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The Individual and Combined Effects of beta-Hydroxy beta-methylbutyric acid and Glucuronolactone on Mortality Rate of Drosophila
No full textAs the industry of bodybuilding and, in turn, supplements, grows, the inherent risk taken when using said supplements is also more relevant. Glucuronolactone is lacking in research compared to other supplements. HMB is a naturally occurring substance used as a dietary supplement. Glucuronolactone is also a naturally occurring substance, and it is commonly used in energy drinks, a prime example being Red Bull. The purpose of this study is to determine how individual and combined treatments of beta-Hydroxy beta-methylbutyric acid (HMB) and glucuronolactone impact mortality rate of Drosophila. It was hypothesized that HMB would decrease mortality rate because it is used to decrease muscle aging and glucuronolactone would increase mortality rate because Red Bull, which contains glucuronolactone, comprises side effects such as increased heart rate and higher blood pressure. Combined treatment was hypothesized to increase mortality rate. Four vials of thirty Drosophila were delivered by Carolina Biological and then shifted into four different vials with blue Drosophila medium mixed with water and yeast already inside as a food source. This medium also included the treatment used for the specific group of Drosophila, including a control vial, a vial with HMB, a vial with glucuronolactone, and a vial containing both HMB and glucuronolactone. Major findings were inconclusive in that they did not support the hypothesis. The null hypothesis was rejected after the p \u3c .05 found when conducting a 2-way ANOVA test. Major conclusions were that glucuronolactone did not impact mortality rate, HMB decreased motality rate, and combined treatment did not
The Effect of Ayurveda Antioxidants on Lifespan and Motor Skills in the Huntington\u27s model of Drosophila melanogaster
No full textDespite scientists researching neurodegenerative diseases for four decades, there has not been much progress in treatment options. One prominent disease is Huntington’s disease, a disorder that causes declining motor functions and shortened lifespans. The purpose of this experiment was to test three Ayurveda antioxidants, which were turmeric, ashwagandha, and pomegranate juice, on different groups of Drosophila melanogaster, modeling Huntington’s disease (HD), to see how they affected the flies’ lifespans and motor skills. It was hypothesized that if three groups of antioxidant-exposed flies were compared to the control group, then turmeric would cause the biggest difference in both the lifespan and climbing skills because it contains a chemical called curcumin, which has been beneficial against neurodegenerative disorders. The fruit flies were placed into three groups, exposed to an antioxidant, and the dead flies were recorded every two days. Then, a climbing assay was performed by placing flies from each group at the bottom of a graduated cylinder and recording the number of flies that get past the 8cm mark in 10 seconds. The results of the chi-square test for the lifespan assay suggest that there are no significant differences between the distribution of dead flies for the experimental groups and the control group Χ^2(2, N=20)=1.1, p\u3e0.05, but for the climbing assay, there was a significant difference between the groups Χ^2(2, N=10)=64.8, p\u3c0.05. Therefore, it was concluded that while the antioxidants did not affect the lifespan of the flies, they did affect the motor functions
The Effect of the Addition of Carrot Seed Oil and Raspberry Seed Oil on the UV Intensity of a Sunscreen
No full textWith continuous developments in research indicating the potential health risks of chemical sunscreen filters, the novel approach of incorporating natural oils with UV light blocking properties has been explored. Natural oils extracted from fruit and vegetables have been proven to possess photoprotective properties, but their effectiveness in combination with synthetic sunscreen filters has not been as thoroughly investigated. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the addition of carrot and raspberry seed oil to an SPF 30 sunscreen would decrease the UV intensity of UVB light passing through the sunscreen and oil mixture. It was hypothesized that if both carrot seed oil and raspberry seed oil were added to a sunscreen, then the UV intensities would be lower for the sunscreen mixtures with carrot and raspberry seed oil compared to the mixture without each oil, because these oils contain high concentrations of anti-aging polyphenols. Three different sunscreen mixtures were made: one with no oils added, one with raspberry seed oil, and one with carrot seed oil. Using a UVB light and UV sensor, the UV intensity (mW/m2) of the UVB light as it passed through each mixture was measured. The results of a one-way ANOVA test with an alpha value of 0.05 suggest there were significant differences between the control group and each of the two experimental groups, (ANOVA[F(2, 135) = 222.95, p \u3c 0.001]). Thus, it was concluded that there was sufficient evidence to suggest that there was a difference in UV intensity between the mixture without oils and the two individual mixtures with the oils
Progressive Neurodegenerative Diseases and Informal Caregivers
No full textOne of the leading global health crises at present is different forms of dementia. “About 3% of adults ages 70 to 74 had dementia in 2019, compared with 22% of adults ages 85 to 89 and 33% of adults ages 90 and older.” With the number of individuals diagnosed increasing, the amount of needed geriatric assistance would likely have to proportionally increase. This condition requires caregivers who provide full-time assistance. Oftentimes, these responsibilities are placed on the loved ones of the patient- causing drastic difficulties for the unpaid family member or friend. Informal caregiving can also impact the caregiver financially These responsibilities can impact both the caregivers physical and mental well-being. This study analyzes personal struggles through a survey and verbal interview to truly understand and identify the problems that informal caregivers suffer. The participants answered a section of 12 questions and then were asked to expand on 3 of the questions, selected at random by a numerical generator
The Effect of Different Concentrations of Bacillus subtilis on Spirulina platensis Growth in an Environment with Glyphosate
No full textRed tides are a significant issue along the coasts of several countries around the world. These red tides consist of algae that grow at an expedited rate, resulting in many issues for the surrounding environment. The purpose of this experiment was to see if adding Bacillus subtilis at different concentrations would decrease Spirulina platensis growth in an environment with glyphosate. It was hypothesized that in an environment with glyphosate, a 30% B. subtilis solution would decrease S. platensis growth at a greater rate than a 0% or 15% solution because B. subtilis has the ability to degrade glyphosate and reduce the amount of nutrients available for S. platensis. To conduct this experiment, different concentrations of B. subtilis were made by diluting a bacterial solution in distilled water, respectively. Then, 5 mL of the B. subtilis solution, S. platensis, and glyphosate were added into a petri dish and placed in a dark drawer for 96 hours. Afterward, a SpectroVis spectrophotometer was used to measure the absorbance of the S. platensis in each petri dish as an indicator for colony density. The results showed that adding B. subtilis at different concentrations decreased S. platensis growth by 80.4% in the 15% solution and 88.9% in the 30% solution. A subsequent one-way ANOVA test showed the data was statistically significant since F(2, 87) = 374.46, p\u3c0.001, which means there is enough evidence to reject the null hypothesis. The results indicate that B. subtilis was successfully able to decrease S. platenis growth by degrading the glyphosate. Therefore, it was concluded that B. subtilis could be used to reduce red tides and their harmful effects
Diabetic Foot Nuropathy Insole
No full textDiabetes-specific footwear is made to lessen the risk of diabetic neuropathy-related corns, bunions, gangrene, and hammertoes. To reduce friction and give your feet substantial cushioning, the shoes are equipped with foam padding around the collar and over the top of the foot, the problem with that is they are simply not versatile. There is no reason that people with certain medical problems are limited to only so many options. The idea is to create an insole for other shoes that could be put into them to make them diabetic friendly, for instance diabetic shoes are typically chunky and bulky and sneaker like, so not appropriate for certain events. They don’t have a choice to wear anything else, not wearing the specific shoes could be extremely life threatening
A Device to Assist in Removing and Inserting Hearing Aid Batteries
No full textMy target audience was people who suffer from hearing loss and wear hearing aids, more specifically people with arthritis. People who have hearing loss are more likely to develop depression. When an individual\u27s communication becomes limited due to hearing loss, basic communication can feel effortful and exhausting. My device will help people put in and take out their hearing aid batteries because that is one of the main reasons people don\u27t wear their hearing aids. My motivation for this problem is my great-grandparents. Both of them have hearing aids but they wait to change out their batteries until one of my family members because the task is very difficult and frustrating for them. So this can lead to a long time without having functional hearing aids so if I make a tool that my great-grandparents can use easily they will be more likely to have functioning hearing aids more often. To make my tool I will use a Pen, Hearing aid, Hearing aid batteries, Double-sided tape, and non-toxic special rubber. I will collect the time on how long it takes the volunteer to put in the hearing aid battery and take it out. I will use a bar graph to represent my data. By using a bar graph I can show multiple people multiple times
The Effect of Diatomite Paint on Indoor Heat Insulation
No full textDiatomite is a powder found in the soil that is composed of dead ocean algae from millions of years ago. One of diatomite’s properties, heat insulation, is exhibited when it is poured into liquid concrete, which hardens into a solid and dense mixture of minerals. Although diatomite maintains this property in cement, the same is not said about paint. However, that is because there is no evidence suggesting that heat insulation is present in diatomite paint. Therefore, the purpose of the experiment was to determine whether paint has insulating properties when combined with diatomite. If paint can insulate heat in concrete, then the diatomite paint should be able to absorb the heat directly. If it were possible, the production of diatomite paint would allow for conservation of electricity. Four boxes with different paint formulations were heated using an ultraviolet heat lamp. The walls were alternated to prevent the heat from accumulating the wall being tested. Results show no variation amongst the means were found. While the data from the ANOVA chart indicated a significance in at least one group, no patterns or relations were found between the groups, therefore suggesting that diatomite paint cannot insulate heat
The Comparative Impact of Acesulfame-Potassium, Stevia Extract, and Monk Fruit on the Lifespan of Drosophila melanogaster
No full textNon-nutritive sweeteners (NNS), non-caloric sweetening devices, have been widely commercialized to reduce sugar consumption. This intent has associated NNS with health benefits, though reports have correlated the consumption of these substitutes with noncommunicable diseases. The interaction between NNS and distinct physiological processes has been examined, though research into the broader implications of these interactions, toward longevity, for instance, is lacking. The purpose of this study was to compare the impact of three recently FDA-approved NNS - acesulfame-Potassium (ace-K), stevia, and monk fruit - on the survival of Drosophila melanogaster, a model species for longevity research, to discern the possible impacts on human longevity, and further, the rationality of their use. It was hypothesized that if D. melanogaster were fed these three NNS, those fed with ace-K would have the lowest survivorship rates, as ace-K is associated with microbial dysbiosis, which is further linked to reduced longevity. Fifteen male and female age-synchronized flies were allocated to vials containing a sweetener incorporated into a base diet, with sucrose as the control. Survivorship was recorded every three to four days for 32 days. Survival from each diet was significantly lower than the control, and this difference was most pronounced with ace-K, χ2 (9, N=240)=244.2, p﹤.00001. Survivorship between the diets halfway through the trial period (day 15) was also significantly different, χ2 (3, N=240)=78.3, p﹤.00001. Ace-K, therefore, had a detrimental effect on the longevity of D. melanogaster, which suggests a potential paralleled effect of this sweetener in humans
Relationship Between Root-Zone Soil Moisture and Proportion of E. solidaginis Galls Attacked by Parasitic Insects in South Carolina Level III Ecoregions
No full textIncreasing temperatures generally correlate with greater rates of soil moisture evaporation, making soil moisture an indirect metric of human impact (Jiang et al., 2015). The relationship formed between S. altissima, E. solidaginis, and parasitoids has long been observed to illustrate the effects of environmental stimuli on the ecosystem. The purpose of this project was to determine whether a relationship exists between soil moisture (%) and the percentage of E. solidaginis galls attacked by parasitoid insects. It was hypothesized that E. solidaginis galls on S. altissima plants growing in areas of higher soil moisture would experience greater rates of predation by parasitoids, on account of the fact that greater moisture levels make the host plant more optimal for supporting the gall-fly larvae. It was expected that a greater proportion of galls would be attacked by parasitoids in areas in which E. solidaginis flourished. Based on the five tertiary ecoregions in the state, five sites were selected in South Carolina. At each site, ten 8 cm core soil samples were collected, and the galls observed in the site were collected. The soil samples were used to gravimetrically calculate soil moisture (%), and the galls were dissected to identify the contents and quantify the effects of parasitoids. No clear patterns emerged from the data. Thus, it was concluded that there is insufficient evidence to suggest that soil moisture (%) and the percentage of galls affected by parasitoids are related variables. Despite these inconclusive results, rapid urbanization necessitates a continuous search to gain insight into how humanity impacts the world around it