Digital Commons Network^™

Land Tenure And Rental In Western Sudan, Michael Kevane, Leslie C. Gray

Economics

This paper reports on aspects of land tenure in western Sudan, especially the nature of tenure insecurity and the functioning of the land rental market. The active land rental market accounted for about one-third of cultivated land. Patterns of land rental transactions, and tests of the importance of insecurity in renting land, where the owner may not be able to reclaim land rented out, do not support the presumption that rental markets perform poorly. The role of the sheikh as administrator of village land, and the claims of large landowners to vast tracts, are, however, important political problems that must …

Development Of Informative Priors In Microarray Studies, Kassandra M. Fronczyk

Theses and Dissertations

Microarrays measure the abundance of DNA transcripts for thousands of gene sequences, simultaneously facilitating genomic comparisons across tissue types or disease status. These experiments are used to understand fundamental aspects of growth and development and to explore the underlying genetic causes of many diseases. The data from most microarray studies are found in open-access online databases. Bayesian models are ideal for the analysis of microarray data because of their ability to integrate prior information; however, most current Bayesian analyses use empirical or flat priors. We present a Perl script to build an informative prior by mining online databases for similar …

Assessment Of The Impact Of Various Ionospheric Models On High Frequency Signal Raytracing, Joshua T. Werner

Theses and Dissertations

An assessment of the impact of various ionospheric models on high-frequency (HF) signal raytracing is presented. Ionospheric refraction can strongly affect the propagation of HF signals. Consequently, Department of Defense missions such as over-the-horizon RADAR, HF communications, and geo-location all depend on an accurate specification of the ionosphere. Five case studies explore ionospheric conditions ranging from quiet conditions to solar flares and geomagnetic storms. It is shown that an E layer by itself can increase an HF signal’s ground range by over 100 km, stressing the importance of accurately specifying the lower ionosphere. It is also shown that the GPSII …

Effect Of Surrounding Point Charges On The Density Functional Calculations Of NiXOX Clusters (X = 4–12), Evgueni B. Kadossov, Karen J. Gaskell, Marjorie Langell

Marjorie A. Langell Publications

Embedded Ni_xO_x clusters (x = 4–12) have been studied by the density-functional method using compensating point charges of variable magnitude to calculate the ionic charge, bulk modulus, and lattice binding energy. The computations were found to be strongly dependent on the value of the surrounding point charge array and an optimum value could be found by choosing the point charge to reproduce the experimentally observed Ni–O lattice parameter. This simple, empirical method yields a good match between computed and experimental data, and even small variation from the optimum point charge value produces significant deviation between computed …

The Emerging Dziggetai (Equidae: Equus Hemionus Pallas): An Illustrated History Of Taxonomic Concepts For The Identification, Classification, And Distribution Of Hemiones From Central Asia, Arnd Schreiber

Erforschung biologischer Ressourcen der Mongolei / Exploration into the Biological Resources of Mongolia, ISSN 0440-1298

The history of the discovery and the exploration of the hemione populations (Equus hemionus PALLAS) from Central Asia (Mongolia, northwest China, northeast Tibet, Kazakhstan, and Russian Siberia) from the 13th century to approximately 1950 are compiled with the aim to provide materials for a taxonomic and population genetic revision of the dziggetais. Data on their phenotypic differentiation, historical distribution status, and their husbandry history in European zoological gardens, are reviewed, as is the gradual emergence of concepts of how to identify and to classify these populations. Hemiones were an important historical case in the discussion of how to represent …

Chromatic Aberration Of Eyepieces In Early Telescopes, M. Eugene Rudd

M. Eugene Rudd Publications

The twofold objective of this study is (1) to identify and give a brief review of the historical development of the various designs of early (pre-1850) telescope eyepieces, and (2) to determine by measurements and calculations the axial and lateral chromatic aberrations of a number of extant eyepieces from that period in order to provide basic data on which to judge the relative quality of different eyepiece forms. Eight distinct types of eyepieces containing one to five lens elements are discussed and illustrated. The second objective was addressed by measuring the focal lengths of the individual lens elements and the …

An Investigation Of Thundersnow And Deep Snow Accumulations, Christina Crowe, Patrick Market, Brian Pettergrew, Chris Melick, Josef Podzimek

Physics Faculty Research & Creative Works

A comparison of 30 years of hourly surface weather observations (1960-1991) from first-order stations and 24-hour snowfall data from climate network stations over the upper Midwestern United States reveals an indirect association between the relatively rare occurrence of thundersnow (< 1 event yr-1 in this dataset) and the accumulation of significant 24-hour snowfall (> 15 cm) in 19 of 22 cases identified. Although no direct relationship is found between the location of thundersnow and the deepest 24-hour snow totals, significant snow accumulations frequently occurred in proximity (< 1° latitude) to thundersnow events. the presence of thundersnow tended to indicate a parent extratropical cyclone capable of producing significant snowfall totals; should thundersnow be anticipated, the operational meteorologist can have much greater confidence in forecasting deeper snow totals. Copyright 2006 by the American Geophysical Union.

Growing Up With Glen, Kathryn Miles

Reconstruction: Studies in Contemporary Culture

Ecologists refer to it as 'shifting baselines.' Anthropologists call it 'environmental generational amnesia.' Both refer to the slow change in the ways we respond to and define the environment. As biologists and social scientists have deftly argued, definitions of environmentalism and sustainable resource use are often based on our earliest experiences with nature. We then use these memories as the basis for our understanding of the natural world and its use. Ultimately, this creates a generational approach to issues of conservation, particularly with regards to such contentious issues as water rights and the changing face of the American West. At …

Did The Pre-1980 Use Of Instream Structures Improve Streams? A Reanalysis Of Historic Data, Douglas M. Thompson

Physics, Astronomy and Geophysics Faculty Publications

In the 1930s, after only three years of scientific investigation at the University of Michigan Institute for Fisheries Research, cheap labor and government-sponsored conservation projects spearheaded by the Civilian Conservation Corps allowed the widespread adoption of in-stream structures throughout the United States. From the 1940s through the 1970s, designs of in-stream structures remained essentially unchanged, and their use continued. Despite a large investment in the construction of in-stream structures over these four decades, very few studies were undertaken to evaluate the impacts of the structures on the channel and its aquatic populations. The studies that were undertaken to evaluate the …

What Carnivore Biologists Can Learn From Bugs, Birds, And Beavers: A Review Of Spatial Theories, Julie K. Young, John A. Shivik

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Information on the ecology and evolution of a species can be enhanced by studying spatial ecology. Even though space use has been a focus of carnivore research for decades, the theoretical framework for such studies remains poorly developed. Most spatial ecology theory has instead been developed and tested with invertebrates and expanded into fishery and ornithological research. The goal of this review is to examine spatial theories being tested in other taxonomic groups that could positively influence how carnivore biologists design studies. Details are provided from studies that illustrate methods to quantify space use, and four broad areas of spatial …

Santa Clara Magazine, Volume 47 Number 2, Fall 2005, Santa Clara University

Santa Clara Magazine

6 - THE DRIVE TO CREATE by Elizabeth Kelley Gillogly '93. Albert Hoagland, an adjunct professor at SCU for more than 20 years, helped to build the first disk drive. Now is he working to preserve the history of magnetic disk storage.

10 - UNFINISHED MESSAGE by Toshio Mori. We share an excerpt from a collection of short stories by Mori, whose work highlights the plight of Japanese immigrants in the U.S. during World War II. The book is a part of the California Legacy Series, a partnership between SCU and Heyday Books.

14 - THE FAMILIAR STRANGER By Cynthia …

An Analysis Of Biometric Technology As An Enabler To Information Assurance, Darren A. Deschaine

Theses and Dissertations

The use of and dependence on, Information technology (IT) has grown tremendously in the last two decades. Still, some believe the United States is only in the infancy of this growth. This explosive growth has opened the door to capabilities that were only dreamed of in the past. As easy as it is to see how advantageous this technology is, it also is clear that with its advantages come distinct responsibilities and new problems that must be addressed. For instance, the minute one begins using information processing systems, the world of information assurance (IA) becomes far more complex. As a …

Benthic Communities In The Northern Gulf Of Mexico Hypoxic Area: Potential Prey For Demersal Fish, Melissa Millman Baustian

LSU Master's Theses

Bottom-water hypoxia (≤2 mg O₂ l^-1) usually occurs on an annual basis on the Louisiana/Texas continental shelf from mid-May through mid-September over a large area (up to 20,000 km² in mid-summer). The effects of hypoxia on the benthic infauna (potential prey) for demersal fish were examined, because changes in optimal diet can lead to negative impacts on growth and reproduction. Benthic samples were taken in three areas (inshore and offshore out of hypoxia and in the hypoxic area) during August 2003. Samples were also taken monthly from September 2003 to October 2004 at a fixed station …

Development Approaches Coupled With Verification And Validation Methodologies For Agent-Based Mission-Level Analytical Combat Simulations, Lance E. Champagne

Theses and Dissertations

This research investigated the applicability of agent-based combat simulations to real-world combat operations. An agent-based simulation of the Allied offensive search for German U-Boats in the Bay of Biscay during World War II was constructed, extending the state-of-the-art in agent-based combat simulations, bridging the gap between the current level of agent-like combat simulations and the concept of agent-based simulations found in the broader literature. The proposed simulation advances agent-based combat simulations to “validateable” mission-level military operations. Simulation validation is a complex task with numerous, diverse techniques available and levels of validation differing significantly among simulations and applications. This research presents …

A Brief Look At Mathematics And Theology, Philip J. Davis

Humanistic Mathematics Network Journal

No abstract provided.

Determination Of 4,4'-Dintrocarbanilide (Dnc), A Component Of Nicarbazin, In Canada Goose (Branta Canadensis) Eggshells Using High-Performance Liquid Chromatography, Randal S. Stahl, Kurt C. Vercauteren, Teresa L. Buettgenbach, John J. Johnston

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

A method was developed using high-performance liquid chromatography to assay 4,4'-dinitrocarbanilide (DNC), the active ingredient in Nicarbazin, in eggshells collected from Canada geese fed a formulated feed fortified with Nicarbazin at doses of 0, 125, 250, and 500 μg/g. The method was developed using chicken eggshells fortified with DNC. The method was used to quantify DNC in both the shell-associated membranes and the calcified shell extracellular matrix. These values were compared to those obtained for a composite sample consisting of both the membranes and the calcified shell extracellular matrix. The validated method was used to quantify DNC in eggshells from …

Valuation Of Continuous And Intermittent Phragmites Control, R. Eugene Turner, R. S. Warren

Faculty Publications

Quantifying the relative value of Phragmites australis and Spartina alterniflora habitat is important to evaluate the benefits and risks of different attempts to address Phragmites expansion on the U.S. eastern seaboard. Two contrasting approaches commonly used to restore tidal marsh habitats invaded by Phragmites communities involve spraying Phragmites with herbicide only when its coverage of a particular marsh area is near or close to 100%. Alternatively, after the first application, herbicide is annually applied on any surviving patches of Phragmites present in a mosaic of other marsh vegetation. A model is introduced to evaluate the relative habitat value of these …

Determination Of 4,4'-Dinitrocarbanilide (Dnc), A Component Of Nicarbazin, In Canada Goose (Branta Canadensis) Eggshells Using High-Performance Liquid Chromatography, Randal S. Stahl, Kurt C. Vercauteren, Teresa L. Buettgenbach, John J. Johnston

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

A method was developed using high-performance liquid chromatography to assay 4,4'-dinitrocarbanilide (DNC), the active ingredient in Nicarbazin, in eggshells collected from Canada geese fed a formulated feed fortified with Nicarbazin at doses of 0, 125, 250, and 500 μg/g. The method was developed using chicken eggshells fortified with DNC. The method was used to quantify DNC in both the shell-associated membranes and the calcified shell extracellular matrix. These values were compared to those obtained for a composite sample consisting of both the membranes and the calcified shell extracellular matrix. The validated method was used to quantify DNC in eggshells from …

History Of Mathematics, An Intuitive Approach, Alejandro R. Garciadiego

Humanistic Mathematics Network Journal

The main goal of this essay is to discuss, informally, an intuitive approach to the history of mathematics as an academic discipline. The initial point of departure includes the analysis of some traditional definitions of the concept of 'history' taken from standard dictionaries. This concise dissection attempts to suggest the complexity of the discipline.

Ethnomathematics: Challenging Traditional Notions Of Mathematical Authority, Christopher D. Goff

College of the Pacific Faculty Presentations

No abstract provided.

Search For Heavy Particles Decaying Into Electron-Positron Pairs In Pp̅ Collisions, V. M. Abazov, Gregory R. Snow, D0 Collaboration

Gregory Snow Publications

We present results of searches for technirho (ρ_T), techniomega (ω_T), and Z ′ particles, using the decay channels ρ_T, ω_T, Z ′ → ℯ⁺ℯ^-. The search is based on 124.8 pb^-1 of data collected by the D0 detector at the Fermilab Tevatron during 1992–1996. In the absence of a signal, we set 95% C.L. upper limits on the cross sections for the processes pp̅ → ρ_T, ω_T, Z ′ → ℯ⁺ℯ^- as a function of the mass of the decaying …

Historical Water-Quality Data For The High Plains Regional Ground-Water Study Area In Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, And Wyoming, 1930–98, David W. Litke

United States Geological Survey: Publications

The High Plains aquifer underlies 174,000 square miles in parts of eight States and includes eight primary hydrogeologic units, including the well-known Ogallala Formation. The High Plains aquifer is an important resource, providing water for 27 percent of the Nation’s irrigated agricul¬tural lands in an otherwise dry landscape. Since the 1980’s there has been concern over the sustainability of the aquifer due to water-level declines caused by substantial pumping. Water quality of the aquifer is a more recent concern. As part of the U.S. Geological Survey’s National Water-Quality Assessment Program, historical water-quality data have been gathered for the High Plains …

The X-33 And The X-38 Experimental Aircraft: Environmental Connections With Aerospace Science, Elandriel Jean Martin

Theses Digitization Project

The purpose of this project fosters in students a sense of place and connection with their home area. It also provides students a real-world basis upon which to study the concepts of weather and geography.

Fisheries Research Report No. 123 - Review Of Productivity Levels Of Western Australian Coastal And Estuarine Waters For Mariculture Planning Purposes, Alan Pearce, Stuart Helleren, Mark Marinelli, Fisheries Western Australia

Fisheries Research Reports

The measurement of chlorophyll-a (a simple estimate of phytoplankton biomass) is often used as an indicator of water quality. Chlorophyll measurements are relatively sparse for most of the Western Australian continental shelf, although there are areas such as the Perth metropolitan coastal zone, Wilson Inlet and the Albany harbours where some intensive studies have been undertaken.

This review of both published and unpublished chlorophyll concentrations in Western Australian waters has shown a high degree of variability in space (both horizontally and vertically) and time, and statistics on the seasonal distribution of chlorophyll have been derived for those regions with sufficient …

Improved Land Management In The Lake Victoria Basin: Linking Land And Lake, Research And Extension, Catchment And Lake Basin, Keith Shepherd, Markus Walsh, Fridah Mugo, Chin Ong, Tina Svan-Hansen, Brent Swallow, Alex Awiti, Mwangi Hai, David Nyantika, David Ombalo, Martin Grunder, Francis Mbote, David Mungai

East Africa Institute

Lake Victoria is of immense economic and environmental importance in the eastern and central African region. The lake is the largest freshwater body in the tropics and its basin supports one of the densest and poorest rural populations in the world. About 21 million people rely primarily on subsistence agricultural and pastoral production for their livelihoods. But pervasive poverty has hindered sustainable use of the land resources and there has already been considerable land degradation. There is little doubt that sedimentation and nutrient run-off, urban and industrial point source pollution and biomass burning, have induced the rapid eutrophication of Lake …

Black Bear Damage To Forest Stands In Western Washington, William B. Stewart, Gary W. Witmer, Gary M. Koehler

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Cambium-feeding behavior by black bears (Ursus americanus), or bear damage, is a major reforestation problem in the Pacific Northwest. Historically, studies have measured the cumulative effects of damage over time, but few have viewed damage in the frame of one season. Bear damage occurring in 1996 was surveyed in areas of radio-marked bears in western Washington. Fresh damage occurred on 48% of bear location plots (n = 96). Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) (69%), western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla) (19%), and Pacific silverfir (Abies amabilis) (10%) with a mean dbh of 25.1, 29.5, and 30.7cm, …

Evaluating Oral Histories For Restoration Ecology, Margaret Robertson

Theses : Honours

Significant ecological restoration is required in the agricultural regions of south-western Australia. Environmental history, including local knowledge based on long-term observation of the biophysical environment, can help guide this process. Scientists already use local anecdotal information because other information sources are absent or too recent, yet they are often skeptical of its veracity. This study focused on whether environmental oral histories can be evaluated for factual accuracy and their capacity to be useful in the restoration process. Some of the complexities associated with linking environmental histories with restoration ecology, and the role played by oral histories in establishing the link …

Hadronic Transitions Υ(2S)→Υ(1S), J. P. Alexander, Kenneth A. Bloom, Cleo Collaboration

Kenneth Bloom Publications

Using a 73.6 pb^-1 data sample of Υ(2S) events collected with the CLEO II detector at the Cornell Electron Storage Ring, we have investigated the hadronic transitions between the Υ(2S) and the Υ(1S). The dipion transition Υ(2S) → Υ(1S) π⁺π^- was studied using two different analysis techniques. Selecting events in which Υ(1S) → e⁺e^-, μ⁺μ^- (‘‘exclusive’’ analysis), and using the Υ(1S) leptonic branching fractions world averages from the PDG review, we obtained Ɓ(Υ(2S) …

Interactive Gradebook: The Missing (Hyper)Link, Doug Blank, George Holmes, Ryan Wells, Pawel Wolinksi

Computer Science Faculty Research and Scholarship

This paper introduces the notion of the "interactive gradebook," a new niche where intelligent and interactive technologies can help educators teach and students learn.

Preliminary Investigation Of The Extent And Effects Of Sediment Contamination In White Lake Near Whitehall Leather Tannery, Richard Rediske, Gary Fahnenstiel, Tom Nalepa, Peter Meier, Claire Schelske

Scientific Technical Reports

By using a combination of chemistry, toxicological evaluation, ecological analysis, and radiodating, this investigation has defined the ecological effects and the nature and extent of sediment contamination in the Tannery Bay area of eastern White Lake. The sediments in Tannery Bay represent a source of chromium transport for most of the eastern basin of White Lake. The recent deposition of chromium contaminated sediments exceeding 500 mg/kg in down gradient locations shows that export processes are responsible for the movement of this material from Tannery Bay. Arsenic and mercury appear to be less mobile and are retained in the sediments of …