Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

40Ar/ 39Ar Ages Of Metamorphic Rocks From The Tobacco Root Mountains Region, Montana, John B. Brady, Dana N. Kovaric, John T. Cheney, Lisa J. Jacob, J. Toby King

Geosciences: Faculty Publications

Measurements of 60 single-grain, UV laser microprobe 40Ar/39Ar total gas ages for hornblende from metamorphic rocks of the Tobacco Root Mountains in southwest Montana yield a mean age of 1.71 ± 0.02 Ga. Measurements of 40Ar/39Ar step-heating plateau ages of three bulk hornblende samples from the Tobacco Root Mountains metamorphic rocks average 1.70 ± 0.02 Ga. We believe that these and the K/Ar or 40Ar/39Ar ages reported by previous workers are cooling ages from a 1.78 to 1.72 Ga, upper-amphibolite to granulite facies, regional metamorphism (Big Sky orogeny) that affected the northwestern portion of the Wyoming province, including the Tobacco …

Precambrian Meta-Ultramafic Rocks From The Tobacco Root Mountains, Montana, Kathleen E. Johnson, John B. Brady, William A. Macfarlane, Rebecca B. Thomas, Chris J. Poulsen, M. Jennifer Sincock

Geosciences: Faculty Publications

Meta-ultramafic rocks occur as small (2 to 100 m long), podiform bodies in all three major Precambrian rock suites of the Tobacco Root Mountains of southwest Montana. Most samples consist of a randomly oriented, coarse-grained assemblage of orthopyroxene, olivine, and magnesiohornblende ± spinel, partially replaced by a fine-grained assemblage that may include anthophyllite, talc, cummingtonite, magnesiohornblende, chlorite, serpentine, and/ or magnetite. Blackwall reaction zones of anthophyllite, actinolite, chlorite, and/or biotite surround several of the meta-ultramafic bodies. The absence of clinopyroxene with orthopyroxene limits the metamorphic pressure-temperature history of these rocks to temperatures below ~800 °C. The presence of anthophyllite with …

Maintaining Stability With Distributed Generation In A Restructured Industry, Judith Cardell, Marija Ilic

Engineering: Faculty Publications

A set of reduced order, linearized, dynamic models for distributed generators is developed along with a framework for modeling the generators in a power distribution system. Analysis of this distributed system structure raises two issues. The first is that the simulations demonstrate, unexpectedly, that a small load disturbance is capable of causing frequency instability in the primary dynamics of the distributed generators. Eigenanalysis of the instability suggests that it is a system phenomenon. The second issue is that the system matrix is found to not have a block diagonal dominant structure raising questions over the possible implementation of decentralized control …

A Comparison Of Modified Reconstructability Analysis And Ashenhurst‐Curtis Decomposition Of Boolean Functions, Anas Al-Rabadi, Marek Perkowski, Martin Zwick

Systems Science Faculty Publications and Presentations

Modified reconstructability analysis (MRA), a novel decomposition technique within the framework of set‐theoretic (crisp possibilistic) reconstructability analysis, is applied to three‐variable NPN‐classified Boolean functions. MRA is superior to conventional reconstructability analysis, i.e. it decomposes more NPN functions. MRA is compared to Ashenhurst‐Curtis (AC) decomposition using two different complexity measures: log‐functionality, a measure suitable for machine learning, and the count of the total number of two‐input gates, a measure suitable for circuit design. MRA is superior to AC using the first of these measures, and is comparable to, but different from AC, using the second.

Reconstructability Analysis Detection Of Optimal Gene Order In Genetic Algorithms, Martin Zwick, Stephen Shervais

Systems Science Faculty Publications and Presentations

The building block hypothesis implies that genetic algorithm efficiency will be improved if sets of genes that improve fitness through epistatic interaction are near to one another on the chromosome. We demonstrate this effect with a simple problem, and show that information-theoretic reconstructability analysis can be used to decide on optimal gene ordering.

Modeling The Hydrogeochemistry Of Denitrification In The Elk Valley Aquifer, Paul A. Skubinna

Theses and Dissertations

Nitrate (NO₃¯) in groundwater has become an important tissue in the last few decades. It is known to cause methemoglobinemia, commonly known as “blue baby syndrome,” and is suspected of being a carcinogen. The most common sources for dissolved NO₃¯ in shallow groundwater include excessive application of nitrogenous fertilizers, misuse of septic systems, improper disposal of domestic wastewater or sludge, and livestock waste.

Denitrification is the most effective sink for NO₃¯. The Elk Valley aquifer (EVA) of eastern North Dakota is known to support denitrification. The objective of this study was to gain a better understanding of the geochemical processes …

President's Message, David J. Stroup

Journal of the South Carolina Academy of Science

No abstract provided.

Building New Culture Media For Assisted Reproductive Technology., Mary N. Egbuniwe, H. Lee Higdon Iii, William R. Boone

Journal of the South Carolina Academy of Science

No abstract provided.

Bioinformatics: An Undergraduate Research/Teaching Tool., Abhishek Agrawal, Valgene L. Dunham

Journal of the South Carolina Academy of Science

No abstract provided.

Characterization Of Microbial Communities In Tce-Contaminated Seep Zone Sediments., Brian A. Nevius, Christopher E. Bagwell, Robin L. Brigmon

Journal of the South Carolina Academy of Science

No abstract provided.

A Generic Oo Architecture Language For Semantics Analysis Of Oo Specification, Xiaoqing Frank Liu

Computer Science Faculty Research & Creative Works

Formal specification enables a rigorous analysis and model checking for ensuring the correctness of specification. Formal OO specification methods are of mathematical nature and the semantics of specification is purposely defined such that it is not related to the semantics of code. We propose a new language, which will lay a common semantics ground for both specification and code.

Estimation Of Standardized Mortality Ratio In Geographic Epidemiology, Anna Kettermann

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The analysis of geographic variation of disease and its representation on a map form an important topic of research in epidemiology and in public health in general. Identification of spatial heterogeneity of relative risk using morbidity and mortality data is required. The usual technique of disease atlas generation consists of data collection (observed number of disease cases). These data are collected during a continuous period of time (5 to 10 years). The second aspect of atlas creation relates to the analysis of these data. A traditional measure of the spatial variation is usually taken as a ratio of the number …

Table Of Contents

Journal of the South Carolina Academy of Science

No abstract provided.

A Programming Environment For Static And Dynamic Distributed Systems., Seyed H. Roosta

Journal of the South Carolina Academy of Science

No abstract provided.

Mudfish On The Menu? Rise Of The Much-Maligned Bowfin, Ken Sulak

United States Geological Survey: Staff Publications

Cajuns call it “choupique” (say “shoe-pick”), from its Choctaw name. Elsewhere, it’s the dogfish, blackfish, grindle, cottonfish, or cypress trout. Its official common name is “Bowfin” (Amia calva)1. But to most anglers, this is the “mudfish,” a strange, unusual, and much-maligned fish, most everywhere considered a useless trash fish. One look and the words relict, prehistoric, primitive, and living fossil come to mind. Indeed, the bowfin is the last of its line, the sole-surviving species of a very ancient group of fishes. Its predecessors flourished in the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods during the Mesozoic (= Middle-Animal) Era, a …

I Don't Care If I Ever Get Back: Marathons Lasting 20 Or More Innings, Phil Lowry, Darren B. Glass

Math Faculty Publications

This article looks at marathon games of baseball. For purposes of this article, a marathon is defined as a game lasting 20 or more innings. In my research I have discovered 341 marathons. These games are hard to find. Leagues either keep no records, or keep track only of their longest game; only the Texas League keeps records on all marathons. Nobody has ever before explored such questions as: What is the probability a game will go x number of innings? How often should we expect a marathon of 20 or more innings, or 40 or more innings? What is …

Large Dielectric Constant And Maxwell-Wagner Relaxation In Bi2/3cu3ti4o12, Jianjun Liu, Chun-Gang Duan, Wei-Guo Yin, Wai-Ning Mei, Robert W. Smith, John R. Hardy

Physics Faculty Publications

We studied frequency and temperature dependences of impedance, electric modulus, and dielectric permittivity of Bi2/3Cu3Ti4O12 in the ranges of 10−1–106 Hz and −150–200 °C, respectively. We first observed two electrical responses in the impedance and modulus formalisms. Then we detected a Debye-like relaxation in the permittivity formalism. Most interestingly, we found that the large dielectric constant of Bi2/3Cu3Ti4O12 is independent of the temperature and frequency below 150°C. The results are interpreted in terms of a two-layer model with conducting grains partitioned from each other by poorly conducting grain boundaries. Using this model, we attributed the two electrical responses in impedance …

Electronic Properties Of Nacdf3: A First-Principles Prediction, Chun-Gang Duan, Wai-Ning Mei, Jianjun Liu, Wei-Guo Yin, John R. Hardy, Robert W. Smith, M. J. Mehl, L. L. Boyer

Physics Faculty Publications

Based on first-principles total energy calculations, we predict that NaCdF3 could be formed in a ferroelectric crystal structure. Using a symmetry guided search with structure optimization, we found two ferroelectric structures, nearly degenerate in energy, competing for the ground state: a rhombohedral structure with space group R3c and an orthorhombic structure with space group Pna21. The energies of both structures are '60 meV lower than the sum of those of the constituents, NaF and CdF2, implying chemical stability.

Method For Determination Of Singlet Oxygen Quantum Yields For New Fluorene-Based Photosensitizers In Aqueous Media For The Advancement Of Photodynamic Therapy, Wade William Grabow

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has been investigated over the past three decades and is currently an approved therapeutic modality for skin cancer, the treatment of superficial bladder, early lung and advanced esophageal cancers, and age-related macular degeneration in a number of countries. In PDT, the absorption of light by a chromophore generates cytotoxic species such as reactive singlet oxygen, leading to irreversible destruction of the treated tissue. The measurement of the singlet oxygen quantum yield is an important determinant used to evaluate the efficiency of new photodynamic therapy agents developed in the laboratory, to screen potential photosensitizers in aqueous media.The singlet …

High Performance Data Mining Techniques For Intrusion Detection, Muazzam Ahmed Siddiqui

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The rapid growth of computers transformed the way in which information and data was stored. With this new paradigm of data access, comes the threat of this information being exposed to unauthorized and unintended users. Many systems have been developed which scrutinize the data for a deviation from the normal behavior of a user or system, or search for a known signature within the data. These systems are termed as Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS). These systems employ different techniques varying from statistical methods to machine learning algorithms. Intrusion detection systems use audit data generated by operating systems, application softwares or …

Fast Algorithms For Fragment Based Completion In Images Of Natural Scenes, Siddharth Rajkumar Borikar

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Textures are used widely in computer graphics to represent fine visual details and produce realistic looking images. Often it is necessary to remove some foreground object from the scene. Removal of the portion creates one or more holes in the texture image. These holes need to be filled to complete the image. Various methods like clone brush strokes and compositing processes are used to carry out this completion. User skill is required in such methods. Texture synthesis can also be used to complete regions where the texture is stationary or structured. Reconstructing methods can be used to fill in large-scale …

Mitochondrial Dna Analysis By Pyrosequencing, Patsy-Ann Susan Hastings

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Mitochondrial DNA (deoxyribo nucleic acid) is typically used in forensic casework when small quantities of high molecular weight quality DNA is not expected to be present thus negating the chances of obtaining usable nuclear DNA. Typical samples that utilized mitochondrial DNA analysis are: hair, bones, teeth, ancient remains (samples or remains that are at least 100 years old) or very old samples (samples that are less than 100 but greater than 10 years old). The current method used to evaluate mitochondrial DNA is Sanger sequencing. Although robust, it is also time consuming and labor intensive, on the other hand pyrosequencing …

The Use Of Filters In Topology, Abdellatif Dasser

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Sequences are sufficient to describe topological properties in metric spaces or, more generally, topological spaces having a countable base for the topology. However, filters or nets are needed in more abstract spaces. Nets are more natural extension of sequences but are generally less friendly to work with since quite often two nets have distinct directed sets for domains. Operations involving filters are set theoretic and generally certain to filters on the same set. The concept of a filter was introduced by H. Cartan in 1937 and an excellent treatment of the subject can be found in N. Bourbaki (1940).

Synthesis And Polymerization Of Bifunctional Five-Membered Cyclic Dithiocarbonates And Their Use As Stabilizers For Magnetic Nan, Mohammed Daoudi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Novel bifunctional five-membered cyclic dithiocarbonates (1,3-oxathiolane-2-thione)s were synthesized by the reactions of the corresponding bifunctional oxiranes (epoxides) with carbon disulfide at room temperature with lithium bromide as catalyst. Full characterization of these monomers was performed including elemental analysis, proton and carbon nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy, and Fourier transmission infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The polyaddition polymerization of 1,3-oxathiolane-2-thione with 1,4-diaminobutane at room temperature resulted in a poly(thiourethane) material. The latter undergoes crosslinking due probably to the autooxidation of the product and formation of disulfide linkages. The five-membered cyclic dithiocarbonate, 5-decyl-1,3-oxathiolane-2-thione, was used a model to demonstrate the usefulness …

Synthesis Of A Novel Family Of Amide Derivatives Of Podocarpic Acid, Dao Nguyen

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

As a class, amides are of great interest in biological studies and pharmaceutical application. In this work, podocarpic acid, a natural tricyclic diterpene, derived from Podocarpus species, has been employed to form a novel family of amide derivatives which will later be studied for their potential as new drug leads. Novel amide derivatives of podocarpic acid were synthesized from podocarpic acid in three steps. The first step involved methylation with dimethylsulfate to form methyl-O-methylpodocarpate. This step was followed by iodination with iodine to give iodomethyl-O-methylpodocarpate. Finally amidation with various aliphatic amides using a copper catalyst yielded four amide derivatives of …

Neural Networks Satisfying Stone-Weiestrass Theorem And Approximating, Pinal Thakkar

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Neural networks are an attempt to build computer networks called artificial neurons, which imitate the activities of the human brain. Its origin dates back to 1943 when neurophysiologist Warren Me Cello and logician Walter Pits produced the first artificial neuron. Since then there has been tremendous development of neural networks and their applications to pattern and optical character recognition, speech processing, time series prediction, image processing and scattered data approximation. Since it has been shown that neural nets can approximate all but pathological functions, Neil Cotter considered neural network architecture based on Stone-Weierstrass Theorem. Using exponential functions, polynomials, rational functions …

The Changing Role Of Non-Co2 Greenhouse Gases, M. A. K. Khalil

Physics Faculty Publications and Presentations

During the last century, the concentrations of several greenhouse gases have increased considerably - most notably carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide. In addition, new, entirely man-made gases have been put into the atmosphere that also cause the greenhouse effect; these include the chlorofluorocarbons. Calculations have shown that during the last century the non-CO₂ greenhouse gases could together be almost as effective as the increase of carbon dioxide in causing global warming. These and similar gases were therefore included in the Kyoto Protocol to develop a comprehensive plan for controlling potentially unfavorable climatic change. Studies show however that the other …

Investigation Of The Photoinduced Surface Relief Modulation In Acrylamide-Based Photopolymer, Izabela Naydenova, Emilia Mihaylova, Suzanne Martin, Vincent Toal

Conference Papers

A surface relief diffraction grating is inscribed in acrylamide photopolymer by holographic recording with spatial frequency below 300 l/mm. The periodic surface modulation appears in addition to a volume phase holographic grating. Due to the nature of the presented photopolymerisable material the gratings are induced by light only and no post-processing is required. An investigation of the dependance of the amplitude of the photoinduced relief modulation on spatial frequency of recording and on sample thickness has been carried out utilising white light interferometry. A model of the mechanism of surface relief formation is proposed on the basis of the measured …

Electronic Speckle Pattern Shearing Interferometry Using Photopolymer Diffractive Optical Elements For Vibration Measurements, Emilia Mihaylova, Izabela Naydenova, Suzanne Martin, Vincent Toal

Conference Papers

Electronic speckle pattern shearing interferometry (ESPSI) is superior to Electronic speckle pattern interferometry (ESPI) when strain distribution, arising from object deformation or vibration, need to be measured. This is because shearography provides data directly related to the spatial derivatives of the displacement. Further development of ESPSI systems could be beneficial for wider application to the measurement of mechanical characteristics of vibrating objects. Two electronic speckle pattern shearing interferometers (ESPSI) suitable for vibration measurements are presented. In both ESPSI systems photopolymer holographic gratings are used to shear the images and to control the size of the shear. The holographic gratings are …

Renormalization-Group Analysis Of The Generalized Sine-Gordon Model And Of The Coulomb Gas For D > 3 Dimensions, I. Nandori, Ulrich D. Jentschura, Kornel Sailer, Gerhard Soff

Physics Faculty Research & Creative Works

Renormalization-group (RG) flow equations have been derived for the generalized sine-Gordon model (GSGM) and the Coulomb gas (CG) in d ≥ 3 of dimensions by means of the Wegner-Houghton method, and by way of the real-space RG approach. The UV scaling laws determined by the leading-order terms of the flow equations are in qualitative agreement for all dimensions d ≥ 3, independent of the dimensionality, and in sharp contrast to the special case d=2. For the 4-dimensional GSGM it is demonstrated explicitly (by numerical calculations) that the blocked potential tends to a constant effective potential in the infrared limit, satisfying …