Pub Date : 2018-08-23DOI: 10.18192/OSURJ.V1I1.3708
H. Ramesh, Keerthana Pasumarthi, M. Hou, Jennifer Lee
Hydraulic fracturing, a popular mining technique, generates heavy metal contamination in nearby freshwater aquifers. This poses a threat to both the surrounding ecosystems an human health if exposed. Existing methods of heavy metal removal can produce additional hazardous byproducts. This proposal presents the use of a hybrid biofilm filter containing graphene and curli fibres with metal binding sites. Curli fibres are amyloid fibrils found on the extracellular biofilm of Escherichia coli (E coli.). Through the use of plasmid vectors, E. coliwill be engineered to produce secreted curli fibres with metal-binding residues. The stability and cohesive properties of the curli fibres augments the adherence to the graphene scaffolding, thus allowing for generation of a hybrid biofilm. With the filtration design and various experimental controls proposed, this model is ready for empirical proof of concept and subsequent quantitative optimization.
{"title":"Novel hybrid biofilm system using synthetically engineered curli fibres","authors":"H. Ramesh, Keerthana Pasumarthi, M. Hou, Jennifer Lee","doi":"10.18192/OSURJ.V1I1.3708","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.18192/OSURJ.V1I1.3708","url":null,"abstract":"Hydraulic fracturing, a popular mining technique, generates heavy metal contamination in nearby freshwater aquifers. This poses a threat to both the surrounding ecosystems an human health if exposed. Existing methods of heavy metal removal can produce additional hazardous byproducts. This proposal presents the use of a hybrid biofilm filter containing graphene and curli fibres with metal binding sites. Curli fibres are amyloid fibrils found on the extracellular biofilm of Escherichia coli (E coli.). Through the use of plasmid vectors, E. coliwill be engineered to produce secreted curli fibres with metal-binding residues. The stability and cohesive properties of the curli fibres augments the adherence to the graphene scaffolding, thus allowing for generation of a hybrid biofilm. With the filtration design and various experimental controls proposed, this model is ready for empirical proof of concept and subsequent quantitative optimization.","PeriodicalId":375767,"journal":{"name":"University of Ottawa Science Undergraduate Research Journal","volume":"12 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2018-08-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"115790853","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2018-08-23DOI: 10.18192/OSURJ.V1I1.3696
Kuan Chung
The difference between adult zebrafish and mice in their regenerative capacity following central nervous system (CNS) injury is influenced by the permissiveness of the brain microenvironment aside from the intrinsic neurogenic potential of the cell population. In adult zebrafish, glia cells largely retain their radial characteristics and neurogenic capacity, and the zebrafish brain shows full recovery after traumatic brain injury (TBI) as well as spinal cord injury (SCI). Conversely, in mice, radial glia (RG) have largely differentiated into astrocytes. Excluding certain brain regions, following TBI, reactive astrocytes that show the potential to become neural stem cells (NSCs) in vitro remain strictly non-neurogenic in vivo due to the presence of inhibitory factors in the microenvironment. Combined with prolonged inflammation and gliosis, injury to the CNS eventually results in formation of a glial scar further impeding regeneration. However in rodents, suppression of neurogenesis may be a protection mechanism against possible detrimental side-effects of neurogenesis in the long term.
{"title":"Comparison of regenerative neurogenesis in response to CNS injury between adult zebrafish and mice","authors":"Kuan Chung","doi":"10.18192/OSURJ.V1I1.3696","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.18192/OSURJ.V1I1.3696","url":null,"abstract":"The difference between adult zebrafish and mice in their regenerative capacity following central nervous system (CNS) injury is influenced by the permissiveness of the brain microenvironment aside from the intrinsic neurogenic potential of the cell population. In adult zebrafish, glia cells largely retain their radial characteristics and neurogenic capacity, and the zebrafish brain shows full recovery after traumatic brain injury (TBI) as well as spinal cord injury (SCI). Conversely, in mice, radial glia (RG) have largely differentiated into astrocytes. Excluding certain brain regions, following TBI, reactive astrocytes that show the potential to become neural stem cells (NSCs) in vitro remain strictly non-neurogenic in vivo due to the presence of inhibitory factors in the microenvironment. Combined with prolonged inflammation and gliosis, injury to the CNS eventually results in formation of a glial scar further impeding regeneration. However in rodents, suppression of neurogenesis may be a protection mechanism against possible detrimental side-effects of neurogenesis in the long term.","PeriodicalId":375767,"journal":{"name":"University of Ottawa Science Undergraduate Research Journal","volume":"1 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2018-08-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"131601627","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2018-08-23DOI: 10.18192/osurj.v1i1.3690
J. Ali
Chromosomal instability (CIN), defined as an increased rate of gain or loss of whole chromosomes, leads to aneuploid cells, which are cells that display an abnormal number of chromosomes. Both CIN and aneuploidy are hallmarks of cancer, yet the underlying mechanisms of CIN and aneuploidy and their impact on tumourigenesis have remained poorly defined. Although multiple mechanisms have been proposed to explain the role of CIN and aneuploidy in tumourigenesis, this review focuses on three principal pathways leading to CIN: spindle assembly checkpoint defects, merotelic attachments, and cohesion defects. Here, we provide a brief overview of the current understanding of the roles of these mechanisms in CIN and aneuploidy. We also present emerging evidence that contradicts the importance of certain mechanisms in cancer evolution. A clearer understanding of these fundamental pathways could prove to be helpful in developing effective cancer therapies.
{"title":"Chromosomal instability and aneuploidy: a conundrum in cancer evolution","authors":"J. Ali","doi":"10.18192/osurj.v1i1.3690","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.18192/osurj.v1i1.3690","url":null,"abstract":"Chromosomal instability (CIN), defined as an increased rate of gain or loss of whole chromosomes, leads to aneuploid cells, which are cells that display an abnormal number of chromosomes. Both CIN and aneuploidy are hallmarks of cancer, yet the underlying mechanisms of CIN and aneuploidy and their impact on tumourigenesis have remained poorly defined. Although multiple mechanisms have been proposed to explain the role of CIN and aneuploidy in tumourigenesis, this review focuses on three principal pathways leading to CIN: spindle assembly checkpoint defects, merotelic attachments, and cohesion defects. Here, we provide a brief overview of the current understanding of the roles of these mechanisms in CIN and aneuploidy. We also present emerging evidence that contradicts the importance of certain mechanisms in cancer evolution. A clearer understanding of these fundamental pathways could prove to be helpful in developing effective cancer therapies.","PeriodicalId":375767,"journal":{"name":"University of Ottawa Science Undergraduate Research Journal","volume":"9 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2018-08-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"126420140","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2018-08-23DOI: 10.18192/osurj.v1i1.3714
Nayha Eijaz, Bhairavei Gnanamanogaran, P. Kapoor, Saranya Naraentheraraja
Hydraulic fracturing is a controversial method of natural gas extraction that has gained its fair share of critics. Although research has been conducted on the environmentalimpact of fracking, research concerning naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORM) has been scarce. Radionuclides are known to bioaccumulate in the environment and can have toxic effects on humans. This study aims to examine the extent of biomagnification of radium-226 in soil, crops and animals. Fluid samples from areas near fracking sites will be compared with samples from non-fracking sites via gamma spectroscopy. Homogenized samples of soil and crops will be analyzed by gamma spectroscopy while milk and cattle meat samples will undergo alpha spectroscopy. This will provide a clear image of the process of bioaccumulation and magnification of radionuclides in the environment as a byproduct of fracking.
{"title":"The effects of radium-226 in cattle and predicted impacts of cancer","authors":"Nayha Eijaz, Bhairavei Gnanamanogaran, P. Kapoor, Saranya Naraentheraraja","doi":"10.18192/osurj.v1i1.3714","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.18192/osurj.v1i1.3714","url":null,"abstract":"Hydraulic fracturing is a controversial method of natural gas extraction that has gained its fair share of critics. Although research has been conducted on the environmentalimpact of fracking, research concerning naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORM) has been scarce. Radionuclides are known to bioaccumulate in the environment and can have toxic effects on humans. This study aims to examine the extent of biomagnification of radium-226 in soil, crops and animals. Fluid samples from areas near fracking sites will be compared with samples from non-fracking sites via gamma spectroscopy. Homogenized samples of soil and crops will be analyzed by gamma spectroscopy while milk and cattle meat samples will undergo alpha spectroscopy. This will provide a clear image of the process of bioaccumulation and magnification of radionuclides in the environment as a byproduct of fracking.","PeriodicalId":375767,"journal":{"name":"University of Ottawa Science Undergraduate Research Journal","volume":"44 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2018-08-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"123137210","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2018-08-23DOI: 10.18192/osurj.v1i1.3705
Zi-Han An, Konrad Grala, Aakanx K Panchal, K. Trivedi
Hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, is a method of natural gas extraction which involves pumping a brine solution into the ground to create a fracture that will allow natural gas to rise. One of the major concerns surrounding this method of natural gas extraction is that wastewater enters the groundwater supply, thereby contaminating it. This wastewater contains toxic materials such as heavy metal ions, radionuclides and other salts and organic compounds in high concentrations. Some of these materials are carcinogenic and thus a concern to human life and the environment. The current solution involves the use of a zerovalent iron (ZVI) permeable reactive barrier (PRB) to filter out these toxic substances. However, it causes more fouling due to the accumulation of mineral precipitates and therefore is not very effective. A recent development in nanotechnology may allow us to develop a superior water filter to prevent groundwater contamination. Therefore, a novel PRB is suggested: featuring the use of solid graphene oxide (GO), a nanomaterial with a superior sorption ability is proposed as a replacement for the system. The proposed experiment will test the filtration capability of the GO-PRB as compared to the traditional ZVI-PRB. By emulating the process of groundwater contamination and flow using common materials found in fracking wastewater, we can determine how much more effective the GO-PRB is than the ZVIPRB.
{"title":"Investigating graphene oxide permeable reactive barriers for filtering groundwater contaminated from hydraulic fracturing","authors":"Zi-Han An, Konrad Grala, Aakanx K Panchal, K. Trivedi","doi":"10.18192/osurj.v1i1.3705","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.18192/osurj.v1i1.3705","url":null,"abstract":"Hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, is a method of natural gas extraction which involves pumping a brine solution into the ground to create a fracture that will allow natural gas to rise. One of the major concerns surrounding this method of natural gas extraction is that wastewater enters the groundwater supply, thereby contaminating it. This wastewater contains toxic materials such as heavy metal ions, radionuclides and other salts and organic compounds in high concentrations. Some of these materials are carcinogenic and thus a concern to human life and the environment. The current solution involves the use of a zerovalent iron (ZVI) permeable reactive barrier (PRB) to filter out these toxic substances. However, it causes more fouling due to the accumulation of mineral precipitates and therefore is not very effective. A recent development in nanotechnology may allow us to develop a superior water filter to prevent groundwater contamination. Therefore, a novel PRB is suggested: featuring the use of solid graphene oxide (GO), a nanomaterial with a superior sorption ability is proposed as a replacement for the system. The proposed experiment will test the filtration capability of the GO-PRB as compared to the traditional ZVI-PRB. By emulating the process of groundwater contamination and flow using common materials found in fracking wastewater, we can determine how much more effective the GO-PRB is than the ZVIPRB.","PeriodicalId":375767,"journal":{"name":"University of Ottawa Science Undergraduate Research Journal","volume":"1 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2018-08-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"126046131","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2018-08-23DOI: 10.18192/OSURJ.V1I1.3687
R. Sandarage, Justin G. Chitpin
Cancer is caused by uncontrolled cellular growth, yet some cancer cells may have greater roles in sustaining tumour proliferation and overcoming conventional cancer treatments. The origins of these cancer stem cells, as they are hypothesized, is widely contested. The current opinion points to extrinsic factors such as smoking, diet and sedentary lifestyle to be the primary inducer of cancer stem cells. This dogma was challenged in 2015 when Tomasetti and Vogelstein postulated that two-thirds of the variation in cancer risk could be explained by random mutations arising during DNA replication in healthy stem cells. Their "bad luck" hypothesis sparked fierce debate and controversy in the scientific community. In this point-counterpoint article, we discuss the random mutation cancer stem cell model and its implications for guiding public health through primary and secondary cancer prevention.
{"title":"Do stem cell divisions significantly contribute to cancer development?","authors":"R. Sandarage, Justin G. Chitpin","doi":"10.18192/OSURJ.V1I1.3687","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.18192/OSURJ.V1I1.3687","url":null,"abstract":"Cancer is caused by uncontrolled cellular growth, yet some cancer cells may have greater roles in sustaining tumour proliferation and overcoming conventional cancer treatments. The origins of these cancer stem cells, as they are hypothesized, is widely contested. The current opinion points to extrinsic factors such as smoking, diet and sedentary lifestyle to be the primary inducer of cancer stem cells. This dogma was challenged in 2015 when Tomasetti and Vogelstein postulated that two-thirds of the variation in cancer risk could be explained by random mutations arising during DNA replication in healthy stem cells. Their \"bad luck\" hypothesis sparked fierce debate and controversy in the scientific community. In this point-counterpoint article, we discuss the random mutation cancer stem cell model and its implications for guiding public health through primary and secondary cancer prevention.","PeriodicalId":375767,"journal":{"name":"University of Ottawa Science Undergraduate Research Journal","volume":"54 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2018-08-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"125056795","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2018-08-23DOI: 10.18192/OSURJ.V1I1.3720
M. Cahalan, D. Moskal, Cimon Song, Jianhang Wu
Flowback water recovered after hydraulic fracturing operations poses a serious environmental concern due to the sheer quantity produced and its toxic chemical composition. Traditional methods of wastewater treatment cannot be used for flowback water treatment due to its high concentration of non-biodegradable dissolved solids. Consequently, alternative technology has been developed to address this problem. Reverse osmosis (RO) treatment is one such example. However, guar gum gelling agents found in flowback water impede membrane permeability and water flux rate of RO, consequently decreasing the efficiency and practicality of this desirable, environment-friendly technology. Previously, a biological solution using activated sludge to degrade guar gum prior to RO treatment was attempted with limited success due to the inhibitory effects of hypersalinity (characterized by high total dissolved solids content) on microbial activity. To solve this problem, several recently discovered strains of bacteria and archaea found to be naturally enriched in fractured shales may be utilized through genetic modification to degrade guar gum under hypersaline conditions. These microbes are naturally halotolerant and thrive under hypersaline conditions, making them prime targets for genetic modification targeting various chemical additives in flowback water. Here, we provide a proof of concept model using these microbes to selectively target guar gum degradation to improve the efficiency of RO treatment.
{"title":"Optimization of reverse osmosis flowback water treatment using halotolerant microbes naturally enriched in fractured shales","authors":"M. Cahalan, D. Moskal, Cimon Song, Jianhang Wu","doi":"10.18192/OSURJ.V1I1.3720","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.18192/OSURJ.V1I1.3720","url":null,"abstract":"Flowback water recovered after hydraulic fracturing operations poses a serious environmental concern due to the sheer quantity produced and its toxic chemical composition. Traditional methods of wastewater treatment cannot be used for flowback water treatment due to its high concentration of non-biodegradable dissolved solids. Consequently, alternative technology has been developed to address this problem. Reverse osmosis (RO) treatment is one such example. However, guar gum gelling agents found in flowback water impede membrane permeability and water flux rate of RO, consequently decreasing the efficiency and practicality of this desirable, environment-friendly technology. Previously, a biological solution using activated sludge to degrade guar gum prior to RO treatment was attempted with limited success due to the inhibitory effects of hypersalinity (characterized by high total dissolved solids content) on microbial activity. To solve this problem, several recently discovered strains of bacteria and archaea found to be naturally enriched in fractured shales may be utilized through genetic modification to degrade guar gum under hypersaline conditions. These microbes are naturally halotolerant and thrive under hypersaline conditions, making them prime targets for genetic modification targeting various chemical additives in flowback water. Here, we provide a proof of concept model using these microbes to selectively target guar gum degradation to improve the efficiency of RO treatment.","PeriodicalId":375767,"journal":{"name":"University of Ottawa Science Undergraduate Research Journal","volume":"6 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2018-08-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"117261961","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2018-08-23DOI: 10.18192/osurj.v1i1.3681
Michael Leung
Invasive treatments and its associated risks are important factors of concern when the conditions are affecting the nervous system. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a non-invasive technique that stimulates brain areas through the scalp and has excitatory or inhibitory neuromodulatory effects. In the context of stroke patients, recovery is often impaired from the increased inhibition of the damaged area from the unaffected hemisphere. Fujimoto et al. uses dual-hemisphere transcranial direct current stimulation to address this interhemispheric inhibition and demonstrates that stroke patients were able to periodically restore sensory deficits.
{"title":"Shocking the brain to regain motor function : a non-invasive therapy for stroke patients","authors":"Michael Leung","doi":"10.18192/osurj.v1i1.3681","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.18192/osurj.v1i1.3681","url":null,"abstract":"Invasive treatments and its associated risks are important factors of concern when the conditions are affecting the nervous system. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a non-invasive technique that stimulates brain areas through the scalp and has excitatory or inhibitory neuromodulatory effects. In the context of stroke patients, recovery is often impaired from the increased inhibition of the damaged area from the unaffected hemisphere. Fujimoto et al. uses dual-hemisphere transcranial direct current stimulation to address this interhemispheric inhibition and demonstrates that stroke patients were able to periodically restore sensory deficits. ","PeriodicalId":375767,"journal":{"name":"University of Ottawa Science Undergraduate Research Journal","volume":"13 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2018-08-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"123856420","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2018-08-23DOI: 10.18192/OSURJ.V1I1.3699
Sukanthatulsee Uthayabalan
Estrogens are known for playing essential roles in the body. These hormones exert crucial protective actions when faced with neural damage. Numerous studies have provided a deep understanding of these unique actions that go far beyond the scope of reproduction and reproductive regulation. Through various mechanisms, delivery routes, dosage levels, and with the age and health status of the individuals receiving the treatment in mind, the hormone can be used in protecting against neural death. This review examines the discoveries that comprise the current body of knowledge regarding estrogen as a neuro-protector against cerebrovascular accidents (CVA, stroke) and neurodegenerative diseases. These findings have great implications for improving the quality of life in the aging population. They provide insight into the impact of hormones on the protection of neural tissues, and prompt discussion between members of the scientific community, ensuring that future clinical studies utilize methods that will maximize the quality of the obtained results.
{"title":"Examining estradiols neuroprotective abilities and mechanisms of action in cerebrovascular accidents and neurodegenerative conditions","authors":"Sukanthatulsee Uthayabalan","doi":"10.18192/OSURJ.V1I1.3699","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.18192/OSURJ.V1I1.3699","url":null,"abstract":"Estrogens are known for playing essential roles in the body. These hormones exert crucial protective actions when faced with neural damage. Numerous studies have provided a deep understanding of these unique actions that go far beyond the scope of reproduction and reproductive regulation. Through various mechanisms, delivery routes, dosage levels, and with the age and health status of the individuals receiving the treatment in mind, the hormone can be used in protecting against neural death. This review examines the discoveries that comprise the current body of knowledge regarding estrogen as a neuro-protector against cerebrovascular accidents (CVA, stroke) and neurodegenerative diseases. These findings have great implications for improving the quality of life in the aging population. They provide insight into the impact of hormones on the protection of neural tissues, and prompt discussion between members of the scientific community, ensuring that future clinical studies utilize methods that will maximize the quality of the obtained results.","PeriodicalId":375767,"journal":{"name":"University of Ottawa Science Undergraduate Research Journal","volume":"110 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2018-08-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"114695451","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2018-08-23DOI: 10.18192/osurj.v1i1.3717
Mihai Dumbrava, C. Kao, Daniel Lee, I-Yuan Sung
Various byproducts of fracking, such as methane gas, benzene, and other Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), have become a target for studies on health and environmental damage. These compounds are released during natural gas and petroleum extraction, and from the toxic residual water created from the fracking process. Although the long-term effects of some of these chemicals have yet to be determined, the elevated levels present in neighboring communities have been shown to cause an increase in the prevalence of acute respiratory, neurological, and reproductive diseases. In order to reduce the levels of these harmful airborne pollutants, we propose the creation of a biofilter inoculated with genetically engineered bacteria designed to metabolize VOCs and convert them into safer end products.
{"title":"Reducing volatile organic compound emissions with a biofilter inoculated with synthetically engineered Escherichia coli","authors":"Mihai Dumbrava, C. Kao, Daniel Lee, I-Yuan Sung","doi":"10.18192/osurj.v1i1.3717","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.18192/osurj.v1i1.3717","url":null,"abstract":"Various byproducts of fracking, such as methane gas, benzene, and other Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), have become a target for studies on health and environmental damage. These compounds are released during natural gas and petroleum extraction, and from the toxic residual water created from the fracking process. Although the long-term effects of some of these chemicals have yet to be determined, the elevated levels present in neighboring communities have been shown to cause an increase in the prevalence of acute respiratory, neurological, and reproductive diseases. In order to reduce the levels of these harmful airborne pollutants, we propose the creation of a biofilter inoculated with genetically engineered bacteria designed to metabolize VOCs and convert them into safer end products.","PeriodicalId":375767,"journal":{"name":"University of Ottawa Science Undergraduate Research Journal","volume":"21 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2018-08-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"116940532","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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