Elucidating the Relationships Between Spider Size, Joint Stiffness, and the Mechanical Frequency Response of the Body

Spiders use vibrations to sense their surroundings. It has been suggested that the vibration perception in spiders may be altered by the mechanics of the body. I studied the biomechanics of spiders, at the level of leg joints and the whole body. To study joints, I quantified the allometry of leg joint stiffness in spiders. I found that the stiffness of spider joints increased nearly isometrically with increasing body mass, partly by having shorter and thicker leg segments and also by other unknown means. Using these data, I developed empirically validated biomechanical models which predicted the effects of mechanics on vibrational filtering within the body. Interestingly, both models and empirical data showed that the relatively linear increase in joint stiffness with mass meant that the mechanical filtering of spider bodies may be size independent, indicating that spiders of different masses or ecologies may sense the world in similar ways

INTEGSCI 3002A: Nutrition: Uncovering the Misconceptions of What We Consume

Nutrition misconceptions are widespread and can be harmful to consumers. It is necessary to address and research them to avoid the propagation of misinformation. This investigation revealed the truth behind some commonly debated nutrition topics: frozen produce are equal in nutrition to fresh; protein powders are not a sufficient diet alone because they lack essential nutrients; kombucha has genuine positive health impacts; bottled water is not healthier than tap water; supplements can cause health deterioration over time; and diabetics can manage their condition through diet choices. The information gathered here will provide more power to the consumer to make informed, beneficial choices about their diet and health