Quantum phase transitions are changes in the solid state of a material that result from quantum fluctuations instead of temperature changes. These fluctuations are influenced by factors such as pressure, magnetic field, or, in our case, the composition of the material. In superconductors, such as the ZrNi2Ga, alloy, a sharp phase transition occurs at a […]
A40: Role of Nitric Oxide in Immune and Behavioral Responses in Acheta domesticus
Nitric oxide (NO) is a gaseous signaling molecule synthesized by the enzyme nitric oxide synthase (NOS). NO functions as a brain neurotransmitter and immune system defense molecule. Animals undergoing an inflammatory response, such as from bacterial infection, exhibit changes in behavior. We are using the cricket Acheta domesticus to explore the role NO may play […]
A41: ATP Binding and Hydrolysis of ER Protein-Folding Chaperones BiP and JB11
Molecular chaperones are abundant and conserved proteins in the cytosol, mitochondria, nucleus and endoplasmic reticulum that help protein clients fold to their active conformation known as the native state. The structure and mechanism of these chaperones holds significance because of their association with cancer and metabolic disease. The heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70) family of […]
A42: Implications of ERdj6 Mutation on Co-Chaperone Ability and Oligomerization
Within the field of biochemistry, chaperone and co-chaperone proteins are of important significance due to their vital role in assisting protein folding. ERdj6 is an Hsp40 co-chaperone that works with Hsp70 to facilitate client binding and folding. ERdj6 was grown and purified in E. Coli, with wild-type and mutant protein samples grown. Within Hsp40 proteins […]
A44: The Effects of Psilocybin on Decision Making and Motivation
There has been a resurgence in research regarding the therapeutic potential of hallucinogenic psilocybin. Although this research is promising, much is unknown about how psilocybin impacts behavior from a pharmacological perspective. It is established that psilocybin is a serotonergic agonist with affinities for several different serotonin receptors; binding affinity data indicate that psilocybin has a […]
A45: Evaluation of the Safety of Various E. Coli Derived Tryptamine Compounds
Clinical trials on the use of psilocybin (PSL) to treat depression are promising, but still in preliminary stages. Additionally, they are confounded by the presence of hallucinations, which may not be necessary for its clinical effectiveness but create challenges when designing experiments. Results from our lab have also indicated potential antidepressant efficacy for a number […]
A46: Healthy Eating Index Scores in Older Adults during a 6-month Weight Loss Intervention
Background: Little research has been done to understand the diet quality of older adults and even less is known about the impact of weight-loss interventions on diet quality in older adults.Methods: A randomized sample of 38 overweight, older adults in a diet or non-diet intervention group completed a 6-month weight loss intervention. Healthy Eating Index […]
A58: Neighbor Discovery in a Multi-Transceiver Free-Space-Optical Ad Hoc Network
Through our research in wireless communication, we present a novel neighbor discovery method for a wireless ad hoc network network where each node is equipped with a Free-Space-Optical (FSO) transceivers capable of electronic beam switching. Directional neighbor discovery can be very challenging due to the requirement of strict line-of-sight (LOS) alignment and can result in […]
A63: Non-invasive and Non-destructive Sensing for Food Quality Control Using Optical Spectroscopy
Developing nondestructive methods to evaluate food quality of agricultural materials play an important role in food safety and quality control. Being able to quickly, yet effectively assess the ripeness or condition of foods such as fruits and vegetables can help to prevent hazardous or over ripened food products from entering consumers’ shopping carts. One of […]
A67: Consumption of School Meals and Childhood BMI
In 2018 approximately 20% of children in the United States were classified as obese, and schools were responsible for nearly half of the caloric intake for most students. The aim of this study was to analyze the relationship between childhood BMI and school provided meal consumption. Using the data from the 2017-18 National Health and […]