Schedule of Events
Science Showcase Poster Session
Friday, April 28, 2023
11:00 am - 12:30 pm
Soiland Arena
Students from disciplines in the Natural Science Division will present their posters in an interactive poster format.
Student Abstracts
Modeling Winning Percentage in the NBA with Linear Regression
Coaching a basketball team trying to win the most games in a league can be difficult. Teams are given a set of players to utilize in a way that will win the most amount of games. The statistic that is chosen should be highlighted in practice and games to increase winning percentage. We seek to determine which statistic should be focused on in order to increase the team's winning percentage.
Student(s):
Brycen Arnold
Faculty Mentor:
Dr. John Villalpando
Effect of Lead Leg and Fatigue on Lower Extremity Joint Angles in the Sagittal Plane During Front Lunges
It is well known that fatigue is one of the most significant factors associated with injury risk in sports. Lunges are a popular movement to incorporate into workouts and with fatigue, instability can become a concern. Research has been conducted on sagittal plane angles during front lunges with and without fatigue in male collegiate badminton players (Du & Fan, 2020). However, there has yet to be research focused on recreationally fit individuals. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of lead leg and fatigue on lower extremity joint angles in the sagittal plane. Recreationally fit individuals 18-30 years old, were recruited to perform two sets of five lunges with each lead leg at a set cadence (4sec/rep), followed by a fatigue protocol (jump lunges), repeating the two sets of five lunges. A motion capture system using 8 Vicon Vantage 5 cameras (120Hz) and 26 markers placed on the participants captured kinematic data. For each lead leg, the joint angle at initial contact, the peak joint angle, time to peak joint angle, and the range of motion at the hip, knee, ankle, and pelvis was measured during the stance phase. Paired t-tests were performed for all angle values for each leg to compare pre and post-fatigue values, and to compare legs pre-fatigue and post-fatigue (p < 0.05).
Student(s):
Isabel Ayala, Rena Edwards
Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Michele LeBlanc Feltner
An Exploration of the Cantor-Zassenhaus Algorithm
Cryptography is a field that is constantly growing and needs more secure mathematical methods to ensure an effective encryption system. Public key cryptography is used to secure information and communication. It is important to secure our communication methods to avoid stolen information. Public key cryptography is used in time stamping, money transfers, and disk encryption. Thus, the exploration of one of the algorithms known as the “Cantor-Zassenhaus” algorithm is significant for securing information. Components of the Cantor-Zassenhaus algorithm will be explained. There will be an exploration of how the algorithm works for small primes. Lastly, some foundational theories, used in the Cantor-Zassenhaus algorithm, will be proved. The algorithm will be explored by working through previous examples from other literature. It is expected to fully understand the algorithm to make conjectures and build on what is already known about the algorithm. Understanding and explaining sub-algorithms used in the Cantor-Zassenhaus algorithm, such as the distinct degree factorization and the equal degree factorization will be an important aspect of analyzing how the algorithm works. The main objective is to generalize the algorithm to other fields, such as finite fields and to understand the advantages and disadvantages of using the Cantor-Zassenhaus algorithm.
Student(s):
Anna Balana, John Villalpando/Faculty Mentor
Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Karrolyne Fogel
Generation of a Novel Immortalized Canine Cell Line via hTERT transfection for In Vitro Cancer Research
While cancer research discovers exciting new innovations every day, there is a pressing need for other model systems to study this complex disease. For many years, researchers have relied heavily on immortalized tumor cells from mice. While a good model system, it has its limitations. Our study aims to develop an alternative tool by generating a new immortalized cell line from canine tissue. Canines have a closer lifespan to humans, live in similar environments, and spontaneously-occurring tumors are available from veterinary removal procedures for laboratory research. A plasmid containing the gene for human telomerase, hTERT, has been utilized in other studies as a method of lengthening telomeres, in turn extending a cell’s life. We hypothesize that transfection of this plasmid into canine cells will activate immortalization and result in a novel cell line for studying cancer cell behavior in vitro. We developed a recombinant plasmid containing hTERT and the gene encoding Green Fluorescent Protein to track transfection and expression. PCR primers were designed to amplify GFP from Freddy (a plasmid obtained from Dr. Michael Abdelsayed, Ph.D’s. Lab), which was digested by ECOR1 and XHO1 restriction enzymes and inserted into our expression vector pGRN145. Lipofectamine 3000 was utilized as a transfection reagent to incorporate our plasmid into primary canine cells in culture. We are continuing to monitor immortalization of these cell lines as we look to the future of research. Our new tool may be instrumental in furthering our understanding of cancer and developing more effective treatments for all.
Student(s):
Patience Berkel
Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Chad L. Barber
Heart Disease Prediction Using Machine Learning
Heart disease is a prevalent health issue worldwide, affecting millions of people each year. The objective of this capstone project was to develop machine learning models to predict whether patients in a dataset have heart disease or not. The dataset used for this project is collected from four databases, including Cleveland, Hungary, Switzerland, and the VA Long Beach, which are available through the UC Irvine Machine Learning Repository. The project used predictive analysis to train and evaluate different machine learning algorithms, such as logistic regression and k-nearest neighbor, to determine the best-performing model. Once the models were developed, they were used to create a Shiny App that serves as a questionnaire to determine a person's chance of having heart disease. The app provides a user-friendly interface that can be accessed by anyone with internet access, making it accessible to a wider audience. Overall, this project aims to provide a practical tool for identifying potential heart disease patients and promote early intervention and prevention efforts.
Student(s):
Taylor Burke
Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Craig Reinhart
Use of an Optimized Artificial Neural Network for Biomarker Diagnosis of Early-Stage Ovarian Cancer
CA125 is a soluble protein that is widely used as an indicator for ovarian cancer when it is found in elevated levels (above 35 units/L) in the blood. However, this method alone for the diagnosis of early-stage ovarian cancer has been proven to be limited, as only 47% of women with early-stage ovarian cancer actually have elevated levels of CA125. Due to a lack of effective screening tools, only 20% of women are successfully diagnosed in the early stages of the disease. Prior studies utilizing artificial neural networks (ANNs) have shown promise in the prediction of ovarian cancer through the use of a Bayesian change-point model to assess CA125 levels along with HE4 and glycodelin to better optimize the detection of the change-points in the time series data to better diagnose ovarian cancer. The goal of this study was to develop an optimized artificial neural network platform in Python that addressed the limitations of the conventional CA125 blood test and of previous ANN studies by utilizing CA125 along with additional proteins (such as glycodelin) that are associated with ovarian cancer and will improve the sensitivity of the tests. The ANN platform utilized a Bayesian change-point model and was optimized with Numpy to assess blood samples found in previous studies. This model not only provides key insights in human health and in decrease of cancer mortality through early detection, but will also pave the way for future studies requiring the use of advanced computational techniques to solve societal problems.
Student(s):
Ruthie Carmeli
Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Grady Hanrahan
Mapping the Genomic Position of a Novel Transgene in Drosophila melanogaster
The Drosophila melanogaster compound eye consists of approximately 750 single eyes (ommatidia). Each eye is separated horizontally by a Dorsal-Ventral (D-V) midline, an “equator,” with ommatidia dorsal to the equator having their photoreceptor cells arranged in a trapezoidal pattern that is a mirror image to those of ommatidia ventral to the equator. During development, the equatorial cells are an important signaling center for proper eye formation. Flies that incorporate an insertion of a white+ (w+) transgene into an unmapped location on the 3rd chromosome were obtained. The phenotype of this line is novel in that the w+ transgene’s expression pattern, visible in a w– genetic background and unlike most w+ transgene expressions, consists of low-level w+ expression throughout the eye, with a much stronger expression of the transgene in the equatorial region, an expression named Racing Stripe [RS]. We have obtained variations of this expression pattern (Pin Stripe [PS] and Swoosh [SW]). This variability is suggestive of epigenetic modification that alters the w+ transgene’s expression. Previous students in the Marcey lab mapped the RS transgene to a proximal chromosome 3R location by recombination. It is important to determine if variations of the original RS expression are caused by mobilization of the w+ transgene to new genomic coordinates, in which case equatorial expression could be attributed to an intrinsic property of the transgene. I have helped design a mating scheme to map the SW transgene on the 3rd chromosome, in collaboration with other students. The mating scheme has been implemented by students in the Marcey lab.
Student(s):
Ruthie Carmeli
Faculty Mentor:
Dr. David Marcey
In Vitro Selection of a Luminescent ssDNA Aptamer for the Fluorophore Thiazole Orange
Aptamers are short ssDNA or ssRNA oligonucleotides that fold into secondary structures that bind to a molecule with high specificity. The study and discovery of RNA aptamers using in vitro selection has been popular for quite some time, but the study of DNA aptamers has not been as popular. This is due to structural differences between DNA and RNA that cause RNA to fold into smaller and more complex secondary structures. However, DNA aptamers have proven to be advantageous because of their increased stability compared to RNA. The aim of this study is to discover a DNA aptamer that binds to the target molecule Thiazole Orange and induces fluorescence of the molecule. The discovery of this DNA aptamer would be of great use in many biochemistry-related fields due to the possibility of imaging cells, proteins, and other molecules on the DNA level using the DNA aptamer and Thiazole Orange complex. In vitro selection, also known as SELEX, was used to find a DNA sequence that binds to Thiazole Orange, starting from a pool of 1016 DNA. After each round of selection, the DNA was purified, amplified, and run on a gel to confirm the selection was performed correctly. After eight rounds of selection, the DNA was cloned, amplified, and tested for fluorescence. Thiazole orange produced increased fluorescence in all of the selected clones, and two of the DNAs produced a 50x increase in fluorescence upon binding to the target molecule.
Student(s):
Emma Caudill
Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Michael Abdelsayed
The Effect of Lead Leg and Fatigue on Lower Extremity Joint Angles in the Frontal Plane During Front Lunges
The single leg lunge is common in many sports during the sport and its preparation. It is also a key tool to analyze leg strength and stability in clinical settings. Research has shown that some lower extremity joint angles in the sagittal plane differ as a result of fatigue interventions. However no investigations have considered frontal plane angles, lead leg, and fatigue. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of lead leg and fatigue on lower extremity joint angles in the frontal plane. Recreationally active individuals age 18-30 yrs old were recruited. They completed 2 sets of 5 forward lunges with each leg at a set cadence (4 seconds/repetition). Participants then completed a fatigue protocol of jump lunges until no more could be performed. Next they repeated the front lunge repetitions. During all front lunge movements, eight Vicon Vantage 5 cameras (120 Hz) captured 26 markers on the participants to calculate frontal plane joint angles. Ankle, knee, and hip joint angle values were identified at the initial contact, extremes in both directions, and range of motion in the frontal plane for both legs during the lead leg stance phase. When completed participants were asked to identify their preferred lead leg. Two factor ANOVA was used to determine angle value differences related to lead leg and fatigue (p < 0.05).
Student(s):
Caleb Christian
Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Michele LeBlanc Feltner
BPF Characterization to MySQL
A BPF (bandpass filter) characterization graph is a representation of the performance of a bandpass filter over a range of frequencies. The graph typically plots the filter's frequency response, which is the relationship between the input signal frequency and the output signal amplitude. The shape of the curve provides important information about the filter's performance, including the center frequency and bandwidth. For my project, I am remaking the BPF characterization graph using an Arduino ShieldBot to first capture the distance measurements. After getting the measurements, I will send the data from the Arduino to my local SQL database using a Wifi transceiver module. Once the data is stored, I will use that data to create a graph that resembles closely to a BPF characterization graph. The research involved includes learning more about Arduino’s capabilities to connect indirectly to computers and local databases as well as the WiFi module connection from Arduino to mySQL.
Student(s):
Jacob Cudiamat
Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Craig Reinhart
Impacts of Soil Amendments on Invasive Plant Suppression and Germination Rates of Native California Plants
Biochar and Vermicompost have been widely known to possess benefits for crops, however there is little research being done on their effects on California native plants. The goal of this project is to determine if these amendments have any impact on the germination, and survival of the native California plants Sphaeralcea ambigua (Desert Mallow) and Encelia californica (Bush Sunflower) and if they have weed suppression properties. Four different soil types were made and were considered a group: 1) control soil; 2) vermicompost amendment; 3) biochar amendment; and 4) combination amendment (vermicompost and biochar). The two native plants that were used in this study were Bush Sunflower and Desert Globemallow. To determine if the amendments had invasive plant suppression properties, Brassica nigra (Black Mustard) was seeded in all plots. On a weekly basis, populations and nutrient tests of phosphorus, nitrogen and potassium were conducted. Preliminary results suggest that the vermicompost amendment plays a role in high germination rates for both invasive and native plants, whereas the biochar amendment has low germination rates for both invasive and native plants.
Student(s):
John East, Manuel Hernandez, a fellow undergraduate student
Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Megan Fung
Heterogenous Soil Microbial Life Dominates Early Soil Development
Soil microorganisms serve as the first biotic soil-forming factor responsible for soil development. However, the trajectory of soil microbial composition and diversity on a landscape, as it colonizes soil microenvironments, is not well understood. To address this gap, fifty-four soil samples were collected from three artificially constructed hillslopes housed at the Landscape Evolutionary Observatory, Biosphere 2 at the University of Arizona. The hillslopes were built in 2012 and are filled with crushed basaltic tephra representative of an incipient soil system, with a microenvironment of bare soil, and soil crusts moss-covered areas developed over the past few years. Microbial DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) was extracted from the soil samples, followed by 16S rRNA (Ribonucleic acid) amplicon sequencing. The sequences were analyzed using a bioinformatics pipeline (QIIME 2, Quantitative Insights Into Microbial Ecology) to reveal microbial alpha and beta diversity characteristics. Statistical analysis was conducted using packages phyloseq and vegan in R studio. Shannon diversity showed significant differences in community composition using pairwise Kruskal-Wallis comparisons between bare soil-moss and bare-soil-crust (p< 0.05) while moss-crust showed no differences. Pairwise-permanova of weighted unifrac dissimilarity index revealed significant (p = 0.001) differences in beta diversity between bare soil and crust and moss coverings. Unique amplicon sequence variants matched to reference databases showed unique taxa present in the three environments. Future work will statistically evaluate environmental variables associated with community differences. The results show that the landscape, despite being in the early stages of development, is evolving to have vastly different microbial communities within the microenvironments.
Student(s):
Justin Garcia
Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Aditi Sengupta
Alternative Concussion Balance Testing Between Land & Aquatic Athletes
Sports related concussions have been a global and community health issue, with up to 3.8 million occurring in the U.S each year (Langlois et. al. 2006). Balance assessments have been an integral part of concussion analysis to assess if an athlete can return to play (RTP). PURPOSE: This study aimed to determine if the SEBT (Plisky et. al. 2009) can assess differences in dynamic balance between land and aquatic athletes as a measure of dynamic postural stability in RTP protocols. We hypothesized that land athletes will outperform aquatic athletes on the SEBT. METHODS: Thirty healthy NCAA DIII athletes (13 male, 17 female) volunteered to participate. Subject height, mass, and leg length were measured. Participants completed the following warm-up: 10 anterior tibialis raises, 10 squats, and 10 single leg RDLs. After a 3-minute recovery, participants proceeded with 3 trials on each leg of the SEBT. Reach in each direction was normalized by leg length and averaged across trials. Paired t-tests in each direction compared land and aquatic athletes (jamovi v2.2.5). Repeated measures ANOVA compared all directions across both groups for each leg. Significance was set at α = 0.05. CONCLUSION: The SEBT was able to determine differences in excursion direction and between athlete populations. Land and aquatic athletes performed approximately equal in each direction, except for when aquatic athletes reached further in the anteromedial direction with the left leg.
Student(s):
Taylor Garcia, Bethany Metcalfe
Faculty Mentor:
Travis Peterson
Kyler Image Manipulation Program
KIMP, or Kyler Image Manipulation Program, is an image editing software that provides users with a wide range of tools and features for editing digital images. KIMP offers a range of features and tools for pixel manipulation, filtering, and analysis. It offers support for a variety of file formats and allows users to create and edit in different formats. KIMP allows users to explore creative freedom through tools that create lines, shapes, and colors. The program can be used for a variety of tasks, including graphic design, photo editing, and digital painting. KIMP is constantly evolving and improving, making it a possible future choice for both amateur and professional image editors.
Student(s):
Kyler Harlow
Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Craig Reinhart
Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) Exposure Induces Apoptosis and a Decrease in Proliferation in a Human Cell Line
Synthetic substances known as forever chemicals are used in the production of many consumer goods such as fast food containers, nonstick cookware, water-resistant clothing, and personal care products. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), Perfluoroalkyl or polyfluorinated Substances (PFAS) are in the bloodstream of about 97% of Americans. PFAS such as Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) has been proven to induce major health concerns such as thyroid disorders, decreased function of the immune system, and several types of cancer. Although these chemicals have been phased out from production due to regulation by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), PFAS break down at an incredibly slow rate, which, over time can result in their accumulation in the environment, animals, and people. As of March 2023, the EPA has put out a proposal to limit the amount of PFOA to 4 parts per trillion. Cell cultures of U-937were treated with varying amounts of PFOA and analyzed for cell survival, proliferation, and apoptosis using hemocytometery and flow cytometry. It was determined that by increasing the concentration of Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) there was an increase in apoptotic and a decrease in proliferating U937 cells. Companies are now resorting to creating shorter carbon-chain compounds, but the concern is that these shorter carbon-chain compounds pose the same threat to human health. Our research supports the class of PFAS being labeled as hazardous, and we aim to further study the mechanism of action of these effects as well as the carcinogenicity of PFOA and other PFAS alike.
Student(s):
Malik Hays, Chad L. Barber, Ph.D.
Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Chad L. Barber
Web-Accessible Rendering Server
In modern times, cloud computing has become a popular system to allow high-performance or high-compute applications to be accessed and controlled by low-powered devices or web based portals, often without the need to install the application. In that regard, I am creating a multi-client capable web-accessible rendering server application to allow users to create and render 3D scenes. The web client will be a single-page application that can be accessed through any modern web browser. It will provide an intuitive interface for the uploading and viewing of assets, viewing finished renders, and editing and running render scripts that describe to the server what the render should produce. The server application will be a RESTful web API that the client and other applications can interact with. It will manage client files and sessions, serve information to the client, interpret and execute render scripts, perform scene creation and manipulation, manage execution threads, and perform post-processing on rendered images.
Student(s):
Eric Heinke
Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Craig Reinhart
Parallax Robot Room Mapping
The robot is programmed with the Arduino IDE and uses a combination of sensors and motors to navigate and measure the environment. The data collected by the robot is then stored on the Raspberry Pi, which allows for easy access to the data. The paper discusses how this system works, its advantages, and potential applications. In order to map a room, the Arduino shield bot utilizes a variety of sensors, including infrared (IR) or rotary encoders, to detect obstacles and measure distances from objects in its environment. The signals from these sensors are then used to control the robot's motors, allowing it to navigate autonomously around the room and gather data on its environment. This data is then stored on the Raspberry Pi, which can be accessed when plugged into a device such as a smartphone or laptop, allowing users to visualize and analyze the data. Using this system provides several advantages over traditional methods, such as speed and accuracy. The robot's sensors allow it to detect obstacles faster than a human eye, reducing wasted time and increasing accuracy. Additionally, since all of the data is stored in one device, it can be accessed quickly without needing to manually retrieve it from each sensor separately. The applications for this system are broad and include applications such as room mapping for virtual reality systems or logistics planning for warehouses. Moreover, since these robots are programmable, they can be easily modified for different tasks or applications.
Student(s):
John Himes
Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Craig Reinhart
Effect of Lead Leg and Fatigue on Three-Dimensional Ground Reaction Forces in Front Lunges
Front lunges are an exercise that are frequently used for strength training and rehabilitation purposes. There have been few studies conducted on front lunge kinetics. In those studies, only vertical ground reaction force (GRF) data for the preferred lead leg was analyzed and only male subjects were included. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of lead leg and fatigue on 3-dimensional GRFs in front lunges. Participants in this study were ages 18 to 30 years old and recreationally active. Lunge length was set to their full leg length (measured from greater trochanter to lateral malleolus). Participants were guided through a 5-minute warm-up on the cycle ergometer, static stretches, and practice lunges. They then completed two sets of five lunges for each lead leg at the same cadence (15 repetitions/minute). Next, they completed a fatigue protocol of jumping lunges, followed by another round of two sets of five front lunges for each lead leg. Two Kistler force plates (1200Hz) collected ground reaction forces in the vertical, anteroposterior, and mediolateral directions. The average and peak forces were identified in all directions for the eccentric and concentric phases for each lead leg. Paired t-tests were performed for all values to compare pre- and post-fatigue values for each leg. Comparisons were also made between lead leg values pre-fatigue and post-fatigue. Significance was determined by p < 0.05.
Student(s):
Jasmyne Holliday
Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Michele LeBlanc Feltner
Kinetic Examination of the Uranium-238 Decay Chain: A Predictive Modeling Approach
All the chemical and physical kinetic parameters of the Uranium-238 decay chain in relation to absorbent properties haven’t been completely elucidated. Thus, being able to predict such parameters using artificial neural networks utilizing atomic mass and molecular weight as inputs will be useful to close this loop. This will be used as a model and allow for greater understanding of radioactive decay processes and how environmental factors may play a role in associated decay chains. Data was gathered by performing an extensive literature review of radionuclides that have kinetic parameter data. This data was used to train a neural network, with subsequent use of molar mass and molecular weight as inputs to be able to predict kinetic parameter outputs. This will be useful as a model to study other radioactive elements and their associated decay chains.
Student(s):
Antonio Huerta, Tiffany Robinson
Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Grady Hanrahan
Genomic Discovery of a FourU RNA Thermometer
Ribonucleic acid thermometers are RNA sequences that oscillate between alternate structures in response to changes in temperature. Under physiological temperature, the ribosome binding site (RBS) is sequestered in a stem-loop structure facilitated by complementary base-pairing within the RNA sequence. The increase in temperature initiates a melting of the thermometer, which allows ribosome access and the beginning of translation. One potential FourU RNA thermometer was found in a bacteriophage that is known to be a pathogen to Bacillus Subtillus. My research aims to test this potential FourU thermometer and confirm its activity. The specific thermometer being researched was found upstream of a protein called BlyA that lyses cell membranes. An enzymatic reporter system was used to quantify the gene expression at 25 degrees Celsius and 42 degrees Celsius. A plasmid was designed to insert the potential BlyA RNA thermometer sequence directly upstream of an enzyme called beta-galactosidase, in order to quantify expression in response to changes in heat. They then grow for about four to five hours at 25 degrees Celsius and 42 degrees Celsius. The next step is to add arabinose to induce the thermometer into fluorescing.The final step is to use different applications on a spectrophotometer to test their fluorescence emissions at specific wavelengths. Our results indicate that BlyA has a significant induction of expression at 42 degrees compared to 25 degrees Celsius, which in turn gives BlyA a much higher fold-induction compared to the two controls: gyrase and FourU. Thermometer activity has been confirmed with three biological replicates.
Student(s):
Alexis Jones, Alina Tong and Michael Abdelsayed, Ph.D.
Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Michael Abdelsayed
Presence of Microbes with Antibiotc Propeties Found Within the Rhizosphere
The antibiotic properties possessed by microbes found within the rhizosphere of soil have been studied in relation to health of the soil and plant growth. Plant Growth Promoting Rhizomicrobes (PGPR) can promote plant growth through biological activity. The objective of this study is to identify presence of microbes with antibiotic produicng properties within the rhizophere of soil, amongst four different traditional soil treatments. The different soil treatments include 100% potting soil, 10% biochar, 20% Vermicompost, and 10% biochar + 20% Vermicompost, used within gardening and farming, to determine the soil with the highest amount of PGPR. The soil with the highest amount of microbes will be considered the most advantageous to use as it serves as a natural and sustainable method of promoting plant growth. In order to observe the effects of PGPR in this study, soil samples are collected from a species of California native plants that were planted in four different types of soil treatments and are kept within a greenhouse. The soil samples collected every two weeks are put through a dilution series and plated on Petri dishes with McConkey Agar, where after incubation the microbe colonies are further analyzed to determine the number of microbes with antibiotic-producing properties. Currently, the most nutrient-rich treatment, 20% Vermicompost is showing the most amount of microbes with antibiotic-producing properties, and therefore the plant growth is substantially more than the plants that are being grown in the other soil treatments. This indicates a healthy rhizophere below the plants surface,near the roots.
Student(s):
Elizabeth King, NA
Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Aditi Sengupta
Mapping the Swoosh white+ Transgene in Drosophila melanogaster
Racing Stripe (RS) is a novel, heritable expression pattern of a white+ (w+) transgene in Drosophila melanogaster, provided by Dr. McElwain (LMU). The RS phenotype displays w+ low-level expression throughout the eye with a band of high-level expression along the Dorsal-Ventral (D-V) equator; this pattern is only observed in a w mutant (w-) background. Variations of RS expression have been recently isolated in our laboratory, including Swoosh (SW) and Pinstripe (PS). These variants all have a high-level of w+ expression similar to RS. Since the D-V equator is an important signaling center in eye development, these expression patterns indicate that the transgene has trapped the enhancer of a key developmental gene. To determine the position of w+ transgene on, SW was mapped using marker mutations on the third chromosome. Our data show that the w+ transgene in SW maps to the same chromosomal location (proximal 3L-proximal 3R) as RS. This indicates that the expression pattern of SW is due to the insertion of the transgene near a specific gene, rather than an inherent property of the transgene itself. We conclude that variations of expression are due to genetic modifiers of expression rather than transgene movement, suggesting that the novel, equatorial expression is a position effect. We hypothesize that SW has inserted itself near fringe (fng), a gene expressed at the D-V equator during development. A lethality complementation assay is being conducted by crossing SW to various fng deficiencies to test this hypothesis.
Student(s):
Alexis Long
Faculty Mentor:
Dr. David Marcey
Analyzing the Impact of Temperature Changes on the Preservation of Marine Microfossils
Paleoclimatologists use the shells of single-celled marine microfossils, called foraminifera, to reconstruct past climates. Under ideal conditions, foraminifera shells retain the chemical signature of their oceanic environment, recording past temperatures, ice volume, and sea level. Until recently, various definitions drove the categorization of the shell's preservation state, leaving the potential to use poorly-preserved foraminifera in geochemical analyses and creating possible offsets in climate reconstructions. The purpose of this research is to: 1) expand the use of the newly defined Foraminifera Preservation Index (FPI) and; 2) determine if FPI values change during cold, glacial conditions versus warm, interglacial conditions. Overall, we expect to see better foraminifera preservation (higher FPI scores) during glacial periods compared to interglacial periods, and increasing degrees of chemical deterioration and increasing offsets in isotopic values as preservation decreases. We focused on 21 marine sediment samples from Site 846A in the Pacific Ocean ranging in age from ~115,000 to ~36,000 years ago (cycling from warm to cooler conditions). In each sample, the Cibicidoides genus was removed under a microscope, each specimen was categorized by preservation (i.e. glassy, pseudo-glassy, frosty), and FPI was determined. High-resolution pictures of specimens from each preservation state confirmed accurate identifications. Samples were shipped to the RPI Stable Isotope Laboratory in Troy, NY for future isotopic analyses. In general, we found higher abundances of Cibicidoides in the smaller size range (150-250μm) at each depth interval. Deeper intervals contained higher percentages of sand and higher FPI scores (>15), indicating better overall preservation.
Student(s):
Cecilia Lopez, Shannon Worely, Dr. Megan Fung
Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Megan Fung
The Quantification of Microfibers in the Marine Predator Loligo Opalescens
Over the past decade, the research on marine microfibers has gained considerable attention, as well as an improved scientific understanding of their impact on various ecosystems. Microfibers, tiny pieces of plastic measuring less than 5mm in length, are a type of microplastic shed from synthetic fabrics made of materials such as nylon, polyester, and acrylic. These materials are a common source of pollution in waterways and the species that inhabit them. Our present study focused on the presence of microfibers in the gastrointestinal and respiratory tracts of the Pacific Squid, Loligo opalescens. This species is a tertiary consumer and a keystone species for many marine species found along the coast of Southern California. The number of microfibers was quantified under a light microscope after the dissection and vacuum filtration of the gut and gill tissue. The results showed that the gut tissue had 2.9 microfibers on average and the gill tissue had 3.9 microfibers. These findings demonstrate that the Pacific Squid and many other marine animals are acquiring microfibers from their environment, either through the ambient environment or through their trophic systems. The Pacific Squid's role as a keystone species and the theory of microfiber trophic transfer suggests that microfiber pollution may also impact other members of its ecosystem. This is particularly concerning as microfibers have the potential to disrupt entire ecosystems and harm various species, including those that are keystone species.
Student(s):
Alex Mazaheri, Andrew Karamian
Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Andrea Huvard
Malayopython Reticulatus Jampeanus: The Smallest Biggest Snakes in the World
Malayopython reticulatus jampeanus, more commonly known as Dwarf and Super Dwarf Reticulated Pythons, are a subspecies of the longest snakes in the world. They hail from the Selayar Island Chain off the southern coast of Sulawesi, causing them to drastically shrink in body size in response to their environment. Despite being a multi-million-dollar industry, little is known about them outside of captivity. In this project, I will examine the natural history, morphology, ecology, phylogeny, taxonomy, importation history, history in captivity, captive husbandry, legality, conservation, and ethics surrounding them. This work will shed light on a burgeoning subsection of the captive reptile trade in an accessible, scientific manner to bridge the divide between herpetoculture and herpetology.
Student(s):
Glen McClellan, N/A
Faculty Mentor:
Dr. David Marcey
Are there Balance Differences between Aquatic and Land Athletes?
PURPOSE: This study aimed to determine if land athletes have better inherent balance ability than aquatic athletes as determined by the BESS test. METHODS: One hundred forty-two healthy, NCAA DIII athletes (65 aquatic, 77 land) volunteered in accordance with the California Lutheran University IRB. An independent t-test (or Mann Whitney U test) compared BESS performance between land and aquatic groups for each condition and overall (α = 0.05, jamovi v2.3.18). RESULTS: There was a significant difference between total BESS scores for land (13.10 ± 5.52) versus aquatic athletes (16.82 ± 5.72, t(140) = 3.98, p < 0.001). Land athletes (2.32 ± 2.27) outperformed aquatic athletes (3.49 ± 2.35) in the one-leg flat BESS condition (W = 1740, p = 0.002, Fig.1). Land athletes (2.28 ± 2.45) also outperformed aquatic athletes (4.22 ± 3.05) in the two-leg tandem foam BESS condition (W = 1837, p = 0.006). CONCLUSIONS: Land athletes displayed better balance than aquatic athletes on the BESS test overall and in two of the more difficult conditions. It is noteworthy that the most difficult condition (one leg foam) did not display differences between athlete types, while other conditions produced little to no balance errors (two leg flat, two leg foam) for either group.Future studies with pre- and post-concussion BESS results will help determine the utility of all current BESS conditions and whether adjustments to current protocols should be made to accommodate different athlete populations.
Student(s):
Bethany Metcalfe
Faculty Mentor:
Travis Peterson
Anti-Cancer Effects of Methyl Protodioscin on MCF-7 Breast Cancer Cells and its Role in Apoptosis
Methyl Protodioscin (MPD) is a bioactive component extracted from Dioscorea collettii var. Hypoglauca (common name: true yams plant), which has anti-cancer properties and is used in Chinese herbal treatments. The Dioscorea genus produces steroidal saponins, glycosidic compounds which inhibit cell growth and induce apoptosis in vitro. MPD is a steroidal saponin commonly used for its antiproliferative, antitumor activities on various cell lines. The purpose of this study is determining the effect of MPD on proliferation, migration of MCF-7 breast cancer cells and its role in apoptosis. To observe the effects of MPD in vitro, we treated MCF-7 cells with varying concentrations and observed several cellular behaviors. We measured cell viability post treatment using hemocytometry. We also used scratch wound assays to determine effects of MPD on migration. Flow cytometry was used to quantify apoptotic cells after treatment. Preliminary findings suggest MPD did significantly inhibit cell proliferation and decreased cell viability. Experiments measuring apoptosis and migration are still in progress. Future directions include finding synergistic effects of chemotherapeutic drugs with bioactive compounds like MPD to improve treatments for cancers.
Student(s):
Lucy Minasian
Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Chad L. Barber
Analysis of Microfibers Found in the Tissue of Marine Filter Feeding Oyster, Ostrea
Microfibers are a rising concern because they are ingested by marine life and can cause a potential poison in the food chain. These fibers that can measure less than or equal to 5 micrometers release into the ocean from various sources, including the wastewater from washing machines. Yearly, there is an average of two million tons of microfibers disposed into the oceans through a variety of sources (Mishra et al. 2019). Wastewater treatment plants are not designed to catch microfibers, resulting in the astronomically large amount of microfibers in the ocean. Oysters can filter feed many of the microfibers in the ocean, however, the microfibers may become incorporated into the oysters’ visceral mass which may be consumed by other species, for instance humans. This study aims to determine the number of microfibers found in the visceral mass of filter feeding oysters. We observed Ostrea from waters off the coast of California (n=152). A filtration method with 30% H2O2 was used after oyster visceral mass was separated by density in a saline solution. The oyster size (mm) and mass (g), as well as microfiber color and quantity per oyster was recorded. There was a statistical significance between the microfiber color per oyster with black being the most abundant at 55% compared to other colors. However no statistical significance was shown between the amount of microfibers found in different masses. This study has determined that oysters may reasonably be a bioindicator of microfiber pollution in the ocean.
Student(s):
Yuliana Montes
Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Andrea Huvard
CyberDuck, the Security Assistant
“Rather than fearing or ignoring cyber attacks, do ensure your cyber resilience to them,” Stephane Nappo, Global Head Information Security for Société Générale International Banking. As the world becomes ever more reliant on technology and the average citizen slowly increases their online presence, the need for greater personal technological security also increases. Threat actors target our most vulnerable, whether they are individuals or members of larger organizations with access to incredibly sensitive information. As the complexity of commercially available technology increases, the minimum level of technical aptitude does, as well.
However, despite the prevalence of technology in every sector in the US, the basic technical education of our citizens has not improved. Many citizens, both younger and older generations, may know how to use the technology they buy, but they do not know how to secure themselves and their personal information on it. In an attempt to rectify the lack of technical growth, this app works to not only educate its users on common types of socially-engineered technology scams, but also provides its users with a way to create and locally store strong passwords for any website, isolate possibly dangerous files and weblinks from accessing the rest of their device, and is accessible and easy to use through the addition of voice commands.
However, despite the prevalence of technology in every sector in the US, the basic technical education of our citizens has not improved. Many citizens, both younger and older generations, may know how to use the technology they buy, but they do not know how to secure themselves and their personal information on it. In an attempt to rectify the lack of technical growth, this app works to not only educate its users on common types of socially-engineered technology scams, but also provides its users with a way to create and locally store strong passwords for any website, isolate possibly dangerous files and weblinks from accessing the rest of their device, and is accessible and easy to use through the addition of voice commands.
Student(s):
Amir Montgomery
Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Craig Reinhart
The Separation and Characterization of Phenolic Compounds
This study demonstrates the tested link between model phenolic compounds (2,4,6 trichlorophenol & 2,4 dichlorophenol) and the formation/electrophoretic separation of them through biomarker screening instruments gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC-MS) and capillary electrophoresis (CE). Abundance and mass-to-charge determinations were used to confirm their presence in standards of methanol and to construct relevant calibration graphs on the GC-MS. Baseline resolved separation of these compounds were also demonstrated by CE under the following conditions: 50 mM Sodium Tetraborate buffer (pH=8.0) with 5% methanol and 25 mM Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate, +10.0 kV running voltage, injection time = 3.0 s. These results exhibit the ability to detect the compounds at different concentrations in order to be able to elucidate them in human urine and blood samples. This, along with the mechanistic approach, allows us to understand the breakdown of these compounds and how they may be presented/detected in urinary and blood samples for biomarker research.
Student(s):
Chelsea Munoz
Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Grady Hanrahan
Using a Deep Learning Model to Perform Sentiment Analysis Using Social Media Reviews
Over the past decade, social media has become an indispensable tool for consumers online and due to the rise of online shopping and the amount of time people spend on social media, social media has directly impacted consumer buying decisions. With more than 80% of consumers being influenced by reviews and comments given on various social media sites, companies have begun considering how these reviews affect their overall brand image and their current and potential customers. To deliver the most empathetic and relevant customer service experience, businesses, and organizations are now trying to understand and utilize customer sentiment across all channels of social media by implementing sentiment analysis.
Sentiment Analysis is the process of retrieving information about a consumer's perception of a product, service, or brand and then turning the data collected into insights using a deep learning model. Since deep learning models are trained using a neural network architecture, I assessed online social media comments by using a Recurrent Neural Network to perform Natural Language Processing. I divided the labeled dataset into a training set and test set and began training my network to analyze the social media data and classify it as a positive or negative comment. I then tested the network using the test set to check the accuracy of the network.
Conducting AI-driven sentiment analysis gives businesses and organizations an accurate picture of customer preferences and market trends which is critical for developing an impactful growth strategy that is essential for businesses.
Sentiment Analysis is the process of retrieving information about a consumer's perception of a product, service, or brand and then turning the data collected into insights using a deep learning model. Since deep learning models are trained using a neural network architecture, I assessed online social media comments by using a Recurrent Neural Network to perform Natural Language Processing. I divided the labeled dataset into a training set and test set and began training my network to analyze the social media data and classify it as a positive or negative comment. I then tested the network using the test set to check the accuracy of the network.
Conducting AI-driven sentiment analysis gives businesses and organizations an accurate picture of customer preferences and market trends which is critical for developing an impactful growth strategy that is essential for businesses.
Student(s):
Malaika Nazim
Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Craig Reinhart
Java Inc.
The purpose of this research project is to determine the best components required to open up a small coffee shop. The focus on coffee coming from the coffee belt is expressed, as well as why outsourcing is beneficial. Analyzing and comparing ideologies from various other small businesses will help identify locations where to outsource and why. Comparison of different databases, servers, software, and hardware are portrayed depicting what is better used for a small coffee shop. This research will help identify the benefits of outsourcing and what type of data or services can be outsourced. When starting a small business, it is essential to identify stakeholders and valuable personnel to run the business.
Student(s):
Megan Nirshberg
Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Craig Reinhart
Common Carotid Artery Hemodynamic and Stiffness Responses to Acute and Repeated Bouts of High Intensity Exercise
Physiological stress induced by intense cardiorespiratory and muscular strengthening exercise has clinically relevant cardiovascular benefits. However, the immediate cerebrovascular response to acute and repeated bouts of intense exercise has yet to be determined. PURPOSE: To observe the hemodynamic and stiffness indexes of the common carotid artery (CCA) in response to acute and repeated bouts of cardiorespiratory and resistance exercise. METHODS: Participants (n=28) performed a maximal oxygen consumption test (VO2max), leg strength test (1RM), a sprint interval session (SIS, all out 20m sprints, 3 sets, 6 repetitions), and a repeated leg press session (RLP, 80% of 1RM, 3 sets, 6 repetitions). CCA peak systolic velocity (PS), end-diastolic velocity (ED), time-averaged maximal velocity (TAMAX), time-averaged mean velocity (TAMEAN), pulsatility index (PI), and average diameter (DIAM) were captured in the supine position by Doppler ultrasound before and within 10 minutes of the cessation of exercise. Carotid stiffness index (β), Peterson’s Elastic Modulus (Ep), distensibility (DISTEN), and compliance (AC) were calculated. RESULTS: Significant changes were observed in heart rate (HR) across all condition (p<0.05 for all). VO2max significantly changed PS (p<0.001), ED (p=0.029), TAMAX (p=0.002), TAMEAN (p=0.018), PI (p=0.009), and DIAM (p=0.028). SIS significantly changed PS (p<0.001), ED (p<0.001), TAMAX (p<0.001), TAMEAN (p<0.001), β (p=0.009), Ep (p=0.008), AC (p<0.001), DISTEN (p=0.002). When comparing response of each measure(Δ) between conditions, main effects were evident for HR (p<0.001), PS (p=0.002), ED (p=0.009), PI (p=0.003), β (p=0.027), Ep (p=0.047), DIAM (p=0.027), DISTEN (p=0.017). CONCLUSION: Acute and repeated bouts of high intensity cardiorespiratory and resistance exercise induce hemodynamic and stiffness changes in CCA.
Student(s):
Zaria Opara
Faculty Mentor:
Allan Knox
Distribution and Abundance of Microfibers Found in Ostrea from Grassy Bar Oyster Company in Morro Bay, CA
This study aimed to determine the number of microfibers (MF) found in Ostrea from Grassy Bar Company, an aquaculture facility in Morro Bay, California by weight and size. In order to determine the number of microfibers, 151 oysters were collected and processed for microfiber pollution. Oysters were dissected, measured, and ground into a paste form. These were left in 32% hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) + seawater treatments in flasks for 72 hours. The solutions were filtered through a vacuum pump, and the results were analyzed using light microscopy. A high number of black and blue microfibers were found probably due to the greater amount of dark clothes people use. Heavier weight Ostrea was compared to a lighter weight to determine which contained more microfibers. The number of microfibers per gram of oyster tissue was higher in lighter oysters with 0.93 MFs/g of soft tissue than in heavier oysters with 0.54 MFs/g. When small-size Ostrea was compared to big-size Ostrea, we found the number of microfibers per sample was higher in smaller oysters with 10.1 MFs/oyster than in bigger ones with 9.8 MFs/oyster. These results suggest that microfiber abundance is not determined by filtration capacity due to the size or weight of the specie. Instead, it is determined by the environment the specie lives in and the level of human activity.
Student(s):
Keury Ortez Hernandez, Yuliana Montes
Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Andrea Huvard
The Effect of Fatigue on Front Lunges: Non-Preferred Leg Center of Pressure Movement
Front lunges are a common exercise in strength and conditioning programs. Extensive research on front lunge biomechanical movement exists previously, however, the existing research lacks information regarding fatigue or center of pressure (COP). The aim of this study was to determine the effect of fatigue on COP behavior in non-preferred lead leg front lunges. Participants were ages 18 to 30 and recreationally active. Participants were guided through sufficient warm up and practiced the lunge movement, barefoot, at the cadence of 15 Hz. Step length was set at 70% of leg length (measured from greater trochanter to lateral malleolus). Participants completed two sets of five front lunges with their non-preferred lead leg at the same cadence. Participants then completed a fatigue protocol of jumping lunges, followed by two more sets of five lunges with the same lead leg. Three Kistler force plates (120 Hz) collected ground reaction forces and Vicon software was used to determine COP and events. COP was reported as the average location of all ground reaction forces on the foot. Total distance of the change in location of COP, average and standard deviation of the difference from the mean COP, and range during the eccentric and concentric portion of the lunge stance phase in the anteroposterior and mediolateral directions for lead and trailing legs was measured. Paired t-tests were performed to determine differences due to fatigue (p < 0.05.).
Student(s):
Logan Randall
Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Michele LeBlanc Feltner
Quantification of Synthetic Microfibers in the Pacific Mole Crab & Sediments in Ventura County
There are many research studies that provide valuable information on filter-feeding organisms and how they are at risk and heavily affected by pollution in the ocean. This type of research mainly focuses on the abundance of marine microfiber pollution that could be found in sediments and common filter-feeders such as the Pacific Mole Crab. The proposed research expects that microfiber pollutants will be found inside the filter-feeding organism Emerita analoga. It is also expected that there will be a significant increase in the number of microfibers in the Emerita crabs from the watershed location, Sycamore Canyon. The objective of this research is to provide support for the claim that this species of mole crab (Emerita analoga) would be good bioindicators for pollution. Sample collections were performed in watershed and non-watershed environments in Ventura County. A sand corer and shifter were used in order to locate and collect the wanted species, then immediately frozen in styrofoam containers for transportation/storage. The crabs were defrosted and dissected in the lab, and their visceral parts were ground in a mortar and pestle for degradation. Approximately 50 mL of 30% H2O2 was used to turn the crab samples into inorganic material and were filtered over a 5 μm cellulose nitrate membrane filter. Sediment samples of 100 mL from each location were measured and recorded, and each sample underwent a five-wash series using 5 μm cellulose nitrate membrane filters. Under a microscope, microfibers were inspected, counted, and set apart from each other by color.
Student(s):
Nicolina Ranieri, Dominic Berger
Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Andrea Huvard
Metabolic Elucidation and Chemical Toxicity Modeling of Natural Medicines and Herbal Remedies
This study demonstrated the development of an optimized artificial neural network (ANN) platform that predicts median lethal dose (LD50) values of natural medicines and herbal remedies and the identification of xenobiotic metabolic pathways mediated by liver enzyme Cytochrome P450 that lead to potential toxicity. Bioactive compounds were extracted from natural medicines and identified with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), with high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) as a reference method. With a focus on flavonoid Quercetin in Ginkgo Biloba supplement pills, theoretical models were developed to predict reactive intermediates and secondary metabolites. Generation of hydrogen peroxide and subsequent hydroperoxyl radical production, as well as free radical intermediates and reactive secondary metabolites, were proposed as sources of toxicity, as these species are involved in processes such as lipid peroxidation and DNA and protein damage. An ANN platform was programmed in C++ that related chemical structure to LD50 values using a gradient descent algorithm, optimized with a momentum term, for error minimization. GC-MS results characterized Quercetin 5TMS derivative in Ginkgo Biloba sample and standard solutions. Quantitative determination of Quercetin in one Ginkgo Biloba supplement pill by HPLC standard addition was 33mg ± 4mg, or 9% ± 1% by mass, which agreed with the supplement’s claim of total flavonoid content, not limited to Quercetin, of 24%. Training of the ANN resulted in an average percent error for unknown LD50 value prediction of 13.5%, the best model obtaining a 3.5% error.
Student(s):
Tiffany Robinson
Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Grady Hanrahan
Effects of a 16-Week Home-Based Strength Training Trial on Depression in Obese Latino Adolescent Boys
While data has shown that overall prevalence of depression is 6% in adolescents, they are primarily based on white children. Incidents are higher in Latino kids (22% suffer from depression) and fewer receive treatment when compared to white children (8% vs 14%, respectively). Given the prevailing impact of mental health disorders in youth, it’s essential that effective interventions are identified and implemented. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of a 16-week home-based strength training program on reduction of depression symptoms in obese Latino adolescent boys. 32 Obese Latino boys aged 14-17 years, were recruited for the study. The participants were randomly assigned to one of two groups: 1) Control (n=16) with no intervention or 2) intervention (n=16). BMI percentiles for age and gender were determined using CDC age cut-offs. Height and weight were measured using a beam medical scale and wall-mounted stadiometer. Depression was assessed using the CES-D scale. All testing was performed before and after the 16 weeks. 30 participants completed the study. All participants had a BMI in the 95% percentile. All participants attended >85 % of the strength training sessions. Repeated Measures General Linear Model showed significant improvements in the intervention group, with participants reporting an “increased happiness” (p=0.06) and increased “enjoyment in life” (p=0.009). In the intervention group, scores improved for questions such as “I felt depressed”, and “I felt sad”, although these improvements were not statistically significant (p=0.16, p=0.17 respectively).
Student(s):
Emilio Rodriguez, Louise Kelly, Alan Knox, Rakaihya Thomas, Jonathan Hernandez Aguilar, Melanie Panosian, Alexandra Knipprath
Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Louise A. Kelly
Utilization of Shield-Bot, Pixy2, and Gripper to Sort Objects
The BOE Shield-Bot was introduced by Parallax Inc. in 1999 and has been widely used for robotics, electronics, and programming curriculums because of its simplicity and applicability to real-world robot applications. New uses for robots emerge constantly, and the BOE Shield-Bot was designed to experiment with circuit-building and programming by utilizing electronic components. To enhance the functionality of the BOE Shield-Bot, a Gripper Kit and Pixy2 CMUcam were obtained to fulfill the task of picking up an object that is around 2 inches wide and 4 ounces without counterweight. The goal of the project was to utilize the visual abilities of the Pixy2 CMUcam as the sensor and teach it to detect only objects that we are interested in–small, colored blocks. Once the Pixy2 CMUcam processes the objects and registers their different color signatures, the BOE Shield-Bot, with the aid of the gripper, will execute a grab-and-lift motion backed by a single servo to locate the colored block we are searching for. This project aims to give the BOE Shield-Bot human-like qualities to fulfill tasks that we run into in our day-to-day activities (e.g. sorting).
Student(s):
Reyna Rodriguez
Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Craig Reinhart
The p-adics, Continued Fractions, and Their Construction
This project investigates what happens to division when counting by primes instead of base ten. When counting with a prime base, we must use a new measure of size (a valuation) to compare numbers. The p-adic valuation uses the power of the prime base that divides a number to determine the size of it. We use this p-adic valuation to compute division with a "small" remainder relative to the prime base. We adapt the Euclidean Algorithm to the p-adics, using the theory of Linear Diophantine equations to find pairs of solutions for the quotient and remainder. This division enables us to construct a type of nested fraction called a continued fraction. We explore conditions that allow the construction of continued fractions across a specific type of algebraic structure called an Integral Domain. The p-adics meet these conditions. Continued fractions only occur when the Euclidean Algorithm can be applied. These types of Integral Domains are known as Euclidean Domains.
Student(s):
Jacob Rosales
Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Karrolyne Fogel
Body Composition and Performance Associations with Carotid Artery Hemodynamics and Stiffness Indices
Sex differences in physiological parameters are being increasingly recognized as a robust prognostic factor in individuals at risk or suffering from cardiovascular disease. Body composition and physical performance measures of cardiorespiratory fitness and muscular strength are strongly associated with overall vascular health. PURPOSE: This study aimed to determine if body composition and physical performance measures were related to common carotid artery (CCA) hemodynamics and stiffness in males and females. METHODS: College-aged males and females who were free from cardiovascular risk factors performed a maximal oxygen consumption test (VO2max) via indirect calorimetry and a maximal leg strength test (1RM) by seated leg press. CCA peak systolic velocity (PS), end-diastolic velocity (ED), time-averaged maximal velocity (TAMAX), time-averaged mean velocity (TAMEAN), pulsatility index (PI), and average diameter (DIAM) were captured in the supine position by Doppler ultrasound. Carotid stiffness index (β), Peterson’s Elastic Modulus (Ep), distensibility, compliance, and average diameter were calculated. RESULTS: Significant associations were observed between VO2max and β (r=-0.724, p=0.008) within the male sample. Within the female group, associations were evident between 1RM and CCA distensibility (r=-0.537, p=0.039). Total mass (kg) was associated with peak systolic velocity (PSV) (r=-0.524, p=0.037), end diastolic velocity (EDV) (r=-0.516, p=0.041), and CCA diameter (r=0.618, p=0.011). Fat free mass (kg) was associated with ED (r=-0.565, p=0.023) and diameter (r=0.533, p=0.033), in addition to FFM (%) presenting associations with pulsatility index (r=0.531, p=0.034). CONCLUSION: Associations between performance and body composition measures with CCA hemodynamic and stiffness parameters vary between males and females.
Student(s):
Lavleen Sandhu
Faculty Mentor:
Allan Knox
Arduino Self-Driving RC Car
A robot is an autonomous system that exists in the physical world, can sense its environment and can act on it to achieve some goals. In order to create my own autonomous robot, I decided to create a self-driving RC car. To do this, I have decided to use an Arduino Uno with a hc-05 Bluetooth module, two dc motor controllers, and a GPS module attached to it which was all connected to an RC car with two dc motors. The RC car uses the Bluetooth module to send and receive data from a nearby laptop. The laptop is using a java program using the google maps API to take 2 latitudes and longitudes and return turn-by-turn directions from these two directions. The RC car will then be able to follow the directions and reach within a 2-meter radius of the desired destination.
Student(s):
Kabir Seth
Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Craig Reinhart
Thermoregulatory Translational Control of Heat Shock Protein 20 and Other Genes By Novel RNA Thermometers
RNA thermometers are a type of functional RNA that melt in response to an increase in temperatures, which then leads to the opening of the structure, allowing for access to the Shine-Dalgarno sequence (SD). With access to this sequence now available, the RNA thermometer can express the gene that is attached to it. We are exploring five potential RNA thermometers and four unique genes: the production of TetR/AcrR family transcriptional regulators, RNA polymerase subunits, Isoleucine tRNA ligase, and heat shock protein 20 (hsp20), which is the gene that appears in two of our thermometers.
We will be testing for the presence of an RNA thermometer through a fluorescence reporter system using green fluorescent protein (GFP) and red fluorescent protein (RFP). Our plasmid is designed so that GFP will be before the RNA thermometer insert and RFP will be after it. When the cells are heat shocked, the thermometer will melt, allowing for the production of RFP. The GFP will act as a control since should be production before and after heat shock. Using this reporter system, we have seen our highest heat induction values at around 1.3 fold, which is similar to our positive control BlyA. While this data is not conclusive, it does make us hopeful that we have at least one RNA thermometer amongst our samples. We will have to conduct further testing however, such as inducing mutations to see if there is a loss of function and conduct structural analyses.
We will be testing for the presence of an RNA thermometer through a fluorescence reporter system using green fluorescent protein (GFP) and red fluorescent protein (RFP). Our plasmid is designed so that GFP will be before the RNA thermometer insert and RFP will be after it. When the cells are heat shocked, the thermometer will melt, allowing for the production of RFP. The GFP will act as a control since should be production before and after heat shock. Using this reporter system, we have seen our highest heat induction values at around 1.3 fold, which is similar to our positive control BlyA. While this data is not conclusive, it does make us hopeful that we have at least one RNA thermometer amongst our samples. We will have to conduct further testing however, such as inducing mutations to see if there is a loss of function and conduct structural analyses.
Student(s):
Kaelan Tenhoff
Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Michael Abdelsayed
IOS App Development: Designing and Developing an Original Notecard App from Scratch
Apple IOS app development is a major area of application in computer science and also taps into a huge market with endless possibilities. IOS apps are integral components to millions if not billions of people’s lives both from a social aspect and utility aspect. Social media apps dominate the apple market and many other utility apps (bank apps, health apps, fitness apps, etc.). However, there only seem to be a small few notable notecard apps, most notably Quizlet and Anki that dominate the IOS app market. However, Quizlet’s features are mostly pay-walled, leaving many to be forced to pay the premium for access to higher-level features. This project seeks to develop an IOS notecard app using Swift and XCode that would be able to serve users a reliable and more efficient notecard app that is free. With this app, users will be able to create flashcards and decks, insert images and text into the cards, share cards, scan paper notes into flashcards, and more. This allows people around the world to be able to access some of the paid features that Quizlet has locked behind a paywall for free, increasing demand and desirability.
Student(s):
Roy Vaknin, N/A
Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Craig Reinhart