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A Life Cycle Analysis of District Heating Options for Western Washington University
Get PDFThis study examined two replacement options for the district heating system at Western Washington University based on CO2e emissions savings and system feasibility. Life cycle assessment was used to compare a nodal air source heat pump system with supplemental geo-exchange and a nodal air source heat pump system with water preheated from waste heat sources. The systems were also compared at their designed water temperature of 120, and at a temperature of 180, with natural gas used to boost the water temperature. This work adds to the body of knowledge for universities seeking to replace aging steam-based heating system. It provides results about the feasibility of incrementally upgrading heating systems and using geothermal and waste heat sources at a university scale. The EcoInvent 3.11 systems library, the Recipe Endpoint (H/A), and IPCC 2021 GTP 100 V1.03 methods were used for the LCA. I found that in both the geothermal and waste heat cases, the high temperature scenarios resulted in high emissions of 554kton CO2e and 377kton CO2e, respectively, over the 50-year project lifetime. The Business-As-Usual case, which assumes WWU continues to use the natural-gas-powered steam plant, produced 468kton CO2e over 50 years. For low-temperature scenarios, the geothermal system produced 240kton CO2e over the project lifetime, and the waste heat system produced 120kton CO2e. The emissions for the construction of all scenarios were under 14kton CO2e. These results show that the high-temperature scenarios are not appropriate options due to their high emissions of 118% of the BAU emissions for the geothermal scenario, and 82% of the BAU emissions for the Port scenario. The results also show the Port low-temperature scenario has the lowest emissions of all use scenarios, 120kton CO2e, and is therefore the recommended option for WWU
Fine-Mapping Causal Polymorphisms Underlying Differential Protein Expression in Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Get PDFGenetic variation plays a fundamental role in shaping phenotypic diversity by influencing gene expression at multiple levels. While most studies focus on mRNA abundance, emerging evidence suggests that genetic variation can independently affect protein expression, highlighting the need to investigate post-transcriptional mechanisms. Using Saccharomyces cerevisiae as a model, this study explores how genetic variation affects protein expression during dynamic gene regulation in the yeast mating pheromone response pathway.
To map the genetic determinants of differential protein expression, we developed a high-resolution quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping approach that integrates bulk segregant analysis (BSA) with fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS). Traditional QTL mapping methods often fail to pinpoint causal variants to the single-nucleotide level. To address this, we introduce a novel fine-mapping strategy that selects for recombinants with crossover events within the target QTL region, improving mapping resolution. Although fine-mapping has not yet been completed, substantial method development was accomplished to enable this next phase. We plan to investigate its role in regulating FIG1 protein expression by applying this method to a trans-acting QTL containing CAM1 and DIG1. Previous studies identified this locus as influencing pheromone-responsive gene expression, but the causal variants remain unknown. Our fine-mapping approach ultimately aims to enable precise localization of the SNPs responsible for differential protein expression, providing new insights into the genetic mechanisms governing protein-specific gene regulation
The Effects of a Social Support Intervention on Stress-Related Growth in Injured Collegiate Student Athletes
Get PDFWith the right support and mindset, sport injury can lead to positive psychological outcomes, called stress-related growth (SRG; Park et al., 1996). Psychological need satisfaction (e.g., need for relatedness) may facilitate SRG (e.g., Heaney & Kentzer, 2023). The purpose of the current study was to test the effects of an in-person, social-support-focused group intervention on SRG in injured collegiate athletes. In this mixed-methods study, five participants (Mage = 20.2, 60% female) took the Stress-Related Growth Scale (SRGS; Park et al., 1996) and the Perceived Available Support in Sport Questionnaire (Freeman et al., 2011) before, after two sessions, and upon completion of the intervention. Within-group ANOVAs indicated no statistically significant differences in SRGS scores and significance only for tangible social support. However, SRGS scores from time two to time three had a large effect size (p = 0.06, d = 1.20). Themes in participants’ responses to open-ended questions about their experiences included I Am Not Alone and Changes in Thinking and Perspective. Although there were no statistical changes in SRG scores, qualitative results indicated that the experience was positive for participants. Thus, small groups for injured athletes could be beneficial and warrant further investigation
Whales Without Borders: Aligning Environmental Policies to Enhance Whale Conservation in the Salish Sea
Get PDFThe Salish Sea is a biologically diverse ecosystem which is home to at least six species of cetaceans (whales, dolphins and porpoises). This inland sea supports seasonal booms of numerous cetacean prey species, including Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha), Pacific herring (Clupea pallasii), and ghost shrimp (Palaemonetes paludosus), making the Salish Sea an important foraging ground for cetaceans (Gaydos & Pearson, 2011; Pietsch & Orr, 2015; Quinn & Losee, 2022). Subsequently, there is designated critical habitat for two at-risk cetaceans – Southern Resident killer whales (Orcinus orca) and humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) within the Salish Sea (Figure 1).
Southern Resident killer whales are listed as ‘endangered’ under both Canada’s Species at Risk Act (SARA) and the United States (U.S.) Endangered Species Act (ESA; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 1973; Government of Canada, 2002). This population of killer whale has suffered historic declines starting in the 1960s, with currently 74 individuals remaining in the population as of April 2025. Conversely, over 1,200 individual humpback whales have been observed in the Salish Sea, consisting of whales from three distinct population segments (DPS) – Central America, Mexico, and Hawaii DPS (Martien et al., 2021; Taylor et al., 2021; Malleson & Shaw, 2024).
Humpback whales have been steadily increasing in numbers over the last two decades following the end of commercial whaling, however, both Southern Residents and humpback whales are facing increasing pressure from anthropogenic effects, including acoustic and physical disturbance from vessels, reduced prey availability, and persistent environmental contaminants (Fisheries and Oceans Canada, 2018; Sato & Wiles, 2021). Despite a total of 16 laws, seven regulations, and one treaty enacted across Canada and the U.S. to reduce these threats, the transboundary nature of the Salish Sea is challenging for ensuring sufficient overlap of protections between state, provincial, and federal measures
Raise or Hold? Estimating the Whatcom Transportation Authority\u27s Fare Elasticity
No full textThis paper utilizes an unbalanced panel data model with cross section fixed effects to estimate the short run transit fare elasticity that the Whatcom Transportation Authority (WTA) could expect. This measure could be used to predict short run changes in ridership in response to potential changes in the WTA’s adult base fares. Ridership levels, fares, service levels, population, and regional gas prices are used to estimate this model, and then fare elasticities were calculated with the output from this estimated model.
[The dataset for this project is included as a supplementary file.
Extended N-terminal helix domains selectively decrease enzymatic activity in Sortase A
No full textClass A Sortase enzymes covalently attach virulence factors to the cell wall of gram-positive bacteria. The mechanism by which this happens is thought to be mainly performed by the catalytic domain of the Sortase. However, a helical region on the N-terminus of the catalytic domain may be affecting the function of the enzyme as well. To investigate this region, extended catalytic domains were designed to include different amounts of the N-terminal helix. Results found that Sortase enzymes with these extended domains selectively showed lower enzymatic activity in class A Sortase for both staphylococcus aureus and streptococcus pyogenes, depending on the substrate. This opens the door for further studies on this region of Sortase
The Inextricable Tie Between Language and Race: How We Perpetuate Racism
No full textThis 40-minute podcast examines the social constructions of race and language. It includes compelling interviews with a linguistic anthropologist and a sociologist specializing in race and ethnic studies, as well as powerful quotes from influential thinkers like bell hooks and James Baldwin, to conclude that race and language are co-constructed. This podcast explores the definition of raciolinguistics, the phenomenon of “Standard English” and how one’s race shapes how their language is perceived. It also discusses critical race theory, authenticity versus performativity and how racism is perpetuated through language as taught in schools. Designed to challenge assumptions and spark meaningful conversations, this podcast invites listeners to question dominant narratives, deepen their understanding and carry the dialogue into their own communities.
[An accessible transcript to the podcast and a list of references are included as supplementary files.
Experiments in Worldbuilding: Laying the Foundations for Future Works
No full textThis project is a worldguide for a fictional world developed for my Honors Capstone project. The document includes notes and descriptions of various aspects of the world, including geography, ecosystems, magic system, and civilizations. The worldguide also includes pictures of maps, moodboards, and some finished and unfinished scenes and myths set in the world. The goal of this project was to create a fictional world—or one continent of a world, in my case—complete with a lot of details as well as room to grow. This world is meant to represent a potential landscape in which to set future creative works, if I choose
Reentry: Navigating Life After Abroad
No full textOften, one of the hardest parts of studying abroad is figuring out how to navigate the broad spectrum of emotions one experiences upon returning. I created a syllabus and instructor guide for a one-credit, pass/fail course that will provide a space for students to reflect on their experiences, explore and develop the skills they’ve gained, and consider how to incorporate future global engagement into their personal and professional lives