VIRGINIA JUNIOR ACADEMY OF SCIENCE PROCEEDINGS 78TH ANNUAL MEETING & RESEARCH SYMPOSIUM OLD DOMINION UNIVERSITY NORFOLK, VIRGINIA MAY 23, 2019 Animal and Human Sciences Salt Affecting Brine Shrimp Tucker Albaugh and Felix Green, Mary Ellen Henderson Middle School Our experiment tHat we were testing is How does tHe concentration of salt in water affect How many brine shrimp’s eggs Hatch and live for a day. We Had 4 different independent variables. THey were 3.5%, 2%, 5% and 6%. THe purpose of tHis experiment was to find How tHe rising salt levels of tHe ocean will affect brine shrimp and its population. We measured How many brine shrimps survived by taking tHem out of tHe Hatchery and Hand counting. We conducted tHe experiment by weigHing tHe water and tHen weigHing tHe salt to find tHe salinity. In tHe first 3 levels of salt tHe number of Brine Shrimp increased but wHen tHe shrimps were placed in 6% salinity tHey decreased. SometHing tHat we realized from studying our grapHs was tHat our data was not scattered. AnotHer tHing we realized was tHat in trial 4 tHe 5% salinity tHe most amount of shrimp Hatched (witH 69.3% Hatched). We also realized tHat tHe 2% (wHich Had a Hatch rate of 65%) and tHe 3.5% (wHich Had a Hatch rate of 66.4%) tHe number of shrimps tHat Hatched in tHe 4 trials were very similar. Our data supported our HypotHesis was supported until we reached 6% salt (only 61% Hatched). Our experiment can relate to tHe information we already knew because brine Shrimp are exceptionally tolerant to HigH levels of salt in tHe water. The Effect of Different Types of Antioxidants Against Hydrogen peroxide on the Heart Rate of Daphnia magna. Nikhil Amin, George H. Moody Middle School THe U.S. National Library of Medicine published an article outlining tHe essential role of antioxidants in tHe HealtH of tHe Human body. THrougH data tHat determined antioxidants as questionable in effectiveness for tHe treatment of diseases, tHe study of antioxidants’ counter effect on oxidants arose by comparing tHe Human body to Daphnia Magna. The purpose of tHis experiment was to test different types of antioxidants by being able to counter tHe negative effects of Hydrogen peroxide tHrougH testing tHe Heart rate change of Daphnia Magna. THe different types of variables being tested were garlic, ginger, turmeric, cranberries, and no antioxidants. Samples of Daphnia were placed in 150 mL beakers filled witH 100 mL of water and were treated regularly every otHer day for twenty days. THe Heart rate of each DapHnia was tested before and after tHe application of 0.1 mL of Hydrogen peroxide into tHe beaker. Next, a different antioxidant was placed into each beaker and was measured to test wHich allowed tHe Daphnia’s Heart rate to decrease tHe most efficiently. THe results indicated tHat turmeric was able to sustain tHe Heart rate of tHe Daphnia tHe most effectively at 210 beats per minute. THe data supported tHe research HypotHesis tHat if turmeric was applied to Daphnia Magna, then it will be able to counter tHe effects of Hydrogen peroxide tHe best. Based on tHe research data, tHere appears to be a direct correlation between tHe anti-inflammatory effects of curcumin, tHe powerful antioxidant ingredient of turmeric, and tHe Heart rate change of Daphnia. However, before tHe data can be concluded tHat curcumin was tHe reason for turmeric’s positive counter effects, furtHer studies will need to be conducted using various quantities of curcumin. The Effect of Different Antacids on the Rate of Neutralization Shreyas Arcot, George H. Moody Middle School The Effect of Sound on Ants Guthrie Bowers, Sabot at Stony Point THis experiment was designed to gatHer knowledge about wHetHer or not ants change tHeir beHavior due to different levels of sound. THe problem is tHat ants invade a House and tHe owner’s personal space. Various sound waves were tested to show How ants would react wHen subjected to sound. Two different characteristics of sound were tested, volume and frequency. THe data shows tHat different sound waves do change tHe ants’ beHavior from moving regularly to not moving, and from not gatHering to gatHering. Test results generally indicated tHat increases in volume and frequency resulted in less movement. Increases in volume and frequency were not as consistent in gatHering, but a general trend of more gatHering was measured. The Effect of Grooming on the Heart Rate of Equus caballus Stella Brakman, Sabot at Stony Point THis experiment was designed to gatHer knowledge about wHetHer or not ants change tHeir beHavior due to different levels of sound. THe problem is tHat ants invade a House and tHe owner’s personal space. Various sound waves were tested to show How ants would react wHen subjected to sound. Two different characteristics of sound were tested, volume and frequency. THe data shows tHat different sound waves do change tHe ants’ beHavior from moving regularly to not moving, and from not gatHering to gatHering. Test results generally indicated tHat increases in volume and frequency resulted in less movement. Increases in volume and frequency were not as consistent in gatHering, but a general trend of more gatHering was measured. To Breathe or Not to Breathe: Can Face MasKs Diminish Inhaled Pollution and Improve Health Outcomes in Drosophila melanogaster? Tony Bright, Arman Lateef and Gabriel Ralston, Louise Benton Middle School Main Objectives: Air pollution is a serious, global problem tHat tHreatens all living organisms. The objective of tHis project was to determine wHetHer face masks can significantly diminish inHaled particulate matter (PM) less tHan 2.5 microns in diameter (PM 2.5) and improve HealtH outcomes in Drosophila melanogaster (fruit fly). It was HypotHesized tHat if Drosophila is exposed to HigH levels of PM 2.5 tHen its lifespan and fertility will decrease. Also, if a Vogmask is used, tHen it will significantly decrease tHe amount of inHaled PM and mitigate tHe impact of PM 2.5 on longevity and fertility, compared witH a doctor’s mask or no mask. MetHods: Flies were exposed to pollution in a controlled chamber using tHe exhaust from a gas-powered STIHL Echo-One trimmer. An air pollution monitor was used to record PM 2.5 levels. Mask Efficacy - Exhaust was run tHrougH a tube (uncovered or covered witH eitHer a doctor’s mask or Vogmask) and tHe transmitted PM 2.5 was recorded. Longevity and Fertility– DrosopHila were placed into 4 experimental groups: 1) No pollution; 2) Pollution and no mask; 3) Pollution and vials covered witH doctor’s mask; 4) Pollution and vials covered witH Vogmask. After 6 Hours of pollution exposure, flies in groups 2, 3, and 4 were transferred to an incubator, witH unexposed flies, and tHeir lifespan was monitored. To assess fertility, 3 male and 3 female flies were placed into each vial and pupae were counted on day 5. Results: THe doctor’s mask and Vogmask decreased inHaled PM 2.5 by 71% and 92% respectively. Pollution decreased DrosopHila lifespan by 80% wHereas pollution exposure wHile wearing a Vogmask decreased lifespan by 53%. THe control group Had significantly more mean offspring (4) tHan eitHer tHe Vogmask (1.5), tHe doctor’s mask (0.5) or no mask (0.25). Conclusions: Face masks can be quite effective at filtering out particulate pollution; However, tHey are not tHe ultimate answer to our environmental emergency. We must remain committed to cleaning up our planet in tHe first place. Iron versus Speed Claire Buchholz and Abbey Shumsky, Swanson Middle School THe purpose of tHis experiment was to find tHe effect of tHe brand of multivitamin on tHe dissolution time and tHe iron content. THe independent variable was tHe brand of tHe multivitamin, and tHe dependent variables were tHe dissolution time and tHe iron content. 5 multivitamin brands were tested and Nature Made was believed to contain tHe most iron, because it was tHe only one tHat advertised it’s containment of iron on tHe bottle. CVS was presumed to dissolve tHe fastest because it was tHe smallest pill and had a thin coating. THe HypotHesis was supported by tHe data. Nature Made contained tHe most iron witH an average of 137 PPM (parts per million). CVS dissolved tHe fastest witH an average of 15 minutes and 31 seconds. THe approach was to test five common multivitamin brands and compare tHeir iron content and dissolution time. THe key results were, CVS brand dissolved tHe fastest, and Nature Made contained tHe most iron. The Effect of Decrease in MCV-1 Vaccination Rates on Incidents of Disease Cassie Couch, Sabot at Stony Point Recently, some people Have been reconsidering tHe safety of vaccines because tHey are worried about tHe effect of vaccines on tHeir children. As a result, some of tHese adults Have ceased to vaccinate tHeir children or tHemselves. THe purpose of tHis research was to see if tHere is an inverse relationship between vaccine coverage and incidents of disease. THis paper consists of data collected from tHree countries—EtHiopia, tHe United Kingdom, and tHe NetHerlands—on MCV-1 vaccination rates and incidents of measles obtained from World HealtH Organization (WHO). THe results of tHis research show tHat wHen tHere is a decrease in vaccine uptake in one country, it can affect many different countries. THe results also establish tHat tHere are fewer incidents of disease wHen tHe vaccine coverage is over 90%. THis supports tHe HypotHesis tHat tHere is an inverse relationship between vaccine rates and incidents of disease. The Cardiovascular Effect of Increased Swim Practice Time on Swimmers Age 11- 14 Abigail Fleenor, Sabot at Stony Point In competitive swimming, most swimmers swim many Hours each week.