The majority of our modern understanding of bacterial pathogenesis is based on the strategy that involves screening bacterial genomes for the presence of the genes encoding pathogenic factors, and analysis of these genes via forward and reverse genetics. Chlamydiae represent a unique group of pathogenic bacteria in which it is...
Long-standing research has highlighted the critical role of physical and outdoor activities for children’s health and wellbeing. During the COVID-19 pandemic, children and youth around the world experienced heightened stress and poor mental health, which coincided with a decrease in active play and increase in screen-based activities. This work aims...
The diffusion behavior of arsenic (As) and gallium (Ga) atoms from semi-insulating GaAs (SI-GaAs) into ZnO films upon post-growth annealing vis-`a-vis the resulting charge compensation was investigated with the help of x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and secondary ion mass spectroscopy. The films, annealed at 600 °C and 700 °C showed...
The human pathogen Chlamydia trachomatis displays different phenotypes between serovars both in vivo and in vitro. The study of chlamydial biology has been hampered by the lack of a tractable genetic system. Here, chlamydial isolates with known phenotypes as well as strains generated though recombination were fully sequenced to address...
One post-transcriptional mechanism that regulates the progression of cancer and other diseases involves small 22-23 nucleotide sequences called microRNA (miR). Early detection of small changes in concentration of these biomarkers holds potential to diagnose diseases at their earliest stages. Use of current nucleic-acid based biosensors, like molecular beacons, for in...
Rhizopogon vesiculosus is a common ectomycorrhizal (EM) symbiont of Pseudotusga menziesii (Douglas-fir) in the coast range of the Pacific Northwest. The species has been studied for its systematics, genet size, population structure, and competitive ability in several field and experimental studies. This thesis seeks to provide a more thorough characterization...
Hydrogen is of great interest as a fuel, as its oxidation produces benign water (without CO₂ emissions), its gaseous form can be transported in existing pipe infrastructure, and it can be obtained via renewable electricity from water. However, current hydrogen production is mainly produced from fossil fuels (e.g. methane), exacerbating...
This project studied how a user's handedness affects his or her ability to use a
special-purpose handheld digital device such as a digital camera or rangefinder. More
specifically, it sought to identify how handedness affects speed and accuracy when
navigating within a menu system. 24 participants were given 8 menu...
Fe25Co25Ni25Cr25-XMoX High Entropy Alloys were fabricated in mini arc-melter and then cast into 4mm diameter cylinders by injection casting technique and 1cm diameter cylinders by water quenching technique. Heat transfer modeling during solidification of FeCoNiCr HEA was simulated. Combining X-Ray Diffraction, Optical Microscopy, Scanning Electron Microscope, Energy Dispersive X-ray analysis,...