Jazz music is a unique American art form that has spread around the world. Iyer and Iyer study this spread through a computational sociology project examining how jazz popularity is correlated with postmaterialism (an ideology that values self-expression) and political activity.
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Exercise, grades, stress, and learning experiences during remote learning due to the COVID-19 pandemic
In this study, the authors survey middle and high school students in different states in the U.S. to evaluate stress levels, learning experiences, and activity levels during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Read More...Detergent pollutants decrease nutrient availability in soil
Household detergents have surfactants that can potentially harm the soil and broader ecosystems. In this study, the authors investigate whether eco-friendly and less-eco-friendly detergents affect soil pH, phosphorus, nitrogen, and potassium levels.
Read More...The effects of different modes of vocalization and food consumption on the level of droplet transmission of bacteria
Microbial agents reposnsible for respiratory infections are often carried in spittle, which means they can be easily transmitted. Here, the authors investigate how likely certain activities are to spread microbes carried in spittle. They also investigate whether eating certain types of food might reduce the spread of spittle-borne bacteria too.
Read More...Singlet oxygen production analysis of reduced berberine analogs via NMR spectroscopy
Berberine is a natural product isoquinoline alkaloid derived from plants of the genus Berberis. When exposed to photoirradiation, it produces singlet oxygen through photosensitization of triplet oxygen. Through qNMR analysis of 1H NMR spectra gathered through kinetic experiments, we were able to track the generation of a product between singlet oxygen and alpha terpinene, allowing us to quantitatively measure the photosensitizing properties of our scaffolds.
Read More...Impact of Soil Productivity on the Growth of Two Meyer Lemon Trees
Here, the authors aimed to apply home soil testing to identify the cause of the growth differences between two lemon trees. They hypothesized that differences in physical and chemical soil characteristics were influencing differences in soil productivity and plant growth. Overall, the study demonstrated the effectiveness of home soil testing to characterize soils and help homeowners solve common gardening problems.
Read More...Giving Teens a Voice: Sources of Stress for High School Students
The authors investigate the negative effects stress has on teen mental and physical health. Through a survey, they give Virginia teens a voice in revising the Health and Physical Education curriculum to include a standards of learning (SOL). Notably they identify factors contributing to stress levels including homework level, amount of free and sleep time, parental pressure and family encouragement.
Read More...Examining the relationship between screen time and achievement motivation in an adolescent population
In this study, the authors conduct a survey of high school students to evaluate the effects of screen time and habits on motivation.
Read More...Physical Appearance and Its Effect on Trust
Do different physical traits affect teenagers’ initial trust of an unknown person? Would they give greater trust to women and people of similar ethnicity? To test these hypotheses, the authors developed a survey to determine the sets of physical characteristics that affect a person's trustworthiness. They found that gender and expression were the main physical traits associated with how trustworthy an individual looks, while ethnicity was also important.
Read More...The Feasibility of Mixed Reality Gaming as a Tool for Physical Therapy Following a Spinal Cord Injury
Physical therapy, especially for patients with spinal cord injuries, can be a difficult and tedious experience. This can result in negative health outcomes, such as patients dropping out of physical therapy or developing additional health problems. In this study, the authors develop and test a potential solution to these challenges: a mixed reality game called Skyfarer that replaces a standard physical therapy regimen with an immersive experience that can be shared with their friends and family. The findings of this study suggest that mixed reality games such as Skyfarer could be effective alternatives to conventional physical therapy.
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