Journal of the South Carolina Academy of Science

http://scholarcommons.sc.edu/jscas/

List of Papers (Total 215)

A Comparative Study: The Effectiveness of Various Search Strategies for Finding Critical Evidence in Crime Scene Analysis

In crime scene investigations, evidence is collected in hopes of establishing probable cause to present in court. There are numerous strategies, but four well-known techniques are spiral, grid, parallel, and wheel (Lothridge, 2014). Many factors like room size, room shape, type of crime, time-sensitivity, available personnel, and more contribute to which search strategy is used...

The Effect of Exposure to Lentinula edodes and Flammulina velutipes on the Biodegradation of Crystallized Polylactic Acid

Crystallized polylactic acid (CPLA) is a prevalent bioplastic which, despite being biodegradable, is extremely resistant to decomposition in natural environments. As a result, CPLA waste contamination is rapidly becoming a prevalent issue. Lentinula edodes and Flammulina velutipes are two widespread white-rot fungi whose capabilities for bioplastic degradation have not been...

The Effect of the Addition of Carrot Seed Oil and Raspberry Seed Oil on the UV Intensity of a Sunscreen

With continuous developments in research indicating the potential health risks of chemical sunscreen filters, the novel approach of incorporating natural oils with UV light blocking properties has been explored. Natural oils extracted from fruit and vegetables have been proven to possess photoprotective properties, but their effectiveness in combination with synthetic sunscreen...

The Combined and Individual Effects of Azadirachta indica L. oil and NaHCO3 on the Inhibition of F. oxysporum

F. oxysporum is the causal agent of Fusarium wilt. This disease is known to penetrate the roots of plants and wilt the vascular system. The most common method for control is through the use of synthetic fungicides, which are known to cause adverse effects on the environment and human health. Thus, it is necessary that more methods of biocontrol be explored. Current literature...

The Effect of Crystalline Phase on the Toxicity of TiO2 Nanoparticles to Chlorella

Nanoparticles (NPs), or particles with dimensions that go below 100 nanometers, can be released into the environment in various ways, such as through cosmetic products like sunscreen. Titanium dioxide (TiO2) is a commonly used nanoparticle in sunscreen, and it has the potential to be harmful to various aquatic organisms including algae. The purpose of this study was to examine...

The Comparative Impact of Acesulfame-Potassium, Stevia Extract, and Monk Fruit on the Lifespan of Drosophila melanogaster

Non-nutritive sweeteners (NNS), non-caloric sweetening devices, have been widely commercialized to reduce sugar consumption. This intent has associated NNS with health benefits, though reports have correlated the consumption of these substitutes with noncommunicable diseases. The interaction between NNS and distinct physiological processes has been examined, though research into...

The Effect of Rosmarinus officinalis and Trachyspermum ammi on the Growth of Eruca vesicaria ssp. sativa in Hydroponics Versus Natural Soil

Despite technology being developed to address the food shortages due to increasing population, current methods of cultivating crops are not sufficient. Scientists are addressing this issue by researching biostimulants that stimulate plant growth without harming the environment and researching the use of hydroponics, a way of growing crops without soil. The purpose of this study...

The Effect of Various Polyphenols on Associative Memory Loss and Dementia in a Drosophila melanogaster Model of Alzheimer’s Disease

Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), a prominent neurodegenerative disease (NDD), is the seventh leading cause of death in the United States; however, little is known about prevention. As a result, polyphenols (plant-based compounds) and other natural substances have been studied for their therapeutic potential in improving cognition and memory in AD cases. While the impacts of each...

Identification of Regulatory Elements in the Untranslated Regions of Streptolysin S Associated Gene A Messenger RNA from Group A Streptococcus

Streptococcus pyogenes, also known as group A Streptococcus (GAS), is a human pathogen associated with a variety of diseases such as strep throat, scarlet fever, toxic shock syndrome, and necrotizing fasciitis. One of the virulence factors released by GAS during an invasive infection is a cytotoxic peptide, streptolysin S (SLS), which inhibits the immune response to necrotizing...

Reducing Tracheal Complications in Endotracheal Intubation Patients Using Automated Cuff Pressure Modulation

Endotracheal tube intubation is the third most frequent procedure, performed approximately 13-20 million times yearly in the United States (Mosier et al., 2020). Despite the regularity of the procedure, intubation-related complications such as tracheal injuries, laryngeal injuries, and ventilator-associated pneumonia are ubiquitous due to improper cuff pressure management methods...

Generalizing Random Fibonacci Sequences

We consider generalized Fibonacci sequences with recurrencerelation xn+p+1 = xn+p + xn, which have growth rates of the formlimn→∞ |xn|1/n that behave similarly to the golden ratio, (1 + √5)/2.Following Makover and McGowan’s analysis of the random Fibonacci se-quence, we find bounds for the value of E(|xn|)1/n for random sequencesgiven by xn+p+1 = ±xn+p + xn. Finally, we further...

Environmental Bacteriophage Presence in Drainage Ponds at Coastal Carolina University

By Hailey Oldfield, Alexei E. Chesnutwood, Gabriella A. Caldwell, et al., Published on 08/28/23

Identification of a Small Regulatory RNA UspS Associated with the Universal Stress Protein in Lactobacillus Species

The gut microbiome is a complex habitat with many bacterial species, each playing crucial roles in regulating various physiological processes in the body. As the use of probiotics to combat human disease continues to increase, it is important to understand the mechanisms by which probiotic bacteria regulate their interactions with other bacteria and their host. Our exploration of...

AN ANALYSIS OF THE SEQUENCE Xn+2 = i m Xn+1 + Xn

We analyze the sequence Xn+2 = imXn+1 + Xn, with X1 = X2 = 1 + i, where i is the imaginary number and m is a real number. Plotting the sequence in the complex plane for different values of m, we see interesting figures from the conic sections. For values of m in the interval (−2, 2) we show that the figures generated are ellipses. We also provide analysis which prove that for...

A Most Surprising Fern: Serendipity and Browsing in Botanical Search

This article is a case study of botanical field work in the eastern United States in the early twentieth century. These cases will be analyzed as instances of browsing and serendipity. Browsing and serendipity have a rich literature in information science and this article will draw on this literature in order to better understand serendipity in botany. This article will show how...

Consolidated Chamber Design and Protocol for Olfactory Conditioning Assay with Drosophila Melanogaster

The olfactory conditioning assay is widely used in Alzheimer’s disease research to quantify learning and memory in Drosophila melanogaster. The assay tests ability to recall an aversive conditioned stimulus of scent paired with electrical shock when presented a choice between shock-associated and unrelated scents. The T-maze, a commonly used apparatus for olfactory conditioning...

Socio-Emotional Resilience Among Older Adults During the COVID-19 Pandemic

The detrimental impact of social isolation on health and well-being has been reported in older adults (Prohaska, et al., 2020). Yet findings also demonstrate that older adults have a motivational shift to prioritize emotionally meaningful goals and experiences (Carstensen, 1993; Sakaki, et al., 2019), prioritize emotional meaning in situations, focus on positive emotions and...

The BooZi device’s effect on aroma compounds in distilled spirits

The BooZi is a commercially available flavor-modifying device that claims to remove the negative flavor agents (congeners) from a number of different types of distilled spirits and wines. SPME was utilized for the extraction of the volatile and semi-volatile compounds within each sample. The analysis of the compounds found in the samples following exposure to the BooZi device...

Artificial Intelligence: Past, Present and Future

By James R. Couch, Published on 01/07/23