Paper Competition Registration
Download the Paper Competition Registration Form (PDF)
Deadline: Postmarked by February 14, 2008
Paper Competition Abstracts
Matthew Beier
Oklahoma State University
Taking Off Soutstuff and Alkali Matters: The Discourse of Chemistry in Finnegans Wake
In the Wake, Joyce not only draws on chemistry to provide supporting details but also employs it as an alternate discourse enacting the basic relationships and dynamics of the text. Focusing on his appropriation of chemistry, one becomes reminded of his general ambivalence about Enlightenment epistemology and the modern science it engendered. Science provokes fascination for its explanatory power; however, Joyce at least somewhat undermines its privileged status by treating it as one among many ways of explaining the nature of things.
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Andrea Cascio
Missouri University of Science and Technology
Effect of Clycosylation on the Stability of Transgenic Antibodies
We have exposed both glycosylated and non glycosylated antibodies to a variety of stresses (including shear, freeze and thaw and high temperatures) in the presence and absence of sucrose. Aggregation was monitored by dynamic light scattering as well as HPLC using a multiple angle light scattering detector. Changes in secondary structure were monitored by FTIR and deamidation by CE. Our results show that the non glycosylated antibody is more prone to form aggregates induced by freeze and thaw. Marginal differences in secondary structure were observed.
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Steven Castleberry, Sundar Madihally
Oklahoma State University
A Novel Approach to Cross-Linking Gelatin Matrices
The goal of this research was the optimization of a cross-linking strategy that would yield high compressive strength, as well as, increased durability of gelatin-based three dimensional porous structures, useful in tissue regeneration. A novel approach of using a dual cross-linking series to affect two different functional groups present in gelatin was chosen for this purpose. The hypothesis is that the DMS would form an ester with gelatin. Subsequent addition of NHS would react with the formed ester, and stabilized cross-linking. Experiments performed showed support for the proposed hypothesis of the DMS/NHS reaction as it was noted that the strength and durability of the structures increased when both the cross-linkers were used. Optimization was carried out through a factorial design of experiments and compression tested in hydrated conditions. A six-parameter regression model was developed from which surface plots were DMS and 2% NHS concentrations. Cross-linking density was assessed with saturation of 50% in cross-linking density with 1 to 2% cross-linker. FTIR analysis was also linking both the functional groups. Work is currently being done to enhance the effectiveness of the secondary reaction, most notably the use of N-Ethyl-N’-(3-demthylaminopropyl) carbodimide in place of NHS.
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Christopher D. DiGiulio
The University of Oklahoma
Reactor Design: Application Biofuels
The project to be presented involves building a laboratory scale reactor to study the conversion of triacetin, a model triglyceride, by a decarboxylation reaction, to produce light hydrocarbons, methane and carbon dioxide. The reaction will be carried out in the gas phase and a heterogeneous catalyst will be employed. The paper will include details on the process of building, calibrating and operating the reactor. It is likely that online GC analysis will be involved, so this issue will be covered. If reaction data is available by March 28th this data and data analysis will also be included.
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Aaron Fluitt
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Ribosome Kinetics and aa-tRNA Competition Determine Rate and Fidelity of Peptide Synthesis
It is well established that translation, the process by which the ribosome synthesizes proteins, proceeds at a varying rate, but theories proposed to date have offered no unified resolution. In translation, the ribosome moves along the messenger RNA (mRNA), “translating” each three-nucleotide sequence (codon) by inserting the specified amino acid, delivered by a cognate aminoacyl tRNA (aa-tRNA). We have hypothesized that the aa-tRNA face competition for binding at the ribosome from near- an non-cognate aa-tRNAs, causing delays and errors in peptide synthesis. We have calculated the competition levels, translation times, and error frequencies for all 64 RNA codons. The model sheds light on the arrangement of fast-and slow- translating regions in a particular gene, a well as the kinetics of programmed frameshifts.
Biography
Aaron Fluitt is a sophomore chemical engineering major at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He is an active member of the AIChE student chapter and is attending his second Mid America Regional Conference. Aaron has been an undergraduate research assistant under Professor Hendrik Viljoen in the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering since January 2007.
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Tyler M. Gunn
University of Iowa
Seed-Mediated Growth of Platinum Nanoparticles via Green Chemical Reduction
of Platinum Salts
Monodisperse platinum particles of various diameters were grown from platinum seeds utilizing a stepwise addition of calculated amounts of platinum salt and ascorbic acid. Ascorbic acid is a weak reducing agent which prevents new seed nucleation while fully reducing the platinum salt in solution. It was discovered that as platinum seeds are grown into much larger particles they become more faceted; increasing the surface area-to-volume ratio. This new nanoparticle synthesis technique allows the creation of uniquely faceted platinum particles of controllable size for use in catalysis
Biography
Tyler Gunn is a senior at The University of Iowa majoring in Chemical Engineering with an emphasis on Pre-Medicine. He grew up in Iowa City and graduated from Iowa City High School, often spending time as a child on The University of Iowa Campus. Tyler has held research positions in both the Department of Chemical Engineering and the College of Public Health at the University of Iowa. After spending a year working as a chemical process engineering intern at a soy protein production facility owned by Cargill In. Tyler participated in a NSF REU at Auburn University researching platinum nanoparticle fabrication. In his spare time, Tyler is often reading, avidly following politics, or coaching high school soccer.
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Jonathan Pratt
Oklahoma State University
Reducing Thickness of Composite Scaffolds by Nanoetching
This project looks to reduce the thickness of composite scaffolds used for tissue engineering by nanoetching. Scaffolds of a synthetic polymer for mechanical strength and a natural polymer for biological properties were created to mimic properties of current alternative treatment. Using nanoetching techniques, the overall scaffold thickness was reduced nearly 75% without comprising mechanical properties.
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Stacy Sommerfeld
University of Iowa
Formulation and Optimization of Aerosols Containing a Bacterial-killing Enzyme.
The main concept of this research is to deliver antibiotics to the primary site of the tuberculosis infection by the aerosol route, rather than through conventional oral or intravenous methods. In the current project, lysozyme, an enzyme effective at killing bacteria, was formulated with inert L-leucine into a dry powder by spray drying. Once a powder, the aerosol was characterized for particle diameter by laser diffraction and for density by tap density testing for use in calculating the aerodynamic diameter, which was found to be between the acceptable range of 1 to 5 µm.
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Lance Williamson
Kansas State University
Atomic Layer Deposition of In203 and Ammonolysis into InN
Conformal films of In203 were deposited on nanoparticles using sequential exposures of In(CH3)3 and H2O at 175 C. Self-limiting behavior of both reagents were observed with in-situ FTIR spectroscopy and the In203 grows at .52A/cycle. XPS analysis confirms the oxidation state of Indium to be In3+ with a stoichiometry ratio of 2:3.18 ln:O. These films were subsequently converted into InN when heated to 450 C in an ammonia atmosphere. The presence of nitrogen is confirmed by Auger spectroscopy, but the ammonolysis roughens the original film as observed by TEM.
