This thesis covers the use of a quarter car model to select damping rates for aFormula Student (FS) car, focusing on minimizing vertical tire force variation to improvegrip. A 2 degree of freedom (DOF) quarter car model is cycled over the road frequenciesof interest and the results compared with the...
In this dissertation, my research work on excited state dynamics of small organic molecules in solutions is presented. Using femtosecond stimulated Raman spectroscopy (FSRS) as the main experimental tool, the excited state hydrogen-bonding dynamics (ESHBD) of Coumarin 102, a common laser dye molecule, in ethanol solution is examined with <150...
Intracellular pH (pH(i)) imaging is of paramount importance for life sciences. In this work, we implement the ultrafast electronic and stimulated Raman spectroscopies to unravel the fluorescence mechanism of an excitation-ratiometric pH(i) indicator in basic aqueous solution. After photoexcitation of the pH(i) indicator HPTS, a hidden charge-transfer (CT) state following...
This biological assessment (BA) documents the potential effects of existing Forest Service (FS) Land and Resource Management Plans (LRMPs), or 'Forest Plans' and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land Use Plans (LUPs) on the Canada Lynx (Lynx canadensis), hereafter referred to as the lynx. LRMPs and LUPs are collectively referred...
Ultrafast spectroscopy has recently gained momentum as a powerful, noninvasive characterization toolset capable of studying a diverse array of samples with applications in chemistry, physics, biology, engineering, and more. Two popular ultrafast spectroscopic techniques include femtosecond transient absorption (fs-TA) and femtosecond stimulated Raman spectroscopy (FSRS). The latter of these techniques...
Ultrafast spectroscopy can exploit the structure-function relationship of chemical- and biological-based systems. More specifically, femtosecond stimulated Raman spectroscopy (FSRS) provides ground- and excited-state vibrational information with simultaneously high spectral (spatial) and temporal resolutions. The electronic counterpart, femtosecond transient absorption (fs-TA), complements FSRS data analysis as part of a comprehensive approach...
Fluorescent proteins (FPs) are luminescent biomolecules that emit characteristic hues upon irradiation. A group of calmodulin (CaM)-green FP (GFP) chimeras have been previously engineered to enable the optical detection of calcium ions (Ca²⁺). We investigate one of these genetically encoded Ca²⁺ biosensors for optical imaging (GECOs), GEM-GECO1, which fluoresces green...
Background: Mangroves are ecologically important and highly threatened forest communities. Observational and genetic evidence has confirmed the long distance dispersal capacity of water-dispersed mangrove seeds, but less is known about the relative importance of pollen vs. seed gene flow in connecting populations. We analyzed 980 Avicennia germinans for 11 microsatellite...
The purpose of this exploratory study was to develop an instrument to measure perceived food autonomy (PFA) among cognitively alert residents in state licensed Assisted Living (AL) facilities, and to investigate the influence of PFA on food satisfaction, while controlling for functional (physical, social, and psychological) status, general health, and...
The goal of this study was to develop an understanding of the nature of surge wave loading on
wood framed residential structures for a variety of building configurations and test conditions.
The objectives of the study were: (1) to measure forces on a 1/6th scale wood framed
residential structure, (2)...