Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

An Aerodynamic Simulation Of Disc Flight, Erynn J. Schroeder

Honors Theses, 1963-2015

In this project, two disc flight simulations were created in Mathematica. The first predicted the flight trajectory of a disc in two dimensions based on angle of attack and initial velocity input parameters. The second simulation predicted flight more accurately in three dimensions, taking the torque into account and showing the roll at the end of long flights. Equations for the simulations came from the forces known to act on flying objects as well as coefficient functions for lift, drag, and torque roll moment. Fundamental aerodynamic properties and flight patterns of Discraft Ultra-Star flying discs were measured with the use …

Supercontinuum Produced By Ultrashort Pulses From Ti:Sapphire Laser And Nonlinear Photonic Crystal Fiber, Nicholas E. Maher

Honors Theses, 1963-2015

Producing a supercontinuum broadens the spectrum of the laser beam to potentially include the complete visible spectrum as well as some infrared and ultraviolet, providing a more complete spectrum of selectable wavelengths. The supercontinuum is produced by nonlinear optical processes that occur when high intensity, ultrashort laser pulses are passed through a photonic crystal fiber. In this project, a mode-locked Ti:sapphire laser was manually constructed to observe the supercontinuum effect.

The Promise And Peril Of Intensive-Site-Based Ecological Research: Insights From The Hubbard Brook Ecosystem Study, Timothy J. Fahey, Pamela H. Templer, Bruce T. Anderson, John J. Battles, John L. Campbell, Charles T. Driscoll, Anthony R. Fusco, Mark B. Green, Karim-Aly S. Karrim, Nicholas L. Rodenhouse, Lindsay E. Rustad, Paul G. Schaberg, Matthew A. Vadeboncoeur

Earth Systems Research Center

Abstract.

Ecological research is increasingly concentrated at particular locations or sites. This trend reflects a variety of advantages of intensive, site-based research, but also raises important questions about the nature of such spatially delimited research: how well does site based research represent broader areas, and does it constrain scientific discovery?We provide an overview of these issues with a particular focus on one prominent intensive research site: the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest (HBEF), New Hampshire, USA. Among the key features of intensive sites are: long-term, archived data sets that provide a context for new discoveries and the elucidation of ecological mechanisms; …

Phosphorus Measurements In Aqueous Media Using Inorganic Phosphorus Sources As Compared To Organic Sources And Resulting Complications, Robert Underhile

All Student Theses and Dissertations

The phosphorus moiety that exists in both inorganic and organic molecules has significant importance. Phosphorus serves as nutrient, a plant building block, a control agent for pests (both plant and insect), and can be an inadvertent cross contaminant in herbicide production, and is often seen as an environmental pollutant. As a cross contaminant, samples suspected of containing the phosphorus moiety are traced to the source of manufacture. Upon suspicion of the source, serious consequences for the manufacturer can develop including loss of relationships, heavy fines and legal matters. Quantitation of phosphorus is not straightforward. Phosphorus can be present in the …

Quantitative Urbanism: A Look At Illinois Cities Using Modeling, Heather Conte

All Student Theses and Dissertations

Quantitative urbanism is described as the field of study that explores the social, economic, and physical principles that cities are a product of. This new field of mathematics is quickly growing as various disciplines are attempting to better understand urban growth. This paper will explore the latest discoveries in the relationships that exist between cities and their size. Many aspects of cities, such as crime rates, energy usage, and wealth, have been shown to change exponentially in relation to city size. This paper explores multiple urban indicators vs. population size for cities in Illinois and discusses the results compared to …

Avoiding Spoilers On Mediawiki Fan Sites Using Memento, Shawn M. Jones

Computer Science Theses & Dissertations

A variety of fan-based wikis about episodic fiction (e.g., television shows, novels, movies) exist on the World Wide Web. These wikis provide a wealth of information about complex stories, but if readers are behind in their viewing they run the risk of encountering spoilers" -- information that gives away key plot points before the intended time of the show's writers. Enterprising readers might browse the wiki in a web archive so as to view the page prior to a specific episode date and thereby avoid spoilers. Unfortunately, due to how web archives choose the "best" page, it is still possible …

Computational Development For Secondary Structure Detection From Three-Dimensional Images Of Cryo-Electron Microscopy, Dong Si

Computer Science Theses & Dissertations

Electron cryo-microscopy (cryo-EM) as a cutting edge technology has carved a niche for itself in the study of large-scale protein complex. Although the protein backbone of complexes cannot be derived directly from the medium resolution (5-10 Å) of amino acids from three-dimensional (3D) density images, secondary structure elements (SSEs) such as alpha-helices and beta-sheets can still be detected. The accuracy of SSE detection from the volumetric protein density images is critical for ab initio backbone structure derivation in cryo-EM. So far it is challenging to detect the SSEs automatically and accurately from the density images at these resolutions. This dissertation …

Proclivity Or Popularity? Exploring Agent Heterogeneity In Network Formation, Xiaotian Wang

Computational Modeling & Simulation Engineering Theses & Dissertations

The Barabasi-Albert model (BA model) is the standard algorithm used to describe the emergent mechanism of a scale-free network. This dissertation argues that the BA model, and its variants, rarely take agent heterogeneity into account in the analysis of network formation. In social networks, however, people's decisions to connect are strongly affected by the extent of similarity. In this dissertation, the author applies an agent-based modeling (ABM) approach to reassess the Barabasi-Albert model. This study proposes that, in forming social networks, agents are constantly balancing between instrumental and intrinsic preferences. After systematic simulation and subsequent analysis, this study finds that …

A Survey Of Aquatic Organisms For The Cyanotoxin Beta-Methylamino-L-Alanine (Bmaa), Ian M. Sammler

OES Theses and Dissertations

Cyanobacteria blooms are increasing globally as a result of eutrophication. Many cyanobacteria are potentially harmful, not only because of the oxygen depleted zones created when they decay, but also because of the toxins they produce. β- Methylamino-L-alanine (BMAA), reportedly produced by many species of cyanobacteria, is a non-proteinogenic amino acid that has been linked to the development of neurodegenerative diseases (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and Alzheimer's) in humans. This study presents results from an assessment of BMAA in cyanobacteria and their grazers from the lower Chesapeake Bay and Lake Erie regions. BMAA was analyzed in samples prepared with the EZ:Faast™ …

Potential For Biocontrol Of Environmental Vibrio Spp. By Predatory Bacteria Bacteriovorax, Patrick Tennis

OES Theses and Dissertations

The scale of predator-prey interactions varies from the iconic (e.g., lions and gazelles) to the microscopic (e.g., protists and bacteria). Bdellovibrio-and-like-organisms (BALOs) are bacteria that prey upon other Gram-negative bacteria, including pathogens. In particular, the halophilic genus Vibrio, many species of which are disease agents, has been shown to be susceptible to attack by BALOs. One motivation of the present research is to assess the potential for biocontrol of Vibrio by Bacteriovorax. This investigation is the first to test the susceptibility of Vibrio strains (n = 26) originating from a variety of geographic locations to predation by …

Doppler Shifted Internal Waves In A Shallow Water Region, William D. Boll

OES Theses and Dissertations

Measurements of velocity fields from a high frequency ( 1.2 MHz) vertical acoustic doppler current profiler (V ADCP) along with density and temperature profiles were taken in coastal waters on the New Jersey shelf. Time series span six consecutive months from May through October 2003, capturing the transition of the water column from a highly stratified summer into a fully mixed winter season. Barotropic tides interact with variations in local bathymetry causing disturbances within the fluid medium which govern internal wave characteristics. During the months of June, July, and August, a high number of internal wave signals were observed. Spectra …

Blue Carbon In Freshwater / Brackish Marshes On The Barrier Islands Of Virginia Aboveground Net Primary Productivity And Carbon Pools, Emily Caitlin Adams

Biological Sciences Theses & Dissertations

"Blue carbon" is a relatively new concept describing carbon distributed tidally and sequestered via net production within coastal ecosystems, including seagrass beds, mangrove forests, and salt-water marshes. These systems sequester carbon at least 10 times faster than terrestrial systems. Fresh to brackish wetlands that receive irregular tidal influence due to overwash and storm events have not been typically studied as blue carbon systems. My objective was to quantify carbon pools within four interdunal fresh to brackish marshes on Hog Island, Virginia to determine their blue carbon potential. Marshes 1 and 2 were farthest from the ocean, below and above a …

Blue Carbon In Coastal Freshwater/Brackish Marshes On The Barrier Islands Of Virginia: Belowground Carbon Dynamics, Nathan M. Sedghi

Biological Sciences Theses & Dissertations

Some coastal ecosystems sequester substantially more carbon (blue carbon) than land locked systems due to high net primary production and deposition associated with oceanic influences. Most blue carbon research has focused on mangroves, seagrass beds, and salt marshes. Studies on blue carbon potential of coastal freshwater marshes are less common. Barrier islands frequently flood, with seawater reaching interior ecosystems. I examined brackish/freshwater marshes on Virginia barrier islands for possible roles as blue carbon systems. I studied four interior marshes on Hog Island, which varied in proximity to a direct overwash path and protection by a trail berm that divides northern …

In Vivo Near Ir Fluorescent Imaging Of Hollow Polymeric Nanocapsules, Venkata Suresh Patthipati

Biological Sciences Theses & Dissertations

Medical Imaging has been an integral component in medical diagnosis and therapeutics. It is frequently used in conjunction with other treatment modalities and has been used for developing applications that range from cancer management to clinical practice. Nanotechnology and its applications are foreseen to have a profound impact on life sciences. Nanomaterial based imaging has a significant potential in addressing medical challenges such as tumor localization, targeted delivery of drugs and real time diagnosis and management of circulation pathology. In particular, polymer based nanoparticles are increasingly being developed as they can be customized according to the diagnostic and/or therapeutic requirements. …

Zero-Inflated Models To Identify Transcription Factor Binding Sites In Chip-Seq Experiments, Sameera Dhananjaya Viswakula

Mathematics & Statistics Theses & Dissertations

It is essential to determine the protein-DNA binding sites to understand many biological processes. A transcription factor is a particular type of protein that binds to DNA and controls gene regulation in living organisms. Chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by highthroughput sequencing (ChIP-seq) is considered the gold standard in locating these binding sites and programs use to identify DNA-transcription factor binding sites are known as peak-callers. ChIP-seq data are known to exhibit considerable background noise and other biases. In this study, we propose a negative binomial model (NB), a zero-inflated Poisson model (ZIP) and a zero-inflated negative binomial model (ZINB) for peak-calling. …

Exploring The Effect Of Climate Change On Biological Systems, Nardos Sori

Chemistry & Biochemistry Theses & Dissertations

The present and potential future effect of global warming on the ecosystem has brought climate change to the forefront of scientific inquiry and discussion. For our investigation, we selected two organisms, one from cyanobacteria and one from a cereal plant to determine how climate change may impact these biological systems. The study involved understanding the physiological and adaptive responses at both the genetic and protein function levels to counteract environmental stresses. An increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide is a key factor in global climate change and can lead to alterations in ocean chemistry. Cyanobacteria are important, ancient and ubiquitous organisms …

Investigation Of The Potential For Algaenan To Produce Hydrocarbon Based Fuels From Algae By Hydrous Pyrolysis, Wassim Adel Obeid

Chemistry & Biochemistry Theses & Dissertations

The use of algae as a feedstock for hydrous pyrolysis has a high potential for producing biofuels. The non-food nature of algae in addition to the various advantages associated with the hydrous pyrolysis process makes this combination for the production of biofuels of high interest. However, current results from algae processing have alluded to some challenges: byproducts arising from the thermal transformation of carbohydrates and proteins, which become incorporated in the oil fraction, result in high oxygen and nitrogen contents of the oil. Accordingly, this produces an oil of low quality for refineries. This dissertation investigates use of a pretreatment …

Development Of Superconducting Spoke Cavities For High-Velocity Applications, Christopher Shawn Hopper

Physics Theses & Dissertations

To date, superconducting spoke cavities have been designed, developed, and tested for particle velocities up to β0 ~ 0.6, but there is a growing interest in possible applications of spoke cavities for high-velocity applications. The first task is to explore the design parameter space for low-frequency, high-velocity, single- and double-spoke superconducting cavities in order to determine how each design parameter affects the electromagnetic properties, in particular the surface electromagnetic fields and the shunt impedance. Once an electromagnetically optimized, high-velocity spoke cavity is designed, there are several other characteristics that need to be investigated. These include multipacting scenarios, higher-order mode excitation …

Catalysis Of Stark-Tuned Interactions Between Ultracold Rydberg Atoms, Aye Lu Win

Physics Theses & Dissertations

We present the study of the catalysis effect in the resonant energy transfer between ultracold ⁸⁵Rb Rydberg atoms. We have investigated the energy transfer process of 34p + 34p → 34s + 35s, and observed Stark-tuned Forster resonances. When additional Rydberg atoms of 34d state are included in the interaction, an increase in the population of 34s states atoms is observed. Although the 34d state atoms do not directly participate in the resonant energy transfer that produces 34s state atoms, they add an additional interaction channel 34p + 34 …

Meson Photo-Couplings From Lattice Quantum Chromodynamics, Christian J. P. Shultz

Physics Theses & Dissertations

We explore the calculation of three-point functions featuring a vector current insertion in lattice Quantum Chromodynamics. These three-point functions, in general, contain information about many radiative transition matrix elements simultaneously. We develop and implement the technology necessary to isolate a single matrix element via the use of optimized operators, operators designed to interpolate a single meson eigenstate, which are constructed as variationally optimized linear combination of meson interpolating fields within a large basis. In order to frame the results we also explore some well known phenomenology arising within the context of the constituent quark model before transitioning to a lattice …

An Analysis Of The Maine Solid Waste Management Hierarchy And Recommendation For Future Implementation, Jaime Steven

Honors College

The current Solid Waste Management Hierarchy does not adequately deter land disposal of waste in Maine. In this paper, I analyze the Maine State Solid Waste Management Hierarchy as it reads in Title 38 M.R.S.A. § 2101, found in Appendix B. The purpose of this paper is to address the hierarchy’s issues, as well as to offer additions to the hierarchy that will help in its goal of reducing solid waste landfilled. In this paper I analyze the original intentions of the hierarchy when it was enacted, and addresses the faults within the hierarchy that do not aid these intentions …

Indolizine-Based Donors As Organic Sensitizer Components For Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells, Aron J. Huckaba, Fabrizio Giordano, Louis E. Mcnamara, Katelyn M. Dreux, Nathan I. Hammer, Gregory S. Tschumper, Shaik M. Zakeeruddin, Michael Grätzel, Mohammad K. Nazeeruddin, Jared H. Delcamp

Chemistry Faculty Research & Creative Works

Strong electron-donating functionality is desirable for many organic donor-π-bridge-acceptor (D-π-A) dyes. Strategies for increasing the electron-donating strength of common nitrogen-based donors include planarization of nitrogen substituents and the use of low resonance-stabilized energy aromatic ring-substituted nitrogen atoms. Organic donor motifs based on the planar nitrogen containing heterocycle indolizine are synthesized and incorporated into dye-sensitized solar cell (DSC) sensitizers. Resonance active substitutions at several positions on indolizine in conjugation with the D-π-A π-system are examined computationally and experimentally. The indolizine-based donors are observed to contribute electron density with strengths greater than triarylamines and diarylamines, as evidenced by UV/Vis, IR absorptions, and …

Luminous Red Galaxies In Clusters: Central Occupation, Spatial Distributions And Miscentring, Hanako Hoshino, Alexie Leauthaud, Shun Saito, For Full List Of Authors, See Publisher's Website.

Physics Faculty Research & Creative Works

Luminous red galaxies (LRG) from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey are among the best understood samples of galaxies and are employed in a broad range of cosmological studies. In this paper, we study how LRGs occupy massive haloes via counts in clusters and reveal several unexpected trends. Using the red-sequence Matched-filter Probabilistic Percolation (redMaPPer) cluster catalogue, we derive the central occupation of LRGs as a function richness. We show that clusters contain a significantly lower fraction of central LRGs than predicted from the two-point correlation function. At halo masses of 10^14.5 M_⊙, we find N_cen = …

Governance And Organizational Sponsorship As Success Factors In Free/Libre And Open Source Software Development: An Empirical Investigation Using Structural Equation Modeling, Aleksandr Blekh

CCE Theses and Dissertations

Recent advances in information technologies and subsequent explosive growth of computer software use in practically all aspects of everyday life provide tremendous opportunities and benefits for improving people's lives. However, significant proportion of software projects represents cancelled, abandoned or otherwise failed projects. This situation exists not only in commercial software products or government information systems, but also in an increasingly popular and important domain of free/libre and open source software (FLOSS).

The problem of failures in software development projects requires identification and understanding of the factors of success and their interrelationships. Practice and previous research suggest that governance of software …

Usable Security Using Goms: A Study To Evaluate And Compare The Usability Of User Accounts On E-Government Websites, Amran Din

CCE Theses and Dissertations

The term e-Government refers to providing citizens a series of services that can be conveniently conducted over the Internet. However, the potential to redefine and transform e-Government increasingly relies on citizens successfully establishing and managing a user account profile online. E-Government has not adequately addressed user-centric designs for social inclusion of all citizens on e-Government websites. There is a lack of research on the usability of user account management, and a clear lack of innovation in incorporating user-friendly authentication interfaces to accommodate a diverse user population given the wealth of existing research in web authentication techniques within Identity Management. The …

The Update, April/May 2015, University Of Northern Iowa. College Of Humanities, Arts And Sciences.

Update

Inside this issue:

-- Free Bird: UNI Printmaking Students and Professors Travel to Tennessee for the Southern Graphics Council International Conference
-- Department News
-- School of Music Events
-- TedxUNI is Hosted at GBPAC: Tedx Brings Big-Name Speakers to UNI
-- Alumni Spotlight: Department of Computer Science: David Schmüdde
-- Alumni Spotlight: Department of Languages and Literatures: Susan Kerns
-- Department of Art Portfolio Night: Graphic Design Students Show their Portfolios
-- 2015 Hari Shankar Lecture: UNI Department of Mathematics Hosts this Year's Hari Shankar Lecture
-- Student Spotlight: Department of Science Education: Jessica Wayson
-- Panther Marching Band, …

Crosssections, Spring 2015, University Of Northern Iowa. Department Of Physics.

CrossSections

Inside This Issue:
-- A Message from the Department Head, Dr. Paul Shand
-- Faculty Spotlight, Andrew Stollenwerk
-- Department Profiles
-- Current Student Spotlight, Courtney Keiser
-- What Has Happened in the Last 10 Years?
-- Recent News
-- Talks and Events
-- Alumni Spotlight, Eric Potratz
-- Alumni News
-- Annual Physics Competition
-- Support the Physics Department
-- Alumni Info Request - Let's Hear From You

Earth News, V38, Spring 2015, University Of Northern Iowa. Department Of Earth Science.

Earth News

Inside this issue:

-- From the Department Head
-- News from the faculty and staff
-- News from emeritus
-- Summer Undergraduate Research Opens Doors
-- Hydrology News
-- Alumni in Residence
-- IMPACT
-- Sunday at the Quarry
-- Student Spotlight: Roxi Woodside
-- Iowa Geological Summer Workshop
-- Alumni Spotlight: Cara Wright
-- SGE
-- In Memoriam: Jared D. Trimble
-- Seminars
-- Student Research
-- Internships
-- Scholarships
-- Graduates
-- News from alumni
-- What have You been Up to? Update Us
-- Gifts from alumni & friends
-- Your Contributions Make a Difference
-- Contribution …

Shallow Groundwater Quality And Geochemistry In The Shields River Basin, South-Central Montana, Daniel D. Blythe

Graduate Theses & Non-Theses

Water samples were collected from 33 domestic wells, 2 springs, and 3 streams in the Shields River Basin (Basin) in southwest Montana. Samples were collected in 2013 to describe the chemical quality of groundwater in the Basin. Sampling was done to assess potential impacts to water quality from recent exploratory oil and gas drilling and to establish baseline water quality conditions. Wells were selected in areas near and away from oil and gas drilling and in areas susceptible to contamination. Water samples from surface water sites were collected in October to characterize base flow conditions. Physical characteristics of the land …

3d Block Modeling And Reserve Estimation Of A Garnet Deposit, Maurice Ayisi

Graduate Theses & Non-Theses

The purpose of this project is to develop a three-dimensional block model for a garnet deposit in the Alder Gulch, Madison County, Montana. Garnets occur in pre-Cambrian metamorphic Red Wash gneiss and similar rocks in the vicinity. This project seeks to model the percentage of garnet in a deposit called the Section 25 deposit using the Surpac software. Data available for this work are drillhole, trench and grab sample data obtained from previous exploration of the deposit. The creation of the block model involves validating the data, creating composites of assayed garnet percentages and conducting basic statistics on composites using …