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Stellar Parameter Determination For The Mastar Stellar Library, Daniel J. Lazarz

Theses and Dissertations--Physics and Astronomy

Empirical libraries of stellar spectra represent a key ingredient needed for modeling the integrated spectra of stellar populations, such as galaxies, through a process called stellar population synthesis (SPS). In order to make use of such libraries, accurate stellar atmospheric parameter estimates are required. Here, I present a methodology that was developed to build a stellar parameter catalog to accompany the MaNGA stellar library (MaStar), a comprehensive collection of empirical, medium-resolution stellar spectra. This parameter catalog was constructed using a multicomponent χ² fitting approach to match the MaStar spectra to models generated by interpolating the ATLAS9-based BOSZ models. The …

Thermalization And Quantum Information In Conformal Field Theory, Ashish Kakkar

Theses and Dissertations--Physics and Astronomy

The consequences of the constraints of conformal symmetry are far-reaching within
theoretical physics. In this dissertation we address a series of questions in conformal
field theory: 1) We calculate the spectrum of qKdV charges in a large central charge
expansion. 2) We determine the corrections to bulk information geometry from 1/N
contributions to holographic correlators. 3) We study the higher genus partitions
functions of CFTs associated with classical and quantum error-correcting codes.

First Steps In The Small-Scale Structure Formation In The Universe: The Emergence Of Galaxies, Da Bi

Theses and Dissertations--Physics and Astronomy

Galactic morphology in the contemporary universe results from the convergence of a long list of physical processes, not all of them yet fully understood and quantified. The universe exhibits a hierarchical structure: galaxies grow being immersed in dark matter (DM) halos, which in turn are fed by diffuse and filamentary accretion. I use a suite of very high-resolution zoom-in cosmological simulations of galaxies in order to study the assembly of galaxies at high redshifts, z ≥ 2, to quantify the role of environment and of the parent DM halos in this procss. My models have been chosen to lie within …

Studies Of Time Variations Of The Magnetic Field In The Nedm@Sns Experiment, Mojtaba Behzadipour

Theses and Dissertations--Physics and Astronomy

It is thought that equal quantities of matter and antimatter were generated at the moment of the Big Bang. However, observations of the Universe show that there is a significant excess of matter over antimatter. The matter-antimatter asymmetry in the Universe (baryon to photon ratio) is observed to be of the order of 10^-10 [1]. Baryogenesis is a possible explanation for the matter-antimatter asymmetry of the universe. In 1967, Sakharov proposed three criteria necessary for Baryogenesis. The three conditions are: 1) baryon number violation, 2) C and CP violation and 3) departure from thermal equilibrium. However, the Standard Model's …

High Performance Data Acquisition And Analysis Routines For The Nab Experiment, David Mathews

Theses and Dissertations--Physics and Astronomy

Probes of the Standard Model of particle physics are pushing further and further into the so-called “precision frontier”. In order to reach the precision goals of these experiments, a combination of elegant experimental design and robust data acquisition and analysis is required. Two experiments that embody this philosophy are the Nab and Calcium-45 experiments. These experiments are probing the understanding of the weak interaction by examining the beta decay of the free neutron and Calcium-45 respectively. They both aim to measure correlation parameters in the neutron beta decay alphabet, a and b. The parameter a, the electron-neutrino correlation coefficient, is …

Data Acquisition, Analysis And Simulations For The Fermilab Muon G−2 Experiment, Fang Han

Theses and Dissertations--Physics and Astronomy

The goal of the new Muon g-2 E989 experiment at Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (FNAL) is a precise measurement of the muon anomalous magnetic moment, a_μ ≡ (g-2)/2. The previous BNL experiment measured the anomaly a_μ(BNL) with an uncertainty of 0.54 parts per million (ppm). The discrepancy between the current standard model calculation of the a_μ(SM) and the previous measurement a_μ(BNL) is over 3σ. The FNAL Muon g-2 experiment aims at increasing the precision to 140 parts per billion (ppb) to resolve the discrepancy between the theoretical …

Constraining The Star Formation Histories Of Galaxies In The Swift/Uvot + Manga (Swim) Value-Added Catalog, Nikhil Ajgaonkar

Theses and Dissertations--Physics and Astronomy

Although our understanding about galaxy evolution has improved in the past few
decades, we still do not understand how galaxies suddenly stop forming stars and move towards a quiescent phase. In order to do that, we must derive the Star Formation Histories (SFHs) of galaxies, that trace the change in Star Formation (SF) inside the galaxy over the cosmic timescale. This is achieved by using a set of spatially resolved near-ultraviolet (NUV) and optical spectroscopic images of the galaxies. We generate the Swift/UVOT + MaNGA value added catalog (SwiM VAC; Molina et al., 2020b) which comprises 150 galaxies having a …

Effects Of Adolescent Alcohol Exposure Via Oral Gavage On Adult Alcohol Drinking And Co-Use Of Alcohol And Nicotine In Sprague Dawley Rats, Cassie M. Chandler, Usman Z. Hamid, Sarah E. Maggio, Hui Peng, James R. Pauly, Joshua S. Beckmann, Kimberly Nixon, Michael T. Bardo

Psychology Faculty Publications

Background: Preclinical models simulating adolescent substance use leading to increased vulnerability for substance use disorders in adulthood are needed. Here, we utilized a model of alcohol and nicotine co-use to assess adult addiction vulnerability following adolescent alcohol exposure. Methods: In Experiment 1, adolescent (PND30) male and female Sprague-Dawley rats received 25% ethanol (EtOH) or a control solution via oral gavage every 8 h, for 2 days. In young adulthood, animals were tested with a 2-bottle choice between H20% and 15% EtOH or 0.2% saccharin/15% EtOH, followed by co-use of oral Sacc/ EtOH and operant-based i.v. nicotine (0.03 mg/kg/infusion) self-administration. In …

Effects Of Voluntary Adolescent Intermittent Alcohol Exposure And Social Isolation On Adult Alcohol Intake In Male Rats, Cassie M. Chandler, Jakob D. Shaykin, Hui Peng, James R. Pauly, Kimberly Nixon, Michael T. Bardo

Psychology Faculty Publications

Initiating alcohol use in adolescence significantly increases the likelihood of developing adult alcohol use disorder (AUD). However, it has been difficult to replicate adolescent alcohol exposure leading to increased adult alcohol intake across differing preclinical models. In the present study, differentially housed male rats (group vs. single cages) were used to determine the effects of voluntary intermittent exposure of saccharin-sweetened ethanol during adolescence on adult intake of unsweetened 20% ethanol. Adolescent male rats were assigned to group- or isolated-housing conditions and underwent an intermittent 2-bottle choice in adolescence (water only or water vs. 0.2% saccharin/20% ethanol), and again in adulthood …

Peer-Induced Cocaine Seeking In Rats: Comparison To Nonsocial Stimuli And Role Of Paraventricular Hypothalamic Oxytocin Neurons, Lindsey R. Hammerslag, Bree A. Humburg, Samantha G. Malone, Joshua S. Beckmann, Kathryn E. Saatman, Valery Grinevich, Michael T. Bardo

Psychology Faculty Publications

The purpose of this study was to determine if social vs nonsocial cues (peer vs light/ tone) can serve as discriminative stimuli to reinstate cocaine seeking. In addition, to assess a potential mechanism, an oxytocin (OT) promoter-linked hM3Dq DREADD was infused into the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus to determine whether peer-induced cocaine seeking is decreased by activation of OT neurons. Male rats underwent twice-daily self-administration sessions, once with cocaine in the presence of one peer (S+) and once with saline in the presence of a different peer (S-). Another experiment used similar procedures, except the discriminative stimuli were nonsocial …

Evaluation Of Air Consumption And Work Efficiency In Structural Firefighters, Emily Lynn Langford

Theses and Dissertations--Kinesiology and Health Promotion

INTRODUCTION: For safe and efficient fireground performance, firefighters (FF) must consume air supplied by the self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) efficiently while sustaining high work rates. Firefighter research and fire department physical ability assessments typically quantify performance solely on task completion time (i.e., work rate), failing to consider the critical element of air consumption efficiency, which subsequently impacts the SCBA’s functional work duration. PURPOSES: (Arm 1, Aim #1) To examine variability in air consumption (AC) between FF during standardized pace tasks; (Arm 1, Aim #2) To evaluate AC efficiency (ACE) against a recognized metabolic-work rate concept of economy; (Arm …

The Correlation Between Acl Injury & Concussion, Brandon Michael Phillips

Theses and Dissertations--Kinesiology and Health Promotion

Concussion (also known as mild traumatic brain injury) is a neurological injury that occurs after a blow to the head or neck area and can have affects to movement based on the severity of the injury. Mild traumatic brain injury has possible linkage to an increased risk of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury. The purpose of this thesis was to assess the impact of prior concussion on lower extremity mechanics that are associated with risk of ACL injury. A total of 11 individuals with prior history of concussion and 11 healthy individuals without prior history of concussion (56.5 months since …

Etiology Of Firefighter Injuries: A Health Care Practitioner Perspective, Alyssa Quinn Eastman

Theses and Dissertations--Kinesiology and Health Promotion

BACKGROUND: Structural firefighting involves the performance of rigorous occupational tasks in unpredictable, dynamic, and hot environments which increases firefighters’ risk of injury. Specifically, the National Fire Protection Association reported that musculoskeletal injuries account for 56% of non-fireground and 41% of fireground injuries. Furthermore, physical training is the most common cause of injury, accounting for one-third of all injuries and resulting in 41% of post-injury absences from work. There is limited research identifying occupational and exercise injury risk factors among firefighters. However, experienced health care practitioners working with fire departments may provide critical insight into potential mechanisms of these common injuries. …

Long Term Observation Of The Grassland Vegetation Used Intensively Or Extensively And Ecologically, H.-D. Matthes, J. Matthes, W. Jentsch, V. Pastushenko

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The aim of the present paper was to study alterations of the grassland flora from 55 plots following a more extensive management under long term observation within 6 years. Extensification of grassland use leads to an increase of the numbers of plant species by 32%, “Red-list-species” included. The moisture number of the soils slightly increased and the reaction and nitrogen numbers decreased. Results are presented for different vegetation units.

Influence Of Extensive Management On Botanical Composition Of Permanent Meadow Sward, K. Mlynarczyk, E. Korona, E. Marks

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The aim of undertaken investigations was to find the possibilities of grassland management with special respect to the biodiversity and the landscape conservation. Changes in botanical composition of the meadow sward against a background of different mowing utilization were examined on the semi-natural meadows situated on the peat-mursh soil in Masurian Landscape Park (north-east Poland). The areas mown with biennial pause and completely turned off from uses followed gradual simplifying of species composition and increasing of bog species participation. Results show on advisability of passing one harvest each year or with one-year pauses.

Vegetation Changes In Sown Grassland In The Uk After Nine Years Of Extensive Grazing Management, C. A. Marriott, G. T. Barthram

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The effect of extensive grazing management with sheep on vegetation change in sown pastures (initially containing Lolium perenne and Trifolium repens) in the uplands of Scotland was investigated from 1990-1999. One treatment was representative of current more intensive management systems; it was fertilized, and maintained at a sward surface height of 4 cm. Two treatments were unfertilized and were maintained at sward surface heights of 4 cm or 8 cm; the ewe numbers carried on these treatments averaged 74% and 44%, respectively, of those on the fertilized treatment. In all treatments the sheep were Scottish Blackface ewes. Their single …

The Influence Of Rising Atmospheric Co2 On Grassland Ecosystems, J. A. Morgan, P. C. D. Newton, J. Nösberger, C. E. Owensby

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Increasing atmospheric CO₂ concentrations and climatic change will have significant effects on the ecology of grasslands. This paper evaluates results from four CO₂ enrichment studies in contrasting grasslands. A Swiss study investigates the effects of elevated CO₂ (600 μL L^-1 CO₂) on perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) and white clover (Trifolium repens L), a New Zealand study examines how elevated CO₂ (475 μL L^-1 CO₂) affects a botanically diverse pasture, and studies in the Kansas tallgrass prairie and the Colorado shortgrass steppe investigate the effects of an approximate …

Elevated Co2 Enhances Productivity And The C/N Ratio Of Grasses In The Colorado Shortgrass Steppe, J. A. Morgan, A. R. Mosier, D. R. Lecain, W. J. Parton, D. G. Milchunas

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Atmospheric CO₂ concentrations have been increasing since the industrial revolution, and are projected to double within this century over today's concentration of 360 µmol mol^-1 . This study used six open-top chambers in the Colorado, USA shortgrass steppe to investigate how increasing CO₂ will affect productivity and C and N status of indigenous perennial grasses and forbs. From March until October, chambers were placed on two plots in each of the three blocks. In each block, one chamber was assigned an ambient CO₂ treatment (~360 µmol mol^-1), the other an elevated CO₂ treatment …

Rangeland Desertification In China, Wang Tao

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Land desertification is one of the most serious environmental and social-economic problems in the North China. The processes of desertification mainly have being controlled by the interaction of human activities and fragile eco-environment, that means the pattern and intension of landuse are major factors for development or reverse of desertification. Because of the increasing pressure of population, the rangeland in the North China has being cultivated decade by decade, which changed landuse from grassing to cropping in a large area and destroyed the natural vegetation cover. The result is to let the wind erosion become easier and the desertification has …

Grasslands, Communicating The Benefits, D. Keeney

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The multiple benefits of perennial agriculture , including forages and grasslands, for building soil quality, protection of natural resources, enhancement of biodiversity and wildlife, are well known to us, but little understood by the public. This is not a situation where “more education” would necessarily increase recognition. Rather, we must build in the public a desire for the enhancement of green space, clean water and air, and diverse landscapes that multiple purpose agriculture can bring. We seek such environments intuitively and now that much of the world’s people are “trapped” in urban settings of steel and concrete, this desire is …

Single-Cell Analysis Of Aneurysmal Aortic Tissue In Patients With Marfan Syndrome Reveals Dysfunctional Tgf-Β Signaling, Ashley Dawson, Yanming Li, Yang Li, Pingping Ren, Hernan G. Vasquez, Chen Zhang, Kimberly R. Rebello, Waleed Ageedi, Alon R. Azares, Aladdein Burchett Mattar, Mary Burchett Sheppard, Hong S. Lu, Joseph S. Coselli, Lisa A. Cassis, Alan Daugherty, Ying H. Shen, Scott A. Lemaire

Saha Cardiovascular Research Center Faculty Publications

The molecular and cellular processes leading to aortic aneurysm development in Marfan syndrome (MFS) remain poorly understood. In this study, we examined the changes of aortic cell populations and gene expression in MFS by performing single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA seq) on ascending aortic aneurysm tissues from patients with MFS (n = 3) and age-matched non-aneurysmal control tissues from cardiac donors and recipients (n = 4). The expression of key molecules was confirmed by immunostaining. We detected diverse populations of smooth muscle cells (SMCs), fibroblasts, and endothelial cells (ECs) in the aortic wall. Aortic tissues from MFS showed alterations …

Phenological And Social Characterization Of Three Lasioglossum (Dialictus) Species Inferred From Long-Term Trapping Collections, Lyllian A.-J. Corbin, David N. Awde, Miriam H. Richards

Entomology Faculty Publications

Detailed social and phenological data collected from nesting aggregations exist for relatively few sweat bee species because nesting aggregations are rarely found in large numbers, even when local populations are highly abundant. This limits researchers’ abilities to assess the social status of many species, which in turn, limits our ability to trace the sequence of evolutionary steps between alternative social states. To address this problem, we demonstrate the utility of rehydrated, pinned specimens from pan trap and netting collections for generating inferences about the phenology and social status of a well-studied sweat bee species, Lasioglossum (Dialictus) laevissimum. …

Scale Model Equations And Optimization For Annular Flow Of Non-Newtonian Fluids Between Eccentric And Rotating Cylinders, Wei Zhang, Pooya Khodaparast, Amin Mehrabian Dr., Amir Shojaei

Progress in Scale Modeling, an International Journal

A broad range of engineering applications involves helical flow of non-Newtonian fluids between two eccentric cylinders. These applications often require estimation of the frictional pressure losses along the axes of the cylinders. Laboratory flow loops are commonly used to study the flow characteristics at smaller scales of investigation. This study uses the laws of similarity and dimensional analysis to obtain a set of scaling equations between the laboratory and prototype scales of the described annular flow. These equations are derived for four types of fluid rheology including Newtonian, power-law, Bingham-plastic, and yield power-law.

Results are expressed through a set of …

Agropastoral Systems An Alternative To Revert Pasture Degradation In The Cerrados Of Brazil: Preliminary Results, Manuel C. M. Macedo, J. A. M. Bono, A. H. Zimmer, F. P. Costa, Tsutomu Kanno, Cesar Heraclides Behling Miranda, A. N. Kichel

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

A long term experiment was set to test the hypothesis that agropastoral systems could improve crop and animal production, being more profitable and sustainable relative to economical, biological and environmental aspects, than continuous and traditional crop and grazing pasture systems. Five farming systems are being tested: two traditional (continuous soybean annual cropping and continuous pasture cropping) and three agropastoral systems (two combinations of four by four years of rotational crop-pasture systems and one by three years of crop-pasture rotation). Animal production in continuous pasture cropping measured as liveweight gain/ha (LWG) are declining along the years in the sub-treatment without fertilizer …

Evaluation Of A Number Of Grass Species For Restoring Degraded Semi-Arid Rangelands In Southern Africa, K. Kellner, S. De Wet

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The biophysical environment is an important determinant of land degradation in both commercial and communal land tenure systems in South Africa. According to a recent study on the status of land degradation, approximately 25% of the total land cover in South Africa is degraded. Several technologies exist to restore the soil and vegetation degraded areas in natural pastures. To improve the production and biodiversity potential for agricultural and conservation uses in these rangelands, a common restoration technology includes the cultivation the eroded and compacted soil surfaces by rip- ploughing and the re-vegetation with high productive, palatable and perennial species. Five …

Numerical Investigation On The Effect Of Spectral Radiative Heat Transfer Within An Ablative Material, Raghava S. C. Davuluri, Rui Fu, Kaveh A. Tagavi, Alexandre Martin

Mechanical Engineering Faculty Publications

The spectral radiative heat flux could impact the material response. In order to evaluate it, a coupling scheme between KATS - MR and P1 approximation model of radiation transfer equation (RTE) is constructed and used. A Band model is developed that divides the spectral domain into small bands of unequal widths. Two verification studies are conducted: one by comparing the simulation computed by the Band model with pure conduction results and the other by comparing with similar models of RTE. The comparative results from the verification studies indicate that the Band model is computationally efficient and can be used to …

Inhibition Of Bruton Tyrosine Kinase Reduces Neuroimmune Cascade And Promotes Recovery After Spinal Cord Injury, Chen Guang Yu, Vimala Bondada, Hina Iqbal, Kate L. Moore, John C. Gensel, Subbarao Bondada, James W. Geddes

Physiology Faculty Publications

Microglia/astrocyte and B cell neuroimmune responses are major contributors to the neurological deficits after traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI). Bruton tyrosine kinase (BTK) activation mechanistically links these neuroimmune mechanisms. Our objective is to use Ibrutinib, an FDA-approved BTK inhibitor, to inhibit the neuroimmune cascade thereby improving locomotor recovery after SCI. Rat models of contusive SCI, Western blot, immunofluorescence staining imaging, flow cytometry analysis, histological staining, and behavioral assessment were used to evaluate BTK activity, neuroimmune cascades, and functional outcomes. Both BTK expression and phosphorylation were increased at the lesion site at 2, 7, 14, and 28 days after SCI. Ibrutinib …

Water-Use Efficiency And Infiltration Under Different Rangeland Conditions And Cultivation In A Semi-Arid Climate Of South Africa, Hennie A. Snyman

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The objective of this study was to determine the impact of rangeland in different botanical composition classes (good, moderate and poor), on water-use efficiency (WUE: crude protein produced per unit of evapotranspiration) and soilwater content. The same measurements were also made on an undisturbed bare soil surface and soil cultivated twice per annum. Evapotranspiration was determined by quantifying the soil-water balance equation with the aid of runoff plots and soil-water content measurements done by a neutron hydroprobe. Water-use efficiency declined significantly (P ≤ 0.01) with rangeland degradation. Rangeland in good condition averaged a WUE of 0.28 kg crude protein ha …

Community Structure Of Serrated Tussock (Nassella Trichotoma) Infested Grasslands, Warwick B. Badgery, David R. Kemp, D. L. Michalk, W. Mcg. King

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Serrated tussock (Nassella trichotoma) is the most serious perennial grass weed in southeastern Australia, extending over more than a million hectares. Previous control techniques using herbicides and oversowing with competitive pastures are no longer feasible in many of the lower fertility, infested areas. New management solutions need to be found, based upon a better understanding of the ecology of this species. A survey was done to determine the community structure of serrated tussock infested grasslands. Winter growing C3 grasses were closely associated with serrated tussock, while C4 perennial grasses appeared not to be. It is not known if …

Valuing The Pasture Resource - Importance Of Perennials In Higher Rainfall Regions Of South Eastern Australia, P. M. Dowling, R. E. Jones, David R. Kemp, D. L. Michalk

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The premature decline of perennial grass based pastures in southern temperate Australia results in poor productivity and unstable pastures that allow invasion by less desirable weedy species and the potential for soil degradation. The loss of perennial species is attributed to overgrazing arising from an undervaluation of the pasture resource. Resowing pastures is largely uneconomic so maintenance of, or increasing the perennial, is dependent on improved grazing and pasture management practices. A key to changing perceptions is valuing the true worth of the perennial component. Results are presented from a model that takes into account the seasonality of production of …