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Open Access
Analyzing Network Structures and Performance of Dextran Based Hydrogels Crosslinked with Thiol-Ene Chemistry
(University of Kansas, 2024-08-31) Jeong, Jeayoung
Understanding hydrogel network structures and their effects on physical properties and learning how to control them is crucial for effective biomedical applications. This study contrasts the hydrogel network structures and the performances of hydrogels formed by a thiol-ene reaction with those produced by the more widely used Michael addition reaction. Dextran modified with pentenoate groups (PDEX) hydrogels of varying molecular weights were fabricated via photo-initiated thiol-ene reaction and compared to dextran hydrogels crosslinked with divinyl sulfone (DVSDEX) produced through base catalyzed (pH 12) Michael-addition reaction. The initial hypothesis was that thiol-ene hydrogels would exhibit a different network structure, perhaps more uniform structure. The hydrogel network structure was characterized using mechanical tests, solute partitioning, and time-domain NMR (TDNMR), with key synthesis variables including varying polymer molecular weight(150kDa-40kDa), polymer concentration(5%-30%), and crosslinker concentration. Key network parameters, notably crosslink density(px), fiber radius (rf)and mesh size(ξ) were determined from these tests. Results from uniaxial compression showed that PDEX hydrogels had a higher crosslink density at lower polymer concentrations at synthesis compared to DVSDEX, indicating higher reaction efficiency. However, when swollen to equilibrium, no significant differences in properties were observed between the two hydrogel types, indicating that once formed, the gels had the same physical properties. Hydrogel structure was also evaluated by solute size exclusion theory. Partition coefficients (K) for solutes with ovalbumin and vitamin B12 both exhibited showed higher K in PDEX than DVSDEX at varying polymer volume fraction (p2). Experimental K values were to obtain the network fiber radius rf. Size exclusion models fit DVSDEX well over p2 range of 0.04-0.19 with a rf of 1.05nm and 0.99nm, respectively. However, PDEX showed large variation in rf over similar range of p2. These results provided clear evidence that the network structures of the two types of gels were different but did not confirm the hypothesis that PDEX would have a more uniform network. T2 relaxation distributions from TDNMR and rf values were used to determine hydrogel network mesh size. ξ calculated from TDNMR and mechanical characterization for DVSDEX matched well over the range of formulations tested. This important result is evidence that the experimentally simpler TDNMR method yields mesh sizes comparable to the standard method of modulus measurement. Protein encapsulation in hydrogels was analyzed post-synthesis using an aqueous two-phase extraction (ATPE) principles. The results indicated that crosslink density is a crucial factor determining the loading capacity of a hydrogel. For DVSDEX, smaller crosslink density exhibited both higher swelling and partition behavior in an aqueous two-phase system (ATPS), achieving a loading capacity of 23.85. The hypothesis that PDEX hydrogels would follow the ATPE heuristics, similar to DVSDEX hydrogels, was confirmed. Both DVSDEX and PDEX hydrogels exhibited consistent partitioning behavior driven by thermodynamics rather than size exclusion.
Open Access
Blame and the Suberogatory
(University of Kansas, Department of Philosophy, 2023-04-14) Driver, Julia L.
Open Access
Long-term Athlete Monitoring in NCAA Division I Female Rowers
(University of Kansas, 2026-05-31) DeLeo, Joseph Michael
Athlete monitoring (AM) is the systematic monitoring of physiological, biomechanical, hormonal, and psychological determinants that are related to sport performance with the purpose of helping coaches and practitioners evaluate the effectiveness of a training program and make revisions, if necessary. In simple terms, are athletes showing performance improvement or regression? If the latter occurs, then adjustments can be made to individualize the training program to get an athlete back on track. AM serves as a ‘checks’ and ‘balance’ system for any training program. AM is often left to the discretion of the coaching staff to align with their training periodization. The Olympic sport of rowing has identified key determinants such as peak power in short anaerobic capacity tests and power at the second lactate threshold. However, most research studies have investigated elite rowing populations. Less rigorous research has been conducted in less highly trained populations such as high school and university athletes. The purpose of the following research studies is to: a) identify tests that can be routinely assessed in key training environments (gym, rowing ergometer, and on-water) and b) evaluate the efficacy of these tests in an all-female rowing population that has a wide range of experience. Overall, these investigations will better inform coaching and training practice by more clearly understanding potential differences between elite and sub-elite populations, as well as the effective implementation of scaled testing and monitoring for a large team of athletes.
Open Access
Polyclonal antibodies targeting defined epitopes on cancer biomarker MUC16 (Dataset)
(Springer, 2026-05-18) Moffitt, Spencer E.; Srivastava, Anubhuti; Schuster-Little, Naviya; McEntee, Caitlin; March, Jane; Wang, Chien-Wei; Dotson, Danielle R.; Goodson, Holly; Whelan, Rebecca
Measurements of the peptide epitope CA125 are crucial in ovarian cancer care. Despite its value as a tool in disease management, CA125 is an imperfect biomarker, with rates of false positive and false negative response that preclude its use as a screening tool in the general population. The monoclonal antibodies that perform capture and recognition in the CA125 test—OC125 and M11—were developed using complex targets as immunogens and recognize epitopes that have been located on mucin16 (MUC16) but otherwise remain undefined at the molecular level. We hypothesized that new antibodies recognizing MUC16 peptides of known sequence could enable the development of assay platforms that overcome the limitations of the current CA125 test. Here we report the development and characterization of three sets of polyclonal antibodies that recognize known MUC16 peptides. Peptides that appear several times within MUC16’s highly conserved tandem repeat region were used to immunize two sets of rabbits. Affinity-isolated antibodies were characterized by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and western blot. All three peptides were successful antigens, as indicated by the ability of the resulting polyclonal antibodies to bind individually expressed proteins from the MUC16 tandem repeat region. In particular, the polyclonal antibodies raised against peptide 2 (ELGPYTLDRNSLYV) bound to all tandem repeats tested. Peptide 2 antibodies were able to detect intact MUC16 from ovarian cancer cells in a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) assay. In flow cytometry experiments, peptide 2 antibodies bind to MUC16-positive cells (OVCAR3) and do not bind to MUC16-negative cells (OVCAR8). The binding pattern of these polyclonal antibodies opens the possibility of developing new monoclonal antibodies recognizing known epitopes within the tandem repeat region. These reagents may eventually complement or replace the monoclonal antibodies used in the current clinical CA125 test.
Open Access
Hsüeh Fu-Chʻeng and China’s self-strengthening movement, 1865-1894
(1979) Corcoran, Eugene J.
This study proposes to examine the thought and public career of HsUeh Fu-ch'eng (1838-1894), secretary and advisor to the two most powerful regional leaders in nineteenth-century China, Tseng Kuo-fan (1811-1872) and Li Hung-chang (1823-1901). Curiously, as a member of a traditional hierarchical society where rank and title accounted for one's worth and prestige, HsUeh barely made a mark. He never held a truly powerful office within the established bureaucracy and only received sheng-yuan, for first-degree, credentials within the examination system. Upward mobility for HsUeh came not within officially pre-scribed channels, but within the extra-official and peripheral mu-fu ("tent-government") system. At the start of his public career, HsUeh wrote lengthy essays to his mentors covering the entire spectrum of China's pressing issues and his practical suggestions on how best to deal with those issues made a lasting impact on Tseng and Li. Above all, his writings touched the exposed nerve of nineteenth-century Chinese society, namely, the urgency of reform.