One of the decadal keystones for EPRV spectrographs is reaching the minimum 8-10 cm/s precision goal, enabling the detection of Earth-like exoplanets. We seek to commission an exposure meter for the NEID spectrograph to ensure the proper application of wavelength-dependent barycentric corrections. We have investigated the data product pipeline SSBJD and SSBRV through calculation of the flux weighted midpoint time and geometric midpoint time. We verify many of these key data products, address several concerns due to hardware limitations, and discuss preliminary results as to whether the exposure meter is functioning as intended.

In the proposed study I conducted research with bilingual Polish-English participants who listened to and transcribed English sentences presented in quiet and noise (multi-talker babble) conditions. The English sentences are spoken by native English speakers, as well as by Polish-accented, Romanian-accented, and Spanish-accented English speakers. Additional behavioral tasks will also be administered.

ADSSL1 myopathy is an ultra-rare neuromuscular disorder caused by mutations in the gene, ADSSL1, which encodes for adenylosuccinate synthetase (ADSS), an enzyme involved in purine metabolism. Patients with ADSSL1 myopathy exhibit progressive muscle weakness, and there is no standard treatment for the disease. Our mutant Caenorhabditis elegans model lacking ADSS exhibits mobility and mechanosensory deficits compared to controls. This animal model of ADSSL1 myopathy can provide useful insights into disease etiology and potential treatments.

Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) is currently one of the leading causes of preventable death in the United States. There are several factors that are linked to excessive alcohol use (i.e., stressful life events, genetics, sex). A rodent model including two genetically different strains of male and female mice (C57BL/6J and BALB/cJ) underwent adolescent stress and testing for alcohol consumption to isolate and determine which of these factors, if any, contribute to increased alcohol consumption.

During coronavirus infection, viral mRNA generates polyproteins pp1a and pp1ab, cleaved by the main protease (Mpro) to produce nonstructural proteins (nsps). These nsps form the replication-transcription complex for viral RNA replication. Understanding Mpro's cleavage order is crucial for antiviral development. AlphaFold3 predictions reveal structural variability in nsp recognition sites, influencing accessibility and binding to Mpro. This variability may affect cleavage efficiency, impacting viral replication. These insights support improved antiviral strategies.

This research examines freedom within philosophical principles and American design to provide an argument to show how freedom within America has uprooted freedom from a sense of autonomous affinity and benign humane essence into a given and subjugated understanding. America’s desire for freedom through the Revolutionary War was a foundation towards freedom becoming a right rather than a relationship in the form of republicanism and America’s idealism of democracy. Further along the history of America, the Westward Expansion was a mirror to the core values of freedom within the Constitution and America, but in the originality of what was deemed ‘The Wild West.’ Still, it was reflected in the romanticism and Western culture of the period but precluded only the same fundamental discrimination found in traditional American principles.

Peat moss has been a cornerstone of the horticultural and floriculture industries for over a century. While a natural product, peat develops slowly and is a critical carbon sync for the ecosystem. Using a v/v mixture of biochar and a commercial potting media, both crops will be grown following commercial protocol. An analysis will be conducted on the finished crop quality and media properties to determine if biochar is a viable additive for spring annuals.

The World Health Organization has acknowledged the growing use of traditional plant-based medicines, highlighting their potential as sources of new therapeutic agents, particularly in the context of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), a critical global health issue fueled by the overuse and misuse of antibiotics. Numerous plant-derived compounds have shown promise in combating drug resistance. Secondary metabolites, such as alkaloids, terpenoids, and phenolics, possess antimicrobial properties that disrupt bacterial cell functions via various mechanisms, thereby preventing bacterial survival and mitigating the likelihood of resistance development. These plant-based bioactive compounds demonstrate significant efficacy against a wide range of pathogens, including drug-resistant bacteria, fungi, protozoa, and viruses. This research aims to explore recent advancements in extraction methods, genetic manipulation, and the standardization of testing protocols, which together offer exciting opportunities to unlock the full therapeutic potential of medicinal plants in addressing antimicrobial resistance.

Spheroid aspiration-assisted 3D bioprinting is a promising technique for creating tissue spheroids in vitro, aiding tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. This project examines the growth of bioprinted spheroids from 2D to 3D cultures. Our findings show successful 3D-printed spheroids with accurate structural and functional characteristics. This advancement enhances disease modeling, drug screening, and regenerative therapies, paving the way for breakthroughs in personalized medicine and improved medical research.

The soil-stream interface (SSI) is traditionally depicted as a static area. However, at Shale Hills, there is evidence it expands and contracts seasonally. A key SSI characteristic is anaerobic soils (Kaye et al., 2023). To detect this, I used oxidized steel Indicator of Reduction in Soils (IRIS) bars, which change color when reduced (Sapkota et al., 2022). Bars were installed in October, December, and February to observe spatial and temporal variability of Shale Hill’s SSI.

Bacteriophages are important modulators of microbial communities. The mechanisms by which phages are maintained and shape bacterial competition remains to be fully characterized. A species-specific lytic bacteriophage was isolated to investigate their role in determining community composition and metabolic function. This study was conducted both in media and in gnotobiotic mice.These findings underscore the delicate balance between phage and microbial communities which dictate microbiome function in the gastrointestinal tract.

Bird-window collisions are an issue at buildings around the world. At the University Park campus of Penn State University, we collected records of over 700 bird-window collisions involving more than 80 species of birds, documented by students, faculty, staff, and community members. More than 650 of the collisions took place between 2019 and 2023, with older records dating back to 2009. In this article we document the increased search effort for birds hitting windows over time, the building locations where the most collisions have been found, the species at highest risk of collision, and which of these species have been identified as conservation priorities for Pennsylvania and for North America in general. We also discuss efforts made to shift the campus toward bird-safe glass.

Psychosis is a term used to describe a group of symptoms such as hallucinations, delusions, and disorganized thinking. There is stigma attached as the actions of those under psychosis are typically disruptive and abnormal. I did a literature review and created an art product to raise awareness. In the literature review, I covered risk factors, possible co-occurences, and positive outcomes. For the art product, I donated it to Pennsylvania Psychiatric Institute on Division Street, Harrisburg.

Sigma factor binds to form the holoenzyme of the B. subtilis RNA polymerase (RNAP), which then attaches to specific segments of DNA. After the RNAP leaves the promoter region, the transcription elongation complex forms. 6S RNAs mimic an open DNA promoter and inactivate RNAP holoenzymes. To test scaffold binding, which has been observed to not bind well, B. subtilis RNAP was purified free of 6S RNAs, and further analysis was conducted using cryo-EM to observe structural characteristics. Future directions of the study include isolating RNAP from B. subtilis endospores in order to compare it with RNAP found in the cytoplasm.

As awareness around ultra-processed foods rises, this research looks at consumption of ultra-processed foods and its relationship with impulsivity scores in children aged 7-11 years old. We also assess whether the relationship between ultra-processed food consumption and impulsivity is influenced by the child’s food insecurity levels. Ultimately, we ask how childhood nutrition and behavior are connected and how stress and BMI fit into this relationship.

Halides are often used in the shape-controlled synthesis of noble metal nanostructures, in particular, chloride in the form of HCl is frequently added to the polyol synthesis of Ag nanocubes (NCs). We demonstrated the shape of Ag nanostructures depend on the quantity, not the form of Cl- added to the synthesis. Low Cl- concentrations led to cuboctahedron, while higher Cl- concentrations yielded cubes. Free Cl- or Cl- in the form of AgCl(s) both led to NC formation during a polyol synthesis. In this work, the authors hypothesized controlled Cl- release (i.e., AgCl dissolution) must be commensurate in rate with (auto)catalytic reduction of Ag+ to achieve Ag NCs during the polyol reduction. This hypothesis is based on observations that AgCl cubes form immediately during the polyol synthesis and are absent at the end of a successful Ag NC synthesis. The direct replacement of HCl with HBr in the polyol synthesis leads to the formation of truncated octahedra, terminated by {111} facets. However, conducting the synthesis with a combination of HCl and HBr produces nanorods with high yield. Time-resolved XRD revealed the in situ formation of mixed halide salts (AgClxBr1-x) during synthesis. The Ksp of AgCl is several orders of magnitude larger than that of AgBr, with the ternary crystal structures expected to possess intermediate solubilities. We synthesized uniform AgClxBr1-x nanoparticles ex situ, which allows us to finely control the Cl:Br ratio, and therefore the release of Cl- due to the variable solubility of the mixed halide salts. A range of dissolution kinetics can be achieved by altering the Cl:Br ratio. However, the addition of free Br- has found little success in the Ag NC synthesis. We hypothesize HBr reacts with the polyol solvent to produce water, which then reduces the PVP end groups from aldehyde to hydroxyl in acidic conditions which are known to produce multiply twinned seeds. Therefore, we utilized perturbative experiments which take advantage of the temporally distinction between nucleation and growth to isolate the effect of Br- on Ag halide dissolution kinetics during NC formation. For further evidence, we have employed AgClxI1-x nanocrystals in Ag NC syntheses, which require much less I- than Br- to have an appreciable impact on solubility, since the Ksp for AgI is orders of magnitude lower than AgBr. These approaches demonstrate commensurate rates between dissolution and silver reduction are required to produce monodispersed Ag NCs.

The Beamforming Elevated Array for COsmic Neutrinos (BEACON) detects ultra-high-energy tau neutrinos via radio signals from upward-going extensive air showers (EAS). Scintillators at the BEACON prototype are being used to assist with the initial cosmic ray (CR) search. A calibration of the scintillator array was performed by comparison of measurements and simulations with previous studies of the CR muon flux. Here, we present the results of this calibration and simulations of signals for CR events.

Many people face mental health issues throughout their lives. Art therapy has been shown to help, with studies exploring various practices. My literature review highlights how crocheting helps patients overcome anxiety, depression, and PTSD. The research also shows how crochet improves mental well-being, fosters a sense of community, and has therapeutic effects. I created a unique crochet pillow, donated to Mone’t Floyd at Grace Center Mental Health Organization, symbolizing creative freedom for patient benefit.

Zika virus is a mosquito-borne flavivirus responsible for congenital Zika syndrome, microcephaly, and fetal demise. There are no vaccines or antivirals available to treat this virus. NS2A protein encoded by Zika virus is essential for genome packaging and virus assembly. By Affinity Purification and Mass Spectrometry, we identified a set of Dead Box Helicase proteins interacting with NS2A. Using shRNA knockdown experiments we reveal novel roles of dead box helicases in flavivirus assembly process.

As the prevalence of plastics in the environment continues to grow, understanding of their degradation becomes increasingly vital. This study investigates degradation behaviors of two prevalent plastic pollutants, polyethylene and polyvinyl chloride, under various conditions to simulate different environmental factors. This paper aims to demonstrate the early process of degradation of these plastics to better understand how such plastics would behave in nature.

In our experiment, we aim to narrow down the set of proteins involved in dendrite regeneration by conducting an RNAi knockdown of proteins of interest individually in drosophila. Then, we will conduct a laser-induced point injury of the ddaE neuron of the larvae. After 24 hours, we will image the injured neuron and compare the regrowth observed to the regrowth observed in control larvae over the same period of time. This will give us insight into the specific kinases involved in the process of dendrite regeneration.

Probiotic bacteria are anti-inflammatory and are typically absent in chronic illnesses. One probiotic, Bifidobacterium, is prevalent in the colon microbiota and abundant in infants. Colon lining epithelial cells have immune system toll-like-receptors (TLR) 2s that can detect bacterial lipoproteins, causing inflammation. It is unknown if Bifidobacterium stimulates TLR 2’s in the colon due to net pro-inflammatory properties. Investigating the structure and TLR response to Bifidobacterium’s lipoproteins will provide insight into understanding lipoprotein-immune system interactions.