Digital Commons Network^™

Context And Content Of Teaching Conversations: Exploring How To Promote Sharing Of Innovative Teaching Knowledge Between Science Faculty, Brittnee Earl, Karl Mertens, Susan E. Shadle, John P. Ziker

Chemistry and Biochemistry Faculty Publications and Presentations

Background: Change strategies may leverage interpersonal relationships and conversations to spread teaching innovations among science faculty. Knowledge sharing refers to the process by which individuals transfer information and thereby spread innovative ideas within an organization. We use knowledge sharing as a lens for identifying factors that encourage productive teaching-related conversations between individuals, characterizing the context and content of these discussions, and understanding how peer interactions may shape instructional practices. In this study, we interview 19 science faculty using innovative teaching practices about the teaching-focused conversations they have with diferent discussion partners.

Results: This qualitative study describes characteristics of the relationship …

Kinetics, Products, And Brown Carbon Formation By Aqueous-Phase Reactions Of Glycolaldehyde With Atmospheric Amines And Ammonium Sulfate, David O. De Haan, Alyssa A. Rodriguez, Michael A. Rafla, Hannah G. Welsh, Elyse A. Pennington, Jason R. Casar, Lelia N. Hawkins, Natalie G. Jimenez, Alexia De Loera, Devoun R. Stewart, Antonio Rojas, Matthew-Khoa Tran, Peng Lin, Alexander Laskin, Paola Formenti, Mathieu Cazaunau, Edouard Pangui, Jean-François Doussin

Chemistry and Biochemistry: Faculty Scholarship

Glycolaldehyde (GAld) is a C₂ water-soluble aldehyde produced during the atmospheric oxidation of isoprene and many other species and is commonly found in cloudwater. Previous work has established that glycolaldehyde evaporates more readily from drying aerosol droplets containing ammonium sulfate (AS) than does glyoxal, methylglyoxal, or hydroxyacetone, which implies that it does not oligomerize as quickly as these other species. Here, we report NMR measurements of glycolaldehyde’s aqueous-phase reactions with AS, methylamine, and glycine. Reaction rate constants are smaller than those of respective glyoxal and methylglyoxal reactions in the pH range of 3–6. In follow-up cloud chamber experiments, deliquesced …

Advanced Insights Regarding Both Micro- And Macro-Molecules In Various Environments: Showcasing The Local Mode Theory As A Powerful Tool., Alexis A. A. Delgado

Chemistry Theses and Dissertations

A majority of the research featured in my dissertation has involved the derivation of direct quantitative measures of intrinsic strength from quantum chemical calculations of molecular systems. In my works I applied Local Vibrational Mode Theory (LVMT) to 1) transform normal modes to local modes, via the elimination of all mode-mode coupling, to obtain local mode force constants (i.e. direct measures of intrinsic strength), 2) in combination with the Unified Reaction Valley Approach, unravel detailed information about bond breaking/formation processes that occur along a reaction, and 3) decompose individual normal modes into percentages of local mode contributions. This dissertation encompasses …

Green Approach For Iron Oxide Nanoparticles Synthesis: Application In Antimicrobial And Anticancer- An Updated Review, Norul Aini Zakariya, Wan Hafizah W. Jusof, Shahnaz Majeed

Karbala International Journal of Modern Science

Cancer and microbial infections create numerous challenges nowadays. Chemotherapy agents cause severe side effects, while microbial infections, especially multidrug-resistant bacterial strains hard to treat with available antibiotics. Therefore, this review provides an overview of the green synthesis of Iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) with their physicochemical properties and mechanism of action . The IONPs causes cytotoxicity and antimicrobial activity by causing oxidative distress through the production of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS). The IONPs as an anticancer and antimicrobial agent may help to overcome the limitation of conventional treatments but needs toxicity evaluation before usage in clinical applications.

A High Yield Method For Protoplast Isolation And Ease Detection Of Rol B And C Genes In The Hairy Roots Of Cauliflower (Brassica Oleracea L.) Inoculated With Agrobacterium Rhizogenes, Qutaiba Shuaib Al-Nema, Ghazwan Qasim Hasan, Omar Abdulazeez Alhamd

Karbala International Journal of Modern Science

Protoplasts represent a unique experimental system for the circulation and formation of genetically modified plants. Here, protoplasts were isolated from genetically modified hairy root tissues of Brassica oleracea L. induced by the Agrobacterium rhizogenes strain (ATCC13332). The concentration of enzyme solutions utilized for protoplast isolation was 1.5 % Cellulase YC and 0.1 % Pectolyase Y23 in 13% mannitol solution, which resulted in high efficiency of isolation within 8 hours, in which the protoplast yield was 2 × 104 cells ml-1 and the percentage of viability was 72%. Each protoplast has one nucleus with a nucleation of 48%. A polymerase chain …

Relationships Of Magnetic Properties And Heavy Metals Content Of Guano In Bat Cave, South Sulawesi, Indonesia, Muhammad Arsyad, Vistarani Arini Tiwow, Meytij Jeanne Rampe, Henny Lieke Rampe

Karbala International Journal of Modern Science

Bat Cave is one of the caves with guano deposits in the Rammang-Rammang karst area, South Sulawesi, Indonesia. The guano deposits can indicate environmental changes in the cave. This study aims to analyze the magnetic properties and correlation between magnetic susceptibility and heavy metal content in guano. Sampling was carried out in Bat Cave, South Sulawesi, Indonesia, and magnetic susceptibility, XRD (mineralogy analysis), and XRF (heavy metal content analysis) were measured. The results showed that the guano sample contained superparamagnetic grains and stable single domain (SP-SSD) measuring -8m³/kg. The location of caves in karst areas and climate change …

Tapioca Starch In The Sol-Gel Synthesis Of Cobalt Ferrites With Divalent Cation Substitutions, Anuchit Hunyek, Chitnarong Sirisathitkul, Krit Koyvanich

Karbala International Journal of Modern Science

An aqueous solution of tapioca starch was successfully used as a chelating agent in the sol-gel synthesis of Co0.7Me0.3Fe2O4, where Me denotes Co, Mn, Cu, Ni, or Zn. The hysteresis loops of all sintered ferrites revealed ferrimagnetic properties. The saturation magnetization was reduced in Co0.7Cu0.3Fe2O4 and Co0.7Ni0.3Fe2O4 because of the ion substitutions with smaller magnetic moments. Interestingly, Co0.7Cu0.3Fe2O4 exhibited the highest saturation magnetization and the lowest coercive field. This result demonstrates the value addition of local agricultural products in controlling nanoparticle formation during sol-gel synthesis.

Investigating The Nuclear Properties Of 162-172 Er Isotopes Using Ibm-1, Sef, And Nee, Amal M. Al-Nuaimi, R.B. Alkhayat, Mushtaq Abed Al-Jubbori

Karbala International Journal of Modern Science

The energy levels of the ground state band (GSB), , and γ-bands for 162-172Er isotopes are calculated in this work by adopting the Interacting Boson Model (IBM-1), the Semi-Empirical Formula (SEF) and the New Empirical Equation (NEE). The GSB, , and γ-bands results revealed that IBM-1, SEF, NEE, and the available experimental data are all in agreement with certain variations. The NEE is more compatible with the experimental data than the IBM-1 and SEF calculations. This study demonstrates that the SEF and NEE equations are able to describe the energy spectra of Er isotopes in comparison to IBM-1. The Er …

Antimicrobial And Cytotoxic Properties Of Extracts From Over-Seasoned Worm-Casts Of The Earthworm Hyperiodrilus Africanus Beddard, 1891, Stephen Olugbemiga Owa, David Adeiza Otohinoyi, Theresa Ibibia Edewor-Ikupoyi, Adeolu Adeola Taiwo, Jenifer Akhere Okosun, Yvonne Oluchi Akujobi, Damilola Grace Oyewale, Tomilola Debby Olaolu, Damilare Emmanuel Rotimi, Osarenkhoe Omorefosa Osemwegie, Oluyomi Stephen Adeyemi

Karbala International Journal of Modern Science

⦁ Background: Despite the continuous interest in the search for therapeutic agents, little attention has been given to the medicinal relevance of earthworm casts, with even less interest in over-seasoned worm-casts. Therefore, this study determined the phytochemical, antimicrobial, and cytotoxic properties of over-seasoned worm-casts of the earthworm Hyperiodrilus africanus (Eudrilidae). Methods: The earthworm casts were extracted with n-hexane, ethanol, and water and the crude extracts were evaluated for the presence of chemical constituents and antimicrobial properties. Cytotoxicity was inferred from the antimitotic effects of the extracts on the radicles of germinating seeds of Sorghum bicolor. Results: The chemical constituent determinations …

A Review On The Ethnobotanical, Phytochemistry, And Pharmacological Activities Of Aristolochia Longa L., Oluwafemi Adeleke Ojo, Matthew Iyobhebhe, Bukola Atunwa, Adebola Busola Ojo

Karbala International Journal of Modern Science

Aristolochia longa L. is a plant native to Algeria and Morocco that has been used by the locals to combat different arrays of infections and diseases found among them. This particular plant is well-known for its therapeutic qualities that could be traced back to the presence of many effective phytochemicals that have been extrapolated from the different parts of the plant, like the leaves and roots: flavonoids, saponins, tannins, 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, β-carotenes, limonenes, and palmitic acids. This plant has been identified in different research articles to be able to manage diseases effectively because it possesses some pharmacological attributes such as; …

Applicability Limits Of The End Face Fiber-Optic Gas Concentration Sensor, Based On Fabry-Perot Interferometer, S.M.R.H. Hussein, A.Zh. Sakhabutdinov, O.G. Morozov, V.I. Anfinogentov, J.A. Tunakova, A.R. Shagidullin, A.A. Kuznetsov, K.A. Lipatnikov, A.R. Nasybullin

Karbala International Journal of Modern Science

The mathematical model of the fiber-optic sensor for gas concentration analysis is under study. The sensor is imple-mented as Fabry-Perot interferometer at the end face of the optical fiber by applying a thin polymer film, which permit-tivity depends on the tested gas concentration. It is shown, that a change in the properties of the optical fiber or the at-mosphere permittivity leads mainly to the spectrum contrast changing and does not change the period and the wave-length shift of its comb. The influence of the polymer film thickness, the environment temperature and humidity on the Fabry-Perot spectrum is analyzed. The necessity …

Molecular Docking Reveals Phytoconstituents Of The Methanol Extract From Muntingia Calabura As Promising Α-Glucosidase Inhibitors, Nurlena Andalia, Muhammad N. Salim, Nurdin Saidi, Muhammad Ridhwan, Muhammad Iqhrammullah, Ummu Balqis

Karbala International Journal of Modern Science

Inhibition of α-glucosidase has been used as a management of type 2 diabetes mellitus, where studies are focused on finding more efficacious and safe drugs. Herein, the research aimed to unveil the potential of phytoconstituents contained in methanol extract of Muntingia calabura leaves in inhibiting α-glucosidase through molecular docking simulation. From a systematic search (Scopus), we found 5 eligible articles and identified 28 phytocompounds. Fisetin, pinostrobin, and rhamnetin identified in M. calabura extract were predicted to have good bioavailability. Finally, fisetin was revealed as the most potential α-glucosidase inhibitor candidate with a binding affinity of -7.5 kcal/mol.

A Natural Deep Eutectic Solvent - Protonated L-Proline-Xylitol - Based Stationary Phase For Gas Chromatography, Malwina Momotko, Justyna Łuczak, Andrzej Przyjazny, Grzegorz Boczkaj

Natural Sciences Publications

The paper presents a new kind of stationary phase for gas chromatography based on deep eutectic solvents (DES) in the form of a mixture of L-proline (protonated with hydrochloric acid) as a hydrogen bond acceptor (HBA) and xylitol as a hydrogen bond donor (HBD) in a molar ratio of HBA:HBD 5:1. DES immobilized on a silanized chromatographic support was tested by gas chromatography (GC) in order to determine its resolving power for volatile organic compounds. Studies have demonstrated the suitability of this type of DES as a stationary phase for GC. The Rohrschneider-McReynolds constants were determined for the synthesized DES, …

Mercury Methylation Potentials In Sediments Of An Ancient Cypress Wetland Using Species-Specific Isotope Dilution Gc-Icp-Ms, Derek D. Bussan, Chris Douvris, James V. Cizdziel

Faculty and Student Publications

Wetlands are of a considerable environmental value as they provide food and habitat for plants and animals. Several important chemical transformations take place in wetland media, including the conversion of inorganic mercury (Hg) to monomethylmercury (MeHg), a toxic compound with a strong tendency for bioconcentration. Considering the fact that wetlands are hotspots for Hg methylation, we investigated, for the first time, Hg methylation and demethylation rates in an old growth cypress wetland at Sky Lake in the Mississippi Delta. The Sky Lake ecosystem undergoes large-scale water level fluctuations causing alternating periods of oxic and anoxic conditions in the sediment. These …

Self-Assembling Peptides: From Fundamental Design To Therapeutic Applications, Weike Chen

Chemistry & Biochemistry Dissertations - Archive

Supramolecular peptide-based biomaterials have attracted much attention from researchers in various science and engineering fields because of the ease of synthesis and precise control over structures and physicochemical properties on multiple length levels. Self-assembled peptides have shown great potential as functional biomaterials for both diagnosis and treatment of various diseases. In Chapter 1, I will introduce several self-assembled peptide systems in terms of molecular design, structure characterization, and their biological applications. In particular, I will discuss new peptide self-assemblies with trigger-responsive properties for targeted molecular imaging and therapy. In Chapter 2, I will focus on peptide self-assembly that can target …

Computational Materials Chemistry: From Polymer Precursors To Ceramics And High-Pressure Materials, Shariq Haseen

Chemistry & Biochemistry Dissertations - Archive

With advances in computing power, the field of computational chemistry has flourished. Using current computational resources, atomistic simulations of billion atoms and trillions of atoms have been performed. Computational techniques can be used to support experimental investigations into new materials as well as independently predict the existence of new materials. Furthermore, computational techniques are becoming instrumental in investigations. This work is split into two parts. Part I focuses on high-pressure and materials chemistry. We investigate the cristobalite-rutile transformation for SiO2, GeO2, and TiO2, and predict conditions at which cristobalite-GeO2 and cristobalite-TiO2 may be synthesized (Chapter 1), we provide supporting calculations …

Stimuli-Responsive Peptide Self-Assembly For Therapeutic Delivery, Su Yang

Chemistry & Biochemistry Dissertations - Archive

Peptide self-assembly offers an effective method to generate supramolecular nanomaterials with much higher stability than traditional monomeric peptides. The materials exhibit well-organized hierarchical structures and high resistance toward proteolysis and have been utilized extensively in various biomedical applications. Furthermore, due to the prevalence of non-covalent interactions, these structures are highly dynamic. The dynamic nature is beneficial for the design and synthesis of smart, trigger-responsive peptide selfassembly under specific stimulus, in particular various stimuli associated with disease conditions. In Chapter 1, I will introduce different types of peptide building blocks used for the construction of peptide self-assembly. I will further discuss …

Alkylthiocarbamate Metal Complexes With Antiproliferation Activity., Kritika Bajaj

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Bis(thiosemicarbazones) (BTSCs) and their metal complexes have been extensively studied for various applications including catalysis for hydrogen evolution reactions, treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, hypoxia imaging, and a wide range of pharmacological purposes including antitumor, antiviral, antibacterial, and antifungal agents. The paramount property that makes BTSC metal complexes interesting for their use in these applications is the reduction potential of the coordinated metal, which can be selectively tuned by varying the substituents present on the ligand framework. Although the BTSCs have shown a great deal of success as potential cancer therapeutic agents, they lack selectivity towards cancer cells. For this matter, …

Application Of A 14c-Assay To Assess Methanotrophic Biodegradation Of Tce In Low Ph Groundwater, Evan Groome

All Theses

Current biological strategies for remediating trichloroethylene (TCE) in low pH aquifers (i.e., pH14C-TCE assay was developed to determine pseudo first-order rate constants for the degradation of TCE in microcosms containing soil and groundwater from the Boeing Michigan Aeronautical Research Center (BOMARC) superfund site, where the pH ranges from 4.1 to 4.9. The ¹⁴C-TCE assay was also adapted to calculate soil-normalized rate constants for data from this site, as well as data that Szwast²¹ collected from the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center (BARC). In addition to natural attenuation, biostimulation through amendments of methane and nutrients were also assessed. This treatment …

Chemically Modified Cyclofructans For Sub/Supercritical Fluid Chromatography And Hydrophilic Interaction Liquid Chromatography, Sepideh Khaki Firooz

Chemistry & Biochemistry Theses - Archive

Given the importance of supercritical fluid chromatography, several works focused on the application use different SFC stationary phases. In this work, two new derivatized cyclofructan bonded phases with superficially porous particles are introduced in SFC. Sulfonic acid and benzoic acid groups were covalently linked to the cyclofructan molecule to make them polar and hydrophilic. These derivatives were then bonded to superficially porous particles for high-efficiency separations. This work also shows the effect of adding a small amount of water to the modified mobile phases in SFC. Traces of water in the co-solvent enhances the peak symmetry and efficiency of these …

Synthetic Studies On Oxidative Dearomatization Reactions And Applications In Synthesis Of The Kb343 Core Structure, And Investigation Of Bioactive Thiazolidines, Marian Awadalla

Chemistry & Biochemistry Dissertations - Archive

Natural products have inspired researchers over the years due to their complexity and biological activity. Organic chemists have made great efforts to investigate new unambiguous methodologies toward the synthesis of these complex structures. Moreover, the synergy between total chemical synthesis and medicinal applications to evaluate the biological activity of the isolated compounds significantly raised the desire for discovery of novel synthetic approaches. The research described in this dissertation focuses on oxidative dearomatization reactions as a key reaction to construct natural products. The three specific aims are as follows: Aim 1: investigation of the applications of oxidative dearomatization reactions for different …

Understanding Dynamics Of Polymers Under Confinement: A Molecular Dynamics And Neutron Scattering Study, Supun Samindra Kamkanam Mohottalalage

All Dissertations

The current study probes the structure, dynamics, and rheological behavior of associating polymers including ionomers in melts and solutions as well as conjugated polymers confined into nanoparticles, using molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and neutron scattering techniques. The study focuses on two families of associative polymers, ion containing macromolecules and conjugated polymers.

Polymers that consist of ionizable groups along their backbone found uses in a broad range of applications. Examples include light weight energy storage and generation systems, and biomedical applications, where the polymers act as ion exchange membranes, and actuators. The ionic groups tend to form clusters that are in …

Invited Perspective: Existing Rules For Disinfection By-Products Are Good, But They Are Not Enough, Susan D. Richardson

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Neoglycoproteins As Potential Biomarkers And Vaccines For Chagas Disease, Elisa Garcia Carvajal

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Trypanosoma cruzi, the causal agent of Chagas disease (CD), currently affects 6-8 million people worldwide, predominantly in Latin America, where the parasite is endemic. The treatment of CD is based on two drugs, benznidazole (BZN) and nifurtimox (NFX). These drugs cause adverse effects and are more effective in the acute phase of the disease. Conventional serology assays can be used for diagnosis, but they are not suitable for determining chemotherapy effectiveness because patients take approximately 10-20 years to exhibit negative seroconversion. Although CD has become a global health problem, specific biomarkers are still needed for the follow-up of chemotherapy and …

Amyloid Fibril Formation And Polymorphism : A Critical Role Of Sulfur-Containing Amino Acid Residues, Tatiana Quiñones-Ruiz

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Protein aggregation that results in the formation of amyloid fibrils has been linked to many neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease. The sulfur atoms in methionine (Met) and cysteine (Cys) residues of proteins can be readily oxidized, significantly affecting their properties. Oxidation of sulfur-containing amino acids has recently been shown to affect protein fibrillation. This work presents novel findings on Cys and Met redox reactions that are related to the formation of amyloid fibrils and on the polymorphism of a model fibrillogenic protein, hen egg white lysozyme (HEWL). Biophysical techniques including Raman spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy, electron paramagnetic …

An Ims-Ms/Md Workflow For Determining Higher Order Structure And Dynamics Of Nucleic Acids, Rebecca D'Esposito

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Ion mobility spectrometry - mass spectrometry (IMS-MS) has potential for the investigation of structure and dynamics in large biopolymers, which will come to full fruition only with a firmer understanding of how to interpret the experimental data. Numerous studies have employed elements of nucleic acid (NA) secondary structure, such as duplexes and hairpins, to explore the relationships between structure, experimental conditions, and actual observations. When combined with molecular dynamics simulations (MDS), IMS-MS can be effectively employed to perform structural elucidation of biomolecules that are not readily amenable to established techniques employed for structural analysis.

Veratrum Parviflorum: An Underexplored Source For Bioactive Steroidal Alkaloids, Jared T. Seale, Owen M. Mcdougal

Chemistry and Biochemistry Faculty Publications and Presentations

Plants of the Veratrum genus have been used throughout history for their emetic properties, rheumatism, and for the treatment of high blood pressure. However, inadvertent consumption of these plants, which resemble wild ramps, induces life-threatening side effects attributable to an abundance of steroidal alkaloids. Several of the steroidal alkaloids from Veratrum spp. have been investigated for their ability to antagonize the Hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway, a key pathway for embryonic development and cell proliferation. Uncontrolled activation of this pathway is linked to the development of various cancers; most notably, basal cell carcinoma and acute myeloid leukemia. Additional investigation of Veratrum …

Isolation Of Proteins And Extracellular Vesicles Via Capillary-Channeled Polymer Fiber Stationary Phases, Lacey Billotto

All Theses

Capillary-channeled polymer (C-CP) fiber stationary phases have been developed by the Marcus lab as an alternative approach to traditional, commercially-available silica-based supports for biomacromolecule separations. C-CP columns are created with natural and synthetic base polymers in a variety of chemistries and shapes, allowing for customization of separations, while providing low material costs and ease of construction. The stationary phase is virtually nonporous with respect to the size of proteins and can operate under high linear velocities (~100 mm s^-1) while maintaining relatively low backpressures. As a result of these hydrodynamic benefits, low flow resistance at high volume flow …

An Analytical Method To Detect And Quantify Ll-37 In An In Vitro Co-Culture Of Activated Thp-1 Cells And Staphylococcus Aureus, Staphylococcus Epidermidis, And Pseudomonas Aeruginosa, Victoria Hunter

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Healthcare-associated infections (HCAIs) affect 1.7 million hospitalized patients each year, resulting in over 98,000 deaths and anywhere from $28.4 to $45 billion in treatment costs. Furthermore, it has been established that more than 80% of these infections are caused by biofilms While HCAIs can be bacterial, viral, fungal, or parasitic, there are between 12 and 17 species cause 80 to 87% of all HCAIs. Among the most commonly isolated microorganisms are Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). Thus, biofilms are of importance not only due to their prevalence in HCAIs but also due to the increased antibiotic …

State-Based Biological Communication, Nathan Clement

All Theses

Allostery (1) is the process through which proteins self-regulate in response to various stimuli. Allosteric interactions occur between nonadjacent spatially distant residues (1), and they are exhibited through the correlated motions (2) and momenta of participating residues. The location of allosteric sites in proteins can be determined experimentally but computational methods to predict the location of allosteric sites are being developed as well (2-4, 10). Experimental and computational methodologies for locating allosteric sites can be used to design specific targeted drug delivery (5-6, 19), but these methods have not yet …