16812 research outputs found
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Financial Tools for the GGTW Mini-Internship
No full textA brief overview of my in-house internship with the Office of Student Financial Services and Ursinus alum, George Psaradakis. Focusing exclusively on financial calculators, designs, challenges, and experience and skills gained from the mini-internship
Behold the Villages of France
No full textPictured on the hill is Grace Maccarelli. My friend and I took a weekend trip to the small village of Ribeauvillé, France. We hiked 378 meters up into the Vosges Mountains to three castles that date back to the 15th century.
Submitted as part of the Spring 2025 Study Abroad Photo Contest.https://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/study_abroad_photos/1034/thumbnail.jp
Development of Buchwald-Hartwig Amination Reaction of Unprotected, Functionalized Indoles
No full textBuchwald-Hartwig aminations form new C–N bonds by coupling an aryl halide with an amine. Due to the nature of this reaction, using traditional synthetic routes to conduct amination reactions on indoles generally includes protecting the indole N–H, carrying out the cross-coupling reaction, and then deprotecting. Such sequences are long and are not necessarily functional group tolerant. To date, although Buchwald-Hartwig aminations on unprotected, functionalized indoles have been reported, few such transformations containing reactive moieties have been studied. Therefore, novel methods for amination reactions are needed to keep reaction sequences short with high atom economy. This study explored the development of a Buchwald-Hartwig amination to couple an amine with an unprotected, functionalized indole. Overall, a method was developed to install a primary, aromatic amine in moderate yield. Scope of both the amine coupling partner and bromoindole was investigated. Additionally, proof of concept for a greener transformation, as well as methods for the installation of secondary and benzylic amines were provided. Future studies will include optimizing the work-up procedure to isolate the desired compounds in high yield. Continued progression towards a greener transformation, mechanistic studies, and scope of the reaction with additional amines are also underway
Synthesis, Purification, and Characterization of Potential Small Molecule Methyltransferase Inhibitors
No full textCancer continues to be a leading cause of death worldwide and occurs when improper gene regulation leads to uncontrolled cell growth. Methyltransferases are a large class of enzymes that regulate gene expression through methylation, and overexpression of methyltransferases has been linked to numerous human diseases, including cancer. Given the important role of methyltransferases in human disease, a selective small molecule inhibitor would be a valuable contribution to the field. In this study, amide coupling reactions were explored to modify a core scaffold at key positions. The standard amide coupling reagents and purification conditions were compared to optimize product yield and purity. A previously developed deprotection procedure was also applied to fifteen compounds in our current library, and the crude desired products were characterized using NMR, HPLC, and LC-MS. Once the final compounds have been fully synthesized, purified, and characterized, all compounds in the library will be evaluated for their potency and selectivity against different methyltransferases. A library of structurally similar yet unique compounds will enable a structure activity relationship (SAR) study to determine the effect of the various groups on enzyme activity
Waves From Golfito Bay
No full textDonatas Avellino, Isabella Dolan, Alena Rowan, Andrew Phillips, Matilda Dumaine, Elwood Harney, Kate Lloyd, Adelia Ogden, Skylar Cataldi, Jess Nguyen, & Lauren Markley wave to the camera from Golfito Bay in Costa Rica.
Submitted as part of the Spring 2025 Study Abroad Photo Contest.https://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/study_abroad_photos/1053/thumbnail.jp
Nonthermalizing Dynamics of Interacting Rydberg Atoms
Get PDFAn isolated system of ultracold Rydberg atoms can come to equilibrium by exchanging energy through dipole-dipole interactions. In our experiment, a static electric field of a few V/cm shifts the energy levels of the atoms, so that the energy levels are nearly degenerate at zero field and fan out with increasing field to form a manifold. We excite atoms to energy levels near the center of the manifold, where the spacing is nearly harmonic. We allow them to interact for a few microseconds, by which time the population of each energy level has reached a steady state. The population is then measured at various densities and compared to simulation results. We use the notion of dynamical typicality to predict the equilibrium configuration and show that the system fails to thermalize
Doing More Good for Less: Salvaging Development Aid
Get PDFIn stark contrast to its peak in the Marshall Plan era, professional sentiment towards international development aid has become increasingly pessimistic as its shortcomings have become apparent. Inter alia, leading thinkers charge development aid with enabling and sustaining economic dependency, governmental corruption, political power imbalances, and paternalism. Even so, there may be diamondlike programs in the development aid rough. Cash and voucher assistance (CVA) programs—a subset of development aid—have seen moderate success. In particular, as compared to other forms of aid, unconditional cash transfer programs (UCTs)—a specific type of CVA—appear economical and effective and avoid many of the above criticisms. Given their promise, we recommend three policies that are intended to target and improve these diamonds in the rough: (1) improving disbursement mechanisms, (2) scaling investment in CVA, and (3) providing UCTs wherever possible. In sum, while acknowledging its varied and severe flaws, we urge that policymakers and development economists can and should salvage what little works in development aid
Young Adults’ Attitudes Toward the Elderly, Aging, and Death
No full textThe purpose of this study was to better understand young people’s attitudes toward elderly people and the aging process. Study 1 was an online survey assessing participants’ experience, knowledge, and attitudes toward elderly people. Study 2 was an in-person where participants judged the qualities of people of different ages based on facial photographs, while blood flow in the frontal lobe was measured and recorded. Results indicated that contact and knowledge of the aging process predicted ageism as well as attitude towards death, that it was more challenging to judge elderly faces and that elderly faces were more likely to be judged in a way that is consistent with animalistic dehumanization
Al Pastor and Margarita
No full textAl Pastor and Margarita was an entry in Myrin Library\u27s 20th Edible Books Festival at Ursinus College.https://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/ebf/1383/thumbnail.jp
Oh, the Places You\u27ll Go!
No full textOh, the Places You\u27ll Go! was an entry in Myrin Library\u27s 20th Edible Books Festival at Ursinus College.https://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/ebf/1376/thumbnail.jp