10368 research outputs found
Sort by
Testing Alternate Fingerings on a Bassoon to Determine Their Effectiveness Compared to the Base Note
No full textThe music industry is wildly developed and constantly evolving in every category possible all around the world. Bands around the world use instruments to create music whether it\u27s for songs, movies, or plays. The bassoon is used throughout the world and is a part of many bands from highschool bands all the way to the professional level. While there is a lot of research on playing the bassoon correctly and correct intonation, there is very little research on alternative fingerings because it is such a handful of tasks to endure with little promise of results. The purpose of this study was to identify possible alternative fingerings that would perform better at creating the correct note then with the common fingering provided in a basic bassoon fingering chart. In this experiment six different fingerings, three notes, were played 30 times and a tuner was recorded to measure the cents off each note was. After the data from each alternative and normal fingering was collected and compared with the respective fingering it was suggested that the alternative fingerings performed better in both the G-flat and the D-flat. The results of this experiment indicated that there was significant difference in the difference between each fingering based on a one way ANOVA test with an alpha value of 0.05, (F(2.21) , p \u3c 0.0001), as p \u3c 0.05, meaning that the null hypothesis could be rejected. Therefore there was significant evidence to suggest the use of the alternative fingerings
The Effect of Increasing Amounts of Neoprene Aggregate on the Abrassive Resistance of Concrete.
No full textConcrete has existed for hundreds of years, but has only recently seen major innovations (Idorn, 2005). The purpose of this experiment was to determine how increasing amounts of neoprene aggregate affected the abrasive resistance of concrete. It was hypothesized that as the amount of neoprene rubber approaches 0.02 parts of rough aggregate replacement, the abrasive resistance of the concrete specimen will peak. This was due to a balance of the abrasive resistance from the neoprene aggregate and the cohesive strength from the natural aggregates being reached. Portland cement, river sand, and gravel were mixed together. These dry ingredients were then mixed before water was added. The concrete mixture was then stirred and placed into cube molds, with 3 groups containing increasing amounts of neoprene rubber. After 21 days, the abrasive resistance was tested using the Bohme method. A One Way Anova test found that neoprene aggregate did have an affect on the abrasive resistance of concrete samples (F(3,116) = [14.196], p = 0.04988), as p \u3c 0.05, showing a significant difference between the levels of neoprene aggregate. The results of this experiment suggest that an addition of 0.02 parts neoprene aggregate to concrete is effective at increasing the abrasive resistance of the sample
The Effect of β-Hydroxy β-Methylbutyrate on the Growth of Escherichia coli K-12
No full textThis study explored how β-Hydroxy β-Methylbutyrate (HMB), a metabolite of leucine known for its muscle-preserving and immune-modulating properties, affects the growth of Escherichia coli K-12, a model organism frequently used in microbiological research. While HMB’s benefits in muscle health are well-documented, its effects on gut bacteria like E. coli are less understood. The experiment tested bacterial growth in Luria-Bertani broth under different HMB concentrations (0 mM, 0.1 mM, 0.2 mM, and 0.4 mM) over a four-hour incubation at 37°C in a static incubator. Optical density (OD) readings at 600 nm were taken hourly to track growth.The results revealed that higher concentrations of HMB led to reduced bacterial growth, with the control group showing the most robust growth and the 0.4 mM HMB group displaying significant inhibition. Statistical analysis, including an ANOVA test, confirmed significant differences among the groups (p \u3c 0.05). These findings support the hypothesis that HMB exhibits antimicrobial properties at higher doses, likely interfering with nutrient pathways essential for bacterial proliferation. This research aligns with earlier studies suggesting that amino acid derivatives can impact microbial metabolism and highlights HMB’s potential role in shaping gut microbiota health. Further studies could investigate the mechanisms behind HMB’s effects on bacterial metabolic pathways and its influence in conditions mimicking the dynamic gut environment. These insights add to our understanding of how dietary supplements interact with microbial ecosystems, potentially informing their broader applications in health and nutritio
How Cigarette Smoke Affects Spinal Discs
No full textLow back pain affects 80% of individuals over 50 and is increasingly prevalent among younger adults aged 20-40. A major contributor is intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration, which is accelerated by cigarette smoking. However, the mechanisms underlying smoking-induced degeneration remain unclear, and no cure exists, underscoring the need for research to slow disease progression and improve symptom management. This study aims to establish an in vitro IVD organ culture system to investigate the effects of cigarette smoke extract (CSE) on disc cell function and evaluate the protective role of the antioxidant N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC). CSE was generated using a syringe-based smoking apparatus and quality-controlled through optical density and nitrite content analysis. Rat spinal discs were cultured under three conditions: control, CSE exposure, and CSE + NAC treatment. A controlled 10% CSE exposure simulated chronic heavy smoking effects in humans, while organ viability was confirmed in controls. Exposure to 10% CSE increased oxidative stress (reactive oxygen species levels), calcification (alkaline phosphatase activity), and apoptosis (caspase-3 activation), particularly in the cartilaginous endplate (CEP), a vulnerable disc-bone interface. Notably, NAC treatment mitigated these effects and preserved cell function. These findings establish CSE-induced oxidative stress as a key driver of IVD degeneration and identify the CEP as a critical target for early diagnosis and pharmacological intervention. By demonstrating NAC\u27s protective effects against CSE-induced damage, this study lays the groundwork for future animal studies, clinical trials, and early drug therapies to preserve disc integrity and function
Rocket Altitude Control Utilizing Adjustable Drag Fins
No full textMy project aims to address altitude control in competitive rocketry by utilizing adjustable drag fins. The drag fins would be deployed after motor burnout and generate enough drag to slow the rocket enough to hit a specified target altitude, which is crucial in rocketry competitions that score based on altitude
Screen Time and Academic Performance
No full textThis study investigates the impact of student screen time on quiz performance, looking at whether excessive use of digital devices correlates with lower academic achievement. With the increasing prevalence of online learning, entertainment, and social media, screen time has become a significant part of students\u27 daily lives. This has become increasingly relevant in recent months as South Carolina policymakers put a ban on phones in school. This paper continues the research of Asaduzzaman Khan, who found that increased screen time correlated with less satisfaction in academic performance and greater stress. Khan did this through a survey that reached 38 European countries. This paper will use a similar data collection method, a survey asking for students\u27 screen time and their latest quiz grades. This survey will be given out twice so data can be analyzed for a student\u27s performance over time. Each student\u27s change in screen time and change in quiz grade will be plotted, this will then be analyzed utilizing a least squares linear regression model. Though the results indicated a negative correlation between extended screen time and quiz performance, the results were not statistically significant. Suggesting that high screen usage may contribute to decreased academic performance. More research collected from a wider sample of students should be explored to give educators and policymakers more helpful information to help them make decisions
Competitive Pokemon: Underused Pokemon Viability
No full textPokemon is a video game with a battling system in which you bring a team of six pokemon to each game. Within this battling system, some pokemon are considered less useful and thereful being used less. This dilemma on whether or not an underused pokemon are a specific downgrade than another overused pokemon with similarly good typing effect the winrate in “best of three” matches in Pokemon Showdown. This leads me to my research question, to what extent does having the under-used pokemon, Zoroark-Hisui, change the results of a similar team with Flutter Mane in twenty five best of three matches each. Zoroark-Hisui (ZH) was chosen because it’s my favorite underused pokemon. ZH is an underused pokemon because of its frail bulk, or inability to take a hit. Flutter Mane, an overpowered pokemon (Uber), was chosen due to its dominance in the meta and it’s decent resemblance to ZH. It’s important to me and other competitive players to understand whether or not an underused pokemon can perform as well as an overused pokemon because it’s more fun to use a more diverse set of pokemon. The results (so far) dictate that Flutter Mane would perform better in a tournament setting with the same person piloting both teams due to having a win-rate of 50% to Zoroark-Hisui\u27s win-rate of 25%
Clinical Rotations in High School and its Impact on Future Careers in Healthcare
No full textThere is a major shortage in the healthcare industry today that has been further amplified by the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, there is an additional issue regarding collegiate education. Additionally, 75 percent of American college students start college without an understanding of the major they want to pursue in their collegiate education. Other studies have identified the correlation between the experiences and perceptions of high school students during their clinical rotations, the correlation with the factors impacting the experiences of Medical students during their mandatory clinical rotation hours, and its impacts on specialty choice. I used data from various outpatient clinics in Chapin SC, in which various healthcare professionals (ranging in profession) took my survey. I looked at the similarities between the responses from the participants who said yes they had taken clinical rotations, and with the ones who said no; I looked at their responses to the question “If you didn’t take clinical rotations do you wish you had, why or why not?”. My findings of these responses, within the survey and the interview, indicate that there is a correlation between taking these rotations and careers in healthcare, and those who didn’t take these rotations wish that they had the opportunity to due to their benefits to what major to pursue and what career they are interested in