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Hip Strengthening in Female Collegiate Soccer Players: Effects of Gluteus Medius Strengthening on Biodex Balance Scores
Full text linkThe purpose of this study is to examine the effects of gluteus medius (Gmed) strengthening program on single leg stability in collegiate female soccer players. Given the role of Gmed in stabilizing the hip, improving its strength may reduce lower extremity injury risk. Weakness in Gmed has been linked to conditions such as Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) tears and Patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS). This study investigates whether an 8-week strength program improves single-leg stability, measured using the Biodex Balance System. Thirty-three female soccer players (18-23 years) from The University of Akron were recruited, with 22 completing the study. Participants underwent a pre-test assessing single-leg stability using the Biodex Balance System. An 8-week strength program was integrated into the team\u27s warm-up which included banded lateral walks, side-lying hip abductions, and hip hitches. A post-test was conducted using the Biodex Balance System, with a t-test used as statistical analysis. Significant improvements (p = 0.02 (\u3c 0.05), 95% CI) were observed in single-leg stability scores. Overall stability, Anterior/Posterior, and Medial/Lateral indexes showed improvements ranging from 27.47% - 79.39%. The findings suggest the Gmed strengthening may impact single-leg stability. Future research should incorporate dynamometry to assess direct strength changes and explore the impact on injury prevention. Examining leg dominance and dynamic stability during high-impact activities could further clarify Gmed’s role in athletic performance and injury prevention
Critical Analysis of Gestational Diabetes Risk Factors: A Systematic Review
Full text linkGestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) is a common complication of pregnancy that causes an increased blood sugar that can affect both the mother\u27s and baby’s health. A variety of factors can increase the risk of developing the disease, including race, socioeconomic status, and prenatal education. Each of these factors contributes to the experience of one’s maternal care. Expecting mothers may not understand how significant GDM is, and its potential to result in negative outcomes. It is important to review these factors, acknowledge them, and help reduce health disparities caused by them. Nurses are vital to assessing and delivering patient education on how to prevent GDM and its complications.
Providing education is one of the most important interventions because it can teach women the magnitude of the disease. By increasing awareness of GDM among those at risk, there is a better chance of receiving the appropriate interventions and care they need. Using PRISMA criteria, a search was conducted using databases Pubmed and CINAHL to locate 20 primary sources. The selected studies include multiple levels of evidence and international study results. The articles show that race, socioeconomic status and prenatal education have an impact on the risk of developing diabetes and patient outcomes
Quantifying the Effectiveness of Rhamnolipid as a Biocide: Assessing Comparability of a Modified Solution
Full text linkThe CO2 induced corrosion of carbon steel in oil and gas pipelines, exacerbated by sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB), poses a serious threat to infrastructure. This study evaluates the effectiveness of rhamnolipid (RhL), a biosurfactant, as a corrosion inhibitor and potential SRB biocide in simulated pipeline environments. Using a Postgate-C Modified Produced Water Simulant, which demonstrated electrochemical behavior comparable to industry-standard solutions while sustaining SRB, corrosion trials were conducted with and without RhL. Mass loss and electrochemical data revealed that RhL significantly reduced corrosion rates—by 85% on average and up to 99% instantaneously in a 4-day trial. Visual and analytical results from a 30-day trial further supported RhL’s protective effect. These findings validate RhL’s potential as an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional inhibitors and establish the testing medium as a reliable platform for future SRB studies
Futures Assessment of the Russo-Ukrainian War
Full text linkThis report discusses and explores a series of scenarios regarding the end of the Russo-Ukrainian war, which began in February 2022. The three scenarios are a continued stalemate, where neither side gains an upper hand in the conflict, a Ukrainian victory, and a Russian victory. Each scenario also explores several factors that could impact their likelihood, including international support, battlefield prowess, etc. This paper aims to provide readers with the necessary context to understand the situation in Ukraine and the likely outcomes of the conflict. Research for this project was conducted between March and April 2025, with findings representing an as-current-as-possible picture of the scenarios. Sources included published journals, government documents, think-tanks such as RAND, Chatham House, and the Atlantic Council, NATO and EU websites, and newspaper articles from sources such as NPR and Reuters. This paper assessed the current events and concluded that Scenario 1, a status quo ‘long war’, was the most likely due to factors including combatant resolve, likely continuity of international support for Ukraine, and the likelihood of current negotiations falling apart
How Has Popular Types of Musicals Throughout Time Affected Reed Book Pit Musicians?
Full text linkThis research project will work to answer the question of how reed books in musicals have evolved over the years, and how those changes affect the woodwind players who take on those jobs and roles.
Additionally, this project aims to pinpoint outside factors that have helped to create the changes that reed books have experienced. This will help to create eras of musical theater. Also, if these changes can be attributed to specific changes, then a strategy can be created to help musicians who work for musicals; as most of those roles are by contract and not long-term full time jobs. That way, musicians who are passionate about the musical sphere can stay employed in the sector that they have worked towards and be able to better predict future employment
Automatic Scoring Cornhole Board System
Full text linkThe objective is to create a self-scoring cornhole board that can detect and calculate each team\u27s score based on the bags thrown each round and to be created at a low cost/eventually being sold at the current cost of a normal board. When playing cornhole, the game is simple: throw a bag on the board; however, the scores are variable (deduct and add) across each round. The most common issue when playing cornhole is miscalculations of the scores and forgetting the correct scores. Thus, this invention will make gameplay easy for all to play
Structural Analysis and Design Methodologies of Roller Coasters
Full text linkThis project explores the structural analysis behind the design of roller coaster tracks and supports as practiced by modern engineers. It also examines various roller coaster design methods currently in use. This research will be used to craft a detailed explanation of the roller coaster design process. Additionally, a 3D model of a roller coaster was developed based on the researched design procedures, featuring three track sections with different loading conditions to create a supporting structure for 2D truss analysis. The results of the truss analysis were then compared to those obtained using RISA-3D, a finite element structural design software
Contact Pathway Factors as Potential Modifiers of Bleeding Related to Factor XI Deficiency
Full text linkFactor XI (FXI) deficiency, also known as Hemophilia C, is characterized by mild to moderate bleeding symptoms. However, the factors that modify bleeding severity in FXI deficiency are not fully understood. In this study, we investigated whether components of the contact activation pathway can act as modifiers of bleeding in the context of FXI deficiency. Using a tail vein transection (TVT) model in rats, we assessed bleeding in four experimental groups: wild-type Sprague-Dawley rats, Prekallikrein knockout (PKK-/-) rats, rats treated with a FXI-inhibiting antibody, and PKK-/- rats treated with the FXI antibody.
Under anesthesia, each rat underwent a standardized incision on the lateral tail vein. The procedure lasted 30 minutes and consisted of three 10-minute intervals, initiated either by the incision or by mechanical agitation (wiping) of the wound. Bleeding time was recorded during each interval, and total blood loss was collected. Following red blood cell lysis, hemoglobin concentration was measured spectrophotometrically to quantify blood loss. Hemoglobin levels were also confirmed via terminal inferior vena cava (IVC) collection and analysis using a Hemavet.
Results showed that total bleeding time was modestly prolonged in PKK-/- rats, FXI-inhibited rats, and in those with both PKK-/- and FXI inhibition. Notably, the combination of PKK-/- and FXI inhibition led to a significant increase in hemoglobin loss compared to controls. These findings suggest that Prekallikrein may serve as an alternative activator of downstream coagulation factor IX, thereby modifying hemostatic function in the absence of FXI of coagulation function
Harvesting the Grand Jury’s “Lay Expertise” in Officer-Involved Shootings
No full textOfficer-involved shootings put prosecutors in a bind. While prosecutors normally dominate the pretrial investigation and charging process, these tragedies force prosecutors to change their approach. The incident often pits the victim’s family and community, who feel the case symbolizes a biased and unjust system, against officers and departments, who feel attacked for following their training in a high-stress situation. Prosecutors seek a result that preserves their support from both groups. To resolve this quagmire, prosecutors pass the buck, asking grand jurors to make charging determinations despite their tenuous understanding of the system, their powers, or their role. Many scholars have argued that grand jurors are destined to fail at the task. This Article explains that unique circumstances in officer-involved shootings position grand jurors well to prevent future tragedies. While prosecutors ordinarily present grand jurors only a perfunctory version of events while seeking a quick and severe charge, prosecutors approach officer-involved shootings with greater care. They conduct thorough investigations and make complete evidentiary presentations that may last for months. Prosecutors then limit the grand jurors’ choices to an up-or-down vote on indictment, hoping either result will shield the prosecutors from criticism. But through those detailed evidentiary presentations, grand jurors—unelected, individual citizens with minimal political motivations— develop a deep understanding of these tragic cases. Grand jurors are transformed from laypeople to experts; they learn both what caused this shooting and what might stop the next.Grand jurors in officer-involved shootings should be empowered to do far more than simply vote on indictment. They should know they can expand their investigatory ambit, comment on substantive law that favors officers, publicly report their views on the case and police training, or make referrals to civilian review boards. Empowering grand juries to harvest their “lay expertise” is a vital criminal justice reform
Pyriform silk attachment discs from riparian spiders stick to wet surfaces
No full textAdhesion in wet conditions presents significant challenges due to the disruptive effects of water on interfacial bonding, spreading, and curing. Many organisms have evolved adhesives that adhere strongly in damp or submerged environments. However, the pyriform silk attachment discs of the western black widow spider lose ∼8x of their adhesive strength when wet. Here, we test the hypothesis that riparian species of spiders have evolved attachment discs that are resistant to water\u27s adverse effects on adhesion. We compare adhesion of attachment discs from three terrestrial, relatively dry habitats to three riparian spider species when discs are loaded under both dry and wet conditions. Failure modes shifted from dragline breakage in dry conditions to adhesive failure in wet conditions across all species, highlighting water\u27s impact on interfacial bonding. However, riparian species attachment discs maintained adhesive force when wet while terrestrial species experienced ∼50% reductions in peak force and work of adhesion in wet conditions. These findings suggest that riparian spider silks have evolved specializations that maintain adhesive performance of pyriform attachment disks in wet environments, offering insights into bioinspired design for water-resistant adhesives