According to a 2017 Pew Research Study, 44% of adults in America say that they do not feel informed enough about science to understand news and new discoveries discussed on the media (Funk et al. 2019). This is concerning, because adults are not just passive consumers of media; among other...
Emerging data showing the presence of atmospheric microplastics (MPs) has recently raised awareness surrounding the potential of human nanoplastics (NPs) exposure. Due to factors such as weathering, UV exposure, and other biodegradation processes, plastic pollution in the environment breaks down over time into micro (<5 micrometers) and nanoscale (<1000nm) particles....
Congenital myopathies are caused by heritable mutations in particular genes. Genes mutated in congenital muscular dystrophies often encode cytoskeletal proteins, which contribute to the shape and movement of cells. We would like to know how such molecular defects lead to the muscle weakness in patients. It is therefore important to...
The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) has recently been described as a novel therapeutic target, given the potent suppression of multiple immune-mediated diseases following activation by the prototypic ligand, 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD). In the parent-into-F1 graft-versus-host (GVH) model, suppression of the cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) response is associated with the presence of CD25⁺CTLA-4⁺IL-10⁺Foxp3[superscript...
Weyerhaeuser's Paper Mill in Albany, Oregon has been experiencing frequent ring formation in the #3 rotary lime kiln. Rings form when lime mud (CaCO₃) or product lime (CaO) particles adheres to the walls of the lime kiln and become resistant to the abrasive action of the sliding motion of product...
Polybenzimidazoles were synthesized from 3,3'-diaminobenzidine (DAB) and dicarboxylic acids. The polymerizations using the dicarboxylic acid monomers were carried out in polyphosphoric acid (PPA) and phosphorus pentoxide/methansulfonic acid (PPMA) which acted as the solvent and condensing agent. The resulting polybenzimidazoles had inherent viscosities in the range of 0.12 to 0.84 dL/g....
Throughout the 20th century, windthrow has affected forests in the Bull Run watershed, a 26,500 ha basin that is the principal water source for the city of Portland, Oregon. Windthrow from storms in 1973 and 1983 was mapped into a geographic information system (GIS) and compared to a 1931 windthrow...
A heat stable protease was identified as the cause of textural degradation in cooked arrowtooth flounder (Atheresthes stomias) muscle. Maximum proteolytic activity in the fish muscle was observed between 55°C and 60°C and myosin heavy chain appeared to be the primary substrate for the enzyme. Degradation of this myofibrillar protein...
In this project we study multiple approaches to modeling coupled flow and energy systems, with applications to geothermal fluid flow in geysers. We explore a model from a geophysical point of view, and discuss analysis of a related model. We then focus on our own model which features a free-boundary...