Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

An Understanding Of Factors Controlling Isotopic Ratios Of Wine As A Potential Surrogate Of Past Precipitation, Eric Alan Caldwell

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Precipitation, vapor water, ground water, soil water, grape berry and grape leaf water, grape must, and vintage wines were collected from northern California for stable isotopic analysis. An understanding of factors controlling isotopic ratios of wine allows evaluation of wine as a surrogate of past precipitation. Stable isotopic compositions of grape berry waters collected at Charles Krug Winery in Napa Valley. CA range from -31 to -17 per mil in 8D and +7.2 to +15.3 per mil in 8180, and plot along a transpiration line of slope 2. 7. Grape leaf waters range from -25 to +5 per mil in …

Federal Minimums: Insufficient To Save The Bay, Roy A. Hoagland, Jean G. Watts

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

On The Mechanism Of Giant Electromotility In Polyelectrolyte Gels, Kimberly Ann Branshaw '95

Honors Projects

Electromotility, i.e. bending in response to an electric field, of polyelectrolyte gels in ionic solutions has recently been investigated at a few leading academic and industrial labs as a potential chemomechanical engine. We have discovered that the underlying physics in these systems is more complex than previously believed. We have found that the bending, which seems to obey a {t power law, is inconsistent with the simple idea of a bending speed, but is consistent with a diffusion mechanism. Evidence of diffusion was independently provided by experiments on gels grown or bent in the presence of dyes. We have explored …

Novel Swelling Structures And Electromotility Response In Polyelectrolyte Gels, Dana Deardorff

Honors Projects

Electromotility, the bending in response to an electric field, of polyelectrolyte gels in ionic solutions has been identified as a candidate for a potential chemomechanical engines such as muscles. We discovered that the underlying physics of these systems is more complex than previously believed. We found that the bending as a function of time obeys a square root power law. This points strongly towards a diffusion mechanism for the bending. Kinetic evidence for diffusion was independently corroborated by experiments on gels grown or bent in the presence of dyes. We explored the effects of varying poly-ion concentration in the backbone …

A Robust Method Of Solving Nonlinear Boundary Value Problems Via Modified Compromise Programming, John L. Zornick

Theses and Dissertations

This study is an extension of Ng's previous work in which goal programming was used to determine an approximate solution to a boundary value problem. This approach follows the same basic approach developed by Ng in which the method of collocation was recast as a compromise programming model. Hence, instead of solving a system of simultaneous nonlinear equations, one seeks a compromise solution which minimizes (in a weighted residual sense) a vector norm of the differential equation residuals. A difference in this approach is that it makes use of a genetic algorithm as the optimizing engine as opposed to the …

Iron-Dithiothreitol Dependent Production Of 8-Hydroxy-2'-Deoxyguanosine In Dna, David Allan Cook

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

Oxidative damage to DNA in a metal-thiol system was studied. Calf thymus DNA was incubated in an iron(IIl)-dithiothreitol system prepared in various buffers. Damage was measured by monitoring the production of 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine. DNA oxidation was proportional to the concentration of dithiothreitol (DTT) in HEPES and tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane (Tris) buffers while it was only roughly related to DTT concentration in sodium chloride. Incubation in potassium phosphate buffer produced no damage. The results indicate that hydroxyl radicals may be generated by the iron-OTT system in HEPES, Tris, and sodium chloride, while in the phosphate buffer an iron phosphate complex may be formed which …

Differentiable Circle Maps With A Flat Interval, J. Graczyk, L. B. Jonker, G. Swiatek, F. M. Tangerman, J. J. P. Veerman

Mathematics and Statistics Faculty Publications and Presentations

We study weakly order preserving circle maps with a flat interval, which are differentiable even on the boundary of the flat interval. We obtain estimates on the Lebesgue measure and the Hausdorff dimension of the non-wandering set. Also, a sharp transition is found from degenerate geometry to bounded geometry, depending on the degree of the singularities at the boundary of the flat interval.

Analysis Of Perched Groundwater Bodies Beneath The Radioactive Waste Management Complex At The Idaho National Engineering Laboratory, Alan V. Jones

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The migration of radionuclides and volatile chemicals through a thick sequence of unsaturated basalts and sedimentary interbeds has been documented in the Subsurface Disposal Area (SDA) at the Radioactive Waste Management Complex (RWMC) of the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory (INEL). The three mechanisms by which this migration may have occurred are seasonal infiltration from the ground surface within the SDA; flood events in 1962, 1969, and 1982; and the lateral movement of water from the spreading areas located nearby. It is currently thought that the contaminants migrated through the unsaturated sediments and basalt flows during the three flood events.

Transducers …

Groundwater And Surface-Water Interactions Along Lower Medano Creek, Great Sand Dunes National Monument, Colorado, Gregg L. Hadlock

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The objectives of this investigation are as follows: 1) review the existing hydrogeologic data for the San Luis Valley, the Great Sand Dunes Monument, and Medano Creek; 2) review the surface-water data that have been collected on Medano Creek; 3) collect or review previously collected water-level data obtained in the area of lower Medano Creek and correlate them with the surface-water data; 4) conduct constant-head permeameter tests on sand samples collected near the ground surface along lower Medano Creek; 5) produce a conceptual model of lower Medano Creek; and 6) produce a numerical model of lower Medano Creek that will …

Late Quaternary Glacial Geology, Shoreline Morphology, And Tephrochronology Of The Lliamna/Naknek/Brooks Lake Area, Southwestern Alaska, Karen B. Stilwell

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

This study focuses on the late-Wisconsin Brooks Lake glaciation, lake-level fluctuations, and volcanic deposits in the lliamna/Naknek/Brooks Lake area on the northern Alaska Peninsula, southwestern Alaska. The Brooks Lake glaciation consists of five stades, from youngest to oldest: Kvichak, Iliamna, Newhalen, Iliuk, and Ukak. This thesis reassigns the type Mak Hill moraine to a pre-late-Wisconsin glaciation, and considers the moraine enclosing Naknek Lake an early-late-Wisconsin deposit correlative to either the Kvichak stade, lliamna stade, or both. The presence in the Iliamna Lake valley, and the absence in the Naknek Lake valley of a two-fold earliest-late-Wisconsin Kvichak/Iliamna glacial sequence suggest that …

Evaluation Of Lake Fertilization As A Tool To Assist In The Recovery Of The Snake River Sockeye Salmon (Oncorhynchus Nerka), Howard P. Gross

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

I analyzed lake fertilization (with nitrogen and phosphorus) as a tool to assist in the recovery of the Snake River sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) in the oligotrophic Sawtooth Valley Lakes in southcentral Idaho. These analyses involved monitoring, manipulating, and modelling several aspects of the lakes' primary producer, nutrient, and light parameters.

In Pettit Lake, I evaluated the effects of metalimnetic and epilimnetic fertilization in 330-m³ mesocosms. The metalimnetic treatment was equal to or more effective than the epilimnetic treatment in increasing chlorophyll a, phytoplankton biovolume, and primary productivity, yet caused smaller changes in periphyton growth and …

Disease And Habitat Change As Factors Associated With Mourning Dove Population Decline, William D. Ostrand

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The western mourning dove (Zenaida macroura) population has been declining since 1966. Data collected in 1951-52, in Fillmore, Utah, provided us a baseline for comparison with our study in the same area. Our approach was to determine whether a local population decline had occurred since the original data were collected, assess if trichomoniasis has impacted the local population, determine if changes in habitat structure affect foraging site selection, quantify changes in habitat, identify which habitats doves preferred, ascertain whether doves had responded to habitat change by changing food habits, and assess if changes in habitat were responsible in …

Parameter Estimation By Conditional Coding, Taylor Duersch

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Conditional coding is an application of Markov Chain Monte Carlo methods for sampling from conditional distributions. It is applied here to the problem of estimating the parameters of a computer-simulated pattern of fractures in an isomorphic, homotropic material under plane strain. We investigate the theory and procedures of conditional coding and show the viability of the technique by its application.

Myriad: Design And Implementation Of A Federated Database Prototype, Ee Peng Lim, San-Yih Hwang, Jaideep Srivastava, Dave Clements, M. Ganesh

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

A key problem in providing enterprise-wide information is the integration of databases that have been independently developed. An important requirement is to accommodate heterogeneity and maintain the autonomy of component databases. Myriad is a federated database prototype developed at the University of Minnesota, to provide a testbed for investigating alternatives in architecture and algorithms for database integration, query processing and optimization, and concurrency control and recovery. The system incorporates our group's research results in these areas. This paper describes our experiences in the design and implementation of Myriad, and in the project management. Special emphasis is given to discussing design …

Mist: Pvm With Transparent Migration And Checkpointing, Jeremy Casas, Dan Clark, Phil Galbiati, Ravi Konuru, Steve Otto, Robert Prouty, Jonathan Walpole

Computer Science Faculty Publications and Presentations

We are currently involved in research to enable PVM to take advantage of shared networks of workstations (NOWs) more effectively. In such a computing environment, it is important to utilize workstations unobtrusively and recover from machine failures. Towards this goal, we have enhanced PVM with transparent task migration, checkpointing, and global scheduling. These enhancements are part of the MIST project which takes an open systems approach in developing a cohesive, distributed parallel computing environment. This open systems approach promotes plug-and-play integration of independently developed modules, such as Condor, DQS, A VS, Prospero, XPVM, PIOUS, Ptools, etc. Transparent task migration, in …

The Evolution Of Density-Driven Circulation Over Sloping Bottom Topography, G. H. Wheless, J. M. Klinck

CCPO Publications

The short timescale temporal evolution of buoyancy-driven coastal flow over sloping bottom topography is examined using a two-dimensional, vertically averaged numerical model. Winter shelf circulation driven by a coastal ''point source'' buoyancy flux is modeled by initiating a coastal outflow with density anomaly epsilon into well-mixed shelf water. The nonlinear interaction between the time-varying velocity and density field is represented by an advection-diffusion equation. Three cases are discussed: that of a buoyant (epsilon < 0) outflow, a neutral (epsilon = 0) outflow, and a dense (epsilon > 0) outflow. Results are similar to observations from well-mixed shelf areas and show that density-topography interactions are capable of substantially influencing coastal circulation. A negative (buoyant) coastal …

On LP Solutions Of Second Order Linear Differential Equations, James C. Smith

Doctoral Dissertations

In this dissertation we study the L_p solutions of second order linear differential equations. The question as to when the equation -(q_o(x)y'(x))' + q₁(x)y(x) = f(x), α ≤ x < ∞, admits L_p solutions y(x) for arbitrary f(x) in L_p is investigated. We show the condition Re(q₁(x)) ≥ 1 or the conditions Re(q₁(x)) ≥ 0 and Im(q₁(x)) ≥ 1 are sufficient for a L_p solution y(x) to exist.

Functions that bound a solution of the homogeneous equation …

A Petrographic And Fluid Inclusion Study Of The Purple Vein And Post/Betze Orebodies, Carlin, Nevada, Jan B. Lamb

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The Purple Vein (Meikle Mine) and Post/Betze orebodies, two Carlin-type, gold deposits, display important differences in size, alteration, silicification, pyritization, and gold grade. A core hole was examined from each deposit to gather petrographic and microthermometric data to determine the mineral paragenesis, to determine fluid pressure, temperature, and composition to compare of the two orebodies, and to determine depths of formation.

The parageneses determined were divided into three stages. (1) The Early Mineralization Stage contains quartz, pyrobitumen, barite, sphalerite, sulfosalts, quartz, and pyrite in the Purple Vein deposit and consists of calcite in the Post/Betze deposit. High salinity basinal brines, …

Real-Time Communication In The Algorithm To Architecture Mapping Model, Somesh M. Varma

Electrical & Computer Engineering Theses & Dissertations

The objective of this thesis is to analyze schedules of communication resources to obtain deterministic and contention-free communication in the Algorithm To Architecture Mapping Model (ATAMM). In ATAMM, performance must be deterministic to guarantee meeting deadlines. It is difficult to achieve deterministic performance in the presence of contention during communication. This thesis develops new data-flow models to study and analyze different schedules of communication resources to achieve deterministic and contention-free communication. These models are the Synchronous Communication Marked Graph (SCMG) and the Asynchronous Communication Marked Graph (ACMG). The SCMG is based on message passing synchronous communication. It defines schedules for …

Fourier Series And Optical Transform Techniques In Contemporary Optics: An Introduction, Raymond Wilson, Sean Mccreary

Raymond Wilson

Double Exposure And Development Of Pmma Resist Using X-Ray Radiation, William M. Drout Iii

Honors Theses

No abstract provided.

Geology Of The Ogallala/High Plains Regional Aquifer System In Nebraska, Robert F. Diffendal Jr.

School of Natural Resources: Faculty Publications

This guide is mostly figures with a reference section containing some of the pertinent literature on the Cenozoic geology we will see over the next four days. Copies of some of the cited works will be assembled in a packet and handed out on the morning of April 29th. We will make all 17 stops. if the weather is reasonably good and the roads are passable. On the first day, April 29, we will try to get to stops 1-5, the more distal parts of the Ogallala and younger deposits in Nebraska. On April 30, we will try to visit …

Whooping Cranes And Piping Plovers: Watershed Problem Solving On The Platte, Elizabeth Rieke, Gordon W. (Jeff) Fassett, University Of Colorado Boulder. Natural Resources Law Center

Whooping Cranes and Piping Plovers: Watershed Problem Solving on the Platte (April 27)

21 pages.

Includes illustrations, maps, and biographical information for Gordon W. Fassett and James S. Lochhead.

Habitat for species listed as endangered under federal law along the Platte River in Nebraska has been adversely affected by decreased river flows, resulting in federal legal barriers to further water development throughout the basin in three states. In June 1994 state and federal officials entered an agreement to develop a basin-wide recovery plan. Elizabeth Rieke, Assistant Secretary for Water & Science, Dept. of Interior, will discuss federal perspectives. Gordon (Jeff) Fassett, Wyoming State Engineer, and J. Michael (Mike) Jess, Nebraska …

Resource Use Conflict In New York City's Catskill Watersheds: A Case For Expanding The Scope Of Water Resource Management, Krystyna Anne Stave

Public Policy and Leadership Faculty Publications

In New York City's water supply watersheds, controversy over water quality protection underscores both the need to expand the scope of water resource management and the challenges to doing so. This paper describes the response of watershed residents to !'Jew York City's efforts to avoid filtration mandated by the 1986 Safe Drinking Water Act Amendments and 1989 Surface Water Treatment Rule. The emergence of a spectrum of stakeholder groups representing land owners, sport fishermen, businesses, environmental groups and local communities has brought social and economic issues not previously part of the City's water management program to the center of the …

Sample Design In The Finnish Agricultural Income Statistics, Paavo Väisänen

Conference on Applied Statistics in Agriculture

The Finnish Agricultural Income Statistics. published yearly by Statistics Finland, are based on a survey in which the data are collected from the farms in connection with taxation. The sampling design is stratified simple random sampling, in which Neyman allocation is used to calculate the sample sizes for the strata. The Farm Register is used as the sampling frame where variables such as region, production sector and arable land are available for stratification. The total incomes of farms from the previous survey serve as the allocation variable. Stratification and Neyman allocation rendered the estimates of most income variables more effective …

Mixed Models Approach To On-Farm Trials: An Alternative To Meta-Analysis For Comparing One Treatment To Possibly Different Controls, Peter M. Njuho, George A. Milliken

Conference on Applied Statistics in Agriculture

The estimator of effect size, the sample mean difference divided by the sample standard error of the difference is studied in the context of mixed models and is related to the analysis of on-farm trials. A single treatment is compared against possibly different controls using a completely randomized design on each farm. A lower (1-α)100% confidence limit on mean difference of the treatment and the average control is obtained. The best linear unbiased predictors (BLUPs) of the mean difference of the treatment and the individual controls as well as the lower (1-α)100% prediction limits are provided. The effect of omitting …

Using Tree Regression To Identify Nutritional And Environmental Factors Affecting Sugarcane Production, Kenneth M. Portier, David L. Anderson

Conference on Applied Statistics in Agriculture

A prediction function is developed for sugarcane yield using preplant soil nutrition levels, cultivar, and soil type. A tree regression approach is used because the resulting function encompasses the complexity of response between yield, multiple nutrients and other factors, while handling large amounts of data and providing information useful in the development of fertilizer and other production recommendations. Data collected from 148 control plots of experiments performed on commercial fields in the Everglades Agricultural Area of Florida are used to illustrate the method.

Step-Stress Testing In Agricultijre, Imad H. Khamis, James J. Higgins

Conference on Applied Statistics in Agriculture

Step-stress testing has been used for a munber years in engineering. An item is placed on test for a specified period of time. If it does not fail in that time, the stress is increased. This process is repeated for a specified number of stress levels until the item fails. In agriculture, animals or plants may be the test items and dosage of a chemical, amount of fertilizer, temperature, etc, the stress variable. In this paper we suggest several potential applications of step-stress testing in agriculture and present inferential procedures for observations that are distributed exponentially.

Two-Factor Agricultural Experiment With Repeated Measures On One Factor In A Complete Randomized Design, Armando Garsd, María Del C. Fabrizio, María V. López

Conference on Applied Statistics in Agriculture

A typical agricultural experiment involves comparisons of several treatments at different points in time. The ensuing lack of independence between observations of the same experimental unit may then impair the attainment of statistical significance by the standard analysis of variance, and calls for the application of more powerful methods. This paper addresses one such method, the so-called two-factor experiment with repeated measures on one factor. We discuss the adequacy of this model in the context of three concrete examples drawn from agricultural experimentation.

Sequential Analysis Of Agricultural Experiments, Armando Garsd, María V. López, María Del C. Fabrizio

Conference on Applied Statistics in Agriculture

Interim monitoring of accumulating data has been widely used in clinical trials, but it has not received the same attention in agricultural experimentation. The methodology, however, can be a useful tool in agronomic trials designed to find better production techniques or optimal animal treatments at low cost, plus the possible economic advantages resulting from correct early decisions. These sequential procedures for testing hypothesis with available data in successive periods of time dictate termination of the experiment when a significant difference is detected, or otherwise continuation of the experiment to the end of the stipulated time or until all the planned …