In 2007, David Vokoun et al. derived a formula for the force of interaction between magnets. The formula is called the Gilbert's Model. According to the Gilbert’s Model, the force between two ferromagnets is given by a constant factor proportional to the saturation magnetization of each magnet multiplied by a function of the separation distance and geometry of the magnets. We show that the assumed constant is better described as a function of hyperbolic tangent of the separation distance due to the effects of magnetic field interactions on the magnetizations of each magnet, and we demonstrate that the inclusion of a simple toy 1D Ising model acting as a perturbation on the background magnetizations better predicts magnetic coupling of cylindrical magnets over small distances.

The NMS, a physiological structure where neurons stimulate muscles via release of acetylcholine, is specifically organized to ensure efficient transmission of neural information by minimizing the diffusion distance of acetylcholine from the presynaptic neuron to the postsynaptic muscle cell. This is accomplished through the precise creation of ‘active zones’, which are neural cytosolic structures that anchor acetylcholine-containing vesicles directly across from acetylcholine-gated ion channels in the muscle cell. A failure to form active zones hampers synaptic transmission, causing muscle weakness disorders. Prior research has elucidated that active zone formation is predicated on the binding of the L5_III extracellular loop of presynaptic Ca_v2.1 to the beta-2 chain of laminin (a synaptic protein). My project is to create an improved assay measuring Ca_v2.1/beta-2 laminin binding. The eventual aim is to use the improved assay to elucidate the amino acids residues of the L5_III extracellular loop critical for binding laminin. To implement this assay, I created a beta-2 laminin construct (tagged with a red fluorescent protein) and built-up stocks of HEK 293 cells that can be transfected with DNA encoding Ca_v2.1 (tagged with the green fluorescent protein EGFP). Next, I cultured transfected cells and incubated them with 1 micrometer beads coated with the laminin protein construct. Using fluorescence microscopy, I then confirmed that beta-2 laminin does indeed bind to the Ca_v2.1 expressing cells by observing the co-localization of red and green fluorescence. Additionally, I have built up the necessary reagents to perform this binding assay with cells transfected with different Ca_v2.1 DNA constructs containing single amino acid mutations in the L5_III loop. If binding is no longer observed, the mutated amino acid(s) in the L5_III loop will be identified as being responsible for binding laminin. In conclusion, this project has paved the way for a greater understanding of the critical Ca_v2.1/beta-2 laminin interaction.

Ostrea angasi, also known as the Australian flat oyster, is a hermaphroditic species of oyster that is endemic to Australia. Recently, farmers in the commercial oyster industry have gained interest in incorporating the endemic oyster into their stock due to the negative impacts that disease has left on other oyster species; unfortunately, a lack of information about the reproductive biology of the flat oyster has become a barrier in achieving effective stock integration. Thus, an experiment was conducted to explore whether spawning methods developed for a related species of oyster, Ostrea lurida, could reliably produce O. angasi larvae. Adult oysters were exposed to varying temperatures in batch spawning tanks for four weeks, and observed for larval release. Samples of gonadal tissue were collected at weeks 0, 2, and 4 in order to examine gonadal sex and stage present in each oyster. This project analyzes these gonad tissues using different image processing techniques ranging from ImageJ to Python with OpenCV in order to quantitatively assess gonadal sex and stage of the O. angasi samples. Results from this study will provide a more accurate representation of gonadal sex and stage of oysters compared to histological analyses which typically use qualitative data to determine gonadal condition. This study may also provide insight into the environmental conditions needed for optimal reproductive development and spawning, which could potentially be applied to the improvement of aquaculture methods for the Australian flat oyster. 

In the United States alone, there are approximately 350,000 people without at least one arm and 50,000 new amputations each year. The presence of ‘smart’ prosthetics is far behind the advances of other technologies. The simple action of throwing a ball has a multitude of aerodynamic components that we had to determine for a ‘smart’ prosthetic to successfully throw a ball to a precise target. We developed a predictive trajectory model using analytical predictions based on both theoretical calculations and physical tests. The development of a computational supervisory model with deterministic algorithms aids as a predictive trajectory training program for ‘smart’ prosthetics. We conducted three different experiments to gather the data needed for our program; ball drop, projectile motion, and wind tunnel. Using the data from these experiments we wrote deterministic algorithms to model the same behavior. Our software program predicts trajectory outcomes by assessing relevant external conditions and adjusting decisions based on the conditions. At this time, our software is not intended to have the actual capability of pairing with any external device. We are only focused on creating the software. However, this software program does have real-world potential that, in future experiments, demonstrates precision with the use of a robotic arm. After that, our algorithms can be employed in the creation of standard issue ‘smart’ prosthetics.

The magnitude at which a minimal change in initial conditions can affect data results was first observed by Edward Lorenz in 1963. Through his examination of chaos emerged the discovery that many natural systems are governed by chaotic behavior. The main complication of chaos theory is that nonperiodic unstable systems are unpredictable, and therefore many natural systems have yet to be understood because of its complexity. Our research considers the unstable nature of the Lorenz attractor and its influence on a center of gravity. By examining intervals of data and comparing their centers of gravity, we found that as the amount of data points tends to infinity, a center of gravity never converges to a single point. We also examine what appears to be a stark regularity and group of symmetries under an extension M(n+k)=f(Mn) of Lorenz’ original M(n+1)=f(Mn) study of Poincare sections Z.

Marine heatwaves are the phenomena of abnormally warm ocean surface temperatures that last for an extended period of time. The most severe marine heatwave of recent times occurred from 2013 to 2016 in the Northeastern Pacific. This event, nicknamed ‘The Blob’, was scientifically fascinating because the ocean-atmosphere system maintained itself for so long in an anomalous state. In mid-2019, a marine heatwave with a likeness to ‘The Blob’ began forming. This research project focuses on analyzing the anomalous patterns in sea surface temperature, clouds, radiative fluxes, and turbulent fluxes that arise during the formation and duration of this event. We set out to understand if the more recent 2019 marine heatwave evolves in a similar way to that of ‘The Blob,’ and how it differs. This project uses NOAA Climate Forecast System Reanalysis (CFSR) data, which assimilates measurements using complex models to create the best estimates of atmospheric and oceanic variables with complete global spatial coverage. With this project, we aim to understand the atmospheric response to marine heatwaves using geospatial plots of mean temperature, fluxes, and cloud cover. We expect to see differences in the atmosphere response with regards to the net flux that caused the quick dissipation of the recent marine heatwave.

The search for renewable energy, electricity-generating wind turbines were first introduced by Charles F. Brush in 1888. Wind turbines use the principles of turning the mechanical energy of the wind into useful electrical energy that is able to produce work while also having no direct emissions towards the atmosphere. Using Betz’s law derived from the principles of conservation of mass and momentum of the air stream flowing, we construct and test a model wind turbine maximizing the power generated due to the varying angular velocities, from which testing data are used to iteratively design blade aerodynamics and assignation angle. For the particular model used thus far, the data indicate that with angular velocity lower than or equal to 4.124 rad/s and 13.359 rad/s a maximum efficiency of 22-23% is achieved. The blade designs are flat and angled blades, which are 3D printed and tested its efficiency on the model with pitches of 15°,30° and 45° to accommodate the motor to generate the optimal use of power input, therefore maximum power output. The result shows that 30° pitch is the most optimal angle for both blades design, with the flat blade generating 29000% more power than the angled blade. Blade pitch of 15° is the least efficient, resulting in no power generated with angled blade design, and significantly lower power in flat blade design compared to the other pitch. This discovery is essential to the future development of renewable energy especially in revolutionizing the wind turbine to be more efficient.

Geothermal flux is an important input parameter for modeling the Antarctic Ice Sheet and estimating future sea level changes. High geothermal flux results in basal melt of an ice sheet, which increases water flow and allows sliding. Direct measurements of geothermal flux in Antarctica are rare, as the ice-bedrock interface is buried under hundreds to thousands of meters of ice. Raymond arches indicate a coastal dome is frozen at the bed and is a site that can be used to calculate maximum geothermal flux. The maximum geothermal flux is estimated by inputting site-specific data of ice thickness, accumulation rate and surface temperature into an ice-and-heat flow model for coastal domes. When a basal temperature is available, the geothermal flux can be calculated. Sixteen coastal domes were modeled in this project. Geothermal flux was calculated for four sites and maximum geothermal flux was calculated for twelve sites. These results are compared against two continent-wide models of geothermal flux, based off Curie depths and seismic wave refraction. On Adelaide Island, the continental models do not agree, and this site-specific model returns a value in between their geothermal flux estimates, which suggests that the greater geothermal flux estimate is too high. In Dronning Maude Land, the site-specific maximum geothermal flux values are regionally consistent and indicate what site characteristics produce significant results. Sites with greater ice thicknesses, lower accumulation rates, and warmer surface temperatures yield lower maximum geothermal flux estimates, which are more useful in constraining the geothermal flux.