Soccer analytics is a growing field. However,  professional soccer teams only recently implemented data analytics into their scouting, playstyle, and training, and few, if any, Division III soccer programs have used data analytics to look into game film. This project was used to see if data analytics can be translated to Division III soccer in similar measures as professional soccer. I perform various regression analysis on whether certain detailed statistics such as, wide attack success rate, shots, and more have an impact on the amount of high chances a team has at scoring a goal throughout the game. I will also perform various statistical tests, while factoring a teams ability, into if the formation switch that Juniata College Men's Soccer performed halfway through the year affected their overall performance. Finally, I will also be looking into the wide attack success rate and categorizing the type of attack to see if the team focused too much on 1v1 attacking in practice instead of combination play or early wide service. 

In recent times, ESG investing has emerged as a prominent strategy among mutual funds and portfolio managers more broadly. This approach uses environmental, social, and governance factors into the investment decision-making process. By considering these non-financial metrics alongside traditional financial analysis, investors aim to identify companies with strong sustainability practices, positive societal impact, and strong leadership structures. This presentation will explore the core principles of each area, its adoption by investors, and the outlook of this approach. Overall, this presentation will emphasize the importance of ESG investing as another tool to promote long-term value creation and aligning investment strategies with environmental and social responsibility goals. 

A recap of three instances of visible queer unrest that impacted the world's perception of the LGBTQ+ community, with special attention paid to the reactions of the Christian, Jewish, and Muslim communities.

The intricate sleep-wake cycles observed in various organisms, including Drosophila melanogaster, remain a puzzle yet to be fully unraveled. Sleep disruptions associated with neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson's disease (PD) often stem from genetic mutations causing disturbances in cellular processes. This study aims to shed light on the interplay between genes regulating sleep and extracellular vesicles (EVs) in PD. EVs, tiny membrane-bound particles released by cells, play crucial roles in intercellular communication. In PD, characterized by the aggregation of proteins in the brain, disruptions in endosomal functions are evident. A genetic form of PD is associated with mutations in the GBA gene, encoding glucocerebrosidase, an enzyme involved in lysosomal lipid metabolism. Deletion of GBA in Drosophila leads to lipid changes, increased protein aggregation, and disturbances in sleep patterns. Restoring GBA expression in specific cell types may mitigate abnormal protein aggregation. Using western blot techniques, we will examine protein aggregation in both healthy and mutant (homozygous GBA deletion) flies, evaluating the impact of glial and neuronal cell-specific GBA expression. Preliminary findings suggest that restoring GBA expression in glial cells reduces protein aggregation. Employing the Drosophila Activity Monitoring System (DAMS), we have observed disparities in sleep patterns between healthy and mutant flies, particularly following temperature-induced sleep deprivation. Further analysis will delve into the sleep dynamics of flies with and without glial and neuronal cell GBA expression. Utilizing The Database for Annotation, Visualization, and Integrated Discovery (DAVID), we have identified genes enriched in pathways related to sleep regulation and EV biogenesis. These findings inform our selection of target genes for RT-qPCR analysis to quantify expression differences among healthy and mutant flies with and without glial and neuronal cell GBA expression. We anticipate that alterations in gene expression will parallel changes in sleep behaviors and EV characteristics observed in healthy and mutant flies.

Literature as a source of artistic inspiration has been a staple of the art historical canon for centuries. Despite hundreds of artworks over hundreds of years that combine the "sister arts" of literature and fine art, such paintings have never been categorized using one distinct term or genre. Critics and governing bodies of art academies have historically failed to delineate "literary artwork" as anything but. Artworks of this nature have been labeled with traditional academic terms such as history or landscape, when a more fitting term could be used: illustration. Classifying literary art as illustration removes hierarchical constraints and broadens the scope of what can be defined as illustration, therefore expanding illustration history. Critical response to the works, the artists' and authors' own words, and the literary texts, as well as secondary sources cataloguing the evolution of and intention behind literary art and illustration will aid in further contextualizing and categorizing the artworks selected. In this presentation, I will discuss the factors that lead to specific perceptions of several artworks, the contemporaneous perceptions of their associated literary sources, and why these perceptions play a role in their status as illustration. These literary paintings address a range of topics, including the restrictions of academic classifications, their use as a vehicle for establishing national identity, and the relationship between interpretation and a narrative source. Using artists' interpretations of the respective literary texts, I will demonstrate that literary artworks can be classified as illustration, despite never being categorized as such historically. 

An analysis of the Eighth Amendment and the nature of the phrase "cruel and unusual" through the evaluation of relevant cases.

Wetlands, which are species-rich habitats that perform ecosystem services, are important transitional zones between terrestrial and aquatic systems. They are critical environmental habitats used for the purpose of flood management, pollutant filtration, and establishing/maintaining biodiverse ecosystems. Constructed laboratory-scale subsurface wetlands are important tools which environmental engineers commonly use to investigate underlying issues faced by wetlands. Laboratory-scale subsurface wetlands are those which maintain the water level below the surface of the media. The construction of such a wetland in the Department of Environmental Sciences and Studies at Juniata College allows for the experimental implementation of such issues on a smaller scale which can educate students on the dynamic nature of wetland functionality. This lab-scale subsurface wetland consists of a five-tank system. Beginning with a reservoir tank, water will flow into a runoff tank, then to the main wetland tank, into a second runoff tank, and will end in a drainage tank. The wetland tank will be transparent, allowing students to see the layers of media (gravel, sand, and mud) and how the water moves through the system. The overall objectives of this project is for Juniata College students to test the removal of pollutants from water, how surface and subsurface wetlands vary in pollutant removal, how different plants or residence times affect pollutant removal, and more.

Wetlands provide essential ecosystem services but can be inaccessible for a classroom setting and lab-based learning. Our goal is to build a lab scale model of a surface flow wetland that can be used as an educational tool for future classes. The purpose of the model is to demonstrate exactly how wetlands impact water resources and filter contaminants, while providing students with an understanding of surface flow wetland composition. A surface flow wetland is an environmental system where the water flows above the surface of the media substrate that is typically a clay or native soil impervious to water penetration. Water is exposed to the atmosphere and is visible on the surface of the wetland treatment system. Beginning with background research and working through the design process, we developed a final product that can be used in experimentation of how a surface flow wetland manages contaminants. The model system is gravity fed and composed of five tanks. The first and fifth tanks provide continuous water supply to the system while the second, third, and fourth tanks simulate possible environmental conditions before, during and after wetland treatment. We use this design to fully demonstrate the impact a wetland can have on the greater environment.

The objective of this study is to assess whether bioaccumulation of heavy metals (Cd, Pb, As, Mg, etc.) from the soil is present in endogeic earthworms (Crassiclitellata sp.) and vegetative samples of Multiflora Rose (Rosa multiflora) from within the American Woodcock (Scolopax minor) survey sites surrounding Raystown Lake. Bioaccumulation is a process where the increasing presence of often toxic molecules is shown as one moves up the food chain from producer to secondary and tertiary consumers. To analyze whether bioaccumulation of heavy metals is a concern within this ecosystem, we will be measuring the levels of heavy metals present within the soil using Inductively Coupled Plasma - Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES) and Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS). Samples will be collected from 12 test sites previously identified by the Pennsylvania Game Commission as containing woodcock during their singing-ground surveys. Earthworms and vegetative clippings of multiflora rose were concurrently taken at the test sites and will also be analyzed using ICP-OES and ICP-MS to identify the levels of heavy metals present within these samples. Because the American Woodcock primarily feeds on earthworms, elevated levels of heavy metals in the earthworm samples relative to the levels present in the soil samples could be cause for concern for the Woodcock population that utilizes these areas as singing-grounds and feeding areas. Elevated levels of heavy metals within the Multiflora Rose samples could have implications surrounding heavy metal sequestration in plant matter.

The Game of Cycles is a game introduced by Francis E. Su in his book Mathematics for Human Flourishing. The game operates on a graph, or network of vertices and edges. In this two-player game, players take turns marking a single edge with the intention to either make a cycle cell (a cell with all edges marked in the same direction) or be the last player to mark an edge. Players are forbidden from playing moves that create sinks (all arrows facing in) or sources (all arrows facing out).  We examine aperiodic boards, that is, a board in which the lengths of the cycles do not divide each other. We describe a winning strategy for Player 2, one that is distinct from previous strategies in the game. 

This presentation explores the differences in sustainability attitudes in first-year undergraduate students based on their gender identity. Previous studies have found that factors such as gender and education play a role in attitudes toward sustainability. In this study, 1,562 first-year students completed a survey pertaining to their views towards sustainability. This survey was administered to first-year students over a 10-year period. Preliminary findings indicate that gender plays an influential role in shaping their attitudes toward environmental responsibility which has potential implications for policy, education, and advocacy decisions. This study shows that women have a stronger sense of environmental responsibility as opposed to men; however, over time students have developed a sense of urgency with environmental protection. Calling attention to these nuanced connections, this study contributes to the ongoing discourse fostering inclusive and effective sustainability initiatives. This knowledge would allow us that can personalize education about sustainability so that it resonates with individuals of all gender identities.

I will present on how crime prevention and psychology intersect to reflect the effectiveness and prominence of Counter Drug Initiatives carried out by the Drug Enforcement Administration 

A presentation on creating an intentional and inclusive collection of what once might be called Lesbian Literature (but is now considered Sapphic). I will be discussing the process of creating this collection for my capstone and will provide sources and further readings for the audience.

We evaluate how authoritarianism, threat, and affect explain support for political violence within the context of the Black Lives Matter movement. We show that high authoritarians experienced greater control and pleasantness when watching police violence. We show that perceptions of a group as threatening positively correlates with support for violence against that group. We show that authoritarianism, threat perception, and media exposure explain 53% of the variance in support for violence against BLM protestors. 

Juniata College's Master of Data Science is a fully only asynchronous online program. Course content is delivered through the learning management system Moodle. We will analyze data from multiple sections of the Statistics Fundamentals (DS 520) course. Using data mining techniques such as K-means clustering, we aim to identify patterns in students' engagement with the course. Additionally, we will test for a difference in overall course performance for students with different engagement habits. Our findings can give instructors insight into student engagement and help them better design courses to facilitate learning in an asynchronous online format.

Heavy metals in the environment such as lead, cadmium, mercury and arsenic, can pose significant health risks to wildlife and humans. Understanding the presence and concentration of these elements in wildlife is crucial for wildlife conservation efforts. When food is consumed, nutrients and other elements are absorbed into the body, including heavy metals. These heavy metals bioaccumulate in organisms, which leads to higher metal concentrations in apex predators such as the Eastern Coyote (Canis latrans). As an abundant apex predator in Pennsylvania, it is an excellent indicator species to measure the health of the environment; higher concentrations in the coyotes will indicate higher concentrations in the lower trophic levels. To determine levels of heavy metals in coyotes, samples of the liver were collected and measured using Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectroscopy. For elements such as mercury and arsenic, which is typically found in very low concentrations, we are using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectroscopy. This project anticipates generating valuable data on heavy metal levels in coyote liver tissues, providing a foundation for future research on the impact of environmental pollutants on wildlife health. This can also contribute to informed conservation strategies and policies aimed at mitigating the risks associated with heavy metal exposure in coyote and other wildlife populations in central Pennsylvania. 

N-oxide Schiff-base ligands have been previously synthesized to develop coordination complexes with various transition metals. These complexes are often used as catalysts in organic synthesis, new pharmaceutical drugs, or new materials with varying magnetic properties. The purpose of this research is to continue with the discovery of metallic coordination complexes with multidentate N-oxide Schiff-base ligands stemmed from 2,6-pyridinedicarbaldehyde N-oxide (loxal). The loxal precursor was synthesized using previously published literature. A condensation of one equivalent of loxal and two equivalents of aminophenol yielded a potential pentadentate ligand H2loxap. Composition and structure of the ligand was confirmed through X-ray crystallography. After development of the ligand, multiple complexes were attempted using copper(II) compounds including chloride, sulfate, nitrate, perchlorate, acetate, bromide, trifluroacetylacetonate, and hexafluroacetylacetonate. Synthesis methods varied in the solvent used, the stoichiometry between the Cu(II) salt and the ligand, and the use of triethylamine as a base to deprotonate the ligand. Recrystallization methods including vapor diffusion and temperature gradient were used to attempt growing single crystals suitable for the crystallographic studies. Synthesized complexes were characterized by IR spectroscopy, elemental analysis, microscopic imaging, physical description analysis, and solubility testing.

The election of Donald Trump as president of the United States in 2016, despite having lost the popular vote, renewed the relevance of the debate about the Electoral College. A large majority of Americans want the rid of the Electoral College, but amending the constitution to do this seems politically infeasible. If one stipulates that the Electoral College should end and that an amendment to the constitution to that effect is not possible, then a pragmatic debate can consider what options exist to reform the current system. This research evaluates the three primary options for reform: the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact, district plan, and proportional plan. First, I establish a criteria for how to evaluate these options and then I apply the criteria to determine which of these plans, if any, should be implemented.

In volleyball, serving arguably impacts match results more than any other skill. To improve the serving performance of Juniata's Men's Volleyball team, we've sought to determine the optimal speed at which a ball is served for each player. Through the collection of serve speed and outcomes, we've developed a polynomial mathematical model to identify the optimal velocity for each player. By leveraging R, we've created a dashboard that dynamically visualizes actionable insights for team staff and athletes. Through refined and constant feedback to players, we've applied this data in pursuit of maximizing team performance. This project has resulted in major success the last two years, including harboring a 16% increase in ace percentage from season to season with similar athletes.

This research investigates the impact of J. Edgar Hoover's ideology on the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) from 1919 to 1971 and analyzes the effectiveness of subsequent reforms in addressing oversight deficiencies up to 2024. The central question answered in this study is the extent to which various reforms regarding FBI oversight including recommendations made by the Senate Select Committee to Study Governmental Operations with Respect to Intelligence Activities, Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act Legislation, and the Patriot Act have effectively addressed a continuation of oversight failures. This study was conducted using a comprehensive mixed-methods approach to employ a qualitative analysis. An in-depth historical analysis, a comprehensive review of pertinent legislation, and an evaluation of related court cases were performed to reach a final conclusion. 

Case studies from key events such as the Red Scare, Cold War Era, World War II, and responses to terrorist attacks shed light on the contextual evolution of oversight mechanisms. Post-legislation cases are also used to provide contemporary insight into the status of FBI oversight mechanisms. The research concludes by answering the central question, offering recommendations for future research, and suggesting implications for policy-making.

Wild turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo) are found across the United States using a wide range of habitats. A turkey's habitat of choice changes throughout the year based on its needs. Knowing that turkeys will use a variety of different habitat types, analyzing the movement of a few turkeys may provide insight into the habitat patterns that they follow. Over a span of five years, the Pennsylvania Game Commission has kept records of hundreds of turkey hens originating in PA via GPS bands. These bands record the latitude and longitude of a hen's location, the date on which the entry is being recorded, the ID number of the hen, and the reception quality of the entry. The transmission of information from the bands is time-sensitive, so only at certain times during the day is the hen's location being marked. The Chesapeake Conservancy, the U.S. Geological Survey, and the University of Vermont Spatial Analysis Lab (with funding from the Chesapeake Bay Program) have collaborated to produce 1-meter resolution land cover and land use datasets spanning the area of the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Cross-referencing the hen locations from the PA Game Commission with the land use datasets of the Chesapeake Bay watershed will allow us to determine what type of habitat within the watershed is being used most by these hens. We may also be able to determine how the habitat preference of these hens changes at different points in the year. The understanding of these habitat preferences can also contribute to informed conservation strategies and policies aimed at managing this popular game species.

In Justice Neil Gorsuch's seven years on the Supreme Court, he has taken part in fourteen tribal law cases. Of those fourteen, he has agreed with Justice Samuel Alito once. While Justices Alito and Gorsuch are both considered conservative and often vote together on other cases, cases dealing with Native Americans almost always show a disagreement between the two. Very little academic research has been done to show how this disagreement has occurred. I will use five cases as case studies to show the jurisprudence of the two Justices in tribal cases and how they differ, specifically in their differing views on federalism between the states and tribal governments.

Over the years, clerkships with Supreme Court justices have been predominantly dominated by white males from a select number of law schools. Although there has been an increase of diversity in recent years, this trend has produced replicas of clerks with the same teachings and styles of understanding the law. This thesis explores the profound impact a clerkship experience with Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg had on the ideologies and perspectives of her clerks. To come to my conclusion, I performed an examination of the clerks' subsequent legal careers and writings as well as many news articles written about Justice Ginsburg. Ultimately, this thesis demonstrates that the doctrinal, procedural, and philosophical aspects of Justice Ginsburg's jurisprudence have an enduring influence on the legal methodologies and ideological orientation of her clerks.

The conclusion of the Cold War prompted a critical reassessment of U.S. foreign policy goals, forcing a choice between adhering to realism or embracing a different theoretical framework. This thesis focuses on the First Gulf War under President George H. W. Bush as a crucial case study reflecting the post-Cold War era. Analyzing presidential speeches reveals a noticeable shift towards Wilsonianism, advocating a New World Order, global cooperation, and democracy promotion. The examination of rhetoric and actions during the Gulf War underscores President Bush's departure from Cold War realism towards a more idealistic approach, highlighting the transformative role of ideology in shaping U.S. foreign policy.

This study aims to investigate the effectiveness of vegetation in mitigating erosion in various water erosion models, including ocean and river scenarios. Using a birds-eye view video approach, different erosion models, such as coastal erosion and river channel mining, will be simulated and observed. Each model will consist of 1 or two runs: one with vegetation present and one without (control) or bipoth in the same run. The study will focus on assessing the impact of vegetation on erosion rates and patterns. For the coastal erosion model, a beach with houses will be simulated, while for the river model, a Meander bend will be created. In addition, channel mining scenarios, including direct mining inside the river channel and bar pit mining along the riverbank, will be examined. The study will involve timing erosion processes and analyzing the effectiveness of vegetation in reducing erosion. The findings from this study will contribute to understanding the role of vegetation in erosion control and inform coastal and river management strategies.

Do students enroll in courses to be with people demographically similar to themselves? Every student has their own perception of the diversity within the classroom and their own experiences that shape their perception of the student body. However, each student's individual experiences may not reflect the diversity of that institution in general. With this project, we create a simulation to investigate the possibility that students build their schedule in a way that creates courses that are full of students similar to them demographically. To do so, we randomly swap the course schedules between students in the same division and cohort year combination to calculate values for overall, perceived, and aggregate diversity. With randomly shuffled course schedules, we would expect the diversity values to be the same as the values for the schedules created by students.

Plastics is a class of chemicals that has become a staple material. However, plastics are polluting nature due to their unsustainable lifetime; therefore greener approaches are warranted. Polycarbonates may allow for the shift towards biodegradable plastics through carbon dioxide reduction. This new production route can utilize an iron(III) amine triphenolate complex as a catalyst. We hypothesize that the functionalization of the ligand impacts the complex electronically.   

In our research, iron(III) amine triphenolate complexes were synthesized with ligands of varying substitution on the ortho and para positions to explore if the identity of the ligand impacts the Lewis acidity of the metal ion. The identity of the compounds were verified with infrared spectroscopy, X-ray crystallography, and elemental analysis. UV/Vis spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry were conducted to characterize these compounds. Three iron(III) compounds were characterized in this project. Results suggest that ligand substitution had a minor influence on the electronic characteristics of the compounds. 

The purpose of this paper is to investigate why there is a spike in contemporary Antisemitism. Through examining the complicating topics of the Israel-Hamas war, Social Media and Technology, Misinformation, and the foundation of Israel, we can conclude that these factors have rendered Jews throughout the globe much more susceptible to threats and acts of Antisemitic violence.

The intentions and rationale behind the creation of the Electoral College by the United States Founding Fathers are examined, as well as how those intentions allign witht eh Electoral College of today.

Carbon dioxide is abundant and can be harnessed as a carbon source to synthesize polycarbonates, a greener plastic. Iron(III) amine triphenolate complexes can be used as a catalyst in the formation of these polycarbonates. The primary reported synthetic pathway for isolation of iron(III) amine triphenolate complexes is metathesis from air sensitive precursors. In this research, two alternate metalation pathways were explored using amine triphenolate ligands with varying substituent groups. Both routes formed the desired complexes. Reaction conditions of time and heat were studied as well as various crystallization conditions. Products isolated from both routes have been analyzed through infrared spectroscopy and elemental analysis. Both reaction routes yielded the expected products for all tested ligands. Reaction routes were evaluated according to principles of green chemistry. 

The Southern (SVZ) and Central Volcanic Zones (CVZ) within the Andean Convergent Margin originated from subduction of the Nazca Plate beneath the South American plate. Subduction zones are a crucial boundary between Earth's interior and exterior, where carbon and other volatiles undergo continuous recycling between Earth's reservoirs (i.e., surface, crust, and mantle). By examining the isotopic properties of helium (He), neon (Ne) and carbon (C), we can discern the primary processes responsible for the movement of volatiles between reservoirs and determine volatile sources (i.e., mantle vs crust) in forearcs, arcs and back arcs.

Here we present new He and Ne stable isotopic composition and abundance data from 13 gas samples obtained from the CVZ, substantially improving sampling coverage of the CVZ backarc region in the Argentinean Puna. After correcting for air contamination, the isotopes show a range from 0.32 to 5.34 RA. On average, samples are primarily composed of radiogenic He with small (<20%) yet significant contributions from the mantle, in agreement with published data.

We also present a new carbon isotope fractionation model, using published carbon isotope data from CVZ and SVZ fluids. Model curves were fitted to data using a fixed starting d13Ci and by iteratively adjusting the temperature of calcite formation. The starting d13Ci values were derived through a mass balance approach, accounting for the carbon inputs from the slab and the mantle. For the CVZ, d13Ci = -6.8 ‰ was used, with a temperature range from T1 = 65°C to T2 = 280°C. For the SVZ, d13Ci = -3.18 ‰ was used, with a temperature range from T1 = 65°C to T2 = 280°C. According to our model, approximately 95% of C is sequestered in SVZ and 81% in CVZ. These modelling results suggest that calcite precipitation could be a significant sink for C, not only in arcs (Ray et al., 2009) and forearcs (Barry et al., 2019), but also in back arcs.

Although both Japan and Sweden had similar demographics back in 1945 in terms of racial and ethnic homogeneity, these countries took significantly different paths in their migration policies. What contributed to this divergence? My hypothesis is that tolerance toward multiculturalism determines pro- or anti-immigrant attitudes. This research combines rhetorical analyses and policy analyses, as well as theoretical analyses, and attempts to understand the reasons behind the pro- and anti-immigrant attitudes, regarding Japan and Sweden as case studies. 

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive neurological disorder characterized by the deterioration of motor skills, disturbances in sleep, memory impairments, and the formation of abnormal protein clusters. Recent studies have highlighted the significant influence of the gut microbiome and dietary habits on both physical and cognitive well-being. Emerging evidence suggests that probiotics offer a promising avenue for promoting better health outcomes and managing symptoms associated with PD. Various investigations have examined the effects of modulating the gut microbiota in individuals with PD, revealing improvements in mobility and sleep quality.

The gut-brain axis, a complex network connecting the enteric nervous system to the central nervous system, plays a pivotal role in mediating these effects. Introducing probiotics into one's diet directly affects this bidirectional communication pathway. To investigate the impact of dietary interventions on PD-like symptoms in a Drosophila melanogaster model, adult fruit flies will be fed food enriched with kefir, a probiotic containing 12 active cultures and over 20 billion colony-forming units. My hypothesis expects that by altering the gut microbiome, the symptoms of our PD-like flies might be aleviated. 

Prior studies have demonstrated favorable outcomes by manipulating the diet of Drosophila in models of Alzheimer's disease (Batista et al., 2021, Sci Rep 11:11262). This current study aims to compare the performance of healthy flies (RV) with sick flies (GBA del), which exhibit PD-like symptoms due to the deletion of the GBA gene encoding glucocerebrosidase, a PD genetic risk factor. Adult flies will be divided into groups fed untreated food as a control and kefir-treated food, with their climbing ability, lifespan, sleep patterns, and protein aggregation levels assessed. Additionally, the gut microbiota of each group will be analyzed using 16S rRNA gene sequencing, along with the sequencing of kefir itself. We anticipate that flies consuming kefir-treated food will demonstrate enhanced climbing abilities, prolonged lifespans, improved sleep quality, and reduced protein aggregation, as measured by western blot analysis. If successful, investigating kefir as a potential therapeutic intervention for PD symptoms in human patients could be a promising avenue for neurodegenerative disease research.

With only two bonding partners and two non-bonding electrons, carbenes are highly reactive organic intermediates that have manifold applications across the field of chemistry. The reactive character of a carbene is directly influenced by the groups bonded to the carbene center, which means a chemist can tune a carbene's reactivity with deliberate structural modifications. While these structural modifications often focus on the nature of atoms directly bonded to the carbene (the alpha atoms), atoms and groups further removed from the carbene center can play a significant role in the carbene's reactivity profile.

beta-Heteroatom stabilized carbenes feature a strained intramolecular interaction between the carbene carbon and an electron rich atom that is two bonds away. While carbenes of this type are predicted to be nucleophilic and highly reactive, only a couple have been synthesized and tested. The carboxylate carbene was studied over three decades ago to establish the physical properties of the system. This body of research builds on that valuable knowledge and aims to develop a reliable and scalable synthesis of a carboxylate carbene precursor that can sustain an effort to find an application for this unique system. We will report on a modified synthesis that follows the original strategy, as well as other synthetic efforts using orthogonal strategies. We will also detail preliminary reactivity data of the carboxylate carbene under various conditions.

The Teutonic Order was a monastic military order of the Middle Ages and also exists in the present. They were a German religious organization tasked with the conversion of the Baltic region of northeastern Europe. That was an immense undertaking for a group of knights, monks, friars, a few administrators, and peasants. Therefore, there had to be important motivators to allow these men to take on such a monumental task, especially while the main Crusades to the Holy Land were mostly failing. Morale for the Teutonic Order is an important part of understanding how this organization shaped aspects of history for Germany, Poland, Belarus, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, and Russia. A group that was so small yet so successful for a time had to have high morale and motivators to inspire them with their actions. Morale is an understudied part of warfare for the Teutonic Order, and for military and political study of the state, it should be more apparent in academia.

 In this study, we describe the strategic design and synthesis of a focused library of chiral N-
heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligands specifically tailored for the copper-catalyzed reduction of 2H-azirines. The
ligands are constructed through a convergent five-step synthesis, incorporating amino acid derived chiral
amino alcohols to impart chirality. The resulting library encompasses a range of structural variations, enabling
a systematic exploration of ligand effects on reaction outcomes.
Subsequently, we investigate the performance of these chiral NHC ligands in copper-catalyzed reduction
reactions involving 2H-azirines. Our results reveal the profound influence of ligand design on the efficiency and
selectivity of these transformations, highlighting the importance of ligand type in controlling the outcome of
these reactions.
This research not only provides a tailored set of chiral NHC ligands but also offers a deeper understanding of
the intricate interactions between ligand structure and copper-catalyzed reduction processes. The insights
gained from this study pave the way for the development of highly efficient and enantioselective methods for
the synthesis of valuable chiral compounds via 2H-azirine reduction reactions.

Microplastics are small plastic particles measuring less than 5 millimeters in length. Microplastics have recently been recognized as a prominent contaminant worldwide, negatively affecting terrestrial, freshwater, and saltwater ecosystems. Microplastics are deemed as microparticles prior to chemical composition identification by a micro-fourier transform infrared microscope (micro-FTIR spectroscopy), which is the case for this study. Virtually no research has investigated microplastic contamination in remote, forested, headwater stream ecosystems in Pennsylvania. At five streams in central Pennsylvania, we assessed microparticle contamination across three trophic levels, these being tertiary consumers (brown trout (Salmo trutta) and brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis)), secondary consumers (eastern blacknose dace (Rhinichthys atratulus)), and primary consumers (net-spinning caddisflies (Trichoptera), stoneflies (Plecoptera), mayflies (Ephemeroptera), dragonflies (Odonata), and fishflies (Megaloptera). Unblocked wadable electrofishing protocols were used with a Smith Root LR 24 to collect fish samples (n=50 total, n=5 per trophic level, n=10 per stream). Macroinvertebrates were collected using standard kick netting procedures (n=94 total, Trichoptera: n=40, Plecoptera: n=30, Ephemeroptera: n=20, Odonata: n=3, Megaloptera: n=1). Fish were euthanized with Tricaine-S (MS-222) and put on ice in darkened coolers while macroinvertebrates were placed in 70% ethanol prior to being stored in a 40° C freezer. In lab, gastrointestinal tracts of fish were removed and placed in a 10% potassium hydroxide (KOH) solution for digestion for 48 hours. Macroinvertebrates were identified to order and digested in a 10% KOH solution for 24 hours. Microparticles were obtained through vacuum filtrating with glass fiber 45-millimeter filter papers and analyzed under an Olympus sz61 dissecting microscope at 45x magnification. Microplastic analysis was conducted on three of our five sites using micro-FTIR spectroscopy on Salvelinus fontinalis, Rhinichthys atratulus, and Plecoptera. Initial results show microplastic contamination being highest among secondary consumers and not tertiary consumers. We believe that this disparity in microplastic contamination between trophic levels is driven by divergences in feeding strategies, morphological differences, and contrasts in life histories. 

High-speed rail (HSR) is a prominent form of transportation in many European and Asian countries, but it is not popular in the United States. The U.S. currently does not have any HSR lines. Since the end of World War II, the United States has become an automobile-focused country. Other countries have since implemented HSR, but the United States has failed to do so. HSR has multiple reported benefits, including environmental and economic benefits, which could help transition the U.S. to a cleaner and stronger economy. I aim to research what circumstances are necessary to make high-speed successful around the world. I will compile data and complete a data analysis to investigate what factors are necessary for successful high-speed rail lines. Using this research, I will answer what circumstances are needed to develop successful high-speed rail.

This presentation summarizes the evolution of positive and negative immigration rhetoric among presidential candidates and their parties. Employing content analysis on presidential debates from 1984 to 2020, this research identifies and categorizes pro and anti-immigration sentiments using a set of predetermined stigmas and tropes. The analysis reveals how candidates strategically utilize immigration discourse to enhance their electoral prospects as immigration becomes increasingly salient in American politics

N-Heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) have gained attention in the past 1 to 2 decades as metal ligands for organometallic catalysts. The structure of an NHC causes it to be Lewis basic, allowing it to easily bond to electropositive transition metals. While many NHC precursors are commercially available, they are often prohibitively expensive for budget-conscious research programs. Still, many of the more specialized ligands can only be realized through multi-step synthesis. Our group is undertaking the synthesis of a family of NHC ligand precursors that we will achieve through a five-step convergent synthesis. A portion of these NHC molecules is derived from amino acids. The use of these naturally occurring chiral amino acids results in chiral NHC ligands that impart their asymmetry onto a metal catalyst. We intend to employ multiple amino acids in order to create a variety of structurally diverse NHC ligand precursors. With those precursors in hand, we plan to test them in a new copper-catalyzed method that we are developing for the stereoselective reduction of 2Hazirines.

The organic N-oxide ligand 3-hydroxyimidazole-1-oxide (HimzO2) has the unique ability to bridge multiple metallic centers as an imidazoledioxido anion. Resulting polymers tend to display strange magnetic behaviors, especially high-temperature diamagnetism in the case of copper(II) complexes. Studying these helps us to better understand the structures of 3d metal complexes and the relationships with their magnetic properties. In the past, we have identified and characterized a vast number of HimzO2 complexes using copper(II) salts. To build upon our discoveries, we believe that if we can synthesize analogous complexes with diamagnetic metals that display the same polymeric topography as the copper complexes, then we can eventually combine their syntheses to create a 1:1 mixed-metal polymer that preserves the paramagnetic property of copper(II). Recent advancements have been made to synthesize complexes using other metals, especially zinc. New complexes have been successfully created using zinc(II) bromide, zinc(II) acetate, and zinc(II) sulfate. Each has been analyzed using IR spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography (when crystals were successfully grown) and characterized by melting point and solubility. The most promising discovery is in the complex identified as [ZnBr2(HimzO2)2], a soluble monomeric species which retains an N-hydroxyl hydrogen, presenting the possibility of acting as a building block to coordinate further with copper salts to achieve our goal. Thus, the behaviors of this complex are currently being explored as we learn more about coordination chemistry and the properties of the HimzO2 ligand.

N-oxide Schiff-base ligands are an important research interest in the field of inorganic chemistry due to their ability to create complexes with metal centers. Some transition metal complexes using N-oxide Schiff-base ligands have previously been studied. These complexes show biological activity, are used in catalytic processes, and many other applications. The purpose of this research is to further the investigation into more transition metal complexes with these organic ligands. 

The 2-pyridinecarbaldehyde N-oxide (poxal) precursor was made according to prior literature published. Poxal was condensed with ethylenediamine to yield a tetradentate Schiff-base ligand, poxen, following a modified published procedure. The product of the condensation reaction has been characterized using spectroscopic techniques such as infrared and nuclear magnetic resonance, as well as physical tests such as solubility testing and melting point determination. Complexes with various copper(II) salts have been synthesized. Copper(II) perchlorate and copper(II) nitrate form complexes with the ligand in a 1:1 ratio, while copper(II) chloride creates a dimeric complex with the ligand. Characterization of Cu2(poxen)(Cl4)(OH), Cu(poxen)(NO3)2, and Cu(poxen)(ClO4)2 will be presented. 

Polyphenols are micronutrients found in plants that have been associated with potential health benefits such as a reduction of inflammation and improved cardiovascular health. Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) or Heart Disease is the leading cause of death globally making research on how the foods we eat can lower the risk of CVD an important area of study. Polyphenols are known to lower the risk of CVD and the CVD contributing factors: obesity and diabetes. Foods that are high in polyphenols include tea, apples, and different types of berries. In this study, individuals (n=28) were given a high polyphenol diet consisting of these aforementioned foods over 10 weeks in order to investigate the potential effect of a polyphenol-rich diet on the gut microbiome and health of humans. Fecal samples were subject to metagenomic DNA sequencing to unearth the microbial communities and functions endowed by the gut microbiome. We performed fecal DNA extractions, library preparations of the DNA, and high-throughput sequencing. Data analysis included taxonomic and functional gene identification to investigate the differences in lean (low BMI) and obese (high BMI) individuals after polyphenol diets. We compared the taxonomic and gene functional gene identification to understand if there are microbial taxa and metabolic functions being enriched or depleted post-polyphenol consumption that might correlate with a reduction in disease state. Results from this pilot project may help inform future healthy-eating choices.

An all sky camera is a tool used in observational astronomy. It is able to photograph the entire sky in a single shot, making it useful for purposes such as observing cloud cover or meteor showers. There is an all sky camera at the Sparks Farm observatory, but it would be helpful for future astronomy research to have another for use on campus. The camera uses a wide-angle lens to view the whole sky at once. Pictures it takes are stored on a raspberry pi computer running Linux. This computer also automates the collection of data. The images and settings can also be accessed over the internet. In addition, the camera needs watertight housing to protect it from the elements when in use. An overview of the design and construction will be presented, as well as images of the night sky taken with it.

Students Leading Through Instruction Design presentation discusses the creation of the Juniata College's Instructional Design Team. This student-lead Instructional Design Team (IDT) will provide insights into their formation, process, projects, and impact. The IDT began as a whiteboard concept, Fall of 2023. With the opportunity to mobilize the program originated with an Open Educational Resource program and quickly radiated into other aspects of the Campus community, involving students, staff, faculty and community members. The IDT will discuss our what future on campus looks like. 

Parkinson's disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder which can lead to an array of neurological symptoms ranging from dyskinesia to mood and sleep complications in humans. With the deletion of the glucocerebrosidase (GBA) gene in Drosophila melanogaster (fruit flies), researchers have been able to model the disease in a relatively low maintenance, cost-effective organism. Aside from their noticeable Parkinson's-like symptoms, like insomnia and poor climbing ability, the deletion flies also differ greatly from the control flies in the amount of protein aggregates isolated from their tissues. Pulsed electromagnetic field therapy (PEMF) has had various clinical applications since first being introduced as a therapy to stimulate healing in non-union bone fractures in the 1970s. 

Recent studies and clinical trials have investigated the effectiveness of PEMF treatment in reducing the occurrence and severity of Parkinson's symptoms in human and model species, reporting improvement in bradykinesia and other motor difficulties associated with the disease. This experiment uses a physical approach to treating more than just the symptom, but the cellular and molecular damage associated with the disease. Using Helmholtz coils and equations to model and create a virtually uniform, pulsed field for the flies to receive periodic treatment, I can observe the cellular effects and possible benefits of PEMF in reducing protein aggregates caused by Parkinson's disease.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is known for its tremors and stiffness, but sleep and gut challenges, increased protein aggregation, and a shortened lifespan have also been observed. Issues with the GBA gene are a known risk factor for human PD and hence Drosophila melanogaster (fruit flies) without this gene can be used for studying PD. Previous work on PD in both humans and flies has shown different gut microbiomes in affected and non-affected individuals, opening us to experiments that influence changes in the gut microbiome. 

In these experiments, we mimic fecal transplantation by letting the flies interact with feces. Initially, a single dosage of fecal matter showed a significant decrease in protein aggregation in the heads of PD-like flies on non-PD fecal matter through a western blot, but not their bodies. The gut composition revealed a positive increase in Proteobacteria- and Alphaproteo bacteria and found that the PD-like flies had 5x higher levels of lactobacillus and other fermenting bacilli. This may indicate that non-PD fecal matter can be beneficial in its restorative and rescuing effect on the phenotype.

We are exploring multiple dosages to see the long-term impact of fecal exposure, as a treatment option. We are also exploring if PD fecal matter would make non-PD flies worse. At day 10 (4-5 dosages) we are analyzing the 16S rRNA, western blots, and sleep; along with the long-term effects on lifespan. 

While goods have been flowing across the border between the United States and Mexico for centuries, the past fifty years have seen a trade explosion between the two nations. This presentation discusses how Mexico has become more and more important to global manufacturing, including Mexico's entry into international organizations such as the General Agreement on Trade and Tariffs, the World Trade Organization, the North American Free Trade Organization, and the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement. It argues that Mexican integration with the United States and the global economy have positive impacts on both nations that will last for a long time. This integration has only accelerated in recent years, and a variety of factors, such as cost leadership and shorter supply chains, continue to bring benefits to those who do business across the border. Hence, trends observed in this presentation continuously support integration and cooperation between the United States and Mexico. 

Saccharomyces cerevisiae, also known as Baker's yeast, is a useful model organism due its genetic similarity with other eukaryotic species. The uncharacterized yeast gene YLR001C has orthology to six well-known species ranging from Drosophila melanogaster to Homo sapiens. The protein product of YLR001C, Ylr001cp, contains the superfamily and family domain Fasciclin-1 (FAS-1). FAS-1 is responsible for cell-cell adhesion, paracrine signaling, intracellular product trafficking, and endocytosis in other eukaryotes. Previous studies and bioinformatic databases draw connections between YLR001C and metals, whether it be unusual phenotypic expression of YLR001CΔ when exposed to metals, or co-expression between Ylr001cp and proteins involved in metal transport or regulation. As a result, I hypothesized that YLR001C is responsible for the transportation or regulation of one or more metals. Metals are vital to cells but toxic in high quantities, so it is important we know how cells regulate metals to maintain homeostasis. This advancement of knowledge may have applications to the development of treatments for conditions relating to metal metabolism deficiencies. This research also strives to improve our general knowledge of yeast. Spot assays were conducted to test whether YLR001C is responsible for the metabolism of iron, cadmium, and/or nickel. Neither YLR001CΔ and wild type (WT) exhibited a phenotype when grown on media containing excess FeSO4 • 7H20. In the iron-deficient assay, the null mutant grew significantly faster than WT on the iron-lacking plates, but since the same was true for the control plates, conclusions cannot be made on the role of Ylr001cp in iron metabolism. Next, I conducted spot assays on plates containing excess CdCl2 and plates containing excess NiCl2 • 6H20. No evident difference was found between the growth of WT and YLR001CΔ on the cadmium-rich nor on the nickel-rich plates, contradicting published findings that YLR001CΔ exhibits high resistance to CdCl2 and NiCl2. I re-conducted the cadmium-rich spot assay with a positive control and received the same results. Conclusions cannot be drawn from these assays. Other researchers have located Ylr001cp in the vacuole, the vacuole membrane, and the mitochondrion. I wanted to clarify the protein's precise location to gain insight into its possible function(s). Fluorescent microscopy was used to locate Ylr001cp C-terminally tagged with GFP. The results indicated that Ylr001cp may be located in the cytoplasm and/or the cell wall. To support or refute these results, I stained the mitochondria with a fluorescent marker to view the cells relative to mitochondria. I was unable to pinpoint Ylr001cp relative to mitochondria due to having overstained the cells and the lack of the stain's clarity. I then stained the vacuoles of the GFP-tagged YLR001C strain to locate Ylr001cp relative to the vacuole. Bleed-through of the fluorescent markers was evident, yielding the results inconclusive. Future directions include investigating the phenotypic expression of strain YLR001CΔ on minimal media, as well as whether Ylr001cp alters its localization upon exhibiting DNA replication stress.

The study of ancient literature is not only important in cataloguing and preserving our understanding of the civilizations that have come before us but also in giving us the opportunity to examine our own values and beliefs through historical and literary analysis of those texts. While the wrath of Achilles has been well-explored in analyses of Homer's Iliad, the literature that details other episodes of his life (such as Statius' Achilleid) has not gathered as much academic or popular study. Using J.H. Mozley's 1928 translation of the Latin poem, this descriptively and critically annotated version of the text aims to help readers come away with a greater understanding of the material by defining terms, providing necessary information and context, and explaining important passages. In so doing, a conversation can be had about how culture shapes our individual understanding of how gender is experienced and perceived.

While goods have been flowing across the border between the United States and Mexico for centuries, the past fifty years have seen a trade explosion between the two nations. This presentation discusses how Mexico has become more and more important to global manufacturing, including Mexico's entry into international organizations such as the General Agreement on Trade and Tariffs, the World Trade Organization, the North American Free Trade Organization, and the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement. It argues that Mexican integration with the United States and the global economy have positive impacts on both nations that will last for a long time. This integration has only accelerated in recent years, and a variety of factors, such as cost leadership and shorter supply chains, continue to bring benefits to those who do business across the border. Hence, trends observed in this presentation continuously support integration and cooperation between the United States and Mexico. 

It is no secret that Death ruled over the Victorian era. It was hard not to be constantly wrapped up in morbid thoughts about one's own mortality when sickness, starvation, and the appalling working conditions ruled the mind and heart. The whispers of Death during the Victorian period become somewhat of an inescapable companion, urging contemplation about one's own eventual demise. Very easily, one could go over Death in a multitude of ways, exploring the darkest parts of the Victorian period to examine what Death really meant to the average Victorian - what were their thoughts, feelings, and motives surrounding death and dying? Were Victorians as obsessed with Death as historians often speak about? That is precisely what this presentation sought to uncover, and to do that, we are forced to look at the real people involved - the real lives and deaths of the Victorian's. Together, we embark on a quest; a quest to unravel the nuanced perspectives of the darkest corners hidden in the 19th century. I believe that in doing so, I have learned more about the Victorians than ever before, easily connecting Death to Victorian lives and their real motivations - Death was everywhere, after all, an inescapable thought that many Victorian's couldn't quite escape, and therefore, were forced to grapple with. Specifically, this presentation focuses on the Memento Mori of the time, post-mortem photography, the Victorian attitude on suicide, and the poetry and art that Victorian's created about Death. Together, we will connect mourning to meaning. 

This presentation is a proposal for a new Information Technology course at Juniata College. The course is co-requisite to the existing course in Human Computer Interactions. This course will teach students the process, principles, and tools used when design Internet of Things systems in order to better prepare them for working with and creating modern technology. 

It is difficult to extract data from relational databases if you are not very familiar with SQL. My research aims to develop a more accurate Text-to-SQL system by using OpenAI's GPT-4 model. The goal is to surpass the current highest performing model on the Spider dataset, which is a collection of thousands of Text-to-SQL pairs included in 200 databases over multiple domains. My research will attempt to optimize system prompts to provide better output. The novelty in this research comes from passing the entire database schema into the context window, with the purpose of improving accuracy and reducing errors, this has only recently become possible with the introduction of very large context windows.

Virtual Reality (VR) has been rapidly gaining popularity in recent years, with its applications extending beyond gaming to education. Studies have shown that VR can be an effective tool for enhancing learning and teaching in various contexts.

At Liberal Art Colleges, there has been little research on the use of VR as a teaching tool, and it is not yet clear how faculty members perceive its potential. To address this gap in knowledge, we propose to conduct a survey to understand the perspectives of Juniata faculty members towards using VR in their teaching.

The results of this survey will provide insights into the perceived benefits and challenges of using VR as a teaching tool, as well as the factors that influence its adoption and implementation.

Exploring the ideas and topics of my Politics senior thesis paper.

Bioinformatics, a field of science that develops and uses computer technology and software tools to understand biological data, is growing faster than ever with advancements in technology and due to the demand in understanding complex problems. With the demand on the rise, the ways in which we manage the data collected has become of concern, which has led to the implementations of various cloud computing tools. I am proposing a research project that demonstrates the effectiveness of different cloud computing providers, considering speed, complexity, and accuracy of data retrieval and storage. Through the utilization of the top-rated cloud computing providers, and third-party benchmarking analyzers, I believe I can effectively demonstrate a model for cloud computing in the field of bioinformatics. 

Art theft has generated greater public awareness in recent years and spouted off theories of what happens to art after it has been stolen. These theories are most often created to fill an adventurous and exciting notion which is generally far from the truth. These theories are harmless to those who understand the world of art crime, but limit the true information understood by the general public. Rembrandt is a well-known artist, even without a formal art education, and his work has been targeted by art thieves throughout its history. By focusing on Rembrandt art that was stolen between 1960 and 2000, there is an opportunity to dive deep into specific instances of art theft. Through a series of case studies, newspaper articles, interviews and memoirs, and secondary research, I plan to expose the true techniques and motivations of art thieves and explore what happens to art that has been stolen.

The study of the epic poem Beowulf has been an undertaking by many historians and literature experts since its discovery in England during the 1600s and has since become one of the most famous and translated poems in history.  The poem has since been claimed by England as a national epic and their own creation despite the poem's clear Scandinavian roots, a hero from Geatland, a troll like monster, monsters, and the entire poem taking place in Sweden.  The "English" Poem also holds many parallels to the cultural memory and heroic cycle of the legendary Danish King Hrólf Kraki, the nephew of Hroðgar, and his twelve legendary champions, the most notable being Böðvar Bjarki.  Hrólf is one of the few characters to be referenced in many different sagas and is mentioned with such casualty that his cultural memory is older than that of the Viking Age and the writing of Beowulf.  And his champion Böðvar parallels Beowulf himself more than any character originating from England.  Both were known as brave and honorable warriors and were famed for their battles with monsters.  The tale of Beowulf may have been a version written by the Anglo-Saxons, or possibly by a monk in England, the tradition of Hrólf Kraki and his champion Böðvar Bjarki planted the roots for Beowulf to grow.

This study examines the role of blood alcohol concentration (BAC) laws in reducing alcohol-related accidents and fatalities nationwide. Focusing on Utah's shift from a limit of 0.08% to 0.05%, it evaluates its implications on road safety and federal policymaking. Through the analysis of accident and fatality data pre- and post-transition, this study assesses the effectiveness of Utah's policy change and its potential national impact. By employing statistical analysis and extrapolation techniques, this study inspects trends in alcohol-related incidents in Utah under the new BAC limit and projects the potential outcome of a nationwide adoption.

The Fantastic Four were created in 1961 by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. The team consisted of Reed Richards, Sue Storm, Ben Grimm, and Johnny Storm. They were exposed to cosmic radiation while in space and given superpowers which they use to fight against supervillains. Unlike other teams published by Marvel comics, the Fantastic Four are unique because the members of the group are a family. Reed Richards and Sue Storm marry, Johnny Storm is Sue's younger brother, and Ben Grimm is an honorary uncle and brother figure. Their roles also mirror those of the American family in the 1960s. I found that the Fantastic Four are depicted like the American family in the 1960s, with some differences. By using comics as a primary source to examine familial relationships and roles in the 1960s and into early 1970s, in this presentation I show that comic books can be seen as an influential method of shaping youth culture, by reinforcing societal norms like the teenager experience, married couples, and families with children.

From the very first curio cabinets to modern museums, natural specimens have always been an integral part of museums and collections. Without these objects and the way that their use has evolved over time, museums centered around the natural world would not be able to function. The unique way that museums bridge the gap between people and concepts by using objects undoubtedly applies to natural history collections, and their specimens and dioramas are an important resource in connecting to audiences in a way little else can. Specimens can also be instrumental in research done by these institutions and can provide valuable insight into environments of the present and the past. This presentation will pull from a written thesis, as well as the accompanying exhibition developed and presented at the Juniata College Museum of Art. "On Display: The Art, Science, and Significance of Specimens" will investigate the history of natural history collections, the artistry that goes into creating and displaying specimens, and the ways that those displays make an impact on current scientific and educational efforts, especially when in a museum setting.

Titanium Dioxide (TiO2) is a food additive used in processed foods as a whitening agent. This food additive, which was banned in multiple countries across the European Union is hypothesized to have adverse effects on the gut microbiome. Using High-throughput sequencing, we aim to investigate the bacterial profiles of the gut microbiota by using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. A comparison of high and low exposure (n= 80 people, n=240 samples) groups will be performed to investigate potential impacts on the gut microbiota. Additionally, we aim to perform a metatranscriptomic analysis on the samples from extracted RNA. This data will show which microbes and metabolic pathways are activated by looking at their gene expression. All these data integrated with human metadata will help us determine the potential effects of TiO2 on the gut microbiome and human health.

Large language models like chatGPT are becoming increasingly impactful in society, but these models require a lot of computing power. So much so, that to run these Large language models it is common to put many computers together to gain the necessary computational power. In this project, I have explored the pros and cons of Ray a common tool used for distributing computing across many computers.