Digital Commons Network^™

Heat's Effect On Asphalt Binders Using Nmr, Kaitlin Miles

Undergraduate Research Conference at Missouri S&T

Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy is a well-known analytical technique that uses the excitation of nuclear spins for solving chemical structures and conformations. Relaxometry is a special field of NMR spectroscopy where information is gained about interactions of 100 nuclear spins with their molecular surroundings. The deterioration of asphalt is a major infrastructure problem, and its rejuvenation back toward its original virgin state is an important field of research and development. The current asphalt industry relies on visual inspection on site and invasive or destructive physical methods to assess emerging asphalt failures. This study examines the chemical changes environmental factors …

Effect Of Heat On Virgin And Uv-Aged Asphalt Binders Determined By Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Relaxometry, Kaitlin Miles

Undergraduate Research Conference at Missouri S&T

Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy is a well-known analytical technique that uses the excitation of nuclear spins for solving chemical structures and conformations. Relaxometry is a special field of NMR spectroscopy where information is gained about interactions of nuclear spins with their molecular surroundings. The deterioration of asphalt is a major infrastructure problem, and its rejuvenation back toward its original virgin state is an important field of research and development. The current asphalt industry relies on visual inspection on site and invasive or destructive physical methods to assess emerging asphalt failures. This study examines the chemical changes environmental factors have …

The Search For The Akwamu People In The Americas, 1729-1733, Ben Brown, Justin Pope

Undergraduate Research Conference at Missouri S&T

This Poster presentation attempts to trace the journey of one nation of Africans into the Americas. In 1729, the Akwamu Empire, in modern day Ghana, West Africa, suffered a terrible collapse. Rival African armies enslaved thousands of Akwamu subjects and sold them to European slavers on the Gold Coast. This nation later led the biggest island wide slave revolt prior to the age of revolution in the Americas. Using primary and secondary resources such as the "Transatlantic Slave Trade Database," we will attempt to identify the European slave ships that purchased enslaved Akwamu people and trace their journey into the …

Quantifying Asphalt Binder Uv Effects With Relaxometry, Rosalee Brown

Undergraduate Research Conference at Missouri S&T

Asphalt deterioration involves many physical and chemical changes caused by environmental factors such as automotive strain, extreme heat, and UV exposure. Asphalt binder assessment in the industry is currently based on structurally destructive testing methods and tests of physical performance without accounting for chemical structure. An emerging evaluation of asphalt binder uses relaxometry, a field of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, to directly observe how asphalt binder is changed by causes of deterioration such as UV exposure. NMR relaxometry explores nuclear spins' interactions with their environment. This noninvasive method can provide a detailed view into the chemical environment of virgin …

Development Of Colpitts Self Oscillator, Jasmin Billingsley

Undergraduate Research Conference at Missouri S&T

Topological materials can serve as promising platforms for next-generation technology. Magnetism in such systems is often a consequence of emergent quantum phenomena, and the traditional framework is insufficient to fully describe their magnetic properties. In this project, we will perform precision magnetic measurements utilizing the Colpitts self-oscillator to determine the temperature- and field-dependent AC magnetic susceptibility in the topological magnetic materials. The collective knowledge learned from this proposed research would shed light on the understanding of exotic magnetism in topological materials, potentially leading to new physics of magnetism.

Development Of Colpitts Self Oscillator For Measurement Of Magnetic And Superconducting Properties, Jasmine Billingsley

Undergraduate Research Conference at Missouri S&T

Topological materials can serve as promising platforms for next-generation technology. Magnetism in such systems is often a consequence of emergent quantum phenomena, and the traditional framework is insufficient to fully describe their magnetic properties. In this project, we will perform precision magnetic measurements utilizing the Colpitts self-oscillator to determine the temperature- and field-dependent AC magnetic susceptibility in the topological magnetic materials. The collective knowledge learned from this proposed research would shed light on the understanding of exotic magnetism in topological materials, potentially leading to new physics of magnetism.

Iron Doped Zeolitic Materials For Propane Dehydrogenation Catalyst, Emily Cahill, Amitava Choudhury

Undergraduate Research Conference at Missouri S&T

This research describes the synthesis of iron-doped zeolitic catalysts for the transformation of propane to propylene. The goal of this research is to develop a dehydrogenation catalyst to convert shale-gas derived cheap propane feedstock to economically valuable propylene, while at the same time making this catalyst sustainable and non-toxic to the environment. Fedoped zeolitic frameworks have shown promising activity in percentage of conversion and in selectivity. In our study we analyzed zeolites ZSM-5 and AIP0-5. These were chosen because they have differences in pore structure , channel sizes, and connectivity between channels. Most importantly the differences in the chemistry as …

Cytokinesis And Dbf2, Katharine Gray, Katie Shannon

Undergraduate Research Conference at Missouri S&T

During cell division, the cytoplasm must be divided between the parent and daughter cell. The Mitotic Exit Network (MEN) is a signaling pathway that allows a dividing cell to exit mitosis and complete cytokinesis. Obf2 is a MEN protein kinase in yeast, which provides a simplified model for studying this conserved pathway. By regulating Dbf2s' activity through phosphorylation mutants, its effect on cytokinesis can be studied. Cells were viewed under a microscope, to visualize division errors. Yeast cells that fail to complete cytokinesis will form chains, as the budding daughter cells fail to separate from their parents. Chains of 3 …

Laser Ablation Pulsing On A Cp-Ftmw, Harrison Hawxby

Undergraduate Research Conference at Missouri S&T

The goal of this research is to study metal containing molecules in the gas phase for structural determination. In order to do this, a metal rod that is turning on a 12V motor is struck by a Nd:YAG laser. Rotational spectra were recorded on a chirped-pulse Fourier transform microwave spectrometer (CP-FTMW) with laser ablation sourcing. Along the way, maintenance on the setup was required, new code was written to accommodate for new problems, as well as production and parametrization of the gas to optimize signal.

Effect Of Morphology As A Function Of The K-Index On The Drug Loading And Release Profiles In Polyurea And Poly(Isocyanurate-Urethane) Aerogels, Kamden J. George, Stephen Y. Owusu, Chariklia Sotiriou-Leventis

Undergraduate Research Conference at Missouri S&T

This study explores the potential to predict the drug loading and release profiles of aerogels based on their morphologies: a milestone in drug delivery research which can help save time and cost invested in formulating new aerogel drug carriers and cut-down evaluation of the drug delivery capabilities of aerogels to a few experimental runs. Polyurea (PUA) and poly (isocyanurate-urethane) (PIR-PUR) aerogels were used as model systems while 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and paracetamol (PM) were used as model drugs. These model systems were chosen because they can be synthesized into different morphologies identified by the so-called K-index (contact angle:porosity). The model drugs …

Killing Cancer: Manipulating Hydrophobic Vanadium Complexes To Improve Anti-Cancer Activity, Levi Ausherman, Debbie C. Crans, Peter A. Lay, Maggi Braasch-Turi

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

Hydrophobic vanadium complexes have recently shown improved anti-cancer activities compared to cisplatin. The hydrophobicity and anti-proliferative activity of [VO(Hshed)(dtb)] ([Hshed= N-(salicylideneaminato)-N’-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1,2-ethanediamine and dtb= 3,5-di(tert-butyl)catechol)]) have inspired the development of a library of hydrophobic vanadium complexes. Increasing the steric bulk of the catechol ligand has been shown to have a direct impact on hydrophobicity and anti-proliferative activities. Currently at Fort Hays State University, the Braasch-Turi group is synthesizing VO(HSHED)(dtb) to build up material to support the chemical analysis and biological assay performed by our collaborators at Colorado State University and the University of Sydney, Australia, respectively. In the future, we plan …

Investigation Of Temporal Variation In Sediment Deposition Within The Tropical Wouri Estuary Cameroon Using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy, Olumide Ajulo, Dr. Henry Agbogun, Dr. Hendratta Ali

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

In this study, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) was employed to qualitatively analyze organic and mineral components of the sediment core collected from the Wouri Estuary. The FTIR spectra revealed distinct transmittance corresponding to different organic and mineral phases, allowing for the characterization of sediment composition. The FTIR spectra showed changes and variation progressively from the bottom to the top. These sediments are proxies for time this can be inferred to say deposition in the Wouri Estuary has always changed.

Ultrasoft Platelet-Like Particles Stop Bleeding In Rodent And Porcine Models Of Trauma, Kimberly Nellenbach, Emily Mihalko, Seema Nandi, Drew W. Koch, Jagathpala Shetty, Leandra Moretti, Jennifer Sollinger, Nina Moiseiwitsch, Ana Sheridan, Sanika Pandit, Maureane Hoffman, Lauren V. Schnabel, L. Andrew Lyon, Thomas H. Barker, Ashley C. Brown

Engineering Faculty Articles and Research

Uncontrolled bleeding after trauma represents a substantial clinical problem. The current standard of care to treat bleeding after trauma is transfusion of blood products including platelets; however, donated platelets have a short shelf life, are in limited supply, and carry immunogenicity and contamination risks. Consequently, there is a critical need to develop hemostatic platelet alternatives. To this end, we developed synthetic platelet-like particles (PLPs), formulated by functionalizing highly deformable microgel particles composed of ultralow cross-linked poly (N-isopropylacrylamide) with fibrin-binding ligands. The fibrin-binding ligand was designed to target to wound sites, and the cross-linking of fibrin polymers was designed …

Unlocking Nature’S Code: Design Principles For Cooperativity In Multi-Electron Redox Processes, Mariona Garcia Dalmases, Alexis Telford, Courtney Young

Undergraduate Research Conference

No abstract provided.

An Undergraduate Laboratory Module Integrating Organic Chemistry And Polymer Science, Arya Patel, Michael Arik, Amrita Sarkar

Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

Polymer science is receiving wider acceptance in the organic chemistry community; thus, it is imperative to include it in the undergraduate organic chemistry curriculum. Despite the ever-increasing popularity of the topic of polymer chemistry in undergraduate curricula, a comprehensive laboratory experiment module describing a polypeptide synthesis by ring-opening polymerization of N-carboxyanhydride (NCA ROP) and a homopolymer synthesis by activators-regenerated by electron-transfer for atom transfer radical polymerization (ARGET ATRP) has yet to be proposed. Herein, we report a semester-long, ten week undergraduate laboratory module focusing on the synthesis and analytical characterization of polyalanine and polystyrene for an advanced organic chemistry class. …

Unlocking The Secret To Weight Loss: Discovering The Most Effective Green Tea Products, Seoyeon Kim

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

To find the most effective green tea product that can replace

weight loss drugs, we compared the amount of catechin in six

different green tea products. The result was green tea latte

powder contained a significantly small amount of catechin

compared to other products, and the dried pearl green tea leaves

had the highest amount of catechin. Also, the unexpected result

was that green tea supplements had less amount of catechin

compared to dried leaves or even tea bags that are commonly

sold in markets.

The Development Of An Electrochemistry Experiment For Analytical Chemistry, Kaitlin Hickman

2024 Student Academic Showcase

The analytical chemistry course at Lindenwood University discusses the use of electrochemistry as part of the course curriculum. Much of the course content has practical lab experiments that teach the students the skills that they need if they enter the workforce as analytical chemists. The current lab curriculum does not have an experiment in electrochemistry. Dr. Delgado and Ms. Hickman are working on the redesign of an experiment that was intended for a physical chemistry class as a new lab that uses available technology and analytical techniques that can be written for the use in future semesters of the analytical …

Apigenin Alleviates Autistic-Like Stereotyped Repetitive Behaviors And Mitigates Brain Oxidative Stress In Mice, Petrilla Jayaprakash, Dmytro Isaev, Keun-Hang Susan Yang, Rami Beiram, Murat Oz, Bassem Sadek

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

Studying the involvement of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs), specifically α7-nAChRs, in neuropsychiatric brain disorders such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has gained a growing interest. The flavonoid apigenin (APG) has been confirmed in its pharmacological action as a positive allosteric modulator of α7-nAChRs. However, there is no research describing the pharmacological potential of APG in ASD. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of the subchronic systemic treatment of APG (10–30 mg/kg) on ASD-like repetitive and compulsive-like behaviors and oxidative stress status in the hippocampus and cerebellum in BTBR mice, utilizing the reference drug aripiprazole (ARP, 1 …

Extraction Of Sandalwood Essential Oil: Isolating Α/Β-Santalol, Maeren Horton

Dr. Jay W. Boland Undergraduate Research Symposium [2023-2024]

Sandalwood oil is a high-value essential oil extracted from the heartwood of East Indian Sandalwood (Santalum album) and Australian Sandalwood (Santalum Spicatum) and is prominent in numerous luxury perfume brands due to its exotic, versatile, and pleasant fragrance. α-Santalol, the main aromatic constituent in S. album and S. spicatum, exhibits anti-aging, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and potential anti-cancer properties, accounting for the oil’s medicinal and dermatologic applications. High demand of the oil resulted in excessive harvesting of sandalwood trees, necessitating a need to develop more efficient and sustainable extraction methods. This study investigates the efficiency of traditional extraction methods of sandalwood oil …

Examination Of The Effects Of Ultraviolet Radiation On The Toxicity Of An Array Of Pesticides, Polyaromatic Hydrocarbons, And Pharmaceuticals Via In-Vitro Bioassays, Jessica R. Stephens

LSU Master's Theses

Chemicals are often released via anthropogenic means both intentionally and unintentionally into aquatic environments. The chemical fate of these compounds can vary greatly depending on numerous factors that can include but are not limited to salinity, pH, dissolved oxygen, and exposure to ultraviolet radiation. The goal of this study was to investigate the effect of UV radiation on the level of toxicity of different chemicals over time. Chemicals were selected based on previous studies of the toxicity of both parent and metabolites formed as a result of photolysis. Anthracene, phenanthrene, anthraquinone, dicloran, chlorothalonil, hydroxy chlorothalonil, benzobicyclon hydrolysate, and sertraline were …

Structural, Spectroscopic, And Computational Insights From Canavanine-Bound And Two Catalytically Compromised Variants Of The Ethylene-Forming Enzyme, Shramana Chatterjee, Matthias Fellner, Joel A. Rankin, Midhun George Thomas, Simahudeen Bathir Jaber Sathik Rifayee, Christo Christov, Jian Hu, Robert P. Hausinger

Michigan Tech Publications

The ethylene-forming enzyme (EFE) is an Fe(II), 2-oxoglutarate (2OG), and l-arginine (l-Arg)-dependent oxygenase that either forms ethylene and three CO2/bicarbonate from 2OG or couples the decarboxylation of 2OG to C5 hydroxylation of l-Arg. l-Arg binds with C5 toward the metal center, causing 2OG to change from monodentate to chelate metal interaction and OD1 to OD2 switch of D191 metal coordination. We applied anaerobic UV-visible spectroscopy, X-ray crystallography, and computational approaches to three EFE systems with high-resolution structures. The ineffective l-Arg analogue l-canavanine binds to the EFE with O5 pointing away from the metal center while promoting chelate formation by 2OG …

Two New Catalysts For Oxidation Of Water To Oxygen, Takia Sultana

LSU Master's Theses

If fuels, such as hydrogen or methanol, are to be produced from renewable energy (solar or wind) in the future, efficient catalysts will be needed, not only for fuel production reactions but for the essential simultaneous oxidation of water to O₂. Ruthenium complexes are among the more promising water oxidation catalysts (WOCs). Two new isomeric ruthenium WOCs have been prepared based on the benzylpyridyltriazole ligand (Figure 3); trans-py-[Ru(tpy)(bpt)(H₂O)]²⁺ (trans-py-1) and trans-trz-[Ru(tpy)(bpt)(H₂O)]²⁺ (trans-trz-1) (tpy = 2,2’:6’,2’’-terpyridine, bpt = benzylpyridyltriazole). Ceric ammonium nitrate [(CAN)/Ce(IV)] oxidants were …

Applied Depositional Geosystems Of The Coos Bay Basin, Oregon: Organic Geochemistry, Maturation, Paleoenvironmental Reconstruction And Biostratigraphy Of The Coaledo Delta During The Middle Eocene Climatic Optimum (Meco), Allison K. Barbato

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The Coos Bay Basin on the southwestern coast of Oregon is a forearc basin that contains exceptionally preserved Eocene to Miocene, tidal to wave-dominated, shallow deltaic to deep marine sediments of the Coaledo Delta. Coastal depositional environments are known to host source, reservoir, and seal rocks. Climate, topographic relief, and geographical position all play an important role in regional vegetation development and oceanic setting. This study assesses 84 outcrop and 12 core samples from Coos Bay for their organic geochemical characteristics and microfossil assemblage to provide source rock characterization information, organofacies descriptions, environmental reconstructions, and age control.

Results indicate the …

Thermal Frontal Polymerization – Applications In Coatings And Composites, Maria Martinez

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Thermal frontal polymerization has long been used as a method to cure composites and coatings. However, this is the first time these applications have been used without the use of a catalyst, for the case of composites and coatings.

Chapter 2 discusses how to optimize cure-on-demand, thin layer coatings, using frontal polymerization. Previously, for the use of curing thin layer coating using thermal FP, it was known to just make the formulation viscous enough, as this would prevent premature quenching caused by heat loss. It was discovered that for a given layer thickness, a minimum viscosity and initiator concentration were …

Green Oxidation Of Aromatic Hydrazide Derivatives Using An Oxoammonium Salt, Nidheesh Phadnis, Jessica A. Molen, Shannon M. Stephens, Shayne M. Weierbach, Kyle M. Lambert, John A. Milligan

College of Life Sciences Faculty Papers

Aromatic diazenes are often prepared by oxidation of the corresponding hydrazides using stoichiometric quantities of nonrecyclable oxidants. We developed a convenient alternative protocol for the oxidation of aromatic hydrazides using Bobbitt's salt (1), a metal-free, recyclable, and commercially available oxoammonium reagent. A variety of aryl hydrazides were oxidized within 75 min at room temperature using the developed protocol. Computational insight suggests that this oxidation occurs by a polar hydride transfer mechanism.

Broad-Spectrum Lignin-Based Adhesives Using Thiol–Silyl Ether Crosslinkers, Yishayah Bension, Siteng Zhang, Tristan Menninger, Ting Ge, Chuanbing Tang

Faculty Publications

Lignin is a renewable feedstock that is abundant and inexpensive but still presents challenges for its valorization. In this work, we converted functionalized lignin into broad-spectrum adhesives using thiol–silyl ether crosslinkers. The curing behavior of adhesives was investigated via rheology of their resin forms. These materials exhibit good adhesion on diverse substrates, including wood, glass, steel, aluminium, carbon fiber, and different plastics, with the most adhesion strength in the range of 1–3 MPa. These adhesives were also explored for applications, ranging from wet conditions to different mechanically responsive materials. The mechanism of adhesion was further examined to understand the bonding …

Advanced Electroanalysis For Electrosynthesis, Monica Brachi, Wassim El Housseini, Kevin Beaver, Rohit Jadhav, Ashwini Dantanarayana, Dylan G. Boucher, Shelley D. Minteer

Chemistry Faculty Research & Creative Works

Electrosynthesis is a Popular, Environmentally Friendly Substitute for Conventional Organic Methods. It Involves using Charge Transfer to Stimulate Chemical Reactions through the Application of a Potential or Current between Two Electrodes. in Addition to Electrode Materials and the Type of Reactor Employed, the Strategies for Controlling Potential and Current Have an Impact on the Yields, Product Distribution, and Reaction Mechanism. in This Review, Recent Advances Related to Electroanalysis Applied in Electrosynthesis Were Discussed. the First Part of This Study Acts as a Guide that Emphasizes the Foundations of Electrosynthesis. These Essentials Include Instrumentation, Electrode Selection, Cell Design, and Electrosynthesis Methodologies. …

Chiral Recognition Of Chiral (Hetero)Cyclic Derivatives Probed By Tetraaza Macrocyclic Chiral Solvating Agents Via ¹H Nmr Spectroscopy, Yu Wang, Hongmei Zhao, Chunxia Yang, Lixia Fang, Li Zheng, Hehua Lv, Pericles Stavropoulos, Lin Ai, Jiaxin Zhang

Chemistry Faculty Research & Creative Works

In the Field of Chiral Recognition, Chiral Cyclic Organic Compounds, Especially Heterocyclic Organic Compounds, Have Attracted Little Attention and Have Been Rarely Studied as Chiral Substrates by Means of 1H NMR Spectroscopy. in This Paper, Enantiomers of Thiohydantoin Derivatives, Representing Typical Five-Membered N,N-Heterocycles, Have Been Synthesized and Utilized for Assignment of Absolute Configuration and Analysis of Enantiomeric Excess. All Enantiomers Have Been Successfully Differentiated with the Assistance of Novel Tetraaza Macrocyclic Chiral Solvating Agents (TAMCSAs) by 1H NMR Spectroscopy. Surprisingly, Unprecedented Nonequivalent Chemical Shift Values (Up to 2.052 Ppm) of the NH Proton of Substrates Have Been Observed, a New …

Group Iv Topological Quantum Alloy And The Role Of Short-Range Order: The Case Of Ge-Rich Ge1–XPbX, Yunfan Liang, Shunda Chen, Xiaochen Jin, Damien West, Shui-Qing Yu, Tianshu Li, Shengbai Zhang

Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Faculty Publications and Presentations

Despite the explosion of interest in topological materials over the last decades, their applications remain limited due to challenges in growth and incorporation with today’s microelectronics. As a potential bridge to close this gap, we investigate the group-IV alloy Ge_1–xPb_x, in the Ge-rich condition using density functional theory and show that relatively low concentrations of Pb (~9.4%) can lead to a topological phase transition. Furthermore, the calculation of the Z₂ invariant for both the random alloy and the alloy with short-range order (SRO) indicate that the topological phase of the material can be directly modified …

Activated Carbon Derived From Cucumber Peel For Use As A Supercapacitor Electrode Material, Meruyert Nazhipkyzy, Gulim Kurmanbayeva, Aigerim Seitkazinova, Esin Apaydın Varol, Wanlu Li, Balaussa Dinistanova, Almagul Issanbekova, Togzhan Mashan

Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

Biowaste conversion into activated carbon is a sustainable and inexpensive approach that relieves the pressure on its disposal. Here, we prepared micro-mesoporous activated carbons (ACs) from cucumber peels through carbonization at 600 °C followed by thermal activation at different temperatures. The ACs were tested as supercapacitors for the first time. The carbon activated at 800 °C (ACP-800) showed a high specific capacitance value of 300 F/g at a scan rate of 5 mV/s in the cyclic voltammetry and 331 F/g at the current density of 0.1 A/g in the galvanostatic charge–discharge analysis. At the current density of 1 A/g, the …