Digital Commons Network^™

Complexity Through Recombination: From Chemistry To Biology, Niles Lehman, Carolina Diaz Arenas, Wesley A. White, Francis J. Schmidt

Chemistry Faculty Publications and Presentations

Recombination is a common event in nature, with examples in physics, chemistry, and biology. This process is characterized by the spontaneous reorganization of structural units to form new entities. Upon reorganization, the complexity of the overall system can change. In particular the components of the system can now experience a new response to externally applied selection criteria, such that the evolutionary trajectory of the system is altered. In this work we explore the link between chemical and biological forms of recombination. We estimate how the net system complexity changes, through analysis of RNA-RNA recombination and by mathematical modeling. Our results …

Tables Of Percentage Points Of The K-Variate Normal Distribution For Large Values Of K, William C. Horrace

Economics - All Scholarship

This paper gives tabulations of the upper a percentage points of the maximum absolute value of the k-variate normal distribution with common correlation p for values of k as high as 500. The tables are useful for performing multiple comparison procedures in experiments with large numbers of treatments.

D-Dimensional Bose Gases And The Lambert W Function, Sree Ram Valluri, J Tanguay, M Gil, D J. Jeffrey

Physics and Astronomy Publications

The applications of the Lambert W function (also known as the W function) to D-dimensional Bose gases are presented. We introduce two sets of families of logarithmic transcendental equations that occur frequently in thermodynamics and statistical mechanics and present their solution in terms of the W function. The low temperature T behavior of free ideal Bose gases is considered in three and four dimensions. It is shown that near condensation in four dimensions, the chemical potential μ and pressure P can be expressed in terms of T through the W function. The low T behavior of one- and two-dimensional ideal …

Quantifying Canal Leakage Rates Using A Mass-Balance Approach And Heat-Based Hydraulic Conductivity Estimates In Selected Irrigation Canals, Western Nebraska, 2007 Through 2009, Christopher M. Hobza, Michael J. Andersen

United States Geological Survey: Water Reports and Publications

The water supply in areas of the North Platte River Basin in the Nebraska Panhandle has been designated as fully appropriated or overappropriated by the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources (NDNR). Enacted legislation (Legislative Bill 962) requires the North Platte Natural Resources District (NPNRD) and the NDNR to develop an Integrated Management Plan (IMP) to balance groundwater and surface-water supply and demand in the NPNRD. A clear understanding of the groundwater and surface-water systems is critical for the development of a successful IMP. The primary source of groundwater recharge in parts of the NPNRD is from irrigation canal leakage. Because …

Air-Sea Turbulent Flux Measurements And Their Relationship To The Turbulent Kinetic Energy Dissipation Rate In The Ocean, Silvia Gremes-Cordero

Open Access Dissertations

A study of the turbulent transfer of properties across the ocean surface and the dissipation of the energy transferred to the upper ocean is here presented. Two experiments were analyzed, both conducted during summer in the North Atlantic during phytoplankton blooms. The Marine Aerosol Production from marine sources (MAP) experiment, performed during summer of 2004, allowed for the calculation of the air-sea turbulent fluxes of momentum and humidity in high wind conditions. This analysis aims to improve the parameterization of air-sea turbulent fluxes, fundamental for coupled atmospheric-ocean models. In particular, there are very few previous calculations of the bulk coefficients …

Environmental Consciousness: Human Motivation For Thinking Ecologically, Rob Pigue

Student Theses 2001-2013

What is the motivation for acting environmentally? Why do people care? What is the reason for buying fluorescent bulbs and hybrid cars, energy efficient appliances and reusable water bottles? Why is it that people turn off the lights when they leave a room, turn off the faucet while brushing their teeth, and go through the inconvenience of recycling?

Humans are known to act out of self-interest. Regardless of what people do or why they do it, their motivation can always be traced back to personal gain.

So why go green? Nothing about reducing, reusing, or recycling has any direct impact …

Consistent Probabilities In Wheeler-Dewitt Quantum Cosmology, David A. Craig, Parampreet Singh

Faculty Publications

We give an explicit, rigorous framework for calculating quantum probabilities in a model theory of quantum gravity. Specifically, we construct the decoherence functional for the Wheeler-DeWitt quantization of a flat Friedmann-Robertson-Walker cosmology with a free, massless, minimally coupled scalar field, thus providing a complete decoherent histories formulation for this quantum cosmological model. The decoherence functional is applied to study predictions concerning the model's Dirac (relational) observables; the behavior of semiclassical states and superpositions of such states; and to study the singular behavior of quantum Wheeler-DeWitt universes. Within this framework, rigorous formulas are given for calculating the corresponding probabilities from the …

Minimum Description Length Measures Of Evidence For Enrichment, Zhenyu Yang, David R. Bickel

COBRA Preprint Series

In order to functionally interpret differentially expressed genes or other discovered features, researchers seek to detect enrichment in the form of overrepresentation of discovered features associated with a biological process. Most enrichment methods treat the p-value as the measure of evidence using a statistical test such as the binomial test, Fisher's exact test or the hypergeometric test. However, the p-value is not interpretable as a measure of evidence apart from adjustments in light of the sample size. As a measure of evidence supporting one hypothesis over the other, the Bayes factor (BF) overcomes this drawback of the p-value but lacks …

Nesting Ecology Of The Mississippi And Swallow-Tailed Kite In White River National Wildlife Refuge, Arkansas, Scott James Chiavacci

Student Theses and Dissertations

The Swallow-tailed (Elanoides forficatus; STKI) and Mississippi kite (Ictinia mississippiensis; MIKI) both express relatively poor reproductive success in White River National Wildlife Refuge (WRNWR), east-central Arkansas. I studied the nesting ecology of both species in WRNWR to determine factors contributing to their low nest survival. I located 41 MIKI nests from 2008-2009 and documented 8 causes of nest failure. The overall estimated probability of nest survival was ~25%, but estimated daily nest survival varied between nest periods among and across years. I found no consistent predictors of nest survival among the variables I measured. Also, I determined snake excluder devices, …

Preliminary Analysis Of Thermally Induced Condensed Phase Electron Transfer Reactions Of Cadmium Chloride And Lead Chloride With Electropositive Metals, Vamshi Addaguduru

Student Theses and Dissertations

The thermal stabilities and thermal decomposition for the metal halides, cadmium chloride and lead chloride with electropositive metals like Mn, Zn, Cr and Fe were studied at elevated temperatures using thermal analysis techniques, thermogravimetry and differential thermal analysis using TG/DTA apparatus. The reactions of cadmium chloride and lead chloride with electropositive metals were conducted in Cu pans and found that Zinc metal may show a reaction with both CdCl2 and PbCl2; Manganese may not react with CdCl2 and may react with PbCl2; iron may react with CdCl2 but not with PbCl2 and chromium may not react with both the metal …

Preliminary Analysis Of Thermally Induced Condensed Phase Electron Transfer Reactions Of Nickel Chloride With Electropositive Metals, Rajeshwari Devi Kamineni

Student Theses and Dissertations

The thermal decomposition, dehydration and thermal stability studies of nickel (II) chloride hexahydrate and nickel (II) chloride hexahydrate with electropositive metals cobalt, cadmium, iron, chromium, zinc and manganese have been investigated by non-isothermal method using TG/DTA under argon gas flow. The thermal decomposition and dehydration reactions reveal that there is loss of six water molecules from NiCl2.6H2O. A catalytic action of Cu from Cu pans in thermal decomposition reactions of NiCl2.6H2O and NiCl2.6H2O with electropositive metals was also observed. The change in enthalpy (∆H) of the Fe and Co with NiCl2.6H2O was calculated from the TG/DTA plot onset temperature, using …

Growth Inhibition Of Common Food Spoilage And Pathogenic Microorganisms In The Presence Of Brown Seaweed Extracts, Shilpi Gupta, Sabrina Cox, Gaurav Rajauria, Amit Jaiswal, Nissreen Abu-Ghannam

Articles

The possibility of using extracts from brown seaweed, Himanthalia elongata, as a natural antimicrobial agent for food preservation is presented. The effect of different concentrations of seaweed extract on the growth kinetics of four common food spoilage (Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Enterococcus faecalis) and food pathogenic micro-organisms (Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella abony) was examined. Seaweed extract at a concentration of 6% inhibited the growth of all four of the studied organisms. Lower concentrations of seaweed extract prolonged the lag phase and reduced both the exponential growth rate and final population densities of the culture. Suitability of three kinetic models, Baranyi-Roberts, Modified …

Application Of The Analytic Hierarchy Process For Selecting And Modeling Stormwater Best Management Practices, Kevin D. Young, Tamim Younos, Randel L. Dymond, David F. Kibler, David H. Lee

Journal of Contemporary Water Research and Education

Engineers are increasingly expected to consider several influential criteria when selecting a single best management practice (BMP) for stormwater management. These criteria include site physical characteristics; local, state, and federal pollution control ordinances; stakeholder input, and BMP implementation and long-term maintenance costs. This paper discusses the development of a software-aided approach based on the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) as a decision-making tool for selecting stormwater management BMPs. Supported with input from a geographic information system, the AHP can provide an objective, mathematically-based alternative to the existing, often subjective BMP selection approaches. In this study, the developed AHP decision support software …

Study On Algebras With Retractions And Planes Over A Dvr., Prosenjit Das Dr.

Doctoral Theses

Aim:The main aim of this thesis is to study the following problems:1. For a Noetherian ring R, to find a set of minimal sufficient fibre conditions for an R-algebra with a retraction to R to be an A1-fibration over R.2. To investigate sufficient conditions for a factorial A1-form, with a retraction to the base ring, to be A1.3. To investigate whether planes of the form b(X, Y)Zn – a(X, Y) are co- ordinate planes in the polynomial ring in three variables X, Y and Z over a discrete valuation ring.The 1st problem will be discussed in Chapter 3 entitled Codimension- …

Does Entropic Gravity Bound The Masses Of The Photon And Graviton?, Jonas R. Mureika, R. B. Mann

Physics Faculty Works

If the information transfer between test particle and holographic screen in entropic gravity respects both the uncertainty principle and causality, a lower limit on the number of bits in the universe relative to its mass may be derived. Furthermore, these limits indicate particles that putatively travel at the speed of light -- the photon and/or graviton -- have a non-zero mass m≥10−68 kg. This result is found to be in excellent agreement with current experimental mass bounds on the graviton and photon, suggesting that entropic gravity may be the result of a (recent) softly-broken local symmetry. Stronger bounds emerge …

Detecting Electron Motion In Atoms And Molecules, Hua-Chieh Shao, Anthony F. Starace

Anthony F. Starace Publications

The detection of spatial and temporal electronic motion by scattering of subfemtosecond pulses of 10 keV electrons from coherent superpositions of electronic states of both H and T⁺₂ is investigated. For the H atom, we predict changes in the diffraction images that reflect the time-dependent effective radius of the electronic charge density. For an aligned T⁺₂ molecule, the diffraction image changes reflect the time-dependent localization or delocalization of the electronic charge density.

Unl Physicists Model Potential 4-D Imaging Technique, Tom Simons, Hua-Chieh Shao, Anthony F. Starace

Anthony F. Starace Publications

A long-standing goal of science is to be able to understand how matter behaves at the atomic and subatomic level. How electrons rearrange when atoms or molecules come together is the essence of chemistry, and the ability to manipulate those rearrangements is the goal of the emerging sphere of nanotechnology. A fuller understanding could lead to enormous scientific and technological breakthroughs. Unfortunately, significant problems confront scientists and engineers in attacking the question. Not only are atoms and molecules very small, requiring highly specialized equipment to "see" them, everything at the atomic level happens very, very fast. For example, an electron …

Purification Of Solar Grade Silicon Using Electromagnetic Field, Anping Dong, Lucas N.W. Damoah, Lifeng Zhang, Hui Zhu

Materials Science and Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Non-metallic particles and the metallic impurity elements in the solar cell silicon have a strong detrimental effect on the conversion efficiency of the solar cell. Removing these impurities is one of the important tasks for silicon refining. the current paper proposed a new approach to purify silicon - electromagnetic (EM) separation. Since the non-metallic particles and the metallic impurity elements are non- or less conductive while the molten silicon is well conductive, under EM field, the Lorenz force will push the particles to the boundary layer, thus separate these inclusions. in the current study, a high frequency EM field was …

Crystalline Order On Catenoidal Capillary Bridges, Mark Bowick, Zhenwei Yao

Physics - All Scholarship

We study the defect structure of crystalline particle arrays on negative Gaussian curvature capillary bridges with vanishing mean curvature (catenoids). The threshold aspect ratio for the appearance of isolated disclinations is found and the optimal positions for dislocations determined. We also discuss the transition from isolated disclinations to scars as particle number and aspect ratio are varied.

Crystalline Order On Catenoidal Capillary Bridges, Mark Bowick, Zhenwei Yao

Physics - All Scholarship

We study the defect structure of crystalline particle arrays on negative Gaussian curvature capillary bridges with vanishing mean curvature (catenoids). The threshold aspect ratio for the appearance of isolated disclinations is found and the optimal positions for dislocations determined. We also discuss the transition from isolated disclinations to scars as particle number and aspect ratio are varied.

University Of Richmond Climate Action Plan, University Of Richmond

Plans

The Climate Action Plan for the University of Richmond establishes the framework for achieving the University’s climate action goals under the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment. The University of Richmond’s goal is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 30% by 2020 and 100% by 2050. In addition to emissions reduction, the Climate Action Plan articulates goals for embedding sustainability into the curricular and co-curricular aspects of a Richmond education. The plan has been developed under the leadership of the Sustainability Working Group and the University’s Sustainability Coordinator. Climate Action Plan subgroups, with representation of staff, faculty, and students, drafted …

Metastable Anions Of Dinitrobenzene: Resonances For Electron Attachment And Kinetic Energy Release, A. Mauracher, S. Denifl, A. Edtbauer, M. Hager, M. Probst, Olof E. Echt, T. D. Maerk, P. Scheier, T. A. Field, K. Graupner

Physics & Astronomy

Attachment of free, low-energy electrons to dinitrobenzene (DNB) in the gas phase leads to DNB as well as several fragment anions. DNB, (DNB-H), (DNB-NO), (DNB-2NO), and (DNB-NO(2)) are found to undergo metastable (unimolecular) dissociation. A rich pattern of resonances in the yield of these metastable reactions versus electron energy is observed; some resonances are highly isomer-specific. Most metastable reactions are accompanied by large average kinetic energy releases (KER) that range from 0.5 to 1.32 eV, typical of complex rearrangement reactions, but (1,3-DNB-H)(-) features a resonance with a KER of only 0.06 eV for loss of NO. (1,3-DNB-NO)(-) offers a rare …

The Murray Ledger And Times, December 20, 2010, The Murray Ledger And Times

The Murray Ledger & Times

No abstract provided.

Holy Cross Magazine, Vol. 45, No. 1, Winter 2011, College Of The Holy Cross

Holy Cross Magazine

Syllabus: Catholic Thought and Social Action
with Susan Crawford Sullivan
By Pam Reponen

Haiti’s Struggle
Holy Cross alumni are among those who came to Haiti’s aid when the ground shook and hundreds of thousands were thrown into chaos. Today, almost one year after the quake, men and women from the Hill are standing in solidarity with a devastated country.
By Lisa Armstrong

Rink Master
Figure skating maestro Frank Carroll ’60 has been on the ice as an athlete, a performer and a coach for more than 50 years—with gold-medal results.
By Debra Steilen

Flashback: The Dramatic Society Flies with the …

Pitch Angle Scattering In The Outer Heliosheath And Formation Of The Interstellar Boundary Explorer Ribbon, Konstantin V. Gamayunov, Ming Zhang, Hamid K. Rassoul

Aerospace, Physics, and Space Science Faculty Publications

The dominant and unexpected feature in the first Interstellar Boundary EXplorer (IBEX) maps is a ribbon of the enhanced energetic neutral atom (ENA) emissions. Presenting the first results from IBEX,McComas et al. identified six possible mechanisms of ribbon formation. One of the mechanisms, the so-called secondary ENA mechanism, was already quantitatively elaborated by Heerikhuisen et al., and they successfully reproduced the main features of the ribbon. We further study the "secondary ENA" mechanism by quantifying a previously omitted stage of the proton evolution between two consecutive acts of the charge-exchange in the outer heliosheath (OHS). The main findings can be …

Pitch Aangle Scattering In The Outer Heliosheath And Formation Of The Interstellar Boundary Explorer Ribbon, Konstantin V. Gamayunov, Ming Zhang, Hamid K. Rassoul

Aerospace, Physics, and Space Science Faculty Publications

The dominant and unexpected feature in the first Interstellar Boundary EXplorer (IBEX) maps is a ribbon of the enhanced energetic neutral atom (ENA) emissions. Presenting the first results from IBEX,McComas et al. identified six possible mechanisms of ribbon formation. One of the mechanisms, the so-called secondary ENA mechanism, was already quantitatively elaborated by Heerikhuisen et al., and they successfully reproduced the main features of the ribbon. We further study the "secondary ENA" mechanism by quantifying a previously omitted stage of the proton evolution between two consecutive acts of the charge-exchange in the outer heliosheath (OHS). The main findings can be …

The Kepler Light Curve Of V344 Lyrae: Constraining The Thermal-Viscous Limit Cycle Instability, John K. Cannizzo, Martin D. Still, Steve B. Howell, Matt A. Wood, Alan P. Smale

Aerospace, Physics, and Space Science Faculty Publications

We present time-dependent modeling based on the accretion disk limit cycle model for a 270 d light curve of the short-period SU UMa-type dwarf nova V344 Lyr taken by Kepler. The unprecedented precision and cadence (1 minute) far surpass that generally available for long-term light curves. The data encompass two superoutbursts and 17 normal (i.e., short) outbursts. The main decay of the superoutbursts is nearly perfectly exponential, decaying at a rate ~12 d mag−1, while the much more rapid decays of the normal outbursts exhibit a faster-than-exponential shape. Our modeling using the basic accretion disk limit cycle can produce the …

Front Matter, Vol. 70 No. 4

Western North American Naturalist

No abstract provided.

Precision Frequency Measurements With Interferometric Weak Values, David J. Starling, P. Ben Dixon, Andrew N. Jordan, John C. Howell

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

We demonstrate an experiment which utilizes a Sagnac interferometer to measure a change in optical frequency of 129 ± 7 kHz/√Hz with only 2 mW of continuous-wave, single-mode input power. We describe the measurement of a weak value and show how even higher-frequency sensitivities may be obtained over a bandwidth of several nanometers. This technique has many possible applications, such as precision relative frequency measurements and laser locking without the use of atomic lines.

Diversity, Phenology, And Elevational Distribution Of Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, And Trichoptera In American Fork Canyon, Utah, Sarah Walker Judson, C. Riley Nelson

Western North American Naturalist

Although the aquatic insect fauna of Utah and their associated adult forms are well documented taxonomically and biogeographically, little is known about seasonal and elevational patterns of aquatic insect diversity in individual Wasatch streams. We selected the American Fork River, a relatively pristine stream with little anthropogenic disturbance, as our target stream to investigate elevational distribution and seasonal phenology of adult forms of Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, and Trichoptera (EPT). From April to October in 2003 through 2005, a total of 71 adult forms of EPT species were documented along the American Fork River. No single sampling period captured more than 30 …