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Sustainable Green Biomaterials in Biomimetic Drug Delivery
No full textWhile the use of tablets, capsules, suspensions, emulsions, and gels remains the convention for parenteral or injectable treatments, the recent exploration of micro and nano-colloidal systems (like albumin microspheres, liposomes, exosomes, DNA origamis, and others) has provided new opportunities to modulate the drug delivery profile or improve its pharmacologic response. One of the first use of biomimetic materials was the exploration of liposomes that mimic the phospholipid bilayer of membranes as potential delivery systems. The use of particle structures (nano, micro, or bubbles) given by intravenous route has evolved rapidly from being used as drug delivery vectors to potential theranostic agents or even having the potential for developing biomimetic drug delivery system. For making these innovative products, selecting appropriate biomaterials is the key to success. Also, the scientific purpose and economic ease play a critical role in biomaterial selection. Researchers often use conventional semi-synthetic biomaterials (cellulose derivatives, polylactic acid polymers, or polyethylene glycol (peg) derivatives) to make innovative advanced drug delivery designs. A nano-shop can be envisioned with various innovative nano drug delivery systems made from primarily synthetic and semi-synthetic materials that were built on the idea of exploring biomimetic systems (e.g. (i) liposomes made from a phospholipid to mimic the bilayer of the cell, (ii) polymeric micelle from cellulose). Hence, it is essential to re-route the attention toward green biomaterials (proteins, polysaccharides, oligonucleotides, and lipids) that can offer sustainability to the science of advanced formulation development by keeping the biomimetic effect at the center of pharmaceutical innovations. Specifically, this article summarizes possibility of using albumin, deoxynucleic acid (DNA), and extracellular matrix (ECM) components (hyaluronic acid, and collagen) as sustainable green materials for developing biomimetic therapies like nanoparticles, microbubbles, gels, films 3D printable scaffolds and others
The Factors Causing High Food Insecurity Rates in U.S. Undergraduate Students
No full textThe cliché of a college student surviving off ramen noodles sheds light on a deeper issue — high rates of food insecurity among undergraduate college/university students in the United States. There have been countless studies in recent years exploring the hidden causes of why an estimated 40% of students experience food insecurity as of 2022. These studies conclude three main reoccurring factors causing these high rates: costs, accessibility, and demographic characteristics. Food insecurity rates are important for higher education officials to address due to the countless physical and mental health, academic, and equity implications for the students
“Wonderful Chap, All of Them”: The Ubiquitous Queerness of Doctor Who
No full textQueerness has always been integral to Doctor Who, insofar as the series has mostly eschewed heteronormative romantic relationships from its premier in 1963. The main character is an alien and a Time Lord and possesses the ability to regenerate as a response to illness, injury, or old age. This addition of this ability was a necessary solution after the first actor playing the Doctor, William Hartnell, was forced to leave the series due to chronic illness while the show maintained its popularity.1 This embodied fluidity informs a queer perspective that endures throughout the show’s history
‘Your body is your story . . . & only you can write it’: Feminist Placemaking at Planned Parenthood
No full textIn this reflection, Swiencicki makes the argument for the value of public art in feminist placemaking. Through an analysis of the mural on the Planned Parenthood building in Rochester, New York, she posits that art can hold a space for pregnant peoples\u27 personhood amidst a thoroughly contested place for accessing healthcare. Working from a reproductive justice lens, she delineates how the mural\u27s composition helps the organization hold a space for agency and care in the present moment. Swiencicki suggests that art can go even further and open the possibility of spatial repair—acknowledging the exclusions that are built into the history of cities like Rochester—as well as the repair of legacies of abuse: the history of unequal and abusive treatment of women and people of color in medical settings. She argues that feminists need to affiliate with such places and adopt a stance of care and vigilance
Welcome to Gatherings: Studies in Feminism
No full textOur first volume of Gatherings is complete, and we welcome readers to this place for peer-reviewed, interdisciplinary, intersectional approaches to feminist research, narrative, art, and criticism
Minimizing Disputes in Family Business
No full textFamily firms have challenges and opportunities that other businesses do not share. They offer family members the opportunity to work with other family members whom they love and admire. To be successful, however, they must manage challenging family dynamics in addition to managing the business itself
Hearts of Courage, Faces of Peace: Rebuilding and Resistance in Post-Dictatorship Honduras
No full textThis chapter explores and describes the complex tapestry of peace and the challenges that have emerged in Honduras following the era of dictatorship. It aims to shed light on the nation’s path towards the establishment of democratic institutions amid a backdrop of political and economic turmoil. The research is based on an investigative journey through Honduras, exploring four distinct regions, each with its unique story and struggle. In the Aguán Valley, the focus is on the community’s fight against extractive corporations, highlighting the campesinos’ defense of their land from the encroachment of palm oil magnates. The Island of Roatán offers insights into the Garifuna’s efforts to safeguard their territories from the ambitions of developers. Meanwhile, Choloma serves as a view into the textile workers’ challenges, encompassing their labor difficulties. Lastly, the capital city, Tegucigalpa, provides a stage for engaging with a beverage union, and discussions with the US and Canadian embassies and governmental representatives surrounding the Castro presidency and progress. Through this comprehensive examination, the chapter endeavors to present an overarching view of Honduras’ continued struggle for peace, sovereignty, and justice in the aftermath of dictatorial governance
Mathematics of Gerrymandering: Using Technology to Combine Math and Social Studies.
No full textWe describe some of the ways in which mathematics can be used to detect gerrymandering: nefariously drawing political districts for the advantage of one political party. We propose exploring these methods as a way to integrate mathematics and social studies curriculum in the middle or high school years. The mathematical facets are further illuminated through the use of technology. The author presents examples of using iPads to engage university students, including preservice teachers, in these activities