Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

The Standardized Fish Bioassay Procedure For Detecting And Culturing Actively Toxic Pfiesteria, Used By Two Reference Laboratories For Atlantic And Gulf Coast States, Joann M. Burkholder, Harold G. Marshall, David W. Seaborn, Nora J. Deamer-Melia

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

In the absence of purified standards of toxins from Pfiesteria species, appropriately conducted fish bioassays are the "gold standard" that must be used to detect toxic strains of Pfiesteria slop. from natural estuarine water or sediment samples and to culture actively toxic Pfiesteria. In this article, we describe the standardized steps of our fish bioassay as an abbreviated term for a procedure that includes two sets of trials with fish, following the Henle-Koch postulates modified for toxic rather than infectious agents. This procedure was developed in 1991, and has been refined over more than 12 years of experience in …

An Object-Oriented Resource Pool Model In Support Of Discrete Event Simulations, Srinivas Gullapalli

Electrical & Computer Engineering Theses & Dissertations

The proper distribution of resources is a key factor in simulation. Resources provide the supporting facilities, equipment, and personnel for carrying out activities. The number of resources has a direct impact on the overall effectiveness of the simulation as it does in real life. If the number is insufficient, it generally takes more time for the process to complete. On the other hand, if the number is too high, the cost incurred on the resources will be unnecessarily large. Therefore, the count should be a compromise between the two extremes.

In this thesis, an attempt is made to generalize the …

Circulation, Vol. 8, No. 2, Center For Coastal Physical Oceanography, Old Dominion University, Larry P. Atkinson

CCPO Circulation

Summer 2001 issue of CCPO Circulation featuring article "Oceanographic Research in the Antarctic" by Larry Atkinson

Hydrographic Variability On Decadal And Interdecadal Scales In The Northern Gulf Of Alaska, Nandita Sarkar

OES Theses and Dissertations

The mixed layer depth (MLD) in the North Pacific is important to vertical mixing and hence the flux nutrients into the euphotic zone. A time series of hydrographic measurements, tem perature and salinity versus depth, at a coastal site in the northern Gulf of Alaska is used to determine the seasonal and interannual variations in the MLD. Data from this station called GAK 1 (59°50.7‘X. 149C28.0'\V) in 203 m of water begin in 1974 and end in 1998. The MLD changes seasonally from about 50 m in summer to more than 130 m in winter. These changes are in response …

Minimum Mean Square Error Spectral Peak Envelope Estimation For Automatic Vowel Classification, Jaishree Venugopal

Electrical & Computer Engineering Theses & Dissertations

Spectral feature computations continue to be a very difficult problem for accurate machine recognition of speech. In this work, which focuses on vowels, a new spectral peak envelope method for vowel classification is developed, based on a missing frequency components model of speech recognition. According to the missing frequency components model, vowel recognition depends only on the spectral (harmonic) peaks. Smoothing and interpolation of the spectra, performed in the standard cepstral analysis method commonly used in automatic speech recognition, actually loses valuable information and results in reduced recognition accuracy. The new method for feature extraction presented in this thesis is …

Dynamical Sedimentary Models Of Shallow Marine Environments, Yong Zhang

OES Theses and Dissertations

This treatise represents a contribution of quantitative, dynamical sedimentary modeling to the analytical understanding of sedimentary processes in shallow marine environments. The dynamical sedimentary models in this treatise numerically simulate the sedimentary processes from an event time scale, based on the fundamental physics of sediment dynamics in coastal and shelf depositional environments, to a longer, facies time scale. The simulated geologic processes serve to the illustrate shoreface equilibrium profile, shelf storm bed generation, and the shelf sedimentary facies system.

This treatise presents a nearshore profile evolution model for the abandoned Huanghe Delta, a two-dimensional storm deposition model, and a sedimentary …

Trichodesmium Spp.: Numerical Studies Of Resource Competition, Carbohydrate Ballasting, And Remote-Sensing Reflectance, Tonya Denise Clayton

OES Theses and Dissertations

In recent years, a new appreciation for the role of diazotrophy in the oceans has emerged. This dissertation reports on three modeling studies designed to investigate ecological processes associated with Trichodesmium spp., the most conspicuous marine diazotroph: (1) characterization of a generalized model Trichodesmium and issues of macronutrient resource competition; (2) carbohydrate ballasting by Trchodesmium and implications for the formation of surface accumulations; and (3) the vertical distribution of Trichodesmium and implications for detection from space.

The first study focuses on issues of nitrogen and phosphorus competition and ecosystem structure. It utilizes a simple ecosystem model that includes dissolved nitrogen …

Measurement Of The Gπnn(T) Form Factor, Kelly Gene Vansyoc

Physics Theses & Dissertations

Cross sections were measured for the reaction ¹H(e, e′π+) n at the energy W = 1.95 GeV and momentum transfer Q² = 0.6 (GeV/c)². At this W and Q², the longitudinal cross section is dominated by t-channel production, giving a unique opportunity to examine the strong coupling form factor gπNN(t). The measured cross sections were separated using a method similar to a Rosenbluth separation. For the extraction of gπNN(t), the Actor and Körner model [42] and a parameterization of the MAID2000 …

Development Of Atlas Based Simulation Capability For Automated Testing, Rami Hanbali

Electrical & Computer Engineering Theses & Dissertations

Computer software is emerging as a powerful tool for controlling a large number of instruments and for the testing of these instruments. The main aim of this work is to provide a software program capable of controlling a large number of engineering instruments at the touch of a button. In addition, the software is to have the capability of connecting the instruments with the desired Unit Under Test. There is great need for such software driven testing in industry, especially for large complex systems. Advantages of such an approach include: (a) automated testing in a very quick and efficient manner; …

Pulsed Electron Heating Of Atmospheric Pressure Air Glow Discharges, Hisham Merhi

Electrical & Computer Engineering Theses & Dissertations

By applying electric field pulses of short duration (compared to the time constant for glow-to-arc transitions) to a weakly ionized gas, the electron energy distribution can be temporarily shifted to higher energies. This effect causes a nonlinear increase in the ionization rate and consequently a larger electron decay time. This effect has been demonstrated using single pulse operation.³ In order to generate plasma with semi-continuous electron density, repetitive operation is required. As a first step towards repetitive pulsed electric field operation, the temporal development of the voltage across the plasma for two subsequent pulses was measured. The dual pulse …

Transverse Variability Of The Flow And Density In Inlets Of Southern Chile, Mario Arturo Cáceres Muñoz

OES Theses and Dissertations

Measurements of velocity and density profiles were made to describe the flow transverse structure in three inlets of southern Chile. The inlets show marked differences in their transverse dynamics in response to external forcing. In Aysen Fjord (45.2°S) the mean flow showed a three layer structure that was consistent with up-fjord wind-induced exchange, while in Chacao Channel (41.8°S), the mean flow exhibited predominantly a lateral structure that featured sharp velocity shears. In both cases, a bank in the center of the sections seemed to play an important role in shaping the mean flows. In Ventisquero Sound (44.4°S), the presence of …

Circulation, Vol. 8, No. 1, Center For Coastal Physical Oceanography, Old Dominion University, Ann E. Gargett

CCPO Circulation

Spring 2001 issue of CCPO Circulation featuring article "Remarks from a New Arrival: Dr. Ann Gargett"

Ice Storm Damage To Virginia Coastal Plain Forests During The Christmas 1998 Ice Storm, Peter Elstner, Stewart Ware

Virginia Journal of Science

On December 23-25, 1998, a major ice storm struck southeastern Virginia. The storm-deposited glaze ice felled trees and limbs, causing a power outage and highway blockage. Between February and April, 1999, we recorded occurrence, severity, and type of damage to trees over 2.5 cm dbh in nine mostly gently sloping plots in Matoaka Woods at the College of William and Mary. Frequency and severity of damage varied with species and with size of trees. Canopy damage occurred in 75% of large Fagus grandifolia trees, but in only 6% of small Sassafras albidum stems. As a group, small (2.5 to 15 …

Trachelomonas Spp. And Other Euglenophyceae Taxa In A Southeastern Virginia Lake, Harold G. Marshall

Virginia Journal of Science

Trachelomonas species from Lake Kilby, a reservoir lake in southeastern Virginia are described with supportive electron micrographs. The most abundant Trachelomonas species wereT. hispida and T. volvocina. Other members of the Euglenophyceae occurring in this lake are identified.

A Software Reliability Model Combining Representative And Directed Testing, Brian Michael Mitchell

Computer Science Theses & Dissertations

Traditionally, software reliability models have required that failure data be gathered using only representative testing methods. Over time, however, representative testing becomes inherently less effective as a means of improving the actual quality of the software under test. Additionally, the use of failure data based on observations made during representative testing has been criticized because of the statistical noise inherent in this type of data. In this dissertation, a testing method is proposed to make reliability testing more efficient and accurate. Representative testing is used early, when the rate of fault revelation is high. Directed testing is used later in …

The Implications Of The Target-Area Hypothesis On The Population Dynamics Of The Spotted Spiny Lobster, Panulirus Guttatus, Denice N. Robertson

Biological Sciences Theses & Dissertations

The target-area hypothesis, based on the theory of island biogeography, predicts that larger islands are more effective at intercepting passive immigrants. Most marine invertebrates have meroplanktonic larvae and open population dynamics, so immigration to populations in isolated benthic habitats is primarily by pelagic larval recruits. Thus, recruitment to isolated habitat “islands” may be more continuous and predictable on large islands than on small ones. Consequently, populations on large islands should not only be larger than those on small islands, but should also have more evenly distributed size structures. These differences in size structure among populations in isolated habitats of differing …

A Comparison Of Phytoplankton Communities In Lake Prince And The Western Branch Reservoir, Suffolk, Virginia, Cara Marie Muscio

Biological Sciences Theses & Dissertations

Lake Prince and the Western Branch Reservoir are two eutrophic bodies of water located in Suffolk, Virginia. Lake Prince and its two small tributaries join the Western branch via a constructed spillway. This lake system is a source of water for the surrounding municipalities, and a recreational area for community citizens. In the past, these bodies of water had repeated incidents of low oxygen and nuisance algal blooms, particularly cyanobacteria species. As a result aerators have been installed in the main body of both Lake Prince and the Western Branch Reservoir. In addition, a pipeline has been installed from North …

Morphostatic Long-Term Hypsometric Analysis Of Coastal Bay Environments: Hog Island Bay, Virginia, Kathleen Marie Overman

OES Theses and Dissertations

Sea level has been rising at a variable rate since the end of the last glaciation approximately 18,000 years ago. As the transgressing sea inundates the shore areas a series of landform state changes occur in coastal regions. One such change of state in a coastal paleo-river channel is from an estuary into a coastal lagoon. At large temporal intervals (thousands of years) the hypsometry of a coastal lagoon varies as a result of sea level rise due to these changes of state. Using a morphostatic technique, the time period in which an estuary transforms into a coastal lagoon can …

Effects Of Human Disturbances On The Behavior Of Dabbling Ducks, Melissa Lynn Pease

Biological Sciences Theses & Dissertations

Disturbance of wintering and migrating birds by human activities can cause birds to expend energy in avoidance of humans and reduces the time available for resting and feeding at a time in the annual cycle when fat deposition and energy conservation are important. Also, human disturbances can effectively cause habitat loss by displacing birds from feeding or resting habitat. Managers of natural resources are increasingly faced with decisions about the types and amounts of public use that should be allowed without lowering the value of the resource for wildlife. In order for managers to make decisions about how to minimize …

A New Error Analysis For Brun's Constant, Thomas R. Nicely

Virginia Journal of Science

Enumeration of the twin primes, and the sum of their reciprocals, is extended to 3 x 10¹⁵, yielding the count π₂(3 x 10¹⁵) = 3310517800844. A more accurate estimate is obtained for Brun’s constant, B2 = 1.90216 05823 ± 0.00000 00008 . Error analysis is presented to support the contentioli that this estimate produces a 95 % confidence interval for B₂. In addition, published values of the count π(x) of primes, obtained previously by indirect means, are verified by direct coiiIit to x = 3 x 10¹⁵

Mitigation Of Water Vapor Interference For Infrared Polarization-Modulated Gas Filter Correlation Radiometry, David K. Lockwood

Electrical & Computer Engineering Theses & Dissertations

Gas filter correlation radiometry (GFCR) is a high-resolution, high-specificity technique for sensing gaseous species. A variation of absorption spectroscopy, GFCR has a long-proven record on orbital platforms for quantitative measurements of atmospheric constituents, as well as common usage in ground-based sensing applications. PMGFCR (Polarization-modulated GFCR) is a recent refinement of the technique with several advantages over the traditional method, including reducing the number of photodetectors required, increased sensitivity, and elimination of moving parts.

To date, no infrared remote sensors have successfully measured nitric oxide (NO) in vehicle exhaust due to spectral overlap by strong water vapor (H₂O_{v …}

Coherent Differential Absorption Lidar For Combined Measurement Of Wind And Trace Atmospheric Gases, Grady James Koch

Electrical & Computer Engineering Theses & Dissertations

A lidar system was developed for making combined range-resolved measurements of wind speed and direction, water vapor concentration, and carbon dioxide concentration in the atmosphere. This lidar combines the coherent Doppler technique for wind detection and the differential absorption lidar (DIAL) technique to provide a multifunctional capability. DIAL and coherent lidars have traditionally been thought of and implemented as separate instruments, but the research reported here has shown a demonstration of combining the coherent and DIAL techniques into a single instrument using solid-state lasers. The lasers used are of Ho:Tm:YLF, which operates at a wavelength of 2 μm. This wavelength …

Reconstructing Basin-Scale Eulerian Velocity Fields From Simulated Drifter Data, M. Toner, A. C. Poje, A. D. Kirwan, C. K. R. T. Jones, B. L. Lipphardt, C. E. Grosch

CCPO Publications

A single-layer, reduced-gravity, double-gyre primitive equation model in a 2000 km x 2000 km square domain is used to test the accuracy and sensitivity of time-dependent Eulerian velocity fields reconstructed from numerically generated drifter trajectories and climatology. The goal is to determine how much Lagrangian data is needed to capture the Eulerian velocity field within a specified accuracy. The Eulerian fields are found by projecting, on an analytic set of divergence-free basis functions, drifter data launched in the active western half of the basin supplemented by climatology in the eastern domain. The time-dependent coefficients are evaluated by least squares minimization …

Future Marine Zooplankton Research- A Perspective, Marine Zooplankton Colloquim 2, Eileen E. Hofmann, John M. Klinck

CCPO Publications

During the Second Marine Zooplankton Colloquium (MZC2) 3 issues were added to those developed 11 yr ago during the First Marine Zooplankton Colloquium (MZC1). First, we focused on hot spots, i.e., locations where zooplankton occur in higher than regular abundance and/or operate at higher rates. We should be able to determine the processes leading to such aggregations and rates, and quantify their persistence. Second, information on the level of individual species, even of highly abundant ones, is limited. Concerted efforts should be undertaken with highly abundant to dominant species or genera (e.g., Oithona spp., Calanus spp., Oikopleura spp., Euphausia superba …

Observations Of Intratidal Variability Of Flows Over A Sill/Contraction Combination In A Chilean Fjord, Arnoldo Valle-Levinson, Fernando Jara, Carlos Molinet, Doris Soto

CCPO Publications

Underway velocity measurements were carried out for the first time in a Chilean fjord using an acoustic Doppler velocimeter with the purpose of elucidating the intratidal variability of flows through a pass, Paso Galvarino. The pass included a sill, where the bottom sloped by roughly 30%, and a coastline contraction of -90%. The relatively small dimensions of the pass allowed for rapid sampling of the flow evolution throughout the tidal cycle. The backscattered sound signal from the velocimeter and from an echo sounder were used to describe the vertical excursions of the pycnocline throughout the domain and to identify regions …

Wind And Gulf Stream Influences On Along-Shelf Transport And Off-Shelf Export At Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, Dana K. Savidge, John M. Bane Jr.

CCPO Publications

Along-shelf transports across three cross-shelf lines on the continental shelf near Cape Hatteras have been calculated from moored current meter data over a continuous 24 month period in 1992-1994. The along-shelf convergence has been used to infer off-shelf export. Transport and transport convergence have been related to wind and Gulf Stream forcing and to variability in sea level at the coast. The along-shelf transport variability is primarily wind-driven and highly correlated with sea level fluctuations at the coast. Both winds and along-shelf transport exhibit a near-annual period variability. Along shelf transport is not well correlated with Gulf Stream offshore position. …

Effects Of Collection, Transport, And Redeployment Methods On Natural Mortality Of Rangia Cuneata (Mactridae) Used In Biomonitoring Studies, Eugene G. Maurakis, David V. Grimes, William C. Gretes

Virginia Journal of Science

Sporadic, high mortality in test populations of wedge clams (Rangia cuneata) has limited the potential for using this otherwise desirable test organism in biomonitoring studies. To determine whether high mortality was due to ontogenic or experimental variables, a two-phased study was conducted. In phase I, mortality of collected and re-deployed wedge clams, subjected to varying transport conditions, was determined at 7, 14, 21 and 60 days re-deployment. The use of three transport times (1, 2, 3 hr.), two vehicle conditions (open, closed) and three transport treatments (open, closed, iced containers) yielded 18 test groups. Individual test group mortalities …

Coherent-Path Model For Nuclear Resonant Scattering Of Gamma Radiation From Nuclei Excited By Synchrotron Radiation, Gilbert R. Hoy, Jos Odeurs, Romain Coussement

Physics Faculty Publications

Previous theoretical descriptions of nuclear resonant scattering of synchrotron radiation have been based on the semiclassical optical model or on several quantum mechanical models. These models are fine but do not give a clear physical picture of all the processes. The theory presented here gives a clear physical picture of all the relevant aspects of nuclear resonant scattering. The model treats the nuclear resonant sample as a one-dimensional chain of "effective" nuclei. However, the model is deceptive. It only appears to be one dimensional. It actually treats the sample as a series of "effective" planes. The analysis uses the time-dependent …

Gamma Echo Interpreted As A Phase-Shift Induced Transparency, Gilbert R. Hoy, Jos Odeurs

Physics Faculty Publications

In the gamma-echo technique a radioactive source is moved, with respect to a nuclear-resonant absorber, during the lifetime of first-excited nuclear state. This introduces a phase shift between the source radiation and the radiation from the absorber. If the source is moved abruptly, introducing a pi phase shift, the time-dependent intensity shows a sharp increase in the intensity at that time, the "gamma echo." Using the recently developed one-dimensional quantum-mechanical model, based on the technique developed by Heitler and Harris, the gamma-echo effect is seen to be a phase-shift-induced transparency. A closed-form solution for the time-dependent transmitted intensity has been …

Can Long-Term Variability In The Gulf Stream Transport Be Inferred From Sea Level?, Tal Ezer

CCPO Publications

Recent studies by Sturges and collaborators suggest a simple, but powerful, technique to estimate climatic changes in the transport of the Gulf Stream from the difference between the oceanic sea level calculated with a simple wind-driven Rossby wave model and the observed coastal sea level. The hypothesis behind this technique is tested, using 40 years of data (1950 to 1989) obtained from a three-dimensional Atlantic Ocean model forced by observed surface data. The analysis shows that variations in sea level difference between the ocean and the coast are indeed coherent with variations of the Gulf Stream transport for periods shorter …