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Cocoa Polyphenols Modulate the Mouse Gut Microbiome in a Site-Specific Manner
No full textBackground/Objectives: Dietary modulation of the gut microbiome is a promising strategy for mitigating gastrointestinal diseases, such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and colitis-associated colorectal cancer (CAC). Cocoa powder is rich in polyphenols, including (-)-epicatechin and (+)-catechin, which have been associated with beneficial effects on gut health and microbiome modulation. Importantly, changes in the bacterial populations associated with the gut mucosal layer may have different health impacts compared to changes in cecal or fecal microbiomes. This study investigated the effects of cocoa polyphenol supplementation on microbiome composition across the cecal, fecal, and mucosal compartments in a mouse model of colitis. Methods: Mice were fed either a healthy AIN93G diet (AIN) or a total Western diet (TWD), with or without 2.6% (w/w) CocoaVia™ Cardio Health Powder. Gut microbiomes from the cecum, feces, and colon mucosa were profiled using 16S rRNA sequencing at three time points: pre-, during, and post-colitis. Results: Microbiome composition varied substantially by site, with reduced richness and distinct taxa in the mucosal layer compared to cecal and fecal communities. The TWD significantly altered microbial composition, decreasing species evenness and shifting beta diversity. Cocoa polyphenol supplementation modulated microbial communities in a site-specific manner, increasing diversity and promoting rare taxa (e.g., Monoglobaceae, Eggerthellaceae, and RF39) primarily in cecal and fecal samples. Mucosa-associated communities were less responsive. Conclusions: These findings underscore the importance of the sampling site in gut microbiome research. Cocoa polyphenols exert site-selective effects, particularly in the gut lumen, highlighting the importance of considering anatomical context in dietary intervention studies aimed at improving gastrointestinal health
The Art of the Duo and the Value of Collaboration
No full textThe Art of the Duo and the Value of Collaboration explores the duo as a laboratory for understanding the collaborative process between musicians and non musicians focusing on three central points. First, this project is a means to showcase and broaden my skills as a composer. Second, this project demonstrates my understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of common and uncommon instrumental pairings. Third, this project explores interdisciplinary collaboration. This project resulted in a public lecture recital featuring six duets I composed for various instruments: violin, bass, percussion, saxophone, voice, and piano. I studied works by Debussy, Bartók, and Paganini, which resulted in innovative contemporary techniques being implemented in my duets for violin, saxophone, and percussion. I examined constraints in duet writing due to limited range, timbre, or roles and how to overcome these. Choreographer Liz Lerman’s Critique is Creative and Hiking the Horizontal informed collaborative feedback methods that are built on trust, respect, and constructive critique. I also examined the collaborative relationship between poet Patrick Milan and composer Emerson Eads in the book The Unquiet Country. The project was expanded as I fostered interdisciplinary collaborations with scientists, artists, dancers, and a poet. These collaborations reflected relationships I studied in the initial phases of the project, such as Stravinsky and Diaghilev or Copland and Graham. This research and applied collaboration reinforces the project outcome that collaboration can fuel creative work and increase community reach. Through this experience of applying research through creative works, I developed a strong portfolio of compositions as well as soft skills like communication and teamwork. critical thinking, time management, and creativity. Additionally, it serves as a solid foundation for my continuing education and research, career, and life of meaningful collaboration and composition
Investigation of Immune/Performance Trade-Offs in Neonate Children\u27s Pythons (\u3ci\u3eAntaresia childreni\u3c/i\u3e)
No full textEnergetic costs and constraints are key considerations when analyzing an organism’s life history and may require trade-offs to be made between different life history traits. One of these trade-offs occurs between investment in immunity and performance. The purpose of this study is to discover if this trade-off influences behavior in neonate Children’s pythons (Antaresia childreni). We hypothesize that snakes undergoing an immune response will have reduced behaviors promoting survival. To test this hypothesis, neonate Children’s pythons were randomly assigned to receive an immune challenge of keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH) or a vehicle injection as a control. Two days after the injections, the individuals underwent three behavior trails over two consecutive days. These trails tested the snake’s strike frequence, swim speed, and endurance, and their performances were recorded and compared. Six days after injections blood smears were obtained. White blood cells differentials were performed by counting 500 total cells at 400x magnification and different cell types were recorded i.e. red blood cells, heterophils, monocytes, lymphocytes ect. We found KLH elicited an immune response, as KLH treated neonates had higher lymphocyte ratios. Within immune challenged snakes, but no controls, there was a negative correlation between performance and immune cell rations, suggesting a trade-off may be present. We also found that there is significant variation in mass across clutches, and that hatchling mass is correlated with performance, such that larger snakes perform better
Psychometric Performance of the Intuitive Eating Scale-2 in Anorexia Nervosa: An Examination of Factor Structure and Item Response Theory
No full textThe Intuitive Eating Scale-2 (IES-2) is widely used to assess intuitive eating (IE) behaviors, attitudes, and beliefs, yet its application in anorexia nervosa (AN) remains unclear. Given the disrupted interoceptive awareness and heightened cognitive control over eating in AN, it is less certain how IE constructs apply during acute stages of this disorder. This study evaluated the factor structure and item-level performance of the IES-2 in a clinical sample of 150 adolescent and adult females diagnosed with AN, upon admission to a residential treatment facility. Confirmatory Factor Analysis supported a first-order factor structure, suggesting that the four subscales should be treated independently rather than combined into a total IE score, contradicting the original scoring approach. Item 12 ( I am able to cope with negative emotions (e.g., anxiety, sadness) without turning to food for comfort ) demonstrated poor factor loadings on the Eating for Physical Rather than Emotional Reasons subscale. Item Response Theory further indicated that item 12 had poor discrimination across levels of the latent trait, supporting its removal. These findings indicate that certain subscales, particularly those assessing emotional eating, may not capture relevant eating behaviors in adolescents and adults with AN. We recommend scoring IES-2 subscales separately and reconsidering the inclusion of item 12 to enhance measurement accuracy in AN. Refining the IES-2 for clinical ED populations may improve its utility in tracking recovery and treatment outcomes
An Open-Source, Hybrid Communication System Twin and Tool for CubeSat Applications
Get PDFThis paper presents a digital replica of a satellite communication system. To correctly depict end-to-end connectivity, a rudimentary flight software package around an imaging payload is built using NASA JPL’s F Prime framework. For radio communication, a custom implementation of the AX.25 protocol is built in Python and implemented into a GNU Radio block. In GNU Radio, an appropriate signal processing chain for up and downlink is set up. The resulting flow graph can be used fully digitally, for simulation or be connected to software defined radios for true, over-the-air communication. The Python implementation performs sufficiently well for a low data rate, real time, duplex connection. Through two USRP devices and two laptops, acting as satellite and ground station respectively, reliable end-to-end communication is achieved. All software tools used for this work are open source, resulting in an affordable and accessible package and versatile starting point for testing, prototyping and educational purposes
Conceptual Design of a Low Orbit Dust Detector POWDER
Get PDFThe Pulse Observation OWing to Dust impact ExpeRiment (POWDER) instrument is a conceptual lunar orbital dust detector designed to measure and analyze dust impacts at a lunar polar orbit. POWDER operates by detecting electric charges generated during dust collisions on a designated collector surface. This study is focused on analyzing the design feasibility for a collecting surface plate, in terms of generated voltage signal from dust impact in comparison to the base ambient noise level. The low amplitude of the voltage signal presents significant challenges, as measuring such a faint signal requires highly sensitive electronics, making the system more susceptible to noise and increasing the complexity of the design. To address these challenges, a revised design incorporating two collector surfaces has been proposed, as this new configuration aims to improve signal detection and reduce noise susceptibility
NeXosim, An Open-Source, Rust-Based Digital Twinning Framework for Hardware-In-The-Loop Testing and Virtual FlatSats
Get PDFDigital twinning has become a cornerstone of modern space systems, enabling robust in-orbit operations and ground verification and validation. For over two decades, major spacecraft manufacturers and space agencies have relied on Discrete Event Simulation (DES) to achieve these goals. The C++-based Simulation Modelling Platform (SMP), now an ECSS standard, has emerged as a unifying framework for these efforts. Despite the tremendous benefits of simulation-assisted spacecraft development, the complexity, rigidity, and lack of vendor-neutral implementations of SMP have limited its adoption in academia and the NewSpace sector. This gap is particularly concerning given the high failure rate of SmallSat missions, where flexibility, ease of use, and cost efficiency are critical to success. To address these challenges, we present NeXosim, an open-source DES framework designed to streamline spacecraft digital twinning. Built on Rust—a modern, memory-safe programming language widely regarded as a superior alternative to C++ for high-performance, reliable software—NeXosim combines ease of use and flexibility. NeXosim is the first auto-parallelizing DES in the space industry, leveraging Rust\u27s native support for multithreading and asynchronous programming. In spite of this, NeXosim remains far more accessible than traditional C++-based simulators. It is strongly optimized for low-latency Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) testing, addressing a key use case in modern space systems development. NeXosim\u27s core simulation concepts are presented, including its inter-model communication primitives and asynchronous architecture, followed by an illustration of real-world applications within industry and academic projects
ContentCube: 1U CubeSat Mission Testing External Display Screens in Orbit
No full textPoster presented during the 2025 SmallSat Conference
SCOUT Mission: Satellite Collision Observation and Unified Tracking
No full textSCOUT is a CubeSat-based mission developed to improve space situational awareness by detecting and cataloging orbital debris through the use of RGB imaging and advanced image processing techniques. The mission focuses on identifying the position, velocity, and orbital trajectories of debris smaller than 10 centimeters. This data will be collected, analyzed, and made publicly available to support future collision avoidance efforts and promote transparency in orbital debris monitoring. The system\u27s core component is an RGB camera mounted on the CubeSat, which enables real-time visual tracking of objects within the field of view. By utilizing computer vision algorithms, SCOUT aims to provide accurate and timely debris characterization while maintaining a lightweight, low-power design suitable for small satellite platform
Development of ITASAT-2 CubeSat\u27s Primary Structure with AIT-Oriented Design Now
Get PDFThe ITASAT2 mission is a key advancement in CubeSat technology, building upon the progressive development of small satellite missions at the Instituto Tecnológico de Aeronáutica (ITA). As a continuation of the ITASAT and SPORT missions, ITASAT2 consists of three 16U CubeSats in a formation flight, designed to investigate critical space weather phenomena and perform technological demonstration of geolocation and formation flight. In addition to its scientific contributions and technological demonstration, the mission incorporates technological advancements to improve CubeSat design and integration processes. The ITASAT2 project is part of the progressive evolution of CubeSat missions at ITA, simultaneously addressing space weather research and the development of innovative technological solutions. Building on the heritage of the ITASAT and SPORT missions, ITASAT2 comprises three 16U CubeSats operating in formation flight, designed to enhance studies of ionospheric plasma dynamics, small-scale plasma structures, magnetic fields, and the radiation environment. This paper presents an advanced structural concept for a CubeSat based on a Design for Assembly, Integration, and Testing (AIT) approach. The proposed design emphasizes ease of assembly, integration, testing, and, if necessary, late-stage disassembly. In particular, the structure incorporates a flower-like configuration, where components are mounted directly on the CubeSat\u27s shielding, thereby accommodating a high onboard equipment density while ensuring rapid access to internal systems for repairs or component replacements following environmental testing or transportation damage. This configuration optimally allows for the assembly and integration of three satellites simultaneously, ensuring swiftness and reduced dependence on space and ground support equipment. Moreover, the AIT design facilitates direct access to individual equipment for unit testing and enables the removal of specific components with minimal or no disassembly of surrounding systems, with the wiring architecture being considered from the earliest stages of development. The results presented in this work demonstrate the versatility of the design, highlighting its potential to streamline assembly processes and improve maintainability, thereby offering a robust and flexible solution for future CubeSat missions