Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Discrimination Of Forensic Trace Evidence Using Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy, Candice Bridge

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Elemental analysis in forensic laboratories can be tedious and many trace evidence items are not analyzed to determine their elemental composition. Presently, scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) is the primary analytical tool for determining the elemental composition of trace evidence items. However, due to the time it takes to obtain the required vacuum and the limited number of samples that can be analyzed at any one time, SEM-EDS can be impractical for a high volume of evidence items. An alternative instrument that can be used for this type of analysis is laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry …

Activated Carbon Open Circuit Potential Shifts In Aqueous Solutions, Mikhail M. Goldin, Gary Blanchard, Alexander Volkov, Mogely Khubutiya, Vladimir Kolesnikov, Anatoly Evseev, Mark Goldin

Faculty Publications and Presentations

Interaction of certain organic compounds with activated carbon and its effect on the carbon open circuit potentials were studied. It was shown that shifts in open circuit potentials depended on the filling of the activated carbon surface. Whereas adsorption of the investigated compounds on the carbon led to positive potential shifts, their elimination (desorption) from carbon surface led to shifts in the opposite direction. It was also observed that the time dependence of potential shifts is similar for different carbon brands. The magnitude of shifts depended on adsorption activity and porometric characteristics of the carbon adsorbent, as well as the …

Some Observations On Khovanskii's Matrix Methods For Extracting Roots Of Polynomials, James Mclaughlin, B. Sury

Mathematics Faculty Publications

In this article we apply a formula for the n-th power of a 3×3 matrix (found previously by the authors) to investigate a procedure of Khovanskii’s for finding the cube root of a positive integer. We show, for each positive integer α, how to construct certain families of integer sequences such that a certain rational expression, involving the ratio of successive terms in each family, tends to α 1/3 . We also show how to choose the optimal value of a free parameter to get maximum speed of convergence. We apply a similar method, also due to Khovanskii, to a …

Ramanujan And Extensions And Contractions Of Continued Fractions, James Mclaughlin, Nancy Wyshinski

Mathematics Faculty Publications

If a continued fraction K∞n=1an/bn is known to converge but its limit is not easy to determine, it may be easier to use an extension of K∞n=1an/bn to find the limit. By an extension of K∞n=1an/bn we mean a continued fraction K∞n=1cn/dn whose odd or even part is K∞n=1an/bn. One can then possibly find the limit in one of three ways: (i) Prove the extension converges and find its limit; (ii) Prove the extension converges and find the limit of the other contraction (for example, the odd part, if K∞n=1an/bn is the even part); (ii) Find the limit of the …

K-41 Optimized Approximate Deconvolution Models, William Layton, Iuliana Stanculescu

Mathematics Faculty Articles

If the Navier-Stokes equations are averaged with a local, spacial convolution type filter, φ = gδ ∗ φ , the resulting system is not closed due to the filtered nonlinear term uu. An approximate deconvolution operator D is a bounded linear operator which satisfies

u = D(u) + O(δ α ),

where δ is the filter width and α ≥ 2. Using a deconvolution operator as an approximate filter inverse yields the closure

uu = D(u)D(u) + O(δ α ).

We derive optimal approximate deconvolution models for 3D turbulence. Specifically, we find the optimal parameters that minimize the time averaged …

Furman Lake Bathymetry Map, Wade Worthen

Furman Lake Restoration Book Gallery

Aerial view of the Furman Lake showing the depth of the water.

The Abundance Of Different Dragonfly Species At Furman Lake - 2007, Wade Worthen

Furman Lake Restoration Book Gallery

A line graph showing the abundance of fifteen different species of dragonflies spotted over a five month period at Furman Lake in 2007.

Quantifying Hydrologic Fluxes To A Small Impounded Piedmont Lake, Greenville, South Carolina, Cameron Moore

Furman Lake Restoration Book Gallery

A presentation with text, charts, and images showing research gathered over a three month period in 2007 measuring the water flowing into and out of the Furman Lake. The research is pertinent to the Furman Lake Restoration Project as it will help assess the condition of the lake and plan for the future.

Condensates In The Cosmos: Quantum Stabilization Of The Collapse Of Relativistic Degenerate Stars To Black Holes [Post-Print], Mark P. Silverman

Faculty Scholarship

According to prevailing theory, relativistic degenerate stars with masses beyond the Chandrasekhar and Oppenheimer–Volkoff (OV) limits cannot achieve hydrostatic equilibrium through either electron or neutron degeneracy pressure and must collapse to form stellar black holes. In such end states, all matter and energy within the Schwarzschild horizon descend into a central singularity. Avoidance of this fate is a hoped-for outcome of the quantization of gravity, an as-yet incomplete undertaking. Recent studies, however, suggest the possibility that known quantum processes may intervene to arrest complete collapse, thereby leading to equilibrium states of macroscopic size and finite density. I describe here one …

The Effects Of Chronic Nitrogen Application On A Mature Tallgrass Prairie Restoration And Nitrogen Mobilization Into Above-Ground Biomass Of Andropogon Gerardii, Ann M. (O'Neill) Ebert

Master of Environmental Science (MES) Theses

The Upland Prairie Restoration was initiated on a 25-acre old field in 1993 in Upland, Indiana. It has matured into a community dominated by Andropogon gerardii and forbs, Monarda fistulosa and Ratibida pinnata. Prior research on the site found that acute nitrogen enrichment promoted weed cover in early stages of establishment and inhibited the establishment of native prairie species. This current study examined the effects of nitrogen enrichment applied to a mature prairie restoration. In 2002, a complete randomized block design experiment was implemented with annual enrichment using nitrogen-urea fertilizer at 4 levels – 0g/m2, 5g/m2, 10g/m2, and 20g/m2. …

The Planet, 2007, Winter, Shawn C. Query, Huxley College Of The Environment, Western Washington University

The Planet

No abstract provided.

Policy And Institutional Context For Nrm In Kenya: Challenges And Opportunities For Landcare, Thomas Yatich, Alex Awiti, Elvin Nyukuri, Joseph Mutua, Agnes Kyalo, Joseph Tanui, Delia Catacutan

East Africa Institute

Kenya’s natural resource base has dwindled over the years. The existence of many land-related laws, some of which are incompatible, has resulted in complex land management regimes, giving rise to fragmented interventions, poor land administration, and inadequate provision of agricultural services. The consequences are serious environmental problems aggravated by social, economic and political factors. Traditionally, land use practices were more sustainable, but many of these Landcare practices were discarded with the advent of colonialism. Today, significant progress is evident in rule-making, paving the way for adoption of more integrative approaches to natural resources management (NRM), including the more sustainable Landcare. …

Atmospheric Scaling Of Cosmogenic Nuclide Production: Climate Effect, Jane Staiger, John Gosse, Rick Toracinta, Bob Oglesby, James Fastook, Jesse V. Johnson

Computer Science Faculty Publications

Absorption of cosmic rays by atmospheric mass varies temporally due to a redistribution of atmospheric pressure by ice sheets during glaciations, the compression and expansion of the atmosphere due to cooling and warming, and changes in katabatic winds near large ice masses. These atmospheric processes can result in changes in production rates of cosmogenic nuclides which, when integrated over long exposure durations may result in 0% to >5% adjustments in site production rates depending on location. Combining a CCM3 model with imbedded ice sheets for 20 ka, we show that production rates changes (relative to today) are greatest at high …

Modeling Long-Term Stability Of The Ferrar Glacier, East Antarctica: Implications For Interpreting Cosmogenic Nuclide Inheritance, Jesse V. Johnson, Jane W. Staiger

Computer Science Faculty Publications

The Ferrar Glacier extends from the Taylor Dome, through the Royal Society Range, to the Ross Sea. Its pathway is strongly influenced by large-scale topographic features. Ice thins and flows over these features, like water over a dam. Recently acquired evidence demonstrates that the profile of the Ferrar Glacier has been relatively static for the last 4 million years. This long record of stability is in sharp contrast to numerous other features in Antarctica and motivates an exploration of the stability with a numerical model. Large variations in ice thickness along the Ferrar profile make necessary a thermomechanically coupled model …

New Science And Technology Journals, Earl Mounts

Sci-Tech News

No abstract provided.

Generalized Geologic Map For Land-Use Planning: Montgomery County, Kentucky, Daniel I. Carey

Map and Chart--KGS

This map is not intended to be used for selecting individual sites. Its purpose is to inform land-use planners, government officials, and the public in a general way about geologic bedrock conditions that affect the selection of sites for various purposes. The properties of thick soils may supercede those of the underlying bedrock and should be considered on a site-to-site basis. At any site, it is important to understand the characteristics of both the soils and the underlying rock.

Generalized Geologic Map For Land-Use Planning: Elliott County, Kentucky, Daniel I. Carey

Map and Chart--KGS

This map is not intended to be used for selecting individual sites. Its purpose is to inform land-use planners, government officials, and the public in a general way about geologic bedrock conditions that affect the selection of sites for various purposes. The properties of thick soils may supercede those of the underlying bedrock and should be considered on a site-to-site basis. At any site, it is important to understand the characteristics of both the soils and the underlying rock.

Generalized Geologic Map For Land-Use Planning: Knott County, Kentucky, Daniel I. Carey, Steven E. Webb, Bart Davidson

Map and Chart--KGS

This map is not intended to be used for selecting individual sites. Its purpose is to inform land-use planners, government officials, and the public in a general way about geologic bedrock conditions that affect the selection of sites for various purposes. The properties of thick soils may supercede those of the underlying bedrock and should be considered on a site-to-site basis. At any site, it is important to understand the characteristics of both the soils and the underlying rock.

Projectional Entropy In Higher Dimensional Shifts Of Finite Type, Aimee S. A. Johnson, S. Kass, K. M. Madden

Mathematics & Statistics Faculty Works

Any higher dimensional shift space (X, ℤᵈ) contains many lower dimensional shift spaces obtained by projection onto r-dimensional sublattices L of ℤᵈ where r < d. We show here that any projectional entropy is bounded below by the ℤᵈ entropy and, in the case of certain shifts of finite type satisfying a mixing condition, equality is achieved if and only if the shift of finite type is the infinite product of a lower dimensional projection.

Phase-Locked Mutually Coupled 1.3 Μm Quantum-Dot Lasers, Stephen P. Hegarty, David Goulding, Bryan Kelleher, Guillaume Huyet, Maria-Teresa Todaro, Abdelmajid Salhi, Adriana Passaseo, Massimo De Vittorio

Cappa Publications

Fabry-Perot InAs quantum-dot lasers grown on GaAs substrates are mutually coupled with a delay of several nanoseconds. Stable phase-locked output with narrow linewidth is obtained when the frequency detuning between the two lasers is less than 4 GHz. This simple locking scheme could find application in a variety of photonics applications.

Temperature Dependence Of Terahertz Emission From Inmnas, Hui Zhan, Jason A. Deibel, Jonathan Laib, Chanjuan Sun, Junichiro Kono, Daniel M. Mittleman, Hiro Munekata

Physics Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Students’ Use Of Symmetry With Gauss’S Law, Adrienne L. Traxler, Katrina E. Black, John R. Thompson

Physics Faculty Publications

To study introductory student difficulties with electrostatics, we compared student techniques when finding the electric field for spherically symmetric and non-spherically symmetric charged conductors. We used short interviews to design a free-response and multiple-choice-multiple-response survey that was administered to students in introductory calculus-based courses. We present the survey results and discuss them in light of Singh's results for Gauss's Law, Collins and Ferguson's epistemic forms and games, and Tuminaro's extension of games and frames.

Research Report 2007-2008, College Of Arts And Sciences

Physics Research Reports

• Introduction
• From the Chairperson
• Astronomy
• Atomic Physics
• Condensed Matter Physics
• Nuclear Physics
• Physics Education
• Publications
• Dissertations
• Presentations
• Proposals and Grants
• Scholarly Activity
• Personnel

Distributed Resource Participation In Local Balancing Energy Markets, Judith Cardell

Engineering: Faculty Publications

In response to the new and potentially conflicting economic and technical demands of independent, distributed resources, the power system requires a new means for coordinating system and market operations. Price signals are one mechanism available to coordinate the operation of a power system in the emerging competitive markets. This paper discusses the integration of distributed resources into the operations of the power system by means of organizing the resources into microgrids and allowing them to participate in local electricity markets through responding to price signals. The simulations of price signals proposed in this paper successively expand upon the current open …

Video Game Development With 3d Studio Max And The Xna Framework, Cole Mahoukau Koffi

Theses Digitization Project

The purpose of this project on game design and development is to experiment with actual technology tools used in computer games and get experience in three deminsional game development using 3D Studio Max and Microsoft XNA.

Long-Term Trends In Benthic Macroinvertebrate Populations In Lake Huron Over The Past Four Decades, Thomas F. Nalepa, David L. Fanslow, Steven A. Pothoven, Andrew J. Foley Iii, Gregory A. Lang

United States Department of Commerce: Staff Publications

Surveys of the benthic macroinvertebrate community were conducted in the main basin of Lake Huron in 2000 and 2003, and in Georgian Bay and North Channel in 2002. Results were compared to surveys conducted in the 1960s and early 1970s. Although data of earlier surveys were inconsistent, our best estimates suggest that total density of the four major benthic taxa (Diporeia spp., Oligochaeta, Sphaeriidae, and Chironomidae) in the main basin declined dramatically between the early 1970s and 2000. Populations of all major taxa continued to decline between 2000 and 2003, particularly Diporeia and Sphaeriidae. Diporeia was rare or absent …

Antler Size Of Alaskan Moose Alces Alces Gigas: Effects Of Population Density, Hunter Harvest And Use Of Guides, Jennifer I. Schmidt, Jay M. Ver Hoef, R. Terry Bowyer

United States Department of Commerce: Staff Publications

Moose Alces alces gigas in Alaska, USA, exhibit extreme sexual dimorphism, with adult males possessing large, elaborate antlers. Antler size and conformation are influenced by age, nutrition and genetics, and these bony structures serve to establish social rank and affect mating success. Population density, combined with anthropogenic effects such as harvest, is thought to influence antler size. Antler size increased as densities of moose decreased, ostensibly a density-dependent response related to enhanced nutrition at low densities. The vegetation type where moose were harvested also affected antler size, with the largest-antlered males occupying more open habitats. Hunts with guides occurred in …

Saving The Vaquita: Immediate Action, Not More Data, Armando Jaramillo-Legorreta, Lorenzo Rojas-Bracho, Robert L. Brownell Jr., Andrew J. Read, Randall R. Reeves, Katherine Ralls, Barbara L. Taylor

United States Department of Commerce: Staff Publications

The recent likely extinction of the baiji (Chinese river dolphin [Lipotes vexillifer]) (Turvey et al. 2007) makes the vaquita (Gulf of California porpoise [Phocoena sinus]) the most endangered cetacean. The vaquita has the smallest range of any porpoise, dolphin, or whale and, like the baiji, has long been threatened primarily by accidental deaths in fishing gear (bycatch) (Rojas-Bracho et al. 2006). Despite repeated recommendations from scientific bodies and conservation organizations, no effective actions have been taken to remove nets from the vaquita’s environment. Here, we address three questions that are important to vaquita conservation: (1) How …

The Whaling Issue: Conservation, Confusion, And Casuistry, Phillip J. Clapham, Simon Childerhouse, Nicolas J. Gales, Lorenzo Rojas-Bracho, Michael F. Tillman, Robert L. Brownell Jr.

United States Department of Commerce: Staff Publications

Morishita’s “multiple analysis”of the whaling issue [Morishita J. Multiple analysis of the whaling issue: Understanding the dispute by a matrix. Marine Policy 2006;30:802–8] is essentially a restatement of the Government of Japan’s whaling policy, which confuses the issue through selective use of data, unsubstantiated facts, and the vilification of opposing perspectives. Here, we deconstruct the major problems with Morishita’s article and provide an alternative view of the whaling dispute. For many people in this debate, the issue is not that some whales are not abundant, but that the whaling industry cannot be trusted to regulate itself or to honestly assess …

Quasi-Poisson Vs. Negative Binomial Regression: How Should We Model Overdispersed Count Data?, Jay M. Ver Hoef, Peter L. Boveng

United States Department of Commerce: Staff Publications

Quasi-Poisson and negative binomial regression models have equal numbers of parameters, and either could be used for overdispersed count data. While they often give similar results, there can be striking differences in estimating the effects of covariates. We explain when and why such differences occur. The variance of a quasi-Poisson model is a linear function of the mean while the variance of a negative binomial model is a quadratic function of the mean. These variance relationships affect the weights in the iteratively weighted least-squares algorithm of fitting models to data. Because the variance is a function of the mean, large …