For the past 40 years, humans have been seeing a significant increase in obesity. While a part of this is contributed to environment and monogenic obesity, polygenic obesity, where multiple genes affect the phenotype, is a more unexplored avenue of research. From a genome-wide association study, RUNX2 and TMEM151B have been correlated to an increase in obesity. These findings were then replicated in c. elegans to show that this correlative increase is causative of BMI increase.

One way that humans can comprehend sentences is by anticipating or predicting upcoming words in the sentence. The present study builds on these findings to explore how people listen to and comprehend English sentences under conditions of babble versus silent background conditions using eye-tracking. Results show that under adverse speaking conditions, listeners find it more difficult to make predictions about upcoming input.

Biofilters, columns of support media colonized by methane oxidizing microbial communities, can be used to mitigate low-concentration methane. While pilot-scale biofilters show potential, little is known about their effectiveness when scaled for industrial use. Not enough research has been conducted on their environmental feasibility when scaled up to effectively put biofiltration to widespread use. We discovered that methane biofiltration may reduce total dairy farm emissions by 37% if applied to treat enteric and manure-related emissions.  

The theoretical perspectives of allostatic load and cumulative disadvantage can be used in tandem to consider the impact accumulated early and adult adversity has on health. We tested associations between early life and adulthood adversity on inflammation in the Einstein Aging Study (N = 205, Age Range = 70-89) with race as a moderator. Using regression and correlational models, significant effects were seen for adult/early life adversity and IL6, TNF- Î±, race modified associations. 

Learning flexibility is vital to overcome challenges for survival. My experiment tested the learning flexibility in Bluebirds through a reversal learning puzzle by using a wooden trapdoor lever mechanism; switching the active lever’s location between left and right.  I used BORIS software to measure the frequency and length of different bluebird and nestbox interactions. Information from analysis will help demonstrate the Bluebird’s environmental adaptability.

This poster reviews presently existing literature about triangulation, which in the field of human development and family studies refers to when two caregivers/parents are engaged in a conflict and they recruit one of their children to mediate, take a side, or offer their opinion. Of interest, I examine whether a child's triangulation exposure influences positive prosocial development and whether a triangulated child is empathetic towards peers.     

Adolescence is a transitional period during which a child undergoes social and emotional changes, adding a layer of vulnerability to increased anxiety symptoms. The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted many lives, confining adolescents to their homes and inducing external stressors for parents. For this study, we found that less parental support of adolescents’ reappraisal was associated with higher levels of adolescent anxiety. This effect was more significant among families who were highly impacted by the pandemic.

ADSSL1-Myopathy is an ultra-rare muscular disorder caused by a mutation in the purine nucleotide cycle (PNC) gene, ADSSL1. ADSSL1-Myopathy had been hard to characterize on a molecular level due to a lack of adequate models for its study. We are investigating the functions of ADSS using C. elegans and are exploring the use of PNC substrates as a potential therapy. We have established movement phenotypes associated with ADSS function that can be rescued by adenylosuccinate.

Microstegium vimineum (microstegium), also known as Japanese Stiltgrass, is an invasive grass that plagues Pennsylvania forests. Microstegium outcompetes native speacies to decrease species biodiversity and available foodstocks for wildlife. Previous studies in Pennsylvania have examined prevention and other studies in different parts of the U.S. have described factors affecting that area. None have discussed the specific factors leading to the population densities found in Rothrock State Forest. Data was obtained in association with the Deer Forest Project. Field measured values as well as GIS calculations were used. Results will be discussed further.

The goal to improve well-being for Penn State students initiated an explorative research study into smart mirror design and its current integration in student’s daily activities. This study is inspired by a multi-stage framework to achieve a healthy lifestyle through technology. The study was informed by both a university-wide survey and cognitive walkthroughs of the mirror prototype. Findings include design considerations for balancing student interest in cognitive load and challenging users to engage in self-improvement.

This question of why some people possess populist attitudes and others don’t, will be explored through survey research. A survey was distributed through Meta advertisements in order to reach social media users directly. Respondents were asked a variety of questions regarding their social media use, such as how long they use social media, how often they use it for news, and to gauge their political participation through commenting and reposting. Afterwards they are then asked a variety of questions gauging different populist attitudes as established by current literature. 

Current statistical/computational advances in network analysis lack the ability to understand the interconnectedness between network nodes in a tactile manner. The overall research goal is to design-develop-demonstrate-evaluate a novel data visualization method that brings together data analytics, augmented reality (AR), and 3D Printed Electronics (3DPE). Our approach can yield novel image-derived phenotype (IDP) biomarkers for complex diseases as well as provide pleiotropic gene targets for drug repurposing.

College students' alcohol use is a public health concern with physical, social, and risk-related consequences. Consequences like hangovers, unwanted sexual situations, and embarrassing oneself may be associated with alcohol use disorder (AUD) symptoms. Electronic surveys spanning six weekends assessed college students' (N= 462, 51.7% female, 87.7% White, Mage= 20.1) drinking behaviors and consequences. This project uses linear regression analysis to examine the extent to which alcohol-related consequences are associated with AUD symptoms among college students.