NJRSF Abstracts, 2005

BIOCHEMISTRY

BOTANY

BEHAVIORAL SCIENCE

CHEMISTRY

COMPUTER SCIENCE

ENGINEERING

ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE

MICROBIOLOGY

MEDICINE and HEALTH

PHYSICS

ZOOLOGY

BIOCHEMISTRY

Link Between The Nematodes

With the completing of the Human Genome project, there has been increased interest in sequencing many other organisms such as C. remanei being one. The genes of the nematode have never been determined before; the researcher dedicated her skills to sequencing C. remanei’s DNA. This researched sequenced the genome of C. remanei and attempted to examine the causes of coding introns in a non coding region. The research used various techniques from C. remanei gene in order to isolate and then sequencing those genes. Programs such as BLAST was used to link the acquired DNA of C. remanei to closely related worms such as C. elegans and C. Briggsae. RNAi was used in order to interfere with gene expression. As a result the genes that code for basic functions for survival development and reproduction will be affected. The results showed that scientists could in turn investigate the many essential biological characteristics that are central problem of human biology and evolution and create new databases.

Isolation of C.remanei Genes for Comparative Genomic Analysis

Abstract Isolation of Caenorhabditis remanei Genes For Comparative Analysis Genomic analysis of Caenorhabditis elegans has contributed greatly to the understanding of basic biological concepts. Comparison of the C. elegans genome with the Caenorhabditis briggsae genome further amplified scientists understanding of basic fundamental biology. The purpose of this experiment is to identify and analyze unknown genes in Caenorhabditis remanei. If genomic comparison between C. elegans and C. briggsae proved valuable, then genomic comparison between C. elegans, C briggsae, and C. remanei, should further enhance our understanding. The research involved identifying and analyzing sequences from a C. remanei cDNA library and comparing the cDNA sequence and its protein to C. elegans, C. briggsae, and other eukaryotes. Data collected indicate significant homology between C. elegans, C. remanei, C. briggsae, and other eukaryotes. The data suggest significant conservation of genes between C. remanei, C. briggsae, and C. elegans and infers the identity and function of the unknown gene isolated from C. remanei.

Effects of EIPA and EGTA on Glutamate-Exposed Fibroblasts: A Model of Alzheimers Disease

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common neurodegenerative disorder and affects over 12 million elderly worldwide. Cerebral ischemia, a shortage of oxygen supply to brain tissue, increases the risk of AD and accelerates cognitive decline in AD patients. Following ischemia, neurons release excess levels of the neurotransmitter glutamate that trigger the influx of Na⁺ and Ca²⁺ into postsynaptic neurons. High concentrations of intracellular Ca²⁺ induce the formation of MPT (mitochondrial permeability transport) pores and generate ROS (reactive oxygen species) that ultimately cause neuronal apoptosis. To identify a potential protective agent against excess levels of glutamate, EIPA (a Na⁺ / H⁺ exchanger inhibitor) and EGTA (a Ca²⁺ chelator) were used in this experiment. Fibroblast cells in vitro were exposed simultaneously to 50μM glutamate and varying concentrations of EIPA or EGTA. Though both chemicals were predicted to have a protective effect, cells treated with EIPA were expected to show higher survival rates than those treated with EGTA because chelation of Ca²⁺ after ischemia may not be early enough to prevent cell death. Apoptotic analysis after treatment showed that fibroblast cells treated with either chemical exhibited statistically significant, higher survival rates than untreated control cells. However, it was observed that while EIPA-treated cells (10 μM and 1 μM) showed higher survival rates, EGTA-treated cells (3mM and 0.3mM) were healthier. The results suggest that future treatments for Alzheimer’s symptoms should also focus on intervention at the Ca²⁺ influx phase of the neurotoxic cascade.

Multiplex Tagging to Understand Ribosomal Biogenesis

The composition of large protein complexes can change under various conditions, such as the cell cycle, in response to environmental conditions. However, tracking changes in individual proteins in the complex can be difficult. The purpose of this research was to test the feasibility of a novel multiplex tagging scheme for the analysis of the role of proteins in a complex involved in the biogenesis of ribosomes, consisting of at least 24 non-ribosomal proteins, in yeast. Initially, each of the seven proteins in the complex was tagged with two tags: a tag common to all proteins (HAI) and a specific tag different for each protein. Each tag was inserted in the proper chromosomal location with a selectable kanamycin marker. The utilization of a Cre-lox P-kanamycin cassette allowed the kanamycin marker to be recycled for each successive tag. The introduction of the tag at the proper chromosomal location was confirmed through PCR. The production of the tagged protein was confirmed by Western blot analysis. The tagging scheme developed in this research was shown to be viable and useful for the identification of individual proteins in a large complex.

Determining the factors which affect Thiocyanate Level in Human Saliva

Thiocyanate ion, a detoxification product from the reaction between cyanide and thiosulfates in the liver, is abundantly present in human saliva. The concentration of thiocyanate varies from person to person depending on diet and lifestyle. Two major factors hypothesized to affect the thiocyanate levels in saliva are the level of vitamin B12 intake and amount of cyanide in the diet. These factors were investigated in this study. To calculate the thiocyanate concentration, a standard curve was made with absorption values of known concentrations of iron (III) nitrate (Fe(NO3)3) and potassium thiocyanate (KSCN). With absorption as a function of the iron(III) thiocyanate complex (FeSCN2+), the slope of the function gives the molar absorption coefficient, which is then put into Lambert and Beer¡¯s law, A=¥åbc. From that, the absorption reading from the saliva samples is translated into thiocyanate level. The data suggests that vitamin B12 and a diet with foods rich in cyanide increased the thiocyanate level.

PDE2 Acts Downstream of NGF to Regulate PC12 Cell Neuritogenesis

The aim of this work is to study the regulation of cyclic Adenosine Mono-Phosphate (cAMP) in PC12 cells by phosphodiesterases (PDEs) during nerve growth factor (NGF) induced neurite outgrowth. So far, eleven PDE families have been identified, named PDE1 through PDE11. The function of PDE2, 3, and 10 in the context of neuritogenesis were examined using their respective inhibitors: EHNA, Milrinoe, and Papaverine. The PC12 cells were treated with NGF, IBMX (a general PDE inhibitor), and the selected PDE inhibitors. Neuritogenesis was measured morphologically through fluorescent microscopy and biochemically through Western analysis. NGF and EHNA treatment increased the number of neurite bearing cells 1.9 times when comparing with NGF treatment alone. This was comparable with the doubling of neurite bearing cells seen with NGF and IBMX treatment, thus implying that PDE2 was responsible for degrading the majority of cAMP generated by NGF treatment. Treatment of PC12 cells with H-89, a protein kinase A (PKA) inhibitor, or PD-98059, a mitogen-activated kinase/ERK kinase (MEK) inhibitor, inhibited NGF mediated neuritogenesis. This indicated that both PKA and Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways are involved in NGF/TrkA induced neurite outgrowth. In addition, the MAPK pathway is the dominant pathway in PC12 cell neuritogenesis. Western analysis showed that increased expression of Microtubule-associated protein 1B (MAP1B), a molecular marker for PC12 differentiation, is independent of the downstream pathways and requires only the activation of the NGF receptors.

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid Arthritis causes severe joint pain for many older Americans. This autoimmune disease is characterized by the presence of autoreactive antibodies called Rheumatoid Factors, most commonly IgM, in the synovium of joints. Since the disease process is still unclear, it is necessary to examine each element carefully. It has previously been proven that these Rheumatoid Factors rarely bind the Fc portion of IgG3, though they bind the other isotypes of IgG quite strongly. The binding of Rheumatoid Factors to IgG3 with that of genetically engineered supernatants will be compared. Using the ELISA method, we will be able to determine which specific areas of the Fc portion of the IgG3 molecule contribute to the Rheumatoid Factor’s low affinity for it.

Lattice Studies of Protein Structure, Folding, and Stability

Simple lattice models have been a powerful tool in studying underlying relationships between structure, sequence, folding and evolution of proteins. We used them to address several new problems. 1) We found that simulations of random mutations in lattices, under stability and packing density constraints, reproduce and explain the experimentally observed Boltzmann-like distribution of internal empty cavity volumes in real proteins. 2) We studied the folding and stability of all structures and binary (hydrophobic/polar) sequences of 25 residues on a square lattice. We found that surface hydrophobic groups influence stability only if they allow folding of the sequence into alternative compact structures with similar stabilities (“flip-flopping”), or permit aggregation. “Flip-flopping” limits the number of surface hydrophobic groups in stable structures, explaining the numbers observed in proteins. 3) We found that if polar groups are allowed inside lattice protein cores, “highly designable” structures (into which many sequences fold) rarely are the most stable. This challenges the accepted view. 4) Relation of surface hydrophobic groups, flip-flopping and aggregation to prions, protein design and larger lattice structures is discussed.

Analysis of 5` Hox Gene Expression in Pbx1/Pbx2 Mutant Mice Embryos

Homeobox genes (Hox) supply positional information by encoding proteins. Pbx is a homeodomain protein which collaboratively binds DNA with a large subset of Hox proteins to modulate their DNA binding specificities and to execute their developmental programs. To determine the specific contributions of Pbx to mammalian limb patterning and morphogenesis, we have generated knockout mice with various mutations for Pbx1 and Pbx2. Through use of numerous in situ hybridization, it was evident that in Pbx1-/-; Pbx2+/- mutant mice, there were alterations of normal Hox gene expression patterns. The forelimbs were clearly unaffected, yet the hindlimbs were severely malformed and truncated. Expression of Hoxd9 and Hoxd11 were restricted to the posterior region of the developing hindlimb autopod. However with the addition of a Pbx2 allele (Pbx1-/-; Pbx2+/+), anterior expression of Hoxd11 was partially restored in the hindlimb. These preliminary findings indicate that Hox gene expression is spatially deregulated in compound mutant Pbx1-/-; Pbx2+/- mice, indicating that alterations in upstream genetic and cellular factors are possibly more causally related to the observed phenotypic defects.

The Effect of Sodium Pyruvate on Mouse Fibroblast Cells

The purpose of this project was to determine whether or not an increased exposure to sodium pyruvate would accelerate the rate of apoptosis in Mus musculus fibroblast cells in vitro. Since sodium pyruvate is a component in the process of cellular respiration in the mitochondria, an exposure to it would increase the mitochondrial activity and as a result, accelerate the rate of apoptosis because intracellular oxidants are released during cellular respiration. An amplified production of oxidants will lead to higher cell damage which may accelerate the rate of apoptosis. A significant decrease in cell viability was seen in the cells cultures in the two highest concentrations of sodium pyruvate (7.5 mM and 10.0 mM). An increasing trend in cell death could be seen in the two lowest concentrations, 2.5 mM and 5.0 mM.

Safer Toys Through Biochemistry

This research sought to determine the effectiveness of alternative materials as safer choices in making toys, in addition to determining the effectiveness of other chemicals in producing an averse taste reaction to toy parts. In seeking to compare the effectiveness of different alternative materials, first the material itself was made sure to be consumable. Afterward, it was ingested by human test subjects to test dissolve times as well as the qualitative reactions, and other samples were put into a simulated saliva solution to test dissolve times. This helped to show to what degree amyloglucosidase was effective in dissolving the materials. The human mouth dissolves the material faster than distilled water, while different concentrations of amyloglucosidase end up somewhere in between. The chemical added to the toy parts produced an averse reaction in a significant number of subjects, with those not having an averse reaction being outliers for reasons not common to most small children (i.e. former chemo patient).

Can the Health Benefits of Oatmeal be Undone?

High cholesterol levels have been connected with numerous ailments including heart disease, the leading cause of death in Americans and Western Europeans. It is now widely accepted that eating foods high in fiber will reduce the risk of heart disease, primarily because during digestion oatmeal fiber forms a gel and physically blocks the absorption of cholesterol lipids. This research project involves passing a mixture of bovine serum (blood) cholesterol through an oatmeal sieve. Using a spectrophotomer, at 590nm, in conjunction with an Amplex® Red assay kit, serum samples will be assayed before and after sieving to check for a reduced lipid concentration. If the oatmeal absorbs cholesterol it will be validated as an important component of a healthy diet.

Generation of a Notch Signaling Transcriptional Reporter

In mammals, the Notch receptors and their ligands form a signaling pathway that regulates cell fate decisions and has been proposed to contribute to the development of cancer. In the embryo and the adult, the receptors and ligands are dynamically expressed and often found to have overlapping expression patterns. Currently, it is not possible to visualize the cell actively undergoing Notch signaling. To address this issue, I have generated multiple Notch signaling transcriptional reporters. Notch signals in cells by binding to Notch-responsive DNA elements on gene promoters. I have generated plasmid DNAs that contain variable numbers of Notch-responsive elements (3, 7, 11) placed in front of a transcriptional promoter that expresses the luciferase gene. These plasmids were constructed, produced and purified in bacteria using recombinant DNA methods. The reporters were introduced into cultured rodent fibroblasts that have either Notch signaling activated or not. The cells were evaluated for their expression of luciferase in a light producing reaction. Notch induced all three Notch reporters that increased with the number of Notch responsive elements. Our goal is to generate a reporter that can eventually be used to identify the cell in which Notch is active and measure the amount of the Notch signaling in cultured cells or in mouse models in order to study the role of these signals in cancer development.

BOTANY

Effect of Tea Tree Oil on Fusarium Oxysporum in Plants

Fusarium oxysporum is a plant fungus that has been responsible for thousands of pounds of crops being destroyed. This fungus resides in the soil and can affect thousands of plants which turns the leaves into a yellowish color and will eventually cause wilting and death for the plant. It has been difficult for farmers to deter this fungus and the only methods that have been used was the drainage and cultivation of the soil, but fungicide applications have not been accepted by the agricultural world. However, back in the 1770’s, James Cook visited Australia and noticed that the Aborigines were using tea tree oil to treat various fungal infections. Before the discovery of antibiotics, this natural remedy was used to treat many diseases such as acne, eczema, athlete’s foot, jock itch, and scalp infections. There were a total of 30 tomato plants used in this experiment which would be grown in a room at 70 degree temperature using fluorescent light while performing two trials. Three plants were treated with the tea tree oil without being infected with the fungus. Three plants were treated with a minute amount of tea tree oil and infected, three plants were treated with a moderate amount of tea tree oil and then infected, three plants were treated with a large amount of tea tree oil and then infected, and three plants were only infected with the Fusarium oxysporum. After performing a statistical analysis of the data, one will see how the use of the tea tree oil affected the growth of the fungus on the plant, thus deterring the fungus to prosper.

The Effect of Colored Plastic Mulches on Bean and Tomato Plants

The purpose of this research was to determine if different colored plastic mulches affected plant growth. Tomato and bean plants were grown in six different colors of plastic mulches with two controls: clear plastic mulch and no mulch. Plant height and fruit (if any) were recorded every two weeks for ten weeks. One sample t-tests were used to compare the average final heights of the plants. The comparison of the average final heights to the control with no mulch showed significant difference. However, there was no significant difference when the average final heights were compared to the control with the clear plastic mulch. It was found that plastic mulch affected the growth of the plants but color did not.

Effect of Magnetic Field on the Growth of Primary Carrot Roots.

The Magnetic Field is a factor that influences all living things. It is an environmental factor that has been important to all living organisms through out time including plants. The magnetic field is closely related to the cell metabolism of the plants (Belyavskaya, 2004). Magnets have 2 opposite poles. The effect of these different poles on root growth has not been studied. The two poles of a magnet each have a different effect on different kinds of roots. Taproots are roots that have a positive magnetic tropism. It is not certain which pole has a more significant and positive effect on the growth of taproots. Four different groups of carrots seeds were planted and grown in four Root-Vue chambers, where the growth of the roots could be monitored and measured. Magnets were placed so that the roots were exposed to different magnetic poles. The steel bar magnet was placed in between two roots, where each root was placed 4cm away from the magnet. The control did not use a magnet. Plants were grown for 21 days and results on root growth length were calculated. Preliminary results indicate that exposure to magnetic poles show a significant increase in root growth. The pole preference of the root is inconclusive.

Nutrient Variations in Wild Multiflora Roses

The purpose of this research was to examine the effects that nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium have on the wild Rosa multiflora and to determine the best combination of the three nutrients for successfully growing this rose. Twenty-four roses were given differing amounts of N, P and K and were observed over a period of eight weeks. Based on the data collected on plant height, branch length, and number branches, leaves, flowers and clusters, the roses treated only with tap water were the best growers. It was concluded that the wild Rosa multiflora grows best in its natural growing conditions and is not improved by the use of additional nutrients.

The effects of vitamins on plants?

Vitamins are essential to growth and have become a widely known nutrition factor. Vitamins can be taken as concentrated supplements, or just acquired by eating foods that contain them. When we decided to do an experiment, we thought about what things are really essential in life. The conclusion of that thought was vitamins and plants. Human beings need both plants and vitamins to maintain good health, but what would happen if we gave plants vitamins? Would they grow better than just regular water? Would some vitamins have a better effect on plants? We planted Alaskan Pea Seeds and watered each pot with three different concentrations of a vitamin. We used Vitamin D, Beta Carotene, Folic Acid, and Niacin. Each vitamin group has four pots (a control, .1 concentration, .2 concentration, and a .4 concentration). Growth began mid-February. On February 15, 2005 the plants Niacin (at a .4 concentration), Beta Carotene (control), and Folic Acid (the control and .1 concentration) began to sprout and on February 16, 2005 Folic Acid (at a .2 concentration), Niacin (at a .2 concentration), and Beta carotene (at a .1 concentration and a .4 concentration) began to sprout. Thus far, Folic Acid has proven our hypothesis correct and those plants are in the best condition and growing the fastest. We initially thought Folic Acid would be the best, because in humans it aids in DNA and RNA synthesis, cell growth, and energy production.

The Allelopathic Effect of Kava on Plants

Allelopathy is defined as a way in which certain plants prevent other plants from growing too close to them; this is usually done through the use of chemicals that the plant produces and releases into its surroundings. Kava is a perennial pepper plant from the Oceanic region that is known to have these allelopathic affects. In this experiment three different type of plants seeds were grown in containers of the same size, with the same amount of soil, and water. Within each container of specific plant seeds, a concentration of 0.25g, 0.5g, or 1g of kava extract was mixed into the soil over a period of ten days. It was discovered that kava extract had little to no effect on the plants, while the extent of inhibition did vary from one type of plant to another. In some cases it seemed as if the kava extract was actually hastening the growth rate of the plants, a few even managed to grow taller than the plants in the control.

Variations in Amyloplast Magnetophoresis under High Gradient Magnetic Fields

The diamagnetic nature of starch amyloplasts causes plant shoots to bend away from a high-gradient magnetic field (HGMF). It was hypothesized that the paramagnetic nature of Iron and Manganese salts would inhibit the shoot curvature normally exhibited by growing shoots subjected to a high-gradient magnetic field. Three sets of young oat (Chasmanthium latifolium)shoots were watered with 1% solutions of Mn and Fe sulfate and water respectively. All shoots were exposed to a HGMF for 48 hours. Then the angle of shoot growth was measured. Control trials were identical except for an absence of the HGMF. Control trials showed no significant deviation from vertical growth. In shoots exposed to the HGMF, those given water showed the expected curvature towards the HGMF. Those exposed to Mn showed no significant shoot curvature. Shoots exposed to Fe did not grow. It was proposed that the paramagnetic nature of the Mn altered the diamagnetic influence of the amyloplasts in producing curvature. These results may provide insight on what factors aside from gravity direct the direction of plant growth.

Helium: Effect on Wisconsin Fast Plants

Helium composes of about .0005% (5.25 ppm) of the Earth’s atmosphere (Ruscher et al, 2001). It has increased in the last eleven years because of a fluctuating temperature rate in the Earth’s atmosphere (Malcolm, 1994). Helium has been known to distort an animal cell’s physical appearance, but the effect on plant cells is unknown. This research examined the effect of helium on Wisconsin Fast Plants. It was hypothesized that plants exposed to varying concentrations of helium would show a decrease in overall health. In this study, Wisconsin Fast Plants were exposed to varying concentrations of helium, 3.92mL and 6.1mL. The overall health of each plant was evaluated, such as height and leaf quality of each individual plant. The two experimental groups were statistically analyzed (t-test), compared each other, and to the control. Preliminary data indicated that helium decreased the overall health of a plant. As helium begins to accumulate in the Earth’s atmosphere, the threat of a decreasing plant population is evident.

Environmental Effects on Plant Growth and Health

There are many different varieties of beans. Each plant variety thrives in a specific environment. The purpose of this experiment is to determine which organisms thrive in environmental conditions. The information derived from this experiment could help farmers all over the world maximize the health and productivity of their crops. To achieve these results, a greenhouse was constructed to contain several microenvironments. Within each of these microenvironments, the same selection of beans was planted. By monitoring the plants as they grew, the conditions each species prefers was determined. This experiment could be applied to other species, so botanists can determine which plants should be grown in each biome.

The Effect of Emissions of Volatile Organic Compounds on Proximate Plants

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are emitted from wounded plants as a defensive mechanism, slowing the growth of the plant. They can also signal proximate plants that wounding has occurred and induce the production of defense-related compounds. This experiment looked at whether VOCs from wounded grass grown near bean plants slow the growth of the bean plants. The growth rate of bean plants grown next to unwounded grass was compared to the growth rate of bean plants grown next to wounded grass. This may affect where gardeners or farmers place their plants or crops so as not to stunt their growth.

Organic Fertilizer or Commercial Fertilizer, Which is Better?

In the experiment, the effectiveness of organic fertilizer was compared with synthetic fertilizer. The two fertilizers used were Espoma Organic Traditions all-natural Manure (4-4-2) and Miracle Grow all-purpose Plant Food (14-30-15). The prices of the foods were roughly the same. The Manure cost 3.49andtheMiracleGrowcost2.45. Two kidney beans, two Alaskan peas, and three radishes were planted in three separate planters. The manure and Miracle Grow were added to two of the planters, using the directions given on the containers. The third planter was used as a control; thusly no fertilizer was added to it. In order to maintain a constant environment, each of the seeds was planted at the same depth and given the same amount of water each day. The temperature of the greenhouse was controlled and each planter received the same amount of sunlight. Throughout the experiment the heights of the plants were measured as well as each seed’s time of germination. The plants in the synthetic fertilizer germinated before those in the organic fertilizer. The rates of growth was the same for all conditions. Analysis of chlorophyll varied, according to the type of plant. Kidney beans favored organic fertilizers while radishes favored synthetic fertilizer. Alaskan did best in the control, without fertilizer. Finally, the cells of each plant were examined under video microscopes.

The Effect of Soil pH on Wisconsin Fast Plants

In this experiment, ¡°The Effect of Soil pH on the Growth of Wisconsin Fast Plants¡±, this researcher tested the effect and growth of various pH levels on the growth and development of Wisconsin Fast Plants. The hypothesis was that the Fast Plants would grow to have an average height of 6 cm if the pH level of 7 was maintained, and plants with a pH level of 5, 6, 8, or 9, would have a much lower average height. PH levels of 5, 6, 8, and 9 in the soil were tested to examine the outcomes of the plants after the pH levels were designated; the control group had a pH level of 7. This experiment took approximately 11 days to be completed. The results of the experiment were that the plants maintained at a pH level of 7 had an approximate height of 6.487 cm. The average height of the plants with the pH of 5 was 4.967 cm. The average height of the plants with the pH level of 6 was 5.333 cm. The average height of the plants receiving a pH of 8 was 5.467 cm. The average height of the plants with a pH of 9 was 4.833 cm. The data shows that the pH of 7 was superior to the other pH levels. The heights of the plants with the pH of 7 were much greater as opposed to the pH levels of 6 and 8; and even greater compared to the pH levels of 5 and 9. This research supported the hypothesis because the heights of the plants with a pH of 7 were larger and taller than the other pH levels.

The Effects of Household Wastewater on Sunflower Growth

The purpose of this research was to determine if different solutions of wastewater and tap water would affect the growth of sunflowers. The seeds were divided into seven groups of four with four seeds per pot. They were watered every other day with their specified solution. Germination date, plant height, number of leaves and budding dates were recorded. Unpaired t-tests showed that the plants watered with more wastewater tended to grow better except for Group E. There was an extreme significance between the sunflowers watered with 100% tap water compared to those watered with 100% dishwater. Groups C and F were considered very statistically significant.

Effect of pH on mycorrhizal plant growth in two P concentrations

The effect of a lower pH level on the growth rate of plants in low P concentration versus high P concentration soils on mycorrhizal grass was tested. It was hypothesized that the mycorrhizal grass of low pH and low P concentration would have a significantly higher growth rate versus grass in soil of neutral pH and low P concentration due to the fact that mycorrhizal can aid plants best in conditions of low pH and low P concentrations. The results did not show any significant increase in growth in plants of low pH and low P concentration versus neutral pH and low P concentration.

The Effect of Music on Plants Infected with TMV

Not only has music been proven to affect humans, but also the growth rate of plants. According to previous studies, it can be concluded that two types of music, positive music and negative music, can either help plants grow faster or it can kill the plants respectively. The purpose of my project was to find out whether plants infected with Tobacco Mosaic Virus (TMV) had the same growth rate effect as healthy plants when exposed to music. Five groups of bean plants were planted. After 10 days, when plants had four true leaves, 2 groups of plants were inoculated with TMV and were then exposed to positive or negative music. 2 other groups were not infected whatsoever but were exposed to positive or negative music. The control, the fifth group, was neither infected nor received any music. The results showed that infected plants had the same outcome as healthy plants exposed to music. The plants with positive music showed that they grew more than the control as well as the plants exposed to negative music. The plants exposed to negative music had the least amount of growth and showed signs of wilting leaves.

Various sound effects on Wisconsin Fast Plants.

Research indicates that sound waves affect all living organims. The main purpose of experimenting with plants was to scrutinize the various sounds affecting the plants growth. It is believed that the vibrations of music interact with the roots of the plants by giving different frequencies. Loud, hard rock music has a different effect on the plants, than Indian raga music. (Dorothy Retallack and Professor Broman, 1973) In this experiment, three groups of plants were planted and exposed to two types of music, Indian raga and rock music. One of the groups was the control (group 1), which received no music, just natural atmosphere. Group 2 received the Indian raga music, when group 3 was given rock music. Each group received music for five hours simultaneously at the same volume level, except the control. Preliminary results indicate that plants exposed to raga music showed a significant higher growth and better leaf quality. In the future, farmers and agricultural workers may use raga music to increase growth in their plants and crops.

BEHAVIORAL SCIENCE

Cosmetology: A Science

This project involves the science behind cosmetics. To obtain a preliminary background, the chemistry of differnet types of make-up was researched and the data compiled. At the focus of the project is a psychological experiment adressing the effect of make-up on the opinions of strangers. In the experiment, there are two pictures of the same woman; one with no make-up and one with a great deal of make-up. In a survey, participants are given one of the pictures and asked to judge the woman on certain characterisitcs based on the picture. The results of each survey are recorded and analyzed, showing the psychological affect of cosmetics on the opinions of strangers.

The Effect of Gender on Perception of Optical Illusions

The purpose of this research was to determine if gender had an effect on the subject’s perception of optical illusions. In a controlled classroom setting, the subjects viewed 12 different optical illusions and completed surveys based on personal perception. The 2X2 contingency tables used to analyze the data showed the results of four illusions to be statistically significant. It was concluded that the males in this sample (n=79) had a better perception of spacing, the general alignment of figures, and size in relation to surroundings. The females in this sample (n=87) were better able to overcome the challenge of recognizing shapes when surrounding lines directed the mind toward other conclusions.

Effect of Different Colors on the Speed of Solving Mazes

Our experiment deals with whether different colored sheets of paper affect the speed at which a maze is completed. A random sample of high school age science students, ranging from the ages of 15-19, was given four different mazes on different colored sheets of paper. Paper colors were the primary colors of the eye (blue, green, and red) and white. The classroom teachers were instructed to give their students mazes (randomly selected by color and maze design) for a period of five minutes to complete. There was a two minute rest period between each maze. Students completed a questionnaire to gather their grade, race, and gender. Using T-Tests, maze colors, maze completion results, and individual survey information was cross-referenced. Our statistical analysis indicated that there was no significant difference between the speeds at which the white, blue and red mazes were solved, but our analysis indicated that green was solved significantly slower.

Market Theories and their Practical Application

The subject of my research project is stock market theories and how they may apply to the real world. The first half of my project consisted of extensive research various major economic theories. Both general descriptions and college level analyses were read during this portion. Some theories that were examined include Game Theory, Scarcity, Wave Theory, and Efficient Market Principle. After a good understanding was reached the phase of the project commenced, which was the experimental phase. I registered an account on an online stock market game and used this tool to keep tabs on various stocks, which were chosen after consulting various economic news sources. After about half of the research portion (I will continue to monitor the stocks until the fair itself is over) was complete I was able to conclude that all but the most fundamental theories such as supply and demand apply to the kind of day trading I was experimenting with. Long term trading which requires a more comprehensive view of our economic system however, does tend to benefit from a knowledge of market theories.

The Effects of Thymoquinone, Carvol, Isopropyltoluene, and Beta-Pinene on Dugesia tigrina

Parasitic worms are becoming a great problem throughout the world today. In the many countries that cannot afford medicine the number of people infected with a parasitic worm disease is the greatest. This experimental was proposed to try to find an affordable medication, Nigella sativa (blackseed) components, for these people infected. Both the Nigella sativa and Dugesia tigrina (brown planaria) will be placed into the same laboratory enclosure. The worms’ displacement from the solution was measured and recorded. There was great variation in their displacement based on the chemical used to sow the repellence. Finally the data was analyzed using ANOVA the sig. value showed the comparison

Marketing to Your Nose

The subject of my study is different scents, and the role they play on modern consumerism. I hope to help consumers become more aware of the different methods of subliminal marketing they are subjected to on a day-to-day basis. Studies have already been done to prove that scents do, indeed, alter purchasing decisions. In my study, however, I have found which scents are best at this, and I’ve also determined if different age groups have different reactions (more susceptible, or less). This was done with a survey completed by people of different age groups, and also by conducting an experiment. The experiment consisted of creating a situation where people of different ages were given the choice to pick between a good-smelling product, and one that had no scent. I concluded that there are certainly odors which have a greater effect on product purchasing. My results for the experiment were inconclusive, and did not give an overwhelming response one way or another.

Preference Similarities Between Fraternal Twins and Siblings

The purpose of this research was to determine whether the everyday preferences of fraternal twins are more similar than those of singleton siblings. A survey of twenty preference questions was distributed to 17 pairs of fraternal twins and three pairs of singleton siblings ages 14-21 in Somerset County, NJ. The data was analyzed using a one-sample t-test. All sibling subject groups and male/female fraternal twins showed extreme statistical significance in the differences of their responses. Female/female fraternal twins showed statistical significance. The male/male fraternal twins was the only group not statistically significant. It was found that fraternal twins have more similar preferences than singleton siblings.

The Effects of Ginkgo and Caffeine on Memory and Learning

The objective of the study is to test the effects of Ginkgo biloba extract and the combination of ginkgo and caffeine on learning and memory function. Zebrafish (Danio rerio) were used in the experiments since zebrafish are vertebrates and their genome is very similar to those of humans. The fish were divided into 3 groups: a control group, a ginkgo-exposed group and a ginkgo plus caffeine-exposed group. Their learning behavior and memory function were examined by teaching the fish a simple spatial alternation task with food as the reward. During the experiments food was delivered on alternating sides of the fish tank at constant time intervals. The animal's achievement of the spatial learning and memory tasks was represented by its presence at the correct side of the tank at food delivery. Data collected from the experiments was recorded, statistically analyzed and graphed. The results from the learning experiments showed the ginkgo group's responses indicated a higher correct response rate than the control group and the ginkgo plus caffeine group. The ginkgo group had an 8.2% higher success rate than the other two groups. The correct response rate of the ginkgo plus caffeine group did not show any significant difference than the control group. From the memory experiments, all three groups indicated about the same memory retaining results. The ginkgo and caffeine appeared have no effect on the memory retention function.

A Contextual, Syntactic, and Semantic Analysis of Language

Through an analysis of syntactic and semantic elements, various ideas and thoughts were tested in and out of their contextual environments. Meaning and interpretation were derived to see how context and structure influence the comprehension of language. Also, semantic and syntactic priming were tested. To test this, surveys were distributed to a sample population representing varying demographics. Interpretations were compared to demographic criteria. From the collected data, several conclusions were reached. First, subjects would interpret a sentence in more than one way due to an absence of a contextual reference. Also, knowledge of more than one language affected how subjects would organize scrambled sentences. Lastly, subjects could be primed either syntactically and semantically if they read passages with consistent forms of a verb tense.

The Effects of Various Types of Music on Mus Musculus

The classical music of Mozart has been shown to increase a person's intelligence, spatial-awareness skills, and concentration when exposed for a period of time. Even so, this is still a theory, and the effects of other genres of music have yet to be compared with that of classical music. The results of such research would be able to revolutionize the various genres of music people listen to. For the designated experiment, four types of music; metal, pop, rap, and classical, and four mice of the same sex were used. First, each mouse ran through the timed maze twice. Afterwards, they were each exposed to fifteen minutes of the metal genre of music. Then, the same mouse ran through the timed maze once more. This process was repeated with every genre of music on each mouse. Preliminary data indicates that the mice performed best in the maze after exposure to the classical music. Yet when exposed to the rap, pop, and especially metal genres of music, the mice became disoriented in the maze and overall, performed poorly in the structure. The research was able to support the theory of the Mozart Effect while showing the different levels of negative effects on the pop, rap, and metal music when compared to the classical music. Further research could be done to support the Mozart Effect and the effects of various genres, or even more genres and sounds, on the motor skills of mice and even possibly, people.

Cerebral Dominance and Handedness

My research will be focused on and answer the following questions: What are the traits and effects upon left and right handed individuals; and is this cerebral dominance a result of environmental influences, or is it strictly genetic ? My hypothesis is that left handed individuals are have dominant traits such as being more logical or creative in comparison to right handed individuals. Also, I want conclude if left handed persons tend to be either male or female. The procedures to make a full conclusion will consist of the following: research all aspects of handedness, use a questionnaire to locate ten strong left and right handed persons, interview the human subjects to specify traits that are increasingly dominant among each type of handedness. The survey will evaluate which gender is more likely to be left or right handed.

Traumatic Recall and Retention in Adolescents

The aim of the study was to observe the effect that recalling details of traumatic life experiences has on retention of information in adolescents. The experiment was given in three parts, verbal-written-verbal, to a group of mixed-gender high school students. Subjects were given the Hopkins Verbal Learning Test-Revised, with a delay in which they completed an inventory of personal traumatic experiences that asked them to recall details of their trauma. Following this they completed the HVLT-R to serve as a basis of pre- and post-recall retention. Traumatic experiences, which vary from natural disasters to violent crimes to family deaths, can have a profound impact on human psychology. In mild cases, symptoms such as depression or physical sickness can persist after the experience, while severe cases can cause psychological disorders such as PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder). In a 1995 study by Yehuda, et al., a group of Vietnam War Veterans diagnosed with PTSD showed no problems in immediate recall of data, but had major problems in delayed recall of information. While there are many ways to cope with such trauma, periodic exposure to stimuli connected to the event may exacerbate symptoms and force a recall of emotions. Biological repression of emotion through hormones is possible, but this natural ability may be depleted through repeated use. Mental deficits may continue for several years, depending on the severity of the event. While certain coping methods may be employed, these do not always guarantee absolute freedom from mental disruption, which may affect everyday or academic concentration.

The Prevalence of Common Polite Behavior in Public Settings

The purpose of this research was to determine if polite observable behavior and cooperation between unacquainted males and females in public places is more prominent in males or females. Over forty minute periods, observations were taken and recorded of customers that had done positive gestures toward other customers (n=200). Results showed that overall polite behavior was more prominent in females. Although t-test results showed that there was no significant difference between the two groups, it was concluded that polite behavior was more prominent in females. Results may differ for a larger sample

Synesthesia

Synesthesia is a well researched though little known phenomenon. There are many connections between the senses - what I chose look more into the connections between auditory and visual perception and tie it in with human emotions and psychology. After extensiev research of the topic I conducted two experiments. The first was a survey to conclude how many people reacted in similar ways to colors. The second was having paintings drawn to certain music. Later, the music was played for people who were then to pick out the painting from a group of others. After this I drew certain conclusions and compared my self-obtained results to verified statistics.

Variations in Perceptions of Attractiveness

The purpose of this research was to determine if personal ethnicity affects a person's perception of beauty. A short survey consisting of a series of ten photos showing male and female models of various ethnicities was administered to 372 participants between the ages of 13 and 18. The results showed no distinct bias between the ethnicities but did show a discomfort among males when asked to rank attractiveness of the male models.

A Study Of The Subconscious Through Lucid Dreaming and Meditation

We have conducted a focused study of materials regarding the human subconscious, and phenomena associated with it, specifically lucid dreaming and meditation. A survey has been conducted on a small sampling of adolescents, revealing certain patterns in lucid dream recollection, nature of dreams, and lucid dreaming occurrences. Additionally, we have conducted an experiment in the use of lucid dreaming triggers, and recorded subsequent lucid dreaming experiences. We have also begun delving into the field of meditation, practicing different meditation tecniques. This is in preparation for an alterative mediation experiment dealing wtih temperature. Thus far, the study has revealed a definite ability of human beings to influence and explore levels of the subconscious not explored in everyday life.

CHEMISTRY

Formation and Combustion of Acetylene

The purpose of my research was to study the formation and combustion of acetylene and to determine whether or not it could be an alternative fuel source. I first determined the percent yield of the reaction of calcium carbide and water to form acetylene and calcium hydroxide by measuring the volume of evolved acetylene in a eudiometer. On average, the calcium carbide produced a 67% yield of acetylene. I calculated the theoretical volume of acetylene to fill a 9 in. diameter balloon, and the required amount of calcium carbide (23 g). I developed a technique to capture the generated acetylene gas. When I put a lit splint to the acetylene balloon, under controlled conditions, it quickly combusted and produced a bright flame. Therefore, if the reaction if further optimized, acetylene may be a petroleum alternative.

Unlocking the Mysteries of Petrification

Petrified wood is formed when silica enters wood over a long period of time filling in the voids in the pores. After that, other minerals can follow. The result is wood that has all the qualities of rock. My goal in this project was to see if I could speed up the wood petrification process by increasing the concentration of minerals, the temperature, and the surface area per unit volume of the process. I chose sodium metasilicate and aluminum hydroxide as my minerals because silica and aluminum are the main minerals found in petrified wood. These compounds are also relatively soluble and safe. I also added ferric oxide to add color because iron compounds are found in colored petrified wood. The outside of all the pieces of wood excluding the control, showed some signs of petrification. I tested degree of petrification by measuring density, flammability, and hardness. My tests show that the heated sample containing a saturated sodium metasilicate solution was the most petrified. After six days, the density of this sample was more than twice the original density. Surprising was the fact that the sample which had both aluminum hydroxide and sodium silicate was less petrified than the sodium silicate solution alone. The sample containing both minerals was only 1.5 times its original density. This experiment shows that petrification can occur quite rapidly. It also shows that increasing surface area, mineral concentration, and temperature can speed up the process. Another conclusion is that sodium metasilicate alone was more effective in increasing the rate of petrification than in combination with aluminum hydroxide

The Effects of Concentration on the Mechanisms of Chemical Reactions

According to Chemical Principles in the Laboratory, sixth edition (Sloceinski, Nolsey, Mastenton) Iodine is zero order in the iodination of acetone. However, when the reaction was run in a class lab with different concentrations, results revealed that iodine was first order. In this project, the iodination of acetone was observed using a Genesis 20 spectrophotometer in the UV range of 350nm to determine the order of iodine in the reaction. This was possible due to the reddish brown color of iodine. By differing concentrations, the order was determined. In method one, we ran four trials, measuring the absorbance with respect to time. When the data was graphed, the slope represented the rate. The first trial was the control, in each of the other trials, one of the reactants was cut in half. The reaction was run with a high, medium, and low iodine concentrations, to see if it would affect the rate equation. In method two, we used the integrated rate law to determine the order of the reactants. We graphed the data as the reciprocal of the concentration, the natural log of the concentration, and the concentration. At the high concentration of iodine, the iodine was second order, first order at medium, and zero at the lowest concentration. It seems that the rate equation depends on the concentration of iodine.

Building a thermo-optic spectrometer and determining iron detection limits

Erica Greene Westfield High School 07090 Project number 20 Abstract Photo-thermal Determination of Iron in Water The first part of our project was to build and calibrate a thermo-optic spectroscopy apparatus. We used a 532 nm, 60mw frequency doubled YAG laser as a pump source and a 1 mw HeNe (632.8 nm) laser as a probe. We opted to use bathophenantholine to complex with iron because its peak absorption was ideally matched to the pump laser. Photothermal signals were calibrated against a Cary 4 spectrophotometer. We found our blank background signal could not be reduced below 4.4 ppb (parts per billion). This limited the practical sensitivity of the apparatus even though the instrumental sensitivity was roughly 50 times higher. The second part of the project was to test different water samples. This yielded some interesting results. We had obtained a sample of water from a creek that flowed through the largest open pit iron mine (Hibbing MN) in the US. When we tested this sample it was close to our detection limit and had 5 times less iron than our high school tap water (ca. 20 ppb). After doing some research, we determined that this surprising result may be consistent with the properties of iron. When aqueous iron is exposed to air, such as it is in a bubbling brook, it oxidizes from ferrous (Fe+2) to ferric (Fe+3). Ferrous iron then reacts with water to form insoluble Fe(OH)3. This process is the reason why well water can contain large amounts of iron while aerated surface water does not.

Parameters Affecting the Chemiluminescence of Luminol and Hydrogen Peroxide

Chemiluminescence is an energy emission in the form of light as a result of a chemical reaction. A molecule is excited, and upon its drop back into its ground state, energy is released as light. In this experiment, luminol and hydrogen peroxide, two reactants, were reacted under various conditions in order to test the effect of these conditions on the green chemiluminescence caused by the reaction. These conditions included different concentrations of hydrogen peroxide, varied solution temperatures, and the addition of emulsifiers. These factors were determined to affect the intensity of the light emitted, the duration of the light emission, and the reaction’s induction time. An increased concentration of hydrogen peroxide corresponded with a greater light intensity and shorter duration of chemiluminescence, an increased temperature led to a shorter duration of chemiluminescence, and the addition of emulsifiers decreased the intensity of the light.

Copper Binding And Its Possible Link To Disease

The binding of copper to proteins is suspected to play a key role in diseases such as Alzheimer's, Mad Cow, and tumor growth. It is believed that plaque formation in the brain may be the result of a change in protein conformation resulting in precipitation. This project investigated the possible role of copper in this reaction. Copper was added to BSA, an inexpensive, readily available protein. This mixture precipitated when the copper to BSA ratio was greater than 0.5. The form of the copper complex does not seem to matter because two different copper compounds, copper chloride and copper sulfate, were tested with the same results. The acidity of the resulting mixtures also did not appear to be a factor in the precipitation. Unlike the copper compounds, a fifty-fold molar excess of calcium chloride did not form any precipitate. Preliminary results suggest that the presence of calcium chloride may hinder the formation of a precipitate by copper. The addition of copper binding agents such as Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) or ammonium tetrathiomolybdate (MoS4) immediately caused the precipitate to redissolve.

Catalytic Decomposition of Hydrogen Peroxide - Spirit of Chemistry

Hydrogen peroxide is a clear and colorless liquid that undergoes an exothermic decomposition reaction to form oxygen gas and water. Although this decomposition is spontaneous according to the Gibbs Free Energy equation, the rate of the reaction varies according to the identity and amount of catalyst present, as well as the concentration of the hydrogen peroxide itself. In reference to the aforementioned parameters, the scientist has discovered the optimal amounts with which a solution of hydrogen peroxide can catalytically decompose to generate enough heat to vaporize the surrounding water, and thus produce a “genie effect� of gaseous water rushing out of the neck of a 2 liter or 20 oz. soda bottle. The most effective reaction was produced when 0.75 to 1.22 g of manganese (IV) oxide was used to catalyze the decomposition of 3.48 M or 12% hydrogen peroxide. Furthermore, catalyst effectiveness was augmented by using finely ground particles; it was determined that as the catalyst’s surface area increased, its effectiveness increased as well. The scientist measured catalyst efficiency by conducting the reaction on a smaller scale and determining the percent yield through gas collection. An average value of 94% yield was obtained for this decomposition reaction.

Micellar Effects on Hydrolysis Kinetics

Results relating the rate of the hydrolysis of phenyl chloroformate to the concentration of sodium dodecyl sulfate micelles in solution, based on measurements of the absorbance of UV light by phenol, are presented. Specifically, a precipitous drop in reaction rate occurs after the critical micelle concentration (CMC). The reaction rate is calculated using the pseudophase model for reactions in the presence of micelles, where the micellar rate is considered separate from (and much lower than) the aqueous rate of the decomposition reaction.

The Chemistry of Oscillating Clock Reactions

This research studies the various components of oscillating clock reactions. This specific reaction involved concentric blue rings in an orange solution, in which one oscillation or period was the time from which a blue ring appeared to the time the solution became saturated with blue rings. From an original reaction mixture, single chemicals were varied in their concentration in subsequent reaction mixtures. The reactions were timed manually for the length of one oscillation, number of oscillations, length of total reaction, and induction time. By running various reactions in which only one variable was altered, different characteristics of the reaction were linked with specific chemicals, as well as how the concentration of one chemical affected the others. It was found that increasing Bromide concentration slowed the reaction, but caused more periods. Conversely, increasing Bromate concentration sped up the reaction, but with fewer periods. Other chemicals, such as Ferroin, were found to have only an aesthetic affect on the reaction. The rings were also found to be inducible by debris placed in the reaction mixture.

COMPUTER SCIENCE

Coding Data

Coding data is an overlooked and underdeveloped field of our modern technological world. Corporations are content to let users or even their own employees to sift through records, files which could be in any format with only visual tags that may or may not make a distinction in the mind of a user. Preferential treatment of software and hardware alike make compatibility problems into serious impacts of time and money for those they effect. The project attempted to assemble the code neccessary to easily track and control data in a far more efficent way over the Internet. This can involve sending commands to other computers, streaming files, and giving the option for a user to 'code' the data being worked with. These options will hopefully reduce the ammount of time spent sifting through data and increase the ammount of time spent using the data across the Internet.

Graphic Animation

The purpose of this study is to understand the process of creating graphic animated movies, both for personal and Hollywood use. Through intense research, I have explored the different methods used by top movie producers, such as Pixar and Dreamworks. Graphic animation is an advanced breakthrough in the entertainment industry. It has brought immense fascination to my curious mind and has influenced me to study it. From tutorials, websites, and university professors, I have managed to collect much information, as well as to create my own animated clips. Two of my works are based on a hyperactive ball and a bouncing heart. My futuristic goal is to understand all aspects of this topic and to create more works of my own.

Depth Estimation via Computer Stereo Vision

The purpose of my project was to determine if a modern PC could, using two cameras, accurately estimate the distance to certain objects observed by the cameras. This was achieved by placing the two cameras side by side, at a predetermined distance and angle. The resulting stereoscopic images were then fed into an analysis program which compared the pictures for small discrepancies in the locations of high-contrast pixels. The results were then averaged to correct for static and mismatched pixels, yielding a dense depth estimation map that was accurate up to 95% for certain test image pairs.

A Study in Website Design and Visual Appeal

With so many advances in technology, the vast majority of the population has gone online at some point in time. Each website has a different layout, some look better than others, and still others have a more user-friendly design. Sites can include graphics, tables, links, and many other features. Unfortunately, there are many websites that have poorly designed layouts - some to the point where the site is almost unusable! Using a coding language called HTML, I have written a website for my school's science research program that is functional as well as aesthetically appealing.

Comparison of Different Data Mining Algorithms in Relation to Performance

Data Mining is the study of extracting useful knowledge, from a database of incoherent data. Many different approaches to Data Mining exist, and the reasoning behind them vary greatly. Each of these approaches is called an algorithm, which is a set of sequential commands that the computer executes. This research took two such algorithms: Apriori (strictly mathematical, with few steps, and proven to be reliable and efficient), and K-means (dependant on graphs, more steps, and relatively new), and evaluated them in terms of their speed and accuracy. Due to the fewer number of steps, and mathematical exactitude of the Apriori algorithm, it was hypothesized that the Apriori algorithm will perform faster and more accurately than the K-means algorithm. Five sample databases, with predetermined results were synthesized, and inputted into both algorithms. The algorithms were timed for each run for their runtime, and their results were compared to the predetermined results for accuracy. Through statistical analysis, it was found that the accuracy of the two algorithms were not statistically different. However, the runtime of the Apriori algorithm was significantly faster than the K-means algorithm with a 95% certainty. Future research in this field should include a greater sample size of larger databases, for more accurate results, as well as to test these algorithms against larger amounts of data.

Live Long and Prosper: PDA Genetics Participatory Simulation

Participatory simulations, activities that teach by embedding learners in life-size simulations, have been shown to increase student learning. Heretofore, participatory simulations have been restricted to desktop computers and special purpose machines. This project sought to determine if a more economical platform could be employed for participatory simulations. Additionally, this project sought to determine if learning styles as measured by the Felder & Solomon (1988) Index of Learning Styles, affected the efficacy of the participatory simulation. To make this determination a 2,000-line software program was written which incorporates the MIT “Thinking Tags” participatory simulation protocols. This software was loaded on 20 Pocket PCs and used by 80 High School Biology students, ranging in age from 14 to 17, during five 45 minute sessions to enact the Live Long and Prosper genetics participatory simulation. Participants took pre-trial and post-trial assessments to evaluate their knowledge of the material presented by the Live Long and Prosper participatory simulation, using previously validated questionnaires. Participants’ learning styles were also assessed using a version of the Index of Learning Styles assessment. Analysis with the t-test indicated a statistically significant overall improvement of 24.7% between pre-test and post-test scores. The chi-squared test demonstrated no difference between male and female participant achievement. Participant learning style was determined to be a statistically significant factor in determining achievement. We conclude that participatory simulations can be built on a Pocket PC platform that is more economical than extant participatory simulation hardware.

DTMF Remote Control

The overall purpose of my project was to develop a program that could be used to interact between a remote user and hardware or software through a computer system. The program would be able to decode DTMF tones through an FFT algorithm, validate the input with the user, and then execute the command via another computer program, external hardware, or telephone network. All functions have been accomplished by tweaking and developing software that contains the decoding algorithms and function control. Research about digital signal processing algorithms was done to decide the optimal language and optimal routines to allow the computer to function efficiently while allowing input into the program to control a certain function. Allowing control of an application remote is useful to accomplish tasks and allow the user to use their time efficiently. Applications such as this are developing more and more with their use becoming more prevalent giving purpose to this project.

Remote Text Display over Internet

By using Visual Basic, I have constructed an internet connection between a server computer with an LCD and a client computer. I built the connection between the client and server, by using the Winsock Control. After receiving a text message from the client program, the server displays the received message onto the LCD via the serial port using the Comm Control. This device can best be utilized at convention centers and hotel meeting rooms to display dynamic information in remote locations.

Object-Oriented Programming with Real Objects

The purpose of this project was to bring real objects into the object-oriented programming environment. Toward that end, circuit boards were designed, routed, and built to interface with the parallel and serial ports of a computer. Each board made use of a PIC microprocessor, for which code was written in the C programming language. Computer software was written in the Visual Basic programming language to work with these circuit boards. In addition, ActiveX software objects were written in Visual Basic to represent and emulate real objects, such as household devices or lights. The ActiveX software objects were then set up to communicate with their corresponding real life counterparts, by way of the constructed circuit boards.

Evolutionary Computing

The goal of the project was to determine if it was possible to simulate evolution to achieve simple goals. The program had to achieve a set of objectives with given constraints and work within a physical world. Initially, simple programs were written to understand the effects of purely random disturbances on algorithms that affect numerical values—one for converging to a given target number and another for finding the dimensions and mass of a wheel to achieve a certain angular acceleration. Two other programs were developed to apply the concepts of genetic algorithms to two real-world physical applications.

ENGINEERING

An oscilloscope for the rest of us

A digital oscilloscope is used for drawing a graph of voltage over time. Oscilloscopes are an expensive extra piece of hardware, and are necessary for any electronics lab. This project is aimed at producing an inexpensive digital oscilloscope so all schools can afford it for an electronics lab.

Wind Power Generator Blade Design

The topic of my project is wind-powered generators and how the blade design will affect the power output. This will be tested by creating a generic wind generator which will be the control. I will create four different blades to use on the generator. The blade designs that I will be constructing will be the classic three-blade design, a six-blade design, savonius design, and an egg-beater-shaped blade design, two horizontal and two vertical axis generator blade designs.

Gaze Control

The goal was to engineer an affordable mechanism that would allow someone (impaired or restricted in movement) to control appliances by looking at the appliance and changing a detectable facial feature. A web camera and program was used to track a selected feature of the face. Once a change in the feature, such as a blink, was detected, the computer program toggled the signal to an x10 module; turning the appliance the person is looking at on or off. Further research included using glasses equipped with IR sensors/emitters to detect blinks.

Audio Directional Device for Academy of Math, Science, & Engineering

I propose to extensively research and begin to constructing an audio directional device for the Academy of Mathematics, Science, and Engineering building. This will allow for visitors to more easily navigate this newer edition to the campus, seeing as how many people are still unfamiliar with its layout. This device will also aid in the navigation of the blind around the building, with recorded directions guiding them to their destination. The research behind the device included looking through newer technology surrounding the navigation of the blind, the different types of learning and how they relate to navigation, and the navigation of those who are illiterate. The different types of learning, which include auditory or aural, logical, visual, and verbal, all relate to how one best takes in what is going on around oneself. For instance, visual learners best relate to drawings or maps used to depict what they need to understand, where as verbal and aural learners both need to hear their directions in order to best understand. Finally, logical learners require a sense of order, generally provided through systems or clear maps depending on their surroundings. These all affect the types of features included in the device, making it include a map and the verbal directions to encompass all different visitors. This audio directional device will help all visitors to be able to best navigate the Academy for Mathematics, Science, and Engineering.

The Solar Powered Assistant Bike

The purpose of this project is to learn about the various parts of an engine, as well as to design and create a bike which is powered by solar energy and assisted by pedals. In this project a bike that has previously used fossil fuels(gas, oil) to run will be converted to use electric energy. This transformation could be a helpful alternative to fossil fuels in response to the ever-growing concern over the depletion of natural resources.

Touché

Fencing is a sport that is difficult for most high schools to have, due to the maintenance and high cost of the equipment it uses. The traditional scoring is done by electronic equipment that requires a connection from the fencer to a reel, which is connected to a machine which announces a score and to ground. These cords also limit a person’s agility, which is why in this project the cable connecting person to the device is eliminated making scoring of fencing easier for a practice level bout. The reason why the wires are necessary is to give the two fencers a common reference, without which would make communication of the touches impossible. In the project however, a system has been set up using the only thing that does NOT need to have a common ground, and therefore does not need wires hampering the fencer’s movement. This is using radio waves. Each fencer is set on a different frequency, and when they touch the opponent, the opponent will receive the signal. The receiver is tuned in such a way that it will not receive simply by being in proximity to the signal, but requires an actual touch.

Extreme Solar Vehicle

Today, solar energy is one of the least utilized sources of power today and also one that is available in the highest quantity. Our project was to convert a vehicle that utilizes conventional fossil fuels to a vehicle that is powered by solar energy. The components of the solar vehicle can be broken down into four major components. The first of these components was the solar panel which basically converts the energy of sunlight to electical energy and transports it to the battery, the second major component. The third of these components in the motor controller which is used to control the motor, the final component of the solar vehicle.

Biodiesel

The purpose of my research project is to test the effects of using biodiesel instead of ordinary diesel fuel in a diesel engine. Biodiesel can be thought of s a synthetic diesel fuel made largely from organic oil, such as olive oil or corn oil. I will use diesel fuel in a model airplane diesel engine as a control, biodiesel made form new organic oil as my first experiment, and biodiesel from waste oil as my second. I will test the effects on idle RPM, max RPM, idle loudness, etc. through the use of each type of fuel.

Direction Finding via Radio Waves

The purpose of my robot is to find a target using radio wave detection. The target is fitted with a radio-wave transmitter, and is able to be found within a 1 m² triangle by the robot. The method of location is triangulation which incorporates three radio-wave intensity sensors, also known as field strength meters. The robot processes the information with a microcontroller, and is able to find, with success, the target. The focus of the project is on the sensors, which may also be used for proximity detection, wireless identification and wireless communications.

The Yellow Submarine

This research project intended to address the issues of robotics and alternative fuel sources. The project was focused on creating a submarine that ran on either solar or human power. After many plans were tried, none of which came to fruition, the project focused more along the lines of designing and building a submarine capable of maintaining neutral buoyancy while being able to maneuver laterally and vertically. This design goal was achieved.

A Tracking Robot and Its Uses

A robot that would be able to track a line could be useful in society because it can perform many errands in work places, such as delivering items and cleaning. So to build this robot, I first built a basic chassis. I then added all the necessary parts, such as a rack-and-pinion steering system, gearbox with differential, two motors, light sensor, and a BASIC stamp CPU. After some testing of the mechanical parts of the robot, I programmed the robot, and it was then able to follow a line. This accomplishment can make workers' lives much easier, because the robot is able to perform many tasks that workers have little time for.

The Ideal City

I will research the design of different types of cities so when I design my city it will be environmentally safe and easy to move in. First I will conduct research through the internet and books. When I have all the information I need I will send out a questionaire to see what modes of transportaion people prefer and how far away they like to be to their homes. After I get the results from my surveys I will devise a plan for the city. While I am drawing the design on AutoCAD I will write an essay explaining what I chose and why. Finally, if time allows me I will build a scale model of the city I designed.

Three-Dimensional Photography and Surface Analysis Using Moire Interference Patterns

When you photograph a three-dimensional object, the camera maps the surface of the object onto a two-dimensional plane. As a result, subtle curvature of the surface and other depth information is generally lost. Both non-Moiré and Moiré pattern photographs can be used to increase depth and curvature information that can be very useful in analyzing certain situations. Moiré interference patterns can used to check the precision of ground glass lenses, the symmetry of a human body, or the deformations of an aircraft wing structure under load in a wind tunnel. This project developed a simple and reliable method for producing and recording projected Moiré interference patterns on three-dimensional surfaces using a regular digital camera and a single acetate screen with 25 lines per inch. A periscope-type device allows the camera’s electronic flash to be used as the light source for the interference patterns by offsetting the angle of the light approximately 45 degrees above the angle of the camera’s view. The set-up has been used to take photographs that show asymmetry in the human face, and the changing curvature of a balloon as it slowly deflates.

The Autobrush

My engineering goal was to build a machine that brushes your hair while you pedal, freeing up your hands to do other things. I started with an exercise bike. I took it apart and added gears, wood, wire, nails, screws, rubber pipe, belts, and twine to create my machine. During the process of building the Autobrush I ran into many problems that I had to work around. For example, in order to use the wheel of the bike as a gear I had to move the seat to where the handle bars were. After I had moved it, I discovered that the pipe that was originally in the seat was too long for its new position. To correct this, I replaced the pipe with a broom handle. After that I continued to correct problems as I ran into them. I attached the twine that I used as a belt to both the wheel gear and the can gear. The twine slipped off, so I stapled rubber tubing to the wheel to create a track. The twine then broke, so I used wire instead. I built a frame to hold up the hairbrush belt at the correct height. I needed some way for the hairbrush belt to actually brush the hair, so I attached hairbrushes to the hairbrush belt. I covered the sides of the small gear with duct tape, because they were too sharp and they caught on the subject’s hair and clothing. The wire belt was pulling one side of the hairbrush belt down, so I built a device that provided adjustable tension on the opposite side of the gear. Then the can gear spun on the dowel rods that were holding them up, so I drilled a hole into the rod and inserted a pin. I tried the Autobrush out and made some fine tunings. In conclusion, I succeeded in building a working machine.

Double Reverse Delta Winged Lippisch WIGE

A Ground Effect Craft is able to maintain flight a few feet above the water because the lift over drag ratio is highly improved. This study was concerned with a certain type of a W Wing-In-Ground (WIG) craft known as Lippisch. The primary concern with the Lippisch design is that the speed needed to take off is considerably higher than the cruising speed. If this type of WIG craft needs 100% of the engine power to take off, it only uses 50% to cruise. Lift on an aircraft and the surface area are directly proportional. Thus it was hypothesized that if the surface area on the WIG craft is increased, the lift will also increase reducing the take of speed required to take off. Thus, adding an extra reverse delta wing to the Lippisch WIG craft will help it overcome the take off drag. To test this, two of models were made for the two designs. They were then tested for the proper variables in an emulated wind tunnel. After conducting tests of statistical analysis, the hypothesis was supported with a 95% confidence.

The Googler

The Googler is a robot that seeks out objects. In order to do this it needs a picture of the object and the GPS coordinates of the object. This information is fed into an onboard Linux computer over a wireless link. When the robot is activated, it doesn’t know which way it is facing. Using the GPS it finds which direction is north. Then it knows which direction it has to travel to get to the coordinates. It navigates to them by avoiding obstacles with infrared sensors and whiskers. Once the coordinate is reached it searches for the object with the camera. When a lock is established on the object, it travels to a distance of 1 ft away from the object using a mounted ultrasound sensor. If the object were to move, the robot would chase after it. This can all be watched over from a webpage which displays coordinates of the robot, distance to the object, locations of obstacles avoided, and a live webcam feed from the robot. Such a device has many practical applications. The military could use it to seek out mines. Birdwatchers could use it to track birds. Owners of warehouses could use it to take inventory. (By finding objects and sending there coordinates to the computer) It could help people in stores such as Barnes and Noble to find something that they are looking for.

Architectural Engineering: Residential, Industrial, and Corporate Safety Features

After September 11th 2001, our country has been more safety conscious when it comes to national security. Why stop there? Why not make each individual feel safe in their home and in their workplace. This project entails designs for architectural safety features to incorporate into residential, corporate and industrial buildings; while also balancing cost and efficiency. These features will keep people safe from break-ins, fires, natural disasters, and other emergencies. Plans include several features for the safety of the homeowner. For break-ins designs include a “Panic Room” that is accessible via a secret passage. Also plans have a way to make second story evacuation easy and safe by using an inflatable chutes used in airliners. Another Challenge overcome by this project is safe evacuation from commercial and industrial buildings. It would probably be benificial to have a large “Evacuation Chamber” that leads outside and has its own ventilation and electrical systems. The biggest challenge will be Skyscrapers; there are so many people and limited escape routes. All features were designed in AutoCAD, and appraised by a professional to determine the cost of that feature.

Echo Navigator

The objective of this project was to build a device that would guide the blind without the aid of a cane, or pet. The ultrasonic sensor located on the hat, and several infrared sensors located around the ankles, detected and notified the user of surrounding objects via a belt. The belt contained several vibrating motors. These motors vibrated proportionally to the distance that the sensor calculated—as the distance decreases, the vibration intensifies.

A Numerical Design Simulation of a Novel Notched Airfoil

A novel wing design was evaluated based on the Kline-Fogleman airfoil using numerical simulation software. Unlike conventional wing designs, the Kline-Fogleman foil contains a notched, hollow pocket on the lower surface that creates a high-pressure bubble capable of sustaining the foil at high angles of attack. Three replicas of the foil were created and the sharp leading edge was replaced with a conventional rounded one. The analysis was split into 3 phases. Phase I tested variation of notch height and phases II and III tested notch angle and chord-wise location, respectively. It was hypothesized that lift will primarily be a function of the notch height, with notch location playing a minor role. The three designs and a baseline foil were tested under specified flight conditions. Results indicate a 12.5% increase in maximum lift coefficient from the baseline foil, with a minimal (~8.3%) increase in total drag. The majority of the total drag originated from pressure differences (~9.24% maximum increase), while drag due to friction had minimal effect (~2.9% maximum increase). Based on the results, the designs have many prominent applications, especially ones where stall-resistant airfoils are greatly needed. The performance capabilities of these foils can be utilized with a wide variety of recent advances in aerospace technology.

New Rollercoaster Design

In my project I have made my own design of a new rollercoaster that is still safe enough for people to ride. I then put the rollercoaster design into a computer simulation that made readings on g-forces and speed. Finally, I made an atcual working model of my rollercoaster that shows the structual design and the g-forces in various palces that make the rollercaoster stil safe for people to ride.

The CNC Experience

The goal of my science fair project was learn all the processes that are involved in building a CNC machine from start to finish. My project involves designing the machine, the fabrication and production of the machine (the frame), produce the electronics of the machine, and using the machine. The design of the machine came through researching various machines that are used in industry and also from people who have designed their own machines. The fabrication of the machine dealt with using the raw materials i.e. steel, and like putting a puzzle together I bolted and welded the proper pieces together. The electronics involved deal with circuitry that enabled me to use the stepper motors. Final step is actually using the machine. A CNC machine has endless possibility for use; my machine deals with the x and y axis’s and can be adapted to fit the needs of many different projects.

ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE

The Effects of Various Earthworm Species on the Development of Compost

The purpose of this research was to determine if different species of earthworms fertilize soil differently. Three species of worms were allowed to work topsoil for two weeks, after which the fertilized and non-fertilized (control) soils were placed into five pots each, all containing tomato seeds. Stem height and number of leaves were recorded. T-test results showed no statistically significant difference between the changes in height of the control plants versus those of the fertilized soils. It was thus concluded that different species of earthworms did not affect soil fertilization in this sample.

Water Quality Experiment

A previous government study of rivers and streams throughout America has shown that many bodies of water have been contaminated with small amounts of common household chemicals such as coprostanol, a fecal steroid, N-N-diethyltoluaminde, an insect repellent, and triclosan, an antimicrobial disinfectant. Some of these rivers and streams are used in our drinking water. If people were to consume even small amounts of these dangerous chemicals over a long period of time, the chemicals may have a negative effect on communities across America. We have tested the rivers and streams in our area, as well as bottled water and tap water for traces of the chemicals found in the government study. We first used a spectrophotometer to check for any impurities in the water samples. We then took any impure water samples and extracted the impurities using a solvent. We ran this solvent through a High Pressure Liquid Chromatograph and compared the peaks with peaks from chemical samples to determine if those specific chemicals were present in the water.

Grease Powered Motor

The price of gasoline today is extremely expensive and sure to rise in the future. Internal combustion engines are a major consumer of gasoline so this project is designed to see how efficiently other fuels such as propane will run on an internal combustion engine. A small four horsepower lawnmower engine was first analyzed running on gasoline and later converted so that it could run on propane and be analyzed. We analyzed the efficiency of each fuel by looking at the emissions and the British Thermal Units that were radiated.

Grass Fights Back

Large fields of turfgrass are often difficult to maintain. For this experiment, tests were done at the Plant Biology Department at Rutgers University to determine the tolerance of five different grasses to a newly developed herbicide, mesotrione. THe five grass species used were: Tall Fescue, Kentucky Bluegrass, Creeping Bentgrass, Perennial Rye, and Crabgrass. Six concentrations of mesotrione were applied to the grass seed before germination, and after grass strands had established. The rates of mesotrione used (unit: lb/sq.ft) were: 0.031; 0.063; 0.125; 0.25; and 0.5. Pre-emerge tests revealed that Crabgrass and Creeping Bentgrass had little or no resistance to the mesotrione. Kentucky bluegrass and Perennial Rye did not suffer from the application of the herbicide leaving both with significant growth. Results show that all grasses, with the exception of Crabgrass, and Creeping Bentgrass, showed great tolerance to the mesotrione during their post-emerge test at lower and mid-level concentrations of the mesotrione. Creeping Bentgrass showed the most damage when higher levels of the mesotrione were applied. Crabgrass showed no tolerance to the herbicide at all concentrations. Results indicate that the herbicide mesotrione is effective for controlling Crabgrass and Creeping Bentgrass with relative saftey to Tall Fescue, Kentucky Bluegrass, and Perennial Rye.

The Effect of Different Concentrations of Pesticides On Onion DNA

Humans are susceptible to numerous diseases and disorders that can be traced back to DNA mutations. Many of these mutations can be caused unintentionally by humans themselves. One way to mutate DNA is through indirect contact. There are also numerous ways in which indirect contact can take place. Scientists have been studying food that humans eat in their structure and health. A factor that must be taken into view is the heavy use of pesticides on crops. Crops must be protected from insects and bacteria and therefore constantly have pesticides applied to them. These chemicals can cause damage to the DNA (mutations). The purpose of my experiment was to observe the changes (if any) to onion DNA that had been exposed to different amounts of pesticides. My experiment consisted of applying pesticides to two sets of variables each containing ten onion bulbs. My results showed that the control DNA was white string like and smooth, while the onion DNA from the bulbs exposed to pesticides were clumpy and yellow in color. This showed a distinct change in the DNA structure of the onion bulb. For future research, I would like to use specific pesticides, some of which that are used on real crops. Finally, I would like to make the results more accurate by broadening my variables.

Beach Erosion: Differences in New Jersey and Other East Coast States

The purpose of this research was to compare the erosion rates of New jersey beaches to those of states bordering the Atlantic Ocean. The erosion rates for New Jersey and the other states along the eastern seaboard obtained from the “State of the Beach 2004” report and the length of the shorelines were used to calculate erosion rate percentages. Using New jersey as a standard, it was determined that Virginia and New York had relatively high erosion rates while Maine, Rhode Island, Delaware, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Florida, South Carolina and North Carolina had relatively low erosion rates.

Colonization of Artificial Microhabitats with Consideration of Inverse Elevation/Moisture Gradients

It was hypothesized that plant species diversity inhabiting sphagnum hummock microhabitat islands in the New Jersey Pine Barrens was influenced by elevation and moisture levels. The soil moisture at different elevations on ten natural sphagnaceous hummocks was measured and correlated with the types of plant species present. Plant species colonizing artificially constructed sphagnaceous hummocks of different elevations were also studied. Soil moisture levels were inversely proportional to hummock elevation and certain plant species were confined to certain moisture levels. This inverse elevation/moisture phenomenon most likely results from capillary action as the hummock absorbs moisture from the water at its base rather than from precipitation as in large-scale habitats. An understanding of the relationship between elevation and moisture levels in microhabitats will aid in the understanding and thus conservation of endangered and threatened plant species dependent upon microhabitats.

Worms and Composting: Alteration of Soil pH

The purpose of this research was to determine if making compost with worms affects the pH of the compost over a period of four weeks, and if the heights of the plants are also affected by this compost. Compost was made using worms, the pH was tested and the compost was used as soil for bean plants. The results show that the pH does change and the plants grown in compost are taller that the plants grown in normal compost. It was concluded that making compost with worms does affect the pH of the compost and the heights of the plants grown in it.

The Effect of Nitrogen Fixing Bacteria on Light Absorption in Plants

Light absorption and an effective growing medium are certain inevitable necessities for good plant growth. Soil and hydroponics are two different and popular methods used to grow plants. Nitrogen Fixing Bacteria serve as an important variable between the two growing mediums. Although much research has been conducted in this area, the efficiency of the plants with relation to light absorption has not yet been researched on or tested. For this research purpose, leguminous pea plants were studied as they cooperate best with nitrogen fixing bacteria to absorb nitrogenase which helps plant growth. The two primary groups were those that had a growing medium of soil and hydroponics respectively. However, another group was added which had a growing medium of a mixture of soil and sulfur solution to increase nitrogen fixing activity. It was hypothesized that the group with no nitrogen fixing bacteria, i.e. the hydroponics group will have the best light absorption while the group with plants that grow in the soil without the sulfur solution will have the worst. This is because the hydroponics group, without the nitrogen fixing bacteria do not lose proteins and certain other minerals in the symbiotic relationship where as the plants in the group with soil as the growing medium does lose the proteins. As for the Sulfur growth enhancer, since that would make a healthier plant, that would not have the least light absorption. Twelve plants in each group were grown and at the end of two weeks, their stems were crushed and chlorophyll paste was made out of them. Each plant had a cuvet and the chlorophyll paste of each plant was poured into the respective cuvet, which was then placed in a spectrophotometer. The average value of each group was taken and the t test was used to calculate the relation between the three groups. Thus, through this experiment, the productiveness of the different growing mediums of plants was observed and the best medium was found

The Effects of Weather Changes on the pH of a Swimming Pool

The purpose of this investigation was to determine the factors that influence the pH of an outdoor swimming pool. The pH, air temperature, pool temperature, humidity and precipitation were measured twice daily for two 28 day periods. It was found that the humidity did not influence the pH of the pool. The literature indicated that temperature might influence the pH but the data from this experiment did not indicate that. Time of day did have an influence. It was concluded that more tests would be needed to determine the role of temperature in influencing the pH of an outdoor pool

The Effects of Thermal Pollution on Plants Growing Along a Stream

The purpose of this research was to determine if plants respond to a mixture of normal stream temperature water and boiling water. Two groups of two Peruvian Grape Ivies (Cissus rotundifolia) were exposed to 100ml of water with combinations of boiling water and normal stream temperature water. Growth was recorded weekly. Unpaired t-test results showed that the plants that received the higher amounts of normal stream temperature water grew better than the others. It was found that plants that received more normal stream temperature water than boiling water grew better in this study.

The Effects of Lawn and Farm Runoff on Stream Macroinvertebrates

The purpose of this research was to determine the effects that lawn runoff had on a brook and the macroinvertebrates in it. Royce's Brook was tested once every week over a four week period for dissolved oxygen, phosphate, nitrate and pH. The brook depth, occurrence of rain and turbidity levels was found. The results showed that the more rain that occurred, the more pollutants entered the brook. It was found that weather affected the water quality of the brook and pollutants from runoff are introduced into the water. This can possibly lead to degradation of the brook environment which in turn affects the number of macroinvertebrates present.

The Effect of High Level EMF on the Growth and Yield of Corn

The purpose of this research was to determine the effects of high level EMF on the growth of corn plants. Thirty corn plants were planted, fifteen in the control area and fifteen in the high level EMF environment. Their growth was measured weekly. Unpaired t-test results (p=0.7886) showed that there was no significant difference between the growth of the control plants and that of those exposed to the high level EMF. It was found that high level EMF does not have an effect on the growth of corn plants

Temperature and Precipitation Trends in New Jersey

The purpose of this research was to determine if there is a pattern in temperature or precipitation for northern, southern and central New Jersey. Temperature and precipitation records were obtained from the Rutgers University website of the New Jersey state climatologist (http://climate.rutgers.edu.stateclim_v1) and the average for each year was compared to the overall mean for that area of New Jersey. Paired t-tests determined that the only two sets to show a statistical difference were sets 2 (1916-1935) and 3 (1936-1955) for both temperature and precipitation. It was found that temperature and precipitation trends for the three areas of New Jersey do not appear to exist in this specific data set.

MICROBIOLOGY

Hot Sauce: The Potential Killer of Bacteria

Purell is a widely used alcohol based hand sanitizer that boasts its near perfect antibacterial properties. Most hospital rooms rely on Purell to sanitize the hands of its employees. Through rigorous examinations, we tested the validity of Purell's reported ability to kill 99.9% of all bacteria. We were presented with store brand Purell and Purell from the dispensers in hospitals. To represent a gram positive bacteria, we tested Staphylococcus Aureus against Purell. To represent a gram negative bacteria, we tested E. coli against Purell. Based on this sanitizer's guarantee our results were surprising. By using the standard agar diffusion method, we discovered both store and hospital brand Purell did not live up to our expectations. Purell killed Staphylococcus Aureus but both brands were not able to kill E. coli.

The Effects of Honey versus Soap on Staphylococcus epidermis

Recently, there has been an increase in bacterial resistance to topical and oral medications in acne treatments. Many studies have been conducted to try to find alternate methods of treatment. Honey has been used as medicine to treat wounds and inhibit bacterial growth. It has been known to contain antimicrobial properties that inhibit bacterial growth to a certain extent. More recently, scientists and doctors are rediscovering the effectiveness of honey as a wound treatment. The experiment conducted focuses on alternate methods of using honey as a treatment. Staphylococcus epidermis is one known bacteria found in acne which was ideal for this experiment. A T-test was used to analyze the data collected. The data showed that honey did inhibit bacterial growth to a greater extent when compared to the soap and distilled water. However, the results were not significant at a 95% level of confidence and the pH levels of the honey were not varied enough for the researcher to conclude that the pH is a factor in bacterial inhibition

Herbs vs. Bacteria: Who Will Win the Battle to Maintaining Ones Health?

Herbs are a gift from nature that keeps us very healthy. They help fight off diseases and illnesses while building up our immune system when necessary. They are of natural medicine and can be beneficial to all who come across them. Two herbs that fall into this category are Ginger and Usnea lichen. Ginger and Usnea Lichen are herbs known to be anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial and more. The purpose of this experiment was to see which herb, Ginger or Usnea, would be more effective in killing off bacteria such as E.coli and Staphylococcus aereus which if given the chance in the human body can be fatal or cause terrible illnesses. While conducting this experiment, the ginger proved to be more effective in producing a greater zone of inhibition. The zone of inhibition is a circular zone around a colony of bacteria where no other organisms are growing. While testing antibiotic sensitivity I impregnate steel cylinders with antibiotic and then put them onto an agar plate of bacteria. The antibiotic then diffuses into the agar away from the cylinder. Typically several million bacterial cells are spread on the agar plate, and if their growth is inhibited, a clear "zone of inhibition" is observed around the antibiotic impregnated cylinder. The size of the zone is proportional to how sensitive the organism is. If the organism is resistant to the antibiotic, it will grow up to the disk and will then be opaque. Results from this experiment have shown that both Ginger and Usnea have anti-bacterial characteristics on the Staph Aurues base through the sizes of the zones of inhibition. With the E.coli bacteria, results are not as evident for it appears that the bacteria are resistant to the anti-bacterial effects of the Usnea and Ginger herbs. The Usnea herb has shown a larger result though a minuscule zone was obtained. Overall, both herbs have proved useful in their anti-bacterial properties growing at 30 degrees Celsius.

Disinfection/Sanitation Properties of Various Household Cleaners

The purpose of this study was to classify different cleaning agents used to clean homes and then rank them as either a sanitizer or a disinfectant, based on how they performed in the study. The cleaning agents were tested with a against a wide variety of microorgansims, including a spore former, a yeast, a mold and two frank pathogens. The cleaning agents were then tested on various surfaces found around the households, such as tiles, granite and stainless steel. This experiment was designed to challenge differant cleaning agents and evaluate their performances to see how effectively they could clean our households.

Cruciferous Vegetables and Thier Weapon Against Cancer: Indole - 3 - Carbinol

Indole - 3 - Carbinol is a commonly found chemical in cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, and brussel sprouts. Many reports suggest that these vegetables provide some cancer protection by correcting the damaged cell cycles. I was interesting in finding out if indeed the Indole – 3 – Carbinol does play a role in the repair of the cell cycle of those cells that are damaged. I had experimented with the Indole - 3 Carbinol, and tested it with mutant yeast cells(S pombe), which do not divide at 35 degrees Celsius, to see if the yeast cells would once again reproduce and divide. During my experimentations, I had found out that Indole - 3 - Carbinol is not soluble in water, is slightly soluble in alcohol, and more soluble in acetone. When I applied the Indole - 3 - Carbinol to the yeast while suspended in alcohol, the Indole - 3 - Carbinol had come out of solution as soon as it was applied to the agar plate. When I applied the Indole - 3 - Carbinol to the yeast while suspended in acetone, the yeast were killed by the concentration of acetone. After I had exhausted all possible ways of applying the Indole - 3 - Carbinol to the yeast, I used a broccoli extract suspended in alcohol. First I tried mixing the broccoli extract into the agar plate, yet none of the yeast grew. I also tried applying 0.5ml of broccoli extract on top of the yeast by pipette, and had again received no results from the yeast that were placed in 35 degrees Celsius, however, those yeast that were placed at room temperature did grow. These yeast cells had taken a longer amount of time to grow, and were not all rod shaped as the mutant yeast should be, but appeared shorter, and slightly rounded. Additional experiments will be conducted by placing the yeast at 30 degrees Celsius, instead of 35 degrees, which may have been killing the yeast.

The Effect of Different Bacterial Strains on the Lifespan of Wild-type and Mutant Nematodes

The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans is used as a model to study the lifespan of multicellular organisms. In the laboratory, E. coli is the standard food source for C. elegans. This experiment focused on the effect of different bacterial food sources on the lifespan of wild-type and 2 long-lived mutants of C. elegans. Three types of plates were prepared to measure the lifespan of the 3 lines. Three plates contained the bacteria A. faecalis, 3 contained E. aerogenes, and 3 contained the standard E. coli as food sources. Twenty eggs of each line were put onto separate plates (1 strain on 1 plate). After the nematodes hatched, they were continuously transferred to fresh plates as they aged. On A. faecalis, the age-1 mutant line lived for a significantly shorter time than the age-2 mutant or the wild-type N2 lines. On E. aerogenes, the age-1 mutant lived significantly longer than the other two lines. These results suggest that the type of bacterial food source can affect lifespan length. In addition, because the long-lived age-1 line showed a shorter lifespan length on A. faecalis, it appears that the food source can dominate the expected phenotype of a mutation.

The Effect of Gentamicin Sulphate on Rotifer Reproduction Rates

Sterilized cultures of Philodina aquaticus are commonly used to feed fish in aquaculture. It was hypothesized that non-sterilized rotifers would exhibit an increased rate of reproduction as well as an increased life span, thus increasing productivity. Philodina rotifers in the experimental group were exposed to .85 ìg/mL of Gentamicin Sulphate. After being observed for 14 days, the results showed an increase in number of rotifers in the control group that had not been sterilized with Gentamicin Sulphate. The application of these findings could be used in aquaculture as a more lucrative way of culturing Rotifers used for fish food.

Aloe Vera: The Green Wonder Plant

Aloe Vera and Garlic have been widely used as alternative medicines and naturally found healing agents. We hope to show that, although they have many other uses as a natural pain relievers, healing agents, and other alternitive medicines, they also make low cost, anti-bacterial agents.

The Effects of Dehydration and Salt on French Fry Decompisition

“Supersize Me” is a documentary movie that criticizes McDonald’s fast food products. My project is based on the principle of this movie. As part of the CD there was a bonus showing an experiment on the decomposition of the McDonald’s French. I tested the validity of this experiment by redoing it a different way. I hypothesized that because McDonald’s fries are dehydrated and salted, which are ancient preservatives, the fries will decompose at a slower rate than the non-dehydrated or salted fries. I tested this experiment by placing McDonald’s fries in eight test tubes and steak fries in another eight. This was my control group. For the experimental group I brushed off the salt from the McDonald’s fries and placed them into eight test tubes. Then I brushed off the salt from the steak fires and did the same. Finally I dried up the steak fries and the McDonald’s fries. Data was collected based on the rate of decomposition. In the control group, little decomposition was seen on the McDonald’s fries, however the steak fries decomposed fully. When the salt was removed the McDonald’s fries decomposed, but not as much as the steak fries. The dehydrated fries did not compose at all. This data showed that the experiment done in the movie was bias. The control group in the movie was not under the same circumstances. The experimenter did not consider these ancient preservatives that McDonald’s uses to protect their fries. The steak fries used in the experiment were very moist, unlike the McDonald’s fries. This is what piqued my interest in redeveloping an experiment that avoids these other variables.

Determining bacterial decomposition rates in Canada Goose droppings

Chong, Andrew. DETERMINING THE RATES OF BACTERIAL DECOMPOSITION RATES IN CANADA GOOSE DROPPINGS, Bergen County Academies (Niedosik). The purpose of this experiment was to measure the rates at which E. coli and B. megaterium metabolize when in the presence of Canada goose feces to compare their efficiency of decomposition. Soil and feces were collected from a wooded field, blended together in a 6 g : 80 g mixture, placed in flasks, and autoclaved. Bacteria were cultured in 10 mL of nutrient broth per test tube, with 6 test tubes for each species. The soil-feces flasks were inoculated with one tube of bacteria for a total of 12 flasks. 24, 48, and 72 hour CO2 readings were taken over a 10-minute period. The data from the CO2 readings was analyzed with ANOVA.

Herbs vs.Cancer: Who Will Win in the Battle for Survival?

Herbs are considered the natural medicine of life, the benefactor to aid our body in the fighting off several diseases that affect us, the people of today. Such herbs include the lomatium, a root used by Native Americans to treat condition such as asthma, pneumonia, bronchitis, etc; the oregano oil (found in the Mediterranean) serves as a painkiller, and helps treat pulmonary tuberculosis, constipation, etc; and Panax Ginseng (found in Korea and in China) which can treat all of the previous ailment of the other two herbs mentioned and is a reliever of pain in the withdrawal symptoms of cocaine etc. These herbs also contain anti-cancerous properties that may be benefactor to the reducing the cell development in certain cancers. All three herbs were tested and each herb showed an effect at different concentrations towards the mutant yeast cdc- 233 (S. pombe). Ginseng allowed the mutant cells to grow at 35 degrees Celsius while the other herbs showed more of effect at the lower temperature (27 degree Celsius). This suggests that these herbs may benefit the cell cycle, whereas Ginseng may aid in the repair process to correct the cell defect as to why the yeast cells don’t grow at the elevated temperature (35 degrees Celsius).

The effect of Ginkgo Biloba on inhibiting the growth of bacteria

The purpose of my experiment was to test the effect of a ginkgo biloba leaf extract on the inhibition of bacteria’s bacillus subtilis and bacillus megaterium growth. Previous studies have stated that ginkgo biloba may have antibacterial properties. In my experiment, I incubated the bacteria and then added circular filter papers dipped in ginkgo biloba to each Petri dish and incubated again. I then checked for rings of inhibition that would have occurred if the ginkgo biloba had antibacterial properties. My results were inconclusive, and showed that little or no inhibition of the bacteria had occurred.

The Antibacterial Effect of Mimosa tenuiflora

Mimosa tenuiflora is a tree whose bark, according to literature, contains miraculous healing powers. Its antibacterial properties are 300% more effective than streptomycin (University of Ottawa, 2003). This property can be found in many of its products, most commonly used is soap. Antibacterial soap is used as a defense mechanism against the spread of bacteria, but there is controversy about bacterial resistance. Using natural products to eliminate bacteria from the body will hinder resistance. In this study, Staphylococcus epidermis and E.coli were exposed to three different soaps, antibacterial, non- antibacterial, and Mimosa tenuiflora soap to test the antibacterial properties of both. A colony count was done and results were analyzed using a T-test. Preliminary results indicate the Mimosa tenuiflora soap may possibly be as effective against E.coli as the antibacterial soap.

MEDICINE and HEALTH

Amblyopia in Human Adults and Children

This study focuses on developing a stronger understanding of the treatment methods of amblyopia. This will be done by analyzing case studies. Through obtaining a better grasp on the treatment for children, this knowledge can be applied to help adults suffering from amblyopia.

Loss of the NF2 Tumor Suppressor Gene Product, Merlin, Increases Migration of Mesothelial Cell Lines

The NF2 (Neurofibromatosis type II) gene produces a protein referred to as Merlin. Functional NF2 genes are considered to be tumor suppressor genes and therefore mutations in the NF2 genes (when it does not function properly) are associated with increased cell migration. In order to evaluate the role of the Merlin protein, different mesothelial cell lines were tested for migration. The two cell lines tested were the LP9 cell line, which does not have the functional Merlin protein and the meso-33 cell line, which has the functional Merlin protein. These two cell lines were incubated for four hours to determine their ability to migrate towards a media. The meso-33 cell line (with the functional Merlin protein) migrated slower and in smaller amounts compared to the LP9 cell line (without the functional Merlin protein), which migrated in larger amounts. This research further supports previous research showing that the loss of functional Merlin protein is associated with increased ability of cancer cells to migrate and metastasize. Future therapies for NF2 cancers may involve restoration of the Merlin protein.

Anti-cancer activity of a Chinese herb, Coptis chinensis

In this project, I looked for an effective, natural anti-cancer treatment without the damage to normal cells caused by chemotherapy. After multiple tests on normal and cancerous cells derived from the same cell line, the herb Coptis chinensis demonstrated the ability to specifically target cancer cells (80% cancer cell deaths vs. 20% normal cell deaths). Testing on other normal and cancerous cells confirmed this result. While experimenting, I discovered that C. chinensis is naturally fluorescent and observed this fluorescence inside cancer cells. This inspired me to use electrophoresis to separate these fluorescent components and to trace their individual presences in cells using fluorescent microscopy. I designed a miniature device to isolate fluorescent components from C. chinensis, of which five were positively charged and two were negatively charged. Through individual testing, I found that the positively charged components are responsible for the selective killing effect. A possible mechanism for this selectivity emerged after observations under a fluorescent microscope. The positively charged fluorescent components would penetrate and accumulate in cancer cell nuclei but not in normal cells, thus killing only cancer cells. The negatively charged fluorescent components couldn’t penetrate either cancer cell or normal cells and did not affect their growth. This result leads to a new, tentative suggestion that the development of cancer may be related to a change in electric charges within cells or on cell membranes. In addition, the selective cytotoxicity of C. chinensis may be the basis for development of a superior anti-cancer drug.

Influence of Miswak on the Binding of Polyphenols to Protein Pellicle

Chewing sticks, also known as miswak, are roots, branches, or other parts of specific types of plants that are used for dental cleaning, are used around the world. The most common source of the miswak is from the Salvadora persica tree and the Azadirichta indica tree found in the Middle East, and the Indian subcontinent, respectively. Miswak is known to be composed of many abrasives and components that are found in many whitening products, and used for whitening purposes. The aim of this study was to measure the effectiveness of the miswak in preventing extrinsic tooth staining caused by the adsorbtion and binding of polyphenols found in such products as red wine, and black tea in comparison to a well-known whitening toothpaste. Hydroxyapatite discs were exposed to saliva to form a protein pellicle mimicking a tooth’s enamel. The discs were divided and exposed to the dentrifices, and then exposed to the polyphenolic mixture composed of red wine and tea. Distilled water was used as a control. A shade guide helped determine the differences in stain color according to the hue (tint), chroma (saturation of color), and value (brightness) of the discs. Statistically, there was a significant difference between the miswak group and the control (p<0.05). However, there was no significant difference between the whitening toothpaste, and the miswak group. Although the results do not support each hypothesis, the miswak group was just as effective as the whitening product’s effect on preventing the staining. In conclusion, due to the abrasives and components found in the miswak stick, it can be used to prevent harsh extrinsic staining on teeth.

Scoliosis Prevention Device

I have designed two prototypes that detect the curvature of the spine in the coronal plane to correct posture and prevent postural scoliosis. The first prototype is a flat model of the spine comprised of conductive plates. As the spine curves, these plates come in contact and complete a circuit that audibly alerts the wearer. The second prototype is a nonfunctioning model due to lack of available material, conductive paint. This model has four lines painted on a flexible medium; each line is identical to the others in length, width, and thickness of paint. When the flexible material curves as the spine curves, the identical properties of the lines change due to stretching of the material on the outer curve and squeezing of the material on the inner curve. This change in the length and width of the lines affects resistivity of each line. This change in resistivity is detected by the multimeter.

Automated Electrocardiograph Diagnosing

The condition and performance of the human heart can be determined in situ by measuring the electrical current generated by the heart and tracing the signal on an electrocardiogram (EKG). Currently used EKG machines are bulky and expensive, and interpreting EKGs require specially trained technicians. A portable device was constructed to record electrical current from the human heart, using a single-lead, three-point electrode configuration, and output data to the computer via the sound card. Software was developed to output the signal to a computer screen. The main physiological problems that are revealed by an electrocardiogram were studied and quantitative criteria were developed. The software was reprogrammed, implementing the aforementioned criteria, to autonomously interpret the EKG, identify the PQRSTU segments of the waveform, and give a diagnosis.

Multiple Sclerosis: Geographic Clustering

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a neurological disorder in which the body’s T cells attack the myelin surrounding axons in the brain, spinal cord, and optic nerves. There is no known cure and its cause is not understood. There are, however, several hypotheses stating a strong geographic clustering for MS. I examined some of these hypotheses using Geographic Information System (GIS) spatial analysis. The examined hypotheses were: 1) Multiple Sclerosis is more prevalent in the northern latitudes (i.e. Montana, Idaho); 2) More women suffer from MS than men; and 3) Male age at diagnosis is generally higher than female age at diagnosis. I did not find support for the first hypothesis. MS was not, in fact, more prevalent in the northern latitudes of the US. Maps of gender trends were generally consistent with the second hypothesis although the ratio of males to females was higher in several states. Across the United States, the third hypothesis seemed to be true, although certain anomalies existed. In several states (i.e., Montana, Alaska, West Virginia) the female age at diagnosis was higher than the male age at diagnosis. In addition, the female age at diagnosis in Mississippi was unusually low; the lowest in the nation, while the male age at diagnosis was about average. Per capita maps revealed further startling trends, including Connecticut’s incidence rate, which far exceeded all the other states’. Incidence rates were generally higher along the northeastern seaboard and in some northwestern states including Colorado, Wyoming, Oregon, and Washington.

Effect of Ascorbic Acid on Mitotic Rate of White Blood Cells Exposed to Mitomycin C

Mitomycin C (MMC) is a chemotherapy drug which inhibits DNA synthesis and thus cell proliferation by producing free radicals and by causing DNA cross-linking. Previous studies have shown lowered MMC toxicity with exposure to antioxidants in cells. The purpose of this study was to determine if ascorbic acid, an antioxidant, lowers the amount of cell damage caused by MMC. White blood cells were exposed to varying concentrations of MMC (0, 0.1, and 1 mg/mL) and varying concentrations of ascorbic acid (0, 200, and 300 mg/mL), with all concentrations based on previous studies. Cell proliferation success was determined by the mitotic index, which was measured by a ratio of number of cells in metaphase to total cells (interphase and metaphase cell number). According to a trend in the data, it was shown that at lower concentrations of MMC (0.1 mg/mL), increased ascorbic acid resulted in increased cell mitotic rate. However, at higher MMC concentration, the same significant increase in mitotic rate was not observed.

Nutritional Basis of School Lunches Based on Present and Proposed Requirements.

Obesity has become a rising problem of many children and adolescents. Most children spend large amounts of time in school and receive one to two meals there. It is important that their schools’ cafeteria menus are those that meet the requirements set down by the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), which requires certain minimum quantities of each category of foods. The purpose of this experiment was to test whether the food and beverages in hot lunches at JFK High School in Iselin, NJ are meeting the requirements set down by the NSLP. While the school may offer healthy choices, this experiment will also determine if and how individual students make unhealthy ones. For one week, a sample of each daily hot meal was obtained and its components’ weight was measured. In addition, ten random students who bought hot lunch were observed in their choice making each day. The results concluded that JFK follows the requirements by the NSLP, however the student body may make choices unhealthy for them, supporting the hypothesis. For future research, it is suggested that more student observations are needed. More nutritional suggestions can be made to substitute a school meal, making it as healthy and enjoyable for the student body and its benefit.

Saccadic Inhibition Deficits in Schizophrenia: An MEG-Based Study

Past studies have demonstrated that patients with schizophrenia have trouble performing the antisaccade task, which requires subjects to inhibit the automatic prosaccade response. The role of the frontal eye fields (FEF) in this inhibitory mechanism has also been studied, and the correlation between FEF activation and inhibition has been documented. The current study presented both healthy subjects and those with schizophrenia with a saccadic paradigm that required inhibition, and compared the temporal patterns of FEF activation (determined by magnetoencephalography, or MEG) of the two groups. The results indicated that the right FEF was activated about 500ms before the antisaccade was made in a representative subject with schizophrenia, and about 100ms before the antisaccade was made in a representative healthy subject. In addition, the FEF was activated to a greater extent in the patient afflicted with schizophrenia. These observations—that the subject with schizophrenia showed earlier and more intense FEF activation when performing the same task as the healthy subject—led to the conclusions that persons with schizophrenia have saccadic inhibition deficits which cause them to work longer and harder than their normal counterparts to perform the same antisaccade, and that this difficulty is manifested in greater FEF activation because the FEF play a key role in saccadic inhibition. This study lacked the statistical power necessary to draw definitive conclusions; however, if future studies do verify these preliminary results, the antisaccade task could become an instrumental tool in everything from researching the pattern of schizophrenia inheritance to identifying those at risk of developing schizophrenia.

Effects of Weather and Air Pollutants on Stroke Death and Occurrence

People all over the world are experiencing strokes and sometimes die from them. The aim of this study was to clarify whether air pollution, weather, and the incidence of and mortality from stroke can be correlated as some recent studies have shown. Scientists are puzzled by the occurrence of stroke daily among hundreds of people in the U.S. More research is needed to find the possible risk factors for stroke. To begin, monthly averages of meteorological factors were obtained for the years 2001 and 2002. Furthermore, air pollution trends and levels were acquired along with stroke frequencies and deaths. This data regarded four counties in New Jersey: Essex, Sussex, Morris, and Bergen. This data was then tabulated into Excel and correlated using the Pearson Correlation. Preliminary results show that trends in weather and air pollution are consistent with those of stroke occurrence and deaths in these locations. In other words, if there is a correlation between weather, air pollution, and stroke, then, the fluctuation of weather and air pollution levels will cause fluctuation in stroke death and occurrence. Therefore, the hypotheses are supported, revealing that weather and air pollution may be risk factors for stroke. In order to gain a better understanding of grasping such a correlation, further research should be undertaken, inclusive of studying stroke subtypes and other meteorological factors.

Effects of Microwaving on the Nutritional Content of Common Foods

Many people use microwave ovens to prepare daily meals yet there are still conflicting views concerning the nutritional effects of microwave heating on food. The impact of microwave heating on vitamin C (ascorbic acid) tablets and brussel sprouts was determined by comparing the vitamin C content of microwave-cooked, uncooked, and stovetop cooked (boiled) vitamin C tablets and brussel sprouts. Vitamin C was extracted by blending and centrifuging brussel sprout and tablet solutions. The concentration of vitamin C was determined by the titrimetric method using iodine as a titrant and thyodene as an indicator. It was discovered that microwave heating did reduce the vitamin C content in brussel sprouts and tablets but retained more vitamin C than stovetop heating (boiling).

Stem Cells

Abstract: Stem Cell Research: The purpose of my research with Stem Cells is to conduct a literary review of the controversy surrounding Stem Cell Research and the progress made in other countries. There have been many finding s within this year about Stem Cell Research, such as using Umbilical cord blood or finding a technical fix for a religious bind. The potential for Stem Cell Research is great; it has the capability of curing terrible diseases such as Diabetes and Parkinson’s disease.

Understanding Longevity from the Inside Out: The Anti-aging Effects of Mild Heat Shock

Hormesis is a phenomenon in which mild stress produces beneficial effects. During hormesis, mild stress stimulates an organism’s maintenance and repair pathways, which increases adaptive abilities. In contrast, aging is the result of a rapid decrease in adaptive abilities due to extensive damage of maintenance and repair pathways. Therefore, it was hypothesized that mild exposure to a hormesis-inducing stressor would up-regulate adaptive pathways within an organism and thus delay aging. In the experiment, male strains of vestigial winged D. melanogaster exposed to a single heat shock treatment of 37oC for 60 minutes exhibited a 149.80% (7.32-day) increase in mean life span versus the unexposed control. These results coupled with several previously published, independent observations were used to propose a potential underlying mechanism of aging and hormesis-induced longevity, in which the heat shock response is complimented by a simultaneous acceleration of protein turnover to promote longevity.

A possible role of bilirubin in inhibiting PKC induced Vasoconstriction

New food sources and substances are found every year to contain antioxidant properties. One such substance that has recently gained high interest in the scientific community is bilirubin – a bile pigment produced by the liver. Bilirubin is known to be a toxin as it is associated with neonatal jaundice but literature also shows that bilirubin has antioxidant properties. This research looked into the possible role of bilirubin in preventing vasoconstriction of coronary vessels induced by Protein Kinase C, which increases the production of reactive oxygen species. The hypothesis stated that bilirubin would inhibit vasoconstriction of the vessels by reducing the formation of reactive oxygen species. The experiment was conducted at New York Medical College physiology lab. Bovine coronary arteries were obtained and dissected into rings, which were then suspended in Krebs solution in individual tissue/organ baths. The rings were treated with a solution of HiK and then 30K to contract the vessels, while the polygraph recorded the isometric tension. The rings were then treated with a Protein Kinase C activator-PDBu, which activated constriction in the vessels. Bilirubin was then added to observe inhibition properties. An average of the peaks was taken at 5-minute intervals and a t-test was performed. Results indicated a significant inhibition of contraction induced by PDBu after adding bilirubin (p=0.05).

Effects of Aging on Extracellular Matrix and Cytoskeleton Formation of Human Dermal Fibroblasts

Age-related physical modifications in human skin cell and associated proteins were considered in the study. Quantitative and qualitative descriptions of the age-dependence of internal (cytoskeleton), external (extracellular matrix; ECM), and global fibroblast arrangement and response were achieved via inverted, atomic force, and confocal microscopies. It was observed that aged cells exhibited a delayed environmental response, reduced ability to secrete ECM proteins, and disorientation of actin microtubules in the cytoskeleton. Studies of cell-substrate interactions provided clues to the possibility to control fibroblast properties through variations in biocompatible scaffolding. Further investigations will involve the use of monoclonal antibodies to determine the composition of ECM protein secretions of fibroblasts of different ages. Results are potentially useful in tissue engineering, regeneration, and wound healing studies.

PHYSICS

Development of a Low-Budget Electro-Magnetic Propulsion Device

The Lorentz Force Law can be used to describe the effects of a charged particle moving in a magnetic field. Recent military application of the Lorentz Force Law develops on this theory to propel large metallic projectiles; this leads to our study of an electromagnetic propulsion device. We modeled two possible devices, one that uses Lorentz force, the other utilizing the magnetic attraction force from a strong magnetic field, i.e., a solenoid. Using computer modeling and empirical data we found that, with our resources, the solenoid-type device would most benefit due to its greater efficiency, i.e., an order of magnitude higher. The investigation shows that the projectile’s muzzle velocity is directly proportional to the number of turns, N. Additionally, the maximum muzzle velocity is achieved by four layers of 60 turns (approximately 10 cm in length) of 12 gauge wire producing a magnetic field; additional turns above the mentioned proved futile. Multiple in-line solenoid devices were investigated and displayed inconclusive results. Research pointed to the future application of a solid-state switch to minimize arch-induced losses and a timed circuit to produce in-line and consecutive magnetic pulses.

Determining Basic Stellar Characteristics from Eclipsing Binary Observations

Using a 12” reflecting telescope equipped with a CCD camera, which was provided to me for my use by Dr. Dale Gary of NJIT, I observed two eclipsing binaries, BN Pegasus and BB Pegasus. I took sixty 10 second exposures of the stars during each observation, and downloaded the images onto a laptop computer which was hooked up to the telescope. I then opened the program “Cartes du Ciel”, found and zoomed in to my target star, downloaded the Deep Sky Survey portion of the program, then found other bright stars that appeared in close vicinity in the picture, and chose one as my reference star, and one as my check star. I clicked on them, and the program gave me their magnitudes, etc., to later be used for comparison in my light curve plot. I saved the data, as well as printed it out, then went on to open up MaxIm DL. I loaded the pictures I had taken with the CCD into the program, and set the calibration for bias, dark, and flat, then applied the calibration to the images. I aligned the images, and went through each one, to see if there were any that needed to be deleted, then deleted those ones. Then I chose the Blink option, and ran all the remaining images as a movie to make sure they were okay. Afterwards, I chose the Analyze/Photometry option, and clicked on the target star, tagging it as New Object. The reference star was tagged as New Reference Object, and the check star as New Check Star. After that, I clicked on “view plot”, and was able to see the light curve plot. I then saved the plot to Excel. I used Excel to plot my data in two ways; one vs. time, and one vs. the orbital phase, using the data I had, and the Julian date. I then used my data to determine the stars’ types, masses, distances, separations etc. This was accomplished by using the CCD camera to determine the stars’ luminosity. I then used a spectrometer as well, to determine much of the data. After acquiring the information about their luminosities, I determined their types by using the luminosity and the spectral analysis of the stars, the masses by the luminosity, their distances by the parallax and the Doppler shift of their spectra, and the stars’ separations by spectral analysis and the use of an interferometer.

Variable Stars

Variable stars are stars that vary in their light output. The origins of these light variations define the classification system of variable stars. An interest in the behavior of these stars sparked a desire to develop a functional way to observe these stars. By first learning the procedure and technique for astronomic observation, through the Crystal Lake Observatory TS-24 Telescope Simulator, preparations were made and lessons learned on how to do actual observations. From there, research and development with a photo cell led to the creation of a device that read visible light magnitudes.

An Analysis of the Effect of Mass, Shape and Firing Angle on Projectiles

The purpose of this experiment was to discover if adding weight to a projectile fired from potato cannon will make the projectile travel a greater distance than a projectile without additional weight. A control and five variables were constructed and fired at 45, 60 and 180 degree angles. The distances traveled were recorded. The results were inconsistent and did not follow any specific pattern. This was probably due to the unreliable nature of the potato cannon. There was little statistical significance between nay variable at any angle. It was shown that adding weight to a projectile fired from potato cannon would not make it travel a greater distance.

An Analysis of Galactic Clusters

The purpose of our research is to explore the possibility of classifying galactic clusters using x-ray data. We examined the x-ray energy spectra from the galactic clusters Coma and Virgo. The spectra for Coma showed a decrease in the parameters of temperature, luminosity and mass as distance from the center of the cluster increased. The spectra for Virgo showed no discernable pattern in the effect on these parameters as the radial distance from the center increased. Consequently, we propose 2 tentative, testable hypotheses based on the x-ray spectra: that a galactic cluster can be classified as “regular”, as with Coma; or “irregular”, as in the case of Virgo.

Maglev Trains

The subject of our experiment is Maglev trains and the fundamental mechanics of how it works. There are currently two types of suspensions for Maglev trains, electromagnetic and electrodynamic. We are currently building and testing a model of a wheel and track of an electrodynamic suspension Maglev train. We are testing whether the placement of the magnets and how many rpms the wheel can go have any effect on the levitation of the wheel. By the end of the experiment, we should have a firm understanding of how an electrodynamic suspension Maglev train work.

Extinguishing Light using Low-Level Resources at a Secondary Institution

There are many dangers that are posed by today’s microwaves. Microwaves in long term effects have known to lead to neurological, reproductive, and cardiac problems. This can occur due to exposure to microwaves at 900 MHz or higher. Daily use of microwave ovens, cell phones, and even prolonged exposure to the sun increases the risk of receiving body function problems. Second, another effect independent of power level is resonance, which occurs at certain frequency ranges where the wavelength is near the size of a body part. An example is the 900 MHz range, which has a wavelength of approximately one foot—a size that can cause resonance in a child’s head. This intensifies the biological effect. Also, children’s skulls are thinner, so microwaves penetrate more easily. Lastly, there is a decreased nutritional value to foods cooked in microwaves. This includes but is not limited to decreased bio-availability of vitamin B complex, vitamin C, vitamin E, essential minerals and lipotropics factors in all food tested. Various kinds of damaged to many plant substances, such as alkaloids, glucosides, galactosides and nitrilosides. The degradation of nucleo-proteins in meats.

Magnus Force and its Effect on the Distance a Ball Travels

The purpose of this research was to determine the effect that velocity and speed of rotation have on the distance a ball travels when released parallel to the ground four feet above impact. Ten measurements were made of softballs traveling at velocities from 20 to 60 mph with an upward rotation, downward rotation and no rotation. Results showed that, at velocities greater than 50 mph, upward rotating softballs traveled farther and downward rotation softballs traveled less distance than non-rotating softballs. It was found that the greater the forward velocity, the greater the Magnus Force of a rotating ball.

Electronically Actuated Deformable Mirror

This project was designed to test the practicality of a mirror that could be flexed and returned to its original shape through the use of electricity. The device was fabricated out of eight 220 ohm (1 watt) resistors, a 3 mm diameter silica post and a 0.45 mm thick polished silicon wafer. The resistors were arranged in a 1.5 cm radius circular pattern about the central post. The resistors and post were assembled end-on into precision through-holes which were drilled into a 8 mm thick oak wood substrate. Before assembly, the wafer is set on an optical flat to ensure that every component made contact with the wafer on an even plane. The center post was glued to the wafer with a heat-resistant epoxy and the resistors and post were subsequently secured to the base with model cement. Once the mirror apparatus was assembled a DC current was applied in parallel to the resistors. Thermal data provided by resistor manufactures lead us to predict a temperature rise of ca. 45 degrees on the copper leads for 0.5W dissipation per resistor. Based on the linear expansion coefficient of copper (16.5 x 10-6 ?C-1) our resistors were expected to lengthen ca. 20 microns. Assuming a spherical wafer distortion, a 2.8 m focal length mirror would result. We tested the device by counting thermally induced interference fringes. The resulting 82 fringes implied a 22 micron resistor expansion. Furthermore, we confirmed that the device was capable focusing collimated light with the expected focal length.

Rail gun and the Physics Behind It

The purpose of my project is to create a rail gun and determine whether or not my results match up with the numbers that i would get by using physics equations. In order to do this, I created my own small rail gun that is about 2.5 feet in length. After it was finished, I hooked up a small capacitor bank to the rails and created a small projectile. I simply placed the projectile on a staging ground and gave the projectile a small push to get it started. I continued to do this in order to get results. I found that the data i received compared to that of calculation is very close. Not the ssame due to errors (wear and tear of rails, inconsistant starting push, etc.).

The Trebuchet as a Rescue Device

The purpose of this research was to show that the trebuchet can be used as a rescue device. A model of a trebuchet was built (38.0 cm high) and tested with both twine and thread to see which would be thrown further. The twine traveled a maximum distance of 295.92 cm and the thread traveled a maximum distance of 521.84 cm. It was found that by using a lighter rope to throw to someone that has fallen through the ice, a rescue can be accomplished.

The Difference Between the Standard and the Oversized Tennis Ball.

Tennis is a great sport, but there are many aspects that have to be considered while playing tennis. The level of professional is so high that it has become hard to watch the ball in play. Due to this, the International Tennis Federation has developed an oversized tennis ball that is 6% larger than the standard sized tennis ball. This has slowed the game down, however there’s a complaint from the tennis players that there’s a higher risk of them being injured. This research set out to prove that the standard sized ball will travel farther, bounce higher, and maintain more speed than the oversized tennis ball. The hypothesis was accepted at 95% level of confidence, and this shows that the player needs to put in more energy into the oversized tennis ball in order to get the same results as before. This increases the player’s chance of getting injured. This research can be improved with more trials, and using different types of surfaces for the future.

Feasibility Study on using Wind Generated Energy for a Home Application

My experiment’s purpose was to determine the feasibility of using wind generated electrical energy to power a heating device that would be used to prevent water pipes from freezing. I collected wind speed data using an anemometer located on the roof of a residence located on a hill top in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania during the winter months of January and February. For the 15 days, that the readings were taken during January and February, the temperature near the water pipes fluctuated between approximately 30 to 40 degrees and the average wind between 0 to 20 mph. I derived an algebraic formula to convert wind speed (mph) into electrical power output (watts), using the wind generator manufacturer’s performance data. The equation used is as follows: power output = 3.75X(wind speed - 4)^2. I derived a second equation to convert pipe temperature to heating tape to power consumption. The equation used is as follows: power consumption = 80 – 2 X Pipe Temperature. Using these equations, power consumed was 32 Kw-Hr and the power generated was 16 Kw-Hr over the test period. Based upon these results, the wind generator chosen did not produce enough energy to power the 120 feet length of heating tape required. At least two of these wind generators would be needed to meet the energy demand of the heating tape or house utility power would be required to supplement the wind gerated power. However, if the heating tape was better designed to turn on at 34 degrees instead of 38 degrees it would of only have used 1.5 Kw-Hr of energy. Therefore, the conclusion it is feasible that this wind generator can provide sufficient amount of energy to prevent water pipes from freezing in this case.

Applications of Magnetic Braking

This experiment was used to measure the efficiency of magnetic brakes by utilizing Lenz's Law, a subset of Faraday's Laws. A motor was connected to an aluminum disk which was spun up to a specific RPM. A permanent magnet brought near the disk induced a current in the disk, stopping its movement. A voltmeter and an ammeter measured the voltage and current going through the motor as a function of the magnet's distance from the disk. Tests were also run with aluminum disks of different compositions and with different motors. Voltage and current measurements allowed the effect of the magnetic field on the disk to be quantified.

A study of the properties of helmholtz resonators.

A soda bottle functions as a Helmholtz resonator when air is blown across the neck, causing a plug of air at the neck to undergo simple harmonic motion, creating a sound wave at a fundamental frequency. All of the unknowns in the equation that governs this frequency except length of oscillating air were found: an oscilloscope and microphone were used to find the frequency of the sounds produced, a ruler and graduated cylinder were used to find the dimensions of the bottles, and a thermometer was used to find the speed of sound in air. With this data the length of the oscillating plug of air was calculated for each bottle. The two components of this value are end correction and length of neck. It was determined from two bottles with the same end correction and measured neck lengths that the effective neck length does not correspond to the measured length of the neck.

What is the Difference between Music and Noise?

Music: What are you really hearing? The purpose of my experiment is to show how musical waves differs from noise waves. While musical waves have set patterns and frequencies,I believe noise waves are erratic and follow no such pattern. I set up an oscilloscope computer program, and produced frequency waves by playing my alto saxophone through the built in microphone inside of the computer. I played a number of different music notes, as well as a number of noisy sounds that are unpleasing to the ear. I found that the frequency increases, the amplitude generally increases, and the wavelength varies in my experiment. I also found that noise waves do follow patterns as well.

ZOOLOGY

The Chromosome Complement of Planarian Blastemas

The purpose of this experiment was to determine whether regeneration in planaria is a result of cell fusion or cell reparation, by isolation of chromosomes and examination for ploidy. The identification of cell fusion in planarian blastemas would lend evidence to the existence of cell fusion in other regenerating cells, such as human stem cells. There are very few reports in the literature of planarian blastema chromosome preparation; their etiology is still unclear. Planaria were cut in cross section and allowed to regenerate in conditioned water to produce blastemas for 4 days. The blastemas were then treated with colchicine solution to arrest the cells in metaphase. The blastemas were then subjected to hypotonic for and fixed in methanol/ acetic acid. Slides were prepared and stained with giemsa to visualize the chromosomes. The slides were scanned and cells were found that contained a polyploidy number of chromosomes, suggesting a cell fusion.

Morphallaxis: An Herbal Approach

Recent studies have shown that natural alternatives such as ginseng, aloe vera, and gotu kola aid in the regeneration process mammalian cells undergo. To test the effectiveness of these medicines on another type of regeneration called morphallaxis, which many invertebrates experience, cut segments of the annelid Lumbriculus Variegatus were placed in different concentrations of each medicine and some in distilled water. After a few days, ginseng proved to be ineffective since 25% of the specimens remaining were not regenerating at a normal rate. On the contrary, aloe vera increased the cell growth in 30% of the worms. Results for gotu kola are inconclusive due to unforeseeably high concentrations.

Dog Dental Hygiene

The subject of my project is dog oral hygiene. I had a four week trial period where I brushed my dog’s teeth daily. I took note on the price of the products that I used and the price of other things such as periodic dental cleanings that dogs normally go through. I calculated the yearly cost that it would take to keep healthy dental hygiene. I took pictures at the end of each of the four weeks to see how well the dog’s dental hygiene was progressing. In the end I looked at how clean the dog’s teeth had become. I came to the conclusion that although maintaining healthy teeth for a dog is a bit expensive, in the end if you truly love your pet it is completely worth it.

Seasonal Changes in Bird Populations in Northern New Jersey

The purpose of this research was to determine which birds are found in a specific area in Andover, New Jersey, during the spring, summer and fall months, and to determine how seasonal changes affect the bird populations. Birds were observed in the area for five months and records were kept on the type and number of each species seen. Data shows that some birds were more common than others during the entire observation period and some were seen only during a specific season. It can be concluded that some species are inhabitants of the study area and some are migrants with a higher presence in a specific season.

Genetic dissimilarity in mate selection in Poecilia reticulata (guppies)

Of the mechanisms of mate selection in guppies (Danio rerio), visual selection is a major factor. Quite simply, the male that is most visible amongst the foliage of the environment is the male that will be seen more easily by the female. This experiment documented observations done on the fish, including the identification of mating behaviors. Mate selection was determined by placing a female fish into the center compartment of a tank divided into three sections. The outer two sections each have a single male fish: one bright guppy and one dull guppy. The percentage of time that the female fish spends on each side of her compartment determines her mate choice. The time that the females spent on the side with the bright male was significantly greater than the time that the females spent on the side with the dull male.

How Feeder Color Affects Food Choices in Common Backyard Birds

The purpose of this research was to determine if the color of a bird feeder will affect a bird's decision to feed from a particular feeder. Four different colored wooden feeders were filled with a mixture of bird food and observed for an hour and a half each week day for five weeks (n=325 birds). The majority of birds preferred the green and brown feeders. It was concluded that the color of a bird feeder does have an effect on a bird's feeding choices.

Chemosensory System of Sharks

The purpose of this project is to obtain knowledge of the chemosensory system in sharks. Sharks are vertebrate creatures that are composed of cartilage, a strong fibrous material that causes sharks to be flexible and quick. The shark family consists of 350 plus species, and is also closely related to stingrays and skates. Sharks can respond very quickly to blood in water and detect one drop per every twenty- five parts, but also contain many other senses such as sight, touch, electrosensory, and hearing, all keen senses which allows the sharks to hunt prey.

Genetic Analysis of Meiotic Mutants in Drosophila

The purpose of this experiment is to use the power of D. melanogaster genetics to identify new genes required for the process of meiotic recombination and to map their locations using genetic tests. The eventual analysis of the protein products of these genes will provide clues to their specific biochemical activity. In many cases, similar genes will be present in humans and, therefore, these studies may provide insights into possible therapies to prevent nondisjunction in humans, such as medication or nutritional supplements. This may lead to the prevention of birth disorders like Downs syndrome, a disorder caused by chromosomal nondisjunction in humans and coupled with increasing maternal age. I utilized the process of EMS mutagenesis along with various genetic crosses to isolate a mutant with defective meiosis. I induced a mutation in one of the 10-20 genes out the 7,000 on the 3rd chromosome responsible for chromosome segregation during meiosis. Thus, I discovered a new gene in fruit flies that maintains high levels of crossing over and prevents nondisjunction. I also used deficiency and three-point mapping techniques to map two genes discovered from previous mutagenesis experiments. I concluded that the two genes, both with essential roles in meiosis, lie on the left-arm of the 2nd chromosome within the region 28E4-38A1 near the black gene. Mapping these genes to a smaller region of DNA will facilitate a positional cloning approach and provide clues into the molecular defects causing nondisjunction in Drosophila and possibly common birth defects and disorders in humans.

How Does Urbanization Affect the Local Deer Population

The purpose of this research was to determine if towns with higher population densities had more deer fatalities than towns with lower population densities. Various township municipalities and town records bureaus were contacted. They released the data concerning the experiment. The results showed that towns with higher population densities had fewer deer fatalities than those towns with lower densities. It was concluded that towns with lower densities have a higher number of deer killed by human activity.

Effects of Tretinoin (Retinoic Acid) in Regeneration Rate of Planaria

The purpose of this experiment was to find out whether tretinoin would induce collagen production, as it is readily used in anti-wrinkle creams. This was carried out by comparing the regeneration rates of planaria in plain water and those in a tretinoin solution. First a tretinoin solution was prepared from a stock solution. Then five planaria cut in half were placed in conditioned water, and another five were placed in a tretinoin solution. To keep track of their regeneration, images of each planaria halve were taken once a week over a four-week duration. All planaria were kept in the same dark environment. Results of this experiment were inconclusive.