Mammalian Cell Toxicity of the Photoproducts of Octyldimethyl Para-aminobenzoic Acid

Solar tracking is related to moving the solar panels in such a way that its solar panel always points toward the sun which results in maximum output. The goal of this research was to modify and improve a two-axis solar tracking system. The rotation of the module is controlled by a rotational motor and the tilt is controlled by a linear actuator. The motion and direction of these two motors is controlled by an Arduino code which compares the electrical current going through four mini solar collectors (used as sensors) mounted in orthogonal pairs at the top of the PV panel. If a solar collector has a higher current reading, then it is exposed to more sunlight, so the panel is adjusted until all of the mini solar collectors have nearly the same current output, and thus are receiving the same amount of sunlight. Testing of the designed system was performed alongside an identical, stationary solar panel, which allows for a direct comparison between the electrical outputs of the two solar panels.https://digitalworks.union.edu/steinmetz_posters/1012/thumbnail.jp

Measuring Concentrations of Acrylamide in Brewed Coffee

Amino acids, like asparagine, react with sugars via the Maillard reaction to form compounds that contribute to the color and flavor of roasted foods. However, some undesired products also form during this reaction, one of them being acrylamide. Acrylamide is a neurotoxin and a potential endocrine-disrupting chemical (EDC), and increased dietary amounts of acrylamide have been linked to different types of cancers, including ovary, renal and endometrial. EDCs can impair the endocrine system in a variety of ways including mimicking hormonal activity, interfering with metabolism, excretion and release. As a neurotoxin, acrylamide can affect memory, cognitive function and learning. In this study, acrylamide is extracted from the brewed coffee using simplified liquid extraction and analyzed alongside known standards using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. The accuracy of the method has been validated using a standard reference material. This method has been used to quantify acrylamide concentrations in various types of brewed coffee and investigate the effects of variables such as type of roast, decaffeination, and bean origin. Our results suggest that differences in roast or caffeination do not significantly affect acrylamide concentrations in brewed coffee. Ongoing studies include improving precision and accuracy using the established method and applying the method to investigate trends of acrylamide formation in various types of brewed coffee