bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Simulations of Cheetah Roaming Demonstrate the Effect of Safety Corridors on Genetic Diversity and Human-Cheetah Conflict
Authors: Acton Evelyn , Acton Joseph , Acton Paul
Published: September 2023

Human-cheetah conflict is driving cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus) into extinction. It is estimated that there are fewer than 7,100 cheetahs remaining globally, and encroachment from human populations has reduced their habitat to less than 9% of their historic range. Further pressure on cheetah survival comes from their poor genetic diversity, which leaves them susceptible to disease and genetic abnormalities. To reduce human- cheetah conflict and to increase the interaction between cheetah groups of diverse genetic backgrounds, we have proposed the development of “cheetah safety corridors,” which connect different populations of cheetahs inside a protected strip of land. Computer simulations were developed to model cheetah roaming within a rural environment containing human populations of varying densities. Cheetah safety corridors were included in the simulations with a varying width of up to 90 km. Modeling of these safety corridors revealed a significant positive impact on cheetah lifetime, roaming range, and cheetah-cheetah interactions, which could lead to improved genetic diversity. Targeted investment in local communities inside the safety corridor had the biggest impact, with a 4-fold improvement in cheetah lifespan and a 20-fold increase in positive cheetah-cheetah interactions, compared to investment spread more uniformly across the entire simulated area. Engagement of the local population would be vital to the success of safety corridors so that communities regard cheetahs as an asset to the region rather than a threat.
Correlates of Sugar Consumption Among High School Students and Faculty
Authors: McBurnett Kara , ODonnell Ryan
Published: September 2023

The majority of Americans are overweight or obese, putting them at increased risk for high blood pressure, stroke, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, cancer, and other adverse outcomes. Multiple factors contribute to this trend, including the increased availability and portion size of Highly Palatable Food (HPF), which is defined by the combination of sugar, fat, and/or salt. Food addiction theory describes a cycle of ingesting sugary food, followed by insulin and dopamine responses that lead to increased cravings for HPF. With repeated exposure to HPF, some individuals become chronic over-consumers with a strong drive for this type of reward-based eating. This study sought to characterize the relationships between Reward-based Eating Drive (RED), consumption of HPF, cravings for sugary beverages, and knowledge of sugar’s effects on the brain and body in male and female high school students and faculty. Survey questions were uploaded to Surveymonkey and a link to the survey was sent to the listservs for all individuals with an email account at the high school. 176 anonymous responses were received. The results showed that reward-based eating drive was related to consumption and to cravings. For females, knowledge of sugar’s effects was significantly and inversely associated with consumption of sugary food. This finding suggests that public health interventions to increase knowledge of sugar’s adverse effects may be an avenue to decreasing consumption of HPF, ultimately decreasing the proportion of overweight and obese individuals, especially in young women.
Effects of Quorum Sensing and Media on the Bioluminescent Bacteria Vibrio fischeri
Authors: Dixit Ruchika , Carroll Sean
Published: September 2023

Artificial light is a valuable and important resource. It allows people to work, move freely, and do chores even at night. Most people take it for granted in the developed world. However, thousands of villages in third-world countries do not have access to light, as they do not have dependable electricity, and batteries are expensive. Villagers that do have access to these often burn trash, including batteries, compact fluorescent lamp (CFL) bulbs, and plastic as a way to dispose of waste, thereby releasing toxic gas and chemicals, making these light sources potentially environmentally dangerous. With almost 750 million people still living in villages in India (1), the effects of this on the environment and people are catastrophic (2). In order to provide environmentally friendly light sources, bioluminescent organisms such as the species of bacteria called Vibrio fischeri, could be utilized; however, the natural light from bioluminescent organisms is not bright enough to be effective. In order to increase the light emitted from the bacteria V. fischeri, I altered two variables in separate experiments. In the first experiment, four different chemicals were added to the medium in which the bacteria grew: chitosan, fatty aldehyde, FMNH2, and L-cysteine. Bacteria grown in chitosan media had the most luminescence overall, followed by the control, and the other three chemicals had around the same luminescence. In the second experiment, I changed the bacterial densities. Using McFarland standard as a measure of density, I tested densities of 0.5 McFarland (McF), 1 McF, 2 McF, 3 McF, and 4 McF. The most luminescent bacteria were those grown in 0.5 McF or 1 McF, with 4 McF being the least luminescent. The results also showed that the bacteria grown in chitosan medium were luminescent enough to illuminate three-fourths of an 8.5 inch by 11 inch paper when held next to it, but the density of bacteria had no significant effect on luminescence.
The Prevalence of Brain-Eating Roundworm Baylisascaris procyonis in Merrick County, Nebraska
Authors: Reeves Sydnie , Gillian Chelle
Published: September 2023

We conducted a study in Merrick County, Nebraska, to compare how the prevalence of Baylisascaris procyonis (raccoon roundworm) differs depending on the proximity of its host to human dwellings. We hypothesized that the prevalence and egg count of B. procyonis in Procyon lotor (raccoons) would be higher closer to human dwellings and that there would be more samples with parasites than without. To test these hypotheses, we performed necropsies and fecal flotation on 40 raccoon carcasses. 60% of the samples were positive for B. procyonis, and 40% were negative. We found that the disease was significantly more prevalent in areas closer to human dwellings. Although there was a small difference in the number of eggs between the groups, this difference was not statistically significant. More extensive testing should be conducted on the transmission of B. procyonis, as well as determining how prevalent it is in household pets and farm animals. Continued research of this nature is very important because B. procyonis can be lethal to humans. It is important to make the public aware of this disease, so precautions can be taken to avoid transmission.
An Analysis of Soil Microhabitats in Revolutionary War, Civil War, and Modern Graveyards on Long Island, NY
Authors: Caputo Dominick , Rattansingh Jason , Hernandez Victoria , Nash Bruce
Published: September 2023

Previously established data indicate that cemeteries have contributed to groundwater and soil pollution. This study aimed to determine whether there was a variation in the microbes in cemeteries due to embalming techniques and to identify primary microbial communities in each cemetery. Different embalming techniques were used during different eras in recent history. These fluids can impact both epinecrotic and thanatomicrobiomes, the microbiomes that exist in decomposing remains. Additionally, these fluids can seep into the microbial communities, affecting the microbiome composition, and continue to leach into the larger surrounding environment, contributing to water source and aquifer pollution. We evaluated the 16S rDNA microbial gene followed by QIIME analyses using the Jupyter Notebooks application. We hypothesized that microbial variation would be high between cemeteries of different eras due to dissimilarities between embalming techniques employed, and furthermore, that specific microbes would act as an indication for certain contaminants. The results indicate that the following phyla were present: Proteobacteria, Planctomycetes, Bacteroidetes, Actinobacteria, Chloroflexi, Verrucomicrobia, Acidobacteria, and AD3. These taxonomic classifications were present in all sites with the exception of AD3 which was absent in the Civil War Cemetery. Overall, cemetery sites were clustered together based on location due to variations in the concentrations of the phyla and their more specific taxa.
Performance of Panicum virgatum Cultivars in Competition With Bromus inermis and Differing Amounts of N Fertilizer
Authors: Ferris Tyler , Gillan Chelle
Published: September 2023

With growing demands for ethanol, many researchers are turning to Panicum virgatum (switchgrass) as a feedstock of cellulosic ethanol. This study was conducted to examine the germination, biomass, nitrogen, survival, and chlorophyll absorbance of two cultivars of switchgrass grown in competition with Bromus inermis (smooth brome) and with two different levels of nitrogen fertilizer. I predicted that these factors would affect the aforementioned variables, as nitrogen promotes plant growth, competition from other plant species detracts from nutrient availability, and these cultivars are physiologically different. The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse as 12 treatments replicated 20 times. Results indicated that the Liberty cultivar had lower germination, but higher survivorship than the Cave-in-Rock cultivar and that treatments with higher levels of competition resulted in lower biomass. Additionally, control treatments of both switchgrass cultivars grown in the absence of smooth brome had the highest levels of chlorophyll absorbance, and competition treatments had overall lower levels of nitrogen than control treatments. Both levels of nitrogen fertilizer decreased chlorophyll absorbance. Furthermore, switchgrass cultivars grown in competition with smooth brome had lower levels of nitrogen compared to control treatments. My results also indicate that during establishment, competition from other species has a greater effect than nitrogen fertilizer. Replicating this experiment for a multi-year randomized block setup would be ideal for extending this study.
The Effects of Post-Consumer Waste Polystyrene on the Rate of Mealworm Consumption
Authors: Green Sierra , Green Katherine
Published: September 2023

Polymer debris is estimated to pollute approximately 40% of the planet’s oceans, posing a great threat to marine ecosystems globally . A study released by Stanford scientists Yang et al. in 2015 found that mealworms consume and biodegrade expanded polystyrene (EPS), or Styrofoam, a polymer that is responsible for a large percentage of ocean pollution. However, this study only tested the mealworm consumption rates for virgin white EPS. If mealworms are to be used by consumers or the recycling industry to biodegrade EPS pollution, post-consumer use and colored EPS must be tested. This study investigates these new variables by testing different types of post-consumer EPS (highly pigmented, white, high-density, and low-density) to determine if mealworm consumption is affected. The measured results of 3.79 mg EPS consumed per mealworm life cycle for high-density EPS confirm Yang et al.’s measurements of 3.60 mg EPS per mealworm life cycle for the consumption rate of white, high-density EPS. Furthermore, the results indicate that whether the EPS was virgin or post-consumer did not affect the consumption rates. It was found that low-density EPS is consumed at a 56% higher rate than high-density EPS. Consumption rates for non-waxy and white EPS were slightly higher than those of waxy and colored EPS respectively but were within one standard deviation of difference. From this data we can calculate that it would take 4,720 mealworms to consume 17 grams of EPS, equivalent to a single serving clamshell container, consumed over the course of the mealworms’ 30-day lifespan.
The Effects of Antioxidants on the Climbing Abilities of Drosophila melanogaster Exposed to Dental Resin
Authors: Prashanth Prarthana , Naughton Jacklyn
Published: September 2023

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are highly reactive free radicals containing oxygen that seek to fill in empty spaces within their valence shells. ROS buildup can lead to DNA damage and diseases including cancer, immune diseases, and neurodegenerative diseases. In contrast, antioxidants, which are found in foods such as asparagus and avocado, prevent ROS damage by pairing the unpaired electrons in ROS before oxidation can occur. Based on this information, we decided to study the effects of the antioxidant-containing foods asparagus and avocado on the climbing abilities of fruit flies exposed to dental resin, a ROS-releasing compound. We carried out this study by dividing the experiment into four groups of fruit fly food media based on the presence of dental resin, asparagus, and avocado, with each group consisting of six vials with five male and five female flies each. We measured the climbing abilities of the flies every 2 days for 6 days by counting the number of flies that passed the climbing line (6 cm) in 30 seconds. The results demonstrated that the dental resin group achieved significantly lower climbing percentages compared to the control group. While the asparagus group achieved higher scores than the dental resin group, the difference was not significant. No conclusions were made from the avocado group due to the thick avocado consistency that stuck to the flies and prevented them from climbing up the vial. The results of this study encourage further investigations on natural remedies for DNA damage and ROS-related diseases.
Optimizing Interplanetary Travel Using a Genetic Algorithm
Authors: Murali Anusha , Chandran Evan , Seagroves Susan
Published: September 2023

Humanity has long been fascinated with celestial bodies and space travel. In the current work, we investigate a novel approach to efficiently travel between planets. Specifically, we use a genetic algorithm to find a near optimal path between planets that are in a circular motion with different angular velocities under the gravitational attraction of a star. We develop mathematical expressions to find both the travel distance and the trajectory angle of the spaceship for the orbiting planets. Using derived analytical expressions derived and a carefully chosen bimodal fitness function, we demonstrate that our genetic algorithm rapidly converges to a near optimal solution for the shortest path between the planets. The experimental results show that our genetic algorithm converges consistently faster than an algorithm based on a unimodal fitness function. Further, the experimental results indicate the hypothesis that our algorithm is many orders of magnitude faster than an enumeration-based technique, while providing nearly as accurate results. We envision that, in the future, the results of our work could be used to program a space probe to efficiently travel between the faraway planets of a newly discovered solar system, and to collect scientific data from deep space that could provide answers to profound questions about our universe. In addition, our results can be put into use immediately for mining asteroids for natural resources that are rare on Earth, and to eliminate space junk that pose danger to space travel.
The Effect of Bead Shape and Texture on the Energy Loss Characteristics in a Rotating Capsule
Authors: Misra Aviral , Misra Anil
Published: September 2023

Energy loss characteristics in a rotating bead-filled capsule are impacted by bead shape, size, surface texture, density, and capsule fill level. In this paper, the energy loss results are reported from experiments of bead-filled cylindrical capsules rolling down a ramp in a controlled manner without sliding. These experiments were motivated by the potential applications of bead-filled capsules for energy dissipation and vibration control systems, as well as for understanding energy use in rotating drum-based industrial processes. The experiment used a plexiglass cylindrical capsule filled with beads of different sizes, materials, and textures. The bead-filled capsule was rolled down an inclined ramp and came to a stop on a level ramp. The position at which the capsule stopped was recorded. As the capsule rolled down the ramp, the potential energy converted to kinetic energy. When the kinetic energy dissipated, the capsule came to a stop. The distance traveled by the capsule is controlled by the energy loss caused by the collision and the friction of the beads. The nature of the collision and friction of the beads depended on the amount, size, type, and texture of the beads in the cylinder. The data was analyzed to determine the conditions for optimal fill level, which is defined as the case for maximum energy loss. We found that the intermediate filling level had the most energy loss. This optimal filling was obtained for each bead type.The maximum energy dissipation increased with bead surface texture and bead density but decreased with bead size.
3D Printed Polymer Scaffolds for Bone Tissue Regeneration
Authors: Jayatissa Nipun U , Bhaduri Sarit
Published: September 2023

The regeneration of bone defects is a significant clinical challenge for patients around the world. The ideal scaffolds for bone tissue repair should provide biocompatibility, pore architecture, biodegradability, mechanical support, and cell attachment sites. Conventionally fabricated polymer scaffolds are still unable to make ideal scaffolds for bone tissue repair due to the lack of all the above mentioned properties. The investigated hypothesis was that increasing pore sizes of the scaffolds would cause an increase in the porosity and a decrease in the compressive modulus. In order to test the hypothesis, we designed three different pore sizes (200, 400, and 800 μm) in three different scaffolds using computer software. Relatively new 3D printing technology was used to print the three different types of porous scaffolds using polycaprolactone (PCL) polymer. These scaffolds were characterized for percent porosity, pore architecture, morphology, mechanical properties, and evaluated for biocompatibility and cell attachment with murine pre-osteoblasts. The percent porosity of these scaffolds (n=7) significantly increased from 13.31 to 61.66 (p<0.001) with the increase in pore size. The average compressive modulus of scaffolds (n=7) significantly decreased with the increase in pore size (p<0.001). The averaged compressive modulus of scaffolds with 200, 400, and 800 μm pores is 82.98 ± 2.02, 61.60 ± 2.59, and 47.16 ± 1.73 MPa, respectively. In addition, PCL scaffolds show biocompatibility as determined by an in vitro cell study. These results have shown that the hypothesis is validated, and these 3D printed porous PCL scaffolds can be potentially used for bone regeneration applications.
QuitPuff: A Simple Method Using Saliva to Assess the Risk of Oral Pre-Cancerous Lesions and Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma in Chronic Smokers
Authors: Shamsher Nikhiya , P Chaithanya
Published: September 2023

Smoking carries a risk of oral cancer. Smoking generates free radicals, which are responsible for the high levels of cellular lipid peroxidation along the oral mucosa. Free-radical-induced lipid peroxidation has been implicated in the pathogenesis of oral cancer. Malondialdehyde (MDA) is the end-product of lipid peroxidation and can serve as a marker of the degree of lipid peroxidation. This study aimed to determine the salivary MDA levels in smokers and to use salivary MDA levels to assess the risk of developing oral pre-cancer and cancer. We hypothesized that heavier smokers would exhibit greater levels of salivary lipid peroxidation which in turn would correlate with a greater risk of oral pre-cancer and cancer. To test our hypothesis, we devised QuitPuff, a simple, home-based test consisting of a diagnostic reagent that reacts with MDA and produces a color change in a sample of saliva. We measured the MDA level in each sample by matching the color change with a colorimetric Lipid Peroxidation Index (LPI) chart. This method was tested on 125 people and the results were validated by UV Spectroscopy. The test detected the degree of salivary lipid peroxidation with 96% accuracy. We found that heavier smokers exhibited greater levels of salivary MDA. QuitPuff, a simple and inexpensive home-based test, can serve as an early, safe, non-invasive test for smokers to measure their degree of salivary lipid peroxidation and thereby assess their risk of developing oral pre-cancer and cancer.
Assessing Materials’ Short-term Effectiveness on Controlling Zebra Mussel (Dreissena polymorpha) Attachment
Authors: Willson Justin , Lambert Ann
Published: September 2023

Zebra mussels, an aquatic invasive species, cost millions of dollars each year to control due to their extensive attachment on essential industrial structures and detrimental effects on the native ecosystem. Reducing mussel attachment would allow researchers to control what surfaces these mussels attach to, and this reduction would prevent dangerous situations in industrial piping that occur when mussels prevent water flow. The goal of this research was to identify nontoxic materials that were effective in preventing or reducing the strength of zebra mussel attachment. We tested two materials, Sharklet and Netminder, that were designed to prevent biofouling of aquatic organisms, as well as two control materials, PVC pipes and a lake rock. The first experiment determined that Sharklet cannot prevent adult mussel attachment, but there was a statistically significant difference in attachment strength between Sharklet, the uncovered PVC pipe, and the rock. The second experiment determined that Netminder likewise cannot prevent adult mussel attachment and does not have a statistically significant difference in attachment strength with an uncoated PVC pipe. Since the Sharklet demonstrated some ability to deter mussel attachment, the material, along with other micro-engineered surfaces, warrant further study. Netminder likewise requires future study to determine its effect on zebra mussel veligers in a natural environment.
Efficacy of Mass Spectrometry Versus 1H Nuclear Magnetic Resonance With Respect to Denaturant Dependent Hydrogen-Deuterium Exchange in Protein Studies
Authors: Chenna Srish , Englander Walter
Published: September 2023

Understanding how proteins fold holds the key to many crucial advancements in the medical field, such as the treatment of chronic diseases. Measuring the rate of hydrogen-to-deuterium exchange for labile hydrogens within proteins exposed to deuterium oxide (D2O) can help elucidate the folding pathway of a protein. Mass spectrometry can be used to determine the extent of deuterium exchange by calculating ΔGHX (mass-to-charge ratio) values. These values were then compared the mass spectrometry results to previous exchange measurements taken by 1H NMR to investigate if mass spectrometry can be a viable method for measuring hydrogen-deuterium exchange in proteins. Once all of the reactions at different time points (10 seconds to 172,800 seconds) were conducted in the mass spectrometer in a 1.5M guanidine hydrochloride and D2O solution, the plotted data resulted in sigmoidal curves which showed dissimilar exchange rates to the previously archived 1H NMR data. After completion of the experiment, we concluded that further studies are necessary to draw a sound conclusion, as the field of study in which we tested solely 1.5M guanidine hydrochloride was too narrow. If reactions at other concentrations of guanidine hydrochloride yield the same exchange rates, denaturant-dependent hydrogen-deuterium exchange techniques can be applied in novel protein studies.
Antibacterial Activity and Absorption of Paper Towels Made From Fruit Peel Extracts
Authors: Prashanth Prarthana , Lokesh Srikant , Sagaram Milind , Pincus Nathan B , Hauser Alan R
Published: September 2023

Barriers to adequate hygiene are important problems throughout the world, as billions of people do not have access to sanitary conditions. In particular, unsatisfactory hand hygiene leads to the spread of bacterial infections from person to person. To address this problem, we developed the PeelTowel, an antibacterial and water-absorbing towel made of a combination of fruit peels and recycled paper waste, which has the potential to make hand-hygiene accessible, sustainable, and environmentally friendly. Kiwi, orange, and lime peels were chosen for this purpose because they contain antibacterial factors such as vitamin C and citric acid as well as water-absorbing cellulose. PeelTowels were produced by creating a paste of crushed fruit peels and paper and then drying thin films of this paste on screens. PeelTowels were tested for their ability to inhibit the growth of bacteria and absorb water. They were incubated with Escherichia coli, and bacterial survival was measured by counting colonies on agar plates. Similarly, absorption was quantified by exposing PeelTowels to varying amounts of water. The Lime PeelTowel had the highest antimicrobial activity. It eradicated 50-91% of E. coli after exposure for 1 hour and 95-98% after exposure for 18 hours. It also absorbed three times the amount of water as a commercially available paper towel. Our results suggest that Lime PeelTowels have the potential to be an environmentally friendly option for antibacterial and absorptive hand towels.
Longer Exposure to 2% India Ink Increases Average Number of Vacuoles in Tetrahymena pyriformis
Authors: Cherry Alaina , Reilly Allison , Edgar Michael
Published: September 2023

Tetrahymena pyriformis are single-celled phagocytes that feed by forming food vacuoles in a process known as phagocytosis. The goal of this experiment was to examine to what extent exposure of Tetrahymena to India ink affects the average number of vacuoles formed. We hypothesized that the increase of feeding time would increase the amount of India ink food vacuoles per Tetrahymena in a linear fashion. By observing Tetrahymena vacuole formation in response to India ink over a 60-minute period, we found that that vacuole formation in Tetrahymena initially increased linearly with increased India ink exposure time. After a certain time, however, vacuole formation ceased due to either a lack of remaining ink or a deficiency in the energy or resources necessary to continue performing phagocytosis. The relationship between India ink exposure time and food vacuole formation also provides insight into correlated changes in metabolic rate in Tetrahymena and other organisms for which Tetrahymena serves as a model. The way in which Tetrahymena budget their energy over time between vacuole formation, metabolism, and the countless other biological processes necessary for survival, particularly when supplied a non-nutritional particle such as India ink, could also be important for further studies on various organisms’ reactions to food shortages.
Cathodal Galvanotaxis: The Effect of Voltage on the distribution of Tetrahymena pyriformis
Authors: Zheng Christy , Edgar Michael
Published: September 2023

Tetrahymena pyriformis are unicellular eukaryotes with thousands of hair-like structures called cilia on the surface of their bodies that aid in cell motility and food consumption. The similarities between their cilia and that of humans, particularly in the human respiratory and olfactory track, are why they are model organisms for investigating cell movement and cilia functionality. Further research may help scientists better understand how cilia are affected by common ciliopathies, genetic disorders caused by the abnormal formation or function of cilia. The objective of this experiment was to investigate the effect of voltage on the distribution of T. pyriformis across a capillary tube. T. pyriformis-filled capillary tubes were connected to a power supply for one minute. We calculated the percent distributions at the anode and cathode of the capillary tube by counting T. pyriformis with a hemocytometer. Our results indicate that cathodal galvanotaxis is induced at 4V and that, despite increases in voltage from 4–30V, the percent distribution of T. pyriformis at the cathode remained constant at approximately 80%. These data suggest that while calcium and potassium voltage-gated ion channels are mediated by graded potentials and are triggered at specific thresholds, further increasing voltage above that threshold had little effect.
Giving Teens a Voice: Sources of Stress for High School Students
Authors: Corson Pierce , Rogers Tyler , Shoemaker Babette
Published: September 2023

Teen stress is a pressing health issue in the United States. Consistent, long-lasting stress can weaken the immune system and wear down physical reserves, leaving teens susceptible to negative mental and physical health outcomes. Recent legislation in the state of Virginia (HB1604/SB953) mandates the revision of the Health and Physical Education curriculum to incorporate standards of learning (SOL) that recognize mental health and the important connections between physical and mental health. The aim of our project was to create a survey that allows teens to have a voice in the conversation about revising the health SOL in response to student-reported stress and support factors. Using convenience sampling, high schoolers (n = 332) were invited to participate in an anonymous online survey. To identify factors contributing to teen stress levels, participants were asked about their demographics, high school courses and activities, free time, and perception of the support they receive. Stress levels were then evaluated using Cohen’s validated 4-item Perceived Stress Scale. Regression and correlation analysis findings suggest that a student’s gender, homework level, amount of free and sleep time, perceived parental pressure, and family encouragement of relaxation predicted their perceived stress. Students who felt guilty taking time off or who worried about violence had higher stress levels than other teens, indicating that students’ emotions play a role in their stress perceptions. Results from this study can help school communities identify sources of teen stress and inform the development of educational instruction that helps students successfully reduce and cope with stress.
Majority and Minority Influence in Teenagers for Different Social Dilemmas
Authors: Lpez-Gonzlez Tamara , Jaramillo-Becerril Fernando , Cano-Ruiz Mara Elena
Published: September 2023

The influence of others on changing one’s views is magnified when living in society since cooperation and identification within a social group is necessary for someone to feel accepted. In a previous study done in our high school two years ago, teenagers did not show conformist behavior in non-ambiguous situations. We wanted to evaluate conformity using social dilemmas to continue this previous research. We hypothesized that teenagers would follow others’ influence—changing their initial opinion to belong to the group—particularly with increasing ambiguity of the dilemma. Forty-two high school students were tested by confronting them with three different social dilemmas. The initial position of the students after we presented the dilemmas was identified. Then, students were asked to discuss the dilemma out loud, expressing their initial opinions. Two “confederates” per group, who were previously asked in private to argue against the majority’s opinion, voiced their contradictory opinion. Afterwards, students were asked again for their positions to see if their opinions had changed. We found variations in the proportions of students that changed their initial opinions depending on the dilemma. Furthermore, we found that both majority and minority influence could be responsible for changing the student’s initial position. This change was dependent mainly on moral arguments given by the majority or minority and not by the size of the group. Therefore, we were unable to confirm our initial hypothesis that teenagers would show conformist behavior to feel part of a group, since conversion by minority influence, rather than conformity by majority influence, prevailed.
Investigation of Everyday Locations for Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria in Cambridge, Massachusetts
Authors: Maggio Ethan , Price Oliver , Bastien Suzanne , Palavicino-Maggio Caroline
Published: September 2023

As a society we have become dependent on the use of antibiotics for the treatment of bacterial infections. However, bacteria can evolve in ways of reducing the effectiveness of antibiotics and become antibiotic-resistant. The main objective of our project was to determine if any of the bacteria collected from various locations in Cambridge, Massachusetts grew in the presence of an antibiotic. To test our hypothesis, we collected bacterial samples from five different everyday trafficked locations in Cambridge, MA. These locations included the Harvard MBTA subway station (T-station), Fresh Pond Park water fountain, the button of a traffic light, a Cambridge resident’s sneaker bottom and cell phone. Then, we asked if any of these bacteria would grow in the presence or absence of ampicillin. We observed an increase in the growth of bacterial colonies in samples obtained from the Harvard T-station, water fountain, traffic light, bottom of the shoe, and cell phone screen. However, no colonies were present in the antibiotic dish except for the bacterial sample obtained from the Harvard T-Station sample, it grew bacterial colonies in the presence of ampicillin.
Modulation of Planaria Regeneration by Resolvin D1 and the Omega-3 Fatty Acid Precursor 17-Hydroxy Docosahexaenoic Acid
Authors: Chan Elaine , Chatterjee Anuran
Published: September 2023

Omega-3 fatty acids (FA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) have long been consumed as medical supplements for their far-reaching health benefits, ranging from alleviating asthma symptoms to mitigating kidney and inflammatory diseases like colitis and diabetes. These fatty acids produce a variety of lipid mediator metabolites including maresins, protectins, and resolvins, and are essential for aiding the resolution pathways in inflammation. However, their roles in regenerative responses are relatively unknown. We decided to investigate the effect of Resolvin D1 (RvD1) in Dugesia dorotocephala regeneration, as RvD1is the most widely studied lipid mediator. We foundthat regenerating planaria released significantly higher amounts of RvD1 in water than control and that D. dorotocephala could synthesize their own RvD1 from the omega-3 FA precursor 17-hydroxy docosahexaenoic acid (17-HDHA). We also observed that both RvD1 and 17-HDHA enhanced regeneration responses in planaria by using eye scoring and a modified cell metabolism assay (MTT). We conclude that planarians may utilize similar biosynthetic pathways to mammals in producing resolvins and that resolvins hold immense potential in enhancing regenerative responses in tissues.
Nitric Oxide Synthesis/Pathway Inhibitors in Daphnia magna Reverse Alcohol-Induced Heart Rate Decrease
Authors: Gunturi Aditya , McCann John , Gunturi Srinivas
Published: September 2023

Studies show that alcohol causes oxidative stress and heart rate (HR) depression in humans. Chronic alcohol consumption also causes cardiac myopathy, which afflicts about 500,000 Americans annually. The present study aims to understand how alcohol reduces HR and examine if select chemical agents with inhibitory effects on nitric oxide levels can reverse the effects of alcohol on HR. In this study, we used Daphnia magna, a water crustacean with a large and a transparent heart, as an in vitro model to study the effects of agents such as methylene blue (a guanylyl cyclase inhibitor), melatonin (a free radical scavenger and Phosphodiesterase E5 (PDE5) inhibitor), L-glutamate (N-methyl-D-Aspartate (NMDA)-ion channel stimulator), and L-N(gamma)-nitroarginine methyl ester (L-NAME, nitric oxide synthase inhibitor) on HR by alcohol. We also examined the ability of these agents to prevent a decrease in the HR by alcohol by changing the order in which we exposed the Daphnia to the substances. Alcohol exposure decreased HR by 27% after 30 minutes of exposure. The experiment measured the ability of various drugs to reverse this decrease in HR. Methylene blue, after 10 minutes of exposure, increased the HR by 15%. Melatonin, after 10 minutes exposure, increased the HR by 27%. Similarly, L-NAME and L-glutamate, after 10 minutes of exposure, increased the HR by 20% and 36%, respectively. These results showed that alcohol’s depressive effects on HR could be mediated through nitric oxide generation and confirmed the hypothesis that nitric oxide synthesis inhibitors can reverse alcohol-induced HR decrease in Daphnia magna.
Repulsion of Ants Using Non-Toxic Household Products
Authors: Ambati Meenakshi , Duvvuri Kameshwari
Published: September 2023

Ant invasion causes damage exceeding $5 billion annually in North America. Commercial repellents often contain chemical compounds that are potential carcinogens and maybe harmful to human health. In this study, we aimed to identify natural products with ant-repelling properties. We tested chalk, cinnamon, ginger powder, lemon juice, rosemary powder, table salt, and turmeric powder using a custom ring apparatus designed to quantify ant-repellence. We discovered that cinnamon and lemon were the most effective ant repellents of the tested products. Specifically, we found that cinnamon oil and lemon juice increased the median time required for ants to exit the ring as compared to their vehicle controls; that the lipid-soluble component of cinnamon, i.e., oil, and the lipid-insoluble component of lemon, i.e., juice, were more efficacious at repelling ants than their counterpart fractions; that cinnamon oil and lemon juice repelled ants in a dose-dependent manner; that cinnamon oil was more efficacious than lemon juice; that lemon juice was more potent than cinnamon oil; and that cinnamon oil and lemon juice are synergistic in their ant-repellent properties. These data suggest that compounds found in non-toxic household products, such as cinnamon oil and lemon juice, could be used in low-dose combinations as potent, effective, eco-friendly, and safe ant repellents.
Spider Density Shows Weak Relationship with Vegetation Density
Authors: Ryon Hanna , Peglow Jennifer
Published: September 2023

Evidence supports that spiders have many ecological benefits including insect control and predation in the food chain. Percent of vegetation coverage and spider density may be correlated; our study compared 18 different locations with different percent coverage of vegetation using a sectioned quadrat and the field method known as beating vegetation. In locations with high vegetation, 76–100% covered area, we found an average of 0.599 spiders per quadrat with a standard deviation (S.D.) of 0.465. In intermediate vegetation, 25–75% covered area, we found an average of 0.44 spiders per quadrat with an SD of 0.07. In low vegetation, 0–24% covered area, we found an average of 0.05 spiders per quadrat with an SD of 0.288. While this data supported the initial hypothesis concerning a correlation between percent coverage of vegetation and spider density, a limited sample size and statistical review failed to reject the null hypothesis that there is no direct correlation between the percent coverage of vegetation and the density of arachnids.
Creating a Phenology Trail Around Central Park Pond
Authors: Flynn Logan , Pandya Taran , Wolf Emilie Dion
Published: September 2023

In this study, we aimed to determine whether the life cycle stages, or phenophases, of some plants in the urban environment of Central Park, New York, differ from the typical phenophases of the same plant species. To address this aim, we created the first phenology trail in Central Park, New York, by monitoring physical changes in thirteen plants over time and using DNA barcoding to confirm the visual identification of plant species on the trail. We isolated DNA barcodes from thirteen leaf samples by performing DNA extraction, PCR, and gel electrophoresis, before sending the samples for sequencing. We created an online map of our phenology trail using the program iNaturalist so that said map may be used by future researchers and citizen scientists. We hypothesized that the phenophases of the thirteen plants we studied would differ from their typical phenophases due to the 2 to 3 degree increase in temperature resulting from the urban heat island effect, which would have an impact on temperature-determined phenophases. We observed that, although the phenophases of five of our plants matched up with typical trends, there were distinct changes in the phenophases of the other eight, possibly resulting from the urban heat island effect.
The Effects of Confinement on the Associative Learning of Gallus gallus domesticus
Authors: Jaworsky Amanda , Reid Jocelyn , Peplowski Evey
Published: September 2023

In this study, we aimed to determine if confinement affects associative learning in chickens. We assessed associative learning ability by training chickens to recognize two plates of cottage cheese: on one plate, the cottage cheese was stained green with no other additives, and on the other plate, the cottage cheese was stained pink and contained methyl anthranilate, a common chemical in bird repellent. After a training period of 7 days, we again presented each chicken with the two plates of cottage cheese and measured the amount of time before the chickens began to consume cottage cheese and the number of pecks the chickens made to each cottage cheese plate during a two minute interval. Two trials were conducted; the first was conducted before the chickens were subjected to confinement and the second was conducted after the chickens were subjected to confinement for 15 hours. We found that the difference in the time lapsed before the chickens began to consume the cottage cheese before and after confinement was significant, though the difference in the number of pecks was not. These results suggest that confinement distresses chickens, as it impairs associative learning without inducing confusion.
The Effect of Varying Training on Neural Network Weights and Visualizations
Authors: Fountain Emmett , Rasmus Joe
Published: September 2023

Neural networks are used throughout modern society to solve many problems commonly thought of as impossible for computers. As their use becomes more widespread, an issue of measurement rises. In order to create metrics with which to measure the ability of neural networks, new techniques must be constantly developed. The purpose of this research is to determine whether varying training produces measurable and consistent patterns in the visualizations and weights of Convolutional Neural Networks. In order to carry out this investigation, a convolutional neural network was designed and run with varying levels of training to see if consistent, accurate, and precise changes or patterns could be observed. To determine if such a change or pattern existed, the weights and filters were analyzed through visualizations, both qualitatively and quantitatively. Several patterns were discovered in the visualizations, but they were inconsistent across layers and the quantitative models were only consistent in specific circumstances. This indicated that while training introduced and strengthened patterns in the weights and visualizations, the patterns observed may not be consistent between all neural networks.
A Scientific Investigation of Alternative Growing Methods to Cultivate Lactuca sativa
Authors: Fishback Samuel , Duncan Susan
Published: September 2023

Hydroponics is the process of planting seeds inside a solid growth medium instead of soil and providing them with nutrients that soil would normally provide. Aquaponics is a method of growing plants without soil, utilizing fish waste to fertilize plants. In this experiment, we compared both methods to observe if hydroponic nutrients and fish waste would produce plants with different heights when growing a widely cultivated vegetable like Lactuca sativa. Our hypothesis was that aquaponics would be a more efficient farming method in terms of growth per day and average height, since the method uses a natural fertilizer. The aquaponics system would simulate an open environment, helping the plants better adapt to the natural fertilizer provided by fish. At the beginning of the experiment, the plants in the aquaponics system were taller than those in the hydroponics system, but the hydroponics plants had a faster growth rate than aquaponics plants by the end of the experiment. However, the aquaponics system had a higher growth rate than the hydroponics system in the majority of the experimental timeframe, and had a higher average plant height. Therefore, the aquaponics system was a superior system to the hydroponics system, producing plants with better height by 0.4 centimeters on the final day, and higher average growth rate by 0.02329545455.
The Impacts of Varying Types of Light on the Growth of Five Arabidopsis Varieties
Authors: Wang Brendt , Connors Sarah , Kaminski Katherine
Published: September 2023

Arabidopsis is known as the “fruit fly of plants.” It is small and easy to grow, has a short life cycle, and has a small, easy-to-manipulate genome. Using Arabidopsis, we tested the effects of varied light conditions on the plant growth of mutants with dysfunctional light pathways. We tested five different strains: wild type, a phytochrome A mutant (phyA), a phytochrome B mutant (phyB), a phyA/phyB double mutant, and a DET1-1 mutant. With these mutants, we investigated how varied wavelengths and exposure of light affect the growth of the mutants. We found that the phyA mutant, the phyB mutant, and the double mutant all grew well in red light, with high germination rates and the largest average plant size. The phyB mutant grew the best under blue light, with the highest germination rate and the second largest average plant size. Under natural light, every strain grew relatively well, with high germination rates and consistent sizes. Although the DET1-1 mutant had a lower average size compared to the phyA and phyB mutations, it had the highest germination percentage, making it the most successful under no-light conditions.
The Non-Thermal Effect of UV-B Irradiation on Onion Growth
Authors: Nashnoush Mohamed , Rodgers Judy
Published: September 2023

Both terrestrial and aquatic plants, the chief autotrophs supporting life on earth, can be threatened by global warming and particularly by UV-B radiation due to the depletion of the ozone layer. Ozone depletion may also threaten the biodiversity of ecosystems and dismantle food webs. The deleterious effects of UV-B have been studied mostly through in vitro studies and vary significantly according to the dose received, the irradiation period and the sensitivity of the species. Examined adaptive mechanisms encompass increases in antioxidant enzymes, phenolic compounds and flavonoids which function as protective screens. The interaction of UV-B radiation with DNA, lipid and protein molecules is vital in determining how photosynthesis and cellular respiration are affected by UV-B radiation. Hence, this study seeks to explore the non-thermal effects of UV-B irradiation on the physiology and morphology of Allium cepa. This was completed by comparing the mitotic index of the control to the irradiated populations. A paired samples two-tailed t-test was performed, and the results demonstrated a decline in mitotic vitality, suggesting that UV-B can generate biochemical stress, which can influence Allium cepa’s physiology.