Mechanics of Ball Striking

https://digitalcommons.gardner-webb.edu/exercise-science-research-proposal-posters/1020/thumbnail.jp

A Correlational Study of Resting Metabolic Rate

In this experiment, four young adults with various anthropometric measurements completed RMR tests. The purpose of this experiment is to find to what extent RMR increases in relation to FFM, BMI, height and weight. It is hypothesized that a higher RMR is associated with a higher FFM, and RMR will not indicate a strong correlation with the other variables.https://digitalcommons.gardner-webb.edu/exercise-science-research-proposal-posters/1021/thumbnail.jp

The Effects of Caffeine on The Agility T-Test and Heart Rate

It was hypothesized that caffeine will increase speed and agility, and increase resting heart rate.https://digitalcommons.gardner-webb.edu/exercise-science-research-proposal-posters/1061/thumbnail.jp

TRON 2.0 - The Experience

The goal of this senior project was to come up with a structural-engineering-related schematic design for a roller coaster to be installed in Disneyland called TRON 2.0: The Experience. This involved looking at both design processes that we had already learned through our curriculum as well as researching concepts that were previously foreign to us, namely the dynamic application of loads and the effects of fatigue stresses. A story was established based on the source material: the TRON movies produced by Walt Disney Studios. Thematic elements from the story were used as the basis for design implications that would become necessary as the process continued. These design implication influenced the design of the Ride System, Track Layout, and Ride Vehicle Design. These factors would end up influencing applicable loads, which would be utilized in the design of the Track Layout. The site was chosen to be constructed on Disneyland proper so that realistic site parameters and dimensions would give a sense of scale to the project and eliminate ambiguity. However, existing elements on the site would cause challenges for us to work around. Once the site was chosen, Queue and Show buildings were designated simple designs to tie back to story-driven implications and reinforce the standards set by the Walt Disney Imagineering process model. In addition, we gained more information such as crowd capacity to dictate further mechanical design and dynamic applications. The mechanical side of the process saw the development of a ride system used to propel the Ride Vehicles, all designed by the Mechanical Engineers on the project. The Ride Vehicle weights became relevant for the design of the track. A Track Layout was created and inputted into simulation software so that dynamic accelerations could be developed as new loading conditions for Track Design. Finally, all of the preceding elements of design were culminated into a schematic design of a roller coaster track making sure to account for subjects such as dynamic applications, torsion, and fatigue. All designs were replicated in modeling software to confirm constructability and viability of the resulting schematic design

Spatial and seasonal patterns of communal latrine use by spotted hyenas (Crocuta crocuta) reflect a seasonal resource defense strategy

© 2020, Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature. Abstract: Communal marking sites, or latrines, appear to play an important role in intraspecific communication and social dynamics in a wide range of mammal species. The spatial distribution of latrines can provide clues to their function and has been well documented in a number of species. Latrine use may vary considerably through time, however, and a more comprehensive approach to their study that considers spatial and seasonal patterns of use is required to understand more fully the costs and benefits of latrine use, and hence their adaptive significance. This study investigated spatial and seasonal patterns of latrine use by spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta) in northern Botswana, examining their potential role in resource defense. Latrine characteristics and hyena activity were monitored to test the influence of season and location (relative to clan territories and roads) on latrine use. We conducted monthly scat counts (at 78 latrines) and continuously recorded hyena visitation (to 50 latrines) in five clan home ranges, demonstrating clear seasonal patterns in latrine use. Latrines were smaller in the wet season (November-March), resulting from fewer visits by hyenas, reduced scat accumulation, and the seasonal activity of coprophagous beetles. We speculate that such a seasonal pattern may be driven by reduced competition for food during the wet season. Latrines located within core clan areas were no larger or more frequently used than those in home-range boundary areas, but hyenas did preferentially place latrines alongside roads and were more likely to reuse road-side latrines in subsequent years. This pattern was not due to observer detection bias and adds to the growing body of literature on the impact that roads and other anthropogenic features have on the communication and movement ecology of wild animals. Significance statement: Although most mammals use communal marking sites, very little is known about their function and detailed patterns of use in many species. We investigated latrine use in spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta) and describe spatial and temporal marking patterns that are consistent with optimizing scent longevity and detection. Spatially, hyenas preferentially located latrines along the edge of man-made vehicle tracks, which may increase signal detection and transmission. Seasonal marking patterns suggest that hyenas optimize their communication by concentrating activity in the dry season, thereby avoiding the disruptive effects of coprophagous dung beetles and rain, and focusing activity during periods when food resources are expected to be scarcer. These results demonstrate seasonal and spatial optimization of communication, including in response to novel anthropogenic features in the environment such as roads, advancing our understanding of communication strategies in mammals more broadly

On the Detection of a Scalar Stochastic Background of Gravitational Waves

In the near future we will witness the coming to a full operational regime of laser interferometers and resonant mass detectors of spherical shape. In this work we study the sensitivity of pairs of such gravitational wave detectors to a scalar stochastic background of gravitational waves. Our computations are carried out both for minimal and non minimal coupling of the scalar fields.Comment: 25 pages, 3 figure

Myosin VI small insert isoform maintains exocytosis by tethering secretory granules to the cortical actin.

Before undergoing neuroexocytosis, secretory granules (SGs) are mobilized and tethered to the cortical actin network by an unknown mechanism. Using an SG pull-down assay and mass spectrometry, we found that myosin VI was recruited to SGs in a Ca(2+)-dependent manner. Interfering with myosin VI function in PC12 cells reduced the density of SGs near the plasma membrane without affecting their biogenesis. Myosin VI knockdown selectively impaired a late phase of exocytosis, consistent with a replenishment defect. This exocytic defect was selectively rescued by expression of the myosin VI small insert (SI) isoform, which efficiently tethered SGs to the cortical actin network. These myosin VI SI-specific effects were prevented by deletion of a c-Src kinase phosphorylation DYD motif, identified in silico. Myosin VI SI thus recruits SGs to the cortical actin network, potentially via c-Src phosphorylation, thereby maintaining an active pool of SGs near the plasma membrane

Small molecules targeted to the microtubule–Hec1 interaction inhibit cancer cell growth through microtubule stabilization

Highly expressed in cancer protein 1 (Hec1) is a subunit of the kinetochore (KT)-associated Ndc80 complex, which ensures proper segregation of sister chromatids at mitosis by mediating the interaction between KTs and microtubules (MTs). HEC1 mRNA and protein are highly expressed in many malignancies as part of a signature of chromosome instability. These properties render Hec1 a promising molecular target for developing therapeutic drugs that exert their anticancer activities by producing massive chromosome aneuploidy. A virtual screening study aimed at identifying small molecules able to bind at the Hec1–MT interaction domain identified one positive hit compound and two analogs of the hit with high cytotoxic, pro-apoptotic and anti-mitotic activities. The most cytotoxic analog (SM15) was shown to produce chromosome segregation defects in cancer cells by inhibiting the correction of erroneous KT–MT interactions. Live cell imaging of treated cells demonstrated that mitotic arrest and segregation abnormalities lead to cell death through mitotic catastrophe and that cell death occurred also from interphase. Importantly, SM15 was shown to be more effective in inducing apoptotic cell death in cancer cells as compared to normal ones and effectively reduced tumor growth in a mouse xenograft model. Mechanistically, cold-induced MT depolymerization experiments demonstrated a hyper-stabilization of both mitotic and interphase MTs. Molecular dynamics simulations corroborate this finding by showing that SM15 can bind the MT surface independently from Hec1 and acts as a stabilizer of both MTs and KT–MT interactions. Overall, our studies represent a clear proof of principle that MT-Hec1-interacting compounds may represent novel powerful anticancer agents

Fishery Discards: Factors Affecting Their Variability within a Demersal Trawl Fishery

Discards represent one of the most important issues within current commercial fishing. It occurs for a range of reasons and is influenced by an even more complex array of factors. We address this issue by examining the data collected within the Danish discard observer program and describe the factors that influence discarding within the Danish Kattegat demersal fleet over the period 1997 to 2008. Generalised additive models were used to assess how discards of the 3 main target species, Norway lobster, cod and plaice, and their subcomponents (under and over minimum landings size) are influenced by important factors and their potential relevance to management. Our results show that discards are influenced by a range of different factors that are different for each species and portion of discards. We argue that knowledge about the factors influential to discarding and their use in relation to potential mitigation measures are essential for future fisheries management strategies

Six Year Refractive Change among White Children and Young Adults: Evidence for Significant Increase in Myopia among White UK Children

OBJECTIVE:To determine six-year spherical refractive error change among white children and young adults in the UK and evaluate differences in refractive profiles between contemporary Australian children and historical UK data. DESIGN:Population-based prospective study. PARTICIPANTS:The Northern Ireland Childhood Errors of Refraction (NICER) study Phase 1 examined 1068 children in two cohorts aged 6-7 years and 12-13 years. Prospective data for six-year follow-up (Phase 3) are available for 212 12-13 year olds and 226 18-20 year olds in each cohort respectively. METHODS:Cycloplegic refractive error was determined using binocular open-field autorefraction (Shin-Nippon NVision-K 5001, cyclopentolate 1%). Participants were defined by spherical equivalent refraction (SER) as myopic SER ≤-0.50D, emmetropic -0.50D<SER<+2.00 or hyperopic SER≥+2.00D. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:Proportion and incidence of myopia. RESULTS:The proportion of myopes significantly increased between 6-7 years (1.9%) and 12-13 years (14.6%) (p<0.001) but not between 12-13 and 18-20 years (16.4% to 18.6%, p = 0.51). The estimated annual incidence of myopia was 2.2% and 0.7% for the younger and older cohorts respectively. There were significantly more myopic children in the UK at age 12-13 years in the NICER study (16.4%) than reported in Australia (4.4%) (p<0.001). However by 17 years the proportion of myopia neared equivalence in the two populations (NICER 18.6%, Australia 17.7%, p = 0.75). The proportion of myopic children aged 12-13 years in the present study (2006-2008) was 16.4%, significantly greater than that reported for children aged 10-16 years in the 1960's (7.2%, p = 0.01). The proportion of hyperopes in the younger NICER cohort decreased significantly over the six year period (from 21.7% to 14.2%, p = 0.04). Hyperopes with SER ≥+3.50D in both NICER age cohorts demonstrated persistent hyperopia. CONCLUSIONS:The incidence and proportion of myopia are relatively low in this contemporary white UK population in comparison to other worldwide studies. The proportion of myopes in the UK has more than doubled over the last 50 years in children aged between 10-16 years and children are becoming myopic at a younger age. Differences between the proportion of myopes in the UK and in Australia apparent at 12-13 years were eliminated by 17 years of age