Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

How Long Does This Litter Last?, Public Lands Institute

Anti-littering Presentations

Timeline for how long different types of waste last in the Nevada desert.

Clean, Green, And Not So Mean: Can Business Save The World?, Andy Spackman, Celia Ross, Christy Donaldson, Louise Feldman, Patrick Griffis, Elizabeth Stephan, Laurie Bridges, Baseema Krkoska, Tony Lin, Mark Siciliano

Library Faculty Publications

No matter how you define it, corporate social responsibility (CSR) is a hot topic. From community investing to business ethics to environmental sustainability and beyond, proponents of CSR view the business landscape through a lens that focuses less on profitability and more on the greater good.

“Doing well by doing good” is the business world’s new mantra. Concepts of CSR, green business, social entrepreneurship, and peace through commerce have become a focus of research and are inspiring the next generation of businesspeople. The 2010 BRASS Program gave attendees an expert’s view of certain niches within the broader realm of ethical …

Mojave Applied Ecology Notes Winter 2010, Scott R. Abella, E. Cayenne Engel

Mojave Applied Ecology Notes

Native species interactions with red brome (Bromus rubens), undergraduate and graduate programs at UNLV, what’s growing in the greenhouse?

Relating Surface Backscatter Response From Trmm Precipitation Radar To Soil Moisture: Results Over A Semi-Arid Region, Haroon Stephen, Sajjad Ahmad, Thomas C. Piechota, Chunling Tang

Public Policy and Leadership Faculty Publications

The Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) carries aboard the Precipitation Radar (TRMMPR) that measures the backscatter (σº) of the surface. σº is sensitive to surface soil moisture and vegetation conditions. Due to sparse vegetation in arid and semi-arid regions, TRMMPR σº primarily depends on the soil water content. In this study we relate TRMMPR σº measurements to soil water content (m(s)) in the Lower Colorado River Basin (LCRB). σº dependence on ms is studied for different vegetation greenness values determined through Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI). A new model of σº that couples incidence angle, m(s), and NDVI is used …

Connecticut Transit (Cttransit) Fuel Cell Transit Bus: Third Evaluation Report And Appendices, K. Chandler, L. Eudy

Publications (T)

This report describes operations at Connecticut Transit (CTTRANSIT) in Hartford for one prototype fuel cell bus and three newer diesel buses operating from the same location. The prototype fuel cell bus was manufactured by Van Hool and ISE Corp. and features an electric hybrid drive system with a UTC Power PureMotion 120 Fuel Cell Power System and ZEBRA batteries for energy storage. The fuel cell bus started operation in April 2007, and evaluation results through October 2009 are provided in this report.

Building America Research Benchmark Definition: Updated December 2009, R. Hendron, C. Engebrecht

Publications (SD)

To track progress toward aggressive multi-year, whole-house energy savings goals of 40%–70% and on-site power production of up to 30%, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Residential Buildings Program and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) developed the Building America (BA) Research Benchmark in consultation with the Building America industry teams. The Benchmark is generally consistent with mid-1990s standard practice, as reflected in the Home Energy Rating System (HERS) Technical Guidelines (RESNET 2002), with additional definitions that allow the analyst to evaluate all residential end uses, an extension of the traditional HERS rating approach that focuses on space conditioning and …

Hatched: The Capacity For Sustainable Development, Bob Frame, Richard Gordon, Claire Mortimer

Publications (SD)

Hatched: The capacity for sustainable development is edited by Landcare Research scientists Bob Frame, Richard Gordon and Claire Mortimer and is a collection of research findings, stories and tools exploring five key areas of capacity required for New Zealand’s long-term success. It covers innovative research undertaken with businesses, across policy sectors, communities and individuals and was funded by the Foundation for Research, Science and Technology.

Application Of Foreland Basin Detrital-Zircon Geochronology To The Reconstruction Of The Southern And Central Appalachian Orogen, Hyunmee Park, David L. Barbeau Jr, Alan Rickenbaker, Denise Bachmann-Krug, George E. Gehrels

Faculty Publications

We report the U-Pb age distribution of detrital zircons collected from central and southern Appalachian foreland basin strata, which record changes of sediment provenance in response to the different phases of the Appalachian orogeny. Taconic clastic wedges have predominantly ca. 1080–1180 and ca. 1300–1500 Ma zircons, whereas Acadian clastic wedges contain abundant Paleozoic zircons and minor populations of 550–700 and 1900–2200 Ma zircons consistent with a Gondwanan affinity. Alleghanian clastic wedges contain large populations of ca. 980–1080 Ma and ca. 2700 Ma and older Archean zircons and fewer Paleozoic zircons than occur in the Acadian clastic wedges. The abundance of …

The Norm Of A Truncated Toeplitz Operator, William T. Ross, Stephan Ramon Garcia

Department of Math & Statistics Faculty Publications

We prove several lower bounds for the norm of a truncated Toeplitz operator and obtain a curious relationship between the H² and H^∞ norms of functions in model spaces.

Combating Dos Attacks In Wireless Networks Using Lightweight Key Mangement Schemes, Qi Dong

Computer Science and Engineering Dissertations

The unique features of wireless networks lead to many attractive applications in both military and civilian operations. Wireles networking devices usually use batteries as power supply, which requires all the operations to be as efficient as possible. Since the resources such as the battery energy and wireless communication channels are critical in wireless networks, the attacker my try to disable the system operation by launching denial of service (DoS) attacks. Specifically, the attacker prevents the system from working by using up or blocking the limited resources.This dissertation includes three studies on security mechanisms to combat DoS attacks using lightweight key …

Recent Theoretical Progress In Treating Electron Impact Ionization Of Molecules, Ola A. Al-Hagan, Chuangang Ning, Kate L. Nixon, Andrew James Murray, Christopher J. Colyer, Mark A. Stevenson, B. Lohmann, Don H. Madison

Physics Faculty Research & Creative Works

(e,2e) ionization differential cross sections are presented for several molecules. We will compare experimental results with theoretical calculations using the molecular three body distorted wave (M3DW) approximations for H ₂, N₂, H₂O and Formic Acid (FA) using better wave-function for the molecules than we had in previous works. Generally, good agreement is found between the M3DW approach and experiments.

Absence Of Predation Eliminates Coexistence: Experience From The Fish-Zooplankton Interface, Z. M. Gilwicz, Wayne A. Wurtsbaugh, E. Szymansk

Watershed Sciences Faculty Publications

Examples from fishless aquatic habitats show that competition among zooplankton for resources instigates rapid exclusion of competitively inferior species in the absence of fish predation, and leads to resource monopolization by the superior competitor. This may be a single species or a few clones with large body size: a cladoceran such as Daphnia pulicaria, or a branchiopod such as Artemia franciscana, each building its population to a density far higher than those found in habitats with fish. The example of zooplankton from two different fish-free habitats demonstrates the overpowering force of fish predation by highlighting the consequences of its absence. …

Impact Of The Farmington Bay Eutrophication Plume On The Plankton Ecology Of Gilbert Bay, Great Salt Lake, Joe Crawford, Erin Fleming, Ashton Montrone, Meagan Wilcox, Jaclyn Wight

Watershed Sciences Student Research

Farmington Bay in the Great Salt Lake is hypereutrophic because of extreme nitrogen and phosphorus loading, largely from greater metropolitan Salt Lake City sewage effluents. Although this causes detrimental impacts within the bay, the influence of the outflow of its algal- and nutrient-rich waters into Gilbert Bay is largely unknown. To address this issue, students in the 2010 Aquatic Ecology Practicum course from Utah State University did a 13-km long transect analysis of trophic parameters from the causeway bridge separating the two bays, out into the pelagic zone of Gilbert Bay (Figure 1; Appendix A). On the September 30^{th …}

The Effects Of Surface Modification On Spacecraft Charging Parameters, Amberly Evans, John R. Dennison

All Physics Faculty Publications

Charging of materials by incident radiation is affected by both environmental and physical conditions. Modifying a material’s physical surface will change its reflection, transmission and absorption of the incident radiation which are integrally related to the accumulation of charge and energy deposition in the material. An optical analysis of the effect of surface modification on spacecraft charging parameters on prototypical Kapton HN and Cu samples is presented. Samples were roughened with abrasive compounds ranging from 0.5 to 10 μm in size, comparable to the range of incident wavelengths. They were also contaminated with thin layers of DC 704 diffusion pump …

Spacecraft Coating-Induced Charging: A Materials And Modeling Study Of Environmental Extreme, Michelle M. Donegan, Jennifer L. Sample, John R. Dennison, R. Hoffman

All Physics Faculty Publications

As mankind reaches to explore extreme environments in space, the application of ceramics surface coatings is increasing. The 2005 mission concept for Solar Probe used a unique design to achieve the necessary thermal control for a very close approach to the solar corona, including the use of a highly refractory, electrically insulating ceramic coating over a carbon-carbon composite heat shield. The proposed trajectory takes the spacecraft from a Jovian fly-by to within 4 solar radii of the Sun, spanning 5 orders of magnitude in solar radiation and solar wind plasma density as well as spacecraft temperatures from <100 K to >2000 K. Using …

A Passive Sampler For Ambient Gaseous Oxidized Mercury Concentrations, Seth N. Lyman, Mae Sexauer Gustin, Eric M. Prestbo

USU Uintah Basin Faculty Publications

This paper reports on the development of a passive sampler for estimating gaseous oxidized mercury concentrations. Atmospheric gaseous oxidized mercury concentrations calculated from passive sampler data were correlated with those obtained using an automated analyzer (r2 = 0.71, p < 0.01, n = 110 for one-week deployments; r2 = 0.89, p < 0.01, n = 22 for two-week deployments). Sampler uptake was not significantly affected by changes in temperature, humidity, or ozone concentration, but it was slightly dependent on wind speed. As such, an equation for correcting data due to this factor was developed based on wind tunnel and field data. The detection limit for a two-week sampler deployment was ∼5 pg m−3. Field data collected in Nevada and the southeastern United States showed these samplers are useful for investigating spatial and temporal variability in gaseous oxidized mercury concentrations.

Neuraminidase Activity Of Influenza Virus Strains That Differ In The Ability To Cause Disease, Benjamin Hanks Brown, Bart Tarbet

Browse All Undergraduate research

Influenza viruses are classified based on their surface glycoproteins: hemagglutinin and neuraminidase. Hemagglutinin (HA) is responsible for binding to the host cell, while neuraminidase (NA) facilitates escape of newly formed virus particles. These studies determined the NA activity of three subtypes of influenza A virus that differ in their ability to cause disease in mice: influenza A/NWS/33 (H1N1), influenza A/Victoria/3/75 (H3N2), and influenza A/Duck/MN/1525/81 (H5N1). Chemiluminescent quantitation of NA activity in equal amounts of each virus was determined in three replicate experiments. Results indicate that N1 virus subtypes have higher NA activity than do N2 subtypes. In addition, the NA …

Rehabilitate Failing Park Sewage System Environmental Assessment, United States Department Of The Interior, National Park Service

Environmental Assessments (UT)

The National Park Service (NPS) proposes to rehabilitate the failing sewage system within Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah. The rehabilitation would provide a safe, healthy, and functional environment, and maintain public health and future service for park visitors and staff. Portions of the sanitary sewage collection system were originally constructed in 1958 of clay pipe and currently service the lodge, staff housing, and visitor center before feeding into sewage treatment lagoons. Sections of the sewage system have deteriorated significantly with age. These sections of the system and appurtenant manholes are deteriorating into pieces that regularly clog the system and cause …

Environmental Assessment: Proposed Agricultural Research Center, Utah State University Campus, Logan, Utah, Sage Environmental

Environmental Assessments (UT)

Assess the environment on which Utah State University proposes to establish a new facility for the College of Agriculture

Tree Rings And Earthquakes, Matthew F. Bekker

Wasatch Dendroclimatology Research

The lithosphere, earth’s rigid outer shell comprising crust and upper mantle rock, is broken into about 14 tectonic plates (Christopherson 2009) that move a few centimeters per year over superheated, pliable rock underneath. Forces within earth’s interior push, pull and twist the plates in different directions, producing three types of plate boundaries: convergent (colliding with one another), divergent (moving away from one another) and transform (sliding past one another). Earthquakes occur when plates become locked together, building strain between and within them that is suddenly released, sending a burst of seismic waves that cause shaking and displacement of the surface. …

Fire Disturbance, Forest Structure, And Stand Dynamics In Montane Forests Of The Southern Cascades, Thousand Lakes Wilderness, California, Usa, Matthew F. Bekker, Alan H. Taylor

Wasatch Dendroclimatology Research

We examined tree diameter, age structure, and successional trends in 100 montane forest plots to identify the effects of variation in the return interval, severity, and extent of fires on forest structure and dynamics in the southern Cascade Range, California. We classified 100 forest plots into 8 groups based on stand structural characteristics. Median point fire return intervals were shortest in lower montane mixed conifer and Jeffrey pine–white fir stands (13-25 y) and upper montane red fir–white fir stands (14.5-19.5 y), intermediate in lodgepole pine stands (50-76.5 y), and longest in high-elevation red fir–mountain hemlock stands (100 y). Fire severity …

Understanding Space Weather Customers In Gps-Reliant Industries, Jennifer L. Meehan, G. Fisher, W. Murtagh

All Physics Faculty Publications

Since the last solar maximum, society has become extremely reliant on the Global Positioning System (GPS), which is often referred to as the “fourth utility” behind electricity, water, and natural gas. As the economy depends more and more on positioning, navigation, and timing, society's vulnerability to space weather continues to increase because space weather can be a significant cause of GPS errors. Critical applications such as railway control, highway traffic management, precision agriculture, emergency response, commercial aviation, and marine navigation all require GPS services. With such widespread and critical usage, industries are becoming more aware of how space weather can …

Does Chiasmus Appear In The Book Of Mormon By Chance?, Boyd F. Edwards, W. F. Edwards

All Physics Faculty Publications

Chiasmus is an inverted-parallel literary form that was employed by ancient Hebrew biblical writers, among others. An instance of this form, called a “chiasm,” presents two or more literary elements, and then restates them in reverse order. Short chiasms are not uncommon in literature. In some cases, the authors undoubtedly intended to use that form for literary effect (that is, by design); in other cases, the elements fell into that form without author intent (that is, by chance). In 1969, John W. Welch reported his discovery of many-element chiasms in the Book of Mormon,1 which Joseph Smith testified to …

Observations Of Prolific Transient Luminous Event Production Above A Mesoscale Convective System In Argentina During The Sprite2006 Campaign In Brazil, F. T. São Sabbas, Michael J. Taylor, Pierre-Dominique Pautet, T. Berkey, S. Cummer, R. R. Azambuja, J. P.C. Santiago, J. N. Thomas, O. Pinto Jr., N. N. Solorzano, N. J. Schuch, S. R. Freitas, N. J. Ferreira, J. C. Conforte

All Physics Faculty Publications

On the night of 22–23 February 2006, 444 transient luminous events (TLEs), 86% sprites, were observed above a prolific mesoscale convective system (MCS) over Argentina, as part of the third sprite campaign in Brazil. GOES infrared (IR) cloud top temperatures (Tc) and Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) radar (PR) and microwave (TMI) data were used to investigate the MCS convective characteristics and their relationship with World Wide Location Network (WWLLN) detected cloud‐to‐ground (CG) lightning and TLE activity. The MCS had a minimum lifetime of 20 hours, 8.5 as a MCS, a maximum extent of ∼430,000 km2, and gusty winds of …

Measurement Methods Of Electron Emission Over A Full Range Of Sample Charging, R. Hoffman, John R. Dennison

All Physics Faculty Publications

The electron emission properties of a material subject to incident radiation flux are key parameters in determining to what equilibrium charge a spacecraft will established under given environmental conditions. However, there is a complex relation between these emission properties and the charge built up in spacecraft insulators. Complex modeling codes have been developed to predict the potential a spacecraft will adopt as a consequence of its interaction with the space plasma. These require correct models of the electron yields as a function of charge to accurately predict the both the charge build up and the equilibrium potential of spacecraft components. …

When Are Chiasms Admissible As Evidence?, Boyd F. Edwards, W. F. Edwards

All Physics Faculty Publications

Since John Welch’s discovery of chiasmus in the Book of Mormon in 1967, many critics have attempted to show how chiasmus appears in just about every type of literature, from Dr. Seuss to Strangite scripture. This article discusses the authors’ statistical admissibility tests to verify whether a chiasmus in a work shows strong evidence of intentionality by the original author. Their results indicate that certain passages in the Old Testament and in the Book of Mormon show deliberate chiasmus, while Strangite scripture, the Doctrine and Covenants, nursery rhymes, Dr. Seuss, and other works are not intentionally chiastic.

Approximation Of Range In Materials As A Function Of Incident Electron Energy, Gregory Wilson, John R. Dennison

All Physics Faculty Publications

A simple composite analytic expression has been developed to approximate the electron range in materials. The expression is applicable over more than six orders of magnitude in energy (10 MeV) and range (10-9 m to 10-2 m), with uncertainty of ≤20% for most conducting, semiconducting and insulating materials. This is accomplished by fitting data from two standard NIST databases [ESTAR for the higher energy range and the electron IMFP (inelastic mean free path) for the lower energies]. In turn, these data have been fit with well-established semi-empirical models for range and IMFP that are related to standard materials properties (e.g., …

Space Weather & Gps Reliant Industries, Jennifer L. Meehan, W. Murtagh

All Physics Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Unified Model Of Charge Transport In Insulating Polymeric Materials, Alec Sim, John R. Dennison

All Physics Faculty Publications

We present a preliminary report on the theoretical and experimental study of transport models in highly insulating materials. The report is developed in four sections; first we give background on the nature of the problems in space craft charging, the contributions and connections made by the Utah State material physics group. Second we discuss the density of states to explore the connections between material composition and the microscopic and macroscopic transport equations. Third from Maxwell’s equations we present an overview of the transport equations. Finally we present preliminary results using experimental data on Kapton^TM, the transport equations and …

Methods To Determine Total Electron-Induced Electron Yields Over Broad Range Ofconductive And Nonconductive Materials, Ryan C. Hoffmann, John R. Dennison

All Physics Faculty Publications

The electron emission properties of a material subject to incident radiation flux are key parameters in determining to what equilibrium charge a spacecraft will established under given environmental conditions. However, there is a complex relation between these emission properties and the charge built up in spacecraft insulators. Complex modeling codes have been developed to predict the potential a spacecraft will adopt as a consequence of its interaction with the space plasma. These require correct models of the electron yields as a function of charge to accurately predict the both the charge build up and the equilibrium potential of spacecraft components. …