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ONU Telescope Vibration
No full textPresentation location: Reed Hall of Science Room 202
The Reed Observatory telescope has been inadequately isolated from the Reed Hall of Science for several years. The ONU telescope group has been developing a design to mitigate vibrations and improve the user experience in the observatory. Following vibrational and visual data analysis, our group has evaluated the telescope to develop and implement a design configuration to best address the vibrational problem.
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Evaluate and diagnose vibrational issues in the Reed Hall Observatory that render current telescope set-up non-viable for research usage. Recommend, design, and build a vibration damping system that replaces current mounting below telescope and on top of the cement telescope pylon in the observatory workroom. The solutions should isolate the telescope mount from the observatory floor
Robertshaw Touchless Automated Refrigerator Door Opener
No full textDue to the global COVID-19 pandemic, the ONU senior design team was tasked by Robertshaw Controls Co. to create a system that opens a refrigerator door without physical contact. The system will be capable of being implemented in any model of refrigerator and contain an emergency stop system to protect against injury or damage.
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Design and build a touchless automated refrigerator door opener. A proof of concept prototype must be created to demonstrate the main elements of the design including door movement, removal of door actuation in the event of resistance or blockage, signal actuation and position feedback (fully open or fully closed), touchless actuation and filtering of nuisance triggering
Surveys of bees at Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie with special focus on the possible presence of a rusty patched bumble bee populations
No full textNative bees are one of the most diverse and important groups of pollinators in many ecosystems. However, pollinators are declining around the world and bumble bees (Bombus sp.) have been significantly affected. Prairie grasslands like those at Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie (Wilmington, IL) are likely prime locations for many species of bees due to rich and consistent floral resources. An important example is the rusty patched bumble bee, B. affinis, which was found at Midewin in 2018. B. affinis is federally listed as a critically endangered species that has experienced a 90% range reduction since 2000. This study is meant to continue to assess the populations of B. affinis and other bumble bee species at Midewin. We further initiated a census of other native wild bee populations to obtain information on general bee diversity, the first to our knowledge conducted at Midewin. In late June into mid-August of 2020, we completed a total of 92 surveys with 6 surveys conducted at 12 established 100m transects spread evenly across the site and 20 additional surveys at random locations with optimal foraging resources. We captured 320 bumble bees, comprising 7 separate species, yet B. affinis was not captured during our surveys. However, a population of B. affinis workers were found 7.5 miles north of Midewin by others and verified and monitored by our team, establishing its presence in the region and the potential for recolonization of suitable habitat at Midewin from nearby colonies. Three other bumble bee species of conservation concern were found for the 3rd year in a row (B. fervidus, B. auricomus and B. pensylvanicus). Our census of other native wild bees resulted in 16 species, bringing the total census of identified bee species at Midewin to 25. Melissodes bimaculatus was the most abundant non-bumble bee species captured in pan traps. Our work this summer builds on our previous work and continues to indicate that Midewin serves as an important reserve for bee conservation in the region
Impact of Mindfulness Training on Test Anxiety in College Students
No full textPresentation Location: Warming House, Olivet Nazarene University
Abstract
A considerable number of studies have investigated the relationship between mindfulness techniques and the reduction of anxiety; a smaller number of these studies have looked at test anxiety. Previous studies have used multiple mindfulness techniques to measure the impacts on test anxiety, but few have isolated mindfulness trainings to compare the relative impact of each type on anxiety. The present study isolated two different types of mindfulness trainings to analyze their impact on test anxiety compared to each other and a control group. Three sections of biblical scripture classes were used. Students in each class were asked to participate in the study by completing the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS) and a short form of the Test Anxiety Inventory (TAI—5). These baseline measures were given to every class before any trainings and again at the end of data collection. In the weeks between measures, students heard a class-specific mindfulness training three times. Data was analyzed using a two-way mixed ANOVA in Jamovi to compare baseline and posttreatment scores in mindfulness and test anxiety. Mindfulness increased significantly at the posttest level, while there was no significant difference in test anxiety. The different training conditions did not have a significant impact on mindfulness or test anxiety
Restoration of β-Hexosaminidase A deficiency through the use of protein chaperones
No full textPresentation Location: Warming House, Olivet Nazarene University
Abstract
Tay-Sachs disease (TSD, also known as GM2-gangliosidosis) is an incurable autosomal-recessive neurodegenerative lysosomal storage disease caused by a mutation in the HEX A gene which codes for the lysosomal enzyme β-hexosaminidase A (Hex A). For patients with TSD, GM2-gangliosides cannot be properly broken down, and, as a result, accumulate in their neurons, causing severe neurological complications. Although all past treatment options have been ineffective, this study set out to reduce the number of GM2-gangliosides in cells by increasing Hex A activity using novel pharmacological chaperone therapy.
Four factors, DMSO, glutamic acid, Pyrimethamine, and a decrease in temperature, were assessed for their ability to ameliorate Hex A activity in TSD cells and decrease the GM2-ganglioside buildup in a TSD derived cell line, GM00502. The human kidney fibroblast cell line contains two of the most common mutations that cause TSD (1278ins4 and 1421+1G→C). The effects of the chaperones outlined in this project have yet to be tested on a cell line with both of these major mutations. I hypothesized that temperature reduction, DMSO, glutamic acid, and pyrimethamine would rescue Hex A activity in the TSD derived human kidney fibroblast cell line GM00502.
A study in cytotoxicity was conducted to find the optimum concentration of DMSO, glutamic acid, and Pyrimethamine to treat both GM00502 and HEK293 (control) human kidney fibroblasts. After confirming proposed treatment concentrations were not cytotoxic, a gradient of three concentrations of each factor was then used in the subsequent testing phase. Differences in GM2-ganglioside levels were quantified through the use of LysoTracker DND-26 staining and fluorescence microscopy. GM00502 TSD derived cells were shown to contain an increased accumulation of GM2-gangliosides when compared to the unafflicted HEK293 control cells. After treating GM00502 cells with DMSO, glutamic acid, Pyrimethamine, and a temperature reduction it was found that all treatments were able to reduce the overall GM2-ganglioside level. Likewise, each treatment was also able to further reduce the GM2-ganglioside levels in HEK293 cells. Of the four factors tested, glutamic acid appeared the most effective in decreasing lysosomal accumulation in both cell types (
Peddinghaus Beam Elevator
No full textPresentation location: Reed Hall of Science Room 330
The focus of this project will be designing an elevator system that can lift & lower structural steel shapes as appropriate between different passline levels. The device will have to integrate with Peddinghaus transfers, and would ideally integrate with a Peddinghaus conveyor line. The device would lift the piece of steel off of a conveyor/transfer, lift it to the appropriate height, and set it down on the machine with the higher passline. The device will require two movements – up/down movement, and onto/off the second transfer/conveyor system. The team will deliver a detailed design for a beam elevator system, with FEA results for any critical lifting components, as well as a scaled proof of concept prototype that provides sufficient detail to prove the functionality of the desig
ITW Deltar Injection Molding End-of-Arm Tool Design
No full textPresentation location: Reed Hall of Science Room 214
Propose, Design and Implement method to reclaim material from runners in the overmold cell for a specific mold set (Part number 75-004805), as well as a new end-of-arm tool (EOAT) for the actual finished parts. This will require discussion with process technician to understand the quality risks associated with regrinding material, as well as research into different methods of conveying the runner to the grinder. The team will produce: 2D AutoCAD layout drawings of the press setup, along with placement of grinder to ensure safe walkways are maintained. Design in 3D CAD software will also be needed in order to design the EOAT. It is desired to have the EOAT fabricated using CNC machining or other fabrication methods at Olivet or in ITW’s tool room.
An additional project focus or possibility: Propose, Design and Fabricate 3 EOAT’s for BMW Brackets to allow in-house production in full-automatic mode, facilitating left-hand/right-hand discrimination. Cost constraint will be based on a competing quote from one of our usual EOAT vendors, EMI. This project will require design in 3D CAD software and working with current manufacturing engineer and automation technician to understand current EOAT standards. Students with experience with CNC or other machining techniques are encouraged to participate with this project
