bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Effect of Concentration on the Pressure of a Sodium Chloride Solution Inside Dialysis Tubing
Authors: Dye Madalyn , Fussell Harmon , Newby Abby
Published: September 2023

High blood pressure causes significant medical problems around the world such as strokes, blindness and even death. Many people with high blood pressure are asked to lower their intake of salt in their diet which led us to wonder how blood pressure changes with more salt in the body and how the kidney diffuses water in response to salt concentration in the blood. Chemically, the salt outside of the blood vessels affects the pressure inside of the blood vessels due to the movement of water across the vessel walls. We used dialysis tubing containing a 0.9% salt-water solution to simulate the standard concentration of sodium chloride in the blood vessels. These simulated blood vessels were then placed in high and low salt solutions and a gas pressure sensor was used to monitor pressure changes in the dialysis tubing. The results showed that when the dialysis tubing was immersed in a solution that contained less salt, the pressure increased, and when it was immersed in a solution that contained more salt, the pressure decreased. Almost no change was recorded in the 0.9% solution. These findings suggest that salt concentration in the blood would impact the rate of osmosis, changing the pressure within the blood vessels.
Determining the Effects of Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 on the Regenerative Abilities of Echinometra lucunter Sea Urchins
Authors: Kisling Danielle , Lee Maya , Sadalge Ritika , Sawant Avni , Ereddia Danielle
Published: September 2023

Advances in regeneration have the potential to benefit the healthcare field through contributions to wound healing, organ transplants, and many more related technologies. This experiment was performed to help contribute to further research in vertebral regeneration, as humans’ capacity to regenerate is mostly limited to slower and less complex forms of regrowth. Due to their exceptional ability to regenerate entire bodily appendages, we used sea urchins of the species Echinometra lucenter as models for the study of regeneration. This experiment was constructed to examine the effects of fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2) on spinal regeneration time in the urchins. We hypothesized that the addition of this growth factor would cause urchins to regenerate a larger amount of their spinal tissue 14 days after severance. Although the mean percent regeneration of the experimental group was higher than that of the control, the results were not statistically significant, which reflects a possible lack of correlation between FGF2 and an increased regenerative ability. Further testing is required to discover the possible implications of the data and effect of FGF2 on humans.
Combating Insulin Resistance Using Medicinal Plants as a Supplementary Therapy to Metformin in 3T3-L1 Adipocytes: Improving Early Intervention-Based Diabetes Treatment
Authors: Jayram Dia , Joykutty Leya
Published: September 2023

One in eleven people will have a form of diabetes during their lifetime (1). In 2012, diabetes and its life-threatening side effects cost 245 billion dollars in the United States (2). Averting type 2 diabetes (T2D) will significantly reduce health care costs and engender a healthier population. A primary cause of diabetes is insulin resistance, which is caused by disruption of insulin signal transduction. The objective was to maximize insulin sensitivity by creating a more effective, early intervention-based treatment to avert severe T2D. This treatment combined metformin, “the insulin sensitizer”, and medicinal plants, curcumin, fenugreek, and nettle. To conduct this study, insulin resistance was induced using free fatty acids (FFAs). Insulin sensitivity in adipocytes (propagated and differentiated from 3T3-L1 fibroblasts) was measured using assays specific for leptin concentration, glucose uptake, and Akt phosphorylation. These three proteins/pathways served as quantitative measurements for insulin sensitivity, since they are essential to insulin signaling. It was hypothesized that a dual therapy would maximize insulin sensitivity. This hypothesis was supported as each plant-enhanced combination treatment attenuated the effects of FFAs, increasing and reversing each biological marker of functional insulin signaling to normal function. This indicates that each treatment has the potential to combat obesity, augment glucose uptake, and heighten Akt/PI3K pathway function. This study, therefore, offers an improved multifunctional early intervention-based diabetes treatment that maximizes insulin sensitivity.
A Quantitative Analysis of the Proliferation of Microplastics in Williamston’s Waterways
Authors: Schafer Luke , Yu Hudson , Rasmus Joe
Published: September 2023

One of the most concerning aspects of human progress is the spread of pollution. Microplastic pollution is only a small part of this issue, but a relevant one nevertheless. Plastic debris can disrupt marine ecosystems, spread contaminants, and take years to naturally degrade. Our aim for this study was to establish an understanding of the scope of Williamston, Michigan’s microplastics problem, as well as to attempt to find the source of these plastics. We sampled four sites from the Red Cedar River in the Williamston School District. Sites were chosen due to their proximity in relation to the boundary of the school district, with samples collected both upstream and downstream of the wastewater treatment plant. In analyzing our samples, we used an aspirator vacuum to filter the water we collected, left the filters in an incubator to dry for 48 hours, and then counted microplastics under a microscope by systematically scanning through gridded filter paper. We found a general trend of increasing concentrations of microplastics from upstream to downstream, but we were not able to locate the source of Williamston’s microplastics pollution. Originally, we hypothesized that the Williamston Wastewater Treatment Plant was the primary contributor to Williamston’s microplastics pollution, but we could not find statistically sufficient evidence to confirm this theory. Further research is needed to determine whether the Wastewater Treatment Plant or another source is responsible for the microplastics pollution.
Evaluation of Tea Extract as an Inhibitor of Oxidative Stress in Prostate Cells
Authors: Zhang Jerry , Delano Dana
Published: September 2023

Oxidative DNA damage is caused by free radicals eroding the cell membrane and directly attacking DNA molecules in the cell. This DNA damage plays an important role in the development of cancer. Antioxidants remove free radical intermediates, thereby preventing cell membrane erosion and subsequent DNA damage. Tea leaves are rich in antioxidants, and studies conducted on green tea have reported numerous health benefits; however, those studies left out other types of tea. We evaluated the ability of various tea extracts to protect prostate cells from hydrogen peroxide induced oxidative damage. Cells were treated with black, oolong, green, and white tea extracts and then exposed to hydrogen peroxide for two days, followed by a quantification of viable cells using an MTS assay. Because treatment with white tea extract yielded the greatest cell viability, we hypothesized that an abundant antioxidant in white tea, epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), might also protect cells from oxidative stress. We found that, indeed, pre-treatment of prostate cells with 50 mg/mL EGCG led to a significant increase in cell viability when compared to the control group (fold change of 2.90), based on MTS assay absorbance. These data suggest that antioxidants in white tea extract, including EGCG, protect prostate cells from oxidative stress in culture, which is suggestive of the health benefits of white tea.
An Experiment to Assess the Usefulness of a Virtual Environment as a Method of Public Speaking Anxiety Exposure
Authors: Dasari Sree Poorvika Ramalakshmi , Hajian Seth
Published: September 2023

This abstract describes an experiment conducted to assess the effectiveness of a virtual environment to act as a method of exposure in the treatment of public speaking anxiety among high school students. In one of the experimental conditions, the participants had to make a presentation to a virtual audience using a Samsung Gear VR headset, which displayed a prerecorded 360-degree video of a classroom full of students. In another experimental condition, the participants had to make a presentation, without the VR headset and an audience. In both conditions, participant’s heartbeat rate (response variable) was measured. The results show that the heartbeat during the experimental condition with a VR headset was significantly higher with respect to the heartbeat rate measured to the condition without the headset. This study should be followed up with a treatment study, where a virtual reality device would track a user’s vitals during prolonged use and report the user’s progress.
The Effect of Ultraviolet Radiation and the Antioxidant Curcumin on the Longevity, Fertility, and Physical Structure of Drosophila melanogaster: Can We Defend Our DNA?
Authors: Lateef Shan , Walts Delaney , Clark LaRina
Published: September 2023

Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is known to alter DNA structure and impair cellular function in all living organisms. One proposed mechanism of injury involves the production of harmful free radicals. The DNA damage caused by UV radiation can lead to a myriad of medical issues, but there is limited research on potential rescue interventions. However, studies have suggested that naturally occurring antioxidants may exert their positive influence on an organism by reducing oxidative injury, which leads to the purpose of this project: to study the effects of UV radiation and determine whether antioxidant-enriched nutrition can combat the potential deleterious effects of UV radiation on Drosophila melanogaster. We hypothesized that UV radiation would diminish the lifespan and fertility of Drosophila, as well as causing physical abnormalities. We also predicted that Drosophila cultured in the presence of media enriched with the antioxidant curcumin would have enhanced lifespans and fertility. Finally, we hypothesized that raising Drosophila with curcumin-enriched media, would diminish the negative impact of UV radiation on the organism’s longevity and fertility. We found that UVB (320nm) radiation caused a 59% decrease in the Drosophila lifespan and mutagenic effects on flies' physical appearance, but did not significantly affect fertility. Curcumin significantly prolonged lifespan and enhanced fertility for both UV- and non-UV-exposed flies. Therefore, we conclude that curcumin can prolong lifespan, enhance fertility, and mitigate the deleterious effects of UV radiation on Drosophila. Our research demonstrates that we can harness the positive potential of natural antioxidants and use them as weapons in our war against radiation-induced diseases, including conditions like cancer.
Misconceptions Regarding Blindness Are Prevalent: Possible Implications for Best-Practices and Policy Making
Authors: Kumar Shivani , Kumar Amitabh
Published: September 2023

The intention of this study was to investigate the perceptions that sighted people have about blindness and what the visually impaired perceive as the most challenging aspects of being blind. Sighted subjects were given surveys regarding general facts about blindness as well as questions about what they consider to be the most pressing difficulties faced by the blind. Blind subjects were also given surveys that asked them about what they perceive to be the greatest difficulties that they face, conditions that have improved for them, and what changes should be made to improve their lives. We hypothesized that sighted participants would be at least 50% accurate on routine questions about blindness, that blind participants would more often report difficulties in accomplishing daily tasks such as driving and reading as their greatest challenges, and that adults would be more knowledgeable about blindness than minors because of their increased level of education and age. The results from this study suggest that the sighted have significant factual misunderstandings about blindness as well as what should be done to help the blind. The results also demonstrate that blind subjects surveyed for this study find the most challenging adversity to be the lack of awareness and understanding about their circumstances. Additionally, sighted minors and sighted adults did not have a significant difference in their general knowledge about blindness.
Measuring Exoplanetary Radii Using Transit Photometry
Authors: Tang Sarah , Waalkes William
Published: September 2023

The goal of this study was to measure the radii and constrain the orbital periods of three hot Jupiter exoplanets: HAT-P-25b, HAT-P-9b, and HAT-P-30b. Raw images of the host stars were acquired from the Apache Point Observatory in New Mexico. A data processing pipeline utilizing the Python programming language was used to convert the raw data images into calibrated pixels and transit light curve graphs. The graphs of HAT-P-25b and HAT-P-30b were fit with multiple light curve models, which varied based on a given range of radius and time of mid-transit parameters within the code. The data of HAT-P-9b were not further analyzed due to a non-detection in the data. We hypothesized that the differences between the dates the exoplanets were discovered and the dates on which we observed them have no effect on the radii of the exoplanets and their times of mid-transit. Chi-square Goodness of Fit tests were performed on all light curve models to isolate the chi-square value closest to 1.0. Chi-square maps were used to estimate the 1σ error bars for all light curve calculations. A significant shift in mid-transit time (-0.41 ± 0.31 hours from expected value) was detected for HAT-P-25, and a significant difference (0.04 ± 0.0020) from the literature value was calculated for the normalized radius (Rp/R*) of HAT-P-30b. These findings stress the importance of updating exoplanetary measurements and will help scientists obtain more accurate knowledge about the characteristics of these exoplanets and their evolution over time.
A Taste of Sweetness in Bioplastics
Authors: Tsai Jennifer , Fu Yvonne , Ho Karen , Ponnampalam Dino
Published: September 2023

In this study, we used an agricultural waste commonly found in Taiwan, sweet potato peels, to make bioplastic. We manipulated the amount of glycerol added when making the plastic and measured the resulting plastic’s properties. We predicted that reducing the amount of glycerol would result in a firmer and less malleable plastic because glycerol acts as a plasticizer, preventing the polymers from forming brittle, inflexible structures. The process began with extracting starch from sweet potato peels. We also ran the peels and their starch under a flame test to investigate the type of metal ions they contained, which we determined to be Cu2+ and Cu+, respectively. Then, we made bioplastic by heating up the starch mixture with acetic acid, different amounts of glycerol, and water. Allowing the mixture to set, we were left with a thin piece of plastic film. In the final stage of the experiment, we conducted a stress test to evaluate the malleability of plastic mixtures. Our results supported our initial prediction as the plastic containing the greatest amount of glycerol expanded the most, indicating that it had the greatest malleability. We concluded that the ratio of 1:2.4 starch to glycerol would yield the ideal plastic film with a flexible yet firm texture, properties which allow for the plastics to be molded into different structures yet still retain their shapes. Even though we didn’t manage to make a substantial amount of plastic, we have determined a recipe for making bioplastics from agricultural waste such as sweet potato peels. This opens a door for possibilities in slowing down the rate of pollution caused by widespread use of conventional plastics.
Covalently Entrapping Catalase into Calcium Alginate Worm Pieces Using EDC Carbodiimide as a Crosslinker.
Authors: Suresh Sayuj , Struss Herb
Published: September 2023

Catalase is a biocatalyst used to break down toxic hydrogen peroxide into water and oxygen in industries such as cheese and textiles. Improving the efficiency of catalase would help us to make some industrial products, such as cheese, less expensively. The best way to maintain catalase’s conformation, and thus enhance its activity, is to immobilize it. The primary goal of this study was to find a new way of immobilizing catalase. There are many ways to immobilize an enzyme, one of the foremost being entrapment in calcium alginate. In past literature, researchers used calcium alginate as a bead, and an enzyme was physically entrapped into it. This form of immobilization has been proven inefficient because the enzyme is loosely attached to the material. To address this issue, we used calcium alginate as worm pieces with a carbodiimide as a crosslinker. Worm pieces here refer to small uniform pieces of cylindrical calcium alginate made by cutting long strings (worms) into small pieces. This research set out to understand whether or not EDC(1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)carbodiimide hydrochloride) can increase the immobilization of catalase into the calcium alginate. We found that EDC is able to triple the amount of catalase immobilized in calcium alginate compared to only calcium alginate entrapment. This research devised a new type of covalent entrapment that can be used to immobilize many other enzymes that also contain lysine residues. The result suggests that catalase can be better covalently entrapped into the calcium alginate worm pieces using EDC.
The Effects of Ezetimibe on Triglyceride and Alanine Transaminase Reduction in Drosophila Melanogaster Model of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD)
Authors: Dania Abdul-Jalil , Joykutty Leya
Published: September 2023

Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) is a condition where a surplus of triglycerides or fat are present in the liver. The mechanisms leading to NAFLD are variable and poorly understood; however, it is known that high cholesterol, obesity, poor diet, and diabetes are risk factors for fatty liver disease. NAFLD has been previously induced in Drosophila melanogaster through the administration of a coconut oil-based diet, establishing this as a useful model to study the disease and possible treatments. Researchers monitor the progression of the disease through measuring triglyceride levels or alanine transaminase levels, two markers of NAFLD. In this study, ezetimibe, a cholesterol lowering drug, was used to treat flies modeling NAFLD. It was hypothesized that if ezetimibe was tested in a model of NAFLD in Drosophila melanogaster, ezetimibe would effectively lower triglyceride and alanine transaminase levels, two markers of the disease. Flies were held in vials with either a high fat diet or a control diet and were then transferred to control diet vials with or without the drug treatment. Flies were assayed every day over a period of five days and two datasets were collected. Compared to the coconut oil fed flies that were transferred to the control medium, the flies transferred to the control medium treated with ezetimibe showed a decrease in their triglyceride and alanine transaminase level.
Varying Growth Hormone Levels in Chondrocytes Increases Proliferation Rate and Collagen Production by a Direct Pathway
Authors: Bennett Illiana , Joykutty Leya
Published: September 2023

The purpose of this project was to test whether growth hormone directly or indirectly affected the rate at which cartilage renewed itself. Growth hormone could exert a direct effect on cartilage or chondrocytes by modifying the expression of different genes, such as c-myc proto-oncogene, which in return increases the proliferation rate of the cells. In contrast, an indirect effect comes from growth hormone stimulating insulin-like growth factor. The results from this research supported the hypothesis that growth hormone not only increases proliferation rate but does so using the direct pathway. Out of the different levels of growth hormone that were tested, it was found that 0.300 μg/ml had the greatest effect since those samples had the highest collagen concentrations and reached confluency in T75 cell culture flasks in the least amount of time. This research can be used in the medical sciences for people who suffer from joint damage and other cartilage-related diseases, since the results demonstrated conditions that lead to increased proliferation of chondrocytes. These combined results could be applied in a clinical setting with the goal of allowing patient cartilage to renew

itself at a faster pace, therefore keeping those patients out of pain from these chondrocyte-related diseases.
Changes for Development of Al2O3 Coated PVA (Polyvinyl Alcohol) Composite Nonwoven Separator For Improving Thermal and Electrochemical Properties
Authors: Kim Junoh , Yu Ji-Sang
Published: September 2023

In the modern world, lithium-ion batteries are widely used in electronic devices, such as smartphones, laptops, and electric cars. However, they are highly unstable during charging and their capacity drops significantly over time, despite that they are highly efficient and easy to use. Therefore, it is imperative to develop more efficient batteries. Polyolefin-based lithium-ion battery separators are limited by their weak thermal stability. In order to overcome such limitations, we developed a ceramic coated and nonwoven materials based composite separator. We hypothesized that the method used to develop the separator will have improved thermal and electrochemical properties because of superior air permeability and electrolyte uptake. This separator was manufactured by utilizing the Dip-coating method, whereby ceramic layers composed of Al2O3 nanoparticles and Polyvinylidene fluoride-hexafluoropropylene (PVDF-HFP) were coated to both sides of a Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) support which was fabricated by electrospinning. The ventilation map and electrolyte uptake demonstrated that the composite non-woven separator had superior electrolyte uptake properties when compared to conventional PE separators. This resulted in excellent electrochemical properties - especially a great increase in high-rate discharge characteristics. Finally, thermal shrinkage was improved compared to conventional PE separators indicating greater thermal stability. Overall, our PVA separator displayed superior thermal and electrochemical properties. By gaining knowledge on improving heat and thermochemical properties, we can gain critical insight on future lithium-ion battery designs that have to work in extreme conditions.
A Study on the Coagulating Properties of the M. oleifera Seed
Authors: Lakshmanan Aakriti , Welch Matthew
Published: September 2023

Water is an essential part of our lives, but many people struggle to obtain enough clean water to meet their basic needs. However, the solution to this problem may be right in their backyard. Moringa Oleifera (M. oleifera) seeds contain a coagulating protein that can coagulate and remove particles in water. The purpose of this study was to analyze the coagulating efficiency of the seed and to test a new and innovative way to utilize the seed. When the part of the seed responsible for the coagulating properties was isolated and combined with sand, a new functionalized-sand (f-sand) was created. This research aimed to determine how effectively the M. oleifera Cationic Protein (MOCP) functionalized-sand reduces the amount of bacteria compared to other filtration techniques. We accomplished this by testing six different types of contaminated solutions before and after four different filtration techniques: plain sand, f-sand, f-sand with cilantro, and the normal moringa technique, which utilizes only moringa seed powder. We concluded that the MOCP f-sand removed the largest percent of bacteria, and when used in combination with cilantro, it was more efficient than the other techniques. This can have a large impact, especially in developing areas, as it provides a way to have clean water while also helping the economy.
Mapping the Electromagnetic Field in Front of a Microwave Oven
Authors: Xiang Angela , Xiang Hui
Published: September 2023

There is limited evidence that EMF may have negative health effects on human beings with extended exposure. This study measured the power density and strength of EMF at different distances and directions in front of a microwave oven. Our results showed that the EMF levels are high (≥ 100 mG) at “one arm’s length” distance (61 cm) in all directions, although the power density drops to a range of 0.01 – 0.10 mW/cm2. To achieve a power density of 0.05 mW/cm2 or less and an EMF level of 25 mG or less, the distance should be at least 91 cm and 122 cm, respectively, away from the microwave oven, especially in the left and front directions. Based on the measurement data, we created exposure maps using precautionary thresholds of 0.05 mW/cm2 and 25 mG for power density and EMF, respectively. The measurement results help to understand the EMF distribution in front of the microwave oven. The results suggest that one should avoid staying less than 122 cm away from the microwave oven during operation , and that the “one arm’s length” distance (61 cm) may not be sufficient due to the high EMF levels. This study helps to promote awareness of the potential health risks associated with microwave ovens.
Nintendo Da Vinci: A Novel Control System to Improve Performance in Robotic-Assisted Surgery
Authors: Al-Akash Ibrahim , Al-Akash Samhar
Published: September 2023

Complications of robotic-assisted surgery are on the rise, partly due to surgeons not receiving proper training. Using the current Da Vinci (DV) surgical system, surgeons require anywhere between 50 and 3,000 surgeries to achieve adequate proficiency. To improve performance, we have developed a new system using Nintendo Joycon (NJ) controls. We hypothesized the NJ controls would improve surgical performance, so we compared the NJ and DV systems with two user groups (doctor and gamer). The doctor and the gamer performed a defined task using NJ and the DV control systems, in a simulated skills assessment in 2-dimensional (2D) and 3D modes. The task completion time and error rate were used to calculate a Fundamentals of Robotic Surgery Skills Assessment (FRS) score. The FRS was then used to calculate the learning rate using the learning rate formula. The task completion time, error rate, FRS scores, and the learning rate were significantly better with NJ. The error rate risk ratios indicated that the DV control system carried a higher risk of error compared to the NJ control system. The NJ control system was associated with a better task completion time by 83% for the doctor and 88% for the gamer, a lower error rate by 73% for the doctor and 82% for the gamer, better FRS score by 72% for the doctor and 46% for the gamer, and better LR by 84% for the doctor and 86% for the gamer. This study shows that implementing a NJ control system is associated with improved surgical performance and LR compared to DV.
Effects of Common Pesticides on Population Size, Motor Function, and Learning Capabilities in Drosophilia melanogaster
Authors: Abramson Alejandra , Joykutty Leya
Published: September 2023

In this study, we aim to examine the effects of commonly used pesticides on population size, motor function, and learning in Drosophila melanogaster. Specifically, we examined the effects of metolachlor, glyphosate, chlorpyrifos, and atrazine on Drosophila. Pesticides are toxins used to control pests and weeds in crops and in the past, have been connected to multiple health issues in those exposed. Overall, the results were collected using a negative geotaxis assay, aversive phototaxis assay, and a larval learning assay whose data was averaged. This project can be applied to the 1.8 billion people who are exposed to pesticides and assist in defining the connections in between pesticides and the tested diseases.
Testing the Effects of Resveratrol, Apigenin, and Glucosamine to Effectively Reduce Prostate Cancer Cell Proliferation, Migration Levels, and Increase Apoptosis
Authors: Yang Megan , Joykutty Leya
Published: September 2023

The current five-year survival rate of metastasized prostate cancer is only 30% and occurs in every one in nine men. Researchers have shown that people with a type of dwarfism called Laron’s Syndrome are immune to cancer due to their low levels of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1). For this reason, experimentally modifying the level of IGF-1 could provide better insight into whether lowering the levels of IGF-1 in prostate cancer cell lines (e.g. PC-3) could be an effective treatment to reduce their rates of proliferation and migration and increase apoptosis. We selected three compounds, which researchers have shown decrease IGF-1 levels, to test and combine to determine which is the most promising. We conducted a cell proliferation assay in order to determine the impact of each treatment on cell proliferation. We used a migration assay to measure the migration of the PC-3 cells after each treatment. In this assay, we seeded bone marrow mesenchymal stromatolites cells (BM-MSC) underneath the PC-3 cells to induce migration. Finally, we conducted an apoptosis assay to count the number of cell deaths after treating the PC-3 cells. The compounds we used, glucosamine, apigenin, and resveratrol, can be found naturally in foods or supplements. We found the treatment with a combination of all three compounds to be most effective in decreasing cell proliferation and migration levels in the PC-3 cells. In the cell apoptosis assay, the glucosamine and apigenin combination caused the largest number of cell deaths, but an outlier in this condition resulted in a large margin of error. The combination of all three compounds resulted in the second highest number of cell deaths. With these results and further investigation, a potential new, less costly, and less painful treatment for prostate cancer could be found.
Specific Transcription Factors Distinguish Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal Stem Cells From Fibroblasts
Authors: Park Jeongwoo , Jung Sang Youn
Published: September 2023

Now at the forefront of scientific research, stem cells play a crucial role in regenerative medicine and cell therapy. Although noted for their great promise in understanding organismal development and potential as a treatment for various diseases, stem cell research and applications have been limited by ethical and political concerns. However, recent research regarding induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) has revolutionized the principle of stem cell-based treatment, especially since certain ethical controversies are no longer applicable. In 2009, scientists discovered that differentiated somatic cells could be induced to their stem-cell state by expressing transcription factors specific to self-renewal and potency. Since iPSCs are derived from one’s own somatic cells, they bypass ethical and political concerns. Our objective is to further investigate whether specific protein markers, inherent to stem cells and their properties of self-renewal and potency, can be used to identify umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (UC-MSCs). We compared fibroblasts as a control cell type because of their similar physical structure to stem cells and their lack of self-renewal and potency-specific markers. We cultured both cell lines and measured protein levels of four selected factors (β-actin, Klf4, Nanog, and Sox2) using western blot techniques. Our results revealed that these selected proteins were expressed exclusively by UC-MSCs and not by fibroblasts, successfully demonstrating that specific protein markers can be used to distinguish UC-MSCs.
Analysis of Monotherapy and Combination Therapy on Helicobacter felis
Authors: Custodio Christian , Joykutty Leya
Published: September 2023

Helicobacter felis is a bacterium that infects the gastrointestinal systems of small animals (most commonly cats), causing stomach gastritis with symptoms of vomiting, dehydration, poor appetite, pain and weakness. The goal of this study was to determine which antibiotics would be most effective at eradicating H. felis, therefore promoting healing in afflicted animals. It was hypothesized that, in a 24-hour period, a combination of high-performing antibiotics would be more effective in combating infection than monotherapy with a high-performing antibiotic. In the current study, we gathered various antibiotics that have been proven to successfully fight bacterial infections, including ampicillin, gentamicin, streptomycin, tetracycline, chloramphenicol, and oxacillin. We also created a combination of gentamicin and streptomycin, the two most effective monotherapy antibiotics, in addition to a combination of ampicillin and tetracycline, the two most ineffective monotherapy antibiotics. The H. felis was grown on tryptic soy and subjected to the Kirby‑Bauer antibiotic test with eight different antibiotic treatments. After 24 hours of incubation, we measured the inhibition zones of the stand-alone monotherapy antibiotics (i.e., how effective they were against the H. felis). The treatment that proved an overall most effective average eradication rate was the monotherapy with streptomycin. The combination of gentamicin and streptomycin, while second most effective in comparison to the monotherapy, proved to be less effective. This research suggests that it would be best to use a monotherapy in treating animals infected with H. felis.
Effect of the Herbal Formulation HF1 on the Expression of PD-L1 in PC3 cells
Authors: Imani Sanah , Umrao Ankita , Rao Jyothsna , Rao Gururaj
Published: September 2023

Cancer is a disease in which abnormal cells divide in an unregulated and uncontrolled fashion, leading to the formation of tumors. One of the mechanisms supporting cancer cell survival is immune evasion. Cancer cells evade the immune system by producing PD-L1, a ligand that is normally produced by non-malignant cells and that interacts with the PD-1 receptor on T cells; this interaction between the PD-L1 ligand and the PD-1 receptor acts like an “off switch” for the production of large amounts of T cells. Though this interaction prevents T cells from attacking normal cells, it also helps cancer cells hide from the immune system. In this in vitro study, we aimed to determine whether treatment with a proprietary herbal formulation (HF1; under patent by Sri Raghavendra Biotechnologies Pvt Ltd, Bangalore) affects CD274 gene expression in the prostate cancer cell line, PC3.

We hypothesized that the gene expression of CD274 gene (though we have used protein name, PD-L1 to refer the gene) will be reduced in PC3 cells (a prostate cancer cell line, able to express PD-L1 upon induction) treated with HF1 when compared to PC3 cells that have been induced to express PD-L1. We found that HF1 treatment resulted in a 4-fold decrease in PD-L1 expression when compared to control (p < 0.001). Results shows that HF1 and other antioxidants may decrease PDL1 expression and thus could be useful to develop as a novel cancer therapy.
Assigning Lightning Seasons to Different Regions in the United States
Authors: Hawkins Elyse , Barreto Chelsea
Published: September 2023

Climate change is predicted to increase the frequency of severe thunderstorm events in coming years (1). Severe thunderstorms are often accompanied by lightning, which causes an average of 243 injuries and 27 deaths per year in the United States (US) alone (2). With these predicted increases in lightning events, it is important to understand and practice safety during severe thunderstorms. We examined severe thunderstorm data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric (NOAA) database in seven states in the US (Colorado, Florida, Maine, Minnesota, New Jersey, Washington and West Virginia) to characterize lightning seasons over three years (2000, 2008, and 2017). We hypothesized that (i) the majority of severe thunderstorm events will occur in the summer months in all states examined for all years analyzed, (ii) climate change will cause an unusual number of severe thunderstorm events in winter months in all states, (iii) thundersnow would be observed in Colorado, and (iv.) there would be no difference in the number of severe thunderstorm events between states in any given year examined. We were able to classify lightning seasons in all states observed, with the most severe thunderstorm events occurring in May, June, July, and August. Colorado, New Jersey, Washington, and West Virginia were found to have severe thunderstorm events in the winter, which could be explained by increased winter storms due to climate change (1). Overall, it is important to quantify when lightning seasons occur to avoid lightning-related injuries or death.
Herbal Extracts Alter Amyloid Beta Levels in SH-SY5Y Neuroblastoma Cells
Authors: Xu Angelina , Mitchell Margaret Vezza
Published: September 2023

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a type of dementia that affects more than 5.5 million Americans. It is characterized by progressive memory loss and impairment of other cognitive abilities that affect daily life. Unfortunately, there are no approved treatments that can delay the advancement of the disease. However, it is known that factors such as amyloid beta (Aβ) plaques and tau neurofibrillary tangles disrupt connections between neurons, leading to the eventual death of neurons that are responsible for memory. For this investigation, we focused on the neurotoxic Aβ1-40 peptide, which is formed by the amyloidogenic cleavage and processing of amyloid precursor protein (APP), a crucial component in the development of AD. Neuroinflammatory cytokines have also been shown to reduce the efflux transport of Aβ from the brain, leading to increased Aβ concentrations. The objective of the experiment was to test the effects of various herbal extracts (bugleweed, hops, sassafras, and white camphor) on Aβ1-40 peptide levels in human neuroblastoma cells that were transfected to overexpress APP. Due to the herbal extracts’ common anti-inflammatory property, the experiment determined whether or not this property had the potential to change Aβ1-40 concentrations. Prior to the quantification of Aβ1-40 peptide with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), we determined the cytotoxicity of the extracts using an MTT, 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide, assay to discern whether decreases in Aβ1-40 concentrations were the result of cell death. The results indicated that white camphor was toxic to neuroblastoma cells and resulted in decreased Aβ1-40 levels; sassafras was not toxic and resulted in slightly elevated Aβ1-40 levels; hops was not toxic and resulted in increased Aβ1-40 levels; and bugleweed was not toxic, yet resulted in decreased Aβ1-40 levels. Thus, only bugleweed may have the potential to reduce Aβ1-40 levels through its anti-inflammatory properties.
Investigating the Role of the Novel ESCRT-III Recruitment Factor CCDC11 in HIV Budding: A Potential Target for Antiviral Therapy
Authors: Takemaru Leo , Pandya Poojan , Lake Michael W , Carter Carol A , Li Feng-Qian
Published: September 2023

Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is a life-threatening condition caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). By damaging the immune system, HIV compromises the body's ability to fight infectious and non-infectious diseases. To discover potential targets for antiviral therapies, we explored the role of Coiled-Coil Domain-Containing 11 (CCDC11) in HIV-1 budding. CCDC11 serves an important role in cytokinesis by recruiting Endosomal Sorting Complex Required for Transport III (ESCRT-III) membrane scission machinery to the midbody of the cell in preparation for the separation into two daughter cells. ESCRT-III has also been implicated in the budding process of HIV and other enveloped viruses. Therefore, we hypothesized that CCDC11 is required for viral budding. To investigate this, we performed ELISAs (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays) to detect the HIV-1 Gag capsid protein p24 as a measure of viral particle release. We found that ectopic expression of CCDC11 in human embryonic kidney (HEK) 293T cells significantly increased the production of HIV-1 particles in culture media. To rigorously test our hypothesis, we established CCDC11-knockout HEK293T cells using CRISPR-Cas9 technology. CCDC11 knockout was verified by DNA sequencing, western blotting, and immunofluorescence staining. We found that knockout of CCDC11 markedly decreased the production of HIV-1 particles. The defective viral production in CCDC11-knockout cells was partially restored when wild-type CCDC11 was re-expressed. Collectively, our data suggested that CCDC11 is critical for efficient HIV-1 budding. Considering that CCDC11 expression is generally low in the majority of adult human tissues, CCDC11 might be a viable target for antiviral therapeutics without major side effects.
The Effect of Different Fructose Diets on the Lifespan of C. elegans
Authors: Chen Annabella , Fu Anne , Zhang Ralph , Xu Emily , Mathieu Aaron
Published: September 2023

Sugar, such as fructose, is widely known to be a dietary cause for many health complications including diabetes, heart disease, and even cancer, and is an enticing yet harmful substance if consumed in large quantities. Fructose, typically in the form of high-fructose corn syrup, is the sugar most commonly found in fast foods. Thus, we chose to study the health effects of a high fructose diet on humans through experimentation on Caenorhabditis elegans, which are effective model organisms due to their rapid reproduction rate and stability despite variations in environmental conditions. We hypothesized that increasing sugar intake in C. elegans will reduce C. elegans survival, though moderate amounts of sugar may increase survival. The results show that the concentration of fructose had a significant influence on the survival rate of C. elegans. The C. elegans receiving 0% and 5% fructose concentration treatments had much higher survival rates than the 15% plates, which had zero surviving C. elegans after six days. After statistical analysis, the 5% and 15% plates were determined to yield significantly different survival rates. Thus, there is sufficient data to conclude that diets containing high levels of fructose negatively impact C. elegans life, suggesting that diets high in sugars such as high fructose corn syrup are harmful to humans. However, it was not possible to discern any significant difference between the 0% and 5% treatments from the data generated. Further experimentation would be needed to investigate the effects of diets containing a moderate amount of sugar.
A Novel Model to Predict a Book's Success in the New York Times Best Sellers List
Authors: Lee Matthew , Arora Siddhant , Lee Johann , Vaidya Rohan
Published: September 2023

The popularity of media, such as books and music, has historically been considered difficult to forecast. This popularity is important in determining the success that can be achieved once the media is published. Therefore, we aim to evaluate the extent to which this fact holds true, as we propose that these public opinion trends are quite deterministic in nature. We investigated the important non-textual attributes determining a book’s popularity, including but not limited to a book’s previous ranking in the New York Times Best Sellers list and its popularity in searches. We then constructed two models: a generalized classifier of a successful Best Seller and a predictor of a book’s weekly rank on the New York Times Best Sellers list. The reasonable accuracy of our classification and regression models suggest that book popularity is indeed deterministic. These findings point towards definitive characteristics that can help creators produce successful works.
A Cloud-Enabled Communication Strategy for Wildfire Alerts
Authors: Vinaithirthan Bala , Meyyappan Vinaitheerthan
Published: September 2023

The latest wildfires in California have claimed numerous lives and caused billions of dollars in damages. Inadequate alert systems during these natural disasters have resulted in millions of dollars of avoidable damages and deaths. Misinformed or unaware citizens are the most likely to be injured or die during a natural disaster. The traditional alert system in California consists of Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEAs), which lack location specificity, and sign-up-based technology which is limited by the number of sign ups. Those who do not have phones or have a silence option on their devices are most at risk from the current alert system. In the age of affordable computers, this study analyzes the potential viability of an Internet of Things approach to disaster alert. We developed cloud-enabled crisis connection for disaster alerts (CRISIS-CONNECT) to mitigate problems associated with the current alert system. Preliminary tests demonstrate that the novel CRISIS-CONNECT alert system can perform over high and low data speeds, whereas the existing WEA system does not. We further demonstrate that centralized CRISIS-CONNECT alerts can be sent with greater global positioning system (GPS) precision than WEA. Last, we report that the CRISIS-CONNECT device has a comparable battery life to the iPhone 6s, whether in active or standby mode. Taken together, our data positions CRISIS-CONNECT as a strong alternative to address the shortcomings of the current WEA system.
How planarians are affected by mouthwash and cough syrup
Authors: Mebane Lucas , Hill Taylor , Miles Bishop , Miles Rhea
Published: September 2023

Cough syrup and mouthwash are commonly used items and often end up flushed down the drain or toilet. These substances can become dangerously addictive to humans over time and eventually get into freshwater waterways which can be harmful to many marine organisms, such as planarians (aquatic flatworms). To investigate the affects of these substances on planarians, we tested six different concentrations of Listerine mouthwash and its active ingredients and ten different concentrations of Robitussin cough syrup and its active ingredients. We used a behavioral assay to test the effects of mouthwash and cough syrup or their individual active ingredients on planarian behavior. Active ingredients of cough syrup but not mouthwash detrimentally affected planarian behavior. In light of our results, we provide recommendations for the disposal of cough syrup to lessen the environmental effect it can have on aquatic life.
FCRL3 Gene Association with Asthma and Allergic Rhinitis
Authors: Sheikh Shanzeh , Adams Emily
Published: September 2023

This study sought to determine if there is an association between the single nucleotide polymorphism rs7528684 of the Fc receptor-like-3 (FCRL3) gene and asthma or allergic rhinitis (AR). Based on previous studies in an Asian population, we hypothesized that participants with an AA genotype of FCRL3 would be more likely to have asthma and/or allergic rhinitis. To test the hypothesis, surveys were administered to participants, and genotyping was performed on spit samples via PCR, restriction digest, and gel electrophoresis. Our results identified a statistically significant association between the GG genotype of FCRL3 and an increased risk of asthma with comorbid AR. Additionally, we found a statistically significant association between the presence of other allergies with asthma and comorbid AR. These results suggest that having the GG genotype of FCRL3 or having a history of other allergies predisposes one to having asthma with comorbid AR. The results of the study are important in more clearly identifying asthma and AR-related genes such as FCRL3 and the variation in such genes across ethnicities. These findings could lead to earlier diagnosis and advancements in targeted therapies for the highly prevalent diseases of asthma and allergic rhinitis.