17179 research outputs found
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Oral history interview: Kay Merritt
No full textTranscript file (.pdf) and closed captioning available.Interview with Troy Merritt. Troy tells the story of his step-mother, her service, big heart, and love of family
Self Assembly of Organic Molecules and the Origins of Life
No full textNASA defines life as, “a self-sustaining chemical system capable of Darwinian evolution.” Our project will explore and analyze the role of self-assembly of organic molecules in the origin of life and the requirements necessary to facilitate molecular assembly. Relatively weak intermolecular forces such as hydrogen bonding, dipole-dipole interactions and dispersion forces drive self-assembly. These relatively weak forces work together to produce a more thermodynamically stable aggregate. Our investigation will explore potential mechanisms of self-assembly, not only on Earth, but throughout our solar system in environments favorable to sustain life. We will begin by identifying various ways in which simple molecular components are transformed into organic molecules relevant for life processes. Important experiments, such as the Miller-Urey experiment, demonstrated the ability to produce amino acids from smaller molecules of water (H2O), methane (CH4), and ammonia (NH3) using available energy sources, such as lightning and radiation, in the early Earth atmosphere. The Miller-Urey experiment is considered foundational evidence for the plausibility of spontaneous self-assembly of less complex molecules into organization of higher order structures, thereby supporting the possibility of self-assembly occurring beyond Earth. Building on this foundation, we will evaluate several debated theories postulating the possible origin of life in the context of self-assembly. Currently, the most promising theories include the RNA world hypothesis, primordial “soup” idea, panspermia, and hydrothermal vents. As we explore each theory, we will examine methods utilized for the detection and analysis of the molecular signatures of life generated by self-assembled organic molecules and the self-assembly process itself, as well as discuss what these data allow us to infer about potential life beyond Earth. Finally, we will examine other environments in the solar system, such as Mars and moons near Saturn and Jupiter, that may have allowed or have allowed for self-assembly to occur.Health and Human Performanc
Oral history interview: JB DeBose
No full textOral history interview with Lillian Varela about her great-uncle, JB DeBose. Lillian discusses his life, service, and legacy
Thermal Behavior of Concrete: Understanding the Influence of Coefficient of Thermal Expansion of Concrete on Rigid Pavements
No full textConcrete’s coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) is a critical property affecting the durability and performance of rigid pavements. This review paper examines the significance of CTE in pavement design and the factors influencing it, including the type of aggregate, cement composition, age, relative humidity, and curing conditions. Thermal stress due to temperature changes and moisture variation can lead to cracking, spalling, and warping in concrete pavements, impacting their performance. The paper also discusses experimental methods for measuring CTE, alongside recent advances like mechanistic–empirical pavement design and prediction models. Integrating CTE considerations into pavement design enhances the predictive accuracy of pavement performance, particularly in addressing issues like joint movement and cracking. By comprehensive literature review and synthesizing current research, the paper emphasizes the importance of integrating CTE considerations into pavement design for improved durability and performance predictions. The paper emphasizes the importance of integrating CTE considerations into pavement design for improved durability and performance predictions.Materials Science, Engineering, and CommercializationEngineering Technolog
Functional Analysis of the Interaction Between BRCA1-BARD1 and the R-Loop Resolvase UAP56-ALYREF
No full textR-loops are formed upon hybridization of nascent RNA with the template DNA strand during transcription and serve crucial roles in several cellular processes. Despite their importance, unscheduled R-loops accumulation could cause DNA damage and genome instability. Luckily, cells have evolved different strategies to resolve pathological R-loops. For instance, the THO/TREX complex prevents rehybridization of nascent RNA to the template DNA strand, preventing R-loop accumulation. However, their mechanism of action is still a mystery. Components of the Transcription-RNA Export (TREX) complex, UAP56 and ALYREF, are of particular interest as UAP56 depletion in HeLa cells results in an increased level of R-loops and accumulation of DNA strand breaks. Previous research of our lab demonstrated that purified UAP56 can resolve DNA-RNA hybrids in a protein concentration-dependent manner and is dependent on the ATPase activity of UAP56. ALYREF, a mRNA export adaptor protein, interacts with UAP56 through the N- and C-terminal UAP56 binding motifs (UBMs). In this thesis, our experiments show that ALYREF stimulates UAP56-mediated R-loop dissociation. Moreover, the ALYREF-UAP56 complex interacts with a tumor suppressor and R-loop regulator, the BRCA1-BARD1 complex. Our pull-down assays have shown that BRCA1-BARD1 interacts with the UAP56-ALYREF complex through direct interaction with ALYREF. Given the interaction, we were curious to know whether the interaction can stimulate or inhibit the R-loop unwinding activity of the UAP56-ALYREF complex. Consequently, DNA-RNA unwinding assays were performed using DNA-RNA flap structure resembling a branch migratable R-loop. Our results revealed that BRCA1-BARD1 inhibits the R-loop dissociation activity of UAP56-ALYREF at both low and medium salt concentrations. Altogether, our research outcome acts as a steppingstone for in-depth study to enrich our knowledge of the role of R-loops in DNA double-strand break repair, along with a better understanding of cofactors involved in R-loop resolution.Chemistry and Biochemistr
No tricks, all treats: Finding funding with pivot-RP
No full textLooking for research funding or collaborators? Join University Libraries and Research Development in this informative workshop to learn how to use Pivot-RP, a powerful database that connects researchers with funding opportunities worldwide. This workshop will cover the basics of searching for grants, exploring awarded projects, and setting up tailored alerts that keep you informed of new opportunities. Additional topics include how to build and manage your Pivot-RP profile to highlight your expertise and how to connect with and share funding opportunities with collaborators.
This session is ideal for faculty, graduate students, and research staff interested in efficiently identifying funding and expanding their research networks.University LibrariesDivision of Researc
Analysis of the Environmental Impacts of Geothermal Energy Systems
No full textAddressing the global energy demands of a rapidly expanding population requires the development of sustainable energy technologies. Among these, geothermal energy presents significant prospective as a clean, reliable, and renewable resource that harnesses the Earth's internal heat. This study aims to analyze and quantify the environmental impacts of geothermal energy systems focusing on key parameters such as greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, thermal pollution, water use and contamination, land use, induced seismicity, and noise pollution. The research begins with a comprehensive review of existing literature, followed by quantitative analysis using statistical methods, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), and Remote Sensing (RS) to assess spatial and temporal patterns of environmental impact. The Salton Sea geothermal field in Southern California, USA, has been selected as the case study for this work due to its status as the second-largest geothermal field in the United States and its rapid development driven by lithium extraction from geothermal brine. Rising CO₂ emissions over a 10-year period in the Salton Sea region have been evaluated using hypothesis tests and trend analyses. Periodic and drastic changes in the Salton Sea Geothermal field landscape have been revealed through a visual presentation using GIS-based mapping over a 20-year period. Additionally, this study also explores mitigation strategies to minimize ecological disruption around geothermal plants and to support the sustainable deployment of geothermal technologies. Ultimately, the findings of this study contribute to understanding the contributions of existing geothermal plants to local environmental impacts observed in the Salton Sea region and provide practical recommendations for preserving its environmental integrity.Sociolog
Big and Fast: GPS Loggers Reveal Long-Range Movements in a Large, Riverine Turtle
No full textRio Grande Cooters (Pseudemys gorzugi) occupy the Rio Grande watershed and have among the smallest ranges of all North American freshwater turtles. Anthropogenic dewatering is considered to have caused range contractions and population declines. We sought to facilitate management recommendations by determining the extent of movement and potential associations with extrinsic cues. We conducted a GPS-enabled telemetry study from August 2015 to May 2017 on the Devils River in Texas, USA. We included Capture–Mark–Recapture data from 2011, 2014, and 2015–2018 to determine population status in conjunction with movement ecology. Turtles showed increased movement as streamflow and water depth increased. Larger movements were also made mid-year, coincident with the peak nesting season. We speculate that seasonality and increases in streamflow facilitate switches from slower, localized movement to transiting modes. We observed individual heterogeneity in transitory movements. Such movements led us to maintain our population estimate of 726 to 1219 individuals is representative of the entire Devils River. The extent of movement in P. gorzugi has been previously underestimated and long-range movements could explain observed genetic structure. Future efforts to re-establish natural flow regimes in the Rio Grande basin could potentially be the most effective management approach for this range-restricted chelonian.Biolog
Comparing Young Adults and Older Adults: Examining the Attitudes Toward and Willingness to Use Telemedicine
No full textTelemedicine, the remote delivery of healthcare services, has seen a significant increase in usage in recent years. While prior research has linked attitudes towards telemedicine with satisfaction, limited work has explored generational differences in these attitudes. This is a cross-sectional, correlational study using online survey methodology to compare older adults and young adults on the following variables: patient satisfaction with telemedicine, patient-centered care (PCC), willingness to use telemedicine in the future, technology familiarity, trust in physician, and vulnerability to infectious diseases. The full sample consisted of 219 participants (74.0% female, 26.0% male), including 116 young adults (aged 18-35; M = 19.21, SD = 2.01) and 103 older adults (ages 55-97; M = 66.06, SD = 8.97). T-tests revealed significant differences in willingness to use telemedicine, with older adults (M = 4.49, SD = 0.69) reporting higher willingness than young adults (M = 3.79, SD = 1.09). Older adults also perceived greater vulnerability to infectious diseases (M = 3.52, SD = 0.74) compared to young adults (M = 3.06, SD = 0.91). In a multiple linear regression, difficulty navigating the patient portal significantly predicted lower patient satisfaction (B = –.11, SE = .04, β = –.19, p = .015). A second model showed that not knowing how to conduct a telemedicine visit predicted lower willingness to use telemedicine (B = –.41, SE = .19, β = –.15, p = .032), while greater technology familiarity predicted higher willingness to use telemedicine (B = .28, SE = .08, β = .24, p = .001). Parallel mediation analysis found no direct effect of age on satisfaction and no mediation by trust in physician or PCC, although both trust and PCC were positively associated with satisfaction. Insights from the results reveal age-related differences in telemedicine perceptions, informing strategies to enhance accessibility and patient-provider interactions in digital health contexts.Psycholog
Oral history interview: Michael Davis
No full textEdited and unedited transcript files (.pdf) and edited and unedited video files available with closed captioning.Oral history interview with Taryn Davis about Michael Davis. She discusses Michael's life, their relationship, his service, and death