Realizing the potential of nitro-compounds to reduce ruminant enteric methane emissions, my objective was to research and obtain various natural sources of nitro-compounds that have the potential to be developed into ruminant livestock feed supplements. I researched several plant, bacterial, and fungal species as potential sources of the nitro-compound 3-nitro-1-propionic acid (3-NPA). I will present possible sources and biochemical pathways that will be useful targets to explore the synthesis of 3-NPA through further genetic manipulations.

This study examines 2203 sympathetic flares from the Sympathetic solar flare (1975-2017) catalogue on the Harvard Dataverse. We analyze key timestamps—start time, peak time, and end time—to delineate the rising and decay phases of these flares. Our findings reveal a correlation between flare duration and the duration of their rising and decay phases, with longer-duration flares exhibiting extended phases. A frequency distribution analysis demonstrates a predominance of shorter-lived flares. We also observe asymmetry in the duration of rising versus decay phases, with the majority of sympathetic flares showing a longer decay phase. Investigation into the change in latitude over the solar cycle indicates a transition from a dispersed distribution to an alignment with the solar equator, particularly evident around 1985, 1995, and 2005. Notably, most sympathetic flares occur within 30 degrees of the solar equator. This study provides valuable insights into the behavior and characteristics of sympathetic flares, contributing to our overall understanding of solar dynamics.

Background: Psychological distress among emergency department (ED) providers is a pervasive concern within healthcare. However, the phenomenon of clinicians not seeking treatment is complex, encompassing factors such as providers' fear, limited time, insufficient resources, and stigma. Many of the cited barriers, including resource availability and stigma have improved with recent efforts, however this is still a need on going to address concerns. Therefore, this thesis sought to examine the generational differences in provider perceptions of resource availability throughout training, stigma, and the status of mental health in the ED in hopes of understanding how individual experiences shape perceptions, across three cohorts of ED providers at an academic medical center.Methods: A two-wave, sequential mixed-methods study was conducted to collect data from ED physicians, advanced practice providers (APPs; i.e., nurse practitioners and physician assistants), and resident physicians. The wave 1 survey assessed demographic information in addition to resource availability during training, institutional monitoring, and institutional regulations. Wave 2 qualitative interviews were subsequently conducted to further explore survey findings and themes. Thematic analysis was used to analyze qualitative data.Results: The wave 1 respondent sample included 20 physicians, 10 APPs, and 13 residents (an overall survey response rate of 39% of all ED clinical staff).  There were 13 in-training providers, 21 early/mid-career providers, and 9 senior-career providers included in the quantitative sample. From the survey, more than two-thirds of in-training and early/mid-career providers perceived to have access to wellness programming, mental health counselors, crisis resources, and peer support throughout education and training, whereas less than 25% of senior-career providers reported having the same resources. The results from the survey helped in the development of the interview guide and shaped the qualitative assessment. The interview sample included 6 physicians, 8 APPs, and 2 residents (75% of whom had completed the initial survey). 4 participants were designated as in-training, 6 as early/mid-career, and 6 as senior-career. Thematic analysis identified three main themes: (1) perceptions of mental health care and resource accessibility across training, (2) perceived cultural and self-stigma, and (3) a negative ED culture.Conclusion: Findings highlight a significant disconnect in reported resource availability and stigma across generations. This disconnect may, in part, emphasize the significance of providers' perceptions and clarify how they impact provider mental health and well-being. Future research should examine the evolution of social, occupational, mental, and physiological influences and the impact on provider perceptions, to better understand the mental health crisis in medicine.

Family support for Physical Activity (PA) during adolescence is essential, but understandings of how this tracks into young adulthood is limited, which this study addressed. Methods: A volunteer sample of college students reported current PA levels and family PA (FPA).Results: Among participants (n=113), no differences were noted for current PA by FPA, nor was there a significant relationship between FPA and activity level. Discussion: Future research should identify underlying factors associated with PA engagement among college students.

Sunscreen traditionally focuses on blocking UV-B rays, assuming it boosts UV-A protection. However, this assumption questions its efficacy. SPF testing assumes linear protection over time, ignoring the known decay in protection. To reevaluate, we tested three popular sunscreen brands for bacterial growth under UV light exposure. Results revealed all performances fell short of label claims, prompting a reconsideration of sunscreen effectiveness.

This project investigated the relationship between HIV status and maternal B12 status, HIV status and cord blood B12, and the ratio of cord:maternal B12 levels. We measured B12, CRP, and Hb status in mothers at enrollment and in cord blood. We found cord blood from women living with HIV had significantly higher B12 than those who are not. We also found an increased cord:maternal B12 ratio in women living with HIV.

trans-Translation is a vital pathway in bacteria that rescues ribosomes stalled on damaged RNA during protein synthesis. ArfB is an alternative rescue pathway to trans-translation found in E. coli and harbored within an operon following a gene referred to as yaeQ. Although yaeQ is an unclassified protein, it is believed to be a nuclease. ArfB may be co-expressed in the same operon as yaeQ to cope with nuclease activity on RNA performed by yaeQ.

Bees endure widespread pesticide exposure throughout their lifecycle from agrochemical applications. Bee larvae ingest pesticides via pollen provisioned by female adult bees. This study examines mason bee larvae (Osmia cornifrons) responses to field-realistic chlorpyrifos doses in theirdiet varying chlorpyrifos concentrations. Survival, body size, anddevelopmental timing were assessed. While high chlorpyrifos levels reducedsurvival, developmental timing remained consistent. Future research shouldexplore the effects of chlorpyrifos on adult bee behavior and reproduction.

Escherichia coli combats polymyxin exposure by modifying lipopolysaccharide in the outer membrane via the arn operon. Surrounding this operon is Insertion Sequence 1 (IS1), which codes for a transposase that is only expressed when a -1 ribosomal frameshift occurs (in which the arn operon is duplicated with IS1). After exposing E. coli cells to certain aminoglycosides, then Polymyxin B, these cells exhibited greater resistance to Polymyxin B than cells not exposed to aminoglycosides.

SpfP is a recently characterized peptide which is suggested to block cAMP Receptor Protein (CRP), a regulatory protein involved in bacterial catabolism of nonpreferred sugars like lactose, with potential applications in manually controlling bacterial growth. In this project, the general mechanism of SpfP inhibition of CRP was elucidated using an electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA). Results suggest that SpfP allosterically inhibits CRP, blocking its association with DNA promoters, and further structural cryo-EM studies will follow.

My project utilized a lipid monolayer at a water-fluorinated oil interface as a biomimetic cell membrane model. Lipid ternary mixtures are used to mimic cellular membrane heterogeneity, and to understand the role of phase separation. Polystyrene microparticles are introduced to study their interactions, and then located using confocal and side-view microscope. This study deepens understanding of polymer microparticles interactions with membranes, aiming to minimize cytotoxicity and boost therapeutic efficacy.

The overall goal of this project was to expand on pre-existing work published regarding the coupling of biaryl molecules. The main publication that was expanded on involved carbon-carbon coupling and cross-coupling reactions in order to synthesize symmetrical and non-symmetrical biaryl molecules, respectively. The desire to synthesize biaryl products stems from their applications in molecular catalysis, and materials science. These applications stem from the fact that these products can be chiral ligands. Chiral ligands are important in the synthesis of other molecules because in order to synthesize a chiral molecule, chirality in the starting material is required. In the context of BINOL, which is mainly considered in this work, the chirality that this compound possesses is called axial chirality.

  Adam B. Feinstein1, Christine K. Bowlus1, Matthew Studinski1, Jocelyn M. Delgado1, Jigar Gosalia1, Swapan Mookerjee2, David N. Proctor1. 1Penn State University, University Park, PA, 2Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania, Bloomsburg, PA Over 15 million people in the U.S. are prescribed cardio-selective beta blockers. However, whether β1-blockade impacts myocardial oxygen demand in combination with the perception of effort during large muscle dynamic exercise has not been explored. PURPOSE: To assess the effects of a cardio-selective beta blocker, esmolol (E), infusion during moderate (MOD) and heavy (HVY) intensity cycling exercise on rate pressure product (RPP) and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) in young, healthy women. We hypothesized that RPP would be lower and RPE would be higher during E compared to saline (S) treatment conditions during dynamic exercise in young women. METHODS: Thirteen healthy, normally active younger (20-32 yrs) women performed very light (20W warm-up), MOD (85% of estimated lactate threshold, LT) and HVY (50% between LT and the respiratory compensation point) recumbent leg cycling exercise during IV infusion of S and E in randomized order (45 min apart) on a single study visit. Heart rate (HR), brachial blood pressure (BP, automated cuff), RPE (Borg Scale), and VO2 (indirect calorimetry) were measured during the fourth minute of each intensity. RPP (HR x systolic BP) was calculated. Repeated measures ANOVAs were used to determine differences in RPP, RPE, and VO2 across intensities and treatments. RESULTS: A significant interaction effect for intensity*treatment on RPP was found. Pairwise comparisons revealed that RPP was significantly lower in MODE compared to MODS (12703±1809 vs 15954±3432, p<0.001) and HVYE compared to HVYS (16433±1864 vs 22155±4041, p<0.001). RPP was not different at rest (6782±1030 vs 7297±1273, p=0.066). A significant effect of both intensity and treatment was found on RPE, pairwise comparisons showed RPE in HVYE was greater than HVYs (14.7±1.4 vs 14.0±1.3, p=0.011). There was no effect of treatment on VO2. CONCLUSION: These findings confirm the myocardial demand lowering effects of β1-blockade in healthy humans and demonstrate perceived effort increases during high intensity exercise. SIGNIFICANCE/NOVELTY: The beneficial effects of β1-blockade drugs may be complicated by the increased perception of effort during exercise, likely due to reduced oxygen delivery to active muscle.  Supported by NIH Grant R21 AG054940

Feruloyl transferase is theorized to play a role in the transport of ferulic acid to the cell wall and the subsequent formation of a dimer between ferulic acid and arabinoxylans. This creates a site for the bonding of lignin to the cell wall which reinforces the cell's structure and contricutes to the plant's rigidity.

There are many advantages to conducting business in Panama which makes it an attractive location for firms. They have a strong government and currency, as they also use the US dollar. They have a low crime and natural disaster rate which helps companies avoid risk.They have set up special economic zones and programs that offer incentives. Lastly, they have a strategic logistics position being in between both oceans and North and South America.

Elastocaloric devices have the potential to reduce carbon emissions from cooling systems. Using Simulink and MATLAB, a model of a shape memory alloy cooling device can be created and tuned with data from real thermal testing. This model can be used to guide decisions in the device design process.

Galaxy bias plays an integral role in using galaxies as tracers for large-scale structure. To determine this bias in the AEGIS survey field, the galaxy power spectrums from mock lognormal realizations of position and velocity data and real data are compared. This is accomplished by analyzing WFC3 grisms and creating masks that block out regions of the sky that are blemished by spectra of bright sources.

I am interested in explaining variation of public support for capital punishment at the individual level. I believe that this variation in support is caused by a plethora of demographic and socio-political variables, including but not limited to perception of crime, partisanship, race, gender, and household income. I model this individual-level support using multivariate logistic regression to represent both cross-sectional and longitudinal trends in death penalty support.

The research poster will illustrate the transmission dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 persisting within the Penn State Wildlife population, specifically the surveillance and testing of the wildlife surround the Penn State Deer Pens. It will also illustrate the new plan to capture data from all of the wildlife surround the Deer Pens, and gather a series of data over time to understand how SARS-CoV-2 has spread among the deer population.

The human microbiome harbors commensal bacteria essential for bodily function. Current broad-spectrum antibiotics disrupt microbiome balance, rendering the body vulnerable. To address this, peptide-carbohydrate biocapsules were fabricated. These biocapsules are loaded with commensal bacteria and feature an antimicrobial coating, exhibiting potential to re-engineer the microbiome instead of disrupting it. The biocapsules target pathogenic growth while selectively releasing beneficial bacteria at infection sites. This biomaterial could revolutionize microbiome interventions, laying the foundation for broader health benefits.

Public safety relies on ethical engineers. It is important for students to understand real-world scenarios of ethics failure. As part of this project, I co-authored a micro-credential on engineering ethics with PSU faculty and an alumnus utilizing various ethical case studies. Through the project, I realized that real-world engineering incidents are often more ‘gray’ than classroom problems. In this work, observations and lessons learned from the perspective of an undergraduate student are presented.

Research dedicated to the sexual stages of P. falciparum would, especially aid in understanding the transmission of such a deadly disease. The central hypothesis is that the ancestral AP2-G allele will have a different sexual conversion rate when compared to the SEA or African AP2-G alleles because of the presence of the 66 amino acid segment without a premature stop codon.

Neurons possess a unique arboreal shape due to the microtubule backbone. In dendrites, it has been found that gamma-tubulin, a microtubule nucleation factor, localizes to branch points along with endocytic proteins. This suggests that branch points are sites of both microtubule nucleation and endocytosis. The mechanisms for why this localization occurs specifically at branch points are unknown. Using genetic manipulation in Drosophila and confocal microscopy techniques, I demonstrate that endocytosis favors convex curvature.

The Payload for Ultra-High Energy Observations (PUEO) is a long-duration Cosmic Ray and Ultra-High Energy Neutrino detection payload set to be launched in 2025. PUEO houses over 200 horn antennas which will focus on detecting RF radiation from ice-showers also being able to characterize lower-frequency air showers through a dedicated drop-down Low-Frequency (LF) Instrument. I will be discussing the Characterization of the Signal Chain Electronics within the LF Instrument.