Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®
Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons™
Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®
- Keyword
-
- Ozone (4)
- Air pollution (3)
- Air quality (3)
- European buckthorn (3)
- Isoprene (3)
-
- Particulate matter (3)
- Atmosphere (2)
- BVOC (2)
- Chicago (2)
- Climate change (2)
- Oak (2)
- Oaks (2)
- Temperature (2)
- Adherence (1)
- African Americans (1)
- Agriculture (1)
- Air pollutants. (1)
- Air quality gradients (1)
- Amastigotes (1)
- Amazon forest (1)
- Anti-retroviral therapy (1)
- Arduino (1)
- Atmospheric sciences (1)
- Audio (1)
- Azelaic acid (1)
- Baja California Sur (1)
- Ballooning (1)
- Bifurcated hydrogen bond (1)
- Biking (1)
- Biochemistry (1)
Articles 1 - 30 of 53
Full-Text Articles in Physical Sciences and Mathematics
The Influence Of Vehicular Traffic And Land Use Typology On The Spatial Patterns And Concentrations Of Soil Lead (Pb) In The Uptown Community Area Of Chicago, Andreas 'Dre' Harris
The Influence Of Vehicular Traffic And Land Use Typology On The Spatial Patterns And Concentrations Of Soil Lead (Pb) In The Uptown Community Area Of Chicago, Andreas 'Dre' Harris
DePaul Discoveries
Lead (Pb) is a harmful element whose presence threatens the well-being of living organisms and their environments. There are higher concentrations and an increased risk of Pb exposure in areas that provide fewer natural pathways for Pb to accumulate into. In urban areas, the soil is one of the most common and available environmental sinks for Pb accumulation. This study examines the total soil Pb concentrations in relation to land-use types and average daily traffic volumes (cars/day) in each census tract in the Uptown Community Area of Chicago. This study provides insight into how land use and traffic volume may …
Understanding The Effect Of Ranching On Quercus Brandegeei Recruitment In The Sierra La Laguna Biosphere Reserve, Xavier O. Espinoza
Understanding The Effect Of Ranching On Quercus Brandegeei Recruitment In The Sierra La Laguna Biosphere Reserve, Xavier O. Espinoza
DePaul Discoveries
In this study, we attempt to deepen our understanding of the mechanisms responsible for Quercus brandegeei’s observed lack of regeneration by identifying which animal species (wild and domesticated) most frequently were observed eating, passing by, or searching for seeds and seedlings. We established 10 paired plots (10 enclosed and 10 immediately outside enclosures) and positioned one motion-activated camera in each plot to observe animal visitations to Quercus brandegeei individuals over the course of several months (October 2019 – March 2020). No seeds and seedlings survived outside of enclosed areas at the end of the study based on their absence. Very …
Depaul Discoveries Volume 12 Cover Art, Katherine Petralia
Depaul Discoveries Volume 12 Cover Art, Katherine Petralia
DePaul Discoveries
No abstract provided.
An Analysis Of Lichen Presence On Quercus And Non-Quercus In Chicagoland Area, Shelby Johnson
An Analysis Of Lichen Presence On Quercus And Non-Quercus In Chicagoland Area, Shelby Johnson
DePaul Discoveries
Both anthropogenic change and the spread of invasive species have led to changes in urban and forest tree diversity. Oak rust, acute oak decline, and emerald ash borer have all had a detrimental effect on tree species in the Chicagoland area. Quercus species are well known habitats for lichen species including Physcia millegrana, Physcia stellaris, Punctelia rudecta, Flavoparmelia caperata, Xanthomendosa, and Candeleria concolor. Due to the decrease in the traditional Quercus habitats for lichen and the increase in nonnative and nontraditional tree species being introduced, particularly in cities, this study aimed to compare the number and diversity of …
Monitoring Personal Exposure To Air Quality Gradients While Biking On An Elevated Urban Trail, Gavin D. Salas
Monitoring Personal Exposure To Air Quality Gradients While Biking On An Elevated Urban Trail, Gavin D. Salas
DePaul Discoveries
Air pollution is a major global health concern, specifically as it relates to the human exposome. The EPA criteria pollutants, including particulate matter (PM), carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO2), and NOx can have severe impacts on respiratory and cardiovascular health, particularly in populations with chronic illnesses such as asthma, those facing economic hardships and individuals who frequently spend time outdoors, such as bicyclists and runners. To understand the impact of air pollution on human health, it is essential to assess personal exposure. This study aimed to investigate personal exposure to air pollution levels while biking along …
Stratospheric Effects On Uv, Speed Of Sound, Pressure, And Temperature, Joshua V. Chis, Joana Diaz, Brianna E. Ortiz, Imani G. Robertson, Jelani A. Shadd
Stratospheric Effects On Uv, Speed Of Sound, Pressure, And Temperature, Joshua V. Chis, Joana Diaz, Brianna E. Ortiz, Imani G. Robertson, Jelani A. Shadd
DePaul Discoveries
The atmosphere is composed of several layers, each with its own distinct environment varying in temperature, pressure, and levels of UV radiation. Quantifying these varying parameters proves to be useful in understanding atmospheric composition in greater detail. Variance in the composition of the atmosphere allows for the study of the evolution of physical phenomena at different altitudes. Our group quantified this variance using a high-altitude weather balloon and designed an experimental method to observe the nature of sound propagation through varying altitudes. The goal was to develop an altitude-dependent model of the speed of sound by using an open-air, microcontroller-based …
What's In Your Soil? A Comparative Assessment Of Total Lead In Soils In Southwest Side And North Side Chicago Communities, Jennifer Garcia
What's In Your Soil? A Comparative Assessment Of Total Lead In Soils In Southwest Side And North Side Chicago Communities, Jennifer Garcia
DePaul Discoveries
In Chicago, city officials continue to locate polluting industries in predominately Black and Hispanic/Latinx neighborhoods. Lower income families are disproportionately exposed to greater amounts of toxic chemicals such as lead (Pb). While the City of Chicago focuses its effort in removing industrial sites from the North Side, a predominately white community area, sources of industrial pollution are more likely to be found in communities of color. Due to the prevalent sources of Pb on the Southwest side, residential soil is often highly disturbed and contaminated. Pb is a serious neurotoxin, and ingestion or inhalation of Pb contaminated soil and dust …
Atmospheric Phosphorus Deposition Into A Fresh Water Wetland: Prairie Wolf Slough Restored Wetland, Isaac B. Daitzchman
Atmospheric Phosphorus Deposition Into A Fresh Water Wetland: Prairie Wolf Slough Restored Wetland, Isaac B. Daitzchman
DePaul Discoveries
Phosphorus is a major element needed for plant growth. Excess phosphorus from agricultural runoff and urban stormwater can enter waterways, resulting in growth of toxic algal blooms that are deleterious to local fauna. One way to remove phosphorus is by diverting agricultural and urban runoff into wetlands. One such wetland is Prairie Wolf Slough (PWS), located in north suburban Chicago, IL. Stormwater enters PWS through an inlet channel and exits through an outlet pipe into the Chicago River. A 16-year study documented that a significantly greater mass of phosphorus leaves PWS than enters through the inlet. This study accounted for …
Optimization Of Dye Molecules For Use In Studying Inflammatory Caspase Enzymes, Josiah D. Stewart, Phasu Sirinit
Optimization Of Dye Molecules For Use In Studying Inflammatory Caspase Enzymes, Josiah D. Stewart, Phasu Sirinit
DePaul Discoveries
Inflammatory caspases are important enzymes in the initial immune response to pathogens. A common method of studying caspase activity is through the use of fluorogenic assays, in which the cleavage of a substrate by an enzyme results in the emission of fluorescence. Fluorogenic assays require the use of fluorophores: molecules that will fluoresce upon the cleavage of a substrate. Different fluorophores have different characteristics, and these characteristics can be analyzed in order to determine which fluorophores will be most suitable for activity assays. Two commercially available fluorophores were compared for use in fluorogenic assays of inflammatory caspases: MCA and EDANS. …
Depaul Discoveries Volume 11 Cover Art, Dina Khdair
Depaul Discoveries Volume 11 Cover Art, Dina Khdair
DePaul Discoveries
No abstract provided.
Triangulation And Finite Element Method For A Variational Problem Inspired By Medical Imaging, Tim Komperda, Enrico Au-Yeung
Triangulation And Finite Element Method For A Variational Problem Inspired By Medical Imaging, Tim Komperda, Enrico Au-Yeung
DePaul Discoveries
We implement the finite element method to solve a variational problem that is inspired by medical imaging. In our application, the domain of the image does not need to be a rectangle and can contain a cavity in the middle. The standard approach to solve a variational problem involves formulating the problem as a partial differential equation. Instead, we solve the variational problem directly, using only techniques available to anyone familiar with vector calculus. As part of the computation, we also explore how triangulation is a useful tool in the process.
Correlation Effects On Intramolecular C-H...Oh And O-H...O Hydrogen Bond Interactions In Azelaic Acid: An Ab Initio Study, Sabina Kalata, Alina Huang, Ruben Parra
Correlation Effects On Intramolecular C-H...Oh And O-H...O Hydrogen Bond Interactions In Azelaic Acid: An Ab Initio Study, Sabina Kalata, Alina Huang, Ruben Parra
DePaul Discoveries
Electron correlation effects on both conventional, O-H…O, and nonconventional, C-H…O, intramolecular hydrogen bonds present in a selected azelaic acid folded conformation were evaluated ab initio using HF and MP2 methodologies. The relative strength of the hydrogen bonds was examined through different indicators derived from geometry, vibrational frequencies, and electron density along the hydrogen bond path. The HF method results in weaker O-H…O and C-H…O hydrogen bonds when compared with the corresponding results using the MP2 method. Additionally, the stability of the folded azelaic conformation is found to depend on the level of theory used. Accordingly, the zero-point corrected energies of …
High Altitude Ballooning As A Platform For Measuring Ozone Uptake Over Agricultural Landscapes, Thomas Sykora, Mark Potosnak
High Altitude Ballooning As A Platform For Measuring Ozone Uptake Over Agricultural Landscapes, Thomas Sykora, Mark Potosnak
DePaul Discoveries
Measuring plant health is a key aspect in maximizing crop outputs. One often overlooked risk to crop fields is damage caused by stomatal ozone uptake; measuring this uptake is an important tool in understanding crop losses. Traditional methods for measuring plant ozone uptake are prohibitively expensive and rely on equipment that cannot easily be moved. Here, we propose high-altitude weather ballooning as a cost-effective alternative for measuring ozone uptake on a regional (~10 km) spatial scale. Ozonesounde data was obtained with weather balloons launched from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration research station in Boulder, Colorado. This data was then …
Interspersed Denuded Zone (Idz): How Patchy Leaf Litter Dynamics In A Buckthorn-Invaded Urban Woodland Can Affect Microarthropod Species Richness, Angela Stenberg
Interspersed Denuded Zone (Idz): How Patchy Leaf Litter Dynamics In A Buckthorn-Invaded Urban Woodland Can Affect Microarthropod Species Richness, Angela Stenberg
DePaul Discoveries
Biodiversity loss may serve as a key diagnostic of the Anthropocene. An important driver of this loss is by means of invasive species. In this study of a forest preserve in Chicago, Illinois we examined Interspersed Denuded Zones (IDZs for short), which are areas of patchy leaf litter in invaded forests caused in this case by the rapid decomposition of litter from buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica). We characterized the leaf litter mass in IDZs and enumerated litter-inhabiting microarthropod populations. We found that plots of high buckthorn density are associated with IDZs: there was significantly less leaf litter mass in …
Population Structure Analysis Of The Endangered Oak Quercus Brandegeei, Carolyn Brinckwirth
Population Structure Analysis Of The Endangered Oak Quercus Brandegeei, Carolyn Brinckwirth
DePaul Discoveries
As humans continue to impact landscapes and ecosystems throughout the entire world, many plant and animal species have faced major changes in their environments. The rare endemic oak, Quercus brandegeei, is one such endangered species located in the Sierra La Laguna mountains of Baja California Sur, Mexico. This tree occurs solely on the ephemeral riverbeds of the mountains, which are inundated seasonally by hurricane waters. It is important to understand the fundamental characteristics, like spatial distribution, of Q. brandegeei in order to develop restorative management practices to protect this tree against extinction. Determining the geographic distribution of a species …
Modeling Reproduction Influencers Of An Endangered Oak, Camila Cortez
Modeling Reproduction Influencers Of An Endangered Oak, Camila Cortez
DePaul Discoveries
The endemic oak, Quercus brandegeei has been labeled as endangered by the IUCN Red List of Endangered Species due to its limited genetic diversity and lack of regeneration. The oak (Quercus) species is a keystone species in many parts of the world and has been facing various challenges to their survival (Westwood 2017) making efforts to support and protect endemic oaks all the more ecologically and socially imperative. There are challenges to identifying threats as there are many unknown characteristics of Q. brandegeei’s biology that are essential to carrying out conservation efforts. To develop a greater understanding of …
Insignificant Impacts Of Covid-19 Stay-At-Home Orders On Chicago Air Quality, Adam W.T. Steffeck
Insignificant Impacts Of Covid-19 Stay-At-Home Orders On Chicago Air Quality, Adam W.T. Steffeck
DePaul Discoveries
With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, reports of air quality improvements around the world resulting from the stay-at-home orders were widespread. However, for Chicago, no significant air quality improvements occurred despite large reductions in private vehicle transportation due to the lack of commuters. The city of Chicago is a nexus for long-haul transportation by trucks and trains, which did not decrease during the pandemic. These transportation sources use mostly diesel fuel engines and emit NOX, a precursor to tropospheric ozone, and PM2.5, both of which are harmful air pollutants. Using open access EPA air quality …
Depaul Discoveries Volume 10 Cover Art, Nicolette Listenbee
Depaul Discoveries Volume 10 Cover Art, Nicolette Listenbee
DePaul Discoveries
No abstract provided.
Sports And The Environment: A Life Cycle Assessment Of Children’S Football And Hockey Equipment, Emma Casey
Sports And The Environment: A Life Cycle Assessment Of Children’S Football And Hockey Equipment, Emma Casey
DePaul Discoveries
Life-cycle assessment (LCA) is a technique that can be used to assess the environmental implications associated with all of the stages of a product’s life, including raw material extraction, product creation, transportation, use, and disposal. This process can be used by designers to develop a more sustainable approach to their product or by consumers to become more informed on the environmental impacts of the product they are purchasing. Since the sporting goods industry and its products have significant environmental impact through energy use and emissions, this study aims to analyze the contribution of the life cycle stages of youth hockey …
Depaul Discoveries Volume 9 Cover, Steven Reese
Depaul Discoveries Volume 9 Cover, Steven Reese
DePaul Discoveries
No abstract provided.
Comparing Carapa Guianensis Seed Production In 3 Amazonian Forests, Carmen Valencia
Comparing Carapa Guianensis Seed Production In 3 Amazonian Forests, Carmen Valencia
DePaul Discoveries
This paper is the first part of a project that has the purpose of creating models that help us better understand variation in seed production in Carapa guianensis, a species in the mahogany family. The goal of this paper is to visualize seed production patterns to inform species management. When this study is completed, it will aid local communities harvesting Carapa in projecting revenue from the oil produced from the seeds. Carapa is a masting species, which means it has an intermittent synchronous production of large seed crops. The major suspected causes of variation in seed production are resource …
A Life Cycle Assessment Of Jewelry, Jessica Fernandez, Christie Klimas
A Life Cycle Assessment Of Jewelry, Jessica Fernandez, Christie Klimas
DePaul Discoveries
Jewelry is unique in that it is not a necessity, yet it holds sentimental and material value to the owner. Jewelry sales in the US have increased throughout time, meaning the demand for gold has almost always been increasing, as well. With more than half of the gold mined going towards the production of jewelry, it is the product with the highest demand of the resource. However, mining for the metals to produce a piece of jewelry, specifically gold, has negative consequences on both the environment and the people working in or living near mines. This study is a life …
Depaul Discoveries Volume 8 Cover, Jessica Hughes
Depaul Discoveries Volume 8 Cover, Jessica Hughes
DePaul Discoveries
No abstract provided.
United States Population Future Estimates And Long-Term Distribution, Sean P. Brogan
United States Population Future Estimates And Long-Term Distribution, Sean P. Brogan
DePaul Discoveries
The population of the United States has always increased year over year. Even now with decreasing birth rates, the overall population continues to grow when looking at conventional models. The present study specifically examines what would happen to the U.S. population if we were to maintain the current birth and survival rates into the future. By 2050, our research shows that the U.S. population will become much older and cease to grow at all.
Risk Factors Associated With Missed Medical Appointments Among Hiv-Positive Young Men Who Have Sex With Men, Willie Love, Douglas Bruce
Risk Factors Associated With Missed Medical Appointments Among Hiv-Positive Young Men Who Have Sex With Men, Willie Love, Douglas Bruce
DePaul Discoveries
Young men who have sex with men (YMSM) are overrepresented in the HIV epidemic in America. Retaining HIV positive YMSM in HIV care is very critical to reduce the overall burden of the HIV epidemic in America. Our study focused on identifying significant risk factors that affects retention in care for YMSM. Missing two or more medical appointments was how we measured retention in care. Using data gathered from ATN 086-106 study. This ATN cross-sectional study provided HIV positive males and females between the ages of 12 and 24 with an extensive questionnaire. The goal of this study was to …
Correlates Of Adherence To Antiretroviral Therapy Among Hiv-Positive Young Men Who Have Sex With Men, Janelle Flores, Douglas Bruce
Correlates Of Adherence To Antiretroviral Therapy Among Hiv-Positive Young Men Who Have Sex With Men, Janelle Flores, Douglas Bruce
DePaul Discoveries
Adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) is important in HIV management. The objective of this study was to analyze the risk factors for non-adherence to ART in HIV-positive young men who have sex with men (YMSM). Data pertaining to possible risk factors for non-adherence was collected from ATN086-106, a study protocol within the Adolescent Trials Network of HIV/AIDS Interventions (ATN). Variables that were significantly associated with non-adherence to ART in bivariate analyses were entered into multivariate logistic regression models to identify correlates of non-adherence to ART. The results indicate that YMSM who used marijuana and methamphetamine and missed medical appointments were …
Depaul Discoveries Volume 7 Cover, Martha Lazarski
Depaul Discoveries Volume 7 Cover, Martha Lazarski
DePaul Discoveries
No abstract provided.
The Mobile Monitoring Of Particulate Matter Through Wearable Sensors And Their Influence On Students' Environmental Attitudes, Joseph M. Abbate
The Mobile Monitoring Of Particulate Matter Through Wearable Sensors And Their Influence On Students' Environmental Attitudes, Joseph M. Abbate
DePaul Discoveries
While we have a comprehensive understanding of air pollutants, and their spatiotemporal characteristics across global, and even regional, scales, we are quite limited in our capacity to monitor neighborhood-scale emissions. The mobile monitoring of air pollution is a growing field, prospectively filling in these gaps while personalizing air quality-based tools and risk assessment. In the present study, we developed wearable sensors for particulate matter (PM); and through a citizen science approach, students of partnering Chicago schools monitored PM concentrations throughout their commutes over a five-day period. While their recorded findings would be used to explore the relationship between PM concentrations …
The Effects Of Isoprene Emission From Native And Invasive Trees On Local Air Quality, Aarti P. Mistry
The Effects Of Isoprene Emission From Native And Invasive Trees On Local Air Quality, Aarti P. Mistry
DePaul Discoveries
Biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOC) are the second-most abundant reactive gasses emitted into the atmosphere by the biosphere. Isoprene is a BVOC produced by the process of photosynthesis from vegetation and is emitted from plant leaves. Isoprene is a hydrocarbon that combines with oxides of nitrogen in the atmosphere to create ozone in the troposphere, an air pollutant. Invasive trees alter ecosystems and affect native tree populations. Invasive tree species in the Chicagoland area are outcompeting native tree species and expanding rapidly. The effect of isoprene emissions on air quality is a well-researched area in the atmospheric science community, however, …
Depaul Discoveries Volume 6 Cover, Amanda Copeland
Depaul Discoveries Volume 6 Cover, Amanda Copeland
DePaul Discoveries
No abstract provided.