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Reed Research Reactor Neutron Beam Characterization and Analysis
Get PDFUsing neutron activation analysis of 99% pure gold foils, the authors characterize the neutron dose and shape of the neutron beam at the Reed Research Reactor (RRR). The experimental procedure followed extensive modeling in Monte Carlo N-Particle (MCNP) and Tool for Particle Simulation (TOPAS) simulations, in which the beam was projected to be roughly collimated. The shape, defined in terms of neutron flux, was measured by placing the foils directly on top of the neutron beam cap at powers of 1, 5, and 10 kilowatts. The flux was then converted to neutron dose via the Nuclear Regulatory Commission\u27s neutron fluence equation. The characterization confirmed a linear relationship between power and dose (as well as power and flux) at the RRR. Additional points were measured at varying heights above the beam cap to form a more complete characterization. The authors found that RRR’s neutron beam is roughly collimated with an uneven spread and inconsistent direction between trials
Manga In Bookstores
Get PDFIn recent years, manga has seen a surge in popularity. This research seeks to provide insights into the role of manga in U.S. bookstores and its implications for reader discovery. Through observations at bookstores in the Portland area, including Books with Pictures, Kinokuniya, Powell’s, and Barnes and Noble, it was examined how manga is presented to readers. Factors considered include manga’s physical placement in the store and surrounding sections as well as shelving methods and categorizations like genre labels, particularly for manhwa, manhua, and light novels. Display tables, end caps, and shelf talkers also demonstrate an unique way for bookstores to present their books to potential readers. The findings are expected to contribute to a deeper understanding of manga\u27s placement within bookstores by comparing and contrasting these methods of shelving
The Effect Of Metabolic Modulators On The Rate Of Steady State Water Exchange In S. Cerevisiae Grown In Chemostat Bioreactors
Get PDFWater transport across the lipid bilayer due to osmotic stress causes a change in intracellular volume over time. At isotonic equilibrium there is no change in cell volume and yet water exchange does not stop. Water molecules continue to exchange rapidly with those of the extracellular space. The rate constant for steady state water efflux (kio) can be measured using contrast enhanced magnetic resonance (MR) and the two-site exchange (2SX) model. kio is known to correlate with the cellular energy molecule ATP making it a probable biomarker for metabolic diseases such as cancer. Measurements of kio across tumors show areas of heterogeneity, making it a promising diagnostic tool for personalized medicine. However, in vivo studies are restricted to imaging voxel size. A voxel can contain up to 100,000 cells. Thus, a simple homogenous model is needed for characterization of water exchange. S. cerevisiae (yeast) provides an excellent platform for studying kio. Yeast cells were grown in parallel, in respiring and fermenting metabolic regimes in chemostat bioreactors. The effect of mitochondrial activity was investigated in yeast though the use of metabolic modulators, such as 2,4-dinitrophenol (2,4-DNP). When fermenting cells were exposed to 2,4-DNP a biphasic response was observed in ATP. This response was also reflected the measured values of kio. These findings suggest that mitochondrial activity may be a driving factor in water exchange at the cell membrane (kio)
Gut Feelings: A Literature Review on The Gut-Brain Axis and its Potential Influence on Mood
Get PDFIn recent decades, research on the gut-brain axis has evolved due to an increasing interest in the connection between gut health and mental health. The gut-brain axis presents a new frontier of health for both medical professionals and psychologists as there is expanding evidence illustrating the comorbidity of gut disorders and mood disorders. Due to the complex nature of studying the gut-brain axis and the myriad of influences on mood disorders such as depression, research has yet to find significant results definitively tying the two together. Nonetheless, the current body of literature on the topic provides a promising outlook on mitigating depressive symptoms through psychobiotic intervention and dietary changes. This literature review seeks to illuminate the connection between gut health and mental health through an analysis of current murine model research and randomized clinical trials that illustrate the potential psychobiotic strategies for reducing depressive behaviors, emphasizing them within the context of the gut-brain axis. Additionally, applying a public health lens in this review will further elucidate the intersection between gut health and population-level health strategies
Indiana\u27s Public Health Investment Holds Insights for Other States
Get PDFIndiana has a business-friendly environment, but historical underinvestment in public health has yielded poor health outcomes. In 2023, when trust in governmental public health was strained nationwide, Indiana increased public health spending by 1,500 percent. In this article, we explain how Indiana achieved this unprecedented legislative victory for public health, describing the context, approach, and lessons learned. Specifically, an Indiana University report linking economic vitality and overall health sparked the creation of a governor\u27s commission charged with exploring ways to address Indiana\u27s shortcomings. Working with the Indiana Department of Health, the commission developed multisectoral coalitions and business and government partnerships, and it maintained consistent and coordinated communication with policy makers. Lessons learned included the value of uncoupling public health from partisan narratives, appointing diverse commission membership with strategically selected cochairs, involving local leaders, and ensuring local decision-making control. We believe that Indiana\u27s approach holds insights for other states interested in strengthening public health funding in the current era
Development of a Two-Photon Imaging System
Get PDFThe objective of this project was to convert a Sarastro 2000 confocal laser scanning microscope (CLSM) into a system capable of far-field two-photon excitation (TPE) imaging for the use of the PSU Biology department. TPE microscopy operates on the ability of fluorophores to accept two photons each with half the energy of a desired transition in a single quantum event via a virtual energy state and then emit a higher energy photon upon relaxation. This is preferable to single-photon excitation (SPE) imaging due to lower photon imaging, causing less damage to delicate biological samples, as well as the inherent localization due to the low excitation volume. The adaptation process included physically altering the CLSM by replacing the onboard argon laser with a Ti:sapphire laser, replacing optical components for compatibility with the new laser, and implementing a new scan mechanism. The new scan mechanism, a custom analog two-mirror galvanometer head, interfaces with an analog data acquisition board and software designed for analog motor control and data analysis. Components were successfully replaced, and future work includes software compatibility and laser alignment and enclosure
Extended Producer Responsibility: Successes, Failures, and the Future of Oregon Recycling
Get PDFExtended Producer Responsibility (EPR) is a waste management program used globally to improve the recovery, recycling, and management of solid waste materials. There are three types of EPR programs defined by their target materials: electronic and electrical waste (WEEE) EPR, hazardous waste EPR, and packaging EPR. Europe has implemented all three types with relative success. The US has implemented WEEE EPR and hazardous waste EPR and is currently in the process of implementing packaging EPR on a state scale in Oregon, California, Colorado, Maine, and Maryland with 10 more bills being introduced in 2024 alone. Oregon\u27s EPR program will be the first implemented and would benefit from two changes that would benefit producers and ensure a successful rollout across the nation. The first is the use of a single Producer Responsibility Organization (PRO) rather than multiple and a timeline extension for a graduated reporting structure
The Rainbow Wave: Rethinking LGBTQ Representation in Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy Research
No full textThis thesis critically evaluates the representation and inclusivity of LGBTQ+ populations in psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy (PAT) research from 2000 onwards, amidst the resurgence of interest in psychedelics for mental health treatment. Through a quantitative analysis of published studies, it investigates the prevalence and depth of gender identity and sexual orientation data collection, revealing a significant gap in demographic data pertinent to these populations. This research aims to highlight the ethical and scientific necessity for more inclusive study designs that incorporate the unique psychological experiences and needs of LGBTQ+ individuals. Recommendations are proposed for enhancing inclusivity in research methodologies, including organizational buy-in, comprehensive LGBTQ+ cultural competency training for researchers, and inclusive data collection and recruitment strategies. By advancing the discourse on diversity and inclusion within psychedelic research, this thesis aims to ensure the therapeutic potentials of psychedelics are accessible, relevant, and more effective for all individuals, irrespective of gender identity or sexual orientation. The findings and recommendations provided underscore the imperative for culturally competent therapeutic approaches and the broader application of psychedelic-assisted therapies across diverse demographic groups
The Institutional Challenges of a Quantified Self Study: An Attempt to Ascertain How Data Collected From a Mobile Device Can Be an Indicator of Personal Mental Health Over Time
Get PDFThe adoption of an application of new technology always comes with a bias, this is never more true for the case of human behavioral analytics within higher education. While movements such as the quantified self movement make strides to reinterpret the realm of data analytics, psychology, and computer science, there are inevitably limitations to the adoption and application of such approaches within the standard realm of research. Herein is presented a case where an effort to evaluate the prospect of use of mobile phone data as secondary indicators of personal mental health through the lens of data analysis was put at odds with institutional knowledge especially that of the institutional review board and expectation both for the disciplines of psychology, computer science, data science and that of software engineering
Multi-Scale Variability of Heavy Metals in a Snowpack in the Triple Divide Region of the Western United States
Get PDFNatural and anthropogenically sourced particulates are deposited from the atmosphere to landscapes via dry and wet deposition, making frozen winter snowpack a natural archive of atmospheric elemental composition. In the Western United States, wildfires are increasing in extent, duration, and severity. Severe fires remove forest canopy, impacting how atmospheric elements are dispersed and stored across snow-dominated watersheds. We evaluated concentrations of twelve elements in 397 winter snow core samples from a chronosequence of eight forests that burned with mixed severity from 2000 to 2018 in the Triple Divide region of Western Wyoming, the headwaters of the Columbia, Colorado, and Missouri Rivers. We detected the highest concentrations of Al, V, Cr As, and Pb in one fire scar south of Jackson Hole (p-values \u3c0.05). We compared concentrations of all elements by forest structure classified into three forest types: unburned forests, burned forests, and open meadows. Concentrations of Al, Mn, Cr, Pb, V, and As in unburned forests were higher, and in some cases double that of burned forests and open meadows, (p-value \u3c 0.05) likely due to forest canopy turbulence effects