NJRSF Abstracts, 1999

BOTANY

BEHAVIORAL SCIENCE

CHEMISTRY

COMPUTER SCIENCE

ENGINEERING

ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE

MATHEMATICS

MICROBIOLOGY

MEDICINE and HEALTH

PHYSICS AND EARTH SCIENCE

ZOOLOGY

BOTANY

The Effects of Electromagnetic Fields on the Growth of Kidney Bean Plants

The purpose of my experiment was to test the effects of electromagnetic fields (EMFs) on the growth of kidney bean plants. EMFs have been proven to have ill effects on the growth of cells, especially those in humans. To create the EMF, I surrounded two groups of kidney bean plants with magnetic wire and then hooked up that wire to a power converter. Experimental group 1 was hooked up to a 5V power converter and experimental group 2 was wired to a 10 V power converter. The EMF was applied for one week, during which time plant measurements were taken. After the data was analyzed, only experimental group 2, under the category of final plant height, had a t-value great enough to reject the null hypothesis. The other categories did not have t-values to reject the null hypothesis.

Photosynthesis. Can Science Improve on Nature?

One of the many areas of concern in today’s scientific world is that of the Greenhouse effect and the resulting climatic change that may occur. The Greenhouse effect is caused by an accumulation of gases like carbon dioxide which act to trap the heat of the sun as it bounces off the surface of the earth. Normally, carbon dioxide produced naturally by animals would be converted to oxygen and sugar during photosynthesis in plants. However, plants cannot quickly and easily consume the excess created by humans. The goal of my research project is to explore the metabolic pathways that make up photosynthesis and discover how it is regulated within various plants. Furthermore, once the most efficient plant is found, I will try to devise a method of increasing the efficiency of photosynthesis by regulating the proteins involved. Finally, once the optimal conditions are identified, my goal will be to build these optimal conditions into the genetic code of the plant, thus making a “super plant” that could be planted around factories and large cities to dispose of excess carbon dioxide.

The Effectiveness of a Potash-Supplementation in Soybean Plants Grown in Sandy Soil

Nutrients play a vital role in plant growth. Nutrient deficiency is an important problem for commercial agriculture, which is growing vegetables and other plants for trade. Nutrient deficiency is the lack of a particular nutrient, such as nitrogen. This experiment centers on how nutrient deficiency affects plants grown in sand-based soil. Three variables were made, each having varying dilutions of nitrogen. These dilutions were added to the sandy soil weekly. When the radish plants were mature enough, soil tests for the nitrogen deficiency were conducted. The first variable unexpectedly had the biggest presence of nitrogen. So that means the other two variables had a bigger nitrogen deficiency. This is opposite from the expectation, since the first variable had the smallest dilution of the nitrogen solution. Howeer, the t test provided the proof that all three groups showed a significant amount of nitrogen deficiency. This was a very interesting experiment, especially this is a potential problem for farmers facing poor soil conditions.

A Spectroscopic Study of the Changing Color of Trees

Can spectrophotometry, rather than chromatography, be used to monitor the pigment levels of leaves as they change color, and can this data be used to predict whether or not there will be a harsh winter? In this investigation, techniques will be developed so that the pigments of a leaf can be monitored, and the changes in concentration with respect of time can be monitored. In typical investigations of this kind, it is customary to first separate the pigments using chromatography, and then scan them spectrophotometric techniques at fixed wavelengths. It was found that using a scanning spectrophotometer from 400-800 nm, all of the individual pigments can be monitored at once and better results can be obtained than in the traditional chromatographic techniques. Data will be collected on a daily basis for two different types of trees at different locations. The samples will be prepared abd scanned from 400-800 nm. The data will be collected, organized, and analyzed for patterns. By recording the patterns observed, and comparing them to future patterns, noting the severity of the winter following the analysis, it is hoped that a method for predicting the severity of the coming winter can be developed.

Nitrogen Production via Earthworms in Soil with Various pH levels.

The purpose of this experiment was to test the effects of different pH levels on the amount of nitrogen produced via earthworm activity. The acidic, basic, and neutral soils were tested for nitrogen content before and after the addition of earthworms, miracid to the acidic group, and potash to the basic group. At the end of the eight week experiment the plants grown in the acidic soil were clearly healthier in comparison to those grown in the other two groups. The results show a significant increase in the nitrogen level found in the acidic group and, therefore, strongly support the hypothesis.

Effect of Growth Treatments on Capsaicin Levels of \\fIfructus Capsici\\fP

Capsaicin (trans-8-Methyl-N-vanillyl-6-nonenamide) is the pungent factor in Fructus Capsici (hot pepper fruits). It is the key to the pepper's beneficial roles as painkiller, expectorant, and vasodilator. Studies show that its effectiveness is dependent on its heat intensity and therefore capsaicinoid concentration. The purpose of this study is to investigate the factors that have been anecdotally suggested to influence capsaicin levels in various species of capsicum plants. Such factors are influenced by the treatment of an Espom salts and a commercially available micronutrient fertilizer. Capsaicin and its four analogs (homocapsaicin, dihydrocapsaicin, nordihydrocapsaicin, homodihydrocapsaicin) will be extracted from the fruits of each treated plant and the concentration will be analyzed using high performance liquid chromatography.

How Duckweed Affects a Pond and Pond Life

The purpose of this study was to see how duckweed affected certain conditions at Deer Pond in Flemington, New Jersey. Water samples were taken, and duckweed was counted over thirteen weeks from July 10, 1998 until October 14, 1998. The number of ducks visiting the pond was counted as well. The pond was tested for dissolved oxygen, pH, nitrates, and phosphorous in the areas with and without duckweed. Dissolved oxygen tested lower in the area with duckweed, as did pH. Phosphorous and nitrates tested the same in both areas. Further study is required in order to determine how the amount of duckweed affects dissolved oxygen, pH, nitrates, and phosphorous. It was found that, as the amount of duckweed increased, more ducks were sighted at the pond, and that duckweed has an effect on certain nutrients.

BEHAVIORAL SCIENCE

The Mozart Effect with a Twist

"In 1993, two researchers reported that college students who listen to 10 minutes of Mozart's Sonata in D Major for Two Pianos scored 8 to 9 points higher on a spatial-temporal test than when they had 10 minutes of silence or relaxation tapes" (As stated in Parade Magazine). These results have come to be known as the "Mozart Effect." The purpose of the experiment was to determine, first, whether vocalization, when combined with the music of Mozart, would inhibit the "Mozart Effect," and second, to determine whether vocalization in the English language or vocalization in the Italian language will have a greater effect on a spatial reasoning task. Twenty-five subjects listened to Mozart's Cosi Fan Tutte in English, twenty-five to Mozart's Cosi Fan Tutte in Italian, and twenty-five to silence for three minutes. With the listening condition still present in the background, the subjects were instructed to play a game where the objective was to match puzzle pieces to corresponding outlines on a gameborad in four minutes. The number of puzzle pieces matched correctly was recorded. Statistically, the results, based on chi-square analysis, indicated a significant difference in performance between subjects exposed to Mozart's music with vocalization than those exposed to silence. However, there was no significant difference in performance between those subjects exposed to vocalization in the Italian language and those subjects exposed to vocalization in the English language. Thus, the "Mozart Effect" holds true even with vocalization.

Effects of Electrical Shock on the Memories of Blaberus gigantus

The project, titled "The Effects of Electrical Shock on the Memories of Blaberus gigantus," tested to see whether electrical shock had an effect on the spatial memories of the Blaberus gigantus, or the cockroach. The cockroaches were first separated into two groups, the control group and the experimental group, with each group containing four cockroaches. In the first part of the project, the cockroaches ran a simple maze that contained a "reward" (a piece of apple) at the end of it to test their memories. The cockroaches ran the maze a total of five times. By the end of the first part of the project, the cockroaches had significantly decreased their time in running the maze. For example, one cockroach had reduced its time from 137 seconds to run the maze in 98 seconds by the fifth test. In the second part of the project, the experimental group was exposed to an electrical shock of 9-volts for about five seconds before every time they ran the test. This electrical shock had a significant impact on the memories of the cockroaches. The time it took the experimental group dramatically slowed while the times of the control group decreased at a significant rate. After compiling the times of both the first part of the project and the second part of the project, it was concluded with a confidence of 99.9% that the null hypothesis could be rejected. Therefore, the electrical shock had a significant impact upon the spatial memories of the cockroaches.

Student Scholars - An Oxymoron?

Since many students participate in interscholastic athletics it would be helpful to know what effect this participation has on a students' scholastic achievement, their professed primary goal. Therefore, in this study grades were looked at for both athletes and non-athletes at all grade levels and all team levels. These grades were compared with one another and analyzed so as to determine whether or not athletics affect scholastic achievement or not. During this analysis a two-sample t-test was used to determine statistical significance. However, no null hypotheses could be rejected and therefore the study's significance lies in the idea that athletic participation seem to neither hurt nor help scholastic achievement.

The Behavioral Pattern of a Nephilia Clavipes Subjected to an Androgen Drug(Acetabolan).

One of the most talked about muscle-mass increasing substances surrounding the sports world today is referred to as Andro. Andro is a large group of muscular enhancement drugs that, from all of the popularity it has received, the negative effects of the "miracle drug" for athletes were overshadowed. The purpose of this particular experiment was to view if the androgenic substance can not only affect a human being, but also an orb-weaving spider. The reason for using the orb-weaver as the specimen is that these spiders are world renown for their ability to construct webs of great regularity and precision. The presence of the androgenic substance resulted in a deviant change in the normal behavioral patterns of the orb-weaver by comparing the structural elements of the web.

Behavioral Effects of Vision Therapy

The purpose of this study was to determine if deficiencies in vision can negatively affect behavior. Over 370 surveys were sent to optometrists in 15 states. Deficiencies in focusing and other vision skills tend to cause people to exhibit negative behaviors that mimic symptoms associated with ADD (attention deficit disorder) or ADHD (attention deficit hyperactive disorder). Results confirm that when these patients were treated with vision therapy, they developed tools to overcome vision deficiencies and negative behavior. Ninety three percent of the physicians who responded to the survey agreed with this finding.

Do birds have memory like humans?

My project is about birds and if they have memory like humans. First, I made three trays where I placed earthworms. These worms were supposed to help the birds familiarize them with the area. Then I buried the worms. After 10 days, I took the fresh worms out and placed old worms in. I did this for another 10 days. Now the birds figured out that the old worms were inserted and they remembered not to come to the area where I inserted the old worms. My graph and statistics show that my hypothesis was valid.

CHEMISTRY

Quantification of Hypericin in Preparations of St. John's Wort

St. John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum) is a popular herbal remedy used by many to fight depression. Preparations of St. John’s wort are available in many stores and are classified as “nutritional supplements” rather than drugs. The product is not required to undergo testing by the Food and Drug Administration. One of the active ingredients of St. John’s wort is believed to be hypericin (1,3,4,6,8,13-13-hexahydroxy-10,11-dimethylphenanthro[1,10,9,8-opqra]perylene-7,14-dione). Commercial preparations of H. perforatum often have label claims for potency in terms of hypericin concentration. However, the composition of natural products often shows a high degree of variability. The objective of this study was to analyze commercially available samples of St. John’s wort for their hypericin levels. The hypericin content was analyzed using fluorescence spectroscopy, UV-visible spectroscopy, and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Results by HPLC indicated that all brands tested contained significantly less hypericin than stated on their respective labels. HPLC analysis is believed to be the most reliable method of hypericin quantification due to its separatory nature. Results of HPLC analysis were free of interference present in the other methods, which may be attributed to other hypericin-like compounds that absorb light at the same wavelength as hypericin.

Chemical Consumer Report

In a world ruled by materialism and manufacture, consumers need to be protected from false advertisements and need to know the effectiveness of the product they are buying. In an effort to promote consumer awareness, magazines such as Consumer Reports started testing different products and publishing their findings. Their remarkable success is shown by their high circulation rate. In the same respect, my lab partner and I have run some tests using chemical laboratory equipment in order to find out whether ads on certain products were really true and to test the effectiveness of different brands of the same product, revealing which works the best. We first tested for carbon tetra chloride, which was banned several years ago, in liquid cleaners. With the help and supervision of our professor, we used the gas chromatograph at first and then moved on to the Infrared Spectrometer to run some more tests. Our professor then helped us do a distillation of carbon tetrachloride to verify our findings earlier. Another experiment that we did involved testing the effectiveness of the Brita filter. We found out from a couple of trials how much lead it really filtered and then compared this amount to the promise on the box of the filter saying that 99% of all lead would be removed. In our next experiment, we tested the effectiveness of different types of antacids by using a pH scale. We are publishing our findings in this project, The Chemical Consumer Report.

Stain Removal as Consumer Chemistry

The problem to be solved was a general determination of the most effective household stain remover for a number of common stubborn stains. Seven stains were allowed to set onto white cotton: vegetable oil, green food coloring diluted by water, 2% chocolate milk, .1M iodine solution, synthetic blood, blue ink, and tomato paste. The stains were then treated with six removers: laundry detergent, 3% hydrogen peroxide, 10% acetic acid (white vinegar), liquid chlorine bleach (5.25% sodium hypochlorite in water), 5% citric acid, and 5% sodium thiosulfate. Each test strip was agitated and rinsed in hot or cold water. Overall, the combination of bleach and hot water was the most effective in removing the stains. However, in the case of ink, citric acid was found to remove more ink than even bleach.

The Iodination of Acetone

The purpose of this experiment entitle, The Iodination of Acetone, is to determine that rate equation for the following reaction: (with and without H+). The goal is to predict a mechanism for both the catalyzed and the uncatalyzed reactions. The catalyzed reaction in this case would contain hydrogen. Whereas, the uncatalyzed reaction will not contain hydrogen. This is the case because it was found through research that the rate of this reaction is dependent on the hydrogen ion creating the following rate reaction where in, n, and p respectively are the orders of acetone, iodine and hydrogen. K is the rate constant for the reaction. The concentrations of these reactants will be varied in order to change the rates of reaction. This experimenting will be done with trials lacking hydrogen ions (without the HCI). In our research, it has been discovered that the iodination can be investigated very easily since iodine has color (yellow). As the amalgam of the reaction turns from yellow to clear it is possible to follow the rate of reaction. Hence, we measure if the reaction takes place when the color decreased. Also, since iodine is a large molecule with many electrons to be excited and since acetone contains a carbon double bond, these two reactants can be absorbed in the Ultraviolet region using the UV spectrophotometer. The wavelengths the reaction can be run at 350, and 400 nm. The scans were run at these wavelengths with and without the hydrogen ions. The slopes of these graphs will provide derivative or the rate of reaction for each trial. From this information, it is then possible to discover the rate reactions at each wavelength as well as derive a possible mechanism for the reaction.

COMPUTER SCIENCE

Internet Serial Port Control

The Internet Serial Port Control is a device that allows a person to activate switches remotely over the Internet. The ISPC uses a Java applet to send commands over the Internet to a web server. The server will then control switches and display text on a liquid crystal display (LCD). The Java applet is placed on a Web page, allowing it to be accessed by a computer anywhere in the world. The system requires a password to prevent unauthorized access. Then, the user would use checkboxes to control appliances connected to the server and a text entry box to send messages to the related party. The switches would be connected to electronic systems such as stoves, lights, and security systems. In addition, the LCD allows the user to send real time electronic system messages to the receiver.

Beginning Chemistry Tutor

The Chemistry Tutor is a tutorial program designed for high school students who are currently enrolled in a chemistry program. Designed in Visual Basic, this program has three basic aspects: text, where students learn about various chemistry topics; quizzes, where pupils test their knowledge of chemistry; and a chemical compound builder, in which users have the ability to compose compounds, save them, and refer back those compounds when constructing more complex equations. Designing this program was very beneficial for me, because it furthered both my understanding of computer programming and chemistry.

An Automatic Code-Generation System for the PIC 16C84

The project is a program which takes a set of statements describing the functionality of a PIC chip (Programmable Interface Controller), and produces a machine-code file which can be downloaded to the PIC without modification to implement the described functionality. This eliminates the need for companies using PICs for simple tasks to have personnel familiar with the programming of the PIC. At present the design permits the designation of arbitrary pins as inputs and as outputs, and the assignment of an expression in terms of the inputs to each of the output pins. If time permits, it will also allow a description of interactive functionality: allowing the PIC to switch between states or conduct inherently interactive activities such as serial communication; this will be implemented by a combination of language extensions and library-development. At present, the program is written in fully-portable C. Again if the time permits, I will write a Java version, although logically Java is not necessarily appropriate for this task, because a graphical front-end is Desirable and cannot otherwise be written portably.

Internet Traffic Congestion Solution

My work is to provide solution to the Internet access traffic congestion problem using statistical and Operations Research techniques. First, I created a statistical profiling scheme where voice users can be separated from Internet users for transmission over different networks. Secondly, I demonstrated the use of the Erlang's Loss Formula to decide on the optimal number of channels needed to support the Internet traffic arriving at the data network. Finally, I developed an innovative use of Game theory to provide efficient access to an ISP under various traffic loads.

Mp3Box Audio Studio

The purpose of the Mp3Box is to provide a front-end software designed to unite all Mpeg-1 Layer 3 (Mp3) tasks into an attractive and easy to use interface. The basis for the Mpeg encoding and decoding schemes is provided through the research conducted by the Fraunhofer Institute, Dialog-Medien, and Thomson. Taking this basis, it was then necessary to design an interface that would allow the user to use the Mp3 technology easily. By using Visual Basic and the Microsoft Windows API (applications programming interface), it was possible to create an application that made any Mp3 task a breeze. Mp3Box allows the end user to insert an audio compact disc into their CD-ROM drive, select a track, and click GO! Mp3Box will then handle all the necessary background tasks involved in converting the CD-Audio track into the Mp3 format. Once the file has been encoded, the end user may then play the file, adjust the bass and treble settings, and enjoy the eye-appealing spectrum analyzer.

PalmAID

Completing the traditional EMS call report is one of the most time consuming tasks an emergency medical technician faces. In order to maximize the efficiency of the EMT, we have replaced the old paper forms with a new electronic version. We decided that a Microsoft Visual Basic user interface accompanied by a Microsoft Access database would be the ideal platform to use for this. Programs created using these two software packages are very versatile and can be used on many different types of devices including the common notebook computer as well as Windows CE based PDAs. These electronic forms will allow EMTs to transfer patient information between one another quickly, as well as eventually uploading the information into a centralized computer system, both at the hospital and at the ambulance corps headquarters.

PIC Basic

Most electronic devices require a microprocessor to perform the function of the device. A commonly used type of microprocessor is the PIC series from MicroChip. These chips are inexpensive and provide more than enough power for most devices. PIC microprocessors are the microprocessor of choice for most hobbyists and small projects. However, there is a problem with these chips - they are extremely difficult to program. Users of PIC chips have three options available for programming: assembly language, PIC C, and BASIC Stamp. Assembly language is extremely low level and is only a viable for very advanced programmers. PIC C uses a limited subset of the C language, however, it is often necessary to study the assemble language code it produces to debug products, making it not much easier to use than assembly language. Although BASIC Stamp is easy to use, it is extremely limited. Operations as simple as basic mathematical computations require the programmer to add in extra parentheses, as the compiler is not capable of following the standard mathematical order of operations. This often leads to bugs in programs as programmers expect the proper order of calculations from compilers. BASIC Stamp is also missing some of the most basic elements of structured programming, which requires the programmer to do a lot more work for basic operations. PIC Basic was created to alleviate these problems. It was written in ANSI C with the help of standard compiler tools, which means that it can work without modifications on most types of computer systems. PIC Basic currently works on DOS and Linus, a popular variant of Unix.

ENGINEERING

The Robotic Assistant

A Robotic Assistant is a mechanical arm designed to assist persons with physical challenges in the performance of simple desktop tasks. In particular, the purpose of this robotic arm is to help persons with limited physical abilities to perform the arrangement prototypes of postcards as they are printed. The Robotic Assistant is easily programmable, and has the potential to be controlled by the user either through physical sensor and switch devices or through a computer. To this end, a special computer code has been developed or through a computer-controlled operation of the robotic arm. Thus, it is very flexible in its operation and my conveniently be adapted to the needs of any particular user. The Robotic Assistant has the capability to manipulate envelopes, cards, sheets, disks, and other small objects typically found in the office, and thus can be of great assistance to the physically challenged in the performance of commonly required desktop tasks.

Bike Frame Design

A bike frame was designed and tested using physical principles and material strength properties in a set experiment. If the frame were to fail during the experiment, the tube thickness of the bike frame would have to be changed accordingly, in order not to fail. The frame ended up failing at the original tube thickness of 1/16in, due to sheer stresses. Future studies may include a fatigue analysis, and possibly using different material for the frame, incorporating suspension, and maybe figuring out a way to manufacture the frame cheaper.

The Generating of Electricity via Exercising

Humans expend a lot of energy when they exercise. If electric generators were put on exercising equipment, this energy that is expended during exercising can be stored as electricity. A human subject was instructed to pedal on an immobile, exercise bicycle, which comprised of a DC generator attached to its wheel. The DC generator was, in turn, connected to a rechargeable 4.1-volt battery. The exercise period of the human subject was 60 minutes. After the exercise period, the battery was taken and examined with respect to voltage, current, energy, and power. The results not only supported the theory that humans can generate a certain amount of electricity when exercising, but the practical application of this idea in health clubs turning them into "electric mitochondria".

Cool Computers

Common household computers heat up extremely quickly in very short periods of time. This usually leads to overheating which sometimes leads to computer malfunctions and crashes. To solve this problem in an efficient and cost-effective way, I have designed a new computer cooling system that focuses on lowering the ambient temperature inside the computer, thereby keeping all the components in the computer at a stable temperature. The simplicity of the design makes it easy to comprehend. Ventilation holes on top and near the base of the computer will allow outside air to flow in and out of the system. Two fans affixed near the base of the computer and diagonally across from each other, will be placed in front of the lower ventilation holes. These fans will pump cool air into the computer, thereby providing an efficient combination of ventilation and circulation.

Titanium Versus Steel in Driver Heads

The purpose of this research is to compare hits with a titanium head driver and a steel head driver in order to determine if manufacturer’s claims of the superiority of titanium head drivers were accurate. Clubs were tested at Raritan Valley Country Club and each club was used until ten good hits were achieved. Distances were recorded and averaged. The data was analyzed using a two sample t-test assuming equal variances (df=6, p=0.2447) and was found to be statistically sound. For each company’s club tested, (King Cobra, Talyor Made, Callaway, and Titleist), the titanium head drivers produced farther hits than the steel head drivers, thus substantiating the manufacturer’s claim.

The Roll-Up Keyboard

As today's technology is continually made smaller, the keyboards associated with these devices have also been miniaturized. These keyboards are cumbersome to use because their keys are too small and too close together. The Roll-Able Keyboard solves this problem because it is a full sized keyboard that can roll up into a very small space. Thus, it can be carried in one's pocket and then be unfolded to the size of a standard keyboard. This is possible because the Roll-Able Keyboard is made with three layers of very thin and flexible rubber. The circuitry is also made with thin copper tape, which is very flexible. The Roll-Able Keyboard also has a different feel than a normal keyboard - it is more sensitive, and does not require the user to press down a push-button key. Instead, it feels more like a touch pad (since it is so thin). The Roll-Able Keyboard can be powered from one's computer and input directly through the keyboard port. It is very useful for people who use small personal digital assistants (PDA s) such as two way pagers, or palm top computers.

Wetness Detecting Diaper

The Wetness Detecting Diaper was created to sound or light when the wearer disposes of bodily functions. This would tell the guardian that it is time to change the diaper. Carbon black fiber is laced through the diaper and attached to a circuit. When the fiber is exposed to wetness, a signal runs through the fiber and the circuit, then triggers an LED to blink and/or a Piezo electric speaker to sound. The users of this diaper include babies and hospital patients unable to control and feel bodily functions. Leakage would now be non-existent. These diapers would also prevent rashes from occuring because the diaper can be changed quickly.

Batteries on the Go

Have you ever been in a situation where your rechargeable batteries have gone dead and you can't find the charger? If you have, then my battery is for you. In this project, a rechargeable battery was designed with a built in charger that can be directly plugged into a wall outlet. The design consists of a half watt resistor and a full bridge. The device is designed to charge a battery in ten hours. The whole device is about the size of a nickel, and approximately one quarter of an inch thick. With a slight reduction of the volume of the battery, manufacturers can easily put the recharger inside the battery. The entire charging unit costs less than twenty-five cents, so it will be a more economical solution than having to buy a twenty or thirty dollar charger in addition to the batteries.

The Automated Sentinel

When one leaves their home and forgets to turn off an electronic appliance, they run the risk of both financial and property loss due to this negligence. In addition, when one leaves their home but wants to reactivate an electronic appliance, they cannot do so easily. The solution to this problem is "The Automated Sentinel". This innovation gives one the ability to control electronic appliances via phone line. This innovation is made possible through a RTC-DTMF Board. It is designed as an I/O expansion board, and its I/O capabilities consist of four sections, which altogether sends and receives DTMF signals through the telephone interface to the electronic appliance. As part of this board a user programmed password is required for security purposes. With the ability to control electronic appliances when away from home, this innovation lets one feed pets, control the sprinkler system, and program the VCR, among other things.

The CommunicAide

The CommunicAide is a hand-held device capable of real-time speech synthesis based upon signals from a compact keyboard. By using the CommunicAide, individuals with serious speech impairments will be able to communicate through spoken English. The user simply enters Standard English words into the CommunicAide's chording keyboard, which is built into the surface of the device. As opposed to a standard keyboard, a chording keyboard associates letters with combinations of key presses, much like the chords of a piano. Since chording keyboards generate many different input characters using only a few keys, all 26 letters of the alphabet and necessary control characters (such as space) can be represented with only five keys, one for each finger of one hand. As the letters are entered, they are displayed on a LCD screen, which is also built into the surface of the device. After a full word has been entered and delimited by a 'space' the CommunicAide will speak the word via a small speaker. CommunicAide will be available to the thousands of people throughout the world who suffer from serious speech impairments. Some members of the deaf community have never learned to speak and have great difficulty communicating with the hearing population. Others are limited in their ability to speak due to cancer or other debilitating illnesses. The purpose of CommunicAide is to provide an efficient and elegant means of communication for the speech impaired.

ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE

The Amelioration of Acid Mine Drainage by an Electrochemical Method - A Three-Year Study

Acid mine drainage results from bacterially catalyzed oxidation of sulphide-rich mining wastes. The metal-rich water poses a threat to aquatic ecosystems occurring near operating and abandoned mining operations. Acid mine drainage can be effectively ameliorated using an electrochemical method by increasing pH to an acceptable level for aquatic organisms and removing large amounts of metal contaminants. The electrochemical setup consisted of a sulphide-rich pyrite block as the cathode, acidic leachate as the electrolyte, and scrap Zn as the sacrificial anode. The electrochemical setup was submerged in five liters of acidic leachate with copper wiring connecting the anode to the cathode. The acidic leachate consisted of heavy metals and a low pH. Results indicate that the electrochemical cell setup was effective at significantly increasing pH and removing metal contaminants.

Variations in Compost Ingredients to Aid Growth of Food Crops

The purpose of this research was to determine how different items commonly used in composting can be combined so that an ideal pH balanced soil can be formed with natural fertilizing capabilities for Wax Romana beans. Beans were planted in soil mixtures of one or more of the following: alfalfa, pine needles, eggshells, and coffee grinds. Data was collected concerning the rate of growth and successfulness of bean production. Results indicated that the theoretical best blend of organic items (50% eggshells, 20% alfalfa, 10% pine needles, 20% soil) produced fewer beans than the 50% eggshell mixture. These pods were smaller, but formed faster. Eggshells proved the best additive to aid the growth of Wax Romana beans.

Ability of blue-green algae to remediate contaminated water

Concentrations of lead in fresh water bodies are toxic to wildlife. The experiment was conducted to test the phytoremediative properties of algae in treating this problem. Two standing tanks were filled with 10 L distilled water. Both were contaminated with 10mg of lead, creating a concentration of 1 ppm. One tank served as the experimental and was treated with a microbial mat, constructed from Oscillatoria spirilla blue-green algae and grass-clippings. The other tank served as the control and was not treated. Samples of 5mL were taken from the tanks over the course of two weeks and were analyzed with a mass spectrometer. Data indicates the experimental tank had a significant reduction in lead concentrations. This indicates Oscillatoria spirilla possesses phytoremediative properties that may be applied in the wild.

Effect of Chlorine on Dissolved Oxygen Content

Water was collected from the Delaware & Raritan Canal, off River Road in Montgomery, NJ and tested for dissolved oxygen over a period of 12 days, beginning with eutrophication for the first few days. A couple days later, the water was exposed to sunlight in mildly sunny conditions, and during the last 3 days, the nutrient-rich water was exposed to different concentrations of chlorine (sodium hypochloride). In the first trial, the control was 0% sodium hypochloride, #1 was of a 0.245% sodium hypochloride solution, #2 was of a 0.489% sodium hypochloride solution, and #3 was of a 1.007% sodium hypochloride solution. In the second trial, the concentrations of the chlorine were 200 ppm, 1000 ppm, and 2000 ppm. At each of these different concentrations of chlorine, the dissolved oxygen level drastically increased, much more than when exposed only to sunlight.

The effects of beneficial nematodes on garden insects.

My experiment was essentially a comparison between the effectiveness of beneficial nematodes (steinernema carpocapsae) on aphids versus those of a generic chemical pesticide. I grew a batch of 27 tomatoes for a period of 2 months. I divided the batch into 3 equal groups - the control group, the "pesticide" group, and the "nematode" group. During that period, I made sure that they were all under the same conditions and were watered daily. After 2 months, I began to administer the aphids on everything but the control group. I waited for 4 days for any changes to take place before I would use the nematodes and pesticide. Then I applied the nematodes and pesticide daily for a period of 5 days, and at the end of that interval, I recorded any data pertaining to height and the number of leaves, and analyzed them using the T-test, with 16 degrees of freedom, and the p value set at 0.01. To my disappointment, I was unable to reject the null hypothesis.

In energy, You get what you give

Global warming as induced by mankind's use of fossil fuel could become a problem in the next century, responsible for changes in weather patterns, sea levels, etc. I wanted to find out whether an individual's contribution to global warming though the use of fossil fuels could 1.) be measured and whether 2.) it was a significant contributor to the problem. By measuring my own energy use for a month and extrapolating for the year, I found that I contributed about 25.7 tons of carbon dioxide annually to the atmosphere. This might pale in comparison with the 6 million tons of CO2 released into the atmosphere by the U.S. on an annual basis, but not if you consider that there are 272 million people in this country and those individual behaviors add up.

Rock and Roll Worms: Worm and Heavy Metals

Heavy metals are toxic to most life forms. When heavy metals enter the body a metal-binding protein called metallothionein or MT detoxifies them. Eventually, the detoxified heavy metals are expelled from the body. Earthworms also create the MT protein when heavy metals are present. We began our experiment by adding known amounts of aqueous lead nitrate, cadmium nitrate, and strontium nitrate to three identical "earthworm habitats". One metal was added to each habitat. Slowly, the worms are taking in and expelling the heavy metals. By examining the worm castings and/or soil it can be determined whether or not the earthworms have done anything with the heavy metals. We hope to conclude that the earthworms form an insoluble salt containing the heavy metals. We also hope to be able to extract the MT protein from the worms for analysis. If this is accomplished we may be able to determine the conversion rate of the heavy metals and possibly the rate of the formation of MT.

Acid Rain Neutralization for Healthier Plants

The purpose of this study was to determine if calcium added to acid rain infected soil will stop plant degradation. Spinacia L. plants, commonly known as spinach plants, were planted and grown in six different acidity levels. Plants were divided into sections with calcium added to some sections. Plants were watered with pH levels 7.0, 5.0, 4.4, 4.3, 3.8, and 3.3. The spinach plants with the calcium solution added to them, in all sections but those watered with pH of 5.0 and 7.0, were kept healthier then the plants without the calcium. It was found that calcium did in fact slow the withering of acid rain infected spinach plants.

MATHEMATICS

Knight's Tours on a Cylinder

The Knight's Tour on a chessboard is a mathematics problem which has been completely studied only for certain classes of boards. For a knight to complete a tour, it must use its "L-shaped" move to reach each square once and only once and return to where it originally started. A theorem defining the conditions under which a tour is possible on a flat board was only developed in 1991, and a theorem for the tour on a torus was proposed in 1997. However, the restrictions on such a tour on a cylindrical surface, such as might be encountered on a computer screen when the knight can move off the side edge and return on the other side but not be able to wrap top to bottom, have not been reported. To answer this question, I have proven the following theorem: On any m x n cylindrical chessboard (rows x columns) with the rows (m) oriented along the axis of the cylinder, a knight's tour is possible unless: (1) m=1 or (2) m=2 or 4 and n is even. This proof builds on the prior work, since the 1991 theorem mentioned above gives a restricted set of cases which are prohibited for a flat board. Wrapping the board can only lift these restrictions. It cannot impart new ones. Therefore, we only need to consider which of the cases prohibited for a flat board are in fact prohibited for a cylindrical board. For example, on any m=1 board, the knight will be stuck at its original starting place since it not have enough room to make its "L-shaped" move on the top or bottom. for any n>1, it is therefore impossible to complete a knight's tour. The arguments for the other two cases are more complex, based on a numbering scheme for the case m=2 and on a contradiction which arises if a knight's tour were possible with m=4 when n is even. The cases which are explicitly allowed on a cylindrical board but not on a flat board are when m and n are both odd, since wrapping around enables us to return to our starting place on cylindrical versions, something we were unable to do on flat chessboards, and when m=3 and n=4, 6, or 8, because the ability to wrap enables us to prove the contrapositive statement. Since a torus is a cylinder wrapped in the second dimension, this work thus fills the gap between the theoretical treatment of a flat board and that of a toroidal one.

Optimizing Time Critical Multistage Decision Processes - Beyond Bellman and Karmarkar?

In a multistage decision making process, the objective is to make a set of decisions through a series of decision points that would lead to the goal in an optimal manner. Over the years, research focusing on this problem has yielded various algorithms and techniques. A fundamental assumption of these algorithms and techniques is that for the duration of the decision making process and during the execution of the decision, the system either remains stationary or changes in a known fashion. In this project, I characterized a class of time critical mutistage decision processes (TCMDP) where the time required to find the optimal decision at a decision point is significant when compared to the time required for the execution of the decision, and the system is changing rapidly in an unpredictable manner. For this class of problems, application of conventional algorithms and techniques are limited by their computational speed in arriving at an optimal solution. I proposed a new approach to the solutions of these time critical multistage decision processes, and evaluated it mathematically using a specific example. The results showed that in certain systems where the time required to evaluate a decision is on the order of the time required to execute that decision, an algorithm which can make more frequent, though less optimal decisions may be more effective in overall achievement of the goal than an algorithm which searches for the best decision at the expense of time.

Generation of Fractals with MRCMs

My objective was to program a Multiple Reduction Copy Machine (MRCM) and investigate real-world applications of fractal generation. I started by writing a 1200-line object-oriented C++ program, the MRCM, that supports a customizable transformation algorithm and uses an image-manipulation engine to perform these transformations. The MRCM is an example of an Iterative Function System (IFS) that applies a mathematical transformation to an object and then uses the result as input to the next iteration. The program allows the user to design their own "copy machines" based on a variety of algorithms allowing the program to render an unlimited number of fractals. Once the MRCM program was complete, I started using it to create several fractals, including the Sierpinski Gasket, Sierpinksi Carpet, Cantor's Maze, Twin Christmas Trees and other well-known fractals. During my research I realized that very simple processes could create many complex images. This led to my research of practical applications of fractals and possible occurrences of them in nature. Trees, ferns, the brain, broccoli, and lungs are only a few examples of living things that appear to exhibit fractal-like traits. Coastlines, clouds, urban infrastructures, galaxies, and mountain ranges are examples of non-living things that also have traits similar to fractals. Next, I considered practical applications of fractals and found that fractal technology is being used in exciting ways. For example, fractals are being used to compress data and for new data communications technology. Both of these may benefit from the fact that fractals use simple processes to create complex things. Another example is how fractals have been applied to model a virtual ecosystem. In terms of medical technology, scientists also speculate that the brain may use a fractal-like process to store memories and to synthesize information. By programming my own MRCM, I have experienced what the Philosopher Spinoza was talking about: "Nothing in nature is random…A thing only appears random through the incompleteness of our knowledge."

MICROBIOLOGY

Use of FISH to Localize Mouse transgenes implicated in Cardiac Development

Previous researchers created a strain of transgenic mice by inserting a segment of human exogenous DNA, which consisted of the Lac Z reporter gene and the transcription factor Ap-2, into mouse embryos. This resulted in an altered cardiac development in the mice. This experiment attempts to determine the location of the transgenic mutation in the mouse genome. By observing the location of the transgene's integration, one can determine if the altered phenotype is the result of 1) a simple "knock-out" mutation in which the human Ap-2 transgene replaced the related endogenous mouse Ap-2 gene, or 2) the transgene's random integration into the genetic material. The latter would implicate the site of the transgene's integration as the location of a gene(s) responsible for normal mouse cardiac development. Through the process of Fluorescent in Situ Hybridization (FISH), followed by a statistical analysis, the site of the Ap-2 transgene's integration was successfully localized to 13C3.4-D1.5, a non-endogenous site. Furthermore, this non-endogenous mapping suggests that the location of the integration, 13C3.4-D1.5, is a cytogenic location in the mouse containing a genetic component that influences cardiac development. This successful mapping provides the information needed to clone and to ultimately identify the sequence of the gene(s) involved. This work has demonstrated the ability to use fluorescence labeling to identify the physical position of exogenous genetic material introduced into a normal chromosome. Such information is an important component of genetic studies which can lead to useful advances in understanding the human genome itself.

Effects of Indolmycin and Azatyrosine among the species in \\fIStreptomyces\\fP

Thousands of new antibiotics have been discovered over the last fifty years. Unfortunately, during the same time, entire populations of bacterial strains have developed resistance to these antibiotics, rendering many of them ineffective. Thus, the hunt for newer and even more potent forms of antibiotics goes on today. Indolmycin and azatyrosine are two antibiotics (amino acid analogs produced by Streptomyces strains) capable of inhibiting protein synthesis in bacterial cells by blocking tRNA synthetase in prokaryotic cells. Locating similar Stretomyces species showing different responses to the same drug is the initial goal of this study. This study also searches for resistance and sensitivity in different species of Streptomyces against the effects of indolmycin and azatyrosine, which will allow further study of potential resistance mechanisms bacteria may develop against the two antibiotics. Of the ten Streptomyces strains tested in the study, five show sensitivity towards indolmycin while none show sensitivity towards azatyrosine.

The Effect of Folic Acid on Baker's Yeast

Recently, folic acid (folacin) has emerged as an essential B-complex vitamin used in alleviating cancer, Crohn's disease, heart disease, neural tube defects in pregnancy, memory loss, and osteoporosis ("B-6 and Folic Acid," 1997). Certain yeasts are known to complicate pregnancy, and cause attention deficit disorder, ear infections, and overgrowth in the intestines ("Kingdom Fungi," 1997). Since folate is synthesized by intestinal bacteria ("Message to Pregnant," 1997), it is highly possible that the vitamin could have a certain effect on the yeasts that exist in the intestines. This experiment seeks to discover the relationship between folic acid and sacchromyces cerevisiae (bakers yeast) using the null hypothesis that folic acid has no effect on bakers yeast. The experiment consisted of two procedures using solid and liquid media to provide an environment to treat a constant amount of yeast with varying amounts of folic acid. The first procedure yielded an inhibition of yeast growth that could have been caused by the addition of folic acid or the growth of molds. The second procedure deleted the mold factor and discovered that the amount of yeast cells in a cross section under 40x the magnification remained constant, with or without folic acid

MEDICINE and HEALTH

Comparison of Brands of the Non-Steroidal Analgesic Acetaminophen

The purpose of this experiment is to compare how effective two different brands of Acetaminophen are at reaching the target organ and to see which brand would be more cost effective. The two brands used in this experiment were Tylenol and American Fare, however, different variations of these two brands were also tested. Using 160 Molar HCI at 37 degrees Celsius to represent stomach acid, geltabs, caplets, and tablets (both extra strength and regular strength) of both brands were dissolved for ten minutes. Then, the remaining sediment of the drugs was filtered, dried, and weighed. This would determine if the regular strength had more binder than extra strength and if the shape of the pill contributed to faster dissolution. After calculating the percentages, it was found that the geltabs of both Tylenol and American Fare DID NOT take longer to dissolve because of their coating. When comparing brands, with all except extra strength gel tabs, American Fare was slightly faster at dissolving than Tylenol. Overall, however, the difference between the brands was slight. It was concluded that in addition to being slightly faster, American Fare Brand Acetaminophen is more cost effective than Tylenol.

Effect of Herbal and Holistic Medicine on Planarian Regeneration

This experiment was performed to find the positive effects of some herbal medicines on planaria regeneration. The use of Aloe Vera solutions (2%) and Garlic solutions (0.03% & 0.01%) have been employed over a twelve day period. At that time, planaria are counted to be grown with the pigmentation of both eyes. At the conclusion of the experiment, the data came out to be: Control 33/40, Garlic 22/24, and Aloe Vera 32/33. The chisquare was used to prove significant difference. The result was that when the Aloe Vera Group was compared to the Control, there is a P>98% certainty that the null hypothesis can be rejected. However, the garlic group only received P>50% which is not significant. There is a trend in the Garlic group. A reason could be that the solution may be too strong. Further studies would be needed in that area.

Effectiveness of Toothpaste

The goal of this experiment is in to examine various aspects of toothpaste, to determine their effectiveness, and to see if the more expensive toothpastes are truly the more effective brands. This experiment consists of a study of the appearance, pH level, abrasiveness, fluoride content, and foaming ability of various toothpastes. These five tests were run on ten different samples of toothpaste and the results of each were compared to determine which toothpaste is most effective as well as cost efficient. We studied the appearance of the toothpaste by the naked eye and under a microscope as well. The abrasiveness was observed under the microscope by studying how much the toothpaste scratched the slide. The pH value was tested by putting a small amount of water/toothpaste mixture on pH paper. The amount of fluoride was determined by adding the toothpaste to a mixture to a solution consisting of zirconyl chloride and alizarin red solution and looking for a color change. The foaming ability of the toothpaste was studied by measuring the amount of foam produced after the mixture was shaken. The results of these tests showed that toothpastes that contain fluoride, have a high pH level, abrasiveness, and foaming ability are the most effective toothpaste. Colgate Total came closest to these specifications for an effective toothpaste. Colgate Total is also one of the least expensive brands of the ten samples which contradicts our hypothesis that the most expensive brands of are the most expensive.

Enhanced Survival of Cryogenically-Preserved Planaria Via Addition of Cryoprotectants

Cryopreservation offers humankind the possibility of existing indefinitely. However, much difficulty lies in the methods of preservation, as destructive stresses of freezing would wreak havoc on unprotected cells. Two methods of cryopreservation were tested by using dry ice to chill Dugesia Tigrina in solutions of glycerol and dextrose of various concentrations. Criteria for survival were: movement and response to stimuli, as Dugesia Tigrina are photonegative and will move away from any light source, and the retainment of structure, as dead planaria will disintegrate promptly. An analysis of the data showed that glycerol was effective at protecting the cell structure during freezing while ineffective at aiding the survival of Dugesia Tigrina, as the high concentration of chemicals often proved to be fatal.

PHYSICS AND EARTH SCIENCE

The Success Rate of Baseball Pitches

The purpose of this study was to determine which baseball pitch has the highest success rate from the pitcher’s point of view. Fourteen and fifteen year old Senior League A all-star tournament baseball games and professional baseball games were observed. Each pitch was recorded as a successful pitch, unsuccessful pitch, or as a ball. There were 1,202 successful pitches, 229 unsuccessful pitches, and 1,027 balls recorded. Results showed that the change-up at 55.5% had the best success rate.

Flexible Lifestyles Using Spring Hinges (F.L.U.S.H.)

The F.L.U.S.H. device eliminates inconvenience and is cost-effective. Like many other products, it gets rid of the need to put the toilet seat back down manually, as many people often forget to do. As a result, it reduces the spread of harmful bacteria, and many other toilet seat sanitation problems. The F.L.U.S.H. device lowers the seat for the user, but what sets the F.L.U.S.H. device apart from other devices is that it consists of simple items found in your own home. These items include springs and hinges. What the F.L.U.S.H. device does is it compresses a spring as the toilet seat is being lifted. When the toilet seat is lifted all the way up, the spring will be compressed completely, and the energy in the spring will be used to lower the seat. Once the flush handle is released, the toilet seat will be able to use the spring’s stored energy to create a force from the spring, which will push the seat back down to its original position, without having the user put the seat down.

Acid Rain: Variations in Acid Precipitation

The purpose of this study was to determine the factors that affect the acidity of rainfall in Bound Brook, New Jersey, and to observe the acidity levels of Powder Mill Pond in Somerset, Vosseller’s Brook in bound Brook, and the Delaware-Raritan Canal in South Bound Brook. This study began on June 1, 1998 and ended on December 31, 1998. samples of rain water and water from the three locations were tested for pH level using a CBL system, graphing calculator, and pH monitor. It was determined that wind direction was the main factor which affected the pH of the rain tested. Temperature appeared to affect the occurrence of rainfall. Humidity, amount of precipitation, and wind speed had no visible effect on pH. The findings of this study indicate that winds coming from a southerly or southwesterly direction bring rain with the highest pH levels to each area studied.

Electrostatic Plasma Confinement - Altering a Plasma's Response to Magnetic Fields

In this work, I introduced chemical impurities into an air plasma to study the effect they had on the way in which the plasma responded to a transverse magnetic field. The plasma was generated at an air pressure of 40 torr with a longitudinal voltage of 1440 DC. The impurities added (as chlorides) included monovalent (Na$"" sup +$, K$"" sup +$, and Cs$"" sup +$), divalent (Mg$"" sup 2+$, Zn$"" sup 2+$, and Cu$"" sup 2+$), and trivalent (Fe$"" sup 3+$) species. The concentrations used were inversely proportional to the valence number of the species, in an effort to keep the total impurity charge constant so that the effect of ionization energy could be discerned. A magnetic field, a samarium cobalt permanent magnet of 8200 gauss, was applied transverse to the plasma tube. Three parameters of response were measured: magnitude, width, and angle of deflection. Magnitude was defined as the radial distance from the center of the plasma to the outer edge. Width was defined as the greatest distance from the inner to outer boundary of a single plasma arc. The angle of deflection was measured relative to the path of the unperturbed plasma. I hypothesized that an impurity with lower ionization energy would have a larger influence on the magnetic field response. The results validated this hypothesis, since I found that cesium, the impurity with the lowest ionization energy, caused the largest changes in the three parameters of response. The species with the highest ionization energy was Zn. Expressing the results as a ratio of the value for Cs to that of Zn, we find that the Cs values for the magnitude, width, and deflection are larger by 222$+-$5%, 178$+-$5%, and 164$+-$8%, respectively.

A Comparison of Water Filtration Systems: Which is Best?

The purpose of this research was to determine which water filtration system was the most popular, and despite that popularity, which was the most efficient. Annual reports were collected from each of the five companies: Brita, US Filter, Kleen Plus, Shaklee, and GE Smart Water. Those were used to tally the population totals, which were then compared. Samples were then taken every four days from three systems which I had narrowed down: Shaklee, Brita, and Kleen Plus, to see which was the most efficient. The results indicated that though Brita was the most popular, Shaklee was indeed the most efficient.

Stream Conditions and Their Effect on Aquatic Life, Neschanic River

The purpose of this study was to determine how water conditions would affect aquatic life in the Neshanic River. A section of the Neshanic River was visited once or twice a week from August 1, 1998 to October 18, 1998. Three areas of the river were selected and observed. A survey of mayfly nymphs, snails, and various types of fish was done at each site. Results showed that most of the aquatic life in the river decreased during this time span. This was probably due to the change in water temperature as the weather became colder. This indicates that temperature is a major factor on determining presence of animal populations in fresh water.

Factors Affecting Erosion Rate Along the Delaware Raritan Canal

The purpose of this research was to see what affects the erosion rate at different locations along a waterway. Four sites with various vegetation were chosen along the Delaware-Raritan Canal in Somerset, NJ. Aluminum foil meat pans were anchored by ropes to nearby vegetation for soil collection. The eroded soil was collected and measured (mm) twice a week from the week of June 15, 1998 until the week of September 7, 1998. Of the four sites, the pan at Site Four collected the most soil. Site Four had the least vegetation and the least compact soil. Site Three had minimal vegetation and semi-compact soil. Site One had the most vegetation and the most compact soil. Site Two could not be measured. The results shows that the cover of the surface, and the soil’s surface condition are the main factors in determining erosion rates.

ZOOLOGY

A Better Japanese Beetle Trap

This research tested the effectiveness of commercially prepared bait versus wet tobacco for luring Japanese beetles to a trap. Tomato plants and flying insect traps ("jar traps") were set up at four locations in Hillsborough, NJ, in June 1998. The number of beetles trapped and the amount of damage done to the plants were recorded. A flying insect trap baited with a Bag-A-Bug lure was the most effective trap in this experiment. However, this research shows that this trap is not very effective when compared to commercial "bag" traps. This research did not support my hypothesis because the traps baited with wet tobacco were ineffective for trapping Japanese beetles, and the "jar" traps caught very few beetles when compared to commercial "bag" traps.

The Synthetic Reproduction of Electric Organ Discharges

The purpose of this experiment is to establish a communication link between humans and weakly electric fish by synthetically reproducing the electric organ discharges (EODs) emitted by the Gnathonemus petersii. Using the EOD data collected by an oscilloscope, data points were obtained and used in determining mathematical functions to represent the EOD. The parameters were altered and tested for each of the four sections of the graph in order to find the best representation of the data. The basic equation used to represent the EOD in Figure 2, was f(x) = (x-g)2(a-x)2sin(B(x/s)*c. A C++ program was written to output the data through electrical currents, which were sent into a water tank with the G. petersii.

The Preferences of Mosquitoes to Various Colors of Illumination

The purpose of this research was to determine the color preferences of lights to which mosquitoes will respond. A bug zapper, an electric device that attracts insects with a light and then electrocutes them with a low voltage charge, was placed on a long pole in an open area. The light bulb was successively painted eight different colors (green, blue, red, white, pink, orange, purple, and yellow) with spray paint. After testing each color, the insects were collected, separated and counted. The test showed that the red light attracted the most mosquitoes (108) with blue second (99). Purple attracted the least number of mosquitoes (21). Red and blue were the two brightest colors. I think the brightness of the light helped to attract more mosquitoes.

The Territorial Range of the Common Crayfish

The purpose of this research was to determine the territorial range of Cambarus virilis, the common crayfish. The crayfish were collected and labeled with nail polish in four areas of Peter’s Brook, Somerville. The Brook was checked once every two weeks for crayfish. It was found that crayfish roam from their initial sites in both directions regardless of current direction.

Flash Color Preferences of Female Photinus Fireflies in Hillsborough

The purpose of this research was to determine if female Photinus fireflies preferred one color flash to another. Twenty fireflies were exposed to 42 flashes each of a series of colors (green, red, yellow, blue, and white) and the number of response was recorded. Individual fireflies seemed to have different color preferences but responses to the white light were the greatest. According to the Anova single factor test, the results of this study were statistically significant and suggest that female Photinus fireflies prefer white flashes to the other colors tested.

How do Squirrels Accomplish the Various Tasks of Acquiring Food?

The purpose of this study was to test squirrels learning by observing how a squirrel gets food. Sunflower seeds, corn, and peanuts were placed in specific locations and were observed to find out how the squirrels obtained the food. The squirrels found a method to get to the food using their bodies as well as their environment, for example, a tree or rope. It appeared that squirrels were not confined to one method to obtain food from the same location on repeated visits. It was found that squirrels are clever enough to use objects in their surroundings as well as tools to help them acquire food.

The Learning Capabilities of Corvus Brachyrhynchos Exhibited Through Tool Use

In previous work, I have demonstrated that crows prefer meat over sunflower seeds and corn, that they prefer sheltered eating locations in trees, and that they can learn to respond to a visual signal for the presence of food hidden in a box. In the present project I have extended this work to show that crows thus trained will open a box with the requisite visual signal in search of food, even when no food is present, thus proving that they are not responding to any other sensory stimuli, such as smell. I have also studied their response to situations in which their favorite food (meat) is presented in a manner such that it is inaccessible without the use of a secondary device, or "tool." In these studies, I provided three such tools for their use: a stick connected to a bit of meat, a stick with a hook to retrieve the meat, and a stick with a string attached to the meat. The experimental station where this food was presented was video taped for a period of 413.5 hours to yield 15 hours of recorded crow feeding time, recording a total of 472 (260 valid) feeding episodes. The crows quickly learned to use all three of the tools. From these observations, their greatest success was with the stick with the meat (successful 89 of 109 times - 81.6%), the next greatest success was with the stick and string (successful 85 of 113 times - 75.2%) and finally with the stick and hook (successful 7 of 38 times - 18.4%). The time required for them to retrieve the food was also monitored during the course of the study. Both the time to acquire the food and the expertise (sequential and repetitive actions) with which the crows used the tool were analyzed to determine that learning had occurred and that tool use was successfully recorded.