Pennsylvania State University Research Articles

Dr. Sally Newman’s Support for Establishing the Japan Intergenerational Unity Association (JIUA), and the History of Its Developments in Organizing the Japan Society for Intergenerational Studies (JSIS)

ABSTRACT This article highlights the early development of organizations in Japan focused on intergenerational programs, emphasizing Dr. Sally Newman’s significant contributions. It begins with an email Dr. Newman, Director of Generations Together at the University of Pittsburgh, sent to Dr. Atsuko Kusano in Tokyo in March 2003, which led to a lecture and a subsequent visit in the fall of that year. At a dinner party, attendees recognized the need for the Japan Intergenerational Unity Association (JIUA), founded in May 2004 and officially becoming a nonprofit in 2006. JIUA, in collaboration with Shinshu University and Pennsylvania State University, hosted the “Uniting the Generations” conference, attracting over 300 participants from nine countries. Follow-up meetings resulted in the creation of the Japan Society for Intergenerational Studies (JSIS) in June 2010, which now has over 200 members, holds annual conferences, and publishes journals twice a year.

K. Dauge-Roth and C. Koslofsky (eds.), Stigma: Marking Skin in the Early Modern World (University Park: Pennsylvania State University Press, 2023). Pages xii + 294, and there are illustrations. $29.95 paperback.

K. Dauge-Roth and C. Koslofsky (eds.), Stigma: Marking Skin in the Early Modern World (University Park: Pennsylvania State University Press, 2023). Pages xii + 294, and there are illustrations. $29.95 paperback.

Simulating PFAS transport in effluent-irrigated farmland using PRZM5, LEACHM, and HYDRUS-1D models.

Application of wastewater effluent to agricultural lands can serve as a sustainable approach to meet irrigation and nutrient needs for crop production. While nitrogen and phosphorous loadings can be effectively managed, concerns have been raised regarding the fate of emerging contaminants, including per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), which are widely detected in wastewater effluent. The objective of this paper was to evaluate the ability of three unsaturated flow and transport models, Pesticide Root Zone Model 5 (PRZM5), LEACHM, and HYDRUS-1D, to predict the distribution of PFAS in the soil profile at the Pennsylvania State University Living Filter site, which has received daily wastewater effluent applications for several decades. The models were modified to include adsorption at the air-water interface (AWI), which has been shown to be an important factor governing PFAS transport and phase distribution in the vadose zone. Simulations showed that PRZM5 did not accurately reproduce the observed perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) behavior, which was attributed to the "tipping bucket" approach used for water flow that results in the disappearance of AWI during water flow. In contrast, both LEACHM and HYDRUS-1D captured the observed retention of PFOS and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) over a 50-year simulation period. Due to differences in the approach used to calculate the AWI area, LEACHM predicted greater accumulation of PFOS and PFOA at the AWI compared to HYDRUS-1D. These findings indicate that mathematical models that directly account for unsaturated water flow and adsorption at the AWI are able to provide reasonable predictions of long-term PFAS leaching resulting from land application of wastewater effluent.

Discovery of Two New Eruptions of the Ultrashort Recurrence Time Nova M31N 2017-01e* *Based on observations obtained with the Hobby-Eberly Telescope (HET), which is a joint project of the University of Texas at Austin, the Pennsylvania State University, Ludwig-Maximillians-Universitaet Muenchen, and Georg-August Universitaet Goettingen. The HET is named in honor of its principal benefactors, William P. Hobby and Robert E.

We report the recent discovery of two new eruptions of the recurrent nova M31N 2017-01e in the Andromeda galaxy. The latest eruption, M31N 2024-08c, reached R = 17.8 on 2024 August 06.85 UT, ∼2 months earlier than predicted. In addition to this recent eruption, a search of archival Palomar Transient Factory data has revealed a previously unreported eruption on 2014 June 18.46 UT that reached a peak brightness of R ∼ 17.9 approximately a day later. The addition of these two eruption timings has allowed us to update the mean recurrence time of the nova. We find 〈T rec〉 = 924.0 ± 7.0 days (2.53 ± 0.02 yr), which is slightly shorter than our previous determination. Thus, M31N 2017-01e remains the nova with the second shortest recurrence time known, with only M31N 2008-12a being shorter. We also present a low-resolution spectrum of the likely quiescent counterpart of the nova, a ∼20.5 mag evolved B star displaying an ∼14.3 days photometric modulation.

Revising Properties of Planet–Host Binary Systems. IV. The Radius Distribution of Small Planets in Binary Star Systems Is Dependent on Stellar Separation* *Based on observations obtained with the Hobby–Eberly Telescope, which is a joint project of the University of Texas at Austin, the Pennsylvania State University, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, and Georg-August-Universität Göttingen.

Small planets (R p ≤ 4 R ⊕) are divided into rocky super-Earths and gaseous sub-Neptunes separated by a radius gap, but the mechanisms that produce these distinct planet populations remain unclear. Binary stars are the only main-sequence systems with an observable record of the protoplanetary disk lifetime and mass reservoir, and the demographics of planets in binaries may provide insights into planet formation and evolution. To investigate the radius distribution of planets in binary star systems, we observed 207 binary systems hosting 283 confirmed and candidate transiting planets detected by the Kepler mission, then recharacterized the planets while accounting for the observational biases introduced by the secondary star. We found that the population of planets in close binaries (ρ ≤ 100 au) is significantly different from the planet population in wider binaries (ρ > 300 au) or single stars. In contrast to planets around single stars, planets in close binaries appear to have a unimodal radius distribution with a peak near the expected super-Earth peak of R p ∼ 1.3 R ⊕ and a suppressed population of sub-Neptunes. We conclude that we are observing the direct impact of a reduced disk lifetime, smaller mass reservoir, and possible altered distribution of solids reducing the sub-Neptune formation efficiency. Our results demonstrate the power of binary stars as a laboratory for exploring planet formation and as a controlled experiment of the impact of varied initial conditions on mature planet populations.

The leisure reading habits of undergraduate business students

While literature on undergraduate student reading behavior is prevalent, there has been limited research on subject-specific leisure reading. Additionally, this type of research is often underrepresented in Library and Information Science (LIS) literature, despite its relevance. The authors of this study recognize the value of popular business reading titles. As such, the authors were interested in exploring the perspectives of students studying business to understand current attitudes toward popular reading. Consequently, this study aims to investigate the leisure reading habits of undergraduate business students and how this information can inform aspects of business librarianship. The authors surveyed business students enrolled in a required pre-major business course at Pennsylvania State University. The results reveal that a substantial proportion of business students enjoy leisure reading, often choosing books that align with their academic pursuits and personal interests. However, they frequently forgo reading due to the time constraints imposed by their studies. Overall, this study contributes to the literature on subject-specific leisure reading and seeks to determine whether popular business titles have a meaningful place in academic business libraries. Recommendations are provided on how to integrate such texts into librarianship and how to further investigate popular business titles and leisure reading among academic students.

Characterization of the Core Face Irradiation Fixture at the Pennsylvania State University Breazeale Reactor

An efficient stacking method was applied to a multi-foil activation characterization of a core face fixture in Penn State’s TRIGA reactor using STAYSL PNNL software. The adjusted neutron energy spectra from the STAYSL PNNL software are in good agreement with the input MCNP models. The validated MCNP model was then used to predict the neutron energy spectrum within the core face fixture with a new lead shielding assembly in between the fixture and the core. Additional irradiation environment details such as the estimated gamma ray dose rates and sample temperatures provide a more comprehensive view of the core face fixture beyond the neutron energy spectrum, especially for more sensitive materials.

The LTAR Cropland Common Experiment in the Upper Chesapeake Bay.

Dairy production is a key agricultural enterprise in the Upper Chesapeake Bay (UCB) basin, where phosphorous (P) and nitrogen (N) loading contribute to eutrophication. Import of forages and grains and application of mineral fertilizers contribute to nutrient imbalances in the basin. The UCB Long-Term Agroecosystem Research Cropland Common Experiment aims to evaluate diverse crop rotations that minimize the need for imported feed, maximize year-round living cover, and reduce nutrient losses. UCB's plot-scale experiment was established in 2018, incorporating an ongoing cropping system study that was established by the Pennsylvania State University in 2010. An alternative dairy cropping rotation (including silage and grain corn [Zea mayes L.], alfalfa [Medicago sativa L.]/orchardgrass [Dactylis glomerata L.] mix, winter rye silage [Secale cereale L.], and sorghum-sudangrass [Sorghum × drummondii (Steud.) Millsp. & Chas]) that employed manure injection, integrated pest management, and less frequent manure application was compared to a prevailing, conventionally managed silage corn-alfalfa rotation with higher manure application rates. A field-scale experiment was established in 2019 to monitor alternative production practices (manure injection and avoidance of neonicotinoid seed treatment) and prevailing practices in three fields on a commercial dairy farm. Findings suggest that crop rotation diversification, manure injection, and integrated pest management have the potential to increase the economic and environmental sustainability of dairy cropping systems, but long-term evaluation is needed for confirmation.

Spectroscopic Survey of Faint Planetary-nebula Nuclei. V. The EGB 6-type Central Star of Abell 57* *Based on observations obtained with the Hobby–Eberly Telescope (HET), which is a joint project of the University of Texas at Austin, the Pennsylvania State University, Ludwig–Maximillians–Universität München, and Georg–August Universität Göttingen. The HET is named in honor of its principal benefactors, William P. Hobby and

During our spectroscopic survey of central stars of faint planetary nebulae (PNe), we found that the nucleus of Abell 57 exhibits strong nebular emission lines. Using synthetic narrowband images, we show that the emission arises from an unresolved compact emission knot (CEK) coinciding with the hot (90,000 K) central star. Thus Abell 57 belongs to the rare class of “EGB 6-type” PNe, characterized by dense emission cores. Photometric data show that the nucleus exhibits a near-infrared excess, due to a dusty companion body with the luminosity of an M0 dwarf but a temperature of ∼1800 K. Emission-line analysis reveals that the CEK is remarkably dense (electron density ∼ 1.6 × 107 cm−3), and has a radius of only ∼4.5 au. The CEK suffers considerably more reddening than the central star, which itself is more reddened than the surrounding PN. These puzzles may suggest an interaction between the knot and central star; however, Hubble Space Telescope imaging of EGB 6 itself shows that its CEK lies more than ∼125 au from the PN nucleus. We discuss a scenario in which a portion of the asymptotic giant branch wind that created the PN was captured into a dust cloud around a distant stellar companion; this cloud has survived to the present epoch, and has an atmosphere photoionized by radiation from the hot central star. However, in this picture EGB 6-type nuclei should be relatively common, yet they are actually extremely rare; thus they may arise from a different transitory phenomenon. We suggest future observations of Abell 57 that may help unravel its mysteries.

Progression of Customer Relationship Management 2010–2023: A Bibliometric Analysis

The Customer Relationship Management (CRM) has evolved into a key business application, by gradually creating its impact over the years, where the organization made it one of the imperative requirements of effective Business operation. CRM in recent years emerged as, a more Business and customer-oriented application. This study aims to analyze the relevance of Customer relationships concerning progress from Customer Relationship Management (CRM) in fields of Subject area, Countries that contributed to the field of research, Sources, affiliations, Authors, and funding sponsors. Science mapping techniques and performance analysis were applied in this process by Vos-Viewer Bibliometric software by extracting 1,940 Publications between 2010 and 2023 that are indexed in the SCOPUS database. The Bibliometric analysis denotes that 2010 was the year with a maximum of 144 publications indexed in the Scopus Database and 2023 had a dip at only 105 indexing. Author Smith, A.D. with 23 articles publications. The countries that participated the most are the United States of America followed by India and United kingdom. Commendably China was the highest funding sponsor to be specific it’s from the National Natural Science Foundation of China. The research papers had major Affiliations from the Hong Kong Polytechnic University followed by Robert Morris University in Pennsylvania and Georgia State University. The research significantly shows the progress and impact all over the world and is not restricted to any specific industry.

PARTNER project 1, low-frequency noise, and FAA's noise policy review

To improve upon current FAA noise policy, it seems reasonable to consider supplemental metrics. One of these is to include the annoyance impacts of low-frequency noise (LFN). It is established that LFN can cause rattle in homes near airports, causing annoyance. Current DNL 65 does not address LFN. In fact, most acoustical measurements do not include low frequencies due to the limitations of inexpensive measurement equipment. Hence, the FAA is genuinely missing these impacts from a physics point of view. The FAA has already paid for a very high quality LFN study through Project 1 in the PARTNER Center of Excellence (predecessor of the current ASCENT center). That project completed in 2007. The present author was not a participant in PARTNER Project 1, but he closely observed the amazing work done by the investigators from The Pennsylvania State University, Purdue University, and the University of Central Florida. If sufficient LFN data is regularly obtained at larger airports with improved noise monitoring equipment, then FAA could include supplemental metrics, such as the number of low-frequency noise events in a given period. [Work supported by the Penn State College of Engineering and its United Technologies Corporation Professorship.]

Leading medical schools for female neurosurgery graduates.

The authors sought to determine the medical schools with the highest number and proportion of female graduates currently practicing neurosurgery and to identify medical school characteristics that increase female representation in neurosurgery, with the goal of addressing the gender disparity. The authors used the Physician Compare National Downloadable File from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Physicians indicating neurosurgery as their primary specialty were extracted. Duplicates, physicians with medical school education listed as "other," and those expected to be in residency, fellowship, or research years (graduation years 2014-2023) were removed. Medical schools with the highest number and proportion of female neurosurgery graduates were stratified. A review of the current literature was conducted to identify characteristics of the institutions with high female representation. A total of 3486 neurosurgeons (319 female [9.2%], 3167 male [90.8%]) were identified. Yale University (n = 12), Columbia University (n = 8), Johns Hopkins University (n = 8), Stanford University (n = 8), and the University of Maryland (n = 8) had the most female neurosurgery graduates. Schools with the highest proportion of female neurosurgery graduates included the University of California, San Diego (25%); the State University of New York Upstate Medical University (25%); Pennsylvania State University (22.2%); the University of Maryland (21.1%); and the University of Florida (18.4%). Achieving gender diversity in neurosurgery necessitates a multifaceted approach. Institutions with a higher number and proportion of female neurosurgery graduates emphasized female-female mentorship, fostered diversity initiatives, and implemented inclusive policies. To increase female representation in neurosurgery, it is crucial to establish robust mentorship programs that provide aspiring female neurosurgeons with the guidance, support, and motivation required to navigate a traditionally male-dominated field.

African American artists and the new deal art programs By Mary AnnCalo, University Park: The Pennsylvania State University Press. 2023 pp. 187

African American artists and the new deal art programs By Mary AnnCalo, University Park: The Pennsylvania State University Press. 2023 pp. 187

Virtual Discovery of Immune-Stimulating Epitopes in Chikungunya Virus for Vaccine Design

Epitope identification is a key step in vaccine development, and this can be achieved much faster and less expensively with in silico methods, compared to traditional methods for vaccine production. In silico methods applied in this research utilised both bioinformatics and immunoinformatics approaches for chikungunya virus vaccine design, which involved the retrieval of sequences from databases, and identification of conserved regions within the sequences by multiple sequence alignment on the MEGA X software (Pennsylvania State University, State College, USA). The epitopes in the conserved regions were selected, and various immunological predictions and screenings were carried out by employing immunological databases and tools. This process identifies epitopes such as conservation of cytotoxic T lymphocyte, helper T lymphocytes, and B cell epitopes. The primary, secondary, and tertiary structure of the vaccine was also predicted using structure predicting servers, and finally, the vaccine candidate was docked to toll-like receptor 4 to study its binding affinity and configuration. A total of 125 conserved antigenic epitopes were selected from capsid, 6K, and E1 proteins, which were found to be non-allergens and conform to acceptable physicochemical standards, as reported by other authors with similar work. The epitopes were predicted to be capable of inducing cytotoxic T lymphocytes, helper T lymphocytes, and B cell production. Construction of secondary structure was done using the Self-Optimized Prediction Method with Alignment (SOPMA), which predicted 17.96% α-helices, and 4.69% β-turns, among others. Predicting the tertiary structure provided five models, of which Model 1 was selected on the bases of its confidential score of 0.59, estimated TM-score of 0.79±0.09, and root mean square deviation of 8.0±4.4Å. Validity analysis revealed a Ramachandran plot where 97.2% of the vaccine residue was within the favoured region, and the peptide showed a Z-score of -1.52. The predicted peptide effectively docked with toll-like receptor 4 with a binding energy of -1,072.8. From the data obtained, it was revealed that the selected epitopes are highly immunogenic, non-allergenic, conform to native protein, and form a peptide capable of vaccine application. The authors can conclude this is a promising candidate for vaccine design and development.

Hematology/oncology fellowship programs’ instagram presence.

9047 Background: Since the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, applicants and programs have transitioned to virtual platforms as a surrogate for in-person visits. Social media provides insight into trainees’ experiences, wellness, medical education, and life outside the hospital. Instagram has been reported as the preferred platform and a majority of applicants note that social media content could change their perception of a program.1 Due to the emergence of social media in fellowship recruitment, no studies have analyzed the relationship between Instagram content and hematology/oncology fellowship programs’ perception. Methods: The American Medical Association Fellowship and Residency Electronic Interactive Database was used to identify and categorize programs as either community-based (CB), community-based academic affiliated (CBAA), university-based (UB), military, and other. For programs with Instagram pages created prior to 2023, the posts from 2022 were subjectively classified into one of two categorizes, either “Medical Education” or “Fellow Life” based on the emphasis of the caption and image. “Medical Education” encompassed posts that promote education as well as academic accomplishments of trainees and faculty. “Fellow Life” included posts emphasizing culture, wellbeing, camaraderie, and social activities. Post from 2023 were analyzed for Instagram accounts created after 2022. The first image was used for posts containing multiple images. This was exempt from IRB review by Pennsylvania State University. Results: There are 183 accredited hematology/oncology fellowships programs; 60% (n=110) UB, 28% (n=52) CBAA, 9% (n=16) CB, 2% (n=4) others, and 0.5% (n=1) military. Of the 183 programs, 33 Instagram pages representing 18% of programs were identified (binomial test, p<0.0001), consisting of 70% (n=23) UB, 24% (n=8) CBAA, and 6% (n=2) CB. UB programs were significantly more likely to have an Instagram (Fisher’s exact test p<0.0001). Posts highlighting “Fellow Life” were significantly more frequent than those emphasizing “Medical Education” (Wilcoxon signed rank test, p = 0.001) (interquartile range: 65% (50-84%) vs. 36% (17-50%)). Conclusions: Despite the implementation of virtual interviews, an overwhelming majority of hematology/oncology fellowship programs do not have an Instagram page. Those with Instagram emphasize extracurricular wellbeing and culture, which is likely valuable to applicants. In this digital age, Instagram is not just a platform; it is a catalyst for connection, engagement, and decision-making in the hematology/oncology recruitment landscape. We advocate for a strategic embrace of Instagram, a balanced content mix highlighting academic and cultural facets, as a key recruitment strategy, reflecting the unique ethos of each program. Reference: 1. Oliver MG, Kelly K: Student Perceptions and Use of Social Media as Residency Program Information. Fam Med 54:380–383, 2022.

Spectroscopic Survey of Faint Planetary-nebula Nuclei. IV. The A35-type Central Star of Pa 27* *Based on observations obtained with the Hobby–Eberly Telescope (HET), which is a joint project of the University of Texas at Austin, the Pennsylvania State University, Ludwig-Maximillians-Universität München, and Georg-August Universität Göttingen. The HET is named in honor of its principal benefactors, William P. Hobby and Robert

We present optical spectroscopy of the 12th-magnitude central star of the planetary nebula (PN) Patchick 27 (Pa 27), obtained during a survey of faint PN nuclei (PNNs) with the Low-Resolution Spectrograph of the Hobby–Eberly Telescope. The optical spectrum of Pa 27 is that of a K0 III red giant with rotationally broadened lines. However, the star is detected in the near-ultraviolet (near-UV) with GALEX, showing that a hot binary component is also present. The spectral-energy distribution from the near-UV to the mid-infrared can be fitted with a combination of the K0 III giant and a hot PNN with an effective temperature of about 50,000 K. Photometric observations of Pa 27, both ground-based and from TESS, show a low-amplitude sinusoidal variation with a period of 7.36 days, probably due to starspots on a rotating and magnetically active cool giant. Pa 27 is a new member of the rare class of “A35-type central stars,” which are binary PNNs consisting of a spotted late-type star and a hot pre–white dwarf. They are likely the result of a situation where an asymptotic-giant-branch (AGB) star ejects its outer layers in a dense wind, part of which is captured by a distant companion, spinning up its rotation by accretion of material and angular momentum. We suggest several useful follow-up observations.

Judge rules in favor of former employee

Case name: De Piero v. Pennsylvania State University, et al., No. 23‐2281 (E.D. Pa. 01/10/24).

Disarranging Narrative

Review of: Louise Green, Fragments from the History of Loss: The Nature Industry and the Postcolony. AnthropoScene: The SLSA Book Series. University Park: Pennsylvania State University Press, 2020. 7 b&w illus. x + 193 pp. $29.95 (pb).

Effect of Incorporating 1 Avocado per Day Versus Habitual Diet on Vascular Function in Adults With Abdominal Obesity: An Ancillary Study of HAT, a Randomized Controlled Trial.

Abdominal obesity is associated with endothelial dysfunction and poorer vascular health. Avocado consumption improves postprandial endothelial function; however, the longer-term effects remain unclear. It was hypothesized that the daily addition of 1 avocado to a habitual diet for 6 months would improve flow-mediated dilation (FMD) and carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity in individuals with abdominal obesity (waist circumference ≥35 in for women, ≥40 in for men), compared with a habitual diet low in avocados. HAT (Habitual Diet and Avocado Trial) was a multicenter, randomized, controlled, parallel-arm study that investigated the health effects of adding 1 avocado per day to a habitual diet in individuals with abdominal obesity. At the Pennsylvania State University, University Park study center (n=134; age, 50 ± 13 years; women, 78%; body mass index, 32.6 ± 4.8 kg/m2), markers of vascular function were measured, including endothelial function, assessed via brachial artery flow-mediated dilation, and arterial stiffness, assessed via carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity. Between-group differences in 6-month change in flow-mediated dilation and carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity were assessed using independent t tests. Prespecified subgroup analyses were conducted using linear regression. No significant between-group differences in flow-mediated dilation (mean difference=-0.62% [95% CI, -1.70 to 0.46]) or carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (0.25 m/s [95% CI, -0.13 to 0.63]) were observed. Results of the subgroup analyses were consistent with the primary analyses. Longer-term consumption of 1 avocado per day as part of a habitual diet did not improve measures of vascular function compared with a habitual diet low in avocados in individuals with abdominal obesity. URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov; Unique identifier: NCT03528031.

Strategies for High-Accuracy Measurements of Stage Efficiency for a Cooled Turbine

Abstract Gas turbines are used in a broad range of aerospace and land-based applications from power generation to aviation, and their usage is projected to continue to grow. It is therefore critical to improve turbine efficiency thereby reducing fuel consumption and carbon emissions. Demonstration of new efficiency-increasing technologies requires efficiency measurements that are accurate and repeatable. The Steady Thermal Aero Research Turbine (START) Laboratory at the Pennsylvania State University uses a unique 360-deg traversing system for temperature and pressure probes with redundant torque measurements to quantify thermal efficiency for a single-stage cooled test turbine. Flows in the full annulus have been analyzed and compared with subsector traverse segments centered at different circumferential positions to determine the appropriate sector size. The results from this investigation indicate that the full 360-deg measurement is recommended to minimize variation in calculated stage efficiencies. This study also compares the circumferential variations in thermodynamic and mechanical efficiency definitions, finding that the thermodynamic efficiency calculation results in a higher accuracy for full exit plane measurements. A statistical analysis was then performed to determine the number of 360-deg traverse measurements required to achieve a precision uncertainty at most that of the bias uncertainty. This study establishes guidelines to streamline experimental procedures by limiting the necessary test count per day per operating condition to five measurements for at most four test days. Following these procedures establishes a bias of ɛb = 0.19 points, resulting in a total uncertainty of at most ɛt = 0.32 points.