Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®
Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons™
Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®
- Discipline
-
- Chemistry (20)
- Life Sciences (14)
- Biochemistry, Biophysics, and Structural Biology (13)
- Biochemistry (8)
- Mathematics (4)
-
- Education (2)
- Medicine and Health Sciences (2)
- Physics (2)
- Applied Mathematics (1)
- Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (1)
- Biology (1)
- Chemicals and Drugs (1)
- Computer Sciences (1)
- Disease Modeling (1)
- Diseases (1)
- Educational Methods (1)
- Food Chemistry (1)
- Food Science (1)
- Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmaceutics (1)
- Organic Chemistry (1)
- Pharmacology, Toxicology and Environmental Health (1)
- Keyword
-
- Arginine (4)
- Amino Acids (3)
- Amines (2)
- Eggshells (2)
- Isoxazoline (2)
-
- APT-6K (1)
- Acquisition (1)
- Acylation (1)
- Allosteric regulation; Alzeheimer's disease, Isoxazoline (1)
- Alpha-Azido acylals (1)
- Alpha-Cyanostilbenes (1)
- Alzheimer's Disease (1)
- Amino Acids Fluorometric Scans (1)
- Amino acids; Racemization; Eggshells; Birds--Eggs; Chromatographic analysis; Hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography (1)
- Antibacterial (1)
- Antibiotic (1)
- Antibiotics (1)
- Artificial Intelligence (1)
- Artificial intelligence; Maching learning (1)
- Autoencoders (1)
- Azides (1)
- Boronic Acid (1)
- COVID-19 (Disease)-- Michigan--Mathematical models; Covid-19 (Disease)--Infections--Mathematical models; COVID-19 (Disease)--Epidemiology (1)
- Chemical inhibitors (1)
- Chemical inhibitors; Enzymes; Antibiotics (1)
- Chemotherapeutic Treatiment (1)
- Chromatography (1)
- Comparison (1)
- Compartmental Model; COVIS-19; Infection Rates; Michigan (1)
- Creatin(in)e (1)
Articles 1 - 28 of 28
Full-Text Articles in Physical Sciences and Mathematics
Classifying Pretzel Links Obtained By Strong Fusion, Jonathan Homan
Classifying Pretzel Links Obtained By Strong Fusion, Jonathan Homan
Honors Theses
A link is a collection of circles embedded into 3-dimensional space. Pretzel links are an important family of links which comprises those links that fit a general form that includes many of the most common links. The strong fusion of a link joins two components of the link via a band and adds an unknotted circle about the band [4]; this naturally arises in the study of concordance and has been used to model biological phenomena such as site specific recombination in DNA [2]. Here we present a complete and original classification of those pretzel links which can be obtained …
Attempted Synthesis & Antibacterial Properties Of Apt-6k Against Ndm-1 K. Pneumoniae, Alec Bofetiado
Attempted Synthesis & Antibacterial Properties Of Apt-6k Against Ndm-1 K. Pneumoniae, Alec Bofetiado
Honors Theses
NDM-1 K. pneumoniae is a highly resistant bacterial organism that is capable of causing debilitating nosocomial infections in immunocompromised patients. Only "last-resort" antibiotics--such as colistin--work against this organism. Therefore, new antibiotics are needed to help fight against these types of infections. APT-6K is a novel compound that was demonstrated to be effective against MRSA with nanomolar concentrations in a prior study. Novel methods of APT-6K synthesis and its testing for antibiotic effects against NDM-1 K. pneumoniae were attempted in this research. APT-6K synthesis was unsuccessful. Commercially-prepared APT-6K also did not demonstrate growth inhibition against NDM-1 K. pneumoniae nor against a …
Comparisons Of Silver Nanoparticle Synthesis Methods By Microwave And Non-Microwave Using Hydrogen Gas As A Reducing Agent, Sofia Erech Hanapin
Comparisons Of Silver Nanoparticle Synthesis Methods By Microwave And Non-Microwave Using Hydrogen Gas As A Reducing Agent, Sofia Erech Hanapin
Honors Theses
Synthesis and characterization of silver nanoparticles are of current interest. This research project describes a simple and rapid synthesis of silver nanoparticles upon reduction of Silver (I) oxide (Ag2O) by molecular hydrogen (H2) at elevated temperature (70 – 100 °C) and a pressure of > 1 atmosphere by heating the aqueous mixture using a common kitchen microwave. This reaction generates naked silver colloids that contain no foreign stabilizers other than metal particles in aqueous media. Its application of an antibacterial effect was monitored by using biological cultures using the Kirby-Bauer Test.
Finding Optimal Opa-Iblc Derivatized Amino Acid Analysis Parameters With Three-Dimensional Fluorometric Scans For Hplc Method Validation, Aaron Jacobs
Honors Theses
Three-dimensional fluorometric scans of OPA-IBLC derivatized glutamic acid and histidine solutions revealed that decreasing concentration maintained maximum λem but produced different maximum λex. In pH 0.4 M sodium borate buffer (pH 10.4), 50 μM derivatized amino acid solutions had maxima around 350- to 450-nm λex-λem where 12.5 μM solutions had maxima around 230- to 450-nm λex- λem. In the lower concentration, the λex peak at 230 nm was about 80% higher than 350 nm. Thus, collecting spectra with 230 nm λex would provide better LOD and LOQ. Results inform HPLC standard concentrations since differential quenching effects may produce non-linear calibration …
Computational Difficulty And Invariants Of The Snake Cube Puzzle, Adrian Negrea
Computational Difficulty And Invariants Of The Snake Cube Puzzle, Adrian Negrea
Honors Theses
The snake cube is a popular puzzle that has been analyzed for its computational difficulty and shown to be NP-complete. Conceiving of the puzzle as a Hamiltonian path in an n x n x n graph, we offer a novel mathematical analysis by considering invariants of the puzzle. This allows us to determine necessary conditions for a particular snake cube to be solvable and eliminate a large class of possible puzzles as unsolvable. In particular, we establish upper and lower bounds on the possible number of straight components in solvable snake cube puzzles.
Thermodynamic Analysis Of Pamam Dendrimer Synthesis, Ryutaro Einar Jacobson
Thermodynamic Analysis Of Pamam Dendrimer Synthesis, Ryutaro Einar Jacobson
Honors Theses
The objective of this research was to determine kinetic and thermodynamic data about the reaction between ethylene diamine and methyl acrylate which is used in the production of PAMAM dendrimers. Establishing a rate law and finding values such as rate constant, activation energy, and Arrhenius coefficient will help in determining the best possible conditions for the reaction. A rate law was established through the method of initial rates, comparing the rates of reactions with different initial concentrations to one another. Additional reactions were run with active cooling to observe the effects on rate and reaction progress, and finally reactions were …
Variable Autoencoders For Biosensor Data Augmentation, Solomon Kim
Variable Autoencoders For Biosensor Data Augmentation, Solomon Kim
Honors Theses
Over the past decade machine learning and artificial intelligence's resurgence spawned the desire to mimic human creative ability. Initially attempts to create images, music, and text flooded the community, though little has been learned regarding constrained, one-dimensional data generation. This paper demonstrates a variational autoencoder approach to this problem. By modeling biosensor current and concentration data we aim to augment the existing dataset. In training a multi-layer neural network based encoder and decoder we were able to generate realistic, original samples., These results demonstrate the ability to realistically augment datasets, improving training of machine learning models designed to predict concentration …
Modeling Of Covid-19 Utilizing Various Compartmental Models To Predict Infection Rates Throughout Michigan, Colleen M. Staniszewski
Modeling Of Covid-19 Utilizing Various Compartmental Models To Predict Infection Rates Throughout Michigan, Colleen M. Staniszewski
Honors Theses
Compartmental modeling is a method of employing math to create a visual representation of a disease interacting with a select population, typically used in epidemiology analyses. This project applies compartmental modeling equations to data collected on the various aspects of COVID-19 in Michigan. Comparing current data to past predictive models, as well as the visual representations that were developed through the various compartmental modeling methods, allows an assessment of the effects of the preventative measures taken by the state, the various rates at which the infection is able to spread, as well as the potential path and spread of the …
Assessing Amino Acid Racemization In Avian Eggshells Through Reverse Phase Liquid Chromatography, Nikitha Nelapudi
Assessing Amino Acid Racemization In Avian Eggshells Through Reverse Phase Liquid Chromatography, Nikitha Nelapudi
Honors Theses
The extent of amino acid racemization (AAR) observed in organic material offers insight into geochronology. Within the scope of AAR research, Avian eggshells are reliable sources of data due to retention of indigenous amino acids through calcification. This project develops a robust quantification methodology for up to 9 D/L amino acids using reverse-phase HPLC (RP-HPLC) with precolumn derivatization. Reliable quantitation is established via statistical assessment of detectability and calibration curves. Progress has focused on obtaining adequate enantioseparation and reproducible data of single D/L amino acids.
Design Of A Novel Isoxazoline Class Drug For The Suppressive Treatment Of Malaria, Peyton Ware
Design Of A Novel Isoxazoline Class Drug For The Suppressive Treatment Of Malaria, Peyton Ware
Honors Theses
Design of a novel isoxazoline class drug for the suppressive treatment of erythrocytic malaria through the inhibition of Plasmodium Falciparum Gylceraldehyde-3-phosphate Dehydrogenase (PfGAPDH) gave rise to creation of a synthetic plan for the proposed target molecule α-amino- 3-bromo-4,5-dihydroisoxazol-5-yl propionic acid. A literature-based analysis of the moieties targeting the PfGADPH active site led to the design of the target molecule. Subsequently, an exploration of the literature yielded a possible bifold synthetic plan. Attempts at a model epoxidation reaction using mCPBA and further efforts towards the synthesis of a 3- bromoisoxazoline were shown to be successful using GCMS analysis.
Synthesis Of Novel Temozolomide-Fatty Acid Imide Hybrid Compounds For The Chemotherapeutic Treatment Of Glioblastoma Multiforme, Janice Pakkianathan
Synthesis Of Novel Temozolomide-Fatty Acid Imide Hybrid Compounds For The Chemotherapeutic Treatment Of Glioblastoma Multiforme, Janice Pakkianathan
Honors Theses
Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is an aggressive form of brain cancer that originates from glial cells, which make up the supportive tissue surrounding neurons. Temozolomide (TMZ) is the current chemotherapeutic drug administered to treat GBM as it works to inhibit the growth of the cancer cells. This research study focused on developing a method for synthesizing novel hybrid compounds that combines TMZ with various fatty acids known to have anticancer properties, forming a series of imide compounds with potential chemotherapeutic effects. Before synthesizing the compounds, various methods for synthesizing an imide from a primary amide were tested to ensure that TMZ …
Design And Synthesis Of A Novel Lsoxazoline As A Potential Pam-Agonist, Josselyn Roosenberg
Design And Synthesis Of A Novel Lsoxazoline As A Potential Pam-Agonist, Josselyn Roosenberg
Honors Theses
Progression of Alzheimer's disease is associated with a loss of Ml receptor activation in the brain. However, a lack of clinical success following attempts to activate the Ml receptor at the orthosteric site has contributed to a transition towards the allosteric pocket of the receptor. Here, positive allosteric modulators (PAMs) interact to potentiate the acetylcholine response. Recent research proposes that optimization of PAM activity at the expense of intrinsic agonism may posit a means to limit adverse side effects. Therefore, this project proposes a design and synthesis of a novel isoxazoline as a potent PAM agent with weak intrinsic agonism.
Analysis Of Dl-Amino Acid Ratios In Eggshells Using Reverse Phase-High Pressure Liquid Chromatography, Gergana Milkova
Analysis Of Dl-Amino Acid Ratios In Eggshells Using Reverse Phase-High Pressure Liquid Chromatography, Gergana Milkova
Honors Theses
HPLC methodology was developed to determine the concentrations and ratios of D to L amino acids in emu and ostrich eggshells treated with heat at different temperatures . We aimed to determine an internal standard and how ratios were affected under different conditions. An HPLC method was determined that gave consistent retention times and satisfactory enantioseparation . Calibration curves for each amino acid were developed from single and multi-amino acid containing dilution series producing a model that most closely replicates the eggshell-extracted amino acids.
Isolation And Characterization Of Novel Arginine-Derived Heterocyclic Amines, Nathaniel Srikureja
Isolation And Characterization Of Novel Arginine-Derived Heterocyclic Amines, Nathaniel Srikureja
Honors Theses
Most known heterocyclic amines (HCAs) are potent mutagens present at significant concentrations in cooked meats, and can be synthesized from burned mixtures of L-creatin(in)e with various amino acids. We hypothesize that novel mutagenic HCAs may be synthesized from a heated plant-based food simulating binary amino acid mL'\:ture: L-arginine and L-threonine. A two-part solid phase extraction was used to separate nitrogen heterocycles from byproducts followed by prep HPLC and the Ames mutagenicity assay using Salmonella TA98 to determine the mutagenicity of various isolates. The results indicate that this binary amino acid mixture does not yield a mutagenic sample.
Synthesis Of An Ideal Inhibitor For The Lpxc Enzyme, Taejun Lee
Synthesis Of An Ideal Inhibitor For The Lpxc Enzyme, Taejun Lee
Honors Theses
Due to the growing need of antibiotics in modern day medicine, this study attempts to apply a method of medicinal chemistry that would create a novel inhibitor for a lesser known target of gram negative bacteria, the LpxC enzyme. This study proposes that a synthetic plan which consists of combining components of different molecules would create a more effective inhibitor. These components include a binding group for the active site of the enzyme, a hydrophobic chain which has been shown to interact with an allosteric site on the LpxC enzyme, and the isoxazoline ring which interacts with the zinc ion. …
Evaluating Mutagenicity Of Burned Arginine-Based Heterocyclic Amines And Anti-Mutagenicity Effect Of Chinese Medicinal Herbs, Rayford C. Alva
Evaluating Mutagenicity Of Burned Arginine-Based Heterocyclic Amines And Anti-Mutagenicity Effect Of Chinese Medicinal Herbs, Rayford C. Alva
Honors Theses
From the unexpected finding that cooked grains and meat substitutes elicit a mutagenic response in Salmonella typhimurium TA98, our work has been aimed at deconstructing this finding via a survey of heated binary amino acid combinations, involving arginine, a plant-based amino acid. secondly, our work has looked towards sing phytochemical extracts from traditional Chinese medicinal herbs to inhibit the mutagenic activity of heterocyclic amines (main culprit for mutagenicity in meat). Two fractions from the burned products of arginine and phenylalanine (RF-HCA-06 and -07) were statistically significant inducers of mutagenesis; Scutellaria barbata and Oldenlandia diffusa, both separately and together, were statistically …
Synthesis Of Oxygenated Boronic Acid Substituted A-Cyanostilbenes For Use As Antibacterial, Yewon Kim
Synthesis Of Oxygenated Boronic Acid Substituted A-Cyanostilbenes For Use As Antibacterial, Yewon Kim
Honors Theses
Stilbenes are naturally occurring compounds that have exhibited antibacterial activity, although the biological effect of various stilbenes differs for Gram-positive and Gram-negative strains of bacteria. In prior research, cyanostilbenes have shown slight antibacterial activity (Brownlee, et al. 1943). This project aims to explore whether hybrid oxygenated a-cyanostilbenes possessing a boronic acid pharmacophore exhibits significant antibacterial activity (Das et al. 2013). The biological activity against Staphylocococcus aureus (Gram-positive) and Escherichia coli (Gram-negative) was tested using the Kirby-Bauer text. No inhibition of E. coli growth was shown while S. aureus was partially inhibited.
Prep-Hplc Method Development To Isolate Potentially-Carcinogenic, Arginine-Based Heterocyclic Amines, Victoria S. Kim
Prep-Hplc Method Development To Isolate Potentially-Carcinogenic, Arginine-Based Heterocyclic Amines, Victoria S. Kim
Honors Theses
Heterocyclic amines (HCAs) are carcinogenic molecules generated from the reaction of creatin(in)e and amino acids at high cooking temperatures in meat. Previous research has shown that replacing creatine with arginine leads to new, uncharacterized HCA molecules. This research entails implementing and optimizing the preparative HPLC analysis of extracts from multiple burnings of arginine with phenylalanine. Isolated fractions from the prep-HPLC analysis were further analyzed using the Ames test to identify mutagenic compounds. Prep-HPLC provides quality control to the burning process along with isolation of larger quantities of materials for further characterization and molecular structure identification.
Molecular Mass Of L-Arginine-Based Potentially Carcinogenic Heterocyclic Amines, Irene S. Hwang
Molecular Mass Of L-Arginine-Based Potentially Carcinogenic Heterocyclic Amines, Irene S. Hwang
Honors Theses
Investigation of cancer-inducing molecules in cooked foods has led to the discovery of mutagenic heterocyclic amines (HCAs) in meat. The amino acids creatin(in)e and L-phenylalanine form the precursors for these HCAs. Recent research here at Andrews University have found similar mutagenic HCAs produced from plant-based proteins when L-arginine, rather than creatin(in)e, is substituted in high temperature reactions (simulated cooking) with L-phenylalanine. Our research focused on developing HPLC methods to isolate individual candidates that are then screened for mutagenicity via the Ames test. Mass spectroscopy methods were also developed to identfy the molecular structure of these lead mutagenic L-arginine-based HCAs.
Fluorescence Analysis Of Pamam Dendrimers, Ansel Nam
Fluorescence Analysis Of Pamam Dendrimers, Ansel Nam
Honors Theses
Despite their lack of conjugation, polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimers are intrinsically fluorescent, and this fluorescent is somewhat manipulable through altering the dendrimer's solvent. This level of fluorescence is dependent on a number of the dendrimer's qualities: the pH of the solvent, the mass percent concentration of the dendrimer in solvent, and the generation size of the dendrimer. In past studies, fluorescent intensity increased as generation size increased and pH decreased. Thus, this research project will attempt to replicate those results as well as further analyze the efficiency of fluorescence of PAMAM dendrimer in comparison to fluorescein.
War Gaming Applications For Achieving Optimum Acquisition Of Future Space, Karel Marshall
War Gaming Applications For Achieving Optimum Acquisition Of Future Space, Karel Marshall
Honors Theses
In 2014, the federal government spent nearly half a trillion dollars on contractor projects. The Department of Defense wants to develop an algorithm to optimize the acquisition of new technologies. This project makes us of game theory, probability and statistics, non-linear programming and mathematical models to model negotiations between governmental agencies and private contractors. If focuses on generating the optimum solution and its corresponding acquisition strategy for different contract types. This project culminates in a collection of MATLAB (MathWorks) programs and the newly developed strategy shows strong convergence to Nash equilibrium values and successful selection of optimum solutions.
Graphene Kirigami And Its Use In Biocompatible Strain Sensor, Erik Vyhmeister
Graphene Kirigami And Its Use In Biocompatible Strain Sensor, Erik Vyhmeister
Honors Theses
Graphene's large fracture strain (>30%), chemical inertness, and piezoresistive nature make it well suited for use as a biocompatible strain sensor. A rectangular multilayer strucutre with graphene as its operative component was designed. It consists of a bottom layer of SU-8, a center layer of graphene, and a top layer of SU-8 and gold, with gold acting as the electrical contact. Kirigami-style patterning is applied via photolithography and oxygen plasma etching, allowing for a greater fracture strain. Additionally, the kirigami affects the stress concentraton in the graphene, affecting its piezoresistive gauge factor. The complete (patterned) structure exhibited a fracture …
Synthesis, Isolation, And Characterization Of Potentially Carcinogenic Arginine-Based Heterocyclic Amines, Zachary Reichert
Synthesis, Isolation, And Characterization Of Potentially Carcinogenic Arginine-Based Heterocyclic Amines, Zachary Reichert
Honors Theses
Previous research demonstrates that meat cooked at high temperatures produces heterocyclic amines (HCAs)—a class of carcinogenic molecules—from burned creatin(in)e and amino acids. However, research performed in our lab, as well as in the peer-reviewed literature, suggests that substituting arginine for creatin(in)e may lead to HCA formation. Arginine is structurally similar to creatin(in)e and can be found abundantly in soy-based food products. Therefore, we have burned arginine and phenylalanine to investigate the potential formation of arginine-based HCAs. The present study attempts to isolate and characterize these potential arginine-HCAs.
Evaluating The Efficacy Of Educational Games In Promoting Interest And Understanding Of Gravitational Wave Physics, Jonathan Wheeler
Evaluating The Efficacy Of Educational Games In Promoting Interest And Understanding Of Gravitational Wave Physics, Jonathan Wheeler
Honors Theses
The LIGO Scientific Collaboration Education and Public Outreach group seeks to ameliorate the lack of public understanding of gravitational wave physics. One such effort is Black Hole Pong, a remake of the 1972 arcade classic developed by researchers at University of Birmingham, UK. Black Hole Pong differs from other educational games in that it stretches the laws of physics to make the user experience more exciting. Another effort has been my own work in developing a game called Chickens in Space where players can create mass, which coalesces and eventually forms black holes, which serve as obstacles to the players. …
The Effects Of Prompted Tutoring On An Emporium Model Math Course, Juliette Michelle Young
The Effects Of Prompted Tutoring On An Emporium Model Math Course, Juliette Michelle Young
Honors Theses
My research goal is to investigate how specific prompting of students would affect their involvement and progress in an emporium developmental math course. With the aim of increasing the students’ involvement and progress I tested a method that was in tended to increase students’ perceived connectedness with the classroom and promote the use of the available tutors and teachers. I monitored consenting students’ progress in the Spring 2015 courses and sent emails to students who met any one of three different criterion: (1) If the students time investment was below a threshold. (2) If the student’s mastery pace was less …
Hydroxyl Number Determination Of Dendritic Polyols Utilizing Nir Spectroscopy, Seth Stacey
Hydroxyl Number Determination Of Dendritic Polyols Utilizing Nir Spectroscopy, Seth Stacey
Honors Theses
The goal of this project was to investigate the use of NIR-spectroscopy to quantify the number of OH functional groups attached to poly(amido amine) or PAMAM dendrimers in a manner that is quick, cost effective and easily reproducible. Obtaining the approximate number of hydroxyl functional groups (OH#) in a dendrimer is crucial in determining what role it can play in bonding and reactivity to other molecules. NIR-spectroscopy has the potential to allow for the recovery of the sample or at least to minimize the amount needed for analysis while providing an accurate determination of the OH# of a dendrimer.
Synthesis And Reactivity Of Alpha-Azido Acylals, Gretchen Bell
Synthesis And Reactivity Of Alpha-Azido Acylals, Gretchen Bell
Honors Theses
alpha-Azido -Azido acylals are a novel combination of azide (N3) and acylal [R-C(OOCR)2] functional groups. Since these compounds are new chemical entities, little is known in the chemical literature about their physical, chemical, and biological properties. This synthetic methodology investigation sought to (1) develop a one-pot, two reaction method for preparing alpha-azido acylals and (2) investigate the chemical reactivity of alpha-azido acylals with phosphine reagents. Progress has been made and will be discussed regarding both the synthesis and reactivity of alpha-azido acylals. This work developed methods and processes that will have significant impact in our broader objective of exploring the …
Fluoride As A Therapeutic Drug In Osteoporosis Treatment, Rita Priyadarshani Francis
Fluoride As A Therapeutic Drug In Osteoporosis Treatment, Rita Priyadarshani Francis
Honors Theses
The use of fluoride as a therapeutic drug is not a novel idea. Studies dealing with the effects of fluoride on the skeletal system date back to the late 1960's. This paper will define osteoporosis, examine methods of detection, and will discuss various methods of treatment with emphasis on the use of fluoride supplements in the form of tablets or fluorinated drinking water.