Digital Commons Network^™

How Chemical Differences In Dissolved Organic Matter Relate To Vegetation, Sarah Jean Seelen

Engineering

The purpose of this study was to better understand the link between dissolved organic matter (DOM) in soil leachate and different vegetation attributes. Soil cores were collected from the Caribou Poker Creeks Research Watershed (CPCRW) and subjected to a laboratory leaching procedure. The leachates were then subjected to a number of analytical tests, including pyrolysis-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (py-GC/MS). Py-GC/MS is a 'molecular fingerprinting' technique that was used to help determine similarities and differences in organic matter leached from soils with different vegetation attributes. Numerous statistical tests were performed including Student-t, analysis of variance, principal components analysis, and partial least squares …

Measurement Of Electron Density In The Earth's Magnetosphere Using Discrete Whistler Mode Echoes Observed On The Image Satellite, Jingbo Li

Engineering

In this thesis, a new whistler mode sounding method has been developed to measure magnetospheric electron density using the RPI instrument on the IMAGE satellite. During the 2000-2002 period, RPI frequently recorded discrete whistler mode (WM) echoes in the ~10-400 kHz frequency range when IMAGE was at low altitudes (<7000 km) in the inner plasmasphere or near its perigee in the southern hemisphere. Most discrete cases were observed in the wintertime in the southern hemisphere during the local morning or nighttime. Ray tracing simulations indicate that the discrete echoes may result from reflections of RPI signals from the earth-ionosphere boundary. By comparing the measured and calculated time dispersion of discrete WM echoes, it is possible to determine the plasma density along the ray path as well as the nonducted or ducted modes of propagation. The ray tracing simulations were carried out for 8 cases observed in the year 2002 when discrete echoes were accompanied by Z mode echoes. The 8 cases were chosen to cover the maximum and minimum local electron densities, which varied from ~300 - 4000 el/cc at the satellite location as measured from Z mode echoes. The simulations showed that the electron densities at the F2 layer peak (~250 km altitude) varied from 1 x 10⁵ to 7 X 10⁵ el/ cc for all the cases. The extrapolated electron density of the calculations at ~4000 km altitude varied from ~200 - 2000 el/cc (L <4) and ~60 - 1000 el/cc (L> 4). The extrapolated electron density at ~8000 km altitude ranged from ~100 -1000 el/cc (L <4) and from 20 - 60 el/cc (L> 4). These results are in general consistent with previous observations of plasma density in the low altitude magnetosphere. The ray tracing simulation results also indicate that in each of the 8 cases studied whistler mode …

Axisymmetric Numerical Heat Transfer Analysis Of Natural Gas Hydrates Reservoir, Vijayagandeeban Subbaihaannadurai

Engineering

Gas hydrates are crystalline substances, occurring in nature under high pressure and low temperature. Numerical studies were conducted on dissociation of gas hydrate to recover natural gas. The model is a cylindrical geometry with a wellbore at the center through which hot water is injected. Through this thermal stimulation technique frozen hydrate reservoir is melted and natural gas is released. The computational fluid dynamics software FLUENT was adopted to generate the model. The initial model was solely comprised of a hydrate layer. This model was refined by adding the overburden and the underburden to the hydrate and exploring the thermal …

Economic Evaluation Of Gas To Liquids (Gtl), Crude Oil Commingled Product Transportation Through The Trans Alaska Pipeline System (Taps), Adejoke Motunrayo Ibironke

Engineering

The Alaska North Slope is a potential candidate for the Gas to Liquid (GTL) technology. With over 38 TCF of natural gas reserves stranded on the Alaska North Slope, the GTL technology is considered as a possible method of harnessing the abundant resources. GTL fuels are environmentally friendly (sulfur free) with better ignition and burning properties than conventional petroleum products from crude oil. Economic evaluation using Rate of Return analysis and the Net Present Value (NPV) to identify the most favorable commingled mode for the transportation of the GTL products was performed. The Crystal Ball software was also used to …

Resource Estimation And Analysis For Offshore Placer Deposit Using Gis Technology, Hui Li

Engineering

In this thesis, an advanced GIS system is developed to manage, analyze and distribute Alaskan near-shore marine mineral deposition data. The developed GIS system is applied in a case study of the marine gold deposits in the offshore area of Nome, Alaska. The data collected during the previous phases of the research project are compiled using several computer application softwares such as ArcGIS8.3, Microsoft Access 2000 and others. Two improved relational geodatabases are created, in which various maps integrated with digital data sets are stored. The first database is known as the 'Integrated Geodatabase', which stores all the relative data …

Stability Of Milling Using Chebyshev Collocation Method, Praveen Nindujarla

Engineering

The dynamic stability of the milling process is investigated through single and two degree-of-freedom mechanical models by determining the regions where chatter (unstable) vibrations occur in the two-parameter space of spindle speed and depth of cut. Dynamic systems like milling are modeled by linear delay-differential equations (DDEs) with time-periodic coefficients. A new approximation technique for studying the stability properties of such systems is presented in this thesis. The approach is based on the properties of Chebyshev polynomials and a collocation expansion of the solution at their extremum points, the Chebyshev collocation points. The stability properties are determined by the eigenvalues …

Simulation Of Coal Gasification Process Inside A Two-Stage Gasifier, Armin Silaen

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

Gasification is a very efficient method of producing clean synthetic gas (syngas) which can be used as fuel for electric generation or chemical building block for petrochemical industries. This study performs detailed simulations of coal gasification process inside a generic two-stage entrained-flow gasifier to produce syngas carbon monoxide and hydrogen. The simulations are conducted using the commercial Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) solver FLUENT. The 3-D Navier-Stokes equations and seven species transport equations are solved with eddy-breakup combustion model. Simulations are conducted to investigate the effects of coal mixture (slurry or dry), oxidant (oxygen-blown or air-blown), wall cooling, coal distribution between …

The Biology Of Spaeroma Terebrans In Lake Pontchartrain, Louisiana With Emphasis On Burrowing, Laura Lee Wilkinson

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

Sphaeroma terebrans (Bate 1866) is an economically and ecologically important cosmopolitan species because this isopod is found burrowed in wood and marine structures of fresh to saline water. Existing literature on S. terebrans focuses on the destruction of red mangrove (Rhizophora mangle) in India, Pakistan, and Florida. This study concentrates on S. terebrans habitat and boring preferences in bald cypress (Taxodium distichum) in Lake Pontchartrain near the Bonnet Carre Spillway, Louisiana. In addition laboratory experiments for water column distribution and substrate preferences were conducted using cypress, Styrofoam, and balsa. Results indicate that this population may be parthenogenic and that wood …

Effects Of Chronic Sleep And Food Deprivation On In Vivo Levels Of Prepro-Hypocretin (Pph), Kelly Dunn

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

The hypocretin peptides are two hypothalamic peptides known to be involved in both sleeping and feeding behavior, however their specific roles in these domains are not well understood. The present study sought to determine the effect of chronic (72-hour) sleep deprivation and (48-hour) food deprivation on preprohypocretin (PPH), which is the precursor for the hypocretin peptides. PPH levels were visualized and quantified via in situ hybridization. A three-factor ANOVA ( group x dorsal/ventral x medial/lateral) revealed a significant effect of subregion, specifically dorsal/middle and ventral/medial exhibited elevated PPH levels, however there was no effect of group. A between group one-way …

Wearable Personal Data Information Capture System, Jiangpeng Shi

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

This thesis is motivated by development of The Wearable Personal Data Information Capture System (WPDICS), which is used to support the "physical" data stream requirement on a person as they experience daily life, including visual and audio information. To fit the acquirement of "wearable", the system should be very tiny in size and very low cost. Our purpose is to conduct a feasibility analysis for WPDICS using commercially available components (Sharp Zaurus SL 5600 Linux PDA) and evaluate the acquisition of "physical" data streams grabbed by this component. In the thesis, we also develop some software test the data acquisition, …

Environmental Performance Of Steel Grit And Specialty Sand As Abrasives, Xavier Silvadasan

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

Dry abrasive blasting is a surface preparation process used in shipyards for cleaning the surfaces of the metal plates to be used in various components of the ship. Commonly used abrasives include sand, steel grit, mineral abrasives, metallic abrasives, and synthetic abrasives. The basic objective of this study was to understand the environmental performance of two abrasives, Steel Grit and Specialty Sand. The project was funded by the Gulf Coast Region Maritime technology Center (GCRMTC) and USEPA. It simulated actual blasting operations conducted at shipyards under enclosed, controlled conditions on plates similar to steel plates commonly blasted at shipyards. The …

A Case Study Of Automotive Technology Instructors' Experiences And Perceptions Of Curriculum Change In The Louisiana Technical College, John Robert Martin

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

The landscape of postsecondary education is changing in a variety of ways that present challenges and opportunities to educators, policymakers, and other stakeholders of higher education. One of the most significant areas of postsecondary educational change is in the community and technical college setting. The missions of both these institutional settings have changed to meet new technological demands, global economic competition, and societal issues. A consequence of mission change has been significant changes in the manner that instruction of technical education is conducted at these institutions. This case study explores automotive technology instructors' experiences and perceptions of changes in their …

The Effect Of Varying Active Layer And Soil Climate On Net Nitrogen Mineralization And Foliar Nitrogen In A Boreal Watershed, Jennifer K. Rohrs-Richey

Biological Sciences

In the Alaskan boreal forest, black spruce (Picea mariana) is the forest type most severely limited by nitrogen mineralization. Nitrogen cycling in upland black spruce forests of the Interior is affected by the interactions between permafrost, soil climate, and litter quality. Permafrost and soil climate also play a significant role in nitrogen acquisition of shrubs, which are important for biomass turnover and element cycling in the understory. This study took place in a boreal watershed and addressed the question of how variation in soil climate and active layer between north and south-facing aspects affected 1) net nitrogen mineralization rate and …

Volume 40 - Issue 12 - Thursday, December 16, 2004, Rose Thorn Staff

The Rose Thorn Archive

The Rose Thorn, Rose-Hulman's independent student newspaper.

12/16/2004 Obituary Records, Hawaii Obituaries

Obituaries

List of Obituaries for individuals who passed away on 12/16/2004. Scroll down to see the names and obituary description.

Otter Realm, December 16, 2004, Vol. 11 No. 7, California State University, Monterey Bay

The Otter Realm

Otter Hoops enter play -- Stalking Smith -- The cult of service in US colleges -- News: Clubs deplete year's funds in on semester -- Gettin' in, gettin' out -- CSUMB lobbyists work hard for the money -- Transition from tradition, The non-traditional students of CSUMB -- Dorothy's provides solace to struggling souls -- In search of a career? Have no fear -- "The Sophomore Experience" -- Sports: Spring brings cracking bats and cracking skulls -- Otter basketball on KYAA AM radio -- Uncommon Sense -- Adventure Connections keeps students busy -- Arts & Entertainment: State Theatre will return to …

2004 Fall Engr333 Final Report On Co-Generation (Section A), Matt Dekam, Chris Wiesehan, Jason Flietstra, Jeremy Hanson, Brian Katerberg, Kevin Palmer, Aaron Svacha, Aaron Buys, Josh Blocker, Matt Vredevoogd, Andrew Huisjen, Thomas Totoe, Andy Vandermoren, Chris Vanroekel

ENGR 333

The goal of the project was to construct a realistic plan to get Calvin off the grid. This means that Calvin would own and operate on-site facilities that generate all the electricity consumed by the campus. Current peak load for the college is approximately three megawatts. Upon completion of the new recreation center and dining hall renovation, future load will climb to roughly five megawatts. As a result, the desired system to remove the college from the grid would provide five megawatts.

Clemson Commencement Program, December 2004, Clemson University

Clemson Commencement Programs

No abstract provided.

2004 Fall Engr333 Final Report On Wind Generation (Section B), Terry Austen, Kristin De Groot, Matt Ooms, Andy Van Noord, Kurt Koubal, Dan Kuiper, Andy Wermel, Ryan Dewall, Eddie Lucas, Dawn Svenkeson

ENGR 333

An energy savings plan for Calvin College has been developed. The plan suggests implementing a small-scale wind turbine pilot program and an energy usage awareness program (Powerful Savings). If implemented, this proposal could save around $6,400 annually with a payback period of 8 years.

2004-12-16, Morehead State University. Board Of Regents.

Morehead State Board of Regents Agenda Books and Meeting Minutes

No abstract provided.

Central Florida Future, Vol. 37 No. 33, December 16, 2004

Central Florida Future

What I want for the holidays...A peek at the gifts Future writers hope to find under the tree

Utb/Tsc Board Of Trustees - Minutes - 2004-12-16, University Of Texas At Brownsville And Texas Southmost College. Vice President For Administration And Partnership Affairs.

UTB/TSC Archives - UTB/TSC Board of Trustees Meetings 2003-2011

No abstract provided.

An Informatics Search For The Low-Molecular Weight Chromium-Binding Peptide, Deendayal Dinakarpandian, Vincent Morrissette, Shveta Chaudhary, Kambiz Amini, Brian Bennett, J David Van Horn

Physics Faculty Research and Publications

Background

The amino acid composition of a low molecular weight chromium binding peptide (LMWCr), isolated from bovine liver, is reportedly E:G:C:D::4:2:2:2, though its sequence has not been discovered. There is some controversy surrounding the exact biochemical forms and the action of Cr(III) in biological systems; the topic has been the subject of many experimental reports and continues to be investigated. Clarification of Cr-protein interactions will further understanding Cr(III) biochemistry and provide a basis for novel therapies based on metallocomplexes or small molecules.

Results

A genomic search of the non-redundant database for all possible decapeptides of the reported composition yields three …

Genome Sequence Of Silicibacter Pomeroyi Reveals Adaptations To The Marine Environment, Mary Ann Moran, Alison Buchan, José M. González, John F. Heidelberg, William B. Whitman, Ronald P. Klene, James R. Henriksen, Gary M. King, Robert Belas, Clay Fuqua, Lauren Brinkac, Matt Lewis, Shivani Johri, Bruce Weaver, Grace Pai, Jonathan A. Elsen, Elisha Rahe, Wade M. Sheldon, Wenying Ye, Todd R. Miller, Jane Carlton, David A. Rasko, Ian T. Paulsen, Qinghu Ren, Sean C. Daugherty, Ribert T. Deboy, Robert J. Dodson, A. Scott Durkin, Ramana Madupu, William C. Nelson, Steven A. Sullivan, M. J. Rosovitz, Daniel H. Haft

Faculty Publications

Since the recognition of prokaryotes as essential components of the oceanic food web1, bacterioplankton have been acknowledged as catalysts of most major biogeochemical processes in the sea. Studying heterotrophic bacterioplankton has been challenging, however, as most major clades have never been cultured2 or have only been grown to low densities in sea water3,4. Here we describe the genome sequence of Silicibacter pomeroyi, a member of the marine Roseobacter clade (Fig. 1), the relatives of which comprise ∼10-20% of coastal and oceanic mixed-layer bacterioplankton2,5,6,7. This first genome sequence from any major heterotrophic clade consists of a chromosome (4,109,442 base pairs) and …

Multiscale Simulations Of Tropospheric Chemistry In The Eastern Pacific And On The U.S. West Coast During Spring 2002, Youhua Tang, Gregory R. Carmichael, Larry W. Horowitz, Itsushi Uno, Jung Hun Woo, David G. Streets, Donald Dabdub, Gakuji Kurata, Adrian Sandu, James Allan, Elliot Atlas, Frank Flocke, Lewis Gregory Huey, Roger O. Jakoubek, Dylan B. Millet, Patricia K. Quinn, James M. Roberts, Douglas R. Worsnop, Allen Goldstein, Stephen G. Donnelly Ph.D., Sue Schauffler, Verity Stroud, Kristen Johnson, Melody A. Avery, Hanwant B. Singh, Eric C. Apel

Chemistry Faculty Publications

Regional modeling analysis for the Intercontinental Transport and Chemical Transformation 2002 (ITCT 2K2) experiment over the eastern Pacific and U.S. West Coast is performed using a multiscale modeling system, including the regional tracer model Chemical Weather Forecasting System (CFORS), the Sulfur Transport and Emissions Model 2003 (STEM-2K3) regional chemical transport model, and an off-line coupling with the Model of Ozone and Related Chemical Tracers (MOZART) global chemical transport model. CO regional tracers calculated online in the CFORS model are used to identify aircraft measurement periods with Asian influences. Asian-influenced air masses measured by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) …

Meeting Notes 2004-12-16 [Part A] , Joint Policy Advisory Committee On Transportation

Joint Policy Advisory Committee on Transportation

No abstract provided.

Murray Ledger And Times, December 16, 2004, Murray Ledger And Times

The Murray Ledger & Times

No abstract provided.

Campus Chronicle (Vol. 7, No. 18), Valparaiso University

Campus Chronicle

No abstract provided.

12/15/2004 Obituary Records, Hawaii Obituaries

Obituaries

List of Obituaries for individuals who passed away on 12/15/2004. Scroll down to see the names and obituary description.

Robotics Researcher Dreams Big For Defense, Angela Moore

University of Mississippi News

OXFORD, Miss. - Since the start of the Iraq War, hundreds of American soldiers have been killed in roadside attacks targeting military vehicles.