Digital Commons Network^™

The 2009 Samoa And 2010 Chile Tsunamis As Observed In The Ionosphere Using Gps Total Electron Content, David A. Galvan, Attila Komjathy, Michael P. Hickey Ph.D., Anthony J. Mannucci

Publications

Ground‐based Global Positioning System (GPS) measurements of ionospheric total electron content (TEC) show variations consistent with atmospheric internal gravity waves caused by ocean tsunamis following two recent seismic events: the Samoa earthquake of 29 September 2009 and the Chile earthquake of 27 February 2010. Both earthquakes produced ocean tsunamis that were destructive to coastal communities near the epicenters, and both were observed in tidal gauge and buoy measurements throughout the Pacific Ocean. We observe fluctuations in TEC correlated in time, space, and wave properties with these tsunamis using the Jet Propulsion Laboratory’s Global Ionospheric Mapping software. These TEC measurements were …

Thermal Conductance Of A Two-Channel Kondo Model, C P. Moca, A Roman, D C. Marinescu

Publications

A theory of thermal transport in a two-channel Kondo system, such as the one formed by a small quantum dot coupled to two leads and to a larger dot, is formulated. The interplay of the two screening constants allow an exploration of the Fermi liquid and non-Fermi liquid regimes. By using analytical, as well as numerical, renormalization group methods, we study the temperature dependence of the thermal conductance and the Lorentz number. We find that in the low-temperature limit, the Lorentz number attains its universal value, irrespective of the nature of the ground state.

Group Velocity And Energy Flux In The Thermosphere: Limits On The Validity Of Group Velocity In A Viscous Atmosphere, R. L. Walterscheid, Michael P. Hickey Ph.D.

Publications

The response to wave forcing of finite duration comprises a transient forerunner and the steady state signal (or simply the signal). It is the latter that carries information on the spectral content of the forcing, and the signal velocity is the velocity at which wave energy flows. To the extent that group velocity is a good measure of the energy flow velocity, the ray‐tracing formalism is a valid description of signal propagation. We have examined vertical group velocities as a measure of vertical energy flow velocity for gravity and acoustic waves propagating into the dissipative lower thermosphere. We find that …

On The Origin Of Fluctuations In The Cusp Diamagnetic Cavity, K. Nykyri, A. Otto, E. Adamson, A. Tjulin

Publications

We have analyzed Cluster magnetic field and plasma data during high‐altitude cusp crossing on 14 February 2003. Cluster encountered a diamagnetic cavity (DMC) during northward interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) conditions, and as IMF rotated southward, the spacecraft reencountered the cavity more at the sunward side. The DMC is characterized by a high level of magnetic field fluctuations and high‐energy electrons and protons. Ultralow‐frequency turbulence has been suggested as a mechanism to accelerate particles in DMC. We demonstrate in this paper for the first time that many of the low‐frequency fluctuations in the cavity are back and forth motion of the …

Issues And Techniques In Translating Scientific Terms From English To Khmer For A University-Level Text In Cambodia, Cassie F. Quigley, Alandeom W. Oliviera, Alistair Curry, Gayle Buck

Publications

Teachers and students spend much time interacting with written resources such as textbooks, tests, or worksheets during classroom instruction. What if no text is available, however, in the language of the learners? This case study describes the processes and techniques adopted by two university lecturers in Cambodia, as they translated an L1 (first language) science text into Khmer in a manner that tried to take full account of the cultural, linguistic, and social dimensions of language. Using a variety of translation techniques, they aimed to produce a Khmer text which would be most effective in promoting the learning of the …

Isopods Failed To Acclimate Their Thermal Sensitivity Of Locomotor Performance During Predictable Or Stochastic Cooling, Michael W. Sears, Matthew S. Schuler, Brandon S. Cooper, Jonathan J. Storm, Michael J. Angilletta

Publications

Most organisms experience environments that vary continuously over time, yet researchers generally study phenotypic responses to abrupt and sustained changes in environmental conditions. Gradual environmental changes, whether predictable or stochastic, might affect organisms differently than do abrupt changes. To explore this possibility, we exposed terrestrial isopods (Porcellio scaber) collected from a highly seasonal environment to four thermal treatments: (1) a constant 20°C; (2) a constant 10°C; (3) a steady decline from 20° to 10°C; and (4) a stochastic decline from 20° to 10°C that mimicked natural conditions during autumn. After 45 days, we measured thermal sensitivities of running …

On The Role Of Electrostatics In Protein–Protein Interactions, Zhe Zhang, Shawn Witham, Emil Alexov

Publications

The role of electrostatics in protein–protein interactions and binding is reviewed in this paper. A brief outline of the computational modeling, in the framework of continuum electrostatics, is presented and the basic electrostatic effects occurring upon the formation of the complex are discussed. The effect of the salt concentration and pH of the water phase on protein–protein binding free energy is demonstrated which indicates that the increase of the salt concentration tends to weaken the binding, an observation that is attributed to the optimization of the charge–charge interactions across the interface. It is pointed out that the pH-optimum (pH of …

Ro-Vibrational Co Detected In The Β Pictoris Circumstellar Disk, Matthew R. Troutman, Kenneth H. Hinkle, Joan R. Najita, Terrence W. Rettig, Sean D. Brittain

Publications

We present high-resolution near-infrared spectra of β Pictoris—a nearby young star with a debris disk. Fundamental low-J CO absorption lines are detected and strict upper limits are placed on the flux of v = 2–1 low-J CO emission lines. The limit on the UV fluorescent emission flux in the v = 2–1 lines is used to place a tight constraint on the inner extent of the CO gas. Assuming Hi is the primary collision partner, the sub-thermal population of the low-J v = 0 rotational levels constrains the density of the gas in the disk to nH = (2.5+7.1 −1.2)×105 …

Order Independence In Asynchronous Cellular Automata, Matthew Macauley, Jon Mccammond, Henning S. Mortveit

Publications

A sequential dynamical system, or SDS, consists of an undirected graph Y, a vertex-indexed list of local functions F_Y, and a permutation pi of the vertex set (or more generally, a word w over the vertex set) that describes the order in which these local functions are to be applied. In this article we investigate the special case where Y is a circular graph with n vertices and all of the local functions are identical. The 256 possible local functions are known as Wolfram rules and the resulting sequential dynamical systems are called finite asynchronous elementary cellular automata, or ACAs, …

Interactions And Focusing Of Nonlinear Water Waves, Harihar Khanal, S.C. Mancas, Shahrdad Sajjadi

Publications

A theoretical and computational study is undertaken for the modulational instabilities of a pair of nonlinearly interacting two-dimensional waves in deep water. It has been shown that the full dynamics of these interacting waves gives rise to localized large-amplitude wavepackets (wave focusing). The coupled cubic nonlinear Schrödinger (CNLS) equations are used to derive a nonlinear dispersion equation which give rise to new class of modulational instabilities and demonstrates the dependence of obliqueness of the interacting waves. The computations, due to nonlinear wave-wave interactions, waves that are separately modulationally stable can give rise to the formation of large-amplitude coherent wave packets …

Modelling And Hazard Analysis For Contaminated Sediments Using Stamp Model, Karim Hardy, Franck Guarnieri

Publications

Processes for remediation (removal of pollution or contaminants) of contaminated sediments have been very efficient. These technologies, which are particularly complex, call for a comprehensive approach to risk analysis which characterises all threats (to humans, equipment, local residents, the environment, etc.) . The STAMP accident model (Systems-Theoretic Accident Model and Processes) is an example of such a comprehensive approach, and it has been chosen to characterise the risks associated with Novosol (registered trademark), an innovative remediation process.

A Diagnostic Examination Of The Eastern Ontario And Western Quebec Wintertime Convection Event Of 28 January 2010, Shawn M. Milrad, John R. Gyakum, Eyad H. Atallah, Jennifer F. Smith

Publications

The priority of an operational forecast center is to issue watches, warnings, and advisories to notify the public about the inherent risks and dangers of a particular event. Occasionally, events occur that do not meet advisory or warning criteria, but still have a substantial impact on human life and property. Short-lived snow bursts are a prime example of such a phenomenon. While these events are typically characterized by small snow accumulations, they often cause very low visibilities and rapidly deteriorating road conditions, both of which are a major hazard to motorists. On the afternoon of 28 January 2010, two such …

Writing Development Over Time: Examining Preservice Teachers’ Attitudes And Beliefs About Writing, Anna H. Hall, Jennifer Grisham-Brown

Publications

Since writing ability has been found to be a key indicator of school success and successful participation in the workplace, it is important for preservice teachers to receive effective preparation in the area of writing. Reflecting on personal writing experiences allows preservice teachers to examine their own attitudes and beliefs about writing and the effects their attitudes and beliefs may have on their pedagogical decisions in the future. This article describes the findings from two focus groups conducted with preschool and elementary preservice teachers during which participants examined their attitudes towards writing that have developed over time and their plans …

Grips - Gamma-Ray Imaging, Polarimetry And Spectroscopy, Jochen Greiner, Karl Mannheim, Felix Aharonian, Marco Ajello, Lajos G. Balaz, Guido Barbiellini, Ronaldo Bellazzini, Shawn Bishop, Gennady S. Bisnoyatij-Kogan, Steven Boggs, Andrej Bykov, Guido Dicocco, Roland Diehl, Dominik Elsasser, Suzanne Foley, Claes Fransson, Neil Gehrels, Lorraine Hanlon, Dieter H. Hartmann

Publications

We propose to perform a continuously scanning all-sky survey from 200 keV to 80 MeV achieving a sensitivity which is better by a factor of 40 or more compared to the previous missions in this energy range (COMPTEL, INTEGRAL; see Fig. 1). The Gamma-Ray Imaging, Polarimetry and Spectroscopy (“GRIPS”) mission addresses fundamental questions in ESA’s Cosmic Vision plan. Among the major themes of the strategic plan, GRIPS has its focus on the evolving, vio-lent Universe, exploring a unique energy window. We propose to investigate γ-ray bursts and blazars, the mechanisms behind supernova explosions, nucleosynthesis and spallation, the enigmatic origin of …

Simulation Of Relativistic Jets And Associated Self-Consistent Radiation, K.-I. Nishikawa, E. J. Choi, K. Min, P. Hardee, Y. Mizuno, C. Zhang, J. Niemiec, M. Medvedev, A. Norlund, J Frederiksen, M Pohl, H Sol, Dieter H. Hartmann, G J. Fishman

Publications

Plasma instabilities excited in collisionless shocks are responsible for particle acceleration. We have investigated the particle acceleration and shock structure associated with an unmagnetized relativistic electron-positron jet propagating into an unmagnetized electron-positron plasma. Cold jet electrons are thermalized and slowed while the ambient electrons are swept up to create a par-tially developed hydrodynamic-like shock structure. In the leading shock, electron density increases by a factor of about 3.5 in the simulation frame. Strong electromagnetic fields are generated in the trailing shock and provide an emission site. These magnetic fields contribute to the electrons transverse deflection behind the shock. Our initial …

Abundances Of Stars With Planets: Trends With Condensation Temperature, Simon C. Schuler, Davin Flateau, Katia Cunha, Jeremy R. King, Luan Ghezzi, Verne V. Smith

Publications

Precise abundances of 18 elements have been derived for 10 stars known to host giant planets from high signal-to-noise ratio, high-resolution echelle spectroscopy. Internal uncertainties in the derived abundances are typically 0.05 dex. The stars in our sample have all been previously shown to have abundances that correlate with the condensation temperature (Tc) of the elements in the sense of increasing abundances with increasing Tc; these trends have been interpreted as evidence that the stars may have accreted H-depleted planetary material. Our newly derived abundances also correlate positively with Tc, although slopes of linear least-square fits to the [m/H]–Tc relations …

In Silico And In Vitro Investigations Of The Mutability Of Disease-Causing Missense Mutation Sites In Spermine Synthase, Zhe Zhang, Joy Norris, Charles Schwartz, Emil Alexov

Publications

Background

Spermine synthase (SMS) is a key enzyme controlling the concentration of spermidine and spermine in the cell. The importance of SMS is manifested by the fact that single missense mutations were found to cause Snyder-Robinson Syndrome (SRS). At the same time, currently there are no non-synonymous single nucleoside polymorphisms, nsSNPs (harmless mutations), found in SMS, which may imply that the SMS does not tolerate amino acid substitutions, i.e. is not mutable.

Methodology/Principal Findings

To investigate the mutability of the SMS, we carried out in silico analysis and in vitro experiments of the effects of amino acid substitutions at the …

3-D Mesoscale Mhd Simulations Of A Cusp-Like Magnetic Configuration: Method And First Results, E. Adamson, A. Otto, K. Nykyri

Publications

We present a local mesoscale model of the magnetospheric cusp region with high resolution (up to 300 km). We discuss the construction and implementation of the initial configuration and give a detailed description of the numerical simulation. An overview of simulation results for the case of strongly northward interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) is then presented and compared with data from Cluster 2 spacecraft from 14 February 2003. Results show a cusp diamagnetic cavity (CDC) with depth normal to the magnetospheric boundary on the order of 1–2Re and a much larger extent of ~5–9Re tangential to the boundary, bounded by a …

Nonadiabatic Generation Of A Pure Spin Current In A One-Dimensional Quantum Ring With Spin-Orbit Interaction, Marian Nita, D C. Marinescu, Andrei Manolescu, Vidar Gudmundsson

Publications

We demonstrate the theoretical possibility of obtaining a pure spin current in a 1D ring with spin-orbit interaction by irradiation with a nonadiabatic, two-component terahertz laser pulse, whose spatial asymmetry is reflected by an internal phase difference φ. The solutions of the equation of motion for the density operator are obtained for a spin-orbit coupling linear in the electron momentum (Rashba) and they are used to calculate the time-dependent charge and spin currents. We find that there are critical values of φ at which the charge current disappears, while the spin current reaches a maximum or a minimum value.

Detection Of Ch+ Emission From The Disc Around Hd 100546, W F. Thi, F Menard, G Meeus, C. Martin-Zaidi, P Woitke, E Tatulli, M Benisty, I Kamp, I Pascucci, C Pinte, C A. Grady, Sean D. Brittain, G J. White, C D. Howard, G Sandell, C Eiroa

Publications

Despite its importance in the thermal balance of the gas and in the determination of primeval planetary atmospheres, the chemistry in protoplanetary discs remains poorly constrained with only a handful of detected species. We observed the emission from the disc around the Herbig Be star HD 100546 with the PACS instrument in the spectroscopic mode on board the Herschel Space Telescope as part of the GAS in Protoplanetary Systems (GASPS) programme and used archival data from the DIGIT programme to search for the rotational emission of CH+. We detected in both datasets an emission line centred at 72.16 μm that …

Uaa Student Showcase Journal: Recognizing Excellence (2011), N/A N/A

Publications

No abstract provided.

Hybrid Command Issuing In A 2-Dof Servomechanism Operated Under Vision-Based Feedback Control, C. Montes, C. Wong, J. Ziegert

Publications

This paper presents a new method for generating motion commands in a 2 degree-of-freedom (DOF) vision-based position control system. The control system uses a fixed digital camera to direct-observe the multi-dimensional position of a known target displayed on an Liquid Cristal Display (LCD) and determines the position of the tool based on this information. This system, implemented on an XY-stage, was first introduced in Wong [1], and further investigated in Montes & Ziegert [2] and Montes et al. [3]. Previous results demonstrated sensor resolutions on the order of 3 µm; however the resolution of motion commands was constrained to values …

The Path Of Innovation: From Traditional Classroom To Hybrid Experience, Lulu Sun, Matthew Kindy, Caroline Liron

Publications

“Introduction to Computing for Engineers” is a programming course emphasizing problem solving. However, the lack of time for practice and the algorithm-centric nature of programming results in inadequate comprehension of this course material. Through course evaluations, faculty experience, and discussions, we feel that students in a programming course should have more time for “hands-on” learning, rather than trying to absorb content through lectures. We believe that by getting students involved and excited about engineering from the beginning of their first year, we will markedly improve comprehension of the course content. To that end, a hybrid course is implemented that involves …

Addressing Water Quality Issues In Rural Cameroon With Household Biosand Filters, Laine Klopfensten, Laura Petrasky, Valerie Winton, Jeff Brown

Publications

This paper describes an ongoing collaboration between the Hope College student chapter of Engineers Without Borders – USA and the rural community of Nkuv in the Northwest Province of Cameroon related to improving drinking water quality using Manz biosand filters. The collaboration began in 2006 and focused on developing a community-based construction and distribution model for household water treatment units. Results from microbiology testing of the constructed filters indicate that this water treatment method is effective for improving water quality in rural areas. The results also highlight the need for ongoing assessment and adapting community education programs to provide necessary …

Cluster Observations Of A Cusp Diamagnetic Cavity: Structure, Size, And Dynamics, K. Nykyri, A. Otto, E. Adamson, E. Dougal, J. Mumme

Publications

We have analyzed Cluster magnetic field and plasma data during high‐altitude cusp crossing and compared them with high‐resolution MHD simulations. Cluster encountered a diamagnetic cavity (DMC) during northward interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) conditions, and as the IMF rotated southward, the spacecraft reencountered the cavity more at the sunward side of the cusp because the reconnection site had changed location. We found evidence of magnetic reconnection both during northward and southward IMF conditions. The Cluster separation was ∼5000 km, enabling for the first time measurements both inside the DMC and surrounding boundaries that allowed us to construct the structure of the …

Water Depletion In The Disk Atmosphere Of Herbig Aebe Stars, D Fedele, I Pascucci, Sean D. Brittain, I Kamp, P Woitke, J P. Williams, W.R.F. Dent, W F. Thi

Publications

We present high-resolution (R ∼ 100,000) L-band spectroscopy of 11 Herbig AeBe stars with circumstellar disks. The observations were obtained with the VLT/CRIRES to detect hot water and hydroxyl radical emission linespreviously detected in disks around T Tauri stars. OH emission lines are detected toward four disks. The OH 2Π3/2 P4.5 (1+,1−) doublet is spectrally resolved as well as the velocity profile of each component of the doublet. Its characteristic double-peak profile demonstrates that the gas is in Keplerian rotation and points to an emitting region extending out to ∼15–30 AU. The OH emission correlates with disk geometry as it …

The Unusual Protoplanetary Disk Around The T Tauri Star Et Chamaeleontis, P Woitke, B Riaz, G Duchene, I Pascucci, A Ran Lyo, W.R.F. Dent, N Phillips, W F. Thi, F Menard, G J. Herczeg, E Bergin, A Brown, A Mora, I Kamp, G Aresu, Sean D. Brittain, I De Gregorio-Monsalvo, G Sandell

Publications

We present new continuum and line observations, along with modelling, of the faint (6−8) Myr old T Tauri star ETCha belonging to the η Chamaeleontis cluster. We have acquired Herschel/PACS photometric fluxes at 70 μm and 160 μm, as well as a detection of the [OI] 63 μm fine-structure line in emission, and derived upper limits for some other far-IR OI, CII, CO and o-H2O lines. These observations were carried out in the frame of the open time key programme GASPS, where ETCha was selected as one of the science demonstration phase targets. The Herschel data is complemented by new …

The White Dwarf Age Of Nfc 2477, Elizabeth J. Jeffery, Ted Von Hippel, Et Al.

Publications

We present deep photometric observations of the open cluster NGC 2477 using HST/WFPC2. By identifying seven cluster white dwarf candidates, we present an analysis of the white dwarf age of this cluster, using both the traditional method of fitting isochrones to the white dwarf cooling sequence, and by employing a new Bayesian statistical technique that has been developed by our group. This new method performs an objective, simultaneous model fit of the cluster and stellar parameters (namely, age, metallicity, distance, reddening, as well as individual stellar masses, mass ratios, and cluster membership) to the photometry. Based on this analysis, …

Waves In Microstructured Solids: A Unified Viewpoint Of Modelling, Arkadi Berezovski, Juri Engelbrecht, Mihhail Berezovski

Publications

The basic ideas for describing the dispersive wave motion in microstructured solids are discussed in the one-dimensional setting because then the differences between various microstructure models are clearly visible. An overview of models demonstrates a variety of approaches, but the consistent structure of the theory is best considered from the unified viewpoint of internal variables. It is shown that the unification of microstructure models can be achieved using the concept of dual internal variables.

The Chromospheric Activity, Age, Metallicty And Space Motions Of 36 Wide Binaries, J. K. Zhao, Terry D. Oswalt, M. Rudkin, G. Zhao, Y. Q. Chen

Publications

We present the chromospheric activity (CA) levels, metallicities and full space motions for 41 F, G, K and M dwarf stars in 36 wide binary systems. Thirty-one of the binaries, contain a white dwarf component. In such binaries the total age can be estimated by adding the cooling age of the white dwarf to an estimate of the progenitor’s main sequence lifetime. To better understand how CA correlates to stellar age, 14 cluster member stars were also observed. Our observations demonstrate for the first time that in general CA decays with age from 50 Myr to at least 8 Gyr …