Polystyrene thin film surfaces are commonly used to study the interactions of macromolecules, such as proteins, with surfaces. Polystyrene films oxidized in UV light become more hydrophilic, however these surfaces have a limited shelf life because they are reduced over time. Experiments were performed to determine the effect of radiation...
Natural freshwater availability is decreasing as the global population increases. Advances in desalination technologies aim to produce fresh water in an economical way. More sustainable energy sources are desired for these desalination plants to limit the carbon footprint of water production since global carbon dioxide production is exacerbating freshwater scarcity....
Finding renewable sources of agricultural fertilizer will be necessary to ensure a stable food supply for future generations. Phosphorus is of particular concern, since mining phosphate rock is the main source and reserves are forecasted to deplete in the next 50 – 200 years. Human urine contains substantial amounts of...
Nonthermal electrical plasmas can allow energy intensive reactions to occur without the use of high operating temperatures or pressures. This is because the collisions of electrons accelerated through an electric field with molecules is the cause of reactions as opposed to thermal collisions between molecules. In this study, the production...
As the western United States faces warmer and increasingly varied climate conditions, as well as predicted water insecurity, concerns over water quality and water availability are growing. While humans, fish, and wildlife are dependent on clean water for survival in the present, management of water resources needs to consider future...
Potential water scarcity and drought conditions are predicted in and around Eugene, Oregon due to decreased snowpack and subsequent decreased snowmelt in the Western Cascade Mountains. This phenomenon was triggered by a long-term trend of warmer winters scientifically linked to global climate change patterns (Dalton et al. 2013). Numerous stakeholders,...
This study identifies contemporary research in the field of recreation ecology focusing on ecological impacts of mountain biking and establishing best management practices for sustainable trail development and management.
A site analysis at Boggs Mountain Demonstration State Forest (BMDSF) takes existing knowledge and research on sustainable trail development and applies...
There has been tremendous growth in using data analytic and machine learning algorithms to make critical decisions, such as in the national power grid, healthcare operations, and autonomous vehicles. Employing data analytic for decision-making allows cyber attackers to manipulate the decisions of these algorithms through data falsification. Hence, the trustworthiness...
The hydrologic cycle on Earth comprises the transitions among the solid, liquid, and gaseous phases of water. Understanding the hydrologic cycle is of course important for climate science, but also for agricultural, drinking water, and disaster preparedness purposes. Improvements in satellite observations and general circulation models (GCMs) have led to...
To help beautify the open water space in front of the National Aquarium, in 2010 the very first floating wetland islands in Baltimore’s Inner Harbor were deployed. Since then, floating wetlands have sprouted up in other parts of Baltimore’s Inner Harbor, including the Bond Street Wharf. The National Aquarium’s floating...