High-potential molecules derived from biomass sources may suitably replace or supplement traditional nonrenewable hydrocarbon fuels to reduce pollution and fuel processing costs. Due to expensive and time-consuming property testing, models that predict key properties from optical data would initially vet potential additives before investment and bench-scale testing. Attenuated Total Reflection...
Widespread mercury contamination threatens aquatic ecosystem functions due to its capacity to bioaccumulate, biomagnify, and induce toxicity in food webs. Methylmercury (MeHg), the organic form of mercury, bioaccumulates more efficiently and tends to be more toxic than the inorganic form. One important impact of mercury exposure is inhibition of effective...
Atomically-thin graphene sheets have unprecedented characteristics for biosensing applications. These characteristics include mechanical flexibility and strength, optical transparency, electrical sensitivity and biocompatibility. The primary theme of this dissertation is the characterization and application of graphene field-effect transistors (FETs) in biologically-relevant physiological environments.Understanding the interface that forms between an electrolyte and...
The use of cover crops in young vineyards is not widely accepted in the Pacific Northwest due to concerns of water and nutrient competition between the cover crop and vines. The last 2 years of a 4-year study started in 2009 are reported here. The study evaluated the use of...
The inclusion of students with disabilities in general physical education (GPE) classes has become a concept and practice that is expected if not always understood. A review of inclusion in physical education literature suggested that GPE teachers possess less than favorable feelings towards the inclusion of students with disabilities in...
Nitrosomonas europaea carries out the first step in the biological nitrogen removal process in wastewater treatment by oxidizing ammonia to nitrite. It has been shown to be sensitive to a wide range of contaminants. The antibiotic oxytetracycline and the heavy metals chromium and silver have been found in wastewater influent....
Well-defined fronts develop at the seaward edge of riverine plumes where suspended materials and planktonic organisms are concentrated by convergent water flows. Riverine plume fronts have been hypothesized to be favorable fish habitats because they can lead to localized prey
aggregations. We examined the spatial distribution of juvenile Pacific salmonids...