Digital Commons Network^™

Wound Healing And The Role Of Biomarkers And Biofilms, Mujtaba Khan

All Capstone Projects

An injury to the skin alters the integrity of underlying tissues and microcirculation and thus certainly culminates in a wound. Wound healing is a highly complex, dynamic, interactive and well regulated physiological process involving blood cells, extracellular matrix, parenchyma cells and soluble mediators. It starts with alteration in integrity of tissues and ends with the formation of scar. The process of wound healing is distinguished into Haemostasis, Inflammation, Proliferation and Remodeling. Various cells like platelets, neutrophils, macrophages, lymphocytes, angiocytes, keratinocytes, fibroblasts and factors like platelet derived growth factor, transforming growth factor, platelet derived epidermal growth factors, fibroblasts growth factor, albumin, …

Kurt Vonnegut's Early Novels: Searching For Meaning In A Meaningless World, Matthew Praxmarer

All Student Theses

This thesis investigates three novels by Kurt Vonnegut: The Sirens of Titan, Cat’s Cradle, and God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater, and the philosophical stance which informs these works. The Sirens of Titan represents Vonnegut’s cosmology as well as his first attempts to propose one purpose for human life not based on any absolute knowledge. Cat’s Cradle proposes a provisional, ever-changing belief system in the religion of Bokonon, a religion which also speaks to Vonnegut’s humanism. God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater satirizes the discourses of the free enterprise system through protagonist Eliot as he struggles to use his wealth …

The Dangers Of Digital Imaging, Russel Laska

All Student Theses

In today's world, photography takes on a whole different meaning that it did 20-30 years ago. Whereas terms such as photograph and graphic used to have separate meanings that classified them from one another, these and many similar terms have been melded together to represent the same thing... a computer image. Due to the jump in technology over the past 10 years alone, digital cameras went from flashy novelties to a strong industry standard in photography, and swift computer alteration of photographs and images began with a very small amount of people to practically everyone who has a computer today. …

The Significance Of Seeking Truth In Art, Veronica Cook

All Student Theses

One of my main objectives in creating art is to emphasize the importance of inner human development and expression of higher being as opposed to reactionary processes that culminate into an art form.

My art, my research and my life have blended into a unified assemblage of experiential expression. What is human consciousness and how do we express feelings, thoughts and concepts? What does it mean to love or hate and how do these feelings affect our environment?

This text is an attempt to make sense of the feelings of oneness with all forms of life that become the underlying …

Nature Orchestrated, Janice Marie Pratt

All Student Theses

The title of my show, "Nature Orchestrated", is about my recreation of nature by combining multiple images to create a completely different result. Picking and choosing the most meaningful elements to emphasize gives me the ability to create a differently organized reality.

"Untitled", Janet Rose Engel-Julian

All Student Theses

The emotions from memories and the passing of time can be an intriguing thing. The more time that passes the more difficult it can be to remember details thus changing the memory. The more people who share a specific memory,the more memories may exist,yet each person’s recognition of the event may vary. When family members recall a childhood event, they can have a plethora of viewpoints and interpretations all depending on the time passed and roles played along with previous life experiences.

For centuries,history was recorded orally through ceremony and storytelling, and some cultures also involved the sharing of food. …

Capture And Analysis Of Cells Using Magnetic Beads, Alexandro Dominguez

All Capstone Projects

Magnetic separation of cells and bacterium is a fascinating field of study. There are tremendous capabilities in separation, selectivity, and sensitivity. Magnetic separation reduces complex techniques, time consuming preparation, and complicated multistep methods of separation.The separation of cells, bacterium, and macromolecules can be extremely challenging. Fortunately, magnetically tagged cells, bacterium and macromolecules can be easily separated without great expertise. Antibody magnetic micro beads are specific to a cell, bacterium, or macromolecules. Separating a mixture can lead to a better, more accurate analysis of samples that can be crucial in the medical field, therapeutic drug delivery systems, and in some circumstances …

Perfecting The Interview Process Making Yourself Employable, Carmen Marish Davis

All Capstone Projects

This project reviewed the literature of the interview in the hiring for employment process, and presents a handbook of tips for the candidate on the interview process. Few tips for the candidate on best practices for interviewing were found in this review in the scholarly literature. (Abstract provided by OPUS staff)

Social Media: How Players And Athletic Organizations Can Use Social Media Technology For Positive Brand Awareness, Nina D. Bell

All Capstone Projects

Player transgressions and sponsorships were examined lightly using rhetorical and secondary research to consider the impact social media technology has had on sports marketing and communications. In discussing the impact, I was able to uncover the negative and positive implications for social media‟s involvement in sports, and how understanding it is imperative for individuals looking to become professionals in athletics. From my research, I will create a presentation which will assist professional athletes and their organization in creating a positive brand image using social media technology.

An Lcms Based Assay For Detection And Quantification Of Bacterial Cell Wall Intermediates, Chandra Sekhar Arigapudi

All Capstone Projects

The main objective of my project is to determine the bacterial cell wall intermediates in E.coli and develop an LCMS method that Phosphomycin is a PEP analogue that irreversibly inhibits UDP-GluNAc-enolpyruvate transferase (MurA enzyme), which prevents the formation of N-acetyl muramic acid, which is an essential element in the Peptidoglycan cell wall. Antibacterial agents have a tremendous impact on human health. Most of the antibacterial agents, including beta lactams target the bacterial cell wall biosynthesis.The pathway for Escherichia coli is shown in page 19. Among the most widely used antibiotics, beta lactams inhibit the penicillin binding protein (PBPs)which block the …

Evaluation And In Vitro Studies Of Folate Peg Biotin And Other Peg Agents, Vikram Reddy Kasarala

All Capstone Projects

Folate is an essential component for cell growth and cell division, playing a major role in DNA synthesis. It is common sense that the rapidly dividing cells synthesize more DNA, including cancer cells. Also, it was reported that cancer cells over express Folate receptors and this was the basis for our probe for cancer cells. We used long PEG biotin in conjugation with Folate. Previous studies in our group showed that the PEG could be used in the sensor to detect and capture cancer cells. The present study was aimed at evaluating the effect of Long PEG containing Folate based …

Analytical Evaluation Of Imaging Agents, Vineela Chowdary Talluri

All Capstone Projects

The folate receptor has achieved great importance for use in targeted drug delivery and in vitro and in vivo diagnostic assays. The folate receptor (FR) is over expressed on several cancer cell types and activated macrophages, but exists in relatively low abundance on the surface of non-cancerous tissue and non inflammatory cells. This unique attribute is the hallmark of folate – targeted methodologies allowing the diagnostic agent and/or drug to be ferried to the specific disease sites while preventing “off target” effects in normal tissues. Although several folate-based dyes have been reported, simple and detailed synthetic and purification methods for …

Evaluation And In Vitro Studies Of Folate Peg Biotin And Other Peg Agents, Christopher E. Zmudka

All Capstone Projects

Folate receptor alpha is a membrane-bound protein displaying high affinity for folic acid. This receptor is believed to serve as a receptor-mediated transport system of folic acid into cancer and cells associated with inflammation. Interesting, most normal cells in the body have little if no high affinity folate receptor alpha. Based on these attributes, folate based drug delivery, imaging systems, and diagnostic systems are in several stages of development worldwide.

Numerous methods have been explored in the literature in an attempt to detect low levels of free folate receptor and/or rare circulating cancer cells. In an attempt to further exploit …

Nanoparticles For Mercury Abatement, Sunil Krishna Thanikanti

All Capstone Projects

Mercury is considered to be a global contaminant. It does not break down in the environment and can build up in living organisms. Mercury can be carried long distances on wind currents, staying in the atmosphere for long periods of time, when in its vapor form. High mercury exposure results in permanent nervous system and kidney damage. Mercury exists in three different chemical forms: elemental, inorganic, and organic. The routes of exposure can be inhalation, ingestion, or skin contact. Vapor from liquid elemental mercury and methyl mercury are more easily absorbed than inorganic mercury salts and can, therefore, cause more …

Novel Ruthenium Complexes As Photodynamic Therapeutic Agents, Sareen Kumar Kushangari

All Capstone Projects

This project reviews the literature of novel ruthenium c complexes in photodynamic drug therapy. (Abstract by OPUS staff)

Synthesis Of A Folate Receptor Mass Spectrometry Probe, Audrea Rhymes

All Capstone Projects

Drug delivery is one of the most important concepts for cancer patients because it is oftentimes very difficult or nearly impossible to exclusively target cancerous cells. In this study, the aim was to target receptors on cancerous cells, specifically the Folate Receptor (FR). This specific receptor was targeted because it has been proven to enhance intracellular delivery being that folic acid is an integral species in normal cell function and also that cancerous cells tend to exhibit an abnormally high concentration of Folic Acid on cell surfaces.

The application of dyes is a very common practice used to link folic …

Superman's Ancestors - Beowulf, Odysseus And Roy Hobbs: Application And Analysis Of Joseph Campbell's Monomyth Theory, Michael Kealy

All Student Theses

Heroes have been with us since the beginning of time with some becoming more well known than others. Each and every culture seems to have their own type of hero that embodies their ideals, values and beliefs. It is this truth that Joseph Campbell, author of the 1949 book The Hero with a Thousand Faces, uses as a foundation to discuss his take on why heroes have had and will always have a place within the human fabric regardless of geographical location, religious affiliation or cultural idiosyncrasies. This thesis will apply Campbell’s monomyth theory to literary classics such as …

Prairie Restoration And Species Diversity: A Comparison Of Propagation Success Between Seeded And Planted Forbs, Julie A. Widinski

All Student Theses

Prairie ecosystems used to dominate Illinois’ landscapes, providing some of the most organically rich soils in the world, supplying homes to hundreds of native species, and conserving soil and water. The deep rooted forbs prevent water runoff and soil erosion. Economically the prairies have provided medicines, commercial forbs, and aesthetically pleasing landscapes for humans. Society is dependent on the rich soils these prairies have provided for agriculture and for prevention of erosion and water runoff. With less than one tenth of one percent of Illinois prairies still remaining, successful prairie restoration is of the utmost importance. In order to achieve …

Don't Shoot The Messenger, Wayon C. Collins

All Student Theses

My hope is to inform people through my art, thus creating a spark that might motivate people to bring about a change in how corporations do business. My art touches mainly on the issues of corporations polluting the environment, massive layoffs, breaking up unions, controlling the media output and sometimes creating situations that harm people, with no accountability.

"When Love Is Born In A Cage Not Of Lts Own Building ": The New Woman And Fiction Of Kate Chopin, Jennifer Battistoni

All Student Theses

This project explores the New Woman as developed and defined through the literature of Kate Chopin.

Encapsulated Antibiotic Nanoparticles For Cranial Transplantation, Adusumilli Naga Anusha

All Capstone Projects

The purpose of this research is to develop a unique nanoparticulate system that is capable of delivering antibiotics in a locally applied and extended-release manner for patients receiving cranial replacement implants and bone grafting. This study involves three major components: first, encapsulate both hydrophobic antibiotics (chloramphenicol and rifampicine) and hydrophilic antibiotics (vancomycine and acyclovir) into nanoparticles. Second, incorporate antibiotic nanoparticles in a polymeric coating material (nitrocellulose plus 7.0% (w/v) polyvinylpyrrolidone) with a volatile carrier solvent (ethyl acetate or ethanol). Third, directly apply the resulting product from component 1 and 2 to polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) cranial implants and hydroxylapatite (HA) bone …

Contrast, Heidi Stachulak

All Student Theses

This thesis will discuss the importance of contrast within a piece of artwork as well as a history and explanation of the other elements and principles of art. It is important for artists to understand the elements and principles to have a good base in creating artwork. This thesis will explore the history of the elements and principles, review other artists using these principles within their artwork as well as the significance of these elements and principles within my own artwork. Through this exploration an artist will be able to understand as well as utilize these elements and principles within …

Nanoencapsulated Drug-Carrying System For Photodynamic Antimicrobial Chemotherapy (Pact), Gopala Krishna Murthy Kalapala

All Capstone Projects

The purpose of this study is to develop nanoparticulate drug-carrying systems that are capable of directly delivering photodynamic antimicrobial agents to treat patients with chronic wounds. Chronic wounds are considered as a pandemic health problem. Approximately 1% to 2% of the population in developing countries has experienced a chronic wound during their lifetime. In the United State States, according to the American Academy of Dermatology, the expense of treating chronic wounds constitutes over half of the total cost for all skin diseases, which exceeds $10 billion annually. For the last decade extensive basic science and clinical research in chronic wounds …

Micro Bca Analysis Of Proteins, Anusha Chennupati

All Capstone Projects

The main objective of this project was to develop and validate methods for detection and analysis of proteins using a newly introduced microdrop plate reader equipped with a 16 well microdrop reader (2 uL sample volume). We used commercially available BSA, egg albumin, trypsinogen, Pepsin, β-lactoblobulin and lysozyme as out test moieties. Protein drop size, time, BCA reagent quantity, was assessed at various levels using a microdrop micro-BCA protocol (Pierce Chemical Company) with the appropriate controls (PBS blank) the method validated using the appropriate statistical and method parameters (i.e %RSD, and regression analysis of the standard curves). The micro method …

Online Assistance, Imran Khan

All Capstone Projects

From the introduction: "This project entitled Online Assistance is efficient and designed to do only one thing, facilitate communications between help desk staff and end users. The overriding design goal is to be as simple and frictionless for both users and help desk staff as is possible. It can leverage SQL server for membership and role based security or integrate with windows authentication and Active Directory groups.

Software Engineering occurs as a consequence of a process called “System Engineering”. Instead of concentrate solely on software, system-engineering focuses on a variety of elements like Analyzing, Designing and organizing these elements into …

Analysis Of Anions In Water Samples From The Holy Land (Israel And Jordan) By Using Ion Chromatography, Ahalya Yalamanchili

All Capstone Projects

Ion chromatography is a form of liquid chromatography, which measures concentration of ionic species by separating them based on their interaction with resins. Ion chromatography is mainly useful for the separation and analysis of ions (cations or anions) in water. Analysis of anions in water is of greater importance because water is very important in daily life, especially in the Holy Land, where water is the very essence of life. If variety of chemicals, such as organic and inorganic salts enter into the water system, they make water toxic and poisonous to drink. In this project water samples from different …

Le Nouveau Cirque, Diana C. Lynch

All Student Theses

Exploring traditional circus and contemporary circus has lead me to my current body of print work titled Le Nouveau Cirque simply meaning The New Circus. In my studio work I use printmaking to create my art. My focus on printmaking began with this body of artwork because of my interest making multiples of images and using old and new style processes of printmaking going hand in hand with my interest in old and new types of circuses. The connotation of creating multiples relates to old circus lithographs when artists would make many fliers and banners to advertise a show. …

Synthesis And Analytical Evaluation Of Folate Conjugates For Use In Cancer Cell Detection, Pradipkumar Koshiya

All Capstone Projects

Folate-targeted dyes have been used for the detection of tumor tissue and isolated cancer cells in both the animal tumor models as well as in human cancer patients. Folate receptors (FR) are abundantly present on several cancerous cell types but they are found less in normal human cells. There are several imaging agents that can be linked with folic acid and used for the detection of tumor. These imaging agents could be protein toxins, chemotherapeutic agents, gene therapy vectors, oligonucleotides, radioimaging agents, magnetic resonance imaging contrast agents and liposomes with entrapped drugs, radiotherapeutic agents and/or immunotherapeutic agents. This research showed …

Detection Of Protein By Microdrop Analysis, Yogeshkumar Radadiya

All Capstone Projects

Analysis of protein depends particularly on protein concentration. Protein concentration measurement is the most important part in the research work to conduct protein-related studies. Although there are many methods available for this purpose, each method has certain limitations. The aim of the experiment is to develop either new or modified analytical method for the analysis and detection of protein using newly introduced micro-plate reader equipped with Take-3 microplate with the help of Gen-5 software. An ideal assay should be simple and easy to carry out. Another aspect to be taken into consideration are low inference, stability of measured components and …

Detection Of Folate Binding Protein, Anwer Unnisa

All Capstone Projects

Cancer is the second leading cause of death despite the anti cancer developments including hormone therapy, radiotherapy, chemotherapy. Chemotherapy includes use of potent drugs such as camptothecin, paclitaxel and mitomycin. These drugs have an effect which is dose responsive, where the drug exposure and cell kill are proportional. This chemotherapy is high dose and has less selectivity for cancer cells and has more toxic effect to normal cells. Such kind of non specific treatment to tumor is causing hurdles in the treatment of cancer by chemotherapy. To overcome this current limitation to chemotherapy, the anti cancer drug with high specificity …