2005-2006 ORG Grant Awards

Dr. Mircea Agapie, Department of Mathematics, Physics and Engineering
"Emergence of Intelligent Group Behavior Among Communicating Robots"

Behavior-based (BB) robotics, invented in the mid-80's, greatly simplified the earlier, model-based approaches to robotics. The resulting machines interact continuously with a real-life environment and make their decisions based on relatively unsophisticated mechanisms called "behaviors." The BB approach has been used only to mediate between the robot's sensor data and its actions. If, however, the robot has the capacity to communicate with a base station or other robots, there is a new type of data available -- the incoming message. This project proposes to extend behaviors to deal with both sensory and message data, thus expanding BB robotics in a direction considered the hallmark of intelligence: cooperation.

Dr. Sam Dodson, Department of English and Languages
"Hemingway's Masterpiece of Modernity: A Reconsideration of To Have and Have Not"

Ernest Hemingway's 1937 novel To Have and Have Not has never been given its rightful place as a major work of modernity and as a bold and successful departure for its author. This study will prove that, rather than being a minor, flawed outing, this novel is Hemingway's most sophisticated text based on: the fluid narrative structure (Hemingway borrows from Henry James' narrative experimentations with the switching of point of view characters and the shifting of the controlling consciousness), the bold presentation of sexuality between men and women, the humane and poignant portrait of Marie Morgan, the ugly and honest look at Lost Generationers, and the prescient portraits of the haves presented late in the work.

Dr. Shaukat Goderya, Department of Mathematics, Physics and Engineering
"Photometric Study of Contact Binary Stars with the Tarleton Observatory"

This project initiates research in astronomical science with Tarleton's new computerized, remotely controlled telescope by studying the astronomical photometry of two poorly studied eclipsing binary stars. Current estimates show that well over 70% of the star systems in our galaxy are multiple star systems, and the majority of those are binary star systems. Today binary stars play a vital role as astrophysical laboratories providing fundamental data on stars (mass, radii, ages) and information about atmospheres, interiors, stellar structures, and evolution history. Undergraduate students will collect and analyze the data and become co-authors of published articles.

Dr. Don Henneke, Director of Equine Science
"Application of the Indicator Amino Acid Oxidation (IAAO) Technique in the Horse"

Proper protein intake is essential in young, growing animals for proper structural, neurological and cardiovascular formation. The key to protein intake is the amount and balance of those amino acids that the animal cannot synthesize within its own body. These essential amino acids (EAA) must be provided in the diet. This initial study will examine a relatively non-invasive, timely approach to establishing the EAA requirement in young, growing horses. Currently the recommended EAA requirements for a growing horse are based on nitrogen-balance studies that take 8 to 14 months to complete. Since EAA requirements change as growth occurs, this lengthy method does not allow precise investigation of evolving requirements throughout the growth period. The IAAO technique allows the requirement for a single EAA to be completed in approximately 30 days.

Dr. S.H.A. Jafri, Department of Accounting, Finance and Economics
"An Economic Analysis of the Impact of New Immigrants on Health Care Costs"

The United States spends $35 billion annually to provide health care for uninsured people. This study focuses on the "new immigrant" segment of the uninsured population to 1) quantify the relationship between rising healthcare costs and new immigrants, and 2) Evaluate the sub-segments of new immigrant population based on occupational background, country of origin, visa categories, and age and establish a quantitative relationship between these factors and the likelihood of being uninsured. A ten year time series (1994-2004) will be used to identify any trends and patterns which could confirm these relationships. The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Act also will be evaluated as it applies to immigrants.

Dr. David Kattes, Department of Agribusiness, Agronomy, Horticulture, and Range Management
"Spatial and Temporal Distribution of Mosquitoes at Lake Proctor"

Historically, mosquitoes are among the most important carriers of disease in the world. Of particular concern in the United States are arboviral encephalides which includes West Nile virus, Western equine encephalitis and Venezuelan equine encephalitis. Because only selected mosquito species can transmit a specific pathogen, it is imperative that information be known about the distribution of various mosquito species through time and space. This proposed research project will establish baseline data of the spatial and temporal distribution of mosquitoes in various habitats associated with Lake Proctor in Comanche County, Texas.

Dr. Daniel Marble, Department of Mathematics, Physics and Engineering
"Study of Mictamict Alloys for Applications as High Temperature Resistors and Interconnects"

The electronics industry's success over the next decade depends on addressing several key materials issues. One key issue is replacing SiO2 gate oxide with a high k dielectric material like HfOx to allow further reduction in device size. A second key issue is minimizing propagation delay in interconnects by replacing aluminum with copper and other low resistivity materials. Since most materials presently being investigated interact with silicon at processing temperatures, developing materials (diffusion barriers) to prevent these unwanted interactions is the third key issue. Materials that appear to have the properties required for diffusion barriers include recently discovered mictamict alloys that may have additional applications in high temperature resistors and actuators. Grant funds will be used to begin feasibility studies on the possibility of producing Hf based mictamict alloy.

Dr. Kyle McGregor, Department of Agricultural Services and Development
"Learning Effects of Visualization Tools on Secondary Agricultural Science Students: An Experimental Comparison of Computer-Generated Animation and Still Illustration"

This study investigates the effects of computer-generated animation on secondary agriscience students' learning when compared to use of traditional still pictures. The study will answer these questions: 1) To what extent is cognitive achievement affected by the addition of animation to an agricultural power lesson as measured by an immediate post test? 2) To what extent is cognitive achievement affected by the addition of animation to an agricultural power lesson as measured by a delayed post-test? And 3) To what extent does animation affect a student's understanding and retention of low-level and high-level cognitive information?

Dr. Allan Nelson, Department of Biological Sciences
"Flora of Fossil Rim Wildlife Center"

Little is known about the flora of West Cross Timbers (WCT) region counties because of their rural location and relative isolation in the state. The last comprehensive floristic study was conducted about 30 years ago. Creating lists of plants from areas with the WCT with specimens and ecological information will enable resource managers to locate and identify native plants for subsequent seed collections and eradication of invasive or exotic species. Collection and analysis of data will allow managers of protected natural areas to better manage for plant diversity. Global positioning system technology will be used to identify study sites at Fossil Rim Wildlife Center. All flowering plants, gymnosperms and ferns will be collected and labeled in the study sites.

Dr. Russell Pfau, Department of Biological Sciences
"Characterization of a Hybrid Zone Between Two Divergent Lineages of the Hispid Cotton Rat (Sigmodon hispidus)

Hybrid zones have provided a wealth of knowledge regarding the nature and origin of species by providing a natural laboratory where the patterns and processes resulting from the merger of divergent genomes can be examined. A previously undocumented hybrid zone has been identified recently at the contact zone between two divergent lineages of the hispid cotton rat in the USA. This research will 1) thoroughly characterize the nature of the hybrid zone at a single locality in eastern Texas, 2) document the overall geographical extent of the hybrid zone, and 3) test hypotheses regarding the origin of the hybrid zone. The proposed research will provide information regarding the process of speciation and formation of reproductive isolating barriers.

Dr. Harold Rathburn, Department of Biological Sciences
"Assessment of Dehydrins in the Native Texas Buffalo Grass"

Native Texas Buffalo grass, Buchloe dactylodies, is well adapted to heat and drought conditions. Very little, if any, is known about the adaptive processes of this plant. Important economic crops grown in Texas are subjected to the same extremes of temperature and periodic drought. Cellular proteins have been known to accumulate during periods of drought in various plant species. Work on various species has identified a number of such drought-resistant proteins, and several genes coding these proteins have been isolated and sequenced. A specific group of drought tolerant proteins called dehydrins are responsive to drought. The students involved in this study will attempt to clone B. dactylodies dehydrin genes generated by polymerase chain reaction.

Dr. Richard Reese, Department of Mathematics, Physics and Engineering
"Operating System for Behavior-Based (BB) Robots"

Behavior-based robots are free-moving (autonomous) robots, which interact continuously with a real-life environment and make their decisions based on relatively unsophisticated decision mechanisms called behaviors. The BB approach only mediates between the robot's sensor data and its actions. If, however, the robot has the capacity to communicate with a base station or other robots, there is a new type of data available: the incoming message. To handle messages, the operating system must be extended to incorporate real-time, distributed elements. Also specialized tools must be developed to configure and control software download, operation and testing.

Dr. Bethany Rinard, Department of Chemistry, Geosciences and Environmental Science
"Optimization of Parameters in the Cross-Correlation Earthquake Relocation Method"

Kilauea is the youngest and most active volcano on the island of Hawaii. Using a set of 5,000 earthquakes that occurred on the western half of Kilauea between 1981 and 1999, I have tested and compared two earthquake relocation programs. The objective was to obtain better quality locations for these earthquakes that could be used to define magma pathways and fault systems. One program -- hypoDD2 -- provided excellent results. The second program -- a cross-correlation relocation method -- yielded less satisfactory results. This project will verify whether a better understanding of the cross-correlation method and optimization of the parameters used to run the software will yield better results and a better understanding of the volcano's geology.

Dr. Leslie Stanley-Stevens, Department of Social Work, Sociology and Criminal Justice
"How Parents of Young Children Balance Work and Family"

This longitudinal study of first time, expectant parents is unique in two ways. First, the participants are residents of rural, central Texas, a population about which there is little empirical information. And second, the study is longitudinal and investigates how expectant parents' expectations about work and family differ from their actual experiences. Expectations to be examined are:  how childcare will be split; what effect work will have on the family; what effect children will have on work; whether a parent will work full time, part time, or stay at home; and whether family-friendly policies exist in work places and are taken advantage of.

Dr. Philip Sudman, Department of Biological Sciences
"Census Methods and Genetics of the Threatened Texas Kangaroo Rat"

The Texas kangaroo rat, Dipodomys elator, is listed as Threatened by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and as a Category 2 candidate species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973. Category 2 means endangered or threatened status at the Federal level probably is warranted but insufficient data exist to justify that listing. This project's main objective is to assess methods for determining population densities of this species that are both accurate and relatively quick. These methods then can be used to examine the demographics of this species over its entire range. The project also will obtain tissue samples from captured individuals to assess the species' overall genetic health.

Dr. Marcy Tanter, Department of English and Languages
"Recovering the Original Poetry of Martha Dickinson Bianchi"

Martha Dickinson Bianchi enjoyed some success as a fairly prolific poet, novelist and essayist during the period 1896-1925. After about 1925, Bianchi began to edit and publish previously unpublished letters and poems by her aunt, Emily Dickinson. Public interest in Dickinson was so great that Bianchi devoted the rest of her life and work to her late aunt, and her own work waned and was forgotten. Reading Bianchi's original work, it is obvious her talents were not just for editing Dickinson's work. Bianchi's own poetry, especially the poems written during and after World War I, stands up to much of the popular, contemporary poetry of that age. This assessment will result in an article to be submitted to The Emily Dickson Journal or American Literature.

Dr. Carol Thompson, Department of Chemistry, Geosciences and Environmental Science
"Metals in the Environment in Erath County, Texas"

While metals are essential components of life, excessive levels of metals can harm humans and aquatic systems. This exploratory project will evaluate the concentration of metals in Erath County soil, water and sediments. Samples will be collected from storm water, both by automated samplers at streams and grab samples at other locations. Samples also will be collected from stream sediments, reservoir and pond bottoms, and soils. Samples will be analyzed by Ion Coupled Plasma-Atomic Emissions Spectroscopy using EPA approved methods. Students participating in the study will be exposed to proper field sampling techniques, procedures for quality analysis and quality control, data management and manipulation, and currently accessible methods for laboratory analysis of environmental water quality samples.

Dr. Mallory Young, Department of English and Languages
"Chick Flicks: Contemporary Women at the Movies"

This project will complete an edited collection of ten original essays on the subject of contemporary "chick flicks." The essays in the collection, along with an extensive introduction and afterword, will address the cultural, literary and sociological significance of current films directed primarily at (and sometimes by) women. Essays in the book will address such issues as gender and genre (what is a "chick flick"?), race and class, the conflict between feminism and post feminism (how is the current post feminist generation of women incorporating or rejecting the ideas of the mid-twentieth century women's movement?), the changing portrayal of older women, and attitudes towards women's sexuality and identity.

Dr. Man (Mark) Yu, Department of Agribusiness, Agronomy, Horticulture and Range Management
"Economic Analysis of Manure Digestion with Black Soldier Flies"

The Cross Timbers region includes the two largest milk producing counties in Texas -- Erath and Comanche. The large amount of manure from dairy farms in the area is a monetary and environmental concern to producers and the public. In this study, a new manure management system will be established by using Black Soldier Fly larvae to digest dairy manure. Once larvae reach a certain age, they will be placed in dairy manure to test their ability to digest it. A production function will be estimated to represent the input-output relationship. By combining the production function and prices, future economic and environmental implications can be assessed.