Impact of COVID-19 on High-Level Athletes

The COVID-19 pandemic was an unprecedented era of uncertainty and disruption, profoundly impacting every part of human life, especially the world of sports. High-level athletes, admired for their physical abilities and mental toughness, were not immune to the far-reaching impacts of the pandemic. From mental health challenges to disruptions in training routines, and physical injuries to long-term implications, the journey of high-level athletes through the COVID-19 pandemic has been defined by resilience, adaptation, and significant change

\u27Biting the Bullet\u27; How Civil War Medicine has been Misunderstood

This paper\u27s focus is breaking down common misconceptions regarding military medicine. By analyzing the observations from the Late Antebellum period, it becomes evident that monumental change occurred during the American Civil War. Rather than bite the bullet, let\u27s comprehend what was actually implemented policy-wise during the deadliest conflict in US History

Relationship Between Kinematics and Velocity Using 3D Markerless Motion Capture In High School Baseball Pitchers

Baseball pitching relies on biomechanics and kinetics, where the pitcher\u27s body works to produce power and pitch accuracy. Analyzing movement sequences, from wind-up to ball release, highlights the significance of joint angles and force in relation to the velocity and location of the pitch. Mastering these principles not only improves the pitcher\u27s overall performance, but also helps prevent injuries. The effect of knee flexion at ball release and stride length on velocity were tested and analyzed in high school baseball pitchers. Our research is comparable to other studies when looking at values of knee flexion angle and stride length as a percentage of body height. A backwards stepwise regression was used to look for predictive ability of kinematics in relation to ball velocity. It was found that there is not significant correlation between the values of knee flexion at ball release and velocity (p=-0.431) as well as stride length as a percentage of body height and velocity (p=0.454). Future studies are encouraged to analyze baseball pitching mechanics at various angles of knee flexion to determine a more direct correlation with ball velocity

SkillForge: The Future of Learning

SkillForge is a pioneering e-learning platform integrating Augmented Reality (AR) to enhance online education. Users, as learners or mentors, navigate a plethora of courses enriched with AR modules, offering hands-on interactive experiences. The platform tailors learning paths using AI, adjusting content to users\u27 pace and engagement. Features like real-time feedback, and gamification elements elevate the learning journey. Safety and community engagement are paramount, with strong community guidelines and discussion forums. Utilizing technologies like Tkinter, Ollama, Mistral, SQLite, and Sketchfab api. Skill Resolution stands at the forefront of innovative education

Patterns of Predation in a Declining Asian Shore Crab Population at a Marsh Restoration Site

Hemigrapsus sanguineus (Asian shore crab) is an invasive crustacean that often outcompetes established species on the eastern seaboard and impacts biodiversity. Although it can have detrimental effects, the H. sanguineus population at a marsh restoration site at Stratford Point, Connecticut has declined since 2019. Understanding predation dynamics on Asian shore crabs can provide insights into the mechanisms driving this decline. We conducted a mark-recapture study to estimate H. sanguineus population size at Stratford Point as part of ongoing monitoring, yielding an estimated 33,913 crabs at the site in 2023, a 25% decline from 2022. A tethering experiment confirmed that marking did not increase odds of predation. To examine diurnal and tidal effects on predation on H. sanguineus, we performed two tethering experiments comparing crab survival 1) during the day and at night and 2) during high and low tide. Although Chi square tests showed no significant diurnal or tidal effects on crab survival, more research is needed to fully understand the dynamics present in these ecosystems and why this population continues to decline. We expect these trends to continue as the restored marsh matures, since previous work showed higher predation rates in vegetated vs. unvegetated areas at the site

The Many Flavor of SHU SAACS

Sacred Heart University\u27s student affiliate Chapter of the American Chemical Society is actively involved in connecting Sacred Heart with chemistry and promoting science to the community. Throughout the year our club has been involved in many activities like, making slime or pH indicators, participating in panels, playing chemistry Jeopardy, and decorating the science wing bulletin board. In honor of National Chemistry Week and National Mole Day, we held a Mole Bowl in collaboration with nearby colleges. We host exciting and educational science-related events on campus, such as giving out liquid nitrogen ice cream and guest speakers to engage students

Lighting Pathways to Success in STEM: A Virtual Laboratory Meeting Programme (LaMP) Mutually Benefits Mentees and Host Laboratories

Developing robust professional networks can help shape the trajectories of early career scientists. Yet, historical inequities in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields make access to these networks highly variable across academic programmes, and senior academics often have little time for mentoring. Here, we illustrate the success of a virtual Laboratory Meeting Programme (LaMP). In this programme, we matched students (mentees) with a more experienced scientist (mentors) from a research group. The mentees then attended the mentors’ laboratory meetings during the academic year with two laboratory meetings specifically dedicated to the mentee’s professional development. Survey results indicate that mentees expanded their knowledge of the hidden curriculum as well as their professional network, while only requiring a few extra hours of their mentor’s time over eight months. In addition, host laboratories benefitted from mentees sharing new perspectives and knowledge in laboratory meetings. Diversity of the mentees was significantly higher than the mentors, suggesting that the programme increased the participation of traditionally under-represented groups. Finally, we found that providing a stipend was very important to many mentees. We conclude that virtual LaMPs can be an inclusive and costeffective way to foster trainee development and increase diversity within STEM fields with little additional time commitment

Coronavirus Update Spring 2024

We are looking forward to welcoming our students back for the spring semester. As we prepare for a rewarding and fun few months, we want to remind you of our COVID protocols. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), levels of the virus are currently higher than they have been since the first Omicron wave. That said, severe outcomes are lower than in previous winters

Pope John Paul II Sculpture

Pope John Paull II replica sculpture created by Marc Mellon, third floor.https://digitalcommons.sacredheart.edu/libraryhistoryphotos/1024/thumbnail.jp