Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Effects Of Deepwater Horizon Oil On The Growth Rates And Pigment Composition Of Phytoplankton Isolated From Grand Isle, La, Jie Li

LSU Master's Theses

This research focused on the effects of un-weathered Macondo crude oil on the growth rates and pigment ratios of phytoplankton isolated from Grand Isle, LA. The experiments involved incubating nutrient-enriched artificial media containing a range of oil concentrations up to 19.2 ppm with small aliquots of coastal water from Grand Isle and measuring the growth rates of the phytoplankton during the subsequent 10–14 days and the pigment ratios of the phytoplankton at the end of log-phase growth to determine whether the crude oil affected the growth rate of the phytoplankton and their composition in terms of pigment ratios. Pigment analysis …

State Of The River Report For The Lower St. Johns River Basin, Florida: Water Quality, Fisheries, Aquatic Life, And Contaminants 2013, Environmental Protection Board, City Of Jacksonville, University Of North Florida, Jacksonville University

State of the River Report

No abstract provided.

Celestial Paleontology: The Legacy Of Dying Stars, Alexa Hodgson Hart

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In their death throes, stars dole out their atmospheric material to the interstellar medium in dramatic stellar winds and spectacular explosions. The details of this profound metamorphosis, from star to remnant, play a key role in the next generation of star formation as well as the energetic and chemical evolution of galaxies and the universe as a whole. Dying stars are thought to be the source of all of the nuclei heavier than iron in the universe, as well as more complex molecules, such as carbon chains, which form the backbone of life as we know it.

High mass Wolf-Rayet …

Multiple Bounding Boxes Algorithm In Collision Detection And Its Performances In Sequential Vs Cuda Parallel Processing, Min Qi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The traditional method for detecting collisions in a 2D computer game uses a axisaligned bounding box around each sprite, and checks to determine if the bounding boxes overlap periodically. Using this single bounding box method may result in a large amount of pixel intersection tests, since a sprite may be composed of areas where the pixels are empty and the intersecting bounding box test results in false positives.

Our algorithm analysis shows that the optimal two or three bounding boxes is the best partition we can get for a reasonable time complexity. The results further show significantly diminishing returns for …

Preliminary Geoelectrical Identification Of A Low-Temperature Hydrothermal System In The Anzer Glacial Valley, İkizdere, Rize, Turkey, Abdullah Karaman

Turkish Journal of Earth Sciences

The Anzer glacial valley, at an elevation of over 2300 m in the Eastern Black Sea region of Turkey, exhibits evidence for a low-temperature hydrothermal system (40-100 °C). Low-temperature hydrothermal systems usually do not receive attention since they are not useful for energy production. However, in areas where natural beauty is prominent, as in the Anzer valley, such resources can easily trigger investment for all-season resorts that significantly contribute to the economy. In this study, we examine the site evidence and carry out self-potential and dc-resistivity sounding surveys using a Schlumberger electrode configuration. The resistivity cross-section obtained from the inversion …

Weyl-Titchmarsh Type Formula For Periodic Schrodinger Operator With Wigner-Von Neumann Potential, Sergey Simonov, Pavel Kurasov

Articles

Schroedinger operator on the half-line with periodic background potential perturbed by a certain potential of Wigner-von Neumann type is considered. The asymptotics of generalized eigenvectors for the values of the spectral parameter from the upper half-plane and on the absolutely continuous spectrum is established. Weyl-Titchmarsh type formula for this operator is proven.

Eigenfunction Expansions Associated With The One-Dimensional Schrödinger Operator, Daphne Gilbert

Articles

We consider the form of eigenfunction expansions associated with the time-independent Schrödinger operator on the line, under the assumption that the limit point case holds at both of the infinite endpoints. It is well known that in this situation the multiplicity of the operator may be one or two, depending on properties of the potential function. Moreover, for values of the spectral parameter in the upper half complex plane, there exist Weyl solutions associated with the restrictions of the operator to the negative and positive half-lines respectively, together with corresponding Titchmarsh-Weyl functions.

Bayesian Model Selection For Exponential Random Graph Models, Alberto Caimo, Nial Friel

Articles

Exponential random graph models are a class of widely used exponential family models for social networks. The topological structure of an observed network is modelled by the relative prevalence of a set of local sub-graph configurations termed network statistics. One of the key tasks in the application of these models is which network statistics to include in the model. This can be thought of as statistical model selection problem. This is a very challenging problem---the posterior distribution for each model is often termed ``doubly intractable'' since computation of the likelihood is rarely available, but also, the evidence of the posterior …

Endomorphisms Of Abelian Groups With Small Algebraic Entropy, D. Dikranjan, Ketao Gong, P. Zanardo

Articles

We study the endomorphisms ϕ of abelian groups G having a “small” algebraic entropy h (where “small” usually means ). Using essentially elementary tools from linear algebra, we show that this study can be carried out in the group , where an automorphism ϕ with must have all eigenvalues in the open circle of radius 2, centered at 0 and ϕ must leave invariant a lattice in , i.e., be essentially an automorphism of . In particular, all eigenvalues of an automorphism ϕ with must be roots of unity. This is a particular case of a more general fact known …

Two-Dimensional Hydrodynamic Modeling Of Two-Phase Flow For Understanding Geyser Phenomena In Urban Stormwater System, Zhiyu S. Shao

Theses and Dissertations--Civil Engineering

During intense rain events a stormwater system can fill rapidly and undergo a transition from open channel flow to pressurized flow. This transition can create large discrete pockets of trapped air in the system. These pockets are pressurized in the horizontal reaches of the system and then are released through vertical vents. In extreme cases, the transition and release of air pockets can create a geyser feature.

The current models are inadequate for simulating mixed flows with complicated air-water interactions, such as geysers. Additionally, the simulation of air escaping in the vertical dropshaft is greatly simplified, or completely ignored, in …

Predicting The Dynamic Behavior Of Coal Mine Tailings Using State-Of-Practice Geotechnical Field Methods, Ali Salehian

Theses and Dissertations--Civil Engineering

This study is focused on developing a method to predict the dynamic behavior of mine tailings dams under earthquake loading. Tailings dams are a by-product of coal mining and processing activities. Mine tailings impoundments are prone to instability and failure under seismic loading as a result of the mechanical behavior of the tailings. Due to the existence of potential seismic sources in close proximity to the coal mining regions in the United States, it is necessary to assess the post-earthquake stability of these tailings dams.

To develop the aforementioned methodology, 34 cyclic triaxial tests along with vane shear tests were …

Trophic State Monitoring Of Lakes And Reservoirs Using Remote Sensing, Michelle Aten

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Lakes and reservoirs are important resources that provide water for critical needs, such as drinking water, agriculture, recreation, fisheries, wildlife, and other uses. However, there is increasing concern that anthropogenic eutrophication threatens the usability of these natural resources. Therefore, this research investigates these complex hydrologic ecosystems and recommends a methodology for monitoring the trophic state of lakes and reservoirs using remote sensing data. The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality provided in situ data for seven Mississippi lakes including, Arkabutla, Bay Springs, Enid, Grenada, Okatibbee, Ross Barnett, and Sardis lakes. This research explored the relationships between the Secchi depth (SD), chlorophyll-a …

Gravitational Waves From Perturbed Kerr Black Holes: Two Investigations, Zhongyang Zhang

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis includes two main projects. The first project is a study of the effect of black hole spin on the accuracy of the post-Newtonian approximation. We focus on the gravitational energy produced by the quasicircular, equatorial, extreme mass-ratio inspiral of a compact object into a Kerr black hole of mass M and spin J. For a given dimensionless spin a ≡ J/M2 (in geometrical units G = c = 1 ), the energy flux depends only on the orbital velocity v or (equivalently) on the Boyer-Lindquist orbital radius r. We investigate the formal region of validity of the Taylor …

Full Newton Step Interior Point Method For Linear Complementarity Problem Over Symmetric Cones, Andrii Berdnikov

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In this thesis, we present a new Feasible Interior-Point Method (IPM) for Linear Complementarity Problem (LPC) over Symmetric Cones. The advantage of this method lies in that it uses full Newton-steps, thus, avoiding the calculation of the step size at each iteration. By suitable choice of parameters we prove the global convergence of iterates which always stay in the the central path neighborhood. A global convergence of the method is proved and an upper bound for the number of iterations necessary to find ε-approximate solution of the problem is presented.

Computational Fluid Dynamics (Cfd) Modeling Of A Laboratory Scale Coal Gasifier, Kiel S. Schultheiss

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Furthering gasification technology is an essential part of advancing clean coal technologies. In order to seek insight into the appropriate operations for the formation of synthetic gas (syngas) a numerical simulation was performed to predict the phenomena of coal gasification in a laboratory scale entrained-flow coal gasifier. The mesh for the model was developed with ICEM CFD software and the chemical and physical phenomena were modeled using the fluid flow solver ANSYS FLUENT. Mesh independence was verified. The model was validated with experimental data from several studies performed on a laboratory scale gasifier.

Systematic examination of the model was performed …

[Introduction To] Global Climate Change: Turning Knowledge Into Action, David E. Kitchen

Bookshelf

The science of climate change is a complex subject that balances the physical record and scientific fact with politics, policy, and ethics—and is of particular importance to the geosciences. This thoughtfully crafted new text and accompanying media encourage non-science majors to practice critical thinking, analysis, and discourse about climate change themes. Taking a cross-disciplinary approach, acclaimed educator and researcher, David Kitchen, examines not only the physical science, but the social, economic, political, energy, and environmental issues surrounding climate change. His goal: to turn knowledge into action, equipping students with the knowledge and critical skills to make informed decisions, separate facts …

Extreme Wave Events In Ireland: 14 680 Bp–2012, Laura Cooke, John M. Dudley, Frédéric Dias

Articles

The island of Ireland is battered by waves from all sides, most ferociously on the west coast as the first port of call for waves travelling across the Atlantic Ocean. However, when discussing ocean events relevant to the nation of Ire- land, one must actually consider its significantly larger designated continental shelf, which is one of the largest seabed territories in Europe. With this expanded definition, it is not surprising that Ireland has been subject to many oceanic events which could be designated as “extreme”; in this paper we present what we believe to be the first catalogue of such …

Chemical Transformations Of Arylsulfonamide Molecular Crystals, Rajan Giri

Masters Theses

The pursuit of chemical specificity and efficiency of chemical reaction in molecular crystals has attracted considerable attention over the last decade. The successful control of molecular alignment prior to such transformations continues to provide opportunities for near quantitative yields of new materials. This thesis reports the predictable self-assembly of aryl sulfonamide materials constructed from cinnamic acid and phenylpentadienoic acid fragments capable of forming supramolecular dimers that undergo unique photocyclization reactions. Use of racemic and enantiopure single-component building-blocks provides access to enantiocontrolled [2+2] photodimerized products.

Solid-state reaction precursors were prepared using conventional solution-based synthetic organic techniques. Component chirality (racemic or homochiral) …

Studies Of The Structural Boundaries Of Solid-State Photodimerization Reactions Via Isocoumarins And Heteromeric Assemblies, Mihiri S. Weerasinghe

Masters Theses

The study of molecules in crystals has gained considerable attention in the field of structural chemistry. Much interest has focused on the use of molecular crystals for the construction of materials with specific functional properties. Because the design of such materials requires a critical understanding of intermolecular interactions, use of the building-block approach continues to offer an important strategy to multimolecular frameworks. Though the use of template and metal-ligand interactions has provided successful opportunities to organize chemical reactions in solids, these methods require secondary molecules and are limited to achiral starting materials. As such, exploring chiral synthesis with simplified precursors …

Crystal Structures Of Metal Sulfonates, Jon Lyle Obrecht

Masters Theses

Designing new materials with predictable chemical and physical properties has long been a goal of synthetic chemists. The functional properties of molecular compounds are intimately tied to the underlying chemical framework. In addition to atom selection and chemical connectivity, the spatial organization of the molecules often contributes to the function of materials. Because crystals are constructed of periodic arrays of components (i.e. atoms or molecules) with structures easily assessed via X-ray diffraction, crystalline materials offer ideal candidates to explore the relationship of component selection and crystal packing to material property.

One such property that has been extensively examined by …

Is Ethanol A Potential Solution To Reducing U.S. Foreign Oil Dependence?, Jasmina N. Patel

Masters Theses

In this study, we estimated the impact of increasing ethanol production on net imports of crude oil in the United States. We also examined whether factors such as com production, population, gross fixed capital formation and the Energy Policy Act of 2005 contributed to an increase in ethanol production. Using time series data from 1981 to 2012, the results of multiple regression models showed that ethanol production was a significant variable and had an inverse relation to net imports of crude oil. Our study also showed that the implementation of the 2005 Act and an increase in com production contributed …

Dark Matter Detection With The Dark Matter Time Projection Chamber Collaboration, Vincent C. Gregoric

Bryn Mawr College Dissertations and Theses

Evidence from many sources suggests that dark matter (matter that does not interact electromagnetically) accounts for a significant fraction of the mass density of the universe. The fact that dark matter has yet to be observed directly is one of the biggest outstanding problems in modern physics. Directional detection, one of the many branches of dark matter searches, involves reconstructing the direction of an incoming dark matter particle through observations of its interaction with a standard model particle.

The work described in this thesis was completed as a part of the Dark Matter Time Projection Chamber (DMTPC) collaboration, a group …

The Effect Of Electrochemical Modification On The Surface Topography And Chemical Make-Up Of Strontium Titanate, Kelly J. Harmon

Masters Theses

Previous research into the oxidation and reduction of strontium titanate and the changes that result from this has been carried out. The oxidation and reduction of strontium titanate at high temperatures and high pressures has been investigated for the effect that it has upon the surface topography of strontium titanate and the chemical makeup of the strontium titanate. Research into the electrochemical oxidation of perovskites, similar in structure to that of strontium titanate, have even provided evidence pointing to the identity of the oxygen species being incorporated into the strontium titanate.

This research seeks to investigate what changes occur to …

The Magnitude And Mechanism Of Charge Enhancement Of Ch∙∙O H-Bonds, U. Adhikari, Steve Scheiner

Chemistry and Biochemistry Faculty Publications

Quantum calculations find that neutral methylamines and thioethers form complexes, with N-methylacetamide (NMA) as proton acceptor, with binding energies of 2–5 kcal/mol. This interaction is magnified by a factor of 4–9, bringing the binding energy up to as much as 20 kcal/mol, when a CH3+ group is added to the proton donor. Complexes prefer trifurcated arrangements, wherein three separate methyl groups donate a proton to the O acceptor. Binding energies lessen when the systems are immersed in solvents of increasing polarity, but the ionic complexes retain their favored status even in water. The binding energy is reduced when the methyl …

Characterization Of A Novel Fusion Protein Of Ipab And Ipad Of Shigella And Its Potential As A Pan-Shigella Vaccine, F. J. Martinez-Becerra, X. Chen, Nicholas E. Dickenson, S. P. Choudhari, K. Harrison, J. D. Clements, W. D. Picking, L. L. Van De Verg, R. I. Walker, W. L. Picking

Chemistry and Biochemistry Faculty Publications

Shigellosis is an important disease in the developing world, where about 90 million people become infected with Shigella spp. each year. We previously demonstrated that the type three secretion apparatus (T3SA) proteins IpaB and IpaD are protective antigens in the mouse lethal pulmonary model. In order to simplify vaccine formulation and process development, we have evaluated a vaccine design that incorporates both of these previously tested Shigella antigens into a single polypeptide chain. To determine if this fusion protein (DB fusion) retains the antigenic and protective capacities of IpaB and IpaD, we immunized mice with the DB fusion and compared …

Improved Method For Quantifying The Air-Sea Flux Of Volatile And Semi-Volatile Organic Carbon, Emily Hauser, Rebecca M. Dickhut, Renee Falconer, Andrew S. Wozniak

Chemistry & Biochemistry Faculty Publications

A method for quantifying the diffusive air-sea exchange of gaseous organic carbon (OC) was developed. OC compounds were separated into two operational pools-those that were kinetically air limited in diffusion across the air-sea interface and those that were water limited-during simultaneous air/water sampling. The method separates OC compounds into low Henry's law constant (low-H) semivolatile OC (SOC) and high Henry's law constant (high-H) volatile OC (VOC) pools that can be categorized by relating diffusion kinetic parameters to Henry's Law constant. Air limited (low-H; H << similar to 0.1 L atm mol(^-1)) compounds were collected in pure water traps and were quantified as dissolved OC, whereas …

Black Carbon Measurements Of Snow And Ice Using The Single Particle Soot Photometer: Method Development And An Ad 1852-1999 Record Of Atmospheric Black Carbon From A Mount Logan Ice Core, James Andrew Menking

All Master's Theses

Black carbon (BC), produced by the combustion of fossil and biofuels, warms the climate by absorbing solar radiation when in the atmosphere and by reducing the albedo of snow and ice when deposited. Measuring BC in snow and ice is important for estimating albedo reduction and developing historical records of BC concentration. Experiments were conducted to further develop a method for measuring BC in snow and ice using the Single Particle Soot Photometer (SP2). Results suggest the optimal procedures for sample storage, treatment, and nebulization, and analysis and calibration of BC concentrations measured using the SP2 coupled to a CETAC …

Evaluating The Utility Of Beaver Reintroduction Programs For Enhancing Habitat For Rainbow Trout And Steelhead, Jonathan Rodger Hegna

All Master's Theses

Beaver reintroduction programs are increasingly being viewed as a way to enhance salmonid habitat and production. However, the actual effectiveness of using beavers as a habitat enhancement tool for ESA listed steelhead Oncorhynchus mykiss populations is unknown. We examined the type of habitat, at both the microhabitat and mesohabitat levels, preferred by steelhead in three small streams in the upper Yakima Basin, WA through standard snorkel surveys and habitat measurements. Our results suggest that steelhead in small streams strongly prefer (relative to availability) microhabitats that have deeper water(> 30 cm), slow stream velocities(< 0 .05 mis), and complex cover types. Habitat partitioning among the size-classes (small< 50 mm, medium 50-90 mm, large> 90 mm total length, TL) principally operated …

Physical And Sequence Stratigraphy Of The Late Cretaceous Chispa Summit Formation, Jeff Davis County, Texas, Patrick Thomas Dietzel

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

The Late Cretaceous Chispa Summit Formation of west Texas has historically been of interest to the petroleum industry; with new technologies, this old, uneconomical play could prove significant, if not for energy resources, for educational purposes, but little work has been conducted on the formation. The Eagle Ford Formation of southern Texas is time equivalent to the Chispa Summit Formation and is a highly prolific hydrocarbon resource.

Located in western Jeff Davis County, Texas, the Chispa Summit Formation consists of marine shales interbedded with limestone beds and sporadically located siliciclastic beds, measuring a total of 610 m at the type …

Information Economics And Competitive Strategy, Eric K. Clemons, Kim Huat Goh, Robert John Kauffman, Thomas A. Weber

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

This Special Issue represents the revised and expanded best papers from the TwentyFifth Anniversary Symposium on Competitive Strategy, Economics and Information Systems held at the 2013 Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences and the related conference mini-track. It also represents 25 years of continuing progress and evolution in the field, and many years of a pioneering partnership between the Journal of Management Information Systems and the field of information economics and competitive strategy. JMIS was perhaps the first academic venue to welcome the field, predating the Workshop on Information Systems and Economics (WISE), and has provided a welcome home as …