In our recent embedded study abroad program in Western Cuba, we were given the opportunity to learn about sustainability and environmental conservation policy. Our immersion with the Cuban people, flora, and fauna facilitated a deeper intrinsic understanding of fragile ecosystems and their unnatural invasive disruptions. In this case study analysis, we evaluate the economic utilization of two invasive species, the lion fish and marabou shrub, in order to reduce their detrimental impact on endemic species.

It is crucial that we understand how neurons respond to injury, especially as these cells may be subject to some form of nerve damage. In our work, we used Drosophila larvae as a model organism to investigate the axonal neuroprotective pathway and attempt to identify key proteins in the largely uncharacterized pathway for response to dendritic injury. We have also been working towards establishing a new method for measuring neuronal response to injury.

NAD+ is an essential molecule in biological processes such as metabolism and lifespan. Deficiencies in NAD+ lead to complications in the model organism C. elegans. We research a phenotype caused by a gene-environment interaction involving the riboside pathway of NAD+ synthesis. This delayed hatching phenotype occurs when nmrk-1 is knocked down and the animal is grown in oxidative stress environments. We seek to understand the contribution of environmental factors to the expression of delayed hatching.

We use C. elegans as a model organism to study the impact of NAD+ metabolism on development. We have identified a delayed-hatching phenotype associated with deficiency in the nmrk-1 gene, which is involved in NAD+ biosynthesis. We examined deficiency in the genes nmat-1 and nmat-2, which operate directly downstream of nmrk-1. Through mutant analysis and RNAi knockdowns, we have found that a similar, possibly more severe phenotype is associated with deficiency in the nmat genes.

Neurons must be particularly adept at responding to injury in order to continue to perform their regular functions. In our research we use Drosophila larvae as model organisms for studying response to neuron injury. Specifically, we are studying the pathways involved in the response to dendritic injury and in the axonal neuroprotective pathway, as well as establishing a new method for measuring response.

Part Shape and build parameters in 3D Printing play a vital role in determining mechanical properties of 3D printed parts. Particularly, the use of 2D layers printed parallel to the build surface produces weak parts especially when stresses perpendicular to the layer interface. We investigate a novel approach that uses non-planar 3D layers, Active Z printing, to improve mechanical strength by aligning the principal stresses in the part parallel to the material deposition paths.

Antibiotic resistance is a growing issue that leads to the ineffectiveness of drugs that treat bacterial infections. New investigations are currently underway to determine the effectiveness of helper compounds, which include a range of drug classes, particularly antihistamines. Antihistamines oppose the constitutive activity of histamine receptors, which function to produce biological responses. The antihistamine, Azelastine, possesses antibacterial activity by altering bacterial membrane permeability. 

The goal of this project is to discover new antibiotics that target the SigmaE/Hfq pathway required for virulence and maintaining the integrity of the cellular membrane in Gram negative bacteria such as E. coli. Previously, a library of chemical compounds was screened to discover potential inhibitors of this pathway. Now these potential chemical inhibitors must undergo a series of secondary assays to differentiate whether the compounds inhibit either the SigmaE or Hfq pathway.

This research was undertaken as part of a course-based undergraduate research experience (CURE) structured through the 2017 Penn State CHANCE Program in Cuba. Experiential learning in the field allowed for the examination of farming methods as they relate to agricultural sustainability. Green roofs could enhance the quality of living and introduce many benefits to urban settings. It is recommended that Cuba begin to look into constructing green roofs and creating policies that facilitate this practice.

This work presents the results of a noninvasive three-dimensional (3D) full-field mechanical measurement of shoulder bones under different loading conditions. Micro X-ray Computed Tomography (µ-XCT) of the specimen is taken under no-load and loaded conditions. Then a glenoid implant is cemented into the specimen by a shoulder surgeon. µ-XCT of implant-bone structure is taken under no-load and loaded conditions.The deformation and strain in bone with or without implant under various loading conditions are compared.

Through the use of 3D modeling, structure from motion mapping, and virtual reality, the ChoroPhronesis lab is making archeological sites available to the classroom.  Cahal Pech, a Mayan ruin in Belize, is the test site for using structure from motion mapping to create models of the ruins that can be placed into a virtual reality platform and be used as an educational tool.

Field Education and experiences during the 2017 Penn State CHANCE program in Cuba prompted the following research to be conducted in an attempt to answer: What efforts exist in the U. S. to protect and preserve coral reef ecosystems? Are there collaborations between the U.S. and Cuba?  Comparative analysis of conservation policies and practices between these two countries was used to answer these questions and to develop recommendations to enhance coral reef conservation in Cuba.

The community of Johnston Square is one of many in Baltimore suffering the effects of a shrinking city. With much of the neighborhood abandoned or in disrepair, local residents are pushing for a revitalization and looking for better ways to use these city spaces. This project describes one possible design solution to some of these issues and, more importantly, the geo-design process used to judge the appropriateness of the program and location.