Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Examination Of The B Coefficient In Gap Crystal Utilizing Single And Double Photon Absorption, Ines Kusmic

College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations

A laser of 0.800 mm at 100 fs is utilized in obtaining a b coefficient in a GaP crystal associated with double photon absorption. Data is collected for the incident power of the laser for both single and double photon absorption, and it is plotted against the signal generated in the photodiode containing the GaP crystal. The slope of such a plot is employed in calculating b with equations derived in the theoretical model that is unique to the present work. The data for single photon absorption is utilized in calculating the thickness of the GaP crystal, while the data …

An Application Of Wavelet Methods To The Search For Baryon Acoustic Oscillations, Kevin Michael Kadowaki

College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations

We use the method of wavelet transforms to investigate the clustering of matter on galactic scales in search of Baryon Acoustic Oscillations (BAOs). In particular, we develop a method of wavelet packet analysis to measure the power spectrum of a galaxy distribution and apply this method to the CMASS galaxy catalogue from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey (BOSS) collaboration. Using a variant of HEALPix, we project the data from the celestial sphere onto a square signal matrix, and take the two-dimensional Wavelet Packet Transform of this signal. We use this transform and techniques of spectrum …

Exploring The Edge Of Space: Streamlining Physics And Earth Science Collaboration In A New Community College Course, David Kobilka, Yoshinao Hirai Ph.D.

2017 Academic High Altitude Conference

We designed a new lab science course on stratospheric ballooning (SB), titled Exploring the Edge of Space. The course, which starts in the upcoming semester, brings together two groups of students simultaneously: Mainstream liberal arts students and students in the college’s Honors program. The Honors students meet an additional hour weekly, review scientific literature extensively, and complete a capstone project. The course design is a collaboration between the physics and earth science departments at Central Lakes College, and is drawn on the five-year experience of the authors doing SB flights, many in collaboration with the Bemidji State University SB program. …

Preliminary Results From A Ground Based Magnetometer Rotation Table, Rachel Newman, April Gross, Jolene Johnson, Kaye Smith, Erick Agrimson, James Flaten

2017 Academic High Altitude Conference

Understanding high altitude balloon rotation is important for many types of scientific measurements, therefore, balloon and payload rotation is a continuing area of interest and research. In this work, we present results obtained from an Arduino logged magnetometer rotated on a ground based rotation table. This table allowed us to precisely rotate and locate the Arduino logged magnetometer. We compare the Arduino logged results with “known magnetic field orientation” using an AIM rocketry altimeter. This comparison allowed us to test the accuracy of our Arduino logged results and the sampling capabilities of our magnetometer system using different rotational speeds.

High Altitude Cosmic Ray Detection, Jordan D. Van Nest

2017 Academic High Altitude Conference

Cosmic rays are high energy atomic nuclei travelling near the speed of light that collide with atoms and molecules in Earth’s upper atmosphere (primarily with nitrogen and oxygen), breaking down into a shower of particles of various energies in the stratosphere. As they travel earthward, these particles continue to break down and lose energy which results in relatively little ionizing radiation reaching the surface. Due to the scattering of cosmic rays, the angle at which the rays enter the atmosphere can affect the number and energies of ionizing particles detected at various altitudes. When using a standard Geiger counter on …

Development Of A "Multi-Cut" Payload For Use In Stratospheric Ballooning Missions, James Flaten, Joey Habeck, Noah Biniek, Steven Smeaton, Austin Langford, Jordan Diers, Isaac Krieger

2017 Academic High Altitude Conference

The ability to cut strings (AKA lines) during stratospheric ballooning missions has a wide variety of uses including, but not limited to, (a) flight termination (i.e. cutting payloads away from the main balloon), (b) cutting away excess lift balloon(s) to slow ascent rate (and possibly achieve float), (c) cutting away ballast weights to slow descent rate or increase ascent rate, (d) cutting away burst balloon(s) on descent to avoid parachute entanglement, and (e) cutting away payloads which are intended to return to the ground independently, for experimental purposes. We report on the development of a “multi-cut” payload box that uses …

Abstracts From The 2016 Ahac Conference, Erick Agrimson

2017 Academic High Altitude Conference

This is a listing of Abstracts from AHAC 2016

How To Impress: Coordinating A Large Video Data Set For A Collaborative Project, Noah-Kee Marks, Rita Dawod

DePaul Discoveries

Though many different research methods involve mass quantities of video/audio data, there is little discussion of best practices for organization, especially when the research is collaborative. The guidelines we provide here were created while conducting educational research on the IMPRESS project, an integrated metacognitive program for at risk STEM majors at Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT). Our hope is to encourage large-scale, collaborative research of qualitative video data by using our project as an example and providing enough information for readers to make a judgment on the efficacy of this process for their own projects.

Instrumentation Of A Self-Correcting Data Acquisition System For Ultrafast Lasers, Fabricio S. Marin

DePaul Discoveries

Optical phenomenon in semiconductors and other light-sensitive materials typically happen at very short time durations, and require instruments capable of measuring time resolutions on the order of nanoseconds to femtoseconds. Electronics can only measure up to nanosecond-time lengths. The purpose of this summer research project is to design a system capable of achieving variable time delays with resolutions up to femtosecond range to use in time-resolved experiments with the pump-probe technique. The time delay is achieved using a delay stage driven by a micro stepper-motor which moves in variable increments while an encoder counts the steps and tells a computer …

Wavelet Packet Analysis Of Amino Acid Chain Sequences In The Proteins Of Mesophile And Thermophile Bacteria, John B. Linehan

DePaul Discoveries

In this project, proteins from mesophile and thermophile bacteria with similar functions are compared. Initially it is assumed that the differences between these two bacteria are substantial to be recognized in the amino acid sequences of their proteins. These differences would then lead to the creation of a statistical measure, which would allow the classification of a protein to its corresponding bacteria. By assigning hydrophobicity values from three well-known scales, a discrete numeric signal is produced for each protein, which is analyzed using wavelet packets. The result of this method indicates that the overall hydrophobic tendencies of these two bacteria’s …

Using A High-Altitude Balloon Platform To Observe And Measure Ozone Uptake Over Agricultural Landscapes In Central Illinois, Cody Sabo

DePaul Discoveries

An increase in the amount of factories and machines that emit greenhouse gases (GHGs) has caused the concentration of GHGs to rise steeply since the industrial era. These emissions create compounds that react with sunlight to form ozone, a GHG. Ozone not only traps heat in the atmosphere causing long-term global issues, but it also causes direct harm to both plants and animals. The damage that ozone causes to plants is due to plants taking the gas up through their stomata. Measuring ozone uptake has traditionally been a difficult and expensive process. This study proposes a novel approach towards measuring …

Greenhouse Gas Flux Response To Harvest Of Typha X Glauca In A Great Lakes Coastal Wetland, Olivia Johnson

DePaul Discoveries

Although harvesting invasive species can promote biodiversity during wetlands restoration, there is little known about this mechanical treatment’s impacts on greenhouse gas flux, a significant biosphere-atmosphere interaction. We quantified greenhouse gas flux response to experimental harvest of invasive cattail (Typha x glauca) at Cheboygan Marsh in Northeastern Michigan during the 2015 growing season. During each sampling campaign (July 15, July 31, August 12) we collected gas samples from static PVC chambers at 6 harvest and adjacent Typha control plots. Using gas chromatograph analysis, we found no significant difference in CH4 or CO2 flux between harvest and control plots on any …

Combinatory Effect Of Changing Co2, Temperature, And Long-Term Growth Temperature On Isoprene Emissions, Michael Cole

DePaul Discoveries

Isoprene, the most abundant hydrocarbon in the atmosphere, plays a significant role in atmospheric chemistry. Its reactions with NO_x lead to the formation of ozone in the lower troposphere, which is harmful to plants and detrimental to human health. As air temperatures and CO₂ concentrations increase with climate change, it is uncertain how isoprene emissions from plants will respond. We hypothesized that isoprene emissions will increase with the combination of increasing temperature and CO­₂ concentrations. We predict that oaks grown at a higher temperature will exhibit an increase in isoprene emissions with combined short-term increases in temperature …

Implications Of Manipulations Of Soil Quality On The Growth Of European Buckthorn (Rhamnus Cathartica) In A Greenhouse, Sam L. Pepper, Liam Heneghan

DePaul Discoveries

European buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica L.) is an invasive shrub that is capable of changing the nitrogen content of a soil through the deposition of its nitrogen rich leaf litter. This change creates conditions that may favor recolonizing by buckthorn and negatively affect the growth of native plants. In this greenhouse experiment, we examined the effect of altering soil quality by adding mulch comprised of buckthorn wood on above and belowground biomass, stem length and leaf production of buckthorn saplings. We found that buckthorn saplings planted in buckthorn mulch had reduced stem length and leaf production compared to growth in …

The Correlation Between Basal Isoprene Emissions And Climate Of The Native Range Across Oak Species, Mary J. Babiez

DePaul Discoveries

Isoprene is a biogenic volatile organic compound that is emitted by various plant species and plays an important role in the chemistry of the atmosphere. When it reacts with pollutants in the air, such as nitrogen oxides, the precursor to ozone (O₃) is formed. In this experiment, we measured leaf emissions from 20 different oak species at the Morton Arboretum (Lisle, Illinois). The aim was to better understand differences in isoprene emissions across oak species. Since emissions have been found to protect leaves against brief periods of heat stress, we hypothesized that oaks native to areas with greater …

Synthesis Of A Small Molecule Nitrosocysteine Inhibitor To Reduce The Activity Of Caspase-1, Catherine A. Shamblen, Caitlin E. Karver

DePaul Discoveries

Caspase-1 is an enzyme that is overactive in autoimmune and autoinflammatory diseases cleaving pro-interleukin-1β to the cytokine interleukin-1β (IL-1β), which leads to inflammatory symptoms. The inhibition of caspase-1 will cause a decrease in the concentration of interleukin-1β (IL-1β), resulting in the reduction of inflammatory symptoms. Recent research has revealed that the appending of a nitric oxide (NO) or nitroxyl (HNO) donating group to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) reduced, or avoided, the side effects caused by currently available treatments. A small molecule based on a known caspase-1 inhibitor with a nitrosocysteine appended on was synthesized to look at the effect of …

Serendipitous Discovery Of A New Method For The Catalytic Synthesis Of Indole-Fused Benzazepanes, Edward Gluzman, Paul A. Vadola

DePaul Discoveries

We report here on our investigations into the application of 1,5-hydride transfer cyclization mechanisms to the synthesis of 2,3-disubstituted benzofurans and indoles. We found that PtI₄ in MeCN at 120 ºC was indeed capable of activating the alkyne, however, the expected 2,3-disubstituted indole product was not observed. Instead we isolated an indolyl-3-benzazepane via an unexpected intramolecular Steven’s rearrangement/ring expansion. While this transformation has been previously reported our method may prove to have increased substrate scope and more practical reaction conditions. Further studies are underway to optimize the reaction conditions and to fully explore the scope and mechanism of the …

Electrochemistry And Spectroscopy Of A Molybdenum Porphyrin Compound, Jay S. Bhanot, Kyle A. Grice

DePaul Discoveries

Carbon dioxide has been a problematic greenhouse gas since the beginning of the industrial age. In an effort to remediate its effects on the climate, multiple techniques have been utilized in the chemical and electrochemical reduction of CO₂. Homogeneous electrocatalysis for carbon dioxide reduction has been a topic of increasing interest. However, a full examination of the catalytic performance of early transition metals supported by macroligands has yet to be done. The research reported involves synthesis of a chelate of molybdenum within a tetraphenylporphyrin, and then synthesis, purification, and characterization of its ability to reduce carbon dioxide. The …

Synthesis And Studies Of Cyclopentadienyl Molybdenum Complexes, Cesar Saucedo, Kyle A. Grice

DePaul Discoveries

The synthesis and electrochemical responses of [CpMo(CO)₃]₂, CpMo(CO)₃I, CpMo(CO)₃(OTf), and [CpMo(bpy)(CO)₂] (Cp = cyclopentadienyl, bpy = 2,2’-bipyridine, OTf = trifluoromethansulfonate) in organic solvent are reported. Transition metal compounds such as Re(bpy)(CO)₃Cl have been shown to be effective carbon dioxide reduction catalysts. The molybdenum metal complexes studied herein were examined under argon and carbon dioxide gas for the potential reduction of carbon dioxide. Proton Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, infrared (IR) spectroscopy and an electrochemical method know as cyclic voltammetry were used to gather data on the complexes. Electrochemical …

Low-Cost Hab Platform To Measure Particulate Matter In The Troposphere, Mark J. Potosnak, Bernhard Beck-Winchatz, Paul Ritter

2017 Academic High Altitude Conference

High-altitude balloons (HABs) are an engaging platform for formal and informal STEM education. However, the logistics of launching, chasing and recovering a payload on a 1200 g or 1500 g balloon can be daunting for many novice school groups and citizen scientists, and the cost can be prohibitive. In addition, there are many interesting scientific applications that do not require reaching the stratosphere. In this poster presentation we discuss a novel approach based on small (30 g) balloons that are cheap and easy to handle, and low-cost tracking devices (SPOT and 900 MHz spread spectrum) that do not require a …

Applying Newton’S Law Of Cooling When The Target Keeps Changing Temperature, Such As In Stratospheric Ballooning Missions, James Flaten, Kaye Smith, Erick Agrimson

2017 Academic High Altitude Conference

Newton’s Law of Cooling describes how a “small” system, such as a thermometer, comes to thermal equilibrium with a “large” system, such as its environment, as a function of time. It is typically applied when the environment is in thermal equilibrium and the conditions are such that the thermal decay time for the thermometer is a constant. Neither of these conditions are met when measuring environmental (i.e. atmospheric) temperature using a thermometer mounted in a payload lofted into the stratosphere under weather balloons. In this situation the thermometer is in motion so it encounters layer after layer of atmosphere which …

Getting Students Excited About Science With High Altitude Ballooning, Charles F. Niederriter, Steven H. Mellema

2017 Academic High Altitude Conference

Many of us dream of exploring space, but there are not many ways to do so. Although it is difficult to get into deep space, near space is within our grasp. High altitude balloons are released into the stratosphere, generally reaching between 60,000 to 120,000 feet before they burst and their payload is returned to earth by parachute. Modern balloon systems generally contain electronic equipment such as radio transmitters, cameras, and GPS receivers, as well as a variety of scientific instruments. Not only is high altitude ballooning a great way to introduce the electronics and programming skills needed to collect …

Enzyme-Mediated And Mechanistic Investigations Of Tetrahydroisoquinoline Synthesis Through The Pictet-Spengler Reaction, Jordan Elise Fauser

College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations

Tetrahydroisoquinolines (THI) are biologically active natural products with applications to a variety of diseases. These compounds also act as precursors for other pharmacologically active natural products. In this investigation, a new synthetic approach for generation of halogenated THIs was proposed. Using cross-linked tyrosinase aggregate, halogenated tyrosine and tyramine were oxidized to form halogenated catechols such as halogenated L-DOPA and dopamine. In a one-pot synthetic approach, the enzyme oxidation reaction was coupled to the Pictet-Spengler reaction, through the addition of an aldehyde, to generate halogenated THIs. The Pictet-Spengler reaction was catalyzed by the phosphate buffer in the reaction solution. The role …

Better Together

DePaul Magazine

Faculty have taken full advantage of the university's innovative intercollegiate grant program, and the resulting research is as interesting and diverse as the collaborators themselves. What is resulting is research on "Patient and Primary Care Provider Perspectives on Recreational and Therapeutic Cannabis Use Within a Changing Socioculltural and Political Context;" a new minor in climate change science and policy; a new class, Communication, Coding and Entrepreneurship; brain inflammation research; and the project "Cosmology Meets Continental Philosophy: Natural Laws and Why There Is Something Rather Than Nothing"

Cracking The Code Of Success: The Coding Academy

DePaul Magazine

BLUE1647 is a nonprofit technology and entrepreneurship innovation center—a type of tech incubator, but with a difference. The seven-day-a-week coworking space welcomes engineers and developers, but also provides technology education to young people and college students through strategic partnerships with DePaul, Chicago Public Schools and other organizations. BLUE1647 offers MBA social enterprise and undergraduate entrepreneurship students an experiential learning project called the Coding Academy, a tuition-based program offered on a full-scholarship basis to DePaul student cohorts.

Chemical Reaction Kinetics Of The Pictet-Spengler Reaction, Jo Ann K. Girel

College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations

There is an extensive history of the use of alkaloids for medicinal purposes. Today, development of novel pharmaceutical alkaloids is imperative to developing effective drugs. The Pictet-Spengler reaction of dopamine with 4-hydroxyphenyl-acetaldehyde is the first step in the biosynthesis of thousands of known alkaloids. In this reaction, mechanisms have been proposed to explain the specificity of phosphate catalysis. However, the uniqueness of the phosphate ion in the Pictet-Spengler reaction is not explained. The Pictet-Spengler reaction of dopamine with propanal in phosphate buffer and in maleic acid buffer were evaluated and determined to be comparable. The reaction was found to be …

Using A Dynamic Domain-Specific Modeling Language For The Model-Driven Development Of Cross-Platform Mobile Applications, Christopher A. Jones

College of Computing and Digital Media Dissertations

There has been a gradual but steady convergence of dynamic programming languages with modeling languages. One area that can benefit from this convergence is modeldriven development (MDD) especially in the domain of mobile application development. By using a dynamic language to construct a domain-specific modeling language (DSML), it is possible to create models that are executable, exhibit flexible type checking, and provide a smaller cognitive gap between business users, modelers and developers than more traditional model-driven approaches.

Dynamic languages have found strong adoption by practitioners of Agile development processes. These processes often rely on developers to rapidly produce working code …

Spring 2016

Scientia

Stress busters: intervention study combats stress in African-American youth; Peer-to-peer health power; Research roundup; Notes from the field; Program accelerates health care careers; Deep dive: Alumnus researches underwater volcanoes; Lab notes

Spring 2016

In The Loop

The age of adolescence; A design oasis in downtown; Welcoming committee: CDM students roll out the red carpet for prospective students; Paving the way in IT education and research; Seen and heard; Coloring outside the lines