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Physical Sciences and Mathematics

2012

Articles 1 - 10 of 10

Full-Text Articles in Higher Education and Teaching

Sketchmate: A Computer-Aided Sketching And Simulation Tool For Teaching Graph Algorithms, Kristy Sue Van Hornweder Aug 2012

Sketchmate: A Computer-Aided Sketching And Simulation Tool For Teaching Graph Algorithms, Kristy Sue Van Hornweder

Doctoral Dissertations

In this dissertation, we developed and tested a sketching, visualization, and simulation tool called Sketchmate for demonstrating graph algorithms commonly taught in undergraduate computer science courses. For this research, we chose to focus on shortest path and network flow algorithms. Two versions of this tool have been implemented: 1) an instructor tool that supports computer-aided manual simulations of algorithms that augment traditional whiteboard presentations, allowing lectures to be more dynamic and interactive, and 2) a student tool that supports computer-aided manual practice of algorithms that enables students to work through homework problems more quickly while providing detailed incremental feedback about …

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Capacitively Coupled Radio-Frequency Discharges In Nitrogen At Low Pressures, L. L Alves, L. Marques, C. D Pintassilgo, W. Wattieaux, Et. Es-Sebbar, J. Berndt, E. Kovačević, N. Carrasco, L. Boufendi, G. Cernogora Jul 2012

Capacitively Coupled Radio-Frequency Discharges In Nitrogen At Low Pressures, L. L Alves, L. Marques, C. D Pintassilgo, W. Wattieaux, Et. Es-Sebbar, J. Berndt, E. Kovačević, N. Carrasco, L. Boufendi, G. Cernogora

Dr. Et-touhami Es-sebbar

This paper uses experiments and modelling to study capacitively coupled radio-frequency (rf) discharges in pure nitrogen, at 13.56 MHz frequency, 0.1–1 mbar pressures and 2–30 W coupled powers. Experiments performed on two similar (not twin) setups, existing in the LATMOS and the GREMI laboratories, include electrical and optical emission spectroscopy (OES) measurements. Electrical measurements give the rf-applied and the direct-current-self-bias voltages, the effective power coupled to the plasma and the average electron density. OES diagnostics measure the intensities of radiative transitions with the nitrogen second-positive and first-negative systems, and with the 811.5 nm atomic line of argon (present as an …

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Ionization Photophysics And Rydberg Spectroscopy Of Diacetylene, M. Schwell, Y. Benilan, N.. Fray, M.-C. Gazeau, Et. Es-Sebbar, F.-G. Levrel, N. Campion, S. Leach Jun 2012

Ionization Photophysics And Rydberg Spectroscopy Of Diacetylene, M. Schwell, Y. Benilan, N.. Fray, M.-C. Gazeau, Et. Es-Sebbar, F.-G. Levrel, N. Campion, S. Leach

Dr. Et-touhami Es-sebbar

Photoionization of diacetylene was studied using synchrotron radiation over the range 8–24 eV, with photoelectron-photoion coincidence (PEPICO) and threshold photoelectron–photoion coincidence (TPEPICO) techniques. Mass spectra, ion yields, total and partial ionization cross-sections were measured. The adiabatic ionization energy of diacetylene was determined as IEad = (10.17 ± 0.01) eV, and the appearance energy of the principal fragment ion C4H+ as AE = (16.15 ± 0.03) eV. Calculated appearance energies of other fragment ions were used to infer aspects of dissociation pathways forming the weaker fragment ions , C3H+, and C2H+. Structured autoionization features observed in the PEPICO spectrum of diacetylene …

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Using The R Library Rpanel For Gui-Based Simulations In Introductory Statistics Courses, Ryan M. Allison May 2012

Using The R Library Rpanel For Gui-Based Simulations In Introductory Statistics Courses, Ryan M. Allison

Statistics

As a student, I noticed that the statistical package R (http://www.r-project.org) would have several benefits of its usage in the classroom. One benefit to the package is its free and open-source nature. This would be a great benefit for instructors and students alike since it would be of no cost to use, unlike other statistical packages. Due to this, students could continue using the program after their statistical courses and into their professional careers. It would be good to expose students while they are in school to a tool that professionals use in industry. R also has powerful …

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The Mathematics Portfolio: An Alternative Tool To Evaluate Students’ Progress, Marla A. Sole Apr 2012

The Mathematics Portfolio: An Alternative Tool To Evaluate Students’ Progress, Marla A. Sole

Publications and Research

This article describes the need for more thorough and varied forms of assessment to evaluate students’ level of understanding in mathematics. Portfolios are one type of assessment tool that, when added to a teacher’s repertoire can improve students’ comprehension and retention and enable students to monitor their own progress and to take more responsibility for their own learning. Portfolio assignments can also help students and teachers to detect and remedy weaknesses and misunderstandings and can increase students’ self-confidence in mathematics. This article discusses what a portfolio is, gives an example of a unit portfolio used in an undergraduate Finite Mathematics …

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Volatile Products Controlling Titan’S Tholins Production, N. Carrasco, T. Gautier, Et. Es-Sebbar, P. Pernot, G. Cernogora Mar 2012

Volatile Products Controlling Titan’S Tholins Production, N. Carrasco, T. Gautier, Et. Es-Sebbar, P. Pernot, G. Cernogora

Dr. Et-touhami Es-sebbar

A quantitative agreement between nitrile relative abundances and Titan’s atmospheric composition was recently shown with a reactor simulating the global chemistry occurring in Titan’s atmosphere [Gautier et al. (2011) Icarus, 213: 625]. Here we present a complementary study on the same reactor using an in-situ diagnostic of the gas phase composition. Various initial N2-CH4 gas mixtures (methane varying from 1 to 10%) are studied, with a monitoring of the methane consumption and of the stable gas neutrals by in-situ mass spectrometry. Atomic hydrogen is also measured by optical emission spectroscopy. A positive correlation is found between atomic hydrogen abundance and …

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Vuv Photoionization Of Acetamide Studied By Electron / Ion Coincidence Spectroscopy In The 8-24 Ev Photon Energy Range, M. Schwell, Y. Bénilan, N. Fray, M.-C Gazeau, Et. Es-Sebbar, Gustavo A. Garcia, L. Nahon, N. Champion, S. Leach Jan 2012

Vuv Photoionization Of Acetamide Studied By Electron / Ion Coincidence Spectroscopy In The 8-24 Ev Photon Energy Range, M. Schwell, Y. Bénilan, N. Fray, M.-C Gazeau, Et. Es-Sebbar, Gustavo A. Garcia, L. Nahon, N. Champion, S. Leach

Dr. Et-touhami Es-sebbar

A VUV photoionization study of acetamide was carried out over the 8-24 eV photon energy range using synchrotron radiation and photoelectron/photoion coincidence (PEPICO) spectroscopy. Threshold photoelectron photoion coincidence (TPEPICO) measurements were also made. Photoion yield curves and branching ratios were measured for the parent ion and six fragment ions. The adiabatic ionization energy of acetamide was determined as I.E (12A’) = (9.71±0.02) eV, in agreement with an earlier reported photoionization mass spectrometry (PIMS) value. The adiabatic energy of the first excited state of the ion, 12A”, was determined to be ≈ 10.1 eV. Assignments of the fragment ions and the …

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The Redeemed Scientist, Aaron R. Hutchison Jan 2012

The Redeemed Scientist, Aaron R. Hutchison

Faculty Integration Papers

No abstract provided.

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Sustainability And Workforce Development In Maine, Catherine S. Renault, Linda Silka, James (Jake) S. Ward Jan 2012

Sustainability And Workforce Development In Maine, Catherine S. Renault, Linda Silka, James (Jake) S. Ward

Maine Policy Review

Maine is facing challenges in terms of its work­force: education levels lag behind those in the other New England states; population growth is slow; and the economy is undergoing a change that has shifted from manufacturing to more knowledge-based jobs. Catherine Renault, Linda Silka and Jake Ward discuss these challenges, looking at what employers want in their employees and at the kinds of jobs the state is likely to see in the future. They point out that the Sustainability Solutions Initiative, with its emphasis on a boundary-crossing approach to educa­tion, is an example of a way to train today’s students …

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Shaping The Future Past: Finding History, Creating Identity In The Kwan Hsu Papers, Lisa Chere' Donnelly Jan 2012

Shaping The Future Past: Finding History, Creating Identity In The Kwan Hsu Papers, Lisa Chere' Donnelly

Dissertations and Theses

Dr. Kwan Hsu was neither a superstar nor a celebrity. Her name does not come up in conversations about important contributors to her field of biophysics nor is she instantly recognizable for her contributions to Portland State University's international program or the state of Oregon's business ties with China. Yet she was a contributor, a cog-in-the-wheel, at the very least, in all of these areas and more. She was a peripheral member of a well-known Chinese family, but few in the United States know of or perhaps have interest in, but otherwise, she had no great connections or family ties …

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