Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Answers In The East: An Examination Of China's Renewable Energy And Its Application To Central Appalachia, Lillian Hamm

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

While much of China’s electrification has depended on coal, recent decades illustrate the country is heavily investing in and implementing renewable energy as a power source. Even China’s coal-rich provinces, like the northeastern province of Shanxi, have been making the transition to renewable energy. The central Appalachian states comprised of eastern Kentucky, West Virginia, western Virginia, and northeastern Tennessee share many characteristics with China’s Shanxi province including economic resources, climate, and geography. Yet, central Appalachia has not been able to easily transition to renewable energy. However, there are various cultural, political, and technological differences between the two regions to explain …

Merging Art And Science: Lessons Learned From An 'Otterly' Different Case Study, Jess Barger

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Environmental art projects use artistic interpretation to tell stories about the natural world, often with the hope that they will inspire awareness or behavioral change. In 2019, an art project to raise awareness about North American river otters (Lontra canadensis) was launched in Northern California, using over 100 river otter sculptures painted and decorated by local artists. Through a mixed-methods approach, I quantified the initial outcomes of the project, North Coast Otters, as well as the response to the project by the public on social media as a case study in environmental art and outreach. Participating artists’ interviews and …

Investigation Of Defective Trees Using Electric Resistivity Method, Turgay İşseven, Yi̇ği̇t Yilmaz, Nedi̇m Gökhan Aydin

Turkish Journal of Earth Sciences

The resistivity method in geophysics is used to solve various geological and engineering problems. Recently, this nondestructive method has been used on trees to investigate possible infections within the trunks by scanning resistivity variations. In this study, the electrical resistivity method has been aimed to be applied on various trees in Istanbul, Turkey to test whether the method applies to trees via regular resistivity measurement devices used in geophysics. Firstly, a multi-channel resistivity device, that is designed to automatically take measurements on the ground, is modified to carry out the measurements on trees. The measured data are processed using two …

Understanding The Relationship Between Local Environmental Changes And The Function Of The Ph Low Insertion Peptide, Violetta Burns Casamayor

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the US with over 1.7 million new cases each year. Current cancer treatments tend to also target healthy tissues due to similarities with cancerous ones, resulting in acute side effects. Early detection is the best approach towards defeating cancer, however, modern imaging techniques require sizeable samples, often implying a late stage in the disease. One common attribute of tumors is their acidic microenvironment, which can be taken advantage of.

The pH Low Insertion Peptide (pHLIP) is a membrane-active peptide that can take advantage of the acidic microenvironment surrounding cancer cells. pHLIP …

Evolution Of Island, Dominique Kongsli

The Transdisciplinary STEAM+ Journal

Evolution of Island emerged from the depths of an ocean of blue paint. My process involves observation of nature: I remember scuba diving in Thailand in the Andaman Sea and having a spiritual experience underwater while observing Christmas-tree worms pop in and out of the coral.

Ever Graze‐More Livestock From Perennials, Geoffrey Saul, Angela Avery

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

No abstract provided.

On The Plastic-Free Path: Plastic-Free Living, Hannah Natzke

Honors Projects

What is living plastic-free like? This project explores the trials and triumphs of living a plastic-free life. Although this project is only mandates that the participant lives plastic-free for a month, it still investigates the challenges faced by longer plastic-free living.

Impacts Of Environmental Conditions On Fleas In Black-Tailed Prairie Dog Burrows, Julia E. Poje, Tonie Rocke, Michael D. Samuel

United States Geological Survey: Staff Publications

Sylvatic plague, caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis and transmitted by fleas, occurs in prairie dogs of the western United States. Outbreaks can devastate prairie dog communities, often causing nearly 100% mortality. Three competent flea vectors, prairie dog specialists Oropsylla hirsuta and O. tuberculata, and generalist Pulex simulans, are found on prairie dogs and in their burrows. Fleas are affected by climate, which varies across the range of black-tailed prairie dogs (Cynomys ludovicianus), but these effects may be ameliorated somewhat due to the burrowing habits of prairie dogs. Our goal was to assess how temperature and precipitation …

Shakespeare’S As You Like It And James Cameron’S Avatar: Reharmonizing Society With Nature, Erin Rebecca Turner

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Shakespeare’s As You Like It is a comedy whose main character, Rosalind, is forced out of her home among the upper caste of society through no fault of her own, but because of an issue with her father. She moves into the pastoral unknown disguised as a man to avoid the issues that come traveling as a woman, outside the protection of the home. Along the way, she finds pleasure with the power she holds as a man. She is heard when she speaks as a man and she is given access to knowledge she would not be given as …

The Future Environmental And Health Impacts Of Coal, Robert B. Finkelman, Amy L. Wolfe, Michael S. Hendryx

Faculty, Staff, and Affiliated Publications--KGS

In the United States, coal consumption in the last 12 years has declined from 1,045,140 million short tons in 2007 to 539,420 million short tons in 2019, a decrease of almost 50%. During that period the number of electric power coal generators has declined from 1,470 to 738 accounting for 21% of capacity. An even more dramatic decrease in coal use has occurred in Western Europe. This significant reduction in coal use and the concomitant closure of coal mines and coal-burning power plants will result in substantially cleaner air, reductions in respiratory problems such as asthma, less heart disease, fewer …

Are Electric Cars The Future?, Nick Gable

English Department: Research for Change - Wicked Problems in Our World

My paper is about switching to electric cars for transportation. The end of fossil fuels is soon, and we must preserve them. We must cut down on fossil fuel use to save the environment from pollution. I use statistics on emissions and pollution from conventional cars and explain why we need to switch to electric cars sooner rather than later. I argue that there should be stipulations by the government regarding electric cars and conventional cars on the lot. I also say that we should start producing lots of electric cars as soon as possible.

How Wendy Red Star Decolonizes The Museum With Humor And Play, Salma Monani, Nicole Seymour

Environmental Studies Faculty Publications

Museums play a prominent role in crafting racial narratives in the United States, and as evidenced by recent social uprisings, these institutions have come under scrutiny. Take, for example, the statue outside the American Museum of Natural History in New York, which depicts U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt on horseback flanked by a Black man and an American Indian, both unnamed. As National Public Radio reported in June 2020, “The statue was intended to pay homage to Roosevelt as a ‘devoted naturalist and author of works on natural history,’” but, in calling for its removal, Mayor Bill de Blasio’s office affirmed …

#Greener By Greentech, Ana Ospitaletche, Larissa Roseno, Jose Miguel Gonzalez, Amanda Brelaz

ICT

In recent years there has been growing concern about the negative impact humankind has on the planet. Companies and individuals are making efforts to mitigate their environmental impact. In this context and as individuals that care about the environment and try to lead a more sustainable life, we decided to research which elements could be stopping individuals from trying to implement changes in their daily habits.

One of the key conclusions of this research was that there is too much information, sometimes even conflicting, on how to lead a sustainable life.

#Greener aims to make a contribution by giving clear …

2020 Thrive Outside Asset Map, The Nonprofit Institute At The University Of San Diego

San Diego Regional Quality of Life Dashboard

With the support of the Outdoor Foundation’s Thrive Outside grant, San Diego’s network partners have worked to identify gaps in services, increase outdoor experiences for youth and families, and expand the capacity of partner organizations to better serve the community. By highlighting outcomes associated with outdoor engagement, San Diego hopes to leverage the Thrive Outside funding to raise additional funds to improve the quality of life for San Diego children and families.

Nested Ecology And Emergence In Pandemics, Aaron Jenkins, Stacy D. Jupiter, Anthony Capon, Pierre Horwitz, Joel Negin

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

No abstract provided.

Irish Grasslands 2010: A Sustainable Environment?, R. P. O. Schulte, N. Culleton

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

No abstract provided.

Thermotropic And Lyotropic Phase Behaviours Of Spontaneously Self-Assembled Amphiphilic Branched-Chain Glycosides With Various Chain Length, Abdul Hamid Hairul Amani

Student Works (2020-2029)

Lipid polymorphism is a process which illustrates the self-assembly of lipid aggregation depending on the environment. Lipids such as branched-chain glycolipids which are amphiphilic molecules also known as amphitropic tend to generate mesophases in thermotropic (dry) and lyotropic (solvation) conditions. These molecules are capable of self-aggregating into various types of glycolipid self-assemblies offering an interesting insight in relation to their functions in living cells. Hence, this study aims to investigate the mesophases of ꞵ-D-glycosides which are branched-chain synthetic glycolipids, namely, ꞵ-D-glucosides and ꞵ-D-maltosides. The study was carried out on the thermotropic phases of dry glycosides and the lyotropic phases of …

Features Of Heart Activity Of Cattle In The Conditions Of Southern Aral Sea Region, Svetlana Mambetullaeva, Khayratdin Seytkamalov

Karakalpak Scientific Journal

In this article, the results of comparative analysis of electrocardiogram are shown for the cows of different breeds in the Aral Sea region. It is set that the high temperature of the environment and sunny insolation render a negative influence on the functional parameters of the cardiac vascular system of animals. There are facts about the cows of different breeds at the influence of different temperatures that have unidirectional functional changes in the operation of the heart. At the same time, we will mark that these changes are less expressed for the cows of the improved zebu visible cattle, what …

Plastic Rain In Protected Areas Of The United States, Janice Brahney, Margaret Hallerud, Eric Heim, Maura Hahnenberger, Suja Sukumaran

Watershed Sciences Faculty Publications

Eleven billion metric tons of plastic are projected to accumulate in the environment by 2025. Because plastics are persistent, they fragment into pieces that are susceptible to wind entrainment. Using high-resolution spatial and temporal data, we tested whether plastics deposited in wet versus dry conditions have distinct atmospheric life histories. Further, we report on the rates and sources of deposition to remote U.S. conservation areas. We show that urban centers and resuspension from soils or water are principal sources for wet-deposited plastics. By contrast, plastics deposited under dry conditions were smaller in size, and the rates of deposition were related …

Regional Adaptation Needs Assessment, San Diego Regional Climate Collaborative, San Diego Association Of Governments, Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve, The San Diego Foundation

San Diego Regional Climate Collaborative

The Regional Adaptation Needs Assessment (NA) was designed to inform regional and local planning efforts and to strengthen the linkage between existing mitigation and adaptation planning efforts. The NA is multi-disciplinary, addressing multiple climate impacts to best identify cross-sectoral needs and future opportunities for collaboration. Funding for the NA was awarded to SANDAG via a Caltrans Senate Bill 1 (SB 1) adaptation planning grant, with SDRCC as a sub-recipient.

From Environmental Activism To Environmental Education A Historical Overview, Evaluations And A Suggestion For A Path Forward For The Religious Institutions As Partners For A Global Green Shift, Tom Sverre Tomren

Consensus

In this article, the author shows how all the major world religions have engaged in climate and environmental activism by developing theology and practical projects for more than fifty years. Using metadata from the European Social Survey, he shows that members of all religious traditions in Europe have become increasingly positive to the environment and nature. Especially noticeable is the increased engagement of Protestant Christians. Tomren uses a case study from the Lutheran Church in Norway to show how religious actors have a great influence on their own members. Against this background, the author argues that religious institutions should see …

Adam, Dust Of The Earth: A Paradise Received And Incomplete In The Biblical Accounts Of Creation. Some Philological Observations On The Creation Accounts, Jean Koulagna

Consensus

In Christian thinking about climate and environment issues, Dogmatic theology has often seemed to precede the exegesis of biblical texts. And when it is suggested, this exegesis is usually based on previously formulated theological conclusions. In other words, exegesis is there to support ethical stands that are no doubt laudable, but have been already established. Under these conditions, it becomes difficult to analyze those texts as they are and to understand them within the historical and anthropological contexts in which they were produced. This article attempts to break this trend by suggesting philological observations concerning the creation accounts in Genesis. …

Towards A Green Diapraxis: Experiences And Reflections From An Interfaith Journey, Einar Tjelle

Consensus

The article explores the increased cooperation and dynamic learning between religions during the last decades, on the themes of climate, environment and sustanability. Examples are given from a Norwegian interfaith context, but with global links as well. This cooperation has broadened the scope and perspectives of churches and religions. Contextual and holistic approaches have emerged as fruits of this mutual learning and exchange, the author claims. Pope Francis` encyclical Laudato Si` has captured important parts of this development with its strong message of interconnectedness and moral responsibility. It has also stimulated a wider religious and interfaith global commitment to Mother …

Presence Of Electron Donor/Acceptor Radiographic Contrast Media In Unusual Photosynthesis Environment Of Fresh Plant Cells: Near-Infrared And X-Ray Characterization, Tetiana Soloviova, Subhendra Sarkar, Amina Shahbaz, Aldona Gjoni

Publications and Research

Photosynthesis is a chemical process through which light energy is used to convert inorganic material (water and carbon dioxide) into organic molecules. Anaerobic photosynthesis, also known as anoxygenic photosynthesis, is the process by which certain bacteria use light energy to create organic compounds but do not adequately involve oxygen. In this experiment we are trying to influence photosynthesis (light and dark reactions: PS-I and PS-II by electron rich gadolinium/iodine complexes like Eovist and Isovue. We also performed X-ray and NIR reflection spectroscopy (NIRS) to measure Gd difusivity and PS-I/II infrared response. The results for X-ray (45kvp and 5 Mas ) …

Year Long Water Quality Analysis Of White Horn Brook, Kevin Dyer

Senior Honors Projects

KEVIN DYER (Marine Biology)

Year-long Analysis of the Water Quality of White Horn Brook

Sponsor: Thomas Boving (Geological Sciences)

Water is the foundation for all life on earth and is the most vital resource on this planet. Despite this, oceans and waterways all over the world are being polluted and exploited in ways detrimental to their fundamental hydrologic functions. For instance, excess nitrate levels can lead to eutrophication which gives rise to harmful algae blooms. Low pH can cause the breakdown of CaCO3 exoskeletons of organisms, such mollusks. High temperature variations are major stressors to living things and can cause …

Promoting The Sustainable Utilization Of Groundwater Resources In Ethiopia Using The Integrated Groundwater Footprint Index, Xinyu Lin

Honors Scholar Theses

The country of Ethiopia is highly vulnerable to human-caused climate change and is already suffering from the effects. The predominately rural population relies heavily on small-scale agriculture, with 78% of households having at least one member engaged in the field, yet staple crops are highly susceptible to droughts and other weather shocks. Total and agricultural GDP growth in the country have been strongly linked to inter-annual rainfall variability, of which Ethiopia has among the highest in sub-Saharan Africa. A decrease in rainfall since the 1970s has been one of the primary causes of low crop yields, and stresses the immediate …

Soil Quality Tests For Classroom Use, Kathleen Thompson

Theses/Capstones/Creative Projects

Soil analysis can traditionally be carried out by professional labs for a certain price, but this price adds up quickly when running many samples—as is often the case when pursuing a research question. Price is of particular concern in the classroom setting, where funding for student research can be limited.

This project examines several commercially produced soil test kits that are capable of testing a soil’s pH, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium; parameters which are of primary importance for plant growth. The project provides an overview of each kit’s contents and properties, a scientific assessment of their precision and accuracy, and …

An Assessment Of Renewable Energy Technology Implementation In Storrs, Connecticut: Emissions Reduction And Feasibility Of A Microgrid System At Uconn, Sophie Macdonald

Honors Scholar Theses

The purpose of this project is to design a clean energy-sourced microgrid for UConn’s main campus that would reduce the university’s energy emissions while remaining within the geographic boundaries of viable UConn-owned land. Economic cost was not considered in this analysis; instead, emissions and space constraints were the optimized measures of value and feasibility. Sources of energy that were considered include photovoltaics (PV), wind turbines, hydrokinetic systems, and fuel cells. Energy storage capacity was included in the analysis as well. The overall system was optimized first by ignoring space constraints and for a minimum of 10% reduction from the current …

The North Wyke Farm Platform: A New Uk National Capability For Research Into Sustainability Of Agricultural Temperate Grassland Management, Phil J. Murray, Bruce A. Griffith, Robert J. Orr, Martin S. A. Blackwell, Jane M. B. Hawkins, S. Peukert

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The North Wyke Farm Platform is a new UK National Capability that will enable studies that can be closely monitored and controlled under different land-use options at the farm-scale. As a Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council-funded National Capability, the Farm Platform provides centralised scientific facilities including core data (field and water chemistry, water flow rates, greenhouse gas emissions from soils, livestock and agronomic data, and farm management records). Access to the Farm Platform for experimental work or to data will be available to other research users and collaborators. This shared approach will enhance the depth and breadth of information …

Wangari Maathai, Tabitha M. Kanogo

Ohio University Press Open Access Books

Wangari Muta Maathai is one of Africa’s most celebrated female activists. Originally trained as a scientist in Kenya and abroad, Professor Maathai returned to her home country of Kenya with a renewed political consciousness. There, she began her long career as an activist, campaigning for environmental and social justice while speaking out against government corruption. In 2004, Maathai was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for her leadership of the Green Belt Movement, a conservation effort that resulted in the restoration of African forests decimated during the colonial era.

In this biography, Tabitha Kanogo follows Wangari Maathai from her modest, rural …