Under Pressure: Hydraulic Fracturing

Modern hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, is a relatively new technique that has unlocked previously unviable sources of natural gas. It involves the rapid injection of large volumes of fluids into shale formations thousands of feet below the surface to force open fractures, creating pathways for the gas to flow into the well. The recent escalation in fracking operations has already made shale formations a major source of natural gas, but the fracking process could potentially lead to groundwater contamination. This paper explores concerns over the toxic narure of fracking chemicals, the leakage of produced water and natural gas into aquifers, and the disposal of fracking wastewater. Because the fracking techniques used today developed recently, available data on the impacts of fracking is limited. Researchers have begun to evaluate the mechanisms by which groundwater contamination could occur through regional studies and probability-based risk assessments. Thus far, the greatest risks are not directly related to the actual creation of fractures; most risk for contamination comes from activities indirectly related to fracking, such as poor gas well construction and improper disposal of wastewater. These kinds of risks can be minimized through improved industrial practices. However, the development and implementation of better practices depends greatly on adequate regulations, and current laws may not suit the unique nature of fracking. With further study, the risks of fracking can be better evaluated and managed, but current data does not show fracking to be inherently dangerous to groundwater

Interview with Josephine Wyatt

Length: 73 minutes Oral history interview of Josephine Wyatt by Suzanne Mille

Increasing Expression of Hepatitis B Surface Antigen in Maize through Breeding

The hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a common virus, with two billion people infected worldwide. It causes approximately 600,000 deaths each year, despite the availability of an effective vaccine since 1982. Maize as a platform for oral vaccination can supply a heat stable vaccine, which does not require syringes or trained personnel to administer. The Hepatitis B Surface antigen was transformed into maize and this seed was used to evaluate expression levels through the breeding process. The transgene was transferred into two elite maize inbreds by backcrossing. Highest expressing ears were selected each generation until approximately 99% commercial parent was obtained with a single gene coding for the vaccine present. Selected individuals were crossed to create hybrid plants. This work was done to create high expressing high yielding lines that could be used as a plant-based oral vaccine for Hepatitis B

Collagen Fiber Re-Alignment and Uncrimping in Response to Loading: Determining Structure-Function Relationships Using a Developmental Tendon Mouse Model

Collagen fiber re-alignment and uncrimping are postulated mechanisms of structural response to load. It has been suggested that fibers re-orient in the direction of load and then uncrimp before collagen is tensioned and that in general, the structure is a result of the function tendons perform. However, little is known about how fiber re-alignment and uncrimping change in response to load, how this change relates to tendon mechanical properties, and if these changes are dependent on the underlying structure. Throughout postnatal development, dramatic structural and compositional changes occur in tendon. Postnatal tendons, with immature collagen networks, may respond to load in a different manner and timescale than mature collagen networks. Therefore, the overall objective of this study was to quantify the mechanical properties and structural response to load in a developmental mouse tendon model at 4, 10, 28 and 90 days old. Local collagen fiber re-alignment and crimp frequency were quantified throughout mechanical testing and local mechanical properties were measured. Throughout development, fiber re-alignment occurred at different points in the mechanical testing protocol. At early development, re-alignment was not identified until the linear (4 days) or toe-regions (10 days) of the mechanical test suggesting that fibers required a prolonged exposure to mechanical load before responding and that the immature collagen network present may delay re-alignment. The uncrimping of collagen fibers was identified during the toe-region of the mechanical test at all ages suggesting that crimp contributes to tendon nonlinear behavior. Additionally, results at 28 and 90 days suggested that collagen fiber crimp frequency decreased with increasing number of preconditioning cycles, which may affect toe-region properties. Mechanical properties and cross-sectional area increased throughout development. The insertion site demonstrated lower moduli values and a more disorganized fiber distribution compared to the midsubstance at all ages suggesting it experiences multi-axial loads. Further, the tendon locations demonstrated different re-alignment and crimp behaviors suggesting that locations may respond to load differently and develop at different rates. Results from this study suggest that structure affects the tendon\u27s ability to respond to load and that the loading protocol applied may affect the measurement of mechanical properties

Suzanne Miller-McFeeley: What Forensics Did For Me

ALUMNI CORNER: The forensic community is filled with alumni who will tout the benefits they received through their participation in intercollegiate speech and debate activities. As directors of forensics programs face battles for budgets and sometimes for their program’s very existence, having a collection of published testimonies about the positive influence of forensics can be a tremendous help. To that end, Speaker & Gavel is setting aside space in each issue for our alumni to talk about how forensics has helped them in their professional life. These are our alumni’s stories