2024 Undergraduate Exhibition

Currently, exoplanets are classified into four differentcategories based on their size: terrestrial, super-earth, Neptunian, andGas Giants. According to Kepler’s Third Law of planetary motion, thesquares of the orbital periods of these planets are directlyproportional to the cubes of the semi-major axes of their orbits. Thepurpose of this research is to investigate whether this law alwaysapplies to each category of exoplanets. If not, the research aims tounderstand the factors that could cause a divergence from therelationship, and whether those differences are a trend in thatparticular exoplanet type. It is expected that exoplanetary systems willfollow Kepler’s Third Law if: 1. the exoplanets are much less massivethan the parent star, 2. gravitational influence between the planets isnot significant, 3. the stellar system is clear of dust and debris, and4. the system does not contain multiple stars. Our preliminary resultsshow that there are several systems of exoplanets that deviate from suchKepler’s Third Law with majority being among the terrestrial type.Further, this research aims to explore the factors that could cause thisshift, whether it be experimental errors or the existence of a hiddencelestial body in the planetary system influencing the orbit of aparticular planet.

Self-reported intake and availability of fruits and vegetables has been shown to have low reliability for both children and adults. One solution is to measure polyphenols, which are naturally occurring compounds found mainly in fruits and vegetables. Derivatives of polyphenols can be measured using urinary metabolite analysis. We will compare polyphenol concentrations and parent-reported child consumption of fruits and vegetables to validate this approach in children.

For my presentation, I created a logistic regression model based on gender and ethnicity in order to predict the success of women in entrance to STEM major classes at Penn State. Real-life data from Penn State Undergraduate Education was used to make this model. I completed the variable selection process, validity assumptions, and demonstrated how the model could be used to predict the success of an undergraduate STEM major based on demographic factors. However, these models proved that Gender is not a statistically significant predictor of success.

Cover crops (CC) play an important role helping farmers retain efficiency and yield while promoting sustainable agricultural practices. By understanding how CC allocate their biomass we can better predict their ecosystem service provisioning (e.g., nitrogen retention). Through this research, I analyzed above and below-ground allocation changes in four CC species in monocultures and mixture treatments. Insights from this work can aid growers in optimizing their planting techniques to yield specific service packages from CC.

People recognize emotional prosody in foreign languages; aspects of emotional prosody has universal qualities (Paulman & Uskul, 2014; Pell et al., 2009). Participants more accurately recognize emotions in their native than a foreign language(Pell et al., 2009). We studied these same accuracies for bilingual individuals. Also, the physical overlap of competing signals makes target speech more difficult to understand (Mattys et al., 2012). Thus, this we also investigated how background babble may affect emotion recognition.

The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission has taken an interest in documenting reproducing populations of Brook Trout. To discern which streams were inhabited by reproducing populations of Brook Trout, the PFBC compiled a list of unassessed streams to be surveyed. Out of the many unassessed trout streams, we sampled 80 streams during the summer of 2023. If streams showed reproducing populations, the PFBC would take the necessary steps to manage these populations.

The type VI secretion system (T6SS) is a molecular weapon which allows bacteria to compete with nearby cells through contact dependent killing activity. While T6SS has a well-defined function, the full extent of impacts to symbiosis establishment in V. fischeri is still unknown. This poster serves to convey data on how two T6SS positive strains interact and impact each other in vitro.

Thermodynamic stability of an RNA duplex is impacted by its environment and the imperfections within the duplex. To explore the effects of RNA structure on stability bulges and internal loops were incorporated into the duplex. Two environments were studied: 1M NaCl and artificial cytoplasm of Eco80 (80% Escherichia coli metabolites) which is an approximation of cellular conditions. Results indicate that structural imperfections are more readily tolerated under in vivo-like conditions.

The main goal of this presentation is to highlight the benefits of the strategic location of Panama and the Panama Canal. The planned highlighted areas are as follows: benefits to the economy, benefits to corporations and businesses, and the internal benefit to the culture of the country its self.

Cellulose is one of the main structural components in the primary cell walls of plants that provides plants with the mechanical strength to withstand external environmental forces. This biopolymer is synthesized at the plasma membrane (PM) by cellulose synthase complexes (CSC), which are made up of cellulose synthase proteins (CESA). Previous research has shown that CSC complexes and CESA proteins are found in the plasma membrane during synthesis; however, the assembly and trafficking of the CSCs to the PM are poorly understood1. TRAPP complexes are highly conserved protein complexes that may play a role in controlling the intracellular trafficking pathways2,3. In this study, we investigate the role Tca17, a TRAPPII and TRAPPIII specific subunit, may play in regulating CSC dynamics and compare its subcellular dynamics to Trs85, a TRAPPIII specific subunit4. Discovering a reduction in seven-day-old hypocotyls, a lower crystalline cellulose content in four-day-old hypocotyls, and no affect on the YFP-CESA6 particle density at the PM in prc1-1 tca17 mutant suggests that Tca17 is involved in cellulose synthesis at the PM, but in an independent role of Trs85.

The importance of microtubules in neurons lies in their role of providing a highway network that is used to carry molecular components to various locations within the cell. Microtubule-severing proteins are responsible for regulating these microtubules to tailor the highway network to a cell’s needs. Kat60L1, one such severing protein, is being examined using in vivo live imaging in a Drosophila system to gain more insight into the specific functions of this poorly studied protein.

Extracellular signals and other cellular cargo are required for cell survival. Mechanisms of cargo internalization are needed in order to uptake these materials. Although events upstream and downstream of cargo intake in axons and the cell body of neurons are known, these events are not understood as well in dendrites. Using genetic manipulation in Drosophila and confocal microscopy techniques, we find that sites of endocytosis concentrates at dendritic branch points and act upstream of microtubule nucleation machinery recruitment, introducing a new importance of cell surroundings in neuron injury responses.

In pastoralist Kenyan communities, meeting water needs can be a struggle for families. The responsibility of collecting water often falls upon the women of the house. This poster examines water insecurity in rural Daasanach communities and addresses the role of gender, as well as explores how water insecurity impacts women’s ability to breastfeed. Using data from a cross-sectional survey collected in summer 2023, we found that women  experience more water insecurity.​

The gut microbiome is known to harbor commensal bacteria crucial to maintaining host homeostasis, physiology, and health. With growing emphasis on birds as at-risk indicator species and sequencing technology advancements, research is necessary and possible for understanding how changes in the avian gut microbiota impact metabolic pathways. Here, we investigate the relationship between gut microbial diversity (16S fecal metabarcoding) and plasma blood glucose/hematocrit levels in Eastern Bluebirds and Tree Swallows captured in central PA.

The Panama Canal serves as a pivotal infrastructure asset that led Panama's evolution into a prominent logistical hub. The canal's strategic significance draws numerous multinational corporations to establish a presence in Panama that fosters economic development. Additionally, Panama's robust and stable economic environment serves as a magnet for large enterprises who seek monetary opportunities. These enterprises undertake significant infrastructure projects to bolster the nation's economic framework. This relationship brings light the interdependence between economic vitality and infrastructural development, wherein each facet mutually influences and reinforces the other.

      As consumers continue to demand sustainability in the fashion industry, the practice of greenwashing is growing in discussion among scholars. This study seeks to analyze the relationship between type of greenwashing claim (vague vs. false) and price level (low vs. high) in the context of the fast fashion industry. Through an experimental 2 x 2 between-subjects survey design, data was collected from 152 American consumers of all ages and education levels. The stimuli consisted of images of basic T-shirts accompanied by clothing labels with the experimental conditions depicted upon them. The data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and tests of ANOVA (analyses of variance). Results show that American consumers are unable to detect differences between vague and false advertising claims in the fashion industry, regardless of the price level. Moreover, the data suggest that American consumers are unable to detect the presence of greenwashing irrespective of the type of claim or price level in this industry, which future research should further investigate. Marketers can use these and related future findings to appropriately advertise and price their clothing products. If future studies similarly conclude that American consumers are deceived by greenwashing claims, such findings can be used to support regulatory legislation.

Focusing on the impact of Ismael Rivera on Tego Calderón and Bad Bunny, this paper investigates the interplay of legacy, influence, and connections between these artists and their relationship with the Puerto Rican community. It explores the varied perceptions of Ismael Rivera's influence on Tego Calderón and Bad Bunny, as well as the connections perceived between Reggaetón and Salsa. Through case studies and oral histories, the research involves interviews with four individuals to gather insights on their connections with Salsa and Reggaetón, centering on the contributions of Ismael Rivera, Tego Calderón, and Bad Bunny.

Adolescence demonstrates a dynamic time where young people risk interacting with new social groups.It is unknown whether the number of peers present increases the experience of rejection or elicits differing decisions to interact. The present study investigates how adolescents differ in their risk-taking behavior between social and non-social environments, how behaviors differ as a function of peer group sizes, and how risk taking in a laboratory task relates to real-world risk taking.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess the effectiveness of Exer Health on individual’s functional movement capabilities. Methods: Subjects were randomly assigned exercises within the Exer Health app 3 days/week for 6 weeks or to the control. Results: Pre-test measurements show an average Functional Movement Screen score of 13.3 in the experimental group and an average score of 15.67 in the control group. Conclusion: Preliminary results show Exer Health didn’t affect functional movement.

The present study investigated the influence of image proximity and the specificity of image labeling on false memory production. We hypothesized that when images within a pair are presented close together and therefore more likely to be labeled in superordinate categories, false memories will be greater. Participants were asked to overtly label both proximal and distal image pairs. They then completed a surprise memory test for individual images from the pairs. Results will be discussed.

This study aimed to examine the relationship between adolescent clothing size inconsistencies and female college student disordered eating trends. Pre-existing literature suggests evidence that women’s clothing sizes have heavy variance, but nobody has connected this to disordered eating before. This was a mixed methods study, with qualitative focus groups and quantitative statistical analysis. Key findings suggest that clothing size inconsistency is linked to disordered eating, negative self-esteem, and social comparison amongst female college students. 

Under standard imitation dynamics, the strategy Defect is known to be stable to invasion against Cooperate in the spatial Prisoner's Dilemma game. We show that when imitation is based on a 'bank' or sum of all payoffs up to time t, Defect is no longer stable. We study dynamics for the single invader and random initial strategy cases, finding that for large enough initial bank values, cooperation not only persists but can dominate the domain.

Previous research shows a link between social media and poorer mental health among young people. Studies link the use of social media with depression, anxiety, insomnia, stress, eating disorders, fear of missing out. The project will involve in-depth interviews and quantitative surveys with college students recruited from Penn State Berks to explore thoughts, decisions, and reflections about their experiences with social media. 

High-Mass X-Ray Binary pulsars (HMXB pulsars) are fast-moving, magnetized neutron stars in a binary orbit alongside a companion star, wherein X-Rays are emitted from their magnetic poles. These X-rays are generated when the neutron star accretes material from its companion and magnetic field deflects it to its poles. Magnetars are also neutron stars, but they are slower-moving with extremely powerful magnetic field strengths to the orders of 10^9T-10^15G making them the most powerful known magnets in the universe. The aim of this project is to show how HMXB pulsars and magnetars differ from each other. We examined two catalogues containing HMXB pulsars (Kim et al. 2023) and magnetars (Olausen & Kaspi, 2014) and extracted data which empirically tell us about their characteristics such as the period, rate of change of period, magnetic field, and luminosity. Our results show the differences between the accretion-powered HMXB pulsars and electromagnetic-powered magnetars.