Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Geosciences Newsletter - 2004, Department Of Geosciences

Geological and Environmental Sciences News

Vol. 1, No. 29

• Mohamed Sultan, Chairperson
• Faculty News
• Emeriti News
• Department News
• Graduate Student News
• Awards & Graduations
• Alumni News
• Field Trips
• Outstanding Alumni Academy
• Special Honor
• New Faces in the Geosciences

Query Processing Using Negative Tuples In Stream Query Engines, T. Ghanem, M. Hammad, M. Mokbel, Walid G. Aref, Ahmed K. Elmagarmid

Department of Computer Science Technical Reports

No abstract provided.

Energy-Efficient Routing And Data Aggregation In Sensor Networks: An Experimental Study, Ossama Younis, Sonia Fahmy

Department of Computer Science Technical Reports

No abstract provided.

Light Hadrons With Improved Staggered Quarks: Approaching The Continuum Limit, James E. Hetrick, C. Aubin

All Faculty Articles - School of Engineering and Computer Science

We have extended our program of QCD simulations with an improved Kogut-Susskind quark action to a smaller lattice spacing, approximately 0.09 fm. Also, the simulations with a ≈ 0.12 fm have been extended to smaller quark masses. In this paper we describe the new simulations and computations of the static quark potential and light hadron spectrum. These results give information about the remaining dependences on the lattice spacing. We examine the dependence of computed quantities on the spatial size of the lattice, on the numerical precision in the computations, and on the step size used in the numerical integrations. We …

Light Pseudoscalar Decay Constants, Quark Masses, And Low Energy Constants From Three Flavor Lattice Qcd, James E. Hetrick, C. Aubin

All Faculty Articles - School of Engineering and Computer Science

As part of our program of lattice simulations of three-flavor QCD with improved staggered quarks, we have calculated pseudoscalar meson masses and decay constants for a range of valence quark masses and sea-quark masses on lattices with lattice spacings of about 0.125 and 0.09 fm. We fit the lattice data to forms computed with “staggered chiral perturbation theory.” Our results provide a sensitive test of the lattice simulations, and especially of the chiral behavior, including the effects of chiral logarithms. We find: fπ = 129.5 ± 0.9 ± 3.5 MeV, fK = 156.6 ± 1.0 ± 3.6 MeV, and fK/ …

As-Doped P-Type Zno Produced By An Evaporation/Sputtering Process, David C. Look, G. M. Renlund, R. H. Burgener, J. R. Sizelove

Physics Faculty Publications

Strongly p-type ZnO is produced by the following sequence of steps: (1) evaporation of Zn₃As₂ on a fused-quartz substrate at 350 °C; and (2) sputtering of ZnO with substrate held at 450 °C. The electrical characteristics include: resistivity of 0.4 Ω cm, a mobility of 4 cm²∕V s, and a hole concentration of about 4×10¹⁸ cm⁻³. This resistivity is among the best (lowest) ever reported for p-type ZnO. Secondary-ion mass spectroscopic analysis gives an average As concentration about 5×10¹⁹ cm⁻³, and a simple one-band fit of the …

Micro-Auger Electron Spectroscopy Studies Of Chemical And Electronic Effects At Gan-Sapphire Interfaces, X. L. Sun, S. T. Bradley, G. H. Jessen, David C. Look, Richard J. Molnar, L. J. Brillson

Physics Faculty Publications

We have used cross-sectional micro-Auger electron spectroscopy (AES), coupled with micro-cathodoluminescence (CLS) spectroscopy, in a UHV scanning electron microscope to probe the chemical and related electronic features of hydride vapor phase epitaxy GaN/sapphire interfaces on a nanometer scale. AES images reveal dramatic evidence for micron-scale diffusion of O from Al₂O₃ into GaN. Conversely, plateau concentrations of N can extend microns into the sapphire, corresponding spatially to a 3.8 eV defect emission and Auger chemical shifts attributed to Al-N-O complexes. Interface Al Auger signals extending into GaN indicates AlGaN alloy formation, consistent with a blue-shifted CLS local interface …

Resonance-Enhanced Multiphoton Ionization For Real-Time Monitoring Of Trichloroethylene Formed By Degradation Of Tetrachloroethylene Using Zero-Valent Zinc, Kui Chen, Jack E. Pender, John L. Ferry, S. Michael Angel

Faculty Publications

Resonance-enhanced multiphoton ionization (REMPI) is investigated as a potential technique for real-time monitoring of selected volatile organochloride compounds (VOCs). In a proof-of-concept experiment, the progress of the reductive-degradation of tetrachloroethylene (PCE) to trichloroethylene (TCE) by zero-valent zinc was monitored by REMPI measurements performed in the headspace above the PCE solution. Two-photon resonant REMPI spectra of TCE and PCE were recorded over the wavelength range 305–320 nm. The concentrations of PCE and TCE in the headspace were monitored by measurement of the ionization signal with 315.64- and 310.48-nm excitation for PCE and TCE, respectively. Calibration curves yielded a linear range of …

Theoretical Study Of The Magnetic Ordering In Rare-Earth Compounds With Face-Centered-Cubic Structure, Chun-Gang Duan, Renat F. Sabirianov, Jianjun Liu, Wai-Ning Mei, Peter A. Dowben, John R. Hardy

Physics Faculty Publications

We present a detailed theoretical study of the magnetic ordering in heavy rare-earth compounds with a face-centered-cubic structure. In addition to the exchange interactions which are counted up to the third nearest neighbors, the effect of the dipolar interactions and magnetic anisotropic effect are also included in our model Hamiltonian. The interactions parameters are obtained from first-principles band-structure calculations by fitting the total energies of different magnetic configurations to the Heisenberg Model. Thus from utilizing the Monte Carlo simulations, we explained the formation of different magnetic structures in the rare-earth compounds.

Confidence Intervals On Subsets May Be Misleading, Juliet Popper Shaffer

Journal of Modern Applied Statistical Methods

A combination of hypothesis testing and confidence interval construction is often used in social and behavioral science studies. Sometimes confidence intervals are computed or reported only if a null hypothesis is rejected, perhaps to see whether the range of values is of practical importance. Sometimes they are constructed or reported only if a null hypothesis is accepted, in order to assess the range of plausible nonnull values due to inadequate power to detect them. Even if always computed, they are interpreted differently, depending on whether the null value is or is not included. Furthermore, many studies in which the null …

Monte Carlo Evaluation Of Ordinal D With Improved Confidence Interval, Du Feng, Norman Cliff

Journal of Modern Applied Statistical Methods

This article reports a Monte Carlo evaluation of ordinal statistic d with modified confidence intervals (CI) for location comparison of two independent groups under various conditions. Type I error rate, power, and coverage of CI of d were compared to those of the Welch's t-test.

On A Simple Method For Analyzing Multivariate Survival Data Using Sample Survey Methods, Pingfu Fu, J. Sunil Rao

Journal of Modern Applied Statistical Methods

A simple technique is illustrated for analyzing multivariate survival data. The data situation arises when an individual records multiple survival events, or when individuals recording single survival events are grouped into clusters. Past work has focused on developing new methods to handle such data. Here, we use a connection between Poisson regression and survival modeling and a cluster sampling approach to adjust the variance estimates. The approach requires parametric assumption for the marginal hazard function, but avoids specification of a joint multivariate survival distribution. A simulation study demonstrates the proposed approach is a competing method of recent developed marginal approaches …

The President’S Problem, Jann-Huei Jinn

Journal of Modern Applied Statistical Methods

A solution is offered in response to a complex combination problem challenged by Blom, Englund, and Sandell (1998). The problem is to determine the probability that a random permutation of the word BILLCLINTON has no equal neighbors.

Mentoring Doctoral Students: A Personal Perspective, Bruce W. Hall

Journal of Modern Applied Statistical Methods

In this brief essay, I reflect on the mentoring process based on advising over thirty doctoral students in measurement, evaluation, and research. There is considerable cause for optimism, and it is among the professors’ highest honor to mentor the doctoral student.

Confidence Elicitation And Anchoring In The Respondent-Generated Intervals (Rgi) Protocol, Liping Chu, S. James Press, Judith M. Tanur

Journal of Modern Applied Statistical Methods

The Respondent-Generated Intervals protocol (RGI) has been used to have respondents recall the answer to a factual question by giving not only a point estimate but also bounds within which they feel it is almost certain that the true value of the quantity being reported upon falls. The RGI protocol is elaborated in this article with the goal of improving the accuracy of the estimators by introducing cueing mechanisms to direct confident (and thus presumably accurate) respondents to give shorter intervals and less confident (and thus presumably less accurate) respondents to give longer ones.

Refuge Update – November/December 2004, Volume 1, Number 5

RefugeUpdate (USFWS-NWRS)

Table of Contents:

In the Eye of the Storm, page 3 Bon Secour Refuge biologist details a storm’s aftermath.

Looking Beyond the Ecology to the Human History, page 5 Archaeology students survey Fish Springs Refuge.

Focus on . . . Water and Its Impact on Refuges, pages 8-19 Water is essential for all ecological processes. Nowhere is that more evident than on national wildlife refuges.

Sharing an Appreciation for Nature, page 6 Those who are visually disabled can appreciate any refuge.

Nucleation Rates Of Water And Heavy Water Using Equations Of State, Abdalla Obeidat, Jin-Song Li, Gerald Wilemski

Physics Faculty Research & Creative Works

The original formula of Gibbs for the reversible work of critical nucleus formation is evaluated in three approximate ways for ordinary and heavy water. The least approximate way employs an equation of state to evaluate the pressure difference between the new and old phases. This form of the theory yields a temperature dependence for the nucleation rate close to that observed experimentally. This is a substantial improvement over the most commonly used (and most approximate) form of classical theory.©2004 American Institute of Physics.

A Note On Extending Scheffé’S Modified Multiple-Comparison Procedure To Other Analysis Situations, Xinyue Zhou, Joel R. Levin

Journal of Modern Applied Statistical Methods

This article extends Scheffé’s modified (sequential) multiple-comparison procedure in one-way analysisof- variance to other analysis situations, including interaction comparisons in factorial ANOVA designs, tests of partial regression coefficients in multiple-regression analysis, and comparisons of means in onefactor multivariate analyses of variance. Researchers who are concerned with maintaining familywise Type I error rates while increasing statistical power relative to the original (simultaneous) Scheffé-based procedures are encouraged to consider these improved multiple-comparison methods.

A Modification Of The Em Algorithm To Estimate An Andersen-Gill Gamma Frailty Model For Multivariate Failure Time Data, Maria Antònia Barceló, Marc Saez

Journal of Modern Applied Statistical Methods

A modification of the Andersen-Gill gamma shared frailty model is presented. The variance of the frailty is directly modeled by means of a generalized linear model, the EM algorithm is modified in order to simultaneously estimate a semiparametric model for the failure times and a model for the variance of the frailty. A simulation study is conducted to evaluate the performance of the proposed algorithm (EMB algorithm) and compared with other methods, a marginal model, and a conditional model. Multivariate data from a nosocomial infection study is used to illustrate the methods. The EMB fit turned out to be better …

“Teaching” In Honor Of Cliff Blair, Howard Stoker

Journal of Modern Applied Statistical Methods

In this article, I conceptualize teaching as the profession of facilitating and stimulating learning. As “teachers”, we help students acquire learning skills that they may expand on later in their life. I review fifteen principles that facilitate effective learning.

Finding Constrained Frequent Episodes Using Minimal Occurrences, Xi Ma, Hwee Hwa Pang, Kian-Lee Tan

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

Recurrent combinations of events within an event sequence, known as episodes, often reveal useful information. Most of the proposed episode mining algorithms adopt an apriori-like approach that generates candidates and then calculates their support levels. Obviously, such an approach is computationally expensive. Moreover, those algorithms are capable of handling only a limited range of constraints. In this paper, we introduce two mining algorithms - episode prefix tree (EPT) and position pairs set (PPS) - based on a prefix-growth approach to overcome the above limitations. Both algorithms push constraints systematically into the mining process. Performance study shows that the proposed algorithms …

Complex Multiplication Of Exactly Solvable Calabi-Yau Varieties, Monika Lynker, Rolf Schimmrigk, Steven Stewart

Faculty Articles

We propose a conceptual framework that leads to an abstract characterization for the exact solvability of Calabi–Yau varieties in terms of abelian varieties with complex multiplication. The abelian manifolds are derived from the cohomology of the Calabi–Yau manifold, and the conformal field theoretic quantities of the underlying string emerge from the number theoretic structure induced on the varieties by the complex multiplication symmetry. The geometric structure that provides a conceptual interpretation of the relation between geometry and conformal field theory is discrete, and turns out to be given by the torsion points on the abelian varieties.

A Genetic Algorithm Hybrid For Constructing Optimal Response Surface Designs, David Drain, W. Matthew Carlyle, Douglas C. Montgomery, Connie Borror, Christine Anderson-Cook

Mathematics and Statistics Faculty Research & Creative Works

Hybrid heuristic optimization methods can discover efficient experiment designs in situations where traditional designs cannot be applied, exchange methods are ineffective, and simple heuristics like simulated annealing fail to find good solutions. One such heuristic hybrid is GASA (genetic algorithm-simulated annealing), developed to take advantage of the exploratory power of the genetic algorithm, while utilizing the local optimum exploitive properties of simulated annealing. the successful application of this method is demonstrated in a difficult design problem with multiple optimization criteria in an irregularly shaped design region. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Two Distinct Genotypes Of Prtf2, Encoding A Fibronectin Binding Protein, And The Evolution Of The Gene Family In Streptococcus Pyogenes, V. Ramachandran, Jason D. Mcarthur, C. E. Behm, C. Gutzeit, M. Dowton, P. K. Fagan, R. Towers, B. J. Currie, K. S. Sriprakash, Mark J. Walker

Faculty of Science - Papers (Archive)

The group A Streptococcus (GAS) is an important pathogen responsible for a wide range of human diseases. Fibronectin binding proteins (FBPs) play important role in promoting GAS adherence and invasion of host cells. The gene prtF2 encodes a FBP and is contained in approximately 60% of GAS strains. In the present study we have examined 51 prtF2-positive GAS strains isolated from the Northern Territory of Australia and describe two genotypes of prtF2, which are mutually exclusive. Both genotypes have been previously identified in the literature as pfbp and fbaB. We show these genotypes map to the same chromosomal location within …

Don't Do What Australia Has Done, R. Nillsen

Faculty of Informatics - Papers (Archive)

The paper describes and analyses the environment in Australian universities since the changes initiated under the Labor government in 1988 by John Dawkins. It looks at the role and interplay of ideas in the changing intellectual culture in universities, in particular the common effect of the ideas of both liberal economics and postmodernism, and the tensions between corporate values and open enquiry. It raises the issues of the extent to which universities should have a distinct set of values from wider society, and the basis upon which universities should exist as distinctive institutions.

The Value Of Created Dunes To Address Coastal Hazards In Chesapeake Bay: Hurricane Isabel Impacts, C. Scott Hardaway Jr., Donna A. Milligan, Travis R. Comer

Reports

Perhaps the most important function of a created dune, from some perspectives, is coastal protection. Since the initiation of this subtask within the overall Chesapeake Bay Dune Monitoring and Management Analysis project, Hurricane Isabel impacted the coastal plain of Virginia and significantly altered almost all Bay shorelines to one degree or another. This is particularly true of shorelines facing north, east, and south since the winds shifted as the storm passed. The original task scope has changed slightly as a result of Isabel’s passage since it was such a significant storm event and provided an opportunity to show how dunes …

Transitions Into The Negative-Energy Dirac Continuum, P Krekora, Q Su, Rainer Grobe

Faculty publications – Physics

We compare the predictions of the single-particle Dirac equation with quantum field theory for an electron subjected to a space and time dependent field. We demonstrate analytically and numerically that a transition into the negative-energy subspace predicted by the single-particle Dirac equation is directly associated with the degree of suppression of pair-production as described by quantum field theory. We show that the portion of the mathematical wave function that populates the negative-energy states corresponds to the difference between the positron spatial density for systems with and without an electron initially present.

Comparison Of Auto-Adjusting And Fixed Level Continuous Positive Airway Pressure Therapy In Patients With Mild To Moderate Obstructive Sleep Apnoea Hypopnoea Syndrome, Geraldine Nolan

Masters

Obstructive Sleep Apnoea Hypopnoea syndrome (OSAHS) is a potentially serious medical disorder associated with increased morbidity and mortality. It is estimated to affect 4% of males and 2% of females between the ages of forty and sixty. Nasal continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is the first choice treatment for this condition and it is extremely effective at controlling OSAHS. However, not all patients can tolerate this therapy, in particular those within the mild to moderate category, and there are also many others who are unable to comply with the minimum usage requirements of at least four hours every night. A …

Inside Unlv, Cate Weeks, Carol C. Harter, Holly Ivy De Vore, Gian Galassi, Diane Russell

Inside UNLV

No abstract provided.

The Effect Of Low Energy Electron And Uv/Vis Radiation Aging On The Electron Emission Properties And Breakdown Of Thin-Film Dielectrics, John R. Dennison, C. D. Thomson, Alec Sim

All Physics Faculty Publications

Studies of secondary and backscattered electron yield curves of thin-film dielectrics have recently been made using pulsed, low current electron beam methods to minimize insulator charging. These capabilities have allowed us to investigate the evolution of surface and internal charge profiles as a function of low energy electron (keV) pulsed-electron fluence to determine how quickly insulators charge, and how this can affect subsequent electron emission properties. We have also studied critical incident electron energies that result in electrical breakdown of insulator materials and the effect of breakdown on subsequent emission, charging and conduction. The qualitative physics of such processes in …