Oxidative stress in the brain is a known contributor to the development of neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s. The focus of this project is to target the amyloid-β plaque formations and reactive oxygen species (ROS) derived from mis-regulated metal-ions that lead to disease-causing oxidative stress. The present investigation measures both the antioxidant reactivity and metal chelating ability of 1,4,11,13-tetra-aza-bis(2,6-pyridinophane)-8,17-ol (L4).  L4 contains two radical scavenging pyridol groups along with a metal-binding nitrogen rich ligand system.  It was hypothesized that increasing the number of pyridol groups on the ligands in our small molecule library would increase the radical scavenging activity, which in turn may provide cells protection from oxidative stress.  The radical scavenging ability of L4 was quantified using the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical assay. This was compared to other radical scavenging small molecules to evaluate the effect of the additional radical scavenging group on the antioxidant activity.  The interaction of L4 with redox active metal-ions such as copper(II) was also evaluated using the coumarin-3-carboxylic acid (CCA) assay to show the molecule’s ability to target mis-regulated metal-ions in diseased tissues. With the end goal being to develop a potential biological therapeutic agent, metabolic stability studies were also performed.

Non-conventional solvents, such as room-temperature ionic liquids and deep-eutectic solvents, have attracted a lot of attention in recent years due their diverse applications in various areas of sciences, medicine and engineering. The ability to control physical properties of these solvents by simply adjusting their structure and/or the ratio of the components favorably distinguishes ionic and eutectic solvents from traditionally used molecular solvents as it allows to custom design specific types of media for given applications.

This presentation will highlight our efforts on various aspects of the synthesis of ionic liquids and deep-eutectic solvents as well as it will describe our investigations on the physical properties and nanostructural organization of these liquids using environmental probes, such as those that feature BODIPY and aza-BODIPY motifs. In addition, our initial studies on the design of multiphase systems that utilize ionic, eutectic and molecular solvents will be presented.

This project is aimed to modify a leucyl-tRNA synthetase (LeuRS) to incorporate fluorescent amino acids into proteins to produce fluorescent proteins in living cells. Fluorescent proteins are useful because they are easily analyzed and tracked in living organisms. In a small scale, we successfully prepared the library of LeuRS variants in which five amino acids are randomized in the leucine-binding site of a functional LeuRS without its editing domain. Currently, we are working on a large scale production of viable bacterial cells that cover the whole diversity of library (at least 34 million different LeuRS molecules). Initially, we attempted two-step process in which an N-terminal library fragment (for two randomized amino acids) is generated first and a C-terminal fragment (for three randomized amino acids) is added later. However, this two-step cloning process did not produce enough viable cells to cover all the possible variants. In a new approach, a complete library of LeuRS will be produced by overlapping extension PCR and introduced to E. coli in a single step to ensure highest possible transformation efficiency. Consequently, the library of LeuRS variants will be subject to a genetic selection experiment to obtain LeuRS variants that incorporate only fluorescent amino acids into proteins.

Abacavir or Ziagen, is an antiretroviral medicine that is used in conjunction with other
medicines to treat HIV. Although it is not a cure, it has been clinically proven to be
effective in diminishing the rate of HIV replication. The synthetic process of creating
Abacavir is both timely and costly, so therefore a new synthetic process has been
created to generate a chemical analog (specifically a triazine derivative) that is cheaper
to produce that can be if not potentially more chemically effective than Abacavir. Once
the analog is produced, a series of analytical tests will be done on a micro organismic
level to determine if the analog is both effective and safe enough to be used in human
clinical studies further down the road.

The pyrrolophenanthridone alkaloid pratosine is a natural product related to hippadine, which is known to be a powerful but reversible inhibitor of spermatogenesis in rats. Hippadine has also shown cardiovascular as well as anticancer activity. Given the structural similarities between the two molecules, it is expected that pratosine and hippadine will demonstrate similar biological effects. Our work toward a laboratory synthesis of pratosine will facilitate large-scale production thus affording sufficient quantities of the material for a complete pharmacological study of its properties. Although we have a synthetic plan for preparing pratosine, several reactions have failed due to solubility problems. This research focuses on solving these problems by using an alternate starting material. The commercially available compound vanillin, which is extracted from vanilla beans, is a simple and inexpensive aldehyde with an appropriate structure for attaching other groups that should improve the solubility properties of several of the synthetic intermediates. Our goal is to find a specific substituent that will provide the required characteristics but which can also be removed later to generate the final product.

Urea is a low-cost, water-soluble fertilizer that is used as the major source of nitrogen in agricultural production. However, the problem with leaching, in which urea in soil is rapidly washed away through rain and irrigation, results in inefficiency in nutrient absorption, low crop yield, poor harvest, and economic failure for farmers (Broadbent 1958), as well as the environmental pollution of groundwater by the release of excessive amounts of nitrate, which adversely affects this non-rechargeable water source. Therefore, recent research attempts to design a suitable system to prolong the release of urea from water in soil to improve soil fertility, agricultural economy, and ground water protection. A prospective approach is to integrate urea into a stable matrix that releases the desired material with an optimal time window.

Porous Silicon (pSi) has been studied as the material of diverse interest, due to its surface chemistry and porous morphology that has promoted many nanotechnology advances, in conjunction with its biocompatibility and biodegradability (Canham 2014). Since pSi degrades slowly in aqueous media and does not react with the soil component, it is selected to be a possible matrix for sustaining urea release. pSi is believed to interact with urea via hydrogen bonds (via surface silanol species), and thus its porous structure is the key to trap urea particles for relatively long periods in water, while exposing the fertilizer to plants. This bioactive pSi material is produced from the eco-friendly Tabasheer-derived silica, during which pSi porosity is maintained (Kalluri et al. 2016). Loading of urea into pSi is carried out using ethanol as a solvent, with theoretical loadings ranging from 27-33% of the composite mass. Release kinetics of urea from water is currently being investigated using highly sensitive colorimetric assay that applies Jung’s method (Jung et al. 1975).

The urea-loaded pSi prepared in these experiments were characterized using several different techniques. X-ray diffraction (XRD) evaluates the crystallinity of pSi after fabrication, with the presence of three peaks consistent with a cubic unit cell structure [Si (111), (220), and (311)]. Thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) gives the mass loss percentage between melting (132oC) and boiling (203oC) points of urea, which represents the practical loading of urea in a given sample. The results deviate 1-2% from the theoretical loading percentage. TGA also shows the stability of the composite over two months at room temperature, with the recent loading measurement analyses consistent with the previous ones. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis confirms that the urea is incorporated in the pSi matrix. Loading and characterization studies were conducted in triplicate to ensure reproducibility of results.

A library of novel tetra-aza macrocyclic molecules, specifically 3,6,9,15-tetraazabicyclo[9.3.1]pentadeca-1(15),11,13-triene derivatives, capable of chelating metal ions in vivo have been synthesized. Applications of these complexes are currently being pursued as a 1) therapeutic focusing on radical scavenging and metal chelation and 2) diagnostic tool such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agents when complexed with specific metal ions. However, a full study of the electronic effects imparted by substitution to the pyridyl moiety (position 13) and the subsequent impact on the metal center have not been explored. The objective of the present study is to characterize metal complexes of four tetra-aza macrocyclic metal chelating molecules. The pyridyl functional groups studied include: A) unmodified pyridyl, B) p-hydroxyl, C) p-nitrile, and D) m-hydroxyl modified pyridyls on a pyclen base structure (position 13). Notable progress has been made in developing an optimal procedure for obtaining copper (II) complexes and will be presented. Analysis of the resulting copper (II) complex of the p-nitrile tetra-aza macrocycle indicate a six-coordinate metal center based on X-ray diffraction. UV-Visible spectroscopy and electrochemistry help to confirm donor strength among the ligand series as well as a comparison to other tetra-aza macrocycles. Ultimately, this project is focused on understanding the electronic contribution of these functional groups on the pyridine ring and the influence of the ligand and complexed systems as therapeutic and diagnostic agents.

Molecules previously developed by the Green Research Group (L2 and L3) have been shown to reduce reactive oxygen species (ROS) through multiple pathways of activity. Although unclear if ROS is the only source, Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative disorders are known to be initiated from the formation of these ROS. For these molecules to appropriately execute their antioxidant and radical scavenging ability, they must enter into the brain where the damaging ROS are located. The blood brain barrier (BBB) is a natural obstacle that prevents toxins and infections from reaching the brain. The L2 and L3 ligands must penetrate this barrier to be in the desired site of action to reduce the number of ROS. Addition of a glucose moiety to other therapeutic molecules has been shown to increase permeability across the BBB. The target of this project is to enhance these synthetic pathways of glycosylation and increase product yield. Initially, direct addition of the glucose moiety to the L2 and L3 molecules was achieved. However, challenges with purification techniques suggested a different route to purification or design should be considered and one new route is presented here. With L2 and L3 being inherently hydrophilic, addition of an aliphatic chain to the hydroxyl group of L2 or L3 should increase the hydrophobicity of the molecule allowing for different purification techniques, which can ultimately be glycosylated to give purified desired compounds.

A recent and promising development in solar energy involves a class of materials known as organometal halide perovskites, capable of efficiencies (>20%) comparable to the current industry standard of silicon. These materials also demonstrate strong light emission, a key property associated with energy-efficient sources of lighting, suggesting potential applications in light-emitting devices such as light-emitting diodes (LED). The goal of this project was to investigate the fundamental photoluminescence (PL) properties of perovskites housed in a nanoporous material known as semiconducting porous silicon (pSi).

pSi provides a nanoscale template to control the growth of the light-emitting perovskite structure and is an electrically-responsive host matrix, ideally regulating the flow of charge to/from the perovskite. Samples were prepared within the pores of surface oxidized pSi and hydride-terminated pSi, each with a mesoporous width in the 5 – 50 nm range. The perovskite-loaded pSi was fabricated through solution-loading of perovskite precursors into warmed pSi (60ºC), removal of excess reactant solution, and drying. While perovskites can feature a wide range of halide compositions (including mixed halides), this research thus far has focused on methylammonium lead iodide (MAPbI3) perovskite.

These perovskite nanostructures formed within pSi were characterized using a variety of techniques. Following synthesis, the stability of each prepared sample was monitored for 3 weeks through tracking its relative photoluminescence intensity at its maximum value. Perovskite morphology was evaluated by SEM (scanning electron microscope) and TEM (transmission electron microscope) imaging, crystalline structure was evaluated by XRD (x-ray powder diffraction), and elemental analysis was evaluated by EDX (energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy).

In this study, SEM imaging showed consistent perovskite particle size and ununiformed perovskite infiltration. It is found that the emission intensity for MAPbI3 formed within hydride-terminated pSi (at ~730nm) and oxidized pSi (at ~740nm) were relatively stable over a 3 week period, but the emission intensity for perovskite microrods formed in the absence of any pSi template actually decreased over time. More detailed measurements of the long term stability of these new nanoscale materials are currently under evaluation.

Significant increases in average life expectancy in the last century have brought a growth in human illnesses related to aging: chronic wounds, bone diseases, eye diseases and cancer. In this work, we demonstrate fabrication of biodegradable polymer scaffolds that can be used for drug delivery and tissue engineering to treat the above-mentioned ailments. Tissue engineering can be defined as the use of a combination of engineering and materials methods and appropriate biochemical factors to improve or replace biological tissues.
This project includes fabrication of solid and porous fibers from the biocompatible PCL polymer. This polymer is currently used for surgical sutures, nerve guides and three-dimensional scaffolds for use in tissue engineering. The drug release rate is faster when it is loaded into porous PCL fibers compared to solid PCL fibers, creating an advantage for porous fiber fabrication. Use of a technique known as electrospinning of a solution of PCL and chloroform results in solid fibers that are 4 (± 2.0) micrometers (μm) in diameter. The porous fiber scaffolds are fabricated using a 50% weight of PCL compared to volume of solvent (w/v) solution prepared in a mixture of solvents 9:1 dichloromethane (DCM):dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and 60% w/v PCL in 8:2 DCM:DMSO. The porous fibers are collected at 0-5 oC with a pore size of 50.0 (± 10.0) nanmoeters (nm) and fiber diameter of 3.0 (± 1.0) μm. The porosity for 50% w/v PCL and 60% w/v PCL fibers ranges from 40-50%.
Fiber surface morphology is characterized using field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM). In addition, the melting temperature and percent crystallinity are determined via differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The melting temperature was collected of PCL bulk, 30%w/w PCL solid fibers, 50% w/v PCL and 60% w/v PCL. The crystallinity of PCL in solid fiber and porous fiber forms ranges from 52-55%, compared to the 60% crystallinity of PCL bulk. Solid PCL fibers showed to be more crystalline compared to porous PCL fibers, which in turn can effect the degradation time.
In order for these composites to be identified as a major technological advancement, the aging and degradation of the polymer scaffold must also be understood. The degradation of a given polymer matrix impacts the potential drug delivery behavior when testing in vitro. Degradation studies of the above mentioned materials are currently ongoing.

While cis/Z-substituted alkenes are usually less stable than their trans/E-substituted counterparts, the cis-2-butenyl anion shows a higher preference over the trans-isomer. Calculations suggest that the discrepancy is due to two cooperating effects: electrostatic interactions between the anionic center (C1) to the methyl group (C4) and coupling between the C=C pi* antibonding orbital and both the CH2 pz and CH3 C-H sigma bonds. Supporting the charge transfer is the fact that substitution on C1 with EDG stabilizes the cis more while substitution on C4 with EWG stabilizes the cis more. For the coupling interaction the C=C bond was stretched which increased the cis stabilization by lowering the pi* orbital energy and increasing the coupling between the lone pair on C1 and pi*.

Geology is better known for work done in the field than software applications, but by combining software with science, researchers can acquire results more efficiently and make better determinations about data. Stream input data, which consists of variables like stream size, depth, and sediment density, can be used to predict the location of oil deposits. Without a software application to automate the process, this is difficult to calculate manually.
This application will provide a useful resource and tool by which researchers can input geological data and have results returned based on that input. Specifically, users will enter data about streams and select one of two primary methods of calculation which will return results that refine sediment discharge estimates and give the user the yearly averaged bankfull flow duration. To achieve this we have implemented a database to store all of the necessary information concerning the stream data, such as location, climate ID, and Koeppen classification, established software to function as middleware between the database and the user interface, and built a web application that can be readily accessed online. With no knowledge of the middleware or database, the expected user can simply go on the website, select the desired method of calculation, and have the data returned to them in an easily understandable format.

Naturally Curly Cook is a baking business that does catering, standing coffee shop orders, and Farmer’s Markets. Currently, Naturally Curly Cook is having difficulty with its current pen and paper ordering system and inefficient invoicing. The purpose of the Naturally Curly Cook Team is to create an iOS application that streamlines ordering and invoicing. The application will display a daily baking list and what the bakers must bake with a check box system to ensure everything has been baked. It will also display weekly orders. Orders can be added, edited, and deleted while still maintaining the orders that do not change week to week. Excel will act as the database for all customers, orders and quantities to be stored. In addition to the ordering process, an invoicing process will allow invoices to be automatically generated from the week’s orders. The new invoicing process will be generated from Excel and will allow for different pricing options and it will update with week to week changes. The intent of this project is to create a more automatic and efficient business while cutting costs and most importantly retaining data integrity.

This research analyzes artificial intelligence techniques for Konane. The game Konane, also known as Hawaiian checkers, is a two-player, zero-sum strategy board game ideally suited for this research. The game ends when a player does not have a move in which they can capture an opponent’s piece. In order to have a successful strategy, a player must consider many future possibilities. For this reason, this project compares computing agents that use informed and uninformed searching algorithms. We focus our investigation on the effectiveness of the minimax and minimax with alpha-beta pruning algorithms. By altering several variables, specifically the cutoff depth for searching the game tree, we begin to see varying levels of success from the competing computing agents. The outcome of this research will be an analysis of the effectiveness of each computing agent. One of our evaluation metrics will be games statistics, such as ratio of wins to losses, time to win, and how many pieces lost.

Distinct Sound
In the United States alone, 48 million people suffer from hearing loss. Sadly, about only 20 percent of them who could benefit from a hearing aid can afford to wear one. However, most people have a smartphone. Therefore, Distinct Sound strives to create an iPhone application that possesses similar functionalities of a conventional hearing aid at a fraction of the price. The two main objectives of our application are to remove background noise and to amplify sound in certain frequency ranges needed for speech comprehension. To complete those tasks, our app will take input sound, process that sound and amplify the frequencies that the user cannot hear as well, then replay the processed sound to the speakers through headphones. Those tasks will involve the fast fourier transform, and some sound processing to make sure that the sound does not have gaps. The app also provides a test to check the accuracy of the prescription in the current environment. If the current environment needs to adjust the prescription to make it more comfortable for the user, then a calibration test will work to fix the prescription according to the current environment. In conclusion, the research project will be considered a success if the application can successfully serve as a hearing aid with some functions that are unique on the market. It should benefit people who cannot afford traditional hearing aids.

This paper covers a comprehensive implementation of a blockchain based voting platform. Blockchain, in its infancy, has shown remarkable use cases with cryptocurrencies and we would like to expand upon its possibilities. Voting is a system ripe with opportunity for blockchain; it requires security, consensus, and portability- all qualities inherited from blockchain technology. In this paper, we discuss the appeal of blockchain technology and why we want to elevate voting to 21st century technology. Next, we survey the needs of a voting platform and how blockchain might satiate those requirements. Finally, we propose a voting platform that will run on the Ethereum network and systematically discuss how this application could come to fruition.

In this experiment, the mechanical properties of 3D printed specimens of different printing parameters were tested under tension. The printing parameters of these specimens were: surface resolution, infill density, and print orientation. Parts were printed in Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) plastic with a Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) printer called the Stratasys UPrint SE Plus. Specimens were first printed similar to Stratasys published material properties standards and then tested to form a control on these known properties. Factorial sets of specimens using all various parameters were then printed and tested to create a reference table for future engineering projects.

From an engineering perspective, Rare Earth elements have the potential to transform technology in previously unprecedented ways. Their magnetic, luminescent, and electromechanical capabilities are allowing electronic devices to become more compact, reduce emissions, operate more efficiently, and cost less to produce and purchase. Such developments are proving beneficial to the economies of many developed nations because of their use in popular everyday consumer technologies as well as industries such as healthcare and education.

Along with this positive impact comes a political overlay that threatens the longevity of Rare Earth use. Presently, Rare Earths are expensive and dangerous to extract. This is largely due to the fact that they are not found together in large concentrations, so it is only economically feasible to extract them with another material, such as coal. The process of extraction is also hazardous and cumbersome; separating Rare Earths from other materials involves processes with high levels of emissions that may be dangerous to human beings if overexposure occurs. On the other hand, nations with more flexible safety and health regulations are investing in the development of Rare Earths and setting themselves apart as production leaders. Nations with more stringent health and safety regulations are becoming dependent on these nations to provide the Rare Earths for their applications. As a result, leaders in engineering industry can only benefit from Rare Earths if they develop systems that use Rare Earths more effectively than other materials commercially available and develop a reliable business relationship with a Rare Earth supplier. This condition is not likely to be encountered frequently in today's intricate social webs and economic systems.

The possibility of extracting Rare Earths through more efficient, safer processes is becoming recognized as a relevant topic of research. Additionally, investigation into alternatives to Rare Earths in some of the more common applications may allow for safer and less politically charged production methods for many 21st century advancements.

Through literary investigation, this research project seeks to highlight the main characteristics that makes Rare Earths desirable from an engineering perspective, proposed alternatives to Rare Earths based on engineering demands, and the direction of the Rare Earth industry as a result.

The goal of this project is to design and construct a small modular autonomous car with room mapping and obstacle avoidance capabilities. The vehicle would be useful in cases where it is dangerous for a human to complete a task, or where it is more efficient to have an autonomous vehicle to scout ahead. A key design goal for this project was also to create an inexpensive platform for research into the realm of autonomous vehicles. The car uses lidar technology to create real time 2D room map and detect obstacles. It is programmed to explore rooms and move without human input. We designed the car with a powerful on board computer, enabling it to run complicated programs and operate without the need of an outside computer.

The goal of this project is to develop a low cost and user-friendly device for remote actuation of light switches. We envision a product that is simple to install, easy to control via a remote, and able to function with a variety of light switch geometries. This device can minimize the inconvenience as well as the risk of injuries from turning the light on and off in the dark, especially for elderly people. For this target end user, the device must be simple and require no technical knowledge. Because of this, we have designed a mechanical actuator that will be mounted to the outside of a light switch without the need for tools and controlled by a simple button remote to be kept at the bedside.

Tracking and recording data from high velocity objects is a difficult task, especially when the object is hidden from view during portions of its flight path. When tasked with this problem, the process of solving it began with copious amounts of research into existing and developing technologies. From thermal imaging to radar detection, many options were explored.
Through a rigorous process of elimination to determine the most efficient and cost effective option, induction coils were chosen as the speed sensing device needed to track the desired objects. Normally when current is induced in one of these coils, there is an unchanging frequency of that current. However, when a conductive material passes through the center of a coil, the original frequency changes. This change can be monitored, giving valuable information about an object's location when evaluated over a specific time period.
After hours of bench top testing, several conclusions were made about the production and effectiveness of the induction coils. Chiefly, it was found that the smaller the induction coil diameter the more effective, the object passing through the coil has a larger effect if it does not pass through the exact center, and the "sweet spot" for the number of coil turns falls between 15-25 turns.

Senior design SRS submission:

For our presentation we hope to speak on three of our major groups of our senior design team:
Our first piece involves using programmable logic controllers (PLCs) that are used as the electrical interface between the programming and the mechanical system. Through its own ladder logic program, the code enables the PLC user to dictate when certain relays should be opened or closed for the purpose of turning on and off the vacuum supply and power sources. The PLC then collects data from the pressure transducers so that a signal indicating the next step is sent back to the design. After reading the pressure associated with a certain head, the user can then close a solenoid valve by sending a signal to it via the PLC which will stop the flow of air. With the PLC, the user is in control of where the flow is going to and is consequently, able to modify it through the code. Although the PLC is not a power supply, it does have the ability of processing information by receiving and sending out specified actions, set by the user, to different electronic and mechanical components.
The second piece is based of a tool from a company called pave more. The “pave more” design is a design that picks up bricks from the hack to a separate location to pack them. The design uses separate heads that pick-up bricks using foam that creates a seal on the brick. The heads are connected to a vacuum that allows us to pick up the bricks efficiently. The heads are each on their own spring system that allows them to be picked up at different heights. They are also each on a separate solenoid valve that will sense a missing brick and close the valve to still allow the system to pick up the bricks. The vacuum system is connected to a filter to protect it from the dust and dirt that are on the bricks.

Habitat loss due to urbanization is a primary cause of declining bat populations globally. As a result of this, research has been conducted to review swimming pools as an alternative source of water for bats in urban areas. After collecting data, GIS analysis utilizing color infrared imagery was performed to assess the impact that residential swimming pools have on bat populations.

In the state of Texas, groundwater resources are utilized for irrigation, mining, municipal use, manufacturing, livestock and steam electric. Over the past 20 years however, there have been shifts and significant trends in groundwater pumpage that can be attributed to changes in annual precipitation, drought, declining industries, and the status of livestock. A multi-year GIS analysis was conducted to analyze trends in Texas Groundwater and the overall factors that impacted pumpage.

This project will map 2,000-4,000 rare plant species found in Texas. Most of these species have geocoordinates, with some only down to the county-level. These georeferenced plants will be overlaid on to soil type, precipitation, and land development, topography, and ecosystem type maps. This analysis will explain why these habitats are ideal for the rare plants in Texas. Understanding the habitats of these rare plants is important in preserving endangered botanical species. This could lead to a better understanding of this rare biota.