Researching the Benefits of Exercise

Raphael Pollante, Verrazzano Class of 2023, completed major in Psychology and minor in Cinema Production

When I was deciding on a topic for my Verrazzano Honors capstone, I was told to find a topic that I was personally invested in, because I would be immersed with this topic for an entire school year. The only thing I could think of was that I am extremely passionate about exercise, primarily powerlifting.

After competing in my first powerlifting competition I realized how much I loved the sport, and how it made me feel joyful to be part of a community where everyone works to get stronger. Lifting completely changed my view on life because I am doing something to benefit me for the short-term and long-term.

Creating my hypothesis was probably the most difficult thing throughout the capstone process because lifting was too broad of a topic to discuss in terms of mental health. I decided that powerlifting, weightlifting and bodybuilding could be grouped as just exercise.

From there, I decided that resistance exercise and aerobic exercise are two forms of exercise that I see people working on at gyms, or on social media. I incorporated sub-sections of mental health to include how self-esteem, anxiety/depression, and body dysmorphia changes when a person participates in either resistance training, aerobic exercise, or both.

One thing that I learned while writing my capstone was that no matter the age, gender, ethnicity, or body type, we could all participate in any form of exercise, depending on what that person prefers.

Another thing I learned is that exercise can do so much for our mental health by making us feel good about ourselves, and making us more confident in our body. Exercise is inexpensive to do, and there are a wide range of options like powerlifting, calisthenics, running, swimming, etc.

If my project was to be developed further, I would make sure that the researchers had common knowledge between the different forms of exercise and how each exercise could affect the participants differently. I would also make sure that there is a large sample size in the experiment, as well as proper demographics for each participant before joining the experiment. To properly pursue this research, one needs to have baseline measurements throughout the experiment, as well as one year after the experiment.

All-in-all, I enjoyed writing the capstone because I was able to learn and understand reasons why people enjoy exercise, and how well it can benefit us by doing something that we enjoy. It was a tough process to complete, but I was able to do it and learn something new.

Engineering a Cane Assistant Prototype

Asher Abraham, Verrazzano Class of 2023, completed major in Electrical Engineering and minor in Mathematics

The moment I decided to choose electrical engineering as my major, I knew that I wanted to use the skills I would cultivate both in school and in internships to help improve upon the struggles that are faced by the general populace. One such struggle I’ve seen countless times when I’ve visited my grandfather is his difficulty walking around his house as he maneuvers around obstacles such as dog toys, boxes, and furniture. After seeing firsthand these struggles, I knew immediately that when my senior capstone came around, I would plan to make a project that would help my grandfather and the elderly alleviate the struggles they may face colliding with objects, as well as monitor their health.

This project began in the summer of my senior year, during my Embedded Systems class, which is where I completed the first subsystem. The first subsystem comprised an ultrasonic sensor that would measure the distance from the base of a cane which would then alert the user through vibration motors for a tactile response, as well as through different frequencies of buzzing noises to alert the user through audio. This allowed the user to have proper awareness of any objects or structures that they could possibly collide with.

After the summer class ended and I began my senior capstone project, I paired with my good friend Jeremy, and with our collective ideas, we improved upon the summer project by implementing two new subsystems. One of these subsystems would add a pulse sensor to the handle of the cane to record the user’s BPM and alert a pre-determined contact if their BPM had risen to an unsafe level. The second subsystem was the LED lights component, which would allow the user to use the Smart Cane at night by illuminating the path ahead.

We thought of adding this pulse sensor subsystem because elderly individuals are more prone to hypertension and instances of an increased heart rate that is usually caused by everyday stress as per WHO. This subsystem would ensure that at the exact moment that their heart rate becomes elevated, a loved one or caretaker would be aware of that through the use of a Bluetooth module that would communicate through the app, Ardutooth.

Throughout the project’s research, creation, and completion my partner and I overcame many struggles such as bugged code, faulty components, as well as many changes needed to bring this project to fruition. After completing this capstone, I learned firsthand after many ideas being bounced off by my partner and I, that we wouldn’t be solving the issues perfectly with our project because we were limited to a one-year timeline. Throughout the process, I was under the strong conviction that by the end of the project, we would be able to fully solve the issue with a remedy unlike any other to assist the elderly with unplanned collisions and ensure that they are being properly monitored for their well-being. This was of course a fallacy that I had believed because of the project’s research and how we were making strides with bringing the project to reality.

If I were to work on this project in the future with a longer timeline allowed for me, there are many changes I would implement on the project to make it as effective as possible. I would use a WIFI component for the Smart Cane which would be tied to an app on both Apple and Android’s app stores. Unlike the Bluetooth component that I have now, which is only available on the Android app store. Using the WIFI component, it would allow for contacts from anywhere in the world with WIFI or cellular data to be aware of there elderly loved one in medical need. Additionally, I would love to design my own version of the Smart Cane from scratch through the use of a 3D printer to fit every component perfectly as well as ensure that it’s perfectly sealed from the outside environment. This would ensure that rain, sleet, snow, and even dry conditions wouldn’t affect the circuity of the cane. Since our project is a prototype we were not able to design the sealed container due to the timeline of the capstone but this would be very useful when using the Smart Cane outside of a confined building.

This project holds a very special place to me, and if I ever had the opportunity in the future to work on and expand the project I would love to have the first user be my grandfather.

 

            

Studying Verbal Development with Tajik Children

 Nada Haikel, Verrazzano Class of 2023, completed major in Psychology & minor in Biology

 As a psychology student, I have always had an interest in child development. When I first came across the flyer for Dr. Karasik’s research lab, I figured it would be an interesting addition to my curriculum during my final year of undergraduate studies. Not only was it an intriguing culture and development research lab, but it also meant I wouldn’t have to take an extra class to complete my degree.

As I joined the lab and learned about the several ongoing projects Dr. Karasik had been working on, I quickly found myself interested in one regarding Tajik infants interacting with a novel toy in a longitudinal study. Working with several graduate and undergraduate students, we coded and discussed data until we completed the project in a matter of weeks.

Although I spent a majority of the first semester of my final year working on this project, it’s not what I decided to use for my capstone. Using the same data set, we developed more questions including the ones used for my capstone. Rather than looking at the development of Tajik children, we looked at the verbal information given by the mothers of the infants during this particularly challenging task.

When the time came to submit my capstone abstract, I remember panicking and not knowing what to write for a one-page double-spaced abstract on a project I had been working on for nearly two semesters. With a few encouraging words from Cheryl, I pushed through and finally submitted my abstract.

Looking back, it really shouldn’t have been that hard to write. After all, psychology majors don’t write 10-page papers to then get stuck on writing just one page. I am grateful for the experiences that I’ve had doing research with an incredible group of people and the having the best moral support system.

Researching ASD and Childhood Vaccinations

Kayla Le, Verrazzano Class of 2023, completed major in Biology with a minor in Music

Throughout my research experience, I learned an abundance of information that I was not aware of prior to beginning my research. Completing this project allowed me to gain insight on autism and factors relating to the condition, which is connected to my personal life. Clarity can be spread on the subject, as many people do not know of the signs and symptoms that a person may present.

The topic that was discussed in my project was the mechanism behind autism spectrum disorder, known as ASD, as well as the vaccination stigma that is connected with the condition. As I was searching for scientific journals and articles, it did not surprise me that there were numerous pieces of literature to support the neuronal pathway and components that occur in an individual with ASD, as opposed to someone that does not have it.

One of the main reasons why I decided to focus on this topic was because my younger sister has ASD and I already had a general understanding of the concept growing up with her. Many people often fail to recognize or admit that ASD can sometimes not be apparent immediately unless the individual is taken to a medical professional and properly diagnosed. However, I also wanted to provide information on this subject regarding vaccinations since parents are afraid of immunizing their children since they have this belief of childhood immunizations such as MMR, can cause the condition to surface in children under the age of 2. There have been multiple literature reviews that refute the claim that childhood vaccinations have a connection with ASD and that it is a means of genetics.

It is important for people to be educated on this subject in general so that they know what to expect for someone that possesses ASD. Along with being provided all this information, conducting this research has brought me closer to my sister as it brought a sense of appreciation for everything that she had to endure as she was growing up with various doctor’s appointments and medications. Allowing individuals to become aware of ASD will bring more unity in the community and open a door for individuals with other developmental disabilities.

The Journey of Pursuing Scientific Research as an Undergraduate

Briana Soto, Verrazzano Class of 2023, completed major in Biology Health Science, with minors in History and Psychology

As a freshman at CSI, I was granted a research opportunity through the CUNY Scholars Research Program, CSRP. The knowledge and experience CSRP granted me will forever be cherished. After I completed the program I realized I had fallen in love with scientific research, but I had no idea where to look or who to ask that would allow an undergraduate student to join their team. I was currently lost and didn’t know what my next step was. It wasn’t until I started reaching out and talking with my classmates that a volunteer research opportunity at the Institute for Basic Research, IBR, opened up. Unfortunately, the pandemic hit and everything shut down. It seemed like time had permanently slowed down.

After a year had passed, things were starting to look up and I was able to schedule a meeting with my mentor, Dr. Jeffrey Goodman. Over the course of three years from 2020 to 2023, I was able to work side-by-side with Dr. Goodman and other fellow colleagues.

My research at IBR aimed to use immunohistochemistry to evaluate and assess the anatomical changes that occur in the brain after a traumatic brain injury, TBI, has occurred. At IBR, I was able to practice using both practice and experimental tissue. I learned all of the laboratory procedures that went in place, how to set up the experiments and analyze my results.

My capstone project allowed me to formulate my own hypothesis about TBIs and granted me the opportunity to test it out. I cannot express my gratitude to my mentor, who was there for me every step of the way. Because of Dr. Goodman, I have been able to experience a hands-on approach in the field of neuroscience. I will forever cherish my capstone journey and my time as a Verrazzano student.