Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

First Proof Of Concept Of Sustainable Metabolite Production From High Solids Fermentation Of Lignocellulosic Biomass Using A Bacterial Co-Culture And Cycling Flush System, Wanying Yao, Sue E. Nokes

Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Faculty Publications

To improve the lignocellulose conversion for ABE in high solids fermentation, this study explored the feasibility of cycling the process through the cellulolytic or/and solventogenic phases via intermittent flushing of the fermentation media. Five different flushing strategies (varying medium ingredients, inoculum supplement and cycling through phases) were investigated. Flushing regularly throughout the cellulolytic phase is necessary because re-incubation at 65 °C significantly improved glucose availability by at least 6-fold. The solvents accumulation was increased by 4-fold using corn stover (3-fold using miscanthus) over that produced by flushing only through the solventogenic phase. In addition, cycling process was simplified by re-incubating …

Persistent Hepatic Structural Alterations Following Nanoceria Vascular Infusion In The Rat, Michael T. Tseng, Qiang Fu, Khoua Lor, G. Rafael Fernandez-Botran, Zhong-Bin Deng, Uschi M. Graham, D. Allan Butterfield, Eric A. Grulke, Robert A. Yokel

Chemistry Faculty Publications

Understanding the long-term effects and possible toxicity of nanoceria, a widely utilized commercial metal oxide, is of particular importance as it is poised for development as a therapeutic agent based on its autocatalytic redox behavior. We show here evidence of acute and subacute adverse hepatic responses, after a single infusion of an aqueous dispersion of 85 mg/kg, 30 nm nanoceria into Sprague Dawley rats. Light and electron microscopic evidence of avid uptake of nanoceria by Kupffer cells was detected as early as 1 hr after infusion. Biopersistent nanoceria stimulated cluster of differentiation 3⁺ lymphocyte proliferation that intermingled with nanoceria-containing …

Self-Reported Head Injury And Risk Of Late-Life Impairment And Ad Pathology In An Ad Center Cohort, Erin L. Abner, Peter T. Nelson, Frederick A. Schmitt, Steven R. Browning, David W. Fardo, Lijie Wan, Gregory A. Jicha, Gregory E. Cooper, Charles D. Smith, Allison M. Caban-Holt, Linda J. Van Eldik, Richard J. Kryscio

Sanders-Brown Center on Aging Faculty Publications

Aims: To evaluate the relationship between self-reported head injury and cognitive impairment, dementia, mortality, and Alzheimer's disease (AD)-type pathological changes. Methods: Clinical and neuropathological data from participants enrolled in a longitudinal study of aging and cognition (n = 649) were analyzed to assess the chronic effects of self-reported head injury. Results: The effect of self-reported head injury on the clinical state depended on the age at assessment: for a 1-year increase in age, the OR for the transition to clinical mild cognitive impairment (MCI) at the next visit for participants with a history of head injury was 1.21 and 1.34 …

Abcc9 Gene Polymorphism Is Associated With Hippocampal Sclerosis Of Aging Pathology, Peter T. Nelson, Steven Estus, Erin L. Abner, Ishita Parikh, Manasi Malik, Janna H. Neltner, Eseosa Ighodaro, Wang-Xia Wang, Bernard R. Wilfred, Li-San Wang, Walter A. Kukull, Kannabiran Nandakumar, Mark L. Farman, Wayne W. Poon, Maria M. Corrada, Claudia H. Kawas, David H. Cribbs, David A. Bennett, Julie A. Schneider, Eric B. Larson, Paul K. Crane, Otto Valladares, Frederick A. Schmitt, Richard J. Kryscio, Gregory A. Jicha, Charles D. Smith, Stephen W. Scheff, Joshua A. Sonnen, Jonathan L. Haines, Margaret A. Pericak-Vance, Richard Mayeux, Lindsay A. Farrer, Linda J. Van Eldik, Craig Horbinski, Robert C. Green, Marla Gearing, Leonard W. Poon, Patricia L. Kramer, Randall L. Woltjer, Thomas J. Montine, Amanda B. Partch, Alexander J. Rajic, Katierose Richmire, Sarah E. Monsell, Gerard D. Schellenberg, David W. Fardo

Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Faculty Publications

Hippocampal sclerosis of aging (HS-Aging) is a high-morbidity brain disease in the elderly but risk factors are largely unknown. We report the first genome-wide association study (GWAS) with HS-Aging pathology as an endophenotype. In collaboration with the Alzheimer's Disease Genetics Consortium, data were analyzed from large autopsy cohorts: (#1) National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center (NACC); (#2) Rush University Religious Orders Study and Memory and Aging Project; (#3) Group Health Research Institute Adult Changes in Thought study; (#4) University of California at Irvine 90+ Study; and (#5) University of Kentucky Alzheimer's Disease Center. Altogether, 363 HS-Aging cases and 2,303 controls, all pathologically …

From Drug Use To Dependence: A Multiparametric Approach, Olga A. Vsevolozhskaya, James C. Anthony

Olga A. Vsevolozhskaya

One of the hallmarks of a drug dependence (DD) process is an escalation in rate of drug self-administration (DSA). We seek to extend current biostatistical approaches for epidemiological research on drug dependence processes via an investigation of a four-parameter dose-effect curve (DEC).

Confidence Interval Estimation In R-Das: State-Level Estimates For Extra-Medical Use Of Prescription Pain Relievers, Olga A. Vsevolozhskaya, James C. Anthony

Olga A. Vsevolozhskaya

The specific methodological aims of our research are: 1) to clarify statistical inference procedures used by R-DAS to produce confidence interval estimates; 2) to review a simple solution to some of the research questions not currently addressed by R-DAS (i.e., with respect to tests of significance); and 3) to describe how in certain situations the percentages and the corresponding standard errors, which are suppressed from the R-DAS output due to the confidentiality concerns can be estimated “by hand”.

Co2 Recycling Using Microalgae For The Production Of Fuels, Michael H. Wilson, John Groppo, Andrew Placido, S. Graham, S. A. Morton Iii, Eduardo Santillan-Jimenez, Aubrey Shea, Mark Crocker, Czarena Crofcheck, Rodney Andrews

Center for Applied Energy Research Faculty and Staff Publications

CO₂ capture and recycle using microalgae was demonstrated at a coal-fired power plant (Duke Energy’s East Bend Station, Kentucky). Using an in-house designed closed loop, vertical tube photobioreactor, Scenedesmus acutus was cultured using flue gas as the CO₂ source. Algae productivity of 39 g/(m² day) in June–July was achieved at significant scale (18,000 L), while average daily productivity slightly in excess of 10 g/(m² day) was demonstrated in the month of December. A protocol for low-cost algae harvesting and dewatering was developed, and the conversion of algal lipids—extracted from the harvested biomass—to diesel-range hydrocarbons via catalytic …

Phanerochaete Chrysosporium Pretreatment Of Biomass To Enhance Solvent Production In Subsequent Bacterial Solid-Substrate Cultivation, Wanying Yao, Sue E. Nokes

Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Faculty Publications

This study investigated pretreatment of corn stover using solid substrate cultivation (SSC) of Phanerochaete chrysosporium (P. chrysosporium) to improve subsequent accessibility to cellulose. Thereafter, Clostridium thermocellum (C. thermocellum) was directly inoculated onto the pretreated biomass to accomplish hydrolysis, followed by solventogenesis by introducing Clostridium beijerinckii (C. beijerinckii).

An enzyme suite containing laccase, lignin peroxidase and manganese peroxidase activity was detected during the cultivation of P. chrysosporium on corn stover within 288 h at an initial moisture content 𝓌_H2O = 80% (mass of water/total mass). Incubation factors, such as substrate moisture content and cultivation …

Rat Hippocampal Responses Up To 90 Days After A Single Nanoceria Dose Extends A Hierarchical Oxidative Stress Model For Nanoparticle Toxicity, Sarita S. Hardas, Rukhsana Sultana, Govind Warrier, Mo Dan, Peng Wu, Eric A. Grulke, Michael T. Tseng, Jason M. Unrine, Uschi M. Graham, Robert A. Yokel, D. Allan Butterfield

Chemistry Faculty Publications

Ceria engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) have very promising commercial and therapeutic applications. Few reports address the effects of nanoceria in intact mammals, let alone long term exposure. This knowledge is essential to understand potential therapeutic applications of nanoceria in relation to its hazard assessment. The current study elucidates oxidative stress responses in the rat hippocampus 1 and 20 h, and 1, 7, 30 and 90 days following a single systemic infusion of 30 nm nanoceria. The results are incorporated into a previously described hierarchical oxidative stress (HOS) model. During the 1-20 h period, increases of the GSSG: GSH ratio and cytoprotective …

Quantification Of Factors Governing Drug Release Kinetics From Nanoparticles: A Combined Experimental And Mechanistic Modeling Approach, Kyle Daniel Fugit

Theses and Dissertations--Pharmacy

Advancements in nanoparticle drug delivery of anticancer agents require mathematical models capable of predicting in vivo formulation performance from in vitro characterization studies. Such models must identify and incorporate the physicochemical properties of the therapeutic agent and nanoparticle driving in vivo drug release. This work identifies these factors for two nanoparticle formulations of anticancer agents using an approach which develops mechanistic mathematical models in conjunction with experimental studies.

A non-sink ultrafiltration method was developed to monitor liposomal release kinetics of the anticancer agent topotecan. Mathematical modeling allowed simultaneous determination of drug permeability and interfacial binding to the bilayer from release …

Reevaluation Of The Aapm Tg-43 Brachytherapy Dosimetry Parameters For An 125I Seed, And The Influence Of Eye Plaque Design On Dose Distributions And Dose-Volume Histograms, Prakash Aryal

Theses and Dissertations--Physics and Astronomy

The TG-43 dosimetry parameters of the Advantage^{TM 125}I model IAI-125A brachytherapy seed were studied. An investigation using modern MCNP radiation transport code with updated cross-section libraries was performed. Twelve different simulation conditions were studied for a single seed by varying the coating thickness, mass density, photon energy spectrum and cross-section library. The dose rate was found to be 6.3% lower at 1 cm in comparison to published results. New TG-43 dosimetry parameters are proposed.

The dose distribution for a brachytherapy eye plaque, model EP917, was investigated, including the effects of collimation from high-Z slots. Dose distributions for …