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The Effect of Salt Concentration in Chlorella sp’s Environment on its Algal Biofuel Energy Output
No full textAlternative sources of energy have become an increasingly popular topic of study due to its renewability and cleanliness. One very new, yet promising alternative source of energy is algal biofuels. Algal biofuels are capable of producing incredibly high amounts of lipids, with a fast growth rate, and under almost any growth condition. In comparison to other biofuels, algal biofuels are superior in almost every way. Algae has a variety of byproducts that can be used for so many commercial applications. Some of these applications include feed, food, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, and biofuels. However, biofuels currently do not meet the energy return on investment (EROI), meaning it takes more energy to make than it creates. Having an EROI below one is the primary reason that algal biofuels lack viability currently. However, if parameters of the biofuel production process or algal growth process are optimized, it is possible that the EROI could be greater. This study’s purpose was to compare the effect of salt concentration on Chlorella sp.’s growth environment on its algal biofuel energy production. It was hypothesized that the salt concentration of 45 gL-1 would produce the greatest energy output as a biofuel. For this experiment’s procedure Chlorella sp. was grown in varying salt concentrations (i.e. 0 gL-1, 15gL-1, 45 gL-1). After 7 days the Chlorella sp. was dried and lipids were attempted to be extracted. However, error occurred with the lipid extraction techniques and data was unable to be collected. This study analyzes what failed in this experiment and the causes of error. It is believed that the current microwave-assisted lipid extraction (MALE) method is unsafe, so a modified MALE was used. However, this failed so it is likely a double solvent extraction method is most viable
Use of Pseudomonas fluorescens at different concentration to degrade Amillariella mellea
No full textArmillaria mellea, known for its annihilating root decay illness over different plant species, poses a critical danger to rural efficiency. Conventional control strategies have been inadequate, requiring investigation and exploration into arrangements. Pseudomonas fluorescens, known for its different metabolic capabilities and potential as a biocontrol specialist, develops as a promising candidate. This investigates the relationship between P. fluorescens and A. mellea refined together on agar plates. The theory sets that changed concentrations of P. fluorescens will influence the debasement of A. mellea in an unexpected way. To explore this, agar plates were arranged with A. mellea and treated with concentrations of P. fluorescens. Picture examination was taken some time recently and after treatment to evaluate development. The show that higher concentrations of P. fluorescens resulted in to a noteworthy decrease in parasitic colonies, illustrating its potential as a biocontrol operator against A. mellea. Measurable investigations affirmed the importance of the comes about, emphasizing the effect of bacterial concentration on parasitic development hindrance. Advance inquiry on delayed bacterial introduction impacts and the relationship between bacterial concentration and time for successful parasitic hindrance is justified. Furthermore, investigating diverse bacterial species and their adequacy against A. mellea in different situations may give important bits of knowledge. This thought highlights the potential of P. fluorescens as a biocontrol operator against A. mellea and underscores bacterial concentration in controlling parasitic development. Future examinations sought to dive more profound into optimizing bacterial concentrations and their transient impacts on contagious remediation for viable applications in horticulture. Since so many inferential tests were run the different conclusions about the data are harder to interpret
The Effect of a Carbon Fiber Insole on the Energy Return of a Midfoot Strike Versus a Forefoot Strike in a Running Shoe
No full textWith running being one of the most widely popular types of physical activity, athletes constantly strive to enhance their performance in the sport. Carbon fiber insoles have made their way into the running community by providing athletes with increased energy return through their high tensile strength. The purpose of this research project was to investigate the comparative energy return between a forefoot strike and midfoot strike while assessing the effectiveness of carbon fiber insoles in comparison to control insoles when integrated into Nike Pegasus 38 shoes. It was hypothesized that a forefoot strike with a carbon fiber insole would yield a greater energy return than a midfoot strike with a carbon fiber insole because of the increased LBS and MBS associated with using a forefoot strike versus a midfoot strike. The participant was tasked with the job of running on a force plate to complete four segments of 50 trials each. All data were extracted from the force plate and put into three formulas to find the energy return. Data were statistically analyzed using a paired z-test using a 95% confidence interval. The mean energy return was determined to be statistically significant, as the f value of 5.539 was greater than the f test statistic of 2.655. Therefore, it was concluded that there is sufficient evidence to suggest that the mean energy return of a forefoot strike with a CFI is not equivalent to that of a midfoot strike with a CFI
Expression of PRG in Chicken Embryos
No full textPRG, which stands for plasticity-related gene, is known to modulate an axon’s response to LPA receptors. LPA (lysophosphatidic acid) causes growth cone collapse in growing axons, meaning it produces a negative signal indicating the axon to not grow in a specific direction. PRG’s response to LPA can be that it enhances the effect, reverses, etc. To find the effect of LPA on PRG, we must first find out which PRGs are present in chick embryos, which we are using as models for the human embryo. Through the process of RNA extraction and RT-PCR, we were able to determine what PRG to focus on. To extract RNA from a chick\u27s retina, we extracted a piece of tissue from the retina in the chick embryo. Then, we flushed it with various chemicals such as trizol, chloroform, 2- propanol, and 75% ethanol to get rid of all the proteins and cell components (besides the RNA) in the tissue. We then diluted it in 50ul of water, In the RT-PCR, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, we take the RNA, make it into DNA, and amplify a portion of DNA based on the primers we use. We used it to amplify the expression of PRG - 1, 2, 3, and 5. We found that PRG 3 showed up very well on the agarose gel electrophoresis. However, only faint lines appeared for PRG 1 and 2, meaning we needed to find new primers. PRG -5 was hard to locate on the gel despite using multiple types of primers. Using this information we can further determine what PRG to focus on when interacting with LPA
3D Motion Capture In Upper Extremity Finger Rehabilitation After Stroke
No full textAlmost 800,000 people suffer from a stroke each year in the United States, and many do not regain the motor function they had prior to the stroke. The goal of this study is to develop a new rehabilitation paradigm to improve current occupational therapy tactics to aid recovery of hand motor function in stroke victims. The study follows six weeks of occupational therapy utilizing the new rehabilitation paradigm along with three landmark measurement sessions to assess the efficacy of this paradigm. This research utilized data from the motion capture sessions that take place during the landmark sessions in order to speculate whether the n=5 participants are in the experimental group that receives the new rehabilitation paradigm or the control group, which does not. Should the study be successful, the participants in the experimental group should see improvement in their ability to grasp objects in the ideal grip form. This ideal trend was exemplified by one of the five participants, with the ability to grasp in the ideal manner improving from landmark session one to two and maintaining ability from two to three, meaning that one can speculate that this participant is in the experimental group. In conclusion, this new paradigm could help to better inform occupational therapy for stroke-affect upper limb rehabilitation
