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Reducing Lower Body Injuries in Athletes Through Force Plate Analysis of Safer Change-of-Direction Mechanics
No full textLower body injuries in field sports are frequently associated with rapid changes in direction. These injuries often occur on artificial turf, where high ground reaction force loading rates may lead to injury. This study investigated how different body postures during directional deceleration influence loading rate on artificial turf. A force plate covered with a section of artificial turf was used to measure ground reaction forces during change-of-direction movements. A single participant wearing football cleats performed repeated trials under four different postural conditions. Each position represented different lower extremity and trunk postures during change-of-direction. Each posture was tested across 30 trials, and loading rate was calculated as the change in directional force divided by the time to peak force. A One-Way ANOVA test was conducted to compare the mean loading rates across postures. Results indicated a statistically significant difference in loading rate between the control condition and Condition 4, as well as between Conditions 2 and 4, while no significant differences were observed between the remaining conditions. These findings suggest that certain deceleration postures can reduce the harmful effects of artificial turf. Although variability was present, the results support the hypothesis that different change-of-direction mechanics (specifically Condition 4) contribute to loading rates associated with the lower body. Further research using larger sample sizes and additional mechanics is recommended in order to better understand the relationship between body posture, loading rate, and injury
The Effect of Hericium erinaceus as a potential suppressive treatment for Alzheimer’s Disease with Drosophila melanogaster Model of Alzheimer’s Disease
No full textAlzheimer’s disease (AD) is a chronic neurodegenerative disease that affects over 6 million people in the U.S. AD causes memory loss, decline in cognitive function, and mental disorders, among other things. While there is not an established cure for the disease, research can be done to find possible cures or suppressants. This research does not require actual patients as Drosophila melanogaster, or fruit flies, are great models for AD when they have a certain genetic mutation. The purpose of this study was to see if lion’s mane extract could be successful as a suppressant for AD, modeled by fruit flies. It was hypothesized that fruit flies that are fed lion’s mane mushroom extract would show improvement in cognitive function and mental health, tested with a climbing assay. Flies were transferred to vials with food containing 0 μL, 10 μL, or 30 μL of lion\u27s mane extract. After allowing the flies to feed for 4 days, they were counted to see how many out of the 10-12 flies in each vial were able to climb above 6.5 cm in four seconds. Overall, the hypothesis was true as the 30 μL group did have more flies on average per trial than the climbing assay, compared to the other 2 groups. However, the p-value was less than 0.01. This was shown with the climbing assay which was performed a total of 90 times, 30 times for each sample group
The Pesticidal Properties of Catnip-Based Essential Oils That Derive From the Nepetalactone Compound
No full textSynthetic insecticides used to control stored-product pests can leave harmful residues that pose risks to human health, creating a need for safer alternatives. Plant-derived essential oils have shown pesticidal and repellent properties, yet catnip (Nepeta cataria) essential oil has been minimally studied against storage pests. This study investigated whether catnip-based essential oil solutions containing the active compound nepetalactone exhibit pesticidal effects against red flour beetles (Tribolium castaneum). The beetles were exposed to fumigation from filter paper treated with solutions of 10% and 20% catnip, essential oil, with mortality changes compared to a control group. Results showed increased mortality in both treatment groups relative to the control, with the 20% concentration producing the highest mean mortality. Statistical analysis revealed a significant difference between the control and 20% treatment. However, overall mortality remained modest, suggesting that catnip may have more potential as a repellent than a pesticidal fume against stored product pests. The findings point out catnip essential oil as a potential low risk, plant base component for pest management in stored product environments, while also highlighting the need for more research
The Effect of Speed Limit and Road Width on the Road Effect Zone of Roe Deer
No full textThe road effect zone (REZ) is the area where animal behavior is changed due to both direct and indirect ecological effects of roads. This study examines the relationship of speed limit and road width on REZ of roe deer through eight roads in central California. Zone of influence (ZOI) calculations, traffic noise measurements (drawn from existing literature), and statistical analyses such as Pearson\u27s correlation and linear regression were used to examine data from these roads. The distance at which traffic noise returned to a baseline of 40 dB, representing typical roe deer habitat conditions, was used to calculate the ZOI. Results showed that both speed limit and road width had a positive correlation with the ZOI, with road width showing a stronger effect. Linear regression determined that the REZ was extended by roughly 78.5 meters for each lane increase and 19 meters for each 1 mph increase in speed limit. Strong positive relationships were indicated by correlation coefficients, and statistical tests verified the significance of both variables (p \u3c .01). These results, showing that road features directly affect wildlife movement patterns, agree with earlier studies on road ecology and avoidance behaviors in large mammals. Understanding the relationship between roads and wildlife allows for better infrastructure planning, such as optimizing lane numbers and speed limits to reduce indirect ecological effects. Limitations include a small sample size and reliance on digital data. Future research could include diverse species, in-field measurements, and more sophisticated predictive models to improve conservation strategies and REZ estimates
Understanding Democracy: Comparing SC Legislator and Citizen perceptions
No full textOver the past decade, a substantial body of research has documented democratic backsliding in the United States, alongside widening elite–mass perception gaps. This study examines the extent to which South Carolina legislators believe democracy—measured through Rights, Representation, Rule of Law, and Fair and Equal Participation—is declining, and how these beliefs compare to citizen perceptions. The project assesses perceptual democratic health to identify where elite–mass gaps occur and to evaluate their implications for democratic legitimacy and policymaking. To address this question, a survey was administered to two groups: South Carolina legislators and South Carolina citizens. Survey items were derived from established measures of democratic health, including the International IDEA Global State of Democracy and the Values of Democracy Expert Survey, and were coded on a five-point Likert scale. Responses were averaged and compared using the Mann–Whitney U test. Results indicate that legislators consistently rated democracy more positively than citizens across all indicators and substantially overestimated government accountability. Of the sixteen indicators analyzed, ten showed statistically significant differences in rank distributions, indicating systematic perceptual divergence. Partisan identity further shaped perceptions, with Republican respondents significantly more likely to rate democratic health positively across thirteen indicators. Overall, the findings demonstrate sharp divisions in democratic perception based on both institutional role and partisan affiliation
Passive vs. Active Phone Use Effects on Sleep
No full textTeenagers’ sleep quality has declined in recent years alongside increased smartphone use, especially during the hours leading up to sleep. While prior research has established that nighttime phone use negatively affects adolescent sleep, fewer studies directly compare the effects of active phone use versus passive phone exposure. This study investigates the extent to which active phone use (texting, social media engagement, calling) versus passive phone exposure (watching videos without interaction or having a phone nearby) before bedtime affects sleep quality in female dancers 14-18. Using a true experimental, qualitative design, participants are randomly assigned to one of three conditions: active phone use for 60 minutes before bed, passive phone exposure for 60 mins, or a control group with no phone use for at least 60 minutes before sleep. Sleep quality is measured using wearable sleep trackers and daily self-reported sleep journals, capturing data on sleep duration, sleep latency, awakenings, percentage in deep sleep, and perceived restfulness. Data is analyzed using statistical comparisons, including ANOVA to determine statistically significant differences between groups. It is hypothesized that active phone use will result in the poorest sleep outcomes due to increased cognitive and emotional stimulation, while passive exposure will have a moderate negative effect compared to the control group. Findings from this study aim to clarify how different forms of phone use uniquely impact adolescent sleep and contribute to more specific, evidence-based recommendations for healthier nighttime phone habits among teenagers
Breaking the Ice: Tracking Viability in Kidneys
No full textThis project poses an improved method of storing kidneys in transport. Kidneys, the most commonly transplanted organ, require a specific environment to remain viable for long periods before being transplanted. The engineered prototype will allow physicians to monitor the status of the organ within the cooler. Innovative temperature stabilizing features will allow the cooler to rest at an ideal 4 to 8 degrees celsius. Meters to track pH will be included to determine if the kidney is becoming acidic, alerting transport teams to changes in the kidney’s metabolism. The prototype will be compared against a medical grade cooler in multiple trials to determine if it works at the same level or better than a medical grade cooler. While the cooler is meant to create a better idea of what is occurring inside it during transport, it is also meant to be less expensive to become more accessible for rural hospitals. In addition, many organs are shipped overseas in planes, including kidneys, making it more vital for the transport team to understand what is happening inside the cooler during long-distance transport. The creation of this prototype will allow for a more energy efficient, cost effective, and greater monitored transport system for transporting kidneys
The Effect of Pseudomonas fluorescens and Bacillus subtilis on the Biodegradation of Low-Density Polyethylene
No full textLow-density polyethylene (LDPE) poses many ecological and health risks due to being one of the most durable plastics to degrade. The objective of this study was to determine whether a co-culture of Pseudomonas fluorescens and Bacillus subtilis could degrade LDPE more effectively compared to its monoculture counterpart. It was hypothesized that the co-culture would biodegrade LDPE more than its monoculture or uninoculated control. Based on existing literature, both B. subtilis and P. fluorescens have been shown to degrade LDPE and that microbial co-cultures degrading plastics are more effective compared to individual bacterial efforts. LDPE plastic sheets were cut into squares, cleaned, and divided into four treatments, each replicated 30 times. LDPE squares were massed as a group rather than individually. Either P. fluorescens or B. subtilis was transferred from the stock culture into LB broth in test tubes. For co-culture preparation, one colony of each bacteria species was mixed and then transferred into test tubes. LDPE squares were placed into the inoculated test tubes and incubated at 30 °C for three weeks. Control tubes contained LB broth without inoculation. The hypothesis was not supported as the P. fluorescens monoculture produced the greatest mass loss (0.47%), followed by the co-culture (0.46%), while B. subtilis monoculture produced the least (0.24%). The control exhibited 0% mass loss. The co-culture showed less improvement compared to monocultures, indicating that P. fluorescens and B. subtilis, alone or combined, showed limited ability to degrade LDPE over a three week incubation period
The Evaluation of the Anticonvulsant Properties of Annona muricata using a Bang Sensitive Drosophila melanogaster Mutant to Model Epilepsy
No full textAlthough new generations of anti-epileptic drugs have emerged, epilepsy still affects over 1% of the global population, a prevalence that has remained unchanged for four decades (Stone, 2013). Epilepsy is a chronic neurological condition defined by recurrent unprovoked seizures and typically requires medication to reduce the risk of premature death and sudden unexpected death in epilepsy. However, approximately 80% of individuals with epilepsy live in low-middle-income countries (LMICs), where a substantial treatment gap persists due to inadequate healthcare infrastructure (World Health Organization, 2024). This study investigated whether Annona muricata, a natural supplement containing beneficial phytochemicals, could serve as an effective and affordable alternative to anti-epileptic drugs for individuals in LMICs. The anticonvulsant potential of A. muricata was assessed using a bang-sensitive Drosophila melanogaster mutant, a model organism that exhibits seizure-like activity and paralysis. It was hypothesized that increasing concentrations of A. muricata would decrease seizure recovery time compared to untreated bang-sensitive flies. A 0.01% weight-to-weight concentration of A. muricata was incorporated into a yeast paste. Seizures were induced via mechanical stimulation and one-minute videos were recorded using microscopy software. However, due to inexpression of the mutation, the hypothesis could not be tested. This was likely caused by reduced gene expression over time associated with aging. As the mutation is linked to mitochondrial function, age-related changes may attenuate its expression. Nonetheless, bang-sensitive mutations remain promising experimental paradigms, and future research should continue to identify accessible treatment alternatives for individuals in LMICs to promote equitable access to epilepsy care
Non-Invasive Wearable Blood Clot Detection Device for Early Clot Detection
No full textBlood clots are serious health conditions that when not treated can lead to strokes, heart attacks, and death. Roughly every 6 minutes a person in the U.S. dies from a type of blood clot. Although there are devices such as doppler ultrasounds used to diagnose thrombosis, they usually diagnose the clot when serious symptoms are present. Moreover, almost half of people who develop blood clots such as deep vein thrombosis, will not have any noticeable symptoms, which leaves them without treatment and increases the chance of experiencing life threatening conditions. Wearable devices offer potential continuous monitoring tasks that would be able to detect clots before symptoms arise. The purpose of this study was to create a wearable blood clot device that can detect subtle changes in blood flow using a photoplethysmography (PPG) sensor and an accelerometer and gyroscope to identify early stage thrombosis.It was hypothesized that a wearable blood clot detection device utilizing a PPG sensor in addition to an accelerometer will be able to detect early thrombosis because of its sensitivity in identifying precise changes in blood flow as opposed to traditional models. The device consisted of an Arduino Uno Rev 3, a MAX30102 PPG sensor and a MPU-6050 accelerometer and gyroscope sensor to detect early clot formation utilizing a peristaltic pump powered silicon blood flow tubing model. To model thrombosis three clot groups were created that include cornstarch (early clot), cornstarch and agar (in between early and partial) and agar alone (partial)