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The Effect of Indole-3-Carbinol on Saccharomyces cerevisiae Growth, as a Model for Cancer Cells
No full textAn abundance of research is conducted on cancer cells and treatments that could be used to help people who face this disease. Different concentrations of indole-3 carbinol and its impact on cancer have not been elucidated. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the concentrations of indole-3-carbinol would impact the growth of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. This data could then be applied to cancer preventatives as S. cerevisiae and cancer cells have similar growth properties. It was hypothesized that the higher the concentrations of indole-3-carbinol would exhibit more antifungal properties based on previous research showing that indole-3-carbinol tends to shut down harmful pathways, such as the Kennedy pathway. This hypothesis was tested using the following concentrations of indole-3-carbinol, 50%, 80%, and 100%. Zone of inhibition disks were placed into the solutions and placed onto the S. cerevisiae that was streaked on petri dishes. The amount of antifungal activity (in mm) was recorded. The results from the ANOVA test with a ⍺-value of 0.05 show that there were significant differences between the experimental groups and the control (p-value \u3c 0.001). A post-Hoc-Tukey test was performed and it was found that there were significant differences between each of the experimental groups. It was concluded that there was sufficient evidence to suggest that higher concentrations of I3C led to more antifungal activity against S. cerevisiae compared to the lower concentrations
The Effect of Nutrient Solutions on Improving Soil Fertility and Sustainable Agriculture of Martian Regolith Simulants
No full textHumans have left a significant impact on the availability of natural resources on Earth. As humans continue to contribute to the decline of these resources that sustain life, it has become necessary to look towards alternative habitations for human life. For this purpose, a method for utilizing in situ resources for edible food with essential nutrients for the human diet is crucial. Due to the geochemical properties of Martian regolith inhibiting natural growth of plants (Wamelink et. al, 2019), determining nutrient materials and treatments aids in developing a strategy for sustainable agriculture. In the research experimentation, six groups of five plants of Petroselinum crispum were created: potting mix, Martian regolith, 20-20-20 All Purpose LX, biochar, cow manure, and organic matter. The potting mix was representative of plant growth expected under Earth conditions. The Martian regolith was used as a control with no additives. The treatment groups had a base of Martian regolith. Each treatment is composed of 10% of the base material. The plants were watered in time intervals of three days for a total growth duration of fifteen days. For each time interval, a sample of the soil of each plant was collected. A one way ANOVA test was conducted with an alpha value of 0.05, (F(4,20) = [1.7745], p = 0.1736), as p \u3e 0.05 and the null hypothesis could not be rejected. Therefore, there was insufficient evidence to support that the treatment methods provided significant improvement to the growth experienced by the plants
Equivalent Limits of Fibonacci and Lucas Fractions
No full textThis presentation is based on results that stemmed from a problem introduced in the Fibonacci Quarterly in 2023. Building upon this problem and its solution we extend the inquiry to investigate the limits associated with it. Specifically, the study delves into the behavior of two fractions linked to Fibonacci and Lucas numbers, exploring their convergence patterns. In this presentation the close relation between these mentioned limits and the golden ratio will be demonstrated
The Effect of Synergistic Approaches Using Trametes versicolor and Escherichia coli on Zinc Concentration in Soil
No full textWith the recent increase in metal pollution across the globe, new approaches to extracting excess metal are vital. Trametes versicolor, a type of bioremedial fungi, has become a useful tool for extracting metal out of heavily concentrated areas. In addition, Escherichia coli is a common bacteria found in the intestines of animals; furthermore, it has many bioremedial properties that allow it to work with other plants and fungi to degrade metal in soil, making it easier to extract. The purpose of this experiment was to test the effectiveness of using both T. versicolor and E. coli to work together and extract zinc from soil. Four groups of thirty trials each were tested, including a control group with no organisms, T. versicolor only, E.coli only, and both T. versicolor and E. coli. All trials were incubated for one week and then were tested to determine the concentration of zinc in each. It was found that the group with both T. versicolor and E. coli had the lowest concentration of zinc, indicating that having both organisms was more effective in extracting metal than individual organisms. A chi-square test was performed to analyze the data, resulting in a p-value of \u3e0.001 having been used. However, the assumptions of the test were not met, due to some expected values being less than five. This experiment looked into possible ways to enhance and increase the rate of bioremediation
KitchenWare Unlimited
No full textMy project addresses the prevalent issue of limited kitchen space in apartments, a challenge posed by the presence of various appliances such as microwaves, blenders, and fruit buckets. With 36.8 million apartment residents in the U.S. residing in 21.3 million apartment homes, many face the constraint of a small kitchen area. To tackle this problem, I devised a space-saving mechanism using VEX parts, incorporating features like a sliding device, integrated gears, linear slide rails, and linear motion components. To evaluate the practicality of the design, I constructed a scaled-down model and conducted trials to assess its functionality and weight-bearing capacity. The testing involved sliding a plate with varying weights to simulate real-world usage. The smaller scale allowed for risk mitigation and guided the selection of components that produced positive outcomes. Subsequent to the trials, adjustments were made to optimize the design. Upon implementing the refined design in a full-scale model and testing it in an actual kitchen setting, the sliding mechanism effectively extended, and the supporting legs deployed seamlessly. Any identified flaws were promptly addressed. This innovative solution offers a practical and efficient means to maximize kitchen space in apartment settings, providing a potential resolution to the challenges posed by cramped kitchen environments
Targeting E7 and Trop-2 using a TCR and Co-Stimulatory CAR could Improve Efficacy in Killing Spheroids Comprised of HPV-16+ Cancer Cells
No full textAdoptive cell therapy, specifically T-cell receptor (TCR) and chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) therapy, is a promising immunotherapeutic approach for directly targeting cervical cancer cells. Previous research has identified the E7 gene as a main viral oncogene driving cancers caused by HPV (human papillomavirus). E7 heavily contributes to the proliferation of cancerous cells and is not found on any other somatic cells, making it an ideal target of therapeutic intervention. TCR has limited efficacy as TCR T-cell therapy may exhibit tumor escape, unchecked toxicity, or limited proliferation of T-cells. Similarly, CAR T-cell therapy may result in T-cell exhaustion and thus reduced cytotoxicity. In our study, to potentially optimize the T-cell response to cancer cells, we decided to modify natural killer (NK) cells to have both TCRs and CARs. We examined the cytotoxicity of modified NK cells that have both a TCR that targets the E7 protein and a co-stimulatory CAR that recognizes the trophoblast cell surface antigen 2 (Trop-2) in co-cultures with spheroids of HPV-16+ cancer cells. Through live fluorescence microscopy imaging and quantitative analysis, we examined the cytotoxic nature of the modified NK cells over varying time frames and under different parameters. We compared the cytotoxicity of the TCR, CAR, and combination NK cell groups. The results of our studies suggest that a combination of TCR and CAR therapy leads to greater cancer cell death than when employed alone
Sunscreen Reef Safety Classifications as Applied to Egeria Densa
No full textNew legislation in Hawaii outlawed sunscreen ingredients -- Avobenzone, Octocrylene, Octinoxate, and Oxybenzone -- found dangerous to marine ecosystems. As a result, mineral sunscreens containing Zinc and Titanium oxides have arisen as safer alternatives for reefs. This study investigates the application of “reef-safe” (Zinc Oxide 10%) versus “reef-dangerous” (Avobenzone 3.0%, Homosalate 10.0%, Octisalate 5.0%, Octocrylene 2.0%) classified sunscreens on a common freshwater plant, Egeria densa. After replicating a freshwater environment with a mineral substrate three times, the researcher will administer one ounce of each sunscreen classification to their designated tanks; one tank will be left as a control. With two plants per each of the three tanks, all six plants will be measured daily (cm) for two weeks to assess their growth rates. The plants will receive twelve hours of light from a 15-watt bulb and twelve hours of darkness. The Egeria densa plants will also be monitored for qualitative signs of distress: discoloration and wilting. The statistical analysis chosen was a three-way ANOVA test. Results indicated that plants are somewhat more susceptible to “reef dangerous” chemical sunscreens than “reef safe” ones. One limitation of the experiment was the high dosage of chemicals for the volume of the aquarium tank. Meaning, environmentally-relevant concentrations of sunscreen were exceeded which may have caused adverse effects on both experimental groups. Overall, the results did support the hypothesis with moderate significance, indicating reef safety applications for sunscreens can be applied to freshwater plants as well
Understanding the Human and Emotional Perspective Placed on COVID-19 Related Objects by High Schoolers
No full textThe COVID-19 pandemic was one felt around the world. The highly contagious virus left six million people dead, infected over 773 million people (World Health Organization, 2023), and many are scarred in its wake. The purpose of this research was to examine the mental connotations evoked by COVID-19 items on high school aged youth and determine if a negative relation could create foundation for exposure therapy for youth with COVID-19 induced PTSD. Through a survey asking for high school students to rate groups of COVID-19 related images on a scale of how it made them feel, the data was then compiled and ran through a Friedman Test on SPSS Statistics. The findings of this research have statistically shown that viewing high COVID-19 related images correlates to an association with negative emotions evoked in high school aged youth. These findings show that exposure therapy is a feasible solution to PTSD, a problem that plagues many
Exploring Protein-Ligand Interactions to Increase the Binding Action of Kynurenic Acid to GPR35
No full textThe g-protein coupled receptor 35, or GPR35, is the receptor responsible for the initiation of the chemokine-mediated signaling pathway in humans, expressed primarily in the duodenum and small intestine. GPR35 has been demonstrated to protect against neuroinflammation and play a major role in extending lifespans. While much is unknown regarding the physiological mechanisms of GPR35, it has become an area of interest in targeting inflammation and gastrointestinal pathology, as it shows promising results in reducing vasoconstrictive responses and allergic reactions. Kynurenic acid, a derivative of L-tryptophan, is a primary ligand to GPR35. When bound to the active site of GPR35, kynurenic acid produces various neurological and gastrointestinal effects. Ligands that bind to the same binding site on GPR35 are kynurenic acid, lodoxamide, and zaprinast. Through protein docking in the Schrödinger Maestro software, docking scores were first calculated for the unaltered compounds. Kynurenic acid originally produced a docking score of –8.697 kcal/mol, lodoxamide originally produced a docking score of –14.152 kcal/mol, and zaprinast originally produced a docking score of –7.495 kcal/mol. Through examining a ligand interaction diagram, the importance of oxygens and the high hydrophobicity of kynurenic acid were examined. Using this data, multiple alcohol groups were added to counter the hydrophobic nature of kynurenic acid while keeping the oxygens constant to preserve the previously established amino-acid interactions. Kynurenic acid’s docking score was improved from –8.697 kcal/mol to –15.604 kcal/mol, showing an improvement in kynurenic acid’s binding to GPR35