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School of Arts and Sciences Newsletter, Winter 2025
No full textEmail newsletter created by the School of Arts and Science
Herd Highlights, Issue 25, March 6, 2025
No full textBi-weekly email newsletter for undergraduate and graduate students created by WP
Localized delivery of immunotherapy using gellan gum-based hydrogels for colorectal cancer treatment
No full textColorectal cancer (CRC) is the second most common cause of cancer deaths in the United States with an estimated rate of almost 53,000 deaths in 2025. CRC is one of the most widespread and fatal cancers globally. The survival rate is 70 – 90% when is localized but drops significantly to 13 – 17 % once metastasized. Treatment approaches can be local, such as surgery, ablation, embolization, or radiation therapy; or systemic where therapy is provided directly into the blood stream, such as chemotherapy, targeted therapeutic drugs, or immunotherapy. Although the use of immunotherapy is growing for the clinical treatment of cancer, patients suffer from autoimmune reactions, and exploration of alternative delivery pathways of treatment options are under evaluation. Currently, the immunotherapy anti-programmed cell death protein-1 (aPD-1) has proven early success in treating metastatic CRC patients with mismatch repair deficiency. However, systemic side effects present a challenge to the patient’s quality of life. To improve upon this, biomaterial-based approaches are under investigation for the local delivery of immunotherapy. Over the past decade, gellan gum (GG) has emerged as a promising material for drug delivery and tissue engineering applications. GG, a linear, anionic exopolysaccharide produced by Sphingomonas elodea, and is FDA approved for use in both pharmaceutical and food industries. It has mucoadhesive properties, and its mechanical characteristics can be fine-tuned by adjusting the pH of the media, crosslinkers, processing time, and temperature to meet specific needs. Its low cost, high production rates, established manufacturing process, and broad availability, makes it a viable candidate for large-scale production and translational research. However, high temperature crosslinking is often required, representing a limiting factor for the incorporation of thermosensitive therapeutic agents such aPD-1 for drug delivery applications. This research focused on developing and characterizing a GG-based hydrogel for intratumoral delivery of aPD-1 for CRC treatment. We successfully demonstrated that GG can be crosslinked at a low temperature (38 °C) using a simple fabrication process that utilizes a peptide-based molecule, trilysine (TLA), as an alternative to traditional mono- or divalent ion crosslinkers. The drug release potential was demonstrated using immunoglobulin G (IgG), that showed a burst release in the first 24 h followed by a gradual release for up to 5 days. A comparable release profile was confirmed with the therapeutic agent, aPD-1. In vivo evaluations with a CRC murine model showed that intratumoral delivery of aPD-1 using the GG-based hydrogel resulted in 1.5-fold and 3-fold increases in plasma and tumor concentrations, respectively as compared to control groups. These findings suggests that this approach is both comparable and safe relative to drug-free intratumoral or intraperitoneal injections. The main scientific contribution of this work lies in the development of a non-cytotoxic and biocompatible hydrogel, featuring a simple manufacturing process. This hydrogel demonstrated effectiveness in releasing, delivering, and retaining, thermosensitive macromolecules. Furthermore, it presents with an opportunity to serve as a platform technology applicable to a range of immunotherapy drugs and cancer types
An Analysis of Video Compression Technologies
No full textAs internet video traffic nears 83% of all Internet data in 2025, optimizing delivery is critical for sustainability. This project bridges Business and Data Science to evaluate the economic viability of software-based video encoders. Leveraging Rate-Distortion (RD) analysis, we develop a framework assessing encoder performance alongside business factors like computational cost and licensing. The analysis investigates how optimal choices vary across organizational scales, from streaming giants like Netflix to user-generated content platforms. The goal is to provide a quantifiable methodology for organizations to make informed strategic decisions on compression technologies aligned with their economic constraint
SHUKALB: Creating Water Educational Resources for Albania
No full textThis project, completed in collaboration with the Water Supply Sewerage Association of Albania (SHUKALB), aimed to strengthen Albanian public understanding of drinking water and wastewater systems across Albania. Through semi-structured interviews with wastewater sector professionals and Likert style surveys of public citizens, the research team identified major gaps in public knowledge, infrastructure development, and a general mistrust and misuse of government services. Using these findings, the research team developed a public website and a series of infographics that explain water and wastewater processes, promote conservation practices, and improve access to clear and reliable information for the Albanian community
The Gyaros Interactive: A 3D-Printed Multimedia Experience
No full textGyaros is a remote Greek island designated as a Marine Protected Area, with significant ecological value and a complex history as a former political prison, yet its isolation limits public engagement. To support KEPEA, a local non-profit environmental education center, we developed a multimedia experience centered on a 3D-printed model of the island. Embedded QR markers connect the physical model to digital content through a web-based scanner. User engagement sessions informed recommendations for marker systems, content integration, and interactive enhancements
Assessment of DPI and Stakeholder Willingness to Pay
No full textOur sponsor, Rumsan, a Kathmandu-based innovation firm, developed Rahat, an open-source blockchain-based humanitarian aid platform. Rahat provides anticipatory action and cash and voucher assistance. Our team conducted a comparative digital public infrastructure (DPI) assessment across Nepal, Ethiopia, Morocco, and Sri Lanka. The findings informed matrices outlining how Rahat can adapt and scale into each foreign market. Additionally, through interviews with government agencies and NGOs, we found that there is a general willingness to pay for a platform such as Rahat, provided the platform possesses the key features of efficiency, sustainability, and privacy
Robots for All: A Scalable Model for STEM Education in Nepal
No full textTo address educational disparities and increase access to STEM education in Nepal, we partnered with Open Learning Exchange Nepal (OLE Nepal) to develop a scalable model for STEM education. We evaluated OLE Nepal’s existing robotics program through classroom observations and designed interactive curriculum modules using local materials, including a mechanical arm and drawing robot. We also developed the Youth Academic Kit (YAK), which utilizes 3D printed materials and locally sourced electronics to enable robotics and programming activities for only 400 imported kits). Supported by lesson plans, staff workshops, and technical documentation, this model allows OLE Nepal to sustainably expand opportunities for effective, hands-on robotics education in Nepali public schools
Documenting the Wellheads and Fountains of Venice
No full textThis project, sponsored by SerenDPT and the Venice Project Center, documented the wellheads and fountains in Venice and the surrounding Lagoon. The objectives included assessing and photographing the wellheads and fountains, providing a ranked list for restoration, creating a mockup of a water bottle filling station, and developing a website to better inform people about fountains. Our team catalogued and assessed nearly 500 wellheads and fountains, revealing varying levels of damage. The main focus of our project was to identify ways to encourage use of public water fountains and the restoration of wellheads. Our team made several recommendations for new fountain locations, fountains and wellheads that are in need of repair, and retrofitting fountains with bottle fillers