As the return to normality in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic enters its early stages, the necessity for accurate, quick, and community-wide surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 has been emphasized. Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) has been used across the world as a tool for monitoring the pandemic, but studies of its efficacy in comparison to the best-known method for surveillance, randomly selected COVID-19 testing, has limited research. This study evaluated the trends and correlations present between SARS-CoV-2 in the effluent wastewater of a large university campus and random COVID-19 testing results published by the university. A moderately strong positive correlation was found between the random testing and WBE surveillance methods (r = 0.63), and this correlation was strengthened when accommodating for lost samples during the experiment (r = 0.74).

An exploration into the history of the 1918 Influenza Pandemic and the societal impacts associated with it, as well as an analysis of the developing SARS-CoV-2 pandemic today. Based upon these analyses, similarities were drawn between the two pandemics which suggested a lack of innovation in preventative measures over the last century. Given this conclusion a series of proposals were made that should be further explored to give not only the United States, but the world at large, a better chance in the face of the next emerging disease.

Recovery from exercise has become an evolving aspect of all sports performance. Increased research has led numerous individuals to understand and utilize the modalities that have become available. Methods such as Cold Water Immersion (CWI), Contrast Water Therapy (CWT), and Hot Water Immersion (HWI) are some of the modalities growing in popularity as well as utilization by athletes across all sports. This paper aims to examine and analyze evidence across several research journals that evaluate the effectiveness and also application of these recovery methods. Cold and heat exposures on the body can have a drastic positive impact on athletic performance. However, without the correct knowledge and guidance, these methods can augment, mitigate, and even diminish the effects of adaptation and exercise. This thesis aims to examine research journals and extract specific practices based on empirical evidence. This is to form proper deliverables and protocols for athletes to use for ideal adaptations and recovery for performance.

This thesis reviewed variables of baseball mechanics and performance as discussed in current literature. This included investigating factors of biomechanics, the health of players, and comparisons across demographics. At the biomechanical level, components of the kinetic chain were observed as the energy transferred from the lower body to the upper body. Additionally, the upper body appeared to compensate for deficits in the rotation of the trunk. Injuries to the abdominal and low back were correlated with trunk rotation, while arm injuries were traced back to overuse and fatigue. When considering experience level, variation tended to decrease. Youth players demonstrated different patterns of fatigue and different injury correlates compared to adults. At a geographic level, American pitchers may be associated with an increased risk of elbow injuries, with Japanese and Korean pitchers to shoulder injuries; these differences are thought to be due to differences in instruction. Applying this research and findings to current baseball players may help guide training and performance or continue research.

Virus-like particles (VLPs) are optimum candidates for creating vaccines, as they are highly flexible, adaptable, safe, and similar to the structural proteins of the target cells. The COVID 19 pandemic has increased the need to create effective and safe vaccines that can be mass produced to stop the spread of COVID-19. Till now, various types of vaccine platforms have been utilized to create COVID-19 vaccines, each with unique characteristics and techniques. It is essential to use robust vaccine platforms that can deliver optimum results in a short period of time, with minimal risks. The structural proteins found in SARS-CoV-2, such as Spike (S) protein have been widely targeted to induce antibody response, also called a humoral response, which is a part of acquired immunity. The other structural proteins such as M (membrane) and E (envelope) can also be used as targets for antibodies. The S2 and glycoprotein (S full) can be used to induce an efficient IgG response. Therefore, the incorporation of structural proteins into VLPs can prove to be useful. Furthermore, double mosaic VLPs employs double epitopes, which can effectively cover the distances between the S proteins, thus optimizing the B cell activation process. This review describes the various developments that have taken place in the field of VLPs and more specifically, with regards to developing VLP vaccines against the SARS-CoV-2 virus.