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Sean Nash

Airplane Noise Exposure May Increase Risk of Chronic Disease | SPH - 0 views

www.bu.edu/...crease-risk-of-chronic-disease

HSR HSR-2025 airplane noise disease environmental science questions statistical analysis mathematics computer science potential research idea behavioralscience

shared by Sean Nash on 06 Jun 24 - No Cached
  • “Prior research has shown that aircraft noise can elevate stress responses and disturb sleep, but there has been mixed evidence of any links with body mass index,” says study lead and corresponding author Matthew Bozigar, assistant professor of epidemiology at OSU and a former postdoctoral associate at SPH. “We were surprised to see a fairly robust link between aircraft noise and higher body mass index among women across the US.”
    • Sean Nash
      Sean Nash on 06 Jun 24
       
      Again, this reminds me of the UCSD juncos and the increased stressors they must endure to live in an urban environment. However, we must remember that just because their emerging population in and around the UCSD campus is successful, it comes with a cost of shorter lifespans, increased mortality, etc. Very interesting stuff.
  • These new findings underscore the role of the environment on one’s risk of chronic disease.
  • Junenette Peters, associate professor of environmental health, and colleagues examined airplane noise exposure and self-reported BMI and other individual characteristics among nearly 75,000 participants living around 90 of the major US airports
  • ...5 more annotations...
  • The team examined aircraft noise levels every five years from 1995 to 2010, using a day-night estimate (DNL) that captures the average noise level over a 24-hour period and applies a 10 dB adjustment for aircraft noise occurring at night, when background noise is low.
  • Although the team acknowledges that BMI is a suboptimal metric, the independent and strong association between more aircraft noise exposure and higher BMI that they observed is notable.
  • “We can only hypothesize about why we saw these regional variations, but one reason may relate to the era of regional development, building characteristics, and climate which may affect factors such as housing age, design, and level of insulation,” says Peters. “Regional differences in temperature and humidity may influence behaviors such as window opening, so perhaps study participants living in the West were more exposed to aircraft noise due to open windows or housing type, which allowed more noise to penetrate.”
  • Previous data suggest that Black, Hispanic, and low-income populations are disproportionately exposed to aircraft noise. The participants in the NHS study groups were primarily White and of mid-level socioeconomic status. 
  • “We need to study the potential health impacts of environmental injustices in transportation noise exposures alongside other environmental drivers of poor health outcomes” Bozigar says. “There is a lot more to figure out, but this study adds evidence to a growing body of literature that noise negatively impacts health.”
Sean Nash

Shining the Light on Baby Crabs | Hakai Magazine - 2 views

hakaimagazine.com/...hining-the-light-on-baby-crabs

methods inexpensive SCI-I HSR HSR2023 research invertebrates zoology crabs dungeness Canada PugetSound Vancouver light potential research idea biology environmental science HSR-2023

shared by Sean Nash on 30 Apr 23 - No Cached
  • Sean Nash on 30 Apr 23
     
    I added this one, which includes detail of an environmental study, to illustrate how creative use of everyday materials can sometimes work to design scientific methods that work!
katherine-medina

Topical pine tar: History, properties and use as a treatment for common skin conditions... - 0 views

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/...PMC5434829

pine-tar non-cancerous treatment HSR2023 environmental coal-tar trees wood

shared by katherine-medina on 28 Jul 23 - No Cached
  • Pine tar is thought to exert its effect by reducing DNA synthesis and mitotic activity, which promotes a return to normal keratinisation. In addition, pine tar has been shown to be antipruritic, anti‐inflammatory, antibacterial and antifungal
  • Topical pine tar has been available over‐the‐counter in Australia since 1953. Today, it is available in various formulations including a gel, lotion, oil, soap‐free bar and solution containing up to 2.3% w/w pine tar
  • There are two kinds of wood tars; made either from trees with a high content of resin (pine and juniper), or from hardwood trees (birch and beech).3 Pine tar (also known as tar, alquitrán vegetal, pix liquida, stockholm tar (in commerce), wood tar, brea de pino, brea vegetal, goudron végétal, nadelholzteer, pix abietinarum, pix pini and pyroleum pini
  • ...31 more annotations...
  • There are two kinds of wood tars; made either from trees with a high content of resin (pine and juniper), or from hardwood trees (birch and beech).3 Pine tar (also known as tar, alquitrán vegetal, pix liquida, stockholm tar (in commerce), wood tar, brea de pino, brea vegetal, goudron végétal, nadelholzteer, pix abietinarum, pix pini and pyroleum pini
  • is obtained by high temperature carbonisation of pine wood from various trees of the family Pinaceae in anoxic conditions (dry distillation or destructive distillation)
  • is obtained by high temperature carbonisation of pine wood from various trees of the family Pinaceae in anoxic conditions (dry distillation or destructive distillation)
  • empyreumatic
    • katherine-medina
      katherine-medina on 28 Jul 23
       
      smokey or burnt odor
    • katherine-medina
      katherine-medina on 28 Jul 23
       
      smokey or burnt odor
  • empyreumatic
  • Although pine tar has been used for the treatment of various skin diseases for thousands of years, its mechanism of action is poorly understood and has been extrapolated from studies performed using coal tar.
    • katherine-medina
      katherine-medina on 28 Jul 23
       
      Why is it hard to understand the mechanisms behind how pine tar works?
  • This promotes a return to normal keratinisation, which is important in skin diseases such as psoriasis
    • katherine-medina
      katherine-medina on 28 Jul 23
       
      No kidding.
  • carcinogenic
    • katherine-medina
      katherine-medina on 28 Jul 23
       
      Potential to cause cancer
  • antipruritic
    • katherine-medina
      katherine-medina on 28 Jul 23
       
      It can relieve itching
    • katherine-medina
      katherine-medina on 28 Jul 23
       
      It can relieve itching
  • antipruritic
  • Fractionation of pine tar has revealed that the components responsible for its bacteriostatic properties are the resin acids,14 and that acetovanillone, 1,1′,3,3′‐tetraoxo‐2,2′‐bicyclopentyl and its 4‐methyl derivative,
  • Fractionation of pine tar has revealed that the components responsible for its bacteriostatic properties are the resin acids,14 and that acetovanillone, 1,1′,3,3′‐tetraoxo‐2,2′‐bicyclopentyl and its 4‐methyl derivative,
  • as well as another unknown compound,
    • katherine-medina
      katherine-medina on 28 Jul 23
       
      If they know that there is another component that is responsible for how pine tar works, why haven't they found it yet?
  • as well as another unknown compound,
  • proliferation
    • katherine-medina
      katherine-medina on 28 Jul 23
       
      the rapid growth of multiple cells.
  • Sensitivity to pine tar.18 Pre‐existing folliculitis or severe acne are also possible contraindications.19
  • In terms of pharmacokinetics, it has been observed by infrared spectroscopy that pine tar is detectable in the skin 1 h following the topical application of 12% pine tar to the skin, but was undetectable in the skin after 8 h
  • Thus it can reasonably be assumed that pine tar lacks significant carcinogenic activity.23 Further, pine tar used in the manufacture of topical pine tar products available in Australia today has been found not to be carcinogenic by the Ames test (unpublished data, Ego Pharmaceuticals), and is not classified as a carcinogen
  • Thus it can reasonably be assumed that pine tar lacks significant carcinogenic activity.23 Further, pine tar used in the manufacture of topical pine tar products available in Australia today has been found not to be carcinogenic by the Ames test (unpublished data, Ego Pharmaceuticals), and is not classified as a carcinogen
  • Despite the extensive use of medicinal tars, particularly in psoriasis patients, there is no epidemiological evidence that topical tar products, including pine tar, cause cutaneous or internal cancer
  • Despite the extensive use of medicinal tars, particularly in psoriasis patients, there is no epidemiological evidence that topical tar products, including pine tar, cause cutaneous or internal cancer
  • Hypersensitivity reactions for tars are rare, but wood tars are more likely to cause sensitisation than coal tar
  • Hypersensitivity reactions for tars are rare, but wood tars are more likely to cause sensitisation than coal tar
  • It is important to note that the number of positive reactions for wood tars was not significantly greater than those for other common allergens.
  • It is important to note that the number of positive reactions for wood tars was not significantly greater than those for other common allergens.
  • generally a mixture of pine, juniper, birch and beech tars, and therefore the exact tar eliciting the positive reaction is not known.
  • Furthermore, there have been only five cases of adverse events for pine tar reported to the Therapeutic Goods Administration of Australia since records began in 1971, which included pruritus, rash and dermatitis.
  • Of the 21 patients 19 preferred the pine tar baths due to the attractive green colour and smell
  • pityrosporum
    • katherine-medina
      katherine-medina on 28 Jul 23
       
      A yeast that is associated with dandruff aka ovale
    • katherine-medina
      katherine-medina on 28 Jul 23
       
      A yeast that is associated with dandruff aka ovale
  • Both pine tar and glucocorticosteroid treatments had an almost equally inhibiting effect on the various cellular constituents of allergic inflammation including the influx of T‐cells, eosinophils, and CD1+, RFD1+, IFN‐γ+, and IL‐4+ cells,
  • Both pine tar and glucocorticosteroid treatments had an almost equally inhibiting effect on the various cellular constituents of allergic inflammation including the influx of T‐cells, eosinophils, and CD1+, RFD1+, IFN‐γ+, and IL‐4+ cells,
  • katherine-medina on 28 Jul 23
     
    A nice summary about what pine tars are and what they can do.
Sean Nash

Red algae reduces methane emissions from cow poop - 1 views

www.sciencenews.org/...mate-warming-methane-red-algae

potential research idea biology engineering environmental science HSR HSR-2023 algae methane climatechange

shared by Sean Nash on 04 Aug 23 - No Cached
  • Adding the algae to decomposing feces might reduce methane emission from cow agriculture
    • Sean Nash
      Sean Nash on 04 Aug 23
       
      Here's a bit of an engineering problem..... but one with a biological/ecological frame. The article presents promise, but many challenges. Could you imagine a way to sidestep any of the challenges presented here? What other ways could the methane production issue be strategically mitigated?
katherine-medina

A virus of hyperthermophilic archaea with a unique architecture among DNA viruses | PNAS - 0 views

www.pnas.org/...pnas.1518929113

bacteria HSR-2023 environmental hot-spring

shared by katherine-medina on 24 May 23 - No Cached
  • ssDNA, ssRNA, and ds
  • One of these isolates was subjected to an additional round of colony purification, and the isolated strain, designated “2GA,” was selected as a standard virus host for all following experiments, unless stated otherwise.
  • Cells of the 2GA isolate are rod-shaped, with an average length of about 4 μm and a width of about 0.7 μm.
  • ...1 more annotation...
  • A combination
katherine-medina

The chemical composition and antioxidant properties of common dandelion leaves compared... - 1 views

cdnsciencepub.com/...cjps-2016-0409

Dandelions environmental antioxidants HSR-2023 botany

shared by katherine-medina on 06 Jun 23 - No Cached
  • sea buckthorn leaves exhibited a significantly higher level of antioxidant activity as measured by ABTS
  • . Dandelion leaves were richer in tocopherols, thiamine, riboflavin, and niacin while the sea buckthorn leaves contained higher levels of l-ascorbic acid.
  • aw dandelion are partly related to the antioxidant properties of some of its components;
    • katherine-medina
      katherine-medina on 06 Jun 23
       
      Why haven't they done more studies on this specific part about dandelions?
  • ...5 more annotations...
  • The present study will also be helpful with regard to the standardization of bioactive content in plant materials.
    • katherine-medina
      katherine-medina on 06 Jun 23
       
      Cool, cool, although I was hopping that their goal was something slightly different.
  • polyphenols: flavonoids, isoflavones, anthocyanins, and catechins
  • Sea buckthorn
  • Plants contain small amounts of lead, which may significantly increase when exposed to lead contamination in the soil and air; however, lead was not detected in the examined leaves of dandelion and sea buckthorn.
    • katherine-medina
      katherine-medina on 06 Jun 23
       
      Did not know that.
  • neutralize ABTS
    • katherine-medina
      katherine-medina on 06 Jun 23
       
      So essentially the higher the antioxidant concentration the more the color of the ABTS changes.
  • katherine-medina on 06 Jun 23
     
    This article helped me understand a few of the different antioxidants that dandelions, and sea buckthorn.
Sean Nash

Satellite Monitoring of Biodiversity Moves Within Reach | Current Science Daily - 2 views

currentsciencedaily.com/...iodiversity-moves-within-reach

HSR-2023 HSR statistical analysis mathematics computer science botany environmental science biology satellite monitoring biodiversity current potential research idea

shared by Sean Nash on 15 Jun 23 - No Cached
  • Data for the study came from the National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON). The network uses standardized methods to collect biodiversity and Earth observation data across the United States which are then made publicly available. NEON imaging spectrometer data collected from research flights have a pixel size of 1x1 meter.
    • Sean Nash
      Sean Nash on 15 Jun 23
       
      I wonder if any of the imagery they have is: 1. Accessible by us, and 2. Available for our area. If so, it might be as simple as doing plant diversity surveys to look for ground truth in our area (young forests & grasslands) between what is REALLY on the ground here, vs. what the satellite imagery shows.
  • Biodiversity monitoring from space possible via satellite
  • The reflectance of plants is determined by their chemical, anatomical and morphological characteristics, which are important for interactions among plants and with their environment. “Plants with similar traits, as well as closely related species, therefore tend to have similar reflectance spectra,” explains Schweiger.
  • ...1 more annotation...
  • Spectral diversity calculated in forests with closed canopies and large individual trees matched plant diversity determined on the ground better than spectral diversity calculated in open landscapes dominated by small herbaceous plants and grasses.
Sean Nash

Low-dose radiation from A-bombs elongated lifespan and reduced cancer mortality relativ... - 1 views

genesenvironment.biomedcentral.com/...s41021-018-0114-3

radiation cancer genes environment fulltext research paper SCI-I potential research idea biology chemistry physics statistical analysis questions HSR HSR-2023 environmental

shared by Sean Nash on 23 Jun 23 - No Cached
  • individuals
    • Sean Nash
      Sean Nash on 23 Jun 23
       
      These "individuals" could just as easily be plants of lower invertebrates (as model organisms at this level). This is fascinating to me. There is no doubt that we would be limited in our ability to work with ionizing radiation, but that's not to say a project couldn't be developed along these lines. I never cease to be amazed at what a motivated student can resourcefully come up with when their passion for a particular line of research is so high.
Sean Nash

E-learning courses - GrowNextGen - 2 views

grownextgen.org/elearning

agriculture food foodscience courses SCI-I topicselection resources learning research ideas environmental science botany biology HSR HSR-2023

shared by Sean Nash on 23 Jun 23 - No Cached
  • These self-guided digital resources allow students to work independently. Pre- and posttests can be used to check knowledge gains.
    • Sean Nash
      Sean Nash on 23 Jun 23
       
      An interesting set of open online courses to take your learning to the next level in some area... These might be interesting early on in the problem-finding phase, but also once a topic is chosen... you need to get up to speed in an area of science much more quickly than in traditional teacher-led courses. Perhaps one of these can help you build early background expertise in some area?
Sean Nash

"I Wonder...": Reconnecting with Our Natural Curiosity - YouTube - 0 views

www.youtube.com/watch

projectdevelopment curiosity wonder nature of science science SCI-I questioning HSRTC SFS potential research idea biology chemistry physics engineering computer science mathematics statistical analysis questions botany environmental HSR HSR-2023

shared by Sean Nash on 23 Jun 23 - No Cached
ryleighnyp liked it
  • Reconnecting with Our Natural Curiosity
    • Sean Nash
      Sean Nash on 23 Jun 23
       
      This is Caitlyn with the Society for Science (the group that sponsors the ISEF & RTS. I saw her give this talk in person last October. she gives some really good suggestions for reconnecting to the curiosity and wonder of your childhood. It is THIS skill that separates the typical student from the creative mind of a scientist. Will YOU try out any of her suggestions??
katherine-medina

Nowcasting lightning occurrence from commonly available meteorological parameters using... - 0 views

www.nature.com/...s41612-019-0098-0

weather lightning AI-prediction HSR-2023 meteorology environmental

shared by katherine-medina on 03 Jun 23 - No Cached
  • They hypothesized that the mesoscale environment indirectly influences CG lightning polarity by directly controlling the storm structure, dynamics, and microphysics, which in turn control storm electrification and ground flash polarity.
  • he lightning forecast is made 30–45 min before rainfall occurs
    • katherine-medina
      katherine-medina on 03 Jun 23
       
      I guess that would make sense considering the fact that the electricity in the air before a storm is active.
  • katherine-medina on 03 Jun 23
     
    An article about how AI can now predict where lightning will occur
katherine-medina

Sci-Hub | Dandelion Root and Lemongrass Extracts Induce Apoptosis, Enhance Chemotherape... - 1 views

sci-hub.ru/...31391857

Cancer-fighting dandelions potential research idea environmental HSR-2023

shared by katherine-medina on 04 Jun 23 - No Cached
    • katherine-medina
      katherine-medina on 04 Jun 23
       
      They found cancer cell-fighting properties in the dandelion root, lemon grass, long pepper, and hibiscus extract. (I should probably look into what makes these plants prone to killing cancer cells.)
    • katherine-medina
      katherine-medina on 04 Jun 23
       
      In order to further understand how these complex extracts exhibit their anticancer efects, the mechanism of apoptotic induction should be investigated. In order to determine if apoptosis is induced through oxidative stress, N-acetylcysteine (NAC) is used
    • katherine-medina
      katherine-medina on 04 Jun 23
       
      Okay, so they made sure to have a control group of cancer cells, then a group of healthy cells that are being experimented on with the liquid, then they had the cancer-ridden cells.
  • ...1 more annotation...
    • katherine-medina
      katherine-medina on 04 Jun 23
       
      s. Tus, we have shown for the frst time that these NHPs can be used as adjuvants to chemotherapies and potentially enhance their effect.
  • katherine-medina on 04 Jun 23
     
    I will likely come back to this if I so choose to look into how dandelion roots fight cancer.
  • Sean Nash on 04 Jun 23
     
    Yes. Another approach is often... once (if) you can find a suggested mechanism of action... you can often pivot with that action into looking for similar effects in other areas (doesn't have to be human or mammal cancer cells). That area isn't a no-go, but it does present feasibility issues to be tackled. If you can find a suggested mechanism, then you can think more widely about how else could you look to see if that effect can be leveraged in other areas. That is often how you can move toward an easily feasible model organism to test that effect on. Keep up the good work!
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