Digital Commons Network^™

Skip The Grid: Installing Solar Systems In The Navajo Nation, Joey Massey

Construction Management

Skip the Grid is a student led interdisciplinary project that aims to bring sustainable solar energy to families in the Navajo Nation who lack reliable power at home. The 2026 Skip the Grid trip was the fifth consecutive year of the joint effort between California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly) students across multiple departments, Heart of America (HOA), SOLV Energy, and Nextpower. Over the three working days the 5 teams installed Goal Zero Solar Systems in 50 homes on both the Navajo Nation and Hopi Reservation. These systems brough power, light, and refrigeration to families, enhancing their quality of life …

Du Undergraduate Showcase Abstracts: Research, Scholarship, And Creative Works, Sophia Wismar, Henry Staats, Allison Metzler, Chloe Puckett, Rachel Levine, Christa Kilpatrick, Scott Wolf, Joe Walsh, Grace Doolittle, John Engebreston, Zoe Lopez, Christopher Aaby, Audrey Duff, Timothy Sisk, Katelyn Lamberton, Angela Narayan, Gilkah Argueta, Habiba Samir, Girena Tesfazghi, Genet Kenore, Sinit Tesfamariam, Effley Brooks, Abi Newell, Megan Doherty, Natalie Baer, Lexi Blood, Talya Riciputi, Jessica Jimenez, Devin Hernandez, Lynn Clark, Taj Kumar, Sunil Kumar, Allen Rutman, Mira Pronobis, Tess Carson, Anna Sher, Frankie Stroud, Tamra Pearson D'Estree, Alyssa Wilson, Emily Melnick, Jenalee Doom, Yihang Gao, Gwendolyn Geiger, Noah Gettle, Scott Nichols, Clare Ayoub, Cara Dienno, Sunny Walker, Zoe Hansen, Maya Wheeler, Addison Rice, Patrick Martin, Sanjana Acharya, Daniel Mcintosh, Amanda Mckellips, Calli Cain, Justin Blake, Peter Sokol-Hessner, Natalie Miller, Max Weisbuch, Sophia Dellota, John Macikas, Charlotte Snow, Mark Siemens, Zoe Lynch, Alex Huffman, Prachi Shah, Jason Roney, Halcyon Levi, Nicole Herzog, Andrea Koly, Daniel Linseman, Annie London, Xi Yang, Avery Zwisler, Jane Smith, Chaz Contag, Michael Kerwin, Lucy Rand, Grace Schroeder, Michelle Rozenman, Nissa Tapper, Guiming Zhang, Mateo Mazariego-Halpern, Keith Meyer, Julie Do, Dakota Park-Ozee, Travis Herink, Kara Neu, Jonathan Plomin, Eve-Odine Duchaufour, Debbie Gale Mitchell, Tennyson Anderson-Stricklin, Lily Treitz, Samantha Rosenberger, Sierra Griffith, Finley Joseph, Daniel Sampson, Emmy Davis, Skyler Kasnoff, Evon Lopez, Vivian Nguyen, Cassy Young, Franklin Sellner, Martin Tobon, Ila Graham, Zach Billings, Holden Hedit, Decatur Boland, Paul Kosempel, Cory Chandler, Jay Mahoney, Sam Dragan, Susan Dagget, Yarrow Ator, Heidi Vuletich, Owen Weber, Andrew Kloeppel, Petersen Gray, Mandi Schaeffer-Fry, Razleen Bassra, Bryanna Rodriguez, Christina Blue, Taubie Sanders, Rachel Epstein, Luke Milburn, Camryn Evans, Ezra Martinez, Mary Westwood, Gabri Notov, Robin Tinghitella, Lilou Cabrol, Eli Barbour, Juliet Mendik, Selma Myers, Zac Wise, Noah Fahlin, Michelle Knowles, Abigail Hopper, Michael Greenberger, Romi Laclair, Sarah Watamura, Sabrina Efroymson, Casey Barker, Sydney Seltzer, Bryn Yehle, Jennifer Hoffman, Sara Garcia, Ryuka Nagamine, Trevor Briggs, Remy Le Boeuf, Elena Krone, Eileen Farrell, Regan O'Rourke, Elena Roel, Greg Mortimer, Ali Ayoub, Stefani Langehennig, Caitlin Turk, Logan Scmid, Stefan Chavez-Norgaard, Karen Kim, Tatiana Peccedi, Courtney Cassidy, John Sebesta, Rhianna Lewis, Janice Bening-Lacek, Vivian Lawless, Mckenna Hanson, Jeffrey Amidon, Riya Joshi, Ram Ambre, Brady Worrell, Perrin Schneider, Ali Azadani, Brooke Agulnek, Lyndsie Salvagio, Elise Siemanowki, Yan Qin, Andre Allen, Melodie Nguyen, Megan Livengood, Abby Reams, Saffron Hartreeve, Bri Wylie, Sarah Brookman, Mariah Loiacono, Green Russo, Abhia Lodhi, Gabrielle Welsh, Nika Spehar, Shahked Levin, Evrim Baykal, Kimberly Chiew, Jocelyn Torres, Kailey Hicks, Mykaela Tanino-Springsteen, Audrey Bellows, Akam Chahal, Madeline Tepper, Shannon Murphy, Alexa Fonseca, Deborah Han, Cassandra Perez, Oluwatoyin Alaba, Julia Roncoroni, Vy Nguyen, Nana Burn, Sarah Sasse, Rubin Tuder, Anthony Gerber, Nancy Lorenzon, Christine Vohwinkel, Camryn Gunter, Tristan Weber, Sam Rommel, Brian Michel, Muskan Fatima, Alannah Oleson, Kira Frey, Edward Garrido, Beckett Morris, Kerstin Haring, Drew Middleton, Abigail Walpert, Liam Dee, Gabby Ishaw, Cole Carnes, Maddie Weiser, Claire Fox, Valeriia Vlasenko, Kateri Mcrae, Riley Smith, Abigail Templin, Kushani Rajapaksha

DU Undergraduate Research Journal Archive

Abstracts from the DU Undergraduate Research Showcase.

Ecological Restoration Strategies Based On Plant And Soil Characteristics For Dumps Of Surface Coal Mines In Cold Arid Regions, Wang Hao, Li Haichao, Jiang Xinjun, Cao Shumiao, Yang Fan, Wang Qiangmin, Xu Ganggang, Shi Hui

Coal Geology & Exploration

Objective The dumps of surface coal mines in cold arid regions represent ecologically vulnerable areas formed under extreme disturbance. However, a lack of systematic studies on the vegetation and soils in dumps, including their spatial variation patterns and synergistic mechanisms caused by vertical differences of the dumps, leads to insufficient theoretical bases for formulating differential ecological restoration strategies in engineering practice.Methods By integrating field ecological surveys and physicochemical tests in the laboratory, this study investigated the dump with elevations ranging from 2498 m-2632 m of the Heishan coal mine on the northern slope of the Tianshan Mountains, Xinjiang. Based …

Injectable, In Situ Forming Peptide Nanofiber Reinforced Composite Hydrogels For Age-Related Macular Degeneration, Shambhavi Bagewadi Ms

Theses and Dissertations

Cell therapy for age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is limited by the absence of a functional substrate such as Bruch’s membrane (BM), which is critical for retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cell survival and integration. Although preformed substrates have been explored, their implantation can disrupt the fragile retinal architecture, compromise ocular immune privilege and increase infection risk. To address these limitations, an injectable hydrogel capable of forming in situ was developed. The hydrogel consists of thiol-modified hyaluronic acid (HA-SH) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). Peptide nanofibers were incorporated to enhance structural reinforcement. Three self-assembling peptides - RADA-16, GAGA and GAGA-YIGSR were designed and …

Optimization And Energy Efficiency Analysis Of An Automatic Feed Mixer With A Rotating Drum Mechanism, Kris Witono, Talifatim Machfuroh, Nurlia Pramita Sari, Lisa Agustriyana, Aini Lostari

Journal of Mechanical Engineering Science and Technology (JMEST)

Energy-efficient feed mixer machines are important for improving the productivity and sustainability of small and medium-scale livestock farms. Previous studies primarily focused on either structural performance or mixing efficiency, with limited studies integrating both aspects. Therefore, this study evaluated an automatic rotating-drum feed mixer by combining Finite Element Method (FEM) analysis and energy modeling. The study used FEM simulations for different materials, namely A36 steel alloy, stainless steel 304, aluminium 6061, and galvanized steel, with thicknesses of 3 mm and 4 mm, as well as different drum systems. The FEM results showed that all evaluated materials met the minimum safety …

Visual Interpretability Of Multimodal Tissue Perfusion Classification Using Grad-Cam And Saliency Maps, Metehan Zorluoglu

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Accurate identification of the tissue perfusion phase from hand images can aid doctors in decision-making with non-invasive techniques. The present study proposes a multimodal deep learning model for classifying the tissue perfusion phase using infrared, thermal, and visible spectrum images of the human hand. The proposed model consists of various preprocessing techniques such as manipulation, homography alignments, and masking. The significant contribution of this thesis is the interpretability analysis of deep learning models, achieved through the analysis of saliency maps and the Gradient-weighted Class Activation Mapping (Grad-CAM) methods. The purpose of this method is to find out how the convolutional …

Beyond Accuracy: Machine Learning Models For Predicting Presence Of Permanent Molar Caries In U.S. Children And Adolescents With Fairness Consideration, Pritam Deb, Lin Li, Christina R. Scherrer

Faculty Articles

Background

Although predictors of dental caries have been previously explored, a comprehensive understanding of factors influencing permanent‐molar decay in U.S. children and adolescents, especially with respect to racial and ethnic biases remains limited. This study aims to develop and evaluate machine‐learning (ML) models incorporating algorithmic fairness to predict caries in permanent molars.

Methods

Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) were analyzed, using the 2011–2014 cycles for training and validation and the 2015–2016 cycle for testing. The primary outcome was decayed, missing, and filled teeth (DMFT) in at least one permanent molar, dichotomized to represent the presence …

Optimizing College Food Pantry Locker Systems Through Simulation Techniques, Jacob W. Holmes

Industrial Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

Food insecurity affects 10.5% of households in the United States. Among those affected, college students are a group with increasing food insecurity. Through novel food pantry order methods, such as locker order systems, some effects of college food insecurity can be alleviated. The Jane B. Gearhart Full Circle Food Pantry (FCFP) at the University of Arkansas implemented a locker system, beginning in the Fall of 2020. There is a lack of investigation into locker management policies for pantries, such as how much time clients should be allowed to pick up orders after they are placed in lockers, how many lockers …

Transformation Efficiency And Gfp Expression In E. Coli, Jessica H. Hobbs

Honors Theses

Genetic transformation of bacteria is a foundational technique in molecular biology and biotechnology, enabling the introduction and expression of foreign genes for research, industrial, and educational applications. This thesis investigates the transformation efficiency and green fluorescent protein (GFP) expression in Escherichia coli using the pGLO plasmid system, with the primary objective of supporting the development of a graduate-level laboratory course focused on bioprocess engineering and molecular biotechnology. The pGLO plasmid contains a GFP reporter gene regulated by an arabinose-inducible promoter and an ampicillin resistance gene that allows for selective growth of transformed cells. Competent E. coli HB101 K-12 cells were …

Developing Transparent Sustainability Data Systems In A Poultry And Pet Food Company: An Internship Case Study, Catherine L. Warren

Biological and Agricultural Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

My honors thesis examined my internship experiences and its implications on sustainability data gathering and reporting in poultry and pet food companies. It highlighted my internship projects, the skills I developed, and the connections to sustainability data transparency and reliability in a corporate environment.

In my thesis, I shared details about my internship. I described what projects I worked on, the places I visited, the hands-on experience I gained, and the different teams I worked with throughout the internship duration. I discussed the analytic and professional skills I developed through conducting a waste audit, developing Tableau dashboards, and helping to …

Cross-Facility Reliable Deep Learning Based Beef Marbling Assessment Via Unsupervised Domain Adaptation Regression, Samuel Vinson

Biological and Agricultural Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

Inconsistent quality grading in beef production leads to inefficiencies, economic disparity, and consumer mistrust. While USDA meat grading traditionally relies on skilled visual inspectors, these human evaluations suffer from cross-facility variability and subjectivity. This paper introduces the first known application of unsupervised domain adaptation regression for cross-facility beef marbling score prediction—an innovation that improves generalization across diverse environments in the beef supply chain. Utilizing numerical scores ranging from 100-900, the research employed convolutional neural networks (CNNs), including ResNet, VGG, and AlexNet architectures. The study specifically introduced and validated a unified unsupervised domain adaptation regression method using the ResNet-50 architecture to …

Preclinical Animal Modeling To Investigate Redox-Mediated Molecular Dysfunction In Traumatic Brain Injury, Brandon Z. Mcdonald

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Impacts associated with traumatic brain injury (TBI) induce a multitude of neurological morbidities mediated by a spread of biochemical dysfunction. Redox stress is a significant contributor to TBI pathophysiology and several redox stress markers have substantial evidence to support their role in diagnosing preclinical and clinical TBI. However, there is a critical need to verify their translational utility through correlations with behavioral, imaging, and molecular modalities. In chapter two, we examined the therapeutic efficacy of an antioxidant treatment (NPC3) using a controlled cortical impact (CCI) mouse model of TBI. NPC3 alleviated glial expression and reactivity while influencing the expression of …

Establishing Caenorhabditis Elegans As A Platform For Bioaccumulation And Selectivity Screening Of Anthelmintic Compounds, Jiarui Li

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

To address the cuticular barrier in anthelmintic discovery, this study establishes a bifurcated framework in Caenorhabditis elegans. First, HPLC-based quantification of 14 PIM inhibitors revealed that cuticular penetrance is primarily dictated by phylogenetic lineage (Clade V) rather than ecological niche. Specifically, C. elegans demonstrated a significant pharmacokinetic correlation with the hookworm Ancylostoma ceylanicum (Clade V) but not the whipworm Trichuris muris (Clade I), validating it as a superior surrogate model for hookworm bioaccumulation. Within this small molecule inhibitor library, SGI-12was identified as a lead candidate with superior potency against C. elegans and bioaccumulation. Second, target validation using a C. …

Investigation Into The Effects Of Moderate-Dose Radiation On Ligament Biomechanics, Andrew Landefeld

All Theses

Recent advances in arthritis treatment pin ionizing X-ray radiation as a useful tool in reducing joint pain and immune response. However, due to a lack of fundamental research in the effects of low-dose ionizing radiation on tendon and ligament biomechanics, the safety of these studies is rather unknown. While most related studies investigated cellular response to low dose treatment, surrounding tissue physiology is left out of the picture. Additionally, moderate range doses of irradiation are rarely studied, as most uses of radiation on tendons and ligaments are for sterilization of cadaver tendons for allografts. This study provides a preliminary investigation …

The Impact Of Dipeptides On Product Quality In Chinese Hamster Ovary Cells, Louise C. Herman

All Theses

Biopharmaceuticals are medicines produced in cells which are used to treat diseases such as cancer. Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) represent the majority of approved biotherapeutics. MAbs are mostly produce using Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. CHO cells are favored for resiliency, scalability, and established safety, and are considered the “workhorse” organism for biopharmaceuticals.  Amino acids are a key component of cell culture media, however several amino acids have solubility limits, such as cysteine, cystine, and tyrosine.  At neutral pH, these amino acids are poorly soluble.  However, dipeptides, such as N,N'-di-L-Alanyl-L-Cystine (ACCA) have been reported to increase cysteine and cystine availability. Further, …

Manned Exploration Of Satellites Of The Outer Planets: An Analysis Of Current Technologies And A Discussion Of Advancements Required, Joshua Carson Meador

Theses and Dissertations

The Solar System’s outer planets have many satellites, some of which are known to be the most likely places to find extraterrestrial life in our celestial backyard. Multiple scientific missions have been sent to glean information from these satellites, yet the possibility of a manned expedition has long been exclusive to science fiction stories. This paper intends to collect and analyze the current state of space travel technology to explore the feasibility of such a mission with modern technology and to discuss which future advancements should be the focal point for making such missions a reality. To begin, data on …

Baseline Cervical Intervertebral Disc Biomechanics And Implications For Allograft Preservation, Nathan F. Buchweitz

All Dissertations

Neck pain has become an increasingly common orthopaedic healthcare issue. Evidence shows that degeneration of cervical intervertebral discs (the cartilage between the spinal vertebrae in the neck) may be associated. While disc degeneration in the lumbar spine has been extensively studied in relation to low back pain, it has received less attention in the cervical spine. Biomechanically, the cervical (neck) and lumbar (lower back) regions of the spine differ in function. Lumbar discs resist a greater burden of body weight, whereas cervical discs are adapted for mobility to aid flexible head orientation. Despite these key differences, disc injury and degeneration …

Enhancing Food Security In Stann Creek, Belize Using Meat Rabbits: Engineering Perspective, Lindsey Garretson

Biological and Agricultural Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

The purpose of this paper is to discuss the engineering perspective within the overall project of using meat rabbits to enhance food security and nutrition within Stann Creek, Belize. From the engineering perspective, the overarching goals were like the overarching project goals including the construction and materials required guide within the manual, designing potential upgrades to the design including a solar and battery system and an automatic watering system, and to design the system to be “practically sustainable” where possible. The constraints for this project included cost, the size of land dedicated for the rabbitry, and the operational and environmental …

From Kernel To Carbon Footprint: Using Life Cycle Analysis To Teach Sustainability In Chemical Engineering, Neal Z. Kinney

Chemical Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

Many chemical engineering departments in the United States are currently lacking developed sustainability coursework, leaving many students without a developed understanding of topics such as life cycle analysis (LCA). [1] Therefore, there is a need for engaging and flexible educational tools that can be easily incorporated into course frameworks. This study develops an interactive learning module, expanding upon the work from Pollution Prevention Through Popcorn, a study developed by Rowan University. [2] The module combines experimental analysis of popcorn popping methods with life cycle assessment using OpenLCA to evaluate the environmental impacts of common types of popcorn packaging. Results of …

Engineered Uio-66-Nh2 Hybrid Nanocomposites For Antifouling Ultrafiltration Membranes With Dual Resistance To Microplastics And Protein Fouling, Mitra Golgoli, Mohadeseh Najafi, Javad Farahbakhsh, Masoumeh Zargar

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The growing presence of microplastics (MPs) in water and their impact on ultrafiltration (UF) membranes during the early stages of wastewater treatment highlight the need for effective mitigation strategies. This study explores the innovative modification of UF membranes by incorporating various hybrid metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) nanoparticles, including UiO-66-NH2 hybrids with multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) (UiOM), chitosan (UiOC), and sulfobetaine zwitterions (UiOZ). These nanoparticles were synthesized and integrated into innovative UF membranes to compare their performance on MPs fouling effect in particular. The integration enhanced membrane hydrophilicity and altered surface roughness, creating a hydrophilic functional network that improved water permeability. Water …

Intelligent Manufacturing Of Edible Oil: From Smart Sensing To Big Data Platform, Ru Jiang, Nadirbek Yusupbekov

Chemical Technology, Control and Management

With the rapid advancement of Industry 4.0 technologies, intelligent manufacturing and big data platforms are profoundly transforming the production models of the traditional edible oil industry. The edible oil production process involves multiple complex unit operations such as refining, decolorization, and deodorization, which impose high requirements on process control and product quality monitoring. This paper presents a systematic review of key technological advances in the field of intelligent manufacturing of edible oil, establishing a comprehensive technical framework encompassing four dimensions: smart sensing, artificial intelligence applications, IoT communication, and big data platforms. The review begins by analyzing the global background and …

Picc-Pal: A Support Band For Independent Picc Line Use, Kylie Luker

Honors Theses

This project presents the design and evaluation of PICC-PAL, a wearable assistive device intended to improve independence and usability for patients managing peripherally inserted central catheters (PICC lines) at home. Current at-home PICC line management often requires help due to the fine motor skills needed to connect and secure tubing. This increases reliance on caregivers and introduces potential risks such as infection and dislodgement. Through stakeholder analysis, prior art evaluation, and iterative prototyping, a device was developed to stabilize the PICC line lumen and enable one-handed connection of medical tubing. Throughout the project, multiple design concepts were explored, with the …

Key Issues For Speed Safety Cameras: Results From A Semi-Structured Interview Of Agencies In The United States, Sophia Semensky, Miguel Figliozzi

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

Speed safety cameras (SSCs) are a recognized countermeasure for targeting speeding-related crashes, injuries, and fatalities. SSCs have been introduced in various cities and are steadily expanding in use both in the U.S. and internationally. The extensive literature review of domestic and international documents and research papers reveals that the U.S. has been comparatively slow to adopt SSCs, with some other countries implementing these systems more extensively and earlier. Many local agencies are eager to learn SSC best practices and implementation lessons within the U.S. context. In this research, key issues related to SSC implementation are explored through semi-structured interviews with …

Program And Proceedings, The Nebraska Academy Of Sciences 1880–2026: 146th Anniversary Year, One Hundred-Thirty-Sixth Annual Meeting

Nebraska Academy of Sciences: Programs and Proceedings

Program and abstracts of the proceedings for the Nebraska Academy of Sciences 136th annual meeting, 2025

Sessions

Aeronautics and Space Science

Anthropology

Biological and Medical Sciences

Earth Sciences

Ecology, Sustainability, and Environmental Science

Physics and Engineering

General Poster Session

2026 Maiben Lecture: Shifting Extremes: Understanding Nebraska’s Changing Climate and Preparing for What Lies Ahead, Deborah Bathke

2026 Friends of Science Awards: Julie Shaffer and Irina Filina

2026 C. Bertrand and Marian Othmer Schultz Colleaguate Schoalrship Award: Piper Ryschon and Bryce Reeson

In Memoriam: Paul Royster

Uptake And Fate Of Silver And Zinc Engineered Nanoparticles In Maize Under Single And Binary Dosing Soil Ecosystems, Lei Xu, Qingbo Yang, Xingmao Ma, Honglan Shi, John Yang, Hu Yang, Samira Mahdi, Ying Wang, Young Shin Jun

Chemistry Faculty Research & Creative Works

Recent agricultural applications of engineered metallic nanoparticles (ENPs) have raised concerns about their uptake and fate in plants. To understand this critical issue, this study investigated the fate and uptake of silver (Ag) and zinc oxide (ZnO) ENPs in maize (Zea mays L.) after single or binary ENP exposure in soil. Results indicated that both Zn and Ag elemental concentrations in roots increased with increasing ENP dosage. Ag NPs in the tissues were detected, but not Zn NPs. Ag NP concentration was 3 times higher in the roots than in the shoots at low Ag NP dosing, while Ag NP …

From Our Stories, To Our Streets (Osos), Jennifer Lopez

Student Publications

Youth traffic safety persists as a critical planning challenge and public health concern in New Mexico, where pedestrian fatality rates consistently rank among the highest in the United States (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, NTSA, Governors Highway Safety Association, GHSA, 2023; Baca, 2025). Students (children), due to their daily interactions with roadways, whether when they walk, bike, ride transit, or drive/get driven to and from school, are among the most vulnerable groups within the transportation system (Ferenchak, N. Wesley, M., 2017. For many students in Albuquerque, the commute to or from school is one of the most dangerous parts of …

Bioengineering The Future Of The Human Species: H+’S Ideological Iterations Of Trans-/Posthumanity As Exemplified By Futurist Literary Texts = (Bio)Technological Solutions For (And/Or) Reification Of Systemic Inequities?, Marjorie E. Bomhower

English Theses & Dissertations

While humanity has, throughout our species’ history, endeavored to dream and create astonishing, and ever-evolving, (bio)technologies with the utopian ideals of bettering our day-to day lives and achieving greater longevity, our endeavors have (thus far) not only produced remarkable, beneficial advances in longevity and quality of life, but have also yielded devastating and dire outcomes; often at the cost and victimization of marginalized communities. This dissertation focuses on select (bio)technologies – particularly, those promoted by H+ (the most current and popular technoutopianist non-profit, “educational,” organization) – with an investigation of current and nascent (bio)technological evolutions, futurist literary texts, and critical/digital …

Dendrimer Nanogels With Built-In Free Radical Scavenging Enable Efficient Topical Delivery Of A Hydrophilic Antioxidant To Restore Lens Redox Balance For Cataract Treatment, Lin Qi, Huari Kou, Anna Chernatynskaya, Da Huang, Vimalin Jeyalatha Mani, Humeyra Karacal, Nuran Ercal, Hu Yang

Chemistry Faculty Research & Creative Works

Cataract is a leading cause of vision impairment worldwide and are primarily caused by oxidative stress that damages and aggregates lens proteins, leading to lens opacification. However, the eye's anatomical barriers limit the penetration and bioavailability of antioxidant therapies. To address this challenge, a dendrimer-based nanogel with a built-in reactive oxygen species (ROS)-scavenging capability developed by us was employed to deliver the antioxidant N-acetylcysteine (NAC) to the lens. NAC was loaded into a generation-5 PEGylated poly(amidoamine) dendrimer (G5-PEG-TK, termed the GPT) nanogel. The resulting NAC-GPT was characterized for its ROS-scavenging activity, bioavailability, and corneal permeability. The efficacy of NAC-GPT was …

Application Of Microbial Fuel Cells For Leachate Bioremediation: The Effects Of Nutrient Nourishment, Umi Sholikah, Fidela Chosta, Tegar Palyus Fiqar, Eka Masrifatus Anifah, Riza Hudayarizka, Tadashi Hibino

Makara Journal of Science

Leachate contains a high organic content, which can cause environmental pollution. The organic content in leachate can be removed through bioremediation using microbial fuel cell (MFC) systems to remediate pollutants and generate bioelectricity. Organic matter is important to the MFC process as both a substrate and a nutrient source. This study investigated the effects of glucose and sodium phosphate buffer nourishment on BOD, COD, and TSS removal and bioelectricity generation. This study used leachate as a substrate and a graphite rod with a surface area of about 32.98 cm² as an electrode. The reactor uses plastic blocks with a …

Soil Microbial Biomass And Organic Carbon Fractions Under Different Natural Restoration Years In Arid Coal Mining Subsidence Areas In Xinjiang, China, Xiao Li, Bi Yinli, Wang Dongdong, Li Jianfeng, Gong Hanlin, Deng Aojuan, Hou Wensheng

Coal Geology & Exploration

Objective This study aims to elucidate the influence of the natural restoration process on changes in soil microbial biomass and organic carbon fractions in coal mining subsidence areas. This effort will provide a crucial scientific foundation for understanding the natural ecological restoration process and carbon accumulation dynamics in arid coal mining subsidence areas.Methods Arid coal mining subsidence areas in Xinjiang, China were investigated in this study. Using the space-for-time substitution approach, sample plots were selected from an unmined area and areas having undergone natural restoration for one, three, eight, and 12 years. Subsequently, systematic analyses were conducted on the …