This talk shares a vision for sustainability at PSU, it explains what sustainability is in terms of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, and how we plan to achieve them through collaborations across disciplines, colleges and campuses. We invite collaboration on experiential learning, transdisciplinary sustainability solutions, and creating "living labs" at the Sustainability Experience Center.
Paul Shrivastava | Sustainability Institute
Semipermeable membranes are used throughout the downstream purification of all biotherapeutics, e.g., monoclonal antibodies which have current sales in excess of $100 billion / year. This talk will provide a short overview of the key applications of membrane systems in bioprocessing with a specific focus on the use of membrane filtration for the removal of contaminating viruses. The ability of these membranes to provide highly selective separations is determined by their nanoscale pore structure – recent results from our laboratory using confocal microscopy and SEM provide new insights into the complex virus capture behavior of these porous membranes.
Individuals differ in the way they respond to infections, some struggle and suffer, while others are very good at fighting the infection. While genetic differences are important, other factors can contribute to generating highly infectious individuals. One of these factors is the presence of a second pathogen and the fact that hosts have now to deal with both infections. The outcome is not easily predictable and can affect the dynamics of infection.
Isabella Cattadori | Biology
Recent electron microscopy instrumentation advances have aimed to push the resolution limit, leading to remarkable instruments capable of imaging at 0.5 Å. But, when imaging soft materials, the resolution is often limited by the amount of dose the material can handle rather than the instrumental resolution. Despite the challenges of working with radiation sensitive samples, recent developments in electron microscopy have the potential to transform polymer electron microscopy. For example, monochromatated sources enable spectroscopy and imaging based on the valence electronic structure, aberration correctors enable imaging of thick films, direct electron detectors minimize the required dose for imaging, and differential phase contrast imaging can map heterogeneities in electric fields within films.
The safety of our food supply relies on timely and accurate detection of microorganisms that can cause foodborne illness. Traditional microbiological methods frequently fail to distinguish closely related beneficial bacteria used as biocontrol agents from those that can cause infection. In such cases, use of genomics methods for accurate and precise identification, and prediction of pathogenic potential becomes invaluable.
Geological systems such as subsurface reservoirs or aquifers often exhibit complex patterns of spatial heterogeneity in the form of channels, natural fractures, and other features. The presence of these multi-scale features strongly influences the performance of processes such as gas-injection and groundwater flow. In this talk, a unique pattern growth algorithm for modeling the complex connectivity of such subsurface systems and a strategy for calibrating the models using injection data will be presented.