Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Usarray Imaging Of North American Continental Crust, Xiaofei Ma

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The layered structure and bulk composition of continental crust contains important clues about its history of mountain-building, about its magmatic evolution, and about dynamical processes that continue to happen now. Geophysical and geological features such as gravity anomalies, surface topography, lithospheric strength and the deformation that drives the earthquake cycle are all directly related to deep crustal chemistry and the movement of materials through the crust that alter that chemistry.

The North American continental crust records billions of years of history of tectonic and dynamical changes. The western U.S. is currently experiencing a diverse array of dynamical processes including modification …

Application Of Machine Learning And Statistical Learning Methods For Prediction In A Large-Scale Vegetation Map, Carla M. Brookey

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Original analyses of a large vegetation cover dataset from Roosevelt National Forest in northern Colorado were carried out by Blackard (1998) and Blackard and Dean (1998; 2000). They compared the classification accuracies of linear and quadratic discriminant analysis (LDA and QDA) with artificial neural networks (ANN) and obtained an overall classification accuracy of 70.58% for a tuned ANN compared to 58.38% for LDA and 52.76% for QDA.

Because there has been tremendous development of machine learning classification methods over the last 35 years in both computer science and statistics, as well as substantial improvements in the speed of computer hardware, …

3d Photogrammetry Quantifies Growth And External Erosion Of Individual Coral Colonies And Skeletons, Renata Ferrari, Will F. Figueira, Morgan S. Pratchett, Tatiana Boube, Arne Adam, Tania Kobelkowsky-Vidrio, Steve S. Doo, Trisha Brooke Atwood, Maria Byrne

Watershed Sciences Faculty Publications

Growth and contraction of ecosystem engineers, such as trees, influence ecosystem structure and function. On coral reefs, methods to measure small changes in the structure of microhabitats, driven by growth of coral colonies and contraction of skeletons, are extremely limited. We used 3D reconstructions to quantify changes in the external structure of coral colonies of tabular Acropora spp., the dominant habitat-forming corals in shallow exposed reefs across the Pacific. The volume and surface area of live colonies increased by 21% and 22%, respectively, in 12 months, corresponding to a mean annual linear extension of 5.62 cm yr⁻¹ (±1.81 SE). …

Foundations Of Translational Ecology, Carolyn Af Enquist, Stephen T. Jackson, Gregg M. Garfin, Frank W. Davis, Leah R. Gerber, Jeremy A. Littell, Jennifer L. Tank, Adam J. Terando, Tamara U. Wall, Benjamin Halpern, J. Kevin Hiers, Toni Kyn Morelli, Elizabeth Mcnie, Nathan L. Stephenson, Matthew A. Williamson, Connie A. Woodhouse, Laurie Yung, Mark W. Brunson, Kimberly R. Hall, Lauren M. Hallett, Dawn M. Lawson, Max A. Mortiz, Koren Nydick, Amber Pairis, Andrea J. Ray, Claudia Regan, Hugh D. Safford, Mark W. Schwartz, M. Rebecca Shaw

Environment and Society Faculty Publications

Ecologists who specialize in translational ecology (TE) seek to link ecological knowledge to decision making by integrating ecological science with the full complement of social dimensions that underlie today's complex environmental issues. TE is motivated by a search for outcomes that directly serve the needs of natural resource managers and decision makers. This objective distinguishes it from both basic and applied ecological research and, as a practice, it deliberately extends research beyond theory or opportunistic applications. TE is uniquely positioned to address complex issues through interdisciplinary team approaches and integrated scientist–practitioner partnerships. The creativity and context-specific knowledge of resource managers, …

Introduction To The Usu Library Of Solutions To The Einstein Field Equations, Ian M. Anderson, Charles G. Torre

Tutorials on... in 1 hour or less

This is a Maple worksheet providing an introduction to the USU Library of Solutions to the Einstein Field Equations. The library is part of the DifferentialGeometry software project and is a collection of symbolic data and metadata describing solutions to the Einstein equations.

Longitudinal Thermal And Solute Dynamics In Regulated Rivers, Muhammad Rezaul Haider

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Dam releases increase river stage and can reverse groundwater movement into and out of the river. As the flood, thermal, and solute waves travel downstream in a regulated river, the size of the waves is anticipated to be affected both by river processes and exchanges with near river groundwater. This study established a modeling framework to quantify the influences of the groundwater exchanges on the temperatures and solute concentration dynamics along regulated rivers. The wave properties, volume of exchanges, conservative solute mass exchanges, and heat energy exchanges were calculated as a function of time and distance downstream. Results show that …

Geological Characterization Of Precambrian Nonconformities: Implications For Injection-Induced Seismicity In The Midcontinent United States, Laura Cuccio

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The midcontinent United States, a region which typically does not experience many earthquakes, has experienced a significant increase in the number of earthquakes over the last decade. This increase in earthquake activity has been linked to wastewater injection, a process in which large volumes of wastewater from oil and gas extraction are injected into deep (2-3 km), high-permeability sedimentary rocks, near low-permeability Precambrian (>540-million-year-old) crystalline ‘basement’ rocks. The contact between these two rock types is referred to as the Precambrian nonconformity. Injection-induced earthquakes occur on or near basement-hosted faults due to an increase in pore fluid pressures, which implies …

The Investigation Of Gravity Waves In The Mesosphere / Lower Thermosphere And Their Effect On Sporadic Sodium Layer, Xuguang Cai

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Gravity waves in the atmosphere are the waves with gravity and buoyancy force as the restoring forces. Gravity waves will significantly impact the Mesosphere Lower / Thermosphere (MLT), and the breaking of gravity waves is the key factor to cause the cool summer and warm winter in the Mesopause region. Therefore, it is important for us to investigate gravity waves. In this dissertation, we mainly use USU Na lidar data to explore gravity waves in the MLT. The exploration is made up of two projects. One is the investigation of gravity wave breaking and the associated dynamic instability by USU …

Exploring And Describing The Spatial And Temporal Dynamics Of Medusahead In The Channeled Scablands Of Eastern Washington Using Remote Sensing Techniques, Timothy M. Bateman

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Medusahead is a harmful weed that is invading public lands in the West. The invasion is a serious concern to the public because it can reduce forage for livestock and wildlife, increase fire frequency, alter important ecosystem cycles (like water), reduce recreational activities, and produce landscapes that are aesthetically unpleasing. Invasions can drive up costs that generally require taxpayer’s dollars. Medusahead seedlings typically spread to new areas by attaching itself to passing objects (e.g. vehicles, animals, clothing) where it can quickly begin to affect plants communities. To be effective, management plans need to be sustainable, informed, and considerate to invasion …

Developing A Translational Ecology Workforce, Mark W. Schwarts, J. Kevin Hiers, Frank W. Davis, Gregg M. Garfin, Stephen T. Jackson, Adam J. Terando, Connie A. Woodhouse, Toni Lyn Morelli, Matthew A. Williamson, Mark W. Brunson

Environment and Society Faculty Publications

We define a translational ecologist as a professional ecologist with diverse disciplinary expertise and skill sets, as well as a suitable personal disposition, who engages across social, professional, and disciplinary boundaries to partner with decision makers to achieve practical environmental solutions. Becoming a translational ecologist requires specific attention to obtaining critical non-scientific disciplinary breadth and skills that are not typically gained through graduate-level education. Here, we outline a need for individuals with broad training in interdisciplinary skills, use our personal experiences as a basis for assessing the types of interdisciplinary skills that would benefit potential translational ecologists, and present steps …

A Universal Genus-Two Curve From Siegel Modular Forms, Andreas Malmendier, Tony Shaska

Mathematics and Statistics Faculty Publications

Let p be any point in the moduli space of genus-two curves M₂ and K its field of moduli. We provide a universal equation of a genus-two curve C_α,β defined over K(α, β), corresponding to p, where α and β satisfy a quadratic α² + bβ² = c such that b and c are given in terms of ratios of Siegel modular forms. The curve C_α,β is defined over the field of moduli K if and only if the quadratic has a K-rational point (α, β). We discover some interesting …

Using Data To Improve Services For Infants With Hearing Loss: Linking Newborn Hearing Screening Records With Early Intervention Records, Maria Gonzalez, Lori Iarossi, Yan Wu, Ying Huang, Kirsten Siegenthaler

Journal of Early Hearing Detection and Intervention: Volume 9 Issue 1, pages 1-53

The purpose of this study was to match records of infants with permanent hearing loss from the New York Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Information System (NYEHDI-IS) to records of infants with permanent hearing loss receiving early intervention services from the New York State Early Intervention Program (NYSEIP) to identify areas in the state where hearing screening, diagnostic evaluations and referrals to the NYSEIP were not being made or documented in a timely manner. Data from 2014-2016 NYEHDI-IS and NYEIS information systems were matched using The Link King. There were 274 infants documented in NYEIS Information System as receiving early …

The Pulsed Electro-Acoustic Method, Zack Gibson

Physics Student Research

A Pulsed Electro-Acoustic (PEA) system has been developed and is being used to study electron charge injection, transport, and relaxation in highly disordered insulating materials. The material is placed between two electrodes in a parallel plate configuration. The sample is injected with charge via electrode charging by applying a high voltage across the sample. The distribution of charge in the dielectric is measured with PEA by applying a ~100 MHz ~850 V electric pulse to displace the embedded charge, causing an acoustic pulse monitored via time-of-flight with a thin piezoelectric sensor allowing observation of charge accumulation and dissipation. Measurements of …

Phenology Largely Explains Taller Grass At Successful Nests In Greater Sage-Grouse, Joseph T. Smith, Jason D. Tack, Kevin Doherty, Brady W. Allred, Jeremy D. Maestas, Lorelle I. Berkeley, Seth J. Dettenmaier, Terry A. Messmer, David E. Naugle

Wildland Resources Faculty Publications

Much interest lies in the identification of manageable habitat variables that affect key vital rates for species of concern. For ground-nesting birds, vegetation surrounding the nest may play an important role in mediating nest success by providing concealment from predators. Height of grasses surrounding the nest is thought to be a driver of nest survival in greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus; sage-grouse), a species that has experienced widespread population declines throughout their range. However, a growing body of the literature has found that widely used field methods can produce misleading inference on the relationship between grass height and nest success. Specifically, …

Stability Of Equilibria In Quantitative Genetic Models Based On Modified-Gradient Systems, Benjamin J. Ridenhour, Jerry R. Ridenhour

Mathematics and Statistics Faculty Publications

Motivated by questions in biology, we investigate the stability of equilibria of the dynamical system x′ = P(t)∇f(x) which arise as critical points of f, under the assumption that P(t) is positive semi-definite. It is shown that the condition ∫^∞λ₁(P(t)) dt = ∞, where λ₁(P(t)) is the smallest eigenvalue of P(t), plays a key role in guaranteeing uniform asymptotic stability and in providing information on the basis of attraction of those equilibria.

Usu Rayleigh-Scatter Lidar 2014-2015 Nightly Temperatures, Leda Sox, Vincent B. Wickwar, Tao Yuan

Browse all Datasets

Temperatures from a collocated Rayleigh-scatter lidar (RSL) and sodium resonance lidar were compared night-by-night, at different altitude levels, and hour-by-hour.

Three zipped files are provided.

USU RSL 2014-2015 [O] Corrected Temperatures.zip contains 36 files, one per night and hour, in RSLHourlyTemperaturesYYYYMMDDhour#.txt filename format.

USU RSL 2014-2015 Hourly Temperatures.zip contains 36 files, one per night and hour, in RSLHourlyTemperaturesYYYYMMDDhour#.txt filename format.

USU RSL 2014-2015 Nightly Temperatures.zip contains 19 files, one per night, in RSLTemperaturesYYYYMMDD.txt filename format.

Ncer Assistance Agreement Annual Progress Report For Grant #83582401 - Assessment Of Stormwater Harvesting Via Manage Aquifer Recharge (Mar) To Develop New Water Supplies In The Arid West: The Salt Lake Valley Example, Ryan Dupont, Joan E. Mclean, Richard C. Peralta, Sarah E. Null, Douglas B. Jackson-Smith

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

The aims of the original proposed project remain the same, that is, to test the hypothesis that Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR) for stormwater harvesting is a technically feasible, socially and environmentally acceptable, economically viable, and legally feasible option for developing new water supplies for arid Western urban ecosystems experiencing increasing population, and climate change pressures on existing water resources. The project is being carried out via three distinct but integrated components that include: 1) Monitoring of existing distributed MAR harvesting schemes involving a growing number of demonstration Green Infrastructure (GI) test sites; 2) Integrated stormwater/vadose zone/groundwater/ ecosystem services modeling; and …

Apathy And Concern Over The Future Habitability Of Earth: An Introductory College Assignment Of Forecasting Co2 In The Earth’S Atmosphere, Benjamin J. Burger

Journal on Empowering Teaching Excellence

Non-science, first year regional undergraduate students from rural Utah communities participated in an online introductory geology course and were asked to forecast the rise of CO₂ in the Earth’s atmosphere. The majority of students predicted catastrophic rise to 5,000-ppm sometime over the next 3,100 years, resulting in an atmosphere nearly uninhabitable to human life. However, the level of concern the students exhibited in their answers was not directly proportional with their timing in their forecasted rise of CO₂. This study showcases the importance of presenting students with actual data and using data to develop student forecasted models. …

Does Strong Tropospheric Forcing Cause Large-Amplitude Mesospheric Gravity Waves? A Deepwave Case Study, Martina Bramberger, Andreas Dörnbrack, Katrina Bossert, Benedikt Ehard, David C. Fritts, Bernd Kaifler, Christian Mallaun, Andrew Orr, Pierre-Dominique Pautet, Markus Rapp, Michael J. Taylor, Simon Vosper, Bifford P. Williams, Benjamin Witschas

Publications

On 4 July 2014, during the Deep Propagating Gravity Wave Experiment (DEEPWAVE), strong low-level horizontal winds of up to 35 m s⁻¹ over the Southern Alps, New Zealand, caused the excitation of gravity waves having the largest vertical energy fluxes of the whole campaign (38 W m⁻²). At the same time, large-amplitude mesospheric gravity waves were detected by the Temperature Lidar for Middle Atmospheric Research (TELMA) located at Lauder (45.0°S, 169.7°E), New Zealand. The coincidence of these two events leads to the question of whether the mesospheric gravity waves were generated by the strong tropospheric forcing. To …

Electron Parallel Transport For Arbitrary Collisionality, Jeong-Young Ji, Gunsu S. Yun, Yong-Su Na, Eric D. Held

All Physics Faculty Presentations

Integral (nonlocal) closures [J.-Y. Ji and E. D. Held, Phys. Plasmas 21, 122116 (2014)] are combined with the momentum balance equation to derive electron parallel transport relations. For a single harmonic fluctuation, the relations take the same form as the classical Spitzer theory (with possible additional terms): The electric current and heat flux densities are connected to the modified electric field and temperature gradient by transport coefficients. In contrast to the classical theory, the dimensionless coefficients depend on the collisionality quantified by a Knudsen number, the ratio of the collision length to the angular wavelength. The key difference comes from …

Electron Parallel Transport For Arbitrary Collisionality, Jeong-Young Ji, Gunsu S. Yun, Yong-Su Na, Eric D. Held

All Physics Faculty Publications

Integral (nonlocal) closures [J.-Y. Ji and E. D. Held, Phys. Plasmas 21, 122116 (2014)] are combined with the momentum balance equation to derive electron parallel transport relations. For a single harmonic fluctuation, the relations take the same form as the classical Spitzer theory (with possible additional terms): the electric current and heat flux densities are connected to the modified electric field and temperature gradient by transport coefficients. In contrast to the classical theory, the dimensionless coefficients depend on the collisionality quantified by a Knudsen number, the ratio of the collision length to the angular wavelength. The key difference comes from …

Comparison Of Various Means Of Evaluating Molecular Electrostatic Potentials For Noncovalent Interactions, Steve Scheiner

Chemistry and Biochemistry Faculty Publications

The various heterodimers formed by a series of Lewis acids with NH3 as Lewis base are identified. Lewis acids include those that can form chalcogen (HSF and HSBr), pnicogen (H2PF and H2PBr), and tetrel (H3SiF and H3SiBr) bonds, as well as H‐bonds and halogen bonds. The molecular electrostatic potential (MEP) of each Lewis acid is considered in a number of ways. Pictorial versions show broad regions of positive and negative MEP, on surfaces that vary with respect to either the value of the chosen isopotential, or their distance from the nuclei. Specific points are identified where the MEP reaches a …

Characterizing The Effects Of Radiation On Muscle Cells, Lori Caldwell, Elizabeth Vargis, Charles Harding, Jr Dennison

Posters

One of the primary concerns for those spending time in low gravity and high radiation environments is muscle atrophy. A major cause of muscular atrophy is oxidative stress which is amplified by increased levels of ionizing radiation during spaceflight. Additionally, high levels of radiation can damage DNA, increasing the risk of cancer. Utah State University’s Space Environment Test Facility was used to irradiate C2C12 myoblasts and human vascular endothelial cells with a beta-radiation dosage mimicking that on the International Space Station and a 3-year deep space mission.

Can Hcch/Hbnh Break B=N/C=C Bonds Of Single-Wall Bn/Carbon Nanotubes At Their Surface?, Tapas Kar, Peter Grüninger, Steve Scheiner, Holger F. Bettinger, Ajit K. Roy

Chemistry and Biochemistry Faculty Publications

The iminoborane (HBNH) molecule, which prefers cycloaddition reactions, selectively breaks a B=N bond of smaller diameter single-wall BNNTs and expands a ring at their surface, either at the edges or at the middle of the tube. Density functional theory (DFT) is used to test whether its organic counterpart HCCH can do the same with BNNTs. HCCH-BNNT complexes are identified and transition states located for these combination reactions. Also explored are possible reactions of HBNH with SWNTs and HCCH with SWNTs. Data suggest that B=N (C=C) bond breaking, followed by ring expansion at the surface may be possible. Although [2+2] cycloaddition …

Sheaf Theory Approach To Distributed Applications: Analysing Heterogeneous Data In Air Traffic Monitoring, Seyed M.H. Mansourbeigi

Computer Science Student Research

The goal of the present article is to demonstrate a mathematical modeling for distributed applications. The present paper applies tools from topology and sheaf theory as an appropriate mathematical modeling to reflect interactions among elements of distributed applications resources. Sensors are characterized from their topological representations in distributed network system. This modeling is applied for the study of the air traffic monitoring system and discuss the model in detail.

Temperature Dependence Of Electrostatic Discharge In Highly Disordered Polymers, Tyler Kippen, Allen Andersen, Jr Dennison

Posters

No abstract provided.

Electron Yield Of A Carbon-Composite Nanodielectric, Matthew Robertson, Justin Christensen, Greg Wilson, Jr Dennison

Posters

No abstract provided.

Pulsed Electro-Acoustic Measurements Of Charging And Relaxation In Low Density Polyethylene, Zachary Gibson

Presentations

No abstract provided.

A Numerical Investigation On Tidal And Gravity Wave Contributions To The Summer Time Na Variations In The Midlatitude E Region, Xuguang Cai, Tao Yuan, J. Vincent Eccles

All Physics Faculty Publications

The Na density variations in the E region have been studied over the past few decades. Although considerable progress in understanding and in modeling the metal layer observations has been made, Na density features above 100 km have yet to be explained. Various studies have linked them to the Na⁺variations, a major reservoir for Na in E region. But the lack of comprehensive modeling investigations and of wind and temperature observations prevents further understanding on this important ion‐neutral coupling topic. In this study, we conduct a numerical simulation on the summer time Na density behavior in the midlatitude …

Characterizing The Effects Of Radiation On Muscle Cells, Lori Caldwell, Charles Harding, Jr Dennison, Elizabeth Vargis

Posters

As longer space missions become more desirable to public and private institutions, the physiological impact on astronauts must be considered. One of the primary concerns for those spending time in low gravity and high radiation environments is muscle atrophy. A major cause of muscular atrophy is oxidative stress which is amplified by increased levels of ionizing radiation during spaceflight. Additionally, high levels of radiation can damage DNA, increasing the risk of cancer. Utah State University’s Space Environment Test Facility was used to irradiate C2C12 myoblasts and human vascular endothelial cells with a dosage mimicking that on the International Space Station …