Second Award
A robot control system was developed that could be taught tasks through reinforcement learning. The system, nicknamed “Fido”, was designed to be universal regardless of inputs and outputs, r…
Second Award
Both biochar and layered double hydroxides (LDH) have received substantial attention for their abilities to adsorb chemical contaminants, yet little research has been reported on LDH/biochar…
Second Award
Buildings consume 30-40% of the global energy produced today. A large portion of building energy is used by HVAC systems to overcome energy lost from buildings through windows. Studies show…
Second Award
A primary neuropathological hallmark of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the overabundant extracellular aggregation of the amyloid-beta (aß) peptide 1-42 as amyloid plaques. Prior research sugges…
Second Award
Around 1.6 million people die annually from lung cancer--about 3 every minute. The survival time of undiagnosed extended/late stage small cell lung cancer (SCLC), the most fatal lung cancer…
Second Award
Thermotaxis, the directional motion of an organism towards specific temperatures, has been observed in several species of bacteria. Quantitative studies of thermotaxis in bacteria however ha…
Second Award
The obligate self-pollination aspect in mature Lactuca sativa (lettuce) plants impedes the propagation of traits of commercial interest and makes crossbreeding difficult and tedious. The pur…
Second Award
This study provides a low-cost and high-yield method for fabricating nanosized gas bubbles. By purging pure nitrogen gas into de-ionized (DI) water together with a sonication treatment, I su…
Second Award
The purpose of this project was to design and build a low cost, simple to use solar water pasteurization transportation system and novel visual aid, capable of inactivating E.Coli and removi…
Translational Medical Science
Second Award
The goal of the project was to identify effective targeted drugs for inhibiting Protein Glucose Transporter 1 (GLUT1). Findings would be a big step towards curing cancer. GLUT1 transports gl…
Second Award
Cancer therapies have limitations of selectively delivering cancer-killing agents to cancer cells. After studying apoptosis reactions, I unearthed novel enzymes, Caspase-9 and Cytochrome-C,…
Second Award
Invasive macroalgae impacts coasts, ecosystems, and communities on a global scale, but utilizing this wasteful substance can fulfill future demands and need for sustainable resources. The gr…
Second Award
In countries with an unpaid and voluntary blood donation system, most donations are collected in blood drives arranged by mobile blood collection units. Optimizing the utilization of these u…
Second Award
Space debris emerges as an imminent threat to space vehicles in low earth orbit. Tracking space debris beforehand to alert spacecraft of a threat to maneuver spacecraft away from a collision…
Second Award
Drug resistant malarial parasites and inability to monitor patient response to treatment kill nearly a million people every year. Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) is a highly sensit…
Energy: Sustainable Materials and Design
Second Award
Approximately 80-90% of Americans develop allergic reactions upon contact with poison oak or poison ivy. The allergen in both of these plants is a molecule known as urushiol, which binds to…
Second Award
Nearly 40% of people age 65 and older have at least one disability; of those, two-thirds have difficulty walking. Wheelchairs can help people who have a hard time walking, but they are diffi…
Second Award
Deep Learning has recently emerged as an effective machine learning technique that specializes in recognizing abstract patterns in large volumes of data. It has been very successful in vario…
Second Award
Streptococcus pneumoniae (MDRSp) has become multi-drug resistant. WHO lists it as the leading cause of child mortality globally. In developing countries, MDRSp causes 25-30% of child deaths.…
Second Award
The goal of this project is to design a low-cost earthquake early warning solution (Quakify) to provide adequate warning prior to hazardous ground shaking in a location. Harnessing the power…
Second Award
Extended spectrum beta-lactamase producing (ESBL) bacteria are resistant to virtually all antibiotics, including carbapenems which are often considered the antibiotics of last resort, and ne…
Translational Medical Science
Second Award
Preterm infants are at a high risk of developing diffuse white matter injury (DWMI) after chronic hypoxia. DWMI is a leading cause of permanent neurodevelopmental disabilities and has been l…
Second Award
This project addresses the design of shape-shifting robots, which can transform into any desired shape. A deformable robot was assembled, consisting of triangular 3D-printed flaps. The flaps…
Translational Medical Science
Second Award
Sericin is a protein found in silk produced by the silkworm (Bombyx mori) that may be useful as a growth promoter in cultured animal cells. Existing extraction methods require thermal denatu…
Second Award
After a heavy rainfall, beaches are closed and swimming is prohibited. Sewers fill to capacity and are unable to handle the combined sanitary and storm water; thereby causing water to overfl…
Second Award
The increasing drug resistance among Gram-positive bacteria such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has become a growing threat and thus the necessity for novel antibacter…
Second Award
The health of water in a karst system stems from the interaction between ground and surface water. Within the Ozark Highland region many people rely upon springs for their water. Unfortunate…
Second Award
The purpose of this project is to determine the applications of automated peristaltic pumping systems in high school classrooms and other chemistry laboratories. A lack of affordable, accura…
Second Award
The dangers of infected, non-healing acute and chronic wounds are a major medical concern. This study observed the synergistic effects of the non-ionizing radiation of near infrared (NIR) li…
Second Award
Autism Spectrum Disorder affects one in sixty-eight children in the United States and awareness and coordination of the two sides of the body, known as mid-line awareness is a common issue.…