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Investigating the Effect of pH on Papain Enzyme Activity With Multiple Protein Substrates

Biochemistry

This project's aim was to identify the optimal pH (slightly acidic to neutral pH range: pH 5-pH7) at which the enzyme papain works efficiently in the digestion of the different protein subst…

Investigating the Effect of Qubit Type on Quantum Computing Viability

Physics and Astronomy

This experiment investigated the characteristics of the decoherence of qubits in photonic quantum computers and the effects of decoherence on the superimposed state of the qubit. Three diffe…

Investigating the Effects of Cannabidiol-Medium Chain Triglyceride Oil on Locomotion and Tap Withdrawal Response Using Caenorhabditis elegans as a Model for Alzheimer's Disease

Behavioral and Social Sciences Fourth Award

Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is the world’s leading cause of dementia in older populations, impacting more than 6 million individuals in the U.S. alone. Although FDA approved treatment has been…

Investigating the Effects of Carbon Dioxide and Temperature on Nannochloropsis oceanica Using a Hemocytometer Counting Method

Earth and Environmental Sciences

Climate changes that include ocean acidification and global warming are serious problems in the ecosystem, affecting marine phytoplankton, including Nannochloropsis oceanica. In the effort t…

CYSF · 2025

Investigating the Effects of Microplastics on Human Digestion using a simulated digestive system

This project explore how micro plastic interact with our digestive fluid we see if the micro plastic degrade, release harmful substances, or remain unchanged, to better understand their pote…

Investigating the Genes and Biochemical Pathway Responsible for Caffeine Production in Ilex vomitoria (Yaupon Holly)

Plant Sciences Fourth Award

Coffee and tea are among the world's most popular drinks, containing large quantities of caffeine, a central nervous system stimulant. Many plants have been shown to produce caffeine by usin…

CYSF · 2025

Investigating the Impact of Variable Conditions on CO₂ Capture with Calcium Hydroxide

Gold Medal

Using an solution of CA(OH)2 and water, we created a form to clean air with too much co2 and ture the polluted air into clean air.

Investigating the Infection Rates of Hector's Lantern Fish (Lampanyctodes hectoris) by the Copepod Parasite (Cardiodectes bellotti) and the Implications for Population Dynamics

Animal Sciences

Hector’s lantern fish (Lampanyctodes hectoris), a common mesopelagic species along the west coast, is known to be parasitized by the copepod Cardiodectes bellotti, which consumes its host’s…

Investigating the Influence of Coal Ash Heavy Metal Leachate on Thyroid Hormone Concentration, Hormone Receptor Gene Expression and Spectral Sensitivity in Danio rerio

Biomedical and Health Sciences Third Award

As global energy needs have skyrocketed in the past decade, energy byproduct has increased in tandem. Places like Mooresville, North Carolina; Pineville, Indiana; and southeastern Puerto Ric…

Investigating the Influence of Coal Ash Heavy Metal Leachate on Thyroid Hormone Concentration, Hormone Receptor Gene Expression, and Spectral Sensitivity in Danio Rerio

As global energy needs have skyrocketed in the past decade, energy byproduct has increased in tandem. Places like Mooresville, North Carolina; Pineville, Indiana; and southeastern Puerto Ric…

Investigating the Neuroprotective Potential of T. ammi Extract on Parkinson's Disease via Gut-Brain Modulation

Biomedical and Health Sciences

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a common neurodegenerative disease (NDD) that is characterized by the gradual loss of dopaminergic neurons and progressive motor impairment. Recent studies sugges…

Investigating the Oncolytic and Immunomodulatory Effects of Herpes Simplex Virus in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma

Translational Medical Science

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a highly aggressive cancer with poor prognosis, signifying a pressing need for novel therapeutic strategies. This study investigated the effect of…

Investigating the Optimal Pump Source for an Optical Quantum Computer Using Type-I Spontaneous Parametric Down-Conversion

Physics and Astronomy Fourth Award

This study’s goal was to determine which pump laser configuration would stimulate type-1 spontaneous parametric down-conversion (SPDC) in beta barium borate (BBO) crystals such that the numb…

Investigating the Origin of the Radius Cliff and Water Formation on Sub-Neptune Exoplanets

Physics and Astronomy

NASA's Kepler Mission has discovered over 5,800 exoplanets in our galaxy, revealing a puzzling phenomenon known as the "radius cliff." The "radius cliff" is a sharp decline in the number of…

Investigating the Pathogenesis of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Using Mutant Metal-Deficient SOD1 Protein

Biomedical and Health Sciences

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the progressive degeneration of motor neurons, leading to muscle weakness, paralysis, and ultimatel…

Investigating the Role of Ctr2 During Acute and Latent Stages of Toxoplasma gondii

Cellular and Molecular Biology

Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) is an obligate intracellular parasite that persistently infects the central nervous system (CNS) of up to a third of the world’s population. In the immune compe…

Investigating the Role of Intracellular pH in Aging Drosophila melanogaster Behavior

Cellular and Molecular Biology

Research showed significant changes in the brain of Drosophila melanogaster such as fewer stem cells and smaller brains after knocking out nhes in the brain. Nhes also affect a decline in ag…

Investigating the Role of Mutant CHCHD10 in ALS Pathogenesis Through Mouse Models

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disease that impacts motor neurons, leading to paralysis and death. Recent studies have identified mutations in the CHCHD10 gene as…

Investigating the Role of Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide Precursors in Pancreatic Cancer Prevention

Biochemistry

Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma (PDAC) remains one of the most lethal cancers with a significantly low 5-year survival rate. PDAC is typically diagnosed in individuals over 65, suggesting t…

Investigating the Synergistic Effect of Hesperidin and Fisetin on Aspergillus niger and Hippodamia convergens

Biochemistry

Pesticides are used in agriculture to deter plant pests and pathogens, but are known to have a detrimental effect on the environment and ecosystem because of their ability and frequency to k…

Investigating the Synergistic Effects of High-Fiber and Potassium-Enriched Diets on Anaerobic Decomposition and Methane Emissions in Cow Manure

Animal Sciences

The project targeted two specific nutrients types, fiber and potassium and see if it has a correlation with methane productivity in cow manure. The goal was to increase the targeted nutrient…

Investigating the Synergistic Role of IL-1BETA and TGF-BETA in Endothelial-to- Mesenchymal Transition in Coronary Artery Disease

Cellular and Molecular Biology

The endothelium, a layer of cells lining the inner wall of coronary arteries, contributes to blood hemostasis and healthy function of the heart. In coronary artery disease (CAD), endothelial…

Investigating the Synergistic Role of IL-1β and TGF-β in Endothelial-to- Mesenchymal Transition during Coronary Artery Disease

The endothelium, a layer of cells lining the inner wall of coronary arteries, contributes to blood hemostasis and healthy function of the heart. In coronary artery disease (CAD), endothelial…

Investigating Tissue Regeneration in Kalanchoe laetivirens (Mother of Thousands) Using Bioactive Compounds From Musa paradisiaca (Plantain) and Psidium guajava (Guava)

Plant Sciences

Crop damage caused by environmental stress and diseases pose a significant challenge to global food security and agricultural sustainability. Conventional chemical treatments can have harmfu…

Investigating Variations in E. Coli Post in Vivo Gut Colonization Model

Microbiology (inferred)

Pathogenic E. coli, particularly the globally prevalent sequence type 131 (ST131), poses a significant health threat, causing numerous infections annually. ST131 is an extended spectrum β-la…

Investigation of a Safer Treatment for Lung Cancer Using a Traditional Hawaiian Herb, Morinda citrifolia (Noni)

Translational Medical Science

Lung cancer remains the as the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide, with an estimated 124,730 deaths in the United States alone in 2025. The situation in Hawai?i is especially c…

Investigation of Potential Anti-Cancer Impacts of Coffee Bean-Derived Exosomes Through Anti-Proliferative and Apoptosis Inducing Effects on Melanoma Skin Cancer Cells via Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Signaling Pathway

Cellular and Molecular Biology Fourth Award

Epidemiological studies performed in large cohorts among different populations indicate a negative correlation between developing melanoma skin cancer and drinking coffee. While coffee’s pop…

Investigation of the Effect of Metformin, Sulfonylurea, and Galega officinalis on the Development of Oxidative Processes in Erythrocytes Under Insulin Resistance

Biomedical and Health Sciences

Diabetes is one of the most actual issues in today's world. 90% of 800 million diabetics have type 2 diabetes. In our experiment, we studied the Galega Officinnalis plant, which is used in t…

In vitro and in silico Retinal Models of Neurodevelopmental Disorders

Biomedical and Health Sciences First Award

Early diagnosis of neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) such as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) enables early intervention and is crucial fo…

In Vitro Approach to Identify Preclinical Drug Targets to Treat Glioblastoma Multiforme

Biomedical and Health Sciences (inferred)

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is a highly malignant and prevalent form of brain cancer that continues to be largely incurable despite advancements in treatment modalities. The 2-year surviva…