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Exploring Psychological Implications of the Contemporary Lung Transplant
Full text linkSince its inception in 1963 at the University of Mississippi Medical Center, more than 50,000 lung transplant procedures have been performed. During its 50-year anniversary, 2023 saw just over 3,000 lung transplants performed in the United Sates. However, as this procedure continues to increase in execution each year, it is critical that the psychological implications of this procedure are explored. In this paper, I hope to develop an understanding of the psychological background of contemporary lung transplantation. Reviewing the lung and double lung transplant, the goal is to apply biopsychology principles to the field. Background information about transplant science is provided regarding the rigorous process of selecting individuals who are eligible for lung transplant. This paper works to highlight the necessary preparation for individuals set to undergo lung transplants. These preparations for a biological procedure are deeply rooted in psychology and mental health. Finally, the gap in American research correlating lung transplants and mental health or psychiatric implications is addressed
Voter Apathy and Divided Government
Full text linkThe proposed research project will pertain to the voter attitudes associated with our government. The association with our government is critical to document because it may reflect the outlook of how the seats are distributed between the two major parties in our system. Voter apathy is the lack of interest in elections of representative democracies. In this project, a correlation may be drawn between voter turnout and how the delegation of our representatives looks. For example, if there is a low voter turnout there may be a swift change in power in Congress or there might be total gridlock. Using statistics from institutes on voter attitudes we may be able to see if there is a relationship between voting and how our government looks like. There may be other variables that can influence this such as the prevalent amount of gerrymandering in this country which has an impact on Congress looks like because of how our districts are drawn which can ostracize a group from participating with their peers because of how the lines are drawn. This also leads to the Electoral College and if this system is outdated because gerrymandering has impacted voting
Sustainable Aviation Fuel Production from Plastic Waste on Bifunctional Catalysts
Full text linkCatalytic hydrocracking was studied as a chemical recycling method for converting mixed plastic polypropylene (PP) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) waste into sustainable aviation fuel-range hydrocarbons. Addressing both plastic pollution and aviation-related CO₂ emissions, bifunctional Ni- and Pt-based catalysts supported on Al₂O₃ and TiO₂ were evaluated under 30 bar hydrogen pressure at 250 °C. The inclusion of PVC, often regarded as a catalyst poison due to chlorine content, was examined at 1 wt% and 5 wt% to assess catalyst tolerance to it and resulted performance. Reaction rates and product selectivity were analyzed using gas chromatography. Results show that Ni/TiO₂ outperformed other catalysts, maintaining high activity and achieving up to 38.4% selectivity toward the C8–C16 SAF range with 5 wt% PVC, likely due to the strong chlorine affinity of the TiO₂ support that mitigates catalyst deactivation and enhances acidity. In contrast, Al₂O₃-supported catalysts experienced rate decline, likely due to active-site poisoning by chlorine. The work demonstrates the feasibility of using mixed plastic feedstocks with PVC for SAF production, offering a dual solution to waste management and sustainable fuel synthesis
Head Mounted Surgical Robot
Full text linkThe purpose of this design project is to utilize a six degree of freedom, robotic system that will be head mounted device that can either assist in, or perform, facial and optical surgery. The six degree of freedom idea came from current systems used in flight simulations. By optimizing the system to fit the figure of a patient’ s head, many of the present errors in surgical robotics can be reduced. One of the major errors when using a facial tracking robot is sudden impulses, such as a cough or a twitch, that the robot can\u27t precisely track. Mounting the robot on the head helps reduce the error of such impulses. The size and structure of the robot also makes it less cumbersome and easier to operate alongside. It can also make the patient feel safer and relaxed, since the using of an abrasive pinning system won\u27t be needed
Medication in Early Adulthood and Long-Term Outcomes in Individuals with ADHD
Full text linkThe main question asked about attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is: What are the long-term consequences for adults who stay on ADHD medication after childhood? Answering that question includes looking into the medical facts surrounding an ADHD diagnosis, examining the adults and children with ADHD, the subtypes of ADHD, diagnosing ADHD, including the symptoms, and types of medications, along with the side effects. ADHD is one of the most common disorders in children and adults. Understanding ADHD, its diagnosis, and treatment options is crucial for individuals and caregivers navigating this condition. This paper examines the long-term effects of ADHD medication from childhood into adulthood, analyzing the benefits, risks, and alternative treatments available. Transitioning from childhood to adulthood is challenging, especially for individuals with ADHD. In this paper, there are steps that show what a person might investigate in order to make the transition go smoothly. There are numerous medications for ADHD and its subtypes, so if someone were to continue their medication into adulthood, the side effects and positive traits are laid out for them. Also, depending on the sex of the person with ADHD, there are specific symptoms shown to look for in males and females if someone feels they should get tested for ADHD or change their medication based on the research. This paper is meant to be educational and shed light on to those who have ADHD in their life, whether it be themselves or someone close to them
Expression and Purification of Cytochrome P450 46A1 for Resonance Raman Spectroscopy
Full text linkResearchers are targeting cytochrome P450 46A1 (CYP46A1), an enzyme critical for brain cholesterol homeostasis, as a potential therapeutic approach for neurological diseases. CYP46A1 plays a key role in cholesterol turnover in the brain by catalyzing the conversion of cholesterol to 24S-hydroxycholesterol (24HC) and is linked to Alzheimer’s disease pathophysiology. Given its critical role in brain health, CYP46A1 represents a promising target for therapeutic intervention in neurological disorders. The goal of this project was to express the CYP46A1 protein in GC5 E. coli cells and purify the protein using chromatographic techniques including affinity and ion exchange chromatography. Ultraviolet-Visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy was used to characterize the purity of the obtained protein, which resulted in a final Rz (A420/A280) value of 0.720. This A420/A280 ratio and SDS-PAGE results confirm that further purification of the CYP46A1 protein is required. The protein obtained in this study will be used in future studies that will address pressing mechanistic questions regarding the structure and function of CYP46A1 using resonance Raman (rR) spectroscopy
Corrosion of Pipes in Soil Under Cathodic Protection
Full text linkThis research project focuses on understanding how various soil properties affect the corrosion of buried pipelines that are protected by cathodic protection (CP) systems. Specifically, the study seeks to evaluate key soil characteristics, including resistivity, moisture content, and pH levels to determine their influence on the efficiency of CP systems in mitigating corrosion. Through controlled laboratory experiments, carbon steel specimens were exposed to a range of simulated soil conditions to mimic real-world environments. Corrosion rates were assessed using advanced electrochemical techniques, such as linear polarization resistance (LPR) and Tafel slopes, along with traditional mass loss methods. The primary objectives of this study are to identify the soil properties that most significantly impact corrosion rates and quantify how variations in these conditions affect CP performance. The findings will contribute to improved infrastructure protection strategies, ensuring the longevity of pipelines across diverse environmental conditions
Prediction of Glass Transition Temperature of Polymers using Structure-Based Models
Full text linkThe focus for this study is prediction of glass transition temperatures of polymers using machine learning models. The preprocessing of the data included the generation of descriptors, the scaling of the data, the principal component analysis for dimensionality reduction, and the clustering of the data. Three methods of property predictions were utilized including Linear Regression, Random Forest, and a Feedforward Neural Network. The dataset consisted of over 7000 polymers each with their respective glass transition temperatures. This study found that the Random Forest model returned the best results followed by the Feedforward Neural Network then the Linear Regression model. Each model performed reasonably well in the prediction of glass transition temperatures. The models described in this system can be utilized for other properties for both polymers and other systems due to the generalized structure of the model
Moore graphs
Full text linkA Moore graph is a simple regular graph, with n vertices, degree d, and diameter k, that satisfies the Moore bound: n = 1 + d (d − 1)k − 1 d − 2 . There are graphs for which the bound is met and in which existence and uniqueness are known. For k = 2 it is known that the Moore bound is achieved for d = 2, 3, 7, with the case of d = 57 conjectured to exist. For k = 3 the bound is achieved for only d = 3 [5]. Due to the construction of the Moore bound, the primary uncertainty in producing any particular Moore graph is the determination of tailend connections. We seek to construct the Moore bound, prove the existence of specific values of d and k, and describe and utilize a method to calculate the tail-end connections of these graph
Lost in Translation: The Absence of Untranslatable Words in the English Classroom
Full text linkThis qualitative study explores the impact of lexical gaps and untranslatable words on self-expression and communication in English-speaking classrooms. Seven interviews were conducted with bilingual or non-native English speakers representing a variety of linguistic and cultural backgrounds, including Arabic, Portuguese, Marathi, Hindi, Spanish, Chinese, and Vietnamese. Each interview investigated how language impacts self-expression, or the ability to communicate thoughts, emotions, and identity within the classroom. The findings suggest that untranslatable words and cultural concepts from participants’ native languages offer insights into cultural perspectives, which are often undervalued and not represented in English-speaking classrooms. Additionally, all participants desired greater language inclusivity in classrooms and emphasized the importance of accurately integrating native languages and cultural perspectives into instruction. These findings suggest that the language of home and day-to-day life is deeply intertwined. Based on these findings, the study proposes that honoring students’ linguistic identities can enhance classroom inclusivity, ownership, and communication. Ultimately, rather than viewing lexical gaps as deficits, they can be seen as lenses through which multicultural classrooms are formed. Through consistent, student-led discussions, students, like Shakespeare, can be literary scholars in their own right as they introduce these words and phrases into the classroom language