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Festival of Scholars

April 27 – May 1, 2026

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ALLIES in STEM Research Showcase

Virtual

Session will be virtual poster session format. Student will be asked to pre-record themselves and links will be provided for the community to watch. There will also be links to the student’s poster. We will have students presenting their research from Summer 2020.

Student Abstracts

Modeling effects of interventions on COVID-19 spread

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The effects of interventions in different counties within the United States, was analyzed to assess the growth rate of the coronavirus disease COVID-19. Data was collected between the time period of January 22, 2020 through July 13, 2020 from 8 counties (Los Angeles County, CA; Ventura County, CA; Miami-Dade County, FL; Orange County, FL; Monroe County, NY; New York County, NY; Dallas county, TX; Harris County, TX) and outcomes of the interventions for COVID-19. SIR compartmental modeling was then used as a way to organize data and analyze the rates of change between each stage of the virus. The rate of spread while interventions were applied, slowed down the rate of spread during that specific time period (when intervention(s) were applied). The rate of spread when interventions were removed caused a large increase in the rate of spread. The PCapita rates were very high in counties with large populations. It was found that the region that had a higher population had the virus spread more rapidly and infected far more people in comparison to the region with the smaller population. Interventions applied overall decreased the growth rate of COVID-19 significantly more than if no interventions were implemented at all.

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Student(s):
Gianna Alamillo

Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Christopher Brown

Racial Difference in Exercise Response: A Systematic Review

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Introduction: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death in the US. A comparison of CVD mortality rates shows African American and Latinx populations are disproportionately affected. The top leading risk factors for developing CVD are obesity, sedentary lifestyle, diet, and diabetes. Methods & Results: To understand this link, a systematic review of 35 scholarly peer-reviewed articles was conducted. After data collection, it was synthesized by using tabulation of characteristics, quality and effects. In the systematic review, it was found that despite engaging in higher amounts of reported physical activity than white counterparts, Latinx have the least amount of overall fitness (“Physical Activity in US Youth: Impact of Race/Ethnicity, Age, Gender, and Weight Status” 2010). These results are unexpected, as an increase in physical activity is prescribed to improve cardiovascular health. Limitations in the study included a lack of studies looking at Latinx subjects. Purpose Statement: Disproportionally high Latinx CVD mortality rates and physiological differences suggest racial difference in exercise response. Further studies need to be conducted comparing the mortality rates and physiological differences between races to test for a difference in exercise response. From these studies, health professionals can reassess workout recommendations for Hispanics as an effective treatment for poor CVH.

Student(s):
Sophia Armienta Ojeda

Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Allan Knox

The Anti-Cancer Effects of Berberine on Cancer Cell Lines and Its Role in Apoptosis

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The anti-cancer properties of natural compounds such as curcumin and berberine in vitro exhibit their potential as cancer treatments. Berberine treatment of cancer cells has been observed to decrease cell proliferation and increase apoptosis in cancer cells in vitro. The objective of this study is to use multiple cancer cell lines to determine the effects of berberine on proliferation, viability, and apoptosis in vitro, as well as determine whether a caspase-dependent pathway is responsible for the observed effects. The proposed hypothesis is that berberine treatment will decrease proliferation and induce apoptosis in cancer cell lines via a caspase-dependent pathway. In order to observe the effects of berberine treatment in vitro, live cells were counted before and after treatment using flow cytometry and compound microscopy. Additionally, using western blotting, the activation of caspases are measured in comparison to the controls on samples that exhibit decreased growth, to determine if a caspase-dependent pathway is responsible for these effects. This study will contribute to the understanding of berberine as a potential treatment for different types of cancers. Preliminary data supports the hypothesis that berberine induces apoptosis and decreases proliferation in U937 cells. Flow cytometry using a 7-AAD stain showed the effects increased in a dose-dependent manner in vitro.

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Student(s):
Nicholas Arredondo

Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Chad Barber

Upper Extremity Angular Kinematics of an American Football Long Snap

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Upper extremity kinematic variables have been strongly related to resultant initial ball velocity of an American football long snap (Chizewski & Alexander, 2015). Understanding the relationship between these measures and long snap velocity can provide evidence-based principles for producing faster long snaps.This study aimed to determine which angular kinematic variables are most strongly related to ball velocity.Ten experienced football long snappers (5 high school; 5 collegiate) participated in the study. Athletes performed six long snaps directed at the Wizard Kicking Solo-Snap net placed 13.3 meters (15 yards) behind the anterior tip of the football. Trials were video recorded from a sagittal view placed on the left side of the subject (30 Hz). Ankle, knee, hip, shoulder, and elbow joint angular kinematic variables were tracked throughout the snap (Kinovea v0.8.27). Correlational analyses were conducted between angular kinematic variables and initial ball velocity (α=0.05). The timing of peak elbow flexion was significantly correlated to ball velocity for the whole group (r=0.829, p=0.002) and for the college players (r=0.907, p=0.020). Additionally, college athletes produced larger ball velocities when the elbow maximum angular velocity was larger (r=0.881, p=0.032). For high school snappers, more extended elbow release angles were correlated with larger ball velocities (r=0.970, p=0.002). Therefore, long snappers should focus on maximally extending their elbow at release from the most flexed position closer to release. This allows for larger elbow angular velocity as the elbow extends through a larger range from the flexed position over a shorter duration to release the ball.

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Student(s):
Samuel Balentine, Dr. Travis Peterson, Ph.D.

Faculty Mentor:
Travis Peterson

Hand Gesture Controller

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Hand gesture controlling has become one of the major developments in artificial intelligence. The purpose of this research is to examine the Leap Motion Controller and use its features to enable hand gesture control of a robot. The research primarily focuses on the extent to which we can use the motion controller to effectively replicate hand gestures such as swiping and grasping onto the robot. The method I am using for this research is to first thoroughly examine the Leap Motion Controller’s hand gesture recognition capabilities. I will write code to read and interpret gesture data from the motion controller. Next, I will examine the abilities of the industrial robot and how we can effectively control it using hand gestures. My final and most important task will be to develop software that utilizes the data coming from the Leap Motion Controller and transforms it to motion commands for the industrial robot arm. The result from my research so far show the Leap Motion Controller’s abilities to sense hand gestures from different angles and distances. I was able to examine the limitation of the motion controller and to what extent it can show data of my hand gestures. In conclusion, this research is focused on utilizing the Leap Motion Sensor to get data of hand gestures and replicate those same movements onto the robot. The results from this research will be helpful in offering alternative means of physical movement for those who are severely sick or disabled.

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Student(s):
Maramawit Bereda

Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Craig Reinhart

Publication of a Newsletter and Literature Review

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Two projects were developed, a newsletter titled “STEM Research at CLU” and a literature review titled “A review of modern methods for the synthesis of alkenes.” The newsletter aims to highlight research achievements of faculty and students over the past year at California Lutheran University in order to provide valuable information to students interested in research. The newsletter is expected to include as many research faculties and to focus on the specifics of each project to be shared with the CLU community. In the second project, the review will be based on modern methods of alkene synthesis. The construction of alkenes in organic synthesis plays a key role in constructing molecular frameworks. The aim of this article is to provide useful applications for the synthesis of alkenes and to write a review of the unique types of alkenes to better understand how they are formed and behave under different reaction conditions. This project is the result of a collaboration with another research group from the University of Tampa. Literature searches were conducted to find the most up-to-date reports published in the last six years. Reports were reviewed and discussed by weekly meetings and presentations of the literature. The reports were then organized according to the type of transformation, including carbonyl, transition-metal catalyzed olefination, elimination reactions, and miscellaneous. The publication is planned to be submitted to the European Journal of Organic Chemistry and will include reports on the synthesis of alkenes as a strategy to advance knowledge in the scientific community.

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Student(s):
Crystal Cendejas

Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Jesus Cordova Guerrero

Quantifying Microfibers Across Ventura and Los Angeles County

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Microfibers are a fast-growing concern in environmental issues; they are a pollutant that is quickly accumulating in and affecting ocean ecosystems and are present in most of the Earth’s watersheds, especially the U.S. Microfibers are a form of microplastics shed by synthetic materials such as fleece when washed. Watersheds, particularly Ventura watershed, is an area flooded with microfibers. Ventura County, like most watersheds surrounding urban areas, leads off into the ocean through different rivers. Although microfiber research has begun to pick up speed over the past decade, little to nothing has been done in Ventura county. We have decided to take various sediment samples across the Ventura watershed and its various zones, as well as comparing them to similar areas in the Los Angeles County watershed zones. Sediment is then placed into 500 mL beakers and mixed with seawater. Once settled, the seawater is then poured into a Buchner Funnel filtration system with filter paper. Each sample was mixed and filtered 3 times, in the hopes to clear the sample of microfibers. Finally, the filter paper will then be analyzed underneath a microscope to count the number of microfibers present on the filter paper. In each of the areas chosen to be analyzed, it is expected that microfibers will be at every location sampled. From this data, we hope to conclude that there is a significant difference among the various watershed zones so that variables that contribute to microplastic pollution can be further analyzed.

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Student(s):
Talya Cohen

Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Andrea Huvard

Quantification of Microfibers in the Gastrointestinal Tract of Loligo opalescens

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Focus has been drawn to plastic waste in our oceans regarding items on a macro scale such as water bottles and plastic containers. Recently, attention has begun shifting to plastics on a micro level. As studies on microplastics (MP) in our ecosystems have been garnering attention, a subset of this anthropogenic debris must also be addressed: microfibers. Microfibers (MF), a form of microplastic that is shed from synthetic clothing such as polyester, often pollute our food and water supply. Recent work has detailed the presence of MP in marine filter feeding organisms such as mussels while little research has been conducted on marine organisms on the tertiary level. We chose to study a tertiary organism that also plays a role as a key forage species for a number of marine mammals, birds, and fish along the coast of Southern California. Squid was selected as the organism of choice for this study as it is a key forage species that spawns year round. This study aimed to identify whether MF was present in the gastrointestinal tract of Loligo opalescens (California market squid). Specimens were dissected and microfiber content was quantified under a dissection microscope following filtration of selected organs. Results to be presented.

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Student(s):
Alexandria De Leon

Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Andrea Huvard

Physical Activity Levels of California Lutheran University Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic

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The COVID-19 pandemic enforced lockdown measures that limited an individual’s ability to perform normal day-to-day activities which may have included habitual exercise. Lockdown measures were experienced within the California Lutheran University (CLU) community which may have impacted physical activity levels within the student population. Therefore, the aim of this projects was to determine the physical activity levels of students enrolled at California Lutheran University. The World Health Organization (WHO) STEPS questionnaire was used to measure physical activity levels of students enrolled at CLU. Reponses showed that 51% of students met the vigorous activity recommendations of 75min.wk-1and 42% of students met the moderate activity per recommendations of 150min.wk-1. The COVID-19 pandemic may have negatively impacted CLU student activity levels as more than half of the studied population did not meet current exercise guidelines of 150min.wk-1. These data suggest that although current measure to combat the spread of COVID-19 may place individuals as risk of developing non-communicable disease associated with physical inactivity.

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Student(s):
Narre Erhart

Faculty Mentor:
Allan Knox

Genomic and Proteomic Analysis of Coronaviruses

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SARS-CoV-2 encodes two major proteins that facilitate entry into host cells, S1 and S2, which coat the outer envelope of the virus and bind the host-cell receptor, ACE2. Changes to S1 or S2 in the novel coronavirus could lead to a higher affinity for the ACE2 receptor, increasing the ability of SARS-CoV-2 of infecting the human host. As of now, we have compared amino acid sequences identifying conserved regions in SARS 1& 2, additional work will be focused on identifying areas of misalignment and potentially identify mutated residues that impact infection rates and outcomes which in-turn may be contributing to the rise of more virulent or more highly transmissible strains. In this study we use bioinformatic software such as CLUSTAL OMEGA and MEGA to compare known mRNA and protein sequences of bat coronaviruses, to those of known human-infective coronaviruses MERS, SARS, and SARS-CoV-2. We pay specific attention to the S1 and S2 mRNA sequences and their predicted amino acid sequence to evaluate mutation sites that could increase affinity of S1 or S2 for the human ACE2 receptor. In future studies, 3-D protein models using Chimera or other 3-D rendering software will also be used to visualize how these proteins have evolved over time.

Student(s):
Zsa Gabor

Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Paloma Vargas

The Comparison of Microfiber Quantities Found in Southern California Coastal Sediments

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Microfibers are small, fiber-like fragments of plastic, defined as being smaller than 5mm. Microfibers are found in many differing environments and enter into the marine environment through the discharge of wastewater from washing laundry or through direct dumping of plastic waste into the ocean which is then broken down. The aim of this study is to answer whether there is a noticeable difference in microfiber quantities between Ventura State Beach and Newport Harbor, two vastly different areas that are located within Southern California. Due to a high prevalence of wastewater, runoff, and water reuse in residential areas, we expect that the harbor will have a higher amount of microfibers than samples collected near the channel delta. My procedure consisted of combining 200 mL of saltwater with 100 mL of sand into a beaker and the solution is mixed, hours later microfibers would be suspended in water due to being less dense than the sediments. This saltwater from the sand mixture is then poured into a Buchner Funnel filtration system that is attached to a pump to filter out the saltwater. Samples are analyzed underneath a microscope to count the number of microfibers; color and size are recorded from each sample. Results determined that Newport Harbor had a greater amount of microfibers compared to Ventura State Beach. A T-Test was conducted and concluded that the results were not statistically significant as p-value was not p<0.05.

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Student(s):
Mia Leclerc, Elijah Hill

Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Andrea Huvard

Quantification of Microfibers in the Gastrointestinal Tract of Loligo opalescens.

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Over the past decade, the interest in marine microfiber research has grown substantially, along with scientific understanding of its impact on various ecosystems. Microfibers are a type of microplastic that is shed from synthetic fabrics made from materials such as nylon that frequently pollute various waterways. Despite the great amount of attention towards research on filter feeders (i.e. mussels), we decided to shift our focus to Loligo opalescens (California market squid), a tertiary consumer and key stone species for many marine and land species along the coast of Southern California. The purpose of this study was to confirm the presence of microfibers in the gastrointestinal tract of the squid. The number of microfibers were quantified under a light microscope for each sample after the dissection and vacuum filtration of gastrointestinal tract. 22 samples were analyzed, which contained a minimum of 9 microfibers and a maximum of 65 microfibers with an average of 28 microfibers. For context, the average is roughly half of the average found in Argonauta nuoryi, another cephalopode and tertiary consumer, that had an average length that is about four times longer than that of the squid samples analyzed (Del et. al.). Although further research is needed to certify a conclusion, the results suggest that California market squid has been significantly impacted by microfiber pollution present in its ecosystem. The squid’s role as a keystone species and the theory of microfiber trophic transfer also suggests that other members of the ecosystem have been impacted on a similar level.

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Student(s):
Edward Martinez, Alexandria De Leon

Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Andrea Huvard

Ketogenic Diet’s Vascular Risk Factors: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

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The leading cause of death in the United States is cardiovascular disease. Research has shown that there is a strong relationship between high fat consumption and raised cholesterol, leading to atherosclerosis. Although it is believed high fat diets will cause heart disease this outcome has not been observed from the Ketogenic diet. The diet consists of high fats, low carbohydrates with the purpose of lowering blood sugar and insulin levels. Previous research of this diet has been directed towards individuals at risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and in aid of epilepsy. This study aimed to provide evidence towards whether cholesterol levels and arterial hemodynamics differed amongst healthy or obese populations when prescribed this diet; bringing awareness of diets that improve overall health and body composition. This study conducted a systematic review and metanalysis. Searches of PubMed and Google Scholar were performed to find relevant literature that compared healthy and obese individuals who were either prescribed the Ketogenic diet or an alternative diet: Plant-based, Mediterranean, or Calorie Deficit. This study found that there were no significant differences between HDL or LDL particles in individuals on the diets. There were also no significant differences found for systolic or diastolic blood pressure. Despite the results, there was implication of different populations having different responses to the Ketogenic diet. This suggests that “fad” diets are not always correct for every individual. Future studies are warranted to provide more information on how specific populations respond to the Ketogenic diet.

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Student(s):
Madalyne Nolte

Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Allan Knox

Analysis of Microfibers in Sardina pilchardus and Rastrelliger kanagurta

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A study on microfibers was done to determine the quantity of microfibers within Sardina pilchardus and Rastrelliger kanagurta. Fish were dissected and the gills and gut were extracted. The extracted organs were measured and grounded into a paste; which were suspended in a brine solution. The solutions were then filtered through a vacuum pump, and the results were analyzed using light microscopy. When Sardina pilchardus (Sardine) was compared to Rastrelliger kanagurta (Indian Mackerel) we found that there were significantly more microfibers in Rastrelliger kanagurta than they were in Sardina pilchardus ( t=0.004, df=68 p≤0.05). When small Sardina pilchardus were compared to large size to determine which size contain the greater number of microfibers, we found that there was no significant difference between both fish sizes (t=0.53, df= 43,p≥0.05), when small Rastrelliger kanagurta were compared to large, we found that there was no significant difference between both sizes as well( t=0.37, df=19, p≥0.05).

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Student(s):
Steven Ortez Hernandez, Keury Ortez Hernandez

Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Andrea Huvard

NIS synthetases Structure Review of IucA and IucC

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Iron is vital for living organisms since it plays a role to allow protein’s biological activity in metabolic processes such as aerobic and anaerobic ATP biosynthesis. NIS synthetases are important because one of the members of the family is present in many of the pathogenic bacteria so it can be used for one model for all instead of a specific model for a specific bacterium.A literature review of the four NIS synthetases family member was done with a focus on Iron uptake chelate type C and A. Structures were obtain from IucC Bailey et al and IucA Bailey et al that was uploaded in the Protein Data Bank and then pull using Pymol program. DesD structure was obtained and overlay with IucA and IuC separately. Each thumb helixes were label in the structures that had it present and compare with missing sequence loops and helixes that were present when overlaid with DesD. The overlay of the structure demonstrates a lack of modeling in IucC, and IucA overlay demonstrated that its alpha thumb helix was short and completely off the helix of DesD. DesD helix continues in its second helix going into its dimerization interface which IucC and IucA can’t continue. NIS synthetases family members have similar structure model once overlay with each other. DesD has a well-made model to be used with what each member of its family lacks, it contains. DesD can be used for the main mapping of antibiotic design against pathogenetic bacteria siderophores.

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Student(s):
Pablo Paredes, Estrella Palacios, Nathan March, Eliana Goncuian, Raquel Barnard

Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Katherine M. Hoffmann

The Production of a Newsletter and Review Article

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Alkenes are versatile functional groups in organic chemistry, as they give access to relevant molecules with relevant applications. Here in it is reported the development of a literature review on modern methods for the synthesis of alkenes, under the guidance of Dr. Cordova Guerrero, a project in collaboration with another research group from the University of Tampa. We used Scifinder Scholar as the scientific database to obtain peer-reviewed articles, and Chemdraw as the software to draw chemical structures included in the manuscript. We are currently working on the final draft before its submission for review and publication. The expected outcome is the publication of this review article in the European Journal of Organic Chemistry, a publication that will include recent reports for the synthesis of alkenes as a strategy to further the knowledge in the scientific community based on their unique characteristic structure. A Newsletter in STEM has also been developed, as a space to highlight and celebrate Faculty and students' research accomplishments at CLU. Several research groups have been featured, and this will represent a valuable resource for the students to learn more about the type of research projects developed at CLU.

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Student(s):
Alexia Rangel, Crystal Cendejas

Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Jesus Cordova Guerrero

Comparison of Microfibers Found in the Gut and Gills of the Sardine Fish, Sardina pilchardus.

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A microfiber is a microscopic strand of plastic measuring under 5mm long. Our clothes are the main source of microfibers since strands primarily fall off when we wash our clothes. These fibers end up in the ocean through our washing machines and are ingested by living organisms, like fish. The aim of the present study is to investigate the quantity of microfibers found in the digestive tract compared to the gills of the Sardine fish, Sardina pilchardus. While comparing the microfibers in the digestive tract and the gills of the fish, it was expected there would be more microfibers found in the digestive system. The fish were dissected and the gills and digestive tract of each were removed to be mashed up in a mortar and pestle. Both pastes were placed into a saltwater solution which was allowed to sit for a 24 hours. The contents of each beaker were filtered using a vacuum pump and examined under a microscope. The microfibers were counted and sorted by color. Results determined that in terms of quantity, more microfibers were found in the digestive tract compared to the gills. However, after conducting a t-test it was determined that the results were not significant since the p-value was 0.13 (p > 0.05). In conclusion, there was no statistical difference between the quantity of microfibers in the digestive tract compared to the gills of the Sardina pilchardus.

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Student(s):
Ashley Rauda, Steven Hernandez, Keury Hernandez

Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Andrea Huvard

A Markov Chain Analysis of the XFL OvertimeRules

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In 2018, a new alternative competitive league referred to as the XFL introduced unique football overtime rules. In an attempt to make the football overtime rules fairer, the XFL implemented rules which differ significantly from the NFL rules. The purpose of this project was to investigate how fair the NFL overtime system is compared to the XFL overtime model using the NFL overtime model proposed by Jones, The New Rules for NFL Overtime. Jones claims that the NFL overtime system neatly balances out the coin toss advantage without significantly extending the expected length of the game. Although the system may seem mathematically appealing there is still some skewness favoring the team that wins the coin toss. To identify which overtime system is fairer, we created a discrete-time Markov chain model of the XFL overtime rules and compared the model outcomes for the two rule sets. The XFL claims these rules are fairer. That is, if given equally skilled competitors who enter overtime, they will have the same chance to win. We also explored a second XFL claim: that their rules lead to shorter overtimes. To accomplish this, we equated steps in the Markov chain model with times and evaluated the claim that the XFL overtimes lead to shorter over time than the current NFL overtime rules. We discovered that the XFL overtime rules are fairer than the current NFL overtime rules and it can also be demonstrated that the XFL overtimes are shorter than the current NFL overtime rules.

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Student(s):
Jazmine Toledo

Faculty Mentor:
Christopher Brown

Golf Shaft Stiffness Affects Reaction Force Generation

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To complete a golf swing, players regulate reaction forces to stay balanced (Egret, 2003). Players do not respond predictably to changes in shaft mass (Haeufle, 2012) and could often not tell the difference between shafts of differing stiffness (Milne & Davis, 1992). This study aims to determine if golf club shaft properties influence player kinetics. NCAA Division III men’s and women’s golf players (3 male, 4 female) volunteered to participate in accordance with the IRB. Players performed 10 golf shots downrange with drivers of different shaft overall stiffness. Players stood with each foot supported on a force plate (1200 Hz, Kistler). The period of interest was defined as the time when the player’s target leg reaction force becomes posterior until ball contact. Linear impulse was calculated as the area under the force–time curves during the interval of interest. Target leg mediolateral (ML) linear impulse was amplified away from the target with the extra stiff shaft (.357 ± .096 N*s/kg) compared to the stiff shaft (.340 ± .083 N*s/kg, p = .041). Rear leg ML linear impulse was amplified toward the target with the extra stiff shaft (.436 ± .142 N*s/kg) compared to the stiff shaft (.405 ± .132 N*s/kg, p = .070). These results may indicate that players unintentionally adjusted force generation strategies using a stiffer shaft. It is important for the player to understand how their golf shot outcomes are affected by club characteristics since players have so many options to tailor their equipment.

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Student(s):
Luke Vankeersbilck

Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Travis Peterson

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