bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
KẾT QUẢ ĐIỀU TRỊ 54 BỆNH NHÂN TRĨ NỘI BẰNG PHƯƠNG PHÁP THẮT VÒNG CAO SU QUA NỘI SOI HẬU MÔN ỐNG CỨNG, TẠI BỆNH VIỆN QUÂN Y 7
Authors: Phạm Văn Dũng  , Trần Văn Hoàn  , Đào Thị Phượng  , Hoàng Văn Lý
Published: October 2023

Mục tiêu: Đánh giá kết quả điều trị trĩ nội bằng phương pháp thắt vòng cao su qua nội soi hậu môn ống cứng, tại Bệnh viện Quân y 7.

Đối tượng và phương pháp: Nghiên cứu mô tả trên 54 bệnh nhân trĩ nội độ I-II-III, điều trị thắt trĩ bằng vòng cao su qua nội soi hậu môn ống cứng, đánh giá kết quả sau 4-6 tuần điều trị.

Kết quả: Triệu chứng lâm sàng hay gặp là đi ngoài ra máu (74,1%) và táo bón (64,9%), đa số bệnh nhân trĩ nội độ II (68,5%). Số lần thắt trung bình trên mỗi bệnh nhân là 1,04 ± 0,19; tỉ lệ bệnh nhân thắt 2 vòng cao su là 83,3%; thời gian thực hiện thủ thuật trong vòng 5 phút là 79,6%. Tỉ lệ bệnh nhân không có triệu chứng đi ngoài ra máu sau thắt là 88,9%. Giá trị trung bình điểm đo lường chất lượng cuộc sống (EQ-5D-5L) trên các bệnh nhân sau điều trị (0,96 ± 0,045 điểm) tăng lên so với trước điều trị (0,85 ± 0,55 điểm) có ý nghĩa thống kê, với p < 0,001. Tỉ lệ bệnh nhân đau tức hậu môn giảm từ 31,5% trước điều trị xuống còn 1,9% sau 4-6 tuần điều trị.
NHẬN XÉT ĐẶC ĐIỂM LÂM SÀNG 72 BỆNH NHÂN CÓ CHỈ ĐỊNH NỘI SOI RUỘT NON BÓNG KÉP VÀ VAI TRÒ CỦA KĨ THUẬT TRONG CHẨN ĐOÁN, ĐIỀU TRỊ
Authors: Đỗ Thiện Quảng  , Dương Văn Tú  , Vũ Đức Duy
Published: October 2023

Mục tiêu: Nhận xét đặc điểm lâm sàng các bệnh nhân có chỉ định thực hiện nội soi ruột non bóng kép và vai trò của kĩ thuật trong chẩn đoán, điều trị.

Đối tượng và phương pháp: Nghiên cứu tiến cứu, mô tả cắt ngang trên 72 bệnh nhân có chỉ định và được thực hiện nội soi ruột non bóng kép trong chẩn đoán, điều trị, tại Khoa Nội tiêu hóa, Bệnh viện Quân y 110, từ tháng 01/2015 đến tháng 3/2023.

Kết quả: Bệnh nhân trung bình 43 ± 16,7 tuổi, còn trong độ tuổi lao động là 80,5% bệnh nhân. Tỉ lệ giới tính bệnh nhân nam/nữ là 1,12/1. 44,4% bệnh nhân có tiền sử mắc bệnh lí mạn tính. Triệu chứng lâm sàng thường gặp là thiếu máu (77,2%), đau bụng (61,1%), đại tiện phân máu/phân đen (50,0%). 61,1% bệnh nhân nội soi hết toàn bộ ruột non. Tỉ lệ chẩn đoán bệnh lí ruột non đạt 47,2%. Đặc điểm tổn thương ở ruột non: viêm loét ruột non: 41,2%; u ruột non: 23,5%; chảy máu: 11,8%, dị vật thức ăn: 11,8%. Có 23,5% bệnh nhân can thiệp điều trị thành công qua nội soi ruột non bóng kép.

Kết luận: Nội soi ruột non bóng kép vừa giúp chẩn đoán bệnh chính xác, vừa giúp can thiệp điều trị hiệu quả các bệnh lí ruột non.
NHẬN XÉT GIÁ TRỊ CHẨN ĐOÁN XƠ HÓA GAN BẰNG SIÊU ÂM ĐÀN HỒI MÔ Ở 228 BỆNH NHÂN VIÊM GAN MẠN TÍNH, TẠI BỆNH VIỆN QUÂN Y 110
Authors: Ngô Xuân Thao  , Trần Quang Vinh  , Nguyễn Xuân Quang  , Nguyễn Xuân Hùng  , Trần Văn Tranh  , Lê Doãn Trường
Published: October 2023

Mục tiêu: Nhận xét giá trị của siêu âm đàn hồi mô trong chẩn đoán xơ hóa gan trên bệnh nhân xơ gan mạn tính.

Đối tượng, phương pháp: Nghiên cứu tiến cứu, mô tả cắt ngang 228 bệnh nhân viêm gan mạn tính, đánh giá mức độ xơ hóa gan bằng kĩ thuật siêu âm đàn hồi mô, tại Bệnh viện Quân y 110, từ tháng 10/2020-10/2022; so sánh siêu âm đàn hồi mô với kĩ thuật Fibroscan trong ứng dụng chẩn đoán.

Kết quả: Bệnh nhân nghiên cứu trung bình 45,21 ± 15,28 tuổi; tỉ lệ giới tính nam/nữ = 1,92. Đa số bệnh nhân dư cân và béo phì độ 1 (chiếm 63,71%). Hình ảnh tổn thương gan trên siêu âm hay gặp nhất là gan thô (chiếm 43,42%). Tần suất xơ hóa gan ở nhóm F1 chiếm tỉ lệ cao nhất (47,37%). Tỉ lệ xơ hóa gan tăng dần theo tuổi, cao nhất ở bệnh nhân trên 65 tuổi (F4 chiếm 60,00%). Xơ hóa gan nặng chủ yếu xảy ra ở bệnh nhân viêm gan mạn do rượu (chiếm 35,70%) và do vi-rút (chiếm 30,76%). Kĩ thuật siêu âm đàn hồi mô và Fibroscan có độ chính xác tương đương, với tỉ lệ đồng thuận k = 0,85, nhưng siêu âm đàn hồi mô khắc phục được một số hạn chế của Fibroscan.
ĐÁNH GIÁ SỰ HÀI LÒNG VÀ MỘT SỐ YẾU TỐ LIÊN QUAN ĐẾN SỰ HÀI LÒNG CỦA BỆNH NHÂN THOÁT VỊ ĐĨA ĐỆM CỘT SỐNG THẮT LƯNG ĐIỀU TRỊ TIÊM NGOÀI MÀNG CỨNG, TẠI ĐƠN VỊ CHỐNG ĐAU, BỆNH VIỆN QUÂN Y 110
Authors: Nguyễn Văn Hoàn  , Doãn Thế Mạnh  , Nguyễn Văn Chung  , Thân Thị Quý  , Nguyễn Văn Hinh  , Nguyễn Trung Hiếu
Published: October 2023

Mục tiêu: Đánh giá sự hài lòng và một số yếu tố liên quan đến sự hài lòng của bệnh nhân điều trị thoát vị đĩa đệm cột sống thắt lưng bằng phương pháp tiêm ngoài màng cứng.

Đối tượng, phương pháp: Nghiên cứu tiến cứu, mô tả cắt ngang 730 bệnh nhân thoát vị đĩa đệm cột sống thắt lưng, điều trị bằng phương pháp tiêm ngoài màng cứng, tại Đơn vị chống đau, Bệnh viện Quân y 110, từ tháng 5/2020 đến tháng 5/2021.

Kết quả: Mức hài lòng chung của bệnh nhân về thời gian chờ đợi đạt 34,1%; về kĩ năng và thái độ của nhân viên y tế đạt 54,1%; về cơ sở vật chất và tổ chức khoa, phòng đạt 64,7%; về việc giải thích động viên bệnh nhân trước khi làm các kĩ thuật, thủ thuật đạt 67,8%. Nhóm bệnh nhân dưới 30 tuổi có tỉ lệ hài lòng đạt 75,9%; nhóm lao động tự do và nghề nghiệp khác có tỉ lệ hài lòng đạt 84,4%; nhóm bệnh nhân thu nhập ≥ 4 triệu đồng/tháng có tỉ lệ hài lòng đạt 76,5%.
NHẬN XÉT ĐẶC ĐIỂM LÂM SÀNG VÀ HÌNH ẢNH TỔN THƯƠNG HỆ ĐỘNG MẠCH CẢNH TRONG TRÊN PHIM CHỤP CẮT LỚP VI TÍNH Ở 124 BỆNH NHÂN NHỒI MÁU NÃO, TẠI BỆNH VIỆN QUÂN Y 110
Authors: Ngô Tiến Quyền  , Doãn Thế Mạnh  , Nguyễn Văn Dương  , Đỗ Danh Thắng
Published: October 2023

Mục tiêu: Nhận xét đặc điểm lâm sàng và hình ảnh tổn thương hệ động mạch cảnh trong trên phim chụp cắt lớp vi tính 64 dãy ở bệnh nhân nhồi máu não.

Đối tượng và phương pháp: Nghiên cứu mô tả cắt ngang 124 bệnh nhân nhồi máu não, điều trị tại Bệnh viện Quân y 110, từ tháng 01/2021 đến tháng 12/2022.

Kết quả: Bệnh nhân trung bình 66,8 ± 12,3; tỉ lệ giới tính nam/nữ ≈ 2,3/1; yếu tố nguy cơ hay gặp là tăng huyết áp (63,7%). Thời điểm vào viện, 98,2% bệnh nhân có liệt nửa người và rối loạn cảm giác nửa người; 58,1% bệnh nhân rối loạn ngôn ngữ; điểm Glasgow trung bình là 13,9 ± 1,5 điểm; điểm NIHSS trung bình là 8,8 ± 5,3 điểm; điểm ASPECT trung bình là 8,2 ± 1,6 điểm. Trên phim chụp cắt lớp vi tính, phát hiện tỉ lệ tổn thương chủ yếu là nhồi máu não một ổ (88,7%), kích thước ổ nhồi máu dưới 1,5 cm (53,2%). Có 16,1% bệnh nhân hẹp tắc đoạn M1; 20,2% bệnh nhân hẹp tắc đoạn M2; 8,1% bệnh nhân hẹp tắc đoạn A1 và 2,4% bệnh nhân hẹp tắc đoạn ICA.
BIG SHIFTS in Spatial Planning in The Netherlands
Authors: Newton Caroline , Yu Cinco , Czischke Darinka , Bracken Gregory , Gonçalves Juliana E. , Höller Lukas , Dąbrowski Marcin , Qu Lei , Rooij Remon , Rocco Roberto , Cardoso Rodrigo , Chereni Simbarashe , Balz Verena
Published: October 2023

Based on the understanding of the built environment as result of competing claims on space that must be resolved via recognition, fair distribution of burdens and benefits of our human association, respect and care for the planet and just procedures to decide on those claims, Spatial Planning and Strategy is a chair in the Department of Urbanism within the Faculty of Architecture and the Built Environment of the Delft University of Technology, committed to helping create sustainability, resilience and spatial justice through the implementation of the New Urban Agenda, the Paris Climate Agreement and the European New Deal, among other frameworks. This commitment is reflected in activities, events, and courses. We are concerned with knowledge about the formulation, implementation, and evaluation of strategic and urban planning tools – visions, strategies, plans and programmes.
Flash Spark Plasma Sintering Of Nd-Fe-B Magnets With Tailored Anisotropic Magnetic Properties
Authors: Bram Martin , Maccari Fernando , Keszler Monica , Prasad Mishra Tarini
Published: October 2023

Flash spark plasma sintering (Flash SPS) is an attractive alternative method for the processing of Nd-Fe-B magnets with anisotropic magnetic properties. Therefore, a load is applied on a pre-compacted sample. Then, a well-defined power pulse is applied followed by deformation and densification of the sample in seconds. Compared to established processing of anisotropic magnets via hot pressing with subsequent die-upsetting, Flash SPS introduces the possibility of electroplasticity as an additional deformation mechanism. This mechanism has the potential to improve the magnetic properties through the fine-tuning of the microstructure. Our results reveal that suitable pre-heating of the sample before applying the power pulse plays a crucial role for tailoring grain size and grain aspect ratio, both being the key for well-pronounced anisotropic magnetic properties. For better understanding of the relationship between Flash SPS parameters, microstructure and resulting magnetic properties, a systematic parameter study has been done in the present work.
A new CALPHAD based finite element tool for Additive Manufacturing simulation
Authors: Lancelot Carl-Magnus , Markström Andreas , Malik Amer , Minh Do Quang , Jeppsson Johan
Published: October 2023

Thermo-Calc has spent the last few years developing new models to predict thermophysical material properties to incorporate with CALPHAD-based materials descriptions. This foundation is currently used to extract CALPHAD-based materials data for use in dedicated Finite Element simulation codes, which usually treat material properties in a highly simplified manner. This development has laid the foundation for a completely integrated simulation tool, using the CALPHAD-based descriptions of phase equilibria and physical properties, to simulate the Additive Manufacturing process. The Additive Manufacturing module in the Thermo-Calc software was released this summer, and it gives a unique possibility to address the problem of solidification during AM, where we obtain a unified treatment of both process parameters and chemistry-dependent thermophysical properties when solving the multiphysics problem of a moving heat source that melts and solidifies metal powder. Examples are shown of the AM module applied to different material classes.
E-HEALTH LITERACY AND CYBERCHONDRIA SEVERITY RELATIONSHIP: AN ANALYSIS FOCUSING ON TEACHERS
Authors: Demir Yasar , Dag Erhan , Ozpinar Saliha
Published: October 2023

As a result of the recent widespread use of the Internet, individuals search for their questions or problems on the Internet. This situation has led to the concepts of e-health literacy and cyberchondria. The aim of the study is to determine the level of e-health literacy and cyberchondria seriousness of teachers who prepare children and adolescents, the youngest members of society, for life. The population of the cross-sectional study consists of teachers working in the Ayvac?k district of Samsun province in the 2022-2023 academic year (N=301). The sample of the study was determined to be 183, with a 95% confidence interval and a 5% margin of error. The study data were collected between 15.07.2023 and 15.08.2023. Three forms were used in data collection, and these were personal information form, e-health literacy scale and cyberchondria severity scale short form (CCS-12). In the study, 56.1% of the participants were female, 65% were between the ages of 30-39, and 48% had been working for 1-9 years. The mean score of e-health literacy was 3.69ï¿½0.80, and the mean score of cyberchondria severity was 32.08ï¿½7.98. In the study, a statistically significant difference was found between age and marital status in both e-health literacy and cyberchondria severity. In addition, a positive low-level relationship was determined between e-health literacy and cyberchondria severity (p<0.001, r=,158). As a result, age and marital status affect e-health literacy and cyberchondria severity. In addition, cyberchondria severity increases as e-health literacy increases.
IMPLEMENTASI DATA MINING PENGELOMPOKAN JENIS PENYAKIT PASIEN MENGGUNAKAN METODE CLUSTERING (STUDI KASUS : PUSKESMAS SAMBIREJO)
Authors: Maulia Shelly , Ginting Budi Serasi , Sihombing Anton
Published: September 2023

Penyakit adalah dimana suatu kondisi terdapat keadaan tubuh yang abnormal, yang menyebabkan hilangnya kondisi normal yang sehat Data mining adalah sebuah proses menemukan informasi dengan mengindentifikasi pola pada data set. Proses menemukan informasi dapat dilakukukan dengan pengelompokkan data yaitu menggunakan metode Clustering dengan algoritma K-Means. Metode K-Means merupakan salah satu metode dalam analisis kelompok dimana data dikelompokkan berdasarkan k kelompok (k=1,2,3..k). Tujuan dari penelitian ini adalah untuk memudahkan pengelompokkan jenis penyakit mana yang paling banyak diderita oleh pasien di Puskesmas Sambirejo Kabupaten Langkat berdasarkan umur, desa dan nama penyakit pada data pasien tahun 2017-2019. Dari hasil analisa program yang telah diuji dengan menggunakan matlab dan telah ditentukan variabel-variabel dapat diketahui bahwa, untuk cluster 1 hasil pengelompokkan jenis penyakit pasien jumlah data 366 data yaitu antara umur 24-40 tahun, pada desa sambirejo, dengan nama penyakit bronkhitis. untuk cluster 2 hasilpengelompokkan jenis penyakit pasien jumlah data 376 data yaitu antara umur 24-40 tahun, pada desa perdamaian, dengan nama penyakit hiperurisemia. untuk cluster 3 hasilpengelompokkan jenis penyakit pasien jumlah data 258 data yaitu antara umur 24-40 tahun, pada desa suka makmur, dengan nama penyakit hiperurisemia.
Isolation of Microbes From Common Household Surfaces
Authors: Gajanan Manu V , Singh Om V
Published: September 2023

Microorganisms are ubiquitous in nature. One might think that one is safe from these microorganisms at home, but they can be found there, too, especially in areas where food is prepared. It is common practice to clean food and food products prior to consumption. However, it is equally important to sanitize the places where food is stored and prepared, and also to sanitize the locations and items commonly used within a typical house. This work systematically investigated the occurrence of a variety of microorganisms on common household items and places. We hypothesized that a variety of microorganisms (e.g. bacteria and fungi) would be found from common household surfaces, even when those surfaces are regularly cleaned, and that a strong disinfecting agent, such as ethanol (70%) should eliminate the majority of these microorganisms. The appearance of microorganisms was observed on nutrient agar plates which were swabbed with samples from seven different sites in a house (kitchen counter, kitchen sink, bathroom floor, toilet seat, window, dishwasher, and bathtub) under non-sterile conditions, and the microbial load was observed to be significantly diminished after the surfaces were cleaned with 70% ethanol. We conclude that 70% ethanol based sanitation is of utmost importance to be safe at home.
Development of Two New Efficient Means of Wastewater Treatment
Authors: Bao Gilbert W , Bao Albert M , Liu Xiaojing , Li Youxin
Published: September 2023

Wastewater accumulation is a daunting issue. This global concern stimulates scientists to search for more effective ways of treating wastewater and preserving natural resources. In this study, we have augmented current treatment efficiencies and general effectiveness by creating two new methods. Using hollow fiber membrane (HFM) based liquid-liquid extraction technology in water treatment, we have demonstrated that this technique is more efficient than the current available methods at extracting organic components into the organic phase inside the HFM. Meanwhile, we have used polymeric resins to absorb both neutral and charged organic components in wastewater. Both newly developed methods have the potential to be industrialized for combating the human-caused wastewater contamination issue with increased vigor and efficiency.
A Phylogenetic Study of Conifers Describes Their Evolutionary Relationships and Reveals Potential Explanations for Current Distribution Patterns
Authors: Seong David , Offner Dr Susan
Published: September 2023

A phylogenetic tree is a diagram showing the evolutionary relationships between organisms. Gymnosperms produce cones to house their seeds and are commonly assumed to have originated during the Carboniferous era and conifers are a major division of gymnosperms. This study used the matK gene to construct a phylogenetic tree of conifer species (junipers, sequoias, Cupressacae, spruces, pines) with an outgroup of cycads. The matK gene was aligned using the program Seaview and the tree was created using PAUP. Analysis revealed that pines, spruces, sequoias, and Cupressacae have similar phenotypes while junipers and cycads appear to be distinct. The Bootstrap values of the tree show that the overarching clades are strongly supported and, therefore, are reliable. The purpose of this study was to generate hypotheses regarding the evolution of certain traits as well as the current distribution patterns of these species. Firstly, leaf type variability seems to have been determined by environmental selection during Pangea. Secondly, the winged seed phenotype dates back to the common ancestor of all conifers and is accompanied by a loss of winged seeds in the juniper clade. Finally, the distributions of junipers and pines have both been affected by other organisms including humans. The phylogenetic tree constructed in this study lends support to the hypothesis that North American pines originated from Asian pines. This phylogenetic study of conifers provides additional information regarding the evolutionary history of conifers. The hypotheses generated as a result of this study also provide additional ideas regarding the relative status of conifers in the history of evolution and new directions for future field research.
Effect of pH Change on Exoskeletons of Selected Saltwater Organisms Which Rely on Calcium Fixation
Authors: Tansel Derya Z , Arreaza Ariadna , Tansel Berrin
Published: September 2023

The projections for rising atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations indicate that the pH levels of the ocean surface could decrease by 0.3-0.4 units by the end of the 21st century. The objective of this research was to evaluate the effect of pH on the exoskeletons of six aquatic organisms commonly found in South Florida coastal waters. The exoskeleton samples studied were from the common nutmeg (Cancellaria reticulate), lettered olive (Oliva sayana), stiff pen shell (Atrina rigida), kitten’s paw (Plicatulidae), fan coral (Gorgonia ventalina), and common slipper shell (Crepidula fornicate). The exoskeleton samples were exposed to saltwater (34% salinity) at pH levels ranging from 8.3 to 6.0 for 5 days. The changes in the masses of the samples before and after exposure were compared. We normalized the data in reference to the observations at pH=8.3, which is the current pH level of the ocean surface. The fan coral had the highest percent mass loss, which increased with decreasing pH until pH 6.5. Exoskeleton samples from the stiff pen shell were not affected by the pH changes. Exoskeletons from the common nutmeg, lettered olive, and common slipper shell had similar responses to pH changes with relatively small changes in mass. Exoskeletons from the kitten’s paw had significant mass loss at lower pH conditions. The research results show that as ocean acidification increases, the exoskeletons of marine organisms will be affected. Some organisms, such as the fan coral and kitten’s paw, may lose their exoskeletons. Other organisms that rely on the marine organisms with exoskeletons for shelter and food could also be affected.
The Prevalence of White Guilt Among American High School Students
Authors: Buadu Adwoa A , Blickenstaff Timothy
Published: September 2023

After the election of the nation’s first African-American president, it has been asserted that America is evolving into a post-racial society and the younger generation has fewer reservations about race and ethnicity. To test this hypothesis, a group of students were given a survey that was paired with a slide show that contained a quote, a statistic, a fact, and an image. All elements of the presentation showed information pertaining to racial relations between Caucasians and people from minority groups. The quote and the image presented information on racial relations in the past while the statistic was relevant to modern racial inequalities in society. Students were asked to report whether they experienced emotions of shame, anger, gratefulness, or any combination of the three while looking at the slides. The goal of the survey was to determine if Caucasian adolescents still harbored white guilt, defined as feelings of shame and embarrassment for discrimination applied to peoples of color by their ancestors, and the advantages they still receive in society as a result. From these tests, Caucasian students reported feelings of shame when presented with slides that pertained to past racial relations, but reported feelings of anger when presented with slides that pertained to current racial relations. These results suggest that there are still vestiges of white guilt among adolescents today and that Caucasian students recognize current inequalities in society.
Temperature and Precipitation Responses to a Stratospheric Aerosol Geoengineering Experiment Using the Community Climate System Model 4
Authors: Anderson Aspen , Ault Toby
Published: September 2023

As the global climate continues to change it may become critical to explore possibilities for climate intervention and remediation to counteract warming by greenhouse gases. One such ‘geoengineering solution’ proposes to inject reflective aerosol particles into the atmosphere to decrease insolation, the amount of radiation coming from the sun received by the Earth. Given constraints due to a lack of technology and restricted physical experimentation, we study the unintended potential consequences of this experimental solution by examining the temperature and precipitation response to historical scenarios, projected radiative forcing, and idealized geoengineering scenarios to counteract radiative forcing due to human influences, using the Community Climate System Model version 4, CCSM4. The model projects increased temperature globally, increased precipitation in the Tropical Pacific, and decreased precipitation in some semi-arid regions if climate change continues without mitigation. Although these changes are not as severe with geoengineering, global temperature and precipitation are still redistributed globally. This research helps to understand the possible effects of geoengineering on the radiative balance affecting the Earth’s temperature and hydrologic cycle.
Antibiotic Residues Detected in Commercial Cow’s Milk
Authors: Memili Aylin , Memili Erdogan
Published: September 2023

Cow’s milk is an important food containing vital nutrients for both children and adults. Chemical residues and antimicrobials in milk may be a concern for consumers. In this study we tested the hypothesis that cow's milk sold for human consumption contains antibiotic residues. The general approach was to use the Delvo P Test to detect antibiotics in ten different milk samples. According to the results obtained, nine out of the ten analyzed milk samples sold commercially in Greensboro, NC contained antibiotics at five parts per billion or higher. The findings shed light onto the methods for ensuring the safety of milk. The antibiotics in the milk might pose a risk for human health because antibiotic residues might trigger antibiotic resistance in human gut bacteria.
Dispersing Agents Prevent Negative Impact of Oil on Uptake of Zinc by Duckweed (Lemna minor)
Authors: Latour Chase D , Urazaev Albert K , Pond Amber L
Published: September 2023

Oil spills have had extremely negative effects on the environment. The oil directly coats both animal and plant species living in and around the water, rendering these organisms unable to carry out normal life functions such as locomotion, in the case of animals, and nutrient uptake, in the case of plants. Long term, the oil contributes organic chemicals to the water, which may either dissolve or sediment. Duckweed is an aquatic plant that provides food and shelter to animals and removes pollutants, such as zinc, from the water in which it resides. It is an important plant in phytoremediation work, and an oil coating could interfere with this important function. Means of removing oil from water include both physical methods, such as skimmers, and chemical approaches. There is concern that chemical techniques, such as adding adsorbents and/or dispersants to the contaminated water, may also cause environmental problems and may interfere with zinc uptake by duckweed. Here, we confirm that the aquatic plant duckweed (Lemna minor) can remove zinc from its environment and that this process is impaired by the presence of oil in the water. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the negative effect the oil has upon zinc uptake by duckweed can be ameliorated by treatment with the dispersing agent, Dispersit™, and that the dispersant itself does not inhibit zinc uptake by duckweed. We conclude that treatment of oil-contaminated water by this dispersant may be a useful approach to maintaining the ability of duckweed to remediate polluted water.
The Effect of Cooking Method on the Amount of Fat in an Egg
Authors: Srinivasan Ashwin , Rose Brian
Published: September 2023

Eggs are commonly consumed because they are an inexpensive, readily available source of high-quality protein, but they also contain a significant amount of fat. During the cooking process, the fat in eggs can be oxidized through a process called lipid oxidation, which can cause serious health problems including heart disease and can destroy essential fatty acids and vitamins in eggs. This study assesses the effect of different cooking methods on the amount of fat in an egg. Lipid solvent extraction with acetone was used to test the hypothesis that hard-boiled eggs will contain the least amount of extracted fat (indicating the most oxidized fat) compared to raw and fried eggs. We determined the amount of fat in 36 egg yolk samples, with 12 samples for each cooking method. The results supported the hypothesis and showed that heat oxidizes the fat in eggs. We found that the amount of fat in an egg is inversely proportional to the amount of heat applied to it. This information can raise awareness of harmful health consequences of consuming eggs exposed to high temperatures during cooking and encourage consumers to cook eggs using methods that do not require the egg to be heated to very high temperatures.
Does Gaming Improve Cognitive Skills?
Authors: Chakravarti Monish , Chakravati Arati
Published: September 2023

A nationally representative study of video game play among adolescents in the United States showed that 97% of adolescents aged 12 to 17 years play computer, web, and portable (or console) video games (Lenhart et al., 2008). We hypothesized that if people play games as a regular exercise regime, gaming will correlate with an improvement in their cognitive skills. For this experiment, a few games that tested the logical reasoning and critical analysis skills under a given time constraint were coded in Python using Pygame and were played by a group of 7th grade students. In order to test whether there is a relationship between gaming and test performance, we divided the students into two groups and gave them tests before and after the experimentation period in order to measure their improvement. One group played the games while the other did not. In the group of students that played the games, an average improvement of 62.19% was seen (p < 0.0001). The group that did not play the games only improved their performance by an average of 18.51% (p = 0.0882).
Green Tea Extract as an Environmentally Friendly Antibacterial Agent Against Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato on Plants
Authors: Lo Terence , Zhao Bingyu
Published: September 2023

Green tea contains polyphenols, such as tannins and catechins, that are effective against bacteria. As it is naturally produced by plants, green tea has been explored as an environmentally friendly antibacterial product for use in human health. However, there are very few reports of green tea extract being used as an antibacterial product to protect plants from various bacterial diseases. In this study, we demonstrated that green tea extract could inhibit the growth of Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato, the causal agent of tomato bacterial leaf spot disease, on agar plates. We also demonstrated that spraying green tea extract on Nicotiana benthamiana plants could inhibit the growth of P. syringae on plant leaves. Therefore, we conclude that green tea extract has the potential to be used as a ‘green’ antibacterial product in agriculture production.
The Effect of Antioxidant Vitamins on Mustard Plants in a Hydrogen Peroxide-Induced Injury Model
Authors: Muluk Pallavi , Mechling Kimberly
Published: September 2023

Vitamins A, C and E are known as antioxidants, but their role in various biological systems is not well understood. We assessed the antioxidant properties of these vitamins in a plant model. A model of free radical–induced growth inhibition was created and then used to test the effect of the vitamins. The model was first validated by demonstrating that hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) can slow the growth of mustard seeds. A concentration of H2O2 that caused definite but non-lethal inhibition of growth was selected using data from the model validation study. Following this, various groups of mustard seeds were treated with H2O2 and vitamins in varying concentrations. The plant number and mean height for each vitamin group were compared to controls treated only with distilled water (DW) or H2O2. The group treated with only DW had significantly (p<0.001) better growth than other groups. H2O2 caused a significant reduction in plant growth compared to DW (p<0.001). Vitamin A caused a dose-dependent partial reversal of the effect of H2O2. Vitamin C caused dose-dependent worsening. Vitamin E had no significant effect. A separate study demonstrated that the vitamins alone did not significantly affect plant growth in the absence of H2O2-mediated damage. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that, among three vitamins that are considered to have antioxidant properties, only vitamin A exhibited such an effect in a plant model of oxidative damage. Vitamin C worsened the effect of H2O2, whereas the effect of vitamin E treatment was neutral.
Determining the Effect of Chemical and Physical Pretreatments on the Yield and Energy Output of Cellulosic Ethanol from Panicum Virgatum
Authors: Pagadala Manasa , Keys Helen
Published: September 2023

The world needs an energy source that can replace nonrenewable fossil fuels, which release greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. We explored the production of ethanol from switchgrass, a North American grass that is suitable for biofuel production because it contains large amounts of cellulose, a chemical energy that can be used as fuel. Our experiments evaluated whether key factors would increase the efficiency of ethanol production from switchgrass — in other words, which factors produced the highest percentage of ethanol in the final step of distillation. There are four steps to producing ethanol: pretreatment, enzymatic hydrolysis, fermentation, and distillation. We tested two variables: the concentration of potassium hydroxide (KOH) added to the switchgrass during pretreatment and using ground versus unground grass. After adding the KOH to the grass and letting it sit for a week, we balanced the pH and added 5 grams of cellulase to each sample to convert the cellulose to glucose. After 48 hours, we added 10 grams of yeast to turn the glucose into ethanol. In the final step, we distilled all of the samples and measured the percentage of alcohol. Most large-scale production companies use a 30% KOH concentration during their pretreatment procedure, leading us to speculate that a 30% KOH concentration would yield the greatest amount of ethanol. Contrary to this expectation, we found that the sample with 15% KOH content produced the greatest ethanol yield.
Do Initial Strategies or Choice of Piece Color Lead to Advantages in Chess Games?
Authors: Ponnaluri Sameer , King Mary J
Published: September 2023

White pieces make the first move in chess games. A great deal of data suggests that the color of a chess piece affects the outcome of a chess game. The purpose of this study was to see if playing the white pieces gives a winning advantage. Our hypothesis was that there is a greater chance of winning when the first move is made with a white piece. In addition, we tested if playing certain opening or defense strategies gives a winning advantage. We played 5 games each with 4 openings and 4 defenses in Chess Titans for 10 levels, for a total of 400 games, and on chess.com, for a total of 40 games. We also analyzed a database of over 32,000 chess records. The data suggest that opening and defense strategies affect the outcome. On chess.com, the winning percentage was the same for both white and black pieces (65%), while in Chess Titans, the winning rate was higher for the white pieces (92%). Overall, the winning percentages were much higher when playing with white pieces.
Testing Various Synthetic and Natural Fiber Materials for Soundproofing
Authors: Karuppiah Thenishwaran , Valuthi Sathan Ramiah Karuppiah
Published: September 2023

Noise pollution negatively impacts the health and behavioral routines of humans and other animals. Excessive sound vibrations in urbanized settings can also cause structural damage, leading to property devaluation. The increased use of electrical and mechanical appliances at home has further created a concern for noise pollution, and the production of synthetic sound-absorbing materials contributes to harmful gas emissions into the atmosphere. The goal of this study is to assess environmentally-friendly, cheap natural-fiber materials, such as jute, as an effective replacement for synthetic materials, such as gypsum and foam. The selected materials are used widely in other industries but no direct comparison has been performed to evaluate which materials are best at absorbing sound. Our results indicate that among the synthetic and fiber materials, jute fiber is the best performer: jute with a thickness of 1 cm absorbed a sound intensity of 51 dB at 400 Hz, which was 21.12% more efficient than no soundproofing and 12.57% more efficient than gypsum. These results provide a significant breakthrough in soundproofing. Low cost fiber materials can be used for reducing sounds of televisions, computers, and appliances at home, or in broadcast studios for audio recordings. Other natural fiber materials should also be investigated for their soundproofing abilities in future studies.
Androgen Diffusion Patterns in Soil: Potential Watershed Impacts
Authors: Corson Roark , Rogers Tyler , Shoemaker Babette
Published: September 2023

Androgens are natural or synthetic steroid hormones that control secondary male sex characteristics. Ranchers use FDA-approved androgens to increase livestock growth rates and size. In concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs), androgens are excreted in cattle urine and feces. Once excreted, androgens can run off or seep into nearby waters, negatively impacting aquatic life and potentially polluting human water sources. This study aimed to determine the extent to which soil is a barrier to androgen flow, thus protecting waterways. Due to prohibitive costs and purchasing regulations of androgens, luminol, a chemical analogous to androgens in both polarity and organic makeup, was used to mimic androgen diffusion patterns. We formulated two hypotheses: first, that soil would be a poor barrier to the luminol, and second, that the luminol would have a greater vertical diffusion than horizontal diffusion. Diluted luminol was added to soil plots and the diffusion was measured by analyzing soil plot layers. We extracted moisture from the soil layers and used a Woods lamp to detect luminol, which diffused up to 22.5 cm vertically and 26 cm horizontally. Diffusion patterns indicated that soil was a poor luminol barrier. If androgens reach the soil’s water table, they can potentially diffuse through the local watershed and into the surrounding waterways. This preliminary research indicates the need for further testing of androgen diffusion patterns to ensure the safety of waterways for aquatic life and for human water consumption.
The Feasibility of Mixed Reality Gaming as a Tool for Physical Therapy Following a Spinal Cord Injury
Authors: DeBre Elena , Gotsis Marientina
Published: September 2023

Physical therapy, often a tedious and non-social experience, has a low retention rate. For Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) patients in particular, dropping out leads to further physiological and emotional problems. This study seeks to determine how Skyfarer—a mixed reality game for SCI patients with chronic shoulder pain—can serve as an effective tool to improve players’ physical health. We also examined whether Skyfarer can make physical therapy a social experience: SCI patients can play with their friends and family, which could further improve players’ emotional health. In order to assess these possibilities, we recruited individuals with and without SCI to participate in our study and evaluated the physical and immersive experiences of both the disabled and able-bodied players through semistructured interviews. We coded this qualitative data using six ideals from the Transtheoretical Checklist and analyzed the game’s effectiveness as a physical therapy tool, along with its ability to cultivate a social experience. Parameters considered were subjects’ physical exertion levels, immersion levels, and the predicted adherence levels for each group. Our results indicate that both SCI and non-SCI players found the game effective and engaging, suggesting that Skyfarer can serve as a successful and social alternative to conventional physical therapy. Mixed reality storytelling technology remains in a nascent phase, but this study shows that video games have the power to transform the way we approach healthcare and rehabilitation.
The Cilium- and Centrosome-Associated Protein CCDC11 Is Required for Cytokinesis via Midbody Recruitment of the ESCRT- III Membrane Scission Complex Subunit CHMP2A
Authors: Ahmed Arooba , Lee Jiachen , Parker Jillian E , Rizvon Alia , Nyayapathi Vishal , Li Feng-Qian , Lake Michael W , Takemaru Ken-Ichi
Published: September 2023

Cell division is a fundamental biological process, crucial for the normal development of an organism as well as tissue repair, regeneration, and wound healing. During cell division, there are multiple critical checkpoints that ensure accurate replication and distribution of DNA. The final stage, cytokinesis, involves the physical separation of two newly formed daughter cells. Our research focused on elucidating the molecular functions of the coiled-coil domain-containing 11 (CCDC11) protein, which has been associated with human laterality disorders and plays critical roles in the formation and function of cilia, hair- like structures on the apical cell surface. We found that, in addition to cilia, CCDC11 localizes to the cleavage furrow and midbody between two dividing daughter cells of various human cell lines. CCDC11 contains three coiled-coil (CC) domains, and the CC1 and CC2 domains are responsible for its midbody localization. We also observed that depletion of CCDC11 results in a significant increase in the number of multinucleated cells, indicating defects in cytokinesis, the final stage of cell division. Furthermore, CCDC11-depleted cells exhibit diminished midbody recruitment of the protein CHMP2A, a critical component of the ESCRT-III membrane scission machinery. Collectively, our findings uncover a novel and previously unreported role for CCDC11 in cytokinesis.
Music's Effect on Dogs' Heart Rates
Authors: Aubin Brianna , Balduf Olivia , Lambert Ann
Published: September 2023

The goal of this project was to determine the effect of different types of music on a dog's heart rate. Six different dogs were tested in their own homes. Each experiment was performed in a quiet room with the dog’s owner present along with the two scientists performing the testing. Five different types of music were used in the experiment. Using a stethoscope, we measured the resting heart rate prior to testing and again immediately following the test. A five-minute break was taken between each test, and two trials were completed for each test conducted. The result was a statistically significant difference in heart rate for rock and rap music (increase) and for jazz music (decrease). A caveat to this study was the relatively small number of dogs tested (six); therefore, future research with a larger sample size should be conducted to confirm these results. This information could help calm dogs in potentially stressful situations, such as the veterinary office or when traveling.
An Aqueous Solution Containing Soluble Substances From PVC Char Has No Effect on the Rate of Transformation in E. coli Cells
Authors: Huang Katherine , Gonzalez Kimberly A
Published: September 2023

In transformation, bacterial cells can take in exogenous DNA molecules, or plasmids, some of which may contain genes for antibiotic resistance, or other factors which may aid in bacterial survival. These exogenous DNA sequences contribute to the evolution of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is a widely used plastic that poses many health hazards. Substantial research has been conducted on the harmfulness of PVC gas released when burned, yet relatively few studies have focused on the solid product, or char, of incinerating PVC. This study aimed to determine whether or not PVC char has an effect on bacterial transformation. It was hypothesized that PVC char would not increase transformation rates. In this experiment, Escherichia coli cells were attempted to be made competent to take up a pFluoroBlueTM plasmid, which contains IPTG, a fluorescent molecule. E. coli cells were treated with CaCl2, PVC char solution, or a 50-50 mixture of CaCl2/PVC char solution. The CaCl2-treated cells produced between 1 and 10 fluorescing colonies, the 50-50 mixture produced one or no fluorescing colonies, and the PVC char solution produced no fluorescing colonies. PVC char alone did not cause the transformation of E. coli cells, yet it was observed that E. coli did grow on the agar plates containing Ampicillin. This finding is significant and warrants further investigation to determine whether or not PVC char decreases the effectiveness of the antibiotic Ampicillin, or whether PVC char induces mutations for antibiotic resistance without the acquisition of plasmids or foreign DNA from the environment.
The Cosmic Microwave Background: Galactic Foregrounds and Faraday Rotation
Authors: Connelly Trey , Opena Miguel , Frankel Eric , Ye Eric , Forsman Luke , Walker Adam , Zahn Brian , McClernon Paul
Published: September 2023

This paper analyzes the cosmic microwave background (CMB) to determine the amount of influence each source of foreground contamination has on the microwave background measurements in relation to Faraday rotation. This study extends the analysis of Dineen and Coles, where the authors performed a novel analysis of the correlation between the Faraday rotation measure (RM), Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe (WMAP) sky maps, and CMB maps. Their technique has been replicated for numerous experiments analyzing the CMB. At the time, Dineen and Coles could only use a small Faraday RM dataset to test their hypothesis. With the advent of large, modern, and accurate Faraday rotation data, Dineen and Coles’ hypothesis can be validated on a larger scale. We hypothesize that contaminated foreground maps will have more significant and complete cross-correlation with RM than determined by Dineen and Coles. Over 41,000 sources of new RM data were used, compared to the approximately 600 RM sources Dineen and Coles used, allowing for a more definite conclusion about the potential for contamination analysis in temperature maps. Ultimately, a strong correlation was found between the RM and unprocessed CMB maps, but not between RM and the foreground- removed CMB maps, demonstrating the value of cross- correlation between Faraday RM and CMB as a diagnostic for foreground contamination. These results support the conclusions drawn by Dineen and Coles.
Young People Drinking: The Effect of Group Size on Drinking Habits
Authors: Palermo Jacqueline , Bohman Ken , Palermo Margot
Published: September 2023

This study examined the effect of group size on the drinking habits of young adults. Undergraduate students at Stony Brook University and high school students at St. John the Baptist Diocesan High School were surveyed with seven questions asking how often they drink alcohol and how many people are in their group when they consume alcohol. The hypothesis is that the larger the group size, the more frequently alcohol is consumed. Our results showed that the larger the group size, the more frequently alcohol was consumed in the high school and college populations. Other results showed that males drink alcohol more frequently than females and females drink less on average than males. We show an increase in frequency of alcohol consumption in college students as compared to high school students. This study suggests that intervention strategies should promote socialization in larger groups that is not centered on alcohol use to avoid potentially unhealthy drinking habits in young adults.
Phages Can Be More Effective and Specific Than Antibiotics in Combating Bacteria
Authors: Wu Leon , Pinta Gwyneth
Published: September 2023

Every year, tens of thousands of people die of infections from antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Phage therapy has been suggested as an alternative because bacteria resistant to antibiotics may still be susceptible to phages. Furthermore, phages have the advantage of being more specific and thus less likely to harm beneficial bacteria. However, phages may have limited effectiveness in combating bacteria since bacteria possess several antiviral defense mechanisms and can quickly develop resistance to phages. The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness and specificity of antibiotics and phages in combating bacteria. To this end, we exposed strains of the bacteria Escherichia coli to T4 bacteriophages and antibiotics and assessed effectiveness and specificity of bacterial killing. Fission yeast, a unicellular eukaryotic organism, was used as a control. Cell growth, phage plaque formation, or cell concentrations were observed or measured. It was found that T4 phages are more specific and effective in fighting or inhibiting both antibiotic-resistant and sensitive bacteria than antibiotics. One phage can kill at least 4000 actively growing bacterial cells within two hours. Therefore, the data suggest that phage therapy can be developed as an efficient tool to combat antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
Artificial Intelligence Networks Towards Learning Without Forgetting
Authors: Kreiman Tobias , Sasaki Tomotake , Boix Xavier
Published: September 2023

The ability to remember previous tasks while concomitantly building upon prior knowledge to acquire new skills is a vital aspect of human learning. Artificial Intelligence algorithms, however, have traditionally struggled in this respect, mastering a specific task but being unable to transfer this knowledge to new tasks or forgetting previous skills when learning new ones. We examine ways in which the weights in neural networks can be constrained to ensure that the networks can acquire new skills and also remember previous tasks, allowing them to learn multiple tasks sequentially. We test our approach by building a network that learns how to play two different Atari 2600 games. Although some approaches lead to varying amounts of forgetting, others yield successful results that even beat human performance on some games.