Digital Commons @ the Georgia Academy of Science
Not a member yet
1290 research outputs found
Sort by
DESIGNING AN UNDERGRADUATE FORENSIC CHEMISTRY EXPERIMENT ON THE LEVELS OF AMPHETAMINE IN URINE USING TWO DIFFERENT METHODS**
No full textAmphetamine is used to stimulate the central nervous system in patients with ADD/ADHD (Attention Deficit Disorder/Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder). This drug benefits those who need it, but according to FHE Health, it is widely abused by 11.1% of all college students. The aim of this procedure was to design a teaching lab on determining amphetamine in urine samples. For the first part of the experiment amphetamine was evaluated in synthetic urine samples through an Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA kit) that commercially available and is widely used in drug labs to qualitatively analyze whether amphetamine is present in a sample. This experiment determined whether the ELISA kit would be able to be used to find accurate quantitative results. The ELISA kit operates based on competition between the drug in the urine sample and the drug enzyme conjugate for antibody binding sites on the 96-well plate. The absorbance values were obtained with a microplate spectrophotometer. Once the values were obtained from the spectrophotometer, the data was analyzed to find the concentration of the drug in an unknown sample. Samples containing between 30.0 ng/mL and 300. ng/mL of amphetamine were analyzed using this method. The percent error for the calculated concentrations was 90.2% for the lowest concentration values, and around 13.9% for the high concentration, showing that the kit is unreliable at lower concentrations. The second part of the experiment involved the use of Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry to compare the two methods and for better quantification of the concentrations of amphetamine that are detectable in methanol. Amphetamine is extracted from urine and then evaluated using the GC/MS. Both of these experiments were designed to be used as lab classes for the forensic concentration program. The experimental procedures and results obtained using the two methods will be discussed in this poster
IMPLEMENTATION OF SERIERS FED PATCH ANTENNA FOR BEAM FOCUSING
No full textOne of the major Industrial, Scientific and Medical (ISM) frequency band covers from 5.725 GHz to 5.875 GHz. This 5.8 GHz provides additional bandwidth for ISM communication. However, being at higher frequency than it is more limited in terms of range than 2.4 GHz. This proposed antenna employs the beamformation technique to overcome this limitation. Using a series of microstrip patch arrays we can improve the directionality of the radiation beam pattern and achieve a higher directional gain
THE RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE, CORONAVIRUS IMMUNIZATION STATUS, MASK WEARING BEHAVIORS, AND MPOX CONCERN AMONG HBCU STUDENTS**
No full textIn the U.S. through November of 2022, approximately 98.8 million people had contracted coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), and the total number of coronavirus deaths was about 1.09 million people. A growing body of evidence found that some differences in coronavirus vaccination status could be attributed to fears related to many different factors, including differences in ethnicities, sexes, cultural identities, marital status, age, and other characteristics. During the same time period, there were approximately 30,000 cases of mpox and 19 mpox deaths. It seems reasonable given the prevailing rates of both viruses that people would be more inclined to fear coronavirus than mpox. In part, emotional intelligence includes the capacity use knowledge about one\u27s own emotions to enhance decision making. It further seems reasonable that a fear of coronavirus could be related to a fear of mpox and that emotional intelligence could be a determinate that prevents an irrational fear of mpox. The present research examined vaccination status, behaviors, and fears in relation to the emotional intelligence of students from an HBCU in order to determine the relationships between emotional intelligence and coronavirus immunization status, self-reported mask wearing behaviors, and mpox concerns
The January 21, 2019 Lunar Eclipse
Get PDFThe B- and V-filter brightness values of the eclipsed Moon on January 21, 2019 were measured. The brightness values near mid-eclipse are B = –0.33 (0.15) and V = –2.07 (0.05) magnitudes. Uncertainties are in parentheses. The V-filter brightness near mid-eclipse compares well with a recent lunar eclipse model by Mallama; however, the measured B – V value [1.74 (0.16) magnitudes] is below the predicted value of
HEALTH SCREENING OF AN AQUATIC TURTLE POPULATION IN NORTH GEORGIA, USA**
No full textTurtles are some of the most threatened vertebrates on the planet with more than 50% of them being categorized as endangered. Many turtles are aquatic or semi-aquatic and are important components of the aquatic food web, but their position in the web is jeopardized because they are negatively affected by poor water quality and several emerging infectious diseases, including Ranavirus. Ranavirus is known to occur in north Georgia amphibian populations, but aquatic turtles in Georgia have not yet been screened for this emerging pathogen. Oral swabs were collected from aquatic turtles on a regular basis throughout the spring, summer, and fall of 2022 for detection of Ranavirus via molecular analysis. We also recorded water quality data (i.e., dissolved O2, pH, temperature, fecal coliforms) and took standard measures of turtle size (e.g., carapace length, and weight). We hope to determine the status of Ranavirus presence in these turtle populations using quantitative PCR methods. This experimental design also enables us to examine the relationship between various aspects of water quality and potential Ranavirus infections. A better understanding of the prevalence of Ranavirus infections and the impacts of water quality will help us to mitigate the impact of the virus in Georgia and elucidate the role of turtles in Ranavirus transmission
POSTHATCHING DEVELOPMENT OF THE REPRODUCTIVE ANATOMY IN MALE EASTERN FENCE LIZARD (SCELOPORUS UNDULATUS)
No full textRecent observations from our lab suggest that the timing of fundamental events in the development of male lizard reproductive anatomy differs from mammals and birds. Masculinization of the embryonic urogenital tract occurs during embryonic development in mammals and birds but has not been thoroughly examined in reptiles. In this study we described the post-hatching development and maturation of the reproductive system in male Eastern Fence Lizards. Male lizards ranging from neonates to small adults were captured monthly by hand or with a noose pole in the Oconee National Forest, GA, USA over a span of two years. Testes and spermatic ducts were photographed at 1–5X magnification to obtain standardized morphological measures. The left testis and left reproductive tract were removed, sectioned, and stained with Masson’s trichrome to study the microanatomical changes associated with maturation. In small hatchlings, the mesonephric kidney and its associated duct are still present, as they have not yet differentiated to the epididymis and ductus deferens. The mesonephros gradually condenses anteriorly as the mesonephric tubules give rise to efferent ducts and the mesonephric duct differentiates to epididymal duct and ductus deferens. The seminiferous tubules of recently hatched lizards are populated by spermatogonia and Sertoli cells, with no distinct lumen. A positive relationship exists between testis size and spermatogenic stage in larger animals; however, testis size and spermatogenic activity were also affected by time of year. Male lizards approaching maturity show evidence of active spermatogenesis and secretions from the sexual segment of the kidney. Our results indicate masculinization of the urogenital tract in Eastern Fence Lizards occurs after hatching, and maturation of the reproductive system is influenced by the combination of size and season
HOW DOES YOUR CHOICE OF MINNOW TRAP INFLUENCE STREAM CAPTURE SUCCESS**
No full textDue to an increasing number of threats on aquatic life, species richness in the southeastern United States is declining at an alarming rate. According to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, there are 245 described native fish species in Georgia, and an astonishing 58 species are currently listed as threatened. Therefore, conservation efforts that require frequent, minimally invasive sampling to both establish baseline data and detect population declines are imperative. Sampling small Piedmont streams with minnow traps is effective and relatively easy to implement, but associated biases are poorly understood. More investigation with minnow traps is required to minimize sampling bias, maximize trap efficiency, and allow for comparisons between studies, all of which will benefit conservation efforts. Results from previous studies indicate that minnow traps vary in capture efficiency and researchers have hypothesized that differences could be related to either trap color or minor design differences between models, but none have experimentally tested which factor was most influential. Our primary objective for this project is to evaluate the relative importance of minnow trap color and design on capture efficiency. In order to achieve this objective, we will use two common minnow trap designs in combination with spray paint to examine the influence of each factor on capture results. Akaike’s information criterion will be used to determine the most parsimonious linear regression model among a candidate set of competing models related to daily captures. Our hope is that our results will be useful in refining minnow trapping methods and maximizing conservation management efforts in the state
ARABIDOPSIS THALIANA EIF2A KINASE, GCN2 IS ESSENTIAL FOR MEDIATING SURVIVAL RESPONSES TOWARDS METHYL JASMONATE STRESS
No full textPlant growth and productivity rely on rapid energy management strategies designed to cope with dynamic environmental conditions. Among these, cytosolic protein synthesis (translational control) serves as a vital node for the regulation and maintenance of cellular homeostasis. Translational control complements transcriptional control because regulation at the level of translation is faster, rapidly reversible, and energy efficient. Thus, translational control has the potential to explain how plant cells can nimbly adjust to dynamic changes in their environment. In his previous work, Dr. Lokdarshi identified a novel fast-regulatory switch in Arabidopsis thaliana that functions at the nexus of two fundamental processes, cytosolic translation and reactive oxygen species (ROS) signaling. Specifically, the general control of nonderepressible 2 (GCN2), a cytosolic serine/threonine protein kinase, is rapidly activated in response to ROS emanating from chloroplasts under a variety of abiotic and xenobiotic stresses. GCN2 then phosphorylates its target, eukaryotic translation initiation factor (eIF)2 alpha, resulting in readjustments to the active protein synthesis for stress remediation. In the work presented here, we provide new evidence that the plant defense hormone, methyl jasmonate (MeJA), requires light (therefore, chloroplast function) to activate the cytosolic GCN2-eIF2alpha module. Additionally, loss-of-gcn2 mutant seedlings showed increased sensitivity towards MeJA stress supported by a primary root length assay and altered accumulation of MeJA responsive transcripts versus wild-type using quantitative real-time PCR analysis. In conclusion, we provide evidence that the GCN2-eIF2alpha module is critical for mediating survival responses towards MeJA stress and may serve as a missing link in a non-canonical retrograde signaling pathway whereby the status of the photosynthetic machinery feeds back to the cytosolic protein synthesis apparatus for rapid energy management under diverse abiotic, xenobiotic, and biotic stresses
OOCYTE AND FOLLICULAR DEVELOPMENT IN IMMATURE EASTERN FENCE LIZARDS
No full textThe early stages of oogenesis and follicular organization occur in utero in mammals. In contrast, the early stages of oogenesis and follicular organization in reptiles occur during postnatal development. The increased accessibility to individuals undergoing these processes and the relatively large, yolk-laden oocytes make reptiles, such as lizards, an especially useful model for studying reproductive development. Seasonal cycles of oocyte and follicular maturation have been described in adults of numerous species of lizards; however, few studies have examined these processes in immature lizards. In this study, immature female Eastern Fence Lizards (Sceloporus undulatus) were collected monthly over a 2-year-period. The gonads and reproductive tracts were photographed in situ at 1–5x magnification for examination at the gross anatomical level. Left ovaries were removed, embedded in paraffin wax, sectioned on a rotary microtome, and stained using Masson’s trichrome. Ovarian and follicular stages were assigned to each lizard based on previously established histological criteria. Relationships between body size, capture date, and ovarian and follicular developmental stage were evaluated. Ovarian stage was assigned based on the most advanced follicle. Most ovaries were comprised of follicles of varying stages. As expected, there was a positive relationship between body size and ovarian stage; however, the relationship between time of year and ovarian stage is more complex when considering immature lizards of different sizes. Larger, yet still immature, lizards have a greater proportion of follicles at an advanced stage, in comparison to smaller individuals. Previous studies and our unpublished observations suggest that female Sceloporus undulatus obtain reproductive maturity within 1-2 years, depending on the timing of hatching and growth rates. Our data suggests that lizards that do not attain sexual maturity in their first year exhibit a prolonged period of pubescence, as indicated by advanced stages of previtellogenic follicles
DEVELOPMENT OF A PASSIVE MULTIPHASE ACOUSTIC FLOW METER
No full textMultiphase flow measurements have widespread industrial applications in the petrochemical industry. Most methods are costly and require invasive mounting of a device in the pipeline. Invasive multiphase flow meters are costly to install due to the shutdown of production of material flowing through the pipe. A technique outlined in US patent 10,578,471 B2 utilizes a passive acoustic device that measures sound propagation with and against the flow of the material in the pipeline. This information then reveals the flow of the fluid and the speed of sound of the fluid. The speed of sound provides phase information. The described device is passive and mounts externally to the pipeline, hence not interrupting the production of material through the pipeline. Methodology and construction of a third prototype is presented here