Analytical techniques are utilized in a wide variety of applications. Traditionally, analytical measurements are achieved by trained personnel in a laboratory setting using expensive scientific instruments, which limits their applicability in resource-limited areas and point-of-care applications. Therefore, the concept of enabling these laboratory-based qualitative and quantitative assays in microfluidic device...
The concept of reducing laboratory operations into microfluidic devices has been an attractive area of research for several decades. Due to several advantages of porous-media microfluidic devices including low mass, portability, power-free fluid transport, and the ability to store dried reagents in the porous structures, these devices show great promise...
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of anthropogenic compounds gaining notoriety as contaminants of emerging concern. With the frequent detection of PFAS in the environment, drinking water, and consumer products, awareness and concern from the public regarding PFAS is increasing. The two most notorious PFAS are perfluorooctanoate (PFOA)...
The general theme of this dissertation is the development of new analytical sensors to quantitatively study biological and environmental samples in aqueous and non-aqueous environments. A platinum ultramicroelectrode (UME) and a unique carbon-based pH microprobe were used to design a new SECM-based electrochemical bioassay. The Pt UME was used to...
Fusion reactions with radioactive neutron-rich projectiles have been the subject of much recent theoretical and experimental interest. Predictions of enhancement of the cross section due to the use of a neutron-rich projectile may have implications for synthesis of heavy nuclei. In this work, the fusion-fission excitation functions were measured for...
Organic aerosols are important atmospheric components, and their formation and sources represent important aspects of urban air quality and health effects. Asia, including India, is the largest global source of aerosol particles due to regional natural advection (e.g. desert and soil dust) and anthropogenic activities (e.g. emissions from traffic, industry...
The concentration of chlorophyll in natural bodies of water is
commonly determined as a means to rapidly estimate the phytoplankton
biomass. The literature gives numerous warnings, however, as to the
problems involved with accurately determining chlorophyll
concentrations. The author's work at Crater Lake, Oregon enticed him
to explore critically the...
The spin-orbit states of both the ground and several
charge-transfer-excited electronic configurations of
gaseous MnX₂, CoX₂, NiX₂, and CuX₂ are derived. Only one-electron
transitions from the ground electronic state are
considered. The molecules are treated as linear in both
the ground and excited states. In each case, the spin-orbit
states...