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Defining the Role of C. elegans RIC-8 in Cilia Morphogenesis and Function
No full textPrimary cilia are highly conserved signaling compartments found on the surface of nearly all cell types in metazoans. Components of most signaling pathways, including G protein coupled receptors (GPCRs), localize to cilia and rely on these specialized compartments for proper transduction. Changes in G protein signaling modulate cilia morphology and impair neuronal function across species. However, our knowledge of the mechanisms by which G protein signaling shapes cilia morphology and contributes to cilia-mediated cellular functions remains incomplete. In this dissertation, I establish that RIC-8, which is a cytosolic guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) and chaperone of Gα proteins, is a critical regulator of primary cilia morphology and function in C. elegans sensory neurons. First, I demonstrate that RIC-8 exhibits cell-specific ciliary localization patterns. RIC-8::TagRFP is found throughout the ‘wing’ cilia in AWC neurons, however, its localization in rod-like ‘channel’ cilia is restricted to the proximal inversin compartment. Second, I show that ric-8 is required for morphogenesis of complex ‘wing’ shaped cilia but is dispensable for assembly of ‘channel’ cilia in sensory neurons, suggesting a cell-specific role for this gene in cilia biology. I determine that in AWC neurons, RIC-8 functions with Gα ODR-3 and another component of the non-canonical Gα protein signaling AGS-3 to shape ‘wing’ cilia morphology. Finally, I demonstrate that RIC-8 localization in channel cilia is regulated by the highly conserved intraflagellar transport system and the transition zone ‘gate’ at the cilia base and define the RIC-8 proximal interactome in ciliated sensory neurons. The work presented in this dissertation outlines cell-specific roles for RIC-8 in regulating cilia morphology and function and identifies RIC-8 proximal interactors in C. elegans ciliated neurons
Electrocatalytic Oxidation of Urea by Nickel-based Catalysts
No full textHydrogen is becoming increasingly crucial for carbon-neutral energy systems. However, the economic viability of hydrogen production via water electrolysis is largely constrained by the sluggish kinetics of the anode reaction, the oxygen evolution reaction (OER). One promising alternative is the urea electrooxidation reaction (UOR). Urea has a high hydrogen content (6.7 wt%) and exhibits a lower theoretical oxidation potential than OER. Currently, urea is widely used in agricultural and industrial applications, but its presence in fertilizer runoff and industrial wastewater leads to eutrophication, which harms ecosystems and human health. Therefore, urea-assisted hydrogen production offers a dual benefit: mitigating pollution while generating clean energy, thus making a transformative impact on the water-energy nexus. Extensive research on UOR has been conducted using various catalyst systems and under different electrolyte conditions, including acidic, neutral, and alkaline environments. Among all the research works, UOR under alkaline conditions using Ni-based catalysts has been considered the most promising. However, the reaction pathways and active species on Ni-based catalysts remain under debate, largely due to the complex six-electron transfer process of UOR. My research aims to (1) understand the active species of Ni/Co catalysts and possible reaction mechanisms of UOR, (2) improve the UOR performance by catalyst design via adjusting crystalline structure to accommodate active Ni and Co species, and doping elements to improve the intrinsic catalytic activity of Ni/Co catalyst, and (3) construct and characterize urea electrolysis full cell to assess the hydrogen productivity
EMI Detection PCB
No full textElectro-Magnetic Interference (EMI), occurs when a generated signal radiates through the air and then affects the performance of other electronic elements in potentially negative ways. The semi-conductor division of Teradyne specializes in electronics testing and has special interest in measuring EMI in order to locate the source and mitigate it. Currently, their method for measuring EMI uses an antenna array that must be manually placed into many different positions in order to record the data from the large boards that they test. Teradyne wants to design and fabricate a larger antenna array so that only one measurement needs to be taken. This project explores the design, fabrication, and testing of a proof of concept PCB that can be used as a guideline for Teradyne when constructing the final version of the board
Enhanced Battery Performance through Structure Modification of Anode Materials
No full textNowadays, the growing market demand for energy storage devices, especially lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), is calling for the emergence of a new battery generation with higher energy and power density. Meanwhile, global concerns on the environment and sustainability are appealing to the industry for green and close-loop manufacturing and recycling processes. To realize the goal, the anode materials need to be improved, as the current commercial graphite (372 mAh/g, 0.1 V vs. Li+/Li) anode has always been the bottleneck of fast charging due to its low ionic diffusion coefficient. Moreover, even though known as a limited resource with uneven distribution, graphite is always downcycled or burnt due to its relatively low value and the limitation of technology. Meanwhile, as alternatives and promising anodes for the next generation of batteries, Li metal (3860 mAh/g, 0.0 V vs. Li+/Li) has been struggling with safety issues, while potassium-ion battery (PIB) anode materials suffer from the instability problems, preventing them from commercialization. In this research thesis, we focus on structure modification for the current and next generation of anode materials, graphite, Li metal, and organic PIB anodes, along with feasible material recycling and recovery methods. Structure-modified graphite, Li metal, and organic PIB anode are synthesized and evaluated experimentally with enhanced electrochemical properties. Meanwhile, the mechanism of the cation storage and improved performance are deeply studied and well revealed. The results highlight the decisive role of the structure modification and provide a feasible scheme for anode manufacturing
The Study of 3D Architecture Through the Lens of House of Theseus
No full textI am building House of Theseus, a game where architecture rewrites itself each time history changes. To test the idea, I built three versions: a paper prototype with a Twine narrative game, and two Unity sandboxes. Each build let me probe a different question—How fast can I swap motifs? How easily can players reshape space? How well does the frame‑rate hold when walls shatter? Along the way I explored Houdini house modules, I also explored Wave Function Collapse (WFC) in Unity, and finally layered fluid floods, sticky object mechanics, and Voronoi destruction on top. This paper documents the development process, pitfalls, technical decisions and future proposed work
Evaluation of bacteriophage Andhra as an antibiofilm therapeutic on Staphylococcus epidermidis biofilms
No full textTreatment of Staphylococcus epidermidis biofilms with phage Andhra at a multiplicity of infection (MOI) greater than 10 significantly compromises biofilm structure and cellular viability, highlighting its potential as an alternative therapeutic to treat bacterial biofilm infections. S. epidermidis biofilms – the most common cause of medical device infections – are difficult to treat with traditional antibiotics. Lytic phages are emerging as a therapeutic alternative to treat bacterial infections. This study investigates the effect of phage Andhra, one of the few lytic phages with S. epidermidis as its host – on biofilm gross structure (height, biomass, porosity), cellular viability and biofilm mechanics, across different multiplicities of infection (MOI). MOI is the ratio of phage particles to bacterial cells. The effect of phage Andhra on biofilms has not been studied previously. This study also introduces a novel quantitative method that represents an advancement in the field of phage therapy to inform more accurate and standardized phage dosing. This novel method to know how to dose the phage in the biofilms was developed using confocal scanning laser microscopy coupled with quantitative image analysis to estimate the total number of bacterial cells within a biofilm. This approach overcomes key limitations of traditional CFU-based enumeration methods, providing more accurate and reproducible MOI determinations that are essential for evaluating phage therapies. Phage MOI dosage was determined based on quantitative estimates of the number of bacterial cells within biofilms. Using this method, the estimated total number of bacterial cells was 95 % higher than estimates based on colony forming unit (CFU) counts, the current standard for estimating number of bacterial cells. Using known phage concentrations and bacterial counts, S. epidermidis biofilms were treated with varying MOIs (0.1, 1, 10, 20, 50, 100) to assess the impact of phage Andhra on biofilm integrity and survival. Phage Andhra MOI values of 0.1, 1, 20 and 50 only slightly impact biofilm structure, while MOI values of 10 and 100 significantly compromise the gross structure of biofilms and decrease the viability of biofilm cells. While the MOIs of 20 and 50 do not significantly impact biofilm gross structure, they do exhibit a significant decrease in the viability of cells within the biofilm. Additionally, as MOI increases, biofilm mechanics weaken – i.e. biofilms become softer – for all tested MOIs except the MOI of 100, where biofilm stiffness increases significantly. This work advances not only the understanding of the antibiofilm efficacy of phage Andhra toward S.epidermidis but also establishes an innovative quantitative technique for bacterial enumeration that enables more standardized phage dosing -critical advances for evaluating phage as antibiofilm therapeutics
Magnetohydrodynamic Modeling for Electromagnetically Levitated Metals
No full textNon-contact modulation calorimetry uses electromagnetic levitation in microgravity to study the properties of metals at high temperatures. This arrangement is obtained by modulating an electromagnetic field, inducing changes in the sample’s power input and an out-of-phase temperature response. In liquid droplets, fluid flow alters the sample’s internal temperature distribution due to convection and thermal conduction. However, measuring the sample’s internal flow directly is difficult because of the high temperature, reactivity, magnetic field strength, and the metal’s opacity. Thus, models that consider magnetohydrodynamics, fluid flow, and heat transfer are crucial. Current work reexamines data from the IML-2 TEMPUS to refine the model and analyze recent measurements from the ISS
Beyond Blocks: Developing Interventional Educational Robotics Curricula for Teachers and Students in Rural Namibia
No full textThis study evaluated a self-guided robotics bootcamp conducted in a rural Namibian school to test whether students could develop STEM competencies and independent learning skills through a challenge-based curriculum using WPI’s XRP platform. The program was implemented with minimal teacher intervention, employing an asynchronous training model that simulated low-support conditions common in under-resourced contexts. Despite logistical challenges and limited infrastructure, students demonstrated measurable growth in problem-solving, programming, collaboration, and critical thinking. Notably, no significant differences emerged between groups led by trained versus untrained teachers, underscoring the potential of co-learning and peer mentorship as effective instructional strategies. The bootcamp’s contextual relevance—exemplified by tasks such as the agriculture-themed "Smart Farm" challenge—further enhanced student engagement and skill development. These findings support scalable strategies for delivering quality, accessible STEM education and align with Sustainable Development Goals focused on educational equity, workforce readiness, and reducing structural barriers to opportunity
Plasmalogen Supplementation Studies in C elegans
No full textPlasmalogens are a critical phospholipid in cognitive functions. It has been established that Alzheimer's patients exhibit diminished levels of plasmalogen, a consequence of peroxisomal dysfunction. Our study aims to bypass the peroxisomal step in plasmalogen synthesis by supplementing with batyl alcohol, which is a 1-0-alkylglycerol, which is a precursor of plasmalogen, to restore the plasmalogen levels. Plasmalogen-deficient C. elegans mutated strains (ads-1 and fard-1) were utilized to model peroxisomal dysfunctions as they can mimic peroxisomal dysfunction. The investigation revealed that the supplementation of wild-type N2 and ads-1 with batyl alcohol resulted in a reduction in brood size. The cultivation of N2 and ads-1 is performed on plates that contain 1.0mM and 0.5 mM of batyl alcohol, which has been dissolved in ethanol. The utilization of gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) facilitated the detection of increased plasmalogen levels in ads-1 toward N2 after supplementation. A brood size assay was also conducted to investigate whether an elevated plasmalogen level could positively impact the brood size of the ads-1. A liquid cultivation method was also introduced to explore the effects of batyl alcohol dietary supplementation further. The liquid cultivation method ensures similar access to supplements and food for each nematode, a crucial consideration in dietary supplementation experiments. An optimal liquid cultivation method was identified, which has been shown to produce the largest number of nematodes and progeny while also exhibiting a fatty acid composition analogous to the plate cultivation method
Strengthening Emergency Management with the La Goyco Community
No full textPuerto Rico frequently faces natural disasters, compounded by delayed state and federal relief. After Hurricane María in 2017, La Goyco recognized the need for independent disaster response. Three years ago, WPI’s Puerto Rico Project Center partnered with La Goyco to develop a community-based Emergency Management Plan. Last year, a WPI team created the initial framework; this year, our team refined and implemented structured protocols, committee checklists, guides, fliers, and an integrated data dashboard using Google Forms, Sheets, and My Maps. These resources enhance La Goyco’s preparedness, ensuring effective local response, as well as offering a replicable model for other communities