bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Assessing CDK5 as a Nanomotor for Chemotactic Drug Delivery
Authors: Jiang Richard , Saokar Prajwal , Sood Sahil , Wu Zhiqian
Published: September 2023

Enzyme chemotaxis is a thermodynamic phenomenon in which enzymes move along a substrate concentration gradient towards regions with higher substrate concentrations. Mathematical models have been developed to understand and define this phenomenon using Michaelis-Menten kinetics and substrate binding coefficients. One key application of this phenomenon is in the field of drug delivery, where chemotaxis can steer nanovehicles towards targets along natural substrate concentrations. Such gradients exist throughout the body, including around the blood-brain barrier, and thus targeted nanovehicles can bring therapeutics through such a gradient and target themselves at a given toxic species. In patients with Alzheimer’s disease, a gradient of tau protein forms in the bloodstream, and this protein is a substrate of the enzyme CDK5, a tau protein kinase that catalyzes the phosphorylation of tau protein. Through chemotaxis, CDK5 can travel along the tau protein gradient towards increasing concentrations of tau tangles and amyloid-beta proteins that are the cause of neuronal cell death in Alzheimer’s patients. In order to create the momentum necessary to propel a nanovehicle along the substrate concentration gradient, an enzyme’s binding affinity towards its substrate must overcome obstacles such as Brownian motion. We hypothesized that CDK5 would be able to overcome these barriers and developed a quantitative model using Michaelis-Menten kinetics to define the necessary parameters to confirm and characterize CDK5’s chemotactic behavior to establish its utility in drug delivery and other applications. Our results found that CDK5’s movement significantly outpaced random motion and characterized its movement for usage in drug delivery system design.
Exposure to Schistosoma mansoni antigen induces an allergic response to peanuts in an American cockroach model
Authors: Pillai Uma , Cannon Johanna
Published: September 2023

Across the world, tens of millions of people suffer from peanut allergies. Despite the large amount of research conducted on the topic, the root cause of this disease is still unknown. Peanut allergy is characterized by an immune hypersensitivity reaction to a peanut antigen, which is bound by immunoglobulin E (IgE),the antibody associated with parasitic infections as well as allergies. Previous research has shown that a protein, Ara-h-1, found in peanuts, is crossreactive with the IPSE/α-1 and κ-5 proteins found in the eggs of the parasitic blood fluke, Schistosoma mansoni. Here, we propose that this cross-reactivity contributes to the development of peanut allergies. We investigated the relationship between S. mansoniand peanut allergy using an American cockroach model, which was selected due to its capability to exhibit an immune response with both memory and specificity, making its humoral immunity comparable to that of humans. Based on our observations, we established that cockroaches injected with a soluble S. mansoni egg antigen exhibited physical symptoms of an allergic reaction after consuming peanuts, likely due to the aforementioned cross-reactivity. This research demonstrates a novel, direct association between a parasitic worm and food allergies in vivo. These results have the potential to change the way the scientific community views peanut allergies, as well as other food allergies, and open new avenues of research with the hope of finding a cure.
Buttermilk and baking soda increase pancake fluffiness by liberating carbon dioxide
Authors: Rojas Emilio Guzmn , Prez Luisa
Published: September 2023

The goal of this study was to determine whether adding buttermilk and baking soda to pancake mix would result in fluffier pancakes. To accomplish this, we made two batches of pancake mix in an identical manner. However, in one of the mixtures, we substituted milk for homemade buttermilk and added more baking soda. We measured the resulting height of 30 pancakes from each mix and found that pancakes made with buttermilk and baking soda were taller by an average of 2.4 mm. A t-test revealed this height difference (Buttermilk + baking soda Mean = 11.383 ± 1.3 mm; Control Mean = 8.960 ± 1.6 mm) to be significant (p = 0.0001). These results support our hypothesis that the addition of buttermilk and baking soda into the mix result in fluffier pancakes.
Application of gene therapy for reversing T-cell dysfunction in cancer
Authors: Hyun Lee Suh , Rin Lee Woo
Published: September 2023

T cells are the key players of antitumor function that sense antigens produced by tumor cells and specifically target cancer cells to induce cell death. Therefore, it is widely understood that T cells are critical for cancer immunotherapy. Many recent studies discovered that T cells enter a dysfunctional or inactivated state. Cancer cells induce functional impairment of T cells by sustained expression of inhibitory receptors in T cells. Therefore, reversing T-cell dysfunction is critical for increasing the efficacy of tumor immunotherapy. In this research, we analyzed the cellular inhibition and activation of T cells using two cell line models: Jurkat (T cells) and MDA-MB-231 (breast cancer cells). We hypothesized that the knockdown of T-cell inhibition-causing genes might reverse the T-cell dysfunction caused by cancer cells. Therefore, we targeted Proprotein Convertase Subtilisin/Kexin Type 1 (PCSK1) gene in T cells and programmed death-ligand 1 (CD274) in cancer cells. We used small interference RNA (siRNA) to knock down the target gene. We used four μg/ml of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to activate Jurkat cells. MDA-MB-231 co-culture with Jurkat cells reduced IL-2 expression level on Jurkat cells. We found that siRNA targeting CD274 in MDA-MB-231 reversed the reduced IL-2 expression level on Jurkat induced by Jurkat and MDA-MB-231 co-culture. Also, when the PCSK1 knockdown Jurkat cells and CD274 knockdown MDA-MB-231 were co-cultured, the most effective recovery of IL-2 expression level in Jurkat cells was observed. Overall, this study provides a novel strategy for reactivating T cells whose activation has been suppressed from cancer cells.
The impacts of different Al(NO3)3 concentrations on the mitotic index of Allium sativum
Authors: Jimenez Pol Nahueal , Cascales Jonathan
Published: September 2023

Acid deposition, produced when NOx and SO2 emissions react with water to produce HNO3 and H2SO4, is regarded as a significant threat to biodiversity and agriculture. Soil pH conditioners have been developed to counteract this phenomenon; however, they sometimes fail to reverse nutrient imbalances caused by acid deposition. One of the problematic nutrient imbalances is the formation of aluminum nitrate, which dissociates to produce toxic Al3+ ions. In Basque country (Spain), a recent surge in metallurgical activities and the popularization of climate change denial threatens a drastic rise in NOx emissions. We explored whether returning to peak emissions of NOx, such as those in 1990, will increase Al(NO3)3 concentrations to a level where they significantly lower the mitotic index (the ratio of cells undergoing mitosis in a specific population of cells) of one of the most culturally significant vegetables of the region, Allium sativum. We grew cloves of A. sativum at different concentrations of Al(NO3)3. We processed tips of these cloves and placed them under a microscope to calculate their mitotic index. We hypothesized that a larger concentration of Al(NO3)3 would lower the mitotic index of A. sativum, since Al(NO3)3 dissociates in water to produce Al3+ ions, which are highly toxic as they inhibit cell division and elongation. Our results showed a negative exponential correlation between Al(NO33 and the mitotic index of A. sativum, as the higher the Al(NO3)3 concentration, the lower the mitotic index.
Structure-activity relationship of berberine and G4 DNA reveals aromaticity’s effect on binding affinity
Authors: Ramani Sankrith , Tailor Isha , Kallahalla Smriti , Cheung Stephanie , Poon Chloe , Parashar Vivek , Brah Harman
Published: September 2023

Secondary nucleic acid structures, such as the Guanine Quadruplex (G4), are known to contribute to gene regulation throughout the genome. In cancer cells, stabilizing such structures could prove to be integral to inhibiting cancer cell proliferation. Berberine is a natural quaternary alkaloid with a number of medicinal properties, including antimicrobial and anticancer effects. Previous studies have shown that berberine can stabilize the G4 through π-π interactions, by increasing the release of free energy. In this study, we test the effectiveness of ligand aromaticity (cyclic, planar molecules) on the free energy of binding with the G4. Based on previous studies, we hypothesized that large aromatic rings incorporated in berberine molecules would act as highly stabilizing ligands that would generate the greatest binding affinity with the G4 through π interactions with guanine endplates and K+ ions. To explore the structure-activity relationship for berberine-based ligands, we developed an in silico library of 800+ ligands. Through molecular docking, we predicted the free energy release of each ligand’s interaction with the G4 complex. From our research, we found that berberine analogs with aromatic R groups, which allow for high degrees of aromaticity and flexibility, have a significant positive impact on binding strength between berberine analogs and G4 complexes through π-π interactions with endplates and grooves, indicating that these ligands can more effectively bind to and stabilize the G4’s activity. The authors envision that this research may aid the development of drugs that target the G4 to inhibit cancer cell proliferation, ultimately furthering cancer therapeutics research.
Identifying Neural Networks that Implement a Simple Spatial Concept
Authors: Zirvi Rayhan , Kay Kenneth
Published: September 2023

Modern artificial neural networks have been remarkably successful in various applications, from speech recognition to computer vision. However, it remains less clear whether they can implement abstract concepts, which are essential to generalization and understanding. To address this problem, we investigated the above vs. below task, a simple concept-based task that honeybees can solve. We hypothesized that neural networks would successfully solve this task, and that performance would vary substantially between network architectures. Specifically, we predicted that the convolutional neural network (CNN), a prototypical architecture well known for its ability to classify objects accurately, would perform better than the single-layer and multi-layer perceptrons (SLP and MLP, respectively). In the first task (Experiment 1), a visual target was presented above or below a black bar; in the second (Experiment 2), a visual target was presented above or below a reference shape. We found that all networks achieved 100% testing accuracy on Experiment 1. In contrast, the networks’ accuracy differed substantially in Experiment 2. The SLP had only a 50% testing accuracy, and the CNN outperformed the MLP (98% vs. 81% accuracy, respectively). Further analysis of the connection weights and distances between shapes suggested that the MLP may not evaluate relative spatial relationships in Experiment 2. Instead, the network seemed to partition the image into upper and lower zones, which appears inconsistent with the concept of relative locations. These findings indicate different capacities of network architectures, offer insight into their mechanisms, and motivate work on how neural systems implement conceptual knowledge.
Biofortification of Raphanus sativus through irrigation with Ca2+ solutions does not increase calcium content
Authors: Johnson Grace , Emerick Ryne
Published: September 2023

Micronutrient deficiencies, which affect more than two billion people globally, occur when an individual does not receive adequate amounts of essential vitamins or minerals. Biofortification aims to increase the nutritional content of food crops, and it is an important tool in decreasing the effects of micronutrient deficiencies. Specifically, hypocalcemia, or calcium deficiency, causes a wide range of symptoms that affect many different body systems. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that increasing the amount of calcium available to the food crop during growth would increase the amount of calcium present in the food crop. A total of 180 radish (Raphanus sativus) plants were grown in a controlled environment and irrigated with water of varying Ca2+ concentrations. The height of each plant was measured every five days beginning at day 0 to track the growth. At maturity, a random sample of four plants from each group were tested for calcium and magnesium content using an atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The group that received the highest concentration of Ca2+ grew significantly smaller than most other groups. The Ca2+ contents of leaf samples had no significant difference in Ca2+ or Mg2+ content; however, the Ca2+ content of root samples showed a significant decrease from the control in both Ca2+ and Mg2+ content across several experimental groups. These results provide preliminary evidence that irrigation with Ca2+ solutions does not increase the calcium content of mature plants, but further testing is needed to confirm these results. If increased calcium in irrigation water significantly increases the calcium content of mature radish plants, this technique could be used to increase the calcium content of other crops in areas with high rates of hypocalcemia.
Protective effect of bromelain and pineapple extracts on UV-induced damage in human skin cells
Authors: Mori Atena , Lee Woo Rin
Published: September 2023

In Hawaii, people experience high sunlight exposure, contributing to an increased risk of sunburn. Additionally, most parts of pineapples are discarded, contributing to food waste and microbial spoilage, and we wanted to determine whether bromelain sourced from pineapple could be repurposed as a treatment to protect skin cells from UV damage. Bromelain from pineapple can be used to treat symptoms of sunburn, which occurs when UV rays damage the DNA in cells. Therefore, we hypothesized that bromelain extracted from various parts of the pineapple (crown, flesh, skin, and stem) would protect the skin cells from cell death caused by UV damage. Also, we expected bromelain from the stem, which is known to contain the highest concentration of bromelain, to be the most effective in protecting skin cells from UV-induced cell death. The effect of purified bromelain powder on skin cell survival was analyzed using the PrestoBlue cell viability assay to compare the protective effect of pineapple extracts on UV-induced cell death. We also examined the expression level of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), which is a pro-inflammatory marker. The results indicated that bromelain protected skin cells from UV-dependent cell death and increased the mRNA expression level of TNF-α. Additionally, bromelain had a more protective effect when it was used as a pre-treatment method than post-treatment. Overall, this study suggests that bromelain may provide some protection to the skin from UV-induced cell death. Thus, further studies may investigate its application in sunscreen products to improve protection.
Thermoelectric cooling in greenhouses: Implications for small-holder production
Authors: Balaji Priyanka Supraja , Irons Morgan A
Published: September 2023

Greenhouses protect plants year-round by creating controlled microclimates that rely on environmental control systems to regulate temperature, carbon dioxide, humidity, and other environmental factors. However, even with such systems in place, farmers and greenhouse operators face difficulties in managing humidity and temperature. The cost to buy, install, run, and maintain such systems is also a limiting factor for small-holder farmers who need to control their indoor growing spaces. Controlling humidity and temperature in a greenhouse is vital for plant growth as it limits pests and prevents the spread of fungal diseases and root rot. In this paper, we present the development and testing of the Dehumidification Device, a thermoelectric cooling and drying system developed from low-cost, market-available technology, designed to improve temperature and humidity management practices in greenhouse systems while increasing economic accessibility to such systems. To test the efficiency of the thermoelectric cooling system, the Dehumidification Device was placed in one of two identical greenhouses. The internal temperature and relative humidity in each greenhouse were recorded every 30 minutes during a 150-minute experimental period for seven days. The data revealed that the presence of the Dehumidification Device was statistically significant, improving temperature by 2.71°C and humidity by 14% during the 150-minute period. Thus, we were able to show the potential for thermoelectric cooling to support the greenhouse industry in managing humidity and help ease greenhouse management. The low-cost and accessible materials used to create the device illustrate the positive implications for assisting local, small-holder practices.
Time-Efficient and Low-Cost Neural Network to detect plant disease on leaves and reduce food loss and waste
Authors: Singh Nehal , Singh Switi
Published: September 2023

About 25% of the food grown never reaches consumers due to spoilage, and 11.5 billion pounds of produce from gardens are wasted every year. Diseases are a major cause of food loss as Asia loses 14.2% of its crops due to disease, which is equivalent to 43.8 billion dollars as of 1988-1990. Current solutions involve farmers manually looking for and treating diseased crops. These methods of tending crops are neither time-efficient nor feasible. I used a convolutional neural network to identify signs of plant disease on leaves for garden owners and farmers. The overall accuracy goal of 90% or higher was set to develop the most accurate models. The learning rates of 0.1, 0.01, and 0.001 were tested for the network. I hypothesized that the step size at each iteration or the learning rate of 0.001 would result in the highest accuracy, which was supported through testing. By using machine learning Python libraries, the solution met the standard accuracy goal and was evaluated by several performance metrics, including precision, recall, f-score, specificity, and overall accuracy rates. The model had an accuracy of 95%. By uploading a picture of the crops into the highly-accurate neural network, farmers and gardeners can receive results in seconds on whether or not their crops have a disease, and if they do, which ailment specifically.
Predicting the Instance of Breast Cancer within Patients using a Convolutional Neural Network
Authors: Adhikesaven Sanjay , Kapoor Aradhya , Khowaja Ali Shadab , Li Vivian , Sabhanayakam Karthik , McMahan Larry
Published: September 2023

Breast cancer is a widespread disease that affects millions of people across the world. This makes early detection and diagnosis critical for heightened chance of survival. Although there are many ways for breast cancer to be detected, many patients are diagnosed late in their disease progression. In this paper, we present a robust and automated way of early breast cancer detection within patients using machine learning methods. Our method uses medical images of possible breast cancer and classifies them as either non-cancerous or cancerous using a convolutional neural network (CNN). Our results showed that our CNN model had a mean accuracy of 97.25% when averaged using the final 50 percent of samples. These results show that machine learning can be used as an effective way to clinically diagnose breast cancer due to the high accuracy.
Socio-economic and awareness correlates of physical activity of government school children in India
Authors: Nandivada Vedanth , Gurtoo Dr Anjula
Published: September 2023

Physical activity is pivotal for development in young children. Physical activity strengthens the body at a young age, reducing chances of getting cardiovascular and other diseases later in life. Research demonstrates a significant number of adolescents worldwide do not engage in sufficient daily physical activity. This study hypothesized that socio-economic factors such as income, parental education, and demographic setting affect the amount of physical activity government- school children engage in each day. We administered a questionnaire containing 25 questions to 272 government-schooled students between the ages of 12 to 15 and found that parental follow-ups were a significant factor impacting physical activity. Children whose parents reminded them to exercise every day (n = 138) exercised on average 0.455 hours more. Girls (n = 150) on an average exercised for half an hour less than boys (n = 122) each day. Moreover, 66% of girls were unaware about the importance of exercise as compared to 52% of boys. Children who lived in urban areas (n = 140) tended to exercise for on average 0.396 more hours per day than their rural counterparts. These results highlight the need for encouraging girls and students in rural areas to exercise through indigenous games and everyday activities, such as increased use of stairs, cycling, walking, and helping with household chores. Schools and communities can play a positive role by promoting creation of environments that promote movement and exercise during the school day.
The influence of working memory on auditory category learning in the presence of visual stimuli
Authors: Vishag Nisha , Roark Dr Casey L
Published: September 2023

In our daily lives, our brains process categories of information that allow us to recognize and respond appropriately to objects and situations. For example, auditory category learning involves differentiating between sounds and learning the optimal strategy for sorting sounds into various categories. In the complex, multimodal world, we learn under distracting conditions, with both relevant and irrelevant information. However, in the lab, learning is often studied under quiet and focused conditions with limited distractions. In this study, we explored the association between working memory capacity and auditory category learning in the presence of visual distractor stimuli. We trained participants on one of two types of auditory categories that are linked to distinct neural learning mechanisms, rule-based or information-integration, in the presence of simple or complex visual distractors. We assessed working memory capacity using an operation span task, which includes answering simple math questions while memorizing a sequence of letters. We found that individuals with higher working memory capacity had higher overall task accuracy, regardless of the type of category they learned or the type of visual distractors they had to process. Higher working memory capacity was also associated with higher accuracy on questions about the visual distractors. These results shed light on how auditory category learning proceeds under distracting conditions and the importance of understanding the implications. While some students may be less affected by distracting stimuli, such as music, TV, and conversation, others may be more impacted by distractions.
Apoptosis induction and anti-inflammatory activity of polyherbal drug AS20 on cervical cancer cell lines
Authors: Sreekanth Shiv Mrityun Jayan , Kasture Pooja Vijaykumar , Prasad Shambhavi , Rao Jyothsna , Rao Gururaj
Published: September 2023

Cancer occurs when normal cells convert into tumor cells as a result of the interaction between a patient’s genes and physical, chemical, or biological carcinogens. There are more than 100 types of cancer and each type requires a specific treatment regimen. The traditional treatment regimen for most types of cancer includes surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy. However, treatment methods such as chemotherapy not only kill the cancer cells but also kill healthy cells that divide quickly. Chemotherapy induces widespread senescence, which contributes to local and systemic inflammation. To overcome these problems herbal drug treatments can be used as complementary and alternative medicines (CAMs). We obtained the polyherbal drug AS20 using Amaranthus spinosus leaves and inflorescences, which contain phytochemicals such as saponins, polyphenols, flavonoids, and alkaloids that are known to have anticancer and anti-oxidant activities. We hypothesized that AS20 would show anti-inflammation and induce DNA fragmentation, which is a hallmark of apoptosis in HeLa cells. Furthermore, this study explored the effects of AS20 on the expression of COX2, a marker of inflammation. We found that treatment with AS20 suppressed phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) and 5-flurouracil (5-FU) induction of COX2 expression. We also observed AS20 treated cells showed DNA fragmentation in HeLa cells. This research looks into AS20's possible anti-inflammatory effect on cervical cancer cell lines and its capacity to trigger apoptosis, a programmed cell death mechanism that can restrict cancer cell proliferation. These elements are examined in order to offer light on the therapeutic potential of AS20 and aiding the development of safer and more efficient cervical cancer treatment plans.
Pediatric probiotic culture survival study in acidic pH using an in vitro model
Authors: Dhillon Sana , Renwick Simone , Berdy Brittany , Dhillon Ashita
Published: September 2023

Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium are two genera of bacteria in probiotics that are known to possess significant immunomodulatory health-promoting properties. Probiotics are allowed to be used in foods and vitamins by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) with little regulation as long as there are no claims to treat any disorder or condition. Regulatory agencies throughout the word classify and define probiotics differently with an uncertainty on the efficacy. The viability of bacterial strains influence probiotic stability and properties can be influenced by manufacturing and storage processes. It is imperative to also consider the viability of the probiotics after consumption. The aim of this study was to investigate the survival of the strains in the commercial probiotic Lovebug in acidic conditions modeling the human upper gastrointestinal (GI) tract in vitro. To test the ability of probiotics strains in the Lovebug probiotic to survive under acidic conditions, we incubated the probiotics in degassed acidified 0.8% sodium chloride at various pH levels for 2 h and measured the resulting colony forming units. Our study observed an overall survival of approximately 20–40 % after being incubated for 2 hours at pH 2–4. This supports that the bacterial genera of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium in the probiotic Lovebug would likely survive at a high enough rate in the human upper GI tract to provide benefit to the pediatric population.
Effects of copper sulfate exposure on the nervous system of the Hirudo verbana leech
Authors: Dunn Cameron , Evans Jason
Published: September 2023

Copper is a significant environmental contaminant resulting from electronic waste and pesticide use. It is also a micronutrient that is essential for life because it is an enzyme cofactor. However, excess exposure to this heavy metal can lead to adverse physiologic effects. Prior studies have demonstrated neurotoxic effects of copper exposure on arthropods, mollusks, amphibians, and mammals, via mechanisms ranging from oxidative stress to changes in neurotransmitter levels. We focused on toxic effects of copper exposure on the nervous system of the Hirudo verbana leech, hypothesizing that copper exposure leads to neurobehavioral changes associated with structural changes to and proteomic changes within nerve ganglia. After exposing leeches to graded concentrations of copper sulfate, we performed neurobehavioral testing to measure their ability to ingest liver and record their movements in a 3-D printed pool. We dissected out nerve ganglia and examined them with light microscopy following hematoxylin and eosin staining. We also extracted, identified, and quantified proteins from the nerve ganglia using high performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. We found that copper exposure was associated with neurobehavioral changes including food avoidance, diminished dark-seeking behavior, and decreased motility. Furthermore, we found histopathologic changes and proteomic alterations within nerve ganglia of copper-exposed leeches. These findings contribute to our understanding of potential mechanisms for nervous system damage with copper exposure. The results are concerning as they indicate that copper accumulation in the environment has tangible neurological consequences for exposed organisms.
A novel deep learning model for visibility correction of environmental factors in autonomous vehicles
Authors: Dey Aniket , Dey Abhijit
Published: September 2023

Intelligent vehicles utilize a combination of video-enabled object detection and radar data to traverse safely through surrounding environments. However, since the most momentary missteps in these systems can cause devastating collisions, the margin of error in the software for these systems is small. Furthermore, extenuating weather conditions such as rain, snow, and fog exponentially increase the likelihood of accidents by reducing visibility and increasing the time for detection. In this paper, we hypothesized that a novel object detection system that improves detection accuracy and speed of detection during adverse weather conditions would outperform industry alternatives in an average comparison. To do so, the model employs multiple classical deep learning techniques in two separate sub-modules: a Visibility Correction Module (VCM) and an Object Detection Module (ODM). Firstly, the model employs image classification techniques and masking to identify environmental factors frame-by-frame within an image, and then uses a novel dimensionality reduction network to remove said effects. Next, corrected images are analyzed to classify and label objects within frames. The proposed algorithm achieved an average accuracy of 89.72%, and outperformed industry alternatives in mean accuracy and time for detection, demonstrating the validity and efficiency of utilizing dimensionality reduction to improve object detection.
Efficacy of electrolytic treatment on degrading microplastics in tap water
Authors: Schroder Olivia , Rasmus Joseph
Published: September 2023

Microplastics, or plastic fibers less than five millimeters in length, are a significant environmental problem and are extremely difficult to remove from water. In this experiment, we quantified the effect of electrolysis on the degradation of microplastics in tap water and explored electrolysis as a potential solution to this issue. We hypothesized that an electrolytic treatment would disassemble microplastic molecules, as it does with water. Treated water consisted of samples electrolyzed for 30 minutes in an electrolysis machine, while samples of untreated tap water were the control. We examined filters under a microscope before and after filtration of the water samples to determine the number of net microplastics in every sample. Overall, control samples demonstrated a greater number of net microplastics than experimental samples (Mann-Whitney U, p = 0.047). Thus, we conclude that electrolysis is a valid and practical method to degrade microplastics in tap water because of its high efficiency within a short duration of time. These findings could be of great value as they have the potential to improve the quality of drinking water, and by extension, public health. This research indicates electrolysis could be advantageous over many other methods of water purification in respect to microplastics.
Different volumes of acetic acid affect the oxygen production of spinach leaves during photosynthesis
Authors: Wang Jui-Ning , Hou Yun-Hsi , Li Shiu-Mei
Published: September 2023

The burning of fossil fuels, leading to an increased amount of carbon emissions, is the main cause of acid rain. Acid rain is precipitation that has elevated levels of hydrogen ions due to the formation of carbonic acid. Acid rain affects the process of photosynthesis, which makes the topic valuable to investigate. In the course of chemistry, our group has learned the background information about acid and bases with its properties. With the passion of biology, our group determined to create a lab that consists of both knowledge of chemistry and biology.

In 1990, the implementation of the Clean Air Act aimed to limit the amount of carbon emission that causes acid rain with a total annual loss of a hundred 97 million dollars in commercial forest. With such findings, our group utilizes plants to further investigate the relationship between pH value and photosynthesis. In this experiment, our group hypothesized that rain with a lower pH will decrease the rate of photosynthesis, causing less oxygen to be produced in the reaction. Extreme acidity destroys chloroplast structure, decreases chloroplast ATP synthase activity, and reduces photosynthesis and plant growth. However, by conducting an experiment with spinach and utilizing a syringe to collect the amount of oxygen produced during the experiment, we discovered a breakthrough in which a slightly acidic environment can foster photosynthesis until it reaches a pH level less than two.
Error mitigation of quantum teleportation on IBM quantum computers
Authors: Chen Richard , Chen Xiangdong
Published: September 2023

Quantum computers can perform computational tasks beyond the capability of classical computers, such as simulating quantum systems in materials science and chemistry. Quantum teleportation is the transfer of quantum information across distances, relying on entangled states generated by quantum computing. It is becoming a more secure way of sending information, but there is noise in the results. We sought to mitigate the error of quantum teleportation which was simulated on IBM cloud quantum computers. We hypothesized that the noise on all IBM quantum computers could be mitigated with noise-mitigation matrices. We created a quantum teleportation circuit which ran with shots of 500, 1000, 5000, and 8192 for four different qubit states. We studied general error trends in each machine and created two types of noise-mitigation matrices: universal and machine-specific. We then compared the mitigated results of both types of matrices. We found that there was noise for every IBM quantum computer during the trials. The universal noise-mitigation matrix for quantum teleportation for the three tested machines decreased the error for most trials and varied between 1%-5% for most cases after mitigation. The machine-specific noise-mitigation matrix mitigated the error of most machines to just 1-2%, which was a dramatic decrease from unmitigated results (varied between 1%-16% across three machines). The error rates for the machine-specific matrices have less variability than the universal mitigation matrix. We concluded that a universal mitigation matrix could be found for the three machines, but the machine-specific noise mitigation matrices were able to achieve more accurate results.
Associations between substance misuse, social factors, depression, and anxiety among college students
Authors: Kouser Navaal , Medenblik Alyssa , Basting Evan , Stuart Gregory
Published: September 2023

Research on substance misuse and mental health is becoming increasingly important. Many individuals struggle with their mental health and turn to substances to cope. It is important for those who are struggling with their mental health to not turn to substances, as substance use could exacerbate their mental health concerns. Recent studies suggest that individuals in long-term relationships may have a lower chance of misusing substances. Therefore, our research question examines how an individual’s relationship status correlates with mental health concerns, such as depression, anxiety, and fear of missing out (FoMO). This was tested using a survey sample of college students. We hypothesized that individuals with higher substance use (alcohol and drug use) will have increased levels of stress, anxiety, FoMO, and depression. We also hypothesized that those engaged in long-term relationships will have decreased levels of FoMO and substance use. By surveying college students with questions related to our hypotheses, we found that those with higher substance misuse had higher levels of anxiety, depression, and FoMO, and that those involved in longer-term relationships had lower levels of FoMO and alcohol use. These findings have identified important risk factors that may serve as targets for on campus prevention and intervention efforts for college student well-being.
Employee resignation study in Fairfax County
Authors: Zhang Olivia , Xue Yanfeng
Published: September 2023

The Great Resignation is an economic trend in which employees have voluntarily resigned from their jobs en masse. Increasing resignations have created hardships for companies during the COVID-19 pandemic. This article examines the presence of the Great Resignation in Fairfax County, Virginia, the consequences of this phenomenon, and possible solutions that local businesses can adopt to minimize the impact of resignations. We hypothesized that by adding benefits such as hybrid work options and healthcare, local companies can fight increasing resignation rates. We collected and analyzed two types of data to verify the hypothesis. The first type was statistical data published by US federal and local governments. The second type was survey data. We created a ten-question survey (the Fairfax Resignation Survey) and sent it to 2,000 employees in Fairfax County. The questions covered the demography of survey respondents, employee turnover status, impact of increasing resignations, and potential solutions to improve the situation. Based on the survey responses and a comprehensive analysis of statistical data and related studies, we concluded that adding additional benefits is critical for companies to retain talent and restrain the growing resignation rate.
A land use regression model to predict emissions from oil and gas production using machine learning
Authors: Cao Elton , Francouer Colby , He Jian
Published: September 2023

Emissions from oil and natural gas (O&G) wells such as nitrogen dioxide (NO2), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and ozone (O3) can severely impact the health of communities located near wells. With the O&G industry growing and 17.6 million people living within a mile from an O&G well, the effect of O&G activity on residents is especially pertinent. In this study, we used O&G activity and wind-carried emissions to quantify the extent to which O&G wells affect the air quality of nearby communities, revealing that NO2, NOx, and NO are correlated to O&G activity. We then developed a novel land use regression (LUR) model using machine learning based on O&G prevalence to predict emissions. Many LUR models fail to account for O&G sources, therefore we hypothesized that the inclusion of O&G sources in land use regression models provides an increase in accuracy when predicting emissions. The model performed effectively for NO2, outperforming past LUR models which did not involve O&G activities. The model makes it possible for not only communities, but also families and individuals, to determine the effect that O&G has on their homes. With current modeling techniques failing to observe the effects of O&G in the face of the growing O&G industry in the U.S., it is crucial that the public is educated on the effect of the O&G industry on their daily lives and has the tools to monitor these effects.
The effect of an anthocyanin on the gut permeability of a Type 2 Diabetic Drosophila melanogaster
Authors: Dale Shriya , Maddipatla Keerthi , Eliason Jessica
Published: September 2023

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) affected slightly less than half a billion patients globally in 2019 and is expected to affect 700 million by 2045. T2DM is characterized by the body's inability to respond to the body’s circulating insulin, a phenomenon known as insulin resistance. A symptom of T2DM is increased gut permeability, which can lead to an increase in the toxins that enter the gut and bloodstream, resulting in complications such as nerve damage, heart disease, and kidney damage. The current treatment for T2DM, Metformin, can exacerbate gut permeability. One potential alternative to combat Metformin’s negative effects is anthocyanins, like purple sweet potato extract (PSPE), which are water soluble plant pigments with antidiabetic effects like increased insulin secretion. Once anthocyanins reach the large intestine and are transformed by the gut microbiota, they form into metabolites, chemical compounds responsible for metabolism, resulting in decreased gut permeability. Therefore, we hypothesized that anthocyanins can be used as potential chemical mediators that decrease gut permeability. Our research aimed to find whether metabolites of purple sweet potato extract (PSPE) are associated with decreased gut permeability using a type 2 diabetic Drosophila melanogaster model. To determine the gut permeability, we used the Surf Assay and observed that the PSPE treatment drastically reduced gut permeability of the flies. Our research provides valuable knowledge about the relationship between PSPE, gut permeability, and T2DM, which may positively impact the lives of hundreds of millions of people.
Efficient synthesis of superabsorbent beads using photopolymerization with a low-cost method
Authors: Wang Grace Li , Wang Feng
Published: September 2023

Superabsorbent polymers are widely used in hygiene, agriculture, and contamination removal products. The preparation of superabsorbent beads has been reported in the literature from thermal and photopolymerizations of hydrophilic monomers. The rate of photopolymerization is normally faster than thermal polymerization. Our study aimed to test whether the fast photopolymerization technique would work with cheap, easily accessible monomers, and simple equipment that is affordable to high school students within a typical chemistry lab setting. We also evaluated the water absorbance of polymers prepared from hydrophilic monomers. We chose two hydrophilic monomers, N,N’-dimethylacrylamide (DMAA) and N-hydroxyethyl acrylamide (HEAA), and employed LED UV/Vis light as the light source to break photoinitiator molecules, with silicone oil as the polymerization medium. We hypothesized that superabsorbent beads could be prepared from DMAA and HEAA using the fast photopolymerization technique at room temperature using silicone oil. Our experiments demonstrated the synthesis of superabsorbent beads from a mixture of DMAA, HEAA, and photoinitiator in 60 seconds at ambient conditions. We also discovered that water absorbance increased with the increase of DMAA when its concentration was equal to or less than 25% by weight in the monomer mixture. Beads were completely soluble in water when the concentration of DMAA was equal to or over 50% by weight. Beads with a 25:75 DMAA:HEAA weight ratio demonstrated the highest efficiency among the six compositions tested. Our research also paves the way for high school students to investigate advanced polymerizations in a very simple way.
Simulation of cosmic rays in the presence of a magnetic field
Authors: Rajora Vikarn , Nova Federico
Published: September 2023

Cosmic rays damage microelectronics and have the potential to inflict great damage to life without the protection of the atmosphere and Earth's geomagnetic field (B field), which deflects the bulk of cosmic rays into space. When attempting to understand the observational measurements of cosmic rays, it is paramount to consider the effects magnetism will have on their trajectories. However, an analytical solution of the effects the B field has on cosmic ray trajectories is not possible because the cosmic ray flux is isotropic. We describe a new approach to numerically integrate, using Matrix Laboratory, the motion of cosmic particles deflected by a magnetic dipole field. We hypothesized that the numerical computation of cosmic ray trajectories through a magnetic dipole field, which approximates the Earth's B field, will validate the predictions of cosmic ray trajectories from known observational findings. The results of our study established the effects that the terrestrial magnetic field induces in the motions of these particles, as determined by the Lorentz Force. Overall, the trajectories of cosmic rays are determined by the particle’s energy and its interaction with the Earth’s B field. The high energy particles are curved, while the lower energy particles are either repelled or become trapped in the Earth's B field.
A chemical and overwintering honey bee apiary field study comparing new and expired amitraz miticide
Authors: Santos Lorenzo , Sarko Georgia , Dong Jon , Okenczyc Alexander , Hehir Annabel , Brinsfield Riley , Wolhar Steven , Langlois Charlotte , Gray Mitchell Cheryl L , Helfgott Lauren
Published: September 2023

The ectoparasitic mite Varroa destructor is a significant driver of colony collapse in Apis mellifera, the European honey bee. A. mellifera is a keystone species that serves an essential role in pollination, particularly for large-scale agriculture. Apiculturists commonly combat V. destructor through synthetic acaricides such as amitraz, sold commercially as Apivar® strips. Issues with Apivar strips include their limited shelf life, costliness, and burden to the environment from disposal of unused strips. The purpose of our research was twofold: to determine the difference in levels of amitraz content in plastic Apivar strips from different years and to determine the overwintering success of amitraz-treated hives compared to hives treated with expired amitraz. We expected the amount of amitraz to be significantly reduced in older and expired strips. We extracted amitraz from Apivar strips using chloroform and quantified the concentration of amitraz using high performance liquid chromatography. We also expected that if expired amitraz strips were used to control for V. destructor then overwinter survivorship of the honey bee colonies would be significantly reduced. Our findings reveal that there was no statistical difference in the microgram (µg) amount of amitraz in Apivar strips and that expired Apivar does not impact overwintering survivorship. This demonstrates that the shelf life of amitraz is at least 36 months, in contrast to the 24-month expiration label on the product. Our data shows that using expired Apivar may be an economically viable and environmentally-friendly option for beekeepers.
Household spices and minerals as alternative disinfectants for mobile phones
Authors: Mirza Nyla , Wright Dylan , Makey Devin M
Published: September 2023

Mobile phones play an essential role in enhancing personal, social, and professional life in many ways, including to access to communication, information, and entertainment. However, mobile phones also come in contact with environments containing high densities of microorganisms, such as hospitals, schools, restrooms, and kitchens, suggesting that mobile phones could also act as carriers of disease. Commercial disinfectants are highly effective against potential human pathogens found on mobile phones, yet these disinfectants also contain chemicals that are toxic to both human health and the environment. In addition, there is evidence that modern microorganisms are becoming resistant to commercially available disinfectants. We hypothesized that household spices and minerals, such as garlic, mint, zinc, and iron, could act as alternate solutions for disinfecting mobile phones after daily use. Our results demonstrate that garlic, iron, and zinc are just as effective at suppressing microorganisms compared to commercially available cleaners, Clorox and Pine-Sol. These results could help guide further research aimed at producing more environmentally friendly cleaners and reducing the need for toxic chemicals in household disinfectants.