19264 research outputs found
Sort by
Long-Term Monitoring of Marine Ecosystems at Institute for Marine Research in the Philippines
No full text26 p.My Senior Integrated Project is based on my experience as a research assistant at the Institute for Marine Research (IMR) on the island of Negros in the Philippines. The Institute for Marine Research is a non-profit organization that conducts long-term research on costal marine ecosystems. By conducting research, one of their goals is to promote conservation and sustainability on both a local and global level. My experience strengthened my interest in marine ecosystems and opened my eyes to some of the current underwater methodologies being used to collect data on coral reefs. Scientific scuba diving being the primary way IMR collects data has allowed me to explore an ecosystem in a way that I could not in a lab. This paper will highlight global marine threats and conservation efforts followed by an account of my scientific experiences including the methodology IMR utilizes in their research
Synthesis of Optical Grade Mirrors via Optimized Tollen’s Reaction
No full textvii, 25 p.Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have risen in prominence due to their promising adsorptive properties and have been utilized in many different applications such as the capture of greenhouse gases. Fabry-perot cavities (FPCs) have been utilized in detecting low concentrations of chemicals due given their sensitivity to refractive index changes. This makes FPCs ideal for testing adsorptive capabilities of new MOFs. However, current methods of studying MOFs are limited in efficiency by their low-throughput nature. We propose using a multi-well plate to create multiple FPCs to overcome this limitation. To create a mirror within each well of the plate, we utilize a reaction originally used for detecting aldehydes in a sample: the Tollens Test. The Tollens reaction deposits metallic silver onto glass multi-well plates for use as a mirror, the first step in creating an optical cavity. The goal of this research is to optimize and characterize the Tollens reaction through the quantification of reflectivity to determine a consistent and effective method of plating glass substrates with metallic silver
Exploration of The Physical Therapy Profession and The Certifications Earned to Drive Treatment Styles
No full textiii, 11 p.Orthopedic Physical Therapy is an overarching branch of many types of Physical Therapy. This branch can be broken down into many kinds of certifications that can alter the treatment plans and outcomes for patients. Functional Manual Therapy, The McKenzie Method, Dry Needling, and Pelvic Floor Therapy are all types of Physical Therapy and require certifications outside of the traditional licensing a PT obtains after school. Some of these methods and certifications are very beneficial and have been proven to treat certain conditions successfully compared to others. The McKenzie Method specializes in the spine and patient education to help lead to prevention in the future. FMT focuses on the body’s tissues and alignment and how it all connects. Dry Needling is proven to be a supplemental treatment that has shown positives and negatives depending on the patient. Pelvic Floor Therapy specializes in all sorts of aspects concerning women’s health and focuses heavily on education and prevention. These certifications are looked at as specializations within the Physical Therapy field and cater to specific patients. The demand for physical therapy is growing and with that, more research and studies on these certifications, and others, will follow
Japan’s Aging Society Crisis and the Impacts on Rural Towns : Finding an Answer
No full text28 p.Based upon my research, I will first identify the main issue- the aging society/population decline crisis. This section will entail a definition and a few statistics. Then, I will have two sections that constitute a historical background. The first part will be the historical context for the crisis itself, starting immediately after the end of World War II. Next, I follow that section with an economic historical background, which is important in fully understanding the extent and impacts of this crisis. This paper will then move onto a section focused on statistics. These statistics will highlight the significant demographic change, specifically the population decline and increasing age gap between young and elderly Japanese residents. I will also include fertility rate changes. There will then be statistical predictions for population changes in the coming years. The following section will deal with the effects and impacts of the aging population. I will then include a part that will specifically look at effects on rural depopulation in Japan. There will be a brief overview of the causes and consequences of depopulation, followed by the analysis of the three case studies previously mentioned, Nagoro, Sado Island and Okishima Island, that depict rapid population decline. The research of the three case studies will explore statistical evidence, economic and employment shifts, as well as the living conditions of the modern-day towns. This combination of the three case studies, along with the details from my own experience makes this essay unique by allowing myself to draw conclusions from the overlaps or gaps in the cases. After the discussion of the three case studies, I will provide my argument for a proposed solution. Overall, this paper argues that the towns facing rural depopulation must follow in the steps of Sado Island’s initiatives, which focuses on the revitalization of economic opportunities, incentives and rewards, as well as attracting migrants through employment and government subsidies. However, I outline that although rural depopulation solutions may not directly solve Japan’s overarching crisis, it will lead the youth to better understand the nature of their society, and how to combat such hardship in the future
Holistic Care Provides New Avenues of Healing for Injured Dogs Overlooked by Conventional Treatments
No full text15 p.Holistic veterinary practices offer a new form of treatment that traditional methods are limited to for dogs suffering from chronic and acute conditions. Holistic practices provide treatment plans that target factors of their conditions that pharmaceuticals can no longer help. Chiropractic treatments work to restore mobility and decrease pain for dogs suffering from chronic conditions. The several types of acupuncture-dry-needles, electro, aqua, bloodletting, and laser- use the meridians of the body to target acupoints that correlate to specific regions, organs, and functions of the body that can increase the well-being of the dog. Nutritional plans create a tailored diet for dogs that give them the required nutrients and vitamins they need to avoid certain medical conditions, such as obesity. Pulsed Electromagnetic Field (PEMF) treatment allows for a non-invasive form of treatment using an induction coil that enhances circulation and can treat hot spots that form from dogs self-harming, such as licking and itching. Deepening our understanding of holistic veterinary care can allow for more approaches for treating or lessening more chronic conditions that dogs are suffering from, while also allowing for a less-invasive alternative form of treatment
Adaptive Multi-Paddock Grazing and Soil Health
No full textiii, 12 p.Soil is the basis of all terrestrial ecosystems, and is a fundamental provider of food, biodiversity, and cultural identity. However, with worldwide threats to soil coming from land use changes and development, land management strategies will need to prioritize soil health by adopting restorative practices. Analysis of both primary and review literature has revealed that adaptive multi-paddock (AMP) grazing—defined as adjusting the number of animals to the available forage, leaving enough forage behind for regrowth, and giving long recovery times between grazing periods—has the ability to restore health and function to soil. However, continuous grazing and overgrazing can be detrimental to soil. Analyzed through the lens of soil ecosystem services, AMP grazing can contribute to all facets of soil health. AMP grazing improves soil supporting services by increasing nitrogen cycling and microbial diversity. By improving nutrient flow and working with plant biological responses, AMP grazing also stimulates plant growth and supports the provisioning services of the soil. By increasing soil carbon storage and water-holding capacity, AMP grazing improves the ability of the soil to regulate climate change and natural disasters. Healthy soil plays a significant role in every world culture, whether directly or indirectly, and thus grazing and soil also have cultural value. More research is needed on the effects of specific grazing practices and programs so that AMP grazing may become a more widespread land management tool
Characterization of The Renin and Pro-renin Expressing AS4.1 Cell Line: Role of Cathepsins
No full textvi, 24 p.Renin is the rate limiting enzyme for the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) which helps control blood pressure within the body. Inhibition of enzymes within the RAAS pathway are used to treat hypertension. However, when the enzyme angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) is inhibited a buildup of renin can occur. This can cause inflammation and kidney damage. It can also worsen similar damage caused by pre-existing conditions such as diabetes. Renin is stored in two forms, pro-renin (inactive) and renin (active), so one way to work around this issue is to prevent renin’s activation. To activate pro-renin, it’s 43 amino acid pro-segment must be cleaved without further degradation. However, the protease that preforms this is still unknown. The Cathepsin family is a possible candidate for this protease as it is an in vivo, lysosomal protease that is believed to degrade protein and cause inflammatory responses. The cathepsin isoforms Z, B and D are believed to have the previously stated functions along with broad substrate specificity, making it possible for them not to degrade renin beyond its 43 amino acid pro-segment. The AS4.1 cell line was investigated as the cell line has granules and secretes both renin and pro-renin. Through Western Blotting and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) it can be determined if Cathepsin Z, B and D are present within the cells. It was not determined what protease is responsible for the cleavage of pro-renin to renin. However, it was found that Cathepsins B, Z and D were expressed within the AS4.1 cells
Synthetic Route Optimization of the Antibacterial Agent Aqabamycin G
No full textvii, 27 p.Antibacterial resistance is a severe global health concern and is projected to cause 10 million worldwide deaths in 2050. Antibacterial resistance occurs when strains of bacteria become immune to currently used antimicrobial molecules, leading to a need for novel molecules to combat them. The aqabamycins A-G make up a family of molecules discovered in 2010 that exhibited promising antimicrobial activity. Of particular interest was aqabamycin G as it possessed an indole group along with the maleimide structure typical of the aqabamycins. Due to its limited production in nature, a synthetic approach towards aqabamycin G was desired. In 2022, the first route for the synthesis of aqabamycin G was published, yielding aqabamycin G in four steps with an overall yield of 32% costing 18 per gram
Optimization of Protein Expression in Yeast via UV-induced Mutagenesis
No full textiii, 13 p.In the modern biotechnology industry, UV-induced mutagenesis has emerged as a powerful tool for optimizing protein expression in yeast—a preferred host for industrial protein production. UV radiation induces DNA damage through the formation of cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers, which often lead to mutations during DNA repair processes. These random genetic variations can dramatically impact protein production by improving gene expression, protein folding, or secretion pathways. While modern genome editing techniques like CRISPR/Cas9 have shown limitations in improving protein yields, UV mutagenesis remains valuable due to its ability to create spontaneous and beneficial mutants. This review highlights the potential of UV-induced mutagenesis as a valuable method for discovering new and more efficient modifications to protein production pathways in yeast, with significant implications for the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries
Social Support and Future Life Expectations : Linking Different Microsystems in Adolescence
No full textvi, 46 p.The importance of adolescent future life expectations in relation to their physical and mental well-being has been documented in several studies. One way that adolescents form these expectations is through their interactions with others. I tested the effects of perceived social support on future life expectations in adolescents, focusing on the different sources of support. It was predicted that more perceived social support would be associated with higher future life expectations, and that family social support would be more influential than support from other sources. Data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health were used, and 6,256 participants were included in the study. It was found that social support from family was not as closely associated with future life expectations as support from other sources, but support from each source individually was positively correlated with future life expectations. Overall support was found to have a greater effect on future life expectations than either family or external support