Cell counting is a key tool used in biological and clinical laboratories, but at present, commercial cell counters are large and expensive. CMOS technology is a promising platform for creating small, low-cost sensors but currently lacks a robust method of directly interfacing these sensors with the microfluidic networks needed for...
The gut microbiome has been previously implemented in a number of diseases. Of note is its substantial role in metabolic syndrome, which encapsulates a group of conditions that increase the risk of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and stroke. Understanding the causal relationships between the gut microbiome and host processes...
This thesis is a collection of four submitted manuscripts that present
methods to assist forest ecosystem service managers wanting to develop
operational sampling, monitoring, and production plans for a set of
specific quantifiable ecosystem services, which are formulated as a
series of general multi-objective optimization problems. The problems
are solved...
Two light sensitive mutants of the green alga Scenedesmus obliquus strain D₃ have been characterized. The photodynamic nature of their sensitivity has been established, the subchloroplast site of photodamage has been investigated, and their noncarotenogenic character has been verified. The two mutants possess several similarities, although mutant L. S. -41...
Inflammation is one of the first, most important responses of the immune system when presented with infection and is mediated primarily by eicosanoids and cytokines. The goal of this research was to generate monoclonal antibodies against murine IL17C, a poorly characterized cytokine involved in inflammation and linked to inflammatory conditions....
Forest harvest practices can impact nutrient concentrations and stream temperatures, altering aquatic ecosystems. To better inform future sustainable forest resource management practices, quantifying the impact of current practices on water quality, particularly in headwater streams is important. In this study, I quantified monthly nitrate-nitrite (N) and orthophosphate (P) concentrations, 7-day...
Wildfires can affect soil physical properties, resulting in changes in infiltration, hillslope runoff, groundwater recharge, and sediment and dissolved nutrients to streams. In November 2016, the Chimney Tops 2 Fire burned 4,617 ha of Appalachian hardwood forest in eastern Tennessee. A portion of the fire burned through a National Ecological...