NAND Strand Displacement Logic Gate in a Cost-Friendly Flow Reactor 

DNA circuits can directly program material functions such as component assembly, disassembly, and biological material manipulation. Electronic computers function with rigid circuit boards, which intake signals encoded in electricity voltages. Based on whether the voltage is high or low, signals trigger a series of logic gates which allow the computer to yield an output. Similarly, liquid DNA computers use high and low concentrations of DNA strands to trigger logic gates. Because the inputs and outputs of DNA circuits are physical molecules, DNA circuits can directly program material functions such as component assembly, disassembly, and biological material manipulation. 

Exploring Factors that Contribute to STEM Transfer Student Sense of Belonging 

There is an ongoing disconnect between the number of students who enter college intending to earn a STEM degree and the number of students who persist to degree, this is particularly true for transfer students. Sense of belonging has been named as a STEM persistence factor, yet how that belonging develops for transfer students is largely unknown. Here we used a mixed-methods design to explore the experiences of STEM transfer students at PSU (n=38). Participants completed a survey prior to participating in an interview. The survey and interviews explored their science identity, sense of belonging, and involvement in STEM-related activities. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and de-identified. We leveraged a framework: Core Elements of Sense of Belonging to iteratively code student interviews and identify overarching themes. Preliminary results reveal that engaging in multiple STEM programs facilitate a dosage effect that reflects their perspective on community; communal support through faculty and peers allows students to be more motivated to succeed. This research contributes to the literature on STEM transfer student belonging and can inform future programming and structures to better support these students to graduation. 

QIBC Analysis on Killifish Cells Under Anoxic Conditions  

Faithful DNA replication is vital for all living organisms. Environmental stressors can cause a multitude of mutations and DNA lesions during replication leading to cell death if not accurately repaired. The annual killifish, Austrofundulus limnaeus, has a heightened tolerance to many known genotoxic stressors, including anoxia. Embryos of the annual killifish can survive months of anoxia during the dry season when the ephemeral ponds they inhabit, completely dry. During these exposures, they have shown they are capable of repairing substantial amounts of damaged DNA. This resilience has led us to hypothesize that A. limnaeus have enhanced DNA repair capabilities. An experiment using a previously developed cell line, PSU-AL-WS40NE, was designed to test the relationship between the cell cycle and damage accumulation through the aid of quantitative image-based cytometry (QIBC). This first study was run to determine if we could assess cell cycle stages of individual cells through anoxia. Surprisingly, cells were shown to continue DNA replication even after 24 hours of exposure to complete anoxia. This data suggests that the annual killifish can perform faithful replication from highly damaged DNA in conditions of extreme environmental stress. 

eDNA Sampling of Loggers Creek to Monitor Freshwater Mussels with City of Boise 

Habitat suitability and restoration has been a focus in the Boise area for years. Loggers Creek, an offshoot of the Boise River, has been studied to determine the suitability for different species, such as Western Pearlshell Mussel (Margaritifera falcata) and Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). The presence of Western Pearlshell indicates an overall healthy aquatic ecosystem and is essential in the process of determining habitat quality. The City of Boise implemented the techniques of eDNA through spatial sampling to determine the location of Western Pearlshell. With these results, mussel groups have been relocated and re-identified using eDNA in different sections of the creek. eDNA was used to monitor the movement of a translocated group of 41 mussels. The City of Boise has continued to monitor the health of certain areas and the growth of the Western Pearlshell population. In addition, eDNA will provide an insight on the growth of other native mussels and early detection of invasive mussels. 

Neural Signal Recordings of Manduca sexta Hawkmoth Antennae towards Multisensory Odor Discrimination 

The Manduca sexta hawkmoth, a proficient pollinator, employs its antennae to efficiently navigate its surroundings. With their antennas highly developed olfactory sense as well as their wide range of odor recognition using their sensory receptor cells, moth antennae are an ideal candidate for developing reliable biosensors. In contrast, commonly used artificial sensors are inefficient and inaccurate in chemical detection. Furthermore, their manufacture is challenging due to their inconvenient design for the user. To evaluate the antenna's effectiveness as a biosensor model, we assessed neural activity in the moth antenna by means of an electroantennogram (EAG). To do this, we attached the removed antenna to a circuit to amplify and measure voltage variations across the antennal nerves during odor stimulation. We then placed the circuit into a wind tunnel and administered a selection of odorants over a determined cycle of durations ranging from 0.2, to 10 seconds. The odorants included a floral mixture from Datura flowers and a certain compound in the mixture (linalool) known to be attractive to moths, as well as volatile organic chemicals (VOCs) replicating both healthy and COVID breath. Our findings show strong initial spikes of electrical activity in the receptor cells correlating to odorant release​, favoring the shorter durations and both the floral mixture and linalool. Prolonged exposure (5 and 10 second durations) to odorants caused continuous increased activity in the antennae, with a more pronounced response observed in the COVID VOCs and linalool. These results demonstrate that moth antennas are a suitable model for the construction of highly accurate and efficient biosensors, and support the feasibility of implementing them in devices aimed at detecting and identifying substances of interest. Future work will explore additional COVID-associated compounds and apply machine learning methods for enhanced chemical discrimination. 

Environmental Conditions Effects on Owl Habitat and Eating Habits 

The study's objective is to gather owl pellets, shedding light on their dietary habits and determining their residency around the owl boxes.​ 

Possible Prevention of MRI Contrast Agent Pollution Utilizing Chemically Modified Polystyrene Beads to Trap and Recycle Contrast Agents

The invention of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) in the medical field revolutionized the doctor’s ability to diagnose and treat hundreds of unique medical conditions. The utility of the MRI only increased as the use of contrast agents allowed for more detailed images to be produced. Although MRIs can be conducted without contrast agents, today around 70% are done with contrast agents in the United States (Davenport, 2018). The most common contrast agents used are Gadolinium (Gd) based, a metal which is normally a toxic metal to humans, but when used in contrast agents can be tolerated as the metal is contained within its coordination complex. In 2016 a research study showed that anthropogenic Gadolinium concentrations are increasing in the San Francisco Bay, which is home to many hospitals and research labs using MRI contrast agents (Hatje, 2016). This is cause for alarm as once contrast agents are released into open water, it is effectively impossible to remove the harmful contrast agents giving need for a method to trap and possibly recycle these contrast agents before their release. This work focuses on specially substituted forms of the LnDOTA contrast agents as they exhibit properties allowing for alteration without affecting function. By modifying a commercially available polystyrene bead a reversible Diels-Alder reaction can be conducted trapping the contrast agent to the beads allowing for removal from the matrix. Although the development of this method is still ongoing, small modifications of the process will allow for varying contrast agents to be captured and recycled in the near future. 

Selection During Reproduction in Mimulus guttatus 

A lack of genomic studies examining gametophytic selection and selective embryo abortion—which occur during the reproduction of angiosperms—leaves questions regarding the adaptive and evolutionary effects of these processes. Analyzing deviations from Mendelian segregation offers an avenue for identifying loci targeted by GS and SEA, and their contributions to purging of genetic load. However, other selective processes such as meiotic drive and cytonuclear interactions, as well as pollen and ovule abortion, can cause distortion. To distinguish the effects of GS and SEA from other causes of distortion, we will perform reciprocal crosses between highly homozygous and highly heterozygous individuals of Mimulus guttatus and conduct pooled sequencing of pollen and seeds. Given that a large fraction of the genome is expressed in pollen and seeds, we expect a large proportion of the genome to exhibit segregation distortion due to GS and SEA. 

Transport study of a magnetic Weyl semimetal candidate: EuCdBi2 

Weyl Semimetals serve as a platform to explore the intrinsic nature of elusive massless Weyl fermions: subatomic particles with half-integer spin. Recently, EuCdBi2, a layered compound with antiferromagnetic order, having spin directions in the ab plane, has emerged as an ideal candidate for Weyl semimetal studies. Its non-toxic Bismuth component enhances its desirability compared to the similar compound, EuCd2As2. In our study of EuCdBi2, we employed the flux method to synthesize this novel material and conducted Electron Diffraction Spectroscopy (EDS) and X-Ray Diffraction analysis (XRD) to examine its chemical composition and crystal structure respectively. Additionally, we conducted resistivity and magnetic measurements at low temperature and high magnetic fields in Physical Property Measurement Systems (PPMS). We observed the Neel temperature transition, divergent magnetoresistivity, and Anomalous Hall effect. These results suggest this material is a potential platform to study Weyl fermions. Further exploration of EuCdBi2 and its topological properties is vital to fully grasp its thermoelectric transport potential and to uncover the intrinsic properties of Weyl fermions. 

An Introductory Exploration of Different Morphologies of Ferromagnetic 2D-Perovskite (phenethylammonium)_2 CrCl_4  

The A2MX4 is a type of 2D (Ruddelsen-Popper phase) perovskite where the A is either an alkali metal or alkylammonium cation, M represents a divalent metal ion (e.g. Pb2+, Sn2+, Fe2+, Mn2+, Cu2+, or Cr2+), and X is a halogen (Cl-, Br-, or I-). [1] Previous studies have focused on the optical and ferromagnetic properties of A2CrCl4 materials using single crystals, but there have been no reports on other morphologies such as nanocrystals or nanosheets. [2] The A2CrCl4 perovskites were studied heavily in the 1980s where they were found to be ferromagnetic and have interesting absorption spectra due to their magnetism. These properties are due to the Jahn-Teller distorted chromium octahedra that allows for ferromagnetic exchange. The interlayer spacing between the inorganic layers can be modulated in the hybrid organic-inorganic perovskites by changing the length of the alkylammonium cation. Since then, these materials have been understudied, until now. This research aims to study the synthesis of (PEA)2CrCl4 (where PEA = phenethylammonium) in new morphologies and characterize them using powder X-ray diffraction (XRD). The study will experiment with several approaches to nanocrystal synthesis such as direct synthesis and synthesis via sonication. We are interested in further studies different morphologies as nanocrystals often have slightly different properties than the bulk. 

1.    Bellitto, C.; Bauer, E. M.; Righini, G. Coordination Chemistry Reviews. 2015, 289-290, 123. 

2.    Day, P. J. Mater. Chem. 1992, 2, 265 

Development of Strain-Specific Primers (SSPs) to Confirm Colonization of Populus by Plant Growth Promoting Endophytes 

Endophytes, microorganisms that colonize internal host plant tissues, have been shown to enhance host plant tolerance to environmental stresses through plant growth promoting (PGP) characteristics, improved access to nutrients, synthesis of phytohormones, or suppression of phytopathogens. However, confirming endophytic colonization, location, and relative abundance within plants poses a challenge, as conventional techniques are difficult to implement and lack the resolution to differentiate closely related endophyte species. Our research aims to address these challenges by using strain-specific primers (SSPs) and digital droplet polymerase chain reaction (ddPCR) to target and amplify unique DNA sequences in beneficial endophytes used to inoculate Poplar (Populus) and Willow (Salix) trees. The SSPs were developed using UNIX shell scripts to segment the genomes of 14 endophyte strains into DNA sequences 500 base pairs in length. The short sequences were then filtered against the NCBI nucleotide database using the Basic Local Alignment Search Tool (BLAST) to identify unique sequences in each endophyte strain. The unique sequences were used to develop primers using the Primer3 plugin in Geneious Prime. The effectiveness of the SSPs will be validated in ddPCR experiments, and successful SSPs will amplify the target sequences in the presence of high concentrations of nontarget DNA. This method is widely applicable and will improve our ability to detect specific endophyte strains in a wide range of applications.  

Public health crises: Minority status, disability, social determinants of health and human factors post-pandemic

Our research investigates the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on minority groups in terms of human factors and social determinants of health post-pandemic. We examine how minority groups have been further disadvantaged in the workplace and school system by social determinants of health such as social class, ethnicity, gender, language challenges, technology access, and reasonable accommodation availability. Our research seeks to demonstrate the critical necessity of inclusive and equitable educational and work regulatory policies that account for human factors and social determinants of health. The unique difficulties minority groups face post-pandemic must be addressed by measures that guarantee their equal access to work and high-quality education and promote their general well-being both during and after the pandemic. Our research demonstrates the need for the collection of comprehensive demographic public health data and the need for equitable ergonomic solutions. Given historical Context and available data there is mounting evidence of an unprecedented human factor crisis that disproportionately affects minority groups and people of color. During the pandemic many students and workers were forced to do unprecedented hours of computer work. Research suggests upstream determinants of health, such as access to technology and available working spaces lead to increased injury rates in these groups. Our proprietary software and cutting-edge technological solutions can address the problems presented by this research. 

Minimal Group Embeddings 

Motivated by Cayley's Theorem, which asserts that a Group G of size n can be embedded into the Symmetric Group of size n!, we wished to further explore embeddings purposely to understand if there are smaller Symmetric Groups in which G can be embedded into. Our first goal was to classify all groups of size 15 or less by using known theorems from the literature. Furthermore, once our finite classification was complete, we desired to know the Symmetric Group of least size in which each group of order 15 or less can be embedded in. By applying the Sylow Theorems, the Fundamental Theorem of Finite Groups and known facts about groups we were able to classify all groups of order 15 or less. Furthermore, for most cyclic groups and dihedral groups of order 15 or less we found the Smallest Symmetric Group in which it can be embedded in. These mathematical structures form a basis for many applications in cryptography, physics, chemistry. This work is of particular interest because it investigates the structure and relations between different groups which could benefit our further understanding of Group Theory and add to its applications. 

Streamlining Data Retrieval from iButton Devices: A Practical Interface 

This project aims to create a user-friendly interface for accessing and managing data from an iButton device connected to a PC. It relies on the 1-Wire communication protocol to establish communication with the iButton device. This project goes through methodologies such as using 1-Wire File System (OWFS) and MicroPython. A Python script is developed to retrieve the current temperature from the iButton divide and display it in a user-friendly command-line interface. The project focuses on simplifying the process of retrieving and managing iButton data, providing a simple experience for users without requiring extensive technical knowledge. Future developments include retrieving past data logs, integrating data visualization tools to generate charts and graphs based on the temperature data received and enhancing the user interface for more improved usability. 

From Hospitals to Streets: Mapping Methicillin Resistant S. aureus (MRSA) on Public Transit and City Surfaces 

Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is an antibiotic resistant pathogen that causes severe illness and thousands of deaths each year in the US. It spreads within the community through improper hand hygiene and is often found in hospitals and on public transport surfaces. This poses a danger to the public, specifically to vulnerable populations such as the elderly and immunocompromised. This study in Seattle, Washington compares the prevalence of the antibiotic-resistant MRSA bacterium on public transport surfaces both proximate and distant to Harborview Hospital. Swabs from bus stops and pedestrian call buttons were collected outside of Harborview Hospital and urban areas of Capitol Hill, a Seattle neighborhood approximately one mile away from any major hospitals. The swabs were streaked onto Tryptic Soy Agar plates, gram stained, and streaked on Mannitol Salt agar plates; catalase and coagulase tests were run to help further confirm the presence of Staphylococcus aureus. The resulting colonies were then screened for antibiotic resistance using the Kirby Bauer Disk Diffusion method. One instance of potential MRSA was isolated from a crosswalk button in Capitol Hill. A higher MRSA prevalence on surfaces close to hospitals could establish a link between the spread of pathogenic bacteria from hospitals to Seattle's city surfaces but was not found in this study. These results suggest that the spread of MRSA in Seattle may have more to do with foot traffic and public transportation usage. However, the presence of MRSA on urban surfaces puts sensitive populations at risk regardless of its source. Practicing good hand hygiene can help curb the spread of MRSA in the community.

Data vs Model Approach for Tissue Classification with Multimodal Smart Grasper Robot 

Robotic laparoscopic surgeries are widely used and give the opportunity to surgeons to work in constrained spaces with minimally invasive instruments. However, surgeons lack the sense of touch. To provide this information to surgeons, we add sensors (a load cell, an encoder, a thermistor, an ultrasound transducer) to the motorized surgical Smart Grasper Robot to help with a tissue classification task. In the current work, we did the preliminary experiment with chicken breast and thigh, and compared two approaches to process the data. One approach is related to distinguishing between different types of tissue based on tissue properties (compressibility, attenuation, velocity of sound, time of flight, temperature), and another approach is related to training deep learning model CNN–GRU to define features from raw sensor data. 

Predictive Modeling of Wing Position for Turbulence Mitigation 

Micro Air Vehicles (MAVs) are integral for low-altitude operations such as surveying hazardous environments and tracking targets. However, their performance is significantly affected by turbulence, posing challenges to attitude stability. Traditional MAV attitude sensors rely solely on inertia, limiting their ability to detect perturbations effectively. Inspired by avian sensing abilities, this project aims to enhance MAV stability in turbulent environments by using neural networks combined with pressure sensors to predict wing position. We implemented neural network architectures to predict outcomes based on learned linear relationships using pressure sensor data. The integration of linear regression models within neural networks has shown promising results in enhancing MAV stability in turbulent environments. The findings suggest that incorporating neural networks combined with pressure sensors can significantly enhance MAV performance in turbulent environments. This approach not only improves attitude stability but also opens avenues for further research in enhancing MAV capabilities for various applications including surveying, tracking, and mapping in challenging conditions. 

An Automated Orbital Wrapping System for First and Second-Degree Burns in Resource Deficient Settings 

Increased events of wildfires within the United States, has led to an increasing number of burn hospitalizations and deaths. This trend of burn victims is getting larger each day. Data shown in the World Health Organization (WHO) has shared that a significant amount of low-income counties in regions of Africa and South-East Asia are more susceptible to suffer from a burn injury or death. Being that burns don’t only pertain to natural disasters, but everyday living, it’s important to treat all parties. Using this initial data, I created a device to aid as a solution for healthcare and first-aid in resource-limited settings. Being a healthcare worker myself, I understand the importance of first aid treatment to the integumentary system and if left untreated can lead to further issues. From my research, I came to some of the following contributions to the inequity of these areas and the challenges of producing a mechanism that can accurately identify and treat these wounds. However, given the current information available it is important to note these findings to better improve upon the treatment and medicine of burns. 

Pressure-Predictive Control for Enhanced UAV Stability in Turbulence: A Neural Network Approach 

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) face significant challenges when operating in turbulent environments, limiting their effectiveness in critical applications such as aerial delivery and disaster management. In this project, we propose a novel approach to address this challenge by integrating principles from nature with advanced machine learning techniques, particularly recurrent neural networks (RNNs). Inspired by the remarkable ability of birds and bats to navigate turbulent air, we aim to develop a Machine Learning Control (MLC) algorithm coupled with distributed sensor systems. Unlike conventional stability controllers that react to motion, our approach mimics nature's strategy of preemptively sensing turbulence to anticipate and mitigate its effects on UAV motion. Furthermore, we explore various types of recurrent neural networks in machine learning to determine the optimal approach for predicting turbulent positions. Through this biomimetic and machine learning-driven approach, we seek to enhance UAV stability and maneuverability, enabling them to operate more effectively in challenging environments. Initial findings suggest that integrating a small number of distributed pressure sensors can accurately predict aerodynamic responses to turbulent airflow, laying the foundation for a transformative advancement in UAV technology. This research has the potential to significantly expand the scope of UAV applications, ranging from precision agriculture to disaster response, ultimately contributing to safer and more efficient aerial operations. 

Wireless Mesh Networked Sensor for Civil Infrastructure Health Monitoring 

For civil infrastructure health it's crucial to monitor moisture within a slab of concrete. Available tests, however, are of high cost or unreliable and surface-based. The objective of this project is to develop an alternative test with a wireless mesh network that utilizes OpenWSN, OpenMote Type B boards and compatible sensors to monitor temperature and humidity in concrete. Moreover, the project should have a multi-hop setup, be easy to replicate and have its electronics encased in a device that allows water diffusion. My experimental setup consisted of an OpenMote board (node) connected to a laptop while a separate board (DAGroot) that receives data from other nodes was connected to its own PC. For this system, efforts were primarily spent on getting data from node(s) to the DAGroot by modifying uinject.c, an application template that allows a node to send data, in addition to OpenVisualizer which provides monitoring support. As a result, I was able to develop a system that can get and plot captured dummy data by using an MQTT and modifying openapps such as uinject.c and OpenVisualizer’s parserdata.py. In addition, tutorial documentation has been created to aid future users with installation and in getting a network running with OpenWSN. Next steps for this project includes getting sensor data from nodes by modifying the existing system again, after connecting sensors to the OpenMote hardware. Future directions for this project include sending data from a DAGroot to a node by creating an LBR with the laptop node of this set up and connecting the wireless network to an IPv6 cloud. 

UAV Security : Using Containers and Sandbox environments to mitigate Cyber-attacks 

In this study, we are evaluating commercial grade unmanned arial vehicle (UAV) systems such as drones, and rovers, alongside their open-source software to develop and test a software solution to help mitigate the impact of a cyber-attack on such systems. As electronics and technology advance, devices such as drones and rovers become more accessible and relatively inexpensive to manufacture --- depending on the type of system. As the devices become more accessible and adaptable, different industries and parties can utilize them for a variety of different tasks. A concern about such devices is that most UAV, drone, and rover communication methods utilized by these devices are known to the public as public domain knowledge. With such information being public, malicious and malintent actors can develop and implement malicious devices and/or software tools to attack the communication system of these devices. Thus, the purpose of this project is to evaluate the effectiveness of containers and sandbox environments on UAV systems when cyber-attacks are present. 

Navigating Dimensions: Developing an ImageJ Plugin for Multidimensional Analysis in Holographic Microscopy 

This project focuses on developing a methodology for isolating and visualizing the initial detection locations of particles within holographic microscopy data, to be able to provide researchers with a valuable tool for analyzing dynamic processes in three-dimensional space. Leveraging the open source Fiji/ImageJ software and its custom Java plugins, the research initially encountered significant challenges, including limited knowledge of blob detection algorithms and complexities in image processing techniques. Despite these obstacles, progress was made in understanding the requirements for accurate analysis and exploring potential solutions. The current state of the project remains inconclusive, with the final product yet to be achieved. However, ongoing collaboration with mentors and advisors aims to overcome these challenges and refine the methodology. 

An investigation of water exchange and cellular metabolism of Saccharomyces Cerevisiae  

Eukaryotic cells (human/animal cells), undergo a process of water exchange through their cell membranes in order to carry solutes into and out of the cell and to remain in a state of homeostasis. The phenomenon of water exchange is made up of 2 components, a passive component in which water simply diffuses across the membrane without the need of energy, and an active component in which the use of energy actively pushes water into and out of the cell. The active part of the water exchange phenomenon can be measured using NMR (analogous to MRI) and leads to interesting results. It has been found that active water exchange decreases in cancer cells, and in yeast cells undergoing the process of fermentation. This allows us to use the yeast cells as a eukaryotic cell to further investigate what about changing the metabolism of the yeasts affects water exchange, and to elucidate the mechanism for water exchange and cellular respiration. The methods employed in attempting to answer these questions require the control of several variables, a large one being that of cell viability while our group carries out the different experiments. It is necessary to know how the different agents we introduce to the yeast exo-metabolome affect the number of live cells we are measuring water exchange in. This requires the use of a dying agent and hemocytometer to count the number of live cells vs. the number of dead cells after incubating them with ethanol, respiratory inhibitors, and other solvents that are used in the preparation of our samples for the water exchange experiments. 

Motion History Image (MHI) and TrackMate in Fiji 

Microorganism Tracking with an Advanced Fiji Plugin. In the dynamic realm of microbiology, the capacity to precisely and easily track microorganisms is a game changer. Traditional image analysis technologies frequently fail to capture the rapid and delicate movements of these tiny creatures, resulting in a gap in research capacity and comprehension. A Tailored Solution: I created a plugin for Fiji to handle this specific difficulty. By combining the Motion History Image (MHI) approach with TrackMate's tracking capabilities, this instrument is well positioned to improve microbe tracking in scientific research. Why It is Important: This plugin not only makes it easier to visualize microbe motions over time, but it also improves the accuracy with which they can be tracked across image sequences. Whether researching the movement patterns of protozoa or observing the behavior of bacteria under antibiotic duress, this tool provides a new perspective on the microscopic world. The objective: The goal is to provide researchers with a strong and user-friendly tool that opens up new possibilities for studying the lives of microorganisms. We can gain a better understanding of these basic forms of life by enhancing how we track and study them. 

From Hospitals to Streets: Mapping Methicillin Resistant S. aureus (MRSA) on Public Transit and City Surfaces 

Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is an antibiotic resistant pathogen that causes severe illness and thousands of deaths each year in the US. It spreads within the community through improper hand hygiene and is often found in hospitals and on public transport surfaces. This poses a danger to the public, specifically to vulnerable populations such as the elderly and immunocompromised. This study in Seattle, Washington compares the prevalence of the antibiotic-resistant MRSA bacterium on public transport surfaces both proximate and distant to Harborview Hospital. Swabs from bus stops and pedestrian call buttons were collected outside of Harborview Hospital and urban areas of Capitol Hill, a Seattle neighborhood approximately one mile away from any major hospitals. The swabs were streaked onto Tryptic Soy Agar plates, gram stained, and streaked on Mannitol Salt agar plates;catalase and coagulase tests were run to help further confirm the presence of Staphylococcus aureus. The resulting colonies were then screened for antibiotic resistance using the Kirby Bauer Disk Diffusion method. One instance of potential MRSA was isolated from a crosswalk button in Capitol Hill. A higher MRSA prevalence on surfaces close to hospitals could establish a link between the spread of pathogenic bacteria from hospitals to Seattle's city surfaces but was not found in this study. These results suggest that the spread of MRSA in Seattle may have more to do with foot traffic and public transportation usage. However the presence of MRSA on urban surfaces puts sensitive populations at risk regardless of its source. Practicing good hand hygiene can help curb the spread of MRSA in the community. 

Mutagenetic Analysis of the Minor Capsid Protein VP3 of the Archeal Fussellovirus SSV1 

Viruses, while often associated with disease, are integral to life and play an important role in the microbiome. Despite their importance in medical research, archaeal viruses, particularly those found in extreme environments, are not widely understood. The Sulfolobus Spindle-Shaped Viruses (SSVs) of the Fuselloviridae family are unique among viruses in that they do not kill their host, the archaeon Sulfolobus Solfataricus in volcanic hot springs, but rather slow its growth, allowing for halo assay assessments.The study focuses on the type virus SSV1, which is predominantly composed of the Major and Minor capsid proteins vp1 and vp3, respectively. Previous study has shown that vp1 is important for capsid formation and infectivity, whereas vp3 is not. However, mutant viruses lacking the vp3 gene showed an abnormal "cigarrillo" shape compared to the wild type (WT) strain, indicating that vp3 is required for optimal capsid development. Signal prediction software revealed that vp3 and vp1 shared a direct repeat sequence, which guided the design of deletion mutations in vp3. The research project uses mutagenesis and halo assay techniques to investigate how a targeted deletion mutation of the direct repeat of the vp3 capsid protein affects SSV1 structure and infectivity. While initial attempts to create deletion mutants of the vp3 capsid protein were unsuccessful, the shared sequences with vp1 provide opportunities for future research. Moreover, this study advances our understanding of viral archaeal viruses by giving insight on their genomes and possible use in medical research and biotechnology.