Understanding the Impact of State & Federal Aid on the Catholic Identity of Colleges and Universities in New York State

There are close to 200 institutions of higher education in the US that claim a Catholic identity. The degrees to which the values and attitudes proclaimed by this identity are actually experienced by students on campus varies widely across the country. One of the defining influences on the institutional history and leadership composition of many colleges and universities founded by religious orders has been the availability of governmental monetary support, in particular during the last five decades. Federal and state laws regarding the use of public funds to support higher education at institutions with a religious affiliation have prompted changes in the culture of these organizations. This work provides an introduction to the relevant sources of aid, legislation and related documents affecting Catholic institutions of higher education, particularly in New York State. It presents a historical perspective and analysis addressing the degree to which changes in Catholic identity were prompted by attempts to conform to perceived or real aideligibility guidelines

Development of a Low-Cost Platform for 3D Bioprinting Applications

Due to the fast pace advancements in 3D printing technologies, it is now possible to bring to life three-dimensional models designed on a computer. The growing availability of user-friendly, high-resolution printers, presents us with the opportunity to adapt this tool for multiple biological purposes. Our aim is to develop a mechanism on a customized commercial 3D printer to deliver a hydrogel material to act as a scaffold for cell proliferation. Compared with non-biological printing, 3D bioprinting involves several complexities, such as the choice of materials, cell types, growth and differentiation factors, and technical hurdles related to the sensitivities of living cells and the formation of tissues. The modified 3D printer efficiently delivers biological ink substances such as alginate, collagen, chitosan, gelatin, and fibrin to create a biocompatible scaffold that will host cell proliferation. The scaffold can then be suspended in a solution with a cell line to initiate cell differentiation and self-assembly of the selected tissue. The project will allow for a cheaper more effective strategy for class research projects, medical drug testing, disease research, and potentially tissue/organ implantation. Establishing a functional platform and experimenting with the bioprinting of cartilage and other tissues enhances our understanding of cell and tissue biology and can have a significant impact in clinical settings. Developing an affordable mechanism will allow this technology to be demonstrated in undergraduate labs for a better understanding of how engineering tools can be applied to solve biological problems

Use of a UAV for Water Sampling to Assist Remote Sensing of Bacterial Flora in Freshwater Environments

Ground truth data collection in bodies of water traditionally relies on the use of watercraft and manual sampling. The transport and cost associated with the use of this type of equipment, as well as the time required to reach the site of collection, may all be significantly reduced by the use of small unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) or drones. In this project we evaluate the implementation of a modified UAV with the ability to collect a small volume of surface water up to 400m offshore. The bacterial flora found in the water of several locations in the Lake Ontario-Rochester Embayment area is then entered into a multi-year database that attempts to correlate hyperspectral data obtained by the Landsat 8 Operational Land Imager with the isolated bacterial species. We found that water collection using a consumer grade UAV facilitated sampling efforts, saving time and providing easy access to otherwise difficult to reach collection sites

Development of a Night Vision Goggle Heads Up Display For Paratrooper Guidance

This thesis provides the proof of concept for the development and implementation of a Global Positioning System (GPS) display via Night Vision Goggles (NVG) Heads-Up Display (HUD) for paratroopers. The system has been designed for soldiers who will be able to utilize the technology in the form of a processing system worn in an ammo pouch and displayed via NVG HUD as a tunnel in the sky. The tunnel in the sky display design is essentially a series of boxes displayed within the goggle\u27s HUD leading the paratrooper to the desired Landing Zone (LZ). The algorithm developed receives GPS and inertial sensor data (both position and attitude), and displays the guidance information in the paratrooper\u27s NVG HUD as the tunnel in the sky. The primary goal of the project is to provide a product which allows military personnel to reach a desired LZ in obscured visibility conditions such as darkness, clouds, smoke, and other unforeseen situations. This allows missions to be carried out around the clock, even in adverse visibility conditions which would normally halt operations

Juntos

Poem in Spanish and English

Rapid Fabrication of Custom Microfluidic Devices for Research and Educational Applications

Microfluidic devices allow for the manipulation of fluids, particles, cells, micro-sized organs or organisms in channels ranging from the nano to submillimeter scales. A rapid increase in the use of this technology in the biological sciences has prompted a need for methods that are accessible to a wide range of research groups. Current fabrication standards, such as PDMS bonding, require expensive and time consuming lithographic and bonding techniques. A viable alternative is the use of equipment and materials that are easily affordable, require minimal expertise and allow for the rapid iteration of designs. In this work we describe a protocol for designing and producing PET-laminates (PETLs), microfluidic devices that are inexpensive, easy to fabricate, and consume significantly less time to generate than other approaches to microfluidics technology. They consist of thermally bonded film sheets, in which channels and other features are defined using a craft cutter. PETLs solve field-specific technical challenges while dramatically reducing obstacles to adoption. This approach facilitates the accessibility of microfluidics devices in both research and educational settings, providing a reliable platform for new methods of inquiry

Ultra-thin Microfluidic Devices Built via Thermal Lamination

Widespread adoption of lab-on-a-chip technologies may be encouraged by the development of methods and devices that require minimal investment and expertise. Here we describe a type of device that makes exclusive use of consumer-grade components and equipment. The devices consist of as little as three layers of a polymer film, with microchannels shaped by an inexpensive craft cutter, and sealed by thermal lamination. Fabrication time is in the order of minutes, and the method does not require any prior training. To showcase the properties and demonstrate the versatility of the devices, we describe their use to generate fully biocompatible lipid-based nanoparticles, and present an example of a multi-layered device. Our approach lowers the barrier-to-entry for reliable microfluidic devices that are flexible and ten to thirty-times thinner than the common PDMS/glass alternative

Microbial Sampling of Major Bodies of Water in Rochester, NY

Public health concerns from wastewater treatment and agricultural runoff are an issue locally in Rochester, NewYork. In fact, many closings of Ontario Beach have been attributed to pollution or the threat of microbial contamination. Antibiotic resistance is a major issue that has become more prevalent in society, antibiotic resistant human pathogenic bacteria can overcome normal types of medicinal therapy, which cannot only lead to increased mortality but also increases in illness and cost of care. Additionally, antibiotic resistant plant pathogens can impact agriculture. In this study, bacterial species from the Lake Ontario embayment collected over the past three years were analyzed. Bacteria that were known to be human or plant pathogens were selected to evaluate for resistance to commonly used antibiotics using the Kirby Bauer disk diffusion assay. A few species exhibited resistance, preliminary results will be shown