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MICROBIAL GROWTH ON POLYETHYLENE PLASTIC FROM 2 DIFFERENT LOCATIONS IN A WETLAND ENVIRONMENT
No full textPlastic pollution is a growing concern worldwide because of its persistence in the environment. Plastics in the environment can become colonized by various microorganisms which could aid in their natural degradation. Few microorganisms have been identified that can break down certain types of plastics, however the extent of microbes growing on plastic waste is vastly unknown, which highlights a need for further research in this area. This research aimed to determine whether plastics deposited in stream or soil environments exhibited significantly different types and amounts of microbial growth. Two environments, soil and stream, were chosen to deposit low-density polyethylene plastic (LDPE) films. Five similar sized films were placed inside 6 mesh bags and secured with rope and stakes to prevent loss. Three replicate bags contianing 5 films each, were placed in each environment for approximately two months to allow microbial colonization on the LDPE plastic films. After collection of the samples, the films were sterilely swabbed, and microorganisms were plated on Tryptic-soy agar plates that were incubated for 24 hours. After incubation, microorganisms and their morphological differences were observed on each plate using a bifocal microscope. Additionally, a count of open space was performed for each plate. There were similar and recognizable morphological characteristics of microorganisms observed on both the soil and stream plates. Although the stream plates had a greater variety of morphological traits, containing several highly distinct microorganisms. From the counts of open space, an independent samples T-test was used to compare the relative amount of growth on each plate. It was concluded that there is a significant difference in the amount of microbial growth on plastics deposited in soil and stream environments, with the stream environment containing more growth. Streams provide continuous sources of nutrients, carrying rich organic matter downstream providing a stable environment for microbial growth. Nutrient acquisition in the soil environment is slower than in streams due to less nutrient mobility and a slower decomposition. The factors of nutrient availability, temperature, and moisture content in a stream help provide a more favorable environment for microbial growth and potentially more microbial degradation of plastics in that environment
A USER-FRIENDLY AI-DRIVEN SIMULATION MODEL TO ESTIMATE AND REDUCE DAILY MICROPLASTIC EXPOSURE
No full textMicroplastic pollution is an escalating global concern, with growing evidence of its widespread presence in food, air, and water. Despite extensive research quantifying microplastic contamination across various environments, translating these findings into practical tools for public awareness and individual health risk assessment remains a significant challenge. This study introduces a user-friendly simulation model designed to estimate daily microplastic exposure by integrating diverse data sources and human activity patterns. The model incorporates key factors, including airborne microplastic concentrations, dietary microplastic levels, human inhalation rates, and domestic dietary habits. Leveraging advanced AI techniques such as data harmonization, feature selection, and symbolic regression, the model synthesizes these inputs into an intuitive predictive equation. This equation allows individuals to estimate their microplastic exposure by inputting macro-environmental data (e.g., geographic factor) and personalized lifestyle data, such as dietary preferences and time spent indoors versus outdoors. This study bridges the gap between scientific knowledge and public understanding by offering an accessible tool to quantify personal microplastic exposure. By providing actionable insights, the model not only enhances public awareness but also empowers users to make informed decisions to reduce exposure risks in their daily lives. This work highlights the importance of continued interdisciplinary collaboration to translate environmental research into practical solutions that benefit society
DEVELOPMENT OF A MICROWAVE INTERFEROMETRY BASED CHEMICAL ANALYZER**
No full textThis project explores the integration of microwave interferometry and machine learning to achieve near-real-time inference in sensing and diagnostics applications. Microwave interferometry, known for its high sensitivity to permittivity changes in materials, is employed to measure subtle interactions between chemicals and the electromagnetic field produced by a custom-designed bandpass filter. The filter operates within a frequency range of 0–6 GHz and is constructed on a Rogers TMM 13i substrate, chosen for its high dielectric constant and low-loss characteristics. The collected microwave data is processed using advanced signal processing techniques and fed into a machine learning model for inference. The machine learning pipeline is trained on a dataset representing a wide range of chemical interactions, enabling robust classification and prediction capabilities. Feature extraction from the interferometric signal focuses on key parameters such as amplitude, phase shift, and resonance frequency deviations, which correlate strongly with changes in the material\u27s interaction with the electromagnetic field. A custom Python-based control system integrates sensor operations, data acquisition, temperature management, and inference. Temperature control ensures stability in the resonator’s performance, minimizing environmental influences and enhancing measurement precision. Real-time control of the experimental environment, including flow dynamics and thermal conditions, ensures high fidelity in measurements and reliable data acquisition. The system is validated through controlled experiments involving various chemical samples, demonstrating its ability to detect and classify interactions with high precision. The project advances the field of smart sensing by combining the physical precision of microwave interferometry with the analytical power of machine learning. Applications range from environmental monitoring and industrial quality control to advanced material characterization. By achieving near-real-time inference, this system sets the stage for efficient, scalable, and automated detection solutions, addressing critical needs in rapid decision-making scenarios
DETERMINATING IF CERTAIN DIVISION II ATHLETES HAVE A GREATER WINGSPAN TO HEIGHT RATIO COMPARED TO A GENERAL COLLEGE POPULATION**
No full textIn the National Basketball Association, it is commonly observed that players\u27 wingspans are longer than vertical height, while in the general population these values are very similar. This study aims to determine if the wingspan-to-height pattern holds true for Division II men\u27s and women\u27s basketball players. Furthermore, the study will investigate if this trait is present in athletes from other sports (including soccer, volleyball, cross-country, golf, baseball, softball, lacrosse, and tennis) and in specific positions within those sports. Participants will complete a survey inquiring about current and past athletic participation. The survey will be followed by conducting measurements of each subject’s wingspan and height. Analysis of data will include appropriate statistical tests depending on the data collected. If data exhibit normal distribution, a student t-test or ANOVA with post-hoc Tukey will be used; should data not pass normality, a Mann-Whitney or a Kruskal-Wallis with post-hoc Dunn will be used
GENDER ESSENTIALISM INCREASES DISPOSITIONAL ATTRIBUTION IN ROMANTIC RELATIONSHIPS
No full textPrevious literature has demonstrated negative consequences of social essentialist beliefs in enhancing social stereotyping and decreasing intergroup contacts. The current study aims to investigate how gender essentialism influences attributions during interpersonal conflict, and how this impact may be moderated by other factors such as relationship satisfaction. Eighty-three undergraduate students attending a public university in Southeast USA read scenarios that may cause conflict in romantic relationship and rated the likelihood of various explanations for the partner’s behavior. Participants also rated how satisfied they were with their current or most recent romantic relationship and their agreement with gender essentialist statements. We found that stronger gender essentialist beliefs were associated with higher tendency of dispositional attribution for partner’s behavior, especially in negative scenarios that would increase conflict. Those who were more satisfied with their relationship resorted to less instances of dispositional attribution within and outside of conflict-inducing scenarios. Additionally, couple satisfaction acted as a buffer for the relationship between gender essentialism and dispositional attribution. Results from the current study suggest that gender essentialism has an impact on interpersonal conflict and can influence the escalation of a conflict situation
MAJOR CHOICE FOR AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMEN**
No full textThis study investigated the impact of demographics on undergraduate major choice, with a focus on African American women at Spelman College, a private Historically Black College in Atlanta, GA. Previous research on career choice has explored factors such as personal interests, career aspirations, academic performance, and personality, but limited studies have examined the influence of demographics like gender, ethnicity, socioeconomic status (SES), and geographical location. An online survey study administered through Qualtrics aimed to address the unique barriers Black women face in pursuing higher education, particularly within STEM fields to enhance support structures that promote diversity and inclusivity. The researchers hypothesized significant relationships between SES and the likelihood of choosing STEM majors. Preliminary data (N=16) shows that STEM majors come from diverse SES backgrounds (9.1% = low SES, 54.5% = middle SES, 36.4% = high SES), whereas non-STEM majors were all middle SES. A second hypothesis predicted that SES would interact with whether or not students were in a STEM or non-STEM major to predict stress levels. Early data could not test the interaction, but preliminary data showed means in the expected direction with lower mean stress (M = 1.64, SD = 0.60) for high SES than middle SES (M = 2.11, SD = 0.53). Data collection is expected to be completed with about 60 participants by February 2025 which will allow researchers to better test the hypotheses. The study\u27s findings will contribute to understanding the factors leading to major choice and inform initiatives to support underrepresented groups in higher education. This research is crucial for universities and policymakers to address financial and mental strain associated with major choice and to bridge the gap between desired and current majors
THE IMPACT OF MEDICAL JARGON ON PATIENT COMPREHENSION AND SATISFACTION.
No full textUsing medical jargon can significantly impact patient comprehension of medical diagnoses and directives, particularly when health care information is delivered using complex terminology. This study examined how medical jargon affects college students’ understanding of medical diagnoses and health care interactions. Participants (N = 32) viewed three videos of a medical care provider explaining different diagnoses across three topic areas (orthopedics, diabetes, cancer); the videos were randomized and varied in complexity level as determined by a standardized measure of terminology complexity and script length. Participants also completed a vocabulary assessment, including several questions assessing familiarity with medical terminology. We hypothesized that individuals with lower vocabulary levels would be disproportionately negatively impacted by more complex, jargon-filled simulated diagnoses. Results indicated that overall, as the simulated medical diagnoses became more complex, participants rated them lower in clarity (p \u3c .001, ŋ2 = .331) and reported less understanding (p \u3c .001, ŋ2 = .342). These differences, however, were not qualified by participant vocabulary level, and participant vocabulary scores were not related to video comprehension ratings overall (p = .497, ŋ2 = .004). While a restriction of range within the medical term vocabulary sub-scores prevented an examination of the impact of medical knowledge on ratings, our data suggest that future research should take such pre-existing knowledge into account; collapsing across difficulty levels, average ratings differed across the three topics (p = .014), with participants rating orthopedic (M = 3.05, of 5) diagnoses as more difficult to comprehend than diabetes (M = 3.48) and cancer (M = 3.52) diagnoses. Overall, our data support prior findings that complex medical language can hinder patient understanding. Future research should explore interventions such as the use of visual aids, plain language summaries, and health care professional training to improve communication and enhance patient comprehension in medical settings
THE ROLE OF ARCHITECTURAL SPACE DURING THE MIDDLE PRECLASSIC AT PACBITUN, BELIZE
No full textInvestigations in Plazas A and B of the site core at Pacbitun indicate that initial occupation began in the early Middle Preclassic period (900-600 BC). At this time, a small agricultural community was established in Plaza B beginning with a few domestic structures built just above bedrock. These early domiciles would also function as workshops for the production of marine shell beads. During the late Middle Preclassic (600-300 BC), the size of the community in Plaza B expanded five-fold, with rectangular-shaped platforms replacing the early apsidal structures and the shell bead industry intensifying significantly. It is during this period that ceremonial architecture was erected on the north and south ends of Plaza A. While these platforms represent the first two monumental constructions in Plaza A, their unique physical and spatial attributes say much about their distinct identities as they relate to each another and to the domestic structures of Plaza B. The purpose of this presentation is to detail these distinct identities and discuss what each might tell us about the nature, structure, and extent of sociopolitical changes at the site throughout the Middle Preclassic period
MODELING THE PAST: LIDAR DOCUMENTATION AND 3D VISUALIZATON IN THE BLUE RIDGE**
No full textLaser scanning and 3-dimensional modeling of natural and cultural resources affords archaeologists, historians, resource managers, descendant communities, and the captivated public a powerful approach to the documentation and representation of both our past and present. This study provides such an example: a terrestrial LiDAR application at a precontact soapstone quarry and petroglyph complex in the Blue Ridge Physiographic Province of Georgia, followed by intensive data processing and visualization through both static and manipulable digital models. The results reveal yet another example of both the value of advanced technologies in archaeology, and the necessity for accurate documentation of resources imperiled by natural forces and land-use change
BREEDING SEASON BIRD USE OF AND NON-NATIVE PLANTS FOUND IN FOOD PLOTS IN THE SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN MOUNTAINS
Get PDFTraditional agricultural style food plots, or wildlife openings, are widely used for wildlife management and hunting opportunities on public and private lands in the Southeastern United States. These habitats are often cited as beneficial for game and nongame wildlife, but there are few published studies examining nongame bird use of food plots in recent decades. Modern concerns about the ecological costs of food plots, particularly fragmentation and invasive non-native species, warrant a new examination of this practice. We conducted avian surveys during the breeding season of 2008 at 39 sites composed of three different treatments: traditional food plots, novel food plots enhanced with a shrubby edge, and unmanaged forest. We detected 39 bird species within 50 meters of our point counts. We used a Bayesian implementation of a single-season occupancy model to simultaneously estimate occupancy of each species and derive an estimate of species richness at the three different treatments. Our results suggest that fewer birds use traditional food plots compared to the novel food plot with a brushy edge or unmanaged forest. This difference appears to be due to an increased use by early successional species in novel food plots, probably because brushy edge habitat is not available in traditional food plots, and a decrease in forest interior species around novel and traditional food plots. To assess threats from invasive non-native species from food plots, we surveyed non-native plants in a subset of the plots in May 2011. Thirty-two non-native plant species were found in food plots compared to 1 in the brushy edge and no non-native species in the forest plots. Sixty-four percent of these non-native species were considered serious threats as invasive species. The spread of some of these non-native species from the food plots into the surrounding landscape beyond our vegetative surveys, particularly along roads, suggests food plots may play a role in introducing invasive non-native plants to the larger landscape