<i>Agama agama africana</i> is a lizard originally found in sub-Saharan Africa. Typically, it is found in urban and suburban areas and certain wildlands of Africa. This lizard was first noted in 1983 in Florida by L. D. William and L. Portis. It is believed that the Florida populations of these lizards are a result of intentional release and from damage done to exotic reptile businesses during Hurricane Andrew. Other researchers have documented that this species of lizard has a territory range that it aggressively defends against when other males challenge the territory. The behavior of the lizard was the focus for this study. Data was collected in areas throughout Jensen Beach and Stuart, Florida where populations are prevalent. Five males of A. a. africana were caught, marked with nail polished, and measured. Once released, three of these males and one uncaught male were observed from a distance while their movement and activity were recorded. Measurements were then taken of the lizards’ movement and the total area was calculated using an online irregular polygon calculator. Due to the small sample size, the results were inconclusive for a relationship between lizard size and home range area.

Through research done on causes of late-onset Alzheimer’s disease (AD), a link has been made between the amyloid-beta protein and the APOE ε4 allele. Not only do they play a major role in leading to AD, they also result in an increased risk of brain injury. Looking at studies done on patients with traumatic brain injuries, with an emphasis on injuries received while boxing, the possibility exists that having the APOE ε4 allele can lead to being more at risk for having a traumatic brain injury than non-carriers. Currently, there is no screening for the APOE ε4 allele in prospective athletes. The topic of potential screening should be further discussed as well as additional research done to be better equipped for educating the public on possible risks.

Two issues affecting health today are metabolic syndrome and trans fats. Metabolic syndrome is a common condition that has no single known cause. Trans fats are fatty acids that can be artificially made and added to food, or can naturally occur in ruminant-derived foods. There has been speculation that metabolic syndrome and trans fats are correlated. Studies indicate both positive and negative correlations between metabolic syndrome and the consumption of trans fats.

Lack of information on unique diseases has led to research on human components associated with disease defense such as the major histocompatibility complex (MHC), also known as the human leukocyte antigen (HLA). This genetic complex produces three classes of MHC receptors in humans, MHC/HLA I, II, and III, located on the cell membrane. MHC is a highly polymorphic gene complex with high linkage disequilibrium. Molecular changes and mutations on units of the MHC increase susceptibility for disease. These findings led to procedures which purposely induced changes on the MHC to prove its association with disease susceptibility. Analyzing and sequencing the genome of the HLA gene region is an important part of understanding the MCH, but sequencing can be difficult due to its high polymorphism trait. These issues led to faster, more efficient, and cheaper methods for sequencing not just the HLA but any gene region. Technology such as mass spectrometry is also facilitating characterization of HLAs, and finding disease correlations. With these advances in technology, a source for various diseases can be found.

Prions, amyloid precursor protein (APP), and tau, and the diseases that result from them, share common characteristics. These include the manner in which the diseases progress, and the structures and physiology of the proteins. This paper discusses some common characteristics.

Dental pulp stem cell research has provided new understanding regarding the subtle differences from the more commonly studied mesenchymal stem cells. The ability to differentiate into various types of cells, the ease of extraction, and ability to maintain clonogenic properties in cell cultures have led dental pulp stem cells to be an attractive alternative focus in stem cell therapeutic research. The recent research advancements that have led an endeavor for application in medicine and therapeutics are reviewed.

According to the Indian River Junior College president Dr. Maxwell King, the IRJC library provides an independent student with an extensive collection of books and information for research or learning. That area was specifically built for individual study because it is unlikely for the average student to retain everything he or she has learned in class. The common day libraries contain information written before any human lifespan, so if any student is curious about the past, the library is a great place to obtain knowledge. Summary written by Malik Girondin, in Dr. Carrigan's AMH 2020 H2SL (Honors/Service Learning).

This Pioneer Post (also known as Pioneer Press) edition contains many articles about student life, local performances, and sports scores.
Articles of interest include "Women Graduates from IRJC'S Police Academy". A woman named Fonda Doane, despite the author's emphasis on her feminine qualities, becomes the first woman to graduate from IRCC Policy Academy dominated by men. In spite of her being an outlier in class, she enjoyed it with some embarrassing moments and dirty jokes. In 1972, only 2% of all police officers and sheriffs across America were females. Female police officers in the 1970s experienced gender stereotypes and sexual harassment. There were some who battled hard to earn their respect which shined a light upon them to encourage more women to become officers. In 1973, a woman named Fonda Doane became the first woman to graduate from IRJC Police Academy despite the stereotypes and sexist comments. With her and other brave police officers being an example, hopefully, more will pursue this career soon. Now the percentage of females in the force is 13% which is not a drastic boost, but it is improving.Summary written by Malik Girondin, in Dr. Carrigan's AMH 2020 H2SL (Honors/Service Learning).

This Pioneer Post (also known as Pioneer Press) edition contains many articles about student life, local performances, and sports scores.