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Publication Cell culture substrates functionalized with glycosaminoglycan-mimetic polymer brushes to augment human mesenchymal stem cell self-renewal(Colorado School of Mines. Arthur Lakes Library) Nelson, ClaireGlycosaminoglycans (GAGs), which are a class of polysaccharides that are functionalized with anionic carboxylate and/or sulfonate groups, are very useful molecules that serve multiple purposes within our body.Publication Categorization of basaltic lava flows through avulsion angles, The(Colorado School of Mines. Arthur Lakes Library) Botvin, NinaBasaltic lava flows are characterized by low effusion rate, low viscosity, and >20 km length eruptions, with the main composition being iron and magnesium-rich and low in silica. The general morphological geometries of individual lava flows follow a fanlike structure, avulsing into complex channel networks, exhibiting similar traits to river systems (i.e., deltas, fluvial fans, and alluvial fans). Unlike deltas and fluvial fans, the processes that lead to the creation of fan-shaped deposits in lava flows are poorly documented and understood. Following pre-established methodologies created for these river networks, we characterized and quantified the angle at which the lava flows avulse. With ArcGIS Pro, we mapped lava flow structures and assessed each individual avulsion angle present (N=206). Preliminary results from Mauna Loa in Hawaii, Poco do Fogo in the Galapagos, and Cerro Azul in Cape Verde—all being basaltic shield volcanoes derived from hotspots—show an average avulsion angle of 53.1° ± 5.6°. These results indicate that there may be a standardized pattern in which these flows form, which could aid us in possible volcanic hazard mitigation and the identification of unknown flow patterns on extraterrestrial bodies, such as Mars. Additionally, when comparing the river structures to the basaltic lava flows, there is a noteworthy resemblance between the fluvial fan angle (at 55°, stated in published literature), and the average angle of the lava flow avulsions (at 53.1°). Since there is a similarity between the two avulsion angles, there appears to be a fundamental control on these avulsion processes, despite the notable differences in the fluid properties (i.e., water vs lava).Publication Age related effects on muscle excitation during the Five Times Sit-To-Stand Test(Colorado School of Mines. Arthur Lakes Library) Beebe, ClaireEach year, 28-35% of people 65 and over have at least one injurious fall, which can limit mobility and reduce quality of life. The Five Times Sit-To-Stand (5xSTS) is a clinical evaluation of muscle strength and fall risk. However, the outcome of this assessment only reflects time to completion and does not reveal muscle coordination or movement during the task. Evaluating muscle coordination is important to guide treatment and reduce fall risk. Net joint moments can provide insight to the muscle mechanical requirements for task completion, which can explain differences in muscle excitation. Thus, we evaluated lower limb muscle excitation, sagittal hip, knee and ankle joint moments, and time to completion of 5xSTS in healthy younger and older adults. Twenty-two (11 younger and 11 older) healthy adults completed a 5xSTS trial where they rose from a seat to a standing position and returned to the seat five consecutive times as quickly as possible. We compared integrated electromyography values for the leg and low back muscles as well as hip, knee, and ankle joint moments between groups with an unpaired t-test. Older adults required greater muscle excitation for the gluteus medius (p=0.025), lumbar paraspinals (p=0.014), rectus femoris (p=0.002), vastus lateralis (p=0.011), and tibialis anterior (p=0.038). Older adults took a similar amount of time to complete 5xSTS (p=0.473), indicating muscle compensations in this group. Older adults had similar or lower joint moments when compared to younger adults. Thus, older adults generated similar muscle forces as younger adults during 5xSTS but required greater muscle excitation to achieve these muscle forces. Muscle excitation changes may affect energy cost and fall risk during sit-to-stand with aging. Understanding these changes can aid in developing rehabilitation treatments and muscle strength benchmarks.Publication Interview with Dr. Adrianne Kroepsch(Colorado School of Mines. Arthur Lakes Library) Hoffmann, MaddyDr. Adrianne Kroepsch is an Associate Professor in the Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences department at the Colorado School of Mines. She studies environmental governance in the American West and has active research projects on water, unconventional oil and gas, and wildfire. She has a Ph.D. in Environmental Studies from the University of Colorado with an emphasis on environmental policy and theory.Publication From lab to startup: hydrogel wound dressings for diabetic ulcers(Colorado School of Mines. Arthur Lakes Library) Thompson, DaleIn my research, I’m covalently modifying the alginate with a signaling peptide with the goal of preventing bony bar formation in growth plate injuries. In GelSana, the gels are used to stretch over wounds, providing a versatile wound dressing.Publication Interview with Dr. Rennie Kaunda(Colorado School of Mines. Arthur Lakes Library) Thompson, DaleDr. Rennie Kaunda is an Associate Professor in Mining Engineering and has been a faculty member at Colorado School of Mines since 2014. Originally from Zambia, he has studied at the University of Arizona and Western Michigan University. He is also a licensed Professional Engineer (PE) in the state of Colorado and spent seven years in industry. His research primarily focusses on Mining Geotechnics, Water and Environment. He has more than 50 publications.Publication Chemically tunable biocompatible hydrogels as a novel approach to combatting disease(Colorado School of Mines. Arthur Lakes Library) Mann, KatieMacrophages are immune cells that play diverse roles, from killing invading pathogens to coordinating the wound healing process. Unlike many cell types, macrophages are 'plastic', able to transition from their ‘killing’ role to their 'rebuilding' role in response to chemical cues. Remarkably, emerging evidence has shown that macrophage plasticity can also be activated in response to mechanical signals. In general, stiff environments promote a killing phenotype, while softer environments promote a wound-healing phenotype. We aim to design a biocompatible, chemically responsive implantable hydrogel which would provide a means to influence macrophage phenotype via mechanical cues. This material would present a novel approach to combatting complex diseases such as cancer. Polyethylene glycol (PEG) hydrogel matrices are promising springboards for designing implantable materials due to their established biocompatibility and chemical versatility. To implement controllable mechanical properties into the PEG hydrogel, we utilize dynamic covalent hydrazone/oxime bonds as the crosslinking bonds between the polymers of the material. We will form the tunable hydrogel matrix from the appropriately functionalized 4-Arm PEG molecules. We will then use rheology to quantify the viscoelastic behavior of the hydrogel to confirm that it exhibits the desired mechanical dynamics. In particular, we anticipate that the material will exhibit rapid dynamics and thus remain more fluid/soft under physiological pH. Conversely, we hypothesize that the hydrogel will undergo oxidation upon exposure to inflammatory oxidative metabolites (e.g., those generated by tumor cells), causing the material to rapidly stiffen. Finally, we will analyze the efficacy of our hydrogel in triggering the transition of the macrophages from the ‘healing’ to the ‘killing’ phenotype by performing macrophage studies under varying mechanical conditions of the tunable hydrogel. Successful design of this manipulable hydrogel would identify a novel way of reprogramming the immune system to combat disease using mechanical cues.Publication Correlation of electrical resistivity profiles and soil properties at mine waste sites(Colorado School of Mines. Arthur Lakes Library) LeDuke, FrancesIn this study, geophysical surveying methods were used to measure geologic materials in the subsurface. These results were used to contribute to the goal of remediating Cu and Pb contaminated soils through phytoremediation using hyperaccumulator plant species native to Zambia.Publication Interview with Dr. Stephanie Kwon(Colorado School of Mines. Arthur Lakes Library) Essenburg, KatyDr. Stephanie Kwon is an assistant professor of Chemical and Biological Engineering at Colorado School of Mines. She joined the department in spring 2020 after working as a postdoctoral fellow at the University of California, Berkeley. Dr. Kwon has received a National Science Foundation CAREER Award for her work to design catalytic materials for carbon-carbon (C-C) coupling reactions.Publication Mind the gap: enhancing accessibility in STEM education for students with disabilities(Colorado School of Mines. Arthur Lakes Library) Regan, JamieIn science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) higher education, students with disabilities face unique challenges. Recognizing this, a research team was formed to tackle the challenge of finding ways to make STEM higher education more accessible for students with disabilities. This initiative aims to facilitate a smoother transition for these students from high school to college.Publication Hidden forces: interfacial energies in the advancement of subsurface energy storage, The(Colorado School of Mines. Arthur Lakes Library) Snodgrass, Wayne; Carbajal, RyanSubsurface energy storage, a critical component of the energy transition economy, provides a pathway to balancing supply and demand, ensuring energy security, and facilitating the integration of renewable resources.Publication Reuleaux undergraduate research journal: fifth edition(Colorado School of Mines. Arthur Lakes Library) Hoffmann, Maddy; Snodgrass, Wayne; Carbajal, Ryan; Mann, Katie; Thompson, Dale; LeDuke, Frances; Beebe, Claire; Botvin, Nina; Nelson, Claire; Essenburg, Katy; Regan, Jamie; Strongman, Grace; Hoffmann, MaddyReuleaux is the Mines Undergraduate Research Journal that showcases the scientific research conducted by the undergraduate researchers at Mines and celebrates their accomplishments. Housed within University Honors and Scholars, this journal provides undergraduate researchers a platform by which they may publish engaging narrative descriptions of their research that are approachable to a large audience and elicit excitement. Reuleaux allows a community of readers to learn more about the cuttingedge research at Mines that undergraduate students are engaged in while simultaneously empowering students to further develop their scientific communication skills for a larger audience than just the scientific research community.