Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Sdstate Sustainability Newsletter: Vol. 3 Issue 1, Jennifer Mclaughlin

SD State Sustainability Newsletter

Content:
SDSU Launches Sustainability Minor
Upcoming Events
While You Were Away
Recycling Update
Sustainability Tidbits

Measurement-Type "Calibration" Of Expert Estimates Improves Their Accuracy And Their Usability: Pavement Engineering Case Study, Edgar Daniel Rodriguez Velasquez, Carlos M. Chang Albitres, Vladik Kreinovich

Departmental Technical Reports (CS)

In many applications areas, including pavement engineering, experts are used to estimate the values of the corresponding quantities. Expert estimates are often imprecise. As a result, it is difficult to find experts whose estimates will be sufficiently accurate, and for the selected experts, the accuracy is often barely within the desired accuracy. A similar situations sometimes happens with measuring instruments, but usually, if a measuring instrument stops being accurate, we do not dismiss it right away, we first try to re-calibrate it -- and this re-calibration often makes it more accurate. We propose to do the same for experts -- …

Current Quantum Cryptography Algorithm Is Optimal: A Proof, Oscar Galindo, Vladik Kreinovich, Olga Kosheleva

Departmental Technical Reports (CS)

One of the main reasons for the current interest in quantum computing is that, in principle, quantum algorithms can break the RSA encoding, the encoding that is used for the majority secure communications -- in particular, the majority of e-commerce transactions are based on this encoding. This does not mean, of course, that with the emergence of quantum computers, there will no more ways to secretly communicate: while the existing non-quantum schemes will be compromised, there exist a quantum cryptographic scheme that will enables us to secretly exchange information. In this scheme, however, there is a certain probability that an …

A Symmetry-Based Explanation Of The Main Idea Behind Chubanov's Linear Programming Algorithm, Olga Kosheleva, Vladik Kreinovich, Thongchai Dumrongpokaphan

Departmental Technical Reports (CS)

Many important real-life optimization problems can be described as optimizing a linear objective function under linear constraints -- i.e., as a linear programming problem. This problem is known to be not easy to solve. Reasonably natural algorithms -- such as iterative constraint satisfaction or simplex method -- often require exponential time. There exist efficient polynomial-time algorithms, but these algorithms are complicated and not very intuitive. Also, in contrast to many practical problems which can be computed faster by using parallel computers, linear programming has been proven to be the most difficult to parallelize. Recently, Sergei Chubanov proposed a modification of …

Why Max And Average Poolings Are Optimal In Convolutional Neural Networks, Ahnaf Farhan, Olga Kosheleva, Vladik Kreinovich

Departmental Technical Reports (CS)

In many practical situations, we do not know the exact relation between different quantities; this relation needs to be determined based on the empirical data. This determination is not easy -- especially in the presence of different types of uncertainty. When the data comes in the form of time series and images, many efficient techniques for such determination use algorithms for training convolutional neural network. As part of this training, such networks "pool" several values corresponding to nearby temporal or spatial points into a single value. Empirically, the most efficient pooling algorithm consists of taking the maximum of the pooled …

Towards Parallel Quantum Computing: Standard Quantum Teleportation Algorithm Is, In Some Reasonable Sense, Unique, Oscar Galindo, Olga Kosheleva, Vladik Kreinovich

Departmental Technical Reports (CS)

In many practical problems, the computation speed of modern computers is not sufficient. Due to the fact that all speeds are bounded by the speed of light, the only way to speed up computations is to further decrease the size of the memory and processing cells that form a computational device. At the resulting size level, each cell will consist of a few atoms -- thus, we need to take quantum effects into account. For traditional computational devices, quantum effects are largely a distracting noise, but new quantum computing algorithms have been developed that use quantum effects to speed up …

Need To Combine Interval And Probabilistic Uncertainty: What Needs To Be Computed, What Can Be Computed, What Can Be Feasibly Computed, And How Physics Can Help, Songsak Sriboonchitta, Thach N. Nguyen, Vladik Kreinovich, Hung T. Nguyen

Departmental Technical Reports (CS)

In many practical situations, the quantity of interest is difficult to measure directly. In such situations, to estimate this quantity, we measure easier-to-measure quantities which are related to the desired one by a known relation, and we use the results of these measurement to estimate the desired quantity. How accurate is this estimate?

Traditional engineering approach assumes that we know the probability distributions of measurement errors; however, in practice, we often only have partial information about these distributions. In some cases, we only know the upper bounds on the measurement errors; in such cases, the only thing we know about …

The Thoralf Plugin: For Your Fancy Type Needs, Divesh Otwani, Richard A. Eisenberg

Computer Science Faculty Research and Scholarship

Many fancy types (e.g., generalized algebraic data types, type families) require a type checker plugin. These fancy types have a type index (e.g., type level natural numbers) with an equality relation that is difficult or impossible to represent using GHC’s built-in type equality. The most practical way to represent these equality relations is through a plugin that asserts equality constraints. However, such plugins are difficult to write and reason about. In this paper, we (1) present a formal theory of reasoning about the correctness of type checker plugins for type indices, and, (2) apply this theory in creating Thoralf, a …

Type Variables In Patterns, Richard A. Eisenberg, Joachim Breitner, Simon Peyton Jones

Computer Science Faculty Research and Scholarship

For many years, GHC has implemented an extension to Haskell that allows type variables to be bound in type signatures and patterns, and to scope over terms. This extension was never properly specified. We rectify that oversight here. With the formal specification in hand, the otherwise-labyrinthine path toward a design for binding type variables in patterns becomes blindingly clear. We thus extend ScopedTypeVariables to bind type variables explicitly, obviating the Proxy workaround to the dustbin of history.

Molecular Recognition Of Methionine-Terminated Peptides By Cucurbit[8]Uril, Zoheb Hirani, Hailey F. Taylor, E. F. Babcock, Andrew T. Bockus, C. D. Varnado Jr., Christopher W. Bielawski, Adam R. Urbach

Chemistry Faculty Research

This Article describes the molecular recognition of peptides containing an N-terminal methionine (Met) by the synthetic receptor cucurbit[8]-uril (Q8) in aqueous solution and with submicromolar affinity. Prior work established that Q8 binds with high affinity to peptides containing aromatic amino acids, either by simultaneous binding of two aromatic residues, one from each of two different peptides, or by simultaneous binding of an aromatic residue and its immediate neighbor on the same peptide. The additional binding interface of two neighboring residues suggested the possibility of targeting nonaromatic peptides, which have thus far bound only weakly to synthetic receptors. A peptide library …

Are Government Incentives Effective For Avoided Deforestation In The Tropical Andean Forest?, Pablo Cuenca, Juan Robalino, Rodrigo A. Arriagada, Cristian M. Echeverria

Forest Collaborative Research

In order to ensure the provision of goods and services from forests, many governments have promoted less-traditional conservation initiatives such as programs of payments for ecosystem services called, more broadly, direct payments for conservation. The Socio Bosque Program (SBP) is a governmental program in Ecuador that directly provides economic incentives to rural families and local and indigenous communities who have voluntarily agreed to comply with some conservation activities. An impact evaluation method (matching) was used to assess the impact of the SBP between 2008 and 2014. This study revealed that on average, the SBP reduced deforestation by 1.5% in those …

Origins Of Ultradiffuse Galaxies In The Coma Cluster – I. Constraints From Velocity Phase Space, Adebusola Alabi, Anna Ferré-Mateu, Aaron Romanowsky, Jean Brodie, Duncan Forbes, Asher Wasserman, Sabine Bellstedt, Ignacio Martín-Navarro, Viraj Pandya, Maria Stone, Nobuhiro Okabe

Faculty Publications

We use Keck/DEIMOS spectroscopy to confirm the cluster membership of 16 ultradiffuse galaxies (UDGs) in the Coma cluster, bringing the total number of spectroscopically confirmed UDGs from the Yagi et al. (Y16) catalogue to 25. We also identify a new cluster background UDG, confirming that most (∼95 per cent) of the UDGs in the Y16 catalogue belong to the Coma cluster. In this pilot study of Coma UDGs in velocity phase space, we find evidence of a diverse origin for Coma cluster UDGs, similar to normal dwarf galaxies. Some UDGs in our sample are consistent with being late infalls into …

Characterizing Hydrological Connectivity Of Artificial Ditches In Zoige Peatlands Of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, Peng Gao, Zhiwei Li, Yuchi You

Geography and the Environment - Faculty Scholarship

Peats have the unique ability of effectively storing water and carbon. Unfortunately, this ability has been undermined by worldwide peatland degradation. In the Zoige Basin, located in the northeastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, China, peatland degradation is particularly severe. Although climate change and (natural and artificial) drainage systems have been well-recognized as the main factors catalyzing this problem, little is known about the impact of the latter on peatland hydrology at larger spatial scales. To fill this gap, we examined the hydrological connectivity of artificial ditch networks using Google Earth imagery and recorded hydrological data in the Zoige Basin. After delineating from …

What You Don’T See, Brent Sturlaugson

Architecture Faculty Publications

Follow the supply chains of architecture and you’ll find not just product manufacturers but also environmental polluters and elusive networks of financial power and political influence.

Chem 126a-101: General Chemistry Lab Ii, Chunyan Liu

Chemistry, Environmental and Forensic Science Syllabi

No abstract provided.

Eps 202-005: Society, Technology And Environment, Michael Bonchonsky

Chemistry, Environmental and Forensic Science Syllabi

No abstract provided.

Chem 243-101: Organic Chemistry I, A Castro

Chemistry, Environmental and Forensic Science Syllabi

No abstract provided.

From Thermal Dissociation To Condensation In The Atmospheres Of Ultra Hot Jupiters: Wasp-121b In Context, Vivien Parmentier, Mike R. Line, Jacob L. Bean, Megan Mansfield, Laura Kreidberg, Roxana Lupu, Channon Visscher, Jean-Michel Desert, Jonathan J. Fortney, Magalie Deleuil, Jacob Arcangeli, Adam P. Showman, Mark S. Marley

Faculty Work Comprehensive List

Context. A new class of exoplanets has emerged: the ultra hot Jupiters, the hottest close-in gas giants. The majority of them have weaker-than-expected spectral features in the 1.1−1.7 μm bandpass probed by HST/WFC3 but stronger spectral features at longer wavelengths probed by Spitzer. This led previous authors to puzzling conclusions about the thermal structures and chemical abundances of these planets.

Aims. We investigate how thermal dissociation, ionization, H− opacity, and clouds shape the thermal structures and spectral properties of ultra hot Jupiters.

Methods. We use the SPARC/MITgcm to model the atmospheres of four ultra hot Jupiters and discuss …

Nascent O2 (A1ΔG, V = 0, 1) Rotational Distributions From The Photodissociation Of Jet‐Cooled O3 In The Hartley Band, Michelle L. Warter, Carolyn E. Gunthardt, Wei Wei, George Mcbane, Simon W. North

Peer Reviewed Articles

We report rotational distributions for the O₂ (a ¹Δ_g) fragment from photodissociation of jet‐cooled O₃ at 248, 266, and 282 nm. The rotational distributions show a population alternation that favors the even states, as previously reported for a 300 K sample by Valentini et al. (J. Chem. Phys. 86, 6745 (1987)). The alternation from the jet‐cooled precursor is much stronger than that observed by Valentini et al., and in contrast to their observations does not depend strongly on O₂ (a ¹Δ_g) vibrational state or photolysis wavelength. The …

Chem 473-001: Biochemistry, Edgardo Farinas

Chemistry, Environmental and Forensic Science Syllabi

No abstract provided.

Light Curves In X-Rays And Gamma-Rays, Daniel H. Sellers

STAR Program Research Presentations

Gamma-ray Bursts are the most luminous and energetic events in the universe. Understanding the intrinsic properties of GRBs allows for their use as standard candles (objects of known distance and luminosity) and for the study of extremely distant regions of space.

In this study we use the piecewise Willingale model to fit the X-ray flux vs. time curves (light curves) of 235 GRBs with detectable 'plateau' phase and known redshift using data from the swift repository. This sample is analyzed for consistency with a relation between the temporal decay and spectral indexes predicted by the Fireball model of GRB Emission. …

Measuring The Practical Particle-In-A-Box: Orthorhombic Perovskite Nanocrystals, Brandon Mitchell, Eric Herrmann, Junhao Lin, Leyre Gomez, Chris De Weerd, Yasufumi Fujiwara, Kazutomo Suenaga, Tom Gregorkiewicz

Physics & Engineering Faculty Publications

A connection between condensed matter physics and basic quantum mechanics is demonstrated as we use the fundamental 3D particle-in-a-box model to explain the optical properties of semiconductor nanocrystals, which are substantially modified due to quantum confinement. We also discuss recent advances in the imaging and measurement capabilities of transmission electron microscopy, which have made it possible to directly image single nanocrystals while simultaneously measuring their characteristic absorption energies. We introduce the basic theory of nanocrystals and derive a simplified expression to approximate the optical bandgap energy of an orthorhombic nanocrystal. CsPbBr3 perovskite nanocrystals are used to demonstrate this model due …

Catalysis Of Stark-Tuned Interactions Between Ultracold Rydberg Atoms, A. L. Win, W. D. Williams, T. J. Carroll, C. I. Sukenik

Physics Faculty Publications

We have experimentally investigated a catalysis effect in the resonant energy transfer between ultracold ⁸⁵Rb Rydberg atoms. We studied the time dependence of the process, 34p + 34p → 34s + 35s, and observed an enhancement of 34s state population when 34d state atoms are added. We have also performed numerical model simulations, which are in qualitative agreement with experiment and indicate that the enhancement arises from a redistribution of p-state atoms due to the presence of the d-state atoms.

A Multidisciplinary Approach For Generating Globally Consistent Data On Mesophotic, Deep-Pelagic, And Bathyal Biological Communities, Lucy C. Woodall, Dominic A. Andradi-Brown, Andrew S. Brierley, Malcolm R. Clark, Douglas Connelly, Rob A. Hall, Kerry L. Howell, Veerle A. I. Huvenne, Katrin Linse, Rebecca E. Ross, Paul Snelgrove, Paris V. Stefanoudis, Tracey Sutton, Michelle Taylor, Thomas F. Thornton, Alex D. Rogers

Marine & Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles

Approaches to measuring marine biological parameters remain almost as diverse as the researchers who measure them. However, understanding the patterns of diversity in ocean life over different temporal and geographic scales requires consistent data and information on the potential environmental drivers. As a group of marine scientists from different disciplines, we suggest a formalized, consistent framework of 20 biological, chemical, physical, and socioeconomic parameters that we consider the most important for describing environmental and biological variability. We call our proposed framework the General Ocean Survey and Sampling Iterative Protocol (GOSSIP). We hope that this framework will establish a consistent approach …

Data Supporting The Paper "Dispersion Aerosol Indirect Effect In Turbulent Clouds: Laboratory Measurements Of Effective Radius", K. K. Chandrakar, Will Cantrell, A. Kostinski, R. A. Shaw

Department of Physics Publications

No abstract provided.

Achieving The Promise Of Integration In Social-Ecological Research: A Review And Prospectus, Neil Carter

Human-Environment Systems Research Center Faculty Publications and Presentations

An integrated understanding of both social and ecological aspects of environmental issues is essential to address pressing sustainability challenges. An integrated social-ecological systems perspective is purported to provide a better understanding of the complex relationships between humans and nature. Despite a threefold increase in the amount of social-ecological research published between 2010 and 2015, it is unclear whether these approaches have been truly integrative. We conducted a systematic literature review to investigate the conceptual, methodological, disciplinary, and functional aspects of social-ecological integration. In general, we found that overall integration is still lacking in social-ecological research. Some social variables deemed important …

Effectiveness Of 4-Aminopyridine For The Management Of Spasticity In Spinal Cord Injury: A Systematic Review, Joshua Weiner, Jane Hsieh, Amanda Mcintyre, Robert Teasell

Epidemiology and Biostatistics Publications

Background: Spasticity is a common secondary complication of spinal cord injury (SCI), which can severely impact functional independence and quality of life. 4-Aminopyridine (4-AP) is a potassium channel blocker that has been studied as an intervention for spasticity in individuals with SCI. Objective: To conduct a systematic review of the available evidence regarding the effectiveness of 4-AP for the management of spasticity in individuals with SCI. Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted on five electronic databases for articles published in English up to January 2017. Studies were included if (1) the sample size was three or more subjects, (2) …

Removal Of Cu2+ And Ni2+ From Aqueous Solution Using Sno2 Nanomaterial Effect Of: Ph, Time, Temperature, Interfering Cations, Abigail M. Zepeda, Daisy Gonzalez, Luis Gonzalez Heredia, Karina Marquez, Cesar Perez, Erika Pena, K. Flores, Carolina Valdes, Thomas Eubanks, Jason Parsons, J. Cantu

Chemistry Faculty Publications and Presentations

Tin oxide, SnO2, nanomaterial was synthesized and tested for the removal of Cu2+ and Ni2+ ions from aqueous solutions. Various parameters for the binding were investigated in batch studied, which included pH, time, temperature, and interferences. In addition, isotherm studied were performed to determine the maximum binding capacity for both Cu2+ and Ni2+ ions. The optimal binding pH determined from the effects of pH were to be at pH 5 for both the Cu2+ and Ni2+ ions. The isotherm studies were performed at temperatures of 4°C, 25 °C, and 45 °C for both the Cu2+ and Ni2+ ions and were …

Semicontinuity Of Betweenness Functions, Paul Bankston, Aisling Mccluskey, Richard J. Smith

Mathematics, Statistics and Computer Science Faculty Research and Publications

A ternary relational structure〈X,[⋅,⋅,⋅]〉, interpreting a notion of betweenness, gives rise to the family of intervals, with interval [a,b] being defined as the set of elements of X between a and b. Under very reasonable circumstances, X is also equipped with some topological structure, in such a way that each interval is a closed nonempty subset of X. The question then arises as to the continuity behavior—within the hyperspace context—of the betweenness function {x,y}↦[x,y]. We investigate two broad scenarios: the first involves metric spaces and Menger's betweenness interpretation; the second deals with continua and the subcontinuum interpretation.

Rule-Based Specification Mining Leveraging Learning To Rank, Zherui Cao, Yuan Tian, Bui Tien Duy Le, David Lo

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

Software systems are often released without formal specifications. To deal with the problem of lack of and outdated specifications, rule-based specification mining approaches have been proposed. These approaches analyze execution traces of a system to infer the rules that characterize the protocols, typically of a library, that its clients must obey. Rule-based specification mining approaches work by exploring the search space of all possible rules and use interestingness measures to differentiate specifications from false positives. Previous rule-based specification mining approaches often rely on one or two interestingness measures, while the potential benefit of combining multiple available interestingness measures is not …