Digital Commons Network^™

The Collegian (2014-03-24), Cleiri Quezada

UTB/TSC Archives - The Collegian [Newspaper]

Vol. 66, No. 24

Gravitational Wave Hotspots: Ranking Potential Locations Of Single-Source Gravitational Wave Emission, Joseph Simon, Abigail Polin, Andrea Lommen, Ben Stappers, Lee Samuel Finn, F. A. Jenet, B. Christy

Physics & Astronomy Faculty Publications

The steadily improving sensitivity of pulsar timing arrays (PTAs) suggests that gravitational waves (GWs) from supermassive black hole binary (SMBHB) systems in the nearby universe will be detectable sometime during the next decade. Currently, PTAs assume an equal probability of detection from every sky position, but as evidence grows for a non-isotropic distribution of sources, is there a most likely sky position for a detectable single source of GWs? In this paper, a collection of Galactic catalogs is used to calculate various metrics related to the detectability of a single GW source resolvable above a GW background, assuming that every …

Concept Of A Reflective Power Limiter Based On Nonlinear Localized Modes, Elena Makri, Hamidreza Ramezani, Tsampikos Kottos, Ilya Vitebsky

Physics & Astronomy Faculty Publications

Optical limiters are designed to transmit low-intensity light, while blocking the light with excessively high intensity. A typical passive limiter absorbs excessive electromagnetic energy, which can cause its overheating and destruction. We propose the concept of a photonic reflective limiter based on resonance transmission via a localized mode. Such a limiter does not absorb the high-level radiation, but rather reflects it back to space. Importantly, the nearly total reflection occurs within a broad frequency range and direction of incidence. The same concept can be applied to infrared and microwave frequencies.

The Collegian (2014-03-17), Cleiri Quezada

UTB/TSC Archives - The Collegian [Newspaper]

Vol. 66, No. 23

The Collegian (2014-02-24), Cleiri Quezada

UTB/TSC Archives - The Collegian [Newspaper]

Vol. 66, No. 21

Minisuperspace Canonical Quantization Of The Reissner-Nordström Black Hole Via Conditional Symmetries, T. Christodoulakis, Nicholas Dimakis, Petros A. Terzis, Babak Vakili, E. Melas, Th. Grammenos

Physics & Astronomy Faculty Publications

We use the conditional symmetry approach to study the r evolution of a minisuperspace spherically symmetric model both at the classical and the quantum level. After integration of the coordinates t, θ and ϕ in the gravitational plus electromagnetic action the configuration space dependent dynamical variables turn out to correspond to the r-dependent metric functions and the electrostatic field. In the context of the formalism for constrained systems (Dirac-Bergmann, Arnowitt-Deser-Misner) with respect to the radial coordinate r, we set up a pointlike reparametrization invariant Lagrangian. It is seen that, in the constant potential parametrization of the lapse, the corresponding minisuperspace …

First Searches For Optical Counterparts To Gravitational-Wave Candidate Events, M. Constancio, J. Aasi, J. Abadie, B. P. Abbott, Teviet Creighton, Mario C. Diaz, Soma Mukherjee, Volker Quetschke, Malik Rakhmanov, Joseph D. Romano

Physics & Astronomy Faculty Publications

During the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory and Virgo joint science runs in 2009-2010, gravitational wave (GW) data from three interferometer detectors were analyzed within minutes to select GW candidate events and infer their apparent sky positions. Target coordinates were transmitted to several telescopes for follow-up observations aimed at the detection of an associated optical transient. Images were obtained for eight such GW candidates. We present the methods used to analyze the image data as well as the transient search results. No optical transient was identified with a convincing association with any of these candidates, and none of the GW triggers …

The Collegian (2014-02-10), Cleiri Quezada

UTB/TSC Archives - The Collegian [Newspaper]

Vol. 66, No. 19

Crucial Positively Charged Residues For Ligand Activation Of The Gpr35 Receptor, Pingwei Zhao, Tom R. Lane, Helen G.L. Gao, Dow P. Hurst, Evangelia Kotsikorou, Long Le, Eugen Brailoiu, Patricia H. Reggio, Mary E. Abood

School of Integrative Biological & Chemical Sciences (Formerly Dept. of Chemistry)

GPR35 is a G protein-coupled receptor expressed in the immune, gastrointestinal, and nervous systems in gastric carcinomas and is implicated in heart failure and pain perception. We investigated residues in GPR35 responsible for ligand activation and the receptor structure in the active state. GPR35 contains numerous positively charged amino acids that face into the binding pocket that cluster in two distinct receptor regions, TMH3-4-5-6 and TMH1-2-7. Computer modeling implicated TMH3-4-5-6 for activation by the GPR35 agonists zaprinast and pamoic acid. Mutation results for the TMH1-2-7 region of GPR35 showed no change in ligand efficacies at the K1.32A, R2.65A, R7.33A, and …

The Collegian (2014-02-03), Cleiri Quezada

UTB/TSC Archives - The Collegian [Newspaper]

Vol. 66, No. 18

Searching For Pulsars Using Image Pattern Recognition, W. W. Zhu, Kevin Stovall, Stephanie Cohen, Louis Percy Dartez, Grady Lunsford, Jose Guadalupe Martinez, Alberto Mata, Fredrick A. Jenet

Physics & Astronomy Faculty Publications

In the modern era of big data, many fields of astronomy are generating huge volumes of data, the analysis of which can sometimes be the limiting factor in research. Fortunately, computer scientists have developed powerful data-mining techniques that can be applied to various fields. In this paper, we present a novel artificial intelligence (AI) program that identifies pulsars from recent surveys by using image pattern recognition with deep neural nets - the PICS (Pulsar Image-based Classification System) AI. The AI mimics human experts and distinguishes pulsars from noise and interference by looking for patterns from candidate plots. Different from other …

Personal Cloud User Acceptance: The Role Of Trust And Perceived Risk In The Technology Acceptance Model, Murad Moqbel, Valerie L. Bartelt, John Cicala

Information Systems Faculty Publications

This research considers technology adoption issues, as well as risk and trust factors, that lead to behavioral intention of personal cloud computing. We are interested in whether similar results are found in personal cloud computing, a tool that may be perceived as having more risks. Our research found that perceived risk decreased behavioral intentions. Perceived usefulness served as a mediator between trust and behavioral intentions, significantly increasing both relationships. Trust was found to decrease perceived risk; however, it directly increased behavioral intention, perceived usefulness, and perceived ease of use. Interestingly, perceived ease of use did not significantly affect behavioral intentions. …

The Mean Transform Of Bounded Linear Operators, Sang Hoon Lee, Woo Young Lee, Jasang Yoon

School of Mathematical & Statistical Sciences Faculty Publications

In this paper we introduce the mean transform of bounded linear operators acting on a complex Hilbert space and then explore how the mean transform of weighted shifts behaves, in comparison with the Aluthge transform.

Optimal Control In The Treatment Of Retinitis Pigmentosa, Erika T. Camacho, Luis A. Melara, Cristina Villalobos, Stephen Wirkus

School of Mathematical & Statistical Sciences Faculty Publications

Numerous therapies have been implemented in an effort to minimize the debilitating effects of the degenerative eye disease Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP), yet none have provided satisfactory long-term solution. To date there is no treatment that can halt the degeneration of photoreceptors. The recent discovery of the RdCVF protein has provided researchers with a potential therapy that could slow the secondary wave of cone death. In this work, we build on an existing mathematical model of photoreceptor interactions in the presence of RP and incorporate various treatment regiments via RdCVF. Our results show that an optimal control exists for the administration …

The Collegian (2014-01-27), Cleiri Quezada

UTB/TSC Archives - The Collegian [Newspaper]

Vol. 66, No. 17

On Cubic Multisections Of Eisenstein Series, Andrew Alaniz, Timothy Huber

School of Mathematical & Statistical Sciences Faculty Publications

A systematic procedure for generating cubic multisections of Eisenstein series is given. The relevant series are determined from Fourier expansions for Eisenstein series by restricting the congruence class of the summation index modulo three. We prove that the resulting series are rational functions of η(τ) and η(3τ), where η is the Dedekind eta function. A more general treatment of cubic dissection formulas is given by describing the dissection operators in terms of linear transformations. These operators exhibit properties that mirror those of similarly defined quintic operators.

Analysis Of Localized Diabatic States Beyond The Condon Approximation For Excitation Energy Transfer Processes, Ethan Alguire, Shervin Fatehi, Yihan Shao, Joseph E. Subotnik

School of Integrative Biological & Chemical Sciences (Formerly Dept. of Chemistry)

In a previous paper [Fatehi, S.; et al. J. Chem. Phys. 2013, 139, 124112], we demonstrated a practical method by which analytic derivative couplings of Boys-localized CIS states can be obtained. In this paper, we now apply that same method to the analysis of triplet–triplet energy transfer systems studied by Closs and collaborators [Closs, G. L.; et al. J. Am. Chem. Soc.1988, 110, 2652]. For the systems examined, we are able to conclude that (i) the derivative coupling in the BoysOV basis is negligible, and (ii) the diabatic coupling will likely change little over the configuration space explored …

Self-Heating Model Of Spherical Aluminum Nanoparticle Oxidation, Karen S. Martirosyan, Zamart Ramazanova, Maxim Zyskin

Physics & Astronomy Faculty Publications

Aluminum-oxygen reaction is important in highly energetic and high pressure generating systems. Nanoenergetic thermites include mixtures of nanostructured Al and oxidizer particles. The main distinguishing features of these reactive systems are their significant enthalpy release and tunable rate of energy discharge, which gives rise to a wide range of combustion rates, energy release, and ignition sensitivity. In this paper, we consider rapid oxidation of a spherically symmetric aluminum particle. We use the Cabrera Mott oxidation model to describe the kinetics of oxide growth of an aluminum nanoparticle and to predict reaction temperature and oxidation time. We assume that aluminum particle …

The Cytotoxic Effect Of 2-Acylated-1,4-Naphthohydroquinones On Leukemia/Lymphoma Cells, Diego A. Pedroza, Fernando De Leon, Armando Varela-Ramirez, Carolina Lerma, Renato J. Aguilera, Shizue Mito

School of Integrative Biological & Chemical Sciences (Formerly Dept. of Chemistry)

Here, we tested seven 2-acylated-1,4-hydronaphthoquinones for their cytotoxic effects on a panel of cancer lymphoma/leukemia cells and compared to a non-cancer origin cell line. Several naphthohydroquinones exhibited selective cytotoxic effects on lymphoma/leukemia cells with lowest activity on non-cancer cells. The mode of cell death induced by an acylated naphthohydroquinone, which has a long alkyl chain, was found to be via apoptosis. Furthermore, the naphthohydroquinone provoked mitochondria depolarization and activation of its downstream effector, caspase-3, thus implicating the intrinsic apoptotic pathway as its mechanism to exert cell death.

Influence Of Constant And Periodic Experimental Hypoxic Stress On Atlantic Croaker Otolith Chemistry, John Mohan, Md. Saydur Rahman, Peter Thomas, Benjamin Walther

School of Earth, Environmental, & Marine Sciences Faculty Publications

The chemical composition of fish otoliths may provide information on the environmental exposure histories of fishes if ‘vital effects’ on element incorporation are minimal. In order to use redox-sensitive geochemical proxies, such as manganese, in otoliths to quantify sublethal exposure to hypoxia, the relative influence of endogenous and exogenous controls on otolith composition must first be validated. Controlled laboratory experiments were conducted on Atlantic croaker Micropogonias undulatus to examine the response of otolith Sr:Ca, Ba:Ca, Mg:Ca, Mn:Ca, and Na:Ca ratios to either constant or periodic hypoxia treatments for 4 and 10 wk, respectively. Although fish somatic growth and condition were …

Assessing The Optimal Virulence Of Malaria‐Targeting Mosquito Pathogens: A Mathematical Study Of Engineered Metarhizium Anisopliae, Bernhard Konrad, Michael R. Lindstrom, Anja Gumpinger, Jielin Zhu, Daniel Coombs

School of Mathematical & Statistical Sciences Faculty Publications

Background

Metarhizium anisopliae is a naturally occurring fungal pathogen of mosquitoes. Recently, Metarhizium has been engineered to act against malaria by directly killing the disease agent within mosquito vectors and also effectively blocking onward transmission. It has been proposed that efforts should be made to minimize the virulence of the fungal pathogen, in order to slow the development of resistant mosquitoes following an actual deployment.

Results

Two mathematical models were developed and analysed to examine the efficacy of the fungal pathogen. It was found that, in many plausible scenarios, the best effects are achieved with a reduced or minimal pathogen …

Nicanor Parra: The Physicist Who Made A Significant Contribution To The Literary World, Ruben E. Gonzalez, Delilah Dotremon

Hipertexto

No abstract provided.

From Porciones To Colonias: The Power Of Place And Community-Based Learning In K-12 Education - A Case Study From The Lower Rio Grande Valley Of Texas, University Of Texas--Pan American. Community Historical Archaeology Project With Schools Program (Chaps), Edna C. Alfaro, Roseann Bacha-Garza, Margaret E. Dorsey, Sonia Hernández, Russell K. Skowronek

Community Historical Archaeology Project with Schools (CHAPS) Publications

From Porciones to Colonias: The Power of Place- and Community-Based Learning in K-12 Education redefines culturally relevant learning in today’s diverse classroom. By integrating an interdisciplinary approach including: anthropology, archeology, biology, geology, and history the CHAPS Program presents an effective method in supporting teachers of the Rio Grande Valley in creating culturally relevant curriculum, while meeting the demands of state and federal mandates.

Sponsored by The National Endowment for the Humanities.

The Necessity Of Humanities In Medicine: How English Studies And The Arts Contribute To The Human Experience, Ashley Beason-Manes

Journal of South Texas English Studies

No abstract provided.

Cross-Pollinating The Mind: Reflections At The Crossroads Of English And Stem Studies, Cindy Lutenbacher, Alison Ligon

Journal of South Texas English Studies

No abstract provided.

Utb/Tsc Legacy Degree Programs And Courses 2014 – 2015, University Of Texas At Brownsville, Texas Southmost College

UTB/TSC Archives - Course Catalogs

No abstract provided.

Utb/Tsc Undergraduate Catalog 2014-2015, University Of Texas At Brownsville, Texas Southmost College

UTB/TSC Archives - Course Catalogs

No abstract provided.

Application Of A Hough Search For Continuous Gravitational Waves On Data From The Fifth Ligo Science Run, J. Aasi, J. Abadie, B. P. Abbott, Teviet Creighton, H. Daveloza, Mario C. Diaz, Soma Mukherjee, Volker Quetschke, Malik Rakhmanov, Robert Stone, A. S. Stroeer, Lappoon R. Tang, Cristina V. Torres

Physics & Astronomy Faculty Publications

We report on an all-sky search for periodic gravitational waves in the frequency range 50–1000 Hz with the first derivative of frequency in the range −8.9 × 10−10 Hz s−1 to zero in two years of data collected during LIGO's fifth science run. Our results employ a Hough transform technique, introducing a χ2 test and analysis of coincidences between the signal levels in years 1 and 2 of observations that offers a significant improvement in the product of strain sensitivity with compute cycles per data sample compared to previously published searches. Since our search yields no surviving candidates, we present …

Implementation Of An F-Statistic All-Sky Search For Continuous Gravitational Waves In Virgo Vsr1 Data, J. Aasi, B. P. Abbott, R. Abbott, T. Abbott, M. R. Abernathy, Mario C. Diaz, Malik Rakhmanov, Joseph D. Romano, Soma Mukherjee, Volker Quetschke, Teviet Creighton, Robert Stone

Physics & Astronomy Faculty Publications

We present an implementation of the -statistic to carry out the first search in data from the Virgo laser interferometric gravitational wave detector for periodic gravitational waves from a priori unknown, isolated rotating neutron stars. We searched a frequency f0 range from 100 Hz to 1 kHz and the frequency dependent spindown f1 range from Hz s−1 to zero. A large part of this frequency–spindown space was unexplored by any of the all-sky searches published so far. Our method consisted of a coherent search over two-day periods using the -statistic, followed by a search for coincidences among the …

Biosensors And Nanobiosensors: Design And Applications, Ahmed Touhami

Physics & Astronomy Faculty Publications

The goal of this chapter is to cover the full scope of biosensors. It offers a survey of the principles, design, operation, and biomedical applications of the most popular types of biosensing devices in use today. By discussing recent research and future trends based on many excellent books and reviews, it is hoped to give the readers a comprehensive view on this fast growing field.