Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is one of the fastest growing causes of global disability and requires a variety of treatment options due to its multifactorial etiology. While it’s long been known that blood levels of the neurotransmitter GABA are predictive of MDD, recent studies have implicated the human microbiome as a potent GABA metabolizer that can affect circulating GABA levels. Our collaborators used bioinformatics to identify bacteria containing putative GABA-synthesizing genes (puuD) that are predictive of host GABA levels and depression scores. However, previous literature indicates that the puu operon is repressed under anaerobic conditions in E. coli and the putative PuuD proteins have low sequence similarity to the model PuuD enzyme. My project seeks to confirm the biochemical activity and substrate-specificity of these genes using in-vitro assays measuring both the putative PuuDs’ chemical reactivity and kinetics. Due to conservation in the active site structures between the putative proteins and the model PuuD, I expect that the novel PuuD-like proteins will have gamma-glutamyl hydrolase activity and substrate specificity for gamma-glutamylated-GABA. This work provides base-level evidence for the use of systems biology techniques to identify enzymatic function and lays the foundation for targeted therapeutics manipulating the microbiome for improved MDD outcomes.

Cryptocurrency is a worldwide payment system that has the potential to become a universal exchange since it was first presented as a solution to address the limits of centralized banking systems, including inflation and clunky currency conversions. However, high price volatility, cybersecurity threats, and environmental repercussions are some hazards associated with cryptocurrency. Since the start of the 2008 banking crisis, it has long been a contentious topic in the global economy, especially considering the lack of proper regulatory authorities. Current studies on the topic suggest two extremes, with some claiming that it is just a matter of time before cryptocurrencies take over the financial system as opposed to others claiming that they will eventually die out. In 2021, El Salvador became the first country to make Bitcoin legal tender, offering its citizens fee-free transactions and facilitating fast cross-border payments. In contrast, the Chinese government has banned the trade and mining of cryptocurrencies due to their energy consumption and the use of virtual currencies for fraud and money laundering. Major scandals involving this currency consistently occur, causing widespread mistrust in cryptocurrencies and people to question their long-term viability. My literature review assesses the future of cryptocurrencies from the perspectives of economics and political policy, underscoring the prospective advantages of adopting cryptocurrencies as legal tender, either as a replacement for or in addition to centralized currencies. Comparing cryptocurrency usage in different countries, I aim to cast light on the concept of an accessible currency and present a potentially superior alternative for weak currencies. I expect three issues to appear in my results, namely decentralization, security, and scalability. The concept of a universal currency indisputably has the ability to alter how international trade is conducted and alleviate wealth disparity because it would be accessible to everyone, everywhere.

Large predators are particularly sensitive to human disturbance due to their slower life histories, large home ranges, and persecution by humans. Previous research shows that top predators have the ability to alter trophic relationships from their positions at the top of food webs. Therefore, anthropogenic-mediated behavioral changes in large predators could exert indirect and direct impacts on the entire ecological community. In Washington, cougars (Puma concolor) inhabit landscapes with increasing human disturbance, making this state an ideal place in which to explore how anthropogenic activity shapes their behavior. In this study, we examined cougar feeding behaviors in response to road, trail, and building density. We used camera traps deployed at fifty-five cougar kill sites to detect carcass visitation, and GPS collars on cougars to assess the total time spent at a carcass. A hurdle model was used to predict the probability of observing a cougar on a camera trap in relation to road, trail, and building density. Cougars were found to spend significantly less time feeding in areas of higher road density (p < 0.001) and building density (p < 0.001). This indicates that human infrastructure (proxied by road density) and human presence (proxied by building density) reduce cougar feeding opportunities. Our study shows that as the human footprint continues to expand into cougar habitats, cougars may experience further disruptions to their feeding dynamics. Understanding the behavioral response of large predators to disturbance is critical in the management of intact ecosystems and in mitigating human-wildlife conflict. 

The existential risk of being unable to control a super-intelligent agent is called the Control Problem. Philosophers argue that an intelligence explosion and the creation of a singularity are inevitable, likening it to a ticking bomb. This fear is also present within the media, with rogue robots and singularities being frequent tropes for science fiction. However, the catastrophizing of sentient computers is not new. When first invented, academics and citizens speculated the computer was a precursor to supernatural thinking machines. Even in the mid-20th century, scientists believed sentient computers were right around the corner. This belief led to widespread computer phobia- the general public was afraid of what they thought were sentient gadgets and their implications. As familiarity with computers grew, along with a redefinition of what qualifies as human intelligence, this fear dwindled, and the public viewed computers as mere tools. Once again, due to the innovation of neural networks, we are experiencing a resurgence of phobia, reviving the belief that computers are supernatural thinking machines. This literature review will compare recent and historical philosophical arguments to current psychology and computer science. I expect to find similarities between the 1950s and present phobia and logical dissonance between the application of computer science and philosophical arguments. By confronting a potentially baseless fear, we can correct and alleviate the issues caused by irrationality and identify policies separate from sentience but still necessary to safeguard against non-sentient AI.