15133 research outputs found
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Advancing in the single-step production of functional 3D printed electrochemical flow cells
No full textOur lab group is presenting a new process for creating electrochemical flow cells with incorporated carbon-composite electrodes. These electrodes are 3D printed using insulating polylactic acid (PLA) and a commercially available graphene–PLA composite. This work is promising because it is the first proof that low-cost equipment may be used to create devices that can handle fluids and sense electrochemical reactions in a single production phase. Using a channel-flow configuration as an example system for hydrodynamic electrochemistry, we show the wide range of applications of this method. Hydrodynamic electrochemistry was used to characterize the unaltered devices, which exhibit behavior consistent with the well-known Levich equation. These findings, in our opinion, will open the door for the creation of highly specialized micro-total analytical devices with embedded electrochemical sensors for a range of redox-active substances
Is car runoff polluting the lake by lot 45 at Montclair State University?
No full textWith progressive urbanization, natural water bodies become increasingly influenced by civilization. Urbanization brings runoff, habitat destruction, and increased pollution. Snowmelt and rainfall wash pollutants found on roadways into water systems. Increased car traffic around water bodies poses a higher risk for pollution like oil, heavy metals, and microplastics to be carried into water systems. Parking lots and roads also disrupt existing drainage systems which can lead to extreme cases of sedimentation which reduces water quality. These collective factors disrupt natural biodiversity in freshwater ecosystems within close proximity to car traffic. The research being conducted determines the degree of pollution on the lake located on Montclair State University’s Campus. The lake is located in between two parking lots and next to a roadway at a lower elevation than the parking lots. Soil and water samples are being collected to determine concentrations of vital elements. Analysis expects to find phosphate, pH, metals, salinity, turbidity and nitrate will be elevated, along with other organic compounds. Mitigation techniques should be implemented to reduce the amount of pollutants advancing towards water bodies located near urbanization
Understanding Latine students at Montclair State University, a Hispanic-serving institution
No full textThe multidimensional nature of Latine identity poses critical implications for education (Fuentes et al., 2024). This notion is key as this group grows in this country. Specifically, this population is currently around 66 million (19.5%) and by 2060, Latine people are projected to make up around 111 million (U.S. Census Bureau, 2021). In higher education there are approximately 3.8 million Latine students (NCES, 2021), making them 20% percent of all students. Latine identity poses challenges in capturing diverse experiences due to factors like educational challenges (Nunez, 2014), language proficiency (Nunez, 2014), sense of belonging (Loveland, 2018), representation (Vargas et al., 2019), and generational status (Clayton et al. 2017). In our study, 389 students were surveyed. We found that 155 (40%) of the 389 students were Latine. With respect to citizenship, 148 (95%) reported being born in the US, 15 (10%) reported becoming US citizens by naturalization, while 7 (4%) reported being permanent residents. Looking more closely at our Latine students, 35 (23%) reported having disabilities, and 11 (7%) reported having mental health concerns. Given the relevance of colorism in this community (Fuentes et al., 2021), we measured skin color and found that 92 students (59%) reported lighter skin tones, 74 students (48%) reported moderate skin tones, while 9 students (6%) reported darker skin tones. Given the heterogeneity amongst Latine students and our designation as a Hispanic Serving Institution, it is important to take a closer look at who they are, so we can serve them well
The uncanny, triad consciousness, and intersectionality in Ann Petry’s the street
No full textMy research analyzes Ann Petry’s The Street, set in Harlem in the late 1940s, by examining the socioeconomic barriers shaping Black women’s lives. I first establish the limited economic and housing opportunities for women of color in the mid-1940s, reflected in Petry’s portrayal of Lutie, Mrs. Hedges, Min, and Mary. Through these characters, Petry reveals how race, gender, and class intersect to confine Black women in cycles of oppression. Additionally, the restricted job market for Black men forced Black women into low-wage labor, perpetuating poverty. The housing crisis in Harlem, shaped by redlining and urban decay, further constrained their opportunities. Moreover, I explore how Petry critiques the dehumanization of Black women, particularly through Mrs. Hedges, whose survival depends on complicity with the white patriarchy. Using Freud’s concept of the uncanny, I examine how her physicality both enables and limits her social and economic mobility, reinforcing cycles of Black female suppression. Finally, the novel expands on W.E.B. Du Bois’s double consciousness theory, anticipating Kimberlé Crenshaw’s concept of intersectionality. Building on these frameworks, I introduce the concept of a “triad consciousness,” which encompasses the compounding identities of race, womanhood, and motherhood that shape the female consciousness. Ultimately, The Street dismantles the illusion of the American Dream for Black individuals, exposing how power structures—economic, gendered, and social—corrupt the very ideals they claim to uphold
Wuchereria bancrofti dihydrofolate reductase expression and purification methods with initial kinetic studies
No full textLymphatic filariasis affects over 657 million people worldwide, Wuchereria bancrofti (Wb) being responsible for 90% of cases. The parasite relies on dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) for folate metabolism. Methotrexate (MTX), a known DHFR inhibitor, demonstrated to be a potent inhibitor against different species of the enzyme, suggesting its potential effectiveness against Wb DHFR. MTX’s inhibition of human DHFR underscores the need for more selective compounds. The gene encoding Wb DHFR, engineered with an N-terminal His₆-tag, was expressed in E. coli LOBSTR strain and purified by a two-step affinity chromatography process of MTX-agarose resin followed by nickel-nitriloacetic acid (Ni-NTA) purification. The final 2L expression yielded 12.07 g of unpurified protein pellet. The final preparation yielded ~4 mg of purified protein per liter of culture, reaching a concentration of 210 µM. Enzyme activity was assessed using a microplate reader with NADPH as a cofactor and dihydrofolate (DHF) as a substrate. SDS-PAGE analysis confirmed the purity of Wb DHFR, revealing a dominant band near the expected molecular weight (~20 kDa) and minimal contamination. Inhibition by MTX was observed and IC₅₀ determination is ongoing. Further kinetic studies such as KM, kcat, and KI determinations will characterize enzyme behavior and inform the design of selective inhibitors. Identifying structural differences between Wb DHFR and human DHFR will be impactful for designing selective inhibitors that target the parasite while reducing off-target effects. DHFR is a viable therapeutic target for lymphatic filariasis and lays the foundation for future drug discovery efforts
Determining bioturbation rates and ocean productivity through geochemical paleo-proxies
No full textThe Greenland Ice Sheet (GrIS) has demonstrated sensitivity to climate warming and a poorly constrained response to major climate shifts. The International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP) pilots drilling expeditions to help understand past climates and paleoenvironments by extracting long cores from sedimentary layers overlying the crust that represent different intervals in geologic time. IODP Expedition 400 addresses the GrIS retreat by drilling more than 90 cores in a transect across Greenland’s Northwestern coast along Baffin Bay, spanning the last 30-50 million years. We can understand how these cores correlate to the paleoenvironment of GrIS fluctuations using different forcing mechanisms. This study focuses on reconstructing paleo-productivity in Baffin Bay using geochemical paleo-proxies. The cores from Site 1608A, specifically during the Pliocene period (5.3 million years ago) exhibit trace fossils of small worm burrows throughout the core sample, a phenomenon known as bioturbation. This could be due to a myriad of paleoenvironmental factors. Excess elemental concentrations could reflect phytoplankton productivity in the water column, potentially indicating increased nutrient availability during warm intervals within the cooling Pliocene. The Arctic water column remains understudied, and understanding these variations is crucial for future oceanic warming responses. Fluctuating trace element concentrations, specifically barium, are used to detect changes in surface productivity during periods of enhanced bioturbation. This study will contribute to the scientific understanding of ocean-atmosphere interaction in support of mitigation efforts in future warming scenarios
Association of emotion dysregulation in neurodiverse youth and parental quality of life
No full textEmotion dysregulation (ED) is a transdiagnostic factor involving challenges with processing and regulating emotions (Aldao et al., 2016). Despite ED’s impact on social, academic, and family functioning (Dvir et al., 2014), little research has examined its broader association with quality of life (QOL). No research to our knowledge has examined how ED relates to parent’s QOL, and how this relationship may differ across autistic and non-autistic youth. Parents of 117 youth (Mage=10.64; SDage=3.14; 55.4% male, 70 autistic; 4.1% Black, 11.6% Asian, 1.7% Native American, 4.1% MENA, 19.8% Multiracial, 47.1% White; IQ: 40-140) reported their child’s emotional reactivity and dysphoria (EDI; Mazefsky et al., 2021), autistic traits (SRS-2; Constantino & Gruber, 2012) and QOL (WHOQoL; World Health Organization, 2004). Lower parent QOL correlated with higher ED dysphoria, reactivity, and autistic traits in youth (all r\u3c-.244, p\u3c.001), with similar patterns in autistic and non-autistic groups separately (p\u3c.001). Multiple regressions indicated that child ED dysphoria uniquely predicted parent QOL related to social relationships (b=-.106, p=.003) and autistic traits uniquely predicted parent QOL related to environment (b=-.088, p=.018). Results suggest that child’s ED dysphoria, reactivity, and autistic traits affect parental QOL. ED dysphoria may play an important role in parent’s social QOL. Parents of children with greater autistic traits may experience challenges related to structuring their environments, which could lead to increased stress and reduced QOL. This underscores the importance of support for parents and how interventions targeting ED in autistic youth, not just autism symptoms, may improve parental stress and QOL
Crystallographic studies and synthesis of hexakis (imidazole) nickle(2+) complexes with substituted N-Benzoylalnine ligands
No full textCrystallographic Studies and Synthesis of Hexakis(imidazole)nickel(2+) Complexes with Substituted N-Benzoylalanine Ligands. A quasiracemates contains two molecules of opposite handedness that are similar in shape but, are chemically distinct. The chemical difference is usually a small change in one group such as chlorine substituting for bromine. Many organic quasiracemates consist an chiral R configuration molecule with one functional group paired with a second chiral molecule of S configuration with a different functional group. These two molecules usually assemble about a pseudo-center of symmetry, often mimicking the arrangement of the two true enantiomers in the racemates of each components. We studied these compounds to examine the role of shape of different groups in crystal packing, and potentially to prepare a crystals with desired properties. Previously, we prepared square planar metal copper(II) complexes to assemble a centrosymmetric-like arrangement of quasientomeric ligands with the metal serving as the quasi-inversion center. In these complexes, the quasiracemate ligand were directly bound to the copper. We attempted expand the type of quasiracemates by preparing crystals of a nickel complex of imidazole. In these complexes, the ligands are not directly bound to the metal but are hydrogen bonded to the metal bound imidazole. We prepared crystals using -Br, -Cl, -CH3, and NO2 as the variable group. We have sent the crystals to our collaborator for X-ray data collection. We have one preliminary structure to report
Fulfilling the goals of the ADA-broadening its applicability and strengthening its enforcement: an interdisciplinary analysis
No full textThe Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in everyday activities. However, the ADA does not cover all aspects of life as a person with disabilities. It does not address social barriers that hinder the ability of people with disabilities to fully participate in society. These barriers involve physical inaccessibility, discrimination, limited education, and social inclusion. Social inequities perpetuate barriers to complete accessibility. Sporadic enforcement, inadequate funding, and gaps in coverage all limit the benefits of the ADA. What can and should be done to improve the impact of the ADA on the lives of persons with disabilities? This is a complex problem requiring interdisciplinary research and analysis to achieve a more comprehensive understanding. I used qualitative research methodology, specifically textual analysis. I researched relevant sources from the disciplines of law and sociology to identify conflicting insights. I then sought common ground between those insights, and through integration I arrived at a more comprehensive understanding of the problem. That allows me to suggest resolutions to the problem. My research is not yet complete, but I conclude that the ADA can be improved by filling gaps in its coverage, increased funding and stricter enforcement, and programs to improve public awareness of the rights of people with disabilities. My research also opens avenues for additional research to further understand the strengths and weaknesses of the ADA and how it can continue to be improved to achieve a better and more stable environment for all Americans with disabilities
Testing the latent structure of a measure of delay of gratification
No full textMany important life decisions involve the trade-off between immediate gratification and long-term outcomes. An inability to delay gratification is associated with a variety of maladaptive life outcomes (e.g., addiction, poor academic performance, undersaving for retirement). In the judgment and decision-making literature, delay of gratification is usually operationalized as the construct called delayed discounting. This construct is often measured by having participants make a series of choices between smaller rewards that are received immediately (e.g., 75 in 1 month). Though often used and predictive of maladaptive outcomes listed above, questions remain about the reliability and validity of these discounting tasks. In the current study, we used a latent variable approach to measure the factor structure of a series of monetary discounting items. The items varied in magnitude as well as temporal frame (whether the reward is being delayed in the future or expedited to the present). Utilizing a large sample (e.g., approximately 500 participants), we found good or excellent fit for a multifactor structure on a series of global model fit indices (CFI = .96, RMSEA = .095, SRMR = .035). Specifically, both temporal frame and reward magnitude loaded onto separate correlated factors. These results demonstrate the internal validity and utility of using these discounting items, but show it is important to take into consideration reward characteristics such as temporal frame or magnitude. The current study also included other psychological and behavioral constructs, including academic procrastination, alcohol use, and goal setting. The latent associations with these constructs are being explored and will be included in the presentation at the symposium. A second large sample is also currently being collected to replicate and cross-validate the above results in a new sample