Other Chemistry Commons^™

295— Biomimicry: Investigating The Active Site Model Of Lactate Racemase, Stephanie Podguski, Maisy Ross

GREAT Day Posters

Because of humans’ heavy impact on nature with industrialization and resource extraction, biomimetics, also known as biomimicry, is a study that has emerged. Biomimetics utilizes observations from nature to comprehend the principles of underlying mechanisms and apply concepts that may benefit science, medicine, engineering and the like. An area of biochemistry we are applying this to is the lactate racemase enzyme.This metalloenzyme is found in many prokaryotic organisms and catalyzes the interconversion between the two optical isomers of lactic acid. The structure of this enzyme consists of a square-planar nickel (II) ion coordinated by a histidine residue and a pincer …

Biological Evaluation Of Fda-Approved Drugs As Mirna-31 Inhibitors Using Real Time Qrt-Pcr And A Luciferase Assay, Nicholas Sienkiewicz

Honors Theses

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a group of post-transcriptional, negative regulators of gene expression, consisting of ~19-24 nucleotides. Since their discovery in 1993, miRNAs have been found to be involved in a diverse amount of cellular and disease pathways, including certain types of cancer. Overexpression of certain oncogenic miRNAs, including miRNA-31, have been shown to play a role in cancer cell development. Recent findings have suggested that miRNAs play a significant role in every stage of colorectal cancer (CRC) initiation, progression, and development, as well as induce resistance to chemotherapy drugs like 5-FU. In particular, research has shown that increased levels of …

Quantification Of Vitamin B12 In Two Cricket Species, Haley Smeltz

Student Scholar Showcase

Entomophagy, or the eating of insects, has been practiced in the eastern world for centuries, however it is currently overlooked in the western nations. Studies have shown that insects, such as crickets, contain high levels of protein and minerals, however vitamin content is rarely studied. This study aims to quantify the vitamin B₁₂ content in two cricket species, the common house cricket (Acheta domesticus) and the banded cricket (Gryllodes sigillatus). The vitamin B₁₂ content of both cricket species will be quantified using reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC). Prior to RP-HPLC analysis, all the …

Chemistry 104 Laboratory Manual, Boris Kalmatsky

Open Educational Resources

No abstract provided.

Using Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering Of Gold Nanostars For Encoding Molecular Information, Samantha E. Curry

Honors Thesis

Increases in the selling of illicit goods warrant a subsequent need for even more sophisticated methods to prevent counterfeit products from being sold. Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) has the potential to be a powerful tool to thwart counterfeiters because the unique security tags fabricated with this method are difficult to reproduce without knowing the “secret” recipes used in their preparation. In this work, gold nanostars are used as SERS active substrates since their branched structure allows for strong coupling between the light and plasmonic nanoparticles. As a result, Raman signals of trace amount of chemicals can be easily detected. The …

Quantum Chemical Lipophilicities Of Antimalarial Drugs In Relation To Terminal Half-Life, Joseph D. Alia, Sheila Karl, Tyler D. Kelly

Chemistry Publications

According to the WHO, artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs) have been integral to the recent reduction in deaths due to Plasmodium falciparum malaria. ACT-resistant strains are an emerging problem and have evolved altered developmental stages, reducing exposure of the most susceptible stages to artemisinin drugs in popular ACTs. Lipophilicity, log K_ow, is a guide in understanding and predicting pharmacokinetic properties such as terminal half-life which alters drug exposure. Consistent log K_ow values are not necessarily available for artemisinin derivatives designed to extend terminal half-life, increase bioavailability, and reduce neurotoxicity. For other drugs used in ACTs, an assortment of …

Understanding The Oxidative Chemistry Of Particulate Methane Monooxygenase Models., Thomas Jones

Research Horizons Day Posters

No abstract provided.

Characterization Of Dimerization Domains On The Mannose-6-Phosphate/Insulin-Like Growth Factor 2 Receptor, Tyler Degener

UNO Student Research and Creative Activity Fair

The mannose-6-phosphate/insulin-like growth factor 2 (M6P/IGF2) receptor is a transmembrane protein with the ability to sequester growth factors from the extracellular matrix. This behavior links the receptor to tumor suppression. On a structural level, the extracellular portion of the protein is segmented into 15 homologous repeats, which can be divided further into 5 triplet domains, labelled 1-3, 4-6, 7-9, 10-12, and 13-15. Each triplet receptor displays its own unique ligand binding affinity, including the ability to form dimers with triplets on a second M6P/IGF2 receptor. In fact, previous studies indicate that this protein functions optimally when dimerized. Thus, the purpose …

Hydrogen Peroxide Triggers An Increase In Cell Surface Expression Of System XC− In Cultured Human Glioma Cells, Leah A. Chase, Mary Verheulen Kleyn, Natasha Schiller, Abby Goltz King, Guillermo Flores, Sasha Balcazar Engelsman, Christina Bowles, Sara Lang Smith, Anne E. Robinson, Jeffrey Rothstein

Faculty Publications

System x_c⁻ exchanges extracellular cystine for intracellular glutamate across the plasma membrane of many cell types. One of the physiological roles of System x_c⁻ is to provide cystine for synthesis of the antioxidant glutathione. Here we report that hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) triggers the translocation of System x_c⁻ to the plasma membrane within 10 min of the initial exposure. Specifically, we observed a three-fold increase in ³⁵S-L-cystine uptake following a 10 min exposure to 0.3 mM H₂O₂. This effect was dose-dependent with an EC₅₀ for …

Quantitative Trait Loci (Qtl) Underlying Phenotypic Variation In Bioethanol-Related Processes In Neurospora Crassa, Joshua C. Waters, Deval Jhaveri, Justin C. Biffinger, Kwangwon Lee

Chemistry Faculty Publications

Bioethanol production from lignocellulosic biomass has received increasing attention over the past decade. Many attempts have been made to reduce the cost of bioethanol produc- tion by combining the separate steps of the process into a single-step process known as consolidated bioprocessing. This requires identification of organisms that can efficiently decompose lignocellulose to simple sugars and ferment the pentose and hexose sugars lib- erated to ethanol. There have been many attempts in engineering laboratory strains by add- ing new genes or modifying genes to expand the capacity of an industrial microorganism. There has been less attention in improving bioethanol-related processes …

The Use Of A Modified Hess’ Cognitive Rigor Matrix To Assess Students’ Depth Of Knowledge In Key Concepts Of Gas Stoichiometry And Chemical Equilibrium, Maria Greene

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

The research presented as part of this dissertation is a combination of two separate studies conducted to assess and evaluate undergraduate general chemistry students’ understanding and depth of knowledge (DOK) of concepts in gas stoichiometry and chemical equilibrium. The two separate studies were conducted using a modified Hess Cognitive Rigor Matrix (CRM) to analyze students’ responses to multiple-choice questions (MCQ) and their written rationales to their answer choices. The Hess Cognitive Rigor Matrix, which is an incorporation and coordination of both Bloom’s and Webb’s DOK taxonomies, allowed the facilitation of the opportunity to code students’ written responses across the four …

Resolving The Puzzle Of Single-Atom Silver Dispersion On Nanosized Γ-Al2o3 Surface For High Catalytic Performance, Fei Wang, Jinzhu Ma, Shaohui Xin, Qiang Wang, Jun Xu, Changbin Zhang, Hong He, Xiao Cheng Zeng

Department of Chemistry: Faculty Publications

Ag/γ-Al2O3 is widely used for catalyzing various reactions, and its performance depends on the valence state, morphology and dispersion of Ag species. However, detailed anchoring mechanism of Ag species on γ-Al2O3 remains largely unknown. Herein, we reveal that the terminal hydroxyls on γ-Al2O3 are responsible for anchoring Ag species. The abundant terminal hydroxyls existed on nanosized γ-Al2O3 can lead to single-atom silver dispersion, thereby resulting in markedly enhanced performance than the Ag cluster on microsized γ-Al2O3. Density-functional-theory calculations confirm that Ag atom is mainly anchored by the terminal hydroxyls on (100) surface, forming a staple-like local structure with each Ag …

Methods Of Making And Using Lignin Derivatives, Mark Alan Helle, Chin Li Cheung

Department of Chemistry: Faculty Publications

Materials and methods for preparing reactive lignin and for preparing a bio-based adhesive are described herein.

This disclosure generally relates to methods of making and using reactive lignin. This disclosure also generally relates to methods of making and using bio-based adhesives. Lignin is the second most abundant natural polymer behind cellulose, yet lignin has very little commercial value despite years of research. Lignin is one of the major components of the cell wall in wood and other plant based materials such as hemp or crop wastes. It is produced in enormous quantities each year, primarily as a by-product in the …

Synthesis Of Unsymmetrical Bidentate Ligands From Secondary Phosphine Oxides, Malachy J. Brink, Ryan Anderson

Student Research, Papers, and Creative Works

Stereochemistry is a key component in the field of asymmetric catalysis. The properties of a molecule can be drastically changed with the change of one stereocenter. Typically, chirality is imparted to a metal by the ligand. "Chiral-at-metal" compounds are unique because the metal complex is chiral, but the ligands are not. Phosphine ligands are notoriously difficult to work with (pyrophoric, toxic, prone to oxidation). The goal of this research was to prepare unsymmetrical bidentate ligands using secondary phosphine oxides, which are air-stable and easy to handle on the benchtop.

Instrument And Application Development In Saturation Recovery And Rapid Scan Electron Paramagnetic Resonance, Joseph E. Mcpeak

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Enhanced signal sensitivity by the use of Rapid Scan (RS) electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), a technique that allows for much faster magnetic field scans than traditional field-swept techniques, has facilitated improved data acquisition for many types of samples. For example, irradiated fingernails for radiation dosimetry have been studied using RS-EPR, which resulted in substantial decreases in detection limits. Samarium-mediated reduction mechanisms in organic synthesis have been investigated by RS-EPR providing evidence for a radical intermediate. Spectra of organic radicals exhibiting both narrow lines and closely spaced hyperfine interactions have been recorded via RS-EPR. Well-resolved spectra can be recorded at a …

Nanotoxicity Of Zrs3 Probed In A Bioluminescence Test On E. Coli Bacteria: The Effect Of Evolving H2s, Olga Zakharova, Alexander Gusev, Jehad Abourahma, Nataliia S. Vorobeva, Dmitry V. Sokolov, Dmitry S. Muratov, Denis V. Kuznetsov, Alexander Sinitskii

Department of Chemistry: Faculty Publications

Materials from a large family of transition metal trichalcogenides (TMTCs) attract considerable attention because of their potential applications in electronics, optoelectronics and energy storage, but information on their toxicity is lacking. In this study, we investigated the toxicity of ZrS3, a prominent TMTC material, toward photoluminescent E. coli bacteria in a bioluminescence test. We found that freshly prepared ZrS3 suspensions in physiological saline solution with concentrations as high as 1 g/L did not exhibit any toxic effects on the bacteria. However, ZrS3 suspensions that were stored for 24 h prior to the bioluminescence tests were very toxic to the bacteria …

Quantitative Nmr-Based Biomedical Metabolomics: Current Status And Applications, Alexandra A. Crook, Robert Powers

Department of Chemistry: Faculty Publications

Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy is a quantitative analytical tool commonly utilized for metabolomics analysis. Quantitative NMR (qNMR) is a field of NMR spectroscopy dedicated to the measurement of analytes through signal intensity and its linear relationship with analyte concentration. Metabolomics-based NMR exploits this quantitative relationship to identify and measure biomarkers within complex biological samples such as serum, plasma, and urine. In this review of quantitative NMR-based metabolomics, the advancements and limitations of current techniques for metabolite quantification will be evaluated as well as the applications of qNMR in biomedical metabolomics. While qNMR is limited by sensitivity and dynamic range, …

Methods Ofmaking And Using Lignin Derivatives, Mark Alan Helle, Chin Li Cheung

Department of Chemistry: Faculty Publications

Materials and methods for preparing reactive lignin and for preparing a bio-based adhesive are described herein.

Polarization-Independent Metasurface Lens Based On Binary Phase Fresnel Zone Plate, Jonathan Baine, Jing Tang, Xing Li

Department of Chemistry: Faculty Publications

Based on the binary phase Fresnel zone plate (FZP), a polarization-independent metasurface lens that is able to focus incident light with any polarization state, including circular, linear, and elliptical polarizations, has been proposed and investigated. We demonstrate that the metasurface lens consisting of metal subwavelength slits can operate in a wide bandwidth in the visible range, and has a higher focusing efficiency than that of an amplitude FZP lens without phase modulation. A multi-focus FZP metasurface lens has also been designed and investigated. The proposed lens can provide potential applications in integrated nanophotonic devices without polarization limitations.

Majestic - Prappe Metals Data, Brian Majestic

Chemistry and Biochemistry: Data Sets

No abstract provided.

Synthesis And Characterization Of Starburst Pseudorotaxanes And Their Metallic Derivatives, Shalini D. Kadinappulige

Masters Theses

Mechanically Interlocked Molecules (MIMs) are interlocked molecular architectures, characterized by the fact that they are linked through a mechanical bond. Catenanes, rotaxanes, molecular knots, and Borromean rings are typical examples for these molecules. Since MIMs are not connected by covalent bonds, hydrogen bonding, π- π stacking, and/or electrostatic interactions help bring the components together. Dialkyl-ammonium centers, bis(pyridinium)ethane dications, viologen species, and naphthalenediimide π-deficient groups are well known as recognition motifs for crown ethers. In the research described here, we have synthesized several pseudorotaxanes and their tricyclohexyltin metallic derivatives, based on benzobis(imidazolium) (BBI) salts as axles, in combination with the 15DN38C10 …

Lew,1wr1 Rat Shows An Increased Risk Of Developing Malignant Forms Of Nafld, Luis Mercado

Summer Community of Scholars Posters (RCEU and HCR Combined Programs)

No abstract provided.

A Comparative Study Of Drug Affinities Determined By Thermofluor And Kinetic Analysis, Oruba Shatnawi

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

Determining the binding affinity and potency in vitro is one of the significant steps that can give a clue for a new candidate drug during the drug discovery process. Thermofluor is a method used in measuring binding affinity (Kd) of protein-ligands interaction through determining the change in thermal denaturation temperature of protein using real time PCR (RT-PCR). Kinetic analysis assay is used to screen a library of compounds to calculate their potencies (IC50) and inhibition constants (Ki) and it can be performed by spectrophotometer technique. In this study, we used bovine carbonic anhydrase II (BCA II) enzyme, and four of …

Ozone And Reactive Oxidized Nitrogen Chemistry In The Northeast U.S, Matthew Ninneman

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Ongoing reductions in oxides of nitrogen concentrations ([NOx] = nitric oxide ([NO]) + nitrogen dioxide ([NO2])) throughout the continental United States (U.S.) have important implications for tropospheric ozone (O3) and reactive oxidized nitrogen chemistry (NOy ≈ NOx + nitric acid (HNO3) + particle nitrate (pNO3) + peroxy nitrates (PNs) + alkyl nitrates (ANs)). Specifically, decreasing [NOx] concentrations have likely (1) increased the sensitivity of O3 to the [NOx] level, and (2) affected NOy speciation and partitioning. An understanding of the impacts of continued [NOx] reductions is needed to inform current and future air pollution control strategies, especially since the National …

Metabolic Changes Associated With Adaptive Resistance To Daptomycin In Streptococcus Mitis-Oralis, Allison Parrett, Joseph M. Reed, Stewart G. Gardner, Nagendra N. Mishra, Arnold S. Bayer, Robert Powers, Greg A. Somerville

Department of Chemistry: Faculty Publications

Background: Viridans group streptococci of the Streptococcus mitis-oralis subgroup are important endovascular pathogens. They can rapidly develop high-level and durable non-susceptibility to daptomycin both in vitro and in vivo upon exposure to daptomycin. Two consistent genetic adaptations associated with this phenotype (i.e., mutations in cdsA and pgsA) lead to the depletion of the phospholipids, phosphatidylglycerol and cardiolipin, from the bacterial membrane. Such alterations in phospholipid biosynthesis will modify carbon flow and change the bacterial metabolic status. To determine the metabolic differences between daptomycin-susceptible and non- susceptible bacteria, the physiology and metabolomes of S. mitis-oralis strains 351 (daptomycin-susceptible) and 351-D10 (daptomycin …

Improving The Value Of The Coconut With Biotechnology, Fabian M. Dayrit, Quang Nguyen

Chemistry Faculty Publications

The fruit of the coconut tree is perhaps the most useful plant resource in the tropics. All parts of the coconut fruit have traditional uses that have been developed commercially in recent times (Foale 2003, Dayrit and Dayrit 2013). Due to its widespread household use, trade and industry statistics on coconut products reflect only part of the actual importance of the coconut. Today, coconut-based products have gone beyond the tropics and are consumed in many temperate countries and global regions such as Australia, China, Europe, North America, and the Middle East (Costello 2018). Coconut milk is the basic ingredient of …

Automated Process Of Quantifying Scientific Images Using Fiji, Olivia Casimir

Summer Community of Scholars Posters (RCEU and HCR Combined Programs)

No abstract provided.

Using Batman Software To Analyze Metabolic Changes In Type 1 Diabetes-Susceptible Rats, Connor Hall

Summer Community of Scholars Posters (RCEU and HCR Combined Programs)

No abstract provided.

Kidney Tissue Preparation For 1h-Nmr Analysis And Colorimetric Activity Assay Of Mitochondria, Savannah Knight, James Wolfsberger

Summer Community of Scholars Posters (RCEU and HCR Combined Programs)

No abstract provided.

The Role Of Influenza Infection On Cell Metabolism, Megha Mokkapati

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

In this particular study global metabolomics LCMS data was analyzed to determine the effect of influenza infection on host metabolic processes. Specifically, wild-type male and female mouse lung samples from mice infected with PR8 (H1N1) or both PR8 and a reinfection of X31 (H3N2) were analyzed. The LC/MS(liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry) based global metabolomics will be performed on the samples using hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography to separate polar analytes from the tissues (Dettmer, Aronov, 2007). Metabolites impacted by influenza infection in all samples will be analyzed to compare male and female mice, as well as differences between PR8 infection and X31 …