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Feminist Biology: Towards Gender Equity in the Biology Curriculum
Get PDFThe current curriculum in STEM is a product of historically unequal representation of genders in the science community. As a result, most attention has been given to male biology, creating a knowledge gap that has affected our social and political perspectives, such as an underinvestment in women’s health research. Feminist biology seeks to provide equal time and weight to the impact of sex as a biological factor, using inclusive definitions of biological sex that go beyond the male/female binary. Feminist pedagogy is a method of teaching that involves engaged learning and reflection in order to create a community of learners who embrace inclusivity and distribute power evenly among all student identities. Incorporating feminist biology using the tools of feminist pedagogy into the Biology curriculum has the potential to make the unequal share of voices among genders more visible to students and increase the feeling of belonging for women and other gender minorities in STEM. A more balanced distribution of power among all genders in the scientific pursuit is likely to fill in existing knowledge gaps in non-male biology. This paper will 1) address the importance of feminist pedagogy in STEM in general and in Biology in particular, 2) provide specific ways in which feminist pedagogy and feminist biology can be implemented in the Biology classroom
Maitreya Desalination
Get PDFThis document relays the design and manufacture of a dual power input Reverse Osmosis desalination unit. It\u27s power sources are electric drive and human power via recumbent seated cycling. Fresh water outputs range from 4 - 7 GPH for human power inputs of 150 - 280 Watts depending on the selected gearing ratio from the derailleur
The Tidal Prism, Viable Eelgrass Habitat, And The Effects Of Sea Level Rise In Morro Bay
Get PDFThe tidal prism, or the volume of water exchanged from the sea to an estuary from mean low to mean high tide, influences system hydrodynamics and ecological functioning. Since 1884, the tidal prism in Morro Bay, California has been estimated to be decreasing over time due to sedimentation from upstream practices. What is the current tidal prism in Morro Bay and how will that change with sea level rise? How will eelgrass respond to rising sea levels?
For this study, inexpensive tidal gauges were deployed at four locations in Morro Bay from March to August 2023 to measure spatially varying tidal elevations and datums within the bay. I utilized a Digital Elevation Model (DEM) and tidal information to determine volumes of water in Morro Bay. Estimated sea level rise scenarios were utilized to project the 2022 tidal prism into the years 2050 and 2100. Additionally, I estimated the 2019 and 2022 viable eelgrass habitat area using the vertical growth range. I estimated the future potential viable habitat area in the years 2050 and 2100 using estimated sea level rise scenarios. Future projections were made assuming no change in bathymetry over time.
Different instruments used to obtain water levels yielded up to ~4 percent differences in the tidal prism estimate. Measurement uncertainty in the monthly tidal datums produced ~3 percent uncertainty within the tidal prism estimate. Compared to the tidal prism in August 2019, the August 2022 tidal prism was lower by ~2 percent. Compared to the tidal prism in August 2019, the August 2023 tidal prism estimated from two nearly co-located tidal instruments at the mouth of Morro Bay were higher by ~5 and ~7 percent, respectively. Spatially varying tidal datums in Morro Bay were found to affect the tidal prism by up to ~3 percent, compared to tidal prism estimates using only a tidal datum near the estuary mouth. However, the effect of spatially varying tidal datums on the tidal prism is the same order of magnitude as measurement uncertainty and is thus not statistically significant. As sea levels rise, the tidal prism is projected to increase by ~40 percent by 2100 from 2022 under the most extreme scenario, H++. Initially, as sea levels rise, the potential viable eelgrass habitat area will increase from the area in 2022 (1108 acres (4.47E+06 m2)). After sea levels rise to 1.5 m above 2000 levels, the potential viable eelgrass area will have reached a maximum area of 1938 acres (7.82E+06 m2). However, under SLR scenario H++, potential viable habitat area is predicted to decrease by up to 59% by 2100 from 2022.
The tidal prism, or the volume of water exchanged from a bay to the seathe sea to an estuary from mean lowhigh to mean highlow tide, influences system hydrodynamics and ecological functioning. Since 1884, the tidal prism in Morro Bay, California has been estimated to be decreasing over time due to sedimentation from upstream practices. What is the current tidal prism in Morro Bay and how will that change with sea level rise? How will eelgrass respond to rising sea levels?
For this study, inexpensive tidal gauges were deployed at four locations in Morro Bay from March to August 2023 to obtain measure spatially varying tidal elevations and datums within the bay. I utilized a Digital Elevation Model (DEM) and tidal information from NOAA to determine volumes of water in Morro Bay at the estimated monthly mean tidal datums. Estimated sea level rise scenarios were utilized to project the 2022 tidal prism into the years 2050 and 2100. Additionally, I estimated the 2019 and 2022 viable eelgrass habitat area using the vertical growth range. I estimated the future potential viable habitat area in the years 2050 and 2100 using estimated sea level rise scenariosfor various sea level rise scenarios.Future projections were made assuming no change in bathymetry over time.
Different instruments used to obtainwater levels yielded up to ~4 percent differences in the tidal prism estimate. Measurement uncertainty in the monthly tidal datums produced~3 percent uncertainty within the tidal prism estimate. Compared to the tidal prism in August 2019, the August 2022 tidal prism from Stilltek decreasedwas lower by ~2.05 percent. Compared to the tidal prism in August 2019, the August 2023 tidal prism estimated from the Stilltek gauge and the Cal Poly Coast Guard gaugetwo nearly co-located tidal instruments at the mouth of Morro Bay increased were higher by ~5.06 and ~6.777 percent, respectively. Spatially varying tidal datums in Morro Bay were found to affect the tidal prism by up to ~2.883 percent, compared to tidal prism estimates using only a tidal datum near the estuary mouth. However, the effect of spatially varying tidal datums on the tidal prism is the same order of magnitude as measurement uncertainty and is thus not statistically significant. As sea levels rise, the tidal prism is projected to increase by ~to a maximum of 40 percent by 2100 from 2022 under the most extreme scenario, H++. InitiallyInitially, as sea levels rise, the potential viable eelgrass habitat area will increase from the area in 2022 (1108 acres (4.47E+06 m2)). ABut after sea levels rise to 1.5 m above 2000 levels, the potential viable eelgrass areas will have reached the thresholda maximum area of 1938 acres (7.82E+06 m2). However, under SLR scenario H++, potential viable habitat area is predicted to decrease by up to 59% by 2100 from 2022
Diet Induced Metabolic Alterations In The Brain Tissues Of Juvenile Pigs With Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
Get PDFThe objective of this study was to investigate the diet-induced metabolic changes that affect the brain tissue of juvenile pigs with NAFLD. This study explored the liver- brain axis and metabolic markers in the frontal cortex (FC) affected by liver damage. 18 male (M) and 20 female (F) Iberian pigs were randomly allocated to 1 of 3 high-fructose high-fat liquid diets (lard, olive oil, and coconut oil) and fed for 10 consecutive weeks. “Healthy” Iberian pigs were fed a eucaloric diet to establish a physiological baseline. Protein precipitation extraction using ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem quadrupole mass spectrometry was performed for primary metabolic and bile acid assays on FC samples. Univariate data were analyzed by one-way ANOVA, which included diet as the fixed effect and both replicate and pen nested in the diet as random effects. A more pronounced separation was observed in the PLS-DA between the COC and LAR/OLI diets. LC, C14:0 SM, and kynurenine, all metabolites linked to brain health, showed elevated levels in COC-fed pigs and reduced levels in animals fed OLI. Each of the three diets demonstrated heightened ratios of secondary bile acids to primary bile acids, with OLI-fed pigs showing increased TDCA:CA and TLCA:CA ratios associated with neurodegeneration (MahmoudianDehkordi et al., 2019). In conclusion, results may suggest that LAR could represent a more favorable dietary intervention for promoting brain health in pediatric NAFLD but further research is required
Southern Sea Otter (Enhydra Lutris Nereis) Fur Morphology, Thermal Function, and Buoyancy Across Ontogeny
Get PDFSea otters (Enhydra lutris) have the densest fur of any animal, and the hairs function to trap a layer of air that is used for insulation. When a sea otter is born, it has a natal pelage (baby fur), and sea otters eventually molt that fur and replace it with a pelt resembling the adult fur. Sea otter fur is composed of 3 types of hairs: underhairs, intermediate hairs, and guard hairs. Sea otters are more susceptible to the negative effects of oiling from oil spills compared to other marine mammal species because they solely rely on fur for insulation. Though numerous studies have investigated the functional morphology of adult sea otter fur and how it is affected by oil, not much is known about the characteristics and insulative abilities of sea otter natal fur.
To better understand the structure and function of sea otter fur, I examined the hair morphology and related it to the thermal function and buoyancy of southern sea otter (Enhydra lutris nereis) pelts across different age classes. Guard hair length, hair circularity, guard hair and underhair cuticular scales, and hair density of sea otter pelts were measured across six age classes: neonate, small pup, large pup, juvenile, subadult, and adult. Thermal conductivity and thermal resistance of sea otter pelts were measured under three treatment conditions: in air, in water, and oiled. Pelt buoyant force in water was also measured under three treatment conditions: control (normal), oiled, and washed (with Dawn® dish soap). To scale up to the whole animal and examine differences related to body size, I used these measurements to estimate total heat loss, whole-animal buoyancy force, and mass-specific buoyant force.
I confirmed the timing of the transition between the natal fur and adult fur, which occurs some time in between the small pup and large pup age classes. I observed a consistent pattern in the hair circularity and shape of guard hairs across all age classes. It is important for all sea otters to have the ellipsoid shape of the guard hair so that the hairs can lie flat against the air layer to protect it in water. Comparisons of hair density indicated that sea otters with natal fur (neonate, small pups, and some large pups) have approximately 25-53% lower hair density than older age classes with the adult-type pelage. This thinner hair density may explain why young sea otters are always on their mother’s belly to stay out of the cold water.
When I examined the thermal function of the fur in air, I found that pups with natal fur have less efficient but equally effective thermal insulation. However, when I scaled up the thermal findings using body morphometrics and created a volume-based heat loss model, it was clear that younger sea otters have substantially more heat loss for their body size, compared to older age classes. Values for oiled heat loss demonstrated the vulnerability associated with sea otters relying on fur for insulation, and the large surface area to volume ratio associated with a small body size. It is already a high energy requirement for sea otters to maintain mammalian body temperate in cold water, and when the fur becomes oiled, the severe reduction of their insulation can cost them even more energy.
Across age classes, there was no difference in the buoyant force of the fur when I focused on the pelt samples from the laboratory-based experiments. When I scaled up the pelt buoyant force values to the whole animal using body mass, total body length, and surface area, it became clear that buoyant force varied across sea otter age classes. The smaller body size present in younger sea otter age classes allows for a higher mass-specific fur buoyant force. The larger size and higher hair density in adult sea otters explains the higher whole-animal fur buoyant force, as more individual hairs allow for more air to be trapped within the fur. Oiling of the fur reduces the overall buoyancy, and washing the pelts with Dawn® did not consistently restore the air layer in the fur.
In summary, the results of these studies indicate that the success of sea otters is due to the overall shape and structure of the individual hairs, along with the incredibly high hair density. The different hair types function together to trap the air layer in the fur to provide sufficient insulation. Ultimately, all ages of sea otters are vulnerable to the effects of oiling, with younger sea otters being the most susceptible
Highlighting The Key Differences In Project Management When Using Mass Timber: Case Study
Get PDFMass Timber or Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) is structurally engineered wood designed to be used as the structural components of a building. As the Construction Industry shifts toward using more renewable materials, mass timber becomes more relevant. This paper presents a comprehensive case study focusing on the construction process innovations implemented in a recent mass timber project located in San Francisco. The project involves the construction of a secure facility for a prominent biotechnology company. This research aims to learn the innovative techniques and strategies that contributed to the successful completion of this unique project. Key stakeholders, including the project engineer, project manager, and superintendent, were interviewed to provide insights. The research methodology involves semi-structured interviews with the project management team\u27s members, namely the project engineer, project manager, and superintendent. By capturing their experiences and insights, the study aims to uncover the distinctive challenges and benefits associated with mass timber use from a project management standpoint. The data collected will offer valuable insights into the impact of mass timber on job sites and overall project execution. The interviews were transcribed and then analyzed to discover reoccurring patterns and ideas the project management team brought up. These interviews noted the necessity for extensive planning, coordination between subcontractors, scheduling allowances for slower productivity, and allowances for trade damage
Nira Ya Mtumwa Aliye Huru: Granville Kachipumo\u27s Life Of Slavery And Redemption In Nineteenth-Century East Africa
Get PDFGranville Kachipumo was the Universities Mission to Central Africa’s African-born teacher at Mkului in East Africa near today’s Muheza district of Tanga, Tanzania. He was taken from his home along River Lintipe at 10 to 12 years old. Granville Kachipumo’s life began with his family west of Lake Nyasa. Ripped from the arms of his parents, Granville Kachipumo faced two inland journeys, each with its complex forms of slave trade. From the inland environment, Granville Kachipumo navigated to the mission halls of Masasi and beyond. Kachipumo’s story is, as Arthur Cornwallis Madan stated, “a story of an intelligent boy who has been seven years in the Mission Schools and risen to be a teacher and to promise well for future usefulness.”1 Granville Kachipumo’s story of slave trade to redemotion highlights the continuing slave trade after 1873. My argument is centered on the fact that after 1873, circumstances for enslaved Africans and the nature of the inland slave trade were complex. These complex circumstances are seen through Granville Kachipumo’s enslavement, emancipation, and post-enslavement life process. This paper does not aim to encapsulate the story of the slave trade as a whole but to follow the lead of Robert Harms to “shine a small beam onto the dark underside” of the East African slave trade from the inland to the coast, capture, and missions. By shining a beam on the slave ship Salama and Granville Kachipumo’s unique enslavement narrative. I demonstrate how allowing Africans to speak for themselves enables us to observe how the slave trade in East Africa continued and transformed in the years after 1873
Digital Filter Implementation on a DSP Development Board
Get PDFThis project to implement digital filters on a Digital Signal Processor (DSP) development board intends to demonstrate viability for future use in teaching digital signal processing lab courses. The digital filter types covered, including Finite Impulse Response (FIR) and Infinite Impulse Response (IIR) filters of various basic frequency responses, will mirror current DSP lab projects to fulfill course learning objectives for filter design and characterization. Design features will include speed optimization to enable real-time digital signal processing. This project will investigate the use of Code Composer Studio to compile C and assembly code to the DSP. Alternatives for currently available DSP development boards will be compared to select the most suitable board for future lab courses
Audio Research Codec
Get PDFActive Noise and Vibration Control (ANVC) systems are of increasing relevance as urban areas get more densely populated with people and their noise sources. Community noise is of great importance to many forms of transit that aim to bring mobility to a region with minimal subsequent noise pollution. Active Vibration Control (AVC) is an emerging field of research which can be employed to further mitigated unwanted harshness in an acoustic environment by extending the principals of Active Noise Control (ANC)to solid mediums using surface transducers and piezoelectric actuators.
The Audio Research Codec (ARC) is a compact, cost-effective system designed for research and development of active noise cancellation and active vibration control systems. The ARC system is designed to implement several parallel ANC channels for research in 3-Dimensional noise cancellation. With 16 input and output channels, it supports analog microphone and digital pulse density modulation (PDM) sources as well as various transducers such as piezoelectric actuators and loudspeakers. The system facilitates the exploration of ANC and AVC algorithms such as FXLMS, LMS, AP, and RLS for noise reduction in diverse applications. Boasting a user-friendly serial monitor interface, expandable data storage, and real-time digital signal processing, the Audio Research Codec is an affordable tool for researchers, students, and professionals alike