Natural Sciences
Permanent URI for this collection
Browse
Recent Submissions
Item Prevalence of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Within Spring Arbor University Fall Athletes(2022-10-01) Ousley, DayneSpring Arbor University fall athletes were tested for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus carriage by culturing nasal swabs shortly after their arrival on campus. Should an athlete test positive, they were contacted and recommended to receive treatment provided at the Holton Health Center on the Spring Arbor University campus. The athletes were again tested in the middle and towards the end of their seasons, and the results compared to the first tests. Data comparison of these three testing periods will help us better understand how these bacteria are transmitted between athletes and how preventative measures can be implemented to reduce transmission.Item An Analysis of the Hidden Structure Behind the Chaos of the Williamowski-Rossler Network(2015-05) White, StephenThe history of humanity's love affair with knowledge consists of finding reason and rhyme to the seeming madness of nature. Science has been at the head of this charge, attempting to light the dark room in which we have found ourselves. Science's light of explanation is a confident one which asserts that given one scenario another scenario will inevitably follow. This approach is startlingly fatalistic, and this fatalism has especially taken hold of the 20th and 21st centuries, spawning philosophies such as naturalism and its blunter cousin, nihilism. The discovery of chaotic mechanisms both affirms and laughs at this confidence. On the one hand, it confirms that structures within nature are determined, given a certain set of parameters, one result inevitably follows. On the other, it asserts that there is no possible way for us to know the result. This thesis will hopefully contribute to an assault of this latter proposition, in discussing the hidden structure behind the chaotic behavior of the Williamowski-Rossler Network.Item Are Computers Affecting Your Health? A study of the extent of sickness attributable to bacteria found on personal computers.(2014-04-01) Ward, JamieThis study is intended to examine possible correlations between bacterial concentrations obtained by sampling personal computer keyboards and assessing the overall well being of participants. The objective is to detect changes in bacterial concentration by use of an aerosol sterilizer and correlate these concentrations with a health score obtained from daily surveys filled out by the participant. This research evaluates two hypotheses—the first deals with changes in overall estimated bacterial concentration between the groups, and the second deals with a correlation between the estimated concentrations and health score. Peer-Reviewed scientific literature has shown that many surfaces can act as fomites and transfer bacteria from object to object, person to person, or object to person. Pathogenic bacteria can be transferred onto these objects and may cause disease when people are infected. A blinded cross-over study using aerosol sterilizer and a placebo cleaner was conducted to test if computer users are healthier when their computers have fewer bacteria. This study showed no statistical evidence to support that cleaning a personal computer has any affect on the health of the user. However, this study only analyzed personal computers; other public fomites may play a more important role in the transfer of pathogenic microorganisms.