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Full-Text Articles in Physical Sciences and Mathematics
Challenges Associated With Space Weather Analysis And Prediction, John Lanicci
Challenges Associated With Space Weather Analysis And Prediction, John Lanicci
Space Traffic Management Conference
The term “space weather” is typically used to describe environmental conditions in the region extending from the sun’s surface, through the interplanetary medium, to the earth’s magnetic field and upper atmosphere, with a focus on those conditions that can affect the earth, its technological systems, and population. Space weather conditions are monitored continuously by a number of agencies around the world. These agencies use both satellite- and ground-based measurements to build analyses and employ predictive models that form the basis for impacts-based products dealing with myriad users in satellite operations, the utility industry, aviation, and satellite-based communications, to name a …
The Effects Of The Melting Arctic Ice Cap On Florida's Coast, Anthony Atkinson, Nicholas Joseph, Louw Scheepers
The Effects Of The Melting Arctic Ice Cap On Florida's Coast, Anthony Atkinson, Nicholas Joseph, Louw Scheepers
CLAS: Colby Liberal Arts Symposium
We've set out to determine the effect of arctic ice melt on the coastline of Florida, more specifically its major cities and tourist attractions. To do this, we created multiple mathematical models on different bases to ensure that our models are behaving in an appropriate manner. We constructed one statistical model based on past sea level rise data, and one theoretical model based on our interpretations of different components that add to the total sea level rise. Our data and analysis showed firm indications of extreme effects on the coastline of Florida and some of its major tourist attractions by …
Modeling The Optimization Of A Toll Booth Plaza, Liam Connell, Zachary Schutzman, Erin Hoover
Modeling The Optimization Of A Toll Booth Plaza, Liam Connell, Zachary Schutzman, Erin Hoover
CLAS: Colby Liberal Arts Symposium
When designing a toll plaza, many factors have to be considered, especially the number of toll booths to build. In this paper, we try to determine the optimal number of toll booths by creating a model for car movement at a toll plaza. We define optimal as the number of toll booths that minimizes the waiting time, particularly at a high congestion time (i.e. rush hour). To model the movement of cars through a toll booth plaza, we break the problem into two parts: time spent waiting in line and then time spent merging back into traffic. Because each of …
From The Depths Of Great Pond (Maine): Anthropogenic And Natural Influences On Bottom Sediments And The Implications For Local Sustainability, Sara George, Clara Bicher
From The Depths Of Great Pond (Maine): Anthropogenic And Natural Influences On Bottom Sediments And The Implications For Local Sustainability, Sara George, Clara Bicher
CLAS: Colby Liberal Arts Symposium
As part of a Maine EPSCoR grant focusing on sustainability in the Belgrade Lakes watershed of central Maine, current research consists of collecting bottom sediment samples from Great Pond. Samples were analyzed to create a sediment map of the lake basin in regards to depth, grain-size distribution, organic content (%C), C:N ratios and phosphorus concentration. Results will aid in the understanding of the glacial formation of the lake, distribution of sediment within, and human impact on the lake. Additionally, knowing the distribution of phosphorus within the sediments may allow development of a strategy to avoid accelerated eutrophication. This research will …
Mathematical Analysis Of A Nim-Like Matrix Game, Edward Chuang, Stephen Morse
Mathematical Analysis Of A Nim-Like Matrix Game, Edward Chuang, Stephen Morse
CLAS: Colby Liberal Arts Symposium
This poster presentation covers our research on a mathematical game that is somewhat similar to the popular game Nim. In this game, Players play a variation of Nim where the number of piles must be a perfect square and where the piles are actually situated within a matrix. In addition, players are only allowed to subtract one from an entry on their turn, where as in Nim there are typically more options. The game is over either when a player does not have a move to make (because all entries have been reduced to zero) or the when the game …
My Pet Mineral: Augite, Jacob Wall
My Pet Mineral: Augite, Jacob Wall
CLAS: Colby Liberal Arts Symposium
Augite is typically known for its greenish black color, nice vitreous luster, two directions of cleavage and of course its simple chemical formula: (Ca,Na,Mg,Fe2+,Fe3+Al,Ti)2[(Si,Al)2]O6]. Augite has a hardness of 5.5, 2 planes of cleavage and massive habit. Augite is an important rock-forming silicate mineral and occurs in a wide variety of basic igneous rocks, including gabbros, dolerites and basalts. Augite also occurs in ultrabasic and intermediate rocks as well as a limited number of high-grade metamorphic rocks such as granulites and charnockites. Augites range widely in composition and show a continuoius variation in chemical composition. Iron rich augites are restricted …
The Highway Game: Optimizing The Number Of Tollbooths, Meaghan Lewia, Tara Chizinski, Megan Lasher
The Highway Game: Optimizing The Number Of Tollbooths, Meaghan Lewia, Tara Chizinski, Megan Lasher
CLAS: Colby Liberal Arts Symposium
One of the biggest woes of highway drivers is the amount of tolls along the road that require each vehicle to not only slow down significantly, but also pay sometimes up to -8 to the State. This inconvenience is protested on various levels, but since its clear that the government must institute some type of toll system, we have decided to find a model that will at least optimize the time for each driver while still saving the State as much money as possible. Our report constructs a model of the ideal amount of tollbooths for any number of highway …
Historical Baselines For Large Sharks In Cape Cod, Massachusetts (Usa): Putting Recent Observed Increases Into Context, Elizabeth Mccormack
Historical Baselines For Large Sharks In Cape Cod, Massachusetts (Usa): Putting Recent Observed Increases Into Context, Elizabeth Mccormack
CLAS: Colby Liberal Arts Symposium
Over the last decade, observations of sharks in the waters around Cape Cod, Massachusetts (USA) have increased, possibly related to increases in seal populations. However, historical data are needed to put these recent increases into a long-term context. Using newspaper articles, photographs, and fishing tournament records, we compiled historical data on sharks in the waters around Cape Cod from approximately a one hundred year period, from 1830 to 1939. We compared these to trends in modern observations to establish baselines. As well, we document trends in commercial and cultural value of sharks in New England since the early 19th century. …
The Effects Of Climate Change On Food Borne Diseases And Nutrition, Erin Griffin, Hannah Twombly
The Effects Of Climate Change On Food Borne Diseases And Nutrition, Erin Griffin, Hannah Twombly
CLAS: Colby Liberal Arts Symposium
Despite the need for more research in order to assess fully the effects of climate change on human health, there is significant evidence to suggest the implications of climate change on food- and waterborne diseases and nutrition are significant. This study assesses the extent to which increasing temperatures and extreme weather events are increasing the incidence of foodborne disease and malnutrition in humans. Our study will focus on current research illustrating the connection between the incidence of these diseases with periods of high temperatures and rare weather patterns. We will also assess current policy in place governing climate change and …
Maine's Eelgrass Habitat Loss Between 1997 And 2010, Mary Parks
Maine's Eelgrass Habitat Loss Between 1997 And 2010, Mary Parks
CLAS: Colby Liberal Arts Symposium
Maines eelgrass meadows serve as an important habitat for many marine organisms. The sea grass, Zostera marina grows in beds anchored to the marine floor and reaches lengths of up to five feet. The unique structure of the beds provides protection to a large span of marine invertebrates and juvenile fish, prevents erosion by stabilizing sediment layers, and improves water quality by filtering nutrients and sediments. It is also consumed by various marine invertebrate species as a primary food source. However, eelgrass meadows have been subject to significant environmental degradation over the past century due to boat traffic, mooring, docking, …
Synthesis And Characterization Of A Copper(I)-Phenyl Complex, Max Cushner, Thabiso Kunene
Synthesis And Characterization Of A Copper(I)-Phenyl Complex, Max Cushner, Thabiso Kunene
CLAS: Colby Liberal Arts Symposium
Compounds or complexes combining an organic species and a copper ion are amongst the most widely used organometallic reagents in synthetic organic chemistry. However, the chemistry for such organocopper compounds is underdeveloped including that for copper(I)-arene complexes, which are quite rare. Nonetheless, once the chemical properties of such copper-arene complexes are better understood, it will be easier to find uses for them, for instance as catalysts. Previous work on this project has produced evidence that copper(I)-arene complexes bearing phenyl and naphthyl groups behave differently from one another in arene replacement reactions. Thus, the phenyl does not seem to bind as …
People, Plants, And Places: A Spatial Study Of The Relationship Between Vegetation And Demography, Mackenzie Nichols
People, Plants, And Places: A Spatial Study Of The Relationship Between Vegetation And Demography, Mackenzie Nichols
CLAS: Colby Liberal Arts Symposium
This study examines the relationship between demographic factors and vegetation abundance and change in the SNNP and Amhara regions of Ethiopia. Regressions were run using the 2007 Ethiopian Census and satellite imagery in order to identify potential relationships between a variety of demographic factors and the change in NDVI (normalized differential vegetation index) in various weredas (municipalities) in Amhara and SNNP.
Critical Reef Fish Habitats, Fishing Regulations, And Active Drilling Lease Sites In The Gulf Of Mexico, Tierney Dodge
Critical Reef Fish Habitats, Fishing Regulations, And Active Drilling Lease Sites In The Gulf Of Mexico, Tierney Dodge
CLAS: Colby Liberal Arts Symposium
Human activities have been increasingly impacting the Gulf of Mexico negatively. The Gulf of Mexico is a biological rich ecosystem, with coral reefs providing a unique habitat for a diverse array of fish and other marine wildlife, including turtles. However, the increasing use of nutrient rich fertilizers in the Mississippi River Valley have created a growing dead zone in the Gulf of Mexico: a large area where there is no available oxygen due to extreme eutrophication. Overfishing has also depleted the stocks of many fish in the Gulf, further depleting the ecological health of the area. However, The National Oceanic …
An Analysis Of The Proximity Between Organic Farms And Schools In Maine, Olivia Avidan
An Analysis Of The Proximity Between Organic Farms And Schools In Maine, Olivia Avidan
CLAS: Colby Liberal Arts Symposium
This analysis will focus on determining the number of organic farms within a 10 mile driving radius of schools in Maine. Both public and private schools are included in the study, but all higher education institutions are omitted. The farms are certified organic by MOFGA. All data will be analyzed using ArcGIS software, specifically the Network Analyst tool.
Anthropogenic Effects On The Arctic, Sara Miller, Sarah Large
Anthropogenic Effects On The Arctic, Sara Miller, Sarah Large
CLAS: Colby Liberal Arts Symposium
The Arctic is a sensitive location that has been affected greatly by climate change and the anthropogenic factors that contribute to global warming. It is critical to research the Arctic because the effects are significant and can be seen globally. The average temperature in the Arctic is increasing twice as fast as the rest of the world, which is causing the ice caps and permafrost to melt. Permafrost traps carbon and methane, and as permafrost melts these elements are released into the atmosphere. Since the conditions of the Arctic are changing local species are affected due to their altered habit. …
Does Alcohol Consumption Lead To Increased Cancer Rates?, Samantha Draper, Amara Weiss
Does Alcohol Consumption Lead To Increased Cancer Rates?, Samantha Draper, Amara Weiss
CLAS: Colby Liberal Arts Symposium
Using research grounded in empirical studies, we will synthesize statistically significant correlations between alcohol consumption and cancer rates in adults. We aim to analyze which cancer types alcohol is most correlated with. Additionally, we will analyze the strength of programs that attempt to bring these findings to light.
Hydraulic Fracturing: The Neurological Effects, Shannon Oleynik
Hydraulic Fracturing: The Neurological Effects, Shannon Oleynik
CLAS: Colby Liberal Arts Symposium
Hydraulic Fracturing, a natural gas extraction method also known as fracking, requires the use of a fracking fluid containing a number of highly toxic chemicals known to cause severe health problems to humans. The toxic wastewater produced as a byproduct of fracking leaches into and pollutes the surrounding groundwater. Among the health concerns caused by contact and ingestion of these toxic chemicals are cancer, acute respiratory issues, and severe neurological damage. This poster summarizes the current literature on the known neurological effects of the toxic chemicals produced by fracking, as well looks at case studies to examine the health of …
Does The Occupational Exposure Of Ski Wax Technicians To Perfluorinated Chemicals Result In Cardiovascular Disease?, Sarah Brockett, Jefferson Tucker
Does The Occupational Exposure Of Ski Wax Technicians To Perfluorinated Chemicals Result In Cardiovascular Disease?, Sarah Brockett, Jefferson Tucker
CLAS: Colby Liberal Arts Symposium
Fluorinated organic compounds are used in ski waxes because of their water resistant surfactant properties which reduce friction between the skis and snow. One of the most common fluorinated organic compounds found in ski wax is perfluorooctanoic acid, also known as PFOA. Because of its water resistant properties it has been manufactured for use in various materials including Gore-Tex and Teflon. Thanks to relatively recent scientific studies the dangers of PFOA have become apparent. PFOA is persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic. There exists a considerable amount of animal data on the health impacts of PFOA. Studies show that exposure to PFOA …
Recreating Ground-Truth Land-Use Classifications From Landsat Images, Alexa Junker
Recreating Ground-Truth Land-Use Classifications From Landsat Images, Alexa Junker
CLAS: Colby Liberal Arts Symposium
This study attempts to recreate existing datasets of land-use classifications for Brevard County in east-central Florida from Landsat 5 satellite images using two different classification tools provided by the GIS program ArcMap. After acquiring the Landsat images from the USGS for the years 1995, 2000, 2004, and 2009, the unsupervised classification tool was used in order to identify 6 different land-use classes: urban, agriculture, non-forested land, forest, water, and wetland. Then, 6 sample polygons for each class were used as a basis for the software to recognize different land-use types, and the classification was repeated. In order to measure the …
Colony Collapse Disorder: An Assessment Of Causes And Their Pervasiveness, Anne Schechner, Beatrice Smith, Olivia Collins
Colony Collapse Disorder: An Assessment Of Causes And Their Pervasiveness, Anne Schechner, Beatrice Smith, Olivia Collins
CLAS: Colby Liberal Arts Symposium
Colony collapse disorder (CCD) is a widespread condition throughout honeybee populations across the globe, resulting in either partial or total failure of Apis mellifera hives including death and/or hive abandonment. Many factors, either independently or concurrently, contribute to CCD, making it difficult to establish a singular cause of collapse. Research was performed to evaluate several prevalent causes and establish a singular most pervasive one based on four major criteria. These included: potential to expand, frequency of threat, geographic range, effectiveness of treatment. This study tested the hypothesis that a singular predominant cause could be identified based on the results of …
Impacts Of Marine Plastics On Seabirds, Sea Turtles, And Whales, Elizabeth Mccormack, Sergei Poljak, Michelle Burt
Impacts Of Marine Plastics On Seabirds, Sea Turtles, And Whales, Elizabeth Mccormack, Sergei Poljak, Michelle Burt
CLAS: Colby Liberal Arts Symposium
Plastics are durable, cheap, and have high tensile strength resulting in their ubiquitous incorporation into society. There has been a rapid increase in plastic production worldwide. A significant amount of plastic waste, like other garbage, inevitably ends up in the worlds oceans. Marine species can be impacted by plastics by ingestion, entanglement, bioaccumulation, and even incorporation as a nesting material. This study aims to determine the effect of plastic on marine megafauna - namely seabirds, sea turtles and whales - using a variety of case studies worldwide. The percent of animals impacted by plastics was recorded from each case study. …
Discovering Maine's Own Freshwater Snail, Emma Donohoe, Alice Hotopp
Discovering Maine's Own Freshwater Snail, Emma Donohoe, Alice Hotopp
CLAS: Colby Liberal Arts Symposium
Maine has several freshwater snails but one is found only within the state, a type of pond snail called Stagnicola mighelsi. Previous work shows that it has been lost at half of the lakes in its Fish River Lakes stronghold, and that it survives only in very big and remote lakes. However, there are 100 year-old reports from other watersheds, and possibly undiscovered populations. Learning about this snail and the other snails we will identify can help us protect a special part of Maines wildlife, and learn about the health of our lakes and rivers. Few people know or care …
Ecological Role Of Anadromous Salmon In Aquatic Ecosystems, Janice Liang
Ecological Role Of Anadromous Salmon In Aquatic Ecosystems, Janice Liang
CLAS: Colby Liberal Arts Symposium
As the economic, cultural, and ecological concerns grow for decreasing salmon populations, scientists and resource managers have been expanding our understanding of the ecological role of salmon and other anadromous fishes, which return from the sea to spawn in fresh water. Spawning salmon not only serve as a food source for species like bears and seals, but when they die after spawning (as all Pacific species and most Atlantic species do), their remains provide nutrients to freshwater systems, having significant impacts on the communities in the ecosystem. Given the heterogeneity in habitats, the ecological impact of nutrient inputs varies among …
The Presence Of Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals Found In Cosmetics And Personal Care Products For Children, Molly Nash, Marie Abrahams
The Presence Of Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals Found In Cosmetics And Personal Care Products For Children, Molly Nash, Marie Abrahams
CLAS: Colby Liberal Arts Symposium
Endocrine disrupting chemicals including parabens, triclosan, and phthalates are commonly found in popular personal care products. Research shows that children are especially vulnerable to the negative health impacts of these chemicals and face increased risk of chronic diseases and developmental deficiencies. Due to minimal governmental regulation, endocrine disrupting chemicals are commonly found in cosmetics intended for children. Previous literature indicates that early exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals can cause cognitive defects, early puberty, reproductive birth defects in males, fertility problems in females, obesity, diabetes, and increased risk of cancer and other diseases later in life. Although the regulation of cosmetic …
Shellfish Closure Trends Near Mt. Desert Island, Maine, Marianne Ferguson
Shellfish Closure Trends Near Mt. Desert Island, Maine, Marianne Ferguson
CLAS: Colby Liberal Arts Symposium
Shellfish are a popular commercial fishery harvest in Maine. However, they are susceptible to biotoxins transmitted by toxic phytoplankton, which can lead to paralytic or amnesic shellfish poisoning of the humans that consume them. The Maine Department of Marine Resources has a phytoplankton monitoring program in place to detect such biotoxins and to close areas of shellfish harvesting if need be. Since 2001, they have archived the data from every closure. One of Maines shellfish species, the Blue Mussel, is sensitive to environmental changes and is known as a bio-monitor of pollution. Therefore, a method will be developed to analyze …
The Neurotoxic Effects Of Mercury Vapor Exposure From Artisanal Gold Mining, Mackenzie Kennedy
The Neurotoxic Effects Of Mercury Vapor Exposure From Artisanal Gold Mining, Mackenzie Kennedy
CLAS: Colby Liberal Arts Symposium
Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining is the worlds second largest source of atmospheric mercury pollution behind coal combustion (United Nations Environment Program 2012). It is estimated that 10 to 15 million people in 70 countries work in the ASGM trade and are exposed to toxic effects of mercury from an inexpensive yet effective gold processing technique. Adult mercury exposure produces localized damage to the cerebellum, visual cortex, and motor strip, leading to visuospatial problems and effects on executive functioning, mood, and memory. Early life exposure, however, is most harmful because increased exposure can damage the whole brain. In its organic …
Does Air Pollution Lead To Increased Incidence Of Breast Cancer?, Naomi Schmidt
Does Air Pollution Lead To Increased Incidence Of Breast Cancer?, Naomi Schmidt
CLAS: Colby Liberal Arts Symposium
This project will be examining what kinds of chemicals are released into the environment and how those chemicals affect human health in terms of cancer, specifically lung cancer. This will include looking at chemistry to look at the health effects, to see if theoretically common chemicals that are in air pollution, such as NO2 and PM, affect the likelihood of getting cancer. It will also involve looking at empirical data to see if there are more incidences of lung cancer in places with more air pollution. If there is a disconnect between theoretical expectations and reality, I will attempt to …
Vegetation Change Surrounding Parks And Reserves In Costa Rica From 1990-2000, Olivia Collins
Vegetation Change Surrounding Parks And Reserves In Costa Rica From 1990-2000, Olivia Collins
CLAS: Colby Liberal Arts Symposium
The objective of this project was to analyze vegetation changes around and within the borders of national parks in Costa Rica over the time period from 1990 to 2014. Edge effects are a common occurrence where two different habitats or ecological communities border one another. The majority of the national parks and reserves in Costa Rica have been placed under protection during the last 35 years. During this time period, tourism in the country has increased as conservation efforts have strengthened. The goal of this analysis is to use Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) to determine if conservation of protected …
Roles Of Community Engagement And Church Leadership In Participatory Forest Management: A Case Study Of Woji Church Forest In Northern Ethiopia, Grey Benjamin
CLAS: Colby Liberal Arts Symposium
Research on participatory forest management (PFM) typically involves the study of ownership-use relationships among local communities and state or federal governments. This study examines the management of natural resources by a religious institution--the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahido Church (EOTC)--whose followers protect thousands of small fragments of indigenous Afromontane forest scattered all across Northern Ethiopia. Using social surveys, group discussions, and community mapping we identify differences in norms and forest management activities of three distinct groups--priests, farmers, and women--living in and around Woji Church Forest in Northern Ethiopia. Community members offered a first-hand look into how their religious beliefs and leadership affect …
Does Bisphenol-A Cause Obesity In Humans?, Xuan Du, Lidia Henderson
Does Bisphenol-A Cause Obesity In Humans?, Xuan Du, Lidia Henderson
CLAS: Colby Liberal Arts Symposium
This project will analyze the link between bisphenol-A and obesity in humans using epidemiological and toxicological research.