Recent developments in estimation of the survivability of a U.S. Navy transport barge in random seas are extended to improve accuracy. The single Degree-of-Freedom (DOF) model of a extreme roll response of a barge used in previous research is replaced by a 3-DOF roll-heave-sway model to include linear and nonlinear...
The first goal of this study was to understand the role of calpains in skeletal muscle
protein degradation in cultured cells. We have developed a genetic approach to inhibit
endogenous calpain activity through over-expressing dominant negative m-calpain (DN),
antisense m-calpain (AS) and calpastatin inhibitory domain (CID). We observed that,
under...
This thesis is an account of investigation on the natural products deriving from various marine algae and has resulted in the discovery of eleven novel bioactive metabolites. Isolation and characterization of these new molecules were carried out using different chromatographic techniques and by analyses of different spectroscopic data, respectively. Using...
This dissertation presents the results of statistical analyses of large climate datasets from two time intervals – the 20th century instrumental record and the proxy record of the last deglaciation – in order to understand the forcings and mechanisms of past climate variability.
A longstanding question in climate dynamics concerns...
In this thesis, we present the first detailed, long-term seismotectonic studies of oceanic
ridge-transform systems. The proximity of the Juan de Fuca plate to a network of
broadband seismic stations in western North America provides a unique synergy of
interesting tectonic targets, high seismicity, and recording capabilities. Our main tools...
The intricate relationship between wildlife health and the quality of their environment is well established, with technological advances increasing our understanding and aiding the unraveling of underlying mechanisms. Large herbivores require forage of sufficient quality to maintain their condition to reproduce and survive, all while warding off parasites and predators...
Forests play an integral role in the global carbon cycle, regulating the atmospheric CO₂ concentration by sequestering nearly one third of anthropogenic carbon emissions and storing carbon for centuries. Forest ecosystems are integrated into the culture, ecology, and economy of western North America, supporting wildlife habitat, local economies, recreation, and...
An open area of research in complex systems is to move reliability and failure assessments earlier in the engineering design process. When compared to later design, early decisions are cost effective and have a large impact on the system. Standard methods are limited by the availability of data and often...