17179 research outputs found
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Diatom-Based Photobiological Treatment of Reverse Osmosis Concentrate: Optimization of Light and Temperature and Biomass Analysis
No full textAs global water scarcity intensifies, the desalination of brackish groundwater and surface water plays a critical role in augmenting water supplies. However, managing reverse osmosis concentrate (ROC) from brackish water desalination remains challenging due to silica and calcium accumulation and precipitation, which cause membrane scaling and reduce freshwater recovery. This study employed the brackish diatom Gedaniella flavovirens Psetr3 in a photobiological treatment to remove dissolved silica and calcium, offering a natural, sustainable solution to improve freshwater recovery. Optimal treatment conditions were identified, with a light intensity of 200 µmol m−2 s−1 and incubation temperatures between 23 °C and 30 °C maximizing silica uptake (up to 46 ± 3 mg/L/day) while minimizing diatom mortality. This study reports, for the first time, the silica, organic, and calcite content in diatom biomass and their production rates during the photobiological treatment of ROC using G. flavovirens Psetr3. The photobiological treatment of one million gallons (3785 m3) per day of ROC would produce 174 kg of silica, 163 kg of organics, and 314 kg of calcite daily. These findings provide valuable insights into the potential for utilizing these bioresources to offset the costs of photobiological treatment and subsequent desalination processes
Occupational health and safety in the workplace among healthcare workers: Using the public health essential services framework
No full textThis study aimed to assess the critical role of occupational health and safety (OHS) in safeguarding workers’ well-being and to examine federal agencies’ efforts in ensuring a safer work environment and enhancing health workers’ well-being through the Essential Public Health Services Framework. A thorough review of existing literature was conducted including peer reviewed scholarly articles, books and other academic resources to synthesize existing knowledge. Reports from institutional and government websites like the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), International Labor Organization (ILO), Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) were also utilized to provide statistical data, policy analysis and official interpretations of regulations and trends. These sources provided a combination of quantitative and qualitive data that include safety regulations, statistics on work related injuries, illnesses and fatalities. A detailed content analysis of the literature and reports was done to identify trends, gaps, and policies that provide insights on occupational health and safety. Findings reveal the effectiveness of the public health model in mitigating workplace hazards and ensuring a safer, healthier work environments for healthcare workers that benefit both individuals and society at large.Health Administratio
Chitosan-Coated Molecular Buoys for Efficient Capture of Nucleic Acids
No full textNucleic acid isolation is a crucial step in molecular biology applications, including disease diagnosis, forensic science, and environmental testing. Current techniques of isolation, such as column-based extraction, involve many steps and require costly reagents and time-consuming procedures that are not suitable for applications involving rapid diagnosis. In this study, we evaluate an alternative approach of chitosan-coated molecular buoys for nucleic acid capture and isolation. The research questions are: how does binding capacity differ for single-stranded (ssDNA) and double-stranded (dsDNA) nucleic acids, and how does nucleic acid length impact binding efficiency. SsDNA, and dsDNA will be exposed to chitosan-coated molecular buoys at varying lengths, and binding capacity will be measured by A260 absorbance before and after binding to the buoys. We will analyze the data to quantify the degree of binding across different nucleic acid types and lengths. The working hypotheses are that ssDNA may bind more due to its structure, shorter nucleic acids will bind better than longer nucleic acids, and that chitosan-coated molecular buoys will be a rapid, simple, and effective option to isolate nucleic acids.Biolog
An Examination of Undergraduate Students' Self Perceived Spatial Skills Compared with Spatial Thinking Performance
No full textThis study adapted two pre-existing spatial thinking instruments, the Geospatial Reasoning Ability Self-Report Measure (GRA) and the Spatial Thinking Abilities Tests or (STAT). The primary focus of this study was to examine if undergraduate students’ perception of their spatial orientation and spatial visualization was accurately reflected in their performance. This was done by comparing responses to the perception assessment, the GRA, and the performance assessment, STAT. Furthermore, three demographic questions were used to investigate if there were any variables that contributed to undergraduate students’ perception of and performance on spatial thinking. A total of n=75 undergraduate students participated in this study. Results indicated that there was no significant relationship between participants’ perception of their spatial orientation and visualization skills measured by the GRA items and their actual performance on these skills measured by the STAT items.Geography and Environmental Studie
Adherence to Mediterranean Healthy Lifestyle Patterns and Potential Barriers: A Comparative Study of Dietary Habits, Physical Activity, and Social Participation Between German and Turkish Populations
No full textBackground/Objectives: Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet (MedDiet) has declined even within Mediterranean regions, while its adoption has become more common in non-Mediterranean contexts. This study compares Germany and Türkiye, two culturally contrasting contexts traditionally classified as non-Mediterranean and Mediterranean, respectively, to examine cross-cultural differences and patterns in MedDiet adherence and related lifestyle behaviors. Specifically, it aims to compare adherence to the Mediterranean lifestyle (MedLife), physical activity, and social participation, and to analyze their associations within each country. Methods: Using data from the MEDIET4ALL survey, 1184 valid responses (609 from Germany and 575 from Türkiye) were analyzed for dietary behaviors, perceived barriers to MedDiet adherence, physical activity, and social engagement, with adherence assessed via the MEDLIFE index. Results: The majority of respondents were healthy (79%), employed (67%), young adults (56%), of normal weight (51%), living in urban environments (72%), and showed a gender balance (52.5% female). Most were classified as medium MedDiet adherent in both Germany (45%) and Türkiye (56%), with no significant difference in total MedLife scores. However, block- and item-level analyses revealed that Turkish participants showed higher adherence to Mediterranean food consumption (p < 0.001), particularly in limiting processed meat and consuming legumes, dairy, nuts/olives, and olive oil. In contrast, German participants adhered more closely to recommendations for red meat and cereal intake. German participants also scored higher on lifestyle-related behaviors (e.g., regular napping and recommended sleep duration), while no significant differences were found in the dietary habits block. Awareness of the MedDiet was significantly higher among German participants (p < 0.001), with country-specific differences in perceived barriers (i.e., higher total score among Germans with p = 0.03). Germans reported more barriers related to social norms and health conditions, while Turkish respondents more often cited attitudes, cost, and individual beliefs. Physical activity levels were significantly higher in Germany, whereas Turkish respondents reported greater social participation (p < 0.001). Weak to moderate correlations (r = 0.09 to 0.035) were found between MedLife adherence and both physical activity and social participation, with stronger associations observed among German participants. Conclusions: These findings highlight the culturally embedded nature of lifestyle behaviors related to MedDiet adherence. Despite similar overall adherence levels, Germans and Turks differ in specific dietary patterns, lifestyle practices, and perceived barriers, underscoring the need for culturally tailored interventions to improve adherence.Division of Researc
Developing High-Performance Polyamide Bonded Magnet for Magnetic Field Assisted Additive Manufacturing (MFAAM) Process
No full textBonded magnetic composites combine the cost-effectiveness, low density, and manufacturing flexibility of conventional polymer binders with the unique magnetic characteristics of magnetic powders/fillers. By leveraging the advantages of Additive Manufacturing (AM), AM has the potential to fabricate high magnetic strength anisotropic bonded magnets. In this study, fused filament fabrication (FFF) AM technique was used to 3D print strontium ferrite (SFO) bonded magnets using high-performance Polyamide 4.6 (PA4.6) binder, which was developed via the twin screw compounding process. By applying a magnetic field of 0.3 - 0.5 Tesla transverse to the print direction, a magnetic field-assisted additive manufacturing (MFAAM) was used to print anisotropic SFO/PA4.6 bonded magnetic composites. The mechanical performance of the FFF & MFAAM 10 wt.% magnetic composite systems was evaluated by subjecting them to both tensile and flexure mechanical testing. The reduction in the particle sizes of the strontium ferrite platelets in the ball milled composites favors the mechanical strength of the bonded magnetic composites, with a maximum increment of 73.9% and 38.5% in flexural and tensile strength, respectively, when compared to that of Neat PA4.6. MFAAM magnetic composite experiences a slight drop in tensile & flexure properties, which could be traced to preferred alignment facilitated by the print magnetic field, leading to stress concentration sources. The hysteresis curves were obtained using a MicroSense EZ9 Vibrating Sample Magnetometer (VSM) for 3 different mount orientations of the sample on the sample holder to explore their magnetic anisotropy along their principal axis (print direction [P], normal to print bed [Np], and transverse direction [T]). The extruded SFO/PA4.6 magnetic composite filaments show an easy axis in the r-direction. When 3D printed (FFF) in zero field, an average Smax of ≈ 0.634 was obtained, which suggests that the (BH)max of FFF composite was improved by a factor of 1.608 (i.e., about 60.8% increase) compared to an isotropic bonded magnetic composite with the same packing fraction. The MFAAM magnetic composites showed that the S values are largest along the transverse direction [T]. This induces a maximum alignment (average of Smax ≈0.90) in the MFAAM composites, which suggests that the (BH)max of the MFAAM composite was improved by a factor of 3.24 (i.e., about 224% increase) compared to the isotropic bonded magnetic composite. This significant improvement was driven primarily by the magnetic print field, which was applied parallel to the transverse direction during printing. The combination of considerable mechanical strength and maximum alignment obtainable suggests that SFO/PA4.6 bonded magnetic composites developed in this study have significant potential in fabricating anisotropic bonded magnets for applications such as electric motor systems, small generators, and 3D-printed Halbach cylinders used in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) equipment.Materials Science, Engineering, and Commercializatio
Evaluating Buprenorphine as a Treatment for Kratom Withdrawal: A Systematic Review [poster]
No full textKratom (Mitragyna) use has risen dramatically in the US, especially since 2015 (Palamar, 2021). It is widely available at most tobacco shops and gas stations due to being an unregulated herbal product (Rossheim et al., 2024). Chronic use of high doses can produce a similar withdrawal to opiates (Henningfield et al, 2023). Evidence and protocols for treating kratom withdrawal are very limited (Henningfield et al., 2023). Buprenorphine has been shown to be effective for opioid withdrawal and is reported in cases with kratom use; however, standardized dosing/assessment and effectiveness for kratom withdrawal are lacking (Dunn & Huhn, 2024).Nursin
The 3D EP: Producing Real Music from Synthetic Materials
No full textThe first three-dimensional (3D) printer emerged in 1981, utilizing stereolithography technology. Stereolithography (SLA) works by building up individual thin layers of resin one at a time that are each cured by an ultra-violet light before another layer is added. Three-dimensional printers, as are most known today, employ fused deposition modeling (FDM) technology whereby the plastic filament is extruded from a heated nozzle and laid down layer by layer to create any desired shape (Chapman 2022). With the rise of FDM technology in the past twenty years, 3D printing has shown promise in its use for instrument production. Researchers who have been experimenting with instrument reproduction via 3D printing include Ricardo Simian who makes and sells historic cornetts and Amit Zoran who in his research attempted to recreate a concert flute using both SLA and FDM technologies (Simian 2023; Zoran 2011). With such promising results, what are the limitations of this technology for recreating wind instruments? What implications does 3D printing have on the production process of musical instruments? To explore the answers to these questions, I will 3D print instruments found on open-source websites, sand and paint the printed products, and produce four recordings of original compositions that showcase each different instrument and their unique music-making capabilities. My creations draw upon the work of such makers and researchers as Simian, Zoran, Antonio Bacciaglia, Koji Matsunobu, Mauri Meronen, and Nicolas Bras. Though the work of some such as Simian and Zoran take a more technological approach, I plan to expand on their work by taking inspiration from their methods and research to produce a creative output of personalized instruments and original recordings that highlight the technology’s unique abilities for both musicianship and artistry.Musi
An Analysis of Gender Hierarchy in C.S. Lewis's The Chronicles of Narnia
No full textNo abstract prepared.Englis
