STRATA

STRATA, the STudent Research, Academic, and Talent Archive, is a collection of selected Fort Lewis College student work, including undergraduate research, senior seminar papers, published works, conference presentations, and other creative and artistic projects. Search by name, subject, title, or academic department.

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Refashion: Extending the Life Cycle of Clothing and Revaluing Waste
The global apparel industry's energy intensive manufacturing and distribution of clothing uses vast amounts of water, toxic chemicals, and fossil fuels through socially unjust practices while creating dangerous emissions and enormous amounts of textile waste. These negative impacts are intensified by the accelerated consumptive and disposal rates of countries in the Global North. Various solutions under the umbrella of eco-fashion are growing in an effort to address the problems created by conventional clothing, such as ecological sourcing of raw materials and creating clothing out of post-consumer textile waste. Growing consumer awareness is positively influencing textile recycling as well as collaborative efforts to set and enforce industry standards through accurate and informative labeling. Positive changes need to be practiced on a large scale in order to reduce the environmental impact of the global clothing industry.
Regulation of Mir-132 Expression and Viral Entry in Mrc-5 Cells Via HCMV Infection and Ganciclovir Administration
It has been reported that 50-85% of U.S. adults have been infected with human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) by the age of 40. HCMV can cause microcephaly in newborns and symptoms in immunocompromised patients (i.e., AIDS and organ or tissue transplants). HCMV is a double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) virus that infects primary fibroblasts, including MRC-5 cells. It gains entry into the host cell via receptor-mediated membrane fusion and displays both latent and lytic replication phases. The most common anti-HCMV drug is Ganciclovir (GC), which is a DNA-dependent DNA polymerase inhibitor. HCMV has been demonstrated to regulate expression of host cell microRNAs (miRNAs). Host miRNAs are small non-coding RNAs typically 20-25 nucleotides in length. They regulate post-transcriptional gene silencing by directing proteins to repress translation, which leads to mRNA degradation. The host miRNA, miR-132, has been shown to downregulate interferon-beta (IFNβ) in monocytes. Moreover, miR-132 is upregulated in HCMV-infected monocytes in order to hinder IFNβ expression thereby promoting viral entry. In other words, although miR-132 is a host-encoded molecule it downregulates the host antiviral process of IFNβ production and serves as an advantageous upregulation target for HCMV. This study investigated whether HCMV upregulates host miR-132 expression in MRC-5 cells and if the presence of GC reverses this upregulation thereby hindering viral entry. Cellular miR-132 levels and HCMV entry were monitored via RT-qPCR and flow cytometry, respectively. Although not statistically significant, HCMV-infected MRC-5 cells appeared to exhibit upregulation of miR-132 in comparison to control cells and GC demonstrated a trend towards reversing this HCMV-induced upregulation 24 hours post infection. Therefore, our results support previous data that HCMV infection increases miR-132 levels in MRC-5 cells. In addition, our results suggest that GC affects later processes in HCMV's replication cycle in order to counteract miR-132 regulation; however, to our knowledge the mechanism by which this process occurs is not yet understood.
Relationship Between Eating Behaviors and Stress
The purpose of this study was to determine if there is a relationship between eating behaviors and stress. The characteristics of the subjects participating in the study included male and female college students ranging between 18 to 24 years of age. A total of 105 subjects (57 females, 48 males) were chosen on a volunteer basis. They were asked to read and sign an informed consent to ensure their compliance for participating before the Eating Attitudes Test 26 (EAT 26) and the Mood Anxiety Inventory (MAI) surveys were administrated to them. The results were then collected and calculated using a simple correlation analysis in order to determine the relationship between eating attitudes and stress. The results showed that stress (MAI) was moderately correlated with eating behaviors (EAT 26) in women with an r value of .48 and a relatively low relationship with an r value of .38 in male participates (p < .05). However, the statistical outcome of the study relatively supported there is a relationship between stress and eating behaviors in both male and female participants with a greater EAT 26 score, r value of .72 for males and .51 for females as well as a moderate relationship in the female participates.
Relationships Between Large Woody Debris and Sediment Loading of Warner Creek, NY
The New York City (NYC) Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is the City agency responsible for operating, maintaining and protecting NYC's water supply and distribution system which includes monitoring and maintaining water quality standards through watershed management and protection. Warner Creek, located in the Ashokan Watershed of the eastern Catskill Mountains, is an important source of water for NYC and has been identified as a contributor of sediment loading. A primary goal of the DEP is to maintain stream system stability by working with partner organizations to carry out research into understanding the cause of water quality degradation linked to the physical condition of stream watersheds. As part of the SUNY New Paltz Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program, students collaborated with the DEP throughout the summer of 2010 to conduct a full stream assessment of Warner Creek. At the reach scale, major stream features (natural and anthropogenic) were located and inventoried including large woody debris (LWD), bedform, fine sediment sources, bank erosion, revetments, culverts, and bridges along the length of the stream. These features were then inserted into a GIS and further analyzed using 3 meter LiDAR data. Three reaches were then chosen based on similar gradients, length, LWD occurrences, stream bedform, and bank substrate. These reaches then were then compared and contrasted to constrain LWD occurrences and its influence on geomorphic features and its overall effect on turbidity. Potential contributors to turbidity include hill slope failures, bank erosion, and anthropogenic influences such as land use. LWD was found to entrain sediment and in some cases cause scouring however, knick point migration was found to not be associated with LWD occurrences. Stream corridor width and sinuosity within the reaches were found to be important factors in LWD occurrences. Increased values of sinuosity correlated with the density of LWD occurrences. Narrow stream corridors containing LWD were associated with channel spanning and avulsion. Wider corridors had lower gradients and contained larger amounts of LWD relative to narrow corridors. These results can be of further use to the DEP in focusing their stream management efforts in certain areas of Warner Creek.
Relative Dating of the Faults Within the Pennsylvanian Hermosa Group, Coal Bank Pass - Molas Pass, San Juan Mountains, Colorado
Two pulses of syndepositional faulting have been identified within the deposition of the Pennsylvanian Hermosa Group in the southern San Juan Mountains of southwest Colorado. The study area between Coal Bank Pass and Lime Creek is bounded by a major syncline on the northern edge, and the Snowdon Fault and Coal Bank Fault to the south. This study develops new information on the Coal Bank Fault and contains additional analysis of the Snowdon Fault. Higher resolution correlation in this study is made possible by integrating the sequence stratigraphic framework of Gianniny and Miskell-Gerhardt (2009) with previous studies. In order to more accurately constrain the activity of the Snowdon Fault, a stratigraphic section within the syncline was measured and compared to multiple sections across the faults. There is roughly 10 meters of thickness difference in the lower third of each section. The top of this growth faulted interval is correlated to the top of sequence 3 of Gianniny and Miskell-Gerhardt, (2009). The lack of deformation between the syncline section and the Coal Bank Hill section (Spoelhoff, 1974) above this bed indicates that the fault became inactive before sequence 4 deposition. Up section, in sequence 10 and 11, the Snowdon Fault was reactivated during deposition. The beds of sequence 10 and 11 are much thicker and become clastically dominated across the Snowdon Fault to the north. These beds transition from paleosols and thin, shallow, water carbonates on the Engineer section to thick mud dominated carbonates and thick clastic packages on the syncline section; which may indicate a fault controlled paleo-valley. Comparing the Coal Bank Hill section to the Engineer section across from the Coal Bank Fault, there is roughly 30 meters of thickness difference in the lower third of the section. This difference also disappears by the base of sequence 4. This indicates that the Coal Bank Fault was also active during the sequence 1 through sequence 3 deposition of the Hermosa Group. This study helps to distinguish Pennsylvanian syndepositional faulting from post-depositional Laramide faulting and builds on the previous work of Baars and See, 1967, Girdley, 1969, Spoelhof, 1974, Evans, 2002, and Thomas, 2007.
Relative Impacts of Drought and Regulated Streamflow on the Riparian Ecosystem of Dolores River
A 540m vegetation line transect from the Lone Dome study site in SW Colorado, located on the Dolores River six miles below McPhee Dam, was used to determine total percent cover of woody riparian vegetation. The assessment of a riparian ecosystem's health can be based on the health of its vegetation which is closely tied to availability of water. While streamflow regulation has been shown to negatively impact riparian ecosystems, drought decreases the amount of water available to any ecosystem within the region, potentially having negative effects on the woody vegetation of the riparian ecosystem. To determine the significance of regulation, peak streamflow values were obtained from above [(USGS 09166500 Dolores River at Dolores) McPhee reservoir stream gage] and below [(Dolores River below McPhee Reservoir) Bureau of Reclamation], the McPhee Reservoir. To determine the significance of drought, values from the Palmer Drought Severity Index and Palmer Hydrological Drought Index for the SW region were used (NCDC/NOAA). All riparian ecosystems are closely linked to an annual hydrological cycle. Both drought and streamflow regulation interrupt natural hydrological cycles which affects maintenance and establishment of riparian vegetation indicating the importance a specific hydrological pattern being disrupted. Each variable was found to be significantly correlated with total percent cover values of woody riparian vegetation. However, drought was found to be more highly correlated to percent cover values than streamflow regulation. While both variables seem to effect woody vegetation in the Lone Dome study site, because of their relatedness it is possible that regulation of streamflow has reduced magnitude and duration of inundation making vegetation more sensitive to drought.
Relevant Fragments
Essay published in Fall 2010 - Winter 2011 issue of Images.
Remote Use Incubator: Heat Transfer Analysis And Construction
This project involves the design and fabrication of a compact, portable incubator for use by Fort Lewis College's chapter of Engineers Without Borders, a humanitarian organization, that performs water quality testing in remote areas of the developing world as part of their water system development projects. The incubator design is initially evaluated using one dimensional heat transfer analysis and subsequently with a three dimensional finite element model. Conduction, convection, and radiation are considered. The overall heat output is estimated and used to determine the approximate thermal energy generation needed to heat the incubator. This analysis shows that the main impact of heat transfer from an enclosed space to the environment is through conduction, which is influenced by the type of insulation used in the incubator walls. Two forms of insulation were evaluated. Vacuum insulation panels (VIPs) have excellent thermal resistance properties but are fragile and difficult to fabricate. Closed cell polystyrene foam is very easy to fabricate but is not as good a thermal insulator as the VIP. The performance of both materials is tested. These test results, as well as numerous other factors, are considered in selecting the final design.
Remote Use Incubator: Heating Components
Fort Lewis College's chapter of Engineers Without Borders (EWB) applies engineering practice and principles to improve the living conditions of individuals in the developing world. Testing water samples for Escherichia coli (E. coli) allows EWB to determine water contamination levels. This is an important part of identifying an adequate source for a water system. E. coli testing is performed by culturing water samples in a constant temperature incubator for twenty-four hours and then manually counting the E. coli cultures. This poster describes the development of a self-contained heating method for a portable incubator. Two methods for heating the incubator are evaluated. The first utilizes the heat energy released during the phase transition of a phase change material (PCM) and the second uses electronic heating elements. A phase change material that changes state at the desired incubation temperature combined with proper insulation is capable of heating an incubator for the twenty-four hour test period. The advantage of PCM is that it is not dependent on electricity. Electronic heating elements use a lithium polymer battery coupled with a micro-controller and temperature sensors to regulate the temperature in the incubator cavity. The electronic system provides a very uniform incubation temperature and is easier to use than the PCM method. A single battery can provide power for several testing cycles depending on the ambient temperature. Extensive testing is performed on both heating methods as well as a hybrid incubator that uses a combination of PCM and electronic heating.
Researching Ways to Reduce Black Bear/Human Conflict in Urban Environments
As human settlements and urban sprawl continue to encroach upon prime habitat of the black bear (Ursus americanus), there has been a significant increase in human/bear encounters in the American West. These conflicts create unsafe communities for the people that live in them, while also creating financial cost for implementing inefficient management techniques that try and prevent conflicts between humans and bears. This research examines various management techniques that are used to try and reduce the amount of human-bear interaction in many wildlife agencies, including the translocation of bears, the removal of anthropogenic food, increasing awareness through public education, and enhancing enforcement techniques within the community to give members incentive to act responsibly and avoid negative interactions with bears. The study describes the possible positive and negative outcomes of each technique in an attempt to identify the ways to limit interaction between humans and bears. The population of black bears in western Colorado rising above 15,000, Durango, Colorado has one of the highest annual human/bear conflict rates in the state, making this rural city an exceptional study area. An efficient black bear management plan must take into account many different factors and management techniques to successfully lower human/bear conflicts. This research examines these different management factors and techniques that can be applied to rural developments around the world that constantly are at battle with reducing these conflicts. This research will prove useful to rural territories around the world that lie on borders of black bear habitat in hopes to reduce black bear human conflict. Our population will continue to expand and we will see a large rise in the number of human/bear conflicts if changes are not made now.
Reservoir Bypass Design Group
The United States Forest Service is seeking designs for outlet works or bypass structures for small stock pond reservoirs to aid in their acquisition of water rights for these reservoirs. Rather than select a single design, a system of three uniquely applicable designs was developed in conjunction with a decision matrix worksheet to aid the USFS in selection of a retrofit for a specific location. The options include a reservoir bypass consisting of an inlet diversion structure and transport via pipe or channel, a siphon system that passes water up and over the dam, and a partial excavation and reconstruction of the existing dam with appropriately installed outlet works. System installation costs are site specific, and the decision matrix provides detailed estimates from data obtained from area surveys. Typical costs depending on the reservoir size range from about $1,000 to upwards of $100,000.
Reservoir-Scale Sequence Stratigraphy and Facies Variation Within the Mississippian Leadville Limestone, Southwestern San Juan Mountains, Colorado
Based on observations from seven measured stratigraphic sections and 230 thin sections over 37.3 kilometers, we recognize two sequences that encompass six parasquences and six distinct facies. The facies include bioturbated peloidal packstones, containing ostracods, rare occurrences of planar laminations, plane tabular cross bedding, microbial laminations and fine grain silt and sand. This facies is inferred to have been deposited in a semi-restricted lagoon environment. Interbedded microbial boundstones and finely crystalline dolomitic mudstone facies contain dolomitic microbial laminations, rare stromatolites, rip-up clasts, mudcracks, and soft sediment deformation. This facies was likely deposited in a supratidal setting. The medium grained, well-rounded quartz arenites and sand-rich packstone facies range from 5-40 cm thick and can be traced throughout the study area which may be marginal marine to eolian. There are three variations of grainstones. First, peloidal grainstones containing planar laminations, plane tabular cross bedding, ostracods and discontinuous lenses of black chert and gray chert. This is interpreted to have been deposited in a shallow beach/tidal flat setting. A second variety includes skeletal/peloidal grainstones containing bi-directional current ripples, crinoids and other skeletal fragments. This indicates deposition in an open marine tidal setting. Crinoidal grainstones contain rugose corals, brachiopods, one-meter thick sets of plane tabular cross bedding, and grey chert. This facies was deposited in an open-marine shoal environment. Within this reservoir-scale study, lateral variations of facies thicknesses were larger than then lateral variations of parasequence thicknesses. Grainstone facies thicken towards the northern sections, whereas thicker dolomitic mudstones/microbial boundstones dominate in southern sections. Similar facies variations may occur in the subsurface where total thickness may not vary significantly, but younger, grain-rich facies prograde to fill in depositional lows. When this sequence-scale facies variation is synthesized with the susceptibility of facies to diagenesis and fracturing, reservoir characterization and predictability should be significantly enhanced.

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