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Power Dissipation And Mixing Time In A Partially Filled Pharmaceutical Reactor Equipped With A Retreat-Blade Impeller At Different Fill Ratios, Aniruddha Banerjee

Theses

Glass-lined, stirred reactors and tanks are of significant industrial importance, especially in the pharmaceutical and fine chemical industries. These reactors are manufactured with a “glass-lining,” i.e., a glass layer applied to the agitator, the inside of the reactor/tank and to any of the surfaces in contact with its contents in order to maximize corrosion resistance, facilitate reactor cleaning, and minimize product contamination. Because of glass-lining fabrication issues, a retreat blade impeller with a low impeller clearance off the tank bottom is commonly used in glass-lined reactors. In addition, since wall baffles cannot be easily mounted on the wall of glass-lining …

Batch Foaming Of Hot Melt Extruded Excipient/Disintegrant/Api Pharmaceutical Formulations And The Study Of The Effects Of The Resulting Cellular Structures On Api Dissolution, Na Yao

Theses

This thesis focuses on the impact of a disintegrant included in a foamed immediate release system composed of a polymer excipient and an Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API). Indomethacin (INM) is used as model API; Eudragit® EPO (EPO) is used as polymer excipient; AcDiSol and Crospovidone (Cros) are used as two kinds of disintegrant. The main objectives are to gain an understanding of the resulting morphologies, as well as the impact of disintegrants on drug release from foamed polymeric matrices.

In the first part of this research, the Hot Melt Extrusion (HME) process is used to compound the following pharmaceutical formulations: …

Genome Wide Search For Pseudo Knotted Non-Coding Rnas, Meghana S. Vasavada

Theses

Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) are the functional RNA molecules that are involved in many biological processes including gene regulation, chromosome replication and RNA modification. Searching genomes using computational methods has become an important asset for prediction and annotation of ncRNAs. To annotate an individual genome for a specific family of ncRNAs, a computational tool is interpreted to scan through the genome and align its sequence segments to some structure model for the ncRNA family. With the recent advances in detecting an ncRNA in the genome, heuristic techniques are designed to perform an accurate search and sequence-structure alignment. This study uses a …

Dissolution Of Different Commercial Aspirin Tablets Using A Novel Off-Center Paddle Impeller (Opi) Dissolution Testing System, Yang Qu

Theses

Dissolution testing is routinely conducted in the pharmaceutical industry to provide in vitro drug release information for quality control purposes. The most common dissolution testing system for solid dosage forms is the United States Pharmacopeia (USP) Dissolution Testing Apparatus 2. In this work, a modified Apparatus 2, termed "OPI" System for "off-center paddle impeller," in which the impeller is placed 8 mm off center in the vessel is tested to determine its sensitivity to differentiate between the dissolution profiles of differently formulated and manufactured tablets. Dissolution tests are conducted with both the OPI System and the Standard System using three …

Nir Light Transmission Through Skin And Muscle, Deniz Ozgulbas

Theses

Light has been used extensively in the medical field for both therapeutic and diagnostic applications. Tissue optical window or therapeutic window defines the range of wavelengths where the light has the maximum transmittance through tissue. In this range, absorption and scattering effects are relatively lower when compared to the visible or middle infrared wavelengths. Knowledge of the transmittance through tissue can help determine the effective light intensities in medical applications.

The objective of this thesis is to determine the NIR light transmission through different thicknesses of animal tissue and its spatial spread due to the scattering effect. Primarily pork skin …

Rna-Sequence Analysis Of Human Melanoma Cells, Jharna Miya

Theses

RNA-sequencing refers to the use of high throughput sequencing technologies that are used to sequence cDNA in order to get the complete information of a sample’s RNA content. The objective of this study is to analyze this data in different aspects and to characterize gene expression. Besides this characterization, the data was also used to investigate the effect of sequencing depth on gene expression measurements.

This research focuses on quantitative measurement of expression levels of genes and their transcripts. In this study, complementary DNA fragments of cultured human melanoma cells are sequenced and a total of 139,501,106 million 200-bp reads …

Hydrodynamic Effects Of A Cannula In A Usp Dissolution Testing Apparatus 2, Qianqian Liu

Theses

Dissolution testing is routinely used in the pharmaceutical industry to provide in vitro drug release information for drug development and quality control purposes. The USP Testing Apparatus 2 is the most common dissolution testing system for solid dosage forms. Usually, sampling cannulas are used to take samples manually from the dissolution medium. However, the inserted cannula can alter the normal fluid flow within the vessel and produce different dissolution testing results.

The hydrodynamic effects introduced by a permanently inserted cannula in a USP Dissolution Testing Apparatus 2 were evaluated by two approaches. Firstly, the dissolution tests were conducted with two …

Effects Of Api Particle Size On The Dissolution Rate In Molten Polymer Excipient Matrices During Hot Melt Extrusion, Conducted In A Co-Rotating Twin-Screw Extruder, Meng Li

Theses

The effect of the Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) particle size on the dissolution rate in the polymer excipient during hot melt extrusion is investigated using a co-rotating twin-screw extruder with three different screw configurations. Acetaminophen (APAP) and amphiphilic polyvinyl caprolactam-polyvinyl acetate-polyethylene glycol graft copolymer (PVCap-PVAc-PEG) (Soluplus) are chosen as the model API and water- soluble polymer excipient, respectively. APAP is milled using a fluid energy mill (FEM) into two different particle sizes. The thermal properties of processed samples are characterized by TGA and DSC. SEM and optical microscopy are also used in the morphological studies. Under quiescent conditions, API particles …

Study Of Poly (L-Lactic Acid)/Poly (D-Lactic Acid) Stereocomplex As Nucleating Agent For Poly (L- Lactic Acid) Crystallization, Yuan Lao

Theses

Poly (lactic acid) (PLA) is a biodegradable polymer with good renewability and processability. However, it has some drawbacks. The Poly (lactic acid) (PLA) stereocomplex formed via the interaction between optical isomers Poly (L-lactic acid) (PLLA) and Poly (D-lactic acid) (PDLA), provides improvements on PLA thermomechanical properties. To investigate the nucleating effect brought by the PLA stereocomplex, samples of PLLA blended with different content of PDLA are prepared by the solution casting method. With different cooling rates (5, 15, 25 °C/min), DSC non-isothermal crystallization experiments are performed. The results suggest that in the presence of the stereocomplex, the PLLA crystallization temperatures …

A Gpu Program To Compute Snp-Snp Interactions In Genome-Wide Association Studies, Srividya Ramakrishnan

Theses

With the recent advances in the next generation sequencing technologies, short read sequences of human genome are made more accessible. Paired end sequencing of short reads is currently the most sensitive method for detecting somatic mutations that arise during tumor development. In this study, a novel approach to optimize the detection of structural variants using a new short read alignment program is presented.

Pairwise interaction effects of the Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) have proven to uncover the underlying complex disease traits. Computing the disease risk based on the interaction effects of SNPs on a case - control study is a …

First Steps Towards Minimizing Lead Exposure In An At-Risk Community In Mitrovica, Kosovo, Maxwell Scott

Theses

The city of Mitrovica, in northern Kosovo, has historically been a heavily contaminated city due to its lead mining industry. The long history of heavy metal mining and processing, combined with the violent break-up of Former Yugoslavia, has created a slew of human health, environmental, and social impacts. High levels of lead exposure in the minority communities (Roma, Ashkali, Egyptian) of Mitrovica has arisen as one of the greatest health issues in the area. There have been a number of studies conducted by governmental and non-governmental organizations, many international, to assess the severity of the issue. There have also been …

Identifying Medical Resident Stress With Work Domain Representation, Daniel Nystrom

Theses

Resident physicians must endure substantial amounts of stress to acquire the necessary skills and knowledge to become competent, certified physicians. Multiple factors that contribute to high levels of stress in different areas of the healthcare domain have been identified, but stress continues to be a major problem despite this knowledge and efforts to reduce it. This thesis describes a holistic approach to the problem of resident stress by employing methods of Cognitive Work Analysis to systematically review and organize relevant research literature, observations, interview responses, and survey information according to the area of the work domain where each stressor is …

Towards A Characterization Of Wetland Invasive Vegetation Using A Combination Of Field And Remote Sensing Techniques, Nicole Dutcher

Theses

Creation of compensatory wetlands has been required in the U.S. since the late 1980s in an attempt to offset the massive decline in freshwater wetlands. To meet permitting requirements, vegetation composition in mitigation wetlands must be monitored for a minimum of five years following creation. Unfortunately, mitigated wetlands often lack the functionality of natural wetlands and may form hotspots for invasive plant species. However, wetland assessment is a time-consuming process that may also disturb fragile nascent plant communities. Thus there is a need for approaches that minimize disturbance, but still enable the collection of data over large portions of the …

An Investigation Of Electrochemomechanical Actuation Of Conductive Polyacrylonitrile (Pan) Nanofiber Composites, Mark Gonzalez

Theses

A polymer-based nanofiber composite actuator designed for linear actuation was fabricated by electrospinning, actuated by electrolysis, and characterized by electrical and mechanical testing to address performance limitations and understand the activation processing effects on actuation performance. Currently, Electroactive polymers (EAPs) have provided uses in sensory and actuation technology, but have either low force output or expand rather than contract, falling short in capturing the natural motion and function of muscle desperately needed to provide breakthroughs in the bio-medical and robotic fields. Previous research has shown activated Polyacrylonitrile (PAN) fibers having biomimetic functionalities similar to the sarcomere contraction responsible for muscle …

Digital Camera Identification Using Neural Network Algorithm And Pattern Noise In Imaging Sensors, Chandni Bhowmik

Theses

In forensic investigation of criminal cases like child pornography, image forgery, identity theft, steganography, movie piracy, insurance claims, and other cases of scientific frauds, some of the most significant challenges may be to detect the origin of an image or the photographing camera, detect forged images or hidden messages in images from retrieved digital evidence. There has been much interest in developing camera fingerprints for the forensic task of digital camera identification; that is, to be able to tie an image to it's photographing camera with high certainty or good assurance metrics, specially when the camera is not present in …

Hyperspectral Monitoring Of Chemically Sensitive Plant Sensors, Danielle Simmons

Theses

Current events clearly demonstrate that chemical and biological threats against the public are very real. Automated detection of chemical threats is a necessary component of a system that provides early warning of an attack. Plant biologists are currently developing genetically engineered plants that de-green in the presence of explosives (i.e. TNT) in their environment. The objectives of this thesis are to study the spectral reflectance phenomenology of the plant sensors and to propose requirements for an operational monitoring system using spectral imaging technology. Hyperspectral data were collected under laboratory conditions to determine the key spectral regions in the reflectance spectra …

Cross Section, Joanna Poag

Theses

I plan to make sculpture using modules to build monolithic structures. The sculptures will explore equilibrium as it relates to an interaction and balance between elements. Weight, both visual and physical, will be a key focus of each piece. The sculptures incorporate gravity and mass in a way that exaggerates or defies the weight of the pieces. The formal strategy of breaking symmetry is employed to develop sculptures that incorporate gravity and mass and express visual movement in opposition to predictable mathematical sequencing. Line is used as a sculptural means to explore form. It has been used in a way …

Anaerobic Codigestion Of Dairy Manure And Food Manufacturing Waste For Renewable Energy Generation In New York State, Matthew Rankin

Theses

Anaerobic digestion is a microbiological process that converts biodegradable organic material into biogas, consisting primarily of methane and carbon dioxide. Anaerobic digestion technologies have been integrated into wastewater treatment facilities nationwide for many decades to increase the economic viability of the treatment process by converting a waste stream into two valuable products: biogas and fertilizer. Thus, anaerobic digestion offers potential economic and environmental benefits of organic waste diversion and renewable energy generation. The use of biogas has many applications, including cogeneration, direct combustion, upgrading for conversion to feed a fuel cell, and compression for injection into the natural gas grid …

Estimation Of Optimal Protein To Energy Ratio And Percent Soybean Meal Replacement Of Fish Meal In Juvenile Scaphirhynchus Sturgeon Diets, Elliott C. Kittel

Theses

Research developing artificial propagation, husbandry, and nutrition of sturgeon species has developed greatly since the collapse of the Caspian Sea fisheries in the 1980s. Sturgeon species are commercially prized for their unfertilized roe which is marketed as the delicacy, caviar. Sturgeon production units commonly utilize commercial salmonid feeds, which contain large proportions of fish meal (FM) and fish oil (FO). Concerns regarding economics and sustainability have put pressure on aquafeed manufactures to efficiently utilize FM and FO, and to incorporate alternative protein sources, such as soybean meal (SBM). Therefore, the present studies estimated the optimal protein:energy ratio of juvenile Pallid …

Benthic Foraminiferal Analysis From Barilari Bay, Western Antarctic Peninsula Margin, Ilona Ilmara L. Matulaitis

Theses

The temperature record from the Antarctic Peninsula (AP) shows a warming trend 3°C greater than that of the Antarctic continent (Vaughan, et al., 2003). The LARsen Ice Shelf System, Antarctica (LARISSA) project was developed as an interdisciplinary collaboration to understand the impacts of global climate change on the ice shelf systems of the Peninsula. The 2010 LARISSA cruise to the western AP margin collected the two marine sediment cores from the mouth of Barilari Bay used for this thesis, Jumbo Piston Core (JPC) 127 and Jumbo Kasten Core (JKC) 55. The 77 sediment samples collected at 10 cm intervals were …

Identifying Environment Of Origin Of Illinois River Asian Carp Via Otolith Microchemistry And Stable Isotope Analyses, Jacob Dylan Norman

Theses

Asian carp have rapidly expanded their range through much of the Mississippi River Drainage over the past 10 to 15 years. Silver and bighead carp are now the dominant fish species present along several reaches of the Illinois River. The upper Illinois River and shipping canals entering Lake Michigan are of great concern as pathways for Asian carp to enter the Great Lakes. Knowledge of reproductive habitats and dispersal pathways for these species may be valuable for ongoing and future efforts to control these exotic invasives. Previous studies have successfully identified spawning areas of native riverine species via otolith microchemistry, …

The Sound Of Music: The Influence Of Evoked Emotion On Recognition Memory For Musical Excerpts Across The Lifespan, Sherrie L. Parks

Theses

TITLE: THE SOUND OF MUSIC: THE INFLUENCE OF EVOKED EMOTION ON RECOGNITION MEMORY FOR MUSICAL EXCERPTS ACROSS THE LIFESPAN Socioemotional Selectivity Theory (Carstensen, 1999) posits that as people age, they selectively focus on positive aspects of emotional stimuli as opposed to negative as a way of regulating emotions. Thus, older adults remember positive information better than negative. This hypothesis has been tested extensively with visual stimuli, but rarely with auditory stimuli. Findings from this study provide support in the auditory domain. In this study, 135 younger, middle-aged, and older adults heard consonant (pleasant) and dissonant (unpleasant) musical excerpts. Participants were …

Reproductive Biology Of The Invasive Plant Elaeagnus Umbellata: Breeding System, Pollinators, And Implications For Invasive Spread, Nathan Soley

Theses

Reproductive studies in invasive plants are necessary for an understanding of their potential to establish and spread in foreign environments. Elaeagnus umbellata Thunb. (autumn olive) is an invasive woody shrub that flowers early in the spring and is often noted for its abundant fruit set. This study examined the reproductive biology of E. umbellata in Illinois, where it is highly invasive. Hand-pollination experiments were performed to determine the breeding system of E. umbellata, and floral visitors were collected to determine its pollinators. Experiments showed that E. umbellata is a predominantly outcrossing species with a self-incompatible breeding system. However, individual variation …

Evaluation Of Temperature-Performance Trade-Offs In Wireless Network-On-Chip Architectures, Nishad Nerurkar

Theses

Continued scaling of device geometries according to Moore's Law is enabling complete end-user systems on a single chip. Massive multicore processors are enablers for many information and communication technology (ICT) innovations spanning various domains, including healthcare, defense, and entertainment. In the design of high-performance massive multicore chips, power and heat are dominant constraints. Temperature hotspots witnessed in multicore systems exacerbate the problem of reliability in deep submicron technologies. Hence, there is a great need to explore holistic power and thermal optimization and management strategies for the massive multicore chips. High power consumption not only raises chip temperature and cooling cost, …

The Impact Of Daycare And Child Temperament On Parent-Child Interactions, Kyle Bersted

Theses

This study explored the potential impact of child temperament and daycare on behavior problems and parental sensitivity. It was expected that children with more "difficult" temperaments would exhibit more behavior problems and have less sensitive parents when experiencing high amounts of daycare. Measures from 60 families involved in the Southern Illinois Twins and Siblings Study (SITSS) were examined. Results indicated that highly active children exhibited more externalizing behaviors when experiencing less daycare. Shy children experiencing more daycare had more sensitive parents. Additionally, a temperamental difference between co-twins was related to differential parental sensitivity. Lastly, DZ co-twins were more temperamentally different …

Forage Quality Of Andropogon Gerardii Across A Precipitation Gradient, Juliette Donatelli

Theses

This study focused on the ecotypic variation in forage quality of Andropogon gerardii Vitman, a dominant C4 grass in North American grasslands and an important forage grass for native and introduced grazers. Ecotypes are genetic variations of a plant species adapted to local environmental conditions. Andropogon gerardii is represented by many local ecotypes across its range. Forage quality analyses quantify digestibility and nutrition of a plant sample and allow an assessment of nutritional value for grazers. The variability in forage quality among A. gerardii ecotypes is unknown. This study aimed to quantify variation in forage quality of A. gerardii collected …

The Explanatory Indispensability Of Mathematics: Why Structure Is 'What There Is', Nils Richards

Theses

Inference to the best explanation (IBE) is the principle of inference according to which, when faced with a set of competing hypotheses, where each hypothesis is empirically adequate for explaining the phenomena, we should infer the truth of the hypothesis that best explains the phenomena. When our theories correctly display this principle, we call them our ‘best’. In this paper, I examine the explanatory role of mathematics in our best scientific theories. In particular, I will elucidate the enormous utility of mathematical structures. I argue from a reformed indispensability argument that mathematical structures are explanatorily indispensable to our best scientific …

Using Multimedia To Promote Environmental Protection, Min-Wan Chiu

Theses

This interactive project allows users to explore what causes and affects environmental problems on Earth using papervision 3D. The purpose of this project is to provide a simple platform for users to be aware of the environmental issues and know how to improve the environment. Moreover, these environmental issues are discussed by scientists and environmental protection agencies. The environmental issues discussed are global warming, acid rain, and air pollution, which impact the quality of human life. Reading helps us learn so much truth that we may not be aware of. The traditional pop-up books give readers a deeper impression of …

Environmental Virtue, Callicott And The Land Ethic, John Charles Simpson

Theses

Callicott’s interpretation of Leopold’s land ethic has been criticized as ecofascist and misanthropic. In addition, it has been argued that his principle precept upon which his land ethic rests is vague if not incoherent. In light of these challenges, I suggest a better way to arrive at a land ethic, which deals not with obligations or duties to the land as Callicott’s does but instead with the application of virtues to nature. In this paper, I provide a brief overview of Callicott’s land ethic and then include a few criticisms of the land ethic. Next, I argue for why a …

Joint Optimization Of Manifold Learning And Sparse Representations For Face And Gesture Analysis, Raymond Ptucha

Theses

Face and gesture understanding algorithms are powerful enablers in intelligent vision systems for surveillance, security, entertainment, and smart spaces. In the future, complex networks of sensors and cameras may disperse directions to lost tourists, perform directory lookups in the office lobby, or contact the proper authorities in case of an emergency. To be effective, these systems will need to embrace human subtleties while interacting with people in their natural conditions. Computer vision and machine learning techniques have recently become adept at solving face and gesture tasks using posed datasets in controlled conditions. However, spontaneous human behavior under unconstrained conditions, or …