A Foray Into Laboratory Scale Soil Incubations With Corn Stover And High Lignin Fermentation Byproduct,
2021
Dartmouth College
A Foray Into Laboratory Scale Soil Incubations With Corn Stover And High Lignin Fermentation Byproduct, Michelle Wang
ENGS 88 Honors Thesis (AB Students)
As the production of biofuels increases to meet the demands of a growing low carbon economy, questions of sustainability surrounding its feedstock and waste streams have become increasingly relevant. In the biofuel production process, crop residues like corn stover are harvested from the field and converted to biofuels leaving generating a residue called high lignin fermentation byproduct (HLFB). From extensive process modelling in the literature, it is suggested that HLFB should be either combusted to fuel auxiliary conversion processes or returned to the soil in place of the crop residues that were harvested. Currently, there is little literature testing the …
An Injectable Thermosensitive Hydrogel Potentially Used For Wound Dressing With Self-Adhesive Properties,
2021
Washington University in St. Louis
An Injectable Thermosensitive Hydrogel Potentially Used For Wound Dressing With Self-Adhesive Properties, Yunxiu Qiu
McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations
Wound healing is a complex process, and different kinds of materials are tried to achieve rapid healing. Among them, hydrogel is one of the best candidates for would dressing due to its distinctive properties, such as high biocompatibility, flexibility, and sensitivity to physiological environments. Injectable hydrogels can be facilely delivered in vivo without massive impairment to the body, as no surgical incision is needed for hydrogel embedment. This is highly consistent with the need of minimal invasion on human body. Multiple stimuli could be applied to achieve its injectability, including pH, temperature, light, ions in body fluids. Thermosensitive hydrogel is …
The Role Of Rejuvenators In Embedded Damage Healing For Asphalt Pavement,
2021
Delft University of Technology
The Role Of Rejuvenators In Embedded Damage Healing For Asphalt Pavement, Shi Xu, Xueyan Liu, Amir Tabakovic, P Lin, Y Zhang, S Nahar, B J. Lommerts, Erik Schlangen
Articles
Rejuvenator encapsulation technique showed great potential for extrinsic asphalt pavement damage healing. Once the capsules are embedded within asphalt pavement, the healing is activated on-demand via progressing microcrack. When the microcrack encounters the capsule, the fracture energy at the tip opens the capsule and releases the rejuvenator. Then the released rejuvenator wets the crack surfaces, diffuses into and softens the aged bitumen, allowing two broken edges to come in the contact, preventing further asphalt pavement deterioration. The quality and speed of the damage repair process strongly depend on the quality of rejuvenator, thus it is important to choose a proper …
Characterization, Immobilization, And Polymer Related Applications Of Watermelon Seed Powder, A Practical Source Of Urease Enzyme,
2021
Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College
Characterization, Immobilization, And Polymer Related Applications Of Watermelon Seed Powder, A Practical Source Of Urease Enzyme, Anthony Quan Quoc Mai
LSU Doctoral Dissertations
Urease enzyme was crystallized almost a century ago, and to this day its intrinsic stability is not ideal for everyday applications. This work introduces a new process by which a naturally encapsulated material, watermelon seed powder (WMSP), is characterized for its stability and activity. WMSP enzymatic activity has been measured for over a year at various storage conditions—exposed to ambient atmosphere for a year, WMSP retained above 90% activity. In aqueous conditions, the enzyme maintained above 60% activity after two months; with the addition of a preservative that number stays at about 90%. There is a pH shift of the …
Aps March Meeting 2021 (Online) Updates On Scientific Research During Pandemic Times,
2021
Lincoln University
Aps March Meeting 2021 (Online) Updates On Scientific Research During Pandemic Times, Vianney Gimenez-Pinto
Title III Professional Development Reports
While the ongoing global pandemic continues to affect our everyday lives, researchers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math found a way to come together at the American Physical Society (APS) March Meeting 2021. The conference was online-only and had more than 11,000 registered attendants who actively participated in the program during March 14- 19, 2021.
Actin Cytoskeleton Dynamics And Organization Modulated By Macromolecular Crowding, Cation Interaction, And Nanomaterials,
2021
University of Central Florida
Actin Cytoskeleton Dynamics And Organization Modulated By Macromolecular Crowding, Cation Interaction, And Nanomaterials, Jinho Park
Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023
The assembly of actin, the essential cytoskeleton protein, into filaments and bundles/networks is important in various cellular processes including cell movement and morphogenesis. Actin bundle formation occurs in crowded intracellular environments with the aid of actin-crosslinking proteins. The role of actin-crosslinking proteins such as fascin and a-actinin in bundle formation has been investigated, however, how intracellular environments affect actin crosslinker-induced bundle formation is unknown. In the first two parts of this dissertation, we explore the effects of macromolecular crowding and cation interactions on the organization and mechanics of actin crosslinker-induced bundles. To determine how changing environmental conditions modulate actin bundling, …
Nature-Inspired Material Strategies Towards Functional Devices,
2021
Virginia Commonwealth University
Nature-Inspired Material Strategies Towards Functional Devices, Sayantan Pradhan
Theses and Dissertations
Naturally sourced, renewable biomaterials possess outstanding advantages for a multitude of biomedical applications owing to their biodegradability, biocompatibility, and excellent mechanical properties. Of interest in this dissertation are silk (protein) and chitin (polysaccharide) biopolymers for the fabrication of functional biodevices. One of the major challenges restricting these materials beyond their traditional usage as passive substrate materials is the ability to combine them with high-resolution fabrication techniques. Initial research work is directed towards the fabrication of micropatterned, flexible 2D substrates of silk fibroin and chitin using bench-top photolithographic techniques. Research is focused on imparting electrochemical properties to silk proteins using conducting …
Development Of An Injectable Methylcellulose Hydrogel System For Nucleus Pulposus Repair And Regeneration,
2021
CUNY City College
Development Of An Injectable Methylcellulose Hydrogel System For Nucleus Pulposus Repair And Regeneration, Nada A. Haq-Siddiqi
Dissertations and Theses
Low back pain is the most common cause of disability in the world and is often caused by degeneration or injury of the intervertebral disc (IVD). The IVD is a complex, fibrocartilaginous tissue that allows for the wide range of spinal mobility. Disc degeneration is a progressive condition believed to begin in the central, gelatinous nucleus pulposus (NP) region of the tissue, for which there are few preventative therapies. Current therapeutic strategies include pain management and exercise, or surgical intervention such as spinal fusion, none of which address the underlying cause of degeneration. With an increasingly aging population, the socioeconomic …
Development Of Light Actuated Chemical Delivery Platform On A 2-D Array Of Micropore Structure,
2021
CUNY City College
Development Of Light Actuated Chemical Delivery Platform On A 2-D Array Of Micropore Structure, Hojjat Rostami Azmand, Hojjat Rostami Azmand
Dissertations and Theses
Localized chemical delivery plays an essential role in the fundamental information transfers within biological systems. Thus, the ability to mimic the natural chemical signal modulation would provide significant contributions to understand the functional signaling pathway of biological cells and develop new prosthetic devices for neurological disorders. In this paper, we demonstrate a light-controlled hydrogel platform that can be used for localized chemical delivery in a high spatial resolution. By utilizing the photothermal behavior of graphene-hydrogel composites confined within micron-sized fluidic channels, patterned light illumination creates the parallel and independent actuation of chemical release in a group of fluidic ports. The …
Bio-Binder—Innovative Asphalt Technology,
2020
Technological University Dublin
Bio-Binder—Innovative Asphalt Technology, Amir Tabakovic
Articles
The global road network spans 16.3 million km [1], of which 5 million km is in the EU. These road networks fulfil major economic and social goals by facilitating the movement of goods and people throughout the EU, and are therefore of the utmost importance to the economic and social life of the EU [2]. National governments invest heavily in their road networks, e.g., in 2014, EUR 53.33 billion was invested in the development and maintenance of the EU road network [3]. Each year, the world produces 1.6 trillion tonnes of asphalt [4], of which 218 million tonnes is produced …
Leveraging Biomimicry And Additive Manufacturing To Improve Load Transfer In Brittle Materials,
2020
University of Arkansas, Fayetteville
Leveraging Biomimicry And Additive Manufacturing To Improve Load Transfer In Brittle Materials, Ana Paula Bernardo
Graduate Theses and Dissertations
With the emergence of Additive Manufacturing (i.e., 3D printing) in construction, new strategically designed shapes can be created to improve load transfer through structural members and foundations. Cross-sections can be optimized to carry load using less material, or even using weaker constituent materials, like soils, which are cheap and abundant. The goal of this research is to investigate the benefits of using cellular patterns which leverage biomimicry in civil engineering applications, since nature has perfectly engineered materials and patterns which carry loads with the least amount of material possible. Most of the periodic cellular work to date has focused on …
Urine Volume Reduction During Long-Duration Cave Exploration By A Light-Weight And Portable Forward Osmosis System,
2020
University of Akron
Urine Volume Reduction During Long-Duration Cave Exploration By A Light-Weight And Portable Forward Osmosis System, Sebastian Engelhardt, Katey E. Bender, Jörg Vogel, Stephen E. Duirk, Francisco B. Moore, Hazel A. Barton
International Journal of Speleology
The preservation of caves is a challenge during long-duration cave expeditions where human waste can add significant nitrogen to the cave ecosystem. Since the removal of urine that accumulates during a multi-day caving trip is not always feasible due to weight and volume constraints, a light-weight and portable filtration system that is capable of reducing urine volume would be desirable. In this study we tested the Aquaporin Inside hollow fiber membrane in a forward osmosis (FO) setup to evaluate its capability to reduce urine volume while rejecting nitrogenous compounds using different draw solution chemistries and water recovery rates. As a …
In Vivo Biosynthesis Of Inorganic Nanomaterials Using Eukaryotes - A Review,
2020
Lamar University
In Vivo Biosynthesis Of Inorganic Nanomaterials Using Eukaryotes - A Review, Ashiqur Rahman, Julia Lin, Francisco E. Jaramillo, Dennis A. Bazylinski, Clayton Jeffryes, Si Amar Dahoumane
Life Sciences Faculty Research
Bionanotechnology, the use of biological resources to produce novel, valuable nanomaterials, has witnessed tremendous developments over the past two decades. This eco-friendly and sustainable approach enables the synthesis of numerous, diverse types of useful nanomaterials for many medical, commercial, and scientific applications. Countless reviews describing the biosynthesis of nanomaterials have been published. However, to the best of our knowledge, no review has been exclusively focused on the in vivo biosynthesis of inorganic nanomaterials. Therefore, the present review is dedicated to filling this gap by describing the many different facets of the in vivo biosynthesis of nanoparticles (NPs) using living eukaryotic …
Investigation Of Neoprene Medical Gloves: Analysis Of Material Properties, Durability, And Bacterial Barrier Efficacy,
2020
University of Connecticut - Storrs
Investigation Of Neoprene Medical Gloves: Analysis Of Material Properties, Durability, And Bacterial Barrier Efficacy, Amanda Agui
Honors Scholar Theses
This work aims to investigate the material properties, durability, and bacterial barrier efficacy of neoprene for applications in the healthcare/medical field. A special focus on material stiffness and fatigue failure will be explored. Additionally, manufacturer regulations and testing will be inspected to ensure medical gloves made of neoprene blends have a proper lifespan for its desired application in the healthcare community. The resistance of protective gloves and its ability to withstand perforation failure will be investigated to guarantee the safety of users holds extreme importance. Lastly, an analysis of the bacterial barrier efficacy of neoprene gloves will be determined.
Development Of Reduced Chemical Kinetic Models For The Numerical Simulation Of Combustion And Emissions Behavior Of Representative Conventional And Bio-Derived Fuels,
2020
California State University, Fresno
Development Of Reduced Chemical Kinetic Models For The Numerical Simulation Of Combustion And Emissions Behavior Of Representative Conventional And Bio-Derived Fuels, Mazen A. Eldeeb
Mineta Transportation Institute
The study addresses two of the main challenges facing combustion modeling for transportation fuels: simultaneous simulation of non-related combustion problems and reducing the computational cost of the modeling process itself. To address the first challenge, researchers determine a characteristic flame time from thermal diffusivity and laminar burning velocity. Researchers examine parametric dependence of flame time and ignition delay time on pressure, temperature and equivalence ratio for methane, based on validated chemical kinetic mechanisms. The study reveals flame time and ignition delay time show similar temperature dependence, flame time has stronger dependence on equivalence ratio and weaker dependence on pressure than …
Size-Dependent Inhibitory Effects Of Antibiotic Nanocarriers On Filamentation Of E. Coli,
2020
Old Dominion University
Size-Dependent Inhibitory Effects Of Antibiotic Nanocarriers On Filamentation Of E. Coli, Preeyaporn Songkiatisak, Feng Ding, Pavan Kumar Cherukuri, Xiao-Hong Nancy Xu
Chemistry & Biochemistry Faculty Publications
Multidrug membrane transporters exist in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells and cause multidrug resistance (MDR), which results in an urgent need for new and more effective therapeutic agents. In this study, we used three different sized antibiotic nanocarriers to study their mode of action and their size-dependent inhibitory effects against Escherichia coli (E. coli). Antibiotic nanocarriers (AgMUNH–Oflx NPs) with 8.6 × 102, 9.4 × 103 and 6.5 × 105 Oflx molecules per nanoparticle (NP) were prepared by functionalizing Ag NPs (2.4 ± 0.7, 13.0 ± 3.1 and 92.6 ± 4.4 nm) with a monolayer …
Co-Assembly Behavior Of Neutral And Zwitterionic Amphiphilic Block Copolymers In The Fabrication Of Glassy Polymer Vesicles,
2020
The University of Southern Mississippi
Co-Assembly Behavior Of Neutral And Zwitterionic Amphiphilic Block Copolymers In The Fabrication Of Glassy Polymer Vesicles, Elina Ghimire
Honors Theses
Polymersomes, also known as polymer vesicles, are hollow capsules fabricated through the solution assembly of amphiphilic block copolymers. Polymer vesicles have garnered a great deal of interest in materials science because of their potential application in areas such as drug delivery, diagnostics and imaging, gene therapy, and as nanoreactors. The goal of this project is to understand the factors that affect the arrangement of triblocks in vesicle membrane via the study of the co-assembly behavior of linear amphiphilic triblocks with different hydrophilic blocks. We investigated the self- and co-assembly behavior of amphiphilic triblock copolymers with neutral hydrophilic blocks. Moreover, we …
Quantifying Wicking In Functionlized Surfaces,
2020
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Quantifying Wicking In Functionlized Surfaces, Maureen Winter, Ryan Regan, Alfred Tsubaki, Craig Zuhlke, Dennis Alexander, George Gogos
UCARE: Research Products
Wicking remains the enigmatic key factor in many research areas. From boiling in power plants, to anti-icing on plane wings, to medical instruments, to heat pipes, efficiency and safety depend on how quickly a surface becomes wet. Yet wicking remains difficult to quantify and define as a property of the surface. This experiment strives to measure the wicking property by examining the rate that a liquid can be pulled out of a container. A superhydrophilic surface is placed in contact with the liquid at the bottom of a tube so that the volume flow rate across the surface can be …
A Novel Self-Healing System: Towards A Sustainable Porous Asphalt,
2020
Delft University of Technology
A Novel Self-Healing System: Towards A Sustainable Porous Asphalt, Shi Xu, Xueyan Liu, Amir Tabakovic, Erik Schlangen
Articles
Self-healing asphalt, aimed to produce a sustainable asphalt pavement using green technology, has been studied in the past two decades. Technologies including encapsulated rejuvenator and induction heating have been proposed, demonstrated in the laboratory, and gradually evaluated in field application. This paper looks into the synergy effect of the above two technologies, where induction heating serves as the asphalt damage repair mechanism, requiring just 2 min heating time and encapsulated rejuvenator will replenish (rejuvenate) aged asphalt binder and reinstate bitumen’s healing ability. Moreover, the increased temperature from induction heating could in turn accelerate the diffusion process of rejuvenator into aged …
Biomimetic Metal-Organic Nanoparticles Prepared With A 3d-Printed Microfluidic Device As A Novel Formulation For Disulfiram-Based Therapy Against Breast Cancer,
2020
Old Dominion University
Biomimetic Metal-Organic Nanoparticles Prepared With A 3d-Printed Microfluidic Device As A Novel Formulation For Disulfiram-Based Therapy Against Breast Cancer, Ya Chang, Jizong Jiang, Wu Chen, Wen Yang, Lili Chen, Pengyu Chen, Jianzhong Shen, Shizhi Qian, Teng Zhou, Linfeng Wu, Liang Hong, Yongzhuo Huang, Feng Li
Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Faculty Publications
Disulfiram (DSF) is currently tested in several clinical trials for cancer treatment in combination with cop-per (Cu) ions. Usually, DSF and Cu are administered in two separate formulations. In the body, DSF andCu ions form diethyldithiocarbamate copper complex [Cu(DDC)2] which has potent antitumor activities.However, the “two formulation” approach often achieved low Cu(DDC)2 concentration at tumor regions and resulted in compromised anticancer efficacy. Therefore, preformed Cu(DDC)2 complex administered in a single formulation will have better anticancer efficacy. However, the poor aqueous solubility of Cu(DDC)2 is a significant challenge for its clinical use. In this work, a …
