Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Assessment Of Coliform Bacteria From Point And Nonpoint Sources In The Las Vegas Wash, Susan O'Neill, Kumud Acharya

Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP)

This project focuses on an assessment of coliform bacteria from point and non point sources in Las Vegas Wash. Correlations between land use related runoffs, nutrients and organic matter loading and total coliform will be studied. Data will be collected for both daily low and high flow events. Sampling locations will cover all major land use types such as golf course, hotels, hospitals, residential areas, etc., at both the main Wash and its tributaries.

Heat Capacity And High Pressure Exploration Of Ybb2, Brant Abeln, Andrew Cornelius

Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP)

The compound YbB2 has been reported to order anti-ferromagnetically at temperatures around 5.6 K. This transition was verified from heat capacity data taken in different magnetic fields by our Quantum Design PPMS system. X-ray diffraction measurements have been performed using this sample under different pressures at the APS facility in Argonne National Laboratory. A sudden change in resistivity measurements of the sample indicated a possible structural phase transition around 3 GPa. The data indicates the YbB2 compound is not responsible for the anomaly.

Structural Studies Of Crsi2 At High Pressures And Temperatures, Weldu Gabrimicael, Ravhi S. Kumar, Andrew Cornelius

Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP)

It is of extreme importance to develop new potential energy sources to reduce dependence on fossil fuels. As a result of this, the study of thermoelectric materials, capable of changing heat into electrical energy, has become a field of great interest regarding fundamental properties. To help better understand these materials, facilities for the measurement of relevant properties at high pressure have been developed, but lack the ability to characterize the materials at high temperature and pressure. Therefore, this project has the goal of developing a heater arrangement to be used in conjunction with the high pressure capabilities already developed to …

The Search For Ferroelectric Domain Structures In Carbohydrate Glasses Using Atomic Force Microscopy, Louis S. Prahl, David P. Shelton

Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP)

D-glucose was studied as a possible candidate for ferroelectric domain imaging using an Atomic Force Microscope (AFM). The large dipole moment of carbohydrates is such that they may show localized ferroelectric domain formation in liquid phase. Samples were heated at their melting point on glass slides and then left to cool to room temperature in a desiccator. Differential Thermal Analysis (DTA) was used to test the effectiveness of this method, and it was found that the oven preparation created samples with 41% crystallinity, where both a glass transition and sharp melting peak were observed. DTA was again used to find …

A Study Of Nife(X)Cr(2-X)O4 By Laser Micro-Raman Spectroscopy, Lucas Wilson, Markus Vasquez, John Farley, Allen L. Johnson, Brian D. Hosterman

Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP)

Standards of spinels, composed of two metals and oxygen with the formula AB2O4, are being created with known composition to identify spinels in samples of unknown composition by comparison with the spectra obtained from the standards. Laser micro-Raman spectroscopy allows the identification of chemical species based on their unique vibrational modes. The degree to which spinels of varying composition can be identified will be determined. This will aid in the study of the corrosion of steel by liquid metal. Spinels are a likely component of the oxide layer. Understanding the composition of the products of corrosion leads to an understanding …

Magnetic Ordering Phase Transitions Of Gd2sn2o7, Gordon Tam, Andrew Cornelius, Daniel Antonio

Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP)

Pyrochlores with magnetic rare earth ions are a topic of interest due to unusual results brought about by their high degree of geometrical frustration. The lattice structure prevents the magnetic spin interactions from finding a single minimum energy state, which leads to a nonzero residual entropy[1]. By analyzing the heat capacity at low temperatures, the type of magnetic interaction can be determined and the temperatures at which long-range magnetic ordering and magnetic field induced splitting of energy states occur.

Raman Studies Of 1,3,5,7 Cyclooctatetraene At High Pressure, Martin Galley, Ed Romano, Sergey Tkachev, Michael Pravica

Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP)

We performed Raman spectroscopic studies of 1,3,5,7-cyclooctatetraene at elevated pressures up to 10 GPa with the aim of examining possible planarization of the molecule and further studying two prior-discovered phases of the solid with pressure. The Raman excitation source was a Krypton-ion laser operating at 674.1 nm (give wavelength).

1,3,5,7 Cyclooctatetraene has an octagonal formation however it is not aromatic or anti-aromatic (not a subject to the 4n+2 Huckel’s rule) [1]. As a result, its adopts a somewhat reactive tub shape. Upon the addition or removal of one to two electrons under ambient conditions, the molecule planarizes and becomes aromatic …

Modeling The Deformation Of Fayalite, Greg Hoth, Mike Brawner, Pamela Burnley

Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP)

We are studying how the mineral fayalite deforms under stress while it is subject to high pressures and temperatures. Specifically, we are analyzing x-ray diffraction spectra obtained from experiments with the D-DIA apparatus at Brookhaven national labs. By fitting peaks to the diffraction spectra, we can calculate the spacing between lattice planes of fayalite and so we can observe how this spacing changes over time as the crystal structure deforms We hope to show that this deformation can be modeled using an Elastic Plastic Self Consistent model. In such a model, the material is treated as a cluster of independently …

Spatially Resolved Optical Absorption Spectrometry And Single Crystal Diffraction On Metamict Materials, Alison Savage, Oliver Tschauner, Sergey Tkachev

Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP)

A major goal in developing storage medium for radioactive waste is the identification of chemically suitable and durable material for storage in repositories (Lumpkin 2006). Radiation damage induces enhanced chemical diffusion and structural breakdown of the host materials, which can lead to contamination of the surrounding environment. During this project four different naturally occurring materials which are common carriers of thorium and uranium were examined : gadolinite, perrierite, allanite, and pyrochlore of which the first three are silicates and pyrochlore being an oxide. Their spectra and absorptions bands were examined to identify prominent features due to radiation damage. The goal …

Stereospecificity In Glucose Consumption: A New Approach To Martian Life Detection, Vienna R. Saccomanno, Henry J. Sun

Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP)

In 1976, the Viking mission made a remarkable discovery: Martian soil was capable of decomposing an organic nutrient broth to carbon dioxide as if it contained live microorganisms. However, a biological interpretation of this finding is in apparent contradiction with the gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer aboard the Viking landers, which showed Martian soil to be devoid of indigenous organics. To reconcile these findings, it has been hypothesized that unknown abiotic oxidants, such as peroxide and superoxide, are present on Mars and that they were responsible for its soil reactivity. The objective of this research is to develop a life detection method …

Influence Of Nabh4 Reduction On The Hydrogen Storage Properties Of Aniline/Pd Composite Materials, Whitney Shofner, David W. Hatchett

Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP)

The characterization and chemical synthesis of composites containing aniline and N-Phenylenediamine (NPPD), synthesized with palladium, will be analyzed according to recent studies [1] to confer hydrogen storage capabilities. The palladium metal will be introduced as either PdCl4 2- or PdCl2 2-. The experiments will be carried out under both acidic and non-acidic conditions forming a total of 8 different compounds. Each compound will be reduced with NaBH4 and analyzed using gas chromatography to measure hydrogen storage. Infrared spectroscopy and ultraviolet visible spectroscopy will also be used to gather data concerning each compound.

Potential Antimicrobial Properties Of The Cyanobacterium Microcoleus Vaginatus In Relationship To The Moss Bryum Argenteum, Crystal Erickson, Lloyd Stark

Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP)

Biological soil crusts play important ecological roles in arid desert regions. These crusts cycle nutrients, prevent wind/water erosion, and form the basis of food chains and soil formation in desert communities. Primary components of these structures include two desert moss species Bryum argenteum and Syntrichia caninervis, and Microcoleus vaginatus, a cyanobacterium. Our Phase I experiment strongly suggests that in an environment of intense light, a condition of stress to Syntrichia caninervis, there is an increase in shoot regeneration when cyanobacteria are present compared to when they are absent. Microcoleus is a highly motile species and our lab observations of fewer …

Phonon Density Of States Of Iron Solid Solutions At Ambient And High Pressures Using Nuclear Inelastic X-Ray Scattering (Nrixs), Samantha L. Combs, Elizabeth A. Tanis, Malcolm Nicol

Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP)

Nuclear resonant inelastic x-ray scattering (NRIXS) of synchrotron radiation uses the energy transferred during the inelastic nuclear absorption of photons to determine phonon density of states for solid Mössbauer isotopes. This type of experiment can be conducted at ambient and high pressures with the use of a diamond anvil cell (DAC) and a rhenium gasket. Here, we are concerned with the phonon DOS of α-FePt 10% at pressures up to 30 GPa, as well as FeAl 4.3%, 6.4%, and 27.1% at ambient pressures. The iron samples used are doped in order to increase the pressure at which the alpha to …

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Developing Accurate Spatial Maps Of Cotton Fiber Quality Parameters, Gretchen F. Sassenrath

Conference on Applied Statistics in Agriculture

Awareness of the importance of cotton fiber quality (Gossypium, L. sps.) has increased as advances in spinning technology require better quality cotton fiber. Recent advances in geospatial information sciences allow an improved ability to study the extent and causes of spatial variability in fiber parameters. However, these studies are often harvested by hand and ginned on small research gins. Fiber quality from cotton lint harvested and ginned in this manner is different from that machine-harvested and ginned on production-scale equipment. The objective of this study was to develop a method of correcting for error introduced into cotton fiber quality parameters …

Nonlinear Mixed Models To Evaluate Effects Of Environment Conditions, Hair Coat, And Anchor Length On Body Temperature During Afternoon Milking Of Holstein Cows In Hawaii, N Aitha, A. M. Parkhurst, C. N. Lee, P. E. Hillman

Conference on Applied Statistics in Agriculture

A hot thermal environment is one factor that causes loss of activity, productivity and even death in cows. One reason may be the effect of hair coat (black or white) on body temperature during different activities and environment conditions. In this study, we attempt to characterize the relationship between body temperature over time using activity, physiological and environmental effects with a nonlinear regression model. The fixed and mixed versions of models are examined. We also examine the effect of the measuring device, anchor length (long or short). Environmental effects, such as, air temperature, thermal heat index (THI), relative humidity, solar …

A Two-Stage Approach For Estimating The Effect Of Dna Methylation On Differential Expression Using Tiling Array Technology, Suk-Young Yoo, R. W. Doerge

Conference on Applied Statistics in Agriculture

Epigenetics is the study of heritable alterations in gene function without changing the DNA sequence itself. It is known that epigenetic modifications such as DNA methylation and histone modifications are highly correlated with the regulation of gene expression. A twostage analysis is proposed that employs a hidden Markov model and a linear model to evaluate differential expression as related to DNA methylation for the purpose of examining the effects of DNA methylation on gene regulation using tiling array technology. In the first stage, a hidden Markov model (HMM) is employed to estimate the methylation status per tile by utilizing information …

Spatial Clustering Using The Likelihood Function, April Kerby, David Marx, Ashok Samal, Viacheslav Adamchuk

Conference on Applied Statistics in Agriculture

Clustering has been widely used as a tool to group multivariate observations that have similar characteristics. However, most attempts at formulating a method to group similar multivariate observations while taking into account their spatial location are relatively ad hoc and do not account for the underlying spatial structure of the variables measured [12, 13, 14]. This paper proposes a method to spatially cluster similar observations based on the likelihood function. The geographic or spatial location of the observations can be incorporated into the likelihood of the multivariate normal distribution through the variance-covariance matrix. The variance-covariance matrix can be computed using …

Statistical Issues In Efficacy Evaluation For Companion Animal Drug Development, Zhanglin Lin Cui, Wherly Hoffman

Conference on Applied Statistics in Agriculture

Companion animals, commonly called pets, are animals such as dogs, cats, and horses. The companion animal drug market has expanded rapidly in recent years. Two major points of focus in companion animal drug development are therapeutics and parasiticides. From a statistics point of view, experimental design, experimental unit determination, sample size estimation and reestimation, treatment design, data transformation, multiple testing, and proper modeling are major statistical issues when efficacy evaluation in a companion animal study is conducted. These major statistical issues are addressed using two clinical studies as examples: Reconcile® (Fluoxetine) for the treatment of separation anxiety in dogs and …

Modeling Seasonal Wine Grape Development Using A Mixture Technique, William J. Price, Bahman Shafii, Paul E. Blom, Julie M. Tarara, Nick Dokoozlian, Luis J. Sanchez

Conference on Applied Statistics in Agriculture

Biological growth data typically display an increasing sigmoidal pattern over time. Grape development is no exception and shows a similar general trend. A detailed examination of the growth process in grapes, however, reveals a few systematic deviations from this pattern. Specifically, grape development is often characterized by localized areas of growth plateaus leading to an overall growth pattern referred to as a double sigmoidal curve. Capturing and characterizing these local changes in growth is important as they represent important phases in grape development such as veraison. This paper utilizes a model adapted from the technique of mixture models to estimate …

Comparisons Of Two Symmetric Density Function Solutions Of Aphid Population Growth Models, J. H. Matis, T. R. Kiffey, W. Van Der Werf, A. C. Costamagna, T. I. Matis, G. J. Michels Jr

Conference on Applied Statistics in Agriculture

Aphids are among the world's most devastating crop pests, and their population trajectories in field crops are characterized by rapid boom and bust, under the influence of bottom up (host plant) and top down (natural enemy) forces. Theoretical development in aphid growth trajectory modeling has recently advanced quite significantly, and the logistic and normal probability density functions have been found to provide analytical solutions to mechanistic models of the aphid population growth dynamics. The logistic or hyperbolic secant squared model captures a growth trajectory shaped by negative feedback of the aphid population on itself, due to the accumulation of adverse …

Statistical Issues In The Normalizationof Multi-Species Microarray Data, John R. Stevens, Balasubramanian Ganesan, Prerak Desai, Sweta Rajan, Bart C. Weimer

Conference on Applied Statistics in Agriculture

Several species of bacteria are involved in the production of cheese, including Lactobacillus brevis and Lactococcus lactis. A custom-designed Affymetrix microarray was recently developed to study gene expression in three organisms on a single chip. This array contains only perfect match features for the coding and non-coding regions in the genomes of all three sequences. The multi-species nature of this array version raises interesting questions regarding the preprocessing or normalization strategies for the analysis of gene expression data. We present and evaluate several possible strategies using both cDNA dilution data and experimental expression data from a repeated measures design. The …

Multi-Trait Qtl Mapping Using A Structural Equation Model, Xiaojuan Mi, Kent M. Eskridge, Dong Wang

Conference on Applied Statistics in Agriculture

Research on mapping quantitative trait loci (QTL) often results in data on a number of traits that have well established causal relationships. Many multi-trait QTL mapping methods, taking into account the correlation among the multiple traits, have been developed to improve the statistical power of the test for QTL and the precision of parameter estimation. However none of these methods are capable of incorporating the causal structure among the traits with the consequence that genetic functions of the QTL may not be fully understood. Structural equation modeling (SEM) allows researchers to explicitly characterize the causal structure among the variables and …

Dynamic Clustering Of Cell-Cycle Microarray Data, Lingling An, R. W. Doerge

Conference on Applied Statistics in Agriculture

The cell cycle is a crucial series of events that are repeated over time, allowing the cell to grow, duplicate, and split. Cell-cycle systems play an important role in cancer and other biological processes. Using gene expression data gained from microarray technology it is possible to group or cluster genes that are involved in the cell-cycle for the purpose of exploring their functional co-regulation. Typically, the goal of clustering methods as applied to gene expression data is to place genes with similar expression patterns or profiles into the same group or cluster for the purpose of inferring the function of …

Testing Variance Components By Two Jackknife Methods, Jixiang Wu, Johnie N. Jenkins, Jack C. Mccarty

Conference on Applied Statistics in Agriculture

The jackknife method, a resampling technique, has been widely used for statistical tests for years. The pseudo value based jackknife method (defined as pseudo jackknife method) is commonly used to reduce the bias for an estimate; however, sometimes it could result in large variation for an estimate and thus reduce the power for parameters of interest. In this study, a non-pseudo value based jackknife method (defined as non-pseudo jackknife method) was used for testing variance components under mixed linear models. We compared this non-pseudo value based jackknife method and the pseudo value based method by simulation regarding their biases, Type …

Editor's Preface And Table Of Contents, Gary L. Gadbury

Conference on Applied Statistics in Agriculture

These proceedings contain papers presented in the twentieth annual Kansas State University Conference on Applied Statistics in Agriculture, held in Manhattan, Kansas, April 27- April 29, 2008.

The Cyber-Workplace – Identifying Liability Issues In The Information Age And Managing E-Risk, Nigel Wilson

Annual ADFSL Conference on Digital Forensics, Security and Law

The information age provides numerous opportunities for modern society but also presents significant challenges in identifying liability issues and in managing risk. Technological change has occurred rapidly and is continuing at the same time as other major trends and changes are taking place in society and, in particular, in the workplace. The prospect of global liability and the complexity of jurisdictional differences present a considerable hurdle to the uniform regulation of liability issues. General legislation and legal principles have been readily applied to the cyber-world and to modern business practices and the workplace. Where necessary, legislatures have introduced specific legislation …

Data Mining Techniques For Fraud Detection, Rekha Bhowmik

Annual ADFSL Conference on Digital Forensics, Security and Law

The paper presents application of data mining techniques to fraud analysis. We present some classification and prediction data mining techniques which we consider important to handle fraud detection. There exist a number of data mining algorithms and we present statistics-based algorithm, decision tree-based algorithm and rule-based algorithm. We present Bayesian classification model to detect fraud in automobile insurance. Naïve Bayesian visualization is selected to analyze and interpret the classifier predictions. We illustrate how ROC curves can be deployed for model assessment in order to provide a more intuitive analysis of the models.

Keywords: Data Mining, Decision Tree, Bayesian Network, ROC …

Simple - Rethinking The Monolithic Approach To Digital Forensic Software, Craig Valli

Annual ADFSL Conference on Digital Forensics, Security and Law

This paper outlines a collaborative project nearing completion between the sec.au Security Research Group at Edith Cowan University and Western Australian Police Computer Crime Squad. The primary goal of this project is to create a software tool for use by non-technical law enforcement officers during the initial investigation and assessment of an electronic crime scene. This tool will be designed as an initial response tool, to quickly and easily find, view and export any relevant files stored on a computer, establishing if further expert investigation of that computer is warranted. When fully developed, the tool will allow investigators unprecedented real …

How Virtualized Environments Affect Computer Forensics, Diane Barrett

Annual ADFSL Conference on Digital Forensics, Security and Law

Virtualized environments can make forensics investigation more difficult. Technological advances in virtualization tools essentially make removable media a PC that can be carried around in a pocket or around a neck. Running operating systems and applications this way leaves very little trace on the host system. This paper will explore all the newest methods for virtualized environments and the implications they have on the world of forensics. It will begin by describing and differentiating between software and hardware virtualization. It will then move on to explain the various methods used for server and desktop virtualization. Next, it will describe the …