Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

A Continuous Tale On Continuous And Separately Continuous Functions, Krzysztof Ciesielski

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

Assume that you have developed a good set of tools allowing you to decide which real functions of one real variable, f : R → R, are continuous. (Q): How can such a tool-box be utilized to decide on the continuity of the functions g : R n → R of n real variables? This is one of the questions which must be faced by any student taking multivariable calculus. Of course, such a student is following the footsteps of many generations of mathematicians, which were, and still are, struggling with the same general question. The aim of this article …

Effect Of Spatial Inhomogeneities On The Membrane Surface On Receptor Dimerization And Signal Initiation, Romica Kerketta, Adam M. Halasz, Mara P. Steinkamp, Bridget S. Wilson, Jeremy S. Edwards

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

Important signal transduction pathways originate on the plasma membrane, where microdomains may transiently entrap diffusing receptors. This results in a non-random distribution of receptors even in the resting state, which can be visualized as “clusters” by high resolution imaging methods. Here, we explore how spatial in-homogeneities in the plasma membrane might influence the dimerization and phosphorylation status of ErbB2 and ErbB3, two receptor tyrosine kinases that preferentially heterodimerize and are often co-expressed in cancer. This theoretical study is based upon spatial stochastic simulations of the two-dimensional membrane landscape, where variables include differential distributions and overlap of transient confinement zones (“domains”) …

Improved Analysis Of Gw150914 Using A Fully Spin-Precessing Waveform Model, B. P. Abbott, R. Abbott, T. D. Abbott, M. R. Abernathy, F. Acernese, B. D. Cheeseboro, R. C. Devine, Z. Etienne, S. T. Mcwlliams

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

This paper presents updated estimates of source parameters for GW150914, a binary black-hole coalescence event detected by the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory (LIGO) in 2015 [Abbott et al. Phys. Rev. Lett. 116, 061102 (2016).]. Abbott et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 116, 241102 (2016).] presented parameter estimation of the source using a 13-dimensional, phenomenological precessing-spin model (precessing IMRPhenom) and an 11-dimensional nonprecessing effective-onebody (EOB) model calibrated to numerical-relativity simulations, which forces spin alignment (nonprecessing EOBNR). Here, we present new results that include a 15-dimensional precessingspin waveform model (precessing EOBNR) developed within the EOB formalism. We find good agreement with the parameters …

Topological Crystalline Insulator In A New Bi Semiconducting Phase, F. Munoz, M. G. Vergniory, T. Rauch, J. Henk, E. V. Chulkov, I. Mertig, S. Botti, M. A. L. Marques, A. H. Romero

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

Topological crystalline insulators are a type of topological insulators whose topological surface states are protected by a crystal symmetry, thus the surface gap can be tuned by applying strain or an electric field. In this paper we predict by means of ab initio calculations a new phase of Bi which is a topological crystalline insulator characterized by a mirror Chern number nM =−2, but not a Z2 strong topological insulator. This system presents an exceptional property: at the (001) surface its Dirac cones are pinned at the surface high-symmetry points. As a consequence they are also protected by time-reversal symmetry …

An Investigation Of Ams In Oman Ophiolite Gabbros, Sarah D. Trutner

Honors Papers

Crustal accretion processes at mid-ocean ridges are still poorly understood, and several competing models exist that try to explain exactly how magma from the mantle is incorporated into oceanic crust at a crustal spreading center. Ophiolites, or fragments of oceanic crust exposed on land, are useful sites at which to conduct rock fabric studies to understand oceanic crust formation processes. This study focuses on samples of upper foliated gabbros taken from the Oman ophiolite in order to characterize their fabric orientations and contribute to a better model of crustal formation. Much of the focus of this study is on using …

A Quest For A Custom-Made Mesenchymal Stem Cell In The Treatment Of Inflammatory Diseases, Jodi F. Evans Ph.D., Natalie Fernandez, Caroline Winters, Maria Barandica, Abi Ocava, Michael Delsignore, Kristina Coppola

Faculty Works: BCES (1999-2023)

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) are multipotent cells that can differentiate into adipocytes, osteoblasts and chondrocytes. These cells are widely studied in tissue regeneration and for their therapeutic effects in inflammatory disease. MSC interact with cells of the innate and adaptive immunity to promote or suppress the inflammatory response. MSC from the bone marrow (D1 MSC) decrease inflammatory responses by lowering macrophage (Mᶲ) secretion of soluble factors such as nitric oxide (NO), interleukin-12 (IL-12) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα). Aorta-derived MSC (mAo MSC) support the macrophage inflammatory response by contributing to NO secretion and enhancing secretion of TNFα by Mᶲ. Previous …

Rapid Identification Of Synthetic Cannabinoids In Herbal Incenses With Dart-Ms And Nmr, Michael A. Marino Ed.D., Robert Cody, Brandy Voyer, Mercurio Veltri, Ling Huang, A. John Dane

Faculty Works: BCES (1999-2023)

The usage of herbal incenses containing synthetic cannabinoids has caused an increase in medical incidents and triggered legislations to ban these products throughout the world. Law enforcement agencies are experiencing sample backlogs due to the variety of the products and the addition of new and still-legal compounds. In our study, proton nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy was employed to promptly screen the synthetic cannabinoids after their rapid, direct detection on the herbs and in the powders by direct analysis in real time mass spectrometry (DART-MS). A simple sample preparation protocol was employed on 50 mg of herbal sample matrices for …

Computational And Experimental Evaluation Of Α-(N-2-Quinolonyl)Ketones: A New Class Of Nonbiaryl Atropisomers, Andrea N. Bootsma, Carolyn E. Anderson

University Faculty Publications and Creative Works

Given the usefulness of atropisomers within both asymmetric catalysis and pharmaceuticals, a thorough computational study of substituted α-(N-2-quinolonyl)ketones has been conducted. This class of tertiary amides is unique, as the amide is embedded within an aromatic construct, and the nitrogen bears an aliphatic substituent. Using a computational approach, 8′-substituted quinolones were identified as potential class 2 and 3 atropisomeric targets with calculated C–N rotational barriers of greater than 20 kcal/mol. These results, along with experimental efforts toward the synthesis of these targets, are reported.

Three Men In The Wilderness: Ideas And Concepts Of Nature During The Progressive Era With Theodore Roosevelt, Gifford Pinchot And John Muir, Jeffrey A. Duke

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

When I began this research in the summer of 2014, I endeavored to find out how Americans comprehended nature in the Progressive Era. By the Progressive Era the historian Frederick Jackson Turner declared the frontier to be closed. This notion that no wide open spaces remained to be conquered altered the American people’s attitude towards nature. The perspectives of three men who were at the forefront of environmental policy illustrate how America’s understanding of nature had changed. These three men were twenty-sixth President Theodore Roosevelt, professional forester Gifford Pinchot and naturalist John Muir. Describing the similarities and differences in these …

The Role Of Defects In The Electrical Properties Of Nbo2 Thin Film Vertical Devices, Toyanath Joshi, Pavel Borisov, David Lederman

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

Epitaxial NbO2 thin films were grown on Si:GaN layers deposited on Al2O3 substrates using pulsed laser deposition. Pulsed current-voltage (IV) curves and self-sustained current oscillations were measured across a 31 nm NbO2 film and compared with a similar device made from polycrystalline NbO2 film grown on TiN-coated SiO2/Si substrate. Crystal quality of the as grown films was determined from x-ray diffractometry, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and atomic force microscopy data. The epitaxial film device was found to be more stable than the defect-rich polycrystalline sample in terms of current switching and oscillation behaviors.

Dual Role Of Sb Ions As Electron Traps And Hole Traps In Photorefractive Sn2p2s6 Crystals, B. E. Kananen, E. M. Golden, S. A. Basun, D. R. Evans, A. A. Grabar, I. M. Stoika, J. W. Mcclory, N. C. Giles, L. E. Halliburton

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

Doping photorefractive single crystals of Sn2P2S6 with antimony introduces both electron and hole traps. In as-grown crystals, Sb3+ (5s2 ) ions replace Sn2+ ions. These Sb3+ ions are either isolated (with no nearby perturbing defects) or they have a chargecompensating Sn2+ vacancy at a nearest-neighbor Sn site. When illuminated with 633 nm laser light, isolated Sb3+ ions trap electrons and become Sb2+ (5s2 5p1 ) ions. In contrast, Sb3+ ions with an adjacent Sn vacancy trap holes during illumination. The hole is primarily localized on the (P2S6) 4− anionic unit next to the Sb3+ ion and Sn2+ vacancy. These trapped …

Paleoenvironmental Analysis Of Cretaceous Mudstones At Slope Mountain, Alaska Using Carbon Stable Isotopes, Ashley Ratigan

Honors Papers

This project uses field samples, microfacies analysis, and carbon stable isotopes of mudstones to determine past environmental conditions of North Slope, Alaska during the Albian-Cenomanian (Cretaceous). Samples were taken at Slope Mountain, Alaska located north of the Brooks Range. Slope Mountain includes the Torok Formation and the upper and lower Nanushuk Formations that consist of alluvial, deltaic, and shallow marine facies that were deposited into the North Slope foreland basin on the Arctic Alaska micro plate. An exhaustive search for identifiable microfossils, such as pollen, diatoms, and foraminifera in the samples yielded nothing but charcoal and carbon residue. No other …

Towards A New Gis Maturity Model: An Organizational Usage Perspective, Omer Abdulaziz Alrwais

CGU Theses & Dissertations

The first condition required for an Information Technology (IT) system to produce value is that it be used by its designated target group of users. Despite the prevalence of “system use” in IS literature, it has been often limited to the individual level. The organizational perspective is rarely considered. This dissertation focuses on system usage in the GIS domain through an organizational lens. GIS is a technology with the potential to transform government by enhancing business processes and providing a platform to manage spatial and non-spatial data, which is expected to result in better decision-making. However, little is known about …

The Effect Of Ignoring Statistical Interactions In Regression Analyses Conducted In Epidemiologic Studies: An Example With Survival Analysis Using Cox Proportional Hazards Regression Model, Kristina Vatcheva, Joseph B. Mccormick, Mohammad H. Rahbar

School of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences Faculty Publications and Presentations

Objective: To demonstrate the adverse impact of ignoring statistical interactions in regression models used in epidemiologic studies.

Study design and setting: Based on different scenarios that involved known values for coefficient of the interaction term in Cox regression models we generated 1000 samples of size 600 each. The simulated samples and a real life data set from the Cameron County Hispanic Cohort were used to evaluate the effect of ignoring statistical interactions in these models.

Results: Compared to correctly specified Cox regression models with interaction terms, misspecified models without interaction terms resulted in up to 8.95 fold bias in estimated …

Effect Of Polymer Concentration, Rotational Speed, And Solvent Mixture On Fiber Formation Using Forcespinning, Nancy Obregon, Victor Agubra, Madhab Pokhrel, Howard Campos, David Flores, David De La Garza, Yuanbing Mao, Javier Macossay, Mataz Alcoutlabi

Physics and Astronomy Faculty Publications and Presentations

Polycaprolactone (PCL) fibers were produced using Forcespinning® (FS). The effects of PCL concentration, solvent mixture, and the spinneret rotational speed on fiber formation were evaluated. The concentration of the polymer in the solvents was a critical determinant of the solution viscosity. Lower PCL concentrations resulted in low solution viscosities with a correspondingly low fiber production rate with many beads. Bead-free fibers with high production rate and uniform fiber diameter distribution were obtained from the optimum PCL concentration (i.e., 12.5 wt%) with tetrahydrofuran (THF) as the solvent. The addition of N, N-dimethylformamide (DMF) to the THF solvent promoted the gradual formation …

Improved Analysis Of Gw150914 Using A Fully Spin-Precessing Waveform Model, B. P. Abbott, R. Abbott, T. D. Abbott, M. R. Abernathy, F. Acernese, K. Ackley, C. Adams, T. Adams, P. Addesso, R. X. Adhikari, V. B. Adya, C. Affeldt, M. Agathos, K. Agatsuma, N. Aggarwal, O. D. Aguiar, L. Aiello, A. Ain, P. Ajith, B. Allen, A. Allocca, P. A. Altin, S. B. Anderson, W. G. Anderson, K. Arai, M. C. Araya, C. C. Arceneaux, J. S. Areeda, N. Arnaud, K. G. Arun

Physics and Astronomy Faculty Publications and Presentations

This paper presents updated estimates of source parameters for GW150914, a binary black-hole coalescence event detected by the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory (LIGO) in 2015 [Abbott et al. Phys. Rev. Lett. 116, 061102 (2016).]. Abbott et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 116, 241102 (2016).] presented parameter estimation of the source using a 13-dimensional, phenomenological precessing-spin model (precessing IMRPhenom) and an 11-dimensional nonprecessing effective-one body (EOB) model calibrated to numerical-relativity simulations, which forces spin alignment (nonprecessing EOBNR). Here, we present new results that include a 15-dimensional precessingspin waveform model (precessing EOBNR) developed within the EOB formalism. We find good agreement with the …

Cryptography With Right-Angled Artin Groups, Ramon Flores, Delaram Kahrobaei

Publications and Research

In this paper we propose right-angled Artin groups as a platform for secret sharing schemes based on the efficiency (linear time) of the word problem. Inspired by previous work of Grigoriev-Shpilrain in the context of graphs, we define two new problems: Subgroup Isomorphism Problem and Group Homomorphism Problem. Based on them, we also propose two new authentication schemes. For right-angled Artin groups, the Group Homomorphism and Graph Homomorphism problems are equivalent, and the later is known to be NP-complete. In the case of the Subgroup Isomorphism problem, we bring some results due to Bridson who shows there are right-angled Artin …

Spest – A Tool For Specification-Based Testing, Corrigan Redford Johnson

Master's Theses

This thesis presents a tool for SPEcification based teSTing (SPEST). SPEST is designed to use well known practices for automated black-box testing to reduce the burden of testing on developers. The tool uses a simple formal specification language to generate highly-readable unit tests that embody best practices for thorough software testing. Because the specification language used to generate the assertions about the code can be compiled, it can also be used to ensure that documentation describing the code is maintained during development and refactoring.

The utility and effectiveness of SPEST were validated through several exper- iments conducted with students in …

2016 Greenhouse Gas Inventory Report: Virginia Institute Of Marine Science, Green Team, Virginia Institute Of Marine Science, Pamela Braff, Elisabeth Clyne, Andrew J. Johnson, Patricia S. Thibodeau, Kelley Uhlig

Reports

During summer 2016 the VIMS Green Team completed an inventory of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) Gloucester Point campus during FY2015. GHG emissions were estimated using the Campus Carbon Calculator maintained by the Sustainability Institute at the University of New Hampshire, and compared to a previous GHG audit from FY2010.

City Of Chesapeake, Virginia Shoreline Inventory Report Methods And Guidelines, Marcia Berman, Karinna Nunez, Sharon Killeen, Tamia Rudnicky, Julie Bradshaw, David Stanhope, Karen Duhring, Kallie Brown, Jessica Hendricks, David Weiss, Carl Hershner

Reports

The 2016 Inventory for City of Chesapeake was generated using on-screen, digitizing techniques in ArcGIS® - ArcMap v10.2.2 while viewing conditions observed in Bing high resolution oblique imagery, Google Earth, and 2013 imagery from the Virginia Base Mapping Program (VBMP). Four GIS shapefiles are developed. The first describes land use and bank conditions (Chesapeake_lubc_2016). The second portrays the presence of beaches (Chesapeake_beaches_2016). The third reports shoreline structures that are described as arcs or lines (e.g. riprap) (Chesapeake_sstru_2016). The final shapefile includes all structures that are represented as points (e.g. piers) (Chesapeake_astru_2016). The metadata file accompanies the shapefiles and defines attribute …

Evaluating Recruitment Of American Eel, Anguilla Rostrata, In The Potomac River (Spring 2016), Troy D. Tuckey, Mary C. Fabrizio

Reports

American Eel (Anguilla rostrata) is a valuable commercial species along the Atlantic coast of North America from New Brunswick to Florida. Landings from Chesapeake Bay typically represent 60% of the annual United States commercial harvest (ASMFC 2012). American Eel is also important to the recreational fishery as it is often used live as bait for Striped Bass (Morone saxatilis) and Cobia (Rachycentron canadum). In 2012, Chesapeake Bay commercial landings of American Eel (771,536 lbs) were 72% of the U.S. landings (personal communication from the National Marine Fisheries Service, Fisheries Statistics Division). Since the 1980s, harvest along the U.S. Atlantic Coast …

Vertical One-Dimensional (1-D) Simulations Of Horizontal Velocity Profiles, Jerome P.Y. Maa, Jian Shen, Xiaoteng Shen, Shao Yuyang

Reports

Details of a vertical 1-D hydrodynamic model to simulate the horizontal velocity profiles for tidal estuarial flows with possible stratifications caused by salinity or Suspended Sediment Concentration (SSC) are presented. The standard 2nd order k-ε model was implemented to address the turbulent flow with possible stratification effects. Simulation results are verified with two field measurements for steady nonstratified flows and a field measurement for tidal estuary non-stratified flow. The stratification effect of salinity and suspended sediment concentration are also checked with the following descriptions: “Salinity stratification will change the typical logarithmic velocity profile to a linear profile for most of …

Lefttailbounds.Zip, Iosif Pinelis

Iosif Pinelis

Tabulating Pseudoprimes And Tabulating Liars, Andrew Shallue

Andrew Shallue

Approaching A Universal Scaling Relationship Between Fracture Stiffness And Fluid Flow, David Nolte, Laura Pyrak-Nolte

David D Nolte

Auxiliary Likelihood-Based Approximate Bayesian Computation In State Space Models, Worapree Ole Maneesoonthorn

Worapree Ole Maneesoonthorn

Ckat Software, Debashis Ghosh, Xiang Zhan

Debashis Ghosh

Vanessa Selimovic, Vanessa Selimovic

Matthew E. Wise

Methyl Transfer By Substrate Signaling From A Knotted Protein Fold, Thomas Christian, Reiko Sakaguchi, Agata P. Perlinska, George Lahoud, Takuhiro Ito, Erika A. Taylor, Shigeyuki Yokoyama, Joanna I. Sulkowska, Ya-Ming Hou

Erika A. Taylor, Ph.D.

Electrical Control Of Chiral Phases In Electrotoroidicnanocomposites, Raymond Walter, Sergei Prokhorenko, Zhigang Gui, Yousra Nahas, Laurent Bellaiche

Raymond Walter