Greater Kansas City Science & Engineering Fair – SR DIV

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Senior Division

Senior Division

Animal Science

Effect of Differing Light Levels on Infantile Sea Cucumber Growth

Senior Division

Animal Science Jude Stapf Grade 12 Olathe North SR-AS-001

Various types of pollution plague the oceans and effect the wildlife. This process is only getting worse and worse as time goes on.

This is leading to the ocean being filled with so many chemicals that the coloration of the water is getting darker. This is obviously affecting the wildlife poorly. Due to the darker waters, animals are starting to be deprived of light and are either changing or going extinct. Sea Cucumbers are found all over the ocean and are a very resilient species.

They, however, were still affected by changes in light. Of the Sand Sea Cucumbers tested with constant bright light, normal day and night light and total darkness, the Sea Cucumbers with a standard day and night cycle grew at a normal rate while the Sea Cucumbers in darkness or in constant light showed slower rates of growth over the testing period but not a complete stoppage.

Senior Division

Animal Science Kaitlynn Timmons Grade 12 Olathe North SR-AS-002

The Effect of Varying Salinities on Blue Reef Chromis Fish Growth The purpose of this experiment is to test the effect of water salinity has on the growth of Blue Reef Chromis fish. To do this experiment, there will be 3 tanks set up that all have varying salinities. One tank will have a high salinity, another at a low salinity, and the last tank being the control tank which will stay at average salinities for marine fish. There will be 6 fish total in the experiment, and they will be equally divided into the 3 tanks. I hypothesizes that the fish in the lower salinity tank will have a higher growth rate than the fish in the higher salinity tank.

Senior Division

Animal Science Quinton Mindrup Grade 12 Olathe North SR-AS-003

The effect of Temperature on North American Canid range percentage increase or decrease This study was concerned about the reducing size of the North American range of Canis Lupus (the gray wolf), the increase of Canis Latranis (the coyote), and Vulpes (the foxes) as a base do to them holding a range of the whole continent and how temperature may be a main factor in these changes of range. The current ranges and the range these canids held was found going back every decade, 2020 until 1900. These were then graphed to see the trend of their increase or decrease. The Gray wolf had a reduction of a little over 17% of its range and the Coyote expanded its range by a little over 62% of its range. Next the average global temperatures were found for current going back every decade, 2000 till 1900. Once all the data is put together the current rate if temperature increase is found and A prediction for global Temperature is made every decade till 2050. From 1900 to 2000 average global temperature has risen by about 1.39F with the gray wolf losing a little over 14% of its range by 2000 and the coyote gaining a little over 62% of its previous range by 2000. If global temperature is to rise by 1.175F by 2050 the range that both have lost or gained will almost double in half just half a century compared to what took a whole century to do.

Senior Division

Animal Science Natalie Warren Grade 12 Olathe North SR-AS-004

The Use of Manipulatives to Measure Octopus Intelligence The purpose of the experiment is to study the intelligence of an octopus by using manipulatives to have the octopus perform various tasks such as opening jars or going through mazes to obtain food. By using manipulates tasks will be preformed more efficiently and in shorter increments of time.

For the procedure you first need to set up a tank that's suitable for housing the octopus. A 75 gallon tank is the minimum needed and it should have a external sump, a protein skimmer, a sealable lid to prevent escape, fine sand, and hiding places to provide enrichment. Next the octopus should start being fad at specific times each day to have it start getting used to the care taker. Once the octopus starts getting acclimated start putting food in puzzles such as putting food into a jar and sealing it with a cork or a maze using tank safe hamster tubes. Collect data by timing how long it takes for the octopus to obtain the food. continue doing that until the data becomes consistent then increase the difficulty such as putting the jar into a another jar or increasing the difficulty of the maze.

The role of the NKG2D Ligand H60a in diabetes development in the non-obese diabetes (NOD) mouse model

Senior Division

Animal Science Megan Mueller Grade 12

SMSD Biotechnology Program SR-AS-005

Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) is an autoimmune disease caused by the selfdestruction of the pancreatic β islet cells. This destruction results in a lack of insulin, which is needed by the body for digestive properties. The drivers of this autoimmune disease are T cells. To observe why T cells behave this way, we turn to Natural Killer Group 2D (NKG2D) because it signals on T cells and could be important. The endogenous ligand of NKG2D in the nonobese diabetic (NOD) mouse is the H60a ligand present in the pancreas.

Previous studies in the Markiewicz lab indicate that when H60a is knocked out, the resultant mice have an increased rate of diabetes. These results are inconsistent and have shown that the reason for the inconsistencies is due to complications with NKG2D in the microbiota. The purpose of this study is to introduce a new experiment to better determine the role of NKG2D via the H60a ligand in the non-obese diabetic (NOD) mouse by observing how removing the endogenous ligand, H60a, functions differently than artificially producing it. Spleens, pancreases, and pancreatic lymph nodes were removed from mice and different cell populations were obtained through magnetic bead labeling and flow cytometry. Using flow cytometry, immune cells in WT and KO are to be characterized. This study is critical as it is important to determine how NKG2D signaling protects from autoimmune diabetes.

Senior Division

Animal Science Breannah Pace Grade 12 Van Horn High School SR-AS-006

The Development of a Novel Suturing Device for Veterinary Applications Veterinarians use many different types of sutures in their day-to-day practice.

However, veterinarian suturing can sometimes be a long, timeconsuming process. In this project, the development of a novel suturing device that expedites suturing for veterinarians was explored.

Senior Division

Animal Science Laura Hill Ahlanna Rutherford Grade 9 West Platte High School SR-AS-007-T

What Chicks Want This project studies the effects of differently colored feed on chickens’ attraction to certain colors. It is estimated that 101.5 billion kilograms are consumed each year. As the population continues to grow, the demand for chicken, as well as eggs, is continuing to increase. The hypothesis states that if the color of chick feed changes, then the amount of feed eaten by the chicks will change. The five-day old Buff Orpington chicks will be placed into a container with four separate containers of feed. Each feed container will be filled with food dyed a different color (red, blue, green, and one left natural) and will have been weighed in grams prior to being placed in the cage. The chicks will be left for 24 hours with easy access to all of the four containers. After 24 hours, the feed containers will be removed and reweighed.

The end weights of the feed and containers will be subtracted from the initial weights, which will show the amount of feed the chicks have consumed in one day. The average amount of each color of feed consumed in a day will be calculated and recorded. A statistical analysis will be completed on the data to determine if the hypothesis was supported.

Senior Division

Behavioral & Social Science

Senior Division

Behavioral and Social Sciences Leah Cooper Grade 12 Van Horn High School SR-BE-002

Once Upon a Time: The Effect of Demographic Influences on Nursery Rhyme and Fairy Tale Recognition and Understanding Fairy tales have long been used by educators to help students understand a concept by way of analogies or similes/metaphors. For example, an educator wanting students to follow clues may say “follow the breadcrumbs” from the fairy tale “Hansel & Gretel.”

However, this analogy is meaningless to students who are not familiar with fairy tales.

Elementary teachers in the KC region have been noticing a decrease in fairy tale recognition and understanding by their students in the past few years.

In this study, the effect of demographic influences on fairy tale recognition and understanding were explored.

Senior Division

Chemical Energy

Senior Division

Chemical Energy Emma Nyhus Grade 12 Olathe North SR-CE-001

Efficiency of Hydrogen Fuel Cells vs. Gasoline Powered Engines The purpose of project is to explore clean energy sources with an emphasis on hydrogen fuel cells. I will create a simple form of a fuel cell and record the amount of energy it produces, and compare it to how a typical gasoline engine works and the amount of energy it produces. I'm expecting that the gasoline engine will produce more harmful emissions and byproducts than the hydrogen, but will produce more energy per unit.

Using Calcium Ions to Increase Starch Hydrolization Efficiancy in Biofuel Production Applications

Senior Division

Chemical Energy Alliyah Tripp Grade 12 Van Horn High School SR-CE-003

To produce biofuel, organic matter is processed using four stages of bacterial fermentation: hydrolysis, acidogenesis, acetogenesis, and methanogenesis. During the hydrolysis stage, bacteria produce enzymes, Îąamylases, that break down macromolecules like starch into simple sugars, amino acids, and fatty acids.

These Îą-amylases are metalloenzymes and require calcium ions for their activity and stability.

However, there has not been significant research on how adjusting calcium levels during the hydrolysis stage of biofuel production would affect the overall hydrolysis conversion efficiency. In this study, the effect of varying calcium concentrations during the hydrolyzation of starch was explored using Bacillus megaterium bacterium.

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Senior Division

Chemistry

Senior Division

Chemistry

Will Euwer & William Finke Grade 11 West Platte High School SR-CH-003-T

Lead Astray This project studied the effects of different types of filter media on the parts per million of lead filtered out of a water solution. Thousands of children are harmed by lead poisoning every year. Filtering the lead out of the water is the most affordable way to deal with this, but there are many different kinds of filters. The hypothesis was if the type of filter media changes, then the parts per million of lead in the water solution will change. The filters tested were KDF 85, Water Softener Resin, Coconut Fiber, and Zeolite. 50 mL of standard lead solution were placed into the buret. A funnel containing folded filter paper and 5 grams of the filter media was placed under the tip of the buret, where it would funnel the solution into a beaker. The standard lead solution was allowed to go through the filter media until the beaker reached 30 mL. The solution in the beaker was then transferred to a test tube, where it was tested with a lead detection strip. Over 5 trials of each media, the average parts per million of lead for the KDF 85 was 20ppm. The average for Water Softener Resin was also 20 ppm. The average for Coconut Fiber was 50ppm. The average for Zeolite was 32ppm. The data collected supports the hypothesis.

The Effect of Compound Acryl-DiFiD on Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma UM-SCC-1

Senior Division

Chemistry

Juan Pineda Gomez Grade 12 SMSD Biotechnology Program SR-CH-005

Cancer is one of the most prominent diseases today. In 2018, there were 17 million new cases and cancer accounted for 9.5 million deaths worldwide. Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is the sixth most common cancer and accounts for 300,000 deaths per year worldwide. Additionally, HNSCC is very aggressive in nature and patients suffer from high mortality and morbidity despite advancing therapeutics. With such a complex issue presented to researchers worldwide, it is sometimes easier to break it down into smaller parts by attacking cancer’s hallmarks. Two important hallmarks of cancer are its ability to undergo unlimited replication and form colonies and to activate invasion and metastasis. Further, DCLK1 is a protein that has been linked to tumor growth and progression and has been marked as a cancer stem cell marker. DiFiD, a derivative of curcumin, has been shown to inhibit DCLK1 and have potent antitumor effects. In this experiment, we investigated a DiFiD analog’s effects on HNSCC. Acryl-DiFiD significantly reduced the invasion and migration of HNSCC in vitro. Furthermore, colony formation assays demonstrated the potent long-term effects of acryl-DiFiD on HNSCC. Acryl-DiFiD treated HNSCC cell line UM-SCC-1 showed reduced DCLK1 expression via immunoblot, indicating a molecular target for acryl-DiFiD. Overall, acryl-DiFiD is showing promising results as a potential therapeutic agent and is a good step in helping the many people affected by HNSCC.

Senior Division

Computational Science, Bioinformatics & Mathematics

A 3D Deep Learning Neural Network System for the Automatic Early Identification of FDG Avid Lung Carcinomas Fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) avidity is recognized as an important risk factors in determining the risk posed lung carcinomas. Though early detection has potentially lifesaving benefits, the increased sensitivity to small lesions Senior Division can also lead to increased false positive results. Fully 3D deep learning algorithms can have slow convergence and can be difficult to efficiently code. This study will investigate a novel 3D deep-learning algorithm that utilizes 3, 2D orthogonal maximum intensity projection views to create a 3D probability of FDG avidity.

This project developed a deep learning neural network for risk categorization of lung nodules. This neural network will consist of at least: one input layer of PET/CT scans, a hidden regional convolution neural network (R-CNN), a second hidden layer for flattening, other hidden layers as necessary optimize the neural network. The output layer has two or more nodes: positive nodule, negative density, background. During the training phase, 120 FDG positive nodules and approximately 100 FDG negative densities from the Reference Image Database to Evaluate Therapy Response (RIDER) were used to train the neural network. The accuracy of the model was then tested in approximately 25 patients from The Cancer Imaging Archive (TCIA).

A preliminary design of the neural network was tested to confirm it could learn for a set of 20,000 images of cats and dogs. In this test, it was confirmed that the neural network was capable of improving its identification of cats and dogs and had achieved an accuracy of 80% after 500 epochs.

Computational Science, Bioinformatics and Mathematics

Katrina Case Grade 11 Pembroke Hill SR-CM-001

Senior Division

Computational Science, Bioinformatics and Mathematics

Abihith Kothapalli Grade 11 Blue Valley West SR-CM-003

A Machine Learning Based Diagnostic Tool for Early Detection of Colorectal Cancer Colorectal cancer (CRC) is not only one of the most common non-sexspecific cancers, but also one of the most deadly. There is thus the need to develop more comprehensive and less invasive methods to diagnose CRC. Previous studies have established the role of the human gut microbiome in CRC carcinogenesis and progression. In this study, the efficacy of gut microbiome data in detecting CRC was investigated.

This was done using six publicly available datasets, comprising a total of 621 gut microbiomes. Utilizing robust feature selection methods, a total of 121 potential biomarkers for CRC were identified and were subsequently used to develop machine learning models for the detection of CRC. To evaluate the predictive capabilities of evaluate the predictive capabilities of these models, the area under the curve (AUC) of the receiver operating characteristic curve and the accuracy on testing data was calculated. The top performing model in this study was a random forest model, obtaining an AUC of 0.9238 and an accuracy of 90.16%. Ultimately, this paper demonstrates the viability of metagenomics data in machine learning to enable the development of a diagnostic tool for the early detection of CRC, facilitating improvements in both treatments and patient prognosis for CRC. Moreover, this study represents one of the largest meta-analyses of metagenomic data performed to date. In the future, further investigation of relationships between the biomarkers identified in this study and the pathogenesis of CRC could aid in understanding the etiology of CRC and gaining insight into potential therapeutic targets for CRC.

A Deep Learning Neural Network Predicting the International Spread of COVID-19

Senior Division

Computational Science, Bioinformatics and Mathematics

Caleb Lim Grade 11 Olathe North SR-CM-004

COVID - 19 is a novel strain of coronavirus that is currently an “international public health emergency�. First identified at the end of 2019 in Wuhan, China. COVID - 19 is a highly contagious pandemic that, at the time of this writing, has infected more than 75,000 people worldwide, with the majority of cases being in China, and has led to over 2,000 deaths. There is currently no vaccine or cure for the novel coronavirus, and much is unknown about its transmissibility, severity, and characteristics. Thus, containing the spread of The coronavirus is of primary importance to the global community. Predicting where the coronavirus will spread will allow for more effective containment measures, as well as provide knowledge that could help with understanding the virus and potentially developing a cure. To address these problems, I hope to use a hybrid neural network model on coronavirus data to accurately predict the geographical spread of the coronavirus. Various neural networks regression models will be used to analyze public coronavirus data made available by John Hopkins University. As new data is coming in by the daily, the findings of this research are still being explored. However, I anticipate that the LSTM neural network will have the best performance at predicting the geographical spread of the coronavirus.

Through this research, a better understanding of how COVID - 19 spreads can be achieved, which may aid with containment efforts and increase our understanding of the virus.

Senior Division

Computational Science, Bioinformatics and Mathematics

Khushi Kohli Grade 11 Olathe North SR-CM-005

An Optimized Molecular Docking Protocol Targeting Mushashi RNA-Binding Proteins for Cancer Drug Design Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) is a deadly blood cancer in which abnormal blast cells crowd out healthy blood cells in bone marrow. Although AML is the most common adult leukemia, its survival rate remains 27.4%. The Musashi 2 (MSI2) protein, which regulates stem cell division, is necessary for AML progression and a promising drug target for AML targeted therapy. But due to its high flexibility as an RNA-binding protein (RBP), this “undruggable� protein lacks well-defined binding pockets.

This presents significant challenges to conventional virtual screening that uses rigid-body docking calculations to evaluate binding affinities of MSI2 inhibitors, rendering RBP inhibitor design incredibly difficult. Because RBPs undergo extensive conformational changes upon ligand binding, it is likely that incorporating protein flexibility in docking will improve accuracy. In this study, rigid-body, flexible, and ensemble docking protocols were evaluated with known MSI2 inhibitors using its X-Ray and NMR structures. Ten actives and 1453 decoys of MSI2 were collected for retrospective docking using AutoDock. Docking performance was assessed through Enrichment Factors and area under Receiver Operating Characteristic curves (AUC).

Significantly improved performance was achieved using ensemble docking with optimized rigid-body docking parameters and the NMR structure, while enabling flexibility of target site residues of the NMR structure did not always improve performance. These findings suggest reasonable incorporation of receptor flexibility is essential for accurate docking of RBPs, including MSI2.

The optimized docking protocol for this challenging class of drug targets is expected to advance novel drug lead discovery for a broad spectrum of diseases.

Senior Division

Computational Science, Bioinformatics and Mathematics

Samuel Liu Grade 11 Olathe North SR-CM-008

Association of Organic Food Consumption and Cancer Risk: A Meta-Analysis Organic food is often consumed with the belief that it results in better health outcomes, including a lower incidence of cancer. Organic foods are less likely to contain pesticide residues than conventional foods, however, few studies have examined the association of organic food consumption with cancer risk. This study aims to identify differences in cancer incidence in individuals who consume organic food vs. confirmed pesticide free food vs. likely pesticide free food vs. normal diet through use of any clinically available questionnaire differentiating eating habits in association with organic food. This is going to be in the healthy adult population as defined as individuals >= 18 years of age.

A 13 word search term was entered into PubMed database and 246 hits came back for 12 viable studies. Inclusion criteria: Any prospective or retrospective cohort study that relates to cancer incidence as a function of diet due to pesticide exposure and/or organic food consumption. No regional exclusions apply. Exclusion criteria: Age of study (pre-1974 - No roundup), Patient must be >= 18 years of age, Articles must be written in English. Researchers will review by hand the search strategy and manual exclusions. Published hazard ratios will be collected, pooled, & analyzed in a random effects model using inverse variance weighting. 229 unique publications were found which represented 63 unique studies; of those, 21 were observational cohort studies and 12 were included. Higher organic food scores were inversely associated with overall risk of cancer, breast cancer, colorectal cancer, and lymphoma.

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Senior Division

Earth & Environmental Sciences

Senior Division

Earth and Environmental Sciences

Luke Heili Grade 11 West Platte High School SR-EA-001

Salty Shrimp This project studied the effects of different salts on the heart rates of Palaemonetes kadiakensis in beats per minute. Every year the United States uses millions of metric tons of salt for deicing its roads. After application, these salts end up in our environment.

The types of salt being compared in this experiment were sodium chloride (NaCl), potassium chloride (KCl), calcium chloride (CaCl2), and magnesium chloride (MgCl2). The hypothesis states that if the type of salt changes, then the heart rates of the Palaemonetes kadiakensis will change. A 100 ppm solution of each salt was prepared and ten Palaemonetes kadiakensis were placed in each, along with ten placed in water with no added salts. To find the heart rates, each Palaemonetes kadiakensis was removed from its aquarium and placed on a petri dish underneath a dissection microscope. The heart rates were measured for five seconds and multiplied by twelve to calculate the beats per minute. The average heart rate after three days for the four surviving Palaemonetes kadiakensis placed in NaCl solution was 186 bpm. The average for the eight surviving in the CaCl2 solution was 183 bpm. The average for those placed in the MgCl2 solution was 211.2 bpm. The average for the nine surviving in water with no salts added was 217.3 bpm. None of the Palaemonetes kadiakensis placed in the KCl solution survived to be tested after three days. The statistics applied to the data collected indicated that the hypothesis was supported.

Senior Division

Earth and Environmental Sciences

Talle Hawes Grade 12 SMSD Biotechnology Program SR-EA-002

The effects of vaping on Sf9 cells In the U.S. over 3.6 million middle and high schoolers use vapes (Moritz 2019). There are many presumptions that say vaping can lead to many problems including cancer. This study starts off by making the model of the lung. The lung has a chamber that holds cells that will be treated with the vape. Later on Drosophila melanogaster cells also known as S2 cells will be used for toxicity testing. These cells will be put into the lung chamber and be hit with a Juul. The Juul is connected to a timer that runs in increments of 5 second (5 on, 5 off) until the entire pod has been used.

The Comparison and Analysis of Forecast Model Data to Upper Air Surroundings

Senior Division

Earth and Environmental Sciences

Grace Hansen Grade 12 Olathe North SR-EA-006

The purpose of the project is to better understand the difference between model data and balloon data, specifically temperature and dew point. The researcher used Excel and coding to retrieve the temperature over a three month period between January and March of 2020 from the Topeka National Weather Service station. The researcher then coded and took Bufkit data for the same period to compare the Bufkit model data. The data was determined to be statistically significant after a t-test was conducted, and with a difference between the projected and observed values of -22.538, it was concluded that there was a need for advancement in forecast capabilities and a more exact model.

Senior Division

Earth and Environmental Sciences

Liv Hart Grade 12 Olathe North SR-EA-007

The Effect of Temperature on Shear Wave Velocity This project is over temperature’s effect on a soil's shear wave velocity.

The project contains between 4-6 soil samples that are each frozen or refrigerated based on the time of year they were collected. half of the soil samples are clay samples and the other half are silty/loamy samples. The wave velocity is tested by placing the soil on a sand sample that is proportional to a 2:1 ratio so that there is twice as much sand as there is to soil. The sand, layered underneath the soil, will act as support for the soils being tested. The soil will be placed on top of the sand and a weighted object placed on top. The whole structure will then be shaken with the displacement of the object being measured appropriately.

Senior Division

Earth and Environmental Sciences

Christopher Ray Grade 12 Olathe North SR-EA-008

The Effects of Sand Mines on Nearby Groundwater Quality Sand mines in Kansas are generally made by digging a vast hole in the ground in a sandy river bank. These holes are then filled with water and sand is vacuumed out using a dredge line. This raises a concern for groundwater near the mine because the water in this pit will not be filtered through the ground as well as it should be. The aim for this project is to determine if this concern is valid by testing for contaminants and water quality issues such as heavy metals the pesticide atrazine, ph levels, etc in groundwater near a sand mine in Shawnee Kansas . The expected results are raised levels of contaminants in groundwater near the sand mine compared to the reference groundwater.

Senior Division

Earth and Environmental Sciences

Lincoln Schick Grade 12 Olathe North SR-EA-009

The Effect of Temperature on Hominid Body Mass Climate change will impact many of the planet’s species in a variety of ways; however, according to Bergmann’s rule, it may even change animals’ size.

In order to see if temperature changes over time result in a change in body size, I hypothesized that if the body mass of various hominids is measured over time, then their mass will increase as global temperatures decrease because a bigger body size has a more favorable surface area to volume ratio for colder climates. Hominid species were used because a large sample of 3D scanned specimens over a long period of time was needed, and this was not possible with other animals. To test the hypothesis, 3D scans of various hominid species were downloaded, and their bones were measured. Using established equations, these bone measurements were converted to body mass. This allows for comparison of multiple hominid species over several million years. If a negative relationship between temperature and body mass is found, this would suggest that contemporary climate change would eventually result in a decline of many animals’ size.

The Efficiency of Sea Wall Design on the Reduction of Damages from Natural Disasters

Senior Division

Earth and Environmental Sciences

Isley Hunter Grade 12 Olathe North SR-EA-010

The experiment is to create a wall that can withstand both a hurricane and a tsunami, helping in reducing the amount of flooding caused by these natural phenomena.

This experiment is a series of small experiments testing both the material that should be used for the wall and the shape the wall should be in. The materials that will be tested are timber, concrete, steel, and stone. Each material will go through three tests. The first will test if the material can withstand hurricane wind-speeds and which can withstand wind erosion the best. The second test will see how well each material can handle being Submerged in saltwater for long periods of time, for part of the wall would be submerged. And the third test will identify the strongest material in order to resist powerful hurricane winds and heavy tsunami waves. The shapes of the wall that will be tested are rectangular, triangular, and trapezoidal.

Each will be made from balsa wood sticks. The first test will test the shapes’ stability and see how well they would stand during earthquakes. And the second test will test which shape can hold the most weight, for the wall will not only have its own weight but the weight of the ocean against it during tsunamis. If all these experiments are performed, the researcher hypothesizes that the best material for the wall will be concrete and the best shape for the wall will be trapezoidal.

Senior Division

Earth and Environmental Sciences

Alex Murphy Grade 12 Olathe North SR-EA-011

The Structural Integrity of Home Design to Withstand Hurricane Strength Winds The purpose of my project is to test what materials are the strongest against hurricane strength winds, to keep people in hurricane prevalent areas safe. For my procedure I have gathered materials and set up my testing area. I will then use a power washer to simulate hurricane winds to see what materials are best suited for those conditions.

Senior Division

Earth and Environmental Sciences

Cameron Pena Grade 12 Olathe North SR-EA-012

The Effects of Ocean Acidification on Mussel Shells The experiment conducted tests the effects pH have on saltwater mussel shells. The different effects were measured by changes in mass of the shells. Changes in appearance such as color was also monitored. This is done to see if the pH affected the calcium carbonate structure.

The liquid used to lower the pH of the water was white distilled vinegar. And a pH buffer was used to raise the pH. There will be 4 different tanks. Each tank contained a different pH. Tank 1 contained a pH of 3.5. Tank 2 had a pH of 5.5. Tank 3 contained 7.5 as the pH. And lastly, Tank 4 (constant) had a pH of 8.3 similar to the ocean's normal pH. The tanks were monitored daily to ensure the pH of the water was constantly at its entitled pH. The shells were weighed and examined weekly.

It was found that the shells with the biggest changes were found in Tank 1 and 2. The experiment resulted in bigger changes in mass and appearances with the shells in tanks that were more acidic than the basic tanks. This experiment was conducted to understand how ocean acidification is a grand deteriorating factor to bicarbonate shelled organisms.

Senior Division

Earth and Environmental Sciences Yan Tar Na Oo Francisco Lopez Grade 11 Lincoln College Prepatory Academy SR-EA-013-T

Floating Garden Challenge According to national geographic, floods are the single most occurring natural disasters that are reputable for nearly $40 billion in damage annually and have a death toll of about 100 people each year. Urban areas can most notably be seen on the news with high amounts of floating debris drifting about causing health concerns to the community. For the past couple of years, debris was an issue faced by many people around the world -- especially for people living in urban areas. However, many people used this problem to their advantage by building floating gardens. The prominence of floating gardens came about thanks to the Aztecs. The Aztec culture used floating gardens, also known as chinampas to the Aztecs, as a means of cultivation using lake beds and other watery areas previously thought to bare little or no vegetation. Using wood, a plant container, a Styrofoam sheet, a plastic sheet, 2 lettuce plants, and fertilizer we created a floating plant as inspired by the Aztec culture’s chinampas. We then placed the floating plant on the Missouri River and recorded its growth rate. This was done to compare to the growth rate of a lettuce plant recorded on land. We found that lettuce grows faster and produces healthier plants in the water solution that had been mixed with soil during the cold season. Plants grow better in less pure water than they would in distilled water due to minerals that remained in the water after it had been mixed with soil.

Senior Division

Earth and Environmental Sciences

Marianna Ward Grade 12 SMSD Biotechnology Program SR-EA-014

The degradation of Polystyrene from Galleria mellonella, Zophobas atratus, and Heretica illucens Plastics have accumulated in the environment due to low degradation rates of hydrocarbon bonds. In 2016, 335 million tons of plastic was produced worldwide. In 2017, Galleria mellonella (waxworms) were observed to have the ability of digesting and degrading polyethylene. Galleria mellonella are hypothesized to have the ability to digest plastic because of their tendency to eat beeswax, which is similar in chemical structure to plastic. A different worm Zophobas atratus (super worms) demonstrates the ability to degrade polystyrene, another commonly used plastic. In previous studies, antibiotics have inhibited the ability of superworms to degrade polystyrene. In this study, the superworms were treated with a probiotic to observe the effect a probiotic had on degradation rates. Hermetia illucens (Black Soldier Fly) are vermicomposters that are capable of digesting food and organic waste. For the first time the ability of black soldier fly larvae to degrade polystyrene were observed and recorded. The black soldier fly has a high protein content and can be used as an animal feed.

This experiment looks at the possibility of using black soldier flies as a way to process food and polystyrene waste, and the producing of these worms on a large scale as a way to feed livestock, to support the growing population.

Senior Division

Earth and Environmental Sciences Coy Taylor & Victoria Norman Grade 12 West Platte High School SR-EA-015-T

Oils Well That Ends Well This project studied the effects of active ingredients in dish detergent on the amount of time that water and oil take to separate in seconds. In 2010 for 87 days, an estimated 4.9 million barrels of oil leaked into the Gulf of Mexico (Hoch, 2010). Scientists continue to look for the best formula in detergents to help clean up affected oceans and wildlife from oil spills. The experiment compared plant-based (“green�) dish detergents to traditional dish detergents. The hypothesis states as the active ingredients within dish detergent changes, then the amount of time that water and oil take to separate will change. The detergents were compared by mixing 18 mL of distilled water and 2 mL of dish detergent to create a 10 percent detergent solution by volume. Then, 1 mL of the detergent solution was added into a test tube with 1 mL of motor oil. The detergent solution and motor oil were mixed and timed to see how much time elapsed before 5 mm of detergent solution separated from the emulsion layer. The average time Detergent A took to separate was 301.7 seconds. The average for Detergent B was 174.6 seconds. The average time for Detergent C was 202.8 seconds. The average time for Detergent D was 331.7 seconds. The statistics applied to the data collected indicated the hypothesis was supported.

Senior Division

Earth and Environmental Sciences

Katherine Tharp Grade 11 West Platte High School SR-EA-016

Holy Crop This project studied the effect agriculture has on surrounding pond water. The hypothesis stated that if the type of land surrounding a pond changes, then the nitrate level will change. The testing of this project was picked to highlight the negative effects that agriculture has on water sources. Nitrate occurs naturally in the environment, although high levels caused by fertilizer, manure, and waste from septic tanks, which can be harmful to humans and animals.

Consumption of high levels of nitrate can result in methemoglobinemia, or blue baby syndrome. Infants under six months old are at the highest risk of getting methemoglobinemia, but animals are also known to get this disorder (Wright, Madison J., and Kenneth L. Davison, 2008). Water samples were taken from nine different ponds.

Three ponds were sampled from each of the three types of land surrounding the water: Farmland, animal feeding lots, and nonagriculturally used land. The results showed that pond water surrounded by farmland and animal feeding lots had a higher nitrate level than ponds surrounded by non-agriculturally used land. The average nitrate level of ponds surrounded by animal feeding lots was 28 mg/L. The average nitrate level of ponds surrounded by farmland was 31.7 mg/L. The average nitrate level of ponds surrounded by nonagriculturally used land was 7 mg/L. The water samples taken from the control group was much more clear than the other two sources. The nitrate test strips indicated that the hypothesis was supported.

The Environmental Impact of Playground Turfs in the KC Region

Senior Division

Earth and Environmental Sciences Abbigale Rittenhouse Grade 11 Van Horn High School SR-EA-017

In a recent report from Boston, MA, playgrounds that had rubber surfaces or recycled rubber tire mulch and rubber crumbs were 2 to 3 times more likely to have higher levels of lead and zinc than other playground turf materials.

Both lead and zinc are known toxins to both humans and plants.

In this environmental chemistry study, the surrounding soils of various playground turfs in the KC region were tested for possible leachate contaminants including lead, zinc, nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium.

The Effect of Dimethicone Cosmetic Pollutants on Freshwater Daphnia Magna

Senior Division

Earth and Environmental Sciences

Ana Mejia Grade 12 Van Horn High School SR-EA-018

Dimethicone is one of the most widely used ingredients in cosmetics. Dimethicone, also known as polydimethylsiloxane, is a siliconebased product that works as an anti-foaming agent as well as a skin and hair conditioner.

In facial cosmetics, dimethicone acts as a mild water repellent by forming a moisture barrier on the skin. Dimethicone wastes have been found in local rivers and streams, but the full effect of these pollutants on aquatic life has not been fully researched. In this project, the effect of dimethicone on heart rate and locomotive swimming patterns of freshwater Daphnia magna were explored.

Senior Division

Energy & Environmental Engineering

Senior Division

Energy and Environmental Engineering

Xander Stultz Grade 12 Olathe North SR-EE-003

The Effect of a Biosolids-Based Nutrient Solution on Plant Growth as it Pertains to Space Travel The purpose of this experiment is to determine how a biosolids-based hydroponic nutrient solution will impact the growth of lettuce plants compared to lettuce grown in a commercial hydroponic nutrient solution, with emphasis on how the experiment could relate to space travel. It is hypothesized that the lettuce grown in the biosolids-based nutrient solution will be of comparable size to the lettuce grown in the commercial hydroponic solution and will have comparable nutritional quality to the lettuce grown in the commercial hydroponic solution.

Senior Division

Energy and Environmental Engineering

Suzanna Freund Grade 12 Olathe North SR-EE-004

The effects of population density in a saltwater aquaponics system This study was examining saltwater aquaponics systems and how fish population density affects the growth rate and the health of the plants and animals in the system, albeit on a much smaller scale than what would be used in a proper agricultural setting. Three different aquaponics systems were tested: one with a single Blue Reef Chromis (Chromis cyaneus) fish, one with two, and the last with three. Each system had saltwort (Batis maritima) plants growing in the overflow to see how and if saltwort grows when planted in a medium with no soil--that medium instead being nutrient-rich saltwater. The weight of the fish and plants of each system was monitored in order to determine which system was the most productive for both fish biomass and saltwort biomass. In the end, the population density did not seem to have as much of an influence on the average biomass of the fish or the saltwort as the initial masses of the individual fish did. The circumstances available for conducting this experiment did not allow for the germination or growth of any saltwort plants.

Senior Division

Energy and Environmental Engineering

Nathan Hurst Grade 12 Olathe North SR-EE-005

Optimal Plastic Replacement on Concrete Structural Composition and Permeability The experiment is seeing the strength of permeable concrete samples with varying percentages of plastic replacement of aggregate. Many environmentalists and engineers have found the solution to both increased mining for concrete and plastic waste by combining the two. The plastic added concrete shows little reduction in strength and shows promise in being a suitable solution.

Another relatively popular concept lately has been permeable concrete. This type of concrete allows for water to pass through it, but the gaps in it compromise the strength relative to full body concrete. By further combining these could pose more benefit and allow us to eventually build highly sustainable, water shed friendly concrete keeping plastic from becoming waste.

The project experimentation will consist of strength testing of thin permeable concrete samples with varying percentages of plastic replacement. The testing will consist using weights to calculate how much each sample can hold before collapse or some form of disintegration with max weight as independent variable. I expect that the highest strength concrete will be the 20% replacement sample, including the original sample concrete at 0%. My theory includes that the plastic itself adds flexibility and with minimum loss to strength, thus allowing the concrete to be stronger than samples with more and less added plastic which can’t flex or maintain strength as much.

Increasing the Efficiency of Wax Worm Digestion of Hard-to-Recycle Polyethylene Bags

Senior Division

Energy and Environmental Engineering Anastacia Crispin-Santos Grade 11 Van Horn High School SR-EE-007

Many people think polyethylene plastic bags from big box stores are curbside recyclable. Unfortunately, plastic bags and plastic film become tangled in the gears of recycling trucks as well as the sorting equipment at local recycling facilities.

Research has shown that specific species of waxworm can chew and digest polyethylene, but this process can be slow and ineffective. In this study, different environmental factors were explored to see if the digestive process of Galleria mellonella wax worms on polyethylene plastic bags could be expedited.

Big Fans of Wind

Senior Division

Energy and Environmental Engineering Caden Flynn Wyatt Scheinbaum Grade 10 West Platte High School SR-EE-008-T

This project studied the effects of the angle of the blades on a wind turbine on the production of energy. Wind energy accounts for about 4.7 percent of the power in the United States, enough to power around 17.5 million American houses, and it’s usage is increasing faster than any other renewable energy source in the world. The hypothesis states that if the angle of the blades on a horizontal wind turbine is at a thirty five degree angle, then the wind turbine will achieve the most efficient power output. Eighteen different angles were tested during the experiment, starting from zero degrees as the control group and ending at ninety degrees, rising by increments of five degrees. Each angle was tested ten times to find the average amount of volts produced. A horizontal axis wind turbine construction kit with adjustable blades was used to conduct the experiment, as well as a standard house fan with a wind speed of about fourteen miles an hour. The amount of energy produced per trial was measured in volts through a volt meter. The statistics applied to the data indicated that the hypothesis was not supported.

Senior Division

Materials Science

Senior Division

Materials Science Aviral Misra Grade 12 Blue Valley High School SR-MS-001

Micro-morphological Analysis towards an Enhanced Diagnosis of Osteomyelitis Infected Bone Osteomyelitis is a bacterial infection that has the potential to affect bone microstructure. During the excision procedure for osteomyelitic bone, the surgeons categorize the affected region into three distinct zones: infected, transition, and healthy bone. The categorization is based upon visual and tactile examination and relies upon the surgeon’s experience. To understand the variations in different zones, particularly the transition and healthy zones, micro x-ray computed tomography (micro-CT) was used to characterize the micro-structure to determine whether quantifiable differences existed. The mentor provided specimen suitable for imaging with micro-CT at a 4x resolution (~4.1-4.4 ¾m/pixel) from five pairs of healthy and transition bones from four different patients. The researcher developed 3D reconstructed models of the bone specimen based upon the micro-CT images. These 3D models were utilized in ImageJ to perform quantitative analysis of the micro-structure. The hypotheses of this project were: (1) the transition and healthy bone are from different populations and (2) random samples from the same zone are from the same population. These hypotheses were tested for the following parameters: bone trabeculae thickness and pore size. The test rejected second hypothesis showing the heterogeneity within the bone. Thus, all the data was pooled to make a population. The population means were tested using ANOVA which then confirmed the first hypothesis. The results showed that for some patients, there was likely bone remodeling within the transition zone. The results also show that additional complementary characterization is needed for developing reliable autonomous diagnostic techniques for infected bones.

Senior Division

Materials Science Hannah Stirling Grade 12 Olathe North SR-MS-002

Silver Nanoparticles Effect on Aquatic Ecosystems The purpose of my project is to demonstrate how much pollution and unnatural silver nano particles effect aquatic organisms. The project will be constructed by adding consumer products weekly to samples of water, from nearby creeks, and testing for the amount of silver inside the sample. This will represent how pollution enters the ecosystems and raises levels to higher than they should be. The results should show that when adding silvers to all the ecosystems that the levels, by the end of the experiment, will be higher and more damaging.

Senior Division

Microbiology

Senior Division

Microbiology

Shishir Vargheese Grade 9 Blue Valley West

SR-MI-001

Rise of the Superbugs: Mechanism of Antibiotic Resistance I hypothesized that repeated use of antibacterial soaps to wash our hands in the bathroom sink will promote the growth of antibiotic resistant superbugs in the sink. I tested this hypothesis by collecting swabs of specimen from two sinks (one in the kitchen where regular soap is used and one in the bathroom where antibacterial soap is used routinely). The collected samples were inoculated in LB broth overnight at 37oC. After testing turbidity in the growth medium, serial dilutions were made in fresh LB broth and plated on LB agar plates and incubated overnight at 37oC. Plates with 20 - 40 colonies were replica-plated using sterile Whatman filter paper onto plates with antibiotics. After incubation at 37oC overnight, number of colonies growing in the presence of antibiotics were counted. My results indicated that microbes from the bathroom sink, where antimicrobial soaps are used, were significantly more resistant to antibiotics. I further hypothesized that the microbes from the bathroom sink were able to resist antibiotics by pumping them out more efficiently than the microbes from the kitchen sink. I will present data showing the mechanism of antibiotic resistance.

Staphylococcus epidermidis resistance A comparison of interventions to dysfunction a bacterium

Senior Division

Microbiology Rosa Hernandez Grade 12 Frontier STEM High School SR-MI-003

Staphylococcus epidermidis is an anaerobic bacterium that causes clinical infections. Bio film formation and fast colonization make the bacterium dangerous as there is always a risk for the it to enter the bloodstream. Medical implant devices may transfer it to the patients with weak immune system. Although the researchers suggest to remove the infection to treat the infections, the variety the treatments are limited and vague. This study aims to compare the efficacy of various interventions –medical therapy— on a staph bacterium (Staphylococcus epidermidis). Six different type of antibiotics are applied to observe the impact of each on the growth of the bacterium. The data collection is in the process; the analysis will be completed using films with square units to measure the area of bacterial growth.

Discussion will be presented based on the findings.

Senior Division

Microbiology Hannah Schiefelbein Grade 12 Olathe North SR-MI-004

The Effect of Flowrate on the Survivability of Cyanobacteria Following the setup and procedure there should be growth of some sort in all three tanks. However if the tanks with the fans do not have growth it also proves the hypothesis correct. If two fans of different speeds are placed into tanks while one is left unaffected, then the tank with no fan will have the most growth, the tank with the low speed fan will have less growth and a tank with the high speed fan will have no growth. However if there is no growth and either of the tanks with stands or if there is significant growth in all three tanks it is still reasonable and persuasive data to collect. This is because cyanobacteria grows relatively well in a stagnant environment however they do grow in the ocean where the surface is constantly moving. If there is no growth then the experiment proves that cyanobacteria cannot withstand high water speeds. Is there a significant growth in all three tanks the experiment proves that so by cyanobacteria can withstand high-speed Waters. If the growth decreases based on the amount of movement there is a range of water speeds that given more scientific research can add a range of speeds to the survivability of cyanobacteria. This can be, significant warning and can save ecosystems an organisms afflicted by the bacteria.

Senior Division

Microbiology

Morghan Golloher Grade 11 SMSD Biotechnology Program SR-MI-007

Targeting Gene Expression of CCL2, IL-6, and IL12 in Breast Cancer Cells by CRISPR and shRNA Skeletal muscle wasting is significantly associated with decreased overall survival in cancer patients.

The overall weakness and fatigue caused by skeletal muscle wasting results in a decreased ability of patients to tolerate anti-cancer drugs.

Specifically, up to 40% of breast cancer patients exhibit signs of skeletal muscle wasting, which is adversely correlated with patient survival.

Currently, this condition is both understudied and under reported in breast cancer due to a lack of preclinical models. The chemokine CCL2 is a wellknown regulator of immune cell recruitment during inflammation and breast cancer progression. The Cheng lab demonstrated that CCL2 is highly expressed in basal-like breast cancers, one of the most aggressive subtypes of breast cancer. Chemokine array analysis of breast cancer cells and data mining analysis revealed significant associations between CCL, IL6 and IL12, inflammatory cytokines that are significant in skeletal muscle wasting. The purpose of this experiment is to knockdown CCL2, IL-6, IL-12 and verify gene expression.

Making a stable cell line using GFP tagged CD63 in order to see what happens to CD63 when D75a and cRILP are expressed

Senior Division

Microbiology Yeabsira Belayneh Grade 12 SMSD Biotechnology Program SR-MI-008

CD63 is often used as a marker for multi vesicular bodies (MVB), as well as for extracellular vesicles. Rab GTPases regulate many steps of membrane trafficking, including vesicle formation, and vesicle movement along actin and tubulin networks. RILP, the Rab interacting lysosomal protein, is a Rab7 effector protein that regulates late endocytic transport. RILP also has two forms, noncleavable RILP, and cleavable RILP. We made a stable cell line using GFP tagged CD63 in order to see what happens to CD63 when D75a (a form of non-cleavable RILP), and cRILP are expressed. We were not able to make a stable cell line that expressed CD63; however, we made a transient expression that we were able to test with. We were able to determine that D75a and cRILP affect the localization of CD63. In conclusion D75a and cRILP affect the localization of CD63 by controlling where CD63 gets localized.

Senior Division

Microbiology Gretchen Raney Gracie Raney Grade 11 West Platte High School SR-MI-009-T

Baby Got Bacteria This project studied the effects of lactic acid concentration on the size of the inhibition zone for Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus epidermidis. The hypothesis states that as the concentration of lactic acid decreases, then the size of the inhibition zone for Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus epidermidis will decrease until there is no zone. The lactic acid concentrations tested on E. coli were: 0.11%, 0.22%, 0.88%, 1.25%, 1.50%, 1.65%, and 1.76%. The concentrations tested on Staph. epidermidis were: 0.11%, 0.22%, 0.88%, 1.10%, 1.25%, 1.50%, and 1.76%. The petri plates were incubated at 37 C for 24 hours to let the inhibition zones form. For the results, 6mm represents no zone since this is the diameter of the disc. For E. coli, there was a significant difference in inhibition zone size between 1.65% and 1.76% so the minimum % of lactic acid required to produce an inhibition zone for E. coli is between 1.65% and 1.76%. For Staph. epidermidis, there was a significant difference in inhibition size between 1.10% and 1.25 % so the minimum % lactic acid required to produce an inhibition zone for Staph epidermidis is between 1.10% and 1.25%. The statistics applied to the data collected indicated the hypothesis was supported.

Senior Division

Microbiology Lexi Bergonzoni Miranda Whalen Grade 10 West Platte High School SR-MI-010-T

Where the Wild Things Grow This project studied the effects of homemade and storebought cleaners on bacteria. The homemade cleaners are not only cheaper and better for you but can be as effective as store-bought cleaners.. The store- bought cleaners are expensive and cause many health problems. First, Escherichia coli was ordered from Ward’s Natural Science and once it arrived a bacteria broth solution was prepared. Ten TSA agar plates were poured for each test group. Then, the E. coli was swabbed on the TSA plates. Sterile discs were soaked in the antibacterial solutions and 4 were placed on each plate in quadrants. The plates were incubated at 37 C for 1-2 days.

The inhibition zones around each disc were measured in millimeters. The average size of the inhibition zone for E. coli from the store- bought cleaner was 19.7265mm. The average size of the inhibition zone for E. coli from the all purpose cleaner was 13.0365mm. The average size of the inhibition zone for E. coli from the thieves cleaner was 15.435mm. The statistics applied to the data collected indicated the hypothesis wasn’t supported.

Senior Division

Microbiology Kaitlynn Groom Madison Elmore Grade 10 West Platte High School SR-MI-011-T

Bacteria Be Gone!

This project studied the effects of using Norwex cloths to clean bacteria of a surface. The hypothesis stated that if the Norwex wipe was used to clean the surface, then there would be fewer bacteria remaining then if you used normal Clorox bleach wipes. A desk was split into 3 sections and then covered in raw chicken juice. One section was cleaned with a Norwex cloth, the next with Clorox bleach wipes, and the last one was left uncleaned for the control group. After the surfaces had dried, then they were swabbed for bacteria a total of ten times each.

The bacteria were grown in Petri dishes inside of an incubator for 2 days. Then the results were recorded. The average bacteria growth from the control group was 26.06%. The average bacteria growth for the section cleaned with Clorox bleach wipes was 11.18%. And the average bacteria growth for the section cleaned with Norwex wipes was .15%. The statistics applied indicated that the hypothesis was supported.

Determining the Effectiveness of E. coli B Lysis by T4r Phages at Various pH Levels

Senior Division

Microbiology Viridiana Perez Grade 12 Van Horn High School SR-MI-012

It is known that viruses called bacteriophages can effectively infect and kill harmful bacterial strains such as E. coli. However, there has not been substantial research on how blood chemistry factors such as pH can inhibit or promote this process. In this study, E. coli B cultures at various pH levels were infected with T4r lytic phages to determine whether blood pH affects the effectiveness of T4r phages to lyse bacterial cells.

Senior Division

Microbiology Rivka Malik Grade 12 Blue Valley CAPS SR-MI-013

The Mysterious HAMLET Protein This is an experiment where BAMLET will be used, which is essentially a copy of a HAMLET (Human Alpha-lactalbumin Made LEthal Tumor cells) which is a protein-lipid that is extracted human bread milk, which is said to have a tumoricidal activity that kills cancer cells. The BAMLET will be combined with oleic acid in order to use an MTT assay, which will be tested in a 96 well plate in order to test if HAMLET kills living cells (HeLa cells) in gradual increments. The reason why the BAMLET will be tested is to ensure that this protein surely does have a tumoricidal activity which in turn will actually kill the HeLa cells. What is expected through the MTT is that with the results it will help confirm the activities of the BAMLET and then can aid in understanding how effective the BAMLET truly is. Then the next step from there is to understand and see if BAMLET effects other cells besides the cancer cells. With these results, it could identify whether or not this is the next step in cancer research.

Does the presents of CBD prevent biofilm formation

Senior Division

Microbiology Larry Smith III Grade 12 SMSD Biotechnology Program SR-MI-014

It is estimated that about 60% of all bacterial infections are associated with bacterial biofilms. Biofilms are multicellular communities of bacteria that group together to self produce an extracellular matrix. This extracellular matrix causes biofilms to be very hard to remove with antibiotics. It has been reported that cannabidiol has some antibacterial effects and could be used in the fight against gram-positive biofilms. This study looks at the effects of cannabidiol on the prevention of biofilms. To do this cannabidiol will be added to Staphylococcus aureus strains UAMS-1 and KB5000 (Δatl) at concentrations of 100 µl and 200 µl prior to forming biofilms. To look at cannabidiols effect on gram-negative biofilms the procedure will also be done using Escherichia coli. The results show how this study can be useful in future research of biofilms. This study will be huge in the fight against biofilms and could reduce the overall amount of infections associated with Staph.

Roles of mitochondrial tRNA fragments (tRFs) in cancer

Senior Division

Microbiology Jonas Rowland Grade 12 SMSD Biotechnology Program SR-MI-015

Cancer is often thought of as the most deadly and devastating disease the world has ever known. Its unpredictable characteristics, longevity, persistence and dissemination have created what many believe to be an unassailable disease for researchers and patients alike. Metastatic cancers behave in an extremely aggressive manner. They move and spread all throughout the body and are very hard to predict and treat. The process about which metastatic cancer develops is referred to as the metastatic cascade. This multiplex of stages can be broken up into three processes: invasion, intravasation, and extravasation. Metastatic cancers are much more difficult to treat than stationary tumors and are ultimately the cause the majority of cancer related deaths. It is known that cancer has an inherently genetic origin. However, many people do not realize that there are two separate genomes within the human body; nuclear DNA (nDNA) and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). Mitochondria play many key roles in the generation of metabolic energy in eukaryotic cells.

However, the number of proteins encoded for by mtDNA pale in comparison to proteins encoded for by nuclear DNA (> 20,000 proteins), and as a result mtDNA is viewed as far less important in the fields of cancer biology and metastasis. Metabolic changes that the mitochondria provide are significant to tumor formation, growth, and spread. Several studies have shown differentiation in tumor formation and metastatic spread among inbred mice strains. It has been demonstrated that single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) can potentially play a very large role in metastasis regulation. In order to study mitochondrial genetics role in organisms, mitochondrial nuclear exchange (MNX) mice were developed. These genetically engineered MNX mice have a clear advantage over other mouse models due to their insusceptibility to genetic drift other time related factors.

Studies indicate that the communication between nuclear-mitochondrial DNA is extremely important and relevant to complex diseases, and that changes in mtDNA have selective effects on the nDNA. There are a total of 7 SNPs that occur within the mitochondrial genome. The goal of this research was to determine the role of the two SNPs, located within mt-tRNAArg, tRNA Fragments (tRFs). Transfer RNAs (tRNAs) are most commonly known for their role in protein synthesis. Fragmentation of tRNAs redirects them from conventional protocols such as protein synthesis and with new structure comes new function. Mice were bred and tissues were extracted. RNA was isolated, assessed, and ligated before being detected using Stem-loop (SL) RT-qPCR. The detection and separation of all three tRFs, tRNAArg (FL), RL3, and Ri, was successful using SL RT-qPCR. The data presented is significant to future studies and the cancer biology field

Squeaky Clean Senior Division

Microbiology Libby Vandel & Colby Shepardson Grade 9 West Platte High School SR-MI-016-T

This project studied the effects of active ingredients in disinfectant wipes on the inhibition zone for Staphylococcus epidermidis and Escherichia coli.

Each year over a million people are affected by Staphylococcus and Escherichia coli. This number could decrease immensely if people knew what active ingredient in disinfectant wipes to use. The hypothesis states that the main ingredients vinegar and decyl glucoside won't perform as well as isopropyl alcohol and benzalkonium chloride.

Sponsored By:

Senior Division

Molecular Biology & Health Sciences

Role of REST in the regulation of MMP24 and estrogen sensitivity in breast cancer

Senior Division

Molecular Bio/Chem & Health Sciences

Aditya Vargheese Grade 12 Blue Valley West SR-MO-001

Breast cancer, the most common malignancy in women, is very difficult to treat due to its heterogeneity. An important subset of breast cancers, Luminal or estrogen receptor/progesterone receptor (ER/PR) positive tumors, lack REST (repressor element 1 silencing transcription factor) protein but not its mRNA. REST is a tumor suppressor and is known to play a role in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s. The loss of REST leads to the dysregulation of its target genes, many of which are involved in tumorigenesis. About 20% of breast cancers show loss of REST expression, yet little to nothing is currently known about its role in tumor growth. We hypothesized that the loss of REST promotes breast cancer growth by altering cell signaling. Our results show that knockdown of REST in MCF7 cells (ER/PR positive) causes similar gene dysregulation as seen in aggressive forms of breast cancers. Our RNA sequencing results showed that REST knockdown leads to significant increase in ER signaling, which is associated with tumor progression. In addition, REST knockdown leads to significant increases in the expression of MMP24, a matrix modifying enzyme involved in tumor metastasis, and KCNK3, a biomarker associated with poor patient survival. Thus, the poor survival of patients with RESTless breast cancers may be related to the activation of its target genes and elevated ER signaling. Furthermore, these patients may respond differently to ER antagonists compared to those with REST positive breast cancers. Our results will help with the future development of individualized therapies for breast cancer.

Investigating Neuromesodermal Progenitor Development and Differentiation Using Danio rerio Single Cell Sequencing Data

Senior Division

Molecular Bio/Chem & Health Sciences

Eddie Dai Grade 12 Olathe North SR-MO-002

Traditional views of embryonic development hold that germ layer differentiation begins and ends with gastrulation. However, recent evidence suggests mesoderm and ectoderm induction occurs postgastrulation in neuromesodermal progenitors (NMPs). NMPs are a population of multipotent cells in the posterior-most portion of the embryo—the tailbud. Currently, mechanisms of NMP maintenance and differentiation are unclear. Single cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) data of zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos can provide insight into the transcriptomes of individual cells from different lineages and embryonic stages, revealing how gene expression in NMPs changes during embryogenesis. Here, scRNA-seq data of 38,731 embryonic zebrafish cells spanning the high to 6 somite stages were downloaded and analyzed in R using the URD package. Gene expression patterns observed from the scRNA-seq data were validated by visualizing mRNA expression in zebrafish embryos using in situ hybridization chain reaction (HCR). Analysis of NMP gene expression over time revealed that NMPs are established during gastrulation and that a switch in NMP soxB1 gene usage occurs at gastrulation’s end. Likewise, the analysis indicated timepoints when genes in crucial pathways for NMP establishment are activated during gastrulation. Differential expression and gene ontology analyses of NMP versus mesodermal and ectodermal progenitors revealed distinct changes in the expression of key marker genes and signaling pathways. Furthermore, HCR analysis of the canonical Wnt signaling pathway and its target genes revealed potential mechanisms for how Wnt can both promote mesodermal differentiation and maintain the undifferentiated NMP state. These insights into NMP development enhance understanding of molecular mechanisms behind vertebrate embryogenesis.

Assessing Biofilm Formation on Poly(methyl methacrylate) Bone Cement

Senior Division

Molecular Bio/Chem & Health Sciences

Elizabeth Falkner Grade 12 SMSD Biotechnology Program SR-MO-003

The number of orthopedic total hip and total knee arthroplasty surgeries has increased over the last several decades. In 2014 alone, there were over a combined one million total knee and total hip implant surgeries in the United States, and these totals are expected to rise by 189% by 2030. Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) bone cement is a common orthopedic tool used in implants as a way to affix an implant to the bone. PMMA is prone to bacterial infection, with an infection rate between 1-9%.

The most severe infections manifest as biofilms. Biofilms are microbial populations that attach themselves to a surface and to other cells, thus forming a protective cellular matrix that defends against the host immune system and antibiotic agents. Staphylococcus aureus is the most common yet most dangerous Staphylococcal species, causing 46% of orthopedic infections in the United States. S. aureus is most difficult to treat when biofilms form on the PMMA surface. Prior to scientists finding an effective biofilm treatment in orthopedics, a standard operating procedure must be developed to ensure methods are not altering the experimental results. Three static bioreactors were developed in order to better correlate what is being studied in vitro to what occurs in vivo.

Effect of CBD on Aretemia Hatching and Development

Senior Division

Molecular Bio/Chem & Health Sciences

Adib Rabbani Grade 9 Pembroke Hill SR-MO-004

Cannobidiol (CBD) is a compound extracted from the cannabis plant which unlike Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) does not produce the subjective effects of marijuana. A prescription form of CBD (Epidiolex) is currently FDA approved for the treatment of 2 rare and severe forms of epilepsy. However, several studies have demonstrated the potential therapeutic effect of a CBD on different animal models for other disorders such as anxiety and psychosis (1). The endocannabinoid system (ECS) receptors are functional from early stages and throughout adolescent cortical maturation, regulating neural differentiation, migration and survival (2). CBD exposure has the potential of adversely effecting this development. This experiment investigates the effect of CBD oil on hatching, development and survival in a model organism that develops rapidly, Artemia (Brine Shrimp).

Distinguishing the Relationship Between Bone Mineral Density and Alzheimer's Disease

Senior Division

Molecular Bio/Chem & Health Sciences

Meredith Rosenberg Grade 12 Blue Valley North SR-MO-006

The purpose of the experiment is to analyze data in order to effectively distinguish what causes lower bone mineral density in early onset Alzheimer's disease patients as well as determine the relationship between the biological mechanisms of bone mineral density and Alzheimer's disease. I will be using computer software and mathematical skills to analyze my information. My data has previously been collected from the faculty at KU Alzheimer's Disease Center. My conclusions are not yet known, however, I hypothesize that neurodegeneration of the hypothalamus is responsible for causing lower bone mineral density in early onset Alzheimer's disease patients.

The Role of Cardiotrophin-Like Cytokine Factor 1 (CLCF1) in Microglial Phagocytosis and Gene Expression

Senior Division

Molecular Bio/Chem & Health Sciences

Arjun Garapaty Grade 11 Olathe North SR-MO-012

Microglia are macrophage-like innate immune cells of the central nervous system (CNS) that exist in activated and quiescent phenotypes with varying morphologies and gene expression profiles. Microglia perform important functions under physiological conditions and in response to traumatic brain injury (TBI) or neurodegenerative disorders that are associated with neuroinflammation. Phagocytosis of cell debris, toxic proteins and oxidized low-density lipoproteins (LDL) is a key macrophage-like function of microglia.

Cardiotrophin-like cytokine factor 1 (CLCF1) is a cytokine of the IL-6 family whose biological functions are poorly understood. Recent studies suggest that monomeric CLCF1 stimulates phagocytosis and elicits the production of proinflammatory factors in non-neuronal macrophages. However, the role of CLCF1 in microglial function(s) remains unknown. It is hypothesized that CLCF1 is responsible for promoting microglial phagocytosis and expression of proinflammatory factors. To study the effect of CLCF1 on phagocytosis and gene expression profile, murine microglial BV-2 cells were treated with CLCF1 for 24 hours followed by addition of acetylated low-density lipoprotein (ac-LDL) up to 24 hours.

Fluorescence microscopy was used to determine the uptake of ac-LDL as a measure of phagocytosis.

Additionally, the expression of key pro- and anti-inflammatory genes was quantified using RT-qPCR. Results indicate that monomeric CLCF1 not only induces phagocytosis in microglia, but also promotes a proinflammatory gene expression profile. This project is the first to catalogue the effect of monomeric CLCF1 in the CNS. These findings suggest, for the first time, that CLCF1 modulates microglial function and may play an outsize role in the progression of various neuropathologies.

The role of NKG2D ligand on CD8+ T cells and the formation of CD8+ central memory cells

Senior Division

Molecular Bio/Chem & Health Sciences

Matthew Roth Grade 12 SMSD Biotechnology Program SR-MO-013

The human immune system forms specialized cells for the protection, or immunity against disease. Lymphocytes are specialized cells in the immune system with three main types, T cells, B cells and natural killer cells. Lymphocytes can target antigens, produce antibodies and recognize ligands that are being expressed in our cells. The activated immune receptor, natural killer group 2 member D (NKG2D), is expressed in cytotoxic T cells (CD8+ T) and recognizes ligands expression in damaged or “stressed” cells. When NKG2D is activated, the CD8+ T cell actively looks for a cell expressing the NKG2D ligand.

However, cells may express the NKG2D ligand even though they are not under stress and are considered “healthy”. Observation of the NKG2D-NKG2D ligand interaction has shown it as enhancing an immune response as well as affecting the memory generation in the immune cells. The interaction between activated CD8+ T cells and NKG2D ligands is currently being studied through Mary Markiewicz’s lab. This project is aimed at understanding the CD8+ T cell and NKG2D ligand interaction and its effects on the formation of CD8+ central memory cells.

Novel strategies to downregulate B cell receptor signaling in mantle cell lymphoma

Senior Division

Molecular Bio/Chem & Health Sciences

Sophia Sun Grade 12 SMSD Biotechnology Program SR-MO-015

Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) is an aggressive type of nonHodgkin’s Lymphoma which is often characterized by frequent relapses and therapy resistance. By targeting B-cell receptor signaling (BCR) with ibrutinib, which is a Bruton’s Tyrosine Kinase (BTK) inhibitor, results in a 68% overall response rate in MCL. However, there is a 50% resistance rate to ibrutinib in patients which requires the development of novel strategies to target Bcell receptor signaling in MCL. In this study, we took advantage of the fact that GRP78 chaperone function is regulated by its reversible acetylation status. We wanted to further evaluate the relationship between hyperacetylation of GRP78 (by inhibiting HDAC6) and its ability to promote BCR assembly. Occurring in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), unassembled or misfolded Igs are targeted for proteasomal degradation by the ATPase, p97. We hypothesized that p97-mediated removal of misfolded Igs and HDAC6-mediated deacetylation of GRP78 in the ER work together to promote BCR assembly and trafficking to cell surface. To determine the effects HDAC6 and p97 inhibitor treatments on BCR assembly and signaling, we evaluated the surface expression of BCR components as well as signaling downstream of BCR activation. It was discovered that treatments of cultured MCL cell lines with both HDAC6 and p97 inhibitors decreased surface expression of BCR components IgM and CD19. Consequently, both HDAC6 and p97 inhibitors decreased BCR signaling. Our studies demonstrate that HDAC6 and p97 inhibitors downregulate BCR assembly, BCR signaling and survival in MCL cells.

How ‘Bout Them Apples

Senior Division

Molecular Bio/Chem & Health Sciences

Lucy Bartee & Lexie Smither Grade 11 West Platte High School SR-MO-016-T

This science fair project studied the effects of the growing method on the degree of methylation occurring within the apple. It also studied the effects of the growing method on the amount of DNA that can be extracted from the apple. The purpose of the project (experiment) is to see which method of apple growth causes the most methylation and which method allows the most DNA to be extracted. Included in this experiment to test the hypothesis are organically grown Gala apples and non organically grown Gala apples. The first hypothesis stated that if the growth method of the apple changes, then methylation within the apple changes. The second hypothesis stated that if the growth method of the apple changes, then the amount of DNA extracted will change. To conduct this experiment DNA was extracted from three of each type of apple. Once the DNA is separated, measure the amount of DNA isolated using the GE Nanodrop. Then 500ng of DNA is cut and incubated overnight. The cut DNA runs on an agarose gel using electrophoresis. Once the DNA has been run the results are viewed using ultraviolet light. The gel electrophoresis showed methylation in one non organic apple and possibly one organic apple. The average results for the DNA extracted from the non organic apples was 8.67 nanograms. The average results for the DNA extracted from the organic apples was 8.00 nanograms.

Based on the statistics used (t-Test), the hypothesis was not supported.

Identification of the Sarcocystis neurona parasite in opossum

Senior Division

Molecular Bio/Chem & Health Sciences

Kate Tickle Grade 12 SMSD Biotechnology Program SR-MO-018

The Didelphis virginiana, commonly known as the North American opossum, is a critical member of the local Kansas suburban area ecosystem. However, due to their position as a scavenger, they have the potential to host many harmful parasites. These parasites can be transmitted to other animals. One example of this is horses, which are negatively affected by the parasite, Sarcocystis neurona, which opossums are the main definitive host. Opossum, being the main definitive host, leads to the research question; what processes could be used in the field to quickly determine if a harmful parasite is being carried by opossum within a local area. Taking fecal samples from live-trapped opossum and collecting intestinal samples from any potential roadkill salvaged would provide valuable information regarding the local risk level of exposure based on the percent of a surveyed population that carry the parasite.

We sought to develop an efficient and affordable method of preparing and mounting histology slides upon discovery of a salvageable animal, thus limiting potential sample degradation. Our study is a proof of principle that we are able to obtain high quality tissue sections that allow us to analyze the presence or absence of a variety of parasites, including S.neurona.

Senior Division

Physics & Astronomy

The Impact of Solar Activity on GPS Signal

Senior Division

Physics and Astronomy Chance Dyck Grade 12 Olathe North SR-PA-002

This project is about the Impact of Solar Activity on GPS Signal. The goal for this project is to figure out if GPS signal can be impacted by solar activity and if it can, how much it can be impacted. I will be going to two separate locations at different times in the day to record data. One location will be in an open field while the other location is surrounded by buildings. The reason for this is if the GPS signal is affected, the data can show if one location is affected differently than the other. The times will be at around 2:30pm and 9:00pm. So, at 2:30pm I will go to the location surrounded by buildings and then at 9:00pm the open field. Once I am at these locations, I will be start recording data. The data will be certain parameters which are time of day, latitude and longitude, and elevation. On top of that, I will be using a certain setting on the GPS called WAAS. The WAAS function is to make my GPS reading more accurate. This means that I will record these parameters twice for each time I record. Once that is done, I will check a website called spaceweather.com to see if any solar activity has happened for that day. Hopefully, if some data is off for one day and there is solar activity that day then I can make the conclusion that solar activity does indeed impact GPS signal.

Senior Division

Plant Science

Toxin-Eating Plants

Senior Division

Plant Science Annika Tsay Grade 10 Lee’s Summit West SR-PS-001

With humans spending over 90% of their time indoors, indoor air quality has become a significant factor in one’s overall health and wellbeing (EPA, 2016). Volatile Organic Compounds, or VOCs, are gaseous chemicals are found in several common household products, such as aerosol sprays, and can cause poor indoor air quality. The most common solution to poor indoor air quality is using an upgraded ventilation system, however, studies conducted

by NASA and chemist Vadoud Niri, indicated certain household plants could effectively remove VOCs from the air (American Chemical Association, 2016). In the following study, the Janet Craig Dracaena plant was tested to see if it could significantly decrease the amount of VOCs in the air within a controlled environment. Utilizing a VOC monitor, four different aerosol sprays were dispensed into the contained environments (8 total containers: 1 control and 1 experimental group for each aerosol) and monitored over a 12 hour period. Ten trials were conducted for each type of spray (both experimental and control groups), resulting in a total of 80 trials. VOC levels were recorded 1 minute, 3 minutes, 5 minutes, 3 hours, 6 hours, and 12 hours after the initial spray. The VOC monitor measured the components of TVOC, HCHO, PM2.5, PM1.0, and PM10; however, the components that will indicate VOC levels are TVOC and HCHO. Preliminary results concluded that the Janet Craig Dracaena can effectively remove VOCs for certain aerosol sprays.

The Effect of Irrigation Type on Crop Yield and Water Productivity

Senior Division

Plant Science Skylar Nack Grade 12 Olathe North SR-PS-003

The goal of the study is to find the most efficient type of irrigation in terms of water usage. To test this, the researcher will test three different trials of three different types of irrigation to grow soybeans Glycine max, the researcher used Hutcheson variety soybeans. Flood, spray, and drip irrigation are the types of irrigation being used. Nine seeds were planted per bin, three soybeans were planted per hole to increase the likelihood of germination. The soybeans and bins were kept under grow lights for 24 hours a day and were irrigated daily. 110 milliliters of water were used for flood irrigation, 75 milliliters were used for drip irrigation (equivalent of being ran for 27 seconds), and 88 milliliters were used for spray irrigation (equivalent of being ran for 48 seconds). The soybeans had no growth over the course of four weeks. Therefore, the researcher could not conclude that either irrigation type is more effective than the other.

Comparison of Inulin and Gliadin and their relationship to Celiacs Disease

Senior Division

Plant Science Geena Fajardo Grade 12 SMSD Biotechnology Program SR-PS-006

Gluten, a protein made up of gliadin and glutenin that is commonly found in wheat, rye, and barley, has continuously been known as the causation of Celiacs disease (CD). However, researchers are now questioning whether fructan, a naturally occurring carbohydrate that is part of the group FODMAPS, is the true cause. When the three bacteria Bifidobacterium animalis, Bacteroides vulgatus, and Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron are cultured containing gliadin and fructan, the growth of these three bacteria will either accelerate or slow down, which can aid in furthering the research over what the true cause of “gluten” intolerance is. These three bacteria are all part of the gut microbiome, which covers the region where CD occurs, the small intestine. I believe that fructan will inhibit the growth of these bacteria since recent studies, such as the one done in Norway have proven that when subjects are put through a double blind study they are more prone to symptoms when given fructan, not gluten. As I continue with my research I hope that I am able to discover an answer, whether small or large, that will have an impact on the research over what the true cause of CD/“gluten” intolerance is to help make life for the millions of patients safer, healthier, and happier.

Leaf it to me!

Senior Division

Plant Science Alexis Elmore Grade 12 West Platte High School SR-PS-007

This project studied the effects of the types of salad/leafy greens on the amount of bacteria it has. The hypothesis stated that if you change the type of leafy green, then the amount of bacteria grown will change. Petri dishes were filled with agar and then left to form a gel. Q-tips were swabbed on the leafy greens and brushed onto the agar. The dishes were placed in the incubator and the bacteria were measured the next day. Then the results were recorded. The average amount of bacteria on Romaine Lettuce was 13.64%. The average amount of bacteria on Baby Spinach was 72.92%. The average of bacteria on the Iceberg Lettuce was 8.73%. The statistics applied to the data collected indicated the hypothesis was supported.

Exploring the Effect of Soundwaves to Reduce Missouri Ornamental Shrub Crown Gall Tumors

Senior Division

Plant Science Selene Gonzalez Casas Grade 12 Van Horn High School SR-PS-008

Rhizobium radiobacter (also known as Agrobacterium tumefaciens) is a soil bacterium that causes crown gall disease. This disease can cause the formation of tumors in several woody shrubs such as ornamental shrubs and roses as well as other flowering- and fruit-bearing plants in Missouri. In this study, varying frequencies of sound were studied to determine the effect of sound on crown gall tumor-causing bacterium as well as on mature crown gall tumors.

The efficacy of two types of amorphous silica against three common stored-product insects in paddy rice

Senior Division

Plant Science

Anjani Vilandai Grade 11 Olathe North SR-PS-009

Amorphous silica is a potential non-chemical insecticide to control stored-product insects. Two types of silica were applied to paddy rice to control three insect species: Tribolium castaneum (Herbst), Rhyzopertha dominica (F), and Sitophilus zeamais Motchulsky. Fifty grams of paddy rice were treated with silica at concentration of 0, 100, 200, and 500 ppm, ambient condition. Twenty-five insects were placed in each sample for each species. Mortality was assessed after 7 and 14 days. R. dominica and S. zeamais showed higher mortality at all concentrations of silicas compared to T. castaneum. For all three species, 14-d mortality was significantly higher than the 7-d mortality for all concentrations of both silica. Complete mortality was observed for R. dominica at concentration of 500 ppm for silica 1, and at concentrations of 100, 200, and 500 ppm for silica 2 after 14 days. For S. zeamais, complete mortality was observed only for silica 2 at 500 ppm after 14 days. For T. castaneum, mortality did not reach to 100% for all treatments. Two-way ANOVA of mortality of each species at exposure time indicated that types of silica did not significantly affect the mortality, except for one case where R. dominica was exposed to both silica for 7 days. Also, two-way ANOVA showed that concentrations have significant effects on mortality for all species at exposure times. In conclusion, both silica can effectively control adults of R. dominica and S. zeamais in paddy rice, and T. castaneum is less susceptible to silica, requiring higher dosage.