This thesis covers two topics. The first subject
involves tests run on a ultralite reflux tube supplied by
Battelle Pacific Northwest Laboratories (PNL). The second
topic involves tests to determine the relative wicking rates
of several different fabrics.
The ultralite reflux tube supplied by PNL was
constructed of copper and...
A phytoplankton bloom dominated by the pennate diatom Nitzschia
curta (Van Heurck) Hasle was observed during January-February 1983 at
a receding ice-edge in the Western Ross Sea, Antarctica. The core of
the bloom was found between 100-150 Km from the ice-edge. Nitzschia
curta cell densities up to 22 x 10⁶...
Malaria is a vector-borne disease that has affected humans and other animals for a long time and which has shown high prevalence among different populations. During the beginning of the 20th century, Sir Ronald Ross and George Macdonald developed a model that represents the spread of malaria through the interaction...
We investigated mesopredator effects on prey availability in the Ross Sea, Antarctica, assessing the reasons why Adélie penguin Pygoscelis adeliae foraging trip duration (FTD) increases and diet changes from krill to fish as numbers of foraging penguins and competing cetaceans increase in the penguins’ foraging area. To investigate penguins’ seasonally...
The goals of this dissertation are centered on understanding changes in Earth surface and climate systems through the use of geologic proxies as records of past changes in these systems. Specifically, this dissertation (1) establishes a new chronology for retreat of the Ross Sea sector of the West Antarctic Ice...
Wheat (Triticum aestivum) is one of the world’s major staple food crops, with flour produced from starchy endosperm being used for breads, cakes, noodles and various other wheat-based foods. The unique bread making properties of wheat are primarily attributed to its gluten-forming storage proteins: gliadins and glutenins. This study investigated...
Casting manipulation in robotics is the act of launching a tethered projectile and using it to interact with the environment. One such interaction is wrapping a target. In this work, we identify throwing and tether control parameters for successfully wrapping a target with an end-weighted cable, evolving through a set...
In the past half century, industrial robots have developed a strong presence in manufacturing. They now commonly perform tasks such as materials handling, assembly, welding, and painting. Unfortunately robotic machining tasks have seen limited deployments. The majority of machining robots are designed for soft materials like wood or plastic and...
The ability to jump allows small robots to traverse rough terrain, clear large obstacles, and quickly reach elevated locations. These abilities have applications in a variety of areas such as, search and rescue, environmental monitoring, and urban warfare. The primary focus in current state-of-the-art jumping robots has been on jumping...