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Seismic Constraints on Long Period Moment Release in Cascadia Slow Slip Events
No full textNon-volcanic tremor, a low-amplitude, 1-5 Hz long-duration seismic noise signal easily resolvable by short-period seismometers of the Pacific Northwest Seismic Network, is the canonical seismic signature observed during Cascadia Episodic Tremor and Slip (ETS) Events. Whether significant energy is released at periods longer than 1 Hz has not been systematically searched for but nonetheless may exist and if so, could represent both a significant portion of the Cascadia moment budget as well as a mechanism by which slow slip and regular seismicity interact. The August 2010 ETS event beneath Puget Sound was well-recorded by a wide range of instruments that allows for both a detailed study of this ETS event as well as constraints on any long-period moment release, should it exist, including the PNSN, PANGA, long-baseline tiltmeters, borehole-strainmeters, and a specifically-installed broadband seismic array, the “Sequim Valley Seismic Array (SVSA), installed to measure long-period moment release. The seismic data was cut into 24-hour files and then the instrument response was removed. Data was then searched for long period moment release using a filtering method to look for very low frequency earthquakes (VLFE) signals. The analysis of the SVSA data showed that the array was coupled with the Earth as good records of long period energy from teleseisms was recorded. But the by-hand analysis using filtering methods did not show any evidence of VLFES or other long period signals. From this we conclude that the moment budget for slow slip does not include significant energy at frequencies lower than the well-established tremor band between 1-8 Hz, as visible without advanced array analysis techniques
A COLORIMETRIC SENSOR ARRAY FOR DIFFERENTIATING EMERGING MATERIAL CONTAMINANTS BASED ON SURFACE CHEMISTRY
No full textEmerging materials contaminants, such as microplastics (MPs) and engineered nanoparticles (ENPs), are now recognized to contaminate oceans, seas, freshwater, and drinking water through many different exposure pathways. The extent of the materials\u27 water contamination problem has only begun to be properly appreciated in the last decade. While comprehensive global data on the exact quantity of nano- and microcontaminants in drinking water is challenging to ascertain, studies have shown that microplastics and nanoparticles can now be found in drinking water sources worldwide. Indeed, a well-publicized recent study has shown that 93% of bottled water around the world contains microplastic contamination.
Detecting these emerging materials contaminants in drinking water is critical due to their persistence and harmful effects on human health and the environment. Despite this pressing need, detection methods for materials contaminants are often expensive and time-consuming, limiting widespread monitoring efforts and leaving communities vulnerable to material contamination. By establishing a method for rapid detection of materials contaminants in drinking water, this research aims to empower communities with the tools needed to ensure water safety and protect public health.
This research aimed to address the detection challenge by developing a colorimetric sensor array capable of selectively and sensitively detecting materials contaminants in drinking water. Leveraging an array of chemo-responsive dyes, the sensor array offers a cost-effective and portable solution for detecting and identifying material contaminants in water samples. Previous work has shown that sensor arrays of this kind could identify and detect nanoparticles of different sizes and shapes. The research tested a similar sensor array\u27s ability to distinguish between gold nanorods (AuNRs) functionalized with different polyelectrolytes (PE). The gold nanorods were synthesized in the lab and coated with four different polyelectrolytes (charged polymers): polyallylamine hydrochloride (PAH), polyacrylic acid (PAA), polystyrene sulfonic acid (PSS), and poly (diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (PDADMAC), then characterized to confirm the AuNRs’ size, shape, and surface chemistry. The colorimetric sensor array was developed utilizing commercially available pH indicators and the sensor’s ability to distinguish between the synthesized nanoparticles was then probed. The sensor’s interactions with the AuNRs produced a colorimetric fingerprint unique (by eye) to each AuNR surface chemistry in the test library. The performance of the sensor array was also assessed using figures of merit such as Limit of Detection (LOD), Limit of Quantification (LOQ), response time, and selectivity
Igniting Change: Assessing Language Access Gaps for Spanish-Speaking Communities in Wildfire Preparedness Resources in Yakima County, Washington
No full textLimited-English proficiency (LEP) individuals across the United States face barriers in accessing information and other resources relating to natural hazard resources, particularly in areas prone to wildfire. In the Pacific Northwest, wildfires are predicted to increase in frequency, severity, and intensity and may also increase the social and economic vulnerability of LEP communities. The 2023 wildfire season underscored how economic, public health, and social impacts disproportionately impact minorities and socially vulnerable communities. This research investigates the inclusion of LEP communities in the development and dissemination of local wildfire resources in Yakima County, using the disaster management cycle as an analytical framework. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with staff from organizations listed in the county’s Community Wildfire Protection Plan to assess how LEP communities are considered and included in resource planning. Thematic analyses completed on these interviews revealed that LEP communities were considered but not adequately included in wildfire resources around Yakima County and that there is a lack of available resources in languages other than English. Data from the semi-structured interviews also revealed that more of a focus needs to be on the community and their needs when trying to distribute wildfire resources. In a second major component of the thesis, an online survey administered via Qualtrics gathered 159 respondents’ perceptions on the impacts, risks, and trust in organizations from the LEP community in Yakima County. The results from the survey revealed that the LEP community within Yakima County was overall more concerned than non-LEP participants about wildfires impacting aspects of their lives. The survey identified that non-profit organizations are preferred by the LEP community in Yakima as sources of help during evacuations, providing accurate information, and assistance during wildfires. This research offers actionable recommendations for local and state agencies to enhance the inclusivity and accessibility of wildfire resources. The results of this study can be used to inform the disaster management cycle to increase access to, participation in, and engagement with local wildfire resources for LEP communities. It aims to guide decision-makers toward more equitable strategies for wildfire disaster management in Yakima County
Investigation of Svalbard Glacier Mineral Dust Through Seasonal Snow and Firn Core Analyses: Dust Composition and Relative Albedo Contributions
No full textThe Arctic is warming at four times the global rate. Warming is particularly pronounced in Svalbard, Norway, where warming is five to seven times greater than the global rate. A consequence of this acute warming is glacier retreat. In addition to rising temperatures, light absorbing particles (LAP; black carbon, mineral dust, and colored organics) can also contribute to glacier melt by lowering the albedo of snow and ice (i.e., darkening otherwise reflective surfaces and increasing melt rates). Previous LAP research on Svalbard has largely focused on black carbon (BC), while properties of dust as a LAP remain relatively understudied. To address this knowledge gap, mineral dust collected from four different glaciers on Svalbard was analyzed via X-ray Diffraction and Scanning Electron Microscopy for grain size and composition to understand how dust characteristics vary spatially on Svalbard. This work was supplemented with the processing of an 8.15 m shallow firn core from Holtedahlfonna glacier, which yielded temporal trends in elemental proxies of dust via Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry and BC via Single Particle Soot Photometry. BC and dust concentrations were then used to model relative albedo reductions. All four glaciers studied contained differences in dust grain size, with median sizes ranging between 8.4 - 22.4 µm. Size variability was accompanied with differences in composition. Composition likewise varied between glaciers, with all samples containing abundant sheet silicates and common rock forming minerals, while carbonates were almost exclusively found in dust sourced from central Svalbard. BC and dust concentrations within the Holtedahlfonna firn core were found to be relatively low; BC concentrations ranged between 0.02 - 3.33 µg/L with a single anomalous peak of 49.2 µg/L at the top of the core, while Fe, an elemental proxy for dust, ranged between 0.02 - 35.9 ppb. Additionally, modeling of BC and dust deposition on albedo reductions revealed reductions from dust outweighed that of BC, with reductions from BC largely negligible when dust was present. With anticipated increases in both global dust emissions and deposition, the greater contribution to albedo reductions from dust relative to BC observed on Svalbard points to accelerated albedo reductions from dust in the future and warrants further study into the dynamics of dust as a LAP on Svalbard. Additionally, the cumulative differences in size and composition show that dust deposited on Svalbard potentially has both local and long-range sources, with varied degrees of deposition occurring between glaciers. This work has contributed to a baseline understanding of how dust interacts with Svalbard glaciers and highlights the need for further studies on dust provenance and LAP properties
Nathaniel Hawthorne\u27s Scarlet Redemption
No full textProject Mentor(s): Sarah Sillin
An oft misunderstood classic of literature, Nathaniel Hawthorne’ Scarlet Letter tells the story of Hester Prynne, her minister and lover Arthur Dimmesdale, and their ruthless enemy, Roger Chillingworth. In the Puritan colony of Boston Massachusetts, 1642, Hester’s child born out of wedlock earns her a scarlet letter, marking her forever as a flagrant sinner. In the midst of betrayal, shame, and superstition, Hester shines as an incredible testimony to fortitude. Though lauded as a beautiful romance, within the Scarlet Letter many readers miss the bitter musings of the author’s narration, which constantly reproves the religious community while uplifting the object of their scorn, Hester. To Hawthorne, this is no mere historical fiction: it is a work of penance for a family fallen from grace. Hawthorne’s Scarlet Letter is a compelling case for the art of close-reading as crucial for understanding, and should inspire readers to pull back the historical curtain, uncovering a dark and tragic history of men abusing their power. Drawing on his own culture’s understanding of it, Hawthorne betrays a deep knowledge of and respect for the Bible, a book whose influence knew no bounds in the 1600s and 1800s alike. This context of biblical literacy lends a crucial lens through which to view Hawthorne’s narrative: as a deeply symbolic magnum opus. The Scarlet Letter serves as the author’s redemption for the sins of his brutally rigid Puritan forefathers through Hester Prynne, who redeems Hawthorne’s name by exemplifying all the biblical attributes his ancestors had not
Characteristics Contributing to the Risk of Diabulimia in Adults Living in the United States
No full textProject Mentor(s): Nicole Stendell-Hollis, PhD, RDN; Tafere G Belay, PhD; Kelly Pritchett, PhD, RDN, CSSD
The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence and factors that contribute to the risk of diabulimia by using the validated Diabetes Eating Problem Survey-Revised (DEPS-R)1 screening tool in adults living in the U.S., as well as to examine differences in individuals at-risk and not-at-risk for diabulimia. This observational study included a 30-question Qualtrics survey containing the DEPS-R distributed via various social media outlets and flyers on the CWU Ellensburg campus. Participants were required to be 18 years or older, diagnosed with T1DM for more than one year, and living in the U.S to participate. A total of 112 participants, 42 (37.2%) males and 68 (60.7%) females; age: 28.89 + 10.48 years, were included in analysis. Of the sample, 43.8% were at risk for diabulimia based on the DEPS-R score cutoff. A previous eating disorder diagnosis (X2(3,112) = 16.117, p \u3c .001), insulin restriction (X2(1,112) = 31.638, p \u3c .001), and race (X2(1,112) = 13.655, p \u3c .001) were associated with risk. In conclusion, it is essential to screen all patients with T1DM for diabulimia throughout their lifetime, which may necessitate revisions to current protocols regarding the frequency and content of diabetes education. The current study found contradicting literature on the factors contributing to an increased risk of diabulimia, including a higher prevalence in males than expected. Therefore, this warrants the need for future research and revisions to proposed diabulimia diagnostic criteria
Scalable Parallel-in-Time Integration for Equations of Motion
No full textPhysical simulations always need to balance accuracy and run-time. This work implements the Parareal Algorithm using graphics processing units across a distributed system to accurately simulate time-dependent physics while attempting to minimize runtime. Data-transfer latency is identified as the primary bottleneck, for which mitigation methods are provided. Benchmarks comparing single-GPU and distributed implementations on a spectrum of coarse and fine discretizations are analyzed
Howard Scott Video Interview
No full textHoward Scott talks about his life before coming to Central and the struggles he faced to earn his Master\u27s degree. He also has advice for those seeking to implement change.https://digitalcommons.cwu.edu/cat_tales/1027/thumbnail.jp
Demography and Habitat Associations of the Basalt Cactus \u3ci\u3ePediocactus nigrispinus\u3c/i\u3e
Full text linkCacti are iconic members of arid ecosystems. Pediocactus nigrispinus is a species of cactus endemic to the Pacific Northwest and has been listed as a sensitive species due to its vulnerability to habitat loss. Best conservation methods for this species are poorly understood, due in part to a limited understanding of its demography and habitat associations that may help define its occurrence. A demographic study from four plots in Washington State was implemented in 2016 to provide a baseline of the population dynamics for P. nigrispinus and to enhance conservation efforts for this sensitive species. Five years of size, fecundity, and survival information for the cactus were recorded. A stochastic analysis was performed to assess survival and fecundity rates in relation to different climatic variables. To better understand the cacti\u27s limited habitat, biotic and abiotic associations were assessed in an additional 16 plots throughout Washington and Oregon by spatial analysis of soil and climatic variables and in situ assessment of vegetation and ground cover associations. These variables were then compared with population density, overall size of the individuals, and number of fruits to assess how changes in associations may correlate with changes in these traits. The demographic study found no juvenile recruitment and a declining population over the four years of analysis regardless of variation in annual precipitation. The association analysis found no correlation between population density or fecundity and biotic or abiotic associations but indicated higher fruit production in Oregon than in Washington. With the declining population and narrow endemism of the species observed, further monitoring and study for conservation efforts are recommended.
Key Points
Plant community and microbial associations were similar for P. nigrispinus throughout its range in Oregon and Washington.
No juvenile recruitment and a declining population size were observed for P. nigrispinus over four years.
A small increase in survival of adults in the medium size class could lead to stabilization of the P. nigrispinus population
Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport: Risk Assessment in Collegiate Female Athletes Using the REDs CAT2 Tool
Full text linkContext: Alterations in energy intake (EI) and high exercise energy expenditure (EEE) may increase the risk of low energy availability (LEA) in Division II female collegiate ball sport athletes. Furthermore, chronic LEA can transition to problematic LEA, leading to Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (REDs).
Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess the current severity and prevalence of REDs using the REDs CAT2 Tool and the Female Athlete Triad using the FAT CRA in Division II collegiate female volleyball, basketball, soccer, and rugby athletes.
Design: Cross-sectional design.
Setting: Research laboratory.
Patients or Other Participants: Twenty-seven, 18–24-year-old, Division II collegiate female athletes competing in volleyball, soccer, basketball, and rugby at Central Washington University.
Main Outcome Measure(s): Participants reported demographics; history of injuries, depression, and eating disorders (EDs); EDE-Q, LEAF-Q and DXA of the lumbar spine, hips, and whole body to determine REDs risk using the REDs CAT2 Tool and Triad risk using the FAT CRA.
Results: 85.2% (n=23) of athletes had no or low risk of REDs (green), while 15% (n=4) had a mild risk (yellow) based on the REDs CAT2 Tool. No athletes had a moderate (orange) or severe (red) risk of REDs. 88.9% of athletes had a low risk and 11.1% were at risk for the Triad based on the FAT CRA. An elevated EDE-Q global score was the most prevalent primary indicator. An increased EDE-Q global, dietary restraint, shape concern, and weight concern scores
Conclusion: Most ball sport athletes had no, or low risk of REDs based on the REDs CAT2 Tool, with similar results using the FAT CRA. However, nutrition education by a Registered Sports Dietitian is warranted for Division II NCAA athletes due to increased risk of DE in these athletes