant impact in each working field. One of the fields that have a significant impact of CC was/is education.

  Our study is based on the impact of CC as a solution to the education where we have considered using qualitative research methodology to be conducted on the existing literatures, approaches proposed by the researchers and a survey conducted on the students and faculty members of JSU (Jacksonville State University). The result shows multiple factors affecting the students and universities to adapt e-Learning applications where the most concerning factors were security and privacy. The study also shows the advantages and challenges associated with the cloud computing for education sector.

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  Income Inequality Distribution of the Residents of City of Jacksonville, Alabama Using Gini Index and Lorenz Curve

  Daythyn Price, Kris McAnally, and Adam Parker

  The Gini index and Lorenz curve are used to measure the distribution of income among the inhabitants of any given region. The Lorenz curve is represented as y=L(x) on the interval [0,1] by plotting the point (a/100, b/100) on the curve if the bottom a% of households receive at most b% of the total income. Whereas the Gini index (sometimes called the Gini coefficient or the coefficient of inequality) is the area between the Lorenz curve and the line y=x. We estimate the Gini index for the income inequality distribution of the residents of city of Jacksonville, Alabama using a quadratic and Lagrange polynomial model for the Lorenz function.

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  Pushing Perfection & Pain: How the 'Model Minority' Myth Harms Asian Americans

  Alexzandria Quintero

  “Pushing Perfection and Pain” explores the birth of the titular ‘model minority’ myth while examining how it has since alienated Asian Americans in society both on the demographic and individual levels. This paper also briefly acknowledges the “benefit” of the ‘model minority’ myth that not only strengthens it, but also makes it difficult to identify. With historical analyses of the status of Asian Americans in the United States, first-hand accounts of experience with the ‘model minority’ myth, and explanations of the myth and its effect on today’s Asian Americans, it will be argued that the ‘model minority’ myth ascribed to Asian Americans has become increasingly detrimental towards their community in its development, as seen in the face of social stressors in the U.S. and the unique obstacle Asian Americans have to overcome in the generalization that results from this myth. In the wake of recent surges in Asian American hate crimes, the findings and arguments of this paper are significant because the ‘model minority’ myth is so ingrained into American society that not only is it overlooked, but so are its effects. This circumstance lends itself to have Asian Americans experience a form of discrimination so distinctive that they will be prevented from getting the necessary assistance until this concept is removed from its place in American culture.

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  Genshin Impact: A Case Study of Virtual Biogeography

  Tabitha Rayburn

  Place can be defined by different definitions. ‘a space or location with meaning’ and ‘an area having unique physical and human characteristics interconnected with other places.’ Just to name a couple. It is my belief that place is not just based in the physical world. Places have been built through literature, like with JRR Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings, Places have been built for television such as Nickelodeon’s Avatar the Last Airbender or Babylon 5. Video games are no different. We have simplistic places like the maze in Pac Man and it has since evolved into ‘open-world’ style’s like our subject, Genshin Impact.

  What makes a place believable in fiction is the immersion, the transition from what we know, to what we expect. When you are put into a scenario involving aliens you expect to see alien people, and alien foods. When you’re placed into a fantasy you look for the familiar and hope to see differences. Genshin Impact is an open world game created by Mihoyo. This game has the regular aspects of an open world such as fighting a variety of enemies and having different playable characters. This game offers more immersive actions like the ability to cook and using a fantasy element called alchemy to create items to enhance your performance in the game. While researching this topic I examined the differences via the lens of familiarity such as specific location of flora, or soil requirements to farm (and more).

  Where things get interesting is the means of gathering the items to utilize these crafting methods. Because for a potion you might need a stone called Cor Lapis, a stone you can only find in the country of Liyue. Or perhaps you need to make a soup that requires calla lilies, you can only find those in the northern country of Mondstat. These type of region locked items may seem like deliberate choices to limit players, but there is evidence that there is conscious biogeographic elements being displayed. There was once a quest to gather region locked items for experience points. On the surface it may seem superfluous, but it is our belief that this game encourages biogeographic exploration with the hidden lesson of understanding natural dispersion of resources!

  We wanted to explore this more, analyze the resource locations and find any logic behind the placement of these artificial species. From in game research, mapping and analyzing the literature of the game a lot of questions about the flora and fauna can be answered through geography.

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  Trematode Diversity in Freshwater Snail, Campeloma decisum

  Matthew Reeves

  The highest diversity of freshwater snail in North America is found in Alabama. Remarkably, most freshwater snails are host to at least one species of parasitic flatworm; yet most of these relationships are poorly documented. One species of freshwater snail, Campleloma decisum, is widespread in Alabama but few studies have reported the diversity of parasites associated with this species. Here, I sampled a population of these snails in a spring system in Anniston, AL in January 2021 and monthly July through October. During each sampling event I collected at least 50 individuals that were sacrificed, and tissues were observed under a microscope to detect infection. On average at least 50% of sampled snails (usually 50 individuals) were infected with parasites. In addition, two parasite species were found in this species in this one spring system. Interestingly, these parasites have a complex life cycle in which additional life stages will infect other animals, such as birds and fishes. However, parasites in snail tissues can be difficult to identify so that understanding the life cycle of the parasite is not possible. With the aid of ongoing genetic analyses, I will be able to identify these parasitic flatworms to lowest taxonomic level and understand the other hosts involved in these complex life cycles.

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  2023 JSU Student Symposium Proceedings

  Shannon Robertson

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  Subthreshold Aerobic Exercise as a Strategy for Concussion Management: A Critically Appraised Topic

  Greta Romei

  Context: Healthcare providers not only have to be able to recognize when a concussion appears, but they also must recognize how to manage and treat the injury properly in order to prevent further damage to the brain and ensure a safe return to play for the athlete. Previously, the most commonly utilized management strategy to resolve a concussion was rest, but currently, research demonstrates how controlled aerobic exercise can provide a faster recovery, while respecting safety protocols. The purpose of the critically appraised topic is to compare the effectiveness of subthreshold aerobic activity utilizing the Buffalo Concussion Treadmill Protocol (BCTT) vs. rest, in athletes with a sport-related concussion (SRC)

  Methods: A computerized search was completed in October 2022. The search terms used were “Buffalo Concussion Treadmill Test”, “rest”, and "subthreshold activity in concussion management”. Electronic databases used were Jacksonville State University Library, PubMed, SportsDiscus, and Google Scholar. Inclusion criteria: Individuals with SRCs and published articles within the last five years, that were in the English language. Exclusion criteria: Articles that utilized other threshold protocols or exercises. Validity of the selected studies was determined using the Physiotherapy Evidence Database scale and the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool. One author independently reviewed the studies, scored each paper, and reviewed the completed appraisals to come to a consensus on study quality.

  Results: The literature search retrieved seven total articles and three were excluded based on exclusion criteria, resulting in four studies. Subthreshold aerobic activity is found to be reliable and effective in diagnosing and managing SRCs. When compared to rest, the BCTT promotes healing and speeds up the recovery process without further damaging the brain or worsening symptoms. The BCTT is safe to use with athletes and is found reliable with a multitude of sports.

  Conclusion: The BCTT is a valid and realizable test that can be utilized in managing SRCs. Further research is needed to determine how to correctly use the protocol in the earlier stages of SRC management.

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  The Effectiveness of Caffeine in Exercise Performance

  Greta Romei

  Caffeine is one of the most widely consumed psychoactive substances in the nation and the entire world. Caffeine is contained naturally in dozens of different plants, including coffee, tea, and cocoa. The substance is mainly consumed in the form of coffee. However, there has been a recent increase in its usage in energy drinks. In young adults and exercising individuals, there has been a rise in caffeine consumption in caffeine-containing products in the form of pre-workout supplements, chews, aerosols, and other caffeinated food products. Due to their high consumption, caffeine-containing products and caffeine have been a long-standing topic of interest. Most importantly, the rise in caffeine consumption in the sporting world increased the interest of researchers who began studying these products' effectiveness on exercise performance. According to research, the mechanism of action or MOA that caffeine has on the central nervous system (CNS) seems to be why the substance alters performance.

  The substance is believed to exert its effect on the CNS via the antagonism of adenosine receptors, leading to an increase in neurotransmitter release, motor unit firing rates, and pain suppression. Due to its molecular similarity to adenosine, caffeine binds to adenosine receptors after ingestion increasing the concentration of these neurotransmitters. This ultimately results in positive effects on mood, vigilance, focus, and alertness. Caffeine supplementation enhances muscular endurance, movement velocity, muscular strength, sprinting, jumping, throwing performance, and anaerobic sport-specific actions when utilized for exercise performance. Most results of utilizing caffeine are witnessed in aerobic endurance performances, above all when utilized in doses of 3-6 mg/kg body mass. Different studies have been made on the effectiveness of lower doses of caffeine (2mg/kg) and high doses (9 mg/kg). The effect of minimal doses of caffeine remains unclear, while high doses are associated with a high incidence of side effects and do not seem to be required to provoke an ergogenic effect. Active individuals tend to utilize caffeine supplementation 60 minutes prior to exercise, but research has shown that the optimal time of ingestion highly depends on the source itself. The substance improves performance and cognitive function, including attention and vigilance, even in individuals under conditions of sleep deprivation. Side effects of caffeine include sleep deprivation or restlessness, agitation, and, in some cases, anxiety but the substance is considered safe when utilized in the recommended amount.

  Physically active individuals that utilize pre-workout or caffeine supplements seem to have better anaerobic and aerobic performance. Due to caffeine's tendency to affect CNS function, anti-doping authorities have investigated the drug throughout the years. Both be IOC, and the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) banned the substance in 1984 and 2000. A doping offense was defined as having a urinary caffeine concentration exceeding a cut-off of 15 ug/mL. The two associations removed the classification in 2004, which caused a rise in caffeine intake among the athletic population. Interestingly, caffeine is categorized as a banned substance by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) if urinary caffeine concentration exceeds 15 ug/ml. Although further research needs to be done to determine the specific amount of caffeine that the active population could safely ingest without it being considered doping, the substance has been shown to improve performance and cognitive function among active and non-active populations.

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  Nutrient Timing: An Effective Approach to Enhanced Athletic Performance, Recovery, and Training Adaptation

  Gemini Sigler

  Nutrient timing is the delivery of high-quality nutrients via digestive consumption during exercise at various times. Macro- and micronutrients must be consumed at an optimal time pre, post, or during exercise in the appropriate amounts to increase performance, recover quicker, and train at a higher intensity. Nutrient timing can vary depending on desired outcomes and fitness activity. Understanding the benefit of macronutrients and micronutrients to aid in performance enhancement will aid in proper nutrient timing recommendations.

  Restoring muscle glycogen stores for athletes performing intense workouts or competition is essential for optimal performance and recovery. Continued carbohydrate ingestion throughout exercise bouts has proven beneficial and improved performance. Exercise that is moderate to high intensity (65-80% VO2 max) relies on glycogen stores, and proper nutrient timing has proven to promote recovery. Carbohydrate timing is essential, especially in athletes who exercise at high volumes. It is still important to deliver carbohydrates once a workout or competition commences, but these studies show that the ingestion of carbohydrates at regular intervals can optimize performance and maintain blood glucose levels. To maximize glycogen stores, athletes who exercise at high volumes should consume a high carbohydrate diet of at least 8-12 g/day.

  With resistance training, there is a decrease in muscle glycogen concentration and some benefits to carbohydrate loading before and during the exercise or competition, but isokinetic muscle performance was not influenced.

  Protein consumption with or without carbohydrates with proper nutrient timing at reasonable doses increases adaptations to exercise. Endurance athletes traditionally consume carbohydrates days and hours before competition to improve the pace of training. While, strength-power athletes consume protein post workout to improve muscle size, increase performance, restore glycogen depletion, and reduce muscle damage. For endurance athletes, when protein is combined with a carbohydrate ingested before exercise, performance improves and reduces muscle damage. Carbohydrate and protein ingestion is proven to influence force production and muscle damage markers. When the combination of carbohydrates + protein is consumed, muscle protein synthesis is increased, muscle damage is minimized, and recovery is accelerated after intense exercise. Protein doses improve muscle protein synthesis. The nutrient timing of 20 to 40 g of protein every 3 to 4 hours can improve performance and body composition.

  The importance of pre and/or post-exercise nutritional timing is excellent. The benefits of an effective nutrient timing strategy can improve strength and reduce recovery time and muscle damage while improving body composition. Nutrient timing must be a priority for an athlete to prepare for optimal performance.

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  Barriers to Justice: The Need for American Prison Reform

  Madalyn Stott

  In the modern era of American politics, where citizens and politicians alike tout the long-held constitutional ideal of all men created equal, we see a dissonance surrounding vulnerable populations within the sphere of criminal incarceration. Within this system, minority and marginalized groups experience the consequence of predatory policies regarding non-violent offenses and unjust practices. Because of this history of discrimination—often beginning in childhood— social workers and other helping professionals must use their skills and disciplines to explore the reality of prison reform and the effects of the prison pipeline, the war on drugs, the economically disadvantaged, etc., on our communities. Through exploring facets of social work scope of practice, it is desired that these historically oppressive practices no longer prey on and reap the benefits of human exploitation. By completing a systematic review of the literature to survey the current and available sources of information, areas with insufficient consideration can be recognized, and further analysis can be created. This demonstration aims to evaluate recent research and rhetoric on the topic of the American corrections system regarding non-violent incarceration and racial bias and education on tangible efforts that can be made by social workers.

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  MoonBerry Farms

  Caycie Trotter

  Food waste in America has become a significant issue through the years. Almost 40% of all food in the United States is wasted each year, equating to 130 billion meals and more than $408 billion. MoonBerry Farms’ goal is to combat that waste and educate people on a better way to mange the food they purchase or grow in a garden. People can learn the skill of canning fruits, vegetables, and more inside the canning cookbook. Moonberry farms also offers pre-canned foods with a longer shelf life than many competitors. Moonberry also encourages the recycling of all jars and packaging. Moonberry is intended to be people’s first step to better managing the food they purchase.

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  Investigation of BMAA Modulation of Aβ-mediated Neurodegeneration in Transgenic Caenorhabditis elegans

  Tanner Vandever, Alexis Petty, and Elise Patrick

  β-N-methylamino-L-alanine (BMAA) is a nonprotein amino acid and neurotoxin originally isolated from seeds of a cycad plant in Guam and produced by blue-green algae or cyanobacteria. BMAA has also been shown to bioaccumulate through food chains. Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive neurological disorder characterized by the deposition of amyloid beta (Aβ) in the brain. Recent studies suggest that chronic exposure to BMAA might trigger neurodegenerative diseases in susceptible individuals, including AD. In this study, we aim to examine the potential neurotoxic modulation of BMAA on Aβ-mediated neurodegeneration in transgenic Caenorhabditis elegans. We propose to utilize a C. elegans AD strain with pan-neuronal human Aβ1-42 expression that displays neuromuscular defects, shortened lifespan, and age-dependent behavioral dysfunction. Neuromuscular function and lifespan will be measured utilizing a thrashing assay (n = 20 per group) and solid agar lifespan assay (n = 100 per group). Experimental groups will include N2 wildtype control, transgenic Aβ1-42 expressing strain, and the transgenic control. Each experimental group will be treated with BMAA or vehicle control. This study proposes to gain more insight into the effect of BMAA on Aβ-mediated neurodegeneration in a C. elegans AD model. It is important to begin to unravel and understand the potential impact of environmental toxins on complex neurological disorders.

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  The Decline of Retention at Jacksonville State University

  Christopher Vest

  Since 2015, the retention rate of first time, full-time students at Jacksonville State University has declined from 78% to 66% in 2021. The office of administration has data broken down by cohort showing social demographic factors and the retention of these students. These factors could be a reason that first time, full-time students are not returning for their second year. This cohort data will be analyzed to help find the reason for the decline in the retention rate. By using python and ArcGIS Pro the data can be broken down further by geographical area.

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  Using ArcGIS Software and Applications for Community Mapping

  Margaret Walton

  Noccalula Falls Park and Campground is located in Gadsden, Alabama just off Noccalula Road and nuzzled right in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. This park is owned and maintained by the City of Gadsden Parks and Recreation Department. The Director of the park and the Fire Chief of Gadsden both knew that there was an issue with trail markings, leading to various injuries and a few lost hikers and cyclist along the way. They had a plan but needed someone to help execute the idea by creating higher quality and more accessible maps for emergency responders and the public. We planned to mark the trails with identification placards, do minor trail maintenance in the process, and map the end results. ArcGIS Quick Capture was used to collect point data – the placards and their latitude, longitude, number, trail name, and abbreviation. ArcGIS Online was used to combine previous layers with the layer created with Quick Capture. Parts of this data are highlighted in an ArcGIS Online Story Map with the intention of creating more interactive Story Maps in the future. A series of maps were created to represent the Black Creek Trail System, various access points, and other areas of interest to assist Emergency Personnel in the City of Gadsden.

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  How an Invasive Asiatic Clam Species Affects the Morphology of Sternotherus odoratus

  Anthony Wapshott

  Food availability is an important factor in growth, maintenance and reproduction of any organism in an environment. Some turtles are able to capitalize on hard-shelled prey items through modification and hypertrophy of the skull. One such species is the eastern musk turtle (Sternotherus odoratus). We were interested in the morphological differences between two populations of musk turtles along the Cane Creek waterway in Anniston, Alabama. One site was a small impoundment on the creek itself, another site was Finks Pond, a large pond alongside the creek. The stream site had abundant mollusk prey (snails and clams) whereas the pond lacked these hard-shelled prey items. We were primarily interested in the cranial morphology between the two populations. We captured a total of 37 Sternotherus odoratus across the two sites, collected morphometrics and analyzed diet contents. While we were not able to directly assess changes in the head morphology between populations, we did find that females from the Cane Creek site were significantly larger than all other musk turtles, regardless of sex and location. Diets of these females were nearly exclusively composed of an invasive Asiatic clam (Corbicula fluminea), suggesting this prey item subsidized the diet, size and morphology of female turtles at the Cane Creek size. Future studies are important to understand these ecological implications (e.g., if the larger females are more fecund than females at lake sites with poorer food quality).

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  Wife of Bath: Multifaceted Feminist or Manufactured Misogynist?

  Drew Watson

  The Wife of Bath has proven to be a divisive character in scholarship surrounding The Canterbury Tales. Is she a proto-feminist who stands for medieval women’s rights, or is she a misogynist whose words contradict themselves? Despite the perceived blatant differences between these two interpretations, both are supported by plentiful evidence in the Tales. “Wife of Bath: Multifaceted Feminist or Manufactured Misogynist?” is an art piece that depicts medieval feminist, medieval misogynist, and modern feminist Wives alongside each other to highlight how they each complement the original text – and how they coexist within it.

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  A Comparison of Xenopus laevis and Ambystoma maculatum Embryos for Determining the Developmental Toxicity of Sodium Fluoride and Sodium Selenate

  Shelby Wolfram

  Amphibians are often the main vertebrate group at risk of exposure to contaminants in ephemeral systems (Mann 2000). Both model species and native species are used for determining risk to amphibians. Xenopus laevis is a model species for development toxicity and has been used successfully for estimated the developmental toxicity of chemicals and mixtures. Their embryos are transparent which allows the observation of malformations. Ambystoma maculatum is a native salamander that has been shown to show promise as species that can be tested in the lab. Xenopus and Ambystoma were used to determine the toxicity of sodium fluoride and sodium selenate. Sodium fluoride is an environmental pollutant source widely existing in nature. Sodium selenate can be found in nature as organic and inorganic forms and is used in fertilizer, insecticide, and fungicide. The assay uses multiple serial dilutions to determine how toxic the chemicals could be to the amphibians. Xenopus assay lasts 96 hours while Ambystoma assay lasts 12 days. Within the assay, 20 embryos for Xenopus were placed in small petri dishes. Ambystoma uses 10 embryos in large deep petri dishes. Throughout the assay mortalities were counted for each day. Mortalities and Malformations were counted on the last day of the assay and embryo length were measured. Means, Standard error, probit analysis (for LC50 and EC50(malformation)), ANOVA and Bonferroni’s post hoc test were calculated using Systat. The teratogenic potential was calculated using the formula 96-hr LC50/96-hr EC50(malformation). Selenate was more toxic than fluoride. However, high concentrations of fluoride exposed embryos die earlier than selenate exposed embryos. These assays will help prove the toxicity levels of sodium fluoride and sodium selenate towards amphibians.

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  Comparison of “Out Out--” and “Ballad of Birmingham”

  Sarah Yarbrough

  When children are forced to take on adult roles and responsibilities, it can often lead to tragedy. The two children discussed in this essay from Robert Frost's "Out Out" and Dudley Randall's "Ballad of Birmingham" demonstrate the consequences when children take on responsibilities that are beyond their capabilities. The influence of society also aids in stripping these children of their youth, innocence and identity.