Comprehensive Roadway Safety Data Visualization and Evaluation Platform for Yakama Nation

The Yakama Nation Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Engineering collaborated with the Smart Transportation Application & Research Laboratory (STAR Lab) at the University of Washington to develop a comprehensive roadway safety data visualization and evaluation platform. With the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Safety Data Initiative (SDI) fund, this tool will support information for the Yakama Nation government for their decision-making. The safety datasets provided in this tool consist of collision records (collision, vehicle, occupant, pedestrian) and roadway characteristics (roadlog, curve and grade, ramp, traffic information, special-use lane, etc.). The multi-source database supported data collection, quality control, integration, database management, visualization, and analytical results. The safety tools can be utilized for analytical and visualization functions such as crash data visualization, hotspot identification, and network screening. Examples of available safety data include crash type, frequency, severity, and risk estimate, and safety data download

Extracting Ancient DNA From the North Slope

Eight samples of ancient spruce DNA were found frozen on the North Slope. The samples are about 80,000-130,000 years old. 50,000 years ago, the North Slope was glaciated. We have successfully extracted DNA from 1 sample. We will conduct future extractions on the remaining samples and identify their species

CO₂ transport at a supercritical state: Nikiski, Alaska pipeline study and cost analysis

Thesis (M.S.) University of Alaska Fairbanks, 2024CO₂ in the supercritical state is suitable for long-distance transportation because of the denser flowing fluid, almost the same density as liquid CO₂ but has lower viscosity and surface tension. Albeit this well-known principle, it is nontrivial to implement a scheme for single-phase, supercritical CO₂ transportation on a given pipeline. As the pressure and temperature are the major state variables governing the state of the transported CO₂, the state of the fluid is determined by a complex interaction among the key parameters: the inner diameter, insulation material, inlet pressure and temperature, and the boundary conditions (including the ambient temperature and inner pipeline wall roughness) of the pipeline; the mass flow rate and distance of transportation. This paper applies the PIPESIM software, with MATLAB for auxiliary calculations, to illustrate a parametric study of the supercritical CO₂ transportation over a 10.618-mile (17,080 m) long model pipeline connecting from Nikiski to the Osprey platform in the Redoubt oil field in Cook Inlet, Alaska, USA. This study aims to understand the limitations and optimize transportation efficiency while maintaining the supercritical state of transported CO₂ throughout the pipeline. With the geographic location, elevation profile of the pipeline, and the ambient conditions considered in the simulations, we calculate the pressure and temperature profiles, erosion kinetics, and the fluid state in the combinatorial set of various diameters, inlet pressures, and temperatures of the pipeline and the mass flow rates of the transported fluid. The major findings are that a larger pressure loss will be expected in better-insulated pipelines because of the warmer transported CO₂ that flows faster. Turbulent flows will be more likely to occur in transportation through pipelines of smaller diameters and will impact on possible change from the supercritical state to the two-phase state. The parametric modeling results offer a scenario-driven approach to determine the optimal range of mass flow rates, pipeline inner diameters, and inlet pressures. A cost analysis was conducted for the construction and operating expenditures of pipelines over a 20-year lifetime span. We highlight the trade-offs between maintaining supercritical conditions, minimizing heat loss, and increasing financial viability for efficient transportation

Alaska DUI Arrest Rates: 1987-2022

This fact sheet presents data on Alaska DUI arrest rates from 1987-2022 per 100,000 population across all demographics and geographic areas in the state

Functional Gene Abundance among Boreal Forest Sites

I will be measuring the abundance of functional genes associated with the microbial production of methane and carbon dioxide. Digital polymerase chain reaction will be utilized to obtain complete quantification of these genes

The Population Structure of Pacific Herring in the Bering Sea and Gulf of Alaska using mtDNA

To inform sustainable management practices an extensive understanding of population genetic structure and diversity is needed. This project builds on previous work to analyze the population structure and genetic diversity of regional Pacific Herring stocks. By analyzing the control region 1 (COI) gene in the mitochondrial genome and comparing samples throughout Alaska's waters

Divergence and adaptation in Beringian birds

Thesis (M.S.) University of Alaska Fairbanks, 2024Beringia is a high-latitude hotspot of avian divergence and speciation. The unique biogeography of Beringia impacted avian speciation in two ways: through the cyclic appearance of the land bridge between the Asian and North American continents and through glacial refugia. These cyclic processes repeatedly split and connected avian populations, alternately reducing and increasing opportunities for gene flow between populations. In this thesis, I examine how this dynamic system impacted Beringian avian taxa using population genomic analyses. First, I examine broad patterns of divergence and gene flow across 11 lineages of birds using ultraconserved elements (UCEs), which are a multi-locus subsampling of the nuclear genome. These bird lineages contain two or more sister taxa at the population, subspecies, or species level that were likely impacted by the Bering land bridge and/or by glacial refugia. I tested models that provided key demographic information, such as population size, gene flow, and divergence time estimates. Demographic modeling showed gene flow in all cases at a wide range of rates between pairwise comparisons, and all inferred models included a divergence event during the Quaternary. Next, I focus on one species, the Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia), in the Beringian part of its range. Five subspecies of the Song Sparrow reside in southern Alaska, from the Aleutian Islands to southeast Alaska, and have a wide range of body sizes. Using whole- genomic sequencing and morphology, I examine the phenotypic and genomic differences in these subspecies. I quantified the morphological differences, showing that the western subspecies are significantly larger than the eastern subspecies. I then determined that two candidate genes are under positive selection in the most isolated subspecies, M. m. maxima. Finally, I reconstructed a phylogeny and found that M. m. maxima is sister to the other M. melodia subspecies. These results highlight how the unique biogeography of Beringia impacted the generation of avian diversity in the region.Kessel Fund for Northern Ornithology and the Friends of OrnithologyChapter 1: General introduction -- Chapter 2: Gene flow accompanies divergence in Beringian birds -- Chapter 3: Evidence of positive selection and a novel phylogeny among five subspecies of song sparrow (Melospiza melodia) in Alaska -- Chapter 4: General conclusions

Effect of macroalgae diet on growth rate and nutrition of the pinto abalone, Haliotis kamtschatkana

Thesis (M.S.) University of Alaska Fairbanks, 2024Developing methods for the cultivation of the pinto abalone, Haliotis kamtschatkana, has seen increased attention, both by groups using restoration aquaculture to reestablish endangered populations in Washington and British Columbia, and in the State of Alaska, where pinto abalone are viewed as a promising new species for commercial mariculture. To enhance the viability of cultivating H. kamtschatkana for commercial and restoration purposes, more information is needed on the optimal macroalgal diet that maximizes abalone growth and nutrition. This study compares the suitability of two commonly cultivated species of macroalgae as feed: Saccharina Iatissima, a kelp with relatively low protein content, and Devaleraea mollis, a rhodophyte with comparatively higher protein content. Fifty H. kamtschatkana specimens, each measuring 50 ± 10 mm, were collected from the wild and fed either S. latissima, D. mollis, or an alternating diet of the two for 28 weeks. Feed consumption was measured weekly, while shell growth and weight change were recorded every two months. Despite consuming significantly more S. latissima than D. mollis (p = 0.000), H. kamtschatkana showed no significant difference in specific growth rate (p = 0.775) or linear growth rate (p = 0.746) among the diets. Feed conversion efficiency was significantly higher for D. mollis than S. latissima (p = 0.000), although there was no significant difference in protein conversion efficiency (p = 0.129). Proximate composition analyses showed no significant difference in protein, lipid, carbohydrate, or caloric content across the diets. Additionally, sexual dimorphism was observed, with females exhibiting significantly higher daily feed consumption (p = 0.001), specific growth rate (0.003), and linear growth rate (p = 0.001) than males. These results indicate that while both macroalgae species are suitable as feeds for H. kamtschatkana cultivation, the benefits of a D. mollis diet are less pronounced compared to other commercially cultivated abalone species. This study provides actionable insights for those interested in cultivating H. kamtschatkana for commercial or restoration purposes and adds to our understanding of an environmentally and culturally important species in the Northeast Pacific Ocean.North Pacific Research BoardChapter 1: Introduction. Chapter 2: Methods -- 2.1 Abalone collection and culture systems -- 2.2 Consumption and growth assessment -- 2.3 Macroalgae and abalone proximate composition analysis -- 2.4 Statistical analyses. Chapter 3: Results -- 3.1 Abalone survival -- 3.2 Daily feed consumption -- 3.3 Feed utilization -- 3.5 Proximate composition analyses. Chapter 4: Discussion -- References -- Appendix

Know Your Tsunami Hazard in Anchorage, Chugiak, Eagle River, Eklutna, and Girdwood

Coastal Alaska communities live with the most serious tsunami hazard in the United States. The Alaska Earthquake Center helps coastal communities prepare for the next tsunami disaster. We provide state and local officials with the best available scientific information for addressing the variety of tsunami hazards faced by their communities. These community-specific brochures distill information from several scientific publications, such as tsunami inundation reports, pedestrian travel time maps, and maritime response guidance, into a handy, quick reference. The brochures include maps with community-designated safety information, historical tsunami information, as well as links for local and statewide tsunami preparedness information. The brochures are rack-card size for easy display, and a great safety resource for both locals and visitors. The Earthquake Center partnered with the Alaska Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management and the Municipality of Anchorage to create this brochure, tailoring the map, safety contact information, and historical information to this location

Any Police Contact in Alaska, 2022

AJiC Fact SheetThis Fact Sheet from the 2022 AK-PPCS present Alaska statewide prevalence estimates of "any contact with police," which includes all interactions residents had with police in the past year, including both formal contacts, police- or resident-initiated encounters with officers in their official capacity, and informal contacts, interactions in casual settings where officers are not enacting their official role as police