Drs. Turner and Shade lead the experimental and modeling components of the high-energy diffraction microscopy team. The effort continues to develop novel, high quality, and world-first datasets to validate micromechanical models with the longer-term goal of advancing microstructure-based component lifetime predictions for aerospace alloy systems.

One of her research specialties is using two-dimensional high-resolution elemental maps of small sections of fish ear stones, called otoliths, as time-stamped records of the histories of fishes’ lives and marine conditions. Her studies have challenged many CHESS scientists over the years to further develop scanning x-ray fluorescence microscopy (SXFM) at the F3 station, including Don Bilderback and Rong Huang who produced microbeams with tapered glass capillaries and Darren Dale who built software for rapid data collection, analysis and visualization of elemental maps (1,2).

Like many other bacteria, Rickettsia uses the actin cytoskeleton of the host cells to move within a cell and spread from one cell to another. It does this through the agency of a “comet tail” assembled from actin filaments, and inhibition of comet tail formation reduces the virulence of Rickettsia. The bacterial transporter protein Sca2 is required for assembly of comet tails; it functions similarly to the eukaryotic formin proteins in promoting actin filament formation.

These devices create position information based on photo-electron currents produced by X-rays hitting metallic blades that usually skim the outer edges of beam. Typical P.E. monitors for undulator source utilize four blades to determine simultaneously both vertical and horizontal position information by taking mathematical difference-over-sum (D/S) values using photo currents from opposing blades.

These bismuth platinum pyrochlore films have potential for use in fuel cells, where they could act as more effective cathode materials. Using pulsed laser deposition (PLD) at the G3 beamline of CHESS to co-deposit epitaxial δ-Bi₂O₃ and disordered platinum, the team was able to produce epitaxial Bi₂Pt₂O₇ crystals approximately 100 nanometers in length by annealing the PLD deposited films in air.

Students in BJM's not-for-profit extended day program, Academic Plus, were given some basic tools, access to common materials, and assignments like, "Make something roll from here to there." They dove head-first into the challenge, limited only by the extent of their creativity and what's physically possible.

Insight into this question has biomedical significance, as membrane proteases are required for the cleavage of transmembrane anchors to release signaling proteins from the membrane, and disruption of this process is implicated in more than a dozen diseases. For example, the intramembrane rhomboid proteases are implicated in Parkinson's disease and parasite invasion.

Stebner’s group runs the Multiscale Mechanics of Materials Lab in the department of Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science at the Colorado School of Mines, where they study the mechanics of advanced solid materials such as lightweight alloys, shape memory alloys, low symmetry alloys, and functional ceramics. They use and develop tools for in-situ diffraction experiments and are regular users of national facilities such as CHESS, the Advanced Photon Source (Argonne) and the Los Alamos Neutron Science Center.

Object of the study were inorganic-organic halide perovskites, currently one of the hottest materials in non-silicon solar cells with efficiencies over 20%, rivaling amorphous silicon. Halide perovskites also outperform other types of solar cells such as dye-sensitized or bulk heterojunction organic solar cells that have been studied intensely over the past decade, while the inorganic-organic perovskites are the new kids on the block.

Working with pK-12 educators in the local Ithaca City School District and beyond, Xraise is serves as a resource for classroom teachers. Teachers interested in building upon existing learning materials have teamed up with Xraise staff and volunteers to enhance students’ conceptual understanding of science while exploring engineering design practices. Design-based learning opportunities build on students’ existing science knowledge; giving them opportunities for hands-on learning, and the development of higher-order thinking and skills.