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Development of a Dye-Binding Method for Nanoplastics Detection in Water and Snow Samples using Capillary Electrophoresis with Laser Induced Fluorescence
Get PDFThe widespread presence of nanoplastics in aquatic environments poses ecological and human health risks. This research developed a dye-binding method for analyzing nanoplastics in water samples in the presence of microplastics and colloidal particles. Fluorescent dyes were added to samples, binding to nanoplastics, while centrifugation separated free dyes. Electrokinetic injection of supernatant dyes enabled capillary electrophoresis (CE) separation and laser-induced fluorescence detection. A diode laser (λex 450 nm) and interference filter (λem 520±5 nm) measured fluorescence intensity, determining total binding activity. This method offers high-throughput screening, rapid dye binding (5 min), and fast CE separation (10 min). Binding percentages reached 129(±2)%/µg (9.5 nm) and 68.8(±2)%/µg (90 nm) polystyrene nanoparticles. Binding mechanisms involved hydrophobic and electrostatic interactions. The method was applied to real water samples and a decontamination study, achieving 94% nanoplastic removal with 20 mg casein. Principal component analysis classified binding data, providing insights into various water types
Ecology, Water, and Machine Architecture in Golfo Dulce
No full textArchitects have proposed floating cities as solutions to global issues of sea level, population growth, and climate change. Anthropogenic contributions to ecological imbalance will increase if we implement on-water architecture that recklessly expands its physical footprint. This thesis proposes a multi-scalar aquatic machine that cleans water to prompt the return of marine life before introducing symbiotic human habitation. Exploring from the scales of microorganisms to that of human infrastructures, this project imagines human-machine-microorganism hybrids as the basis for human and non-human habitat restoration. The site for this exploration is Golfo Dulce, Costa Rica, a bay suffering from algal bloom and coral destruction caused by deforestation and sediment runoff. These designs will provide models that could be used to address similar problems in other sites
The Performance of Public Space and the Search for Agency in Canada’s Capital City
Get PDFIdealized urban public spaces are replete with social interaction and offer an opportunity for people to perform their lives freely; however, in Ottawa, certain public spaces also assume the identity of the city’s national and international image thereby stifling local vibrancy, and agency. Existing research has not adequately addressed how these policy structures may limit the sociality of high-profile public spaces. As such, this thesis explores how Ottawa’s prized Rideau Canal can be strategically usurped to strengthen important democratic sociality markers such as local engagement, cultural diversity, and equitable contestation. The generative research of this thesis relies on a research-through-design methodology to speculate on the reshaping of nationally and internationally significant public spaces toward local active participation and agency in the performance of daily life
Effects of ophidiomycosis on movement, survival, and reproduction of eastern foxsnakes (Pantherophis vulpinus)
Get PDFOphidiomycosis (snake fungal disease) is caused by the fungal pathogen Ophidiomyces ophidiicola, which causes dermal lesions, occasional systemic infections, and in some cases, mortality. To better understand potential conservation implications of ophidiomycosis (i.e., population-level effects), we investigated its impacts on individual fitness in a population of endangered eastern foxsnakes (Pantherophis vulpinus). We tracked 38 foxsnakes over 6 years and quantified body condition, movement patterns, oviposition rates, and survival. Body condition, distance travelled, and oviposition rates were similar between snakes with and without ophidiomycosis. Interestingly, snakes that tested positive for the pathogen travelled farther, suggesting that movement through a greater diversity of habitats increases risk of exposure. Ophidiomycosis did not negatively affect survival, and most apparently infected snakes persisted in a manner comparable to snakes without ophidiomycosis. Only one mortality was directly attributed to ophidiomycosis, although infected snakes were overrepresented in a sample of snakes killed by predators. Overall, our results suggest that ophidiomycosis may have sublethal effects on eastern foxsnakes, but do not suggest direct effects on survival, ovipositioning, or viability of the study population
A Comparison of Limb Development of the Salamanders Plethodon Cinereus and Ambystoma Mexicanum
No full textTetrapod limbs exhibit a wide variety of developmental variation. Amphibians alone display a fair amount this variation. Here, the development of both limb pairs in the species Plethodon cinereus and Ambystoma mexicanum are compared. Using histology and microCT on embryonic and juvenile specimens, there are few observable differences in the relative order of skeletal element appearance, and both species exhibit preaxial polarity. The resolution with which elements’ appearance could be examined was constrained by the use of stages established on other features as time points. Histologically, the epithelium of the limb bud appears to differ between the two species. It is possible that the differences in histology relate to difference in primary habitat, and constraints of those habitats. For future work, foundation is laid here for the expansion of Plethodon as a model organism. Additional observations on the normal development of Plethodon limb bones would enhance the presented work
Memristor Based Gain-Varying PI Control for Erbium-Doped Fiber Amplifiers (EDFAs)
No full textIn this research, the focus is on Erbium-Doped Fiber Amplifiers (EDFAs), crucial components in optical communication systems. Traditional control systems face challenges in control complexity and cost-effectiveness. This research addresses this challenge by introducing a novel approach—incorporating memristor-based Proportional-Integral (PI) controllers. The methodology involves integrating memristor into a comprehensive EDFA control system simulation. The study conducts a comparative analysis between memristor-based PI controllers and traditional analog PI control systems, emphasizing simplicity, cost-effectiveness, and gain-varying control. Stability analysis, employing the Root Locus method, offers insights into the robustness of the memristor-based PI EDFA control system. The outcomes of this study provide a foundation for more efficient, and cost-effective EDFA control solutions. This research, therefore, not only addresses a specific technical challenge but also opens avenues for innovation in the broader landscape of optical communication systems
Adaptive Multicast Routing Protocol Based on Reinforcement Learning
No full textCurrent Mobile Ad-hoc Network (MANET) multicasting approaches either suffer from low Packet Delivery Ratio (PDR) or high overhead. These methods rely on metrics like hop count to find the optimal path to the destination. Once the path is selected, all packets are sent over the same path as long as it is available. However, a path that is deemed optimal at a specific instance of time may not retain its optimality at a subsequent moment due to node mobility. Moreover, using a metric like hop count that does not consider link quality can lead to poor PDR, as it can favor an unreliable path over a reliable one just because it is the shortest. To tackle these concerns, Q-Learning Adaptive - Multicast Ad hoc On-Demand Distance Vector Routing (QLA-MAODV) protocol is proposed. It is an adaptive and bandwidth-efficient multicast routing protocol based on Q-learning. Unlike traditional methods, QLA-MAODV prioritizes link reliability over simple metrics like hop count, aiming to build a more stable multicast tree. The protocol utilizes the periodic Group Hello (GRPH) messages to explore the environment, identifying alternative paths for use in case of path degradation. The protocol continuously updates path costs, facilitating proactive switching to more reliable paths. Simulations in Network Simulator 3 (NS-3) reveal the protocol's superiority over the traditional Multicast Ad-hoc On-demand Distance Vector (MAODV) protocol. Additionally, it outperforms a modified version, MAODV-Route Reliability (MAODV-RR), that uses link reliability as the routing metric, demonstrating improvement in PDR and reduced multicast-related overhead
Reliability and Validity of Instruments Containing Reported Sleep Measures Among Children from Birth to <5 Years of Age: A Systematic Review
No full textValid and reliable sleep measures during the early years is crucial for practitioners and researchers seeking accurate evaluation methods. This thesis aimed to systematically examine the psychometric properties of instruments containing reported sleep measures in children from birth to <5 years of age. The search of the literature was conducted using several electronic databases, including MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, Web of Science, CINAHL, SPORTDiscus, Scopus and HaPI, with the most recent update on August 30, 2022. The quality of the included studies was assessed using the COSMIN methodology. A total of 79 studies were analyzed. However, none of these measures had undergone a comprehensive evaluation of all psychometric properties. Unfortunately, suitable reported sleep measures for children aged 0 to 4.99 years could not be identified through this review. Further research is needed to develop and validate psychometrically robust sleep assessment tools for this specific age group