Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

The Muscles Treasure Survey. I. Motivation And Overview, Kevin France, R. O. Parke Loyd, Allison Youngblood, Alexander Brown, P. Christian Schneider, Suzanne L. Hawley, Cynthia S. Froning, Jeffrey L. Linsky, Aki Roberge, Andrea P. Buccino, James R. A. Davenport, Juan M. Fontenla, Lisa Kaltenegger, Adam F. Kowalski, Pablo J. D. Mauas, Yamila Miguel, Seth Redfield, Sarah Rugheimer, Feng Tian, Mariela C. Vieytes, Lucianne M. Walkowicz, Kolby L. Weisenburger

Physics & Astronomy

Ground- and space-based planet searches employing radial velocity techniques and transit photometry have detected thousands of planet-hosting stars in the Milky Way. With so many planets discovered, the next step toward identifying potentially habitable planets is atmospheric characterization. While the Sun–Earth system provides a good framework for understanding the atmospheric chemistry of Earth-like planets around solar-type stars, the observational and theoretical constraints on the atmospheres of rocky planets in the habitable zones (HZs) around low-mass stars (K and M dwarfs) are relatively few. The chemistry of these atmospheres is controlled by the shape and absolute flux of the stellar spectral …

The Planet, 2016, Spring, Jesse Nichols, Huxley College Of The Environment, Western Washington University

The Planet

No abstract provided.

Soil Conditions And Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungal Spore Abundance And Distribution In Dewatered Reservoir Sediments After Dam Removal, Kari Clausen

WWU Honors College Senior Projects

Many dams in the U.S. are reaching the ends of their lifespans and dam removal as a form of river ecosystem restoration is becoming more prevalent. Revegetation of newly exposed sediments is an important aspect of ecosystem recovery after dam removal. Understanding the soil environment left behind after dam removal is important for understanding revegetation and ecosystem recovery trends. Physical soil properties and soil biota communities help to determine the success of plants colonizing exposed sediments after reservoirs are drained. I investigated soil properties and biota after dam removal by looking at the Elwha Dam Removal in Olympic National Park, …

Summer Climate And Western Spruce Budworm Outbreaks In The Pacific Northwest, Melinda Vickers

WWU Honors College Senior Projects

Western spruce budworm outbreaks occur yearly with devastating effects for forests across Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia. However, as of yet, the relationship between these outbreaks and summer climate is poorly understood. In this study, I compared western spruce budworm outbreak records from Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia with June-August temperature and precipitation records between 1975 and 1995. This research reveals interesting patterns in the correlation between drought conditions and western spruce budworm outbreaks. My results necessitate further study examining the potentially significant relationship between summer drought conditions and western spruce budworm outbreaks.

Sehome Hill Arboretum Trail Decommissioning Follow Up, Calvin Heslop

WWU Honors College Senior Projects

Maintaining accessible trail networks for recreation and travel is an important part of management in the Sehome Hill Arboretum in Bellingham Washington. Trails aid in bringing people into the arboretum so they can appreciate and enjoy what it has to offer. Additionally trails serve the purpose of limiting human impact to known and maintained areas. Unofficial “social” trails can be detrimental to both the accessibility and ecological function of the Arboretum. By adding to the existing trail network, these social trails can confuse park visitors as well as decrease the aesthetic value of the arboretum. Additionally, repeated traffic by hikers …

Nickel Phosphide On Boron-Doped Alumina: New Catalysts For Heteroatom Removal Reactions, Catherine E. Miles

WWU Honors College Senior Projects

The effects of boron addition to an alumina (Al₂O₃) support on the hydrodesulfurization (HDS) properties of nickel phosphide (Ni₂P) catalysts have been investigated. The B-Al₂O₃ supports were prepared by a wetness impregnation method using boric acid (H₃BO₃) to dope the alumina support with 0-7.2 wt% B, yielding a boron oxide (B₂O₃) layer of monolayer thickness on the surface of the Al₂O₃ support. Ni₂P precursors were prepared on the B-Al₂O₃ supports in two ways: 1) impregnation …

Fish Abundance And Habitat Recommendations Of The Lake Whatcom Tributaries, Ariel Edwards

WWU Honors College Senior Projects

The tributaries of Lake Whatcom, Austin/Beaver, Anderson, Olsen, and Smith Creeks, provide essential habitat for many fish species native to the Pacific Northwest. However, development in the watershed has contributed to habitat alterations and even degradation of habitat quality. In this report, fish abundance and diversity, and habitat quality is compared both temporally, and among different streams. Anderson Creek was found to have the greatest species diversity. Cutthroat trout was the most abundant fish at each stream throughout the study period and was observed at every study site. Restoration recommendations for each stream were aimed at supporting existing native fish …

Sn 2012cg: Evidence For Interaction Between A Normal Sn Ia And A Non-Degenerate Binary Companion, G. H. Marion, Peter J. Brown, Jozsef Vinkó, Jeffrey M. Silverman, David J. Sand, Peter Challis, Robert P. Kirshner, J. Craig Wheeler, Perry Berlind, Warren R. Brown, Michael L. Calkins, Yssavo Camacho, Govinda Dhungana, Ryan J. Foley, Andrew S. Friedman, Melissa L. Graham, D. Andrew Howell, Eric Y. Hsiao, Jonathan M. Irwin, Saurabh W. Jha, Robert Kehoe, Lucas M. Macri, Keiichi Maeda, Kaisey Mandel, Curtis Mccully, Viraj Pandya, Kenneth J. Rines, Steven Wilhelmy, Weikang Zheng

Physics & Astronomy

We report evidence for excess blue light from the Type Ia supernova (Sn Ia) SN 2012cg at 15 and 16 days before maximum B-band brightness. The emission is consistent with predictions for the impact of the supernova on a non-degenerate binary companion. This is the first evidence for emission from a companion to a normal SN Ia. Sixteen days before maximum light, the color of SN 2012cg is 0.2 mag bluer than for other normal SN Ia. At later times, this supernova has a typical SN Ia light curve, with extinction-corrected mag and . Our data set is extensive, …

Freshwater Algae In Northwest Washington, Volume Ii, Chlorophyta And Rhodophyta, Robin A. Matthews

A Collection of Open Access Books and Monographs

The idea for this guide, Freshwater Algae in Northwest Washington, began in 2006 when the Institute for Watershed Studies (www.wwu.edu/iws) expanded its Northwest Lakes monitoring project to collect water quality samples from more than 70 local lakes. This volume, Chlorophyta and Rhodophyta, is part of a series describing freshwater algae in Northwest Washington, and includes simple algal keys that can be used by students with little experience in taxonomy, as well as members of the general public. In addition to freshwater Chlorophyta and Rhodophyta, this volume includes non-desmid members of the division Charophyta, which would be difficult for …

Freshwater Algae In Northwest Washington, Volume I, Cyanobacteria, Robin A. Matthews

A Collection of Open Access Books and Monographs

The idea for this guide, Freshwater Algae in Northwest Washington, began in 2006 when the Institute for Watershed Studies (www.wwu.edu/iws) expanded its Northwest Lakes monitoring project to collect water quality samples from more than 70 local lakes. This volume, Cyanobacteria, is part of a series describing freshwater algae in Northwest Washington, and includes simple algal keys that can be used by students with little experience in taxonomy, as well as members of the general public. Although the emphasize is on freshwater lakes, samples collected in streams, seeps, waterfalls, and other lotic systems are included, with comments on whether …

Hecs-Sz: The Hectospec Survey Of Sunyaev-Zeldovich-Selected Clusters, Kenneth J. Rines, Margaret J. Geller, Antonaldo Diaferio, Ho Seong Hwang

Physics & Astronomy

We estimate cluster masses and velocity dispersions for 123 clusters from optical spectroscopy to compare the Sunyaev–Zeldovich (SZ) mass proxy and dynamical masses. Our new survey, HeCS-SZ (Hectospec Cluster Survey of SZ-selected clusters), includes 7721 new or remeasured redshifts from MMT/Hectospec observations of 21 SZ-selected clusters at redshifts z = 0.05–0.20. We supplement the Hectospec data with spectra from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) and cluster data from the Cluster Infall Regions in SDSS project and the Hectospec Cluster Survey, our Hectospec survey of clusters selected by X-ray flux. We measure the scaling relation between velocity dispersion and SZ …

Lake Whatcom Monitoring Project 2014/2015 Report, Robin A. Matthews, Michael Hilles, Joan Vandersypen, Robert J. Mitchell, Geoffrey B. Matthews

Lake Whatcom Annual Reports

This report is part of an on-going series of annual reports and special project reports that document the Lake Whatcom monitoring program. This work is conducted by the Institute for Watershed Studies and other departments at Western Washington University.

The major objective of this program is to provide long-term baseline water quality monitoring in Lake Whatcom and selected tributaries. Each section contains brief explanations about the water quality data, along with discussions of patterns observed in Lake Whatcom.

Hectomap And Horizon Run 4: Dense Structures And Voids In The Real And Simulated Universe, Ho Seong Hwang, Margaret J. Geller, Changbom Park, Daniel G. Fabricant, Michael J. Kurtz, Kenneth J. Rines, Juhan Kim, Antonaldo Diaferio, J. Jabran Zahid, Perry Berland, Michael Calkins, Susan Tokarz, Sean Moran

Physics & Astronomy

HectoMAP is a dense redshift survey of red galaxies covering a 53 deg² strip of the northern sky. HectoMAP is 97% complete for galaxies with r < 20.5, (g− r) > 1.0, and (r − i) > 0.5. The survey enables tests of the physical properties of large-scale structure at intermediate redshift against cosmological models. We use the Horizon Run 4, one of the densest and largest cosmological simulations based on the standard Λ Cold Dark Matter (ΛCDM) model, to compare the physical properties of observed large-scale structures with simulated ones in a volume-limited sample covering 8 × 10^{6 …}

Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: Cause To Treatment, Tavleen Aulakh

Occam's Razor

Imagine two individuals, both suffering from severe liver damage. With excess fat molecules concentrated in the hepatic cells, their livers are inflamed and scarred. These deteriorating livers are also supplementing the development of chronic obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and hyperlipidemia. While one of these individuals is a middle-aged male with a long history of alcohol addiction and abuse, the other is only thirteen years old and has never consumed alcohol. This adolescent is suffering from nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

Occam's Razor Vol. 6 - Full (2016)

Occam's Razor

No abstract provided.

Deep Phylogenomics Of A Tandem-Repeat Galectin Regulating Appendicular Skeletal Pattern Formation, Ramray Bhat, Mahul Chakraborty, Tilmann Glimm, Thomas A. Stewart, Stuart (Stuart A.) Newman

Mathematics Faculty Publications

Background: A multiscale network of two galectins Galectin-1 (Gal-1) and Galectin-8 (Gal-8) patterns the avian limb skeleton. Among vertebrates with paired appendages, chondrichthyan fins typically have one or more cartilage plates and many repeating parallel endoskeletal elements, actinopterygian fins have more varied patterns of nodules, bars and plates, while tetrapod limbs exhibit tandem arrays of few, proximodistally increasing numbers of elements. We applied a comparative genomic and protein evolution approach to understand the origin of the galectin patterning network. Having previously observed a phylogenetic constraint on Gal-1 structure across vertebrates, we asked whether evolutionary changes of Gal-8 could have …

Quantum Mock Modular Forms Arising From Eta–Theta Functions, Amanda Folsom, Sharon Garthwaite, Soon-Yi Kang, Holly Swisher, Stephanie Treneer

Mathematics Faculty Publications

In 2013, Lemke Oliver classified all eta-quotients which are theta functions. In this paper, we unify the eta–theta functions by constructing mock modular forms from the eta–theta functions with even characters, such that the shadows of these mock modular forms are given by the eta–theta functions with odd characters. In addition, we prove that our mock modular forms are quantum modular forms. As corollaries, we establish simple finite hypergeometric expressions which may be used to evaluate Eichler integrals of the odd eta–theta functions, as well as some curious algebraic identities.

Hydrostatic And Caustic Mass Profiles Of Galaxy Clusters, Ben J. Maughan, Paul A. Giles, Kenneth J. Rines, Antonaldo Diaferio, Margaret J. Geller, Nina Van Der Pyl, Massimiliano Bonamente

Physics & Astronomy

We compare X-ray and caustic mass profiles for a sample of 16 massive galaxy clusters. We assume hydrostatic equilibrium in interpreting the X-ray data, and use large samples of cluster members with redshifts as a basis for applying the caustic technique. The hydrostatic and caustic masses agree to better than ≈20 per cent on average across the radial range covered by both techniques (∼[0.2–1.25]R₅₀₀). The mass profiles were measured independently and do not assume a common functional form. Previous studies suggest that, at R₅₀₀ , the hydrostatic and caustic masses are biased low and high, respectively. …

A New Method Comparing Snowmelt Timing With Annual Area Burned, Donal S. O'Leary Iii, Trevor D. Bloom, Jacob C. Smith, Christopher R. Zemp, Michael J. Medler

Environmental Studies Faculty and Staff Publications

The interactions between climate and wildland fire are complex. To better understand these interactions, we used ArcMap 10.2.2 to examine the relationships between early spring snowmelt and total annual area burned within a defined region of the Rocky Mountains of the western United States. Our research methods used Monitoring Trends in Burn Severity (MTBS) fire perimeter data and weekly snow extent provided by the Rutgers Global Snow Lab analysis of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) daily snow maps. Our results indicated a significant correlation between early spring snowmelt and total annual area burned (P = 0.0497), providing further evidence …

The Planet, 2016, Winter, Yvonne Worden, Huxley College Of The Environment, Western Washington University

The Planet

No abstract provided.

Magnetic Biomonitoring Of Polluted Trees In South Seattle, Lauren Templeton

College of the Environment Graduate and Undergraduate Publications

Particulate matter (PM) air pollution is a major public health issue across the United States. PM air pollution is sourced from a variety of industrial, transportation, and fuel combustion processes (EPA 2016). Through increases in regulation standards, PM air pollution has been gradually decreasing over the past twenty years (Appendix 1.1). Between 1990 and 2011 air toxins and toxicants in the United States decreased by over 60% according to the EPA (2016). Unhealthy air quality days, caused by ozone and particulate matter 2.5 microns (PM_2.5), also decreased from 2,076 days in 2000 to 675 days in 2014 (EPA …

Assessment Of Nutrient, Metal, And Organic Contaminant Concentrations In Eelgrass (Zostera Marina L.) In Puget Sound, Wa (Usa), Jeff Gaeckle

Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference

Eelgrass (Zostera marina L.), the dominant seagrass in the Pacific Northwest region, is an ecologically important component of the marine nearshore throughout greater Puget Sound, WA. Eelgrass and other seagrasses are known to provide extensive ecosystem services worldwide, but are under threat from a suite of anthropogenic stressors, notably nutrient and sediment loading associated with coastal development and population growth. Loading sources span from atmospheric deposition to thousands of outfalls that range from small manmade or natural drainages to the largest permitted facilities in the country. Research has demonstrated seagrasses uptake nutrients, metals and organic contaminants with varied physiological …

Armoring On Puget Sound: Progress Towards A Better Baseline, Hugh Shipman, Jennifer Burke, Randy E. Carman, Kurt L. Fresh

Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference

The construction of seawalls and similar structures along Puget Sound’s shoreline impacts geomorphic processes and ecological functions. The extent of shoreline armor has been adopted by the Puget Sound Partnership as a vital sign indicator, is used by local, state, and federal groups as a measure of ecosystem function, and has been employed as a tool for prioritizing restoration actions.

As a result, we recognized the importance of accurately characterizing the extent, character, and distribution of shoreline armor. The objectives of our project were to review existing data sources, assess methodologies, identify gaps in data quality or coverage, and to …

Structural And Antiferromagnetic Properties Of Ba(Fe1−X−Ycoxrhy)2as2 Compounds, M. G. Kim, T. W. Heitmann, Sean R. Mulcahy, E. D. Bourret-Courchesne, R. J. Birgeneau

Geology Faculty Publications

We present a systematic investigation of the electrical, structural, and antiferromagnetic properties for the series of Ba(Fe_{1 −x−y}Co_xRh_y)₂As₂ compounds with fixed x ≈ 0.027 and 0 ≤ y ≤ 0.035. We compare our results for the Co-Rh doped Ba(Fe_1−x−yCo_xRh_y)₂As₂ compounds with the Co doped Ba(Fe_1−xCo_x)₂As₂ compounds. We demonstrate that the electrical, structural, antiferromagnetic, and superconducting properties of the Co-Rh doped compounds are similar to the properties of the Co doped compounds. We find that the …

Acene-Linked Covalent Organic Frameworks As Candidate Materials For Singlet Fission, Viktor Laszlo, Tim Kowalczyk

Chemistry Faculty and Staff Publications

Two-dimensional covalent organic frameworks (COFs) are a versatile class of porous materials that can be tailored for solar energy conversion applications through the incorporation of organic chromophores as linker units. In this work we examine whether such COFs can be engineered to support singlet fission (SF), the generation of two triplet excitons from a single photoexcitation. We simulate the structural and electronic properties of a series of COFs possessing embedded polyacene linkers from benzene through pentacene. Detailed electronic structure calculations suggest that necessary conditions on the energy and electronic coupling for SF can be met with COF architectures closely related …

Virtual Simulations Of Potential Vessel Discharges In Puget Sound And The Puget Sound No Discharge Zone, Teizeen Mohamedali, Mindy Roberts, Amy Jankowiak

Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference

The Washington State Department of Ecology (Ecology) evaluated the potential transport, dispersion and dilution of potential vessel sewer discharges within the draft proposed Puget Sound No Discharge Zone (NDZ). These model simulations included potential vessel sewer discharges at six locations in Puget Sound along major shipping routes. Results are presented as virtual animations of surface concentrations, allowing us to visualize the transport, circulation, and dilution of these discharges over the course of several days.

Ecology and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory jointly developed a three-dimensional hydrodynamic FVCOM (Finite Volume Coastal Ocean Model) computer model of the Salish Sea. This model is …

Assessing Habitat Compensation In The Lower Fraser River And Estuary, Megan A. Lievesley, Dan Stewart, Brad Mason, Rob Knight

Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference

Over the last century, wetland ecosystems along the Lower Fraser River (LFR) have been heavily impacted by foreshore development and industry. Wetlands along the LFR provide important ecosystem services and habitat for wildlife such as rearing grounds for fish and staging grounds for migratory birds. For 30 years, habitat compensation has been the accepted method for offsetting habitat degradation; however, due to a lack of follow-up research and consistent baseline data it is yet to be determined if compensation projects truly replicate habitat lost. This project, funded by the National Wetland Conservation Fund, aims to (1) review, assess, and determine …

Holding The Line, To Let Shorelines Move Naturally, Kyle Loring

Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference

This poster will identify mechanisms for limiting the impacts of residential development on the natural functions of marine shorelines.

First, it will share the results from two recent legal cases that successfully prevented the unnecessary bulkheading of a documented surf smelt spawning beach on San Juan Island. Friends of the San Juans appealed two local permit approvals to the Shoreline Hearings Board. The local permits authorized two-tiered armoring that extended nearly 20 total feet in height and would have removed most of the vegetation that shaded the beaches and supplied insects for juvenile Chinook salmon in an area identified as …

Telling Stories: Designing Effective Data Visualization And Climate Change Communication Tools, Ilon E. Logan, Carol Macilroy

Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference

As a scientific community, our understanding of the potential effects of a changing climate has increased dramatically over the past decade. We are integrating multiple models with increasing sophistication and projecting impacts at the local scale. But the results of our scientific data and analysis are only as good as their presentation to the public and other decision-makers. Telling the stories of our work using technology and thoughtful, accurate, and visually compelling graphics is paramount in today’s information-rich environment. MacIlroy Consulting, Inc. and Environmental Science Associates (ESA) collaborated to develop data visualization and communication tools for the Skagit Climate Science …

Developing Locally-Driven (Shoreline) Monitoring Programs In The Salish Sea (And Beyond), David Sale

Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference

During the development of the Bainbridge Island Shoreline Monitoring Program (SMP), a volunteer group of scientists and engineers (Bainbridge Island Environmental Technical Advisory (ETAC)), provided the City of Bainbridge Island (COBI) City Council and staff with advice and recommendations on relevant shoreline science and the SMP. One of the recommendations was for COBI to adopt and initiate a locally–driven and -managed monitoring program to address both the effectiveness of the SMP over time, and uncertainties in knowledge of specific Bainbridge Island shoreline drivers and processes. The program would be designed to integrate past and current studies by COBI and other …