5ht And The 5ht Receptors- Relevance To Cardiac Valve Disease,
2014
University of Arkansas, Fayetteville
5ht And The 5ht Receptors- Relevance To Cardiac Valve Disease, Christopher Ryan Martindale
Biomedical Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses
Recent studies have revealed that elevated levels of serotonin or 5HT lead to valve dysfunction. A mouse model was successfully established to investigate the effects on the aortic valve in subjects with elevated 5HT levels along with cardiovascular hypertension. For each two-week trial, eight C57BL/6J mice were divided into the following expermental groups: control, 5HT, angiotensin II, and 5HT+angiotensin II. The drug was delivered to the mice via osmotic pumps (Ang II: 0.4ng/g/min, 5HT:0.0025ng/g/min) or direct injections(Ang II: 0.1 mg, 5HT: 2.12 mg, every other day) and the blood pressure of the mice was continually monitored via the CODA tail …
Experimental Investigation Of Injectivity In Unconsolidated Formations,
2014
Louisiana State University
Experimental Investigation Of Injectivity In Unconsolidated Formations, Callie Pritchett
Honors Capstones
No abstract provided.
Evaluation Of An Inclined Gravity Settler For Microalgae Harvesting,
2014
Cleveland State University / currently at Newland Biotech, Ltd
Evaluation Of An Inclined Gravity Settler For Microalgae Harvesting, Zhaowei Wang, Jing Hou, Dustin Bowden, Joanne M. Belovich
Chemical & Biomedical Engineering Faculty Publications
BACKGROUND Given the small size of microalgae, and the low biomass concentrations obtained in light-limited cultures, the cost of algae harvesting is a significant barrier to commercial-scale production of biofuel from algae. A downward- flow inclined gravity settler was evaluated for its effectiveness in dewatering the microalgae Scenedesmus dimorphus and Chlorella vulgaris. RESULTS Experimental results showed that S. dimorphus can be concentrated up to 8-fold using a single settler stage, with a biomass recovery of 80%. Separation efficiency was independent of biomass concentration between 1 and 5 gdw L-1, suggesting that a two-stage sequential system of settlers may maximize biomass …
Outlining The Biocidal Mechanisms Of Synthetic Antimicrobial Peptide Mimics,
2014
University of Southern Mississippi
Outlining The Biocidal Mechanisms Of Synthetic Antimicrobial Peptide Mimics, Tyler D. Brown
Honors Theses
Each day, antibiotic resistance affects the livelihood of individuals worldwide, especially in relation to hospital-acquired diseases. In an effort to combat this resistance, antimicrobial peptides, small biopolymers produced naturally by multicellular organisms, can be used to selectively eliminate bacteria and have demonstrated great potential as alternatives to conventional antibiotics. Many naturally-occurring antimicrobial peptides possess high concentrations of lysine and arginine amino acid residues, which are protonated and positively-charged at physiological pH. Herein, we describe the design and synthesis of antimicrobial peptide mimics, using amino acid mimics. N-3-aminopropyl methacrylamide (APMA) and 3-guanidinopropyl methacrylamide (GPMA) monomers mimic the amino acid residues lysine …
Reduction Of Ketoximes To Amines By Catalytic Transfer Hydrogenation Using Raney Nickel And 2-Propanol As Hydrogen Donor,
2014
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
Reduction Of Ketoximes To Amines By Catalytic Transfer Hydrogenation Using Raney Nickel And 2-Propanol As Hydrogen Donor, Katherynne E. Taylor
Honors Theses
Ketoximes successfully underwent hydrogenolysis and hydrogenation under catalytic transfer conditions with Raney Nickel and 2-propanol as a hydrogen donor. Ketoximes were reduced to primary amines when 2% KOH was included in the reaction. In the absence of KOH N-isopropyl-secondary-amines were obtained in good yields.
Improved Oxidative Stability In Biodiesel Via Commercially-Viable Processing Strategies,
2014
Clemson University
Improved Oxidative Stability In Biodiesel Via Commercially-Viable Processing Strategies, Gregory Lepak
All Theses
Biodiesel made from waste cooking oil (WCO) frequently requires antioxidants to meet oxidation stability specifications set forth in ASTM D6751 or EN 14214. In contrast, unrefined cottonseed oil (CSO), containing tocopherols and high concentrations of gossypol, a toxic polyphenolic antioxidant, is unique for biodiesel processing because it produces biodiesel resulting in higher oxidation stability. During biodiesel production, however, only a portion of these endogenous natural antioxidants are suspected to be retained. Because the economics of biodiesel manufacturing rely upon inexpensive sources of triglycerides, emphasis was placed upon developing improved alternative commercially-viable processing strategies where WCO is the main source of …
Identifying, Monitoring, Quantifying And Converting Algae To Bio-Fuels In Bio-Reactors,
2014
University of Arkansas, Fayetteville
Identifying, Monitoring, Quantifying And Converting Algae To Bio-Fuels In Bio-Reactors, Alice C. Jernigan
Graduate Theses and Dissertations
Growing algae as a source for bio-fuels has become an area of interest due to concerns about global warming and the reliability and ecology of the production of fossil fuels. Dried algae harvested from a pilot water quality improvement technology at the Rockaway Wastewater Treatment Facility in New York were examined as a source of carbohydrates and lipids for the production of bio-fuels in bio-reactors. The length of storage time, storage conditions, sugar and lipid extraction processes, and fuel production were studied. The results show that if the algae is stored dry (0.015 g/g algae even after a year in …
Membrane Compatibility With Switchable Polarity Draw Solutions For Use In Forward Osmosis Applications,
2014
University of Connecticut - Storrs
Membrane Compatibility With Switchable Polarity Draw Solutions For Use In Forward Osmosis Applications, Benjamin Joseph Coscia
Honors Scholar Theses
Water scarcity is problem being faced worldwide and present in every continent. Close to one-fifth of the world’s population has difficulty acquiring safe water, and the problem is worsening as populations continue to grow in poorer countries. As the availability of unimpaired freshwater sources dwindle, water sources, such as the oceans and saline ground waters, must be tapped. However, desalination technologies are very expensive due to a high energy requirement. Forward osmosis (FO) is a process which may be able to replace or become integrated with existing desalination technologies like reverse osmosis. FO relies on an osmotic agent, or draw …
Coal Fires: An Environmental Disaster,
2014
University of Arkansas, Fayetteville
Coal Fires: An Environmental Disaster, Edward K. Jenner
Chemical Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses
Coal Fires are an environmental disaster.
Coal Fires: An Environmental Disaster,
2014
University of Arkansas, Fayetteville
Coal Fires: An Environmental Disaster, Carolyn Schardt
Chemical Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses
Coal Fires are part of an environmental disaster.
Expression, Purification, And Large-Scale Production Of The Human Recombinant Annexin-V Protein,
2014
University of Arkansas, Fayetteville
Expression, Purification, And Large-Scale Production Of The Human Recombinant Annexin-V Protein, Gayatri Suresh Kumar
Chemical Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses
Annexin-V is a cytosolic protein involved in many significant physiological roles including stabilization of the phospholipid membrane, regulation of blood coagulation, and cell apoptosis or programmed cell death. Though the exact mechanism of Annexin-V in the human body is not fully understood, its wide range of applications in the medical field cannot be denied. Annexin-V can be applied in cancer therapy as a diagnostic to detect cell apoptosis and determine the effectiveness of chemotherapeutic drugs. Furthermore, Annexin-V could even be used as a drug delivery vehicle in the treatment of cancer. Commercially useful proteins like Annexin-V are in high demand, …
Water System For Developing Countries / Disaster Relief Made With Local Materials,
2014
University of Arkansas, Fayetteville
Water System For Developing Countries / Disaster Relief Made With Local Materials, Florencio Serrano Castillo
Chemical Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses
The objective of this project was to design a water purification system that can be constructed from easily available materials, common to the particular country, and is capable of the complete water purification process. The designed system consisted of a treadle pump (built from wood or bamboo) to pull the water from its source, a filter (made of readily available materials such as sand) to remove contaminants and improve palatability of water, an electrolysis system to allow chlorination from salt water (using locally sourced salt), and a car battery (which could be sourced from a scrapped car) that could be …
Probing Cell Membrane And Biofilm Extracellular Matrix Interactions With Tumor Necrosis Factor-Alpha And Interleukin-6 Through Molecular Dynamics Simulations Using A Detailed Chemical Description,
2014
Syracuse University
Probing Cell Membrane And Biofilm Extracellular Matrix Interactions With Tumor Necrosis Factor-Alpha And Interleukin-6 Through Molecular Dynamics Simulations Using A Detailed Chemical Description, Stephen Desalvo
Renée Crown University Honors Thesis Projects - All
Bacterial biofilms are a major cause of persistent infections and diseases with known antibiotic and host immune defense resistances. The interaction of signaling factors, namely small cytokines, with the biofilm and host cell is considered vital to the survival of bacterial biofilms. In this study, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations are performed using coarse-grained biomolecular systems to provide significant insight into medical therapeutic advancements in treating persistent and chronic infections. Specifically, MD simulations of the interaction between signaling factors tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) with a model biofilm matrix with detailed description were performed. Additional simulations were used to …
The Effect Of Co-Solvent And Ordered Lattice Structure On Catalysis Of Biodiesel Production In Microreactors,
2014
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
The Effect Of Co-Solvent And Ordered Lattice Structure On Catalysis Of Biodiesel Production In Microreactors, Benjamin J. D. Kegley
Honors Theses
In this study, stable single phase feedstocks for biodiesel production were successfully determined. The addition of free fatty acids, which are considered waste, to the soy bean oil and methanol processing feed as a co-solvent, produces a stable single phase. The single phase feedstock significantly increases initial global rates and supplements the oil with further biodiesel production. A stable single phase feedstock and increased reaction rates are desirable due to the use of continuous heterogeneous biodiesel production in microreactors currently being developed by this research group. Further design improvements to the microreactor design have been determined. Such improvements include the …
Phase Transformations In Calcium Substituted Lanthanum Ferrite,
2014
Boise State University
Phase Transformations In Calcium Substituted Lanthanum Ferrite, Patrick M. Price
Boise State University Theses and Dissertations
Increasing world energy demands are still heavily dependent on fossil fuels. To meet these demands, crude oil is increasingly being extracted from remote locations where natural gas pipelines do not exist. It is not profitable for oil and gas companies to transport natural gas by ship or truck from these remote locations so it is combusted on site in the form of gas flares. Critics oppose this practice due to the environmental impact from pollution and carbon emissions created during the flaring process. Oil and gas companies are eager to find profitable ways to eliminate natural gas lines in order …
Validation Of A Diffuse Reflectance Microendoscope With Polydimethylsiloxane Optical Phantoms And Monte Carlo Modeling,
2014
University of Arkansas, Fayetteville
Validation Of A Diffuse Reflectance Microendoscope With Polydimethylsiloxane Optical Phantoms And Monte Carlo Modeling, Gage Joseph Greening
Biomedical Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses
We have introduced a method for creating thin-film PDMS optical phantoms that can be used to validate a bench-top optical device called a Diffuse Reflectance Microendoscope (DRME). The DRME is acquires data on cell surface morphology and sub-surface diffuse reflectance, which may provide clinicians with the tools to diagnose oral cancer at earlier stages. Phantoms were created with PDMS. Optical properties of the phantoms were controlled with the addition of nigrosin and titanium dioxide. Depth of phantoms was controlled by a spin coater. The DRME was built with a combination of filters and dichroic mirrors to separate electromagnetic radiation in …
Poly (Glycerol Sebacate) Nanofibers And Nanofilms For Tissue Engineering Application,
2014
University of Arkansas, Fayetteville
Poly (Glycerol Sebacate) Nanofibers And Nanofilms For Tissue Engineering Application, Stephanie Grace Cone
Biomedical Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses
In the field of tissue engineering, the development of biodegradable scaffolds that provide both structure and functionality is a major challenge. The use of biological implants, such as decellularized tissues, provides a complete matrix with full tissue functionality, however, problems with immunogenicity often arise when implants from other organisms are used in treatments. As such, there are many benefits to the use of polymeric constructs in tissue engineering. The ability to customize the material, design, and size of an implant provides opportunities for increased structural support and controlled rates of biodegradation. The selection of polymers for tissue engineering applications requires …
Beginning Of Malignant Tumor Cells,
2014
University of Arkansas, Fayetteville
Beginning Of Malignant Tumor Cells, Emily K. Shields
Biomedical Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses
Despite advances in cancer treatments, cancer is still ranked the second leading cause of death. Cancers are started by cancer stem cells (CSCs). CSCs, also called tumor-initiating cells, are found in tumors and are responsible for the growth of tumors and the spread of cancer to other parts of the body. CSCs are very resistant, and cannot be killed by chemotherapy or radiation treatments. These cells can come from healthy stem cells. The environment surrounding the healthy stem cells and mature cells can cause mutations in the cell’s genetics, resulting in development of CSCs. The environment can also increase tumor …
Modeling Of An Oxygenation-Aided 3d Culture For Functional Beta-Cell Expansion,
2014
University of Arkansas, Fayetteville
Modeling Of An Oxygenation-Aided 3d Culture For Functional Beta-Cell Expansion, John Lance Mcreynolds
Biomedical Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses
Introduction: Diabetes affects millions of people and its prevalence is increasing by 2-5% per year. A promising method for the control of diabetes is the transplant of pancreatic β-cell mass. Unfortunately, there is a shortage of the donor tissue that is needed to replace β-cell mass. A potential source of β-cells is the production of β-cells in vitro, but the proliferation rate of β-cells is very slow and elevating the proliferation rate can result in loss of cell function. We observed that β-cells benefit from being cultured in a 3D environment, but in the 3D culture the β-cells often die …
Optimizing Polymer Fluorescence For Explosives Detection,
2014
University of Connecticut
Optimizing Polymer Fluorescence For Explosives Detection, Rose K. Cersonsky
Honors Scholar Theses
Pyrene is commonly used for explosives detection, as when mixed with polystyrene, the fluorescence intensity of the resulting film can be used as an indicator of the presence of nitro-aromatic, nitro-ether, or nitro-amine explosives. Previous studieshave tested a three-component system including pyrene, polystyrene, and a salt, tetrabutylammonium hexafluorophosphate (TBAHP). From these previous studies, it has been seen that vapor pressure of the preparation area is a governing factor in the formation of excimers, which are instrumental in achieving and maintaining fluorescence intensity. In this study, three parameters – solution concentration, film thickness, and molecular weight of polystyrene are examined to …
