Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Timing Movement Of Water Through The Biosphere 2 Rainforest Using Deuterium As An Isotopic Tracer, Katie Almeda, Joost Van Haren, Till Volkmann

STAR Program Research Presentations

Rain forest ecosystems play an important role in global functions such as being home to half of the species of plants and animals on the planet, acting as a carbon sink, and moving water from the ground back into the atmosphere. In the Amazon, approximately 50 to 80% of moisture produced remains in the ecosystem’s water cycle. As a result of deforestation and rising global temperatures, less moisture can be moved back into the atmosphere. The objective of this study was to trace how water moves through a rain forest system in order to gain insight on how different species …

Understanding Molecular Bonding In Vitamin B12 Using X-Ray Spectroscopy, Jamie N. Lehnen

STAR Program Research Presentations

It is often difficult to accurately describe the electronic configuration of large molecules like cobalamin (Vitamin B12). By defining the electronic and geometric structure of a molecule using X-ray spectroscopy, we can better understand how that molecule behaves. Cobalamin is a molecule of interest because it typically displays dehalogenating properties in the body. By understanding more of how cobalamin analogues operate, it becomes possible to know their chemical properties and reactions.

The Effects Of Rain On Elemental Transport In Soils, Laura Schoenfeld

STAR Program Research Presentations

Mini Landscape Evolution Observatory (miniLEO) is a model landscape slope composed of granular basalt used to conduct small scale experiments to more clearly understand how elemental transport occurs during simulated rain events. For this experiment, rain events occurred three times a day in two hour increments at a rate of 30 mm/hr for 14 days to determine if exchangeable ions and target elements dissolve over time. An auto sampler collected the waterseepage every half hour at the bottom of the slope of miniLEO. Each seepage sample was tested or the amount of elements present in solution using ion chromatography and …

Enhancing The Effectiveness Of The Telescope Assembly Alignment Simulator, Alex T. Quyenvo, Zoe Sharp, Jennifer Briggs

STAR Program Research Presentations

SOFIA - Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy is a 747sp Boeing aircraft modified to carry a 2.7m telescope. This unique aircraft uses infrared light to study the hidden universe, create a greater understanding of local galaxies and observe the past of our universe. To enhance the effectiveness of the telescope on SOFIA, a baseline of an ideal science instrument needs to be established in a lab setting to help reduce time and make things more efficient when SOFIA is flying. This baseline can be done using the TAAS – Telescope Assembly Alignment Simulator, an instrument that simulates the telescope on …

Probing The Transport Properties Of Chemically-Doped Single-Walled Carbon Nantotube Polymer Composites, Tammy Pheuphong, Tamara El-Hayek, Jeffrey Blackburn, Andrew Ferguson

STAR Program Research Presentations

Thermoelectric (TE) materials are used to convert waste heat into electrical power. Semiconducting single-walled carbon nanotubes (s-SWCNT) have great potential to be used in thermoelectric devices, either on their own or in composites with conducting polymers. Certain polymers can selectively extract s-SWCNT from raw carbon nanotube soot (containing impurities such as metallic SWCNT, amorphous carbon, metal catalysts particles), but most of these polymers (e.g. polyfluorenes) are electrical insulators, rendering them inefficient in TE nanocomposites. On the other hand, conducting polymers, such as poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS), have been used in efficient TE nanocomposites, but have never been rationally designed with …

Analysis Of The Precipitation Detection Algorithm For The Geonor T-200b Precipitation Gauge To Improve Accuracy, Megan Lerman, Robert K. Goodrich

STAR Program Research Presentations

In an effort to improve the precipitation detection algorithm for the Geonor All Weather Precipitation Gauge, an automated truth algorithm has been created to detect errors in the original algorithm. The original algorithm detects precipitation in real time and uses the rate of precipitation to indicate an event. The automated truth does not detect in real time, and focuses on precipitation accumulation to indicate an event. Since the automated truth is delayed, it is able to consider the data collected before and after the point it is analyzing. The automated truth is already more accurate than the original algorithm but …

Drag Reduction Using Graphene In Viscous Laminar Flow With Water And Isopropanol, Jessica M. Patalano, Akm Newaz Dr.

STAR Program Research Presentations

America has over 2.6 million miles of pipeline for the transportation of energy products, such as liquid petroleum and natural gas. Friction is one of the main sources for energy dissipation at liquid/solid interfaces that limits the transport of a fluid through a cylindrical pipe or tube. In order to make these pipelines more efficient and enhance the flow of these materials, it is necessary to find a coating material that reduces the frictional drag. The ideal material would reduce the drag between the fluid and solid interface while being easily synthesizable on the surface. The goal of this project …

Effects Of Surface Coatings On Crystalization Of Calcium Sulfate, Shawn Pj Kirby, Josiah Reams, Kamran Ghiassi, Jeffrey Alston

STAR Program Research Presentations

Deposits from hard water can be problematic as they can form scaling on boilers and cooling towers. Scaling can reduce thermal efficiency. Coatings can be used to prevent mineral fouling by changing the surface energy. Some deposits have inverse solubility; such as calcium sulfate. This means that as temperature rises, they become less soluble and can crystallize out of solution. Calcium sulfate is often found in hard water. Crystalization tests were done to determine how coatings such as various POSS (Polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane) compounds acted as nucleating surfaces for calcium sulfate. POSS compounds were tested in particular because they …

Spest – A Tool For Specification-Based Testing, Corrigan Redford Johnson

Master's Theses

This thesis presents a tool for SPEcification based teSTing (SPEST). SPEST is designed to use well known practices for automated black-box testing to reduce the burden of testing on developers. The tool uses a simple formal specification language to generate highly-readable unit tests that embody best practices for thorough software testing. Because the specification language used to generate the assertions about the code can be compiled, it can also be used to ensure that documentation describing the code is maintained during development and refactoring.

The utility and effectiveness of SPEST were validated through several exper- iments conducted with students in …

Battle Bot Ai – Patriot Bot, James Johnston

Computer Engineering

An entry in the the 'Battle Block AI' competition hosted by 'The AI Games'.

Mobilerp, Anthony Fata

Computer Engineering

MobilERP is a system that increases traceability of parts in a manufacturing process in a simple paperless way. The system contains three components, a desktop application, a mobile app, and a database. The mobile application allows employees to scan (using a bar code scanner) parts that they are working/finishing on during the manufacturing process. As the part goes down the assembly line, individuals will barcode scan using the app to track the progress. These changes would get updated to the database, where then the designated person can track the progress of the part as well as any problems or concerns …

Pthreads Profiler, Ryan Van Quinlan

Computer Science and Software Engineering

The goal of this senior project was to design and implement a program which would allow users to profile programs that utilize the Pthreads library. This profiler allows users to measure load balance and lock contention between threads as well as discover deadlocks. These tools can be essential to developers of multi-threaded applications, which are notoriously difficult to debug. Additionally, this tool can help find vital performance benefits by providing relative execution measurements. The profiler is written in C++ and utilizes the standard template library as well as glibc extensions.

Co-Rotational Finite Element Solid Simulation With Collisions, Patrick Riordan

Computer Science and Software Engineering

This paper is a tutorial on how to implement a deformable solid simulation with collisions based off of Matthias Mueller's Real Time Physics Course Notes. It covers the topics continuum mechanics, finite element analysis, implicit Euler integration, and handling collision.

Real Time Analytics On Digital Distraction, Kristian Welch

Computer Science and Software Engineering

Hypothesis: empirically measuring the users productivity has the potential to significantly increase their productivity. This paper is the documentation of the process of building software capable of verifying this hypothesis. Starting with the research which gives enough evidence to warrant the hypothesis, also included is commentary on the prototyping, design decisions, and iteration based on user feedback of the software.

Migmatite Gneiss Of The Jættedal Complex, Liverpool Land, East Greenland: Protracted High-T Metamorphism In The Overriding Plate Of The Caledonian Orogen, S. M. Johnston, A. Kylander-Clark, H. K. Brueckner

Physics

The Greenland Caledonides (GC) formed in the overriding Laurentian plate during the closure of the Iapetus Ocean and the subduction of Baltica, and offer a unique opportunity to study metamorphic patterns, regional structures and the kinematic evolution of the overriding plate of a continental collision. We present new metamorphic petrology and coupled zircon geochronology and geochemistry data from the Jættedal complex in southern Liverpool Land to document the thermal evolution of the orogenic core of the southern GC. Pelitic migmatite gneisses from the Jættedal complex document metamorphic conditions of 850–730 °C at pressures of 11–9.5 kbar. Zircon from these samples …

Syneresis And Rheology Mechanisms Of A Latex-Heur Associative Thickener System, Travis Bruno Smith

Master's Theses

Rheology modifiers are used in paints and coatings to ease their application to a surface, prevent sagging once applied, and allow the leveling of brushstrokes, among other benefits. The early rheology modifiers were hydroxyethyl celluloses (HECs), a type of non-associative thickener that is relatively inexpensive and synthesized from cellulose, which is abundant. However, coatings that are modified with HECs tend to suffer from poor leveling and syneresis (phase separation). HECs have since been replaced with associative thickeners (ATs). These thickeners, when properly formulated, produce stable dispersions that have improved rheological properties, yet, unlike HECs, are sensitive to changes to the …

Automated Multi-Modal Search And Rescue Using Boosted Histogram Of Oriented Gradients, Matthew A. Lienemann

Master's Theses

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) provides a platform for many automated tasks and with an ever increasing advances in computing, these tasks can be more complex. The use of UAVs is expanded in this thesis with the goal of Search and Rescue (SAR), where a UAV can assist fast responders to search for a lost person and relay possible search areas back to SAR teams. To identify a person from an aerial perspective, low-level Histogram of Oriented Gradients (HOG) feature descriptors are used over a segmented region, provided from thermal data, to increase classification speed. This thesis also introduces a dataset …

Sparse Aperture Speckle Interferometry Telescope Active Optics Control System, Matthew Clause

Master's Theses

A conventional large aperture telescope required for binary star research is typically cost prohibitive. A prototype active optics system was created and fitted to a telescope frame using relatively low cost components. The active optics system was capable of tipping, tilting, and elevating the mirrors to align reflected star light. The low cost mirror position actuators have a resolution of 31 nm, repeatable to within 16 nm. This is accurate enough to perform speckle analysis for the visible light spectrum. The mirrors used in testing were not supported with a whiffletree and produced trefoil-like aberrations which made phasing two mirrors …

Production And Harvest Of Microalgae In Wastewater Raceways With Resource Recycling, Alexander Colin Roberts

Master's Theses

Microalgae can be grown on municipal wastewater media to both treat the wastewater and produce feedstock for algae biofuel production. However the reliability of treatment must be demonstrated, as well as high areal algae productivity on recycled wastewater media and efficient sedimentation harvesting. This processes was studied at pilot scale in the present research.

A pilot facility was operated with nine CO₂-supplemented raceway ponds, each with a 33-m² surface area and a 0.3-m depth, continuously from March 6, 2013 through September 24, 2014. The ponds were operated as three sets of triplicates with two sets continuously fed …

The Muse View Of Qso Pg 1307+085: An Elliptical Galaxy On The MBh–Σ* Relation Interacting With Its Group Environment, Bernd Husemann, Vardha Nicola Bennert, Julia Scharwächter, J.-H. Woo, O. S. Choundhury

Physics

We report deep optical integral-field spectroscopy with the Multi-Unit Spectroscopic Explorer (MUSE) at the Very Large Telescope of the luminous radio-quiet quasi-stellar object (QSO) PG 1307+085 obtained during commissioning. Given the high sensitivity and spatial resolution delivered by MUSE, we are able to resolve the compact (r_e ∼ 1.3 arcsec) elliptical host galaxy. After spectroscopic deblending of the QSO and host galaxy emission, we infer a stellar velocity dispersion of σ_* = 155 ± 19 km s⁻¹. This places PG 1307+085 on the local M_BH–σ_* relation within its intrinsic scatter but offset …

Two-Ply Channels For Faster Wicking In Paper-Based Microfluidic Devices, Conor K. Camplisson, Kevin M. Schilling, William L. Pedrotti, Howard A. Stone, Andres W. Martinez

Chemistry and Biochemistry

This article describes the development of porous two-ply channels for paper-based microfluidic devices that wick fluids significantly faster than conventional, porous, single-ply channels. The two-ply channels were made by stacking two single-ply channels on top of each other and were fabricated entirely out of paper, wax and toner using two commercially available printers, a convection oven and a thermal laminator. The wicking in paper-based channels was studied and modeled using a modified Lucas–Washburn equation to account for the effect of evaporation, and a paper-based titration device incorporating two-ply channels was demonstrated.

Orbital Simulations On The Deflection Of Near Earth Objects By Directed Energy, Qicheng Zhang, Kevin J. Walsh, Carl Melis, Gary Hughes, Philip Lubin

Statistics

Laser ablation of a Near Earth Object (NEO) on a collision course with Earth produces a cloud of ejecta which exerts a thrust on the asteroid, deflecting it from its original trajectory. The DE-STAR system provides such a thrust by illuminating an Earth-targeting asteroid or comet from afar with a stand-off system consisting of a large phased-array laser in Earth orbit. A much smaller version of the same system called DE-STARLITE travels alongside the target, operating in a stand-on mode, slowly deflecting it over a long period. Such a stand-on system would also permit directing the thrust in any desired …

Rfid Microscope Lab, Patricia Carranza

Computer Engineering

The RFID Microscope Lab is a new exhibit created for the San Luis Obispo Children's Museum. The goal of the project is to create a modern, interactive exhibit that will teach children about different natural specimens through the use of technology. A computer, custom software, and RFID technology, will be used to display facts, microscopic images, and short videos of ten different specimens.

Low Intensity Gamma-Ray Spectroscopy Of The Lake Labyrinth Meteorite, Tristan C. Paul

Physics

A 23.7g fragment of the Lake Labyrinth Meteorite (fell in 1924, collected in 1934 at Lake Labyrinth in South Australia, Australia) was re-investigated for evidence of the presence of 98Tc using a two dimensional low-intensity gamma-ray spectrometer. A new calibration technique using 26Al sources found the gamma-rays previously thought to be due to 98Tc are more likely from 166Ho. The presence of 166Ho is most likely due to activation of the stable 165Ho in the meteorite from terrestrial background sources where it was stored.

Thermodynamic Effects Of A Local Bell State Projection Interaction In A One-Dimensional Dynamic Spin System, Nickolas H. Pilgram

Physics

No abstract provided.

Simulations Of Hl-Lhc Crab Cavity Noise Using Headtail, Stanley Steeper

Physics

The High Luminosity Large Hadron Collider (Hi-Lumi LHC) upgrade -- scheduled to be completed by 2025 -- will improve the existing LHC in many ways. One such upgrade is the addition of Crab Cavities (CCs). The CCs are resonant structures that provide strong transverse kicks to the circulating clouds of particles around each interaction region. As such, the CCs result in a head-on collision of the clouds and a large increase in event rate, leading to reduced statistical uncertainty and potentially faster discoveries. However, the CC field will be modulated by phase and amplitude noise which can have detrimental effects …

Revision-Polyurethane-Graphene Nanocomposites For Corrosion-Resistant Coatings, Alexandra Rose Stevenson

Master's Theses

Corrosion is a prevalent concern throughout the world, causing significant monetary and safety concerns. Research has been dedicated to developing cost-effective solutions for corrosion that will also meet increasingly stringent environmental regulations. The recently discovered nanomaterial graphene has been proposed as a potential component in anticorrosion technology due to its strong air and water barrier properties. However, graphene is a relatively expensive, difficult to synthesize material. By incorporating it into nanocomposites, its properties can be exploited even at low concentrations. Previous work has been conducted involving the preparation of anticorrosive polystyrene-graphene nanocomposites; these materials were found to be effective long-term …

Orbital Simulations Of Laser-Propelled Spacecraft, Qicheng Zhang, Kevin J. Walsh, Carl Melis, Gary B. Hughes, Philip M. Lubin

Statistics

Spacecraft accelerate by directing propellant in the opposite direction. In the traditional approach, the propellant is carried on board in the form of material fuel. This approach has the drawback of being limited in Delta v by the amount of fuel launched with the craft, a limit that does not scale well to high Delta v due to the massive nature of the fuel. Directed energy photon propulsion solves this problem by eliminating the need for on-board fuel storage. We discuss our system which uses a phased array of lasers to propel the spacecraft which contributes no mass to the …

Local Phase Control For A Planar Array Of Fiber Laser Amplifiers, Patrick Steffanic, Benjamin T. Johannes, Claudia A. Sison, Gary Hughes, Philip Lubin, Peter Meinhold, Johnathan Suen, Hugh O'Neill, Miikka Kangas, Travis Brashears, Qicheng Zhang, Janelle Griswold, Jordan Riley, Caio Motta

Statistics

Arrays of phase-locked lasers have been developed for numerous directed-energy applications. Phased-array designs are capable of producing higher beam intensity than similar sized multi-beam emitters, and also allow beam steering and beam profile manipulation. In phased-array designs, individual emitter phases must be controllable, based on suitable feedback. Most current control schemes sample individual emitter phases, such as with an array-wide beam splitter, and compare to a master phase reference. Reliance on a global beam splitter limits scalability to larger array sizes due to lack of design modularity. This paper describes a conceptual design and control scheme that relies only on …

Hypersurfaces In Hyperbolic Space With Support Function, Vincent Bonini, José M. Espinar, Jie Qint

Mathematics

Based on [previous publication*], we develop a global correspondence between immersed hypersurfaces ϕ:Mⁿ→Hⁿ⁺¹ϕ:Mn→Hn+1 satisfying an exterior horosphere condition, also called here horospherically concave hypersurfaces, and complete conformal metrics e^2ρg_Sⁿe2ρgSn on domains Ω in the boundary SⁿSn at infinity of Hⁿ⁺¹Hn+1, where ρ is the horospherical support function, ∂_∞ϕ(Mⁿ)=∂Ω∂∞ϕ(Mn)=∂Ω, and Ω is the image of the Gauss map G:Mⁿ→SⁿG:Mn→Sn. To do so we first establish results on when the Gauss map G:Mⁿ→SⁿG:Mn→Sn is injective. We also …