Face Masks Fight Germs AND Crime

Masks commonly worn to protect from germs may contain enough DNA to confirm an individual’s identity. This study shows that masks worn from 2-16 hours may produce DNA profile when developed via rapid DNA, conventional methods, or both, from a single sample swab

Barriers to Bystander Interventions for Sexual Assault - Department of Psychology Research Session

Bystander intervention programs have consistently demonstrated beneficial effects on community norms and intervention behaviors (Kettrey, Marx, & TannerSmith, 2019). However, much of the research fails to measure opportunities to intervene relative to actual behaviors (McMahon et al., 2015), and how these behaviors relate to a personal history of sexual victimization (Woods et al., 2016). This study aimed to examine the relationship between a bystander’s victimization history, perceived barriers, and bystander intervention. Data from undergraduate students (N = 583; 79.7% female; MAge=18.92) suggested that those with such a history perceive themselves as less able to identify risky situations, but are actually more likely to notice such situations and less likely to intervene. Therefore, it may be necessary to target perceived barriers as well as the disparity between observations and interventions in risky situations

Thermal Conductivity of Single Molecule Magnets

Single molecule magnets often abbreviated as SMMs are materials that demonstrate superparamagnetism below a certain temperature at the molecular scale. While superparamagnetism is (arguably) the defining feature of SMMs they have other important properties as well such as hysteresis (magnetic memory) and magnetic avalanche. Because of these properties in particular magnetic avalanche SMMs have interested physicists since their discovery in 1993. After investigating SMMs, physicists have determined that their unique properties have potential utility in both the search for Dark Matter as a low energy detector, and storing qubits for use in quantum computing. The most studied SMM sometimes referred to as the archetypal SMM is Mn12 acetate, often abbreviated as Mn12, it is the target of the methods developed in this paper due to the extensive research already done on Mn12 for applications already discussed. This paper will utilize a dilution fridge provided by Infrared laboratories inc. that can reach temperatures of 280mK, an SNSPD as a temperature sensor, as well as copper wires and a copper base. Where copper was chosen since it is a metal with known thermal conductivity that is often used in thermal conductivity experiments. In order to investigate the thermal conductivity of Mn12 at low temperatures where magnetic avalanches are possible this paper investigates SNSPDs in order to verify its utility as a temperature sensor. The point of this research is ultimately to better understand a material that will most likely be important in future technologies so that it can be utilized fully

Examination of Flow Dynamics and Passive Cooling in an Ultra Compact Combustor

The Ultra Compact Combustor (UCC) promises to greatly reduce the size of a gas turbine engine’s combustor by altering the manner in which fuel is burnt. Differing from the common axial flow combustor, the UCC utilizes a rotating flow, coaxial to the engine’s primary axis, in an outboard circumferential cavity as the primary combustion zone. The present study investigates two key UCC facets required to further this combustor design. The first area of investigation is cooling of the Hybrid Guide Vane (HGV). This UCC specific hardware acts as a combustor center body that alters the exit flow angle and acts as a secondary combustion zone. As improved UCC designs yield higher operating temperatures, cooling of this component must be considered. Previous numeric efforts determined the viability of a passive cooling scheme where cooler compressor air was drawn into an opening at the stagnation region of the HGV and used for both internal and film-cooling of the vane. The present study experimentally investigated the performance of five cooled HGV configurations, each having a unique combination of film-cooling, internal passage area, and internal passage geometry, over a range of flow conditions. Results confirmed the efficacy of HGV cooling via passive air ingestion. The internal vane geometry affected both internal coolant mass flow and pressure rise offering a means to adjust both parameters based on cooling requirements. Vane internal to external pressure differential had a strong impact on blowing ratio where low differences provided sub-optimal cooling benefits and large differences caused the coolant jet to penetrate into the freestream, altering its flow structure. Next, the UCC hardware was modified to accommodate enhanced combustor diagnostics. Previous studies relied on point measurements or optical analysis of a small portion of the cavity greatly limiting the obtainable data. By replacing the rear enclosure of the combustor with a clear quartz back plate, analysis of the flow dynamics in the entire cavity was made possible. Design features that ensured a sealed combustor while still accommodating thermal expansion of the quartz allowed extensive data to be collected while avoiding damage to the modified hardware. These modifications were then leveraged to assess the underlying complex aerodynamic and combustion phenomenon driving previously observed average combustor exit temperatures. Emissions of OH and CH radicals were recorded using intensified relay optics and a high speed camera providing information on flame location. Tracking the flame’s movement enabled its velocity within the cavity to be determined. Observed average cavity tangential velocity increased with cavity airflow rate and had the highest local value within the cavity, near the step air injection. Velocity was lowest at the vane tips of the HGV, which locally disrupted flow migration. Increased tangential velocities adversely affected the ability of the flame stabilizing mechanism to anchor a flame, resulting in less overall flame activity at higher cavity velocities. This was primarily driven by the method of air injection which, at all but the lowest tangential velocities, prevented flow recirculation in half of the stabilizing zones. Further increase in cavity tangential velocity altogether pushed the flame off of the outside diameter of the combustor, which temporarily stabilized around the HGV prior to extinguishing. Lastly, analysis of combustion event movement indicated larger tangential velocities decreased residence time coinciding with a previously observed drop in average combustor exit temperature

Enhancing the Industrial Potential of Filamentous Cyanobacteria

The objectives of this project were to improve the industrial potential of filamentous N2-fixing cyanobacteria by increasing its biofuel tolerance, and to evaluate the economic feasibility and environmental impacts of a theoretical, cyanobacteria-based biofuel production facility. To develop a method to quantify filamentous cyanobacteria in dilute culture media, a dual-stained fluorescence assay was evaluated. While the viable cell stain (SYTO® 9) was accurate, the non-viable cell stain (propidium iodide) also bound to viable cells. Additional non-viable cell stains were evaluated, but none were accurate at quantifying viability. Thus we concluded that the viable cell stain SYTO® 9 is a reliable assay and can be used in high-throughput assays. To develop cyanobacteria strains with increased tolerance to biofuels, directed evolution under the pressure of higher biofuel concentrations was used. As these biofuels are highly volatile, it was necessary to conduct experiments in sealed test-tubes. Thus, cyanobacteria growth in a sealed environment was optimized using BG11 as the basal medium supplemented with 0.5 g/L NaHCO3 as the carbon source. Subsequent directed evolution trials yielded 3 confirmed mutants with increased biofuel tolerance: Nostoc punctiforme ATCC 29133 with a 20% improvement in linalool tolerance, Anabaena variabilis ATCC 29413 with a 60% improvement in linalool tolerance, and Anabaena sp. PCC 7120 with a 220% improvement in farnesene tolerance. To determine the optimal nitrogen source, dinitrogen (N2 gas) was compared to various fixed nitrogen sources. Ammonium chloride was determined to be the preferred nitrogen source for large scale cyanobacteria cultivation based on growth rate and environmental impacts. Finally, an economic feasibility and a life cycle analysis were conducted on a theoretical limonene production facility that used a genetically engineered filamentous cyanobacteria strain. The facility was not economically feasible at current limonene productivity rates, but would be feasible if productivity can be increased 56.7-fold. The life cycle analysis showed that increasing limonene productivity worsens the environmental profile of the facility. While using filamentous N2-fixing cyanobacteria as industrial microorganisms is currently in its infancy, there is a great deal of potential for this microbe to become a significant contributor to renewable biofuels and high-value chemicals

Narcissistic susceptibility to conspiracy beliefs exaggerated by education, reduced by cognitive reflection

Conspiracy theories are alternate viewpoints of provided explanations; sensational stories revolving around small groups exerting control for nefarious reasons. Recent events and research have outlined myriad negative social and personal outcomes for those who endorse them. Prior research suggests several predictors of susceptibility to conspiracy theories, including narcissistic personality traits (grandiosity, need for uniqueness), cognitive processes (critical thinking, confirmation bias) and lack of education. The aim of the current paper was to explore how facets of narcissism predict susceptibility to conspiracy theories. It was expected that narcissism would be a positive predictor, but education and cognitive reflection would act as protective factors, reducing this effect. Study one utilized an international survey (N = 323) to investigate the role of education as a protective tool in the relationship between narcissistic traits and conspiratorial beliefs. Support was found for the hypotheses that individuals with higher levels of grandiosity, vulnerable narcissism, a strive for uniqueness, and a strive for supremacy predicted higher levels of conspiracy endorsement. Higher education and STEM education were associated with lower levels of conspiracy endorsement, however all significant moderations indicated that for narcissistic individuals, education increased their likelihood of adopting conspiracy beliefs, contrary to expectation. To investigate this further, study two analyzed a large-scale publicly available dataset (N = 51,404) to assess the relationship between narcissism, critical thinking skills (specifically cognitive reflection) and conspiracy beliefs pertaining to the COVID-19 pandemic. As expected, analysis found narcissism and poor cognitive reflection (intuitive thinking) as predictors of conspiracy beliefs. Higher levels of cognitive reflection were found to be protective, moderating and reducing the impact of narcissism on endorsement of conspiracy theories. The findings suggest that cognitive reflection, but not education protect against narcissistic conspiracy belief. Moreover, that cognitive reflection may have a lessened effect against conspiracy theories adopted for social or ideological reasons. These findings improve understanding of both the role and limitations of education/critical thinking skills as protective factors against conspiracy theory endorsement

PSU DERMS Operating Manual and EGoT System Reference (DOE-PSU-0000922-7)

This document guides the user of the Portland State University Distributed Energy Resource Management System in configuration and normal operation. For direct access to the underlying code and its usage see the accompanying PSU EGoT System Reference. The system reference outlines all classes and methods used through the Energy Grid of Things system including applications, models, interfaces and the entity component system

Implementation Profile: EGoT DERMS Server/Client System (DOE-PSU-0000922-2)

This implementation profile (IP) provides the scope and requirements necessary to implement a distributed energy resource management system (DERMS), which networks large numbers of DER within an energy grid of things (EGoT). This document originated as part of a U.S. DOE-funded project to develop a DERMS based on a set of rules known as the Energy Services Interface (ESI). The ESI serves as an umbrella, ensuring the information exchange between an aggregator and DER owners conforms to expectations: protect privacy, provide security, develop trustworthiness, and ensure interoperability. DERMS developers use the ESI to ensure that information exchange meets these expectations. This IP demonstrates how that was done using IEEE 2030.5 as the messaging protocol