Eesha Acharya Project #1

224 Pages·2017·0.83 MB·English

Eesha Acharya Project #1

Completed Project, Science, Health and Medical

Measuring Vitamin C Levels in Cooked Foods

Most people know that raw foods contain the most nutrients. However, many people
prefer eating cooked foods. the problem is vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin, so when
foods are cooked they lose a lot of this essential nutrient. The purpose of this research is
to determine which cooking method best retains the most vitamin C in vegetables. The
raw vegetable vitamin C information will be compared to that of other cooking methods
(grilling, boiling, and steaming) of that same vegetable. tomatoes, brussel sprouts, kale,
bell peppers, broccoli, peas, and a tincture of iodine solution, 2-7% elemental iodine, will
be used to test the vitamin C content. The food will be tested by mixing 10g of food to a
starch-water mixture and straining the water. Drops of iodine will be added to the
strained water until the solution turns black. The more iodine added, means the more
vitamin C is in the food. Then the number of drops will be divided by 10g of food. This
gives the drops per gram of food. This number will be multiplied by the factor. The drops
per gram multiplied by the factor equals mg of vitamin C per gram of food This study is
designed to help people consume more vitamin C. Many people in the United States have
a vitamin C deficiency. Vitamin C is a key that prevents immune system deficiency and
cardiovascular disease. So if a proper cooking method can be found, then people can
consume more Vitamin C.

Amity Regional High School
Deborah Day, Teacher
Akshar Agarwal Project #2

Completed Project, Engineering, Health and Medical

Diagnosing Parkinson's Disease with Artificial Intelligence

Parkinson's Disease (PD) is one of the most common neurological disorders, affecting
more than ten million people globally. The hallmark symptoms of PD are tremors, limb
rigidity, and imbalance. PD shares many of these symptoms with other disorders, making
it difficult to diagnose. Furthermore, due to the lack of definitive laboratory tests, PD is
poorly diagnosed with subjective examinations such as family history evaluations,
thereby resulting in high misdiagnosis rates.

Recent research shows that an additional symptom, dysphonia, is present in over 80% of
PD patients. Dysphonia is a speaking disorder caused by involuntary muscle movement
and other neurological factors in PD. In this project, that unique symptom was taken
advantage of in designing a machine learning algorithm. A cross-validated neural
network was programmed to deliver rapid and accurate diagnoses using biomedical voice
data from 195 patients of varying statuses. This automated, machine-learning based PD
diagnostic tool was successfully created and functions with over 95% accuracy. This rate
includes nearly zero false negatives and few false positives, showing significant
improvement over previous attempts which had misdiagnosis rates of nearly 20%. A low
probability of false negatives is favorable. The neural network was designed such that
overfitting is avoided, and more features/data would further improve the algorithm's
accuracy. The algorithm is currently being implemented such that patients can submit
their voice recordings through an application for an accurate remote diagnosis. An early
and accurate diagnosis is critical for treating PD patients, and this project proposes a way
to achieve that.

Hamden High School
Gregory Hodgkins, Teacher
Lazar Agoev Project #3

Research Proposal, Engineering, Physical Science

Developing a Generator to Convert Footsteps to Power

Phones are very important parts of our lives, but very often we don't have a power source
to charge them. It is well known how to convert mechanical energy to electrical energy,
why don't we harness the energy we use to walk and convert it to electricity. My goal is
to create a circuit, which will generate electricity by changing the magnetic field in a coil.
This circuit will then be placed in the sole of a shoe. Thus by walking I would move
magnets in my sole, changing the magnetic field in the coil. The power produced by my
circuit should be enough to charge a phone. Depending upon materials, it should also not
be not expensive, so it can be easily produced and people could afford it. This device
would generate clean energy for mobile devices. If my project is be inexpensive to create
and efficient enough, companies will be interested in producing and selling them, This in
turn would make people's lives a little bit easier.

Ridgefield High School
Patrick Hughes, Teacher
Alia Aguilar Project #4

Completed Project, Science, Environmental

Regulation of Lemna minor Reactive Oxygen Species through Iodide and Tyrosine
Antioxidant Treatments to Maximize Biofuel Yield

Landoltia punctata is used as a biofuel for its high starch content, and when put through a
nutrient starvation period, its starch levels can accumulate much faster. But during the
nutrient starvation period, the plant becomes stressed and releases reactive oxygen
species (ROSs) which are harmful in large quantities. Thus, the length of the starvation
period is limited due to the potential damage by the ROSs. The species Lemna minor
was used for testing. Its peroxidase activity is a stress level indicator, and the procedure
to find this was adopted from EPA SOP number 2035 ‘Plant Peroxidase Activity
Determination’. The procedure for converting Lemna minor into biofuel was adopted
from ‘Mashing and Fermentation’ on the website ‘Make your own fuel’. The LaMotte
Ammonia-Nitrogen Test Kit procedure was used to test nutrient uptake of the plant.
Preliminary data indicates that Lemna minor peroxidase activity increases during the
nutrient starvation period. A starvation period where Lemna minor has been treated with
Iodide and Tyrosine has not been completed yet. If Iodide and Tyrosine prove to
effectively regulate the reactive oxygen species levels in Lemna minor, a study should be
completed to treat Landoltia punctata with these chemicals during a nutrient starvation
period.

Bridgeport Regional Aquaculture Science and Technology Education Center
Kirk Shadle, Teacher
Yusuf Ahmad Project #5

Completed Project, Science, Health and Medical

Atomistic Models of Phenylalanine hydroxylase (PAH) Mutations

Phenylketonuria (PKU) is a genetic disorder caused by a defect in PAH gene. PAH is
responsible for creating the enzyme phenylalanine hydroxylase (PAH), which breaks
down phenylalanine, an amino acid obtained through diet. Without PAH, phenylalanine
levels become increased in blood, which is what PKU is. The symptoms can be harsh as
some it includes are intellectual disability, seizures, poor bone strength, and brain
damage. The purpose of this project was to see how exactly the mutations affect
phenylalanine hydroxylase's binding site and determine which mutations have a greater
impact. The structure being analyzed has been formed through x-ray diffraction, and it
has a resolution of 1.8 angstroms. This structure of phenylalanine hydroxylase (PAH)
was obtained from the protein data bank website. The specific part being used is PAH's
binding site, with PHE bound as the allosteric ligand. MATLAB's Bioinformatics tool
was used to read the crystal structure.

The first method of analysis will be to model each atom with a sphere and calculate the
overlaps caused by the mutations. This was will be used to calculate effective energy due
to overlaps. Rosetta, a software for protein structure analysis, will then be used to repack
the structures upon mutation, and following that, the root-mean-square deviation of the
structures will also be calculated.

Seeing where overlaps occur can help in making predictions on which mutations have a
greater impact, and repacking the protein will allow for better assessment of the
mutations. Overall, having a better understanding of PAH's structure-function
relationship and its mutations can give new insight for therapeutic discovery.

Amity Regional High School
Catherine Piscitelli, Teacher
Monisha Akula Project #6

Research Proposal, Science, Environmental

Genetic Rescue in Leadbeater's Possum

About 17,000 species are threatened with the risk of extinction. The loss of animals
causes detrimental changes in the biodiversity of ecosystems, and can result in collapse.
The government has set up laws to protect endangered species and their habitats. There
are studies in progress to help threatened species, and a technique called genetic variation
has arisen. Rescue is expected to be particularly useful when individuals with diverse
alleles are introduced into small isolated populations with low levels of genetic variation.
The Leadbeater's possum (Gymnobelideus leadbeateri), is an endangered species with a
high risk of extinction. In this proposed research, genetic rescue will be implemented into
the Leadbeater's possum species, in Victoria, Australia, for recovery of the population.
Males with diverse genetic alleles will be placed into the population to increase genetic
variation and creation of hybrids. A hybrid is the offspring produced when cross
breeding, or combining two different varieties or species. The number of hybrids and
non-hybrids will be tracked, along with their offspring and lifespan. It is hypothesized
that the hybrids of the population will have diverse genetic data compared to non-hybrids,
and thus increase the chance of survival for future generations. The hybrids are predicted
to achieve greater reproduction rates and live longer than non-hybrids. Rescue will
increase the recovery of a threatened marsupial population to an endangered population
by the introduction of a diverse group of hybrids. Genetic rescue is a possible technique
to apply in small threatened species to increase population status.

Darien High School
Guy Pratt, Teacher
Nicole Alindogan Project #7

Completed Project, Science, Health and Medical

Functional Impact of RBP2 on Cellular Senescence and Pluripotency in Murine
Breast Cancer Cell Lines

Cellular Senescence is a newly discovered metabolic state of a cell where a cell reaches
its full size and then stably exits the cell cycle. This state is the goal of cancer treatments
because instead of proliferating uncontrollably, the senescent cells function normally and
secrete proteins that can induce senescence in other cells, as well. RBP2 is a gene
associated with lower breast cancer tumor-free survival rates, and the rates lower more
functional copies of the gene. To try to achieve senescence, we sought out to delete RBP2
and induce senescence by using CRISPR technology. Our hope was that senescence
would be triggered and the senescence would spread. Using a lentiCRISPR v2, Dr.
Sabine Lang and I deleted RBP2 successfully and studied the cells, which eventually
turned senescent. We then ran a qPCR on the cells to identify the certain genes
responsible for the senescence. We found that the deletion of RBP2 would induce
senescence, so going forward an inducible iCas9 system would allow for making the
observations and direct causation relationship easier to track. We also found that in our
experiment regarding the spread of senescence, the proteins could spread senescence well
and could possibly be regulated in the future to expedite the timeline of a treatment. This
research had the ability to kick-start research in senescence, as well as ultimately become
the goal of future cancer treatments because it prevents invasive surgeries, the
compromising of healthy cells, and possibly prevent malignancies.

Ridgefield High School
Ryan Gleason, Teacher
Mounisha Anumolu Project #8

Completed Project, Science, Environmental

Implementing Nutrient Uptaking Bacteria to Remove Excess Chemicals from
Eutrophic Water in Simulated Pond Ecosystems

Eutrophication, over-enrichment of nutrients in marine ecosystem, detrimentally affects
biogeochemical cycles. Caused by human and point-source pollution, eutrophication has
resulted in an overabundance of nitrogen in small ponds worldwide, creating large
harmful algal blooms. Recently, an ecological engineering company, LivingMachines,
has used microorganisms to remove nutrients from wastewater. This study will explore
whether the implementation of specified denutrifying bacteria into eutrophic water will
remove excess nutrients from water.

Four tanks (NC/N1/N2/N3) will have water over enriched with nitrogen, using nitrogen
fertilizer. Nitrogen tank (Nitrogen Control) will have agar and algae, but no bacteria. N1
tank will have agar, type of nutrient-eating bacteria, enriched water, and algae. N2 and
N3 will be similar, except with different bacteria (Pseudomonas
fluorescens/EscherichiaColi/Bacilius Subtilius), Four more tanks will be set up exactly
the same way for two trials. Because added algae have nutrients available to them, algal
blooms will form in each. Using a turbidity meter, size of blooms can be quantified.
Measure from control will be compared to experimental trials. If the bloom in the
bacteria trial is smaller, it can be determined that less nutrients were available for bloom
to grow and which bacteria was effective in limiting nutrients. Preliminary data is
indicating that P. fluorescens is resulting in the smallest algal bloom. Whichever bacteria
resulted in the smallest algal bloom will be considered the best at uptaking nutrients and
fighting eutrophication. By determining this, the implementation of this bacteria into
eutrophic ecosystems can further be explored to help fight eutrophication. Eutrophication
kills many organisms and ruins ecosystems worldwide.

Amity Regional High School
Deborah Day, Teacher
Kellie Arevalo Project #9

Completed Project, Science, Environmental

Comparing Dissolved Oxygen (% and mg/L) between Mamaroneck Bay and Darien
Harbor

The Long Island Sound (LIS) is an estuary, meaning it contains a mix of saltwater and
freshwater, located between Connecticut and New York. LIS is home to over 1,200
invertebrate species, 170 fish species, and dozens of bird species. These numbers have
slowly decreased as a result of human development along the coastline, which has
increased pollution. The water quality of LIS needs to be monitored in order to protect it
from further damage. A research project which measured water parameters in LIS was
conducted by Save the Sound in order to better understand the water quality. This
research was conducted in over 120 different embayment areas located in LIS and at each
embayment, seven different water parameters were measured and recorded. At each
location, temperature (degrees celsius), salinity (ppt), dissolved oxygen (%) and (mg/L),
fluorescence (RFU), chlorophyll a (ug/L), and turbidity (NTU) were measured. The
parameters between the two embayments, Darien Harbor and Mamaroneck Bay, will
differ because of their location in LIS and lack of water circulation at embayments
located in the narrows, the westernmost section of LIS. Dissolved oxygen (DO) was
measured in this research to better understand the aquatic life in LIS. The dissolved
oxygen levels tended to be lower in Mamaroneck Bay and higher in Darien Harbor.
However, as the summer continued, D.O levels in Mamaroneck Bay increased
significantly in the months of July and August, while the D.O levels in Darien Harbor
remained relatively constant.

Darien High School
David Lewis, Teacher
Deanna Attisani Project #10

Research Proposal, Science, Health and Medical

The Use of Venom and Anti-Venom From Chironex fleckeri Jellyfish to Stop and
Start the Heart for Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery

A type of box jellyfish known as the Chironex fleckeri are known to contain one of the
most deadly venoms of all animals. Their venomous thread is contained in nematocysts,
cells where venom is coiled up and stored and released when triggered for self defense,
inside their tentacles. These threads of venom can be used to attack, killing their prey in
an instant. However, these threads of venom serve multiple purposes beyond self defense
for these jellyfish. Previous studies have shown that extracting the venom from the
Chironex fleckeri and injecting the venom into the cardiovascular tissues of a rat resulted
in the stop of blood flow through the heart, causing temporary paralysis. Then with the
use of an antivenom the heart beat stabilizes again.This study will incorporate the
injection of the venom into the heart when a rat is put on bypass during Coronary Artery
Bypass surgery. Then when the surgery is complete, the antivenom will be injected to
revive the heart. It is projected that if the venom and antivenom from the Chironex
fleckeri is injected into the heart, then surgeons will be able to revive the heart muscles
while the patient is on bypass during surgery. The results of this research could provide a
more natural way of delaying and reviving the heart for bypass surgeries.

Darien High School
David Lewis, Teacher