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Dow Chemical Vs. ‘Coercive Utopians’: Constructing The Contested Ground Of Science And Government Regulation In 1970s America, Amy M. Hay Jan 2011

Dow Chemical Vs. ‘Coercive Utopians’: Constructing The Contested Ground Of Science And Government Regulation In 1970s America, Amy M. Hay

History Faculty Publications

In 1979, the Dow Chemical Company published an excerpt from a speech by H. Peter Metzger that announced an emerging conflict in American ideals and public policy. He stated that a new kind of individual inhabited Washington, people from the counterculture who were “coercive utopians” because they sought to achieve their agenda through covert actions and hoped to end the American free market economy. Following the 1962 publication of Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring and the subsequent banning of DDT in 1972, Dow and other chemical manufacturers fought to keep the regulatory climate favorable to industry. Dow found itself defending the …


The Behavior Of Nanothermite Reaction Based On Bi2o3/Al, L. Wang, D. Luss, Karen S. Martirosyan Jan 2011

The Behavior Of Nanothermite Reaction Based On Bi2o3/Al, L. Wang, D. Luss, Karen S. Martirosyan

Physics & Astronomy Faculty Publications

We studied the impact of aluminum particle size and the thickness of surrounding alumina layer on the dynamic pressure discharge of nanothermite reactions in the Bi2O3/Al system. A pressure discharge from 9 to 13 MPa was generated using as-synthesized Bi2O3 nano-particles produced by combustion synthesis and Al nanoparticles with size from 3 μm to 100 nm. The maximum reaction temperature was measured to be ∼2700 °C. The estimated activation energy of the reaction was 45 kJ/mol. A very large (several orders of magnitude) difference existed between the rate of the pressure pulse release by nanothermite reactions and by thermite …


Directional Limits On Persistent Gravitational Waves Using Ligo S5 Science Data, J. Abadie, B. P. Abbott, Matthew Benacquista, Teviet Creighton, R. Grosso, J. Li, Soma Mukherjee, Soumya Mohanty, Malik Rakhmanov, Volker Quetschke, Robert Stone, Joseph D. Romano, B. Vaishnav Jan 2011

Directional Limits On Persistent Gravitational Waves Using Ligo S5 Science Data, J. Abadie, B. P. Abbott, Matthew Benacquista, Teviet Creighton, R. Grosso, J. Li, Soma Mukherjee, Soumya Mohanty, Malik Rakhmanov, Volker Quetschke, Robert Stone, Joseph D. Romano, B. Vaishnav

Physics & Astronomy Faculty Publications

The gravitational-wave (GW) sky may include nearby pointlike sources as well as stochastic backgrounds. We perform two directional searches for persistent GWs using data from the LIGO S5 science run: one optimized for pointlike sources and one for arbitrary extended sources. Finding no evidence to support the detection of GWs, we present 90% confidence level (C.L.) upper-limit maps of GW strain power with typical values between 2−20×10−50  strain2 Hz−1 and 5−35×10−49  strain2 Hz−1 sr−1 for pointlike and extended sources, respectively. The latter result is the first of its kind. We also set 90% C.L. limits on the narrow-band root-mean-square GW …


Magnetization Precession And Domain-Wall Structure In Cobalt-Ruthenium-Cobalt Trilayers, Zhen Li, Ralph Skomski, Sy-Hwang Liou, Steven Michalski, Mircea Chipara, Roger D. Kirby Jan 2011

Magnetization Precession And Domain-Wall Structure In Cobalt-Ruthenium-Cobalt Trilayers, Zhen Li, Ralph Skomski, Sy-Hwang Liou, Steven Michalski, Mircea Chipara, Roger D. Kirby

Physics & Astronomy Faculty Publications

The magnetization dynamics of Co(5 nm)/Ru/Co(5 nm) trilayers with Ru thicknesses from 0.3–0.6 nm is experimentally and theoretically investigated. The coupling between the Co layers is antiferromagnetic (AFM) and yields a stable AFM domain structure with frozen domain walls. Comparing high-resolution magnetic force microscopy (MFM) and pump-probe measurements, we analyze the behavior of the films for different field-strength regimes. For moderate magnetic fields, pump-probe measurements provide dynamic characterization of the coupled precessional modes in the GHz range. The dynamics at small fields is realized by the pinning of AFM domain walls at inhomogeneities. The MFM images yield a domain-wall width …


A Study Of The Relationship Between Students' Anxiety And Test Performance On State-Mandated Assessments, Rosalinda Hernandez, Velma D. Menchaca, Jeffery J. Huerta Jan 2011

A Study Of The Relationship Between Students' Anxiety And Test Performance On State-Mandated Assessments, Rosalinda Hernandez, Velma D. Menchaca, Jeffery J. Huerta

Organization and School Leadership Faculty Publications

This study examined whether relationships exist between Hispanic fourth-grade students' anxiety and test performance on a state-mandated writing assessment. Quantitative methodologies were employed by using test performance and survey data from 291 participants. While no significantly direct relationship exists between students' levels of anxiety and their performance on the TAKS (Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills) writing assessment, other findings indicate that greater time spent on the writing assessment, result in higher scores as well as greater levels of anxiety. (Contains 3 tables.)


Upregulation Of Strex Splice Variant Of The Large Conductance Ca2+-Activated Potassium (Bk) Channel In A Rat Model Of Mesial Temporal Lobe Epilepsy, Boris Ermolinsky, Frank Skinner, Ileana Garcia, Massoud F. Arshadmansab, Luis F. Pacheco Otalora, Masoud M. Zarei, Emilio R. Garrido-Sanabria Jan 2011

Upregulation Of Strex Splice Variant Of The Large Conductance Ca2+-Activated Potassium (Bk) Channel In A Rat Model Of Mesial Temporal Lobe Epilepsy, Boris Ermolinsky, Frank Skinner, Ileana Garcia, Massoud F. Arshadmansab, Luis F. Pacheco Otalora, Masoud M. Zarei, Emilio R. Garrido-Sanabria

Health & Biomedical Sciences Faculty Publications

Functional properties of large conductance Ca2+ activated potassium (BK) channels are determined by complex alternative splicing of the Kcnma1 gene encoding the alpha pore-forming subunit. Inclusion of the STREX exon in a C-terminal splice site is dynamically regulated and confers enhanced Ca2+ sensitivity and channel inhibition via cAMP-dependent phosphorylation. Here, we describe a real time quantitative PCR (qPCR) approach to investigate relative changes in the expression of STREX and ZERO splice variants using a newly designed set of probes and primers for TaqMan-based qPCR analysis of cDNA from the rat dentate gyrus at different time points following pilocarpine-induced status epilepticus. …


Separating Ne From Some Nonuniform Nondeterministic Complexity Classes, Bin Fu, Ansheng Li, Liyu Zhang Jan 2011

Separating Ne From Some Nonuniform Nondeterministic Complexity Classes, Bin Fu, Ansheng Li, Liyu Zhang

Computer Science Faculty Publications

We investigate the question whether NE can be separated from the reduction closures of tally sets, sparse sets and NP. We show that (1) NE 6 ⊆ RNP no(1) −T (TALLY); (2)NE 6 ⊆ RSN m (SPARSE); and (3) NE 6 ⊆ PNP nk −T /nk for all k ≥ 1. Result (3) extends a previous result by Mocas to nonuniform reductions. We also investigate how different an NE-hard set is from an NP-set. We show that for any NP subset A of a many-one-hard set H for NE, there exists another NP subset A′ of H such that A′ …


Microwave-Induced N-Bromosuccinimide-Mediated Novel Synthesis Of Pyrroles Via Paal-Knorr Reaction, Rosemarie Andoh-Baidoo, Roberto Danso, Sanghamitra Mukherjee, Debasish Bandyopadhyay, Bimal K. Banik Jan 2011

Microwave-Induced N-Bromosuccinimide-Mediated Novel Synthesis Of Pyrroles Via Paal-Knorr Reaction, Rosemarie Andoh-Baidoo, Roberto Danso, Sanghamitra Mukherjee, Debasish Bandyopadhyay, Bimal K. Banik

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

An expeditious rapid synthesis of N-substituted pyrroles using microwave-induced Nbromosuccinimide- mediated solventless reaction of 2,5-hexanedione and primary amine has been accomplished.


Microwave-Induced Bismuth Nitrate-Mediated Selective Hydrolysis Of Amide, Debasish Bandyopadhyay, Rene Solano Fonseca, Bimal K. Banik Jan 2011

Microwave-Induced Bismuth Nitrate-Mediated Selective Hydrolysis Of Amide, Debasish Bandyopadhyay, Rene Solano Fonseca, Bimal K. Banik

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

Microwave-induced selective hydrolysis of amide to the corresponding amine has been achieved with bismuth nitrate and montmorillonite KSF clay.


Microwave-Induced Bismuth Nitrate-Catalyzed Electrophilic Substitution Of 7-Aza Indole With Activated Carbonyl Compound Under Solvent-Free Conditions, Sonya Rivera, Debasish Bandyopadhyay, Bimal K. Banik Jan 2011

Microwave-Induced Bismuth Nitrate-Catalyzed Electrophilic Substitution Of 7-Aza Indole With Activated Carbonyl Compound Under Solvent-Free Conditions, Sonya Rivera, Debasish Bandyopadhyay, Bimal K. Banik

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

An expeditious microwave-induced synthetic method for the preparation of bis(azaindollyl)methane derivative has been developed through a bismuth nitrate-catalyzed reaction of 7-azaindole with diethylketomalonate under solvent-free conditions.


An Easy And Straightforward Route For The Synthesis Of Disubstituted Imidazoles, Debasish Bandyopadhyay, Yvette Mora, Jesus A. Trevino-Cantu, Bimal K. Banik Jan 2011

An Easy And Straightforward Route For The Synthesis Of Disubstituted Imidazoles, Debasish Bandyopadhyay, Yvette Mora, Jesus A. Trevino-Cantu, Bimal K. Banik

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

A simple and high-yielding procedure has been developed to synthesize disubstituted imidalozes using phenyl glyoxal monohydrate, ammonium acetate and aldehydes. This synthetic protocol allows the preparation of a variety of 2,4 (s)-disubstituted imidalozes without using any catalyst, expensive or sensitive reagents. A corresponding 2-aroyl-4(s) disubstituted imidalozes derivative has also been isolated as byproduct. The effects of solvents have also been studied.


Thermal Reaction Wave Simulation Using Micro And Macro Scale Interaction Model, Andrei A. Markov, Igor A. Filimonov, Karen S. Martirosyan Jan 2011

Thermal Reaction Wave Simulation Using Micro And Macro Scale Interaction Model, Andrei A. Markov, Igor A. Filimonov, Karen S. Martirosyan

Physics & Astronomy Faculty Publications

The thermal wave, propagating in a cylindrical tube, is numerically simulated. The technique is developed in order to provide the scale capturing as well as the stable algorithm for numerical simulation of the combustion wave. Based on the model kinetics scheme, the fields of temperature, mass fractions, and particle radius are presented for the various values of similarity parameters of the problem. The highly accurate method enables to control scales interaction and justifies various flow structures. The phase composition, structure, and morphology of the condensed product as well as the rate of the oxidation and phase transition are predicted using …


Magnetization Precession And Domainwall Structure In Cobalt-Ruthenium-Cobalt Trilayers, Zhen Li, Ralph Skomski, Sy-Hwang Liou, Steven Michalski, Mircea Chipara, Roger D. Kirby Jan 2011

Magnetization Precession And Domainwall Structure In Cobalt-Ruthenium-Cobalt Trilayers, Zhen Li, Ralph Skomski, Sy-Hwang Liou, Steven Michalski, Mircea Chipara, Roger D. Kirby

Physics & Astronomy Faculty Publications

The magnetization dynamics of Co(5 nm)/Ru/Co(5 nm) trilayers with Ru thicknesses from 0.3–0.6 nm is experimentally and theoretically investigated. The coupling between the Co layers is antiferromagnetic (AFM) and yields a stable AFM domain structure with frozen domain walls. Comparing high-resolution magnetic force microscopy (MFM) and pump-probe measurements, we analyze the behavior of the films for different field-strength regimes. For moderate magnetic fields, pump-probe measurements provide dynamic characterization of the coupled precessional modes in the GHz range. The dynamics at small fields is realized by the pinning of AFM domain walls at inhomogeneities. The MFM images yield a domain-wall width …


Unidirectional Invisibility Induced By Pt-Symmetric Periodic Structures, Zin Lin, Hamidreza Ramezani Jan 2011

Unidirectional Invisibility Induced By Pt-Symmetric Periodic Structures, Zin Lin, Hamidreza Ramezani

Physics & Astronomy Faculty Publications

Parity-time (PT) symmetric periodic structures, near the spontaneous PT-symmetry breaking point, can act as unidirectional invisible media. In this regime, the reflection from one end is diminished while it is enhanced from the other. Furthermore, the transmission coefficient and phase are indistinguishable from those expected in the absence of a grating. The phenomenon is robust even in the presence of Kerr nonlinearities, and it can also effectively suppress optical bistabilities.


Teaching Introductory Undergraduate Physics Using Commercial Video Games, Soumya Mohanty, Sergio Cantu Jan 2011

Teaching Introductory Undergraduate Physics Using Commercial Video Games, Soumya Mohanty, Sergio Cantu

Physics & Astronomy Faculty Publications

Commercial video games are increasingly using sophisticated physics simulations to create a more immersive experience for players. This also makes them a powerful tool for engaging students in learning physics. We provide some examples to show how commercial off-the-shelf games can be used to teach specific topics in introductory undergraduate physics. The examples are selected from a course taught predominantly through the medium of commercial video games.


Sythesis Of Glucose Peracetate Via Bismuth Nitrate-Induced Reaction, Jose Lerma, Bimal K. Banik Jan 2011

Sythesis Of Glucose Peracetate Via Bismuth Nitrate-Induced Reaction, Jose Lerma, Bimal K. Banik

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

Simple synthesis peracetylated glucose has been achieved starting from glucose and acetic anhydride in the absence of solvent via bismuth nitrate-catalyzed reaction. This method does not need large excess of acetic anhydride.


Microwave-Induced Bismuth Nitrate-Catalyzed Electrophilic Substitution Of Indole With Keto Ester Under Slovent-Free Conditions, Sonya Rivera, Laura Iglesias, Debasish Bandyopadhyay, Bimal K. Banik Jan 2011

Microwave-Induced Bismuth Nitrate-Catalyzed Electrophilic Substitution Of Indole With Keto Ester Under Slovent-Free Conditions, Sonya Rivera, Laura Iglesias, Debasish Bandyopadhyay, Bimal K. Banik

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

Microwave-induced preparation of bis(indollyl)methane derivative has been developed through a bismuth nitrate-catalyzed reaction of indole with diethylketomalonate under solventfree conditions.


Microwave-Induced Indium-Catalyzed Synthesis Of Pyrrole Fused With Indoline In Water, Dina Abrego, Debasish Bandyopadhyay, Bimal K. Banik Jan 2011

Microwave-Induced Indium-Catalyzed Synthesis Of Pyrrole Fused With Indoline In Water, Dina Abrego, Debasish Bandyopadhyay, Bimal K. Banik

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

An expeditious microwave-induced indium metal-catalyzed synthesis of pyrrole fused with indoline in water is developed by reacting isatin and 4-hydroxyproline.


Microwave-Induced Bismuth Nitrate-Catalyzed Expeditious Enamination Of Β-Dicarbonyl Compounds Under Solvent-Free Conditions, Debasish Bandyopadhyay, Bimal K. Banik Jan 2011

Microwave-Induced Bismuth Nitrate-Catalyzed Expeditious Enamination Of Β-Dicarbonyl Compounds Under Solvent-Free Conditions, Debasish Bandyopadhyay, Bimal K. Banik

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

Bismuth nitrate-catalyzed, automated microwave-assisted expeditious synthesis of β- enaminones and β-enaminoesters has been carried out in an efficient manner under solvent-free condition. The reaction is general for primary, secondary (cyclic, heterocyclic and acyclic), benzylic as well as aromatic amines.


Microwave-Induced Stereoselectivity Of Β-Lactam Formation: Effects Of Solvents, Debasish Bandyopadhyay, Marco Yanez, Bimal K. Banik Jan 2011

Microwave-Induced Stereoselectivity Of Β-Lactam Formation: Effects Of Solvents, Debasish Bandyopadhyay, Marco Yanez, Bimal K. Banik

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

Synthesis of 3, 4-disubstituted 2-azetidinones has been achieved following Staudinger reaction under microwave-induced conditions. The stereoselectivity of β-lactam formation depends on the nature of the solvents used in the reaction.


Antimicrobial Activity Of Eugenol Derivatives, George Eyambe, Luis Canales, Bimal K. Banik Jan 2011

Antimicrobial Activity Of Eugenol Derivatives, George Eyambe, Luis Canales, Bimal K. Banik

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

The antibacterial properties of the clove plant are due to the presence of eugenol, an aromatic phenolic compound. Eugenol was isolated from clove by stem distillation. The alkene group in eugenol was epoxidized resulting in the synthesis of epoxide-eugenol. The heterocyclic ring in epoxide was cleaved to a bromoalcohol derivative. The compounds synthesized epoxideeugenol, bromo alcohol and euginol were tested for antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25923). Epoxide-eugenol was found to be the most effective antimicrobial agent among the three compounds tested.


James P. Barufaldi: Teacher Of Science Teachers, Martha May Tevis, John Mcbride Jan 2011

James P. Barufaldi: Teacher Of Science Teachers, Martha May Tevis, John Mcbride

Teaching and Learning Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.


Minimally Invasive Approaches For The Management Of “Difficult” Colonic Polyps, Roberto A. Cruz, Madhu Ragupathi, Rodrigo Pedraza, T. Bartley Pickron, Anne T. Le, Eric M. Haas Jan 2011

Minimally Invasive Approaches For The Management Of “Difficult” Colonic Polyps, Roberto A. Cruz, Madhu Ragupathi, Rodrigo Pedraza, T. Bartley Pickron, Anne T. Le, Eric M. Haas

School of Medicine Publications

Traditionally, patients with colonic polyps not amenable to endoscopic removal require open colectomy for management. We evaluated our experience with minimally invasive approaches including endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR), laparoscopicassisted endoscopic polypectomy (LAEP), and laparoscopic-assisted colectomy (LAC). Patients referred for surgery for colonic polyps were selected for one of three minimally invasive modalities. A total of 123 patients were referred for resection of “difficult” polyps. Thirty underwent EMR, 25 underwent LAEP, and 68 underwent LAC. Of those selected to undergo EMR or LAEP, 76.4% were successfully managed without colon resection. The remaining 23.6% underwent LAC. Nine complications were encountered, including two …


Characterizations Of Exponential Distribution Via Conditional Expectations Of Record Values, George Yanev Jan 2011

Characterizations Of Exponential Distribution Via Conditional Expectations Of Record Values, George Yanev

School of Mathematical & Statistical Sciences Faculty Publications

We prove that the exponential distribution is the only one which satisfies a regression identity. This identity involves conditional expectation of the sample mean of record values given two record values outside of the sample.


Due Diligence And Demographic Disparities: Effects Of The Planning Of U.S.- Mexico Border Fence On Marginalized Populations, J. Gaines Wilson, Jude A. Benavides, Karen Engle, Denise Gilman, Anthony Reisinger, Jessica Spangler, Joe Lemen Dec 2010

Due Diligence And Demographic Disparities: Effects Of The Planning Of U.S.- Mexico Border Fence On Marginalized Populations, J. Gaines Wilson, Jude A. Benavides, Karen Engle, Denise Gilman, Anthony Reisinger, Jessica Spangler, Joe Lemen

School of Earth, Environmental, & Marine Sciences Faculty Publications

In the buildup to the construction the U.S.-Mexico border fence by the United States Department of Homeland Security (USDHS), much attention was drawn to security, drug enforcement, and immigration issues. However, there was little quantitative analysis regarding which populations were most likely to be affected by the proposed fence. Using a geographic information system, we classified census blocks in Cameron County, Texas into one of two categories: either ‘fence’ or ‘gap’. A total of 14 demographic factors were tested for disparities between those living in gap areas and those living in areas exposed to the fence. Twelve of fourteen factors …


Double Compact Objects As Low-Frequency Gravitational Wave Sources, Krzysztof Belczynski, Matthew Benacquista, Tomasz Bulik Dec 2010

Double Compact Objects As Low-Frequency Gravitational Wave Sources, Krzysztof Belczynski, Matthew Benacquista, Tomasz Bulik

Physics & Astronomy Faculty Publications

We study the Galactic field population of double compact objects (DCOs; NS-NS, BH-NS, BH-BH binaries) to investigate the number (if any) of these systems that can potentially be detected with the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) at low gravitational wave frequencies. We calculate the Galactic numbers and physical properties of these binaries and show their relative contributions from the disk, bulge, and halo. Although the Galaxy hosts ∼10 5 DCO binaries emitting low-frequency gravitational waves, only a handful of these objects in the disk will be detectable with LISA, but none from the halo or bulge. This is because the …


Equation Of State Of A Dense And Magnetized Fermion System, Efrain J. Ferrer, Vivian De La Incera, Jason P. Keith, Israel Portillo, Paul L. Springsteen Dec 2010

Equation Of State Of A Dense And Magnetized Fermion System, Efrain J. Ferrer, Vivian De La Incera, Jason P. Keith, Israel Portillo, Paul L. Springsteen

Physics & Astronomy Faculty Publications

The equation of state of a system of fermions in a uniform magnetic field is obtained in terms of the thermodynamic quantities of the theory by using functional methods. It is shown that the breaking of the O(3) rotational symmetry by the magnetic field results in a pressure anisotropy, which leads to the distinction between longitudinal- and transverse-to-the-field pressures. A criterion to find the threshold field at which the asymmetric regime becomes significant is discussed. This threshold magnetic field is shown to be the same as the one required for the pure field contribution to the energy and pressures to …


The Pan American (2010-12-09), Kristen Cabrera Dec 2010

The Pan American (2010-12-09), Kristen Cabrera

UTPA Archives - The Pan American Newspaper

Vol. 67, No. 13


Flow Vision For Autonomous Underwater Vehicles Via An Artificial Lateral Line, Nam Nguyen, Douglas L. Jones, Yingchen Yang, Chang Liu Dec 2010

Flow Vision For Autonomous Underwater Vehicles Via An Artificial Lateral Line, Nam Nguyen, Douglas L. Jones, Yingchen Yang, Chang Liu

Mechanical Engineering Faculty Publications

Most fish have the capability of sensing flows and nearby movements even in dark or murky conditions by using the lateral line organs. This enables them to perform a variety of underwater activities, such as localizing prey, avoiding predators, navigating in narrow spaces, and schooling. To emulate this capability for Autonomous Underwater Vehicles, we developed an artificial lateral line using an array of Micro-Electro-Mechanical-Systems (MEMS) flow sensors. The signals collected via the artificial lateral line are then processed by an adaptive beamforming algorithm developed from Capon's method. The system produces 3D images of source locations for different hydrodynamic activities, including …


Economic Impact Of The University Of Texas‐Pan American, University Of Texas-Pan American Dec 2010

Economic Impact Of The University Of Texas‐Pan American, University Of Texas-Pan American

UTPA Archives - Stats At A Glance

This study was conducted to determine the economic and social impacts of The University of Texas-Pan American (UTPA) on McAllen-Edinburg-Mission Metropolitan Statistical Area’s (MSA) economy.