Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Modeling Studies Of Antarctic Krill (Euphausia Superba) Survival During Transport Across The Scotia Sea And Environs, Bettina Andrea Fach

OES Theses and Dissertations

The Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) populations at South Georgia, which is in the eastern Scotia Sea, are hypothesized to be sustained by import of individuals from upstream regions, such as the western Antarctic Peninsula. To test this hypothesis a modeling framework consisting of the Harvard Ocean Prediction System (HOPS) and a time-dependent, size-structured, physiologically-based krill growth model was developed. The simulated circulation fields obtained from HOPS were used with drifter studies to determine regions and pathways that allow transport of Antarctic krill to South Georgia. Pelagic phytoplankton concentrations along the simulated drifter trajectories were extracted from historical Coastal …

Investigations Of Phytoplankton Diversity In Chesapeake Bay, Todd Arthur Egerton

Biological Sciences Theses & Dissertations

Characterizing the diversity of a community in relation to environmental conditions and ecosystem functions are core concepts in ecology. While decades of research have led to a growing comprehension of diversity in many ecosystems, our understanding in aquatic habitats and microbial organisms remains relatively limited. Phytoplankton represent a diverse and important group that contribute approximately half of global primary productivity and are intrinsically connected to changing environmental conditions, especially in systems as dynamic as estuaries. To better understand the ecological processes governing phytoplankton composition and diversity, spatial and temporal patterns of environmental parameters and their relation to the algal community …

Environmental And Physiological Influences On Productivity And Carbon Isotope Discrimination In Eelgrass (Zostera Marina L.), Meredith Leigh Mcpherson

OES Theses and Dissertations

A short-term longitudinal study was used to examine the relations of achievement motivation, general motivation, interest, and self-regulatory predictors to cognitive strategy use and academic performance. A total of 102 college undergraduates enrolled in their first college-level introductory psychology course completed an Achieving Tendency Scale of achievement motivation, the Motivated Strategies For Learning Questionnaire, and an Interest Profile in psychology during the first two weeks of the semester. At midterm they completed the Study Activity Survey of cognitive strategy use. At the end of the semester exam grades, total points earned in the course, and grade point average were obtained. …

Response Of Natural Estuarine Algal Communities To Nitrogen Additions, Christopher Schweitzer

OES Theses and Dissertations

Coastal eutrophication resulting from nutrient over-enrichment plagues coastal waterways worldwide. In addition to dissolved inorganic N, many marine microbes, including phytoplankton, have the capacity to use certain dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) compounds. However, while we know that many specific DON compounds are labile, the bulk of the DON pool in nature is uncharacterized. The bioavailability of DON to estuarine microbes currently remains unclear.

It is becoming evident that natural phytoplankton assemblages in estuarine waters are capable of using both inorganic and organic N compounds for growth, both of which are present in anthropogenic point and non-point source discharges. Methods for …

Double Spin Asymmetry In D →(E→E'P)N, Michael Mayer

Physics Theses & Dissertations

Using the CLAS detector at Jefferson Lab, double spin asymmetries (A ∥) for quasi-elastic electron scattering off the deuteron have been measured at several beam energies. The data were collected during the EG1 experiment, which scattered longitudinally polarized electrons with energies from 1.6 to 5.8 GeV off a longitudinally polarized cryogenic ND₃ target. The double spin asymmetries were measured as a function of photon virtuality Q² (0.13-3.17 (GeV/c)2), missing momentum (0.0-0.5 GeV/c), and the angle between the (inferred) "spectator" neutron and the momentum transfer direction (θ_ng). The results from EG1b are compared with a recent model …

Novel Algorithms And Instrumentation For Vibrational Spectroscopic Methods Of Analysis, Mohamed F. Abdelkader

Chemistry & Biochemistry Theses & Dissertations

Raman spectroscopy is a form of vibrational spectroscopy that has been increasingly applied to qualitative analysis of chemicals, explosives, pharmaceuticals, and fuels due to its non-invasive and non-destructive nature; its ease of sampling; and its high molecular specificity. These characteristics of Raman spectroscopy also facilitate its use for both in-line and at-line analysis. The principle limitation of Raman spectroscopy is optical interference arising from both analyte and non-analyte fluorescence. In this dissertation, a solution to this problem is presented in the form of a novel spectrometer design which operates in a sequentially shifted excitation mode to eliminate fluorescence backgrounds, fixed …

Three-Point Correlator And Pion Form Factor In Quantum Chromodynamics: Methods Of Calculation For Two-Loop Spectral Density, Islam Bedir

Physics Theses & Dissertations

The methods are developed of two-loop calculation of spectral density for the 3-point correlation function of an electromagnetic current and two axial currents which are the basis of the pion form factor analysis within the framework of QCD sum rules and local quark-hadron duality approach. The nature of various types of contributions is established which are related to particular regions of momentum integrations inside Feynman integrals. The trace factors accompanying all six two-loop diagrams are calculated and classified. To regularize particular loop integrals, the dimensional regularization technique has been used. The calculation involves such methods as infinite-momentum frame approach, alpha-representation …

Evaluating Alternatives For Augmented Water Quality Improvement Utilizing Oyster Restoration As Best Management Practice (Bmp), Stephanie Roberts Long

Civil & Environmental Engineering Theses & Dissertations

Due to several anthropogenic influences, the Chesapeake Bay has experienced a marked decrease in water quality since the colonists arrived at the Jamestown settlement in Virginia during the 1600s. Higher concentrations of nitrogen and phosphorus have enriched the estuaries and coastal waters via point sources (sewage treatment plants and industrial wastes), nonpoint sources (agricultural run-off and septic tank discharges) and the atmosphere (Newell et al., 2005). Restoring oyster beds is considered a Best Management Practice (BMP) to improve water quality as well as provide physical habitat for aquatic species and a healthier estuarine system (USACE Native Oyster Restoration Master …

Spin Dependence In Polarized Proton-Proton Elastic Scattering At Rhic, Donika Plyku

Physics Theses & Dissertations

The STAR (Solenoidal Tracker At RHIC - Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider) experiment is equipped with Roman Pots, insertion devices that allow detectors to be moved close to the beam for the measurement of high energy protons scattered at very small angles. This setup, together with the unique capability of RHIC to collide spin-polarized proton beams, allows STAR to study both the dynamics and the spin-dependence of the proton-proton ( pp) elastic scattering process. Silicon strip detectors, installed inside the Roman Pots, measure tracks of protons scattered diffractively at very small angles. In a dedicated run with special beam optics …

Analysis Of Continuous Longitudinal Data With Arma(1, 1) And Antedependence Correlation Structures, Sirisha Mushti

Mathematics & Statistics Theses & Dissertations

Longitudinal or repeated measure data are common in biomedical and clinical trials. These data are often collected on individuals at scheduled times resulting in dependent responses. Inference methods for studying the behavior of responses over time as well as methods to study the association with certain risk factors or covariates taking into account the dependencies are of great importance. In this research we focus our study on the analysis of continuous longitudinal data. To model the dependencies of the responses over time, we consider appropriate correlation structures generated by the stationary and non-stationary time-series models. We develop new estimation procedures …

Electric Field-Driven Water Dipoles: Nanoscale Architecture Of Electroporation, Mayya Tokman, Jane Hyojin Lee, Zachary A. Levine, Ming-Chak Ho, Michael E. Colvin, P. Thomas Vernier

Bioelectrics Publications

Electroporation is the formation of permeabilizing structures in the cell membrane under the influence of an externally imposed electric field. The resulting increased permeability of the membrane enables a wide range of biological applications, including the delivery of normally excluded substances into cells. While electroporation is used extensively in biology, biotechnology, and medicine, its molecular mechanism is not well understood. This lack of knowledge limits the ability to control and fine-tune the process. In this article we propose a novel molecular mechanism for the electroporation of a lipid bilayer based on energetics analysis. Using molecular dynamics simulations we demonstrate that …

Computational Dynamics For The Flexible Multi-Body System, Yu Liu

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Theses & Dissertations

Research in computational dynamics has tremendously developed in the recent years because of the demand for analysis and simulation of various multi-body systems in the growing bio-medical, mechanical and aerospace industries. These multi-body systems are made of individual bodies that are interconnected via mechanical joints. Mathematically, these joints that connect the bodies can be described as constraint equations imposed upon the motions of the involved free bodies. This process will result in an equation of motion expressed in the form of a differential-algebraic equation (DAE). This is one of the main difficulties when dealing with the multi-body system because these …

Impact Of Primary User Activity On The Performance Of Energy-Based Spectrum Sensing In Cognitive Radio Systems, Sara L. Macdonald

Electrical & Computer Engineering Theses & Dissertations

Increasing numbers of wireless devices and mobile data requirements have led to a spectrum shortage. However spectrum utilization percentages are often low due to the current static spectrum allocation process where primary users (PUs) are given exclusive use to spectrum. Several mechanisms to increase spectrum utilization have been proposed including opportunistic spectrum access (OSA). Cognitive Radio (CR) is an emerging concept in wireless communication systems that aims to enable OSA in licensed frequencies by secondary users (SUs). CR systems are expected to sense the spectrum in order to determine if the PU is transmitting. Therefore OSA performance relies on the …

Study Of Spatiotemporal Signatures Between Objects To Improve Video Segmentation In Complex Environments, Adam Robert Reckley

Electrical & Computer Engineering Theses & Dissertations

Background subtraction is often considered to be a required stage of any video surveillance system being used to detect objects in a single frame and/or track objects across multiple frames in a video sequence. Most current state-of-the-art techniques for object detection and tracking utilize some form of background subtraction that involves developing a model of the background at a pixel, region or frame level and designating any elements that deviate from the background model as foreground. Most existing approaches are capable of segmenting a number of distinct components, but are unable to distinguish between the desired object of interest and …

Agenda, Hr Adaptation Forum

March 13, 2013: Regional Sea Level Rise Assessment, Adaptation and Flood Mitigation Projects

No abstract provided.

Recurrent Coastal Flooding: How Should Virginia Respond?, Molly Mitchell Rogerro

March 13, 2013: Regional Sea Level Rise Assessment, Adaptation and Flood Mitigation Projects

No abstract provided.

City Of Norfolk Coastal Flood Mitigation Program, Brian Joyner

March 13, 2013: Regional Sea Level Rise Assessment, Adaptation and Flood Mitigation Projects

No abstract provided.

Fema Region Iii Coastal Storm Surge Study, Mike Forte, Jeff Hanson, Michelle Hamor

March 13, 2013: Regional Sea Level Rise Assessment, Adaptation and Flood Mitigation Projects

No abstract provided.

Forum Notes, Hr Adaptation Forum

March 13, 2013: Regional Sea Level Rise Assessment, Adaptation and Flood Mitigation Projects

No abstract provided.

Asbpa Sea Level Rise Findings, Maura Boswell

March 13, 2013: Regional Sea Level Rise Assessment, Adaptation and Flood Mitigation Projects

No abstract provided.

Usace Flood Risk Management Partners In Shared Responsibility, Michelle Hamor

March 13, 2013: Regional Sea Level Rise Assessment, Adaptation and Flood Mitigation Projects

No abstract provided.

Willoughby Spit Shoreline Improvement Project Of Ocean View Beach, Maura Boswell

March 13, 2013: Regional Sea Level Rise Assessment, Adaptation and Flood Mitigation Projects

No abstract provided.

Experimental Investigation Of Long-Lived Rydberg States In Ultracold Argon, G. Ranjit, C. I. Sukenik

Physics Faculty Publications

We report on our investigation of the formation and survival of long-lived Rydberg states in argon produced by pulsed laser excitation of ultracold metastable state argon atoms in a magneto-optical trap. The states studied have a 2P1/2 core. Low angular momentum Rydberg states with this core normally autoionize rapidly. If, however, atoms are excited in the presence of electric fields, higher angular momentum states, traditionally termed ZEKE states (ZEKE is derived from zero kinetic energy) can be formed. The lifetime of these states can be orders of magnitude greater than low angular momentum states. In this paper, we report on …

Uncoupling Between Dinitrogen Fixation And Primary Productivity In The Eastern Mediterranean Sea, Eyal Rahav, Barak Herut, Noga Stambler, Edo Bar-Zeev, Margaret R. Mulholland

OES Faculty Publications

In the nitrogen (N)-impoverished photic zones of many oceanic regions, prokaryotic organisms fixing atmospheric dinitrogen (N₂; diazotrophs) supply an essential source of new nitrogen and fuel primary production. We measured dinitrogen fixation and primary productivity (PP) during the thermally stratified summer period in different water regimes of the oligotrophic eastern Mediterranean Sea, including the Cyprus Eddy and the Rhodes Gyre. Low N₂ fixation rates were measured (0.8-3.2μmol N m-2 d-1) excluding 10-fold higher rates in the Rhodes Gyre and Cyprus Eddy (~20μmol N m^-2 d^-1). The corresponding PP increased from east to west (200-2500μmol …

Facets Of Experimental Physics At Odu, Stephen Bueltmann

Undergraduate Research Symposium

Chair: Dr. Stephen Bueltmann, Department of Physics

Gulf Stream's Induced Sea Level Rise And Variability Along The U.S. Mid-Atlantic Coast, Tal Ezer, Larry P. Atkinson, William B. Corlett, Jose L. Blanco

CCPO Publications

Recent studies indicate that the rates of sea level rise (SLR) along the U. S. mid-Atlantic coast have accelerated in recent decades, possibly due to a slowdown of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) and its upper branch, the Gulf Stream (GS). We analyzed the GS elevation gradient obtained from altimeter data, the Florida Current transport obtained from cable measurements, the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) index, and coastal sea level obtained from 10 tide gauge stations in the Chesapeake Bay and the mid-Atlantic coast. An Empirical Mode Decomposition/Hilbert-Huang Transformation (EMD/HHT) method was used to separate long-term trends from oscillating modes. …

Researching Storms To Prepare For The Next One, Joshua Behr, Rafael Diaz

News Items

No abstract provided.

Us Globec: Program Goals, Approaches, And Advances, Elizabeth Turner, Eileen E. Hofmann, Dale B. Haidvogel, Harold P. Batchelder, Michael J. Fogarty, Thomas Powell

CCPO Publications

No abstract provided.

On The Role Of Coastal Troughs In The Circulation Of Warm Circumpolar Deep Water On Antarctic Shelves, Pierre St-Laurent, John M. Klinck, Michael S. Dinniman

CCPO Publications

Oceanic exchanges across the continental shelves of Antarctica play an important role in biological systems and the mass balance of ice sheets. The focus of this study is on the mechanisms responsible for the circulation of warm Circumpolar Deep Water (CDW) within troughs running perpendicular to the continental shelf. This is examined using process-oriented numerical experiments with an eddy-resolving (1 km) 3D ocean model that includes a static and thermodynamically active ice shelf. Three mechanisms that create a significant onshore flow within the trough are identified: 1) a deep onshore flow driven by the melt of the ice shelf, 2) …

Extracting Tidal Variability Of Sea Ice Concentration From Amsr-E Passive Microwave Single-Swath Data: A Case Study Of The Ross Sea, Stefanie Mack, Laurie Padman, John M. Klinck

CCPO Publications

The periodic divergence of stress applied by ocean tidal currents to sea ice affects the time-averaged ice concentration (C_ice) and heat and freshwater fluxes at the ocean surface. We demonstrate that, at sufficiently high latitudes, tidal variability in C_ice can be extracted from single-swath data from the Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer–EOS (AMSR-E) satellite passive microwave sensor, although time intervals between swaths are irregular. For the northwest Ross Sea where tidal currents are large, tidal divergence is the dominant cause of C_ice variability in winter, with a range of ±0.2 about a mean of ~0.8. Daily-averaged C …