In order to determine the effects of energy drinks on women's running speed, researchers gave 300 women an energy drink and then recorded the time it took each of them to run 2 miles. After collecting the results, researchers concluded that energy drinks increase the speed of running in women.

Which of the following further tests would best help to support this conclusion?

The correct answer is B. Atoms become cations by losing electrons. Potassium has one electron in its outermost shell, and it is more likely to lose that electron to achieve a stable, cationic state. Fluorine, helium, and oxygen are more likely to gain electrons and form anions.

The correct answer is B. When a volcano erupts, it releases built-up pressure and gases, similar to the fizzing of a can of soda when opened. Both involve the release of pressure and trapped substances, leading to an outward expulsion of materials.

The correct answer is A. Chromatin is a complex of DNA and proteins, including histones, found in the nucleus of eukaryotic cells. It carries the hereditary information in the form of genes. ATP, plasmids, and histones are involved in cellular processes but do not carry hereditary information.

The correct answer is A. The endocardium is the innermost layer of tissue that lines the interior surfaces of the heart, providing a smooth surface for blood flow. The myocardium is the middle muscular layer, the pericardium is the outer protective sac, and the epicardium is the outermost layer covering the heart.

The correct answer is B. Parathyroid hormone (PTH) regulates blood calcium levels by stimulating the release of calcium from bones, reabsorption of calcium in the kidneys, and absorption of calcium in the intestines. Norepinephrine, growth hormone, and melatonin do not play a primary role in calcium regulation.

The correct answer is C. The renal vein is responsible for draining oxygen-depleted blood from the kidneys. After the kidneys filter waste and excess substances from the blood, the deoxygenated blood is carried away from the kidneys by the renal vein

The correct answer is choice B. This is the plate that represents the highest number of bacteria. The bacteria that grow on this plate are the most resistant to the antibiotic because they can survive in a high concentration of the substance. In the other plates, the antibiotic inhibits the growth of the bacteria to a greater or lesser extent, depending on their sensitivity.

The correct answer is D. Mitochondria are the cellular organelles responsible for the production of ATP (adenosine triphosphate) through the process of cellular respiration.

Independent assortment occurs during metaphase I when homologous chromosome pairs line up randomly at the cell’s equator. This randomness contributes to genetic variation because the distribution of maternal and paternal chromosomes into gametes is different each time meiosis occurs.

The correct answer is D. The hip joint allows for a wide range of motion and is characterized by a ball-and-socket structure, where the rounded head of the femur fits into the cup-like socket of the acetabulum in the pelvis. This type of joint permits movement in multiple directions.