Engineering Commons^™

Lyophilized Escherichia Coli-Based Cell-Free Systems For Robust, High-Density, Long-Term Storage, Mark Thomas Smith, Scott D. Berkheimer, Christopher J. Werner, Bradley Charles Bundy

Faculty Publications

Cell-free protein synthesis (CFPS) is a versatile tool for rapid recombinant protein production and engineering. One drawback of cell-free technology is the necessity to store the major components—cell extracts and energy systems—below freezing in bulky aqueous solutions. Here we describe simple methods for lyophilizing extracts and preparing powdered energy systems for CFPS. These techniques allow for high-density storage of cell-free systems that are more robust against temperature and bacterial degradation. Our methods have the potential to decrease storage expenses, allow for longer shelf-life of cell extracts at room temperature, and enable durable portable protein production technologies.

Streamlined Extract Preparation For Escherichia Coli-Based Cell-Free Protein Synthesis By Sonication Or Bead Vortex Mixing, Prashanta Shrestha, Troy Michael Holland, Bradley Charles Bundy

Faculty Publications

Escherichia coli-based cell extract is a vital component of inexpensive and high-yielding cell-free protein synthesis reactions. However, effective preparation of E. coli cell extract is limited to high-pressure (French press-style or impinge-style) or bead mill homogenizers, which all require a significant capital investment. Here we report the viability of E. coli cell extract prepared using equipment that is both common to biotechnology laboratories and able to process small volume samples. Specifically, we assessed the low-capital-cost lysis techniques of: (i) sonication, (ii) bead vortex mixing, (iii) freeze-thaw cycling, and (iv) lysozyme …

Mobility Of Nano-Particles In Rock Based Micro-Models, Jagannath Upadhyay

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

A confocal micro-particle image velocimetry (C-μPIV) technique along with associated post-processing algorithms is detailed for obtaining three dimensional distributions of nano-particle velocity and concentrations at select locations of the 2.5D (pseudo 3D) Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) and ceramic micro-model. The designed and fabricated 2.5D micro-model incorporates microchannel networks with 3D wall structures with one at observation wall which resembles fourteen morphological and flow parameters to those of fully 3D actual reservoir rock (Boise Sandstone) at resolutions of 5 and 10 μm in depth and 5 and 25 μm on plane. In addition, an in-situ, non-destructive method for measuring the geometry of …

Thermogenic Gas Hydrate Formation In Gulf Of Mexico Offshore Environment- Results From Numerical Simulation, Sulav Dhakal

LSU Master's Theses

Development of civilization and the resulting quest for energy have led us to previously uncharted territory in exploration and production of fuel. As the demand continues to grow and conventional oil reserves become depleted, we are looking into unconventional resources such as gas hydrates. However, due to the volatile nature of the energy market and production technology yet to perfected, we are not able to fully utilize the potential of gas hydrates yet.

Reservoir characterization of hydrates have so far been limited to seismic mapping, well log interpretation and laboratory scale studies. This research uses numerical simulation to understand the …

Combustion Of Nanocomposite Thermite Powders, Ian Monk

Dissertations

This work investigates combustion of nanocomposite thermite powders prepared by arrested reactive milling (ARM). The focus is on how ARM as a top-down approach to nano-thermite building generating fully-dense nanocomposite particles with dimensions of 1-100 µm affects the rates and mechanism of their combustion. A variety of thermites are milled using both aluminum and zirconium as fuels combined with several oxidizers (WoO₃, MoO₃, CuO, Fe₂O₃, and Bi₂O₃). The powders are ignited using both an electrostatic discharge (ESD) and a CO₂ laser beam.

A range of parameters vary …

Integrated Stratigraphic Controls For Flow Simulation Of The Wall Creek Member Of Frontier Formation: Western Powder River Basin, Wyoming, Tuan Le

Graduate Theses & Non-Theses

The Frontier Formation in the Powder River Basin has been re-discovered for oil and gas potential with the development of long horizontal wells and multi-stage hydraulic fracturing. Over the last decade, the Upper Cretaceous Wall Creek Member (WCM) of the Frontier Formation has proven to be a successful hydrocarbon-producing target, yet a full understanding of the flow behavior in this complex stratigraphic unit has not been fully achieved.

The fluid and rock properties have uncertainty and are not well defined due to the low permeability rocks. This study aims to describe the fluid flow behaviors of these features and create …

Development Of A Thiol-Acrylate-Based Hydrogel For Tumor Spheroid Generation In A Microfluidic Device, Wayne Joseph Wortmann Iii

Honors Capstones

No abstract provided.

Nonlinear Model Predictive Control For A Managed Pressure Drilling With High-Fidelity Drilling Simulators, Junho Park

Theses and Dissertations

The world's energy demand has been rapidly increasing and is projected to continue growing for at least the next two decades. With increasing global energy demand and competition from renewable energy, the oil and gas industry is striving for more efficient petroleum production. Many technical breakthroughs have enabled the drilling industry to expand the exploration to more difficult drilling such as deepwater drilling and multilateral directional drilling. For example, managed pressure drilling (MPD) offers ceaseless operation with multiple manipulated variables (MV) and wired drill pipe (WDP) provides two-way, high-speed measurements from bottom hole and along-string sensors. These technologies have maximum …

Absorption Of Carbon Dioxide Via Single And Blends Of Aqueous Amine Solutions And Nanofluids In Gasliquid Hollow Fiber Membrane Contactor, Zia Ur Rehman Said Rehman

Chemical and Petroleum Engineering Theses

In this work, CO₂ gas was absorbed from a gas mixture (20 vol.% CO₂ + 80 vol.% N₂) in a custom made Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) hollow fiber membrane contactors by using a variety of single and blends of aqueous amine solutions and nanofluids. An ultrasonic dispersion method was used to prepare nanofluids where SiO₂ nanoparticles and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were dispersed in deionized (DI) water without adding any surfactant. The prepared solvents were fed into the tube side of the membrane module, whereas the gas mixture was passed through the shell side. CO₂ absorption experiments were carried out using four …

Economic Analysis Of Reactive Distillation In The Production Of Tert-Amyl Methyl Ether (Tame), Clayton Brandenburg

Senior Theses

Aspen HYSYS was used to make two flowsheets, one with plug flow reactors and distillation columns and another with a reactive distillation column, to see which flowsheet was better at producing tert-amyl methyl ether (TAME) and which one was more economically feasible. The goal was to produce 15,000 metric tons of TAME per year by reacting a naptha stream with methanol. It was found that both flowsheets were capable of producing the desired amounts of TAME and with product purities around 100%. The conversions of the reactive distillation was 93.93%, significantly higher than the 72.48% and 76.98% in the base …

Structural And Photoluminescence Properties Of Zno Thin Films Deposited By Ultrasonic Spray Pyrolysis, Iwan Sugihartono, Erfan Handoko, Vivi Fauzia, Artoto Arkundato, Lara Permata Sari

Makara Journal of Technology

Zinc oxide (ZnO) thin films on a silicon (Si) (111) substrate were grown herein using ultrasonic spray pyrolysis at 450 °C with different Zn concentrations. The ZnO thin films had X-ray diffraction patterns of a polycrystalline hexagonal wurtzite structure. The (002) and (101) peak intensities changed under different Zn concentrations. Furthermore, according to Scherer's and Stokes–Wilson equations, the crystallite size and the internal strain of the ZnO thin films in the (002) and (101) peaks changed with the Zn concentration. Optically, the photoluminescence spectra indicated that the ratio of the UV/GB emission of the ZnO thin films was the highest …

Simulation And Experiments To Understand The Manufacturing Process, Microstructure And Transport Properties Of Porous Electrodes, Mohammad Mehdi Forouzan

Theses and Dissertations

Battery technology is a great candidate for energy storage applications. The need for high-performance and cost-effective batteries has motivated researchers to put much effort into improving battery performance. In this work, we attempt to understand the elements that affect the microstructure and performance of two battery systems. The first part of this work focuses on the investigation of transport and structural properties of porous electrodes in an alkaline electrolyte. A DC polarization method was deployed for tortuosity measurements. An apparatus was designed to flow specified current through and measure the voltage drop over the porous electrodes. Using a modified Ohm's …

Sum Frequency Generation Spectroscopy Of Simulated Protein Secondary Structures., Andrew J. Adams

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Sum frequency generation (SFG) spectroscopy is an experimental technique for differentiating between various conformations and orientations of interfacial proteins. Combining a theoretical framework for SFG with molecular dynamics (MD) simulations provides a powerful tool for studying systems containing interfacial proteins with applications in cell transport, biofilms, and fermentation processes. Roeters’ method was used to calculate theoretical SFG responses for a variety of individual α-helix and β-sheet peptide secondary structures simulated using MD. Results show how the shape and locations of SFG amide I responses change with differences in hydrogen bonding patterns, peptide orientations, and SFG polarization combinations. The data presented …

An Exploratory Study Of Sukuk Utilisation For Transportation Infrastructure Development In Indonesia, Fiona Lamari, Ayomi Dita Rarasati, Meilia Evita

Makara Journal of Technology

Investment in infrastructure is one of the principal drivers of the growth of the economy. For that reason, the Indonesian government has proposed an investment budget in the railway and sea and air transport sectors over the next 10 years. In order to overcome the burden of direct outflows and for the future, a study was conducted to lay down the framework of Shariah-compliant payments for the development of infrastructure in Indonesia in the transport sector. This paper aims to explore the opportunity and implementation of sukuk utilisation to develop transportation infrastructure. Secondary data study and interviews were selected for …

Small-Signal-Stability Enhancement Using A Power-System Stabilizer Based On The Cuckoo-Search Algorithm Against Contingency N-1 In The Sulselrabar 150-Kv System, Muhammad Ruswandi Djalal, Muhammad Yusuf Yunus, Herlambang Setiadi, Awan Uji Krismanto

Makara Journal of Technology

Small-signal stability is one of the main factors limiting power transmission in conventional power systems. This concern is primarily handled by adding damper windings of a synchronous generator and power-system stabilizer (PSS). However, due to the impact of the N-1 contingency, damper windings and a conventional PSS are insufficient to overcome this problem. Proper placement and design of the PSS are crucial for improving stability. One approach to optimizing the placement and tuning of the PSS is to use an artificial-intelligence method. Here, the cuckoo-search algorithm (CSA) is proposed to optimize the PSS tuning and placement. Based on simulation, it …

Isolation And Molecular Weight Characterization Of Tetragonula Laeviceps Honey Protein, Muhamad Sahlan, Nurul Azizah, Kazuaki Hakamada, Keiichi Noguchi, Masafumi Yohda

Makara Journal of Technology

The concentration of protein in honey is lower than polysaccharide. However, recently the honey’s protein is intensively studied and it showed that protein also have several biological activities such as antibacterial activity. The purpose of this research is to isolate and characterize Tetragonula laeviceps honey protein by determining the molecular weight. Honey protein of Trigona laeviceps was isolated using ultra-filtration with the membrane’s size of 30 kDa, then concentrated using tube membrane size 10 kDa. Molecular weight was analyzed by SDS PAGE. From the analysis, there was major protein band in honey produced by Tetragona laeviceps identified. The produced molecular …

Prerequisites For Public Acceptance Of Waste-To-Energy Plants: Evidence From Germany And Indonesia, Uwe Lahl, Barbara Zeschmar-Lahl

Makara Journal of Technology

Construction of waste incinerators often encounters resistance from the public. The minimum requirements for the ac- ceptance of these installations include modern air pollution control (APC) technology and safe disposal of residues. Confidence in the statements of government and government agencies as well as on those who support is an important point of acceptance. Independent scientific bodies such as universities can help to make this happen. In the case of the installation of waste into energy (WtE), such scientific support can be the measurement of emissions and their evalua- tion. Many products that enter the waste stream contain heavy metals, …

Hybrid Brain-Computer Interface: A Novel Method On The Integration Of Eeg And Semg Signal For Active Prosthetic Control, Reza Darmakusuma, Ary Setijadi Prihatmanto, Adi Indrayanto, Tati Latifah Mengko

Makara Journal of Technology

This paper describes a novel method for controlling active prosthetics by integrating surface electromyography (sEMG) and electroencephalograph signals to improve its intuitiveness. This paper also compares the new method (RTA-2) with other existing methods (AND and OR) for controlling active prosthetics. Based on analysis, RTA-2 features higher true positive rate (TPR) and balanced accuracy (BA) than AND method. On the other hand, the new method (RTA-2) yields lower false detection rate (FPR) than OR method. Analysis also shows that RTA-2 possesses equal TPR, FPR, and BA with the detection of movement intention using sEMG-based system. Although the RTA-2 method shows …

Seismic Response Analysis Along The Coastal Area Of Bengkulu During The September 2007 Earthquake, Lindung Zalbuin Mase

Makara Journal of Technology

A strong earthquake of 8.4 Mw occurred at the Sumatra Subduction Zone in September 12, 2007. The area that underwent the impact of the earthquake was located along the coastal area of the Bengkulu Province. A seismic ground response study was then performed with reference to the event. Several site investigations, including standard penetration test and shear wave velocity tests, were conducted to understand the subsoil condition. The data were used to analyze a ground response during the earthquake. The amplification factor of each site was obtained, and a comparison of the spectral accelerations was performed. The results showed that …

Coax-Fed Dipole-Type Applicator For Hepatic Cancer Rf Ablation, Basari Basari, Aditya Rakhmadi, Kazuyuki Saito

Makara Journal of Technology

Cancer is the third leading cause of mortality in the world and is one of the most difficult diseases to detect and cure. This fact motivates us to investigate a treatment method by using radiofrequency (RF) ablation. RF ablation therapy kills cancer cells by electromagnetically heating them up. The treatment uses an applicator that is inserted into the body to heat the cells. The cancer cells are exposed to a temperature of more than 60 °C in short duration (a few seconds to a few minutes), thereby causing cell destruction locally. To ensure effective treatment, a minimally invasive method is …

Simulating Fluid Flow And Gas Expansion In The Marine Riser Using Computational Fluid Dynamics (Cfd) Software, Ross Teichman

Honors Capstones

No abstract provided.

Experimental And Modeling Of Co2 Removal From Gas Mixtures Using Membrane Contractors Packed With Glass Beads., Farah O.S. Abuhatab

Chemical and Petroleum Engineering Theses

Natural gas is one of the major natural resources in UAE which carries significant amounts of acid gases. For the purpose of utilizing or liquefying, the gas must be pre-treated by separating the major non-hydrocarbon gases, namely C0₂. Typical C0₂ separation processes involve separation using sorbents or solvent, cryogenic or membrane. Among these processes, the chemical absorption considered to be the most effective process to remove C0₂. However, this process carries several drawbacks such as flooding, foaming, entraining, channeling, and most importantly high capital and operating costs.

An integrated unit called gas absorption membrane (GAM) …

The Effect Of Incorporating Different Concentrations Of Chlorhexidine Digluconate On The Degree Of Conversion Of An Experimental Adhesive Resin, Lamiaa Mahmoud Moharam, Haidy Nabil Salem, Hanaa Mahmoud Elgamily

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of chlorhexidine digluconate incorporation on the degree of conversion of an experimental adhesive resin. Material and methods: The experimental resin was prepared from 70 wt.% bisphenol A glycerolate dimethacrylate, 30 wt.% hydroxyethyl methacrylate, silanized SiO₂ nanofillers, 0.5% of camphorquinone and ethyl 4-dimethylaminebenzoate (binary photo-initiator system). Five chlorhexidine digluconate concentrations (0, 0.5, 1, 2 and 4 wt%) were then incorporated into the experimental resin. Thirty Potassium Bromide pellets were prepared then divided into six groups (n=5/group), representing the tested adhesive resins (Single Bond 2, 0, 0.5, 1, 2 and …

Development Of A Novel Bioactive Glass Suitable For Osteosarcoma-Related Bone Grafts, Alireza Rahimnejad Yazdi, Lawrence Torkan, Stephen D. Waldman, Mark R. Towler

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

In this study, zinc borate-based glasses with increasing gallium content (0, 2.5, 5, 10, and 15 wt % Ga) were synthesized and their effect on the viability and proliferation of preosteoblasts and osteosarcoma cancer cells were investigated. Methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) cell viability assays using glass degradation extracts revealed that the extracts from glasses with lower Ga contents could enhance the viability of preosteoblasts, while extracts from the glass composition with 15 wt % Ga caused statistically significant reduction of their viability. MTT cell viability assays using the extracts and osteosarcoma cells showed that only extracts from the glass composition …

Pore-Scale Analysis Of Interfacial Instabilities And Impact Of Heterogeneity On Relative Permeability By Lattice Boltzmann Method, Zhipeng Zhu

LSU Master's Theses

Interfacial instabilities occur often during immiscible fluid flow through porous media and their understanding is essential for waterflooding operations or other oil recovery processes. Although many studies including experimental and numerical have been done to reproduce and analyze the interfacial instabilities in porous median, there is still significant knowledge gap in fundamental understanding of these flow instabilities at the pore-scale. In order to better understand the interfacial instabilities phenomenon, the pore-scale simulations are performed. In this study, Lattice Boltzmann Method is used to simulate two different types of interfacial instabilities: viscous fingering and capillary fingering in irregular sphere packs by …

Modeling And Validation Of Local Electrowinning Electrode Current Density Using Two Phase Flow And Nernst-Planck Equations, Joshua M. Werner, W. Zeng, M. L. Free, Z. Zhang, J. Cho

Mining Engineering Faculty Publications

In this work we demonstrate the validity of a multi-physics model using COMSOL to predict the local current density distribution at the cathode of a copper electrowinning test cell. Important developments utilizing Euler-Euler bubbly flow with coupled Nernst-Planck transport equations allow additional insights into deposit characteristics and topographies.

Definite Indefiniteness Of "Molecular Weight" As A Claim Term For Polymer-Related Patents, Ping-Hsun Chen

The Journal of Business, Entrepreneurship & the Law

The molecular weight of a polymer is not just a number for a single molecule. In fact, molecular weight measurement is based on a large volume of molecules of the same polymer. Due to the non-uniformity of molecular weights, there are several methods to measure an “average molecular weight” of a polymer. Unfortunately, the Federal Circuit in Teva Pharms. USA, Inc. v. Sandoz, Inc., 789 F.3d 1335 (Fed. Cir. 2015), held that the term “molecular weight” in several polymer claims was indefinite, because the term could mean either peak average molecular weight, number average molecular weight, or weight average molecular …

Magnetic Gradient Drilling, Garrett Lowry Nielsen

LSU Master's Theses

The drilling industry has always had difficulties with staying within the mud weight window. The problems associated with failure to stay within the mud weight window include uncontrolled influxes and wellbore collapse on the low pressure side of the window, and fluid losses and wellbore damage on the high pressure side of the window. When the risk for getting outside of this mud window becomes too great, casing must be set in order to isolate formations from each other. If too many strings of casing are set, or if the damage from getting out of the mud weight window is …

Promoter Effects On Iron-Based, Sba-15 Supported Ultra-High Temperature Fischer- Tropsch Catalysts, David P. Weber

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Promoter effects on SBA-15 supported iron Fischer-Tropsch catalysts were investigated for their potential to improve high temperature catalyst performance. FTS catalysts promoted by manganese (0.15%-1.4%), copper (0.15%-1%), and potassium (0.5%-3%), with all percentages stated on the basis of mass percentage of final catalysts, were prepared and tested at 430°C and ambient pressure in a fixed bed reactor. Manganese showed the ability to promote the FT reaction, increasing both the CO conversion and the average chain length of hydrocarbon products. Compared to the unpromoted catalyst composed only of iron supported on SBA-15, 1.4%Mn (mass) promotion of 15% (mass) iron on SBA-15 …

Systems And Methods For Endotoxin Removal From Fluids, Sutapa Barua

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Systems and methods are provided for the removal of endotoxins from fluids. The methods can include the use of polymeric nanoparticles for binding endotoxins present in a fluid. The polymeric nanoparticles can be associated with a support member. The polymeric nanoparticles can have an endotoxin removal capacity of at least 1×10⁹ endotoxin units per gram of polymeric nanoparticle (EU/g) and/or a removal efficacy per unit surface area of the polymeric nanoparticles of at least 1×10⁶ EU/cm².