bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Estimation of cytokines in PHA-activated mononuclear cells isolated from human peripheral and cord blood
Authors: Subbiah Preethi , Kasture Pooja , Umrao Ankita , Prasad Shambhavi , Rao Gururaj , Rao Jyothsna
Published: September 2023

T cells or T lymphocytes are a type of white blood cell that bind to specific antigens which are found on the surface of antigen-presenting cells (APCs). T cells are activated by encountering APCs and undergoing a series of reactions which lead to immune homeostasis. Their production of multiple pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines including IFN-γ, IL-6 and IFN-10 makes them play a vital role in immune responses and defending the body against infection. They are especially important in both progression and decline of tumor formation. T cells also have numerous clinical applications when they are improved by combining gene therapy and immunotherapy. In this study, we investigated the time-dependent cytokine secretion ability of phyto-hemagglutinin (PHA)-activated T cells derived from human peripheral (PB) and cord blood (CB). We hypothesized that the anti-inflammatory cytokine, IL-10, and pro-inflammatory cytokine, TNFα, levels would be higher in PHA-activated T cells obtained from PB as compared to the levels obtained from CB and would decrease over time. Upon PHA-activation, the IL-10 levels were relatively high while the TNFα levels decreased, making these findings applicable in therapeutic treatments e.g., rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, and organ transplantation. The results could potentially be used to identify, analyze, and apply cell-free systems, i.e., in vitro systems where biological mechanisms are observed in the absence of complex interactions which occur in whole cell studies to cancer immunotherapy.
Demographic indicators of voter shift between 2016 and 2020 presidential elections
Authors: Wang Andrew , Gotwals Robert , Gordon Christopher
Published: September 2023

Political analysts have long studied demographic shifts through elections, and with the results of the 2020 presidential election, this opportunity comes again. Not only does maintaining an understanding of broad demographic shifts help to understand changing U.S. communities but studying them in relation to electoral changes helps campaign outreach efforts to increase turnout and inform political analysts about future elections. Our study aimed to determine the demographic indicators for voter shift between the 2016 and 2020 presidential elections based on demographic data put through a K-nearest neighbors classification algorithm (KNN) and Principal Component Analysis (PCA). Our original hypothesis was that COVID-19 cases would be the best indicator because the COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted society. Using the KNN, we found that the employment sector as the best indicator with an accuracy of 67.3% across 893 counties. Alternatively, our results using the PCA showed that the total population was the best indicator. An overarching theme between these two results was urbanity, which heavily influenced both employment sector composition and total population. Notably, we found that race was the poorest indicator, with a 49% accuracy using KNN. Our results indicated a rise in identity politics, a political approach where people form and maintain political views based on social and group identities, which could further be explained by increasing division between urban and rural areas. Additionally, inaccuracies of the KNN raise concerns about the efficacy of contemporary race modeling in predicting voter shift.
The influence of experience on the perception of homelessness in individuals
Authors: Dua Ananya , Dua Pragati
Published: September 2023

Economic disruptions and housing instabilities have for long propelled a homelessness epidemic among adults and youth in the United States. The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated this phenomenon with a 2.2% increase in the number of homeless individuals and more than 70% of Americans fearing this outcome for themselves. This study aimed to analyze the perception of homelessness in two groups: Those who have previously experienced and overcome homelessness and those who are at-risk for experiencing the same. We hypothesized that people at risk perceived homelessness as a negative event, mainly driven by feelings of fear and uncertainty for their future, while those who had overcome the same perceived it as a humbling life lesson and an opportunity for growth. The study analyzed publicly available Reddit posts by people in both groups and found that at-risk individuals tended to associate primarily fearful emotions with the event, and those who had overcome homelessness tended to view the event in a negative context. These results may encourage the establishment of resources to support the currently homeless and help them transition into society, and services to help them cope with negative emotions, as negative attitudes have been shown to decrease life expectancy. We hope these results also inform the establishment of services for at-risk individuals and help mitigate ambivalence they might experience regarding their future.
Modulation of VEGF and TGF beta in 5-FU induced inflammation in MCF-7 using an herbal formulation
Authors: Vinay Nair Maanasi , Umrao Ankita , Rao Gururaj A , Rao Jyothsna A
Published: September 2023

Acquired drug resistance is an increasing challenge in treating cancer with chemotherapy. One mechanism behind this resistance is the increased inflammation that supports the progression and development of cancer that arises because of the drug’s presence.

Integrative oncology is the field that focuses on including natural products alongside traditional therapy to create a treatment that focuses on holistic patient well-being. In this in vitro study, we hypothesized that the use of an herbal formulation, consisting of turmeric and green tea, alongside a traditional chemotherapeutic drug, 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), can reduce the expression of two pro-cancer cytokines in breast cancer cells.

Breast cancer cells were cultured and then treated with both 5-FU and the herbal formulation. We conducted enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) to measure VEGF and TGFβ in the cell culture supernatant. The results clearly demonstrate that the use of the herbal formulation alongside the chemo drug significantly decreases the level of cytokines produced when compared to the levels produced when exposed solely to the chemo drug.

Hence, we conclude that this combination of treatment, based on the principle of integrative oncology, shows potential for reducing the resistance against treatment conferred through increased inflammation. Consequently, this suggests a prospective way forward in improving the efficacy of cancer treatment.
Analysis of professional and amateur tennis serves using computer pose detection
Authors: Baily Lisa , Lai Jonathan
Published: September 2023

Incorporating computer vision and machine learning into sports is an effective and efficient way to improve players’ skills. It is often quite challenging to know specifically where a player can fix their performance just by playing or looking at videos. Advances in computer vision allow one to convert generic video imagery of a person to generate limb coordinates as a function of time and apply that to analyze the tennis serves of professionals, semi-professionals, and amateur players. We hypothesized that the overall movement of different players’ serves is similar despite their skill level, but the key difference is the timing during the serve at which their racket makes contact with the ball. We analyzed video imagery of 23 different tennis players serving, with each player having 4 to 5 serves, and generated x-y coordinates of the players’ limbs throughout the duration of the serve. We then analyzed the full dynamics of each players’ serve and identified key differences between players of varying skill level. Based only on the different timing between skill levels, we were able to determine the skill level of players from a generic video. Identifying clear differences between professional and amateur athletes can greatly improve the focus of training and technique.
A comparison study in the expansion of human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells
Authors: Narsipur Arjun , Umrao Ankita , Thomas Teena Mary , Kasture Pooja V , S Archana , Rao Jyothsna , Rao Gururaj
Published: September 2023

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been intensively studied for their properties in several clinical conditions. They can be obtained from several sources including bone marrow, Wharton’s jelly in the umbilical cord, and adipose tissue. MSCs exhibit fibroblast-like morphology and possess significant ability to differentiate into multiple collective tissue cells in vitro. Conventionally, fetal bovine serum (FBS) is the most common supplement for the expansion of MSCs in vitro. However, the use of FBS is not desirable due to its intrinsic drawbacks including source, xenogeneic antigens, and xenogeneic microbes or viruses that can majorly impact the clinical value of MSCs. Therefore, a reliable human-compatible source with minimal manipulations and ethical concerns could be an attractive alternative to circumvent these problems. In this study, we have explored the suitability of using human umbilical cord blood-derived serum (CS) to grow MSCs in vitro. We have elucidated its effects in terms of morphology, population density, and doubling time at every passage as well as the pluripotency markers at late passages in comparison to FBS. Our findings demonstrate the merit of using CS to support cell growth and expansion in vitro.
Refinement of Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms of Atopic Dermatitis related Filaggrin through R packages
Authors: Naravane Aniket , Taylor Lauren
Published: September 2023

In the United States, there are currently 17.8 million affected by atopic dermatitis (AD), commonly known as eczema. It is characterized by itching and skin inflammation. AD patients are at higher risk for infections, depression, cancer, and suicide. Genetics, environment, and stress are some of the causes of the disease. With the rise of personalized medicine and the acceptance of gene-editing technologies, AD-related variations need to be identified for treatment. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have associated the Filaggrin (FLG) gene with AD but have not identified specific problematic single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). This research aimed to refine known SNPs of FLG for gene editing technologies to establish a causal link between specific SNPs and the diseases and to target the polymorphisms. The research utilized R and its Bioconductor packages to refine data from the National Center for Biotechnology Information's (NCBI's) Variation Viewer. The algorithm filtered the dataset by coding regions and conserved domains. The algorithm also removed synonymous variations and treated non-synonymous, frameshift, and nonsense separately. The non-synonymous variations were refined and ordered by the BLOSUM62 substitution matrix. Overall, the analysis removed 96.65% of data, which was redundant or not the focus of the research and ordered the remaining relevant data by impact. The code for the project can also be repurposed as a tool for other diseases. The research can help solve GWAS's imprecise identification challenge. This research is the first step in providing the refined databases required for gene-editing treatment.
Disruptions in protein-protein interactions between HTT, PRPF40B, and MECP2 are involved in Lopes-Maciel-Rodan syndrome
Authors: Desai Netrang , Stork Devon
Published: September 2023

Lopes-Maciel-Rodan syndrome (LOMARS) is a rare and serious neurodevelopmental disorder caused by two compound heterozygous missense mutations in the Huntingtin gene (HTT). LOMARS is related to Rett syndrome, which is primarily caused by mutations in X-linked Methyl-CpG-Binding Protein 2 (MECP2), since it results in Rett-like neurological phenotypes and manifestations. While HTT and MECP2 proteins are not known to directly bind to each other, it is plausible that other protein(s) enable and enhance this protein-protein interaction (PPI). This study reports the involvement of pre-mRNA Processing Factor 40 Homolog B (PRPF40B) in mediating the PPI between HTT and MECP2. By using coevolution data, we found that PRPF40B interacts with both HTT and MECP2 through its group II WW domain, a modular protein domain that mediates protein-protein interactions. We also revealed that multiple missense and splice region variants in PRPF40B result in LOMARS and Rett-like phenotypes, suggesting that weakened interactions between mutant PRPF40B and wild-type MECP2 are likely to be associated with the phenotypes. Furthermore, upon docking wild-type and mutant models of HTT with PRPF40B, we observed that the LOMARS-associated mutations significantly weaken HTT-PRPF40B interactions. We also performed similar docking experiments on SIN3A and PRPF40A, which is a protein that is highly related in structure and function to PRPF40B and observed that the mutations also weaken their interactions with HTT. Overall, this study demonstrates the significant role of HTT-PRPF40B-MECP2 interactions in the development and progression of LOMARS and suggests the involvement of similar PPI disruption in Rett syndrome.
Utilizing the Magnus effect to produce more downforce than a standard wing
Authors: Angiras Vishnu , Mishechkin Misha , Mularella Jeremy
Published: September 2023

Wings on cars help keep the vehicle grounded at high speeds and improve traction by producing downward force known as downforce. To generate more downforce, the wings generally need a high angle of attack which leads to increased drag. A car’s performance is degraded with drag by the increase in air resistance, so a new method of generating downforce with better drag performance could be beneficial. The Magnus effect is the tendency of a spinning cylinder or sphere to produce force perpendicular to the flow of the air. Cylinders undergoing the Magnus effect have been found to have less drag than comparable wings and can generate lift and downforce with sufficient airflow. Thus, we saw it fit to test if a spinning cylinder was capable of generating more downforce than a typical wing via the Magnus effect. Based on the success of the Magnus effect for lift, we hypothesized similar outcomes when testing for downforce. We tested for downforce by attaching a motor-driven cylinder to a scale and used a leaf blower to simulate high wind speeds. We also tested a standard wing as a control. Overall, we found that at all speeds, the cylinder was significantly more effective at producing downforce with nearly 50% more force produced at the highest velocity while outperforming the wing by larger margins at lower speeds. Our experiments demonstrated that cylinders could be a potential replacement for the wing when downforce is a priority.
Phospholipase A2 increases the sensitivity of doxorubicin induced cell death in 3D breast cancer cell models
Authors: Lee Catherine , Lee Woo Rin
Published: September 2023

Doxorubicin is a common drug used for various cancer treatments including breast, ovarian, bladder, and lung cancer. However, inefficient penetration of cancer drugs into the interior of the three-dimensional (3D) tumor tissue limits the drug delivery. Increasing the dosage of drugs is an unacceptable solution, as patients may have a toxic reaction. Therefore, efficient drug delivery is crucial. We hypothesized that the addition of phospholipase A2 (PLA2), an enzyme found in bee venom that hydrolyzes the bond connecting fatty acid and glycerol, would increase the permeability of the drug for efficient drug penetration. We designed a 3D spheroid tumor model because it mimics an actual tumor environment better than the monolayer two-dimensional (2D) cell culture. We performed dye permeability assay using 5-chloromethylfluorescein diacetate (CMFDA), a green fluorescent probe, on 3D spheroid cells with concentration-dependent PLA2 treatment. We found that 1 mM PLA2 had the highest percentage of green fluorescence cells, indicating the highest permeability. Subsequently, we hypothesized that cotreatment of PLA2 and doxorubicin may increase drug sensitivity of doxorubicin. After analyzing the half-maximal inhibitory concentration, IC50 (639.8 nM) of doxorubicin on the MDA-MB-231 3D spheroid, the cotreatment of PLA2 and doxorubicin exhibited lower 3D spheroid cell viability compared to doxorubicin treatment alone. This indicates that PLA2 may be a useful drug to assist in more effective doxorubicin treatment for breast cancer. Increased efficiency in drug delivery would allow lower concentrations of drugs to be used, minimizing damage to normal cells.
Reducing levels of C-Reactive Protein: An eight-week, open-label clinical trial of three oral supplements
Authors: Henter James H , Henter Ioline D
Published: September 2023

C-reactive protein (CRP) is a protein in the blood that increases with inflammation, and high CRP levels measured with high-sensitivity CRP (hs-CRP) tests can indicate higher risk of heart attack or stroke. Several over-the-counter oral supplements reduce CRP levels. This eight-week, open-label clinical trial investigated whether Vitamin C, ginger, or curcumin were most effective at reducing hs-CRP levels in healthy individuals with low baseline hs-CRP levels. Thirty healthy male and female participants were enrolled in one of three trial treatment arms: Vitamin C (1000 mg/day), ginger (2000 mg/day), and curcumin (1000 mg/day). hs-CRP levels were collected at baseline and after eight weeks of oral supplements. Paired t-tests were used to analyze data by age, body mass index (BMI), and baseline hs-CRP level. The primary outcome measure was mean difference between time points and 95% confidence intervals. Twenty-six people completed the study. Baseline hs-CRP levels were very low for all three intervention groups. Based on estimated mean difference, all three supplements reduced hs-CRP levels, but change at eight weeks was not statistically significant. Within the groups, ginger most consistently reduced hs-CRP levels even though the ginger group had the lowest mean baseline hs-CRP levels. Curcumin was least likely to reduce hs-CRP levels. Overall, all three interventions reduced hs-CRP levels in this group of healthy participants with low baseline levels, suggesting that these agents, which are available over-the-counter, may provide an alternative for reducing inflammation. Larger clinical trials to assess the utility of these agents are warranted.
Investigation of unknown causes of uveal melanoma uncovers seven recurrent genetic mutations
Authors: Nanda Hersh , Barrett Michael T
Published: September 2023

Uveal melanoma (UM) is a rare subtype of melanoma but the most frequent primary cancer of the eye in adults. The goal of this study was to research the genetic causes of UM through a comprehensive frequency analysis of base-pair mismatches in patient genomes. It was hypothesized that chromosomes 15 and 16, due to their role in the expression of eye color, would exhibit UM-associated mutations. The U.S. National Institute of Health (NIH) provided genomic data from surgically resected eye enucleations and liver metastases from 32 UM patients, which we individually analyzed to identify nucleotide base-base mismatches by comparing DNA sequences from cancerous cells to reference DNA sequences. After identifying mismatches we performed a Pareto analysis of cross-patient data to identify chromosomes with recurrent and nonrecurrent genetic mutations across all samples. We then studied the mutated gene functions to evaluate causal links to cancer, such as for genes that encoded known tumor suppressor proteins. We discovered a total of 130 genetic mutations, including seven recurrent mutations, with most mutations occurring in chromosomes 3 and X. Recurrent mutations varied from 8.7% to 17.39% occurrence in the UM patient sample, with all mutations identified as missense. These findings suggest that UM is a recessive heterogeneous disease with selective homozygous mutations. Notably, this study has potential wider significance because the seven genes targeted by recurrent mutations are also involved in other cancers. As a result, immunotherapy is a highly promising treatment for uveal melanoma due to the disease’s heterogeneous nature.
Effect of different cooking methods on the levels of iron and ascorbic acid in green vegetables
Authors: Sharma Arushi , Sharma Sanjiv
Published: September 2023

Many people assume that vegetables will provide their daily nutrients irrespective of the cooking method. Various cooking methods have an impact on nutrients have an impact on nutrients such as iron and ascorbic acid. This experiment investigated the loss of iron and ascorbic acid (vitamin C) when vegetables were cooked using three different cooking methods: steaming, microwaving, and boiling. The concentration of iron was evaluated using thiocyanate colorimetry, while the concentration of ascorbic acid was determined using a titration process with iodine solution. Microwaving showed the smallest loss of iron and ascorbic acid across all vegetables. Boiling resulted in the greatest loss in iron and ascorbic acid. Considering the importance of vital nutrients such as ascorbic acid and iron, selecting the optimal cooking method will ensure the right level of nutrients after cooking. Future use of this study could include examining the effect of cooking methods on other essential nutrients that have high deficiency rates in the US such as ergocalciferol (vitamin D), calcium, and other minerals in other vegetables and food items.
Effect of heme vs. non-heme iron supplements on gut microbiome fitness
Authors: Dogra Saanvi , Gonzalez Bonnie
Published: September 2023

About 80% of people around the world suffer from iron deficiency, and doctors suggest taking over-the- counter supplements. However, dietary iron comes in two main forms: heme and non-heme. Both affect the carefully held balance of bacteria in our gut differently. This project studied the influence of heme and non-heme iron on the growth of pathogenic Serratia marcescens and non-pathogenic Escherichia coli bacteria. We hypothesized that the growth of bacteria would increase as the iron concentration rose, with the influence of heme iron being stronger than that of non-heme iron, as numerous previous studies have found that heme iron is more readily absorbed. In the growth medium, we grew E. coli and S. marcescens separately in no-iron control plates, increasing concentrations of heme or non-heme iron, or 0.5 μg/mL Ciprofloxacin, an antibiotic that kills bacteria. Then, we grew the bacteria together in a moderate concentration of non-heme or heme iron to test species competition. The results largely confirmed the hypothesis. In higher iron concentrations, both heme and non-heme iron elevated bacterial growth, suggesting that a greater quantity of free iron promotes bacterial growth. However, in the highest iron concentration of heme or non-heme iron, bacterial growth decreased, as overabsorption caused cytotoxicity. Heme iron plates had a higher bacterial growth than non-heme iron plates likely due to better iron absorption. The large magnitude by which the growth of S. marcescens was increased by heme iron in comparison to E. coli demonstrates the potential dangers of overconsumption of heme iron and suggests that some pathogenic bacteria can conduct iron absorption more efficiently. As ingesting too much iron can lead to dysbiosis and intestinal diseases, the conclusion of this study makes an important contribution to the relative safeties of heme and non-heme iron consumption.
Friend or foe: Using DNA barcoding to identify arthropods found at home
Authors: Wang Maggie E , Zhang Xiaoqun C
Published: September 2023

Arthropoda make up the largest phylum in the animal kingdom. A common assumption is that many of these arthropods that people encounter in their homes are harmful, such as insects and spiders, and people react with the use of pesticides as a result. This means that many people are exposed to pesticides at home. Are arthropods our enemies who deserve to be exterminated at any cost? Our hypothesis was that all arthropods found at home are harmful to human health. We collected arthropods, whole or partial, found inside one residential house over 12 months. We used both morphological characters (field guide) and DNA barcoding to identify them. We checked identified species to see if it was on the pest lists provided by US government, but unexpectedly, none were. Therefore, we concluded that it is a misconception that arthropods found at home are harmful to humans. Furthermore, we suggest that DNA barcoding technology, if made readily available, would be an accurate method for citizens to identify arthropods at the species level, which may help people to avoid overusing pesticides and to reduce pollution. If our experimental strategy were employed at a larger scale, the data generated could help scientists to better understand the evolution of the largest group of animals on Earth and aid in mapping the ecosystem we live in.
Survival of Escherichia coli K-12 in various types of drinking water
Authors: Hanna Marvel , Renfrew David
Published: September 2023

For public health, drinking water should be free of bacterial contamination. Consumption of bottled water, especially in low-income countries has increased to avoid contamination. However, bottling, transportation, and handling procedures increase the risk of microbiological contamination, which is especially harmful to immunocompromised individuals. The objective of this research is to identify the fate of bacteria if drinking water becomes contaminated and inform consumers on which water type enables the least bacteria to survive. This research tested bottled mineral water, bottled spring water, and tap water inoculated with the Escherichia coli K-12 strain bacteria from times 0–72 hours. We hypothesized that bottled mineral water would provide the most sufficient conditions for the E. coli to survive. We found that if water becomes contaminated, the conditions offered by the three water types at room temperature allow the E. coli to survive up to three days. At 72 hours, the bottled spring water had the highest average colony forming units (CFUs), with tap and mineral water CFU values statistically lower than spring water but not significantly different from each other. The findings of this research highlight the need of implementing accessible quality drinking water for the underserved population and for the regulation of water sources.
A potentially underestimated source of CO2 and other greenhouse gases in agriculture
Authors: Corcimaru Victoria , Corcimaru Serghei
Published: September 2023

Agriculture is a well-known global contributor to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions responsible for the global rise in temperatures. A substantial amount of agricultural GHG emissions is linked to the application of synthetic fertilizers. Studies in this field have addressed the related microbiological processes, leaving the purely chemical ones out of focus. Our hypothesis was that some common mineral fertilizers produce environmentally significant GHG effluxes chemically because of their composition, large quantities of application, and specific conditions frequently present in soil. Therefore, the purpose of our work was to test whether Nitroammofoska (a commercial nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium fertilizer) and other common and readily available mineral fertilizers produce considerable CO2 effluxes from chemical reactions in water with and without participation of CaCO3. Based on our results, as much as 20.41% of all CO2 annually emitted from all activities on land could be produced by (NH4)2SO4 alone, provided all mineral nitrogen fertilizers are used as a mixture of (NH4)2SO4 and K2HPO4, and in the presence of CaCO3. The results also suggested a possibility of considerable economic loss due to intense NH3 volatilization from ammonium-containing mineral fertilizers, occurring when enough carbonate and/or bicarbonate ions are available.
Sri Lankan Americans’ views on U.S. racial issues are influenced by pre-migrant ethnic prejudice and identity
Authors: Gunawardena Isuru D , Petersen Amanda M
Published: September 2023

The population of South Asian immigrants is growing in the United States (U.S.), and with it, their involvement in U.S. racial issues are becoming increasingly important to recognize and understand. Additionally, subpopulations of these immigrants will have unique experiences from their home countries that likely influence their views on U.S. race relations. In this study, we examined how Sri Lankan Americans (SLAs) view racial issues in the U.S. The Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement was an area of interest because of its similarities to racial and ethnic struggles in Sri Lanka. Our main hypothesis is that SLAs, as a minority in the U.S., are supportive of the BLM movement and its political goal, challenging the common notion that SLAs are anti-Black. In this research, we surveyed 310 SLA participants living in the U.S. on four focal areas: racial issues in the U.S. and Sri Lanka, SLAs’ civic engagement in the U.S., ethnic identity, and how SLAs perceive themselves as model minorities. Our study found that a majority of SLAs believe the U.S. has systemic racism, favor BLM, and favor affirmative action. We also found that Tamil SLAs have more favorable views of BLM and affirmative action than Sinhalese SLAs. SLAs have very low civic engagement and a strong sense of ethnic identity, seeing themselves as a model minority. Furthermore, Tamil and Sinhalese SLAs’ views on racial issues in the U.S. are significantly influenced by past experiences in ethnic conflict.
Effects of polyethylene microplastics on the growth of Arabidopsis thaliana & Phaseolus vulgaris and their soil
Authors: Roy Akanksha , Gerson Jacqueline
Published: September 2023

As the amount of manufactured goods in the world increases, their disposal methods also come into question with many plastic products ending up in both the ocean and on land. These plastics can break down, creating microplastics that can persist for long time periods. While extensive research has been done on the effects of microplastics on marine ecosystems, less is known about the effects of different concentrations of microplastics in terrestrial ecosystems. Our study used the plants Arabidopsis thaliana and Phaseolus vulgaris to explore the effects of microplastics on plant growth and soil quality. We hypothesized that an increase in the concentration of microplastics would result in shorter plant height and root length, as well as a reduced water holding capacity (WHC) of the soil. We found that the majority of the results were not statistically significant, except for the soil’s WHC for P. vulgaris, where the 0.5 μg/L treatment was lower than the control. These findings can serve as a guide for future studies that can further explore the effect of microplastics on terrestrial ecosystems.
Indole-3 carbinol on lipid accumulation in Caenorhabditis elegans as a novel therapeutic for Type II Diabetes
Authors: Pastore Letizia , Messenger Catherine
Published: September 2023

Over the past 35 years, an epidemic in diabetes has caused a spike in health and cardiovascular complications worldwide, impacting especially our most vulnerable populations. An accumulation of lipids in cells plays an important role in the development of Type 2 Diabetes (T2D), a chronic condition that affects the way the body processes blood sugar. The pathology of T2D is marked by an increased deposition of lipids with subsequent decreases in insulin sensitivity. This lipid-induced hepatic insulin resistance, however, is difficult to target because the molecular mechanisms regarding the pathogenesis of T2D have remained elusive. Despite this, there is reason to believe that Indole-3 carbinol (I3C),which regulates the expression and activity of enzymes involved in the metabolism and elimination process of organic compounds, may therefore provide a valuable therapeutic strategy against the lipid accumulation associated with T2D. This study investigates the effect of the antioxidant I3C as a prospective novel treatment to reduce lipid accumulation, thus countering the progression of T2D. The purpose of this study was to test if exposing a model organism to varying amounts of I3C would lead to a decrease in lipid levels. Using transgenic Caenorhabditis elegans (Strain LIU1) to model T2D, this study found a correlation between an I3C high diet and decreased lipid accumulation, suggesting that it may be an effective treatment.
A Novel Alzheimer's Disease Therapeutic Model: Attenuating Hyperphosphorylated Tau and Amyloid β (Aβ) Aggregates by Characterizing Antioxidative, Anti-Inflammatory, and Neuroprotective Properties of Natural Extracts
Authors: Pokkunuri Sahasra , Kimberly Puvalowski
Published: September 2023

A recent line of drug failures to cure or manage Alzheimer’s disease prompted research towards discovering ways to delay the progression of this disease. Oxidative damage and neuro-inflammation were the key pathways implicated in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease. In this study, 30 natural extracts from plant roots and leaves with extensive anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative properties were consumed by Drosophila melanogaster. In this plant extract medium, the GAL4-UAS system was used to overexpress amyloid beta (Aβ42) human transgene in all the neurons of two transgenic Drosophila lines. Using Kaplan-Meier lifespan plots, 12 extracts that increased Drosophila’s lifespan the most were mixed in specific ratios to make 5 different combinational extracts. Several assays were performed to evaluate the efficacy of these combinational extracts on delaying the progression of Alzheimer’s disease. Aβ42-overexpressing flies fed regular cornmeal were used as a control group, whereas Aβ42-overexpressing flies fed the extract medium was used as the experimental group. In the climbing assays the experimental group showed an increased motor activity. In the lifespan assays, Kaplan-Meier plots revealed that the control group experienced a sharp decline while the experimental group showed a gradual decline. Performance index from olfactory training to evaluate the associative memory also indicated improved learning ability in the experimental group.
Identification of a core set of model agnostic mRNA associated with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH)
Authors: Bissoondial Tyler , Narayan Prakash
Published: September 2023

Numerous studies have shown that nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) progression is greatly affected by dysregulation of the hepatic transcriptome. Studies using high throughput technologies such as RNA Sequencing and microarray have identified multiple dysregulated genes in NAFLD. However, these studies utilized vastly different models resulting in few consensus biomarker genes. Thus, in this investigation, we evaluated various datasets to find genes that are similarly expressed across heterogeneous murine models. We hypothesized that there exists a core set of genes dysregulated in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), a subtype of NAFLD characterized by steatosis and inflammation. These genes are involved in glucose and lipid metabolism as well as in the inflammatory responses and are the drivers of the observed tissue pathology. To test this hypothesis, we obtained publicly available Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) datasets from the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) database and analyzed them to find differentially expressed genes. We also cross-referenced the expression of these genes with published studies for further validation. Our dataset analyses identified 18 genes up-regulated and four down-regulated in at least six of seven datasets. Of these genes, glucokinase (Gck) was up-regulated, and the complement component C8 beta chain (C8b) was down-regulated in every murine dataset analyzed. Both exhibited a similar expression pattern in a human NAFLD dataset. Using approaches such as these, we believe that identifying consistently dysregulated mRNA can lead to the discovery of reliable biomarkers and potentially effective therapeutics in humans despite the heterogeneity of the experimental models used.
A comparative study on the suitability of virtual labs for school chemistry experiments
Authors: Praveen Chinmaya , Herur Suvratha , Vashisht Sachin , Venkatesh Varnika Kikkeri , Senapati Subhadip
Published: September 2023

Even though the concept of the virtual lab is nearly two decades old now, it has started to gain popularity over the last few years. Teachers and students have been using virtual labs to complement experiments done in physical labs or have even used them exclusively based on the circumstances. Demand for these online simulations reached a new height during the worldwide lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As schools were closed and thus also physical labs, virtual labs became the only mode of conducting experiments for many students. In this study, we addressed the suitability of virtual labs for school chemistry experiments and compared their effectiveness first qualitatively by focusing on both physical and human resources, convenience, cost, safety, and time involved. Then we assessed the effectiveness of virtual labs quantitatively for the topic ‘matter’ and compared that with the traditional physical lab experiments. We also acknowledged the unique features of virtual labs to understand concepts that are difficult or impossible to visualize in regular physical labs, including molecular arrangement, movement of individual molecules, and different atomic models. Our quantitative assessment based on pre-test and post-test revealed that students’ fundamental understanding improved after intervention through virtual labs, as evident from the t-test.
Antibacterial properties of household spices and toothpaste against oral bacteria
Authors: Toliver Myla , Amara Safayah , Sayed Sahar , Mazzola Michael , Otero Claire
Published: September 2023

Bacteria cause tooth decay, plaque, bad breath, and other diseases. Despite being cleaned with water and toothpaste, oral bacteria live on our toothbrushes. Other bacteria also live on our toothbrushes, like Escherichia coli. Small particles of fecal matter are aerosolized when the toilet is flushed, carrying E. coli and other bacteria to our toothbrushes and surfaces. Bacterial growth has been shown to be inhibited by different toothpastes and common household spices. This study tested how different toothpastes and common household spices, including cinnamon, cumin, nutmeg, and ground white pepper, can inhibit bacteria from growing on toothbrushes. We hypothesized that three different toothpastes and all four spices would inhibit the bacterial growth from our toothbrushes. We observed the growth of bacteria isolated from toothbrushes on agar plates mixed with toothpaste, cinnamon, cumin, nutmeg, and ground white pepper and found that toothpaste did not have the strongest antibacterial properties. Instead, we discovered that cinnamon served as the best bacterial growth-suppressing spice. Our results support the claim that cinnamon has the potential to improve people’s oral health, and a future experiment using cinnamon toothpaste, instead of the spice alone, could show promising antibacterial properties
Quantitative definition of chemical synthetic pathway complexity of organic compounds
Authors: Baranwal Tanish , Huang Howard , Avadhani Udbhav , Goyal Anya , Samavedam Akhil , Hu Timothy , Kale Mihir , Nepani Tvisha , Srikanth Vishak , Downing Robert , Njoo Edward
Published: September 2023

Irrespective of the final application of a molecule, synthetic accessibility is the rate-determining step in discovering and developing novel entities. However, synthetic complexity is challenging to quantify as a single metric, since it is a composite of several measurable metrics, some of which include cost, safety, and availability. Moreover, defining a single synthetic accessibility metric for both natural products and non-natural products poses yet another challenge given the structural distinctions between these two classes of compounds. Here, we propose a model for synthetic accessibility of all chemical compounds, inspired by the Central Limit Theorem, and devise a novel synthetic accessibility metric assessing the overall feasibility of making chemical compounds that has been fitted to a Gaussian distribution. Our approach utilizes a Gaussian mixture model (GMM) and Autoencoder, which rank synthetic complexity for natural products. This model can inform total synthesis of natural products, process chemistry in pharmaceutical contexts, materials science, and chemical engineering. Based on our findings, we conclude that the Autoencoder model is better suited to model the true probability distribution of synthetic complexity for natural products.
Measuring the efficiency of greenhouse gases to absorb heat
Authors: Nallan Suraga , Gerson Jacqueline
Published: September 2023

Greenhouse gases are a very important part of the Earth’s atmosphere that cause the Earth to warm enough to support life, but when they are too abundant can also cause global warming. To find out which greenhouse gas has the greatest effect on temperature, we measured the percent temperature change over time in three of the four major greenhouse gases (water vapor, carbon dioxide, and nitrous oxide) compared to regular air when exposed to the sun. We measured this by putting a thermometer in bottles containing each of the gases. We hypothesized that carbon dioxide would have the greatest percent temperature change. Indeed, we found the temperature of the bottle containing carbon dioxide went up by 41.64%, which was higher than the other gases. We also observed that nitrous oxide had the lowest percentage change, which was 32.19%. Our results suggested that carbon dioxide has the greatest effect on temperature, which could have many ramifications. Carbon dioxide is present everywhere in the atmosphere. This means that the warming effect of carbon dioxide applies globally. Given that there is a large amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and that carbon dioxide emissions are increasing, global warming will increase more leading to ice caps melting, resulting in harm to the environment and all life on Earth.
Studying habitability of the exoplanents Kepler-504 b, Kepler-315 b, and Kepler-315 c
Authors: Bhaumik Sattik , Sethi Geetanjali
Published: September 2023

Astronomers have always wanted to know whether there are other planets around other stars that support life like our Earth. The search for life elsewhere has led us to new findings of extreme planetary conditions that humans were unaware of. Here we present the habitability index values of three earlier discovered exoplanets: Kepler-504 b (of the star Kepler-504), Kepler-315 b and Kepler-315 c (of the Kepler-315 stellar system). We wanted to know what are the ideal factors that decide the chances of habitability, e.g., the orbital distance from the star, the type of star, or a combination of multiple properties. We hypothesized that there should exist a combination of these properties that will increase the chances that the exoplanet would be similar to Earth. We have adopted the Earth Similarity Index (ESI) for calculating the physical similarity of exoplanets to Earth, and hence the probability of them being habitable. Using available telescope data, we found that Kepler-504 b, with a host M-type star (small red dwarf), and Kepler-315 c, with a host G-type star, had ESI values of 71.23% and 69.44%, respectively, thereby showing high similarity to Earth. Kepler-315 b, with a host G-type star, on the other hand, had an ESI value of only 35.68%, showing poor similarity to Earth. We have also listed previously calculated ESI values of additional exoplanets from the Planet Habitability Laboratory catalog, which supports our hypothesis. Thus, it suggests that a combination of star-type and orbital radius seems to make conditions favorable. Future work can study more exoplanets with such combinations to further validate these findings.
Teenagers’ memory recall of narrative writing versus informational writing and its link to emotion
Authors: Affa Scarlet , Dawi John , Dawi Ragheda
Published: September 2023

Memory, the ability to store and recall information over time, is an imperative component of our everyday lives. At first glance, the process of memorization might only be tied to studying and/or learning, but in reality, memory recall impacts every aspect of our lives. Something as simple as knowing a friend’s name, requires memory recall. Hence, scientists have extensively studied memory and classified it into 3 major memory processes: encoding, retention, and recall. However, not much research has been done to determine whether the type of information that one is exposed to impacts memory recall. In this study, we investigated whether teenagers’ memory recall was stronger for narrative writing or informational writing. We hypothesized that healthy male and female teenagers ages 13–19 would recall more information from narrative writing than informational writing since narrative writing promotes an emotional response. We tested this hypothesis on a group of 30 participants who read one narrative and one informational piece in counterbalanced order. After each reading period, they were given a memory test to assess their memory recall. Our results supported our hypothesis; we found that on average the participants were able to recall more information from the piece of narrative writing than the informational one. These results are significant as they indicate that emotional response could contribute to improved memory recall.
Exponential regression analysis of the Canadian Zero Emission Vehicle market’s effects on climate emissions in 2030
Authors: Ajay Aditya , Kowalczewski Scott
Published: September 2023

The electric vehicle (EV) market has ballooned in sales in recent years with promises of emissions targets to inhibit the proliferation of symptoms of climate change. Canada, having acceded to the guidelines set by international climate preservation organizations, has set emissions targets for itself. As a result, the government has recognized the relevance of EVs in the Canadian auto market and has begun to subsidize their development and use. However, there is very little information available about the capacity of emissions that EVs can reduce. We explored how viable EVs could be as a solution to substantially reduce emissions from the transport industry. We used regression algorithms to identify the possibility of a 45% reduction in emissions from the transport industry as suggested by the Canadian government. Based on our research, we have concluded that it is highly unlikely that Canada will be able to meet its 2030 emissions reduction targets through the sale and use of EVs.
The presence of Wolbachia in Brood X cicadas
Authors: Hasan Cecilia Y , Sutton Reagan L , Sakash Replogle Jessica B
Published: September 2023

Wolbachia is an inherited bacterial symbiont that lives within the reproductive cells of approximately 60% of insect species. It manipulates sexual reproduction in insects in multiple ways that ultimately lead to an increased number of Wolbachia-infected females. It is not known if Wolbachia is a symbiont present in the Brood X seventeen-year periodical cicadas. Brood X cicadas have declining populations in Ohio and Indiana and factors that impact their declining numbers have not been identified. We hypothesized that Brood X cicadas would be infected with Wolbachia. Genomic DNA was isolated from one hundred cicadas from two species, 50 from Magicicada septendecim and 50 from the Magicicada cassini, collected in the greater Cincinnati, Ohio area. A polymerase chain reaction protocol screened the DNA samples and identified one M. septendecim cicada with a Wolbachia- specific 16S rRNA amplicon. A Basic Local Alignment Search Tool nucleotide (BLASTN) analysis of the 388 nucleotide sequence confirmed Wolbachia species which conformed toWolbachia supergroup A.Wolbachia infection is low in Brood X M. septendecim cicadas and not identified in Brood X M. cassini cicadas. Efforts within the scientific community should continue the search for Wolbachia in cicadas, so the full ramifications of this symbiont on declining populations of Brood X cicadas can be uncovered.