Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Verification Of Monte-Carlo Simulation For Star Endcap Electromagnetic Calorimeter, Kevin Miller

Symposium on Undergraduate Research and Creative Expression (SOURCE)

The STAR experiment at Brookhaven National Laboratory seeks to measure the source of the protons spin, a fundamental property of matter. To accomplish this measurement, a simulation method called Monte-Carlo will be used to model the true detector responses to proton-proton collisions. My work is to confirm the accuracy of the Monte-Carlo simulation for the Endcap Electromagnetic Calorimeter (EEMC). By comparing histograms of fundamental parameters from the Monte-Carlo simulated data and true data from 2006 experimentation, we will be able to test the simulations accuracy. When validated, the Monte-Carlo simulation will be used to achieve a greater understanding of the …

Computer Monitored Problem Solving Dialogues, Lisa Dion, Jeremy Jank, Nicole Rutt

Symposium on Undergraduate Research and Creative Expression (SOURCE)

This project looks over the shoulder at students collaboratively engaged in a math problem-solving activity. One task we looked at was mechanically classifying the students current activity or knowledge state, of which we have identified 15 different categories. We have produced an automatic classifier that examines student sentences and is 55% accurate in identifying utterances as containing certain bits of knowledge or evidence of certain activities. The classifier was built from a corpus of student-written reports. Treating each sentence as a bag of words, we built vector space models of the word co-occurrence matrix using both non-negative matrix factorization (NMF) …

The Study Of Variability In Four Oxygen-Rich Proto-Planetary Nebulae, Kristie Shaw

Symposium on Undergraduate Research and Creative Expression (SOURCE)

This summer, I have been working on a project to study the variability of four proto-planetary nebulae. Proto-planetary nebulae (PPNe) are evolved stellar objects that are in the process of losing their outer layers and in transition from a red giant star to a planetary nebula. Oxygen-rich PPNe, specifically, have a higher oxygen content in their nebula than they do carbon, and this occurs mainly in lower mass stars. This project includes combining our data from the VU Observatory with other published data, analyzing light curves of brightness versus time and looking for patterns, and performing period analysis using a …

Initial Studies Of The Forward Gem Tracker, Malorie Stowe, David Grosnik

Symposium on Undergraduate Research and Creative Expression (SOURCE)

The spin of the proton is known to be produced by several constituents including quarks, antiquarks, and gluons. It has been the goal of STAR to measure the contribution of gluons and various sea quarks to the proton spin. The Forward GEM Tracker (FGT) is a newly constructed detector to be placed into STAR, which is located at the RHIC collider at Brookhaven National Laboratory. The FGT serves to track the position of forward going charged particles, produced in proton-proton collisions, as they travel towards the Endcap Electromagnetic Calorimeter (EEMC). This information will be critical in helping to determine the …

Observational Studies Of Proto-Planetary Nebulae At The Valparaiso University Observatory, Christopher Miko, Rachael Jensema

Symposium on Undergraduate Research and Creative Expression (SOURCE)

We are observing the light variation with time of a sample of 26 proto-planetary nebulae (PPNe) using Valparaiso University’s 16-inch computer-controlled reflector telescope and CCD digital camera. PPNe are evolved stars late in their lifetime, in between the red giant and planetary nebula phase. The resulting images are analyzed and properly calibrated to produce quantitative measurements of light intensity with respect to time. We are particularly analyzing nine PPNe and their light variations through time to quantify variability and search for periods to their variability. Of the nine, all are variable over a range of 10-50%. Five demonstrate an approximate …

Water Quality Monitoring Of The Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore Great Marsh Complex, Evan Beyers, Jacob Yablonowski, Jonathan Schoer

Symposium on Undergraduate Research and Creative Expression (SOURCE)

The Great Marsh complex of the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore was drained extensively by humans, beginning in the late 1800’s to provide land for farming and residences. Since 1998, 500 acres of the Great Marsh complex have been undergoing restoration in an attempt to return them to their pre-developed conditions. To assess the success of the ongoing restoration on water quality, 15 different parameters used to assess water quality are being measured. Data collected from June 2007 through July 2011 indicates that the water quality is typical of that for a wetlands in this region, and that the Great Marsh …

Radon Concentration In Basements, Joel Rogers

Symposium on Undergraduate Research and Creative Expression (SOURCE)

This summer I am studying radon gas concentrations in basements in the Valparaiso community area. Radon is known to be the second leading cause of lung cancer after smoking. After several years (more than twenty) of continuous radon inhalation, the human lungs can be impaired and can become cancerous. This study will help people be aware of a potential radon problem in their homes. The EPA recommends having a concentration of four picocuries per liter or less in each home. The experiment is performed by using an EPA approved radon testing apparatus that records the concentration each hour for up …

Testing The Potential Of Using The Fungus Neurospora Crassa To Convert Human Waste Into Edible Protein., Alex Zapata, Jacob Yablonowski, Michael Watters, Jon Schoer

Symposium on Undergraduate Research and Creative Expression (SOURCE)

We report on the results of an experiment designed to test the potential of filamentous fungi (mold) to reduce solid waste (feces) while converting it into a consumable, high protein food product. Feces represent an untapped resource. Filamentous fungi are natural decomposers with the ability to use this resource. Many filamentous fungi are safe to eat. Initial studies resulted in rates of conversion which varied considerably with growth conditions. Fungal growth also appears to reduce odor, but we have been unable to confirm this observation via GCMS. The protein content of the resulting fungal biomass was examined using the Kjeldahl …

Modeling Infectious Diseases : Two Strain Diseases In Metapopulations, Daniel Rossi, Sydney Philipps, Rachel Vonarb

Symposium on Undergraduate Research and Creative Expression (SOURCE)

Infectious diseases often mutate and are carried between regions. We consider a mathematical model which begins to account for these factors. We assume two disjoint populations that only occasionally comingle, and two strains of a disease present in these populations. Of interest are the equations describing the dynamics of this system, the conditions under which epidemics will occur, and the long term behavior of the system under various initial conditions. We find that in many ways this system is similar to a simpler one-population model. However, we find evidence that there may be conditions under which both disease strains can …

A Mip-Based Energy Calibration Of The Star Endcap Electromagnetic Calorimeter, Zachary Nault

Symposium on Undergraduate Research and Creative Expression (SOURCE)

One of the main goals of the STAR Spin Collaboration is to understand the intrinsic angular momentum of the proton. An integral part of this experiment is the Endcap Electromagnetic Calorimeter (EEMC). The EEMC is used in detecting particles produced from hard proton-proton collisions that end up in the forward direction or 'end' of the experimental apparatus. In order to use properly the data collected, the energy and position measurements in the EEMC need to be well-known. To accomplish this, an energy calibration of the EEMC was performed using minimum ionizing particles (MIPs). The important property of MIPs utilized was …

Calculus, Biology And Medicine: A Case Study In Quantitative Literacy For Science Students, Kim Rheinlander, Dorothy Wallace

Numeracy

This paper describes a course designed to enhance the numeracy of biology and pre-medical students. The course introduces students with the background of one semester of calculus to systems of nonlinear ordinary differential equations as they appear in the mathematical biology literature. Evaluation of the course showed increased enjoyment and confidence in doing mathematics, and an increased appreciation of the utility of mathematics to science. Students who complete this course are better able to read the research literature in mathematical biology and carry out research problems of their own.

Catalytic Activity Of Titania And Titania-Containing Nanomaterials: And, Spatial Distribution Of Silica Surface Groups Using A Tethered Amine Catalyst, Ramkumar Samala

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

The Affect Of Surface Hydrophobicity On Wind Erosion Probed By Atomic Force Microscopy, Bradley Eric Frost

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

Polynomial Bundles And Generalised Fourier Transforms For Integrable Equations On A.Iii-Type Symmetric Spaces, Vladimir Gerdjikov, Georgi Grahovski, Alexander V. Mikhailov, Tihomir Valchev

Articles

A certain class of integrable nonlinear differential equations related to A.III-type symmetric spaces and having additional reductions is analysed via the Inverse Scattering Method (ISM). The class contains systems of nonlinear evolution equations (NLEEs) associated with a Lax operator (for the time-evolution) polynomial in the spectral parameter. Using the Wronskian relations, the mapping between the potential and the minimal sets of scattering data is constructed. Furthermore, completeness relations for the `squared solutions' (generalised exponentials) are derived. Next, expansions of Q and its variation are obtained. This demonstrates that the interpretation of the inverse scattering method as a generalized Fourier transform …

On Adjoint Entropy Of Abelian Groups, Brendan Goldsmith, Ketao Gong

Articles

The theory of endomorphism rings of algebraic structures allows, in a natural way, a systematic approach based on the notion of entropy borrowed from dynamical systems. In the present work we introduce a \lq dual\rq \ notion based upon the replacement of the finite groups used in the definition of algebraic entropy, by subgroups of finite index. The basic properties of this new entropy are established and a connection to Hopfian groups is investigated.

Quantum Engineering Of Laser-Cooled Atoms: Experiments And Theory, Kieran Deasy

Theses

In this thesis, laser cooling and trapping techniques are implemented to forrn a cold atom cloud of 85Rb atoms in a magneto-optical trap (Mon configuration. The system produces an atom cloud of~ 1.5 mm in diameter, containing ~ 108 atoms and an average temperature in the sub-Doppler range. Tapered optical fibres (TOFs) are also detailed here, including their guiding properties and the process used for their fabrication. Many possible applications for TOFs have been proposed and one such application is investigated, i.e. the use of TOFs as highly sensitive atom probes. The research results contained within this thesis describe two …

The Tyranny Of The Vital Few: The Pareto Principle In Language Design, Victor L. Winter, James L. Perry, Harvey Siy, Satish Srinivasan, Ben Farkas, James Mccoy

Chemistry Faculty Publications

Modern high-level programming languages often contain constructs whose semantics are non-trivial. In practice how- ever, software developers generally restrict the use of such constructs to settings in which their semantics is simple (programmers use language constructs in ways they understand and can reason about). As a result, when developing tools for analyzing and manipulating software, a disproportionate amount of effort ends up being spent developing capabilities needed to analyze constructs in settings that are infrequently used. This paper takes the position that such distinctions between theory and practice are an important measure o f the analyzability of a language.

Spectroscopic Study Of New Sensors For Organophosphates, Metals, And Cyanide Based On Rhodamine And Cholic Acid Derivatives, Arambe Gedara Aruna Weerasinghe

Dissertations

Despite the increasing interest in developing sensors for nerve gas agents, efficient detection remains challenging. Among the various sensors developed so far, fluorescence sensors play an important role due to their simplicity. We developed six new rhodamine-based compounds that can be used as fluorescent turn-on sensors. Compound 1 and 3 gave high fluorescent enhancement with diethyl chlorophosphate (DCP) compared to the other compounds. Very high selectivity and sensitivity were observed as these compounds did not show significant fluorescent enhancement with dimethyl methylphosphonate (DMMP), HC1 and transition metal ions. The potential sensor can be used in solution as well as on …

Prediction Of Brain Tumor Progression Using Multiple Histogram Matched Mri Scans, Debrup Banerjee, Loc Tran, Jiang Li, Yuzhong Shen, Frederic Mckenzie, Jihong Wang, Ronald M. Summers (Ed.), Bram Van Ginneken (Ed.)

Electrical & Computer Engineering Faculty Publications

In a recent study [1], we investigated the feasibility of predicting brain tumor progression based on multiple MRI series and we tested our methods on seven patients' MRI images scanned at three consecutive visits A, B and C. Experimental results showed that it is feasible to predict tumor progression from visit A to visit C using a model trained by the information from visit A to visit B. However, the trained model failed when we tried to predict tumor progression from visit B to visit C, though it is clinically more important. Upon a closer look at the MRI scans …

Editorial: Opening 2011’S Journal Treasure Chest, Bharath Sriraman

The Mathematics Enthusiast

No abstract provided.

Creativity Assessment In School Settings Through Problem Posing Tasks, Ildikó Pelczer, Fernando Gamboa Rodríguez

The Mathematics Enthusiast

Research in math education on mathematical creativity relies on the idea that creativity is potentially within all students and it can be fostered by properly structured activities. The tasks most commonly used for its assessment are problem solving and problem posing. In our approach we use problem posing tasks to get insight into students’ creativity. Based on a qualitative analysis of the participants’ answers to the questionnaire that followed the task, we define algorithmic, combined and innovative creativity as constructs that can be put in correspondence with the types and level of knowledge involved in the problem posing task. We …

Cell And Protein-Based Sensing Systems For The Detection Of Environmentally And Physiologically Relevant Molecules, Kendrick Bruce Turner

Theses and Dissertations--Chemistry

The detection of small molecules in complex sample matrices such as environmental (surface and ground water, sediment, etc.) and biological (blood, serum, plasma, etc.) samples is of paramount importance for monitoring the distribution of environmental pollutants and their patterns of exposure within the population as well as diagnosing and managing diseases. Biosensors have demonstrated a singular ability to sensitively and selectively detect analytes in complex samples without the need for extensive sample preparation and pretreatment. Nature has demonstrated myriad examples of exquisite selectivity in spite of complexity and we seek to take advantage of that attribute in the development of …

Net Microbial Activity, Vegetation Dynamics, And Ecosystem Function In Created And Natural Palustrine Forested Wetlands In Southeastern Virginia, Usa, Christian A. Hauser

Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects

No abstract provided.

Effects Of Dietary Mercury Exposure On Spatial Memory Of Zebra Finches, Taeniopygia Guttata, Amanda Mae Bessler

Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects

No abstract provided.

Synthesis And Fluorescence Studies Of Spirooxazine-Functionalized Poly(Phenylene Vinylene) Prepared Via Gilch Polymerization And Click Chemistry, Kathryn Anne Peth

Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects

No abstract provided.

Production Of Cyclohexylene-Containing Diamines In Pursuit Of Novel Radiation Shielding Materials, Norah G. Bate

Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects

No abstract provided.

Memory Access Patterns For Cellular Automata Using Gpgpus, James Michael Balasalle

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Today's graphical processing units have hundreds of individual processing cores that can be used for general purpose computation of mathematical and scientific problems. Due to their hardware architecture, these devices are especially effective when solving problems that exhibit a high degree of spatial locality. Cellular automata use small, local neighborhoods to determine successive states of individual elements and therefore, provide an excellent opportunity for the application of general purpose GPU computing. However, the GPU presents a challenging environment because it lacks many of the features of traditional CPUs, such as automatic, on-chip caching of data. To fully realize the potential …

The Effects Of Coursecasting In International Freshman Students' Perceptions Of Marginality And Isolation, Anxiety, And English Language Oral Proficiency And Comprehension, Alberto Fernandez

CCE Theses and Dissertations

The influx of international students attending American universities has put the U.S. at the forefront of international education, generating over $14.5 billion yearly.

International students often face adjustment issues impacting their level of satisfaction with their experience. These involve oral language proficiency, as well as feelings of anxiety and isolation resulting from language deficiencies, which increase their feelings of marginality. Engaged learning, which is dependent on comprehension, is affected by the anxiety students bring to class. It is believed that coursecasts may alleviate anxiety, thus improving student engagement in learning.

A pre-experimental research design investigates whether coursecasting mitigates feelings of …

Wiki Behavior In The Workplace: Emotional Aspects Of Content Development, Deborah A. Gears

CCE Theses and Dissertations

Wikis have been found to be an easy-to-use, low-cost, and Internet-based technology useful in creating and mobilizing knowledge. Wikis hosted within firms (corporate wikis) have become a popular way for employees to share information and collaborate.

Preliminary research suggested that as few as 6% of wiki consumers contributed to the development of wiki pages. Conventional approaches argued that employees judged the costs of participating in wikis (e.g., authoring or changing material, reading messages, following an argument, and posting responses) to exceed the benefits of participating in wikis (e.g., recognition, reputation etc.) - thus many people "lurked" but did not post. …

Computer Music Composition Using Crowdsourcing And Genetic Algorithms, Jessica Faith Keup

CCE Theses and Dissertations

When genetic algorithms (GA) are used to produce music, the results are limited by a fitness bottleneck problem. To create effective music, the GA needs to be thoroughly trained by humans, but this takes extensive time and effort. Applying online collective intelligence or "crowdsourcing" to train a musical GA is one approach to solve the fitness bottleneck problem. The hypothesis was that when music was created by a GA trained by a crowdsourced group and music was created by a GA trained by a small group, the crowdsourced music would be more effective and musically sound. When a group of …