Polystyrene Discs as Barriers for Diffusion in Layered Organogels

Transdermal drug delivery is a vital mechanism for skincare, hormone replacement, and other biomedical applications. Organic polymer gels have been recently identified as candidates for this drug delivery mechanism. Our present work focuses on controlling the direction of diffusion in a polymer gel with an organic network. Organogels contain a diffusion probe, tri-block copolymer, and an organic solvent. The tri-block copolymer forms a physically crosslinked network that consists of spherical polystyrene domains and a plasticized rubbery matrix consisting of ethylene-co-butylene and aliphatic mineral oil. The matrix phase is fluid-like and amenable to mass transport, which allows for probe diffusion. The main mechanism by which a probe maneuvers through a gel is time-dependent diffusion. Using Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy, the probe release rate can be tracked, and therefore, the fundamental parameter diffusivity can be determined. Controlling directionality allows for the delivery of probes to be tuned to our liking. Annealing external polystyrene was the main method employed to control diffusion. In particular, polystyrene pellets were annealed onto the face and walls of a gel. Sealed organogels were submerged in glass jars containing MO. Usually, gels submerged in MO gain in mass and thickness as a result of inward diffusion of oil into the gels. Our data shows that the mass transport of mid-block selective oil is limited based on how much Polystyrene covers the gel.

Continue reading Nicholas DeVita »

Metallic Plastics: The Effect of Electroplating on ABS Plastic

Experiments with post-processes and fabrication methods of 3D printed parts were explored, focusing on how to strengthen and aesthetically enhance acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) plastic. The main limitations of 3D printed parts being used for end products is the quality of their finish. A variety of post processing and finishing methods can be used on plastic parts in order to increase their material properties and aesthetics that would make them more appealing in the consumer world. However, some of these methods are time consuming and costly. In order to bypass these concerns, electroplating and electroless plating were tested. These are the process of coating one object with metal ions onto metallic paints and mixtures such as graphite, silver, nickel and copper, through chemical reactions to strengthen the base material. Comparisons between which metallic mixtures were best suited for each process, the highest yield strength, and the different processes themselves were explored. The experiment was conducted with ABS plastic dog bones as the base for the mixtures and coatings. Tensile testing on the finished, fully coated, specimens showed only slight differences in yield strength, about 0.5 – 0.7 MPa from the original, depending on the metallic base mixture and the plating process used, with the highest being the copper paint base, copper electroplated specimens. Despite the small changes in yield strengths, the specimens that were treated beforehand with prepping techniques such as degreasing and proper paint setting intervals, generated the best results in all mixtures and platings. 

Continue reading Caroline Ionata »

Development of Origami-Inspired Geometric Models for Structural Applications
Determining the geometric and mechanical properties of origami-inspired folded systems for engineering applications is beneficial to identify and take advantage of their unique properties. Due to the construction of origami with stiff peaks and a folded nature, origami-inspired systems provide a rigid structure that is also compressible and deployable. These characteristics have been beneficial in various engineering fields, such as with solar power arrays, medical stents, and temporary shelters. Through this research, the Japanese Miura-Ori origami pattern has been determined to best align with structural engineering applications. Six versions of the Miura-Ori fold with varying angles and plate thicknesses were designed to enable 3D printing. The research process began with an exploration of the Miura-Ori pattern through paper and cardboard folded models. Through careful analysis, calculations were made to determine the geometry for models of varying angles and accounting for element thickness. Numerous extruding and layout techniques, as well as modeling software, were used to produce optimum model results with reduced structural weaknesses. Because of the uniquely thin elements and complex geometry of the Miura-Ori fold, the 3D printer properties were critical to avoid printing errors. After countless revisions, the Miura-Ori inspired models were successfully designed and 3D printed. Preliminary structural analysis was conducted to better understand plate buckling in SAP2000, a commercially available structural analysis program. The geometric modeling and 3D printing that was completed is the foundation of the current experimental testing and future computational analysis that will be used for verification of the experimental results.

Continue reading Maddie Sanders »

Making Accelerated NMR More Robust for Pharmaceutical Sciences

Pharmaceutical companies often face roadblocks in structure elucidation of both natural products and identification of impurities. Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) can overcome these problems in the drug discovery pipeline in a way mass spectrometry cannot by identifying absolute configuration. New technologies to accelerate structure elucidation include emerging advanced data sampling techniques like nonuniform sampling (NUS), which is powerful, but prone to artefacts. Sampling noise and aliasing artefacts are a barrier to using sparser NUS in complex 2D-NMR experiments. We find that weak aliasing artefacts are a growing concern in sparser 1D-NUS and can sometimes be misattributed to incomplete deconvolution of the broader point-spread function. As sparsity increases in NUS, we find that detrimental repeat sequences can occur early in the sampling schedule, correlating with aliasing artefacts in resulting spectra. By developing a convolutional screening approach to evaluate sampling schedules, these repeat sequences can be detected and characterized. Selecting schedules to avoid repeat sequences and using short periods of initial uniform sampling are effective at reducing these initial repeat sequences and enabling routine 25-33% 1D-NUS of challenging 2D-NMR experiments.

Continue reading Lucille Cullen »

Using Global Value Chain analysis to study the current structure of the Global
Semiconductor Industry

Despite the swath of media coverage on the Semiconductor Industry and the shortages of
semiconductor components experienced over the past two years, conventional dialogue often
neglects to consider the heterogeneity within this sphere of industrial activity. To address these
shortcomings, this paper offers a Global Value Chain (GVC) framework by which to model the
current structure of the Semiconductor Industry. Section 1 provides a synopsis of semiconductor
components, the industry responsible for their production, and proposes a GVC framework by
which to evaluate both. Sections 2, 3, and 4 outline the input-output structure of the value chain,
the key players that operate within the industry, and the geography of the value chain,
respectively. Section 5 equips and applies this model to discuss three highly relevant topics: the
end-use demand for semiconductors, the economics of foundries, and the industry’s sales cycle.
Section 6 builds upon these applications as well as the GVC framework to examine the causes of
and implications behind the recent global semiconductor shortage. Section 7 offers our
concluding remarks on these matters as well as our key takeaways.

Continue reading James Horton »

Women Leaders in the Baltic States: Untying the Double Bind

ABSTRACT: Across the post-Soviet region, but particularly in the Baltic states, women executives have gained power in greater numbers and at higher rates than many other regions in the world. This defies existing literature, as these states maintain conservative gender stereotypes while also facing a major security threat from Russia close to their borders. This thesis posits that the increase in women within Baltic legislatures across time creates a political pipeline, or a pool of qualified candidates that makes the election of women to executive power more likely. This is not the only factor, however, as the influence of NATO as a guarantor of Baltic security cannot be understated. Thus, this research finds evidence that NATO’s Article V has provided a security guarantee for the Baltic states, which has resulted in a consensus around security policy. This removes security as a major issue in elections, and lessens the burden of proving security competence from women leaders – an area which often aggravates the effect of stereotypes. If this security consensus is disrupted, however, women face an altered double-bind scenario in which they must balance the maintenance of a positive relationship with NATO/the U.S. while fulfilling their cultural role as women, tied deeply to national survival and independence. Estonia and Lithuania are selected as case studies, which culminate in an examination of current Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas and Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte.

Continue reading Elena Roe »

Since college women are particularly vulnerable to sexual violence, it is essential to understand the knowledge and beliefs that students have surrounding Campus Sexual Assault (CSA). Results revealed that female students were more educated on sexual assault than male students. Additionally, fraternity men were more likely to reject rape myths than non-affiliated men. Our findings demonstrate the need for sexual assault education programs to go beyond consent knowledge, including an exploration of misogynistic attitudes and behaviors. Improvements to sexual assault education and more research regarding rape myths will help diminish rape-supportive attitudes, and subsequently decrease the prevalence of CSA.

Continue reading Marisa Alkalay »

Sexual Violence and Greek Life in the time of COVID-19

Greek life is a predictor of engagement in hookup and party culture, which are associated with campus sexual assault. COVID-19 mitigations may have diminished the impact of Greek Life on victimization by limiting exposure to Greek events. Our findings indicate sexual violence is still more frequent among Greek affiliated students, particularly women. This and other literature suggests that Greek male-dominated party infrastructure may have continued to promote community victimization in spite of pandemic public health efforts.

Continue reading Ariana Gambrell »

When The Only Cure For Motion Sickness Is To Keep Moving: A Travelog of Angels in America

The project is invested in the impact travel can have on a dramatic text and the value of archival research within production dramaturgy and critical responses to theatre. Using pre-Broadway drafts of the script of Angels in America (which Wilson gathered by traveling to archives in London, New York, San Francisco, and Los Angeles over the past two years), Wilson will summarize the key textual changes made to Kushner’s classic play over the first seven years of its production history. She also will summarize her own process crafting her departmental thesis in English Literary Studies, which will take the form of a podcast.

Continue reading Zoe Wilson »

A Microfluidic Biosensor to Detect a Specific Respiratory Pathogen

Micropillar array electrodes have many benefits, such as increased mass transport, lower detection limit, and potential to be miniaturized; hence, they play a crucial role in electrochemical biosensors. Geometrical parameters of micropillars (shape, height, etc.) affect the surface area of the electrode and improve the operation of biosensors. In this study, we investigated the effects of the different shapes of micropillars in a microfluidic biosensor on the response current by COMSOL Multiphysics. Finally, we designed a microfluidic biosensor consisting of micropillar array electrodes in order to detect a specific respiratory pathogen.

Continue reading Maliheh Azimi Roueini »