Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

To Open Or Not To Open: Developing A Covid-19 Model Specific To Small Residential Campuses, Christina Joy Edholm, Maryann Hohn, Nicole Lee Falicov, Emily Lee, Lily Natasha Wartman, Ami Radunskaya

CODEE Journal

In May 2020, administrators of residential colleges struggled with the decision of whether or not to open their campuses in the Fall semester of 2020. To help guide this decision, we formulated an ODE model capturing the dynamics of the spread of COVID-19 on a residential campus. In order to provide as much information as possible for administrators, the model accounts for the different behaviors, susceptibility, and risks in the various sub-populations that make up the campus community. In particular, we start with a traditional SEIR model and add compartments representing relevant variables, such as quarantine compartments and a hospitalized …

Sex Differences In The Effects Of Cortisol On Muscle Characteristics: A Meta-Analysis, Natalie Bitetti

CMC Senior Theses

Background: Cortisol plays a central role in both muscle breakdown and growth. These effects are highly dependent on dose and interactions with other hormones. It is known that men and women show considerable differences in their muscle structure and physiology, which are largely driven by hormonal differences. Cortisol release patterns may also vary between the sexes, with current research showing considerable disagreement. The interplay between cortisol and muscle, two highly variable and sexually dimorphic factors, may prove to have different effects in males versus females.

Objective: This meta-analysis integrates existing research on sex differences in cortisol-muscle physiology with existing research …

The Emergence Of Aedes Aegypti In California: Implications For Ecosystems And Public Health, Jose Ruiz

CMC Senior Theses

This literature review delves into the emergence and impact of Aedes aegypti, the yellow fever mosquito, in Southern California. My investigation begins with an exploration of the physical characteristics, historical background, and its significance as a vector. Notably, Aedes aegypti's historical role as a vector for yellow fever during the 19th century shapes the foundation for understanding its effectiveness in disease transmission and demonstrates the potential of its negative impact on Southern California residents. I examined the habitat preferences and behaviors of Aedes aegypti, emphasizing its adaptability to urban environments and its effect as a daytime feeder with a limited …

Employing A Machine Learning Approach In Precision Oncology To Predict Pik3ca Functional Status And Identify Phenocopying Variants Of Deleterious Pik3ca Mutations, Javier Castillo

CMC Senior Theses

The following proposal describes a modular machine learning approach that detects malfunctioning genes and pathways in cancer using the transcriptome of cancer patients. The transcriptome is underused in precision oncology and, combined with machine learning, can aid in the identification of hidden responders. Applied to the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway, this method can be used to predict PIK3CA functional status and identify phenocopying variants of deleterious PIK3CA mutations. The classifier will do this by integrating RNA-seq, copy number, and mutation data from tumors to determine the functional status of PIK3CA using a set of learned gene-specific weights. The classifier will then be …

Harnessing Antagonistic Pleiotropy: Tolc-Dependent Coliphages Can Drive Reduced Antibiotic Resistance In E. Coli, Cooper Mckenna

CMC Senior Theses

The rise of multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacterial pathogens has been a growing concern in healthcare around the world, and bacteriophage (phage) therapy is a promising method to combat MDR infections. One defense mechanism of E. coli against antibiotics is the TolC-AcrAB efflux pump. At the same time, some phages use TolC as a surface receptor to infect the cell. This puts TolC at a crossroads in which it is beneficial to the bacteria to protect against antibiotics but harmful by allowing phage infection, creating the potential for evolutionary trade-offs. Previous research has identified only three TolC-dependent phages and shown phage-resistant E. …

Effects Of The Injury Recovery Process On Neuromuscular Activation In An Uninjured Ankle, Mark Tankersley

CMC Senior Theses

This study was conducted to observe the effects of changed activity levels due to a major lower extremity injury on ankle function in the uninjured leg. Neuromuscular activation in the Gastric Medialis (GAS) and Tibialis Anterior (TA), the muscles primarily responsible for movement at the ankle, was assessed in 8 athletes at the Claremont Colleges while walking on a flat surface, stepping up a 15º incline, and stepping up a 27º incline. Athletes were split into two groups based on injury condition: a “recovered” group (n=4) who had suffered a major lower extremity injury in the last two years in …

Exploring The Impact Of Caffeine, Alcohol, And Opioids On Intraocular Pressure: A Comprehensive Analysis Of Short-Term And Long-Term Effects On Vision, Jake Prieto

CMC Senior Theses

Coffee, alcohol, and opioids are addictive drugs commonly used in modern society, yet their impact on ocular health remains ambiguous. This systematic review aims to elucidate this ambiguity by examining their effects on intraocular pressure (IOP). Utilizing IOP as a metric, both short-term and long-term effects are evaluated across individuals with irregular IOP levels and healthy subjects. Furthermore, the study analyzes choroidal thickness as an additional measure to reinforce or challenge the findings regarding IOP, leveraging the inverse relationship between the two metrics concerning elevated IOP-related illnesses, such as open-angle glaucoma (OAG).

A comprehensive literature search was performed through Google …

Gut Dysbiosis Correlates With Covid-19 Severity, Ednita Escobar

CMC Senior Theses

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) impacts not only respiratory but also gut and oral microbiomes, influencing the manifestations of COVID-19. Each person’s unique microbiome consists of microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi, and viruses, some of which are symbiotic and others potentially harmful. Alterations in the gut microbiome, specifically, can affect the severity and symptoms of COVID-19. A review of studies indicate a pattern of gut dysbiosis in COVID-19 patients characterized by a decrease in beneficial microbiota and/or an increase in opportunistic pathogens. This gut imbalance correlates with disease severity, suggesting that the gut microbiome plays a significant role …

Driven By Change: The Impact Of Macroeconomic Shifts And Covid-19 On New Vehicle Sales, Jackson Aldrich

CMC Senior Theses

This paper examines the impact of macroeconomic factors and the COVID-19 pandemic on new vehicle sales. In order to address these two topics, a two-pronged approach was used with separate regression models. The macroeconomic variables include monthly supply of new homes, CPI for urban public transportation, unemployment rate, disposable personal income, inflation expectation, consumer sentiment, average gas prices, and total vehicle miles traveled which were regressed on total vehicle sales from 1978-2022. The regression results confirmed and supported current literature and highlighted the importance of the housing market and unemployment rate on new vehicle sales. The COVID-19 pandemic model variables …