Matching Items (357)
Description
Pure coconut oil, lanolin, and acetaminophen were vaporized at rates of 1–50 mg/min, using a porous network exhibiting a temperature gradient from 5000 to 5500 K/mm, without incurring noticeable chemical changes due to combustion, oxidation, or other thermally-induced chemical structural changes. The newly coined term “ereptiospiration” is used here to describe this combination of thermal transpiration at high temperature gradients since the process can force the creation of thermal aerosols by rapid heating in a localized zone. Experimental data were generated for these materials using two different supports for metering the materials to the battery powered coil: namely, a stainless steel fiber bundle and a 3-D printed steel cartridge. Heating coconut oil, lanolin, or acetaminophen in a beaker to lower temperatures than those achieved at the surface of the coil showed noticeable and rapid degradation in the samples, while visual and olfactory observations for ereptiospiration showed no noticeable degradation in lanolin and coconut oil while HPLC chromatograms along with visual observation confirm that within the limit of detection, acetaminophen remains chemically unaltered by ereptiospiration.
ContributorsWoolley, Christine (Author) / Garcia, Antonio (Author) / Santello, Marco (Author) / Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering (Contributor)
Created2017-04-12
Description
Vitamin D, Klotho, and FOXO3 have all been linked to have anti-aging and anti-cancerous effects as separate pathways. Specifically, mice with knockout Klotho in their genes have displayed signs of premature aging, humans who are vitamin D deficient have been shown to develop cardiovascular disease and cognitive impairments, and those who have displayed overexpression of FOXO3 have shown to have a longer lifespan. Here we took each pathway and attempted to formulate a feedback mechanism loop linking all three separate pathways. We propose that vitamin D levels modulate klotho activity, including the expression of the s-klotho and m-klotho isoforms. Moreover, the anti-oxidation transcription factor FOXO3 is also thought to participate in crosstalk with VDR signaling. Through the connection between 1,25D and Klotho, we probed at their interactions with FOXO3 signaling in kidney and colon cells, and proposed that vitamin D and klotho may reduce oxidative stress and suppress the onset of epithelial cancers through it effects on FOXO3. Results showed a strong support for the cooperation between FOXO3 and 1,25D to stimulate both superoxide dismutase (a FOXO3 response element) and XDR3/ROC (vitamin D response elements). This cooperation was mostly seen in embryonic kidney cells (HEK293) and not in the colon cancer cells (HCT116), which has led to the conclusion that vitamin D and FOXO3 cooperation mainly occurs in kidney tissue and/or in tissue that is not yet been overtaken by cancer. Differences in the Klotho isoforms were seen when measuring FOXO3 and vitamin D activity, but experiments manipulating other components will need to be conducted to further understand the function of Klotho in maintaining reactive oxygenated species levels.
ContributorsSandoval, Ruby (Author) / Jurutka, Peter (Thesis director) / Sandrin, Todd R. (Committee member) / Heck, Michael (Committee member) / School of Social and Behavioral Sciences (Contributor) / School of Mathematical and Natural Sciences (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2016-05
Description
In an industrialized world that relies heavily on low cost production and packaging produced without a viable end-of-life strategy, the accumulation of non-biodegradable plastics in the environment and particularly the oceans today is an urgent problem of global proportions. Plastics pose a significant threat to marine mammals due to mistaken ingestion as well as potential release of plasticizers and other chemicals. However, the interactions and consequences of ingestion of oceanic plastics by marine mammals have not been thoroughly studied. In this literature review, information regarding plastic ingestion by marine mammals was compiled to estimate the magnitude of adverse impacts and identify major knowledge gaps. Using comprehensive Boolean search terms in Web of Science of literature published between 1960 and 2020, it was determined that there were large discrepancies in the amount of research conducted among 10 different categories of marine mammals, with cetaceans being the primary focus group of most studies (70.3). In addition, different areas of the world, such as southern Africa, were found to have a disproportionately small number of studies on plastic impacts on marine mammalian life in their surrounding marine waters. Differences were found in the amount of plastics ingested by marine animals and a hypothesis of explaining these observations was formulated, attributing potential ingestion of plastic to the debris resembling different food sources in the mammals’ diets as well as different feeding mechanisms.
ContributorsFredette-Roman, Cassidy (Author) / Polidoro, Beth (Thesis director) / Rolsky, Charles (Committee member) / Halden, Rolf (Committee member) / School of Life Sciences (Contributor) / School of Mathematical and Natural Sciences (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2020-12
Description
This study examines the utility of diagnostic CT scans as sources of data to quantify facial growth in children. Subadults often suffer facial trauma arising from a variety of circumstances. Pediatric surgeons are then confronted with devising surgical pre- and post-operative strategies that present numerous complications. One of these involves predicting how specific areas of a child's face will change with time. The proliferation of CT scans use in pre-operative planning throughout healthcare provides potential data for addressing many concerns, including those involving facial growth. To add to the burgeoning body of literature focusing on facial growth and provide insight anatomical variation this study used data derived from CT scans from Phoenix Children's Hospital. Quantitative data derived from CTs were used to examine normative growth and develop predictive equations that surgeons can use to visualize facial change for males and female patients.
ContributorsLee, Isaac Jet (Author) / Ferry, Lara (Thesis director) / Falsetti, Anthony (Committee member) / School of Mathematical and Natural Sciences (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2018-12
Description
Post-mortem interval (PMI) estimation is a crucial piece of information to be established to be established in any death investigation. Though a variety of methods to estimate PMI exists, not all of them are always able to work. Forensic microbiology is attempting to help bridge this gap by developing methods to predict PMI with microbial communities. The change in the microbiome present on a body after death is a predictable patter that can be used almost like a clock. Existing studies thus far have shown a consistent pattern of what the composition of the microbiome on a body is during key stages of decomposition. However, research has yet to be conducted on whether these patterns persist in an arid climate, such as the desert, or during decomposition within a sealed container. Here, we aimed to begin filling this knowledge gap by observing the microbiomes present on pigs decomposing inside of buckets in the Arizona climate. Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes and Proteobacteria were the most abundant phyla detected with Firmicutes primarily being found on the skin. Firmicutes abundance decreased about half-way through decomposition. Xanthomonadaceae appeared part way through decomposition and Clostridiaceae was detected in all sequenced samples. Though the initial results match the trends established in previous research, further testing is required to determine if this result is reproducible and reliable.
ContributorsMiller, Amber (Author) / Parrott, Jonathan (Thesis director) / Marshall, Pamela (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / School of Mathematical and Natural Sciences (Contributor)
Created2024-05
Description
This thesis proposes and explores an adapted approach to music recommendation and
event promotion, aimed at providing streaming users more accessibility to local artists,
performers, and events. By focusing specifically on the enrichment of local music ecosystems,
this research is undertaken with the express interest of local music artists, venues, and
streamers in mind. It seeks to serve a multifaceted goal: revitalizing local music scenes by
making them more visible and accessible through streaming platforms; empowering local music artists by providing them with a broader audience and new opportunities for engagement; reconnecting artists with the community, thereby fostering a stronger sense of local identity and cultural cohesion; and providing economic benefit to local venues through increased attendance and engagement. In essence, this thesis intends to harness the power of streaming platforms to rekindle the localized relationships between listeners, artists, and venues, thereby contributing to the renaissance, sustainability, and vibrancy of local music cultures. These outcomes will be achieved through a two-pronged theoretical and practical approach, incorporating Proof of Concept (PoC) algorithm with the Business Model Canvas
(BMC). A Proof of Concept recommendation algorithm was developed as a tool to empirically demonstrate the viability of the proposed strategies. This prototype music recommendation
algorithm was designed and tested with the explicit goal of creating a novel music recommendation algorithm that biased users towards exposure of smaller local artists and
events.
ContributorsBradley, Robert (Author) / Clarkin, Michael (Co-author) / Ellini, Andre (Co-author) / Mancenido, Michelle (Thesis director) / Sirugudi, Kumar (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / School of Mathematical and Natural Sciences (Contributor)
Created2024-05
Description
In an international field study, this project identified two primary objectives. The first was to familiarize the researcher with the environment, methods, and techniques used in the Costa Rica wildlife projects of ProCAT. After successful mastery of the first, the second objective was to use that knowledge to gather preliminary acoustic data in the southern region of Costa Rica. The data was analyzed for call type to identify species represented on the recordings. This information can be used to establish a 2024 baseline for avian diversity in these regions. An established baseline of biodiversity at a fixed timepoint enables effective and quantitative measures of change over time for future research and conservation.
ContributorsWalters, Jenna (Author) / Schipper, Jan (Thesis director) / Sellner, Erin (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / School of Mathematical and Natural Sciences (Contributor)
Created2024-05