Tag: Poster 87

Calibration of the MFR Device

Presenter: Minyuan Wang

Faculty Mentor: Josh Peterson, Frank Vignola

Presentation Type: Poster 87

Primary Research Area: Science

Major: Biochemistry, Human Physiology

Accurate measurements of solar radiation are important for climate modeling, efficient building design, and in the development of solar electric systems. These measurements are performed using instruments that must be calibrated and maintained at the highest quality level. The Multi-Filter Rotating Shadowband Spectroradiometer (MFR) measures three components of incoming solar radiation: light directly from the sun (Direct Irradiance), light coming from everywhere but the sun (Diffuse Irradiance), and light incident from everywhere (Global Irradiance). The MFR device is a unique instrument in that it can make all three of these measurements and does so at six discrete wavelengths. The purpose of this project was to accurately calibrate the MFR device and determine the corresponding uncertainty. To do this, solar radiation data was collected and analyzed from various reference instruments and the MFR in Eugene, Oregon, from June through September 2015 at all times of day throughout the 4-month period. The irradiance measured by the MFR was compared to the reference instruments and the calibration factor of the MFR device was determined. Our results were within 2.5% of the calibration performed in 2013 for each of the six wavelengths the MFR measures with an uncertainty of ±5% at the 95 percent confidence level.

Synthesis and Characterization of Ru(II) Cycloparaphenylene Complexes

Presenter(s): Shayan Louie − Biochemistry

Faculty Mentor(s): Ramesh Jasti, Jeff Van Raden

Poster 87

Research Area: Natural Science

Funding: Presidential Undergraduate Research Scholars

Ruthenium polypyridyl complexes undergo metal-to-ligand charge transfer (MLCT) in the presence of light, allowing energy from light to be captured in the form of an electron transfer. These molecules possess great potential as catalysts for efficient and clean chemical processes. To develop light-harvesting complexes that perform advanced functions, new ligands, or groups around metal ions, must be made. Cycloparaphenylenes (CPPs) are hoop-shaped photoactive molecules with virtually unexplored roles as ligands. They possess exceptional size-dependent optic and electric properties, and show potential as a new class of macrocycles for supramolecular chemistry, ultimately making them suitable for charge-transfer complexes. Through the incorporation of nitrogen atoms into the backbone of [8]CPP, we found that CPPs act as versatile ligands for a variety of metals including Ru(II). However, the effects of CPP diameter on the electric properties of Ru(II)-based light- harvesting complexes are unknown. We have recently synthesized CPP ligands of various sizes and coordinated them to ruthenium centers, which has allowed for the investigation of size/diameter on these properties.

The optic and electric properties of the complexes have been studied using UV-Vis spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry. Here, we present our findings.

Feeding The Identity

Presenter(s): Alvaro Macias-Gonzalez

Faculty Mentor(s): Dr. Elliot Berkman

Poster 87

Session: Social Sciences & Humanities

From the moment we are born, we have little input on what foods we eat. From breast milk (or formula) to cereal, individuals are given limited choices when it comes to what foods they consume. Fast forward to adolescent years, we are still at the mercy of a parent or guardians decision of what to feed us but have a bit more freedom for food selection. Then what happens when individuals move away from a primary caregiver and choose to live on their own and have to find various forms of nutrition? The purpose of this study is to understand how college-bound freshman diet influences their narrative identities versus college Juniors, who have greater amounts of freedom in regards to foods consumed. Does an individual who consumes food prepared by someone else believe that this food can help explain their narrative identity? Or can an individuals diet help dictate if they believe themselves to be what we would call “winner”? My research looks at the differences between College freshmen, sophomores, juniors, and seniors dietary intake. Research has shown the dreaded “freshman fifteen” is a phenomenon across college campuses but what effects does this additional weight have on the students’ psyche?